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Ukraine blocks 10,000 websites, confiscates a newspaper

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Posted on Fort Russ

April 10th, 2015
by Eric Zuesse

As I reported yesterday, the Security Bureau of Ukraine, on April 7th, had seized and disappeared two Odessa bloggers, who were trying to get an independent investigation, and ultimate prosecution, of the individuals who participated in the 2 May 2014 massacre of regime opponents, and who burned, shot, and clubbed to death perhaps over 200 in the Odessa Trade Unions Building — the event that precipitated the breakaway of Donbass from the rest of the former Ukraine, the country’s civil war.
And I also reported that April 7th saw the official announcement that, “The security service of Ukraine … has discontinued operation of a number of Internet sites that were used to perpetrate information campaigns of aggression on the part of the Russian Federation aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order and territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.”
The follow-up to that story is the news on April 9th, which was reported in the courageous independent Kiev newspaper, Vesti, that “SBU has blocked more than 10,000 websites.” It says that, “Law enforcers seized the servers,” and that one SBU official told the newspaper, “‘We have made the decision of the court and confiscated equipment.’ He promised to return the servers in two months.”
Another news report on April 9th in Vesti tells of seizures of that day’s edition of newspapers by far-right toughs at news stands throughout the city, and the story even shows a video of Right Sector toughs raiding and emptying a Vesti delivery van headed out for distribution. The report also said:
“On Thursday, April 9, machines [coin-operated distribution boxes] that were transporting part of the circulation of the Kiev edition of the newspaper ‘Vesti’ were attacked. The attacks occurred around the metro stations ‘Heroes of Dnepr’ and ‘Vasylkivska.’ In both cases, the scenario was the same: the circulation machine was blocked by two cars that emerged containing unidentified men wearing symbols of the ‘Right Sector’ who illegally seized the circulation. In the case near the metro station ‘Vasylkivska,’ a driver was beaten, and the attackers threatened to burn his car.”
<iframe width=”320″ height=”266″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/nOSTqXNs6ds&#8221; frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>
Back on 5 July 2014, Vesti had headlined, “Masked men smashed and fired into ‘Vesti’: broke windows, spread tear gas.” A video accompanied that news report, too. The video showed a man outside the newspaper’s office, opening the door, being suddenly attacked by approximately a hundred men who rushed at him from hiding and beat him.
The accompanying news report from a witness said:
“I first heard several shots. Then stones and Molotov cocktails were hurled at windows on the first and second floors. After that, the room filled with tear gas, which quickly spread throughout the office, and it’s still very hard to breathe. One of the guards who tried to stop the thugs was beaten.”
The video shows all of this from the outside of the building.
There are accompanying photos of the ransacked office.
That news report, in turn, linked to an earlier one, on 27 June 2014. That report had said: “Suddenly, four dozen masked strangers came, headed by the controversial deputy of Kyiv City Council, Igor Lutsenko.” These men “began to shout anti-Putin slogans, and then climbed onto the improvised stage” where there was to be presentation of a Constitution Day award. “Finally, radicals tried to throw bricks at our editors, but Maidan volunteers blocked that.”
The head of the Security Bureau of Ukraine, Valentyn Nalyvaychenko, the man who closed 10,000 online sites on April 7th, was reported, a week earlier, on April 1st, (translation here) saying:
“SBU does not need to invent anything new. It is necessary only to build on the traditions and approaches that were set forth by the Security Service of the OUN-UPA in the 1930-1950 years. They battled against the aggressor [Russia] during the temporary occupation of the territory [Ukraine, which ’temporary’ period was already 350 years], had a patriotic education, military counterintelligence, and relied on the peaceful Ukrainian population, using its unprecedented support.”
This video recounts and shows the history of “OUN-UPA in the 1930-1950 years” and documents that it carried out most of Adolf Hitler’s extermination program in Ukraine during World War II — including 80% of the Babi Yar massacre of Jews, which the Russian poet Yevtushenko memorialized. To the people that the Obama Administration has placed in power in Ukraine, it was a heroic achievement. And yet, far-right Jews are part of it — ideological brothers-under-the-skin, and it also has the support of 98%+ of the U.S. Congress.
The head of the Security Bureau of Ukraine lied about the ‘temporary’ inclusion of Ukraine as part of Russia, and also about how ‘peaceful’ was the reign of Ukraine’s and Germany’s nazis over Ukraine during 1940-1944. But at least he was honest that he is returning to those “traditions and approaches.”
Barack Obama reigned over the entire process and installed these people into power over Ukraine. He has almost 100% congressional support for that within both the Republican and Democratic Parties, even though over two-thirds of Americans who have an opinion on the matter are opposed to his policy. America’s Establishment wants him to pursue this policy more aggressively. And the West’s newsmedia blame Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Here is a video of Ukraine’s troops shelling the Donbass village of Slavyansk and joking that they’ll turn it into a “crematorium.”
As I reported earlier, the founder of Right Sector, Dmitriy Yarosh, was the leader of the thugs who perpetrated the May 2nd massacre, and who also carried out the February 2014 coup that brought these people to power in Ukraine. Starting on April 20th (Hitler’s birthday), his men will be receiving military training and weapons from U.S. troops, whom Obama is sending in to help them and other executioners with their program of exterminating the residents in Donbass — the region that rejects the coup-imposed government. So, Yarosh helps Obama not only by terrorizing the few remaining independent news media in Ukraine, but also by installing Obama’s regime there, and now, increasingly, by fighting his war there. Yarosh is already the most powerful person in Ukraine, and yet his power is still increasing there. He’s a man to watch. He wants Putin dead, so Putin is probably watching him carefully. Obama meanwhile, is watching Putin’s ‘aggression.’

Ukraine ‘disappears’ regime opponents – where are Svetlana Naboka and Marina Zhavoronkova?

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By Eric Zuesse
Posted on Fort Russ, April 9, 2015

(Image of Big Brother by Joo Serk Lee)

In Odessa — the same city where the Ukrainian civil war started on 2 May 2014 with a massacre of opponents that had been carefully planned by a team connected to the U.S. White House— there are reported to be two bloggers for the “Voice of Odessa” political site who were seized by the Security Bureau of Ukraine on April 7th, and whose “whereabouts are unknown.” This report appeared in the local Odessa News.

The “Voice of Odessa” site was formed right after the massacre, in order to get an independent investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators of that massacre, in which officially 46 people were burned, shot and clubbed to death, but unofficial estimates run over 200, all victims who have not been heard from since, and some of whom had allegedly even been abducted from hospitals after the massacre.

This report’s translated headline reads “SBU Detained Activists at Kulikov Field.” Kulikov Field is the square or plaza in front of the former Odessa Trade Unions Building, which is the building where the massacre-victims, who had been printing and distributing pamphlets opposing the newly installed government, were murdered, by Right Sector troops in plain clothes, and also by mercenaries in the private army of Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky, who had allegedly announced in advance that he would pay $5,000 per corpse. (There has been no reported follow-up, regarding whether he actually paid everyone who participated, or how he paid them.)

The report on these disappearances says that the names of the missing bloggers are Svetlana Naboka and Marina Zhavoronkova, and that both women were seized at around 10 in the morning of April 7th. Furthermore, “one of the detainees seized during the search is now lacking her home computer, telephone and other personal belongings,” which presumably, were also taken by the state security force.

Whereas none of the perpetrators of the massacre has been prosecuted, the regime is trying to eliminate its opponents. On the same day that the two bloggers were seized, there was a related headline, “SBU reported on the closure of a number of sites for anti-Ukrainian propaganda.” That news report carried the following statement, from the SBU:

“The security service of Ukraine … has discontinued operation of a number of Internet sites that were used to perpetrate information campaigns of aggression on the part of the Russian Federation aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order and territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.”

Presumably, the abduction, and perhaps elimination, of Svetlana Naboka and Marina Zhavoronkova, was part of that “discontinued operation” by the SBU against “aggression of the Russian Federation.”

The coup-established regime was not ‘the constitutional order’ in Ukraine. It overthrew the constitutionally elected President, and violated the Ukrainian constitution. However, “Big Brother” is based upon the Big Lie. So, it’s ‘the constitutional order.’ A good videoshows the coup being carried out, but it actually started much earlier, in Spring of 2013. The same videographer also did a good videoof the Odessa massacre.

