Puppet Masters
© Agencja Gazetai / Reuters
A large-scale command exercise named Arrcade Fusion 15 (AF15), lasting two weeks and involving over 1,700 troops from 20 NATO countries plus Sweden, is underway in three Baltic states - Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. AF15 is a command-post exercise by the ARRC, which is based in Gloucestershire, UK. Arrcade Fusion exercises have taken place annually since 1992.
This year the ARRC is deploying its headquarters for the exercises to the Baltics for the first time at Latvia's Lielvarde air base, with elements working concurrently in Lithuania, Estonia and the main HQ in the UK.
Official statements say the scenario for the maneuvers is "fictitious" with "realistic global security threats" played on computers only.
© Twitter/@RT_com
A soft drink can and what appeared to be a detonator and switch allegedly made up the parts of an improvised homemade bomb, a photo published online on Wednesday by Dabiq magazine suggests.
Another photograph showed passports said to belong to Russian passengers killed in the bombing, with the documents allegedly obtained by Islamic fighters.
The authenticity of the images has not been verified.
© Sputnik/ Sergey Guneev
Earlier in the day, Russian Federal Security Service head Alexander Bortnikov said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that a homemade explosive device with an equivalent of 1 kilogram of TNT on board the Russian A321 passenger jet that crashed over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on October 31 killing all 224 on board is the reason for the crash.
"The Prime Minister [David Cameron] pledged the British support to the investigation two weeks ago so it still stands. Assisting in finding terrorists is a part of it," the spokesperson said.
President Putin said Tuesday that Russia hoped for cooperation of its partners in searching for and punishing those involved in the terrorist attack on A321 passenger jet.
Russian Special Services have offered $50 million for information on those responsible for the terrorist act of the A321 passenger plane.
"Remember when Russia's entrance into the Syria crisis was a "mistake" and even a "strategic blunder", according to Washington?," questions business analyst Kenneth Rapoza in his article in Forbes.
"Following Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, Russian air strikes on ISIL strongholds in Syria are no longer viewed as making the migrant crisis worse," he adds.
"Instead, they are viewed as a means to keep Syria from falling to the enemy."
Comment: Putin has masterfully played his cards to turn the global sentiment back in Russia's favor. The short-sighted politicians in the West would do well to pay attention so they could learn a thing or two about diplomacy and strategic planning.
© Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
U.S. Defense Ash Carter (L) listens as President Barack Obama (R) announces plans to slow the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington October 15, 2015
U.S. Defense Ash Carter (L) listens as President Barack Obama (R) announces plans to slow the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington October 15, 2015
The two leaders held an earnest 35-minute face-to-face discussion on the opening day of the G20 conference in Antalya, Turkey. The gathering of the world's top 20 economic nations was dominated by the massive terror attack in Paris two days earlier, which claimed at least 129 lives and hundreds more wounded.
Obama's meeting with Putin - their first since Russia launched its military intervention in Syria nearly seven weeks ago - was described by the White House as "constructive".
The American president even appeared to welcome Russian airstrikes against terror groups fighting the Syrian government, most prominently Islamic State (IS) jihadists, also known as ISIL.
"As the diplomacy continues, President Obama welcomed efforts by all nations to confront the terrorist group ISIL and noted the importance of Russia's military efforts in Syria focusing on the group," said a White House spokesman.
© REUTERS/ Christian Hartmann
During the searches, police found about 34 units of weapons and dome 16 caches of illicit drugs.
The searches in the houses throughout France have been continuing for the third night in a row. On Monday night, the police conducted 168 searches, the next night, 128 more.
Comment: More news on the terrorism threats:
- French police raid apartment: Explosions, gunfire, suicide bombing - 2 suspects dead, 7 arrested
- 'Terror threat' reported as two Air France flights from U.S. to Paris diverted, forced to land
- Need more fear: Armed police evacuate London tube station after man 'threatens passengers with scissors'
© AP Photo/ Kayhan Ozer
Russia's stance on Syria has won within a number of countries which had earlier opposed the leadership of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In an article published by the Italian newspaper il Giornale, political analyst Sergio Rame writes that is safe to assume that the "cards on the table of the international community are suddenly being shuffled."
Referring to the recent terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris, he suggested that the Syrian conflict may end in the near future.
"The attacks in Beirut and Paris only prove that the caliphate, which retreats both in Syria and Iraq, does not receive the economic, diplomatic and informational support after the beginning of Russian air campaign in Syria," he said.
This Hail Mary appears to be coming in the form of an attempt to secure the "Safe Zone" area discussed and agreed upon by the Turks and the United States in the past under the guise of fighting ISIS and protecting "moderate rebels" and civilians. In reality, however, the "Safe Zone" is nothing but a trafficking corridor for ISIS and other related terrorist organizations supported by NATO, financed by the GCC, and funneled through Turkey into Syria.
Comment: Coupled with the recent deployment of the U.S. Navy to the region, this "safe zone" plan outlined above points to the fact that the U.S., Turkey and others aligned with them have no intention of letting up on their plans to over-run Assad and establish their own puppets in Syria. Things are very quickly coming to a head in Syria and elsewhere: We can expect the situation to worsen as the world's nations are forced to take sides between an empire hell-bent on controlling the planet's people and resources, and a nation that is determined to help the world live in safety and liberty.
See also:
- No-fly zones and surface-to-air missiles: The US looks to be getting ready for war with Russia in Syria
- Putin: '40 countries finance ISIS, including some G20 members'
- US intentionally spares ISIS to weaken Assad, says Lavrov
© Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation / RIA Novosti
A Russian Tupolev 95 long-range bomber launches a massive air strike on the Islamic State infrastructure in Syria.
A Russian Tupolev 95 long-range bomber launches a massive air strike on the Islamic State infrastructure in Syria.
The escalated Russian operation involved not only warplanes flying from an airfield near Latakia, but also strategic bombers operating from Russian territory.
On Tuesday, Russian warplanes conducted 127 sorties and hit 206 targets, a source in the Russian defense ministry told RT.
Russian strategic bombers such as Tu-22M3s, Tu-95MCs and Tu-160s were previously used for patrol missions as part of Russia's nuclear deterrence. Their deployment in a conventional armed conflict marks an evolution in Russian military tactics.
It was also the first time Russia used in combat a new air-to-surface missile, KR Kh 101/102, which has been in service since 2012 but was not shown in public before. The missile can be seen inside a bomber bay in a video released by the defense ministry.
Comment: Russia is deadly serious!
Comment: It's completely hypocritical of the US/NATO to criticize Russia for any kind of "aggression" when they are putting their own military right on Russia's doorstep. How would the US react if Russia were to conduct military exercises on the US border to Canada? All kinds of hyperbole and threats would be issued. It is totally reasonable for Russia to respond to such "exercises" by building up their own military.