Puppet MastersS


Info

Reforms could double Russia's GDP by 2035 claims ex-finance minister Kudrin


RT
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 18:50 UTC
Alexei Kudrin
© Grigoriy Sisoev / SputnikAlexei Kudrin, Chairman of the Board of the Center for strategic research, participated in the panel discussion, Sustainable Economic Growth: A Model for Russia, at the Eighth Gaidar Forum, Russia and the World: Setting Priorities, in Moscow. January 13, 2017.
The Russian economy could double over the next two decades if the Kremlin sticks to reforms, according to former finance minister and now President Putin's economic adviser Aleksey Kudrin.

If the Russian economy continues to expand naturally, it will grow 150 percent by 2035 instead of a possible 200 percent, said Kudrin during the Gaidar international economic forum in Moscow on Friday.

"It is tough to reach this growth rate. The same task was crucial five to seven years ago, but so far it has not been implemented," said the former finance minister. Kudrin is now working for the Kremlin in an unofficial capacity developing an economic plan for Russia in competition with other independent economists.


Comment: He is a 'former minister' because: Putin says nyet to neo-liberals, da to national development

Read More...
Better Earth

China state media: Only under a large-scale war could US block Beijing from South China Sea islands


RT
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:08 UTC
Rex Tillerson
© ABC
Chinese state media has warned that the US would have to launch a "large-scale war" to prevent Beijing from accessing islands it has built in the South China Sea. It comes after secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson said such access should be restricted.

"Unless Washington plans to wage a large-scale war in the South China Sea, any other approaches to prevent Chinese access to the islands will be foolish," the state-sanctioned Global Times newspaper wrote on its English-language website. It went on to stress that the US "has no absolute power to dominate the South China Sea," warning that Tillerson "had better bone up on nuclear power strategies if he wants to force a big nuclear power to withdraw from its own territories."

The article also said that China has so far "shown restraint" when Trump's cabinet picks have expressed "radical views," as the president-elect has not yet been sworn in. However, it stressed that the US "should not be misled into thinking that Beijing will be fearful of their threats." "If Trump's diplomatic team shapes future Sino-US ties as it is doing now, the two sides had better prepare for a military clash," the article reads, adding that Tillerson's statements are "far from professional."

The former ExxonMobil CEO's comments were made during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, in which he said that China's activities in the disputed South China Sea were "extremely worrisome."

"Building islands and then putting military assets on those islands is akin to Russia's taking of Crimea. It's taking of territory that others lay claim to," Tillerson said, referring to the reunification of Crimea and Russia, which took place following a referendum in 2014.
"We're going to have to send China a clear signal that first, the island-building stops, and second, your access to those islands also not going to be allowed."
Tillerson went on to accuse President Obama of being complacent during his tenure, stating that "failure of a response has allowed them (China) to just keep pushing the envelope on this."


Comment: There is a lot at stake if Trump and Tillerson continue to jab at the Dragon. Is this the rhetoric the T-Rex needs to be confirmed? May cooler heads and better plans prevail.



Read More...
Binoculars

Seeking Gulenites: Germany's Turkish Islamic network admits some imams spied for Ankara


RT
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 06:27 UTC
Bekir Alboga
© Getty ImagesBekir Alboga, Secretary-General of DITIB
A Turkish Islamic group operating in Germany acknowledged that some of its imams complied with Turkish government instructions to give Ankara tips on suspected adherents of exiled US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Ditib, which stands for Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, is believed to have strong ties to Diyanet (Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs), a Turkish state-run religious affairs watchdog. Ditib previously denied its members were handing over information on Gulen supporters in Germany to the Turkish government.

In a comment to Rheinische Post on Thursday, however, the secretary-general of Ditib, Bekir Alboga, appeared to have changed his tune, admitting that although "the written instructions of the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs were not addressed to Ditib... some Ditib imams wrongly followed them." Stressing that such overzealousness on the part of Ditib members was not encouraged, Alboga stated that they "deeply regret this mishap" and have already discussed the issue with the Diyanet.

In December, Ditib dismissed reports that it was receiving orders from the government to gather intelligence on potential supporters of Gulen, who the Turkish government considers to be the mastermind behind the failed military coup attempt in July of last year. Gulen, who has lived in the US since the late 1990s, has repeatedly denied allegations of his involvement in plotting to overthrow Turkish President Recep Erdogan. Erdogan has called on Washington to speed up the extradition of Gulen, formally filing a request for the procedure in August.

The movement led by Gulen is commonly referred to in the Turkish pro-government media as the 'Gulenist Terror Organization' or 'FETÖ.' Although the movement does not have an official name, it is known as Hizmet among followers. In December, Hizmet spokesman in Germany Ercan Karakoyun claimed that Gulen supporters are forced to avoid places of worship attended by Ditib, saying it has become a tool of the Turkish government.

Comment: Gulen coup involvement? Ankara Gulen obsession? If imams are tapped as spies for Erdogan, what else are they looking for? And, why is the US protecting Gulen unless he might actually and factually implicate the US in the Turkish coup.

Read More...
Stop

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has a bill to stop the U.S. arming ISIS

Paul Kaiser
Russia Insider
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 19:33 UTC
Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard
FOX's Tucker Carlson scored another great interview when he spoke to Hawaii's congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Rep. Gabbard talked about her meeting with President-elect Trump some weeks ago to discuss the danger of further neocon escalation of the war in Syria.

Comment: See also:

Read More...
Info

Theresa May claims Trump dossier spy Christopher Steele 'hasn't worked for UK for years'


RT
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 18:23 UTC
Theresa May and Donald Trump
© www.globallookpress.com
Prime Minister Theresa May says the spy who compiled an unverified dossier alleging Moscow has compromising evidence on US President-elect Donald Trump has not worked for the British government for years.

