Puppet MastersS


Vader

Obama changes tune, calls Russia "second-most powerful military in the world"


RT
Thu, 18 Feb 2016 17:07 UTC
Russian bombers
© Vladimir Astapkovich / Sputnik
Russia's military campaign in Syria seems to have changed President Barack Obama's opinion of its armed forces. He now says it's "the second-most powerful military in the world." Two years ago he labeled Moscow as nothing more than a "regional power."

Speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference in California, Obama conceded that "Russia is a major military" and that "obviously a bunch of rebels are not going to be able to compete with the hardware of the second-most powerful military in the world."


Comment: Clearly Obama is referring to the US as the most powerful military in the world. But that is just hubris and wishful thinking. Russia showed last year that were capable of reducing the supposed most powerful military to a bunch of buffoons operating in the dark when they sent missiles across the desert to Syria. The US was wholly incapable of doing anything about it.

This is quite a statement from the US president, who almost two years ago derided Moscow as nothing more than a "regional power"that "is threatening some of its immediate neighbors, not out of strength but out of weakness," in regards to his belief that Russia had 'annexed' Crimea from Ukraine.

In November, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Russia was challenging "American preeminence" and Washington's so-called "stewardship of the world order" as Moscow and China reassert themselves on the international arena as serious military powers.
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Gold Seal

Pepe Escobar: A dose of dadaism to call the Sultan/Saudi bluff in Syria

Pepe Escobar
RT
Thu, 18 Feb 2016 16:32 UTC
syrian countryside
© Omar Sanadiki / Reuters
Darkness dawns at the break of noon, sirens blare, red alerts convulse - and it feels like we're 30 seconds from the 9th circle of hell. The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of demented intensity.

Is this the end, beautiful friend?

Well, not really. It's a bluff. So let's invoke Dada - the original internet - to put this hellhole in perspective. Dada was born a century ago at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich - smack in the middle of WWI. *Dada was not only a revolution in art; it's a revolution still in progress.

Dada is a state of mind - pretty much the ideal antidote to manifestations of Cold War 2.0; it is all about destabilizing pomposity; search and destroy symbols; dislocation of language. So with multiple intimations of doom shaping the onset of (fake) WWIII, what's best than to keep on truckin' fueled by impertinence and fantasy? After all, "Life is a Cabaret"(Voltaire). Come to the cabaret.

Cut to a gaggle of rollicking Wahhabis making a cabaret entrance, complete with jets overflying Incirlik. They seem to be getting ready for...boo hoo! Ground operations in Syria! They desire it. Utterly. But, alas, there's no plan. Listen to ringmaster Adel al-Jubeir in all his transgender glory; they may eventually add a "ground component"! But it all depends on 'His Masters' Voice' issuing his permission. And the permission is not forthcoming.
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Windsock

What is Saudi Arabia thinking, would it strike Russia in Syria? No, really...what is it thinking!

Abdulallah Al-Mufleh
Fort Russ
Tue, 16 Feb 2016 00:00 UTC
Saudi guy
© unknown"Saudi has real legitimacy to intervene in Syria which is both an Arab and Islamic nation, Saudi is also still economically stable, and it occupies a religious and spiritual place in the heart of all muslims." Therefore...


Comment: Disclaimer alert! The following is a glimpse into the Saudi mind, and what they think they are capable of in the Middle East...


When we compare the military might of Saudi forces compared to Russian forces then the answer is a "Deafening No", nay the question becomes quite comical. So, why then is Russia and Iran asking for a deescalation in Syria and agreeing to a ceasefire, and why has Iran attempted to contact the Saudis six times, without any response. You will find the answer to this question at the end of the article.

Let us first recall that military might is not a guaranteer of success, what happened to the Americans in Iraq and Vietnam, and to the Soviets in Afghanistan, not withstanding our Arab/Islamic history that is full of instances of shocking military victories over the infidels, despite being disadvantaged, whether it's a numerical or technological disadvantage. Military might is one factor that can determine the course of a battle, but there are many other factors at play, that if put together the weaker side can achieve victory.

