• Briefing With Acting Assistant Secretary David M. Satterfield
    Special Briefing David M. Satterfield,Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Press Briefing Room, Washington, DC,
    December 7, 2017
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/12/276349.htm

    (...) QUESTION: My name is Said Arikat. I just want to follow up on East Jerusalem because it is really – it’s not clear at all. Not in my mind. So what happens to the Palestinian population of East Jerusalem? Do they now become automatically Israeli citizens, would have full rights, and so on? What happens to 300,000 Palestinians?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: Said, the President’s proclamation yesterday, his decision, have no impact on those issues. He is recognizing a practical reality. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. And all of the other aspects – boundaries of sovereignty – we’re not taking a position. It’s for the sides to resolve.

    QUESTION: So if you’ll just bear with me for a second. So why not say West Jerusalem? I mean, the Russians have done that. It did not cause any problem and so on. Or why don’t you say that this part, East Jerusalem, as been negotiated as you yourself have been involved for so many years, this portion is designated to become the capital of the Palestinian state?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: Said, the President’s decision speaks for itself. There are many words that are in his statement, in his remarks; there are words that aren’t. We recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel. He didn’t go beyond that, and I’m not going to go beyond that.

    QUESTION: Can you – can you share with us —

    MS NAUERT: We need to move on (inaudible).

    QUESTION: — just one last thing?

    MS NAUERT: Said, (inaudible).

    QUESTION: Could you share with us, sir —

    MS NAUERT: Said, (inaudible).

    QUESTION: — one national security interest of the United States that this recognition has served? Can you identify one national security interest of the United States that this recognition has identified?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: The President is committed to advancing a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. In his view upon reflection, this step, he believes, assists in that process. Full stop.

    MS NAUERT: Nick, go right ahead.

    QUESTION: Can you explain that further, because —

    QUESTION: Can I just ask, Mr. —

    QUESTION: — that’s exactly what we’re trying to – or what I’m trying to figure out is —

    MS NAUERT: Nick, go right ahead. Hold on, Dave.

    QUESTION: Can you – just to Matt’s point, can you explain why a decision-making process needs to be made about maps and things like that, and consular services? I mean, you said yourself, the President declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Why does there need to be a further decision-making process on those other issues?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: It’s a very simple answer, and it’s wholly technical. What phrasing do you place upon government-issued maps? There are different word choices that can be used. To be clear, there will be a decision made. When the decision is made, you’ll have it and you’ll have the maps.

    QUESTION: And can you just explain why now? Why did he make this decision now?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: Because December 4th was the trigger date for the next waiver required under the Jerusalem Act of ’95. That was the proximate timing issue. Full stop.

    QUESTION: So there was no strategic – this – it was solely based on —

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: The President had to make a decision. He did. But he’s —

    QUESTION: Why didn’t he do it on the 4th?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: That’s the legal requirement of the act. Every six months —

    QUESTION: No, but he —

    QUESTION: But he didn’t.

    QUESTION: But he didn’t.

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: — a waiver has to be issued.

    QUESTION: He didn’t do it on the 4th. He did it on the 6th.

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: We believe – and I believe the White House has spoken to this – technically, we were in compliance. We’ll leave it to the Hill on whether 48 hours constituted a problem or not. But the 4th was the trigger date.

    QUESTION: Wow. I wish my editors had your sense of deadline. (Laughter.)

    QUESTION: Michelle with CNN. Thanks. Can you just say how – how this furthers the peace process?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: The President believes taking this issue – that is the fact of U.S. recognition, acknowledgement of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – an issue that’s been pending out there since ’95, since the act was initially passed – was appropriate to make and that it helps in the process to no longer have that issue, which is the U.S. acknowledgement of the simple fact that Jerusalem is the location of the supreme court, the Knesset, the president and the prime minister’s residences, that that is a useful clearing of an issue that has been part of, grown as part of, this process for many decades.

    QUESTION: So it’s setting us up for what? To – if you’re saying that that gets that out of the way and it’s been a reality, how does that set the stage?

    AMBASSADOR SATTERFIELD: The President and his peace team have been engaged, as you all know, for many months now in discussions with the two parties, with regional states, with other key actors, to try to advance a peace. This is not an easy process; it’s a difficult one. But he believes this step assists in that process. I am not going to elaborate on that further.
    (...)
    QUESTION: Et une autre question. Considérez-vous les parties de Jérusalem-Est occupées par Israël en 1967 comme des territoires occupés?

    AMBASSADEUR SATTERFIELD: La décision du Président est de reconnaître Jérusalem comme la capitale de l’Etat d’Israël. Le Président a déclaré que cette décision ne touche pas aux questions de frontières, de souveraineté ou de frontières géographiques. Arrêt complet.

