5 New Messages
Digest #4815
Messages
Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:21 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.interfax
Interfax
September 23, 2013
Iraq violence "directly linked" to Syria crisis - Moscow
MOSCOW: Russia has claimed that the current escalation of violence in Iraq is "directly linked" to the crisis in neighboring Syria.
Russia's Foreign Ministry made the point in a statement issued on Monday in response to a new series of explosions in Baghdad this weekend, which reportedly killed more than 70 people and left more than 120 injured. The most powerful bombing was perpetrated during a funeral ceremony in a Shiite district.
"Such inhuman crimes, in which innocent people die, are resolutely condemned in Moscow. We give our sincerest condolences to the families of those killed, and sympathize with and wish the earliest possible recovery to those injured," the statement said.
"It is especially alarming that the escalation of terrorist activity in Iraq is directly linked to developments in neighboring Syria, where the government and opposition remain in bloody confrontation. In effect, one can see terrorist groups, including groups linked to Al Qaeda, joining forces, now at a regional level," it said.
"We reaffirm our solidarity with the leadership and people of Iraq in resolutely countering the terrorist threat. We believe that it is particularly important to rebuff attempts by extremists to exacerbate relations between various political, ethnic and religious groups of the country. We support efforts to solve problems through a broad pan-national dialogue in the interests of all Iraqis, on the basis of respect for the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq," the statement said.
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http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2013
Terror 'spilling over' from trouble spots threat to CSTO
SOCHI: The problem of “terrorism spilling over” from troubled countries, including from Syria, is a real threat for states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian President Vladimir Putin told its session on Monday.
The group could not turn a blind eye to such a serious problem as affairs in Syria, Putin said, noting that armed groups operating on the territory of that state had not emerged from nowhere and would not evaporate. “The problem of terrorism spilling from one country into some other is quite real and may directly affect interests of any of our countries,” he added.
The Russian president cited the terrorist act in Kenya, attributed to gunmen from a different country, as an example.
Behind the dramatic developments in Syria and Kenya “we have stopped paying attention to other events no less terrible,” the president said. “Another awful terrorist act was committed in Iraq yesterday. Dozens or even hundreds of people are killed there on a daily basis. The situation in other countries of the region also raises big concerns,” Putin said.
CSTO leaders “have things to discuss” at the summit and they needed to think how to “stop the threats that are emerging in the world and directly affect us”.
Putin said the CSTO leaders would issue a declaration on developments in Syria.
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Interfax
September 23, 2013
Iraq violence "directly linked" to Syria crisis - Moscow
MOSCOW: Russia has claimed that the current escalation of violence in Iraq is "directly linked" to the crisis in neighboring Syria.
Russia's Foreign Ministry made the point in a statement issued on Monday in response to a new series of explosions in Baghdad this weekend, which reportedly killed more than 70 people and left more than 120 injured. The most powerful bombing was perpetrated during a funeral ceremony in a Shiite district.
"Such inhuman crimes, in which innocent people die, are resolutely condemned in Moscow. We give our sincerest condolences to the families of those killed, and sympathize with and wish the earliest possible recovery to those injured," the statement said.
"It is especially alarming that the escalation of terrorist activity in Iraq is directly linked to developments in neighboring Syria, where the government and opposition remain in bloody confrontation. In effect, one can see terrorist groups, including groups linked to Al Qaeda, joining forces, now at a regional level," it said.
"We reaffirm our solidarity with the leadership and people of Iraq in resolutely countering the terrorist threat. We believe that it is particularly important to rebuff attempts by extremists to exacerbate relations between various political, ethnic and religious groups of the country. We support efforts to solve problems through a broad pan-national dialogue in the interests of all Iraqis, on the basis of respect for the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Iraq," the statement said.
------------
http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2013
Terror 'spilling over' from trouble spots threat to CSTO
SOCHI: The problem of “terrorism spilling over” from troubled countries, including from Syria, is a real threat for states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russian President Vladimir Putin told its session on Monday.
The group could not turn a blind eye to such a serious problem as affairs in Syria, Putin said, noting that armed groups operating on the territory of that state had not emerged from nowhere and would not evaporate. “The problem of terrorism spilling from one country into some other is quite real and may directly affect interests of any of our countries,” he added.
The Russian president cited the terrorist act in Kenya, attributed to gunmen from a different country, as an example.
Behind the dramatic developments in Syria and Kenya “we have stopped paying attention to other events no less terrible,” the president said. “Another awful terrorist act was committed in Iraq yesterday. Dozens or even hundreds of people are killed there on a daily basis. The situation in other countries of the region also raises big concerns,” Putin said.
CSTO leaders “have things to discuss” at the summit and they needed to think how to “stop the threats that are emerging in the world and directly affect us”.
Putin said the CSTO leaders would issue a declaration on developments in Syria.
============
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Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:21 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.eucom.
United States European Command
September 22, 2013
Cyber injects help transition Combined Endeavor into operational exercise
U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany: Wars are not always fought on the battlefield; some occur in places we can't even see like 'the network'
...
