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December 2016

TrumpTaiwancall:Chinalodgesprotest
3 December 16 / Carrie Gracie BBC China editor
China'sforeignministrysaysithaslodgedacomplaintwiththeUSafterPresidentelectDonaldTrump
spoketoTaiwan'sleaderinaphonecall.
ChinaseesTaiwanasabreakawayprovince.USpolicysetin1979cutallformalrelationswithTaiwan.
However,MrTrump'stransitionteamsaidheandTsaiIngwennoted"closeeconomic,political,and
securityties"inaphonecall.
Chinasaidithadlodgeda"solemnrepresentation"withWashington.
AccordingtothestatenewsagencyXinhua,ChinaurgedtheUS"tocautiously,properlyhandleTaiwan
issuetoavoidunnecessarydisturbancetoSinoUSrelations".
Earlier,ChineseForeignMinisterWangYidismissedthecallasa"pettytrick"byTaiwan,Chinesestate
mediasaid.

What happened?
MrTrumptweetedonFridaythatMsTsaihadcalledhimtocongratulatehimonwinningtheUSelection.
HisteamsaidthattheUSpresidentelecthadalsocongratulatedMsTsaionbecomingthepresidentof
TaiwanlastJanuary.
ItishighlyunusualforaUSpresidentorpresidentelecttospeaktoaTaiwaneseleaderdirectly.
FollowingmediareportspointingouttherisksofangeringChina,MrTrumptweeted:"Interestinghowthe
USsellsTaiwanbillionsofdollarsofmilitaryequipmentbutIshouldnotacceptacongratulatorycall."
TheWhiteHousehassaidMrTrump'sconversationdoesnotsignalanychangeinUSpolicy.USmedia
reportedthattheWhiteHouselearnedofthecallonlyafterithadhappened.
MrTrump'sspokeswomansaidhewas"wellaware"ofUSpolicytowardsTaiwan.
Readmore:What'sbehindtheChinaTaiwandivide?

What is the problem?


ThesplitbetweenChinaandTaiwangoesbackto1949,whentheRepublicofChina(ROC)government
fledthemainlandtoTaiwan.After1945,itheldChina'sseatontheUNSecurityCouncilandwas,fora
while,recognisedbymanyWesternnationsastheonlyChinesegovernment.
Butin1971,theUNswitcheddiplomaticrecognitiontoBeijingandtheROCgovernmentwasforcedout.
OnlyahandfulofcountriesnowrecogniseTaiwan'sgovernment.
WashingtoncutformaldiplomatictieswithTaiwanin1979,expressingitssupportforBeijing's"One
China"concept,whichstatesthatTaiwanispartofChina.
ChinahashundredsofmissilespointingtowardsTaiwan,andhasthreatenedtouseforceifitseeks
independence.
PresidentTsai,Taiwan'sfirstfemaleleader,ledtheDemocraticProgressiveParty(DPP)toalandslide
victoryintheJanuary2016election.
TheDPPhastraditionallyleanedtowardsindependencefromChina.PresidentTsai'sadministrationdoes
notaccepttheOneChinapolicy.
Readmore:TsaiIngwen,Taiwan'sshybutsteelyleader

From concern to alarm and anger - Carrie Gracie, BBC


China editor, Beijing
MrTrump'sdecisiontoturnhisbackonfourdecadesofUSprotocolonTaiwanandspeakdirectlytoa
presidentofTaiwanwillstunpolicymakersinBeijing.
Sincehiselectionlastmonth,theyhavestruggledtounderstandwhoisadvisingDonaldTrumponAsia
andwhathisChinapolicywilllooklike.
Thismovewillturnconcernintoalarmandanger.
BeijingseesTaiwanasaprovince.Denyingitanyofthetrappingsofanindependentstateisoneofthekey
prioritiesofChineseforeignpolicy.
ReadmorefromCarrie:TheTrumpphonecallthatwillstunBeijing

How has China responded?


TheChineseMinistryofForeignAffairssaiditopposedanyofficialinteractionormilitarycontactbetween
theUSandTaiwan,accordingtothePeople'sDaily,aCommunistPartymouthpiece.
ForeignMinisterWangYisaidtheconversationbetweenMrTrumpandMsTsaiwas"justapettytrickby
Taiwan"thathebelievedwouldnotchangeUSpolicytowardChina,statemediareported.
"TheOneChinapolicyisthecornerstoneofthehealthydevelopmentofChinaUSrelationsandwehope
thispoliticalfoundationwillnotbeinterferedwithordamaged,"hewasquotedassaying.
ThecommentwasrepeatedinaformalstatementbytheForeignMinistryreportedbyXinhua.
Despitethecutinformaltiesnearlyfourdecadesago,theUShasstillmaintainedfriendlynonofficial
relationswithTaiwan.
FollowingMrTrump'stelephoneconversation,theWhiteHousesaidtheUSremainedfirmlycommittedto
its"OneChina"policy.
"Ourfundamentalinterestisinpeacefulandstablecrossstraitrelations,"saidNedPrice,aspokesmanfor
theWhiteHouseNationalSecurityCouncil.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-38194371

UN passes resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from


Syrias Golan Heights

Sat Dec 3, 2016 Press TV


TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyhasonceagainpassedaresolutioncallingonIsraelto
withdrawfromSyriasGolanHeights,territorythattheTelAvivregimehasoccupiedsince1967.
Theassemblyadoptedtheresolution,whichhadbeenproposedby37countries,byanoverwhelming
majorityonNovember30.
TheresolutionalsocondemnedIsraelsnoncompliancetotheSecurityCouncilResolution497since1981
untilnow,describingasnullandvoidTelAvivsdecisionissuedonDecember14,1981toimposeits
controlovertheoccupiedGolanHeights.
TheUNGAalsoreemphasizedthebasicprincipleofinadmissibilityoftheacquisitionofterritoriesbyforce
basedontheinternationallawandtheUNCharter.
TheresolutionstressedthattheGenevaConventionsontheprotectionofcivilianindividualsintimeofwar
applyintheoccupiedGolanHeights.
ManyofthestatesparticipatinginthesessionalsodenouncedtheIsraelipracticesintheoccupiedregion.
IsraelseizedtheGolanHeightsfromSyriaafterthe1967SixDayWarandlateroccupieditinamovethat
hasneverbeenrecognizedbytheinternationalcommunity.Theregimehasbuilttensofillegalsettlements
intheareaeversinceandhasusedtheregiontocarryoutanumberofmilitaryoperationsagainstthe
Syriangovernment.
SyriasaysIsraelanditsWesternandregionalalliesareaidingTakfirimilitantgroupsoperatinginsidethe
Arabcountry.TheIsraeliregimehasevensetupfieldhospitalstheretotreatwoundedSyrianmilitants.

TheSyrianarmyhasrepeatedlyseizedhugequantitiesofIsraelimadeweaponsandadvancedmilitary
equipmentfromtheforeignbackedmilitantsinsideSyria.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/12/03/496232/UN-GeneralAssembly-Israel-Syria-Golan

Jill Stein suspends voter recount bid in Pennsylvania

Sun Dec 4, 2016 / Press TV


ThecampaignofformerUSGreenPartynomineeJillSteinhasdroppedastatewideballotrecount
bidinthestateofPennsylvania.
OnSaturday,SteinslawyerLawrenceM.OtterwithdrewthelawsuitfiledwiththeCommonwealthCourt
ofPennsylvania.
"Petitionersareregularcitizensofordinarymeans,"thefilingreads."Theycannotaffordtopostthe
$1,000,000bondrequiredbytheCourt."
SteinlaterpostedaTwittermessage,saying,"#Recount2016issoexpensivebecauseofelectedleaders
whohaverefusedtoinvestina21stcenturyvotingsystem."
"Howoddisitthatwemustjumpthroughbureaucratichoopsandraisemillionsofdollarssowecantrust
ourelectionresults?"sheasked.
AlthoughStein'swithdrawalabruptlyconcludestheeffortthatbegantherelessthanoneweekago,Otter
saidthatthisdoesnotendrecountsinthestateentirely.
HercampaignplanstocontinueitscountybycountyrecounteffortinPennsylvania,OttertoldThe
PhiladelphiaInquirer.
"Intheregion,arecountinPhiladelphiaisalreadyunderwayin75ofthecity'smorethan1,600divisions.
JudgesinBucksandDelawarecountieswillhearargumentsthisweekonwhethertograntrecounts,Otter
added.
SupportersofRepublicanpresidentelectDonaldTrumphavebeentryingtofreezerecounteffortsin
Michigan,WisconsinandPennsylvania,thestateswherehenarrowlydefeatedhisDemocraticrival,Hillary
Clinton.
Thethreestateshaveatotalof46electoralvoteswhichcouldchangetheresultoftheelectioninfavorof
Clinton.Butpoliticalobserverssaythereisanoutsidechanceofthathappening.
AteamofTrumpattorneysfiledalawsuitThursdayinPennsylvania,requestingadismissalofSteins
recounteffort,assertingthatshelacksavalidclaim.
TrumplodgedalawsuitFridaytopreventanelectionrecountinMichiganscheduledtobeginnextweek.
AlsoinWisconsin,aproTrumpsuperPACfiledasuitFriday,arguingthatSteinsrecountpushcould
unjustifiablycastdoubtuponthelegitimacyofPresidentelectDonaldJ.Trumpsvictory.
ButSteinarguestherecountcampaignisonlymeanttoensurethatthevotingmachineswerenottampered
with,questioningTrump's"desperateattemptstosilencevoterdemandsforrecounts."

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/12/04/496352/US-electionJill-Stein-vote-recount

EdwardHeathchildabuseinvestigation
'notawitchhunt'

Wiltshirechiefconstablesayssignificantnumberofpeoplehavedisclosedclaimsofhistoricalabuse
againstexprimeminister
VikramDoddandOwenBowcott
Friday2December2016/GuardianOnline
ThechiefconstableoftheforceinvestigatingclaimsthatSirEdwardHeathsexuallyabusedchildrenhas
vowednottobuckleunderunacceptablemediapressure,insistingtheinvestigationintothelateprime
ministerisnotafishingtriporawitchhunt.
Asignificantnumberofindividualshavedisclosedallegationsofabuse,theWiltshirepolicechief,Mike
Veale,saidonFridayinanextraordinary1,600wordstatementthatsoughttorebuffmediacriticismand
keepthe15monthinvestigationontrack.
TheGuardianunderstandsthatatleast15peoplehavemadeallegationstothepolicearoundthecountry
claimingHeath,whodiedin2005,wasinvolvedinthesexualabuseofchildren.
MultiplesourcessaytheWiltshireledOperationConiferremainsliveandtheclaimsareregardedby
policeascredible,withinquiriescontinuingintowhethertheycanbeshowntobetrueordisproved.Police
aredescribingthecomplainantsasvictimsinprivate.
Onepolicesourcesaidthefactpolicewerecontinuingtheinvestigationdemonstratedthebeliefinthe
credibilityofthecomplaints.Ifwedidnotbelievethat,wewouldhaveshuttheinvestigationdown.The
factiswearecontinuing.
PolicehavetakenadvicefromtheCrownProsecutionService,andaseniorofficerfromWiltshirehasbeen
movedintoarolewithfulltimeoversightoftheinquiryintoHeathandothers.
Vealesthreepagestatement,rareduringthemiddleofahighprofileinvestigation,cameaftermonthsof
attacksinthemediaonOperationConifer,whichbeganinAugust2015.
Thechiefconstablecriticisedtheunduepressureonhisofficersandsaidpolicewereunderagreaterduty
toinvestigatebecauseHeathhadheldthehighestofficeintheUK.
SirEdwardHeathwasanextremelyprominent,influentialandhighprofileperson,whowasarguablyone
ofthemostpowerfulpeopleintheworldcommensuratewiththepubliclyelectedofficeheheld.
ItisclearthatIamexpectedtoconductaproportionateinvestigationwhichwillresultinadistinct
outcomeorreportandthecloserthesuspectistothestatethegreatertheobligationandthemoreprobing
theinvestigationshouldbe.
Heathwasprimeministerfrom197074.Aworldclassyachtsmaninhissparetime,hetookBritaininto
whatwasthentheEuropeanEconomicCommunity.Histimeinpowerwasbesetbyindustrialstrife,and
confrontationswiththethenpowerfultradeunionsplungedBritainintoathreedayweek.
HewaselectedleaderofthetheConservativepartyin1965andwonthe1970election.Helostthe
premiershipin1974toLaboursHaroldWilsonandlosttheConservativepartyleadershipthefollowing
yearwhenchallengedanddefeatedbyMargaretThatcher,ofwhomhebecameabitterandvocalcritic.
Heath,whonevermarried,diedathomeinSalisburyinJuly2005,aged89.
DrRachelHoskins,anexpertonritualsacrificewhohasbeenaskedbydetectivestoexamineclaimsmade
againstHeathandothersaspartofOperationConifer,hasbeenhighlycriticaloftheinvestigation.
Vealesaid:Thisisnotafishingtriporwitchhuntbothofthesetermshavebeenunfairlylevelledat
us.Hecitedtheconstitutionalprincipleofpolicingbeingfreeofundueinfluencefromthestate,ashe
pledgedtheinvestigationwouldcontinue.
Itakemyresponsibilitiesofoperationalindependence,whichisthebedrockofBritishpolicing,very
seriouslyindeed.ThereforeIwillremainoperationallyindependentandwillnotbeinfluencedby
inappropriateandunacceptablepressurefrompeoplewhodontknowthedetailofthiscase.
Iwillnotbebucklingunderpressuretonotinvestigateortoconcludetheinvestigationprematurely.
VealesaideventhoughHeathwasdead,detectivesmightbeabletotrackdownanyaccomplicesand
supportanyvictims.
Thereremainsthelikelihoodthatwitnessesthatcanservetocorroborateor,equallyasimportant,negate
theallegations,arestillalive.Ifabusehasoccurredthenitremainsrelevanttosupportthoseaffectedand
seektobringtojusticeanypersonstilllivingwhomayhavecommittedassociatedcriminaloffences.Itis
importanttoidentifyanyvulnerableindividualswhorequiresafeguardingtoday.

SeveralpoliceforcesacrossBritainhavereceivedclaimsaboutHeath.Theinvestigationisbeingco
ordinatedandledbypoliceinWiltshire,whereHeathhadahomeinSalisbury.
VealesaidathoroughinquirycouldexonerateHeathandthatsomeclaimshadbeendroppedbydetectives.
Themediadebateabouttheinvestigationhascharacteriseditasunfounded,butwithinpolicingtheviewis
largelydifferent.
Publicfaithinpolicecompetencearoundinvestigatinghistoricalsexualabuseclaimsagainsthighprofile
individualshasbeenrockedbythefalloutfromaScotlandYardinquiry,OperationMidland,which
examinedclaimsfromthe1970sand80s.
Areportearlierthismonthcastigatedpoliceforfallingforfalseclaimsmadebyacomplainantcalled
Nick.Inthatcase,policechiefswereamongthelasttorealisetheinquiry,whichwronglytargeted
establishmentfigures,wasbesetbyfailings.
VealesaidNickhadnotbeenspokentoaspartoftheWiltshireledinvestigation.IntheMetinquiryheis
believedtohavemadeclaims,widelythoughttobefalse,aboutHeath.
Otherpoliceinvestigationsintohistoricalsexualabuseclaimshaveledtoconvictions.Policehavealso
facedaccusationsthattheyhavecovereduporfailedtoinvestigateabuseclaimsagainstpowerfulpeople.
Attheendoftheirinvestigation,Wiltshirepoliceplantowriteareportassessingwhethertheevidence
gatheredwouldhavebeensufficienttochargeHeath,puthimontrial,andconvinceajurybeyond
reasonabledoubtofhisguilt.
TwopeoplehavebeenarrestedaspartofOperationConifer.Policewillonlysaythearrestsarerelatedto
childprotectionissuesandthatthetwo,whohavebeenbailed,aresuspectsbutarenotdirectlylinkedto
theHeathinvestigation.
Wiltshirespoliceandcrimecommissioner,AngusMacpherson,whohasstrategicoversightoftheforce,
backeditsrighttoinvestigatetheclaimsandsaidpublicinterestwasaddingtopressureonofficers.
Ibelievetherootcauseofthispressureisalegitimateconcernthatthereputationofaformerprime
ministermaybetarnishedwithouttherebeingcredibleevidenceofguilt,Macphersonsaid.
ThechiefconstableandIareofonemind:thepolicecannotactasjudgeandjuryintheirowncause.Once
thepolicehaveconductedtheinvestigationtoaconclusion,theremustbeanalternativeavenuetoassess
thecredibilityofanyevidencethathasbeengathered.
TheGuardianunderstandsthatDetSuptSeanMemory,whowasWiltshiresheadofcrime,hasbeen
movedfromhisposttooverseetheinquiryintoHeathfulltime,aswellasanotherinquiryintohistorical
allegationswhichemergedduringtheinvestigationintoHeath.
Wiltshirepolicesaid:FurthertoarestructureofportfoliosDetSuptMemoryisthenewheadofLegacy
InvestigationsandcontinuesinhisroleasseniorinvestigatingofficerforOperationConifer.
TheCPSconfirmedithadgivenadvicetothepoliceinvestigation.
InAugust2015Memorymadeapublicappeal,controversiallyoutsideHeathsSalisburyhome,saying:
ThisisanappealforvictimsinparticularifyouhavebeenthevictimofanycrimefromSirTedHeathor
anyhistoricalsexualoffence,oryouareawitness,oryouhaveanyinformationaboutthis,thenplease
comeforward.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/dec/02/edwardheath-child-abuse-investigation-not-a-witch-hunt?
CMP=share_btn_tw

rt.com

ItalysPMRenzicedesdefeat,plansto
resignafterdecisiveNovotein
constitutionalreferendum
5December2016/RT
ItalianPrimeMinisterMatteoRenzisayshetakesfullresponsibilityforthecrashingdefeatatthe
referendumheproposed,whichwouldhavereducedthepowersoftheSenate.Renziintendstosendinhis
resignationonMonday.
Theexperienceofmygovernmentendshere,Renzisaidinatelevisednewsconference,addingthathis
defeatwasextraordinaryclear.
IhavelostandIsayitoutloud,hesaid.
TomorrowIwillgathertheCouncilofMinisters,andIwillgototheQuirinalPalacetoresign,Renzi
said,confirminghisplanstotenderhisresignationtothecountryspresident,SergioMattarella.
AccordingtoItalysInteriorMinistry,some70percentofItalyseligiblevoterstookpartinthe
referendum,aftermorethantwothirdsofpollingstationsreportedtheirresults.Anexitpollconductedby
thePiepoliInstitute/IPRforRAItelevisionestimatedthat40.9percentvotedYes,while59.1percent
votedNo.RAIprojectionsindicatethatvotersinonlythreeofItalys20regionscastballotstoapprove
thereform,whilein17regionstheproposalwasrejected.
Aheadofthereferendumvote,Renzipromisedthathewouldstepdownifhisproposedconstitutional
reformwasnotapproved.
WhilethereferendumresultwillbewidelyseenasapersonalfailureforRenzi,itisalsobeingperceivedas
aheavyblowtoEUbureaucraticelites.
RTsPaulaSliertalkedtovotersinRome,whosharedthenotionofthisbeingavotemorebroadlylinked
toEUpolicies.
Themainstreammediaislikelytopresentthisasapersonaldefeat,avoteof[no]confidenceagainst
Renziandagainsttheleadership.Butitshouldbeseenasamuchmoresymbolicvoteitisalsoavote
againsttheEuropeanUnion,againsttheEUpoliciesandagainsttheEUestablishment,Sliersaid,citing
votersopinions.
ThefounderofthepopulistFiveStarMovement,formercomedianBeppeGrillo,whocampaignedagainst
Renzisproposedreform,arguingthatitcouldunderminepoliticalbalanceinthecountry,saidthat
democracyhaswon,praisingthevote.
Timeshavechanged,Grillosaidinastatement.Sovereigntybelongstothepeople,nowwearestarting
toreallyapplyourConstitution.Themainwinnersarethecitizenswhoraisedtheirheadsandwenttovote
enmasse,forgettingabouttheTVandnewspapers,torejecttheConstitutionalreform.TheFiveStar
Movementleadercalledforsnapelectionstobeheldassoonaspossible.
RenzisplantolimittheSenate'spowershasdrawnstrongcriticismfromtheItalianopposition.Matteo
Salvini,oftherightwingNorthernLeague,hailedtheNovote,callingitavictoryofthepeopleagainst
thestrongpowersofthreequartersoftheworld.
Francesfarrightpresidentialcandidate,MarineLePen,leaderoftheNationalFront,hasalsowelcomed
theItalianreferendumresult,congratulatingourfriendSalvini,whoshareshisEuroscepticstancewith
LePen,onthevictory.
Romesfirstfemalemayor,VirginiaRaggi,whohailsfromGrillosFiveStarMovement,welcomedthe
Noresult,sayingthatourrevolutiondoesnotstop,inRomeandinItaly.
Italianshavewon.Nowwerebuildthecountry,shewroteonTwitter.
TheproposedlegislationenvisagedasignificantreductioninthepowersoftheSenate,theupperhouseof
theItalianparliament.UnderItalys1948constitution,bothchambersofparliament,theChamberof
DeputiesandtheSenate,haveequalimportanceintheadoptionofanylegislation.Beforeabillcanbe
madeintolaw,ithastobepassedbybothchambers.

