Puppet MastersS


Arrow Down

Putin's top security advisor: "Current US approach leads to inevitable confrontation with Russia and China"

Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:00 UTC
Following the humiliation of tonight's much anticipated Eurogroup meeting in which for the first time ever, not only did Greece punk Germany's stern finance minister, but the ensuing disarray was so profound the panicked European finance ministers couldn't even find a quorum consensus to produce even the tersest of official statements, there was some hope that the second round of negotiations currently taking place in Minsk to find a solution to the Ukraine civil war would at least partially redeem Europe's faltering negotiating reputation.

Alas, as of this moment, that does not appear to be the case, and as Reuters reports citing a Kiev presidential aide, that Minsk talks on Ukraine crisis could last six more hours. "We've got another 5-6 hours of work. At least. But we should not leave here without an agreement on an unconditional ceasefire. There's a battle of nerves underway," aide Valeriy Chaly said in a Facebook post.

Well, if it is indeed a "battle of nerves", something tells who the victor will be, considering all his peers are just a little more preoccupied with the potential collapse of their artificial monetary and political union.
Battle of Nerves
© ZeroHedge
Yet, just like the previous Minsk "agreement", even if by some miracle there is a solution this time around, the probability peace will be maintained is slim to none.
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Stock Down

If you listen carefully, the bankers are actually telling us what is going to happen next

Michael Snyder
The Economic Collapse
Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:34 UTC
Image
Are we on the verge of a major worldwide economic downturn? Well, if recent warnings from prominent bankers all over the world are to be believed, that may be precisely what we are facing in the months ahead. As you will read about below, the big banks are warning that the price of oil could soon drop as low as 20 dollars a barrel, that a Greek exit from the eurozone could push the EUR/USD down to 0.90, and that the global economy could shrink by more than 2 trillion dollars in 2015. Most of the time, very few people ever actually read the things that the big banks write for their clients. But in recent months, a lot of these bankers are issuing such ominous warnings that you would think that they have started to write for The Economic Collapse Blog. Of course we have seen this happen before. Just before the financial crisis of 2008, a lot of people at the big banks started to get spooked, and now we are beginning to see an atmosphere of fear spread on Wall Street once again. Nobody is quite sure what is going to happen next, but an increasing number of experts are starting to agree that it won't be good.

Let's start with oil. Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen a nice rally for the price of oil. It has bounced back into the low 50s, which is still a catastrophically low level, but it has many hoping for a rebound to a range that will be healthy for the global economy.

Unfortunately, many of the experts at the big banks are now anticipating that the exact opposite will happen instead. For example, Citibank says that we could see the price of oil go as low as 20 dollars this year...

Comment: The elite are playing an economic house of cards. Will this be the year when it all comes tumbling down? The signs are looking more and more likely that the time is not too far off; meanwhile billions of people around the globe are suffering from the economic noose that is tightening around their necks.

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Yoda

Moscow's problem: Dealing with imbeciles and vassals

Finian Cunningham
Strategic Culture Foundation
Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:03 UTC
Image
© Sebastien Pirlet/REUTERS
Russia is in a dilemma. How can it work through a peaceful settlement over the Ukraine conflict - and avoid a wider, more terrible war - when it is having to communicate with imbeciles and vassals? We are referring to the American and European leaders, respectively.

The problem of trying to have a conversation with imbeciles is that they are simply incapable of understanding anything outside of their obtuse reality. They suffer from cognitive dissonance and are proud of it. In fact, the more cognitively dysfunctional, the more the imbecile is celebrated as being strong. Imbeciles cannot be enlightened; their ignorant and boorish way of looking at the world is impervious to any different, even more correct perspective. Indeed, they have a visceral aversion to correction, which only retrenches their imbecility all the more.

The problem in dealing with vassals is that they are powerless to change course - even if they have a residual ability to think independently and to recognise an alternative perspective as being more correct, or at least reasonable.

Thus we have the dilemma facing Russia in its dealings with Washington and its European allies over the Ukraine conflict.

Comment: It sure was painful to hear some of the questions Lavrov was given during the Minsk press conference.

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Vader

Best of the Web: "America hell-bent on war": 80-year-old analyst Stephen Lendman has never been more afraid


Sputnik
Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:00 UTC
obama ukraine
© Sputnik/ Aleksey Nikolskyi
I'm 80 years old. I was never scared throughout the Cold War years. I'm very scared now." That is what Stephen Lendman, a Research Associate for the Centre for Research on Globalization told Sputnik in an exclusive interview regarding recent developments related to the military conflict in Ukraine.

As the Normandy Four are set to meet in Minsk on Wednesday to discuss possible ways out of the deteriorating military conflict in eastern Ukraine, Stephen Lendman forecasts that the US won't drop its idea of waging a full-size war in the region.