"My role is to integrate cyber security into Combined Endeavor," said Nathan Menkevich, U.S. European Command International Cyber Engagement Branch and CE13 red team director. "We'
Menkevich'
So far, the team has conducted five assessments per day since the start of Phase II of the exercise, and noted that they have found several critical vulnerabilities they plan to share with the countries involved. Finland and Austria have taken a keen interest in the team's role in Cyber Endeavor and have provided the team access to their systems and network architecture to evaluate how well they are performing in the area of cyber security.
"We believe the response to our assessments will be positive because we're going to talk with these countries and provide them with the tools they need to improve their networks," Menkevich said.
Menkevich said they hope the information they provide to the 22 countries and the implementation of the cyber injects helps pave the way for future Combined Endeavor exercises as they transition to a more operational environment.
"[In future Combined Endeavor exercises] our focus will be more toward degrading the entire network as opposed to just providing assessments,
Red team lead, Polish Maj. Thomas Strycharek, who has been involved in all three phases of the exercise, said this has been a challenging, yet rewarding experience.
"This is actually one of the best exercises that I've ever attended,” Strycharek said. "This is my second time as team lead for Combined Endeavor cyber injects and I'm happy to have the opportunity to practice my skills and share my experience and information with other members."
CE13 is a multinational command, control, communications and computer (C4) systems exercise designed to build and enhance communications and network interoperability between the participating NATO and Partnership for Peace countries.
============
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United States European Command
September 22, 2013
Cyber injects help transition Combined Endeavor into operational exercise
U.S. ARMY GARRISON GRAFENWOEHR, Germany: Wars are not always fought on the battlefield; some occur in places we can't even see like 'the network'
...
"My role is to integrate cyber security into Combined Endeavor," said Nathan Menkevich, U.S. European Command International Cyber Engagement Branch and CE13 red team director. "We'
Menkevich'
So far, the team has conducted five assessments per day since the start of Phase II of the exercise, and noted that they have found several critical vulnerabilities they plan to share with the countries involved. Finland and Austria have taken a keen interest in the team's role in Cyber Endeavor and have provided the team access to their systems and network architecture to evaluate how well they are performing in the area of cyber security.
"We believe the response to our assessments will be positive because we're going to talk with these countries and provide them with the tools they need to improve their networks," Menkevich said.
Menkevich said they hope the information they provide to the 22 countries and the implementation of the cyber injects helps pave the way for future Combined Endeavor exercises as they transition to a more operational environment.
"[In future Combined Endeavor exercises] our focus will be more toward degrading the entire network as opposed to just providing assessments,
Red team lead, Polish Maj. Thomas Strycharek, who has been involved in all three phases of the exercise, said this has been a challenging, yet rewarding experience.
"This is actually one of the best exercises that I've ever attended,” Strycharek said. "This is my second time as team lead for Combined Endeavor cyber injects and I'm happy to have the opportunity to practice my skills and share my experience and information with other members."
CE13 is a multinational command, control, communications and computer (C4) systems exercise designed to build and enhance communications and network interoperability between the participating NATO and Partnership for Peace countries.
============
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Mon Sep 23, 2013 12:21 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.aco.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
NATO Response Force Training, The Road to Steadfast Jazz
Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office
Allied Command Operations will conduct a wide variety of dynamic and demanding exercises this autumn that will put both troops and commanders from the NATO Response Force (NRF) to the test. NATO has ambitious plans to increase training activity over the next few years in order to maintain readiness and interoperability. This will include more ambitious and frequent exercises, a broader range of scenarios, and a comprehensive training plan to cover the full range of Alliance missions.
To that end, several NRF exercises are being conducted in order to keep the Alliance fit for the future.
Exercise Brillliant Arrow
In early September the Alliance conducted Exercise Brilliant Arrow, which involved around 50 military aircraft and approximately 800 exercise participants in the central region of Norway. The exercise, conducted by HQ Allied Air Command, was the first in a series of manoeuvres taking place this autumn designed to hone the skills and interoperability of the NRF. Forty fighter aircraft, two airborne early warning platforms, three transport aircraft, four helicopters as well as other support aircraft trained within a challenging and realistic scenario that also involved air defence units on the ground.
One of General Breedlove'
"Exercise Brilliant Arrow honed the skills of allied air forces in orchestrating air operations,” said General Philip Breedlove. "This level of capability and interoperability will be needed if the involved units are activated under the NATO Response Force,” he said.
The exercise was centred around Oerland Main Air Station in Norway. Nine other NATO members – France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom also participated. These units and HQ AIRCOM will be on standby for a potential NRF mission in 2014.
Exercise Brilliant Mariner
A large fleet of warships from NATO’s Response Force (NRF) sailed from ports across Europe on 25 September 2013 to take part in the maritime exercise "Brilliant Mariner” in the Mediterranean Sea.
The warships will take part in integration training that will enable them to respond to operational needs or crisis situations anywhere in the world, as and when required. The exercise, which will end on 6 October 2013, will take place in the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sicily and Sardinia.
