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Winning hearts and minds fail: 12 civilians killed in US coalition strike on Syrian village


RT
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:36 UTC
US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet
© Ryan U. Kledzik / Reuters
At least 12 civilians have reportedly been killed after US coalition jets struck a number of targets in a village next to the Syrian-Iraqi border, eyewitnesses on the ground told SANA news.

According to the report, the US-led anti-Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) coalition has launched a series of air raids on Sunday night in Syrian Hasakah governorate. In one of the strikes, the jets struck Tel Hayr village near the Syrian-Iraqi border, killing 12 people, all belonging to one family, according to the Syrian SANA news agency's sources.

Last week, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria revealed that more than 300 civilians have died because of US-led air strikes in and around the city of Raqqa alone since March.

"We have documented the deaths caused by the coalition air strikes only and we have about 300 deaths, 200 in one place, in al-Mansoura, one village," said Karen Abuzayd, an American commissioner on the panel. Meanwhile, the UN Commission added that over 160,000 were forced to flee their homes.
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X

US backs down after Russia begins tracking of US aircrafts as targets

Alexander Mercouris
The Duran
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:18 UTC
russian mod syria map
Back in April, in the immediate aftermath of the US cruise missile attack on Syria's Al-Shayrat air base, Russia retaliated by switching off the 'de-confliction' hotline between the US and Russian militaries in Syria, which enables these militaries to avoid accidental clashes with each other.

The immediate response to this Russian switching off of the 'de-confliction' hotline was a dramatic reduction in US air operations in Syria, as the US air force was forced to scale down its air operations rather than risk a confrontation with the powerful air defence system the Russians have established in Syria.

Comment: See: US-led coalition's downing of Syrian plane 'act of aggression' and 'support for terrorists', Russia suspends memorandum ensuring air safety - UPDATES

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Jet3

US supersonic bombers to conduct drill with Seoul warplanes over Korean Peninsula


RT
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:08 UTC
B-1B Lancer bombers
© U.S. Air Force / ReutersA pair of B-1B Lancer bombers
Two US long-range strategic bombers are to take part in drills over the Korean Peninsula, according to Seoul's military. Tensions with the North are again heightened, with Washington vowing to put an end to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Two American supersonic B-1B Lancer bombers alongside two South Korean F-15K fighter jets are to hold maneuvers for a few hours during the drills, which are conducted on a regular basis, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing defense officials.

"Our Air Force plans to hold a joint drill with two B-1Bs in the sky of the Korean Peninsula today," Lt. Col. Kim Sung-duk, a public relations officer for the South Korean Air Force, stated as cited by the agency. He did not specify the exact time and place of the exercises, nor the tasks that are to be undertaken.

The drills are to include a mock bombing operation at the Pilsung Range in the eastern province of Gangwon, Yonhap reported citing sources.
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Megaphone

Feel the burn: Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren call for more violence against conservatives

Alex Christoforou
The Duran
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:26 UTC
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren
One week has passed since a Bernie Sanders staffer went on a shooting rampage at the GOP congressional baseball practice field in Alexandria, Virginia.

Bernie appeared outraged by the act of violence.

Fast forward one week later, and the progressive left is back at it, encouraging followers to "fight back" by any means necessary. It is all part of the revolution, the "resistance".

Socialists love violent revolutions. It is the romantic part of socialism, until the reality part hits. Look no further than Venezuela.
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Attention

US-led coalition's downing of Syrian plane 'act of aggression' and 'support for terrorists', Russia suspends memorandum ensuring air safety - UPDATES


RT
Mon, 19 Jun 2017 11:52 UTC
An S-400 air defence missile system at the Hmeymim airbase, Syria
© Dmitriy Vinogradov / Sputnik An S-400 air defence missile system at the Hmeymim airbase, Syria.
Moscow views the US-led coalition's attack on the Syrian government military jet as an act of aggression and assistance for the terrorists that the US is fighting against, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.
"What is it then, if not an act of aggression, an act directly in breach of international law," Ryabkov told journalists in Moscow.

"If you want, it's actually help for the terrorists the US is fighting, declaring that they are conducting a counterterrorism policy," the official added.

Ryabkov added that he believed the strike "should be first of all regarded as the continuation of the US agenda of neglecting the norms of international law. Regardless of who has power in Washington, people there are used to the fact that there are circumstances allowing them to arrogantly look down on - and in some situations, to openly ignore - the basics of international relations."

Comment: See Andrew Korybko's analysis here: Syrian-Kurdish clashes: A new conflict or 'new détente'?

The U.S. coalition says they contacted Russia before the incident:
"At 6:43 p.m., a Syrian regime SU-22 dropped bombs near SDF fighters south of Tabqah and, in accordance with rules of engagement and in collective self-defense of Coalition partnered forces, was immediately shot down by a US F/A-18E Super Hornet," US Central Command said in a statement.

The statement added that before downing the jet the coalition contacted Russian counterparts "via a de-confliction line to de-escalate the situation and stop the firing."
The Russians say they didn't.

The Americans also say they talked to the Russians "several times" that day (not necessarily about this event):
"The Coalition spoke to the Russians several times yesterday and is always available to de-conflict operations to ensure the safety of Coalition aircrews and operations," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the channel has proven to be effective at "at mitigating strategic miscalculations and de-escalating tense situations."

The US-led coalition has taken steps to reposition its aircraft in Syria after recent encounters with pro-Syrian government and Russian forces, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson told Sputnik.

"As a result of recent encounters involving pro-Syrian Regime and Russian forces, we have taken prudent measures to re-position aircraft over Syria so as to continue targeting ISIS [Daesh] forces while ensuring the safety of our aircrew given known threats in the battlespace."
Just do everyone a favor and go home, Yankees. No one likes you. You're "that guy", whether you want to admit it or not.