ItalyscurrentlegislativesystemwasdevisedintheyearsafterWWII.Thewartimeyearsalsosawthe
topplingoffascistdictatorBenitoMussolini.ThenewConstitution,introducedin1948,grantedthetwo
chambersofparliamentequalpowers,aimingtopreventdictatorshipsfromtakingoverinthefuture.
However,thesystemhasnotbeenfunctioningsmoothly,asthegovernmentwasoftencaughtinadeadlock,
unabletoimplementcrucialreforms.Renzisproposalwasaimedatdismantlingthissystemandenabling
reformtogoahead.
TheconstitutionalamendmentputforwardbyRenziwouldhavecappedthepoweroftheSenatesothe
governmentwouldnolongerneeditsapprovalonanarrayoflaws,includingbudgetissues.
TheSenatewassettolosemuchofitsauthoritywiththenumberofsenatorsreducedfrom315to100,and
95ofthosewouldbeappointedbyregionalassemblies.
ItalianjournalistMarchelloFoatoldRTthatRenzisinabilitytodeliveronthepromisesofradicalchange
andstandinguptotheEUresultedinhispopularapprovalslippingaway.
TheproblemwithMr.Renziisthathewasverypopularatthebeginningofhismandate,buthehasbeen
promisingtoomuchandpeoplearenowrealizingthatabigpartofthethingshesaysarenotcoming
true,Foasaid,addingthatalargepartofItalianpopulationdoesnottrusthimanymore.

HearguedthatRenzilostcredibilityasastrongleaderafterherepeatedlyfailedtotakehisrather
aggressivepublicrhetoriconmigrationtoactualEUmeetings,givinguphisoppositioneverytime.
RenziappearedtohavesharpenedhisrhetoricontheEUimmigrationissue,claiminginOctoberthatItaly
would"putvetothefutureEuropeanbudget"iftheblocdoesnotcometogethertotackletheproblem.He
alsosaidItaly"willnothandle"asimilarinfluxofmigrantsin2017,estimatingthatthegovernmenthas
"sixmonths"todealwithit.
FoabelievesthatthesamefactorsthathavetriggeredBrexitintheUKandcontributedtoDonaldTrumps
victoryintheUSelectionsthatisoveralldissatisfactionwithmainstreampoliticiansplayedarolein
Renzisdownfall.
Thesentimentisthatnowthegovernmentsdonotperformwell,toomanypeopleareunemployed,people
losecontrolovertheirdestiny,Foasaid,addingthatpeoplewantradicalchangeanddonottrustthe
establishmentanymore.
Mr.Renzi,himself,usedtoproposesuchradicalchange,butlikeithappenedwithTsiprasinGreece,for
example,hewasunabletofulfillhispromises,hesaid.

https://www.rt.com/news/369180-italy-referendum-renzidefeat-resigns/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

Boris Johnson rejects Tony Blairs request for increase


on 3mn taxpayer funding
12 December 2016 / RT
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has turned down
former-Prime Minister Tony Blairs bid for extra resources as
his total cost to the taxpayer hits almost 3 million a year, it
has been reported.

Blair recently requested further access to additional


equipment and staff, the Sun reports. He presented the
demands to Johnson, who has to sign off all ex-premiers
state spending as part of his Cabinet job, during a face-toface Whitehall meeting in October.
Blair asked for more armored cars and escort vehicles, as
well as drivers to operate them, for his work in the Middle
East. He also asked for diplomatic number plates to be
installed on the vehicles.
Officials estimated the extra resources to be worth an
additional 100,000 (US$125,000) a year.
The request comes despite Blair no longer having any official
role in the Middle East, after giving up the job of special
envoy to the quartet the UN, US, EU and Russia in May
last year.
The requests reportedly caused alarm in the Foreign Office.
Johnsons rejection of the bid for more resources is believed
to be the first time a foreign secretary has acted to rein in
multimillionaire Blairs spending since he left Downing Street
almost 10 years ago.
The foreign secretary delivered his decision to Blair in a
formal letter.
Paraphrasing one of Blairs famous quotes as prime minister,
Johnson reportedly wrote: Sadly I feel the hand of prudence
on my shoulder. At this time, I cant provide you with
additional money.
Blairs jet-setting lifestyle has made him the most costly exPM of the four still alive, the Sun claims.
His Middle East travel is particularly pricey because of his
large security detail, with one of Blairs day trips into Gaza
raising a bill of 10,000 alone.
Blairs office on Sunday insisted the ex-PM had offered to pay
for the costs of any of the additional resources, and insisted
he still carried out work for the peace process from his office
in Israel.
https://www.rt.com/uk/370053-johnson-blair-reject-funding/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

Labour MP claims Russian president interfered in


Brexit referendum
Wed Dec 14, 2016 / RT
A British lawmaker has claimed that Russian
President Vladimir Putin might have had a hand in the
Brexit referendum.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, a prominent Remain supporter,
said it was "highly probable" that Putin interfered in the June
23 referendum when nearly 52 percent of British voters
opted to leave the European Union.
Bradshaws claim comes after the CIA accused Russia of
hacking into the US 2016 presidential election in order to
help Republican Donald Trump defeat his Democratic rival
Hillary Clinton.
What President Putin cannot achieve militarily he is already
achieving using cyber and propaganda warfare, the MP told
the House of Commons on Tuesday.
"I dont think we have even begun to wake up to what Russia
is doing when it comes to cyber warfare, he said.
"Not only their interference, now proven, in the American
presidential campaign, [but] probably in our referendum. We
dont have the evidence for that yet. But I think its highly
probable."
He also claimed that Russia encouraged the huge flow of
migrants into Europe in order to destabilize the EU.
The remarks, however, were mocked by other MPs, with one
senior Tory lawmaker deeming them worthy of Pravda, a
Russian broadsheet newspaper, formerly the official
newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Britain was a long way from the Cold War if it's now Labour
MPs who invent Russian subversion, another MP said.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said, I would ask him to
bring forward what evidence he has that Russia hacked the
referendum.

Bradshaw was one of the 83 rebels who voted against a


Commons motion last week, saying British Prime Minister
Theresa May should trigger Article 50 next March.
May has promised to begin the process in March and
complete it by 2019. However, those plans were delayed
when the UK High Court required a parliamentary vote for
that purpose.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/12/14/497791/UK-Brexit-EURussia-MP

Russianshelling,executionvideosin
AleppofakedbymilitantsMoD
Published time: 13 Dec, 2016 / Press TV
The videos of alleged Russia's shelling and executions as
well as other similar footage are fake and were shot by the
militants themselves, said Major General Igor Konashenkov,
the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman.
AllofthestatementsbyhighrankedWesternofficials,whichcitesocalledreportsbytheactivists,as
wellas'flicks,'showingalleged'Russianbombardments,'executionsandotherstuffarestagedvideos,
producedbyspecialfilmcrewsformedbymilitants,"KonashenkovsaidinastatementTuesday.
Thespokesmansaidthatitremainsaquestion,whysomemediaoutletsweresoeagertousethemwithout
checking.
Wehavesomeadviceforthemdon'teverfallforterroristpropaganda,"headded.
KonashenkovalsorejectedWesternmediaclaimsthat250,000civiliansweretrappedineasternAleppo
andendangeredbythegovernmentsoffensiveonthemilitants.
"TheSyriantroops'operationtoliberatetheeasternpartsofAleppoissuccessfulandhumaneinevery
senseinregardtocivilians,hesaid.
Allthedramatizedscreams,allegedlyindefenseof'250,000'Aleppocivilians,whowere'leftundersiege,'
mainlyonthepartofcertainrepresentativesoftheBritishandFrenchleadership,arenomorethanjust
emptyRussophobicrhetoric,"spokesmanadded.
AccordingtoKonashenkov,themilitantsineasternAleppohadusedaround100,000peopleashuman
shields,whoarenowoutofharmsway.
Attheveryfirstopportunity,theyleftthatenclaveandmovedtotheSyriangovernmentcontrolled
districtsforsafety,realaidandfood,"hesaid.
WithmostofeasternAlepponowliberated,morefactsabouttheshockingconditionswhichcivilians
enduredunderthemilitantsarebeingrevealed.
TheinspectionscarriedoutbyRussianmineclearancespecialistsineasternAleppodidntrevealasingle
schoolorhospitalthathadbeenfunctioningforitstruepurposesundertheterrorists.Allofthemwere
usedascommandcenters,Shariacourts,terroristrallyingpoints,ammunitiondepotsandunderground
productioncentersformanufacturinghomemaderockets,"thespokesmansaid.

Konashenkovalsosaidthatnohumanrightsactivists,representativesoftheoppositionor
nongovernmentalhumanitarianorganizations,liketheWhiteHelmets,havebeenfoundineastern
Aleppo.
"Accordingtocivilians,therewasonlyhungerandindiscriminateterrorbymilitantsforanyattemptsto
expressdissatisfactionorleavetheenclave,"hesaid.
TheDefenseMinistryspokesmanalsoexpressedregretthatMoscowscallsonWesterngovernmentand
humanitariangroupstosendaidtotheresidentsrescuedfromeasternAlepporemainedunanswered.
AleppohasbeendividedbetweenthegovernmentforcesandthemilitantssincethestartoftheSyrian
conflictin2011.
However,inrecentweeks,theSyrianArmyhasmadesignificantgainsineasternAleppoandiscloseto
liberatingitfromthemilitants.
Thesuccessfuloffensiveallowedthousandsofpeopletofleetheareaarereceivehumanitarianassistance
fromtheRussianandSyrianmilitary.

https://www.rt.com/news/370192-aleppo-russia-syria-fakemilitants/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

21stcenturywire.com

TheLastClowninAleppo:Mr.
AlhamdoDoesBadMontyPythonforAl
JazeeraandCNN
21wire
18December2016
21stCenturyWiresays
Thisismylastmessage.IfyouvebeenwatchingWesternandGulfstatemainstreammedia
coverageoverthelasttwoweeks,orevenjustsocialmedia,youwillhaveseenthispopularmeme
thelastdoctor,thelasthospital,thelastmessage,thelastvideo,thelasttweet,andeventhelastapple.It
wontbelongbeforethelastpersoninAleppoappearsonTwitterandyoucanbesurethatCNN
andAlJazeerawillbetheretogiveittheOrsonWellesWaroftheWorldstreatment.
Sinceitbeganin2011,theSyrianConflicthasseenlevelsofwesternorientedmediapropagandaand
outrightfakerythatisalmostincomprehensible.Aswitheverywesternpoliticalannouncement,nearly
everysinglepieceofWesternandGulfstatenewsonSyriaisspuninfavorofwhatiscalledthe
opposition.Themanipulationtakesmanyforms,butmostlyitreliesonselfstyledactivists,saidtobe
reportingrealeventsonthegroundinSyria,butonlyexclusivelyfromrebelheldareas.Sincethewar
began,theseactivistandrebelreportshavecomprisedroughly90%(aconservativeestimate)ofall
westernmainstreammediareporting.Thereasonforthisisbecausewesternpoliticiansandtheirmedia
partnersdecided(basedontheirownfakenewscoverage)veryearlyonthattheSyriangovernment,or
TheRegimewasguiltyofvariousandsundrycrimesagainsthumanityandwasthereforeillegitimate,
andthusshouldbecategoricallyignored.Thisisevidencedbynumerousstatementsinsupportofregime

changeandAssadmustgo,asthestatedforeignpoliciesmadebywesternleaders,namelytheNATO
alliednationsledbytheUS,UK,France,CanadaandTurkey.
Perhapsthemostprecariousofallthelastseries,isTheLastClowninAleppo.Thisstorywasreleased
inearlyDecember,withcoveragesynchronizedacrosseverymajorWesternmainstreammediaoutlet.Here
iswhatCNNreported:
ClownandentertainerAlBasha,24,waskilledTuesdayinamissilestrikeintheMashhadneighborhood
ofthecitysrebelheldeast,hisbrotherMahmoudAlBashatoldCNN.
AlBashawasadirectoratSpaceforHope,alocalnonprofitthathasworkedtoprovidecivilservicesto
peoplelivinginthewartornoppositionarea.
CNNstatedthatitsfootageofachildrenspartyfromwasshotbyactivistgroupAleppoMedia
Center,July2015,showingacostumedandfacepaintedAnasalBasha,playingwithanadorable
littlegirl,aschildrensingalong.
IfthestoryofAlBashaisexactlyasCNNandtheAleppoMediaCentersay,thencertainlyitisa
tragedy.Itwouldbeanevenbiggertragedyhowever,ifthispersonsdemiseisbeingusedtofurthera
cynicalWesternpoliticalagenda.
IssuchaperfectpicturereallypossibleamidtheAlNusraoccupiedEastAleppo?Thestoryportrayedin
theWesternmediahasallthehallmarksofaperfectpublicrelationsrelease,andbasedonthelevelof
visiblemediamanipulationgoingon,itscertainlypossiblethatthisstoryhasbeentwistedtodemonizethe
SyrianstateanditsRussianpartners.
Thissinglestoryispartofamuchbiggertheme.Youcanbesure,thereismuchmoretothisstorythan
meetstheeye
ThefirstliebeingtoldbyCNNisanimportantone,anditshiddeninplainsight.Theyclaimthatthe
AleppoMediaCenterisanactivistgroup,wheninreality,anyjournalistwithsomebasicresearchskills
willdiscoverwhatsconvenientlyoverlookedbyCNN,NBC,FOX,theBBCandtheirsisteroutletAl
Jazeera,alongwiththeusualsuspectslikeTheWashingtonPost,TIMEandAmericasnumberonewar
propagandamachine,TheNewYorkTimes,willsoondiscovertheFACTthattheAleppoMediaCenteris
fundedbytheFrenchgovernment(aswellasfundingfromotherwesternsources)fortheexpressed
purposeofproducingstrictlyoppositionimageryfromEastAleppofortheconsumptionofUS,European
andGulfstatemainstreammediaaudiences.WithEuropeantaxpayermoney,leadoperatives,whoare
exclusivelySunniMuslim,arethenbroughttoFranceforfurthertrainingandusedasPRfrontmenonthe
humanitarianspeakingcircuit,designedtodrumupsupportfortherebelcause(armedterrorist
fighters)andalsotodemonizetheSyriangovernmentintheeyesofthewesternpublicandfinallyto
promotetheWestandGulfstatessectariannarrativefortheMiddleEast.Whenyouconsiderthisin
context(whichthewesternmediaarenotconsidering)intheFACTthatthedominantoccupyingmilitant
forceincommandinEastAleppoistheAlNusraFrontakaAlQaedainSyria,thenbydefault,Aleppo
MediaCenterareproducingpropagandaonbehalfAlQaeda.Byextension,everywesternmainstream
mediaoutletinvolvedinthisprocessofmisrepresentingthebuiltinbiasofthisinformationoperationis
providingmaterialandpoliticalsupportforinternationallylistedTerroristorganizationsoccupyingsections
ofSyria.
SEEALSO:TerroristlinkedMahmoudRaslanofAleppoMediaCenterProducedStagedPhotoof5
yearoldOmranDaqneesh
ThesecondlieintheCNNreportisawhitelie(ifthereissuchathingatCNN)butanimportantoneto
pointout.Theyclaimedthat,AlBashawasadirectoratSpaceforHope,alocalnonprofitthathas
workedtoprovidecivilservicestopeoplelivinginthewartornoppositionarea.WhatCNN,othermedia
outlets,isattemptingtodohereistotryandcharacterizeTerroristoccupiedEastAleppoashavinga
legitimatecivilstructure.Soineffect,CNNissubtlyattemptingtolegitimizeaviolent,armedtakeoverby
forceoftheEasternportionofSyriassecondlargestcity.Thispracticecanbeseenthroughoutalloftheir
Syrianreportage.ItsalsolaughablethatCNNwouldcallclownAlBashasSpaceforHope(whichcould
easilybeamadeuporganizationfornarrativepurposes)alocalnonprofit,astheyglossovertheFACT
thatsinceitwasinvadedin2012,EastAleppohadnorealcivilorlegalstanding,otherthanShariaLaw
CourtssetupbyextremistradicalIslamicclericswhousedterroristfightersastheirstreetpolice.After
EastAleppowasliberatedthisweek,manyrealreportsofactualresidentswhoescapedtoldahorrificstory

featuringareoccurringtheme:residentsofEastAleppo(withanexceptionofterroristsandtheirfamilies,
whoseemedtohavebetterlivingconditionsthannormalresidents)wererobbed,hadfoodaidstolenfrom
them,andwereheldhostageandusedashumanshieldsbyoccupyingmilitantsintheirowndistrictsince
2012aFACTconvenientlyomittedfromallmajorwesternmediareporting.Again,thisisaprime
exampleofCNN,alongwitheveryothermajormediaoutlet,unofficiallyprovidingpublicrelationssupport
forinternationallylistedTerroristorganizationsoccupyingsectionsofSyria.
LikewiththecynicalPRcampaignofBanaofAleppo,TheLastClownemploysemotivecriesto
protectthechildreninordertosomehowjustifyaviolentTerroristoccupationofEastAleppo,usedas
acrassattemptatshamingtheSyriangovernment(anditspeoplewhoopposearmedterrorists)andtheir
RussiancounterpartsfordaringtofightagainstaninvadingterroristsforcesinsideofSyria.Theexactsame
NLPprogramisvisiblethrougheverytheUSStateDepartmentcommunicationandbyWashingtons
visiblyunstableAmbassadortotheUNSamanthaPower.TheUS,UKandFrenchgovernmentstrategy
(NATOinformationwarfarestrategy)istoswarmwesternmediawithendlessfakeandplantedstories,the
bulkofwhichareproducedbytwoNATOstatefundedsourcestheWhiteHelmetsandAleppoMedia
Center,alldesignedtopullontheheartstringsofhaplesswesternmediaconsumersandthensend
governmentofficialsontotheirrespectivepulpitstoparrotthosesamefakemediareportsanddemand
thatsomethingmustbedone,thechildrenaresuffering.Thatsomethingofcourse,iseitheraceasefire
(designedtogiveUS,UK,Saudi,Qataribackedterroristmercenariesachancetorearmandregroup),ora
NoFlyZone(apreludetoalloutwar),oraSafeZone(arefugeecamp,partlyforwesternbacked
militantsandtheirfamilies,whichwillrequiresomeNATOmilitarycontingenttoprotectit).
NowletslookatoneoftherealclownsofAleppo
HisnameisAbdulkafiAlhamdo,andgoesbytheonlinehandleofMr.Alhamdo,whodescribes
himselfasaUniversityProfessorandresidentinEastAleppowhoispartoftheSyrianRevolution.See
MrAlhamdosTwitterpagehere.
Theyaretryingtoexterminatemyneighborhood!Manybarrelbombs!
Hereweseeakeythewesternmediascript,ledbytheallimportantbarrelbomb,supposedlya
ubiquitousweaponofmassdestruction.WesayWMDbecausetheWhiteHelmetsfounderJames
LeMesurierclaimedonCNNthatabarrelwastheequivalentof7.6ontheRichterscale,whichisequal
toanuclearbomb.Seriously:
Whenonestrikes,itcanproducetheseismologicalequivalentofa7.6magnitudeearthquake,theWhite
HelmetsJamesLeMesuriertoldCNNsChiefMedicalCorrespondentDr.SanjayGupta.
LikemanyotherwesternmainstreammediatalkingpointsdesignedtodemonizetheSyriastate,thebarrel
bombmythologyappearstobescriptedinorderhidetherealcrimegoingonwhichisterroristsin
occupiedzoneslikeEastAleppofiringmortars,missilesandDIYHellCannons
firedindiscriminatelyandkillingthousandsofinnocentciviliansintheprocess.Thesecrimesare
intentionallycensoredfromnearlyeverysinglewesternmainstreammediajournalistsreports.
ThereareanumberofthingsnotrightaboutthisAlJazeeranewssegment,someofwhichwelladdress
afterthisvideo.WatchthisnearridiculoussegmentfeaturingMrAlHamdohere:
.
Itsallverydramatic,ifnotunbelievable.NoticetheAlJazeerapresenterplayingalongwiththe
skitsaying,Canyoutakecover?
AlJazeerahasbeeninregularcontactwithpeopleinrebelheldpartsofEasternAleppo.Yes,ofcourse
theyhave,butAlJazeeraissuretoonlyspeakwithrebelsandtheirdesignatedPRsurrogates,likeMr.
Alhamdo,orsuspectedUSassetandalQaedamediaoperative,BilalAbdulKareem.
WhatismorepreposterousishowintheAlJazeerasegmentfilmedonDec5,2016,Alhamdoclaimsthat
Assadsforcesareclosinginonme!asifitwashisfinalhour.Nearlytwoweekslater,hehasnt
stoppedTweetinghispolemicanduploadingvideos,allegedlyfromhisflatinfreeEastAleppo.Sohis
lasthourseemstobeinfinitemoreproofthathisoverthetoptheatricsaremostlikelyfictional.If
shouldalsobenotedthatthereisnointernetinEastAleppo,andhardlyany3Gserviceoverthelast
months,andyetMrAlhamdo,andsimilaractorslikeBanaAlAbedthefamous7yearoldTwitter
prodigyanddarlingoftheUSandUKmainstreammedia,havesomehowcontinuouslybeenabletoupload

