Novorossiya

Still largely following what's going on in Ukraine. Amazed by the courage of the Novorossiya guys who stand their ground and fight the government's army, the oligarch-hired militias and the fascist volunteers.  I don't have that kind of courage, so I'm in awe of how brave and chilled out the Novorossiya guys are, facing a barrage of bullets and shells aimed at destroying them -- as well as some really disgusting and dishonourable elements in the government camp.  Find myself identifying with the independence fighters in a big way.  Really upset the other day, when I saw notification that a couple of guys had been killed. The horrific photos of shelled civilians and photos of the destruction of towns are also very sobering. Even though I've followed this pretty closely this last month or so, it's only when I see particularly graphic photos that I realize I've not fully absorbed or integrated the reality of what's going on.   I'm reminded that the understanding I have is remote:  it's an intellectual level of awareness of what's going on, combined with a strong level of identification and emotional investment in the Novorossiya side winning.  But however much I feel a sense of solidarity, I'm not there:  it's not me exposed to being shelled; it's not me ducking bullets; it's not me picking up body parts and flesh of people who have been ripped apart; it's not me piling mangled, bleeding bodies of the dead into the back of a van -- and it's not me facing death or facing life in towns that have been completely devastated structurally and socially. Civilians go about their business in suburbs and towns while being shelled by that country's government and nobody cares. It is a disgrace that the puppet government of Ukraine has been  allowed to get away with what they're doing and that the west actually supports the murderous government they've invested in fleecing financially and strategically. No way known do I see a unified Ukraine coming out of this.   Imagine it would be impossible for those people to contemplate anything less than independence after the destruction and murder that's taken place.  And having see a video of the 'ultra-nationalist' marauding gangs of thugs in action destroying a Russian service station, knowing that these types are prevalent and even involved at government level, I'd say there's no way those people could ever forge a peaceful integration of the South-East region with the destroyers and the haters.

