Puppet MastersS


Bad Guys

MSM circles the wagons after Sanders jab at WaPo, comparing him with Bad Orange Man

Helen Buyniski
RT
Wed, 14 Aug 2019 16:38 UTC
bernie and trump
© Reuters / Scott Morgan / Jonathan Ernst
Mainstream media has stepped up its attacks on Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders after he slammed the Washington Post for biased coverage of his campaign, calling him "dangerous" and likening him to Trump.

Sanders "is continuing to undermine the institution of the press by suggesting to people that we can't make editorial decisions for ourselves because the corporate leaders, owners, dictate for us," CNN's Dana Bash complained on Monday, deftly conflating "the press" with "corporate-owned mainstream news" after Sanders suggested the Washington Post's relentlessly negative coverage of his campaign was revenge for his attacks on owner Jeff Bezos' Amazon and the "corporate media."

Sanders' criticism of the Post wasn't just dangerous, Bash warned - it was "very similar to what Trump is doing." Never mind that Sanders calls himself a Democratic Socialist while Trump dredges up the specter of socialism only to wring a few "boos" from an audience, or that Sanders was skewering Goldman Sachs while Trump was populating his cabinet with its former executives - both were flogging the same "conspiracy theory," the CNN panel agreed, echoing the words of WaPo executive editor Marty Baron, who issued a statement to CNN on Monday in response to Sanders' jabs insisting that Bezos "hasn't once intervened in any way" in the paper's coverage.
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Eagle

The stunning hypocrisy of the US and UK over clashes in Hong Kong

Finian Cunningham
Sputnik
Wed, 14 Aug 2019 15:46 UTC
Hong Kong protests
© AP Photo / Kin Cheung
Imagine the response if protesters were to smash up JFK or Heathrow airports, closing down international flight services. The US and British authorities would have culprits rounded up and jailed, or worse, shot dead on the spot by armed police.

The scenes of vandalism and lawless insurrection this week at Hong Kong's airport - the world's eighth-busiest hub for passengers - were staggering. Thousands of club-wielding demonstrators trashed the terminals causing cancellation of all flights for the day.

A reporter for China's Global Times news outlet was lynched by an angry mob on suspicion of being an undercover policeman. That suspicion does not excuse beating the man nearly to death, nor the subsequent attacks on paramedics as they entered the airport to retrieve the injured journalist.

What's also staggering is the hypocrisy of the American and British governments and their media.

Senior US and British politicians are condemning China and the Hong Kong police for heavy-handed tactics towards the "pro-democracy protesters". American diplomats have been photographed holding discussions with organizers of the demonstrations, which have rocked the southern Chinese enclave for the past 10 weeks.
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Pirates

Best of the Web: Western meddling and subterfuge in Russian affairs and the Moscow Duma election

Riafan
Stalker Zone
Sat, 10 Aug 2019 00:00 UTC
protests in Moscow
In the Federation Council an enlarged meeting of the working group of the temporary commission on defending state sovereignty and preventing interference in the internal affairs of Russia took place. The reason for it was the Moscow City Duma election, or rather - unauthorised actions in support of unregistered candidates and the participation of the West in them.

Outside intervention was foreseen in May of this year

Opening the meeting, the chairman of the commission Andrey Klimov reminded that on May 30th of this year the question of the possible interference of the US and its partners in the Russian political system in the run-up to the uniform voting day in Russia on September 8th 2019 was raised in the Federation Council.
"Back then we drew the conclusion that the US and its supporters, with the actual complicity of those who are considered abroad to be stooges for the destabilisation of the Russian political system, will try to take advantage of the next election in our country. At the same time, i.e. two months ago, we named the Moscow City Duma election process as being subject to possible interference. Unfortunately, our conclusions about the expected provocations that will take place with external support were confirmed. I say 'unfortunately' because there was the hope that foreign partners will start to observe, at last, the fundamental principles of the UN, including the principle of non-interference in the affairs of the sovereign states. There was also the hope that certain representatives of the so-called 'non-systemic opposition' will refrain from doubtful cooperation with those who officially in their documents, including in the US federal law, proclaim Russia as the enemy and call to 'contain Russia at any cost' - it is a quote," said senator Klimov, opening the meeting.

Comment: So the next time you hear someone spout something about 'Russian collusion' or such other nonsense - send them this article. The real election meddling (and worse) comes from the US - and is directed to Russia.

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Stock Down

US delays China tariffs, removes others, cites 'Christmas shopping' concerns

Maggie Fitzgerald
CNBC
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 09:47 UTC
trump xi
The United States Trade Representative office said Tuesday that new tariffs on certain consumer items would be delayed until Dec. 15, while other products were being removed from the new China tariff list altogether. It cited health and security factors.

The duties had been set to go into effect on Sept. 1, so the announcement eased concerns about the holiday shopping season.

The USTR said the delay affects electronics including cellphones, laptops and video game consoles and some clothing products and shoes and "certain toys."

Comment: As the US economy falters many realize that they can't afford to lose anymore in the trade war, particularly during holiday season from which many retailers earn the largest portion of their income. It's clear from the obvious rise in stocks that the US' position is weak:

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Arrow Up

Iran's Khamenei pledges continued support to Yemen - Saudi-led coalition continues its attempts to destroy the country


RFE/RL
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 22:58 UTC
Khamenei
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (right) meets with Huthi movement spokesman, Mohammad Abdul Salam, in Tehran on August 13.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised to continue supporting Yemen's Huthis against a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting to restore Yemen's overthrown government in a four-year war.

Speaking on state TV, Khamenei also urged for dialogue among Yemenis to quell the fighting that has killed tens of thousands, and which has brought the country to the brink of famine.

