theduran--2020-01-02--The Great Russian Election Hacking Myth

The Great Russian Election Hacking Myth

The claim that Russia somehow interfered with the 2016 American Presidential election ( and was thereby responsible for the ascent of Donald Trump ) has been parroted incessantly by both the mainstream media and leading Democrats , including of course Hillary Clinton .
While many people believe this claim , Mrs Clinton doesn ’ t simply blame Russia for her election loss but the world and his dog , as can be seen from the above cartoon .
Though we are now in 2020 , many leading Democrats and a substantial tranche of the American media are still replaying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has switched to Ukraine , their pronouncements contain the same inference , namely that Trump is being assisted by foreigners , and should he triumph again in November , his Presidency will still be illegitimate .
What though is the evidence for Russian interference , and how was this interference carried out ?
The evidence , such as it is , is that a company/organisation called the Internet Research Agency paid for a number of advertisements on social media .
This evidence is compelling , although anyone who has seen these advertisements can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have influenced the election to Trump ’ s benefit .
Lee Camp has argued that the Internet Research Agency is nothing more than a troll farm that was generating memes in order to attract clients .
In view of the puerile nature of some of these advertisements , it is difficult to disagree with him .
In an earlier age , both the cinema and the Western press portrayed Russian agents as sinister and deadly men and women who would kill without conscience .
They travelled on professionally forged documents , used sophisticated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kremlin .
Are we now to believe James Bond ’ s deadliest enemy is a troll who sits behind a keyboard all day long hoping to dissuade people from voting Democrat by posting cartoons augmented by subtle propaganda ?
Apparently so .
There is also the little matter of the hacked e-mails , but these were not hacked from a US Government network , rather they were from John Podesta ’ s Gmail account , and one of Hillary Clinton ’ s accounts hosted by her ( illegal ) private server .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was effected by a phisher .
If you use e-mail a lot you ’ ll quite likely receive many such fake e-mails every week , although you may not notice those that are sent directly to your spam folder .
Mrs Clinton ’ s account was hacked by someone in China , possibly an agency of the Chinese Government , though it would be just as unfair to point the finger directly at Xi Jiping as at Vladimir Putin .
The other alleged hack was shown by William Binney to have been not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The probable culprit was Seth Rich , who was murdered July 10 , 2016 in strange circumstances .
Although claims about his murder have been dismissed as a conspiracy theory , any such theory is a lot more plausible than most of the garbage that has been peddled about Trump and the Kremlin .
Is it then possible that Russia or any other outside agent could have interfered with the elections in a more direct manner , and could perhaps do so again ?
The only way to do this would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It remains to be seen how this could be done , but as far as votes are tampered with at all , this appears to be a purely Democratic pastime .
In June last year , under pressure from Judicial Watch , California began a purge of up to a million and a half “ inactive ” voters from its rolls .
Why did it take a court action to compel this ?
Clearly because the people running this particular area – Los Angeles County – felt an unpurged roll was preferable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Republican Congressman for Los Angeles County ; all the others are Democrats .
Including Adam Schiff !
Only two of the Districts fourteen senators are Republicans .
While Russian interference with voting sounds and is extremely improbable , the actual hacking of American Government websites and those of commercial organisations is something that is done routinely by all manner of actors , not all of them hostile but clearly all of them unwelcome ( with one exception ) .
Here are a few examples : In March 1995 , a Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than Vladimir Putin was arrested at Stansted Airport on suspicion of hacking into Citibank and stealing money , a massive financial fraud .
He was eventually extradited to the United States where after a plea bargain he was sentenced to three years behind bars and ordered to pay restitution .
Scotsman Gary McKinnon hacked into no fewer than 97 US military and NASA computers over a thirteen month period in 2001–2002 .
He said he was looking for evidence of UFOs and other fringe subjects .
His was said to have been the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In October 2012 , the South Carolina Department Of Revenue was hacked ; this affected over three and a half million accounts .
In August 2013 , hackers targeted Yahoo .
Although based in the US , this Internet giant has branches worldwide .
According to a report by National Public Radio four years later , it was likely that every Yahoo !
account in existence at the time had been hacked .
Also in 2013 , the social network site Tumblr was hacked , which led to the compromise of over 65 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eBay was hacked , and 145 million users had their data compromised .
Navinder Singh Sarao was said to have helped trigger a multibillion dollar Wall Street crash .
The so-called Hound Of Hounslow was living with his parents at the time of his arrest in April 2015 .
Although not a hacker , he made ( and apparently lost ) millions by manipulating markets with a sophisticated computer program of his own design .
In October 2018 , digitaltrends dot com reported that a hack of the Pentagon had compromised the personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Has Rachel Maddow even mentioned this ?
Finally , the Pentagon is so aware of its vulnerability to hackers that in 2016 it invited people to hack into it – the one exception alluded to above .
The winner of the Hack The Pentagon Bounty Program was a teenager ; David Dworken received a share of $ 75,000 prize money .
All this tends to undermine the ludicrous claims of Rachel Maddow and her fellow cranks that Russia and Russia alone is any sort of threat to America cyber security .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The claim that Russia somehow interfered with the 2016 American Presidential election (and was thereby responsible for the ascent of Donald Trump) has been parroted incessantly by both the mainstream media and leading Democrats, including of course Hillary Clinton. While many people believe this claim, Mrs Clinton doesn’t simply blame Russia for her election loss but the world and his dog, as can be seen from the above cartoon.
Though we are now in 2020, many leading Democrats and a substantial tranche of the American media are still replaying the 2016 election, and if their attention has switched to Ukraine, their pronouncements contain the same inference, namely that Trump is being assisted by foreigners, and should he triumph again in November, his Presidency will still be illegitimate. What though is the evidence for Russian interference, and how was this interference carried out?
The evidence, such as it is, is that a company/organisation called the Internet Research Agency paid for a number of advertisements on social media. This evidence is compelling, although anyone who has seen these advertisements can only wonder how they were supposed to have influenced the election to Trump’s benefit. Lee Camp has argued that the Internet Research Agency is nothing more than a troll farm that was generating memes in order to attract clients. In view of the puerile nature of some of these advertisements, it is difficult to disagree with him.
In an earlier age, both the cinema and the Western press portrayed Russian agents as sinister and deadly men and women who would kill without conscience. They travelled on professionally forged documents, used sophisticated weapons, and were totally loyal to the Kremlin. Are we now to believe James Bond’s deadliest enemy is a troll who sits behind a keyboard all day long hoping to dissuade people from voting Democrat by posting cartoons augmented by subtle propaganda? Apparently so.
There is also the little matter of the hacked e-mails, but these were not hacked from a US Government network, rather they were from John Podesta’s Gmail account, and one of Hillary Clinton’s accounts hosted by her (illegal) private server. The hack of Podesta’s account was effected by a phisher. If you use e-mail a lot you’ll quite likely receive many such fake e-mails every week, although you may not notice those that are sent directly to your spam folder. Mrs Clinton’s account was hacked by someone in China, possibly an agency of the Chinese Government, though it would be just as unfair to point the finger directly at Xi Jiping as at Vladimir Putin.
The other alleged hack was shown by William Binney to have been not a hack but a leak of information. The probable culprit was Seth Rich, who was murdered July 10, 2016 in strange circumstances. Although claims about his murder have been dismissed as a conspiracy theory, any such theory is a lot more plausible than most of the garbage that has been peddled about Trump and the Kremlin.
Is it then possible that Russia or any other outside agent could have interfered with the elections in a more direct manner, and could perhaps do so again? The only way to do this would be to tamper with the vote count electronically. It remains to be seen how this could be done, but as far as votes are tampered with at all, this appears to be a purely Democratic pastime. In June last year, under pressure from Judicial Watch, California began a purge of up to a million and a half “inactive” voters from its rolls. Why did it take a court action to compel this? Clearly because the people running this particular area – Los Angeles County – felt an unpurged roll was preferable to a purged one. Kevin McCarthy is the Republican Congressman for Los Angeles County; all the others are Democrats. Including Adam Schiff! Only two of the Districts fourteen senators are Republicans.
While Russian interference with voting sounds and is extremely improbable, the actual hacking of American Government websites and those of commercial organisations is something that is done routinely by all manner of actors, not all of them hostile but clearly all of them unwelcome (with one exception).
Here are a few examples:
In March 1995, a Russian by the name of Vladimir Levin rather than Vladimir Putin was arrested at Stansted Airport on suspicion of hacking into Citibank and stealing money, a massive financial fraud. He was eventually extradited to the United States where after a plea bargain he was sentenced to three years behind bars and ordered to pay restitution.
