Puppet MastersS


Cheeseburger

Placating the masses: Obama questions police militarization, orders Ferguson-inspired probe


RT
Sun, 24 Aug 2014 02:48 UTC
Image
© Reuters/Adrees LatifSecurity forces charge demonstrators after being hit by water bottles during a protest against the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 20, 2014
Brutal images of heavily armed police clashing with Ferguson's protesters pushed US President Barack Obama to question the militarization of the law enforcement, as he reportedly ordered a probe into police use of military gear against Americans.

Strategies introduced after 9/11 attacks, which provide police with federal grants and surplus military equipment, including military-grade body armor, mine-resistant trucks, silencers and automatic rifles, will all be reviewed, senior officials told the New York Times.

Images of police using such equipment against their own people during the Ferguson protests in Missouri shocked many Americans.

Police attempt to control demonstrators protesting the killing of teenager Michael Brown on August 18, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. (AFP Photo / Getty Images / Scott Olson)

The probe will focus on whether the police should be receiving this kind of gear in the first place, on how it is currently being used, and whether the officers are being properly trained for it, according to senior administration and law enforcement officials.

Comment: Obama's feigned interest in the execution of Mike Brown is just another manifestation of the 'mask of sanity' that psychopaths wear:
With Hare's work, the psychopathic "mask" of sanity and normality acquires a sinister and Machiavellian tone. That's because psychopaths are conscious of being different. They see normal people as inferiors - "others" - to be used and discarded when they are no longer needed. But like a predator among its prey, psychopaths must disguise themselves to evade detection. If they made their motives known, others would be horrified. So, from an early age they learn to fit in by copying normal human reactions and behaviors. They learn when it is appropriate to cry, show grief, guilt, concern, and love. They learn all the facial expressions, common phrases, and social cues for these emotions they do not feel. And as such, they deceive others with false displays of sadness, grief, guilt, concern, and love, and they manipulate our reactions to get what they want. That's how a psychopath is able to con you out of money by playing on your sense of pity and compassion. Normal people, unaware of the differences between psychopaths and themselves, assume that these displays of emotion are evidence of actual emotion, and so the psychopath succeeds in going unnoticed, like a wolf in sheep's clothing. "[T]he truly talented ones have raised their ability to charm people to that of an art, priding themselves on their ability to present a fictional self to others that is convincing, taken at face value, and difficult to penetrate."18
Ponerology 101: The Psychopath's Mask of Sanity

Read More...
Headphones

SOTT Focus: Behind the Headlines: Global Picture - Ukraine, Ferguson, Islamic State, Ebola and Palestine - WTH?

Sott Editors
Sott.net
Sun, 24 Aug 2014 18:00 UTC
Sott Talk Radio logo
It has begun, and there can be only one. No, this isn't Highlander, it's global politics at its worst. How does it all fit together? The coup in Ukraine, militarized police shootings in Ferguson, the 'Islamic State' threatening to behead all of Christendom, a looming worldwide Ebola epidemic and Israel is up to its old tricks again with more indiscriminate bombing of Palestinians. To top if all off, there appears to be no doubt that our climate is in the midst of a major 'shift' to something radically different from what we've known to date.

Running Time: 02:05:00

Download: MP3

Read More...
Quenelle

OSCE mission says "no major incidents or violations recorded" as Russian aid convoy re-enters Russia


RIA Novosti
Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:59 UTC
OSCE
© REUTERS/ Vasily FedosenkoOSCE observers in the city of Luhansk in eastern Ukraine
The return of Russian humanitarian aid convoy is underway, no major incidents or violations recorded, the Head of the OSCE's mission in Rostov region Paul Picard told RIA Novosti, as trucks that have delivered humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine are returning to Russia.

"There was nothing [no incidents]. The return process is underway," Picard said, adding that he could speak only about the situation at Russia's border checkpoint of Donetsk. "We cannot see beyond it as we have no authority and it is beyond out mandate," he noted.

On August 14, the trucks with Russian humanitarian aid arrived at the border, but Ukraine began customs clearance only on August 21. On Friday, the convoy crossed the border and arrived in Luhansk, the city struggling daily without regular food supplies, water, electricity and under constant shelling.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described the convoy crossing the Russian border as a violation of international norms and urged its international partners to condemn the Russia's move.

Later, UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern over the Russian aid convoy crossing the border into Ukraine.

