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Dose of sanity: EU won't intervene in Libya without official invitation


RT
Sun, 21 Feb 2016 21:09 UTC
libya
© Goran Tomasevic / Reuters
The EU will only intervene against the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Libya if it receives an official invitation from the legitimate government of the country, the union's top diplomat said.

"Defeating Daesh effectively can only happen through a legitimate Libyan government in charge of its own security," Frederica Mogherini told Journal du Dimanche in an interview published on Sunday.

Mogherini called Islamic State by the Arabic language acronym of the organization. IS has been gaining ground in Libya, seizing the city of Sirte and advancing on the oil-rich regions in the east of the country, which remains split between rival groups in the wake of the toppling of its leader Muammar Gaddafi by a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.
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Document

Joint Statement of the United States and the Russian Federation, as Co-Chairs of the ISSG, on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria


U.S. Department of State
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:39 UTC
putin
© Kremlin.ru
The United States of America and the Russian Federation, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and seeking to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis with full respect for the fundamental role of the United Nations, are fully determined to provide their strongest support to end the Syrian conflict and establish conditions for a successful Syrian-led political transition process, facilitated by the UN, in order to fully implement the Munich Statement of the ISSG on February 11th, 2016, UN Security Council Resolution 2254, the 2015 Vienna Statements and the 2012 Geneva Communiqué.

In this regard, and in furtherance of the February 11th decisions of the ISSG, the United States and Russia, as co-chairs of the ISSG and ISSG Ceasefire Task Force, announce the adoption on February 22, 2016, of the Terms for a Cessation of Hostilities in Syria attached as an Annex to this statement, and propose that the cessation of hostilities commence at 00:00 (Damascus time) on February 27, 2016. The cessation of hostilities is to be applied to those parties to the Syrian conflict that have indicated their commitment to and acceptance of its terms. Consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the statements of the ISSG, the cessation of hostilities does not apply to "Daesh", "Jabhat al-Nusra", or other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council.

Comment: Until this point, the U.S. has officially denied information of this type - explicit locations of their 'moderate' revels' - to the Russian military. Now it will just be a matter of whether or not the U.S. will correctly label its own 'moderate al-Qaeda rebels'. Will they try to paint their al-Qaeda-tied groups as 'moderate opposition', even if that violates the previous UN resolution? Either way, it seems like the Minsk protocols all over again. If the CIA's stooges paint themselves as moderates and agree to the ceasefire, the fighting will presumably stop. If they don't agree to ceasefire, they have exposed themselves as not being interested in a political process. However, just like the Minsk protocols, there is the possibility that guilty parties will not comply...

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Radar

Why the West is terrified of Russia's S-300 system going to Iran


Sputnik
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:10 UTC
s-300
© AFP 2016/ OLGA MALTSEVA
Soldiers next Russian S-300 system
The upcoming delivery of one of the world's most advanced air defense systems, Russia's S-300, to Iran has come as terrifying news to the West and NATO, primarily because it will make so-called surgical strikes against individual facilities in Iran impossible and will create more no-fly zones on the map, says German media.

Russia is set to deliver its first S-300 air defense systems to Iran as soon as Tehran clears the payment. This comes as terrifying news to the West and NATO, because it is going to mean an end to the "era of risk-free airstrikes," according to German weekly magazine Stern.

The surface-to-air missile system (NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) is a defensive weapon against aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 200 kilometers, able to fire at multiple targets and down an aircraft as high as 20 km. Additionally, different modification of radars associated with the S-300 can track aerial missiles up to 1,000 km travelling at up to 10,000 km/h and cruise missiles up to 300 km away.

Its hit precision rate is up to 93 percent.

Comment: Russia's entry into the Middle East, whether it's providing arms to Iran or protecting Syria from Western-created terrorists, has completely changed the geopolitical game. The US no longer has carte blanche to engage in their imperial takeovers.

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Info

Assad calls for Syria parliamentary election in April


RT
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:39 UTC
Syria's President Bashar Assad
© SANA / Reuters
The parliamentary elections in Syria will be held on April 13, 2016, said a statement issued by Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Syria holds a general election every four years, with the previous vote taking place in 2012.

The announcement comes hours after Russia and the US issued a joint statement on cessation of hostilities in this country, announcing February 27 as the starting date for the ceasefire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the truce will not include terror groups, such as Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) or Jabhat al-Nusra.

Putin called on Assad's government and the opposition to support the action plan agreed by Moscow and Washington.
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Blackbox

Can Obama handle it? Russia and US agree on steps to ceasing hostilities in Syria


Sputnik
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:28 UTC
Putin and Obama
© REUTERS/ Kayhan Ozer/Pool
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the Syrian ceasefire agreement is a "real step that can stop the bloodshed."

On Monday, the Kremlin released details of the Syrian ceasefire plan the US and Russia agreed upon. The two countries had to conduct several rounds of secret negotiations before settling all details and making them public. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the plan of ceasing hostilities presents a "real step that can stop the bloodshed."
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Star of David

Shameful: Austria cancels WWII event involving Holocaust survivor who compared Jews to Nazis


RT
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:10 UTC
Pro-palestinian protesters
© Heinz-Peter Bader / Reuters
The Austrian parliament has canceled a March 8 ceremony commemorating female victims of WWII, allegedly because of concerns over a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor, who compares Israel to the Nazis, although a direct connection was denied.

The event was to be held on International Women's Day, but was canceled two days after the invitations were sent, the Jerusalem Post learned on Sunday.