    QUESTION: Donc, il est encore territoire occupé, à votre avis?

    AMBASSADEUR SATTERFIELD: J’ai déclaré ce que la décision du président fait et ne fait pas.(...)

  • “…the conditions of him being held”… #mais_non_je_l’ai_pas_dit

    Department Press Briefing - November 9, 2017
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2017/11/275450.htm

    So I addressed the part of U.S. citizens who may be there. I want to mention that our charge d’affaires, who’s serving in Saudi Arabia – his name is Chris Henzel – he met with Prime Minister Hariri yesterday, so had a chance to speak with him. I cannot provide you with a readout of that conversation or any specifics of it, but we have seen him. In terms of the conditions of him being held or the conversations between Saudi Arabia and the Prime Minister Hariri, I would have to refer you to the Government of Saudi Arabia and also to Mr. Hariri’s office.

    QUESTION: Sorry. You said the conditions of him being held. Is he in detention?

  • State Department Terrorist Designations of Hashem Safieddine and Muhammad al-Isawi
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/05/270982.htm

    La meilleure...

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the United States in designating Hashem Safieddine. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia designated Safieddine under its Law of Terrorism Crimes and Financing and Royal Decree A/44. As a result, any of his assets held in Saudi Arabia are frozen, and transfers through the Kingdom’s financial sector, are prohibited.

    ...et #sans_vergogne aucune:

    State Dept CT Bureau on Twitter: “In first ever StateDept & foreign joint terrorist designation, US & #SaudiArabia designate Hashem Safieddine, #Hizballah leader.”
    https://mobile.twitter.com/StateDeptCT/status/865572665121099776

  • Les bombardements américains tuent des civils, les bombardements russes et syriens tuent des civils. Je t’essplique la différence :
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/10/263030.htm

    The difference is when we cause them, it’s unintentional or there was a mistake involved. It’s not a deliberate attempt to put innocent civilians in harm’s way. Again, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. When it does, we own up to it, we investigate it.

    What we’ve seen in and around Aleppo specifically with respect to the Syrian regime and Russian military aircraft is a wanton disregard for the safety and security of civilians and an indiscriminate approach to the bombing, which is absolutely not at all in concert with the way we conduct our military air operations.

    Rappel : son métier avant, c’était bidasse :

  • Syrie : qui sont les « casques blancs », héros anonymes de la guerre ? - L’Express
    http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/proche-moyen-orient/syrie-qui-sont-les-casques-blancs-heros-anonymes-de-la-guerre_1739792.html

    Syrie : qui sont les « casques blancs », héros anonymes de la guerre ?

    Documents à l’appui (mais en arabe) Al-Akhbar (http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/257163) montre que ces « héros ordinaires » sont une énième invention des communicants chargés de vendre à l’opinion occidentale la guerre de Syrie. En arabe dans le texte, ces sauveteurs sont nettement moins photogéniques...

    #syrie

    • Pour le State Department les White Helmet sont formidables, d’ailleurs l’USAID les a financé à hauteur de 23 millions de $, mais il vaut mieux que leur leader ne vienne pas sur le territoire américain pour raison de sécurité...

      Point presse de Mark Toner, porte-parole du state Department le 27 avril 2016.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=792ODrhwKkk


      Le transcript intégral de ce point presse sur le site du State Department là : http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/04/256667.htm#SYRIA

      Un journaliste (Matthew Lee d’AP) demande à Toner comment le State Department peut dire soutenir les White Helmets, et en même temps avoir révoqué le visa de son leader (Raed Saleh) pour raison de sécurité.
      De fait Raed Saleh venait aux USA recevoir un prix décerné par InterAction, un appendice de l’USAID (voir article NYT : http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/world/middleeast/leader-of-syria-rescue-group-arriving-in-us-for-award-is-refused-entry.html ).
      Toner explique qu’il faut distinguer entre le leader, dont il ne peut pas parler, et du groupe que les USA soutiennent.
      Un autre journaliste insiste et finalement obtient la même réponse mais avec l’aveu implicite que Raed Saleh serait en relation avec des groupes extrémistes :
      Voir vidéo de 3’20 à 3’54

      QUESTION: How can you separate the leader of the group from the group?
      MR TONER: Well, he’s one individual in the group.
      QUESTION: But the leader of the group.
      MR TONER: And any individual – again, I’m broadening my language here for specific reasons, but any individual in any group suspected of ties or relations with extremist groups or that we had believed to be a security threat to the United States, we would act accordingly. But that does not, by extension, mean we condemn or would cut off ties to the group for which that individual works for.

