Puppet MastersS


Bullseye

Neoliberal media conveniently forgets that Obama was setting up back channel communications with Russia

Alex
Russia Feed
Mon, 29 May 2017 00:00 UTC
obama putin

President Barack Obama's administration was working behind the scenes for months to forge a new working relationship with Russia.

As the mainstream liberal left media begins anther assault on Trump's imaginary Russia connections, because of Bezos funded Washington Post revelations that the then President-elect's son-in-law/advisor Jared Kushner was involved in possibly setting up back channel communications with Russia, everyone in the mainstream conveniently forgets that neo-liberal messiah Barack Obama was busy doing the same exact thing...with the help of Henry Kissinger.

The Bloomberg article below is full of fantasy analysis about Russia annexing Crimea, invading Ukraine, and having an economy that is "tanking" due to sanctions.

2017 has proven that Bloomberg is well off the mark on so many points, but the moral of the story is poignant.

What is acceptable for Obama and Kerry is not acceptable for Trump, Kushner or Tillerson.

Comment: From the Deep State soft-coup plotters: Kushner, Flynn and the back channel to Russia

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Stock Up

Will the crazy global debt bubble ever end? It can't or else

Charles Hugh Smith
Of Two Minds
Mon, 29 May 2017 14:50 UTC
Debt political cartoon
There are multiple sources of friction in the Perpetual Motion Money Machine.

We've been playing two games to mask insolvency: one is to pay the costs of rampant debt today by borrowing even more from future earnings, and the second is to create wealth out of thin air via asset bubbles.

The two games are connected: asset bubbles require leverage and credit. Prices for homes, stocks, bonds, bat guano futures, etc. can only be pushed to the stratosphere if buyers have access to credit and can borrow to buy more of the bubbling assets.

If credit dries up, asset bubbles pop: no expansion of debt, no asset bubble.
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Heart - Black

'Mad Dog' Mattis: Civilian casualties 'fact of life' amid US tactics of 'ISIS annihilation'


RT
Mon, 29 May 2017 14:28 UTC
James Mattis
© Mike Segar / Reuters
Civilian casualties in the war against terrorism is a "fact of life," US Defense Secretary James Mattis has said, insisting the US are the "good guys" doing everything "humanly possible" to annihilate ISIS with minimal collateral damage.

The US's highest military official made the comments during a CBS Face the Nation program, where he spoke about "accelerating the tempo" of the anti-terrorist campaign and using "annihilation tactics" against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).

"We have already shifted from attrition tactics, where we shove them from one position to another in Iraq and Syria, to annihilation tactics where we surround them. Our intention is that the foreign fighters do not survive the fight to return home," Mattis outlined.

"What about civilian casualties as a result of this faster tempo?" program host, John Dickerson asked.

"Civilian casualties are a fact of life in this sort of situation," Mattis replied. He however insisted that the US military tries to "avoid civilian casualties at all costs," doing "everything humanly possible consistent with military necessity."


Comment: Is bombing 2 ISIS fighters in a building full of civilians considered avoiding "civilian casualties at all costs"? Iraqi official calls on Washington to compensate for US-led airstrike that killed over 100 civilians

It is a terrible "fact of life" for these people, given they were invaded for no reason at all in the first place and now must endure this continuing onslaught from ISIS and the US.

If Mattis thinks civilian casualties are unavoidable (technically, that is true, but some militaries are better than others), what does that say about the constant demonization of the Russian and Syrian air campaigns? All things being equal, the U.S. military should have no problems with Russia's rules of engagement (which seem much better at avoiding civilian casualties than the U.S.!).

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Attention

Philippines' death toll exceeds 100 as besieged ISIS-linked terrorists execute 'betrayers'


RT
Mon, 29 May 2017 14:01 UTC
Injured Philippino
© Erik De Castro / Reuters
The death toll in the Philippines city of Marawi has exceeded 100 people, including at least 27 civilians and 61 terrorists, while 2,000 people reportedly remain trapped as ISIS-linked Maute militants mercilessly kill "betrayers" who try to flee the city.

At least 27 civilians have been killed in Marawi since Maute fighters, aligned with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), raided the city last Tuesday.

This figure includes the latest victims - eight males, whose bodies were discovered with gunshot wounds to their heads on a roadside in the outskirts of Marawi on Sunday. According to locals, the victims were civilians who worked at a rice mill and a medical college and had attempted to flee the city.

A signed note attached to one of the men indicated that the victims had "betrayed their faith," police officer Jamail Mangadang told the Philippine Star.
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Chess

Geopolitical chess game: How realistic is Syria's de-escalation zone plan?


