Obama/Putin relationship going south...

"The reports on cancelling the Moscow meeting are "also a message to Vladimir Putin, that I, President Obama, am not going to waste my precious time and my administration's resources on a relationship that just doesn't seem to bear any fruit," 

Hints that President Barack Obama may skip a September bilateral summit in Moscow suggest that Washington is ready to accept a limited relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, experts said.

Relations between the two countries have been strained by a number of issues in recent months, including the conflict in Syria, the fate of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, and Washington's criticism of the jailing in Russia of protest leader Alexei Navalny.

In mid-June, Russian and US authorities announced that the two leaders would hold a Moscow summit on September 3 and 4, before traveling to St. Petersburg for the two-day G-20 meeting.

It would be just the second time Obama visited Moscow since taking office in 2009, and his first visit since Russian leader Vladimir Putin regained power in May 2012.

The meeting however has been thrown into doubt as Washington and Moscow grapple over Snowden, who has been marooned at Moscow's international airport since June 23 after revealing a massive US-led global online surveillance program.

Full Story :  http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iHUJhfkK0NYpxoX4cz9r1tpqVGJw?docId=CNG.e4044871cddc64d7e9793c5807accbc7.171

Putin Declares Himself Dictator

Putin Declares Himself Dictator With The Navalny Verdict

Putin’s actions are those of a dictator, who substitutes repression for lost popular support. In his first two terms, he enjoyed high popularity ratings and could tolerate a moderately free press. His 2011 imperious declaration that he would return to the Presidency and the demonstrations that followed revealed that the Russian people simply want him gone.

 As a leader with failing public support, he can only remain in power by using force and repression that gets worse by the day. The amount of political repression in Russia today is about equal to that in Myanmar under military rule. The United States and other countries ostracized Myanmar and imposed sanctions. Although Ambassador McFaul expressed his regrets after the Navalny ruling, the Obama administration, in its ludicrous hope for Russian “reset” concessions, avoids any statements that might upset Vova, or “Little Vladimir” as the Russians derisively call Putin.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2013/07/18/putin-declares-himself-dictator-with-the-navalny-verdict/

Russia war games on China, Japan doorstep

Despite the proximity to two of Russia's most important neighbours, Moscow insists that the exercises carry no hostile intent and are within international law.

"I can report that no actions that would violate international obligations have been allowed," said Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

The manoeuvres are part of a series of last minute drills that the military was ordered to carry out in order to check out their battle-preparedness.

The forces involved had to mobilise swiftly after receiving orders this weekend to carry out the war games.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/16/putin-observes-russia-war-games-on-china-japan-doorstep/#ixzz2ZJFV4EWI

China and Russia conduct joint naval drill

China and Russia are beginning joint naval drills which Beijing has described as the country's largest with a foreign partner.

 The drills, which are taking place in the Sea of Japan, last from 5-12 July. People's Liberation Army chief Gen Fang Fenghui said on Tuesday the drills did not "target any third parties", but aimed to deepen ties with Russia. However they come amid tensions with regional neighbours including Japan and the Philippines over maritime disputes. China has overlapping claims with Tokyo and Manila in the East China and South China Sea respectively - something which has led to a marked deterioration in ties in recent years as China has pressed its claim more assertively. Last month the US and Japanese navies held joint exercises off San Diego. 'No aggression' Earlier this week, China's Defence Ministry said the drills marked the navy's "single biggest deployment of military force in a China-foreign joint exercise". "Assertions have been made that this drill has a symbolic significance in terms of safeguarding the sovereignty of islands in the area, and represents a response to the US-Japan alliance," Communist Party newspaper People's Daily wrote on Friday. But, the paper said, it was part of series of routine exercises, with the drill focusing on joint escort and the recovery of kidnapped vessels. "There will be no aggressive element to the joint drill," it said.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-23159442

Putin inspects biggest post-Soviet war games

Russian President Vladimir Putin has inspected the country's biggest military drills since Soviet times, involving around 160,000 troops.

