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Mattis warns of Russian 'influence campaigns' prior to Macedonia name referendum


RFE/RL
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 10:56 UTC
Mattis/Sekerinska/ Zaev/
© Boris Grdanoski/AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis • Macedonian Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska • Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Macedonia on September 17 with a warning that Russia was attempting to use its money and influence to build opposition to the upcoming referendum on changing the former Yugoslav republic's name.

"No doubt that they have transferred money and they are also conducting broader influence campaigns," Mattis told reporters traveling with him to the Macedonian capital, Skopje.

He said it was unclear how effective Moscow's efforts to defeat the referendum had been.

Western leaders have visited Skopje in recent days to back a "yes" vote at the September 30 referendum on whether to change the Balkan country's name to North Macedonia.

The planned vote follows an agreement between Skopje and Athens in June to break a decades-long stalemate that has poisoned their relations since 1991 and could pave the way for Macedonia to join NATO -- a move Moscow opposes.

Comment: Why would Russia even care what an independent country wants to name itself, even if a duplication is questionable? The steamroller to war is gaining strength as other nations fall into the trap.

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Passport

'IntelLeaks': Spooks get one over Assange, 'reveal' bid for Russian visa in 2010


The Daily Mail
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 08:45 UTC
Assange
© Associated Press
Julian Assange
Julian Assange had just pulled off one of the biggest scoops in journalistic history, splaying the innards of American diplomacy across the web. But technology firms were cutting ties to his website, WikiLeaks, cable news pundits were calling for his head and a Swedish sex crime case was threatening to put him behind bars. Caught in a vise, the silver-haired Australian wrote to the Russian Consulate in London.

"I, Julian Assange, hereby grant full authority to my friend, Israel Shamir, to both drop off and collect my passport, in order to get a visa," said the letter, which was obtained exclusively by The Associated Press.
Assange letter Russia
© Associated Press
This document obtained by The Associated Press shows a letter to the Russian Consulate in London dated Nov. 30, 2010. Although it isn't clear whether the missive was actually delivered to the consulate, it does show that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sought a Russian visa as authorities were closing in on him in the wake of his publication of U.S. State Department cables. The letter is part of a wider cache of internal WikiLeaks files recently obtained by the AP. Sections of the image are redacted to protect sensitive information.
The Nov. 30, 2010 missive is part of a much larger trove of WikiLeaks emails, chat logs, financial records, secretly recorded footage and other documents leaked to The Associated Press. The files provide both an intimate look at the radical transparency organization and an early hint of Assange's budding relationship with Moscow.


Comment: In other words, Western intelligence acquired and leaked this info, probably the CIA and/or MI6. What they think it might do is further dehumanize Assange in the court of public opinion for 'consorting with the enemy'. But actually all it reveals is that Assange, by doing this after the spooks were out for him, did too little too late to escape their net.

The docs could of course be fake. And AP today stinks even more than it did yesterday for collaborating with the spooks in this doxing.


Comment: FWIW, WikiLeaks are denying this Russian angle.

See also:
Wikileaks denies claims Assange sought Russian visa in 2010; says source is paid FBI informant and fraudster Sigurdur Thordarson

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Light Saber

Project Veritas strikes again: James O'Keefe set to expose Deep State with new investigation

Joseph Jankowski
Planet Free Will
Sun, 16 Sep 2018 18:07 UTC
James O'Keefe

James O'Keefe, director of Project Veritas
"We're going to unmask you"

Investigative Journalist James O'Keefe is set to make public a new investigation that will "unmask" and "put a face to the individuals who seek to disturb the fabric of our Republic."

The investigation was teased in a 30-second trailer released on Friday under O'Keefe's non-profit organization, Project Veritas:

Comment: Project Veritas' record has been impressive to date. Will the high standards continue?

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People

'Blah, blah, blah': Luxembourg FM disrupts Salvini's speech on migrants during EU meeting (VIDEO)


RT
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 20:05 UTC
Migrants disembark from the a search and rescue ship on the island of Sicily
© Antonio Parrinello / Reuters
Migrants disembark from the a search and rescue ship on the island of Sicily, Italy, January 30, 2018
Italian and Luxembourg ministers engaged in a bitter argument during an EU meeting over the union's immigration policies. Italy's Matteo Salvini referred to migrants as "slaves," resulting in angry exchanges.

