Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Trump Is Already Helping Putin Consolidate Control of Ukraine - Politico Tuesday August 23rd, 2016 at 12:19 PM

Trump Is Already Helping Putin Consolidate Control of Ukraine - Politico

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Washington Post

Trump Is Already Helping Putin Consolidate Control of Ukraine
Politico
MOSCOW—In living rooms and kitchens across Russia and Ukraine, the U.S. presidential election is as riveting to TV viewers as “Game of Thrones” is to their American counterparts. Every time Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump speak of Russian President ...
Tensions mount between Russia and Ukraine ahead of military drillsWashington Post 
Russia, Germany, France raise alarm over fighting in UkraineCTV News

Ukraine, Russia flex muscles ahead of Independence DayDeutsche Welle 
Sputnik International-RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty-Daily Star
all 161 news articles »

Russia's Literary Icons, Explored on a Budget - New York Times

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New York Times

Russia's Literary Icons, Explored on a Budget
New York Times
Russians are fiercely proud of their literary tradition, which produced, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, some of the finest and most well-regarded novelists, playwrights and poets the world has ever known. I set off to spend part of my ...

U.N. Relief Official Calls Crisis in Aleppo the ‘Apex of Horror’

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Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are in dire need of aid, with the situation especially acute in Aleppo, but the official said not a single relief convoy had been dispatched so far in August.

Court Upholds Doping-Related Ban on Russia at Paralympics

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The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal by Moscow, confirming that none of the country’s athletes would participate in the Games that begin on Sept. 7.

The Daily Vertical: Putin's Syrian Victims 

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From: rferlonline
Duration: 02:01

The Daily Vertical: Putin's Syrian Victims (Transcript)

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So Russia has now killed more civilians in Syria than Islamic State.

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Ukraine Rehearses For Independence Day Military Parade

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Tanks and missile launchers rolled through Kyiv on August 22 during a rehearsal for a military parade in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. (RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service)

After Failed Coup, Turkey Settles Into a Rare Period of Unity

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Turks have expressed solidarity in supporting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, although some may be motivated by fear after his purge of suspected political enemies.

Contributing Op-Ed Writer: Turkey’s Great Purge

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Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan burned an effigy in Istanbul last month of Fethullah Gulen, a United States-based imam and the leader of the movement said to be behind the attempted coup.

Заместитель Министра обороны Анатолий Антонов сообщил о продолжении совместной с сирийскими властями гуманитарной операции по оказанию помощи населению Алеппо

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Замглавы военного ведомства отметил, что Минобороны России поддержало инициативу спецпредставителя Генерального Секретаря ООН Стаффана де-Мистуры по введению 48-часовых «гуманитарных перерывов» боевых действий в Алеппо.

В Западном военном округе создана служба беспилотной авиации

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Под руководством офицеров службы расчеты БЛА будут изучать способы применения беспилотной авиации при решении задач в горной и лесистой местности, выполнять задания по разведке ущелий и поиску объектов условного противника.

В Москве состоялось заседание Коллегии Министерства обороны России

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Одним из основных вопросов повестки дня стало обсуждение хода реализации Плана деятельности Восточного военного округа на 2016–2020 годы с учётом перспектив размещения войск на Курильских островах.

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Merkel’s refugee policy faces stern test

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German chancellor under pressure ahead of regional polls as immigration becomes ‘issue number one’

Merkel tells Turks in Germany to be loyal

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Chancellor’s remarks reflect political concern about divided allegiances

Peru investigates 'police death squad' after killings

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Prosecutors in Peru investigate allegations that a group of rogue police officers killed civilians and passed them off as dangerous criminals to secure promotions.

Bergdahl lawyers to present arguments on McCain comments

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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) - Attorneys for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl are scheduled to argue Tuesday that decision-makers with power over the soldier's prosecution were improperly swayed by negative comments from U.S. Sen. John McCain.
The defense argues that the chain of events surrounding Bergdahl's prosecution shows "impermissible meddling" by ...

Private lives are exposed as WikiLeaks spills its secrets

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CAIRO (AP) - WikiLeaks' global crusade to expose government secrets is causing collateral damage to the privacy of hundreds of innocent people, including survivors of sexual abuse, sick children and the mentally ill, The Associated Press has found.
In the past year alone, the radical transparency group has published medical ...

Joe Biden in Europe says Donald Trump 'doesn't understand' NATO rules 

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Vice President Joseph R. Biden told European leaders Tuesday not to worry about Donald Trump questioning NATO's value, because the Republican presidential nominee doesn't understand the military alliance's organizing principles.
At a meeting in Latvia with Baltic leaders, Mr. Biden said comments by Mr. Trump about NATO are "nothing that ...
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Pentagon takes aim at bomb-carrying consumer drones

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The problem is no longer about enthusiasts with a bad sense of direction. Weaponized to various degrees of sophistication, unmanned aerial vehicles are now being used in the Syrian civil war and along parts of Lebanese and Syrian borders with Israel, where Hezbollah holds sway.
     

