Puppet MastersS


Red Flag

Sessions: Justice Dept. should allocate funds to help police fight crime, not spend money on lawsuits against police


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:49 UTC
Jeff Sessions
© Yuri Gripas / ReutersU.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions
The Justice Department should allocate more money to help police fight crime rather than spend scarce resources on lawsuits against police departments, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. The DOJ has found much abuse within US policing in recent years.

Speaking before the National Association of Attorneys General winter meeting in Washington, DC, Sessions said his Department of Justice (DOJ) will include a task force that will analyze policing practices in the US in order to fight crime.

The Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety will employ the heads of major federal law enforcement agencies to "look at deficiencies in our current laws that have made them less effective in reducing crime, and propose new legislation."

Part of the revamped DOJ mission will include reversing the suffering morale of law enforcement, which, "as a whole has been unfairly maligned and blamed for the unacceptable deeds of a few bad actors," Sessions said.


Comment: The idea that the actions of police across the US is a result of a few "bad apples" is a popular one among law enforcement types, but the reality is that police culture is what needs to be changed. Not only does the culture of police brutality create bad apples, it also enables existing psychopathic types to enforce their own brand of police justice, often through brutal and illegal actions. Fighting crime is not the problem, it's the lack of accountability towards illegal police behavior that needs to be fixed. Cops who are found to have beaten or murdered innocent people and then lied about it should face extensive prison time. Only stiff deterrence will force police to change.

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X

Turkey may kick US out of Incirlik airbase if Washington teams up with Kurds


Sputnik
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:47 UTC
US F-16 fighter jet
© AP Photo/ U.S. Air Force via AP
Ankara could forbid Washington from using its Incirlik airbase if the United States cooperates with the Kurdish forces, such as the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Popular Defense Units (YPG).

The Yeni Safak newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing own sources, that Ankara could end the permission in case of the cooperation between Washington and the Kurds during operations against the Daesh terrorist group in the area of Raqqa.

The newspaper added that Ankara was also considering the possibility to close the country's airspace for US aircraft.
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Stock Up

Russia gas market to a record 34 percent last year, will dominate European gas market for next two decades


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:47 UTC
Euro coins Gazprom
© Dado Ruvic / ReutersEuro coins
Russia's Gazprom increased its share of the European gas market to a record 34 percent last year. This means Russia will remain the biggest supplier of gas to Europe through 2035, according to Royal Dutch Shell and BP.

"Last year we delivered 179.3 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe. This is 12.5 percent more than in 2015. Our market share of the European market has increased to 34 percent," said Gazprom Deputy Chairman Aleksandr Medvedev.

"Europe has always been and continues to be a priority market for Gazprom," Medvedev added.

Last week, Royal Dutch Shell confirmed Russia will continue to be top European gas supplier at least through 2035, echoing comments by BP in January.
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Target

Putin: Russia should listen to WADA, doping system in Russia failed to fulfill its function


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:39 UTC
blood sample
© Sergei Karpukhin / ReutersA technician holds a test tube with a blood sample at the Russian anti-doping laboratory
The Russian anti-doping system failed to fulfill its function, and Russia should listen to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), as doping cases are unacceptable, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

"The main thing is that despite the shortcomings in the work of [Mclaren's] independent commission, we should pay attention to what it did, to the results of its work. We must listen to WADA's demands. Because we have to admit that we have proven cases of doping use," Putin said at a meeting in the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. The 2019 World Student Games are set to take place in the Siberian city.

"This is absolutely unacceptable and it means that the Russian anti-doping system failed, and it's our fault - we should spell it out and admit it," Putin said.

"In Russia, there has never been and, I hope, will never be a state doping support system; on the contrary, there will only be anti-doping action," the president added.

"I'm counting on the Investigative Committee to see the probe [into the doping cases] through to the end, and to expose everyone guilty," Putin also said.
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Info

Putin promises Russian military will leave Kyrgyzstan when no longer needed for regional stability


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:31 UTC
Vladimir Putin and Almazbek Atambayev
© Tabyldy Kadyrbekov / Sputnik
The Russian military presence in Central Asia is crucial for regional stability, according to President Vladimir Putin, but Moscow is ready to leave at the first request after it helps to strengthen the Kyrgyzstan army to be capable of maintaining security on its own.

Russia is both ready to abandon its military base in Kyrgyzstan or to reinforce it, Putin said in the aftermath of talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambayev in Bishkek on Tuesday.

"When Kyrgyzstan decides that it has strengthened its armed forces so that it no longer needs this base, we will pull out immediately," Putin said. "We did not discuss expanding the Russian military group here. If Kyrgyzstan decides that this is necessary, we will discuss this issue, but you should know that this will entail additional spending for us."
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Archaeology

China set to build underwater observatory in strategic S. China Sea waters


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:34 UTC
China underwater observation
© Chinafotopress / www.globallookpress.com
China is to build its first national underwater observation platform in strategic waters in the South China Sea, media reveal.

