Puppet MastersS


Star of David

The ways Israel controls its narrative

Jew with sign
© Mosaic MagazineWhen will everyone else?
It is interesting to note how the Israel Lobby is able to manage and contain the commentary of groups in America that might normally be critical of Israeli policies vis-à-vis the United States. A recent article by Professor Andrew Bacevich entitled "President Trump, Please End the American Era in the Middle East" is a good example of how self-censorship by authors works. The piece appeared as one of Bacevich's regular weekly contributions to The American Conservative website under the rubric "Realism and Restraint."

The article particularly focused on the foreign policy pronouncements of Bret Stephens, the resident neocon who writes for The New York Times. Stephens, per Bacevich, has been urging constant war in the Middle East and worrying lest "we may be witnessing the beginning of the end of the American era in the Middle East." Bacevich, unlike Stephens, is a genuine foreign policy expert, a realist, an Army veteran, and always quite sensible. He correctly described how "in the Middle East, the military power of the United States has played a large part in exacerbating problems rather than contributing to their solution."

Target

UK parliament finally yields to BoJo's call for snap election: Vote scheduled for December 12


Comment: No doubt this will go down as 'the Brexit election'...


bojo corbyn
Cam on then, let's be 'avin it!
UK MPs have voted for a pre-Christmas general election to take place on December 12. After multiple attempts by PM Boris Johnson to force a poll, he's finally got his way in a bid to break the Brexit impasse.

Lawmakers in the House of Commons on Tuesday voted in favor of Johnson's early parliamentary general election short-bill by 438 votes to 20. It will be the first December election since 1923.

MPs had earlier rejected the Labour Party's proposal to move the date of the general election forward to December 9. Some 315 MPs voted against moving the election forward by three days, while 295 voted in favour. If MPs had backed the opposition plan to move the election forward, parliament would have needed to be dissolved by Thursday night.

The British prime minister had tried and failed to get an election on three previous occasions having seen his Fixed-term Parliaments Act motions defeated by MPs. Under the law, there must be at least 25 working days before an election can take place.

Comment: The circus continues. Question is: will Farage's Brexit Party run?


Snakes in Suits

Pakistani PM Khan in discussions with US envoy Khalilzad on Afghan peace

Khalilzad
© Rafiq Maqbool/APZalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. peace envoy to Afghanistan
U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad discussed Afghan peace efforts with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on October 29, Khan's office said in a statement.

Khan "reiterated Pakistan's steadfast and sincere support to the Afghan peace and reconciliation process launched since last year," and called on all sides in Afghanistan's protracted war to "take practical steps for the reduction of violence," the statement said.

Khalilzad extended his stay in Pakistan on October 29 as part of efforts to find a negotiated end to Afghanistan's 18-year war.

Pakistan has been pushing for a resumption of direct U.S.-Taliban talks since they collapsed in early September after U.S. President Donald Trump halted talks with the militants and canceled what had appeared to be an imminent deal. Trump's decision came after a series of violent attacks in Afghanistan that killed several people, including a U.S. soldier. Khalilzad's meeting with Khan came amid confusion over a Chinese offer to host a meeting between the Taliban and Afghan officials.

Comment: From Voltairenet.org, 25/10/2019: Joint statement on peace in Afghanistan
The Special Representatives of Russia, China, and the United States of America held their fourth consultation on the Afghan peace process in Moscow on October 25, 2019.

Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan also held the second round of four-party consultations. Respectful of the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, participants discussed ways to support the Afghan people's desire for a lasting peace.
Taliban
© Voltairenet.orgTaliban contingency
To that end, participants:
Acknowledged the widespread and sincere demand of the Afghan people for lasting peace and an end to the war. Reviewed the current situation in Afghanistan and their joint efforts to reach a sustainable settlement in the country by political and diplomatic means.

Confirmed that a sustainable peace can be achieved only through a negotiated political settlement. Committed to work with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, both government leaders and others, and the Taliban to reach a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement that ends the war for the benefit of all Afghans and that contributes to regional stability and global security.

In order to create an environment conducive for negotiations, urged all sides to immediately reduce violence. Stated their expectations that all sides will observe a ceasefire for the duration of intra-Afghan negotiations to enable participants to reach agreement on a political roadmap for Afghanistan's future.

Called on the Afghan government and the Taliban to release significant numbers of prisoners at the start of intra-Afghan negotiations. Reaffirmed that any peace agreement must include protections for the rights of all Afghans, including women, men, children and minorities, and should respond to the strong desire of Afghans for economic, social, and political development including rule of law.

