Puppet MastersS


Attention

Pompeo, Trump pick for Sec of State, says no more soft policy towards Russia


RT
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 03:15 UTC
MikePompeo
© Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters
CIA director Mike Pompeo, who was picked by President Donald Trump to lead US foreign policy, has declared that the days of what he called a "soft policy" toward Russia are over. At the same time, he said dialogue must continue.

"Russia continues to act aggressively, enabled by years of soft policy toward that aggression. That's now over. The list of this administration's actions to raise the cost for [Russian President] Vladimir Putin is long," Pompeo said in his prepared testimony before the Senate. Excerpts of his testimony were released by the White House on Thursday.

The intelligence chief, known for his hardline approach to foreign affairs, stated that the Trump administration's handling of the Russia issue has made it clear that it "rightfully, has identified Russia as a danger to our country."

Listing the measures taken by the Trump White House to tame Moscow, Pompeo mentioned the planned US military build-up, modernization of its nuclear arsenal, as well as rounds of punitive measures against Russia. "We have imposed tough sanctions and expelled more Russian diplomats and intelligence officers from the US than at any time since the Cold War," Pompeo said.

He also praised the Trump administration's efforts in supplying Ukraine and Georgia with weapons, claiming that Washington is helping them to resist "Russian expansionism."

Comment: "At the same time dialogue must continue..." What dialogue? "Tame Moscow"? The whole sham of foreign relations with Russia is looking like a set-up and now Trump has dangerous, myopic, neocon scumbags like Pompeo and Bolton at the helm of crisis policy to guarantee a needless and horrific 'end' result. America...are you still clueless?

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Rocket

Syrian MP wonders why Trump didn't use his 'Smart Missiles' against terrorists in Syria


Sputnik
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 03:08 UTC
Trump Bolton
© Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Commenting on US President Donald Trump's recent tweets about the possibility of a US strike on Syria by American "smart missiles," a Syrian parliamentarian speaking to Sputnik asks why Washington has not used its wonder weapons against terrorists in the country.

US President Donald Trump makes his expressive statements on the possibility of a missile strike on Syria because he cannot reconcile himself with the loss of his mercenaries in Eastern Ghouta, Ammar al-Assad, a member of the Syrian Parliament, told Sputnik Arabic, adding that the region was used by the US-led coalition to blackmail Damascus.

On April 11, Trump tweeted that Russia should "get ready" for "nice and new and smart" American missiles in Syria.


Comment: That is a very good question. If the military had used the 'smart' missiles against the real terrorists there might not be a conflict heading full steam towards outright war. And, neocons wouldn't be highjacking the Oval Office.

See also: Trump threatens Russia: Get ready, 'nice, new and smart' missiles will be coming to Syria

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Star of David

Netanyahu: Israeli snipers are doing 'holy work'

Allison Deger
Mondoweiss
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 00:00 UTC
Netanyahu
© timesofIsrael.comIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Days after an Israeli human rights group urged soldiers to refuse orders to shoot at Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip along the fence that divides the occupied territory from Israel, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday accused the group of "outrageous absurdity" and defended the military for their "holy work."

Last week the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem launched the advertisements, "Sorry Commander, I cannot shoot," to persuade soldiers deployed along the border with Gaza to convince them to disobey orders to use live-fire against Palestinian protestors.
SorrySir
© B'TselemTranslation of an ad placed by B'Tselem in Israeli newspapers calling on soldiers to refuse orders to shoot Palestinian protesters.
In an apparent response to the campaign Netanyahu said in a cabinet meeting this morning, "I see the outrageous absurdity that people are going up to IDF soldiers, who are defending them from annihilation, and are calling them terrorists."

Comment: There is nothing holy about a massacre. Ever.

See also:

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Rocket

Labour leader Corbyn calls out Trump, demands vote by MPs before UK strikes Syria


RT
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:02 UTC
Corbyn
© The GuardianLabour Leader Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn has hit out at Donald Trump, telling the US leader that "more war will not save life." The Labour leader's comments come as he urges Theresa May to ensure a parliamentary vote before any military action in Syria.

On Wednesday, Trump threatened on Twitter that "smart" missiles would soon be aimed at Syria, in retaliation for an alleged chemical weapons attack in the city of Douma. When asked about the US president's comments at a local election event in Derby, the Labour leader said: "I think the whole world should be alarmed at that sort of instant reaction - sending stuff out on social media to make policy." He added: "More bombing, more killing, more war will not save life."

Corbyn condemned the alleged chemical attack against the Syrian people in Douma at the weekend, describing the use of chemical weapons as "illegal as well as immoral and wrong." However, the UK opposition leader said that he wanted to see the whole picture on the alleged chemical attack, and that Parliament needs to be consulted before any military action is taken.

Corbyn urged the Conservative government to "listen to what the UN says" and wait for an "inquiry into the source and usage of the chemical weapons."

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Footprints

White House: Third national security aide resigns after Bolton takes job


RT
Wed, 11 Apr 2018 20:51 UTC
NadiaShadlow
© Foreign Policy Research/AdweekNadia Shadlow
The White House has announced the resignation of Deputy national security adviser Nadia Schadlow, the third senior official to leave President Donald Trump's team following John Bolton's appointment as national security adviser.
"The administration thanks Dr. Schadlow for her service and leadership in crafting the president's 'America First' national security agenda strategy," deputy White House press secretary Raj Shah said in a statement on Wednesday. "The strategy has set a strong foundation going forward for protecting the homeland, promoting American prosperity, preserving peace through strength and advancing American influence."
Schadlow is believed to be close to former national security adviser H.R. McMaster. She tendered her resignation in a letter to President Trump on Tuesday.

