(2019-10-08). Winners and Losers From Trump Throwing Syrian Kurds Under the Bus. commondreams.org It is difficult to see in what way Russia is benefited by Turkey's incursion into northeast Syria. (Photo: @LevHavryliv/Twitter) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/assad.jpeg …
(2019-10-08). Hezbollah took over Pentagon? Defense reporters baffled by bizarre glitch on TV screens showing CNN. rt.com 
Reporters are scratching their heads following an odd tech glitch at the Pentagon, in which the name of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah flashed across TV screens tuned to CNN in the building's press pen. Nobody's sure why. | A number of journalists in the Defense Department press corps took to Twitter with alarm on Monday afternoon to share pictures and videos of the mysterious malfunction, some wondering aloud whether the militant group had successfully infiltrated the Pentagon. During the glitch, an image with the word "Hezbollah" in all-caps at the top and bottom of the screen, with indecipherable tex…
(2019-10-08). "Your Transaction Has Been Canceled": Lessons in Lebanon's Economy. counterpunch.org 
I sniffed something was wrong in Lebanon when the central bank governor Riad Salame announced to us all that there were plenty of dollars in the system. No shortages. No tightening of the purse strings. I still have the papers with his announcement on page one. Both before, during and after the 1975-1990 civil war, More
(2019-10-08). Impeachment saga: Trump won't send EU envoy to stand before 'totally compromised KANGAROO COURT' but Dems say they will subpoena. rt.com 
The Trump administration wouldn't allow Gordon Sondland, a key figure in the Democrats' impeachment effort, to testify before the House's "kangaroo court" — but the chairmen of the committees leading the efforts plan to subpoena. | Democrat-led committees in the US House, which are in the process of collecting evidence to argue the impeachment case against Donald Trump, wanted to hear the testimony of Gordon Sondland, Washington's ambassador to the EU. His scheduled appearance, however, was blocked by the White House. | I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to te…
(2019-10-08). Trump Regime Escalates Economic War on China. globalresearch.ca The US is a declining empire, the more aggressive and widespread its malign activities, the sooner its fall from grace will arrive. Vaunted Pentagon forces failed to defeat Taliban fighters in Afghanistan after 18 years of trying, nor Syrian resistance …
(2019-10-08). US Plans Permanent Occupation of Syrian Territory? globalresearch.ca International law is clear and unequivocal. No nation may interfere in the internal affairs of others. | No foreign military of proxy force may occupy another country's territory. No nation may attack another state without Security Council authorization — permitted only …
(2019-10-08). Can the US Starve Hezbollah of Funds? globalresearch.ca Over the years, researchers have copied and parroted inaccurate declassified US intelligence reports on Hezbollah's sources of income around the world. These documents claim Hezbollah lives off selling smuggled cigarettes and illegally copied CDs or on income generated by selling …
(2019-10-08). Is China "Buying Brazil"? Has President Bolsonaro Changed His Aggressive Anti-China Stance? globalresearch.ca In an interview with DW Brasil, former Brazilian ambassador to Beijing, Marcos Caramuru, revealed the great interest Chinese companies have in potential infrastructure work in Brazil. Even with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro showing initial hostility towards China during his …
(2019-10-08). State Department Blocks EU Ambassador's Deposition in Impeachment Inquiry. truthout.org | | The State Department directed U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland not to appear Tuesday morning for a scheduled hearing about President Donald Trump's communications with Ukraine. | Sondland, a key figure in the burgeoning scandal at the heart of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, had previously agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight committees behind closed-doors. | The decision to block the top diplomat from speaki…
(2019-10-08). Betrayal Is American Foreign Policy. truthdig.com The Kurds of northern Syria are simply the latest in a long line of Middle Eastern allies the U.S. has abandoned in their time of need.
(2019-10-08). As Turkey Readies for Invasion of Northern Syria, Russia and Iran Object. theantimedia.com Turkey has readied its forces for an offensive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria, prompting negative reactions from Iran and Russia.
