Pentagon 'Accidentally' Tells The Truth About Idlib

The Pentagon has in a rare moment gone off the mainstream narrative script concerning Idlib.

The UK's Sky News interviewed US coalition spokesman Col. Myles Caggins as part of its coverage focusing on Syrian and Russian forces “indiscriminately” attacking civilians and “bombing hospitals” — however, the Army colonel gave a counter angle, instead focusing on the jihadist groups ruling Idlib as the fundamental cause to civilian suffering there.

The US-led coalition spokesman called Idlib "a magnet for terrorist groups" that are a "nuisance, a menace and a threat" to hundreds of thousands of civilians just "trying to make it through the winter."

He essentially identified “all” of groups operating on the ground as “terrorists” and a “threat” to the local population in the rare frank commentary:

“There are variety of groups there — all of them are a nuisance, a menace and a threat to… hundreds of thousands of civilians who are just trying to make it through the winter.”

His truthful words are all the more interesting given they come at a moment that CNN and other mainstream networks have "rediscovered" Idlib and "evil Assad and Russia" who they say are attempting to "butcher" children and innocent civilians.

The very network that interviewed the Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman elsewhere on the same day questioned "whether the international community is doing enough to restrain the Assad regime."

The main anti-Assad group on the ground fighting the Syrian Army has long been al-Qaeda faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Nusra Front), which is a US Treasury designated terrorist organization.

Typically US and UK media reports leave out this crucial fact and nuance altogether, acting as if the whole conflict is as simple as Assad and Putin wishing to kill as many civilians as possible.

Such ultra-simplistic coverage has just been debunked by the Pentagon's Caggins, who essentially admits that the Russians and Syrian Army are fighting terrorist groups occupying Idlib province.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pentagon-accidentally-tells-truth-about-idlib

WOW

>>8207266

Erdogan says Turkey will not withdraw from Syria’s Idlib until attacks by Damascus stop

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed not to remove Turkish troops from Syria’s Idlib region and said that his upcoming phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin will help Ankara determine its policies.

A phone call between the two leaders to discuss Idlib is expected to take place on Friday evening. “The result of this conversation will determine our attitude” in the area, Erdogan said. The Turkish leader stated that Ankara will not pull its forces out of Idlib while operations by the Syrian government continue there.

Unless the regime [in Damascus] stops its attacks in Idlib, it is not possible for us to withdraw.

Syria’s northwestern Idlib Province is the last-remaining major stronghold controlled by the forces fighting against the Syrian government. Some of these forces are jihadist groups and some are militants backed by Turkey. The situation on the ground deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks as the Syrian Army renewed its push against what it said were terrorists attacking Syrian troops and personnel. Turkey, meanwhile, accused Damascus of bombing civilians and shelling its soldiers.

https://www.rt.com/news/481391-erdogan-not-withdraw-syria-idlib/

“Hoax Number 7!” – Trump Goes Off on Democrats’ Latest Claim Russia is Trying to Help Him Win 2020 Election

Deep Staters in the intel community and (Adam Schiff?) is at it again — leaking and spinning in order to harass President Trump in an attempt to derail his re-election efforts.

A new leak to the New York Times claims intel officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get Trump reelected.

The New York Times article offered no proof of its claims and sounded like an old story from 2016 cleverly rewritten (by Adam Schiff?) to sound shiny and new.

The Times reported that Trump was outraged that the classified report was shared with Adam Schiff and the House Intelligence Committee because Adam Schiff is a leaker and liar.

Like clockwork, all the usual suspects and fake news outlets came out and attacked President Trump after the Times dropped the latest Russia hoax.

Brennan accused President Trump of “abetting a Russian covert operation” to win the 2020 election to advance “Moscow’s interests, not America’s.”

President Trump went off on the “do nothing Democrats” for pushing “hoax number 7!”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/hoax-number-7-trump-goes-off-on-democrats-latest-claim-russia-is-trying-to-help-him-win-2020-election/

Houthi Missiles Target Aramco Facility Just After Pompeo Arrives In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's air defense Patriot missile systems were active at the coastal city of Yanbu in the early Friday morning hours after ballistic missiles were inbound, believed launched by Shia Houthi rebels out of Yemen.

