Puppet MastersS


Pistol

Ankara shot itself in the foot in Syria

Valery Kulikov
New Eastern Outlook
Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00 UTC
Erdoğan
© picture-alliance/APPresident of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Recently, Ankara has crossed the line by transforming its supposed anti-terrorist operation in Syria into a full-fledged invasion. Essentially, it wouldn't stop in spite of Moscow's repeated attempts to talk some sense into its partner and the repeated warnings voiced by Damascus. In fact, Ankara has been answering attempts at pursuing deescalation in Syria by making provocative statements. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan described the events unraveling in Idlib as "a war", while his Defense Minister Hulusi Akar demanded Russia to "step aside" and allow Turkish Armed forces to deal with Bashar al-Assad's troops.

Regarding the situation in Idlib, it should be noted that Turkey failed to fulfill the obligations it has taken upon itself through signing the Sochi memorandum on the creation of a demilitarized zone in Syria. In accordance with this document, Ankara was supposed to ensure the separation of radical militants, including those from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist organization from "moderate forces" represented by the so-called "National Liberation Front" (NLF) backed by Turkish authorities. However, instead of following these guidelines, Ankara chose to allow NLF forces and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists to form a united front against the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). Then, Ankara took a step too far by providing direct fire support to the anti-government forces in Idlib, which led to a serious aggravation of the armed conflict in northwestern Syria and could have resulted in completely unforeseen consequences.

At the same time, Erdogan noted that Ankara's continuous military build-up in the north-west of Syria was just a "matter of time". Speaking with the leading figures of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Erdogan mentioned he was planning to make Idlib a "safe zone" in spite of the "high price" Turkey could pay for it and regardless of what Russia could offer him at a negotiation table. It's clear that the Turkish military brass is planning to amass an impressive strike force west of Aleppo and south of Idlib by the end of the month. In fact, it has been redeploying its troops since mid-February, when trucks carrying Turkish armored vehicles and military personnel started arriving to the north-west of the Syrian Arab Republic.

Comment: See also:

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Bizarro Earth

US rejected key talks on extending treaty that limits strategic nuclear arms - Russia


RT
Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:07 UTC
Stealth Bomber
© AFP / Frederic J. BrownFILE PHOTO A nuclear-capable B-2 Stealth Bomber at the Palmdale Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in Palmdale, California. July 2014.
The US has declined an invitation to hold a formal meeting to discuss the legal details of extending the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which is due to expire in a year, a senior Russian diplomat has said.

Washington has decided to ditch important talks on the bilateral treaty's fate, the Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department, Vladimir Leontyev, told a strategic arms-themed event in the Russian parliament on Thursday.

"We offered a meeting between our legal experts to make sure that we're on the same page and to negotiate a common understanding of the technical side of the extension [of the treaty], but a few days ago the Americans officially declined that offer."

Comment: See also: Why did the US exit INF Treaty? What you're not being told

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Snakes in Suits

Bojo's aide for housing under fire for comments that homelessness is a 'lifestyle choice'

Greg Heffer
Sky News
Wed, 26 Feb 2020 22:32 UTC
homelessness
FILE PHOTO: The government is introducing new measures in a bid to end rough sleeping.
Adam Holloway once told fellow MPs: "Sleeping rough is a lot more comfortable than going on exercise when I was in the Army".


Comment: Army exercise comes with rations and is for a limited time only so the comparison is ridiculous.


A Conservative MP who claimed "many people choose to be on the street" will be given specific responsibility for tackling rough sleeping.

Gravesham MP Adam Holloway is to be appointed as a parliamentary aide to Robert Jenrick, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, as part of a package of government measures to end rough sleeping.

Comment: Having a misinformed and disdainful view about the people you are supposed to be helping seems to be a prerequisite for aides in Bojo's cabinet: Outrage as Downing Street adviser backs EUGENICS, mandatory birth control and drugging children - UPDATE, Sabisky resigns

See also: Also check out SOTT radio's: NewsReal #26: Globalization vs Nationalism - The Hidden Causes of The Yellow Vest Protests in France



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Arrow Up

Court rules Trump admin can withhold federal grants from sanctuary cities

Jennie Taer
saraacarter.com
Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:00 UTC
President Trump
A federal appeals court in New York ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration has the right to withhold law enforcement grants to sanctuary cities.

