Puppet MastersS


Footprints

Duterte to US: 'Do not treat us like a doormat, you'll be sorry for it'


RT
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 09:38 UTC
amphibian exercise
© Romeo Ranoco / ReutersU.S. military forces aboard Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) manoeuvre on South China Sea near the shore during the annual Philippines-US amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines October 7, 2016
Plans for joint US-Philippines patrols and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea have been put on hold, and 107 US troops operating drones surveilling Muslim militants will also have to leave the country soon, the Philippines Defense chief said. President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants an ongoing US-Philippine amphibious beach landing drill to be the last in his six-year presidency, with plans to halt all the 28 military exercises carried out with US forces every year.

"This year would be the last," Duterte pledged on Friday in Davao in the southern Philippines, AP reported. "For as long as I am there, do not treat us like a doormat because you'll be sorry for it," he added. "I will not speak with you. I can always go to China." Earlier this week, the outspoken Philippines leader said his US counterpart Barack Obama, whom he has previously publicly called a "son-of-a-b***h," should "go to hell."

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington is unaware of any official notification on rolling back the joint military exercises. The US remains committed to its security cooperation with Manila, with which it has a 65-year-old mutual defense treaty, he said. "We think comments like this, whether they are or will be backed up by actual action or not, are really at odds with the closeness of the relationships that we have with the people of the Philippines and which we fully intend to continue," Kirby told reporters.


Comment: At least Duterte understands he has options, perhaps however, with consequences if going by standard US playbook. "No" is never the exceptionally "right" answer. Duterte is not pulling his punches. At the speech in Davao, he had this to say:
"You want to oust me? You want to use the CIA? Go ahead," Duterte said in a speech in his southern home town of Davao city, referring to the Central Intelligence Agency, while railing against US President Barack Obama and other critics.
...
Also on Friday he referred to a local newspaper columnist who warned a "People Power" movement could form to try and topple Duterte, using the term coined for the revolution that overthrew dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. "Be my guest. I don't give a s**t," he said. "I'll be ousted? Fine. (If so) it's part of my destiny. Destiny carries so many things. If I die, that's part of my destiny. Presidents get assassinated."
...
On Friday, Duterte again promised there would be no let-up [in the war on drugs]. "The drug campaign will not end. It will result in so many deaths and I do not apologise for it," he said in Davao.
Philippines's Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay also had some words for the U.S.:
The United States held on to invisible chains that reined us in towards dependency and submission as little brown brothers not capable of true independence and freedom. Breaking away from the shackling dependency of the Philippines to effectively address both internal and external security threats has become imperative in putting an end to our nation's subservience to United States' interests.


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USA

Survey reveals US is ranked as the #1 threat to China


teleSUR
Thu, 06 Oct 2016 00:00 UTC
red dragon, US flag
© www.washingtontimes.com
The U.S. is more of a threat to China than economic instability, climate change or the Islamic State group, according to a survey by Pew Research Center. Chinese people believe the United States is the "top threat" facing their country, a poll showed Wednesday, with most suspecting the world's number one economy of trying to "prevent China from becoming an equal power." A survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Center revealed 45 percent of Chinese people consider U.S. power and influence to be a "major threat" — more than economic instability at 35 percent, climate change at 34 percent and the Islamic State group at only 15 percent.

The news comes as Beijing and Washington are at loggerheads over China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, with the U.S. urging China to adhere to the rule of law and Beijing accusing its ally of interference.

The vast majority of Chinese people - 75 percent of those surveyed - believe their country plays "a more important role in world affairs" than a decade ago. However, this confidence in China's international stature contrasts with a growing sense of unease among many, the survey showed, with about three-quarters of respondents saying their "way of life needs to be protected against foreign influence" — up from 64 percent in 2002. Meanwhile, the survey also found that half of the 3,154 respondents in the inquiry had a "favorable opinion" of the U.S. — including 60 percent of those aged between 18 and 34.