(2019-10-08). UN chief urges 'maximum restraint' following policy shift over northeastern Syria. un.org The UN chief on Tuesday expressed "great concern" over recent policy statements made regarding northeastern Syria, following the announcement from the United States at the start of the week, that it would withdraw troops from the area close to the border with Turkey.
(2019-10-08). Trump's Syria Pullout Will Destroy the Middle East's Only Woman-Led Democracy. thenation.com Trump's Syria Pullout Will Destroy the Middle East's Only Woman-Led Democracy…
(2019-10-08). Video: Idlib Militants Retreating to Turkish Border. globalresearch.ca On October 5, the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out airstrikes on positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near the town of Ballisa and Agr Hilltop in southern Idlib. The strikes eliminated at least 9 militants and became a logical continuation of …
(2019-10-08). Headlines for October 8, 2019. democracynow.org Trump Touts "Great and Unmatched Wisdom" as U.S. Abandons Kurdish Allies, State Dept. Orders Ambassador Gordon Sondland Not to Testify to Impeachment Inquiry, Federal Judge Rejects Trump's "Repugnant" Argument Against Turning Over Tax Records, Ecuador's President Moves Government From Capital as Anti-Austerity Protests Grow, Bolivia Rains Quell Fires After 10 Million Amazon Acres Burn, 700+ Arrested as Extinction Rebellion Protests Demand Climate Action, Swedish Climate Activist Greta Thunberg to Visit Standing Rock Reservation, Supreme Court Opens New Term with Justice Clarence Thomas Absent, Asylum Seekers Esco…
(2019-10-08). As Democrats Threaten Subpoena for Sondland, Calls Grow for Contempt Order If He Refuses to Comply. commondreams.org Three House committees on Tuesday announced their intention to subpoena Gordon Sondland, President Donald Trump's ambassador to the European Union, hours after the White House blocked Sondland from testifying. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-11798006421.jpg …
(2019-10-08). After US Withdrawal, Turkey Announces Troops Are In Place for Planned Offensive Against Kurds in Syria. commondreams.org A day after President Donald Trump announced he would withdraw U.S. troops from northeastern Syria, Turkey announced its plans to move ahead with military operations in the country targeting Kurdish forces. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-11746274351.jpg …
(2019-10-08). MPs call for UK to 'stand against' NATO member's invasion of northern Syria. thecanary.co 
NATO's second largest army is currently on the verge of invading northern Syria. And a cross-party group of MPs has called for the UK to "steadfastly…
(2019-10-08). 'What Is the Trump Administration Trying to Hide?' Asks Sanders After President Blocks Amb. Gordon Sondland Testimony. commondreams.org The Trump administration blocked Gordon Sondland, his ambassador to the European Union, from giving a highly-anticipated testimony to three House committees on Tuesday as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump—intensifying speculation that the president is hiding information about his request for foreign intervention in the 2020 presidential election. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1166060401.png …
(2019-10-07). Ardent Trump defender Graham calls decision to withdraw from Syria 'DISASTER in the making'. rt.com 
Senator Lindsey Graham, who is usually one of President Donald Trump's most vocal supporters, has lashed out at his decision to withdraw US troops from northeastern Syria ahead of an imminent incursion by Turkey. | The move, Graham said, will result in a return of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), make the Kurds ally with the Syrian government, destroy Turkey's relationship with the US Congress, and leave a stain on US honor, the senator argued. He said he would file a motion in the Senate seeking a reversal of the decision. | * Ensures ISIS comeback. | * Forces Kurds to align with Assad a…
(2019-10-07). The political giving history of Trump's Ukraine diplomats. nationofchange.org A series of text messages between U.S. diplomats released Thursday night reveals an apparent effort to pressure Ukraine into performing an investigation that could prove harmful to President Donald Trump's potential 2020 opponent. | One of the diplomats involved has a lengthy history as a Republican donor, while another performed lobbying work for foreign clients and a major defense company. | In the exchanges, acting ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor asked Gordon Sondland, ambassador to the European Union, if U.S. secur…
(2019-10-07). Turkey's Erdogan to Meet Trump in Washington DC to Discuss Syria. theantimedia.com There had been expectations in Turkey of Trump-Erdogan meeting on Syria last month on sidelines of UN General Assembly, but it did not happen.
