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Bad Guys

Istanbul attacks: Both justification and result of Turkey's 'pivot to Russia'


Sputnik
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:04 UTC
istanbul
© Flickr/ rielax
Turkey has long been accused of helping radical groups trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, but Ankara appears to have made a U-turn and is now serious about tackling Daesh and resolving the Syrian conflict. This policy change prompted terrorists to carry out an attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Professor Hilmi Demir told Sputnik.

"Turkey has recently made a series of major steps with regard to the Syrian crisis and anti-Daesh fight," he said, citing remarks of the country's new prime minister as an example. In May, Binali Yildirim said that Turkey wanted to have more friends and needed to reduce the number of its enemies.

Turkey's previous prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has largely been viewed as the architect of Ankara's strategy on Syria that was focused on ousting al-Assad and helping Syrian rebels come to power. This approach seems to have been replaced by something completely different. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently made overtures to Moscow and Tel Aviv.


Comment: After meeting with his Russian counterpart Lavrov, Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters: "IS [Daesh] attacks Turkey because Turkey directly fights IS [Daesh], including by helping the coalition and hindering foreign terrorists. We are truly killing the ideology of this terrorist organization." He added:
"Unfortunately, the situation in Syria is not very promising, but if we work together and if a sustainable ceasefire is in place, the humanitarian situation will get better as well," Cavusoglu told reporters following talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "A political solution is the only right decision. Therefore, talks in Geneva should be resumed as soon as possible. We have agreed on close coordination with Russia on deliveries of humanitarian aid and on responding to all other challenges in Syria," he added.
Lavrov added: "We can discuss everything in the framework of our bilateral dialogue, even the most difficult issues, including the task of preventing the terrorist infiltration into Syria from abroad, the task of preventing the use of Turkish territory in support of terrorist organizations in Syria."


Comment: At this point, Turkey is closer than ever to taking the opportunity Russia has been presenting to terrorist-supporting nations in the West: "stop supporting terrorists, help us fight what you created, don't worry about fessing up to what you've done, just be part of the solution and we won't hold it against you." They have a convenient scapegoat for past blunders (Davutoglu), plenty incentives (the perceived Kurdish threat, economic downturn, loss of international support) and, presumably, tons of intel that would actually be beneficial to turn on Daesh. See SOTT's coverage of the 'pivot to Russia':

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Chess

Chinese president Xi: Military goal is to create modern, disciplined army to defend its interests


RT
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 15:13 UTC
chinese soldiers
© Bobby Yip / ReutersPeople's Liberation Army soldiers
Chinese President Xi Jinping says China needs to create a modern and disciplined army that would defeat potential opponents. The Chinese leader said Beijing had no plans to attack anyone, but would continue its policy of active defense.

Xi was speaking on the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. In a warning to potential enemies, he said that Beijing must create armed forces that are capable of defending its interests.

"Creating an army that corresponds to the international status of our country is a strategic goal," Xi stated, as cited by RIA Novosti.

"We should put together economic and defense development, modernize the army to make it contemporary and standardized... We should comprehensively promote the military reform to create an army that will be disciplined and able to win," he added.

Xi mentioned that the upgrading of China's armed forces is part of its policy of active defense and that Beijing has no plans to attack anyone.

"We will not show up at other people's front doors to flex our muscles. That does not show strength or scare anyone," he said, according to AFP.
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Bomb

British High Court rules to conduct full legal review of UK's supply of illegal weapons for Saudi Arabia's atrocities in Yemen


RT
Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:48 UTC
weapons rifles
© Phil Noble / Reuters
Campaigners are bringing the government to justice after a judicial review into British arms exports to Saudi Arabia was given the go ahead by the High Courts of Justice on Thursday.

The unprecedented decision follows a challenge by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills' decision to continue issuing licenses worth £2.8 billion to the Saudi regime.

In recent years, concerns have been raised over Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses by several human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Unlawful cluster bombs manufactured in Britain were found in Yemen last May, which the Royal Saudi Air Force is suspected of having dropped on civilian areas.

Comment: Let's assume that the UK bends to public pressure in this case. (But will they, really?) That won't change the fact that they have and still supply arms to countless dictators doing the same or worse to their own or foreign peoples. Saudi Arabia just scratches the surface of UK complicity in rape, torture, and murder. And that's not going to change any time soon.

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Snakes in Suits

US demands, Canada answers: Sending 1,000 troops to E. Europe to boost NATO presence at Russia's doorstep


RT
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:02 UTC
Canadian troops
© Kacper Pempel / Reuters
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly pledged to send 1,000 troops to Latvia to deter Russia shortly after the US President urged Canada to boost its involvement in NATO.

