Puppet MastersS


Star of David

Israel's limited attack on Iran appears aimed at de-escalating conflict

Jets
© Mohammad Reza Sharif/Courtesy Images/APThe Iranian Army's tactical air base in Isfahan
Israel had vowed to make Iran pay for Tehran's unprecedented drone and missile attack on April 13.

But Israel's suspected military response early on April 19 appeared to be limited in scale and scope and aimed at de-escalating tensions with Iran.

Tehran said it shot down three quadcopter drones outside the central city of Isfahan, which is home to key military and nuclear facilities. Unnamed U.S. officials said Israel used missiles in the attack.

Experts said the use of small quadcopter drones, which are unable to travel long distances, suggests the attack was carried out from inside Iranian territory.

Israel has not claimed the attack in Isfahan. But experts said the suspected Israeli response sent a clear message to Tehran.

Bullseye

West fears Ukrainian front line could collapse soon - Bloomberg

Fired blast
© SputnikRussians fire a 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer towards Ukrainian positions.
Kiev's forces are struggling to hold back the Russians due to delays in foreign aid and personnel shortages. The US and the EU are concerned that Russian forces may punch through Ukrainian defensive lines in the coming weeks, people familiar with the matter have told Bloomberg. Russian troops are continuing to advance thanks to an advantage in ammunition, the agency acknowledged in an article on Thursday.

At the same time, Ukrainian forces "struggle because of delays in US and European military aid and personnel shortages." Ukraine also faces daily Russian missile, drone and bomb attacks that are knocking out key energy infrastructure and striking military positions, due to its lack of air defenses, according to Bloomberg.

Because of this, "concerns are mounting that Russia may make major gains in the coming weeks by punching through overstretched Ukrainian lines," sources in the US and Europe told the agency.

Russian forces have now reached the outskirts of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic, a crucial town for Ukraine's defenses in the area due to its elevated position, the article continued.

Comment: Perception wont change reality. Ukraine lost this war long ago.


Bad Guys

Democrats seek to strip Secret Service protection from Trump if he's convicted

trump lose secret service protection
© Alex Edelman-Pool/Getty ImagesThen President Trump enters a waiting SUV on May 16, 2018 in Bethesda, Maryland. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., has introduced a bill that would strip Secret Service protection from former President Donald Trump.
The so-called 'DISGRACE' Act directly targets Trump who is facing 91 felony charges in federal and state courts

House Democrats have introduced a bill that would strip Secret Service protection from convicted felons sentenced to prison, a move directly targeting former President Trump who is currently on criminal trial in New York City for alleged hush money payments made during the 2016 election campaign and faces several other cases which could land him behind bars.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the former chair of the now disbanded Jan. 6 congressional committee, introduced legislation that would automatically nix Secret Service protection for those who have been convicted of a federal or state felony that carries a minimum one-year prison term.

Comment: They really want Trump dead, don't they? And it looks like the Dems want to leave RFK exposed too.


Star of David

Israel: The road to Masada

Masada as seen from a drone.
© JP Worthington/VimeoMasada as seen from a drone.
The Iran attack story continues to unfold. Everybody has an opinion - but we still don't actually know what really happened. As a result, some think the attack was a victory for Iran. Others, even those on the Left, think not. Finian Cunningham calls it "lame retaliation".

The Iranians say they gave the American 72 hours' notice.

Pepe Escobar says that the Iranians and Americans met in Oman and the Iranians told the Americans their attack would be on military bases only. And...
THE SHADOWPLAY:

So this is how it happened.

Burns met an Iranian delegation in Oman.

He was told the Israeli punishment was inevitable - and if the US got involved then all US bases will be attacked, and the Strait of Hormuz would be blocked.

Burns said we do nothing if no civilians are harmed. The Iranians said it will be a military base or an embassy.

The CIA said go ahead and do it.
The Americans of course deny this.

So, somebody's lying.

Black Magic

US House passes $95 billion 'aid' package for Ukraine, Israel, Indo-pacific, wars after months-long delay

House of Representatives
House of Representatives
The U.S. House on Saturday voted on a bipartisan basis to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific.

Why it matters: The vote puts Congress on track to send long sought-after aid to Ukraine more than two months after similar legislation was sent over from the Senate.

Driving the news: The package was passed in four separate bills, one each for Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific and another containing sanctions on Russia, China and Iran, including the REPO Act and TikTok ban legislation.

Comment: Footage and commentary:










Attention

SOTT Focus: A Collective 'Common Enemy' Now Stalks Mankind

Psychos!
© Rumble.com
Yuval Hariri, Klaus Schwab's spokesman, recently made a statement that should send chills up everyone's spine. "If bad comes to worse and the Flood comes," Harari said, he and the likeminded cabal of shadowy world masters will "build an Ark and leave the rest to drown."

