InfoLink - Ministry of Defence - Russian Federation

ꕤ Info /Reference SOURCE Russian Federation Defence Ministry website  here Russian Federation Ministry of Defence Миноборонпром / Minoboronprom Sergey Shoygu Russian minister of Defence Ministry of Defence managed by a collegium (executive council or committee of equally empowered members) chaired by the Defence Minister incl. deputy Defence Ministers heads of Main Defence Ministry General Staff Directorates commanders of Joint Strategic Commands/Military Districts three Services three branches jointly form the principal staff and advisory board of the Minister of Defence. Executive body: General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian federation Commander: Chief of General Staff Russian Federation General Staff is primary MoD without General Staff is inconceivable (William Odom) General Staff comprised of: multiple directorates & operating agencies directorates each oversee a functional area Ministry of Defence publishes: 'Krasnaya Zvezda' daily newspaper Красная Звезда ('Red Star') | LINK military-theoretical journal, 'Military Thought' Военная мысль (Voyennaya mysl') | LINK English (Google) translation sample | LINK Source | Wikipedia война (voyna) - war ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- ꕤ

In Response to NATO Advance: Russia Implements New National Security Strategy

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://tass.ru/en/politics/848108 Putin approves Russia’s updated national security strategy Russian Politics & Diplomacy  December 31, 2015, 17:46 UTC+3 According to the document, expansion of NATO and the alliance’s approach to Russia’s borders create a threat to the country’s national security MOSCOW, December 31. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to approve a new national security strategy of the Russian Federation. A relevant document has been posted on the official website of legal information. According to the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation posted Thursday on the official website of legal information, expansion of NATO and the alliance’s approach to Russia’s borders create a threat to the country’s national security.  "The buildup of the military potential of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and vesting it with global functions implemented in violations of norms of international law, boosting military activity of the bloc’s countries, further expansion of the alliance, the approach of its military infrastructure to Russian borders create a threat to the national security," the document says. Russia’s independent policy-making causes counteraction on the part of the US and their allies, says President Vladimir Putin’s decree on the Strategy of National Security of the Russian Federation. "Russia’s strengthening is taking part on the background of new threats to national security that have a complicated and interlinked character. The independent domestic and foreign policy conducted by Russia triggers counteraction from the US and their allies seeking to keep up their domination in global affairs." Source: http://tass.ru/en/politics/848108 Russian Federation Ministry of Defence Link | Info ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT I couldn't see the document in question on the Russian Ministry of Defence site, as at time of posting this. But I haven't searched really hard. ꕤ

Video - Karbala Ashura

ꕤ Karbala Ashura Ali Fadhil (English Noha) "Our new year starts with mourning Muharram is our beginning The season’s tears are flowing Our Imam we are condoling" 'Muharram' ('forbidden') second holiest month Muharram & Ashura sighting of new moon ushers in Islamic New Year first month:  Muharram Ashura ('Tenth') tenth day of Muharram mourning for martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali Muharram 2016 begins in evening of Saturday, October 1 Karbala 100km south-west of Baghdad holiest city for Shia Muslims Karbala is considered sacred by Shias rivals Mecca as a place of pilgrimage Karbala martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali (Imam Husayn) Battle of Karbala 680 AD Imam Hussein ibn Ali refusal to accept Umayyad Yazid ibn Mu'awiya as caliph https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karbala ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- ꕤ

CIA Kidnapping - Egyptian Imam Osama Mustafa Hassan Nasr (Abu Omar) - Italy Reduces CIA Sentences

