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NATO and Washington lose countenance

usa-nato flags
© Unknown
The NATO summit in Warsaw is a part of the nuclear "chicken game". Washington and the NATO Generals are trying to provoke Russia into an escalation of tensions, because certain circles in the US are becoming desperate over their diminishing power over the world. And they are really losing it. They see a military escalation as the only thing to save their control. The stationing of troops in Eastern Europe on the borders of Belarus and Russia is an extreme provocation - they are absolutely unnecessary for the security of Poland or the Baltic States. It's a very foolish move on the part of NATO.

Russia has made it clear that it is not the aggressor in this situation. Since Washington's coup d'état in Kiev, NATO had their guns so close, trying everything possible to provoke Russia to make a so-called aggressive move. But Russia has not done that - and it is creating great frustration in Washington, especially in the military industry complex. They have to create fear for the American people of a new war with Russia, but it's not working. This is the remarkable thing. These are pathetic attempts at trying to hold onto power.

But power is being lost - just look at Brexit. The EU is slowly going to dissolve one state after the other. All the measures had been taken to hold the union together but it's not working. NATO just added chaos instead of offering stability. Now there is a very strong opposition in the EU countries to all kinds of Washington's provocations against Russia. The foreign minister of Germany indicated this quite openly.

These NATO provocations against Russia are very unnecessary. There is enormous opposition under the surface. Politicians may put on public face that everything is fine with NATO, but in reality there is a great anxiety. Germans do not want another war with Russia. The horror of the last one was terrible. But America just doesn't care about anyone outside of the United States. This is an extraordinary situation. The more the war hawks push across the Atlantic, the more resistance there will be in the EU.

Star of David

American spy for Israel released after 30-year sentence - intelligence officials argue Pollard 'still a threat to US'

Jonathan Pollard israel spy

Jonathan Pollard served 30 years for passing U.S. secrets to Israel.
Senior United States intelligence officials have filed parole documents arguing that an American Navy analyst, who was recently released from prison after serving a 30-year sentence for spying for Israel, continues to pose a threat to national security. Jonathan Jay Pollard is a former intelligence analyst for the United States Navy, who has was jailed in 1985 for selling American government secrets to Israel. During his trial, the US government successfully argued that Pollard was one of the most damaging spies in American history, having stolen a high volume of classified documents in a relatively short period of time.

But Pollard was recently released from prison, having served his full 30-year sentence. However, as part of the conditions of his release, Pollard must consent to the US government having constant access to the hard drive of his personal computer and internet browsing history. He is also obligated to wear a GPS device at all times, which tracks his daily movements in New York, where Pollard has been living since his release from prison. Some intelligence observers, including Newsweek correspondent Jeff Stein, have voiced concerns that Pollard may be tempted to travel abroad in order to collect funds that his Israeli spy handlers may have deposited for him in offshore bank accounts as payment for his past acts of espionage.

Better Earth

China has the right to declare Air Defense Identification Zone in South China Sea

south china sea
The Philippines and Vietnam already have Air Defense Identification Zones in the South China Sea. So why can't China have one? It is legal under international law to unilaterally declare an ADIZ and it is a face-saving way too for Beijing to keep an internationally recognized China presence in the South China Sea if the Hague tribunal rules against its jurisdictional claims. Judging by the experience in the East China Sea, China has tried to use ADIZ as an instrument of engagement, not aggression.

There are already at least two Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZs) in the South China Sea ... and none of them are Chinese. One is a Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone (PADIZ) and the other is a Vietnam Air Defense Identification Zone (VADIZ). Then would a PRC ADIZ (People's Republic of China Air Defense Identification Zone) in the South China Sea (SCS) really be so bad?

There has been an epidemic of digital handwringing concerning the possibility that the People's Republic of China (PRC) will declare an ADIZ in the South China Sea in retaliation for an unfavorable outcome in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration.

Maybe, maybe not. I'm not clutching my pearls in any case. It should be, but perhaps won't be, understood that an ADIZ is not a declaration of sovereignty or restricted air space. It means that aircraft, civilian or military, that enter the ADIZ are expected to identify themselves and declare their intentions.

Comment: More on Lee's blog here.


USA

Friendly fire and the risk of being a US ally

Apache Firing
© New Eastern Outlook
It's hardly a secret that the hardships of common people are getting worse by the year. Due to continuous attempts by Washington to redraw the map of the world, in many countries, American intelligence agencies have been particularly active in launching so-called "color revolutions" and staging military conflicts, bringing bitter hunger and poverty upon the heads of millions of people in the Middle East and other regions of the world. Consequently those events have triggered a massive and uncontrolled wave of migration to Europe.

The "War on Terror" that the White House declared has in fact resulted in the US military establishment, American intelligence agencies and a number of other states obtaining huge financial support in return for a brutal assault on the fundamental human rights as embodied in the adoption of the so-called USA PATRIOT Act and similar laws in a number of states.

In the constant pursuit of huge profits, political and military circles in the US are coming up with new "military threats" in a bid to push their allies into greater spending on NATO, the purchases of additional weapons, which in turn undermines the living conditions of the common people in the United States and its satellite states.

