Saturday, January 21, 2017

Syria’s Future

by Igor Pejic

The Syrian crisis is slowly reaching its seventh year. Violence, radicalization, civil displacement, fragmentation and deterioration of the Syrian society are reaching unprecedented levels. International and regional actors, thus far, have largely failed in their attempts to reach a compromise or a sustainable solution in order to control the crisis and quell the radical groups which are running rampant across the region. Despite Russian, Turkey’s and Iranian latest effort to reach some-kind of peaceful agreement, the situation on the ground still remains very turbulent. Assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, renewed IS advance in the east of the country and the constant refusal by the insurgent groups for any kind of deal with the government are showing a rather grim picture of the future.

Trump’s inaugural speech – promises, hopes and opportunities

Just hours ago Donald Trump was finally sworn in as the President of the United States. Considering all the threats hanging over this event, this is good news because at least for the time being, the Neocons have lost their control over the Executive Branch and Trump is now finally in a position to take action. The other good news is Trump’s inauguration speechwhich included this historical promise “We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow”. Could that really mean that the USA has given up its role of World Hegemon? The mere fact of asking the question is already an immensely positive development as nobody would have asked it had Hillary Clinton been elected.

French Socialist primary – hiding 5 years of betrayal

by Ramin Mazaheri

The French Socialist Party has the first round of their political primary on January 22nd, and as a longtime news correspondent in Paris I thought it incumbent on me to make a fun prediction.

The fun, if you couldn’t tell, has already started: the incumbent, Francois Hollande, is not even running for re-election.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Russia, EU and NATO SITREP January 11th, 2017 by Scott Humor

In the first ten days of the new year we see the conflicts from 2016 getting worse.
Russian bloggers wish the Westerners a Happy New Year and… a happy Russophobia in 2017:
An interesting essay by Sergey Vasiliev reflects the general mood. The following is a boiled-down version.
An offer “Die!” is the only consistent offer that “civilized” Europe has ever formulated for its Eastern neighbor.
It was formed in the period of the Ecumenical councils of the Church and was consecrated by all the bishops of the Vatican, and then by their followers including Luther, Marx,  Engels, Goebbels and Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis .

Shadow play: the New Great Game in Eurasia

by Pepe Escobar for the Asia Times

So right in the heart of Bali, spellbound after a serious conversation with a dukun – a spiritual master – it struck me: this should be the new Yalta, the perfect setting for a Trump-Xi-Putin summit setting the parameters ahead in the ever-evolving New Great Game in Eurasia.

Balinese culture makes no distinction between the secular and the supernatural – sekala and niskala. Sekala is what our senses may discern. Niskala is what cannot be sensed directly and can only be “suggested”. Massive geopolitical shifts ahead could not be more shrouded by niskala.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Russian ‘Cyberattacking’ – When the Most Flagrant Lie Becomes the Truth

by Peter Koenig
Russian ‘Hacking’ and tilting the American elections in favor of Donald Trump’s is one of the most flagrant lies the White House has thrown around the world. Yet, Mr. Obama is desperate to make the American people and the word believe it did actually happen. As Goebbels, Hitler’s Propaganda Minister, said some 70 years ago, and many before and after him, “If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth”.

The real significance of the ODNI report on “Russia’s election election interfering”

I have to confess that my first reaction was to simply ignore this report as an irrelevant load of nonsense.  Then I listed to a Ukrainian blogger, Anatoli Sharii, making fun of this report for over 10 minutes.  Listening to him my first reaction was “can’t be – Sharii is in overkill mode”.  But then Sharii began quoting the report at length and I simply could not believe my eyes (I reading the original English text which Sharii had translated into Russian): every word Sharii said was true.  That’s when I decided to download this document and read it.  Here it is embedded for you to read.  Please do read the full text.  It is absolutely amazing:
Before we go into the details, I also recommend that you go through the following two examples of how the US corporate media “helpfully” provided their readers with a “guide” to better understand/interpret this report:

Brief on International Diplomacy January 2017, by Scott Humor



Russia
In the first week of January the US Embassy in Russia began refusing to continue issuing visas citing some unidentified problems with plumbing. Moscow water authorities claim that they didn’t receive any complaints from the Embassy.

