Dr. Patrick Slattery’s News Roundup
A service of DavidDuke.com
From Russia Today
Syria would be fully under ISIS control if not for Russia – Serbian president
Published time: 8 Mar, 2016 06:46
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic © Lintao Zhang / Reuters
Serbia’s president has praised Russian efforts in fighting terrorists in Syria, saying that if Moscow hadn’t intervened, the Middle Eastern country would have ceased to exist as a sovereign state. The statement comes in stark contrast to NATO’s assessment of the situation.
Tomislav Nikolic emphasized the need for Russian military involvement in Syria, stating that “If it [Russia] didn’t intervene, Syria would be a country of the so-called Islamic State [IS, ISIS/ISIL],” in an interview with TASS on Tuesday.
The Serbian leader was quoted as saying that the Russian military is essential to protecting peace in Syria and countering the jihadist threat, which might spread globally and affect other countries, including Russia, if not contained at this stage.
“Russia should be in the military aspect involved in the protection of Syria at the request from Syria, as it would mean protection from terrorism, and it is much better to be protected from it in Syria than in Russia,” he added, pointing out that the strategy employed by the Russian government is in fact akin to that of the US, which on numerous occasions has used its forces to fight terror overseas.
Click here for the full story
From Ynet News
The submarine, the Mossad and the German quagmire
German TV reports that Mossad agents’ cover was blown by a retiree after their car got stuck in mud.
On January 12 of this year, the president, the prime minister, the chief of staff, and the commander of the navy attended a ceremony to mark the arrival of the German-made INS Rahav submarine. During his speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for “strengthening (Israel’s) maritime forces.”
Newly revealed information brought to light an embarrassing incident during the submarine’s delivery.
On December 17 of 2015, NDR, a German television station, revealed that two Mossad agents had been sent to secure and accompany the INS Rahav on its journey to Israel from a shipyard in Kiel through the Northeast Passage and open seas.
According to the NDR report, the two agents drove to the town of Quarnbek, located along the Northeast passage. On their way to the sea, they encountered a locked fence with a sign reading “no entry.” They disregarded the sign, picked the lock, and proceeded to the sea. However, after driving a few meters, their Ford Focus became mired in the muddy road. The agents tried to extract the vehicle from the mud, but failed despite their best efforts.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
‘Apartheid’ fence in Jerusalem would cut off 200,000 Palestinians
Published time: 9 Mar, 2016 15:15
Israeli policemen stand guard outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, near the scene where, according to a police spokesperson, a Palestinian woman tried to stab Israeli border policemen, March 8, 2016. © Ronen Zvulun / Reuters
A proposal by so-called “left-wing” Israeli politicians to build a fence across Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem, cutting off 200,000 Palestinians, has been compared to South African apartheid.
Former Israeli MP Haim Ramon is leading the media campaign for “annexation” – and his proposal to construct a new wall through the heart of Jerusalem has been condemned by human rights activists.
Writing in the New York Times, Israeli journalist Isabel Kershner said the move undermined any attempts for peace and would simply “aim to satisfy a majority of Israeli Jews”.
“Kicked off with advertisements under the heading ‘Saving Jewish Jerusalem,’ the campaign’s almost jingoistic tone seems intended to appeal to the broadest Jewish constituency. Instead it has been rejected at both ends of the political spectrum as well as by Palestinian leaders,” she wrote.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
‘Unprepared and disunited’: Russia’s immigration chief lashes out at Europe over migration
Published time: 9 Mar, 2016 05:05
Refugees and migrants walk after disembarking from the passenger ferry Blue Star 1 at the port of Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, March 8, 2016. © Michalis Karagiannis / Reuters
Konstantin Romodanovsky, the head of Russia’s Federal Migration Service, has criticized the EU for failing to anticipate the flood of migrants over the past year, telling RT that Russia is taking a different approach to its numerous refugees from Ukraine.
“The EU does not have a common position on this issue. Some nations are quite liberal and say migrants are welcome there, while others, on the contrary, don’t want any migrants and are building walls on their borders,” the 59-year-old official, who has held his post since 2005, said in a sit-down interview.
