Puppet MastersS


Info

Kurt Volker says Ukraine to make its own decision on NATO membership but is not ready yet


RFE/RL
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 19:31 UTC
Kurt Volker
Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy for efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, says that the country is not ready yet to join NATO.

Speaking in an interview that aired late on August 26 on Ukrainian Pryamyi TV, Volker said preparations for accession to the western security alliance take a long time, though he believes the country will be able to carry out all of the reforms, including in the area of security, needed to join NATO.

"The United States, the EU, and Russia should all understand that Ukraine is an independent country and it is up to Ukraine to determine when it will be ready to join NATO," Volker was quoted as saying.

"But this does not mean that Ukraine is close to receiving an invitation to NATO," he added.
Read More...
Info

Turkey 'searching for ways to reconcile with Assad' amid Idlib situation


Sputnik
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 19:22 UTC
Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar al-Assad
© AFP 2017/ IBRAHIM USTA / POOL
Lately, Turkey has been actively engaged in contacts with regional states and allies, discussing the situation in Syria. Leading political observer Zeynep Gürcanlı, from the Sözcü newspaper told Sputnik Turkey that the attempt to alter foreign policy strategy and seeking a thaw with Damascus could be behind Ankara's recent diplomatic efforts.

"Currently, perhaps the most significant steps have been made in the country's [Turkey's] foreign policy in terms of departing from the traditional 16-year political strategy of the ruling the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The AKP leadership constantly said that 'without the knowledge of Turkey, even a bird should not fly in the region'. Proceeding from such rhetoric, Ankara has been building its own line of conduct toward Syria and Iraq for a long period of time. Steps were taken to create a situation in the region that was in the interests of Ankara. However, now we are witnessing that Turkey is gradually giving up this strategy, the Turkish authorities are making certain concessions," Zeynep Gürcanlı told Sputnik Turkey.
Read More...
Bad Guys

Saudi Arabia plans for new foreign policy: Quit Yemen, help Syria, go after Iran, blame outgoing King Salman

Anoosha Boralessa (translator)
Voltaire Network
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 19:23 UTC
Mohammed bin Salman
© Reuters
Saudi Arabia continues with its preparations for King Salmane's abdication and for his replacement by his son, Prince Mohammed.

First: Saudi Arabia is getting ready to withdraw from Yemen. Although Prince Mohammed is at the origin of the conflict, he has now understood that that he just cannot win this battle, and could let the responsibility of this disastrous adventure flow back to his father, King Salmane. This approach is confirmed by emails exchanged between the US ambassador Martin Indyk and the United Arab Emirates ambassador. These e mails were published by Middle East Eye [1].

Second: Saudi Arabia would stop championing the Sunnis against the Shiites and would start, once again, championing the Arabs against the Persians. This would enable Riyadh to find a way out of the civil war which is currently taking place across the region of Qatif, where the Saudi Shiite populations have risen up [2]. Yet again, it is prince Mohamed with his proposal to execute the Opposition's leader, Sheikh El-Nimr, who raised this revolt. But a change of king would excuse the errors of the past [3]. This thinking seems confirmed by the official receptions for the Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr in Riyadh [4] and the Saudi the chargé d'affaires, Walid Boukhari, in Lebanon, by the Vice President of the Shiite Superior Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan. Following through with this logic, Saudi Arabia has just reopened the border posts of Arar and Jumaima with Iraq, posts which have been closed for more than thirty years.

Comment: From the Indyk/Otaiba emails mentioned above:
At 10.17am on 20 April, Otaiba wrote: "Sometimes foreign ministers have to raise the bar a little higher. And I think MBS is far more pragmatic than what we hear is (sic) Saudi public positions."

By return some 27 minutes later Indyk wrote: "I agree on that. He was quite clear with Steve Hadley and me that he wants out of Yemen and that he is OK with the US engaging Iran as long as it is co-ordinated in advance and the objectives are clear."

Otaiba replied: "I do not think we will ever see a more pragmatic leader in that country. Which is why engaging with them is so important and will yield the most results we can ever get out of Saudi."

"We're doing our best to do that," said Indyk, who is perhaps better known for a career championing pro-Israel policies rather than Saudi ones.


Read More...
Info

Syrian Army agrees on Daesh withdrawal from area close to Lebanon


Sputnik
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 19:18 UTC
Hezbollah soldier
© Sputnik/ Zahraa El-Amir
Syrian army has agreed on the deal reached between Shia movement Hezbollah and Daesh on the withdrawal of militants from the Western Qalamoun region, the SANA news agency reported Sunday, citing a military source.

Earlier in the day, a ceasefire agreed between Lebanese army and Daesh militants via mediators came into force.

