Puppet MastersS


Key

EU strikes lucrative military contracts with China overriding Tiananmen embargo


RT
Wed, 30 Apr 2014 14:46 UTC
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© Reuters/Guang NiuHelicopters fly past the Chinese Jiangwei II class naval frigate Luoyang
Europe is powering the military rise of China, approving multi-million dollar deals for the transfer of weapons and dual-use technology - despite an arms embargo stemming from the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, AFP reveals.

China is the world's second largest military spender and the fastest growing military market, with Beijing setting aside $132 billion in defense spending. While they are yet to touch the US' massive $495.6 billion defense budget, China recently announced they would increase military spending by 12.2 percent for 2014.

"It will take China a long, long time before its budgets will effectively alter the military balance with the US," Jonathan Holslag of the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies, recently told Stars and Stripes.

"But that's not the main concern. While the US still has some scope to respond, neighbors are getting much more nervous... Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines all know that they could be the first victim if the balance of power shifts at America's detriment."
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Black Cat

Psychopath Dr. Annette Bosworth, running for S. Dakota office, compares food stamp recipients to wild animals

Travis Gettys
The Raw Story
Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:54 UTC
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© Emily Spartz/Argus LeaderU.S. Senate candidate Annette Bosworth
A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate compared food stamp recipients to wild animals in a Facebook post.

Dr. Annette Bosworth, who is running for South Dakota's open Senate seat against four other Republicans, shared a viral image Monday on her personal page on the social media network, reported Right Wing Watch.

"The food stamp program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They proudly report that they distribute free meals and food stamps to over 46 million people on an annual basis," the graphic claims.

"Meanwhile, the National Park Service, run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, asks us 'please do not feed the animals.' Their stated reason for this policy being that ... The animals will grow dependent on the handouts, and then they will never learn to take care of themselves," it continues. "This concludes today's lesson. Any questions?"
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Boat

Oui mais Non: France refuses to block Mistral warship deal with Russia


RT
Mon, 12 May 2014 14:12 UTC
Mistral ship
© Reuters/Alexander DemianchukFrance's Mistral amphibious helicopter carrier ship docks on the Neva River in St. Petersburg November 23, 2009.
The French government has said that it will go ahead with 1.2 billion euro ($1.6 billion) contract to supply Russia with two Mistral helicopter carriers because cancelling the deal would harm Paris more than Moscow.

In the wake of the crisis in Ukraine, the United States had been pressing France as well as Britain and Germany to take a tougher line against Russia and cancel the Mistral contract.

But France refuses to link the helicopter carrier deal to the US/EU debate over tougher sanctions against Russia.

A French government official travelling with President Francoise Hollande in Azerbaijan Sunday, who asked not be named, told reporters that the contract was too big to cancel and that if France didn't fulfill the order it would be hit with penalties.
"The Mistrals are not part of the third level of sanctions. They will be delivered. The contract has been paid and there would be financial penalties for not delivering it.
"It would be France that is penalized. It's too easy to say France has to give up on the sale of the ships. We have done our part," the official said.
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Treasure Chest

London has more billionaires than any other city in the world, while the number relying on food banks to survive has risen 163%


Agence France-Presse
Sat, 10 May 2014 14:25 UTC
London
© Agence France-Presse/Justin TallisThis picture taken on January 9, 2013 shows the view of London, featruring St. Paul's Cathedral as seen from the 68th floor of "The Shard" in central London
London has more billionaires than any other city in the world, and Britain has more billionaires per head of population than any other country, new data showed on Saturday.

The survey of Britain's super-rich compiled for the Sunday Times newspaper is likely to prompt debate in a country where many still struggle financially and where food banks are a fact of life, despite economic growth recently returning to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crash.

