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Unnamed source in Russian gov't: Unfriendly measures in air transportation by EU won't remain without response

Tyler Durden
Zerohedge.com
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:22 UTC
Image
© Thelibertymill.com
Russia has been quiet, too quiet, since the EU and US unleashed their latest set of sanctions. However, as military drills and troop build-ups occur on Ukraine's borders, Reuters reports that Russian Prime Minister Medvedev is considering a significant retaliation, "any unfriendly measures by the EU, including those in the area of air transportation, we'll be studied and won't remain without a response."

Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals by restricting or banning European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes. Costs? Over $1.3bn for every months for Lufthansa, BA, and Air France...

As Reuters reports,
The Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals.

Russia may restrict or ban European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes, a newspaper reported on Tuesday, following Western sanctions which have grounded one Russian carrier and a billionaire's private jet.
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Alarm Clock

HRW: Human Rights Watch or hypocrites representing Washington?

Eric Draitser
New Eastern Outlook
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 21:40 UTC
human rights
Unlike previous centuries and epochs, modern warfare is not restricted solely to the battlefield. Rather, it extends into the information sphere where the dissemination of propaganda and the construction of narratives are of equal importance to weapons and soldiers. For today, the legitimacy of a war in the eyes of public opinion in many ways determines victory or defeat. It is here, in the realm of public opinion, that an organization such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) becomes indispensible to the Empire, not so much for the facts that it presents, but the narrative that it shapes.

Put another way, HRW serves as intermediary between the facts on the ground and the western public who rely on the organization (and similar NGOs such as Amnesty International) to accurately tell the story of a given conflict. It is precisely this position as an "information middleman" that makes HRW both relevant and dangerous for the simple fact that the manner in which it presents information, along with the critical facts it chooses to omit or otherwise distort, can have a tremendous impact on how the world views a conflict and, consequently, how the world responds.

By examining the way in which HRW documented, investigated, and presented findings from the conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, Libya, Syria, and Venezuela, it becomes clear that the organization, though theoretically objective and "disinterested," is in fact an integral part of the western imperial system. Though HRW has done some good work, and likely will in the future, this cannot be taken as evidence that the organization is somehow not a part of the Empire. On the contrary, without HRW and similar organizations, Washington and its allies would not be able to champion themselves as "defenders of human rights," "beacons of democracy," and "humanitarian powers."
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Yoda

Statesman Putin: U.S. is a parasite on global economy

Maria Tsvetkova
Reuters
Fri, 01 Aug 2014 09:15 UTC
putin awesome
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States Monday of living beyond its means "like a parasite" on the global economy and said dollar dominance was a threat to the financial markets.

"They are living beyond their means and shifting a part of the weight of their problems to the world economy," Putin told the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi while touring its lakeside summer camp some five hours drive north of Moscow.

"They are living like parasites off the global economy and their monopoly of the dollar," Putin said at the open-air meeting with admiring young Russians in what looked like early campaigning before parliamentary and presidential polls.

Comment: Actually Putin's approval ratings had reached 85.9 % last May and they keep rising. Probably because he tells things as they are.

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Top Secret

NSA has an intimate partnership with Israeli intelligence


PressTV
Mon, 04 Aug 2014 10:54 UTC
flags US/Israel
© www.popularresistance.org
Collaborators and Frenemies
New documents show a "far-reaching" collaboration between the US National Security Agency and Israeli intelligence services most of which was directed against Palestine.

The NSA "maintains a far-reaching technical and analytic relationship with the Israeli SIGINT National Unit (ISNU) sharing information on access, intercept, targeting, language, analysis and reporting," according to an NSA document dated April 13, 2013, which is among other documents revealed by The Intercept on Monday.
The documents show the US has provided Israel with cash, raw data and analysis under agreements reached between the NSA and Israeli SIGINT National Unit also known as Unit 8200, the secretive signals intelligence organization.
The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald wrote that the documents "underscore the indispensable, direct involvement of the US government and its key allies in Israeli aggression against its neighbors. That covert support is squarely at odds with the posture of helpless detachment typically adopted by Obama officials and their supporters."

The documents also show Unit 8200 along with the US, Britain and Canada attempt to collect signals from throughout the Middle East.

In 2003 and 2004, the US explored a "massively expanded intelligence-sharing relationship called 'Gladiator.'" But the Israelis demanded hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for the project, which "appears never to have been consummated," one document shows.

Comment: Do we think for one minute the United States is exempt from Israeli spying and espionage activities? Think again! A CIA-led National Intelligence Estimate on cyberthreats in 2013 ranked Israel the third most aggressive intelligence service against the U.S., behind only China and Russia (likely a low estimate!). And, the U.S. routinely shares raw intelligence data with Israel without first filtering out information about U.S. citizens (as per Snowden). All phone calls and emails are included in this data mine. And, the agreement between the U.S. and Israel places no legally binding limits on the use of this data by the Israelis, nor does it have any legal obligations to international law. Constitutional rights of Americans to privacy?Who owns the NSA? Just another couple of lousy illusions.