Scotsman Gary McKinnon hacked into no fewer than 97 US military and NASA computers over a thirteen month period in 2001–2002. He said he was looking for evidence of UFOs and other fringe subjects. His was said to have been the biggest military hack of all time.
In October 2012, the South Carolina Department Of Revenue was hacked; this affected over three and a half million accounts.
In August 2013, hackers targeted Yahoo. Although based in the US, this Internet giant has branches worldwide. According to a report by National Public Radio four years later, it was likely that every Yahoo! account in existence at the time had been hacked.
Also in 2013, the social network site Tumblr was hacked, which led to the compromise of over 65 million passwords.
In May 2014, eBay was hacked, and 145 million users had their data compromised.
Navinder Singh Sarao was said to have helped trigger a multibillion dollar Wall Street crash. The so-called Hound Of Hounslow was living with his parents at the time of his arrest in April 2015. Although not a hacker, he made (and apparently lost) millions by manipulating markets with a sophisticated computer program of his own design.
In October 2018, digitaltrends dot com reported that a hack of the Pentagon had compromised the personal information of over thirty thousand staff. Has Rachel Maddow even mentioned this?
Finally, the Pentagon is so aware of its vulnerability to hackers that in 2016 it invited people to hack into it – the one exception alluded to above. The winner of the Hack The Pentagon Bounty Program was a teenager; David Dworken received a share of $75,000 prize money.
All this tends to undermine the ludicrous claims of Rachel Maddow and her fellow cranks that Russia and Russia alone is any sort of threat to American cyber security.
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theduran--2020-01-02--Putin Reminds the West: Those Who Ignore History Are Doomed to Repeat it

President Putin recently stirred up a hornets nest by reminding the western nations of their own complicity in supporting the rise of Nazism long before the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed on August 23 , 1939 .
What was this hornets ’ nest exactly ?
Between December 19 and 24 , Putin responded on several occasions to the dangerous revival of fascism sweeping across Europe by calling out the Polish Ambassador to Germany Józef Lipski ( 1934-1939 ) as “ scum and an anti-Semitic pig , there is no other way of describing him… He shared Hitler ’ s anti-Semitic sentiment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a monument in Warsaw for the persecution of the Jewish people.
” Putin spoke these words largely to point out a major hypocrisy which has taken the form of a European Parliament Resolution which was introduced on September 17 calling for European states to officially recognize that the 1939 Russian-German non-aggression treaty ( called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact ) was the singular cause of World War II !
The current Polish government has proven to be one of the loudest supporters of this bill which is especially dangerous as it is also one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti ballistic missile ( ABM ) shield in its territory as part of the military doctrine of “ Full Spectrum Dominance ” under the Military Industrial utopians of NATO and the American deep state .
Putin reminded his listeners that true blame for the war should be found in those European powers that had already created non-aggression pacts with Hitler long before Russia , beginning with the 1938 Munich Agreement between France , England and Germany permitting the later to carve up Czechoslovakia .
To this point , Putin said : “ Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can see that the Munich Agreement was signed in 1938 : the leaders of key European countries – France and the United Kingdom – signed an agreement with Hitler to divide Czechoslovakia.
” The Russian leader went onto say “ It is people like those who negotiated with Hitler – it is people like that who today are tearing down monuments to the liberating warriors , the Red Army soldiers who freed Europe and the European people from the Nazis.
” Putin ’ s reference to “ tearing down monuments ” pointed directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most enthusiastic annihilator of pro-Soviet WW2 monuments over the past 30 years .
Since 1989 , hundreds of such monuments have been torn down and although 200 still remain , their future is very questionable as anti-Russian sentiment has reached an all-time high .
Other former Warsaw Pact nations which have followed suit in the destruction of pro-Russian monuments in recent years include the neo-Nazi ridden state of Ukraine , the Czech Republic and Bulgaria .
Now I ’ d add one more uncomfortable fact that Putin ’ s warnings have raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the pro-Nazi policies coming from England and France were not unique in the years preceding WW2 .
The fact is that eugenics as a racist quasi-science had attained a near religious adherence across much of the western political and scientific establishment of the west during the 1920s and 1930s with leading adherents across England such as Sir Winston Churchill , British Fascists Sir Oswald Mosley and King Edward VIII boasting the importance of the “ purification of the race ” .
Churchill had called Mussolini “ the greatest lawgiver among men ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were England to suffer a national disaster she should pray to God to send a man of the strength of mind and will of an Adolph Hitler ” .
France ’ s Vichy regime had embraced eugenics under the leadership of rabidly anti-Semitic Field Marshall Petain who was all too happy to collaborate with the Nazis at the first opportunity .
It is too easily forgotten that even Germany ’ s sterilization laws were modeled on American and Canadian eugenics laws that had already been active for decades .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west that Rockefeller/Carnegie Foundations had poured money into Western Universities and German Universities alike since 1912 in a bid to legitimize the “ science of racial purification ” which was really just a cover for “ population control ” .
Lastly , let ’ s not forget that the same Wall Street and City of London Banks which today are pushing for a global fascist world government had enthusiastically poured fortunes into fascist war coffers during the decade preceding WWII .
So when Putin calls out the hypocrisy of western nations blinded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not so much concerned about the past , in as much as he knows that those who ignore their true history , are doomed to repeat it .
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review and has authored 3 volumes of ‘ Untold History of Canada ’ book series .
His works appear regularly on The Duran , Strategic Culture , Sott , Fort Russ , Zero Hedge , Global Times , L.A. Review of Books , LeSaker.fr , Vigile Quebec , South Front and Veterans Today .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2019 Matthew co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation .
He can be reached at [ email protected ]

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
President Putin recently stirred up a hornets nest by reminding the western nations of their own complicity in supporting the rise of Nazism long before the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed on August 23, 1939.
What was this hornets’ nest exactly?
Between December 19 and 24, Putin responded on several occasions to the dangerous revival of fascism sweeping across Europe by calling out the Polish Ambassador to Germany Józef Lipski (1934-1939) as “scum and an anti-Semitic pig, there is no other way of describing him… He shared Hitler’s anti-Semitic sentiment and moreover, he promised to erect a monument in Warsaw for the persecution of the Jewish people.”
Putin spoke these words largely to point out a major hypocrisy which has taken the form of a European Parliament Resolution which was introduced on September 17 calling for European states to officially recognize that the 1939 Russian-German non-aggression treaty (called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) was the singular cause of World War II! The current Polish government has proven to be one of the loudest supporters of this bill which is especially dangerous as it is also one of the most strategically-located NATO members hosting the anti ballistic missile (ABM) shield in its territory as part of the military doctrine of “Full Spectrum Dominance” under the Military Industrial utopians of NATO and the American deep state.
Putin reminded his listeners that true blame for the war should be found in those European powers that had already created non-aggression pacts with Hitler long before Russia, beginning with the 1938 Munich Agreement between France, England and Germany permitting the later to carve up Czechoslovakia. To this point, Putin said: “Let them read historical documents so that they can see that the Munich Agreement was signed in 1938: the leaders of key European countries – France and the United Kingdom – signed an agreement with Hitler to divide Czechoslovakia.”
The Russian leader went onto say “It is people like those who negotiated with Hitler – it is people like that who today are tearing down monuments to the liberating warriors, the Red Army soldiers who freed Europe and the European people from the Nazis.”
Putin’s reference to “tearing down monuments” pointed directly to Poland which has distinguished itself as the most enthusiastic annihilator of pro-Soviet WW2 monuments over the past 30 years. Since 1989, hundreds of such monuments have been torn down and although 200 still remain, their future is very questionable as anti-Russian sentiment has reached an all-time high. Other former Warsaw Pact nations which have followed suit in the destruction of pro-Russian monuments in recent years include the neo-Nazi ridden state of Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
Now I’d add one more uncomfortable fact that Putin’s warnings have raised: Poland’s pro-Nazi ambassadorial stance and the pro-Nazi policies coming from England and France were not unique in the years preceding WW2. The fact is that eugenics as a racist quasi-science had attained a near religious adherence across much of the western political and scientific establishment of the west during the 1920s and 1930s with leading adherents across England such as Sir Winston Churchill, British Fascists Sir Oswald Mosley and King Edward VIII boasting the importance of the “purification of the race”.
Churchill had called Mussolini “the greatest lawgiver among men” in 1933 and in 1938 stated “were England to suffer a national disaster she should pray to God to send a man of the strength of mind and will of an Adolph Hitler”.
