Puppet MastersS


USA

Trump's vision of a Russo-American alliance is not far-fetched

Stewart Lawrence
The Daily Caller
Mon, 12 Dec 2016 16:58 UTC
trump russia
The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!

So much of the current frothing over Donald Trump's alleged "secret" alliance with Vladimir Putin resonates for a simple reason: the Cold War. Conflict with the old Soviet empire defined American foreign and defense policy for a half century and still colors our nation's perceptions of events in today's more fragmented - but increasingly resurgent — post-Soviet world.

The twin issues of whether Russia "meddled" in the 2016 election — which seems likely — and second, whether that meddling actually tilted the outcome — which seems dubious — are distracting us from the very real issue of what kind of relationship our two countries want to establish over the next two decades.


Comment: There's zero evidence that Russia "meddled" in the US election.

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Info

Erdogan proclaims Turkey 'will never allow' creation of new state in northern Syria


RT
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 18:18 UTC
Tayyip Erdogan
© Brendan McDermid / Reuters
The formation of a new state in northern Syria will never be allowed, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a speech at the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) General Assembly.

"We will never allow the founding of this kind of state," despite all efforts to do so, the Turkish leader said in Istanbul, apparently referring to Syrian Kurds holding territories in the northern part of Syria, Turkish Anadolu news agency reports.
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Stop

Anti-smoking fascism: US Virgin Islands to crack down on smoking in public places


AP / Daily Mail
Fri, 23 Dec 2016 18:09 UTC
no smoking sign
© Pisit Koolplukpol / shutterstock
The U.S. Virgin Islands is cracking down on smoking inside public places.

The government announced Friday that it will start dispatching health authorities to businesses and anyone caught breaking the law will face fines ranging from $200 to $500. They also said businesses without "No Smoking" signs will be fined at least $1,000.

The announcement comes as the U.S. territory prepares for the holiday and carnival season. The U.S. Virgin Islands approved a smoking ban in 2011 that prohibits smoking inside public places and within 20 feet (6 meters) of those areas.

Comment: Many people are being deprived of the health benefits of smoking with this Nazi-like attitude.

'World No Tobacco Day'? Let's All Light Up!

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Snakes in Suits

Obama administration hell bent to help any 'destructive forces' in Syria


Sputnik
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:59 UTC
Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militants
© REUTERS/ Ammar Abdullah
In its pursuit to change the Syrian government, Obama administration is ready to help any 'destructive forces', including Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Commenting on the issue of expansion of the US sanctions against Russia, the Foreign Ministry said that Moscow sees this act as a way to punish Russia for helping Syria battle terrorism which is a threat to the whole world.

"It has long been noticed that, under the current administration, Washington in its pursuit to shift power in Syria is ready to help any destructive forces. [It is] protecting and covering Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group that is none other but a subdivision of al-Qaeda, which has committed the most horrible terrorist acts in the history of the US," the statement said.

"It seems that the White House has forgotten that, under the US law, aiding terrorism is a criminal offense," the Ministry pointed out in the statement.
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Attention

Populist politicians demand 'Schengen must go' following deadly Berlin attack


RT
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:52 UTC
Flowers and candles are placed near the Christmas market
© Hannibal Hanschke / ReutersFlowers and candles are placed near the Christmas market at Breitscheid square in Berlin, Germany, December 23, 2016.
Right-wing and populist figures have called for an end to free movement in Europe in the wake of the Berlin truck attack, after the chief suspect was found to have fled through France all the way to Italy.

Nationalist and Eurosceptic politicians have renewed their calls to scrap the Schengen zone after it transpired that Anis Amri, the 24-year-old Tunisian national wanted for the Berlin Christmas market attack, made it over 500 miles from the scene of the crime to Milan, Italy, where he was shot dead by police officers - due to a routine patrol, not the Europe-wide manhunt.
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Gift

Duterte: "Go ahead, file a complaint, I'll burn down the UN if you want"


RT
Tue, 20 Sep 2016 17:37 UTC
Duterte
© Ezra Acayan / ReutersPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to "burn down" the United Nations headquarters in New York, in response to mounting international criticism over his bloody crackdown on suspected drug dealers.

"You go and file a complaint in the United Nations, I will burn down the United Nations if you want," Duterte said, as quoted by the New York Times.

"I will burn it down if I go to America," he added, while speaking at an army base in the country's southern city of Zamboanga.

On Thursday, the Philippines leader called Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, a top UN official, an "idiot" and "son of a bitch" after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights suggested launching an investigation into Duterte's own accounts of killings when he was mayor of Davao City, and the "shocking" number of deaths during the ongoing anti-drug war.

"This guy [Zeid] is ever the joker or crazy," Duterte said during a televised speech, repeatedly calling him "stupid."

Comment: Is Duterte crazy? Or crazy like a fox? He says ridiculous things, which can't really be taken seriously. But at the same time, he creates an image of himself that resonates with Filipinos (and others around the world). He has essentially created a platform for himself where he can say whatever he likes, because no one can tell what is bluster and what is serious.

