Puppet Masters

What the Panama Papers don't tell you about Putin's wealth

Sputnik
Tue, 05 Apr 2016 16:23 UTC

Vladimir Putin's personal wealth has always been a source of speculation. So much so that when the Panama Papers scandal broke out on Sunday, everyone seemed to have focused on the only person not mentioned in more than 11.5 million documents leaked from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca.

The latest figure provided in the Panama leaks places Putin's wealth at no less than $2 billion. Well, not Putin's personal fortune, to be exact. This is what a close friend of the Russian president is alleged to own. No direct links to the Russian leader were offered.

The $2 billion supposedly owned by famed cellist Sergey Roldugin is surely not as exciting as the $40 billion Putin must be hiding in his offshore coffers in addition to the super expensive yachts, palaces and Swiss watches. After all, the Russian president has often been claimed to be one of the richest men in the world.

Why are there 12 US generals leading a war in Iraq that doesn't exist?

Claire Bernish
The Anti-Media
Sat, 02 Apr 2016 16:10 UTC

A new report released Thursday revealed that a surprising number of military generals have been deployed to fight Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) — the very war the United States denies it's actually fighting. As The Daily Beast explains in an exclusive report:

"There are at least 12 U.S. generals in Iraq, a stunningly high number for a war that, if you believe the White House talking points, doesn't involve American troops in combat."

That number doesn't include those superior officers who oversee airstrikes against Daesh in both Syria and Iraq, nor does it include admirals in charge of maritime operations — and the number jumps to 21 when accounting for other coalition members' senior officers.

These 12 generals are supposedly overseeing just 5,000 U.S. troops deployed to a base in Iraq — which no one knew existed until a 27-year-old marine was killed in a rocket attack perpetrated by Daesh. Though the Pentagon dubiously claimed after the attack it had "planned to acknowledge" the base's existence, the Daily Beast's report of so many generals for so few troops only adds to numerous questions surrounding the true extent of U.S. ground involvement.

The fabricated Putin link to leaked Panama Papers

Stephen Lendman
Global Research
Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:57 UTC

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) calls itself an initiative "focusing on...cross-border crime, corruption, and the accountability of power."

Its financial backers include the Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, Australian billionaire Graeme Wood and other sources.

It was used to facilitate the largest ever financial leak, a reported 11.5 million documents, revealing secret offshore holdings of current and former world leaders, along with numerous other high-profile public and private figures.

The Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm is at the heart of the scandal, quietly providing services for high-profile clients, including apparently hiding wealth in tax havens, making money trails murky in the process.

No current or earlier Western leaders or officials so far were named, only UK prime minister David Cameron's father, Ian. Is evidence of their possible tax avoidance, money laundering or other illegal or suspect activities being concealed?

According to Forbes magazine, America had 536 billionaires in 2015, Western European countries hundreds more.

ICIJ revealed information on 140 politicians from over 50 countries with wealth hidden in 21 tax havens. They include "heads of state, their associates, ministers (and) elected officials."

Key national leaders named include Argentine president Mauricio Acri, former Georgia prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, Saudi Arabia's king Salman, other current and former Middle East leaders, and US-installed Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.

Yet ICIJ's Panama Papers report prominently featured Putin's image, alleging his ties to an "offshore network," despite no evidence suggesting it.

Comment: Disinfo campaign commences: Panama 'leaks' target West's enemies, ignore NATO criminals

Going back home: South Ossetia to consider holding referendum to request joining Russia

Sputnik
Mon, 04 Apr 2016 16:03 UTC

According to the statement of South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov, the possibility of a referendum was discussed during his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The referendum, which would allow the South Ossetian President to send Moscow an official request to join the Russian Federation, will be held in the near future, Tibilov said at a press conference on Monday.

"We discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and came to the conclusion that it is South Ossetia's domestic issue. This question needs legal framework and it is necessary to make amendments to the RSO constitution to implement it," Tibilov said.

Kremlin: "Putinophobia" disinformation campaign reaches new heights with Panama Papers leak

Sputnik
Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:45 UTC

"Putinophobia" has reached new heights making it impossible to speak well of Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

On Sunday, Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung published alleged documents from the Panamanian Mossack Fonseca company in which the newspaper confirms ties to a number of world leaders and their circles to off-shore schemes.

The German publication specifically notes Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Azeri President Ilham Aliev, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Saudi King Alman ibn Abdul-Aziz al Saud, the late father of British Prime Minister David Cameron, and a number of individuals allegedly close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's obvious that [information hoaxes] have reached new heights in 'Putinophobia' that make it practically impossible to speak well of Russia or any type of actions Russia does, or any success Russia enjoys. You need to speak poorly, and you need to say lots of bad things, in an abundance, and if there's nothing to say, then you need to whip something up. This is also obvious for us," Peskov told journalists.