Sputnik
Mon, 29 May 2017 13:50 UTC
Russian soldier in Syria
© REUTERS/ Omar Sanadiki
Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that experts from Russia, Iran and Turkey are mapping the borders of the agreed-upon cease-fire zones in Syria. The plan, however, affects the interests of Israel and Saudi Arabia. Sputnik international affairs contributor Alexander Khrolenko reviewed the complicated situation on the ground.

On Friday, Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov said that experts from Russia, Iran and Turkey will map the borders of the agreed-upon cease-fire or de-escalation zones in Syria.

The diplomat added that the checkpoints must be set in the mentioned areas to prevent armed infiltration of terrorists and secure the free passage of citizens.
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Eye 2

Clapper makes racist comment in interview: Russians are "genetically driven" to deceive

Alex
Russia Feed
Mon, 29 May 2017 13:11 UTC
James Clapper
© Carlos Barria/Reuters
The man who committed perjury is now showing his racism towards Russian people

In an interview with Chuck Todd from Meet the Press, James Clapper opened up about his ability to spot a Russian spy in Jared Kushner, and his belief that Russians are "genetically driven" to cause mischief and deception.

All of this is coming from the man who lied to Congress when asked if his Intelligence apparatus illegally gathers information on millions of American's.

Edward Snowden blew apart Clapper's testimony and exposed that the Former Director of National Intelligence had perjured himself.


Comment: Besides the complete obnoxiousness of Clapper's comments, he is completely out of touch if he thinks sanctions matter to Russia.

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Chess

Duterte offers to hire Muslim separatists to fight ISIS


RT
Mon, 29 May 2017 13:11 UTC
Philippines soldiers army
© Erik de Castro / Reuters
Philippines leader Rodrigo Duterte has offered Muslim separatists and Maoists to join the fight against Islamic State-linked militants attempting to gain a foothold in the country. Duterte promised to treat them as soldiers and offered them the "same privileges."

The leader made the announcement on Saturday while visiting an army base on Jolo Island in Sulu province. Philippine troops are currently battling Abu Sayyaf jihadist militants, who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) on the island.

"I will hire you as soldiers - same pay, same privileges, and I will build houses for you in some areas," Duterte said, addressing separatist groups, according to a video released on Sunday, Reuters and local media report.

Comment: Further reading:

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Sheriff

Putin signs legislation introducing tougher surveillance of convicted terrorists


RT
Mon, 29 May 2017 13:11 UTC
Russia security forces police
© Natalia Seliverstova / Sputnik
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law additional controls for people who have served sentences for especially serious crimes, including terrorism.

The bill, which aims to curb repeat offenses, was passed by both houses of the Russian parliament earlier this month.

The new law introduces administrative surveillance for people who have committed especially grave crimes and have already served their sentences. The controls include up to four personal visits a month to police stations near the person's official place of residence. The list of crimes mentioned in the law includes terrorism, repeated serious crimes, murders, sex crimes against minors as well as hate crimes targeting certain ethnic or religious groups.
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Eye 1

Kushner-Kislyak Meeting: Was Trump Tower Bugged?

Alexander Mercouris
The Duran
Mon, 29 May 2017 13:11 UTC
Jared Kushner
The claim US intelligence learnt of the meeting between Jared Kushner and Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak by intercepting Russian communications looks implausible, leading to the possibility US intelligence obtained details of the meeting because - despite denials - Trump Tower was bugged.

Since the Washington Post first disclosed that Donald Trump's son in law Jared Kushner discussed in December with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak the idea of setting up a back channel, several US officials have sprung to Kushner's defence.
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Bad Guys

US attempting to put Iraq & Syria into an 'economic stranglehold'

b
Moon of Alabama
Mon, 29 May 2017 13:11 UTC
Iraqi special forces
© AP Photo/ Bram Janssen
The U.S. is casting its net over the desert between Iraq and Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan to install military bases and power-structures that will guarantee major influence in the area for the foreseeable future. A part of that plan is to develop Sunni proxy forces that will keep the government forces of Damascus and Baghdad out of the area. Another part is to privatize important infrastructure to keep it under direct U.S. control.

To privatize the Iraqi Highway 1 between Baghdad and the Jordanian capital Amman, is a major point in these plans. According to the NYT:
As part of an American effort to promote economic development in Iraq and secure influence in the country after the fight against the Islamic State subsides, the American government has helped broker a deal between Iraq and Olive Group, a private security company, to establish and secure the country's first toll highway.
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