politics for the 99%

… Part I, Feb 20, 2017; Part II, Feb 22, 2017 - Published on Global Research.ca (first on Strategic Culture Foundation), by Eric Zuesse, Feb 25, 2017.

AFTER RUSSIA TOOK OVER THE NEGOTIATIONS: the conclusion of the first round of post-U.S.-involvement Syrian peace talks took place in Astana Kazakhstan and ended on January 24th, and included, as governmental participants, Syria, Russia, Iran, and Turkey. Neither the Sauds (who had selected and organized the delegation that supposedly represented ‘the rebels’ in the previous, America-led, talks) nor the United States government (which is the main international representative of the Sauds) participated. (However, America’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan was allowed to be one of the «observers»; America’s master, the Sauds, weren’t granted even this recognition.) The Syrian announcement noted that «Regarding the omission of the reference to Syria’s secularism in the statement, al-Jaafari [Syria’s Foreign Minister] said that this was upon the request of Turkey and the armed groups [these ones not having been selected by the Saud family, but by the four governmental participants], which is odd since the Turkish government claims that Turkey is secular, but when it comes to Syria, it stands against secularism» … //

… There was a separate announcement, from Al Jazeera, on January 24th, «Astana joint statement by Iran, Russia, Turkey: in Full». It said that the parties:

• Reaffirm their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, non-sectarian and democratic State, as confirmed by the UN Security Council;
• Express their conviction that there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict and that it can only be solved through a political process based on the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2254 in its entirety;
• Reiterate their determination to fight jointly against ISIL/DAESH and Al-Nusra and to separate them from armed opposition groups;
• Support the willingness of the armed opposition groups to participate in the next round of negotiations to be held between the government and the opposition under the UN auspices in Geneva as of February 8, 2017;

The resistance, by some religious Muslims, to the Russian delegation’s proposed new Constitution for Syria, which is even more secular than the existing one, caused the February 8th resumption-date in Geneva to be moved back to February 20th.

Here are some provisions of that proposed Russian draft – Chapter 1., Basic Principles:

• Article 1: The Syrian Republic is an independent sovereign state, based on the principle of the rule of the people by the people and for the people, the rule of law, equality of all before the law, social solidarity, respect for rights and freedoms and equality of rights and duties of all citizens regardless of any differences and privileges … //
• … // …
• Article 82: The term in office of the current President of the Republic shall be 7 years from the swearing-in date. He has the right to run again for President of the Republic. The President’s term in office as stated in this Constitution shall apply to him as of the next presidential elections.

The U.S. had demanded that the Syrian public be prohibited from being allowed to vote for Bashar al-Assad when elections for Syria’s Presidency will next be held. The U.S. government and its allies had held polls throughout Syria, all of which showed that Assad is by far the preferred person, among all Syrians, to lead the nation … //

… (full long text, related articles).

Links:

I’m surprised Russians (are) not blamed for bad weather – former UK Ambassador to Moscow, on RT, Feb 24, 2017: the narrative dominating the popular media about an “evil, revanchist, and cunning” Russia is grotesquely exaggerated and produces some truly absurd stories, says Sir Tony Brenton, who was British Ambassador to Russia from 2004–2008 …;

Jimmy Dore Dismantles Tom Brokaw and the Corporate Media, 12.19 min, on Liberty Blitzkrieg, by Michael Krieger, Feb 23, 2017:
(also on YouTube as: Tom Brokaw Unwittingly Reveals Whats Wrong With Corporate Journalists, uploaded by The Jimmy Dore Show;
(related – Phil Donahue:
Phil Donahue (2015) Memories, 11.32 min, uploaded by brampete, Aug 16, 2015;
Phil Donahue kicks Bill O’Reilly’s ass on the Factor, 8.13 min, uploaded by oreillywatch, Jan 6, 2008; Find him also on on YouTube-search; and on en.wikipedia;

Daimler to invest in Mercedes-Benz plant in Russia, creating over 1,000 jobs, on RT, Feb 22, 2017;

uploaded by Blonde in the Belly of the Beast:
What Will it Take for Europeans to Push Back? 9.02 min, Feb 18, 2017 … Celia Farber on Infowars; Brittany Pettibone and Reality Calls Interview Tommy Robinson; … (more text);
Germany, American Cities and Cultural Disparities, 5.37 min, Feb 14, 2017 … just a quick update on my trip and surroundings. Some weird formatting issues from switching equipment …;

The Truth About Islam in Europe, Episode 2 – Tommy Robinson, 61.37 min, uploaded by Virtue of the West w/ Tara McCarthy, Feb 14, 2017;
(related:
picture of the year, July 12. 2009;
The Muslim opinion is manipulated, Feb 12, 2006;
War between Integrisme and Freedom, Feb 12, 2006);

CIA Covert Aid to Italy Averaged $5 Million Annually from Late 1940s to Early 1960s - Study, on National Security Archive, by Dr. Ronald Landa, Feb 7, 2017: Previously Unpublished Draft Defense Department History Explores U.S. Policy toward Italy, Spotlights Role of Flamboyant Envoy, Clare Boothe Luce;
Despite Rhetoric, Eisenhower Was Not Prepared to Intervene Militarily to Block Communists Short of Forcible Seizure of Power, Study’s Author Concludes;

Winter Wonderland Tiny Home – PERFECT for Mountain Living, 14.41 min, uploaded by Tiny House Canada, … in the mountainous beauty of Nelson, British Columbia … their LONGEST tiny home to date, a 380 sq ft OFF-GRID beauty with solar panels, wood stove and more. Clearly, the owners are into living “off the beaten path …;
(related: out of grid on Google Images-search);

… and this:

• again, because it’s so good for the soul: Helene Fischer and Melanie Oesch – Atemlos = Alpine Version (live TV ZDF), 6.07 min, uploaded by Martin Winkler, Dec 29, 2016.