#147: Peace & International Relations: "The Pacific Realm Era and World Affairs"

[H.E. KUM Nelson Bame IV]

unedited....

SOME KEY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UKRANIAN-RUSSIAN CONFLICT AND THE DOWNING OF A MALAYSIAN PLANE:

 

-           How come, first of all, a plane carrying Europeans and Americans travelled across Europe into Ukraine then into the rebel hotspot between Ukraine and Russia without the International Aviation Agency monitoring such a hot spot and giving warning signals to the pilot?

-           

-          How come Spy-satellites (European/American) monitoring the rebels within Ukraine could not pick up images of the plane before being shot down?

-           

-          How come this Airline instead of heading across the ocean instead was heading toward Russia?

-           

-          Is it possible for Laser-guided weaponry 4000 miles away to have brought down the airlines?

-           

-          Is it possible for Satellite Lasers in space with the same/similar impact as a land-to-air missile to have downed the plane?

-           

-          Is it possible that a radar-evasive missile from the oceans/seas around hit the airline?  If so, which country around the region has the technological capabilities?

-           

-          Is it possible that a radar-evasive military jet set from the West hit the plane in order to provide grounds for war?

-           

-          Is it possible that Russia deliberately or undercover used radar-evasive weaponry to down the airline?  If so, what would be Russia’s intention and long/short term benefit?

-           

-          Is it possible that the Intelligence Agency of NATO covertly funded undercover agents in either side of the conflict as Trojans to down the plane in order to accuse Russia?

-           

-          Is it possible that with the technological capabilities of Russia, Russia could not identify the airline as a commercial jet, and instead shot it down erroneously?

-          Is it possible that Russia would down such a plane directly or indirectly knowing full well what Western reactions would be?  If Russia could have foresight of American and European Reactions – why not strategically first and foremost engage in a full take-over(direct invasion) war of Ukraine?

-          Is it possible that the plane is brought down to instigate racial/satanic sentiments against the Russian-Chinese Financial Kingdoms in order to start a WAR and weaken the newly created BRICS Bank? Then place strategic control weaponry over Russia and China?

-           

-          Is this the first airline or second, or do multiple commercial airlines fly over that Ukrainian region since the conflict began?

-           

-          If there is a party to this argument and drama that wants to gain most from a war between the US-EU and Russia, who is that party and what is their most strategic long term and short term interest in the Region?

-           

-          Is there any underlying long term strategic-interest conflict between Russia and US-EU within the areas of oil/gas, financial autonomy/colonization, natural resources, market share, military positioning, central banking influence, trades, and ideologies?

-           

-          Are the Ukrainian people in majority, in support to be independent from Russia or are these people in majority being suppressed by a corrupted few who have collected bribes and after-office inheritance agreements from the EU?

-           

-          Why can there not be a new Referendum in the rest of Ukraine?

-           

-          Even if Russia downed the airline, MI-17, is WAR the way to absolutely resolve the regional conflict?

-           

-          Is America and Europe preparing for a World war against Russi-China’s Strategic interest?

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-          As the saying goes:  “ A witch/wizard will kill and consume his/her own child for self-preservation and self-renewal and blame it on an enemy.”  Can the case be true here?

-           

-          Why have the black-boxes from this plane not been analyzed before counter-claims and cross-accusations?

-           

-          Whose responsibility is it to keep the skies SAFE over UKRAIN and store all necessary DATA?

 

 

 

Russia bars entry to 12 Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib-linked Americans

Published time: July 19, 2014 11:45
Edited time: July 19, 2014 14:12

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Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib (AFP Photo / John Moore / wikipedia.org)

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Guantanamo, Politics, Russia, Sanctions, USA

Russia has responded to US sanctions against its officials and businessmen by banning 12 more Americans from entering the country. Ten of those in the list are implicated in the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, and two are connected to Guantanamo.

“We have mentioned before that it is futile to communicate with us in the language of sanctions. Such measures will not be allowed to pass without consequence,” said a statement on the foreign ministry website.

Among the most high-profile targets are Rear Adm. Richard W. Butler the Commander, of the Guantanamo Joint Task Force, who is accused of “approved the use force to end the hunger strike among inmates”, and Ricardo Sanchez, a retired general who commanded the Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, who was “directly responsible for the control of Abu Ghraib prison.”

Most of the others on the "stop-list" are military personnel, who were found guilty of self-documented mistreatment and torture of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib.

It also includes the high-profile US District Judge Gladys Kessler, who has repeatedly ruled on the legality of force feeding at Guantanamo’s Camp Delta, though ironically, was responsible for the landmark ruling, passed in May, that bans the US Army from force feeding Syrian detainee Abu Wa'el Dhiab.

An inmate being escorted in Guantanamo (AFP Photo / John Moore)

The Russian foreign ministry says that it is preparing further bans.

“The latest wave of sanctions over Ukraine will necessarily result in counter-measures. Firstly, the border is being closed to multiple American citizens, which they will discover upon submitting a visa application. Meanwhile, economic sanctions will have a boomerang effect, and harm US business interest on Russian territory, In essence, the US is punishing itself.”

The initial round of sanctions and counter-sanctions between Moscow and Washington was set off with the passing of the Magnitsky Act in the US in 2012.The act intended to prevent free entry to several Russian officials connected with the death of Russian lawyer Sergey Magnitsky, who passed away while in police custody in 2009.

Subsequently, more people Russian citizens and Crimean officials have ended up on US blacklists in several waves of sanctions.

Russia had already responded with its initial Guantanamo list of 18 names last year, to mirror the Magnitsky Act, and the 12 names this time are symmetrical to the expansion of the Magnitsky list in May.

In a separate but related move, Russia has banned controversial US congressman Jim Moran, “who has repeatedly evaded responsibility despite multiple financial misdeeds” from crossing its border. This is a response to the US banning Russian ruling party deputy Adam Delimkhanov from entering earlier this month, due to alleged mafia ties and allegations of being an accomplice to murder.

FULL LIST OF SANCTIONED AMERICANS

Gitmo

Rear Adm. Richard W. Butler, commander of the Guantanamo prison, who sanctioned the force-feeding following the detainees’ hunger strike.

Gladys K. Kessler, senior United States District Judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia, who approved that “the legality of force-feeding” the hunger strikers at Gitmo.

Abu Ghraib

Ricardo Sanchez, a retired general who commanded the Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, was “directly responsible for the control of Abu Ghraib prison.”

Janis Leigh Karpinsky, retired officer, former head at Abu Ghraib and other prisons in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, who “covered up the abuse of prisoners.” After investigation she was demoted from brigadier general to colonel.

Steven L. Jordan, a retired lieutenant colonel, who headed the question of prisoners. Following the proceedings, he was reprimanded. Steven L. Jordan.(AFP Photo / Paul J. Richards)

Ivan Frederick, former staff sergeant, “participated in the abuse of prisoners, personally beat them.”

Javal Davis, former sergeant, participated in the abuse of prisoners.

Charles Allan Graner, former US military officer, who “tortured the prisoners.”

Sabrina Dawn Harman, former US military officer, who abused the prisoners.

Jeremy Sivits, Lynndie Rana England, Israel Rivera, former US military personnel who took part in the “torture of the prisoners.” Rivera avoided criminal liability. Ivan Frederick.(Reuters / Alex Grimm)

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Comments (386)

 

Aamir Rahman 19.07.2014 23:58

Truth Seeker 19.07.2014 21:47

Russia as a holiday destination:
Moscow is a fabulous holiday destination! Stylish, elegant, fun, great restaurants and fantastic architecture. So, to those who commented about Russia here with a tad of venom, you probably can't afford to holiday there anyway, so keep dreaming....

  

SO True.

 

Lamotte Cason 19.07.2014 23:48

Truth Seeker 19.07.2014 21:41

Perhaps THIS will brings world's attention to Gitmo! The sanctions are quite useless I am sure but Russia is trying to make the world be aware of this problem ( illegal detention of prisoners and torture). Let's not forget that there are humans in those prisons, with no chance of freedom or basic human rights.
The torture is almost accepted by the American public, like many other criminal acts. Unbelievable

  

I' m not one of those people. I was born in America, but I do not consider myself an American. That's all I have to give as an apology to the world.

 

ค๓єгเςคยรค 19.07.2014 23:46

Im shocked these so called Americans think nothing of condoning the torture of prisoners and call Russians evil.
bunch of ignorant gas bags. stop representing us here please u make all of us look bad.

 

Russia bars entry to 12 Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib-linked Americans

Published time: July 19, 2014 11:45
Edited time: July 19, 2014 14:12

Get short URL

Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib (AFP Photo / John Moore / wikipedia.org)

6.1K4389

Tags

Guantanamo, Politics, Russia, Sanctions, USA

Russia has responded to US sanctions against its officials and businessmen by banning 12 more Americans from entering the country. Ten of those in the list are implicated in the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, and two are connected to Guantanamo.

“We have mentioned before that it is futile to communicate with us in the language of sanctions. Such measures will not be allowed to pass without consequence,” said a statement on the foreign ministry website.

Among the most high-profile targets are Rear Adm. Richard W. Butler the Commander, of the Guantanamo Joint Task Force, who is accused of “approved the use force to end the hunger strike among inmates”, and Ricardo Sanchez, a retired general who commanded the Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, who was “directly responsible for the control of Abu Ghraib prison.”

Most of the others on the "stop-list" are military personnel, who were found guilty of self-documented mistreatment and torture of Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib.

It also includes the high-profile US District Judge Gladys Kessler, who has repeatedly ruled on the legality of force feeding at Guantanamo’s Camp Delta, though ironically, was responsible for the landmark ruling, passed in May, that bans the US Army from force feeding Syrian detainee Abu Wa'el Dhiab.

An inmate being escorted in Guantanamo (AFP Photo / John Moore)

The Russian foreign ministry says that it is preparing further bans.

“The latest wave of sanctions over Ukraine will necessarily result in counter-measures. Firstly, the border is being closed to multiple American citizens, which they will discover upon submitting a visa application. Meanwhile, economic sanctions will have a boomerang effect, and harm US business interest on Russian territory, In essence, the US is punishing itself.”

The initial round of sanctions and counter-sanctions between Moscow and Washington was set off with the passing of the Magnitsky Act in the US in 2012.The act intended to prevent free entry to several Russian officials connected with the death of Russian lawyer Sergey Magnitsky, who passed away while in police custody in 2009.