Over five thousand military and naval personnel from 10 NATO nations comprising Germany Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, France and the United States will participate.
The exercise will involve a total of 25 warships, including one aircraft carrier, 12 frigates, one auxiliary ship, and 7 mine counter-measure vessels. Two submarines and a range of maritime Patrol aircraft will also take part.
NATO’s Maritime Command at Northwood, U.K will be responsible for directing the exercise known as Brilliant Mariner 2013. They will ensure that the NATO Response Force (NRF) is faced with a realistic and demanding scenario, presenting a number of challenges for the commanders at sea; including, asymmetric or terrorist threats, maritime security operations and embargo operations.
"Brilliant Mariner will not only hone our ability to provide force integration and combat readiness training for the maritime forces assigned to the NATO Response force (NRF) but it is also a tangible demonstration of what maritime power can bring to the various security challenges that we are likely to be faced with in coming years,” said NATO’s maritime commander, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson of the UK Navy. "A key attribute of Maritime forces that is of increasing premium is that they can achieve influence without embroilment, offering political choice and viable military options,” he said.
This exercise is part of NATO's efforts to maintain connected and interoperable maritime forces at a high-level of readiness. Through dynamic and demanding exercises, the goal is to make sure that maritime NRF troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.
Exercise Steadfast Jazz
In addition to these exercises, a variety of land, special-forces, and headquarters staff exercises have also occurred this fall. All NATO NRF training will culminate with Exercise Steadfast Jazz, which takes place in early November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. Air, land, maritime and special forces components will all be exercised, as well as the headquarters staff from Joint Force Command Brunssum who will be expected to lead NATO joint operations next year.
The purpose of the series of exercises is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The goal is to make sure that NRF headquarters and troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.
"The NATO Response Force is a key-component of NATO’s collective defence capabilities,” said General Breedlove. "The NATO Response Force is also essential in maintaining and enhancing the ability of forces from across the Alliance to work together, which will be increasingly important as our mission in Afghanistan winds-down and we prepare to meet future challenges,” he added.
As the operational tempo is expected to decrease after the combat mission in Afghanistan is completed at the end of 2014, NATO will step up training to maintain readiness and interoperability. NATO Defence Ministers in February 2013 endorsed plans to revitalise NATO's exercise programme. This will include more ambitious and frequent exercises, a broader range of scenarios, and a comprehensive training plan out to 2020 to cover the full range of Alliance missions. Nations will also be encouraged to open national exercises to NATO participation, which will provide further opportunities to enhance Alliance interoperability.
============
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============
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations/Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
NATO Response Force Training, The Road to Steadfast Jazz
Story by SHAPE Public Affairs Office
Allied Command Operations will conduct a wide variety of dynamic and demanding exercises this autumn that will put both troops and commanders from the NATO Response Force (NRF) to the test. NATO has ambitious plans to increase training activity over the next few years in order to maintain readiness and interoperability. This will include more ambitious and frequent exercises, a broader range of scenarios, and a comprehensive training plan to cover the full range of Alliance missions.
To that end, several NRF exercises are being conducted in order to keep the Alliance fit for the future.
Exercise Brillliant Arrow
In early September the Alliance conducted Exercise Brilliant Arrow, which involved around 50 military aircraft and approximately 800 exercise participants in the central region of Norway. The exercise, conducted by HQ Allied Air Command, was the first in a series of manoeuvres taking place this autumn designed to hone the skills and interoperability of the NRF. Forty fighter aircraft, two airborne early warning platforms, three transport aircraft, four helicopters as well as other support aircraft trained within a challenging and realistic scenario that also involved air defence units on the ground.
One of General Breedlove'
"Exercise Brilliant Arrow honed the skills of allied air forces in orchestrating air operations,” said General Philip Breedlove. "This level of capability and interoperability will be needed if the involved units are activated under the NATO Response Force,” he said.
The exercise was centred around Oerland Main Air Station in Norway. Nine other NATO members – France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom also participated. These units and HQ AIRCOM will be on standby for a potential NRF mission in 2014.
Exercise Brilliant Mariner
A large fleet of warships from NATO’s Response Force (NRF) sailed from ports across Europe on 25 September 2013 to take part in the maritime exercise "Brilliant Mariner” in the Mediterranean Sea.
The warships will take part in integration training that will enable them to respond to operational needs or crisis situations anywhere in the world, as and when required. The exercise, which will end on 6 October 2013, will take place in the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sicily and Sardinia.
Over five thousand military and naval personnel from 10 NATO nations comprising Germany Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, France and the United States will participate.
The exercise will involve a total of 25 warships, including one aircraft carrier, 12 frigates, one auxiliary ship, and 7 mine counter-measure vessels. Two submarines and a range of maritime Patrol aircraft will also take part.
NATO’s Maritime Command at Northwood, U.K will be responsible for directing the exercise known as Brilliant Mariner 2013. They will ensure that the NATO Response Force (NRF) is faced with a realistic and demanding scenario, presenting a number of challenges for the commanders at sea; including, asymmetric or terrorist threats, maritime security operations and embargo operations.
