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Cultural diplomacy: 'Russian America Day' proposed by Russian Defense Ministry to promote 'humanitarian cooperation'


RT
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 17:25 UTC
Alaska
© Global Look Press / Luc Novovitch
View of Sitka, Alaska, which was founded as Novoarkhangelsk and served as capital of Russian Alaska. Saint Michael’s Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox church originally built in the 1844-1848.
In a move that may rattle some Russia-watchers in the US, the Russian Defense Ministry suggested establishing a new holiday, the Russian America Day. The new honorary date may be set in Russia as soon as 2020.

Imperial Russia was one of European nations that went to explore and colonize the New World. Geography dictated that its primary interest was in North America's Pacific Coast, with Russian settlements dotting Alaska and going as far as Fort Ross in California and Fort Elizabeth in Hawaii.

The Russian-American Company, which was created in 1799, served as the vehicle for spreading Russian interests in North America, first on behalf of big Siberian merchants and later directed by the imperial military and civilian bureaucracy.
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Binoculars

Details of the Kurdish-Russian-Syrian deal: How one rocket provoked US withdrawal

Elijah J. Magnier
ejmagnier.com
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 18:03 UTC
syria
Last Friday a 155 mm artillery shell landed 300 metres from a US command post near the Syrian bordering city of Ayn al-Arab (known by the Syrian Kurds as "Kobane") during an ongoing operation carried out by Turkey - a NATO and a US ally. This operation aimed to dislodge, at a distance of 30-35 kilometres from the border, the US-backed Kurdish militants known as the YPG, the Syrian branch of the US-EU-NATO designated terrorist group, the "Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Turkish troops backed by Syrian proxies had rapidly advanced in the first week of the military operation into US-occupied Syrian territory, cutting the main roads and attempting to isolate their enemies.

These two swift events were enough to ring the alarm bells and straightaway pushed the US administration to announce, via the Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, the withdrawal of approximately 1,000 US troops from north-east Syria (NES). The killing of any US soldier in Syria would effectively have been a nail in the coffin of the US President Donald Trump's electoral campaign in 2020. France and Britain, who maintain Special Forces in NES, will follow the US forces out of Syria.

The Syrian forces were given orders to deploy in NES following a deal between Russia and Turkey, and between Russia and the Syrian officials, to guarantee the safety of the separatist Syrian Kurds.

The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to guarantee the safety of the Kurds as long as these become part of the National Security Forces. No other conditions were put forward by the Kurds, who have lost momentum with the sudden US withdrawal. Damascus promised there will be no revenge or resentment measures towards the Kurds who have, for years, acted as human shields to protect the US occupation forces which remained in Syria notwithstanding the defeat of ISIS.

Comment: See also: Turkish invasion DAY 7: Syrian Army enters Manbij - Trump says US pulling out of Syria, will only stay at al-Tanf - UPDATES

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Jet3

US aircraft carrier suffering critical failures after just 2 years in service

Paul Antonopoulos
Fort Russ News
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 17:47 UTC
aircraft carrier gerald ford
© diseno-art.com
The USS Gerald R. Ford is the first in a new class of aircraft carriers which will slowly replace the Nimitz-class of carriers currently prowling the world's oceans.
The most sophisticated and potentially most advanced aircraft carrier in the US Navy, the USS Gerald R. Ford, already has numerous failures in just two years of service, according to the US Naval Institute.

The ship is the leader of a new series of nuclear aircraft carriers, writes the US institute.

One of the ship's many innovative features is its eleven advanced electromagnetic lifts that are used to move bombs, missiles and other ammunition reserves to aircraft hangars. However, only 2 of its 11 weapon lifts are in operation.

The oldest lifts on most aircraft carriers in the country, and around the world, operate on hydraulic power and can lift approximately 4,600 kilograms of ammunition at 30 meters per minute. In contrast, advanced AWE lifts can carry twice the weight at about 50 meters per minute.

Comment: The failures of the supposedly most sophisticated piece of US Navy hardware was easy to predict. The Pentagon's out-of-control defence budget, coupled with cosy relationships with private contractors, is a perfect storm. Unlimited amounts of money, and laissez-faire oversight could produce no other result.

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Info

Turkish invasion DAY 7: Syrian Army enters Manbij - Trump says US pulling out of Syria, will only stay at al-Tanf - UPDATES


RT
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:40 UTC
Tel Tamer
© Reuters / SANA / Handout
A Syrian army soldier in the town of Tel Tamer in northeast Syria, October 14, 2019
The Syrian Arab Army has entered the northeastern city of Manbij, state media has reported. The deployment comes amid the ongoing Turkish operation against the Kurdish-led militias, which control several towns in the border area.

State news agency SANA broke the news on Monday, confirming the earlier sightings of the Syrian troops in the area, first spotted overnight.

The confirmation comes a few hours after Turkey signaled that its military and affiliated Syrian "opposition" militants have sought to enter the city after the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led militias.

"We are about to implement our decision on Manbij," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on Monday. "When Manbij is evacuated, we will not go in there as Turkey. Our Arab brothers, who are the real owners, the tribes ... will return there. Our approach is to ensure their return and security there."

