theduran--2020-02-24--The Hidden Tyranny In Trump’s America

The Hidden Tyranny In Trump’s America

The subject of civil asset forfeiture in the United States was covered briefly in a previous article , but this tyrannical practice requires a more substantial treatment .
Few people have any problems with the authorities seizing the profits of crimes .
This is something that goes back centuries if not millennia .
If a man arrested on a burglary charge is unable to explain the 25 wide screen TV sets and 20 laptop computers stashed in his garage , they will surely be confiscated , even if their rightful owners can not be traced .
Similarly , whatever one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in possession of a substantial quantity of illegal drugs might well find his bank account frozen .
But how far should forfeiture go ?
Should even a big drug dealer be bankrupted if he is convicted ?
How about a small drug dealer ?
How about the relative of a very small drug dealer , a woman who had nothing to do with drug dealing ?
Grandmother Elizabeth Young was not a well woman .
She had owned and lived in her Philadelphia house since the 1970s , and in 2006 she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2009 , her son came to the attention of the local drug squad , and in 2012 , after he was convicted of a low level offence , the authorities seized her house .
Fortunately , after a lengthy legal battle , the Supreme Court Of Philadelphia Eastern District upheld the decision of a lower court and ordered her property be returned to her .
Other cases involving smaller seizures are equally horrifying , as are larger ones .
In December 1988 , police in Detroit raided a grocery store looking for drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they brought with them reacted to three $ 1 bills in the cash register , so the police seized $ 4,384 from the registers and the store safe .
In 1992 , a woman accused of shoplifting a $ 25 sweater in Iowa had her $ 18,000 car seized as a getaway vehicle .
It had been specially equipped for her handicapped daughter .
In 1994 , a farmer in California accidentally ran his tractor over a protected rat .
The tractor was seized .
It was worth $ 50,000 and bought on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example funny , the laugh could be on you .
Since 9/11 , civil asset forfeiture has been ramped up , and recent stories have been horrifying .
Police officers in many states routinely seize at times quite large sums of money from motorists and others for no legitimate reason .
To get the money back , the victim has to sue , and if he wins , he still has to pay his legal costs .
There are reasons for this , apart from the bovine mentality of the men and women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most important is that the police get to keep a share of the booty .
What has Donald Trump done about this legalised theft ?
The short answer is nothing .
True , he is draining The Swamp , but Trump never has a bad word to say about the police .
The last utterance he made that could be considered even slightly disparaging of them was when Terence Crutcher was shot dead by a female officer .
Then candidate Trump said only that maybe people like her should not be policing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precisely nothing , indeed in his short tenure as Attorney General , Jeff Sessions sought to expand the practice .
Fortunately though , others are waking up to this pernicious practice .
Last December , a South Carolina judge ruled civil asset forfeiture unconstitutional , and last month , supported by the Institute For Justice , Melisa Ingram of Detroit ( pictured ) led a class action lawsuit against her county for seizing her vehicle twice .
Where are you Donald Trump ?
One might also ask where are the social justice warriors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who demand immigrants be let into the country en masse and unchecked when their fellow citizens are being abused like this ?
Obviously they don ’ t care , and Trump is quite likely oblivious to this tyrannical practice , just as he appears to be oblivious to police brutality .

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 subject of civil asset forfeiture in the United States was covered briefly in a previous article, but this tyrannical practice requires a more substantial treatment.
Few people have any problems with the authorities seizing the profits of crimes. This is something that goes back centuries if not millennia. If a man arrested on a burglary charge is unable to explain the 25 wide screen TV sets and 20 laptop computers stashed in his garage, they will surely be confiscated, even if their rightful owners cannot be traced. Similarly, whatever one thinks of drug prohibition, a man found in possession of a substantial quantity of illegal drugs might well find his bank account frozen. But how far should forfeiture go? Should even a big drug dealer be bankrupted if he is convicted? How about a small drug dealer? How about the relative of a very small drug dealer, a woman who had nothing to do with drug dealing?
Grandmother Elizabeth Young was not a well woman. She had owned and lived in her Philadelphia house since the 1970s, and in 2006 she bought a 1997 minivan. In late 2009, her son came to the attention of the local drug squad, and in 2012, after he was convicted of a low level offence, the authorities seized her house. Fortunately, after a lengthy legal battle, the Supreme Court Of Philadelphia Eastern District upheld the decision of a lower court and ordered her property be returned to her.
Other cases involving smaller seizures are equally horrifying, as are larger ones.
In December 1988, police in Detroit raided a grocery store looking for drugs, but found none. The dogs they brought with them reacted to three $1 bills in the cash register, so the police seized $4,384 from the registers and the store safe.
In 1992, a woman accused of shoplifting a $25 sweater in Iowa had her $18,000 car seized as a getaway vehicle. It had been specially equipped for her handicapped daughter.
In 1994, a farmer in California accidentally ran his tractor over a protected rat. The tractor was seized. It was worth $50,000 and bought on credit.
If you found that last example funny, the laugh could be on you. Since 9/11, civil asset forfeiture has been ramped up, and recent stories have been horrifying.
Police officers in many states routinely seize at times quite large sums of money from motorists and others for no legitimate reason. To get the money back, the victim has to sue, and if he wins, he still has to pay his legal costs.
There are reasons for this, apart from the bovine mentality of the men and women recruited by police departments. Probably the most important is that the police get to keep a share of the booty.
What has Donald Trump done about this legalised theft? The short answer is nothing. True, he is draining The Swamp, but Trump never has a bad word to say about the police. The last utterance he made that could be considered even slightly disparaging of them was when Terence Crutcher was shot dead by a female officer. Then candidate Trump said only that maybe people like her should not be policing the public. Since then he has done precisely nothing, indeed in his short tenure as Attorney General, Jeff Sessions sought to expand forfeiture.
Fortunately though, others are waking up to this pernicious practice. Last December, a South Carolina judge ruled civil asset forfeiture unconstitutional, and last month, supported by the Institute For Justice, Melisa Ingram of Detroit (pictured) led a class action lawsuit against her county for seizing her vehicle twice. Where are you Donald Trump? One might also ask where are the social justice warriors who riot over trivialities or nothing, who demand immigrants be let into the country en masse and unchecked when their fellow citizens are being abused like this? Obviously they don’t care, and Trump is quite likely oblivious to this tyrannical practice, just as he appears to be oblivious to police brutality.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-25--Harry Truman, Too, Was a Self-Described Democratic Socialist

