Puppet MastersS


Camera

Forget substance, Trump gets the optics he craved in India

Ashish Shukla
RT
Tue, 25 Feb 2020 03:05 UTC

Comment: Maybe, but he's also that popular in India...


Melania Trump
© Reuters / Al DragoDonald and Melania Trump tour the historic Taj Mahal, in Agra, India, February 24, 2020
US President Donald Trump had plenty of reasons to feel smug after the first day of his two-day visit to India. Despite some simmering disputes between Washington and New Delhi, day one was a triumph of optics.

From the moment he touched down on Indian soil on Monday to the time he stretched out in his presidential hotel suite in the capital in the evening, Trump saw only welcoming faces around him - in their millions.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Trump and First Lady Melania at the steps of Air Force One, after its arrival in the western city of Ahmedabad. From there, Trump's delegation - which included the president's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner - was whisked along for a tour of the Sabarmati Ashram, the place from where Mahatma Gandhi launched a few of his most memorable agitations against the British colonial rulers in the early 20th century; and then to address the largest crowd of his political career.

Comment: See also:

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Light Saber

'No truce with terrorists': Lavrov condemns US & UN proposals to whitewash terrorists in Idlib, Syria


RT
Tue, 25 Feb 2020 14:09 UTC
Syrian National Army
© AFP / Omar HAJ KADOURAn armoured vehicle carries members of the "Syrian National Army", an alliance of Turkey-backed rebel groups
Any peace talks with militants holed up in the last pockets of resistance in Idlib have nothing to do with human rights - instead, they amount to a capitulation, the Russian foreign minister has said in a swipe at US proposals.

Sergey Lavrov made the stark comments as intense fighting rages in Idlib province, controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Al-Qaeda franchise previously known as Al-Nusra. Some UN members tend to "justify the atrocities of radical and terrorist groups," the foreign minister told a UN Human Rights Council meeting on Tuesday.

It is difficult to explain "exhortations about the possibility of peace agreements being made with the thugs as it takes place when the situation in Idlib is discussed," he noted.

Comment: See also:

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Airplane

More MH17 leaks: NATO repeatedly reported there was no evidence of Russian Buk in Ukraine

John Helmer
johnhelmer.net
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 18:12 UTC
helmer carton
There was a new release of documents by Bonanza Media, Max van der Werff and Yana Yerlashova on Monday morning. They add to the evidence released last week from the files of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) prosecuting the downing of Malaysia Airlines MH17 on July 17, 2014.


Two secret reports by Major General Onno Eichelsheim, head of Dutch military intelligence (MIVD), have been disclosed in their Dutch originals. The first told Dutch prosecutors that the MIVD relied on intelligence obtained from "partner informatie" - partner intelligence — to conclude no Russian BUK missile radar and launch units had crossed the border into Ukraine before or on July 17, 2014; no BUK missile radar targeting or firing on MH17 had been detected; and no identified Russian units on the Russian side of the border had launched missiles.

In his reporting Eichelsheim told the prosecutors his intelligence came from "reliable sources and analyses of all locations". The prosecutors understood Eichelsheim to be referring to US satellite and airborne electronic surveillance and NATO and British signals monitoring. Despite statements from Washington officials in the aftermath of the shootdown that they had seen US satellite data, and statements from Dutch officials claiming to have been briefed on these data, none has been documented until the Eichelsheim disclosures from the JIT files. Eichelsheim reveals that US intelligence means the opposite of what US officials have told their allies to insist upon.

Comment: The relevant Dutch agencies are refusing to offer any significant comment on the leaks, saying that such questions will be answered "in court". As Bonanza observes:
The Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service on 21 September 2016 (ONE WEEK before the JIT press-conference on 28th September 2016!) had no information from any reliable source that any Russian Buk-M1 had crossed the border with Ukraine during any time during the conflict.
For more on the recent leaks, see:

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Star of David

How can you tell it's election time? Netanyahu floats idea of another war in Gaza


Sputnik
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:30 UTC
netanyahu
Air raid sirens sounded across southern Israel for the second straight day on Monday, with the Israel Defence Forces reporting Sunday that they had preemptively attacked cells of a militant group reportedly preparing to fire rockets at Israel in neighbouring Gaza and Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the IDF may have no choice but to carry out a military operation in Gaza if Hamas and its affiliates don't stop firing rockets.

"I am not hurrying into war. I know the price that our soldiers and the families of the fallen pay," Netanyahu said Monday, his remarks quoted by The Jerusalem Post. But "we will do what it takes to bring back total security for the residents of the south," he added.

"Woe to Hamas and Islamic Jihad when that day comes! It's their choice," Netanyahu warned.


Comment: In other words, "do what we say, accept what we do, no matter how immoral and illegal, or we will kill you."


Earlier Monday, speaking to Army Radio, the prime minister warned that a military operation in Gaza may be inevitable. "If you don't shoot them, we will shoot you. I'm talking about a war. I only go to war as a last option, but we have prepared something you can't even imagine," he was quoted as saying. The interview was cut short as sirens went off in the country's south for a second consecutive day.

Comment: See also:

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Bad Guys

The UK, the US, and Assange: A tale of three extraditions

Joe Lauria
Consortium News
Sun, 23 Feb 2020 16:42 UTC
Assange rally february 2020
© Tolga Akmen / AFPSupporters of Julian Assange rally in London. February 22, 2020
Three extradition cases in the UK illustrate how the U.S. dominates Britain, but Julian Assange's best chance to go free is to show that this time Washington has gone too far.

The formal extradition hearing that will determine whether imprisoned WikiLeaks publish Julian Assange is sent to the United States to stand trail on Espionage Act charges began here on Monday against the backdrop of U.S. domination of Britain in two other extradition cases. They could impact the decision on Assange as his lawyers argue his political case violates the U.S.-UK extradition treaty.

There is simmering anger in Britain over the death last August of 19-year old Harry Dunn after Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a U.S. intelligence agent based in Northamptonshire, turned into the wrong lane and mowed Dunn down on his motorbike.
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Black Magic

The Big Lie: Senior US Democrats demand Russia sanctions over 2020 election interference


RFE/RL
Tue, 25 Feb 2020 07:18 UTC
Schumer Menendez
Senators Bob Menendez and Chuck Schumer seemingly try for yet another 'Russiagate'
U.S. Senate Democratic leaders have urged the administration of President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Russia after U.S. intelligence officials briefed members of Congress that Russia was again trying to interfere in a national election.

Senators Chuck Schumer (New York), Bob Menendez (New Jersey), and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stipulating that the administration "immediately and forcefully" sanction the Russian government and any individuals involved in influencing this year's presidential election.

Their letter comes days after accounts surfaced of a closed-door briefing intelligence officials had given to lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

During the briefing, the lawmakers were told that Russia and other countries were threatening the integrity of the November election.

It focused on efforts Russia might be taking to aid Trump's reelection. Democratic candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) has said he was told that Russia was seeking to bolster his chances as well.


Comment: Good god, they're still trying to blame Russia after the Mueller investigation could prove nothing about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Don't these political hacks ever get tired of hearing their own lies?! And do they honestly think most people are that dumb?

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Document

Best of the Web: The war scenario between Israel and Hezbollah

Elijah J. Magnier
ejmagnier.com
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 12:00 UTC
Hezbollah fighter/watchtower
© AP/Bilal HusseinHezbollah fighter at watchtower
Notwithstanding the increase in power of the "Axis of the Resistance", with its precision missiles and unrivalled accumulated warfare experience, the possibility of war is still on the table. The "Axis of the Resistance" is increasing its readiness based on the possibility that Israel may not tolerate the presence of such a serious threat on its northern borders and therefore act to remove it. However, in any future war, the "Axis of the Resistance" considers the consequences would be overwhelmingly devastating for both sides and on all levels if the rules of engagement are not respected. Notwithstanding Israel's superior air firepower, its enemy Hezbollah has established its own tremendous firepower, and its experience in recent wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen is an important asset.