Called on all Afghans including the government and the Taliban to ensure international terrorists do not use Afghan soil to threaten the security of any other country. Highlighted the importance of fighting illegal drug production and trafficking and urged all sides to eliminate the drug threat in Afghanistan.

Encouraged all concerned countries to support the Afghan people and contribute to a lasting peace settlement in the interest of all. Welcomed the Chinese proposal to host the next intra- Afghan meeting in Beijing with the participation of a wide range of political figures of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, including representatives of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, other Afghan leaders and the Taliban.

Noted the importance of current consultations with further involvement of other interested actors on the basis of the trilateral consensus agreed on April 25, 2019 in Moscow. Expressed their appreciation to the Russian side for organizing the four- party consultations and agreed to settle the date and venue of the next meeting through diplomatic channels.



Arrow Up

Opposition hopeful Syrian constitutional committee completes its planning in six months

Hadi al-Bahra
© AnadoluHadi Bahra
The delegation of the Syrian opposition to the Syrian Constitutional Committee, due to be launched on 30 October, hopes that the body will conclude its work in a six-month period, Hadi Bahra, co-chairman of the committee representing the opposition, said on Tuesday.
"[UN Security Council Resolution] 2254 stated 6 months, so this should be our guideline. For me as a Syrian, I really hope we could finish it in two months, because our people deserve a break, deserve that we finish their pain and whatever they are going through."
When asked to specify if six months were their goal, he stressed that is the target.
"I hope that everyone will be responsible up to the challenge which we have. We are here not to wrestle each other, not to hit each other, not to have arguments. We are here to achieve dialogue, we are here on behalf of our own people, we own [sic owe] them to deliver things to them. It's not permitted for us to waste time, not to understand how much sacrifices and pain these people are going through, so we have to put our most effort to finish in the shortest possible time."
Resolution 2254 was unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on 18 December, 2015. It outlines a road map and timetable for the peace process in Syria, including an immediate ceasefire by the conflict parties and a UN-administered democratic election to be held within 18 months pursuant to the adoption of the new constitution. The Constitutional Committee will be mandated with drafting it.

Eye 2

Best of the Web: The 'Russia collusion' clues all point back to John Brennan

john Brennan
Ex-CIA director John Brennan
The evidence suggests John Brennan's CIA and the intelligence community did much more than merely pass on details to the FBI. It suggests they fabricated events completely.

Last weekend, NBC News reported that the Justice Department's probe into the origins of the Russia collusion investigation is now focusing on the CIA and the intelligence community. NBC News soft-peddled this significant development by giving former CIA Director John Brennan a platform (a pen?) to call the probe "bizarre," and question "the legal basis for" the investigation. Politico soon joined the spin effort, branding the investigation Attorney General William Barr assigned to Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham "Trump's vengeance."

However, if the media reports are true, and Barr and Durham have turned their focus to Brennan and the intelligence community, it is not a matter of vengeance; it is a matter of connecting the dots in congressional testimony and reports, leaks, and media spin, and facts exposed during the three years of panting about supposed Russia collusion. And it all started with Brennan.

Oil Well

Whose oil is it anyway? Time to leave Syrian oil to the Syrians

Syrian Oil
© File/Reuters/StringerSyrian oil
For all President Trump's talk of withdrawal, and ending the US' "endless wars" in the Middle East, America will remain in Syria to keep its oil in the hands of Washington's favorite militias. Isn't it time to just let go?

The killing of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by American special forces on Saturday was undoubtedly a foreign policy triumph for Trump, deflecting the criticism that followed his withdrawal of troops from northern Syria and compounding his claim to have "obliterated his caliphate, 100 percent."

But no sooner had Trump taken his victory lap than he told reporters he would be "leaving soldiers to secure the oil." So much for bringing the boys home.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper confirmed the US' new priority on Monday, telling reporters that US troops and armored vehicles are already en route to the oilfields of Deir ez-Zor, where they have been asked to "respond with overwhelming military force against any group" threatening them - including Russia and the Syrian government.

Comment: See also:

US Secretary of Defense: US troops being deployed will strike at ANY force challenging occupation of Syrian oil


Yoda

Flynn defense attorney Sidney Powell knows exactly what she's doing

Sydney powell michael flynn
© Alex Wroblewski/Getty ImagesAttorney Sydney Powell follows Michael Flynn from the the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington on June 24, 2019.
Lt. General Michael Flynn's defense team, led by powerhouse lawyer Sidney Powell, made a stunning filing in his case on October 24th. In that filing, Powell makes some very serious claims against the government's prosecutors.

