Puppet Masters

Facts and figures tell the story: Russia 'largely achieved' Syrian objectives

Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:07 UTC

Amid Russia's partial pullout from Syria, Sputnik provides the facts and figures to illustrate what has been accomplished in the five months and fourteen days since the launch of Russia's air campaign.

The military operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces against various terrorist groups operating on the territory of Syria was launched on September 30, 2015. On March 14, 2016 President Putin ordered a partial withdrawal from the country starting March 15, 2016.

Comment: Another measure of the Russian character. Putin outlined clear goals for the Syrian operation and what would happen when they were achieved. Russia is a country that keeps its word.

US State Dept to maintain sanctions until Russia returns Crimea

Sputnik
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 08:50 UTC

Washington will not lift the sanctions imposed after the reunification of Crimea with Russia until Moscow decides to "return Crimea to Ukraine," the spokesman for the US State Department said.

Crimea, which has a predominately ethnically-Russian population, seceded from Ukraine to rejoin Russia two years ago following a referendum on March 16 in which over 96 percent of voters supported the move.

"We will not accept the redrawing of borders by force in the 21st century. Sanctions related to Crimea will remain in place as long as the occupation continues. We again call on Russia to end that occupation and return Crimea to Ukraine," John Kirby said in a statement Wednesday.

He added that Washington remains committed to "a united, sovereign Ukraine."

In 2014, the United States, the European Union and some of their allies imposed a series of economic sanctions targeting key Russian sectors as well as a number of individuals and entities over Russia's reunification with Crimea and its alleged interference in the conflict between Kiev and independence supporters in eastern Ukraine, denied by Moscow.

Comment: Well good luck with that plan! Russia didn't steal it. It is the decision of the Crimeans as to which flag they fly and who they wish as their country and leaders. And then: "We will not accept the redrawing of borders by force in the 21st century." This is a prize statement coming from the US of all countries! And about those sanctions: To Russia the US sanctions are insignificant, given its sky-rocketing status and options around the world.

See also:

War crimes in Yemen: US-supplied Saudi weapons rain down on crowded Yemen marketplace, leaving over 40 civilians dead

Matt Agorist
Free Thought Project
Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:59 UTC

Tragic reports are now flooding out of Yemen's Hajjah Province after Saudi warplanes launched a massive missile strike on a crowded marketplace, leaving anywhere from 40 to 107 innocent civilians dead so far.

Yemen's al-Masirah TV reported on Tuesday that a busy restaurant adjacent to the al-Khamis market was also targeted in the airstrikes.

Original reports of the market strike noted that over 40 civilians have been killed and that number continues to rise.

"The scene was terrifying," Showei Hamoud told Associated Press by phone from Mastaba. "Blood and body parts everywhere." Many of the dead are children who work stalls or carry goods in return for tips, he said.

"People collected the torn limbs in bags and blankets," he said, adding that he could count up to 40 motionless bodies.

Comment: What is the purpose of bombing a marketplace full of civilians? It doesn't accomplish anything other than killing innocents and terrifying the local populace. This is completely evil and psychopathic behavior from the Saudis, all permitted by their American overlords.

Western capitalism at its best: Number of Ukrainian millionaires tripled in 2015

ITAR-TASS
Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:53 UTC

The number of millionaires registered in Ukraine tripled in 2015 to exceed 900 people, the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine press service said on Wednesday.

"According to the State Fiscal Service data, a total of 903 Ukrainians registered their incomes higher than one million hryvni ($37,300)," the statement said, adding that in 2014 the figure was 258 Ukrainian nationals.

The total sum of declared incomes amounts to 4.6 billion hryvni ($171 million).

Israel asks Russia to back redeployment of UN peacekeepers in illegally occupied Golan Heights

Sputnik
Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:43 UTC

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his help to bring back UN peacekeepers to Israel's border with Syria in the Golan Heights and to boost the restoration of a demilitarized zone along the border during their talks in Moscow, Haaretz newspaper reported, citing a source from the Israeli delegation.