endlessvideosandsocialmediapostsonlineraisingthequestionofwhetheritsreallypossiblethatthey
couldbedoingtherePRcampaignsfrominsideEastAleppoastheyandthealltoogulliblewesternmedia
claim.
HeresanotheroneofMrAlhamdoslastmessagetweetspostedonDec12th.Apparentlythiswas
featuredontheBBC:
Inthislatestvideo(seebelow),Mr.AlhamdowithanotherlastmessageuploadedonDec16th,wherehe
claimsthathefinallytriedtoleavetheterroristhelddistrictthroughanestablished,officialhumanitarian
corridor,butthengoesontoaccusetheSyrianRedCrescentaidorganizationandtheAssadRegimeof
playingtricksonhimwhichkeptpoorMrAlhamdofromexitinghisTerroristheldutopianFreeStateof
EastAleppothusfurtheringtheNATOgovernmentandwesternmedianarrativethatAssadissomehow
keepingresidentsfromescapingtosafetywhichisfactuallyuntrue,whiletotallyignoringnumerousreports
ofTerroriststhreateningandshootinginnocentresidentstryingtofleetheirillegalcaptivity.MrAlhamdo
ispicturedalsowithamilitantclaimingthatHezbollah(Lebanesemilitia)arerobbingwomenoftheir
moneyandbelongingsonthewayout.Thisispurewesternpropagandabeingproducedbywesternmedia
operativeMrAlhamdo.Watch:
.
Theflamboyantmediacharacterwiththebitingsweakyvoice,knownasMrAlhamdowasfirst
introducedtothewestinAugust2016arrangedbytheBBC.Inthatinitialinterview,MrAlhamdowas
usedbytheBBCtofurtherthenarrativeofachemicalweaponsattackallegedlybytheRegime.Infact,
thistalkingpointwasproventobeanotherfake,orfalselyattributedeventdesignedtoblametheSyrian
governmentforusingchemicalweapons.
HereisanotherlastmessagefromMrAlhamdouploadedaroundDec12th,thistimeclaimingthatthe
worldhaslethimdownandthearmedmilitantsdown,deniedthemtheirfreedom,andevenhasthe
temeritytoblametheUnitedNationsandtheWesternMedia(whohavebeengivinghisstagedvideos
primetimecoverageforthelast3months)forhisuntimelywouldbedemise.
NOTE:AfterwatchingenoughofAlhamdoslastvideomessages,theannoyingfactormightdrivesome
viewerstowishthatitwashislastvideo.Watch:
.
LikeeveryotheractivistfeaturedontheWesternandGulfmainstreammediaoutlets,andlikeevery
terroristandmilitantgroupoperatinginSyria,Alhamdoispushingthelanguageofsectarianism
constantlytweetingthatIranianandIraqimilitiashaveinvadedSyriaandaresomehowtakingoverthe
country.
HereisanotherversionofthesamelastvideoapparentlyproducedbyQataristatemedia,AlJazeera
(notethatQatarareactivelyfundingterroristfightinggroupsinSyria)withsomemoodmusicaddedasa
soundtrackforextraeffect.Ifthatsnotpropaganda,thenwhatis?
ItsnocoincidencethatthisthemeofsectarianismisechoedverbatimbyNeoconservativewarhawksinthe
USandtheirallies.Thereasonbehindthisscriptingshouldbewellknownbynow.Youcancallit
Imperialism,orNeocolonialism,buttheprincipleisthesame:divideandrule.Byplayingvariousethnic
andreligiousgroupsoffagainsteachother,theEuropeanshavemanagedtoruleovertheircoloniesand
protectoratesforcenturies.Todayisnodifferent.ThisishowtheUSmanagedtobringIraqtoitsknees
notonlythroughitsownmilitaryforce,butmoredeeplythroughfosteringandexacerbatingsectarian
divisionsbetweenIraqiShiites(Shia)Muslims,andSunniMuslims,butalsobetweenIraqiChristians,
Kurds,andYazidis.
HerewecanseeMr.Alhamdoreadingfromthescript:
WhatMrAlhamdoandhisMuslimBrotherhoodassociates,alongwiththeircohortsfromAlNusra
Front,AraralSham,NouraldinalZinki,JaishalFataharenottellingyouisthatterroristsbrigades
haveeffectivelyheldresidentsinEastAleppoasbothhostageandhumanshieldforthelastfouryears
Itshouldbenotedthat,accordingtomultipleresidenttestimonies,themilitantswhichMr.Alhamdois
cheeringonhaverobbed150,000plusresidentsandtheirchildrenoffouryearsoftheirlives,andmany
moreafter.TheyhavealsotakenmanylivesinEastAleppoaccordingtomultipleeyewitnessreportsof

fleeingresidentsoverthelast10daystestifyinghowtheirterroristcaptorshavelooted,murdered,
tortured,andrapedmanyresidentsofEastAlepposincetheycapturedtheareaatgunpointin2012.The
Rebelshavealsomurderedatleast11,000innocentresidents,includingmanychildrenandwomen
(unliketheWhiteHelmetsinventednumbers,thesenamesanddatesarealldocumentedbytheAleppo
MedicalAssociation),whotookshelterontheothersideofthecityinWestAleppo.
Ofcourse,whenlookingforMr.AlHamdo,youwillalsofindtheTwitterphenomBana
IsMr.AlhamdothemediahandlerforBanaofAleppo?Itseemsso.Anumberofvideosandimagesplace
themtogether,butalsowecanseethesamemanipulative,cynical,outlandishandnarcissistictoneinboth
MrAlhamdosandBanasmediapackageswhichcouldverywellindicatethatAbdulkafiAlhamdois
involvedintheproductionanddisseminationoftheBanamaterial.
InthisvideopostedonNov6th,apparentlyfromEastAleppo,MrAlHamdoisoncameraagainwith
the7yearoldBana.Whenaskedtospeakwithnocuecards,thechildBanacannotreallyspeakEnglish
atall:
.
HereisanotherlastmessagefromBana,waybackonNovember28th,seeninthisridiculousvideo
producedbyCNN.IfwasoneofmanylastvideosandlastmessagesproducedbyWesternmedia
operatives
Tonightwehavenohouse,itsbombedandIgotinrubble.IsawdeathsandIalmostdied,BanaAlabed
tweeted.Watch:
ItsimportanttopointoutherethatanyembarrassmentfromtheexposureoftheBanaasafake
PRcampaignitisnotthefaultofthe7yearoldBanaAlAbed,butratherthefaultoftheshamelessadults
whowouldusethisyoungchildtopromotetheirownbrandofreligiousextremistpoliticsinawarzone.
IfBanadoeshaveherrealparentsaround,thentheseparentsarecertainlyguiltyofusinganunwitting
childforthepurposesofdemagoguery.
Theworstpartofthisisthatthesegreatandgoodwesternmediaprofessionalsseemtohaveabsolutelyno
problemwithanyofthis,solongasitsellstheirnarrative.
ALEPPO:ActivistsCryGenocide!
AnotherwesternmediaoperativeonthegroundinEastAleppoisafemaleactivistnamedLinaAl
Shamy,whofamouslyclaimedthisweekthatTheRegimewassomehowengagedingenocideby
liberatingEastAleppofromAlNusraandoccupyingterroristforces.Shealsofalselyclaimsthatresidents
whotrytoleaveEastAleppowerefacingmassexecutionsbyfiringsquadatthehandsofregime
soldiers.Thisoverthetopclaimseemstobepartofthewesternmainstreammediasagreedscriptforthis
eventeventhoughithasnobasisinreality.
Spreadingfakenews:MichaelWeiss.
AlShamysfalseclaimsaredirectlyinlinewiththewesternestablishmenthystericalreactionstoAlNusra
andassociatesdefeatinEastAleppo.OtherwildandfalseclaimsincludeaccusationsthattheSyrianArmy
hadunleasheddeathsquadswhowerebreakingdownfamiliesdoorsandexecutingcivilianresidentsin
theirhomesinEastAleppo,andthattheywereopenlyexecutingwomenandchildreninthestreet,and
burningchildreninthestreet,alongwithmorewildlyfictionalreportsbeingcirculatedthroughUS
mainstreammediamainlybyMichaelWeiss(image,left)ofTheDailyBeastwhoisalsoanexpert
forCNN.WeissclaimedinprintandonUStelevisionthatSyrianArmywascommittingmassrape
againstresidentsofEastAleppo.Hisarticleentitled,WomeninAleppoChooseSuicideOverRape,
RebelsReport,madeanumberofoutlandishclaimsincluding:
Activistsandrebelsinthebesiegedcitysaymassexecutionshavebegunandchildrenareburnedalive
asAssadsIranianandRussianbackedforcesmovein.
Notsurprisingly,asidefromunnamedUNsources,Weissclaimstohavereceivedhisinformation
fromnoneotherthanthediscreditedUSandUKfinancedpseudoNGOknownastheWhiteHelmets.By
definition,suchwildandrecklessstatementsbyMichaelWeissistheabsolutepinnacleoffakenews.

Whenitcomestoclowns,nonearemoreprolificintheirperformancethanthefamousWhiteHelmets.
Watchthisridiculousrescuevideowheretheysaveachildandherragdollbothinmintconditionafter
supposedlybeingburiedunderrubble.Purecomedy.Watch:
.
Inherviralvideo,activistAlShamyalsofalselyclaimsthatthesupposed50,000remainingresidentsin
EastAleppoareallfightingtheregime,aclaimthatalsofitsnicelyinthewesternmythologythatEast
Aleppowasthebirthplaceofsomegrandpeoplesrevolutionordemocracymovement,wheninrealityit
wasunderarmedterroristoccupationwheretheonlyfreepeoplewerearmedterrorists,theirfamiliesand
helpfuloperativeslikeAlShamy.
WatchLinaAlShamyclearlyreadingoffofascriptinherfamousviralLastVideodisinformation
extravaganzahere:
.
WatchanotherlastvideoseenherebyAlShamyasshemanagestoapparentlyleaveEastAleppothrough
agovernmentmanagedhumanitariancorridorunharmed.
Interestingly,AlShamyspeakswithaslightBritishaccent,indicatingshehaseitherspentsomeyearsin
theUK,orisBritisheducated.Clearly,AlShamyisnestedwithinamilitantcontrolleddistrictandhas
beenadvocatingontheirbehalfoftherebelsintheWesternmedia,whileplayingalongwiththeUSUK
mediawordgamewhichcategoricallylabelsallmilitantsandterroristsinEastAleppoasrebels,and
moderaterebels,andasopposition,whilecallingtheSyriangovernmentTheRegimeinanattempt
todelegitimizerealSyriastateinstitutions.
WatchRTsAnissaNaouaiexposetheridiculousnessofthewesternmediasactivistsinSyria:
.
OscarWinningSyriaDanny
LetusnotforgetanotherBritishagent,andthemanwhostarteditallinSyria,theprogenitorofthe
activistactinggenrefortheSyrianRevolution,CNNsownDannyAbulDayem,akaSyriaDanny.
Again,weseethesamescriptdesignedforwesternaudiencesblamingtheUNfornotacting,demonizing
TheRegime,allthewhiletryingtoshametheWestintoeitherbombingorinvadingSyria.Itnearly
workedthough,becauseunfortunatelyforDannyandsomanyotherwesternmediaactivistactors,the
factshaveneverliveduptotheirexaggeratedandmanipulativenarratives.
HereisacompilationofDannysmediapackages,endingwithafake,scriptednewscastcompletewith
fakegunfireandbackgroundsoundswhichDannyorganizedwithCNN,workinginpartnershipwith
AndersonCooper.Watch:
.
Normally,anetworkshouldloosetheirbroadcastinglicenseforcreatingfakewartimenewsreportsbut
fornetworkslikeCNNthisissimplyparforthecourse.
HereisanotherBritishmediacreationgoingunderthefakenameofAlexanderPagewhoserealnameis
RamiJarah.HereisJarahplayingtheroleofAlexanderPageforCNNbroadcastonJune29,2011:
.
EarlyonintheSyrianwar,acommonwesternmediapracticewastoacquirerealfootageofapro
governmentrallyandthenspinitasaantigovernmentorprodemocracyprotest.Certainly,basedon
theirotherfakewarreports,CNNisnotbeyondthatlevelofmanipulation.Basedonnumerousreportsof
suchralliesinSyriaandthesubsequentfakespinbywesternmediaoutletsthisappearstobewhatJarah
didwithCNN.
Later,wefindBritishoperativeDayemflankedbyfellowBritishoperativeJarah(seevideobelow).Its
importanttonoteherethatafterDayemwasexposedin2013forproducingfakereportsforCNN,he
disappearedfromthescene.InthefollowingvideofromJanuary2016,weseeJarah,supposedlyreporting
fromEastAleppo(butcouldjustaseasilybeineitherIdlib,Syria,oratWesternintelligenceforward

operatinglocationsinGaznienteporIstanbul,Turkey)talkingtoDannyDayemwhoisplayingtheroleofa
revolutionarystreetpeasantinEastAleppo.Watch:
.
.
InvestigatorCoryMorningstarexplainhowthisactorwasusedacrossmultiplewesternmediaplatforms
todisseminateNATOmemberstatepropaganda:
WhileDannywasbeingcaughtoutfabricatingthebombingandshellingstoriesforCNN,Jarrahwasa
littlemorecunning.However,his2011/12reportsarestillfullofholesandinaccuracies.Underhisthen
pseudonymofAlexanderPage,JarrahannouncesontheBBCthattheSyrianNavyisshellingLatakia,a
storylaterdeconstructedandutterlydiscreditedbyinhabitantsandanalystsinsideLatakia.SeeSharmine
Narwanisreport,suitablyentitledHollywoodinHoms&Idlib:
ItremindsmeofAugust2011newsreportsofwarshipsshellingthecoastalcityofLatakia.Three
separatesourcestwooppositionfiguresfromthecityandanindependentwesternjournalistlater
insistedtherewerenosignsofshelling.ItwasalsothefirsttimeIlearnedfromSyriansthatyoucan
burnrubbertiresonrooftopstosimulatetheaftereffectsofexplodedshells.~SharmineNarwani
WhenwelookatDannyandJarrahstimelinesfrom2011,theinceptionofthelongincubatedwaron
Syria,weseethattheyrunparallel.BothgrewupandwereeducatedintheUK.OnceinSyria,Danny
wasbasedinHomsandhisrambling,excitablereportswerethemainstayoftheAlJazeera,BBC,CNN
antiAssadincitement.RamiJarrahwasbasedinandaroundDamascus,wherehealsochurnedout
breathlesslyemotive&wellscriptedrenditionsoftheburgeoningrevolutionthemetune.
TheybothfledSyriatoCairoaroundSeptember2011.Dannystatesinafewinterviewsthatheworkedin
anactivistsoperationsroominCairo.JarrahgavebirthtoanotherSorostesttubebaby,ANAPress,in
Cairo.Coincidenceorsynergy?
Inotherword,completelyfakeandwiththefullcooperationofCNN,theBBC,andSKYNews.
Knowingthis,whywouldanyevertrustawordanyofthesemediaoutletssayaboutSyria?Western
mainstreammediaproducersandeditorshavesoldouttotheirgovernmentswishestoonlycoverevents
accordingtoUS,UKandGulfstateapprovedthemes.Ateveryturn,mainstreammediaareignoring
allfactsonthegroundthatruncontrarytoapprovedwesternnarratives.
Inadditiontothis,forthelast5yearsthosesamewesternmainstreammediaproducershavenoteven
attemptingtogiveequaltimeoranybalancedcoverageofeventsinSyriaintentionallyconspiringtoonly
reportfromtheviewoftherebelopposition(proventobeubiquitouswithterroristmercenariesthisisa
FACT).Bydoingso,westernmainstreammediaoutletshavesidedwith,andaregivingpromotionto
radicalsalafiIslamicterrorism.BasedonUSandEuropeanlaw,thiscouldeasilybeconstruedasboth
unethical,andalsoacriminalact.That,andthefactthattheWestisalsoarmingthoseterroristfactions,
shouldbemorethanaconcerntoanylawabidingcitizen(evenitsnotaconcernforjournalistsatCNN).
Untilthewesternmediastoplyingfortheirgovernmentsagenda,thenthesewarwillcontinue.

http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/12/18/the-last-clown-inaleppo-mr-alhamdo-does-bad-monty-python-for-al-jazeeraand-cnn/

WayneMadsen:Snopes.comisa
CIAoperation
Posted on 12 December 2016 by Dr. Eowyn | 27 Comments
Thismorning,ourDCGpublishedthispost,FacebookisgoingtouseSnopesandotherfactcheckersto
combatandburyfakenews.

UsingSnopesasanauthorityislaughable.AccordingtoindependentinvestigativereporterWayneMadsen,
ThesocalledfactcheckingauthenticationwebsiteSnopes.comisthegotowebsiteforCIA
propaganda.
FromMadsensforsubscribersonlyreportofOct.7,2016,Snopes.com:thelatestCIAadditionto
Internetdisinformation:
OnApril19,2016,WMRreported:[]Snopes.comisrunbyaCaliforniacouplenamedBarbaraand
DavidMikkelson,whofoundedtheSanFernandoValleyFolkloreSociety...TheMikkelsonschosethe
nameSnopesbecauseitisthenameofafictionalfamilyfeaturedinWilliamFaulknersnovelsthat
includesapedophile,amurderer,abigamist,acorruptracistpolitician,andathiefwholiveinthefictional
YoknapatawphaCountyinMississippi.TheideaistolabelallthosetargetedbytheMikkelsonsas
candidatesformembershipintheSnopesfamily.[]
Snopes.comisonrecordcallingWMRadisreputablewebsite.NothingsaysCIAmorethan
Snopes.comsdescriptionoflegitimatenewsreportsofCIAdirectorJohnBrennanbeingaWahhabistand
Saudisympathizerasbogus.
SnopessmostrecentdissemblingofthetruthwastodiscountreportsfromGreecethatTurkeyhasbeen
shippingweaponsdisguisedasfurnitureshipmentstoIslamicStateofIraqandtheLevant(ISIL)and
affiliatedterroristgroupsinNorthAfricaandEurope.
SnopesclaimsthatbecausethestoryofaGreekCoastGuardinterceptionofaweaponsshipmentsouthof
theislandofCretedatesfrom2015,thereisnovaliditytotheTurkishconnectiontoweaponsshipmentsto
ISILterrorists.TheshiptransportingtheweaponswastheBolivianflaggedHaddad1,operatedbyDelta
SeaMaritimeofTurkey.ThevesselhadloadedtwelvecontainersattheEgyptianportofAlexandria,a
favoriteweaponsshipmentlocationfortheCIA.Theship,beforestoppinginFamagustaintheTurkish
RepublicofNorthernCyprus,loadedanotherthreecontainersattheTurkishportofIskenderun,thetransit
portfortheshipmentofcapturedweaponsfromMuammarQaddafisarmswarehousestoSyrianjihadist
rebels.ItwastheIskenderuntransportoperationthatinvolvedthelateU.S.envoytoLibya
ChristopherStevens;TurkishConsulGeneralinBenghaziAliSaitAkin;CIAdirectorDavid
Petraeus;and,reportedly,senioradviserstoSecretaryofStateHillaryClinton.
TheCIAhadtocommissionitsfavoriteInternetdisinformationsitetothrowcoldwateronthe
TurkishweaponslinkstoISILbecauseitthreatenstoexposetheCIAsmassiveweaponssmuggling
operationstoISILterroriststhatinvolvedTuriDefenseGroupofArizonaacasejustburiedbythe
DepartmentofJusticeonordersoftheObamaadministrationandtheHillaryClintoncampaignand
othercovertweaponstransfersbeingcarriedoutontheordersofAlHadjJohnBrennan,veteranofthe
IslamicritualpilgrimagetotheholycityofMecca.
OneoftheCIAssmugglingoperationsentailedtheBelgianbasedarmsmanufacturerFabriqueNationale
(FN),whichhasaCIAconnectedsubsidiarycalledFNHUSA.OneparticularFNrifle,theFusil
AutomatiqueLger(FAL),wasthestandardweaponusedbytheLibyanrebelsin2011and2012,including
thejihadistgroupthatattackedtheU.S.diplomaticcompoundinBenghazionSeptember11,2012.The
FAL,calledtheRightArmoftheFreeWorldduringtheColdWar,usesonlyNATOstandardrounds.
TheweaponwasneverusedbytheLibyanArmy,whichreliedonSovietweaponry.ClaimsbyNATOthat
therebelswereusingLibyanweaponscapturedfromLibyanarmyarsenalsandcacheswerepatentlyfalse.
SnopesisnowquestioningTurkeysweaponslinkstojihadistterroristsinNorthAfricaandEurope.
However,photographsdonotlie,asseenbelow.Ammunitionand5,000shotgunsfromtheTurkish
ownedarmsdealerYavexUSAwereshippedfromIstanbulinboxesdenotedasplasticoffice
furnituremanufacturedbytheTurkishfirmSenyaylaPlastikSanayiveTicaretA/SofIstanbul.
TheTurkishgovernmentandtheCIAhadtheirplausibledeniabilitycoverstoryontheintercepted
weaponsandammunitionreadytogojustaftertheGreekCoastGuardinterception:The492,000handgun
bulletsweredestinedfortheSudanesenationalpoliceandweretobedeliveredthroughtheportofBeirut,
Lebanonandthe4900shotgunswerehuntingriflesdestinedforLebanesecustomers.TheHaddad1was
stoppingattheLibyanportsofMisrataandTobruk,accordingtotheTurkishgovernment,todeliverbags
ofcementmix.Atthetimeoftheinterception,LibyawassubjecttoaUnitedNationsarmsembargo.

