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Fri, 05 Nov 2021
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Bizarro Earth

Ukraine's neo-Nazi's hosted by US gov's 'America House', Russian rep condemns surge in extremism

Ukraine nazi

The undated photo shows government-endorsed extremist fighters posing with neo-Nazi and NATO flags in an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine.
Russian deputy envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Dmitry Balakin has complained to the organization against neo-Nazi presence in a United States government-funded cultural center in Ukraine's capital city of Kiev.

Speaking to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Friday, Balakin condemned ongoing neglect of surging state-sponsored nationalist extremism in Ukraine.

"It got to a point where a member of the C14 neo-Nazi group was allowed to speak at the America House in Kiev, against the background of the American flag, where he boasted about results of 'cleaning' a Kiev railway station from Gypsies jointly with the city police," said the Russian diplomat.

The image of the controversial event has circulated on social media, showing a known neo-Nazi speaker at the center.

Comment: Judging by the increasing chaos and the extremists rising through the ranks of power, the dire situation in Ukraine boasts all the characteristics of Western intervention: Also check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: 'Revolution' in Ukraine: A history of manufactured chaos


Radar

Keen Sword: US and Japan stage largest naval war drill in Pacific amid tensions with China

USS Ronald Reagan during Keen Sword military drills, November 3, 2018
© Reuters / Tim Kelly
USS Ronald Reagan during Keen Sword military drills, November 3, 2018.
Washington and Tokyo have amassed a record number of sailors, marines and airmen for the biggest joint naval drill that the two allied nations have ever held close to Chinese shores as tensions keep rising in the region.

Around 47,000 troops from the Japan Self-Defense Force have been joined by more than 10,000 US servicemen for the Keen Sword 19 military exercise - the biggest drill of its kind since the biennial joint maneuvers were launched in 1986. The US forces participating in the drill include the bulk of the Seventh Fleet, as well as the Submarine Group 7 - both of which are based in Japan's Yokosuka. Tokyo has deployed roughly a fifth of its military. Two Canadian warships are also taking part in the exercise.

Jet5

Iran reveals mass production of homemade fighter jet just as US sanctions come into effect

iran jet figther
© AFP / Iranian Defense Ministry
Iran's defense minister has launched the production of a domestically-designed fourth-generation fighter jet, just as Tehran is bracing for sweeping US sanctions, expected to come into effect early next week.

"Soon the required number of these planes will be produced and put at the service of the Air Force," Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami said, at the ceremony marking the start of the production. He went on to hail the accomplishments of Iranian engineers, made in the face of "the enemies' psychological warfare, propagandist blackmail, and economic sanctions." Iran will also "spare no effort" as it seeks to further develop "peaceful defense technologies" to protect its sovereignty, Hatami added.

The fourth-generation jet, called Kowsar, boasts "advanced avionics", a multipurpose radar and a fire control system linked to a digital military data network as well as an independent radio navigation system, Iran's Press TV reported.

Comment: Interesting timing. And regarding the US sanctions on Iran, see: Paper Tiger Sanctions on Iran Will Speed The End of Pax Americana

See also: And check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Atlantic Trade War? How Trump Breaking Iran Deal Could Dismantle US Empire


Chess

German FM: EU needs to revise disarmament policies with INF Treaty about to collapse

missiles
© Getty
The German foreign minister believes Europe needs to re-think arms control and disarmament strategies to preserve peace in the union following the abrupt US decision to quit the landmark INF accord.

The crucial nuclear treaty was signed in late 1980s and was always considered a milestone in ending the arms race between the two superpowers, the US and the USSR. Issues regarding the pact were raised again by Heiko Maas in his article for Der Spiegel newspaper on Saturday. The German FM has repeatedly stressed the importance of the agreement, from which Donald Trump decided to withdraw in October this year.

Maas asserted that an end to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty would "bring down one of the greatest achievements of disarmament policy." He recalled that the then-US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev knew about the importance of arms control and disarmament, as they took "courageous steps" to reduce their countries' arsenals during the last years of the decades-long Cold War.

Bizarro Earth

Trump boasts 'nobody has done more for Christians & religion', cue Twitterstorm

trump
© REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in Washington, US, on November 2, 2018.
President Donald Trump has called himself the greatest friend of religious communities in the history of the US, but the rousing braggadocio did not appear to convince Twitter, where many users reacted with outrage and sarcasm.

"Nobody has done more for Christians or evangelicals or frankly religion than I have," Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) while aboard Air Force One. The president was in fact answering a question on whether he believed that American evangelicals would support him at the forthcoming midterms - but quickly ended up declaring himself the greatest champion of religion in US history.

He went on to clarify by referring to his desire to "totally destroy" the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which bans religious organizations from endorsing political candidates under the threat of losing their tax-exempt status. He's never actually managed to fulfill that desire as the revocation of the amendment has not been included in tax legislation until now.

Comment: There are people who have done a lot for people of faith in our time, although they would never be so proud as to make such claims: Also check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Has Trump Gone Full Shlemiel in Planned U.S. Embassy Move to Jerusalem?


