Puppet MastersS


Brick Wall

McCabe cancels House Intelligence testimony, something "far more sinister" to come out in connection with Fusion GPS?

Andrew McCabe
FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe abruptly cancelled his closed door testimony in front of the House Intelligence Committee as news emerged that the wife of Senior DOJ official Bruce Ohr worked for Fusion GPS, the opposition research firm which assembled the infamous "Trump dossier." Ohr was demoted last week after allegedly trying to conceal his contacts with Fusion.

Fox News reporter Chad Pergram's sources tell him "McCabe has an Ohr problem," and they believe "FBI DepDir McCabe not coming to Hse Intel Cmte tomorrow because he'd be asked about Bruce Ohr & Ohr's wife Nellie who worked for Fusion GPS," adding "something far more sinister."

Pergram also tweeted "Expect subpoenas to compel McCabe to appear this wk."

Comment: With any luck, a major swamp drain may be in the offing. Will it eventually reach Killary?


Light Sabers

N. Korea declares military and political victory over US, calls human rights issue "nonexistent"

korean soldiers
© Damir Sagolj / Reuters
North Korea has declared a political and military victory over the US as it accused Washington of trying to deflect attention from its Pyongyang failures by peddling "non-existent" human rights abuses at the UN.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussed the human rights situation in the reclusive country Monday at the request of the US, UK and France along with six other non-permanent member states. The session was convened despite objections from Russia and China. Beijing argued that the timing of the meeting will further inflame tensions in the region.

The meeting came days after after Pyongyang fired a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile late November, allegedly able to strike the large parts of the US mainland, following a more than two months respite. Russia, which condemned the launch, blamed Washington for provoking North Korea to act recklessly with its saber-rattling and large-scale military maneuvers.


Comment: On the issue of US military provocation, the US just held a massive drill with Japan off the Korean peninsula that was aimed at N. Korea. Russia is absolutely correct when they blame the US for provoking N. Korea. What else are they to do when they see American fighter jets planning for war right off their coast?


Despite the warning by China's UN deputy ambassador, Wu Haitao, that the meeting would be "counterproductive" at this time, it went ahead, after ten UNSC members voted "yes" in the procedural vote, with nine required.

Arrow Down

With ISIS defeated, the US is next in line

iSISUSflags
© The Last American Vagabond
Is the US really a superpower or just the biggest collection of stupidity on the planet? Washington has already lost the Syrian war once. Now it is about to lose it a second time.

A few days ago the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, declared a "complete victory" in Syria:
"Two hours ago, the (Russian) defense minister reported to me that the operations on the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates have been completed with the total rout of the terrorists."
The Iranian commander of the forces which support the Syrian and Iraqi governments sent a note to the U.S. to let Washington know that any remaining U.S. forces in Syria will be fought down:
"The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp Brigadier General Haj Qassem Soleimani sent a verbal letter, via Russia, to the head of the US forces commander in Syria, advising him to pull out all US forces to the last soldier 'or the doors of hell will open up.'"

"My message to the US military command: when the battle against ISIS (the Islamic State group) will end, no American soldier will be tolerated in Syria. I advise you to leave by your own will or you will be forced to it."
According to reports, Russia has confirmed that Iran will stay in Syria as long as Syrian President Assad, who insists on liberating all of Syria without exception for the Americans, decides. Washington's plan to occupy a corner of Syria and revive ISIS is dead in the water, as will be all US troops sacrificed to this purpose.

Comment: It was time to leave before the US, et al., arrived.


Star of David

'Where else?' Bibi cites the Bible to justify Trump's Jerusalem designation, urges EU to get on board

bibibible
© Sebastian Scheiner / ReutersBibi and the Bible
Following Donald Trump's controversial Jerusalem move, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has told EU leaders there is no other place for the capital - and that the Bible proves it. As protests continue, he also urged the Palestinians to embrace "reality."

During his visit to Brussels on Monday, Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump's recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocate its embassy, saying that it was based on the recognition of reality. The controversial decision triggered protests in the Middle East and across the globe, and was met with international condemnation. Nonetheless the Israeli Prime Minister said that the decision promotes peace, and called on EU states and the Palestinians to follow suit.