This is from the public papers of U.S. President Harry S. Truman in 1952 : [ rail-car campaigning for Adlai Stevenson in N.Y. State to become Truman ’ s successor , against Dwight Eisenhower ] Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years .
Socialism is what they called public power .
Socialism is what they called social security .
Socialism is what they called farm price supports .
Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance .
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name for almost anything that helps all the people .
When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan “ Down With Socialism ” on the banner of his “ great crusade , ” that is really not what he means at all .
What he really means is , “ Down with Progress–down with Franklin Roosevelt ’ s New Deal , ” and “ down with Harry Truman ’ s fair Deal.
” That is what he means .
Politico headlined on February 24th , “ Sanders sends Democratic establishment into panic mode ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of urgency washed over establishment Democrats , who fear it ’ s quickly becoming too late to stop Sanders.
” Today ’ s Democratic Party Establishment — the Clintonites and Obamaites and the supporters of every one of the current crop of Democratic Presidential candidates except for Bernie Sanders — are not in the tradition of Truman , and of his immediate predecessor Franklin Delano Roosevelt , but are instead in the post-Reagan tradition of the Democratic Party , the tradition that was well represented by Bill Clinton when he , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , don ’ t tell , ” and then joined with the Republicans in Congress to abolish FDR ’ s Glass-Steagall Act and also to allow unregulated trading in investment-derivatives , and generally to deregulate the economy , and to sign into law and promote NAFTA , which expanded U.S. corporate profits at the expense of America ’ s working-class .
His wife wanted also that there would be expanded fracking , just like the Republicans wanted , and she wanted Iraq to be invaded , just like George W. Bush and Dick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowadays is pushing lots of proposals that the Republican Party had pushed for prior to the Reagan revolution , proposals for unleashing the nation ’ s mega-corporations and producing enormous wealth-inequality .
Bernie Sanders is the only Democrat who is running in today ’ s ‘ Democratic ’ Party Presidential primaries .
All of the other candidates in those primaries are warmed-over pre-Reagan Republicans .
Only Sanders is running against the Republican ‘ Democrats ’ , who are , basically , spitting on FDR ’ s grave .
The revolt against Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe by its 700+ superdelegates at the upcoming Convention so as to throw its nomination to Elizabeth Warren or one of the other ‘ moderate ’ ‘ Democrats ’ , is simply the revolt against Franklin Delano Roosevelt ’ s Democratic Party .
It is their revolt against progressivism , and for conservatism , so as to keep today ’ s Democratic Party , a liberal instead of progressive party .
Liberalism blends progressivism and conservatism .
The founder of liberalism was the man who had blended conservatism and progressivism , John Locke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with an honestly that is stunningly rare : “ As secretary to the Earl of Shaftesbury , then chancellor of the exchequer , Locke assisted in drafting the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina .
He was secretary to the Council of Trade and Plantations ( 1673–74 ) and a member of the Board of Trade ( 1696–1700 ) , with responsibility for the American colonies .
He was a major investor in the English slave trade through the Royal African Company and the Bahama Adventurers company.
” This is what today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that tradition , of the British aristocracy , even the slave-traders amongst them , not the progressive tradition , which FDR created in the Democratic Party , and which Bernie Sanders calls simply “ democratic socialism ” and cites Denmark and other Scandinavian countries as being contemporary examples of what has worked well elsewhere that can also work well here .
( Although FDR created it in the Democratic Party , he was simply copying and adapting from the best of the European nations ; for example , Social Security was instituted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had it by that time — and what Bernie Sanders is trying to do is in that tradition , of copying and adapting the best from abroad , not just continuing exceptionally bad existing U.S .
practices . )
Today ’ s DNC , and its ‘ Third Way ’ mouthpieces ( Third Way is now propagandizing against Sanders in South Carolina ) are scaremongering against Sanders being a “ socialist , ” and ( as that news-report said ) “ When Third Way held a meeting in Charleston in June 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referred to Sanders as an ‘ existential threat ’ to the future of the Democratic Party.
” This is the line that the Democratic Party ’ s billionaires are now spreading .
They ’ re determined to retain control over the Party , just as the Republican Party ’ s super-rich have always had control over the Republican Party since the very moment when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 .
The insurrection is largely , if not exclusively , a war upon the first principle of popular government — the rights of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is found in the most grave and maturely considered public documents , as well as in the general tone of the insurgents .
In those documents we find the abridgement of the existing right of suffrage and the denial to the people of all right to participate in the selection of public officers , except the legislative boldly advocated , with labored arguments to prove that large control of the people in government , is the source of all political evil .
Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a possible refuge from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my present position , I could scarcely be justified were I to omit raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism .
It is not needed , nor fitting here , that a general argument should be made in favor of popular institutions ; but there is one point , with its connexions , not so hackneyed as most others , to which I ask a brief attention .
It is the effort to place capital on an equal footing with , if not above labor , in the structure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is available only in connexion with capital ; that nobody labors unless somebody else , owning capital , somehow by the use of it , induces him to labor .
This assumed , it is next considered [ Page 52 ] whether it is best that capital shall hire laborers , and thus induce them to work by their own consent , or buy them , and drive them to it without their consent .
Having proceeded so far , it is naturally concluded that all laborers are either hired laborers , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer , is fixed in that condition for life .
Now , there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed ; nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the condition of a hired laborer .
Both these assumptions are false , and all inferences from them are groundless .
Labor is prior to , and independent of , capital .
Capital is only the fruit of labor , and could never have existed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labor is the superior of capital , and deserves much the higher consideration .
Capital has its rights , which are as worthy of protection as any other rights .
Nor is it denied that there is , and probably always will be , a relation between labor and capital , producing mutual benefits .
The error is in assuming that the whole labor of community exists within that relation .
A few men own capital , and that few avoid labor themselves , and , with their capital , hire or buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A large majority belong to neither class — neither work for others , nor have others working for them .
In most of the southern States , a majority of the whole people of all colors are neither slaves nor masters ; while in the northern a large majority are neither hirers nor hired .
Men with their families — wives , sons , and daughters — work for themselves , on their farms , in their houses , and in their shops , taking the whole product to themselves , and asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand , nor of hired laborers or slaves on the other .
It is not forgotten that a considerable number of persons mingle their own labor with capital — that is , they labor with their own hands , and also buy or hire others to labor for them ; but this is only a mixed , and not a distinct class .
No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of this mixed class .
Would the post-Lincoln Republican Party assert any such thing as that “ Labor is prior to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only the fruit of labor , and could never have existed if labor had not first existed .
Labor is the superior of capital , and deserves much the higher consideration.
” ?
To anyone who would spout the line of America ’ s billionaires ( either Republican or Democratic ones ) , Bernie Sanders would , as the Presidential nominee of , and standard-bearer for , a restored progressive Democratic Party , be able to quote both Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln , in order to expose those persons ’ frauds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and restore it to the people .
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
This is from the public papers of U.S. President Harry S. Truman in 1952:
——
https://web.archive.org/web/20190404174655/https://trumanlibrary.org/publicpapers/index.php/index.php
“Public Papers, Harry S. Truman, 1945-1953, October 10, 1952”
[rail-car campaigning for Adlai Stevenson in N.Y. State to become Truman’s successor, against Dwight Eisenhower]
Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.
Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called farm price supports.
Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan “Down With Socialism” on the banner of his “great crusade,” that is really not what he means at all.
What he really means is, “Down with Progress–down with Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal,” and “down with Harry Truman’s fair Deal.” That is what he means.
——
Politico headlined on February 24th, “Sanders sends Democratic establishment into panic mode” and reported that “A renewed sense of urgency washed over establishment Democrats, who fear it’s quickly becoming too late to stop Sanders.”
Today’s Democratic Party Establishment — the Clintonites and Obamaites and the supporters of every one of the current crop of Democratic Presidential candidates except for Bernie Sanders — are not in the tradition of Truman, and of his immediate predecessor Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but are instead in the post-Reagan tradition of the Democratic Party, the tradition that was well represented by Bill Clinton when he, for example, created “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and then joined with the Republicans in Congress to abolish FDR’s Glass-Steagall Act and also to allow unregulated trading in investment-derivatives, and generally to deregulate the economy, and to sign into law and promote NAFTA, which expanded U.S. corporate profits at the expense of America’s working-class. His wife wanted also that there would be expanded fracking, just like the Republicans wanted, and she wanted Iraq to be invaded, just like George W. Bush and Dick Cheney did. And the Democratic Establishment nowadays is pushing lots of proposals that the Republican Party had pushed for prior to the Reagan revolution, proposals for unleashing the nation’s mega-corporations and producing enormous wealth-inequality.
Bernie Sanders is the only Democrat who is running in today’s ‘Democratic’ Party Presidential primaries. All of the other candidates in those primaries are warmed-over pre-Reagan Republicans. Only Sanders is running against the Republican ‘Democrats’, who are, basically, spitting on FDR’s grave.
The revolt against Sanders, by the Democratic National Committee, and maybe by its 700+ superdelegates at the upcoming Convention so as to throw its nomination to Elizabeth Warren or one of the other ‘moderate’ ‘Democrats’, is simply the revolt against Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Democratic Party. It is their revolt against progressivism, and for conservatism, so as to keep today’s Democratic Party, a liberal instead of progressive party. Liberalism blends progressivism and conservatism. The founder of liberalism was the man who had blended conservatism and progressivism, John Locke, about whom John Quiggin has noted, with an honestly that is stunningly rare: “As secretary to the Earl of Shaftesbury, then chancellor of the exchequer, Locke assisted in drafting the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina. He was secretary to the Council of Trade and Plantations (1673–74) and a member of the Board of Trade (1696–1700), with responsibility for the American colonies. He was a major investor in the English slave trade through the Royal African Company and the Bahama Adventurers company.” This is what today’s Democratic National Committe (DNC) represents — that tradition, of the British aristocracy, even the slave-traders amongst them, not the progressive tradition, which FDR created in the Democratic Party, and which Bernie Sanders calls simply “democratic socialism” and cites Denmark and other Scandinavian countries as being contemporary examples of what has worked well elsewhere that can also work well here. (Although FDR created it in the Democratic Party, he was simply copying and adapting from the best of the European nations; for example, Social Security was instituted in 1935 but already six European nations had it by that time — and what Bernie Sanders is trying to do is in that tradition, of copying and adapting the best from abroad, not just continuing exceptionally bad existing U.S. practices.)
Today’s DNC, and its ‘Third Way’ mouthpieces (Third Way is now propagandizing against Sanders in South Carolina) are scaremongering against Sanders being a “socialist,” and (as that news-report said) “When Third Way held a meeting in Charleston in June 2019, one of the group’s founders referred to Sanders as an ‘existential threat’ to the future of the Democratic Party.” This is the line that the Democratic Party’s billionaires are now spreading. They’re determined to retain control over the Party, just as the Republican Party’s super-rich have always had control over the Republican Party since the very moment when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.
Abraham Lincoln had said:
The insurrection is largely, if not exclusively, a war upon the first principle of popular government — the rights of the people. Conclusive evidence of this is found in the most grave and maturely considered public documents, as well as in the general tone of the insurgents. In those documents we find the abridgement of the existing right of suffrage and the denial to the people of all right to participate in the selection of public officers, except the legislative boldly advocated, with labored arguments to prove that large control of the people in government, is the source of all political evil. Monarchy itself is sometimes hinted at as a possible refuge from the power of the people.
In my present position, I could scarcely be justified were I to omit raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism.
It is not needed, nor fitting here, that a general argument should be made in favor of popular institutions; but there is one point, with its connexions, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effort to place capital on an equal footing with, if not above labor, in the structure of government. It is assumed that labor is available only in connexion with capital; that nobody labors unless somebody else, owning capital, somehow by the use of it, induces him to labor. This assumed, it is next considered [Page 52] whether it is best that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their own consent, or buy them, and drive them to it without their consent. Having proceeded so far, it is naturally concluded that all laborers are either hired laborers, or what we call slaves. And further it is assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer, is fixed in that condition for life.
Now, there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed; nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the condition of a hired laborer. Both these assumptions are false, and all inferences from them are groundless.
Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is, and probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital, producing mutual benefits. The error is in assuming that the whole labor of community exists within that relation. A few men own capital, and that few avoid labor themselves, and, with their capital, hire or buy another few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither class — neither work for others, nor have others working for them. In most of the southern States, a majority of the whole people of all colors are neither slaves nor masters; while in the northern a large majority are neither hirers nor hired. Men with their families — wives, sons, and daughters — work for themselves, on their farms, in their houses, and in their shops, taking the whole product to themselves, and asking no favors of capital on the one hand, nor of hired laborers or slaves on the other. It is not forgotten that a considerable number of persons mingle their own labor with capital — that is, they labor with their own hands, and also buy or hire others to labor for them; but this is only a mixed, and not a distinct class. No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of this mixed class.
Would the post-Lincoln Republican Party assert any such thing as that “Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”?
To anyone who would spout the line of America’s billionaires (either Republican or Democratic ones), Bernie Sanders would, as the Presidential nominee of, and standard-bearer for, a restored progressive Democratic Party, be able to quote both Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln, in order to expose those persons’ frauds and take the White House away from them and restore it to the people.
—————
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.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-24--What Assange’s Legal Team May Be Doing.

