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

[angelburst29]

Guess the americans won't like that either

Just like they are not going to like Assad coming to Russia for a flash visit ...

.... AND a Dinner engagement. Russian hospitality - at it's best.


Syria's Assad flies to Moscow to thank Russia's Putin for air strikes
http://news.yahoo.com/syrias-assad-met-putin-moscow-discuss-military-campaign-064706283--business.html (Photo Gallery)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew to Moscow on Tuesday evening to personally thank Russia's Vladimir Putin for his military support, in a surprise visit that underlined how Russia has become a major player in the Middle East.

It was Assad's first foreign trip since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, and came three weeks after Russia launched a campaign of air strikes against Islamist militants in Syria that has also bolstered Assad's forces.

The Kremlin kept the visit quiet until Wednesday morning, broadcasting a meeting between the two men in the Kremlin and releasing a transcript of an exchange they had. It did not say whether the Syrian leader was still in Moscow or had returned home.

Putin said he hoped progress on the military front would be followed by moves toward a political solution in Syria, bolstering Western hopes Moscow will use its increased influence on Damascus to cajole Assad into talking to his opponents.

Iran has also long been a strong Syrian government ally, and the fact that Assad chose to visit Moscow before Tehran is likely to be interpreted in some circles as a sign that Russia has now emerged as Assad's most important foreign friend.

Russian state TV made the meeting its top news item, showing Assad, dressed in a dark suit, talking to Putin, together with the Russian foreign and defense ministers.

The Kremlin has cast its intervention in Syria, its biggest in the Middle East since the 1991 Soviet collapse, as a common sense move designed to roll back 'international terrorism' in the face of what it says is ineffective action from Washington.

It is likely to use Assad's visit to buttress its domestic narrative that its air campaign is just and effective and to underline its assertion that the foray shows it has shaken off the Ukraine crisis to become a serious global player.

GRATITUDE

"First of all I wanted to express my huge gratitude to the whole leadership of the Russian Federation for the help they are giving Syria," Assad told Putin.

"If it was not for your actions and your decisions the terrorism which is spreading in the region would have swallowed up a much greater area and spread over an even greater territory."

Assad, who looked relaxed, emphasized how Russia was acting according to international law, praising Moscow's political approach to the Syrian crisis which he said had ensured it had not played out according to "a more tragic scenario."

Ultimately, he said, the resolution to the crisis was a political one.

"Terrorism is a real obstacle to a political solution," said Assad. "And of course the whole (Syrian) people want to take part in deciding the fate of their state, and not just the leadership."

Putin said Russia was ready to help find a political solution and hailed the Syrian people for standing up to the militants "almost on their own," saying the Syrian army had notched up serious battlefield success in recent times.

He said Russia had felt compelled to act in Syria because of the threat Islamist militants fighting Assad's forces there posed to its own security.

"Unfortunately on Syrian territory there are about 4,000 people from the former Soviet Union - at a minimum - fighting government forces with weapons in their hands," said Putin.

"We, it goes without saying, can not allow them to turn up on Russian territory after they have received battlefield experience and undergone ideological instruction."

Putin said that positive developments on the military front in Syria would provide a basis for a long-term political solution, involving all political forces, ethnic and religious groups.

"We are ready to make our contribution not only in the course of military actions in the fight against terrorism, but during the political process," Putin said, according to the transcript released by the Kremlin.

"This will, of course, be in close contact with other world powers and with countries of the region which are interested in a peaceful resolution of the conflict," Putin said.

 

[angelburst29]

Turkey buzzes weakened Greece

In growing numbers Ankara’s fighter jets test Greek territorial claims.
By ELISABETH BRAW 7/23/15, 5:30 AM CET

[...] Turkey is in the midst of an extremely ambitious air force modernization program that has already seen it upgrade its existing fleet of over 100 F-16 fighter jets. In January, the government approved the purchase of four new F-35 Lockheed Martin fighter jets as well as five Boeing Chinook helicopters; it plans to buy a total of 100 F-35s.