France’s Vichy regime had embraced eugenics under the leadership of rabidly anti-Semitic Field Marshall Petain who was all too happy to collaborate with the Nazis at the first opportunity. It is too easily forgotten that even Germany’s sterilization laws were modeled on American and Canadian eugenics laws that had already been active for decades. It’s a bit of an uncomfortable embarrassment for the west that Rockefeller/Carnegie Foundations had poured money into Western Universities and German Universities alike since 1912 in a bid to legitimize the “science of racial purification” which was really just a cover for “population control”.
Lastly, let’s not forget that the same Wall Street and City of London Banks which today are pushing for a global fascist world government had enthusiastically poured fortunes into fascist war coffers during the decade preceding WWII.
So when Putin calls out the hypocrisy of western nations blinded by the lessons of their past, he is not so much concerned about the past, in as much as he knows that those who ignore their true history, are doomed to repeat it.
From Strategic Culture
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review and has authored 3 volumes of ‘Untold History of Canada’ book series. His works appear regularly on The Duran, Strategic Culture, Sott, Fort Russ, Zero Hedge, Global Times, L.A. Review of Books, LeSaker.fr, Vigile Quebec, South Front and Veterans Today. He is a correspondent/BRI Expert for Tactical Talk. In 2019 Matthew co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation. He can be reached at matt.ehret@tutamail.com
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theduran--2020-01-01--Russiagate Investigation Now Endangers Obama

Former U.S. President Barack Obama is now in severe legal jeopardy , because the Russiagate investigation has turned 180 degrees ; and he , instead of the current President , Donald Trump , is in its cross-hairs .
The biggest crime that a U.S. President can commit is to try to defeat American democracy ( the Constitutional functioning of the U.S. Government ) itself , either by working with foreign powers to take it over , or else by working internally within America to sabotage democracy for his or her own personal reasons .
Either way , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and does , endanger the continued functioning of the Constitution itself* ) , and Mr. Obama is now being actively investigated , as possibly having done this .
The Russiagate investigation , which had formerly focused against the current U.S. President , has reversed direction and now targets the prior President .
Although he , of course , can not be removed from office ( since he is no longer in office ) , he is liable under criminal laws , the same as any other American would be , if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
A December 17th order by the FISA ( Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ) Court severely condemned the performance by the FBI under Obama , for having obtained , on 19 October 2016 ( even prior to the U.S. Presidential election ) , from that Court , under false pretenses , an authorization for the FBI to commence investigating Donald Trump ’ s Presidential campaign , as being possibly in collusion with Russia ’ s Government .
The Court ’ s ruling said : In order to appreciate the seriousness of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ useful to understand certain procedural and substantive requirements that apply to the government ’ s conduct of electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes .
Title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISA ) , codified as amended at 50 U.S.C .
1801-1813 , governs such electronic surveillance .
It requires the government to apply for and receive an order from the FISC approving a proposed electronic surveillance .
When deciding whether to grant such an application , a FISC judge must determine among other things , whether it provides probable cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a “ foreign power ” or an agent a foreign power .
… The government has a heightened duty of candor to the FISC in ex parte proceedings , that is , ones in which the government does not face an adverse party , such as proceedings on electronic surveillance applications .
The FISC expects the government to comply with its heightened duty of candor in ex parte proceedings at all times .
Candor is fundamental to this Court ’ s effective operation .
… On December 9 , 2019 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public and classified versions of the OIG Report .
… It documents troubling instances in which FBI personnel provided information to NSD [ National Security Division of the Department of Justice ] which was unsupported or contradicted by information in their possession .
It also describes several instances in which FBI personnel withheld from NSD information in their possession which was detrimental to their case for believing that Mr. [ Carter ] Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power .
… On December 18th , Martha McCallum , of Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr , and asked him ( at 7:00 in the video ) how high up in the FBI the blame for this ( possible treason ) goes : MACCALLUM : Were you surprised that he [ Obama ’ s FBI Director James Comey ] seemed to give himself such a distance from the entire operation ?
“ JAMES COMEY : As the director sitting on top of an organization of 38,000 people you can ’ t run an investigation that ’ s seven layers below you .
You have to leave it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Do you believe that ?
BARR : No , I think that the — one of the problems with what happened was precisely that they pulled the investigation up to the executive floors , and it was run and bird dogged by a very small group of very high level officials .
And the idea that this was seven layers below him is simply not true .
The current ( Trump ) A.G. there called the former ( Obama ) FBI Director a liar on that .
If Comey gets heat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Presidential nominee from the opposite Party of the sitting U.S. President ( Comey ’ s own boss , Obama ) , then protecting himself could become Comey ’ s top motivation ; and , in that condition , protecting his former boss might become only a secondary concern for him .
Moreover , as was first publicly reported by Nick Falco in a tweet on 5 June 2018 ( which tweet was removed by Twitter but fortunately not before someone had copied it to a web archive ) , the FBI had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later than 7 October 2015 .
An outside private contractor , Stefan Halper , was hired in Britain for this , perhaps in order to get around laws prohibiting the U.S. Government from doing it .
( This was ‘ foreign intelligence ’ work , after all .
But was it really ?
That ’ s now being investigated . )
The Office of Net Assessment ( ONA ) “ through the Pentagon ’ s Washington Headquarters Services , awarded him contracts from 2012 to 2016 to write four studies encompassing relations among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India ” .
Though Halper actually did no such studies for the Pentagon , he instead functioned as a paid FBI informant ( and it ’ s not yet clear whether that money came from the Pentagon , which spends trillions of dollars that are off-the-books and untraceable ) , and at some point Trump ’ s campaign became a target of Halper ’ s investigation .
This investigation was nominally to examine “ The Russia-China Relationship : The impact on US Security interests.
” Allegedly , George Papadopoulos said that “ Halper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign ” , and Papadopoulos was shocked at Halper ’ s saying this .
Probably because so much money at the Pentagon is untraceable , some of the crucial documentation on this investigation might never be found .
For example , the Defense Department ’ s Inspector General ’ s 2 July 2019 report to the U.S. Senate said “ ONA personnel could not provide us any evidence that Professor Halper visited any of these locations , established an advisory group , or met with any of the specific people listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems that the Pentagon-contracted work was a cover-story , like pizza parlors have been for some Mafia operations .
But , anyway , this is how America ’ s ‘ democracy ’ actually functions .
And , of course , America ’ s Deep State works not only through governmental agencies but also through underworld organizations .
That ’ s just reality , not at all speculative .
It ’ s been this way for decades , at least since the time of Truman ’ s Presidency ( as is documented at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this operation certainly involved Obama ’ s CIA Director John Brennan and others , and not only top officials at the FBI , there is no chance that Comey would have been the only high official who was involved in it .
And if Comey was involved , then he would have been acting in his own interest , and not only in his boss ’ s — and here ’ s why : Comey would be expected to have been highly motivated to oppose Mr. Trump , because Trump publicly questioned whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America ’ s ‘ defense ’ -contractors ) should continue to exist , and also because Comey ’ s entire career had been in the service of America ’ s Military-Industrial Complex , which is the reason why Comey ’ s main lifetime income has been the tens of millions of dollars he has received via the revolving door between his serving the federal Government and his serving firms such as Lockheed Martin .
For these people , restoring , and intensifying , and keeping up , the Cold War , is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called by some “ the Military-Industrial Complex , ” and by others “ the Deep State , ” but by any name it is simply agents of the billionaires who own and control U.S.-based international corporations , such as General Dynamics and Chevron .
As a governmental official , making decisions that are in the long-term interests of those investors is the likeliest way to become wealthy .
Consequently , Comey would have been benefitting himself , and other high officials of the Obama Administration , by sabotaging Trump ’ s campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the event that he would become elected .
Plus , of course , Comey would have been benefitting Obama himself .
Not only was Trump constantly condemning Obama , but Obama had appointed to lead the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 Presidential primaries , Debbie Wasserman Schultz , who as early as 20 February 2007 had endorsed Hillary Clinton for President in the Democratic Party primaries , so that Shultz was one of the earliest supporters of Clinton against even Obama himself .
In other words , Obama had appointed Shultz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clinton — not Sanders — would become the nominee in 2016 to continue on and protect his own Presidential legacy .
Furthermore , on 28 July 2016 , Schultz became forced to resign from her leadership of the DNC after WikiLeaks released emails indicating that Schultz and other members of the DNC staff had exercised bias against Bernie Sanders and in favor of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic primaries — which favoritism had been the reason why Obama had appointed Shultz to that post to begin with .
She was just doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chosen her to lead the DNC .
Likewise for Comey .
In other words : Comey was Obama ’ s pick to protect Clinton , and to oppose Trump ( who had attacked both Clinton and Obama ) .
