Puppet MastersS


Target

Fact or fiction? US is 'prepared' and could strike Iran next month


RT
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 06:40 UTC
USS Carrier Carl Vinson
© Erik De Castro/ReutersUSS Carrier Carl Vinson
The US may be ready to target Iran's nuclear facilities soon amid a bellicose exchange of threats between the two countries, ABC reported. However, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dismissed the claim as "speculation."

The outlet cites senior figures in the government of Malcolm Turnbull, who believe the United States is "prepared" to bomb Iran's nuclear sites. The grim prediction suggests the move could happen as early as next month.

The report comes at a time when tensions between Washington and Tehran are hitting boiling point. In one of the latest exchanges of threats between the two nations, Iran said that a war with it would be the "mother of all wars." This prompted Donald Trump to issue a harsh response, warning that Iran would face "consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before."

Comment: There are those who would like nothing better than a full-on war with Iran. On the flip side, Trump has signaled Iran that he is ready to reconnect. The ball is now in Iran's court. See also: Trump ready to negotiate 'real' nuclear deal with Iran

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Snakes in Suits

Kurdish delegation and Syrian gov't officials met to discuss a political settlement


Sputnik
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:05 UTC
Syrian Democratic Forces
© APSyrian Democratic Forces
The Kurds have carved out a stronghold in Syria over the course of the multi-year conflict, controlling over a quarter of the country, encompassing around 70 percent of its proven oil reserves.

Negotiators from Syrian Democratic Force's (SDF) political wing met with Syrian government officials earlier this week, as they look to protect their territorial gains from the Syrian Army and Turkish forces, the Reuters news agency reported.

Kurdish politicians are especially keen to strike a deal with Damascus now, as Washington's stance is unclear the US has proven to be an unreliable ally. "We have a conviction that channels must be open...the constitution, the political process, these will not be solved without the regime [government]," said Kurdish politician Ilham Ahmed.

Moreover, another Kurdish official even suggested SDF fighters could participate in the Syrian Army's suspected upcoming anti-terrorist offensive in Idlib, though it's unclear if Damascus is open to militarily cooperating with the SDF on such a large scale, given their strong ties to the US.

Even though SDF-controlled parts of Syria have long been outside of Damascus' hands, the government continues to provide assistance with administering public services in SDF territory, particularly northeastern Syria, paying wages to teachers and other public-sector workers.

Comment: With the US not muddying the water, negotiations can take a turn for the better in benefitting both Damascus and the Kurds.

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Cross

Vatican blasts Italian govt's bill mandating crucifixes in public areas as 'blasphemy'


RT
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:16 UTC
Crucifix
© Global Look Press/ Hauke-Christian Dittrich
An adviser of Pope Francis is campaigning against the mandatory introduction of crucifixes in all public areas across Italy, insisting an initiative put forward by Italy's League party on Tuesday was tantamount to "blasphemy."

Reverend Antonio Spadaro hit out at the bill, which was introduced for debate in the national parliament this week. He said during a press conference: "If you remove the (religious) symbolism from the crucifix ... it becomes a parody."

Earlier in the day Spadaro, who is editor of the Jesuit magazine 'Civilta Cattolica,' bluntly told the League to keep its "hands off" the crucifix in a tweet that went viral.

"The cross is a sign of protest against sin, violence, injustice and death. It is NEVER a sign of identity. It screams of love to the enemy and unconditional welcome. It's an embrace from God without defences," Spadaro tweeted. He has been regularly posting tweets backing his stance since then.
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Stop

Not in our backyard: US concerned China might build military base in El Salvador

Frank Sellars
The Duran
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 06:00 UTC
El Salvador
With China's growing influence, both politically and economically, there is a growing concern that China may be trying to overtake the US as the world's leading power. With its growing economic influence, it is pulling nations from India to Eastern Europe into its 'One Belt One Road' Initiative, and working its way into other trade organizations. It is already worked its way into the BRICS, and the EAEU, and has organized the SCO, among others.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has pointed out to Congress the growing threat that China poses to the US, and that is a threat that is described as both medium and long term in its scope. Recently, the US Ambassador to El Salvador, Jean Manes, pointed out the possibility of China's working its way into America's own back yard, into El Salvador itself. Manes expressed that the possibility exists that one of El Salvador's ports, La Union, could be turned into a military base. If this happened, China would gain its first military base in the Western hemisphere and set in motion events that could lead to a full scale threat of the presence and military protection of the region, and potentially destabilize America's own security. Mint Press News Reports

Comment: What the US fears most is that both China and Russia are challenging the old world order by showing countries that there are alternatives to submitting to US' mafia tactics. By their willingness to invest in countries in ways that improve economies and overall living conditions they are giving these nations the wherewithal to resist the global hegemon.

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Whistle

Bowing to US pressure? Ecuador's Moreno says 'Assange must eventually leave Embassy in London'


RT
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 14:15 UTC
Assange Ecuador Embassy
© Toby Melville / ReutersThe Ecadorian embassy in central London
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a step closer to being evicted from the Ecuadorian embassy in London after President Lenin Moreno said the whistleblower must "eventually" leave the facility.

"Yes, indeed yes, but his departure should come about through dialogue," the Ecuadorian president said on Friday answering a reporter's question on whether Assange will eventually have to leave.

"For a person to stay confined like that for so long is tantamount to human rights violation," Moreno said. He added that Ecuador wants to make sure that nothing "poses danger" to the whistleblower's life.