The map of control in Syria is once again going through rapid changes after Turkey began an invasion of the northeast border areas, dubbed 'Operation Peace Spring.' The offensive targets Kurdish-led militias that Ankara considers to be terrorists. This includes the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) group, that has been the key US ally in its fight against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists.

Comment: In addition to Manbij, a number of settlements in Aleppo have announced the restoration of Syrian sovereignty, according to the Russian military:
"The self-proclaimed Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, having not received support from the United States and other Western countries, was unable to take any effective measures to protect the population and resolve humanitarian problems," Maj. Gen. Alexey Bakin, the head of the Russian centre for Syrian reconciliation said at a daily briefing.

"As a result, the self-governing authorities of the settlements in the Manbij district of Aleppo province, Tabka district of Raqqa province, Qamishli and Hasakah districts of Hasakah province announced the full restoration of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic on their territory," he added.

The general also said that in other settlements in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces, representatives of several tribal unions had held demonstrations against the foreign aggression and terrorism, and sent appeals to the Russian reconciliation centre to assist them in restoring the legitimate authority of Syria.

The U.S. imposed sanctions against 3 Turkish ministers (including the defense minister). Notably, in his tweet about the sanctions, Trump announced that U.S. troops will be pulling out of the entire northeast of Syria to be redployed elsewhere. Only "a small footprint of United States forces will remain at At Tanf Garrison in southern Syria to continue to disrupt remnants of ISIS."




Meanwhile, the Pentagon is pressing NATO allies to sanction Turkey:
Blaming Turkey for "undermining the successful multinational 'Defeat ISIS' mission in Syria," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced a "deliberate withdrawal" of US forces from northeast Syria. "I will be visiting NATO next week in Brussels, where I plan to press our other NATO allies to take collective and individual diplomatic and economic measures in response to these egregious Turkish actions."

"President Erdogan bears full responsibility" for "a potential ISIS resurgence, possible war crimes, and a growing humanitarian crisis," Esper warned, pinning the responsibility for "widespread casualties, refugees, destruction, insecurity, and a growing threat to US military forces" exclusively on Turkey.

Trump talked on the phone with Erdogan, urging a ceasefire, and Pence is planning to head to Turkey with NatSec Adviser O'Brien for negotiations. The UK has halted exports of arms to Turkey that "might be used in military operations". For his part, Erdogan plans on returning 3 million Syrian refugees to the region after Turkey 'secures' it. Russia has vowed to prevent clashes between the Syrian and Turkish armies. Russian troops are currently patrolling the areas the Syrian army entered in the last day or so.

Vice president of the Kurdish National Council in Syria Abdul Hakim Bashar:
"The handover of Kobani and Manbij is not the decision of the SDF, but rather it will be in accordance with consensus between the regional and international parties. The Russian Federation will have the crucial role in these arrangements", Bashar said.

He called the developments "the complete surrender of the SDF" to the Syrian army as a way to protect itself from the Turkish incursion.

"The Kurds will not move voluntarily out of their historical presence unless they are forced", he added.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu:
"Sanctions against Turkey will achieve nothing. It is necessary to observe promises given to Turkey. We began the operation in the north of Syria because the US failed to observe its commitments," Cavusoglu said at an international conference on media freedom in Azerbaijan.
For previous updates, see:

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Yellow Vest

People power! Ecuador's Moreno scraps fuel subsidy cuts in big win for indigenous groups

Alexandra Valencia
Yahoo! News
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:09 UTC
peru natives protest fuel tax

People gather in the aftermath of the last days' protests, after the government of Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno agreed to repeal a decree that ended fuel subsidies, in Quito
Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno on Monday officially scrapped his own law to cut expensive fuel subsidies after days of violent protests against the IMF-backed measure, returning fuel prices to prior levels until a new measure can be found.

The signing of the decree is a blow to Moreno, and leaves big questions about the oil-producing nation's fiscal situation. But it represents a win for the country's indigenous communities, who led the protests, bringing chaos to the capital and crippling the oil sector.

The clashes marked the latest in a series of political convulsions sparked by IMF-backed reform plans in Latin America, where increased polarization between the right and left is causing widespread friction amid efforts to overhaul hidebound economies.

Comment:

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Control Panel

Field Marshal Haftar urges cancellation of UN embargo, as Libyan army needs arms against terrorists and armed groups


Sputnik
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 13:15 UTC
Field Marshal Haftar
© AP Photo / Mohammed El-Sheikhy
Field Marshal Haftar
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), has explained the situation in the war-torn country and described Libya's potential future in an interview with Sputnik.