Nowadays , Obama is telling the Party ’ s billionaires that Elizabeth Warren would be good for them , but not that Sanders would — he never liked Sanders .
He wants Warren to get the voters who otherwise would go for Sanders , and he wants the Party ’ s billionaires to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s allegedly ‘ progressive ’ option ) , so that Sanders won ’ t be able to become a ballot option in the general election to be held on 3 November 2020 .
He is telling them whom not to help win the Party ’ s nomination .
In fact , on November 26th , Huffington Post headlined “ Obama Said He Would Speak Up To Stop Bernie Sanders Nomination : Report ” and indicated that though he won ’ t actually say this in public ( but only to the Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determined to do all he can to prevent Sanders from becoming the nominee .
In 2016 , his choice was Hillary Clinton ; but , today , it ’ s anyone other than Sanders ; and , so , in a sense , it remains what it was four years ago — anyone but Sanders .
Comey ’ s virtually exclusive concern , at the present stage , would be to protect himself , so that he won ’ t be imprisoned .
This means that he might testify against Obama .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any personal obligation to Obama — Comey is now on his own , up against Trump , who clearly is his enemy .
Some type of back-room plea-bargain is therefore virtually inevitable — and not only with Comey , but with other top Obama-appointees , ultimately .
Obama is thus clearly in the cross-hairs , from now on .
Congressional Democrats have opted to gun against Trump ( by impeaching him ) ; and , so , Trump now will be gunning against Obama — and against the entire Democratic Party ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which case , Sanders will already have defeated that Democratic Party , and its adherents will then have to choose between him versus Trump ; and , so , too , will independent voters ) .
But , regardless of what happens , Obama now is in the cross-hairs .
That ’ s not just political cross-hairs ( such as an impeachment process ) ; it is , above all , legal cross-hairs ( an actual criminal investigation ) .
Whereas Trump is up against a doomed effort by the Democratic Party to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Obama will be up against virtually inevitable criminal charges , by the incumbent Trump Administration .
Obama played hardball against Trump , with “ Russiagate , ” and then with “ Ukrainegate ” ; Trump will now play hardball against Obama , with whatever his Administration and the Republican Party manage to muster against Obama ; and the stakes this time will be considerably bigger than just whether to replace Trump by Pence .
Whatever the outcome will be , it will be historic , and unprecedented .
( If Sanders becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more so ; and , if he then wins on November 3rd , it will be a second American Revolution ; but , this time , a peaceful one — if that ’ s even possible , in today ’ s hyper-partisan , deeply split , USA . )
There is no way that the outcome from this will be status-quo .
Either it will be greatly increased further schism in the United States , or it will be a fundamental political realignment , more comparable to 1860 than to anything since .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its people in prison than does any other nation on this planet .
Americans who choose a ‘ status-quo ’ option will produce less stability , more violence , not more stability and a more peaceful nation in a less war-ravaged world .
The 2020 election-outcome for the United States will be a turning-point ; there is no way that it will produce reform .
Americans who vote for reform will be only increasing the likelihood of hell-on-Earth .
Reform is no longer an available option , given America ’ s realities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be required in order for this country to avoid falling into an utter abyss , which could be led by either Party , because both Parties have brought the nation to its present precipice , the dark and lightless chasm that it now faces , and which must now become leapt , in order to avoid a free-fall into oblivion .
The problem in America isn ’ t either Obama or Trump ; it ’ s neither merely the Democratic Party , nor merely the Republican Party ; it is instead both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s the reality ; and the process that got us here started on 26 July 1945 and secretly continued on the American side even after the Soviet Union ended and Russia promptly ended its side of the Cold War .
The U.S. regime ’ s ceaseless thrust , since 26 July 1945 , to rule the entire world , will climax either in a Third World War , or in a U.S. revolution to overthrow and remove the Deep State and end its dictatorship-grip over America .
Both Parties have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final stage or climax of this grip is now drawing near .
America thus has been having a string of the worst Presidents — and worst Congresses — in U.S. history .
This is today ’ s reality .
Unfortunately , a lot of American voters think that this extremely destabilizing reality , this longstanding trend toward war , is okay , and ought to be continued , not ended now and replaced by a new direction for this country — the path toward world peace , which FDR had accurately envisioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1945 .
No matter how many Americans might vote for mere reform , they are wrong .
Sometimes , only a minority are right .
Being correct is not a majority or minority matter ; it is a true or false matter .
A misinformed public can willingly participate in its own — or even the world ’ s — destruction .
That could happen .
Democracy is a prerequisite to peace , but it can ’ t exist if the public are being systematically misinformed .
Lies and democracy don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil and water .
* The given official U.S. definition of “ treason ” ( see top of page 3 there ) is “ Whoever , owing allegiance to the United States , levies war against them or adheres to their enemies , giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere , is guilty of treason.
” Any U.S. official has sworn to uphold and defend , never to subvert , the Constitution of the United States , and this is defining the U.S. , itself , as being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treason is thus the supremely illegal act under U.S. law , the act that violates any U.S. official ’ s oath of office .
( When treason is perpetrated by someone who is not a U.S. official , it is still a severe crime , but less severe than it is for any U.S .
official . )
The phrase “ levies war against them ” means war against the functioning of the Constitution that is their supreme law .
“ Or ” means alternatively , and “ adheres to their enemies ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other entity that seeks to impose a different constitution .
“ Enemies ” is not defined — it need not be a foreign opponent ; it may be a domestic opponent of the U.S. Constitution .
Thus , an American can be an enemy of the United States of America .
In fact , the official definition explicitly refers ONLY to an entity “ owing allegiance to the United States.
” ( Obviously , that especially refers to any U.S .
official . )
This is how a “ traitor ” is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the worst traitor would be one who committed the treasonous act ( s ) while a U.S. official .
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author , most recently , of They ’ re Not Even Close : The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records , 1910-2010 , and of CHRIST ’ S VENTRILOQUISTS : The Event that Created Christianity .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Eric Zuesse, originally posted at strategic-culture.org
Former U.S. President Barack Obama is now in severe legal jeopardy, because the Russiagate investigation has turned 180 degrees; and he, instead of the current President, Donald Trump, is in its cross-hairs.
The biggest crime that a U.S. President can commit is to try to defeat American democracy (the Constitutional functioning of the U.S. Government) itself, either by working with foreign powers to take it over, or else by working internally within America to sabotage democracy for his or her own personal reasons. Either way, it’s treason (crime that is intended to, and does, endanger the continued functioning of the Constitution itself*), and Mr. Obama is now being actively investigated, as possibly having done this. The Russiagate investigation, which had formerly focused against the current U.S. President, has reversed direction and now targets the prior President. Although he, of course, cannot be removed from office (since he is no longer in office), he is liable under criminal laws, the same as any other American would be, if he committed any crime while he was in office.
A December 17th order by the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Court severely condemned the performance by the FBI under Obama, for having obtained, on 19 October 2016 (even prior to the U.S. Presidential election), from that Court, under false pretenses, an authorization for the FBI to commence investigating Donald Trump’s Presidential campaign, as being possibly in collusion with Russia’s Government. The Court’s ruling said:
In order to appreciate the seriousness of that misconduct and its implications, it is useful to understand certain procedural and substantive requirements that apply to the government’s conduct of electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes. Title I of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA ), codified as amended at 50 U.S.C. 1801-1813, governs such electronic surveillance. It requires the government to apply for and receive an order from the FISC approving a proposed electronic surveillance. When deciding whether to grant such an application, a FISC judge must determine among other things, whether it provides probable cause to believe that the proposed surveillance target is a “foreign power” or an agent a foreign power. …
The government has a heightened duty of candor to the FISC in ex parte proceedings, that is, ones in which the government does not face an adverse party, such as proceedings on electronic surveillance applications. The FISC expects the government to comply with its heightened duty of candor in ex parte proceedings at all times. Candor is fundamental to this Court’s effective operation. …
On December 9, 2019, the government filed, with the FISC, public and classified versions of the OIG Report. … It documents troubling instances in which FBI personnel provided information to NSD [National Security Division of the Department of Justice] which was unsupported or contradicted by information in their possession. It also describes several instances in which FBI personnel withheld from NSD information in their possession which was detrimental to their case for believing that Mr. [Carter] Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power. …
On December 18th, Martha McCallum, of Fox News, interviewed U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, and asked him (at 7:00 in the video) how high up in the FBI the blame for this (possible treason) goes:
MACCALLUM: Were you surprised that he [Obama’s FBI Director James Comey] seemed to give himself such a distance from the entire operation?
