WarSclerotic

Classic Putin: ‘To Forgive The Terrorists Is Up To God, But To Send Them To Him Is Up To Me’ Enough said.

Rudy Panko

3 hours ago

Source: Classic Putin: ‘To Forgive The Terrorists Is Up To God, But To Send Them To Him Is Up To Me’

Like any other day, Russian President Vladimir Putin woke up, shaved himself with a sharpened axe (didn’t even use shaving cream), and then mentioned casually to a reporter, “To forgive the terrorists is up to God, but to send them to him is up to me.” Sweet mercy.

Our second favorite Putin quote:

We are going to pursue terrorists everywhere. If they are in the airport, we will pursue them in the airport. And if we capture them in the toilet, then we will waste them in the outhouse. … The issue has been resolved once and for all.

If you think this is empty talk, think again: Russia’s air force just used its nuclear bombers to lay waste to a major stronghold of the Islamic State. The details:

The Russian air force just pulled off one of the biggest and most complex heavy bomber missions in modern history—sending no fewer than 25 Backfire, Bear, and Blackjack bombers on a coordinated, long-range air raid against alleged ISIS forces in Syria.

Ladies and gentlemen: Vladimir Putin.

Now here’s your obligatory Putin rap:

Putin Ain’t Playin’: Offers $50 Million Reward for Terrorists Who Bombed Plane

Originally appeared at The Daily Sheeple

Source: Putin Ain’t Playin’: Offers $50 Million Reward for Terrorists Who Bombed Plane

The Kremlin has announced that traces of explosives were found in the debris of the Russian passenger jet that crashed in Egypt last month.

According to the Russian Federal Security Service, Metrojet Flight 9268 was brought down by a bomb estimated to contain 2.2 pounds of explosives.

Russia initially played down assertions from Western countries that the October 31 crash, which killed all 224 people on board, was the work of terrorists, saying it was important to wait for the outcome of the official investigation.

But today, Alexander Bortnikov, the FSB chief, said “You can definitely say that this is a terrorist act.”

According to a statement from the Kremlin, Putin said,

Our air operation in Syria will not just continue — it must be strengthened so the criminals understand retribution is imminent.

Russia didn’t waste any time acting on Putin’s payback vow: the Kremlin launched a massive overnight bombardment across Syria, including airstrikes on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, according to U.S. and Russian officials.

The FSB, which is the successor to the KGB, also announced that it is offering a $50 million reward for information on who brought the plane down.

Putin vowed to hunt down the perpetrators:

We have to do it without any period of limitation; we need to know all their names. We will search wherever they may be hiding. We will find them anywhere on the planet and punish them.

Anyone who tries to help the criminals should know that the consequences for trying to shelter them will lie completely on their shoulders.

Ol’ Joe Biden Rips Loose and Blows the Lid Off Who Armed ISIS He’s never put his foot in his mouth like this…

Thanks to Walid Itayim for his research assistance on this blogpost. Follow the author on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: Ol’ Joe Rips Loose and Blows the Lid Off Who Armed ISIS

Here’s what happens when Joe Biden accidentally veers off-script: the truth comes out!

Because that’s what tends to happen when you’ve told so many lies on so many different subjects – you forget what exactly it is you’re not supposed to say in public.

So candid that the White House actually issued an apology to Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates (i.e. not a retraction, but an apology for revealing their culpability in arming IS). 

Shooting his mouth off at a Harvard Q&A with students last Thursday, Biden said:

“… our biggest problem is our allies – our allies in the region were our largest problem in Syria. The Turks were great friends – and I have the greatest relationship with Erdogan, which I just spent a lot of time with – the Saudis, the Emiratis, etc. But what were they doing? They were so determined to take down Assad and essentially have a proxy Sunni-Shia war, what did they do?

They poured hundreds of millions of dollars and tens, thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Assad, except that the people who were being supplied were Al Nusra and Al Qaeda and the extremist elements of jihadis coming from other parts of the world.

Now you think I’m exaggerating – take a look… Now we have – the President’s been able to put together a coalition of our Sunni neighbors, because America can’t once again go into a Muslim nation and be seen as the aggressor – it has to be led by Sunnis to go and attack a Sunni organization.”

When Joe Biden gets candid, he really lets rip. The US vice president, speaking at the John F. Kennedy Jr Forum at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics, on Thursday told his audience – point blank – that America’s Sunni allies are responsible for funding and arming Al Qaeda-type extremists in Syria.

And he named names: Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, specifically. Others – like Qatar – are undoubtedly complicit too, but Biden’s comments were made off-the-cuff during the question and answer period following his prepared statement.