Comment: The whole Panama Papers "scandal" appears to be a psy-op against the Western public to further negative sentiment towards anyone who has acted against the US Empire. The presstitute media has shown that they are merely the mouthpiece for the empire by publishing this nonsense, as can be seen by how Putin's picture is plastered at the beginning of all the stories even though there is no direct link to him in the Papers. This leak originated from US intel, via the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), really just an group that's an extension of US intelligence interests. That they call themselves "investigative journalists" is an insult to anyone who is an investigator or a journalist, because that group is neither.

See also:

ISIS attack on Syria's airbase in Deir Ez-zor with chemical weapons

RT
Tue, 05 Apr 2016 01:10 UTC

Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) militants have reportedly used poisonous gas in an attack on a Syrian military airbase located in Deir Ez-zor, the largest city in the eastern part of the country, RIA Novosti cited a military source as saying.

UPDATE: RT sources in the Syrian military have denied Islamic State used poisonous mustard gas in the attack on Deir Ez-zor airbase. The son of General Issam Zahreddine, who is in charge of the Deir Ez-zor division, has said no chemical weapons were used in the attack.

Comment: Regarding the update: No other source, so far, carries this particular information. Coming from the son of the general in charge, is it true or suspect? There is documented proof of IS using chemical weapons in previous attacks. IS has the means and methods for making or obtaining the substances and plenty of victims to attest to their use of deadly gasses. This statement is contrary to the original military source information and reports of the symptoms of the airbase victims.

"The Daesh [derogatory Arabic name for IS] militants attacked the military airfield in Deir Ez-zor with shells containing a poisonous chemical substance. The defenders of the airbase have reported that a number of soldiers were choking," the source said. This latest report adds weight to previous evidence implicating IS in using various forms of poisonous gas to attack targets.

Kurdish deputies in the Turkish parliament have previously accused Turkey of supplying Islamic State and other jihadist groups inside Syria with chemical weapons to fight the Syrian government. In an interview with RT, a spokesman for the Kurdish YPG militia said that Turkey had provided a clear transit route for the chemical weapons that were deployed against them near the city of Aleppo in early March.

Anti-government militants "took advantage of the ceasefire" to launch attacks against a Kurdish-controlled area near Aleppo in northern Syria, Redur Xelil told RT. "Our sources inside the rebel groups have confirmed that toxic substances were used."

Comment: ISIS uses chemical weapons. Assad used chemical weapons. Only one of these is true. Which one serves US intentions the best, true or not? Oh, both.

Scandal! Rachel Maddow confirms DC Madam records will be released, doom a candidate

Christian Drake
Winning Democrats
Fri, 01 Apr 2016 14:49 UTC

We recently brought you a story by Rachel Maddow regarding the infamous D.C. Madam and her list of clientele — hundreds of Washington D.C. insiders who partook of her "services" by hiring prostitutes from her. Rachel had broken the story that the Madam's lawyer, who still has the original list, is now threatening to release the entire thing despite a gag order requiring him to keep it secret.

Now, s*%t just got real.

The lawyer has guaranteed that the list will come out, it will have information in it that will upset the 2016 election in a severe way by potentially swaying the entire nation away from one candidate — and he intends to make the information public even if he is arrested or otherwise detained. Even if he is dead or incapacitated the list will be released via a "dead man switch."

The way it was explained is that if the lawyer is somehow incapacitated for more than 72 hours, the list will automatically start being distributed to journalists around the world from one of 4 different secret locations in which it's currently stored. Every day he does a process to reset the 72-hour timer, as of now, to prevent it from mailing out before he is ready.

This is seriously starting to read, like some kind of spy novel. We have a list of names, one of which will completely rewrite the 2016 election if made known, and it's now on a timer that the owner is using to safeguard himself from potential harm. Things like this are going to make the 2016 presidential election go down in history as one of the most unusual ones of the modern age, and this is only a small portion of what's been happening.

Watch Rachel's full report on this new development below:

Comment: Drumpf, Cruz, Killary, Kasich, Sanders? It might be an empty threat, but this is getting interesting!

A Western think tank's latest narrative on Russia's assistance to Syria

Tony Cartalucci
New Eastern Outlook
Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00 UTC

Comment: Before or after reading the following, do see the featured Russia's gameplan against the Empire of Chaos. Among several points in that article which directly address Western "thinking" on the subject at hand is this:

The American political establishment has been brought up on the chimeras of nineteenth century geopoliticians. American students study basic English and German geopolitical ideas of that time in political science classes. The main question back then was how to ruin the Russian Empire, and they still look at the world through the eyes of the XIX century 'hawks', when Great Britain tried to save its hegemony by starting the First World War, then lost their colonial empire after the Second World War.

This is what American geopoliticians study in the State Department and the White House, continuing to look at the world through the prism of both the Cold War and British confrontations with Russia and Germany in the nineteenth century, and now the US is unleashing another world war.

In the immediate aftermath of Russia's announcement of a partial withdrawal from Syria upon accomplishing its initial objectives, pundits, politicians, and analysts in the West attempted to capitalize on it by portraying Russia in retreat, broke economically, and attempting to avoid a quagmire it had entangled itself in.

