Thursday, October 15, 2015

Israel calls up reservists amid daily clashes in W Bank

Violence has been breaking almost daily since last week, especially in Jerusalem. The Israeli army deployed hundreds of troops in cities to assist police. Furthermore, the IDF has declared a new 62... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F4C6DbZZso
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PEACE IS A HUMAN RIGHT! US Peace Council Call for Action on Armistice Day Nov. 11th and Dec. 10th Human Rights Day

Monday, October 12^th, the coordinating committee of "Peace and Planet" met in New York and discussed common concerns about the present conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. There are 15 countries already involved in the fighting. Two Nuclear weapon powers are facing each other. But: The Danger of an all out Nuclear War can be stopped through unified action.

WORLD WAR III Can be and Must be Stopped! We therefore call the global peace movement:

Prepare Action for December 10^th, United Nations Human Rights Day under the slogan PEACE IS A HUMAN RIGHT!
Global actions on the local, regional and national level, leading up to December 10^th.

US Peace Council and other US peace organizations call for ACTION!

NOVEMBER 11, end of World War I, be a Day of GLOBAL ACTION!

Our Demands:

Immediate diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict in Syria involving all interested parties, especially the SYRIAN GOVERNMENT.
Removal of all NATO forces from the states bordering Russia. Dismantle NATO!
Remove ALL foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Our banner be

ALLIANCE TO STOP WORLD WAR 3.

WHERE EVER WE ARE, WE MUST RAISE OUR UNITED VOICES. TOGETHER!

Alfred L. Marder, President, US Peace Council, amistad.nai@rcn.com

Russia Takes Steps to Resolve Syrian Crisis

Nikolai BOBKIN | 16.10.2015 | 00:00

President Putin has made it clear that in Syria «we cannot take on and have never taken on unnecessary commitments». During an interview on the Voskresny Vecher («Sunday Night») program on the Rossiya 1 channel, Vladimir Putin reiterated that «our job is to stabilize the legitimate government and to create an environment conducive to pursuing political compromise». Russia is obliged to do this militarily, by providing air assistance to the Syrian government forces fighting on the ground.

US President Barack Obama acknowledges that events in Syria are creating huge problems for America’s partners and allies in the region and in Europe. Military intervention is not a silver bullet, claims Obama, who has been wagering on Assad’s forcible ouster throughout the many years of the Syrian civil war. He himself is not seeking political compromise at present. In the US they joke that «in Syria, Putin’s eating Obama’s lunch...»

While the Obama administration is arguing about how to help their partners who have been hit by Russian air strikes, Moscow has moved to revive a «contact group» on Syria, consisting of influential outside players. With UN approval, that group, which includes Russia, the US, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, might meet in October. That announcement was made by Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa.

Moscow has taken the first step in this direction. Vladimir Putin held a meeting in Sochi with Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which put Washington on edge – after all, no one has shown any interest in meeting with the American leader since the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces operation began in Syria. And that is certainly not because either Turkey or Saudi Arabia have moved closer to Russia on the Syrian issue. Both countries have condemned Moscow’s actions and have not budged from their earlier positions. The Saudi kingdom’s minister of foreign affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, has stated that Riyadh is ready for a dialog with the Kremlin, but that in the Saudis’ opinion, the Assad regime in Syria has no future. But that’s not the view in Moscow, where they have proposed that any decisions about the future of the country be left to the Syrian people.

However, this exchange of opinions is useful in and of itself, even if only to understand who it is that Riyadh is so insistent on supporting there.

The «Contact Group» on Syria was established in late August 2012, at the initiative of the Egyptian president. That delegation includes the most significant regional powers: Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. The first three countries on that list supported the armed Syrian opposition at that time, so the inclusion of Iran could be considered a significant event. Tehran has rejected the calls of the group’s other members for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad. But the structure of the Contact Group did not work back then – the US objected to contacts between its allies and Iran, since Washington had staked its bets on regime change in Damascus. But now the situation has changed in many ways.

First of all, Tehran is emerging from its international isolation and everyone, even the US, must acknowledge the wisdom of having Iran involved in the resolution of the Syrian issue. Second, the crisis about the use of chemical weapons in Syria did not become a pretext for armed intervention by the US. Moscow stepped in vigorously and prevented that scenario – which had the support of Turkey and Saudi Arabia – from playing out. That turn of events forced Ankara and Riyadh to realize that America’s era of absolute dominance in the Middle East was coming to an end. Then the Islamic State (IS), which by 2014 had become the most prominent force battling Assad in the region, broke away from American control and its detachments moved into Iraq where they captured large swathes of that country. This was followed by the proclamation of the «Caliphate», the borders of which encompassed part of Syria.