Update: The U.S. seems to think it can act like a recidivist criminal and still be treated like a princess. Sean Spicer told reporters that the U.S. hopes to be able to keep open their communication channels with Russia, while retaining the "right" to "self-defense" (i.e., free license for illegal offense).

However, the military seems to be a bit more practical. Judging from their responses so far, they seem to be "saying that the US will re-position its aircraft aka, fly further away from where the Syrian led coalition (which includes Russia and Iran) operates while continuing to work with Russia to avoid further conflicts", as the Duran's Adam Garrie puts it.

Some Russian officials' responses are more serious: "The decisions [to track and target U.S. planes and drones] will be made in each case individually, the targets will not be attacked automatically. But in case of aggressive acts from the United States, these actions will be strictly stopped by the Russian Aerospace Forces," First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council's Committee on Defense and Security Frants Klintsevich said.

South Front's summary of the situation:

Update 2: Syrian Soldiers Rescue Pilot of Su-22 Fighter Jet Downed by US-Led Coalition
The soldiers of the Syrian government forces have discovered and saved the pilot of the downed Syrian Air Force airplane, an informed source at the scene told Sputnik.

"The soldiers of General Suheil al-Hassan discovered and rescued the pilot of the downed aircraft. Now, Col. Fahd is in hospital and nothing threatens his life," the source said.

According to the source, the downed Syrian pilot was found about 30 kilometers (17 miles) south of Raqqa. The rescue operation was complicated by the fact that the pilot's landing site was in close proximity to the positions of Daesh (terrorist group outlawed in Russia) which also searched for the Syrian pilot.


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Jet2

US jets shoot down 'Iranian drone' near At Tanf in Syria


RT
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:26 UTC
US fighter jet
© U.S. Air Force / Reuters
An Iranian-made drone was shot down by a US F-15 fighter jet in southern Syria, near At Tanf, the US-led coalition said. It is the fifth time in the past month the US has struck at forces allied with the Syrian government in the area.

An armed Shaheed-129 UAV "displayed hostile intent and advanced on Coalition forces" at 12:30 am local time on Tuesday, the coalition said in a statement. The drone was observed in the same area where another UAV was shot down on June 8.


Comment: A US Senator lets Washington know this violates international law: Truth bomb: Washington Senator calls US base in Syria a violation of international law, Assad would easily win new election

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Fire

Though Kensington council's £274m reserves caused outrage after the Grenfell Tower fire, the truth is worse

James Moore
The Independent
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:43 UTC
Grenfell fire protestors
© ReutersFaced with huge cuts to the grants they get from central government, local authorities have been borrowing to fund various spending projects
Local councils are often criticised for building up significant cash reserves - and for borrowing money to plug day-to-day spending shortfalls. But they have been forced into difficult choices by savage cuts by central government

"Unacceptable" seems like an understatement when used to describe the financial practices of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

According to its most recent report and accounts, Britain's richest council had built up usable reserves of a staggering £274m.

"If some of this money was spent on sprinkler systems and non-flammable cladding we wouldn't be where we are today," shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne told The Independent and, really, how could anyone argue with that?

Here's how. Let's first consider the subject of those stashed assets.

Comment: The ghost of Maggie Thatcher still looms over Britain.

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Snakes in Suits

'Cocky' Davis caves to EU Brexit demands on day 1, gets trolled on social media


RT
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:07 UTC
David Davis
© Francois Lenoir / Reuters
By the end of day one of Brexit negotiations in Brussels, the man responsible for getting Britain the best possible deal, David Davis, had already capitulated to one of Europe's key demands.

After hours of discussion with Europe's lead negotiator, Michel Barnier, Davis agreed to set aside discussions on free trade for a later date, pushing forward instead with negotiations on Britain's multimillion-euro divorce bill.

The EU's insistence on a two-phased negotiation had previously been described by Davis as "the row of the summer."
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Bomb

Best of the Web: Truth bomb: Washington Senator calls US base in Syria a violation of international law, Assad would easily win new election


Sputnik
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:56 UTC
Bashar Assad
© Press Service of the President of Syria
State Senator from Virginia Richard Black said that the establishment of a US military base in Syria, a "sovereign country that has never taken any offensive action towards" America, is an "obvious violation of international law."

The US base in Syria's At Tanf area is a clear violation of international law, State Senator from Virginia Richard Black told Sputnik.

"We've even set up a base at Al Tanf in the southern part, it's an American base within the country of Syria," Black said. "You can't get a more obvious violation of international law than to actually move in and set up a military base in a sovereign country that has never taken any offensive action towards our country."

Comment: Very refreshing to hear some truth from the US but will this be enough to change Washington's foreign policy?

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Stock Up

Net worth of wealthy Chinese skyrockets 900% since 2006


Sputnik
Tue, 20 Jun 2017 13:56 UTC
china economy yen
"The number of Chinese individuals with net worth of at least 10 million yuan expanded to 1.58 million in 2016, almost 900 percent of the figure in 2006, which stood at 180,000," the 2017 China Private Wealth Report, released by Bain Consulting and China Merchants Bank on Tuesday, said.

According to the report, about 90 percent of these individuals accumulated their wealth in the last ten years, with about 70 percent of them becoming rich in the last five years. The overall value of private wealth available for investment in China reached 165 trillion yuan ($24.2 trillion) in 2016, growing about 21 percent annually since 2014.

The number of rich Chinese individuals is concentrated in five regions, including the Guangdong province, Shanghai, Beijing, the Jiangxu province and the Zhejiang province, accounting for about 47 percent of the national total. The value of their total wealth accounted for about 62 percent of the overall value of the high net wealth individuals covered in the report.
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