The FBI found 15000 emails Hillary Clinton didn't turn over. Uh oh. - Hornell Evening Tribune

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Hornell Evening Tribune

The FBI found 15000 emails Hillary Clinton didn't turn over. Uh oh.
Hornell Evening Tribune
But we know from FBI Director James BComey that during its investigation, the FBI found several thousand work-related emails that had not been previously turned over by Clinton. While these 15,000 appear to be at least part of what Comey is referring ...
FBI uncovers 14900 more emails in Hillary Clinton investigationUPI.com

all 352 news articles »

Clinton Cash Graphic Novel Hits Store Shelves

Iran's Strategic Penetration of Latin America








Iran Expanding TerrorNetwork in Latin America 

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Iran is solidifying its foothold in Latin America, sparking concerns among U.S. officials that the Islamic Republic will enlist these regional allies in its push to launch terror attacks on U.S. soil, according to conversations with congressional sources.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has been on a diplomatic tour through key Latin American countries known for hostility towards the United States, including Cuba, Venezuela, and a host of other countries believed to be providing shelter to Iranian terrorist proxies such as Hezbollah.
As Iranian-ally Russia boosts its spy operation in the region, sources have raised concerns about the rogue nations working together to foster anti-U.S. unrest.
Zarif’s trip through the region has raised red flags among some senior congressional sources familiar with the region. For example, Zarif took aim at the United States and touted the regime’s desire to align with anti-American countries during his stay in Cuba.
One senior congressional source who works on the issue said to the Washington Free Beacon that Iran is seeking to recruit “potential terrorists who want to cause the U.S. harm.”
Increased ties between Iran and these Latin American nations are setting the stage for terrorists to penetrate close to U.S. soil with little detection.
These individuals “can travel easily to Venezuela, and once there, they can get to Nicaragua or Cuba without passports or visas, which poses a national security risk for our nation,” the source explained.
Iran has also reopened its embassy in Chile, a move that has only added fuel to speculation among U.S. officials that the Islamic Republic is making moves to position its global terror network on America’s doorstep.
“The threat to U.S. national security interests and our allies should be setting off alarm bells,” Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R., Fla.), chair of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement about Zarif’s Latin American tour.
“The Obama administration has failed to prevent Russia and China from expanding in our Hemisphere, and now Iran is once again stepping up its efforts to gain a greater presence to carry out its nefarious activities,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “I urge the White House to stop downplaying the Iranian threat and take immediate action to prevent the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism from establishing a regional safe haven in the Americas.”
Asked to comment on Zarif’s trip and the potential repercussions on Monday, a State Department official said to the Free Beacon that the administration had no comment.
Ros-Lehtinen said the high-profile trip by Zarif should serve as a warning.
“The timing of Zarif’s trip is significant as Iran could use many of these rogue regimes to circumvent remaining sanctions, undermine U.S. interests, and expand the drug trafficking network that helps finance its illicit activities,” she said. “Tehran’s classic playbook is to use cultural centers, new embassies or consulates, or cooperative agreements on various areas to act as façades aimed at expanding Iran’s radical extremist network.”
The renewed concerns about Iran’s footprint in Latin America comes nearly two years after the State Department said Tehran’s influence in the region was “waning.”
“The timing of Zarif’s trip speaks volumes,” said the senior congressional aide who would discuss the issue only on background. It “is worrisome that as we just celebrated the 22nd year of the horrific terrorist attack against the AMIA Jewish community center in Argentina, Iran can now have personnel nearby in a new embassy in Chile.”
“Just recently, a Hezbollah member was picked up in Brazil, an explosive device was found near the Israeli embassy in Uruguay, and Hezbollah members are reportedly traveling on Venezuelan passports,” the source added. “It was not too long ago that Venezuela offered flights to Iran and Syria, and as of last week, Hezbollah cells were found in the West Bank where Venezuela lifted its visa requirements for Palestinians.”
Zarif slammed the United States on Monday during a speech in Havana.
“Iran and Cuba could prove to the U.S. that it cannot proceed with its policies through exerting pressure on other countries,” Zarif said, according to Iran’s state-controlled media.
“Now the time is ripe for realizing our common goals together and implement the resistance economy in Iran and materialize [Cuban dictator Fidel] Castro’s goals of reconstruction of the Cuban economy,” Zarif added.
Zarif went on to note that Iran “has age-old and strong relations with the American continent and the Latin American countries.”
Zarif is reported to have brought along at least 60 Iranian officials and executives working in the country’s state-controlled economic sector.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told theFree Beacon that Iran has boosted efforts to engage Latin America in the wake of last summer’s nuclear agreement.
“Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif is aggressively continuing Iran’s diplomatic outreach, a policy which began early in the Rouhani administration and was kicked into high gear in the aftermath of the JCPOA—last summer’s nuclear deal,” he said. “Zarif’s sojourn into the Western hemisphere follows on the heels of his May visit to the region. Zarif’s trip symbolically commences in Havana, Cuba, where the Iranian foreign minister harped on themes of steadfastness and resistance to American legal and economic pressure.”
The Iranian leader’s goal is to “build on this experience to help promote an anti-American and anti-capitalist world order,” he added. “What’s most clear however, is that in addition to seeking to solidify the anti-American political orientation of these states, Iran aims to capitalize on the increasingly detached stigma of doing business with it in the aftermath of the nuclear accord. Therefore, we can expect to see trade deals or memorandums of understanding inked. In short, Iran will be looking to deepen to its footprint in Latin America.”