Let's not compare Saudi forces to its Russian counterpart, rather let us look at other cultural/diplomatic avenues or perhaps covert operations that Saudi Arabia can employ to deal Russia a significant blow. Let us begin with the legitimacy of Saudi's intervention in Syria as opposed to Russia's. With what right does Russia occupy an Arab/Islamic nation and then go on to kill its people using aerial bombardment, that Saudi Arabia which is an influential Arab/Islamic nation doesn't.

Comment: Well, this is...delusional at best. Hopefully the above is just one strange argument. If this is what is inside the Saudis' minds....Geez!!!

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Sheriff

Russian UN ambassador condemns Turkey's shelling of Syria amid 'unique' intl peace effort


RT
Wed, 17 Feb 2016 16:10 UTC
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin
© Eduardo Munoz / ReutersRussian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin
If Turkey continues to shell the Syrian town of Azaz amid the diplomatic community's "unique" consolidated effort to negotiate a truce, the UN Security Council will be forced to officially condemn Ankara's violation of international law, Russia's UN envoy told RT.

Following a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday regarding the ongoing Turkish shelling of Kurdish YPG militia targets in Syria, the council's president urged Ankara to "comply with international law." While falling short of full-blown condemnation into the violation of Syrian sovereignty following the non-stop shelling of Syria, the UNSC reiterated its commitment to the Munich agreement, which seeks a ceasefire in a five-year conflict.

"I think that if Turkey continues their shelling, then we will have to once again address this issue...If these actions continue we most likely will need to talk about drafting a Security Council document, that will outline the [UNSC] position, warning Turkey that such actions are unacceptable," Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin told RT.

Last Friday at an international meeting in Munich, Russia and the US agreed to seek a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria. The truce would not apply to the battle against terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front and was initially scheduled to begin by February 19.
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Bomb

Radioactive material stolen from US-owned storage facility in Iraq, sparks fears of dirty bomb in the hands of ISIS

Matt Agorist
The Free Thought Project
Wed, 17 Feb 2016 16:04 UTC
terror meter
Thanks to the tyrannical and murderous foreign policy of the United States, and their perpetual funding and arming of extremist groups in the Middle East, a terrorist organization known as the Islamic State has burst on to the scene and shown to be a substantial threat.

ISIS, unlike previous government-created bogeymen, has demonstrated that they are capable of inflicting great harm in both the East and the West, which makes the news of 'highly dangerous' radioactive material being stolen, quite worrisome.

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the material had been stolen from a US-owned storage facility, in Basra, Iraq.
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Propaganda

Pentagon releases low-grade propaganda blaming Russia for "human suffering" in Syria with no proof


RT
Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:15 UTC
ISIS in Syria
The US command has told journalists gathered at the Pentagon that "brutal dictatorship" is to blame for the human suffering in Syria, claiming the Russian operation has caused further "tremendous damage" - yet offering no proof to back the assertion.

"Let's be clear: the human suffering on the ground [in Syria] is the result of the Assad regime's brutal dictatorship," Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Colonel Steven Warren stated in his opening remarks, speaking via video link from Baghdad.

"The Russian intervention has only strengthened his position and worsened the situation there. This week we all saw the reports of continued indiscriminate bombing by Russian and regime forces, and even the use of barrel bombs," Warren said, delivering his professional view on the situation on the ground.

Having also highlighted reports of "hospitals and a school in northern Syria [being] struck," Warren continued his analysis of Moscow's actions in the region, saying that "this reckless disregard for civilian casualties only complicates the situation and prolongs human suffering."

While he did not mention Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists on Syrian territory at all, Warren swiftly moved onto an update on the anti-IS efforts by Iraqi authorities with the help of the US-led coalition, before wrapping up his prepared statement.

Comment: What a bunch of hogwash! It doesn't take a gaggle of brain cells to see that it is the Unites States who creates inhuman suffering in Syria. This is not only a ruse to project their own pathological and destructive behavior onto Russia, it is a priming of the American mind to accept the lies that Russia will break an arbitrary pact that is designed to put the blame on Russia.

