News & views not related to Khashoggi …
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October 18, 2018
Open Thread 2018-54
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The governor General Abdul Raziq, the police chief and the intelligence chief of Kandahar have all been killed today. Bodyguards turned their guns on them. Two U.S. soldiers were wounded. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan was present but not hurt.
Raziq was a brut, thief, killer, drug baron and the CIA’s man in Kandahar.
In 2011 Matthieu Atkins portrait him: Our Man in Kandahar
Abdul Raziq and his men have received millions of dollars’ worth of U.S. training and equipment to help in the fight against the Taliban. But is our ally—long alleged to be involved in corruption and drug smuggling—also guilty of mass murder?
b
Been there. Done that. Kandahar is beautiful.
The United States, specifically Cheney and Petraeus and Rodham, imposed the Imperial Executor form of Federalist government upon a people who were a well-organized heirarchical society while William the Conqueror was still head chopping Anglo-Saxons in bear skins.
Cheny wrote the Afghan petroleum and strategic resources laws *in English* at the beginning of the 2001 invasion. The US imposed a new flag, a new pledge of allegiance, a new national song and even a new national currency on the Afghan people, then imposed the first imperial caesar, Karzai.
You break it, you own it!
For the $TRILLIONS hoovered up by Deep State and their war profiteering minions, we could have put every Afghan male of military age through Harvard Business School.
On to Tehran!! Lu,lu,lu,lu,lu!
Posted by: Anton Worter | Oct 18 2018 14:05 utc | 2
The massive fail of the military industrial complex. On the seas we have the littoral ships, and in the skies the F35. Has anyone else noticed that Syria has become a no fly zone for the West now that a few S300 batteries have been installed. There is some kind of peter principle karma going on.
@Anton Worter | Oct 18, 2018 10:05:07 AM | 2
I realise it is de rigeur to mock and denigrate western culture and civilisation, but your comment about “Anglo-Saxons in bearskins” owes more to your own prejudice and ignorance than to the historical reality. You may wish to peruse some examples of the quite magnificent craftsmanship of the period, or perhaps if you have the opportunity visit the British Museum and see artefacts recovered from Sutton Hoo:
“The Sutton Hoo ship burial provides remarkable insights into early Anglo-Saxon England. It reveals a place of exquisite craftsmanship and extensive international connections, spanning Europe and beyond. It also shows that the world of great halls, glittering treasures and formidable warriors described in Anglo-Saxon poetry was not a myth”.
Posted by: Ross | Oct 18 2018 15:34 utc | 4
Coming soon: Hunter Killer, where an untested American submarine captain teams with U.S. Navy Seals to rescue the Russian president, who has been kidnapped by a rogue general. Sounds plausible…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnP_z3qXDCQ
Posted by: Lavrenty | Oct 18 2018 15:36 utc | 5
Putin is saying that isis in syria has kidnapped(oh really) american and European citizens
Posted by: Occidentosis | Oct 18 2018 15:49 utc | 6
@6 “Putin is saying that isis in syria has kidnapped(oh really) american and European citizens”
They better cut that out immediately if they want a cut of the $100 million Saudi stabilization fund.
Posted by: dh | Oct 18 2018 15:57 utc | 7
Venezuela Ditches Dollar as US Sanctions Hit Private Sector
Will Maduro face Gaddafi’s fate?
Ross at 4 said;”I realise it is de rigeur to mock and denigrate western culture and civilisation,”
No my friend, most of us criticize the West for their behavior in attempting to impose our
culture and standards on the rest of humanity.
No matter the body count…
And all for the sake of enriching the already rich….
Posted by: ben | Oct 18 2018 16:08 utc | 9
According to the Moscow Times (Moscow Accuses Bellingcat of Serving Western Intelligence: https://themoscowtimes.com/news/moscow-accuses-bellingcat-serving-western-intelligence-63212):
“…….Russia’s foreign minister has accused the open-source Bellingcat investigative team of acting as a front for Western intelligence services seeking to manipulate public opinion.
Bellingcat has played a leading role in identifying the alleged names of two men accused of trying to poison ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain this year. It has previously published investigations that reportedly link Russia to the downing of flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine and suspected chemical attacks in Syria.
“It’s no secret to anyone, Western journalists write openly that Bellingcat is connected to special services,” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Euronews on Tuesday.
“They leak information through it to have some effect on public opinion,” he said…….”
Lavrov repeats the talking points of the radical anti-war left, but he offers zero proof of the veracity of his statement. In fact, this only reinforces that Bellincat has exposed numerous lies by the Russian government. Bellingcat has forced changes in Russian military policy like not allowing military personnel to post on social media.
Posted by: craigsummers | Oct 18 2018 16:09 utc | 10
Recap of Putin’s remarks at Valdai Club provided by Sputnik covers lots of ground. I’ll post a link to the full transcript when I find it. Yes, he does comment on Khashoggi affair, which I’ll post onto that thread. Haven’t seen a recap of Lavrov’s remarks yet.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 16:12 utc | 11
Been there. Done that.
Posted by: Anton Worter | Oct 18, 2018 10:05:07 AM | 2
You turned your guns on the Governor General, police chief and intelligence chief?
Posted by: BM | Oct 18 2018 16:15 utc | 12
News & views not related to Khashoggi …
Ha ha! B must be suffering from Khashoggi overdose …
Yes, we can all do with something else.
Posted by: BM | Oct 18 2018 16:31 utc | 13
@ 13 said;”Ha ha! B must be suffering from Khashoggi overdose …”
Can’t speak for b, but, I sure as hell am.
Not to worry though, they’ll find a patsy soon, so business as usual will continue.
Posted by: ben | Oct 18 2018 16:36 utc | 14
fukus reckons it has any business lecturing anybody on ‘human rights’
hhhhhhhhh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFwZuHJCd6s
Posted by: denk | Oct 18 2018 16:37 utc | 15
What’s been going on in the Hot War Zones while everybody’s been screaming and crying over the fate of the Saudi Arms Merchant’s nephew? Syria seems like its quiet until the US midterms as both sides redistribute their forces for the inevitable next act at Idlib. By all accounts, it seems that something awful is about to go down in eastern Ukraine, about the most sensitive powderkeg on earth right now and I’m also getting the feeling that China just might put its foot down on “Freedom of Navigation Exercises.” I loathe and detest the imbecilic dark ages monarchy in Riyadh as much as anybody else, but we all know that the Kingdom is just a vassal of a larger empire with definite plans to maintain a slipping global hegemony. I wonder if the Kingdom might be waving the red flag of accepting yuan and euros for oil as counter blackmail?
However, little lisping Lindsey’s tirade against the Kingdom that has done so much to advance the permanent war agenda, so dear to his heart was soooooo precious last week! I guess Lockheed, Boeing, Raytheon and others are not his uppermost campaign contributors this month?
Also, is it just me or has the Saker, previously one of my faves, lost some of his mojo as a persuasive writer as of late?
