– 438 Ukrainian Troops Seek Asylum In Russia; Government Passes “War Tax” (ZeroHedge, Aug 5, 2014)
Infinite
Former Israeli Ambassador Suddenly ‘Loses Audio’ When Asked About Kerry Spying (Video)
Published on Aug 5, 2014
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren experienced a convenient technical glitch when asked Monday about a sensitive subject.
After MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell asked Oren about suspicions that Israel eavesdropped on Secretary of State John Kerry during his attempt to mediate peace negotiations last year, Oren said he couldn’t hear Mitchell’s question.
Here Comes Snowden 2.0 … And How The Government Determines If You Are A ‘Terrorist Threat’
– Here Comes Snowden 2.0… And How The Government Determines If You Are A “Terrorist Threat” (ZeroHedge, Aug 5, 2014
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Not even Orwell could have foreseen the government waging such an open propaganda war…
In the meantime, don’t be cyncial of the world’s most “transparent” administration: be hopeful; after all you still haven’t been killed for a crime you never committed.
Putin Orders Preparation Of Retaliatory Sanctions, Expands Trade With Iran
– Putin asks government to develop countermeasures to Western sanctions (RT, Aug 5, 2014):
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged his government to come up with countermeasures to Western sanctions imposed against Russia over the Ukrainian conflict.
Putin stressed that Moscow’s response should be “cautious.”
“Obviously we need to do it cautiously in order to support domestic manufacturers, but not hurt consumers,” he said on Tuesday.
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– Putin Orders Preparation Of Retaliatory Sanctions, Expands Trade With Iran (ZeroHedge, Aug 5, 2014):
As we warned previously, it appears Russia is stepping up its sanctions-retaliation confirming its threat that “US will feel tangible losses.”
- *PUTIN ORDERS GOVT TO PREPARE RETALIATORY SANCTIONS: RIA
- *PUTIN ORDERS GOVT TO READY STEPS IN RESPONSE TO SANCTIONS: IFX
- *PUTIN: RETALIATORY MEASURES SHOULDN’T HURT RUSSIA CONSUMERS:IFX
Russian stocks and currency are sliding this morning, not helped by this announcement. Of course, Putin has already put pressure on major US companies such as MSFT, IBM, MCD, INTC, AMD, and car manufacturers. And as far as “isolation” – the signing of a 5-year trade agreement with Iran would suggest there are still plenty of nations willing to work with Putin.
* * *
It seems Putin is comiong through with his promise:
Read morePutin Orders Preparation Of Retaliatory Sanctions, Expands Trade With Iran
No Fly Zone: Russia Plans Airspace Blockade For European Flyovers In Sanction Retaliation
– No Fly Zone: Russia Plans Airspace Blockade For European Flyovers In Sanction Retaliation (ZeroHedge, Aug 5, 2014):
Russia has been quiet, too quiet, since the EU and US unleashed their latest set of sanctions. However, as military drills and troop build-ups occur on Ukraine’s borders, Reuters reports that Russian Prime Minister Medvedev is considering a significant retaliation, “any unfriendly measures by the EU, including those in the area of air transportation, we’ll be studied and won’t remain without a response.” Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals by restricting or banning European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes. Costs? Over $1.3bn for every months for Lufthansa, BA, and Air France…
Read moreNo Fly Zone: Russia Plans Airspace Blockade For European Flyovers In Sanction Retaliation
UK Minister Resigns Over ‘Morally Indefensible’ Gaza Policy
UK Foreign Office minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi
– UK minister resigns over ‘morally indefensible’ Gaza policy (RT, Aug 5, 2014):
UK Foreign Office minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has resigned from government, saying she can “no longer support” its policy on Gaza.
She told her Twitter followers that she was leaving with “deep regret”. She was previously chairman of the Conservative Party.
Lady Warsi became the first female Muslim cabinet minister when David Cameron took office in 2010. She was demoted from the cabinet to a middle-ranking FCO post in 2012 and became minister for faith and communities at the same time.
She tweeted on Tuesday morning: “With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister & tendered my resignation. I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza.”
With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister & tendered my resignation. I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza
— Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) August 5, 2014
She grew up in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, as one of five daughters of Pakistani immigrants. After studying at Leeds University she later worked for the Crown Prosecution Service before setting up her own legal practice.