Khalifa Haftar stated that the country could have eliminated terrorism years ago, but the international arms embargo stopped the military from obtaining weapons, while the terror groups managed to smuggle arms without difficulty.
"The continuation of the international embargo means a boost for terrorism and war, the aggravation of its consequences. If not for the embargo, then we would have eliminated terrorism years ago and should have not paid such a high price for it. It should be noted that, despite the embargo, a vast amount of weapons is openly delivered to terrorist and armed groups in Libya by air and sea. We wonder how the world allows this on the one hand, and on the other, calls to fight against terrorism", he said.
He noted that at the moment there is no contact between the LNA and their opponents from the Government of National Accord (GNA).
"Unfortunately, we have wasted our precious time in dialogue with him [the Council's president Fayez Sarraj] in response to regional and international endeavors, but now there is no mediation, neither international nor local, and also between us and the council, including its head", Haftar said.

Comment: See also:

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Star of David

Israeli Forces Arrest PA Jerusalem Governor, Adnan Ghaith, Fatah's Secretary-General in Jerusalem


Sputnik
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:54 UTC
Adnan Ghaith governor palestine
© Agence France -Presse
Adnan Ghaith, Palestinian Governor of Jerusalem
Israeli forces arrested the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Jerusalem governor, Adnan Ghaith, and the Fatah's party Secretary-General in Jerusalem, Shadi Matour, on Monday morning, the Palestinian Prisoners and Editors' Affairs Authority stated.
"The [Israeli] forces raided the governor's house in Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, in the neighbourhood of Silwan in the eastern part of the city; arrested him and took him for investigation. They also arrested the secretary-general of the Fatah movement in Jerusalem, Shadi Matour, after storming his house in the city", the Palestinian Authority said.
This was the fourth time this year the Israeli authorities have arrested these two officials. Some of the arrests were based on charges related to the sale of land — Israeli police had previously investigated Ghaith over suspicions that he was involved in the arrest of US-Palestinian official Issam Akel, who was accused of selling an East Jerusalem building to Jewish buyers.

Comment: Top Palestinian officials arrested by Israel: Suspected of abducting US citizen for selling Jerusalem Arab property to Israeli

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Red Flag

Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif: One or several governments are behind Iranian tanker attack


Sputnik
Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:27 UTC
tanker attack
© REUTERS / West Asia News Agency
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has stated in an interview with the ICANA News agency that although the investigation into the Red Sea attack on the Sabiti oil tanker is still ongoing, it's already clear that one or several governments conducted it. He elaborated by indicating that the attack was a "complex operation", which could only have been conducted by a state actor.

Zarif further said that it's too early to point the finger at any country since the investigation is not yet complete and all the facts about the incidents have not been reviewed.

The Sabiti oil tanker was hit with two blasts in the Red Sea just 100 kilometres away from the Saudi port of Jeddah on 9 October, reportedly damaging its tanks and leading to an oil spill. The National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), the owner of the vessel, stated that the blasts were "probably caused by missile strikes", but denied earlier media reports that they came from Saudi territory.

Comment: And in very related news: Video Analysis of Last Month's Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Refineries: False-Flag?

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Snakes in Suits

"Dither and delay": Brexit talks continue in Brussels ahead of crunch summit


BBC
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 12:00 UTC
bojo
© AFP/Getty
Boris Johnson (l) and Leo Varadkar (r) met last week to discuss a Brexit deal
Efforts to reach a Brexit deal before Thursday's summit of European leaders are continuing in Brussels.

Negotiators from both sides are trying to bridge what senior EU official Michel Barnier called "big gaps".

EU ambassadors were told on Sunday the UK would make concessions on its customs plan for Northern Ireland.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Boris Johnson said the government was preparing to leave on 31 October and it was time to "get Brexit done".

Comment: As can be discerned from the bolded parts above, it shouldn't be too surprising that Court docs reveal UK govt to request Article 50 extension. Brexit is NOT happening this month

See also: SNP declares intent to hold second Scottish independence referendum in 2020

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USA

America is in a Permanent Coup

Matt Taibbi
UntitledGate
Fri, 11 Oct 2019 18:01 UTC
James Comey
© UntitledGate
I've lived through a few coups. They're insane, random, and terrifying, like watching sports, except your political future depends on the score.

The kickoff begins when a key official decides to buck the executive. From that moment, government becomes a high-speed head-counting exercise. Who's got the power plant, the airport, the police in the capital? How many department chiefs are answering their phones? Who's writing tonight's newscast?

When the KGB in 1991 tried to reassume control of the crumbling Soviet Union by placing Mikhail Gorbachev under arrest and attempting to seize Moscow, logistics ruled. Boris Yeltsin's crew drove to the Russian White House in ordinary cars, beating KGB coup plotters who were trying to reach the seat of Russian government in armored vehicles. A key moment came when one of Yeltsin's men, Alexander Rutskoi - who two years later would himself lead a coup against Yeltsin - prevailed upon a Major in a tank unit to defy KGB orders and turn on the "criminals."

We have long been spared this madness in America. Our head-counting ceremony was Election Day. We did it once every four years.

That's all over, in the Trump era.

Comment: Would it even be such a bad thing; Special Forces rappelling into Soros and Comey's windows? Maybe the 'third world' gets some things right? Maybe it's imperative to 'tyrannize' the ultra-liberal minority in order to protect the freedoms of the generally-conservative majority? Maybe that's what the West has to learn from everyone else in these times...

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