      La discussion continue et Mark Toner balance que ce groupe a reçu pour 23 millions d’aides de l’USAID et redit à quel point les USA les soutiennent. M. Lee repose alors la question sur l’incongruité alors de révoquer le visa de son leader pour raison de sécurité.
      Vidéo de 4’15 à 5’40

      MR TONER: Well, I can tell you that we provide, through USAID, about $23 million in assistance to them.
      QUESTION: Right.
      MR TONER: I can say that they’ve saved over 40,000 lives, as I just mentioned at the – in the topper by acting as first responders. They go into combat zones, they save people after attacks. We’ve seen no action on the part of this group writ large that indicates in any way that they’re nothing but an impartial group that – like any humanitarian organization – works across lines of control and is in contact with a range of groups to facilitate their life-saving efforts. And that’s – again, we’ve talked about this the last couple days. Aleppo is —
      QUESTION: I understand that.
      MR TONER: — a very complex situation. We understand that. And for these groups to operate, they have to be able to operate within the milieu on which they’re working.
      QUESTION: Mark, but can you ask for some – I mean, this just seems bizarre to me. You’re giving this guy and his group $23 million. Yes, they do good work, they save lives, but you’ve revoked his visa for some reason and you won’t say why and it just doesn’t make any sense. Why is the U.S. taxpayer supporting a group whose leader you have banned from coming to the States?

  • La réponse de Mark Toner, porte-parole du State Department quand un journaliste lui pose une question sur ce qu’il sait de l’utilisation d’armes chimiques par le groupe Jaych al-islam - qui a admis la responsabilité d’un de ses commandants, sachant que ce groupe fait partie des pourparlers de Genève (Mohammed Allouch est le négociateur du HCN) :
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/04/255630.htm

    QUESTION: What about the reports that Jaysh al-Islam was involved, who have taken responsibility for this, and they’re one of the parties that have a delegation in the intra-Syrian talks?
    MR TONER: Yeah, and I apologize. I just don’t have any information on that at this point. I’d have to look into it." This is the same US government which in the past had covered up the use of chemical weapons by its then ally, Saddam Husayn.

    Via angry arab (http://angryarab.blogspot.fr/2016/04/how-us-government-is-covering-up-use-of.html)
    Pour un rappel des faits : http://seenthis.net/messages/478508

    En vidéo, l’intégralité de l’échange (3 minutes). Toner élude une première fois la question en évoquant Da’ich (début de séquence) puis en fin de séquence le journaliste remet le couvert et obtient cette réponse peu crédible : « pas au courant ».
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KruMBzMtYDs

    En passant à ma connaissance la presse française n’a absolument pas couvert ceci...

  • Le texte officiel de l’accord de cessez-le-feu en Syrie qui vient être signé entre Américains et Russes et qui doit rentrer en application le 27 février à 0h00 (heure Damas) est lisible en intégralité (en anglais) sur le site du State Department :
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/02/253115.htm

    the cessation of hostilities commence at 00:00 (Damascus time) on February 27, 2016.

    Cet accord de cessez-le-feu ne concerne ni Da’ich ni Jabhat al-Nousra, ni les organisations listées comme terroristes par l’ONU. Certains font remarquer justement que ce texte qui fait référence à la résolution 2254 du CS de l’ONU en abandonne pourtant la formule « ainsi que le Front al-Nosra et tous les autres individus, groupes, entreprises et entités associés à Al-Qaida » http://seenthis.net/messages/458334#message458473
    Une manière de permettre à tous les groupes qui se sont alliés à al-Nousra au sein de la coalition Jaysh al-Fatah, notamment Ahrar al-Cham, de bénéficier du cessez-le-feu.

    The nationwide cessation of hostilities is to apply to any party currently engaged in military or paramilitary hostilities against any other parties other than “Daesh”, “Jabhat al-Nusra”, or other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council.

    Notons en passant que le Parti Islamique du Turkestan en est exclu puiqu’il a été inscrit en 2002 sur la liste des groupes terroristes à l’ONU : https://web.archive.org/web/20121219171112/http://www.un.org:80/sc/committees/1267/NSQE08802E.shtml

    Le 26 février au plus tard, tous les groupes prêts à accepter ce cessez-le-feu devront se faire connaître, ainsi que leur localisation :

    Any party engaged in military or para-military hostilities in Syria, other than “Daesh”, “Jabhat al-Nusra”, or other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council will indicate to the Russian Federation or the United States, as co-chairs of the ISSG, their commitment to and acceptance of the terms for the cessation of hostilities by no later than 12:00 (Damascus time) on February 26, 2016

    On prévoit d’ailleurs d’échanger des informations et même de rédiger une sorte de carte délimitant le territoire de Da’ich, d’al-Nousra et des « autres organisations terroristes listées au CS de l’ONU ». En clair, une carte des endroits où il sera légitime de bombarder :

    The Russian Federation and United States will also work together, and with other members of the Ceasefire Task Force, as appropriate and pursuant to the ISSG decision of February 11, 2016, to delineate the territory held by “Daesh,” "Jabhat al-Nusra" and other terrorist organizations designated by the UN Security Council, which are excluded from the cessation of hostilities.