Posted by: DougDiggler | Oct 18 2018 16:46 utc | 16
fukus reckons it has any business lecturing anybody on ‘human rights’
Posted by: denk | Oct 18, 2018 12:37:14 PM | 15
iFUKUS is that?
Posted by: BM | Oct 18 2018 16:49 utc | 17
BM 16
YOu mean Israel ?
But I never see Israel lecturing anybody in
the UN, its always fukus…..
Trump ask for it…and he gets it.
hhhhhhhh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCQv1UyHjCw
Posted by: denk | Oct 18 2018 17:04 utc | 18
From Global Research on Venezuela dumping the U$ dollar:
https://www.globalresearch.ca/venezuela-ditches-us-dollar-will-use-euros-for-international-trade/5657243
Gee, no wonder the DJT regime was talking invasion a while back.
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/6/17536908/trump-venezuela-invade-military
Posted by: ben | Oct 18 2018 17:09 utc | 19
Lavrov on Daesh-Outlaw US Empire at Valdai Club Presser:
“Moscow is concerned with Washington’s transfer of Daesh militants to Iraq and Afghanistan….
“Russia calls on the U.S. to explain relocation of Daesh fighters to Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Can’t get more of a direct accusation than that. Then Putin followed-up later when he essentially laid responsibility for the kidnapping of over 700 people in Eastern Syria by Daesh squarely on the Outlaw US Empire.
Also, Zionists busy violating Lebanese airspace again as they test Syrian airspace’s new defenses. It’s too bad Lebanese politics won’t allow them to ask for Syria’s help in protecting Lebanon’s airspace from the constant Zionist violations. Zionists will be in for a big surprise when they discover Syria’s S-300 version’s capabilities are far different from the first run S-300’s Ukraine has that they trained against.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 17:10 utc | 20
About the same time as that thing happened ! Another serious event affecting us all took place ! Massive censorship of the internet. What the hell can we do about it ? We need to wake up and keep two steps ahead. I lost countless sites. Any tec savy folk out there, help!
They used that over thing to bury bad news.
Posted by: Mark2 | Oct 18 2018 17:12 utc | 21
Engdhals comment on the last UN Climate Change Agenda Meeting: The Dark Story Behind Global Warming aka Climate Change
Imho worth your time
Posted by: youss | Oct 18 2018 17:13 utc | 22
way to go, ladies…..
https://popularresistance.org/womens-march-on-the-pentagon-puts-the-pro-back-in-protest/
Posted by: denk | Oct 18 2018 17:34 utc | 23
It appears that links to al-Masdar News are now being blocked by TypePad where they weren’t previously.
Medvedev interview transcript with Euronews TV shows he’s learned a few pointers from Putin on not being cowed. He’ll represent Russia at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). This Summit, which few have probably heard about, is mainly a talk-shop not a deal-making venue like the G-20, but Medvedev sees it as a useful forum. No, he wasn’t asked about Khashoggi, but was queried about Skripal affair.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 17:35 utc | 24
Hi Fellows.
I am awaiting the day when the IAF will test its newly acquired skills
at defeating the S300 system.
There is much at stake here: Either Russia will have to lose a lot of
sales and prestige or Israel will have its arms severed as never before.
Never mind the prestige of any of both camps.
It is really a matter of West vs East.
What will happen?
What if NATO warships attempt to illegally enter Sea of Azov to conduct maneuvers with Ukraine? Just how far will NATO go in trying to enter–and I predict it most certainly will try. Clearly, Russia will not allow such, but how will it react when the confrontation occurs?
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 18:22 utc | 27
According to Meduza, October 18, 2018 (“Someone sent a severed goat’s head and a threatening note to a Russian independent newspaper” — Meduza https://meduza.io/en/news/2018/10/18/someone-sent-a-severed-goat-s-head-and-a-threatening-note-to-a-russian-independent-newspaper?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=share_twitter&utm_campaign=share via @meduzaproject):
“……..Someone wants to scare the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta. On October 18, a basket appeared outside the paper’s newsroom. Inside was a severed goat’s head and a note reading, “To Novaya Gazeta’s chief editor. Greetings to you and Korotkov!” A day earlier, a funeral wreath was delivered to the office, attached to a note that said, “Denis Korotkov is a traitor to the Motherland.”
(snip)
Denis Korotkov is known for his reports about Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria. He’s also written about vulnerabilities in the Defense Ministry’s website, which he exploited to gain access to the personal data of Roman Filippov, a Russian pilot killed in action in Syria. All these reports appeared on the news website Fontanka, where Korotkov worked until this summer. He later joined the staff at Novaya Gazeta……..”
Novaya Gazeta is used to harrassment and threats against their adversarial investigations of government corruption, etc. Six Novaya Gazeta journalist have been killed since Putin came to power. The list includes (according to Wikipedia) Yury Shchekochikhin, Anna Politkovskaya and Anastasia Baburova. The only difference between Russia and Saudi Arabia is that the Russians kill their targets without the customary torture favored by the Saudis.
Posted by: craigsummers | Oct 18 2018 18:28 utc | 29
12
Cheney, Petraeus and Rodham ALSO created the Federal Republican Guard ANA and ANP, goombahs, renegade hijackers and shakedown artists who, like those same ANA/ANP ‘personal guards’ mentioned in b’s article, assassinated the governor and the others. And umm, yes, I’ve been on the muzzle end of those ANA/ANP thugs in an attempted kidnapping, so been there, done that.
AFA Russ’ defense of William the Conqueror as some ‘high point’ of a Western Civilization of Red Haired Yettis, they were still head-chopping each other in England while Afghanistan ruled from East Persia to Western India, an advanced civilization far more ancient than Anglo-Saxon bearskin cave dwelling knuckle draggers, at the time.
Of course, now today we have the White Scientocratic Triumphal Exceptionalist Civilization and its Miracle of the Two Planes and Three Towers to prove it, even if Johnny and Jillian can’t read, write or do their ciphers.
Posted by: Anton Worter | Oct 18 2018 18:36 utc | 30
CarlD@23–
One al-Masdar News item I tried to link was about Zionist jets testing the outer envelope of Syrian airspace earlier today. Clearly they think the Ukrainian S-300 they trained against differs little from the very upgraded versions employed in Syria, which are much closer to S-400 in most abilities other than missile performance. I wonder if the Zionist pilots will draw straws to see which one of them becomes the sacrificial lamb–perhaps it ought to fall to the top Zionist air force commander.
For all Aussie Barflies, Partisangirl posts an “Honest #australian government ad about anti-encryption laws,” in which they are called “Ass Access.” Excellent short vid that ought to catch fire before YouTube yanks it.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 18:41 utc | 31
RT has posted the full video of the annual Valdai Club meeting with Putin. This year they’ve ditched the traditional panel discussion in favor of Putin answering questions solo. For those MoA regulars who don’t have the time to watch it, I’ve transcribed a few of Putin’s answers that I found interesting.