Moscow reminded the UN that Russia received a formal agreement from Kiev authorities for the passage of the humanitarian convoy through the Ukrainian border on August 12.

The humanitarian disaster in Luhansk, controlled by independence supporters, occurred after the Ukrainian army had blocked approaches to the city.
Read More...
Top Secret

Good luck! Russia wants regular, transparent reports on MH17 crash probe amid silence from the West


RIA Novosti
Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:23 UTC
MH17 wreckage
© RIA Novosti / Andrei SteninParts of wreckage are seen at the site where the downed Malaysian Boeing 777 flight MH17 crashed
Moscow wants the investigation into the crash of a Malaysian Boeing 777 to be as most transparent as possible, and insists on regular provision if prove reports in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution, a diplomatic source told RIA Novosti.

"Investigation into the reasons of the catastrophe should be carried out under international control, should be all-encompassing and transparent for the wide international audience and mass media," the source said. "We will keep pressing for it, demanding the implementation of the UNSC resolution 2166 which stipulates monthly reports about the course of the investigation."

Resolution 2166 adopted by the UN Security Council in July calls for a thorough and impartial investigation into the MH17 tragedy and requires the secretary-general to provide the Security Council with investigation progress reports.

The source stressed that the majority of Western media "seem to have been ordered to avoid the investigation issue for about two weeks."

"US official representatives who rushed to accuse Russia and Donetsk self-defense forces in the first hours following the tragedy, also maintain silence. America's allies, particularly the British and the Australian, who were also among the first accusers, stick to the same policy. The international community has not yet seen the promised "incontestable evidence." The explanation is that the truth could be inconvenient to Washington, London and Canberra," the source told RIA Novosti.

The source added that Kiev's official position is also telling.

"As the curtain of allegations is clearing, the specialists have more and more questions over the actions of the Ukrainian authorities and military toward the Boeing. Kiev still has not made public the recordings of the talks between air traffic control and the crew, which would allow to understand why the plane was in the combat area," the diplomatic source said.

Comment: Is it not curious that Russia -- the state accused by the West of being responsible for the downing of MH17 -- is practically the only state calling for all-encompassing, transparent, international information on the investigation? This fact alone suggests there is more to the story than the Western media and politicians are letting on. And that's not to mention the available evidence that strongly points toward Kiev's hand in the MH17 crash.

Read More...
Treasure Chest

It belongs in a (Crimean) museum!: Kiev claims Scythian gold as its own, Netherlands too cowardly to make the right choice


Itar-Tass
Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:00 UTC
scythian gold
© EPA/P Photo/Peter DejongA spiraling torque from the second century AD is displayed as part of the exhibit of Scythian artefacts in Amsterdam
Crimea is ready to give up part of its cultural heritage in swap for the Scythian gold collection which is currently on view in Amsterdam.

Andrei Malgin, director of the Tavrida Central Museum, told Itar-Tass that ancient artifacts had been found during excavations at the Nogaichinsky Kurgan in steppe Crimea in the 1970s. The archeologist handed over his archaeological findings to Kiev. These exhibits from the Ukrainian Museum of Historical Valuables are also part of "Crimea: Gold and Secrets of the Black Sea" exhibition in the Netherlands.

"These things are very beautiful. They date back to a period of late antiquity. They are also part of Crimean cultural heritage," Malgin said.

"But Crimea might give up its claim to these things if Kiev leaves what belongs to us in peace. Otherwise, I do not see how we can reach a compromise," Malkin stressed.

Earlier this week, the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam decided to leave the disputed "Scythian gold" collection in the Netherlands until a qualified judge passes a decision or the sides reach a kind of compromise.

The exhibits have been claimed both by Kiev and Crimea but the Allard Pierson Museum is still at a loss to where they should be returned.

Comment: The situation is not so complicated. The pieces come from Crimea; they belong in Crimea. See also: Netherlands promises to resolve return of Scythian gold to Crimea by September

Read More...
2 + 2 = 4

How quickly we forget: Russian envoy Churkin reminds UN that Kiev approved the aid convoy


Itar-Tass
Sat, 23 Aug 2014 11:45 UTC
Churkin
© EPA/ANDREW GOMBERTRussia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin educating the braindead.
Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin has likened Friday evening's discussion on the situation in Ukraine to what he described as a Kingdom of Curved Mirrors. He explained he got this impression because some SC members looked worried not so much about the humanitarian disaster in the east of the country as the Russian truck convoy that had delivered humanitarian aid to Lugansk.

