Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?

[angelburst29]

Russia’s reconciliation center delivered more than 700 tons of humanitarian aid to 78 residential areas in Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Hama and Homs provinces.

Red Crescent evacuated 500 wounded from sieged Syrian provinces
http://novorossia.today/red-crescent-evacuated-500-wounded-from-sieged-syrian-provinces/

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has evacuated 500 wounded people from the sieged residential areas in Syria at the request of the Russian reconciliation center Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Wednesday.

“The Syrian Arab Red Crescent evacuated 500 wounded and sick residents of the sieged Idlib and Damascus provinces,” Konashenkov said, adding that Russia’s reconciliation center delivered more than 700 tons of humanitarian aid to 78 residential areas in Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Hama and Homs provinces.

“Some 18 tons of humanitarian aid has been delivered last week,” he said.

According to Konashenkov, the ceasefire regime is maintained in most parts of Syria and despite “some violations,” no signs of the resumption of hostilities are observed.

“Joint measures are taken to decrease tensions,” he said. “The fact made possible the ‘regime of silence’ launch in the northern Latakia and eastern Ghouta.”.

The Russian reconciliation center in Syria reported that the al-Nusra Front group continues attacks in northwestern parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Al-Nusra Front Continues Attacks in Northwestern Aleppo
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160504/1039093733/nusra-attacks-aleppo.html

The al-Nusra Front group, also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, continues attacks in northwestern parts of the Syrian city of Aleppo, the Russian reconciliation center in Syria said Wednesday.

The attacks have caused casualties and injuries, including among civilians, according to the reconciliation center.

The Syrian Army command said that the silence regime in Syria's Aleppo region will begin night to Thursday and last for 48 hours.

Silence Regime in Aleppo to Enter Into Force 00:01 Thursday
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160504/1039093139/aleppo-silence-regime-thursday.html

The silence regime in Syria's Aleppo region will begin Wednesday night and last for 48 hours, the Syrian Army command said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the governments of the United States and Russia have agreed on a deal to extend the cessation of hostilities in Syria to the Aleppo province.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency said that US officials are reviewing whether Russian consular officials were timely notified of the detention of Russian national Igor Zyazin prior to his death in US custody last week.

DHS Reviewing Consular Notifications in Case of Russian Who Died in Custody
http://sputniknews.com/us/20160505/1039096249/dhs-reviewing-zyazin-death.html

US officials are reviewing whether Russian consular officials were timely notified of the detention of Russian national Igor Zyazin prior to his death in US custody last week, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) said in a statement.

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Human Rights Ombudsman Konstantin Dolgov said that Washington did not inform Moscow about Zyazin’s detention prior to his death, which constitutes a direct violation of the US- Russia consular convention agreement of June 1, 1964.

On Tuesday, ICE issued a statement that 46-year-old Zyazin died in custody on Sunday night at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. The Russian national was first detained by officers with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on April 20 and was then transferred to ICE on April 24.

According to the ICE, Zyazin had presented a Russian passport to CBP officers at the port of entry into the United States, after which officers determined he had previously been deported in 2009. Zyazin had no criminal history in the United States, ICE added.

The Russian Consulate General in California has established contact with ICE to find out the details of the incident.


Russian Zyazin’s Cause of Death to Take 1-3 Months to Determine
http://sputniknews.com/us/20160504/1039093623/zyazin-death-month-determine.html

The death cause of Russian national Igor Zyazin, who passed away in the US Immigration custody last week, will take up to three months to determine, a spokesperson for the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office told Sputnik on Wednesday.


Russian National Igor Zyazin Died of Heart Disease While in US Custody
http://sputniknews.com/us/20160505/1039098244/zyazin-died-of-heart.html

Heart disease was ruled as the cause of death of Russian national Igor Zyazin who passed away while in US custody.

Heart disease was ruled as the cause of death of Russian national Igor Zyazin who passed away while in US custody, according to an autopsy report released by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.

"Hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease," a form of heart disease, was ruled as the cause of death, according to the report on Wednesday.

Zyazin died on Sunday while in the custody of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).

Earlier on Wednesday, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office told Sputnik that an official autopsy could take up to six or eight weeks.

President Obama may visit Hiroshima when he travels to Japan late this month for a summit of key industrialized nations, but he will not apologize for the World War II decision to destroy that city with an atomic bomb, the White House said Monday.

Obama Not To Apologize For Decision To Destroy Hiroshima With Atomic Bomb
http://novorossia.today/116851-2/

Asked by Yahoo News whether Obama believes Japan deserves a formal apology for the August 6, 1945, bombing, White House press secretary Josh Earnest replied: “No, he does not.”

The question arose because John Kerry recently became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. Declaring the experience “gut-wrenching,” Kerry said he would urge Obama to make the trip. “It tugs at all of your sensibilities as a human being. It reminds everybody of the extraordinary complexity of choices in war and of what war does to people, to communities, to countries, to the world,” Kerry said after his April 11 visit. Obama has said, since at least November 2009, that he would like to visit Hiroshima, and also Nagasaki, the target of the second American nuclear bomb dropped in wartime. “I certainly would be honored, it would be meaningful for me to visit those two cities in the future,” he said at a press conference with Japan’s then prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama.

No word on whether Obama will visit Obama, a small city on Japan’s west coast

 

[angelburst29]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was correct in noting that US negotiators were trying to protect the extremist al-Nusra Front under the latest ceasefire in Aleppo, former US diplomat Jim Jatras told Sputnik.

Ex-US Diplomat: al-Nusra Front Key Element in US Plots to Topple Assad
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160505/1039100976/usa-plot-topple-assad-nusra.html

"It’s really not much of a surprise that the United States would try to shoehorn the al-Nusra Front into a ‘silent’ period in Aleppo, as Lavrov charges," Jatras, a former longtime foreign policy adviser to Republican senators in the US Congress, said on Wednesday.

The US government attempted to include the al-Nusra Front in the new ceasefire agreement in Aleppo, but the Russian government insisted on excluding the Islamist group as unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sputnik in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

US President Barack Obama had consistently supported Islamist movements, Jatras remarked.

"The fact is, the Obama administration will always stick with its client jihadists even if it means preserving groups they pretend are America’s deadliest foes," he contended.

Obama remains determined to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, Jatras explained.

"Despite all the talk about ‘degrading’ the Islamic State, and in spite of the obvious fact that the Syrian government headed by President Assad is going to survive, the Obama crowd still hopes to pull a rabbit out of their hat and force Russia to accept Assad’s departure," he argued.

US policymakers have continually failed to recognize that removing Assad from power would simply open the way to worse anarchy in Syria or a complete Islamist takeover, Jatras stated.

"American policymakers still insist that Assad is the real cause of instability and radicalism in Syria, and that once he’s gone a democratic and stable order will follow — notwithstanding the failed state NATO created in Libya, which Obama and Hillary Clinton amazingly still consider a success story," he noted.

The so-called "moderates" in Syria remained an essential tool for the US government to achieve its hope of a post-Assad "transition," Jatras continued.

"But because in Aleppo and elsewhere they are so mixed up with and dependent upon the al-Nusra Front to have any military credibility, Washington is willing to go to bat for the latter as well," he said.

Some prominent US figures, including retired Army General David Petraeus, the former US commander in Iraq, had openly called for the United States to cooperate with some elements of al-Qaeda, Jatras recalled.