Subsequently, more people Russian citizens and Crimean officials have ended up on US blacklists in several waves of sanctions.

Russia had already responded with its initial Guantanamo list of 18 names last year, to mirror the Magnitsky Act, and the 12 names this time are symmetrical to the expansion of the Magnitsky list in May.

In a separate but related move, Russia has banned controversial US congressman Jim Moran, “who has repeatedly evaded responsibility despite multiple financial misdeeds” from crossing its border. This is a response to the US banning Russian ruling party deputy Adam Delimkhanov from entering earlier this month, due to alleged mafia ties and allegations of being an accomplice to murder.

FULL LIST OF SANCTIONED AMERICANS

Gitmo

Rear Adm. Richard W. Butler, commander of the Guantanamo prison, who sanctioned the force-feeding following the detainees’ hunger strike.

Gladys K. Kessler, senior United States District Judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia, who approved that “the legality of force-feeding” the hunger strikers at Gitmo.

Abu Ghraib

Ricardo Sanchez, a retired general who commanded the Coalition Ground Forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, was “directly responsible for the control of Abu Ghraib prison.”

Janis Leigh Karpinsky, retired officer, former head at Abu Ghraib and other prisons in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, who “covered up the abuse of prisoners.” After investigation she was demoted from brigadier general to colonel.

Steven L. Jordan, a retired lieutenant colonel, who headed the question of prisoners. Following the proceedings, he was reprimanded. Steven L. Jordan.(AFP Photo / Paul J. Richards)

Ivan Frederick, former staff sergeant, “participated in the abuse of prisoners, personally beat them.”

Javal Davis, former sergeant, participated in the abuse of prisoners.

Charles Allan Graner, former US military officer, who “tortured the prisoners.”

Sabrina Dawn Harman, former US military officer, who abused the prisoners.

Jeremy Sivits, Lynndie Rana England, Israel Rivera, former US military personnel who took part in the “torture of the prisoners.” Rivera avoided criminal liability.       Biggest Tory strike crackdown since Thatcher Published time: July 18, 2014 21:45 Get short URL   The Tories are planning the most significant crackdown on union strikes since Margaret Thatcher’s reign. Criminal offences for picketing and a demand unions seek 50 per cent approval from their members prior to industrial action are key. Following a recent walk-out by almost a million public sector workers, Prime Minister David Cameron issued a clear signal he would endorse stricter legislation governing strike action in the UK. His rhetoric has already influenced the Conservative party’s manifesto for next May’s general election, which is coloured by far-reaching policy changes designed to make the organization and attendance of industrial strikes more difficult in Britain. In light of these developments, Cameron has been brandished a "Bullingdon bully" by Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey. "The whiff of hypocrisy coming from Cameron as he harps on about voting thresholds is overwhelming. Not a single member of his cabinet won over 50% of the vote in the 2010 election, with Cameron himself getting just 43% of the potential vote”, Mc Cluskey stated last week. Unite recently published an opinion poll highlighting a growing public distaste for criticism directed at unions. The survey revealed that a majority of the British public endorsed workers’ right to strike in the most recent dispute, backed a £1 per hour pay rise for council workers, and opposed public sector pay cuts. Despite this telling tide of public opinion, Cameron’s party believes a pledge to introduce regulatory changes to mitigate industrial strike action will prove popular amongst potential voters. Under this policy shift outlined on Friday, the Tories made an array of promises. Such measures include making industrial strikes illegal unless unions secure a 50 per cent vote in ballot form in favour of such action, reforming protest regulations, criminalising illegal picketing, and doubling the notice unions must offer employers prior to striking. The cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, stated he had formerly warned that intensified efforts on behalf of union leaders to push for “disruptive strike action without even persuading a majority of their members to vote” would provide a strong impetus to respond with concrete regulatory changes. Defending the proposed policy shift, he added: "This sensible and proportionate package of reforms will help protect hardworking families and British businesses as part of our long-term plan to build a stronger economy". But Len McCluskey attacked the Tory’s proposal to tighten legislation governing strike action in the UK, stating: “It is utter hypocrisy for the Government to talk about mandates for trade unions when not a single member of the present cabinet would have been elected using the same criteria. The fact is not a single councillor in England has won 50% of the electorate, not a single MEP has reached the 50% threshold, Boris Johnson scraped in with just 37% in 2008 and the Government’s flagship Police Crime Commissioner election gained a risible 17% of the vote”. The Trade Union Congress (TUC), which campaigns on behalf of 54 affiliated unions representing millions of UK workers, also sharply criticized the proposed reforms on Friday highlighting Britain’s strike legislation is already “some of the toughest of any democracy". “You do not have to support every bit of industrial action to see that the right to strike is an important human right – and always one of the first things banned by any dictatorship”, a TUC spokesperson said. The Congress concluded that the Tory’s proposed policy shift would breed inequality, ensuring “the fruits of recovery are reserved for the few and kept from the many”.   Ivan Frederick.(Reuters / Alex Grimm)

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Comments (386)

 

Aamir Rahman 19.07.2014 23:58

Truth Seeker 19.07.2014 21:47

Russia as a holiday destination:
Moscow is a fabulous holiday destination! Stylish, elegant, fun, great restaurants and fantastic architecture. So, to those who commented about Russia here with a tad of venom, you probably can't afford to holiday there anyway, so keep dreaming....

  

SO True.

 

Lamotte Cason 19.07.2014 23:48

Truth Seeker 19.07.2014 21:41

Perhaps THIS will brings world's attention to Gitmo! The sanctions are quite useless I am sure but Russia is trying to make the world be aware of this problem ( illegal detention of prisoners and torture). Let's not forget that there are humans in those prisons, with no chance of freedom or basic human rights.
The torture is almost accepted by the American public, like many other criminal acts. Unbelievable

  

I' m not one of those people. I was born in America, but I do not consider myself an American. That's all I have to give as an apology to the world.

 

ค๓єгเςคยรค 19.07.2014 23:46

Im shocked these so called Americans think nothing of condoning the torture of prisoners and call Russians evil.
bunch of ignorant gas bags. stop representing us here please u make all of us look bad.

 

 

 

Paris activists clash with police following ban on pro-Palestinian rallies (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Published time: July 19, 2014 22:27

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Pro-Palestinian protesters face police during a demonstration against violence in the Gaza strip, which had been banned by police, in Paris, July 19, 2014. (Reuters / Philippe Wojazer)

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A demonstration in Paris in support of Palestinians has resulted in several injuries and at least 38 arrests as activists clashed with riot police who used tear gas to disperse an unsanctioned rally that gathered despite a government ban on such rallies.

Demonstration in Paris against the Israeli military operation in Gaza strip, which recently escalated into a ground invasion, took place despite Friday's municipal government ban. Operation Edge in the twelfth day of the Israeli offensive on Gaza has so far claimed the lives of 342 Palestinians, with at least 46 people killed on Saturday alone.

Organizers estimate that up to 10,000 people attended the rally organised by the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), among others. The protesters gathered in Barbes, in the Montmartre area and Opera Square.

Several Israeli flags were publically torn and burnt to the cheers of the crowd at the beginning of the rally. The protest eventually turned violent with dozens of protesters, using stones and bottles, to attack the police lines for several hours in a northern district of the capital, according to AFP reporters. The police responded with tear gas.

In the late afternoon, a dozen of young men, some carrying the Palestinian flag on their shoulders, were still pelting police with stones. By nightfall, boulevards around the neighborhood of Barbès were covered with broken glass, wrecked telephone booths, and two vandalized public buses.

According to police sources, 38 people were arrested during the clashes, AFP reports, adding that 14 policemen were also wounded. The number of injured among the protestors is still unknown.

French president Francois Hollande said he would not allow Israeli-related violence to spill over into France.

“That’s why I asked the interior minister, after an investigation, to ensure that such protests would not take place,” he told journalists during a visit to Chad.

Rallies were also held in most major French cities. Up to 4,000 people rallied in Lyon, with 3000 joining the anti-Israeli rallies in Marseille and at least 1,300 in Strasbourg.

Elsewhere in Europe, including London and Brussels, thousands of people also marched and called for an end to Israeli incursions and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protesters face police during a demonstration against violence in the Gaza strip, which had been banned by police, in Paris, July 19, 2014. (Reuters / Philippe Wojazer)

Protesters clash with riot police near the Barbes-Rochechouart aerial metro station prior to the departure of a demonstration, banned by French police, in Paris on July 19, 2014 to denounce Israel's military campaign in Gaza and show their support for the Palestinian people. (AFP Photo / Jacques Demarthon)

Burned vehicles owned by Paris public services are seen by the aerial metro station of Barbes-Rochechouart, in Paris, on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Francois Guillot)

Protesters run away from tear gas as they clash with riot police near the Barbes-Rochechouart aerial metro station in Paris on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Jacques Demarthon)

French riot police officers stand by burning pallets near the aerial metro station of Barbes-Rochechouart, in Paris, on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Francois Guillot)

Protesters run to avoid tear gas near the aerial metro station of Barbes-Rochechouart, in Paris, on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Francois Guillot)

Protesters stand in front of a fire barricade near the aerial metro station of Barbes-Rochechouart, in Paris, on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Francois Guillot)

Riot police stand next to an overturned Paris public transport operator RATP van during clashes with protesters near the Barbes-Rochechouart aerial metro station in Paris on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Jacques Demarthon)

Protesters stand next to burning Paris public transport operator RATP trucks during clashes near the Barbes-Rochechouart aerial metro station in Paris on July 19, 2014. (AFP Photo / Jacques Demarthon)

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Comments (17)

 

sid 19.07.2014 23:59

Immigrants are the ones who help lot of european countries to survive and this is also very true for North America. They bring educated people from other countries to keep their economies alive. Aging population of these countries will starve to death without immigrants.

 

Paul 19.07.2014 23:55

Krasen Kris 19.07.2014 23:42

If some of those immigrants has an opinion about it to go back and fight for their wand or rights
Why they have to destroy what others build? Why they cant respect the other countries?
Shame to all arabs I had thought something else about them so many years but its seems they are hundreds years behind and they never going to change.

  

Le t's not judge everyone by the mistakes of a few! Arabs weren't the only ones protesting here, there were other people with different cultures as well.
Those protestors who used methods of violence should be punished.

 

Aziz Casacrew 19.07.2014 23:44

Iam french and very proud about this manisfestation. We are free people and democratic defender. Israël and sioniste people in gouvernement can't stop that. Free Palestine for a peace world.