The case involved seven states: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Virginia and Rhode Island.
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Quenelle

Chelsea Manning's brave grand jury resistance a major hurdle for US prosecutors in Assange extradition hearing

Kevin Gosztola
Shadowproof
Thu, 27 Feb 2020 18:30 UTC
Chelsea Manning
© Media Convention BerlinChelsea Manning
Months before trial in 2013, United States Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning read a statement in military court, where she outlined her role in disclosing over a half million documents to WikiLeaks. She described her motivations for releasing each set of information and meticulously informed the court about how she downloaded, prepared, and electronically made the disclosures.

The defense for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange heavily relied on this statement during the second day of a week-long extradition hearing in London. What unfolded showed how crucial her grand jury resistance is to the ability of Assange to defend himself in court.

Comment: As one commenter put it, "Prosecutors hoped they could break her."

Chelsea Manning's loyalty and principled stance with respect to Julian Assange is often overlooked. Her steadfastness may yet prove the key to Assange's freedom, and hopefully, one day, hers.





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Black Magic

Assange extradition hearing is Damocles sword over journalists' heads while UK mainstream media participate in his crucifixion

George Galloway
RT
Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:13 UTC
Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
© Getty Images / In Pictures / Claire DohertySupporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange outside Woolwich Crown Court
Assange extradition hearing should be the top story for the British media as it's a dagger at their throat, but the majority of mainstream press either don't care, or are actively participating in Wikileaks' founder crucifixion.

Having myself been born onto the path of resistance and having by reason of chance and circumstance little choice but to resist, I am drawn to those who have chosen to stand there with me when not only had they alternatives, but in some cases already secured for themselves a place in the firmament of privilege. One such person spoke alongside me at the recent Assange Rally in London live-streamed to a huge audience by RT.

The Hon Craig Murray already had a glittering career in the British Foreign Office, Her Majesty's Ambassador is no small thing to be even in these shrunken times for British foreign policy.

But he threw it all away by standing up against torture, disappearances and political repression in the country to which he had been sent to represent the British interest. To the point when a LABOUR Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in dismissing him told him that he "over-focused on human rights to the detriment of British interests." A telling and damning phrase indeed.

Even then, as a former ambassador, Murray could have looked forward to a lucrative career in commerce — the import/export business perhaps — had he corrected his focus a little, perhaps a moral cataract operation would have done the trick.

Comment: See also:
  • Debunking the smear that Assange recklessly published unredacted documents
  • 'Can't participate, can't communicate': Day 3 of Assange's US extradition hearing
  • Craig Murray: Your man in the public gallery - Assange hearing Day 2


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    Bad Guys

    Convenient hysteria: US is no longer sugar-coating the fact its nuclear drills are aimed at Russia

    Mikhail Khodarenok
    RT
    Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:30 UTC
    USA, Arizona, Titan nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile in silo
    © Getty Images / Michael DunningUSA, Arizona, Titan nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile in silo
    Last week, the US conducted a military exercise which simulated a nuclear exchange with Russia and contrary to traditional practices, the Pentagon put that politically explosive designation out in the open.

    Any operational directive (or combat order) starts with an overall "enemy" assessment which includes data about the "enemy's" political situation and military capabilities in the strategic area of interest, as well as possible scenarios of engagement.

    Sometimes a particular enemy is designated for these exercises, but usually it's just given some abstract label (such as blue, green or orange). Even fake countries, like Donovia or Limaria, are invented in some cases.

    All the documents pertaining to military exercises are usually classified. Depending on the level of sensitivity, they are marked as "secret" or "top secret." All this is done in order to avoid souring relations with other states, which might well happen if, for instance, the papers reveal that one nation is role-playing an attack on another.

    Nuclear war games are always classified as top secret. Basically, all documents related to strategic nuclear forces operations would be the most restricted military data in any nuclear state.

    And then a senior Pentagon official comes out and says, at the DoD Background Briefing on Nuclear Deterrence and Modernization, that they held a
    "mini-exercise" with a scenario that "included a European contingency where [the troops] were conducting a war with Russia, and Russia decided to use a low-yield limited nuclear weapon against a site on NATO territory."
    The exercise was complete with a simulation of a conversation between the secretary of defense and the president "to decide how to respond."
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    Violin

    Turkey threatens Syria again, says 'will do what's necessary' if Syrians don't retreat in Idlib


    Sputnik
    Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:36 UTC
    turkish tanks
    © REUTERS / Khalil Ashawi
    Spokesman for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP), Omer Celik, has warned that if the Syrian Army does not return to the demilitarised lines in Idlib Province set by the Sochi agreements, Turkish forces will act.