The verbal stand-off happened on Friday in Vienna. Salvini, the interior minister and leader of the anti-immigration Lega Nord, was describing how his country's perception of undocumented immigrants from across the Mediterranean differs from that of Luxembourg.

"Perhaps in Luxembourg there are these needs [to support an ageing workforce with immigrants]," he said, according to footage of the exchange. "But in Italy, there is a need to help children have more children, not acquire slaves to replace the children we are not having."

Comment: See also: 'Wash your mouth out before insulting legitimate government': Italy's Salvini hits out at top EU official over 'little Mussolinis' remark

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Arrow Up

Report: Hezbollah's gains have 'far exceeded' their losses in the Syrian war


Sputnik
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 17:07 UTC
Hezbollah Syria war
© AP Photo / Bilal Hussein
The Hezbollah group has benefited from the civil war in Syria by solidifying combat experience with new weapons, despite losing nearly 2,000 fighters on the battlefield, the private intelligence Soufan Group said in a new report.

"Hezbollah has vastly expanded and solidified its network, which is already global in nature, boasting an infrastructure that spans Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. Closer to home in the region, Hezbollah's partnerships with Iraqi militias and Houthi rebels in Yemen have also become more functional, serving as a force multiplier for the group and helping to extend its tentacles into new fronts," the report said.

The Hezbollah network has gained combat experience fighting in Aleppo, Deraa, Damascus, Latakia and elsewhere throughout Syria, the report read.

Comment: The Soufan Group's report defines Hezbollah as a terrorist group. However, the facts strongly suggest otherwise:
American investigative reporter Gareth Porter has done deep dives on various allegations of Hezbollah-linked "terrorism" in Argentina, Bulgaria, Washington, DC, India, Saudi Arabia and other places. The State Department lists many of these incidents as evidence of the "global threat" Hezbollah poses, but always, upon further scrutiny, the accusations ring hollow.

If there was compelling evidence of the Lebanese resistance group's involvement in all these attacks, then why have so few nations clamored onto the Hezbollah-is-a-terrorist-organization bandwagon? Until the conflict in Syria kicked off, it was restricted to a smattering of western states and Israel. But relentless U.S. pressure, and the seismic battle currently underway in the Middle East between pro-U.S. states and pro-Iran states vying for hegemony, have produced a few recent additions.
Also see: Operation Destroy Syria Has Failed - Next Target: Hezbollah

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Handcuffs

The Mueller investigation is sending people to jail for everything but collusion

Aaron Maté
The Nation
Thu, 13 Sep 2018 17:16 UTC
manafort
© Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
President Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort departs a district court in Alexandria, Virginia, May 4, 2018.
The belief that George Papadopoulos, Michael Cohen, and Paul Manafort would turn over evidence of collusion with Russia got ahead of reality.

The anonymous government official who revealed a "resistance" inside the White House has heightened the sense of doom hanging over Donald Trump's presidency. A stream of disparaging claims from other White House insiders, the multiple criminal cases enveloping Trump's inner circle, and the ongoing special-counsel investigation into possible collusion with the Russian government have all also added to anticipation of Trump's imminent downfall. But the widespread perception that "the walls are closing in"; on a " "teetering" Trump presidency is getting ahead of reality. While figures eyed as central to the suspected Trump-Russia conspiracy-campaign volunteer George Papadopoulos, longtime fixer Michael Cohen, and campaign manager Paul Manafort - have been convicted of criminal activity, their cases have not bolstered the case for collusion as many liberals had hoped.

Last week, Papadopoulos was sentenced to 14 days in prison for lying to the FBI about the timing of his contacts with a Maltese professor, Joseph Mifsud. According to Papadopoulos, Mifsud claimed to have connections to Russia and information that the Kremlin had obtained Hillary Clinton's stolen e-mails. In May 2016, Papadopoulos relayed vague details about his conversation with Mifsud to Australian diplomat Alexander Downer. According to press accounts, a tip from Downer about his encounter with Papadopoulos sparked the FBI's "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation into alleged Trump-Russia ties.
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Radar

Russia and Ukraine teetering on the brink of war in Azov Sea thanks to US support of Kiev regime

Peter Korzun
Strategic Culture Foundation
Sun, 16 Sep 2018 00:00 UTC
Azov Sea
Ukraine has increased its military presence in the Azov Sea region. Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council met on Sept. 7 and agreed to take a variety of steps to boost the country's combat capabilities in the area, including the creation of a missile-equipped naval infantry group to counter potential amphibious attacks and naval shore bombardments. Ukraine's Gurza-M-class armored artillery boats have been brought in to boost the naval component of the forces deployed in the region.

