Puppet MastersS


Attention

Saudi Arabia urges citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid visiting


Sputnik
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:08 UTC
Lebanize flag
© AP Photo/ Hussein Malla
In early January, a diplomatic row erupted in the Middle East, with Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia severing diplomatic ties with the region's main Shiite power, Iran,, triggered by Riyadh's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Bahrain, Sudan, Somalia, Comoros and Djibouti in solidarity with Riyadh also severed relations with Iran, Kuwait and Qatar decided to pull out their ambassadors to Iran while the United Arab Emirates downgraded level of diplomatic relations with Tehran.

"The ministry advises all citizens not to travel to Lebanon and demands that all citizens residing or visiting Lebanon to leave the country, not to stay there unless necessary, take care and caution while being there and contact the Saudi embassy in Beirut to provide the necessary facilities and care for their safety," the source was quoted by the official SPA news service as saying.

Comment: And more from PressTV:
On the same day, a senior Saudi official said the kingdom was making "a comprehensive review of its relations with the Lebanese republic." The Saudi authority said that they have noticed "hostile Lebanese positions resulting from the stranglehold of Hezbollah on the State."

Reacting to the halt in Saudi aid to the Lebanese military, Hezbollah said in a statement that the decision by the Saudi regime to suspend its aid to the Lebanese army exposes the real face of Saudi Arabia and refutes its claims about fighting terrorism. Hezbollah said Riyadh's decision is merely a political maneuver.


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Propaganda

Media watching: Which countries ignored the Syria ceasefire? Take a guess

Gilbert Doctorow
Russia Insider
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:50 UTC
newspapers
Yesterday's evening news in Russia was dominated by one story: the announcement by Vladimir Putin on national television that the United and Russia had concluded an agreement to facilitate the start and supervise the implementation of a ceasefire in Syria between government and opposition forces, set to begin on 27 February. The agreement was sealed by a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama that took place shortly before the broadcast. Putin's televised address was less than 10 minutes long and it has been rebroadcast in entirety on state television at hourly intervals. Understandably, it has been the number one topic in the Russian print media this morning.

Since political correctness in Russia barred mention of the President's demeanor in his broadcast, I will say what went unsaid: Putin looked stressed, downcast, without his characteristic buoyancy.

Indeed there can be no doubt that many Russians were less than delighted by this news, which interrupts the dramatic winning streak of the Syrian Army under the protection of Russian airpower, and likely brings their ground operations to a halt before they complete the liberation of Aleppo, the second largest city in the country which would give Bashar al-Assad control of most of the population of his country even if large swathes of territory to the east in the direction of Iraq remain in jihadist hands. Moreover, Aleppo, with its northern suburbs, is key to sealing the paths of incursion into Syria from neighboring Turkey and cutting off the jihadists from their main bases of supply.

However, one would be seriously mistaken in reading disappointment into Vladimir Putin's facial expressions last night. They may be attributed to something quite different: what must have been his first experiment with delivery of a talk using a teleprompter. In fact, Putin has always spoken either from a written text that he holds before himself at the lectern or he has spoken extemporaneously. It will take some practice before he attains the unaffected radiance of a Barack Obama before the cameras when reading from a teleprompter.
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Bullseye

End of the Syrian war? Looking at the ceasefire loopholes

Ollie Richardson (translator)
Fort Russ
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:32 UTC
bombed syria
© unknownA screen grab of drone footage published on the Russianworks.ru website on January 25, 2016 showing destruction in the western Syrian city of Homs.
The United States and Russia agreed on a ceasefire in Syria, where both countries separately from each other are fighting against Islamist groups. This was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking in a special address on television. The agreement demonstrates the high level of cooperation between Moscow and Washington, but experts estimate it carefully because of many different factors.

As was stated by the Russian President, the ceasefire in Syria should occur on February 27th at midnight — this means that the ceasefire must stop the Syrian military, aviation of Russia and the coalition forces under the auspices of the United States.