 

 

 

US confident surface-to-air missile brought down MH17 - Obama

Published time: July 18, 2014 16:20

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President Barack Obama called for a cease-fire between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists in the east of Ukraine to allow a complete investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

“We have increasing confidence” that the Malaysian plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile that was launched from rebel-controlled territory, Obama said. He also confirmed that at least one American, Quinn Lucas Shanzmen, was killed on board the plane.

The crash “underscores that it is time for peace and security to be restored in Ukraine,” Obama said in a statement on Friday. “This should snap everybody’s head to attention and make sure we don’t have time for propaganda and we don’t have time for games.”

“This is a global tragedy. There has to be a credible international investigation into what happened, and we must hold all, including Russia, accountable for that,” the president said. “Russia, pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine must adhere to an immediate and complete cease-fire” to allow for the investigation to proceed unhindered.

A journalist takes photographs at the site of Thursday's Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo, in the Donetsk region July 18, 2014 (Reuters / Maxim Zmeyev)

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down Thursday afternoon en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in eastern Ukraine. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. The area surrounding the crash location is controlled by pro-Russian separatists battling the Ukrainian government. The majority of passengers were from the Netherlands, with a large contingent of Australians as well.

The self-defense forces of Donetsk People's Republic have allowed Ukraine’s investigators to the site of the crashed Malaysia Airlines plane and promised to welcome all experts from international groups.

“We have already allowed four Ukrainian investigators. Also the experts from OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] and other international organizations will take part in the probe,” DPR’s deputy-PM Andrey Purgin told Interfax.

However, it is unclear who fired the missile or where it was fired from. US intelligence officials believe the attack from an area controlled by the pro-Russian separatists, according to the president. He stopped short of blaming the group in control of parts of eastern Ukraine, though.

A Ukrainian Buk anti-aircraft missile battery was operational in the region, the Russian Defense Ministry said, contradicting Kiev’s statements. The battery was deployed at a site from which it could have fired a missile at the airliner, the ministry said in a statement. It said radiation from the battery’s radar was detected by the Russian military.

A Buk-2M missile system (RIA Novosti / Anton Denisov)

Earlier Kiev said it could not have fired a missile at the passing civilian plane because it had no Buk missile launchers deployed in the region. At the same time the Ukrainians said the militias had no Buk systems in their hands, according to a statement from the country’s Prosecutor General.

US officials said they did not want to jump to conclusions, but acknowledged that it was not unlikely that the missile attack could have come from the separatists controlling Donetsk and the surrounding areas, according to USA Today. The pro-Russian group has already shot down several planes and helicopters in Ukraine, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin called for the creation of an international commission to investigate why Ukrainian dispatchers sent the flight over an area with military clashes. The state must provide security for flight paths, he said before the UN on Friday, so there is a need for an investigation into Ukrainian aviation authorities for their role in the incident. He did not speculate as to who was behind the missile attack.

The crash came one day after the US imposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting Russian banking and energy sectors. Obama used his remarks to drive home the need for a diplomatic solution to the situation, and accused Russia of “continued violations of Ukrainian sovereignty,” he said, because “Russia has refused to take the concrete steps necessary to de-escalate the situation.”

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Comments (430)

 

james greer 19.07.2014 23:53

My father was a cop, one thing I remember he told me, is to keep your eye on the ones pointing their fingers fist and the most, Because 99% of the time that is your culprit. Who is doing just that, The Obama administration. and no one else.

 

james greer 19.07.2014 23:49

Milomir Jovanovic 19.07.2014 22:28

I'm dying  laughing .... Obama calls for return peace in Ukraine. He said that, he, which government caused chaos in Ukraine. Main objective of the U.S. government is to be at the door of Moscow, to military control Russia, and to continue destroing the world. They started with the Indians until Ukraine. They killed more people in history than Nazi Germany. Under remark
 & nbsp; "spreading democracy" they were killing, still killing, and I hope that in the future they will not be able to do.

  

The US, will be destroyed by Europe.

 

robertmold 19.07.2014 23:47

The Zionist control government looking for a pretext for a new war, new peal harbor just like 911 we see what happen with that! Anything to do with USD is a secret cow for this evil master. Money printed out of thin air. They can buy just about all politician and military general.
If the investigating found it was not Russian they already have a plan to make look that the site was temper, not enough evident a white wash. Very sad because all Zionist player already set to have war!
Best Putin can do now Ask Russian Public to buy Gold and Silver, put them dead before they strike you.
It all about money control!

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'If it disappears': Passenger posts joke photo of flight MH17 shortly before crash 29

Lavrov: Russia won’t take control of Malaysian plane’s black boxes 516

 

Questions over why Malaysian plane flew over Ukrainian warzone 235

Ukrainian Buk battery radar was operational when Malaysian plane downed - Moscow 2069

​Tragic history of passenger planes shot down 23

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200 Moon pits could accommodate future astronauts (VIDEO)

Published time: July 19, 2014 20:12

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AFP Photo / Aamir Qureshi

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Scientists have found more than 200 pits on the Moon some of which might lead to caves that could potentially shelter astronauts protecting them from harsh temperatures, radiation and dust, according to a new NASA study.

Hundreds of pits that range from 5 meters across to 900 meters in diameter were found using a new computer algorithm that scanned thousands of high-resolution images of the lunar surface from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s (LRO) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), the US space agency said in a press-release on Thursday.

The findings will help astronauts further explore the lunar surface, said Robert Wagner, the leading author of the paper on this research published online in the journal Icarus. Wagner is also the one who developed the computer algorithm to find these pits.

"Pits would be useful in a support role for human activity on the lunar surface," said Wagner of Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. "A habitat placed in a pit - ideally several dozen meters back under an overhang - would provide a very safe location for astronauts: no radiation, no micrometeorites, possibly very little dust, and no wild day-night temperature swings."

The pits were found in several locations on the lunar surface. The first were large craters with impact melt ponds. The team found 200 such pits spread across the melt ponds of 29 craters, which are considered by astronomers to be geologically young Copernican craters dated less than a billion years old.

The second is the lunar maria - or “sea” in Latin. Eight pits are situated there, three of which were previously known from images from the Japanese Kaguya orbiter.

The lunar maria represents dark areas on the moon which appeared as hundreds of kilometers of lava flows solidified and formed various patterns seen from Earth by naked eye. These patterns are interpreted differently by people, who see either a face of the man, a rabbit or a boy carrying a bundle of sticks on his back. In addition two more pits were identified in highlands terrain.

However, there is still little evidence how the voids formed based only on their appearance in the LRO photos, Wagner added.

The lunar caves could have been created as lava flowed in tubes under the solidified crust and then drained away, the same processes happen on our plant, Wagner added. Such caves could have formed in a large impact crater, the interior of which can take hundreds of thousands of years to cool, according to the scientist.

These images from NASA's LRO spacecraft show all of the known mare pits and highland pits. Each image is 222 meters (about 728 feet) wide. (Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University)

“They are likely due to melt flow within the pond from uplift after the surface has solidified, but before the interior has cooled," said the lead author of the paper. "Exploring impact melt pits would help determine the magnitude of this uplift, and the amount of melt flow after the pond is in place."

The exploration of maria pits could also reveal how the lunar maria was formed, the researcher noted.

“We've taken images from orbit looking at the walls of these pits, which show that they cut through dozens of layers, confirming that the maria formed from lots of thin flows, rather than a few big ones. Ground-level exploration could determine the ages of these layers, and might even find solar wind particles that were trapped in the lunar surface billions of years ago," said Wagner.

However, LRO has only imaged about 40 percent of the moon with appropriate lighting for this kind of research, said Wagner adding that there may be at least two to three more mare pits and several dozen to over a hundred more impact melt pits in unexplored areas. There could even be smaller pits already imaged that were missed by the research team.

This is a spectacular high-Sun view of the Mare Tranquillitatis pit crater revealing boulders on an otherwise smooth floor. This image from LRO's NAC is 400 meters (1,312 feet) wide, north is up. (Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University)

“We'll continue scanning NAC images for pits as they come down from the spacecraft, but for about 25 percent of the moon's surface area (near the poles) the sun never rises high enough for our algorithm to work," said Wagner. "These areas will require an improved search algorithm, and even that may not work at very high latitudes, where even a human has trouble telling a pit from an impact crater."

To understand the process of formation of these pits and caves researchers plant to drop probes into one or two of these pits.

“Even a few pictures from ground-level would answer a lot of the outstanding questions about the nature of the voids that the pits collapsed into. We're currently in the very early design phases of a mission concept to do exactly this, exploring one of the largest maria pits."

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Comments (12)

 

Simon Mysak 19.07.2014 22:57

Yup. Look, if the pits were created by melt, the tunnel wall would be plastered by it, and one wouldn't be able to see that they had been melting "through multiple layers".

Is this a veiled disclosure?

 

DarkEyes 19.07.2014 22:32

vhollund 19.07.2014 22:20

The important task will be to carefully choose pits that aren't already taken, not to start an interstellar crisis. ;-)

  

Smart remark. Let's hope the warmongers on this planet will move to the moon to exercise their geopolitics there among each other.

Fina lly peace on earth, then?

 

Britain says Russia to blame over air disaster if rebels found responsible

LONDON Sat Jul 19, 2014 6:28pm EDT

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MH17 crash site

The aftermath of the Malaysian airliner crash.  Slideshow 

(Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday that if it were proven that Ukrainian separatists were behind the downing of a Malaysian jet carrying 298 passengers, Russia would be to blame for having destabilized the country.

"If this is the case then we must be clear what it means: this is a direct result of Russia destabilizing a sovereign state, violating its territorial integrity, backing thuggish militias and training and arming them," he wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper.

Cameron also appeared to criticize fellow members of the European Union for being slow to act against the Kremlin.

"For too long there has been a reluctance on the part of too many European countries to face up to the implications of what is happening in eastern Ukraine," he wrote.

"It is time to make our power, influence and resources count. Our economies are strong and growing in strength.

"And yet we sometimes behave as if we need Russia more than Russia needs us."

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Eric Beech)

 

 

 

 

18 July 2014 Last updated at 15:38 ET

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Forbes Media sold to Chinese group Integrated Whale

Steve Forbes will stay on as chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media

Continue reading the main story

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After 97 years of family ownership, Forbes Media has announced it has sold a majority stake in the company to a Hong Kong-based group of international investors.

Forbes Media - which includes Forbes magazine - was sold to Integrated Whale Media Investments for an undisclosed sum.

