Russian General Denies Being Killed in Syria
Voltaire Network
August 8, 2012
Photo: Major-General Vladimir Kuzheyev, who Syrian rebels said they killed outside Damascus, speaking to reporters Wednesday.
A military general called a news conference at the Defense Ministry on Wednesday to deny a claim by a Syrian rebel group that he had been killed in clashes outside Damascus.
Major-General Vladimir Kuzheyev worked for some time as an adviser to Syria’s Defense Ministry on military schools, but he moved to Moscow after being transferred to the military reserves, Interfax reported.
“I am grateful to the media for their great interest in poor little me. As a human being, it was very unpleasant for me to hear about my supposed death in Syria,” Kuzheyev told reporters, adding that his phone has been ringing nonstop with calls from worried family and friends.
“I want to confirm that I am alive and well, I am in good health and live in Moscow,” he said.
He said the claim of his death was a provocation against Russia and him personally.
Stop Imperialism – Episode 32 [audio]
by Eric Draitser
Stop Imperialism
August 1, 2012
- 1. Syria (On the Ground) – Syria conflict: Army steps up attack on rebels in Aleppo
- 2. Syria (Diplomacy) – Russia says US tries to justify terrorism in Syria
- 3. Iran – Panetta says sanctions haven’t yet worked in forcing Iran to give up nuclear ambitions
- 4. SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) – Russia seeks naval bases in Cuba, Vietnam
- 5. Under the Radar – WikiFakes: Whistleblowing giant admits trolling NY Times
Listen Now:
Standard Podcasts [01:47:34m]: | Download | Embeddable Player
Annan resigns as Syria envoy: ‘Finger-pointing, name-calling in UNSC’ to blame [video]
Russia Today
August 2, 2012
Kofi Annan is stepping down from his role as Syria envoy, blaming ”finger pointing and name calling” at the UN Security Council. Annan’s been the key figure in the international hopes to negotiate a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the stricken country. READ MORE: http://on.rt.com/gfnylx
RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air
Illegal Cloning? ’Dumped fetuses could be half human, half engineered’ [video]
White Owl Conspiracy
July 31, 2012
rt.com
“Hundreds of human fetuses, found in a forest in central Russia, may have been removed from a local medical university. Police are questioning a researcher, who was fired last year and could have taken the material she was working on with her. However, some doctors say the dumped fetuses could even be the product of cloning.”
Syria Defeating NATO’s Swarming Terrorists and Ben Rhodes Video Warfare with Backup from Russian and Chinese Security Council Vetoes [video]
Webster G. Tarpley on the Alex Jones Show
Infowars.com
July 24, 2012
Washington’s Plan B for Syria
By Stephen Lendman, Contributor
theintelhub.com
July 23, 2012
Replacing independent governments with pro-Western puppets is official US policy. So is war on Islam.
After Soviet Russia dissolved, Muslims replaced communists as public enemy number one. Since the 1990s, millions were ruthlessly killed. Many more die daily. Dozens succumb every day in Syria. US-sponsored death squads murder them.
On July 20 or 21st, Ramadan began. It continues for 30 days until August 18. It’s a time for prayer, fasting, reflection, spiritual purification, self-sacrifice, charity, and forgiveness.
On July 20, Obama hypocritically “extend(ed) warmest wishes to” American and global Muslims. He wished them a “blessed month.” He did it despite official US policy to murder them. It doesn’t stop in deference to Ramadan, Christmas, or any other time of year.
He contemptuously expressed support for their determination to achieve “democracy,” “equality,” “justice,” and “universal rights.” He said his administration stands forthrightly with them.
He lied. He’s a serial liar. He’s also a war criminal multiple times over.
America deplores these values at home and abroad. It won’t tolerate them. They’re anathema to the nation’s imperium. It seeks unchallenged global dominance. Ravaging the world one country at a time or in multiples is policy to achieve it.
Plans to get Security Council authorization for war failed. Russia and China vetoed three resolutions. Vladimir Putin said no to Libya 2.0.
He denounced efforts to circumvent Security Council authority. He said Russian National Security Council members deplore Western attempts to link ongoing violence to Moscow’s position.
Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov called Washington’s statements “hypocritical.” He added that America subverts efforts to urge opposition leaders to dialogue responsibly with Assad.
He called Hillary Clinton and Susan Rice accusations “absolutely unacceptable.”
Taking aim at Washington and Britain primarily, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said don’t “be misled by humanitarian discourse by some countries.”
“The policies on Syria are more geopolitical than humanitarian.”
“Unfortunately, the consequences of these policies will make the conflict and bloodshed continuous.”
He indicated that so-called aid is a prelude and pretext for military intervention, adding:
“The US and the UK intervened in Iraq under the most sublime of pretexts, causing (massive numbers of) civilian (deaths), let alone the displaced people inside and outside Iraq.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich warned of serious consequences if Washington intention circumvents Security Council authority and intervenes directly in Syria’s internal affairs.
He said doing so constitutes “a very very alarming signal.” He rejected US retaliatory threats. He criticized congressional action and Western media denunciations.
Russia’s Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman Aleksey Pushkov called Western nations’ position on Syria political cover to escalate tensions. He rejected calls for unilateral approaches.
He accused Washington and so-called “Friends of Syria” of “double standards.” On the one hand, they support diplomatic solutions. On the other, they further violence, bloodshed, and resolving Syria’s conflict militarily. Russia stands firmly opposed.
Last week, Washington upped the stakes. Killing Syrian officials at Damascus National Security headquarters Wednesday was strategically timed.
They happened ahead of the latest Western Security Council scheme to authorize military intervention. It failed. At the same time, battles raged in and around Damascus and elsewhere. They failed.
Efforts were made to hijack Syria’s satellite channel frequencies and silence other state run online media. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) was repeatedly hacked and shut down. On Sunday it was operating. It and other Syrian media remain vulnerable.
So far Western and complicit regional attempts to destabilize, weaken, and perhaps bring down the government failed. Expect continued schemes to topple Assad and his regime.
On July 21, a New York Times editorial headlined “Stymied at UN, US Refines Plan to Remove Assad,” saying:
Obama officials “abandoned efforts for a diplomatic settlement to the conflict in Syria, and instead it is increasing aid to the rebels and redoubling efforts to rally a coalition of like-minded countries to forcibly bring down the government of President Bashar al-Assad, American officials say.”
Obama officials are meeting with Israeli, Turkish, and Western counterparts. They’re also discussing policy with Syrian opposition leaders.
Internal Washington “daily high-level meetings” are held. At issue is Plan B “to help map out a possible post-Assad government.”
“The administration has had regular talks with the Israelis about how Israel might move to destroy Syrian weapons facilities, administration officials said.”
Washington is directly involved in arming, funding, training, and directing Syrian opposition mercenaries. They’re cutthroat killers. They’re enlisted to commit mass murder.
They target pro-Assad civilians and others randomly. Expect stepped up efforts ahead of direct Western and/or regional allies’ intervention.
Unnamed US officials said:
“You’ll notice in the last couple of months, the opposition has been strengthened. Now we’re ready to accelerate that.”
According to hawkish, pro-Israeli Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) member Andrew Tabler:
“We’re looking at the controlled demolition of the Assad regime.”
He left unsaid that official Washington policy includes all options. They include full-scale war.
International Crisis Group member Robert Malley warned of “war that never ends.” Syrians won’t tolerate being ruled by elements now fighting them.
Josh Rogin reports on national security, foreign policy, and defense issues. On July 20, his Foreign Policy article headlined “Inside the quiet effort to plan for a post-Assad Syria,” saying:
Senior Syrian opposition group representatives are meeting covertly in Germany. The State Department provides funding.
For “the last six months,” they’ve been working with so-called US Institute for Peace (USIP) members. They’re planning a post-Assad government.
USIP is a pro-Western front group. According to the Weekly Standard:
Washington supplies millions of dollars. “Since 1985, taxpayers have forked over more than $720 million (inflation adjusted).”
“That has included support for a gleaming new 150,000 square foot office building in the shadow of that other taxpayer-supported institution (allegedly) devoted to peace: the State Department.”
USIP’s Steven Heydemann heads the initiative. In June, he met with Friends of Syria representatives in Istanbul. The project is called:
“The day after: Supporting a democratic transition in Syria.” Heydemann said USIP is “working in a support role with a large group of opposition groups to define a transition process for a post-Assad Syria.”
USIP shortly plans releasing a report. It’s a regime change strategy document. Implementing initial priorities needs to start now, said Heydemann. He disingenuously claims pushing Assad from power isn’t discussed.
“We have very purposely stayed away from contributing to the direct overthrow of the Assad regime,” he said. “Our project is called ‘the day after.’ There are other groups working on the day before.”
Of course, they’re interconnected. As the lyrics to the well-known spiritual “Dem Bones” say, the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone, etc.
USIP board chairman J. Robinson West is a corporate CEO (PFC Energy). President Richard H. Solomon is a former Assistant Secretary of State. Vice chairman of the board George E. Moose is a former Assistant Secretary of State.
Other board members include:
Judy Van Rest: right-wing International Republican Institute (ISI) executive vice president.
Michael H. Posner: Obama’s Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
Of course, all US administrations deplore these values. They tolerate none of them at home or abroad.
James N. Miller: Obama’s Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Nancy McEldowney: Interim president of the National Defense University (NDU).
Eric S. Edelman: A retired US Foreign Service Career Minister. He also held senior Defense Department positions.
Judy Ansley: Previously she held various high-level national security and Senate staff positions.
Syrian opposition members support violently overthrowing Assad’s government. Most Syrians support it. In May, free, fair, and open parliamentary elections were held. Ruling party members won most seats.
Washington, key NATO partners, and so-called Friends of Syria don’t recognize them. They represent Syria, not Western interests.
Replacing them with subservient puppets is policy. USIP was enlisted to help. It’s a wrongly named imperial tool. It supports war, not peace. It’s well paid for furthering Washington’s imperium. Destroying Syria is prioritized.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/
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‘Ready-to-quit’ Assad sparks media rumor frenzy
Russia Today
July 20, 2012
Bashar Assad is ready to leave power, while his wife Asma has fled to Russia – these are just some of the rumors circulating amid the Syrian conflict, as it enters a new stage. Russia has called on the media not to fall into “disinformation traps”.
On Friday morning, Russian Ambassador to France Aleksandr Orlov gave an interview to French radio station RFI. In it, he said that following recent talks in Geneva, the Syrian President is “ready for negotiations. He is prepared to hand over power, but in a civilized manner.”
Orlov then claimed “I believe it will be difficult for Assad to stay in power.”
A hungry news media pounced on the interview, which was seen as a major shift in Russia’s stance. Previously, Moscow had insisted that Assad shouldn’t necessarily be forced to hand over power – and definitely not ahead of any transition negotiations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry was immediately forced into making a statement.
“The ambassador’s words were misinterpreted, and pulled out of context,” said the ministry’s twitter account.
“The Syrian people are the only ones who can decide on the future of the Syrian Arab Republic, including the fate of its leaders. This is clearly stated in the Geneva declaration adopted on June 30.”
Orlov also clarified his comments, saying that he felt that Assad may be prepared to quit, but only “as a result of negotiations.”
This closely matches Syria’s own position. Assad gave an interview last week in which he said that he was prepared to sit down and talk with the rebels, and step down if he no longer has the “confidence of his people.”
Another widely reported story claims that Asma Assad, Syria’s first lady, who holds British citizenship, left for Moscow in the wake of the explosion that killed Syria’s top security officials.
“I believe this is a mendacious disinformation trap,” an indignant Aleksandr Lukashevich, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry representative, told journalists during a Q&A session. “I advise you not to fall into it.”
Fog of war fuels rumor machine
Together with China, Russia has played a major part in opposing the West’s position regarding the civil war in Syria, which has killed more than 16,000 since breaking out in 2011. Many in the Western media tie Russia’s position to Assad’s future. There is little doubt that during a recent upsurge in fighting around Syria’s capital, journalists are looking for signs that the situation is shifting.
Another problem appears to be a lack of information from Damascus itself. A lack of a comprehensive descriptions of the circumstances of the explosion that killed Assad’s top lieutenants on Wednesday has given birth to outlandish rumors, including speculation that the ministers were poisoned by Assad himself.
Another rumor claims that Assad was wounded in another rebel attack. The rumor gained currency when Assad did not make a public appearance in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s blast, but was quickly dispelled when he swore in the new Defense Minister on TV.
Even Assad’s physical whereabouts have not been established, as some believe he has left his residence in Damascus to go to the Alawite stronghold of Latakia, where he enjoys the greatest support.
As the world press’ insistent gaze seeks exclusives while being multiplied by scant information, it is likely that these rumors will persist and grow as long as fighting continues in Syria.
‘Assad represents Syrian sovereignty’
President Bashar al-Assad is a symbol of Syrian sovereignty, and if he leaves or is removed from power the country could plunge into chaos, Syrian activist and blogger Mimi al-Laham told RT.
“Even as not being a government supporter, Assad right now is representative of Syrian sovereignty,” she said. “So for Assad to go right now means an end to basically Syria. It means an end to a free country. Its interests are going to be totally controlled by the US and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
It will not only bring more death and destruction, but will also degrade Syria’s way of life, which is mostly secular, she says.
“In spite of Syria being majority Sunni, or majority Muslim in fact, our people are secular at heart,” she said. “We have a long history of many religions living together in harmony.”
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