Puppet MastersS


Attention

Turkey threatens Brits who join Kurdish militias as 'spies, crusaders and terrorists'


RT
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 15:20 UTC
Briton Jamie Read (left)
© facebook.comBriton Jamie Read (left) reportedly fighting with Kurdish militia in Syria against the Islamic State.
British citizens who have volunteered to fight Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) alongside Kurdish militias are merely "crusaders" who will be treated as terrorists and killed if necessary, Turkish government officials have warned.

Yunus Akbaba, a spokesman for the Turkish PM Binali Yildirim, said the same applied to Westerners from other nations, including Turkey's NATO allies.

"These are terrorist groups and anyone fighting under their banner will be considered terrorists," he said of the YPG, which is a proscribed group in Turkey.

"It is the responsibility of the countries where they come from to prevent them from joining these groups. Turkish forces will confront them if they are fighting under the banner of terrorist groups, regardless of whether they are members of allied countries," he told Middle East Eye on Thursday.
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Bloomberg interview: Putin says euro area may shrink after Brexit sets a precedent

Simon Kennedy, John Micklethwait and Olga Tanas
Bloomberg
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:56 UTC
Putin
© Bloomberg
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the euro area could someday shrink in size if its stronger members sought to close ranks.

"I don't rule out that there could be some decisions made that would consolidate a group of countries with equal levels of development and, thereby, in my opinion, strengthening the euro," Putin said in an interview in Vladivostok, on Russia's Pacific coast.

Putin pointed to Russia keeping 40 percent of its currency reserves in euros as evidence that it wasn't in his country's interest for the 19-member bloc to "collapse." He praised the leading economies for a "very pragmatic approach" to solving the bloc's problems.
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Info

Bloomberg interview: Putin sees opening with Japan on World War II island dispute

John Micklethwait, Ilya Arkhipov and Anthony Halpin
Bloomberg
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:45 UTC
Vladimir Putin
© Jeremy Liebman/BloombergBusinessweek
Russian President Vladimir Putin struck a conciliatory tone before talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on a territorial dispute that's prevented the countries from signing a World War II peace treaty.

Resolving the conflict over four islands occupied by the Soviet Union in the final days of the war should be part of "setting the stage for the development of inter-governmental relations for the long term," Putin said in an interview on Thursday as he prepared to meet with Abe at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's Pacific port city of Vladivostok on Friday.

"We're not talking about some exchange or some sale," Putin said. "We are talking about finding a solution where neither of the parties would feel defeated or a loser."
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Bloomberg interview: Putin says DNC hack was a public service, Russia didn't do it

Stepan Kravchenko, John Micklethwait and Jake Rudnitsky
Bloomberg
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:31 UTC
Vladimir Putin
© Jeremy Liebman/BloombergBusinessweek
Vladimir Putin said the hacking of thousands of Democratic National Committee emails and documents was a service to the public, but denied U.S. accusations that Russia's government had anything to do with it.

"Listen, does it even matter who hacked this data?'' Putin said in an interview at the Pacific port city of Vladivostok on Thursday. "The important thing is the content that was given to the public.''

U.S. officials blame hackers guided by the Russian government for the attacks on DNC servers earlier this year that resulted in WikiLeaks publishing about 20,000 private emails just before Hillary Clinton's nominating convention in July. The documents showed attempts by party officials to undermine her chief Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders, and led to the resignation of the head of the DNC, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
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Bloomberg interview: Putin blasts Trump and Clinton for 'shock' campaign tactics

Ilya Arkhipov, John Micklethwait and Henry Meyer
Bloomberg
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:18 UTC
Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok
© Jeremy Liebman/BloombergBusinessweek
Vladimir Putin blasted both Donald Trump's and Hillary Clinton's tactics on the campaign trail but refused to publicly take sides in a U.S. presidential race in which he's been accused of secretly favoring the New York real estate billionaire.

"They're both using shock tactics, just each in their own way," the Russian president said in an interview. "I don't think they are setting the best example," he added.

Putin, who has won praise and a pledge to improve ties from Trump while facing attacks from Clinton, stuck repeatedly to his position that he has no preferred candidate and would work with whoever wins. While his purported predilections have been the subject of bitter invective from both sides, in public at least, Putin didn't show much enthusiasm for either one.
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Bloomberg interview: Putin says Russia and U.S. close to breakthrough deal on Syria

Henry Meyer, Caroline Alexander and Stepan Kravchenko
Bloomberg
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:08 UTC
Syrian soldieer
© Geeetty Images
Vladimir Putin said Russia and the U.S. are close to striking a deal on fighting terrorists in Syria, potentially a major step toward ending a civil war that's flooded Europe with refugees and helped give rise to Islamic State.

"We're gradually, gradually heading in the right direction," the Russian president said in an interview Thursday in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. "I don't rule out that we'll be able to agree on something in the near future and present our agreements to the international community."

Putin, a dogged critic of U.S. foreign policy, had praise for Secretary of State John Kerry, whose "patience and determination'' in pushing for an accord before President Barack Obama leaves office next year have made a deal possible. Russia and NATO member Turkey, a key backer of some rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, are also aligning their interests in the conflict, he said.
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Vader

The real US Syria scandal: Supporting a bloody sectarian war

Gareth Porter
Middle East Eye
Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:06 UTC
clinton Syria war sectarian violence
© Agence France-PresseThen US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (2ndR) talks to Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, next to France's Foreign Affairs minister Alain Juppe (R) and Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani (L) during a meeting with Western and Arab foreign ministers at the ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, on 19 April 2012, focused on the Syria crisis
Senior Obama administration officials were aware from 2012 that a war to overthrow Assad would inevitably become a sectarian bloodbath

The main criticism of US policy in Syria has long been that President Barack Obama should have used US military force or more aggressive arms aid to strengthen the armed opposition to Assad. The easy answer is that the whole idea that there was a viable non-extremist force to be strengthened is a myth - albeit one that certain political figures in London and Washington refuse to give up.

But the question that should have been debated is why the Obama administration acquiesced to its allies funding and supplying a group of unsavoury sectarian armed groups to overthrow the Assad regime.

That US acquiescence is largely responsible for a horrible bloodletting that has now killed as many as 400,000 Syrians. Worse yet, there is still no way to end the war without the serious threat of sectarian retribution against the losers.

"The Obama administration bears responsibility for this atrocity, because it could have prevented Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia from launching their foolishly adventurous war in Syria. None of them did so out of desperate need; it was a war of choice in every case. And each of the three states is part of the US security system in the Middle East, providing military bases to NATO or to the United States and depending on US support for its security.

But instead of insisting that those three Sunni allies reconsider their options, the Obama administration gave the green light at a conference in Riyadh at the end of March 2012 for proceeding with arming those who wanted to replace the regime, leaving the United States ostensibly free to be a peacemaker. As Hillary Clinton put it at the Riyadh conference: "Some will be able to do certain things, and others will do other things."

Comment: The Empire has tried to harness the forces of chaos to do its bidding. That tactic is now blowing up in its face.

General Wesley Clark reveals 2001 U.S. plan to conduct 'regime change' in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran

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Bloomberg interview: Putin pushes for oil freeze deal with OPEC, exemption for Iran

Ilya Arkhipov, Dina Khrennikova and Elena Mazneva
Bloomberg
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 13:51 UTC
Vladimir Putin
© Jeremy Liebman/BloombergBusinessweek
Vladimir Putin said he'd like OPEC and Russia, producers of half of the world's oil, to reach a deal to freeze supply and expects the dispute over Iran's participation can be resolved.

"From the viewpoint of economic sense and logic, then it would be correct to find some sort of compromise," Putin said in an interview in Vladivostok. "I am confident that everyone understands that. We believe that this is the right decision for world energy."