YavexsU.S.subsidiaryislocatedat6361CorporateParkCircleinFortMyers,Florida.Itisclearthatboth
YavexUSA,TuriDefenseGroup,andFNUSA,nowcalledFNAmerica,wereinvolvedinacovert
CIAweaponssmugglingoperationinviolationoftheUNarmsembargoesimposedonLibya,and
later,onSyria,withtheconnivanceofHillaryClinton.Notsurprisingly,FNAmericaoperatesfroma
postofficeboxinMcLean,Virginia,notfarfromCIAheadquartersinLangley.
WhatmayhavepossessedHillaryClintontodestroythousandsofStateDepartmentemailstransmitted,
processed,andstoredonherpersonalservers?PerhapsitwasherinvolvementinamajorCIAweapons
smugglingoperationthatsawU.S.andNATOweaponsbeingshippedtojihadistterroristsinLibya,Syria,
andEurope.AsSecretaryofState,Mrs.ClintonhadultimateauthorityforapprovingU.S.weapons
transfersabroadpursuanttotheArmsExportControlAct.
AsfarasSnopes.comisconcerned,nothingtheyreportshouldbetakenseriously.Theyareasreliablea
newssourceasTheOnion.
AccordingtoWikipedia,theMikkelsons,aCaliforniacouple,createdtheSnopessitein1995.Bymid
2014,thecouplehaddivorcedandBarbaraMikkelsonhadnotwrittenforthesiteinseveralyears.So
DavidMikkelsonhiredemployeestoassisthimfromSnopes.comsmessageboard.Barbaranolonger
hasanownershipstakeinSnopes.com.
Inotherwords,wearetobelievethatoneman,DavidMikkelson,withassistantshedhiredfrom
Snopesmessageboard,managestopumpoutasteadystreamofresearchedarticleseveryday.Ifyou
believethat,IhavetheproverbialswampinFloridatosellyou.

https://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2016/12/16/waynemadsen-snopes-com-is-a-cia-operation/

UKmadeclusterbombsusedinYemen,
MichaelFallonconfirms
19 December 2016 / BBC Online
ClusterbombsmadeintheUKhavebeenusedintheconflictinYemen,thegovernmenthasconfirmed.
DefenceSecretaryMichaelFallonsaidSaudiArabiahadconfirmedmunitionsboughtfromtheUKinthe
1980shadbeendropped.
Since2010ithasbeenillegalunderBritishlawtosupplythebombs,whichputciviliansatriskby
releasingsmallbombletsoverawidearea.
Laboursaiditwas"deeplyworrying"clusterbombusehadbeenconfirmed.
TheUKissupportingtheSaudiledcoalitionwhichisfightingtheHouthirebelmovementinYemen.
InastatementtoMPs,MrFallonsaidtheUKhadnotsuppliedanyclusterbombstoSaudiArabiasince
1989.
ButheaddedthatSaudiinvestigationshadconcludedthatsomeUKmadeclusterbombshadbeendropped.
TheBL755bombswillnolongerbeusedbythecoalition,headded.

Cluster bombs explained

The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits all use,


stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster bombs

The convention has 108 signatories and became


binding international law in 2010

Cluster bombs pose particular risks to civilians because


they release many small bomblets over a wide area

During attacks, they are prone to indiscriminate effects


especially in populated areas

Unexploded bomblets can kill or maim civilians long


after a conflict has ended, and are costly to locate and
remove

Source:UnitedNationsOfficeforDisarmamentAffairs
AmnestyInternational,whichsaysithasdocumentedtheuseinYemenofaclusterbombmanufacturedin
the1970s,hascalledontheUKtotraceweaponsmadeandsoldbeforetheban.
EarliertheSaudistatenewsagencyreportedacoalitionspokesmansayingclusterbombswereonlyused
against"legitimatemilitarytargets".
Headded:"IthasbecomeapparentthattherewaslimitedusebytheCoalitionoftheUKmanufacturedBL
755clustermunitioninYemen.
"ThismunitionwasusedagainstlegitimatemilitarytargetstodefendSauditownsandvillagesagainst
continuousattacksbyHouthimilitia,whichresultedinSaudiciviliancasualties."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38364694

bbc.co.uk

ChristineLagarde:IMFchiefconvicted
overpayoutBBCNews
19December2016/BBCOnline
AFrenchcourthasfoundInternationalMonetaryFundchiefChristineLagardeguiltyofnegligencebutdid
nothanddownanypunishment.
AsFrenchfinanceministerin2008,sheapprovedanawardof404m($429m;340m)tobusinessman
BernardTapieforthedisputedsaleofafirm.
MsLagarde,whoalwaysdeniedwrongdoing,wasnotpresentincourt,havingleftFranceforWashington.
TheIMFboardwillmeetonMondaytoconsiderthelatestdevelopments.
Meanwhile,theFrenchgovernmentsaiditstillhadconfidenceintheIMFchief.
OnFriday,MsLagardetoldthetrialshehadalwaysactedingoodfaithandthesuspicionshehadlived
underforthepastfiveyearshadbeenan"ordeal".
CasesattheCourtofJusticeoftheRepublic(CJR)maynotberetriedbutcanbeappealedagainston
groundsofproceduralerrors.
MsLagarde'slawyersaidhisteamwouldconsiderappealing,Reutersnewsagencyreports.

'Complicated and strange'


MsLagarde,60,wastriedonchargesof"negligencebyapersoninpositionofpublicauthority".
Accusedofallowingthemisuseofpublicfunds,ratherthanactualcorruption,shecouldpotentiallyhave
beensentencedtoayearinprisonandafineof15,000butescapedasentenceandemergesfromthetrial
withoutacriminalrecord.
Explainingtheverdict,whichtookmanybysurprise,JudgeMartineRactMadouxwasquotedbyReuters
assaying:"ThecontextoftheglobalfinancialcrisisinwhichMadameLagardefoundherselfinshouldbe
takenintoaccount."
ShealsocitedMsLagarde'sgoodreputationandinternationalstandingasreasons.

What will the IMF do? Alex Ritson, BBC Business


ThequestionChristineLagarde'semployersattheIMFwillbeaskingthemselvesastheyconsiderher
futureiswhetherornotthiscasewaspoliticallymotivated.Uptonow,they'vestoodfirmlybehindher.
TheIMF'sboardwillneedtodecidewhethertheguiltyverdictwilldamagetheorganisationmoreifshe
staysorifshegoes.Legalcasesinvolvinghertwoimmediatepredecessorshavebroughtunwelcome
publicity.
ShetookofficefiveyearsagowhenthepreviousIMFhead,DominiqueStraussKahnresigned.Hewas
arrestedashewasboardinganaircraftinNewYorkoverasuspectedsexualassault,althoughchargeswere
laterdropped.
MrStraussKahn'spredecessor,RodrigoRato,iscurrentlystandingtrialonchargesofmisusingfunds
whenhewasbossofaSpanishbank.NoneofthisistheIMF'sfaultbutthecaseshaven'tdonemuchfor
itscredibility.
TheCJRiscomposedmostlyofpoliticiansratherthanjudges,andhandlesallegationsofcrimescommitted
bycabinetministersinoffice.
CJRtrialsarerarebutinasimilarjudgmentin1999,itfoundanotherFrenchpolitician,EdmondHerve,
guiltyofnegligenceoveracontaminatedbloodcasebutdidnotpunishhim.
Theearlierdecisionrestedonalegalarticle(inFrench)whichallowscourtstodeliveraguiltyverdictbut
withholdactualpunishment.
AlawyerforMsLagarde,ChristopherBaker,toldtheAssociatedPress:"Theresultofthislastfiveyearsis
nothing,whichleavesusinkindofacomplicatedandstrangesituation."

Public outcry
MsLagarde'scaseoriginatesintheearly1990s,whenMrTapiewasamajorityshareholderinsportsgoods
companyAdidas.
AfterlaunchingapoliticalcareerandbecomingacabinetministerinFrancoisMitterrand'sSocialist
governmentin1992,MrTapiehadtosellthecompany.
In1993,hesuedCreditLyonnais,astateownedbankthathandledthesale,allegingthatthebankhad
defraudedhimbydeliberatelyundervaluingthefirm.
By2007,thelongrunningcasewasreferredtobindingarbitrationbyMsLagarde,whoatthattimewas
financeministerunderconservativePresidentNicolasSarkozy.
Athreememberpanelawardedthecompensationayearlater,causingapublicoutcry.
Lastyear,aftereightmoreyearsoflegalwrangling,aFrenchcourtruledthatMrTapiehadnotbeen
entitledtocompensationandshouldrepaythe404m.
Initsverdict,theCJRsaidMsLagardeshouldhaveaskedheraidesandothersformoreinformationabout
the"shockingarbitrationaward"thatincludeddamagesof45m.

Lagarde-Tapie: A French saga


1993:CreditLyonnaisbankhandlessaleofAdidastoenableMrTapietopursueministerialcareerunder
thenSocialistPresidentFrancoisMitterrand

19932007:MrTapieclaimsCreditLyonnaisundervaluedAdidasandthathewascheated;lengthycourt
battleensues
1994:BernardTapie'shighlyindebtedgroupcollapsesandiswoundupbyCreditLyonnais
2007:MrTapiesupportsconservativeNicolasSarkozyinpresidentialelection.FinanceMinisterChristine
LagardeintervenesinTapiecasetoorderbindingarbitration
2008:SpecialjudicialpanelrulesMrTapieshouldreceivedamagesof404m;MsLagardedecidesnotto
challengeruling
2011:SeveralmonthsafterMsLagardeisappointedheadoftheIMF,publicprosecutorrecommends
investigationintoherdecisiontoorderarbitration
2015:AppealscourtordersMrTapietopayback404mwithinterest
2016:MsLagardefoundguiltyofnegligencebutsparedprisonsentenceandcriminalrecord

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38369822

bbc.co.uk

StrikesshowcontemptsaysDowning
StreetBBCNews
19December2016/BBCOnline
AseriesofstrikescalledaheadofChristmasshow"contempt"forordinarypeopleandare"completely
unacceptable",thegovernmentsaid.
PrimeMinisterTheresaMaycalledforallpartiestositaroundatableandsettletheirdisputes.
Thecommentscomeatthestartofaweekofindustrialaction.Somepostalandrailworkersareonstrike
andairlinesalsofacingdisruption.
Weetabixworkershavealsovotedtostrikeinthenewyear.
Aspokespersonfortheprimeministersaidthestrikeswerewrong.
AskedwhetherMrsMaybelievedtheindustrialactionwasbeingcoordinated,thespokespersonsaidthat
wasamatterfortheunions,buttheyweredisplayinga"sharedcontempt"forordinarypeopletryingtogo
abouttheirdailylives.
ArewefacingaChristmasofDiscontent?

Media captionDan Macadam of the BBC's business unit:


"Four high-profile strikes have been called"
AstrikeatCrownpostofficeshasclosedabout50HighStreetbranchesastherailstrikeatSouthern
continueswithconductorsbeginningtwodaysofaction.
TalksaimedatavertingastrikebyBritishAirwayscabincrewoverChristmaswillcontinueonTuesdayat
theconciliationserviceAcas.Theairlinehaspledgedtorunafullscheduleevenifthestrikedoesgoes
ahead.

Analysis: Jonty Bloom, BBC business correspondent


AlthoughstrikingoverChristmasmayseemtobeunseasonalandpositivelyScroogelikeinitslackof
respectforthefestiveseason,tobefairthereislittlepointingoingonstrikewhennoonewillnoticeand
thecompanywillhardlybeinconveniencedatall.

CertainlysomeoftheunionsinvolvedwillbelievejustthethreatofastrikeoverChristmashasenabled
themtomakeprogress.
ItisprobablythedisruptiontoSouthernrailservicesthatisthemostpainfulforcustomers,andthereis
littlesignofanendtothemiserywithfurtherstrikesplannedintheNewYear.
ButevensothisisalongwayfromtheWinterofDiscontentin197879.Thenwholeindustrieswerehit
andtensofmillionsofworkingdayslost.Inthefirst10monthsoftheyear218,300workingdayshave
beenlosttoindustrialaction.
Thereare300CrownpostofficesacrosstheUKlargerbranchesmostlysituatedincitycentres.ThePost
Officesays250brancheshaveopened,buttheunionquestionsthosefiguresandsaysevenifabranchis
open,theremaybeareducedservice.
ThePostOfficehasupdateditswebsitewithdetailsofbranchesaffectedbythestrike.
TheCrownpostofficeworkersareprotestingagainstpensionchanges,jobsecurityandclosures.
OnWednesdayandThursday,deliverydriverswhosupplymanyruralofficeswithcashwilljointhe
action.
TherearefearsthesituationcouldescalateifunofficialactionistakenbyRoyalMailworkerswhoarenot
currentlyinvolvedinthedisputeandtheyrefusetocrosspicketlines.
ARoyalMailspokesmansaid:"TherewillbelittleornoimpactonRoyalMailasaresultoftheCWU
strikeatthePostOffice.DeliverieswillcarryonasnormalandthelastpostingdatesforChristmasremain
unchanged."
PostOfficecommunicationsofficerMarkDaviessaidthatthecompanywastryingtobecomemore
efficientandreduceitslosses,whichwouldbegoodnewsforthetaxpayer.
"Wehavereducedlossesfrom120mfouryearsago,to26minthelastyear,andwehopetobreakeven
nextyear.Wedon'tbelievethattaxpayersshouldpayouttosupportthePostOffice,"hesaid.
BritishAirwayscabincrewbelongingtotheUniteunionareduetostrikeonChristmasDayandBoxing
Dayinarowoverpay.
Theairlinesaidithad"detailedcontingencyplans"thatwillallowittorunafullscheduleevenifthecabin
crewstrikedoesgoahead.
AndWeetabixworkershavevotedoverwhelminglytostrikeinthenewyearinarowovernewshift
patterns.ItwillaffectitsfactoriesatCorbyandKettering.
Meanwhile,guardsatSouthernrailwillstrikeonMondayandTuesdayinadisputeovertheroleof
conductors.
AlongwithacontinuingbanonovertimebydriversinAslef,theactionwillcausemoremiseryfor
Southern's300,000passengers.
RMTgeneralsecretaryMickCashsaid:"OurconductormembersonSouthernareonstrikethisweekin
defenceofthesafetyofthetravellingpublic."
Inaddition,UnitemembersemployedbySwissportasbaggagehandlersandothergroundstaffat18
airportsacrosstheUKaresettowalkoutonFridayandSaturdayoverpay,althoughtalkswillalsobeheld
atAcasonTuesday.
MembersoftheTransportSalariedStaffsAssociationandRMTonLondonUndergroundarecontinuing
withanovertimebaninadisputeoverjobsandticketofficeclosures,whilepilotsatVirginAtlanticwill
starta"worktocontract"actionfromFridayinarowoverunionrecognition.

The pre-Christmas 2016 strikes


Southern rail
When?Monday19DecembertoTuesday20December
Why?Unionssaythedisputeisaboutsafety,butSouthernandthegovernmentsayitispolitical

Post Office
When?CrownPostOfficeworkersonMonday19December,Tuesday20December,andSaturday24
December.DeliverydriverstoruralPostOfficesonThursday22DecemberandFriday23December.

Why?Jobs,pensionsandbranchclosuresatCrownPostOfficesthelargerbranchesusuallylocatedon
HighStreets

British Airways
When?25Decemberto26December
Why?Payforabout4,000staffwhojoinedafter2010on"mixedfleet"contracts

UK airport staf
When?Friday23DecembertoSaturday24December
Why?AlongstandingpaydisputetheUniteunionsayswageshavenotkeptupwithinflation

'Last resort'
ProfessorRogerSeifertfromtheUniversityofWolverhamptonsaidmanyofthetensionswere
longstandingandwere"boilingovernowbecauseduringChristmastheygetmoremediacoverage".
HetoldtheBBCRadio4'sTodayprogrammethatdiscontentamongworkerswasnotjustaffectingthese
companies,andthatworseningpensions,stagnantpayandreducedjobsecuritywashittingarangeof
industries.
TheUKwasentering"aperiodofquitebitterandprolongeddisputes",ProfSeifertadded.

Media captionThe TUC's Frances O'Grady and Treasury select


committee member Chris Philip clash over strikes.
FrancesO'Grady,TUCgeneralsecretary,pointedoutthatallthestrikeswerefordifferentreasonsandthat
thefocusshouldbeontherootcauses.
"Weareworkinginabackgroundwhereworkersarestill20aweekworseoffonaveragethanbeforethe
financialcrash,wherewe'reseeinginflationriseandrealpaycutscomein.We'vehadtheriseofzerohours
andshamselfemployment,"shesaid."Strikingisalwaysalastresort.Wenegotiateandsettlethousandsof
deals."
MsO'Gradyaddedthatshefearedtheremightbe"anotheragenda"heretotightenunionlaws.
ConservativeMPChrisPhilpiscallingfornewlawsthatwouldmeanincasesinvolvingcriticalpublic
infrastructure,suchastherailways,aHighCourtjudgewoulddecidewhetherastrikeis"reasonableand
proportionate".
HewantssimilarlegislationtothatinSpain,ItalyandCanada,whichmeansthatwhenthereisastrike,
50%oftheservicestillruns.
SendusyourquestionsontheChristmasstrikes:
We'dlikeyoutotelluswhatyouwanttoknowabouttheChristmasstrikes.Usetheformbelow:
IfyouarereadingthispageontheBBCNewsapp,youwillneedtovisitthemobileversionoftheBBC
websitetosubmityourquestion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38359640
presstv.ir

PressTVTruckplowsintoGermanXmas
market
12December2016
Atleast12peoplehavebeenkilledandover48othersinjuredafteratruckdroveintoaChristmas
marketintheGermancapitalBerlin.
PoliceandambulancesrushedtoBreitscheidplatz,amajorpublicsquareintheinnercityofBerlin,on
Mondaywhereatruckplowedasfaras80metersintothebusymarket,inamovewhichwasreminiscent
oftheattackontheFrenchRivieracityofNiceinJuly.

"Idon'twanttousetheword'attack'yet,althoughtherearemanythingspointingtoone,"saidGerman
InteriorMinisterThomasdeMaiziere.However,accordingtounconfirmedreports,theDaeshTakfiri
terroristgrouphasclaimedresponsibilityfortheattackontwitter.
AnAustraliantouristgaveheraccountoftheincidenttoreporters,stressingthattherewasbloodand
bodieseverywhere."Ijustsawthishugeblacktruckspeedingthroughthemarketscrushingsomany
peopleandthenallthelightswentoutandeverythingwasdestroyed,TrishaO'Neillsaid.
"Icouldhearscreamingandthenweallfroze.Thensuddenlypeoplestartedtomoveandliftallthe
wreckageoffpeople,tryingtohelpwhoeverwasthere,"sheadded.
Accordingtothepolice,thedriverofthetruckhasbeendetainedanditspassengerwaskilledduringthe
incident.
UnconfirmedreportssaidthatthedriverwasarefugeefromeitherAfghanistanorPakistanwhoarrivedin
thecountryearlierintheyear.
ThePolishownerofthetruckhasalsoannouncedthatthelorrysdriverhasgonemissing."Wehaven't
heardfromhimsincethisafternoon.Wedon'tknowwhathappenedtohim.He'smycousin,I'veknown
himsinceIwasakid.Icanvouchforhim,"saidArielZurawski.
Afewhoursaftertheincident,Germanpoliceannouncedthattherewasnoindicationof"furtherdangerous
situationsinthecity.
GermanChancellorAngelaMerkelreactedtotheincidentbytweeting,"Wemournthedeadandhopethat
themanypeopleinjuredcanbehelped."
Inresponsetotheincident,FrancebolsteredsecuritymeasuresinitsownChristmasmarkets.
"TheFrenchshareinthemourningoftheGermansinthefaceofthistragedythathashitallofEurope,"
saidFrenchPresidentFrancoisHollande.
TheUSreferredtotheincidentasanapparent"terroristattack"whilevowingunwaveringsupportforthe
country.
"Germanyisoneofourclosestpartnersandstrongestallies,andwestandtogetherwithBerlininthefight
againstallthosewhotargetourwayoflifeandthreatenoursocieties,"saidWhiteHouseNationalSecurity
spokesmanNedPriceinastatement.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/12/19/500613/germanyberlin-truck-christmas

rinf.com

MotivesbehindtheAssassinationof
RussianAmbassadortoTurkey
20 December 2016
(RINF)Inordertoidentifythelikelymotivesofthe22yearsoldTurkishpoliceofficerwhoassassinated
theRussianambassadortoTurkey,AndreyKarlov,wemustkeepinmindthebackdropthattheTurkish
andIranianforeignministersareenroutetoRussiatofindasolutiontothefiveyearsoldSyrianconflict
forthefirsttimewithouttheparticipationoftheUS.
AlthoughthemainstreammediaistrumpetingthatMertAltintas,theassassinoftheRussianambassador,
hadshoutedIslamistslogansinbrokenArabicwithaTurkishaccentatthesceneofthemurder,therefore
hemusteitherbeamemberoftheIslamicStateortheAlNusraFront;butfromhiscleanshavenfaceand
blacksuit,heappearedmorelikeanintelligenceassetthananIslamicjihadist.