What Assange’s Legal Team May Be Doing.

Watching RT I realized why Assange ’ s legal team may be raising the issue of Trump allegedly offering a @ @ @ @ @ it , if it is established that the nature of the extradition request is not @ @ @ @ @ rather a political one , then application of British law is different .
If criminal @ @ @ @ @ Brits are more or less obliged to extradite , not so if the issue is @ @ @ @ @ it ?
Take a second to support The Duran on Patreon !

Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time.
Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time.


theduran--2020-02-24--Sabotaging Kabul’s Multipolar Revolution With China and Russia

Authored by Federico Pieraccini via The Strategic Culture Foundation : Nineteen years after September 11 , 2001 and 17 years after launching its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan , the U.S. seems ready to cut a deal with the Taliban in order to freeze out its Eurasian rivals .
The central government in Kabul has in recent years granted a leading role to Moscow and Beijing in efforts to pacify the country by bringing all parties to the negotiating table .
A successful outcome would allow Afghanistan to reap the benefits of its geographical position vis-a-vis Sino-Russian infrastructure projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamics of China ’ s economic power and Russia ’ s military weight promises to spark a multipolar revolution in the country and beyond that would spread to neighbors like India , Pakistan and Iran .
Moscow had even initiated historical negotiations with Taliban representatives , culminating in a visit to Moscow .
U.S. sources at the time voiced doubts about the success of any peace plan and tensions between the U.S. and Iran were high , with sanctions imposed on Iran and pressure placed on U.S. allies in the region like India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing must have seen it as opportune to renew extended talks on Afghanistan that included regional countries but excluded the U.S. Washington ’ s countermove took place shortly thereafter , calling into service the Taliban , an old geopolitical tool of theirs .
This faction of Afghan politics served as a handy expedient to justify Washington ’ s initial invasion of Afghanistan and will now be employed to obviate Washington ’ s exclusion from any peace accords .
The CIA wielded the Taliban as a weapon against the USSR , arming and supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from this strategy came 20 years later with the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 that was carried out by al Qaeda with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan giving them aid and comfort , or so the State Department has officially been telling us .
As geopolitics never gets boring , Washington will now , 20 years after entering the country , try and use an agreement with the Taliban to scupper the regional plans of Kabul , Moscow and Beijing as well as to justify its continued existence in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslim Brotherhood , whose military strength lies in Turkey and economic strength in Qatar ) entering into negotiations with the U.S. means betraying its initial determination to remove any foreign presence in Afghanistan .
But this has not stopped it from unofficially negotiating with Washington in Qatar for more than a year .
Washington ’ s primary goal is to remain in the country militarily in order to position itself in what is a geopolitically strategic location , the intention always being to slow down the integration and economic union of Eurasia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ central pivot both for China ’ s Belt and Road Initiative and Russia ’ s North-South corridor to connect Moscow and New Delhi .
Afghanistan is also the gateway and intersection between North Africa , the Middle East , the Persian Gulf and South Asia .
It is therefore not surprising that Afghanistan is a country that attracts great-power competition involving the likes of the U.S. , Russia , India and China .
Washington ’ s deal with the Taliban may be based on the avowed need to fight against the terrorist threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a moment to point out that the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan is quite recent , leading to all sorts of questions as to how they came to be there in the first place and of what assistance they may have received from foreign intelligence agencies in getting there .
ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been used by foreign powers opposed to the central government in Damascus as a bludgeon with which to devastate the country .
It seems the same modus operandi will be applied to Afghanistan , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving as the perfect blessing for this strange marriage of convenience between the U.S. and the Taliban and a justification for a continued presence by the U.S. in Afghanistan .
Washington ’ s continued presence will not only destabilize Afghanistan but also neighboring countries like Pakistan and India that have suffered from the consequences of U.S. military occupation in the region for 17 years .
Washington ’ s agreement with the Taliban will only further cement the role of the U.S. in the valiant fight against international terrorism , reflecting similar roles played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Syria respectively , the former a U.S. ally and the latter a prominent NATO member .
The aim of China , Russia and Iran is to drive the U.S. out of the Middle East and Eurasia and thereby bring about peace , stability and prosperity to the region .
Afghanistan and Iran are two countries critical in the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative and all that it entails for Western Asia .
The possibility of expelling Washington from the heart of Eurasia is an opportunity that Russia and China can @ @ @ @ @

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.
Authored by Federico Pieraccini via The Strategic Culture Foundation:
Nineteen years after September 11, 2001 and 17 years after launching its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. seems ready to cut a deal with the Taliban in order to freeze out its Eurasian rivals.
The central government in Kabul has in recent years granted a leading role to Moscow and Beijing in efforts to pacify the country by bringing all parties to the negotiating table. A successful outcome would allow Afghanistan to reap the benefits of its geographical position vis-a-vis Sino-Russian infrastructure projects.
The entry into Afghanistan’s dynamics of China’s economic power and Russia’s military weight promises to spark a multipolar revolution in the country and beyond that would spread to neighbors like India, Pakistan and Iran.
Moscow had even initiated historical negotiations with Taliban representatives, culminating in a visit to Moscow. U.S. sources at the time voiced doubts about the success of any peace plan and tensions between the U.S. and Iran were high, with sanctions imposed on Iran and pressure placed on U.S. allies in the region like India to boycott Iranian oil.
Moscow and Beijing must have seen it as opportune to renew extended talks on Afghanistan that included regional countries but excluded the U.S.
Washington’s countermove took place shortly thereafter, calling into service the Taliban, an old geopolitical tool of theirs. This faction of Afghan politics served as a handy expedient to justify Washington’s initial invasion of Afghanistan and will now be employed to obviate Washington’s exclusion from any peace accords.
The CIA wielded the Taliban as a weapon against the USSR, arming and supporting it since the 1980s. The blowback from this strategy came 20 years later with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 that was carried out by al Qaeda with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan giving them aid and comfort, or so the State Department has officially been telling us.
As geopolitics never gets boring, Washington will now, 20 years after entering the country, try and use an agreement with the Taliban to scupper the regional plans of Kabul, Moscow and Beijing as well as to justify its continued existence in the country.
The Taliban (influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, whose military strength lies in Turkey and economic strength in Qatar) entering into negotiations with the U.S. means betraying its initial determination to remove any foreign presence in Afghanistan. But this has not stopped it from unofficially negotiating with Washington in Qatar for more than a year.
Washington’s primary goal is to remain in the country militarily in order to position itself in what is a geopolitically strategic location, the intention always being to slow down the integration and economic union of Eurasia, in the knowledge that Afghanistan is a central pivot both for China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Russia’s North-South corridor to connect Moscow and New Delhi. Afghanistan is also the gateway and intersection between North Africa, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and South Asia.
It is therefore not surprising that Afghanistan is a country that attracts great-power competition involving the likes of the U.S., Russia, India and China.
Washington’s deal with the Taliban may be based on the avowed need to fight against the terrorist threat posed by ISIS. We must pause for a moment to point out that the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan is quite recent, leading to all sorts of questions as to how they came to be there in the first place and of what assistance they may have received from foreign intelligence agencies in getting there. ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been used by foreign powers opposed to the central government in Damascus as a bludgeon with which to devastate the country.
It seems the same modus operandi will be applied to Afghanistan, with the putative struggle between ISIS and the Taliban serving as the perfect blessing for this strange marriage of convenience between the U.S. and the Taliban and a justification for a continued presence by the U.S. in Afghanistan.
Washington’s continued presence will not only destabilize Afghanistan but also neighboring countries like Pakistan and India that have suffered from the consequences of U.S. military occupation in the region for 17 years.
Washington’s agreement with the Taliban will only further cement the role of the U.S. in the valiant fight against international terrorism, reflecting similar roles played by Saudi Arabia and Turkey in Yemen and Syria respectively, the former a U.S. ally and the latter a prominent NATO member.
The aim of China, Russia and Iran is to drive the U.S. out of the Middle East and Eurasia and thereby bring about peace, stability and prosperity to the region. Afghanistan and Iran are two countries critical in the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative and all that it entails for Western Asia. The possibility of expelling Washington from the heart of Eurasia is an opportunity that Russia and China cannot afford to waste.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-24--USA is pulling nukes out of Turkey

USA is pulling nukes out of Turkey

As reported earlier , Air Mobility Command ’ s C-17A Globemaster III arrived at Incerlik AB , Turkey from Sicily , Italy on February , 20 as part of US-led exercise Defender Europe 2020 , Air Mobility Command officials said .
Five more C-17A Globemasters III arrived to Incerlik AB from Ramstein Air Base on February , 21 .
Our sources at Incerlik AB confirm that the presence of five additional transport aircraft is a clear evidence of getting the whole bulk of nukes ( that are currently stored at Incerlik AB amid tensions in Syria ) out to Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Five nuclear bombs are to be transported to Poland and one of the Baltic states accordingly with the rest of the stock to be delivered to Germany .
This goes in line with an observatory flight over Turkey that will be carried out by Russian inspectors on February 25-28 as a means to verify the withdrawal of nuclear weapons .
The inspection was declared by Sergei Ryzhkov , head of Russia ’ s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center .
Besides , there ’ s a forward-deployed nuclear weapons storage depot for @ @ @ @ @ @

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.
As reported earlier, Air Mobility Command’s C-17A Globemaster III arrived at Incerlik AB, Turkey from Sicily, Italy on February, 20 as part of US-led exercise Defender Europe 2020, Air Mobility Command officials said.
Five more C-17A Globemasters III arrived to Incerlik AB from Ramstein Air Base on February, 21. Our sources at Incerlik AB confirm that the presence of five additional transport aircraft is a clear evidence of getting the whole bulk of nukes (that are currently stored at Incerlik AB amid tensions in Syria) out to Germany, Poland and one of the Baltic states. Five nuclear bombs are to be transported to Poland and one of the Baltic states accordingly with the rest of the stock to be delivered to Germany.
This goes in line with an observatory flight over Turkey that will be carried out by Russian inspectors on February 25-28 as a means to verify the withdrawal of nuclear weapons. The inspection was declared by Sergei Ryzhkov, head of Russia’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center.
Besides, there’s a forward-deployed nuclear weapons storage depot for Defender Europe 2020 in Powidz.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-24--SAS management silent about advertisement backlash