Refugees and migrants wait to cross the Greek-Macedonian border, near the village of Idomeni, Greece March 5, 2016. © Alexandros Avramidis / Reuters
“The European Commission left it up to individual nations to decide how they want to treat asylum seekers – despite the fact that the policies and the capabilities of the member states are very different. The EU does not have an effective system for registering incoming migrants or effective mechanisms for deporting illegal immigrants.”
Romodanovsky believes that Europe was caught “unprepared,” as it had never formed a coherent or evidence-based approach to migrants, or a common vision of how they would fit into modern Western society.
Click here for the full story
From Ynet News
Shin Bet man killed in operational accident near Gaza border
At first it was thought that Amir Maymoni, 28, was hit by Hamas gunfire, but Shin Bet Chief Yoram Cohen confirmed Wednesday evening that he was killed by friendly fire
The shooting death of Shin Bet operative Amir Maymoni Tuesday during operational activity near the Gaza Strip border was first thought to be the result of terrorist fire, however, Shin Bet Chief Yoram Cohen confirmed Wednesday evening that the he was killed by friendly fire.
The circumstances of Maymoni’s death are being investigated, with authorities currently presuming the cause of death to be either an accidental discharge or friendly fire.
Click here for the full story
From Ynet News
Biden criticizes PA for not condemning terrorism
The US Vice President, in a joint conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘condemns the failure to condemn these acts’. Biden’s wife and kids were eating ‘100 meters or 1000 meters’ from where the attack took place. US Vice President Joe Biden criticized the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday for not condemning the terror attack that took the life of an American citizen, at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Let me say in no uncertain terms: The United States of America condemns these acts and condemns the failure to condemn these acts. This cannot become an accepted modus operandi,” Biden said during the conference.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
In Jerusalem, Biden criticizes those who fail to condemn terror attacks in Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA) — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Jerusalem appeared to criticize the Palestinian Authority and some in the international community for not condemning terror attacks in Israel.
“Let me say in no uncertain terms: The U.S. condemns these acts and condemns the failure to condemn them,” Biden said Wednesday morning after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “This cannot become an accepted modus opperendi.
“This cannot be viewed by civilized people as an appropriate way to behave. It is just not tolerable in the 21st century. They’re targeting innocent civilians, mothers, pregnant women, teenagers, grandfathers, American citizens. There can be no justification for this hateful violence, and the United States stands firmly behind Israel when it defends itself as we are defending ourselves at this moment as well.”
Click here for the full story
From PressTV
Turkey’s FM: Ankara can’t force refugees back to war, terror
Faced with widespread criticism, Turkey says it has no intention to send asylum seekers back to conflict zones under a potential agreement with the European Union aimed at stemming the flow of refugees into Europe.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu of Turkey declared Ankara’s stance at a news conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Wednesday, after a meeting between foreign, interior and justice ministers of Turkey and Belgium.
Cavusoglu said Ankara is willing to cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ease the refugee crisis.
“We want to do this in compliance with human rights. Of course we cannot forcibly send people back to war and terror,” the Turkish foreign minister stated.
The remarks by the Turkish official comes despite the fact that on March 7, the Turkish government proposed to take back all those refugees who cross into Europe from its soil in return for more money, faster EU membership talks and quicker visa-free travel. European Union leaders also welcomed the initiative.
Elsewhere in his comments, the top Turkish diplomat defended the deal as the best way to discourage irregular refugees and fight smuggling rings taking people on perilous journeys across the Aegean Sea to Greece.
The UN and human rights groups have warned that such a deal may violate the refugees’ right to protection under international law.
Cavusoglu said, “The European Union seems to have accepted many elements of this deal. But there are differences in terms of meeting our demands. We will continue to work on that in the coming days.”