"Brilliant Mariner will not only hone our ability to provide force integration and combat readiness training for the maritime forces assigned to the NATO Response force (NRF) but it is also a tangible demonstration of what maritime power can bring to the various security challenges that we are likely to be faced with in coming years,” said NATO’s maritime commander, Vice Admiral Peter Hudson of the UK Navy. "A key attribute of Maritime forces that is of increasing premium is that they can achieve influence without embroilment, offering political choice and viable military options,” he said.
This exercise is part of NATO's efforts to maintain connected and interoperable maritime forces at a high-level of readiness. Through dynamic and demanding exercises, the goal is to make sure that maritime NRF troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.
Exercise Steadfast Jazz
In addition to these exercises, a variety of land, special-forces, and headquarters staff exercises have also occurred this fall. All NATO NRF training will culminate with Exercise Steadfast Jazz, which takes place in early November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. Air, land, maritime and special forces components will all be exercised, as well as the headquarters staff from Joint Force Command Brunssum who will be expected to lead NATO joint operations next year.
The purpose of the series of exercises is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The goal is to make sure that NRF headquarters and troops are ready to deal with any situation in any environment.
"The NATO Response Force is a key-component of NATO’s collective defence capabilities,” said General Breedlove. "The NATO Response Force is also essential in maintaining and enhancing the ability of forces from across the Alliance to work together, which will be increasingly important as our mission in Afghanistan winds-down and we prepare to meet future challenges,” he added.
As the operational tempo is expected to decrease after the combat mission in Afghanistan is completed at the end of 2014, NATO will step up training to maintain readiness and interoperability. NATO Defence Ministers in February 2013 endorsed plans to revitalise NATO's exercise programme. This will include more ambitious and frequent exercises, a broader range of scenarios, and a comprehensive training plan out to 2020 to cover the full range of Alliance missions. Nations will also be encouraged to open national exercises to NATO participation, which will provide further opportunities to enhance Alliance interoperability.
============
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Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:58 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2013
CSTO countries unanimously call for peaceful settlement in Syria
SOCHI: The member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) called for a peaceful settlement in Syria and opposed possible aggression against that country.
“The CSTO member states are unanimous in that the Syrian situation can be settled only by peaceful political methods and that any external use of force would be a gross violation of international law or, using the terms of the U.N. Charter, simply aggression,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said after a CSTO summit in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Monday, September 23.
In his opinion, the use of force against Syria would inevitably lead to further destabilization in the country and would have a negative impact on the situation in the CSTO area.
“We are grateful to our CSTO partners for their support of Russia’s efforts to settle the crisis peacefully and for their support of the Russian-American proposal with regard to the Syrian chemical weapons,” Putin said.
He noted the need to use all possibilities to stop the violence in Syria and to start a dialogue between the Syrian authorities and the opposition.
“This is a consolidated position and it is reflected in the statement adopted by the CSTO countries,” he said.
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http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2013
CSTO states support efforts to convene Geneva II conference on Syria
MOSCOW: The member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have supported efforts to convene a peace conference on Syria, commonly known as Geneva II.
“The CSTO member states support the efforts to convene an international conference aimed at laying the groundwork for reconciliation and normalization [of the situation] in Syria,” the CSTO leaders said in a joint statement adopted at their summit in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Monday, September 23.
They also “strongly condemn any manifestation of terrorism and violence against the peaceful population, especially religious or ethnic ones, and oppose unlawful actions aimed at further militarization of the internal conflict in Syria.”
The CSTO member states said the crisis in Syria should be resolved as soon as possible “by the Syrians themselves, with respect for the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic,” and called for “an end to the violence in the country and for a broad political dialogue between the authorities and the opposition without preconditions, on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012.”
The statement begins with the expression of concern about the situation in Syria and around it. The signatories called for peace, stability, prosperity and progress in Syria and in the whole of the Middle East.
“The CSTO member states believe that external interference, including the use of force, is unacceptable and can lead to further destabilization of the situation in country and far beyond the region. Furthermore, any international interference in the Syrian conflict in circumvention of the U.N. Security Council and in violation of the U.N. Charter would be unlawful,” the statement said.
The CSTO countries supported Russia’s efforts to settle the Syrian conflict by political and diplomatic methods only and implement the Russian-American agreement for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
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============
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2013
CSTO countries unanimously call for peaceful settlement in Syria
SOCHI: The member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) called for a peaceful settlement in Syria and opposed possible aggression against that country.
“The CSTO member states are unanimous in that the Syrian situation can be settled only by peaceful political methods and that any external use of force would be a gross violation of international law or, using the terms of the U.N. Charter, simply aggression,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said after a CSTO summit in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Monday, September 23.
In his opinion, the use of force against Syria would inevitably lead to further destabilization in the country and would have a negative impact on the situation in the CSTO area.