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Document

Iran, world powers release nuclear docs to prove Tehran isn't cheating on deal


RFE/RL
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:35 UTC
iran nuclear facility
© epaIranian lawmakers inspect parts of the nuclear plant in Isfahan, a uranium conversion facility.
Iran and the six world powers that negotiated the 2015 landmark nuclear deal have released previously restricted documents in a bid to dispel suspicions that Tehran is cheating on the deal.

The documents were posted December 23 on the website of the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Some of the documents were dated back to January 6 of this year, just before the deal was implemented.

At the time the agreement was concluded, Iran had more than 100 kilograms of liquid or solid waste containing low-enriched uranium as part of its enrichment activities.

Some of the material remains and the newly released documents declare the low-enriched uranium it contains as "unrecoverable."

That means it can't be considered part of the 300-kilogram maximum stipulated in the deal.

Critics of the deal have watched closely for any sign that Tehran might be circumventing its restrictions.
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Attention

FBI and DHS post bulletin: Pro-ISIS groups call for attacks on holiday gatherings and churches


RT
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 17:00 UTC
Christmas decorations
© Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters / Reuters
Despite no known specific, credible threats, the FBI and the US Department of Homeland Security have warned law enforcement agencies that sympathizers of jihadist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) could strike holiday events in the US.

In a bulletin sent to US law enforcement and private security agencies, the FBI and DHS said individuals loyal to Islamic State "continue aspirational calls for attacks on holiday gatherings, including targeting churches," CNN reported Friday.

The bulletin was sent out despite the lack of any specific, known threat, federal officials said, according to CNN. However, officials did say pro-Islamic State websites have allegedly published a list of churches in the US, according to reports, although the list was already available to the public, CNN reported.
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Attention

ISIS burns 2 Turkish soldiers to death near al-Bab - after Turks/FSA fail to push forward with offensive

S. J. Prince
Heavy
Fri, 23 Dec 2016 02:01 UTC
al-bab bodies
In a new video purportedly released by the Islamic State titled "The Cross Shield," 2 soldiers with the Turkish Army are burned to death in the Aleppo countryside. The video was released on ISIS terrorist channels on December 22. Aleppo was recently retaken by the Syrian government with the help of Russia and Turkey.

The Syrian government recently retook the eastern portion of the city that had been held by Syrian rebels, not including ISIS. According to the BBC, "The Syrian government is waiting for the Aleppo evacuations to be completed before troops move into the rebel enclave and take full control of the city."

However, ISIS is still fighting Assad forces, his allies, and Turkey in the region. Al-Masdar News reports that yesterday three Turkish Army soldiers were killed and another ten others were wounded in a surprise attack claimed by the Islamic State.

Comment: Another report lists the two Turks names as Serter Taş and Fethi Şahin. Sputnik adds:
Within an hour of the release of the video, the Turkish government reportedly blocked access to social media across the entire nation.

​Two more Turkish soldiers, Kıvanç Kaşıkçı and Muhamed Duran Keskin, died by gunshot wounds to the head after terrorists captured them just last month near al-Bab, approximately 40 km northeast of Aleppo.
The attack came after the Turks and FSA tried to push further on after gaining control of some territory. ISIS launched a counter attack using VBIEDS which killed dozens and forced the rest to retreat. According to ISIS, they killed 70 Turkish soldiers and captured 2 Leopard tanks and a bulldozer, as seen in the photo above. (Follow the link to Heavy.com to see the full 19 min video.)

Update: Sefter's father has spoken to media: "My wife and children went hysterical when they heard the news. We found out that this video has been released and many neighbors came and told us about it, but we refuse to believe that it's true. We believe that our son is alive and we are praying for him." If there's one thing this tragedy will do, it will be to unify Turkish public opinion against ISIS, which may help solidify Turkish cooperation with Russia in the war on terror.

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Sheriff

Assad thanks Russia and allies for helping to liberate Aleppo


RT
Sat, 24 Dec 2016 16:45 UTC
Residents of Aleppo celebrate the liberation of their city by the Syrian army
© Omar Sanadiki / Reuters Residents of Aleppo carry their national flags and gesture as they celebrate the liberation of their city by the Syrian army.
The Syrian President, Bashar Assad, has expressed his gratitude to Vladimir Putin and the Russian people for their help in liberating Aleppo from terrorists as the two leaders talked a day after Damascus assumed full control over the city.

The phone conversation was initiated by Russia as Putin congratulated his Syrian counterpart with the conclusion of the Aleppo operation.

"The two sides discussed during the phone call the next political process in Syria, with President al-Assad thanking President Putin and Russia as a key ally for Syria which contributed along with other allies to liberating Aleppo," the Syrian state-owned news agency SANA reported.

"President Assad said victories in Aleppo paved the way for political work in Syria, adding that they will push many parties which hindered the political process to join the political track and reconciliations," the agency added.
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