Washington under the Democrats or Republicans wants war, not peace, he said. "In the post-9/11 era alone, not a single day of peace has followed. Multiple US direct and proxy wars rage. US Special Forces (trained killers) operate covertly and overtly in over 130 countries disruptively."

'Ignore What Germany and France Say Publicly; Follow What They Do'

He says that "Merkel and Hollande (Germany and France) are bedrock US-dominated NATO members." "Ignore what they say publicly; follow what they do," he advised. "Throughout the Ukrainian crisis, they haven't gone their own way against Washington...nor has Britain's David Cameron."
"I'm sure Merkel and Hollande tried to get Putin to largely bend to Washington's will; in other words, [they] do nothing to stop its chokehold on Ukraine, including NATO forces encroaching on Russia's borders."
America maintains an empire of bases in over 150 countries, he added, noting that Russia and China are increasingly surrounded by US bases, which he called "so-called defensive missiles for an offense target: their heartlands."

Washington wants all sovereign independent governments eliminated, Lendman stated. "Replaced by pro-Western stooge ones. America's ultimate aim is unchallenged global dominance; it's willing to wage wars to achieve its objectives."

Comment: Mr. Lendman's words are starkly accurate. Whether or not Washington will be able to implement its plan for world-domination is still to be seen. More and more countries are finally waking up to the US' psychopathic goal. If they can band together as has begun with the BRICS there may be some hope for a different outcome.

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Recycle

Arrogant: Obama seeks 3yr authority for ground troops to fight 'ISIS'


RT
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 23:09 UTC
isis
© Reuters/Stringer
President Barack Obama will submit a proposal to Congress on Wednesday seeking a new, three-year Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against the Islamic State that allows for the limited use of ground troops, according to Reuters.


Comment: As predicted, that whole 'no boots on the ground' schtick was all BS to begin with.


All of the details of the AUMF are not finalized, according to administration officials, but some were shared with reporters. The new AUMF would limit military operations to three years but wouldn't put any geographic limitation on the battlefield. Instead, the authorization would enable military action against the Islamic State and associated forces.


Comment: How convenient. And how utterly in violation of that little thing called 'national sovereignty', the very thing Obama and his government have accused Russia of violating.


The proposal will also seek the use of limited ground troops in situations such as the search-and-rescue of US soldiers or intelligence operations, but would prohibit the use of ground troops in "enduring offensive ground operations."

The White House has indicated it is ready to work with Congress to get the authorization passed.


Comment: Naturally.


Comment: The U.S. should listen to people with an ounce of sanity. For example, John Mearsheimer: "Sending weapons to Ukraine will not rescue its army and will instead lead to an escalation in the fighting." And European Parliament Deputy Martin Shulz: "This conflict is occurring on the border with the EU, therefore the US ought to pull back. I think it would be best if the Europeans were to solve this problem themselves."

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Mr. Potato

Delusional: Obama warns Putin to stop 'aggressive actions'


Telegraph, UK
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 22:26 UTC
Obama
© REXMr Obama is considering sending lethal aid to Ukraine's military
President Barack Obama has warned Russia not to continue its "aggressive actions" in Ukraine as the repercussions will increase.


Comment: What is the word for 'repercussions' when the act leading to those 'repercussions' did not occur? Unilateral aggression based on false pretenses?


The White House said Mr Obama reiterated US support for Ukraine's sovereignty in his call with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and emphasised the importance of reaching a diplomatic resolution.


Comment: We guess 'supporting' a country's sovereignty is synonomous with violating it for the U.S. It is the U.S. that violated Ukraine's sovereignty when they sponsored the coup there in 2014.


"However, if Russia continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise," the White House said in a statement.


Comment: And yet the U.S. has been financing regime change, sending military aid, and is planning on sending lethal weaponry (if NATO isn't already) to Kiev. Double standard?

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Dollars

Best of the Web: When "conspiracy theories" become reality: HSBC documents reveal criminal conspiracy of banks and governments

Andre Damon
Global Research
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 21:20 UTC
Image
© Unknown
On Sunday, international news outlets the Guardian and Le Monde, working with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), published articles based on their analysis of leaked files showing that the Swiss private banking arm of HSBC, Europe's largest bank, functioned for years as a tax evasion and money laundering firm.

The company ran a branch that gave out "bricks" of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in foreign denominations and provided its wealthy clientele with advice on how to commit tax fraud, according to the reports.

These facts have for years been been in the possession of international financial regulators and governments throughout the world—including those of Britain, France and the United States—which systematically covered them up. Neither the bank, nor its executives, nor any of the clients that utilized its tax dodging services have been criminally prosecuted.

