Video - Assange - Security or Surveillance: Privacy vs Anti-Terror Security in Digital Age - RT10

ꕤ Security or Surveillance: Privacy vs anti-terror security in digital age (#RT10 Panel Discussion) Published 10 Dec 2015 RT News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3rFNQ8ytnE&feature=youtu.be ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Security or Surveillance: Privacy vs anti-terror security in digital age (#RT10 Panel Discussion  /  Celebrating RT's 10-Year Anniversary) Moderator, Raymond Snoddy introduces: Philip Giraldi -- former CIA counter-terrorism specialist -- former military intelligence officer -- served 19 years abroad:  Turkey, Italy, Germany, Spain -- CIA chief of base, Barcelona Olympics, 1992 -- one of first Americans to enter Afghanistan, 2001 -- Exec. Dir. Council for National Interests (CNI) -- CNI - WA-based - to promote US foreign policy in Middle East -- based on 'American values & interests' Ray McGovern -- former US army intelligence officer -- joined Analysis Division of CIA & served -- from Kennedy Admin to G.W. Bush Admin. -- chief of CIA's Soviet foreign policy branch, 1970s -- chaired national intelligence estimates -- prepared Presidential daily briefing -- for Reagan senior national security advisers -- 2003 - co-est. Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS) -- to expose: intelligence fraud to justify 2003 US invasion of Iraq -- protested CIA involvement in torture activities -- publicly questioned Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld -- re misleading American public in run-up to war (Invasion of Iraq, 2003) Gregory R. Copley -- Australian-born -- President of Strategic International Studies Association, WA-DC -- serves as adviser on strategic studies to a number of govts & leaders [40 years] -- authored / co-authored 32 books on strategic & geopolitical issues, -- history, energy, aviation & defence, incl:     -- 'Un-Civilization: Urban Geopolitics in a Time of Chaos (2013)'     -- 'The Art of Victory (2006)'     [ Yikes!  see:   http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/5132  ] ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Issue: Security or Surveillance Can right to privacy & effective anti-terror security co-exist in the digital age? ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Julian Assange -- arguably one of the most influential people in world -- on bringing forward these specific issues Moderator -- seeks Assange thoughts on right of privacy -- how that is defined around world -- anti-terror security definition -- what the relationship of these two factors are to each other -- and the relationship to this new digital world in which we live Assange:  mass-surveillance is here to stay & privacy is gone for normal population (not for experts, incl. terrorists (who are experts))  underlying costs of surveillance - rapidly decreasing Five-Eyes (FVEY) - surveillance pervasive ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT About to watch --  or listen to -- this ... (depending on whether I also plan to get around to doing anything practical as I listen ... like maybe the dishes or some grooming or something practical (for a change) ... lol) ꕤ

Laws of War | Geneva Convention (IV) - Civilian Persons

ꕤ Laws of War Geneva Convention Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949 Entry into force: 21 October 1950 https://www.icrc.org/ihl/INTRO/380 [ click to enlarge image  ] Link |  Google Books | here A History of the Laws of War: 3 Volume Author:  Alexander Gillespie "This unique reference traces the origins of the modern laws of warfare, from the earliest times to the present day. Relying on written records from as far back as 2,400 BC, and utilizing sources ranging from the Bible to Security Council Resolutions, the book pieces together the history of a subject which is almost as old as civilization itself. A History of the Laws of War shows that as long as humanity has been waging wars, it has also been trying to find ways of: a) legitimizing different forms of combatants and ascribing rules to them; b) protecting civilians who are either inadvertently or intentionally caught up between them; and c) controlling the use of particular classes of weapons that may be used in times of conflict. Thus, the book is divided into three substantial parts: Volume 1  on the laws affecting combatants and captives; Volume 2 on civilians in times of armed conflict; and Volume 3 on the law of arms control. As a work of reference, A History of the Laws of War is unrivalled and will be of immense benefit to scholars and practitioners researching and advising on the laws of warfare. It throws fascinating new light on the history of international law and on the history of warfare itself. The volumes can be purchased individually, or as a complete three-volume boxed set" source https://www.bookrenter.com/a-history-of-the-laws-of-war-3-volume-boxed-set-gillespie-1849462038-9781849462037 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Book looks really interesting. ꕤ