Lagos Trader Tortures Nine-year-old Boy For Stealing (photos)

The police have arrested a woman, identified only as Bassey, for allegedly inserting a stick of broom dipped in pepper into the private parts of a nine-year-old boy, identified as Promise, in the Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Bassey had accused the victim, who was her nephew, of stealing N2,000.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Awujale: Obasanjo Fought Adenuga Because Of Atiku - The Nation

Excerpt from Awujale: The Autobiography of Alaiyeluwa Oba S.K Adetona, Ogbagba II, Mosuro Publishers, 2010, pp. 187-195

The EFCC in Lagos had come calling brusquely on Mike Adenuga (Jnr), Chairman Globacom on 9 July 2006. They broke his gate, swarmed into his house and kept him under ‘arrest’. When I heard about the arrest, I called the legal firms, of Ayanlaja SAN & Adesanya SAN as well as Professor Biodun Adesanya SAN to take up the matter and secure Mike’s release. They swung into action and gave indication that they would take the matter to court.

Saturday, December 31, 2016

2016: the year of Russia’s triumph

This column was written for the Unz Review: http://www.unz.com/tsaker/2016-the-year-of-russias-triumph/
Just like European maps place Europe in the center of the planet, so do most western commentators look at the past year from a US/Europe-centered perspective.  Which is fair enough.  Furthermore, the AngloZionist Empire has just suffered two major disasters, the Brexit and the election of Trump, so there is truly much interesting to focus on.  Still, what I want to do today is to look at the year which is ending from a Russian perspective.  The following were the major challenges Russia faced in 2016:

Monday, December 19, 2016

Obama’s Legacy of Failure


by Ghassan Kadi

In his recent article titled “Obama Out Not With a Bang, But a Whimper”, and in his regular eloquent and expressive style, Pepe Escobar nailed it. More need not be said about the Obama legacy, but this man, Obama, has had a personal effect on me, one that I cannot let go of without putting down on paper my own views of his infamous legacy.

Neocon panic and agony

This column was written for the Unz Review: http://www.unz.com/tsaker/neocon-panic-and-agony/

There are clear signs that the Neocons running the AngloZionist Empire and it’s “deep state” are in a state of near panic and their actions are indicating that they are truly terrified.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Senate indicts SGF Lawal, demands his resignation, prosecution


The senate has, on Wednesday, indicted Secretary to the Government of the Federation [SGF], David Babachir Lawal over “Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East”.

The Senate also called for the immediate resignation and prosecution of SGF Lawal, ‎accusing him of awarded N200 million contract to his personal company.

Retiree commits suicide two days after losing sight


A retiree of a milk producing company in Lagos, Roy Davies, 54, has comitted suicide two days after a treatment on his left eye went awry, reports Punchng.

Davies, who lived on Oyegbemi Street, Amukoko, Lagos State, reportedly took substance suspected to be Sniper – an insecticide – in the early hours of Saturday.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

First Turkish Leopard 2 Tank Knocked Out In Syria (Video)

Photo: YouTube / Turkish Military Portal Turk Silahli Kuvvetleri.
A video, showing a process of hitting of the Turkish Leopard 2A4 tank by an antitank guided weapons system, has been published online. Turkish troops, operating in Syria, have lost the Leopard 2A4 tank, which was hit by an antitank guided weapons system. As a result of the missile hit, four armor crewmen were wounded.

Gambian Soldiers Take over Electoral Commission as West African Leaders Press Jammeh to Quit

Nigeria said on Tuesday Gambia’s veteran ruler seemed receptive to a message from West African leaders that he accept his election defeat and step down, even as Gambian soldiers took over the offices of the electoral commission.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Security guard found dead inside petrol tanker in Delta State, one week after going missing .

Emmanuel Obene a.k.a Emeke, a private security guard attached to Frankies Filling Station along Enerhen road in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, was on Monday found dead inside a petrol tanker belonging to the owner of the station where he works, Punchng reports.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

The Choice: Repent or Betray?

translated by Vox Populi Evo
Investigation by journalists of German newspaper “Contra Magazin” give some food for thought. The title of the article “Relations between Russia and Turkey: Is Ankara playing a double game?” is quite transparent.

