Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Friday, 19 February 2016

Op-Ed
The Media are Misleading the Public on Syria
 
By Stephen Kinzer
Coverage of the Syrian war will be remembered as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of the American press. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44269.htm
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Terror in Turkey: Is Erdogan Playing Washington? 
By Finian Cunningham
Turkey wants to go into Syria not to fight terrorism, as claimed, but rather to assist their covert "brothers-in-arms"http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44266.htm
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Could a Bomb Blast in Ankara Change the Outcome of the War in Syria?
 
By Mike Whitney
An alliance with Erdogan, provides Washington with the footsoldiers it needs to fight its proxy war with Russia.http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44270.htm
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Russian Intelligence Report On Turkey's Current Assistance To Daesh
 
By Voltaire Network
Wounded ISIL fighters are being provided with places to rest and receive treatment in areas of Turkey bordering Syria. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44263.htm
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Preparing for the Collapse of the Saudi Kingdom
 
By Sarah Chayes and Alex de Waal
The Saudi ruling elite is operating something like a sophisticated criminal enterprise. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44264.htm
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Playing Whack-a-Terrorist in Libya
 
By Paul R. Pillar
How Hillary Clinton - turned a relatively prosperous and secular country into another failed state. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44268.htm
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Hillary Clinton, Vows to Embrace an Extremist Agenda on Israel
 
By Glenn Greenwald
"To meet the many challenges we face, we have to take our relationship to the next level."http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44262.htm
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Hard News   
 U.S. kills 40 people in Libya:  The mayor of the Libyan city of Sabratha, Hussein al-Thwadi, told Reuters the planes struck at 3:30 a.m. (0130 GMT), hitting a building in the city's Qasr Talil district, home to many foreigners. He said 41 people had been killed and six wounded.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-idUSKCN0VS17U

19 dead in double suicide attack on Cameroon market:  Several other people were injured in the attack on the market at Meme at around 0900 (0800 GMT) which was carried out by two female suicide bombers, said the officials, who did not wish to be named.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/africa/2016/02/19/19-dead-in-double-suicide-attack-on-Cameroon-market.html 

Clashes follow Uganda opposition leader's arrest:  Kizza Besigye detained for third time in a week as provisional election results show incumbent President Museveni ahead.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/clashes-follow-uganda-opposition-leader-arrest-160219141127392.html 

20 Civilians Killed In Air Strikes In Iraq's Anbar:  It was not immediately apparent whether the air strikes, were carried out by the US-led international coalition, or Iraqi air force planes, Al Jazeera's Imran Khan reported from the capital, Baghdad.
https://www.informationng.com/2016/02/civilians-killed-in-air-strikes-in-iraqs-anbar.html 

Security forces advance into Karmat Fallujah, kill dozens of ISIS fighters:  "The security forces advanced for three kilometers into the depth of al-Karma areas, and managed to kill dozens of ISIS members."
http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/security-forces-advance-inside-al-karmat-fallujah-kill-dozens-of-isis-fighters/ 

Coalition warplanes kill 9 ISIS elements west of Ramadi:  A security source in Anbar province said on Friday, that nine ISIS elements had been killed in an aerial bombing west of Ramadi.
http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/coalition-warplanes-kill-9-isis-elements-west-ramadi/ 

Syrian army says it captured strategic town in coastal area:  The capture of the town in the northeastern mountainous region allows the army and its Iranian-backed allies to begin wider operations to regain rebel held town of Jisr al Shughour, northeast of Kansaba in Idlib province.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-latakia-idUSKCN0VR10Y 

Kurdish-led force takes ISIS stronghold in northeast Syria: activists:  A Kurdish-led alliance backed by U.S.-led strikes seized a stronghold of ISIS in northeastern Syria on Friday, activists said.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/Feb-19/338195-kurdish-led-force-takes-isis-stronghold-in-northeast-syria-activists.ashx 

Russia to call U.N. Security Council session on Syria on Friday:  Russia's foreign ministry said it intends to call a session of the United Nations Security Council on Friday to discuss the Turkish government's statements about a possible ground operation in Syria.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-syria-un-idUSKCN0VS1Z0 

Turkish intervention in Syria risks Turkey-Russia war: Hollande:  "Turkey is involved in Syria... There, there is a risk of war," Hollande told France Inter radio. "That is why the (UN) Security Council is meeting," he added.
http://www.france24.com/en/20160219-turkish-intervention-syria-risks-turkey-russia-war-hollande 

Dozens of Turkish military vehicles cross Syria border, dig trenches - report:  Turkish military vehicles have crossed into a Kurdistani area in Syria, Afrin, just over the border, a Kurdish news agency reported adding that the troops started to dig a trench near Meidan Ekbis, a town in Aleppo province.
https://www.rt.com/news/332924-turkish-vehicles-cross-syria/ 

Doctors Without Borders decision may have contributed to deadly strike on clinic:  MSF, asked the group not to provide the GPS coordinates of some sites. This was the case of the makeshift clinic run by the charity in the Syrian town of Maaret al-Numan, which was hit four times in attacks on Monday, killing at least 25 people.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/group-did-not-give-syrian-government-gps-data-of-clinic-hit-by-strike/ 
 
