Puppet MastersS


Attention

Beijing holds surprise South China Sea navy drills in response to US patrols


RT
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 18:00 UTC
Chinese navy
© AFP
China's navy is gearing up for drills near the disputed islands in the South China Sea, less than a week after a US guided-missile destroyer sailed through the waters where Beijing asserted sovereignty in what US called a 'freedom of navigation' patrol.

The announcement of an exercise to be held in parts of the South China Sea was posted on China's Maritime Safety Administration website.

Without disclosing the details of the drills, the maritime authority provided the coordinates for the maneuvers, which are planned for Thursday. It also ordered civilian vessels to stay away from the waters just south of Hainan island and northwest of the disputed island chain in the South China Sea.
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Attention

U.S./al-Qaeda attacks school in Idlib, reportedly kills 22 kids, 6 teachers - blames Russia and Syria


RT
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 17:37 UTC
idlib school
© Omar haj kadour / AFPA Syrian man checks the damage at a school after it was hit in an alleged air strike in the village of Hass, in the south of Syria's rebel-held Idlib province on October 26, 2016.
Almost two dozen children have reportedly been killed in an airstrike on a school complex in Syria's Idlib province, according to opposition activists. The reports emerged as the UN Security Council debated the dire humanitarian situation in the country.

At least 28 civilians, mostly children, were killed when the strikes hit a school complex in the village of Hass, the activists said, pinning the blame on either Russian or Syrian warplanes.

The Wednesday tragedy was first reported by the controversial two-man, London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Western-funded Civil Defense Network, also known as the White Helmets. The opposition Idlib Media Center also confirmed a strike on a school, claiming a "rocket" struck the premises.


Comment: Red flag number one. Abdulrahman (aka SOHR) is a fraud and a terrorist sympathizer (see: Propaganda spin cycle: 'Syrian Observatory for Human Rights' is funded by US and UK governments). The White Helmets have the distinction of being actual terrorists (see: White Helmets Fraud: Terrorist Support Group, Not Humanitarians - But West Loves Them!). They are liars, cheats, frauds, and killers.



Comment: The Russian Foreign Ministry explicitly denied carrying out an airstrike on the school. Maria Zakharova: "This is a lie. Russia has nothing to do with this dreadful attack." The Defense Ministry followed up with their own statement, which unlike the paranoid ravings of SOHR and the White Helmets, actually included some evidence:
"On Thursday, a Russian UAV was directed to the area, to conduct detailed digital photography," said a statement from Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov. "As can be seen from the photos taken by the drone, there are no signs of damage to the roof of the school, or craters from airstrikes around it."

"We have analyzed the photo and video 'evidence' of the supposed attack. The video published in a range of Western media outlets appears to consist of more than 10 different shots, filmed at different times of the day, and in different resolutions that were edited into a single clip," stated Konashenkov.

"The photograph published by AFP shows that only one wall of the school is damaged, and all the desks inside the classroom are in place. The outer fence seen through the hole has no traces of damage from bomb fragments. In a genuine airstrike this is physically impossible - the furniture would have been swept away by the blast wave, and there would have been damage marks on the classroom wall and the outer fence."
idlib school
© Russian Defense Ministry
"Our evidence points to UNICEF falling victim to another scam from the White Helmet fraudsters. Before making resonant statements, UNICEF should check its sources more carefully, to protect the reputation of the respected organization," continued Konashenkov.
In addition, just as with the humanitarian aid convoy attack, Russian recon detected a U.S. drone in the area at the time of the attack:
No Russian aircraft entered the area over the Syrian Idlib, where the alleged strike took place, [Konashenkov said]. "According to a photo made by a Russian UAV, the school's roof is not damaged and there are no bomb craters in the area near the school. Similar information may be requested from our American colleagues. Russian reconnaissance means registered a US' MQ-1B Predator surveillance-and-attack drone."


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Info

Russia aware Syrian militants continue receiving US-made anti-aircraft systems


RT
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 17:39 UTC
manpads
© Reuters
Militant groups in Syria were supplied with US-made man-portable surface-to-air missiles, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that the West's actions in Syria look like an attempt to render assistance to terrorists.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, said during a news briefing, is aware of "militants [in Syria] receiving US-manufactured man-portable air-defense systems," adding that "Jihadists operating in the Aleppo region continue to be supplied with arms and ammunition."