ꕤ Article SOURCE as marked The Guardian   Italian president reduces sentences in CIA kidnapping case Sergio Mattarella shaved two years off the sentence of a former CIA base chief convicted in absentia in the 2003 abduction of an Egyptian terror suspect Friday 25 December 2015 02.17 AEDT Last modified on Wednesday 30 December 2015 00.02 AEDT Italy’s president has shaved two years off the sentence of a former CIA base chief convicted in absentia in the 2003 extraordinary rendition abduction of an Egyptian terror suspect. With the decree, announced Wednesday night by the presidential palace, President Sergio Mattarella reduced to seven from nine years Robert Seldon Lady’s sentence. Mattarella also wiped out the three-year sentence handed down by a Milan court to another US defendant convicted in absentia, Betnie Medero. The palace said Italy’s head of state above all took into consideration Barack Obama’s ending the practice of extraordinary renditions, which Italy and the European Union consider “incompatible with the fundamental principles of a state of law”. In all, 26 Americans were convicted in absentia in the kidnapping of Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr. Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, was kidnapped while walking to noon prayers at a Milan mosque on 17 February 2003. He had been under investigation in Italy for allegedly recruiting jihadi fighters. Prosecutors claimed CIA operatives snatched him with the help of two Italian intelligence officers, drove him to Aviano air force base, and then flew him to a Nato base in Germany en route to Cairo, Egypt. When Nasr emerged from an Egyptian prison four years later, he claimed he had been tortured. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/24/italian-president-reduces-sentences-in-cia-kidnapping-case TeleSurTV Italian President Pardons CIA Kidnappers Published 24 December 2015 [ extract ] [ ... ] The CIA's former Milanese station chief Robert Seldon Lady and another U.S. national, Bernie Medero, were pardoned by President Sergio Mattarella for their role in the 2003 kidnapping. More than 20 CIA agents were convicted in absentia, with Lady facing the longest prison term of nine years. None of the agents ever served any time behind bars, though Lady and others risked arrest under international warrants if they traveled to Europe. Lady himself was temporarily detained in Panama in 2013 over the conviction, but fled the country before Italian authorities could process an extradition request. The presidential pardon means Medero can now travel freely to Europe, though an Italian official told Reuters that Lady could still risk arrest in the European Union as his pardon only reduced his sentence from nine years to just two. The convictions against Lady, Medero and others in Italy were the first of their kind against CIA agents involved in Washington's extraordinary rendition program. The controversial program saw hundreds of suspected militants kidnapped by the CIA, transported to secretive prison sites and tortured. Many of the victims had no ties to extremist groups and the program was widely condemned by human rights groups. Rendition was officially shelved in 2008. http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Italian-President-Pardons-CIA-Kidnappers-20151224-0001.html ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT No way known have they shelved that program.  I'm betting the lawlessness continues. The Italian sentencing is a joke.  Why even bother when it's all a farce? So, when's Italy going to pardon the other 24?  lol ꕤ

Pentagon Moves to Cover Up War Crimes

ꕤ Article SOURCE as marked WikiLeaks source | @WikiLeaks Sputnik Article http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20151230/1032476128/pentagon-whistleblowers-crackdown.html Pentagon Plans Legal Change to Crack Down on Military Whistleblowers 02:36 30.12.2015(updated 03:21 30.12.2015) After a year marked by repeated cyberattacks into US government databanks, the Department of Defense is tightening up its Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to prevent future breaches and leaks, legal and cyber [attacks], analysts told Sputnik. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Former CIA counterterrorism officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou told Sputnik on Tuesday that the change in the Code seemed focused on bringing military legal procedures up to date to deal with the burgeoning field of cybercrime and cyberespionage. "It may be that the law was outdated and didn't include ‘cybercrime," Kiriakou said.   The Defense Department has proposed a reform in the US Code of Military Justice to introduce punishment for specific computer offenses for the first time. Retired US Army Major Todd Pierce, an author and expert on military law and civil liberties, told Sputnik the reform seemed to be focused on serving military personnel who became whistleblowers such as Chelsea Manning, rather than on civilian contractors such as Edward Snowden. "I think it is more related to Manning as Snowden wouldn’t have come under the UCMJ as a civilian," Pierce pointed out.   Chelsea Manning, originally Bradley Manning, was a US Army soldier who was convicted in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly 750,000 classified or unclassified, but sensitive military and diplomatic documents. In August 2013, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and will only be eligible for possible parole from August 2020. Pierce said the proposed changes in the UCMJ would make it easier for the US military to prosecute and convict future whistleblowers like Manning, who felt compelled to leak classified or sensitive material for the public good. "I presume the offenses and the elements which will need to be shown for conviction will be made easier to prove than relying on General Articles and the incorporation of federal statutes," Pierce stated. Independent Institute Director of the Center on Peace and Liberty Ivan Eland agreed that the Defense Department was belatedly reacting to the embarrassments it suffered from the successful data leaks and exposures by Snowden and Manning. "The [proposed] Code revisions seem to be a reaction to the Snowden leaks. However, Snowden was a civilian and they are likely plugging leaks in the Code to deal with similar actions by military personnel," Eland noted.   Edward Snowden is a former CIA employee and former contractor for the US government who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) and the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) for public disclosure. The information revealed many global surveillance programs run by the NSA and by the "Five Eyes" alliance of US, British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand electronic intelligence and surveillance agencies. http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20151230/1032476128/pentagon-whistleblowers-crackdown.html Best Comment to WikiLeaks Stanely Cohen, Lawyer US Political Activist Source | Stanley Cohen Law ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT The Americans weren't merely 'embarrassed' by the leaks attributed to Chelsea Manning:  US and allied war crimes were exposed. Therefore the Americans would be adjusting their military legislation to ensure that currently undisclosed (and future) US military war crimes remain hidden from public knowledge and that wrongful deeds remain immune from consequences such as the threat of prosecution, following potential whistleblower exposure. Summary notes re US military law: US Military Law Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) (1950) Link | Post COLLATERAL MURDER WikiLeaks VIDEO | IRAQ (2010) | here WikiLeaks A U S T R A L I A N JOURNALIST JULIAN ASSANGE POLITICAL PRISONER BRITAIN https://govwaste.co.uk/ SUPPORT Justice4Assange WikiLeaks Site WikiLeaks Twitter BOOK:  The WikiLeaks Files (2015) Link | here Uh-oh ... once I get onto the large fonts, they keep getting bigger and bigger.      lol ꕤ