The Forbes family said it would still have a "significant" stake.

Steve Forbes will remain as chairman and editor-in-chief.

"While today marks a fundamental turning point in this 97-year-old company founded by my grandfather, it should be seen as an opportunity to continue and strengthen our mission," said Mr Forbes in a blog post announcing the sale.

Forbes - which says it reaches 75 million people worldwide every month through its print, digital, TV, conferences and research ventures - began looking for a buyer last November.

Forbes will continue to be headquartered in the US, but announced plans for an international expansion.

 

 

 

American Leadership Conference  Held in Washington DC

 

By Mrs. Susan Fefferman, UPF-Washington DC

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Washington DC, USA - Forty guests attended an American Leadership Conference on the theme “The USA at a Turning Point: Building a Nation and a World of Peace,” at the Washington Times Beech Room on July 12, 2014. The program began with comments by Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, chairman of UPF-North America, encouraging the audience of Ambassadors for Peace and guests to do their best and work together for peace. Presentations were then given on "The Significance of Marriage and Family for a Stable and Prosperous Society," by Mr. Ricardo de Sena, secretary general of UPF-North America, and Mrs. Lynn Walsh, director of the Office of Marriage, Family and Human Development of UPF International. Both offered examples of how good marriage develops good character in children and young adults which can lead to a better society. This was followed by a session on "The Significance of Youth for a Stable and Prosperous Society," with a presentation by Mrs. Kate Tsubata, founder of the WAIT team (Washington AIDS International Teens), who through drama, dance, skits and service bring the message of abstinence in the motto, “You’re worth waiting for and so am I,” to young people. “It’s really about building healthy relationships; science teaches the facts of AIDS, and then we focus on how to build healthy relationships,” she said. Ms. Teresa Ferrete, executive assistant of CARP America (the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles), presented the work of CARP on US college campuses. She said they focus on developing good character and leadership skills on over 40 campuses. Mrs. Nanae Goto, UPF staff member, offered a moving rendition of the song “You Raise Me Up” just before the Ambassadors for Peace presentation by Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, director of public affairs of UPF International. Mrs. Duggan explained the guiding principles behind the Ambassadors for Peace network and encouraged anyone in the audience who had not yet been appointed to this important role to learn more about it. She then appointed five new individuals to be Ambassadors for Peace: Mr. de Sena concluded the afternoon and encouraged everyone to work together for peace and bring America to its highest calling to serve and support the best practices and principles that can lead the world to lasting peace. All participants were invited to the evening banquet in the Grand Ballroom at the Washington Times on the theme “God’s Hope for America,” in support of the arrival of a team visiting 55 prayer grounds in the US that were consecrated by UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon in 1965. The team has been retracing his 43-day journey, focusing on the healing of the nation and inspiring it to fulfill its God-given purpose to be a light of goodness and godliness to the world.

 

[H.E. KUM Nelson Bame IV]

If the Gaza WAR and pre-emptive invasion continues for another seven days, maybe 1100-1200+ will be dead, 120,000 refugees will be created, 1,200,000 people in the surrounding territories will be pushed into lower levels of poverty and 12,000,000 people within the 1,200miles perimeter will be slowed down in trades, finance and development.  Yet, One Nation will maybe have more land, more gold and more banks, and more weapons, more muscles yet, with lesser and lesser HEART.  More RACISM and more SATANISM would have been created on earth.

 

=======================

‘Too good opportunity to miss’: MH17 blame game has political motives, may lead to war

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Published time: July 20, 2014 20:55

 

 ‘Too good opportunity to miss’: MH17 blame game has political motives, may lead to war

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Published time: July 20, 2014 20:55

Members of the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry work at the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, near the village of Hrabove, Donetsk region, July 20, 2014 (Reuters / Maxim Zmeyev)

The blame game against Russia that unfolded in western media hours after MH 17 crash in Ukraine has only political motives behind it, says a former Senior Advisor to OSCE. Accusing Moscow is a great opportunity that both politicians and media can’t miss.

LIVE UPDATES: Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash in Ukraine

Speaking to RT, Lode Vanoost, also a former Deputy Speaker of Belgium's House of Representatives, has stressed that collecting evidence takes “weeks and months”, everything else is “jumping to conclusions”. This at the same time may lead to further escalation in the region.

“But this is a very volatile situation – all wars have started like this, because of things like this: speculating and putting the blame before there is any evidence to come to any conclusion,” he says.

RT: Before any investigation had even begun, some had already pinned the blame on Russia. Has any evidence actually been presented?

Lode Vanoost: We should make very clear first of all that after a tragedy, catastrophe like this that the relatives of the victims deserve thorough investigation by independent sources. When you say evidence this is something that is produced by experts on the ground. There are programs on air crashes on National Geographic – it takes weeks and month before you can to jump to any conclusions. Whatever is being said now is just speculations for political motives.

RT: Why were both media and politicians so quick to jump to conclusions?

LV: This is too good opportunity to once again play the blame game on Russia and on insurgents in eastern Ukraine. It is too good an opportunity to miss. How this will turn out in the long-term remains to be seen. But this is a very volatile situation – all wars have started like this, because of things like this: speculating and putting the blame before there is any evidence to come to any conclusion.

RT: How confident can we be that the investigation into the crash will be objective and not politicized?

LV: If there is an objective investigation it should of course include Dutch and Malaysian authorities and also, probably Boeing Company, being an American company, but it is obvious that American authorities and Russian authorities should present but only as witnesses of the investigation. They certainly can’t be part of the investigation.

RT: If it turns out the plane was indeed shot down, what would the implications be for whoever will be found responsible?

LV: There is no element that can already give us an opportunity to come to conclusions, so I am not going to speculate on what will happen. It is pretty obvious that this plane was shot down, not had an accident. Who is to blame? There are precedents, there have been similar events. In 1983 Soviet Union downed an American [Korean] airline. What happened after that? The United States downed an Iranian airline, if I am not mistaking, in 1988. Look what happened to those perpetrators? My guess is that the similar will happen. It is too bad, but I am afraid that real culprits will never be punished. I hope it is different this time, but it is too early to say.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

20 July, 2014

19:26

​Moscow mayor names faulty rail switch among main causes of metro crash

A faulty rail switch is among the main possible causes of the Tuesday Moscow metro crash, the Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said, according to Moskva 24 channel. The derailment of the train during morning rush hour killed over 20 passengers, with another some 200 injured. The mayor also praised actions of the badly injured train driver, saying his immediate reaction saved dozens of lives. The investigation of the accident is ongoing, with over a hundred victims still being treated in Moscow hospitals.

19:13

6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes off Russia's Kuril Islands

6.6-magnitude earthquake stroke some 90 km off Russia's Kuril Islands with tremors felt in northeastern Japan. The USGS described it as a moderate seismic event. No immediate report of damage followed. The last major earthquake on the islands was in 2006.

18:54

Netanyahu slams Erdogan for anti-Semitism over Gaza op statements

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan for being "anti-Semitic in tone" after he compared Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip to the Nazis. “I heard the things the prime minister of Turkey said, words of the utmost gravity,” Netanyahu told reporters, as cited by Reuters. “I told (U.S. Secretary of State) John Kerry, (these are) anti-Semitic statements, they have an anti-Semitic tone.” On Saturday, Erdogan accused Israel of having “surpassed Hitler in barbarism” during its ground operation on the Palestinian territory. However, he warned Turks against taking out their anger on Jews in Turkey, a NATO-member state.

 

 

 

Emirates calls for intl conference to follow up MH17 tragedy

Tim Clark, president of Dubai's Emirates airline, has called for an international meeting of carriers in response to the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane in Ukraine. The head of the world's largest international airline by number of passengers has suggested a rethink of the threats posed by regional instability, saying that domestic regulators worldwide may decide to be more involved in giving their carriers guidance on where it is safe to fly. The international airline community "won't tolerate being targeted in internecine regional conflicts that have nothing to do with airlines," Clark told Reuters.

17:23

IAEA says Iran complies with P5+1 nuclear deal agreement – report

Iran has complied with the terms of an interim nuclear deal with six world powers, which had been due to expire on July 20, but was prolonged for another four months, Reuters reports citing the IAEA paper it obtained. The atomic agency said Iran halted enrichment of uranium gas to a fissile concentration of 20 percent. Iran also started-up a long-delayed facility to convert its lower-grade enriched uranium gas into oxide. About 1,500 kg of the material has been used in the conversion process. Now the agreement reached back in November, will be prolonged with some adjustments.

16:19

28 killed in airstrikes on 'terrorist hideouts' in Pakistan

Militant hideouts were bombed in Shawal village in Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan region by the country's military on Sunday. Officials said at least 28 insurgents were killed during the operation, targeting the region where militants had taken refuge, fleeing a military offensive in other parts of the district. "At least 28 local and foreign terrorists were killed in today's airstrikes and their six hideouts were destroyed," a senior military official told AFP. The assault by Pakistan's military was launched after militants' deadly attack on Karachi international airport in June. According to the military, 25 soldiers and over 400 militants have been killed in the assault so far.

15:17

Turkey initiates free trade zone with Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has put forward a plan to form a free trade zone with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the Russian Economic Development Minister Aleksey Ulyukaev told journalists in Sydney. According to the Russian minister, his Turkish counterpart initiated the possible cooperation during the G20 trade ministers meeting in Australia. "We have agreed to create a working group and to begin a more detailed discussion of these possibilities and prospects in September,” Ulyukaev said. Russia is currently Turkey’s second-largest trade partner after the European Union, with which the country now holds a Customs Union alliance.

15:02

Main Shiite opposition bloc in Bahrain may face 3 month suspension

Bahrain has filed a lawsuit to suspend al-Wefaq’s activities for three months, the official BNA news agency reported Sunday. Al-Wefaq is the largest Shiite opposition group in the Sunni-run Gulf monarchy, and is accused of allegedly violating the kingdom’s law on associations. Al-Wefaq has led the protest movement, which began in February 2011 by Bahrain’s Shiite majority against the ruling Sunni regime. It has consistently called for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

15:02

UK’s new foreign secretary says he’d vote to leave EU

Britain’s new Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said Sunday he would vote to leave the EU unless some of Brussels’ powers are repatriated to London. He said if no changes are made to the way the EU is governed then he expects Britain to leave the bloc in a referendum, which Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold in 2017, if he wins the next general election. He conceded that the UK gains “enormously” from being in the European single market, but needed to balance “the benefits of being in with the benefits of being out.”