Putin on Crimea school shooting
This is most likely a result of globalization, strange as that may sound. On social media, on the internet, we see entire communities created. It all started with the well-known tragic shootings in U.S. high schools, where young people who are mentally unstable create false idols, false heroes for themselves. And that means that all of us, not only in Russia, but globally, we don’t react promptly to the changing realities around the Globe, we don’t create content that would be helpful and interesting for young people, and so they have to grab this surrogate of heroic images, and that leads to tragedies like this one.
Putin on nuclear retaliation
In our concept of using nuclear weapons there is no such notion as a preventive strike. And I would like to request all those present here and all those who will be reporting on what I’m saying and analyzing every word I say or using what I say for their own narrative, please take note of this fact, that Russia does not have the concept of a preventive strike in its doctrine for using nuclear arms. We only consider using it in response. That means that we are prepared to use nuclear weapons only when we have hard facts that a potential aggressor is striking on Russia, on Russian territory with nuclear weapons. Now, this is no secret, we have prepared an early warning system, we have created it and we keep improving it. This system analyzes globally, world-wide, where launches are being made, including oceanic surface, they identify where missiles are being launched from, secondly, their trajectory and the point of impact. All this is being identified and analyzed within seconds. And so only if we identify through that system that missiles are being launched at us, only then will we deliver a retaliatory strike, a strike in response. Only when there are missiles airborne being launched at Russia. Of course, that would lead to a global disaster, to a nuclear catastrophe, but Russia cannot become its instigator or initiator, because we don’t have a preventive strike as part of our military doctrine. Of course, once someone has launched nuclear missiles at us, it would be maybe too late to stop them, but a potential aggressor should know that there would be a retaliation, and we will get to heaven as martyrs, and our enemies will simply simply die as dogs, because they won’t even have time to redeem themselves (repent). (nervous laughter in the audience)
Putin on Ukraine
Currently, the Ukrainian regime is not merely deadlocking the situation. There’re conducting an anti-state and anti-public policy, the same way it was done by Saakashvili in Georgia. They tried to do the same by attacking South Ossetia. As a result of those criminal, basically, criminal actions, Georgia has lost significant territories — as a result of Saakashvili’s actions, this is the result of his work. It would be very sad if today’s Ukrainian authorities would follow in his footsteps. I hope that that would not be the case. But what has happened over the past time in social sphere, in economics? What’s happening there? What we see is de-industrialization of the Ukrainian economy. There’s basically no investments coming. They’re just talking about investments, but nothing is taking place in reality. How can you work with economy that is always shaken by some kinds of shocks or undermined by domestic political crises? There is also war hysteria. All things have been destroyed. Where is that ship-building industry that Ukraine was proud of? Where’s the aircraft-building industry, which was created by the whole Soviet Union throughout decades? What about spaceship-building? It has also been lost. And the same goes for every part of Ukrainian pride of the past. And what’s happening is what I have been saying. I’m just saying it outloud here, but I wanted to ask you a rhetorical question. Why did our Western partners need that, especially the previous leadership of European Commission? Why did they have to insist on such a hard choice, hard engagement of Ukraine in the European Association? What did that give to Ukraine? The open market? So they’re asking for Ukraine to bring out round timber. But it’s not Siberia — three or four years of work, and they’re going to destroy all of the forests. And now Western partners are asking for GMO products in agriculture. Then we will have to close borders, because GMO is prohibited in our country. Now they’re going to take the black earth soil out of Ukraine. Therefore, I believe that today’s policy of Ukrainian authorities is aimed at… what, what are they trading in? They’re trading in Russophobia and anti-Russian sentiments, there are no more goods there. And they’re being forgiven for everything for that. Because the nightmare of our Western partners is that Russia and Ukraine are cooperating in any way, because they think there will be growing competition in the world as a result of such cooperation. But we don’t a claim for that, we just wanted to have normal work. Why did they have to open up Ukrainian markets without giving anything in return? And demanding from the Ukrainian government, constantly, to raise the prices for (natural) gas. They understand that the purchasing power of the population is not so high, they used to gather just peanuts for the (natural) gas industry before (in utility payments), and now they’re basically gathering nothing — all benefits, all pensions are at zero. So we’re gonna have to wait for the domestic political cycle to end, and I truly hope that with a new leadership of the country we’ll be capable of building at least some kind of relations and agree on something. We are prepared for that and we want that.
Posted by: S | Oct 18 2018 19:04 utc | 32
Top tip to timewasters:
If you have nothing to say use lots of words and highly convoluted syntax. That way hopefully no-one will notice the inherent vacuousness of your ramblings.
Posted by: Ross | Oct 18 2018 19:11 utc | 33
re Putin’s comments @29
Oh for the day when a western leader could speak with such intellectual rigour, such philosophical integrity and with such basic common sense. Russia has a giant, we have a bunch of pygmies.
Posted by: Ross | Oct 18 2018 19:19 utc | 34
S @29–
Thanks for doing that work! Transcript at Kremlin website’s still incomplete, containing probably half of entire program. As usual, much of importance was stated. Putin’s matter-of-fact delivery regarding use of nuclear weapons and the nature of those who would launch a first strike was sobering. The question today’s reversed: Do Americans love their children too? Unfortunately, given what’s happening here domestically, the answer provided by DC Duopoly policy makers is NO, they don’t give a damn about their kids or anyone else’s!
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 19:35 utc | 35
Seen this one ? Will Hillary hang ? https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-18/federal-judge-shocked-find-obama-state-dept-lied-protect-hillary-email-server
Posted by: PH | Oct 18 2018 19:47 utc | 36
Outlaw US Empire opposes plan by South and North Korea for no-fly zone over DMZ. This was part of the military accord made during last month’s Kim/Moon meeting. North and South could probably have a Peace Treaty signed by year’s-end if it weren’t for the Outlaw US Empire’s interference.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 20:06 utc | 37
@craigsummers 10
Regarding Bellingcat: The guy and his ilk are clueless! This alone makes him an asset to Western services in general.
Example: MH17 – Buk system. He’s localized the launch site? Hear, hear!
Question 1: What’s the initial exhaust velocity of the missile’s motor?
Q2: What’s the initial rate of consumption of propellant in kg/s?
Q3: Where’s analytical data of soil samples of the alleged launch site that might, or might not, confirm his allegation and what about proper chain of custody of said samples?
Now, why does this matter?
Would you please enlighten me, or are you just as blissfully ignorant as Mr. Higgins himself?
Posted by: Hmpf | Oct 18 2018 20:15 utc | 38
Putin “Of course, once someone has launched nuclear missiles at us, it would be maybe too late to stop them, but a potential aggressor should know that there would be a retaliation, and we will get to heaven as martyrs, and our enemies will simply simply die as dogs, because they won’t even have time to redeem themselves”
Magnier “In September, Russia, Iran and Syria decided to liberate the entire Syrian territory, starting from Idlib and ending in al-Hasaka where the US occupation forces are based and unwilling to leave anytime soon. This is why Washington sees Idlib as its first line of defence and this is why the US wanted to hit Syria under a false pretext of the “use of chemical weapons” to prevent the liberation of Idlib by Damascus forces. Moscow and Damascus understood US intentions and decided to call off all military preparations in order to prevent a US attack on Syria.”
