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Kiev ready to support US-led coalition in Syria, as VP Biden promises $190 million to Kiev

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From RT, 12-8-15

Ukraine is ready to support the US-led forces fighting Islamic State militants (former ISIS, ISIL) in Syria, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told media in Kiev on Monday. “I have already confirmed to [US Vice President Joe] Biden that Ukraine is ready to show maximum support to coalition forces in Syria,” he said. On Monday, Biden arrived in Kiev for a two-day visit and talks with Poroshenko. Following their meeting in Kiev, Biden urged Ukraine to work on reforms and announced new financial aid of $190 million.

https://www.rt.com/news/line/

‘An intangible lift’: Defense contractors assure investors of Middle Eastern wars’ profitability

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From RT, December 8, 2015

A U.S. Air Force version of the F-35 Lightning II. © Lockheed Martin
A U.S. Air Force version of the F-35 Lightning II. © Lockheed Martin / Reuters

Top defense contractors reassured investors at a conference in Florida that they are poised to benefit financially from the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, according to a leaked tape.

Last week, Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President Bruce Tanner gave a speech at a Credit Suisse conference in West Palm Beach where he praised the “indirect benefits” that defense contractors and their shareholders would see as the result of the escalation of the conflicts in Syria, such as Turkey’s recent shooting down of a Russian jet. The Intercept obtained a recording of the speech.

That incident would lead to a greater potential for US involvement and would cause “an intangible lift because of the dynamics of that environment and our products in theater,” Tanner told investors. He also said that the Russian activities against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) with the US would stimulate demand for Lockheed Martin’s F-22 and new F-35 jets.

He added that the demand for “expendable” products like rockets has increased from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates because of the involvement of those countries in Yemen’s civil war.

The Intercept reported that Oshkosh president Wilson Jones, in another speech at the conference, said that with the threat of IS growing, “there are more countries interested in buying Oshkosh-made M-ATV armored vehicles.” He said that a recent business trip to the Middle East showed that many countries had expressed an interest in mechanizing their infantry forces.

Raytheon CEO Tom Kennedy added his voice to the chorus, saying that his company was seeing a significant uptick in demands for “defense solutions” from several countries in the Middle East.

“It’s all the turmoil they have going on, whether the turmoil’s occurring in Yemen, whether it’s with the Houthis, whether it’s occurring in Syria or Iraq, with ISIS,” Kennedy said, noting that he had met with King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

While terrorist attacks usually lead to bad results for the stock market, defense contractors’ share prices soared following the November terrorist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead. On the Monday after the attacks, Lockheed Martin traded 3.5 percent higher, Northrop Grumman was up 4.4 percent, and Raytheon saw a 4 percent boost.

Read more

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet © Gary Cameron ISIS dividend: Defense stocks soar after Paris attacks

https://www.rt.com/usa/325045-defense-contractors-war-profit/

British veterans urge military disobedience and will throw down medals in Downing Street Syria protest

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From RT
December 7, 2015

Special Forces veteran Ben Griffin has called on military personnel and munitions workers to disobey and block the bombing of Syria ahead of a Downing Street protest in which ex-services personnel will throw down their medals in disgust at the war.

“If you work in a bomb factory, walk out. If you fill up bombers with fuel, stop it. If you fly missions over Syria, don’t release your bombs,” Griffin, who served with the Parachute Regiment and SAS in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland, told RT on Monday.

“Our attack on Syria will make things worse. You only need to look at the outcome of our attacks on Iraq and Libya to see that.”

“We have no confidence in the government of this country to do the right thing, so we call on the public to resist participation in the ongoing slaughter,” he added.

Griffin made his comments ahead of a planned protest by other decorated British military veterans of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland and Libya.

According to a blog by ex-services group Veterans for Peace UK (VFPUK), four military veterans of recent wars will cast off their medals outside Downing Street on Tuesday in protest at MPs’ decision to bomb Syria.

The action is set to take place at 1:00pm GMT on Tuesday and aims to oppose what the group terms “yet another attack on a Middle Eastern country.”

MPs voted on Wednesday to extend UK airstrikes from Iraq into Syria, despite widespread public opposition to the move.

Writing on the VFPUK website, Daniel Lenham, a Royal Air Force (RAF) veteran of Iraq and Libya, said he was casting off his decorations “in protest at the decision to bomb Syria.”

“We will hand back medals given to us for participating in previous attacks on the Middle East,” he said.

David Smith, who served with the Royal Green jackets infantry regiment, said: “I want to express my utter disgust at the decision to unlawfully bomb Syria, god help all those who are likely to suffer as a result of this action.

“I renounce all forms of state sanctioned warfare and violence.”

VFPUK claims to have 265 members, some of whom served as along ago as D-Day. The group hopes “to convince people that war is not the answer to the problems of the 21st century,” according to its website.

veteransforpeace.org.uk

https://www.rt.com/uk/325018-syria-airstrikes-medals-protest/

Iraq: Turkey has 48 hours to withdraw

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From Fort Russ

6th December, 2015
Al-Masdar News

Iraq’s National Security Council, headed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, has announced that Turkey has 48 hours to withdraw from Iraq’s territory before it uses “all available options.”

The Shi’ite militia, Kataib Hezbollah, that is backed by Iran released a statement promising to retaliate against the Turkish incursion that is violating Iraqi sovereignty.

In the last 24 hours, Turkey has stated it will deploy up to 2000 troops in Iraq, up from a few hundred. They claim they were legally asked by the Kurdish Regional Government to help in the fight against ISIS. Baghdad claims they are the only sole legitimate government in Iraq.

In recent weeks, Shi’ite militias have also vowed to fight against US troops in Iraq if were to be deployed there.

http://www.fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/12/iraq-turkey-has-24-hours-to-withdraw.html

Kiev has amassed 238 tanks, 101 ceasefire violations over the past week — Basurin (Video)

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From Fort Russ

7th December, 2015

With Joe Biden and Victoria Nuland visiting Ukraine this week, it would seem they have brought some gifts with them – death and destruction. Towns such as Gorlovka are a 24/7 hot spot of action, with Pisky, Spartak and the New airport Terminal also receiving a daily barrage. The concern is that the UAF has regrouped since the Minsk II ceasefire agreement and has many new recruits and new toys from Washington. The map below shows how the UAF are approaching the contact line:
Maps courtesy of DONi News Agency

Azov seeks to found private military corporation, send troops to fight Russia in Syria

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From Fort Russ

December 3, 2015 –
Translated for Fort Russ by J. Arnoldski

sharij.net – 

“Biletsky: Azov is ready to fight against the Russians in Syria”

Fighters of the Azov regiment are ready to be sent to Syria and participate in combat operations on the side of the Western coalition. The founder of the regiment, Andrey Biletsky, stated this on November 26 live on channel 112 Ukraine.

“Given the cooling of relations with Russia and given the fact that there are clashes between Russian and Turkish interests in Syria, it is perfectly logical for Turkey to seek contacts from Ukraine, as this would be logical for Ukraine as well. I can assure you that, for example, Azov could perfectly carry out this function of collecting a foreign legion and sending it to Syria to fight, roughly speaking, for the Western coalition. And we could work against the Russians on a new field while we have a ceasefire once again which is good for Donbass,” Biletsky said.

The presenter, Vasily Golovanov, after listening to the guest, asked what he had in mind: a fight alongside Russia or a struggle against Russia. Golovanov assumed that Biletsky spoke about a fight against the Russian Federation.

“Of course, that’s the point,” Biletsky said to the assumption of Golovanov.

We recall that earlier parliamentary deputy Anton Gerashchenko demanded that data be collected about Russian pilots participating in operations against the Islamic State in Syria.

Vladimir Raychenko, PolitNavigator – 

“Ukrainian neo-Nazis discuss the creation of a private military corporation which would strike Russia in Syria”

Striking Russia across the world is in the interests of the Ukrainian state. Such is the opinion of the leader of the neo-Nazi Social-National Assembly, deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, and commander of the volunteer regiment Azov, Andrey Biletsky, as expressed in an interview with the portal “Left Bank.”

“We have a dream which is not yet possible to implement – we want to create a private military corporation,” Biletsky reported,” Believe me, all these private military corporations are now only in name ‘private,’ but in fact are agents of state interests in foreign policy. And now it is in the interests of the Ukrainian state to strike Russia everywhere, wherever it is. This includes in Syria. If we do not want to do this on a state level, then we can do it on the level of an official private military corporation. In the world, official private military corporations with jet aircraft and tanks exist. In America, it is one of the fastest growing businesses. China has now also gone onto the private military corporation market and invests crazy money in it. This means that China is preparing to become an active player in geopolitics. A private military corporation is one means of leverage and influence, as engaging an army directly is not in trend now. In Ukraine, there are many soldiers who understand the historical character of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia…”

http://www.fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/12/azov-seeks-to-found-private-military.html

Victoria Nuland arrives in Kiev, and there is a spike in Minsk violations – coincidence?

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From Fort Russ

Translated by Ollie Richardson for Fort Russ
6th December, 2015
112.ua

 The U.S. assistant Secretary of state for Europe and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, has arrived in Ukraine and traveled to the security Service of Ukraine, “Ukrinform” reported.

“Nuland, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt, at around 14:00 on Sunday went to the SBU building in Volodymyrska, – the website reported.

Before that, the American diplomats visited the sculpture named “The Victorious Cossack”. As a reminder, the U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden, on December 8th, will speak in the Verkhovna Rada during his visit to Ukraine.

http://www.fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/12/nuland-arrives-in-kiev-spike-in-minsk.html

 

Questions to ask President Obama regarding Bashar Al Assad and the Islamic State (ISIS) at a press conference

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Below is an excerpt.
By William Blum
Global Research, December 07, 2015
William Blum 6 December 2015
Obama-AP
GR Editor’ Note: These are relevant questions formulated by author William Blum, to be addressed to president Obama at a hypothetical press conference...
Which is most important to you – destroying ISIS, overthrowing Syrian president Assad, or scoring points against Russia?

Do you think that if you pointed out to the American people that Assad has done much more to aid and rescue Christians in the Middle East conflicts than any other area leader that this would lessen the hostility the United States public and media feel toward him? Or do you share the view of the State Department spokesperson who declared in September that “The Assad regime frankly is the root of all evil”?

Why does the United States maintain crippling financial sanctions and a ban on military aid to Syria, Cuba, Iran and other countries but not to Saudi Arabia?

What does Saudi Arabia have to do to lose its strong American support? Increase its torture, beheadings, amputations, whippings, stonings, punishment for blasphemy and apostasy, or forced marriages and other oppression of women and girls? Increase its financial support for ISIS and other jihadist groups? Confess to its role in 9-11? Attack Israel?

What bothers you more: The Saudi bombing of the people of Yemen or the Syrian bombing of the people of Syria?

Does the fact that ISIS never attacks Israel raise any question in your mind?

Does it concern you that Turkey appears to be more intent upon attacking the Kurds and the Russians than attacking ISIS? And provides medical care to wounded ISIS soldiers? Or that ISIS deals its oil on Turkish territory? Or that NATO-member Turkey has been a safe haven for terrorists from Libya, Chechnya, Qatar, and elsewhere? Or that last year Vice President Biden stated that Turkish president Erdogan’s regime was backing ISIS with “hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of tons of weapons”?

If NATO had never existed, what argument could you give today in favor of creating such an institution? Other than – as some would say – being a very useful handmaiden of US foreign policy and providing American arms manufacturers with trillions of dollars of guaranteed sales.

Does the United States plan on releasing any of its alleged evidence to back up its repeated claims of Syrian bombing and chemical warfare against the Syrian people? Like clear photos or videos from the omnipresent American satellite cameras? Or any other credible evidence?

Does the United States plan on releasing any of its alleged evidence to back up its repeated claims of Russian invasions of Ukraine in the past year? Like clear photos or videos from the omnipresent American satellite cameras? Or any other credible evidence?

Do the numerous connections between the Ukrainian government and neo-Nazis have any effect upon America’s support of Ukraine?

What do you imagine would have been the outcome in World War Two if the United States had opposed Soviet entry into the war because “Stalin must go”?

Would you prefer that Russia played no military role at all in Syria?

Can the administration present in person a few of the Syrian opposition “moderates” we’ve heard so much about and allow the media to interview them?

Have you considered honoring your promise of  “No boots on the ground in Syria” by requiring all American troops to wear sneakers?

Excerpts from a State Department daily press briefing, November 24, 2015, following the Turkish shoot-down of a Russian plane, conducted by Mark Toner, Deputy Spokesperson:

QUESTION: President Obama said he will reach out to President Erdogan over the next few days.

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Did not mention Putin. That really puts you squarely on Turkey’s side, doesn’t it?

……………………

QUESTION: You’re saying Turkey has the right to defend itself; President Obama said the same thing. What defense are you talking about? Does anyone think Russia was going to attack Turkey?

MR TONER: Again, I mean, this is –

QUESTION: Do you think so?

MR TONER: Look, I don’t want to parse out this incident. I said very clearly that we don’t know all the facts yet, so for me to speak categorically about what happened is – frankly, would be irresponsible.

……………………

QUESTION: Even if you accept the Turkish version that the plane traveled 1.3 miles inside Turkey and violated its airspace for 17 seconds – that’s according to Turkey – do you think shooting down the plane was the right thing to do?

MR TONER: Again, I’m not going to give you our assessment at this point. We’re still gathering the facts.

……………………

QUESTION: In 2012, Syria shot down a Turkish plane that reportedly strayed into its territory. Prime Minister Erdogan then said, “A short-term border violation can never be a pretext for an attack.” Meanwhile, NATO has expressed its condemnation of Syria’s attack as well as strong support for Turkey. Do you see the inconsistency of NATO’s response on this?

MR TONER: As to what President Erdogan may have said after that incident, I would refer you to him.

……………………

QUESTION: Turkoman forces in Syria said they killed the two Russian pilots as they descended in parachutes.

MR TONER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Turkoman forces are supported by Turkey and are fighting against the Syrian Government, they are part of the rebel force there. Do you consider these rebels to be a moderate force in Syria?

……………………

QUESTION: I’m trying – I mean, do you think that everybody has the right to defend themselves?

MR TONER: We’ve said very clearly that people have the right to defend themselves.

QUESTION: Right? Including the Assad regime?

MR TONER: No.

…

http://www.globalresearch.ca/questions-to-ask-president-obama-regarding-bashar-al-assad-and-the-islamic-state-isis-at-a-press-conference/5494087

President Putin’s annual address to the Russian Federal Assembly, December 3, 2015

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From the Kremlin

Vladimir Putin delivered the Annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. The Address was traditionally delivered at the Kremlin’s St George Hall before an audience of more than 1,000 people.

Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.
 Those present for the Address included members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, members of the Government, heads of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, regional governors, heads of regional legislative assemblies, heads of Russia’s traditional religious faiths, public figures, including heads of regional civis chambers, and the heads of Russia’s biggest media outlets.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies,

I would like to begin my Address with words of gratitude to the Russian servicemen who are fighting international terrorism.

Today here in the St George’s Hall, a historic hall of Russian military glory, we have combat pilots and representatives of the Armed Forces who are taking part in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria.

Gelena Peshkova and Irina Pozynich, who lost their husbands in the war against terror, have joined us too. My deepest respect to you and the parents of our heroes.

I would like us all to honour the memory of the soldiers who gave their lives while doing their duty, and the memory of all Russian citizens who fell at the hands of terrorists.

(Moment of silence)

Colleagues,

Russia has long been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. This is a fight for freedom, truth and justice, for the lives of people and the future of the entire civilisation.

We know what aggression of international terrorism is. Russia faced it back in the mid-1990s, when our country, our civilian population suffered from cruel attacks. We will never forget the hostage crises in Budennovsk, Beslan and Moscow, the merciless explosions in residential buildings, the Nevsky Express train derailment, the blasts in the Moscow metro and Domodedovo Airport.

These tragedies took thousands of lives. We still grieve for them and will always grieve, along with the victims’ loved ones.

Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.

It took us nearly a decade to finally break the backbone of those militants. We almost succeeded in expelling terrorists from Russia, but are still fighting the remaining terrorist underground. This evil is still out there. Two years ago, two attacks were committed in Volgograd. A civilian Russian plane was recently blown up over Sinai.

International terrorism will never be defeated by just one country, especially in a situation when the borders are practically open, and the world is going through another resettlement of peoples, while terrorists are getting regular financial support.

Terrorism is a growing threat today. The Afghanistan problem has not been resolved. The situation there is alarming and gives us no optimism, while some of the yet recently stable and rather well-doing countries in the Middle East and North Africa – Iraq, Libya and Syria – have now plunged into chaos and anarchy that pose a threat to the whole world.

We all know why that happened. We know who decided to oust the unwanted regimes and brutally impose their own rules. Where has this led them? They stirred up trouble, destroyed the countries’ statehood, set people against each other, and then “washed their hands”, as we say in Russia, thus opening the way to radical activists, extremists and terrorists.

The militants in Syria pose a particularly high threat for Russia. Many of them are citizens of Russia and the CIS countries. They get money and weapons and build up their strength. If they get sufficiently strong to win there, they will return to their home countries to sow fear and hatred, to blow up, kill and torture people. We must fight and eliminate them there, away from home.

This is why it has been decided to launch a military operation there based on an official request from the legitimate Syrian authorities. Our military personnel are fighting in Syria for Russia, for the security of Russian citizens.

The Russian Army and Navy have convincingly demonstrated their combat readiness and their increased capabilities. Modern Russian weapons have proved to be effective, and the invaluable practice of using them in combat conditions is being analysed and will be used to further improve our weapons and military equipment. We are grateful to our engineers, workers and all other personnel of our defence companies.

Russia has demonstrated immense responsibility and leadership in the fight against terrorism. Russian people have supported these resolute actions. The firm stance taken by our people stems from a thorough understanding of the absolute danger of terrorism, from patriotism, high moral qualities and their firm belief that we must defend our national interests, history, traditions and values.

The international community should have learned from the past lessons. The historical parallels in this case are undeniable.

Unwillingness to join forces against Nazism in the 20th century cost us millions of lives in the bloodiest world war in human history.

Today we have again come face to face with a destructive and barbarous ideology, and we must not allow these modern-day dark forces to attain their goals.

We must stop our debates and forget our differences to build a common anti-terrorist front that will act in line with international law and under the UN aegis.

Every civilised country must contribute to the fight against terrorism, reaffirming their solidarity, not in word but in deed.

This means that the terrorists must not be given refuge anywhere. There must be no double standards. No contacts with terrorist organisations. No attempts to use them for self-seeking goals. No criminal business with terrorists.

Continue reading →

US-NATO ground forces, escalation in Syria leading to global war

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By South Front
Global Research, December 05, 2015
South Front
turkey-syria

The recent developments show significant changes in the strategy of the Western countries involved in the Syrian conflict. The US has sent ground forces, including special operations units, into the region. French Air Force has sharply increased the number of sorties, and France’s rapid-reaction troops and naval units are being moved closer to Syria.

The United Kingdom has also begun to participate in the US-led anti-ISIS coalition strikes on Syrian soil. Likewise Germany has begun to deploy its aircraft and relocating almost 1200 quick-reaction troops to the Syria-Iraq battlefield. Turkey is deploying a large military attack force, including a number of armored units, at the border with Syria. It seems that NATO powers have realized the strategy aimed at Assad’s ouster by a diverse range of militant groups including ISIS which is backed by Turkey and the US has failed.

According to the initial scenario implemented by the West, ISIS and other militant groups, deceitfully called the moderate opposition, were to carry out a Libya-like scenario in Syria and oust or preferably kill Assad and plunge the whole country into chaos. Then the US-led coalition would start a full-scale military operation to stop the terrorists threatening the “moderate opposition” in Syria, deploy NATO forces on the ground and take control of the crucial oil and logistic infrastructure. Western oil corporations supported by NATO would then restore the state of affairs as it existed more than 40 years ago. Syria would fall victim to total exploitation by overseas powers. The Mediterranean would become Alliance’ internal lake.

Now it’s clear that Syria won’t fall under terrorist group pressure. The Syrian forces backed by Russia and Iran are gaining momentum, recapturing cities and facilities earlier controlled by militants. The NATO allies urgently need a new plan to hold control at least of the northern oil corridor from Iraq and try to take advantage of this opportunity to involve Russia in a long expensive war, in other words, to accomplish that which they failed to do in Ukraine. It means that the NATO contingent must occupy crucial infrastructure including oilfields before the Syrian government forces liberate it. Anti-government, meaning anti-Russian and anti-Iranian, forces would be established in parts of divided Syria. The need for an excuse to implement the changed approach could be the reason why the Nov.13 Paris attack wasn’t prevented by the Western special services.

The implication of the Western plan to divide Syria in a number of vassal entities leads to 3 main scenarios:

1)   Military buildup and escalation in the region could lead to open military conflict between NATO and the alternative anti-ISIS coalition that is led by Russia. This regional conflict could easily lead to a global war. Moreover, Turkey, a NATO member state, has already shown that it’s ready to escalate the situation to defend its illegal oil business linked with ISIS.

2)    If the Syrian Arab Army with support by militia forces, Iran, and Russia isn’t able to show a significant success on the battlefield, Syria could be easily divided by the Western-backed ground forces supported by NATO airpower and intelligence assets. A direct military intervention to take control of the oil structure and crucial logistical points also remains possible. Even if NATO and its regional allies successfully take control of a significant part of the country, this escalation is unlikely to be avoided. The situation will become more acute due to the establishment of an aggressive puppet regime on the Syria’s territory. Considering that the alternative anti-ISIS coalition won’t lay down its arms, an open conflict could be easily provoked by the interested powers.

3)   If the Syrian government forces supported by Russia and Iran take control of the country’s key areas, the US-led coalition will face the fact that Syria is de-facto liberated from terrorist groups. It could prevent a direct military intervention by NATO. In this case, the NATO countries would strengthen their presence in Iraq and use it as a foothold to launch further destructive actions against Syria. However, it’s the safest scenario most likely to avoid a global escalation.