Puppet MastersS


Vader

Psychopath overview: Washington is humanity's worst enemy - Paul Craig Roberts

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How does Washington get away with the claim that the country it rules is a democracy and has freedom? This absurd claim ranks as one of the most unsubstantiated claims in history.

There is no democracy whatsoever. Voting is a mask for rule by a few powerful interest groups. In two 21st century rulings (Citizens United and McCutcheon), the US Supreme Court has ruled that the purchase of the US government by private interest groups is merely the exercise of free speech. These rulings allow powerful corporate and financial interests to use their money-power to elect a government that serves their interests at the expense of the general welfare.

The control private interests exercise over the government is so complete that private interests have immunity to prosecution for crimes. At his retirement party on March 27, Securities and Exchange Commission prosecutor James Kidney stated that his prosecutions of Goldman Sachs and other "banks too big to fail" were blocked by superiors who "were focused on getting high-paying jobs after their government service." The SEC's top brass, Kidney said, did not "believe in afflicting the comfortable and powerful." In his report on Kidney's retirement speech, Eric Zuesse points out that the Obama regime released false statistics in order to claim prosecutions that did not take place in order to convince a gullible public that Wall Street crooks were being punished.

Megaphone

Jimmy Carter takes a swipe at U.S. foreign policy, sez United States has become the "number one warmonger on Earth"

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Former US President Jimmy Carter took a swipe at recent US foreign policy in an interview with Time.

Carter had some chiding words for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US President Barack Obama for not taking a more proactive role in trying to bring peace in the Middle East.

"I know from experience that the best way to have the United States be a mediator is for the President himself to be deeply involved. In this occasion, when Secretary Clinton was Secretary of State, she took very little action to bring about peace. It was only John Kerry's coming into office that re-initiated all these very important and crucial issues."

This is not the first time Carter has been outspoken against Obama's foreign policy. He has slammed the president in previous remarks about the increased use of drones in the Middle East and NSA surveillance of foreign leaders.

Eye 2

Israel destroys EU-funded humanitarian projects in West Bank to make room for settlements

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© AFP Photo / Ahmad GharabliPalestinians collect their belongings after their house was demolished by Israeli bulldozers in the Arab east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina on March 19, 2014 on the grounds that it was built without a construction permit.
Israel has gone ahead and destroyed several EU-funded humanitarian projects in a settlement zone in the West Bank, despite diplomatic threats and repeated calls to desist, it has been revealed by EurActiv.

There are concerns not only that this is against international law, but that disrupting the area's territorial coherence could seriously undermine any prospect of peace with the Palestinians.

The E1 corridor, as it's called, contains an area known as Ras-a-Baba (or Jabal-al-Baba), overlooking Jerusalem. It has been a target of the Netanyahu government ever since 2012. The three projects destroyed will be joining whole scores of other EU-funded structures that Israel has destroyed, without regard for international law, as Europe believes, calling the area "a red line", a report by EurActiv, an EU policy news and discussion portal, has revealed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to have ordered the destruction of these projects hours after the Palestinians expressed a wish to join 15 UN treaties, and after he halted all ongoing talks with the Palestinian authorities.

V

Protests turn violent as thousands march in Rome against austerity

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© Reuters / Alessandro BianchiA demonstrator is detained by policemen during a protest in downtown Rome April 12, 2014
At least 80 people - both police and protesters - have been injured as street battles broke out in Rome, with rocks being flung and police deploying pepper spray. Thousands took to the street to march against austerity measures.

Blasts and sirens could be heard as a splinter group of masked protesters launched firecrackers, eggs and rocks at police, who defended themselves with shields. One protester had his hand blown off by a firecracker he was yet to throw. At least six people were arrested, police said.

The march started at roughly 14:00 from Porta Pia, with the crowd stating they were protesting in favor of affordable housing and plans for new labor regulations which would make firing and hiring easier.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is in the process of making mass economic reforms. Youth unemployment has risen to well over 40 percent.

MIB

Secret team: CIA behind Ukraine crisis, ousted Yanukovych says

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Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian ousted president
Ukrainian deposed President Viktor Yanukovych says the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is provoking bloodshed in the country by sanctioning the use of weapons against pro-Russia protesters.

Speaking on a Russian television station late on Sunday, the ousted president said the United States authorized the new government in Kiev to use force to crack down on protesters in the country's east.

Yanukovych also warned that Ukraine's interim officials have taken the country to the brink of a civil war.

Megaphone

Russian Foreign Minister: West, Kiev apply double standards to protesters in Eastern Ukraine

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Russian FM Sergey Lavrov
Western countries and Kiev authorities are applying double standards to activists in eastern Ukraine protesting against the coup-appointed government, forgetting similar protests in the capital's Independence Square, says Russian FM Sergey Lavrov.

The self-imposed government ignored adopted laws which they passed themselves, for example, an amnesty for all participants in the riots, according to the agreement from February, 21 on crisis regulation, Sergey Lavrov told popular TV host Vladimir Soloviev at Russia's Channel One show on Friday.