Crucially, the Red Sea city of Yanbu is site of a large state-owned Saudi Aramco oil refinery, the likely intended target given the prior Sept.14 large scale attack on Aramco facilities which was also claimed by the Houthis.

Yanbu is nearly 600 miles from Yemen, meaning sophisticated missile systems were used - likely the Burkan 2 - which in the past Washington has accused Iran of supplying.

Spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Col. Turki Al-Maliki, was cited in the Saudi Press Agency as saying the launch originated in Yemen's capital of Sanaa, but that Patriot anti-air missiles intercepted the rockets.

Crucially, earlier in the day US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Saudi Arabia where he met with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss deterring Iran's regional ambitions.

No doubt, the US will take the timing of the launch to be a deliberate message and will likely ultimately point the finger at Tehran.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/houthi-missiles-target-aramco-facility-just-after-pompeo-arrives-saudi-arabia

Trump Appoints First Openly Gay Cabinet Member Ever — Media Barely Say A Word

“Trump Names Richard Grenell as Acting Head of Intelligence,” said the New York Times.

The once-great newspaper had nothing good to say about Grenell in its fiercely biased piece.

President Trump on Wednesday named Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany who quickly antagonized the establishment after arriving in Berlin in 2018, to be the acting director of national intelligence overseeing the nation’s 17 spy agencies.

By choosing Mr. Grenell, who has little experience in intelligence or in running a large bureaucracy, the president signaled that he wants a trusted, aggressive leader atop an intelligence community that he has long viewed with suspicion and at times gone to war against.

Way down in the ninth paragraph, The Times wrote this: “Mr. Grenell, who has pushed to advance gay rights in his current post, is also thought to be the first openly gay cabinet member.”

“Thought to be”? Doesn’t the New York Times have any reporters anymore?

Grenell is the first openly gay Cabinet member, period. Fact. And not even a hard fact to confirm.

The Washington Post also buried the historic news, and then didn’t even get it right. “Grenell would be the first openly gay member of the Trump Cabinet.” Uh, that would make him the first openly gay member of ANY Cabinet.

But Log Cabin Republicans, the nation’s largest Republican organization dedicated to representing LGBT conservatives and allies, was pleased with the appointment, noting its significance.

“We’re excited that @realDonaldTrump has appointed the first openly gay presidential cabinet member. @RichardGrenell is totally qualified and we’re exciting that he’ll be making history,” the group wrote on Twitter.

Just imagine the MSM’s swoon if The Chosen One, Barack Obama, had appointed the first openly gay Cabinet member.

But he didn’t. Trump did.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/trump-appoints-first-openly-gay-cabinet-member-ever-media-barely-say-a-word/

Pentagon expects US public to buy ‘we weren’t keeping inventory’ excuse about missing weapons sent to Syria, Iraq

US weapons worth $715 million dollars were warehoused poorly and soldiers handling them did not keep receipts or records, so it’s impossible to tell how many, if any, ended up in the wrong hands, the Pentagon says.

Supply units in Kuwait and elsewhere “did not maintain comprehensive lists of all equipment purchased and received” or “stored weapons outside in metal shipping containers, exposing the equipment to harsh environmental elements, such as heat and humidity.”

This is according to the partially redacted report by the Department of Defense’s inspector general (IG), of an audit into the “Counter Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Train and Equip Fund” (CTEF), dated February 13 and published this week.

That is not to say that $715 million worth of US weapons, intended for the Iraqi military and “Vetted Syrian Opposition” – as the euphemism for US-allied militia goes – has gone missing, as some reports may have suggested. In Pentagon-speak, there was “a lack of a central repository for accountability documentation.” Once you cut through the obtuse verbiage, the IG report basically says there’s no way of figuring any of that out, because the troops charged with running the program did not maintain records or receipts.

The audit was commissioned because the DOD requested $173.2 million for weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other CTEF-S equipment for the current fiscal year, which began in October. Without accurate records, the Pentagon risks buying stuff it doesn’t need and “further overcrowding” the warehouses in Kuwait, which is what caused the pricey hardware to be stored outside in the first place.

