Puppet MastersS


Bad Guys

Best of the Web: Pepe Escobar: Behind Hong Kong's black terror

Hong Kong black bloc
© The Yomiuri ShimbunA radical protester throws a molotov cocktail at a government building in Hong Kong on Sept. 15, 2019.
"If we burn, you burn with us. Self-destruct together." (Lam chao.)
The new slogans of Hong Kong's black bloc - a mob on a rampage connected to the black shirt protestors - made their first appearance on a rainy Sunday afternoon, scrawled on walls in Kowloon.

Decoding the slogans is essential to understand the mindless street violence that was unleashed even before the anti-mask law passed by the government of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) went into effect at midnight on Friday, October 4.

By the way, the anti-mask law is the sort of measure that was authorized by the 1922 British colonial Emergency Regulations Ordnance, which granted the city government the authority to "make any regulations whatsoever which he [or she] may consider desirable in the public interest" in case of "emergency or public danger".

Hourglass

COUNTDOWN: DOJ's IG report drops this Friday as Horowitz rolls truth grenades into deep state bunkers

James Comey
© NaturalNews.com
The DOJ's IG report detailing the deep state's FISA abuse will be released this Friday, October 18, according to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo (see video below). The report has been assembled by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who has focused on abuses of power, FISA court fraud and possible criminal conduct by deep state operatives like James Comey and Andrew McCabe.

We've previously described this pending report as "rolling truth grenades into deep state bunkers."

According to Bartiromo, the report is, "as thick as a telephone book."

The imminent release of the IG report may help explain the rapid acceleration of panic among Democrats and the deep state media as the truth bombs about corruption, collusion and fraud are about to be ignited.

Yellow Vest

Best of the Web: Spain sentences Catalonia independence leaders to 13 years imprisonment for sedition - Protests erupt in Barcelona - UPDATE: Airport occupied

barcelona protest referendum
© REUTERS / Rafael MarchantePeople march through Via Laetana Avenue during a protest after a verdict in a trial over a banned independence referendum.
Former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by Spain's Supreme Court for his role in the attempted secession by authorities in Barcelona in 2017.

Junqueras was among nine separatist leaders who were sentenced to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition for their part in the region's failed 2017 independence bid which captured headlines around the world.

A further three defendants were found guilty of disobedience but were not handed prison sentences for their participation in both the banned referendum and short-lived independence declaration. All defendants were acquitted of the most serious charge of rebellion.

Comment: Update 21:45 CET

Barcelona resembles Hong Kong today, with police going all-in to clear protesters who have gathered at the airport:











It's not just the airport either; protests have erupted across Barcelona and the whole Catalonia region. Here people are banging pots and pans out their windows as a form of 'prison protest' in support of the jailed leaders:


We can confirm that Spanish police are firing 'flash-balls' at them - the same thing the French police used to suppress Yellow Vest protesters:


Macron, Merkel, MSM, corporate media, alt-media, et al... any comment?? Should Spain not be "respecting the democratic rights" of Catalans? Should it not be "engaged in political dialogue"? Y'all have so much to say about Hong Kong ought to be run...

Or is this latest symptom of the 'Western House Divided on Itself' all Russia's doing?!

What's deliciously ironic about this development is that pro-independence Catalans were probably watching what has been happening in HK, what was happening in the Spanish courts, and hand planned beforehand to storm Barcelona's airport when their leaders' sentences were handed down...

They were thus inspired by pro-independence Hong Kongers, who were trained and at least partially funded by Western NGOs... and so it all feeds back into the system against the system itself.


Bell

Hear those alarm bells going off? Ukraine scandal leads to the Clinton Foundation

HRC/ClintFound
© stream.orgwpHillary Clinton Foundation Scandal
Trump is not getting thrown out of office. Not with his remarkable record of economic success for the average American worker. Not going to happen. 63 million Trump voters will insure that never happens. We have your back, Mr. President.

President Trump has the highest approval rating among Republicans in history. 95%. No one is impeaching this president. Now, let's discuss why this is happening...

Trump touched the third rail of Democrat/Deep State/DC Swamp politics. He asked Ukraine's President to investigate massive Democrat corruption and theft of taxpayer money. Suddenly alarm bells went off at the DNC. I believe Trump is about to expose the biggest scandal in US political history. Trump is about to put powerful people in prison. Trump is about to destroy the Democrat Party and expose the Deep State.