Elsewhere, Harari elaborates on the reasons for his fellow elitists' cold-hearted indifference to the fate of the vast majority of Earth's inhabitants:

"If you go back to the middle of the 20th century ...and you think about building the future, then your building materials are those millions of people who are working hard in the factories, in the farms, the soldiers. You need them. You don't have any kind of future without them."

What he means is that you - referring to the dominant social and financial elites of that era - still "needed" the labour of millions in the various fields of economic endeavour in order to turn a profit. Since then, how have things changed according to "futurologist" Harari?

"Now, fast forward to the early 21st century when we just don't need the vast majority of the population, because the future is about developing more and more sophisticated technology, like artificial intelligence [and] bioengineering, most people don't contribute anything to that, except perhaps for their data, and whatever people are still doing something useful, these technologies increasingly will make them redundant and will make it possible to replace those people."

Elitist mouthpiece Harari deserves credit for blood-curdling honesty, if not for the morality of his and his masters' "visions." He is plainly signalling the view that this writer, the editors of this portal, its readers and the rest of mankind are expendable and apart from whatever economic utility they still might possess are bereft of any inherent dignity or value.

Chess

No ceasefire with Ukraine even if talks start - Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks to the media.
© Sputnik / Alexey FilippovRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks to the media.
Moscow has no reason to believe Ukraine will keep its promises, the Russian foreign minister has said

Russia has no intention of ceasing hostilities with Ukraine even if the two countries engage in peace talks, as Kiev has proven itself to be an unreliable actor, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

In an interview with Russian media on Friday, the diplomat stressed that Moscow does not trust the leadership in Kiev.

"We have said that we are ready for the negotiations, but - unlike the Istanbul story - we will not make any pauses in the fighting during the negotiations. The process must go on," he said.

Comment: From the RT, there were a week ago, two articles on the a related topic:
13 Apr, 2024 13:07
No point in Russia signing peace deal with Zelensky - Lukashenko

A new administration in Kiev could axe any agreement reached between the outgoing president and Moscow, Belarusian leader has warned

There's no use for Russia to sign a peace agreement with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky as his term in office is nearly over, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has suggested.

During a meeting with Lukashenko on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that a peaceful end to the Ukraine conflict is "exactly what we're inclined to do," but stressed that Russia would not accept any imposed agreements that ignore its interests.

At a press briefing on Friday, Lukashenko noted that the Ukrainian president's term ends in May, which means that any deal reached with him would be futile because it could easily be overturned by the new administration.

"A situation may arise when Putin says: 'Guys, who should we sign an agreement with?..' The powers of the president of Ukraine have expired," Lukashenko stated, adding that it would actually be unwise to ink a deal with the Ukrainian leader.

"Today we will sign with him, let's say, some kind of agreement, tomorrow you will come to power, become president, you won't like it... You will discard this: it was signed by an illegitimate president, and I don't condone this at all, the new president will say," he told journalist Pavel Zarubin.

Lukashenko added that Ukraine's Western backers could also force a new president to abandon any peace deal reached between Moscow and Zelensky. According to Lukashenko, this is what happened with the now-defunct Minsk accords. Former Ukrainian president Pyotr Poroshenko and ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both admitted that the agreements brokered with Moscow in 2014 were reached to allow Kiev re-arm its forces in the aftermath of the hostilities triggered by the Maidan coup.

It is currently unclear what will happen after Zelensky's first five-year term is over, as he has repeatedly ruled out holding a presidential election, citing martial law. Kiev's Western backers have urged Zelensky to hold the elections within the mandated time frame, but the Ukrainian president has said he would only do so if Western nations were willing to fund them.

In 2022, Zelensky signed a law which declares peace talks with Russia illegal as long as Vladimir Putin remains in power. According to a peace formula presented by Zelensky the same year, negotiations also can't be held unless Russian forces withdraw from all territories that Kiev claims as its own.

Russia has repeatedly said it was ready to engage in peace negotiations with Ukraine but considers Zelensky's demands unrealistic.
But even if a new leader comes in Ukraine, what is the position of one of the Western leaders? There was this article:
13 Apr, 2024 17:34
German leader sets conditions for talks with Putin

Moscow should first "abandon" its military campaign for negotiations to be possible, Olaf Scholz has said

Negotiations between Germany and Russia are possible but only after Moscow gives up on its goals in the Ukraine conflict, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday. The German leader told the newspaper TAZ that he would only talk with President Vladimir Putin if Russia "abandoned" its campaign.

When Russia started its military operation against Kiev in February 2022, it cited the need to protect the people of Donbass, eradicate Nazi ideology in Ukraine, and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.

On Saturday, Scholz reiterated his pledge to "support Ukraine for as long as it is necessary." When asked about when he thinks the conflict could end, the chancellor replied that "nobody can answer this question."