New authorities "amnestied those who were against the [President Viktor] Yanukovich government," said Lavrov, "So those who 'were kinking' in Maidan are no longer guilty."

Now the Kiev government says this very amnesty law will be applied to only to those in the south-east who did not take part in mass riots or did not instigate them.

Bulb

Marine Le Pen, French far-right leader, opposes 'EU demonization of Russia'

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© AFP Photo / Kenzo TribouillardFrench far-right party Front National (FN) presidente Marine Le Pen
French far-right leader Marine le Pen has spoken out in support of Russia and expressed her dismay at Paris's refusal to allow MPs to meet State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin, simply because of his inclusion in the US sanctions list.

Speaking at a meeting with Naryshkin in Moscow, the leader of the National Front party, a member of the European parliament, also believes that Russia is being unfairly "demonized" and that the campaign against the Russian political administration has been cooked up at the highest levels of the EU leadership, with the implicit support of the United States.

"I am surprised a Cold War on Russia has been declared in the European Union," she told colleagues at the meeting. "It's not in line with traditional, friendly relations or with the economic interests of our country or EU countries and harms future relations," she was cited by Interfax as saying.

"Even the threat of sanctions is a counterproductive measure. Decisions can always be reached at the negotiating table - and not by blocking talks."

Vader

Kiev confronts pro-Russia forces in bloody attempt to subjugate east Ukraine to illegitimate regime

troops in east ukraine
© GettyPro-Russian separatists seizing a police building at the weekend in Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine. Troops in uniform without insignia have appeared as in Crimea.
The body of a special forces officer, kneeling in a pool of blood beside a shot-up car, serves as a forewarning of Ukraine's future as cities and towns across an entire region slip out of the control of the government and into the hands of masked gunmen.


Comment: Funny. Leading up to the coup in Ukraine, the legitimate government lost control of the country, which fell into the hands of masked gunmen currently masquerading as the country's real leaders. Now, those same masked gunmen are losing control.


The killing outside the eastern town of Slovyansk and injuries to half a dozen others came in the first armed clash between troops and separatists as the administration in Kiev desperately tried to cling on to the eastern half of the country, after the bitter blow of losing Crimea to the Kremlin.

In response, Ukraine's acting President Olexander Turchinov gave rebels occupying state buildings until 7am today, UK time, to lay down their weapons. "The National Security and Defence Council has decided to launch a full-scale anti-terrorist operation involving the armed forces of Ukraine," Mr Turchinov said in an address to the nation. "We will not allow Russia to repeat the Crimean scenario in the eastern regions of Ukraine."


Comment: In other words, they will not allow the will of the people to be heard or recognized. Turchinov and his gang are illegitimate, plain and simple.


Black Magic

White House comes clean and confirms CIA director John Brennan visited Ukraine just before 'anti-terrorism' military operations was launched against protesters

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Brennan attending a meeting of America's real leaders earlier this year
White House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed that CIA Director John Brennan visited Ukrainian capital Kiev over the weekend and met with high-ranked Ukrainian officials.

Previously, deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich accused Brennan of ordering a crackdown on pro-Russian activists in the east of the country.

The CIA had already dismissed these accusations as "completely false", but did not disclose whether its chief had actually been to Kiev - until now.

"We don't normally comment on the CIA director's travel but given the extraordinary circumstances in this case and the false claims being leveled by the Russians at the CIA we can confirm that the director was in Kiev as part of a trip to Europe," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also demanded an explanation about the nature of the visit.

Mr. Potato

Ooops! Ukrainian PM greets Swiss president with Danish flag

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US-installed Ukrainian 'interim' Prime Minister Yatsenyuk with the Swiss President: "Look Mr. President, I even unfurled your country's flag to welcome you!......eh....
An official visit of Switzerland's president to Ukraine has kicked off with a diplomatic blunder as the country's coup-imposed authorities greeted him with Danish flag instead of the Swiss.

It was Swiss president, Didier Burkhalter, who pointed the mistake out to prime minister, Arseny Yatsenyuk, during their meeting on Monday.

However, Burkhalter was kind enough to treat the incident as a joke, the Swiss media reports.

The flags of Switzerland and Denmark share the same red and white colors and a cross. However, the shape of the two flags and the crosses on them are different.
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European national flags not his strong point. Yatsenyuk finds that playing at being Prime Minister isn't as easy as he thought it would be...

According to Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Burkhalter is visiting Kiev to "underscore the constructive role played by the OSCE in the Ukrainian crisis and the organization's intention to step up its efforts to contribute to de-escalating the tensions in the country."

After holding talks with Yatsenyuk and Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrey Deshchitsa, and the Swiss president will travel to the port city of Odessa where pro-Russian moods are currently on the rise.

Comment: Apparently "Yats" didn't pass Victoria Nuland's "political homework" course, at least not the national flags section. This incident is priceless in that it is a perfect symbol for just how incompetent the rag tag bunch of crazies that the US govt. installed in Ukraine really are.