“JAMES COMEY: As the director sitting on top of an organization of 38,000 people you can’t run an investigation that’s seven layers below you. You have to leave it to the career professionals to do.”
MACCALLUM: Do you believe that?
BARR: No, I think that the — one of the problems with what happened was precisely that they pulled the investigation up to the executive floors, and it was run and bird dogged by a very small group of very high level officials. And the idea that this was seven layers below him is simply not true.
The current (Trump) A.G. there called the former (Obama) FBI Director a liar on that.
If Comey gets heat for this possibly lie-based FBI investigation of the U.S. Presidential nominee from the opposite Party of the sitting U.S. President (Comey’s own boss, Obama), then protecting himself could become Comey’s top motivation; and, in that condition, protecting his former boss might become only a secondary concern for him.
Moreover, as was first publicly reported by Nick Falco in a tweet on 5 June 2018 (which tweet was removed by Twitter but fortunately not before someone had copied it to a web archive), the FBI had been investigating the Trump campaign starting no later than 7 October 2015. An outside private contractor, Stefan Halper, was hired in Britain for this, perhaps in order to get around laws prohibiting the U.S. Government from doing it. (This was ‘foreign intelligence’ work, after all. But was it really? That’s now being investigated.) The Office of Net Assessment (ONA) “through the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Services, awarded him contracts from 2012 to 2016 to write four studies encompassing relations among the U.S., Russia, China and India”. Though Halper actually did no such studies for the Pentagon, he instead functioned as a paid FBI informant (and it’s not yet clear whether that money came from the Pentagon, which spends trillions of dollars that are off-the-books and untraceable), and at some point Trump’s campaign became a target of Halper’s investigation. This investigation was nominally to examine “The Russia-China Relationship: The impact on US Security interests.” Allegedly, George Papadopoulos said that “Halper insinuated to him that Russia was helping the Trump campaign”, and Papadopoulos was shocked at Halper’s saying this. Probably because so much money at the Pentagon is untraceable, some of the crucial documentation on this investigation might never be found. For example, the Defense Department’s Inspector General’s 2 July 2019 report to the U.S. Senate said “ONA personnel could not provide us any evidence that Professor Halper visited any of these locations, established an advisory group, or met with any of the specific people listed in the statement of work.” It seems that the Pentagon-contracted work was a cover-story, like pizza parlors have been for some Mafia operations. But, anyway, this is how America’s ‘democracy’ actually functions. And, of course, America’s Deep State works not only through governmental agencies but also through underworld organizations. That’s just reality, not at all speculative. It’s been this way for decades, at least since the time of Truman’s Presidency (as is documented at that link).
Furthermore, inasmuch as this operation certainly involved Obama’s CIA Director John Brennan and others, and not only top officials at the FBI, there is no chance that Comey would have been the only high official who was involved in it. And if Comey was involved, then he would have been acting in his own interest, and not only in his boss’s — and here’s why: Comey would be expected to have been highly motivated to oppose Mr. Trump, because Trump publicly questioned whether NATO (the main international selling-arm for America’s ‘defense’-contractors) should continue to exist, and also because Comey’s entire career had been in the service of America’s Military-Industrial Complex, which is the reason why Comey’s main lifetime income has been the tens of millions of dollars he has received via the revolving door between his serving the federal Government and his serving firms such as Lockheed Martin. For these people, restoring, and intensifying, and keeping up, the Cold War, is a very profitable business. It’s called by some “the Military-Industrial Complex,” and by others “the Deep State,” but by any name it is simply agents of the billionaires who own and control U.S.-based international corporations, such as General Dynamics and Chevron. As a governmental official, making decisions that are in the long-term interests of those investors is the likeliest way to become wealthy.
Consequently, Comey would have been benefitting himself, and other high officials of the Obama Administration, by sabotaging Trump’s campaign, and by weakening Trump’s Presidency in the event that he would become elected. Plus, of course, Comey would have been benefitting Obama himself. Not only was Trump constantly condemning Obama, but Obama had appointed to lead the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 Presidential primaries, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who as early as 20 February 2007 had endorsed Hillary Clinton for President in the Democratic Party primaries, so that Shultz was one of the earliest supporters of Clinton against even Obama himself. In other words, Obama had appointed Shultz in order to increase the odds that Clinton — not Sanders — would become the nominee in 2016 to continue on and protect his own Presidential legacy. Furthermore, on 28 July 2016, Schultz became forced to resign from her leadership of the DNC after WikiLeaks released emails indicating that Schultz and other members of the DNC staff had exercised bias against Bernie Sanders and in favor of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic primaries — which favoritism had been the reason why Obama had appointed Shultz to that post to begin with. She was just doing her job for the person who had chosen her to lead the DNC. Likewise for Comey. In other words: Comey was Obama’s pick to protect Clinton, and to oppose Trump (who had attacked both Clinton and Obama).
Nowadays, Obama is telling the Party’s billionaires that Elizabeth Warren would be good for them, but not that Sanders would — he never liked Sanders. He wants Warren to get the voters who otherwise would go for Sanders, and he wants the Party’s billionaires to help her achieve this (be the Party’s allegedly ‘progressive’ option), so that Sanders won’t be able to become a ballot option in the general election to be held on 3 November 2020. He is telling them whom not to help win the Party’s nomination. In fact, on November 26th, Huffington Post headlined “Obama Said He Would Speak Up To Stop Bernie Sanders Nomination: Report” and indicated that though he won’t actually say this in public (but only to the Party’s billionaires), Obama is determined to do all he can to prevent Sanders from becoming the nominee. In 2016, his choice was Hillary Clinton; but, today, it’s anyone other than Sanders; and, so, in a sense, it remains what it was four years ago — anyone but Sanders.
Comey’s virtually exclusive concern, at the present stage, would be to protect himself, so that he won’t be imprisoned. This means that he might testify against Obama. At this stage, he’s free of any personal obligation to Obama — Comey is now on his own, up against Trump, who clearly is his enemy. Some type of back-room plea-bargain is therefore virtually inevitable — and not only with Comey, but with other top Obama-appointees, ultimately. Obama is thus clearly in the cross-hairs, from now on. Congressional Democrats have opted to gun against Trump (by impeaching him); and, so, Trump now will be gunning against Obama — and against the entire Democratic Party (unless Sanders becomes its nominee, in which case, Sanders will already have defeated that Democratic Party, and its adherents will then have to choose between him versus Trump; and, so, too, will independent voters).
But, regardless of what happens, Obama now is in the cross-hairs. That’s not just political cross-hairs (such as an impeachment process); it is, above all, legal cross-hairs (an actual criminal investigation). Whereas Trump is up against a doomed effort by the Democratic Party to replace him by Vice President Mike Pence, Obama will be up against virtually inevitable criminal charges, by the incumbent Trump Administration. Obama played hardball against Trump, with “Russiagate,” and then with “Ukrainegate”; Trump will now play hardball against Obama, with whatever his Administration and the Republican Party manage to muster against Obama; and the stakes this time will be considerably bigger than just whether to replace Trump by Pence.
Whatever the outcome will be, it will be historic, and unprecedented. (If Sanders becomes the nominee, it will be even more so; and, if he then wins on November 3rd, it will be a second American Revolution; but, this time, a peaceful one — if that’s even possible, in today’s hyper-partisan, deeply split, USA.)
There is no way that the outcome from this will be status-quo. Either it will be greatly increased further schism in the United States, or it will be a fundamental political realignment, more comparable to 1860 than to anything since. The U.S. already has a higher percentage of its people in prison than does any other nation on this planet. Americans who choose a ‘status-quo’ option will produce less stability, more violence, not more stability and a more peaceful nation in a less war-ravaged world. The 2020 election-outcome for the United States will be a turning-point; there is no way that it will produce reform. Americans who vote for reform will be only increasing the likelihood of hell-on-Earth. Reform is no longer an available option, given America’s realities. A far bigger leap than that will be required in order for this country to avoid falling into an utter abyss, which could be led by either Party, because both Parties have brought the nation to its present precipice, the dark and lightless chasm that it now faces, and which must now become leapt, in order to avoid a free-fall into oblivion.