Of course, much of what Biden said has been suspected for years by Syria watchers, but to acknowledge this outright during the early days of President Barack Obama’s much-vaunted ISIL-busting Coalition – featuring these very same Sunni Arab partners – is a jaw-dropping concession.

But that’s not all. Biden also managed to fundamentally undermine his administration’s efforts to train and arm “moderate” Syrian rebels today, by claiming there is no “moderate middle (in Syria) because the moderate middle are made up of shopkeepers, not soldiers.”

Keep in mind now that just two weeks ago Congress approved – at the request of this White House – $500 million dollars to train and arm “moderate” Syrian rebels. Obama’s second-in-command is saying there are none of those, so who exactly are US forces teaching to fight with heavy weapons in Saudi training camps today?

Let’s go directly to the Q&A session following Biden’s speech. Here is an unedited version taken from the audio recording released on The White House’s YouTube channel:

Question: In retrospect do u believe the United States should have acted earlier in Syria, and if not why is now the right moment?

Biden: The answer is ‘no’ for 2 reasons. One, the idea of identifying a moderate middle has been a chase America has been engaged in for a long time. We Americans think in every country in transition there is a Thomas Jefferson hiding beside some rock – or a James Madison beyond one sand dune. The fact of the matter is the ability to identify a moderate middle in Syria was – there was no moderate middle because the moderate middle are made up of shopkeepers, not soldiers – they are made up of people who in fact have ordinary elements of the middle class of that country. And what happened was – and history will record this because I’m finding that former administration officials, as soon as they leave write books which I think is inappropriate, but anyway, (laughs) no I’m serious – I do think it’s inappropriate at least , you know, give the guy a chance to get out of office. And what my constant cry was that our biggest problem is our allies – our allies in the region were our largest problem in Syria. The Turks were great friends – and I have the greatest relationship with Erdogan, which I just spent a lot of time with – the Saudis, the Emiratis, etc. What were they doing? They were so determined to take down Assad and essentially have a proxy Sunni-Shia war, what did they do? They poured hundreds of millions of dollars and tens, thousands of tons of weapons into anyone who would fight against Assad except that the people who were being supplied were Al Nusra and Al Qaeda and the extremist elements of jihadis coming from other parts of the world. Now you think I’m exaggerating – take a look. Where did all of this go? So now what’s happening? All of a sudden everybody’s awakened because this outfit called ISIL which was Al Qaeda in Iraq, which when they were essentially thrown out of Iraq, found open space in territory in eastern Syria, work with Al Nusra who we declared a terrorist group early on and we could not convince our colleagues to stop supplying them. So what happened? Now all of a sudden – I don’t want to be too facetious – but they had seen the Lord. Now we have – the President’s been able to put together a coalition of our Sunni neighbors, because America can’t once again go into a Muslim nation and be seen as the aggressor – it has to be led by Sunnis to go and attack a Sunni organization. So what do we have for the first time?

The audio clip ends there. While you are taking a moment to readjust your worldview and re-categorize the ‘good guys’ and bad guys,’ do also note the veiled swipe Biden takes at former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton whose recent book criticizes Obama’s Syria decisions while he is still a sitting president.

Before you allow Biden to transfer all blame for the radicalism in Syria onto the convenient Muslims-du-jour, consider for a moment the US’s role in all of this.

We have press reports that the CIA was a major conduit for the transfer of weapons from Libya to Syria – a role, no doubt, facilitated by US Ambassador Christopher Stevens who was killed in Benghazi by unknown extremists.

We are also told that the US assisted in the logistics of delivering a Saudi-bankrolled transfer of Croatian weapons in 2012 to Syrian ‘rebels.’ According to the BBC: “The CIA is also reported to have been instrumental in setting up the alleged secret airlift of weapons from Croatia. And here is The Telegraph‘s take on things:

“The shipments were allegedly paid for by Saudi Arabia at the bidding of the United States, with assistance on supplying the weapons organised through Turkey and Jordan, Syria’s neighbors.”

These weapons were later caught on video in the hands of Ahrar al-Sham, which today is a target of US airstrikes inside Syria. The New York Times goes further:

“With help from the C.I.A., Arab governments and Turkey have sharply increased their military aid to Syria’s opposition fighters in recent months, expanding a secret airlift of arms and equipment for the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, according to air traffic data, interviews with officials in several countries and the accounts of rebel commanders.”

“From offices at secret locations, American intelligence officers have helped the Arab governments shop for weapons, including a large procurement from Croatia, and have vetted rebel commanders and groups to determine who should receive the weapons as they arrive, according to American officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.”

Exactly how does that exonerate Americans from delivering weapons to “Al Nusra and Al Qaeda?”

