tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post2694909698551877493..comments2024-03-28T04:13:36.779-04:00Comments on Mike Norman Economics: Claire Zillman — How Obama’s National Security Advisor Landed at the Center of Trump’s Wiretapping Claimsmike normanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03296006882513340747noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-7004337571103307052017-04-06T14:23:49.320-04:002017-04-06T14:23:49.320-04:00@lastgreek, what do you think of the possibility t...@lastgreek, what do you think of the possibility that the rebels had a chemical weapons warehouse or facility that was bombed by either the Syrian or Russian air force, inadvertently releasing some of the chemicals and causing civilian deaths?<br /><br />I have no inside information to verify that theory, but it would explain everything we know about the incident.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/383522-syria-idlib-warehouse-strike-chemical/#.WOS589TDAyk.facebook" rel="nofollow"> The Syrian Air Force has destroyed a warehouse in Idlib province where chemical weapons were being produced and stockpiled before being shipped to Iraq, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman said.<br /><br />The strike, which was launched midday Tuesday, targeted a major rebel ammunition depot east of the town of Khan Sheikhoun, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.<br /><br />The warehouse was used to both produce and store shells containing toxic gas.</a><br />Dan Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11189866002273597534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-20811952266032909652017-04-06T14:08:52.994-04:002017-04-06T14:08:52.994-04:00That is a ridiculously short post on the Angry Ara...<i>That is a ridiculously short post on the Angry Arab's blog. Looks to be something he threw up as a placeholder. We'll have to wait and see...</i><br /><br />From his blog today,<br /><br /><b>Responses to my comments about Syrian regime and the gas attacks</b><br /><br /><i>Many comrades and friends have faulted me for jumping the gun on holding the Syrian regime responsible for the gas attacks. I was a bit more cautious by saying that it is "most likely" in the absence of evidence to the contrary. I am no expert and I know that caution is imperative amid an avalanche of Western and Gulf regime propaganda. I don't above the regime but I don't absolve the rebels, although the use of fighter jets (if proven) would implicate the regime. A friend and comrade who is a professor at a major US medical school sent me this (I cite with his permission):<br /><br />"There is no way that the Western powers could have determined virtually immediately the full nature of the attack and the culpability of the regime. They have not even done a forensic examination yet, not of the bodies nor of the materials involved. There is too much propaganda involved in packaging this story. You would think the English Guardian newspaper has a correspondent sitting in the Syrian defense ministry and being fed all the state secrets in real time. And yes, As’ad, you jumped the gun too fast. This is not to say the regime is innocent, but that is different from firmly claiming it is guilty."</i>lastgreekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00354740659933239445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-4158489019310991972017-04-06T13:37:24.518-04:002017-04-06T13:37:24.518-04:00buy the used copy on Amazon. Usually way cheaper e...buy the used copy on Amazon. Usually way cheaper even with the $3.99 shipping charge. ;-)MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-66422341624389776072017-04-06T08:23:24.531-04:002017-04-06T08:23:24.531-04:00Thanks, MRW.
Tom recently had posted a link to a ...Thanks, MRW.<br /><br />Tom recently had posted a link to a long article on the origins of the CIA -- excellent and well-worth the read -- and it got me thinking about Douglas Valentine's book "The Phoenix Program," which I had heard of but never got the chance to read. Looks like I'll be picking it up :)lastgreekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00354740659933239445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-6361632555380963132017-04-06T00:27:26.006-04:002017-04-06T00:27:26.006-04:00Lastgeek, I dont know how old you are, but did you...Lastgeek, I dont know how old you are, but did you ever see the original A-team series from the 70s? The cigar-chomping Colonel in that series was based on Colonel Lang's character and covert ops escapades in Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia with the tacit but secret permission and assignment of the head of the CIA. Jeremy Scahill details it in one of his books.MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-57464419335105864682017-04-06T00:14:40.257-04:002017-04-06T00:14:40.257-04:00Lastgeek, you need to read the comments below Colo...Lastgeek, you need to read the comments below Colonel Lang's post about this attack at http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2017/04/ghouta-redux-was-this-attack-real.html.<br /><br />Some of his commenters are still active military in the region; many are retired and extremely knowledgeable about methods and procedures.<br /><br />Lang is a tough motherfucker. Won't put up with nonsense spouted on his site. He'll ban you for what he considers stupidity, or write you privately to make you clarify yourself, as he has done with me quite a few times. As I wrote above, I'm waiting to hear what he finds out about the facts.MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-25757347679538524312017-04-05T23:17:09.753-04:002017-04-05T23:17:09.753-04:00First responders at sarin attacks have to wear haz...First responders at sarin attacks have to wear hazmat suits and gloves.MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-3676669127547848422017-04-05T23:14:52.702-04:002017-04-05T23:14:52.702-04:00Lastgeek, sarin isn't the only chemical weapon...Lastgeek, sarin isn't the only chemical weapon. They claimed sarin at Ghouta, but it wasn't. There's no doubt AQ, et al, have chemical weapons.MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-51624460615317913572017-04-05T20:23:35.936-04:002017-04-05T20:23:35.936-04:00Moon of Alabama didn't say the chemical attack...<i> Moon of Alabama didn't say the chemical attack was fake...</i><br /><br />From MOA:<br /><br />"The video footage, taken (when?) in a White Helmets base, shows "rescuers" spraying water on people who are claimed to have been effected by Sarin. If this were a real chemical incident involving Sarin or similar stuff these unprotected, unprofessional "rescuers" would be heavily effected if not dead"<br /><br />Didn't actually say "fake" but it was inferred -- "if this were real."lastgreekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00354740659933239445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-34567935778668701332017-04-05T20:17:04.895-04:002017-04-05T20:17:04.895-04:00Joshua Frank is not necessarily correct because he...<i><br />Joshua Frank is not necessarily correct because he’s the editor of Counterpunch.</i><br /><br />Of course not, MRW. It's just that everybody is jumping to conclusions.lastgreekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00354740659933239445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-70751175536549422462017-04-05T18:57:10.006-04:002017-04-05T18:57:10.006-04:00This M of A post on White Helmets' videos is i...This M of A post on White Helmets' videos is instructive:<br />http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/10/assad-says-the-boy-in-the-ambulance-is-fake-we-show-why.html#moreMRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-5262357030701659302017-04-05T18:50:50.906-04:002017-04-05T18:50:50.906-04:00lastgeek,
Joshua Frank is not necessarily correct...lastgeek,<br /><br />Joshua Frank is not necessarily correct because he’s the editor of Counterpunch. Moon of Alabama didn't say the chemical attack was fake; he said that blaming Assad was suspect, and that the claims of sarin use don't add up. I put FAR more truck in Colonel Lang’s assertions, so I'm waiting to find out what he finds out. Lang's definitive statements are based on his extraordinary sources among the current military intel higher-ups and his contacts from his years as Military Liaison in Israel and Yemen.<br /><br />Do you know who the White Helmets are? Vanessa Beeley has been doing a yeoman’s job for the past two years investigating them. She speaks the language and grew up in the region as the daughter of Britain’s Ambassador to various countries in the ME.<br /><br /><b>EXCLUSIVE: The REAL Syria Civil Defence Exposes Fake ‘White Helmets’ as Terrorist-Linked Imposters</b><br />http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/23/exclusive-the-real-syria-civil-defence-expose-natos-white-helmets-as-terrorist-linked-imposters/<br /><br />List of her recent articles on the region:<br />http://21stcenturywire.com/author/21vbeeley/MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-15559580614084161742017-04-05T15:16:20.255-04:002017-04-05T15:16:20.255-04:00That is a ridiculously short post on the Angry Ara...That is a ridiculously short post on the Angry Arab's blog. Looks to be something he threw up as a placeholder. We'll have to wait and see...Peter Panhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473311771939167712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-35572659924122208982017-04-05T14:52:26.011-04:002017-04-05T14:52:26.011-04:00CNBC reports: Bannon originally served on the comm...CNBC reports: <i><b>Bannon originally served on the committee as a check against Michael Flynn before Flynn was ousted as National Security Advisor, a top White House official told NBC News. However, Bannon only attended one meeting and felt he was no longer needed in that role after the selection of H.R. McMaster as national security advisor.<br /><br />McMaster, who Bannon wanted in the role, was given authority to reorganize the committee when he joined the White House, according to NBC.</b></i><br />http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/05/steve-bannon-reportedly-removed-from-national-security-council-in-reorganization.html<br /><br />I wouldn’t read too much into it.<br /><br />It also notes: <i><b>A filing on Tuesday in the Federal Register did not list Bannon as a regular attendee of NSC "principals committee" meetings, as he previously was. The change adds Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, back to the committee. It also adds Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who controls the nation's nuclear arsenal.<br /><br />Despite the move, Bannon retained his security clearance, NBC said.</b></i>MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-77458254917633955032017-04-05T14:32:26.339-04:002017-04-05T14:32:26.339-04:00Bannon wasn't on the NSC. He is "Special ...Bannon wasn't on the NSC. He is "Special Adviser to the President."MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-884241293723575892017-04-05T14:28:22.700-04:002017-04-05T14:28:22.700-04:00Opinion. Nothing substantial offered. I would dism...<i>Opinion. Nothing substantial offered. I would dismiss it as adding nothing substantial.</i><br /><br />Agreed, Tom. But unless there is an independent investigation, all there is is just that -- opinion. <br /><br /><b>Joshua Frank @joshua__frank 20 hours ago</b><br /><i>Just read @MoonofA's baseless claim that the chemical attack in Syria is fake b/c White Helmets are rescuing. No moral compass whatsoever.</i>lastgreekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00354740659933239445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-51109399178601793612017-04-05T12:21:18.773-04:002017-04-05T12:21:18.773-04:00Just read Steve Bannon removed from NSC. War with ...<i>Just read Steve Bannon removed from NSC. War with Syria on the horizon? </i><br /><br />Read it as Trump neutered.<br /><br />This confirms The Saker's judgment of some weeks ago. It's over for Trump now. He is already a lame duck. He has been outplayed, as Chuck Schumer said would happen. <br /><br />Much the same thing happened to Obama-Kerry when the US deep state along with the US military sunk negotiations with Russia on Syria to head off another deal that would have the US and Russia focusing on terrorism rather than the US removing Assad, partitioning Syria and allowing an Islamist government in Damascus even if it involved terrorists. This is the objective the neocons and hawks are going to push until they get it, even at the cost of WWIII.<br /><br />The world realized then that the US president is not in charge and that it is useless negotiating with the US because the US cannot keep its word.<br /><br />It should not need saying that this beyond dangerous. Tom Hickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08454222098667643650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-42897571344128693792017-04-05T12:13:19.580-04:002017-04-05T12:13:19.580-04:00Here is Assad AbuKhalil:
There is high likelihood...Here is Assad AbuKhalil:<br /><br /><i>There is high likelihood that the Syrian regime was behind the gas attacks (I am not expert on chemical attacks but found the Russian explanation unconvincing) although there is a need for a reliable investigation and I am surprised that Ken Roth of HRW (who never EVER makes judgements about Israeli massacres and attacks as he calls calls for caution in the case of Israel pending further on-site investigations) has determined responsibility within seconds of the news. If the Syrian regime is sincere in its denial (which I doubt very much) it should be eager for an investigation. But having said all that: for those among the rebels who pick and select children from among the victims (unless there are only children among the victims) and then to pile them up on top of each other for extra photo-op effect is nothing short of another war crime. It is mutilation of bodies.</i><br /><br />Opinion. Nothing substantial offered. I would dismiss it as adding nothing substantial.Tom Hickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08454222098667643650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-9544548257734463782017-04-05T11:56:33.692-04:002017-04-05T11:56:33.692-04:00Just read Steve Bannon removed from NSC. War with ...Just read Steve Bannon removed from NSC. War with Syria on the horizon? <br /><br />Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15174941126414262194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-11940116103489925772017-04-05T11:34:34.446-04:002017-04-05T11:34:34.446-04:00Tom, check out Assad AbuKhalil's comment. As y...Tom, check out Assad AbuKhalil's comment. As you know, he is no supporter of the Syrian rebels, but he finds the Russian explanation "unconvincing," and it's possible that a now "confident" Syrian regime carried out the attack.<br /><br />http://angryarab.blogspot.ca/2017/04/gas-attacks-in-syria.html<br /><br /><i>Trump's not an idiot... other than he thinks "we're out of money!"...</i><br /><br />Matt, you're too kind :)lastgreekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00354740659933239445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-31255373902160706452017-04-05T11:32:32.022-04:002017-04-05T11:32:32.022-04:00Will we make it to the 100th anniversary of the Ru...Will we make it to the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution?Peter Panhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473311771939167712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-58051581521892474722017-04-05T11:32:07.491-04:002017-04-05T11:32:07.491-04:00Getting back to the OT of the phony Russian scanda...Getting back to the OT of the phony Russian scandal & leaks, MMT's Michael Hudson <a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/story:18802:Senate%27s-Russia-Hearings-Will-Lead-Nowhere" rel="nofollow"> claims to have inside knowledge</a> that the DNC leaker was Seth Rich, the DNC staffer who was shot in the back.<br /><br /><i><b>"WikiLeaks, who actually got the information, said that it came from a DNC member who didn't hack it, who just copied the information, delivered it to him. And the hint that they told me when I was in London, was that this was... the hacker was the DNC worker who was mysteriously killed."</b></i>Dan Lynchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11189866002273597534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-62336793271786995392017-04-05T10:44:48.441-04:002017-04-05T10:44:48.441-04:00Thanks for having me the time of putting that up, ...Thanks for having me the time of putting that up, MRW.<br /><br />BTW, the same news sources in the West that are claiming that "Assad did it" are implying either that Putin staged a false flag in St. Petersburg or it was payback for Russia's attacks on rebels in Syria.<br /><br />Anyone that would take such claims seriously is in need of a brain transplant.<br /><br />And the people putting up this fake news that is risking wider war is disgusting in addition to be wildly irresponsible.<br /><br />Are the bookies taking odds yet on where WWIII will break out, in Syria, NK, the South China Sea, or Ukraine? Or the odds on nuclear war in 2017?Tom Hickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08454222098667643650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-37368093982733430432017-04-05T10:03:49.649-04:002017-04-05T10:03:49.649-04:00MRW, good information there. I also tend to trust ...MRW, good information there. I also tend to trust people who actually have had their boots on the ground over there rather than what mainstream talking heads are saying to tell you the truth. It's quite a shame what's been happening in any case.Penguin pophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01438480665686684027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2761684730989137546.post-89263265201266941722017-04-05T09:11:38.441-04:002017-04-05T09:11:38.441-04:00Use of violence always leads to innocents getting ...<i>Use of violence always leads to innocents getting killed.</i> Wouldn't be war without it, Dave. Unfortunately.MRWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878920695841363553noreply@blogger.com