UKRAIN - NATO - ANDERS FOGH-RASMUSSEN - LEHMANN ARTICLE

24.08.2014 Author: Christof Lehmann NATO’s Summit in Wales: Why Anders Fogh-Rasmussen? Column: Politics Region: USA in the World NATO will hold its 2014 summit in Wales under Secretary-General Anders Fogh-Rasmussen in September. The summit will be held against the backdrop of a widening Middle East war and the war in Ukraine. A profile of Anders Fogh-Rasmussen suggests that he was chosen with NATO’s eastward expansion and the ”containment” of Russia in mind, even at the risk of a European or global war.  Anders Fogh-Rasmussen spoke to journalists in Denmark on August 15 and stressed that the Alliance would focus on its readiness to deal with the full range of threats and with NATO’s readiness. He said ”we will adopt a Readiness Action Plan to make ourselves faster and more agile”. He added that NATO leaders planned to strengthen NATO’s partners and their institutions. Fogh-Rasmussen underlined that the success of NATO would depend on all Allies investing adequately in security and defense, especially given by the new security climate created by Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine. ”Security is like insurance: to have the best insurance you have to pay premium. We are now facing a new security situation, and the premium has gone up”, he said. Fogh-Rasmussen, a Dane, praised Denmark for its always present readiness to contribute and added operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Libya as examples for ”NATO’s collective defense”. The statement is breathtaking, considering that NATO’s 25th summit in Chicago, in 2012, concluded that NATO operations in Libya in 2011 were ”a teachable moment and model for future interventions”. This interpretation of NATO’s role in Libya stands in stark contrast, to how it was perceived by the then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia, and many other UN member states. During a joint press conference with the then Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Putin stressed that NATO had overstepped its authorization via UN Security Council Resolution 1973 (2011) on Libya. The atmosphere between Putin and Lars Løkke Rasmussen was visibly tense. Adding to the tensions was probably, that Putin has a KGB background and must have known that Lars Løkke Rasmussen raised millions for the ”mujahedeen” and other US/NATO creations in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Another one who would probably say ”not so fast” to NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s statement about NATO premium insurance policy is the Russian Ambassador to NATO, Vitaly Grutchko. After the collapse of Russia – EU negotiations over the Third EU Energy Package, at a meeting in Brussels in 2013, Grutchko said ”Someone here in Brussels made the most profound point by saying that if you are holding a hammer, you should not think that every emerging problem is a nail. We think that the world has ample opportunity to engage in energy cooperation and to ensure energy security without making use of military-political organizations as instruments”. Analysts had by that time warned for a year that the failure of NATO’s strategy in Syria had made a NATO provoked war in Ukraine as predictable as a clockwork. The appointment of a NATO Secretary-General helps forecast NATO long-term planning. One example? In 1987 NATO appointed the former German Defense Minister Manfred Wörner. The appointment of Wörner was followed by the German reunification in 1990. On December 26, 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved. Wörner, Germany, and inner-German, German – Czechoslovakian and especially German-Russian relations were crucial elements to these developments. Wörner died from intestinal cancer at the age of 59 in 1994. Wörner was known to be skeptic with regards to NATO’s eastward expansion. Denmark and Fogh-Rasmussen should come to play crucial roles in tying the former Soviet Republics in the Baltic, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania to the European Union and to NATO. Anders Fogh-Rasmussen served as Danish PM between November 27, 2001 and April 5, 2009. Centuries of close ties between the Baltic States and Denmark were crucial. In the post 9/11 climate and the Global War on Terror, Fogh-Rasmussen had come to prove that he was willing to engage Danish troops in an illegal war in Iraq. Moreover, the Danish courts rejected Danish plaintiffs who wanted Fogh-Rasmussen charged on these grounds, saying that they had no standing in court. Because it’s so great to be on the winning team. Danish loyalty towards NATO was relatively easy to forecast, also for historical reasons. Danes are all to aware of the fact that Denmark got ”a free ride” when Germany was defeated in WWII. Historical archives show that the then Danish Foreign Minister Peter Munch had a secret meeting with the German Reichführer ( Leader of the Realm) Heinrich Himmler in Rostock. The meeting took place in the weeks before the ”German invasion”. Munch’s son was known to be pedophile and the young man could risk jail or worse if he fell into the hands of a German prosecutor. Records which could have proven that Munch was blackmailed have in part be burned, others remain classified to this day. Danish forces mounted only symbolic resistance when German troops initiated operation “Weserübung” and occupied Denmark and Norway to “secure their neutrality”. The Danish flag was flown during the 2014 D-Day celebrations; Not for the State but because the effort of Danish sailors during the war. The Danish historian Niels Wium Olesen noted that those Danes who knew about it probably perceived it as”a pleasant misunderstanding”, because its ”so great to be on the winning team”. The appointment of Fogh-Rasmussen was a clear signal for NATO’s eastwards expansion, in breach with the terms agreed upon before the German reunification. That is, no NATO troops in any of the former Soviet republics or Warsaw Treaty member states. The summit in Wales: Rockefeller money vs. continental European consensus – War or Peace? The 2014 NATO summit in Wales will be held against the backdrop of an unprecedented risk for open war between NATO and Russia or the CSTO. Fogh-Rasmussen stressed that the insurance premium has gone up. He omits that core NATO members, especially the USA, UK, with almost absolute loyalty from Denmark, manufactured the wars in Libya and Syria since 2007; the war in Iraq since 2000 or before, and the war in Ukraine since 2012. Denmark and Anders Fogh-Rasmussen were the perfect choice ”because it’s so great to be on the winning team”. Fogh-Rasmussen’s term as NATO Secretary-General and the current conflict in Ukraine combined, raise principle questions: Who benefits from almost pathologically obsessive, Rockefeller-money-supported policy-makers like Zbigniev Brzezinski. In his latest book “Strategic Vision”, the Obama administration adviser argues that the Russia of Putin must be contained and isolated, that Turkey shall play a crucial role for NATO in the Middle East. Psychologically trained observers would assure that Brzezinski is obsessed with dividing Russia into independent republics and then to tie Moscow to a continental Europe under US/UK hegemony.  [So it's a US/UK empire ... Europe a province?] Who benefits from throwing a spanner into Russian – continental European relations and the provocation of a third, great European war over an subversively-created lack of convergence in EU – Russian energy-security requirements? Will a growing continental European consensus against bellicose policy, driven by Washington and London, reach sufficient momentum to prevent a worst case scenario? Fogh-Rasmussen’s preamble to the NATO summit in Wales spells war rather than peace. It will be one of the most crucial summits the Alliance has held since it was established in 1949. Dr. Christof Lehmann an independent political consultant on conflict and conflict resolution and the founder and editor in chief of nsnbc, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”. source: Journal-Neo.Org

ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI - US geostrategist - wikipedia link.