So, it was all hands-on-deck. President Trump had to be framed and destroyed.

Enter Joe Biden. Few in the Democrat Party wanted an old white guy as the nominee anyway. Especially Obama. In order to frame Trump, Biden had to be sacrificed. In my opinion, this second-hand "whistleblower" was meant to kill two birds with one stone: Trump and Biden. Biden is the Democrats' fall guy.

But the real story is about the Clintons, the Clinton Foundation, Obama, Pelosi, Kerry and many other powerful Democrats. Their fingerprints are all over Ukraine.

Comment: When money influences power, power, in turn, influences money. It becomes a closed circuit. Whether this particular scenario has teeth or is merely speculation, it suggests examining a broader and deeper context for the gigantic cover-up efforts by the Clintons, Obama, the DNC and a myriad of cohorts.


Star of David

Netanyahu's heir? Israeli spy chief Yossi Cohen

Neti/Cohen
© Benjamin Netanyahu and the head of Mossad, Yossi Cohen in December 2016. Kobi Gideon/GPOBenjamin Netanyahu and the head of Mossad, Yossi Cohen in December 2016.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival, but it is clear also to him that at some point, there will be a post-Netanyahu era. He has already broken Ben-Gurion's record of 13 years at premiership, but he doesn't want a shift to happen too fast. When he recently called for snap Likud primaries in order to secure his standing, he panicked when his rival Gideon Sa'ar tweeted "I'm ready". Netanyahu went chickenshit, reversed the decision within an hour and said it wasn't primaries, only a confirmation of his leadership.

Netanyahu wants heirs that are loyal to him, and that he has suggested, at the time he finds suitable.

Enter Yossi Cohen, chief of the Israeli Mossad: "If there is someone whom we eliminate without hesitation, it's Hamas people abroad," said Cohen in an interview this week for the ultra-orthodox newspaper Family (Mishpacha in Hebrew), where he boasted of the spy and assassination agency's achievements under his leadership since 2016.

Cohen is one of the two people directly suggested by Prime Minister Netanyahu as his successors in the future - the other being Ron Dermer, who is now Ambassador to US.

Comment: See also:


Blue Planet

Putin's charm offensive in Saudi Arabia. Is it pragmatism or is Russia friends with the entire Middle East?

MBS/Putin
© Reuters/Pool/Yuri KadobnovSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman • Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russia defends Iran, backs Bashar Assad in Syria and criticizes Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Riyadh would seem a risky balancing act - but is instead a pragmatic move rooted in mutual interest.

Putin arrives in Saudi Arabia on Monday, his second visit to the country after his 2007 trip. Just days earlier, Riyadh ignored his proposal (though apparently made in jest) to buy Russian air defense systems, and even more recently, approved the United States' deployment of about 3,000 troops on its territory, including fighter squadrons, an air expeditionary wing and air-defense personnel.

The signs are clear that Riyadh remains firmly in the orbit of Washington's influence, at least when it comes to security and defense. But Moscow doesn't seem to hold it against Riyadh - in fact, relations with the Saudis have never been better. Putin has been seen chatting cordially with Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman at international meetings, and has spoken about his personal rapport with both MBS and with the Saudi king himself. The friendship has been well echoed in economics: trade turnover, while still comparatively low, is on a quickening rise (it grew by 15 percent in 2018 and by 38 percent so far in 2019), there's talk of a $1-billion joint oil facility, and further investment deals are expected to be inked this week.

Comment: Western media can't believe it's possible, but Russia is showing it IS possible to move beyond 20th century military-strategic alliances in the new multi-polar world. Why not be neither 'friends' nor 'enemies' to everyone?

See also:

Arab media's full interview with Putin: Russia 'does not build alliances against anyone'


Camera

Iran releases new photos showing damage done to oil tanker Sabiti

Photo damage Sabiti
© Reuters/West Asia News AgencyDamage recorded in photo October 13, 2019, day of incident.
The tanker, belonging to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), was hit by two missiles around 100 kilometres from the Saudi city of Jeddah on 9 October as it was sailing through the Red Sea. Tehran has vowed to investigate the incident and give an "appropriate response" once the attacker is determined.

