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How to win hearts and minds: Putin returns Nazi-looted icon to Greek prime minister


The Moscow Times
Thu, 09 Apr 2015 22:29 UTC
Putin returns greek icon
© Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meets with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill in Moscow Apr. 9.
President Vladimir Putin has presented Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras with an ancient Greek icon that had been looted decades earlier, during the Nazi occupation of Greece.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in comments to news site Vesti.ru on Thursday that Putin personally gave Tsipras the icon, which depicts Saint Nicholas and Saint Spyridon, following their talks at the Kremlin on Wednesday.

Peskov said the icon was stolen by a Nazi officer when Greece was under German occupation during World War II, and had recently been purchased from the officer's descendants by an unnamed Russian man.

With many private partners, Russia is eager to establish strong financial and political cooperation, but also cultural exchange.

"The Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras gave an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Spyridon, which was stolen during the occupation of the monastery of Sparta Nazi officer Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller", - quotes RIA Novosti source in the Greek government. Now, the relic will be able to return to their own rightful owners.

Friedrich-Wilhelm Müller - Nazi officer who stole the icon from Greek monastery - during the war, earned the nickname the Butcher of Crete. He has sanctioned the so-called massacre in Viannos, when in early September 1943, the German troops destroyed the inhabitants of almost 20 villages. In retaliation for their support of the guerrillas were killed over 500 people. In 1945 Mueller was arrested by the red army and handed over to Greek authorities. In 1947, he was executed in Crete.

Comment: And THAT is how to conduct international diplomacy. Putin recognized a historical wrong that deprived a nation of one of its cultural touchstones. There's something more here too. Russia's returning an important symbol of Greek national pride is perhaps a signal that they are willing to do more for Greece than just repatriate a piece of meaningful art.

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Bomb

How ironic: Obama concerned China using 'size, muscle' to bully other countries

Tyler Durden
Zerohedge
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 23:23 UTC
Image
© Reuters/Jonathan Ernst
U.S. President Barack Obama participates in a town hall meeting with young Caribbean leaders at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica April 9, 2015.
To be sure, China has had a good couple of months when it comes to projecting their rising superpower status to the rest of the world. Indeed, Beijing's military made history three times last week alone by agreeing to sell some $5 billion in subs to Pakistan, by getting set to start the country's first nuclear submarine patrols, and by swooping in to rescue more than 200 evacuees in the embattled Yemeni port city of Aden (and risking armed conflict in the process) in what Reuters notes is "the first time that China's military has helped other countries evacuate their people during an international crisis."

Of course the biggest coup of all was that represented by the incredible (and somewhat unlikely) success of the country's AIIB membership drive, which concluded at the end of March and saw everyone who is anyone (country wise) put in a bid to join — everyone but the US and Japan that is.

So in the space of two short months the country has managed to put its growing military prowess on display while simultaneously upending the post World War II economic order by threatening its most entrenched multilateral institutions from which they are now looking to hire — not too bad.

Meanwhile Washington was busy doing what Washington does when it comes to foreign policy: propping up one puppet government (in Ukraine) both financially and militarily while simultaneously switching on the damage control after a previously propped up puppet regime (in Yemen) was overthrown, bombing groups of marauding Middle Eastern militants (who may or may not have been trained by the CIA at one time or another) from the stratosphere, and explaining to the rest of the world how dangerous Vladimir Putin (still) is.

Comment: So Obama might as well say "do as we say, not as we do". Oh the irony indeed.

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TV

South Front, Ukrainian Crisis News: Kiev violates Minsk 2.0, launches renewed offensive against east Ukraine


South Front
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:11 UTC
south front
10 April 2015

Ukraine's armed forces have started massive battle-tank shelling of Donetsk, Gorlovka and Dokuchaevsk. The positions of Donetsk People's Republic militia along the whole frontline are under shelling. Furthermore, serious clashes are ongoing in the settlement of Shirokino near Mariupol. One fighter from DPR forces has been killed. The crew of REN TV channel also came under fire.

NATO and Czech Republic soldiers took part in a drill called "Noble Jump" at the airport in Pardubice, Czech Republic on Thursday. This is an initial exercise and first test of its new rapid response force that NATO says is designed to "face new challenges from Russia". Some experts believe the drill is offensive rather than defensive, and is actually preparation for a first-strike against Russia. But the most important point is that "Noble Jump" started in the Czech Republic while the US-backed Kiev government began massive shelling in the Donbass region.