Comment: Dara'a area terrorist groups receive large supplies of portable anti-aircraft missiles from neighboring Arab countries


Zakharova also mentioned the alleged plans of the US to supply the 'moderates' with heavy weapons and expressed hope that the US would eventually scrap the plans. "We hope that... realistic and rational consideration will prevail over reckless schemes that could lead to unpredictable consequences," she said, adding at the same time that this information had not been yet confirmed and the ministry did not know the final decision of the US administration.

Comment: Bringing an official document to the UNSC is a good idea but probably won't stop the anti-Russia rhetoric nor the US drive to keep the Syrian situation destabilized.

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Take 2

Propaganda disguised as entertainment: Hollywood consumed by US government's anti-Russian campaign

Danielle Ryan
RT
Wed, 26 Oct 2016 14:15 UTC
hollywood propaganda, CIA propaganda films
© Sony Pictures Entertainment / YouTube
For years the influence of the CIA in Hollywood was hidden and unacknowledged. Now it's more of an open secret; not publicized, but pretty easy to read up on if you care. Just ask the spy agency's Entertainment Industry Liaison.

Yes, such a thing really exists.

You see, the CIA's man in Hollywood wants to help actors, authors, directors, producers and screenwriters "gain a better understanding" of the intelligence agency in order to ensure "accurate portrayals" of its activities. It even wants to help fire up the neurons and actually give you some good ideas if you're coming up short in that department. Indeed, the CIA provides "inspiration for future storylines" and lists them on its website. Of course, it's all in the interest of creating authentic and balanced portrayals of US intelligence agencies and the US military. And they're quite busy, too. Between 2006 and 2011, the CIA public relations office had input into at least 22 film and movie projects.

In a column for the Washington Post in 2011, David Sirota noted that the Pentagon too enlists the help of Hollywood for PR purposes when things are going awry and Americans are becoming weary of war. Movies like Top Gun in the 1980s and Zero Dark Thirty more recently were made in consultation with the Pentagon and White House. The result of this "creative input for Pentagon assistance" bargain created an entertainment culture "rigged to produce relatively few anti-war movies and dozens of blockbusters that glorify the military" and which amounts to "government subsidized propaganda," Sirota wrote.

Comment:

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Attention

'Rebel' snipers shoot at 40 civilians trying to flee Aleppo while Russia facilitates large-scale humanitarian efforts


RT
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 17:19 UTC
aleppo
© Abdalrhman Ismail / Reuters
Terrorists in eastern Aleppo opened sniper fire on around 40 civilians who were trying to escape the rebel-controlled area of the city, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced, confirming that no airstrikes have been conducted in the area for nine days.

"Because of the sniper fire from the militants, another attempt of the Syrian authorities and the Russian reconciliation center to evacuate around 40 people from eastern districts of Aleppo to safe regions of the city was derailed," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday, adding that the incident happened overnight.

The general also said that Russian and Syrian planes have stayed at least 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away from Aleppo for nine days, after the sorties were halted on October 18.

Comment: On the 24th, 48 people managed to get out of Aleppo. Here's some footage of those who made it to freedom:


Murad Gazdiev continues his on-the-ground reporting from Aleppo. In his latest, he speaks to Emenour, Aleppo's only female taxi driver, about life before the war.




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Stock Up

Economic upgrade: Russia receives multiple endorsements for rapidly improving business conditions

Alexander Mercouris
The Duran
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 16:35 UTC
russian bank
© UPI.com

Successful eurobond sale in September, credit upgrade by Fitch, and sharp improvement in World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking, all confirm effectiveness of Russian government's economic policies, amidst strengthening recovery.

As economic recovery in Russia continues to gain hold, Russia has received authoritative endorsement both for its successful macroeconomic policies and for its rapidly improving business conditions.

The US credit rating agency Fitch on 14th October 2016 upgraded Russia's rating from BBB- (negative) to BBB- (stable).

Normally I pay no attention to ratings decisions by US credit rating agencies, which have been proved repeatedly wrong, and which in Russia's case are blatantly politicised.

Back in 2015, during the worst period of the recession, I pointed out how obviously and completely wrong the decisions of the US credit rating agencies to downgrade Russia's credit rating at that time were.

The market clearly agrees with me. Fitch's Russia rating is only just investment grade, whilst those of S&P and Moody's actually give Russia a junk rating. In spite of this - and as I predicted - Russia's last eurobond issue in September was six times oversubscribed, with almost the entirety of the issue on this occasion sold to US investors. Even the Western financial media has been finally forced to admit that Russia's latest eurobond issue was a success.