"With regard to Lavrov’s suggestion that the United States is being manipulated — one immediately thinks of the Saudis and Turks — there is no doubt of that," he conceded.

The underlying assumption in Washington, largely due to Saudi, Turkish, and Gulf states’ influence, was that the Syrian war was a sectarian conflict, and that at the end of the day a Sunni sectarian state must come into existence, Jatras concluded.

Former CIA counterterrorism officer Philip Giraldi said that the US government is fully aware that the allegedly moderate opposition in Syria is working closely with the Nusra Front, an offshoot of the al-Qaeda terror group, but publicly pretends the two groups are separate.

Ex-CIA Officer: US Knows Syrian Opposition Groups Cover for al-Nusra Front
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160505/1039099737/nusra-covered-moderate-opposition.html

The US government is fully aware that the allegedly moderate opposition in Syria is working closely with the Nusra Front, an offshoot of the al-Qaeda terror group, but publicly pretends the two groups are separate, former CIA counterterrorism officer Philip Giraldi told Sputnik.

"The so-called moderate rebels are in cohabitation with the Nusra Front, so this is not surprising," Giraldi, a former CIA Case Officer and US Army Intelligence Officer who spent 20 years overseas working on terrorism cases, said on Wednesday.

The US government attempted to include the al-Nusra Front in the new ceasefire agreement in Aleppo, but the Russian government insisted on excluding the Islamist organization as unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Sputnik in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

In reality, the opposition groups supported by Washington in their bid to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, were almost totally under the control of the Nusra Front and its masters, al-Qaeda, Giraldi pointed out.

"Indeed, the so-called ‘moderates’ have largely been absorbed by the Nusra Front," he explained.

The Obama administration has been well-briefed about the true relationships between the secular bodies and the al-Nusra Front behind them, but it has refused to acknowledge these realities publicly, Giraldi observed.

"Washington is aware of the relationship, but for political reasons prefers to maintain that the two groups are separate," he stated.

In his interview with Sputnik, Lavrov remarked that the opposition seemed to be acting as a shield of protection for al-Nusra Front military forces fighting the Syrian Army in the Aleppo area.

Giraldi noted that top US policymakers remained determined to maintain the fiction the opposition they financed and armed were an independent and effective force.

However, the opposition groups had no military effectiveness by themselves and have been taking credit for activities that are actually carried out by the Islamists, he continued.

"It is part of the fantasy that our valiant moderates are having some impact in boldly confronting the Syrian Army," Giraldi maintained.

Moreover, Giraldi agreed with Lavrov’s assessment that the moderate Syrian opposition seemed to be shielding the al-Nusra Front.

Giraldi serves as Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest in Washington, DC.

A 60-year-old former CIA officer who was on vacation at the time the US spy agency abducted an innocent man in Italy may be the only person to face prison time for the American torture regime.

Ex-CIA Spy Faces Prison in Italy for Role in US Ordered Abductions, Torture
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160505/1039099993/torture-bush-obama-cia-rendition.html

On Wednesday, former CIA spy Sabrina De Sousa will be handed over to Italian authorities to serve a prison sentence for her role in helping to seize a terror suspect 13 years ago.

In February 2003, Egyptian cleric and terror suspect Abu Omar was abducted from the streets of Milan as part of the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. On the day in question, De Sousa was on vacation with her son on the ski slopes of Northern Italy over 185 miles (300 kilometers) away.

Despite witnesses substantiating the retired CIA officer’s alibi, she, along with 25 other American intelligence officials, were convicted by an Italian court in absentia. De Sousa now faces a four-year prison sentence for her purported role in the kidnapping of Abu Omar, which she claims ignorance of.

None of the other 25 Americans convicted served time for their alleged involvement in the abduction, with De Sousa being the first CIA officer handed over to Italian authorities. It remains unclear whether the former CIA agent would immediately face prison time or whether she might receive a new trial, given that the original conviction was in absentia.

The 60-year-old De Sousa left the CIA in 2009 and currently resides in Portugal. In 2015, she was detained at Lisbon airport on a European arrest warrant, but was quickly released. However, last month Portugal’s highest court ordered the extradition of the former CIA agent to Italy, placing her freedom in peril.

De Sousa admits knowing about and being involved in the broader extraordinary rendition program under which Abu Omar suffered torture at the hands of US and Egyptian officials. De Sousa argues that she carried out orders in good faith and decries the US government’s unwillingness to intervene in the matter, claiming that it amounts to abandoning a CIA officer to foreign prosecutors.

Nonetheless, De Sousa accepts her fate under Italian law, saying that the United States "broke the law and we are paying for it now."

In a twist of fate, it is the abducted Islamic cleric Abu Omar who now seeks leniency on behalf of De Sousa and the 25 other Americans who were convicted, in an interview last week with British newspaper The Guardian.

Sabrina and the others who were convicted are scapegoats. The US administration sacrificed them. All of those higher up in the hierarchy are enjoying their immunity, but those people higher up should be convicted in this case. They should face trial," said Abu Omar.

On Tuesday, Loud & Clear’s Brian Becker sat down with former CIA analyst John Kiriakou to speak about the extradition of Sabrina De Sousa. Notably, Kiriakou was the only US official to go to prison in connection with the CIA’s foreign interrogation programs at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib, by means of an extraordinary rendition, after he leaked documents revealing the extent of the US torture program.

Abu Omar was the wrong guy and now Sabrina De Sousa is the sacrificial lamb.

Kiriakou explained that Abu Omar was abducted from the streets of Milan and renditioned to Egypt to undergo "Egyptian style interrogation methods" which the former CIA analyst suggests amounts to "bald-faced torture."

"Unfortunately, Abu Omar was the wrong guy, which happened a lot in CIA operations in the last decade," said Kiriakou. "There were a lot of kidnappings of innocent people who happened to be the wrong person, people who may have, like Abu Omar, made fiery sermons after Friday prayers, but had nothing to do with terrorism."

"The Italian government investigated the case and identified two dozen CIA officers who made a major mistake," explained the former CIA analyst. "They traveled to Italy in alias but then used their hotel phones to call their spouses back in the US. The Italians were able to track the calls and identify everyone involved in the operations."

"Miss De Sousa appears to be the fall guy in this entire episode," remarked Kiriakou. "The CIA, for whatever reason, elected to not invoke diplomatic immunity for the agents. Some were convicted but successfully appealed to the Italian government for a pardon, but for some reason De Sousa did not get immunity or a pardon."

 

[JEEP]

It is so disheartening to read about the continuing manuevering by the United States to provoke Russia. If one had any doubts that pathological lunatics are in charge, what's playing out certainly confirms it.

I just read a 2-part summation of Napoleon vs. the old & new world orders (_http://tomatobubble.com/id998.html ). In reading it, I couldn't help but think of similarities to Julius Caesar and in fact, an assassination attempt like Caesar's was purposely perpetrated against Napoleon but failed. Reading on, it became so clear that Napoleon and France were never going to be allowed to have peace - that war was going to be forever ongoing until Napoleon was defeated and neutralized.

I see the same thing happening w/ Russia & Putin. The very same evil forces - the new world order (STS) - are going to be relentless and never ceasing in their quest to take Putin down. We know they will most assuredly fail because the 'timing' is different now - didn't have The Wave in the mix before!

