Puppet MastersS


Question

Can newly elected 81-year old Michel Aoun invigorate Lebanon?

Martin Jay
RT
Tue, 01 Nov 2016 15:43 UTC
Newly elected Lebanese president Michel Aoun
© Aziz Taher / ReutersNewly elected Lebanese president Michel Aoun sits on the president's chair inside the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut, Lebanon October 31, 2016.
After two years of no president and a caretaker government, Lebanon has elected itself a Christian warlord as president. Few hold out much hope for great change in the country, but his approach might ease regional tensions in Syria and Yemen.

Michel Aoun is a man who inspires an entire generation of middle-aged men to grasp the nettle and embrace their 50s. At a remarkable 81-years old, the General reached the pinnacle of his career through the army ranks to finally become Lebanon's president after a vacuum of over two years. He also sets a new standard geopolitically by being the first to really wear his Hezbollah colors on his sleeve.

In Lebanon the cat is out of the bag. It has taken one small step to becoming a country run by the Iranian-backed Shia group.
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Light Sabers

Russian MoD: NATO building up offensive capabilities near Russia's border, Moscow will take reciprocal measures


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:45 UTC
nato troops europe
© Ints Kalnins / ReutersU.S. troops make a stop during tactical road march Dragoon Ride II near Subate, Latvia, June 6, 2016
The US and NATO are building up their offensive capabilities on the Western borders of Russia and its ally Belarus, prompting Moscow to take reciprocal measures, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu told the two countries' top military brass.

"Those actions undermine strategic stability and are forcing Russia to take reciprocal defensive measures, including some in the Western theatre," the defense minister said.

NATO "has not abandoned attempts to dictate its will to other countries through economic and political means, as well as by military force," he said, noting that "an information war is in full swing."

Confronted with a complex security environment, Russia and Belarus will join forces to strengthen their mutual security, Shoigu added.

"Advanced bilateral cooperation and a common stance on major global and regional security challenges allow us to successfully tackle strengthening our defense capabilities," he stressed, adding that this approach appears to be necessary at this point, "as international crisis response mechanisms have stalled, while hotspots are already near our borders."
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Eye 2

'Nowhere in Aleppo is safe': Western-backed terrorists shelling gov't held areas forcing residents to flee


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:40 UTC
aleppo
Aleppo is witnessing some of the heaviest fighting it's seen since the start of the Syrian war, as militants entrenched in the eastern part of the city are shelling government-held areas to the west. Residents are fleeing, saying nowhere in Aleppo is safe.

RT's Murad Gazdiev spoke to people fleeing the besieged city and those who have decided to stay regardless of the daily shelling.

One local resident told RT that rockets and bombs are falling all around the city. "The house over there was hit by Grad rockets the terrorists were supplied with. There is no safe place in Aleppo,"he said.

Another local said that he and his family are not leaving Aleppo, but are going to a safer place in another district. "We would not leave Aleppo whatever happened. We are proud to stay here in our motherland because we have one life and one God,"he added.

Most of the city's residents are fleeing further into the city to stay with their relatives or in hotels.
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Bad Guys

Japan hits back at Russia over Kuril Islands dispute, restricts financing for Russian companies and financial institutions


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:31 UTC
kuril islands
© Ekaterina Chesnokova / SputnikKunashir Island of the Greater Kuril Ridge
The government-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has extended restrictions on independent financing to Russian companies and financial institutions.

JBIC said the restrictions are aimed at avoiding contravening US and EU sanctions against Moscow. However, the announcement comes a day after Russia reasserted its sovereignty over the Kuril Islands.

During an official visit to Tokyo on Tuesday, the head of Russia's Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko said Moscow was not going to give up any of the disputed Pacific islands to Japan, adding that Russia is considering projects with Japan on the territory.

The territorial dispute remains the biggest unresolved issue between Russia and Japan. The countries have not reached a compromise over the four southern Kuril Islands and did not sign a peace treaty after World War II.

Comment: See also:

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Network

Turkey and Russia considering free trade agreement by 2017


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:22 UTC
Novorossiysk
© Sergey Venyavsky / SputnikBlack Sea port of Novorossiysk in Russia
Ankara is considering entering into a free trade agreement with Russia as soon as next year, Turkish Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci told RIA Novosti.

The two countries want to restore trade and economic relations following a dispute over the downing of a Russian jet last year.

"Considering the process of normalization in our relations with Russia and the possibility of signing a free trade agreement in 2017, we expect growth in all the areas of the economy and trade," said the minister.

He added the sides will continue to discuss trade in national currencies - the Turkish lira and the Russian ruble. "That will ensure mutual trade and expand its capabilities," said Tufenkci.
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Mail

WikiLeaks releases 26th batch of #PodestaEmails from Killary campaign chair


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:12 UTC
hillary clinton
© Brian Snyder / ReutersThe celebration may be ending soon.
Wikileaks has released a new tranche of correspondence from the hacked email account of Hillary Clinton's campaign chair, John Podesta.

