Puppet MastersS


Rocket

Turkey downs 2 Syrian jets over Idlib - says no desire or intention to fight with Russia


RFE/RL
Sun, 01 Mar 2020 17:43 UTC
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar
© ReutersTurkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar
Turkey's defense minister said on March 1 that his country was "successfully" continuing its military operation in northwestern Syria against the Russian-backed regime in Damascus and that Ankara doesn't have "the desire or intention to clash with Russia."

Within hours of that statement, reports from Syria claimed that Turkish forces had downed Syrian warplanes as concerns mounted of an escalation of direct clashes between NATO member Turkey and forces of Russian ally Syria.

Turkish military forces announced an intensification of their campaign via Operation Spring Shield after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian air strike in the Idlib region, where Russian air power has been used to help forces loyal to embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"Following the heinous attack on February 27 in Idlib, Operation Spring Shield successfully continues," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted by AFP as saying via state news agency Anadolu, adding, "We don't have the desire or intention to clash with Russia."

Idlib is part of the last remaining Syrian territory held by Turkey-backed rebels.


Later on March 1, after Syria's government said it was closing the airspace in the northwestern part of the country, Damascus alleged that Turkey had "targeted" two of its jets over Syrian airspace.

Comment: The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed the attack on the two Syrian fighter jets, saying it came after Syrian air defenses destroyed one of Turkey's combat drones (illegally) flying over Idlib. The Syrians say they downed three Turkish drones today (other reports suggest as many as six.)

The Syrian Army says they will down any aircraft breaching their airspace:
"The command of the armed forces declares closure of airspace for planes and other aircraft over northwestern Syria and especially the Idlib province. All planes violating our airspace will be considered hostile and shot down to prevent them from fulfilling [their] objectives," the command said in a statement as quoted by state-run SANA news agency.

In a separate development, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that media reports about the alleged downing of a Russian Su-24 above the de-escalation zone in Idlib are false.

"The information, referencing internet sites of the militants, about an alleged downing of the Russian Aerospace Forces' Su-24 plane by a man-portable air defence system in the airspace over the Idlib de-escalation zone is fake," the ministry said in a statement.
Here's Moscow's response to Erdogan's request that Russia "get out of the way" in Idlib:
"Russia is the only country which has troops in Syria on a legal basis and at the request of the legitimate Syrian government," Peskov said, speaking to Russia 1's Moscow.Kremlin.Putin programme on Sunday when asked to comment on President Erdogan's remarks about what "business" Russia has in Syria.

"All other military forces of other countries are in Syria in contravention of the norms and principles of international law," Peskov added.
Diplomat-speak for "get bent."

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Briefcase

Legal arguments presented by UK during the first week of Assange extradition hearing highlight lack of US evidence


Reporters Without Borders
Sun, 01 Mar 2020 15:48 UTC
assange supporters protest embassy
© Reuters/ Fabrizio BenschSupporters of Julian Assange protest against his arrest, near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany April 12, 2019.
During the first week of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's US extradition hearing in London, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) was concerned by the clear lack of evidence from the US for its charges against Assange. RSF also remains concerned about Assange's wellbeing and inability to participate properly in his hearing, following reports of mistreatment at Belmarsh prison and the judge's rejection of his application to sit with his lawyers in the courtroom. The hearing will resume from 18 May, when three weeks of evidence will be heard.

RSF conducted an unprecedented international trial-monitoring mission to the UK for Julian Assange's US extradition hearing from 24-27 February, as the prosecution and defence presented their legal arguments at Woolwich Crown Court in London. RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire and RSF Germany Director Christian Mihr joined RSF UK Bureau Director Rebecca Vincent for the hearing, and Vincent was able to systematically monitor each sitting over the four days. RSF staff from London, Paris, and Berlin also staged an action outside the adjacent Belmarsh Prison - where Assange is being held - on 23 February, and joined protests outside the court on 24 February.