Turkey wants to purchase "another One Hundred (new) F-35 Lockheed Martin Fighter Jets?"

Pilots who eject from new $350billion F-35 stealth fighter jet 'will break their necks' in chilling echo of Top Gun scene
_http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3260675/Pilots-eject-new-350billion-stealth-fighter-break-necks.html#ixzz3niRaRddH

F-35 Fatal Ejection Fear Riles Congress
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/2015/10/04/f-35-fatal-ejection-fear-riles-congress/73219260/

Some real interesting developments in Canada:

Canada's Trudeau will dump $130 million F-35 stealth jets Australia wants to buy
http://www.smh.com.au/world/canadas-trudeau-will-dump-130-million-stealth-jets-australia-wants-to-buy-20151020-gke0u7.html

Canada's new government will dump the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the troubled and expensive stealth jets Australia has committed $24 billion to buy.

The victorious Liberals leader Justin Trudeau has also pledged to put a stop to his country's role in bombing Islamic State targets in strife-torn Syria, where the Australian air force recently commenced operations, as well as Iraq.

Mr Trudeau vowed in September during the election campaign to open a fresh competition to replace Canada's ageing fighter jets, rather than continuing with the F-35 program.

"There are many other fighters at much lower price points that we can use that have been proven, that we will actually be able to deliver in a timely way," he said at the time.

Australia and Canada had joined with the US in a nine-nation deal to build what has been dubbed the world's most expensive weapon.

Mr Abbott last year committed Australia to buy an extra 58 F-35 fighters - making a fleet of 72 - at a cost of around US$98 million ($134.8 million) for each plane.

But it remains unclear whether the promise to withdraw Canada from the project will add to the cost of the fighters for the remaining partners.

Mr Harper had been an enthusiastic supporter of the F-35, pledging to buy 65 of the jets in 2010, only to later put the purchase on hold amid doubts over cost overruns and technical difficulties.

The development of the F-35 has been dogged by controversy and claims it will not measure up against the latest Russian and Chinese fighter jets, although officials insist the plane is state-of-the-art.

Rodger Shanahan, a Middle East specialist with the Lowy Institute, said Canada's withdrawal from combat missions in Syria was unlikely to have much practical effect.

He said Russia's participation was far more significant, along with that of the Iranians, forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and various militias.

More info on Canada's newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/justin-trudeau-did-canada-just-elect-its-own-version-of-daddy-malcolm-turnbull-20151020-gke5v1.html

 

[goyacobol]

Looks like Justin Trudeau is sending some anti-Obamma/US messages as here:

Justin Trudeau Tells Obama That Canada Will Withdraw Jets From Anti-ISIS Coalition

Just sell those F-35 Jets to Turkey and let them get the broken necks I guess.

But a SOTT article outlines his party's basic goals and tactics which are not much different than the other Canadian parties I suppose.

Canadian-Election-2015-Telling-the-truth-costs-political-candidates-their-nomination

It's politics as usual but maybe a few attempts at pulling away from the US agenda by other countries might help or just be window dressing. It is interesting to watch I think.

 

[Matai]

Here is another great video of Putin discussing Crimea and Russia's right to an independent foreign policy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrolgvsHmY4

"In March 2014, after a violent government coup in Kiev, Crimeans voted for independence from the Ukrainian state, seceding to become a part of the Russian Federation. Crimea was gifted to the Ukraine in 1954 by Soviet leader Kruschev, without the foresight that one day the Soviet Union may not be one unified territory. The majority of Crimeans today still identify as ethnic Russians.

However, accusations of “annexation” replaced principles of legal self-determination in Western media.

In his talk at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin describes the situation with a quote; “that which is permissible to Jupiter, is not to the ox.’
In Latin; “aliis si licet, tibi non licet” was coined by Terence, a playwright of the Roman Republic. The phrase is often translated as "Gods may do what cattle may not". It indicates the existence of a double standard and essentially means "what is permitted to one person or group, is not permitted to everyone.” Putin goes on to differentiate the hypothetical ox from a bear, as a mascot of the Russian Federation.

“The bear will not seek permission” is often misquoted as an aggressive, expansionist stance on behalf of Putin. In context however, it simply means Russia will not seek permission from the ‘Gods’ in the defence of its national interests and its people.

He concludes by reiterating that Russia is not seeking to expand its territories – of those it has plenty – and states that the only type of global leadership Russia will assume is the leadership over the imposition of international law in global politics."

 

[goyacobol]

Here is another great video of Putin discussing Crimea and Russia's right to an independent foreign policy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrolgvsHmY4

"In March 2014, after a violent government coup in Kiev, Crimeans voted for independence from the Ukrainian state, seceding to become a part of the Russian Federation. Crimea was gifted to the Ukraine in 1954 by Soviet leader Kruschev, without the foresight that one day the Soviet Union may not be one unified territory. The majority of Crimeans today still identify as ethnic Russians.

However, accusations of “annexation” replaced principles of legal self-determination in Western media.

In his talk at the Valdai Discussion Club, Putin describes the situation with a quote; “that which is permissible to Jupiter, is not to the ox.’
In Latin; “aliis si licet, tibi non licet” was coined by Terence, a playwright of the Roman Republic. The phrase is often translated as "Gods may do what cattle may not". It indicates the existence of a double standard and essentially means "what is permitted to one person or group, is not permitted to everyone.” Putin goes on to differentiate the hypothetical ox from a bear, as a mascot of the Russian Federation.

“The bear will not seek permission” is often misquoted as an aggressive, expansionist stance on behalf of Putin. In context however, it simply means Russia will not seek permission from the ‘Gods’ in the defence of its national interests and its people.

He concludes by reiterating that Russia is not seeking to expand its territories – of those it has plenty – and states that the only type of global leadership Russia will assume is the leadership over the imposition of international law in global politics."

That was excellent. Don't you wish more people would get their news from RT or any other "real" sources that tell it like it is? I will suggest that to as many will be "open" to it.

 

[angelburst29]

This event happened in Iraq and is being reported by Reuters via Yahoo (stating it was posted 28 minutes ago) . Problem is - "half of the text is blackened out" quoting Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook?

U.S commando killed in raid to free hostages of ISIS in Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/u-special-forces-mount-hostage-rescue-operation-iraq-130113325.html#

WASHINGTON/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - One member of a U.S. special operations force was killed during an overnight mission to rescue hostages held by Islamic State militants in northern Iraq, the first American to die in ground combat with the militant group, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Sixty-nine hostages were rescued in the action, which targeted an Islamic State prison around 7 kilometers north of the town of Hawija, according to the security council of the Kurdistan region, whose counterterrorism forces took part.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said at a news briefing the operation did not mark a change in U.S. tactics in the war on Islamic State militants, who pose the biggest security threat to Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

"I would not suggest that this is something that is now going to happen on a regular basis, but I do think it is

(Large black blank space covering text.)

the U.S. defense official said.

The U.S. serviceman was shot during the mission and taken to the Kurdistan regional capital Erbil, where he died, the U.S. defense official said. He was the first American serviceman killed in ground combat in Iraq since the United States withdrew its forces in 2011.

U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, said the possibility that Americans were among the hostages was not a consideration in carrying out the operation.

Some of the rescued people said Islamic State militants had told them they would be executed after morning prayers, Warren said.

The U.S. forces were acting as advisors then were sucked into the battle when Kurdish fighters came under heavy fire, he explained.

"They were pinned down and they were beginning to take casualties, so the Americans in the heat of battle made a decision," he said.

Cook said he was not aware at this point that there were any Americans among those who were rescued. "My understanding is there was no indication there were specifically Americans present here.

"The understanding was that there were a number of hostages, although we were not sure exactly who was among that group, but that they had been held there for some time and again the information we had received ... was that those hostages did fear for their lives, that there was the threat of a mass execution perhaps within hours."

He said the mission had been requested by the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Sources in the Hawija area said they heard blasts and gunfire overnight and that Islamic State militants had withdrawn from view after the raid, apparently relocating their bases.