Even though the Trump administration declared Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) defeated back in March 2019, ensuring the “enduring defeat” of the terrorists apparently requires that the weapons and equipment must flow. While the US taxpayers don’t have a choice in footing the bill, expecting them to swallow the explanation – that their noble men and women in uniform are just too stupid, lazy or incompetent to keep a ledger – sounds a bit rich.

Washington has a notoriously spotty record of pouring weapons into Syria and Iraq. At one point in 2015, the Pentagon admitted the failure of its program to train and equip “Vetted Syrian Opposition” (also known as “moderate rebels”). Having spent $2 million per fighter, the US saw them defect to the Al-Qaeda affiliate group Al-Nusra, bringing the US-supplied weapons and kit along.

So the Pentagon doubled down in 2016, spending untold millions to train “dozens” of rebels in Turkey. It is unclear how many of those “moderates” took part in last year’s assault on areas held by US-allied Kurdish militias.

As late as September 2016, Al-Nusra commanders openly talked about getting US weapons, both “directly” and via third countries, such as Saudi Arabia. The Syrian government has since dealt the militants one defeat after another, and currently advances on their last remaining strongholds in the Idlib province.

While the US government and media have objected to these operations – and NATO member Turkey actually sent troops and tanks to Idlib in an attempt to halt them – a spokesman for the anti-IS coalition has just openly admitted Idlib is a nest of terrorists.

https://www.rt.com/usa/481325-pentagon-weapons-iraq-syria/

>>8207395

Agreed

Conflict of interest? New report reveals NBC's Chuck Todd was Democrat Amy Klobuchar's landlord

The financial relationship had not been disclosed

NBC's Chuck Todd helped moderate Wednesday night's debate despite having once had a financial relationship with one of the Democratic candidates on stage. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Todd was once Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's landlord in Virginia.

NBC's Chuck Todd helped moderate Wednesday night's debate despite having once had a financial relationship with one of the Democratic candidates on stage. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Todd was once Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's landlord in Virginia.

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According to the Post's report, Klobuchar and her husband, attorney John Bessler, once rented a three-bedroom home from Todd in Arlington, an affluent city located near Washington, D.C.

A source told the Post that although the couple began renting the house from Todd in 2008, they no longer live at the residence, and it is unclear when they moved out.

'$3,200/month'

A 2008 report by the Star Tribune said that Klobuchar and her husband rented the house for "$3,200/month, plus utilities." The Star Tribune noted that, "Before moving in May to provide more room for 'visiting grandparents,' Klobuchar and her family rented a two-bedroom apartment in northern Virginia for $2,800 a month."

At a rate of $3,200 per month, it means that, presumably, Klobuchar and Bessler paid Todd up to $38,400 per year.

The article also stated that the couple kept their home in Minnesota, but that she would commute to Washington on weekdays for work. According to online listings of the home, it has 3.5 bathrooms and is approximately 3,000 square feet. It is unclear if Todd still owns the house.

'Not disclosed publicly'

Although D.C. insiders were aware that Klobuchar was Todd's tenant — including while appearing on his various television shows — a source told the Post that their financial relationship had not been publicly disclosed.

The Post contacted NBC and Klobuchar for comment, but neither have responded to media inquiries.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/nbcs-chuck-todd-was-democrat-amy-klobuchars-landlord

Cop Gets 7 Years After Arresting People for Heroin, Stealing It from Dept, Selling It

Haywood County, NC — A Haywood County detective was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison this week for breaking into the evidence locker and dealing heroin. Kevin Smathers was terminated from the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in August 2018 after his crimes were discovered and the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) was asked to come and investigate. During his time as a detective, Smathers was undoubtedly responsible for putting drug dealers behind bars—only to become one himself.

After the scandal came to light, the Sheriff’s Office asked for outside auditors to take inventory of the evidence room. Following the audit, in the Spring of 2019, Smathers was indicted on 16 counts of breaking and entering (Evidence Room) and 1 count of trafficking opium or heroin.