On Wednesday, Rivlin arrived in Moscow for a two-day visit. According to the Israeli newspaper, Syrian reconciliation was one of the central issues discussed at the meeting between the presidents.

"Rivlin told Putin that bringing back the (UNDOF) inspectors could be an opening toward restoring the situation on the Golan Heights border to what it had been before the Syrian civil war, which was much better than it is now," the source said, as quoted by the media outlet.

The Golan Heights is a disputed territory that was a part of Syria before Israel seized the area in 1967 during the Six-Day War.

Comment: Wow, asking the UN to help defend the Golan Heights that the UN declares is illegally occupied by Israel and then asking Russia to back this proposal is really mind boggling.

Pepe Escobar: The re-emergence of Lula da Silva in Brazil is a game changer

Pepe Escobar
RT
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 14:38 UTC

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff

Compared to the political/economic rollercoaster in Brazil, House of Cards is kindergarten play.

Only three days after massive street demonstrations calling for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, and less than two weeks after his legally dubious four-hour detention for questioning, former Brazilian President Lula is about to spectacularly re-enter the Brazilian government as a Minister, actually a Super-Minister.

This is Rousseff's one and only chess move left amidst an unprecedented political/economic crisis. Predictably, she will be accused on all fronts - from comprador elites to Wall Street - of having abdicated in favor of Lula, while Lula will be accused of hiding from the two-year-old Car Wash corruption investigation.

Lula and his protégé Dilma had two make-or-break, face-to-face meetings in Brasilia, Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, discussing the detailed terms of his re-entry. At first, Lula would only accept a post in government if he becomes Government Secretary - in charge of political articulation; he would then be part of the hardcore hub that really decides Brazilian policy.

But then, according to a government minister, who requested anonymity, surged the suggestion of Lula as Chief of Staff - the most important ministry post in Brazil.

Ukraine's presidential administration expects Yatsenyuk's resignation next week

ITAR-TASS
Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:38 UTC

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk More: http://tass.ru/en/world/862986

Lawmakers may consider the issue of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's resignation at an extraordinary session of the parliament next week, a source in the presidential administration told the Ukrayinska Pravda newspaper on Thursday.

The discussion in the Verkhovna Rada is unlikely to be held this week as President Pyotr Poroshenko is paying a working visit to Brussels, the source said, adding that chances that the session could take place on Saturday were also slim.

"Most likely, such a meeting be held already next week," the source told the newspaper.

German Embassy in Ankara under heavy police guard amid heightened terror threat

Sputnik
Thu, 17 Mar 2016 14:34 UTC

There is a heavy police presence guarding the German embassy in the Turkish capital on Thursday due to the heightened threat of a terrorist attack.

According to the German Foreign Ministry, the German Embassy in Ankara, the Consulate General and the German school in Istanbul have remained closed on Thursday due to a perceived threat of a terrorist attack on the eve of the Navruz holiday, which is widely celebrated by Kurds.

"The German Embassy is not working today because of the threat of a terrorist attack. As far as I know, the other diplomatic missions in Ankara are working as normal," a police officer guarding the embassy told RIA Novosti.

The closure of the embassy follows a car bomb blast at a bus stop in central Ankara on Sunday, which claimed the lives of at least 37 people.

Comment: RT adds:

The closures of the consulate and school have been made following a warning that was "not conclusively verifiable," according to an email sent by the German consulate to its citizens, DPA reported. The email added that the facilities would be closed as a precaution on Thursday.

Is Turkey sending Germany a message - "make sure the refugee deal goes through, or else"?

EU-Turkey migrant deal threatened as Cyprus and other members slam Ankara 'blackmail'

RT
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 15:52 UTC

A European plan to ease refugee crisis by sending migrants back to Turkey all at once was in serious trouble after Cyprus threatened to derail the deal ahead of Thursday's summit, and some EU countries accused Ankara of 'blackmailing' Brussels.

One day before the start of the next EU-Turkey summit on migration, European countries still face hurdles threatening to undermine the grand refugee deal. As the deal has to be approved by all 28 member states at the summit, EU President Donald Tusk warned on Tuesday that "hard work is ahead," meaning Brussels' uneasy talks with Cyprus. "I conveyed to President Tusk our position that the Republic of Cyprus does not intend to consent to the opening of any chapters if Turkey does not fulfill its obligations as described in the negotiating framework," the Cypriot president was quoted as saying by Reuters after a meeting with Tusk on Wednesday.

Cyprus became the most recent EU country to oppose the Turkey deal. President Nicos Anastasiades said Nicosia would not lift veto on Turkey's membership talks until Ankara fully recognized Cyprus as a state. In 1974, Turkey invaded the Northern Cyprus, and the two countries have suffered strained relations ever since. Anastasiades reiterated that he objected to the long-frozen Cyprus dispute being muted in light of the refugee crisis. "It is unwarranted, counter-productive - not to mention unacceptable - to shift the burden of responsibility for the migration crisis on my shoulders."

On Wednesday, Volkan Bozkir, Turkish minister for EU affairs, said Brussels must not allow the "caprice" of Cyprus to spoil a planned migrant deal, according to Reuters. "When a step has been taken towards a solution, when agreement has been reached on a package the whole structure should not be allowed to be ruined just because of the ... caprice of one EU member country." The atmosphere at the tomorrow's summit is expected to be resentful, as two countries, France and the Czech Republic, accused Ankara of 'blackmailing' Brussels.

Comment: There are numerous political steps and sidesteps, but the bigger and more treacherous steps are those of the migrants...especially coming to, or through, third-world problematic Turkey. Erdogan has put a qualifying price on every person entering its territory (offset by one leaving - zero sum) managing to make the refugees a profitable commodity bought and paid for by the EU. Shows his true regard for human suffering -- a good deal scheme to parlay into EU membership. EU should give a hard look and rethink taking this short-cut.

Putin: Russia can deploy forces back to Syria in a matter of hours if necessary

RT
Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:48 UTC

While Russia is withdrawing most of its forces from Syria, they could be deployed there again in a matter of hours if such a need arises, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated. He added that the Russian bases in Syria are well-protected. "Of course, if such a need arises, Russia can, in several hours, build up its forces in Syria to a size capable of dealing with an escalating situation and use the entire range of means at its disposal," Putin said.

"We wouldn't like that. A military escalation is not our choice. We hope the parties involved would show common sense and that both the government and the opposition will stick to the peace process," he added. Putin was summarizing the results of the Russian five-month-long anti-terror campaign in Syria at a solemn ceremony in Moscow. The Russian president said Moscow was open in saying from the start of the operation that it was a limited campaign with a set deadline.

Comment: After five years of U.S.-led proxy war, followed five months of Russian military intervention, and now peace talks are underway. It's as simple as that.

Early closure of bars and restaurants had no impact on the spread of Covid in Japan How could it .. :) In other words - what shall we deduce from...

codis

I would say 'want', not 'need'. No one NEEDS the jab.

ROEL

Telling the truth? What a fucking joke. Liz Cheney is the spawn of Satan.

tekdude

Why, even Inspector Clouseau could crack this case. His first and most important clue was THE GREAT DECEPTION (CB), from there on out it was an...

Solare

The covid smokescreen is slowly being lifted. This is bad. Really bad. I f the US go for this crap it is just a question of time for Canadians...

Demore

Puppet Masters

Facts and figures tell the story: Russia 'largely achieved' Syrian objectives

US State Dept to maintain sanctions until Russia returns Crimea

War crimes in Yemen: US-supplied Saudi weapons rain down on crowded Yemen marketplace, leaving over 40 civilians dead

Western capitalism at its best: Number of Ukrainian millionaires tripled in 2015

Israel asks Russia to back redeployment of UN peacekeepers in illegally occupied Golan Heights

Pepe Escobar: The re-emergence of Lula da Silva in Brazil is a game changer

Ukraine's presidential administration expects Yatsenyuk's resignation next week

German Embassy in Ankara under heavy police guard amid heightened terror threat

EU-Turkey migrant deal threatened as Cyprus and other members slam Ankara 'blackmail'

Putin: Russia can deploy forces back to Syria in a matter of hours if necessary

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