Customer , pilots and employees in the Scandinavian Airlines Systems ( SAS ) have reacted strongly after an advertisement stating that there is really nothing Scandinavian .
Currently , the video has 13K likes and 107K dislikes .
The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris have previously questioned the wisdom of telling the people of Scandinavia that there is really nothing special about their culture in their analysis .
Reaching out to the top management , CEO Rickard Gustavson and the Chairman of the board of directors , Carsten Dilling from Denmark through LinkedIn , email and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer questions about the criticism from their own pilots and other employees .
The leader for the Swedish Pilot union in SAS , Wilhelm Tersmeden , says the following to the newspaper Expressen : “ The reactions of our customers to SAS ’ s latest commercials show that they appreciate and care about the Scandinavian brand .
We share their view that with Irish aircraft , Spanish pilots and Baltic cabin crew , the Scandinavian feels increasingly marginalized ” In the same story under the subheading “ Shot themselves in the foot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy with the ad campaign .
SAS ’ s plans are similar to the plans the company has with its low-cost company SAS Ireland , which flies from London and Spain .
The flights take place , among other things , to Stockholm , Copenhagen and Oslo with foreign crews at a lower salary cost.
” “ We see the film as a way from SAS to accustom the passengers in that there is no longer always Scandinavian staff on flights within Scandinavia .
But this time , they have shot themselves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who remains anonymous .
Another pilot says : “ Clearly , this should be seen as part of the preparation for a new low-cost company within SAS with foreign crews .
Passengers should slowly but surely become accustomed to the fact that Norwegian , Swedish or Danish will not be spoken in the cabin .
I see the film as a subtle way of getting passengers to think away the Scandinavian .
The management is probably in shock now and is wondering what happened to this million production of a film.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian Laulund , a Norwegian pilot based in Oslo also wrote an email to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet .
“ The reactions to this film clearly show that our customers react strongly and are concerned about the Scandinavian brand SAS .
The fact that the company is increasing the use of Irish aircraft , Spanish pilots and Baltic cabin crew makes “ It´s Scandinavian ” seem more and more distant , ” Laulund writes .
Russian connection Especially Swedish media , with the newspaper Aftonbladet as one of the worse examples , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Russians for the negative backlash on the ad campaign .
These are some of their headlines : • We become useful idiots in a fictional culture war • True Sweden friends do not run errands for Putin • This is how right-wing populist networks hijacked SAS ’ s new commercials In a press release , SAS writes that “ the pattern in the comment sections and the volume of reactions in SAS ’ social media channels suggest that the campaign was subject to an attack .
The Norwegian SAS spokesman John Eckoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence that Russians or right wing radicals are behind the negative backlash on the ad campaign .
“ We have seen no evidence for this , ” Eckhoff says .
However , SAS has also been a target of a fake press release stating that “ SAS warns legal response to Russian internet campaign.
” The following statement never originated from SAS : “ We have reason to believe that the attack on this ad was organized and managed by a network of professional actors , funded and directed by political leaders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fly-sas.world has now been suspended .
When contacted by The Duran , Eckoff does not have any comment to the origin , other than to state that is it obviously fake .
In any case , it would be interesting to follow , and with the massive negative attention , it would be interesting to see if SAS will experience the same backlash as Gillette when they attacked men for being men .
Currently the video We Believe : The Best Men Can Be has 810K likes and 1.5M dislikes .
Kristian Kahrs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serbia , and he describes himself as a former NATO warmonger , turned a warrior for peace .
Norway sent Kristian to Kosovo in 2000 to be the NATO spokesman , and he has previously been writing for The Associated Press and Norwegian and international media .
More about Kristian on his website ohrabrenje.com .