The latest release consists of over 1,100 emails. More than 43,000 emails have now been published by the whistleblowing site, which has pledged to make public a total of 50,000 in the run up to next week's US presidential election.

Tuesday's email release divulged more details on the Clinton team's reaction to her email server scandal and gave further insight into its relationship with the MSM.

'Keep this whole enterprise under wraps'

An email from early September 2008 outlines how Google helped President Barack Obama's transition team to set up 'secure data rooms' for sharing information such as "policy promises, as well as legal documents like expense reimbursements and contribution forms".

The email from Obama aide Chris Lu, who is currently the deputy Secretary of Labor, explains how the "data rooms" can be accessed by staff - and emphasizes the importance of maintaining secrecy over their discussions.
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Magnify

Puppet on a string: Top UK diplomat during Blair term admits Britain had zero influence during US-led Iraq War


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:07 UTC
dubya blair
© Kevin Lamarque / ReutersU.S. President George W. Bush (L) and British Prime Minister Tony Blair walk together from their meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, February 22, 2005
Despite wishing to appear as America's top ally, Britain exerted no influence whatsoever over US aims in Iraq and merely ended up being a "second class" partner with no say in planning or policymaking, according to one of the UK's most senior diplomats.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, a former UK ambassador to the UN, sets out his arguments in a new book titled 'Iraq: the Cost of War' and a lengthy interview with the Guardian.

The book had been due for publication in 2005 but was held back for more than 10 years after complaints by Jack Straw - the controversial Blair-era foreign secretary who was criticized in the Chilcot report into the Iraq War.

"We were in the second-class carriage not driving the engine," Greenstock said, arguing that US authorities viewed the Iraq invasion as "an American project in every sense that mattered and only Americans - and the right Americans at that - were qualified to conduct it."
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Stop

Obama trade chief says TPP may still pass Congress after elections - how convenient


RT
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 14:51 UTC
stop TTP
© Mark Kauzlarich / Reuters
Although TPP has lost traction on Capitol Hill, a US trade chief indicates the 12-nation trade deal may still pass Congress after Presidential elections, despite strong opposition from both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

"It's up to the congressional leadership to decide to bring it forward. If they [House and Senate leaders] bring it forward, I think we can get the votes there," US Trade Representative Michael Froman told CNBC Tuesday. "This trade agreement eliminates 18,000 taxes on our exports. And members of Congress are starting to see that."

The Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, agreement would bridge markets between a dozen nations - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam. Signed in February 2016, the deal requires ratification in each country.

Comment: Read more on TTP:

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Bad Guys

Terrorists groups in Aleppo spotted with newly supplied Turkish weapons


Geopol Monitor
Sun, 30 Oct 2016 00:00 UTC
ahrar al-sham militants
Following the announcement of a counter-offensive against the Syrian army and allies, terrorist groups spotted with new, state-sponsored weapons.

Terrorist groups in Aleppo are using newly supplied foreign weapons in their counter-offensive against the Syrian army and its allies.

Recently published online videos show Ahrar al-Sham, designated a terrorist organisation by multiple countries, carrying Turkish HAR-66 anti-tank rocket launchers - Turkey's variant of the US made M72 LAW.

On Thursday, militant groups including internationally-designated terrorist organisations, launched an offensive against the Syrian army an its allies in Aleppo. Mobile telecommunication and the internet connections stopped working since as militants gather in the south-west of the city.
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Snakes in Suits

#PodestaEmails expose Dept. of Justice's Peter Kadzik colluding with Podesta, Killary campaign

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 14:36 UTC
Peter Kadzik Podesta wikileaks
© C-SPAN3Peter Kadzik, Department of Justice assistant attorney general for Legislative Affairs
They ADMITTED It ...

On Monday we were the first to note that Podesta's friend Peter Kadzik was the DOJ representative chosen to head up a "thorough" review of the new Huma Abedin emails as revealed by a letter he wrote to Congress. Given Kadzik's personal relationship with Podesta, it seemed like a "convenient" choice for the Clinton campaign.
In the letter to Congress, the DOJ writes that it "will continue to work closely with the FBI and together, dedicate all necessary resources and take appropriate steps as expeditiously as possible," assistant attorney General Peter J. Kadzik writes in letters to House and Senate lawmakers.
"Ironically", that is the same Peter Kadzik who has proven his "impartiality" in multiple WikiLeaks emails including this newly released bombshell in which Kadzik provides a very helpful "heads up" about Hillary's email server investigation.

Perhaps Mr. Kadzik could explain for our readers why this particular message was delivered via gmail rather than his official DOJ email account?
wikileak DOJ Peter Kadzik
Sure, who needs an independent investigator...this guy will do just fine.
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