Comment: Along with Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières) are a little late to the party. At least they've finally gotten a spine to somewhat stand up for one of their own. RSF's uncritical support for the fraudulent White Helmets though, still makes them suspect.

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Pumpkin 2

Let the rigging commence? Biden campaign revives from the dead to take shock landslide South Carolina win


RT
Sun, 01 Mar 2020 14:26 UTC

Comment: Cue cackles of delight from Killary et al...


biden supporter Joe south carolina primary
© Reuters/Elizabeth FrantzJoe Biden
Joe Biden's campaign showed its first signs of life in South Carolina, with the former vice president taking the lead over other Democrats in the state's primary, including frontrunner Bernie Sanders.

Biden's efforts in the state paid off after he won nearly half of the votes on Saturday, adding 33 pledged delegates. Sanders came in a distant second with less than 20 percent of the vote, but still leads Biden by eight delegates overall after winning New Hampshire and Nevada and a strong performance in Iowa.

Comment: Sanders conceded South Carolina to Biden relatively graciously, and looked forward to Super Tuesday,
"I'm very proud that in this campaign so far we have won the popular vote in Iowa, we have won the New Hampshire primary, we have won the Nevada caucus, but you cannot win them all."

"I believe very strongly that the people of this country on Super Tuesday and after are going to support our campaign. Because we are more than a campaign, we are a movement"
Tom Steyer is the first billionaire to bite the dust after finishing third. Not many were sad to see him go. The big question is, who will he throw his campaign machine behind?
Steyer dug deep into his own pockets, spending about $20 million of his own money in South Carolina alone in hopes of overcoming the 15-percent threshold that would have allowed him to win delegates in the fourth and final early voting contest before Super Tuesday.

However, it was not to be, as Steyer is now projected to win less than 12 percent of the vote in the primary, dominated by former Vice President Joe Biden.

"I can't see a path where I can win the presidency," Steyer said, announcing his decision to put an end to his campaign.


Trump of course, couldn't resist a chance to stir the pot, telling Mike Bloomberg to drop out, and not to make things any harder for the Democrats by siphoning votes away from Biden:
Shortly after the South Carolina primary exit polls pointed to a convincing victory for Biden in the fourth and final early voting contest ahead of Super Tuesday, Trump took to Twitter to send a 'congratulatory' message, taking aim at fellow billionaire Bloomberg in the process.


So Biden gets a bump. Will it translate into momentum for the Super Tuesday races? Fourteen states will be voting. Polls are not promising as Sanders continues to be in the lead for in the all important delegate count. Yet he is considered the weakest candidate to go up against Trump. Will the Democrats vitriol towards Trump override the DNC's selection process?
Poll democratic primary february 2020
© RealClearPolitics


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Star of David

If the US is fine with Israel annexing the West Bank, why sanction Russia for Crimean reunion?

David Morrison
American Herald Tribune
Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:28 UTC
trump israel lobby
© Joyce N. Boghosian/ Official White House PhotoPresident Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the Israeli American Council National Summit Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Hollywood, Fla.
At a ceremony in the East Room in the White House on 28 January 2020, President Trump unveiled his 181-page "vision" for Israel/Palestine to an audience of enthusiastic cheerleaders, many flown in from Israel for the occasion. While he spoke, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood by his side and afterwards he welcomed the President's "vision" ecstatically.

And well he might. The "vision" was written for him, if not by him. According to US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, it is the "product of more than three years of close consultations" between Trump, Netanyahu and their senior staff. Understandably, therefore, it gives Netanyahu almost everything he has ever wished for politically. In essence, the document is an agreement between the US and Israel about the future of Israel/Palestine.
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Snakes in Suits

UK Home Sec Priti Patel accused of "vicious" bullying campaign against top civil servant


The Guardian
Sun, 01 Mar 2020 10:25 UTC
priti patel
© Helen William/PA MediaSir Philip Rutnam and Priti Patel. In his resignation statement, Rutnam said he had been falsely accused of briefing the media against the home secretary.
The UK home secretary, Priti Patel, is under pressure to face questions in parliament over the resignation of her department's top civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, amid bullying accusations.