Her resignation came just a day after another senior official, Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert, stepped down from his post. Bossert's resignation came shortly after his after his appearance on ABC's This Week on Sunday, where he questioned the "timing" of Saturday's alleged chemical incident in Syria. It remained unclear whether Bossert's resignation was connected somehow with the critical comments he made.

Comment: Did Trump realize his new neocon, war mongering appointees would cause a chain reaction exodus? Shouldn't this tell him something really, really important? His administration has lost balance and defendability by bowing to Israel and the neocon agenda.

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Bullseye

WH blames 'bad actor' Russia for the Douma 'chem attack', no timetable for response


RT
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 01:11 UTC
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
© Business InsiderWhite House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders
The White House has refused to clarify if Donald Trump's belligerent tweets signal a planned strike on Syria, but insisted that Moscow is responsible for last week's alleged chemical attack, as it failed to rein in Bashar Assad.

Asked to respond to Moscow's claims that the "civil defense" group White Helmets, which has links to Syrian rebels, was behind the April 7 incident, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the media during an emergency briefing that "the intelligence provided certainly paints a different picture, and the President holds Syria and Russia responsible."

When confronted about US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' statement that the US was still "assessing intelligence" about the specifics of what happened in the Islamist-controlled suburb of Damascus, Huckabee Sanders answered that she "can't get into the details," but that the administration was "confident" that the attack was ordered by advancing government forces.

Huckabee Sanders went on to explain that even if it did not directly take part in what happened in Douma, Russia bears some of the blame for the alleged attack, as it blocked six Western-backed resolutions on Syria, which supposedly failed to clear the country of chemical weapons following the 2013 Ghouta attack. More generally, she added that Russia has been a "bad actor" for the duration of the seven-year conflict.

Comment: Deceit, illusions, unproved accusations...such solid reasons to go to war. But none of this matters once the first shot is fired. Just another abysmal chapter in mankind's history.

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Arrow Up

MSM's lone voice of sanity: Tucker Carlson demolishes case for attacking Syria

Charles Bausman
Russia Insider
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 00:00 UTC
Carlson is setting himself up for mass-popularity. Other show hosts should take notice - that means you Hannity.

tucker carlson interview nigel farage
Carlson was at it again last night. For those of you who aren't familiar with the US media landscape, this is quite extraordinary.

All the other major US networks, PBS, plus the NY Times and Washpo, are literally shrieking for an attack on Syria and foaming at the mouth about Assad gassing children. Even the other big hosts on Fox are pushing war - Hannity and Laura Ingraham. So Tucker is literally standing alone. I'm sure they would fire him if they could, but that would only enrage an already awake American public.

Here in the US there have been a frightening parade of "specialists" appearing on every major news show, - retired diplomats, military men, journalists, academics, policy wonks - arguing again and again that Trump has no choice, he must attack, Assad definitely used gas, etc. etc. It is astounding to see this relentless parade of liars, and the show hosts who egg them on.

Comment: See also:

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Russian Flag

SOTT Focus: WATCH Top Russian General Predict Douma Provocation a Month in Advance


Sputnik
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:45 UTC
Valery Gerasimov
Russian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov has warned that Russia would respond to any US military strike flowing from a false flag chemical weapons attack blamed on the Syrian government and Russia. So what's the big deal? The general made the warning nearly a month ago...

Speaking at a press briefing on March 13, Gerasimov warned that the Russian defense ministry had obtained "reliable information" about plans by terrorists in Eastern Ghouta to launch a false chemical attack on civilians in the region and blame it on the Syrian government. According to the officer, 'White Helmets' activists and the accompanying film crews had already arrived at the scene with the necessary satellite equipment to spread the news of this 'attack' to the world media.

Listen to the general's remarks in full:
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Mr. Potato

UK Cabinet 'Agrees on Need To Take Action' in Syria


Sputnik
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:35 UTC
Theresa May Syria
According to a new statement from Downing Street, the United Kingdom's prime minister and top-level advisers "agreed on the need to take action to alleviate humanitarian distress and to deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime."

"Following a discussion in which every member present made a contribution, Cabinet agreed it was vital that the use of chemical weapons did not go unchallenged," the UK Cabinet said Thursday.

On Wednesday, the British Royal Navy sent submarines within missile striking range of Syria.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May seems to have concluded the alleged gas attack by the Syrian government in Douma was "a shocking and barbaric act," according to the statement. Just earlier this week, however, the UK envoy to the United Nations expressed support for sending the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to the site to conduct a fact-finding mission and more thorough investigation.

"In response to media queries, the spokesperson for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirms that the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission team is on its way to Syria and will start its work as of Saturday, 14 April 2018," the OPCC announced via Twitter on Thursday.

Comment: In other words, the UK cabinet agreed that the best way to prop up a very unpopular Tory government is for the British navy to use its one functioning sub to fire off a few missiles at an abandoned Syrian airfield, giving the British press an opportunity to extol the non-existent virtues of Theresa and the Tories. Watch it happen.

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Bad Guys

US Officials claim to have blood samples proving chemical weapons attack - but not 100% sure


Sputnik
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 21:37 UTC
syria douma
The United States has new evidence that suggests chlorine gas and an unidentified nerve agent were used in a recent attack in the Syrian town of Duma, but US officials are not 100 percent sure about the intelligence, NBC News reported on Thursday.

Two US officials familiar with the evidence said blood and urine samples allegedly obtained from the Syrian town tested positive for both chlorine and an unnamed nerve agent, NBC News reported.

The officials said they were "confident" in the intelligence, but "not 100 percent sure" about it, the report added.

Comment: The US isn't 100% sure but they still want to go to war:

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