1775 - British-America Colonies Revolt / American Revolution 1765-1783

ꕤ History Year 1775 American Revolution 1765-1783  1775 Jan 11th - Francis Salvador  (with colonial rebel militia, opposed to British Crown) first Jew elected to office in America (SC) South Carolina Francis Salvador 1747 - 1776 Sephardic Jewish-English plantation owner colony of South Carolina uncle only Jewish director of British East India Company raised in wealth / large inheritance active with uncle (British East India Co) & with the wealthy DaCosta family of London re plans to settle poor Jews in the 'New World'   Salvador joined independence cause in 1776 first Jew killed in the American Revolutionary War militia vs. Loyalists (+ their Cherokee allies) 1774 - Salvador settled at Coroneka (aka Cornacre)    worked land with purchased African slaves first Jew elected as delegate South Carolina Provincial Congress he (and friend) elected as reps from: Ninety-Six District to the Provincial Congress (Jews could not legally hold office nor vote, but no colonists objected re appointment) joined by Andrew Williamson, then a major in the militia Salvador was chosen re important tasks: drawing declaration obtaining ammunition assessing safety of frontier working on new state constitution framed bill of rights etc 1733, London Sephardic community sends 42 Jews to present-day Georgia / families flee north to Charleston (South Carolina), fearing Spanish Inquisition in Georgia Charleston preferred 1730s London Sephardic Jew immigration destination -- later joined by Jews from Germany, Netherlands & West Indies Ninety Six, South Carolina (town) aka 'Jews Land' Salvador and DaCosta families bought 200,000 acres (810 km2) intended re settlement of poor Sephardic Jewish families ------- Major General Nathanael Greene + 1,000 American Patriot troops (the REBELS) besieged 550 American Loyalists (loyal to Crown) - defending Ninety Six American Loyalists survived siege relocated (after war) to Rawdon, Nova Scotia, Canada with support from Crown for resettlement ------ 1776 British induced Indian allies to attack South Carolina frontier to create diversion for British ops on sea-coast Indians attack frontier families in Ninety Six District Salvador rode to plantation of Maj. Andrew Williamson to raise alarm Salvador took part in engagements that followed Maj. Williamson captures two Loyalists (loyal to Crown) captives lead Williamson's 330 men militia into ambush ambushed by Tories & their Cherokee allies Salvador shot & fell into bushes later discovered & scalped by Cherokee died from wounds, age:  29 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety_Six,_South_Carolina Feb 9th - British Parliament Massachusetts colony declared in rebellion Mar 22nd - Edmund Burke presents 13 articles to the Westminster Parliament Edmund Burke Irish statesman, philosopher Anglican background Trinity College, Dublin conservative liberalism political battles: 1. equal treatment of Catholics in Ireland; 2. against British oppression of 13 American colonies; 3. for constitutional restraints on royal patronage; 5. against power of East India Company in India; 6. against dogma of French Revolution. [Jesse Norman, The Telegraph, UK] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/10046562/Edmund-Burke-the-great-conservative-who-foresaw-the-discontents-of-our-era.html Mar 23rd - Patrick Henry proclaims First American Propaganda   "Give me liberty or give me death" in speech in favour of Virginian troops joining American Revolutionary War Patrick Henry Founding Father American lawyer, planter, politician movement for independence of Virginia 1770s Led opposition to: Stamp Act 1765 (UK) imposing direct tax on colonies of British America requiring most printed materials in colonies to be produced on stamped paper, produced London (with embossed revenue stamp) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_Act_1765 purpose: to help pay for troops in North America after British victory in: Seven Years' War (1755-1764) involved great powers (# Great powers must have been France, Britain, Prussia, Australia & Russia) affected Europe, North America, Central America, West Africa, India, Philippines Europe: 1812 - x4 Great Powers: Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain, the four powers that were chiefly instrumental in the overthrow of Napoleon [britannica]  (greatest European war since Thirty Years war of 1600s) A. Seven Years' War fought between two coalition factions: 1. Great Britain 2. France https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years'_War B. French & Indian War (1754–1763) - ie. part of Seven Years' War Fought between colonies of: British America (2-million settler pop.) New France (60,000 settler pop.) each supported by parent countries French outnumbered, relied on: Indians -- escalation from regional Indian conflict to intercontinental Indian conflict -- on 'metropole' nations (presumably indigenous peoples) declaration of war in 1756 Indians fought on BOTH sides of the conflict https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_and_Indian_War Apr 11th - last execution for witchcraft in Germany Apr 14th - first abolitionist (end slavery) society established Apr 18th - Paul Revere & William Dawes ride from Charleston to Lexington warning: "Regulars are coming!" Paul Revere father, French Huguenot