Dear friends,
I will be away form home from Sunday the 14th through Wednesday the 25th. I will have my Android smartphone and my Chromebook with me, so I should be reachable. Still, this will be contingent on where exactly I am, and the trip will include some very remote locations, and on the coverage of my cellphone provider and motel wifis. This will impact my ability to respond to messages and events. I hope to be able to manage the blog every evening, but this is not sure.
I will do my best to keep things smooth and running as usual, but I just wanted to warn you that there might be some hiccups for about 10 days. Sorry about that!
Kind regards,
The Saker
Have a safe trip, Saker.
“Dance. Smile. Giggle. Marvel. Trust. Hope. Love. Wish. Believe.
Most of all, enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment instead of focusing on how far you have to go.”
-Mandy Hale
May the wind be at your back and the road rise up to meet you. -Irish proverb
If you are cut off for a while maybe do a podcast?
R&R, I hope.
Enjoy!
Hope you manage some R ‘n ‘ R Saker and your trip has some fun aspects.
If you have any wildlife experiences – asleep or awake, in the nest or on the wing – do share.
Take care,
Eimar
Счастливого пути!
Saker
What do you make of the talk on the Internet of US persons being told by US officials to leave Mariupol by Dec. 1?
ОНИ ЧТО-ТО ЗНАЮТ:ПОСОЛЬСТВА США,ПОЛЬШИ В СРОЧН. ПОРЯДКЕ ЭВАКУИРУЮТ СВОИХ ГРАЖДАН ИЗ МАРИУПОЛЯhttp://newsonline24.com.ua/oni-chto-to-znayut-posolstva-ssha-i-polshi-v-srochnom-poryadke-evakuiruyut-svoix-grazhdan-iz-mariupolya …
Hi Saker, I hope so much that this vacation will totally re-charge you…all the best.
Oh, and by the way…
HAVE FUN !!!
Profite bien, Saker, et n’oublie pas de te détendre !
Saker
The last time you took ‘time off’, Putin launched his Syrian campaign…
…so what will happen this time you take time off?
Safe driving.
I wont put much credibility in this but there are tidbits you can glem..
The CIA was shot down and killed A321 Lesina, and the SVR of Russia was captured in Yemen by American saboteurs.
By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers
A new Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) report circulating in the Kremlin today states that the Foreign Ministry was informed on 5 November by the Federation Embassy in Washington D.C. that they had been notified by the United States Bureau of Diplomatic Security (BDS) that a Russian national under their protection was found dead in his hotel room from what they believed was a heart attack.
According to this report, the Russian national under the protection of the BDS was Mikhail Lesin who had been dispatched to the United States by President Putin to act as his personal liaison with top Obama regime intelligence officials in negotiating the “circumstances/facts” surrounding the Islamic State’s downing of Flight 9268 over Egypt.
In Mikhail Lesin’s last dispatch to Moscow before his death, this report continues, he described a “contentious/argumentative” meeting with Obama regime officials wherein they made threats against the Federation should Moscow attempt to bring back to Russia two captured American “contractors” from Yemen the SVR has “associated” with the Islamic State terrorists who shot down, and claimed responsibility for, Flight 9268.
As we have previously reported (Islamic State Shootdown Of Russian Plane “Will Be Avenged” Vows Russia and Russian Plane Shootdown Now Labeled “Political Event” As Putin Orders Nuclear War Readiness), based upon satellite data, the SVR was nearly immediately able to ascertain that Flight 9268, which had departed Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, was shot down by a British made Starburst surface-to-air missile after it had been “forced/deceived” to a lower altitude by false “communications/electronic” measures sent from Yemen.
The knowledge to the SVR of this secret base in Yemen “misdirecting/deceiving” flights entering into and departing Sharm el-Sheikh, this report notes, was first discovered in August when a British based Thomas Airways flight approaching this area with 189 persons on board was “electronically manipulated” and then fired upon by a surface-to-air missile—but which the pilot was able to evasively maneuver away from with this missile just missing his plane by 1,000 feet.