*A wealth of information in this article by Dr Christof Lehmann.

LUGANSK (UKR) - LUGANSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC (LNR)

Self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic elects head, passes constitution Published time: May 19, 2014 03:56 The self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LNR) elected its head and passed its own constitution on Sunday. This comes after the region held a referendum on May 11 and proclaimed itself independent from Kiev. LNR’s state council – which acts as a temporary legislative body – has chosen Valery Bolotov as the head of the republic. The council also elected its speaker, Aleksey Karyakin, and Prime Minister - Vasily Nikitin. Bolotov was born in Russia’s southern port city of Taganrog in 1974. He has two university degrees. He also worked his way up from a manager to the director at a meat factory. Before being elected as the head of the self-proclaimed republic, he was serving as the “people’s governor” of Lugansk region. Deputies of the council who where elected earlier on Sunday on also adopted a temporary constitution of the Lugansk People’s Republic. The newly elected prime minister already identified what his first steps in the office will be. “As the prime minister I will form a new government. I will announce the specific candidates later. The members of the new cabinet will be determined in the second part of the day [tomorrow],” Itar-Tass quoted Nikitin as saying. Last weekend, Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions held referendums in which the majority of voters supported self-rule. In Lugansk region 96.2 percent of voters supported the region’s self-rule, according to final figures announced by the local election commission. Almost 90 percent of voters in Donetsk region have endorsed political independence from Kiev. http://rt.com/news/159840-lugansk-elects-head-constitution/

*Not sure if any changes to personnel since.

So there you go:  in referendum re self-rule overwhelming majority supported independence from Kiev.

MINSK - CUSTOMS UNION TALKS - Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan with Ukraine & EU

