Monday, October 5, 2015

Gegenpropaganda zum Russischen Vorgehen in Syrien

So who is in Russia’s crosshairs in Syria?

EDITOR'S CHOICE | 05.10.2015 | 16:00

The media frenzy in the countries of the anti-Assad coalition over the Russian air strikes on Al-Qaeda-linked guerrillas in Syria has made one very significant fact quite clear. Along with the nervous reaction of the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some other countries it is irrefutable proof that the interests of seemingly opposing forces – NATO and radical jihadism – are actually tightly intertwined. And their relations go far beyond the Syrian crisis.

Ultimately it makes no practical sense to differentiate Daesh and Jabhat Al Nusra merely on the basis of the fact that those extremist groups differ about the manner in which it is necessary to kill infidels. If Jabhat Al Nusra enjoys the confidence of some US senators, then the real problem might be the educational level of those senators (try to disconnect Senator McCain from his handlers and speechwriters and you will quickly see what kind of person he really is). Once again: Daesh and Jabhat Al Nusra are cut from the same cloth. And we should agree yet before acting: when determining military targets, all decisions must be based specifically on military considerations and situation on the ground and not on American vision of the future of “democracy in Syria.”

The military disposition in Syria is crystal clear. Primarily, blockade of the cities of Homs and Hama should be lifted and direct land route from Damascus to the Turkish border to be put under control of pro-government forces. The first strikes of the Russian AF were dispatched precisely in that direction.

In recent months, the terrorist groups in Syria were moving towards the sites of actual or planned air bases of the Syrian army. All major combat operations have now been moved to the Hama Governorate where Jabhat Al Nusra is particularly active. Thus the starting Syrian army counter-offensive in that area is strongly supported by the Russian AF. Moreover, the Syrian 4th Armored Division has just received T-90 tanks as well as BTR-80 and GAZ Tigr armored vehicles from Russia. Once operation is completed there, Syrian regains control over all ports and military air bases.

The counter-offensive near Hama will very quickly make it possible to figure out whether the plans to drive Jabhat Al Nusra into the desert are workable. That might not be consistent with the stated goal of battling Daesh, but in the field everyone understands that it is not possible to expel Islamists into the desert without lifting the blockades on the currently fortified regions. They have been – and remain – prime targets of the Russian air wings.

American and Saudi concerns have certainly nothing to do with the alleged civilian deaths from air strikes. The fact is that the billions spent by the royal family of Saudi Arabia, the CIA, and other agents in their attempts to oust Bashar al-Assad have literally been tossed away into the sand.

Following are a few facts to support this:

Hussein al-Ramahi, the head of the political commission of Hezbollah brigades in Iraq, has repeatedly asserted that the boxes of weapons and ammunition seized from Daesh have markings proving that they belong to Saudi Arabia.

Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, the deputy chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, was stating that US armed forces have been supplying Daesh troops with weapons and uniforms ever since the coalition was created.

During the battles for the Syrian city of Kobani, Iraqi and Syrian Kurds also claimed that they were in possession of video evidence proving that the Turks are assisting the Islamists by moving arms and ammunition through a security checkpoint on the Syrian-Turkish border and are even providing troops to reinforce Daesh divisions.

And in regard to the intrigues concocted by the monarchies, the US, and Turkey, I believe that the Islamists being bombed by Russia will actually soon be supplied with more up-to-date weaponry. I will not be surprised if the militants turn out to have not only portable air-defense systems, but also some that are only more or less portable. What’s more, these supplies will be delivered directly from Turkey.

No doubt that the Western intelligence agencies have already ordered their sponsored cells to elaborate resonant terrorist attacks against Russian interests worldwide. This shameless tactics will bring no other result but persuading everyone still hesitating about the real masters of ‘Caliphate Project’ that the black Daesh/Al_Qaeda banner is being knit far outside the Muslim world.

Die Verteidigungsministerin macht es möglich:Bundeswehr soll in Israel den Häuserkampf lernen

weiterlesen: http://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article145789159/Bundeswehr-soll-in-Israel-den-Haeuserkampf-lernen.html

German View on Syria, Merkel as Sphinx

Natalia MEDEN | 05.10.2015 | 00:00

Not too resourceful, she is reluctant to take risks: to put it in one word, US ambassador to Germany calledher «Angela Teflon Merkel». This nickname misses the mark, because in reality Angela Merkel is a sphinx. Nobody can hold a candle to her when it comes to talking in riddles. She can say something that sounds mysterious and then you’re free to construe it anyway you like. You can never be sure you got the message right.

Take, for instance, her words about solving the Syria’s crisis, «…there can only be a solution with Russian and not without Russia». That’s exactly what she said on October 1 at the speech in Halle (eastern Germany) to mark the upcoming 25th anniversary of German reunification. What she meant is anyone’s guess. Perhaps, the German leader welcomed the beginning of Russian military operation in Syria? Or it may mean the opposite: the West needs Russia as an actor dancing to its tune. In this case the Merkel’s words could mean that the Moscow’s independent actions were out of place.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave a clue. Probably, the Chancellor meant the second interpretation. For instance, the head of German diplomacy found it relevant to use the podium of the United Nations General Assembly to warn Russia about unilateral steps taken in Syria. It would seem, it’s hard to rebuke Russia for going to Syria on it’s own. Before the United Nations General Assembly session Russia had launched an intensive diplomatic campaign. It had held many official meetings and vastly used all available diplomatic channels. The Russian leader discussed his initiative with the President of the United States. The German Minister fully ignored these obvious facts. At that, the website of German Foreign Ministry published a joint declaration of France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain and the United States where the governments of these countries express «deep concern with regard to the Russian military build-up in Syria and especially ‎the attacks by the Russian Air Force which led to civilian casualties.» No wonder, the declaration appeared on the website in English without translation. There is nothing to be surprised about and there is, actually, no need for comment.

Steinmeier made a speech at the UN General Assembly session in New York. Normally Germany shies away from outright criticism of Russia’s actions. It prefers lecturing. This approach is evidently inappropriate. «Instead of lone decisions by individual countries, most recently Russia, to start taking direct military action in Syria, we need Russia to take political action advocating transition in Syria», Steinmeier said. A honey tongue, a heart of gall! In his United Nations address Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit the nail right on the head saying the West is deceiving itself. It is impossible to «turn the rapacious tiger into a kitten», he stressed. The results of Western interventions into the Muslim world (from Afghanistan to Libya) confirm this truth. No matter that, the West continues with maniacal persistence to pursue the goal of toppling the legitimate head of state and regime change.

What should be done in Syria to stop bloodshed? According to Steinmeier, the brutality of the Assad dictatorship should end. The Islamic State should be broken. He believes that the main thing is to get rid of Assad. Of course, it is not declared in such a peremptory manner as the British usually do. For instance, they say that Assad is a greater evil than the Islamic State «jihad warriors» who have destroyed Palmira and publicly beheaded their enemies with fanaticism of Middle Ages torturers… The Islamic State terrorists openly say they want to slaughter all Christians and throw their bodies into the sea. Perhaps, the British believe this is the evil one can put up with, but I doubt they are ready to personally share the fate of Syrian Christians doomed to die in the hands of terrorists.

The German diplomat avoids such clumsiness, but the essence remains the same. The West magnanimously agrees to let the Syria President join the talks on peaceful management only to throw him later, so to speak, on the ash heap of history.

It may not be done in such a brutal way as in Libya, where Muammar Gaddafi was butchered by valiant freedom fighters. But what’s the difference? In France they have already launched legal proceedings to investigate the «crimes of Assad». It’s known how such legal proceedings are organized. It’s enough to remember the scandalous kangaroo tribunals established to sue Serbs.

«It’s great to know that Russia does not hesitate to act! We should be happy and grateful to the Russian government that puts money and effort to establish peace. We can only hope the United States and other Western powers will follow the example of Russia and join the fight against the Islamic State», says an emotional reader’s comment on a German Zeit article reporting the first strikes of Russian aviation against the terrorist groups in Syria.

It would be naïve to believe that the majority of Germans think along the same lines. Especially in the conditions when German media makes people fear that the conflict between Russia and the West may exacerbate and migrant flows from Syria will increase as a result of… the Russian air strikes, you guessed it right. Refugees are a special issue for Germans. According to official data, 163 thousand people asked for asylum in September. Bavarian Internal Affairs Minister Joachim Herrmann has said 270-280 thousand people have entered Bavaria last month. Now the refugees from Syria account for the majority of those who come to Bavaria.

The Anglo-Saxons continue the old tradition to have Germans reined in. With usual hubris they condemn them for their barbaric xenophobia: for instance, the Canadian government has formally alerted its citizens of the dangers of visiting Eastern Germany in view of growing neo-Nazi sentiments there. No doubt, this warning was not actually addressed to the Canadian citizens (they hardly face any threat in Germany) but rather to German elite. It’s worth to note that the Canadian government did not notice mass protests under Nazi slogans taking place in the neighboring Poland.

With all this propaganda spread, many Germans ask themselves a question: why does Steinmeier criticize Russia for taking unilateral actions? Why not the United States? «He does not want to do it? Or, may be, he is not allowed? If so, who told him not to? In what manner was it done? Is he under pressure? Is Germany also under pressure? Could anybody explain? I’m curious!» – a Spiegel internet-forum user asks persistently.

These are interesting, but, alas, rhetoric questions.

Tags: Germany Middle East Syria Merkel
Source: http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/10/05/german-view-on-syria-merkel-as-sphinx.html

Chinese president's initiatives at UN "generous opportunity" for developing countries

News | 05.10.2015 | 00:05

Xinhua - Chinese President Xi Jinping's initiatives at the United Nations are "generous" and "big chance" for the developing countries on the path of progress and development, Egyptian experts said.

On Sept. 28, Xi announced at the UN headquarters that China will set up a fund, with initial contribution of two billion U.S. dollars, to support South-South Cooperation and assist developing countries in implementing their post-2015 development agenda.

"The Chinese initiative provides giant projects for the developing countries and constitutes part of the Chinese diplomacy for widening its cooperation with those countries," said Mohamed Farahat, a political analyst from Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

China is aware of the obstacles facing the South-South countries, Farahat said.

During his speech, Xi said China will exempt the debt of the outstanding intergovernmental interest-free loans due by the end of 2015 owed by the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries and small island developing countries.

The Chinese president also put forth China's "Six 100s" initiative, in which China will make available to other developing countries in the next five years 100 poverty reduction programs, 100 agricultural cooperation projects, 100 trade promotion and aid programs, 100 environmental protection and climate change programs, 100 hospitals and clinics, and 100 schools and vocational training centers.

Farahat reiterated that the Chinese development aids have "no political premises," while all the assistance granted by Europe, the United States, the IMF and the World Bank are associated with certain political terms.

The initiative is "big opportunity" for the recipient countries of the Chinese aids and will help in achieving renaissance for those countries, he said.

Farahat pointed out that China is concentrating its aids on the infrastructure projects, describing it as "very important benefits," adding that the developing countries should create proper environment to maximize the influence of such aids.

Farahat added that Xi's announcement will also increase China's credibility among the developing countries.

"The initiative represented the developing trend of a new era, and paved a way for the community of common destiny for mankind," he added.

China also has several other initiatives such as the Belt and Road initiative and the establishment of the New Development Bank of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS.

China's ongoing initiatives proved that they are far from just being a slogan, but embodied China's responsibility of promoting equitable development, Farahat added.

Meanwhile, Diaa al-Fiqqy, secretary general of Chinese-Egyptian commerce chamber board of directors, deemed the aids announced by Xi as "great, generous and very important" initiative for the developing countries which see China as an example of power and model of success.

Al-Fiqqy said through its aids, China performs an essential role in regaining balance and supporting development in the developing countries.

He agreed with Farahat by saying that the aids announced by Xi proved Beijing's will in helping the developing countries.

"China's actions aren't isolated from its statements and initiatives," he said.

The Chinese aids will push other countries to take their responsibilities which will by the end pour in the interests of the developing countries, he added.

Israeli jets launch new raids on Gaza Strip

How long will they get away which such blatant violations of human rights? blogger

News | 05.10.2015 | 11:25

PressTV - Israeli fighter jets have launched airstrikes on an area in the central Gaza Strip while another Palestinian is shot to death by Israeli troops.

The early Monday attacks, which hit two sites belonging to the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, were carried out after rockets were allegedly fired from the enclave towards an uninhabited area in southern Israel.

There has been no word on the possible casualties and damage inflicted by those strikes.

Meanwhile, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian youth during clashes in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.

According to doctors and police sources, Huzeifa Othman Suleiman, 18, succumbed to his wounds after being transported to a local hospital.

Suleiman is at least the third Palestinian killed by Israeli troops since Saturday, amid simmering tensions between Israel and the Palestinians in the area.

Earlier in the day, Israeli forces fatally shot a young Palestinian, identified as Fadi Samir Mustafa Alloun, near the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds (Jerusalem), citing he was involved in stabbing of an Israeli illegal settler.

On Saturday, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian claiming he was complicit in the stabbing.

Israel’s 50-day military aggression against the Gaza Strip, which started in early July and ended on August 26 last year with a truce that took effect after indirect negotiations in the Egyptian capital Cairo, left nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children, dead. Over 11,100 others – including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people – were also wounded.

Tags: Gaza Strip Israel

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