Puppet MastersS


Jet5

Iraqi airstrikes on Syria are legal, here's why...

Iraqi jet
© The AviationistIraqi Air Force's F-16 Block 52 fighter
Iraq has a strong case in international law that its air strikes on ISIS in Syria are legal even if it did not obtain the prior permission of the Syrian government for them, and there is sufficient commonality of interest between Iraq and Syria at the moment given their respective wars against ISIS for the Syrian authorities to take a sanguine view of the Iraqi air strikes.

The Iraqi air strikes in Syria on Friday have inevitably brought up the question of their legality. The highly probable answer is that the air strikes were legal under international law. If the air strikes were carried out with the prior permission of the Syrian government, then the question of their legality does not exist: the Iraqi air strikes would be legal, just as Russian air strikes which happen in Syria are.

There is no confirmation as yet of whether or not Iraq had Syria's permission to carry out the air strikes. However it is likely that it did. Importantly, as of the time of writing, neither Syria nor its allies - Iran and Russia - have publicly objected to the air strikes.

However even if the Iraqi air strikes were carried out without the permission of the Syrian government, there is a strong arguable case that they were legal.

Comment: Ideally, rules are made to get all parties to conform to a set of standards and thereby common understandings. Unfortunately, those who have the power to make the rules usually make them for someone else.


People

Ex-UK ambassador to Moscow: 'I'm surprised Russians not blamed for bad weather'

Moscow and London
© Global Look Press
The narrative dominating the popular media about an "evil, revanchist, and cunning" Russia is grotesquely exaggerated and produces some truly absurd stories, says Sir Tony Brenton, who was British Ambassador to Russia from 2004 - 2008.

A Russia Debate took place at the Oxford Union on Thursday. One side of the dispute argued that "the West treats Russia unfairly," and the other claimed that the animosity towards Russia and the sanctions against it are a result of its conduct.

Following the event, RT met with speakers from both parties - the proposition represented by Sir Tony Brenton, British Ambassador to Russia from 2004 - 2008, and the opposition led by John Andrews, senior editor for Project Syndicate and one of the leadings editors for The Economist.

RT: John, during the debate you mentioned media perception of Russia. How balanced do you feel that is in the mainstream Western media, not perhaps so much towards Putin, but towards the crisis in relations with Russia right now?

John Andrews: My point is that there is a balance in the way that the mainstream media, the proper media, treats both "sides," if you want. I think we treat Russia fairly, with a proper analysis of what is going on in Russia. I think we do the same for Western Europe and the US. Then comes the question of perception: Who do you think is right? But there is not a lot of common ground between my side of the debate and Tony's [Brenton] side. A lot of criticism of Russia, as it is. At the same time, I think we also criticize what is happening in the West. In particularly, for example, the Trump election. That was my main point.

Comment: See also: Ex-UK ambassador to Moscow: Trump right on Russia, Britain must listen


Snakes in Suits

Pelosi wants probe into Priebus' 'Outrageous breach of FBI independence'

Nancy P.
© SalonPelosi's Priebus Probe Problem
The US Department of Justice should probe White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus's interference into the FBI ongoing probe of President Donald Trump's campaign contacts with Russia, US House of Representatives minority leader Nancy Pelosi said in a press release on Friday.

On Thursday, CNN reported that the White House had urged the FBI to publicly dispute recent reports that Trump campaign staff had maintained regular contact with Russian intelligence officials.

"Priebus has committed an outrageous breach of the FBI's independence," the release stated. "The Department of Justice's Inspector General must open a new investigation into any and all conversations Priebus and other White House officials held with the FBI on ongoing investigations. "The report claimed FBI Director James Comey refused the request for a probe because the alleged communications were part of an ongoing investigation.

Pelosi suggested that the US Congress must also establish an independent, bipartisan commission to make sure the American people get the facts from sources other than the Trump administration.

Earlier on Friday, Trump wrote on Twitter that the FBI is absolutely unable to stop national security leakers and warned the illegal release of classified information to the media can have a devastating effect on the United States.

Comment: The Dems have been left out on the curb. Scrambling politically, they find relevance in opposing and attacking which serves to expose all over again the flaws in their thinking and the mass delusions by which they governed. Creating alternate sources and commissions for "facts", other than the Trump administration, seems really familiar. AKA: MSM/DNC


Padlock

Trump administration instructed CIA to freeze support for anti-Assad rebels in Syria

Free Syrian Army
© The Christian Science Monitor
The White House has instructed the Central Intelligence Agency to halt military support to armed groups that are associated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a group opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Some believe that the move indicates a change in American policy under United States President Donald Trump. But Syrian rebel commanders say they believe the move is temporary, and that military aid will be restored. For several years, the CIA has provided training and other forms of assistance to rebel groups in Syria, such as the New Syrian Force, which operate under the umbrella of the FSA. Aside from training, the assistance has included light and heavy ammunition, including antitank missiles, mines and grenades.

However, it appears that the CIA was instructed nearly a month ago by the White House to freeze all assistance to these rebel groups. Correspondents from the Reuters news agency said they confirmed the change in policy by speaking to senior rebel commanders from five armed groups operating under the FSA. These commanders told Reuters that they had not been given any official reason for the sudden termination of all CIA assistance.

Comment: In the light of Trump versus the CIA, it is not inconceivable the CIA is placating its proxy factions until the last minute to keep all plates spinning and all rebels on board. It is also not out of the realm of possibility that the CIA will still operate covert activity beyond the scope of the US government and its Commander in chief regardless the mandate.