"What was happening in the UN Security Council reminded me of a Kingdom of Curved Mirrors, because some members did not care at all civilians were dying in the east of Ukraine. Nor did they care about the humanitarian disaster there. They were mostly alarmed by Russia's humanitarian aid being delivered to people in the line of fire," the diplomat said.

Churkin explained that Russia was keeping in touch with the Ukrainian authorities and hoped that there would be no problems with the delivery of humanitarian aid to its destination.

"After that discussion the tensions in the Security Council over the issue eased somewhat," Churkin said.

He addressed the SC members with a fresh reminder that Russia had dispatched humanitarian aid to eastern Ukraine only when it had official consent from that country's government.

"As far as reproaches about respect for sovereignty are concerned, I can say once again that we received official consent from them. We discussed that issue. If they deceived us, it is their problem. We just wish to give help to those who need it," Churkin said.

According to the Russian diplomat, during the just-held discussion he recalled that the Security Council last July voted for Resolution 2165, which authorized direct supplies of humanitarian assistance to Syria without the country's government.

Comment: Precedents such as that in Syria get thrown out the window when the West has a target in their sights.

Read More...
Ambulance

The significance of Russia's decision to move the humanitarian convoy into Novorussiya

The Saker
The Vineyard of the Saker
Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:23 UTC
Russian aid convoy
© RIA Novosti / Maksim BlinovTrucks of a Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Ukraine, August, 22, 2014
It appears that the Russians got tired of waiting. I suggest that you all carefully parse the Statement of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs I posted earlier today. This is an interesting document because besides an explanation of the Russian decision to move it, it is also, potentially, a legal defense of an unprecedented Russian decision: to overtly violate the Ukrainian sovereignty. Let me explain.

First, the case of Crimea was also a "special case". The Russian were legally present there and, in the Russian rationale, all the "Polite Armed Men in Green" did was to protect the local population to make it possible for the latter to freely express its will. Only after that will was expressed did Russia agree to formally re-incorporate Crimea into Russia. So from the legal Russian point of view, none of the Russian actions in Crimea included any form of violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. I know, most western analysts will not agree, but that is the official Russian stance. And official stances are important because they form the basis for a legal argument.

Second, the aid which Russia has been sending to Novorussia has been exclusively covert. Covert operations, no matter their magnitude, do not form the basis for a legal position. The official position of Moscow has been that not only was there absolutely no military aid to Novorussia, but even when Ukie artillery shells landed inside Russia did the Kremlin authorize any retaliation, again in (official) deference to the Ukrainian national sovereignty.

This time, however, there is no doubt at all that the Russians did deliberately and officially chose to ignore Kiev and move in. Now, in fact, in reality, this is clearly the logically, politically and morally right thing to do. But in legal terms, this clearly a violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. From a legal point of view, the Ukies had the right to keep the Russian convoy at the border for another 10,000 years if they wanted and Russia had no legal right to simply move in. What apparently happened this morning is that the Ukie officials did not even bother showing up, so the Kremlin just said "forget it!" and ordered the trucks in.

Comment: The official hysteria surrounding the aid convoy may be ridiculous lies, but it does tell us something: Russia has made an important move here: morally and politically. And that doesn't make the West happy, at all. Once again, it's looking like Putin has outplayed them.

Read More...
Newspaper

Candid interview with Ukrainian general and hostage negotiator Vladimir Ruban: "The Militia are exactly the same Ukrainians"

Ekaterina Sergatskova
Slavyangrad / Ukrainskaya Pravda
Wed, 20 Aug 2014 10:47 UTC
ruban
© dnepr.comColonel-General Vladimir Ruban.
Preamble: The following is a translation of an interview given by Colonel-General Vladimir Ruban to the "Ukrainskaya Pravda" newspaper. There is much that is of great interest, and the General undoubtedly deserves great respect for the work he is involved in. Nonetheless, his connection to the Ukrainian Army and government gives us reason to doubt his claims of torture being conducted by the Militia.

Original article here
Translated by Vera Van Horne / Edited by @GBabeuf

General Ruban on militants in eastern Ukraine: "There are people who were standing with us on Maidan."