The problem in America isn’t either Obama or Trump; it’s neither merely the Democratic Party, nor merely the Republican Party; it is instead both; it is the Deep State. That’s the reality; and the process that got us here started on 26 July 1945 and secretly continued on the American side even after the Soviet Union ended and Russia promptly ended its side of the Cold War. The U.S. regime’s ceaseless thrust, since 26 July 1945, to rule the entire world, will climax either in a Third World War, or in a U.S. revolution to overthrow and remove the Deep State and end its dictatorship-grip over America. Both Parties have been controlled by that Deep State, and the final stage or climax of this grip is now drawing near. America thus has been having a string of the worst Presidents — and worst Congresses — in U.S. history. This is today’s reality. Unfortunately, a lot of American voters think that this extremely destabilizing reality, this longstanding trend toward war, is okay, and ought to be continued, not ended now and replaced by a new direction for this country — the path toward world peace, which FDR had accurately envisioned but which was aborted on 26 July 1945. No matter how many Americans might vote for mere reform, they are wrong. Sometimes, only a minority are right. Being correct is not a majority or minority matter; it is a true or false matter. A misinformed public can willingly participate in its own — or even the world’s — destruction. That could happen. Democracy is a prerequisite to peace, but it can’t exist if the public are being systematically misinformed. Lies and democracy don’t mix together any more effectively than do oil and water.
NOTE
* The given official U.S. definition of “treason” (see top of page 3 there) is “Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason.” Any U.S. official has sworn to uphold and defend, never to subvert, the Constitution of the United States, and this is defining the U.S., itself, as being the continued functioning of the U.S. Constitution. Treason is thus the supremely illegal act under U.S. law, the act that violates any U.S. official’s oath of office. (When treason is perpetrated by someone who is not a U.S. official, it is still a severe crime, but less severe than it is for any U.S. official.) The phrase “levies war against them” means war against the functioning of the Constitution that is their supreme law. “Or” means alternatively, and “adheres to their enemies” means is a follower of any person or other entity that seeks to impose a different constitution. “Enemies” is not defined — it need not be a foreign opponent; it may be a domestic opponent of the U.S. Constitution. Thus, an American can be an enemy of the United States of America. In fact, the official definition explicitly refers ONLY to an entity “owing allegiance to the United States.” (Obviously, that especially refers to any U.S. official.) This is how a “traitor” is understood, in U.S. law. Obviously, the worst traitor would be one who committed the treasonous act(s) while a U.S. official.
—————
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.
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theduran--2020-01-01--Libya’s War Escalates as the Stakes Get Higher

Libya ’ s Government of National Accord has little time to sort out the mess it is in , with the Libyan National Army making some progress in Tripoli ’ s suburbs .
LNA warlord Haftar ’ s strike on the Zawiya Oil installation near al Harsha in west Tripolitania on the 27th of December resulted in drastic damage to the facility causing Libya ’ s National Oil Company to warn about potential evacuation of offices nearby .
* The LNA ’ s decision to target the az Zawiya Oil installation may be seen as a proxy blow to Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey purchases oil for as low as $ 10 per barrel from such terminals .
Warlord Haftar does not suffer , because Cyrenaica oil is largely produced and processed in eastern Libya .
The Libyan National Army ’ s fortunes have improved recently with a new influx of weaponry and funds supplied by the United Arab Emirates .
After setbacks in Gharayan the LNA has recovered due to weaponry , supplies , and mercenary air attacks on Misrata ( mostly supported by the UAE ) where Misrata provides most resistance to the LNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21st , 2019 , Haftar has mounted a particularly effective offensive around Tarhunah , driving the GNA back ( nearly ) to the suburbs of Tripoli itself .
The position of the United States is somewhat opaque regarding support for the Libya National Army , but indications are that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Egypt were successful in convincing the US to allow Saudi and Egypt a free hand to back and arm Haftar .
The Libyan National Army declared a no-fly zone over Tripoli in late November , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air strikes on the capital by mercenary pilots .
Together , these events caused Haftar to once again demand that the GNA surrender , on December 30th , 2019 .
As addressed in Erdogan Stirs the Pot Again the Libyan conflict ’ s alliances are as follows : According to the Turkish leadership , the Government of National Accord has asked for its help to stabilize Tripolitania and resist the LNA offensive .
The Turkish parliament is set to vote on military intervention on January 2nd .
But even if the measure passes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop Haftar ’ s advance .
According to the Libya Review Egypt has called for an emergency session of the Arab League to discuss Libya , however the details have not been verified ( and occurrence of this session can not be independently confirmed ) .
Egypt has taken an interest in Cyrenaica and the conflict even before the LNA approached Egypt for help with developing the Sirte basin oil and gas fields , where most of Libya ’ s oil originates .
Warlord Haftar ’ s attempts to sell Sirte oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN sanction , so Haftar eventually backed down .
If the LNA can shut down the National Oil Company of Libya , Haftar may gain enough leverage to force the issue because that ’ s a lot of oil and revenue for the GNA to lose every day .
And such a closure would leave Turkey hanging in the wind , and possibly force the country back to Iran ’ s oil , in spite of US sanctions .
The foregoing is surely what Egypt must hope for , too .
Reports of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LNA are murky , but probably correct .
The Wagner Group is a mercenary force , for sale to any suitable bidder .
The United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , and Egypt are certainly capable of doing that bidding .
For now it appears that the Wagner Group is involved in LNA training and logistics — and to strike fear in the heart of the GNA .
Although touted by the Neoliberal press as Russia taking part in fighting around Tripoli , there is no evidence in the form of Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin is involved with such a tragic opportunity leveraged by an essentially private mercenary group .
Regardless of the above political considerations , the shifting alliance around the 2011 US/NATO-created Libyan disaster is of most consequence .
Speculation abounds about a potential alliance between Turkey , Tunisia , and Algeria , versus the LNA in Libya .
Fathi Bashagha , the GNA ’ s interior minister , announced just such an alliance last Thursday , but his proposal was quickly debunked .
Yesterday Turkey and Algeria announced a joint naval effort to celebrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with exercises to take place in January , 2020 .
This celebratory joint naval affair has led to much speculation regarding Turkey ’ s proposal for an alliance with Algeria , for intervention in Libya .
Although there is historic friendship and cooperation between Algeria and Turkey , Algeria ’ s history and current political composition is such that an actual military alliance between Algeria and Turkey is exceedingly unlikely at this time .
There are several reasons .
Besides the inherent risk of throwing military weight behind a potentially losing GNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internecine conflict — especially with regard to implicit support of radical Islamist factions that the GNA has not fully denounced — would be 100 % abhorrent to the Algerian military and to its people .
As for Tunisia , Tunisia of course does as Algeria dictates .
*** Complicating the picture is Morocco .
Morocco — an ally of Saudi Arabia — is typically at odds with Algeria which does not align with Saudi Arabia .
Morocco ’ s closeness to Saudi Arabia is complicated by Saudi ’ s support for the LNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Government of National Accord on numerous occasions .
The Skhirat Agreement was Morocco ’ s attempt to find a political solution to the violence in Libya , but the LNA ’ s April offensive ended those hopes .
Since then Morocco has pursued a largely neutral position beyond public statements in favor of the GNA .
Another great unknown is how Washington will react when NATO ally Turkey deploys its military to Libya .
That deployment could result in a military confrontation with France , another NATO ally , or Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington ’ s unipolar moment is not just fading fast , it has ended .
Washington quixotically lashes out to re-assert its global dominance versus imaginary adversaries and is only capable of creating new ones – and failed states .
How Washington ’ s hubris might play out in a Syria-like war in Libya ( where Washington caused the conflict in the first place as it did in Syria ) is unclear .
Next , consider the Libyan National Army which is not in as good shape as the media tends to portray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranks .
Haftar has suffered a shortage of skilled workers and soldiers .
The LNA has suffered setbacks before , for example in Gharayan .
And the Warlord is mainly reliant on aerial bombing and superior air power to defeat the GNA .
Haftar has only a few days remaining before Turkey may deploy troops to Tripolitania , and if Turkey does so , the tide of this war will turn quickly .
Finally , United Nations talks on Libya might take place in January… or they might not .
Because the precise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those UN talks take place or not , hope for Libya ’ s relief seems forlorn with more aggression , death , and human flight being a certainty , and typical of the failed states US-State creates .
It seems that the peace prospect for Libya is bleak , with the people of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica tearing themselves apart while the people of the south , the Fezzan , suffer even more .
*Somewhat surprisingly Libya ’ s NOC provides oil revenue funds to both sides in the conflict ie the Government of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army ; for the NOC to cease operations would be a blow to both factions .
** Some Misrata rebel factions support the LNA , and a number of factions with various affiliations exist there and in Tripoli .
*** The subject of Alegria is an interesting one and will be addressed in a comprehensive upcoming article .
Steve Brown is the author of “ Iraq : the Road to War ” ( Sourcewatch ) editor of “ Bush Administration War Crimes in Iraq ” ( Sourcewatch ) “ Trump ’ s Limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Out-sourcing the Monetary System to the Money Trust Oligarchs Since 1913 ” ; Steve is an antiwar activist , a published scholar on the US monetary system , and has appeared as guest contributor to The Duran , Fort Russ News , Herland Report , Lew Rockwell Report , The Ron Paul Institute , and Strategika51 .