War - Sanitisation & Maintenance of Illusions

ꕤ idea source observing state investment War Machine Sideshow of 'Humanitarian Relief' A Branch of Modern Warfare The Sanitisation of War | Maintenance of Illusions Investment (organisational, diplomatic and other fronts) and enormous expenditure of this kind (compared to economic punishment of the vulnerable and disempowered on the domestic front) indicates to me that the 'humanitarian' face of the state is merely for the sake of maintaining the illusion that the state acts for 'humanitarian reasons', that the state (representing interests of private enterprise & private profits) must expend on military and so on, because of 'external factors' (rather than state-directed factors in the service of private profits:  ie pillaging foreign resources); and, also, that the state acts to maintain these illusions so that the lower classes believe they must accept burdens placed on them. The war machine's 'humanitarian relief' sideshow is a part of modern warfare:  it is both the ambassador of war and it is a shield of the privileged and powerful; it distracts, it diverts attention, it is sleight of hand, it provides a pretext, it provides ample material for propaganda and for self-congratulation.  All the whitewashed surface 'goodness' of this branch of warfare blinds witnesses to the silent evil that is just beyond sight, even as the damage of foreign policy, war, and the modern sanitisation of war, spreads to domestic populations, taxing the already vulnerable and the economically disadvantaged -- and even as damage extends to societal and cultural consequences:  for which there is no remedy. The 'humanitarian relief' branch of warfare perhaps also allays the guilt of the weaker among the ranks of those in the business of war, who otherwise may not have the stomach solely for direct forms of war, and would otherwise defect in some way. It also may give neighbouring or general onlookers a reason not to engage or oppose:  it perhaps disarms those that otherwise might have cause to become embittered or present opposition. But those are secondary considerations.  The primary purpose of the 'humanitarian relief' branch of warfare is the sanitisation of warfare and the maintenance of illusions that the: (a)  warring empire is benign; (b)  empire's wars are good; (c)  empire is merciful; (d)  empire grants relief; (e)  empire represents rebirth from the ashes. The  'humanitarian relief' branch of the empire's war machine is the new, secular, 'Christ' and its followers are missionaries of sanitised warfare. ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Above is just a developing idea that arose from an earlier post. ꕤ

SWEDEN - SAPO - RUSSIAN SPIES & WAR PROPAGANDA

PROPAGANDA Associated Press  SAPO - chief analyst Wilhelm Unge accused Russia of conducting "extensive" espionage op Well, when it's published in 'The Eagle' in Texas .. it must be true. Hey, Wilhelm: #FreeASSANGE http://www.theeagle.com/news/world/sweden-russia-biggest-threat-of-its-envoys-are-spies/article_00d05a63-3093-5f22-a375-415fc0902488.html CHECK this out: More Sapo fairytales - April 7, 2014 Wilhelm Unge says Russia spies & war! http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/04/07/Russia-intensifies-espionage-in-Sweden-security-service-says/7991396892729/ Russia intensifies espionage in Sweden, security service says Sweden's Sapo intelligence service noted an increased involvement in Russian espionage in Sweden, including possible war plans. By Ed Adamczyk Follow @adamczyk_ed Contact the Author | April 7, 2014 at 2:16 PM STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 7 (UPI) -- Russia’s intensified espionage efforts in Sweden include preparations for war, the Swedish government security service Sapo warned Monday. “The most serious threat we see right now are war preparations,” Sapo chief counter-intelligence analyst Wilhelm Unge said. “It’s no secret Russia is engaged in this. It’s a little bit worrying.” He stressed, though, that alleged Russian preparations did not signify anything dramatic. Unge said evidence included simulated flight attacks on Swedish targets, an increase in attempted recruitment of spies, increased signals intelligence and the purchase of a large number of maps. Of the simulated flight attacks, Unge said, “You don’t carry out these kinds of things unless you can