“We are grateful to our CSTO partners for their support of Russia’s efforts to settle the crisis peacefully and for their support of the Russian-American proposal with regard to the Syrian chemical weapons,” Putin said.
He noted the need to use all possibilities to stop the violence in Syria and to start a dialogue between the Syrian authorities and the opposition.
“This is a consolidated position and it is reflected in the statement adopted by the CSTO countries,” he said.
------------
http://www.itar-
Itar-Tass
September 23, 2013
CSTO states support efforts to convene Geneva II conference on Syria
MOSCOW: The member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have supported efforts to convene a peace conference on Syria, commonly known as Geneva II.
“The CSTO member states support the efforts to convene an international conference aimed at laying the groundwork for reconciliation and normalization [of the situation] in Syria,” the CSTO leaders said in a joint statement adopted at their summit in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi on Monday, September 23.
They also “strongly condemn any manifestation of terrorism and violence against the peaceful population, especially religious or ethnic ones, and oppose unlawful actions aimed at further militarization of the internal conflict in Syria.”
The CSTO member states said the crisis in Syria should be resolved as soon as possible “by the Syrians themselves, with respect for the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic,” and called for “an end to the violence in the country and for a broad political dialogue between the authorities and the opposition without preconditions, on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012.”
The statement begins with the expression of concern about the situation in Syria and around it. The signatories called for peace, stability, prosperity and progress in Syria and in the whole of the Middle East.
“The CSTO member states believe that external interference, including the use of force, is unacceptable and can lead to further destabilization of the situation in country and far beyond the region. Furthermore, any international interference in the Syrian conflict in circumvention of the U.N. Security Council and in violation of the U.N. Charter would be unlawful,” the statement said.
The CSTO countries supported Russia’s efforts to settle the Syrian conflict by political and diplomatic methods only and implement the Russian-American agreement for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons.
============
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http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
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Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:58 am (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://voiceofrussi
Voice of Russia
September 24, 2013
The US is an insane power like the Nazis – Dr. Edward Herman
The US is behaving like an insane power, like the threat of the Nazis back in the 1930s and 40s. It’s out of control, and it’s engaging in war after war, violating international law and considers itself to be above the law. It is also the richest country in the world but it’s having trouble feeding its own citizens while preparing for yet another war. Dr. Edward Herman told in an interview with the Voice of Russia that it is time for the international community to rise up and bring the US under control.
Hello. This is John Robles. I’m speaking with Dr. Edward Herman. He is a Professor Emeritus at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the author of several books namely "Manufacturing Consent" which he wrote with Noam Chomsky and "The Srebrenica Massacre: Evidence, Context and Politics." My next question is: isn’t the US financially "stressed out" maybe if you would put it… to engage in yet another war? Is this financially viable for the US or maybe a move to actually save the economy?
For those of us that are critical of US policy, of the situation with respect to the use of resources, it’s amazing! The United States is in a financial crisis. It’s cutting back on all kinds of public expenditures, on Food Stamps, it’s cutting back on its schools and it’s really stripped for resources, and here it’s about to go into another war which is going to be extremely costly.
So we’re dealing with a country that is kind of a little "crazy.
A lot of people in the United States seem to be, right now, afraid of losing food. Is the situation that bad in the United States?
Yeah! Republicans are certainly planning on cutting back Food Stamps. Food insecurity has increased greatly there are a lot of people in distress and a lot of people are really worried. So this is a remarkable situation: the richest country in the world, the richest country in history but it’s having trouble feeding its own people while it’s preparing for another war.
So this is a real serious problem in the United States right now? And people are truly afraid of running out of food or not being able to obtain or buy food? Right?
Yeah, it is a serious problem but the high-level people don’t seem to recognize it. There’s Obama and his "crew" spending a lot of their time now organizing forces to justify another war, and meanwhile his base constituency is struggling. It’s lunacy. A lot of people consider that this is a country that is out of control. It’s kind of a lunatic asylum.
I see. Now. What drives the US government at this point into threatening yet another war? What are the real motivations behind this?
I think that there are a couple of things that are involved. One is the military forces in the United States, the military industrial complex is immensely powerful. Eisenhower warned about it back in 1960, that the military complex was getting out of control, it’s much more powerful now.
The United States has become a permanent war system and I read in a paper just the other day that the companies that are supplying cruise missiles and the rest, their stock prices are rising, Raytheon, Lockheed, they are doing very well.
So you’ve got the military industrial complex and all its affiliates pressing for war. You also have the pro-Israel lobby, the AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee). The Israelis have been very influential on US policy, Syria is their enemy, Iran is their enemy, Iraq was their enemy, so they are pressing for a military operation and they have great in influence in Washington.
The United States is kind of "running wild", globally you read about the fact that Obama says, and others say: "We have to maintain our credibility,
What about our credibility? Well, whose credibility? The American people? The United States? It’s the credibility of the imperial power. It is trying to dominate, really trying to dominate the world and it can’t stand setbacks.
