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Who wants a third world war? Pope Francis warning as he and Chinese leader Xi land in US

Pepe Escobar
Sputnik
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 18:34 UTC
Xi and Obama
© AFP 2015/Greg Baker
US President Barack Obama (C) reviews an honour guard with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 12, 2014.
Chinese President Xi Jinping surfs the USA in his first state visit almost simultaneously as Pope Francis. It will be fascinating to observe how the hyperpower's decision centers will react to this double exposure to dialectical materialism — with Chinese characteristics — and the in thesis "under reconstruction" Catholic Church.

In a historic speech in Havana, Pope Francis — who broke the get-together between US President Barack Obama and Raul Castro — insisted he wants to deepen the relationship between Washington and Havana. He asked for Obama and Raul to give it all they've got as an example to the world, "a world that needs reconciliation amidst this Third World War."

"Third World War" was never part of the original redaction of the Pope's speech. Francis added it on his flight from Rome to Havana.

A pre-Socratic cynic would volunteer that Francis may now be in synch with Apocalypse Now Pentagon factions — for whom the Third World War is already on, and the crucial threats are Russia and China, with ISIS/ISIL/Daesh as a distant third.
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Passport

Human Rights Watch accuses Macedonia of brutal and inhuman asylum seeker treatment


RT
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:17 UTC
Image
© Ognen Teofilovski / Reuters
Macedonian border police and detention center guards stand accused of inhuman treatment of asylum seekers. Victims recounted verbal and physical abuse, while enduring substandard living conditions, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

The 59-page document, issued Monday, is compiled from interviews with 64 victims and witnesses. The abuses have for the most part occurred at Reception Center for Foreigners, a detention facility in Skopje known as Gazi Baba, in the June 2014-July 2015 period.

Unlawful arbitrary detention was part of the testimonies, which also included claims of beatings with batons, as well as being kicked, punched and verbally abused. In extreme cases, a refugee would be reportedly forced to run the gauntlet between Macedonian officers, who would take turns to hit the person as they ran past.

Comment: Sadly for the asylum seekers and refugees of the Middle East and Africa, the 'Empire of Chaos' not only shows no signs of pulling back on its covert aggression throughout the world but, if anything, would seek to destabilize 'countries of interest' even further. If that isn't bad enough, the countries of Europe and Asia are mostly ill-prepared and disinclined to either assist these desperate people in a humane way, or do much that would prevent these situations from occurring to begin with, ie. utterly reject US/NATO acts aggression. Though we see some movement and suggestion towards the latter solution, it should come to no surprise to anyone if countries moving in the direction of assisting Russia in removing ISIS in Syria (for instance) get blocked by more US bullying, threats and manipulation.

This horrific state of affairs is a living nightmare for those millions of innocent individuals and families who are caught up in it. And they have no one but the psychopaths in Washington and their bought-and-paid-for lackeys around the world to thank for it.

See also: Syrian refugees in Europe, regime change in Damascus, and the mass migrations still to come

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Crusader

Putin assures Netanyahu: Syrian army too busy saving country to threaten Israel


RT
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 17:00 UTC
Image
© Michael Klimentyev / Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence.
Israeli concerns that Syria would provide advanced weapons to the Lebanese militant movement Hezbollah are exaggerated, considering that the country is fighting for survival, the Russian president told the visiting Israeli prime minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu is in Moscow on Monday to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and clarify Russia's position.
"Israel and Russia have common goals - to ensure stability in the Middle East," Netanyahu said. "Iran and Syria are arming the radical Islamist terrorist group [Hezbollah] with advanced weapons, which they use to target our country."
The PM alleged that Damascus and Tehran are working to "create a second terrorist front in the Golan Heights."

Comment: For further analysis:

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Bad Guys

Japan adopts new secrecy law as they urge citizens to move back to Fukushima


Sputnik
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:32 UTC
Fukushima
© AFP 2015/ POOL / Issei KATO
Commenting on the aftermath of Fukushima disaster, US climate journalist Robert Hunziker suggests that the Japanese government has something to hide; "it must be really big," the journalist notes, referring to the hard-hitting new secrecy law Tokyo has adopted.