First Results of Talks in Minsk Positive 06:50 27/08/2014 MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - The first results of the multilateral talks in Minsk, attended by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, as well as European Union officials, are deemed positive, with several issues discussed, including the situation in Ukraine, gas issues, Russian food embargo and others. Speaking on the situation in the troubled eastern regions of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko suggested accepting his peace plan that should help to cease the bloodshed and rebuild the Donbas region. “I'm convinced that this plan remains a viable and practical instrument for ceasing bloodshed and rebuilding the Donbas region after the conflict. In this regard, I call on all participants of today’s meeting to consider the possibility of making this plan a basis for the Donbas crisis settlement,” Poroshenko said.  [What isn't mentioned is that his 'peace plan' (if it is unchanged) is a call to DISARMAMENT of independence supporters ... which is a call to SURRENDER! rather than a 'ceasefire'.] Despite differences in attitude to the crisis in Ukraine, all participants of the Customs Union-Ukraine-EU meeting agreed on non-violent manner of the crisis de-escalation and said the captives should be released. “Everybody agrees that de-escalation is needed and hostages should be released,” Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said. Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that about 1,000 people were held captive by the militia in eastern Ukraine. The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic announced that about the same number of independence supporters were unaccounted for. Russia expressed its willingness to do everything possible to ensure the progress of a peace process in Ukraine and stop the bloodshed in the country. “Russia will do everything possible for this peace process once it starts. This process must be launched as soon as possible,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The sides are also said to have agreed on cooperation on Russia’s humanitarian aid delivery to the citizens of eastern Ukraine. “We discussed a possibility and necessity to render humanitarian aid to Donetsk and Luhansk and agreed on the ways we are to cooperate on this issue. I do not want to jump ahead but certain agreements have been reached,” Putin said. It was added that a meeting of the contact group for Ukrainian reconciliation, involving Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), may take place in Minsk on Wednesday. Moscow and Kiev have also agreed to intensify the work of the trilateral group for the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. According to Russian Energy Minister Alexnader Novak, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union have also reached an agreement to continue three-party talks on gas issues that continued from mid-April to June to no avail. The European Union expressed no concern about the gas supplies being potentially interrupted by Ukrainian authorities in light of a law passed by the Ukrainian parliament, which allows Kiev to impose more than 20 different types of sanctions against Russia, including a possible ban on the transit of Russian energy resources through its territory. Novak noted that Russia did not consider the possibility of European customers purchasing Russian gas on the Russian-Ukrainian border and had no plans to review its contract with Ukraine for the gas transit to Europe.  [This unclear to me] “We have not discussed this today. … But our position is as follows: the transit contract is in force until 2019 and it cannot be reviewed at least till that time," the energy minister said. The talks on energy issues involving the energy ministers from Ukraine, Russia and the European Union will be held on September 6. The Minsk talks also touched upon the Russian ban of food imports from Western countries and the issue of embargoed goods being actively shipped to Moscow via Belarus. “Even within the Customs Union framework, embargoed goods are being actively re-imported to the Russian Federation from the European Union countries, namely via Belarus,” the Russian president said. Moscow said it would lift its food embargo when Russia’s national security was no longer threatened. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich pointed out that Russia had to impose the embargo to make its Western partners think twice before imposing any anti-Russian measures. Russia expressed hopes that Western countries would treat with respect the measures Moscow was taking to protect its economy. “Our partners should weigh all options and make a decision. … We will treat with respect any choice by our European colleagues, Ukrainian partners. We hope that they will also respect our measures, aimed at protecting our interests,” Putin said. So far, Moscow has positively evaluated the Customs Union-Ukraine-EU meeting in the Belarusian capital. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton has also given a positive assessment of the talks. Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said that the participants of the Minsk talks had had a candid dialogue and considered the meeting positive, stressing that the sides had held an open exchange of opinions on a range of issues. The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko took place in Minsk and lasted for two hours. After that, Poroshenko planned on meeting with EU representatives in the Ukrainian embassy. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, the European Commission Vice-President in charge of energy, Guenther Oettinger, and the European Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, are among the participants of the Minsk meeting. http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140827/192377376/First-Results-of-Talks-in-Minsk-Positive.html

Don't know what to think.

Talks are ongoing.

Poroshenko's 'peace plan' isn't a peace plan.

But there is a trilateral settlement of Ukraine discussion about to take place, so something interesting could come out of that.

Didn't get the energy / gas at border to third parties stuff.

Contract is in force until 2019 & Russian's aren't 'renewing' it - which presumably also means they're not amending it in any way.  So contract stands? 

Bit lost on that one.  Bit frazzled today & not focused enough to think.  LOL

TWITTER Lobbying

Tend to do things on the fly rather than after careful consideration and extensive research, so my attempt at the odd bit of Twitter campaigning is rather lame to say the least! Is it best to selectively target an 'audience' or is getting the word out broadly and maybe stirring a little interest and debate a worthwhile pursuit, irrespective of the values or ideologies of the target 'audience'? The problem with not being selective is perhaps coming across as aligned with or open to groups, causes, beliefs etc that aren't necessarily in keeping with one's own values -- as well as potentially alienating more suited 'audiences'. Hmmmm ....