The Labour leadership candidate Keir Starmer called on Patel to explain the explosive allegations levelled against her by Rutnam.

The Home Office's permanent secretary quit on Saturday after accusing Patel of orchestrating a "vicious" campaign against him, of lying about her involvement in it and of creating a climate of fear in her department.

Starmer said: "The home secretary has a duty to come to parliament on Monday to explain the allegations made about her own conduct."

Comment: This is just the latest scandal to rock Bojo's cabinet, as well as Priti Patel's career in Parliament:

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Bizarro Earth

Thousands of migrants try to cross border to Europe as Erdogan says Turkey will no longer 'close the gates'


Breitbart
Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:00 UTC
migrant turkey
© AFPTurkey says up to 30,000 could cross into the EU in the coming days
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country's borders with Europe were open, as thousands of migrants gathered at the frontier with Greece.

Migrants played a cat-and-mouse game with Greek border patrols throughout the night and into Saturday, with some cutting holes in the fence only to be turned back by tear gas and stun grenades. Greek authorities also fired tear gas to repulse attempts by the crowd to push through the border.

The move by Turkey to open its border, first announced Thursday, was seen in Greece as a deliberate attempt to pressure European countries. It comes as tensions ratcheted up between Turkey and Syria. More than 55 Turkish troops have been killed since Turkey began sending further reinforcements into areas of northwest Syria under the control of rebels, which are backed by Turkey.

Comment: The BBC reports:
The number is expected to hit 25,000 to 30,000 in the coming days, he said.

Turkey could no longer deal with the amount of people fleeing Syria's civil war, he added.

Turkey continued retaliatory strikes on Saturday, killing 26 Syrian government troops with drone strikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group.

Syria, supported by Russia, has been trying to retake Idlib from jihadist groups and Turkish-backed rebel factions.

"We said months ago that if it goes on like this, we will have to open the doors. They did not believe us, but we opened the doors yesterday," President Erdogan said in Istanbul on Saturday.

He said that some 18,000 refugees had "pressed on the gates and crossed" into Europe by Saturday morning. He did not provide evidence of these numbers.

"We will not close these doors in the coming period and this will continue. Why? The European Union needs to keep its promises. We don't have to take care of this many refugees, to feed them," he said.

Brussels had not given full financial aid agreed in the 2018 Turkey-EU refugee deal, he said.

Greece said it had averted more than 4,000 attempts to cross into the country. There were further clashes between migrants and Greek police on Saturday.


The Turkish president also said that he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin - a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - to stand aside and let Turkey "do what is necessary" with the Syrian government by itself.



See also:

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Cloud Grey

Pope Francis cancels third day of events amid claims it's coronavirus

Jon Levine
New York Post
Wed, 29 Apr 2020 09:15 UTC
Pope Francis
Vatican confirms Pope Francis and two aides test positive for Coronavirus
Pope Francis has canceled a third day of scheduled events to recuperate from an undisclosed illness.

The 83-year-old pontiff will skip two official audiences at the Apostolic Palace. One would have been with a team of bioethicists and another with the Catholic "Legion of Christ."

Francis is working from the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel during his recovery, papal officials said, who noted he continues to attend Mass each morning.

The Vatican has not provided any details about his illness, calling it only a "slight indisposition."

Comment: Meanwhile MCM News alleges that the Vatican has confirmed the Pope has tested positively for Coronavirus:
The Vatican has confirmed in a statement that Pope Francis and two of his aides have tested positive for the novel Coronavirus.

The three new cases add up to the over 400 cases confirmed in Italy under a week.

Pope Francis missed a planned Mass with clergy in Rome yesterday after showing Coronavirus-like symptoms.

The Vatican had earlier said the pontiff, 83, had a slight indisposition and could proceed with the rest of his planned work today.

The pope was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Asha Wednesday Mass.