There is something sinister about the Japanese government's optimistic claims that the notorious Fukushima Prefecture is largely safe for habitation, Los-Angeles based climate journalist Robert Hunziker notes, warning that scientific data published by third-party NGOs shows otherwise.

"The immediate direct exposure of radiation over population centers at Chernobyl was significantly more than Fukushima, where 80% drifted out into the Pacific Ocean. However, that may be slight solace because, horrifyingly, nobody knows where the Fukushima melted cores are located; it's absolutely true, nobody knows whether the molten cores are within the containment vessels, outside of the vessels, deep in the ground, or cataclysmically traversing towards the water table," Hunziker elaborated in his article for CounterPunch.

Comment: The adoption of this secrecy law could certainly have a lot to do with Fukushima, as well as the revamped (and US-inspired) Japanese militarism:

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Bad Guys

Nearly half of US citizens consider government a threat to freedom


Sputnik
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:27 UTC
White House
© Flickr/ John Connell
According to the poll, the number of people who participated in the questionnaire think that the amount of people believing the government is a threat has been increasing since 2003, when a similar poll was conducted.

Some 49 percent of US citizens who answered a survey think that the current government of the United States poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary people in the country, a new Gallup poll revealed Monday.

According to the poll, the number of people who participated in the questionnaire think that the amount of people believing the government is a threat has been increasing since 2003, when a similar poll was conducted. At the time of the initial poll, less than a third of those US citizens who participated in the survey had such an opinion.

Comment: And while the average American is afraid of the government 'taking their guns' or that the government is just 'too big' they fail to see beyond these simplistic narratives to the real dangers. Check out:

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Cookie

Now that's smart: London think tank says West should help, protect and resettle ISIS defectors


RT
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:33 UTC
ISIS

"The Russians are coming! Witness protection, please!"
Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) defectors should be encouraged to desert the terror group using promises of resettlement, protection and help, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) has said.

A new ICSR report, titled 'Entitled Victims, Perpetrators, Assets: the Narrative of Islamic State Defectors,' was released on Monday. It argues for the removal of legal "disincentives" to IS fighters speaking.

Governments should provide defectors with "opportunities to speak out; assist them in resettlement and ensure their safety; and remove legal disincentives that prevent them from going public," the report argues.

"It seems to me to be wrong that if someone is helping to deter people to join ISIS by casting a negative light on the group, that he is then being punished for it," Peter Neumann, ICSR director and author of the report told the Guardian newspaper.

"Right now, if you speak out, the prosecutor will say, 'oh that's very interesting, so he's admitting membership of ISIS, so we can prosecute him for that.' So that needs to stop," Neumann added.

Comment: Such a policy would also have the advantage of removing key ISIS fighters from the 'heat' of a renewed offensive resulting from Russian support and a possible Russian-backed anti-ISIS coalition, so they can put on new costumes and wage their proxy jihad elsewhere. The U.S. may have been backed into a corner as a result of Russia's rational proposal to actually fight ISIS, but that doesn't mean they will be willing to sacrifice their proxy army so easily.

See also: The ISIS Conspiracy: US-Israeli-Saudi origins and intrigue (VIDEO)

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Gear

Cut out of the loop: Russia approves railroad to bypass Ukraine


RT
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:54 UTC
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has authorized the building of a new railroad between the Voronezh and Rostov regions of Russia bypassing crisis-torn south east Ukraine.
russia train ukraine
© Vladimir Astapkovich / RIA Novosti
According to the prime minister, the new rail link will provide safe, stable and independent train travel in Southern Russia, not tied to the Ukrainian crisis.

The project will also create jobs and boost infrastructure in the region, said Medvedev.

