Puppet MastersS


Che Guevara

Gaddafi's Ghosts: Return of the Libyan movement that was inspired by the NATO-assassinated leader

Dan Glazebrook
RT
Sat, 30 Jul 2016 11:30 UTC
Muammar Gaddafi
© Carlos Garcia Rawlins / ReutersFormer Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi
When NATO murdered Gaddafi and blitzed his country in 2011, they hoped the socialist 'Jamahiriya' movement he led would be dead and buried. Now his son has been released from prison to a hero's welcome with his movement increasingly in the ascendancy.

There were various moments during NATO's destruction of Libya that were supposed to symbolically crown Western supremacy over Libya and its institutions (and, by implication, over all African and Arab peoples): the 'fall of Tripoli' in August 2011; Cameron and Sarkozy's victory speeches the following month; the lynch-mob execution of Muammar Gaddafi that came soon after. All of them were pyrrhic victories - but none more so than the death sentence handed down to Gaddafi's son (and effective deputy leader) Saif al-Gaddafi in July 2015.

Saif had been captured by the Zintan militia shortly after his father and brother were killed by NATO's death squads in late 2011. The 'International' Criminal Court - a neocolonial farce which has only ever indicted Africans - demanded he be handed over to them, but the Zintan - fiercely patriotic despite having fought with NATO against Gaddafi - refused. Over the next two years the country descended into the chaos and societal collapse that Gaddafi had predicted, sliding inexorably towards civil war.

Comment: To further round out the picture of NATO's very hostile take-over of Libya, do not miss the SOTT Radio Network's interview:

Behind the Headlines: NATO Slaughter - James and Joanne Moriarty expose the truth about what happened in Libya

and

Behind the Headlines: Libyan 'Islamic State', with James & JoAnne Moriarty

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Hourglass

Political challenges: Nord Stream 2 pipeline risks delays due to Polish hurdle

Henry Foy in Warsaw and Jack Farchy in Moscow
Financial Times
Thu, 28 Jul 2016 16:08 UTC
Gas pipes
© Getty
The consortium of European companies behind Nord Stream 2, the $11bn gas pipeline planned to run between Russia and Germany, has four weeks to resolve Polish objections to the project or risk damaging delays.

Nord Stream 2 — a joint project between Russia's state-owned gas company Gazprom and private groups Shell, EON, Wintershall, OMV and Engie — would double the capacity of the Baltic Sea pipeline route. But many eastern European countries fear that it will increase reliance on politically-sensitive Russian supplies.

UOKiK, the Polish anti-monopoly watchdog, said last week it objected to the project as it would increase Gazprom's already dominant position in European gas markets. An official at the watchdog told the Financial Times this week that it had given the consortium four weeks to present its arguments for the objections to be dropped.

"The initiative is with them," said the UOKiK official, who declined to be named as they were not permitted to speak to the media. "So far they didn't respond directly to our concerns or propose remedies regarding the statement of objections."
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Eye 1

Gulen supporters in Netherlands accuse Turkish government of 'witch-hunt'


RT
Sat, 30 Jul 2016 06:02 UTC
Gulen supporters
© Osman Orsal / Reuters
Dozens of Turks living in the Netherlands who support exiled preacher Fethullah Gulen have been assaulted and received death threats, while several buildings hosting groups affiliated with the cleric were set on fire in the wake of Turkey's failed coup attempt.

"They have unleashed a witch-hunt that is causing a lot of tension between Dutch Turks," said Saniye Calkin, who chairs a local Hizmet organization. She was referring to the Turkish government's crackdown on supporters of Gulen, which has apparently even reached the Netherlands, which as around a 500,000-strong Turkish community.

The activist says there have been multiple reports of arson, vandalism and attacks against Gulenist supporters in the Netherlands, which has been heightened by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's personal resentment of the cleric.

"These are signs of Erdogan's interference in the Netherlands and it is threatening my freedom and safety," she added, speaking to journalists on Friday.


Comment: Nonsense. As if Erdogan is sending out trolls to threaten Gulen supporters all over Europe. He has enough of them to deal with at home.

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Bullseye

Top NATO commander impressed with Russia's "professional, fast learning, agile thinking" military - still wants to fight them


RT
Sat, 30 Jul 2016 16:02 UTC
scaparrotti
© Jeon Heon-kyun / ReutersNATO's top muppet.
The Russian military has significantly progressed in recent years to become "a very serious adversary" to the US and NATO, the bloc's top commander has said, noting Russia's army is now more professional, faster-learning, and more agile at thinking.

