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Hourglass

Pentagon chief Mattis: Direct Israel-Iran conflict 'very likely'


Sputnik
Sat, 28 Apr 2018 09:15 UTC
Pentagon chief James Mattis
© AP Photo/ Carolyn KasterJames Mattis
Pentagon chief James Mattis told reporters Friday that direct conflict between Israeli and Iranian forces is "very likely," just days after French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that he believes US President Donald Trump will scrap the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

The defense secretary said conflict between the two countries in Syria is "very likely... because Iran continues to do its proxy work there through Hezbollah."

Mattis later told lawmakers in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, "I can see how it might start, but I am not sure when or where." Mattis' counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, met with Mattis after the hearing, according to the Jerusalem Post. Liberman also met with US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who he called a "loyal friend to the state of Israel" in a tweet.


Comment: Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri played down a recent secret deal between Tel Aviv and Washington to undermine the Islamic Republic and said the Israeli regime cannot continue its "disgraceful" life with such "childish alliances".
Speaking at a ceremony in the Western province of Kermanshah on Friday, Major General Baqeri pointed to recent Israeli threats against Iran and said, "The Zionist regime is nothing more than a bubble."

"If they think that they can continue their disgraceful lives with such childish alliances, they are completely wrong," he said, adding that because the future is clear and given divine justice, the Israeli regime is doomed to collapse.

"If the Zionist regime thinks that by setting off several fireworks on its neighbors, it can prevent the (Iranian) nation from reaching its goals, it is completely wrong," the commander noted.

He further emphasized that the Iranian nation's goals have been drawn up and that the nation has kicked out the US and its stooges, including Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) and al-Nusra Front terrorist groups as well as some reactionary regimes from Iraq and Syria.
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Radar

Flashback Invisible Shield, Invisible Sword: Russia's electronic warfare is 'second to none'


Sputnik
Fri, 01 Sep 2017 14:13 UTC
Russian electronic warfare system
© Sputnik/ Pavel Lisitsyn
In the wake of successful drills involving the Russian electronic warfare system Krasukha-4, Sputnik looks into why such systems are of paramount importance to the defense capability of the country's army.

During the war games Russia conducted earlier this week, Krasuha-4 operators managed "to blind" the navigation systems and means of targeting high-precision weapons used by Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers, which played the role of enemy aircraft during the drills.

As a result, the "enemy" was unable to detect mock-up targets and launch an airstrike on them.
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Network

SOTT Focus: Despite all Efforts by Warmongers in Washington, Peace has Broken out on the Korean Peninsula

Robert Bridge
RT
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:13 UTC
kim jong un moon jae in cross border
The leaders of North and South Korea stunned the world on Friday by declaring a new age of peace between their long-divided states. But to credit Washington for this remarkable turnaround would be sending a dangerous message.

To say that the situation on the Korean peninsula has been moving ahead at breakneck, roller-coaster speed would be a great understatement. Just a few months ago, the world held its breath as Pyongyang slammed yet another round of US-backed sanctions as an "act of war." In the background of the breakdown was Donald Trump, armed with an insurmountable ego and a very active Twitter account, helping to drive up tensions to the boiling point.

This week, the mood could not have been any more different had white doves and rainbow-colored unicorns descended upon the Korean peninsula from the heavens and broke out in song and dance.

Few could have imagined the historic event that was playing out before them: Kim Jong-un strolled hand-in-hand with South Korean President Moon Jae-in across the forbidden Militarized Zone, thus becoming the first North Korean leader in 65 years to enter South Korean territory. But that was just the beginning of April's shower of political surprises. Kim and Moon went on to commit themselves to eliminating nuclear weapons on the peninsula, and pledging to sign a formal peace treaty later this year.
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Better Earth

SOTT Focus: After 65 years, Korean Leaders Agree to End War in Historic Peace Summit

Andrew Salmon
Asia Times
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 21:31 UTC
korea peace summit
© Reuters TVNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in raise their hands in unity after signing agreements during the inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom on April 27, 2018
After a day of upbeat optics and good vibes, the Koreas agreed to cooperate and reduce tension, but details on denuclearization must await the North Korea-US summit in May or June

After a day-long summit, leaders of the two Koreas hugged one another, opening "a new era of peace". They pledged that there would be no further conflict on the peninsula and vowed to upgrade relations in multiple spheres.

But while they agreed on "total denuclearization," no details of steps to achieve this were included, suggesting the issue has been deferred to the upcoming North Korea-US summit, expected in May or June.

After a day of talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in and their entourages at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, the two sides released the "Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula."

Comment: South Korea's Foreign Minister told CNN's Christiane Amanpour something that likely made her throw up a bit in her mouth... that Donald Trump deserves a lot of credit for making this historic meeting happen...


Trump in turn gave a shout out to Xi Jinping, who was no doubt also instrumental:


In summary, the two Koreas have agreed to:
  • completely denuclearize Korean peninsula
  • hold multi-party talks involving the US and China
  • have high-level military talks in May
  • have Moon visit North Korea in the autumn
  • establish a 'firm peace regime'
  • Kim said he hopes two Koreas will reunite


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Fire

The endgame in Syria could get ugly really fast

Petr Lvov
New Eastern Outlook
Thu, 26 Apr 2018 19:21 UTC
bombing syria
© Agence France-Presse/Aris MessinisA shell explodes on in the Syrian city of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab.
While Syrian troops carry on their liberation of Damascus' suburbs from radical militants with the support of Iranian troops and Shia militia detachments, the United States and Saudi Arabia are planning to take advantage of Ankara's tacit consent and launch a decisive blow against the forces of Bashar al-Assad. Saudi demands issued to Qatar, urging the latter to launch a military strike against Syria is just part of a multinational military operation in the making to rely on ground forces drawn from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. We face the probable entry of so-called Arab coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia into Syrian territory, illegally occupied by the United States. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently expressed its readiness to send its troops to Syria within the framework of a so-called International Coalition to replace American troops deployed there acting on the request of US President Donald Trump.