Turkey is the main launching point for asylum seekers who have made the dangerous crossing into Europe.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Asia pivot: Aussies may host US long-range bombers, incl. nuclear-capable B-1
Published time: 9 Mar, 2016 09:07
© Reuters
The US is negotiating a plan with Australia to rotate long-range bombers and tankers, including the nuclear-capable B-1 bomber. Last year Australia denied a US official said such plans were in motion.
“We’re in the process of talking about rotational forces, bombers and tankers out of Australia and it gives us the opportunity to train with Australia,” Commander of US Pacific Air Forces, General Lori Robinson, told journalists in Canberra as cited by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“It gives us the opportunity to strengthen the ties we already have with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and it gives the opportunity to train our pilots to understand the theater and how important it is to strengthen our ties with our great allies, the RAAF,” she added.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Russian FM spokeswoman slams US State Dept on Ukrainian pilot Savchenko
Published time: 9 Mar, 2016 05:37
Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova © Alexey Kudenko / Sputnik
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has accused the US State Department of attempting to influence a Russian court’s decision in the case of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko.
Zakharova questioned the authenticity of the statement attributed to US Secretary of State Kerry, in which he called for Savchenko to be freed “under the Minsk agreements.” The spokeswoman pointed out that the agreements on the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine do not cover cases such as that of Savchenko’s, who stands accused of complicity in the deaths of two Russian journalists, killed by Ukrainian artillery fire she allegedly directed.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Prestigious London university’s student board passes Israel boycott motion
(JTA) — The board of the student union at the prestigious University College London passed a nonbinding motion endorsing the anti-Israel boycott movement.
Student union officers on Wednesday passed the motion supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, by a vote of 14-4, The Jewish News of London reported. There were three abstentions.
The measure said: “As students, we have a responsibility towards ensuring that the Palestinians receive and maintain the human rights they are entitled to. We can do this by actively supporting the BDS movement.”
University College, which was No. 7 in the latest QS rankings of the world’s universities, had not put out a statement in response to the vote.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Mexican president likens Donald Trump to Hitler
(JTA) — President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico compared the rhetoric of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to that of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and said it has hurt U.S.-Mexico relations.
Pena Nieto’s comments, published in Monday’s edition of the Mexico City-based Excelsior newspaper, are among the most critical public comments to date of the New York billionaire by a foreign leader.
Trump has sparked outrage in Mexico with his campaign vow to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to keep out illegal immigrants and drugs, and to make Mexico pay for the construction. He also accused Mexico of sending rapists and drug runners across the border, and vowed to increase fees on some Mexican visas and all border crossing cards to help make Mexico pay for the proposed wall.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Bernie Sanders: ‘Level playing field’ needed in Israeli-Arab peace brokering
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Bernie Sanders, speaking in an Arab-American stronghold, said he would aim for a “level playing field” in U.S. Middle East policy.
Sanders, an Independent senator from Vermont bidding for the Democratic presidential nomination, said at a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, on Monday that brokering Israeli-Arab peace is daunting.
“For decades now there has been hatred and warfare in the Middle East, everybody knows it,” he said. “We’ve had some presidents — Carter, Clinton others — who have tried to their best to resolve it.
“All I can tell you is I will make every single effort to bring rational people on both sides together so that hopefully we can have a level playing field, the United States treating everybody in that region equally.” The crowd erupted in applause.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Japanese court orders shutdown of nuclear reactors over ‘insufficient upgrades’
Published time: 9 Mar, 2016 13:42
An aerial view shows No. 4 (front L), No. 3 (front R), No. 2 (rear L) and No. 1 reactor buildings at Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Takahama nuclear power plant in Takahama town, Fukui prefecture. © Kyodo / Reuters
A Japanese court has issued an unprecedented order to stop the operation of a nuclear reactor near Kyoto. It also ordered a second reactor to stay offline, stating that neither had been sufficiently upgraded since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The order from Otsu District Court requires Kansai Electric Power Co. to shut down the No. 3 reactor and keep the No. 4 unit offline at the Takahama plant in Fukui prefecture, western Japan.
According to the court, the emergency response plans and equipment designs at the two reactors were not properly upgraded after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, AP reported.
Click here for the full story