actually conceive carrying out an attack in the future.” The comments came as part of Sapo’s annual intelligence assessment, which noted 14 other countries, including China and Iran, having espionage interests in Sweden. Russia has, by far, the largest, Sapo said. Unge noted the increased spying by Russia was likely a result of Russia’s interest in Crimea and Ukraine, but gave no other details. [The Local] http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/04/07/Russia-intensifies-espionage-in-Sweden-security-service-says/7991396892729/ COMMENT All fun stuff, but Sweden's Sapo article circulated by Associated Press gave me the most laughs. So about this time every year, someone at Sapo is going to make an announcement that the Russians are preparing for war and that they're on an aggressive Sweden spy recruitment and snooping drive? LMAO  COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. About as convincing at that Russian 'submarine' Sweden and NATO were scaremongering about. Speaking of NATO, it's the US colonies in the Baltics and Eastern Europe on steroids. Check out this random list of maybe a just a couple of days of news: ........ USA and NATO Launched joint drills in Black Sea 6 warships, incl. US guided missile cruiser Vicksburg >Canada >Germany >Romania >Turkey >Italy vs x3 Russian navy fleets drills http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-03/12/c_134062480.htm USA announced non-lethal aid package to Ukraine >drones >30 armoured Humvees >to 200 unarmoured Humvees http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-03/12/c_134062480.htm USA announces: 3,000 soldiers to be deployed to Eastern Europe >> training exercises with: Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-03/12/c_134062480.htm NATOAggression Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed NATO for its increasing military activities near Russian borders http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-03/12/c_134062480.htm -- NATO Massive training exercise off Scotland will showcase Nato military might Joint Warrior Apr 13-24 12,000 armed forces, allied [Herald Scotland] 58 warships + submarines Over 50 fixed-wing aircraft abt. 3000 land forces prep for next drill: Trident Juncture [Herald Scotland] NATO Trident Juncture Sept-Nov 2015 Iberian Pen. * largest live exercise of kind for over decade * http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/massive-training-exercise-off-scotland-will-showcase-nato-military-might.120644424 NATO Nato's HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps - based in Gloucestershire = standby Joint Task Force Headquarters in 2015/16 Alliance will run training exercise involving abt 850 UK troops. [HeraldScotland] NATO Exercise Arcade Fusion = in Baltic States towards late 2015 for devel. of NATO Very High Readiness Joint Taskforce UK = lead nation NATO Very High Readiness Joint Taskforce to be established 2017 drills meantime in Baltic States http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/massive-training-exercise-off-scotland-will-showcase-nato-military-might.120644424 -- USA NATO EU BALTIC 3,000 US military to be deployed to Eastern Europe starting next wk training w forces fm Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania -- GEORGIA NATO selected site 20km from Tbilisi,Georgia military exercises to start this year South Ossetian & Russia to take measures NATO creep RUSSIA - signed Integration Treaty with SouthOssetia in response to NATO expansion into Georgia http://www.eurasianet.org/node/72526 -- BULGARIA Bulgaria joint military drills NATO allies Bulgaria + US held next 3.5 mths abt 350 US military in Bulgaria bilateral drills [gulftimes] Bulgaria US NATO drills to involve: >armoured personnel carriers >helicopters >tanks http://www.gulf-times.com/opinion/189/details/430788/waiting-game-in-ukraine-as-ceasefire-holds -- USA NATO guided-missile destroyer USS Cole wraps up EU deployment / Black Sea Patrolling Mediterranean providing Ballistic Missile Defence https://www.dvidshub.net/news/157005/uss-cole-wraps-up-deployment-returns-norfolk -- Norway Largest military drill in Finnmark since 1967 navy’s new frigate made port at Kirkenes only few miles from border to Russia’s Kola Pen ............................................... So much for: 'the Russians are coming!' [ Oops, in a rush - layout a work in progress. ]