On Saturday, Wang Pinxian, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), said at a forum in Shanghai that the long-term observation platform in key areas of the South China Sea will be done with the help of Shanghai's Tongji University and the Institute of Acoustics, the Global Times reported citing the Chinese news portal sciencenet.cn.

However, on Monday, Institute of Acoustics refused to disclose the precise location of the platform, or any other details, to the Global Times, citing the "sensitivity" of the project.
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HAL9000

Trump asks Theresa May to postpone his UK state visit to avoid mass protests


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:23 UTC
U.S. President Donald Trump escorts British Prime Minister Theresa May
© Kevin Lamarque / ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump escorts British Prime Minister Theresa May, White House, Washington, January 27, 2017.
US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May will put a temporary hold on his UK state visit planned for later this year so the British public's negative sentiments against him can die down.

The visit has been delayed after Trump reportedly told May he fears a backlash against his controversial travel ban and rhetoric about Muslims.

Trump received worldwide criticism after signing an executive order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US. His administration is now coming up with a new order after the first was banned by federal judges.

The visit is now tipped to take place on October 5 to 8, before Parliament returns from recess.

Comment: The MSM has done a great job vilifying Trump as a racist, but is he really?

You're still crying wolf: Trump is "openly racist", "white supremacist", "literally Hitler" - No, he's not

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Info

Mexico won't accept foreign deportees, US must assume responsibility


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 15:10 UTC
painted the U.S.-Mexico border wall
© Jose Luis Gonzalez / Reuters A group of activists painted the U.S.-Mexico border wall between Ciudad Juarez and New Mexico, February 26, 2017.
Mexico "does not have to, and will not" accept deportees coming from the United States, especially if they're not Mexicans, the country's Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said in an address to the Senate.

Videgaray stated on Tuesday that Washington "must assume a responsibility that it has historically not assumed," citing the flow of arms from the United States to Mexico.

"Mexico does not have to and will not receive deportations coming from the United States, especially people who are not Mexican," he added.

If Washington does not respect human rights, Mexico will turn to international organizations, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, he also said.
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Snakes in Suits

Trump's DNI pick Dan Coats: Hard line Russia, keep Gitmo, support NSA mass spying


RT
Tue, 28 Feb 2017 22:48 UTC
Dan Coats
© AlchetronDan Coats, nominee for DNI
Former Senator Dan Coats (R-Indiana), nominated by President Donald Trump to be director of national intelligence, wants to keep the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay open, renew NSA mass surveillance and "educate" the American public on Russian threat.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) was a position created under President George W. Bush to coordinate the 17-odd intelligence agencies across the US government, and Coats explained that he viewed the role as similar to a coach in American football. "I'll be taking a look at not only the Office of the DNI, but the entire intelligence community [IC], and at how we can do things most efficiently and effectively," Coats said in the opening remarks at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.


Comment: If he is confirmed by the Senate, Coats would become both bridge and gate-keeper between Trump and the rogue US intelligence community.


The threats that we face today are more challenging, dynamic and geographically diffuse than ever before," Coats said, putting the "rising cyber threat" at the top of the list.

Comment: Trump ran against the 'revolving-door lobbying culture,' so his pick of Dan Coats is surprising. According to public records, for a period of 10 years, between terms as a senator, Coats was a lobbyist for a variety of clients in defense, pharmaceuticals, financial services, private equity, and, in particular, Lockheed Martin (recently criticized by Trump for the high price of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter). And, in the hearings, Coats' positions on numerous agencies, issues and situations seem to be more in line with the Dems. Trump must have his reasons and strategy...

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Radar

Iran shows off 'smart torpedo' & other advanced tech during massive naval drills


RT
Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:48 UTC
Iran Velayat 95 naval exercises torpedo navy
© Wikipedia
Iran has successfully tested the country's indigenous Valfajr torpedo system on the last day of two week-long naval drills, during which the Islamic Republic also featured other advanced military technology including cruise and anti-ship missiles.

Tuesday marked the last day of the Velayat 95 naval exercises across an area of 2 million sq. km - covering the Strait of Hormuz, Sea of Oman and the northern part of the Indian Ocean.

The grand finale of the drills, which have been underway since early February and entered their final phase Sunday, showcased the successful use of Valfajr torpedo system.

Comment: No doubt about it - nevermind what Israeli and US warmongers say - Iran is not to be messed with.

Check out: Iran war rhetoric and the 'Trump-ordered' dawn raid in Yemen: WWIII isn't 'coming' - It's happening NOW
It's too late now for the Empire to act on such verbal threats to Iran. Trump can tweet late into the night that Iran is "playing with fire", but that doesn't change the fact that it now has the military capability to protect itself from US aerial bombardment. On the financial-economic front, thanks to patient diplomatic moves by Iran and its allies over the last decade, the 'Iran nuclear deal' (which of course had little to do with nukes) was agreed last year. That genie is already out of the bottle: mega trade and investment deals have now been lined up between Iran and corporations and governments - from both east and west. Iran is, if anything, emboldened by the shrill protests in Washington, London and Tel Aviv: their response has been to test more missiles and radar systems, and issue counter-sanctions against "US individuals sponsoring terrorism."


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