Summary

A FEW TWEETS ... of what caught my attention #EU #OSCE concern re 'aggressive nationalism' in EU - Ukr + Western Eu ('intolerance').. resolution Ukr a priority >> http://goo.gl/lwGs0i ie. Nationalism deemed an issue in Ukraine and in Western Europe.  Preaching tolerance agenda. #UKRAINE - dissolution parliament decree signed by #POROSHENKO > new elections - 26th October 2014  - I'm guessing this is strategic move to stall for time or something. "Russia relies LESS on imports from the countries it is feuding with than they rely on exports to #Russia" [QZ] >>> Whose idea: sanctions? #EU combined economy near 8x bigger than #Russia econ. B/c EU act as bloc, hard to pick individual countries 4 targeted embargo ..EU bullies #USA does not export much to #Russia ... so farmers, economy  etc in Europe take the hit for USA >  #EU in op. for US interests ... LMAO! #NORWAY - "Russia food ban blocked 3/4 Norway exports comprising almost entirely of FISH" - oops.  That's cost of being  #EU + #US puppet "#Canada—meat and fish are the second- and fourth-largest Canadian exports to Russia" - oops.  Russian bans = price of being US province. #Russia - reliant import> fur-skin clothing; wallpaper & tea.  Doesn't look too critical for Russia on the import side of things. Ppl analysing trade in corn & wheat [Thu. release of export bookings 4 indicator of demand] > then gamble $$ weird> http://goo.gl/RAlfjv #Iraq - US interest in Iraqi Kurds looks like interest in crude oil - Kurds working to quadruple capacity export >> http://www.futuresmag.com/2014/08/25/bulls-run-from-crude … -        Libya & Iraq output flooding crude market >> crude oil prices lowered >> refineries in US schedule Sept/Oct - good timing -        Is it cynical to believe that all of this is about crude oil & MONEY and that the timing of the galvanising events is sus? -    Libya & Iraq > EIA forecasts US production > 9.28 million barrels a day 2015, the highest annual average since 1972. *SICK* #tonyabbot #auspol - $13mil to Islamic youth education/jobs > extremism deterrents >> http://goo.gl/IE8yUe  - $630 million set c/terrorism -        Libya & Iraq > EIA forecasts US production > 9.28 million barrels a day 2015, the highest annual average since 1972. #USA S&P 500 Index highest in 6yrs - significance psychological - gains largely benefited wealthier Americans> http://goo.gl/qDTfvG Ø     US services sector and the housing market below forecasts > but on growth path - ECB optimism “crumbling” > growth deceleration>IMF want German role in EU growth recovery by  increasing wages> (How help?) - ECB optimism “crumbling” > growth deceleration>IMF want German role in EU growth recovery by increasing wages> (How help?) #Germany > looks to remain tight-fisted > Germany + Spain for AUSTERITY, despite French spitting dummy > http://goo.gl/VMiKS2 #ITALY also whining against AUSTERITY > Germany not stimulating EU economy leaves the strugglers in EU in the lurch. That S&P Index high in #USA is on speculation of ECB in #EU going into QE (stimulus buy-ups) >> http://goo.gl/bFLDrt #EU - the French fallout is part of WIDER EU debate re soundness AUSTERITY policy @ time Eurozone is flat-lining >> http://goo.gl/GMC7IE #UKRAINE - #Poroshenko consults w/ #Merkel re Rada dissolution + Minsk. Ummm, why? http://goo.gl/V4U228  > Is Germany running Ukr? - A stall manoeuvre w/ eye to beat E.Ukr? And/or shape choice of forum for settlement etc? Bet dissolution is #USA propelled. "1991 President Bush and Gorbachev declared a US-Russian strategic partnership" >> in 2014 OBAMA DECLARED STRATEGIC #NATO OCCUPATION EU #France - Hollande strife? Trying to silence his lefties might backfire...http://goo.gl/j65qRq  on him (his public support tenuous). #SPAIN -- Mayor of El Coronil (near Seville) >> receives death threats over jihadi Twitter remark >>> http://goo.gl/rXML59 #SPAIN - Olive prices on the rise due to drought / crop 40% down >> Sp. supplies 50% world's o/oil >> http://goo.gl/yJJxtc  > Noooo!!! #CFR Council on Foreign Relations >> "Why is Ukraine in Crisis?" ... Surely, they jest! #UKRAINE #OBAMA #NATO >Internat. Sec. Assist Force >> Grl John F. Campbell TAKES OVER #Afghanistan Command (f: Grl Joseph F. Dunford (now US MARINES corps)) ....................................................................................... Iraq, in my opinion, is about crude oil first and foremost.  Correction.  *Only* about crude oil.  I firmly believe that.  When the penny dropped I felt as if I'd discovered oil.  It was visceral.  Things might hot up in Iraq, as there's a new appointment and he's had Iraq and other operations experience and a long career.  Didn't check his predecessor's experience, so not sure. Really ought to expand on that and on the 'counter-terrorism' expenditure highlighted, but I'm just too wiped out to focus any more.   Will just say, that I connect the counter-terrorism expenditure in this way:  big business is interfering and manipulating o/seas for big bucks -- it's changing the course of countries' histories etc & people's lives.  It's doing so for nothing but corporate enrichment.  So the government, as I see it, serves corporations instead of people. There's no ideals here.  It's not about ideals. It's not about aid.  It's not about justice.  It's none of the crap that we're fed in the papers, in other media or at the movies.  It's MONEY pure and simple.  While budgets are being cut and everyday people are missing out in Australia, the government is shelling out over $600m on counter-terrorism that CORPORATIONS (and the governments that serve them) are responsible for CREATING, in the first place.  As it is a a consequence of intervention in foreign countries (for profit), why aren't the corporations paying for that directly instead of allowing the average man to take the hit (ie.  less resources available for the citizens).  Average guy (and not the oil profiteer) will also take a hit if it comes down to troops on the ground. Why don't governments just come out and SAY:  we're going in here (or there) because we want resources and money.  Why lie about it?  Why make out it's something it's not? Speaking of money, where is it?  Fortunes have been made (and empires have won over and over again) by imperialists of one kind or another.  Imperialists of yesteryear and corporate imperialists of today).   But where's the money?  I think people are entitled to ask.  People die for these imperialist wars. But Average Joe doesn't get a cut of the action ... and, at the end of the day, Average Joe is the one who'll take up a gun and fight the dirty oil wars. Didn't cover as much ground as I would have liked to today.  But I figure if I learn one or two new things a day, every little bit helps to gradually build the big picture.  What for?  No idea.  Just a challenge, I guess. *excuse typos.  *tired.  #on last legs. PS Don't you just hate it when ppl drop out of following on Twitter and you're left wondering "Did I say something offensive?"  Of course, it could be a drop-out for any reason:  like boring feed or not getting an expected follow-back (I'm not going crazy on the follow-back).