mother, Deborah Hitchborn (family owned shipping warf) prominent American silversmith (Boston) engraver, early industrialist iron casting, bronze bell & cannon casting forging of copper bolts & spikes 1800 Revere first American to successfully roll copper into sheets for use as sheathing on naval vessels Patriot in the American Revolution known for alerting the Colonial militia re approach of British forces before battles of: 1775 - Lexington & Concord first military engagements in present-day Arlington and Cambridge, near Boston marked outbreak of open armed conflict b/w: Great Britain ('redcoats') & 13 of its colonies ('British America') Regent: King George III https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Lexington_and_Concord https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere May 10th 2nd Continental Congress convenes Philadelphia Pennsylvania issues first paper currency May 10th - 2nd Continental Congress in Philadelphia George Washington, named supreme commander May 17th - American Revolutionary War Continental Congress bans trade with Canada May 20th - Citizens of Mecklenburg County, NC declare independence from Britain May 24th - John Hancock unanimously elected President of the Continental Congress John Hancock American merchant, smuggler, statesman prominent Patriot of the American Revolution uncle - one of Boston's richest & best-known residents business: import of manufactured goods from Britain Exported of: rum, whale oil, & fish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock Jun 12th - First naval battle of Revolution-Unity (American) colonial rebels capture Margaretta (Br) Jun 14th - US Army founded Jun 15th - George Washington appointed commander-in-chief of American Army Jun 22nd - first Continental currency issued ($3-million) Jul 3rd - Washington takes command of Continental Army at Cambridge, Mass Jul 5th - US Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition letter to King George III from Second Continental Congress attempt to avoid war of independence Jul 6th - Congress issues "Declaration of the Causes & Necessity of Taking up Arms," listing grievances but denying intent of claiming independence Jul 10th - Horatio Gates issues order excluding blacks from Continental Army Horatio Gates (British soldier, served as revolutionary general)   Jul 22nd - George Washington takes command of the Continental Army First American Propaganda Jul 25th - Maryland issues currency depicting George III trampling Magna Carta Aug 22nd - King George III proclaims colonies to be in open rebellion Sep 13th - Gotthold Lessing's "Die Juden," premieres in Frankfurt-am-Main Die Juden [“The Jews”] Gotthold Ephraim Lessing German author, dramatist & critic praised unappreciated nobility of mind (Jews still confined to ghetto) last work: Die Erziehung des Menschengeschlechts (1780) 'The Education of the Human Race' belief in the perfectibility of the human species otherwise: saw a developing moral awareness believed human species would eventually attain the peak of 'universal brotherhood' and 'moral freedom' that would transcend all dogmas and doctrines http://www.britannica.com/biography/Gotthold-Ephraim-Lessing Oct 12th - US Navy forms Oct 13th - construction of a naval fleet, ordered by Continental Congress Oct 16th - Portland, Maine burned by British Oct 27th - US Navy forms as the Continental Navy Nov  7th - Lord Dunmore promises freedom to male slaves who join British army Nov 10th - Congress forms US Marine Corps Nov 12th - General Washington forbids recruiting officers enlisting blacks Nov 28th - 2nd Continental Congress formally establishes US Navy Dec 22nd - Continental navy organized with 7 ships Dec 31st - Battle of Quebec - Americans defeated trying to take British stronghold http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1775 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Above is just a sketch of what was happening in 1775, as I wanted an idea of what was happening when the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) was drawn up.  Much of it is from 'This Day in History' & hasn't been cross-checked, but it would do for basics. I haven't done anything more than skim the basics (no deeper follow-up on attached pages etc). This might have to do.  I'm getting bored. Wonder what part bankers played in the American Revolution?  As in, you can't have a revolt on this scale unless you're bankrolled and supplied with weapons etc.  Who supplied the colonial rebels, I'm wondering? The imposition of Stamp Act taxes was just a pretext to seize the colonies, I'm thinking.  As in, the British went to a great deal of expense to secure the colonies (by the sound of things) and are therefore entitled to tax the beneficiaries of that investment (I would think).  That's my initial feeling.  But I've not read enough to know. Just looked up Francis Salvador.  What a horrific way to die.  ------->  Keeping the colonial troops straight isn't easy: American Patriot troops (ie the rebels / colonists of 13 British-American Colonies opposed to British control) American Loyalists (ie the American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown) ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- ***Something's causing double-spacing in the published document, which is driving me nuts.  Don't know where the problem code is. ꕤ