The Russian head of state said that the agreement on a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria was adopted by the U.S. and Russia as co-chairs of the International support group in Syria. The President in his address made it clear that the agreement on a ceasefire should be the beginning of a political settlement in Syria, where civil war has continued since 2011, in which external forces also intervened.

The victims of the conflict total 470,000 people on both sides.

Comment: Further reading: The big question: Under Syria ceasefire, can Jaish al-Fatah be attacked?

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Eye 2

Pentagon proclaims Syrian ceasefire deal will not lead to further cooperation with Russia


Sputnik
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 21:37 UTC
Pentagon fence
© Flickr/ Kevin Harber
The recent agreement between Russia and the United States to implement a cessation of hostilities in Syria will not lead to further military cooperation between the two countries, US Department of Defense press secretary Peter Cook told reporters on Tuesday.

"We obviously are supporting what [US Secretary of State John Kerry] is doing, the effort to try and bring some ease to the suffering of the Syrian people," Cook said. "But we do not anticipate further military-to-military cooperation with the Russians."

"I'm not aware of any communications were going to have with the Russians in this particular cell," Cook said when asked about the US military relationship with a Russian monitoring facility that began operating on Tuesday at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria.

Comment: Is this part of Washington discussing 'Plan B' in case Syrian diplomatic efforts fail?

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USA

US empire's sea dominance ending - China and Russia making aircraft carriers useless through new weapons and technology


RT
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 16:23 UTC
aircraft carriers
© Stringer / Reuters
The era of the US global sea dominance - ensured by its 10 giant aircraft carriers - may come to an end, a study by respected Washington-based think tank warns. Russia, China and Iran can make the mammoth vessels useless by new weapons, tech and tactics.

Aircraft carriers are at the heart of the US Navy's global reach capabilities, and a symbol of American military might. The fearsome dreadnoughts can practically endanger any part of the world by deploying their air groups, comprising fighter and strike jets, as well as surveillance and electronic intelligence aircraft.

Every war the US waged during recent decades, including the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, involved their use.

The US Navy currently has 10 aircraft carriers in active service, which is equal to what all other countries can field combined.

On Monday, the Washington-based bipartisan Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a report saying the era of American naval dominance may end soon.
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Mr. Potato

Get a grip: Ukrainian MP wants to make it a crime to call Russia 'Russia'


RT
Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:57 UTC
Kiev
© Alexey Kudenko / SputnikKiev Pechersk Lavra
The Ukrainian parliament is to consider a bill, which would make calling Russia 'Russia' a criminal offense. The bill penned by a Radical Party MP says 'Russia' derives from Ukraine's historic name and can't be used by the Russian Federation.

With the word 'Russia' inadmissible, the bill says 'Moscovia' should be used instead.

Violating the ban would be considered a crime and punishable by a fine of about $2,875 and twice that much for repeat offenders and government officials.

The bill was submitted in June 2015 by Oksana Korchinskaya of the Radical Party and is listed for a hearing during parliament's ongoing session, which will last until July 22. The exact date of the hearing hasn't been set yet.

According to the wording of the bill, the word "Rus" and its derivative "Russia" are "unofficial names of the territory of modern Ukraine" and "have historic significance for Ukraine." It says banning the use of these words for modern Russia will "restore historic justice and protect the historic legacy of the Ukrainian people."

Comment: It takes a special kind of incompetence to twist Russia and Ukraine's common history this way and then use it to propose such a ridiculous bill. It appears the United States' political elite created modern Ukraine in their own image.

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Info

Ray McGovern interview: 'Obama must tell Turkey, Saudi Arabia & Israel enough is enough'


RT
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:40 UTC
Soldiers
© Omar Sanadiki / Reuters
Vladimir Putin has much more influence over Syria's President Bashar Assad than the United States has over its allies in the region, and this could hinder the Syrian ceasefire, former CIA officer Ray McGovern told RT.