(2019-10-07). The U.S. Is Now Betraying the Kurds for the Eighth Time. theintercept.com The White House announced Sunday night that the United States is giving Turkey a green light to invade northern Syria, with the U.S. troops there now apparently pulling back to another area of the country. This is the scenario that Syrian Kurds have long feared. It will almost inevitably lead to a Turkish attack on Kurdish militias in Syria — fighters who loyally helped the U.S. destroy the Islamic State, but whom Turkey bogusly claims to be terrorists. | On Monday morning, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman asked why Do…
(2019-10-07). Fox News in Disarray as Hosts Struggle to Digest Trump's Betrayal of the Syrian Kurds. theintercept.com Donald Trump's late-night decision to abandon the Syrian Kurds who helped the United States destroy the Islamic State caliphate in Syria prompted a rare outburst of dissent on Monday on the president's favorite television program, "Fox and Friends." | The news of Trump's complete reversal of his pledge in June to defend the Kurds from a threatened Turkish invasion of their enclave in northern Syria outraged one of the president's most die-hard boosters, Fox h…
(2019-10-07). Turkish Military Operation in Syria Begins: Jets Filmed Bombing Kurdish Targets. theantimedia.com This despite the Pentagon claiming to have effectively shut down Northern Syria airspace to Turkey.
(2019-10-07). US Troops Will Withdraw From Northeast Syria to Avoid Imminent Turkish Invasion. theantimedia.com U.S.-backed forces in Syria said they would "not hesitate to turn any unprovoked attack by Turkey into an all-out war."
(2019-10-07). "A Shakespearean Act of Betrayal": Trump Agrees to Let Turkey Invade Kurdish-Controlled Syrian Area. democracynow.org 
U.S. troops have begun withdrawing from northeast Syria as Turkey prepares to invade Kurdish-controlled areas of the country. For years, the Kurds have been close allies to the United States in the fight against ISIS. On Sunday, however, the White House released a statement that surprised many in the region, announcing that Turkey would be "moving forward with its long-planned operation in Northern Syria," following a phone call between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in that operation, and the United States forces, having…
(2019-10-06). An Open Letter to Science and Global Security. dissidentvoice.org Dear Editors at Science and Global Security Science and Global Security (SGS) has been publishing technical articles on arms control and related issues since 1989. I urge you not to succumb to political censorship. Recently it was announced you are withholding publication of an article titled "Computational Forensic Analysis for the Chemical Weapons Attack at …
(2019-10-04). Friday's Daily Brief: Ebola survivors top 1,000 in DR Congo, star of 'Roma' film named Goodwill Ambassador, clean air treaty enters into force. un.org A recap of Friday's stories: Milestone of 1,000 Ebola survivors counted in DR Congo; UN concerned over violent anti-government protests in Iraq and elsewhere; Oscar-nominated star named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador; Parties to Gothenburg Protocol for cleaner air, plan treaty implementation; UN scientific experts advise on elimination of hazardous chemicals.
(2019-10-03). Foreign Correspondent: Turkey Plans an Attack on Syrian Kurds. progressive.org So far, the scheme isn't working so well.
(2019-09-30). The White Helmets, Hala Systems and the Grotesque Militarization of "Humanitarianism" in Syria. mintpressnews.com 
Syria, August 2019 — reports came in that Russian warplanes had destroyed two terrorist-manned early warning radar posts in the Northern Hama countryside, known as the 20th post and the Eagle post. | According to an article published by South Front, these early warning posts are "tasked with monitoring flights of Russian and Syrian warplanes" and warn armed groups throughout Hama and Idlib of incoming airstrikes on their positions. | South Front informed us that "four militants, inc…