Based upon electronic intelligence, this report says, the SVR was able to determine that the missile fired against the Thomas Airways flight, and which destroyed Flight 9268, was an act of terror committed by the Islamic State terrorist group known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis (aka Islamic State of the Sinai or Wilayat al Sinai) about whom US officials had warned “aren’t some run-of-the-mill jihadi crew but one of the most active and potent ISIS affiliates”.
Making this Islamic State terror group in the Sinai even more deadly, this report continues, has been the military and financial support it receives from Saudi Arabia, which includes the Starburst shoulder fired antiaircraft missile given to the Saudis by British company Thales Air Defence who provided these missiles to Saudi Arabia under a contract signed in 2007, and who openly operates in this kingdom.
Immediately after Flight 9268 was shot down by these Islamic State terrorists, this report says, a combined SVR-Spetsnaz (Special Forces) “team” operating in Yemen since the attempted shoot down of the Thomas Airways flight in August, was able to locate the base being used to “manipulate/deceive” flights over the Sinai and captured its two operators—who were identified by the SVR as being holders of American passports and claimed they were working for the United Nations, a claim that was denied by the United Nations.
Upon the initial “interrogation/interview” of these two Americans in Yemen by SVR “experts”, this report says, President Putin dispatched Mikhail Lesin as his personal emissary to the United States due to the “cataclysmic” implications of the information received.
Mikhail Lesin, it should be noted, is a prominent Russian political figure and mass media expert credited with inspiring the creation of Russia Today (now RT) and had a longstanding personal friendship with President Putin.
When learning of Mikhail Lesin’s death, this report states, President Putin ordered all “negotiations” with the US suspended and further ordered the SVR to return to Federation territory the two captured Americans in Yemen—and which we detailed in our report Daring Raid Captures CIA “Assets” Who Downed Russian Plane In Egypt.
Upon these American’s further “interrogation/questioning” upon their reaching Moscow, this report continues, the SVR determined that they were employees of the private US mercenary company Academi, (Blackwater, and XE) and though holding US passports identified their country of origin as being Colombia.
Important to note about these two Blackwater/Academi/XE Colombian-Americans captured by the SVR in Yemen, this report says, are that these mercenaries of Blackwater are reported to have entered Yemen under the guise of the Colombian soldiers.
Recently, in fact, a Colombian-based media group reported that over the next few months, more than 800 Colombian military forces will enter Sana, Yemen, to support Saudi offensive strikes, and to support Saudi allies fighting in Yemen.
As to associating these two captured Blackwater/Academi/XE mercenaries with the CIA, this report concludes, awaits additional financial “examination/confirmation”—but which many SVR analysts believe is only a matter of time till proven true.
To most fully understand this report, indeed all of the other SVR reports dealing with Flight 9268, President Putin’s dispatching of his top media advisor, Mikhail Lesin, to the United States shows the proof that not only does Russia knows this plane was shot down, but also the Obama and Cameron regimes too.
What remains to be determined by Russia and West, however, is not only how best to manipulate the facts of this disaster, but the level of retaliation to be used—which if not measured and balanced, would most assuredly plunge our entire world into war.
Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ca0_1447262692#GAhg2ifRGzQbLrrz.99
Please don’t even bother to read Sorcha Faal. THE most famous disinfo site on the net.
WTF???? The kurds only started last week to cut their supply lines and IS is already running? Less than 600 US v/s 5000 kurds.. Still these guys don’t surrender or take prisoners. And a day after the kurds started to move onto IS positions they broke and ran off?????
Kurds enter Iraqi Sinjar, raise flag, ISIS ‘defeated & running’ – reports
Hundreds of Peshmerga fighters have reportedly walked into northern Iraqi town of Sinjar “from all directions,” following an offensive that began on Thursday. The Kurdistan Regional Security Council tweeted that Islamic State is “defeated and on the run.”
A Reuters correspondent on the ground has confirmed that Kurdish Peshmerga units enforced with Yazidi fighters and with air support from the US-led coalition have broken down resistance of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants who have been controlling Sinjar since August last year.
