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Investigating Saudi Arabia's sponsorship of Turkish politics, terrorism, and the frenzied conflict in Syria

F. William Engdahl
New Eastern Outlook
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 13:36 UTC
Saudi Arabia swords
© Fahad Shadeed / Reuters
In recent weeks one nation after another is falling over themselves, literally, to join the turkey shoot known, erroneously, as the war in Syria, ostensibly against the Islamic State or Daesh. The most wanted but most feared question is where will this war frenzy lead, and how can it be stopped short of dragging the entire planet into a world war of destruction?

On September 30, responding to a formal invitation or plea from the duly-elected President of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Russian Federation began what was an initially highly effective bombing campaign in support of the Syrian Government Army.

On 13 November following the terror attacks claimed by ISIS in Paris, the French President proclaimed France was "at war" and immediately sent her one and only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, to Syria to join the battle. Then on December 4, the German Parliament approved sending 1,200 German soldiers and six Tornado jets to "help" France. Reports out of Germany say the Germans will not work with Russia or the Assad regime, but with CentCom command in Florida and coalition headquarters, not in Damascus, but in Kuwait. The same week the UK Parliament approved sending British planes and forces to "fight ISIS" in Syria. Again we can be sure it's not to help Russia's cause in cooperation with the Syrian Army of Assad to restore sovereignty to Syria.

Comment: The author lays out critical pieces of the puzzle, and accurately highlights just how dangerous a situation the world is in. And remember, Saudi Arabia is not only a massive supporter of head-chopping terrorists, while proudly bombing, shelling and starving civilians, they're also the head of the UN Human Rights Council:
Britain conducted secret vote-trading deals with Saudi Arabia to ensure both states were elected to the UN human rights council (UNHRC), according to leaked diplomatic cables.
This frenzy of lies and mayhem is spiraling out of control. Also see:

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Pirates

Russian PM on Ukraine's debt: 'They won't pay us back because they are crooks'


RT
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 14:36 UTC
Medvedev
© Ekaterina Shtukina / Sputnik
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, center, gives an interview on the work of the Russian Government to Russian television journalists in a live broadcast of the In Conversation with Dmitry Medvedev program.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has told reporters that Ukraine has no intention of repaying a $3 billion debt to Russia and sharply criticized Western governments for covering up Kiev's violations of perfectly legal financial agreements.

"I have a feeling that they [Ukraine] will not return anything [to us] because they are crooks," Medvedev said on Wednesday during an interview with several leading Russian TV channels. "They refuse to return the money and our Western partners not only render us no help, they are actually hindering our efforts," he added.

The Russian PM also reminded journalists that Ukrainian debt to Russia had been well planned, and that the initial agreement was sealed between the two national governments.

"Ukrainian authorities asked Russia to participate in bond placements so that they could solve some routine tasks of the Ukrainian economy. When two governments make an agreement this is obviously a sovereign debt," Medvedev noted.

The PM also said the approach of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other players in the field of international finance was far from correct: "It is very surprising that international financial organizations have started saying this was not sovereign borrowing. This is rubbish. This is obviously a blatant and cynical lie," Medvedev stated.

Comment: This move may show just how relevant (or not) the International Criminal Court actually is.

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Jet4

US Attacks Syrian Military. How will Russia respond?

Brandon Turbeville
Information Clearing House
Tue, 08 Dec 2015 03:54 UTC
US attack syrian army
The United States is currently denying that its Air Force struck the Syrian military in the Deir ez-Zor province on the evening of December 6, but the Syrian government is confirming that a direct assault on the SAA did, in fact, take place.

Given the history of the United States and its 5-year proxy war against the secular government of Bashar al-Assad and the hesitancy of the Syrian government to admit when it has actually sustained damage, it is safe to assume that the claims of the latter can be believed.

Thus, it appears that, on the evening of December 6, four US-led coalition planes launched nine missiles against the SAA's Saeqa military camp in Deir ez-Zor province.