    Les points 1 et 2 de l’accord concernent respectivement la rébellion armée et le régime et ses forces associées. Ils sont quasiment symétriques et impliquent de cesser les combats avec toutes les armes, de s’interdire d’acquérir du territoire sur les autres parties liées à l’accord, d’user d’un usage proportionné de la force en cas d’opérations défensives et de permettre l’accès des « agences humanitaires » à toutes les populations dans le besoin.

  • The United States’ 30 Years of Voting in the United Nations General Assembly

    Ceux qui doutaient encore du cynisme des américains dans les affaires internationales devraient prendre quelques minutes pour parcourir ce texte de 2013 (qui date donc un peu, mais ce n’est pas très différent en 2015 ou 2016) vraiment incroyable. D’abord avec cette citation :

    in 1983, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick testified on how the U.N. could be “made a more effective instrument for problem-solving and peace-making among nations, an institution which helps resolve difference rather and exacerbate them.” Among her recommendations was to make “voting behavior, in multilateral organizations like the United Nations… one of the criteria we employ in deciding whether we will provide assistance, and what type of assistance and in what amount.

    Ensuite avec le graphique qui se désole que l’aide apportée à certains pays n’est pas du tout payé de retour (comprendre : ces pays très aidé ne votent pas comme les états-unis à l’onu, donc ils votent... contre !)

    sur le graph, c’est marrant de voir L’Ukraine, la Géorgie et... Israël :) Maintenant, c’est la "heritage foundation" donc faut pas non plus attendre un truc trop révolutionnaire.

    Lire le reste sur :

    http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/09/the-united-states-30-years-of-voting-in-the-united-nations-general-assembl

    Congress has been concerned for decades that countries receiving American foreign aid often oppose U.S. initiatives and priorities in the United Nations. A State Department annual report on the voting practices in the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA), mandated by Congress since 1983, shows that in the past 30 years voting coincidence with the U.S. surpassed 50 percent only twice.

    Moreover, the vast majority of recipients of U.S. foreign assistance routinely oppose U.S. diplomatic initiatives and vote against the U.S. The most recent report confirms yet again that most recipients of foreign aid voted against the U.S. in the UNGA in 2012.

    #états-unis #onu #obscénité #cynisme cc @fil à verser au dossier onu.

  • Climat d’#insécurité (Le Monde, 23/11/2015)
    http://lemonde.fr/cop21/article/2015/11/23/climat-d-insecurite_4815296_4527432.html

    En fait, le #changement_climatique est directement lié à l’augmentation de la menace terroriste (…), a-t-il expliqué. Si nous n’écoutons pas ce que les scientifiques nous disent, nous allons voir des pays tout autour du monde – c’est ce que dit la CIA – se battre pour l’accès à l’eau, pour l’accès aux terres arables, et nous verrons surgir toutes sortes de #conflits. »

    Lire aussi « Aux origines climatiques des conflits » (août 2015) https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2015/08/SINAI/53507

    L’effondrement du système agricole syrien résulte d’un jeu complexe de facteurs dont le changement climatique, une mauvaise gestion des ressources naturelles et la dynamique démographique. Cette « combinaison de changements économiques, sociaux, climatiques et environnementaux a érodé le contrat social entre les citoyens et le gouvernement, catalysé les mouvements d’opposition et irréversiblement dégradé la légitimité du pouvoir d’Assad », estiment Francesco Femia et Caitlin Werrell, du Centre pour le climat et la sécurité (3). Selon eux, l’émergence de l’Organisation de l’Etat islamique (#OEI) et son expansion en #Syrie et en Irak résultent en partie de la sécheresse. Et celle-ci ne relève pas seulement de la variabilité naturelle du #climat. Il s’agit d’une anomalie : « Le changement du régime des précipitations en Syrie est lié à la hausse moyenne du niveau de la mer dans l’est de la Méditerranée, cumulée avec la chute de l’humidité du sol. Aucune cause naturelle n’apparaît dans ces tendances, alors que la sécheresse et le réchauffement corroborent les modèles de réponse à la hausse des gaz à effet de serre », estime la revue de l’Académie des sciences américaine (4).

