Puppet MastersS


Eye 2

Murder & mayhem: Khadaffi's horrific death and its consequences

clinton ghadaffi murder laugh
Killary cackles with joy at the death of a man who never did anything to her.
"We came, we saw...he died" boasted a beaming Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, speaking of the 2011 western overthrow of Libya's leader Muammar Khadaffi.

She was, of course, shamelessly paraphrasing Caesar's famous summary of his campaign around the Black Sea. Mrs. Clinton, who seems ordained to be America's next president, should have been rather more cautious in admitting to murder.


This week marks the fifth anniversary of Khadaffi's grisly death. The Libyan leader was fleeing in a motor convoy to reach friendly tribal territory when French warplanes and a US drone attacked and destroyed the vehicles. Wounded, Khadaffi crawled into a culvert where he was captured by French and US-backed rebels.

Khadaffi was severely beaten, then anally raped with a long knife. At least two bullets finally ended his suffering. Thus ended the colorful life of the man who wanted to be the second Nasser and leader of a united Arab world. His death was a warnings to others trying to challenge the Mideast status quo I call the American Raj.

I was invited to interview Khadaffi in 1987 at his Tripoli headquarters in the Bab al-Azizya barracks. This was on the one year anniversary of 1986 US air attacks on the barracks that sought to assassinate Khadaffi, described by US President Ronald Reagan as the "mad dog of the Mideast." But that night, the 'Leader,' as he liked to be called, went to his Bedouin tent in the courtyard and thus escaped death - for a time.

A US 2,000lb bomb came crashing through the roof of the barracks right onto the bed where Khadaffi usually slept, often with his two-year old adopted daughter. The girl died.

Comment: The West has not got off scot-free from the destruction of Libya and the murder of its visionary leader. Khadaffi prophesied the overthrow of Libya would unleash a tide of refugees the West would not be able to cope with. And so it has.


Attention

Democracy: De Facto Myanmar Leader, "Human Rights Champion" Suu Kyi jails dissidents

Zaw Zaw
Myanmar's defacto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy (NDL) political party, has paved her time since coming to power earlier this year with both irony and hypocrisy. She has not only illegally declared herself "leader" of the Southeast Asian state in contravention of its constitution, she has also embarked on an iron-fisted purge of her political opponents identical to the one she fought against as she struggled to seize power to begin with.

During elections earlier this year, Myanmar's constitution prevented Suu Kyi from holding the nation's highest office due to her inordinate amount of time overseas, her status of having been married to a foreigner, and her children's dual citizenship. Instead of adhering to the law, her party once in power, simply contrived an entirely new post for her, State Counsellor of Myanmar, which makes her the "defacto leader" of Myanmar.

Comment: See also:


Yoda

Putin 2016 speech at Valdai Discussion Club

putin valdai 2016
© Mikhail Klimentyev / ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a session of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia, October 27, 2016
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Tarja, Heinz, Thabo, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to see you again. I want to start by thanking all of the participants in the Valdai International Discussion Club, from Russia and abroad, for your constructive part in this work, and I want to thank our distinguished guests for their readiness to take part in this open discussion.

Our esteemed moderator just wished me a good departure into retirement, and I wish myself the same when the time comes. This is the right approach and the thing to do. But I am not retired yet and am for now the leader of this big country. As such, it is fitting to show restraint and avoid displays of excessive aggressiveness. I do not think that this is my style in any case.

But I do think that we should be frank with each other, particularly here in this gathering. I think we should hold candid, open discussions, otherwise our dialogue makes no sense and would be insipid and without the slightest interest.

I think that this style of discussion is extremely needed today given the great changes taking place in the world. The theme for our meeting this year, The Future in Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow, is very topical.


Comment: See also: Putin: 'Russia influencing US voters? Is America some sort of a banana republic?'


Arrow Down

Saudi Arabia & Gulf allies seek Russian support of proposal to cut oil output by 4%

Oil pump jacks
Riyadh and other Persian Gulf producers are ready to cut oil output by at least four percent and are seeking Russian support, Reuters reports, quoting sources familiar with the matter.

Saudi Arabia proposed the plan to Russian Minister Aleksandr Novak last week, according to the source. However, Novak reportedly said Moscow would prefer to freeze at current levels.

According to Reuters, the proposal to cut production by four percent will likely be raised on the eve of the November 30 OPEC meeting, where the cartel and other producers, including Russia, will discuss joint action to stabilize prices.

Iraq, OPEC's second-biggest producer, said this week that it would not cut production, as it needs more oil revenue to fight Islamic State.

"We are not going back in any way, not by OPEC not by anybody else," said Falah al-Amri, the head of Iraq's state oil marketing company.

"If there is a cut, then everyone must cut. No exemptions," one OPEC source told Reuters, in response to Iraq's refusal.

Chess

Pakistan, India expel each other's diplomats amid escalating tensions over disputed Kashmir

indian border security Kashmir, pakistan india dispute kashmir
An Indian Border Security Force soldier keeps guard at the India-Pakistan border Chakri post in Kashmir.
Pakistan and India each expelled a diplomat from the other country amid escalating tensions between the two South Asian powers over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

India announced early on October 27 that it expelled a staffer at the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi after briefly detaining him for espionage activities.

Islamabad said the allegations against its diplomat, Mahmood Akhtar, were "false and unsubstantiated." Akhtar was told he had to leave New Delhi by October 29.

Indian officials said Akhtar was detained briefly for questioning and was found with documents detailing Indian troop deployments along the India-Pakistan border.

Comment: The dispute between India and Pakistan is proving useful for the US:
Kashmir: 'Pivoting' toward war between India and Pakistan?

Two nuclear armed countries, India and Pakistan, are on the brink of war because of Washington's drive to contain and undermine China, embolden - to reckless levels - its newfound close ally, India, and push the rulers in Islamabad to a point where they feel isolated enough to also act and react in potentially dangerous ways.
See also:


Jet4

Russian military asks Putin to allow renewed strikes on militants in east Aleppo - Putin denies request

Su-34 multifunctional strike bombers at the Hmeimim airbase in the Latakia
© Ramil Sitdikov / SputnikSu-34 multifunctional strike bombers at the Hmeimim airbase in the Latakia Governorate of Syria
President Vladimir Putin has denied the Russian military's request to order a resumption of airstrikes in eastern Aleppo, his press secretary said. The military had asked permission to resume airstrikes due to the increased activity of militants.

"The Russian president considers it inappropriate at the present time to resume airstrikes in Aleppo," Dmitry Peskov told the press.

Earlier on Friday, Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy, head of operations in the Russian General Staff, said: "Due to the fact that there are still deaths among civilians and that the militants have resumed military activities against government forces, we've addressed Russia's commander-in-chief, asking permission for the resumption of airstrikes targeting illegal armed groups in eastern Aleppo,"

Earlier on Friday, militants "used the moratorium of Russian and Syrian combat flights" and attempted to break into eastern Aleppo, the General Staff representative said.

Comment: Further reading: Update: Putin Declines Russian MoD's Request on Need to Restart Airstrikes in Aleppo
Russia reserves the right to use all means at its disposal to render the needed assistance to the Syrian armed forces in the fight against terrorists when needed, Peskov said.

"Russia reserves the right to use all means it has to provide support to the armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic when it is absolutely necessary to prevent provocative acts by terrorist groups."

Putin believes the humanitarian pause in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo needs to be extended, Peskov said.

"The president believes it is possible to extend the humanitarian pause to evacuate the wounded and for militants who want to leave to exit the city, and in order to enable our US partners to fulfill their promise and commitment to separate the so-called moderate opposition from terrorist groups."



Light Sabers

What does the presence of Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov off coast of Syria really mean?

Admiral Kuznetsov
© RFE/RLThe 305-meter Admiral Kuznetsov passing within sight of the white cliffs of Dover on October 21. The mission to the Syrian coast of the eastern Mediterranean will be the first-ever combat operation for this troubled relic of the Soviet Union.
The AngloZionst Empire's propaganda machine, otherwise known as the corporate media, has had great difficulty deciding what it should say about the Russian naval task force that has been sent to Syria. The Americans have decided to express their usual contempt for anything Russian and describe this force as centered on the "geriatric" aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, while the Brits chose to describe it as a formidable "armada" about to completely obliterate the moderate terrorists in Syria.