Treasure Chest

Emailgate: Untold saga of Clinton Foundation's ties with defense contractors

Killary and cashpile
© Hillary's AmericaCash for Clout (and a few other things)
The Clinton email scandal hasn't faded away after Hillary Clinton's resounding defeat in the 2016 presidential election. The case still raises a lot of questions, while tens of thousands of documents have yet to surface. Speaking to Sputnik Jan R. Weinberg, founder of Show Up! America, stressed that there is more to the case than meets the eye. Although Hillary Clinton lost the political race, the so-called Clinton email scandal continues to smolder. The reason behind this phenomenon is pretty obvious: too many questions still remain unanswered.

After the Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI) closed the Clinton email case for the second time on the eve of the US presidential election it seemed that it was over. However, in early January FBI quietly released the fifth batch of Hillary Clinton documents while the nation was enjoying the NFL Wildcard Playoffs. "FBI quietly releases new Hillary Clinton investigation documents (part 5) [as yet, no announcement]," WikiLeaks tweeted on January 9.

On February 4 the sixth part of the FBI's Clinton investigation was published on the agency's website, signaling that the probe is still under way.

That was confirmed by House of Representatives Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz, who told journalists on January 26 that the investigation continues. "There are still a lot of unanswered questions. We don't have literally tens of thousands of documents that we still need," Chaffetz told Fox News.

Comment: American defense contractors donated to the Clinton Foundation, in some cases made personal payments to Bill Clinton under the guise of speaking engagements. These firms and subsidiaries were listed as contractors in $163 billion worth of Pentagon-negotiated deals that were authorized by the Clinton State Department between 2009 and 2012. In addition, the State Department was complicit with Secretary Clinton in the approval of $165 B worth of commercial arms sales to 20 nations and $151B in separate Pentagon-brokered deals for 16 nations, all of which gave money to the CF.

Consider the corruption factor: a gross case of abuse of position for personal gain while compromising the integrity of the State Department in betrayal of the American people. Pay to Play; Influence and Reward. The criteria for these deals seems crystal clear.


Propaganda

FOX News exposed hosting fake Swedish 'security advisor'

Nils Bildt
Nils Bildt
Last week, Donald Trump said, while giving a speech on the impending doom that will result if the US government allows Muslims from his list of seven countries into the United States, that Sweden was the subject of some non-existent security event involving Muslims.

"You look at what's happening in Germany. You look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden! Who would believe this? Sweden, they took in large numbers, they are having problems like they never thought possible," Trump said at the rally.

However, according to Sweden officials, nothing happened in Sweden.

Comment: More analysis on the Sweden refugee issue:


No Entry

DHS report disputes need for Trump travel ban

travel ban protesters
© Kate Munsch / Reuters
At least one intelligence officer determined that President Donald Trump's executive order banning travel from seven predominantly Muslim nations was supported with insufficient evidence, based on information obtained from the Department of Homeland Security.

A draft document procured by the Associated Press reveals that President Trump's travel ban was met with at least some criticism at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report noted that the majority of countries included in the travel ban posed little threat to the US. In addition, it determined that out of 82 people identified as committing or planning to commit attacks inspired by foreign powers, over half were from the US

Attention

Israeli media reports new Saudi spy chief secretly visited Israel, Palestinian autonomy

Khalid Bin Ali Al Humaidan
This week Khalid Bin Ali Al Humaidan, who directs the General Intelligence Directorate (GID), Saudi Arabia's primary spy agency, paid an unexpected visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah, although those visits have not been officially confirmed by the Israeli and Palestinian governments.

Israeli news outlet Debka reported that Iranian engineers have been working almost nonstop to expand the range of the Scud C (400 miles) and Scud D (450 miles) surface missiles by an additional 60 miles, enabling the projectiles to reach Riyadh.

The so-called Riyadh project was ordered by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and was developed near Tehran at the Al Ghadi base.

Boat

Polish government backs Baltic Strait canal project to allow ships to bypass Russian waters

 Baltic Sea
© Andrey Fimushkin / Wikipedia
The lower chamber of the Polish parliament has voted in favor of constructing a channel across the Baltic (Visla) Strip to allow the country's vessels to enter the port of Elblag without crossing Russian territorial waters.

The law, which was supported by 401 out of 460 MPs at the Sejm, now requires approval by the upper house, the Senate.

Last May, the government of Poland made the decision to build a channel, connecting the Vistula Lagoon and the Gdansk Bay on the Baltic Sea.

It's planned that the channel will be about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles wide) and around 5 meters (16 feet deep) to allow vessels of up to 20 meters (65 feet) wide and with maximum draft of 4 meters (13 feet) to access Elblag port.

Handcuffs

Former Director Of IMF Gets Prison Time For Fraud by a Spanish Court

Rodrigo Rato
© Europa Press
Rodrigo Rato, former Director of the International Monetary Fund, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison last Thursday by a Spanish Court.

While the current director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, avoided prison time despite being found guilty of negligence in a high-profile fraud case, one of her predecessors has not been so lucky.

Rodrigo Rato, director of the IMF from 2004 to 2007, was just recently sentenced this past Thursday to 4.5 years of prison by a Spanish court for his misappropriation of bank funds, i.e. fraud. Rato's conviction followed a lengthy trial where he and 64 other executives and former board members of the failed Spanish bank Bankia and its founder bank Caja Madrid.

Comment: See also: Another former IMF head Rodrigo Rato arrested