"It makes peace possible because recognizing reality is the substance of peace, the foundation of peace," Netanyahu told reporters prior to a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.


Comment: The 'foundation of peace' from the Palestinian Terminator-in-Chief!


Comment: Bibi: The icon of smugness and deceptive interpretation.


Flashlight

Trump admin conceals location of thousands of soldiers fighting abroad in report to Congress

us soldiers afghanistan
© Omar Sobhani / ReutersHelmand province, Afghanistan July 6, 2017
The White House has omitted, from a report prepared for Congress, the number of US troops fighting around the globe, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The expunged data coincides with a Pentagon report listing the location of 44,000 military personnel as "unknown".

In accordance with the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the Trump administration provided Congress on Monday with a semi-annual report accounting for US military personnel stationed abroad. Although the reports are meant to make the executive branch more accountable for US troop deployments, Monday's report left out the number of US troops operating in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Cameroon.

The Trump administration has argued that concealing troop numbers would prevent America's enemies from gaining a strategic advantage. However, in a previous report in June, the White House listed 8,448 Americans serving in Afghanistan, 5,262 in Iraq, and 503 in Syria. The latest briefing for Congress does not provide figures for those war zones or a reason for their omission.

While the White House deemed troop numbers too sensitive to disclose, last week the Pentagon told reporters that 5,200 Americans were serving in Iraq and another 2,000 in Syria, about four times as many troops as previously reported.

Comment: Ron Paul has made the astute point that by concealing the whereabouts of American soldiers, Trump is actually against Congress, the War Powers Resolution enacted after the Vietnam War, and the Constitution:
"The President had stated he wants to keep everything under his vest, because he doesn't want people know, and he believes its proper policy," Paul said. "The Constitution says he's not allowed to send troops around the world without the people and the Congress knowing about it."
He also pointed out that the US govt is equating the public with the enemy with their actions. That wouldn't be the first time they have acted as though their citizenry is the enemy!


Clipboard

Leading Republican Senator expanding Clinton-Uranium One investigation

Uraniumone
© YouTube/KJN
On Monday, Barrasso sent the following letter to the Department of Energy:
On March 21, 2011, former NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko responded to my letter on behalf of then-President Obama stating: 'At this time, neither Uranium One Inc. nor ARMZ holds a specific NRC export license. In order to export uranium from the United States, Uranium One, Inc. or ARMZ would need to apply for and obtain a specific NRC license authorizing the export of uranium for use in reactor fuel' ... Recent reporting by The Hill uncovered that Uranium One was able to export uranium without obtaining a specific export license. Beginning in 2012, Uranium One exported U.S. uranium by 'piggy-backing' as a supplier on an export license held by the shipping company, RSB Logistic Services Inc. [...]

Reporting by the Casper Star Tribune shows that, upon receipt of my letter to President Obama, the White House forwarded the letter to the DOE which then referred this matter to the NRC stating: 'Because the subject of the letter does not fall within the purview of the Department of Energy, we are forwarding the letter to your agency.'
The Wyoming GOP lawmaker kicked off his probe into the Clinton-Uranium One deal in October.

The Hill's John Solomon reported last week that the Obama Justice Department failed to call on the deal's secret informant, William D. Campbell, when it came time to charging former Russian uranium industry executive Vadim Mikerinn.

"While he was Maryland's chief federal prosecutor, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's office failed to interview the undercover informant in the FBI's Russian nuclear bribery case before it filed criminal charges in the case in 2014, officials told The Hill," reports Solomon.

"I've never heard of such a case unless the victim is dead. I've never heard of prosecutors making a major case and not talking to the victim before you made it, especially when he was available to them through the FBI," Alan Dershowitz told The Hill.

Comment: It's pretty pathetic to see the Republicans catch the same Russian fever that has their Democrat colleagues losing their minds. The only reason Uranium One is a story is because it exposes Clinton and the Dems' hypocrisy - they were perfectly willing to make deals with the Russians before Trump came along. Was the deal shady? By all appearances, yes. Unfortunately, probably the vast majority of such deals are dirty to one degree or another. In that sense, have at it with the investigation. But please, spare us the "evil Russia" hysteria. Your time would be better spent investigation the 2016 election conspiracy to illegally surveil American citizens and destroy the elected president of the USA.


