Puppet MastersS


Hiliter

Turkish journalist given prison sentence for Erdogan insult while on trial for similar offense


RT
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:19 UTC
Bans Ince
© www.todayszaman.comFormer managing editor for the BirGün Daily, Bans Ince.
In a continuation of its crackdown on freedom of expression, Turkey has sentenced the former editor of the left-leaning Birgun newspaper to 21 months in prison for "insulting" President Erdogan while submitting a plea in an ongoing case.

The journalist, Bans Ince, continued to write for the paper, while the previous case dating back to 2013 still hung over his head. In late December of that year, a report by the paper had accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - then prime minister - of corruption, something his Justice and Development Party (AKP) claimed was akin to a planned coup, Hurriyet daily reports.

Ince had allegedly insulted both Erdogan and his son Bilal with the report. Ince had entered a plea in his defense, but was too clever with words for his own good: the letters at the start of each paragraph, when put together, spelled out "thief." Nobody in power needed three guesses to know Ince was talking about Erdogan. Ince claimed complete coincidence, but added that it could have been "an act of God." This did not spare him from the 21-month prison term. The newspaper said March 8 it plans to appeal the decision.

According to Cumhurriyet, Turkey has 1845 active cases against civilians accused of insulting the president since his term began in 2014.

Comment: A true sign of the times is when news sources are compromised by government takeovers and journalists who make an honest oath to deliver the truth are imprisoned or worse. Erdogan's purge is into full swing and it is vindictive. He is a dangerous liability to Turkey and its people. See also:

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Eye 2

Kurds suffer fresh chemical attacks - accuse Turkey of aiding sarin gas delivery to rebels


RT
Thu, 10 Mar 2016 01:38 UTC
gas attack kurds aleppo
© RT
In an interview with RT, a spokesman for the Kurdish YPG militia accused Turkey of providing a clear transit route for the chemical weapons that were deployed against them near the city of Aleppo on Tuesday.

Syrian anti-government militants "took advantage of the ceasefire" to launch attacks against a Kurdish-controlled area near Aleppo in northern Syria, Redur Xelil told RT. The attackers targeted a civilian district of what was once Syria's biggest city, and has since become a key battleground. According to Xelil, the shells emitted an "unnatural smell" and "yellow smoke" upon impact, indicating that chemical weapons were involved.

"Our sources inside the rebel groups have confirmed that toxic substances were used. We also have verified information that sarin gas was delivered to them from Turkey. All signs point to the fact that these factions were using banned weapons, but we cannot access the launching area, as it is located on the front between the Turkish and rebel forces," Xelil told RT by Skype from Rojava in Syria.

Kurdish deputies in the Turkish parliament have previously accused Ankara of supplying Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and other jihadist groups inside Syria with chemical weapons, which are used both in their fight against the Syrian government and to pin responsibility for their deployment on the regime of President Bashar Assad.
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Rocket

North Korea fires two more ballistic missiles off country's east coast


Sputnik
Thu, 10 Mar 2016 01:15 UTC
North Korea short-range ballistic missile
© REUTERS/ KCNA
Following the implementation of harsh new sanctions, North Korea has reportedly launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea for a second time, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The missiles were fired from the city of Wonsan, where similar launches have occurred, and sources indicate that the projectiles flew a distance of approximately 300 miles.

"The military is keeping close tabs on the situation and prepared to deal with any North Korean provocations," South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said in a statement.
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Bad Guys

Who's Who in the Syrian civil war and ceasefire

Aram Mirzaei
The Saker
Mon, 07 Mar 2016 18:42 UTC

Comment: This is a great run down of the major players in the Syrian conflict. It should shock readers just how many of the 'moderate rebel' groups have ties with Al-Qaeda, and how in spite of this many still receive funding from the West and Western allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia.