It seems likely that at the time of the Turk deal on Idlib, the doomsday clock was set at a second or so from midnight.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Oct 18 2018 20:19 utc | 39
Peter Au 1 @ 36
Early today I saw a report that a few days ago more filming was being done to stage a chlorine false flag ,convincing set of photo’s ! Of course we have to be careful may have been old photo’s rehashed but worth keeping an eye on.
Posted by: Mark2 | Oct 18 2018 20:47 utc | 40
Nimratas tell all https://pagesix.com/2018/10/17/nikki-haley-dishes-on-her-time-in-trump-administration-in-private-talk-with-conservatives/ ‘When she was offered the UN role, Haley reportedly recalled, “I told [Trump], ‘Honestly, I don’t even know what the UN does,’ ” to which the crowd “erupted with sympathetic laughter and applause,” Blumenthal writes.
naturally after saying she doesnt know what UN does Nikki got the job
Posted by: brian | Oct 18 2018 21:06 utc | 42
S @ 29; Thanks for the link, it’ll take some time to listen, so I’ll add it to my bookmarks.
Ross @ 31 said in part;”Russia has a giant, we have a bunch of pygmies.”
The more I hear of Putin(thanks to s @ 29), the more I believe the above comment by Ross…
Posted by: ben | Oct 18 2018 21:09 utc | 43
Just wondering,are these new or oldhttps://mobile.twitter.com/Muddsfawaz/status/1040047848711221250
Posted by: Mark2 | Oct 18 2018 21:14 utc | 44
karlof1 @24
There is a very narrow deep water channel under the Kerch bridge. Russian missile carrying frigates could easily physically block that, requiring the US to phsysically force their way through. Good luck with that.
The US has also been running a typical NATO military exercise in Ukraine. A load of NATO pilots, and aircraft have flown in to fly against Ukrainian Su-25s and Su-27s (they are actually Russian aircraft but the Ukrops keep quiet about that). In air-to-air combat the Ukrops Su-27s beat the US F-15s. More recently a US National Guard pilot, Lt Col Seth Nehring, was given a back seat ride in an Su-27. There was a major in-flight issue resulting in the death of both pilots. The whole air excercise ‘Clean Skies 2018’ has now been terminated. Russian has not been blamed yet. The Ukraine Su-27 was reportedly declared not fit for flight in 2009 but given a cosmetic paint job with Ukraine’s new camoflage scheme.
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/https/colonelcassad.livejournal.com/4526154.html
Posted by: Yonatan | Oct 18 2018 21:37 utc | 45
karlof1 @11
Lavrov has made a comment on the ‘political disease’ running rampant in the west. He calls it ‘political rabies’.
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/rusvesna.su/news/1539854453
Posted by: Yonatan | Oct 18 2018 21:40 utc | 46
@Yonathan
So Lt Col Seth Nehring dies far away from home.
Another victim of the NATO war mongers, but he should have known.
Posted by: bjd | Oct 18 2018 21:45 utc | 47
Anton Worter @2
The idea that European cultures in the really distant past were extremely primitive compared to contemporary cultures in North Africa and Western Asia is an idea that’s naturally popular with some people who resent the fact that more recent European cultures over the last five centuries or so managed to use their superiority in technology (especially military technology) to exploit increasing portions of the rest of the world.
But there were never any unstoppable geographical barriers between Europe and North Africa and Western Asia, and so people, trade, ideas, diseases, and domesticated species gradually moved between these different regions. Jared Diamond is an author who has discussed this. This ancient trade helps explain why the differences between different Eurasian cultures weren’t quite as extreme as you might imagine.
Posted by: Glenn Brown | Oct 18 2018 21:47 utc | 48
Here’s a question for all, that’s been bugging me so to speak:
Does MbS actually have friends?
Posted by: bjd | Oct 18 2018 21:48 utc | 49
just watched the Atlantic council’s Championing the Frontlines of Freedom: Erasing the “Grey Zone”, only interesting thing to come out of the conference was Kurt Volker’s (US Special Representative for Ukraine) comments; 1) Escalating sanctions vs Russia every 1-2 months there will be new & expanded sanctions on Russia. 2) Stable boarders should not be a requirement to be a part of NATO, “Occupied” states can be taken into NATO and receive support from NATO to liberate themselves (he stressed that the US would not be escalate the conflict, but how the hell could anyone guarantee that). 3)Opposition to Russia is now bipartisan, regardless of the Nov elections, US Senate & Congress are unified against Russia 4) when asked how “We” (the Atlantic council) can make political elites care about Baltic states (plus Ukraine/Georgia), WITHOUT knowing the historical and political details of these states he, unsurprisingly answered “this is about spreading our liberal values” (translation: the American people don’t need to be informed about the region are changes are non-negotiable). the long and the short of the 3 hour conference was the new cold war vs Russia will continue indefinitely, I would say this is the start of another generation conflict that will last 10-20 years at least
Posted by: Kadath | Oct 18 2018 21:49 utc | 50
Ok i’l stick my neck out !
It’s over for America ! That’s my assessment their day is d d d done ! Am baseing my view on the worldwide picture politically, the mind set of the general public I talk to, the many sites I visit on the net left and right. Plus overall wisdom and overstanding (a Rasta thing) Empires fall, this one has more than had its day. If it was a buseness what does it produce ? And at what cost? It just robs other peoples hard earned resources and assets! For all it’s wealth it treats it’s own public like dirt milking them dry. It’s intelligent public it curupt’s. Nature abbor’s greed, and wil correct that imbalance.
I think Putin understands this, and understands as I do ‘desperate people do desperate things’ hence his speech.
Censoring the truth on a massive network like the internet is truly impossible and plainly desperate !!!
Posted by: Mark2 | Oct 18 2018 21:55 utc | 51
@ben | Oct 18, 2018 5:09:50 PM | 40
If you are finding your way out of the dark forest of propaganda there are two speeches by Putin that I point people toward. First, at the Munich Security Conference in 2007. Video here: Transcript here
Second, at the UN General Assembly September 2015, Video here: Transcript here.
I fail to see how any rational person could disagree with the sentiments he expresses. Warning! You may become a Putin-bot!
Posted by: Ross | Oct 18 2018 22:08 utc | 52
Kadath @46–
Thanks for your summation of Volker’s carping, which is very hawkish when compared to Putin’s words spoken today at Valdai. Clearly, Volker’s one of those dogs Putin mentioned.
Yonatan @42–
Thanks for that story update. The NATO and Zionists participating also thought the S-300 they faced are similar to those emplaced in Syria; they are not. Thanks for the reminder of Kerch straight topography with addition of the new bridge. My point was to inform about treaty and the fact that Ukronazis and NATO allies would want to trash and challenge it based on current doctrine as related @46. Today at Valdai there was this short but highly important exchange:
“Fyodor Lukyanov: But if we aren’t creating any problems, others may be creating them for us.
