Puppet MastersS


Vader

Trump was anti-Iraq war, but Bolton may be just the start of a U-turn

Saul Loeb
RT
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:50 UTC
Trumpback
© Telegraph.co.uk
Despite being elected on an anti-interventionist program, Donald Trump has now surrounded himself with foreign policy hawks and Iraq war apologists. The new National Security Adviser, John Bolton, is just one of the wild bunch.

Back in his pre-election days Trump was a vocal critic of American military adventurism. Notably in 2013, he outright said on Twitter "All former Bush administration officials should have zero standing on Syria. Iraq was a waste of blood & treasure."

Fast forward to 2018, and Trump is picking the likes of John Bolton - an Iraq war apologist and an advocate for starting more wars of the kind - to his team of advisers. While Bolton is known as extremely hawkish even by neocon standards, he is not the sole example in the cabinet. Both Trump's security and foreign policy teams are now full of people who backed the Iraq disaster and are now in favor of military action against Iran and North Korea.

Comment: And...we are going down the rabbit hole, executive-head first.

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Star of David

Israeli DM Lieberman regrets declassifying details of 2007 strike on Syrian nuclear facility


RT
Thu, 22 Mar 2018 03:59 UTC
Israeli plane&men
© IDF/ReutersPhoto from 2007 Israeli air strike on Syrian nuclear reactor site near Deir al-Zor.
Israel's Defense Minister expressed regret for approving the release of details on the 2007 airstrike on a Syrian "nuclear reactor", calling the media fallout and officials' rush to claim credit for the operation an embarrassment.

After a decade of censorship, on Wednesday morning Avigdor Lieberman finally decided to lift the veil of secrecy, allowing the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to release the details of the aerial mission which destroyed an alleged nuclear reactor under construction in Syria's Deir ez-Zor back in September 2007. The decision to conduct a strike on foreign soil, according to the IAF, was based on surveillance gathered by the Military Intelligence Directorate who had been monitoring the activity at the Syrian site for two years.

After Tel Aviv finally officially admitted to "destroying a nuclear facility in its last stages of construction," the race to claim credit for the success of the operation by senior members of the Israeli defense establishment made Defense Minister Lieberman regret his decision to declassify the details of the airstrike.



Comment: National security interests or an act of war...which, hmmm, could it be? Neither. It is 'an embarrassment'! And Israeli generals are fighting over who can claim fame and proud of it. Despicable.

See also: Israeli military admits it carried out 2007 raid on Syrian nuclear reactor

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Attention

Can't audit US elections is a 'national security concern'

Dustin Volz, Patricia Zengerle
Politicus USA
Wed, 21 Mar 2018 01:52 UTC
Nielsen
© DHS, Congress Homeland SecurityDHS Chief Kierstjen Nielsen
Not having a verifiable way to audit election results in some states represents a "national security concern," the Trump administration's homeland security chief said on Wednesday, looking ahead to U.S. midterm elections in November.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was prioritizing election cyber security above all other critical infrastructure it protects, such as the financial, energy and communications systems, the agency's chief, Kirstjen Nielsen, told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The hearing to examine the Trump administration's efforts to improve election security came following U.S. intelligence officials' repeated warnings that Russia will attempt to meddle in the 2018 contests after doing so during the 2016 presidential campaign.

It was held on the same day that lawmakers were expected to unveil a federal spending bill that sources familiar with the negotiations said included nearly $400 million for election security.

Nielsen endorsed paper ballot backups for electronic voting systems as an important safeguard in ensuring that tabulated election results are not tampered with.


Comment: No foolproof guarantee with that plan but, ballot shredding aside, maybe it adds one more layer of complexity.


Comment: See also:

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Attention

Backfired: Western pressure helped Putin win his election, says Kremlin


RT
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 08:29 UTC
Putinelectiongroup
© The Studio Exec"Thanks again, America, for helping me win!"
Western policy aimed at weakening Vladimir Putin's domestic support through pressuring Russia has backfired, the Kremlin's spokesman told RT in an exclusive interview. Dmitry Peskov said this was evidenced by the election results.

The policies were a miscalculation on the part of Western politicians who failed to understand what moves the Russian people, Peskov told RT's Sophie Shevardnadze. "Russia, it's an outstanding country with its own traditions, historical traditions and historical mood of people. When they face any pressure coming from the outside they unite and they unite around a strong leader."