BearinmindthattheErdoganAdministrationhasrepeatedlyaccusedtheUSbasedliberalIslamic
preacher,FethullahGulen,forhatchingacoupplotagainsttheTurkishgovernmentinJulywhoisknown
tohaveinsideconnectionsintheUSAdministration.Moreover,itisalsoaknownfactthatthousandsof
GulenistshaveinfiltratedtheTurkisharmedforces,judiciaryandmoreimportantlythepoliceand
intelligenceagencies,whichareintheprocessofbeingpurgedbytheErdoganAdministration.
AllofthesefactsandthemotivethatanimportantNATOmember,Turkey,whichhasthesecondlargest
armyinNATO,hasbeendriftingawayfromtheAmericanledalliancesincetheJulycoupplotandhas
developedcloseworkingrelationswithRussia,particularlyintheirrespectiveSyriapolicy,pointsthe
fingeronlyinonedirection:thatis,thelikelihoodofadoubleagentwhosemissionwastosabotagethe
relationsbetweenRussiaandTurkeyandtobringthelatterbackintothefoldsofNATO.
ThesuddenthawinTurkeysrelationswithRussiaandlatenthostilitytowardsAmericaispartlyduetothe
factthatErdoganholdstheUSbasedpreacher,FethullahGulen,responsiblefortheJulycoupplotand
suspectsthatthelatterhadreceivedtacitsupportfromcertainquartersintheUS;butmoreimportantly
TurkeyalsofeelsbetrayedbytheduplicitousAmericanpolicyinSyriaandIraq,andthatswhyitisnow
seekingclosercooperationwithRussiaintheregion.
InordertoelaborateAmericasduplicityinSyria,letussettleononeissuefirst:thereweretwopartiesto
theSyriancivilwarinitially,theSyrianregimeandtheSyrianopposition;whichpartydidtheUSsupport
sincethebeginningoftheSyriancivilwarinAugust2011toJune2014,whentheIslamicStateoverran
MosulinIraq?
Obviously,theUSsupportedtheSyrianopposition.Andwhatwasthecompositionofthatsocalled
Syrianopposition?AsmallfractionofitwascomprisedofdefectedSyriansoldierswhogobythename
ofFreeSyriaArmy,butthevastmajorityhasbeencomprisedofIslamicjihadistswhoweregenerously
funded,trained,armedandinternationallylegitimizedbytheWesternpowers,theGulfStates,Turkeyand
Jordan.
TheIslamicStateisnothingmorethanoneofthenumerousSyrianjihadistoutfits,othersbeing:alNusra
Front,AhraralSham,alTawhidbrigade,JayshalIslametc.ThereasonwhytheUShasturnedagainstthe
IslamicStateisthatallotherjihadistoutfitshavelocalambitionsthatarelimitedtofightingtheSyrian
regimeonly,whiletheIslamicStateoversteppeditsmandateinSyriawhenitcapturedMosulandAnbarin
Iraq.
AlltheSunnijihadistgroupsthatareoperatinginSyriaarejustasbrutalastheIslamicState.Theonly
thingthatdifferentiatestheIslamicStatefromtherestisthatitismoreideologicalandindependent
minded,anditalsoincludeshundredsofWesterncitizensinitsrankswhocanlaterbecomeanational
securityrisktotheWesterncountries;afactwhichhasnowbecomeobviousaftertheParisandBrussels
bombings.
ThisfactexplainstheambivalentpolicyoftheUStowardsamonsterthatithadnurturedinSyriafrom
August2011toJune2014,untiltheIslamicStatecapturedMosulinJune2014andalsothreatened
AmericasmoststeadfastallyintheregionMasoudBarzaniandhiscapitalErbilintheIraqiKurdistan,
whichisalsothehubofBigOilsNorthernIraqoperations.Afterthatdevelopment,theUSmadeavolte
faceonitspreviousregimechangepolicyinSyriaandnowthedeclaredobjectivebecamethewaragainst
theIslamicState.
Notwithstanding,thedilemmathatTurkeyisfacinginSyriaisquiteunique:inthewakeoftheGhouta
chemicalweaponsattacksinDamascusinAugust2013thestagewasallsetforyetanothernoflyzoneand
humanitarianinterventionalaQaddafisLibya;thewarhoundswerewaitingforafinishingblowandthe
thenTurkishforeignminister,AhmetDavutoglu,andtheformerSaudiintelligencechief,Bandarbin
Sultan,wereshuttlingbetweentheWesterncapitalstolobbyforthemilitaryintervention.Francois
HollandehadalreadyannouncedhisintentionsandDavidCameronwasalsoonboard.
HereitshouldberememberedthatevenduringtheLibyanintervention,Obamaspolicywasabit
ambivalentandFranceundertheleadershipofSarkozyhadtakentheleadrole.IntheSyriancase,
however,theBritishparliamentforcedCamerontoseekavoteformilitaryinterventionintheHouseof
CommonsbeforecommittingtheBritishtroopsandairforcetoSyria.
TakingcuefromtheBritishparliament,theUSCongressalsocompelledObamatoseekapprovalbefore
anotherillconceivedmilitaryintervention;andsinceboththeadministrationslackedtherequisitemajority

intheirrespectiveparliamentsandthepublicopinionwasalsofiercelyagainstanotherMiddleEasternwar,
therefore,ObamaandCamerondroppedtheirplansofenforcinganoflyzoneoverSyria.
Intheend,FrancewasleftaloneastheonlyWesternpowerstillinthefavorofintervention;atthispoint,
however,theseasonedRussianforeignminister,SergeiLavrov,stagedadiplomaticcoupbyannouncing
thattheSyrianregimeiswillingtoshipitschemicalweaponsstockpilesoutofSyriaandsubsequentlythe
issuewasamicablyresolved.
Turkey,JordanandtheGulfArabstates:themainbeneficiariesoftheSunniJihadinSyria,however,had
lostagoldenopportunitytodealafatalblowtotheShiaalliancecomprisingIran,Syriaandtheir
Lebanonbasedproxy,Hezbollah.
Toaddinsulttotheinjury,theIslamicState,oneofthenumerousSunnijihadistoutfitsfightinginSyria,
oversteppeditsmandateinSyriaandoverranMosulinnorthernIraqinJune2014andthreatenedthe
capitalofAmericasmoststeadfastallyintheregion,MasoudBarzanisErbil,asIhavealready
mentioned.
TheUShadnochoicebuttoadoptsomecountermeasurestoshowthatitisstillsincereinpursuingits
schizophrenicwaronterrorpolicy;atthesametime,however,itassureditsTurkish,JordanianandGulf
Araballiesthatdespitefightingawaragainstthemaverickjihadistoutfit,theIslamicState,theWestern
policyoftrainingandarmingthesocalledmoderateSyrianmilitantswillcontinueapaceandthatBashar
alAssadsdaysarenumbered,onewayortheother.
Moreover,declaringthewaragainsttheIslamicStateinAugust2014servedanotherpurposetoo:inorder
tocommittheUSAirForcetoSyriaandIraq,theObamaAdministrationneededtheapprovaloftheUS
Congresswhichwasnotavailable,asIhavealreadymentioned,butbydeclaringawaragainsttheIslamic
State,whichisadesignatedterroristorganization,theObamaAdministrationavaileditselfofthewaron
terrorprovisionsintheUSlawsandthuscircumventedtheUSCongress.
ButthenRussiathrewaspannerintheschemesofNATOanditsGulfAraballiesinSeptember2015byits
surreptitiousmilitarybuildupinLatakiathatwasexecutedwithanelementofsurpriseunheardofsince
Rommel,theDesertFox.AndnowTurkey,Jordan,theGulfArabstatesandtheirSunnijihadistproxiesin
SyriafindthemselvesatthereceivingendintheSyriancivilwar.
Therefore,althoughtheSunnistatesoftheMiddleEaststilltoetheAmericanlineintheregionpublicly,
butbehindthescenesthereisbitterresentmentthattheUShasletthemdownbymakinganaboutfaceon
thepreviousregimechangepolicyinSyriaandthesubsequentdeclarationofwaragainstonegroupof
SunnimilitantsinSyria,i.e.theIslamicState.
ThischangeofpolicybytheUSdirectlybenefitstheIranianledaxisintheregion.Inthewaragainstthe
IslamicStateinMosul,TurkeyhasalsocontributedtroopsbutmorethanwagingawaragainsttheIslamic
StatethepurposeofthosetroopsistoensurethesafetyoftheSunnipopulationofMosulagainstthe
onslaughtoftheIraqiarmedforcesandespeciallytheirregularShiamilitias,whichareknownfor
committingexcessesagainsttheSunnisinIraq.
Abouttheauthor:
NaumanSadiqisanIslamabadbasedattorney,columnistandgeopoliticalanalystfocusedonthepoliticsof
AfPakandMENAregions,neocolonialismandpetroimperialism.

http://rinf.com/alt-news/editorials/motives-behind-theassassination-of-russian-ambassador-to-turkey/

rt.com

Govtministermockedforsuggestingoath
toBritishvaluesforallcivilservants
20December2016/RT

SajidJavidwasslammedbothonlineandoffforproposingthatelectedofficials,councilworkers,civil
servants,aswellasNHSandBBCstaffsweartheirloyaltytoBritishvalues.
Thecommunitiessecretarysaidhewasdrawntothepolicyasawaytocombatradicalizationand
promotesocialcohesion.Buthiscriticsbelievethemoveisdoomedandthatitwouldmakenoverifiable
difference.
Javid,whowasinspiredbyproposalsmadeinasocialintegrationreportpublishedearlierthismonthby
DameLouiseCasey,saidpublicfigureshadtoleadbyexample.
"Wecan'texpectnewarrivalstoembraceBritishvaluesifthoseofuswhoarealreadyheredon'tdoso
ourselves,andsuchanoathwouldgoalongwaytomakingthathappen,hewroteintheSundayTimes.
LetmebeveryclearthatI'mtalkingaboutintegration,notassimilation.Idon'twanttoseea
governmentapproved,onesizefitsallidentityimposedoneveryoneinthiscountry.SowhenItalkabout
integratingintoBritishlifeorembracingBritishvalues,I'mnotdemandingthateveryonedrinkstea,
watchescricketorbobsupanddownattheLastNightOfTheProms.
Instead,theToryfrontbencherinsistedthatthebeliefinequality,democracyandthedemocraticprocess
wasvitaltoplayapositiveroleinBritishlife.
ButShadowHomeSecretaryDianeAbbottthoughttheplanwouldnotchangeanything.Ihavenothing
againstitinprinciple,butitwillnotmakeadifferencetotheproblemsofradicalization,orintegration,
shesaid.
ForcingpublicservantstoswearanoathtoBritishvalueswouldbebothsuperficialanddivisive,
echoedtheLiberalDemocrathomeaffairsspokesmanandonetimeseniorMetropolitanPolicecommander
LordBrianPaddick.Weshouldbetalkingabouttheuniversalvaluesthatuniteus,notusingnationalistic
termsthatexcludepeople.
Manymoremadeuseofsocialmediaplatformstotakedownthecommunitiesminister,withsomedubbing
themovegesturepoliticsandhypocrisy.
ThecommentswerebasedonJavidsfirstspeechasculturesecretaryin2014,wherethewunderkindof
thenleaderDavidCameronsConservativePartysaid:Whatwedointhiscountryisgreatbecause,far
frombeingruledbycentraldiktats,ourcultureisbasedonfreedomandselfdetermination.
Ah,#BritishValues.Likeinvading90percentoftheplanetandthencomplainingaboutlegitimate
immigrationacenturylater,tweetedausernamedJackMcPhillips.

https://www.rt.com/uk/370799-british-values-mockedhypocrisy/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

bbc.co.uk

GooglerespondsonskewedHolocaust
searchresultsBBCNews
20 December 2016/ Chris Baraniuk Technology reporter
Googlehassaiditis"thinkingdeeply"aboutwaystoimprovesearch,aftercriticismoverhowsomeresults
includingonesdiscussingtheHolocaustwereranked.
Searchingfor"didtheHolocausthappen?"returnedatopresultthatclaimeditdidnot,asGuardian
journalistCaroleCadwalladrreported.
Now,therankinghaschangedforUSusers.
ThepagefromwhitesupremacistsiteStormfrontremainstopintheUK.
"Thisisareallychallengingproblem,andsomethingwe'rethinkingdeeplyaboutintermsofhowwecan
doabetterjob,"saidaGooglespokesman.
"Searchisareflectionofthecontentthatexistsontheweb.
"ThefactthathatesitesmayappearinsearchresultsinnowaymeansthatGoogleendorsestheseviews."
RegardingtherecentchangeinrankingsontheHolocaustquery,editorofnewssiteSearchEngineLand
DannySullivan,believesthiswasduetoexternalparties'attemptstoinfluencetheorderingofresults.
MrSullivanmetGoogleexecutivesandengineerslastweektodiscusstheissueofquestionableresult
ranking,whichalsoaffectsotherqueriesabout,forexample,ethnicminorities.
"I'mashorrifiedanddisappointedbytheresultsasmanypeopleare,"hetoldtheBBC.
However,hesaidGooglewhichprocessesfivebillionsearchesadaywaskeentocomeupwitha
solutionthatwasbroadlyapplicableacrossallsearches,ratherthanjustthosethathavebeennoticedby
users.
"It'sveryeasytotakeasearchhereandthereanddemandGooglechangesomething,"explainedMr
Sullivan,"andthenthenextdayyoufindadifferentsearchandsay,'whydidn'tyoufixthat?'"

'Hate speech'
MsCadwalladrhasaccusedGoogleofdisseminating"hatespeech".
Otherresultrankingsthatshequestionedincludethosefor"arewomenevil?"and"aremuslimsbad?".
TheBBChasalsofoundthatsomeadditionalqueries,includingoneswithoutnegativeterms,alsoproduce
controversialanswers.
Forexample,searchingfor"areblackpeoplesmart?"intheUKreturnsa"featuredsnippet"atthetopof
theresultsthatclaims"blackpeoplearesignificantlylessintelligentthanallotherraces".
MrSullivanaddedthatitwasfarmorecommonforuserstosearchforsimpleterms,suchas"Holocaust"
ratherthan"didtheHolocausthappen?"andthatthephrasingofthequestionalsoaffectedresultrankings.
Headded,however,thatBingMicrosoft'ssearchengineseemedtobedoing"abetterjob"withthese
sortsofqueries,thoughitwas"notimmune"totheissue.
"ItseemstoberewardingWikipediamorethanGoogledoes,"hesaid.

'No neutral algorithms'


SomeoftheconcernaroundtheimpactthatGooglesearchresultshaveonpeople'sperceptionsandbeliefs
stemsfromresearchthatshowsyoungpeople,inparticular,areincreasinglytrustingofthesite.
AnOfcomreportlastmonthfoundthattheproportionof12to15yearoldsturningtoGooglefor"trueand
accurateinformationaboutthingsthataregoingonintheworld"hadshotupto30%thisyear,comparedto
17%in2015.
Morethanaquarterofeightto15yearoldssurveyedbelievedthatifGooglelistsinformationthenitcan
betrusted.
Itwasimportanttonotethatthereisnosuchthingasan"impartial"or"neutral"algorithm,accordingto
ProfMarkGrahamattheOxfordInternetInstitute.

"Thereisnocorrectanswertosomeissues,"hesaid,butaddedthatGooglewasstillinapositionof
responsibility.
"Absolutelytheyshouldfacescrutinybecausetheyoccupythispositionofimmensepowertheymediatea
vastamountoftheworld'sdigitalinformation,"hetoldtheBBC.
"Idon'tthinkit'sgoodenoughtojustpointtotheiralgorithmsandsay,'Well,thisisthemostpopular,this
getsthemostclicks'."
Asfortacklingtheproliferationofhatespeech,ProfGrahampointedoutthatmanycountriesaroundthe
worldhaveguidelinesoverwhatisandisnotacceptableguidelinesthatGooglecould,potentially,adopt.
"Theydon'thavetobuildthoseideasfromscratch,"hesaid.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38379453

zerohedge.com

TurkishProGovernmentMediaBlames
US,CIAForAssassinationOfRussian
Ambassador
by Tyler Durden
Dec 20, 2016 9:30 AM
Followingyesterday'sAnkaratragedyinwhicha22yearoldTurkishoffdutypoliceofficersassassinated
theRussianambassador,Turkeyfounditselfinascapegoatvacuum,havingnobodytoblame:afterall,
followingthissummer'sfailed"coup",Erdoganallegedlypurgedallforceswhowerehostiletohis
administration,whichwouldsuggestthepoliceofficerwasoneof"Erdogan'speople."Thathowever
quicklychangedwhenthismorningTurkey'sprogovernmentmediaoutletsandjournalistspromptlycast
theblameforthecoldbloodedmurderontheUS,andthefaithbasedGulenmovementwhosecleric
FetullahGulenhasbeengrantedrefugeinruralPennsylvania,forthemurderoftheRussianambassadorto
TurkeybyapoliceofficeronMondayevening.
Thegunman,MevlutMertAltintas,chantedIslamistslogansalsousedbyradicalterroristorganizationthe
AlNusraFrontafterheshotKarlovtodeathatanartgalleryinAnkara.Yet,manyprogovernment
newspapersandcolumnistsdidnothesitatetolabelthegunmanamemberofFET,atermthe
governmentcoinedtocalltheGulenmovementaterroristorganization,andalsotalkedabouttheUSrole
inthemurderfromtheirfrontpagesonTuesday.
TheprogovernmentYeniSafaknewspaperannouncedthemurderoftheambassadorwithaheadline
saying,Greatsabotage.ThedailysaidTheproFETassassinsoftheCIAhavebeenmobilizedin
ordertoruinTurkishRussianrelations.ItisstatedthattheUShasbegunopenattacks[againstTurkey]
overFET,saidthedaily.
Anotherprogovernmentnewspaper,theSabahdaily,blastedAssassinationtofriendshipfromvile
FET,intheheadlineofitsmainstoryonTuesday.Thedailysaiddirtyhandstookactionatatimewhen
relationsbetweenTurkeyandRussiahavebeguntonormalize.
Athirdstaunchlyprogovernmentdaily,Star,saidintheheadlineofitsmainstoryonTuesday:Bullet
fromFETtoTurkishRussianrelations.Thesameexactheadlinewasalsousedbytheprogovernment

Aksamdaily.AksamsaidtheRussianambassadorwaskilledbyapoliceofficerwhoattendedauniversity
preparationcourseaffiliatedwiththeGlenmovement.
TheprogovernmentTakvimdailysaidtheWesternalliancewentcrazyduetorapprochementbetween
TurkeyandRussiaandsentoneofthecatspawsamongusandhadtheRussianambassadorkilledin
Ankara.
ProgovernmentjournalistsalsoaccusedtheUSandtheGulenmovementofthemurderoftheRussian
ambassador.
TheUS,whichlettheruleoftheworldslipfromitshands,iscommittingsuicideattacksthrough
thehandsofterrororganizationsinmanycountries.Turkeyisinfirstplace.Theywillnotmanagetodo
this,wroteprogovernmentjournalistFatihTezcanfromhisTwitteraccountonTuesday.
Anotherprogovernmentjournalist,?brahimKaragl,wrotefromhisTwitteraccountthatthemurderofthe
RussianambassadorwouldinflictdamagenotonTurkishRussianrelationsbutonTurkishUSrelations.
ProFETassassinationteamshavebeenactivated.CIAintelligencegameshavebegun.Sleepercells
havewokenup.TurkeyandRussiaareopentargets,hewrote.
AccordingtoprogovernmentjournalistmerTuran,theaimofMondaysassassinationwastoprevent
rapprochementbetweenTurkeyandRussia.
IhavebeenmakingabigeffortformonthstoexplainthatdeepNATOwilldoitsbesttopreventthis,
wroteTuranfromhisTwitteraccountonTuesday.
TurkishRussianrelationscollapsedinNovember2015whenTurkeydownedaRussianjetwhenitviolated
Turkishairspace.However,over2016,therehasbeentangibleanimprovementinrelationsasTurkeyhas
beenseekingtopivotawayfromaEuropeansphereofinfluenceandcozyuptoPutin.Inanattemptto
repairthedamagebothErdoganandPutinmadestatementsthatyesterday'sattackwasanattemptto
damagerelationsbetweenthetwocountriesandtosabbotagetheongoingSyriapeaceprocess.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-20/turkish-progovernment-media-blames-us-cia-assassination-russianambassador

rt.com

Strengthen&expandTrumpcallsfor
greaterUSnuclearcapabilities
22December2016
PresidentelectDonaldTrumphassetWashingtonatwitteragainwithacrypticandseeminglyunprompted
pronouncementaboutthenecessitytoexpandtheUS'nuclearcapabilities.
TheUnitedStatesmustgreatlystrengthenandexpanditsnuclearcapabilityuntilsuchtimeastheworld
comestoitssensesregardingnukes,TrumptweetedonThursdayafternoon.
Earlierintheday,thepresidentelectblastedtheUNSecurityCounciloveranunfairdraftresolution
regardingIsraelandreiteratedhiscommitmenttodrainingtheswampinWashington.Heofferedno
indicationastowhatmighthavepromptedremarksaboutnuclearweapons.
ThursdaystweetseemstodivergefromTrumpspublicpositiononnuclearweaponsthatheexpressed
duringthecampaign.ThebillionairebusinessmancampaignedonaplatformofrebuildingtheUSmilitary
whilecuttingtaxesandreininginfederalspending.HewascriticalofoutgoingPresidentBarackObamas
plantomodernizetheUSnucleartriad,estimatedtocost$1trillionoverthenext30years.
Idon'twantmorenuclearweapons,TrumphadtoldCNNsAndersonCooperduringatownhallin
March.