For more than three months Colonel-General Vladimir Ruban has been engaged in freeing people who were taken captive in eastern Ukraine. Recently, he founded a specialised centre that anybody whose relatives were taken hostage can contact.

For many, Ruban has already become a legend. He is even the only Ukrainian professional negotiator who, they say, is admired by "Demon" - the Gorlovka DNR Militia commander, Igor Bezler. It was Ruban who managed to negotiate improved conditions of detention and, later, to rescue seventeen people from captivity, including soldiers from the 72nd and 25th brigades and several civilians, including Basil Budika, whom Bezler "shot" on camera in May.

General Ruban rarely smiles. He has the look of a man with nerves of steel and perfect composure. It is impossible to crack him. It seems as though in his head he calculates many steps ahead, and his every response - it is but the tip of an iceberg.

The correspondent of "Ukrainskaya Pravda" talked with the General about what happens to detainees in captivity, the ethics of ransom and who is fighting on the territory of eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainskaya Pravda: How many people have you liberated so far?

General Ruban: More than a hundred. We stopped counting after one hundred.

Comment: What a difference between the hysterical rantings of people like Poroshenko and Yats, and someone like Colonel-General Ruban, who is actually committed to negotiation and understanding what is happening in Ukraine, and who gets results. One wonders, however, who makes up this so-called third party. Any guesses?

Read More...
Black Magic

Brain-washed, brain-dead puppet speaking: Polish MEP urges Europe to stop Russian ruble trading


RT
Thu, 21 Aug 2014 19:04 UTC
Ryszard Czarnecki polish MEP
© wikipedia.orgRyszard Czarnecki
To make sanctions against Russia efficient, a Polish MEP said they need to be "preventive, prophylactic sanctions," rather than reactive. Ryszard Czarnecki represents one of the countries hardest hit in the "sanctions war" between Russia and the West.

"The Russian ruble should stop being a convertible currency, the ruble should be excluded from international financial turnover," RIA quotes Czarnecki speaking at Poland's parliament.

"To counter Russia's aggressive military actions, pre-emptive sanctions should be considered," Czarnecki added.

Cutting the Russian ruble out of the international financial markets would hit the country's economy hard, he said.

"When Visa and MasterCard refused to serve the customers of a Moscow bank, the effect was impressive."


Comment: Yes, it was. It has prompted the Kremlin to speed up developing its own credit card system. Soon Mastercard and Visa will be irrelevant to Russia and its trading partners.


Czarnecki also proposed to cut supplies of Russian energy, as well as control transit of Russian gas to Europe.

Poland is one of the countries hit the most by Russian countermeasures, with food exports of $1.5 billion in 2013. Together with the Netherlands and Germany, Poland was among Russia's top-three biggest food suppliers in the EU. Earlier this week Poland's Economic Ministry sent the European Commission a request to open an official complaint at the WTO to examine Russia's EU food embargo.


Comment: Geez, this guy seems almost eager to cut Poland's economic throat. Russia's actions were in response to the West's initial trade sanctions. Any sensible person could see that. Poland really is living in la la land.

Read More...
Binoculars

National Guard begins withdrawing from Ferguson


RT
Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:33 UTC
Image
© Reuters/Adrees LatifNational Guard troops stand at a staging area located at a shopping center parking lot in Ferguson, Missouri August 21, 2014.
Ferguson, Missouri remained relatively calm for the second night in a row. With only isolated arrests Wednesday and Thursday nights, a drawdown of the National Guard troops assigned with keeping the peace began Friday.

"[A] sense of normalcy" returned to the area along West Florissant Avenue ‒ the epicenter of continued protests against the police ‒ on Thursday. "People strolled to stores and city buses were back on schedule," USA Today reported.

Local clergy and civic leaders worked to keep the events of the night orderly, urging protesters to remain peaceful and to return to their homes after dark, the Associated Press wrote. Demonstrations have occurred since the death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson last Saturday.

"It was another good night,'' Missouri State Patrol Capt. Ron Johnson said at a 1 a.m. briefing. "We're heading toward a sense of peace for our community. Through 12:30 a.m., there were just seven arrests, including five for failing to disperse."
.@emilykassie got some great shots in #Ferguson last night. Very calm evening. pic.twitter.com/JqbB2cA224
- Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 22, 2014

Comment: Worse than police brutality: "They invaded Ferguson like they invaded Iraq" - Ferguson residents say crackdown turns city into war zone

Read More...