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'Foreign-instigated' color revolutions fueling global unrest - Beijing veiled attack on US


RT
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 17:00 UTC
Hong kong protester
© Reuters/Jorge Silva
Anti-government protesters hold placards and a US flag during a rally at the University of Hong Kong, China September 20, 2019.
Beijing has taken a not-so-subtle swipe at Washington, lambasting unnamed countries for using color revolutions and "big sticks" to meddle in the internal affairs of China and other nations.

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe took aim at the United States - without calling out Washington by name - during an address at the Xiangshan Forum, China's annual conference on security and defense issues, on Monday.
Wanton interference in other countries' affairs will never win. Interfering in other countries' domestic affairs, instigating a color revolution or even attempts to subvert the legitimate governments of other countries are the real causes of wars and unrest in different regions [around the world].
Without getting into specifics, he decried nations which "wield their big sticks", such as sanctions, to exert "maximum pressure" on their rivals.

Comment:

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Nuke

Iran ready for next phase of reducing nuclear obligations - unless EU gets its act together


Sputnik
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:24 UTC
iran nuclear facility
© AP Photo / Vahid salemi
In July, a deadline expired for the JCPOA signatories to butt in decisively facilitating business ties, including oil trade with Iran, for the sake of the landmark nuclear deal. It prompted the Islamic Republic to announce preparedness to cut its obligations under the deal, which the US withdrew from on 8 May 2018.

The 4th stage of cutting obligations under JCPOA has been worked out, with the Iranian authorities expressing hope that no need will occur to implement it, and that Europe will fulfil its commitments, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told a briefing on Monday.

Washington reinstated a series of harsh economic sanctions against Tehran and its businesses last year, following President Trump's unilateral 2018 pullout from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - the deal that guaranteed easing of anti-Iran sanctions in exchange for Tehran cutting its nuclear programme in line with the standards explicitly stated in the deal.

Several rounds of such limitations ensued Trump's withdrawal from the landmark nuclear agremeent, with the latest one coming as late as at the end of September, following drone attacks on Saudi Aramco oil facilities, blamed by the US on Iran, that caused major fires and partially disrupted the country's oil production, affecting global oil prices.

Comment: Due to Trump's Zionist ball and chain, and the EU's weakness, Israel is getting what it wants. It doesn't matter whether or not Iran pursues nuclear weapons - as long as they aren't limited by international controls, Israel can continue to make up nonsense about Iran being "just weeks away!" from getting the bomb. Israel needs absolute regional dominance in order to survive as an apartheid state. And the only way to keep that is to keep countries like Syria and Iran down. They tried and failed with Syria. They're trying the same thing with Iran, and with any luck, they'll fail there too.

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Cult

The American Deep State would sacrifice the Republic before losing again to Trump

Robert Bridge
The Strategic Culture Foundation
Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:50 UTC
deep_state
You'd really think the American people would have caught on by now. No sooner did Russiagate fizzle out like a wet firecracker did the Democrats, completely indifferent to the dire consequences, toss another incendiary into the public square. Sooner or later something has got to blow, and maybe it already did.

As Americans experience the brutal whiplash of going from the Mueller probe to presidential impeachment in a matter of days, all pretensions of democratic procedure to guide the show trial have been tossed from the clown car. With the boot-licking media to back their every whim and fancy, the Democrats are dragging the Republic to the brink of destruction as they threaten to take down the 45th POTUS, and without a single witness in the dock.

Comment:

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Dominoes

Shoigu: Turkish op in Syria may lead to 'reverse migration' of terrorists to their homelands


RT
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:59 UTC
Al-Hol displacement camp
© Reuters/Ali Hashisho
Al-Hol displacement camp
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has warned of the danger of 'reverse migration' of foreign militants to their home countries from prisons and camps in Syria due to lax security in the area since Turkey began its operation.

Speaking at Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Shoigu said 12 jails holding Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) prisoners and eight camps containing their family members have been left unguarded since the beginning of Turkish operation 'Peace Spring' in the north of Syria. "This can lead to a surge of so-called reverse migration of terrorists back to their homeland," he explained.

Minister Shoigu also outlined the sprawling territory for IS in Southeast Asia after the group had been mostly destroyed in Syria.
The leaders of quasi-state are declaring the inclusion of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and partly Thailand into their caliphate. Those militants who have been fighting in Syria are now coming back and forming the bone, the forward squad [of the quasi-state].
He cited terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka in April 2019 as an example of the revived threat in the region, which had been relatively dormant for several years. "High activity of extremist organizations is now registered in the region, around 60 of such have been designated as terrorist groups," the minister added.

Turkey launched its cross-border operation on October 9, aiming to clear the region of Kurdish fighters. A five-day ceasefire was brokered on Thursday with Turkey agreeing to halt its operation if the Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew from northern Syria.
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Sherlock

Epstein's discovered address book reportedly had 13 contact numbers for Prince Andrew


Sputnik
Sun, 20 Oct 2019 15:55 UTC
Prince Andrew
© East News / Justin Sutcliffe
Prince Andrew
British royal Prince Andrew came under increased scrutiny in August 2019 following the death of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and trafficker, with whom he was allegedly connected in relation to sexual acts committed against minors - allegations that the Duke of York has vehemently denied.