“Vladimir Putin: Of course they are. Full ahead [with discussion].
“Fyodor Lukyanov: You once coined a wonderful phrase (a well-known metaphor that compares Russia to a bear): “The bear will not ask anyone for permission. He is the master of the taiga and he will not move to other climatic zones, but he will not give up his taiga to anyone, either. And everyone should be clear about that, that’s all there is to it.”
“Is anyone encroaching on our taiga today, or are we already living in the “that’s all” era?
“Vladimir Putin: “That’s all” has always been there. It is ‘that’s all“ time now as well.”
Is there any wonder why the audience responded with “nervous laughter” when Putin later discussed the possibility of nuclear war? Fucking idiots like Volker and his upper command really have no conception of what they’re working toward and probably see it all as some sort of game. Well, the Russians, Chinese, Iranians and others don’t–they see what’s happening as very serious and existential. As I said earlier, Americans don’t give a damn about their children, allowing neocons and neoliberals to run amok.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 22:28 utc | 53
What’s stil puzzling me is the insignificance of Skripal and the insignificance of Kashoggi, that is — in both cases until their utter vanishing, of course.
Or, i.o.w. Cui Bono?
A.t.m. I think Erdogan has a great set of cards.
Posted by: bjd | Oct 18 2018 22:30 utc | 54
47
Adding to what you just said, let me just put this out there as a teacher, and not trying to wag a Big White Triumphal Exceptionalist Stick, our US kids are dumb as rocks too, but this is based on actual experience, and documented records:
My East Asian students showed up to class with no textbooks. They can’t afford them in their eyes. $75USD is 1,000,000 rupiahs! When I sighed and said, ‘OK, I’ll add one more prep to my 16-hour day, and print copies in the teacher’s lounge for $25 apiece, if anyone wants one, see me after class.’
An East Asian kid came up to me with a $20, and I’m like, what? He says, and I quote, “Does this mean I’ll get an A?”
I always try to learn the local lingo, and be non-judgmental, but I am a teacher and grading is part of the job and you have to hold the line. So I said, ‘No!’ He got rather upset, thinking I was raising my asking price! $20 always worked for him to get an A before, back in East Asia.
So now I’m getting perturbed. These kids all had 4.0 GPAs when they got into our school, here they were barely passing in my class. Is it ESL language? Is it my presentation? So I got hold of an East Asian teacher and got the East Asian grading rubric: >70% is an A, >80% is an A+! That’s nuts! In the USA, 70% is just barely passing, and you need 95% for an A+! So there was zero parity between rubrics. They’re passing them through as 4.0’s for bribes and H-2B student visa fees!
So I mention this to my Dean, he smiles, and says, ‘You’re job is just to make sure they all pass.” H-2Bs is a big, big money maker for US colleges. I had to give them the final exam three times, dumbing it down each time. The last time, we read the exam questions and the answers out loud together, then I gave them the test. Two of them STILL did not pass, and I got called in and got my ass chewed!
That’s why you see so many smiling East Asian students everywhere. Half of the classes, at least, are East Asian. So when an East Asian ‘college’ (sic) graduate claiming an A+ East Asian GPA, their East Asian colleges even docent the after-graduation testing for graduate school! They don’t have independent SAT or GRE exam boards, their colleges do the grading!
But let’s drill down one more layer. I got to meet the now-a-Green Card mother of one of my students, and we had a little Asian food buffet and then she’s asking me how her kid is doing, and you know, what do you say? Then she tells me, they paid $20,000USD to get the visas! Their whole family back in East Asia is in hock to the human-trafficker mafiyas, and that’s why the “A+” schtick and why the ‘just make sure they pass’ pipeline, is to get them over here so they can do IT coding or pluck chickens or drive for Uber or whatever, to keep their family in East Asia from being bludgeoned.
So let’s build a $TRILLION wall, for East Asians to fly over by the jumbo-jet load, 10 plane flights every day, and we’ll call it MAGA! and WINNING! and ‘lowest unemployment on record’ … because all the new jobs are going to East Asians.
E pluribus now get back to work. Oh, and remember to vote! Really get high-fever pitched! DRINK THE RED AND BLUE KOOLAID!
Posted by: Anton Worter | Oct 18 2018 22:46 utc | 55
Anton Worter | Oct 18, 2018 6:46:17 PM | 51@
So I mention this to my Dean, he smiles, and says, ‘You’re job is just to make sure they all pass.”
Hopefully your job is not teaching English. Or history for that matter.
Posted by: Ross | Oct 18 2018 23:23 utc | 56
Sputnik has published a very interesting bit of history: US Blocked ‘Guerilla Intellectual’ from Jamaica, Fearing His ‘Good Example’. I’m sure few will know of or recall the 1968 Jamaican riots. They focused on the attempt to debar Walter Rodney from reentering the nation. Eventually, the CIA aided his assassination. Hopefully, people will invest the 15 minutes it takes to read some important history that’s been rather well airbrushed.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 18 2018 23:39 utc | 57
Lots of interviews: Putin, Medvedev, and Lavrov twice. The only two I haven’t linked to are Lavrov’s–done!
Putin’s Valdai Club transcript isn’t 100% complete yet, but the summary I linked to earlier @11 has the video. The Medvedev link’s @21.
You’ll learn a great many things you didn’t know before from these interviews. I certainly did!
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 19 2018 0:40 utc | 59
carried 5these citations over from the previous stream, because I was going off topic all the way.
Khashoggi was lured to enter Saudi territory so that judgement could be rendered. That Saudi hasn’t released any info about such a Decree doesn’t mean it never occurred, and what of its legality in Saudi if it was to be made postscript? Who in Saudi challenges a Royal Decree of that sort? Sure, that’s sordid and all for the Freedom & Democracy promoters, but it’s probably all legal and legit within Saudi. Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 17, 2018 6:42:33 PM | 55
Indeed. This legal theory been tested in European courts Critique of the Rule-of-Law Carl Schmitt’s Verfassungslehre
Perhaps a war with Saudi Arabia over Kuwait (some of the royals suggesting the use of force) is needed, then occupy Saudi Arabia after wiping out the House of Saud and seizing all their assets outside SA, and restricting supply of oil to the rest of the world to save the planet and support the new reserve currency (carbon dollar) with the US empowered to collect the carbon tax from those who purchase oil under their control
Pretty wild if thats to happen.
Posted by: Pft | Oct 17, 2018 7:42:24 PM | 63
You’re right it’s wild and as you describe it seems possible, except for this one dubious phrase:
“With Venezuela on the brink of collapse…”
¡Ja! But countries don’t collapse because of the lack of toilet paper in grocery stores.
Twitterized kids from the rich barrio are Caracas is NOT going to cut it when masses of people
will defend their country just as in the case of Syria and Hafaz al Asad.
The Syrian people had significant economic problems one of which was getting oil for cooking
and heating and the traditional government subsity for this vital necessity was lagging behind
the cost and availability. At least this appears to have been the case in Homs.