However, despite the so-called strengthening of these global security measures the actual security situation has not improved. There's an ever increasing number of terrorist attacks carried out every year, while terrorist threats persist. Moreover, various terrorist organizations across the globe are receiving direct support from the White House itself, which drives a wedge between the US and its allies, especially in Europe.

It must be emphasized that the fate of US allies, who are constantly demanded to pay for Washington's ambitions, is becoming grimmer by the day. If we take a look at the governments who agreed to host US military bases, those governments are usually the first to suffer for for their hospitality.

The constant desire of the White House to dictate its rules to each and every nation resulted in the so-called Brexit, while a number of other European countries have been examining the benefits of leaving the EU as well. Moreover, certain American states are facing a sharp increase in separatist sentiments.

Moreover, Washington's allies are paying a high price in the blood of their soldiers for countless military adventures as they are recruited to fight alongside the US in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other regions of the world.

For instance, the newly assembled new Syrian army was defeated on the battlefield by ISIS militants, when US Air Force aircraft abandoned them at the most crucial moment, reports the Washington Post. Certain sources in the US government argue that this was not a complete defeat, since small detachments of the new Syrian army allegedly continued the fighting, although they don't deny the withdrawal of air support at the most difficult moment of the whole operation, which sealed the fate of the rebels.

Mail

State Dept. reopens Clinton investigation for mishandling classified info after Justice Dept. takes a pass

Hillary
© sputniknews.com
One day after the Justice Department followed the FBI's recommendation to not prosecute former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the State Department now says it is reopening an internal investigation of possible mishandling of classified information by Clinton and top aides.

State Department spokesman John Kirby set no deadline for the investigation's completion, but did say the probe is restarting now that the Justice Department has decided against pursuing criminal charges. "We will aim to be as expeditious as possible, but we will not put artificial deadlines on the process," Kirby said, according to the Associated Press. "Our goal will be to be as transparent as possible about our results, while complying with our various legal obligations."

In January, the State Department began its review after declaring that 22 emails from Clinton's private server held "top secret" classified information. The department suspended its review in April, while the FBI conducted its inquiry. The emails at the center of the inquiry were upgraded to one of the nation's highest classification levels. One aspect of the investigation is whether any of those emails were classified at the time of transmission.

"There could be repercussions," Kirby told reporters Wednesday, even for many of Clinton's aides who have left the agency. The punishments could range from counseling or warnings to revocation of security clearance. That last punishment could affect the hiring possibilities for many of Clinton's confidants at the White House, should she win the presidential election.

Beyond the Democratic front-runner, the revisited probe is most likely targeting Cheryl Mills, Jake Sullivan and Huma Abedin, who wrote many of the emails to their boss that are now once again under investigation.



Comment: It's not over until it is completely and unequivocally over, Ms. Clinton. And that could take some time!

See also: Chaffetz: FBI to investigate Clinton for lying under oath regarding email server


Hiliter

Despite objections, Putin signs a controversial anti-terror bill into law

putin document
© en.alalam.ir
A 'sign of the times.'
President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a controversial Russian anti-terrorist bill in the face of objections from internet companies and the business community, but has ordered measures to be taken so that the financial risks of the law will be minimal. The anti-terrorist package of bills was drafted in April 2016 by a group of lower house lawmakers, who described it as a response to the bombing of an A-231 jet liner in Egypt in October 2015 and the terrorist attacks in Paris in November of that year.

The document contains a separate criminal article that orders up to 10 years in prison for anyone engaging in international terrorism, and up to 15 years behind bars for anyone found guilty of financing terrorist groups. Attracting new recruits to a terrorist organization was also criminalized, and will be punished with prison terms of between five and 10 years.

The new bill also lowers the age threshold for terrorist crimes, such as terrorist attacks and hostage taking, to 14 years from the current 16. Presently the age of minors in Russia is 16, with exceptions made for such crimes as murder, rape, kidnapping and several others. For these, criminals are deemed to be responsible from the age of 14.

Another provision stipulates fines of between 300,000 and 1 million rubles ($4,600 - $15,400) or prison terms ranging from five to seven years for public calls to terrorism or justifying terrorist crimes, including via the internet.

Many aspects of the document sparked broad public discussion, and some of its initial provisions were removed during hearings in the State Duma. However, the most controversial part of the bill remained - the obligation for communication companies, including internet providers, to keep information about their clients' data traffic for three years (one year for messengers and social networks) and also to keep actual records of phone calls, messages and transferred files for six months. The bill also requires communications companies to hand over encryption keys to state security agencies on demand, allowing them to read encrypted data. Non-compliance could cost companies between 800,000 and 1 million rubles ($12,300 - $15,400) in fines.

Comment: Russia is just one of many nations going down this slippery slope. This bill is no doubt a privacy issue for the Russian public and presents increasing difficulties for business. Those who seek Russian vulnerability will not hesitate to utilize every available advantage, including failure of the bill to meet its expectations.


