Puppet MastersS


Map

Competitive connectivity is at the core of the new Hybrid War

Andrew Korybko
Sputnik
Tue, 30 May 2017 21:41 UTC
Beijing
© AFP 2017/ MARK RALSTON
The struggle between the unipolar and multipolar camps to determine the future of the 21st century is rapidly turning into a contest between two competing hemispheric-wide connectivity projects.

By now, everyone in the world is familiar with China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) global vision of New Silk Road connectivity, though not many people are aware of the joint Indo-Japanese response of the Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), also called the "Freedom Corridor". This initiative stems from a November 2016 joint declaration by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to cooperate in building infrastructure projects all across the Indo-Pacific Rimland.

Although no overt American participation has been announced as of yet, the very fact that it's being touted as the "Freedom Corridor" carries heavy overtones of American influence, and it can be reasonably presumed that the US has an interest in supporting any connectivity projects which compete with China's.
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Info

Kadyrov invites Macron and Merkel to 'search for truth' in Chechnya themselves


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 21:33 UTC
Ramzan Kadyrov
© Said Tzarnaev / Sputnik
In an apparent jab at French President Macron, who has accused RT and Sputnik of false reporting, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has invited Macron to come 'search for truth' in Russia's southern republic, and bring Germany's Angela Merkel along with him.

"One shouldn't accuse the Russian media of slander while basing his position on false information," Kadyrov wrote in his public channel on the Telegram messaging service.

"French President Macron may take [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel and visit the Chechen Republic in a search for truth. The doors are open!" he wrote.
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Stop

When will Washington quit the business of killing Syria's civilians? Never

Martin Berger
New Eastern Outlook
Tue, 30 May 2017 21:22 UTC
Syria destruction
It's hardly a secret that through a series of actions in Syria, Washington is provoking an ever increasing frustration across the international community. The civilian death toll resulting from US attacks is simply shocking. But somehow nobody is speaking about the material damage that is being inflicted upon the infrastructure of Syria, as both public and private property is being subjected to indiscriminate bombing which results in the escalation of chaos that is only beneficial to such terrorist groups as Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State (ISIS).

Just recently, at least 116 civilians, including 42 children, perished as a result of two consequent air raids carried out by US-led coalition forces in the Syrian city of Mayadin, situated in the Deir ez-Zor Governorate. It's curious that this was reported by Al Jazeera with a special reference to the London-based NGO "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights". The first strike was launched on May 25, resulting in the deaths of of 35 people. US-led coalition aircraft returned on the following morning, claiming 80 more civilian lives.
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Info

Trump's personal lawyer Cohen subpoenaed by House Intel Committee

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Tue, 30 May 2017 21:17 UTC
Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen
Just minutes after an appearance on CNN explaining why he turned down House and Senate intelligence committees' "invitation to provide information and testimony" as nothing but a "fishing expedition," Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen has been subpoenaed by the House committee.

As a reminder, Axios notes, Cohen last found himself at the center of a media firestorm earlier this year when he played a substantial part in the still-unverified Steele dossier on Trump's Russia connections, which alleged that he took a trip to Prague to meet with Russian officials.
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Attention

US begins arming SDF militia to fight ISIS near Raqqa


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 21:00 UTC
A Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter
© Rodi Said / ReutersA Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter walks through a damaged street in the town of Tabqa, in Raqqa, Syria May 12, 2017.
The US is now equipping Kurdish fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces with heavy machine guns, small arms and ammunition to battle Islamic State fighters near their stronghold of Raqqa, Syria.

Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon told RT that this move represents the "early steps to prepare for the eventual liberation of Raqqa," which the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has declared the capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate.

"Overall, the equipment the US-led coalition will provide to the SDF includes small arms, ammunition, heavy machine guns and weapons capable of defeating specific threats our partner forces are expected to encounter as they take the fight to a desperate enemy, such as heavily-armored vehicle-borne IEDs," Pahon said in an emailed statement.
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Rocket

US successfully tests ICBM interceptor missile


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 20:54 UTC
The Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system launches during a flight test from Vandenberg Air Force Base
© Lucy Nicholson / ReutersThe Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system launches during a flight test from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, U.S., May 30, 2017.
The first ever test of an interceptor intended to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) has been successful, the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said. The long-planned trial comes amid increased tensions with North Korea.

A Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor was fired from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Tuesday afternoon. The target vehicle, designed to resemble an ICBM, took off from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The intercept took place high above the Pacific Ocean, the agency said.
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Cards

Ex-CIA director Brennan refuses to reveal if Russia holds damaging info on Hillary

Aaron Klein
Breitbart
Wed, 24 May 2017 00:00 UTC
Trumpkillery
© SalonWhat does Russia know?
In testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, former CIA Director John Brennan refused to answer a question in an unclassified setting aboutwhether the Russians possess damaging information on Hillary Clinton that was not revealed during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Brennan further testified that, in his assessment, the Russians favored Donald Trump over Clinton largely because they despised Clinton and would generally prefer dealing with a businessman. This is a far cry from the unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that the Russians possessed damaging information on Trump. Brennan did not even imply that this was the case. Indeed, the discussion about the Russians potentially holding negative information on a politician centered around Clinton [not Trump!].

The exchange came after Brennan made his assessment about the Russians hoping for a businessman to lead the U.S. government, explaining that Moscow "in the past had - had some good relations with businessmen who happened to elevate into positions of government authority" and Russia believed it was easier from a negotiating standpoint to deal with a businessman.