Network

Sri Lanka hands over port to China in Belt and Road Initiative agreement

sri lankan port
© Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters
The Sri Lankan government has formally handed over the southern port of Hambantota to China on a 99-year lease. The $1.5 billion port was opened seven years ago and is incurring losses due to lack of commercial activity.

Under the $1.12 billion deal, signed in July, China Merchants Port Holdings will hold a 70 percent stake in a joint venture with the state-run Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The initial plan to give the Chinese firm an 80 percent stake has sparked protests from trade unions and opposition groups, forcing the sides to redraw the deal.

Sri Lankan parliament member and the son of the former president, Namal Rajapaksa tweeted that the interim government "is only interested in profiting from giving away national assets. How many more will follow?!"

Finance Minister Samaraweera said Sri Lanka has "received $292 million as the first tranche of the Hambantota Port joint venture. This is but the first step in realizing the true commercial value of the port after seven long years."

Chess

For first time in 2 years oil prices surge above $65

oil rig
© Isaac Urrutia / Reuters
Brent crude has surged to its highest level since June 2015, trading above $65.00 per barrel. Earlier this month, The Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-member states, led by Russia, struck a deal to extend production cuts into 2018.

Brent crude oil futures for January were trading at $65.24 per barrel, an increase of 0.52 percent at 2:25 GMT. The benchmark price has been on a steady rise, propped up by recently extended oil production cuts and a corruption purge in Saudi Arabia, OPEC's leader and the second world-largest oil producer.

The latest spike can be attributed to a looming shutdown of the North Sea Forties Pipeline System (FPS), transporting some 450,000 barrels of oil per day, generating fears of major supply disruptions. On Monday, the pipeline operator, UK-based Ineos, said FPS could be closed for "weeks" for essential repairs over a crack in a pipe discovered during a routine check. The FPS carries about 40 percent of the UK's total oil production.

Eye 2

US Military spending to hit $700 Billion, and it's the largest entitlement program on the planet

military industrial complex america war
© Jared Rodriguez
The US economy is caught in a trap. That trap is the Department of Defense: an increasingly sticky wicket that relies on an annual, trillion-dollar redistribution of government-collected wealth. In fact, it's the biggest "big government" program on the planet, easily beating out China's People's Liberation Army in both size and cost. It is not only the "nation's largest employer," with 2.867 million people currently on the payroll, but it also provides government benefits to 2 million retirees and their family members. And it actively picks private sector winners by targeting billions of dollars to an elite group of profit-seeking contractors.

This belligerent cash machine has Uncle Sam caught in a strange cycle of taxpayer-funded dependence that may ultimately be the most expensive - and least productive - jobs program in human history.

The top five overall recipients collectively pulled in $109.5 billion in FY2016, and their cohorts consistently dominate the government's list of top 100 contractors. They reap this yearly largesse through a Rube-Goldberg-like system of influence peddlers, revolving doors and wasteful taxpayer-funded boondoggles. Finally, it is all justified by a deadly feedback loop of perpetual warfare that is predicated on a predictable supply of blowback.


Comment: Imagine what that amount of money could do if it was used for the public good: Train linking China-Russia-Canada-America held back thanks to western politics


Cell Phone

ISIS cyberattacks? Syria main source of recent bomb hoaxes in Russia - police

terrorist hacker
© xijian / Getty Images
The wave of bomb hoax calls in Russia that began in September and sparked numerous evacuations, inflicting multibillion-ruble damages, originated from terrorist-controlled territories in Syria, Russia's deputy interior minister has said.

"The main part of these calls was made from the places in Syria with a high concentration of terrorists," Igor Zubov was quoted as saying by Interfax. "Judging from their intensity, we can say that this was a cyberattack on the territory of the Russian Federation," he added.

The deputy minister said that "telephone terrorists" also made calls from Turkey, Ukraine, the United States, Canada, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He told reporters that the combined damages from the "cyberattacks" amounted to several billion rubles.