Heating oil subsidies are NOT something to burn the whole country to the ground to protest against!
People will put up with a lot of economic deprivation rather then have a civil war all around them.
The Northamerican generals are going to invade Venezuela with sudanese mercenaries?
Maybe the attacks will be led by Mormon missionaries
as Pentecostal jesuits uncover arms caches backwater towns?
Simón Bolivar will come back from his grave and neoliberalism will find its lonely grave.
It would be an absurd and vain waste of blood and treasure to try to defeat Venezuela.
It’s NOT happening, as the tide of history has turned against the AngloAmerican Empire.
Because globalism is just an excuse for slavery; deservedly it got an ugly name for itself.
As the luscious moon of nationalism waxes, people naturally turn to their government for help.
Karlofi @ 55:
I always find that English-language Kremlin website a bit slow in coming out with transcripts of President Putin’s speeches. Interesting that the transcript of the Q&A session is out first – they’ve done that before.
Posted by: Jen | Oct 19 2018 1:46 utc | 61
Jen 57
I think, with Putin’s speeches and press interviews, a lot of care is taken to ensure the exact meaning of a Russian word or phrase is translated to English.
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Oct 19 2018 2:24 utc | 62
Ross @ 48: Thanks for the links. No worries about the Putin-bot thing. I don’t know of any perfect person, but, I know rational when I hear it.
It’s a shame the American people can’t hear a speech or two from a foreign leader, uncut and not censored. If, in fact,
they even cared to.
Posted by: ben | Oct 19 2018 2:26 utc | 63
What is News & views not related to Khashoggi, even with the glaring similarities of a “rogue state” ruled by a dictator openly committing murder in a foreign country, is the now forgotten killing of a close family member by his sibling using, of all things, a chemical weapon. Things stay in the news only at the convenience of those who want to control the agenda.
Posted by: YY | Oct 19 2018 3:11 utc | 64
Meet the 46th potus….
https://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/GettyImages-665840928-1280×720.jpg
Posted by: denk | Oct 19 2018 3:19 utc | 65
denk@61 Yes it looked like Haley was auditioning to run for the head of the empire. Now she is leaving to position herself with her buddy Lindsey Graham. You have to admit, she reads a good script for them and she does not need a teleprompter.
This whole Saudi thing could blow a massive hole in the NEOCON dreams. One wonders, what the hell is going on? The MIC eating the MIC? I will save the links on this one but thanks for the good links on this thread.
Posted by: dltravers | Oct 19 2018 3:26 utc | 66
dltravers 62
TPTB sold Obama as ‘prez for change’,
Trump was the ‘anti establishment maverick’
Haley would be murikka’s ‘first lady potus’
What’s there not to like ?
There’s a bonus…
Haley is TPTB secret weapon to conquer India.
The elephant still has one leg planted in the BRIC
right now, but with Haley’s ascension, India would prostrate herself at uncle sham’s feet.
Its bye bye the BRICS
hhhhhh
Posted by: denk | Oct 19 2018 3:48 utc | 67
Could it be that the Vatican is the principal force behind the 2014 Maidan uprising in Kiev, the regime-change operation in Ukraine, as a part of its millennium-old war against Russian Orthodoxy?
The Saker is carrying a long article by Russian author Aleksandr Voznesensky, translated heroically by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard. It’s cross-posted from StalkerZone, but there are some comments on Saker, and I know we can link there, so here goes:
How the Vatican Is Preparing to Launch a Religious War in Ukraine with the Help of the Constantinople Patriarchate and the Uniates
The article is a keeper – I recommend bookmarking it for reference if nothing else. It details the events leading up to and following the Maidan, and illustrates in a very clear way the textbook activities of color revolution conducted by that most powerful and respectable institution of soft power, a religious university – the Ukrainian Catholic University – with its own media group, its own business academy, and funding and contacts with many “philanthropies” from the west. It’s also headed by an American bishop, with a substantial provenance and respected standing in US elite circles.
Although the article is long, it’s very readable, and well translated.
Towards the end, it poses a view that I had never considered, but which resonates with the trajectory of the more secular US empire. The Catholic Church is losing its hold over the masses, losing its power, and yet continues with its war against the Orthodox side of the schism, and doubles down on tools of domination, experimenting in Ukraine and some other eastern European countries with ways to control a society – a clear threat to western Europe if it could but see it.
I don’t understand much about the recent moves of the Church in Ukraine, but anyone can see how fraught are the faithful because of these lawless acts. I often forget the old battle by Rome against Constantinople, but I have every inclination to believe it completely. This article does a splendid job of detailing it and making it very visible.
Posted by: Grieved | Oct 19 2018 4:08 utc | 68
Guerrero@56
You are right. I really meant more in relation to their oil industry which will affect global oil supplies , especially with the upcoming situation in Iran and the hypothetical Saudi scenario (Wild as it is). A Countries government can still remain functional in the face of dire economic circumstances so long as they can feed themselves and have sufficient popular support and dont become vulnerable to military conquest or a coup. The real situation there is obscured by massive propaganda of course but my sense is the neoliberal elite interests will eventually win out , unless they clean them out . Doing so will likely provide the justification the US would need to invade. Justification made possible only with massive MSM propaganda
Posted by: Pft | Oct 19 2018 4:14 utc | 69
Guerrero
Forgot one thing. As to the ability of the US to invade and conquer Venezuela, I fear you may understate their ability. A naval blockade, attacking military and certain infrastructure targets by air and sea, with support from locals siding with the elites and special forces , and they will most certainly be able to force a regime change. Worst case- Venezuela ends up like Libya, but that keeps China out of their backyard and with one less oil supplier
Posted by: Pft | Oct 19 2018 4:22 utc | 70
thanks to the ones who provided the hint and links to the valdai meeting. as a german citizen one can only watch this in awe, this kind of rationality and rhetorical skill is *so* out of reach for “our” politicians… I get why they all hate on Putin so much, must hurt them to see someone talk and act who actually has a brain. for a german politician having a brain, let alone spine, is something unimaginably they can only envy.
Posted by: radiator | Oct 19 2018 5:22 utc | 71
Posted by: S | Oct 18, 2018 3:04:23 PM | 29
Thanks (bigly) for the hand-crafted translation of Putin snippets.
I’ve tried word-by-word translation/ transcription from subtitles and found it to be very time-consuming.
10/10 for patience and persistence.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Oct 19 2018 6:14 utc | 72
I’ve just noticed that b has (very) recently improved Moon of Alabama’s online security by elevating it from http to https.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Oct 19 2018 6:27 utc | 73
s…… thanks…..
bjd… does mbs have any friends question… i doubt it…..just a number of sycophants and hangers on…
Posted by: james | Oct 19 2018 7:40 utc | 75
Hoarsewhisperer “by elevating it from https to https… and… Oops… from https to https.”
