Syrian opposition elects US-educated tech exec as interim PM

 

The Syrian opposition coalition has elected Western-educated former businessman and US citizen Ghassan Hitto to oversee a provisional government for Syria's rebel-held areas in a vote in Istanbul on Tuesday.

The Syrian opposition coalition has elected Western-educated former businessman and US citizen Ghassan Hitto to oversee a provisional government for Syria's rebel-held areas in a vote in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Hitto, who is viewed as a ‘consensus candidate’ among Syria’s liberal and Islamist factions, received 35 votes out of 49 ballots cast during the Syrian National Coalition meeting.

Opinion: Diplomatic moves pave the way for Easter “Surprise” for Iran

Inspirational speech, a long delayed apology and a Passover gift for Iran.

How to get flight corridors to achieve a surgical strike on Iran’s nuclear ambitions in the immediate future.

On 20 March I received intel from a News Agency insider that the Israeli government are planning an Easter exploit on Iran, that the US was desperately trying to cool things down and planning how best to keep out of it, as was the UK.

Without further verification this would be hard to publish on its own other than as an “insider rumour”,  however as further reaction and results come in from Obama’s visit to Israel, the news stories themselves seem to be verifying it.

Firstly lets look at the nature and the text of Obama’s speech- Essential theme of duality; going beyond, and avoiding mistakes that have attracted criticism in the past (such as his connection of the “holocaust” to the creation of Israel in 2010) to the point of confirming dubious rhetoric that he knows to be false;

“When I consider Israel’s security, I also think about a people who have a living memory of the Holocaust, faced with the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iranian government that has called for Israel’s destruction.”— Obama

Malaysian-trained MNLF fighters 'on attack' : a blow back?

Published on 15 Mar 2013 : The former head of a Filipino separatist group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), has told Al Jazeera that despite support from Malaysia in the 1960s, some of his fighters have now turned against the Malaysian government. According to Nur Misuari, the MNLF fighters have joined the Royal Army of Sulu, which has been fighting for control of Malaysia's eastern Sabah state. Al Jazeera's Jamela Alindogan reports from the Philippine capital, Manila, on whether Malaysia's foreign policy in the 1960s has backfired.

Iran and Armenia Find Solidarity in Isolation.

Published on 12 Mar 2013 : While the West seeks to isolate Iran over its disputed nuclear program, landlocked Armenia seeks to build relations with its neighbor without violating international sanctions.

Iran, Pakistan press pipeline despite US sanctions threat

Published on 11 Mar 2013 : Iranian and Pakistani leaders inaugurated the construction of a much-delayed section of a $7.5 billion gas pipeline linking the two neighbours Monday, defying the threat of US sanctions.

Catastrophic spiral in Mali. Opinion.

Published on 18 Feb 2013 : PressTV - talk to a member of Women of Africa, Alice Ukoko, about another military intervention by NATO countries in Africa.

Bulgaria blames Hezbollah for Burgos bomb.

Published on 5 Feb 2013 : Bulgaria has accused the Lebanese-based militant organisation Hezbollah of being behind the Burgos bus bombing last July, which killed five Israelis.

Chuck Hegel - are they electing Defense Minister for the Knesset?

Published on Feb 5, 2013 - US Defense Secretary Nominee, looks like a pussy - being bullied by the pro Jewish Republicans Senators.

Iran hosts 26th Islamic Unity Conference

Published on Jan 27, 2013 : Shia and Sunni scholars from over 100 countries are attending the two-day event to discuss the issue of unity among Islamic Ummah and the existing problems of the Muslim world. During the first day, the speakers highlighted the need for enhancing unity among Muslims. Addressing the conference, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Muslim nations to establish monotheism and justice. Muslim scholars believe there are abundant commonalities among Muslims but the enemies of Islam who have many differences internally are trying to work out unity amongst themselves and create sectarian and ethnic rifts among Muslims in different countries including Syria. In their speeches, the participants cautioned that enemies are exercising various plots and that the Muslim societies should be aware of such threats; A few months ago, the US-Israeli production of an anti-Islam movie triggered the anger of Muslims across the globe. This was followed by the publication of a blasphemous cartoon insulting Prophet Mohammad in France. The conference is also taking place as the Muslims worldwide are celebrating the "Unity Week" which marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, the last divine messenger to mankind.

Patriot missile set up in Turkey.

Published on 26 Jan 2013 : The fırst of sıx patriot mıssıle batterıes deployed in Turkey is now operatıonal. The others are expected to be in place ın the comıng days. Turkey and NATO are stressıng the missile system is purely defensıve.

Journalism & reporting? a One sided interview & views has become the order of the day ... now on Mali?

IAEA : An American tool?

Iran answers IAEA questions if it sees an end to process: Analyst

Published on Jan 18, 2013 : A political commentator says Tehran is ready to answer International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) questions provided that when they are answered the process comes to an end. "I have talked to Iranian diplomats and they told me that Iran has constantly expressed its willingness to answer all the questions that have been raised [by IAEA], provided that when the questions are answered, the process comes to an end," Hamid Reza Emadi said in an interview with Press TV on Friday.