In her resignation later she said the government’s current stance on Gaza is “morally indefensible, is not in Britain’s national interest and will have a long term effect on our reputation internationally and domestically”.
Lady Warsi also claimed there is “great unease” in the Foreign Office over “the way recent decisions are being made”.
Read moreUK Minister Resigns Over ‘Morally Indefensible’ Gaza Policy
David Stockman: The Collapse Of The American Imperium (Video)
Published on Aug 3, 2014
Full description and discussion at: http://www.peakprosperity.com/podcast…
David Stockman, former director of the OMB under President Reagan, former US Representative, best-selling author of The Great Deformation, and veteran financier is an insider’s insider. Few people understand the ways in which Washington DC, The Fed, and Wall Street work and intersect better than he does.
He’s extremely concerned by the “perfect storm” he sees of concurrent failures in US policy across foreign, monetary, economic, and fiscal fronts.
Second Ebola Patient Arrives In US: Complete Ebola News Summary
– Second Ebola Patient Arrives In US: Complete Ebola News Summary (Zerohedge, Aug 5, 2014):
All the latest news on the worst Ebola epidemic in history, sourced over the past 24 hours.
- Second Ebola patient to arrive in U.S. on Tuesday
- Saudi Arabia Tests Man Suspected of Having Ebola
- Philippines monitoring 15 Filipinos from West Africa for Ebola
- Emirates, the world’s largest airline by international traffic, is scrapping West African route in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak
- Liberia orders Ebola victims’ bodies to be cremated
- U.S. govt played role in drug given to aid workers
- Results from blood test of Ebola suspect held at Mt Sinai expected in 24 to 48 hours
- Experimental Ebola drug made from tobacco used to treat two infected Americans
- Saudi Arabia Bans Haj Pilgrims From Ebola Hit Countries
- World Bank pledges $200m to fight Ebola
- Ebola has infected public discourse with a new xenophobia
- Development banks, U.S. increase support for Ebola-hit countries
- The best way to treat Ebola patients who return to America
- Latest WHO death toll: 887
Another Settlement: JPMorgan Receives Slap on the Wrist Despite Years of Fraudulent CFTC Data
– Another Settlement – JP Morgan Receives Slap on the Wrist Despite Years of Fraudulent CFTC Data (Liberty Blitzkrieg, Aug 4, 2014):
The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has been long viewed as one of the most corrupt of American institutions – and that’s saying a lot. Putting aside all the accusations with regard to silver manipulation in recent years, the most stunning controversy occurred back in 2010 when a retiring judge accused the other remaining judge of being a total bought and paid for Wall Street crony.
The retiring judge was George Painter, who accused fellow judge Bruce Levine of not once ever ruling in favor of an investor in his 20 years on the bench. Not only that, but he claimed this was the result of a promise Levine made to Wendy Gramm, the former head of the CFTC and the wife of Phil Gramm. Phil Gramm was the Congressman who spearheaded the repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1999, which is seen by many (including myself) as one of the most catastrophic pieces of legislation in American history since it laid the groundwork for the financial crisis of 2008, as well as the continued cancerous permanence and power of TBTF banks. FiredogLake covered the CFTC controversy in 2010:
US Government Caught Using Humanitarian HIV Program as a Front to Foster Cuban Dissent
– U.S. Government Caught Using Humanitarian HIV Program as a Front to Foster Cuban Dissent (Liberty Blitzkrieg, Aug 4, 2014):
Regular readers of Liberty Blitzkrieg will recall that earlier this year I highlighted how the U.S. government covertly created a “Cuban Twitter” called ZunZuneo in a failed attempt to overthrow the island nation’s regime. The elaborate plot was implemented under the umbrella of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is responsible for overseeing billions of dollars in U.S. humanitarian aid. If you need a refresher, check out the post: Conspiracy Fact – How the U.S. Government Covertly Invented a “Cuban Twitter” to Create Revolution.
Well we now know that USAID went a lot further than that. Another scheme to unseat the Cuban government has now been revealed. This time with even more immoral foundations, and which could disrupt genuine humanitarian relief efforts the world over.
