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Rocket

Kerry's secret missile strike war plan for Syria

Gareth Porter
Consortium News
Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:00 UTC
ObamaKerry
© politistick.comThe faces of power. Who's war is it?
Secretary of State Kerry urged President Obama to launch secret missile attacks inside Syria without admitting the U.S. role, a plan that Obama rejected, according to a new report cited by Gareth Porter.

Jeffrey Goldberg's newly published book-length article on Barack Obama and the Middle East includes a major revelation that brings Secretary of State John Kerry's Syrian diplomacy into sharper focus: it reports that Kerry has sought on several occasions without success over the past several months to get Obama's approval for cruise missile strikes against the Syrian government.

That revelation shows that Kerry's strategy in promoting the Syrian peace negotiations in recent months was based on much heavier pressure on the Assad regime to agree that President Bashar al-Assad must step down than was apparent. It also completes a larger story of Kerry as the primary advocate in the administration of war in Syria ever since he became Secretary of State in early 2013.

Goldberg reports that "on several occasions" Kerry requested that Obama approve missile strikes at "specific regime targets," in order to "send a message" to Assad - and his international allies - to "negotiate peace." Kerry suggested to Obama that the U.S. wouldn't have to acknowledge the attacks publicly, according to Goldberg, because Assad "would surely know the missiles' return address."


Comment: Nothing says "peace" like bombing the hell out of someone, someplace.


Goldberg reports that Kerry had "recently" submitted a "written outline of new steps to bring more pressure on Assad." That is obviously a reference to what Kerry referred to in Senate testimony in February as "significant discussions" within the Obama administration on a "Plan B" to support the opposition that would be more "confrontational." Kerry made no effort in his testimony to hide the fact that he was the chief advocate of such a policy initiative.

Comment: Is Kerry a hard-nosed tool for AIPAC, a fanatic war hawk like McCain, a pathological liar like Hillary or really Obama's alter-ego? Maybe all of the above, but certainly not a diplomat. Real diplomacy and real negotiations can never come from a place of pointless provocations, unprovoked military force, deliberate destruction and reckless massacres. More of the same does not change anything - it creates war without end. But to some, it is perceived as an advantage.

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Bulb

Dutch parliament passes resolution to halt the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia


Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:58 UTC
dutch flag
© Flickr/ Colm MacCárthaigh
The Dutch parliament has passed a landmark resolution calling on the government to halt the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, accusing the Gulf kingdom of "violating international humanitarian law" as a result of its military offensive in Yemen.

The bill is the first of its kind to be passed by a European Union member state following developments in the EU parliament last month, where MEPs voted in favor of a bill demanding a complete arms embargo on Saudi Arabia.

The Dutch bill cited a UN Panel of Experts report in January, which found that 119 sorties carried out by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen had violated international law, while MPs also pointed to Riyadh's continued use of the death penalty as reasons behind the decision.

Following the passing of the bill, the government has now been asked to place a ban on all arms sales to Saudi Arabia, as well as any other exports that could violate human rights.
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Eye 2

Human Rights Watch: US support and selling of arms to Saudi Arabia makes them responsible for war crimes in Yemen


Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:50 UTC
obama
© REUTERS/ Jonathan Ernst
The United States should stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia, or they could be held accountable for war crimes committed in Yemen, Human Rights Watch said.

A Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out a military campaign in neighboring Yemen since March 2015, after large swaths of the country fell under the control of the Houthis — a religious-political extremist group hostile to the Saudis.

The Gulf kingdom, together with Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and other Middle Eastern and North African countries, initially launched a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas, as well as imposing an air and naval blockade of the country.

From the beginning, the US provided the coalition with intelligence, airborne fuel tankers and bombs. It is thought that apart from supporting its longtime ally Saudi Arabia, the Obama administration's move was a bargaining chip aimed at appeasing the Saudis over the US-Iran nuclear deal.
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Clipboard

Geneva talks: Saudi-backed 'opposition' member calls for Assad's murder, Syrian rep calls for return of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights


Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:45 UTC
jaafari
© REUTERS/ Denis BalibouseSyrian ambassador to the UN Bashar Jaafari

Comment: The Jaish al-Islam cretin Alloush needs no help exposing the Saudi-backed "Syrian opposition" as a bag of bandits and lunatics. (These are the guys that paraded Alawite civilians in cages to use as human shields in Eastern Ghouta...) In stark contrast, Syria's request is eminently reasonable: the return of the Golan Heights from arch-bandit-nation Israel.


A threat made by one of the representatives of the Riyadh-formed Syrian opposition to kill President Bashar Assad violates a number of UN Security Council resolutions, head of Damascus delegation to Geneva talks on the Syrian settlement Bashar Jaafari told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"Yesterday, the person who represents Jaysh al-Islam made an irresponsible statement in which he threatened to kill the president of Syria. He was inciting to commit a terrorist act. This is a violation of the SC resolution 2253, 2299, 2278, 1989, 1924," Jaafari said.

On Tuesday, Mohammed Alloush, a member of Jaysh al-Islam, which is part of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) opposition group, made a statement in which he threatened to kill the Syrian leader.
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Jet2

Russian strategy in Syria shows political realism works


Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:33 UTC
russian jets
© Sputnik/ Russian Defence Ministry
In Syria, Russia has demonstrated that political realism works in the twenty-first century, New York City-based political analyst Nikolay Pakhomov notes, adding that announcing the withdrawal of Russia's military contingent, President Putin "has shown, again, that he still calls the shots."