An address book of accused sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contains 13 contact numbers for various residences of Queen Elizabeth II's second son, Prince Andrew, including Buckingham Palace, Mike Fisten, one of the first investigators who examined the allegations of sex trafficking activities levelled against the US billionaire, will reportedly reveal in a UK documentary, according to The Telegraph.

Fisten said that the book, which was discovered in Epstein's mansion in Palm Beach, was "a treasure trove of Jeffrey's activities" and also "showed us the scope of Jeffrey's travels, girls, and contacts".
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Bullseye

Singapore PM: Hong Kong protesters' US-formulated demands are 'unrealistic'

Joseph Thomas
New Eastern Outlook
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:36 UTC
Simgapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong
© Reuters
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
It is interesting to note where the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore sits amid the shifting poles of global power between East and West.

Once a British colony, the tiny island nation has since served as a barometer indicating the ebb and flow of Western influence over Asia, and now, the ups and downs of China's emergence as a regional and global power.

As China's rises regionally and globally, Singapore has shrewdly positioned itself to both benefit from its rise, while continuing to cultivate useful ties with the West. This creates a balance of interests that work to prevent any one nation from gaining too much influence over (or within) Singapore.
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Eagle

More than 100 armored vehicles enter Iraq from Syria as US troops withdraw - Kurds pelt them with vegetables


RT
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 15:23 UTC
syria us withdrawal
© REUTERS/Ari Jalal
A convoy of U.S. vehicles is seen after withdrawing from northern Syria, at the Iraqi-Syrian border crossing in the outskirts of Dohuk, Iraq, October 21, 2019.
US forces leaving northern Syria have reportedly crossed into Iraq, where they will continue their seemingly endless military presence in the region. Donald Trump had insinuated that the soldiers would be returning home.

More than 100 armored vehicles were spotted entering Iraq from the Sahela border crossing in Dohuk province, Reuters said. An Iraqi Kurdish security source told the news service that US soldiers had crossed into the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Monday's troop transfer is part of the Pentagon's plan to move all of the nearly 1,000 personnel withdrawing from northern Syria to western Iraq. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday that the forces would participate in ongoing operations against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). He added that it wasn't yet decided if the US soldiers would carry out missions in Syria from their new home in Iraq.

Comment: Kurdish residents of Qamishli vented their feelings like this:
A convoy of armoured personnel carriers is flanked on all sides by irate Kurds shouting "No America" and "America liar" in English while one resident can be heard describing US troops as fleeing "Like rats... America is running away," in Arabic.


The angry citizens appear to be firing potatoes at their departing former allies but the Rudaw news agency reports that tomatoes were the projectile of choice.
But despite the withdrawal from the northeast, Trump is reportedly thinking of keeping around 200 US troops in eastern Syria to "fight Daesh":
According to the [NYT], in addition to the main goal — to prevent the resurgence of Daesh in Syria or neighbouring Iraq — it is important for the United States to assist the Kurds in maintaining control of the oil fields in the east.

Three representatives of the presidential administration and the Department of Defence confirmed that senior US politicians and commanders had discussed such a plan. Trump, according to The New York Times, is now hesitating between two options, either to achieve the ultimate goal and send the US military home from Syria and end the war or to make sure that the containment and weakening of Daesh continues. Per some officials, Trump may say that the deployment of the small contingent is a reasonable way to ensure security in the region and in the United States, without breaking his promise.

Commenting on the possibility of leaving a small number of military personnel in eastern Syria, the White House said that this was not a change of policy, because the main purpose of the withdrawal was to protect the people.
Russias Defense Minister Shoigu says that there's a risk many foreign terrorists will repatriate as a result of Turkey's incursion:
"As a result of the actions of the Turkish army in Syria, eight refugee camps and 12 prisons for foreign militants remained unprotected. This could lead to a surge in the so-called reverse migration of terrorists to their historical homeland," Shoigu said at a plenary meeting of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

"There is a need to consolidate the efforts of the entire world community to counter terrorists' challenges, their ideology and propaganda. The Russian Defence Ministry has gained vast experience in this area, which we are ready to share with our partners in the Asia-Pacific region," Shoigu stressed.
He also made the following proposal:
"We very much hope that the steps that are being taken now — our cooperation with Turkish and US colleagues — will allow regional security and stability to improve instead of degrading. The events of the past few days, are, unfortunately, seeding unoptimistic thoughts", Shoigu told participants of a security forum in Beijing.