Wearenotkeepingupwithothercountries,Trumpsaidduringthefirstpresidentialdebatein
September.Iwouldlikeeverybodytoendit,justgetridofit.ButIwouldcertainlynotdofirststrike.
Obamasmodernizationplanwascriticizedbysomemembersofhisownparty.SenatorDianneFeinstein
(DCalifornia)andRepresentativeAdamSmith(DWashington)calleditneitheraffordable,executable,
noradvisableinordertomaintainaneffectiveandreliablenucleardeterrent,accordingtoTomCollina
ofthePloughsharesFund,aWashingtonbasedantinuclearthinktank.
AccordingtoCollina,formerSecretaryofDefenseWilliamPerryandretiredheadofUSStrategic
Command,GeneralJamesCartwright,evenproposedthatTrumpcouldphaseoutintercontinentalballistic
missiles.
[O]urlevelsofnuclearforcesshouldbedeterminedbywhatweneed,notbyamisguideddesiretomatch
Moscowmissileformissile,Perrysaid.
OnWednesday,TrumpmetwithexecutivesfromBoeingandLockheedMartintodiscussthenewAir
ForceOneandtheF35JointStrikeFighterprojectsentrustedtothetwoaerospacecontractorswhichhe
hadpubliclycriticizedlastweek.Theyarealsobiddingonacontractforanewmissiletoreplacethe
MinutemanIII.
EarlieronThursday,RussianPresidentVladimirPutinspokeoftheneedtostrengthenthemilitary
potentialofstrategicnuclearforces,especiallywithmissilecomplexesthatcanreliablypenetrateany
existingandprospectivemissiledefensesystems.
Russiamustcarefullymonitoranychangesinthebalanceofpowerandinthepoliticalmilitarysituation
intheworld,especiallyalongRussianborders,andquicklyadaptplansforneutralizingthreatstoour
country,headded.

https://www.rt.com/usa/371319-trump-expand-nuclearweapons/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

nytimes.com

TrumpPressuresObamaOverU.N.
ResolutiononIsraeliSettlements
Peter Baker and Somini Sengupta
ThemovealsohighlightedthestarkshiftonMiddleEastpolicyaheadwhenthenewadministrationtakes
overinamonth.CombinedwithhispledgetomovetheUnitedStatesEmbassytoJerusalemandhis
selectionofaprosettlementambassadortoIsrael,Mr.TrumpsinvolvementThursdaysignaledanintentto
playanactiveroleinMiddleEastpeaceissuesasastrongallyofIsraels.
TheEgyptiansponsoredresolutionwouldhavecondemnedIsraelihousingconstructioninEastJerusalem
andtheoccupiedWestBankasaflagrantviolationunderinternationallawthatwasdangerously
imperilingtheviabilityofafuturepeacesettlementestablishingaPalestinianstate.TheUnitedStateshas
routinelyuseditsvetoattheSecurityCounciltoblocksimilarmeasures,includingunderMr.Obamain
2011.ButMr.Obamarefusedtocommittodoingsoagainthistime.
Mr.Trumpsaidflatlythatheshould.AstheUnitedStateshaslongmaintained,peacebetweentheIsraelis
andthePalestinianswillonlycomethroughdirectnegotiationsbetweenthepartiesandnotthroughthe
impositionoftermsbytheUnitedNations,thepresidentelectsaid.ThisputsIsraelinaverypoor
negotiatingpositionandisextremelyunfairtoallIsraelis.
Mr.TrumpamplifiedhispositionbypostingthestatementonFacebookandTwitteraswell,buta
transitionofficialinsistedonanonymitytoconfirmthepresidentelectsconversationwithMr.Sisibecause

ofthesensitivityofthematter.Mr.TrumpswordsechoedthepositionsexpressedbyIsraelileaders,
includingPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahu,whohaswelcomedMr.Trumpselectionasabreathof
freshairafteryearsofclasheswithMr.Obama.
AccordingtoSecurityCouncilReport,anindependentresearchorganization,theUnitedStateshasvetoed
30resolutionsregardingIsraelandthePalestinians,plusadozenmoreregardingIsraelandLebanonor
Syria,morethanhalfofits77vetoessincetheUnitedNationswasfoundedin1946.
Mr.NetanyahucitedthathistoryonThursday.IhopetheU.S.wontabandonthispolicy,hesaid.Ihope
itwillabidebytheprinciplessetbyPresidentObamahimselfinhisspeechintheU.N.in2011that
peacewillcomenotthroughU.N.resolutions,butonlythroughdirectnegotiationsbetweentheparties.
FrustratedbytwofailedeffortstobrokerpeacebetweenIsraelisandPalestiniansduringhistenure,Mr.
ObamahasbeenconsideringanefforttolayoutanAmericanframeworkduringhisfinaldaysinoffice.
PalestinianleadersandtheirallieshadhopedhewouldallowtheantisettlementresolutionattheUnited
NationstopassasanexpressionoffrustrationatIsraelipolicies.
APalestiniandelegationtraveledtoWashingtonthismonthtourgeMr.Obamasteamtosupporttheanti
settlementresolutionoratleastabstain.Mr.Obamasadvisersdidnotdiscloseapositionandwereholding
outuntilthevotetowatchhowthematterdeveloped.ThePalestinianswereunabletomeetwithMr.
TrumpsaidesandexpresseddisappointmentonThursdaywithhisposition.Avetomeanssupportof
settlementactivities,SaebErekat,thePalestiniannegotiator,saidaftertheresolutionwaspulled.Aveto
meansabandoningthetwostatesolutionandpeaceefforts.
AskedaboutMr.Trumpscomments,avisiblyupsetPalestinianambassadortotheUnitedNations,Riyad
Mansour,said,HeisactingonbehalfofNetanyahu.
ThereturnofthePalestiniancausetotheworldstagecouldservetheinterestsofsomeArableaderseager
toturnpublicattentionawayfromtroublesathome.ThegovernmentofMr.Sisi,whichsponsoredthe
resolutionastheArabrepresentativeontheSecurityCouncil,facesdomesticchallengesstemmingfroma
deterioratingeconomy,apersistentIslamicterroristinsurgencyandthismonthsbombingofaCoptic
Christiancathedral.
Atthesametime,itcoulddistractfromMr.NetanyahuseffortstoforgestrongerrelationswithSunniArab
nationsonthebasisofsharedantipathytowardIran,dominatedbyaShiitetheocracythathasthreatened
IsraelsexistenceandchallengedArabinterestsintheregion.Arableaders,whohavelargelyoverlooked
thePalestinianissueinrecentyears,mayfeelpressuredtodistancethemselvesfromIsraelagainiftheir
ownpublicsareangeredatthetreatmentofPalestinians.
EgyptbackedoffontheresolutionafterMr.NetanyahusgovernmentputpressureonMr.Sisis
governmenttowithdrawit,shortlybeforeArabambassadorsmeetingattheUnitedNationsendorsedit.
Mr.NetanyahutreatedthependingUnitedNationsvoteasacrisis,stayinguplateintothenightdiscussing
itwithaidesandpostingonhisownTwitteraccount,at3:28a.m.localtime,amessageurgingMr.Obama
tovetowhathecalledtheantiIsraelresolution.TheIsraelisleanedontheEgyptiansthismorningto
postponethevote,andtheEgyptiansbasicallycaved,saidaWesternofficial,speakingontheconditionof
anonymitybecauseofthediplomaticsensitivityofthematter.
ArabofficialsmetinCairoonThursdaynighttoconsidertheirnextmove.ThenegotiationsovertheArab
proposalfortheIsraelisettlementsonoccupiedPalestinianterritoriesarestillnotfinishedatboththe
UnitedNationsandtheArabLeaguesantioccupationcommittee,saidAhmedAbuZeid,aspokesman
fortheEgyptianForeignMinistry,accordingtoEgyptianstatenews.
IftheWhiteHousehadlettheresolutionpass,itwouldhavebeenasymbolicblowtothediplomaticshield
thattheUnitedStateshasalwaysofferedIsrael.Itwouldalsohavesentastrongsignalofinternational
disapprovalovertheconstructionofsettlements,regardedbymanyasillegalunderinternationallaw.
AformertopObamaadvisersuggestedthatthepresidentshouldconsidersupportingtheresolutionbecause
settlementsareanobstacletopeaceandthereforetherealdamagetoIsrael.Theresolutionisabout
settlements,notnegotiations,MartinIndyk,aformerspecialenvoyunderMr.Obama,wroteonTwitter.
VetoingwouldmeanvetoingUSpolicyonsettlements.
ButAaronDavidMiller,anotherformerMiddleEastpeacenegotiator,saidsupportingtheresolutionwould
haveplungedtheadministrationintoanissuethatthepastseveraladministrationshadavoided:thelegality
ofthesettlements.

Theproblemwithvotingforthis,Mr.Millersaid,isthatTrumpwilldisavowitandU.S.credibilityon
theissuewillagainbeundermined,nottomentionwhattheIsraelismightdoonthegroundinresponse,to
whichthenewadministrationmayacquiesce.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/world/middleeast/donal
d-trump-united-nations-israel-settlements.html?_r=2

theguardian.com

BritishpolicyhasmadesituationinSyria
worse,saysformerambassador
Patrick Wintour
BritishpolicyonSyriahasbeenwrongeverystepofthewayandmadethesituationworse,aformerUK
ambassadortothecountryhasclaimed.
PeterFord,whowastheambassadorinDamascusfrom2003to2006andhasbeenapersistentcriticofUK
policyinSyria,saidBasharalAssadsgovernmentshouldbegivenalittlecreditfortherelatively
peacefulendtothesiegeinAleppo.
HesaidtherewasnowaChristmastreeinthecityscentralsquare,whichtherewouldnothavebeenifthe
othersidehadwon.
LocationofSyriasmostpopulouscityisbehindwhyithasbeenfiercelyfoughtoverwithwardestroying
historythatcenturiesofrefugeeshelpedbuild

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/16/aleppo-acosmopolitan-city-built-on-thousands-of-years-of-trade
Ford,whohasbeenaccusedofbeinganapologistfortheSyrianregime,saidtheUKgovernmentfaceda
choicebetweentwoevilsandAssad,ratherthanajihadiopposition,wasthelesserofthetwo.
Hehasalwaysclaimedthemoderateoppositionisverysmall,andthedominantextremeelementsare
unreconstructedjihadisbentondestroyingthewest.
TheUKForeignOfficeviewisthatonly200or300ofthefightersinAleppowereloyaltoalNusra,theal
QaidafranchiseinSyria.ItclaimspluralistsdominateintheHighNegotiationsCommittee,theumbrella
bodythathaslednegotiationswiththeUNinGeneva.
FordalsoopposedUKbombingofIslamicStateinSyria,andatonestage,givingevidencetothedefence
selectcommittee,arguedthatAssadwouldwinbecauserepressionworks.
TheformerdiplomatsaidtheUKspolicyonSyriahadbeenmistakenfromthestart.Hesaidthethen
primeminister,DavidCameron,shouldeitherhavebeenpreparedtocommitBritishforcesonthe
battlefieldorrefrainedfromencouragingtheoppositiontomountadoomedcampaignwhichhasonlyled
tohundredsofthousandsofciviliansbeingkilled.
Wehavemadethesituationworse,hesaid.Itwaseminentlyforeseeabletoanyonewhowasnot
intoxicatedwithwishfulthinking.TheBritishForeignOffice,towhichIusedtobelong,Imsorrytosay
hasgotSyriawrongeverystepoftheway.
TheytoldusatthebeginningthatAssadsdemisewasimminent.Theytoldushewouldbegoneby
ChristmastheydidnttelluswhichChristmas,sotheycouldstillbeprovencorrectbutthentheytoldus
thattheoppositionwasdominatedbythesesocalledmoderates.Thatprovednottobethecase.

Nowtheyaretellingusanotherbiglie,thatAssadcantcontroltherestofthecountry.Well,Ivegot
newsforthem.Heiswellonthewaytodoingso.
SignuptoTheGuardianTodayandgetthemustreadstoriesdeliveredstraighttoyourinboxeachmorning

https://www.theguardian.com/info/2015/dec/08/daily-emailuk
FordwhohasservedtheForeignOfficethroughouttheMiddleEastsaidAssadsforceswouldneed
firsttoconsolidatetheirholdonAleppoanddefendagainstpossiblecounterattacks.Hesaidtheywere
likelytoattackEastGhoutainruralDamascusfirstbeforeturningtoIdlib,therebelslastremainingurban
stronghold.
However,thisisatimetowelcomethefactthatthereisnowaChristmastreeinthecentralsquareof
AleppotherewouldntbeanyChristmastreeiftheothersidehadwon,hetoldBBCRadio4sToday
programme.
FordacriticofmostwesternmilitaryinterventionsintheMiddleEastsaidaerialattackssimilarto
thoseconductedbytheRussianandSyrianairforcewereunderwayinMosulinIraqandinYemen
withoutthewestraisingconcerns.
IthinkweareveryselectiveinourindignationabouttheAleppocampaign.Similarbombingisgoingon
inMosulandinYemenandwegivethepeoplethereapass.Wedonttalkaboutatrocities,wedonttalk
aboutwarcrimes,althoughtheyareindisputablybeingcommittedinboththosetheatres.Wedonttalk
aboutgenocide,holocaust.
Wewillbeluckyifthosecampaignsendwiththegreenbuses.TherewerenogreenbusesinGaza.There
werenogreenbusesaftertheNatobombinginYugoslavia.Ithinkweneedtogivethe[Syrian]
governmentalittlebitofcreditforwhathasbeenarelativelypeacefulendtothisterribleperiod.
Pressedontheregimesattacksonhospitals,Fordsaid:Itwasalsoawarcrimetousehospitalsas
commandcentres,whichiswhatthejihadisdid.Itwasalsoawarcrimetouseschoolstostoreammunition,
whichiswhatthejihadisdid.
FordinthepasthassuggestedoppositionforceswereresponsibleforthedeadlyattackonaUN
humanitarianconvoyinOctober,butaUNpanelofinquiryhassaidtheattackwasconductedfromtheair,
andonlySyrianandRussianairforceswereoperatinginthearea.TheUNpanelsaiditcouldnotjudgeif
theattack,whichledtothedeathsof10humanitarians,wasamistakeordeliberate.
AForeignOfficespokesmansaid:TheUKcontinuestobelieveinaSyrianledpoliticalsettlement.A
politicalsolutionandtransitionawayfromAssadistheonlywaytoendthesufferingoftheSyrianpeople.
TheAssadregimehasthebloodofhundredsofthousandsonitshands.Thereisnowayitcanuniteand
bringstabilitytoSyria.
TheUKhaspledgedmorethan2.3bntosupportthoseaffectedbytheSyrianconflictandsoughtto
reducethesufferingwitheverydiplomaticleveratourcommand.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/23/britishpolicy-syria-former-ambassador-peter-ford

rt.com

NetanyahuhaltsIsraelifundingofUN
bodiesinrevengeforcrazyresolution

IsraelhassuspendeditsmultimilliondollarcontributiontoanumberofUnitedNationsbodiesandis
reevaluatingitsrelationshipwiththeorganization,aftertheUNSecurityCouncilpassedaresolutionon
Israelisettlementconstruction.
IinstructedtheForeignMinistrytocompletewithinamonthareevaluationofallourcontactswiththe
UnitedNations,includingtheIsraelifundingofUNinstitutionsandthepresenceofUNrepresentativesin
Israel,IsraeliPrimeMinisterNetanyahusaidonSaturdaywhileaddressingthenation.
Readmore
Ihavealreadyinstructedtostopabout30millionshekels($7.8million)infundingtofiveUNinstitutions,
fivebodies,thatareespeciallyhostiletoIsrael...andthereismoretocome,headdedwithoutoffering
anyfurtherdetails.
NetanyahuharshlycriticizedPresidentBarackObamaforhisdecisiononFridaytoabstainfromvetoing
theresolutionthatdeclaressettlementsashavingnolegalvalidity.Theresolutionpassed14tozero,with
theUnitedStatesabstaining.
TheresolutiondemandsthatIsraelimmediatelyandcompletelyceaseallsettlementactivitiesinthe
'occupied'Palestinianterritory,includingeastJerusalem.
Theresolutiondoesntbringpeacecloser.Itpushesitfurtheraway,NetanyahusaidSaturday,calling
thedocumentcrazy.
PresidentBarackObamasadministrationconstitutedashamefulambushbyallowingtheresolution's
passage,NetanyahusaidinhisfirstpubliccommentssinceFridaysvote.
Halfamillion...arebeingslaughteredinSyria,tensofthousandsarebutcheredinSudan.TheMiddle
Eastisupinflames,yettheObamaadministrationandtheUNSecurityCouncilchoosetosetuponthe
onlydemocracyintheMiddleEast,Netanyahutoldhistelevisionaudience.
NetanyahusaidthatbyabstainingtheUShasviolatedapledgemadebyformerpresidentJimmyCarter
whopromisedTelAvivthatWashingtonwouldnotdictatepeacetermstoIsraelattheUNSecurity
Council.
InastatementafterthevoteonFriday,NetanyahusofficepersonallyaccusedObamaoffailingtoprotect
IsraelagainstthisgangupattheUN,accusingtheadministrationofworkingbehindthescenes.
TheUNSCwasinitiallyscheduledtovoteontheresolutionpresentedbyEgyptonbehalfofPalestineon
Thursday.ButCairopulleditstextatthelastminuteafterNetanyahuallegedlyexertedheavypressureon
EgyptianPresidentAbdelSisi.
Readmore
NetanyahualsolobbiedwithUSpoliticians,particularlyTrumpsteam,urgingtheUStovetotheanti
Israelresolution.
InanunexpectedtwistofeventsonFridayanewresolutiononthesamesubjectauthoredbyNewZealand,
Malaysia,VenezuelaandSenegalwasintroducedtotheUNSCandpassed.
TheUSabstentionduringthevotesignaledadrasticshiftintheUS'longstandingsupportforIsraelits
closestallyintheMiddleEast.TheObamaadministrationchoosingnottosupportIsraelcontrastsTrumps
vocalsupportforIsraelanditssettlementactivity.
ObamaslastminutediplomacyalsocontradictedhisearlierpledgetogiftTrumpasmoothandefficient
transition,whichhepromisedtheRepublicanimmediatelyfollowinghisvictory.
EarlieronSaturday,aseniorIsraeliofficialtoldHaaretzthatUSdiplomacyrevealedthetruefaceofthe
Obamaadministration,addingthatnowwecanunderstandwhatwehavebeendealingwithforthepast
eightyears.
Israel,thesourceadded,isconvincedthatWashingtonactedbehindIsraelsbackwithregardstodrafting
andadvancingtheresolution.WeknowaboutitfromArabandinternationalsources,headded.

https://www.rt.com/news/371616-netanyahu-cuts-israel-unfunding/?

utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

rt.com

Israeltoapprove100sofnewhomesin
EastJerusalemindefianceofUNSC
resolutionreports
26December2016
Jerusalemszoningcommitteeisexpectedtoapproveconstructionpermitsforhundredsofnewhomesin
EastJerusalem,inamovewhichisillegalunderinternationallaw.Settlementconstructionwasslammed
bythelatestresolutionadoptedbytheUNSecurityCouncil.
TheJerusalemLocalPlanningandConstructionCommitteeisexpectedonWednesdaytoapprovepermits
tobuild618apartmentsinJewishneighborhoodsacrosstheGreenLine,Haaretzreported.
Some140homeswillbeerectedinPisgatZeev,262inRamatShlomoand216inRamot,Haaretz
reported,addingthatevenmorepermitrequestsforPisgatZeevandRamotmaybeaddedbeforethis
weeksmeeting.
AccordingtootherIsraelimediareports,theCommitteemightapproveasmanyas5,600homesin
responsetotheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilresolutionwhichcondemnedIsraelisettlementactivities
andcalledforahalttoillegalconstruction.
Theplanningcommitteewillapprove2,600newhousingunitsintheneighborhoodofGilo,another2,600
unitsinGivatHamatos,and400unitsinRamatShlomo,foragrandtotalof5,600unitsinEastJerusalem,
reportedIsraelHayom.
WeremainunfazedbytheUNvote,orbyanyotherentitythattriestodictatewhatwedoinJerusalem.I
hopetheIsraeligovernmentandthenewUSadministrationwillsupportus,sowecanmakeupforthelack
[ofconstruction]duringtheeightyearsoftheObamaadministration,DeputyJerusalemMayorMeir
TurgemanwhoheadsthezoningcommitteetoldIsraelHayom.
IsraelcapturedEastJerusalemandtheWestBankin1967.IsraelsubsequentlyannexedEastJerusalemand
considerstheentirecityitscapital.PalestineclaimsEastJerusalemasitsfuturecapital.
Sofarthisyear1,506housingunitshavebeenapprovedforconstructioninEastJerusalem,comparedto
775unitsin2014andonly395unitsin2015,Haaretzreported.ButdespitetheUNresolution,construction
issettocontinue.
TherehasbeennochangeinthepositionoftheJerusalemmunicipality...constructioninJerusalemis
necessary,important,andwillcontinueatfullstrength,theJerusalemmunicipalitysaidfollowing
Fridaysvote.
AsthecityofJerusalempreparestoapprovenewconstructions,IsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjamin
NetanyahusummonedUSAmbassadorDanielShapiroonSunday.ShapirowascontactedafterIsrael
calledin10representativesof14otherstatesthatvotedfortheresolution.
WhiletheUShastraditionallybeenanallyofIsrael,vetoingnumerousUNresolutionsagainstthestate,
relationssomewhatsouredundertheObamaadministration,whichhasslammedTelAviv'sincreasingly
aggressivesettlementpolicies.
OnSunday,NetanyahualsousedhisweeklycabinetmeetingtoonceagaincriticizeObamaadministration.