London is home to 72 of Britain's 104 sterling billionaires, well ahead of Moscow in second place with 48 people worth the equivalent of 1 billion pounds or more. New York is in third place with 43 billionaires, San Francisco in fourth place with 42, Los Angeles next with 38 and Hong Kong in sixth place with 34.
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Pirates

As U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt admits 'no Russian involvement in Odessa massacre', German government advisor Christoph Hörstel sez: 'CIA agents are all over place'

Jay Johnson
The Voice of Russia
Mon, 05 May 2014 23:01 UTC
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© Unknown
There is no evidence of Russia's involvement in the Friday massacre in Odessa, US Ambassador in Kiev, Geoffrey Pyatt had to admit Sunday as he spoke by telephone on a CNN program. "We don't have evidence of the Russian role in the tragedy that transpired on Friday", Pyatt said, answering the anchor's downright question on whether Moscow was what's been widely dubbed as the bloodiest day in the Ukrainian crisis. The Voice of Russia talked to Christoph Hörstel - Government Consultant and Publicist in Germany.
US Ambassador to Kiev Geoffrey Pyatt has said earlier today there's no evidence of Russia's involvement in the Friday's massacre in Odessa. Do you think it could be a sign the West starts to reevaluate Russia's role in the Ukrainian events?
Unfortunately, not. All the news I get is that the Western position is hardening. They are supporting the illegal government in Kiev with all its actions and there is a double-tongued policy when the Yanukovich government tried to restore order, there was a blast from the West side. And now we have in fact fascist groups being incorporated in a so-called anti-terror mission, which is for my feeling is terror mission against the people's defense forces, for example, in Slavyansk, and Odessa as well. And that means we have a double-standard policy in the West which is so crazy now because it is very aggressive and the aggression is not only against the Ukrainian people. The aggression is directed against Russia. That must be clear.
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X

Greek Supreme Court allows neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party to participate in European elections


The Raw Story
Sun, 11 May 2014 13:19 UTC
golden dawn
© Agence France-PresseThe once fringe neo-Nazi party's popularity has surged in the wake of Greece's economic crisis
Greece's Supreme Court has allowed neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn to participate in upcoming European parliament elections, a party lawyer said on Sunday.

"We expected this decision. We have faith in Greek justice," lawyer Pavlos Sarakis told AFP.

The authorisation came despite an ongoing criminal probe against the political party, six of whose lawmakers including its leader are in prison awaiting trial.

Nearly all the party's 18 lawmakers are under investigation by Greek justice over serious crimes allegedly committed by the once-fringe party over the past two years, during its rise to prominence.

Comment: Regarding Golden Dawn's cache of past actions, this is a bad idea altogether.

But the plot thickens: Interesting, while the court ruling referred to above came out on Sunday May 11, the next day, Monday May 12, the supreme court received an envelop containing bullets and a threatening letter. From the Greek Reporter:
Shortly after 1pm Monday, an envelope arrived at the prosecutor's office of the Greek Supreme Court, which contained three 7.62 mm bullets - the caliber used in Kalashnikov guns - and a message written in ancient Greek, which stated: "Whoever took part in this scam, whether it is a Minister, judge or prosecutor should correct their statement within 15 days, and release anyone that it in custody. Otherwise, within 20 months, these bullets will come from afar."

The threatening note, hints at the detention of politicians and, in general, opposes the Greek justice system and politicians: "If you don't release all those who have been wrongly imprisoned in this case within the next 15 days, then in the next 20 months, the minister, the prosecutor or the investigator who were involved in the case, will mourn family members irrespective of sex and age. This time will be necessary to identify the targets. Injustice wipes out families."

The letter was signed by "Alepoudelis," which is the real name of the famous Greek poet Odysseus Elytis, who originated from Mytilene, the hometown of the Supreme Court Prosecutor, Efterpi Koutzamani. Police say they do not consider the incident as very serious threat, at least for now, and meanwhile the case has been taken over by the anti-terrorist unit.

Golden Dawn statements in regards to the bullets

In a statement issued shortly after 3pm Golden Dawn, spoke of a case of "funny provocation" which only plans to impress: "Golden Dawn denounces the people who are trying to create confusion and disorient public opinion. We condemn this funny provocation of sending a threatening letter to the Supreme Court. We want everyone to know that you can't stop Golden Dawn's rapid electoral rise in such ways."