US Military Law

ꕤ Info /Reference SOURCE Wikipedia (various pages), mostly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Code_of_Military_Justice Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) (1950) foundation of military law (USA) 1775 - 69 Articles of War to govern conduct of Continental Army established by Second Continental Congress 1788 - Article I, Section 8 granted US Congress power to regulate land & naval forces 1806 -  101 Articles of War *no significant revision for over century Articles for Government of the Navy (aka 'Rocks and Shoals') Articles of War evolved first half 1900s 1916 - amendment Articles of War 1920 - amendment Articles of War 1948 - substantial amendment Articles of War ## Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) signed into law by President Harry S Truman 1950 effective 1951 consistent application to all armed services in place of earlier: Articles of War Articles of Government Disciplinary Laws (of individual services) Following relevant laws evolved in step with federal civilian criminal justice system: 1. Rules of Court Martial (military equivalent of 'Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure) 2. Military Rules of Evidence (military equivalent of 'Federal Rules of Evidence') UCMJ ahead of changes in civilian criminal justice system, in some ways: eg.  rights-warning (Miranda warnings equivalent) -- required in more contexts than civilian sector -- applicable only to custodial interrogation -- introduced 15 years before Supreme Court ruling re Miranda (1966) eg.  provision of all accused with defence counsel at earlier stages than civilian: 1948 Articles of War guarantee: qualified defence counsel to be provided to all accused irrespective of financial need-based factors US Navy 1948-1951 military justice continued to operate under Articles of War for Government of Navy 1951 - Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) effective Court Martial officer panel hearing coveted from:  board of inquiry/review presiding over trial converted to:  jury of military service members conducted under:  UCMJ review by:  convening authority (discretionary powers wide) Appeals intermediate court review applicable if: death penalty bad conduct discharge dishonourable discharge dismissal of officer confinement 1-year-plus Appeal courts - x4: Army Court of Criminal Appeals Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals Further Appeals: Supreme Court of USA *since 2007 - legislation expanding accessibility to Supreme Court Parties Jurisdiction court's jurisdiction over PARTIES to lawsuit versus SUBJECT-MATTER jurisdiction (ie over law & facts) rulings & decrees cannot be enforced without personal jurisdiction (save for 'comity' / legal reciprocity - mutual legal recognition) (eg. US Constitutional Law entitlements & immunities re citizens of several states) UCMJ allows personal jurisdiction over all members uniformed services of US: Air Force Army Coast Guard Marine Corps Navy NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (scientific agency, earth measurement, satellite, navigation etc) Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Selective Service Act of 1948 (Elston Act) - military draft reg'n ie. Military Selective Service Act (1948) aka 'Elston Act' major revision of Articles of War (US) established implementation of 'Selective Service System' (SSS) Selective Service System 'independent' agency of US government registers/monitors all US citizens & immigrant non-citizen males - between 18 & 25 years for military draft purposes 2010 - GAO report: 92% registration - names & addresses over 16.2 million men on file Forced Draft Registration US federal programs, benefits & student loans, jobs training, federal employment & naturalisation requires registration for US military draft source Wikipedia (various pages), mostly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Code_of_Military_Justice Legislation http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj.htm ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT More interesting information, which I'll probably soon forget. Had no idea that Americans had to register for draft purposes.  Wow, a potential force of 16.2 million sounds impressive (but they're not combat ready or experienced).   Wonder what China and India have got. ꕤ