Five U.S. helicopters launched from Erbil were involved in the mission, and the United States was providing helicopter lift, intelligence support, air strike support, and advisory support to the peshmerga, the U.S. defense official said.

Air strikes were launched before and after the mission to block approaches to the prison and destroy it afterward, the U.S. defense official said.

Hawija is a stronghold of Islamic State militants who have captured several dozen Kurdish peshmerga fighters in battle.

Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has been for more than a year the target of daily air strikes in Iraq and Syria by a U.S.-led coalition.

The United States' former Cold War foe Russia has been conducting airstrikes in Syria against opponents of its closest regional ally Bashar al-Assad, as Iraq questions American resolve to fight militants on its soil.

Russia has also joined a Baghdad-based intelligence cell along with Iran, Iraq and Syria that has provided information on Islamic State targets.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces intense pressure from the ruling coalition and powerful Shi'ite militias to request Russian air strikes on Islamic State, which controls a third of the major OPEC oil producer.

 

[Cosmos]

Today Putin held a speech at Valdai conference and later answered questions:

http://<iframe width="560" height="...Fc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I have not watched it yet, but from what I heard so far, it was another exceptional and bold discussion/speech.

This article quotes a juicy part of what Putin had to say on the conference today:

http://observer.com/2015/10/vladimir-putin-says-america-is-lying/

Here is what he said about the US and the Iran "threat":

“Iran’s nuclear problem has been solved. From Iran, there is no threat and there never had been,”

"The only reason that was used by U.S. — to start building the Missile Defense Shield – disappeared. We [Russia] might have expected that a system of MDS development to be halted."

“Some days ago the first tests of USA’s MDS were conducted in Europe. What does that mean? It means that when we were arguing with our American partners we were right. Russia was right from the beginning that the American Missile Defense Shield program was being developed with the goal to destroy strategic balance and to have a way to dictate her power to everyone. They were trying to deceive us, and the whole world, once again. And, to put it simply, we were lied to.”

Holy Moly! You can hardly get any bolder and exact... Looks like Putin is step by step letting out the crux of the matter and tells it quite openly:

The US is deceiving the whole world and lies to the people.

Can't wait to watch the whole thing

 

[Windmill knight]

This event happened in Iraq and is being reported by Reuters via Yahoo (stating it was posted 28 minutes ago) . Problem is - "half of the text is blackened out" quoting Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook?

I can see the full text. Here it is:

U.S commando killed in raid to free hostages of ISIS in Iraq

Reuters By Phil Stewart and Isabel Coles

WASHINGTON/ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - One member of a U.S. special operations force was killed during an overnight mission to rescue hostages held by Islamic State militants in northern Iraq, the first American to die in ground combat with the militant group, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Sixty-nine hostages were rescued in the action, which targeted an Islamic State prison around 7 kilometers north of the town of Hawija, according to the security council of the Kurdistan region, whose counterterrorism forces took part.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said at a news briefing the operation did not mark a change in U.S. tactics in the war on Islamic State militants, who pose the biggest security threat to Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

"I would not suggest that this is something that is now going to happen on a regular basis, but I do think it is symbolic of the kinds of efforts that we are taking on behalf of our partners," he told reporters.

It was the most significant raid against Islamic State since May, when American special operations forces killed one of its senior leaders, Abu Sayyaf from Tunisia, in a raid in Syria.

The U.S. rescue mission unfolded amid mounting concerns in Washington over increasing Russian intervention in the Middle East.

The hostages rescued in the raid were all Arabs, including local residents and Islamic State fighters held as suspected spies, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

The official told Reuters that around 20 of the hostages were members of Iraqi security forces.

"Some of the remainder were Daesh (Islamic State) ... fighters that Daesh thought were spies," the official said. "The rest of them were citizens of the local town".

More than 20 Islamic State militants were killed and six detained, the security council said.

Islamic State called the operation "unsuccessful" but acknowledged casualties among its fighters.