“ISIL defeated and on the run,” tweeted the Kurdistan Regional Security Council. The council confirmed that Peshmerga forces have knocked the jihadists out of a Sinjar cement factory, hospital, silo and several administration buildings.
The Kurds have fought back from IS over 150 sq km of territory near the town of Sinjar and cognominal district. It is estimated that some 7,500 forces that besieged Sinjar on Thursday were countered by about 600 IS militants within the town. Reuters notes that the latest figure was an account by Brigadier General Seme Mala Mohammed of the Kurdish Peshmerga, and the news agency could not independently verify his account.
https://www.rt.com/news/321808-kurdish-forces-enter-sinjar/
Dear The Saker,
Have a good and safe trip.
Rgds,
Veritas
A letter from an American who woke up…
As a US citizen, I became aware of what has been happening in Syria because of a chance meeting with a Syrian family that had the means to flee Damascus. These people were fortunate enough to have connections and a bit of economic resources. Being a curious type, I inquired into their view of what has been happening in Syria.
I learned that everything almost all media inside the US has been narrating about the war in Syria has been built on a shaky edifice of gross distortion and outright lies. This Syrian family totally supports the government of Syria and its courageous leader, President Assad. Digging deeper, I discovered information about the diverse groups of Christian and other religious groups in Syria.
Almost everything I listen to or read about what is happening in the war on Syria is infused with false assumptions and deadly distortions. By hiding more nuanced and honest discussion and description of what is happening in Syria, the US media has been, not just derelict, but complicit in fomenting terrorist violence and murder of innocent and noble fellow human beings. The level of deluded and psychotic cynicism is painful to reflect and comment upon. Truth does hurt—but hurt is an experience necessary to healing.
Definitely not without problems, Syria is a multi-religious state that has a system where democratic traditions are a foundation of the configuration of the state apparatus. The huge majority of the Syrian army is Sunni, as is the majority of the high-level positions inside the government.
What I became amazed and angered by as I engaged my research is the promulgation of distortion and misinformation that exists among the segment of ‘left-progressive’ media and well-known writers and commentators in this sector of the US intelligentsia.
A goal of the US corporate/state propaganda apparatus, when it comes to the war in Syria, is to render the segment most likely to protest in the streets and active toward changing the United State’s demented strategy to destroy the legitimate government of Syria is simple: generate disparate, disjointed, information and lies that function to completely confuse the population. Repeating huge lies about President Assad, developing a caricature of this leader as a complete monster—developing a narrative about oppressed normal citizens simply wanting to be free of the “monster” Assad and his dictatorial government, etc. We have been here before, with Iraq and Libya most recently. When the government has coerced and bribed the ‘progressive-left’ into repeating grand lies and remaining mostly silent about the US role in promoting terror to overthrow the Syrian government, it can get away with almost anything—like supporting both ISIS and Al Qaeda-affiliated mercenary jihadist death squadrons all across Syria.
I will be developing a narrative that traces the history of the US propaganda war against its own public in future essays. This is an ugly and depressing story, and it requires all of us to look into the mirror, assess what we have become as a people, and what we can imagine ourselves to be.
But today, I focus on the heroes of the Syrian people, the valiant and long-suffering soldiers who endured years of savage attack to defend and win Kweires. Bravo! Long live the Syrian people!
http://syrianperspective.com/2015/11/kuwayris-is-a-victory-about-to-become-a-national-legend-in-heroism-the-western-media-and-its-lies-about-syria-by-steven-hunt-for-syrian-perspective.html
Nice contribution, mm.
Creating artificial fault lines was a staple of the Roman Empire, and later empires, to divide and conquer. Just as the Syrian Army is mostly Sunni, the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq War was overwhelmingly Shiite. Most government officials in Syria are Sunni, and a large percentage of government officials in Iraq under Saddam were Shiite. These were (are) secular regimes, because that is the most pragmatic form of government under the circumstances.
