Puppet MastersS


Dollars

Moscow furious at leak of embassy bank transfers around the time of US election

Kislyak
© Brendan Smialowski/AFPFormer Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergei Kislyak
The Russian Foreign Ministry is demanding that the United States stop the leak of confidential diplomatic information after a media report this week provided details of what it said were "suspicious" Russian embassy bank transfers.

The Kremlin demand on January 18 came after the U.S. online outlet Buzzfeed reported that U.S. officials investigating allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election are studying bank transfers to and from the Russian Embassy in Washington before and after the November 2016 election.

Buzzfeed said U.S. banks flagged a number of embassy bank transfers and reported them to U.S. regulators, as required by U.S. law, because they were large and looked "suspicious."

The flagged transactions directly or indirectly involved Sergei Kislyak, who was the Russian ambassador to Washington until last year, and who had numerous contacts with top aides of U.S. President Donald Trump before and after his election.

Comment: The respect for the sanctity of diplomatic immunity and intra-country relations may be callously forsaken when, in the balance, it involves the slimmest possibility of sabotaging an American president and his diplomatic corps with financial information that has no relevance to the administration.


Handcuffs

FBI: China has been eliminating CIA informants, mole responsible now in custody

nets man
© Den of Geek'to catch a mole'
According to a Department of Justice release Tuesday, the FBI has captured a mole that they believe had been revealing top secret identities of CIA informants to the Chinese.

"A systematic dismantling"

The New York Times reports that China began killing informants to the CIA in 2012 in what is considered one of the intelligence community's greatest failures. After a "mole hunt" to capture who might have been spilling secrets, the FBI arrested a former CIA employee who was caught with top secret information.

Jerry Chun Shing Lee was a naturalized American citizen and had been living in Hong Kong. According to the release by the DOJ, Lee's hotel room and luggage were searched by the FBI when he visited the United States with his family in 2012. They discovered "two small books containing handwritten notes that contained classified information, including but not limited to, true names and phone numbers of assets and covert CIA employees, operational notes from asset meetings, operational meeting locations and locations of covert facilities."

Lee had been employed at the CIA from 1994 to 2007 and had maintained a top secret clearance. Some believe that the Chinese had also gained information by hacking into the CIA's lines of communication.

What kind of punishment does he face?


Lee was charged with unlawful retention of national defense information and appeared in a courtroom of the Eastern District of New York. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Comment: According to NoisyRoom.net:
Lee was at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport when he was taken down. But his stomping grounds are in Hong Kong.

According to FBI Special Agent Kellie R. O'Brien, he was trained in "methods of covert communications, surveillance detection, recruitment of assets, handling of assets, payment of assets, operational security, and documenting, handling and securing classified information."

Lee held a top-secret clearance. He is said to have had access to sensitive compartmented information. That info was utilized to protect intelligence programs.

There are no specifics in the criminal complaint stating that Lee was spying for China, but it's a good bet he was. The CIA is not commenting on that and neither is the Department of Justice. That pretty much speaks for itself. The arrest appears linked to the ongoing US counterintelligence probe into how the Chinese government systematically crippled CIA agent networks inside China. The Chinese have been killing off CIA informants and that is probably linked to Lee's activities.

In May, the New York Times reported the Chinese government had unraveled all CIA spying operations in China beginning in 2010. The report, quoting intelligence officials, suggested the loss of the agents was the result of a retired Chinese-American CIA officer who spied for China.

Because of the betrayal, China eliminated between 18 and 20 CIA sources in China.

"Some investigators believed he had become disgruntled and had begun spying for China," the Times reported. "One official said the man had access to the identities of CIA informants and fit all the indicators on a matrix used to identify espionage threats." Lee was in court this week in New York City and was charged with unlawful retention of national defense information. If convicted, he can get up to ten years in prison.

Officials familiar with the case say it is unlikely that Lee will be charged with espionage, which can carry the death penalty. It may be that the government doesn't have the proof required for such a charge, or that it doesn't want to air secrets in an open courtroom.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Neil Hammerstrom of the Eastern District of Virginia.



Snakes in Suits

Trump will blame Dems for shutting down military if unable to fund the government

Trumpence
© Brendan Smialowski / AFP
President Donald Trump said Democrats would bear responsibility for endangering the US military should Congress be unable to pass a short-term resolution to continue funding the government.

"We're just here to support the general and all of the generals. We're here to support our country's military," Trump said outside the Pentagon on Thursday. "If the country shuts down, which could very well be, the budget should be handled a lot differently than it's been handled over the last long period of time -- many years. But if for any reason it shuts down, the worst thing is what happens to our military."

Earlier in the day Trump had tweeted "A government shutdown will be devastating to our military...something the Dems care very little about!"

When reporters asked whether a government shutdown was imminent and who would be responsible if it happens, Trump replied, "Could happen. We'll see what happens. It's up to to the Democrats."