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Arrow Up

Breaking rank: More German business managers speaking out against Russian sanctions


Russia Insider
Thu, 18 Feb 2016 00:00 UTC
german economy
All throughout the ranks of the German economy, the "Russia sympathizers" are gaining more confidence. The business managers had been silent ever since spring of 2014, when German Chancellor Merkel more or less superimposed her "political primacy" on the Chairman of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, Eckhard Cordes. After all, according to Cordes, the reward for following her lead would be real and tangible. Russia would abide by the rules, give Crimea back to the Ukraine, and the European framework of peace would come back into balance.

After almost two years, none of these promises have come true. For many, any credit that had existed in support of the political sanctions has been completely used up.

Aside from that, the majority of the Russian political class is convinced that these "rules," which are often talked about, would be tailored-made to fit the West. This "European framework of peace" has already been suspended since the bombing of Serbia in 1999. So no one expects Moscow to budge for the EU, especially not with regard to Crimea.

Comment: It will be interesting to see how long the Empire of Chaos can maintain its iron grip on the EU as more people begin to openly question the 'benefits' of being a US puppet. Russia's clear success in fighting terror and her global and economic resurgence despite sanctions is causing more and more intelligent people to question their alliance.

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Bomb

Handmade bomb blast hits military convoy in SE Turkey killing 6


RT
Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:50 UTC
Turkey convoy explosion
© hilalhabercom / YouTube
Six military personnel have been killed and one seriously wounded in an explosion that hit a military convoy in the southeast of Turkey, the armed forces said in a statement. The convoy was traveling along a highway linking Diyarbakir and Bingol.

The military also said that a handmade bomb was detonated by remote control while the military vehicle was searching for mines on the highway linking Diyarbakir to the district of Lice, Reuters reports.

According to reports, a number of soldiers arrived at the scene of the accident and started an anti-terrorist operation.
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Piggy Bank

Petrol pump pain: First Venezuelan gasoline price jump in 20 years


RT
Thu, 18 Feb 2016 13:41 UTC
Paying for gas
© Marco Bello / Reuters
Gasoline will no longer be cheaper than water for Venezuelans after President Nicolas Maduro devalued the national currency and raised petrol prices 60-fold.

"I take responsibility for it," said Maduro.

Caracas has hiked petrol prices for the first time in 20 years, as the oil-dependent Venezuelan economy is no longer able to subsidize its cost at the pumps, selling gasoline to its citizens for next to nothing.

Crude exports account for 95 percent of Venezuela's revenues. Since mid-2014 oil prices have fallen over 70 percent, slashing the nation's income dramatically.
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Battery

Moronic: U.S. army blames devastation caused by runaway blimp on lack of batteries


RT
Wed, 17 Feb 2016 00:16 UTC
Blimp
© John Hamilton/ReutersA Raytheon Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) aerostat is pictured on the White Sands Missile Range in this file photo.
A trail of devastation left across two states by a runaway US Army blimp last fall could have been prevented had someone remembered to replace the batteries on a fail-safe device. Despite the fiasco, the Pentagon wants to keep the "zombie" program alive.

The experimental floating sensor platform, known as the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), was moored at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, supposedly keeping watch over the eastern seaboard. In October 2015, it got carried away by strong winds, drifting for 13 hours before eventually crashing in rural Pennsylvania. Some 35,000 people were left without power as the mooring cable severed power lines in the aerostat's wake.

The Pentagon has declined to release the full report into the affair, providing only a six-sentence summary that blamed "design, human, and procedural issues."

Military investigators cited multiple equipment failures as the cause of the incident, including the device designed to automatically deflate the aerostat - because someone had forgotten to replace the batteries.

The first piece of equipment to fail was a pitot tube, described as a narrow, 18-inch-long device intended to measure air pressure within the blimp. As the air pressure dropped, the JLENS turned against the wind and the mooring cable snapped.

At this point, a fail-safe device was supposed to deflate the aerostat and force it to land within two miles. It never happened.

"The lack of batteries prevented the automatic rapid deflation device from deploying," Michael Kucharek, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), told the Los Angeles Times.

Comment: What a bunch of 'exceptional' idiots!

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