The new 120 kilometers of double-track electrified railway will relieve the existing railway, of which a stretch of 26 kilometers passes through the war-torn Luhansk region in Ukraine. The idea of creating the bypass has been under consideration for several years. The decision was finalized in 2014 as relations with Kiev deteriorated.

Building is already underway with 60 percent of the groundwork completed. The new railway is expected to be operational by 2018.
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Quenelle - Golden

Head of Chechen Republic takes unique approach to thwart pro-ISIS sentiments


Sputnik
Sun, 20 Sep 2015 18:56 UTC
Chechen Head Ramzan Kadyrov ISIL
© YouTube / ChGTRK "Grozny"
Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov has taken a blunt approach to flushing out pro-ISIL extremist sentiment in his republic, holding direct face-to-face talks with youths suspected of supporting the terror group, Chechen television channel Grozny has reported.

At the event, conducted earlier this week, Kadyrov faced down several young men, who he shamed for voicing their sympathies for the terror group on social media. The talk was attended by local Imams, the heads of municipalities, and the youths' parents; it was then broadcast on Chechen television.

Kadyrov emphasized that all of the "misguided" youth had respected and deeply religious parents, who sincerely condemned the actions of their sons.

Comment: Imagine, a leader who goes out into the streets to tackle real world problems head on, and in creative ways.

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Bad Guys

Hungary passes law allowing government use of army in refugee crisis


RT
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:37 UTC
Refugees at the border of Hungary
© Dado Ruvic / Reuters
The Hungarian parliament has passed a law authorizing the government to deploy the military to help handle the asylum seeker crisis in the country, which includes powers to use non-lethal force. According to the law, the army would be allowed to use rubber bullets, pyrotechnical devices, tear gas grenades or net guns, the parliament's website said.

The legislation passed with 151 votes in the 199-member parliament, with 12 against and 27 abstentions. The ruling center right Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban was supported in the vote by radical nationalist Jobbik party, which previously sought even tougher measures.


Comment: Hungarian media highlights:
  • "Europe is rich, but weak." - said Viktor Orban, Hungarian PM. He praised civilians providing food and care for the refugees. - "We need a stronger Europe that can protect its borders." [..] "We expect millions to come from the Middle East."
  • While illegal border crossing is punishable by three years in prison in Hungary or by simply turning illegals back - , all the prisons are filled to 145%: there is no place in Hungarian jails. The only option remains is to quickly refuse the applications of asylum seekers and turn them back towards Serbia, because it is deemed a safe country.
  • 19,000 refugees arrived during the weekend through the Croatian border. Most refugees arrive through Croatia now. They are being transported by train to the Austrian border, so they can continue towards Germany.
  • 18,757 attempted to cross illegally and were caught by Hungarian police. Only 950 came through the Serbian border, which now has a barbed wire fence.
  • Train traffic was halted from Croatia to Hungary.


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Dollars

MI5 pays UK Muslims to spy on Muslim community

Mark Townsend
The Guardian
Mon, 21 Sep 2015 13:39 UTC
Image
© Reuters/UK Parliament via Reuters TV
Andrew Parker the head of M15 is seen attending an Intelligence and Security Committee hearing at Parliament, in this still image taken from video in London November 7, 2013.
MI5 is paying Muslim informants for controversial short-term spying missions to help avert terrorist attacks by homegrown Islamist extremists.

Individuals across the UK, including in Manchester and London, are being employed on temporary assignments to acquire intelligence on specific targets, according to sources within the Muslim community. One said that they knew of an informant recently paid £2,000 by the British security services to spy on activities relating to a mosque over a six-week period.

However, the use of payments to gather intelligence prompted warnings that the system risked producing information "corrupted" by the money on offer.

The initiative is being co-ordinated under the government's official post-9/11 counter-terrorism strategy, specifically the strand known as Pursue, which has an official remit to "stop terrorist attacks in this country and against our interest overseas. This means detecting and investigating threats at the earliest possible stage."

Comment: The UK isn't the only country employing this technique: "Terrorist" manufacturing business: Informant paid by NYPD to bait Muslims.

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