    • On peut ajouter « Why a Climate Deal Is the Best Hope for Peace », de Naomi Klein et Jason Bow
      http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/why-a-climate-deal-is-the-best-hope-for-peace

      We are finally starting to recognize that climate change leads to wars and economic ruin.

      ...le Prince Charles :

      And, in fact, there’s very good evidence indeed that one of the major reasons for this horror in Syria, funnily enough was a drought that lasted for about five or six years, which meant that huge numbers of people in the end had to leave the land.

      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/12010746/Prince-Charles-Climate-change-failure-is-a-factor-behind-Syrian-crisis.

      ... ou encore John Kerry et ses « Remarks on Climate Change and National Security »
      http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/11/249393.htm

      Today I am pleased to announce that I will be convening a task force of senior government officials to determine how best to integrate climate and security analysis into overall foreign policy planning and priorities. For example, the strategic plans our embassies use should account for expected climate impacts so that our diplomats can work with host countries to focus on prevention – to proactively address climate-driven stresses on people’s livelihoods, health, and security and to do it before it evolves into deep grievances that fuel conflicts.

      #réductionnisme_climatique

      Puisque l’article du Monde parle de l’article de Francesca de Chatel pour justifier les propos de Bernie Sanders le lendemain des attentats, citons-en un extrait :

      In the case of Syria, where there are so many other evident causes of the current conflict, it seems unproductive to focus on the possible role of climate change in the uprising, or indeed in possible future conflict. Climate change may cause more frequent and harsher drought in Syria, but the ongoing failure to rationalize water use and enforce environmental and water use laws certainly constitutes a much greater threat to the country’s natural resources. Rather than seeing the 2006–10 drought in north-eastern Syria as a harbinger of catastrophic climate change and conflict scenarios, it should be considered on the backdrop of years of mismanagement, unsustainable policy making and rising rural poverty, which fuelled pre-existing discontent and sparked the first protests.While the 2007/8 season registered as the worst regional drought in 40 years, the overall impact of the 2006–10 drought in north-eastern Syria was undoubtedly exacerbated by a long legacy of resource mismanagement.

      http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00263206.2013.850076?journalCode=fmes20

      On peut aussi citer « Over-grazing and desertification in the Syrian steppe are the root causes of war »
      http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2871076/overgrazing_and_desertification_in_the_syrian_steppe_are_the_root_caus


      The picture [taken in March 2008] portrayed a fence separating a steppe terrain in two parts: the area on the left was open to sheep grazing; the area on the right had been instead protected for at least 10 years. The image revealed a lunar rocky landscape on the left, and a blossoming pasture on the right.

      The image simply evidences, without need for any words, that the Syrian steppe ecosystem is perfectly adapted to cope with droughts - yes, even with extreme droughts exacerbated by climate change. However, this landscape can succumb easily to human irrationality and indifference.

  • EI : la Russie pourrait mener des frappes unilatérales
    24.09.2015
    http://fr.sputniknews.com/international/20150924/1018365500.html

    La Russie envisage la possibilité d’effectuer des frappes aériennes unilatérales contre l’EI en Syrie, si les Etats-Unis rejettent une proposition visant à coordonner leurs actions avec Moscou, rapporte l’agence Bloomberg.

    Parallèlement, selon Bloomberg, qui cite des sources proches du Kremlin et du ministère russe de la Défense, Moscou préférerait que le gouvernement américain accepte d’allier ses forces avec la Russie, l’Iran et l’armée syrienne afin de lutter contre Daech.

    « La Russie estime que le bon sens prévaudra et qu’Obama acceptera la main tendue par Vladimir Poutine. Mais la Russie agira de toute façon, même si cela ne se produit pas », a déclaré à Bloomberg la spécialiste du Moyen-Orient à l’Institut russe d’études stratégiques, Elena Souponina.

    Selon une source anonyme à Washington, les Etats-Unis seraient prêts à discuter de la coordination des attaques afin d’éviter des incidents avec des avions russes, mais ils n’ont pas encore reçu une proposition « concrète » de Moscou. En outre, la coalition n’envisage pas la possibilité de coopérer avec les troupes d’Assad, ajoute la source.

    Auparavant, le président russe avait déclaré qu’il serait nécessaire d’unir les efforts afin de lutter non seulement contre le terrorisme, mais également contre d’autres problèmes urgents et croissants, à savoir le problème des réfugiés.