Since last week the Syrian ceasefire deal has been in full effect. Despite repeated violations during this week, world leaders commit to putting their faith in this temporary truce. The Syrian ceasefire does however not cover the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Jabhat Al-Nusra, the Syrian Al-Qaeda branch, and other designated terrorist groups. Despite the global powers making this statement, it remains unclear who these "other designated terrorist groups" actually are, it is therefore safe to say that no one really has an idea, since it has been rather clear that the main actors of this conflict differ radically in that designation. It is estimated that over 100 rebel groups participated at the implementation of this truce deal, with more joining as Russia has been ramping up its efforts of reconciliation in Syria. [1] [2] [3] Different actors consider different fighting parties to be terrorists and conflicting interests makes the matter even worse. While it is difficult to keep track of the estimated 1500 rebel groups fighting on the ground, it has never been a secret that the main rebel factions, Jabhat Al-Nusra, Jaysh Al-Islam, Harakat Ahrar-Al Sham and the Free Syrian Army have cooperated, carried out joint missions, and have occupied towns and villages together against the Syrian Armed Forces.[4] [5] [6] [7] These groups intermingle deeply and make it rather difficult for outside observers to distinguish between.[8]

The main areas of the truce deal are implemented in the southern and central parts of the country, with several pockets of rebel held areas, besieged for some years now, being able to catch a breath. Below is a map showing the rather small areas considered to be "green zones" for the truce.

map of Syria
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Snakes in Suits

U.S. Government backs fascists who want to destroy Russia

Eric Zuesse
RINF
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 22:21 UTC
Ashton Carter
The Nation published an outstanding article on March 9th, by James Carden, which described the remarkable extent to which the Obama government (and virtually all of the Washington Establishment) are supporting (financially and otherwise) fascists who want to destroy Russia.

One such example was a recent event in Washington:

It featured the deputy speaker of Ukraine's Parliament, Andriy Parubiy. According to the program bio, Parubiy served as the "commandant" of the Euromaidan (why did an ostensibly peaceful protest require a "commandant" anyway?) and, later, as secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. The bio provided to attendees might fairly be described as selective. Unmentioned was Parubiy's role in cofounding the neo-fascist Svoboda party, and his ties to extremist right-wing groups.

After Parubiy's presentation, which amounted to little more than a recitation of neocon talking points, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst gushed: "That was wonderful." The Atlantic Council's Ariel Cohen praised Parubiy's presentation as "inspiring and impressive."
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Rocket

Iran continues more missile testing, Israel well within range


RT
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:33 UTC
Iran missile
© farsnews.com / ReutersA ballistic missile is launched and tested in an undisclosed location, Iran, March 9, 2016.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) of Iran continued its test of ballistic weapons on Wednesday morning by launching two Qadr missiles. The guard stressed that it could hit targets in Israel. "The reason we designed our missiles with a range of 2000km is to be able to hit our enemy .... from a safe distance," Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by the ISNA agency.

The two Qadr missiles were fired from northern Iran and hit targets in the southeast some 1,400km away, the Iranian media reported.

On Tuesday, the IRGC reported firing several unspecified ballistic missiles from underground silos across the country. They are presumed to be Iran's new Emad missiles, which the Islamic Republic first revealed in October 2015, saying they have advanced guidance systems.

The Iranian missile tests were conducted in defiance of fresh US sanctions, imposed two months ago in response to the first Emad test. The Jewish state is currently hosing US Vice-President Joe Biden for talks on regional issues. Last week Israel and the US conducted a joint missile defense drill in Israel.

Washington accuses Tehran of developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. The October test violated a UN Security Council resolution, which banned Iran from testing nuclear-capable missiles. The resolution has since expired as Iran complied with the terms of a nuclear deal it signed last year with six leading world powers. Iran insisted that the October test was not a violation since the country never intended to develop a nuclear weapon or the means to deliver it.


Comment: There are likely other things going ballistic in the region than Iran's missiles! It would be a good guess that Joe Biden's ears are exploding from a nuclear Netanyahu. At least Iran is now able to defend itself against regional bullies such as Israel, should the circumstance necessitate.