In a statement distributed online on Thursday by supporters, it said U.S. gunships had shelled areas around the prison to prevent the arrival of reinforcements, then clashed with militants for two hours.

The statement confirmed U.S. claims that some guards had been killed and others detained in the operation.

"Dozens" of U.S. troops were involved in the mission, a U.S. defense official said, declining to be more specific about the number.

"It was a deliberately planned operation, but it was also done with the knowledge that imminent action was needed to save the lives of these people," the U.S. defense official said.

The U.S. serviceman was shot during the mission and taken to the Kurdistan regional capital Erbil, where he died, the U.S. defense official said. He was the first American serviceman killed in ground combat in Iraq since the United States withdrew its forces in 2011.

U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, said the possibility that Americans were among the hostages was not a consideration in carrying out the operation.

Some of the rescued people said Islamic State militants had told them they would be executed after morning prayers, Warren said.

The U.S. forces were acting as advisors then were sucked into the battle when Kurdish fighters came under heavy fire, he explained.

"They were pinned down and they were beginning to take casualties, so the Americans in the heat of battle made a decision," he said.

Cook said he was not aware at this point that there were any Americans among those who were rescued. "My understanding is there was no indication there were specifically Americans present here.

"The understanding was that there were a number of hostages, although we were not sure exactly who was among that group, but that they had been held there for some time and again the information we had received ... was that those hostages did fear for their lives, that there was the threat of a mass execution perhaps within hours."

He said the mission had been requested by the Kurdistan Regional Government.

Sources in the Hawija area said they heard blasts and gunfire overnight and that Islamic State militants had withdrawn from view after the raid, apparently relocating their bases.

Five U.S. helicopters launched from Erbil were involved in the mission, and the United States was providing helicopter lift, intelligence support, air strike support, and advisory support to the peshmerga, the U.S. defense official said.

Air strikes were launched before and after the mission to block approaches to the prison and destroy it afterward, the U.S. defense official said.

Hawija is a stronghold of Islamic State militants who have captured several dozen Kurdish peshmerga fighters in battle.

Islamic State, also known as ISIS, has been for more than a year the target of daily air strikes in Iraq and Syria by a U.S.-led coalition.

The United States' former Cold War foe Russia has been conducting airstrikes in Syria against opponents of its closest regional ally Bashar al-Assad, as Iraq questions American resolve to fight militants on its soil.

Russia has also joined a Baghdad-based intelligence cell along with Iran, Iraq and Syria that has provided information on Islamic State targets.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces intense pressure from the ruling coalition and powerful Shi'ite militias to request Russian air strikes on Islamic State, which controls a third of the major OPEC oil producer.

(Additional reporting by Yeganeh Torbati and David Alexander in Washington and Stephen Kalin in Baghdad; Editing by Michael Georgy, Toni Reinhold)

 

[Cosmos]

Meanwhile former US-president Jimmy Carter confessed openly that he gave Putin US-Maps (that he gathered through his powers) of the ISIS situation in Syria:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/jimmy-carter-vladimir-putin-maps-isis/2015/10/21/id/697287/

Moskau responded by saying that Carter indeed provided those maps:
http://de.sputniknews.com/politik/20151022/305122387/russland-syrien-carter.html

I think Carter knows full well what is happening with america and wants to counteract it:
http://mic.com/articles/125813/jimmy-carter-tells-oprah-america-is-no-longer-a-democracy-now-an-oligarchy

Great!

 

[bjorb]

(Meanwhile former US-president Jimmy Carter confessed openly that he gave Putin US-Maps (that he gathered through his powers))

Still some reasonable voices of influences left in the US? Would it be safe to assume that he gathered this info through a network of mind-liked people in positions of power? Sharing intelligence information with the enemy is committing treason. People don’t take risks like that unless they believe in something greater than themselves.

Putin may call their American associates ‘partners’ but surely he would be on the lookout for true friends within the US power structures and everywhere else.

 

[goyacobol]

This is really getting more interesting by at least the hour. I did see the U.S commando killed in raid to free hostages of ISIS in Iraq incident on RT television news before I just saw it here.