He also noted that Moscow sees this as a problem which "should be solved immediately, and not only at the Russia-Turkey-US level".
On a positive note, Turkish officials have confirmed that Kurdish militants have begun to leave the regions near the Turkish border. If they don't complete their withdrawal within the 35 hours left in the 5-day pause, Turkish forces will resume their operation. Lavrov says Russia will back a revised Adana Pact if both Ankara and Damascus deem it necessary:
"This is the existing international legal framework that has been recently confirmed by both parties, including in the context of current events. If the parties, in the course of contacts, consider it necessary and mutually acceptable to clarify or amend this agreement in any way, this will be their decision, we will certainly accept and support it," Lavrov said at a press conference.

Lavrov further noted that all the Kurds present in Syria should be covered by the new Syrian constitution in order to guarantee the absence of any threat coming from the Syrian territory against Turkey.

"All the Kurdish structures on the Syrian territory should be solidly covered by the Syrian legislation, the Syrian constitution, so that there are no illegal armed groups on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, and so that no threat to security of the Republic of Turkey and any other nation comes from the Syrian territory," Lavrov said at a press conference after talks with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva.

The minister further noted that Russia had no plans to host a Syria-Turkey security meeting amid existing tensions over Turkey's offensive in the north of the neighbouring country

"A representative of the presidential administration has already commented on planned contacts between Syrian and Turkish representatives in Sochi. We do not plan such contacts," Lavrov said at a press conference.
For previous updates, see:

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Star of David

A panicked Israel is an even more dangerous Israel

Alastair Crooke
Strategic Culture Foundation
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 00:00 UTC
Trump and Netanyahu
Former US Presidential Candidate, Pat Buchanan has written, "the Middle East and world, have been awakened to the reality that, when Trump said he was ending everlasting commitments and bringing U.S. troops home from "endless wars," he was not bluffing. The Saudis got the message when the U.S., in response to a missile and drone strike from Iran or Iranian-backed militias, which shut down half of Riyadh's oil production, did nothing ... thus, the Saudis have begun negotiating with the Houthi rebels, with whom they have been at war in Yemen since 2015. And they are seeking talks with Iran." In other words, the paradigm has begun to shift.

The Trump decisions indeed, did send shock waves to the world. And in their wake, Twitter in the US has been 'white hot' with indignation and outrage.

That is one side of the Syria US forces withdrawal 'coin' - the outrage. The other, is that realistically, the US had been trying to achieve too many irreconcilable aims: ousting President Assad; enforcing 'domain denial' to both Russia and Iran; plus attempting to install an unpopular minority population (the Kurds are a minority - even in NE Syria) in a blatant nation-building 'state-let' project to rival Damascus. With such diverse aims, and with Russia and Iran opposing these aims, the US was achieving none.

In the same vein of an overdue dose of realism, (and as Edward Gibbons highlighted in his celebrated Decline and Fall in respect to Imperial Rome), once certain qualities are lost, decline and fall is fore-ordained. Saudi Arabia has long lost those original attributes that brought Ibn Saud power, and without which, decline follows inevitably (which Gibbons persuasively argued, is exactly what happened earlier, to Rome).

Comment: See also:

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Bullseye

Tulsi Gabbard hits back: 'They will destroy you' if you stand up to Clinton

Mike Brest
Washington Examiner
Sun, 20 Oct 2019 16:11 UTC
Clinton Gabbard
2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard claimed the Democrat establishment will end a politician's career if they stand up to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Gabbard's video, posted Sunday afternoon on Twitter, is the latest in a string of attacks between the Hawaii congresswoman and the former presidential candidate. The controversy began when Clinton accused Gabbard of being a Russian asset.


Comment: Tulsi Gabbard could not be more correct in calling out Hillary Clinton - and what she represents. Though Gabbard would seem to have little chance of winning the presidency given how deeply corrupt the DNC is, she will provide a shining example of "speaking truth to power" in American politics in a way that may prove even more effective than Trump's intention to "drain the swamp". In the meantime though, we are likely to see an intensified war of words that will, hopefully, be the cause of many questions and reflection on the part of many Americans. And God knows Americans need it.

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Cow Skull

Caitlin Johnstone: "Russian asset" is a meaningless noise that war pigs like Hillary Clinton make with their face holes

Caitlin Johnstone
caitlinjohnstone.com
Sat, 19 Oct 2019 00:00 UTC
killary
Both Tulsi Gabbard and the Green Party of the United States have issued scorching rebukes of Hillary Clinton for baseless accusations the former Secretary of State made during a recent interview claiming that both Gabbard and former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein are aligned with the Russian government.
"I'm not making any predictions, but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate," Clinton said in a transparent reference to Gabbard. "She's the favorite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far. And that's assuming Jill Stein will give it up, which she might not because she's also a Russian asset."
Clinton provided no evidence for her outlandish claims, because she does not have any. Gabbard has repeatedly denied centrist conspiracy theories that she intends to run as a third-party candidate, a claim which establishment pundits have been making more and more often because they know there will never be any consequences when their claims are disproven. There is no evidence of any kind connecting either Jill Stein or Tulsi Gabbard to the Russian government.

Of course, this total lack of evidence hasn't dissuaded Clintonites from falling all over themselves trying to justify Mommy's claims anyway.

Comment: For some possible repercussions of Clinton's recent statements, see:



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