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Document

Syrian ceasefire bulletin: Reconciliation committee head kidnapped by moderate terrorists


Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 20:49 UTC

Comment: The big news today surrounds the numerous reports that Daesh has been using chemical weapons in their war against Syrians and Kurds (old news, really - the FSA started it!). Now, the U.S. is apparently trying to cover their tracks by targeting their chemical weapons facilities with airstrikes. They also claimed to have killed Georgian-born Abu Omar "the Chechen" al-Shishani, a top Islamic State commander and Caucasus jihadist recruiter, in an airstrike. The Kurds say they haven't seen any evidence to suggest that is the case. Gee, we wonder who is more credible! And now that Daesh's oil funds are drying up, their biggest source of funds is, naturally, foreign sponsorship. Wonder who that is! (More updates below.)


russian mod bulletin
General information on the application of measures for the reconciliation of opposing sides

In the course of last 24 hours, ceasefire agreements have been achieved with commanders of 5 armed formations with total staff up to 450 men active in vicinity of Mahajjah (Daraa province).

In total, 42 ceasefire application forms have been signed with leaders of armed groupings.

Comment: Meanwhile, the Geneva talks were supposed to start today (they should begin by the 14th at the latest), but the Saudi-backed opposition still haven't decided whether they'll show up or not with the excuse that they are waiting to see UNSC Resolution 2254 fulfilled, with humanitarian aid transported to ALL besieged areas. Guys, all you have to do is tell your Daesh and Nusra rats to open up the roads, and that'll happen.

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Play

South Front: The conflict in Ukraine is heating up (plus Syria updates)


South Front
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 18:03 UTC
south front
Foreign Policy Diary - Conflicts Heat Up in Ukraine

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Jet4

Oops: US military's trillion dollar fighter jet's radar doesn't work


Sputnik
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 19:45 UTC
F-35 fighter jet
© AP Photo/ LM Ottero
The troubled $1.5 trillion dollar F-35 fighter jet is facing yet another problem, this time with its radar, which requires the pilot to turn it off and then back on each time it stops working.

In development since 2001, the Lockheed Martin plane has faced a slew of problems, and is failing even the most basic flight and sensor tests. The beleaguered "crown jewel" of the US military's technology investment portfolio has had so many problems that the jets are expected to cost over $142 million each.

The radar failings are just the latest problem for the F-35: it previously had structural problems that put it at risk to lightening, weight issues, software bugs, gatling guns that do not work, and a limited fuel supply making it unable to stay in an area to offer air protection for ground troops.

The website Shadowproof also noted that there are concerns about whether the F-35 can be traditionally fueled, as they have a problem with accepting hot fuel — the only solution that the Air Force has come up with for that problem so far is to paint fuel trucks a darker color to absorb less sunlight and keep temps down — hardly a long term solution.

Comment: Another case of the American taxpayer's money being completely wasted.

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Bad Guys

The Arab days of shame

Ghassan Kadi
The Saker
Mon, 07 Mar 2016 20:26 UTC
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf logo
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf logo
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has finally had it its way. A meeting held last month of GCC and other Arab Foreign Ministers has condemned Iran for the attack on the Saudi Embassy incident, and the Lebanese Foreign Minister Basil, from the 8th of March Coalition pro-Hezbollah camp, abstained from voting. As a result, Lebanon was punished by Saudi Arabia as the latter decided to renege on the $4bn aid promise to the Lebanese Army and Internal Security.

And then just a few weeks later, the Arab Interior Ministers convened in Tunis and declared Lebanon's Hezbollah a terror organization (1&2). Lebanon's Interior Minister Mashnouk, a 14th of March Hariri man, also abstained from voting.

The debauched Saudi royals, the same lazy criminals who die from obesity and self-inflicted diabetes whilst they are starving and bombing Yemen, the same people who poured billions upon billions of dollars to kill Syrians in an attempt to create an Islamic state in lieu of its secular government, that scourge of a family that rules with an iron fist wreaking havoc and creating wars between Arabs and Muslims and never once fired a single bullet at Israel, they actually had the audacity to call the shots and had Hezbollah declared as a terrorist organization. Strange days indeed.
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