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Russia plans permanent naval facility upgrade in Syrian port of Tartus


RT
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 15:09 UTC
Russia's nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky navy sailors at Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus
© Grigoriy Sisoev / SputnikRussia's nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky navy sailors at Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus.
The Russian military plans to expand its supply base in Syria into a fully-fledged permanent naval base. The Russian facility in Tartus has long been used to resupply Russian warships during Mediterranean Sea missions.

"We are going to have a permanent Navy base in Tartus. We have prepared the paperwork, which is now being reviewed by other government agencies. The documents are pretty much ready, so we hope to submit them to you for ratification soon," General Nikolay Pankov, deputy defense minister responsible for communication with other parts of the Russian government, told the Federation Council, Russia's senate.

The upgraded base would have comprehensive defense systems and other capabilities, which the current supply post does not have, Leonid Slutsky, the chair of the State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, told Rossiya 24 news TV.

"It will have not only docking facilities, but also a command and control system, an air defense system. A naval base needs to be able to defend itself and all its infrastructure," he said. "Of course it would have anti-submarine defense capabilities."
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Post-It Note

In a presidential debate designed to give a 'voice' to the people, the moderators hijack the show

Kyle Smith
New York Post
Sun, 09 Oct 2016 14:59 UTC
Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz
Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz
Last night was a vivid, real-time illustration of how the media think of the American people: "We're really interested in how you think! So, please, come in, sit down and . . . let the professionals ask the questions."

Man of the people Anderson Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt, and Martha Raddatz, who had President Obama as a guest at her wedding, must have panicked when ordinary Americans invited to what was billed as a town hall debate in St. Louis didn't ask the questions they were supposed to ask.

Bizarrely, the people were interested in substantive policy questions rather than in doing what the moderators wanted them to do, which was to make like Tom Cruise grilling Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men."

Comment: The people don't have a voice and voting makes no difference.

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Jet1

South Korea readying for nuclear strike against the North in case of attack, says Defense Ministry


Sputnik
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 15:04 UTC
South Korea military
© Reuters/ Kim Ju-sung/Yonhap
South Korea's military is ready to launch a nuclear strike against the North in case of an imminent attack, a Defense Ministry spokesman said Monday.

South Korean military officials told local media last week they were on high alert amid what looked like preparations for another nuclear test or a missile launch north of the border. Defense Ministry's Moon Sang-gyun told reporters at a press briefing in Seoul that the North appeared to be readying for another provocation as it marks an important public holiday on Monday, as quoted by Yonhap news agency.

North Korea is celebrating the 71st anniversary of the ruling Workers Party. Pyongyang often uses important dates as a pretext for showing off its military power.

Comment: South Korea wouldn't have put out such a statement all on its own. The US is just as responsible for instigating tensions between the regions as North Korea is.

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Info

Oil prices surge on Putin saying Russia ready to support OPEC production freeze or even cut


RT
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 15:02 UTC
Russian President Vladimir Putin
© Ruptly
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will join the deal to cut global crude output. Oil prices gained over three percent after the announcement on Monday with Brent crude reaching $53 per barrel and WTI above $51.

"We support the recent initiative of OPEC to fix oil production limits. We hope that at the OPEC meeting in November, the idea will be embodied in an official agreement, giving a positive signal to the markets and investors," said Putin at the World Energy Congress in Istanbul on Monday.

The Russian President added that the era of oil and gas will not come to an end in foreseeable future.

"The demand for traditional energy supported not only the motorization and electrification of such huge countries and economies as China and India, but also by the continuing participation of oil and gas products in the most diverse areas of human life, in industrial processes," he said.

Comment: Whether intentional or not, nothing like a little jawboning to get oil prices up.

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Play

South Front: Russia to take down any airplane or missile targeting Syrian army, US aircraft included


South Front
Fri, 07 Oct 2016 14:39 UTC
south front
Using the Russian and Syrian air power, the Syrian Arab Army and its allies took the opportunity to make further advances in Aleppo city. The loyalist seized over a half of the Bustan al-Pasha neighborhood, including the Sport Complex, the Science school, the Housing institution and other buildings in the areas located on the way to Hellok.


(YouTube version)


The army and Hezbollah also took full control of the Suleiman al-Halabi Neighborhood and set fire control of al-Sakhoor roundabout. The government forces also expanded in northern Aleppo and secured fire control over the quarries southwest of al-Bureij.

Most of the damage done by terrorist factions in Aleppo appears to be against the civilian populace, with 8 civilians killed and 55 wounded after rebels recently shelled the al-Jamiliyah neighborhood.

Jund al-Aqsa promised to cease their participation in the Hama campaign against the government forces if Ahrar al-Sham continued 'aggressions' against them. Amongst the reported claims leveled by Jund al-Aqsa is that Ahrar al-Sham is in collusion with the Islamic State.

Comment: Comment: Bonus video from South Front: The West Plays Catch Up to Counter the Armata



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Wall Street

No deal reached on fined Deutsche Bank with US regulators


RT
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:40 UTC
Deutsche Bank building and stop light
© Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
Deutsche Bank has failed to reach an agreement with the US regulators over the $14 billion fine for alleged mis-selling of mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis.

