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Airplane

Belgium Temporarily Halts Flights Over Syria Because of Suspension of Air Safety Memorandum


Sputnik
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 02:42 UTC
Belgium halts flights
© AFP 2017/ YORICK JANSENS / BELGA
The Belgian Air Force temporarily suspended flights over Syria, where the country is taking part in the US-led military operation against the Daesh terrorist group, because of the suspension of the memorandum of understanding on air safety over Syria by Russia, the Premiere radio broadcaster reported on Saturday.
Belgium's Defense Ministry spokesperson did not confirm that the decision was linked to suspension of the memorandum, pointing out that the flights "were halted until the new instructions," according to other media reports.
Russia suspended the memorandum of understanding on air safety over Syria with the United States on Friday following the deadly US missile attack on the Sha'irat airfield.

Comment:
The open Syrian, Iranian and Russian response will be an intensification of the operations in Idleb. They will smash the "rebels" there by air and push more troops into that direction. The Russian organized flight coordination over Syria has been called off. Belgium already said its airforce will no longer take part in any U.S. "coalition" operation over Syria. Others will follow that example. An asymmetric response elsewhere will follow later. U.S. forces in the wider region better watch their backs.
See also: Trump Productions: The Khan Sheikoun Show

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SOTT Logo Radio

SOTT Focus: Behind the Headlines: Trump's Hit and Run in Syria - Playing the Deep State Game


Sott.net
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 16:00 UTC
Trump dark side
"Assad can stay." "Syrians must determine their future." St. Petersburg bombed. Chemical attack in Syria. "Assad must go." "We must determine Syrians' future." Oh, what a difference a day makes. In a repeat of 2013, a trumped up jihadi production special of chemical weapons blamed on Assad has pushed Trump to respond in a way that even Obama didn't. According to CNN, he finally "became president" this week when he ordered the U.S. military to launch 29 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase. War hawks on the left and right rejoiced. America's allies rejoiced. Israel wept tears of joy. And yet...

Over half the missiles missed their targets (for reasons no one knows at this time). The base was practically empty. The damage was insignificant. Russia closed down the deconfliction phone lines and is now beefing up air defense in Syria. In other words, the event seems to have been more spectacle than substance. The Trump administration is reserving the right to do it again, but will they really risk putting Russia's missile defenses to the test? Or has Trump's attack had the paradoxical effect of making a future attack even less likely?

Today on Behind the Headlines we'll go behind the Trump-lines get to the bottom of the latest episode of Trump Being Trump. Prepare to laugh, cry, be horrified, and disturbingly entertained. It's never a dull day in Trumpland.

Running Time: 01:53:09

Download: MP3

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War Whore

Donald Trump's global sheriff ambitions are leading him nowhere

Jean Perier
New Eastern Outlook
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 15:47 UTC
trump shoot
The other day, US President Donald Trump's administration appeared to suffer from immense envy of its predecessors who previously unleashed wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Vietnam and against a number of other states. This must be the only logical explanation as to why he decided to prove himself as global sheriff by ordering missile strikes against an air base that was being routinely used by the Syrian Air Force in the province of Homs.

The US President appeared eager to show his utter lack of interests towards any sort of formal international investigations that could properly and legally assign responsibility for the alleged chemical weapons attack which occurred in the vicinity of the Syrian city of Idlib. Instead he appeared to prefer to rush ahead, neglecting international law, just like his predecessor, thus crossing the so-called red line that Washington has often advised other states to never cross.

But Trump's act was hardly a surprise for international analysts, having been demonstrating his political impotence at home since his inauguration. But, as it's been noted, back in August 2013, Trump exhorted his predecessor not to intervene in Syria after a chemical attack near Damascus that American intelligence services rushed to blame on to the Syrian military. Back then Trump would plea:
President Obama, do not attack Syria. There is no upside and tremendous downside. Save your "powder" for another (and more important) day!)
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Megaphone

Pelosi calls for House debate on Trump's Syria strike


RT
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 15:00 UTC
Nancy Pelosi
© Yuri Gripas / ReutersU.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has called for a House debate on President Donald Trump's missile strike against Syria, saying Congress has a constitutional responsibility to discuss the authorization of military force against a sovereign nation.

The House is meant to be starting a two-week recess, but Pelosi wrote to House Speaker Paul Ryan to request a debate.

"The President's action and any response demands that we immediately do our duty," Pelosi wrote. "Congress must live up to its Constitutional responsibility to debate an Authorization of the Use of Military Force against a sovereign nation."
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Mr. Potato

3 groups disappointed that Russia hasn't retialiated against US forces

Adam Garrie
The Duran
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:34 UTC
dr evil
We've reached the point where Russophobes want Russia to live up to the fake news that is spread about President Putin's government. The frank but calm Russian response is to them, a blow to their perverse worldview.

1. The Russophobic Press

The press who have spent years calling President Putin a dictator, a tyrant and a threat to world peace are very disappointed today. Their disappointment stems from the fact that Russia's response to the illegal and unprovoked attack on Syria will be defensive measures that are legal and and proportionate to the US instigated provocation.