 The manoeuvres, in Russia's Far East, are part of efforts to boost military mobility and combat readiness. Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said that the exercise was not directed against any particular nation. Mr Antonov said Russia warned its neighbours about the exercise and provided detailed information to China. The two countries have an agreement that envisages a mutual exchange of data about military activities along their border. Russia's army has been undergoing drills in its central and eastern military districts for several days. State-owned daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta described the drills as "the most intensive combat readiness check in the modern history of the Russian army".

 read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23327158

Armageddon 101-You need to know.

"And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: [and] many people with thee."
 Ezekiel 38: 1-6


God gives us the lists the major nations that will attack Israel, and they are: • Magog - this is modern day Russia • Persia - this is modern day Iran • Meshech and Tubal, Togarmah - this region is modern day Turkey • Ethiopia - this is modern Ethiopia • Libya - this is modern day Libya • Gomer - this is modern day Germany While there is slight debate among bible scholars, the above list represents the best consensus of the identity of the nations in Ezekiel 38. Suffice to say that the main players, of which there is no doubt, are Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya and Ethiopia. Now if we were living in the End Times, there would have to be a growing union between the biggest players in this group.

A quick look at some recent headlines tells us this: • Russia, the biggest End Times player, has already helped Iran build a nuclear reactor • Iran has repeated over and over their desire to wipe Israel off the map • Iran now has nuclear weapons capable of reaching Israel.
A Brand New Set Of Allies What's very interesting to note here is that for the first time in 2,500 years, Russia and Iran are now working together, as partners. This event is unique in world history. Prior to this period, the nations have been at odds with each other, as follows - "Historical ties between Iran and Russia have often been contentious. For many centuries their competing drives for influence on a volatile frontier and the southward projection of Russian-based dynasties have troubled relations between the two countries. Iran lost significant swaths of territory to imperial Russia in the 19th century and suffered from Russian competition with other foreign powers to carve spheres of influence in Iran in the first half of the last century. During the Cold War, Russian-Iranian relations were influenced by the worldwide alignment of forces in a bipolar geopolitical setting. Iran, allied with the West, faced its Soviet neighbor across the East-West ideological standoff." source - Questia.com

 Full Story:http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/pages/israel/world_war_3_ezekiel_38.htm

Court: No Law Against Jews Praying on Temple Mount

A Jerusalem court on Sunday ordered the release of a Jewish youth who had been arrested on charges of praying on the Temple Mount. The youth was also cleared of charges that he attacked an Arab during his visit to the Mount. The youth was ordered to stay away from the Temple Mount for 15 days. However, the court rejected a request by police that the youth be prohibited from entering the Old City altogether for 60 days. The court said that although Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount was a thorny political issue that required deep study, it was certainly not a crime – and preventing Jews from praying there was a restriction of their freedom to worship, guaranteed in Israel's Declaration of Independence and the Knesset's Basic Laws. A similar ruling regarding Jewish prayer on the Mount was made several months ago.

full story:  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169225#.UeQ6vjs3uE5

Russian "Bear" bombers were placed on alert

MOSCOW, July 14 (UPI) -- Russian "Bear" bombers were placed on alert Sunday during a surprise military exercise in the Far East region, the Kremlin said. The defense ministry said the exercises were ordered Friday by President Vladimir Putin and involved more than 160,000 troops and 70 Pacific Fleet warships. The strategic bombers known as Bears and based in the Amur Region, were placed on full combat readiness Sunday. "On order from the Russian president, the 6952nd air base of long-range aviation is switching to 'Full' combat readiness from 5:00 p.m. Moscow time, July 13," the ministry said in a written statement. "Tu-95MS strategic bombers are preparing for combat mission flights."

 Putin ordered the drill to check the district's readiness and the quality of its training and planning. The ministry added that the exercises were proceeding smoothly within the Eastern Military District, which was formed in 2010 by the combination of the Siberian and Far Eastern Military Districts, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said.

 Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/07/14/Russian-bombers-join-Far-East-military-exercises/UPI-83941373817282/#ixzz2Z8Mq43Gd

WAR WITH IRAN COULD COME IN 2013.