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Stock Down

JPMorgan's CEO Jamie Dimon warns shareholders of coming economic crisis

Andrew Moran
Economic Collapse News
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 20:33 UTC
Jamie Dimon
© Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images
James "Jamie" Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
This time, it isn't just Peter Schiff, Marc Faber, David Stockman or Jim Rogers ringing the alarm bells warning about another looming financial crisis. One of the most prolific Wall Street CEOs is actually informing everyone that "there will be another crisis."

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon wrote in an annual letter to shareholders that another economic collapse is possible. In such an event, markets will become more volatile, while a recession would bring more chaos to the United States economy.

Here is what he wrote in his letter:

"The trigger to the next crisis will not be the same as the trigger to the last one, but there will be another crisis. Triggering events could be geopolitical, a recession where the Fed rapidly increases interest rates, a commodities price collapse, a commercial real estate crisis, bubbles, etc."

Dimon cited a lack of credit extension, enhanced federal regulation and a paucity of securities as just some of the reasons for another financial crisis. "[These] make it more likely that a crisis will cause more volatile market movements with a rapid decline in valuations even in what are very liquid markets."

Comment: Thanks for the heads up James! At least you're putting your undeserved freedom and pay raises to good use by giving people fair warning before you help tank the US economy again.

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MIB

Paradise Stolen - The Myth of Terrorism


Activist Post
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 18:51 UTC
Image
© Anthony Freda Art
Part 1 of this video series from Stefan Verstappen was a warning to children about a world that was stolen from them. It offered a stark condemnation to adults who continue to ignore the reality of the wicked ways in which government has used their money, both donated and extorted.

Part 2 suggested that the innate practicality of small, sustainable communities is a solution to the massive mismanagement by a government dedicated solely to a megacorporate/banker/war economy. Our modern economic system is actually not one built upon efficiency, as it is often believed to be; it is a system of massive inefficiency and predation, which has directly resulted in the bankrupt and war-ravaged world we see around us.

Part 3 made the controversial argument that overpopulation is a myth, once again designed to steal our natural rights and turn our lives over to a system of centralized management.

Now in part 4, Stefan turns his attention to the increasingly pervasive myth of terrorism. Is the government really being truthful when it claims that it is "trying to keep you safe"? Is spending $6 trillion actually getting the job done? Can government continue violating the rights of people across the planet and still maintain any claim to a moral high ground? This, and more, compounds the myth of terrorism firmly installed in the American psyche following 9/11 ...

Comment: Check out Stefan's book The Art of Urban Survival. In addition also listen to the excellent interviews with Stefan Verstappen on the Sott radio network:

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Stormtrooper

Syria's "democratic terrorists" seek Western support to rule newly seized city

Tony Cartalucci
New Eastern Outlook
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 17:40 UTC
Image
Making headlines recently has been Al Qaeda's temporary seizure of the city of Idlib, in Idlib province, northern Syria. The embattled city lies just miles from NATO-member Turkey's borders. With the Syrian Arab Army controlling the south of Idlib, it is clear that militants based in and supplied via Turkey took part in the operation, leading the Syrian government itself to accuse the NATO member of directly supporting Al Qaeda.

Reuters in its article, "Syrian military source alleges Turkish role in Idlib offensive," noted:
A Syrian military source accused Turkey on Monday of helping Islamist rebels to stage an assault on Idlib, a provincial capital which fighters seized at the weekend. The source declined to comment on the situation in Idlib, citing security considerations, but a monitoring group has confirmed the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and allies now control Idlib and said the Syrian air force bombed the city on Monday.
For years, prominent Western papers, including the New York Times in their report, "C.I.A. Said to Aid in Steering Arms to Syrian Opposition," have admitted that Turkey (as well as Jordan to the south) has harbored militants throughout the duration of the conflict, and has even hosted the CIA and other foreign intelligence agencies as they armed, trained, and coordinated with militants bound for Syria. It is a coincidence, we are expected to believe, that now Al Qaeda's Syrian franchise, Jabhat al Nusra just so happens to be strongest in regions bordering Turkey, and its Arab accomplice, Jordan.


Comment: It's not too difficult to see that the U.S. creates the reality of terrorists just as easily as it does "freedom fighters". One group can be either one, depending on the side they are fighting on. If they are helping U.S. hegemony, like al-Qaeda is in Syria, then the prevailing narrative will be that these are "rebels" rising up against an oppressive regime. If it's the opposite, if a group is fighting against a U.S.-installed puppet like what is occurring in Yemen, then the narrative turns back to those people being evil terrorists.