Comment: Trump will blame the Democrats? Pelosi will blame the Republicans? A 'no' vote is a 'no' vote no matter which party it comes from...they all equally contribute to tanking the funding legislation.


Rocket

Confirmed: NBC News crew was inside bunker facility hours before it sent out the error missile alert

NBCnewsreporter
© NBC News/YouTubeNBC reporter inside Hawaii Emergency Management Agency bunker.
News crew granted access to secure bunker that receives an encrypted call from USPACCOM if an airborne missile posses a threat to Hawaii on the very same day, hours, before the botched alert went out to the public.

It's been confirmed that an NBC News crew gained access to a highly-secure bunker facility in which the Jan. 13 "ballistic missile threat" alert message was sent from, just hours before the message was broadcast, reportedly in error.

"Hours before the false alarm sounded with warning of an inbound missile we had exclusive access to the bunker where it was sent from," an NBC News spokesman blatantly admitted in a Jan. 15 report which aired on the Nightly News titled "Nerves Rattled After Missile False Alarm in Hawaii."

"Let me take you to where the show starts," Hawaii Emergency Management spokesman David Hafner told the crew before the alert was issued using a rather odd choice of words. "This is where the call comes in that notifies us of a ballistic missile launch."


Comment: The false alarm/mistake gave USPACCOM a bonus test of public, personnel and equipment reactions, which was then parlayed to the whole country vicariously imprinting the fear.

Odd timing on the news field trip. Why would a news crew be let access to a USPACCOM encrypted call, even if the call wasn't forthcoming?

See also:


Pirates

Say what? Congressman says he has credible evidence of possible ISIS involvement in Las Vegas massacre

vegas paddock isis
The Vegas massacre, which is now being referred to as 1 October, has only gotten stranger as things progress. As TFTP reported on Thursday, the police have just entirely contradicted themselves and released information that there are multiple suspects in the shooting. Adding even more mystery to the already muddy waters of this tragedy, however, on Thursday, Republican lawmaker Scott Perry (R-PA) told reporter Tucker Carlson he has evidence ISIS may be involved in the deadly attack.

During the interview, Perry said that he was recently given credible evidence to suggest that Islamic State forces infiltrated the southern US border and were somehow involved in this incident.
"Recently I've been made aware of what I believe to be credible evidence regarding potential terrorist infiltration through the southern border regarding this incident... Twice before the attack ISIS warned the United States they would attack Las Vegas. In June and August. And then after the attack claimed responsibility four times... Something's not adding up... I'm just telling you I have received what I feel to be and believe to be credible evidence of a possible terrorist nexus..."
As TFTP noted in October, the day after the shooting, the Islamic State immediately claimed responsibility for the violence.

Comment: Months later and still nothing makes sense. After months of "lone wolf" narrative, authorities have admitted there are additional suspects, but haven't released any information on who they are, how they might be connected, and if they have any good evidence suggesting direct involvement. See also:


Info

Lavrov on Afrin crisis: US trying to create alternative govt in swathes of Syrian land

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov
© Ruptly
The US is working to create alternative government systems on large parts of Syrian territory, which goes against its promises to respect the country's territorial integrity, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Responding to a question posed by RT's Caleb Maupin at Friday's briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, Lavrov commented on America's role in the crisis in northern Syria, which escalated into a new Turkish-Kurdish conflict after news of Washington's plans to create a "border force" comprising of Kurds. Despite the US backtracking on its statement, and saying they were misunderstood, Ankara, which considers the Kurdish-dominated YPG force terrorists, said it was launching a military operation against the Syrian Kurdish enclave. Lavrov, however, said the developments were only a part of the pattern of US policy in Syria.

Comment: See also: Turkey begins cross-border shelling of Syrian Kurds in Afrin


Cow Skull

Varoufakis reveals 2015 outburst after Tsipras accepted ECB demands: 'Are you totally stupid?'

Tsipras Varoufakis  Greece IMF austerity
Alexis Tsipras and Yanis Varoufakis
Remember the Summer of 2015 Greek tragicomedy, when Athens bluffed, then double bluffed it was going to exit the Eurozone only to realize all its deposits are held hostage by the ECB, resulting in "pro-austerity" PM Alexis Tsipras becoming a vassal of Brussels, and firing his firebrand finance minister Yanis Varoufakis who demanded Greece hold until the bitter end?

Well, it now appears that the bad blood between the two is still there because as The Greek Reporter writes this morning, Yanis Varoufakis revealed he accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of being "totally stupid" in accepting a demand by Greece's creditors for big primary surpluses.

During an interview with Greece's Parapolitika radio, Varoufakis said when he learned that Tsipras in 2015 accepted, without consulting him, a primary surplus target of 3.5% he confronted the premier:

"I told him: 'Are you totally stupid? What have they given you in return?' And he replied: 'Oh, maybe I was stupid. I will retract from the promise'." Amusingly, Varoufakis actually said he used a stronger word than "stupid".