Despite China's increasing diplomatic influence, 56 percent of Chinese people said they wanted their leaders to focus on their country's challenges such as official corruption, which most said was a problem despite the general anti-corruption campaign of President Xi Jinping which has been one of the centerpieces of his administration.
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Tornado2

Trump states 'he was never perfect' after furor over groping and married sex comments 10 years ago


RT
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 09:27 UTC
Donald Trump
© www.ndtv.com"I was wrong, I apologise."
Donald Trump has defiantly apologized since the leak of a tape from 2005 caused public furor, with many slamming the US Republican presidential hopeful for his comments boasting about groping and sex with married women that were caught on a hot mic.

In the statement, Trump said, ten years later, he is a changed man, but he still used the opportunity to direct a barb at Bill Clinton, bringing up the ex-president's infidelities, while promising to talk more about the Clintons' past in coming days.

"I never said I was a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone I'm not. I've said and done things that I regret and the words released today on this more than a decade old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words don't reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong and I apologize," Trump said. He went on to brand the tape as a "distraction from the important issues we are facing today."


Comment: Apologies are a start. And Killary...?

See also: 'Grab them by the p***y': Leaked audio of Trump exchange causes GOP backlash

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Network

Hillary Clinton pushes war agenda saying 'Kremlin has weaponized WikiLeaks'

Alex Christoforou
The Duran
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 19:04 UTC
Clinton, Putin, Trump and Assange
Out of thin air Hillary created a "Russian hacker" narrative, much like Bush created the WMD narrative.

Hillary Clinton is sure trying her best to get a hot war with Russia underway. We can only wonder how much she is getting compensated for her actions.

A few weeks back, Hillary decided to divert attention away from leaked emails, that clearly showed what a corrupt and compromised individual she is, and instead shifted the blame onto "Russian hackers." The main stream media, always ready to back up HRC, ran with the Russian hacker narrative even though zero evidence was provided, and completely ignored the content of her leaked emails.

Comment: Also see: US government officially accuses Russia of political hacks based on a belief

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Stock Up

Debt Under Obama Up $9,000,000,000,000 passing a fiscal milestone

Terence P. Jeffrey
CNS News
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 11:35 UTC
President Obama
© AP Photo/Ron EdmondsPresident Obama at his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009.
The federal government passed a fiscal milestone on the first business day of fiscal 2017—which was Monday, Oct. 3—when the total federal debt accumulated during the presidency of Barack Obama topped $9,000,000,000,000 for the first time.

On Jan. 20, 2009, when Obama was inaugurated, the total debt of the federal government was $10,626,877,048,913.08, according to data published by the U.S. Treasury.

As of the close of business on Friday, Sept, 30, the last day of fiscal 2016, the total federal debt was $19,573,444,713,936.79. At that point, the total federal debt had increased under Obama by $8,946,567,665,023.71.

On Monday, Oct. 3, the first business day of fiscal 2017, the total federal debt closed at $19,642,949,742,561.51. At that point, the debt had increased under Obama by $9,016,072,693,648.43 from the $10,626,877,048,913.08 it stood at on the day of Obama's inauguration.

As of the close of business, on Wednesday, Oct. 5—the latest day for which the Treasury has reported—the total federal debt was $19,663,411,497,797.40. That means that so far in Obama's presidency, the federal debt has increased $9,036,534,448,884.32.

Comment: See also:
  • Economic collapse coming? IMF announces global debt rises to all-time high

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Rocket

Russian missile defense system: This is what will shatter the 'illusions of amateurs' against Russia in Syria


Sputnik
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:20 UTC
Russian S-300VM Antei-2500 air defense system
© Wikipedia/ Vitaly V. Kuzmin
Russia has recently warned that its S-300 and S-400 air defense systems are up and running in Syria following leaked reports on the US' intentions to bomb Syrian airbases. As Russia's Defense Ministry cautions the US-led coalition against carrying out airstrikes on the Syrian army, military experts reveal the defense capabilities of the systems.

"The S-300 appeared [in Syria] after experts close to the American establishment started leaking information...that the US could hit Syrian airfields with cruise missiles," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in an interview with Russia's Dozhd TV channel on Friday.