Smathers started with the HCSO in 2007 and eventually worked his way up to being appointed as a detective within the department. Sheriff Greg Christopher issued the following press release which reads in part:

This situation is devastating for so many people — for the employees of this office who work incredibly hard every day to meet high performance standards this line of work requires, and for our citizens who place their trust in law enforcement to help them when they are in need.

Apparently worse than substandard police work, Smathers’ actions undermined not only the community’s trust but also the judicial process for each and every suspect with which he had contact. Any defense attorney worth his weight in salt would now be poised to help get his/her clients released because the deputy turned detective has now been proven to be unreliable and incredible.

In other words, each and every case in which someone went to jail or prison under this bad cop runs the risk of being overturned. Not only are overturned convictions at stake but those who’ve been wrongfully arrested may be able to have not only their convictions overturned but might be entitled to financial compensation as well.

Christopher’s statement continues:

I am very sorry for the pain Kevin’s family has endured as a result of this incident and will continue endure…This incident caused our office to review and completely revamp our evidence policy and procedures to include a 100 percent item-by-item audit conducted by an independent company.

Christopher has since hired a full-time staffer to manage the evidence room, presumably to prevent a recurrence of the theft. The sheriff also alluded to the erosion of the community’s trust while saying:

For years, our office has worked very hard to build and maintain a level of professionalism and integrity that our law-abiding citizens can be proud of, and we are committed to continuing this environment of trust and effectiveness that our communities deserve.

https://thefreethoughtproject.com/cop-gets-7-years-after-arresting-people-for-heroin-stealing-it-from-dept-selling-it/

Canada’s new opioid vending machine won’t solve a crisis of hopelessness

The opioid ‘vending machine’ introduced in Vancouver seems like a liberal way to fight the opioid crisis. But like Canada’s approach to euthanasia, we may actually be giving up on deeper problems – while pharma companies profit.

Across Canada, the opioid crisis has had devastating consequences with nearly 14,000 people dying due to overdose and another 17,000 hospitalised since 2016. To tackle the problem, Vancouver has installed the world’s first biometric opioid vending machine, which dispenses prescription opioids to patients by recognising biometric information in their palms.

There is no doubt that projects like this solve a number of problems and can help save lives in the short-term. A more liberal approach to drugs, like that taken by Portugal in de-criminalising drug consumption, is a positive step. Medical treatment is certainly more humane and effective than incarceration. In a comment to the Lancet, supporters of the vending machine approach compared the opioid crisis to outbreaks of infectious disease, requiring “preventive vaccinations and emergency treatments.” Accordingly, public health initiatives should identify “as many as 1 million users at risk of toxic opioid products” and provide them with a safer supply.

https://www.rt.com/op-ed/481408-opioid-vending-machines-canada/

‘Harmfully Misleading:’ Twitter Tests Warning Labels on World Leaders’ Tweets

Twitter is reportedly testing colorful labels on tweets from politicians and world leaders if the site determines the posts contain lies or misinformation. In leaked screenshots, a bright orange label describes tweets as “harmfully misleading.”

NBC News reports that social media site Twitter is experimenting with a feature that would add bright orange and red labels beneath the tweets of politicians. The labels would be added if Twitter decides the post is misleading or a lie.

The potential feature would see alleged disinformation posted by public figures on the platform corrected by fact-checker and journalists who have been verified on Twitter. The feature is still experimental but it is possible that other users will participate in the “community reports” program, which the demo claims is “like Wikipedia.”

A Twitter spokesperson told NBC News: “We’re exploring a number of ways to address misinformation and provide more context for tweets on Twitter. Misinformation is a critical issue and we will be testing many different ways to address it.”

The demo shows tweets from politicians with large orange banners below reading “Harmfully Misleading.” Examples of how this system would work including badges attached to tweets from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and a tweet from author Anand Ranganathan.

The experimental policy comes just as the 2020 election season ramps up with Twitter playing a key role in the spread of political information. Last month, Twitter announced in a blog post relating to media on its platform that it would be banning any “synthetic or manipulated” media that is “likely to cause harm.”

