Puppet MastersS


Piggy Bank

US to place restrictions on unfrozen Iranian funds


RT
Sat, 12 Aug 2023 02:38 UTC
Kirby
© Susan Walsh/APNational Security Council spokesman John Kirby
Washington will have "full visibility" on where the money is directed, the White House said...

The United States will maintain restrictions on $6 billion in seized Iranian assets set to be released as part of a prisoner swap deal, under which Tehran is expected to release five detained Americans.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby commented on the arrangement on Friday, telling reporters that the US would keep a close watch on where the resources are sent. He stressed that talks are ongoing, however:
"The deal is not done. Essentially, the funds can only be accessed for food, medicine, medical equipment that would not have a dual military use. There will be a rigorous process of due diligence and standards applied with input from the US Treasury Department."
The agreement was first reported by multiple media outlets earlier this week, which noted that in addition to unfreezing billions in Iranian funds, Washington would also release five Iranians currently locked in US prisons. President Joe Biden has reportedly approved the deal in principle.
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Bullseye

Best of the Web: Retired US colonel says Ukraine 'will lose' in conflict against Russia, 'NATO will fall apart in 18 months'

Kiranpreet Kaur
The Eastern Herald
Mon, 14 Aug 2023 09:42 UTC
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson
FILE PHOTO: Former National Security Advisor, Assistant Secretary of State and retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson
Retired US Army Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson provides a sobering analysis of Ukraine's conflict with Russia, highlighting the inevitability of defeat, the tragedy of misguided support, and the profiteering motives behind the scenes

Washington, D.C., United States (TEH) - In a candid and unfiltered interview, retired US Army Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson, former chief of staff to the head of the US State Department Colin Powell, has laid bare the grim reality of Ukraine's conflict with Russia. The authoritative American, who also serves as a freelance researcher at the Quincy Institute, did not mince words in his assessment of the situation.

"It was a disaster from the start. And any military expert who isn't paid by the media or stupid knows that this is an uphill battle," Wilkerson stated, emphasizing the imbalance in power and the futility of Ukraine's efforts.

A Losing Proposition

Comment: From 2015: U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson: "U.S. Republic Sinking Under Weight of Interminable Global War for Empire"

It seems the above commentary came from the following interview with Retired US Army Colonel Lawrence B. Wilkerson:



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SOTT Logo Radio

SOTT Focus: NewsReal: Hawaii Wildfire Tragedy: Man-Made or Natural Disaster?


Sott.net
Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:12 UTC
hawaii wildfire maui lahaina newsreal
© Sott.net
The tragic wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, this week has killed around 100 people, spurring intensified discourse around 'climate change', land (mis)management and so-called 'directed-energy weapons'. What is most likely to have caused this fire? Its timing, so soon after the propaganda onslaught about 'global boiling', seems a mite coincidental.

But first up, Joe and Niall discuss the 'bombshell revelation' that Barack Obama once wrote to an ex-girlfriend about having homosexual proclivities. This salacious 'news' isn't, of course, the real news about the Obamas: it's merely a clue that potentially unmasks the carefully-crafted image of the Obamas - and potentially confirms some of the worst rumors about them.


Running Time: 01:56:24

Download: MP3 — 79.9 MB

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Bomb

Pentagon's defense of cluster munition use by Ukraine is 'cynicism' - Russia


RT
Fri, 11 Aug 2023 06:57 UTC
Russian ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov.
© SputnikRussian ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov.
The weapons, which the US says Ukraine is "properly" using, have already killed a Russian journalist, ambassador Antonov has said.

Attempts by US officials to portray Ukraine's use of controversial cluster munitions as appropriate and legitimate are shameless and outrageous, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the US, said on Thursday.

In a statement on Telegram, Antonov commented on remarks by Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder, who said the US has "all indications" that Ukraine is "properly" employing cluster munitions, which are banned in more than 100 countries because of the dangers they pose to civilians - just as Kiev had promised.