The Americans, having declared their war on terror, launched air strikes over Syria without UN authorization or the consent of Damascus. All of Assad’s opponents wanted to join them – but just in Syria, not Iraq. However, direct attacks on government forces never materialized. The situation began to change radically only after Sept. 30, when Russia, having secured Iran’s support, launched an air operation over Syria. For the first time the Syrian armed opposition took some serious punches.

This is where a new dialog must begin, using the format of this Contact Group. And it is important to understand the subject of that dialog. Proceeding further, based on the premise that Russia has confronted the US with a geopolitical challenge in Syria, there is a risk that the negotiations will never get off the ground. Misguided ambitions must be renounced for the sake of peace in Syria. Moscow is advocating that all outside actors compromise on their goals for launching a nationwide dialog in Syria. Thus, in addition to everything else, there needs to be an end to the inapt arguments about Russia’s priorities in its relations with Shi’ite Tehran and Sunni Riyadh. President Putin offered an answer, noting that «[t]his is a false message, a false thesis. In fact, we make no distinction between Shia and Sunni... We definitely do not want to get involved in any sort of interreligious conflict in Syria».

Unlike Washington, which itself does not understand which factions of the Syrian opposition it is supporting, Riyadh wields genuine influence over the balance of power in Syria. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War has drafted a report on the state of affairs within the Syrian opposition. According to the report, there are over 40 different groups working within the ranks of the armed opposition just in the Governorate of Aleppo where Russian aircraft are operating.

The actual combat capabilities of Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham are supported, respectively, by Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Plus, the Muslim Brotherhood is also fighting inside the Governorate of Aleppo. But the opposition faction that the United States is presenting as the Free Syrian Army (FSA) is also awash in less familiar names. There one can find units under the command of officers who have deserted from the Syrian army, as well as the Pakistani Taliban, Lebanese Salafists, and also criminal gangs engaged in drug trafficking and the illegal ferrying of Syrian refugees to Europe. In the US, these are called «affiliated rebel groups,» but it is very difficult to determine with whom they are affiliated. If the Free Syrian Army is more than just a phantom organization, then what is it exactly?

In order to coordinate support in Syria for the various armed opposition groups, the Americans created the joint military operations command. The plans were for two of its offices, in Turkey and Jordan, to act as a liaison with the opposition in northern and southern Syria. The American allies’ collaborative work with this command is not yet evident, as neither Turkey nor Saudi Arabia have surrendered their protégés to Washington’s control. So this means that Russia will have to continue to look for ways to encourage Riyadh and Ankara to become part of the diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis.

Tags: Middle East Russia Syria US
Quelle/Source:http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/10/16/russia-takes-steps-to-resolve-syrian-crisis.html

Moscow criticizes US for refusing to call shelling of Russian embassy ‘terrorist’ attack

News | 15.10.2015 | 10:19

PressTV - Moscow has criticized the United States for refusing to endorse a statement of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) condemning a recent terrorist attack on the Russian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus.

“We disseminated a standard text that the Security Council has used multiple times when there were terrorist acts in Europe, Africa and other areas of the world,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a speech at the Russian lower house of parliament on Wednesday, Russia's Sputnik news agency reported.

The Russian embassy in Damascus came under mortar shelling twice on Tuesday morning and the UNSC drafted a brief statement afterwards condemning the attack as a terrorist one. However, the US rejected the wording and purposed to put the blame on the Syrian government which is “responsible for security of embassies and consulates,” rather than classifying the shelling as a terrorist attack.

“Unfortunately, our American colleagues, who are interested in... fighting terrorism, refused to accept the wording that described this as a terrorist act,” Lavrov said, adding, "It is sad that our American colleagues in this case in fact do not side with those who fight against terrorism and condemn terror. Once again we have to speak about double standards.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov said that the US had refused to host a high-profile Russian delegation for talks on the crisis in Syria, adding that Washington, in an official reply, said that they could not “send a delegation to Moscow and they can't host a delegation in Washington either.”

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had censured Washington for its mindless policies vis-à-vis Syria.

Russia launched its first airstrikes against the positions of the Takfiri terrorists in Syria on September 30 at the request of the Syrian government.