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Airplane

More evidence suggesting MH17 shot at from jet fighter

Eric Zuesse
Washington's Blog
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:39 UTC
vuelo MH17
© RIA Novosti Andrey Stenin
Information continues to pour in confirming the retired Lufthansa pilot Peter Haisenko's reconstruction of how that Malaysian airliner (MH-17) came to be downed over the war-zone in Ukraine, the place to which Obama's Ukrainian stooges had guided it and then shot it down in order to blame Russia for the tragedy so that Obama's international sanctions against Russia could be increased. The present article is an updated version of the prior ones I've done attempting to present this case as clearly and as fully and honestly as I can. The "PS: at the end here is the main addition to the version I posted yesterday.

We'll go considerably farther than has yet been revealed by the professional intelligence community, to provide the actual evidence that conclusively shows that (and how) the Ukrainian Government shot down the Malaysian airliner, MH-17, on July 17th.

The latest report from the intelligence community was headlined on August 3rd by Robert Parry, "Flight 17 Shoot-Down Scenario Shifts," and he revealed there that, "Contrary to the Obama administration's public claims blaming eastern Ukrainian rebels and Russia for the shoot-down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, some U.S. intelligence analysts have concluded that the rebels and Russia were likely not at fault and that it appears Ukrainian government forces were to blame, according to a source briefed on these findings. This judgment - at odds with what President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have expressed publicly - is based largely on the absence of U.S. government evidence that Russia supplied the rebels with a Buk anti-aircraft missile system that would be needed to hit a civilian jetliner flying at 33,000 feet, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity."


Comment: Notice how these statements are worded, coming from Parry's "intelligence sources": they have "concluded" that Ukraine was to blame based on the absence of evidence against Russia. In other words, it is not based on evidence. In other words, they're pushing an agenda in this instance. That said, Zuesse now proceeds to something more tangible.


It's actually based on lots more than that; it's based not on an absence of evidence, but on positive proof that the Ukrainian Government shot the plane down, and even proving how it was done. You will see this proof, right here, laid out in detail, for the first time anywhere, as of the present date.

Comment: For an alternative analysis of the publicly available information regarding MH17, see this report submitted to the Vineyard of the Saker blog by "CDN".

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Flashlight

Palestine pushes for Hague Court probe into Israeli war crimes in Gaza


RT
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:33 UTC
Leaving ICC building
© rt.com
Palestinian Foreign Minister riad al-Malki leaves the International Criminal Court at the Hague on August 5th, accompanied by the Palestinian Ambassador.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki has said that Israel must be prosecuted at The Hague court for war crimes it committed during the offensive in Gaza, and that Palestinian authorities are planning to join the International Criminal Court (ICC). "We must do everything in our power to enable the ICC to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes," Malki said on Tuesday after meetings with the court's prosecutors, Reuters cited.

The minister's visit to The Hague-based court comes soon after the beginning of an Egypt-mediated truce between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning. The 72-hour ceasefire was agreed amid mounting global pressure to end the bloody conflict.

Riad al Malki
© www.ibtimes.com
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al Malki claims they are close to the number needed to force a UN Security Council vote.
Throughout the fighting, which has been continuing for nearly a month, Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for violating international law.

The Palestinians accuse the Israeli Defense Force of targeting densely-populated areas resulting in a heavy civilian death toll, while the Israelis hit back saying Hamas was using its people as a human shield to protect fighters.

Palestine is going to seek formal membership of the ICC, which is required for the court to get jurisdiction over alleged crimes in the territories.
"Everything that has happened in the last 28 days is clear evidence of war crimes committed by Israel, amounting to crimes against humanity," Malki told reporters in The Hague. "There is no difficulty for us to show or build the case. Evidence is there ... Israel is in clear violation of international law," the minister added.
Israel, also not a member of the ICC, has declined to comment publicly on the matter. However, a senior official told Reuters that Israel would file a counter-suit against the Palestinians in response to any ICC legal action against Israel over the Gaza conflict.Since neither of the conflicting sides are members of the ICC, the court would have no jurisdiction over Gaza unless this is granted in a UN Security Council resolution.

Comment: With the conferral of nonmember state status on Palestine last November, Israel edges closer to exposure of its war crimes and judgement by the I.C.C. Israel has categorized its involvement in Gaza as "an armed conflict short of war" which, on Israeli terms, permits the use of jet fighters and sophisticated weaponry. Civilians are designated as "voluntary human shields" and thereby part of the conflict; civilians with jobs "support terrorists," and so on...convenient definitions to rationalize its atrocities...but also proving evidence of intent. Will the I.C.C. finally have the jurisdiction to put an end to the Israeli slaughter of the innocent and charge Israel with the war crimes it deserves?

See also:
'Committing a war crime': HRW calls for Israel to stop shooting at Gaza civilians
Israel may be guilty of war crimes - UN Human Rights Chief
UN must urgently investigate war crimes in Israeli-Gaza conflict - Amnesty Intl

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Take 2

Who's backwards here? Poland bans cultural exchange; Russia strengthens it


RT
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:30 UTC
Medinsky
© RIA Novosti / Vladimir Trefilov
Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky
Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has promised to unilaterally step up the contacts with Polish artists and groups as an "asymmetrical" reply to Poland's decision to withdraw from the Year of Culture project.