 

[goyacobol]

It is so disheartening to read about the continuing manuevering by the United States to provoke Russia. If one had any doubts that pathological lunatics are in charge, what's playing out certainly confirms it.

I just read a 2-part summation of Napoleon vs. the old & new world orders (_http://tomatobubble.com/id998.html ). In reading it, I couldn't help but think of similarities to Julius Caesar and in fact, an assassination attempt like Caesar's was purposely perpetrated against Napoleon but failed. Reading on, it became so clear that Napoleon and France were never going to be allowed to have peace - that war was going to be forever ongoing until Napoleon was defeated and neutralized.

I see the same thing happening w/ Russia & Putin. The very same evil forces - the new world order (STS) - are going to be relentless and never ceasing in their quest to take Putin down. We know they will most assuredly fail because the 'timing' is different now - didn't have The Wave in the mix before!

Jeep,

I "see" the same things. It is unfortunate that more of us don't always describe what we see in my opinion. Regardless of the emotions at least we could express how we see the events fitting into the puzzle. That is just my own "observation". I have been thinking about the importance of observation and what that means.

I always thought that being an observer was like a shrugging of responsibility or a form or non-participation but I think is can be an active response if you share what you "see" with others.

Just for the record this is one of the most viewed topics on this board of the forum:

1,562 Replies
89,185 Views

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Twin Explosion Rocks Homs, Casualties Reported

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160505/1039104906/syria-homs-explosion.html

Twin explosions rocked the eastern suburb of Homs in Syria on Thursday, local media reported. According to initial reports, two car bombs were detonated in front of a local recruiting office.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Daesh Claims Advances at Gas Field in Syria’s Homs Province

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160505/1039101561/daesh-captures-homs.html

Daesh militants have captured parts of a gas field in the Syrian Homs Governorate, al-Mayadeen TV reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh) militants have captured parts of a gas field in the Syrian Homs Governorate, al-Mayadeen TV reports.

Fighting between Daesh militants and the Syrian army continues at the Shaer gas field, according to the TV news channel.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front).

The Syrian army and Daesh have been fighting over the Shaer gas field, which supplies the city of Homs and the Syrian capital of Damascus, for the past two years.

A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27. Daesh and al-Nusra Front, both outlawed in Russia, were not part of the deal.

Desert Hawks send reinforcements to Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/desert-hawks-send-reinforcements-al-shaar-gas-fields/

The Syrian Arab Army’s “Desert Hawks Brigade” (Liwaa Suqour Al-Sahra) have sent hundreds of soldiers to the northeastern Homs front in order to help drive back the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists from the Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields.

Russian military advisers put in this request for addition troops to northeastern Homs after ISIS captured all of the wells at the Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields on Wednesday afternoon.

Unlike the Tiger Forces, the Desert Hawks will not remain in northeast Homs for very long; they are only tasked with helping drive back the ISIS terrorists from the Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields.

Since losing the Al-Sha’ar Gas Fields, the Tiger Forces and their allies have regained all of the hills surrounding this site; this includes the large hilltop of Tal SyriaTel.

In addition to capturing the hills, the Syrian Armed Forces have liberated Well 102 from the ISIS terrorists after launching a counter-offensive on Wednesday night.

Breaking: Syrian Army fights back ISIS in Shaer gas field

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-army-fights-back-isis-east-homs/

The Syrian Army’s elite Tiger Forces launched today a counteroffensive against ISIS jihadists in Shaer gas field, eastern Homs, only a few hours after the terror group almost entirely seized the whole gas-rich area.

The fearless Tiger soldiers managed to liberate the Syriatel hilltop which overlooks the whole gas field from the north.

The notorious group infiltrated the area after a surprise attack, capturing several Army positions and killing dozens of soldiers.

According to analysts, the Syrian authorities cannot afford losing Shaer region since it is the last government-gas field, and currently accounts for the majority of fuel that operates what left of the power stations countrywide.

The area has been captured by the radical jihadists of ISIS in mid-July 2014. On November, ISIS re-attacked the area and seized most of the gas fields. In both occasions, the Syrian Armed Forces, backed by the paramilitary National Defense Forces (NDF), were able to expel the extremist militants after fierce battles.

Diplomat: West blocks Russia-China initiative on stopping chemical attacks in Syria

http://tass.ru/en/politics/873898

Russia is worried over the fact that terrorists seem to have learned to manufacture poisonous substances, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin says

UNITED NATIONS, May 5. /TASS/. Western countries are hampering the passage by the United Nations Security Council of a Russian-Chinese initiative geared to prevent the production and use of chemical weapons in Syria, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Wednesday.

He drew attention to the conclusions of specialists from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that militants in Syria used, most likely, yperite, a highly toxic gas. He said Russia is worried over the fact that terrorists seem to have learned to manufacture poisonous substances.

"It is regrettable that in conditions when it is necessary to immediately employ all available mechanisms to put a roadblock to the activities of chemical terrorists some of the United Nations Security Council’s Western members use trumped-up pretexts to block the Russian-Chinese initiative aimed at checking the threat of production of chemical weapons in Syria and around it by terrorists," the Russian diplomat said.

In April, Russia and China initiated a draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council that binds the countries to immediately report to the United Nations Security Council and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) in Syria about any actions of non-government entities aimed at developing, obtaining, possessing, transporting, transferring or using chemical weapons and means of their delivery. Apart from that, the draft resolution tasks the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism with monitoring capacities to reveal persons, groups or governments involved in such activities.

A number of the United Nations Security Council members, including Venezuela and Angola, have supported this initiative whereas others, in particular Great Britain, said the Russian and Chinese initiative needed thorough consideration.

Over 90 inhabited localities in Syria join truce

Over 90 inhabited localities in Syria have joined the regime of ceasefire, and peaceful life in being restored in a number of governorates, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN said at a meeting of the Security Council dedicated to the situation in Aleppo.

"More and more detachments of armed opposition and inhabited localities are joining the [ceasefire] regime, including thanks to the efforts of Russia’s center for reconciliation in Khmeimim. Today, there are more than 90 such localities," Churkin said.

He lamented that the situation has become tenser in some Syrian regions, including Aleppo.

Earlier Wednesday, the US Department of State announced that Russia and the United States reached an agreement on a repeated imposition of the "silence regime" in Aleppo after similar agreements led to a considerable reduction of the level of violence in Latakia and Damascus. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed that the truce entered into force and will last until 24:00 May 5.

Churkin said the truce in Syria does not cover terrorists and it is inadmissible to take a break in the fight against them.

"It is inadmissible to make a pause in the fight against terrorists, making it possible for them to gather themselves up. No one’s going to have mercy upon terrorists and those who, jointly with them, violate the regime of cessation of hostilities. This is a requirement of the Security Council resolutions," he said.

The conflict in Syria has lasted since March 2011. In April 2016, the United Nations secretary general’s special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura said the hostilities in the country have left 400,000 people dead. Later he specified that it was his personal assessment. Up until now, the UN has named the death count of over 250,000 in Syria.

The ceasefire regime took effect in Syria on February 27, 2016. Shortly before, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution supporting a cessation of hostilities. The document drafted by Russia and the United States was backed by all 15 Security Council member states.