HAS THE END GAME BEGUN? PRIVATELY, SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIALS WARN WAR WITH IRAN COULD COME IN 2013. By Joel C. Rosenberg (@joelcrosenberg on Twitter)

 (Netanya, Israel, July 15, 2013) -- Over the past several weeks, I have been hearing from current and former senior Israeli officials and advisors at the highest possible levels, that the showdown with Iran is entering the critical ”end game” phase. I’m hearing from people with direct knowledge of the plans that war could come in 2013. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is beginning to prepare the public in Israel and around the world for a “military option.” This is why he appeared on CBS’s “Face The Nation” on Sunday (see excerpt of transcript on the blog). The PM called the Iranian a “messianic, apocalyptic” regime bent on genocide, a reference to the Shia eschatology Khamenei holds that Iran must annihilate Israel and the U.S. to usher in the reign of the Twelfth Imam. Netanyahu also called the incoming Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, a “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” who has bragged in the past about negotiating with the West while secretly advancing nuclear enrichment.

 What’s more, Netanyahu vowed not to “wait too long” to stop Iran. Expect more public diplomacy by Netanyahu and his team in the weeks ahead. This is one of the reasons why the PM is sending his most trusted foreign policy advisor, Ron Dermer, to the U.S. to serve as Israel’s ambassador. Dermer will work to ensure U.S.-Israeli relations are strong at this critical moment. Dermer (who grew up in Miami Beach and is a native English speaker) will also explain Israel’s principles, objectives and actions to the American people before, during, and after any crisis with Iran. Here’s the key: Israeli intelligence now believes Iran will likely have a “nuclear device” in as soon as four to six months, and an operational nuclear bomb or warhead within a year. But top Israeli political and military leaders -- up to an including the Prime Minister -- do not believe they can afford to wait that long. Therefore, they are making final preparations for war, a war that they increasingly believe may have to be launched before this year is over. Haven’t we heard warnings like this before? Yes, we have. But.... [To read the rest of this analysis, please go to the blog.] Other important stories on the blog right now include: * With interest in Gog & Magog prophecies growing, Muslim scholar writes analysis from Islamic perspective. * Who is Ron Dermer? He could emerge as the most influential Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. in a generation. * Only 16% of Israeli Jews read the Bible. Most Arab Muslims have never seen a Bible. It’s time to rediscover the “Power of the Word.” 2013 Epicenter Conference messages now posted online & and our mobile app. * Inside The Revolution: Drama builds amidst military coup in Egypt. Muslim Brotherhood leadership arrested. Who is Adly Mansour, new “interim president”? Putin meets with Ahmadinejad to strengthen Russian-Iranian alliance amidst Mideast drama. [To read these articles -- and/or learn more about DAMASCUS COUNTDOWN; or to find links to the latest news and analysis of events and trends in the U.S., Israel, North Africa, Russia, and the Middle East --

please go to: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com

Netanyahu, your Iran dream is over

It has to be said clearly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's life's mission - attacking Iran to save Israel - has become impossible.

It's over. The drama in Iran and in Egypt in the past few weeks set the picture. No element, no matter how radical, can avoid understanding that these millions of people want to live. Just as we had to listen to former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, we must now listen to his successor, Hassan Rohani. His calls for equality, freedom of expression and an absence of religious coercion are not a smokescreen or a plot. They are the consequence of the majority's desire for life. Those who are attached to the world of "masculine" language can speak of an Israeli victory. The principal Israeli position (whose most recent proponent at the top was former Defense Minister Ehud Barak ) - that Israel must postpone wars as long as possible in the hope that time would have a moderating effect, and force should only be used when all other options were exhausted and there was a clear chance of success - proved itself. It's not a personal matter.