CRIMEA

CRIMEA Scythians (Scytho-Cimmerians) Tauri Greeks Romans Goths Huns Bulgars Kipchaks  Khazars Kievan Rus + Byzantium [Modern Belarus, Ukraine & Russia all claim Kievan Rus  inheritance] Mongol (Golden Horde) Venetians + Genovese (13th C. - ie 1200s) Crimean Khanate + Ottoman Empire (15thC. to 18thC. ie 1700s) Russian Empire (1783) Catherine the Great Crimean Autonomous            Soviet Socialist Republic (1921) Russian    SSR* (1945-1954)    Soviet Socialist Republic Ukrainian  SSR* (1954-1991)   Soviet Socialist Republic Autonomous Republic (Ukraine) 1991-2014) Russian Federation in (2014) [Wikipedia]

Quickie Round-up

Been slack maintaining entries. Twitter is a much faster medium with a sense of immediacy.  Quite addictive.  Been like a heroin junkie on twitter lately. Twitter more suited to churning information, which I'm doing right now. Blogger's a snail in comparison but it's a wonderful medium for more involved discussion of information. So what's been happening: Middle East Iraq Kurds (with help of US bombing) have taken x3 Iraq towns.  Trouble up north.  From map someone sent me on Twitter the other day, they've to a long way to go.  The map was dotted with towns that Islamic State had taken. Iran Diplomatic meeting with Saudi Arabia. These two are competitors rather than allies, I understand. Iran is alleging industrial sabotage and claims to have apprehended x4 spies, who are being interrogated. Story of a shot down Israeli drone spying on nuclear is in the news, but I haven't checked it out yet.  How slack is that? From recollection, Fars News mentioned Iran has one of the world's largest gas resources.  A few countries are clamouring for business, by the sound of it. Iran will meet UN's Catherine Ashton on Sept 1 (from recollection) to further discuss the nuclear energy matter -- which has been an ongoing discussion for ages now b/c the west (and probably other interests) are trying to block Iran's bid for nuclear enrichment.  West fear of nuclear power / weapons potential, so want Iran to SCALE DOWN -- which is the OPPOSITE of what they want. Iran's been subject to sanctions.  If I understand correctly, it is not permitted to use/trade in US dollars (which is international currency), is not permitted to do electronic transfers and it would most likely be subject to trade restrictions (specifics of which I don't recall, if I've come across that in my travels).  Anyway, the US can make that kind of blockage when it comes to currency and trade because it has big representation (voting rights when it comes to IMF and is influential re WTO and actually controls the international currency and impacts international economy through its Federal Reserve).  So US tends to have an upper hand. But that may alter in the future b/c the Chinese economy is not that far off the US economy - 16 point something percent of global GDP versus US 19 point something.  However, at this point, US has the voting rights and representation advantage because China has a meagre representation compared to the US. Saudi Arabia Chopped off something like 19 heads since Aug. 4th.  Yet it is on the UN Human Rights Council. Saudi Arabia very close US ally and appears to be a close business partner.  Shell (while foreign owned / non-US 'owned') has an arm with it's head office based in Texas and it's HUGE. Saudi Arabia happens to be a 50% partner in projects. Saudi Arabia is hosting a 'Friends of Syria' pow-wow.  But it is actually friends of the Syrian *opposition*.  So it's kind of like a false advertising title, no? Attendees: Turkey, US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt & Jordan. So that pretty much tells you who's with the US (who's against Syria -- well, against the current rulers, I gather) and it gives you a peak into part of the dynamics of control of this part of the world. Interesting that Italy's in the mix.  Wonder why Italy's involved.  Know it's EU/NATO involved ... what has it got to do with the Middle East? All of them:  imperialists.  History of imperialism.  And current imperialism in the form of big money corporations.  But Italy's broke, I think.  So what's it doing? Italy's maybe some kind of pawn?  Probably the immigration pawn.  Everyone's jumping 'ship' from North Africa and entering Europe through Italy (as well as Spain, I believe).  So maybe their role is something to do with immigration due to wars? Nope.  