Russia and Ukraine enjoy free use of the Sea of Azov under the 2003 "Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Ukraine on cooperation in the use of the sea of Azov and the strait of Kerch." The document is in place but it does not specify any precise border. The parties agree that the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch are the internal waters of both Ukraine and Russia.

Comment: Couple this with the recent Kiev/Washington-led assassination of Donbass leader Alexander Zakharchenko and it becomes quite clear that Russia is being further goaded into direct conflict with Ukraine - and whose defensive responses would likely be used to further paint Russia as the 'aggressor' in Western media.

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Better Earth

Putin and Erdogan agree to establish demilitarized zone in Idlib - Russian defense minister rules out new military operation


RT
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 18:47 UTC
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin
© Sergey Guneev / Sputnik
Russia and Turkey have agreed a "demilitarized zone" between militants and government troops in Syria's Idlib, President Vladimir Putin said after hours-long talks with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan focused on solving the crisis.

"We've focused on the situation in the province of Idlib, considering presence of large militant groups and their infrastructure there," Putin said at a press conference after the talks.

"We've agreed to create a demilitarized zone between the government troops and militants before October 15. The zone will be 15-20km wide, with full withdrawal of hardline militants from there, including the Jabhat Al-Nusra."

Comment: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told journalists following the Putin-Erdogan announcement that a new military operation in the Syrian province of Idlib was now off the agenda:
The defense ministries of Russia and Turkey signed a memorandum on Monday on the stabilization of the situation in the zone of de-escalation in Syria's Idlib. The document was signed following bilateral talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held on Monday in the Russian southern resort city of Sochi.

Asked by a journalist whether it was true that no more military operations were planned to be held in Idlib, the Russian defense minister said "Yes [it is true]."

"In the hours to come, we plan to make final agreements with them [the Turkish side] on the remaining provisions, which are stipulated in this document," Shoigu said.
The press statements by Putin and Erdogan:

Turkey's turn towards the East is all but complete. However this demilitarized zone plays out, Turkish-Russian cooperation is further cemented by this arrangement. We're now a long way from that 'Turkish' shoot-down of a Russian jet in late 2015.

With this memorandum, Erdogan gets his way in protecting 'FSA' militias loyal to Turkey, and preventing another wave of refugees (and who-knows-what terrorists) from crossing the border, while Putin gets to further isolate US/Western forces from having any reason to be anywhere in Syria.

Putin mentioned, in passing, that Damascus is supportive of this arrangement "in general," so Syria has apparently little choice but to accept that this arrangement is 'above its pay-grade'. As much as Russia is serious about honoring its fundamental agreement with Syria to have military presence there in exchange for liberating all of Syria from terrorists, it's apparently more important to Russia at this point to win other friends in the region on the way towards that goal.

See also: Erdogan: Turkey will cooperate with Russia on eliminating terrorists in Idlib, Syria

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Map

'The EU is not the Europe we want': Le Pen demands a new union of sovereign European nations


RT
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 17:07 UTC
Marine Le Pen
© Eric Gaillard / Reuters
France's Marine Le Pen wants to break away from the European Union and move towards a union of individual nations, saying that the current bloc is "an ideological structure" and not "real Europe."

"The European Union is not Europe... it is not the real Europe that we want," the president of France's National Rally (formerly Front National) told her supporters in the southern town of Frejus on Sunday.

She called the bloc "an ideological structure" and "an institution governed by an anonymous authority" that has power over a vast area that reaches Turkey in the east and the Maghreb region in northwestern Africa. According to Le Pen, such an area is not attached to any history, it has neither the "roots or traditions" nor "strength nor prospects."
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Bad Guys

Trump warns voters if Dems take midterms, 'Kiss your newfound wealth goodbye!'


RT
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 15:14 UTC
trump waving
© Yuri Gripas / Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump has tweeted that people's "newfound wealth" would be lost if they vote for Democrats in the midterm elections. His statement has made many wonder where that wealth may be.

With the US Senate and House elections inching closer, the president has ramped up his efforts to win swing voters as he bragged about the nation's economic success under the Republican leadership.

"Best economic numbers in decades. If the Democrats take control, kiss your newfound wealth goodbye!" Trump tweeted on Sunday evening.

Comment:

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