SOLDIERS MARCH | WWI LONDON DEATH MARCH

❌ G O O G L E SUCKS ❌ SOLDIERS MARCH DEATH MARCH ❌ Outrageous Censorship GOOGLE SUCKS ❌ Marching soldiers & fields of tombstones GIF with an implied anti-war message blocked by Google. From recollection, it neat rows of WWI tombstones, combined with old WWI photos of soldiers marching in London, over-layed by another person in present-day London street scenes. It was quite haunting and the GIF conveyed a powerful message, which Google has blocked, despite copyright exceptions readily being applicable to the images contained therein. Perhaps copyright disclaimer notices need to be plastered all over the page, as opposed to on the blog main page? Google really needs to review its policy on blocking images. The pathetic individual who lodged what must have been a complaint to censorship-obliging Google, is trying hard to disown the fact that war is DEATH. G O O G L E SUCKS ❌ It's enough to make a merely annoyed (rather than vehemently anti-war) person want to plaster War is Death messages all over the internet,  just to upset the boot-licking militarist c*$#&$!s suppressing what amounts to:   freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of information.  ;) ꕤ

Ron Paul - Why won't Obama leave Ukraine alone?

Why Won’t Obama Leave Ukraine Alone? “AMERICA ESCALATES WHILE IT DEMANDS RUSSIA DE-ESCALATE” By Ron Paul President Barack Obama announced last week that he was imposing yet another round of sanctions on Russia, this time targeting financial, arms, and energy sectors. The European Union, as it has done each time, quickly followed suit. These sanctions will not produce the results Washington demands, but they will hurt the economies of the U.S. and EU, as well as Russia. These sanctions are, according to the Obama administration, punishment for what it claims is Russia’s role in the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, and for what the president claims is Russia’s continued arming of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Neither of these reasons makes much sense because neither case has been proven. The administration began blaming Russia for the downing of the plane just hours after the crash, before an investigation had even begun. The administration claimed it had evidence of Russia’s involvement but refused to show it. Later, the Obama administration arranged a briefing by “senior intelligence officials” who told the media that “we don’t know a name, we don’t know a rank and we’re not even 100 percent sure of a nationality,” of who brought down the aircraft. So Obama then claimed Russian culpability because Russia’s “support” for the separatists in east Ukraine “created the conditions” for the shoot-down of the aircraft. That is a dangerous measure of culpability considering U.S. support for separatist groups in Syria and elsewhere. Similarly, the U.S. government claimed that Russia is providing weapons, including heavy weapons, to the rebels in Ukraine and shooting across the border into Ukrainian territory. It may be true, but again the U.S. refuses to provide any evidence and the Russian government denies the charge. It’s like Iraq’s WMDs all over again. ... even as the U.S. demands that the Russians de-escalate, the United States is busy escalating! In June, Washington sent a team of military advisors to help Ukraine fight the separatists in the eastern part of the country. Such teams of “advisors” often include special forces and are usually a slippery slope to direct U.S. military involvement. On Friday, President Obama requested Congressional approval to send U.S. troops into Ukraine to train and equip its national guard. This even though in March, the president promised no U.S. boots on the ground in Ukraine. The deployment will be funded with $19 million from a fund designated to fight global terrorism, signaling that the U.S. considers the secessionists in Ukraine to be “terrorists.” Are U.S. drone strikes against these “terrorists” and the “associated forces” who support them that far off? The U.S. has already provided the Ukrainian military with $23 million for defense security, $5 million in body armor, $8 million to help secure Ukraine’s borders, several hundred thousand ready-to-eat meals as well as an array of communications equipment. Congress is urging the president to send lethal military aid and the administration is reportedly considering sending real-time intelligence to help target rebel positions. But let’s not forget that this whole crisis started with the U.S.-sponsored coup against Ukraine’s elected president back in February. The U.S. escalates while it demands that Russia de-escalate. How about all sides de-escalate? Even when the goals are clear, sanctions have a lousy track record. Sanctions are acts of war. These sanctions will most definitely have a negative effect on the U.S. economy as well as the Russian economy. Why is “winning” Ukraine so important to Washington? Why are they risking a major war with Russia to deny people in Ukraine the right to self-determination? Let’s just leave Ukraine alone! Ron Paul is a former U.S. Congressman from Texas and the leader of the pro-liberty, pro-free market movement in the United States. His weekly column – reprinted with permission – can be found here. SOURCED - FIT NEWS - here. RON PAUL @ here.

COMMENT

Why is pretty obvious:

Obama's got an eye on prospective:

• Corporate enrichment:

• rape of Ukraine; and
• rape of Russia's energy markets in Europe.

• Fat cat buddy enrichment.

• European market for US infrastructure, gas, etc.

• Strategic military advantage.

• Another piece of Europe under the US thumb.

Ukraine's a pawn as well as prey ... but the big game prey is Europe ... Obama and co want to carve it up.

MH17 - US - Civilian aircraft anti-missile systems

Lawmakers push for airline anti-missile systems

Associated Press 4:53 p.m. EDT July 27, 2014

ALBANY – Two U.S. legislators on Sunday urged the government to study whether American passenger jets should be equipped with devices protecting them against missiles like the one that brought down a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine and projectiles fired near Tel Aviv's airport.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Steve Israel are asking the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department and Federal Aviation Administration to consider technologies that would shield commercial aircraft.

A government study should include specific recommendations on the best technology needed to combat both shoulder-fired and surface-to-air missiles, they said. Anti-missile devices include onboard lasers, warning systems, flares and infrared countermeasure systems, costing from $1 million to $2 million per plane, Schumer and Israel said.

The Democratic lawmakers say two major events have raised red flags that require a quick study of defense technologies.

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down on July 17 by what U.S. officials believe may have been a Russian-made surface-to-air missile fired by separatists in Eastern Ukraine. All 298 people aboard died. And last week, the FAA banned American flights to Israel after a rocket landed near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport.

"The tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, plus numerous missiles being fired near the Tel Aviv airport have made one thing clear this week: we cannot let this happen to an American passenger plane," Schumer said.

As a result, "we are once again reminded that an attack on a civilian aircraft remains a significant threat," Israel said.

The Government Accountability Office believes there are between 500,000 and 750,000 portable surface-to-air missiles in existence worldwide. The State Department estimates thousands may be in the hands of terrorists.

Packaged in tubes, portable missiles can be concealed in a car trunk along with a launching mechanism and battery, making them especially dangerous, the lawmakers said.

Schumer noted that since 1973, at least 30 civilian aircraft have been downed by shoulder fired missiles, killing about 920 people, according to Stratfor, a Global Intelligence firm in Austin, Texas.

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/2014/07/27/lawmakers-push-airline-anti-missile-systems/13241951/

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[wikipedia]

Charles Ellis "Chuck" "Pro-Israeli Hack" Schumer ... is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party.

He attended Harvard College ... passed the New York State Bar Exam in early 1975, but never practised law, entering politics instead.

Steven J. "Steve" Israel ... is a U.S. Representative for New York's 3rd congressional district, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party and head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

[wikipedia]

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MANPADS

Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS or MPADS) are shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). They are typically guided weapons and are a threat to low-flying aircraft, especially helicopters. [wikipedia]

They look like a big shoulder-steadied portable 'telescopes' that have a barrel to fire off what I'd consider 'snack-sized' missiles at targets -- ie small sized missiles.