Russia and the US agreed the terms for a cessation of hostilities in Syria. The ceasefire will start on February 27 at midnight Damascus time. ISIS, Al-Qaeda and many other terrorist organizations are not part of the truce.
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Vader

True story: Corrupt officials who installed corrupt government upset their vassals are behaving corruptly


RT
Fri, 19 Feb 2016 20:17 UTC
Geoffrey Pyatt
© Gleb Garanich / ReutersU.S. ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt
Ukraine will only receive American investment if Kiev continues to take "meaningful steps to reform its trade and investment climate," the US ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, has stated.

Pyatt set out the conditions while speaking at Ukraine Defense and Security Forum. He said that he was glad to see a large number of US defense industry representatives there, but warned Kiev that these companies would be good partners if they "see that the government sticks to the path of reform, that you uphold your IMF commitments, that the government continues to make progress on the critical topic of rule-of-law reform."

"Ukraine has said that it wants to become a major defense exporter. I know that is possible, given the extraordinary capabilities that I have seen the Ukrainian industry demonstrate," Pyatt noted at the 2016 Ukraine Defense and Security Forum in Kiev on Thursday.

"But it can only happen if Ukraine continues to press ahead on critical reforms, tackles corruption, and works to meet NATO standards. This will require a paradigm shift in Ukraine's defense industry, and a move away from a mindset of state-owned enterprises. And, most importantly, the elimination of graft and corruption."

Comment: Of course the IMF wants out, and it's not about some petty corruption either. Things haven't panned out as expected for the US and friends, and now they're bringing themselves down with their own destructive impulses.

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Gift 2

Germany: US sends 5,000 tons ammunition to enable NATO alliance


RT
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:53 UTC
ammo container
© www.nbcnews.comGermany receives ammo delivery. Prepping?
Washington has dispatched more than 5,000 tons of ammunition to Germany, the largest amount in 10 years, the US military announced, adding that the shipment will help to "continue to enable the NATO alliance" and to defend its allies.

"In the largest single Europe-bound US shipment of ammunition in 10 years, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command ... transported over 5,000 tons of ammunition ...to the Theater Logistics Support Center, Europe's ammunition depot in Miesau [Germany] Feb. 17-18," said a statement on the US army website. "This critical shipment will help us to continue to enable the NATO alliance, and the fact that it's the largest single shipment in 10 years demonstrates our continued commitment to the defense of our allies," 21st TSC chief of staff, Colonel Matthew Redding, said.

Maintaining a stockpile of ammunition means the US and NATO "can quickly draw ammunition in support of short notice NATO operations," says Redding. "All that effort pays off when we're able to quickly deliver ammo and other supplies to those down-trace units that need them," he went on.

The ammunition was taken in 415 shipping containers and stored in Miesau. It will be available for various troops to support operations, including exercise Anakonda 2016, one of US Army Europe's premier multinational training events, which will be held in Poland in June. The Anakonda 2016 drills will involve more than 25,000 participants from 24 nations, including the UK, the US, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.

Comment: US/NATO wouldn't have Russia in their crosshairs, would they? With the US strapped into arms and ammunition sales as a postponer-element to financial collapse, this shipment provides a short-term security measure in a couple arenas. When that no longer works, does it up the ammo and default to war? Is that the drill?

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Star of David

The Constitution be damned: Georgia is the latest state to consider anti-BDS legislation

Anna Simonton
Mondoweiss
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:20 UTC
Georgia State Senator Judson Hill
© Jason Getz
A rash of state legislation targeting the Boycott Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement continues to spread. A Georgia lawmaker recently introduced a bill that mirrors legislation pending in six other states in an effort to outlaw government contracts with businesses that boycott Israel.

Georgia State Senator Judson Hill introduced SB 327 with little fanfare earlier this month. The proposed law targets boycotts of Israel specifically, preventing the state from contracting with any entity that cannot provide, "a written certification that such individual or company is not currently engaged in, and agrees for the duration of the contract not to engage in, a boycott of Israel."

"These bills exist because the BDS movement is growing in the U.S., and that's making Israel's fiercest advocates nervous," said Rahul Saksena, an attorney at Palestine Legal, which has tracked anti-BDS legislation.

Comment: For further reading on the BDS movement: Pro-Israel lobby's McCarthyism and extreme measures to slime BDS human rights activists

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