Russia's Channel 1 investigates the shady global political operations of 'financialist' George Soros...
Puppet Masters
Russia's Channel 1 investigates the shady global political operations of 'financialist' George Soros...
© Reuters
Putin was my guest at a July 4th reception in St. Petersburg in 1995, when I was serving as the U.S. Consul General there. I recall taking him into my library. We spoke Russian in those days, before he began to learn English. His wife, still recovering from a bad automobile accident, did not accompany him. On that occasion, he was representing his boss, Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, who was off on a trip. Of course, I hadn't the faintest idea that this man was destined to become the President of the Russian Federation--and neither did he.
It seems hundreds of books have been written about Putin, and thousands of articles. More are coming, and each of them will attempt to shed some additional light on this remarkable man, who has risen from humble beginnings to lead one of the world's great nations, and has now, at the relatively young age of 66, broken the (post-Stalin) record set by Leonid Brezhnev for doing so. If I had had any idea in the mid-nineties that my guest would one day become Russia's leader, I would have had him over to lunch, to say the least. But I didn't, and I am just as glad, because it would have altered the dynamic. We were simply colleagues then.
© Sam Hodgson for The New York Times
George Kurtz, the chief executive and co-founder of CrowdStrike, at the company’s offices in Irvine, Calif., in 2014.
George Kurtz, the chief executive and co-founder of CrowdStrike, at the company’s offices in Irvine, Calif., in 2014.
Comment: Thanks to President Trump's recent conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky, the shadowy firm CrowdStrike along with its high-profile client, the DNC, is back in the news. Some background is in order.
As usual, the rabbit hole gets much deeper the more you look.
In yesterday's post, Credibility of Cyber Firm that Claimed Russia Hacked the DNC Comes Under Serious Question, I examined how CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity firm hired by the DNC to look into its hacking breach, had been exposed as being completely wrong about a separate attack it claimed originated from the same group it claimed broke into DNC systems, and supposedly works for Russia's military intelligence unit, GRU. Here's some of what we learned:
An influential British think tank and Ukraine's military are disputing a report that the U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has used to buttress its claims of Russian hacking in the presidential election.
The CrowdStrike report, released in December, asserted that Russians hacked into a Ukrainian artillery app, resulting in heavy losses of howitzers in Ukraine's war with Russian-backed separatists.
But the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) told VOA that CrowdStrike erroneously used IISS data as proof of the intrusion. IISS disavowed any connection to the CrowdStrike report. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense also has claimed combat losses and hacking never happened.
The challenges to CrowdStrike's credibility are significant because the firm was the first to link last year's hacks of Democratic Party computers to Russian actors, and because CrowdStrike co-founder Dimiti Alperovitch has trumpeted its Ukraine report as more evidence of Russian election tampering.
© Reuters / Nacho Doce
Just one day after Washington announced a $52 million aid package for the Venezuelan opposition - pledging "full support" for 'interim president' Juan Guaido - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would devote another $119 million in aid for Latin America to assist those who have fled the crisis in Venezuela. A total of $36 million will be set aside for "life-saving programs" in Venezuela itself, and getting citizens "the help they deserve."
© REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun; Carlo Allegri
There is no love lost between the leaders of Israel and Turkey, who have spent years publicly accusing each other of dictatorial and murderous policies. The latest barb from Prime Minister Netanyahu claimed that President Erdogan "denies the terrible slaughter of the Armenian people" and thus "shouldn't preach to Israel."
Comment: This is rank politics, pure and simple. Certainly, some Russian athletes are doping. But some athletes from every country are doping...
© Sputnik / Evgeni Odinokov
Russian anti-doping agency
Russian anti-doping agency
The apparently never-ending saga of Russian doping allegations has entered a new chapter after more allegations of cheating were unloaded against the country. WADA's executive committee on Monday heard a report from the body's Compliance Review Committee on alleged violations by Russia's national anti-doping agency RUSADA.
The report focused on analysis of historical data on doping tests which WADA received from Russia in January. The information had inconsistencies, the international agency said, which Russia has to explain within three weeks or RUSADA faces re-suspension. RUSADA was reinstated in September 2018 on several conditions, including a promise to hand over data.
In fact, Trump spoke highly of the U.S. relationship with Ukraine, while chiding Europe's lack of support for the independent nation. Trump's full transcript with Zelensky also reveals that the president is seeking more information from Ukraine with regards to the role of Russian or Ukrainian persons involved in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee's server. His concern is significant, because Democrats accused the president and his campaign of conspiring with Russia. This request actually destroys the Democratic argument.