    “““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““

    Putin plans air strikes in Syria if no U.S. deal reached - Bloomberg
    World | Thu Sep 24, 2015
    http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/09/24/mideast-crisis-russia-airstrikes-idINKCN0RO01420150924

    #Syrie #Russie

    • Jaysh al-Islam déclare la guerre aux Russes qui combattent en Syrie - Dania Akkad -
      24 septembre 2015
      http://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/reportages/jaysh-al-islam-d-clare-la-guerre-aux-russes-qui-combattent-en-syrie-1

      Jaysh al-Islam, l’un des plus importants groupes rebelles en Syrie, a déclaré la guerre aux soldats russes qui combattent aux côtés des forces pro-gouvernementales syriennes dans la guerre civile, a déclaré un porte-parole du groupe à Middle East Eye mercredi.

      La confirmation du porte-parole survient alors que la Russie renforce activement son soutien militaire en Syrie, notamment par l’envoi de 28 avions opérationnels dans le pays, selon des responsables américains.

      De nouvelles images satellites publiées mardi semblent indiquer que la Russie développe deux nouvelles bases aériennes près de la ville portuaire clé de Lattaquié, un bastion du président syrien Bachar al-Assad.

      Jaysh al-Islam, qui serait financé par l’Arabie saoudite, a posté une vidéo vendredi dernier montrant des combattants du groupe attaquant l’aéroport international de Bassel, à environ 20 km de Lattaquié.

      Dans la vidéo, les combattants déclarent que l’aéroport est devenu une base pour l’armée russe, puis ils tirent plusieurs roquettes soi-disant en direction d’un avion-cargo russe, bien qu’il n’y en ait aucune preuve dans la vidéo.

      Dans une conversation sur Skype avec MEE, le porte-parole de Jaysh al-Islam a bien insisté sur le fait que le groupe avait déclaré la guerre aux soldats russes, « non à la Russie en tant que pays ».

      La dernière semaine, des combattants rebelles ont déclaré à Reuters avoir rencontré une résistance plus forte de la part des forces pro-gouvernementales, en particulier dans les zones côtières de Syrie, et qu’une intervention russe prolongera la guerre et encouragera les bailleurs étrangers des rebelles à accroître leur assistance militaire.(...)

      #Jaysh_al-Islam #Syrie #Russie

    • Europe nudges US, Russia to walk the talk on Syria
      By M K Bhadrakumar – September 21, 2015
      http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2015/09/21/europe-nudges-us-russia-to-walk-the-talk-on-syria

      Without doubt, this is a defining moment. Notwithstanding the immense pressure from detractors and critics within the US (and abroad in Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, et al) to shift gear to a hyperactive interventionist role in Syria, President Obama has preferred the diplomatic track.

      This primarily emanates out of the ground reality that the decade-old US strategy to force a regime change in Syria has reached a dead end. Besides, the regional scenario has also changed phenomenally. Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the two countries that did all they could to destabilize Syria, are marooned in their own existential problems — and Qatar too has rolled back its regional ambitions built around the Muslim Brotherhood in the wake of the Arab Spring. In a dramatic shift, Egypt has actually swung to the Russian side and would see Assad as a bulwark against radical Islamist groups.

      Above all, the US’ European allies have lost faith, caught up in a protracted struggle to cope with the refugee flow and agonizing over the spectre of the IS. The melancholy, long, withdrawing roar of their retreat from the US’ regime change agenda in Syria should be audible in Washington. The debris of the conflict has reached Europe and although the US remains safe and untouched, it cannot wash off its hands off the political and moral responsibility for the horrific tragedy that is unfolding.

      Meanwhile, the Syrian conflict itself has transformed. The Islamic State is today the real beneficiary of the regime change agenda pursued by the US and its regional allies. The ‘moderate’ Syrian opposition has become the butt of jokes. Which means that what is shaping up is a confrontation between the Syrian government forces and the IS. With air strikes against the IS not having much effect, Washington should show the practical wisdom to utilize whatever capabilities available on the ground.

      What lies ahead? Kerry’s weekend visits to London and Berlin to consult key allies have prepared the ground for some intense discussions involving the various protagonists — Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, in particular — that can be expected to take place through the coming week in New York where the world leaders are gathering for the UN General Assembly session.

      The manner in which the West has swiftly welcomed Russia’s military intervention in Syria underscores that a new chapter is beginning in their mutual relationship. This augurs well for conflict resolution in Syria. The bottom line is that the US’ trans-Atlantic leadership demands a quick solution to the Syrian conflict, which is threatening European security. In an extraordinary remark, Steinmeir actually urged all concerned — including the US — to “put aside national interests for the time being” and to rise to the occasion. (Transcript is here : http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/09/247077.htm .)