Where have all the flowers (and the Peace Movement) gone?

by Ghassan Kadi

Love or hate the Hippie era, it was definitely different, and it heralded the beginning of a new type of awakening in the West, and this time the awakening was not against the Western Church(es), but against the establishment.

The Italian Referendum

by Jimmie Moglia

The Italians said “no” in the recent referendum. Its main objective was to reform the Italian Constitution, strengthen the authority of the government and reduce the power of the electorate at large to influence political outcomes.

Unskilled in political autopsies, I will not discuss details amply elucidated elsewhere, in the mainstream and alternative media.

But ever prone to scour the useless in search for the irrelevant, I will talk about the 3 regions that voted ‘yes’ in the Referendum.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Putin sends “Chechen” special operation forces to Syria

Very interesting news today: according to the journal Izvestia, Russia will be sending operators from the so-called “Chechen” special forces battalions “West” and “East” to Syria to “guard the Russian installations” in Khmeimim and Tartus.  According to Russian sources, these two battalions have been converted into a “military police” force which will be fully deployed by the end of December.

Friday, December 9, 2016

The World SITREP December 7th, 2015 by Baaz

The Middle East
The Yemeni army and popular forces continued their advances in Southern Saudi Arabia, inflicting losses on the military hardware of the kingdom’s government troops.
“On Monday, the Yemeni army and popular forces took control of a military base in Najran province.
“The Yemeni forces captured a military base with all its military equipment near the city of Najran,” Senior Ansarullah Commander Ali al-Hamzani told FNA.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

The 2016 “Saker man of the year”: the American “basket of deplorables”

Yeah, once again, I am going to engage in that silly business when I pretend that my blog is a “respectable media outlet” and, as such, to give myself the proper credibility and gravitas I have to copy Time magazine and others and chose a “man of the year”.  This year, however, this truly was a no-brainer.  The 2016 “man of the year” is, of course, the American “basket of deplorables.
No, not Trump.  Trump might well be Time’s man of the year, but as far as I am concerned, this man is just a promise, and he will remain that to me until he delivers on what he has promised the American voter.  No, the real heroes of our story today are, of course, the millions who dared defy the Empire and who voted for Trump.

The American voter who inflicted the worst bitch-slap to the US propaganda machine (aka “the mainstream media”) ever.  What happened in this election is nothing short of the biggest defeat in the history of propaganda.

As an ex Cold Warrior who studied the Soviet media for a living, I can say that the US media nowadays is infinitely worse in its willingness to not only lie, but condescendingly deny the obvious, show a total lack of conscience or even basic decency.  US presstitutes give prostitution a bad name.

The American voter was subjected to the most intensive (and, probably, expensive) propaganda barrage in history.  Keep in mind that in overtly dictatorial regimes most adults realize that they are being lied to.  In the USA, every American is brainwashed from birth to believe that the US press is the best and freest in the world and that the US democracy is also the best and freest in the world.  To vote for Trump, the US voter had to go against every single sacred dogma the US Empire has tried so hard to indoctrinate its subject in.  This is far harder than one would think.  Those interested in this topic can consult this article on the Asch conformity experiments or Milgram’s famous experiment on obedience and authority.

This is what the Empire has done to America

Furthermore, the psychological pressure was so intense that I can testify to the fact that many American were actually *afraid* of admitting that they would vote for Trump.  The atmosphere of rabid hatred against Trump and total intolerance and demonization of his supporters was such, that many Americans decided to hide their preference for Trump.  Some even pretended that they would vote for Hillary.  I know people who even lied to their own family members.

And, predictably, in the typical Neocon-style, as soon as it became clear that Trump would be elected, the US presstitutes began pouring out their hatred on the American people.  If in Britain only the old people could vote for the Brexit, in the USA all the Trump voters were described as poorly educated racists (“racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic” to quote Hillary).  I don’t recall ever seeing such an outpouring of hatred towards an entire nation (except, maybe, the typical hatred the Russian liberals have for the “common” Russian people).