Comment: See also:

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NPC

Poland's PM blames Russia, Belarus for orchestrating migration crisis, 16,000 unlawful attempts to cross border in 2023


Al Mayadeen
Sun, 13 Aug 2023 15:39 UTC
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki
Poland's Prime Minister accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind the migrant crisis at Belarus's border with Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated on Sunday that Poland recorded 16,000 attempts to unlawfully enter its eastern border in 2023 and that Russia and Belarus, in his judgment, masterminded the situation.

During an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Morawiecki said that "Poland has been under attacks on its eastern border with Belarus for more than two years now. This is a joint plan of Russia and Belarus, who want to destabilize not only our country but the entire European Union."

He further said that Russia and Belarus "cynically used migrants" to undermine Poland's security structures and undermine European partners' solidarity.


Comment: Does he mean the migrants that have been attempting to flee the West's wars and economic devastation? The same migrants that have been flooding Europe, and with the consent of the EU, since at least 2003? How exactly is that Russia's fault? He is also surely aware that Russia has taken in over 2 million Ukrainians - the most taken in by any country - since the conflict instigated by the West's proxy war?

Is Russia responsible for the tens of thousands of migrants that reached UK shores in just the last year? And what about the 40,000 that have arrived just in the state of New York?


Comment: There surely will be some that believe Morawiecki, but does the PM really think that many of Poland's voters are so ignorant? Also check out SOTT radio's: The Truth Perspective: Weapons of Mass Migration: Interview with Michael Springmann on Europe's Migrant Crisis

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Light Saber

Not bluffing: Russian warship fires warning shots at cargo vessel seeking entry to Ukraine port

Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge
Sun, 13 Aug 2023 18:18 UTC
Vasily Bykov russia warning shot blockade ukraine port ismail
The patrol ship "Vasily Bykov" opened warning fire to stop a dry cargo ship heading to Ukrainian Izmail
In the latest in the battle for the Black Sea and its export routes, Russia has confirmed Sunday that its warship fired on a foreign cargo vessel which was headed towards the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

Russia is now intercepting and inspecting cargo ships near Ukrainian ports, after Kremlin officials complained that the prior grain deal enabled the Ukrainians to secretly import military cargo.

The Russian patrol ship has been identified as Vasily Bykov. It fired after the Palau-flagged civilian cargo ship allegedly did not respond to the request that it stop for "the inspection for the transportation of prohibited goods."

Comment: Putin warned that any ship attempting to dock at Ukraine ports would be interdicted. He wasn't kidding.

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Briefcase

Rep. Greg Steube files articles of impeachment against Joe Biden

Henry Rodgers
Daily Caller
Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:33 UTC
Steube
© dailycaller.comRep. Greg Steube (R-FLA)
Republican Florida Rep. Greg Steube filed articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden on Friday.

The Daily Caller obtained the resolution, which lists Bribery, Extortion, Obstruction of justice, Fraud and Financial involvement in drugs & prostitution as reasons to impeach Biden.

Steube, in a statement after introducing the resolution, said:
"It's long past time to impeach Joe Biden. He has undermined the integrity of his office, brought disrepute on the Presidency, betrayed his trust as President, and acted in a manner subversive of the rule of law and justice at the expense of America's citizens. The evidence continues to mount by the day - the Biden Crime Family has personally profited off Joe's government positions through bribery, threats, and fraud. Joe Biden must not be allowed to continue to sit in the White House, selling out our country."
Article 1 states: "Robert Hunter Biden (Hunter Biden) and James Biden sold access to then Vice President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. (Joe Biden) while he was in office from 2009 to 2017 and sold promised access to a future Biden Presidential Administration while he was out of office from 2017 to 2021. Hunter and James appear to have promised official actions by Joe Biden in return for payments and business opportunities from foreign and domestic business partners. Joe Biden assisted by making appearances, phone calls, meeting with the 'business partners,' and knowingly allowing his family members to promise access to him and actions by him in furtherance of these schemes. Hunter Biden threatened business partners that official actions could be taken against them if they did not meet terms or make payments. In at least one instance, Hunter implied that Joe Biden was aware of these threats and willing to assist in enforcing the threats, potentially through official actions. Hunter Biden attempted to enrich himself and the Biden family by threatening official actions from his father, who he claims was willing to assist in the scheme. These acts are abuses of power as well as the following federal crimes or conspiracy to commit the following federal crimes: Bribery of Public Officials, 18 USC § 201; Hobbs Act Extortion 'Under Color of Official Right,' 18 USC § 1951; Honest Services Fraud relating to use of official position, 18 USC § 1346."