Speaking alongside New Zealand PM Bill English at a press conference in Downing Street, May said: "It is absolutely clear that the individual who produced this dossier has not worked for the UK government for years."

The intervention comes after fresh allegations Britain's intelligence agencies knew ex-MI6 agent Christopher Steele was talking to the FBI.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage had urged May to distance Britain from the memos and make clear the authorities had nothing to do with it.

Comment: More on this BuzzFeed scandal:

Read More...
Info

Lebanese special forces arrest group of Daesh recruiters using Turkey as route to Raqqa


Sputnik
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 18:10 UTC
Lebanese army special forces
© AP Photo/ Hussein Malla, File
Lebanese special forces arrested a group of people recruiting citizens for the Daesh terrorist group, Lebanese General Security said in a statement on Friday.

"During an operation to identify sleeper terrorist cells Lebanese special forces arrested a group of people working for the terrorist group. A Lebanese citizen known as Abu Yazid admitted during the questioning that he recruited young people into the IS [Daesh] ranks and prepared them for transferring to the Syrian city of Raqqa via Turkey," the statement said.

According to the statement, an operation to detain the remaining gang members is ongoing.

Lebanese security forces has repeatedly arrested people suspected of recruiting fighters for the Daesh terror group, outlawed in many countries, including Russia.
Read More...
Info

Key reasons behind CIA head's revelations that US has inflamed Middle East


Sputnik
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:50 UTC
Iraqi army soldiers
© REUTERS/ Alaa Al-Marjani
On Monday, outgoing CIA Director John Brennan acknowledged that the 2003 US invasion of Iraq was "the reason why there was the tremendous slide into violence and bloodshed in that part of the world." Russian political analysts spoke to RIA Novosti about the possible reasons for such an admission just before the change of administrations.

The outgoing administration of US President Barack Obama overestimated the outcome of the Arab Spring, in expecting democracy to take root in the Middle East, CIA Director John Brennan said on CNN's Axe Files podcast on Monday.
Read More...
Attention

Want peace? You must be "collaborating with Russia"!

Michael Krieger
Liberty Blitzkrieg
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:53 UTC
Keep Calm
© Liberty Blitzkrieg
Welcome to "everyone I disagree with works for Putin," the UK version.

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sits on the polar opposite of the political spectrum in most respects from U.S. President elect Donald Trump, yet they are both being accused of the same blasphemy — wanting peace with Russia. Here's what I'm talking about, from The Independent:
In an interview with BBC Wales today, Mr Corbyn said it was "unfortunate that troops have gone up to the border on both sides".

He added: "I don't want to see any more troops deployed on the borders between Nato and Russia, I want to see a de-escalation, ultimately a de-militarisation and better relationships between both sides of it... there cannot be a return to a Cold War mentality."
This is precisely the sort of sober commentary I'd want to hear from an elected leader at such an unnecessarily charged and dangerous moment, yet Mr. Corbyn was attacked for it in a manner quite familiar to us Americans...
The Conservative Armed Forces Minister Mike Penning has accused Jeremy Corbyn of "collaborating with Russia" in response to comments that British troops about to be deployed to Estonia were there to "escalate tensions" between Russia and NATO.

Mr Penning said the comments made on Wednesday by a spokesperson for Mr Corbyn showed that Labour "cannot be trusted with Britain's national security".

Mr Penning said: "Britain has Nato's second biggest defence budget and plays a leading role in the alliance. It is unprecedented for a leader of the opposition to attack the defensive deployment of British troops in Nato territory.

"These comments suggest that the Labour leader would rather collaborate with Russian aggression than mutually support Britain's Nato allies. As with Trident, everything Labour says and does shows that they cannot be trusted with Britain's national security."
The fact that Jeremy Corbyn is being attacked in exactly the same manner as Donald Trump tells us all we need to know. Namely, that if you disagree with the neocon/neoliberal establishment's foreign policy, this makes you an agent of Vladimir Putin. Absurd and childish? Certainly, but that's what they're going with. Which is extremely important to recognize.

Those of us opposed to a continued insane push for more imperial overseas militarism must understand this isn't a partisan issue. There is an entrenched establishment in power, and they laugh at Republican/Democrat or Conservative/Labour distinctions. These people are totally united in their thirst for confrontation with Russia.
Read More...
Document

As many as 27 Syrian armed opposition groups sign final document at Ankara talks


Sputnik
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:41 UTC
Syrian army soldier with flag
© AP Photo/ Hassan Ammar
As many as 27 groups of the armed Syrian opposition and the so-called interim government of Syria signed a final document at the opposition meeting in Ankara, according to the document seen by Sputnik.

A total of 31 groups, the interim government and a group of independent opposition figures took part in the event.

The document contains a number of conditions under which the opposition would form a single delegation to participate in Astana talks. For instance, an introduction of a 10-day truce in southern Syria and Damascus since Friday was included in the list.
Read More...
Info

Syrian Army and opposition militants agree on truce in Barada Valley near Damascus


Sputnik
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:19 UTC
Smoke rises from a building in Wadi Barada, Syria
© AP Photo/ Step News Agency
The government troops and armed opposition concluded a truce in Barada Valley near the Syrian capital.

The Syrian army and militants of the armed opposition have agreed on a truce in Barada Valley, the agreement was reached without the UN participation, Syrian state media reported.

"The agreement will cover 10 villages and was signed with 1,200 people [militants]. The situation was settled by the Syrian government and interested sides without UN interference or presence," the Al-Ikhbariya television channel reported.
Read More...