This has happened many times throughout Russian history, and the current surge of popularity of Vladimir Putin is no different, he said. Russian people can't tolerate "craziness" coming from other countries so they rallied around Putin, he argued.


Comment: A lesson that will go right over America's heads!

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Arrow Down

As govt shutdown looms, Trump threatens to veto spending bill over border wall


RT
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:58 UTC
Stone walling
© depositphotos/KJNStonewalling?
US President Donald Trump says he's considering vetoing the freshly-passed $1.3 trillion spending bill over immigration issues. He cited a lack of funding for his much-touted Mexican border wall and concerns over DACA.

Trump tweeted Friday morning that he is considering blocking the bill because 800,000 'Dreamer' immigrants aren't even mentioned in the legislation.

"DACA was abandoned by the Democrats. Very unfair to them! Would have been tied to desperately needed Wall," the president added.

It was thought that a government shutdown had been narrowly avoided as the bill passed the Senate and the House of Representatives in a whirlwind process in the early hours of Friday morning. It was widely anticipated that the president would sign the bill to avoid another government closure with funds due to run out on Saturday.
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Eye 2

John Bolton - The psycho with a hammer is looking for nails


Moon of Alabama
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 17:35 UTC
john bolton hammer
President Trump congratulated Vladimir Putin to his reelection as president of the Russian Federation. It was a matter of simply courtesy to do so. The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (aka the National Security Advisor), three star general McMaster, had advised him to not congratulate Putin. (McMaster now claims differently.) That was bad advice. But it became even worse when McMaster, or someone in his shop, promptly leak this to the press. The usual Republican nutters like John McCain grumbled and Trump was furious.

Trump decided to fire McMaster the very next day. He had it coming. Both the White House Chief of Staff Kerry as well as the Secretary of Defense Mattis wanted McMaster out. Unfortunately for them Trump chose a replacement that they did not want and will find difficult to live with.

John Bolton is not a neo-conservative. He does not dream of 'spreading democracy' or 'nation building'. He is a 'smash, burn and leave' libertarian hawk. He is also an exceptionally avid bureaucrat who knows how to get the things he wants done. That quality is what makes him truly dangerous. Bolton is known for sweet-talking to his superiors, being ruthless against competitors and for kicking down on everyone below him.

Comment: A retrospective on Bolton:

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Gear

A temporary ploy: The UK, the EU and the US gang-up on Russia

Prof. James Petras
Global Research
Wed, 21 Mar 2018 18:45 UTC
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Introduction

For the greater part of a decade the US, the UK and the EU have been carrying out a campaign to undermine and overthrow the Russian government and in particular to oust President Putin. Fundamental issues are at stake including the real possibility of a nuclear war.

The most recent western propaganda campaign and one of the most virulent is the charge launched by the UK regime of Prime Minister Theresa May. The Brits have claimed that Russian secret agents conspired to poison a former Russian double-agent and his daughter in England , threatening the sovereignty and safety of the British people. No evidence has ever been presented. Instead the UK expelled Russian diplomats and demands harsher sanctions, to increase tensions. The UK and its US and EU patrons are moving toward a break in relations and a military build-up.

A number of fundamental questions arise regarding the origins and growing intensity of this anti-Russian animus.

Why do the Western regimes now feel Russia is a greater threat then in the past? Do they believe Russia is more vulnerable to Western threats or attacks? Why do the Western military leaders seek to undermine Russia's defenses? Do the US economic elites believe it is possible to provoke an economic crisis and the demise of President Putin's government? What is the strategic goal of Western policymakers? Why has the UK regime taken the lead in the anti-Russian crusade via the fake toxin accusations at this time?

Comment: See also:

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Info

EU Council ditches May's Skripal poisoning ultimatum to Russia, gives only half-hearted support to UK's propaganda narrative

Alexander Mercouris
The Duran
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 17:30 UTC
eu russia
In my previous article about the failure of Britain's allies to give Britain the strong support it expected in the Skripal case I predicted that the EU Council meeting on 22nd March 2018 would publish a statement which appeared to be strongly supportive of Britain but which on careful examination would turn out to be less than it seemed.