Fromtheinformationthatwehave,wehavenodoubtthattheObamaadministrationinitiatedit
[resolution],stoodbehindit,coordinatedonthewordinganddemandedthatitbepassed,Netanyahutold
ministersonSunday.
AsItoldJohnKerryonThursday,friendsdonttakefriendstotheSecurityCouncil,Netanyahusaid.
OverdecadesAmericanadministrationsandIsraeligovernmentshavedisagreedaboutsettlements,but
weagreedtheSecurityCouncilwasnottheplacetoresolvethisissue.
ThisisofcourseintotalcontradictiontothetraditionalAmericanpolicyofnottryingtoimpose
conditionsofafinalresolution...andofcoursetheexplicitcommitmentofPresidentObamahimselfin
2011toavoidsuchmeasures,headded.
Netanyahuhasalsoreportedlyinstructedhisministersnottotraveltothecountrieswhovotedinfavorof
theresolution.EarlierSunday,DefenseMinisterAvigdorLiebermanorderedIsraelisecurityforcestocease
allcooperationwiththePalestiniansoncivilianmatters,whileretainingsecuritycoordination,armyradio
reported.

https://www.rt.com/news/371785-israel-jerusalem-homesconstruction/?
utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm
_campaign=chrome

en.farsnews.com

Farsnews
27Dec.16
TEHRAN(FNA)AgroupofBritishGeneralsandmilitaryadvisorshavearrivedinSyriatorecruitand
traintheterroristgroupswhichhavewithdrawnfromAleppo,aRussiandailyreported.
TheIzvestianewspaperreportedthatUKDefenseMinisterMichaelFallonhadearliersaidthat20British
militaryinstructorshavealreadyarrivedinSyriato"restorethecombatcapabilityofunitsofthemoderate
oppositionwhichhasretreatedfromAleppo".
Earlierreports,inOctober,saidthatBritainhadsentitsmilitaryexpertstoSyriabeforeAleppo'sliberation
bytheSyrianarmytotrainthefreshterroristsforcombat,firstmedicalaidanddefusebombs.
Basedonreportsincertainmediaandthesocialmediapages,themissionoftheseadvisorschangedwitha
changeinconditionsandtheirfirstmissionnowistoassessthecombatcapabilitiesandmilitaryequipment
oftheterroristgroupswhichhaveleftAleppoandtheyareduetodeterminenewstrategiesforthesocalled
"moderate"dissidentstounitethemunderaunitedmilitarycommand.TheBritishGeneralsandofficersare
nowbeingsafeguardedbytheairforce.
SincetheWestfearsintensifiedinfightingamongtheremainingterroristgroupsaftertheliberationof
Aleppo,itisattemptingtounitethemandturnthemintoanarmywhichcanefficientlyfight,theRussian
dailyconcluded.
TheSyrianstatetelevisionannouncedonWednesdaythatthefinalphaseoftheevacuationoftheterrorists
fromAleppocityhadresumed.
TheimplementationoftheAleppoagreementstartedlastThursdaymorning,butitwashaltedfortwodays
duetotheviolationoftheceasefireagreementbytheterroristsonFriday.OnSundaytheimplementation
ofAleppoagreementresumedandagainonTuesdaynightitwassuspendedduetotheterrorists'lackof
commitmenttothecontentsoftheagreement.
MilitantshadacceptedtoreleasethousandsofcivilianhostagesinthetwobesiegedtownsofFua'aand
KafrayainNorthernIdlibprovinceinreturnforthegovernment'spermissiontotheirbesiegedcomradesin

EasternAleppotoevacuatethecityforIdlib.Butthemilitantshaveblockedtheexitofciviliansfromthe
twotownsrepeatedly.
Yet,afterrepeatedviolationsbytheterrorists,nowtheSyrianstateTVreportsthatthefinalphaseofthe
exitofthelastgroupofabout2,500terroristsstarted,meaningthatAleppocitywillbefullyevacuated
fromthemilitantsinthecominghours.
SeveralbuseswhicharestationedinKafrayaandFua'a(inIdlibprovince)areslatedtoevacuateagroupof
otherpatientsandinjuredpeoplefromthetwotownsinreturnaspertheagreement.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951002000544

theeconomiccollapseblog.com

TheUNSecurityCouncilHasJust
OfficiallyGivenEveryInchOfEast
JerusalemToThePalestinians
Michael Snyder, on December 25th, 2016
BarackObamahasjustmadetheworstdecisionofhisentirepresidency.OnFriday,theUNSecurity
Counciladoptedresolution2334,andthisneverwouldhavehappenedwithoutthesupportandapprovalof
BarackObama.SincetheUnitedStateshasvetopowerontheSecurityCouncil,noresolutioncanever
passunlesstheUnitedStatesallowsittopass.Fordecades,ithasbeenthepolicyoftheU.S.government
tovetoallantiIsraelresolutionsattheSecurityCouncil,andtheIsraeligovernmenthadbeenexpecting
thatBarackObamawouldnotsuddenlychangethatpolicyattheveryendofhissecondterm.Mostofthe
newsheadlinesaboutresolution2334refertoIsraelisettlements,buttherealityofthematteristhatthis
resolutionisaboutmuchmorethanthat.Thetruthisthatthisresolutionhasestablishedlegallybinding
parametersforatwostatesolutionthatIsraelwillneveraccept,andthisincludesgivingeveryinchof
EastJerusalemtothePalestinians.
Ifyouhavenotreadityet,youcanfindthefulltextofresolution2334righthere.Itisoneofthemost
importantdocumentsofourtime,soyouneedtotakeafewminutestoreadit.
Intheexcerptbelow,youwillseethatthisresolutionclearlystatesthatEastJerusalemisinPalestinian
territoryandthattheSecurityCouncilsaysthatitwillrecognizenochangestothepre1967borders
exceptthoseagreedbythepartiesthroughnegotiations
ReaffirmsthattheestablishmentbyIsraelofsettlementsinthePalestinianterritoryoccupiedsince1967,
includingEastJerusalem,hasnolegalvalidityandconstitutesaflagrantviolationunderinternationallaw
andamajorobstacletotheachievementofthetwoStatesolutionandajust,lastingandcomprehensive
peace;
ReiteratesitsdemandthatIsraelimmediatelyandcompletelyceaseallsettlementactivitiesintheoccupied
Palestinianterritory,includingEastJerusalem,andthatitfullyrespectallofitslegalobligationsinthis
regard;
Underlinesthatitwillnotrecognizeanychangestothe4June1967lines,includingwithregardto
Jerusalem,otherthanthoseagreedbythepartiesthroughnegotiations;
OfcoursenotoneinchofEastJerusalemwascontrolledbyIsraelpriortothe1967war.SotheUN
SecurityCouncilissayingthatunlessthePalestiniansagreetogiveitup,everysingleinchofEast
Jerusalem(includingtheTempleMount)belongstothePalestinians.
AsIhaveexplainedbefore,UNSecurityCouncilresolutionsareconsideredtobelegallybindingonthe
parties.NowthatthePalestinianshavebeengrantedfulllegalownershipoverEastJerusalem,doesanyone
actuallybelievethattheywilleverwillinglyrelinquishthat?

Today,morethanhalfamillionIsraelisliveinEastJerusalemandthe137settlementsthatarescattered
throughouttheWestBank.
Wherearetheyallsupposedtogo?
ThisUNSecurityCouncilresolutionnevershouldhavehappened.PresidentelectDonaldTrumpmadeit
abundantlyclearthathewouldhavevetoedthisresolution,butinsteadofdeferringtothenext
administrationBarackObamadecidedtoviciouslystabIsraelintheback.Thisisthegreatestbetrayalof
IsraelinAmericanhistory,andaccordingtoIsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahutheObama
administrationhasbeenplottingthisforquiteawhile
Fromtheinformationthatwehave,wehavenodoubtthattheObamaadministrationinitiatedit,
stoodbehindit,coordinatedonthewordinganddemandedthatitbepassed,Netanyahusaidina
statement.Thisis,ofcourse,incompletecontradictionofthetraditionalAmericanpolicythatwas
committedtonottryingtodictatetermsforapermanentagreement,likeanyissuerelatedtotheminthe
SecurityCouncil,and,ofcourse,theexplicitcommitmentofPresidentObamahimself,in2011,torefrain
fromsuchsteps.
DuringaninterviewwithwithCNNonSunday,anofficialspokespersonforNetanyahusaidessentiallythe
samething
NetanyahuspokesmanDavidKeyestoldCNNonSunday,Wehaveironcladinformation,frankly,
thattheObamaadministrationreallyhelpedpushthisresolutionandhelpedcraftit,fromsources
internationallyandsourcesintheArabworld.
Unfortunately,Obamasactionsaregoingtohaveveryseriousimplicationsforallofus.
AsIjustexplainedinanarticleon
TheMostImportantNews,thosethatblessIsraelwillbeblessed,and
thosethatcurseIsraelwillbecursed.
AndthisisespeciallytruewhenitcomestoJerusalem.InZechariah2:8wearetoldthatthosethattouch
JerusalemtouchtheappleofGodseye,andinZechariah12wearetoldthatthecityofJerusalemwillplay
asignificantroleinthelastdays.ThefollowingiswhatZechariah12:3saysintheModernEnglish
Version
AnditwillbeonthatdaythatIwillsetJerusalemasaweightystonetoallthepeoples.Allwhocarryit
willsurelygashthemselves,andallthenationsofthelandwillbegatheredagainstit.
BydefiantlyattemptingtodividethelandofIsraelandthecityofJerusalemduringthewaningdaysofhis
presidency,BarackObamahascursedAmerica.
Youmaynotbelieveinblessingsandcurses,buttheWordofGodsaysthatthosethatcurseIsraelwillbe
cursed,andwithoutadoubtwewillmostassuredlybecursedasaresultofwhatBarackObamahasdone.
AndofcoursetheentireMiddleEastisgoingtosufferaswell.Insteadofbringingpeace,thisresolution
justsetsthestageformoreconflict.AccordingtotheTimesofIsrael,theNetanyahugovernmentis
alreadypromisingnottoadheretothetermsoftheresolution
IsraelcategoricallyrejectsthedespicableantiIsraeliresolutionattheUN,andwillnotadhereto
it,thePrimeMinistersOfficesaidinaseethingstatementafterthecouncilvotedinfavorofthemotion
140.
Knowingallofthis,putyourselfintotheshoesofthePalestiniansforamoment.
TheUNSecurityCouncilhasgiventhemlegalrightstoanationwithbordersbasedonthepre1967lines.
TheyhavebeengiveneveryinchofEastJerusalem,andeveryIsraelisettlementinEastJerusalemandthe
WestBankhasofficiallybeendeclaredillegal.
IfIsraelrefusestobudge,thePalestinianscouldveryeasilycometotheconclusionthattheyhave
exhaustedalllegalchannelsforresolvingtheconflictandthattheonlywaytheyaregoingtogetwhat
legallybelongstothemistotakeitbyforce.
AgreatwariscomingtotheMiddleEast,anditwillbealifeordeathstrugglebetweentheIsraelisandthe
Palestinians.
NothingelsethatBarackObamahasdoneduringhisentiretimeintheWhiteHouseevencomescloseto
this.HehasgreatlycursedAmerica,hehassetthestageforthebloodiestwartheMiddleEasthasever
seen,andhehasdefiantlyshakenhisfistattheonetrueGodthatcreatedallthings.
MayGodhavemercyonusall.

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/the-unsecurity-council-has-just-officially-given-every-inch-of-eastjerusalem-to-the-palestinians

naturalblaze.com

GEMosquitoesWillNotBeReleasedin
Florida...ForNow
ByBrandonTurbeville
AfteralengthybattleitappearsthatthepeopleofFloridahavemanagedtopulloutavictoryagainstOxitec
anditsplantoreleasemillionsofgeneticallyengineeredmosquitoesinKeyHaven,Florida.
Typically,theFDAapprovedthereleasewithoutadequatetestingforpotentialimpactstohumans,animals
ortheenvironment.Oxitechadplannedtogoaheadwiththeplansoftheirreleaseagainsttheobjectionsof
mostoftheFloridacommunityandacoalitionofgroupswhohadcometogethertoopposetherelease.
However,duringtheNovember2016election,localcitizensturnedouttovoteagainsttheGEmosquito
releaseand,asaresult,OxitecwillnotbeallowedtoconducttheirGEmosquitotrialinKeyHaven.
ZikaMosquitoesSameAsGMMosquitoesReleasedOffTheCoastOfFlorida
AsFriendsoftheEarthwrites:
InalettertoCFSattorneys,counselfromtheFDAnoted,perthepublicreferendumswhichtookplaceon
November8,2016,andthesubsequentboardmeetingoftheFloridaKeysMosquitoControlDistrict
(FKMCD)onNovember19,2016,theproposedfieldtrialisnolongermovingforwardinKeyHaven,
FL.BecauseresidentsofKeyHavenvotedagainstthetrial,FKMCDcommissionersagreedthatthetrial
willnotbeconductedthere.
Unfortunately,however,Oxitecwillbeallowedtoresubmitapplicationsforatrialreleaseelsewherein
MonroeCounty.Thistime,atleast,itwillneedtoconductanenvironmentalassessmentandindicate
FindingsOfNoSignificantImpactforanynewsite.
JaydeeHanson,SeniorPolicyAnalystattheCenterforFoodSafetyspoketoFOEoftheinitialFDA
approvalandsaid:
FDAknewitwasrecklesstoapprovethereleaseofanovelspecieswithoutfirstassessingthepotential
impacts.Theagencydidntdoitshomeworksothelocalcommunityspokeupandtheyhadthelawontheir
side.
DanaPerls,seniorfoodandtechnologycampaignerwithFriendsoftheEarthU.S.added:
Thisisavictorythatprotectslocalcommunitiesfromrecklessexperiments.TheFDAshouldneverlet
peopleandecosystemsbetreatedaslaboratories.Weneedlongtermandsustainablesolutionstoprevent
mosquitobreedinggrounds.
PattyLovera,assistantdirectorofFood&WaterWatchstated:
WearegladtheFDAfinallyrecognizedthatitshouldnotallowacompanytoreleaseexperimentalGE
mosquitoesintoacommunitywithouttheirconsent.TheFDAneedsanentirelynewapproachto
evaluatingthepotentialrisksformGEinsects.
BarryWray,ExecutiveDirector,FloridaKeysEnvironmentalCoalitionadded:
WeexpectOxitecwillreapplyforapermittoincludeallofMonroeCounty.FDAmustpushOxitecto
answerquestionsthecompanyhasavoided,likewhyhavethemosquitosnotbeentestedforpreexisting
disease,especiallywhenZikatransferstoeggs;andwhatisthelikelihoodofantibioticresistantbacteria

promotion.Finally,FDAmustrequireafullEnvironmentalImpactStatementonthelongtermeffectsof
theGEMosquitoDNAenteringthesustainablewildpopulations.
Thisarticle(GEMosquitoesWillNotBeReleasedinFloridaForNow)canberepublishedunder
aCreativeCommonslicensewithattributiontoBrandonTurbeville,sourceandNaturalBlaze.com,
keepinglinksandbiointact.Image:Naturalblaze,pixabay
GetaniftyFREEeBookLikeatFacebook,TwitterandInstagram.
BrandonTurbevillearticlearchivehereisanauthoroutofFlorence,SouthCarolina.Heistheauthor
ofsixbooks,CodexAlimentariusTheEndofHealthFreedom,7RealConspiracies,FiveSenseSolutions
andDispatchesFromaDissident,volume1andvolume2,TheRoadtoDamascus:TheAngloAmerican
AssaultonSyria,andTheDifferenceitMakes:36ReasonsWhyHillaryClintonShouldNeverBePresident.
Turbevillehaspublishedover600articlesdealingonawidevarietyofsubjectsincludinghealth,
economics,governmentcorruption,andcivilliberties.BrandonTurbevillespodcastTruthonTheTracks
canbefoundeveryMondaynight9pmESTatUCYTV.HeisavailableforradioandTVinterviews.Please
contactactivistpost(at)gmail.com.

http://www.naturalblaze.com/2016/12/ge-mosquitoes-notreleased-florida-for-now.html

bbc.co.uk

USexpelsRussiandiplomatsovercyber
attackallegationsBBCNews
29Dec.16
TheUShasexpelled35Russiandiplomatsaspunishmentforallegedinterferenceintolastmonth's
presidentialelections,givingthem72hourstoleavethecountry.
ItwillalsoclosetwocompoundsusedforRussianintelligencegathering.
PresidentBarackObamahadvowedactionagainstRussiaamidUSaccusationsitdirectedhacksagainst
theDemocraticPartyandHillaryClinton'scampaign.
Russiahasdeniedanyinvolvementandcalledthedecision"ungrounded".
TheUSstatedepartmentdeclaredthe35RussiandiplomatsfromtheWashingtonDCembassyandthe
consulateinSanFrancisco"personanongrata",andgavethemandtheirfamilies72hourstoleavetheUS.
ThemovefollowscallsfromseniorUSsenatorstosanctionRussianofficialswhoarebelievedtohave
playedaroleinthehacking,whichsomelawmakersreferredtoasAmerica's"politicalPearlHarbor".
TheRussiangovernmentisexpectedtorespondinturnbyexpellingUSdiplomats.
KremlinspokesmanDmitryPeskovtoldjournalistsinMoscowthattheactionswere"amanifestationof
unpredictableandaggressiveforeignpolicy",andcalledthem"ungroundedandnotlegal".
PresidentelectDonaldTrump,whowilltakeoverfromPresidentObamanextmonth,hasdismissedthe
claimsas"ridiculous"andsaidAmericansshould"getonwithourlives"whenaskedaboutthepossibility
ofsanctionsbeforetheannouncementonWednesday.
SanctionshavealsobeenannouncedagainstnineentitiesandindividualsincludingRussianintelligence
agencies,theGRUandtheFSB.
RussianintelligencecompoundsinNewYorkandMarylandwillbeclosed.

'Necessary and appropriate'


Inastatement,PresidentObamacalledthemovesa"necessaryandappropriateresponsetoeffortstoharm
USinterests"andsaid"allAmericansshouldbealarmedbyRussia'sactions".
MrObamaalsoannouncedtheUSwoulddeclassifytechnicalinformationrelatedtoRussiancyberactivity
to"helpnetworkdefendersintheUnitedStatesandabroadidentify,detect,anddisruptRussia'sglobal
campaignofmaliciouscyberactivities".
SpeakeroftheHousePaulRyan,thetopRepublicaninCongress,saidinastatementthatdespitethe
measuresbeingoverdue"itisanappropriatewaytoendeightyearsoffailedpolicywithRussia".
DemocraticSenatorBenCardin,whoisfromMaryland,calledforCongresstotakeactionseparatelyfrom
theWhiteHouse,andplanstointroducelegislationtoestablishacommittee"tofurtherexaminetheattack
andRussian'seffortstointerfereinourelection".

'A decade-long campaign'


InajointstatementbytheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,theOfficeoftheDirectorofNational
Security,andtheFBI,USofficialsappealtocompaniesto"lookbackwithintheirnetworktraffic"and
reportanysignsof"maliciouscyberactivity"tolawenforcement.
TheRussianhacking,whichtheUSintelligenceagenciesdescribeasa"decadelongcampaign"included
methodssuchas"spearphishing,campaignstargetinggovernmentorganisations,criticalinfrastructure,
thinktanks,universities,politicalorganisations,andcorporations;theftofinformationfromthese
organisations;andtherecentpublicreleaseofsomeofthisstoleninformation".
EmailsstolenfromHillaryClinton'scampaignmanagerandfromtheserversoftheDemocraticNational
Committeewerereleasedduringthe2016presidentialelectionbyWikileaks.
SeveralUSagencies,includingtheFBIandCIAhaveconcludedthatthehackedinformationwasreleased
tocausedamagetoMrsClintonandtheDemocratsinordertofavourMrTrump.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38463025

bbc.co.uk

CanUSelectionhackbetracedto
Russia?BBCNews
29 December 16 / Gordon Corera Security correspondent,
BBC News
USPresidentBarackObamahasdirectedhisintelligenceagenciestodeclassifyasmuchaspossibleoftheir
reviewintoUSelectionhacking.ButjustwhatkindofevidencemighttherebetolinktheactivitytoRussia
andhowmuchofitislikelytobemadepublic?
Attributingcyberattacksishardtheonesandzeroesofonlineactivitycanbemanipulatedtomaskan
attacker'sidentity.
ButthedetailsofthebreachintotheDemocraticNationalCommittee(DNC)areunusuallypublic.
TheDNCcalledinthecompanyCrowdStriketoinvestigatethisspringandthenallowedthemtopublish
muchofthetechnicalinformation.
Thathasallowedthewidercommunityofcybersecurityinvestigatorstoporeoverthedetails.
Thedetectiveworkinvolvescomparingthetypesofmalicioussoftwareormalwareusedintheattack
withpreviousactivity,theequivalentoffingerprints,aswellaslookingatpatternsofwhoistargeted.
Inthiscase,CrowdStrikeidentifiedtwoactorsinsidetheDNCnetworkthatithadseenbeforeonethatit
callsCozyBear(linkedtoRussia'sFSB)andtheotherFancyBear(linkedtotheGRU,Russianmilitary
intelligence).