The soldiers are to join NATO high-readiness brigade in Eastern Europe, according to Canadian media reports.

"As a responsible partner in the world, Canada stands side by side with its NATO Allies working to deter aggression and assure peace and stability in Europe," Canada's Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a statement Thursday. "I know our men and women in uniform will represent the best that Canada has to offer."

Comment: Sending more NATO troops to Eastern Europe is meant to increase security? Oh yeah, war is peace.

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Info

Ramping up: 250 more British troops sent into Iraq


RT
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 11:56 UTC
Brotish soldier
© Ian Waldie / Reuters
Britain is ramping up its operations in Iraq by sending a further 250 troops to the war-torn state in a bid to crush the Islamic State terror group (IS, Daesh, formerly ISIS/ISIL).

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon had ordered 50 troops to the country in training roles accompanied by a squadron of engineers and a unit to protect airfields.

Fallon told the Telegraph: "Iraqi forces have Daesh [IS] on the back foot and are retaking territory, hitting its finances and striking its leadership.
"This deployment will help the Iraqi forces to build on this success and push them back further."
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Eye 1

UK elite using Brexit to remove Corbyn from power

Borislav (Translator)
South Front
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:24 UTC
Jeremy Corbyn
Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn MP
The political upheavals marked by Brexit, also griped the shadow Labour government. 172 members of the British opposition party voted that their leader, Jeremy Corbyn, be removed from office in an internal vote of no confidence, which was held on June 28. This means that 81% of the MPs from the Labour Party lowered their trust credit for the eccentric of the British political scene, known for his rebellious character and principles.

Although Corbyn was accused by his colleagues for leading a "lackluster" campaign that failed to convince more supporters to vote to remain in the UK in the European Union, the Labour leader has categorically stated that he has no intention to resign. According to the majority of MPs failure of their campaign is due to their traditional voters, giving their votes for the Eurosceptic Conservatives, led by Boris Johnson, as well as nationalists who blindly follow populist Nigel Farage.

Corbyn's reason to lightly overlook the results of the no confidence vote lightly is that because his colleagues choice doesn't have a rational legitimacy. "Ever since I was elected leader of the party 9 months ago, we are having constant victories vs the government's attacks against the standard of living," he said, adding that last month the Labour Party became first political force within local elections.

The dramatic coup attempt was largely known about. The rebellion against Corbyn began on Sunday with a series of resignations that in no time swelled to more than 50. One reason for the looming discontent in the opposition party was the dismissal of Foreign Minister in shadow, Hilary Benn. While considering Corbyn to be a good man, he announced that their leader can not manage the party and bring it to victory in parliamentary elections. For his part, Corbyn suspected that it was Benn who tried to lead an internal rebellion against him.

Comment: Further reading: SOTT Exclusive: Brexit's main goals: Oust Jeremy Corbyn and expand predatory capitalism in Europe

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Pirates

US-protected jihadists bomb UN humanitarian convoy in Syria


RT
Fri, 01 Jul 2016 10:32 UTC
Jaysh al Islam terrorist Syria
© RT
Militants from an Al-Qaeda-linked group, Jaysh al-Islam, have shelled a UN humanitarian convoy near Damascus, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Despite the group's repeated ceasefire violations, the UN rejected Russia's bid to add it to the terror list.

"Insurgents of the Jaysh al-Islam grouping, which had claimed to belong to the [Syrian] opposition, carried out shelling of the UN humanitarian convoy in [the area of] Eastern Harasta [Damascus province]," the ministry said in a statement.

The driver of a rented vehicle, which was delivering aid, was "severely wounded," it added.

According to the ministry, the terrorists of Jaysh al-Islam also attacked positions of the Syrian armed forces with mortars in the villages of Arbil and Jaubar.

Comment: Further reading: New U.S. offer to 'cooperate' with Russia in Syria: Deception and obfuscation

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Green Light

EU protected Chechen suspected of planning Istanbul attacks


RT
Thu, 30 Jun 2016 02:43 UTC
istanbul
© Murad Sezer / ReutersForensic experts work outside Turkey's largest airport, Istanbul Ataturk, Turkey, following a blast, June 28, 2016.
A Chechen national suspected of being the mastermind behind the deadly Istanbul airport terrorist attack, earlier received refugee status in Austria, which helped him to repeatedly avoid extradition to Russia on terror charges.

The fatal attack on the Istanbul airport that took lives of 44 people and left more than 230 injured was allegedly organized by Ahmed Chataev, a Russian citizen of Chechen origin, who joined Islamic State (IS, former ISIS/ISIL) in 2015 and now fights in Syria, Turkish media report, citing police sources.