Ease up on the booze old fella… well that’s my excuse for my bloopers 🙂
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Oct 19 2018 8:01 utc | 76
@ Hoarsewhisper
I initially backed Trump, though with reservations on his attitude to Iran and his wanting to increase US military spending – build a stronger US military. Pulling out of the TPP was great. Au had sovereignty on paper if not in practice, but with the TPP, Australia would not have had sovereignty legally. His first attack on Syria was a flash bang exercise to disable his opponents. His second attack I thought initially was the same, but with everything I’ve read since, I believe Trump’s US planned to destroy Syrian military but not wanting to go to war with Russia at that time, respected the Russian nyet on targets.
With Idlib it moved up a notch, Trump’s US threatening attack on Syria including Russian personal stationed there, and Russia moving to asymmetrical moves rather than in your face nuclear amageddon, which is what a full on US attack on Syria would have amounted to..
Posted by: Peter AU 1 | Oct 19 2018 8:34 utc | 77
Yeah I know, no Khashoggi but…
“Suspected of killing Jamal Khashoggi reportedly died in a car crash after returning to Saudi Arabia”
It’s all over the web, so pick your source
Posted by: 2bornot2b | Oct 19 2018 9:33 utc | 78
Leading US House Democrat Demands That Ecuador’s President ‘Hand Over’ Julian Assange
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/10/18/assa-o18.html
He is still being held without telephone, internet access or visitors.
“…As the campaign against the WikiLeaks editor escalates, the WSWS reiterates its call for all defenders of democratic rights to fight for the unconditional freedom of Julian Assange.”
Posted by: John Gilberts | Oct 19 2018 10:46 utc | 79
“Julian Assange’s communications partly restored by Ecuadorian government”
http://www.itv.com/news/2018-10-14/julian-assanges-communications-partly-restored-by-ecuadorian-government/
Posted by: notlurking | Oct 19 2018 12:51 utc | 80
I hope Gordon Duff does not have a very good track record when it comes to predictions of the future.
At NEO, he says the Syrian War will go nuclear.
https://journal-neo.org/2018/10/19/the-syrian-war-will-go-nuclear/
Posted by: spudski | Oct 19 2018 13:05 utc | 81
Ok I get it now:
“Hitler at Nuremberg Trials
I want to make it perfectly clear, that some of those people in my service have be far to over zealous.
The list includes: ( see wiki page on nazi war criminals)”
Since when can a leader, exclude himself from the actions of his minors, when said actions include people of the highest rank….?
Let the twerp Clown Prince make further comments to embarass his Kingdom.
That the US and Uk still sells arms to this nation, shows the vileness of both!
I am so happy we arid of the English nasties by 1 April 2019, I hope they die out or are absorbed by an ever growing Pakistani population.
And they did resent the Danas way back, lets se how they like Sharia law.
Posted by: Den Lille Abe | Oct 19 2018 15:43 utc | 82
If we can get back to Khashoggi this recommended for updating:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/jamal-khashoggi-case-latest-updates-181010133542286.html
the King will evidently step in
Posted by: Sid2 | Oct 19 2018 15:46 utc | 83
President Moon tweets from Asia-Europe Meeting that he’s pushing Korean Peace as something valuable for Europe, Asia shared co-prosperity–excellent! At least there’s one spot on the planet having the glow of hope for a much improved future. Also read that the Meeting has called for the lifting of sanctions on Iran and moderating those on DPRK. Hopefully, both will be included in the Meeting’s Joint Declaration, which will put further pressure on Outlaw US Empire to accommodate global opinion.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 19 2018 16:01 utc | 84
Just to show you how kind the democrats are to potential voters – they fill in the forms for you.
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-10-18/texas-democrats-caught-mailing-pre-filled-voter-registrations-non-citizens
Ok. Some of the voters may be already dead, or simply “foreign”, but you must admit it is kind of them. Saves all sorts of Bots worrying their little curly-haired heads about deciding who to “bottify” this time.
Talking about that, Nikki Haley resigned with praise heaped upon her thin shoulders by the Israeli establishment, just before the K*****gi affair, but that must have been a mere coincidence. Not that she was forewarned or anything, even if the “affair” could rebound on Trump leaving her looking “sensible” and free for a new adventure.
It does suggest that the next Presidential candidates (always assuming Trump isn’t there) – could be between “Pocahontas” Warren and “Haha” Haley, doesn’t it? But don’t worry, you will receive your pre-filled vote form in time.
Posted by: stonebird | Oct 19 2018 17:00 utc | 86
Sergey Lavrov speaking recently to RT France had some interesting tidbits as it relates to US/NATO:
“We will be ready for larger-scale provocations too. But our answer is very simple – if they talk to us through the media, we will respond through the media too, but specifically and in a correct manner,” Lavrov said, answering questions from RT France, Paris Match and Le Figaro.
Going further, he said a third world war is an unimaginable scenario, noting that “everybody would be sane enough not to let it happen.” However, an aggravating factor is the absence of any dialogue between the Russian military and NATO.
For those who would like an distilled view on the Khashoggi saga, here is a good Off-Guardian piece:
What matters to them is the narrative. The headline. The psychic impact. The saying is all. Khashoggi needs to be dead right now and so he is. Will he still be dead tomorrow? Who knows, but if not he won’t be the first such resurrection. Even death isn’t necessarily permanent in the new post-truth age.
Do we currently know the man is dead? Let alone who may have killed him? I don’t think we can make that claim. We have an allegedly vanished journalist. We have a number of unproven claims, of varying plausibility. None of this is evidence of anything.
…
We need to resist any temptation to give the mainstream the benefit of the doubt as soon as they appear to endorse some part of what we know is true. When they seem to have an epiphany and realise the Saudis are bloodthirsty tyrants or that global warming is a thing, they aren’t seeing the light, they’re simply following the dictates of an agenda which currently finds these truths useful. The moment they stop being useful these truths will be dropped again, right down the Memory Hole. And it will be as if they never were.
When we preempt the arrival of any data and discuss the “murder of Khashoggi” as if it were a fact, and when we blame the Saudis unequivocally without anymore evidence for their guilt than we have for that of Boshirov and Petrov, we are actually unwittingly endorsing the media’s ability to invent realities.
“Twitter has suspended accounts” that “appear” to smear Khashoggi:
The Khashoggi murder narrative, true or false, is being protected and promoted aggressively by the mainstream media.
Posted by: jsb | Oct 19 2018 17:26 utc | 87
Talking about that, Nikki Haley resigned with praise heaped upon her thin shoulders by the Israeli establishment, just before the K*****gi affair, but that must have been a mere coincidence. Not that she was forewarned or anything, even if the “affair” could rebound on Trump leaving her looking “sensible” and free for a new adventure.
