Puppet MastersS


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Joint FBI-DHS "security report" is a dud - fails to confirm any link between Russia and Clinton leaks

Alexander Mercouris
The Duran
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 19:34 UTC
everyone i don't like is a russian hacker
Joint report by FBI and Department of Homeland Security into Russian hacking allegations derided as 'childish' by IT experts; fails to prove Russians behind Clinton leaks.

In conjunction with US President Obama's announcement of new sanctions against Russia, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have published a 13-page report into the Russian hacking allegations.

I think it is fair to say that a mountain has moved and produced a mouse. To get a sense of the absurdity, consider that the report actually begins with a Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: This report is provided "as is" for informational purposes only. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not provide any warranties of any kind regarding any information contained within. DHS does not endorse any commercial product or service referenced in this advisory or otherwise. This document is distributed as TLP:WHITE: Subject to standard copyright rules, TLP:WHITE information may be distributed without restriction. For more information on the Traffic Light Protocol, see https://www.us-cert.gov/tlp. Reference Number: JAR-16-20296 December 29. (bold italics added)

Comment: The report doesn't even mention Wikileaks... The NSA knows what happened, so why are they silent? As Robert Parry writes for Consortium News, the report falls far short of "detailing" anything (in reference to the NYT FakeNews assertion: "The F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security released a report on Thursday detailing the ways that Russia acted to influence the American election through cyberespionage"). He also points out the blatant use of the passive voice in the statement that "information was leaked" (by whom? they don't say).
A well-placed intelligence source told me that there's little doubt that elements of Russian intelligence penetrated the emails of the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, but the Russians were far from alone. Indeed, placing various forms of malware on computers is a common practice, as average folks who periodically take their laptops to an I.T. professional can attest. There's always some kind of "spyware" or other malicious code to be discovered.

The source said the more debatable issue is whether Russian intelligence then turned over the emails to WikiLeaks, especially given that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and an associate, former British Ambassador Craig Murray, have stated that the material did not come from the Russian government. Murray has suggested that there were two separate sources, the DNC material coming from a disgruntled Democrat and the Podesta emails coming from possibly a U.S. intelligence source, since the Podesta Group represents Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments.
...
But the Times article does inadvertently make the interesting admission that the U.S. government has penetrated Russian computers, much as the U.S. government accuses Russia of doing to U.S. computers.

But the data purloined by these U.S. "implants" and other clandestinely obtained evidence - assuming there really is any - won't be something that the American people will get to see.

The shell game will continue up to the start of the Trump administration with the apparent goal to hem in President Trump from trying to reach out to Russia to avert a costly and dangerous New Cold War.

But the evidence so far released by the Obama administration still amounts to "trust us."


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Che Guevara

Duterte blasts Catholic Church: "Vatican just collects money here, does nothing to help drug addicts"


RT
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:43 UTC
duterte
© Ezra Acayan / Reuters
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has criticized the Catholic Church for attacking his human rights record, saying it has done nothing for drug addicts in the Philippines except collect money. He then offered his own version of what religion should be.

The spat between the institution and Duterte continues, following a photo exhibition the Vatican staged to commemorate the victims of Philippines violence it says happens by the president's hand. Duterte, in response, blasted the Church with insults at a Christmas party.

"You say Duterte killer. You priests, you blame me for the deaths of thousands of drug addicts, even those who died in hospitals, you still blame me. But you are the ones who killed Christ," the president is cited as saying by the Philippine Star.

Duterte has been assailed from all sides for alleged human rights violations in his drug war, with photographs of street violence and testimonies of summary killings frequently making headlines. But the president believes the Church is doing an even poorer job, which includes ignoring the Philippines' poverty and drug addicts, while continuing to collect cash at mass.
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Bizarro Earth

UK's ex-Syria envoy: Russia sanctions 'childish, petulant, pointless revenge' for Clinton's loss


RT
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 04:58 UTC
Obummer and Killary
© Charlotte Observer
Imposing new anti-Russian measures is a sore loser reaction by the outgoing administration to their candidate's loss in the race to the White House, and reeks of hypocrisy as the US meddles in other countries' affairs all the time, former UK diplomat Peter Ford told RT.

Ford served as British Ambassador to Bahrain in 1999-2003 and then as Ambassador to Syria, until he retired from UK's diplomatic service in 2006. In recent years, he has become known as a vocal critic of UK policy in Syria. "What really strikes me is the hypocrisy of the American reaction, it's so childish, it's obvious sour grapes for having lost, for Clinton's having lost the election," Ford told RT, commenting on the array of anti-Russian sanctions announced by US President Barack Obama on Thursday in retaliation to the alleged hacking of US institutions and individuals which Washington attributes to the Russian government.

Ford noted that the claims by Washington of Moscow's interference into the US internal policy are poorly substantiated and seem preposterous as they stem from a country that has a long history of meddling into the internal affairs of other countries. "America interferes in elections and referenda around the world every week. Only a few months ago, Obama came to Britain and brazenly and openly interfered into Brexit conspiring with David Cameron in a clearly prearranged script," Ford said, recounting Obama's threats to put the UK at "the back of the queue" for trade deals with the US if it voted to quit the EU in June.

Although Obama's comments in the UK angered part of the British public, his interference in its domestic politics went "almost unnoticed," according to Ford. Contrary to this episode, in the case of "Russian hackers" allegedly breaking into the DNC, to obtain the emails smearing the Democratic candidate, the evidence is murky but accusations are abundant.

"To accuse Russia, providing no proof, by the way, is amazing," he said, calling the US response a "petulant, childish, pointless" reaction. Ford added that even if Moscow had somehow contributed to the leaks, "it did a service to humanity" by "exposing Clinton" and her camp's conspiracy against Bernie Sanders.

Comment: Hypocritical, anger-infused judgements never served any president or country. Obama's going out with a bang: stomping his feet, creating as much chaos as possible and slamming the door shut behind him. Now there's a legacy 'we can believe in.'

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Fire

Rio de Janeiro: Body found in charred car thought to be missing Greek ambassador - Police officer confesses to murder


RT
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 04:58 UTC
Amiridis
© Marcos Correa / Braziian Presidency / AFPGreek Ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis
Brazilian police believe a body found inside a burned-out car in Rio de Janeiro is that of Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, according to Globo News. The ambassador went missing on Monday evening. The car's license plates match those of Amiridis' rental vehicle, according to Globo, which showed pictures of the charred car underneath an overpass in the Nova Iguacu neighborhood where Amiridis went missing.

The 59-year-old ambassador was last seen on Monday evening, after leaving the home of his Brazilian wife's friends in the poor and violent Rio suburb, police said on Thursday. He was reported missing by his wife on Wednesday, according to a state police official cited by Reuters.

Rio police inspector Evaristo Pontes told Folha de S. Paulo newspaper earlier this week that he did not believe the ambassador had been kidnapped, as no ransom had been sought. "We're following some leads, but not that one. If it had been (a kidnapping), those who took him would have made contact by now," he said.

Comment: "He also served as Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 to 2016." This stands out.

Update: A Rio de Janeiro police officer has confessed to murdering the Greek ambassador. Police sources believe the officer confessed at the direction of the diplomat's Brazilian wife with whom the officer was romantically involved.

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Arrow Up

As Aleppo is liberated, Turkey's problems increase

b
Moon of Alabama
Tue, 27 Dec 2016 02:01 UTC
Elias Cathedral
© Global ResearchElias Cathedral, East-Aleppo, Syria
As planned by the Russian forces the liberation of east-Aleppo was completed before Christmas. There are no longer beheadings by Takfiris in East-Aleppo. Instead a Christmas mass could be held in the damaged Elias Cathedral in the Old City in east-Aleppo.

A total of about 88,000 people left the area during the evacuation of east-Aleppo. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross some 35,000 (13,000 militants and their immediate families) left to al-Qaeda held areas in Idleb governate. The UN Humanitarian Relief Organization found that 54,000 entered the government held west Aleppo.

Currently the area is searched by sapper teams and several hidden bombs were found. Several exploded and killed dozens of Syrian army soldiers. Mass graves were found of Syrian soldiers and civilians executed by al-Qaeda, Ahrar al Sham and other U.S. supported groups, presumably shortly before their evacuation. The Syrian government had wanted to negotiate their release before the evacuation. But an estimate of the additional death toll by a prolonged presence of the Takfiris during negotiations was high and international politics demanded a fast solution of the crisis.

Many weapon and food storage were found as well as intact health clinics. The fighters and their families were obviously well supplied while the rest of the population suffered. The weapons and ammunition found - mostly produced in Bulgaria, paid by the Saudis and transported and distributed by the U.S. - are estimated to be about $100 million in value.



Comment: A factor in the agendas of both Asia and the West, Turkey has all options or no options depending on how Erdogan digs his way out of this mess. His fickleness and need to play all sides against the middle continue to sabotage his position and the security of his people. The Takfiris will literally come back to haunt him.

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Attention

Did Obama actually help Israel and US relations at the UN?

Andrew Korybko
Sputnik
Sun, 25 Dec 2016 17:58 UTC
Obama
© AP Photo/ Andrew Harnik
At first glance, Obama inflicted unprecedented diplomatic harm on the US' top ally, but it won't leave any lasting impact because Trump is now inspired to do all that he has to in the next four to eight years in order to repair the perceived damage and turbo-charge relations with Tel Aviv to their best-ever level in history.

It might sound crazy the first time that someone considers it, but it's worth wondering whether Obama inadvertently helped "Israel" by ordering Samantha Power to abstain from voting on UNSC 2334, and I kindly ask the reader to bear with me for a few minutes while I elaborate on this controversial point.

The historic document which was just passed is rich with condemnation for all sorts of Israeli behavior towards the Palestinians, and it represents one of the greatest diplomatic triumphs ever over Tel Aviv, made all the sweeter by the fact that the Obama Administration passively let it happen through its unprecedented abstention.