Rocket

Western aggression: US will deploy missile defense system in South Korea "as soon as possible"

thaad interceptor
© U.S. Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency / Reuters
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor
The US will deploy a high-tech antiballistic-missile system to South Korea "as soon as possible" now that the allies have reached an agreement. The advanced air defense shield will beef up Seoul's arsenal amid growing nuclear and missile threats from the North.

"South Korea and the US have made the joint decision to deploy the THAAD system with US Forces Korea as part of a defensive action to guarantee the security of the Republic of Korea and our people from North Korea's nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile threats," the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.


Comment: The deployment of the THAAD missile system is not really about protecting South Korea. It's about the US continually surrounding Russia and China and aggressively trying to force each country to bow to US imperial control.


THAAD stands for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, an advanced system that is designed to intercept short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase of flight. Equipped with a long-range radar, THAAD is believed to be capable of intercepting Pyongyang's intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

"South Korea and the US are working closely together to deploy the THAAD system as soon as possible," the ministry said. The two countries are in the final stages of selecting the site to station the system. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the system is expected to be in operation by the end of 2017 at the latest.

Eye 2

Malaysia's state of fear - embezzlement, bribery and murder in high places

Mr. X and his Mysterious Benefactors

As the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports, a money-laundering alarm was triggered at AmBank in Malaysia, a bank part-owned by one of Australia's "big four" banks, ANZ. What had triggered the alarm? Money had poured into the personal account of one of the bank's customers, a certain Mr. X, in truly staggering amounts.
Corruption Malaysia
© Peter Foley / Bloomberg
A recent photograph of Mr. X.
Hundreds of millions of dollars were paid into the account of Mr. X by a Saudi prince described as "mysterious", and two British Virgin Island companies characterized as "shadowy".

Overall, more than $1.05 billion landed in Mr. X's private account in a little over two years. This was bound to raise eyebrows, considering Mr. X's official salary only amounts to approx. $100,000 per year. Not a bad salary to be sure, but even if he were to save half of it every year, it would take him 210,000 years to save up $1.05 billion, not just two.

Then the head of a government-owned Malaysian company put millions of ringgit into Mr. X's credit card accounts, which had been a tad overdrawn (by slightly over $ 1m.), due to Mr. X's wife splurging a bit on jewelry in 2014.

Apparently Mr. X was not shy about spending some of his new-found wealth either. Apart from his wife's predilection for expensive jewelry and other luxury items, he himself occasionally displayed a yen for fancy cars and reportedly also favored swanky accommodation. Friends and partners of Mr. X also enjoyed a windfall.

Light Sabers

Russia warns the US of "dangerous consequences" if missile defense system is built in South Korea

russian ministry
© Maksim Blinov / Sputnik
A view of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Moscow's Smolenskaya-Sennaya Square from Novoarbatsky Bridge
The boosting of US missile defense potential in Asia and the Pacific undermines the existing global security balance, the Russian Foreign Ministry said after it was announced that Washington intends to place missile defense systems in South Korea.

"From the very beginning of the discussion of this issue we have consistently and invariably pointed at the most dangerous consequences of such a decision and called for our partners not to make this wrong choice. Unfortunately, our calls have remained unheard," reads a Foreign Ministry statement released Friday.

Russian diplomats noted that the increase in the Asia-Pacific segment of the global missile defense system by the United States and its allies would undermine the existing strategic balance both in the region and beyond.

"Such actions, regardless of the arguments they are backed with, have the most negative effect on global strategic stability, the adherence to which is such a favored topic of discussions in Washington," the statement reads.

Red Flag

Hitler as Ukraine's national idea

On July 5 a premium congress hall in Kiev, Ukrainian House - Centre of National Idea, hosted a massive "installation", dedicated to 75th anniversary of proclamation of the "Act of Restoration of the Ukrainian State". The event, designed by the Organization of the Ukrainian Nationalists, was attended by a number of politicians, autocephalous "Ukrainian church" clerics, media, Maidan activists and "war veterans". The "installation" was titled "The will of Ukrainian people - against Hitler and Stalin" in full accord with the "politically correct" new European reading of the modern history. It was broadcast live in the Internet, but the video is currently restricted for watching.

A brainwashed TV-viewer would of course be impressed or even moved to tears by revelations of an old Nazi collaborator about "sufferings of the Ukrainian people under despotic Stalin's boot" and the overall performance. But those who are still in their right mind, would easily recall some contradicting historical facts.

The Act of Restoration of the Ukrainian State was adopted in Lvov (Lviv) on June 30, 1941, days after the city was occupied by the Nazi troops rapidly advancing into the Soviet territory in accordance with the Barbarossa operational plan. It was announced by Yaroslav Stetsko, then a leader of the Ukrainian nationalists (OUN) on the payroll of Abwehr, and soon published by Nazi propaganda leaflets in occupied Ukraine:
Independent Ukraine newpaper

The edition of “Independent Ukraine” newspaper with the text of the Act, dated July 10, 1941.
The full text of the Act is as follows: