D
Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?
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angelburst29
The Living Force
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he has “no special expectations” for the upcoming round of multilateral talks on the future of Syria, stating that Moscow has not yet witnessed reciprocal steps from its Western partners.
No special expectations from new Syria meeting: Lavrov
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/14/489030/Russia-Sergei-Lavrov-expectation-Syria-meeting-Lausanne
Addressing reporters in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday, Lavrov said Russia has no intention to introduce fresh initiatives during the meeting in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Saturday, which will see US Secretary of State John Kerry as well as foreign ministers from Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and possibly Iran in attendance, to reach a Syria settlement.
“We want to get down to concrete work and see how well our partners observe the UN Security Council resolution (on Syria). We are not going to propose anything else,” the top Russian diplomat pointed out.
Johnson: West considering new military options for Syria
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/13/488904/UK-Boris-Johnson-Syria-Assad-Daesh
Johnson made the comments as he discussed the current situation in Syria with the foreign affairs select committee at the British House of Commons on Wednesday.
The secretary told the lawmakers that US, French and German foreign ministers would gather in London on Sunday to discuss Syria’s military operations in Aleppo province.
“Most people I think are changing their minds on this and are thinking we cannot let this go on forever. We cannot just see Aleppo pulverized in this way, we have to do something. The mood of the House of Commons has changed from 2013. Whether that means we can get a coalition for a more kinetic action now I cannot prophesy. But what most people want to see now is a new set of options,” Johnson said.
“It is vital we consider them and we will do that now,” he added.
Backed by Russian air support, Syrian government forces launched an assault on Aleppo last month to capture militant-held parts of the city, days after a US- and Russian-brokered truce collapsed on September 19.
Syria’s victories in Aleppo have prompted concerns among Western governments who actively seek to remove Assad from power by backing what they call “moderate rebels.”
Johnson said in his remarks on Wednesday that the foreign-backed militants should not get their “hopes up too high.”
[...] The UK is part of a US-led coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes against alleged Daesh positions in Syria and Iraq since 2014, without a UN mandate or permission from Damascus.
The airstrikes have on many occasions targeted civilians and government forces, raising suspicions about the West’s true objectives.
Tory MP calls for shooting down of Russian jets over Syria
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/12/488785/UK-attack-Russia-Syria-Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s former international development secretary, told BBC that if shooting down Russian jets ends the conflict in Syria, then that is what Britain and its allies should focus on.
“What we are saying is very clear. No one wants to see a firefight with Russia, no one wants to shoot down a Russian plane,” Mitchell said. “But what we do say is that the international community has an avowed responsibility to protect and that protection must be exerted.
“If that means confronting Russian air power defensively, on behalf of the innocent people on the ground who we are trying to protect, then we should do that,” the top Tory MP noted.
Mitchell said attacking Russian jets would not amount to a “declaration of war against Russia” and was rather a sign that Britain will stand against Moscow’s “war crimes.”
The lawmaker said Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet over Syria last year served as a good example that firing a warning shot at the Russians would not provoke a war.
He admitted that London cannot introduce a no-flying zone on its own and should seek assistant from its allies such as the US and other NATO members.
Mitchell’s anti-Russian remarks echoed those of UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who on Tuesday said he would “like to see” demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in London because of its air campaign in Syria.
The call for protests elicited a strong response from the Kremlin, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denouncing it as “shameful.”
Russia, Syria Agreement on Russian Indefinite Aerial Operation in Syria Signed into Law
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000629
Media service of the Kremlin as saying that with President Putin’s signature, the ratification of the agreement has been completed, TASS reported.
The agreement, which was signed in Damascus on August 26, 2015, stipulates that the Russian air force group will be deployed at the request of the Syrian side at the Hmeimim air base in Lattakia province to take part in the fight against terrorism.
The law was passed by Russia’s State Duma on October 7, 2016, and approved by the Federation Council on October 12, 2016.
Terrorist Leader Dies in Idlib as FSA Butchers Own Commander
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000734
According to local sources, Colonel Zaidan Nesairat of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was tortured to death by another FSA faction, apparently as he was accused by FSA fellow militants of trying to negotiate with the Syrian government for reconciliation in Dara'a, Al Masdar reported.
Also, the group called 'Liwa Shuhada al Islam' confirmed in a statement that the group leader, nom the guerre Abu Jafar Al Hindi has been declared dead.
Although the statement has not specifically said how he died but reports suggest he drowned in a river near Darkoush, in terrorist held Idlib province.
The group mostly operated out of Darayya near Damascus, according to Islam14 news outlet, before being evacuated to Idlib in September as part of a government deal.
Meanwhile, Col. Nesairat who was killed by his FSA comrades, had been negotiating in Izraa for a reconciliation deal for Ibtaa after the Syrian Army had liberated Sheikh Miskeen a year ago.
The family of Col. Nesairat and other militant factions have accused the leader of Sand Al Horan Battalion faction of the FSA, Ahmad al Owdah, of the murder and have made calls for his arrest.
Shabab Al Sunna Division refused to hand his body back and buried him in unknown place, which will surely cause another internal civil war amongst the militants.
Expert: Western Media Keep Silent as Militants Killing Children in Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000588
"I’ve read and watched news reports, and there was nothing about the shelling attack against civilians and children in Aleppo," said president of the New York Consulting Bureau, Nikolai Pakhomov, Sputnik reported.
Despite the scope of the incident, Western media has almost ignored it, and the silence was in spite of journalists' access to the area and hospitals with wounded children.
"The reason is that American media translates those views of domestic and foreign affairs that correspond with the policy of the US establishment. Its official position is that Syrian President Bashar Assad is to blame for the situation in Syria, and Russia is helping him. The recent shelling of Aleppo contradicts this approach, so the situation has been ignored in media," he pointed out.
[...] On Thursday, at 8:00 a.m. local time, children in Aleppo were going to school. Right at this time, militants shelled the Christian district of Suleiman with mortars. Several shells exploded near the school’s entrance, killing seven children. Ten children were injured as a result of the shelling. They were hospitalized with wounds of varying severity a representative of Al Razi hospital said.
Almost every day, militants blocked in Eastern Aleppo shell the Western part of the city and front-line areas. Shelling usually intensifies when the Syrian Army carries out offensive operations.
Several families were among the casualties of the shelling. One girl was killed during the shelling and her brother was severely wounded and hospitalized. Doctors are continuing to save his life.
"The shell exploded very close to him. The boy sustained shrapnel wounds and severe brain damage. There are shell fragments in his head. Chances are small, but his heart is still beating and we will fight for his life," Doctor Dzhan Fattouh told RIA Novosti.
According to Syrian doctors, since the beginning of September, a total of over 130 children have been killed in shelling of residential areas. All of them died from shrapnel or gunshot injuries.
Militants shells the Western part of Aleppo with mortars and "hellfire" guns, leaving dozens killed and hundreds wounded every day, Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, Chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate, told reporters.
ISIL's Explosion Kills 33 Rival Militants, Civilians in Northern Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000408
At least 33 people, including rival FSA militants and several civilians, were killed after the ISIL exploded a bomb-laden vehicle at the entrance of Azaz city.
Several terrorists of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Noureddin al-Zanki and Jabhat al-Shamiya terrorist groups were killed when the ISIL's bomb-laden vehicles was exploded.
Terrorist Commander Gunned Down by Unknown Gunmen in Dara'a Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000319
Emad Akrad, nom de guerre Abu Esmayeel, was gunned down by two armed men riding on a motorcycle in the town of Tal Shahab in Dara'a province on Friday.
Akrad was a former commander of the Syrian army who had defected and joined the Free Syrian Army.
Lattakia: Syrian Customs Confiscate Terrorists' Vehicle Packed with RPG, Ammunition
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000256
A vehicle full of different types of rocket-propelled grenades and explosives was seized by the custom officers along a road from Lattakia to Hama province.
The customs department and the army declined to provide any further details.
Terrorists in Syria's Aleppo ‘Forcefully’ Enroll Teens
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000430
During a press briefing, the chief of the main operations department of Russia’s General Staff, Sergey Rudskoy, said that terrorists in the war-ravaged city have started a new wave of mobilization, which includes teenagers, RT reported.
“The leaders of militant groups continue to hide behind inexperienced fighters launching a new wave of mobilization in Eastern Aleppo and enroll teenagers at the age of 14 years,” Rudskoy said.
He added that fighters from the UN-designated terrorist group Fatah al-Sham Front (formerly known as al-Nusra Front) forcefully enrolled around 1,000 people. The youngsters are being used to try and break the blockade of Eastern Aleppo, staged by Syrian government forces, according to the official.
"The terrorists tried to break up the blockade seeking cover behind those inexperienced fighters. The youngsters mobilized against their will refuse to complete their tasks and desert en-masse, having become subject to reprisals. These actions have caused protests from parents and relatives of the enrolled teenagers."
No special expectations from new Syria meeting: Lavrov
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/14/489030/Russia-Sergei-Lavrov-expectation-Syria-meeting-Lausanne
Addressing reporters in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Friday, Lavrov said Russia has no intention to introduce fresh initiatives during the meeting in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Saturday, which will see US Secretary of State John Kerry as well as foreign ministers from Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and possibly Iran in attendance, to reach a Syria settlement.
“We want to get down to concrete work and see how well our partners observe the UN Security Council resolution (on Syria). We are not going to propose anything else,” the top Russian diplomat pointed out.
Johnson: West considering new military options for Syria
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/13/488904/UK-Boris-Johnson-Syria-Assad-Daesh
Johnson made the comments as he discussed the current situation in Syria with the foreign affairs select committee at the British House of Commons on Wednesday.
The secretary told the lawmakers that US, French and German foreign ministers would gather in London on Sunday to discuss Syria’s military operations in Aleppo province.
“Most people I think are changing their minds on this and are thinking we cannot let this go on forever. We cannot just see Aleppo pulverized in this way, we have to do something. The mood of the House of Commons has changed from 2013. Whether that means we can get a coalition for a more kinetic action now I cannot prophesy. But what most people want to see now is a new set of options,” Johnson said.
“It is vital we consider them and we will do that now,” he added.
Backed by Russian air support, Syrian government forces launched an assault on Aleppo last month to capture militant-held parts of the city, days after a US- and Russian-brokered truce collapsed on September 19.
Syria’s victories in Aleppo have prompted concerns among Western governments who actively seek to remove Assad from power by backing what they call “moderate rebels.”
Johnson said in his remarks on Wednesday that the foreign-backed militants should not get their “hopes up too high.”
[...] The UK is part of a US-led coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes against alleged Daesh positions in Syria and Iraq since 2014, without a UN mandate or permission from Damascus.
The airstrikes have on many occasions targeted civilians and government forces, raising suspicions about the West’s true objectives.
Tory MP calls for shooting down of Russian jets over Syria
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/12/488785/UK-attack-Russia-Syria-Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s former international development secretary, told BBC that if shooting down Russian jets ends the conflict in Syria, then that is what Britain and its allies should focus on.
“What we are saying is very clear. No one wants to see a firefight with Russia, no one wants to shoot down a Russian plane,” Mitchell said. “But what we do say is that the international community has an avowed responsibility to protect and that protection must be exerted.
“If that means confronting Russian air power defensively, on behalf of the innocent people on the ground who we are trying to protect, then we should do that,” the top Tory MP noted.
Mitchell said attacking Russian jets would not amount to a “declaration of war against Russia” and was rather a sign that Britain will stand against Moscow’s “war crimes.”
The lawmaker said Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet over Syria last year served as a good example that firing a warning shot at the Russians would not provoke a war.
He admitted that London cannot introduce a no-flying zone on its own and should seek assistant from its allies such as the US and other NATO members.
Mitchell’s anti-Russian remarks echoed those of UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who on Tuesday said he would “like to see” demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in London because of its air campaign in Syria.
The call for protests elicited a strong response from the Kremlin, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denouncing it as “shameful.”
Russia, Syria Agreement on Russian Indefinite Aerial Operation in Syria Signed into Law
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000629
Media service of the Kremlin as saying that with President Putin’s signature, the ratification of the agreement has been completed, TASS reported.
The agreement, which was signed in Damascus on August 26, 2015, stipulates that the Russian air force group will be deployed at the request of the Syrian side at the Hmeimim air base in Lattakia province to take part in the fight against terrorism.
The law was passed by Russia’s State Duma on October 7, 2016, and approved by the Federation Council on October 12, 2016.
Terrorist Leader Dies in Idlib as FSA Butchers Own Commander
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000734
According to local sources, Colonel Zaidan Nesairat of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was tortured to death by another FSA faction, apparently as he was accused by FSA fellow militants of trying to negotiate with the Syrian government for reconciliation in Dara'a, Al Masdar reported.
Also, the group called 'Liwa Shuhada al Islam' confirmed in a statement that the group leader, nom the guerre Abu Jafar Al Hindi has been declared dead.
Although the statement has not specifically said how he died but reports suggest he drowned in a river near Darkoush, in terrorist held Idlib province.
The group mostly operated out of Darayya near Damascus, according to Islam14 news outlet, before being evacuated to Idlib in September as part of a government deal.
Meanwhile, Col. Nesairat who was killed by his FSA comrades, had been negotiating in Izraa for a reconciliation deal for Ibtaa after the Syrian Army had liberated Sheikh Miskeen a year ago.
The family of Col. Nesairat and other militant factions have accused the leader of Sand Al Horan Battalion faction of the FSA, Ahmad al Owdah, of the murder and have made calls for his arrest.
Shabab Al Sunna Division refused to hand his body back and buried him in unknown place, which will surely cause another internal civil war amongst the militants.
Expert: Western Media Keep Silent as Militants Killing Children in Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000588
"I’ve read and watched news reports, and there was nothing about the shelling attack against civilians and children in Aleppo," said president of the New York Consulting Bureau, Nikolai Pakhomov, Sputnik reported.
Despite the scope of the incident, Western media has almost ignored it, and the silence was in spite of journalists' access to the area and hospitals with wounded children.
"The reason is that American media translates those views of domestic and foreign affairs that correspond with the policy of the US establishment. Its official position is that Syrian President Bashar Assad is to blame for the situation in Syria, and Russia is helping him. The recent shelling of Aleppo contradicts this approach, so the situation has been ignored in media," he pointed out.
[...] On Thursday, at 8:00 a.m. local time, children in Aleppo were going to school. Right at this time, militants shelled the Christian district of Suleiman with mortars. Several shells exploded near the school’s entrance, killing seven children. Ten children were injured as a result of the shelling. They were hospitalized with wounds of varying severity a representative of Al Razi hospital said.
Almost every day, militants blocked in Eastern Aleppo shell the Western part of the city and front-line areas. Shelling usually intensifies when the Syrian Army carries out offensive operations.
Several families were among the casualties of the shelling. One girl was killed during the shelling and her brother was severely wounded and hospitalized. Doctors are continuing to save his life.
"The shell exploded very close to him. The boy sustained shrapnel wounds and severe brain damage. There are shell fragments in his head. Chances are small, but his heart is still beating and we will fight for his life," Doctor Dzhan Fattouh told RIA Novosti.
According to Syrian doctors, since the beginning of September, a total of over 130 children have been killed in shelling of residential areas. All of them died from shrapnel or gunshot injuries.
Militants shells the Western part of Aleppo with mortars and "hellfire" guns, leaving dozens killed and hundreds wounded every day, Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, Chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate, told reporters.
ISIL's Explosion Kills 33 Rival Militants, Civilians in Northern Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000408
At least 33 people, including rival FSA militants and several civilians, were killed after the ISIL exploded a bomb-laden vehicle at the entrance of Azaz city.
Several terrorists of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Noureddin al-Zanki and Jabhat al-Shamiya terrorist groups were killed when the ISIL's bomb-laden vehicles was exploded.
Terrorist Commander Gunned Down by Unknown Gunmen in Dara'a Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000319
Emad Akrad, nom de guerre Abu Esmayeel, was gunned down by two armed men riding on a motorcycle in the town of Tal Shahab in Dara'a province on Friday.
Akrad was a former commander of the Syrian army who had defected and joined the Free Syrian Army.
Lattakia: Syrian Customs Confiscate Terrorists' Vehicle Packed with RPG, Ammunition
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000256
A vehicle full of different types of rocket-propelled grenades and explosives was seized by the custom officers along a road from Lattakia to Hama province.
The customs department and the army declined to provide any further details.
Terrorists in Syria's Aleppo ‘Forcefully’ Enroll Teens
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950723000430
During a press briefing, the chief of the main operations department of Russia’s General Staff, Sergey Rudskoy, said that terrorists in the war-ravaged city have started a new wave of mobilization, which includes teenagers, RT reported.
“The leaders of militant groups continue to hide behind inexperienced fighters launching a new wave of mobilization in Eastern Aleppo and enroll teenagers at the age of 14 years,” Rudskoy said.
He added that fighters from the UN-designated terrorist group Fatah al-Sham Front (formerly known as al-Nusra Front) forcefully enrolled around 1,000 people. The youngsters are being used to try and break the blockade of Eastern Aleppo, staged by Syrian government forces, according to the official.
"The terrorists tried to break up the blockade seeking cover behind those inexperienced fighters. The youngsters mobilized against their will refuse to complete their tasks and desert en-masse, having become subject to reprisals. These actions have caused protests from parents and relatives of the enrolled teenagers."
angelburst29
The Living Force
Jim Prentice, former premier of Canada’s province of Alberta, has been confirmed as one of the four individuals that died in an airplane crash near the city of Calgary, Canadian media reported on Friday.
Ex-Premier of Canada’s Alberta Jim Prentice Among Four Killed in Plane Crash
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610151046351736-canada-plane-crash/
According to the report, all passengers of the aircraft died in the crash.
"Sources close to the Prentice family confirm that he was among four people on board the Cessna Citation jet that crashed shortly after take-off Thursday from Kelowna airport," the Toronto Star wrote. The authorities identified another victim as being the father-in-law of one of Prentice’s daughters. Prentice served as the 16th Premier of Alberta from 2014 to 2015.
Israeli Contractor Charged With Defrauding US Foreign Military Aid Program
https://sputniknews.com/us/201610141046347127-israel-defrauding-program-us/
According to the indictment, Marshak falsified documents to make it appear that certain FMF contracts were competitively bid, that no non-US content was used in the contracts and that no commissions were paid.
"Yuval Marshak, a former owner and executive of an Israel-based defense contractor, carried out three separate schemes between 2009 and 2013 to defraud the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and used a company in the United States to launder some of the proceeds of his fraud," the release stated.
Marshak had arranged to receive commissions, which he funneled through a Connecticut-based company owned by a relative, the Justice Department said. Two US companies have already settled charges with the Justice Department in connection with the FMF contracts, the release added.
Earlier this year, the New Jersey-based defense contractor Octal Group agreed to pay $460,000 in fines and restitution for covering up an agreement with Marshak.
A second company, Hale Products, Inc. paid more than $60,000 and agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department investigation.
In addition to fines, Marshak faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for wire and mail fraud charges, ten years for major fraud against the US government and 20 years for international money laundering.
Ex-Premier of Canada’s Alberta Jim Prentice Among Four Killed in Plane Crash
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610151046351736-canada-plane-crash/
According to the report, all passengers of the aircraft died in the crash.
"Sources close to the Prentice family confirm that he was among four people on board the Cessna Citation jet that crashed shortly after take-off Thursday from Kelowna airport," the Toronto Star wrote. The authorities identified another victim as being the father-in-law of one of Prentice’s daughters. Prentice served as the 16th Premier of Alberta from 2014 to 2015.
Israeli Contractor Charged With Defrauding US Foreign Military Aid Program
https://sputniknews.com/us/201610141046347127-israel-defrauding-program-us/
According to the indictment, Marshak falsified documents to make it appear that certain FMF contracts were competitively bid, that no non-US content was used in the contracts and that no commissions were paid.
"Yuval Marshak, a former owner and executive of an Israel-based defense contractor, carried out three separate schemes between 2009 and 2013 to defraud the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and used a company in the United States to launder some of the proceeds of his fraud," the release stated.
Marshak had arranged to receive commissions, which he funneled through a Connecticut-based company owned by a relative, the Justice Department said. Two US companies have already settled charges with the Justice Department in connection with the FMF contracts, the release added.
Earlier this year, the New Jersey-based defense contractor Octal Group agreed to pay $460,000 in fines and restitution for covering up an agreement with Marshak.
A second company, Hale Products, Inc. paid more than $60,000 and agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department investigation.
In addition to fines, Marshak faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for wire and mail fraud charges, ten years for major fraud against the US government and 20 years for international money laundering.
lux said:
The Duran had a good analysis of the whole situation, saying that Russia called the US bluff and Obama and co. backed down in what was essentially a replay of Cuba Missile. What is more interesting is that it's getting nearly zero airtime in the West. Even the state media in the Soviet Union was more open about Cuba than the West is being about the near start of WW3. DCM bless Russia for heading things off once again.
Western presstitutes hide fact that U.S. backed down in Syria after Russian warning
sToRmR1dR said:
Lavrov, Kerry Holding Bilateral Meeting on Sidelines of Syria Talks in Lausanne
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610151046364920-lavrov-kerry-bilateral-meeting/
Second Chance: Russia, US to Give Syria Peace Another Try
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610131046303820-russia-us-talks/
Deployment of Italian Troops to NATO Mission in Latvia 'Alarming' - Lawmaker
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201610151046368862-latvia-nato-italian-troops/
Russia’s aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov sets off on long voyage to Mediterranean Sea
http://tass.com/defense/906685?_ga=1.209369746.1857272677.1476511993
US' Plan B to 'Transform Syria Into Transit Route for the Spread of Chaos'
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610151046371808-us-planb-syria-chaos/
US Army Deploys 300 Troops in Northern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950724001105
Syria: Terrorist Groups Receive Large Supplies of Portable Anti-Aircraft Missiles in Dara'a
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950724001203
Syria: ISIL Arrests Hundreds of Militants in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950724000990
Syrian Gov't Forces Cut off Terrorists' Supply Road in Eastern Outskirts of Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950724000751
angelburst29
The Living Force
UN staff arrived in Syria's Aleppo on Saturday to carry out militants' evacuation from the eastern part of the city, a source on the ground told Sputnik.
UN Staff Arrive in Aleppo to Begin de Mistura Proposed Militants' Evacuation
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610151046365764-un-aleppo-mistura-arrival/
On October 6, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura offered to accompany Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra) militants if they decided to leave Aleppo with arms and to head for the city of Idlib or somewhere else. Russia supported this offer.
The source said that the UN employees had arrived to Bustan Qasr district where the buses to take the militants away were already waiting.
The evacuation may begin later in the day, however, the total number of evacuees remains unknown.
Fighting in Aleppo has recently escalated with the Syrian army and local militia forces having managed to encircle large groups of militants in the eastern districts of Aleppo. Government troops began to advance after the September 12 ceasefire collapsed.
International Ministerial Syrian Settlement Talks in Swiss Lausanne Ended
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610151046373959-lausanne-talks-ended/
The foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Jordan — all the participants of the talks — have left the meeting.
The meeting was held behind the closed doors, no press conference will take place afterwards.
Turkish FM Says No Ceasefire Agreement Reached at Lausanne Meeting on Syria
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610151046374894-cavusoglu-lausanne-syria-meeting/
Ministerial meeting on Syria in Lausanne, Switzerland has not resulted in a ceasefire agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday.
"We have informally exchanged views on the situation in Syria, although [we] have not reached any specific ceasefire agreement. But it was not supposed [to happen]," Cavusoglu said in an interview with the TRT Haber broadcaster.
He also noted that there were divided views among the meeting participants with respect to what should be done first — to achieve ceasefire or to separate terrorist groups from moderate opposition.
"Everyone, including the Turkish side, shared their views and proposals on how to achieve the truce and to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo. First of all one needs to achieve a ceasefire but the fight against the Daesh (outlawed in Russia) terrorist group must be continued," the minister said.
Direct Intervention in Syria 'May Not Serve America's National Interests'
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610151046373674-syria-us-intervention-national-interests/
The next US administration should determine what America's interests in the Syrian civil war are, Antoun Issa, a US-based Lebanese-Australian journalist, notes.
"The calls for US military action against Syrian government forces have become more vociferous in recent weeks… The question advocates of US military action need to ask and answer is: how is it in America's national interest to go to war against the Syrian government, and risk direct confrontation with a great power such as Russia?" Issa points out in his recent article for The National Interest.
Meanwhile, it still remains unclear what exactly the US interests in the Syrian conflict are, he remarks.
Issa notes that the Syrian war does not pose a threat to the US, nor does it take place in a country "of great strategic value" to Washington. However, the spread of terrorism in the region remains Washington's primary concern. On the other hand, according to Issa, Russia's Syrian operation has posed "a direct challenge to America's leadership in managing global security and maintaining a monopoly on the use of force" for the first time since the end of the Cold War.
"Should the United States allow Russia to dictate the outcome of the Syrian conflict, and expose American weakness, it could encourage a repeat in behavior elsewhere," Issa underscores, adding that "in terms of global security and great power relations, Syria should absolutely matter to Washington."
"But neither of these interests-confronting terrorism or containing Russia-necessarily equates to greater US military involvement, or war with the Assad regime," the journalist highlights. (Article continues.)
UN Staff Arrive in Aleppo to Begin de Mistura Proposed Militants' Evacuation
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610151046365764-un-aleppo-mistura-arrival/
On October 6, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura offered to accompany Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra) militants if they decided to leave Aleppo with arms and to head for the city of Idlib or somewhere else. Russia supported this offer.
The source said that the UN employees had arrived to Bustan Qasr district where the buses to take the militants away were already waiting.
The evacuation may begin later in the day, however, the total number of evacuees remains unknown.
Fighting in Aleppo has recently escalated with the Syrian army and local militia forces having managed to encircle large groups of militants in the eastern districts of Aleppo. Government troops began to advance after the September 12 ceasefire collapsed.
International Ministerial Syrian Settlement Talks in Swiss Lausanne Ended
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610151046373959-lausanne-talks-ended/
The foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Jordan — all the participants of the talks — have left the meeting.
The meeting was held behind the closed doors, no press conference will take place afterwards.
Turkish FM Says No Ceasefire Agreement Reached at Lausanne Meeting on Syria
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610151046374894-cavusoglu-lausanne-syria-meeting/
Ministerial meeting on Syria in Lausanne, Switzerland has not resulted in a ceasefire agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday.
"We have informally exchanged views on the situation in Syria, although [we] have not reached any specific ceasefire agreement. But it was not supposed [to happen]," Cavusoglu said in an interview with the TRT Haber broadcaster.
He also noted that there were divided views among the meeting participants with respect to what should be done first — to achieve ceasefire or to separate terrorist groups from moderate opposition.
"Everyone, including the Turkish side, shared their views and proposals on how to achieve the truce and to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo. First of all one needs to achieve a ceasefire but the fight against the Daesh (outlawed in Russia) terrorist group must be continued," the minister said.
Direct Intervention in Syria 'May Not Serve America's National Interests'
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610151046373674-syria-us-intervention-national-interests/
The next US administration should determine what America's interests in the Syrian civil war are, Antoun Issa, a US-based Lebanese-Australian journalist, notes.
"The calls for US military action against Syrian government forces have become more vociferous in recent weeks… The question advocates of US military action need to ask and answer is: how is it in America's national interest to go to war against the Syrian government, and risk direct confrontation with a great power such as Russia?" Issa points out in his recent article for The National Interest.
Meanwhile, it still remains unclear what exactly the US interests in the Syrian conflict are, he remarks.
Issa notes that the Syrian war does not pose a threat to the US, nor does it take place in a country "of great strategic value" to Washington. However, the spread of terrorism in the region remains Washington's primary concern. On the other hand, according to Issa, Russia's Syrian operation has posed "a direct challenge to America's leadership in managing global security and maintaining a monopoly on the use of force" for the first time since the end of the Cold War.
"Should the United States allow Russia to dictate the outcome of the Syrian conflict, and expose American weakness, it could encourage a repeat in behavior elsewhere," Issa underscores, adding that "in terms of global security and great power relations, Syria should absolutely matter to Washington."
"But neither of these interests-confronting terrorism or containing Russia-necessarily equates to greater US military involvement, or war with the Assad regime," the journalist highlights. (Article continues.)
angelburst29
The Living Force
Corbett Report - The REAL Cost of the War of Terror
https://www.corbettreport.com/the-real-cost-of-the-war-of-terror/ (Video and transcript)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cb8DPt274U (Same Video - 4:57 min.)
FULL TRANSCRIPT: September 21, 2016
We all know by now that the real terrorists (the politicians in the suits and ties and the banksters that pull their strings) are waging their war of terror on multiple fronts for multiple reasons.
Domestically, it rallies the population around the flag, keeping the flock in check. At the same time it justifies the build up of the police state control grid to catch the thought criminals who resist.
It also writes a blank check for the illegal wars of aggression abroad. Simply place your terrorist boogeyman in the square of the chessboard you’re looking to occupy and — hey presto! — you’ve got yourself an excuse to invade. (Even if you “accidentally” end up supporting them, right Uncle Sam?)
But of course the politicians, their string pullers and their fellow travelers benefit from the war of terror in a more straightforward sense. They get to use the terror scares that they themselves create to drum up billions upon billions in the name of fighting the boogeymen.
We’ve all heard of the $640 toilet seat and other ridiculous examples of Pentagon “overspending,” but these stories tend to trivialize the abuses by the military-defense contractors whose entire industry is built on providing overpriced solutions to made up problems. After all, the Pentagon itself just admitted it could cut $2 billion from its budget by shutting down some of the needless bases and defense facilities that have been built around the globe in the name of the American empire.
But $2 billion is chump change.
In the 15 years since 9/11, $1 trillion has been spent building up the police state in the American “homeland” itself.
Meanwhile, the Defense Department has been spending over $600 billion per year maintaining the American military in the post-9/11 era. $4 to $6 trillion of that was spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars alone, the most expensive wars in US history.
Combined defense spending, including Homeland Security, DoD, State Department, defense related debt interest and other defense costs, has reached the highest levels in modern history over the past decade. From a Cold War era high in the 1980s of $3500 for every man, woman and child in the United States to a 1990s low of $2500, that figure has since breached $4000. Just look at the chart; it isn’t hard to see exactly when the trend reversed and the good times began to flow for the military-industrial contractors: It was 9/11, the birthday of the war of terror and the new era of homeland security.
There are other numbers we could throw in here:
The billions upon billions in military aid sent to the co-perpetrators of the war of terror, including the $38 billion that has been promised Israel over the next 10 years.
The $1.5 trillion joke known as the F-35 fighter jet.
The $6.5 trillion of “year-end adjustments” in the ongoing, never-ending saga of the Pentagon’s missing trillions.
But we have to be careful not to fall into the psychopaths’ trap. The real costs of the war of terror cannot be measured in dollars and cents. They are not tallied in a ledger. They are not about money at all.
The real cost is paid in blood. The blood of a million dead Iraqis. The blood of the hundreds of thousands murdered men, women and children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The blood that is being shed right now in Syria, in Libya, in Yemen, and in all of the countries that have crossed through the crosshairs of the NATO, American and Israeli terrorists.
It’s measured in the devastation of towns and cities that once bustled with life. In the families torn apart by drone bombings. In the havoc of the hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes, leave their families and their homeland and their former life behind as everything they knew is torn to shreds.
It’s measured in the blood of the servicemen and women themselves. Lied to, propagandized and indoctrinated their entire lives, given a ticket out of grinding poverty by the military, shot up with experimental vaccines and shoved into the meat grinder for tour of duty after tour of duty. And then, upon returning home, left to rot in rundown hospitals and ignored by the glad-handing politicians and their military-industrial cronies as a suicide epidemic gradually thins their ranks.
This is the true cost of the war of terror, and it is incalculable. And none of it, absolutely none of it, will come to an end until the public stops believing the false narrative of the war of terror and the lies that have brought it about.
Much like Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, the real terrorists can only survive if you believe in them.
https://www.corbettreport.com/the-real-cost-of-the-war-of-terror/ (Video and transcript)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cb8DPt274U (Same Video - 4:57 min.)
FULL TRANSCRIPT: September 21, 2016
We all know by now that the real terrorists (the politicians in the suits and ties and the banksters that pull their strings) are waging their war of terror on multiple fronts for multiple reasons.
Domestically, it rallies the population around the flag, keeping the flock in check. At the same time it justifies the build up of the police state control grid to catch the thought criminals who resist.
It also writes a blank check for the illegal wars of aggression abroad. Simply place your terrorist boogeyman in the square of the chessboard you’re looking to occupy and — hey presto! — you’ve got yourself an excuse to invade. (Even if you “accidentally” end up supporting them, right Uncle Sam?)
But of course the politicians, their string pullers and their fellow travelers benefit from the war of terror in a more straightforward sense. They get to use the terror scares that they themselves create to drum up billions upon billions in the name of fighting the boogeymen.
We’ve all heard of the $640 toilet seat and other ridiculous examples of Pentagon “overspending,” but these stories tend to trivialize the abuses by the military-defense contractors whose entire industry is built on providing overpriced solutions to made up problems. After all, the Pentagon itself just admitted it could cut $2 billion from its budget by shutting down some of the needless bases and defense facilities that have been built around the globe in the name of the American empire.
But $2 billion is chump change.
In the 15 years since 9/11, $1 trillion has been spent building up the police state in the American “homeland” itself.
Meanwhile, the Defense Department has been spending over $600 billion per year maintaining the American military in the post-9/11 era. $4 to $6 trillion of that was spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars alone, the most expensive wars in US history.
Combined defense spending, including Homeland Security, DoD, State Department, defense related debt interest and other defense costs, has reached the highest levels in modern history over the past decade. From a Cold War era high in the 1980s of $3500 for every man, woman and child in the United States to a 1990s low of $2500, that figure has since breached $4000. Just look at the chart; it isn’t hard to see exactly when the trend reversed and the good times began to flow for the military-industrial contractors: It was 9/11, the birthday of the war of terror and the new era of homeland security.
There are other numbers we could throw in here:
The billions upon billions in military aid sent to the co-perpetrators of the war of terror, including the $38 billion that has been promised Israel over the next 10 years.
The $1.5 trillion joke known as the F-35 fighter jet.
The $6.5 trillion of “year-end adjustments” in the ongoing, never-ending saga of the Pentagon’s missing trillions.
But we have to be careful not to fall into the psychopaths’ trap. The real costs of the war of terror cannot be measured in dollars and cents. They are not tallied in a ledger. They are not about money at all.
The real cost is paid in blood. The blood of a million dead Iraqis. The blood of the hundreds of thousands murdered men, women and children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The blood that is being shed right now in Syria, in Libya, in Yemen, and in all of the countries that have crossed through the crosshairs of the NATO, American and Israeli terrorists.
It’s measured in the devastation of towns and cities that once bustled with life. In the families torn apart by drone bombings. In the havoc of the hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes, leave their families and their homeland and their former life behind as everything they knew is torn to shreds.
It’s measured in the blood of the servicemen and women themselves. Lied to, propagandized and indoctrinated their entire lives, given a ticket out of grinding poverty by the military, shot up with experimental vaccines and shoved into the meat grinder for tour of duty after tour of duty. And then, upon returning home, left to rot in rundown hospitals and ignored by the glad-handing politicians and their military-industrial cronies as a suicide epidemic gradually thins their ranks.
This is the true cost of the war of terror, and it is incalculable. And none of it, absolutely none of it, will come to an end until the public stops believing the false narrative of the war of terror and the lies that have brought it about.
Much like Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, the real terrorists can only survive if you believe in them.
angelburst29
The Living Force
The fight for Aleppo is going to be a turning point in the Syrian war which could jumpstart the liberation of other Syrian cities, according to President Assad. Russian military correspondent, retired colonel Mikhail Khodarenok explains how the Russian military is going to use the experience of Palmyra's liberation in the re-conquest of Aleppo.
Error Analysis: Russian Military to Mind Palmyra Mistakes When Liberating Aleppo (11 Photos)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610161046382998-syria-battle-aleppo/
In January, General Valery Gerasimov, current Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces revealed the plans of the Syrian Armed Forces to take the offensive along the entire frontline with the aerial support of the Russian military, Mikhail Khodarenok, military correspondent of Russia's online newspaper Gazeta.ru writes in his article for the website.
Several months later, local fighting goes on in six Syrian regions. The most active operations are being carried out in Lattakia, Aleppo, Hama and Palmyra. In Damascus, the government forces continue to encircle the Eastern Ghouta district occupied by the militants. The clashes often come down to reciprocal skirmish from small arms and artillery strikes.
Neither side to the conflict could boast any major military success. Apart from Aleppo, the fighting is done merely by reinforced squadrons and at times it looks quite strange, the expert says.
He further describes how it happens: after artillery preparation an assault detachment of somewhat 100 fighters leads an assault. They advance for somewhat 400 meters and take a break for two days. Khodarenok says that even with the aerial support of the Russian Aerospace Forces it could take another decade without any major achievements. In his recent interview President Assad said that retaking the city of Aleppo from terrorists would jump start the liberation of other Syrian cities. It would be a springboard to move towards other cities and to liberate them from terrorists.
In order to evaluate the prospects of the Syrian army and its combatant value, Khodarenok reminds of last year's liberation of Palmyra, which has become the major success of the government forces. The reviewing of this experience will provide rather a true-to-fact overview of what is going on in Syria.
In May 2015, Daesh militants advanced towards Palmyra, which had a garrison of 2,000 Syrian servicemen and 1,000 of police forces. The jihadists were twice fewer, there were 1,500 militants. For one week the terrorists were trying to take Palmyra, including its Jazal and Al-Sha’ar oil and gas fields. However, the expert says, the city fell not as a result of a storm but due to a betrayal of the local residents and this is not a unique example for Syria. The decision was made to retake this important center of communications, as it had the strategic highway linking Damascus and Lattakia with Raqqa, often referred to as the Daesh capital and Deir ez-Zor, which had another garrison of pro-government forces encircled by the terrorists.
A special force grouping "Palmyra" was formed especially for this assault which included the Syrian government units, Hezbollah units, units of other Iranian and Shia volunteers, including those who call themselves Fatimids, after the Shia Fatimid dynasty, who claimed to be direct descendants of Faṭimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muḥammad and his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Khodarenok says that the contingent of the pro-government forces near Aleppo looks relatively the same now. By the start of the operation the "Palmyra" grouping had five assault detachments. Each detachment had three assault squadrons, one fire support group, one engineer group and one combat support group.
totaled to 250 fighters with 5-6 tanks, 4-5 armored personnel carriers, 2 mortar launchers, 10-12 shoulder-launched flamethrowers, 5-6 heavy machine guns, 10-12 light anti-tank grenade launchers.
The defeat of Daesh in Palmyra was supposed to be done first by two splitting attacks on the flanks of the offensive sector with capturing the commanding points. It was then supposed to give way to the assault detachment on flat terrain in center of operational order of battle of the grouping. Then it was meant to rupture the enemy's battle position, capturing the commanding points around Palmyra and take under control all the roads. At the end, it was supposed to block the city from the north, west and southeast. During the second stage it was supposed to storm the city from three directions leading to the city center from the north, west and southeast. To fire at the enemy on the city's fringes, on the outskirts and in its defense centers, block the arrival of any reserves and then, advancing along the streets, consistently capture buildings and city quarters.
During the final stage, it was supposed to clean up the city from terrorists, eliminate the remains of isolated armed gangs and restore constitutional order in Palmyra.
The intention looked very convincing. However the organizers of the storm did not take into account the low military fighting efficiency of the Syrian army and its low ability to mount an offensive. Upon examination of the readiness of the assault detachments for the operation it suddenly turned out that they were understaffed and its military personnel was absolutely not ready for the upcoming battles.
It turned out that the Syrian servicemen had no battle training, there were no essential logistical stocks and nobody has been getting ready for the storm.
In other words, the expert says, the level of training of the assault detachments and their weaponry and military hardware resources did not allow to launch the assault within the set time limits. The commanders in charge of the operation had to start with elementary tactical training and firing instruction. Tank and armored personnel carrier crews, snipers, operators of grenade launchers and engineers underwent the initial training. In the long run, they have got relatively combat-capable crews.
During the fight for Palmyra the situation was very similar to what is constantly going on along the entire Syrian frontline: Syrian army, experiencing heavy losses was barely advancing for several kilometers and then hurriedly retreated without any reason to its starting positions.
Hezbollah and Fatimid units suddenly refused to take part in the offensive, however in a short while they abruptly changed their minds and decided to support the pro-government forces. At times, it was absolutely incomprehensible for the Russian military: for example, the Iranian units of Hezbollah were successfully beating the militants out of commanding points near Palmyra. Then at night they suddenly retreated from all the recaptured points which have been then immediately captured by the militants.
After such a retreat the Russian experts even suspected conspiracy between the leadership of the armed gangs and commanders of Hezbollah and Iranian units.
From the first days of the fight for Palmyra it became clear that the militants had an extensive agent network which helped them to obtain verified information about the operations of the "Palmyra" group. The commanders of the armed gangs had the dates of the assaults of the pro-government forces long beforehand. Besides the agent network, the enemy has been intercepting radio traffic of the Syrian servicemen and learning about the planned assaults due to systematic violation of security measures by the servicemen. With all the data of the planned assaults at hand, the Islamists were able to strengthen the existing and construct new defensive positions on the city's fringes.
They were able to plant mines on major routes long beforehand which enabled them to hold their positions.
The militants in Palmyra were fiercely resisting with the fire support of tanks, weapons of field artillery and mortar launchers, under cover of highly maneuverable trucks with mounted ZU-23 anti-aircraft systems or 12,7mm,14,5mm heavy machine guns. High volume of fire and mine-infested terrain resulted in heavy losses of the pro-government forces (for the first three days of the assault died two of the four commanders of the assault detachments) and weakening of already low martial and offensive spirit.
After several days of the assault there came a break as there was a real need to restore the fighting efficiency of the government forces.
As the result, the enemy got time to regroup and counterattack. Then the Syrian forces were on the offensive again and were advancing. However day by day the combat intensity was going down. That is why the storm of Palmyra become stalled for a long while. To terrify the Syrian servicemen, the militants have planted mines and exploded the Syrian armored vehicles left over in hasty retreat, used cars and armored vehicles with suicide bombers, unexpected artillery strikes.
As the result, some of assault detachments of the Syrian army have left in panic the re-captured positions and temporarily lost combat effectiveness.
With the planned assault on Aleppo, the Russian military say it is not that big of a problem to bomb it and level it to the ground. However it is not and will never be on the agenda. Neither is the aim to "fight until the last Sunni or Alawi." All that remains for the Russian military is to work on increasing the combat effectiveness of the Syrian army. And it is already bringing first results. However what the Russian military really want is to launch a peace process in Syria on equal terms. Sooner or later all the parties to the conflict will sit down at the negotiation table, and the commanders in charge of the operation realize it. The negotiations in the Arab world is a very complicated process however there is no alternative. The war will never bring any order, peace and tranquility to Syria.
Error Analysis: Russian Military to Mind Palmyra Mistakes When Liberating Aleppo (11 Photos)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610161046382998-syria-battle-aleppo/
In January, General Valery Gerasimov, current Chief of the General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces revealed the plans of the Syrian Armed Forces to take the offensive along the entire frontline with the aerial support of the Russian military, Mikhail Khodarenok, military correspondent of Russia's online newspaper Gazeta.ru writes in his article for the website.
Several months later, local fighting goes on in six Syrian regions. The most active operations are being carried out in Lattakia, Aleppo, Hama and Palmyra. In Damascus, the government forces continue to encircle the Eastern Ghouta district occupied by the militants. The clashes often come down to reciprocal skirmish from small arms and artillery strikes.
Neither side to the conflict could boast any major military success. Apart from Aleppo, the fighting is done merely by reinforced squadrons and at times it looks quite strange, the expert says.
He further describes how it happens: after artillery preparation an assault detachment of somewhat 100 fighters leads an assault. They advance for somewhat 400 meters and take a break for two days. Khodarenok says that even with the aerial support of the Russian Aerospace Forces it could take another decade without any major achievements. In his recent interview President Assad said that retaking the city of Aleppo from terrorists would jump start the liberation of other Syrian cities. It would be a springboard to move towards other cities and to liberate them from terrorists.
In order to evaluate the prospects of the Syrian army and its combatant value, Khodarenok reminds of last year's liberation of Palmyra, which has become the major success of the government forces. The reviewing of this experience will provide rather a true-to-fact overview of what is going on in Syria.
In May 2015, Daesh militants advanced towards Palmyra, which had a garrison of 2,000 Syrian servicemen and 1,000 of police forces. The jihadists were twice fewer, there were 1,500 militants. For one week the terrorists were trying to take Palmyra, including its Jazal and Al-Sha’ar oil and gas fields. However, the expert says, the city fell not as a result of a storm but due to a betrayal of the local residents and this is not a unique example for Syria. The decision was made to retake this important center of communications, as it had the strategic highway linking Damascus and Lattakia with Raqqa, often referred to as the Daesh capital and Deir ez-Zor, which had another garrison of pro-government forces encircled by the terrorists.
A special force grouping "Palmyra" was formed especially for this assault which included the Syrian government units, Hezbollah units, units of other Iranian and Shia volunteers, including those who call themselves Fatimids, after the Shia Fatimid dynasty, who claimed to be direct descendants of Faṭimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muḥammad and his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Khodarenok says that the contingent of the pro-government forces near Aleppo looks relatively the same now. By the start of the operation the "Palmyra" grouping had five assault detachments. Each detachment had three assault squadrons, one fire support group, one engineer group and one combat support group.
totaled to 250 fighters with 5-6 tanks, 4-5 armored personnel carriers, 2 mortar launchers, 10-12 shoulder-launched flamethrowers, 5-6 heavy machine guns, 10-12 light anti-tank grenade launchers.
The defeat of Daesh in Palmyra was supposed to be done first by two splitting attacks on the flanks of the offensive sector with capturing the commanding points. It was then supposed to give way to the assault detachment on flat terrain in center of operational order of battle of the grouping. Then it was meant to rupture the enemy's battle position, capturing the commanding points around Palmyra and take under control all the roads. At the end, it was supposed to block the city from the north, west and southeast. During the second stage it was supposed to storm the city from three directions leading to the city center from the north, west and southeast. To fire at the enemy on the city's fringes, on the outskirts and in its defense centers, block the arrival of any reserves and then, advancing along the streets, consistently capture buildings and city quarters.
During the final stage, it was supposed to clean up the city from terrorists, eliminate the remains of isolated armed gangs and restore constitutional order in Palmyra.
The intention looked very convincing. However the organizers of the storm did not take into account the low military fighting efficiency of the Syrian army and its low ability to mount an offensive. Upon examination of the readiness of the assault detachments for the operation it suddenly turned out that they were understaffed and its military personnel was absolutely not ready for the upcoming battles.
It turned out that the Syrian servicemen had no battle training, there were no essential logistical stocks and nobody has been getting ready for the storm.
In other words, the expert says, the level of training of the assault detachments and their weaponry and military hardware resources did not allow to launch the assault within the set time limits. The commanders in charge of the operation had to start with elementary tactical training and firing instruction. Tank and armored personnel carrier crews, snipers, operators of grenade launchers and engineers underwent the initial training. In the long run, they have got relatively combat-capable crews.
During the fight for Palmyra the situation was very similar to what is constantly going on along the entire Syrian frontline: Syrian army, experiencing heavy losses was barely advancing for several kilometers and then hurriedly retreated without any reason to its starting positions.
Hezbollah and Fatimid units suddenly refused to take part in the offensive, however in a short while they abruptly changed their minds and decided to support the pro-government forces. At times, it was absolutely incomprehensible for the Russian military: for example, the Iranian units of Hezbollah were successfully beating the militants out of commanding points near Palmyra. Then at night they suddenly retreated from all the recaptured points which have been then immediately captured by the militants.
After such a retreat the Russian experts even suspected conspiracy between the leadership of the armed gangs and commanders of Hezbollah and Iranian units.
From the first days of the fight for Palmyra it became clear that the militants had an extensive agent network which helped them to obtain verified information about the operations of the "Palmyra" group. The commanders of the armed gangs had the dates of the assaults of the pro-government forces long beforehand. Besides the agent network, the enemy has been intercepting radio traffic of the Syrian servicemen and learning about the planned assaults due to systematic violation of security measures by the servicemen. With all the data of the planned assaults at hand, the Islamists were able to strengthen the existing and construct new defensive positions on the city's fringes.
They were able to plant mines on major routes long beforehand which enabled them to hold their positions.
The militants in Palmyra were fiercely resisting with the fire support of tanks, weapons of field artillery and mortar launchers, under cover of highly maneuverable trucks with mounted ZU-23 anti-aircraft systems or 12,7mm,14,5mm heavy machine guns. High volume of fire and mine-infested terrain resulted in heavy losses of the pro-government forces (for the first three days of the assault died two of the four commanders of the assault detachments) and weakening of already low martial and offensive spirit.
After several days of the assault there came a break as there was a real need to restore the fighting efficiency of the government forces.
As the result, the enemy got time to regroup and counterattack. Then the Syrian forces were on the offensive again and were advancing. However day by day the combat intensity was going down. That is why the storm of Palmyra become stalled for a long while. To terrify the Syrian servicemen, the militants have planted mines and exploded the Syrian armored vehicles left over in hasty retreat, used cars and armored vehicles with suicide bombers, unexpected artillery strikes.
As the result, some of assault detachments of the Syrian army have left in panic the re-captured positions and temporarily lost combat effectiveness.
With the planned assault on Aleppo, the Russian military say it is not that big of a problem to bomb it and level it to the ground. However it is not and will never be on the agenda. Neither is the aim to "fight until the last Sunni or Alawi." All that remains for the Russian military is to work on increasing the combat effectiveness of the Syrian army. And it is already bringing first results. However what the Russian military really want is to launch a peace process in Syria on equal terms. Sooner or later all the parties to the conflict will sit down at the negotiation table, and the commanders in charge of the operation realize it. The negotiations in the Arab world is a very complicated process however there is no alternative. The war will never bring any order, peace and tranquility to Syria.
angelburst29
The Living Force
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a North Korean vessel for illegal fishing in the exclusive Russian economic zone in the Sea of Japan, killing at least one crew member, the body said in a statement.
Russian Security Forces Detain N Korean Fishing Vessel After Violent Clash
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610161046376681-north-korea-fishing-vessel-fsb/
The Russian border patrol ship stopped the North Korean fishing boat to conduct a search on Friday evening at 10:20 p.m. Moscow time (19:20 GMT), but faced an aggressive resistance of the members of the crew, according to the statement. The Korean vessel, carrying 48 crew members, started to move out of the Russian territorial waters, while the fishermen attempted to attack the patrol officers.
"In order to prevent the attempt of violent seizure of firearms and to protect Russian security officers from life endangering attacks of the North Korean crew, the Russian FSB servicemen fired several warning shots and then opened fire from small arms. Nine crew members of the intruder-ship were injured, one of them later died," the statement said. As a result of the incident one FSB officer got a head injury, according to the security body. FSB informed the North Korean Consulate General about the use of weapons.
Russian FSB to Deliver Detained N. Korean Fishermen to Russian Far East
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610161046378557-fsb-russia-north-korea-ship/
The Russian border patrol ship stopped the North Korean fishing boat to conduct a search on Friday evening but faced an aggressive resistance of the members of the crew. The Korean vessel, carrying 48 crew members, started to move out of the Russian territorial waters, while the fishermen attempted to attack the patrol officers.
After several warning shots FSB servicemen opened fire from small arms injuring nine fishermen. One of the injured fishermen later died. One FSB serviceman got a head injury.
"Today the ship will arrive in the Primorsky Territory, where an investigation will be carried out. On board of the ship there is a doctor, who is delivering medical care [to injured fishermen]," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
Russia Warns France, US about Civilian Death Toll during Mosul Campaign
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001478
We hope that our American partners and, in this case, French partners will act selectively and will do everything to minimize and better to have no victims among the civilians," Putin said, TASS reported.
"Of course, we are not planning to fan hysteria about this as our partners in the West do because we understand that there is the need to fight against terrorism and there is no other way than an active fight," he added.
The president agreed that there are parallels between Mosul and the actions of Russia in Aleppo where Russia’s troops try to prevent a humanitarian crisis and are criticized by the West for that. "The parallel is obvious," he said.
"Of course, now we can point to our partners to Mosul and say that many civilians live there, hundreds of thousands of people, and using airpower and artillery is very dangerous in regard to possible victims," Putin added.
Putin: Biden's Cyber Threat First US Confession on Such Action at Highest Level
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001318
Putin noted that US threats of hacker attacks do not correspond to the norms of international relations, RT reported.
"The only novelty is that for the first time, on the highest level, the United States has admitted involvement in these activities, and to some extent threatened us, which of course does not meet the standards of international communication,” the Russian leader said.
“Apparently, they are nervous,” he added.
“One can expect just about anything from our American friends. After all, what did he (Biden) say that we didn’t already know? Didn’t we know that US authorities are spying and eavesdropping on everyone?”
These activities are “well known to everyone, it’s no secret,” Putin added.
Washington attempts to distract attention from domestic problems by portraying Russia as an enemy, Putin said, adding that during the US election campaign, Russian-American relations are sacrificed.
Russia does not want confrontation with the US, but it is up to our partners to decide, he said.
“We do not know what will happen after the US elections, but welcome everyone who wants to work with us,” he said.
Speaking about the US election campaign, Putin noted that it is “harmful and counterproductive” to “sacrifice US-Russian relations in the course of internal political events in America.” This has all happened before, Putin noted.
“Analyze all previous election campaigns in the US, it all repeats over and over again, like I’ve said. And then we have people whispering to us, ‘Oh, wait, wait, it’ll be over soon, things will go back to normal,’” Putin said.
“It’s not even funny anymore. But if someone wants a confrontation, this is not our choice, and it means that there will be some problems. We don’t want that. We would like, on the contrary, to seek common ground and work together to solve global problems faced by both Russia and the United States, along with the whole world,” Putin concluded.
Russia is not going to influence the election campaign in the United States, because it does not know what will happen after the elections.
“I hope that after the election period in the US, there will be a chance to restore relations between Moscow and Washington,” Putin said.
US-Russia relations didn’t deteriorate because of Syria, Putin said.
“You think our relations with the United States changed because of Syria? No, not because of Syria, but because of attempts of one side to impose its decisions on the whole world.”
Moscow is permanently in touch with the Obama administration, though all contacts continue in all directions, he added.
Terrorists Preparing to Launch Fresh Operations to Save Comrades Trapped in Aleppo in Last Ditch Effort
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001288
"Militants' depot of arms and ammunition and storages of food stuff and medical equipment will end in less than two months. They are really trapped in a frim circle of government forces," the source said, adding, "That is why Jeish al-Fatah's allies in other regions are preparing to storm government positions around Aleppo's outskirts to break the siege and save their comrades."
"Syrian army and its popular allies have ended up the forth phase of their operation, which focused on cutting off the militants' supply routes to the Eastern districts of Aleppo, and have now started to hit the besieged militants," the source went on to say.
In the meantime, popular uprising and protests against militants' presence in Aleppo city have increased in the last ten days.
Yesterday, Al-Qataneh neighborhood's residents took to the streets in Eastern part of Aleppo and called on the militant groups to leave the city immediately.
Fatah al-Sham Front's (the newly-formed al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group previously known as the al-Nusra Front) religious judge Abdullah al-Moheiseni also warned on Saturday that widening rifts among the members of Jeish al-Fatah coalition of militant groups and the recent advances of the Syrian government forces will soon end in the imminent collapse of the militants in Aleppo and Damascus provinces.
Al-Moheiseni underlined that the militant groups in Aleppo and Damascus are most likely to sustain the greatest defeats they have endured so far, given the Syrian army's growing pace of victories and increasing differences among the rebels.
"Militants' defeats and failure in Damascus and Aleppo are due to the very weak management of our field commanders, who stressed on their own military plans," he added.
Al-Moheiseni had warned of widening rifts among militants in Aleppo in August.
"If my attempts to decrease differences among the coalition's militant groups fail, and if the other members of Jeish al-Fatah coalition do not unite with Fatah al-Sham I will encourage young fighters to leave the coalition. I will also leave the militant groups alone," al-Moheiseni underscored.
He further accused some members of Jeish al-Fatah coalition of seeking more relations with their foreign backers which as he said is the main barrier on the way of uniting coalition's members.
Resurgent Russia Takes On US Unilateralism With Reclaimed Former Soviet Bases
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610161046380216-russia-navy-military-bases/
RIA Novosti political analyst Alexander Khrolenko believes that Russia's foreign military bases are in sync with the country's news Maritime Doctrine and help "boost the autonomy of the Russian naval presence in the World Ocean."
His remarks came after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said on Monday that Moscow will establish a permanent naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus, home to a Russian Navy maintenance and support facility which was established by the Soviet Union in 1977. Pankov also said that the Russian Defense Ministry was looking into reestablishing Russian bases in Cuba and Vietnam.
In addition, media reports cited Russia's plans to return to a former Soviet air force base in the Egyptian city of Sidi Barrani.
Khrolenko recalled that since the end of the last century, Russia has pursued peaceful policies. Meanwhile, a significant proportion of US and NATO military operations were conducted without the UN's approval, including operations in Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.
In addition, the permanent presence of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean is something that is endorsed by Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, according to him.
"In the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Russia is successfully strengthening its military cooperation with the naval forces of India and China," he added. Khrolenko specifically drew attention to the fact that the navy remains the basis of Russia's maritime potential and that naval activity is related to the top state priorities.
US Naval Commander Fired After USS Freedom Sustains Engine Damage at Sea
https://sputniknews.com/us/201610151046375072-naval-commander-fired-damaged-engine/
In a Friday news release, the Naval Surface Force Pacific said that Wohnhaas was relieved on October 13 by commander of Naval Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Tom Rowden, "due to loss of confidence in his ability to effectively lead and carry out his assigned duties," according to Military.com.
The release explained, "The loss of confidence followed an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding damage to the ship's number 2 main propulsion diesel engine (#2 MPDE) that occurred in the operation areas off the coast of southern California on July 11," and the Navy Times reports that "No final decision has been made yet on the options for follow-on repairs to Freedom related to the July 11 engineering casualty."