One version of the demo of the new badge system for information notes that Twitter users could earn “points” and “community badge” if they “contribute in good faith and act like a good neighbor” and “provide critical context to help people understand information they see.”

“Together, we act to help each other understand what’s happening in the world, and protect each other from those who would drive us apart,” the demo states. A Twitter spokesperson reiterated to NBC that the community reporting feature is just one of several versions of the program that will be launched in the next few weeks.

“This is a design mock-up for one option that would involve community feedback,” the spokesperson said.

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2020/02/21/harmfully-misleading-twitter-tests-warning-labels-on-world-leaders-tweets/

Mexican Cartels near Texas Increasingly Reliant on Child Recruits

The term “child soldiers” usually conjures thoughts and images of children in North Africa, the Middle East, and southeast Asia. Over the past decade, the southwestern U.S.-Mexico Border region has made alarming steps to join the club.

Recently, a rash of videos and photographs circulated on social media from Mexican cartel-controlled accounts depicted children holding and firing military-grade weapons. Many do not recognize this is actually propaganda used to recruit juveniles on both sides of the border.

In 2006, Mexican cartels began transitioning from organized crime into full insurgencies. The Calderon administration was forced to deploy its military due to the destabilizing power wielded by cartels. Child soldiers became an integral part of the cartels at that time. The United Nations previously stated that 3,664 minors were apprehended between 2006 to 2010 and that an estimated 1,000 died in conflict.

By 2010, some cartels were already morphing into terrorist organizations capable of committing mass murders of migrants and Mexican civilians. The United States border was also affected by the cartel allure as juveniles were recruited at increasing levels. Gabriel Cardona and Rosalio Reta are two of the most publicized U.S.-born soldiers of the Los Zetas Cartel, who operated internationally. Both were born and raised in Texas. They first began running drugs across the Rio Grande as teens before being sent to a cartel training camp in Tamaulipas under the tutelage of Colombian and Israeli mercenaries. Cardona later admitted to investigators that he committed his first murder at 13. At one time, these juvenile assassins lived in a safe house in Laredo, Texas, between targeting orders. Both are serving life sentences for murders in Texas and Mexico.

The boys’ story is not isolated. By 2011, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) had become so concerned over the issue that in a press release, they offered a rare glimpse at the escalating problem by providing statistics. The Texas border region represented 9.7 percent of the state’s population, yet since 2009, it accounted for 19.2% of Texas’ juvenile felony drug referrals and 21.8% of all juvenile gang referrals. In one Texas border county, more than 25 juveniles were arrested for drug trafficking within a year. It went on to describe several incidents including two Texas teenagers lured to Mexico where they were kidnapped, beaten, ransomed, and released in a remote area along the Rio Grande. That same year, DPS apprehended a 12-year-old boy in a border county driving a stolen truck containing more than 800 pounds of marijuana.

In July 2019 as conflict erupted in Tamaulipas between the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) and Gulf Cartel (CDG), investigators noticed a surge in the recruitment and arrests of juveniles working with CDG. A 12-year-old male was arrested while acting as a lookout. During a search of the teen’s backpack, authorities found two tactical vests, a ballistic plate, a loaded magazine, and other items.

https://www.breitbart.com/border/2020/02/21/mexican-cartels-near-texas-increasingly-reliant-on-child-recruits/

Over 60,000 Christians in Massive Protests Against Montenegro's President After Attempt to Seize Churches

The entire population of Montenegro is only 640,000. Christians are streaming in from all over the balkans in protest.

Transcript:

The capital of Montenegro was swept by a new wave of protests against the law on freedom of religion, which infringes on the interests of the Serbian Orthodox Church. More than 60 thousand believers came to the demonstrations and procession in Podgorica. Numerous protests took place in other cities of Montenegro.

Parishioners of the Serbian Orthodox Church oppose the law that the Montenegrin parliament passed in December 2019.

The authorities said they intend to create a new church and seize property from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

And this is more than 600 Orthodox shrines, many of them being medieval churches and monasteries.

https://russia-insider.com/en/over-60000-christians-massive-protests-against-montenegros-president-after-attempt-seize-churches

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