Full Story HAARETZ:  http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/netanyahu-your-iran-dream-is-over.premium-1.534888

US, Israel created virus to destroy Iran nukes

Stuxnet in 2010 wrought havoc on equipment at Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant and complicated the manufacture of highly enriched uranium, which the West suspects is intended for making atomic weapons. The virus temporarily disabled 1,000 centrifuges being used by the Iranians to enrich uranium. Snowden, a former technical contractor for the NSA and employee of the CIA, last month revealed the existence of mass surveillance programs by the United States and Britain against their own citizens and citizens of other countries. He said Germany and most other Western nations are “in bed together” with the NSA. Snowden said a private citizen would be targeted by the NSA based on Facebook or webmail content.

Full Story: http://www.jpost.com/International/Snowden-US-Israel-created-virus-to-destroy-Iran-nukes-319226

How Cyberwarfare and Drones Have Revolutionized Warfare

Just as aircraft carriers allowed naval battles to extend their strike distance to the point of aircraft versus aircraft warfare, drones are increasing the strike distance of the military. Nanorobots will further increase the ability to deal precise damage. Drones are often the preferred choice of policymakers because they place no American lives at risk. Cybertechnology also extends the reach of the military, with the Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear weapons program serving as a prime example. Thanks to the Internet, cyberwarriors can reach immediately not only into the Web-connected world, but also into computers without direct Internet access – all without putting Americans in harm’s way.

http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/17/how-cyberwarfare-and-drones-have-revolutionized-warfare/?ref=stuxnet

Vladimir Putin's 'Cold Peace' with the West

This is the Cold Peace. Russia and the West have neither become true friends nor real enemies under the reign of Vladimir Putin. Unimaginable back in the early 1980s — today you can pay for a visa, the borders are open, entire classes of lawyers, bankers, businessmen are trading [together]. Nor is there any interest in Europe in clamping down on the money of the Russian establishment — which mostly finds its home in EU tax havens, London property and mysterious shell-companies protected by the best European lawyers and PR agents. Thinking back to the economic blockades of the Cold War — this is not how the Western elites behave to an enemy. But Russia is not a friend either. It remains un-integrated and uninvited into Euro-Atlantic institutions. The Putin years have seen the return of clearly defined proxy wars — first the Russian attempt to defeat NATO expansion in Georgia and Ukraine in 2008, and from 2011 the attempt to block Western designs on removing the Assad regime in Syria.

full story:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/07/05/f-ben-judah-putin-west.html

Moderate to become Iranian president

Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani will assume Iran's highest elected office on August 3, ending Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial eight-year presidency, a deputy speaker of parliament said on Monday. Mr Rowhani will become president once supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the ultimate decision-maker in the Islamic republic, formally endorses his surprise June election.

 That ceremony, attended by top officials, will take place on August 3, deputy speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar said in remarks reported by the state broadcaster's website. A day later, on August 4, Mr Rowhani will take the oath of office before parliament and will then have two weeks to form his proposed cabinet, Mr Bahonar said. Politicians will then validate his ministers over a 10-day period. Mr Rowhani won more than 18.5 million votes, or 50.7 per cent of total ballots cast in last month's election, overwhelmingly sweeping aside his conservative rivals. His win was seen as a rejection of Mr Ahmadinejad's controversial policies. The 64-year-old mid-ranking Shiite cleric has vowed to form a government that bridges the divide, using skilled experts from the conservatives as well as currently marginalised reformists. Mr Rowhani says he aims to ease international tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions and to resolve domestic woes, including economic hardships exacerbated by Western sanctions targeting the country's vital oil income.

ABC story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-08/rowhani-to-become-iran-president-on-august-3/4807364

COUNTERPOINT

Don’t be fooled by results of Iranian election

The Obama administration should not delude itself by welcoming the election of Rowhani as a sign of real change in Iran, and the world should not be fooled into the belief that the Islamic regime in Iran will stop its nuclear program because there is a new president in Tehran. The quest to establish itself as the sole hegemonic power in Southwest Asia remains the central objective of Iran’s foreign policy.
http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/don-t-be-fooled-by-results-of-iranian-election/article_6139ee8a-e7d9-11e2-ae9d-001a4bcf887a.html