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Post-It Note

Rubio skeptical of human-caused climate change, gives Hillary Clinton an 'F'

Louise Radnofsky
The Wall Street Journal
Sun, 11 May 2014 13:07 UTC
rubio
Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.)
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio told ABC's This Week that he believed he was ready to be president and would take an all-or-nothing approach to running if he does decide to go ahead, while also sounding skeptical notes on climate change and Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state - two likely hot issues in 2016.

Asked by ABC's Jonathan Karl if he thought he was ready, Mr. Rubio said quickly, "I do," before adding some qualifiers.

"I think that's true for multiple other people that would want to run. I mean, I'll be 43 this month, but the other thing that perhaps people don't realize: I've served now in public office for the better part of 14 years. And most importantly, I think a president has to have a clear vision of where the country needs to go and clear ideas about how to get it there. And I think we're very blessed in our party to have a number of people that fit that criteria."
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Bullseye

Good question by Ron Paul: Why is US involved in Ukraine?


RT
Mon, 12 May 2014 11:14 UTC
Ron Paul
© Reuters/Shannon Stapleton
The United States is being hypocritical in its response to the armed clashes between Kiev and pro-Russian groups in eastern Ukraine, former Congressman Ron Paul wrote in a new column.

In the column, published by the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, the former libertarian lawmaker questioned the American role in the conflict unfolding in Ukraine, criticizing the US for blaming recent outbreaks of violence on Russian sympathizers rather than the Ukrainian military.

The column comes just a few days after the Ukrainian military killed about 20 people in Mariupol, where the country's Interior Ministry claimed that pro-Russia militants attempted to seize the local police building. Residents in the area, meanwhile, stated that local police did not want to take orders from Kiev, and that sparked a response by the military that ended up engulfing outsiders who arrived in support of the officers.

Following a statement by the US State Department that pinned the blame on pro-Russia separatists, Paul wrote the American government should not support Ukraine's use of military force against its own people, particularly if they are unarmed.
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Dollar

US authorizes $1bn of American taxpayers' money to puppet regime Ukraine in loan guarantees


RT
Sat, 10 May 2014 10:35 UTC
Image
© Reuters / Lee Jae-Won
Washington granted Kiev authorities $1 billion in loan guarantees, which came into force on Friday. The loan comes amid Kiev's punitive military operation on eastern Ukraine, so far resulting in dozens killed and injured among the civilian population.

The warranties and conditions of the $1 bn loan guarantees, that the US is giving acting through its Agency for International Development (USAID), are to be issued on Monday, according to the US Federal Register.

The loan guarantees will be in accord with the agreement between the US and Ukraine made on April 14. The loan will apply to sums borrowed from Friday and thirty days after, not exceeding the total of $1 billion in principal amount and is to be repaid by Ukraine with interest.

On May 7 Ukraine received its first emergency rescue money from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The two-year program is to shell out over $17bn in aid to Ukraine's troubled economy. In total the international community has promised the coup-appointed authorities in Kiev $27bn.

The country gripped by riots has over $9 bn in debt, including the Ukraine's gas debt to Russia, which hit $3.5 bn in May. Russian energy minister Aleksandr Novak said in April that Ukraine's growing gas debt may lead to the failure of the country's transit obligations and the reduction of gas supplies to southeastern Europe.
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Newspaper

New Snowden documents to be released online next week

Dana Wollman
engadget
Thu, 08 May 2014 10:15 UTC
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© U. Baumgarten via Getty Images
Scroll to the bottom of Glenn Greenwald's blistering response to recent remarks by just-retired NSA chief Keith Alexander, and you'll find some very interesting news indeed. Greenwald, who shared the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of Edward Snowden's NSA surveillance revelations, says he plans to publish previously unpublished NSA documents online next Tuesday, May 13th, with free access. The timing, it should be known, is not a coincidence: Greenwald's book, No Place to Hide, comes out that day. In fact, the documents that going online next week are ones he mentions in the book, but which weren't previously reported in the press. So, if you were expecting the entire trove to go public (and even Snowden has advised against that), you might still be disappointed. But if you've been following this Edward Snowden-NSA-Big Brother saga closely and have an appetite for even more revelations, you'll want to mark your calendars (and pre-order Greenwald's book, if we're correctly reading between the lines).
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