Resistance to America’s Russia-hating Ukrainian regime is increasing, and it’s not only in Donbass — the region that has formally declared its separation from Ukraine, after Viktor Yanukovych, who had received 90+% of the vote there in the last democratic Ukrainian election, 2010, was overthrown by Obama. For example, barely more than three weeks ago, on March 12th, a column of Ukrainian tanks on trucks was blocked by overtly pro-Russian Ukrainians, who even showed the pre-communist (1710/1721-1858 &1883–1917/1918) flag of the then-single nation of Russia (from the time when Ukraine was part of Russia), which was until the Bolshevik Revolution. The video of this event, the courageous blocking of those trucks, was headlined “People stop military, sent by Kiev government, at Volnovaha.”The people who were blocking it are visible in the video carrying the three-striped — white, blue, and red — flag of the Russian Empire. Russian Television on March 16th headlined about this, “Defensive blockade: Activists stop Kiev’s military trucks heading to Russian border,” and reported that, “Activists in eastern Ukraine in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions [but not in the part that’s in liberated Donbass] are blocking columns of heavy military equipment heading from Kiev to the border with Russia.” Ukraine is massing tanks on the Russian border to either invade Russia (which Ukraine repeatedly has threatened to do) or else to defend against a Russian invasion (which Russia has not threatened to do). These truckers encountered such hostility that they backtracked and took an alternate route (presumably more northerly).

Officially in Ukraine, all opponents of the Obama regime there are ‘terrorists.’ (Thus, the government’s constant bombings of them are in an ‘Anti Terrorist Operation’ or ATO.) The Obama team told its people to use this terminology because gullible individuals anywhere will oppose anyone who is merely labeled a ‘terrorist’ — even when the actual terrorism is on the part of the U.S. Government and its installed regimes, such as is the case in Ukraine.

The United States has become George Orwell’s Oceania. He got all the basics right. He is already the modern Nostradamus. However, Big Brother, the U.S. aristocracy, isn’t publishing that fact. Now, why would that be the case? Publishing that fact would confirm that they’re collectively Big Brother. That explains why the Brookings Institution is urging Obama to bomb Donbass longer and harder, and why over 98% of the U.S. Congress are urging him likewise, even though over two-thirds of the U.S. public who have any opinion on the matter, are against it.. Obama, who did the coup, hasn’t pursued the extermination-program with the persistence that Big Brother demands. Big Brother demands more follow-through on his part. And, apparently, they’ll get it.

———-

Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of  They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010,, and CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity, and of Feudalism, Fascism, Libertarianism and Economics.

http://fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/04/ukraine-disappears-regime-opponents.html

Pentagon prepares Romania for conflict with Russia, NATO consolidates control of Black Sea

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From Rick Rozoff, Stop NATO
April 9, 2015

We have compiled a number of  official documents by the US military and its NATO allies as well as press reports which shed light on US-NATO War preparations directed against Russia.  

These reports are for informational purposes only. 

Operation Atlantic Resolve-South: Pentagon Prepares Romania For Conflict With Russia

U.S. Army Europe
April 5, 2015

BUCHAREST, Romania: Leadership assigned to 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment met with their military counterparts assigned to the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC,) Romanian Land Forces (ROULF,) at the Land Forces Headquarters in Bucharest, Romania on Apr. 2, 2015.

Amongst the leaders representing 2nd Squadron “Cougar,” were Lt. Col. Theodore A. Johnson, 2nd squadron commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Peter D. Johnson, squadron command sergeant major; 1st Lt. Nathan P. Swire, a liaison officer and 2nd Lt. William Crawford, a public affairs liaison, both assigned to the squadron…

“The meeting reflected the strong relationship that is developing between our military organizations,” said Johnson. “We have established the course for our combined efforts to improve military’s capabilities to conduct operations with NATO Allies…”

Copyright US Army Europe, 2015

Commitment To NATO: U.S. Army Supports Latvian Special Forces Drill

U.S. Army Europe
April 7, 2015

U.S. Army Aviators support Latvian Spec. Ops. training
By Capt. Scott C. Hetzel

KATTERBACH, Germany: Aviators from the Bravo Company, 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, provide aviation support for helocast training April 2, 2015, with Soldiers from the Latvian Special Forces over the Daugava River in Latvia.

Helocasting is a technique used by small unit, special operations forces to conduct airborne insertion into an area of operations, usually over water.

The “Stormriders” from 3-158th are currently deployed to Latvia in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Operation Atlantic Resolve is a demonstration of continued U.S. commitment to the collective security of NATO…in the region, in light of Russia…

Army Europe is leading the Operation Atlantic Resolve enhanced land force multinational training and security cooperation activities taking place across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to ensure multinational interoperability, strengthen relationships among allied militaries, contribute to regional stability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO.

Copyright US Army Europe, 2015

Ukraine To Sign Military, Technical Cooperation Agreement With NATO: Yatseniuk

Interfax-Ukraine
April 8, 2015

Ukraine to sign military and technical cooperation agreement with NATO – Yatseniuk

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk has said that the Ukrainian government will sign an agreement on military and technical cooperation with NATO, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine will seek to meet NATO standards.

“The government is signing an agreement on cooperation in the field of support with NATO. It is an agreement on support between the Ukrainian Cabinet and NATO, which envisages the implementation of four trust projects with NATO, including military and technical cooperation, communications, new communications and information technologies,” Yatseniuk said at a government meeting on Wednesday.

He said that Ukraine needed to rebuild its armed forces using the example of the strongest armies and associations which are fighting for global peace, and which adhere to NATO standards.

“We are moving in this direction,” Yatseniuk added.

Copyright Interfax Ukraine, 2015

Pentagon, NATO Gear Up For 21st-Century War In Europe

U.S. Army Europe
April 5, 2015

17 Nations get lasered up for Saber Junction 15
By Sgt. Jacob A Sawyer (USAREUR)

HOHENFELS, Germany: More than 4,700 participants from 17 Allied and European partner nations have arrived here for exercise Saber Junction 15. But before most of them do anything, they’ve got to get their lasers.

At the beginning of every training rotation, all Soldiers, vehicles and weapons systems are required to receive a Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System, or MILES, that allows the training engagements to occur and record the data for analysis and feedback during after-action reviews.

The MILES warehouse at Hohenfels is responsible for the installation of vehicle MILES components, personnel MILES, and the overall integration into the JMRC Hohenfels Training Area battlefield.During Saber Junction 15, the MILES warehouse will install battle tracking systems on over 1,000 vehicles and 3,100 personnel…

Copyright US Army Europe, 2015

Georgia, Romania: NATO Consolidates Control Of Black Sea

Ministry of Defence of Georgia
April 6, 2015

Meeting between Defence Ministries of Georgia and Romania

Within the official visit to Georgia, Defence Ministries of Georgia and Romania held meeting at the MoD today.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mindia Janelidze expressed gratitude for supporting Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspiration. The sides overviewed regional security issues.

Mindia Janelidze delivered information to his Romanian counterpart on the performed and scheduled reforms in the Georgian defence sphere. As Georgian Defence Minister outlined the top priority of 2015 is effective execution of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package and thanked Romanian side for readiness to send a representative to NATO Core Team…

Very soon NATO Core Team will start active work for the implementation of NATO-Georgia Substantial Package…

Copyright Ministry Defense Georgia, 2015

NATO Naval Group Drills With Moroccan Navy

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Maritime Command
April 7, 2015

SNMG2 trains with Royal Moroccan Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Ships assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) recently completed passing exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy (RMN) off the coast of Casablanca following the Group’s visit to the city.

Led by Rear Adm. Brad Williamson (USA), SNMG2 is currently comprised of the U.S. flagship USS Vicksburg (CG 69), Canadian ship HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337), Italian ship ITS Aliseo (F 547), German oiler FGS Spessart (A 1442), Turkish ship TCG Goksu (F 497) and French oiler FS Marne (A 630).

RMN ships RMNS Allal ben Abdellah (F 615) and RMNS Hassan II (F 612) participated in the exercises at sea…

“These exercises were incredibly valuable for NATO, and I am extremely honoured to have trained with our partners in the Royal Moroccan Navy,” said Williamson. “The professionalism and precision in which they operate their ships truly impressed me. NATO’s partner nations are critical to the security of the Mediterranean and we welcome their robust participation with NATO in the future…”

 Copyright NATO, 2015

Poland Erects Observation Towers On Russian Border

Polish Radio
April 6, 2015

Poland places observation towers by Russian border

Poland’s 200-kilometre land border with the Russian Kaliningrad exclave is to be bolstered with the construction of six observation towers.

The towers – which range in height between 35 and 50 metres – are to aid border guards in monitoring the border 24 hours a day, with images streamed to local border control posts.