It is apparent from the conversation that Trump had with Zelensky that he is still seeking information on the origins of the hacking of the DNC and has always vehemently denounced the now debunked Democrat theory that his campaign conspired with Russia.
Comment: Since the release of the call, Zelensky commented on the controversy:
Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelensky has said that all information about his supposedly suspicious call with President Donald Trump is already in the transcript, and he doesn't want to meddle in US elections by adding more.The MSM are losing their minds, naturally. One example:
...
"It was normal," Zelensky said of the call. "You read everything."
"I don't want to be involved in democratic, open elections of the USA," he added, when asked if he felt pressured to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden.
...
Zelensky said during the presser that he did not pressure any authorities in Ukraine regarding the probe involving Biden's son.
"At no time have I considered resigning my position since assuming this role on August 16, 2019," Maguire said in a statement released on Wednesday after the Washington Post claimed he had threatened to do just that. "I have never quit anything in my life and I am not about to start now."See also:
According to "current and former US officials familiar with the matter" cited by the Post, Maguire was prepared to quit in opposition to the White House attempts to stop him from testifying about what it called the "explosive" whistleblower complaint regarding President Donald Trump's discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which the president allegedly threatened to withhold military aid if Ukraine did not reopen an investigation into the corruption of former Vice President Joe Biden's son's company. Maguire is scheduled to testify in open and closed hearings before Congress about the complaint on Thursday.
- Giuliani hits Bidens with new money laundering accusation: The $3M 'Ukraine-Latvia-Cyprus' connection
- Just like Russian collusion, the Ukraine hysteria is pure projection by Democrats and the media
- Will 'Ukraine-gate' foil Biden's bid?
- A little reality please: The Democrats were the first to enlist Ukraine in US elections
- Civil rights lawyer: 'If impeachment trump card doesn't work, it will guarantee Trump re-election'
- Ukraine call transcript shows Zelensky suggested re-opening Biden probe - Trump asked about DNC server, but made no mention of US aid
- Democrats' pants in a twist over Biden-Ukraine scandal as MSM begins its spin cycle
- Trump whistleblower complaint lands Biden in hot seat over Ukraine - UPDATES
© Reuters / Lucas Jackson
Released by the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday, the complaint details the circumstances surrounding Trump's July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Democrats argue that Trump attempted to pressure Zelensky into reopening a corruption investigation into 2020 candidate Joe Biden's son Hunter, and his business dealings in the country.
Comment: It's not too difficult to find dirt on Hunter Biden: Crack Pipe, IDs, And Badge Found In Hunter Biden Rental Car
The complaint reveals little new about the call itself. In it, the whistleblower - believed to be a member of the intelligence community - admitted that they had not actually been privy to the call, but went on secondhand accounts from those who were. They also detailed a series of contacts between US and Ukrainian officials, some pertaining to the investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings.
Though Trump himself released a transcript of the call on Wednesday - which did not reveal a quid-pro-quo arrangement as Democrats alleged - the party has still pressed ahead with an impeachment inquiry. As the complaint was released, the committee prepared to interview Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire about his handling of the complaint.
Comment: The Dems are doing more for Trump's reelection campaign than any paid advertisement could.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation against the entry of 'senior Iranian government officials.'
Trump in the proclamation accused the Iranian government of behavior that "threatens peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond."
"I have determined that it is in the interest of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of senior government officials of Iran, and their immediate family members," he added.
Iranian officials did not immediately comment.
Comment: This also comes on the heels of the US failing to grant visas to Russia's UN delegation. If the US carries on like this, will there be anybody left for them to harangue at these meetings?
See also: China's role in joint drill with Iran and Russia limited to anti-piracy forces say analysts
© REUTERS / Lucy Nicholson
FILE PHOTO. A woman holds a replica green card sign during a protest.
FILE PHOTO. A woman holds a replica green card sign during a protest.
Russia believes it is the latest victim of Washington's dubious practice of abusing its status as the host of the United Nations headquarters by denying entrance to people that the US government doesn't want to see there. In theory, all members of the UN get equal access to the organization's events, but in practice nations which find themselves on Washington's bad side are effectively restricted when the US fails to issue visas to delegates.
Ten members of the Russian delegation to the ongoing UN General Assembly found themselves in this situation, including seven employees of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and Konstantin Kosachev, chair of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian senate.
Comment: These puerile moves reflect just how feeble the US government's position is these days. It also exposes how easily the UN can be abused and corrupted:
- Coming soon: The day the United Nations ceased to exist
- A line-by-line response to Greta Thunberg's UN speech
Comment: