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IRGC Commander Soleimani: Daesh is created to target Iran


PressTV
Thu, 06 Oct 2016 09:18 UTC
Major General Qassem Soleimani
© Fars News Agency
Major General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, delivers a speech in Tehran on October 5, 2016, during a ceremony commemorating the first anniversary of the killing of Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani by terrorists in Syria
Iran's Major General Qassem Soleimani says that Daesh and other Takfiri terrorist groups were created to weaken Iran.

The Commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) made the remarks in Tehran on Wednesday during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the killing of Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani (seen below) by terrorists in Syria.

Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani
The senior IRGC commander was killed by Daesh last year during an advisory mission on the outskirts of the Syrian city of Aleppo.


Comment: Senior Iranian general killed in Syria by Islamic State


"Daesh and Takfiri terrorist groups were not created for war with Syria, they were established to target the Islamic Republic of Iran," Soleimani said.
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Chess

Ankara's 'deafening silence' on Aleppo - Turkey cannot afford to antagonize Russia

Semih Idiz
Al Monitor
Tue, 04 Oct 2016 01:19 UTC
damage Aleppo September 2016
© Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters
Men inspect the damage after an airstrike on the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Sept. 25, 2016.
Reconciliation with Russia is preventing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from blasting away at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as he once did.

In the past, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan never missed an opportunity to thrash Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling him the "brutal dictator who kills his own people." These days, however, Erdogan has been noticeably low-key in his criticism of the Syrian leader as his regime pounds Aleppo and, according to independent observers, commits war crimes. It is not difficult to fathom the reason behind Ankara's reticence to take a tough line in keeping with its stance against such attacks in the past: Russia is also involved in the brutal operation against Aleppo.


Comment: The writer has obviously succumbed to the propaganda put out by Western-back NGOs such as the laughable Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the terrorist-embedded White Helmets.

During an Oct. 1 address to parliament marking the opening of the new legislative year, Erdogan only touched on the situation in Aleppo once in passing, without mention of anyone specifically while laying blame in general terms on the West.

"Those countries and societies that are merely watching the brutality as every innocent life is extinguished among the ruins of Aleppo will have to account for this in the face of history," Erdogan said. He made no other reference to Aleppo although it was the topic dominating world headlines.

Erdogan preferred instead to talk at length about the Turkish military's operation in northern Syria, where it is backing fighters from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) against the Islamic State (IS) and the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the military wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Ankara accuses of being a terrorist group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
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Binoculars

Vanessa Beeley travels to Aleppo to expose the truth buried under NATO propaganda

Vanessa Beeley
Mint Press News
Tue, 20 Sep 2016 23:18 UTC
road to Aleppo

Passing through Khanaser, al-Safira, and the industrial city of Sheikh Najjar on the road to Aleppo.
Editor's Note: This article is the first in a two-part series of one Western journalist's journey to Aleppo, a city ravaged by an insurgency supported by the United States, NATO member states, and their allies in the Gulf states and Israel.

In Part I, Vanessa Beeley lays out the mainstream narrative on Syria, revealing a neoconservative agenda promoted by NATO-funded NGOs. These NGOs paint the destruction of the historic city as being caused by the Syrian government under Bashar Assad, not the violent armed insurgents which receive arms, funding and training from Western governments and their allies.
Aleppo has become synonymous with destruction and "Syrian state-generated" violence among those whose perception of the situation in the war-torn nation is contained within the prism of mainstream media narratives.

The NATO-aligned media maintains a tight grip on information coming out of this beleaguered city, ensuring that whatever comes out is tailored to meet State Department requirements and advocacy for regime change. The propaganda mill churns out familiar tales of chemical weapons, siege, starvation and bombs targeting civilians - all of which are attributed to the Syrian government and military, with little variation on this theme.

The purpose of this photo essay and my journey to Aleppo on Aug. 14 was to discover for myself as a Western journalist the truth behind the major storylines in the U.S. and NATO narrative on Syria.
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Network

Uzbekistan improves ties with Central Asian neighbors


RFE/RL
Tue, 04 Oct 2016 20:04 UTC
Mirziyaev

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev's new softer line toward its fellow Central Asian states might be a signal that Tashkent is willing to try the "carrot" rather resorting to the "stick," as it has for many years now.
Uzbekistan's new leader, Shavkat Mirziyaev, is already making a difference in regional politics in Central Asia. In less than one month, Mirziyaev has moved to improve ties with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and in so doing has sparked hopes for a new era of regional cooperation.