So it has been proved, as shown by the statement the EU Council did put out, which has now published on the Europa website
  1. The European Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent attack in Salisbury, expresses its deepest sympathies to all whose lives have been threatened and lends its support to the ongoing investigation. It agrees with the United Kingdom government's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation. We stand in unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom in the face of this grave challenge to our shared security.
  2. The use of chemical weapons, including the use of any toxic chemicals as weapons under any circumstances, is completely unacceptable, must be systematically and rigorously condemned and constitutes a security threat to us all. Member States will coordinate on the consequences to be drawn in the light of the answers provided by the Russian authorities. The European Union will remain closely focused on this issue and its implications.
  3. Against this background, the European Union must strengthen its resilience to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear-related risks, including through closer cooperation between the European Union and its Member States as well as NATO. The European Union and its Member States should also continue to bolster their capabilities to address hybrid threats, including in the areas of cyber, strategic communication and counter-intelligence. The European Council invites the European Commission and the High Representative to take this work forward and report on progress by the June European Council. (bold italics added)
One of the great problems any person trying to make sense of the current state of international relations immediately encounters is that any news concerning Russia is immediately subjected to a vast volume of negative noise.

Comment: On the talks leading to the statement, RT adds the following:
Diplomats familiar with talks said Greece and Italy did not want the language changed. "They say that there's no smoking gun, or at least not yet," said an EU diplomat to Politico. Greece has denied calling for alterations but admitted it lobbied for a more "clear" text.

Theresa May's team has been hoping for unequivocal world backing, but has not received it. She expelled 23 Russian diplomats from London last week, and has threatened further punishment.

The UK said it was not a snub by Brussels that the language is cooler than last week, especially that used by Germany and France, but said getting 27 countries to agree is difficult. It is especially damaging for Theresa May after President Putin was praised by Trump in a call after his re-election on Sunday, despite her hopes the special friendship between the UK and the US would see Trump backing her fully.

Jean-Claude Juncker also upset the UK after sending a congratulatory letter to Putin. EU leaders will discuss the new text over dinner at the European Council summit Thursday. Despite Britain's allegations against Moscow, Russia has repeatedly insisted that the Kremlin had nothing to do with the attack on former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.


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Bullseye

Russian ambassador to UK on Skripal case: UK gov't cannot be trusted, other nations would be wise to demand proof


RT
Fri, 23 Mar 2018 17:12 UTC
Alexander Yakovenko
© Simon Dawson / ReutersRussia's ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko
When it comes to allegations against Russia, the UK government cannot be trusted, so other nations would be wise to demand proof, Russia's ambassador in London said, commenting on the Skripal poisoning saga.

"Don't take the words of the British for granted," Alexander Yakovenko told journalists during a press conference at the Russian Embassy when asked what his advice to European nations would be on the unfolding UK-Russian conflict. "I am quoting Ronald Reagan: trust but verify."

The ambassador spoke to the media on Thursday to denounce what he called a "hysterical anti-Russian campaign" conducted by the British government and media outlets over the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and two other people, his daughter Yulia and a police officer, in Salisbury. Prime Minister Theresa May accused the Kremlin of ordering a chemical weapon attack against the man and has been rallying Britain's allies against Moscow.
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Sherlock

The money trail behind Trump, Bannon and Cambridge Analytica leads to Republican mega-donors Robert and Rebekah Mercer

Pam Martens and Russ Martens
Wall Street on Parade
Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:48 UTC
Robert and Rebekah Mercer
Far-right Republican mega-donors Robert and Rebekah Mercer
Last evening, the Washington Post reported that Steve Bannon was the individual overseeing the earliest collection of Facebook data for Cambridge Analytica in 2014. The company is under investigation in both the U.S. and U.K. for data mining private information on more than 50 million Facebook users to target voters for the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.

Bannon, with funding from billionaire hedge fund manager, Robert Mercer, was involved in the launch of Cambridge Analytica in 2013. Both Bannon and Mercer served on the Cambridge Analytica Board after its founding.

Bannon is the former executive chairman of Breitbart News which also received funding from Mercer. Bannon also served as CEO of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and as senior counselor to the 45th president for the first seven months of his term until a falling out last year. Robert Mercer was a large donor to the Trump campaign.

Essentially, whatever Bannon has been connected to since at least 2013, Mercer money has been involved in the effort. Take, for example, the Government Accountability Institute (GAI). It was founded in 2012 by Peter Schweizer and Steve Bannon. Schweitzer is currently listed on its website as its President and Rebekah Mercer, daughter of Robert, is listed as its Chair. Rebekah Mercer played a major role in the Trump campaign and served on the Trump Transition Team's Executive Committee, which played a major role in selecting cabinet appointees.

Read the rest of the article here...
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