Once Obama stuck his neck out and said we must stop these "bad guys," we can’t back down. So there’s really a multiplicity of forces here but we are now in a permanent war system and the forces that support that permanent war system: the military industrial complex and the pro-Israel lobby, they are running wild here. The media follow along.
Intelligent, educated, informed people all over the world would equate credibility with following the rule of law. The world knows that an attack on Syria is a Crime Against Peace, there is no justification for it. So the hypocrisy of Obama saying: "Well we said we’re going to bomb…" and that (If we don’t) damages our credibility, I mean that could only possibly play to the internal US audience.
I think the American leaders think that they have to show foreigners that we mean business, that if we give orders and we say we are going to do something, we are going to follow through otherwise they won’t obey us.
So the claim is, draw a "Red Line" for Syria, and don’t follow through if it crosses the Red Line then Iran will take notice and it won’t follow orders either. I think the "credibility&q
I would say 99% of the countries (other than a couple and we know who they are) are attempting to follow international law in implementing their economic policies and their interstate relationships, and to see this big bully come in and say: "We are going to kill you and we are going to do whatever we want." A lot of people, a lot of states, a lot of countries, and this should be something that the US leadership really listens to: people are getting tired of it.
I think you have a point there. A lot of foreigners are really quite upset at the United States threatening Syria, and actually I am just hoping… I mean that’s part of the reason why the British Parliament voted down going along, that was an amazing vote that the British Parliament wouldn’t go along with Obama’s policies even our close European… other European allies, and the Canadians are not rushing in to back Obama. And that’s probably much more true of the general population.
Usually we get the leaders to go along and peoples of the world are not so enthused, but now even the leaders of the rest of the world are dragging their feet and Pope has made a powerful statement about the rule of law and even Ban Ki-Moon, who is usually a puppet of the United States, even he is dragging his feet and calling for the rule of law.
So there is a reaction in the world, and let’s hope that it will constrain (make a difference) the trouble is in the United States the pro-war forces are extremely strong and the political parties too, the war-faction is important. Even in the United States there is a public reaction the public doesn’t want to go to war. It’s possible that it will affect the Obama administration. Let’s hope so.
Yeah, let’s hope so. Do you think the chemical weapons attack in Damascus may have been a false flag operation?
I actually believe that it probably is. The bombing of August the 21st, if you ask the question: "Who benefits from that?" The Syrian government surely does not. It has given the Obama Administration the stimulus to go to war, it fits the needs of the rebels in Syria, and the Israelis who want the United States to go to war.
So if we ask that fundamental question: "Who benefits from this chemical warfare action?" The answer is: not the Syrian government.
So, that’s one factor, the other factor is that they haven’t collected the evidence yet. The Syrian government actually welcomed the UN people who were coming in to investigate an early chemical war action and they have not impeded the work of the UN investigators.
On the other hand, United States government said it was too late for them to do their work, which was false, the work that they have to do, is work that does not have a time limit, it’s not as if they have to be there two or three days after an event to be able to get very significant evidence.
So on one hand, you have the United States trying to avoid confirmation and Syrian Government, sort of, welcoming these investigators. That’s another consideration.
The Syrian government actually invited the UN Chemical Weapons Inspection Team, and they arrived on the same day in Damascus and all of a sudden there was this chemical attack in a neighborhood that was, despite western media reports, that neighborhood was under control of the government forces. That would be complete insanity for President Assad to launch a chemical weapons attack on the day that the UN inspectors that he invited to the country arrived, don’t you think?
Yeah, yeah… Absolutely!
It goes beyond belief really…
Well, it’s still "believable,
Are you aware of the reports that Saudi Prince Bandar (after three and a half weeks ago - four weeks ago threatening Russia with terrorist attacks at the Sochi Olympics: admitting that all the terrorists in Syria are under Saudi control, in particular Chechens), there are reports that "he" delivered, personally, he was involved in the operation to deliver the chemical weapons directly to the Syria insurgents, Wahhabis or al-Qaeda elements or whatever you want to call them? Have you heard anything about that? Probably not in the western media but …
Yeah, that’s a very good point and I think that it is absolutely true that there "seems" to have been that threat, and evidence from Saudi Arabian sources themselves, that they were involved, that there was a threat by them and their allies to use chemical weapons, but the broad point is that the rebels surely had access to these weapons and they had the incentive to use them, and so at a minimum: it’s a serious question as to whether the Syrian Government did it, or in my view, more probably that the rebels did it.
Now.. (We could talk about this for weeks I think) Next question if we could?: Where is the international community in all of this maneuvering and why is the US so adamant about going in there so quickly and urgently? Why the urgency by the US, why the desperation to drop bombs?
Actually, the international community is looking relatively good, as I mentioned, Ban Ki-moon is actually dragging his feet and calling for restraint and Pope is calling for restraint and the allied governments to the United States are dragging their feet, they usually have lined-up with the United States when it wants to go to war, but they are dragging their feet.