Syria is next to Israel.  The immigration is launching itself from Libya, where there's a people smuggling trade going on, I think.  It was referred to as 'human trafficking' but I'd say they mean 'people smuggling'.  Don't know for sure yet. Syria Assad government is probably struggling.  There's the US and everybody else against that government.  The west their M/E allies have tried to unseat him by supplying rebel militias with weapons and thus encouraging the bid to topple the Assad government. The opposition, I believe, is assorted militias rather than one political/military body attacking the government. Syria has asserted that there will be no air bombing in its territory without its prior consent -- ie re the bombing of Islamic State militias the US intends to do in Iraq (which it wants to extend or may wish to extend to Syria, where they are also dominant (I believe). The laugh is, US probably funded and armed these people in the first place.  I'm not entirely clear on that but it looks like they might have. In my travels, it was asserted that Assad is playing the rebel militias off against each other.  I don't know that.  That was just someone's opinion.  Not clear to me how this could be an advantage to him - ie this backing of rebels who are fighting his troops.  Doesn't make sense to me. Israel Bombing of Gaza resumed.  Something like 360 bombs dropped by Israel and deaths over 100 Palestinians since 19th, I believe. Stray mortars from Syria have landed Golan Heights.  Prior Syrian territory claimed by Israel during Six Day War 1967.  Now Israeli controlled.  Too rushed to double-check at the moment.  Anyway, deemed strays. Lebanon Massive strike of electric energy company.  Company not profitable.  Power blackouts.  Something like 2,000 workers are contract workers.  They want full-time employment.  Problem of state subsidy, lack profitability plus claims that workers clock on but don't perform -- ie take off.  Anyway, looks like worker are burning stuff outside the premises and blocking management from entering. Libya Tripoli taken over by rebel forces.  Finally got the airport.  Burned. Italy MASSIVE monthly spending on patrols: #EU - Italy picks up 3,500 refugees at sea this weekend!.. spends 9.5 mil euros ($13 mil) PER MONTH air/sea patrols>http://goo.gl/xCuNuw #Italy rescue 70,000 North African refugees since start Oct 2013 patrols> Libya launching point. 'Human trafficking'> http://goo.gl/E9QBhs Spain Doing it hard.  Unemployment at 25%.  Farmers cracking the shits over the EU sanctions (really US-EU-NATO when you consider the dynamics).  Costing them big time not being able to supply Russia. Poland Someone enterprising found a partial way around sanctions.  Investment in Belarus + intensive preservation + Belarus (& ors) being in 'Customs Union' (Eurasian), means side-stepping (to some degree) the anti-Russian sanctions and being able to unload produce to Russia. France Ooh, la la.  Big problems.  Government dissolution.  Economic minister badmouthed France policy and Hollande called for dissolution and new cabinet.  Eco min not happy that spending cuts are to finance tax cuts for corporations in bid to increase employment.  Eco minister pissed at tight fisted Germany not stimulating economy, I think. Eurozone Things are crap.  Economy stalling.  Will probably resort to QE. #EU - sounds like Eurozone *deflation* .. 'ailing bloc'... ECB quantitative easing? >>  http://goo.gl/Sw0JvX Described as a 'last resort' measure.  But this has been done before.   New to watching politics and economics, so I'm not up on exactly what it is apart from buying up 'assets' (in form of bonds, I think). UK, Japan and one other has done this before. Serbia Big problem with hazardous industrial waste -- accumulated, historic also.  Contamination fears. Elections in Republic of Serbia - part of B/H.  Serbia says will not interfere. Former diplomat to Turkey (and expert on Islamic affairs) claims neighbouring Turkey has an expansionist agenda. Two dairy companies will supply Russia, as Serbia will not bow to the EU anti-Russian sanctions.  Serbia is in negotiations to join EU and is not fully fledged member, so can do what it wants, I suppose. And that's the end of the round up because I could go on forever and not cover everything that's going on right now.  And while I'm summarising I'm hanging to check on latest news I'm missing out on! There's so much happening!!!

Above is just a quickie (and not necessarily complete) round-up from memory of last day or so events/news.

Excuse typos.  In hurry.

UKRAINE - Andrei Stenin Murdered (Uncomfirmed Report)

Last day not only marked a breakthrough in the Luhansk finally the People's Republic of Russian humanitarian aid convoy, but the fact that they found in the car burned body Photographer Andrew Stenina. As I predicted back on August 16 (see my post "The fate of Andrei Stenina - he's dead"), photographer Stenin dead, found in a burned-out car. Burned to the point of [non] recognition, along with cameras, all lenses in splinters flew from the heat. Together with Stenin in the car found two more corpses. In the practice of intelligence agencies around the world to conceal the real cause of death of the victim, are used more or less the same methods. It resets the dead body from a height (from a high floor of the building), throw the body under the runaway train, or convenient to burn it in the car. [...]  My opinion is expressed by an additional 16 August, it was such a quote: "Most likely, Stenina, not wanting this way, tortured during the investigation. In judicial practice, it is called" excess performance. "Do not hit there, trying to get to testify, and not with the force. Speech, and then Anton Gerashchenko refutation of Internal Affairs of Ukraine should be understood in a way that he let slip that Andrew was in the hands of the SBU. Gerashchenko blurted out that Stenin in the hands of the SBU, before Stenina tortured. Then he was forced to reverse. Meanwhile, appeared today (ie, 16 August EL) information that Stenin declared Ukraine wanted - this is a direct proof that Kiev sweeps tracks. " Next, I'm talking about what to expect. "Now it is expected that the body will throw Stenina the territory controlled by militias and try to blame the murder Stenina to them." Which is what happened. Vehicles with three burnt bodies, one of them - the body Stenina detected yesterday militias on the territory they control. Google Translate from source: here.

Translation comes out a bit garbled.

Basically, photographer Russian Andrei Stenin, who has been documenting the independence supporters defence of East Ukraine went 'missing' on 12th August (from recollection).

Ukraine's Anton Gerashchenko let slip that he was in the hands of the SBU, as the above says.  However, he backtracked and later claimed that this was a 'mistake'.

Meanwhile, the writer of the above post (that's been translated from Russian) says he'd predicted this as the likely outcome regarding missing Andrei Stenin.

So the writer is saying that he has predicted Stenin would be tortured and then disposed of to cover up evidence.

The guys defending East Ukraine (Novorossiya) have no motive to kill their photojournalist.

SBU is Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny - here.  Roughly translates to Security Service of Ukraine.  The head is Valentyn Nalyvaichenko.