A meeting in Washington, attended by Deutsche CEO John Cryan, was expected to resolve the fine imposed by the US Department of Justice following an investigation into the business activities of Germany's biggest bank.

Cryan is trying to have the $14 billion fine reduced. The amount is almost as big as the bank's market value. Talks are expected to continue, according to the bank.

Comment: An in depth article on Deutsche Bank: Deutsche Bank crises: Europe's ticking time bomb

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Stormtrooper

Boots on the ground: Are UK special forces preparing for chemical warfare ahead of assault on Mosul, Iraq?


RT
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:26 UTC
British soldiers with gas masks
© MOD / AFP
Troops from the British infantry and SAS have been kitted out with chemical warfare equipment ahead of an all-out assault on the Islamic State-held Iraqi city of Mosul, according to reports.

While the Ministry of Defence is being cagey about the rumors, reports suggest that soldiers from the Rifles infantry regiment are in Iraq and have been issued with special anti-chemical warfare equipment.

A 'boots on the ground' combat deployment would be highly controversial if publicly acknowledged, with even training duties in the region stirring up public anger in the wake of the disastrous Iraq occupation.
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Bad Guys

Any US-led coalition attack against the Syrian Army is a violation of international law


Sputnik
Sun, 09 Oct 2016 14:27 UTC
Sergei Lavrov
© ITAR-TASS/Anton NovoderezhkinRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that any US-led coalition attack against Syrian army facilities will be "a flagrant violation of international law."

Any US-led coalition attack against Syrian army facilities will represent a flagrant violation of international law, this fact is understood by several senior US officials, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

Earlier this week, media reported that White House officials were considering US military attacks against Syrian army airfields.

"I think that the 'hot heads' there will be calm downed and will treat the issue seriously. The good news is that according to the leaks, but it is a very reliable information, a number of senior figures in the US administration understand very well that any attack on ground targets, which belong to the Syrian army, is a flagrant violation of international law," Lavrov told Channel One in an interview.

"There were leaks that the cruise missiles could easily hit Syrian Air Force airfields, and the Syrian air force would no longer fly. The General Staff has already reacted on this. This is a very dangerous game, given that Russia, being in Syria at the invitation of the legitimate government of this country and having two bases there, one airbase in Hmeymim and the Russian Navy base in Tartus, has air defenses there to protect our facilities," he added.

Comment: SOTT Exclusive: Deir ez-Zor survivor: "U.S. coalition warplanes finished off wounded with machine guns" - Is Daesh calling in US airstrikes?

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Bad Guys

Russian Foreign Minister: Russia-US relations have undergone drastic changes


Sputnik
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:17 UTC
Sergei Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov considers the Russian-US relations have changed dramatically.

Moscow used to show strategic patience regarding Washington's actions for a long time, but the relations between the United States and Russia have dramatically changed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"To my mind, this is a fact. Frankly, we have been showing what in the United States is called the 'strategic patience' for a very long time, as the unilateral deterioration of the relations on the US part started long before the Ukrainian [crisis]," Lavrov said, commenting on the drastic changes in the relations between Moscow and Washington.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels, Washington and their allies imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over Crimea's secession from Ukraine and Moscow's alleged meddling in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the accusations, and warned that the sanctions are counterproductive and undermine regional and global stability.

Comment: Lavrov also had this to say:
"We have witnessed a fundamental change of circumstances when it comes to the aggressive Russophobia that now lies at the heart of U.S. policy towards Russia," Lavrov told Russian state TV's First Channel. "It's not just a rhetorical Russophobia, but aggressive steps that really hurt our national interests and pose a threat to our security."
When the U.S. says something like this, it means the country in question can expect a coup or war. Not so with Russia, but it shows how seriously they are taking U.S. misbehavior.

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Light Saber

Russia blocked illegal Aleppo 'no-fly zone' at UN Security Council meeting, West abets Nusra terrorists


Sputnik
Sun, 09 Oct 2016 13:59 UTC
Russian ambassador to UN
© AFP 2016/Dominick ReuterRussian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin vetoes a Security Council vote on a French-Spanish resolution on Syria at the UN headquarters, October 8, 2016, in New York City
On Saturday, Russia exchanged blows with the US and its allies at the UN Security Council over the Syrian crisis. See if you can spot the difference in the approach of the two respective sides.

On October 8, as expected, Russia vetoed a French-drafted Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt to airstrikes over the city of Aleppo in northern Syria.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia blocked the resolution, as it promised it would, because its text "grossly distorted the actual state of affairs" in Syria, and carried a "politicized, unbalanced and one-sided nature. The blame for the escalation of tensions in Syria was placed on the shoulders of the country's authorities."

But more importantly, the Foreign Ministry emphasized, by proposing a no-fly zone over Aleppo, the resolution "made a blatant attempt...to provide cover for Nusra Front terrorists and the militants amalgamated with them, in spite of UN member states' obligations to combat terrorist threats with the use of all available means."

Finally, the Ministry pointed out that the malfeasance and dishonesty of the attempt to pass the resolution off as a response to East Aleppo's humanitarian crisis was proven by the fact that over the last two months, radical militants, not the Syrian government, were the ones to deliberately stop humanitarian convoys getting through to the area, while the Western-supported opposition forces have purposefully stalled efforts to resume inter-Syrian peace negotiations.
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