So the international community, while actually it should be condemning the US action, the Syrian government has asked the Security Council to declare a forthcoming attack "illegal,
Dr. Herman what would you say to those responsible for all of this, to those in power who can prevent this war, what would your message be to them?
I think the United States is behaving like an insane power, it’s almost like the threat of the Nazis back in the 1930s and 40s, it’s out of control, and it’s engaging in war after war, and it’s violating international law, considers itself to be above the law.
The international community has to rise up and bring it under control, has to take a much more vigorous, hostile action to the US war threats.
I noticed today that this guy Rasmussen, the Secretary General of NATO, has come out in favor of action against Syria, he is a menace, and NATO is a menace, and the Warsaw Pact dissolved and the whole rational for NATO dissolved and NATO has been expanding, taking on more obligations. This is part of the US program for global domination. The world has to wake up and stop it!
Okay thank you Dr. Herman, I really appreciate it.
Okay. Good to be with you John.
That was the final installment of an interview with Dr. Edward Herman, a Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the author of several books namely "Manufacturing Consent"
Voice of Russia
September 24, 2013
The US is an insane power like the Nazis – Dr. Edward Herman
The US is behaving like an insane power, like the threat of the Nazis back in the 1930s and 40s. It’s out of control, and it’s engaging in war after war, violating international law and considers itself to be above the law. It is also the richest country in the world but it’s having trouble feeding its own citizens while preparing for yet another war. Dr. Edward Herman told in an interview with the Voice of Russia that it is time for the international community to rise up and bring the US under control.
Hello. This is John Robles. I’m speaking with Dr. Edward Herman. He is a Professor Emeritus at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the author of several books namely "Manufacturing Consent" which he wrote with Noam Chomsky and "The Srebrenica Massacre: Evidence, Context and Politics." My next question is: isn’t the US financially "stressed out" maybe if you would put it… to engage in yet another war? Is this financially viable for the US or maybe a move to actually save the economy?
For those of us that are critical of US policy, of the situation with respect to the use of resources, it’s amazing! The United States is in a financial crisis. It’s cutting back on all kinds of public expenditures, on Food Stamps, it’s cutting back on its schools and it’s really stripped for resources, and here it’s about to go into another war which is going to be extremely costly.
So we’re dealing with a country that is kind of a little "crazy.
A lot of people in the United States seem to be, right now, afraid of losing food. Is the situation that bad in the United States?
Yeah! Republicans are certainly planning on cutting back Food Stamps. Food insecurity has increased greatly there are a lot of people in distress and a lot of people are really worried. So this is a remarkable situation: the richest country in the world, the richest country in history but it’s having trouble feeding its own people while it’s preparing for another war.
So this is a real serious problem in the United States right now? And people are truly afraid of running out of food or not being able to obtain or buy food? Right?
Yeah, it is a serious problem but the high-level people don’t seem to recognize it. There’s Obama and his "crew" spending a lot of their time now organizing forces to justify another war, and meanwhile his base constituency is struggling. It’s lunacy. A lot of people consider that this is a country that is out of control. It’s kind of a lunatic asylum.
I see. Now. What drives the US government at this point into threatening yet another war? What are the real motivations behind this?
I think that there are a couple of things that are involved. One is the military forces in the United States, the military industrial complex is immensely powerful. Eisenhower warned about it back in 1960, that the military complex was getting out of control, it’s much more powerful now.
The United States has become a permanent war system and I read in a paper just the other day that the companies that are supplying cruise missiles and the rest, their stock prices are rising, Raytheon, Lockheed, they are doing very well.
So you’ve got the military industrial complex and all its affiliates pressing for war. You also have the pro-Israel lobby, the AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee). The Israelis have been very influential on US policy, Syria is their enemy, Iran is their enemy, Iraq was their enemy, so they are pressing for a military operation and they have great in influence in Washington.
The United States is kind of "running wild", globally you read about the fact that Obama says, and others say: "We have to maintain our credibility,
What about our credibility? Well, whose credibility? The American people? The United States? It’s the credibility of the imperial power. It is trying to dominate, really trying to dominate the world and it can’t stand setbacks.
Once Obama stuck his neck out and said we must stop these "bad guys," we can’t back down. So there’s really a multiplicity of forces here but we are now in a permanent war system and the forces that support that permanent war system: the military industrial complex and the pro-Israel lobby, they are running wild here. The media follow along.
Intelligent, educated, informed people all over the world would equate credibility with following the rule of law. The world knows that an attack on Syria is a Crime Against Peace, there is no justification for it. So the hypocrisy of Obama saying: "Well we said we’re going to bomb…" and that (If we don’t) damages our credibility, I mean that could only possibly play to the internal US audience.
I think the American leaders think that they have to show foreigners that we mean business, that if we give orders and we say we are going to do something, we are going to follow through otherwise they won’t obey us.
So the claim is, draw a "Red Line" for Syria, and don’t follow through if it crosses the Red Line then Iran will take notice and it won’t follow orders either. I think the "credibility&q
I would say 99% of the countries (other than a couple and we know who they are) are attempting to follow international law in implementing their economic policies and their interstate relationships, and to see this big bully come in and say: "We are going to kill you and we are going to do whatever we want." A lot of people, a lot of states, a lot of countries, and this should be something that the US leadership really listens to: people are getting tired of it.