Posted by: stonebird | Oct 19, 2018 1:00:47 PM | 87
Yes, looks like she knew the Khashoggi plot against Trump was coming …
Posted by: BM | Oct 19 2018 17:52 utc | 88
jsb this off guardian piece is way too light on what is known vs the much more dubious circumstances around Skripal and the two Russians visiting Salisbury. Photographs and fingerprints are a form of evidence not available in the other cases. Those include the fingerprints of an advanced surgeon in Saudi Arabia, including interior minister, who was present in the consulate. I would suggest reading more news, especially from Arab sources, instead of dismissing the case this way. Simplifying the case to “main stream media” as alleging the story dismisses a host of middle east sources who are not exactly “main stream” additional to throwing doubt on to b himself and his reports. Maybe you’re trolling here?
Posted by: Sid2 | Oct 19 2018 17:58 utc | 89
UK Spy Plane Reportedly Spotted Near Syrian Border Amid S-300 Delivery
19:52 19.10.2018
A Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft of the UK’s Royal Air Force has conducted a flight over the territories of Israel and Jordan, near the Syrian border, several flight tracking services reported. An aircraft with the number ZZ666 took off from Souda Bay Air Base on Crete, flew along the southern border of the Arab Republic and then returned to the air base via the same path.
This is the second time this week that the RAF has flown aircraft near the Syrian border. The previous time, RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance and Sentinel R.1 ground surveillance planes flew a similar path on October 16. The RC-135W Rivet Joint is capable of detecting emissions produced by radars and thus discovering the locations of enemy air defenses.
Maps with flightpaths/callsigns available in original link
READ MORE: US Upgrading F-35s Amid S-300 Delivery to Syria — Reports
The recon flight comes two weeks after the deployment of Russian S-300 air defense systems in Syria, following an incident in Syrian airspace near Latakia, when a Syrian S-200 shot down a Russian recon plane while repelling an attack by Israeli air force.
Posted by: Greece | Oct 19 2018 20:39 utc | 90
More on the American/Greek (turkish styled) soap opera trying to prove the current Greek gov. is in supposedly anti-american, while they have said YES in every turn for whatever the current D.Trump administration had been asking for. (US Embassy in Athens morning tweet)
Tears and Drama: Episode 6, Season 5.
They killed our boys and now you letting them walk free…
BooohoooHooo…
Signed: American Embassy in Athens
(Link at News Article in Greek: Real.gr)
A decision to let Savvas Xiros out of prison before serving his sentence as handed down by the Greek justice system would be a disservice to the memory of the American mission members he killed and their families. pic.twitter.com/8YvoOFk09H
— U.S. Embassy Athens (@USEmbassyAthens) October 19, 2018
Who/what is Savvas Xiros.
Savvas Xiros was an alleged member of:
November 17 Leftist Militant Revolutionary Unit.
Posted by: Greece | Oct 19 2018 21:20 utc | 91
More than Meets the Eye
According to Greek public consensus (and this is what it matters the most) 17th November group was a reverse/gladio CIA ongoing operation from the 7 year military Junta years (1967-1974) ongoing untill obviously today.
Greek Military Junta between 1967-1974 and Israel’s wars:
Greek Junta established just one month and a few days (April 21-1967) – before the: Arab/Israeli 6 day War at 5-10 June 1967.
Greek military Junta ended just less or exactly withing a year (17th November 1974) Yom Kipur war in 1973. (October 5 -25 1973)
Reverse/gladio methodology differences compared to normal gladio/right wing philosophy is that in the reverse dogma you pretend the leftist revolutionary org.
The “revolutionary” org killed appart from one US and one UK ambassador several greek businessmen that were indifferent or militant against the PNAC and Israel’s secret operations in Greece, also members of military and Police and judges/newspaper journalists.
Posted by: Greece | Oct 19 2018 21:25 utc | 92
A recent WaPo article on Hawkings and his views on gene editing
“I am sure that during this century people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts such as aggression,” Hawking wrote.
There would be an attempt to pass laws restricting the genetic engineering of human traits, he anticipated. “But some people won’t be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as size of memory, resistance to disease and length of life,” he anticipated.
“Once such superhumans appear, there are going to be significant political problems with the unimproved humans, who won’t be able to compete,” Hawking reasoned. “Presumably, they will die out, or become unimportant.”
Or culled?
Perhaps unrelated but the United States is on course for the biggest drop in ranking of all high-income countries, falling from 43rd in 2016 to 64th by 2040, with an average life expectancy of 79.8.
The US will be overtaken by China, which rises 29 places to 39th .
Posted by: Pft | Oct 19 2018 23:54 utc | 93
An alternative POV is getting broadcast; we just need more voices expressing it.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 20 2018 0:22 utc | 94
An alternative POV is getting broadcast; we just need more voices expressing it.
Posted by: karlof1 | Oct 20 2018 0:23 utc | 95
Its not like Saudi Arabia couldn’t purchase weapons from Russia and China. The major problem is our support for these wars . These countries follow our example . If we torture and detain without due process, kill our own citizens with drones, violate international law with impunity , etc then we set the example for our allies to follow
Posted by: Pft | Oct 20 2018 2:09 utc | 96
As an observer it seems to me they lost the last shreds of their own illusion of overall control this week. Haven’t seen anyone pointing that out, please correct me if I’m wrong. Maybe it was more than one thing, I don’t know the details of the black box or what they put into it but what they got out of it didn’t seem to please any of them.
By they I mean the top dogs in all the competing factions among the powers that be in the figurative “west”. Something got into all their OODA loops that they’re so proud of and it didn’t fit into any of their fantasies no matter who they are. They might even have started to realize they have been treading furiously in quicksand for a long time.
Maybe they’ll manage to invent something entirely new to continue clinging on to but I think they’re too tired and shell-shocked for anything to truly stick and work.
So we get to see what happens next week then. At the very least I expect more military equipment to fail and be destroyed, maybe a carrier runs aground or something, another air base wiped out by weather cause planes are so hard to move out of the way et cetera. There’s no fallacy of broken windows in a state inflation economy 🙂
Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Oct 20 2018 3:42 utc | 97
Jeeze,
These guys would pass for a cast of mafia movie,
hhhhhhh
https://cdn4.img.sputniknews.com/images/106852/20/1068522050.jpg
Posted by: denk | Oct 20 2018 4:01 utc | 98
Add on to 94
US birth rates have plummeted to historic lows according to new CDC fig
Since 2007, fertility rates have plummeted 18 percent in large cities, 16 percent in mid-sized counties, and 12 percent in rural areas.
The average age that women have their first child continues to climb – now at 24.5 years old in rural counties and 27.5 in metropolitan areas.
In addition, numbers from the United Nations Population Fund show that 40 percent of all births in the United States now occur outside of marriage
The number of married people with children is at an all time low from 1 in 13 people compared to 1 in 7 in 1961
I expect similar numbers are found in much of the developed world
Posted by: Pft | Oct 20 2018 4:38 utc | 99
Cindy Sheehan for prez…..
The first lady potus in history ,
think about it.
Here lies the difference….
While Haley is barking up all the wrong trees to get brownie points from TPTB,
Cindy is speaking truth to power.
This is the real deal.
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201810201069050179-Peace-Protesters-Prepare-Pentagon/
Posted by: denk | Oct 20 2018 4:54 utc | 100