Sources within the "Axis of the Resistance" believe the next battle between Hezbollah and Israel, if ever it takes place, would be "controlled and not sporadic, with a focus on specific military objectives without damaging the infrastructure, on both sides".

The sources consider Gaza as a precedent. In Gaza Palestinians and Israelis have fought many recent battles that lasted only a few days in which the objectives bombed were purely military. This is a new rule of engagement (ROE) regulating conflict between the belligerents. When Israel hits a non-military target, the Palestinian resistance responds by hitting a similar non-military target in Israel. The lesson extracted from the new ROE between Israel and the Palestinians is that every time exchanges of bombing go out of control, both sides understand they have to bring it back to an acceptable and equitable level, to limit damage and keep such mutual attacks from targeting civilians.

Comment: See also:

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Rocket

US defense secretary launches simulated nuclear attack against Russia in Pentagon war game

Andre Damon
World Socialist Website
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:00 UTC
U.S. Marines
© Marine Corps, Staff Sgt. Dengrier M. BaezU.S. Marines run to firing positions during live-fire training in Jordan
As more than 20,000 US troops and 20,000 military vehicles began to arrive in Europe for the massive "Defender 2020" exercise targeting Russia, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper took part in a war game at US Strategic Command headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska involving the simulated use of nuclear weapons against Russian troops.

"The scenario included a European contingency where you're conducting a war with Russia and Russia decides to use a low-yield, limited nuclear weapon against a site on NATO territory," the Defense Department said in a background briefing Friday.

When pressed by reporters, the Pentagon made clear that as part of the exercise, the US launched a nuclear weapon against Russian troops in what the Pentagon called a "limited" response.

"I mean, in the course of the exercise, we simulated responding with a nuclear weapon," the Pentagon briefer said.

None of the reporters at the background briefing asked the obvious question: Whether the use of nuclear weapons by both the United States and Russia led to a full-scale nuclear exchange. But as journalist Fred Kaplan recently commented, "No one in officialdom has ever played a war game in which a 'limited' attack believably stays limited. Things spiral out of control pretty quickly."

Comment: See also:

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Info

Obama DHS whistleblower found dead with gunshot wound before publishing second tell all book

Kerry Picket
Washington Examiner
Sat, 22 Feb 2020 22:23 UTC
Phillip Haney
Philip Haney, a former Department of Homeland Security official during the Obama administration who blew the whistle on his own agency, was found dead Friday with a gunshot wound about 40 miles east of Sacramento, California.

The Amador County Sheriff's Office confirmed to the Washington Examiner that deputies and detectives responded to reports Friday morning at 10:12 a.m. of a male subject on the ground with a gunshot wound in the area of Highway 124 and Highway 16 in Plymouth, California.

"Upon their arrival, they located and identified 66-year-old Philip Haney, who was deceased and appeared to have suffered a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm was located next to Haney and his vehicle. This investigation is active and ongoing. No further details will be released at this time," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

The Amador County Sheriff's Office would not respond to any further questions.

Haney's stepmother, Judith Haney, told the Washington Examiner that law enforcement took possession of the former DHS official's cellphone and laptop.
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Piggy Bank

James Corbett talks to Ron Paul about ending the Federal Reserve

James Corbett
Activist Post
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:00 UTC
Ron Paul
James Corbett sits down with Ron Paul to discuss the coming end of the Federal Reserve.

Dr. Paul reflects on the End The Fed movement, explains the inevitability of the Fed's demise, and talks about what system may come along to take its place.

SHOW NOTES:

Comment: See James Corbett's documentary 'Century of Enslavement' made reference to at the end of the above video:


as well as:

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