At least four Syrian soldiers were killed and thirteen others were injured. A sizable amount of ammunition, armored vehicles, military vehicles, and various forms of military equipment were also destroyed in the raid.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has stated that "Syria strongly condemns the act of aggression by the US-led coalition that contradicts the UN Charter on goals and principles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent letters to the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council."

Coalition spokesman Col. Steve Warren has denied the accusations, however, saying that "We've seen those Syrian reports but we did not conduct any strikes in that part of Deir ez Zor yesterday. So we see no evidence." He admitted that airstrikes did take place in the region but claimed that they were conducted around 55 km away.

Comment: However Russia responds it will be measured and highly effective. She will not be goaded.

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Eye 1

Declassified CIA manual shows how to use bureaucracy to destabilize governments

Jake Anderson
Antimedia
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 13:23 UTC
CIA manual
When most people think of CIA sabotage, they think of coups, assassinations, proxy wars, armed rebel groups, and even false flags — not strategic stupidity and purposeful bureaucratic ineptitude. However, according to a declassified document from 1944, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which later became the CIA, used and trained a curious breed of "citizen-saboteurs" in occupied nations like Norway and France.

The World War II-era document, called Simple Sabotage Field Manual, outlines ways in which operatives can disrupt and demoralize enemy administrators and police forces. The first section of the document, which can be read in its entirety here, addresses "Organizations and Conferences" — and how to turn them into a "dysfunctional mess":

— Insist on doing everything through "channels." Never permit short-cuts to be taken in order to expedite decisions.
— Make "speeches." Talk as frequently as possible and at great length. Illustrate your "points" by long anecdotes and accounts of personal experiences.
— When possible, refer all matters to committees, for "further study and consideration." Attempt to make the committee as large as possible — never less than five.
— Bring up irrelevant issues as frequently as possible.
— Haggle over precise wordings of communications, minutes, resolutions.
— Refer back to matters decided upon at the last meeting and attempt to re-open the question of the advisability of that decision.
— Advocate "caution." Be "reasonable" and urge your fellow-conferees to be "reasonable" and avoid haste which might result in embarrassments or difficulties later on.
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Key

Talks in Riyadh begin for 65 'Syria opposition' groups


Press TV
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 09:49 UTC
65 group meeting
© sputniknews.com
Meeting of the 65 opposition groups to decide Syrian conflict resolution.
The so-called Syria opposition groups have begun talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in an effort to reach a common ground before potential negotiations with the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said opposition groups from inside and outside Syria took part in the first round of the meetings on Wednesday.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir opened the meeting and welcomed the delegates. He then left the closed-door meeting and the groups started the negotiations, which are expected to continue until Thursday.

Saudi Arabia invited 65 Syrian opposition figures to attend the meeting in Riyadh. Members of two militant groups calling themselves Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam are taking part in the conference. A number of groups fighting under the umbrella of the so-called Free Syrian Army are also attending the meeting.

A Syrian Kurdish group that has taken control of areas in north Syria said it has not been invited to the Riyadh meeting. The Kurds, however, organized a separate meeting in Syria's Hasakah Province. The Riyadh meeting is aimed at welding the so-called opposition groups into a unified team for potential talks with the Syrian government in early January.

Comment: Wait and see. There are more sides to this issue than present at this meeting.

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Crusader

Putin: 'Hopefully, no nukes will be needed' against Islamic State


RT
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 13:01 UTC
Vladimir Putin
© Aleksey Nikolskyi / Sputnik
Vladimir Putin has praised the Russian cruise missiles fired against terrorists in Syria from the sea. He expressed hope that these weapons would not have to be armed with nuclear warheads.

Meeting in the Kremlin with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who reported the latest results of the anti-Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) ops in Syria, the Russian president made a notable remark.

Comment: Hope you are right Vladimir. Hopefully nukes won't be used anywhere but when one is dealing with psychopaths, anything can happen for no sensible reason.