I think you have a point there. A lot of foreigners are really quite upset at the United States threatening Syria, and actually I am just hoping… I mean that’s part of the reason why the British Parliament voted down going along, that was an amazing vote that the British Parliament wouldn’t go along with Obama’s policies even our close European… other European allies, and the Canadians are not rushing in to back Obama. And that’s probably much more true of the general population.
Usually we get the leaders to go along and peoples of the world are not so enthused, but now even the leaders of the rest of the world are dragging their feet and Pope has made a powerful statement about the rule of law and even Ban Ki-Moon, who is usually a puppet of the United States, even he is dragging his feet and calling for the rule of law.
So there is a reaction in the world, and let’s hope that it will constrain (make a difference) the trouble is in the United States the pro-war forces are extremely strong and the political parties too, the war-faction is important. Even in the United States there is a public reaction the public doesn’t want to go to war. It’s possible that it will affect the Obama administration. Let’s hope so.
Yeah, let’s hope so. Do you think the chemical weapons attack in Damascus may have been a false flag operation?
I actually believe that it probably is. The bombing of August the 21st, if you ask the question: "Who benefits from that?" The Syrian government surely does not. It has given the Obama Administration the stimulus to go to war, it fits the needs of the rebels in Syria, and the Israelis who want the United States to go to war.
So if we ask that fundamental question: "Who benefits from this chemical warfare action?" The answer is: not the Syrian government.
So, that’s one factor, the other factor is that they haven’t collected the evidence yet. The Syrian government actually welcomed the UN people who were coming in to investigate an early chemical war action and they have not impeded the work of the UN investigators.
On the other hand, United States government said it was too late for them to do their work, which was false, the work that they have to do, is work that does not have a time limit, it’s not as if they have to be there two or three days after an event to be able to get very significant evidence.
So on one hand, you have the United States trying to avoid confirmation and Syrian Government, sort of, welcoming these investigators. That’s another consideration.
The Syrian government actually invited the UN Chemical Weapons Inspection Team, and they arrived on the same day in Damascus and all of a sudden there was this chemical attack in a neighborhood that was, despite western media reports, that neighborhood was under control of the government forces. That would be complete insanity for President Assad to launch a chemical weapons attack on the day that the UN inspectors that he invited to the country arrived, don’t you think?
Yeah, yeah… Absolutely!
It goes beyond belief really…
Well, it’s still "believable,
Are you aware of the reports that Saudi Prince Bandar (after three and a half weeks ago - four weeks ago threatening Russia with terrorist attacks at the Sochi Olympics: admitting that all the terrorists in Syria are under Saudi control, in particular Chechens), there are reports that "he" delivered, personally, he was involved in the operation to deliver the chemical weapons directly to the Syria insurgents, Wahhabis or al-Qaeda elements or whatever you want to call them? Have you heard anything about that? Probably not in the western media but …
Yeah, that’s a very good point and I think that it is absolutely true that there "seems" to have been that threat, and evidence from Saudi Arabian sources themselves, that they were involved, that there was a threat by them and their allies to use chemical weapons, but the broad point is that the rebels surely had access to these weapons and they had the incentive to use them, and so at a minimum: it’s a serious question as to whether the Syrian Government did it, or in my view, more probably that the rebels did it.
Now.. (We could talk about this for weeks I think) Next question if we could?: Where is the international community in all of this maneuvering and why is the US so adamant about going in there so quickly and urgently? Why the urgency by the US, why the desperation to drop bombs?
Actually, the international community is looking relatively good, as I mentioned, Ban Ki-moon is actually dragging his feet and calling for restraint and Pope is calling for restraint and the allied governments to the United States are dragging their feet, they usually have lined-up with the United States when it wants to go to war, but they are dragging their feet.
So the international community, while actually it should be condemning the US action, the Syrian government has asked the Security Council to declare a forthcoming attack "illegal,
Dr. Herman what would you say to those responsible for all of this, to those in power who can prevent this war, what would your message be to them?
I think the United States is behaving like an insane power, it’s almost like the threat of the Nazis back in the 1930s and 40s, it’s out of control, and it’s engaging in war after war, and it’s violating international law, considers itself to be above the law.
The international community has to rise up and bring it under control, has to take a much more vigorous, hostile action to the US war threats.
I noticed today that this guy Rasmussen, the Secretary General of NATO, has come out in favor of action against Syria, he is a menace, and NATO is a menace, and the Warsaw Pact dissolved and the whole rational for NATO dissolved and NATO has been expanding, taking on more obligations. This is part of the US program for global domination. The world has to wake up and stop it!
Okay thank you Dr. Herman, I really appreciate it.
Okay. Good to be with you John.
That was the final installment of an interview with Dr. Edward Herman, a Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the author of several books namely "Manufacturing Consent"