Under former President Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was an obstacle to regional integration. Uzbekistan lies at the center of Central Asia, bordered by all the other Central Asian states and also sharing an approximately 160-kilometer border with Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has proven to be a knot at the heart of the region.

Tashkent's relations with its immediate neighbors have ranged from bad to horrible. Ties with Turkmenistan warmed after the country's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, died in late 2006, and in the last decade Karimov seemed to finally find some common ground with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, which eased Uzbek-Kazakh relations.

But the Uzbek government has always been hard on eastern neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
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Document

British tabloid: Russian state newspapers foresee 'direct military conflict' with US, compares Syria conflict to Cuban missile crisis

Paul Harper
The Sun
Wed, 05 Oct 2016 09:22 UTC
Moskovsky Komsomolets

"Look everyone! The Russians believe they may need to go to war with the U.S.! This is serious!"

Comment: What's perhaps most interesting about this article is not what the Russian newspapers are quoted as saying (since they and Russian television shows have been discussing these possibilities in depth for years now) - but rather, how matter-of-factly the Sun, a UK tabloid, manages to give the Western propagandist slant in just a few short lines:


'Third World War' fears have been voiced by the newspapers over the growing tensions between the USA and Syria

A RUSSIAN newspaper fears a Third World War with the US over Syria.

Tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets predicts a "direct military confrontation" on par with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The US suspended contact with Russia over Syria on Monday.


Comment: But no mention of how Assad took this latest ceasefire negotiation off the table. Or Russian foreign Minister Lavrov's similar statements. It's all about what the US has decided to do.


Secretary of State John Kerry has been enraged by airstrikes on rebel-controlled areas of Aleppo.


Comment: Again, its all about how Kerry feels. Never mind Assad or Lavrov or the millions of people world-wide who stand outraged by the US strike in Deir Ezzor.


Hundreds of innocents are believed to have been killed in the attacks.


Comment: No mention of course that it is the rebels who are responsible for shelling civilians.


BBC Russia correspondent Steve Rosenberg referred to two Russian newspapers taking an aggressive tone towards the US.

Comment: Maybe if the Western media got a few of the crucial facts straight, it wouldn't sound so incredulous about Russia and Syria's views of the matter.

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Bizarro Earth

Al-Qaeda good or bad? U.S. is dead-set against fighting al-Qaeda in Syria - wants it safe and strengthened

Bernhard
Moon of Alabama
Wed, 05 Oct 2016 23:18 UTC
bin laden

Remember this guy? The U.S. is doing everything it can to keep his legacy alive and strong.
There is currently a barrage of propaganda in the "western" media in support of "rebels" in east-Aleppo. It is all about "hospitals" and "children" but the aim is to stop a Syrian army assault on the "rebel"-held quarters of the city. U.S. officials are again talking about "intervention", meaning open war, to prevent the Syrian army and its allies from storming the "rebel"-held eastern parts. It would not work but that is not the only reason why it is a strange idea.

"It is primarily al-Qaeda that holds Aleppo," said (vid) the spokesperson of the U.S. led 'Operation Inherent Resolve', Colonel Warren. That was back in April and al-Qaeda (aka Jabat al-Nusra) has since strengthened its capacities in the city. The French Syria expert Fabrice Balanche tells Le Monde (translate from French):
[Al-Qaeda's] grip on Aleppo's east has only increased since the spring of 2016, when it sent 700 reinforcement fighters while moderate brigades fighters began to leave the area before the final exit was closed. The provisional opening of a breach of the siege of Aleppo in August 2016 (Battle of Ramousseh) has further increased its prestige and influence on the rebels.
The UN Special Envoy for Syria DeMistura told (vid, 27:43) the UN Security Council:
We have seen information from other sources that tell us more than half of the fighters present in eastern Aleppo are al-Nusra. We have also seen reports alleging the intentional placement of firing positions close to social infrastructure, inside and aside civilian quarters.
So why does the U.S. want to stop the Syrian government forces in their attempt to free the parts of the city which are undoubtedly held by al-Qaeda?

Comment: There's only one conclusion: "U.S. counterterrorism goals" are to strengthen and support al-Qaeda.

See: Escalations in the war on Syria: Russia sends in S-300 missile defense system, Syrian Army advances in Aleppo

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Clipboard

U.S. runs out of options in Syria

Alexander Mercouris
The Duran
Wed, 05 Oct 2016 22:46 UTC
Russian S-300 missle system
Shortly before the US announcement of its decision to suspend talks with Russia on the 'cessation of hostilities' agreement reached by US Secretary State Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on 9th September 2016, a clearly well-sourced article setting out US options was published by Reuters.