Kurdish militant group Tak claims responsibility for Ankara car bomb:  The claim contradicts the position taken by the Turkish government, who said on Thursday that the perpetrator had been identified as Saleh Necar, a 24-year-old Syrian national with ties to the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia that has been supported by the US in the fight against Islamic State in northern Syria.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/19/kurdish-rebels-claim-responsibility-for-ankara-car-bomb 

Shocking aftermath from Kurdish Cizre where scores allegedly torched to death (VIDEO):  Footage from the city of Cizre in Turkey's southeast, where the military reportedly let 150 people burn to death. They were allegedly trapped in the ruins of buildings destroyed during the army hunt for PKK fighters.
https://www.rt.com/news/332984-shocking-scenes-kurdish-cizre/ 

Erdogan's War Against Kurds in Southeast Turkey is 'Part of Business Plan':
Ignoring the people on the ground the Erdogan government is planning to carry out its lucrative building project in southeast Turkey.
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160217/1034913193/erdogan-war-against-turkish-kurds-part-of-business-plan.html 

Saudi says Syrian rebels should receive anti-aircraft missiles:
Anti-aircraft weapons could be a game-changer in Syria as they were in Afghanistan in the 1980s, says Saudi foreign minister
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-says-syrian-rebels-should-receive-anti-aircraft-missiles-300532445 

Saudi Arabia halts $4B in Lebanon security grants:
Saudi Arabia has suspended two grants worth a combined total of $4 billion to the Lebanese Army and police over a political dispute, official Saudi news agency SPA reported Friday, dealing a major blow to the poorly-equipped security forces engaged in an open battle with militants.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2016/Feb-19/338173-saudi-arabia-decided-to-cancel-grants-to-lebanese-army-and-security-forces-spa-citing-officials.ashx 

Young Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces in Bethlehem-area clashes:  A young Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli forces during clashes in the occupied West Bank village of Beit Fajjar on Friday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=770363 

Palestinian shot dead after alleged car attack near Ramallah:  A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces on Friday after he allegedly attempted to ram them with his car in the occupied West Bank village of Silwad northeast of Ramallah.
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=770359 

Israeli killed by 14yos in West Bank supermarket:  Two Palestinian 14-year-olds have stabbed and killed an Israeli in a packed supermarket in the occupied West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian officials say,
http://www.newshub.co.nz/world/israeli-killed-by-14yos-in-west-bank-supermarket-2016021916#axzz40dhxrBjo 

US airstrikes in Afghanistan killing civilians at greatest rate for seven years, new figures show:
The rate at which civilians are being killed by US airstrikes in Afghanistan is at its highest point since 2008, an analysis of newly published UN data reveals.
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2016/02/18/us-airstrikes-afghanistan-killing-civilians-greatest-rate-seven-years-new-figures-show/ 

U.S. military returns to Iceland:  Keflavik Air Base outside Reykjavik is to be base for U.S. military aircraft again, nearly ten years after the last forces left the country.
http://thebarentsobserver.com/security/2016/02/us-military-returns-iceland 

Upgrade Your iPhone Passcode to Defeat the FBI's Backdoor Strategy:  What I'm going to focus on here is how ordinary iPhone users can protect themselves.
https://theintercept.com/2016/02/18/passcodes-that-can-defeat-fbi-ios-backdoor/ 

OECD Calls for Urgent Increase in Government Spending:  Governments in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere should take "urgent" and "collective" steps to raise their investment spending and deliver a fresh boost to flagging economic growth, the Organization for Economic Growth and Development said on Thursday.
http://news.morningstar.com/all/dow-jones/us-markets/201602183529/oecd-calls-for-urgent-increase-in-government-spending.aspx 

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Is A Popular New Policy That Cost States Millions. Here Are The Results:  Proponents of these programs argue that they're implemented not just to save money, but to help people who may be struggling with substance abuse. But the data tells a different story.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/02/19/3747139/states-drug-testing-welfare-recipients/ 

Case against Ted Cruz's eligibility to be heard in Illinois :  Once again, Cruz will have to defend his eligibility to serve as president after Donald Trump revived questions about his birth in Canada. Cruz maintains he is indeed a natural-born citizen since he was born to an American mother, though it has never been tested before in court.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/18/politics/ted-cruz-birther-lawsuit-illinois/ 

Trump pledges to be 'neutral guy' in Israel-Palestinian negotiations:  Trump previously suggested that the burden of peace rested largely on the shoulders of the Jewish state, saying a peace deal "will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal -- whether or not Israel's willing to sacrifice certain things."
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/18/politics/donald-trump-israel-palestinian-neutral/index.html 

Hillary Clinton just can't win:  Democrats need to accept that only Bernie Sanders can defeat the GOP
http://www.salon.com/2016/02/19/hillary_clinton_just_cant_win_democrats_need_to_accept_that_only_bernie_sanders_can_defeat_the_gop/