Comment: This is why the US is struggling with 'options' for Syria as peace seems to be off the table. But Kerry keeps trying: Doubling back? John Kerry consults with FM Lavrov on Syria less than 48 hours after suspending ties

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Bullseye

'NYT' says Bush senior's opposition to Israeli settlements cost him his reelection

Philip Weiss
Mondoweiss
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 16:44 UTC
President George H.W. Bush
President George H.W. Bush, official portrait, 1989
The effect of President Obama standing up to Benjamin Netanyahu, for once, earlier this week, over a new settlement, has been swift. The New York Times has now stood behind the president in a sharp editorial against the Netanyahu government for its intransigence. Like Obama's stand, the Times's vituperation comes way too late to help create a Palestinian state; but it is remarkable for a casual assertion about the power of the Israel lobby: Presidents don't want to tell Israel what to do because George H.W. Bush lost his bid for reelection in 1992 in part because of his opposition to Israeli settlements.

Comment: Nothing meaningful will happen for Palestine until the power of the Israeli lobby is broken, but the amount of money it has to throw at politicians will make it very difficult.

See also:

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Cowboy Hat

Best of the Web: 'Massive evidence shows 'White Helmets' are a foreign-funded group set up to support terrorist entities in Syria'


RT
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 15:48 UTC
White helmets
© Thaer Mohammed / AFPThe White Helmets walk amid the debris in a rebel-held neighborhood of Aleppo.
Through the White Helmets we are seeing the eradication of Syrian state institutions and the implanting of a Syrian shadow state by predominantly the UK, the US and supported by EU governments, says Vanessa Beeley, independent researcher and journalist.

With Syria's White Helmets having been in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, grabbing headlines as 'Heroes of Peace', with the media and politicians endorsing them, RT spoke with Vanessa Beeley, independent researcher and journalist.

Beeley discussed whether The White Helmets are indeed "independent, impartial and unsullied by Western cash".

RT: The White Helmets claim to be a "neutral, impartial, humanitarian NGO". Is that really the case?

Vanessa Beeley: It's impossible for that claim to be legitimate. Let's take it first of all, "neutral". They claim that they receive no funding from any governments that have a vested interest in the Syrian conflict. And yet they are in fact multimillion funded, conservatively speaking, 100 million dollars from the US, 23 million via USAID; from the UK around now 65 million - it was originally 19.7 million pounds and Boris Johnson announced a further 32 million. France is supplying equipment. Denmark, Germany, Holland and even Japan through the international agency in Japan.

Comment: The White Helmets: Brought to you by the CIA, Mercenary Companies, Inc., Washington think tanks and their exceptionally dedicated whores in the Western media.


For further reading:

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Info

Yemen: Saudi airstrikes kills 82 during funeral while Houthi rebels carry out ballistic missile attack against Saudi Arabia


Sputnik
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 17:06 UTC
Houthi rebels
© AP Photo/ Hani Mohammed
Houthis rebels from war-torn Yemen launched attack with a ballistic missile on the territory of Saudi Arabia, according to official statement of the military command of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen.

The rebels of the Shia Houthi movement, officially called Ansar Allah, hit the territory of Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile, the military command of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in Yemen said on Saturday.

The missile, launched late on Friday, did not cause any damage as it hit deserted area in the southwest of the country. The coalition military forces followed the trajectory of the missile's flight and returned fire against the missile launch site in Yemen, the military command said as quoted by the SPA news agency. The missile type was not specified, but Houthi forces had previously carried out attacks against Saudi zones with the Soviet-made Scud missiles and their modifications.

Comment: All of this happening ahead of a possible UN brokered ceasefire deal: UN envoy for Yemen says Houthis agree to 3-day ceasefire, will Saudi Arabia follow suit?

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Info

UN demands Riyadh to stop executing children and systemic discrimination against girls


Sputnik
Sat, 08 Oct 2016 16:43 UTC
Children in Saudi Arabia
© AP Photo/ Hasan Jamali
UN rights experts blasted Saudi Arabia for severely punishing children, including sentencing minors to death, in a report of their review of the country's compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

They also called the oil-rich monarchy out for systemic discrimination against girls.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regularly reviews states that have ratified the convention. They announced their findings in Saudi Arabia's review on Friday.

Comment: And remember who chairs the UN Human Rights Council, Saudi Arabia! Hypocrisy in action. What can the UN really do to enforce its rulings?

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