The ceasefire regime does not cover the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations as well as other groups ruled terrorist by the Security Council.

Russia takes an active part in the Syrian settlement effort. It helps Syria's authorities fight terrorists and has conducted mine clearing work in the ancient city of Palmyra.

Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, which are banned in Russia, on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole." Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.

 

[goyacobol]

It is so disheartening to read about the continuing manuevering by the United States to provoke Russia. If one had any doubts that pathological lunatics are in charge, what's playing out certainly confirms it.

I just read a 2-part summation of Napoleon vs. the old & new world orders (_http://tomatobubble.com/id998.html ). In reading it, I couldn't help but think of similarities to Julius Caesar and in fact, an assassination attempt like Caesar's was purposely perpetrated against Napoleon but failed. Reading on, it became so clear that Napoleon and France were never going to be allowed to have peace - that war was going to be forever ongoing until Napoleon was defeated and neutralized.

I see the same thing happening w/ Russia & Putin. The very same evil forces - the new world order (STS) - are going to be relentless and never ceasing in their quest to take Putin down. We know they will most assuredly fail because the 'timing' is different now - didn't have The Wave in the mix before!

Jeep,

Thanks for the link too. It has some interesting parallels as you have said you can "see". The assignation attempts on Napoleon are striking. The illustrations are a beautiful addition too. I see Napoleon side stepped the financial system like Putin is doing with BRICS:

APRIL 1803: NAPOLEON SELLS THE LOUISIANA TERRITORY TO THE U.S.

Napoleon anticipates that Britain will again wage war against France. Napoleon will need money to finance France’s war effort, but he is opposed to borrowing from the Big Bankers. Napoleon once wrote:


"When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financiers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain."

Instead of crawling to Rothschild and friends, Napoleon raises money by selling the massive Territory of Louisiana to the United States (The Louisiana Purchase). In so doing, he also closes a possible front in the western hemisphere from which Britain could wage war against French territory.

Good find! ;)

For the record this is one of the most viewed topics on this forum board, the count is now:

1,565 Replies
89,283 Views

 

[Cosmos]

[...]
Obama Not To Apologize For Decision To Destroy Hiroshima With Atomic Bomb
http://novorossia.today/116851-2/

Asked by Yahoo News whether Obama believes Japan deserves a formal apology for the August 6, 1945, bombing, White House press secretary Josh Earnest replied: “No, he does not.”

The question arose because John Kerry recently became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park. Declaring the experience “gut-wrenching,” Kerry said he would urge Obama to make the trip. “It tugs at all of your sensibilities as a human being. It reminds everybody of the extraordinary complexity of choices in war and of what war does to people, to communities, to countries, to the world,” Kerry said after his April 11 visit. Obama has said, since at least November 2009, that he would like to visit Hiroshima, and also Nagasaki, the target of the second American nuclear bomb dropped in wartime. “I certainly would be honored, it would be meaningful for me to visit those two cities in the future,” he said at a press conference with Japan’s then prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama.

No word on whether Obama will visit Obama, a small city on Japan’s west coast

Fits to Trumps psychopathic standpoint on it:

Legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight said Donald J. Trump would have the "guts" to drop a nuclear bomb, just like former President Harry Truman and finds that cool and good :

_https://www.facebook.com/cnn/videos/10154741889211509/

Trump agrees and likes it, of course...

Just when you think things couldn't get any worse, you end up seeing something like this.

 

[angelburst29]

Although Russian officials have often said that Moscow is open for a dialogue with NATO and poses no threat to its members, the bloc's new Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, does not seem to be intent on mending the relations that have slid to their worst since the Cold War.

NATO's New Commander Gets Off on the Wrong Foot With Russia
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160505/1039112949/russia-nato-scaparrotti.html

Scaparrotti, handpicked by President Barack Obama to lead the North Atlantic Alliance, singled out Russia as the first of four threats to US and NATO security interests in his written testimony to the US Senate Armed Services Committee. The other three comprise terrorism, migrant and refugee flows, as well as "the collective threats to Israel."

The general also noted that dialogue and security cooperation with Moscow "should remain limited" until Russia supposedly adheres to international norms.

The US and some of its allies blame Russia for the Ukrainian civil war, although Moscow is not a party to the conflict and has instead played a major role in pushing forward the fragile peace process. Unsurprisingly, Scaparrotti is in favor of sending weapons to Kiev – a move that Russia and Germany have long said would only makes things worse.

During a ceremony at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Scaparrotti noted that, "We face a resurgent Russia and its aggressive behavior that challenges international norms." The general also mentioned that NATO needs to be ready to "fight tonight if deterrence fails."

Scaparrotti's rhetoric is no match for belligerent stance of NATO's former commander General Philip Breedlove, but his approach to Russia does not leave room for much optimism.

"By saying that NATO needs to be ready to 'fight tonight' against Russia, the alliance's supreme commander has exceeded his predecessor in generating military hysteria," Alexey Pushkov, chairman of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a tweet.

​The new NATO commander has inherited an alliance that is conducting more war-games, increasing their scale and scope, as well as deploying more military hardware to Eastern Europe and the Baltics. These activities are funded by the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI).

The ERI was launched in 2014 in response to Crimea's reunification with Russia. Its budget amounted to $1 billion after a year, dropped to $789 in 2016 and will soar to $3.4 billion in fiscal year 2017.

Although Moscow, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently reaffirmed, is willing to take part in any dialogue with NATO, these trends are of major concern to the country.

"NATO has been telling us that it has no intention of taking any measures that would be detrimental to Russia's security. However, if there are indeed no such intentions, but with NATO infrastructure sitting right at our doorstep, seems like we must then focus on what we see with our own eyes, rather than their intentions," Lavrov told the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

It is too early to predict how NATO's relations with Russia will develop in the post-Breedlove era, but US Lieutenant General Guy Swan told Deutsche Welle that Moscow should not underestimate Scaparrotti, who most recently served as the US commander in South Korea.

On May 2, the Norwegian Government decided to enhance its contribution to the international US-led coalition's operation against Daesh. However, Norway is prepared to halt its mission in Syria, if the Norwegian-trained rebels pursue to attack the government forces, says the country's national defense.

Norway to Halt Rebel Aid If Assad Forces Are Attacked
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160505/1039113680/norway-syria-assad-rebel-aid.html

A Norwegian force of around 60 soldiers based in Jordan will provide training, consulting and operational support to local Syrian groups battling Daesh. However, The Norwegian-trained forces should under no circumstances get involved in battles against the Assad regime. If this prerequisite is no longer met, the mission is immediately aborted. The Norwegian forces have no mandate to support operations that are not effective against Daesh, newspaper Aftenposten wrote citing military officials.

According to Major Vegard Finberg, spokesman for Chief of Defense Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, the rebels supported are to undergo a rigorous and systematic approval and clearance process in order to ensure that the operation's final aim is none other than Daesh within the framework of the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve.

Yesterday, the Assad government denounced Norway's decision to send special troops to train Syrian rebel groups, whereas Head of the Norwegian Military Officers' Union, Jens Jahren, argued that the military mission to train Syrian rebels is "very demanding."

Researcher Kristian Berg Harpviken of the peace research institute PRIO described the mission as "stirring a hornet's nest."

The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) ministerial meeting is planned for May 17 in Vienna, a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Int'l Syria Support Group Ministerial Talks to Be Held May 17 in Vienna
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160505/1039121880/syria-support-group-talks.html

The ISSG was formed in November 2015, shortly after the beginning of the Syria peace talks in Vienna, as a panel of countries seeking to end bloodshed in Syria. It is co-chaired by Moscow and Washington. Other members are the European Union, the Arab League, China, Iran, Turkey, and the United Nations.

“So far there’s talk that the meeting may be held on May 17 in Vienna on the ministerial level,” the source told RIA Novosti.

He said Syrian peace talks would most likely start after the ministerial level meeting.

The Swedish Embassy in Russia will not request that the Russian Foreign Ministry clarify minister Sergei Lavrov’s statement on possible military response should Sweden join NATO, ambassador Peter Ericson said Thursday.

Swedish Embassy Not Seeking Explanation of Lavrov's Statement Over NATO
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160505/1039125313/sweden-lavrov-nato.html

Last month, Lavrov said that Russia would respond in military-technical terms on its northern borders if Sweden were to join NATO.

"I think this case is closed," Ericson told RIA Novosti.

According to the diplomat, the embassy has a good relationship with the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"I think both sides know each other’s opinions," Ericson explained.

He added that the Swedish government was content with cooperating with the bloc without being its member.

Sweden officially declares the country is neutral and non-aligned. Despite it being a part of the bloc, the country does sometimes contributes to various NATO operations. In 2011, Sweden became the only country, neither a member of NATO nor the Arab League, to participate in the no-fly zone over Libya by sending there its air force upon NATO's request.

Finland and Sweden have to make a decision on joining NATO separately, Finland's President Sauli Niinisto said on Saturday.

Finland, Sweden Should Make Decision on Joining NATO Separately
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160501/1038902457/finland-sweden-nato-join.html

The Finnish government report released on Friday and prepared for the country's Prime Minister said that the joint accession of Finland and Sweden in the alliance is a better option for the country.

"It should be noted that we have no automatic bond in this matter: if one of the two countries decides to join the alliance, the latter must immediately do the same. On the contrary, the process now looks very difficult. And each country, of course, is responsible for their decision-making process on NATO," Niinisto told Yle media outlet.

A unique collection of diaries written by Russian children during WWII put together by journalists of the Russian weekly Argumenty i Fakty has been published in Moscow. Sputnik News Agency and Radio helped in the publication of the English-language version of Children of War.

War Through Eyes of a Child: Unique Book of Diaries Out in 200 Countries
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160505/1039112571/russia-children-diaries.html

A Russian-language version of Children of War came out in 2015, in the walkup to the 70th anniversary of the Allied Victory over Nazi Germany.

“We have already sent copies of Children of War to the UN, UNESCO and UNICEF, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the German Bundestag, the Library of Congress and leading media outlets in 200 countries around the world, that’s why it was so important for us to have an English translation,” the book’s editor Tatyana Kuznetsova told Sputnik.

The English translation of Children of War was done by Andrew Bromfield, Rose France and Anthony Hippisley.

On May 9 Russian ambassadors around the world will present a copy of this book to the heads of state of 200 countries.

Children of War is a collection of 35 diaries written by Soviet children in Nazi-besieged Leningrad, in Jewish ghettos and concentration camps, on Nazi-occupied territories and on the home front.

More than half of these diaries have never been published before. They are horrifying and honest testimonies of the terrible fate that befell millions of little citizens of the Soviet Union during the war.

“Some of these children just wanted to write about everything that was happening around them. Some started writing their diaries right on June 22, 1941. They realized that something very important was going on and they had to write it all down. Many of these diaries are really mature texts, an attempt to comprehend things, themselves,” Tatyana Kuznetsova said.

When asked whether there had been any feedback on the Russian-language version of the book, Tatyana said that they had some diaries sent in by museums and archives and some — by AiF readers.

“"Anyone who has a chance to read this book will be really shocked by what these children went through,” she added.

 

[Cosmos]

Although Russian officials have often said that Moscow is open for a dialogue with NATO and poses no threat to its members, the bloc's new Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, does not seem to be intent on mending the relations that have slid to their worst since the Cold War.

NATO's New Commander Gets Off on the Wrong Foot With Russia
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160505/1039112949/russia-nato-scaparrotti.html

Scaparrotti, handpicked by President Barack Obama to lead the North Atlantic Alliance, singled out Russia as the first of four threats to US and NATO security interests in his written testimony to the US Senate Armed Services Committee. The other three comprise terrorism, migrant and refugee flows, as well as "the collective threats to Israel."

The general also noted that dialogue and security cooperation with Moscow "should remain limited" until Russia supposedly adheres to international norms.

The US and some of its allies blame Russia for the Ukrainian civil war, although Moscow is not a party to the conflict and has instead played a major role in pushing forward the fragile peace process. Unsurprisingly, Scaparrotti is in favor of sending weapons to Kiev – a move that Russia and Germany have long said would only makes things worse.

During a ceremony at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Scaparrotti noted that, "We face a resurgent Russia and its aggressive behavior that challenges international norms." The general also mentioned that NATO needs to be ready to "fight tonight if deterrence fails."

Scaparrotti's rhetoric is no match for belligerent stance of NATO's former commander General Philip Breedlove, but his approach to Russia does not leave room for much optimism.

"By saying that NATO needs to be ready to 'fight tonight' against Russia, the alliance's supreme commander has exceeded his predecessor in generating military hysteria," Alexey Pushkov, chairman of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a tweet.

​The new NATO commander has inherited an alliance that is conducting more war-games, increasing their scale and scope, as well as deploying more military hardware to Eastern Europe and the Baltics. These activities are funded by the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI).

The ERI was launched in 2014 in response to Crimea's reunification with Russia. Its budget amounted to $1 billion after a year, dropped to $789 in 2016 and will soar to $3.4 billion in fiscal year 2017.

Although Moscow, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently reaffirmed, is willing to take part in any dialogue with NATO, these trends are of major concern to the country.

"NATO has been telling us that it has no intention of taking any measures that would be detrimental to Russia's security. However, if there are indeed no such intentions, but with NATO infrastructure sitting right at our doorstep, seems like we must then focus on what we see with our own eyes, rather than their intentions," Lavrov told the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.

It is too early to predict how NATO's relations with Russia will develop in the post-Breedlove era, but US Lieutenant General Guy Swan told Deutsche Welle that Moscow should not underestimate Scaparrotti, who most recently served as the US commander in South Korea.
[...]

So obviously another Psycho-puppet is up there now at NATO. Breedlove (or better: "Mister Strangelove") gone and replaced by Scaparrotti, what a great deal!

Meet the old boss, same as the new boss.

 

[angelburst29]

So obviously another Psycho-puppet is up there now at NATO. Breedlove (or better: "Mister Strangelove") gone and replaced by Scaparrotti, what a great deal!

Meet the old boss, same as the new boss.

'Resurgent Russia': New hardline NATO Europe commander raises hackles in Moscow
https://www.rt.com/news/341921-nato-europe-commander-warmongering/

NATO's new chief military commander in Europe, Curtis Scaparrotti, vowed to continue his predecessor's policy of opposing Russia.
In Moscow he is seen as an even bigger warmonger by some officials.