This article was clearly written on the basis of information provided by senior officials of the US government. It confirms that "staff level" discussions are underway in the US in light of the collapse of the Kerry-Lavrov agreement and the Syrian army's advances in Aleppo, though as of the date of publication of the Reuters article (29th September 2016) no suggestions of what to do had been made to Obama.

Comment: For more analysis:Escalations in the war on Syria: Russia sends in S-300 missile defense system, Syrian Army advances in Aleppo

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Cult

Two ding-a-lings don't ring a bell: Washington vs reality in the Kaine vs Pence debate


RT
Wed, 05 Oct 2016 15:36 UTC
Kaine and Pence
© Chuck Burton/AP, Mike Segar/Reuters
Russia does have a big impact on US elections, but mostly in the heads of vice presidential contenders. While Russians were fast asleep, Kaine and Pence locked horns over who would be stronger on Russia, making up some facts and even jokes on the way.

Vladimir Putin loomed large at the only 90-minute vice presidential debate this election season, seizing much of Tim Kaine's and Mike Pence's attention.

"You guys love Russia," Kaine said, interrupting Pence and setting "the Russia tone" for the evening. "You both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president."

"Donald Trump again and again has praised Vladimir Putin, and it's clear he has business dealings with Russians that are connected to Putin," Kaine said. Trump said in the first debate that he had never met Putin and has previously said that he didn't have any business dealings in Russia.

Hillary Clinton's VP pick called Putin "a dictator, not a leader," saying those who think otherwise do not know "Russian history or Vladimir Putin" like Clinton does. He also admitted that both Moscow and Washington had to work together on many issues and there are areas in which the two countries could cooperate.

The two spent roughly 20 minutes exchanging barbs over the Russian President, although Kaine made a slight detour to talk about Trump's taxes.

Comment: The leadership 'offered' by the U.S. could not live up to the statesmanship and masterful geopolitical skill of Putin and his administration - not in a thousand lifetimes.

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Bad Guys

John Kerry desires nothing other than toppling the legitimate government of Syria, says Virginia State Senator


RT
Wed, 05 Oct 2016 20:32 UTC
Destruction in Syria
© Abdalrhman Ismail / Reuters
The US government is not of a single mind. The Pentagon is more pro-Russian, and the Department of State tends to be more favorable to the terrorists and has no goal other than toppling the Assad government, says Virginia State Senator Richard H. Black.

The US claims the Russian military campaign in Syria has achieved next to nothing. Moreover, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia and Syria have rejected diplomacy when it comes to solving the Syrian crisis.

However, a few days ago The New York Times published recordings proving Kerry's interest in toppling the Assad government.

RT: Are you surprised by John Kerry's claims that it's Russia and Syria who rejected diplomacy, even though there these leaked recordings suggest he backs greater American military force in Syria?

Richard Black: I think there is a very little indication here that John Kerry desires anything other than toppling the legitimate government of Syria. If you look at it going all the way back to when ISIS took control of Mosul with a vast store of American weapons, the US did not intervene to interdict those weapons at all and they all floated into Syria. The US permitted ISIS to run 2,000 oil tankers in and out of Turkey. It wasn't until Russia came in that they were knocked out. The American-led coalition permitted a vast army to travel across the desert to seize Palmyra. I believe that it was their intention that if they should succeed perhaps they can go from Palmira to Damascus.

Comment: See also: Washington's suspension of talks with Russia represents renewed desire to topple Assad, says former Pentagon official

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Boat

Israeli navy stops and boards 'Women's boat' en route to Gaza


PressTV
Wed, 05 Oct 2016 20:48 UTC
Zaytouna (olive) solidarity boat bound for the Gaza Strip

The undated photo shows Zaytouna (olive) solidarity boat bound for the Gaza Strip.
Israeli navy forces have stopped a boat transporting female international activists on the way to the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Israeli forces took control of Zaytouna (olive) solidarity boat before arriving in Gaza, Al-Aqsa satellite television quoted Israeli media as saying.

Zaher Birawi, the head of the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, earlier said the American campaign of solidarity with Gaza had urged the US embassy in Tel Aviv to exert pressure on Israel to stop any attack on the vessel.

The embassy, however, said they had information that the Israeli forces would intercept the ship and force the activists to head to Ashdod port if they refused, Birawi added.


Comment: Israeli Navy issues orders to intercept all-women flotilla bound for Gaza

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