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 [ wikileaks.org/gifiles/attach/25/25335_MANPADS%20for%20c.e..doc ]

Civilian Attack History

The first known cases of attempted MANPADS attacks against civilian aircraft were in 1973 in Rome. In both January and September of that year, Black September militants attempted to strike Israeli flights, one of which was carrying then-prime minister Golda Meir. Both attempts were thwarted in their final minutes. In the case of Golda Meir’s plane in January, the militants who were positioned around the airport with the weapons were caught before her plane touched down. In the second attempt, police raided the militants’ apartment as the militants, who had positioned themselves outside on the balcony, prepared to shoot at the plane as it taxied down the runway.

Two years later, the first successful MANPADS attack against a civilian aircraft came in the form of an SA-7 missile launched by North Vietnamese forces against a Douglas C-54D Air Vietnam flight, resulting in the deaths of all 26 passengers and crew members. One of the most famous civilian MANPADS attacks was in 1994, when two SA-16s were used to shoot down a Rwandan government flight whose passengers (and victims) included the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi. This event sparked the Rwandan genocide, which resulted in approximately 800,000 deaths in 100 days. (The identity of those responsible for this attack remains a matter of debate.) Over the years, MANPADS attacks have been plotted and actively attempted in at least 20 countries, resulting in more than 900 civilian fatalities.

[ wikileaks.org/gifiles/attach/25/25335_MANPADS%20for%20c.e..doc ]

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Source US Dept of State:  http://2001-2009.state.gov/t/pm/rls/fs/107632.htm

Site lists some of the strategies of decommissioning MANPADS and provides links.

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RAND REPORT - 2005 - Infrastructure, Safety and Environment

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/occasional_papers/2005/RAND_OP106.pdf

Rand Corporation - Figure 2.1

Proliferation of MANPADS among Selected NON-State Groups

Rand Corporation - Figure 6.1

Summary of Potential Counters to MANPADS

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COMMENT

Civilian aircraft anti-missile systems became the subject of debate post 9/11.

The New York politicians calling for civilian aircraft anti-missile technologies, do so citing the recent downing of a civilian aircraft (MH17) flying over a Ukrainian war zone and citing rockets fired at Tel Aviv airport, in what is a Middle Eastern war zone in a conflict that has now spanned how many decades?

It's unclear how these two war zone examples could possibly amount to a perceived "significant threat" of attack on civilian aircraft that are under the control of US authorities.

There's a bunch of MANPADS that have gone missing in Libya:

U.S. Still Hunting for Missing Libyan MANPADS
Feb. 2, 2012 - 05:38PM 

...
However, while there is no definitive evidence that any of the weapons left the country, the U.S. government is not ruling out that possibility, according to Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs.
...
The weapons, also called man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, pose a threat to commercial and military aircraft worldwide. The real concern for the United States is that the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists.

It’s believed Gadhafi had an estimated 20,000 MANPADS when his regime collapsed, posing a “major proliferation challenge,” Shapiro said.

To date, about 5,000 MANPADS have been identified, recovered and secured, Shapiro said.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120202/DEFREG02/302020009/U-S-Still-Hunting-Missing-Libyan-MANPADS

A more detailed New York politician (ie Schumer and Israel) and MANPADS story (later disovered) is here -

 http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140727/NEWS/140729730/-1/NEWS

... terrorist organizations like Hamas in Gaza, Al Qaeda in the Maghreb, Boko Haram in Nigeria, Syrian insurgents, and groups in Mali, Yemen, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, and other places. The U.S. led a $40 million buyback program to acquire loose missiles in the region, but were only able to secure 5,000 of an estimated 20,000 anti – aircraft systems that once belonged to the Gadhafi regime. After tensions rose in November 2012 between Israel and the Hamas in the Gaza strip, Hamas released a video of it possessing MANPADS. In Syria, thousands of soldiers have defected and set up new battalions that have shot down military helicopters and jets and in Iraq the radical Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group has taken large swaths of territory and seized weapons depots of the Iraqi Army along the way.

 http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140727/NEWS/140729730/-1/NEWS

Check out that whopping $40 million buy-back program!!!

Buy-back doesn't seem very successful despite the tempting cash offer.

In my view, it's doubtful that missing MANPADS are all within the confines of the Libyan territory.  The bet is they're somewhere in the Middle East or maybe some have reached Africa or gone north. [*Still get Libya and Syria mixed up!  LOL.  They're already in Africa if they're Libyan MANPADS.  LOL.]

However, the likelihood of MANPADS threatening civilian aircraft beyond world hotspots and war zones is probably minimal.

So what are the New York politicians currently lobbying for?  

It looks like some pie in the sky civil aviation protection scheme that is going to raise the cost of travel and raise a whole lot of other costs and issues along the way.

But, first, there must be an expensive, US tax-payer funded study on the subject.

Are these guys for real or is this just a publicity stunt?  

What about a common sense approach like, uuuumm, maybe not flying over war zones?