US Army General Scaparrotti assumed command of the NATO Allied Command Operations from Air Force General Philip M. Breedlove, who is retiring after a 39-year military career.

Speaking at a ceremony at NATO's HQ in Brussels, Scaparrotti praised his predecessor's vision and leadership for the alliance.

NATO is facing a "resurgent Russia striving to project itself as a world power," Scaparrotti said, as cited by the Pentagon. Other concerns for NATO are terrorism, as well as a refugee crisis "being driven by instability in North Africa and the Middle East," he said.

"To address these challenges, we must continue to maintain and enhance our levels of readiness and our agility in the spirit of being able to fight tonight if deterrence fails," he said.

During his NATO tenure, Breedlove was a vocal advocate of putting greater military pressure on Russia, which he called an “existential threat” for the West. At various points he called for reviving Cold War spy missions by U2 planes against Russia, suggested arming Ukraine, claiming that it was being invaded by Russian troops, and accused Moscow of “weaponizing” the inflow of refugees to Europe from the Middle East, among other controversial statements.

Breedlove's rhetoric was welcomed in countries like Poland, the Baltic States and Ukraine, where anti-Russian sentiment is popular in nationalist circles. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko even awarded the retiring NATO general the country's highest order that can be awarded to a foreigner.

But NATO military pronouncements reportedly stirred controversy among some European members of the alliance, including Germany, where the general's words were perceived as “dangerous propaganda” by some officials.

Scaparrotti's pledge to continue Breedlove's policies was received with contempt in Moscow.

“By stating that NATO should be 'able to fight tonight' with Russia the new chief commander of the alliance has surpassed his predecessor in warmongering,” said Aleksey Pushkov, the chair of the Russian parliamentary committee for foreign relations.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that “a resurgent Russia” posed military threat to no country and that the alliance should better seek points of mutual interest with Russia, like fighting terrorism.

“Russia certainly cannot ignore any action that can potentially threaten its national security. In this regard Russia will continue to defend its interests,” he added.

NATO is planning to deploy at least 4,000 additional troops on Russia's border, the Pentagon announced this week. Russia is responding by forming three new divisions in its west and south, each with some 10,000 troops.

CASTEAU, Belgium — NATO's new supreme allied commander, U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, said Wednesday the alliance should consider what weaponry it could provide so Ukraine can better combat a pro-Moscow insurgency.

Scaparrotti: NATO should consider what weapons to give Ukraine
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/scaparrotti-nato-should-consider-what-weapons-to-give-ukraine-1.407761

"I do believe that we should support the Ukrainians with what they need to successfully defend their territory and their sovereignty," Scaparrotti said.

The four-star general made the remarks to reporters about an hour after taking over as military leader responsible for the overall direction and conduct of global military operations at the 28-nation NATO alliance.

The command job, known in NATO jargon as the SACEUR, always goes to an American general or admiral, and was first filled by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1951.

Scaparrotti, 60, a West Point graduate and the former commander of U.S. and U.N. forces in Korea, succeeds U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, who was SACEUR for three years and oversaw sweeping changes at NATO designed to deal with a resurgent Russia and the threat of armed Islamic extremism in the Middle East and Africa.

The new NATO commander said he expected to have only "limited" communications with the top Russian brass until Moscow begins adhering again to international norms and laws. He said the Kremlin continues to be active militarily in eastern Ukraine —a charge from the West that Russians officials routinely and flatly deny— and that the U.S.-led NATO alliance should reconsider what sort of concrete assistance it can give Ukraine.

"Now, I'll take a look at that as the SACEUR, specifically because I need to assess what weapons are best, what capabilities they can use, what capabilities are complementary to their forces today," Scaparrotti said. "And I'll make the more refined decision here as I get into this job."

 

[angelburst29]

The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra is giving a concert on Thursday on the stage of Palmyra's world-famous amphitheater.

Pray for Palmyra: World-Famous Russian Orchestra Performs in Ancient City (Video)
http://sputniknews.com/art_living/20160505/1039131228/palmyra-gergiev-concert.html

Currently, Russian orchestra, conducted by the theater's Artistic and General Director Valery Gergiev, is holding a "Pray for Palmyra. Music Revives Ancient Ruins" concert on the stage of Palmyra's historic amphitheater.

According to Syrian Culture Minister Issam Khalil, the concert of the Russian world-renowned Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra in the Syrian city of Palmyra is dedicated to the upcoming Victory Day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday during an address with Syria's city of Palmyra, liberated from Daesh terrorists, that the concert of Russia's Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra in the historic city is a gratitude to everyone fighting against terrorism.

"Thank you for this wonderful humanitarian action — the concert in Palmyra, liberated from terrorists. I consider it as an expression of gratitude, memory and hope. The gratitude to everyone, who fights against terrorism without sparing their own lives. The memory of all the victims of terror regardless of the place and time when crimes against humanity have been committed," Putin told the artists, scientists and the citizens of Palmyra during his address.

He added that any success in anti-terror fight should be considered as a mutual victory, adding that it would contribute to the victory over terrorism.

The Syrian armed forces, backed by militias and the Russian Aerospace Forces, recaptured Palmyra from Daesh on March 27, nearly a year after terrorists had taken hold of the city and destroyed much of the UNESCO World Heritage Site's artifacts.

According to preliminary estimates, some 20 percent of ancient Palmyra was destroyed, while many exhibits were looted from museums. It could take around five years to restore the city.

Workers in Palmyra are restoring water and electricity supplies to the ancient city, famous for its magnificent Roman ruins, after the city was recaptured from Daesh terrorists less than two months ago.

Rising From the Dead: Palmyra a Month After Liberation (PHOTOS)
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160505/1039128869/syria-palmyra-revival.html

Daesh militants captured the city, also known as Tadmur, in May of last year. They destroyed some ancient sites and used others to stage mass executions.

A RIA Novosti correspondent visited Palmyra where several families are desperately trying to bring their war-scarred city back to life.

A month after liberation Palmyra remains a sorry sight with most of its buildings reduced to rubble, ransacked or burned down.

During their retreat the terrorists mined most of the city, planting thousands of mines on all of the main streets at a distance of 50 meters apart.

Russian army engineers, armed with state-of-the-art mine-defusing robotic devices, were airlifted in immediately after the city was liberated in late March.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

The Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra is giving a concert on Thursday on the stage of Palmyra's world-famous amphitheater.

Pray for Palmyra: World-Famous Russian Orchestra Performs in Ancient City (Video)
http://sputniknews.com/art_living/20160505/1039131228/palmyra-gergiev-concert.html

Putin says concert in Palmyra is sign of remembrance for victims of terror

http://tass.ru/en/society/874148

Russian President Vladimir Putin describes Thursday’s concert by Russian musicians in Palmyra as an act of remembrance for the victims of terror and a sign of hope for deliverance from terrorism

SOCHI, May 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described Thursday’s concert by Russian musicians in Palmyra as an act of remembrance for the victims of terror and a sign of hope for deliverance from international terrorism.

Putin was speaking in a TV linkup with the audience that gathered in Syria’s Palmyra for a concert by the Mariinsky Theater orchestra under Valery Gergiyev.

He thanked the organizers for this "amazing humanitarian event."