13:47

Basque separatist group ETA military wing dismantled

Basque armed separatist group ETA has dismantled its military wing and is aimed to finalize the deactivation of any remaining weapons and explosives, according to an ETA statement in a Basque newspaper on Sunday. Published in Gara newspaper, the announcement is the latest step toward full disarmament for the group. ETA, whose attacks killed over 800 people in almost four decades, called a unilateral ceasefire in 2011 and pledged to give up all its weapons earlier this year, saying the process also depends on Spanish authorities. There have been no comments from Spain's Interior Ministry regarding ETA's statement yet.

13:42

Heavy fighting erupts around Libya's Tripoli Airport - reports

Fighting between rivaling militias in the region have been reported for a week, with actions to control the site of Tripoli International Airport resulting in more violence on Sunday, local residents say. There were no immediate reports of casualties from clashes on 20 July. After the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, there have been numerous clashes among groups of former rebel fighters in Libya. More than a dozen planes have since been damaged at Tripoli Airport and international flights have been suspended.

13:01

Russian court to look into death of adopted child in Italy

A criminal case has been launched in Amur region in the east of Russia, after a five-year-old Russian boy was allegedly strangled to death by his Italian adoptive father. The case was launched after a check uncovered possible negligence in the work of regional officials, according to Russia' Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin. Investigators will now check documents regarding applications to adopt the boy by Russian families which were denied by officials. Earlier this week Italian media published reports of a 47-year-old Massimo Maravalle being detained by police in Italian city of Pescara. Maravalle, who adopted the boy in 2012, was reportedly mentally ill.

 

 

Putin: Taskforce at Malaysia MH17 crash site not enough, full-scale intl team needed

Published time: July 20, 2014 21:42
Edited time: July 21, 2014 02:41

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The tragic Malaysian MH17 flight crash must not be politicised and the international experts on the scene should be able to carry out their work in complete safety, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“There are already representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk working there, as well as representatives of the emergencies ministry of Ukraine and others. But this is not enough,” Putin said officially commenting on the tragic event on Sunday.

“This task force is not enough,” Putin emphasized. “We need more, we need a fully representative group of experts to be working at the site under the guidance of ICAO, the relevant international commission.”

“We must do everything to provide security for the international experts on the site of the tragedy,” Putin stressed, adding that Russia will also do everything in its power to help shift the Ukrainian conflict from a military phase into a political discussion.

“We need to do everything to provide its [ICAO commission’s] safety, to provide the humanitarian corridors necessary for its work,” Putin added.

“In the meantime, nobody should and has no right to use this tragedy to achieve their ‘narrowly selfish’ political goals,” Putin stated.

“We repeatedly called upon all conflicting sides to stop the bloodshed immediately and sit down at the negotiating table,” the President reminded. “I can say with confidence that if military operations were not resumed on June 28 in eastern Ukraine, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”

In the meantime, Russia has introduced its own draft resolution to the UN Security Council calling for an impartial investigation of Malaysia Airlines MH17 crash in Ukraine, Russia’s ambassador to UN Vitaly Churkin said.

‘Yes, we did it,” Churkin told reported answering the question about Russia’s draft. “Just to show what we are talking about. The difference is that in our draft it is absolutely clear it is indeed an impartial international investigation under the under the guidance of ICAO.”

According to the latest figures from the Donetsk authorities, 247 out of 298 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. OSCE confirmed that a train with bodies of the victims is being stationed at a railway station in Torez and is set to depart for Donetsk. The bodies are being kept in especially refrigerated cars.

A team of ISCE experts and four Ukrainian forensics analysts are the only experts who have so far reached the area and are working on the investigation. A team of 12 Malaysian experts is yet to arrive at the crash site. Experts from other European nations, including the Netherlands, France. Germany and the UK are en route to Donetsk.

The OSCE team has claimed that the black boxes have not been recovered, yet Aleksandr Boroday, the republic’s prime minister, told reporters that DPR might potentially be in possession of the MH17 black boxes. "What we have is just some components of the plane. We are not experts; we think that they may be black boxes but we're not sure."

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Comments (683)

 

ραυℓℓყ vєииє 21.07.2014 04:05

Ron J Paul 21.07.2014 03:59

ραυℓℓ� �� vєииє = I would ignore that thing, its a US sponsored and paid for trol
.

  

Dude!!!! Where's my check?! Being a paid troll is hard work.

 

ραυℓℓყ vєииє 21.07.2014 04:04

Uncle Bob 21.07.2014 04:02

Beg one from here Russophobic hyena.Russia will never kneel to you dogs.

  

Except for the Russian soccer team of course.

 

Bingo 21.07.2014 04:04

Vann Tedd 21.07.2014 04:01

@Ryan Jacob Williams

So Russia is taking today a world leadership and replacing USA and the unilateral leader. .

  

Y ou do know Russia has a smaller economy than Italy despite having three times the population?

 

 

 

 

Chinese spy ship surveys US-led drills off Hawaii

Published time: July 21, 2014 03:33

 

China has sent an electronic surveillance vessel to international waters off Hawaii to keep an eye on a US-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) involving 22 countries, despite Beijing being one of the countries invited to participate in the drills.

The Chinese Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence (AGI) surveillance ship is stationed outside US territorial seas but within the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone, according to Captain Darryn James, chief spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet.

“US naval forces continually monitor all maritime activity in the Pacific, and we expect this ship will remain outside of US territorial seas and not operate in a manner that disrupts the ongoing Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise,” James told Bloomberg, adding that the ship is not part of the RIMPAC that is now under way.

"We've taken all necessary precautions to protect our critical information," James said, adding that “this is the first time a nation has ever sent a surveillance ship near Hawaii while also having invited ships participating in the RIMPAC exercise."

Chinese Navy near Hawaii: First time participation in US-led RIMPAC drills

Four ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy with an estimated 1,100 sailors on board are participating in this year's RIMPAC exercises, normally held every two years since 1971. The Chinese ships include the missile destroyer Haikou, the missile frigate Yueyang, the supply ship Qiandaohu and the hospital ship Peace Ark, making it the second largest force after the US.

Chinese navy sailors stand in formation as they attend a send-off ceremony before departing for the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), at a military port in Sanya, Hainan province June 9, 2014 (Reuters / Stringer)

RIMPAC is the world's largest joint naval exercise featuring 22 nations, 48 ships, six submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel. In 2014 it is being held from June 26 to August 1.

China first asked to join RIMPAC in 2012 but was not invited, at that time it also deployed a spy ship to monitor the drills.

James refused to speculate on the ship’s assignment, telling USNI News that “any questions about the ship’s intent or capabilities will need to be addressed by the People’s Liberation Army Navy.”

Meanwhile an official in China’s Ministry of Defense told the Wall Street Journal that the PLA’s ships respect international law. “China respects the rights enjoyed by all relevant coastal states under international law, and hopes that relevant countries respect the rights enjoyed by Chinese ships according to the law.”

Chinese navy sailors wave as Chinese naval missile frigate Yueyang departs for the Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), at a military port in Sanya, Hainan province June 9, 2014 (Reuters / Stringer)

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Comments (5)

 

Murray 21.07.2014 04:06

Tampa Bay...more than a few subs going back and forth out there in those waters Ryan, wave out & say hi 'em.

 

david willcox 21.07.2014 04:06

Meanwhile in East Ukraine,Russian terrorists are blowing Civilian planes out of the sky...and the US satellites caught them firing it and returning into Russia...Time is running out for Putin!

 

Henry Hoo 21.07.2014 04:04

Crimean status referendum, 2014 was a referendum on the status of Crimea held on March 16, 2014, by the legislature of Autonomous Republic of Crimea as well as by the local government of Sevastopol, both subdivisions of Ukraine at the time. The referendum asked the people of Crimea whether they wanted to join Russia as a federal subject, or if they wanted to restore the 1992 Crimean constitution and Crimea's status as a part of Ukraine.

 

 

Israeli Airstrike in Khan Younis Kills Hamas Figure, 26 Others

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- At least 12 women and children were among 27 people killed by an Israeli airstrike targeting a senior member of Hamas' military wing, health officials and neighbors told NBC News on Monday. The attack flattened a home in Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis around 8:30 p.m. local time on Sunday. Most of the victims were members of the same extended family. Ahmed Abu Sahmoud, who was the strike's intended target, was among those killed. The Associated Press later reported that two people were pulled alive from the rubble.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks opened fire on another home in southern Gaza, killing 10 people including four children and a 9-month-old baby girl, a health ministry official told The Associated Press. The deadly strikes came as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Secretary of State John Kerry headed to neighboring Egypt, in an attempt to stop the violence. More than 500 Palestinians and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed in two weeks of unrest.

IN-DEPTH

• Israel Kills 10 'Terror Squad' Members Near Tunnel
• At Least 110 Die as Thousands Flee Israel Shelling
• Gaza Conflict Sparks Worldwide Protests

·         Ayman Mohyeldin        ✔ @AymanM

·         Follow

·         Intense Israeli shelling taking place in Eastern #Gaza. at least 10 explosions, fighter jets and drones above. sounds like nonstop thunder

·         2:53 AM - 21 Jul 2014

 

Pierre Krähenbühl @PKraehenbuehl

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My heartfelt sympathy 2 the affected families in #Gaza. Children have lost parents and parents r burying their children. Unimaginable pain.

12:03 AM - 21 Jul 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

[H.E. KUM Nelson Bame IV]

Ukrainian Su-25 fighter detected in close approach to MH17 before crash - Moscow

Published time: July 21, 2014 12:59
Edited time: July 21, 2014 17:57

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Image courtesy of the Russian Defense Ministry

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The Russian military detected a Ukrainian SU-25 fighter jet gaining height towards the MH17 Boeing on the day of the catastrophe. Kiev must explain why the military jet was tracking the passenger airplane, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Follow Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane crash in Ukraine LIVE UPDATES

“A Ukraine Air Force military jet was detected gaining height, it’s distance from the Malaysian Boeing was 3 to 5km,” said the head of the Main Operations Directorate of the HQ of Russia’s military forces, Lieutenant-General Andrey Kartopolov speaking at a media conference in Moscow on Monday.

“[We] would like to get an explanation as to why the military jet was flying along a civil aviation corridor at almost the same time and at the same level as a passenger plane,” he stated.

“The SU-25 fighter jet can gain an altitude of 10km, according to its specification,” he added. “It’s equipped with air-to-air R-60 missiles that can hit a target at a distance up to 12km, up to 5km for sure.”