"In consideration for the concerns against some of the participants, the Austrian Parliament has canceled the event 'In Grandmother's Words: The Fate of Women in the Second World War,'" Parliament spokeswoman Marianne Lackner said.

"It had showed already that it is difficult to find witnesses for the project whose physical and health condition allows participation in the event. A short-term replacement of the podium is therefore not possible."

Comment: No, there can't be anyone speaking who dares to provide an alternate view of reality; despicable.

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Jet1

Not so stealthy: Chinese military develops technology to detect and track US stealth jets


Sputnik
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 19:57 UTC
f-22 raptor
© REUTERS/ Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald
US F-22 Raptor stealth jet
The Chinese military is said to have developed capabilities which allow Beijing to detect and track some of the best aircraft in Washington's arsenal, including the fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors, which some have called virtually undetectable.

An upgraded version of the Chinese Phased Array Radar, as well as the KJ-2000 and KJ-500 airborne early warning and control systems could well cope with the task, People's Daily Online reported, citing military expert Yin Zhuo.

The remarks came after unconfirmed reports surfaced that the Chinese military detected F-22s over the East China Sea. The PLA is said to have sent helicopters and a warship to the area. In addition, fighter jets were prepared to join other forces if requested.

The incident took place on February 10.

Initial reports did not specify the type of the aircraft or the country the plane belonged to, but Yin Zhuo mentioned that if the planes were F-22s then the Chinese could track them.

"In fact - it's very possible that China can track the Raptor. Stealth is not a cloak of invisibility, after all. Stealth technology simply delays detection and tracking," defense expert Dave Majumdar wrote for the National Interest. "Even combat-configured F-22s are not invisible to enemy radar, contrary to popular belief."
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Mr. Potato

Dumb and dumber: Turkey shocked at lack of Russian tourists, expects them back


RT
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 18:59 UTC
turkey tourists
© Murad Sezer / Reuters
Turkish PM Ahmed Davutoglu said the government expects Russian tourists to come despite tensions between Ankara and Moscow, as shrinkage in the sector was "unexpected." Russia earlier urged tourists not to visit Turkey, citing security concerns.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Davutoglu announced an action plan to provide support for the tourism industry, including an $87-million government grant and setting up a facility to allow travel firms to restructure their debts.

"We believe Russian tourists will start coming back to Turkey," he was quoted as saying by the Daily Sabah, an English-language newspaper published in Turkey. Davutoglu added the current political tensions between Ankara and Moscow should not impact Russian "guests" who visit the country.

The government did not expect any shrinkage in tourism stemming from this issue, he added.

Comment: Davotoglu seems to be losing it (if he ever had to begin with). Could the Turks really not see this coming?! 1) Tourism is essential to the Turkish economy. 2) Russians made up a crucial number of those tourists. 3) Turkey shot down a Russian jet and facilitated the murder of its pilot. How in the world would that not affect tourism? The lack of foresight, and the sense of entitlement is alarming.

Meanwhile, at least certain elements in Turkey's government and military are backing down from its Syrian invasion rhetoric:
All the countries of the (NATO) coalition should participate in ground operations in Syria. This statement was made by Foreign Minister of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

The Turkish Minister added that the issue of conducting such operations is not on the agenda and is not worth it, RIA Novosti reported.


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Snakes in Suits

Big dreams or wishful thinking? Saakashvili says his ambitions stretch further than Ukraine's premiership


ITAR-TASS
Mon, 22 Feb 2016 18:55 UTC
Mikhail Saakashvili
© Arkhip Vereshchagin/TASS
Georgia's former president and now governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, Mikhail Saakashvili said on Sunday his ambitions in Ukraine reach further than the prime minister's office.

"My ambitions are to establish new rules of the game, which implies a new political elite in Ukraine's government," he said in an interview with the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television company.

He said he has gathered around himself "young and promising lawmakers, representatives of non-government organizations, journalists, various regional leaders and deputy ministers and a couple of ministers."

"These people have got united in a bid to change the country," Saakashvili said.
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Footprints

NATO's new problem: Aisha Gaddafi, her father's daughter!


Fort Russ
Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:00 UTC
Aisha Gaddafi

Aisha Gaddafi, a born leader who lost a child and sibling to a NATO airstrike.
Exactly one week ago, NATO, after the failure of the "national consensus government" in Libya, has another problem - the daughter of the leader of Jamahiriya - Aisha Gaddafi. After four years of silence, in a letter from Eritrea, she turned to the Libyans with a call to resist the new conquest of the West and declare themselves the successor of her legendary father - "the mother of Libya." The largest Libyan tribe "the warfalla", in the town of Beni Walid (Misurata), has already sworn allegiance to Aisha, proclaiming their commitment to the Jamahiriya. In response, the BBC circulated new, updated footage of the lynching of Muammar Gaddafi, aware of the particularly acute nervous reaction of his daughter. Meanwhile NATO convened an emergency meeting in the Netherlands on the situation in Libya.

Aisha has every reason to send a "black mark" to the West. She is the only child of Gaddafi who today can have an impact on the minds of Libyans and because the West represents a real threat. The only daughter of eight children of Gaddafi, it is typical of the fanaticism of women that they are able to defend their "child-Libyans". Enlightened in the best traditions of the Sorbonne, she announced the creation of a secret government in Libya and abroad. The West immediately accused her of taking a Martyr's death like the one that took her father. However, in addition to her father's death, Aisha still has a personal score to settle - the deaths of one child and a sibling from a NATO airstrike.

Comment: Libya needs a new hope. Aisha Gaddafi may be part of it, and most certainly at the heart of it.

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