Blue Planet

Russia, China, Norway dispute "supposed need" for Antarctic marine reserve, reject plan

weddell sea
A proposal to create one of the world's largest marine reserves in a vast area of pristine Antarctic waters has been rejected, prompting concern among conservation groups about the ecosystem's future.

After two weeks of deliberations, Russia, China and Norway on Friday blocked the plan for a 1.8m square kilometres maritime protection zone in the Weddell Sea at a summit of the 25-member Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Hobart, Australia.

The proposed reserve, roughly five times the size of Germany, would have made the area in question a no-go zone for fishing and other commercial activities.

Antarctica's waters and landmass are home to penguins, seals, whales and huge numbers of krill, a staple food for many species, among other animals.

Comment: See also: And check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Earth changes in an electric universe: Is climate change really man-made?


Calculator

Russian finance minister rules out progressive income tax, taxing luxury goods instead

First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov

First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov
Russia will not introduce a progressive income tax system, First Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on October 29, but admitted Russian inequality inequality is too high.

"We are told: 'let's adopt a more progressive tax system for our citizens'. There are pros and cons to this. We know that rich people are clever, and they will find ways to circumvent this decision. They can just take the money out of the country. On the other hand, the flat rate of 13% has already been settled, and it would probably be wrong to change legislation in this regard," Siluanov said.

"One cannot not agree with the fact that income inequality creates social tensions. We are often told: 'let's raise taxes for the rich'. In fact, we have already done it - raised taxes on luxurious properties, cars, yachts, apartments and so on," Siluanov said.

Comment: Russia has its problems but it is a radically different place since Putin and his administration came to power, and their overwhelming support by the people is evident at the polls - and it's not just in Russia people admire Putin's efforts: Also check out SOTT radio's: Behind the Headlines: Trump Ditches Europe, Europe Bluffs, Russia and China Carry on With Eurasian Integration


USA

Bonkers! Trump Administration prepares its best hackers for 'swift and severe' cyberattack against Russia - in case of election meddling

vote
U.S. military hackers have been given the go-ahead to gain access to Russian cyber systems in case of midterm election 'meddling'.

The Pentagon and members of the US intelligence community have not-so-secretly agreed on a rough plan for an offensive cyberattack against Russia in the event the Kremlin interferes with the 2018 midterm elections on November 6, according to Yahoo! News, citing "current and former senior US officials" familiar with the plan.
In preparation for its potential use, U.S. military hackers have been given the go-ahead to gain access to Russian cyber systems that they feel is needed to let the plan unfold quickly, the officials said.

The effort constitutes one of the first major cyber battle plans organized under a new government policy enabling potential offensive operations to proceed more quickly once the parameters have been worked out in advance and agreed among key agencies. -Yahoo!
So far, national security officials have reported limited efforts by Russians to compromise political organizations and campaigns. There is concern, however, that "Moscow might unleash more aggressive interference" right before midterm voting begins, during voting, or while the votes are being counted, according to the report.


Comment: If you consider non-existent the same as limited, then sure, there have been "limited efforts by Russians to compromise political organizations and campaigns".


Comment: This development would be laughable - if it wasn't so dangerously insane. Never mind that there has never been any proof of any Russian interference in US elections, and never mind that after many months of "investigation" the Mueller cabal has come up with exactly Zero evidence of a Russia-Trump collusion of any sort that doesn't prove to be utter nonsense once one scratches just beneath the surface. Now the Trump administration is playing along with it all to boot?!? Or is this just a case of our certifiably insane intelligence agency-military-security apparatus making hay with a "tough" new policy of Trump's that it was never intended for. Take you pick.


Brick Wall

DHS: Caravan migrants come from 20 countries, include 270 convicted criminals

Caravan immigrants refugees US Mexico border
© VICTORIA RAZO / Contributor / Getty Images
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Thursday people from at least 20 countries make up the two caravan groups, not just citizens of Guatemala and Honduras.

In a release called "Myth vs. Fact: Caravan," the department also states more than 270 people in the caravans are either known gang members or have criminal backgrounds.

DHS did not cite its sources for the information and a department spokesperson said that information is law enforcement sensitive.

"We continue to be concerned about individuals along the caravan route. In fact, over 270 individuals along the caravan route have criminal histories, including known gang membership," the statement said. "Those include a number of violent criminals - examples include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, sexual assault on a child, and assault on a female."

Bad Guys

At least 15 civilians killed in another illegal US-led coalition strike on Deir ez-Zor

Deir ez-Zor
© Sputnik / Mikhail Alaeddin
Earlier this week, the US-led coalition jets bombed targets in the town of Al-Shafa in Deir ez-Zor, while two days prior to the airstrike, the coalition performed another attack, which reportedly killed 5 civilians, including two children.

At least 15 civilians were killed in a US-led coalition airstrike on the city of Hajin in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province, the state news agency Sana reported on Saturday citing sources.

The majority among those killed are women and children, according to the Ikhbariya TV channel.

Comment: This comes on the heels of news that the US-led coalition has repeatedly been using banned white phosphorous on civilian areas of Syria.

See also: And check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal: Israeli-French Deception Downs Russian Spy Plane Off Syria, US Escalates 'Regime Change' Against Iran