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Other

RAND CORPORATION

RAND Corporation (Research ANd Development) is a non-profit global policy think tank formed to offer research and analysis to the United States armed forces by Douglas Aircraft Company. It is financed by the U.S. government and private endowment, corporations including the health care industry, universities and private individuals.

New to looking at politics and organisations, so I'm a little confused about the status of Rand Corporation. 

Is it an NGO or a GO?

Quickie check to see what others have to say:

The RAND Corporation is a notoriously powerful NGO with deep ties to the U.S. military-industrial complex as well as interlocking connections with the Ford, Rockefeller, and Carnegie foundations. [here]

The author of that quote (Daily Paul) wrote back in 2008 that Rand Corporation is lobbying for the goverment to start a war with China or Russia, to stimulate the economy.

Anyway, I take it Rand Corporation is an NGO.

FTMDaily - BUSTED: Elites Admit 'War for Oil'

BUSTED: Elites Admit 'War for Oil'   Brought to you by:  FTMDaily

UKRAINE PM ARSENIY YATSENYUK - RESIGNATION

Ukraine prime minister resigns as NATO, Australia prepare intervention in east By Alex Lantier 25 July 2014 The far-right parliamentary coalition in Kiev collapsed yesterday, as the Western-backed regime met with visiting Dutch and Australian officials to prepare a foreign military intervention in war-torn east Ukraine, under cover of investigating the crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (Fatherland Party) announced his resignation after the withdrawal from the coalition of the fascist Svoboda Party and the UDAR (“Punch”) party of boxer Vitaly Klitshcko. Yatsenyuk will remain as prime minister until either a new coalition is formed or after elections sometime later this year. Billionaire oligarch and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko supported the dissolution of the government, claiming it would permit a “full-scale reset” of the Ukrainian state that Ukrainian society desires. Porsoshenko, who assumed office last month, is hoping that new elections, which Poroshenko can call if a new coalition is not formed in 30 days, will be an opportunity to strengthen his own grip on power. The collapse of the parliamentary coalition points to the weakness of the regime that emerged from the February 22 putsch. As it prepares to support a Western military intervention in the civil war it is waging in east Ukraine, posing the risk of an escalation into a clash between NATO and Russia, the Kiev regime is preparing austerity measures demanded by the EU that will have a devastating impact on broad sections of the population throughout the country. ... KPU officials from the Donetsk region reported yesterday that a KPU official in the nearby village of Glinky, Vyacheslav Kovshun, had been tortured to death at a Ukrainian National Guard checkpoint in the night of July 22-23. He was stopped at the checkpoint, beaten, and repeatedly shot to the legs and chest. He was found dead. These events point to the utterly reactionary character of the regime installed by the February putsch, which was carried out in close collaboration with Washington, Berlin, and their European allies. After the putsch, Svoboda officials filmed themselves beating Ukrainian television executives. Forces like Svoboda and the Right Sector militia—both of which glorify Stepan Bandera, who collaborated with Nazi SS units that carried out the Holocaust in Ukraine during World War II—now lead the Kiev regime's forces in east Ukraine. In his resignation speech yesterday, Yatsenyuk warned that the dissolution of his government might slow the pace of Kiev's unpopular social cuts against the Ukrainian people to fund the civil war. These include billions of dollars in cuts to energy subsidies, social programs, and government workers' wages, while not touching the hundreds of billions of dollars of ill-gotten wealth held by the oligarchs. ...

As the crisis of the Kiev regime mounts, the Western powers and their allies continue to push further to the right in their campaign against Moscow. While this campaign is led by the United States and Germany, all of Washington's imperialist allies are moving aggressively against Russia—now spearheaded by the Australian and Dutch governments, which are cynically exploiting the large numbers of citizens they lost on the MH17 flight. While Washington has been unable to substantiate any of its charges that Russia is responsible for the crash, and evidence increasingly points to involvement by the Kiev regime itself, Australia and the Netherlands are seizing on the crash to justify a provocative intervention in east Ukraine. Yesterday, Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited Kiev to discuss a military deployment to east Ukraine, ostensibly to secure the MH17 crash site, which is in territory held by anti-Kiev regime forces. The Netherlands announced they would send 40 unarmed military police to east Ukraine, while Australia is reportedly sending 50 police to London as a first stop on the way to Ukraine. The Dutch government is reportedly waging an international diplomatic campaign to post hundreds of Dutch soldiers on the crash site—ostensibly to protect investigators from pro-Russian forces—with the support of the Dutch media. In the Netherlands, Elsevier's commentator Eric Vrijsen demanded that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte “threaten to send in these troops in order to up the pressure on the rebels and Russian President Vladimir Putin. And if he does this, he will probably have made up his mind to act on his threat .... The Dutch Special Forces (army commandos and the Marine Corps Marsofs) are internationally respected. Rutte doesn't have these elite troops at his disposal for nothing.” Such a deployment would be a reckless maneuver risking an escalation into a direct clash between NATO and pro-Russian forces in east Ukraine—that is, a NATO intervention in the Ukrainian civil war and the possible outbreak of war between NATO and Russia itself. The threat of such a conflict erupting was underscored by rising border tensions between Ukraine and Russia. After Ukrainian forces shelled Russian border areas two weeks ago, killing one Russian civilian, Washington alleged yesterday that Russian forces are firing artillery from within Russia at Ukrainian military positions in east Ukraine. Pressed again at a US State Department press briefing yesterday to provide some evidence for her claims, however, spokeswoman Marie Harf was unable to provide any. “This is just some pieces of info I've been able to get from our intelligence friends for you. I can't tell you what it's based on,” Harf said. extract only...full...@... SOURCE - World Socialists Website (USA) - here.  --------------------------------------------