Comment: And so it begins...

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Footprints

Palestinian President Abbas fires most governors in West Bank, Gaza


Daily Sabah
Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:57 UTC
Flags
© ReutersPalestinian flags on display as President Mahmoud Abbas visits Jenin • July 12, 2023
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday dismissed most of the governors in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, in a move said to be in response to long-standing demands for a political shake-up.

Abbas issued a decree dismissing the governors of eight provinces under Palestinian administration in the occupied territory. The overhaul included the restive northern cities of Nablus, Jenin and Tulkarem. Only three areas - including Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority - retained their governors.

The president's office said that he would form a committee to suggest replacements.

Although the decision is unlikely to have an immediate impact on the ground, experts said it signals Abbas' recognition of the authority's deepening unpopularity and his desire to show that he is heeding calls for change in the face of mounting difficulties.

Political analyst Jehad Harb said:
"It gives the authority a new face, which is important particularly as the governors are in charge of all security matters. But it won't change anything really. (Abbas) is trying to rebuild some public trust, but it will take much more."
Palestinians have not had the chance to vote in national elections since 2006. Abbas' original four-year term technically ended in 2009.
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Rocket

Fresh missile attacks on Crimean Bridge foiled


RT
Sat, 12 Aug 2023 10:46 UTC
bridge
© social networkCrimea Bridge
The head of the region Sergey Aksenov has reported that two projectiles have been downed and the key transport infrastructure remains intact...

Russian air defenses have shot down two incoming missiles in the vicinity of the Crimean Bridge, the region's head, Sergey Aksenov, reported on his Telegram channel on Saturday. Photos and videos have been circulating on social media depicting what appears to be several columns of smoke coming from the transport infrastructure.

In his post, Aksenov wrote: "Air defenses have shot down two enemy rockets in the Kerch Strait area." He added that the "Crimean Bridge has not been damaged," and called on local residents to remain calm.

Meanwhile, Aksenov's aide Oleg Kryuchkov, revealed on his Telegram channel that a "smoke screen has been set off by the special services." He also wrote that the Crimean Bridge would be reopened to vehicles "very soon."

Later in the day Aksenov issued another message, saying that one more missile had been downed over the Kerch Strait. The official also expressed gratitude to the Russian air defenses for their "professionalism."

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine "attempted to conduct a terrorist strike on the Crimean Bridge using a guided air-defense S-200 missile converted into a strike version" around 1pm Moscow time on August 12. It said Russian air defenses had "detected the Ukrainian rocket in a timely manner and intercepted it in mid-air." The statement added that the foiled missile attack had not caused any casualties or destruction.
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Brick Wall

Ukraine facing 'difficult' autumn - foreign minister


RT
Sat, 12 Aug 2023 15:19 UTC
Kuleba
© Lev Radin/Light Rocket/Pacific Press/Getty ImagesUkraine FM Dmitry Kuleba
Kiev's Western backers will increasingly push the country to negotiate with Russia, Dmitry Kuleba predicts...

Ukraine is heading for a "very difficult political season," with the country likely to be pushed into negotiating with Russia, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba has said.

He promised to do everything to resist efforts to coerce the country into seeking a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict.

Quoted by Ukrainian media, Kuleba on Saturday said:
"It will be a very difficult political season, I warn everyone. These voices [calling for talks] are getting louder. We will do everything within the framework of international and criminal law to ensure that these voices fade away."
Kiev has repeatedly rejected any possibility of negotiating with Russia, with the country's President Vladimir Zelensky even introducing specific legislation last fall that explicitly banned such a move. On the other hand, Moscow has repeatedly expressed readiness to engage in meaningful negotiations to resolve the conflict, which has continued for a year-and-a-half.
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