Puppet Masters

Pepe Escobar interviews jailed former president of Brazil Lula

Pepe Escobar
Asia Times
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 20:36 UTC

Brazil has always been a land of superlatives. Yet nothing beats the current, perverse configuration: a world statesman lingers in jail while a clownish thug is in power, his antics now considered a threat to the whole planet.

In a wide-ranging, two-hour, world exclusive interview out of a prison room at the Federal Police building in Curitiba, southern Brazil, former president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva not only made the case to global public opinion for his innocence in the whole Car Wash corruption saga, confirmed by the bombshell leaks revealed by The Intercept, but also repositioned himself to resume his status as a global leader. Arguably sooner rather than later - depending on a fateful, upcoming decision by the Brazilian Supreme Court, for which Justice is not exactly blind.

The request for the interview was entered five months ago. Lula talked to journalists Mauro Lopes, Paulo Moreira Leite and myself, representing in all three cases the website Brasil247 and in my case Asia Times. A rough cut, with only one camera focusing on Lula, was released this past Thursday, the day of the interview. A full, edited version, with English subtitles, targeting global public opinion, should be released by the end of the week.

Comment: See also: Pepe Escobar: Brazilgate is turning into Russiagate 2.0

How far has propaganda factory Integrity Initiative infiltrated the UK's political parties?

Kit Klarenberg
Sputnik
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 19:29 UTC

On 23rd August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky bestowed a number of "state awards" upon "citizens of foreign countries", among them Scottish National Party MP Stewart McDonald. While he hailed the bauble on Twitter as a "wonderful birthday surprise", it's hard to imagine he was was particularly flabbergasted to receive it.

The SNP's defence spokesperson has established himself as parliament's most voluble and zealous advocate for Kiev by some margin, in turn also cementing a position as a prominent and pugnacious critic of the Kremlin, his Russophobic conspiracy theorising on social media being an almost daily staple.

Strangely, it wasn't always this way - in fact, in the three years after he was first elected MP 8th May 2015, he exhibited little interest in Russia and literally none in Ukraine.

Comment: Another excellent piece from investigative reporter Kit Klarenberg. Read more of his work on Integrity Initiative:

Shades of Brexit: Johnson's backstop alternatives; Farage's 'worst deal in history'; Corbyn's no 'no-deal' Brexit

Sputnik
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 14:41 UTC

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is meeting other opposition politicians in an effort to avert a no-deal Brexit. It comes as the British government seeks to renegotiate Theresa May's Brexit deal with the EU.

The Prime Minister's spokeswoman said Tuesday he has set out a "range of options" as an alternative to the Irish backstop.

Asked by journalists about reports the prime minister was happy to accept the rest of Mrs May's Brexit withdrawal deal if the backstop was removed, she said he had been clear the changes he was seeking were to the backstop only.

But Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said the withdrawal agreement was the "worst deal in history" even if the backstop was removed.

Comment: In other words, many factions, little progress, looming deadline and Britain remains a mess.

What's happening in Trump's deficit economy

Joseph E. Stiglitz
Project Syndicate
Fri, 09 Aug 2019 00:00 UTC

Economists have repeatedly tried to explain to Donald Trump that trade agreements may affect which countries the US buys from and sells to, but not the magnitude of the overall deficit. But, as usual, Trump believes what he wants to believe, leaving those who can least afford it to pay the price.

In the new world wrought by US President Donald Trump, where one shock follows another, there is never time to think through fully the implications of the events with which we are bombarded. In late July, the Federal Reserve Board reversed its policy of returning interest rates to more normal levels, after a decade of ultra-low rates in the wake of the Great Recession. Then, the United States had another two mass gun killings in under 24 hours, bringing the total for the year to 255 - more than one a day. And a trade war with China, which Trump had tweeted would be "good, and easy to win," entered a new, more dangerous phase, rattling markets and posing the threat of a new cold war.

At one level, the Fed move was of little import: a 25-basis-point change will have little consequence. The idea that the Fed could fine-tune the economy by carefully timed changes in interest rates should by now have long been discredited - even if it provides entertainment for Fed watchers and employment for financial journalists. If lowering the interest rate from 5.25% to essentially zero had little impact on the economy in 2008-09, why should we think that lowering rates by 0.25% will have any observable effect? Large corporations are still sitting on hoards of cash: it's not a lack of liquidity that's stopping them from investing.

China wants to buy Ukraine engine factory; Bolton rushes to intervene

RT
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 23:27 UTC

The prospect of a Ukrainian engine factory selling out to China has so alarmed Washington that none other than national security adviser John Bolton is seeking to stop it. The US didn't bother making a counter-offer, either.

Bolton is headed to Kiev after the G7 summit in France, and said on Monday he was looking forward to meetings with "partners" there, to support the government's vision for a "stronger and more prosperous Ukraine."

He did not comment, however, on the Wall Street Journal story from Friday that one of those meetings will involve the fate of Motor Sich, which is seeking approval from a Kiev watchdog to sell the controlling stake to two Chinese companies. This has raised alarms in Washington, where hawks worry that Beijing will acquire more than just the plant in Zaporozhye, but the technology and expertise to build helicopter and airplane engines.

Russian nuke accident linked to weapons built post 'US withdrawal from ABM Treaty'

RT
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:34 UTC

The nuclear incident that killed five scientists at a Russian range on August 8 was related to the development of weapons being built in response to the US decision to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002.