While talks collapsed in April over whether Iran should join in, countries now recognize the nation -- freed just months ago from international sanctions -- should be allowed to continue raising production, Putin said. The Russian president said he may recommend completing the plan when he meets with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Group of 20 summit in China next week.
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Dollar

California just passed a $1 billion tax on the whole country and no one noticed

Tyler Durden
Zerohedge
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 13:12 UTC
Big agriculture farm
© peacefulanarko.wordpress.comWhile congress is busy cutting food stamps for the hungry, the USDA finds big agriculture to be the real welfare cheats.
The California State Assembly recently passed a bill that received minimal recognition by the press, outside of the state, but has substantial negative consequences for basically everyone in the country. Once signed by Jerry Brown, the bill, known as AB 1066, will make California the only state in the entire country to provide overtime wages to ag workers after 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week. This change will add about $1BN annually to the cost of growing food in California which will ultimately be passed along to consumers. And since eating isn't really optional, this is effectively a $1BN tax that California has decided to levy on the entire country. Worse yet, increasing food prices is essentially the most regressive form of "tax" possible given the disproportionate share of wages spent on food by low-income families. And, while you may not know it, California is an agricultural powerhouse that produces roughly 1/3 of all vegetables consumed in this country and 2/3s of the fruits and nuts.

Now, we know what you're thinking...why would everyone be entitled to overtime pay at 40 hours per week except farm workers? Well, there is logic behind the exclusion and it has to do with the seasonality of farming. Unlike most industries, farmers are not able to spread their labor needs throughout the year due to harvest schedules and the perishable nature of their crops. But farm workers aren't the only ones excluded from overtime pay. In fact, California has established special overtime rules for hourly workers in a number of other highly-seasonal sectors, including firefighters, actors and ski-resort employees, to name a few.

Comment: One interesting reader comment:
McCormick No. 9 Boris Alatovkrap Sep 2, 2016 6:22 AM

As a farmer, I estimate that I make personally, about 2.30/hr, averaged over the entire course of a growing season. Sometimes I have to hire people, but it is always in an extremity situation, and then, only temporarily. What makes farming feasible is that I get to eat basically for free. I get cheap tax free fuel, and I get to write everything off on my taxes. Also, it seems the IRS has a policy of not really auditing farmers, especially when they report such dismal incomes as I do. I don't have to do anything but tell the truth- then they leave me alone, out of pity, I suppose.

If I were to earn skilled labor rates for all the welding, machanical work, machine shop work, and other skilled labor I perform just to keep my machinery working, I would make well into the 6 figures if I were to do these jobs on a commercial basis. I actually do augment my income by performing these tasks for neighbors on a regular basis.

Why farm then? I guess because I value the earth and treating it right, and there is a sense of satisfaction in seeing the fruits of ones labor on such a basic level. But if I were a farmer in CA, I would have to quit. Or hire more illegals. Or find a way to NOT pay them overtime (because they are illegal... maybe Syrians are the next victimized immigrant group?) Robot GPS tractors would not be an option. But it will be for large corporate farms. This law will have the result of consolidating farms in to even bigger, more corporate business models. This law is death to the small farmer. It is a self reinforcing dynamic. The law was designed to combat repressive labor tactics used by large corporate farms, and the result is that farms will get larger and more corporate.


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Dominoes

YouTube's new "advertiser friendly" policy will punish those with dissenting opinions and alternative approaches to health

Alex Christoforou
The Duran
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 12:41 UTC
Youtube blocked in Turkey
Social media is now starting to push the politically correct mantra to official levels.

Twitter has already been moving quickly in this direction as was witnessed when it banned Milo Yiannopoulos for his Ghostbuster comments.

Now a new "advertiser friendly" policy is being introduced by YouTube that will effectively punish users who express politically incorrect opinions or dare to offend viewers.

The punishment will be doled out in the form of de-monetizing content.

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