Chataev was assigned a leading role in training extremists that would then commit terrorist attacks in both Russia and Western Europe, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee Andrey Przhezdomsky said, adding that, in Syria, Chataev also commands a unit consisting "primarily of immigrants from the North Caucasus," Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported earlier this year.

Comment: Quite the career! Chechnya, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Syria... The Turks are saying the Istanbul attackers were from Dagestan (Russia), Kyrgystan, and Uzbekistan. Whether these allegations are true or not, they sure paint a picture. Central Asia and the Caucasus have been the heart of Gladio B, and Chataev's career screams 'Gladio B operative'. (Check out the Porkins Great Game podcast for regular news on developments in Central Asia and Gladio B.) By releasing this information, is Turkey (and Russia?) subtly pointing the finger at the real terror masterminds?

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Chess

The motivation for Turkey's rapprochement towards Israel and Russia? Realpolitik

David Barchard
Middle East Eye
Tue, 28 Jun 2016 01:06 UTC
Turkey israel relations
© Agence France-PresseA billboard on a main street by the Ankara municipality to thank the then Turkish Prime Minister, currently President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reads: "We are grateful to you" in Ankara, on 25 March, 2013, three days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey over the death of nine Turkish citizens on board a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010.
This agreement is dictated on both sides by realpolitik, with Turkey's need for energy and Israel needing an export route for its gas

Turkey and Israel have agreed to bury their differences after a bitter dispute froze their relations for six years and have normal diplomatic relations, including ambassadors in each other's capitals.

Given the long-standing public distaste of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Israel, and Turkish support for the people of Gaza, the news marks a massive policy turnaround. But it has been in the making for a while. To soften any shock, news of the deal - some pro-government papers are even using the word "reconciliation" - between Turkey and Israel was signalled well in advance of its announcement on Sunday evening. President Erdogan also phoned the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, on Sunday to give him advance news of the agreement.

News of negotiations between Turkey and Israel has in fact been emerging steadily since late last year, with reports that despite their differences, they had discovered that they needed each other as both regional and energy partners.
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Briefcase

US-backed rebels seize 10k+ ISIS documents outside Syrian Manbij


RT
Thu, 30 Jun 2016 23:52 UTC
syria manbij documents turkey
The US-backed rebels have seized piles of propaganda leaflets, maps and cellphones as they push to recapture the Syrian city of Manbij. A batch of more than 10,000 documents also contains textbooks, laptops, and digital storage devices.

"Exploitation of this information is ongoing to better understand [Islamic State] networks and techniques, including the systems [used] to manage the flow of foreign fighters into Syria and Iraq," the US-led anti-ISIS campaign's spokesman, Colonel Chris Garver, said Wednesday.

Fighting alongside the Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC), the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been gaining ground around ISIS-held northern Syrian city of Manbij. It is located the crucial terrorist supply route linking Turkey to Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa,

Comment: More information from FarsNews Agency:
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have found a series of documents in the Russian language in a newly-liberated position in Manbij in Northeastern Aleppo that prove close cooperation of the ISIL with the Turkish traders, informed sources said Wednesday.

"As soon as capturing and cleansing Manbij silos, the SDF fighter found the house of a senior Russian commander of the ISIL," the sources said, adding, "The SDF found further a series of secret documents, including bill of lading, proforma invoice and other financial documents, that show the ISIL had imported a large number of items from Turkey."

"Based on these documents, the Turkish trading company of Anvar Kargo Firma in Gaziantep was involved in exports of various kinds of goods to the ISIL-held regions in Syria," the sources went on to say.

"In the meantime, the documents show that Anvar company had been exporting its cargos to ISIL-held city of Mosul in Iraq," they further added.

The secret reports of the Turkish police indicated on Tuesday that the Al-Nusra Front and ISIL terrorists used Turkey's both legal and illegal border crossings to transfer weapons and ammunition to Syria.

"Certain elements linked to terrorists in Syria are still shipping weapons and supplying their logistics from Turkey," the Turkish-language daily, Karshi, cited a police report to the country's public prosecutor about its operations in the city of Diyarbakir.

The newspaper, meantime, said that certain communities also provided financial supports for the terrorists fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

The daily also said the Al-Nusra and ISIL terrorist groups established bases in Turkey to train recruits, adding that many explosive devices were even manufactured and assembled on Turkish soils.
Russia has accepted Turkey's apology for the shoot down of her jetfighter last last November and has begun restoring relations between the two countries. Cutting off support for IS and prosecuting the companies that trade with the terror group would show that Erdogan is serious.

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