The Iran-Iraq War was a big fraud. There was no real Sunni – Shiite division that would lead to war. But the CIA had a great idea to spirit a fanatical Shiite cleric (Khomeini) into power who was absolutely fanatically anti-Baath and anti-Saddam. So war was inevitable. The best part for the Pentagon (and Soviet Union) was selling weapons to both sides while Israel cheered from the sidelines.
So, people, when you hear that Sunnis and Shiites just can’t stop killing each other, don’t believe the hype.
oh, and just to add another note, the Ayatollah Khomeini was demanding regime change in Iraq — or else. That’s right out of the NWO playbook. But the fact that Oliver North visited the guy in Paris bringing a cake and a key should be sufficient evidence of CIA wheeling and dealing. Beware of ex-Marine psy-op managers bearing gifts.
Assad’s wife is a Sunni, is a British-Syrian. She was born to Syrian-born parents, raised and educated in the United Kingdom, and graduated from King’s College London in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and French literature. Her parents are Sunni Muslims and of Syrian origin, hailing from the city of Homs. She speaks English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
“She is said to be in favor of economic and technological reform, but there is very little information regarding her modes and areas of influence, or the extent to which she attempts to promote her ideas in the face of the opposition of other family member. Unlike Bashar’s mother, who rarely appeared in public, Asma has played a relatively prominent public role. However, there is no sign that Asma is involved in any of the wider consultations”
She was described by analysts and in media as an important part of the public relations effort of the Syrian government early in her tenure as first lady and she was credited with taking progressive positions on women’s rights and education. The United Nations Development Program, UNDP, spent US$ 18 million to help organise a complex set of reform initiatives showing the Syrian government was working toward a more modern and progressive form of government. A key part of the program was helping to create “a reformer’s aura” for Asma al-Assad, highlighting her participation in anti-poverty and social programs and her role as founder and chair of a national umbrella charity called the Syrian Trust for Development until the program was suspended as the country descended into civil war.
Additionally, her stylish designer outfits garnered media attention including fashion slideshows on The Huffington Post and Elle. As a Sunni Muslim by birth, Asma al-Assad’s leading role was also important for the view of the Syrian government and president, an Alawite, among the Sunni majority of Syria.
“The President is the President of Syria, not a faction of Syrians, and the first lady supports him in that role.” The communique also described her continued support for charities and rural development activities. Also in early February, she sent an email to the The Times declaring her support for her husband and related that she “comforts” the “victims of the violence”.
“I was here yesterday, I’m here today and I will be here tomorrow.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asma_al-Assad
ISIS Suffers a Devastating Blow to Their Central Command in Deir Ezzor: Several Officers Killed
On Thursday morning, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) suffered a devastating blow to their central command during operations at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport.
The lead commander of operations at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport – “Abu Hamza Al-Tounisi” (Tunisian) – was reportedly killed by the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard after he attempted to lead the charge on the latter’s defensive positions at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport. Three other important ISIS members were killed on Thursday, including ISIS’ chief spokesman in Deir Ezzor “Abu Khattab Al-Shami”, and two foreign field commanders “Abu Umar Al-Tajiki” (Tajikistani) and “Abu Mahrous Al-Jabari” (Saudi). Abu Mohammad Al-Hamwi and Abu Umar Al-Baghdadi (Iraqi) were also killed by the Syrian Arab Army’s 104th Brigade at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport after their failed infiltration attempt.
Thursday marked the bloodiest day this week in Deir Ezzor, as ISIS suffered over 60 casualties during their failed bid to infiltrate into the Deir Ezzor Military Airport and the Sina’a District of the provincial capital.
http://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-suffers-a-devastating-blow-to-their-central-command-in-deir-ezzor-several-officers-killed/
What Syrians know… And we should as well.. Guess this is a big problem only in the GCC countries. I mentioned in another thread that when authority disappears in an area, thugs and gangs take over and that is everywhere on the planet. When you drive away the police, the place turns into anarchy and the gangs do what they like. Using religion is like being in a gang.
Seems Hezbollah is not just a Shia organization.. But a Lebanese one which has even Christians as members. They help anyone who is in need without asking their religion.