"If the Polish government approves such a decision, we, the Culture Ministry would make an asymmetrical reply. Not only we will not block contacts with Polish groups and artists - we will unilaterally strengthen them. We will invite more Polish artists to perform in our country; will definitely invite some good Polish theater for a tour. And if our artists would like to go to Poland we would offer them our help," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Medinsky as saying on Tuesday.

"This will be a unilateral Year of Culture," the minister added.

"Nothing can be worse than mixing politics and culture," he said.

According to Medinsky Russian authorities will definitely hold a festival of Polish cinema in 2015.

The decision to hold the Russian-Polish Year of Culture in 2015 was taken last year by the countries' foreign ministers, Radoslaw Sikorski and Sergey Lavrov as a part of a mutual initiative called the 2020 Program of Russian-Polish relations.
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Windsock

Pathetic! Switzerland caves in: Will enforce EU sanctions on Russia


RT
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:20 UTC
Swiss flag
© AFP Photo / Fabrice Coffrini
The Swiss government has extended sanctions to include 26 people in Russia and Ukraine, as well as 18 organizations, so the country isn't used as a channel to avoid EU and US sanctions.

Switzerland itself hasn't imposed any sanctions, but some of the EU measures will now apply in the country which is surrounded by the European Union.

The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research released a list of those affected on Tuesday, and said it was because of Russia's perceived intervention in the Ukraine crisis.

Now, over 87 individuals and 20 companies are banned from transferring assets into Switzerland or starting new business relationships. A travel ban also exists.

The new names include Donetsk People's Republic's Vice Premier Alexander Boroday and the Security Minister Alexander Khodakovsky, top Russian security officials such as former Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and Nikolai Patrushev, and Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov.

The sanctions come into effect on August 5 at 8:00pm Moscow time.

Comment: Remaining impartial in this global farce is impossible given the terms set down by the U.S. If you don't follow Uncle Sam, you're partial to Russia (and hurt Sam's feelings); if you impose sanctions, you're partial to the States. The only rational course of action is to NOT impose or support sanctions against Russia and the Donbass leaders and militias. Yes, it is 'partial', but it's absurd to remain impartial when the choice is between a total farce and actual reality. There comes a time when you have to stand up for what is right, not simply what the global bullies of the day dictate.

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Light Sabers

As 'war' on Gaza continues, so does war on truth

Richard Sudan
RT
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:06 UTC
gaza
© Reuters / Mohammed Salem
Palestinians stand atop the remains of their house after returning to it in the Shejaia neighborhood, which witnesses said was heavily hit by Israeli shelling and air strikes during an Israeli offensive, in the east of Gaza City August 5, 2014
The crimes of the state of Israel, and its ruthless assault on Gaza have over the last few days and weeks have been laid bare for all to see on social media.

Alongside the unrelenting attacks on the Gaza strip, and the cold-blooded murder of an entirely innocent and defenseless people, runs a particularly distasteful strand of propaganda, the kind of falsehoods that make people think the unjustifiable is justifiable.


Comment: In Political Ponerology, Dr. Andrew Lobaczewski describes this phenomenon in clinical detail as "paramoralism". It's chronically used by individuals with personality disorders, e.g. psychopathy.


The words and language used by many in the media, to describe the war on Palestinians, is the key in perpetuating a certain kind of mythology in people's minds, cementing the kind of stereotypes in the subconscious which makes people think that murdering civilians is OK. It breeds a kind of passivity and acceptance in people's minds. Repeat a lie over and over, and people believe it. And all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.

In spite of the fact that we are witnessing the kind of brutality and cold-blooded killing of human beings, that would not be accepted anywhere else, people still cling to the same out tired dogma and lies, which are repeated as talking points by the media, and reflected in the casual everyday justifications you hear apologists for Israel make.

You know what I am talking about. We have all heard people ask, or simply state "What about Israel's right to defend itself?"
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Quenelle

Fearless Crimea prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya, who refused to be part of "Nazi" Kiev government, one of 40 put on Japan sanctions list


RT
Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:07 UTC
Image
Crimean prosecutor, Natalya Poklonskaya, an internet sensation, whose anime-style images gained her overwhelming popularity, particularly in Japan, has found herself among forty officials put on a sanctions list by Tokyo.

The list, made public by the Japanese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, includes former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, a number of top figures in the self-proclaimed People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as people believed to be "directly responsible for the annexation of Crimea."

"Japan will continue our coordination with G7 nations and the international community to achieve a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine situation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular briefing, according to AFP. "We have made our decisions to select those who were directly responsible for the annexation of Crimea and destabilization of eastern Ukraine, and after we reviewed sanctions by the United States and EU."

Adoration by the Japanese online community did not save the Crimean prosecutor, Natalya Poklonskaya, from being added to Tokyo's black list.
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