She charges them with not only withholding exculpatory evidence, but with aiding and abetting the alteration of official government documents - called 302 forms.

The Ghost Of Andrew Weissmann

Although the name Brandon Van Grack is the one that appears in all of these Flynn filings as counsel for the government, the person Sidney Powell is actually locked into legal warfare with here is Andrew Weissmann.

That's because Weissmann was the person who was actually crafting the government's strategy in pursuing this case against Gen. Flynn.

Comment: From The Conservative Treehouse:
We're going to go through the primary filing and four exhibits to the evidence Attorney Sidney Powell is delivering to Judge Emmet Sullivan which contain some explosive discoveries. Toplines including:
  • Lisa Page edited the Flynn 302's, then forgot when questioned by DOJ officials, then re-remembered when shown her texts.
  • The 302's themselves were written with lies that do not match notes taken during the interview.
  • The felony leaker of the Flynn-Kislyak phone call is named (James Baker).
  • New texts from Page and Strzok that highlight the entrapment plan.
  • ODNI James Clapper telling WaPo reporter Ignatius to "take the kill shot on Flynn".
  • The purposeful use of Judge Contreras to take the December 1st 2017 plea agreement; and much, much more.
[See supporting excerpts and full court filings here]

Attorney Sidney Powell has really done an excellent job putting this motion together with a mountain of incontrovertible supportive material to highlight how her client, Michael Flynn, was set-up.

If you take the time to read the primary 37-page motion, and then review the material that supports every assertion within the motion, you will be hard-pressed not to come to the conclusion that Mike Flynn was a victim of seriously unethical, borderline criminal, prosecutorial conduct.

If Judge Sullivan accepts this motion and goes through all of this material I think there's a pretty good chance he will dismiss this case. The next round of arguments within his courtroom are going to be very, very interesting.

Phenomenal job by Ms. Sidney Powell. Exceptional.



Attention

Trump slams Ukrainegate witness as 'Never Trumper,' questions call procedure: 'Why are so many people listening in on me?'

trump soft drink desk oval office phone
© (L)Reuters / Leah Millis, (R) Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
US President Donald Trump has questioned the reliability of a White House official set to testify to Congress about his infamous call with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, calling the witness a "Never Trumper."

The tweet is part of the Ukrainegate impeachment saga, which the Democrats have been focusing on ever since Russiagate fizzled out. The allegation is that Trump pressured Zelensky into investigating former Vice President Joe Biden over his role in ending a corruption probe into a Ukrainian energy company where his son sat on the board - and that Trump made US aid to Kiev dependent on such an investigation.

Comment: Scot Adams has an interesting take on Trump's Ukraine call, and how defend it from the twist the Democrats are trying to put on it.




Mr. Potato

SOTT Focus: Something BIG Has Happened! Or Has it?

Situation Room with Trump
© The Drive
The Dissembler-in-Chief took to Twitter this past weekend to let the world know that "Something very big has just happened!" We now know that that something was a daring special forces raid that ended in the death of Osama bin Laden! . . . Or is that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi? Or maybe Abu Omar al-Baghdadi? No, no, it was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi! Honest! We took DNA evidence before we threw him in the sea! Find out about the unlikely story of Baghdadi's umpteenth death in this timely edition of The Corbett Report podcast.

For those with limited bandwidth, CLICK HERE to download a smaller, lower file size version of this episode.

For those interested in audio quality, CLICK HERE for the highest-quality version of this episode (WARNING: very large download).


Comment: We live in clownworld.


Arrow Up

Turkey confirms no need to launch new offensive in Syria's north

Syria tank
© REUTERS / MURAD SEZER
Turkish Ambassador to Russia Mehmet Samsar has confirmed to Sputnik that his country sees no need to launch a new offensive in Syria's northeast, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Moscow on stabilising the situation in that region.
"I want to say that the Ministry of National Defence announced on 23 October that there was no need to launch a new offensive in the area where "Peace Spring" was conducted. This statement was made after reaching an agreement with Russia. It is currently difficult to forecast how the joint patrolling will be conducted; this will be decided as a result of negotiations between our country's militaries. So I would not want to say anything misleading now. We will have an understanding of how this will be done in the coming days", Samsar said in an interview.