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 Kristian Kahrs…
Customer, pilots and employees in the Scandinavian Airlines Systems (SAS) have reacted strongly after an advertisement stating that there is really nothing Scandinavian. Currently, the video has 13K likes and 107K dislikes.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris have previously questioned the wisdom of telling the people of Scandinavia that there is really nothing special about their culture in their analysis.
Reaching out to the top management, CEO Rickard Gustavson and the Chairman of the board of directors, Carsten Dilling from Denmark through LinkedIn, email and WhatsApp, they have not wanted to answer questions about the criticism from their own pilots and other employees.
The leader for the Swedish Pilot union in SAS, Wilhelm Tersmeden, says the following to the newspaper Expressen:
“The reactions of our customers to SAS’s latest commercials show that they appreciate and care about the Scandinavian brand. We share their view that with Irish aircraft, Spanish pilots and Baltic cabin crew, the Scandinavian feels increasingly marginalized”
In the same story under the subheading “Shot themselves in the foot,” two anonymous pilots are not very happy with the ad campaign.
SAS’s plans are similar to the plans the company has with its low-cost company SAS Ireland, which flies from London and Spain. The flights take place, among other things, to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo with foreign crews at a lower salary cost.”
“We see the film as a way from SAS to accustom the passengers in that there is no longer always Scandinavian staff on flights within Scandinavia. But this time, they have shot themselves in the foot,” says a pilot who remains anonymous.
Another pilot says: “Clearly, this should be seen as part of the preparation for a new low-cost company within SAS with foreign crews. Passengers should slowly but surely become accustomed to the fact that Norwegian, Swedish or Danish will not be spoken in the cabin. I see the film as a subtle way of getting passengers to think away the Scandinavian. The management is probably in shock now and is wondering what happened to this million production of a film.”
The leader for the SAS Pilot Group, Christian Laulund, a Norwegian pilot based in Oslo also wrote an email to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet.
“The reactions to this film clearly show that our customers react strongly and are concerned about the Scandinavian brand SAS. The fact that the company is increasing the use of Irish aircraft, Spanish pilots and Baltic cabin crew makes “It´s Scandinavian” seem more and more distant,” Laulund writes.
Russian connection
Especially Swedish media, with the newspaper Aftonbladet as one of the worse examples, has done what they can to blame Russia and Russians for the negative backlash on the ad campaign. These are some of their headlines:
In a press release, SAS writes that “the pattern in the comment sections and the volume of reactions in SAS’ social media channels suggest that the campaign was subject to an attack.
The Norwegian SAS spokesman John Eckoff says to faktisk.no that SAS has no evidence that Russians or right wing radicals are behind the negative backlash on the ad campaign. “We have seen no evidence for this,” Eckhoff says.
However, SAS has also been a target of a fake press release stating that “SAS warns legal response to Russian internet campaign.” The following statement never originated from SAS: “We have reason to believe that the attack on this ad was organized and managed by a network of professional actors, funded and directed by political leaders in the Russian Federation.”
The fake site fly-sas.world has now been suspended. When contacted by The Duran, Eckoff does not have any comment to the origin, other than to state that is it obviously fake.
In any case, it would be interesting to follow, and with the massive negative attention, it would be interesting to see if SAS will experience the same backlash as Gillette when they attacked men for being men. Currently the video We Believe: The Best Men Can Be has 810K likes and 1.5M dislikes.
Kristian Kahrs is a Norwegian living in Belgrade, Serbia, and he describes himself as a former NATO warmonger, turned a warrior for peace. Norway sent Kristian to Kosovo in 2000 to be the NATO spokesman, and he has previously been writing for The Associated Press and Norwegian and international media. More about Kristian on his website ohrabrenje.com.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-24--Same, lame Russia meddling BS. Trump & Bernie react in completely different ways (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the the same old ‘ Russia is meddling ’ intel narrative being pushed out by the fake news mainstream media , this time targeting not only US President Trump but also Bernie Sanders .
Trump blasted the fake news saying this is ‘ 2016 all over again for Bernie ’ , while the US president pointed the finger at Adam Schiff for the ‘ Russiagate ’ Sanders leaks .
Sanders meanwhile agreed with the intel report and media stories , calling Putin a “ thug ” , and warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute .
The Duran Audio Podcast : Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes .
President Donald Trump has blamed House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff for leaking a report on a supposed Russian effort to support Bernie Sanders ’ s campaign .
“ It sounds like it ’ s ‘ 16 all over again , ” Trump said .
As Sanders surged in the polls , the Washington Post ran an article on Friday describing a covert Russian effort to help the Vermont senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not specify “ what form that Russian assistance has taken , ” and provided no evidence , only assertions from anonymous intelligence officials .
Sanders ’ s campaign was briefed on the supposed Russian plot , but President Trump stated on Sunday that his administration received no such warning , despite the article ’ s claim that he had .
“ Nobody said it to me at all , nobody briefed me about that at all , ” Trump told reporters outside the White House .
According to the article , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a closed-doors meeting of the House Intelligence Committee last week .
Trump claimed on Sunday that the report had been leaked to the Post by committee chairman Adam Schiff – a committed ‘ Russiagater ’ who led the impeachment effort against Trump .
“ They leaked it , Adam Schiff and his group , they leaked it to the papers , ” Trump said .
“ He should not be leaking information out of intelligence .
They ought to investigate Adam Schiff.
” “ What it could be is , you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfairly , ” the president continued .
“ It sounds to me like a leak from Adam Schiff , because they don ’ t want Bernie Sanders to represent them .
It sounds like 2016 all over again for Bernie Sanders.
” Earlier on Sunday , National Security Advisor Michael O ’ Brien told CBS News that he hadn ’ t “ seen any intelligence to support the report.
” “ These are leaks that were coming from a House Intel Committee hearing , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ I haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up what I ’ m reading in the papers.
” Despite a tidal wave of popular support , 2016 saw Sanders pipped at the post by Hillary Clinton , whose campaign coordinated with the Democratic National Committee to secure her nomination .
This time around , the Democratic establishment and its supporters in the media once again have the socialist senator in their sights .
The Washington Post ’ s “ bombshell ” article preceded several TV spots over the weekend , in which liberal anchors compared Sanders ’ s rise to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin is overseeing his campaign , all in the name of getting Trump re-elected .
The negative coverage has apparently done little to dent Sanders ’ s popularity at the polls .
Indeed , the Vermont lawmaker seems to have a Trump-like ability to deflect negative coverage , and a loyal voter base – the ‘ Bernie Bros ’ the mainstream media wrung its hands over in recent weeks – who are distrustful of both the party establishment and the media .
Sanders won a decisive victory in Nevada and , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held a 26-point lead over his nearest rival , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Though establishment favorite Biden is polling ahead of Sanders in South Carolina – the sight of the next primary showdown – Sanders is topping the majority of nationwide polls .