Twitter : @ newsypaperz

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by Steven Brown…
Libya’s Government of National Accord has little time to sort out the mess it is in, with the Libyan National Army making some progress in Tripoli’s suburbs. LNA warlord Haftar’s strike on the Zawiya Oil installation near al Harsha in west Tripolitania on the 27th of December resulted in drastic damage to the facility causing Libya’s National Oil Company to warn about potential evacuation of offices nearby.*
The LNA’s decision to target the az Zawiya Oil installation may be seen as a proxy blow to Turkey’s interests in Libya, because Turkey purchases oil for as low as $10 per barrel from such terminals. Warlord Haftar does not suffer, because Cyrenaica oil is largely produced and processed in eastern Libya.
The Libyan National Army’s fortunes have improved recently with a new influx of weaponry and funds supplied by the United Arab Emirates. After setbacks in Gharayan the LNA has recovered due to weaponry, supplies, and mercenary air attacks on Misrata (mostly supported by the UAE) where Misrata provides most resistance to the LNA outside of Tripoli.** From December 21st, 2019, Haftar has mounted a particularly effective offensive around Tarhunah, driving the GNA back (nearly) to the suburbs of Tripoli itself.
The position of the United States is somewhat opaque regarding support for the Libya National Army, but indications are that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Egypt were successful in convincing the US to allow Saudi and Egypt a free hand to back and arm Haftar. The Libyan National Army declared a no-fly zone over Tripoli in late November, which has proved effective, in support of LNA air strikes on the capital by mercenary pilots. Together, these events caused Haftar to once again demand that the GNA surrender, on December 30th, 2019.
As addressed in Erdogan Stirs the Pot Again the Libyan conflict’s alliances are as follows:
Government of National Accord’s (UN recognized government) major support:
Turkey
Qatar
Libyan National Army (not UN recognized) major support:
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
United Arab Emirates
France
Neutral:
Tunisia
Algeria
Morocco (political support for GNA)
According to the Turkish leadership, the Government of National Accord has asked for its help to stabilize Tripolitania and resist the LNA offensive. The Turkish parliament is set to vote on military intervention on January 2nd. But even if the measure passes, there may not be enough time to stop Haftar’s advance.
According to the Libya Review Egypt has called for an emergency session of the Arab League to discuss Libya, however the details have not been verified (and occurrence of this session cannot be independently confirmed). Egypt has taken an interest in Cyrenaica and the conflict even before the LNA approached Egypt for help with developing the Sirte basin oil and gas fields, where most of Libya’s oil originates.
Warlord Haftar’s attempts to sell Sirte oil on the open market were resisted by UN sanction, so Haftar eventually backed down. If the LNA can shut down the National Oil Company of Libya, Haftar may gain enough leverage to force the issue because that’s a lot of oil and revenue for the GNA to lose every day. And such a closure would leave Turkey hanging in the wind, and possibly force the country back to Iran’s oil, in spite of US sanctions. The foregoing is surely what Egypt must hope for, too.
Reports of the Wagner Group operating on behalf of the LNA are murky, but probably correct. The Wagner Group is a mercenary force, for sale to any suitable bidder. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are certainly capable of doing that bidding. For now it appears that the Wagner Group is involved in LNA training and logistics — and to strike fear in the heart of the GNA. Although touted by the Neoliberal press as Russia taking part in fighting around Tripoli, there is no evidence in the form of Russian casualties or any other evidence that the Kremlin is involved with such a tragic opportunity leveraged by an essentially private mercenary group.
Regardless of the above political considerations, the shifting alliance around the 2011 US/NATO-created Libyan disaster is of most consequence. Speculation abounds about a potential alliance between Turkey, Tunisia, and Algeria, versus the LNA in Libya. Fathi Bashagha, the GNA’s interior minister, announced just such an alliance last Thursday, but his proposal was quickly debunked.
Yesterday Turkey and Algeria announced a joint naval effort to celebrate the historic Oruç Reis Hayreddin Barbarossa anniversary, with exercises to take place in January, 2020. This celebratory joint naval affair has led to much speculation regarding Turkey’s proposal for an alliance with Algeria, for intervention in Libya. Although there is historic friendship and cooperation between Algeria and Turkey, Algeria’s history and current political composition is such that an actual military alliance between Algeria and Turkey is exceedingly unlikely at this time. There are several reasons.
Besides the inherent risk of throwing military weight behind a potentially losing GNA regime, Algeria’s history of internecine conflict — especially with regard to implicit support of radical Islamist factions that the GNA has not fully denounced — would be 100% abhorrent to the Algerian military and to its people. As for Tunisia, Tunisia of course does as Algeria dictates. ***
Complicating the picture is Morocco. Morocco — an ally of Saudi Arabia — is typically at odds with Algeria which does not align with Saudi Arabia. Morocco’s closeness to Saudi Arabia is complicated by Saudi’s support for the LNA, where Morocco has expressed its support for the Government of National Accord on numerous occasions. The Skhirat Agreement was Morocco’s attempt to find a political solution to the violence in Libya, but the LNA’s April offensive ended those hopes. Since then Morocco has pursued a largely neutral position beyond public statements in favor of the GNA.
Another great unknown is how Washington will react when NATO ally Turkey deploys its military to Libya. That deployment could result in a military confrontation with France, another NATO ally, or Greece, also a NATO ally. And Washington’s unipolar moment is not just fading fast, it has ended. Washington quixotically lashes out to re-assert its global dominance versus imaginary adversaries and is only capable of creating new ones – and failed states. How Washington’s hubris might play out in a Syria-like war in Libya (where Washington caused the conflict in the first place as it did in Syria) is unclear.
Next, consider the Libyan National Army which is not in as good shape as the media tends to portray. There is dissension among the officer ranks. Haftar has suffered a shortage of skilled workers and soldiers. The LNA has suffered setbacks before, for example in Gharayan. And the Warlord is mainly reliant on aerial bombing and superior air power to defeat the GNA. Haftar has only a few days remaining before Turkey may deploy troops to Tripolitania, and if Turkey does so, the tide of this war will turn quickly.
Finally, United Nations talks on Libya might take place in January… or they might not. Because the precise date has not been verified. Whether those UN talks take place or not, hope for Libya’s relief seems forlorn with more aggression, death, and human flight being a certainty, and typical of the failed states US-State creates. It seems that the peace prospect for Libya is bleak, with the people of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica tearing themselves apart while the people of the south, the Fezzan, suffer even more.
*Somewhat surprisingly Libya’s NOC provides oil revenue funds to both sides in the conflict ie the Government of National Accord and to the Libyan National Army; for the NOC to cease operations would be a blow to both factions.
** Some Misrata rebel factions support the LNA, and a number of factions with various affiliations exist there and in Tripoli.
*** The subject of Alegria is an interesting one and will be addressed in a comprehensive upcoming article.
Steve Brown is the author of “Iraq: the Road to War” (Sourcewatch) editor of “Bush Administration War Crimes in Iraq” (Sourcewatch) “Trump’s Limited Hangout” and “Federal Reserve: Out-sourcing the Monetary System to the Money Trust Oligarchs Since 1913”; Steve is an antiwar activist, a published scholar on the US monetary system, and has appeared as guest contributor to The Duran, Fort Russ News, Herland Report, Lew Rockwell Report, The Ron Paul Institute, and Strategika51. Twitter: @newsypaperz
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theduran--2020-01-01--Is Sergei Shoigu next in line to lead Russia? (Video)

Shoigu will be the next President of Russia .
President Putin is 67 and according to the constitution this is his last term .
He is due to retire from the presidency in 2024 .
Speculation is rife as to who will be the next head of state .
The word on the street is that Sergei Shoigu is the current president ’ s pick as his successor .
Putin seems to favour people who are not Muscovites .
Ideally , he selects fellow sons of Leningrad .
Shoigu is not one of those but at least he is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1955 .
This Siberian comes from a small town and a family of no particular distinction .
He is an indigenous ethnic minority on one side .
He qualified as an engineer and joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union .
The CPSU was a career open to talents .
He made his way up its cursus honorum .
Conformity and deference were much valued graces within the Communist Party .
He does not appear to be a man of strong imagination or independence of mind .
He worked at the Ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What do we know of Shoigu ?
He is a bluff and undemonstrative type .
He is a man after Putin ’ s own heart .
S Shoigu has what V V Putin would call ‘ moral stability ’ in that he is happily married and is the father of children .