Khamenei accused Saudi Arabia of plotting to "divide Yemen," while saying a "unified and coherent Yemen with sovereign integrity should be endorsed."

Comment: It's notable that while the Saudi's, backed by the West and Israel, continue their devastating war on Yemen, the UAE is set to withdraw deeming it "Unwinnable".

See also: Magnier: War no longer an option for Israel after failures in Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen

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Sherlock

Trump on Epstein: 'I want a full investigation'

Janita Kan
The Epoch Times
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:09 UTC
trump
© Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump speaks to the press on the South Lawn of the White House before departing Washington on Aug. 9, 2019.
President Donald Trump said on Aug. 13 that he is demanding a "full investigation" into the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein, a day after Attorney General William Barr said there were "serious irregularities" at the prison that held the alleged sex trafficker.

"Basically what we're saying is we want an investigation. I want a full investigation. And that's what I absolutely am demanding. That's what our great attorney general is doing; he's doing a full investigation," Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.

Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell in the Special Housing Unit at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City at 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 10. The 66-year-old was recently denied bail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Authorities said he had sexually abused and exploited dozens of girls, some of them as young as 14.

Thousands of documents relating to his alleged wrongdoing were unsealed just a day before he was found unresponsive.
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USA

The new enemy: Corporatocracy's global 'war on white supremacist terror'

C.J. Hopkins
The Unz Review
Thu, 08 Aug 2019 00:00 UTC
domestic terrorism
If you enjoyed the global corporatocracy's original War on Islamicist Terror, you're going to love their latest spinoff, The War on White Supremacist Terror. It's basically just like the old War on Terror, except that this time the bad guys are all white supremacists, and Donald Trump is Osama bin Laden ... unless Putin is Osama bin Laden. OK, I'm not quite sure who's Osama bin Laden. Whatever. The point is, the Terrorists are coming!

Yes, that's right, some racist psycho murdered a bunch of people in Texas, so it's time to "take the gloves off" again, pass some new kind of Patriot Act, further curtail our civil liberties, and generally whip the public up into a mass hysteria over "white supremacist terrorism."

The New York Times Editorial Board is already hard at work on that front. In a lengthy op-ed that ran last Sunday, "We Have a White Nationalist Terrorist Problem," the Board proposes that we would all be safer if the government — but presumably not the current government — could arbitrarily deem people "terrorists," or "potential terrorists," or "terrorist sympathizers," regardless of whether they have any connection to any actual terrorist groups, and ... well, here's what the Editorial Board has in mind.
"The resources of the American government and its international allies would mobilize without delay. The awesome power of the state would work tirelessly to deny future terrorists access to weaponry, money and forums to spread their ideology. The movement would be infiltrated by spies and informants. Its financiers would face sanctions. Places of congregation would be surveilled. Those who gave aid or comfort to terrorists would be prosecuted."
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Russian Flag

Kremlin dismisses speculation about fatal missile test explosion in Archangelsk, insists it was an accident


RT
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 20:38 UTC
russia missile explosion
Satellite imagery leaked to US media showing the location of the a site in northern Russia
The five nuclear scientists who died during an explosion at a secret military range in northern Russia are heroes, the Kremlin said, without confirming US speculation the mishap was related to Russia's hypersonic missile program.

"Accidents, unfortunately, happen. They are tragic," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday. "It is important for us to remember those heroes who lost their lives in this accident."

Experts from the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom explained the causes of the accident and gave all the relevant details, Peskov said. "I have nothing more to add to this."

Comment: It's difficult to believe they had so many specialists in close proximity to danger, assuming they were well aware of the risks - unless something happened that caught them completely by surprise.

US media and govt figures are certain that what is being tested at that site are the paradigm-breaking nuclear-powered cruise missiles, first announced to the world in Putin's March 1st 'state of the union' address last year. They could be bluffing, but they may be close to the mark.

This was likely the result of sabotage. It's all-systems-go in Russia these days to produce a target level of advanced missile capability, and according to a schedule. Anything to derail that potentially helps the Americans catch up.

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No Entry

China refuses US warships entry to Hong Kong ports due to interference in protests

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:50 UTC
US navy hong kong
Mere hours after President Trump tweeted that US intelligence had confirmed the buildup of Chinese troops on the border with Hong Kong, US defense officials warned that Beijing had refused two US Navy ships permission to make port stops in Hong Kong in the coming weeks, a sign that President Xi is none too pleased with how the US has handled itself during the anti-extradition bill protests that have swept Hong Kong over the past ten weeks.

Beijing has repeatedly warned the US to stop interfering with Taiwan and Hong Kong, or else face consequences, including the implicit threat of force.

Meanwhile, China confirmed that it denied the requests made by the US Navy.

Comment: China is well aware that troublemakers are receiving 'assistance' from the US: Cookies for everyone! Hong Kong 'revolution' leader photographed meeting US consulate official in Marriott Hotel

See also: Pepe Escobar: Hong Kong, Kashmir: A tale of two occupations

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Bad Guys

Winning or losing? MSM can't decide if Putin is all-powerful or failing miserably


RT
Tue, 13 Aug 2019 19:48 UTC
putin
© Reuters / Alexander Demianchuk
Mainstream media reporting on Russia is not exactly known for its nuance - and, depending on who you ask, on any given day, the massive Eurasian state may be about to crumble to a pile of dust or take over the world.

In this black and white universe, Russian President Vladimir Putin is either an omnipresent force, seamlessly controlling the workings of other nations with a horde of top-class hackers and spies by his side — or a man on the verge of defeat, who can't even manage to control the goings-on in Moscow, let alone anywhere else.

Well, which is it? They can't seem to make up their minds.

This choppy-changey phenomenon was recently highlighted in a series of tweets comparing various headlines pointing to Putin's alleged wins and losses.
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