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 the the same old ‘Russia is meddling’ intel narrative being pushed out by the fake news mainstream media, this time targeting not only US President Trump but also Bernie Sanders.
Trump blasted the fake news saying this is ‘2016 all over again for Bernie’, while the US president pointed the finger at Adam Schiff for the ‘Russiagate’ Sanders leaks.
Sanders meanwhile agreed with the intel report and media stories, calling Putin a “thug”, and warning Russia to stop meddling.
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…
President Donald Trump has blamed House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff for leaking a report on a supposed Russian effort to support Bernie Sanders’s campaign. “It sounds like it’s ‘16 all over again,” Trump said.
As Sanders surged in the polls, the Washington Post ran an article on Friday describing a covert Russian effort to help the Vermont senator win the Democratic nomination. The article did not specify “what form that Russian assistance has taken,” and provided no evidence, only assertions from anonymous intelligence officials.
Sanders’s campaign was briefed on the supposed Russian plot, but President Trump stated on Sunday that his administration received no such warning, despite the article’s claim that he had.
“Nobody said it to me at all, nobody briefed me about that at all,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.
According to the article, the anonymous intelligence official sounded the alarm at a closed-doors meeting of the House Intelligence Committee last week. Trump claimed on Sunday that the report had been leaked to the Post by committee chairman Adam Schiff – a committed ‘Russiagater’ who led the impeachment effort against Trump.
Just another Shifty Schiff leak. Isn’t there a law about this stuff? https://t.co/JWE0oPhiw9 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2020
“They leaked it, Adam Schiff and his group, they leaked it to the papers,” Trump said. “He should not be leaking information out of intelligence. They ought to investigate Adam Schiff.”
“What it could be is, you know, the Democrats are treating Bernie Sanders very unfairly,” the president continued. “It sounds to me like a leak from Adam Schiff, because they don’t want Bernie Sanders to represent them. It sounds like 2016 all over again for Bernie Sanders.”
You know what’s happening. You can see the handwriting on the wall.
Earlier on Sunday, National Security Advisor Michael O’Brien told CBS News that he hadn’t “seen any intelligence to support the report.”
“These are leaks that were coming from a House Intel Committee hearing,” O’Brien said. “I haven’t seen any intelligence to back up what I’m reading in the papers.”
Despite a tidal wave of popular support, 2016 saw Sanders pipped at the post by Hillary Clinton, whose campaign coordinated with the Democratic National Committee to secure her nomination.
This time around, the Democratic establishment and its supporters in the media once again have the socialist senator in their sights. The Washington Post’s “bombshell” article preceded several TV spots over the weekend, in which liberal anchors compared Sanders’s rise to that of Adolf Hitler, and claimed that Vladimir Putin is overseeing his campaign, all in the name of getting Trump re-elected.
The negative coverage has apparently done little to dent Sanders’s popularity at the polls. Indeed, the Vermont lawmaker seems to have a Trump-like ability to deflect negative coverage, and a loyal voter base – the ‘Bernie Bros’ the mainstream media wrung its hands over in recent weeks – who are distrustful of both the party establishment and the media.
Sanders won a decisive victory in Nevada and, with some results still outstanding on Sunday, held a 26-point lead over his nearest rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Though establishment favorite Biden is polling ahead of Sanders in South Carolina – the sight of the next primary showdown – Sanders is topping the majority of nationwide polls.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-28--Joe Biden, Ukraine and Viktor Shokin Mercury Poisoning (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss reports that Ukrainian detectives have now opened a case into possible pressure put on former Ukraine prosecutor general Viktor Shokin by former US Vice President Joe Biden , in order to stop Shokin ’ s investigation into Burisma and Hunter Biden .
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute .
The Duran Audio Podcast : Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes .
KYIV .
Feb 27 ( Interfax ) – Ukraine ’ s State Bureau of Investigation has registered a criminal case opened into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former prosecutor general Viktor Shokin by former U.S. vice president Joe Biden .
“ The State Bureau of Investigation has added information about a criminal offence committed to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations , ” Shokin ’ s lawyer Oleksandr Teleshetsky said at a press conference at the Interfax press center in Kyiv on Thursday .
The investigation was opened in response to a motion filed by Shokin .
The State Bureau of Investigation was court ordered to register the case .
In his motion , Shokin spoke of pressure put on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The reason for the pressure was the investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor General ’ s Office of Ukraine into grave crimes of international corruption linked with the activities of former Ecology Minister of Ukraine Mykola Zlochevsky and top managers at the Burisma company , ” he said .
Shokin ’ s motion was filed with the State Bureau of Investigation back on January 28 , 2020 , but information about the criminal offence was added to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations only on February 24 after the country ordered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The case was opened on the charge of interfering in the work of an official of a law enforcement agency , he said .
Even though Shokin included Biden ’ s name in the motion , which prompted the opening of the case , the investigation itself mentions only a “ U.S .
citizen , ” without giving any names , Teleshetsky said .
The State Bureau of Investigation is also handling criminal cases opened in response to Shokin ’ s motion on charges of disclosing pretrial probe secrets to employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
“ Bearing in mind the fact that a possible suspect in all three of these criminal offences could be Joseph Biden , as a person who , in our opinion , is involved in these events , we deem it necessary to merge all the cases into one , in order to ensure an effective investigation and set up a competent investigative group , as well as a group of experienced prosecutors who can ensure the investigation within a reasonable period of time , ” Teleshetsky said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take part in the investigation , he said , adding that he would forward the relevant request to the Prosecutor General ’ s Office .
“ We ’ ll definitely do this .
This is one of the priorities in this criminal investigation , because this case can ’ t be investigated without involving mechanisms of international legal cooperation , ” Teleshetsky said .
“ Judging by remarks Biden allowed himself to make in public , Viktor Mykolayovych Shokin has sufficient grounds to believe that it was him [ Biden ] who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perpetrated those criminal offences to which Shokin alerted the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine , ” he said .
Greek law enforcement agencies , in turn , are investigating Shokin ’ s mercury poisoning in 2019 , Teleshetsky said , adding that Shokin himself links this incident to Biden .
“ The results of this investigation are not yet available today .
We don ’ t have sufficient grounds to assert…file motions and requests with the law enforcement agencies of Greece before they establish the objective truth in all circumstances… Possibly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after tomorrow , ” he said .
In a number of interviews , U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s lawyer Rudolph Giuliani has claimed that the former vice president interfered in Ukrainian politics and was involved in incidents of corruption .
For instance , Giuliani alleges that former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Shokin was dismissed at Biden ’ s request , allegedly for investigating Burisma ’ s connections with his son Hunter Biden .
Shokin said in late January 2020 , that he had survived mercury poisoning in Greece five months before , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment .

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 reports that Ukrainian detectives have now opened a case into possible pressure put on former Ukraine prosecutor general Viktor Shokin by former US Vice President Joe Biden, in order to stop Shokin’s investigation into Burisma and Hunter Biden.
Support Free Speech:
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute.
The Duran Audio Podcast:
Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes.
Via Interfax…
KYIV. Feb 27 (Interfax) – Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation has registered a criminal case opened into possible pressure put on Ukraine’s former prosecutor general Viktor Shokin by former U.S. vice president Joe Biden.
“The State Bureau of Investigation has added information about a criminal offence committed to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations,” Shokin’s lawyer Oleksandr Teleshetsky said at a press conference at the Interfax press center in Kyiv on Thursday.
The investigation was opened in response to a motion filed by Shokin. The State Bureau of Investigation was court ordered to register the case.
In his motion, Shokin spoke of pressure put on him by Biden, Teleshetsky said.
“The reason for the pressure was the investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine into grave crimes of international corruption linked with the activities of former Ecology Minister of Ukraine Mykola Zlochevsky and top managers at the Burisma company,” he said.
Shokin’s motion was filed with the State Bureau of Investigation back on January 28, 2020, but information about the criminal offence was added to the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations only on February 24 after the country ordered the bureau to register the case, Teleshetsky said.
The case was opened on the charge of interfering in the work of an official of a law enforcement agency, he said.
Even though Shokin included Biden’s name in the motion, which prompted the opening of the case, the investigation itself mentions only a “U.S. citizen,” without giving any names, Teleshetsky said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is also handling criminal cases opened in response to Shokin’s motion on charges of disclosing pretrial probe secrets to employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, he said.
“Bearing in mind the fact that a possible suspect in all three of these criminal offences could be Joseph Biden, as a person who, in our opinion, is involved in these events, we deem it necessary to merge all the cases into one, in order to ensure an effective investigation and set up a competent investigative group, as well as a group of experienced prosecutors who can ensure the investigation within a reasonable period of time,” Teleshetsky said.
It is also advisable to invite the U.S. to take part in the investigation, he said, adding that he would forward the relevant request to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
“We’ll definitely do this. This is one of the priorities in this criminal investigation, because this case can’t be investigated without involving mechanisms of international legal cooperation,” Teleshetsky said.
“Judging by remarks Biden allowed himself to make in public, Viktor Mykolayovych Shokin has sufficient grounds to believe that it was him [Biden] who masterminded and, to a certain extent, perpetrated those criminal offences to which Shokin alerted the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine,” he said.
Greek law enforcement agencies, in turn, are investigating Shokin’s mercury poisoning in 2019, Teleshetsky said, adding that Shokin himself links this incident to Biden.
“The results of this investigation are not yet available today. We don’t have sufficient grounds to assert…file motions and requests with the law enforcement agencies of Greece before they establish the objective truth in all circumstances… Possibly, they will appear tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” he said. In a number of interviews, U.S. President Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudolph Giuliani has claimed that the former vice president interfered in Ukrainian politics and was involved in incidents of corruption. For instance, Giuliani alleges that former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Shokin was dismissed at Biden’s request, allegedly for investigating Burisma’s connections with his son Hunter Biden.
Shokin said in late January 2020, that he had survived mercury poisoning in Greece five months before, after which he had to undergo lengthy medical treatment.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-28--Did the Americans make a mistake with the name of the exercise?