A picture taken on October 3, 2015 shows a Russian Sukhoi SU-24 jet taking off from the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia. (AFP)

Assisting Iraqi Kurds

Meanwhile, Lavrov expressed his country’s readiness to provide Iraqi Kurds with “military and technical” assistance in their fight against the Daesh Takfiri group if the Kurds can secure the Iraqi government’s consent to receive such assistance.

The Takfiri terrorist group seized some territories in western and northern Iraq in 2014 and claimed dozens of bombing attacks on areas outside of its control across the country, including those in central and eastern provinces.

In Syria, the foreign-backed conflict, which was ignited in March 2011, has so far claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people and left over one million injured, according to the United Nations.

Tags: Russia Syria US

Iran : " We must not forget crimes committed in occupied Palestinian territories over terror in Syria"

Updated-Iran reaffirms support for Syria and President al-Assad in the face the terrorist attack

15 October، 2015

Damascus, SANA – Chairman of Iranian Shura Council’s Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security Alaeddin Boroujerdi said his visit to Damascus aims at affirming his country’s support for Syria in its position on the first line of resistance and for President Bashar al-Assad as he stands firm and is strongly defending Syria.

Syria’s resistance against the terrorist attack, now into its fifth year, deserves all the appreciation, added Boroujerdi addressing a press conference in Damascus on Thursday.

“It has become known to all that terrorists come from tens of countries into Syria, backed and trained by some regional states and major countries, on top being the US, while the Syrian people are defending their country’s security and dignity,” Boroujerdi clarified.

He stressed that for any initiative aimed at solving the crisis in Syria to succeed should be coordinated with the Syrian government.

In his comments on the Russian military operations in support for Syria in the fight against terrorism, the Iranian official said these operations also serve in supporting the efforts seeking a political solution to the crisis.

He said Iran’s communication and consultations with the Syrian side in the political field continue on the level of the two countries’ foreign ministries, noting that the military option and the work on the ground are not incompatible with the political solution supported by Russia “since terrorists only understand the logic of force.”

According to Iran’s regional policy, he explained, providing support or any military assistance whether to Syria or Iraq is carried out based on a request from this or that country.

“In line with our anti-terrorism strategy, we have provided assistance- whether in arms or advisors- to both countries, and any other request will be considered and discussed,” said Boroujerdi.

He criticized the US-led anti-terrorism coalition’s failure and the Americans’ lack of seriousness about fighting terrorism, saying were they serious, there would not have been a need to form the new alliance, referring to the recently formed Syrian-Russian-Iranian-Iraqi front against terrorism.

Boreoujerdi went on saying that Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has shouldered its responsibility in fighting terrorism, inviting all countries that are serious about fighting terrorism to join the new alliance.

In this regard, he added, Iran coordinates with the countries that have placed combating terrorism on their agenda and not with those countries that are harboring the terrorists, calling on the Jordanian government to put fighting terrorism on its list of political and strategic priorities.

He reminded of Iran’s opposition to the Turkish policy towards Syria, describing Turkey’s support for and training and arming of the terrorist groups as a “big mistake” that has left negative repercussions on the ground.

Boroujerdi made it clear that the “devilish scheme” targeting Syria aims at causing the Islamic world to forget about the major cause of Palestine.

This scheme, he said, has failed despite the billions of dollars spent for its realization.

Boroujerdi meets leaders of the Palestinian resistance factions

Later on the day, Boroujerdi and the accompanying Iranian delegation met with leaders of the Palestinian resistance factions in Damascus and affirmed to them Iran’s firm and continued support for the Palestinian cause and the countries and forces of the resistance in the region.

The discussions tackled the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories and the crimes, violations and daily incursions committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people, al-Aqsa Mosque and the occupied al-Quds city, a statement by the Alliance of Palestinian Resistance Forces said.

The two sides, the statement added, also reviewed the latest political developments in the region, especially the situation in Syria, and stressed that they stand by Syria in the plot targeting it.

Boroujerdi and the Palestinian resistance factions agreed on the need to strengthen the role of the axis of resistance in supporting the uprising of the Arab Palestinian people and their resistance against the Israeli occupation, according to the statement.

H.Zain/ Barry/Qabas/H. Said
Quelle: http://sana.sy/en/?p=57914

Putin: I don't get how US can criticize Russian op in Syria if it refuses dialogue

Published time: 15 Oct, 2015 07:36Edited time: 15 Oct, 2015 09:31

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Russian President Vladimir Putin © Alexey Nikolsky

Washington’s decision to obstruct Russia’s call for diplomatic engagement on Syria is unconstructive and apparently shows a lack of will to negotiate, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“I don’t really understand how our American partners can criticize Russia’s counterterrorism effort in Syria while refusing direct dialogue on the all-important issue of political settlement,” Putin explained.

Putin was commenting on the refusal by the Obama administration to receive a Russian delegation headed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to discuss the differences the two nations have on the Syrian crisis. The US said it would not talk unless Russia followed Washington’s lead and stopped helping the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad.

"I believe this position to be unconstructive. The weakness of this position is apparently based on a lack of agenda. It seems they have nothing to discuss,” Putin said at a meeting with the Kazakhstan president in Astana.

READ MORE: US refuses to receive PM Medvedev’s delegation to coordinate anti-terrorist actions in Syria

He added that by obstructing Russia’s invitation to negotiate the US undermines itself, as it voices criticism of Russia’s actions in Syria, but doesn’t seek ways to resolve its concerns.

Unser Volk bewegt sich gegen den US-Oktroy TTIP

250.000 Menschen kamen am Samstag zur bisher größten Demonstration gegen die Handelsabkommen TTIP und CETA nach Berlin. 150.000 mehr als von unserem Bündnis erwartet. Was für ein unglaublicher Erfolg! Diese Bürgerbewegung kann nicht ignoriert werden.

Clip der Demo ansehen und teilen, per…

PR-Offensive parallel zum Massenprotest

In den Wochen vor der Groß-Demo flatterten den TTIP-Fans ordentlich die Nerven. Der Bundesverband der Industrie (BDI) ließ entlang der Demoroute Pro-TTIP-Plakate kleben und der CDU-Abgeordnete Joachim Pfeiffer betitelte TTIP-Kritiker/innen während einer Bundestagsdebatte zu TTIP und CETA als „einfach strukturiert“ – und tat den organisierten Protest dagegen als „Empörungsindustrie“ ab.

Doch der riesige Erfolg der bundesweiten Demo zeigt: Die breite Bürgerbewegung lässt sich nicht von teuren Werbekampagnen der Industrie, platten Angriffen und leeren Reformversprechen irritieren. Christoph Bautz, Campact-Vorstand, begrüßt die jubelnde Menge an der Siegessäule mit den Worten:

„Die Industrie hat nur Millionen Euro Werbeetats, wir sind Millionen Menschen! […] Wir sind empört, wenn im Geheimen und über unsere Köpfe hinweg ein Abkommen ausgehandelt wird, auf das nur Banken und Konzerne Einfluss haben. […] Herr Gabriel, wenn sie TTIP & CETA nicht stoppen, werden noch unsere Kinder die SPD verfluchen.”

Parallel zur Demonstration veröffentlichte Sigmar Gabriel einen Offenen Brief in der Süddeutschen Zeitung und weiteren Zeitungen. Der Wirtschaftsminister gab zu, engagierte Bürger/innen hätten für „deutlich mehr Transparenz in den Verhandlungen gesorgt“, verunglimpfte weiteren Widerstand aber dennoch als „Bangemachen“. Seine Versicherung Standards würden nicht gesenkt und einzelne Klauseln zu Schiedsgerichten angepasst, reichen aber nicht. TTIP, CETA und auch TISA bleiben unverhandelbar.

All diese Reaktionen zeigen, welche relevante Größe der Widerstand gegen die Konzerndeals erreicht hat. Das Hashtag #ttipdemo dominiert an diesem Samstag den Kurznachrichtendienst Twitter. Auch zahlreiche Medien berichten über den breiten Bürgerprotest:

Vorhang auf für KenFM: KenFM-Positionen #1Von Anneliese Fikentscher und Andreas Neumann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=226&v=hrU5i_hjDNchrU5i_hjDNc

Das neueste Format von KenFM heißt "Positionen - Politik verstehen". Es ist eine Gesprächsrunde mit Tiefgang. Die erste Folge läuft unter dem Thema "Krieg oder Frieden in Europa – Wer bestimmt auf dem Kontinent?". Gesprächspartner sind Willy Wimmer, CDU, ehemaliger Vize-Präsident der OSZE/KSZE und Autor des Buches „Wiederkehr der Hasardeure“; Mathias Bröckers, TAZ-Mitbegründer und Autor des Buches „Wir sind die Guten“; Dirk Pohlmann, Dokumentarfilmer für ARTE und ZDF, Autor von „Operation Täuschung – Die Methode Reagan“, und Dr. Daniele Ganser; Historiker und Friedensforscher aus der Schweiz, sein bekanntestes Buch: „NATO-Geheimarmeen in Europa – Inszenierter Terror und verdeckte Kriegsführung“.

KenFM ist das Fernsehportal von Ken Jebsen, dem die ZuschauerInnen freiwillig Rundfunkabgaben überweisen. Wenn das (vielfach junge) Publikum eigene Qualitätskriterien anlegt, ist das der Schrecken des Medienmollochs, der in herzzerreißenden Samstagabend-Shows vor laufenden Kameras Geld einsammelt für – na, bestimmt nicht für notleidende Griechen. „Wir appellieren an alle, die diesen Text lesen, sich uns anzuschließen und zu unterstützen. Mit Spenden. Es geht darum, ein Zeichen zu setzen. Ein Zeichen des Widerstandes gegen die Tyrannei der Finanzmärkte, aber vor allem für das, was wir Humanismus nennen.“ Die Redaktion KenFM ruft auf, zu Erste-Hilfe-Zwecken eine Medikamenten-Nothilfe zu organisieren. „Wir lassen es als Bürger Europas nicht zu, dass andere Bürger Europas vor unseren Augen einem System zum Opfer fallen, das man als Wirtschaftsfaschismus bezeichnen muss. Das Recht liegt in den Händen der Super-Reichen. In diesem System genießen Börsenwerte deutlich mehr Schutz als der Wert des menschlichen Lebens“, heißt es weiter im Griechenland-Aufruf „Wir sind die Allianz der Empörten“, in dem die „Demontage der Demokratie in Europa“ angeprangert wird. Solche Töne in „Qualitätsmedien“ zu hören oder zu lesen, wissen interessierte Bürgerinnen und Bürger – darunter echte und unechte „Linke“ – kommt im Klartext nicht vor. In den „Qualitätsmedien“ wird unverhohlen gelogen und verbogen, subtil kontaminierte Sprache zum Einsatz gebracht und nicht selten werden die zu Feinden unseres Wohlstands Gestempelten in offener Hetze durchs Bild getrieben. „Gib nicht klein bei, wenn das, für das du kämpfst, unter dem Banner des Humanismus verteidigt wird“, ist ein Rat, den die bereits mit einem KROKODIL-Vorhang gewürdigte Publizistin Evelyn Hecht-Galinski Ken Jebsen erteilt. Ken Jebsen ist eigentlich nur ein engagierter und mutiger Journalist, der allerhöchste Qualitätsansprüche an seine Arbeit stellt, die er auch erfüllt. Seine besondere Stärke sind Interviews, wie er sie zu tausenden als Moderator beim ARD-Sender rbb führte. Zahllosen Wissenschaftlern, Politikern, Expertinnen, Kritikerinnen und Aktivisten bietet er (seit 2012) seine Plattform, auf der gesagt werden darf, was andernorts verschwiegen werden muss, wenn es – nur zum Beispiel – um Themen wie die Aufklärung der Vorgänge um den 11. September 2001 geht, oder um die „Geheimarmeen der Nato“, die der Historiker Daniele Ganser ausführlich beleuchtet. Für Evelyn Hecht-Galinski hielt Ken Jebsen zur vierten Karlpreisverleihung der Neuen Rheinischen Zeitung 2014 in Köln die Laudatio: „Sie ist nicht in der Lage, um des lieben Friedens willen, sich dem kollektiven gesellschaftlichen Selbstbetrug und dem Verfall der politischen Werte anzuschließen. Das ist ihre eigentliche Leistung. ... Für sie ist die Würde eines jeden Menschen nicht verhandelbar.“ Das gleiche gilt für Ken Jebsen. Auf seinem Portal KenFM.de erläutert er: „Freie Presse ist kein Hobby. Sie ist das ‘Immunsystem’ echter Demokratie. Diese Demokratie ist gefährdet oder schon in vielen Bereichen abgeschafft. KenFM versucht das zu stoppen.“ Vorhang und Chapeau! Für Ken und sein Team!(PK)

Text-Veröffentlichung aus der Quartalsschrift DAS KROKODIL, Ausgabe 14 (September 2015) – Grundsatzschrift über die Freiheit des Denkens – bissig – streitbar – schön und wahr und (manchmal) satirisch.

Mehr dazu und wie es sich bestellen lässt, hier: http://www.das-krokodil.com/

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