Further implicating Western support behind the recent Al Qaeda offensive, comes not from the Syrian government, but from the Wall Street Journal, who has claimed, with the terrorists not even holding the city for a week, that they are already well underway to "governing" it.
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Take 2

The Trans Pacific Partnership paves the way for world government

Dan Dicks
Youtube
Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:54 UTC
Image
© yesmagazine.org
A coalition of major business groups is urging Stephen Harper to take a "leadership role" in completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Dan Dicks of Press For Truth breaks down the latest news on the TPP front.

Comment: More information on the TPP:

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Handcuffs

Wisconsin: DNA to be forcibly collected for misdemeanor crimes

J. D. Heyes
Natural News
Thu, 09 Apr 2015 16:15 UTC
blood
© Josh/Flickr
It's no joke - beginning April Fool's Day in Wisconsin, even citizens convicted of misdemeanor crimes will have a DNA sample forcibly taken from them as the state dramatically expands its collection database.

As reported by The Free Thought Project, the new law will dramatically expand the number of samples being analyzed by state criminal labs in the capital of Madison. Prior to the change in law, the number of DNA profiles created came only from about 10,000-12,000 felony convictions each year. According to local news affiliate Fox 6, of that figure, some 550 positive hits were made on cases previously unsolved.
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Bad Guys

Fascist Kiev junta confiscates newspaper and blocks 10,000 websites

Eric Zuesse
Global Research
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 17:30 UTC
Image
As confirmed in an earlier report April 9, 2015, the Security Bureau of Ukraine, on April 7th, had seized and disappeared two Odessa bloggers, who were trying to get an independent investigation, and ultimate prosecution, of the individuals who participated in the 2 May 2014 massacre of regime opponents, and who burned, shot, and clubbed to death perhaps over 200 in the Odessa Trade Unions Building — the event that precipitated the breakaway of Donbass from the rest of the former Ukraine, the country's civil war. (See Ukraine "Disappears" Opponents of the Kiev Regime. Abductions of Independent Journalists By Eric Zuesse, April 09, 2015)

And I also reported that April 7th saw the official announcement that,
"The security service of Ukraine ... has discontinued operation of a number of Internet sites that were used to perpetrate information campaigns of aggression on the part of the Russian Federation aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order and territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine."
The follow-up to that story is the news on April 9th, which was reported in the courageous independent Kiev newspaper, Vesti, that "SBU has blocked more than 10,000 websites." It says that, "Law enforcers seized the servers," and that one SBU official told the newspaper, "'We have made the decision of the court and confiscated equipment.' He promised to return the servers in two months."

Another news report on April 9th in Vesti tells of seizures of that day's edition of newspapers by far-right toughs at news stands throughout the city, and the story even shows a video of Right Sector toughs raiding and emptying a Vesti delivery van headed out for distribution. The report also said:
"On Thursday, April 9, machines [coin-operated distribution boxes] that were transporting part of the circulation of the Kiev edition of the newspaper 'Vesti' were attacked. The attacks occurred around the metro stations 'Heroes of Dnepr' and 'Vasylkivska.' In both cases, the scenario was the same: the circulation machine was blocked by two cars that emerged containing unidentified men wearing symbols of the 'Right Sector' who illegally seized the circulation. In the case near the metro station 'Vasylkivska,' a driver was beaten, and the attackers threatened to burn his car."
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Vader

U.S. sponsorship of neo-Nazi Ukraine and Arab dictators shows true face of Washington is fascism and dictatorship

Finian Cunningham
Sputnik
Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:13 UTC
Image
© Flickr/ DAVID HOLT
American sponsorship, simultaneously, of Neo-Nazis waging ethnic cleansing in Ukraine and of Arab dictators bombing an impoverished Yemen is stark testimony to the true nature of US power. Unmasked from unctuous vanity and virtuous pretensions, the ugly face of Washington is fascism and dictatorship.

Ukraine and Yemen, to some, may seem disconnected theatres. Not at all. The American-backed lawlessness and barbarity running amok in both countries are an integral function of how US power really operates in the world; not as a recent aberrant phenomenon, but rather going back to the fundamentals of how the American ruling class functions under capitalism.

Let's survey America's partners in practice: first in Yemen, then in Ukraine, and finally integrate the systematic connections.

As the death toll among civilians mounts in Yemen, aid agencies are warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Arab Peninsula country. Rundown hospitals can't cope with the droves of injured, many of them children suffering severe burns.

Yet this week Washington announces it is stepping up its weapons supplies to the coalition of Arab states led by Saudi Arabia that has been bombing Yemen for nearly two weeks.

US Army Colonel Steve Warren announced that the weapons are "a combination of pre-existing orders to our partners [sic] and some new requirements."
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