West Asia News Agency has published new photos of Iranian oil tanker the Sabiti revealing the damage that it sustained to its hull during a recent attack in the Red Sea. The images show two large holes in its hull a bit above the water line on the right broadside of the vessel. Another set of photos shows the vessel's crew on deck, which seems to have been unharmed in the attack. According to the timestamps, the pictures were taken on 13 October - four days after the incident.
hole in hull Sabati
© Reuters/West Asia News AgencyClose view damage to Sabati oil tanker
side view Sabati
© Reuters/West Asia News Agency

Comment: Sputnik, 14/10/2019: Iran shares 'found clues' with PM Khan regarding oil tanker attack
The initial reports about an Iranian oil tanker, the Sabiti, falling victim to two missiles launched from Saudi Arabia were later dismissed as incorrect, although the company owning the vessel confirmed there had been some damage inflicted on the tanker as it sailed across the Red Sea.

According to Rouhani, Tehran "provided the Pakistani prime minister with the clues" that they "have found in this regard", emphasising that they will continue their investigations until they arrive at a final plausible result vis-à-vis "the main factors behind the attack on the Iranian oil tanker".

"It is an absolute mistake for a country to think that it could create insecurity in the region without receiving a response", Rouhani thundered, referring to last week's purported explosion that set the National Iranian Oil Company's tanker on fire 100 kilometres from the Saudi port city of Jeddah.
See also:


X

Saudi FM denies its involvement in attack on Iranian tanker

al-Jubeir/Sabiti
© AFP 2019/HO/IRIB TV/ABC.net.au/KJNSaudi FM Adel al-Jubeir • Oil Tanker Sabiti
The initial reports of an Iranian tanker being struck by two missiles claimed that they came from Saudi Arabia. However, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) that owns the vessel later dismissed those claims.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, answering journalists' questions on 13 October, dismissed the allegation that Riyadh could have attacked the Iranian oil tanker Sabiti in response to attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in September, attributed by the US and Saudi Arabia to Iran.

Al-Jubeir said that while Riyadh had indeed blamed Iran since it believes the drones were made in the Islamic Republic, it will not respond in kind. The minister added that the investigation into the Saudi Aramco attacks is still ongoing and the drone launch site has not been determined yet.

Comment: See also:


Rocket

Khamenei to Iran's Guards: Develop advanced, modern weapons

Khamenei
© MEHR News AgencyAyatollah Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards on Sunday to develop more advanced and modern weapons, amid increasingly tense disputes with the United States and Gulf Arab states.

Tensions in the Gulf have risen to new highs since May 2018, when the Trump administration withdrew from a 2015 international nuclear accord with Tehran that put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions. As U.S. sanctions have been reimposed, there have been a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf that Washington and its allies have blamed on Iran, which denies responsibility.

"The Guards should have advanced and modern weapons ... Your weapons should be modern and updated. It should be developed at home. You need to develop and produce your weapons," Khamenei said in a speech at Imam Hossein Military University in Tehran.

"Today the Guards have a powerful presence inside and outside Iran ... America's hostile approach has increased the Guards' greatness," Khamenei said, according to state TV.

Comment: See also:


Gift 2

PM Khan visits Iran: Rouhani welcomes Pakistani peace gesture

Khan/Rouhani
© AFPPakistan PM Imran Khan • Iran President Hassan Rouhani
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran during his one-day official trip, with both leaders emphasising the need for peace in the region. "I told Prime Minster Imran we welcome any gesture by Pakistan for peace in the region and appreciate his visit to our country," said Rouhani at a joint press conference with the premier.

Rouhani said that the two leaders had discussed, among other things, the war in Yemen and the sanctions by the United States on Iran. "Regional issues have to be resolved through regional means and dialogue. We also emphasised that any goodwill gesture will be responded with a goodwill gesture and good words," said the Iranian president.

"We also discussed how the nuclear deal could be restored," added Rouhani. Rouhani also warned that Iran would respond to any threats, saying it was a "big mistake" to think it wouldn't do so, according to the Associated Press.

Prime Minister Imran thanked Rouhani for speaking up for the people of occupied Kashmir at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the two leaders also held a meeting on the sidelines.