Another article worthwhile taking the time to read.

Aside from indicating Ukraine govt instability, not sure what the resignation means.

Cuts to subsidies, programs and wages, I guess.

But there's also the possibility of war, by the look of it.

NATO Poland base - Blitz against Russia?

NATO Poland base may be prepared for blitz against Russia Published time: July 24, 2014 13:39 NATO’s Europe commander advocates stockpiling a base in Poland with enough weapons, ammunition and other supplies to support a rapid deployment of thousands of troops against Russia, British media reported. General Philip Breedlove’s idea would be presented to members of the alliance at the upcoming NATO summit in Wales in September, according to The Times. The general told a briefing in Naples this week that NATO needed “pre-positioned supplies, pre-positioned capabilities and a basing area ready to rapidly accept follow-on forces.” Several locations for the future stockpile are planned, with the Multinational Corps Northeast, a base in Szczecin near the Polish-German border being the leading contender. “It would be a 24/7 fully functioning headquarters that forces could quickly fall in on to respond rapidly when needed,” the British newspaper cites a source familiar with the expected proposition as saying. Breedlove has been advocating a build-up of NATO assets in Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis in the secession of Ukraine’s Crimea to Russia. The alliance has already strengthened its presence in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea and deployed additional military aircraft in Eastern Europe. It said the moves were needed to boost the confidence of eastern NATO members in the alliance’s ability to protect them from Russian aggression. The stockpiling of supplies is just a step short of a permanent massive deployment of foreign NATO troops in Poland. The alliance says it is needed for a rapid response to a Russian incursion, although Russian generals would probably view this as a possible preparation for a blitzkrieg attack on Russia. Moscow considers the build-up of NATO troops in Europe as part of a hostile policy aimed at placing the alliance’s military resources closer to its borders. Russia’s current military doctrine allows the use of all weapons in its possession, including tactical nuclear weapons, in response to a conventional force attack on Russia. Source - RT News - here.

The US look pretty keen on expanding their stake in Europe.

Putin to lose Ukraine ... and World Cup

MH17: Vladimir Putin will lose Ukraine through stupidity Date July 24, 2014 The mind-boggling stupidity of the armed masked men at the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines plane, and their blatantly lying superiors, has changed the equation in Ukraine and Europe. The murder of 298 civilians by Russian-backed criminals is creating positives out of a disastrous negative. [No stupidity in Ukraine's government refusal to extend the ceasefire, backed by the US?   So there's positives in the deaths of 298?] Those positives can prove significant. So significant that, after the criminal investigation of the destruction of flight MH17 is completed, Russia can lose its right to host the 2018 football World Cup.  [So The Age pronounced the who-dunnit's solved (ie murder ... by Russian-backed criminals), but the investigation is not complete?   And The World Cup is at stake?] Not all sanctions involve trade. Shunning has its place. During the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro, Russian President Vladimir Putin sat next to the President of Brazil and the president of FIFA. If Russia is found to have sponsored terrorism, then sought to cover up a mass murder, many nations will not want to see Russia and Putin rewarded with the world’s most-watched sporting event.  [Is this sports thing a joke?] The imperial meddling of Putin will be tainted for years to come by this incident. Ukrainians have been galvanised. They have witnessed the murder of innocents, the appalling conduct of separatists at the crash scene and the implausible denials by Russian puppets, notably Alexander Borodai, the self-styled prime minister of the Donetsk people's republic. Faced with overwhelming evidence of self-incrimination, Borodai said: “It is very simple to disprove it. All of the information that comes through the internet is practically all lies.”  [Big on accusations but low on the evidence.  What of Ukraine puppet state? What of murder of Ukrainians?  What of corporate imperialism?] This tactic of brazen blanket denial actually works in Russia, where the state media has been whitewashing reality and shunting blame onto the Ukrainian government. Putin remains popular as a Russian nationalist standing up to the West. [Western media is whitewashed.  What of that?] The rest of the world has had its eyes opened about the reality of the separatist movement in Ukraine. Many of the armed so-called rebels are actually local criminals. Others are Russians who have been paid to fight in Ukraine. The use of heavy arms inside Ukraine, just months after an orderly presidential election produced a clear winner, has alarmed most residents in the Russian-speaking eastern provinces on whose behalf the manufactured insurrection is taking place. [What of the deposed legitimate Ukraine government?  What of US puppet state?  'Eyes opened'?  I don't think so, whitewashed propaganda-disseminating media.] The fingerprints of Vladimir Putin are all over this.  [Fingerprints of corporate America are all over this, some would argue.] As for the destruction of flight MH17, on Saturday the US embassy in Kiev issued an unusually blunt and detailed account of events that is unlikely to be contradicted by the criminal investigation to come: “We assess that flight MH17 was likely downed by a SA-11 surface-to-air missile from separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. We base this judgment on several factors.  [And how is The Age so certain of this?  Kiev says so?  That settles it then.  Why bother conducting an investigation?  Let's get back to some sports, shall we?] “Over the past month, we have detected an increasing amount of heavy weaponry to separatist fighters crossing the border from Russia into Ukraine. Last weekend, Russia sent a convoy of military equipment with up to 150 vehicles including tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and multiple rocket launchers to the separatist. We also have information indicating that Russia is providing training to separatist fighters at a facility in south-west Russia, and this effort included training on air defence systems. [No mention of the US troops, US billion pledge to military in Europe, EU pledges in the billions to US-NATO military, ships in the Black Sea, US weapons, US training, US CIA prisons etc on European soil -- or the money that the US and the EU have thrown -- and have pledged -- to Ukraine.]