  • Dans une tournure très ampoulée, John Kerry annonce que, selon lui, au moins une partie des attaques chimiques en Syrie ont bien été perpétrées par l’« opposition ». (Les médias mainstream, en plein damage control, lisent exactement l’inverse, mais que veux-tu…)
    http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/06/243892.htm

    SECRETARY KERRY: I am absolutely certain – we are certain – that the preponderance of those attacks have been carried out by the regime, and we’re putting together a portfolio of that data that supports that even as we speak now. But that is not to say that some element of an opposition may not have had access at one point in time or another and have actually utilized something at one point in time or another. But when I talk about the vast preponderance, I mean vast preponderance. It has been significantly documented. It’s dropped from airplanes. There are only – the opposition isn’t flying airplanes or helicopters. And you can go through a certain sort of tracking of the delivery system and delivery approach. So it’s frankly not that hard to pin down in the end, and that’s some of what we will lay out at the appropriate time.

  • The Angry Arab News Service/وكالة أنباء العربي الغاضب : U.S. position on overthrow of Yemeni president vs. Ukrainian president
    http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2015/02/us-position-on-overthrow-of-yemeni.html

    Question posée à la porte-parole du Département d’Etat étasunien http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/02/237795.htm

    “QUESTION: Frankly, I had another subject. On #Yemen, how come if this president when he left his capital is still technically president in his country?

    MS. PSAKI: That’s —

    QUESTION: How come the Ukrainian president was not in the same position?

    MS. PSAKI: That’s the Yemeni constitution and what the Yemeni constitution says, so I encourage you to take a look at the Yemeni constitution if you’re interested.

    QUESTION: And the Ukrainian constitution said the same thing.

    MS. PSAKI: Well, I think —”

    #Ukraine #Etats-Unis

  • “The rules of the road for commerce, and Internet-enabled trade and e-commerce, are up for grabs in Asia. We’re working harder than ever to bring home trade agreements that will unlock opportunities by eliminating barriers to U.S. exports, trade, and investment while raising labor, environment, and other important standards across the board.”

    http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/rm/2015/237436.htm

    US governement vision: the Internet is just a conduit for business, commerce and money.

    #TAFTA #Internet_governance

  • Les Etats-Unis ont diffusé samedi des images de #satellites censées montrer des armements et déploiements de forces russes. Mais ce n’est pas d’une très grande précision tout ça…

    Ukraine : « We are confident these are Russian military, not separatist systems »
    -- US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) 14 Février 2015
    https://twitter.com/USNATO/status/566531726357188608/photo/1

    QUESTION: Let’s – there’s a lot going on, but let’s start with Ukraine.

    MS. PSAKI: Okay.

    QUESTION: So the ceasefire is not supposed to take effect until midnight Saturday.

    MS. PSAKI: Yes.

    QUESTION: But it does not appear that the run-up to this is that – since the deal was done and ahead of the ceasefire, it looks like things are just getting worse, and I’m just wondering what the Administration thinks. Is this a harbinger of doom, or do you still think that this is – that this will work, that the agreement will work?

    MS. PSAKI: Well, we are very concerned about continued fighting along and beyond the line of contact, including in heavily populated civilian areas, and reports of additional resupplies of tanks and missile systems coming across the border from Russia in the past few days, and I have a little more detail of that I just want to go into for a moment here. The Russian military has deployed a large amount of artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems around Debaltseve where it is shelling Ukrainian positions. We are confident these are Russian military, not separatist systems. The Russian military also has air defense systems deployed near Debaltseve. We are also confident these are Russian military, not separatist systems.

    Russian units along the border with Ukraine are preparing a large shipment of supplies to pro-Russian forces fighting in eastern Ukraine. This is clearly not in the spirit of this week’s agreement. All parties must show complete restraint in the run-up to the Sunday ceasefire, including an immediate halt to the Russian and separatist assault on Debaltseve and other Ukrainian towns. Clearly, the same options that have been on the table remain on the table, and obviously we’ll be watching closely to see what happens over the course of the coming days.

    QUESTION: On those – where the information on the Russian equipment is coming from. It’s not coming from Senator Inhofe’s office I hope.

    MS. PSAKI: No, it’s coming from our own internal information we were able to make public.

    QUESTION: U.S. information, not Ukrainian information?

    MS. PSAKI: Correct.

    Daily Press Briefing - February 13, 2015
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/02/237501.htm#UKRAINE

    • Pour Molodyi Shakhtar (littéralement le Jeune Mineur (de charbon)), situé à 20 km au SSO de Debaltseve, il y a en effet peu de doute que des lance-roquettes multiples ont tiré en direction de Debaltseve.