"I regard it as a sign of gratitude, remembrance and hope - of gratitude to all those who fight with terrorism without sparing even one’s own life; of remembrance for all victims of terror regardless of the place and time of crimes against humanity; and, of course, of hope not just for the revival of Palmyra as a cultural asset of the whole of humanity, but for the deliverance of modern civilization from this terrible ill, from international terrorism," Putin said.

He acknowledged that this symbolic act involved great inconveniences for the performing artists and great risks - "risks of staying in a war-ravaged country in close proximity to continuing hostilities."

"All this requires strenuous effort and great personal courage. Great thanks to all of you for this," Putin told the musicians.

He thanked Syrian government officials, conductor Valery Gergiyev, Mariinsky Theater musicians, UNESCO envoys, scientists and Palmyra residents for organizing this concert.

Russian sappers have demined 8,500 buildings in Syria’s Palmyra — official

http://tass.ru/en/defense/874133

Specialists from Russia’s international mine-clearing center have spent the past week training their Syrian counterparts to use Russian protective gear and instruments to search for explosive devices

PALMYRA (Syria), May 5. /TASS/. Russian sappers have cleared of mines and ammunition 8,500 buildings and facilities in the Syrian ancient city of Palmyra that was liberated from the Islamic State (IS) militants, chief of the engineer troops of the Russian Armed Forces Yuri Stavitsky told reporters on Thursday.

After mine clearing in the historic part of Palmyra the Russian sappers started demining of the city’s residential areas.

"In total, we have cleared of mines 825 hectares in the city, 8,500 buildings and facilities, found and defused about 18,000 explosive objects," Stavitsky said.

According to him, the Russian sappers have had to deal with new intricate mine planting methods used by the militants. "We have found radio-controlled IEDs, wire-controlled land mines, anti-disturbance fuse mines, as well as very many various mine traps," General Stavitsky said.

Russian sappers train Syrian counterparts to use Russian equipment

According to Stavitsky, specialists from Russia’s international mine-clearing center have spent the past week training their Syrian counterparts to use Russian protective gear and instruments to search for explosive devices.

"We instruct them in the use of Russian detectors of explosive items and protective gear, which have proven very effective," he said.

Russian specialists have been involved in mine-clearing in Palmyra since April 2. A whole unit of the Russian armed forces’ international mine-clearing center was airlifted to Syria for doing the job.

According to previous reports, the Russian experts have been involved in the Palmyra mine clearing operation since April 2. Stavitsky reported full demining of the city’s ancient historic part on April 21. He said then that an area of more than 230 hectares in the city was cleared of explosive devices.

Palmyra, an ancient city in Syria’s Homs province, was under the control of Islamic State militants since May 2015 and was liberated by the Syrian army on March 27, 2016, with support from the Russian air group and special operations forces. The city referred to as the "gem" of the Syrian Desert was one of the richest ancient civilization centers. The Silk Route ran through Palmyra located in an oasis some 240 kilometers of Damascus. Palmyra’s architectural museum complex has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

According to the Russian military, a total of 234 hectares were cleared in the city, the sappers found and defused some 3,000 mines. After that the Russian military started demining the city’s residential area where they have to clear of mines and ammunition 560 hectares.

Russian experts have been engaged in the operation to clear Palmyra of mines from April 2. For that, Russian military-transport planes airlifted a team of field engineers from the international anti-mine center of the Russian Armed Forces. Dogs and robots were used to speed up the work. The work had been complicated by a high density of planted ammunition and militants’ using powerful radio-controlled devices, many of them planted as antihandling fuses.

Also, the Russian team was training Syrian specialists. In order to supply the returning residents with water, water supply was organized. Also, a field hospital was functioning. The construction of a town for UNESCO restoration teams was completed. Russia also provides assistance to engineer units of the Syrian armed forces in demining the city of al-Qaryatain. Facilities of infrastructure are being restored in the town, and 98 families have returned to their homes.

In a televised linkup in late April, President Vladimir Putin thanked the Russian military working to clear Palmyra of mines. "Convey thanks to the personnel - officers, soldiers, supporting services. Thank you very much. I wish you success," the Russian president said.

Kremlin says truce in Syria’s Aleppo is very fragile

http://tass.ru/en/politics/874059

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has noted that the Russian side would like to hope for the better, as does the US side

MOSCOW, May 5. /TASS/. The observance of the truce regime in the Syrian city of Aleppo is very fragile due to the activity of terrorists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

The presidential spokesman thus commented on the introduction of the ceasefire regime in Aleppo.

"You always want to hope for the better: this is what is desired by the Russian side and, probably, by our American colleagues," the Kremlin spokesman said.

"At the same time, there are such complicated mixtures of terrorists and representatives of the opposition [in Aleppo] that, of course, the situation [with the truce regime observance] is potentially very fragile," Peskov said.

The regime of silence in Aleppo located 360 km (224 miles) from Damascus came into force from 01:00 a.m. local time on May 5.

As the command of the Syrian armed forces announced, fire must be fully stopped in Syria’s northern capital for 48 hours. Simultaneously, the truce regime was extended in Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus and in the north of Latakia province. Combat operations in these areas were halted on April 30 on the initiative of the Russian and the US sides after agreement with the Syrian authorities and the moderate opposition.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has said that the ceasefire in Aleppo will contribute to the resumption of inter-Syrian peace talks in Geneva.

White House Sees Reduction in Frequency, Intensity of Violence in Aleppo

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160505/1039147694/white-house-aleppo.html

The intensity of violence in the Syrian city of Aleppo has decreased amid the refreshed ceasefire deal, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a briefing on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The partial ceasefire in Syria that was brokered by Russia and the United States in February was extended on Wednesday to the embattled northern city of Aleppo, where both government and militant forces have been shelling each other's positions.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, most parts of the Aleppo region are controlled by Syrian troops, but the situation remains difficult.

"Since then [renewed ceasefire] we have seen a reduction in the frequency and intensity of violence in that area of the country," Earnest stated. "We do continue to be concerned about some violations even in that area that continue."

The US wants to renew the cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria in the areas where it is beginning to fray, Josh Earnest said.

"We certainly are interested in continuing to refresh this cessation of hostilities in those areas where it started to fray," Earnest stated.

 

[goyacobol]

Israel to upgrade ties with NATO

Israel to upgrade ties with NATO
AFP
May 4, 2016
Israel already participates in military exercises with NATO members
View photos
Israel already participates in military exercises with NATO members (AFP Photo/Gil Cohen Magen)

Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel would upgrade its ties with the 28-member NATO military alliance by opening a permanent mission to its Brussels headquarters.

"Israel will accept the invitation and open an office, in the near future," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting.

"The countries of the world want to cooperate with us because of our determined fight against terror, our technicological know-how, our intelligence network and other things," his office quoted him as saying.

NATO announced on Tuesday that it agreed that "an official Israeli mission be established at NATO headquarters" with the Israel's EU envoy as head of the mission.

An Israeli expert told AFP that the move was a result of pressure from other NATO members on Turkey, which joined in 1952, to drop its veto on closer alliance ties with its former ally.

"It's a Turkish confidence-building measure vis-a-vis Israel," said Tommy Steiner, an expert on NATO-Israel ties at the Institute for Policy and Strategy near Tel Aviv.

"Since the introduction of the new (NATO) partnership policy in 2014 Israel was formally invited," he said. "But Israel never did that because there was a Turkish veto on such a measure."