The agreement on the withdrawal of remaining Daesh militants from Western Qalamoun to eastern region of Syria was reached between Hezbollah and Daesh with an aim to prevent further bloodshed, the SANA news agency reported.
Read More...
Info

Mueller probe subpoenas grand jury testimony from PR execs who worked with Manafort

Ken Kilanian, Carol E. Lee, Tom Winter
NBC News
Fri, 25 Aug 2017 19:08 UTC
Paul Manafort Viktor Yanukovych
Paul Manafort and Viktor Yanukovych
Special Counsel Robert Mueller issued grand jury subpoenas in recent days seeking testimony from public relations executives who worked on an international campaign organized by Paul Manafort, people directly familiar with the matter told NBC News.

This is the first public indication that Mueller's investigation is beginning to compel witness testimony before the grand jury - a significant milestone in an inquiry that is examining the conduct of President Donald Trump and his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, among others.

It is also further indication that Manafort, Trump's onetime campaign chairman, could be in serious legal jeopardy.

According to one executive whose firm received a subpoena, Mueller's team is closely examining the lobbying campaign, which ran between 2012 and 2014. Some of the firms involved in the campaign received subpoenas for documents weeks ago, the executive said, and now the Mueller team is seeking testimony.

"We think they are trying to figure out, was this a legitimate project?" the executive said. "From our perspective it was - we did a lot of work. We took it seriously."

Comment: Interesting to see the Podesta group tied up with this! See: How do you say 'whoops' in Russian? Podesta Group admits lobbying for pro-Russian thinktank

Read More...
Bad Guys

Aggressors: Interactive map shows all countries US has invaded since 1890

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Sat, 26 Aug 2017 21:15 UTC
counties us has invaded
© Quartz | qz.com
From Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, the US has had a military presence across the world, from almost day one of its independence. For those who have ever wanted a clearer picture of the true reach of the United States military - both historically and currently - but shied away due to the sheer volume of research required to find an answer, The Anti Media points out that a crew at the Independent just made things a whole lot simpler.

Using data compiled by a Geography and Native Studies professor from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, the indy100 team created an interactive map of U.S. military incursions outside its own borders from Argentina in 1890 to Syria in 2014.

To avoid confusion, indy100 laid out its prerequisites for what constitutes an invasion:
Read More...
Attention

UK planning 'significant uptick' in Afghanistan special ops


RT
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 15:56 UTC
UK soldiers
© Omar Sobhani / Reuters
Hard on the heels of Donald Trump's decision to wage a more aggressive war in Afghanistan, London reportedly prepares to ramp up SAS covert operations there. According to British intelligence, Afghanistan could fall to the Taliban if the US pulled out.

Prime Minister Theresa May intends to give the green light to a surge of covert operations targeting Taliban, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al-Qaeda militants in Afghanistan, the Sunday Times reported citing senior sources in the government.

Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives are expected to play a vital role in a "scoping exercise" allowing military leaders to figure out what kind of troops are more suitable for a new Afghan deployment.
Read More...
SOTT Logo Radio

SOTT Focus: Behind the Headlines: Afghanistan: Where Empires Go To Die


Sott.net
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 16:00 UTC
American troops Afghanistan
Four more years in Afghanistan. Maybe eight more? Or how about another sixteen? If the deep state has its way, it may never end, even if it ends up costing trillions. This last week, Trump caved to the war-mongers, against his better instincts, opting for more endless war. The Soviets at the very least were smart enough to leave in the 80s, but the Americans seem to enjoy losing bigly.

Meanwhile, the Russians are showing what a real military strategy looks like. The Syrian war is pretty much over. De-escalation zones are up and running. ISIS is on the run and its territory dwindling by the day. And the rebels have all joined together for one last hurrallahu akbar, finally effecting that "un-mingling" of moderates and terrorists. This is what happens when you have clearly defined goals, and an actual military strategy. Maybe America could learn a thing or two from the Russians.

Join us from 12-2pm EST (4-6pm UTC / 6-8pm CET) this Sunday 27 August 2017, as we discuss these stories and more on SOTT's Behind the Headlines.

Running Time: 01:34:19

Download: MP3

Read More...
Map

Syria Summary - Towards The End Of The Caliphate


Moon Of Alabama
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 15:46 UTC
This map from the last Syria summary shows the forming of two cauldrons north and north-west of Palmyra. ISIS forces there were enclosed by the Syrian army progressing eastwards on several axes.
Syria battle map 8/17/2017
Ten days later the most eastward of those cauldrons has been eliminated.
Syria battle map 8/27/2017
The Syrian army progresses further east and continues to move onto Deir Ezzor on three axes.
Read More...
Info

US Security Adviser McMaster contradicts Trump: 'Will not take military action against Venezuela'

Paul Antonopoulos
Fort Russ News
Sun, 27 Aug 2017 15:41 UTC
H.R. McMaster
White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster has contradicted US President Donald Trump by stating that their are no plans for "military actions" against Venezuela "in the near future."

"Obviously, all our decisions would be made in conjunction with our partners in the region," McMaster told reporters on Friday afternoon during a news conference. "No military actions are anticipated in the near future."
Read More...