However, more honest and thoughtful analysis noted that Russia's partial withdrawal was more diplomatic than strategic - a grand gesture by Moscow to the West that it was able and willing to give the perpetrators of this proxy war a graceful exit out - and that enough Russian assets would remain in theater to ensure all gains made by Russian and Syrian forces were not only maintained, but expanded upon further in the near and intermediate future.

Since the announcement, this analysis has proven to be accurate, with Russia continuing to conduct effective military operations in Syria, and most notably, helping the Syrian Arab Army liberate the ancient city of Palmyra - which was overrun by the so-called "Islamic State" (ISIS) ironically at the height of the United States-led coalition's alleged battle against the internationally listed terrorist organization.

Despite the fact that Russia is assisting the Syrian government in eradicating an internationally listed terrorist organization from Syrian territory, Western analysts are now crying foul over Russia's continued military activity in Syria despite its announcement of a partial draw down.

Iranian officials slam US for clear violations of the nuclear agreement

Sputnik
Tue, 05 Apr 2016 01:47 UTC

Iranian officials have reiterated their complaints that the US is violating the recently agreed-upon Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal by sabotaging Tehran's attempts to conduct business internationally.

"The Americans are now acting in violation of the nuclear agreement," Iran's Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani told high-ranking officials on Monday, referring to the agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 nations, including the US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany.

"The Americans should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran would never compromise its interests and would never agree with investment of foreign firms in the country at any price, while it enjoys rich resources and abundant talents," he said, according to Fars News.

Comment: While the US and Israel howl that Iran is a threat to world peace, and the number one state sponsor of terrorism, the truth is exactly the opposite.

Further reading:

Like a spy novel: The cloak and dagger inside Kerry's briefcase

Phil Butler
New Eastern Outlook
Sun, 03 Apr 2016 00:00 UTC

On March 24th US Secretary of State John Kerry stepped off a plane at Moscow's Airport carrying a valise in his right hand. Arriving for negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the familiar tall statesman looked a bit out of character carrying such a large briefcase, but few took notice. On sitting down across a table from the Russian president though, it soon became clear at least one Russian was paying attention. The scene, with Putin seemingly poking fun at the American dignitary, it became the newsreel of the day. Speculation still reverberates on what was in that briefcase, but the real signs point to one big win for Putin, and a last ditch battle over Europe for the Americans.

"Today, when I saw you coming down from the plane and carrying your effects, I got a little upset. On the one hand, it is very democratic; on the other, I think: things are really bad in the U.S., there is no one even to help the secretary of state carry his briefcase." - President Vladimir Putin

Thinking like a true Russian, at least doing my best impression of one, I can decipher what Vladimir Putin conveyed in those few seconds we all saw via RT. First of all, he was delighted. Seldom has the Russian president [been] seen in such a jovial mode of late, so whatever he and Kerry were really meeting about was a very positively charged subject, the meet-up was on the subject of another win for Putin, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Compromise from the United States of America was the sparkle in Vladimir's eye, and in Sergey Lavrov's honest grin as he sat next to his boss. Even Kerry seemed to have lost a monkey off his square shoulders, all this was so readily apparent. So what was the big secret, what kind of state treasure could have been carried in that satchel? We saw it lying open and empty later on, via a press photo...

"I think you'll be surprised, pleasantly," Kerry said.

Here's what I believe was in the briefcase. A big fat dossier that was too sensitive to be sent digitally, too important for anybody but Kerry to touch, too valuable for anything but a hand-to-hand pass-off, between America and Russia.

Comment: As far as spy novels go, this one isn't the least bit finished, but, for a moment, the bigger-than-life characters left the page and Kerry and Putin were...real.

These days in America, there are non stop false flags, hoaxes, psyops, and staged deceptions--that's literally all we get.

AmandaMay

It may be odd but I tend to hold my breath or shallow breathe when near unknown members of the public, but it's probably more rational than...

HashAttack2

"Comment: A true monitor for public interest would show no fear in publishing pertinent findings and accurate attribution to cause and effect." An...

ReRan

Liz Cheney is a former member of the globalist CFR, where her neocon father Dick Cheney is a lifetime member and former director. It's clear which...

JohnSmith

Such drivel. And why does SOTT feel compelled to repost it. Vaccines have a proven track record of safety...?? Sometimes SOTT makes me 🤢 🤮 I come...

Alisadoll

Puppet Masters

What the Panama Papers don't tell you about Putin's wealth

Why are there 12 US generals leading a war in Iraq that doesn't exist?

The fabricated Putin link to leaked Panama Papers

Going back home: South Ossetia to consider holding referendum to request joining Russia

Kremlin: "Putinophobia" disinformation campaign reaches new heights with Panama Papers leak

ISIS attack on Syria's airbase in Deir Ez-zor with chemical weapons

Scandal! Rachel Maddow confirms DC Madam records will be released, doom a candidate

A Western think tank's latest narrative on Russia's assistance to Syria

Iranian officials slam US for clear violations of the nuclear agreement

Like a spy novel: The cloak and dagger inside Kerry's briefcase

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