Turkey was a key regional ally of Israel until the two cut ties in 2010 over the deadly storming by Israeli commandos of the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza, which left 10 Turkish activists dead.

After years of bitter accusations and rhetoric the two sides held secret talks in December on a rapprochement, with another round taking place in February in Geneva.

"Following the Mavi Marmara affair, Turkey blocked everything (at NATO) concerning Israel," a Brussels-based diplomat told AFP. "In order to avoid discrimination (NATO) did not therefore open any other foreign mission."

"After five years the Turks lifted their objections" allowing for the establishment of missions for Israel and for other states, the diplomat said.

Steiner said that the geographically and politically diverse NATO grouping would not invite Israel into a full-fledged mutual-defence pact.

"Israel is not going to be a full member, it's not on the cards," he said. "Israel will be officially accredited to NATO, it will have a permanent mission at NATO headquarters as a partner."

Israel already participates in military exercises with NATO members other than Turkey, notably the United States.
Comment Guidelines

Makes one wonder what goes on in those little "secret talks". Even though UN, EU, US and Germany reject Israel's "occupation" (or eventual annexation) of the Golan Heights, Israel is upgrading it's ties with NATO? Hum..get closer to NATO and Turkey...

And in 2013 UN rejects Russian offer to send peacekeepers to Golan Heights which is a kind of interesting thought.

1,572 Replies
89,549 Views

 

[JEEP]

Jeep,

Thanks for the link too. It has some interesting parallels as you have said you can "see".
Good find! ;)

Yes, I think I generally had a negative opinion of Napoleon just as I did of Julius Caesar before I knew the facts. That Napoleon was also a military genius stood out along with his efforts to bring peace and harmony to France along w/ religious freedom & tolerance. His understanding of the power of the Big Bankers along w/ his attempts to get Jews to assimilate into French culture undoubtedly put a target on his back:

"It is necessary to reduce, if not destroy, the tendency of Jewish people to practice a very great number of activities that are harmful to civilization and to public order in society in all the countries of the world. It is necessary to stop the harm by preventing it; to prevent it, it is necessary to change the Jews. ... Once part of their youth will take its place in our armies, they will cease to have Jewish interests and sentiments; their interests and sentiments will be French."

It seems clear that he embraced Christian principles and did his best to make them more than empty words. He was of average height for his time and did not have a complex about being short; nor did he crown himself Emperor - most likely lies generated to discredit him as is the MO of the NWO. Same tactic, but of a pornographic nature, was used to bring intense scorn upon Marie Antionette.

What is history, but fables agreed upon? - Napoleon Bonaparte

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[angelburst29]

A patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet set off for a journey to the Mediterranean Sea to enlarge the group of the Russian Navy in the region, representative of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation.

Russia strengthens permanent naval presence in Mediterranean Sea (Video)
http://www.pravdareport.com/news/world/europe/05-05-2016/134337-russia_mediterranean-0/

The ship, called Ladny, departed from the port of Sevastopol to join the permanent group of Russian vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, the official added. Currently, the permanent group of Russian vessels in the Mediterranean Sea consists of more than a dozen warships and support vessels of the Pacific, Black Sea and Northern fleets.

Earlier, it was reported that the ship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Smetlivy, was sent to the Mediterranean Sea. The Smetlivy is the oldest warship and the last "singing frigate" (large anti-submarine ship of Project 61) in the structure of the Russian Navy.

The ship is equipped with missiles, mines and torpedoes, anti-submarine, avionics, radar and anti-aircraft weapons.At the beginning of 2016, missile cruiser the Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, was sent to the Mediterranean Sea to perform combat missions in the region.

The inifghting is ongoing between the militants groups in East Ghouta near Damascus amid the Syrian government forces’ gains in the area. The situation is tense betwen Jaish al-Islam and Failaq ar-Rahman.

Syria: Militants Infighting in East Ghouta, Damascus (Map)
https://southfront.org/syria-militants-infighting-in-east-ghouta-damascus/

A video released shows a huge tunnel bombing which targeted the Northern building blocks of the al-Zahra district in Aleppo

Aerial Footage of Massive Tunnel Explosion before Militants' Attack Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/player.aspx?nn=13950216000372

The Syrian army sent a large number of reinforcement forces to the strategic al-Sha'er Gas Field in the Northeastern part of Homs province on Thursday.

Syrian Army Sends Reinforcements to Key Gas Field in Homs Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950216000288

The army's Desert Hawks units are slated to drive out the ISIL terrorists from Al-Sha'er gas field.

The ISIL captured several wells of Al-Sha'er gas field in tough battle with the Syrian army.

Since losing the Al-Sha’er gas fields, the Syrian army's Tiger Forces and their allies regained all of the hills surrounding the gas field, including large hilltop of Tal SyriaTel.

In addition to capturing the hills, the Syrian Armed Forces have liberated Well 102 from the ISIL terrorists after launching a counter-offensive on Wednesday night.

In a relevant development on Monday, the Syrian army backed by air force pushed back an ISIL attack on its military positions in the Eastern part of Homs province, killing over a dozen Takfiri terrorists.

At least 16 ISIL terrorists were killed in tough battle with the Syrian government troops in Jabal al-Shaer region in Eastern Homs.

The ISIL's military hardware was also razed down by the Syrian government troops in the clashes.

Earlier on Monday, military sources announced that at least 175 members of the ISIL were killed and many more were wounded in the Syrian Army troops' large-scale offensives in an oil-rich region in the Eastern part of Homs province.

"The Syrian Army and popular forces continued to advance against the ISIL terrorists near the al-Hail oilfield along Palmyra-Deir Ezzur highway, which ended in the killing of at least 175 militants and destruction of their military hardware in large scale," the sources said.

"The terrorists fleeing the battlefield of Eastern Homs to find safer shelters in Albu Kamal and then in Iraqi territories," the sources added.

More than 50 armed opposition groups, numbering approximately 7,000 individuals, in Syria have joined the cessation of hostilities agreement over the last two months, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

7,000 Militants Put down Arms in Syria, Joining Ceasefire
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"Joining to the ongoing ceasefire in Syria by more armed groups has an important role in stabilizing the situation in Syria, as it is a catalyzer in the negotiations in Geneva," General Igor Konashenkov told journalists, Sputnik reported.

"These are not the final numbers since thanks to the hard and dangerous work by the representatives of the Syrian authorities the process of reconciliation is gaining momentum," the Russian general said.

Residents and local authorities in the Northern Syrian town of Hasaka rallied on Wednesday to protest against the illegal presence of 150 US troops in the Kurdish-controlled town of Rmeilan.

Syrians Protest against US Forces Deployment
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“We are categorically against the impermissible and flagrant violation of our country’s sovereignty. We will not allow American boots on our soil. We are also against any plans for a division or federalization of Syria,” Al-Hasaka Governor Mohammad Zaal said during the rally in Hasaka, the state news agency reported.

A similar rally had earlier been held in the neighboring town of Qamishli.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has called the reported deployment of 150 US troops to Rmeilan airport in the Northeast of the country as “an unacceptable and illegal intervention” which came without authorization from the Syrian government.

“This intervention is rejected and illegitimate as it has happened without the Syrian government’s approval,” the ministry said, reiterating that this move transgresses against the international laws and conventions as it amounts to a “direct attack” that violates the Syrian territory.