Biden’s comments on Thursday were a bombshell that will be heard across the globe. They will fundamentally undermine Obama’s attempts to arm “moderate rebels” and assemble a coalition that includes the very same Sunni Arab states that have helped create ISIL.

So what did the mainstream US media say about it? Nothing. Zip. Nada.

No – wait. There were headlines about Biden’s speech – let me be fair. But this is what CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox News pulled out of their collective hats:

CNN: “Joe Biden gets colorful on being a VP – and it rhymes with glitch.” This, a reference to Biden’s use of the word “bitch” in jokingly describing the job of a vice president.

CNN (again): “Joe Biden explains how Ebola is like ISIS.”

ABC: “This might be the best thing Joe Biden’s ever said.”  Another reference to the ‘bitch’ comment.

NBC: “Vice President Joe Biden’s Foul-Mouthed Quip on Job Draws Laughs.”  Bitch, again.

CBS: “Joe Biden’s salty description of being VP.”  Yawn.

Fox: “Biden on being Vice President: It’s a b-itch.”  Kill me now.

Enough said. Washington’s partners in fighting extremism – and trampling all over international laws to do it – are the same ones who have fueled it. The Vice President of the United States just said so. And Americans are snickering over the B-word. Leaders of the free world indeed.

Netanyahu hints at possible annexations in West Bank PM says he prefers ‘negotiated moves’ but will act if necessary, blasts EU’s ‘heinous’ settlement goods labeling scheme

By Raphael Ahren

November 18, 2015, 2:20 pm

Source: Netanyahu hints at possible annexations in West Bank | The Times of Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu gives a press statement regarding the Security Council’s decision to outlaw the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel on November 17, 2015 (Haim Zach / GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday hinted at the possibility of an Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank.

“There’s all sorts of unilateral moves and sorts of directions. Wait and see. And they’re not necessarily in the direction that people think,” he said, refusing to elaborate.

Netanyahu first raised the notion of unilateral steps last week, when asked about his plans to prevent Israel from becoming a binational state should a two-state agreement with the Palestinians continue to prove elusive. “Unilateralism… I supposed that’s possible too, but it would have to meet Israeli security criteria and that would also require broader international understanding than exists,” he said at an event in Washington. Later, his aides clarified that he was referring to unilateral steps to improve Israel’s position on the ground — not, as initially reported, possible unilateral withdrawals in the West Bank.

Addressing the Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference Wednesday, Netanyahu said that there are three aspects to peacemaking: political agreements, security and prosperity. Asked by the paper’s diplomatic correspondent Herb Keinon whether he envisioned any unilateral steps if a peace deal remains elusive, the prime minister replied that Israel is already implementing unilateral steps in the security and economic realms.

“I prefer bilateral; I prefer negotiated moves,” Netanyahu said. “But in the absence of security and the economy, there’s room for it. Politically, I think it’s more complicated [and] not desirable.”

Earlier in his appearance, he reiterated his willingness to negotiate with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. “I don’t want to govern the Palestinians. I prefer them to rule themselves,” he said, adding that any peace accord would need to ensure that territory from which Israel withdraws isn’t used to launch attacks against it.

Netanyahu also commented on controversial comments by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who invoked the Palestinians’ frustration when discussing Friday’s terror attacks in Paris, which killed 129 people.

Without mentioning Wallstrom by name, the prime minister said that Israel is not to blame for terrorism, whether it occurs in the Middle East or in Europe.

“We’re not to blame any more than the people of Paris are to blame for the attacks that are leveled against them,” he said. “So obviously we reject that. But now there’s a new twist: It’s not merely that we are to blame for the terror that is directed against us. We are to blame for the terrorism that is directed against them, in Paris. Now that’s a level of absurdity that… is almost comic if it weren’t so tragic.”

Netanyahu also doubled down on his criticism of the European Union’s labeling of settlement products, calling it “heinous” — a term reserved in diplomatic speech for violent crimes or terror attacks.

“This is absolutely absurd. It’s morally abhorrent because on the soil of Europe, within living memory, Jewish products were labeled. Jewish stores were labeled. And I’d expect, with all the frustration, for Europe not to adapt this heinous act which has such horrible historic overtones,” he said.

But labeling settlement goods won’t have a significant negative impact on Israel’s economy, Netanyahu continued, explaining that it applies to a “minuscule part of our exports.” Israel’s economy is strong, he added; if anything, the EU’s plan will hurt Palestinians employed by Israeli settlement factories. However, he added, it will quicken Israel’s pivot to other markets, such as in Asia and Latin America.

“There is a diversification of our economy. It’s happening anyway. It’s accelerating because of this,” he said.

There are 200 territorial conflicts but the EU singles out Israel for labeling, the prime minister lamented. “You know how many West Banks there in the world, and in more difficult, much more grievous circumstances?”