He is abstemious when it comes to spirituous liquor and eschews tobacco .
Sergei Shoigu is now the Minister of Defence .
This is a vital post in any country .
But as the military is a Russian collective obsession the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in most nations .
Most of the budget goes on defence .
He is a man who has risen through public service .
He is not an oligarch and has no separate power base .
The current president finds this man unthreatening and personally unambitious .
Nor does Shoigu have a reputation for graft .
He is a team player and a conformist .
On the president ’ s birthday he had himself photographed fishing in deepest Siberia with Shoigu .
Could this be sending a not so subliminal message ?
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is he Putin ’ s handpicked successor .
He believes that he can control Shoigu who is inclined to agree with him anyway .
Perhaps the president perceives Shoigu as a means of continuing his control after formal retirement .
As Shoigu is only 3 years younger than V V P there is little chance of Shoigu ruling for 20+ years .
There is talk of Putin creating a post such as ‘ leader of the nation ’ as exists in Kazakhstan .
When Nazarbayev retired from the presidency in 2018 he still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation ’ .
This allows him to be a back seat driver .
He can exercise power from behind the scenes .
He does not have to make all those burdensome public appearances now that he is infirm .
Kremlinologists have been reading the not so subtle clues .
Vladimir Vladimirovich does nothing without good reason .
The photo opportunities with S Shoigu were trying to tell us something .
The only other person who has much of a chance is Dmitry Medvedev .
He is the only person who has succeeded V @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also from St Petersburg .
Lavrov will got get the top spot .
He is too old , he smokes and he is half-Armenian which would irk Azerbaijan .
Shuvalov was considered a runner rather than a rider but he fell from grace not so long ago .
The other contenders are unlikely .
They are unacceptable to various factions .
The presidency of Sergei Shoigu is just a rumor at this stage .
It is not a certainty .
But he remains the most likely of the possibilities .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by George Callaghan…
Shoigu will be the next President of Russia. President Putin is 67 and according to the constitution this is his last term. He is due to retire from the presidency in 2024. Speculation is rife as to who will be the next head of state. The word on the street is that Sergei Shoigu is the current president’s pick as his successor.
Putin seems to favour people who are not Muscovites. Ideally, he selects fellow sons of Leningrad. Shoigu is not one of those but at least he is not from Moscow. He was born in 1955. This Siberian comes from a small town and a family of no particular distinction. He is an indigenous ethnic minority on one side. He qualified as an engineer and joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The CPSU was a career open to talents. He made his way up its cursus honorum. Conformity and deference were much valued graces within the Communist Party. He does not appear to be a man of strong imagination or independence of mind. He worked at the Ministry of Emergency Situations for some years.
What do we know of Shoigu? He is a bluff and undemonstrative type. He is a man after Putin’s own heart. S Shoigu has what V V Putin would call ‘moral stability’ in that he is happily married and is the father of children. He is abstemious when it comes to spirituous liquor and eschews tobacco.
Sergei Shoigu is now the Minister of Defence. This is a vital post in any country. But as the military is a Russian collective obsession the prestige of this post is even greater than in most nations. Most of the budget goes on defence. He is a man who has risen through public service. He is not an oligarch and has no separate power base. The current president finds this man unthreatening and personally unambitious. Nor does Shoigu have a reputation for graft. He is a team player and a conformist.
On the president’s birthday he had himself photographed fishing in deepest Siberia with Shoigu. Could this be sending a not so subliminal message? It appears that Shoigu is being groomed. Is he Putin’s handpicked successor. He believes that he can control Shoigu who is inclined to agree with him anyway. Perhaps the president perceives Shoigu as a means of continuing his control after formal retirement. As Shoigu is only 3 years younger than V V P there is little chance of Shoigu ruling for 20+ years. There is talk of Putin creating a post such as ‘leader of the nation’ as exists in Kazakhstan. When Nazarbayev retired from the presidency in 2018 he still retained the title ‘Leader of the Nation’. This allows him to be a back seat driver. He can exercise power from behind the scenes. He does not have to make all those burdensome public appearances now that he is infirm.
Kremlinologists have been reading the not so subtle clues. Vladimir Vladimirovich does nothing without good reason. The photo opportunities with S Shoigu were trying to tell us something.
The only other person who has much of a chance is Dmitry Medvedev. He is the only person who has succeeded V V Putin as president. He is also from St Petersburg.
Lavrov will got get the top spot. He is too old, he smokes and he is half-Armenian which would irk Azerbaijan. Shuvalov was considered a runner rather than a rider but he fell from grace not so long ago. The other contenders are unlikely. They are unacceptable to various factions.
The presidency of Sergei Shoigu is just a rumor at this stage. It is not a certainty. But he remains the most likely of the possibilities.
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theduran--2020-01-08--Russia ramps up diplomacy to provide off ramp options to Iran & USA (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Russian diplomacy being set into action in order to deescalate the march towards war between the United States and Iran .
Support Free Speech : Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute .
The Duran Audio Podcast : Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes .
Arriving in Turkey for the grand opening of a gas pipeline , Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to discuss the recent escalation of the US-Iranian conflict in Iraq with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
Putin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and involved the ceremonial opening of ‘ Turk Stream , ’ a natural gas pipeline running under the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey .
He was also scheduled to meet with Erdogan in Istanbul and discuss the security situation in the region .
However , Iraq suddenly shot to the top of the agenda overnight , as Iran fired off two volleys of missiles at US bases in retaliation for the US drone strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani at a Baghdad airport last week .
As night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither the US nor Iran wanted to escalate things beyond that , but a possible hot war between the two is certainly a cause for concern to both Moscow and Ankara .
“ Our region is tired of constant clashes , from the intervention of external forces , ” Erdogan ’ s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters earlier in the week , adding that Turkey urged both Iran and the US to “ reduce tensions.
” Another hot topic is Erdogan ’ s decision to intervene in Libya .
Turkey is seeking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( GNA ) in Tripoli , the internationally recognized regime that has been reduced to control over the capital , while the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) of General Khalifa Haftar holds most of the rest of the country .
Haftar has declared jihad in response , and vowed to drive out all foreign “ invaders.
” Erdogan and Putin also don ’ t see entirely eye to eye on Syria .
The Turkish leader has been unhappy about the Syrian Army ’ s drive into Idlib , the last remaining stronghold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that include Al-Qaeda affiliates .
Kalin said that Turkey does not see President Bashar Assad as “ the leader capable of taking the country into the future.
” Russia , on the other hand , backs the government in Damascus , where Putin stopped for a brief , surprise visit on Tuesday .
After a special military briefing , Putin and Assad took a walk , visiting a historic mosque and an Orthodox cathedral .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Russian diplomacy being set into action in order to deescalate the march towards war between the United States and Iran.
Support Free Speech:
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute.
The Duran Audio Podcast:
Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes.
Via RT…
Arriving in Turkey for the grand opening of a gas pipeline, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to discuss the recent escalation of the US-Iranian conflict in Iraq with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Putin’s visit was scheduled in advance, and involved the ceremonial opening of ‘Turk Stream,’ a natural gas pipeline running under the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey. He was also scheduled to meet with Erdogan in Istanbul and discuss the security situation in the region.
However, Iraq suddenly shot to the top of the agenda overnight, as Iran fired off two volleys of missiles at US bases in retaliation for the US drone strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani at a Baghdad airport last week.
As night fell in Washington, it looked like neither the US nor Iran wanted to escalate things beyond that, but a possible hot war between the two is certainly a cause for concern to both Moscow and Ankara.
“Our region is tired of constant clashes, from the intervention of external forces,” Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters earlier in the week, adding that Turkey urged both Iran and the US to “reduce tensions.”
Another hot topic is Erdogan’s decision to intervene in Libya. Turkey is seeking to prop up the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, the internationally recognized regime that has been reduced to control over the capital, while the Libyan National Army (LNA) of General Khalifa Haftar holds most of the rest of the country. Haftar has declared jihad in response, and vowed to drive out all foreign “invaders.”
Erdogan and Putin also don’t see entirely eye to eye on Syria. The Turkish leader has been unhappy about the Syrian Army’s drive into Idlib, the last remaining stronghold of the Turkish-backed “moderate rebels” that include Al-Qaeda affiliates. Kalin said that Turkey does not see President Bashar Assad as “the leader capable of taking the country into the future.”
Russia, on the other hand, backs the government in Damascus, where Putin stopped for a brief, surprise visit on Tuesday. After a special military briefing, Putin and Assad took a walk, visiting a historic mosque and an Orthodox cathedral.
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