My friend Alexander Mercouris has recently written a superb analysis explaining that, in reality, this task force was neither geriatric nor that formidable. Rather than repeating it all here, I prefer to write what I will consider a follow-up to this excellent piece with a few more details added. The first step will be to debunk a few fundamental misconceptions.

Let's begin with the Russian aircraft carrier.

Vader

War criminals: Saudi coalition deliberately targeting Yemen's farms and agricultural industry

bombing yemen, saudi destruction yemen infrastructure
Increasing evidence suggests Kingdom is not merely bombing civilians in neighbouring country, but systematically targeting infrastructure survivors will need to avoid starvation when the war is over

The Yemen war uniquely combines tragedy, hypocrisy and farce. First come the casualties: around 10,000, almost 4,000 of them civilians. Then come those anonymous British and American advisers who seem quite content to go on "helping" the Saudi onslaughts on funerals, markets and other obviously (to the Brits, I suppose) military targets.

Then come the Saudi costs: more than $250m (£200m) a month, according to Standard Chartered Bank - and this for a country that cannot pay its debts to construction companies. But now comes the dark comedy bit: the Saudis have included in their bombing targets cows, farms and sorghum - which can be used for bread or animal fodder - as well as numerous agricultural facilities.

In fact, there is substantial evidence emerging that the Saudis and their "coalition" allies - and, I suppose, those horrid British "advisers" - are deliberately targeting Yemen's tiny agricultural sector in a campaign which, if successful, would lead a post-war Yemeni nation not just into starvation but total reliance on food imports for survival. Much of this would no doubt come from the Gulf states which are currently bombing the poor country to bits.

Comment: The brutal assault on Yemen by the Saudi led coalition is totally unconscionable, as is the cruel joke of allowing this despicable nation of head-choppers to continue as a member of the UN human rights council. Western nations only make useless denunciations of the Saudi carnage while continuing to profit from weapons sales - their hearts only bleed for those whose plight coincides with the designs of empire.


Propaganda

NATO Aggression: Anti-Russian propaganda goes into high gear, NATO deploys more troops on Russia's doorstep

russia nato
The headlines on Britain's tabloids point to US-NATO war preparations in response to alleged Russian aggression. It is largely a display of war propaganda including an array of images and maps to intimidate Western public opinion.

The Russians are Coming...

"Nato squares up to Putin: As Russia beefs up its military might on Europe's border, West responds with biggest show of force since the Cold War", according to the Daily Mail.

The reports are replete with insinuations of Russia's resolve to initiate World War III and destroy the West. In response to Russia's alleged bellicosity, Britain is slated to deploy more troops and tanks to Estonia, RAF planes are dispatched to Romania.

It's a "show of force" allegedly to prevent Moscow from attacking Eastern Europe and the Baltic States: "The moves are designed to stop Moscow taking over or undermining its former Eastern European satellites as it has with Crimea and Ukraine." (Daily Mail, October 26, 2016)

Sherlock

Ex-FBI director hired by Booz Allen to review security procedures after 50 terabyte data breach

nsa computer desk
© Rick Wilking / Reuters
Booz Allen Hamilton has hired an ex-FBI director to launch an external review of security and staffing procedures after an employee stole up to 500 million pages of data, marking the second NSA breach in just three years since the Snowden case.

Craig Veith, Booz Allen vice president for external relations, said on Thursday that Robert Mueller, who became director of the FBI one week before the 9/11 attacks and led the agency for 12 years, will conduct "a fair, objective and thorough review," according to the Wall Street Journal.

The announcement came after Harold Martin III, a former Booz Allen employee and US Navy veteran, was charged in what is believed to be one of the largest classified data breaches in US history.

Edward Snowden's case is likely to pale in comparison to that of Martin's when it comes to the number of documents stolen. Prosecutors said that Martin had taken as many as 500 million pages of top secret information, which equals 50 terabytes of data, along with six more boxes of files, many of which were reportedly left open in his house or car.