    "Our staunch stance on Idlib remains unchanged. We have completed all preparations. When the time given to [Damascus] to withdraw to pre-determined lines expires, the Turkish Armed Forces will do what is necessary. Nobody should question Turkey's determination about this issue", Omer Celik said.

    The JDP's spokesman comments come hot on the heels of reports of Turkey redeploying tanks from across the country towards the border with Syria for their subsequent transfer to the Arab Republic's Idlib Province.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Ankara wouldn't take the "smallest step back" in Idlib and demanded Syrian troops to withdraw from the vicinity of the country's observation posts in the region.

    "We would like to remind those who try to corner Turkey by forcing their own agenda onto it, that we are not guests in this region, but its masters", Erdogan said.

    Comment: Erdogan, it's not your country. It's not anyone's fault but your own that you made an early alliance with crazy jihadists and are now caught between a rock and a hard place: do nothing (and come under the wrath of said jihadists and your own crazy nationalists), or do something (and get pounded by Syrian and Russian bombs).

    See also:

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    Mr. Potato

    Biden's own campaign debunks his claim to have been arrested for Nelson Mandela

    Becket Adams
    Washington Examiner
    Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:23 UTC
    joe biden
    If Joe Biden isn't lying, he's probably misremembering.

    In the case of the former vice president's recent claim that he was arrested in South Africa in the late 1970s for attempting to meet with the recently released Nelson Mandela, Biden almost certainly lied, according to his own staff.

    Biden "was separated from the [Congressional Black Caucus] members he was traveling with at the airport," campaign spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield told the Washington Post. "Biden was separated from a congressional delegation in South Africa and was referring to that."

    Bedingfield stressed it was just a "separation."

    "When he landed, he was not allowed to go through the same door as the rest of the party he was with," she said. "Obviously, this was apartheid South Africa. There was a white door. There was a black door. He did not want to go through the white door and have the rest of the party go to the black door. He was separated."

    Her explanation is a long, long way off from the version of events Biden told supporters earlier this month in both Nevada and South Carolina.

    "This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid," Biden said during a Feb. 11 campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina. "I had the great honor of meeting him. I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robben Island."

    Comment: Birds of a feather:

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    Sherlock

    Declassified FBI memos undercut Mueller team claims that Papadopoulos hindered Russia probe

    Lee Smith
    Just the News
    Tue, 25 Feb 2020 17:13 UTC
    Papadopolous
    © Alex Wong/Getty ImagesRussia investigation figure George Papadopolous walks into a congressional building for testimony.
    Newly declassified FBI memos directly conflict with court filings that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team made in asking a federal judge to send former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos to prison, further calling into question the government's conduct in investigating the now-debunked "Russia collusion" narrative.

    The memos, released under federal Freedom of Information laws, are likely to focus renewed attention on former Mueller prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky, who played a key role in prosecuting Papadopoulos before working on the case of longtime GOP operative and Trump confidant Roger Stone.

    Zelinsky recently made headlines in Washington by resigning from the Stone case over a dispute with Attorney General William Barr over the length of prison time Stone deserved. Zelinsky recommended 7 to 9 years, Barr wanted less, and the judge ultimately decided on a lower sentence of just 40 months.

    Earlier, Zelinsky was one of three Mueller team prosecutors who signed a sentencing memo in August 2018 seeking prison time for Papadopoulos. They argued there that Papadopoulos hindered federal prosecutors' ability to question or arrest a European professor named Joseph Mifsud in mid-February 2017 while the Maltese academic was in Washington.

    According to the sentencing memo signed by Zelinsky and fellow Mueller prosecutors Jeannie Rhee and Andrew Goldstein: Papadopoulos' "lies undermined investigators' ability to challenge the Professor or potentially detain or arrest him while he was still in the United States. The government understands that the Professor left the United States on February 11, 2017 and he has not returned to the United States since then."

    But FBI 302 reports detailing agents' interviews with Papadopoulos show that he had in fact supplied information that would have enabled investigators to challenge or potentially detain or arrest Mifsud while he was in the United States.

    Comment: See also:

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