When further pressed on whether the West should "push harder for negotiations and compromise," the chancellor hit back by saying that "Russia must not win this war." Asked by TAZ when the last time he talked to Putin was, Scholz said it was in December 2022.

The interviewer noted that "many people, particularly in eastern Germany" would like to see an agreement with Russia and asked why Scholz had not tried talking to the Russian president since late 2022.

"Such conversations are useful when you feel like you can make a difference," Scholz replied, adding that he would do so "when the time comes." When asked to provide more details about a potential time frame for negotiations, the chancellor said that any talks could take place only after "Russia realizes that there will be no dictated peace" and "Putin understands that he has to abandon his campaign and withdraw troops."

In March, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the newspaper Argumenti i Fakty that Moscow has new regions that need to be protected against encroachments by Kiev and that it cannot allow a state on its borders that has a stated aim of seizing Crimea and the new territories, he said, referring to the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

Moscow has never stated that it planned to seize all of Ukraine but has explained that it sought to ensure that the Ukrainian military could not pose a threat to Russian citizens or territory. Russian officials have also repeatedly expressed a willingness to engage in peace talks at any time as long as the reality on the ground was taken into account.

Kiev has repeatedly insisted that it would only consider any peace talks with Moscow after Russia withdraws its troops from all territories that Ukraine claims as its own. The Kremlin has brushed those demands off as absurd.

On Saturday, Scholz also said that many Germans were afraid of a potential escalation and called such fears "understandable." But Berlin still would not abandon its support for Kiev, he said, adding that Germany "cannot accept" Russia prevailing on the battlefield.
The above last lines indicate it is the Western Elites that have a problem more than the people. See also:


Cruise Missle

Russian MOD details long-range strikes on Ukraine

An Iskander ballistic missile launch.
© Sputnik / Russian Defence MinistryAn Iskander ballistic missile launch.
A total of 34 such operations were conducted over the past week, the military has said.

Russian forces have delivered 34 long-range strikes on Ukrainian targets since last Saturday, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported on Friday, during a weekly summary.

The attacks have been carried out "in response to attempts by the Kiev regime to cause damage to Russian energy and industrial sites," the statement said. Russian missiles were launched from ground, aerial and seaborne platforms, as well as from drones.

The ministry said it targeted "objects of energy industry, military industrial facilities, railway infrastructure, air defense systems, weapons depots and fuel storage facilities" used by the Ukrainian military.
"Damage was also inflicted on centers training drone operators and sites where Ukrainian troops, nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries were stationed," the ministry reported.

Comment: See also:


Star of David

PM shelved pre-approved plans for immediate Iran reprisal after Biden call

phonecall
© WhatsApp Image/GPOIsraeli PM Netanyahu talks to US President Biden • IDF's Kirya military headquarters • Tel Aviv
US DENIES OKAYING RAFAH OP IF ISRAEL HOLDS BACK ON IRAN

Source pledges Israel will respond to Iranian attack, though not as initially planned, since 'diplomatic sensitivities won out'; ABC says Israeli response unlikely before Passover.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shelved plans that had been prepared for retaliation against Iran's weekend barrage after speaking with US President Joe Biden immediately following the attack, Israeli television reported Wednesday.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, the cabinet had already approved a series of possible responses depending on the scope of the Iranian attack, which were slated to be carried out immediately following the Iranian fusillade early Sunday.

A senior source was quoted telling the broadcaster:
"The response won't be what was planned any longer; diplomatic sensitivities won out. There will be a response, but it seems it will be different from what was planned."
The report noted the comments likely pointed to a weaker response than what had been approved. Kan also quoted unnamed Western diplomats saying that "the understanding is that Israel will respond."

Brick Wall

Russia asks United Nations to consider sanctioning Israel

Nebenzya
© Charly Triballeau/AFPRussian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya at a UN Security Council meeting • New York • April 17, 2024
The Ramadan ceasefire in Gaza was not implemented, Moscow's envoy to the UN has said...

Russia's permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzia has called on the United Nations to consider imposing sanctions on Israel over its non-compliance with obligatory resolutions passed by the Security Council.

He noted that UNSC Resolution 2728 demanded a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, and this had not been implemented by Israel. During a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Nebenzia said:
"We remind you once again that non-compliance with mandatory Security Council resolutions must lead to sanctions against violators. We believe that the Council should consider this issue without delay."
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne also called for sanctions on Israel earlier this month. In February, Paris sanctioned 28 Israeli nationals, though the French government has not published their names.
The Hamas ceasefire resolution was adopted by the Security Council on March 25 in a vote of 14 in favor to none against, with the US abstaining. The document demanded a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and for humanitarian access to Gaza to be ensured.

Comment: Once again Club UN stands ineffective when it matters most.