Comment: Given HSBC's track record so far, this really comes as no surprise:

Drug money banking, terror dealings exposed at HSBC

The Argentina headquarters of HSBC raided by tax officers

HSBC targets account of Syrian refugees in the UK

HSBC to pay $249 million fine for U.S. mortgage abuse

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Family

Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and Hollande meet in Minsk to discuss Ukraine (VIDEO)


Sputnik
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 20:04 UTC
minsk
© AP Photo/Mykola Lazarenko/Pool
Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France began on Wednesday much-anticipated talks on a peace plan that could end the deadly 10-month conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The summit follows recent contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande last week, as well as preparatory work by respective foreign ministers and a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine.

Before the summit began, Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with his Ukrainian counterpart Petro Poroshenko and exchanged a few words, Rossiya-1 TV channel reports. Putin sat in front of Poroshenko, Hollande and Merkel sat on a sofa between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked with his German colleague Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.

Earlier it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, comprising the so-called Normandy quartet, have arrived in Minsk to hold talks on Ukrainian reconciliation.


Comment: Some live updates from RT:
16:32 GMT: Poroshenko has said he is "crossing his fingers" that today's meeting will be successful and enter the annuals of world diplomacy.

17:33 GMT: Negotiations have gotten underway in Independence Palace's Dipservice Hall, TASS news agency reports. Apart from the 'Normandy Four, 'representatives of the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, Denis Pushilin and Vladislav Deinego, former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov, and OSCE (the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) special representative Heidi Tagliavini will also take part in a separate closed-door contact group meeting.

17:43 GMT: The United Nations expects the Normandy Four negotiations in Minsk to result in a cessation of hostilities in the east of Ukraine, Stefan Dyuzharrik, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, has said. "We look forward to positive results," Dyuzharrik said. "We want to see a cessation of hostilities and to reach an agreement, which will be followed by all parties."

18:38 GMT: The Minsk talks have continued in an expanded format. Putin, Hollande, Merkel, and Poroshenko have been joined by their states' foreign ministers, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

18:38 GMT: All sides of the talks are "willing to reach positive results," Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey has said. "We have had an opportunity to speak to each of the sides and we see that each [of them] is willing to reach a positive result," he said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.

18:47 GMT: President Poroshenko left the room where talks between the leaders have been taking place. He continued to the second floor of the palace, but was back in about 15 minutes.

19:13 GMT: The four leaders are planning to sign a joint declaration on the implementation of the Minsk agreement, a source in the Belarusian capital has told Interfax-Ukraine. "The signing of a joint declaration on the implementation of the Minsk agreements is planned," the source said.

It is also expected that a tripartite contact group in Minsk will agree on implementation plan for the Minsk agreements. "It is expected that the leaders of the 'Normandy format' will support this plan," he added.


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USA

Best of the Web: Obama: 'We have to twist arms when countries don't do what we need them to'


RT
Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:07 UTC
Image
President Barack Obama has said the reality of "American leadership" at times entails "twisting the arms" of states which "don't do what we need them to do," and that the US relied on its military strength and other leverage to achieve its goals.

In a broad-ranging interview with Vox, which Obama himself described as a venue "for the brainiac-nerd types," the US president both denied the efficacy of a purely "realist" foreign policy but also arguing that at times the US, which has a defense budget that exceeds the next 10 countries combined, needed to rely on its military muscle and other levers of power.

Lauding the rule-based system to emerge in the post-World War II era, Obama admitted it wasn't perfect, but argued "the UN, the IMF, and a whole host of treaties and rules and norms that were established really helped to stabilize the world in ways that it wouldn't otherwise be."

Comment: And so the mask is finally removed and the US government is revealed as the elitist, arrogant, aggressor nation that it has always been. Note at minute 9.20 that Obama claims that "we're the largest most powerful country on earth". "Largest"? Really? Is Obama so deluded that he now thinks that the USA is bigger than Russia, a country that has almost twice the landmass of the USA?

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Eye 1

Litvinenko police interviews undermine legal case: He drank poison 'by chance'

John Davison
Exaro
Thu, 12 Feb 2015 01:42 UTC
Litvenenko
© Getty
Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko gave interviews to police on his deathbed that undermine the official story of how he was killed.

While in intensive care, Litvinenko gave an account to two detectives from Scotland Yard of how, by chance, he came to drink a few sips of green tea, which police believe was laced with radioactive polonium.

Police say that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, working for Russian intelligence, met Litvinenko just over eight years ago at a hotel bar in London's Mayfair to poison him with polonium-210, slipped into the tea.

But Litvinenko described in his own words how the final meeting with his alleged murderers was a hit-and-miss, even casual, encounter rather than a carefully crafted assassination.

Comment: So who killed Litvinenko? See Just in time! Litvinenko public inquiry begins and the links there for more clues. Hint: it probably ain't Russia.

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