A couple of other events that have just happened with Netanyahu and visits to Moscow and Berlin:

Outrage over Holocaust comments intensifies as Netanyahu meets Kerry
Netanyahu got into some hot water with this statement:

“Hitler didn’t want to exterminate the Jews at the time, he wanted to expel the Jews,” said Netanyahu. “And Haj Amin al-Husseini went to Hitler and said: ‘If you expel them, they’ll all come here [to Palestine].’” According to Netanyahu, Hitler then asked: “What should I do with them?” and the mufti replied: “Burn them.”

Meeting with Kerry the article further states:

A senior official travelling with Kerry said the secretary would use the talks in Germany on Thursday to try to change the tone of the public discourse between Israel and the Palestinians and clarify the status of the Temple Mount.

Both Netanyahu and his senior officials say the violence in recent weeks is the result of Palestinian incitement alone – not settlement building or the occupation – an argument that Israeli prime minister appears to have seriously damaged with his own appeal to incendiary rhetoric.

While refusing to directly criticise Netanyahu for his remarks, Kerry’s spokesman, John Kirby, said: “The scholarly evidence does not support [Netanyahu’s] comments.”

Speaking ahead of his meeting with Kerry, Netanyahu said: “There is no question this wave of attacks is driven directly by incitement, incitement by Hamas, incitement from the Islamist movement in Israel and incitement, I am sorry to say, from President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority.”

Kerry was more circumspect and did not single out Abbas for blame. But he also did not address the Israeli prime minister’s Holocaust comments, saying only: “We have to stop the incitement, we have to stop the violence.”

It is like watching strange bedfellows getting together. Netanyahu also listened to Merkel's speech stating that Germany was responsible for the holocaust after making the historically inaccurate comment above.

Then Netanyahu also made a 2nd visit to Moscow after the Russian intervention in Syria:

Netanyahu Goes to Moscow

"As you know," Netanyahu said to Putin yesterday, "in recent years, and particularly in recent months, Iran and Syria have been arming the extremist Islamic terrorist organization Hezbollah with advanced weapons, aimed at us, and over the years thousands of rockets and missiles have been fired against our cities. At the same time, Iran, under the auspices of the Syrian army, is attempting to build a second terrorist front against us from the Golan Heights."

Accordingly, Netanyahu added, "Our policy is to prevent these weapons transfers, and to prevent the creation of a terrorist front and attacks on us from the Golan Heights."

Putin chuckled at the notion, saying that the Syrian government has its hands full dealing with rebel forces and ISIS. "We know," he said with a residual smirk, "the Syrian army is in a situation such that it is incapable of opening a new front." However, he added, "I understand your concern and I am very pleased that you have come here to discuss all issues in detail."

Smirks are appropriate at times I think. ;D

 

[angelburst29]

This event happened in Iraq and is being reported by Reuters via Yahoo (stating it was posted 28 minutes ago) . Problem is - "half of the text is blackened out" quoting Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook?

I can see the full text. Here it is:

Thanks Windmill Knight! I did check Reuters Main Page before posting and didn't see it listed (under the Yahoo title) and became even more curious - as to what was blotted out. Thanks for listing the "full" article.


Syria crisis: US attacks Moscow welcome for Assad
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34595409

The White House has strongly condemned a visit to Moscow by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

A spokesman criticised Russia for putting on a "red carpet welcome".

The Syrian leader's trip on Tuesday came three weeks after Russia began air strikes in Syria against Islamic State militants and other forces.

It was Mr Assad's first overseas trip since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011. The conflict has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives.

On Thursday, a team of Russian MPs is due to meet President Assad and the head of the Syrian parliament in Damascus.

While in Moscow, Mr Assad made a point of expressing his gratitude for Russia's military intervention in the conflict.

He said Russia's involvement had stopped "terrorism" becoming "more widespread and harmful" in Syria.

For his part, Mr Putin said Moscow's hope was that a "long-term resolution can be achieved on the basis of a political process with the participation of all political forces, ethnic and religious groups".