Incredibly, the U.S. government used an HIV program as a front to foster dissent amongst Cuba’s youth. The HIV-prevention workshop was even referred to as the “perfect excuse to recruit political activists.” Despicable.
From the Washington Post:
Read moreUS Government Caught Using Humanitarian HIV Program as a Front to Foster Cuban Dissent
Ron Paul: Why Won’t Obama Just Leave Ukraine Alone?
– Why Won’t Obama Just Leave Ukraine Alone? (The Ron Paul Institute, Aug 3, 2014):
by Ron Paul
President Obama announced last week that he was imposing yet another round of sanctions on Russia, this time targeting financial, arms, and energy sectors. The European Union, as it has done each time, quickly followed suit.
These sanctions will not produce the results Washington demands, but they will hurt the economies of the US and EU, as well as Russia.
Read moreRon Paul: Why Won’t Obama Just Leave Ukraine Alone?
“The US Is Bankrupt” … “We Now Await The Cramdown”
– US is Bankrupt: $89.5 Trillion in US Liabilities vs. $82 Trillion in Household Net Worth & The Gap is Growing. We Now Await the Nature of the Cramdown. (Biderman’s Money, Aug 4, 2014):
There are many ways to look at the United States government debt, obligations, and assets. Liabilities include Treasury debt held by the public or more broadly total Treasury debt outstanding. There’s unfunded liabilities like Medicare and Social Security. And then the assets of all the real estate, all the equities, all the bonds, all the deposits…all at today’s valuations. But let’s cut straight to the bottom line and add it all up…$89.5 trillion in liabilities and $82 trillion in assets. There. It’s not a secret anymore…and although these are all government numbers, for some strange reason the government never adds them all together or explains them…but we will.
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ISIL Leader Al-Baghdadi Is Mossad Agent Simon Elliot
Simon Elliot, aka Al-Baghdadi, son of Jewish parents, Mossad agent
– French Report ISIL Leader Mossad Agent (Veterans Today, Aug 4, 2014):
In French
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, so-called ”Caliph,” the head of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant is, according to sources reputed to originate from Edward Snowden, an actor named Elliot Shimon, a Mossad trained operative.
Simon Elliot (Elliot Shimon) aka Al-Baghdadi was born of two Jewish parents and is a Mossad agent.
We offer below three translations that want to assert that the Caliph Al-Baghdadi is a full Mossad agent and that he was born Jewish father and mother:
The real name of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is “Simon Elliott.”
The so-called “Elliot” was recruited by the Israeli Mossad and was trained in espionage and psychological warfare against Arab and Islamic societies.
This information was attributed to Edward Snowden and published by newspapers and other Web sites: the head of the “Islamic State” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has cooperated with the U.S. Secret Service, British and Israel to create an organization capable of attracting terrorist extremists from around the world.
Read moreISIL Leader Al-Baghdadi Is Mossad Agent Simon Elliot
You Know It’s Bad When … Afghanistan To Surpass USA In Vote Counting Integrity
– Afghanistan to Surpass USA in Vote Counting Integrity (Washington’s Blog, Aug 5, 2014)
Germans Say MH17 Shot Down by Ukie Migs: Shocking Analysis of the ‘Shooting Down’ of Malaysian MH17
– Germans Say MH17 Shot Down by Ukie Migs (Veterans Today, Aug 4, 2014):
Shocking Analysis of the ‘Shooting Down’ of Malaysian MH17
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De-Dollarization Continues: Russian Oligarchs Shift Cash To Hong Kong Dollars On Sanctions Concerns
– De-Dollarization Continues: Russian Oligarchs Shift Cash To Hong Kong Dollars On Sanctions Concerns (ZeroHedge, Aug 4, 2014):
Last week we noted the very significant activity by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority as it bought USDollars in size to support its peg. It appears we have found at least one smoking gun for why they were forced to do this. In what appears to be another sanctions-blowback, Russian oligarchs are de-dollarizing their cash holdings and shifting to Hong Kong Dollars. As Bloomberg reports, various Russian entities are shifting up to 40% of their cash to HKD. “Keeping money in Hong Kong dollars is essentially equivalent to keeping it in U.S. dollars because of the currency peg,” notes BofA’s Vladimir Osakovskiy, adding “for Russian companies it’s still much safer from the standpoint of sanctions.”