Interview from 2013 on RT..
When in 2006 Lebanon was attacked by Israel, the Sunni and the Shia alike joined the ranks of Hezbollah to take part in the Resistance campaigns and to release southern Lebanon from Israeli occupation.
My wife is Shia. If we cared about the Sunni-Shia differences, we would never have got married. No one would draw such dividing lines in Syria,’ says Zahir.
‘We knew that the Hezbollah-controlled regions (Hezbollah is Shia-dominated – RT) are peaceful and that the locals treat the Sunnis as family. We get on well with the people of Hermel,’ says Zahir.
When the Hermel people learnt that a family with small kids had arrived in their town, they were quick to find accommodation for them. That Hezbollah never hesitates to help somebody out of trouble or solve their routine problems, is a well-known fact in Lebanon.
Zahir and Lina didn’t even have to look for help: when people saw a family of refugees, they called the local authority, who quickly found food and shelter for them. The local government provides for their accommodation, their furniture, a washing machine, a cooker, and even their blankets.
I wonder what Zahir, a Sunni himself, would say if his Sunni children decided to join Hezbollah, a Shia movement.
‘If my kids want to join Hezbollah, as far as I am concerned, I am all for it. I would tell them, “God bless you”,’ says Zahir.
Zahir believes Syria will also manage the chemical weapons controversy, once it has been left to its own devices. Moreover, he is convinced the whole story was a false flag from the start.
“Well, they still have their hair cut, don’t they?” Zahir laughs. “Besides, I have many clients, not all of them Hezbollah. And I cut people’s hair without asking them whether they are Sunni or Shia.”
Foreign militants and their associates are not interested in how inter-religious and inter-communal relations are built in Syria. Neither are they aware of such a well-known fact in Syria that Bashar al-Assad’s wife is a Sunni
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/syria-refugees-sunni-shia-marriage-908/
Dear Saker, take care!
I live in Switzerland. I understand English more than I speak.
I like your blog.
The funnest thing about Switzerland is how some folks mix the German and French languages together in the most clever and creative ways. The Saker would be really good at speaking Swiss.
Everybody will have fun reading the comment section of Saker’s article re-published on Infowars!
http://www.infowars.com/did-russia-just-gently-threaten-the-usa/
Have fun, stay off the vodka,and the island of bad luck…
https://youtu.be/XjQxdG12ZuI
https://youtu.be/lzv4vno2o8I
Oh please do take care! We need you safe and healthy!
RUSSIAN PLANE:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34689870. Scroll down to video of a man in a checked shirt. He is Flightradar24’s Mikael Robertsson.
He says the speed went from 400 knots to 62 knots!
If the airframe was intact this cannot have occurred unless it was approaching a stall. (That is, unless the nose was pulled up steeply so that the airspeed over the wing was insufficient.) Since a pilot would not do that and there was no ferocious storm, only the electronics being hacked or a backdoor in the software would be capable of taking the plane’s attitude in the air away from the pilot. However, that is ONLY if the airframe
is intact.
New material: http://www.voltairenet.org/article189255.html
Be safe…and once again….will take this time to tell you how grateful I am for this site….one of my few news sources and go to sites! THANKS
Dear The Saker,
France again hit by attacks:
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20151114/1030072379/paris-attack-updates.html
Hollande declares state of emergency; military on the streets; curfew declared; borders closed…….
Rgds,
Veritas
Can’t wait for the Charlie Hebdo cartoon.
No matter how unnecessarily inflammatory that cartoon on this event is going to be, no French media is going to criticize it.
So who wants to take bets as to what the Charlie Hebdo cartoon is going to be? I put my money on a drawing of Muhammad pissing on France…
Take care, Saker, and enjoy ( although do not seem like a pleasure trip…).
Look, The Saker in http://www.elespiadigital.com :
http://www.elespiadigital.com/index.php/noticias/geoestrategia/11349-semana-cinco-de-la-intervencion-rusa-en-siria-los-rusos-ya-estan-sobre-el-terreno