Comment: So the whole fuss over the 2016 election, according to this exchange, comes down to Putin "hating" Clinton versus a businessman like Trump able to make a deal. Whether the Russians have a backlog of damaging information on Killary really doesn't matter; they didn't use it. She was perfectly capable of completely sabotaging her own campaign and chances of winning without outside help...mission accomplished. If Russia has more incriminating information on Killary, it might be the only evidence left (unpardoned) to actually incarcerate her.

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Pirates

SOTT Focus: Islamic terrorism: US' ally for 38 years

Chris Kanthan
Sott.net
Sun, 28 May 2017 00:00 UTC
terrorists
© twitterUseful and expendable.
Dear Diary, I can't show this letter to the innocent people of America and the world, so it's just between you and me. Imagine the shock and the outrage if I say that we have to embrace Islamic terrorism! The average person doesn't understand what's at stake and how sometimes the elites need to rely on "controlled chaos" for the greater good.

Islamic terrorists are wonderful instruments for proxy wars - they cost very little but fight fearlessly. They are a global resource that can be brought into any local conflict. They are also expendable - we use them when convenient and kill them when inconvenient.

If this shocks the conscience of people, it just means they haven't been paying keen attention. Consider the following examples:
  • Thomas Friedman of The New York Times wrote that we shouldn't attack ISIS in Syria; and we should even consider arming ISIS to overthrow Assad
  • John Kerry admitted, "U.S. tried to use ISIS to force Assad into negotiations."
  • Israeli military chief explained, "Israel prefers ISIS to Assad"
  • Israeli defense minister recounted, "ISIS never intentionally attacks us; and when it happened once, ISIS apologized immediately." Hello!
  • Hillary Clinton wrote, "Saudi Arabia and Qatar fund and arm ISIS."
  • Joe Biden, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Gen. Wesley Clark all have stated that US allies in the Middle East arm and fund Al Qaeda and ISIS.
  • Several State Department cables have clearly laid out how Saudi Arabia is the #1 source of funding for terrorism around the world - not just in the Middle East.
Ever wonder why we never go to war against or impose sanctions on these sponsors of terrorism? Heck we don't even condemn them! What goes through a reader's mind when they see an article titled Accepting Al Qaeda that is published by Council on Foreign Relations - the think tank behind US foreign policy? Or when Hillary Clinton's chief foreign policy advisor wrote to her, Al Qaeda is on our side?

I can give many more such examples, but let's hop on the time machine for a moment.
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Rocket

Ratcheting-up: Seoul confirms joint war drill with US B-1 bomber; N Korea taunts 'bigger gift package for Yankees'


RT
Tue, 30 May 2017 07:47 UTC
missile launch
© ReutersKim Jong-un watches the test of a new type anti-aircraft guided weapon system.
The South Korean military confirmed on Tuesday that it took part in joint war games with the US that featured a supersonic B-1B bomber. Pyongyang slammed the drills, threatening "the Yankees" with retaliation, while boasting the test of a new missile.

The military exercises, dubbed "a nuclear bomb dropping role drill" by North Korean state media, were held on Monday, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said, as cited by Reuters. He did not provide any details on what was drilled during the exercises or what their purpose had been, however.

Meanwhile, the US Navy said it was going to step up its activities in the waters around the Korean Peninsula and conduct a drill involving the carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan. Both aircraft carriers are currently deployed in the region.

The group will be soon joined by Carrier Strike Group 11 led by the USS Nimitz, which departed from the Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Thursday. Apart from the USS Nimitz, the group also comprises an array of guided-missile destroyers and a squadron of aircrafts.

Comment: The dialog/action disconnect between China-Russia and the US is problematic in that there is a small window of time for the US to act with similar wisdom and constraint to help solve the North Korean issues. Miss this opportunity - hell breaks loose - and relations with China and Russia evaporate. Kim Jong-Un will seem insignificant in comparison. See also:

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Snakes in Suits

Fox News: Kushner didn't suggest Russian communications channel in Kislyak meeting, according to 'source'


Fox News
Mon, 29 May 2017 00:00 UTC
Tangle of persons
© The New Yorker
A December meeting between Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and one of the senior advisers in the Trump administration, and Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak at Trump Tower focused on Syria, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Monday.

During the meeting the Russians broached the idea of using a secure line between the Trump administration and Russia, not Kushner, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News. That follows a recent report from The Washington Post alleging that Kushner wanted to develop a secure, private line with Russia.

The idea of a permanent back channel was never discussed, according to the source. Instead, only a one-off for a call about Syria was raised in the conversation.


Comment: Who mentioned the backchannel? Who told the media?
Door #1: Kislyak/"the Russians", Door #2 Kushner, Door #3 Flynn, Door #4 Bugged TT

It is protocol for MSM to inflate a story from one end to the other, to create fake news as true by secret sourcing (real or fictitious doesn't matter), and to make it seem believable with a dose of 'wrong-doing' innuendo. There were only three principals at the Trump Tower meeting, and they were Kislyak, Kushner and the 'mysterious person/senior advisor' (Flynn). Why the speculation when the bug at Trump Tower should have cleared this up?

Diplomatic backchannels to other countries are common to all presidents, and this process has never been questioned. They are not illegal, nor are they part of nefarious plots to collude behind the backs of Congress and the American people. They are a short-cut, unadulterated channel, to get stuff done. And, at the time of this meeting, non had been set up, non were in play.

See also:

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