“We are currently in the test phase of the technical installations on the towers,” Mirosława Aleksandrowicz from the Warmia-Masurian Border Guard told the PAP news agency, adding that “we plan to be fully operational by June this year”.

The total cost of the investment is over PLN 14 million, with 75 percent of the cash coming from the EU’s External Borders Fund.

Poland’s border with Russia is also the external border of the European Union, and has four road crossings into the Kaliningrad exclave, in Gronowo, Grzechotki, Bezledy and Gołdap.

Last year, 3.2 million Poles and 3.3 million Russians passed through the border crossings, up from 2.9 million Poles and 3.2 million Russians passing through in 2013, PAP reports.

Copyright Polish Radio, 2015

U.S. Launches Yet More War Games In Estonia

UNIAN
April 6, 2015

Estonia and US start joint military exercises

Estonian army units on Monday began military exercises with the U.S. Air Force, Baltic news portal Delfi.lt has reported.

“Within the framework of the exercises, the military will work out techniques of defensive battles and constraints,” the commander of the Estonian Artillery Battalion Kaarel Mäesalu said, according to Ukrainian newspaper Europeiska Pravda.

“In addition, soldiers will be able to practice giving military assistance to allied aircraft,” Mäesalu said.

The exercise will take place in two stages. The first stage will last until April 9 and will focus on tactical activities and exercises, including defense from air attacks.

The second stage of exercises will start from April 10 and will include shooting from 155mm FH70 howitzers, and exercises involving F-16 fighter aircraft.

Copyright UNIAN, 2015

U.S. May Arm Ukraine This Year: Bellicose Ex-Envoy

Ukrinform
April 6, 2015

United States may give weapon to Ukraine this year – former ambassador

KYIV: Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (2003-2006) John Herbst believes that Washington will decide on arms supply to Ukraine this year.

He said this in an interview to Inter Ukrainian TV channel.

“We must stop aggression of Putin here in Ukraine. I do not think that the U.S. president understands that. I think he is short-sighted and does not see the depth of problem and, therefore, has not yet decided on issue of arms supplies to Ukraine,” Herbst said.

At the same time, he added that American political circles understood that the issue concerned the vital interests of the United States.

“So I think that this year Washington will decide on the supply of arms of Ukraine, but the president has not approved that so far,” he said.

According to Herbst, arms supplies to Kyiv could reduce the likelihood of a new attack by Russia.

Copyright Ukraine Inform 2015

U.S. Shifts A-10s To Romania

U.S. Air Forces in Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
April 2, 2015

A-10s deploy to Romania for Operation Atlantic Resolve
By Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

CAMPIA TURZII, Romania: Twelve U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs deployed as a 90-day theater security package in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to Campia Turzii, Romania, March 30.

As part of the deployment, the U.S. and Romanian air forces will be flying together over the plateaus in the heart of Transylvania for Dacian Thunder 2015.

The U.S. Air Force’s 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and the Romanian air force’s 71st Air Base’s MiG-21 fighter aircraft will conduct the training to increase relations and interoperability while building upon both nations’ joint capabilities and ensuring a stronger partnership.

About 200 Airmen and support equipment from the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, will participate as a combat capable force able to respond to a wide variety of operations.

The A-10 supports Air Force missions around the world as part of the U.S. Air Force’s current inventory of strike platforms, including F-15 and F-16s. As part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the aircraft will later forward deploy to locations in to reassure Eastern European NATO countries…

Copyright US Air Force, 2015

“If NATO Goes To War”: U.S. Trains With Estonian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers

U.S. Air Forces in Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
April 2, 2015

Pilots, ground forces exercise Forward Air Controller (Airborne) mission over Estonia
By 1st Lt Allie Delury
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Ämari Air Base, Estonia: At the invitation of the Estonian government, American pilots from the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, have a unique opportunity to learn the value of the Forward Air Control (Airborne) mission with Estonians from Amari Air Base and U.S. instructor pilots from Luke Air Force Base.

FAC(A)s provide control of both airborne and ground forces in a close air support role and work closely with the ground commander to coordinate ground targets and de-conflict air assets. This flying training event ensures that pilots gain valuable experience with low-level flying and work with Estonian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers on the nearby Tapa Range…

“It’s important to work with all NATO allies because if we ever go to war, we have to understand each other and understand how different nations function,” said Piirisild. “The main mission is to enhance cooperation between the United States Air Force, NATO and Estonia…”

 Copyright US Air Force 2015

24-Hour War Production: Ukraine “Hits Unemployment” With Tanks, Armored Personnel Carriers – Poroshenko

Interfax-Ukraine
April 4, 2015

Poroshenko: we hit unemployment with tanks, APCs

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko again stressed that Ukrainian defense industry has picked up steam and new jobs have been created.

“Ukrainian defense industry that switches to three-shift operation is quickly boosting Ukraine’s military power,” the head of state said in the training center of the National Guard of Ukraine in Novi Petrivtsi (Kyiv region) on Saturday.

He said that “we hit unemployment with tanks and APCs.”

Poroshenko said that thousands of new jobs that have been created at defense enterprises is a contribution in restoration, including in Ukraine’s industrial potential.

An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported that on Saturday the presentation of weapon and military equipment samples was held in the training center of the National Guard of Ukraine in Novi Petrivtsi with the participation of the Ukrainian president.

Products of Ukroboronprom State Concern and some other Ukrainian enterprises were exhibited. Special exporters of Ukroboronprom also showed modern devices and equipment made by foreign companies..

Copyright Interfax, 2015

Black Sea: U.S. F-15s To Participate In War Games In Bulgaria

Sofia News Agency
March 31, 2015

USAF F-15s to Take Part in Military Drills in Bulgaria from April 10

US Air Force F-15 fighter jets will arrive in Bulgaria next month to join military exercises in the eastern European country, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Up to 12 F-15s will arrive after Apirl 10, the newswire quoted a Bulgarian defence ministry official as saying.

The deployment, part of the Pentagon’s Operation Atlantic Resolve, will take place from April 10 to June 30.

The operation aims to demonstrate the commitment of the US military to NATO allies in view of tension along the Alliance’s flank in eastern Europe prompted by Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

Moscow has denied Western accusations of providing support to pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine.

Copyright Sofia New Agency 2015

U.S. Deploys F-15s For Impending Conflict In Europe

U.S. Air Forces in Europe
U.S. Air Force Africa
April 3, 2015

ANG general welcomes F-15 deployment to Europe
By Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane
USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs

LEEUWARDEN AIR BASE, Netherlands: The second theater security package consisting of twelve F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft arrived at Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, March 31 through April 1, marking the beginning of their six-month deployment to Europe.

The 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard, Jacksonsville, Fla., leads this first ANG theater security package to deploy in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The aircraft and Airmen are based out of units in Florida, Oregon, California, Massachusetts and various bases throughout Europe. Regardless of their origin, together, they make up the 159th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

Maj. Gen. Eric Vollmecke, ANG assistant to the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, welcomed the Airmen and stressed the importance of the TSP in Europe during a visit April 3.

“We are here to reinforce to our allies that the security of Europe is a priority for the U.S.,” Vollmecke explained to the 159th EFS.

The squadron will fly with NATO allies and support OAR [Operation Atlantic Resolve], a demonstration of U.S. European Command and United States Air Forces in Europe’s continued commitment to the collective security of NATO…in the region…

Copyright US Army Europe, 2015

Turkey: NATO Commander Speaks On Future Air and Space Power

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Transformation
April 3, 2015

SACT participates to the International Conference on Air and Space Power

Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), French Air Force General Jean-Paul Paloméros participated to the International Conference on Air and Space Power (ICAP) at Turkish Air War College, April 2nd 2015.

The ICAP 2015, an International Conference organized in Turkey for the second time, was hosted by Air War College with Turkish Air Force’s contribution. The subjects discussed during ICAP will ensure that today’s and future changing principles of Air and Space Power are clearly understood with the contributions of speakers from partner and allied nations from all over the world..

Copyright NATO , 2015

Reposting on occasion of attack on Yemen: Open Letter on Saudi Arabia

Open Letter
Anthony B. Newkirk

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) ChairmanHouse Committee on Foreign Affairs Howard L. Berman (D-CA)Ranking MemberHouse Committee on Foreign Affairs

June 22, 2012

Honorable Members:

On October 20, 2010, the Obama administration announced approval of projected arms transfer agreements with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia totaling over $60 billion in value. On February 16, 2011, I wrote a letter to you requesting further information. As I have not yet received a response, I am resubmitting my questions in a more public forum.

It is not hard to fathom why the United States and Saudi Arabia have very close ties. The perception that our country is dependent on “Arab oil” is firmly implanted in popular opinion. But the topic of security assistance for Saudi Arabia is not, an example being the 2010 Saudi arms deal. Of course, this is hardly the only problem facing our nation in this time of assaults on job security, social services, and civil liberties. It is also far from being the only problem in the Middle East. However, the Saudi arms deal focuses attention on a range of issues related to America’s fiscal soundness, security, and defense of human rights…

U.S. Guided Missile Destroyer To Enter Black Sea

Sofia News Agency
April 2, 2015

US Navy Destroyer Jason Dunham to Enter Black Sea Friday

US Navy guided-missile destroyer Jason Dunham will enter the Black Sea on Friday in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the US 6th Fleet has announced.

“The ship’s presence in the Black Sea demonstrates the United States’ commitment to working closely with allies to enhance maritime security and stability, readiness, and naval capability,” the US 6th Fleet said in a statement

Some 750 US Army tanks and thousands of troops were deployed to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for Atlantic Resolve activities, in a move described as a means “to deter Russian aggression.”

US and NATO have said they are holding Atlantic Resolve drills to strengthen security in the alliance’s member states in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over growing number of NATO military drills in eastern Europe.

The build-up of NATO forces in Eastern Europe “is an unprecedentedly dangerous step” that violates Russia’s agreements with the alliance, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Copyright  Sofia New Agency 2015

This compilation was undertaken by Rick Rozoff, initially published on STOP NATO.
  http://www.globalresearch.ca/pentagon-prepares-romania-for-conflict-with-russia-nato-consolidates-control-of-black-sea/5441719

Kiev launches massive battle-tank shelling in Donbass, NATO military exercise in Czech Republic directed against Russia

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Posted on Global Research
April 11, 2015
Originally from South Front.info

Ukraine’s armed forces have started massive battle-tank shelling of Donetsk, Gorlovka and Dokuchaevsk. The positions of Donetsk People’s Republic militia along the whole frontline are under shelling. Furthermore, serious clashes are ongoing in the settlement of Shirokino near Mariupol. One fighter from DPR forces has been killed. The crew of REN TV channel also came under fire.

NATO and Czech Republic soldiers took part in a drill called “Noble Jump” at the airport in Pardubice, Czech Republic on Thursday. This is an initial exercise and first test of its new rapid response force that NATO says is designed to “face new challenges from Russia”. Some experts believe the drill is offensive rather than defensive, and is actually preparation for a first-strike against Russia. But the most important point is that “Noble Jump” started in the Czech Republic while the US-backed Kiev government began massive shelling in the Donbass region.

Ukraine’s prosecutors reactivated an investigation launched against oligarch Igor Kolomoisky 10 years ago, the country’s Prosecutor-General Viktor Shokin said in an interview with LB.ua news portal on Friday. The 2005 criminal case accused Kolomoisky of masterminding an attack on lawyer Sergey Karpenko amid a conflict over the Dneprospetsstal plant in the city of Zaporizhia in southeastern Ukraine, one of the leading producers of special steels and alloys in Europe. Lawyer Karpenko was stabbed three times, but survived the attack and was later forced to leave the country. Shokin, who was deputy Prosecutor-General at that time, oversaw the investigation. The war between Poroshenko and Kolomoisky, the two most powerful oligarchs of Ukraine, is continuing with renewed vigor.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov has stated that Kiev has ability of creating a “dirty” atomic bomb. “We will use all available resources, even for creating a successful weapon,” he said. He stressed that the most important thing is that the weapon was successful. “What is there: dirty or clean, is a scientific and technical issue”. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin’s reaction on this was short. Moron.

A Syrian government delegation has agreed to proposals set forth by Russian mediators during the second round of talks held in Moscow this week to resolve the Syrian civil war, a source familiar with ongoing negotiations told ITAR-TASS on Wednesday. According to the source, the agenda proposed by the Russian side and approved by Syria includes: assessing the current situation, uniting national forces to confront challenges including terrorism, and building trust between the opposition and civil society. In addition, the source said Moscow’s plan outlines the establishment of a political process as well as phased steps in the framework of a national reconciliation program.

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Rede von Sahra Wagenknecht in der Debatte des Bundestages: “Die Konfrontation mit Russland hat die Ukraine zerstört. Sie schadet ganz Europa”

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English translation at https://freeukrainenow.org/2015/04/10/bundestag-speech-by-mp-sahra-wagenknecht-eu-policy-has-destroyed-ukraine-and-damaged-Europe/

From Sahra Wagenknecht.de
19.03.2015

“Holen Sie sich unser Geld bei den Banken und der griechischen Oberschicht zurück!”
Rede von Sahra Wagenknecht in der Debatte des Bundestages am 19.03.2015 zur Regierungserklärung zum Europäischen Rat am 19./20.03.2015

Zum Video der Rede

Dr. Sahra Wagenknecht (DIE LINKE):

Herr Präsident! Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren! Frau Bundeskanzlerin! Zu ihren besten Zeiten hatte die deutsche Außenpolitik zwei Prioritäten. Das waren die europäische Einigung und eine Politik der guten Nachbarschaft gegenüber Russland. Es sollte Ihnen schon zu denken geben, Frau Merkel – wenn Sie bitte zuhören könnten -,

(Volker Kauder (CDU/CSU): Das ist eine Frechheit!)

dass Nationalismus und Zwietracht in Europa, knapp zehn Jahre nachdem Sie das Kanzleramt übernommen haben, wieder gedeihen wie lange nicht mehr und im Verhältnis zu Russland die Entspannungspolitik einem neuen Kalten Krieg gewichen ist.

(Beifall bei Abgeordneten der LINKEN)

Die spezifischen US-Interessen in Europa hat vor kurzem der Chef des einflussreichen Thinktanks Stratfor in einer Pressekonferenz in eindrucksvoller Offenheit erläutert: Hauptinteresse der Vereinigten Staaten sei es, ein Bündnis zwischen Deutschland und Russland zu verhindern, denn – so wörtlich – „vereint sind sie die einzige Macht, die uns”, also die USA, „bedrohen kann”.

Diese vermeintliche Bedrohung von US-Interessen wurde auf absehbare Zeit erfolgreich erledigt. Das begann eben damit, dass die EU im Rahmen der Östlichen Partnerschaft versucht hat, die betreffenden Länder aus der wirtschaftlichen und politischen Kooperation mit Russland herauszubrechen.

(Claudia Roth (Augsburg) (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN): Das ist aberwitzig!)

Frau Merkel, natürlich war das gegen Russland gerichtet; aber es war eben auch nicht im Interesse der betreffenden Länder. Sie haben denen das Entweder-oder aufgezwungen, nicht Russland.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Im Ergebnis hat die Ukraine einen Großteil ihrer Industrie verloren. Heute ist dieses Land ein bankrotter Staat, in dem Menschen hungern und frieren und die Löhne niedriger sind als im afrikanischen Ghana.

Aber die Konfrontation mit Russland hat nicht nur die Ukraine zerstört. Sie schadet ganz Europa. Es ist doch ein offenes Geheimnis, dass die Vereinigten Staaten den Konflikt mit Russland auch aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen schüren. Wenn US-Regierungen von Menschenrechten reden, dann geht es in der Regel um Bohrrechte oder um Schürfrechte. Gerade in der Ukraine ist angesichts der großen Schiefergasvorkommen verdammt viel zu schürfen.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Wenn jetzt im Rahmen der Energieunion von neuen Pipelinerouten und einer zunehmenden Unabhängigkeit vom russischen Gas geredet wird, dann sollten Sie den Leuten ehrlicherweise sagen, was das bedeutet: wachsende Abhängigkeit vom wesentlich teureren und ökologisch verheerenden US-Frackinggas. Ich halte das nicht für eine verantwortungsvolle Perspektive.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Die Liste der ehemaligen deutschen Spitzenpolitiker, die Ihre Russlandpolitik kritisiert haben, Frau Merkel, ist lang. Da finden Sie die Namen Ihrer Vorgänger Gerhard Schröder, Helmut Kohl, Helmut Schmidt und ebenso Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Vielleicht hat das ja auch zu Ihrem Einlenken beigetragen. Auf jeden Fall war es richtig, dass Sie gemeinsam mit dem französischen Präsidenten Hollande die Initiative zu neuen Verhandlungen ergriffen haben. Minsk II hat immerhin dazu geführt, dass in der betreffenden Region seit Wochen deutlich weniger Menschen sterben als in den Wochen und Monaten davor und dass die Tür zu einer friedlichen Lösung geöffnet wurde.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Natürlich ist das ein wichtiges Ergebnis. Sie, Frau Bundeskanzlerin, und der französische Präsident verdienen dafür Anerkennung.

(Tino Sorge (CDU/CSU): Dann sagen Sie das doch auch mal!)

Wem aber an Frieden und Sicherheit in Europa liegt, der muss den Weg von Minsk II jetzt auch mit Konsequenz und Rückgrat weitergehen. Da ist es natürlich ein Problem, dass Konsequenz und Rückgrat nicht gerade zu Ihren hervorstechenden Eigenschaften gehören.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN – Widerspruch bei der CDU/CSU)

Laut OECD haben beide Seiten den Waffenstillstand wiederholt gebrochen. Sie, Frau Merkel, haben gerade wieder gefordert, dass die Sanktionen gegen Russland erst aufgehoben werden, wenn Minsk II umgesetzt ist.

(Beifall des Abg. Volker Kauder (CDU/CSU))

Natürlich ist es inakzeptabel, wenn aus den Reihen der Aufständischen immer noch geschossen wird.

(Tino Sorge (CDU/CSU): Inakzeptabel!)

Aber wenn ukrainische Truppen oder die auf ihrer Seite kämpfenden Nazi-Bataillone weiter schießen, dann ist das doch mindestens genauso inakzeptabel. Dazu hört man von Ihnen kein kritisches Wort.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Wieso melden Sie sich auch nicht mit Kritik zu Wort, wenn die ukrainische Regierung trotz drohenden Staatsbankrotts in diesem Jahr viermal so viel Geld für neue Waffen ausgeben möchte als im letzten Jahr?

(Dr. Diether Dehm (DIE LINKE): So ist es!)

Das spricht nicht gerade dafür, dass der Weg des Friedens in der ukrainischen Regierung besonders engagierte Unterstützer hat.

Ebenso können die Entsendung von Militärberatern und die Waffenlieferungen durch die Vereinigten Staaten und Großbritannien eher als Torpedierung denn als Unterstützung des Friedensprozesses gewertet werden. Aber wollen Sie jetzt auch gegen die USA und Großbritannien Sanktionen verhängen? Ich glaube, es wäre besser, einzusehen, dass diese ganze unsägliche Sanktionspolitik ein einziger großer Fehler war, mit dem sich Europa ins eigene Knie geschossen hat. Deswegen sollten die Sanktionen nicht verlängert werden.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Wir brauchen auch keine zusätzlichen Panzer. Wir brauchen auch keine 3 000 Mann starke NATO-Interventionstruppe in Osteuropa, die niemanden schützt, sondern den Frieden in ganz Europa nur noch mehr gefährdet.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Helmut Schmidt hatte doch recht, als er schon 2007 gewarnt hat, dass für den Frieden der Welt von Russland heute viel weniger Gefahr ausgeht als etwa von Amerika

(Lachen der Abg. Claudia Roth (Augsburg) (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN))

und dass die NATO nur noch ein Instrument US-amerikanischer Hegemoniebestrebungen sei. Wenn das stimmt, dann lässt das doch nur einen vernünftigen Schluss zu: dass Europa endlich eine eigenständige und von den USA unabhängige Politik machen muss.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Herr Juncker hat nun die These aufgestellt, wir bräuchten eine europäische Armee, um zu zeigen, dass es uns mit der Verteidigung europäischer Werte gegenüber Russland ernst ist. Ich glaube, dieser Vorschlag zeigt vor allem eins: wie weit sich Europa von dem entfernt hat, was einst die Gründerväter der europäischen Einigung wollten.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Damals ging es ‑ Frau Merkel, Sie haben es eben selber angesprochen ‑ um Frieden, um Demokratie und um Solidarität.

(Manuel Sarrazin (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN): Und den bösen Kapitalismus!)

Nie wieder sollten Nationalismus und Völkerhass die europäischen Länder entzweien. Aber um solche Werte zu verteidigen, dafür brauchen Sie wahrlich keine bewaffneten Bataillone.

 

Wenn Sie die Demokratie verteidigen wollen, Frau Merkel, dann setzen Sie sich doch dafür ein, dass die europäischen Länder endlich wieder von ihren gewählten Regierungen und nicht von Finanzmärkten, nicht von dem ehemaligen Investmentbanker Mario Draghi und, bitte schön, auch nicht von Ihnen, Frau Merkel, regiert werden.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN ‑ Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Distanzieren Sie sich einmal von der Gewalt gestern! Das wäre ein wichtiger Schritt!)

Wenn Sie Demokratie wollen, dann stoppen Sie die sogenannten Freihandelsabkommen, dann stoppen Sie TTIP, in dessen Folge demokratische Wahlen endgültig zur bloßen Farce verkommen.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Das wäre eine Verteidigung europäischer Werte! Das wäre eine Verteidigung von Demokratie, diese unsäglichen Verhandlungen über TTIP und ähnliche Abkommen endlich auszusetzen!

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Wenn Sie ein einiges Europa wollen, dann hören Sie auf, andere Länder zu demütigen und ihnen Programme zu diktieren, die ihrer jungen Generation jede Perspektive nehmen.

(Manuel Sarrazin (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN): Sie haben doch zugestimmt bei Griechenland!)

Hören Sie auf, Europa sogenannte Strukturreformen vorzuschreiben, die nur auf wachsende Ungleichheit und einen immer größeren Niedriglohnsektor hinauslaufen!

(Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Wer koaliert denn mit den Rechten in Griechenland? Das ist doch Ihre Schwesterpartei!)

In Deutschland sind infolge dieser Politik mittlerweile 3 Millionen Menschen trotz Arbeit so arm, dass sie nicht ordentlich heizen, sich nicht anständig ernähren und schon gar nicht in den Urlaub fahren können. Statt diese Politik zum Exportschlager zu erklären, wäre es an der Zeit ‑ und übrigens sehr im europäischen Interesse ‑, sie endlich hier in Deutschland zu korrigieren; denn es ist nicht zuletzt das deutsche Lohndumping, das anderen Ländern der Währungsunion die Luft zum Atmen nimmt.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Finanzminister Schäuble hat kürzlich versucht, die griechische Regierung mit der Bemerkung vorzuführen: Tja, regieren sei halt immer ein Rendezvous mit der Realität.

(Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Richtig! ‑ Max Straubinger (CDU/CSU): So ist es!)

Da kann man nur sagen: Schön wär’s! Schön wäre es, wenn die deutsche Regierung ihr Rendezvous mit der Realität endlich auch einmal erleben würde.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN ‑ Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Das schreiben Sie sich auch einmal auf, bevor Sie eine Rede halten!)

Denn Realität ist jedenfalls, dass es nicht die Syriza, sondern die griechischen Schwesterparteien von CDU/CSU und SPD waren, die über Jahrzehnte einen riesigen Schuldenberg aufgetürmt haben, um sich und der Oberschicht die Taschen vollzustopfen.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Realität ist auch, dass Griechenland bereits 2010 hoffnungslos überschuldet war und dass es eine verantwortungslose Veruntreuung von deutschem Steuergeld war, mit diesem Geld die Schulden der Griechen bei den Banken zu bezahlen. Wir haben deswegen damals nicht zugestimmt. Wir haben damals schon einen Schuldenschnitt gefordert.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

Wer einem Überschuldeten Kredit gibt, der wird sein Geld mutmaßlich nie wiedersehen. Aber die Verantwortung dafür liegt bei Ihnen, Frau Merkel und Herr Schäuble, und nicht bei der neuen griechischen Regierung, die noch nicht einmal zwei Monate im Amt ist.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN ‑ Widerspruch bei der CDU/CSU)

Realität ist auch, dass unter dem Protektorat der von Ihnen immer noch hochgeschätzten Troika, über deren kriminelle Machenschaften man sich in dem hervorragenden Dokumentarfilm von Harald Schumann informieren kann, die griechischen Schulden noch weiter gewachsen und die griechischen Milliardäre noch reicher geworden sind.

(Dr. Diether Dehm (DIE LINKE): So ist es!)

Und das wollen Sie fortsetzen? Da kann ich nur sagen: Gute Nacht!

Wenn Sie unser Geld zurückholen wollen, dann holen Sie es bei denen, die es bekommen haben,

(Beifall bei der LINKEN)

und das waren nicht griechische Rentner und griechische Krankenschwestern, sondern die internationalen Banken und die griechische Oberschicht. An dieser Stelle können Sie der griechischen Regierung helfen, das Geld wieder einzutreiben.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN – Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Sagen Sie das doch einmal Herrn Tsipras! Wer regiert denn in Griechenland?)

Zu der ganzen Debatte um mögliche Reparationszahlungen möchte ich nur sagen:

(Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Die ist zu Ende!)

Egal, wie man diese Forderungen juristisch bewertet, das Mindeste, was man von Vertretern des deutschen Staates erwarten kann, ist ein Mindestmaß an Sensibilität im Umgang mit diesem Thema.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN – Lachen bei Abgeordneten der CDU/CSU)

‑ Ich muss sagen, dass Sie jetzt auch noch lachen, ist wirklich traurig.

(Dr. Diether Dehm (DIE LINKE): Unsensibel!)

Angesichts dessen, wie die deutschen Besatzer in Griechenland gewütet haben, und der Tatsache, dass eine Million Griechinnen und Griechen in diesem finsteren Kapitel deutscher Geschichte ihr Leben verloren haben, finde ich die schnoddrigen Äußerungen von Ihnen, Herr Schäuble, und von Ihnen, Herr Kauder, einfach nur respektlos, und ich schäme mich dafür.

(Beifall bei der LINKEN sowie des Abg. Jürgen Trittin (BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN) ‑ Zurufe von der CDU/CSU: Oh!)

Um daran zu erinnern, dass Umgang mit Geschichte auch anders geht, möchte ich zum Schluss aus der Rede Richard von Weizsäckers aus Anlass des 40. Jahrestages der Befreiung zitieren; ich komme gleich zum Schluss, Herr Präsident. Sie bezog sich damals vor allem auf Russland und Osteuropa, aber sie gilt natürlich auch für Griechenland:

(Michael Grosse-Brömer (CDU/CSU): Was Sie alles wissen!)

“Wenn wir daran denken, was unsere östlichen Nachbarn im Kriege erleiden mussten, werden wir besser verstehen, dass der Ausgleich, die Entspannung und die friedliche Nachbarschaft mit diesen Ländern zentrale Aufgaben der deutschen Außenpolitik bleiben. Es gilt, dass beide Seiten sich erinnern und beide Seiten einander achten.”

Ja, nur wenn wir uns erinnern und nur wenn wir einander achten, nur dann finden wir zu einer Politik der guten Nachbarschaft zurück, sowohl innerhalb der EU als auch gegenüber Russland.

(Anhaltender Beifall bei der LINKEN)

http://www.sahra-wagenknecht.de/de/article/2090.holen-sie-sich-unser-geld-bei-den-banken-und-der-griechischen-oberschicht-zurueck.html

 

Bundestag speech by MP Sahra Wagenknecht: EU policy has destroyed Ukraine and damaged Europe

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Posted on Fort Russ

Speech in Bundestag by Sahra Wagenknecht.
March 19, 2015
April 9, 2015
Translated from German by Tom Winter

Mr President, honored ladies and gentlemen, Frau Chancellor.

At your best times, German foreign policy had two priorities: Unity for Europe and a good neighbor policy with Russia. It should give you food for thought, Frau Merkel, if you would listen,

[Volker Kauder: That’s rude!]

that nationalism and strife in Europe, during your ten years in office, are thriving like never before, and as regards Russia, a policy of outreach has given way to a new Cold War.

[Applause from the Left]

Not long ago, the head of the influential think-tank Stratfor, with striking bluntness, explained the US interest in Europe: The chief interest of the United States is to prevent coordination between Germany and Russia, since, literally “united they are the only power that can threaten us,” i.e. threaten the US.

This perceived threat to US interests has been achieved successfully for the foreseeable future. That started as the EU tried to get countries out of their economic and political cooperation with Russia in the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

[Claudia Roth, Greens: That’s absurd!]

Frau Merkel, naturally this was aimed at Russia, but it was also contrary to the interests of the countries involved. You, not Russia, pushed them to the either-or.

[Applause from the Left]

Resultantly Ukraine has lost the great part of its industry. Today, the country is a bankrupt state, where people go hungry, shiver, and have salaries lower than people have in Ghana.

But the confrontation with Russia has not only destroyed Ukraine, it has damaged all of Europe. It is, in fact, an open secret that the United States is stirring the conflict with Russia on economic grounds. When the US administration talks about Human Rights, they’re actually meaning drilling rights or mining rights. Right now in Ukraine there is in view a hell of a lot of shale gas to frack.

[Applause from the Left]

If now, in the framework of the Energy Union of other pipeline routes, we’re talking increasing independence from Russian gas, then you should tell the people in honesty what that means: increasing dependence on much more expensive and ecologically devastating US fracked gas. I do not consider that a responsible view.

[Applause from the Left]

The list is long, Frau Merkel, of earlier chief politicians who criticise your Russia policy. In that list we find the names of your predecessors Gerhard Schroeder, Helmut Kohl, Helmut Schmidt, and even Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Perhaps this is what led to your backing off. In any case, it is correct, that you, with French President Hollande, took the initiative: Minsk II has really led to significantly fewer deaths there in recent weeks than in the weeks and months preceding; the door to a peaceful solution has been opened.

[Applause from the Left]

This is naturally an important new situation, and you, Frau Bundeskanzlerin, and the French President deserve recognition.

[Tino Sorge, CDU/CSU: Then say so from time to time!]

However, the person that the peace and security in Europe depend on must now go forward, with follow-through, and with backbone. This is naturally a problem, since follow-through and backbone haven’t exactly been your strong suit.

[Applause from the Left; grumblings from CDU/CSU]

Of course, it is not acceptable, when the shooting persists from the ranks of the insurgents,

[Tino Sorge: Not acceptable!]

but when Ukrainian troops — or the Nazi battalions fighting for them — keep right on shooting, then it is quite less unacceptable, and no critical word from you is heard.

[Applause from the Left]

Why do you not come forward with words of censure when the Ukrainian regime, notwithstanding its foreseeable bankruptcy, budgets four times as much for arms as it did last year? This doesn’t assure us that the road to peace has any actual support in the Ukrainian regime!

Furthermore, the US and Britain sending military advisors and delivering weapons is not a matter of supporting the peace process, but of torpedoing it. But do you now envision sanctions against the US and Britain? I believe that this whole business of sanctions was a huge mistake through which Europe shot itself in the foot. The sanctions should not be extended.

[Applause from the Left]

We do not need any more tanks. We do not need a 3,000-man NATO intervention troop in Eastern Europe, that protects nobody, but instead puts all Europe further at risk.

[Applause from the Left]

Helmut Schmidt got it right when he warned already in 2007, that, when it comes to world peace, there is far less risk from Russia than from America, and that NATO is only a tool for maintaining US/American hegemony. And if that is correct, then we are left with one set conclusion: that Europe must finally make policy separate from, and independent of, the United States.

[Applause from the Left]

Mr Juncker has put forward the thesis, that we need a European Army to show that we are in earnest about defending European values against Russia. This shows just one thing, how very far we have come from what the founding fathers of European Union wanted.

[Applause from the Left]

Back then it was all about — as you yourself have often said — peace, democracy, and solidarity. Never again should nationalism and hatred separate the lands of Europe. But to defend these values, no armed battalions are needed!

If you want to defend democracy, Frau Merkel, then see to it that the lands of Europe are at last ruled by elected governments rather than financial markets, not by the one-time investment banker Mario Draghi, and, further, not by you.

[Applause from the left; interjection from Michael Grosse-Bromer: Disassociate yourself from the violence right now. That would be a big step!]

If you want democracy, then stop the so-called Free Trade Agreements, stop the TTIP that would make elected governments just a farce.

[Applause from the Left]

That would be the defending of European values! That would be a defence of democracy, exposing these unspeakable TTIP negotiations and comparable dealings.

If you want to see a unified Europe, then stop humiliating other countries and imposing programs that rob the young generations of their future.

[Manuel Sarrazin, Greens, “You’re right with Greece!”]

Stop prescribing so-called structural reforms in Europe, that only lead to growing inequality and an ever growing low-wage sector.

Here in Germany meanwhile, in consequence of these policies, three million people, in spite of having a job, are so poor they can’t stay warm, haven’t enough to eat — let alone afford going on a vacation! Instead of trying to explain this export-bashing policy, it is high time — and very much in Europe’s interest — to correct it. And it is not least the German wage-dumping that is stifling the other countries of the monetary union.

[Applause from the Left]

Finance Minister Schaeuble has recently instructed the Greek government: “Yeah, governing is always just a rendezvous with reality.”

[Michael Grosse-Broemer (CDU/CSU): Right! Max Straubinger (CDU/CSU): And so it is!]

So one can only say “That would be good” well, that would be a good thing when the German government could only experience its own rendezvous with reality. Because it was not Syriza, but instead, the sister parties to the CDU/CSU and SPD that over the decades stacked up the huge deficits, so that they and the upper crust could stuff their pockets.

[Applause from the Left]

The reality is also that under the protectorate of the troika that you still treasure so much, whose criminal activities you can see in the documentary by Harald Schuman, the Greek debt just got bigger and the Greek billionaires got richer.

And you want to keep it up? Then I can only say “Good night!”

And if you want our money back, get it from those that took it, and that was not the nurses, nor the Greeks on pensions: it was the international banks and the Greek Upper Crust. It’s from these you could help the Greek government recover its money.

Who advances credit to one already overloaded with debt will never see his money again, but the responsibility is on you, Frau Merkel, and you, Mr. Schaeuble, and not on the new Greek government which is now hardly two months in office.

As for the whole debate over possible reparations, I can only say that, no matter how the question gets juridically evaluated, the least one should expect from the German State is some minimum of sensibility in dealing with the issue.

[Applause, Left; laughter, CDU/CSU]

I must say, you still laugh. That is sad. In view of how German occupiers ravaged Greece, and that a million Greek men and women lost their lives in this dark chapter of German history, I find the flip remarks from you, Mr. Schaeuble, and from you, Mr. Kauder, simply disrespectful, and I am ashamed.

[Applause from the Left as well as from Juergen Tritten, cries from CDU/CSU: Oh!]

In order to recall that the unrolling of history also goes the other way, may I, in closing, quote from the speech of Richard von Weizsaecker on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Liberation — I am just finishing, Mr. President — the speech concerned principally Russia and Eastern Europe, but it naturally also holds good for Greece:

“When we think about what our eastern neighbors had to suffer during the war, we understand better that balance, easing up, and a peaceful neighborhood with these lands abide as the central given of German foreign policy. What matters, is that both sides remember, and that both sides have respect for the other.”

Yes, only when we remember, and only when we respect each other — only then will we get back a policy of being good neighbors, both inside the EU, and with Russia.

[Sustained applause from the Left]

http://www.fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/04/wagenknecht-eu-policy-has-destroyed.html

http://www.sahra-wagenknecht.de/de/article/2090.holen-sie-sich-unser-geld-bei-den-banken-und-der-griechischen-oberschicht-zurueck.html

 

Kiev junta launches a large scale attack on Novorossia right in time for Russian Orthodox Easter

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From Fort Russ

Russian Orthodox Easter is April 12.

April 9, 2015
Translated by Kristina Rus
Based on reports from Rusvesna

Ex-Minister of Defence of DPR Igor Strelkov:

“In general, we can say that the ceasefire is over – the entire front is under fire, including artillery. Shock troops of the enemy moved to the forefront.”

Donetsk under fire

War correspondent “Step” reports: 

Shells are whistling again over the cities of Donbass. In Donetsk the sirens of ambulances and emergency services are heard. Under fire: Kievsky district, Oktyabrsky village, Panfilov mine village, Gladkova, Severny, Putilovka.

The entire evening of April 9 there was a battle in the village of Spartak and near Peski. The punishers used artillery guns, tanks, mortars, heavy barreled artillery. Under the cover of artillery, the enemy attempted to seize the positions of the militia in Spartak and near the airport. During the battle, this attempt was severely suppressed.

Also suddenly the positions of the militia near the town of Yasynovataya were attacked. There was a battle using small arms. To the West of Petrovsky district of Donetsk working mortars are also heard, as well as grenade launchers and heavy machine guns.

From the occupied Volnovakha Dokuchayevsk was fired on. The outskirts of the city are under a heavy fire of the enemy, the people are hiding in shelters fearing the assault on the city by the punishers, who have assembled the biggest formation in this area of about 8 thousand people.

According to a resident of Dokuchayevsk, “Locals demand that the militia do not leave them alone and hold positions at any cost, women are hysterically crying, saying that Ukrainians will go into the city and start a massacre. Older women bless the passing trucks with soldiers and pray for the victory and a speedy liberation to the district from the Ukrainian troops”.

Over Donetsk about a dozen enemy drones were spotted, one of which was shot down near the Lidiyevka mine.

The militia is put on full alert and is ready for a full-scale attack of the enemy.

Shirokino

On April 9, 2015 near Mariupol in Shirokino there was a fierce battle. There were dead and wounded among the militia and the Ukrainian occupation troops.

Tanks approaching Donetsk

00:10. Donetsk.

From several directions at the moment, the occupants are pulling the tank columns to Donetsk.

In particular, a few dozen tanks approached the airport from the direction of Marinka and Avdeevka.

 

http://www.fortruss.blogspot.com/2015/04/kiev-junta-launches-large-scale-attack.html

Czech and Slovak reservists’ memorandum against NATO. “We reject fighting in NATO ranks against Russia”

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From Russia Insider, April 6, 2015

Group of Czech and Slovak reservists will not support NATO in a war against Russia

Czechoslovak reserve forces against the war planned by NATO commanders

On January 19th 2015 the facebook group, which combines all members of the CSLA, PS, VMV, SNB in reserve or decommissioned, issued an important memorandum, which has become even more urgent in light of the situation today. A defensive back up location in the event that the group gets „disappeared“ from Facebook, the group of the same name exists on VK.com. as well.

For the first time since the end of the 2nd World War we see a genuine threat of war yet again. Consequently, we consider it necessary to issue the following statement.

We, the Czechoslovak soldiers in reserve, unanimously reject any participation in battles that are geopolitical acts of aggression of the global elite by way of NATO and the support of our governments.

We swore to defend our homeland the Czech and Slovak Republics. We swore to protect the freedom and independence of our proud and sovereign nations, for which our ancestors laid down their lives in the world wars. We are guided by this oath in a civilian initiative to deal with a crisis situation. Freedom and independence is being jeopardized long time by a system of representative pseudo-democracy, where an elected representative does not have the obligation to advance the interests of voters and in practice, laws represent but the personal interests of the legislators, the interests of political parties and economic interest groups. Our homeland is under the pressure of global elites and economic interest groups, who are doing away with the power of citizens through a system of representative democracy.

Our deliberately flawed constitution and charter of rights and freedoms is being perverted and constitutional laws are violated by legislators themselves. Legislative power is being privatized, executive power is being politicized and judicial power corrupted by lobbying laws and pressure from our governments. The results are an unplayable public deficit, deindustrialization, the privatization of the republic’s property and defrauded budgets, food and energy dependence, the privatization of natural resources, pensions and the health of citizens. Our country has been unlawfully divided, looted, indebted, people enslaved and their families liquidated by repossession genocide, national infrastructure transferred into the hands of western corporations. Destructive chaos and despair dominates in the community.

For this reason, we the Czechoslovak soldiers in reserve recognize our military oath and together we come with a vision for the defense of our nations. We unequivocally reject fighting in the ranks of NATO against the Russian federation or other Slavic nations and we likewise intend to stand up firmly through organized civilian pressure against the further liquidation of our democracy, freedom and independence. We are uniting in a crisis situation and by utilizing our civilian and military skills and expertise we intend to create sufficiently strong, organized civil pressure for the period of time necessary to assert our patriotic goals.

We swore allegiance to our homeland, the Czech and Slovak Republics.

We, the Czechoslovak reserve soldiers, will fulfill this oath!

http://russia-insider.com/en/czechoslovak-reservists-facebook-group-issue-memorandum-against-nato-planned-war/5316

http://www.globalresearch.ca/czech-and-slovak-reservists-memorandum-against-nato-we-reject-fighting-in-nato-ranks-against-russia/5441588

Massive bust of Snowden installed on war monument

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From ANIMAL, April 6, 2015

THERE’S A MASSIVE, ILLICIT BUST OF EDWARD SNOWDEN STUCK TO A WAR MONUMENT IN BROOKLYN

By  | April 6, 2015 – 11:03AM

While most people slept, a trio of artists and some helpers installed a bust of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in Brooklyn on Monday morning. The group, which allowed ANIMAL to exclusively document the installation on the condition that we hide their identities, hauled the 100-pound sculpture into Fort Greene Park and up its hilly terrain just before dawn. They fused it to part of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, a memorial to Revolutionary War soldiers. As of press time, the sculpture was still there. UPDATE: Parks Department put a tarp over the bust and removed it this afternoon.

The idea for the Snowden tribute was conceived about a year ago by two New York City-based artists with a history of pulling off notable public interventions. They linked up with a renowned sculptor on the West Coast who was sympathetic to their cause.

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The artists admit that Snowden probably wouldn’t approve of the project, since he never wanted the leaks to be about him, but they hope he’d understand why they did it. In a statement about the project, which they have entitled, “Prison Ship Martyrs Monument 2.0,” they wrote:

Fort Greene’s Prison Ship Martyrs Monument is a memorial to American POWs who lost their lives during the Revolutionary War. We have updated this monument to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies. It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA’s 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light. All too often, figures who strive to uphold these ideals have been cast as criminals rather than in bronze.

Our goal is to bring a renewed vitality to the space and prompt even more visitors to ponder the sacrifices made for their freedoms. We hope this inspires them to reflect upon the responsibility we all bear to ensure our liberties exist long into the future.

In 2013, the Snowden leaks exposed an expansive, covert surveillance program that spied on U.S. citizens, residents and even persons abroad, the likes of which the world had never before seen. While activists and a number of journalists have hailed Snowden as a hero, conservatives and politicians have called him a “coward” and a “traitor.” Snowden sought asylum in Moscow, where he remains in exile.

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The artists said they’re dismayed that despite the trove of damning evidence the leaks exposed, the public has largely moved on from the story and no substantial actions have been taken against the NSA. “There’s a media landscape that has painted him as a criminal,” said one of the two New York artists. “You need something theatrical and large to counterbalance the Fox News-iness of the texture of the conversation out there.” At first, the pair thought about making a full-size statue of the former NSA contractor, but were later talked down from that idea by the sculptor. He recommended a bust.

Measuring 4-feet tall, Snowden’s head was placed atop one of the four columns that lie at the monument’s edge, above the eagles. The bust is made of hydrocal, a high quality sculpting material that’s commonly used in places like Las Vegas to create Roman-looking things, castles and other mega props casinos incorporate into their facades. Seeing it up close, you could never tell that you were looking at a plaster-like substance. In fact, over a dozen people walking their dogs passed by the new bust on Monday morning without noticing the unsanctioned piece. Both the color and design of the bust expertly matches the existing sculptures there, from its bronze patina finish to Snowden’s hair — which mimics the texture of the feather on the eagle. The artists also added letters spelling out Snowden’s name in an official-looking font befitting of a monument.

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While it was very important that the piece be more than just a prop or paper mache effigy, the artists didn’t want to damage the surface that the bust would be bound to, either. After some debate, they decided on an adhesive that would firmly hold the head in place, yet could be removed without marring the monument.

The materials needed to create a bust of this type cost thousands of dollars, and the pair ponied up the cash. It then took a little over six months to sculpt, mold, cast and ship to New York. Had the sculptor charged market rates, he said it would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. “The amount of work that goes into this kind of stuff, it’s easily a 30 grand project,” said the 30-something sculptor. “If it were bronze, it could be a $100,000 piece of artwork, maybe more.”

The artists are fully aware of the bust’s inevitable destruction and have left themselves a few options, including one that involves deploying an army of mini-Snowden heads. “We have a full size mold that can be poured again and its been 3D rendered, so we have the ability to print smaller ones at scale,” they said.
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(Video/Photos: Aymann Ismail/ANIMALNewYork)
Follow-up article
By Prachi Gupta
April 7, 2015

Inspired by the Edward Snowden bust that guerrilla artists erected atop a Brooklyn war monument on Monday morning, a different group of artists returned to the site hours after officials dismantled the illegal statue. They deployed the Illuminator to project an eerie blue image over the column where the 100-pound bust had stood earlier.

Fuck the Police (State): Artists Protest Removal of Edward Snowden Sculpture With Ghostly Projection

In a statement, the Illuminator’s Kyle Depew wrote via email:

Inspired by the actions of these anonymous artists, The Illuminator Art Collective recreated the intervention ephemerally by projecting an image of the sculpture into a cloud of smoke. Our feeling is that while the State may remove any material artifacts that speak in defiance against incumbent authoritarianism, the acts of resistance remain in the public consciousness. And it is in sharing that act of defiance that hope resides.

The Illuminator was borne out of Occupy Wall Street to shed a literal light on the issues that plague the 99%. The audio and video projection system sits in a van, along with a selection of informative reading materials. They recently collaborated with MoveOn.org in Washington D.C. to shed light on the U.S.’s nuclear discussions with Iran.

A group of activists and anonymous artists first set up the Snowden bust at Fort Greene Park’s Prison Ship Martyrs Monument on Monday to call attention to the NSA’s surveillance practices and to question what it means to be a hero in the 21st century. “We have updated this monument to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies,” they wrote in a statement provided to ANIMAL. “It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA’s 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light. All too often, figures who strive to uphold these ideals have been cast as criminals rather than in bronze.”

Parks Department employees covered the bust with a tarp Monday morning, and by midday, it had been removed and taken to the 88th precinct. The NYPD is investigating the incident.

Putin wages a quiet revolution during his time off

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From Fort Russ

April 3, 2015
Crimson Alter for PolitRussia
Translated by Kristina Rus

I was always surprised by the conspiracy theories surrounding our president. Putin is a unique politician. He is extremely sincere; sincere exactly to the extent possible for the head of a nuclear superpower. Putin’s style of communication inevitably has the strongest effect on the work of his subordinates. Accordingly, when Peskov live on Echo Moscow declared that “The agenda is now very intense – related to crises, and so on. Currently there is a constant communication with the government, and state-owned companies, and the banking sector. Naturally, it is very time consuming“, then his version of events should be considered the most reliable. There is no need for conspiracy theories, when on the economic front, in Russia and abroad, there are truly revolutionary changes taking place. Why does the media pay so little attention to that? This is another question to which we shall return.

So what happened in the international and Russian economy during the period of Putin’s “disappearance” from TV screens?

1. China announced about the creation of their own analog of the inter-bank payment system SWIFT, announcing the deadline – the end of 2015. December 2015 – January 2016 can now be considered the moment of transition of the economic war between the US and the rest of the world into an active phase.

2. Putin instructed the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to develop a plan of financing the construction of power plants in Crimea. Quoting Minister of Energy, Novak:

“The Central Bank in this case helps us execute a financial transaction in order to provide liquidity to the creditor bank… There is a request to the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance to develop and present a financing plan … subject to the payment of interest on loans, this is around 80 billion rubles” 

According to the [colonizing – KR] constitution [from the 1990’s – KR], Putin (or Medvedev) has no right to give instructions to the Central Bank. Our Central Bank is independent, but it turns out that not anymore. If the president’s order will be fulfilled as stated by Novak (the Central Bank gives money to the bank, the bank gives money to the Russian company for the construction of power plants in Crimea), then we get, what patriots of all stripes had long demanded: the Central Bank begins to finance the economic development of the country with its emission. This is a revolution. A quiet revolution. 

By the way, mortgage and agricultural loans will be subsidized – this is also a big success.

3. After approval by the government, the Central Bank of Kazakhstan announced a plan for the de-dollarization of the economy until the end of 2016.

The main goal is to get rid of macroeconomic instability, which is created by the U.S. currency. Nazarbayev is a politician with great intuition and serious connections in Beijing and Moscow. A final approval of the policy of de-dollarization right now is a clear signal about the position of Kazakhstan in the context of impending acute phase of economic confrontation.

4. President Putin on March 10 instructed the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the government to determine the feasibility of creation of a monetary union of the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union). RIA Novosti leaked that the new currency of EEU, Altyn (or Evraz) may appear in 2016. 

5. Goldman Sachs, one of the top U.S. banks, the shadow comptroller of the Fed, and the “wallet” of that portion of the global elite, which Khazin calls “the conditional Rothschilds”, produces an analytical forecast, which recommends… to buy Russian bonds. To buy Russian bonds! Top American Bank recommends buying the bonds of the country, whose economy Obama supposedly “ripped to shreds”!

6. Britain expresses the desire to enter into the capital of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank – international financial institution, which China has founded as a rival and a replacement of the International Bank, which is controlled by the USA. London dumps Washington in front of the entire world. Washington’s reaction is reminiscent of a reaction of a redneck who caught his British bride in bed with a Chinese boyfriend – furious. A senior official from the Obama administration told the Financial Times that the British initiative to enter the Chinese capital project “is not the best way to interact with emerging power”. Under “emerging power” the American cuckold implies China! The interesting thing is that London did not even bother to respond to the outrage of Washington.

In this context it is easy to guess what Putin was occupied with. He tamed the Central Bank, maintained international contacts and did everything so that Russia will be on top after the hot phase of the emerging global economic conflict is over.

So far, everything is going well. The victory will be ours.