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that by hosting the Syrian leader, President Putin was sending a clear message to the West - that Moscow is a key player in the Middle East, and that there can be no solution to the Syrian conflict without Russia's involvement.

'Emboldening'

"We view the red carpet welcome for Assad, who has used chemical weapons against his own people, at odds with the stated goal by the Russians for a political transition in Syria," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters.

A state department official said it was not surprised by the visit, but the main US concern was Russia's continued military support, which he said had emboldened the Assad government - something that would only serve to lengthen the civil war.

In the wake of Mr Assad's surprise visit, President Putin spoke to a number of Middle Eastern leaders to brief them.

They included the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which give support to Syrian rebels.

Mr Putin also spoke to the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, Russian news agencies said

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that after the visit "the Syrian government has no legitimacy left".

Analysis: Diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus

President Assad's surprise visit to Moscow represents a sign of growing confidence for the embattled Syrian president.

Firstly he feels it safe to leave Damascus for the first time since the civil war in Syria erupted. It is also a visible symbol of Russia's confidence in the current Syrian regime.

The visit leaves little doubt that for now at least President Putin is intent on shoring up Mr Assad's position.

But the trip may also mark a new stage in Russia's efforts to roll out a diplomatic plan alongside its military intervention in Syria. Mr Putin has been speaking to other regional players: the Turks, the Saudis, the Jordanians and the Egyptians.

There's a simple message here. The road to any diplomatic settlement now runs through Moscow and, for now at least, Mr Assad has to be part of any interim solution. (etc.)

 

[angelburst29]

Meanwhile former US-president Jimmy Carter confessed openly that he gave Putin US-Maps (that he gathered through his powers) of the ISIS situation in Syria:

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/jimmy-carter-vladimir-putin-maps-isis/2015/10/21/id/697287/

Moskau responded by saying that Carter indeed provided those maps:
http://de.sputniknews.com/politik/20151022/305122387/russland-syrien-carter.html

I think Carter knows full well what is happening with america and wants to counteract it:
http://mic.com/articles/125813/jimmy-carter-tells-oprah-america-is-no-longer-a-democracy-now-an-oligarchy

Great!

If you check the statements in the PDF copied below, of Former US President Carter's "Conflict Maps" - you will notice "why" he was allowed to share his Maps?

Carter Center Statement on Syria Conflict Maps
http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/syria-102215.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 22, 2015

ATLANTA — The Carter Center closely follows events in Syria and regularly publishes reports about conflict developments on its website. These reports are publicly available and are forwarded to all interested parties, including Syrians across political divides and governments in the west and in the region. A recent report details Russia's ongoing airstrikes in Syria, underscoring that the vast majority of the airstrikes do not target ISIS, as the Russian government asserts.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter brought the Carter Center's published reports and maps on the Syrian conflict to Russian President Vladimir Putin's attention on Oct. 15, and his office shared a copy of the same publicly available online report and maps with the Russian Embassy in Washington on Oct. 19.

PDF: Russia’s Intervention

October 8, 2015
On September 30th, Russia began conducting airstrikes across central and western Syria, followed by cruise missile strikes on October 7th. The first strikes were reported by numerous sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Syrian Civil Defense (or “White Helmets”), activists, opposition groups, and by video from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Despite Russian government assertions, these strikes, and the vast majority of subsequent strikes, which continue to present day, have largely targeted positions held by armed opposition groups near front lines with Syrian government and pro-government forces, and to a lesser extent ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham) positions.

Sources have been quick to blame much of the reported bombing during the past week on Russia, making definitive tracking of the location of strikes difficult. Despite the high level of chatter, video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense has proven to be an invaluable resource for locating strikes, as it enables geo-location based on satellite imagery. Additionally, a list of all recorded airstrikes during the period in question shows fewer total strikes in ISIS controlled territory than Russia states to have conducted.