Russia's military campaign in Syria was launched in September 2015 in response to an official request from the legitimate, democratically-elected Syrian government, and it has revealed a lot about the country's foreign policy approach, writes Nikolay Pakhomov, a Russian International Affairs Council expert.

"One can argue about reasons for Russia's actions, but Moscow followed the procedures of international and domestic law. It was logical, then, that the pullout announcement was followed by the news of President Assad thanking Russia for its support... Russia's actions have shown that it is effective to deal with states according to the international law, rather than via slogans in editorial pages," Pakhomov writes in his article for The National Interest.

Summing up the results of Russia's aerial campaign in Syria, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu underscored that more than 9,000 flights have been carried out in the course of the operation.
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Dominoes

US House declares ISIS is committing genocide in Middle East


RT
Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:12 UTC
isis genocide christians
© Omar Sanadiki / Reuters
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to declare that Islamic State is committing genocide against Christians and other minority groups in Iraq and Syria, increasing pressure on the Obama administration to follow suit.

In a unanimous 393-0 vote on Monday night, the House resolution comes just days before the State Department is legally mandated by Congress to determine whether Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) persecution of minorities in Iraq and Syria - Christians, Yazidis, Sunni Kurds and Shiite Muslims - constitutes genocide.

"What is happening in Iraq and Syria is a deliberate, systematic targeting of religious and ethnic minorities. Today, the House unanimously voted to call ISIS's atrocities what they are: a genocide. We also will continue to offer our prayers for the persecuted," House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) said in a statement.

Increasingly, governments and groups from around the world have declared IS behavior as genocide, including Pope Francis, the European Parliament, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Iraqi government, and US presidential candidates.

Comment: Too bad the House of Representatives didn't take their declaration a step further and call their own government out for their responsibility in the genocide in Syria and Iraq.

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Snakes in Suits

"Operating like thugs": Independent journalist investigating UN corruption has press accreditation revoked and is banned from UN

Eva Bartlett
American Herald Tribune
Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:58 UTC
un flag
"You guys are operating like thugs. Was I causing any disturbance? Maybe you can throw me in the street—that's what the guy did, he threw me in the street and threw the computer on the ground."
From a March 10 Soundcloud clip, these were some of the words of journalist Matthew R. Lee, of Inner City Press (ICP), for the second time in a month singled out for eviction from UN premises.

Lee had covered proceedings inside the UN eight years, with Resident Correspondent Accreditation, until his sudden expulsion on February 19, 2016, when he was indeed thrown on the street, laptop thrown on the ground, by UN security.

He/ICP is one of the only media with integrity asking the needed questions at the UN, and his voice is being silenced. This latest incident follows a series of harassments starting in January 2016, when Lee was forcibly evicted from UN premises on trumped up pretexts.
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Snakes in Suits

Change in policy, or doublespeak? U.S. State Dept. says committed to "unified" Syria, will not support autonomous Kurdish zone


Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:50 UTC
kurdistan syria
© AP Photo/ Alexander Kots/Komsomolskaya Pravda via AP

Comment: Since when does Washington take the same stance as Russia and Syria? Have they changed their policy, perhaps in tandem with Russia's decision to withdraw from Syria? Or are they simply lying as usual?


US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner stated that Washington remains committed to the unity and territorial integrity of Syria.


Comment: "Remains"? Wrong word, Toner. Remains means it has always been your policy. It hasn't. Shades of 1984: "Oceania was at war with Eurasia: therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia."


The United States will not recognize a 'self-rule' semi-autonomous Kurdish zone in Syria and remains committed to the country's unity, US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner told Sputnik on Wednesday.

A representative of the Syrian Kurdistan administration told Sputnik that representatives from various Syrian peoples, including Kurds, will discuss the possibility of Syria's federalization at the Geneva reconciliation talks later on Wednesday.

"We have not and will not recognize any 'self-rule' semi-autonomous zone," Toner stated. "We remain committed to the unity and territorial integrity of Syria."

The representative explained that a joint commission of about 100 individuals plans to discuss Syria's future, including the federalization of the country.
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Yoda

China PM: Relations between Russia and China will not be affected by external pressure


RT
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:50 UTC
putin xi
© How Hwee Yong / Reuters
Relations between Beijing and Moscow will not be affected by any changes in the international situation, according to Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, adding that the two countries are strategic partners.

"China is developing relations with Russia on the principles of mutual respect and benefits," he told reporters during a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

The prime minister says the regular meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin strengthens political and economic cooperation between the two countries.

When asked about pressure from the US and other countries, the Chinese Premier said Beijing pursues an independent foreign policy and does not feel pressure from any countries.
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Pirates

Dangerous pro-Monsanto Food Labeling Law on the verge of passing the Senate

Andrew Kimbrell
Alternet
Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:52 UTC
GMO senate bill
© arindambanerjee/Shutterstock
The GOP-sponsored bill would make it difficult to know which foods are genetically engineered—unless you own a smartphone.

What would you think of a law that clearly discriminates against rural Americans, lower income Americans, minorities and the elderly? No chance of getting passed, right? Wrong. The Senate is poised to pass such a bill.

The revised Dark Act, sponsored by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), has been introduced as an amendment to S. 764, and would preempt the laws of Vermont, Connecticut, Maine and Alaska that call for the labeling of genetically engineered food and substitute an unconscionable, discriminatory alternative. The Roberts bill is so discriminatory it may be unconstitutional and a violation of equal treatment under the law.
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