Comment: For more views on the UNSC resolution:

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Arrow Down

Russian FM spokeswoman: 96 Russians forced to leave U.S. over diplomat expulsion


RT
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 19:09 UTC
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova
© Grigoriy Sisoev / SputnikRussian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova
The US' decision to expel 35 Russian diplomats has affected 96 people, including the officials themselves and their families, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Moscow refrained from responding in kind, to not ruin the New Year for American diplomats.

The Russians forced to leave the US includes some pre-school children, Maria Zakharova said.

"One can only hope that this was the last thing that the current administration does to spoil bilateral relations - the last strange, unwise decision. It targeted, among other things, ordinary people and their simple human joys - things which unite people all around the world. Practically everyone celebrates the New Year, but this is what the Obama administration did," she said.

The US declared 35 Russian diplomats accredited in the US persona non grata, giving them 72 hours to leave the country.

The foreign ministry spokesperson remarked that while some of the Russian diplomats had been working in the US for years, others arrived as recently as two months ago. This did not prevent Washington from expelling them for allegedly trying to interfere with the US election in 2015 and early 2016, which was the reason stated by the US.

Comment: See also: Putin mic drops Obama: Russia retaliates against US retaliations... by inviting families of US diplomats to New Year's party at Kremlin, wishes Obama and family all the best

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Caesar

Russia will determine steps in restoring ties with US depending on Trump - Putin


Sputnik
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:20 UTC
putin
© Sputnik/ Alexei Druzhinin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow will determine further steps in restoring ties with the United States depending on the policy of President-elect Donald Trump.
"Reserving the right to retaliate, we will not resort to the level of irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy and further steps toward the restoration of Russian-US relations will be based on the policy carried out by the administration of President Donald Trump."
Russia will not expel anyone as a response to US sanctions against Moscow over alleged hacking, Putin said.

However, Putin said that Russia reserves the right to respond to the new US sanctions. "We regard the new unfriendly steps of the outgoing US administration as provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-US relations."

On Thursday, US outgoing President Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, the closing of two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York and new sanctions against six Russian individuals and five entities over Moscow's alleged interference in the November US presidential election, which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
"This is clearly contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and US citizens. In view of Russia's and the US' special responsibility for the preservation of global security, [this] also damages the entire system of international relations," Putin said.
Putin said that he regrets that the Obama administration finishes its work in such a way.
"It's regrettable that the President Obama administration is finishing its work in such a way, but I congratulate him and members of his family with the upcoming New Year anyway," Putin said.
Putin said that Moscow will not ban US diplomats' families and children from using their preferred holiday destinations in Russia for New Year celebrations. "We will not create problems for US diplomats.
We will not expel anyone. We will not prohibit their families and children to use their usual vacation spots in the New Year's holidays. Moreover, i am inviting all children of the US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year's and Christmas celebration in the Kremlin.
" Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the ministry proposed the president to consider declaring 31 US Embassy in Moscow and four US Consulate General in St. Petersburg employees 'persona non grata' as well as ban the use of a vacation retreat by US diplomats.
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Info

Turkish military: Over 1,100 ISIS terrorists killed since start of Turkey's Syria operation


RT
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 18:52 UTC
U.S soldiers ride a military vehicle in al-Kherbeh village, northern Aleppo province, Syria October 24, 2016
© Khalil Ashawi / U.S soldiers ride a military vehicle in al-Kherbeh village, northern Aleppo province, Syria October 24, 2016
More than 1,100 Islamic State terrorists have been killed since the start of Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, the Turkish military said in a statement.

The figures on Operation Euphrates Shield, which has entered its fifth month, were released on Friday and reported by Reuters. According to the Turkish military, 1,294 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants have been "neutralized" during the operation, 1,171 of them have been killed.

The military added that 306 Kurdish YPG militants have been "neutralized," and 291 have been killed during the campaign.

Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria started on August 24. Ankara deployed ground and air forces to Syria with the stated goal of retaking areas held by Islamic State and securing its southern borders.

Comment: See also: Operation 'Euphrates Shield': Turkey deploys 300 elite commandos in Syria

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Info

Russia calls UNSC meeting as new Syria ceasefire comes into force


RT
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:42 UTC
Abandoned tank in Aleppo, Syria
© Maria Finoshina, RT
Members of the UN Security Council are to convene for a closed meeting initiated by Russia to discuss the ceasefire brokered for Syria by Turkey and Russia that took effect at 12:00am on Friday, a diplomatic UN source said.

"Russia requested this meeting. It is expected to focus on the ceasefire announced in Syria," a diplomatic source at the UN headquarters told TASS news agency.

Another source told the agency that Russia may propose a resolution endorsing the ceasefire.

The meeting will be held later on Friday immediately after an open session that will review a draft resolution on prolonging the UN's Oil-for-Food Program (OIP), which was established in 1995 to help Iraq exchange oil for food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies.
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