It's safe to say that the plan aimed at Balkanizing Syria is in full swing. From a realistic point of view, the Saudi-led forces only need to obtain consent from the US to launch an invasion, all while Washington is engaged in a variety of unnecessary political maneuvers, including holding consultations with Kurdish-led SDF forces that it has sponsored for some time now. Thus, the US is attempting to extend some form of authority to these forces as they enter US-occupied territories. While Russian forces enjoy the invitation of the legitimately recognized government in Damascus, the Pentagon has no such luxury, and therefore wants to obtain a plausible pretext by recognizing the SDF as a governmental power in the territory of eastern Syria. This means that their consent will also be a factor aimed at legitimizing the military occupation of the GCC forces.
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Sherlock

The fate of Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, hinges on this 32-year-old corruption fighter

Christian Berthelsen
Bloomberg Politics
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 18:24 UTC
Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen
The high-wattage cases that go through the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office have catapulted legal careers. Some lawyers have become household names after starting their careers there targeting drug dealers, gangsters and con artists -- think Comey, Giuliani or Bharara.

Now, a 32-year-old assistant U.S. attorney, Thomas McKay, is leading the criminal investigation of President Donald Trump's longtime personal lawyer, in what could prove to be the office's most explosive case in years. In the process, McKay could garner as many headlines as his famous predecessors.

The circumstances surrounding the U.S. investigation of the lawyer, Michael Cohen, are extraordinary even by the standards of the Manhattan office -- an FBI raid of Cohen's home and office, the president fighting in court to keep his own Justice Department from reviewing seized evidence, a hush payment to a porn actress.

Comment: See also:

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Arrow Down

Merkel follows Macron to Washington: Germany joins US and France in seeking violation of Iran nuclear deal


RT
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:54 UTC
Merkel Trump
© Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that the existing deal with Iran was not sufficient to curb its nuclear program, while Tehran's influence must be contained.

"We are of the opinion that the JCPOA is the first step that has contributed to slowing down their activities in this particular respect, that also established a better verification and monitoring process. But we also think, from the German perspective, that this is not sufficient in order to see the Iranian ambitions curbed and contained," Merkel said, adding that Tehran's "geopolitical influence in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq" must be countered.

Merkel stated that the Iranian issue is way more important for Germany than it is for the US, since the country is "right at our doorstep."
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Eagle

Anti-Russia neocon war mongers unite! New 'think tank' will protect Western democracy from Russia, sell books


RT
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:00 UTC
Putin cheers
© Alexander Zemlianichenko / AFP
A group of neocon heartthrobs have banded together with an eclectic array of Russiagaters to form a visionary organization committed to protecting Western democracy. You can also pre-order their book, according to their website.

Chaired by pompous chess wizard turned Kremlinologist Garry Kasparov, the brand-new Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI) is the latest three-letter-initialism non-profit devoted to "the defense of democratic freedom and prosperity." The trailblazing think tank has already sent shockwaves through Washington, DC and every European capital.

Celebrated war cheerleader Max Boot, who serves on RDI's board of directors, announced the creation of this highly original organization in a Washington Post op-ed. Interestingly, the unveiling started with a laundry list of 10 other groups that are already "protesting Trump and championing democracy."

Comment: Wow - a whole industry of hate-filled globalists, war-partiers, what have you - that make a living disparaging and seeking reasons for the overthrow of Russia as it currently exists - just because they can't stand the idea of Russia being a successfully run sovereign nation that will not bow down to the detrimental dictates of Washington.

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Bad Guys

Trump keeps some JFK documents sealed until 2021 as Archives release final batch

Todd J. Gillman
Dallas News
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 21:59 UTC
zapruder film still
President Donald Trump issued an order Thursday, keeping some of the most sensitive records from the Kennedy assassination files sealed for another 3 1/2 years, as the National Archives released a final batch under a law meant to force most of the records into the light by last fall.

In 1992, Congress set a 25-year deadline for releasing remaining documents stemming from John F. Kennedy's murder in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963.

When the deadline arrived - Oct. 26 last year - Trump gave federal agencies a six-month extension to plead the case for keeping selected records sealed, if they could assert a vital national security interest. The FBI and CIA in particular had pressed for more time.

Comment: There must be something pretty darn juicy in those documents for Trump to keep some of them sealed indefinitely. One wonders how effectively those documents would out the man behind the curtain, were they to be released.

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Calendar

Federal Judge tells Trump he has 90 days to restart DACA

Matt Vespa
Townhall
Wed, 25 Apr 2018 17:43 UTC
daca
Well, the battle over what to do for recipients enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals has been thrown back into the frying pan. Like crabgrass, this issue keeps arising - and causing headaches for the Trump administration. The Trump White House decided to gradually phase out the constitutionally questionable program, effectively rescinding an executive order issued by former President Obama. Yet, politically, they couldn't leave almost one million illegal aliens subject to immediate deportation; the political consequences would be too great. So, they added in a six-month enforcement delay, affording Congress time to pass a DACA fix.
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