Russia is not interested in starting a new war, they are interested in stopping terrorism from re-gaining an upper hand in Syria. Russia is not interested in 'vengeance' but interested in assuring that there is a sufficient diplomatic and military deterrent in place in Syria to prevent further attacks on the land of a sovereign state. This is Russia's 'end game'. I realise that it's too sensible to sell failing mainstream media newspapers, but the truth doesn't always make for a sensationalist bonanza...unless of course one is in the fake news business.
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Red Flag

Haley interview with CNN: Trump considering sanctions against Russia, Iran over Syria


RT
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:31 UTC
Donald Trump
© ReutersUS President Donald Trump
US President Donald Trump is considering implementing new sanctions against Russia and Iran, the US ambassador to UN, Nikki Haley has said in an interview with CNN.

Speaking to Jake Tapper, the host of the State of the Union show, on Sunday, the US official said that the issue of the new sanctions is already being discussed.

"I think that's conversations that he [Trump] will be having and have started to have, going forward. But I think he will have to look at the situation," Haley told the CNN host when asked whether Trump "wants tougher sanctions on Russia and Iran."

Nothing "is off the table at this point," she added.

The discussions are linked to the situation in Syria, she said.

"You saw this terrible tragedy on innocent people, a lot of them children, and the first reaction from Russia wasn't 'how horrible,' it wasn't 'how could they do this,' it wasn't 'how did this happen,' it was: 'Assad didn't do it.' Why was that the reaction?" Haley said.


Comment: What a twisted load of nonsense. For a more objective view of Russia's 'first reaction', see: Idlib "chemical weapons attack" reality: Syria bombed REBEL chemical weapons storehouse, Russia says military support will continue, vetoes U.S./UK/France UN resolution

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Bad Guys

Train wreck Nikki Haley says ousting Assad is still among priorities, Moscow slams move as 'direct sabotage'


RT
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 13:20 UTC
Nikki Haley
© CNN
The US envoy to the UN says that ousting Assad is still at the top of the agenda in Washington, in an apparent U-turn on the issue. These US policy swings are "direct sabotage" of efforts to find a political solution to the crisis, Moscow warns.

While seeking a "political solution" in Syria is still one of the "multiple priorities" for Washington, ousting Syrian President Bashar Assad also appears to be no less important for the White House.

"Getting Assad out is not the only priority. And so what we're trying to do is obviously defeat ISIS. Secondly, we don't see a peaceful Syria with Assad in there," US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Hayley told CNN in an interview.

"There's not any sort of option where a political solution is going to happen with Assad at the head of the regime," Hayley said, echoing the "Assad must go" approach of the Obama administration.
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Boat

US Navy strike group heads towards N. Korea over 'nuclear threat'


RT
Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:27 UTC
aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson
© ReutersThe aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the Pacific Ocean
The US Navy has sent a carrier-led strike group toward the western Pacific Ocean to provide a physical presence near the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against North Korea's "destabilizing" nuclear weapons program and looming missile tests.

"US Pacific Command ordered the Carl Vinson Strike Group north as a prudent measure to maintain readiness and presence in the Western Pacific," Commander Dave Benham, spokesman at US Pacific Command, told AFP.

"The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilizing program of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability," he added.
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Chess

US attack on Shayrat base: What is Donald Trump thinking?

J.Hawk
South Front
Sat, 08 Apr 2017 00:00 UTC
Donald Trump - Tomahawak missiles
© GETTY/REUTERS
Given the complexities of both international and domestic US politics, the US cruise missile strike on the Shayrat Airbase in the Homs Province in Syria cannot be subjected to causal reductionism. It is highly unlikely the decision was made on the basis of a single set of considerations. Rather, it was the outcome of several overlapping sets of problems with which the Trump Administration is coping right now. One can clearly argue and disagree over the relative importance of these factors. However, one should not deny all of them are present in the mind of Donald Trump (because yes, he has one) and in the minds of his cabinet and advisers. So, in no particular order:

Comment: See also:

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People

South Africans protest President Zuma as country downgraded by rating agencies

Christopher Torchia
Washington Post
Fri, 07 Apr 2017 00:00 UTC
Fleeing ANC Youth league protester
© Yeshiel Panchia/Associated PressMembers of the ANC Youth League flee from teargas and rubber bullets being fired by police, at the end of a march by the main opposition Democratic Alliance party in Johannesburg, Friday, April 7, 2017. Thousands of South Africans demonstrated in major cities against President Jacob Zuma. Zuma’s dismissal of the finance minister has fueled concerns over government corruption and a struggling economy.
Tens of thousands of South Africans demonstrated peacefully Friday in a national outpouring of anger at their scandal-tainted president, and a second agency lowered the country's credit rating to junk status a week after the firing of the respected finance minister.

While concerns grew about the struggling economy and government corruption, the protests were unlikely to pose an immediate threat to President Jacob Zuma, who retains the backing of powerful factions within the ruling African National Congress party. But divisions over his conduct are growing within the party, whose moral authority — a legacy of its leading role in the fight against white minority rule— has eroded during his tenure.

Nobel laureate and anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu, 85 and ailing, made a rare public appearance to support the protests. His foundation posted a scathing tweet in his name: "We will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us."

Comment: See also:

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