Wohnhaas, a surface warfare officer by trade, was commissioned in 1996, and officials say he has been temporarily reassigned to the Naval Surface Force Forces Pacific. July's engine breakdown marks the third for the Freedom class of ships this year, and began when seawater entered the engine lube oil system, caused by a leak in the mechanical seal of the ship’s seawater pump. The damage to the second main propulsion engine was discovered when the Freedom return to San Diego to port after its exercise, and engineers determined that the engine may need to be replaced if it can't be rebuilt.
Commander Michael Atwell of the LCS crew 101 aboard the USS Fort Worth was the first littoral ship commander to be relieved of his duties in March when the ship sustained damage to its propulsion system, causing it to be sidelined in Singapore.
When the casualty was first discovered, US Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight told USNI news, "Based on initial indications, the casualty occurred due to an apparent failure to follow procedures during an operational test of the port and starboard main propulsion diesel engines…An investigation is underway to examine the incident in depth and determine any necessary corrective action. A team of technical specialists is currently on board Fort Worth to evaluate the gears and required repairs. There is no estimated date of completion at this time."
After the investigation was complete, Lt. Clint Ramsden, also a Pacific Fleet spokesman, said that "failure to maintain procedural compliance in execution of the maintenance operation was sufficient reason to call into question [Atwell’s] ability to lead the ship's crew."
Wohnhaas’s temporary replacement is Capt. Matthew McGonigle, deputy commodore of LCS Squadron One.
Kuwaiti Cabinet Resigns, Parliament Dissolves
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001376
Parliaments typically don't serve out their full terms in Kuwait, but lawmakers elected in last election in 2013 largely sided with the government, The Daily Star reported.
The drop in global oil prices has squeezed this major OPEC member to the point of cutting back on the country's many subsidies, stirring dissent.
Kuwait's state-run television station and its news agency announced the Cabinet resignation and the parliament dissolving Sunday afternoon, just a few hours after government officials held an emergency meeting.
a decree, Kuwait's ruling emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah said "given the circumstances in the region ... and the security challenges" he had ordered the parliament dissolved. The statement did not elaborate.
Kuwait has faced the threat of militant attacks since the rise of the ISIL group. An ISIL-claimed suicide bombing in 2015 targeting a mosque in Kuwait City killed 27 people and wounded scores.
On Oct. 8, an Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and ISIL papers rammed into a truck carrying five US soldiers in Kuwait, wounding only himself in the attack.
Earlier Kuwaiti news reports about the government dissolving focused entirely on economic issues. The price of oil has been halved from heights of over $100 a barrel in the summer of 2014. Government-subsidized gasoline prices have been raised and other benefits have been cut, leading to growing dissent.
Russian Security Forces Detain N Korean Fishing Vessel After Violent Clash
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610161046376681-north-korea-fishing-vessel-fsb/
The Russian border patrol ship stopped the North Korean fishing boat to conduct a search on Friday evening at 10:20 p.m. Moscow time (19:20 GMT), but faced an aggressive resistance of the members of the crew, according to the statement. The Korean vessel, carrying 48 crew members, started to move out of the Russian territorial waters, while the fishermen attempted to attack the patrol officers.
"In order to prevent the attempt of violent seizure of firearms and to protect Russian security officers from life endangering attacks of the North Korean crew, the Russian FSB servicemen fired several warning shots and then opened fire from small arms. Nine crew members of the intruder-ship were injured, one of them later died," the statement said. As a result of the incident one FSB officer got a head injury, according to the security body. FSB informed the North Korean Consulate General about the use of weapons.
Russian FSB to Deliver Detained N. Korean Fishermen to Russian Far East
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610161046378557-fsb-russia-north-korea-ship/
The Russian border patrol ship stopped the North Korean fishing boat to conduct a search on Friday evening but faced an aggressive resistance of the members of the crew. The Korean vessel, carrying 48 crew members, started to move out of the Russian territorial waters, while the fishermen attempted to attack the patrol officers.
After several warning shots FSB servicemen opened fire from small arms injuring nine fishermen. One of the injured fishermen later died. One FSB serviceman got a head injury.
"Today the ship will arrive in the Primorsky Territory, where an investigation will be carried out. On board of the ship there is a doctor, who is delivering medical care [to injured fishermen]," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
Russia Warns France, US about Civilian Death Toll during Mosul Campaign
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001478
We hope that our American partners and, in this case, French partners will act selectively and will do everything to minimize and better to have no victims among the civilians," Putin said, TASS reported.
"Of course, we are not planning to fan hysteria about this as our partners in the West do because we understand that there is the need to fight against terrorism and there is no other way than an active fight," he added.
The president agreed that there are parallels between Mosul and the actions of Russia in Aleppo where Russia’s troops try to prevent a humanitarian crisis and are criticized by the West for that. "The parallel is obvious," he said.
"Of course, now we can point to our partners to Mosul and say that many civilians live there, hundreds of thousands of people, and using airpower and artillery is very dangerous in regard to possible victims," Putin added.
Putin: Biden's Cyber Threat First US Confession on Such Action at Highest Level
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001318
Putin noted that US threats of hacker attacks do not correspond to the norms of international relations, RT reported.
"The only novelty is that for the first time, on the highest level, the United States has admitted involvement in these activities, and to some extent threatened us, which of course does not meet the standards of international communication,” the Russian leader said.
“Apparently, they are nervous,” he added.
“One can expect just about anything from our American friends. After all, what did he (Biden) say that we didn’t already know? Didn’t we know that US authorities are spying and eavesdropping on everyone?”
These activities are “well known to everyone, it’s no secret,” Putin added.
Washington attempts to distract attention from domestic problems by portraying Russia as an enemy, Putin said, adding that during the US election campaign, Russian-American relations are sacrificed.
Russia does not want confrontation with the US, but it is up to our partners to decide, he said.
“We do not know what will happen after the US elections, but welcome everyone who wants to work with us,” he said.
Speaking about the US election campaign, Putin noted that it is “harmful and counterproductive” to “sacrifice US-Russian relations in the course of internal political events in America.” This has all happened before, Putin noted.
“Analyze all previous election campaigns in the US, it all repeats over and over again, like I’ve said. And then we have people whispering to us, ‘Oh, wait, wait, it’ll be over soon, things will go back to normal,’” Putin said.
“It’s not even funny anymore. But if someone wants a confrontation, this is not our choice, and it means that there will be some problems. We don’t want that. We would like, on the contrary, to seek common ground and work together to solve global problems faced by both Russia and the United States, along with the whole world,” Putin concluded.
Russia is not going to influence the election campaign in the United States, because it does not know what will happen after the elections.
“I hope that after the election period in the US, there will be a chance to restore relations between Moscow and Washington,” Putin said.
US-Russia relations didn’t deteriorate because of Syria, Putin said.
“You think our relations with the United States changed because of Syria? No, not because of Syria, but because of attempts of one side to impose its decisions on the whole world.”
Moscow is permanently in touch with the Obama administration, though all contacts continue in all directions, he added.
Terrorists Preparing to Launch Fresh Operations to Save Comrades Trapped in Aleppo in Last Ditch Effort
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001288
"Militants' depot of arms and ammunition and storages of food stuff and medical equipment will end in less than two months. They are really trapped in a frim circle of government forces," the source said, adding, "That is why Jeish al-Fatah's allies in other regions are preparing to storm government positions around Aleppo's outskirts to break the siege and save their comrades."
"Syrian army and its popular allies have ended up the forth phase of their operation, which focused on cutting off the militants' supply routes to the Eastern districts of Aleppo, and have now started to hit the besieged militants," the source went on to say.
In the meantime, popular uprising and protests against militants' presence in Aleppo city have increased in the last ten days.
Yesterday, Al-Qataneh neighborhood's residents took to the streets in Eastern part of Aleppo and called on the militant groups to leave the city immediately.
Fatah al-Sham Front's (the newly-formed al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group previously known as the al-Nusra Front) religious judge Abdullah al-Moheiseni also warned on Saturday that widening rifts among the members of Jeish al-Fatah coalition of militant groups and the recent advances of the Syrian government forces will soon end in the imminent collapse of the militants in Aleppo and Damascus provinces.
Al-Moheiseni underlined that the militant groups in Aleppo and Damascus are most likely to sustain the greatest defeats they have endured so far, given the Syrian army's growing pace of victories and increasing differences among the rebels.
"Militants' defeats and failure in Damascus and Aleppo are due to the very weak management of our field commanders, who stressed on their own military plans," he added.
Al-Moheiseni had warned of widening rifts among militants in Aleppo in August.
"If my attempts to decrease differences among the coalition's militant groups fail, and if the other members of Jeish al-Fatah coalition do not unite with Fatah al-Sham I will encourage young fighters to leave the coalition. I will also leave the militant groups alone," al-Moheiseni underscored.
He further accused some members of Jeish al-Fatah coalition of seeking more relations with their foreign backers which as he said is the main barrier on the way of uniting coalition's members.
Resurgent Russia Takes On US Unilateralism With Reclaimed Former Soviet Bases
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610161046380216-russia-navy-military-bases/
RIA Novosti political analyst Alexander Khrolenko believes that Russia's foreign military bases are in sync with the country's news Maritime Doctrine and help "boost the autonomy of the Russian naval presence in the World Ocean."
His remarks came after Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said on Monday that Moscow will establish a permanent naval base in the Syrian port city of Tartus, home to a Russian Navy maintenance and support facility which was established by the Soviet Union in 1977. Pankov also said that the Russian Defense Ministry was looking into reestablishing Russian bases in Cuba and Vietnam.
In addition, media reports cited Russia's plans to return to a former Soviet air force base in the Egyptian city of Sidi Barrani.