Comment: Julian Assange and the dying of the light of free speech

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House

Israel vows more controversial settlements in W. Bank, defense minister says it's 'best answer to terrorism'


RT
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:11 UTC
Jewish settlement in West Bank
© Mussa Qawasma / ReutersFILE PHOTO: A Jewish settlement in Hebron, the West Bank
The Israeli defense minister has vowed to expand controversial settlement policies in the West Bank, claiming that it is the "best answer to terrorism." It follows a stabbing attack by a Palestinian.

"The best answer to terrorism is the expansion of settlements," Avigdor Lieberman tweeted on Friday. He ordered the construction of some 400 "housing units" to proceed in the area, and the plan is set to be approved in the coming weeks.

Comment: For Lieberman and those like him, the real best answer to "terrorism" is not the expansion of settlements, but rather the complete genocidal eradication of the Palestinian people. That is what Jewish settlement expansion is all about. See also: Slow motion genocide: Israel's security minister threatens 'broad military operation' against Gazans

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Pirates

The ISIS attack on Suweida, Syria: A message of support to its 'brothers' in Quneitra, and to show it is still active and effective

Elijah J. Magnier
ejmagnier.com
Thu, 26 Jul 2018 17:21 UTC
isis syria
In one of the bloodiest massacres after Speicher (Iraq), more than 150 ISIS militants attacked the province and the city of Suweida killing over 220 farmers (men, women, children) and members of the Syrian army and the local National Defence Forces. However, the "biggest hit was directed to Russia and Damascus who are inviting all refugees to return from neighbouring countries," as a decision maker in the Syrian capital said.

On Wednesday at 05:00 am local time, ISIS militants, onboard of estimated 35 to 40 vehicles crossed al-Badiya (Syrian Steppe) to break, after long hours of travelling, into Suweida province. The first villages to be attacked by the terrorist group were Rami, Chbeke, al Mushannaf, Rami, Tima, Doma, al-Ghida, al-Sharihe before reaching the city of Suweida.

The ISIS convoy left behind death and destruction killing inoffensive farmers and their families in their homes. Many houses were looted, indicating the convoy travelled light and fast, imitating Napoleon Bonaparte's troops, eating from local stocks as observed by the forces who followed the same path taken by the terrorists.

There is no doubt that ISIS's planning was highly effective, showing knowledge of the land and the slim forces protecting its objectives. The firepower in Suweida that confronted ISIS forced the group to pull out and prevented it from committing a massacre much superior to the one already made.
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Colosseum

The US Deep State desperately needs a Russian villain to cover its tracks: Enter 'Vladimir the Terrible'

Robert Bridge
The Strategic Culture Foundation
Thu, 26 Jul 2018 15:38 UTC
Putin Trump
© Associated Press/ Jorge Silva/Pool
Conventional wisdom would have us believe that Russia became America's sworn enemy in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. As is often the case, however, conventional wisdom can be illusory.

In the momentous 2016 showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, a faraway dark kingdom known as Russia, the fantastic fable goes, hijacked that part of the American brain responsible for critical thinking and lever pulling with a few thousand dollars' worth of Facebook and Twitter adverts, bots and whatnot. The result of that gross intrusion into the squeaky clean machinery of the God-blessed US election system is now more or less well-documented history brought to you by the US mainstream media: Donald Trump, with some assistance from the Russians that has never been adequately explained, pulled the presidential contest out from under the wobbly feet of Hillary Clinton.

For those who unwittingly bought that work of fiction, I can only offer my sincere condolences. In fact, Russiagate is just the latest installment of an anti-Russia story that has been ongoing since the presidency of George W. Bush.

Comment:

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Violin

#MeToo! US Senator McCaskill says Russia tried to hack her network


RFE/RL
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:10 UTC
russian hack
A U.S. senator has accused Russian hackers of trying unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network, in what could be the first publicly known attempt at meddling in the 2018 elections.

Senator Claire McCaskill (Democrat-Missouri), who is up for reelection this year, late on July 26 confirmed a report on the Daily Beast website saying Russia's GRU intelligence agency tried to break into McCaskill's computers in August.

The Daily Beast report came after a Microsoft executive said last week that the company had helped stop e-mail phishing attacks on three unidentified U.S. congressional candidates.

In a statement, McCaskill said she wants to hold the hackers and Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable.

"While this attack was not successful, it is outrageous that they think they can get away with this," she said. "I will not be intimidated. I've said it before and I will say it again, Putin is a thug and a bully."

Her office would not give any details about the attempted attack or say how they learned about it.

Comment: Crimea river.

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Eagle

US Sec Def Mattis considering first talks with Russian counterpart Shoigu


RT
Fri, 27 Jul 2018 16:41 UTC
mattis shoigu
© Francois Lenoir / Reuters; Mikhail Klimentyev / Sputnik
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has said he is looking into the possibility of holding the first talks in years with his Russian counterpart Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.

"I am considering meeting with my counterpart, but there's been no decision," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon, as quoted by Reuters.

Shoygu last spoke on the phone with a US Defense Secretary in September 2015 when the position was occupied by Ash Carter. The sides discussed Syria back then, with the Pentagon describing the conversation as "constructive."

Earlier on Friday, Vladimir Putin said that Russia and US were cooperating on Syria on an operative level, but added that high-level contacts on the issue were required.

During their meeting in Helsinki earlier this month, presidents Putin and Trump agreed to revitalize military cooperation between the countries in several areas, including the return of refugees to Syria and prolonging the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).

Trump even said that the US and Russian militaries proved to actually get along better than the politicians of the two countries over the past few years, referring to the deconfliction communication in Syria.
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