This year , the United States holds the largest exercise in recent decades .
The exercise named “ Defender Europe 2020 ” is conducted from January 15 to August 15 , 2020 .
The “ Defender Europe 2020 ” exercises will bring together 18 NATO member countries and Georgia .
In total – about 37,000 people , several thousand units of armored vehicles , hundreds of aircraft and helicopters .
The main contingent is represented by the US Armed Forces – about 29,000 soldiers ( 20 thousand from the continental United States and 9 thousand from the European contingent ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries .
The Baltic states , Poland , Georgia will provide their landfills .
An important role in the exercises is played by Germany .
It acts as the main logistics hub through which the main transfer of US troops will be conducted .
The goal of the “ Defender Europe 2020 ” exercise is to test and demonstrate the ability to transfer units of the divisional level from the continental United States to Europe and organize interaction with allies .
At the same time with the “ Defender Europe 2020 ” exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be held , such as “ Anaconda 2020 ” ( the largest Polish Armed Forces exercise ) , “ Baltic Host 2020 ” ( the Baltic Armed Forces exercise to develop NATO reinforcement troop reception issues ) , “ Spring storm ” ( one of the most significant combat training exercises of the Estonian Armed Forces ) , “ Combined Resolve XIII ” ( NATO Allied Forces ) and a number of other smaller NATO and national exercises .
Usually the essence of the doctrine is reflected in the name of the doctrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ Combined Resolve ” or “ Joint Warrior ” .
From the names it is clear that these are measures to develop joint combat training of NATO countries .
The name “ Baltic Host ” alludes to its content – the reception by the Baltic states of NATO forces .
Other examples can be cited : “ Capable Logistician ” , “ Spring Storm ” , etc .
And what does the name “ Defender Europe ” tell us ?
Obviously , it is supposed to demonstrate the power of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy in Europe , which is not part of NATO .
However , according to the scenario of the exercise , the military strength of the alleged aggressor is comparable to NATO .
In this case , the Americans simply will not be able to defeat anyone , since either a nuclear war will begin , or they will not be allowed to successfully cross the ocean and land in Europe .
After all , all strategic ports and transport hubs in the event of a real war are among the first to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are unlikely to succeed to protect Europe .
But they surely be able to demonstrate their weapons to the world .
And on a large scale .
So to speak to measure howitzers with a probable opponent .
During the exercise , it is planned to conduct a variety of firing from all types of weapons .
Returning to the topic of the article , it seems to me that these military drills would be much better called something like “ Skillful warrior ” or “ Big transfer ” .
This would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not give rise to unnecessary claims .
Although overseas military marketers certainly know better .

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.
This year, the United States holds the largest exercise in recent decades. The exercise named “Defender Europe 2020” is conducted from January 15 to August 15, 2020.
The “Defender Europe 2020” exercises will bring together 18 NATO member countries and Georgia. In total – about 37,000 people, several thousand units of armored vehicles, hundreds of aircraft and helicopters. The main contingent is represented by the US Armed Forces – about 29,000 soldiers (20 thousand from the continental United States and 9 thousand from the European contingent). Maneuvers will take place in 10 countries. The Baltic states, Poland, Georgia will provide their landfills. An important role in the exercises is played by Germany. It acts as the main logistics hub through which the main transfer of US troops will be conducted.
The goal of the “Defender Europe 2020” exercise is to test and demonstrate the ability to transfer units of the divisional level from the continental United States to Europe and organize interaction with allies.
At the same time with the “Defender Europe 2020” exercise, major national combat training events will be held, such as “Anaconda 2020” (the largest Polish Armed Forces exercise), “Baltic Host 2020” (the Baltic Armed Forces exercise to develop NATO reinforcement troop reception issues), “Spring storm” (one of the most significant combat training exercises of the Estonian Armed Forces), “Combined Resolve XIII” (NATO Allied Forces) and a number of other smaller NATO and national exercises.
Usually the essence of the doctrine is reflected in the name of the doctrine. For example, NATO exercises such as “Combined Resolve” or “Joint Warrior”. From the names it is clear that these are measures to develop joint combat training of NATO countries. The name “Baltic Host” alludes to its content – the reception by the Baltic states of NATO forces. Other examples can be cited: “Capable Logistician”, “Spring Storm”, etc.
And what does the name “Defender Europe” tell us? Obviously, it is supposed to demonstrate the power of the American army to protect allies from a potential enemy in Europe, which is not part of NATO. However, according to the scenario of the exercise, the military strength of the alleged aggressor is comparable to NATO.
In this case, the Americans simply will not be able to defeat anyone, since either a nuclear war will begin, or they will not be allowed to successfully cross the ocean and land in Europe. After all, all strategic ports and transport hubs in the event of a real war are among the first to fall under missile attacks.
So the Americans are unlikely to succeed to protect Europe. But they surely be able to demonstrate their weapons to the world. And on a large scale. So to speak to measure howitzers with a probable opponent. During the exercise, it is planned to conduct a variety of firing from all types of weapons.
Returning to the topic of the article, it seems to me that these military drills would be much better called something like “Skillful warrior” or “Big transfer”. This would not cause ambiguity in the interpretations and would not give rise to unnecessary claims. Although overseas military marketers certainly know better.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report


theduran--2020-02-28--Coronavirus is in Italy, Latvia is next

Coronavirus is in Italy, Latvia is next

Coronavirus can be transferred to Latvia by the U.S. Army paratroopers from 173rd Airborne Brigade , stationed in Vicenza , northern Italy , Alvis Petus told BulgarianMilitary.com .
It is known that Italy is trying to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 after the country saw a major uptick in cases of the coronavirus disease in northern Italy .
Italy has imposed strict 14 days quarantine across more than 10 towns .
At the same time , Reuters reports that coronavirus incubation could be as long as 27 days .
More than 300 people have already been diagnosed with the illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vo ’ Euganeo , just 30 miles away from Vicenza .
Soldiers alongside police wearing sanitary masks are ensuring no one enters or leaves them during a quarantine period .
U.S. military in Italy extends coronavirus safety measures , including closures of Vicenza schools and child care centers , website Stars and Stripes informs .
Unfortunately , the base clinic doesn ’ t have access to the diagnostic test for the virus and infected American military are directed to San Bortolo hospital .
Some Army facilities in Italy could be shuttered beyond March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , which the military expects will also have implications for troops in Germany , U.S. European Command ’ s top officer , Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters told on Tuesday .
However , garrison officials said the situation hasn ’ t affected operations and training for Defender Europe 2020 .
“ Paratroopers from 173rd Airborne Brigade are to jump into Latvia with Spanish and Italian paratroopers during Defender Europe 2020 exercise , ” said Army Europe commander Lt. Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli .
So far , the risk associated with COVID-19 infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint preparation for the Defender Europe 2020 exercise remains extremely high .
It also could be a serious threat to the population of the Baltic States where the exercise will be held .
U.S. Army military officials do not comment on the situation .

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.
Coronavirus can be transferred to Latvia by the U.S. Army paratroopers from 173rd Airborne Brigade, stationed in Vicenza, northern Italy, Alvis Petus told BulgarianMilitary.com.
It is known that Italy is trying to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 after the country saw a major uptick in cases of the coronavirus disease in northern Italy. Italy has imposed strict 14 days quarantine across more than 10 towns. At the same time, Reuters reports that coronavirus incubation could be as long as 27 days.
More than 300 people have already been diagnosed with the illness throughout Italy, including a cluster in Vo’ Euganeo, just 30 miles away from Vicenza.
Soldiers alongside police wearing sanitary masks are ensuring no one enters or leaves them during a quarantine period.
U.S. military in Italy extends coronavirus safety measures , including closures of Vicenza schools and child care centers, website Stars and Stripes informs.
Unfortunately, the base clinic doesn’t have access to the diagnostic test for the virus and infected American military are directed to San Bortolo hospital.
Some Army facilities in Italy could be shuttered beyond March 1 due to concerns related to the coronavirus, which the military expects will also have implications for troops in Germany, U.S. European Command’s top officer, Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters told on Tuesday.
However, garrison officials said the situation hasn’t affected operations and training for Defender Europe 2020.
“Paratroopers from 173rd Airborne Brigade are to jump into Latvia with Spanish and Italian paratroopers during Defender Europe 2020 exercise,” said Army Europe commander Lt. Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli.
So far, the risk associated with COVID-19 infection for Italian and American troops during their joint preparation for the Defender Europe 2020 exercise remains extremely high. It also could be a serious threat to the population of the Baltic States where the exercise will be held.
U.S. Army military officials do not comment on the situation.
Read Later Add to Favourites Add to Collection Report