Comment: Russian economy on the rise

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Chart Pie

Lesson learned? Goldman Sachs says not to expect "Brexit-type surprise" on Nov. 8

Jeff Cox
CNBC
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 17:02 UTC
Killary and Trump
© Daniel Acker-Bloomberg/Getty Images
With their candidate lagging in most of the major polls, Donald Trump's supporters are hoping the election holds a surprise akin to June's Brexit vote.

Goldman Sachs, though, believes the chances of a Nov. 8 surprise in the U.S. are remote.

The two races differ in several key ways, Goldman economist Alec Phillips said, diminishing the possibility of a repeat where polling incorrectly suggested that Britons would vote to stay in the European Union.

"We think the situation is different for two reasons. First, and most importantly, while both situations represented an opportunity for voters to endorse a change in the status quo, voters in the U.K. were asked to decide on an idea whereas in the U.S. they are being asked to decide on a person," Phillips said in a note to clients Wednesday. "Second, the polls are simply not as close in the current presidential contest as they were ahead of the U.K. referendum."

On the first point, Phillips obviously is correct. The second, though, isn't as clear.

Comment: Two possibilities stand out: 1) The puppet masters have learned their lesson from Brexit. In other words, when rigging an election, don't underestimate the number of people who will actually vote the 'wrong' way. If you think you can swing 10% of the vote in your favor when you need 20-30%, you're going to fail, leading to an unexpected and undesired outbreak of actual democracy. 2) Goldman Sachs is just as myopic as their anti-Brexit peers. U.S. voters are not just voting for a person. For many, voting for Trump really is voting for an idea (rightly or wrongly). Even though he's a moron, Michael Moore captured this sentiment quite well:


In other words, it's possible Goldman Sachs have started believing their own propaganda and the data from their media partners' fake polls. If so, they may be in for a bigger surprise than they expected.

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Snakes in Suits

Wallonia caves in? Belgium reaches secret EU-Canada trade deal compromise


RT
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 16:45 UTC
Minister-President of Wallonia Paul Magnette
© Yves Herman / Reuters
The Belgian government has reached a deal with the Wallonia region on the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, according to Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.

Michel said "an agreement" was found after a last minute round of negotiations with Belgium's French-speaking community who have been holding up the deal.

Brussels has not released the details of the compromise.

The signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) was cancelled on Thursday after the deal was blocked by Wallonia's regional parliament.


Comment: Belgium's Wallonia region defying EU Junker's CETA trade deal


Comment: There is still another hurdle for the CETA deal: Breaking: Constitutional challenge filed in Canada's Federal Court against CETA trade agreement

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Snakes in Suits

Crazy talk Boris Johnson: 'If Britain doesn't arm the Saudis, others happily will'


RT
Thu, 27 Oct 2016 16:19 UTC
Yemen building destruction
© Khaled Abdullah / Reuters
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson claims if Britain did not sell arms to Saudi Arabia, other countries "would happily" take over the market.

Johnson insisted the government is closely monitoring the situation in Yemen, where Saudi forces have been accused of war crimes over the course of their 19-month military intervention.

He said boycotting the sale of arms to Riyadh would harm British interests in the region and diminish its diplomatic and political influence.

Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has called for an independent UN-led investigation into allegations of war crimes in Yemen, and the suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia while the inquiry takes place.

Comment: This is like saying it is better to be a war criminal and make money than forgo the money and not be a participant of war crimes. The damage has already been committed so why stop now?

Johnson's logic is the logic of hegemony: if we don't dominate the world, somebody else will.

But is that necessarily so? Or is that projection from a mindset that is facing an existential crisis?

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Briefcase

Podesta's brother Tony is a foreign agent for Saudi Arabia

Claire Bernish
Free Thought Project
Wed, 26 Oct 2016 16:06 UTC
tony podesta
© podesta.com
Tony Podesta — brother of the now-disgraced Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, whose files Wikileaks has been publishing — is not only a powerful Democratic Party lobbyist, but a registered foreign agent receiving a hefty monthly paycheck from the nefarious government of Saudi Arabia.

No — as tinfoil-hat conspiracy theorist as it might sound — that scenario is the absolute truth.

In 1988, John and Tony Podesta formed the Podesta Group and have used their bigwig party-insider status to lobby and influence government policies — while, at various times, simultaneously holding positions of power — which has created a number of glaring conflicts of interest.

According to the March 2016 filing made in accordance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, Tony Podesta is an active foreign agent of the Saudi government with the "Center for Studies and Media Affairs at the Saudi Royal Court," and acts as an officer of the Saudi Arabia account.

Comment: More from the Podesta front:

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