Yesterday, he told well-wishers: 'I wish, again, to express my closeness to those who are ill with coronavirus and to health-care workers who are caring for them'

Francis had been scheduled to go to the St John Lateran basilica to meet with Rome clergy and celebrate a penitential Mass at the start of Lent.

The Argentine pope has generally good health he lost part of one lung as a young man because of respiratory illness and suffers from sciatica, which makes walking difficult.
See also: Secretive military base outside Paris hit by coronavirus, Europe banning mass gatherings

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Camcorder

Bloomberg defends Muslim surveillance program: 'We're supposed to do that'

Michael Arria
Mondoweiss
Fri, 28 Feb 2020 06:55 UTC
Michael Bloomberg
© Gage SkidmoreFormer Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaking with attendees at the Presidential Gun Sense Forum hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
In an interview with PBS Newshour last night, former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the Muslim surveillance program that the city implemented after the 9/11 attacks.

"All of the people came from the same place and all that came were from a place they happened to be one religion. And if they'd been another religion, we would've done the same thing," Bloomberg told PBS anchor Judy Woodruff, "It does not, incidentally, mean that all Muslims are terrorists or all terrorists are Muslim. But, the people that flew those airplanes came from the Middle East and some of the imams were urging more of the same."

Comment: See also:

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Attention

Breaking ranks: Greece reportedly vetoes NATO statement in support of Turkey amid Syria escalation


Sputnik
Sat, 29 Feb 2020 21:46 UTC
turkish troops turkey Idlib syria
© Reuters / Khalil AshawiTurkish military vehicles are seen in Hazano near Idlib, Syria, February 11, 2020.
The move comes amid a deterioration of stability in Syria's Idlib, where 33 Turkish soldiers were killed and over 30 injured in an airstrike on Thursday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed Russian forces for the attack.

The Permanent Mission of Greece to NATO on Friday evening vetoed a statement that the alliance was preparing to make in support of Ankara, following the recent killing of 33 Turkish troops, Greek newspaper Vima reported, citing information from Greek sources.

According to the newspaper, the foreign minister of Greece, Nikos Dendias, issued direct instructions to representatives to use a veto if the text of the joint statement does not include a Greek proposal to refer to compliance with the March 2016 EU-Turkey declaration on refugees and migrants.

Comment: NATO has waffled on its support for Turkey's military actions in Syria. It needs Turkey for its strategic location in the geopolitical area, but does not want to be dragged into a direct confrontation with Russia, should those two countries' relations go permanently south. Erdogan has already unsuccessfully demanded that NATO support its incursions into a sovereign Syria, using the pretext of Article 5 of the alliance. All throughout the conflict has been playing both sides of the fence depending on who he feels with advance his pipe-dream of a restored Ottoman Empire.

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Bullseye

Best of the Web: Europe & US use Russia-Poland discord to their advantage, first post-Cold War Polish leader Walesa tells RT


RT
Sat, 29 Feb 2020 21:44 UTC
Lech Walesa
© Reuters / Kacper PempelFormer Polish President Lech Walesa
Poland and Russia must lay "old ghosts to rest" as the US exploits their bitter strife to its own advantage, former Polish President Lech Walesa - who led the fight against Communist rule - told RT.

Moscow and Warsaw need to bury the hatchet and sort out their troubled shared history as part of an open and honest dialogue instead, Walesa believes, adding that the endless quarrels that have lasted for decades have so far led the two neighbors nowhere.

"We can't change history," the former president told RT. Still, Walesa - whose Solidarity trade union movement led the struggle against the Communist rule and Soviet influence in his homeland in the 1980s - said it is high time the two nations laid "the old ghosts to rest" and started cooperating.

"We have this trail of mutual grievances, and until we deal with that we won't arrive at a compromise," he said, adding that the two nations are now engaged in a "useless struggle."

Comment: Walesa is spot-on. The West uses countries like Poland as pawns in their game of imperial chess. Any country that takes the US by their word in a diplomatic sense is probably laughed at behind closed doors by American leaders.

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