While it is difficult to determine the exact targets of all Russian air strikes, at least two groups who have received support from the “Friends of Syria” diplomatic collective have reported being hit - the al-Izza Gathering and the Saqour al-Jabal Brigade, who both hold positions on front lines in southern Hama governorate. Both of these groups have been active in the areas targeted and have been supplied with U.S. manufactured BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles – weapons that have only been seen in the hands of those supported by the “Friends of Syria”. Additionally, a commander from Harakat Tahrir Homs, Iyad al-Deek, former commander of the Khaled ibn al-Walid Brigade, and one of the early defectors from the Syrian military, was killed in one of the first reported strikes. Many of the areas targeted also have a large contingent of fighters from Harakat Ahrar al-Sham, and Jabhat al-Nusra, who have been principle actors in the recent opposition advances against government positions in northwestern Syria.

A significant minority of reported Russian strikes have been reported on ISIS-controlled areas. These include at least three locations near the government-controlled Kweiris Military Airbase to the east of Aleppo city, an ISIS training camp near Raqqa city, and strikes on ISIS positions in central Syria near Tadmur (Palmyra) and the westernmost areas of ISIS control.

Given the emerging pattern of locations targeted, Russia seems to be focusing its airstrikes on the front lines in Lattakia, Hama, Idlib, and Homs, and to a lesser extent ISIS-held positions where doing so could enable an advance by Syrian government forces. These areas, which include central and eastern Syria, have the added appeal of being some of Syria’s top oil and gas producing regions. If the Syrian government is able to capitalize on Russian air support with ground offensives, it stands to dramatically improve its standing in what was until recently a largely stagnant conflict. While ground offensives have begun, so far, they have been directed toward “Friends of Syria” supported opposition positions in Hama governorate.

 

[goyacobol]

The Carter map given to Putin attributes the locations specified in the legend of the map to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. RT begs to differ with the MS media on the reliability of this one man organization who get "reports" from "sources" in Syria but hasn't been to Syria since 2000 :

http://<iframe width="560" height="...nc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Perhaps Jimmy Carter should do a bit more verification? :/

 

[Mr.Cyan]

Meanwhile russian minister of defence, Sergej Schoigu, is interested to establish a naval cooperation with cuba + russians training of cuban military:

http://de.sott.net/article/19671-Das-wird-den-USA-nicht-gefallen-Russland-will-kubanischer-Marine-helfen-und-kubanische-Militars-ausbilden

He said that "their military-technical cooperation is already developing fast and in a very good way". And he reminded that russia has [had in the past] great experience of training cuban military people. And he said "This aspect of cooperation has very good perspectives".

Guess the americans won't like that either

No the Americans won't like it one bit, especially if Russian electronic jamming weapons and S-300 or S-400 are installed. In hindsight the events of the eclipsing full moon and president Putin's speech at the UN, signalled perhaps the beginning of a row of bad days for the likes of David Rockefeller...

Indeed ! Im reminded of the Russian Victory Parade of the Great Patriotric War in the Red Square in May this year...Shoigu, a Buddhist, made a gesture of the Cross during the parade - i think they knew and were prepared then to already decisively act - i guess they were waiting for the right timing :) - as mentioned on Sott Radio behind the headlines - the timing of the Russian intervention was important - and in true warrior fashion they got it right...


Quoting a passage from Dmitry Orlov about the scene :

http://www.sott.net/article/296375-Americas-Achilles-Heel-and-Russias-indomitable-spirit

One small detail about the parade is nevertheless stunning: Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a Tuvan Buddhist and one of the most respected Russian leaders, who presided over the Emergencies Ministry prior to becoming the Defense Minister, did something none of his predecessors ever did: at the beginning of the ceremony, he made the sign of the cross, in the Russian Orthodox manner. This simple gesture transformed the parade from a display of military pomp to a sacred ritual. Then followed the slow march with two flags side by side: the Russian flag, and the Soviet flag that flew on top of the Reichstag in Berlin on Victory Day 70 years ago. The march was accompanied by a popular World War II song? Its title? “The Sacred War.”The message is clear: the Russian military, and the Russian people, have put themselves in God's hands, to do God's work, to once again sacrifice themselves to save the world from the ravages of an evil empire.