“Pro-Russian separatist fighters have demonstrated proficiency with surface-to-air missile systems and have downed more than a dozen aircraft over the past few months, including two large transport aircraft.  [If so, the implication is that they shot down the plane?  But who has more to gain from a foreign civilian death drama?] “At the time that flight MH17 dropped out of contact, we detected a surface-to-air missile (SAM) launch from a separatist-controlled area in south-eastern Ukraine. We believe this missile was an SA-11… [As above] “Social media postings on Thursday show an SA-11 system travelling through the separatist-controlled towns of Torez and Snizhne, near the crash site and assessed location of the SAM launch …[As above.  Hey, why conduct an investigation?  Let's rely on social media.  LOL.] “Ukraine also operates SA-11 systems, but we are confident no Ukrainian air defence systems were within range of the crash. Ukrainian forces have also not fired a single surface-to-air missile during the conflict, despite often complaining about violations of their airspace by Russian military aircraft.  [As above] “Shortly after the crash, separatists – including the self-proclaimed “Defence Minister” of the Donetsk people’s republic, Igor Strelkov – claimed responsibility for shooting down a military transport plane on social media … [Anyone who believes this needs to buy my enormous bridge.] “Audio data provided to the press by the Ukrainian security service was evaluated by intelligence community analysts who confirmed these were authentic conversations between known separatist leaders, based on comparing the Ukraine-released internet audio to recordings of known separatists.” [Yes, and we know how independent, straight and reliable intelligence services are.  *Cough*] On Monday I suggested Ukraine should hold a plebiscite on separation, to allow the country to shed Russian influence by allowing any region contiguous with Russia to vote to return to Russia if it wished. A plebiscite would be an aggressive form of democracy. It would call Putin’s bluff. [Is Victoria 'Fuck the EU' Nuland going to hand out cookies?  If so, that's way better than watching the World Cup.] Based on the events of the past week, Russia would be fortunate to harvest a small rump of Ukraine. The rest of the country, most of it, would reject Russia. And Putin would have lost Ukraine.  [Does that mean they don't get the World Cup?  Nooooo!] Source - The Age - here.

There you go, folks.  Eastern Ukrainians aren't just plain stupid; they're mindbogglingly stupid, according to The Age (Australia).  Oh, and they're masked ... and have got some guns.

But at least The Age sees positives in the MH17 civilian deaths.  

One of those positives appears to be:  Russia doesn't get the World Cup. 

No investigation has taken place, but The Age has pronounced eastern Ukrainians guilty as charged by the US puppet government of Ukraine. 

Why even bother with an investigation?

Mind you, there will never be an independent investigation whatever transpires.  

Nobody's independent.  Everyone has a stake in the grab for Ukraine, because they're either aligned with the US or aligned with the EU (which may as well be the US because of NATO, the UN etc), and even those that are supposedly 'neutral' aren't independent.

Western press is well and truly whitewashed and this is another load of anti-Russian propaganda.

Too bad the press don't put their pens to use decrying the 'murder of innocents' in Gaza, where the ongoing real-time toll has now passed 700.

While I've not done studies on the influence of the media, I'm willing to wager that a steady stream of vilification of an 'enemy' and a steady stream of media whitewashing explains why -- throughout wars -- there has never been a shortage of soldiers willing to spill their blood on foreign soil to further foreign imperialist aspirations and agendas.