Khrolenko recalled that since the end of the last century, Russia has pursued peaceful policies. Meanwhile, a significant proportion of US and NATO military operations were conducted without the UN's approval, including operations in Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.
In addition, the permanent presence of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean is something that is endorsed by Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, according to him.
"In the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Russia is successfully strengthening its military cooperation with the naval forces of India and China," he added. Khrolenko specifically drew attention to the fact that the navy remains the basis of Russia's maritime potential and that naval activity is related to the top state priorities.
US Naval Commander Fired After USS Freedom Sustains Engine Damage at Sea
https://sputniknews.com/us/201610151046375072-naval-commander-fired-damaged-engine/
In a Friday news release, the Naval Surface Force Pacific said that Wohnhaas was relieved on October 13 by commander of Naval Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Tom Rowden, "due to loss of confidence in his ability to effectively lead and carry out his assigned duties," according to Military.com.
The release explained, "The loss of confidence followed an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding damage to the ship's number 2 main propulsion diesel engine (#2 MPDE) that occurred in the operation areas off the coast of southern California on July 11," and the Navy Times reports that "No final decision has been made yet on the options for follow-on repairs to Freedom related to the July 11 engineering casualty."
Wohnhaas, a surface warfare officer by trade, was commissioned in 1996, and officials say he has been temporarily reassigned to the Naval Surface Force Forces Pacific. July's engine breakdown marks the third for the Freedom class of ships this year, and began when seawater entered the engine lube oil system, caused by a leak in the mechanical seal of the ship’s seawater pump. The damage to the second main propulsion engine was discovered when the Freedom return to San Diego to port after its exercise, and engineers determined that the engine may need to be replaced if it can't be rebuilt.
Commander Michael Atwell of the LCS crew 101 aboard the USS Fort Worth was the first littoral ship commander to be relieved of his duties in March when the ship sustained damage to its propulsion system, causing it to be sidelined in Singapore.
When the casualty was first discovered, US Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight told USNI news, "Based on initial indications, the casualty occurred due to an apparent failure to follow procedures during an operational test of the port and starboard main propulsion diesel engines…An investigation is underway to examine the incident in depth and determine any necessary corrective action. A team of technical specialists is currently on board Fort Worth to evaluate the gears and required repairs. There is no estimated date of completion at this time."
After the investigation was complete, Lt. Clint Ramsden, also a Pacific Fleet spokesman, said that "failure to maintain procedural compliance in execution of the maintenance operation was sufficient reason to call into question [Atwell’s] ability to lead the ship's crew."
Wohnhaas’s temporary replacement is Capt. Matthew McGonigle, deputy commodore of LCS Squadron One.
Kuwaiti Cabinet Resigns, Parliament Dissolves
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950725001376
Parliaments typically don't serve out their full terms in Kuwait, but lawmakers elected in last election in 2013 largely sided with the government, The Daily Star reported.
The drop in global oil prices has squeezed this major OPEC member to the point of cutting back on the country's many subsidies, stirring dissent.
Kuwait's state-run television station and its news agency announced the Cabinet resignation and the parliament dissolving Sunday afternoon, just a few hours after government officials held an emergency meeting.
a decree, Kuwait's ruling emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah said "given the circumstances in the region ... and the security challenges" he had ordered the parliament dissolved. The statement did not elaborate.
Kuwait has faced the threat of militant attacks since the rise of the ISIL group. An ISIL-claimed suicide bombing in 2015 targeting a mosque in Kuwait City killed 27 people and wounded scores.
On Oct. 8, an Egyptian driving a garbage truck loaded with explosives and ISIL papers rammed into a truck carrying five US soldiers in Kuwait, wounding only himself in the attack.
Earlier Kuwaiti news reports about the government dissolving focused entirely on economic issues. The price of oil has been halved from heights of over $100 a barrel in the summer of 2014. Government-subsidized gasoline prices have been raised and other benefits have been cut, leading to growing dissent.
Just wanted to share something Putin said today, and also clarify RT's incorrect and gentle translation. ;)
In the video Putin was asked by a journalist if perhaps it is time for the Russian counter-sanctions against the West to be mitigated a bit. RT translated Putin's answer as "No way!" While, what he actually said in Russian translates into American English in the following way. Just so there won't be any misunderstanding!
In the video Putin was asked by a journalist if perhaps it is time for the Russian counter-sanctions against the West to be mitigated a bit. RT translated Putin's answer as "No way!" While, what he actually said in Russian translates into American English in the following way. Just so there won't be any misunderstanding!
Keit said:Just wanted to share something Putin said today, and also clarify RT's incorrect and gentle translation. ;)
In the video Putin was asked by a journalist if perhaps it is time for the Russian counter-sanctions against the West to be mitigated a bit. RT translated Putin's answer as "No way!" While, what he actually said in Russian translates into American English in the following way. Just so there won't be any misunderstanding!
Yeah, they are translating it as Putin saying "no way, they can get lost". Is that closer to what he said or was it more vulgar?
Joe said:
Yes, closer. It wasn't vulgar. More "short, but accurate" as Putin said. Here is translation of "fig/figa" in Russian, btw.
Also, I am still hoping RT would make subtitles to the entire press conference, as this time Putin spoke in a particularly poignant and no BS way. As if time of polite diplomacy is over.
Nević Nenad
The Living Force
He gave them this:
In many cultures, other than western, it means: "no way you will get anything from me, its closed business" (and that is the polite version :) )
In many cultures, other than western, it means: "no way you will get anything from me, its closed business" (and that is the polite version :) )
angelburst29
The Living Force
The perfect moment of comic timing followed the meeting of the BRICS member states' leaders on Sunday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin was talking about US intelligence services’ “snooping and eavesdropping on everyone.”
The NSA’s Far Reach? Power Fails After Putin ‘Said Something Wrong’ (VIDEO)
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610171046396200-putin-discusses-us-spies/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9LvCRalCxc (3:21 min.)
Putin warned Russian journalists that the US National Security Agency (NSA) and allied surveillance departments were keeping an eye on them. "You are all objects of inquiries by the respective [intelligence] services," he said.
"You are the bearers of certain information," Putin continued. "You can hear something, see, talk to someone, freely speak over the phone." All information "is of interest" and is being "systematized, put together and analyzed — this is what the NSA is doing," Putin stated. The Russian president also noted that, according to former intelligence agents, the NSA operates in violation of US law, while in Russia intelligence agencies work in accordance with legal and constitutional norms. As he finished that statement, a brief blackout turned off the president's microphone. "I said something wrong apparently," the Russian leader joked.
Answering the question of whether Brazil's current president was recruited by US intelligence, Putin said he was neither aware nor interested in the topic.
Earlier, commenting on recent threats from US Vice President Joe Biden about the preparation of cyber attacks on Russia, Putin said, "you can expect whatever from our American friends."
US Considering New Anti-Russia Sanctions Over Syria Campaign - Kerry
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610161046393997-us-russia-syria-sanctions/
The United States is considering a round of anti-Russia sanctions over the situation in Syria's Aleppo which Moscow is trying to rid of militants, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday.
"We are considering additional sanctions and we are also, let me make it clear, President Obama has not taken any options off the table at this point in time. So we'll see where we are in the next few days in the context of the discussions we are having," Kerry told journalists following an international meeting on the Syrian settlement in London, as quoted by the Sky News broadcaster.
Multiple Deaths Reported in Blast at Refugee Camp Near Syria-Jordan Border
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610161046395711-Syria-blast-border-Jordan/
Reuters reported that at least three people were killed and 20 others were wounded in the incident at the Rukban camp.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the checkpoint is manned by the Jaish al-Ashair rebel group. Hala Akhbar, a website linked to Jordan's military, also reported the blast, according to the Washington Post. A rebel official said that Daesh was suspected in the attack. The camp is home to around 75,000 people displaced by fighting in the region.
The NSA’s Far Reach? Power Fails After Putin ‘Said Something Wrong’ (VIDEO)
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610171046396200-putin-discusses-us-spies/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9LvCRalCxc (3:21 min.)
Putin warned Russian journalists that the US National Security Agency (NSA) and allied surveillance departments were keeping an eye on them. "You are all objects of inquiries by the respective [intelligence] services," he said.
"You are the bearers of certain information," Putin continued. "You can hear something, see, talk to someone, freely speak over the phone." All information "is of interest" and is being "systematized, put together and analyzed — this is what the NSA is doing," Putin stated. The Russian president also noted that, according to former intelligence agents, the NSA operates in violation of US law, while in Russia intelligence agencies work in accordance with legal and constitutional norms. As he finished that statement, a brief blackout turned off the president's microphone. "I said something wrong apparently," the Russian leader joked.
Answering the question of whether Brazil's current president was recruited by US intelligence, Putin said he was neither aware nor interested in the topic.
Earlier, commenting on recent threats from US Vice President Joe Biden about the preparation of cyber attacks on Russia, Putin said, "you can expect whatever from our American friends."
US Considering New Anti-Russia Sanctions Over Syria Campaign - Kerry
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610161046393997-us-russia-syria-sanctions/
The United States is considering a round of anti-Russia sanctions over the situation in Syria's Aleppo which Moscow is trying to rid of militants, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday.
"We are considering additional sanctions and we are also, let me make it clear, President Obama has not taken any options off the table at this point in time. So we'll see where we are in the next few days in the context of the discussions we are having," Kerry told journalists following an international meeting on the Syrian settlement in London, as quoted by the Sky News broadcaster.
Multiple Deaths Reported in Blast at Refugee Camp Near Syria-Jordan Border
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610161046395711-Syria-blast-border-Jordan/
Reuters reported that at least three people were killed and 20 others were wounded in the incident at the Rukban camp.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the checkpoint is manned by the Jaish al-Ashair rebel group. Hala Akhbar, a website linked to Jordan's military, also reported the blast, according to the Washington Post. A rebel official said that Daesh was suspected in the attack. The camp is home to around 75,000 people displaced by fighting in the region.