The presence of the Ukrainian military jet can be confirmed by video shots made by the Rostov monitoring center, Kartopolov stated.

At the moment of the MH17 crash an American satellite was flying over the area of eastern Ukraine, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. It urged the US to publish the space photos and data captured by it.

‘Ukrainian Buk missile system transported to militia-held area’

In addition, MH17 crashed within the operating zone of the Ukrainian army’s self-propelled, medium-range surface-to-air ‘Buk’ missile systems, the Russian general said.

“We have space images of certain places where the Ukraine’s air defense was located in the southeast of the country,” Kartapolov noted.

The first three shots that were shown by the general are dated July 14. The images show Buk missile launch systems in about 8km northwest of the city of Lugansk – a TELAR and two TELs, according to the military official.
Another image shows a radar station near Donetsk.

While the third picture shows the location of the air defense systems near Donetsk, he explained. In particular, one can clearly see a TELAR launcher and about 60 military and auxiliary vehicles, tents for vehicles and other structures, he elaborated.

“Images from this area were also made on July 17. One should notice that the missile launcher is absent [from the scene]. Image number five shows the Buk missile system in the morning of the same day in the area of settlement Zaroschinskoe – 50km south of Donetsk and 8km south of Shakhtyorsk," the Kartapolov said

The question that has to be answered is why the missile system appeared in the area controlled by the local militia forces shortly before the catastrophe, he stated.

Images taken on July 18 show that the missile systems left the area of the MH17 crash, the military official said.

Kartapolov also pointed to the fact that on the day of the plane crash Ukraine’s military increased activity on the part of Ukraine’s Kupol-M1 9S18 radars, which are part of the Buk system.

"..there were 7 radars operating on July 15, 8 radars operating on July 16, and 9 radars operating on July 17 in the area. Then, starting with July 18, the intensity of radar activities radically decreased, and now there are no more than two or three radars operating a day. The reason behind this is yet to be found."

In response to Moscow’s evidence, Kiev said on Monday it had proof the missile that brought down a Malaysian airliner last week came from Russia.

"There is evidence that the missile which struck the plane was fired by terrorists, who received arms and specialists from the Russian Federation," spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council Andrey Lysenko told a news conference. "To disown this tragedy, [Russia] are drawing a lot of pictures and maps. We will explore any photos and other plans produced by the Russian side."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday that Kiev has “strong evidence” of the causes of the MH17 crash.

“We know exactly the place [the surface-to-air missile was] launched, we know exactly the place where it hit the civilian plane and the place where the plane crashed.”

Kiev is ready to hand the information to the international investigation commission, according to the presidential press-service.

Comments (1771)

 

Ogden Lafaye 21.07.2014 19:48

Dr Cornelius Vanderbilt said: The important question is:
what would proRussia Ukrainians gain? However, the proAmerican Ukrainians all gain if the incident is linked to Russia/ militants? Rest my case. The US blamed Russia w/no evidence, Why? The US Satellite was just over the spot when the plane was destroyed. Why didn't they publish the pictures? I don't trust the West anymore.

Ag reed...The world markets/countries must start weaning their economies, currency, alliances & trust away from America. The US government bribes you, steals eveything, kills everyone, then screws you in the but. Not even a kiss.

 

Freethinker 21.07.2014 19:47

The UK security council representative in his speech today condemning Russia and the freedom fighters has shown total ignorance as to the reason why the Eastern Ukrainians decided to opt out by referendum of Ukraine government structure and had to set up their own military arrangements to protect the folk of Eastern Ukraine being attacked by right wing thugs and now the Kiev sadistic military employed by the chocolate president.

 

Rol jukssous 21.07.2014 19:47

Michał Grabiec 21.07.2014 19:46

Sorry RT but we are not idiots. No one will belive in such fake stuff. We already know that Russian Emabassy in Poland hire internet trolls to post pro-russian comments etc.

Only Russia believes in their imaginary world:)

  

Your idea is garbage cheap kind

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17:28

Russia urges to probe the participation of the mercenaries from the EU in Ukraine’s conflict

Russian Foreign ministry demands the authorities of Sweden, Finland, France and Baltic states to carry out an investigation to discover if mercenaries of these countries are taking part in military action in eastern Ukraine. The statement of the ministry followed the article from the Italian news outlet Il Giornale. The publication said that mercenaries from these countries fought at the side of Kiev troops. They were a part of the so-called Azov battalion which is backed by Ukraine’s oligarch Igor Kolomoisky.”If the information in this publication is true, then it becomes a new confirmation that foreign militants are involved in the armed Ukraine’s conflict at the intentional level,” said the Foreign Ministry.

17:27

Two more arrested in connection with Moscow metro tragedy

Two more people have been arrested in connection with the tragedy on the Moscow metro July 15 that took the lives of 23 people, Vladimir Markin, the official from Russia’s Investigative Committee said. 31 –year old Aleksey Trofimov, the deputy head of the capital’s rail repairs and a 55-year old Anatoly Kruglov head of the subcontracting organization that provided the supplies for the metro.

 

13:51

Emirates, Lufthansa call for airlines summit on MH17

Lufthansa has joined rival airline Emirates in calling for an industry summit to discuss a response to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine, Reuters reported. Questions have been raised as to why passenger planes were flying over a region hit by fighting. Joerg Handwerg, from German pilots' association VC Cockpit said that a unified response was crucial. “As soon as the first airline starts to fly using the old routes, that increases economic pressure on other airlines to follow suit,” he said. Taking longer routes means consuming more jet fuel.

13:02

Malaysia Airlines planes fly over Iraq, Syria to avoid Ukraine

Malaysia Airlines aircraft are flying via Syria and Iraq to divert from Ukraine’s airspace, where one of its Boeing 777s crashed last week, RIA Novosti reported. An Airbus A380 on MH4 flight from Kuala Lumpur to London on Sunday flew over the Syrian city of Homs and the same flight on Monday flew over Iraq, according to Flightradar24.com website. Several Russian and international companies decided late last week to fly to third states to divert eastern Ukraine or the country’s whole airspace.

12:07

Death toll from mudslide in southwest China rises to 10

The death toll from a mudslide in a village in Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, has risen to 10. Ten people are still missing and another seven were injured, Xinhua quoted officials from the local public security bureau as saying. Thirteen houses were crushed and dozens of others damaged after the mudslide happened at around 6am in Huna Village of Monghai Tow.

11:47

Italy navy rescues 1,800 migrants in boats over weekend

Italy’s navy has rescued nearly 1,800 migrants in overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean over the weekend, Reuters said. Also, a merchant ship rescued 61 migrants and collected five bodies from a sinking rubber raft late on Sunday. Survivors said 15 others probably drowned. Summer seas have led to a surge in people trying to reach Italy from North Africa. Italy has picked up more than 70,000 migrants so far this year in its search-and-rescue mission, ‘Mare Nostrum’ (Our Sea).

11:20

China supplier of Samsung halts production amid child labor probe

A Chinese supplier to Samsung Electronics has indefinitely halted production after the factory was suspected of using child workers, Reuters reported. Samsung said last week it had stopped doing business with the Dongguan Shinyang Electronics factory, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea’s Shinyang Engineering. The move was taken after an audit led to evidence of what Samsung called suspected child labor. The Dongguan Shinyang factory is a squat building in an industrial estate in Chashan, one of towns across southern China's Pearl River Delta, dubbed the factory of the world.

10:22

UN Human Rights Council to hold emergency session on Gaza

The UN Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session on Israel’s assault on Gaza on Wednesday, a UN statement said on Monday. Egypt made the request on behalf of the Arab Group of countries, Reuters reported. It was backed by the requisite minimum of 16 member states of the 47-member forum, including China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. The death toll from the two-week conflict in Gaza has passed 500.

09:28

French interior minister to crack down on anti-Semitism after pro-Palestinian rallies

France’s interior minister promised on Monday to crack down on anti-Semitism after violence marred pro-Palestinian rallies in and around Paris against Israel, Reuters said. “It is unacceptable to target synagogues or shops simply because they are managed by Jews,” Bernard Cazeneuve said during a visit to Sarcelles, which is also home to large non-Jewish immigrant populations. “Nothing can justify anti-Semitism, nothing can justify that kind of violence. This will be fought and sanctioned,” he said. France has both the largest Jewish and Muslim populations in Europe.

08:39

First Russian heavy-lift Angara-5 launch vehicle shipped to Plesetsk Cosmodrome

The first heavy-lift Angara-A5 rocket vehicle has been shipped by two trains to Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome from its maker, the Khrunichev Space Center, ITAR-TASS said. The launch of the rocked is planned for the year-end. The tests of the Angara space rocket complex started on July 9 with a successful launch of the light rocket Angara-1.2PP. Putting the whole complex into operation will allow Russia to launch spacecraft of all types from Russian territory.

07:53

47 killed in clashes between Libya rival militias

Clashes between rival militias fighting for control of the international airport in Tripoli have killed 47 people over the past 24 hours, Libya’s Health Ministry said. The fighting also left 120 people wounded, AP reported, citing the statement. The battle over the airport has been waged for a week by a powerful militia from the western city of Zintan, which controls the facility, and Islamist-led militias, including fighters from Misrata, east of the capital.

06:24

N. Korea defense commission says condemnation of missile tests ‘absurd’

North Korea’s top military body has defended its recent missile tests as a legitimate exercise in self-defense, AFP reported. The National Defense Commission (NDC) said Monday that condemnation of the tests was absurd and cited the large-scale military drills the South Korean and US forces conduct every year south of the border. “The real provocations and threats made to the Korean peninsula are the whole gamut of political and military moves being pushed forward by the US,” a spokesman said. The North has conducted half-a-dozen missile, rocket and heavy artillery tests over the past month.

 

British Bulls**t Corporation': Protest in Belfast accuses BBC of 'biased' Gaza coverage

Published time: July 21, 2014 11:16
Edited time: July 21, 2014 11:59

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'British Bulls**t Corporation': Protest in Belfast accuses BBC of 'biased' Gaza coverage

Published time: July 21, 2014 11:16
Edited time: July 21, 2014 11:59

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Sean B 21.07.2014 19:45

Why do you RT. Keep making out like Britain is against Isreal? because we all know 80% if not more support Isreal. It's obvious to anyone with HALF of a brain that the problem is Hamas.. if Canada shot a missile at New york, the response would be the same, if Ireland, scotland or Wales fired one at England, the response the same, and vice versa... The west made Isreal what it is today, and they'll never go against them whilst hamas are firing rockets.