"Russia is back," General Curtis Scaparrotti, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and head of US European Command, told the Aspen Security Forum on Friday.

Run by the renowned Aspen Institute to discuss US national security issues, this year's forum featured top military brass, including US Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley, NSA Director Mike Rogers, and Commandant of the US Marine Corps Robert Neller.

"I'm impressed with the fact that they've taken a force that really had some serious problems only a few years ago," General Scaparrotti said, referring to the large-scale military reforms and re-armament program that have been taking place in Russia in recent years.

Comment: At least Scaparrotti is acknowledging the truth regarding Russia's military capabilities. Too bad he's a raving NATO-nutjob who probably fantasizes about being the guy take down that "very serious" adversary. But don't expect a career U.S. military man to have an ounce of common sense when it comes to realizing the pragmatic and moral necessity of negotiations over military posturing, and of working together with Russia over clinging to a senile and paranoid cold war mentality. See: NATO's new European commander proves to be 'even worse warmonger' than Breedlove

Here's the routine: NATO acts like a belligerent drunk wife-beater, Russia responds to its aggression by beefing up its military, NATO cries "Russian aggression", says how woefully unprepared they are, and defense budgets increase. Rinse and repeat. Case in point:
Vladimir Putin is assembling a secret fleet of super submarines which could topple NATO and plunge the world into war. [SOTT: hysterical nonsense.] A report by naval experts warns that Russia already has a small but sophisticated army of subs which are capable of launching missile strikes across the globe. The deadly group of stealthy underwater weapons are currently patrolling the world and have already reportedly breached UK waters having approached the Royal Navy's base in Faslane, Scotland. Russia is stepping up its secret submarine programme to 'Cold War' levels and experts warn NATO members "no longer" have the defences to stop the aquatic death machines.
...
While the fleet is not as big as the Soviet Union's colossal arsenal, the report says the new subs can dive deeper, and move quieter, than any ever before. The nuclear-powered ships are armed with electronic warfare gear, long-range cruise missiles, torpedoes and mines. And while the Kremlin is growing their amphibious firepower, the number of US submarines is dwindling.

The incredible [SOTT: literally, as in 'not credible'] report says the formerly formidable Royal Navy is at its "lowest ebb" while NATO needs to reinvest its defence capabilities or risk being toppled by the might of Putin's super subs. [SOTT: No, you need to stop being belligerent azzhats.] Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain with Center for New American Security, told Breaking Defense said: "We're in a bad place as an alliance with regard to Russia's underwater resurgence."


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Laptop

Cyber warfare: FSB detects cyberattacks on 20 Russian organizations including military targets


Sputnik
Sat, 30 Jul 2016 15:29 UTC
Computer DVD player
© Pixabay
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) exposed planting of malicious software designed for cyber espionage in computer networks of about 20 Russian institutions, including government and military bodies, FSB press service said Saturday.

"Instances of planting of malicious software designed for cyber espionage in computer networks of some 20 organizations located on the territory of Russia have been exposed... Information resources of public authorities, scientific and military institutions, enterprises of the military — industrial complex and other objects of country's critical infrastructure were contaminated," the statement read.

The press service stressed that the attack was professionally planned, has similar traits with the previously exposed attacks from all over the world.

Comment: We wonder who could be responsible for such a thing? Any guesses? The list is rather small...

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Display

Clinton campaign records included in hack on Democrats

Mark Hosenball, Joseph Menn and John Walcott
Reuters
Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:21 UTC
hillary clinton
© Reuters/Carlos Barria/File Photo Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton looks at a computer screen during a campaign stop at Atomic Object company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. March 7, 2016.
A computer network used by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign was hacked as part of a broad cyber attack on Democratic political organizations, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The latest attack, which was disclosed to Reuters on Friday, follows two other hacks on the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, and the party's fundraising committee for candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

A Clinton campaign spokesman said in a statement late on Friday that an analytics data program maintained by the DNC and used by the campaign and a number of other entities "was accessed as part of the DNC hack."

"Our campaign computer system has been under review by outside cyber security experts. To date, they have found no evidence that our internal systems have been compromised," said Clinton campaign spokesman Nick Merrill.

Later, a campaign official said hackers had access to the analytics program's server for approximately five days. The analytics data program is one of many systems the campaign accesses to conduct voter analysis, and does not include social security numbers or credit card numbers, the official said.