Comment:


Boat

Tillerson: N. Koreans Dying of Starvation is Sign US Sanctions Are Working

Tillersoninterview
© Justin Sullivan / Getty Images / AFP
Signs of starvation and death in North Korea indicate that US diplomatic strategy works fine, says the secretary of state. The objective now is not to let Pyongyang evoke sympathy around the world for its sanctions-induced woes.

The unexpectedly-revealing description of what Rex Tillerson apparently considers successful diplomacy came from his own mouth on Wednesday as he was speaking at Stanford University with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"The Japanese... have had over a 100 North Korean fishing boats that have drifted into Japanese waters. Two-thirds of the people on those boats have died," Tillerson said, citing the Japanese delegation that attended a conference in Vancouver, Canada, earlier this week.

He was referring to the regular phenomenon of so-called 'ghost ships' from North Korea, which have become stranded on the Japanese coast for years. Last year, a record 104 such cases were reported by Japanese authorities, with some 30 fishermen found dead on arrival. Any survivors usually ask to be returned to their home country, and Japan obliges.


Comment: [This issue begins at marker 15:22] The comments in this article are cherry-picked from the interview for a particular impression. Worth the view to calibrate the perspective, although it is still clear that Tillerson is highlighting the fact that N. Korean fishermen are dying on boats because of UN (read: US) imposed sanctions.



Bomb

Bombshell House Intelligence report exposing extensive FISA abuse could lead to removal of senior government officials

Devin Nunes, R-Calif.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif.
A review of a classified document outlining what is described as extensive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse was made available to all House members Thursday and the revelations could lead to the removal of senior officials in the FBI and Department of Justice, several sources with knowledge of the document stated. These sources say the report is "explosive," stating they would not be surprised if it leads to the end of Robert Mueller's Special Counsel investigation into President Trump and his associates.

The House Intelligence Committee passed the motion along party lines Thursday to make the classified report alleging extensive 'FISA Abuse' related to the controversial dossier available to all House members. The report contains information regarding the dossier that alleges President Trump and members of his team colluded with the Russians in the 2016 presidential election. Some members of the House viewed the document in a secure room Thursday.

Comment: WikiLeaks is offering $1 million for the memo:


Florida Rep. Gaetz told Sean Hannity:
"I think that this will not end just with firings. I believe there are people who will go to jail," Gaetz told host Sean Hannity. "I was very persuaded by the evidence, and it also became clear to me why Chuck Grassley and Lindsey Graham felt it so important to refer this matter for criminal prosecution. You don't get to try to undermine our country, undermine our elections and then simply get fired. So, I think there will be criminal implications here, and we have to underscore the point that you and Jim Jordan just made. Every single Democrat on the intelligence committee voted against even allowing other members of Congress to see this information, so you know they're going to fight against release to the American people."


"What are the Democrats so afraid of? Why don't they want the American people to know the truth about what was going on with the government, how that impacted the president, his transition, his campaign and it just seems interesting to me that Democrats don't want us to know what the entire basis was in the first place for the Mueller probe they want to drag this out through the midterm elections to try to embarrass this president and distract this Congress from the critical work we have to do to save this great country."





MIB

Three months on, Las Vegas police still won't release basic information about Route 91 Festival massacre

las vegas shooting
© FOX5 VegasJudge Cadish listens to multiple arguments pertaining to the release of LVMPD's 1 October search warrant documents Jan. 16, 2018.
Even though it has been three months since Stephen Paddock opened fire into a crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, the public still knows very little about what happened. Las Vegas Metro police have not released what kind of guns Paddock used or videos of Paddock inside Mandalay Bay and the investigation thus far has not yielded a motive for the massacre.

Inside a district courtroom on Jan. 16, a lawyer for multiple media outlets argued why information pertaining to 1 October is crucial to helping Las Vegas heal, but the lawyer for Metro Police said they can't release any information because there are still suspects being investigated.

"Without naming names, there are potential charges against other people, because of the ongoing investigation?" District Court Judge Elissa Cadish asked Metro's Lawyer Nick Crosby.

"Yes there are charges being investigated," Crosby replied. That was the biggest piece of new information revealed Tuesday. Lawyers for Metro police squared off with lawyers representing multiple media outlets over the unsealing of search warrants and evidence seized.

Comment: In other recent developments pertaining to this case, search warrants that were successfully unsealed reveal (apparently, it's unclear) Paddock communicating with someone in July 2017 about weapons he had for sale.

Other than that, nothing.

Still no video footage from the thousands of cameras in Vegas, still no word on what weapons he used, bullets fired, etc. Still no word on when he died and how he managed to cause the entire Strip to go on lockdown after his death.