"The nuclear accident that occurred had nothing to do with nuclear testing and is not under the purview of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty [adopted by the UN in 1996]," Aleksey Karpov, Russia's deputy permanent envoy to international organizations in Vienna, said on Monday.

Karpov said the testing related to "retaliatory measures in connection with the US unilateral withdrawal" from the landmark 1972 arms control treaty to limit anti-ballistic missile systems (ABM treaty), which the US withdrew from in 2002.

According to Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, the accident happened on board a sea platform in the Arkhangelsk region, while the scientists were working on an "isotope power source" for a "liquid-propellant engine."

Comment: See also:

Pentagon: China is 'bullying' Vietnam, 'violating rules-based international order'

RT
Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:33 UTC

The Pentagon has accused China of "coercive interference" with Vietnamese oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, saying that such "bullying tactics" are violating international rules and norms in the Indo-Pacific region.

On Monday, the US Department of Defense said it was "greatly concerned" at Chinese activities, but offered no specifics other than it being related to oil and gas. It accused Beijing of violating the pledge made by Defense Minister Wei Fenghe at the Shangri-La Dialogue, to "stick to the path of peaceful development."

China will "not win the trust of its neighbors nor the respect of the international community," the Pentagon statement said.

The US sees the region as a "free and open" place where "all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms," the Pentagon concluded.

Last week, a Chinese survey ship sailed into the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) claimed by Vietnam, prompting protests from Washington. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded that the US was "sowing division" in the region.

Yemen: US to initiate direct talks with Houthis, end the war

Sputnik
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 19:30 UTC

The United States wants to initiate direct talks with the Houthi movement in an attempt to end the war in Yemen, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Trump administration is looking to prompt Saudi Arabia into taking part in secret talks in Oman with Houthi leaders to broker a cease-fire in Yemen, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the plans.

The US plan comes at a time when fears of broader regional war are growing, according to the report.

The Trump administration views Houthi forces in Yemen as "Iran proxies" and says Tehran should be held responsible for rocket and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, the report said. Over recent months, the Houthi militants have conducted several drone attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities.

More trouble in Omar-land: DC mom says husband dumped her for congressman Omar - files for divorce

Julia Marsh
New York Post
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 18:11 UTC

A Washington, DC, mom says her political-consultant husband left her for Rep. Ilhan Omar, according to a bombshell divorce filing obtained by The Post.

Dr. Beth Jordan Mynett says her cheating spouse, Tim Mynett, told her in April that he was having an affair with the Somali-born US representative and that he even made a "shocking declaration of love" for the Minnesota congresswoman before he ditched his wife, alleges the filing, submitted in DC Superior Court on Tuesday.

The physician, 55, and her 38-year-old husband — who has worked for left-wing Democrats such as Omar and her Minnesota predecessor, Keith Ellison — have a 13-year-old son together.

Comment: Let's see. Immigration fraud, tax fraud, student loan fraud, possible voter fraud, bigamy, and now infidelity. Things just get better and better with Ilhan Omar.

She could have been a force within Congress pushing back on the Israeli Lobby, the punishing sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, and the plight of Palestine. If she isn't impeached and removed from office for her criminal actions, it's unlikely she will ever see a second term.

Bolsonaro demands apology from Macron before accepting $20M to help fight Amazon fires

Erik Ortiz
NBC New
Tue, 27 Aug 2019 18:02 UTC

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Tuesday that he will accept the offer of international aid to help fight the fires raging across the Amazon rainforest, but that French President Emmanuel Macron must first apologize to him.

Bolsonaro appeared offended by Macron's comments related to his handling of the unfolding crisis in the Amazon, and wanted them retracted.

"And then we can speak," he said, according to The Associated Press.

The Brazilian leader's demand for an apology follows Macron lashing out after a Bolsonaro supporter mocked Macron's wife, Brigitte, in a Facebook post, comparing her to Bolsonaro's wife, Michelle, and suggesting Macron was jealous.

Bolsonaro commented on the post in Portuguese, "don't humiliate the guy ... haha," leading Macron to respond during the Group of Seven summit on Monday that the comment was "very disrespectful."

"He said very disrespectful things about my wife. I have great respect for the Brazilian people and can only hope they soon have a president who is up to the job," Macron said.

Comment: As if we needed any more proof that the vast majority of world leaders are virtue-signaling infants. The uproar about the Amazon is pure hysteria. See:

Why everything they're saying about the Amazon fires is wrong

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earthwatcher

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Jibrish

Puppet Masters

Pepe Escobar interviews jailed former president of Brazil Lula

How far has propaganda factory Integrity Initiative infiltrated the UK's political parties?

Shades of Brexit: Johnson's backstop alternatives; Farage's 'worst deal in history'; Corbyn's no 'no-deal' Brexit

What's happening in Trump's deficit economy

China wants to buy Ukraine engine factory; Bolton rushes to intervene

Russian nuke accident linked to weapons built post 'US withdrawal from ABM Treaty'

Pentagon: China is 'bullying' Vietnam, 'violating rules-based international order'

Yemen: US to initiate direct talks with Houthis, end the war

More trouble in Omar-land: DC mom says husband dumped her for congressman Omar - files for divorce

Bolsonaro demands apology from Macron before accepting $20M to help fight Amazon fires

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