CozyBearbreachedthenetworkandstoledata.FancyBearwaslinkedtothereleaseofthedatafromthe
DNCandotherpoliticalfigures.
"WedidattributionbacktotheRussiangovernment,"ShawnHenryofCrowdStriketoldmebeforethe
election."WebelievedwithahighlevelofconfidencethatitwastiedtoRussia."
OtherexpertssaytheysawcustomRussianmalwareartefactsnotavailableinthecriminalmarketplaceon
theDNC'snetwork.
Analystsalsotracedtheroutetheinformationthentooktogetintothepublicdomain.
"Itisnotaclearchainofcustody,"saysToniGidwani,directorofresearchoperationsatthreatintelligence
firmThreatConnect,whileaddingthattheevidencestillpointstoRussia.
AhackercalledGuccifer2.0,whoclaimedresponsibilityforgettingholdofthematerialandpassingiton,
appearstobemorethanoneperson.
Thiskindofanalysisbytheprivatesectorproducesanassessmentratherthanirrefutableproof,butitisone
thatcanbecontestedinthepublicdomain.
Thereareothermethodsthatintelligenceagenciescanuse,buttheyarefarlesspublic.
ThematerialreleasedbyEdwardSnowdenrevealedtheabilityofAmerica'sNationalSecurityAgency
(NSA),alliedwithBritain'sGCHQ,towatchdatamoveatagloballevel,includingspyingontraffic
passingthroughfibreopticcablesatkeyjunctionpoints.
Thiskindofsignalsintelligence(SIGINT)isakeypartofcyberdefence.
Itprovidesauniqueabilitytonotjustspyonothersbutalsowatchotherspiesdotheirspying.
Sometimescountrieswillevenstealwhatotherspiesaretakingfromathirdcountryknownasfourth
partycollection.
"Wearelookingforpatterns,signatures,segmentswhichbetrayacompromisethediscoverythatahostile
actorhaspenetratedasensitivenetwork(and)somehowisexfiltratingdatawhichhadbeenthoughttobe
secure,"theheadofGCHQ,SirIanLobban,toldmeinaninterviewin2013,beforetheSnowden
revelations.
This"passive"SIGINTcapacityisonepossiblereasonwhy,asearlyasSeptember2015,theFBIwas
tryingtowarntheDNCaboutapossiblebreach.
Spiescanalsouseactivemethodstotrytogetinsidethenetworksoftheiradversaries,andplantmalware
intheirmachinesinordertowatchwhattheyaredoing.
GCHQandNSAstaffhavesometimesfoundthemselveswadingthroughdataonhackers'computers,
includingpicturesofpetsandoldfamilyphotostotiehackstospecificusers.
SometimessuchsearchesareusefulsuchaspicturesofhackersfromtheChinesePeople'sLiberation
Army,laterpublicisedinanindictmentforcommercialespionagebytheUSDepartmentofJustice.
ThepublicattributioninthatcasewasdesignedtoinduceachangeofbehaviouronthepartofChina.US
officialssayithadsomesuccess.
TheUSfacedasimilardilemmaaboutwhattorevealin2014whenitsaidNorthKoreaattackedSony
Pictures.
Arangeofoptionswasputtothepresidentincludingmilitarystrikes,cyberretaliationandfinancial
sanctions.
ButtherewerequestionsoverhowsuretheUSwasaboutNorthKorea'sresponsibility.
ThatconfidencewasreportedlybasedonimplantsithadplacedwithintheNorthKoreannetwork.
ButtheNorthKoreanshadalsobeensloppywiththeiruseofIPaddresses,usingonesalreadyassociated
withPyongyang'sactivityforthehacking.
Russianspiesaregenerallyseenasamongthestealthiestandmosteffectiveoftheworld'sintelligence
serviceswhenitcomestohidingtheirtrails,though.
Thereisalsotheworldofhumanintelligence.
AttributingacyberattackcansometimesbedonebyhavinganagentinsideMoscowwhocan
communicatebackwhatthecountry'sspiesareupto.
Cruciallysuchanagentmayalsobeabletoofferinsightintotheintentandthemotivationofacyber
operationsomethingwhichisnotalwaysevidentfrompurelytechnicaldetails.

ButiftheUSdidhavethiskindofsourcetheywoulddoeverythingtheycouldtoprotectandavoid
exposingthem.
Itisthelastthingtheywouldwanttotalkabout.
Americanintelligencehassaiditbelievedtheelectionhackwasorderedfromthehighestlevelsinthe
Kremlin.
"NotmuchhappensinRussiawithoutVladimirPutin,"PresidentObamasaidon16December.
Theymayhaveintelligencebackingthis,butitcouldalsobeacasethatbasedonpastbehaviour,theUS
simplybelievesthatanoperationofthiskindofsensitivitywouldnotbeundertakenbyspieswithout
clearancefromseniorofficials.
AsimilarconclusionwasreachedbyaBritishjudgeregardingtheroleoftheKremlininthekillingof
AlexanderLitvinenkoinLondon.
TheissueofsourcescreatesadilemmaforUSintelligenceandtheWhiteHouse:Howmuchdoesitneedto
reveal?
ThedebacleoverIraq'sabsentweaponsofmassdestructioncreatedasuspicionofclaimsbasedon
intelligence.
DonaldTrumphimselfpointedtothatfailureinresponsetoreportsRussianssoughttohelphiselection
campaign.
OnelegacyofIraqhasbeenareducedwillingnesstotakethewordofspiesatfacevalue,insteadofasking
formoreproof.
NowthechallengeforUSintelligencewillbedecidinghowmuchevidenceitplacesintothepublicdomain
andhowtobalancethebenefitofincreasedtransparencywiththepotentialrisks.
Italsomaybethatinsuchapoliticisedcase,whatevertheyproduce,thescepticswillnotbeconvinced.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38370630

bbc.co.uk

18revelationsfromWikileaks'hacked
ClintonemailsBBCNews
29December16
WikileakshasbeenreleasinghackedemailsfromtheaccountofHillaryClinton'scampaignboss.Whatdo
theysay?
Theantisecrecywebsitesaysitwillreleasetensofthousandsmoreemailsbetweennowandelectionday.
ClintoncampaignchairmanJohnPodesta,whoseemailswerehacked,hasclaimedtheRussiangovernment
wasbehindtheleakandtheTrumpcampaignknewaboutitinadvance.
Hehasrefusedtoconfirmordenytheemails'authenticity,suggestingsomecouldhavebeendoctored,
withoutsofarpinpointinganyofthecorrespondenceasfake.
ThesemessagesaredifferentfromtheotherClintonemailcontroversy,whenshewasfoundtohaveand
brokengovernmentrulesbyexclusivelyoperatingaprivateserverfromherupstateNewYorkhomewhile
secretaryofstate.
EmailleakshowsClintonaidesinfighting
WhytheUSfearsRussiahackingtheelection
SowhathastheWikileaksdumptoldus?

'Bill Clinton Inc'


Ina12pagememowrittenbyDougBand,alongtimeaidetoBillClinton,hedescribesusinghis
consultingfirmtoraisemoneyfortheClintonGlobalInitiativeaswellasdirectpersonalincomeforthe
formerpresident.
MrBandralliedclientsofhisfirm,Teneo,tocontributedirectlytoMrClintonfor"inkindservicesforthe
Presidentandhisfamilyforpersonaltravel,hospitality,vacationandthelike"referringtothatfundas
"BillClintonInc".
Severalcompaniesdirectlypaidtheformerpresidentforhisspeechesoradvice,aswellasmaking
contributionstotheClintonGlobalInitiative.Republicanshavecriticisedthis,sayingitallowed
corporationstopayforaccesstotheformerpresident.
Oneclient,CocaCola,receivedafacetofacemeetingwiththeformerpresidentathishomein2009,after
contributingmillionstothenonprofitfoundation.
DonaldTrumptweetedalinktotheWashingtonPostarticleaboutthiswithhisanticorruptionmantra
#DrainTheSwamp

'Terrible instincts'
Onthesamedaythatnewsofaprivateemailserverbroke,JohnPodesta,wholaterbecamehercampaign
chairman,emailedNeeraTanden,whoworkedfortheClintoncampaignin2008andhasremainedaclose
adviser,tocomplainaboutMrsClinton's"instincts".
"We'vetakenonalotofwaterthatwon'tbeeasytopumpoutoftheboat",hewroteinSeptember2015as
ClintonstafffearedthatVicePresidentJoeBidenwouldjointheDemocraticprimaryrace.
"Mostofthathastodowithterribledecisionsmadeprecampaign,butalothastodowithherinstincts,"he
wrote,towhichMrsTandenresponded:"Almostnooneknowsbetter[than]methatherinstinctscanbe
terrible."
Intheemailexchange,MrPodestaalsocomplainedthatClinton'spersonallawyerDavidKendall,and
formerStateDepartmentstaffersCherylMillsandPhilippeReines"sureweren'tforthcominghereonthe
factshere".MrsTandenresponds"Whydidn't'theygetthisstuffoutlike18monthsago?Socrazy."
Shelateransweredherownquestionsaying,"IguessIknowtheanswer.Theywantedtogetawaywithit."

What Obama knew about Clinton private email


WhenPresidentBarackObamatoldaninterviewerthathefirstlearnedofMrsClinton'sprivateemail
serveratthe"sametimeeverybodyelselearnedit,throughnewsreports",theClintoncampaignemailed
eachothertosaythatthepresidentwasnottellingthetruth.
TheeveningaftertheinterviewairedClintonspokesmanJoshSchwerinemailedtosay"itlookslike
POTUSjustsaidhefoundoutHRCwasusingherpersonalemailwhenhesawitinthenews".
"Weneedtocleanthisup",Clinton'sformerchiefofstaffCherylMillsresponds.
"Hehasemailsfromhertheydonotsaystate.gov",shewrote,implyingthatMrObamawasawarethat
ClintonwasusingaprivateemailserverratherthanherStateDepartmentissuedemailaccount.
WhiteHousespokesmanJoshEarnestlaterclarifiedtosaythatthepresidenthadexchangedemailswith
Clintonbutthathe"wasnotawareofthedetailsofhowthatemailaddressandthatserverhadbeensetup".

Morocco 'quid pro quo'


MrsClinton'saideHumaAbedin,usuallyknownforherunflinchingloyalty,wasbluntinhercriticismof
herbossoveraClintonFoundationsummitinMorocco.
AtthetimeofthemeetinginMarrakesh,inMay2015,MrsClintonwasnolongersecretaryofstatebut
abouttoannouncehercampaignforpresident.Butfourmonthsbeforeittookplace,Abedinvoicedconcern
aboutherpullingout."IfHRCwasnotpartofit,meetingwasanonstarter,"shewarned."Shecreatedthis
messandsheknowsit."
Theimplicationfromtheleakedemailsisthata$12mdonationfromthekingofMoroccowasdependent
onMrsClintonattendingthesummit.

"HerpresencewasaconditionfortheMoroccanstoproceedsothereisnogoingbackonthis,"Abedin
wrotetocampaignmanagerRobbieMookinaNovember2014email.
Intheend,MrsClintondecidednottoattendandsenthusbandBillanddaughterChelseainstead.Thereis
norecordofa$12mdonation.
MrMookonSundaysaidtherewasnoevidenceofwrongdoingor"quidproquo",andthathisemailswith
AbedinshowedhesimplydidnotwantanyschedulingdistractionsforMrsClinton.

Sanders is a 'doofus'
InDecember2015,MrPodestaattackedMrsClinton'sprimaryelectionrivalBernieSandersforcriticising
theParisclimatechangeagreement.
"CanyoubelievethatdoofusBernieattackedit?"saidMrPodesta.
WhenaskedonCNNaboutit,MrPodestaadmittedhewasfrustratedatthetimebuthehadaverygood
relationshipwiththeVermontsenator.

Bill Gates for veep?


MrsClinton'scampaignconsideredMicrosoftcofounderBillGatesorhiswifeMelindaasherrunning
mate,accordingtothehackedemails.
MrPodestadraftedalistofnearly40namesforherpotentialvicepresidentialpick,organisingitbywhat
hecalled"roughfoodgroups",whichappearedtorefertodemographiccoalitions.
ThelistincludedHispanic,whiteandblackmen,threeformerhighrankingmilitaryofficers,business
leadersandfemalesenators.
AmongthoseincludedwereApple'sTimCook,formerNewYorkMayorMichaelBloomberg,General
Motors'MarryBarraandStarbuckschiefexeuctiveHowardSchultz.
SenatorBernieSanderswaslistedinagroupbyhimself.

'Clintons won't forget'


TheClintoncampaigntriedtorescheduletheIllinoispresidentialprimarytoamonthlater,soastomakeit
lesslikelythatamoderateRepublicanwouldgetaboostfollowingtheSuperTuesdayprimaries.
"TheClintonswon'tforgetwhattheirfriendshavedoneforthem,"futureClintoncampaignmanager
RobbyMookwroteintheNovember2014emailtoMrPodesta.
ButMrMooksaidthevotewouldbedifficulttoreschedulebecauseIllinoisDemocrats"feelforgottenand
neglectedbyPOTUS",areferencetoPresidentObama.
Theprimarywasultimatelyheldonitsoriginaldate,15Marchthisyear.

'Covert' Syrian action


Accordingtothelatestleakedemails,MrsClintontoldaGoldmanSachsconferenceshewouldliketo
intervenesecretlyinSyria.
ShemadetheremarkinanswertoaquestionfromLloydBlankfein,thebank'schiefexecutive,in2013
monthsaftersheleftofficeassecretaryofstate.
"MyviewwasyouinterveneascovertlyasispossibleforAmericanstointervene,"shetoldemployeesof
thebankinSouthCarolina,whichhadpaidherabout$225,000togiveaspeech.
MrsClintonwhoisaccusedofbeingawarhawkbyliberalcriticsadded:"Weusedtobemuchbetterat
thisthanwearenow.Now,youknow,everybodycan'thelpthemselves.
"Theyhavetogooutandtelltheirfriendlyreportersandsomebodyelse:Lookwhatwe'redoingandIwant
creditforit."

'Ring China'
MrsClintonsaidinemailsthatshehadtoldChineseofficialsiftheywerenotableorwillingtocontrol
NorthKorea'saggressionthentheUSwouldbeforcedtoputupmissiledefencesintheregion.

"SoChina,comeon.Youeithercontrolthemorwe'regoingtohavetodefendagainstthem,"she
purportedlytoldaGoldmanSachsconferenceinJune2013.
ShealsoremarkedthattheUSwouldsendadditionalwarshipstotheregiontocountertheNorthKorean
missilethreat.
Assecretaryofstate,MrsClintonvisitedChinaseventimesandhelpeddevelopWashington's"pivot"to
Asia,whichhaslongbeenviewedwithsuspicionbyBeijing.

Catholic 'bastardisation'
A2011exchangebetweenMrsClinton'snowcommunicationsdirectorJenniferPalmieriandliberalthink
tankfellowJohnHalpinmockedamagazinearticledescribingmediamogulRupertMurdochraisinghis
childrenasCatholics.
MrHalpin,aselfdescribedCatholic,writesthatmanyofthe"mostpowerfulelementsoftheconservative
movementareCatholics...theymustbeattractedtothesystematicthoughtand[severely]backwards
genderrelations",addingthat"it'sanamazingbastardisationofthefaith".
MsPalmierirespondsthatthosepeoplemustthinkitis"themostsociallyacceptablepolitically
conservativereligion".MsPalmierirecentlysaidshedoesn'trecognisetheemails,addingthat"I'ma
Catholic".

'A public and a private position'


InexcerptsfromoneofMrsClinton'spaidspeechestoWallStreetbankers,shesaid:"Politicsislike
sausagebeingmade.Itisunsavory,anditalwayshasbeenthatway,butweusuallyendupwhereweneed
tobe.
"Butifeverybody'swatching,youknow,allofthebackroomdiscussionsandthedeals,youknow,then
peoplegetalittlenervous,tosaytheleast.So,youneedbothapublicandaprivateposition."
SheintroducedthiscommentbysayingthatshehadjustwatchedStevenSpielberg'sfilmLincoln,which
showsthepoliticalnegotiationstheUSCivilWarerapresidentundertooktopassthe13thamendmentto
theUSconstitution,abolishingslavery.
BernieSanders,whocampaignedagainstMrsClintonduringtheDemocraticprimaryseason,hadcalled
repeatedlyforMrsClintontoreleasethetranscriptsofherpaidWallStreetspeeches.

Clinton 'was fed a question'


DonnaBrazile,theformerCNNcontributor,notifiedtheClintoncampaigninadvanceofaquestionshe
wouldbeaskedatatownhallstyleeventhostedbythecablenetworkinMarch,accordingtotheleaked
emails.
"FromtimetotimeIgetthequestionsinadvance,"MsBrazile,nowchairoftheDemocraticNationalParty
(DNC),wroteinthesubjectlineofa12MarchemailtoClintonaides.
ShewentontopastethetextofaquestionaboutthedeathpenaltythatMrsClintonwouldbeasked.The
question,withverysimilarwording,endedupbeingposedtotheWhiteHousehopefulattheevent.
HoursafterWikiLeaksbrokethenewsoftheallegedcollaboration,MsBrazilewroteinanstatement:"I
neverhadaccesstoquestionsandwouldneverhavesharedthemwiththecandidatesifIdid."
TheleakedemailhasalsocausedembarrassmentforCNN,whichDonaldTrumphasmockinglyreferredto
asthe"ClintonNewsNetwork".
MsBraziletookoverattheDNCwhenitsformerchair,DebbieWassermanSchultzoverhackedemails
whichrevealedthepartyestablishment'sfavouritismtowardsMrsClinton.
TheDNCwasmeanttobeneutralinthecontestbetweenMrsClintonandherDemocraticprimaryseason
challenger,BernieSanders.
WhileservingasDNCvicechairinJanuary2016,MsBrazileforwardedtoClinton'sstaffanemail
revealingtheSanderscamp'splantocourtAfricanAmericanvoters.
"FYI,"MsBrazilewrotetocampaignspokespersonAdrienneElrod,whoresponded:"Thankyouforthe
headsuponthisDonna."

Media captionGordon Corera reports on an "extraordinary"


claim Russia is trying to influence the election
Justice Department 'collusion'
ClintonspokesmanBrianFallonwroteinaMay2015email:"DOJfolksinformmethereisastatushearing
inthiscasethismorning."
HewasreferringtoaFreedomofInformationActrequestbyajournalistseekingdisclosureofMrs
Clinton'semailsfromhertimeasthesecretaryofstate.
MrFallon,whoisaformerDepartmentofJusticespokesman,wasrelayinginformationthatwasalready
publiclyavailableandbeingreportedbymultiplenewsoutlets.
Nevertheless,DonaldTrumpseizedonthecommunicationbetweentheClintoncampaignandtheDOJ,
saying,"thisiscollusionandcorruptionofthehighestorder".

Clinton 'wary of refugees'


Inaleaked2013paidspeechtotheJewishUnitedFundofMetropolitanChicago,MrsClintonsaidthat
JordanandTurkey"can'tpossiblyvetallthoserefugeessotheydon'tknowif,youknow,jihadistsare
cominginalongwithlegitimaterefugees".
TrumpsupportersseizedontheseremarkstocriticisehercallfortheUStoaccept65,000refugeesper
year,anincreaseonPresidentObama'splantoallow10,000peryear.
ManyrefugeesfromSyriatransitthroughJordan,Turkey,orLebanonontheirwaytotheWest.
DonaldTrumphascalledforabanonallMuslimimmigration,butsaidintheseconddebatehisplanhad
"morphedintoanextremevettingfromcertainareasoftheworld".

'Open borders' dream


MrsClinton'snewfoundoppositiontotradedealscontradictsremarksshemadeina2013paidspeechto
BrazilianbankBancoItau.
Shesaid:"Mydreamisahemisphericcommonmarket,withopentradeandopenborders,sometimeinthe
futurewithenergythatisasgreenandsustainableaswecangetit,poweringgrowthandopportunityfor
everypersoninthehemisphere."
Criticsseizeduponthoseremarks,pointingtoMrTrump'sfrequenttalkingpointthat"withoutaborder,we
justdon'thaveacountry".
MrsClintonreportedlyearnedover$26mforspeechesshegaveafterleavingtheStateDepartment.

Keystone XL pipeline
SeveralClintonaidesdiscusswhatpoliticalopiniontheircandidateshouldtakeonthecontroversialenergy
pipelineknownasKeystoneXL.
InMay2015ClintoncampaignmanagerRobbyMookpointedtoareportthattheClintonFoundationhad
receivedmoneyfromoneoftheproject'sbackers,emailingthat"theenvirosmaylatchontothisgoing
forward.HavewediscussedwhenshewillcomeoutagainstKeystone?"
HealsoasksiftheyshouldwaituntilafterPresidentObamavetoesthepipeline,whichhedidinNovember
2015.MrsClintonannouncedheroppositioninSeptember.
Whenshewasaskedin2010aboutwhenthepipelinewouldbeapproved,thethensecretaryofstatesaid
theanalysiswasnotyetcomplete,"butweareinclined"toapprovetheproject.
Criticssaidhersubsequentoppositiontothepipelinewasa"flipflop".

Chelsea Clinton a 'brat'


DougBand,alongtimepersonalaidetoBillClinton,complainedthatChelseaClintonwasmeddlinginhis
consultingfirm,wheretheformerpresidentservedasapaidadviser,andalsointerferingwithhisworkat
theClintonFoundation.
Ina2011email,hewrote"sheisactinglikeaspoiledbratkidwhohasnothingelsetodobutcreateissues
tojustifywhatshe'sdoingbecauseshe,asshehassaid,hasn'tfoundherwayandhasalackoffocusinher
life".
ChelseaClinton,36,hadrecentlytakenaroleattheClintonFoundation,andhadcomplainedinemailsthat
MrBand'sconsultancywascontactingmembersoftheBritishParliament"onbehalfofPresidentClinton".

'Needy Latinos and 1 easy call'


That'sthesubjectlineofanAugust2015emailsentbyMrPodestatoHillaryClintonandoneherclosest
aides,HumaAbedin.
MrPodesta'semailsuggeststhatMrsClintonreachouttoformerNewMexicoGovernorBillRichardson
andformerEnergySecretaryFedericoPenatoaskfortheirsupportduringherprimarycampaign.
MrPodestaalsousesaprofanetermtorefertoGovRichardson,whohadimpliedinanearlieremailthathe
wouldrequireaphonecallinordertoprovidehissupport.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37639370

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