Emadi stated that Iran is ready to give access to Parchin once a structured framework for cooperation is finalized and signed by the two sides. "But the IAEA, under pressure from the West, does not want anything to be finalized at this point in time and they want to prolong the issue for an unspecified period of time," he added.

The Guantanamo Bay trials : Lies won't go far?

U-turn leaves Guantanamo Bay 9/11 trials in disarray

The Guantanamo Bay trials are in such disarray that nobody may ever be convicted of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, it emerged today.

The US military base's chief prosecutor, Brigadier General Mark Martins, announced this week that he had asked the Pentagon to drop conspiracy charges against the five men awaiting trial for their part in the 2001 atrocity. The U-turn comes in the wake of an appeal court overturning one existing conviction and looking set to do so for another. Speaking to The Independent, defence lawyers insisted the prosecution was refusing to admit the severity of the move, which they say could fatally undermine the case against five men accused of orchestrating the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon – as well as weakening all previous convictions.

"It is a much bigger deal than they are making it out to be," said Cheryl Bormann, a lawyer for defendant Walid bin Attash. "It is going to make their case far more difficult to prove." She added that demonstrating intent to murder was far more challenging than proving conspiracy.

The independent | SATURDAY 12 JANUARY 2013 : Read more >>

French foreign policy contradicts itself: 'France fighting Mali Islamists while supporting extremists in Syria'

Published on Jan 12, 2013 : A French pilot has been killed in fighting in Mali, as the European nation continues to launch air strikes against Islamist militants. It comes after Mali's government troops chased rebels out of the key central town of Konna - aided by the French military. The UN Security Council called for a 'speedy deployment' of international forces to battle the rebels - who'd seized the north of the country last April, and since made significant advances.

President Hollande announced on Friday that the intervention in Mali 'would last as long as necessary'.

Demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur.

Orderly and peaceful : what the government's control media did not report! Published on Jan 11, 2013 : Orderly crowd from all directions stream to Stadium Merdeka.

Al Saud resorts to draconian repression:

Published on 4 Jan 2013 : An American expert believes that the Al Saud ruling family of Saudi Arabia resorts to draconian repression and bribery in order to stay in power.

In their latest wave of protests, Saudi Arabian people staged rally against the ruling Al Saud family on Wednesday in the al-Qassim region north of Riyadh. The demonstrators chanted anti-regime slogans and called for the release of political prisoners. On the same day, people demonstrated in the holy city of Mecca and the central city of Buraidah.

Dr. Kevin Barrett, an author and Islamic studies expert in Madison

Turkey deploy patriot missiles on Syrian border with 1,260 foreign soldiers!

Published on Dec 15, 2012 : US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta made an un-announced visit to Turkey to visit the American Airbase Incirlik.

The US Defense Secretary made this visit while on a mini tour of the region as he payed a stop to Kuwait and Afghanistan as well.

While addressing American troops Panetta said he would deploy 2 batteries of patriot missiles to Turkey along with 400 personnel to operate them. This comes as the Netherlands agreed to send in 360 of their own troops and Germany has agreed to send in 400, bringing the total of foreign troops scheduled to operate inside Turkey to 1,260.

Afghans will never surrender to US occupation: Daoud Abedi

Published on Dec 16, 2012 : A political analyst tells Press TV that the will of the Afghan people is that they do not want their land to be occupied by anybody and that is why there is resistant against this occupation. The comments came after Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on US and NATO troops to immediately leave the country, saying security transition to local forces should take place as soon as possible. Press TV has conducted an interview with Mohammad Daoud Abedi, chair of Afghan Nation Peace Council, to further discuss the issue.

UN against militarization in Syria

Published on Dec 7, 2012 : Qatar handed out weapons in Libya like candy -- according to a Wednesday New York Times report -- which adds that the US not only knew about the ploy -- but blessed it with a stamp of approval.

Many of those weapons found their way into the wrong hands - however -- and according to the report -- the "United States has growing concerns that, just as in Libya, the Qataris are equipping some of the wrong militants."

Qatar is currently -- and admittedly -- arming militant groups in Syria as well -- a ploy that United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has frowned upon.

UK Orthodox Jews protest Zionism

Published on Dec 7, 2012 : An outcry of British Jews against Israeli tyranny. That was the title of the protest held by dozens of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews outside the Israeli embassy in London.

They got together in a unified stand to condemn the Zionist regime and its mistreatment of Judaism and religious Jews.

Blackwater new landlord in Afghanistan

Published on Dec 5, 2012 by RussiaToday : US Special Operations forces have found a new landlord in Afghanistan - and a rather unusual one. They've made home in a facility operated by the 'Academi' mercenary group, formerly known as the notorious Blackwater, following a non-bid deal. Such deals are usually vice versa - as former Bush administration official Michael O'Brien puts it, now it's the tail wagging the dog.

NATO To Deploy Defensive Missiles on Turkey-Syria Border

Published on 4 Dec 2012 by VOAvideo : Analysts say the West appears to be moving towards a new phase in its coordinated response to the Syrian conflict, with NATO's decision to deploy a Patriot missile shield along Turkey's border with Syria, and warnings to Syria against any use of chemical weapons. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London.