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Attention

Iraq Parliament demands review or cancellation of US security agreement


Sputnik
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 12:48 UTC
US army soldier in Iraq
© Flickr/ The U.S. Army
The Security and Defense Committee of the Iraqi Parliament has called for a review or cancellation of an agreement with the United States on security over Washington's lack of a clear reaction to the worsening situation in the country, committee member Hamid al-Mutlaq told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"The government and parliament need to review the agreement signed with the United States on security because the United States does not seriously care about its fulfillment. We demand that it be annulled," al-Mutlaq said.

"Iraq will be protected only by its sons, and Turkey must withdraw [its troops] because Iraqi soil is holy and its sovereignty is the red line. We have the right to give this issue international character and demand Turkish troops be withdrawn through the UN Security Council," al-Mutlaq continued.

On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi gave Turkey 24 hours to withdraw its troops from Iraq to avoid the matter being reviewed by the UN Security Council. Turkey has refused to do so.
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Radar

Russian MoD reports 4 US-led coalition jets seen over Deir ez-Zor in Syria day govt troops attacked


RT
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 12:35 UTC
US jets
© Michael Fiala / Reuters
Four Western coalition warplanes were spotted over the Deir az-Zor area in Syria on December 6, when a Syrian Army camp came under attack. No Russian warplanes were in the region, says the Russian Defense Ministry.

"Russian aircraft were not on a mission in that area. All our flights in Syrian airspace are coordinated with air traffic control and the General Staff of the Syrian government's armed forces," Konashenkov said adding that Russia always informs the US about the time, altitudes and routes of its aircraft in Syrian airspace.

"Pentagon officials said that on December 6, American aircraft were operating in that area, but striking a target some 55 kilometers away from the [affected Syrian] installation is true to an extent. But it's not the complete truth," Konashenkov stressed.

Comment: As the truth of the airstrikes are revealed, expect some counter propaganda against Russia.

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Jet2

Behind the Headlines: Erdogan, the Su-24 shoot-down, CIA-NATO in Turkey, and containing Russia


Sott.net
Sun, 29 Nov 2015 19:00 UTC
grey wolves

Standard of the 'Grey Wolves', CIA-NATO fascist network in Turkey and elsewhere in central Asia
In this episode of 'Behind the Headlines' - broadcast Sunday 29 November 2015 - Sott.net editors Joe Quinn and Niall Bradley analysed the extraordinary shoot-down of a Russian Su-24 bomber in Syria by a Turkish F-16. Everyone is noting how 'stupid' the Erdgoan government is for sanctioning such an act, especially given the negative Russian reaction. But a closer look indicates that Erdogan either had no choice but to go along with the pre-planned provocation, or he was simply informed of it after the fact.

Joe and Niall go behind the headlines to identify the real orchestrators of the attack on Russia, and what this critical border incident means in the context of 'the Great Game' playing out across Eurasia.

Running Time: 01:57:00

Download: MP3


Articles by Joe Quinn on this subject:
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Propaganda

Russian journalists investigating ISIS oil trade deported by Turkey


RT
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 03:15 UTC
turkish border oil smuggling ISIS
© Rodi Said / Reuters
The Syrian-Turkish border crossing.
Russian journalists preparing an investigative report into Ankara's alleged involvement in the oil trade with ISIS have been detained and deported from Turkey. Moscow strongly condemned the treatment of the Rossiya 1 TV crew, demanding explanations.

"We strongly condemn the illegal actions of the Turkish authorities," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Such an attitude towards the media is absolutely unacceptable."

On Monday, the press crew of the TV program Special Correspondent, headed by Alexander Buzaladze, were detained in southeastern Turkey by authorities in civilian clothes. The journalists were preparing an investigative report into the alleged smuggling of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) oil into Turkey.

The trouble for the Rossiya 1 TV crew started only once they arrived at the border, Buzaladze said after the deportation. He told Russian state-owned channel Vesti that while the crew worked in Istanbul and Ankara they had faced no opposition from the authorities.

But as soon as they and tried to film close to the Turkish-Syrian border the crew was "blocked [by] the Turkish security forces" leaving them no time to even "get the camera out."

Comment: Even with the power of the state behind him, Erdogan is fighting a losing battle to keep a lid on his criminal activities

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