 

jenniferdterrill 21.07.2014 19:25

Start working part time. I kept hearing other people tell me how much money they can make online so I decided to look into it. Well, it was all true and has totally changed my life.

This is what I do……. 2.gp/FoxNews
=== ==================

 

Bob Jones 21.07.2014 19:16

Quite predictable this outcry for the Palestinians killed. With Hamas missiles, there is a limit to the patience of Israel. So disturbing the pathetic, barbaric Palestinian / Arab double standard. They shield themselves behind the skirts of their wives and small children, while hiding ammunition and weapons in hospitals and schools. Then they cry foul, and scream “murders”, and Death to Israel … great theatrics when their family members are casualties. The term “coward” falls short of full meaning regarding to these twisted, mutant, and brutally-deranged militants. How pathetic Hamas, the puppet of Iran.

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Israel and Palestine could learn a lesson from the Queen

Bryan MacDonald is a journalist, writer, broadcaster and teacher. He wrote for Irish Independent and Daily Mail. He has also frequently appeared on RTE and Newstalk in Ireland as well as RT.

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Published time: July 15, 2014 15:00

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Conflict, Egypt, Israel, Middle East

In April of this year, Queen Elizabeth did something extraordinary. The British Monarch hosted a state dinner for the Irish President, Michael D. Higgins, at her Windsor Castle home and invited a stellar list of luminaries to sit.

In the normal course of events, this wouldn't merit much analysis; a head of state inviting a neighboring equivalent for some diplomatic dining. However, amid the cast of preeminent invitees, which included Anglo-Irish actor Daniel Day Lewis and Dublin rugby legend Brian O'Driscoll, was a man who not long ago was considered the greatest enemy of the UK state, Martin McGuinness.

Unthinkable a few short years ago, McGuinness' presence was also phenomenal from his perspective. He had spent the greater part of his adult life waging war against Crown forces and now he was breaking-bread with their figurehead in her own dining room.

There was a personal edge to the relationship too. Back in 1979, while McGuinness was allegedly the leader of Irish Republican Army (IRA), Earl Mountbatten of Burma - the Queen's second-cousin and an uncle of her husband, Prince Phillip - was killed by an IRA bomb whilst on a boating holiday in County Sligo. Mountbatten had also acted as a mentor for her son, Prince Charles, and was known as the 'honorary Grandfather' by the presumed heir to the British throne.

This was deeply personal for Queen Elizabeth and equally emotive for McGuinness. He had been second in command of the IRA in Derry in 1972 when the British Army Parachute Regiment shot 26 innocent, unarmed protesters in cold blood on what became known as Bloody Sunday.

That incident inflamed the Ulster 'troubles' and by the time they ended with the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998, 3,530 people had died (1,936 of them civilians) and over 47,000 had been injured. Among the casualties were members of the British aristocracy, government ministers and ordinary Derry civilians, some of whom McGuinness had considered friends.

Truthfully, the Queen surely feels repugnance towards the IRA and McGuinness similarly abhors the British establishment – he has spent decades trying to remove it from his province, first violently and in later years, politically.

However, the diplomatically experienced and artful monarch and the rebel-turned-statesman both have one massive incentive in common. Neither wants a return to war, both want to preserve the fragile Ulster peace and they are willing to 'put up' with each other in order to guarantee that.

The British-Irish disaccord effectively began in 1171, when King Henry II landed his forces in Waterford and the following year took control of Dublin and created the Lordship of Ireland.

It essentially ended in 1998, 827 years later. That is ten lifetimes for the average child born in the Western world today and was many more historically - it's a span of time almost incomprehensible to the singular human mind. It’s also worth being mindful of Chairman Mao's apparatchik, who mentioned that 'it was too soon to say' what the effects of the French Revolution would be, as the peace holds for now but is not completely airtight.

However, the IRA's origins were in the late 19th century when the Fenian movement and the Irish Republican Brotherhood sprung up as counterparts to the parliamentary focused Home Rule campaign which sought Irish independence from the UK state.

The dangerous history

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict which is once again in the news, due to the appalling slaughter in Gaza, also has its roots in the end of the 19th century when nationalist movements gained momentum in the Jewish and Arab worlds, aimed at achieving sovereignty for their people in a European-dominated Middle East.

Nevertheless, many Jews see it as a continuation of a battle which began in 70 AD (that's 1,944 years ago) when the Second Temple was destroyed by Roman Forces under the future Emperor Tiberius and the Israelites were slowly scattered to the four corners of the world.

During the long period when the Jewish community was dispersed, and settled mainly in Eastern and Central Europe but was also to be found in places as disparate as Iran, Siberia and Africa, the Palestinians had become mainly Muslim (with a significant Christian minority) and Mohammed's faith had become by far the dominant one in the region. By the 1880's, when the first significant wave of Jewish immigrants to Palestine took place, the area was under the control of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and only 15,000 Jews resided there, compared to 408,000 adherents of Islam.

Jewish immigration continued over the next three decades and by 1917, when the Turks had been defeated and the British were the new overlords, the figure was estimated at around 78,000. It’s worth noting that these figures refer to the entire Palestine Mandate which was considerably larger than the territory disputed today and that the Jews invariably purchased the land they took.

A further wave of immigrants followed over the next few years, mainly from what became the Soviet Union as civil war engulfed their adopted lands. Around the same time, the Arab resistance was fomented by Lawrence of Arabia with the support of Churchill as being necessary for a British victory over the Ottomans.

Also in 1917, the UK's Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour wrote to Baron Rothschild, on behalf of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland - this letter became known as the 'Balfour Declaration.' In it, Balfour indicated that the UK favored the "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" and sowed the seeds for the modern Israeli state and continuous tensions between the Jewish and Palestinian communities in the region.

The following year, Chaim Herzog was born in Belfast (he would be raised in Dublin, the new capital of the Irish Free State, where his father was an enthusiastic supporter of the IRA) and he later became the sixth President of Israel.

Herzog would also go on to head the Intelligence Branch of the Israeli Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war which put paid to the original British plan to divide Palestine into three areas; an Arab State, a Jewish one and a special international status for the city of Jerusalem. Ironically, this plan is still suggested by foreign supporters of the Palestinian cause as the best solution for the region. The domestic Palestinian factions demand Jerusalem as their capital.

A lesson from the Queen

Why do I draw the analogy between the 'Irish Question' and the Jewish one? For two reasons, firstly because I am Irish and secondly because I think the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli struggle is something along the lines of the power-sharing settlement which, although imperfect, has brought peace to Ulster. In simple terms, the leaders of Israel are going to have to take Queen Elizabeth's lead and bite their tongues and the Palestinian rulers (most likely Hamas) will have to mimic Martin McGuinness and acquiesce to tolerance of their foes.

I'm not suggesting they love each other or suddenly bathe in the warm glow of friendly kinship, I'm merely proposing that they consent to at least pretend to get along in public. This is the only possible outcome for the region that doesn't involve more futile butchery and terror.

Irish politician Chris Andrews of the Sinn Fein party, whose grandfather Todd was a prominent IRA member in the 1919-21 Anglo-Irish war which created the modern day Irish state, has taken a pro-Palestinian line for years. During the 2009 Gaza War, which cost 13 Israeli lives and 1,417 Palestinian, he described Israel as a 'terror state' while serving in the Dublin government of Fianna Fail. He also called for the Israeli ambassador (in Ireland) to be expelled and has subsequently taken part in humanitarian flotilla to Gaza.

"The Palestinians are facing a state which has overwhelming force, resources and military power. They use that to effectively destroy the notion of a Palestinian state. The Israelis believe they are under siege from the Palestinians - having settled in lands that were previously recognized as Palestinian (by the international community). It has turned into an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth conflict," he claims.

"Israel uses disproportionate force on an under-resourced people. The international community ignores it and Israel seems to be able to do whatever it wants, whenever it wants. The EU should be stronger on sanctions against Israel (diplomatic) and what they could also do is ban products from the illegal settlements. Also, EU business should be looking at itself and cease buying products from other locations," continues Andrews.

Is Israel a terrorist state as alleged? Or are they simply trying to preserve their territorial integrity in opposition to murderous terrorists? The general Western view is that because Israel is a democracy - indeed, the only functioning one in the region - it can't be classed as such, as if its democratic status justifies all its actions. Also, Israel relies not on its democratic status but on the provisions of international law when justifying its self-defense at the UN.

Palestine also held free elections in 2006 but when Hamas won a comfortable majority the 'freedom lovers' in the USA and EU refused to deal with the winners. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by both entities and Israel. Of course, another stumbling block is that Hamas refuses to recognize Israel and the deputy Chairman of its political bureau, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, recently stated that "this is a red line that cannot be crossed." Incidentally, the UK once felt the same about the IRA - and the feeling was mutual - but today its Queen is happy to exchange pleasantries with McGuinness so that proves deeply held convictions can change when expediency dictates.

The current Gaza crisis, which had caused at least 160 deaths by Monday morning, is part of an ongoing 'troubles' which began around the summer of 2006 and has thus far caused over 2,200 fatalities - very much disproportionally on the Palestinian side as only 39 of them are generally attributed as Israeli losses.

Why now?

"It appears that the recent kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers adds to a sense that Hamas is preparing another offensive. It would seem to be a campaign targeted at degrading Hamas' military capabilities in the short to medium term," suggests political commentator, John McGuirk, a prominent supporter of the Israeli position.

McGuirk argues Israel is justified in its actions: "The first duty of any state is, after all, the protection of its own people." However, he counsels that if Hamas were to launch a third Intifada (rebellion) it would serve to merely embolden the Israeli hard-right and make peace an even more distant prospect. He also suggests that America is more part of the problem than the solution and that Russia might have an important role to play in bringing peace to the region.

"They (the USA) are so close to Israel that one understands why a peace backed by them would be seen as suspicious by the Palestinians. A greater disaster would be turning the region into yet another proxy for geo-strategic dominance between the USA and Russia. However, a genuine partnership to bring lasting peace would do much for humanity and, as such, provides President Putin with an opportunity to showcase his leadership to make the world a better place. If the US and Russian administrations could work together on this, significant progress could be achieved," McGuirk adds.

It's clear that the USA cannot be an honest broker in this debacle as its bias towards Israel is profound and a cause of massive offence in the Arab world. However, Russia has been walking a fine line in the region and has managed to maintain reasonably good relations with both belligerents. While the Soviet Union was unabashedly pro-Palestinian, the successor Russian Federation has been as neutral as possible. It has condemned Israeli excesses in Gaza, and supported Palestinian state-hood, while equally resolutely backing Israeli's right to exist and defend itself. There is also the little mentioned fact that, despite popular perception, the largest expatriate Israeli community is not in New York or Berlin, but in Moscow and it numbers 80,000. Furthermore, Israel has expressed interest in creating a free trade zone with the Eurasian Union - the brainchild of President Putin.

However, peace seems a long way off currently while devastating fury is unleashed on Gaza and Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israeli territory. The spark for the current violence was the murder of three Israeli teenagers but subsequently the body of an Arab teenager was discovered and led to violent protests in East Jerusalem.

Palestinians say the boy was murdered by Israeli extremists as retaliation for the murders of the three teenagers. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, have acknowledged the murder was a grave crime, though Netanyahu has been cautious to not describe it as a revenge killing. The danger of this tit-for-tat violence is that it may be hard for either the Israeli or Palestinian authorities to contain and that’s why the International community is very nervous. However, Israel’s security fence means that there are limited Hamas retaliation options - the settlements are more exposed.

The roots for the current confrontation were planted earlier this year when talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders broke down – yet again. This resulted in recriminations from both sides, with Abbas accused of choosing a unity government with Hamas over peace, while the Israeli government was slated for returning to their settlement building enterprise almost right away.

Following the disappearance of the Israeli teenagers it became clear that soldiers weren’t looking for them so much as collectively punishing Palestinians for the crime of a small few. Netanyahu (probably falsely) blamed the kidnapping on Hamas – most likely in an attempt to derail the unity government – and warned they would “pay a heavy price.” But it isn't Hamas; it is Palestinian civilians who are paying a heavy price now.

As someone who grew up in Ireland while the 'troubles' raged in the North, this is depressingly familiar, 'tit-for-tat' sectarian killings, blame being erroneously apportioned to justify murder on both sides, and a never-ending cycle of futile killing.

Furthermore, both regions began their modern trajectory to violence at approximately the same time, and the two also share the in-bred grievances of centuries of feuding. Once upon a time, Northern Ireland was seen as intractable and this Middle East dispute is perceived as being obstinate today.

Ulster is living proof that this doesn't have to continue to infinity. Of course, the peace is not perfect, it never is, but for 16 years, through every tumult imaginable, it has held and Martin McGuinness and the Queen are now capable of respecting each-others status and views. The Middle East gap is, on the other hand, less bridgeable while Hamas promises Israel’s destruction - the IRA never advocated the complete annihilation of the UK.

It might be naive to think that Abbas and Netanyahu could one day do the same, but I sincerely believe that power-sharing and a two-state solution is the only plausible solution to this seemingly incurable struggle. To achieve this, it might be time for Israel to follow the reverse steps of their sixth President, Chaim Herzog, and look to Belfast, his birthplace.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

Comments (31)

 

Hammas Plo 18.07.2014 11:42

the ira had help from the cia .the attacks on main land uk made the differents. the uk help isreal inthe killing of palestinans. and stealing land .uk does need any thing in ireland

 

Theon Lyreal II 17.07.2014 09:15

Sean B 15.07.2014 22:45

If people didn't constantly talk about wiping Isreal off the map they might not be so agressive. Whilst the rockets fall on Isreal there is nothing the west or anyone else can do to stop Isreal. Maybe hamas should think about that...

  

Let me get this straight. You are saying that Israel murders Palestinian children because *I* say that Israel should be flushed down the toilet of history? And that Israel would stop murdering Palestinian children if *I* would just shut the eff up?

If so then israelis are stupid as well as nasty.

 

Theon Lyreal II 17.07.2014 09:09

maxickx 16.07.2014 23:58

Maybe the Queen should invite a delegation from Hamas and members of the Israeli government to Windsor Castle, for tea and crumpets. Oh how I do love those finger sandwiches during high-tea. And don't forget free shopping spree at Harrods. Throw in a massage, manicure, pedicure and we'll have a deal. Oh how I love to be pampered!

  

The Israeli government is already there and has been all along.

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15,000 turn out for pro-Gaza rally in London (PHOTOS)

Published time: July 20, 2014 13:31

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Protesters display placards and banners as they take part in demonstration against Israeli airstrikes in Gaza in central London on July 19, 2014 against Gaza strikes.(AFP Photo / Carl Court)

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EU, Israel, Middle East, Politics, Protest, Terrorism, UK, War

London streets were swarmed by a pro-Palestinian demonstration which gathered nearly 15,000 participants Saturday. Marching down to the Israeli Embassy from Downing Street, they chanted “Israel is a terror state,” slamming Tel Aviv’s offensive in Gaza.

David Cameron’s office is located about 5km (3 miles) from the embassy. While the march itself was peaceful, several key roads downtown were closed.

The death toll from the operation launched by Israel, including the ground offensive of two days ago, has now reached 400 people by Palestinian health ministry’s accounts, the overwhelming majority of them civilians.

Similar to other major cities across the world, demonstrators held signs and banners asking the Jewish State to “Stop the bombing, free Palestine”, “Stop Israeli terror,” and so on. Some called it the “apartheid” state, according to the AP.

The march was organized in part by the left-wing Stop the War Coalition, whose belief it is that political cooperation with Israel is “nothing less that collusion with war crimes killing women, children and disabled people.”

A similar voice was heard from one of the demonstrators, a Leila White, who told the Daily Mail that “by allowing arms exports to Israel to flourish, the UK Government is providing material and political support for Israel's violent oppression and collective punishment of Palestinians, including the current massacre in Gaza.”

Tens of thousands on London #GazaJ19 protest for peace, justice & a Free Palestine. Stretching length of Whitehall pic.twitter.com/z7ZaprMOtT

— PSC (@PSCupdates) July 19, 2014

“There has not been enough condemnation of Israel's military action. Basically, we want the UK government to invoke an arms embargo against Israel.”

Her group, the London Palestine Action, posted photos on Facebook of its members sitting with linked hands in the lobby of the Whitehall office building at around 4-5pm. They were chanting anti-Israel slogans and were promptly removed by the police.

Some even locked or cuffed themselves to nearby railings, unfurling Palestinian flags and banners while demanding that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg or another official from the Cabinet Office come out.

Unlike in violent Paris, however, no London arrests were made.

Politicians could be seen in the crowd as well. MP George Galloway strongly advocated the Palestinian cause, saying in a speech that “We are here to stay. As long as one Palestinian remains alive we will be with them.”

Another figure present was the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Sarah Colborne, who told the press that “today’s national demonstration will give people from across the country the chance to say enough is enough, Israel’s siege of Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian land has to end now.”

"People want justice and freedom for the Palestinians, and they will be voicing this in their thousands.”

Opposition lawmaker, Labour’s Dian Abbott, was also at the event. She told AFP that this was “the biggest London Palestinian rally in years.”

This is truly huge #GazaUnderAttack#London#Gazapic.twitter.com/rv6auWH2uQ

— Donnacha DeLong (@donnachadelong) July 19, 2014

Everyone voiced their protest also against the French ban on demonstrations in several key cities, following fears that they are a threat to public order.

The event takes place just as 50,000 refugees have been displaced by the fighting in Gaza, with 34 UN shelters set up to deal with the influx, according to sources in the relief community. The 12-day offensive culminated in a ground operation two days ago, which itself is a reaction to Hamas unwilling to stop firing rockets into Israel. There are fears of yet more escalation as Israel is widely thought to expand its campaign from underground tunnel networks into more heavily-populated areas.

Comments (37)

 

✎ 21.07.2014 14:15

I was at this protest and I can safely say it was much more than 15,000.

I am a Spurs fan and White Hart Lane has a capacity of about 37,000 which commonly sells out and comparing the amount people leaving that stadium (everyone is outside within 15 minutes) after a match and the amount of people at this protest (and the sheer packed density of people) this protest had many multiples on 37,000. I suspect more like 100,000, perhaps more.

 

Jerome Yalon 21.07.2014 12:48

trugreen 21.07.2014 12:28

They going to burn down all Jew temple and synagogue,
Jews are not save around the world,
USA is Israel /Jews last hope.

  

Hellllll would the last hope for lunatic zionist savage

 

Jerome Yalon 21.07.2014 12:44

Natay Ri 21.07.2014 11:38

These narrow-minded protesters are ignoring the fact that Palestinians asked for this invasion. It is not unfair that they are getting what they asked for. The Palestinians prove over and over that they do not want a peaceful existence. War begets war.

  

No doubt you are a zionist savage. Enter the following word in search engine it will help you to become a human from zionist parasite.

b reaking the silence

Isr aeli soldiers talk about the occupied territories

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The Divine Principle has been revealed to Sun Myung Moon through a course of intense prayer, fasting and a thorough study of the Holy Scriptures between 1935 and 1945. This modern prophecy has the potential to unify the world’s religions, philosophies and ideologies and it reconciles the religious and scientific quest for truth.

--- Sun Myung Moon

The Messiah comes to fill the Earth with the Light and Truth of Heaven hidden for thousands of years, and Messages and Actions of Love and Unity centered upon God and “One human family under God and a civilization Of Heart.”  The Anti-Christ comes to corrupt a few then use those few to: divide the RACES, divide the Nations, divide the cities, divide the families, divide the mind-and-body from centering upon God – and divide God from Civilization --  that is the kingdom of hell on earth – a place of Racism, Satanism, a Soul-less civilization.

------  Kum Nelson Bame Bame

 

 

Moses, under Judaism taught the Jews and gave them the Ten Commandments, among which is to Worship God and no other Being or Angel, thou shall not kill, thou shall not tell lies, thou shall not worship graven images, thou shall not desire the property of another, etc.   Jesus Christ taught the Jews to Love the Lord God almighty first with all their hearts and might and to love their neighbors as themselves;  Christ (Yesu Kristo) also taught that salvation has come for all on earth who embrace God (gentiles included) not just for the Jews.   Yet, some have gone across and among tribes/nations today to gather all the iron and steel to build artificial walls and build iron-domes under the earth to pile up all the gold and silver of the earth and build the strongest weapons mankind has never seen to pre-emptively attack any nation that is not under their spiritual and social power/order – racist, negligent, greedy, self-preservative, separatist, impatient, wicked, idolatrous, and Satanic. 

------  Kum Nelson Bame Bame