But, apparently, the American people have had too much lies told to them.  From the pseudo-patriotic ramblings of Dubya to the endless list of promises betrayed by Obama – the “common” folks whom Hillary referred to as the “basket deplorables” finally fought back the only way they could – they voted not only for Trump and against Hillary, but also against the regime, the polity, the power structure and the 1%ers who control it.

The main consequence of this vote will probably not be an amazing Trump presidency (I have the greatest reservations about the man and his entourage) but the fact that yet again the very legitimacy of the US political system has been discredited.

Think about it: thanks to the “Occupy Wall Street” movement it has become mainstream public knowledge that the USA are run by about 1% of its population (in reality it is far less than 1%, but nevermind that).  So far from being a regime “of the people, for the people and by the people” we know all know that it is a regime “of the 1%ers, for the 1%ers and by the 1%ers”.  Strike one.  With the Trump election, we know also see that the USA is run by a bizarre cocktail of minorities who only have one thing in common: their hatred of the majority.  Strike two.  And, last but not least, it is now also clear that the US media is the most obnoxious, immoral and arrogant propaganda machine in world history.  Strike three.

Where does this leave the Empire?  As a joke or as an abomination.  Probably a mix of both.
How about the USA themselves? They are clearly an occupied country, occupied not by an external invading force, but by an internal enemy who subjugated the USA to its own alien agenda and worldview.

As for the American people, at least the “basket of deplorables” they are now the objective allies of all the other nations on the planet who struggle to free themselves from the yoke of the AngloZionist Empire.

By voting against the Empire the American people have sent a powerful message to the rest of the world “not in my name”.  In Russia, this message was received with outright enthusiasm by the people even if experts were mostly much more cautious.  I have always said that there the “other West”, the West of the regular people who do not support what their rulers do, but who are unable to meaningfully oppose it.  The vote against Hillary showed the world that the American people don’t want an Empire, all they want is make *America* (i.e. the USA, as opposed to world Empire) great again.


Oh, I know, I already see the trend in Trump nominations.  And yes, believe me, I am extremely skeptical about all this.  But none of that healthy skepticism makes any difference to the fact that the vote against Hillary and the AngloZionist 1% rulers of the USA was a seminal, beautiful, liberating and heroic moment in for not just the USA, but for the rest of the planet too (with Hillary, we were all heading for a nuclear war with Russia).
The way the American “basket of deplorables” defied their oppressors was nothing short of beautiful.  And this is why the American “basket of deplorables” is my “man” of the year 2016.
The Saker
PS: for all those who will get upset at my use of the word “American”, I have just added the following paragraph to my “terminology” page:
Addendum: American. I guess I should also explain why I do use the word “American” when the correct word would be “USAn” or “United Statesian” or something equally ugly.  Well, precisely: these are ugly.  Alas, there is no equivalent in English to the Spanish “Estadounidense“.  The same thing for Russian which also lacks such a word and uses “Amerikanets/Amerikanskii” instead.  Okay, I know.  the USA is a small subsection of the Americas and Americans are obnoxious (and ignorant) for calling themselves “Americans”.  But, in truth, “USAns” are “Americans” since they live in the Americas, it’s just the implied exclusion of the others from that category which is so irritating.  So, anyway, I apologize for this surrender to modern-speak but I just don’t have the courage to fight this losing battle and, frankly, I have bigger fish to fry.  But yeah – I am therefore guilty as charged :-)

Don’t Scrap BoI For Political Reasons, Afenifere Warns Senate

The attention of Afenifere has been drawn “A Bill for an Act to establish the National Development Bank, 2015’, and sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Gobir which seeks to repeal the BoI, the Bank for Commerce and Industry Act and the National Economic Reconstruction Fund Act.

The bill further seeks to bring the total assets of the organisations under one body to be called the National Development Bank.This bill has passed the second reading in the Senate since October 12 and had been committed to the Senate Committee on banking, Insurance and other Financial Bodies for further works.