China Warns “What We Do Or Don’t Do [In The South China Sea] Is Up To Us, Noone Else”
– China Warns “What We Do Or Don’t Do [In The South China Sea] Is Up To Us, Noone Else” (ZeroHedge, Aug 4, 2014):
Having spied on RIMPAC for a week or two, it appears the Chinese imperialist rhetoric is rising once again. China can build whatever it wants on its islands in the South China Sea, Reuters reports a senior Chinese official said on Monday, rejecting proposals ahead of a key regional meeting to freeze any activity that may raise tensions in disputed waters there: “what China does or doesn’t do is up to the Chinese government. Nobody can change the government’s position.” Of course, after showing what is at stake here, it should hardly be surprising that China is pushing back again. But don’t worry, China’s Ocean Affairs minister added “trust in us Asian people to use Asian means and wisdom to resolve our own problems.”
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Israeli High Court: Israeli Soldiers Used Palestinians as Human Shields 1,200 Times
Related info:
– Debunking The Claim That Palestinians Use Civilians As ‘Human Shields’
– Israeli High Court: Israeli Soldiers Used Palestinians as Human Shields 1,200 Times (Washington’s Blog, Aug 4, 2014):
Israelis frequently accuse Palestinians of using human shields.
That claim is highly questionable.
However, in 2005, the Israeli high court found that Israeli soldiers had used Palestinian civilians as human shields 1,200 times in the past 5 years. As Ynet reported at the time:
Read moreIsraeli High Court: Israeli Soldiers Used Palestinians as Human Shields 1,200 Times
Ebola Outbreak That Every American Needs To Know
– Ebola Outbreak That Every American Needs To Know (Economic Collapse, Aug 3, 2014)
Airplanes could be taken over through inflight entertainment systems, hacker claims
– Airplanes could be taken over through inflight entertainment systems, hacker claims (RT, Aug 4, 2014):
A security researcher says that ships, aircraft and industrial facilities are all at risk of being compromised — perhaps with catastrophic results — and intends to explain how at a major hacker conference this week.
Ruben Santamarta, a 32-year-old consultant for cyber security firm IOActive, is expected to present a talk titled “SATCOM Terminals: Hacking by Air, Sea and Land” on Thursday at the annual Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, and during it he plans to demonstrate how satellite communications systems used by the likes of commercial airliners and oil rigs alike can be infiltrated by malicious actors and altered to let unauthorized attackers take control.
Read moreAirplanes could be taken over through inflight entertainment systems, hacker claims
Argentina: The Default Is A Minor Problem – Real Problem Is Something Else Entirely
– Argentina – the Economic Backdrop to the Default (Acting Man, Aug 4, 2014):
The Default is a Minor Problem – Argentina’s Real Problem is Something Else Entirely
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Informant admits he lied about confession that got Texan executed
– Informant admits he lied about confession that got Texan executed (RT, Aug 4, 2014):
Johnny E. Webb, the informer who testified more than 20 years ago that Cameron Todd Willingham murdered his own children, now says his testimony was coaxed by a prosecutor and wealthy Texas rancher who promised to reduce his prison sentence.
Willingham was convicted by former Navarro County prosecutor John H. Jackson and sentenced to death for deliberately setting fire to his house in late 1991, killing his three young daughters in the process. Jackson has long maintained that he never made a deal with Webb in exchange for testimony against Willingham.
Read moreInformant admits he lied about confession that got Texan executed
Lies For Empire
– Lies for Empire (Ludwig von Mises Insitute Canada, July 29, 2014):
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The world is no safer than it was when the War on Terror began. Some of the Middle East’s most brutal dictators were removed from power, but radical jihadists have filled the vacuum of authority. Men and women are still coming home in caskets draped with Old Glory, or they come home mentally and physically debilitated. And for what exactly? If Smedley Butler was correct, and war is a racket, then there was another measure of success at work. And it sure wasn’t the promotion of universal democratic values. If empire can’t bring that, then there isn’t much of a point outside of domination. In other words, somebody benefits from imperium, and it’s not the average voter. Sooner or later the jig is up.