The U.S. Department of Justice national security division is investigating whether cyber attacks on Democratic political organizations threatened U.S. security, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The involvement of the Justice Department's national security division is a sign that the Obama administration has concluded that the hacking was sponsored by a state, people with knowledge of the investigation said.
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Network

Welcome to the Russia-China alliance

Jeff J. Brown
China Rising
Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:01 UTC
Russia China alliance
© baidu.comStarting today, this map takes on a whole new geopolitical meaning.
Up till now, both Russia and China have eschewed the concept of an "alliance". Why? Because of all the historical Western empire baggage that goes with it, including sometimes secret, frequently broken treaties, treachery, double dealing, back stabbing and all the other perfidy that goes with it. Not to mention, potentially unenforceable or unwise commitments to militarily attack an enemy of an ally, regardless of how stupid or absurd it is. Just recall the insanity of World War I, to put things in perspective.

The Chinese and Russians have preferred to talk about their "special relationship", "friendship", "historical ties" and "strategic partnership". Until today, that is. People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the government of China splashed this headline:

China, Russia 'semi-alliance' to launch drills in S. China Sea

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Snakes in Suits

Trump says "Putin better leader than Obama" as lead over Hillary grows

Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
Thu, 28 Jul 2016 14:44 UTC
Having stolen the narrative away from the Democrats this week, Trump is not done yet, doubling down today on his Putin pandemonium...


As The Hill reports,
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump says Russian leader Vladimir Putin is "doing a better job" than President Obama.

"I said he's a better leader than Obama because Obama's not a leader," Trump said in an interview aired Thursday on Fox News's "Fox & Friends." "He's certainly doing a better job than Obama is, that's all."

Trump stressed improved relations with Russia during the discussion with host Brian Kilmeade.

"Now look, you have to understand, Putin - if we could get along with Russia, I think that would be a good thing, not a bad thing. We don't get along with Russia. We practically don't get along with too many."

Trump blamed much of the current tension on Obama, noting Russian aircraft buzzing U.S. military ships.

"You know why they do that?" he asked. "They have no respect for our leader. They have zero respect for our leader. That's why they do that."

Comment: See also:

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Info

Forever vigilant: Future terrorist attacks in Europe may give clues why Britain has been spared


RT
Sat, 30 Jul 2016 14:55 UTC
British police
© Yui Mok / Reuters
How and why Britain has been spared a major terrorist attack in recent years will be explained by the future pattern of atrocities in Europe, a top security expert has claimed.

Writing in Newsweek, Raffaello Pantucci, director of International Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the UK must watch out for "slip ups" which could lead to devastating incidents like those recently seen in France.

"The biggest lesson to be drawn from the current spate of attacks is the contagious nature of this phenomenon," Pantucci argues.

"This is not a new phenomenon—when dramatic extremist incidents take place, they tend to generate copycat attacks—success breeds emulation."

He said the UK response should "be to try to understand better how these events are triggered and to identify those plotting similar attacks in the UK."

Comment: Pantucci saying only the future knows about terror attack patterns ignores the obvious that Europe is complicit in creating these terrorists by bombing other people's countries.

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Vader

Killary gathering her war hawks

Gareth Porter
Consortium News
Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:45 UTC
Clinton Panetta
© US Defense Dept.Defense Secretary Leon Panetta with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at NATO conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 4
Focusing on domestic issues, Hillary Clinton's acceptance speech sidestepped the deep concerns anti-war Democrats have about her hawkish foreign policy, which is already taking shape in the shadows.

As Hillary Clinton begins her final charge for the White House, her advisers are already recommending air strikes and other new military measures against the Assad regime in Syria.

The clear signals of Clinton's readiness to go to war appears to be aimed at influencing the course of the war in Syria as well as U.S. policy over the remaining six months of the Obama administration. (She also may be hoping to corral the votes of Republican neoconservatives concerned about Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy.)

Last month, the think tank run by Michele Flournoy, the former Defense Department official considered to be most likely to be Clinton's choice to be Secretary of Defense, explicitly called for "limited military strikes" against the Assad regime.

And earlier this month Leon Panetta, former Defense Secretary and CIA Director, who has been advising candidate Clinton, declared in an interview that the next president would have to increase the number of Special Forces and carry out air strikes to help "moderate" groups against President Bashal al-Assad. (When Panetta gave a belligerent speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, he was interrupted by chants from the delegates on the floor of "no more war!"
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