      Pour le reste, j’imagine que c’est en lisant les marques des pneus imprimés dans la terre qu’ils ont pu déterminer qu’ils étaient russes…

    • Inhofe est l’un des parlementaires les plus conservateurs du Congrès, plus choqué par les photos des abus à la prison d’Abu Ghraib en Irak que par les tortures elles-mêmes commises par des soldats américains.

      Il est également connu pour être l’un des plus inconditionnels partisans de l’État d’Israël. En mars 2002, il prononce un discours au Sénat américain dans lequel il n’hésite pas à qualifier les attentats du 11 septembre 2001 comme une punition divine contre l’Amérique pour ne pas suffisamment soutenir Israël "One of the reasons I believe the spiritual door was opened for an attack against the United States of America is that the policy of our Government has been to ask the Israelis, and demand it with pressure, not to retaliate in a significant way against the terrorist strikes that have been launched against them."

      Il est également connu pour son opposition à la ratification du protocole de Kyoto par les États-Unis, au nom de l’idée que le réchauffement climatique n’a pas de cause humaine. Citation connue : "Se pourrait-il bien que l’hypothèse d’une cause humaine du réchauffement climatique soit une des pires blagues perpétrées à l’encontre du peuple américain ? Il semble bien que oui." - Sénat américain juillet 2003.

      https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Inhofe

  • Salman and Almarzooq summoned for interrogation

    Sheikh Ali Salman, Al Wefaq Secretary General, and his Political Assistant Khalil Almarzooq, have today received an official summons by the Bahraini Ministry of Interior, following a meeting with an US Official. The interrogation will take place tomorrow morning (9th July) at 9am (Bahrain time).

    Tom Malinowski, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, was yesterday ordered to leave <mailto:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28204511> Bahrain by the authorities, after meeting with members of Al Wefaq. Despite international condemnation, Bahrain is now escalating this issue further by targeting leading members of Al Wefaq, who took part in the meeting.

    In September 2013 a law was passed that prohibited meetings between opposition societies and international diplomats, without the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Interior. Although no reason for the summons was given, it comes less than 24 hours after the demand for Mr. Malinowski to leave Bahrain.

    Commenting on the orders for Mr. Malinowski to leave Bahrain, the State Department said it is “deeply concerned”, <mailto:http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/07/228839.htm> whilst Mr. Malinowski himself said the decision was about “undermining dialogue”. <mailto:https://twitter.com/Malinowski/status/486495418583629825> The Bahrain Justice and Development Movement share this analysis, with the summons received by Salman and Almarzooq serving as proof.

    The dropping of charges against Almarzooq last month was a potentially positive step towards rebuilding a political process, but this latest attack is yet another example of the “one step forward, two steps back approach” adopted by Bahrain. Once again hardliners within the Authorities are taking control to scupper any plans towards reform.

    Given the chance to take full control, Bahrain’s hardliners will turn Bahrain into a closed society, barring international observers and unleashing heavy repression and human rights abuses.

    The Bahrain Justice and Development Movement condemn the summons received by Salman and Almarzooq, as well as the decision to demand that a stop State Department official leave Bahrain. We call on the Bahrain authorities to rescind the summons, or at least to make sure no false charges are attributed to Salman and Almarzooq. Furthermore, we call on the authorities to end the stalling and to immediately begin a new political process that takes the country towards serious democratic reform.

    Ali Alaswad, a resigned Bahraini MP from Al Wefaq, said:

    /“After the State Department rejected the removal of Mr. Malinowski, the authorities in Bahrain are turning their attention to Al Wefaq instead. In any country, anywhere in the world, international observers and diplomats have a right to meet with political leaders. This shows just the lengths Bahrain will go to in order to protect its image, and that clearly they have something to hide.”/

  • Egypte/Etats-Unis Terrorist Designation of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis - Communiqué département d’Etat

    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/04/224566.htm

    The Department of State has announced the designation of Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. The consequences of the FTO and E.O. 13224 designations include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to, or engaging in transactions with this organization, and the freezing of all property and interests in property of the organization that is in the United States, or come within the United States or the control of U.S. persons. The Department of State took these actions in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.

  • President Putin’s Fiction : 10 False Claims About Ukraine
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/03/222988.htm

    As Russia spins a false narrative to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine, the world has not seen such startling Russian fiction since Dostoyevsky wrote, “The formula ‘two times two equals five’ is not without its attractions.”

    Below are 10 of President Vladimir Putin’s recent claims justifying Russian aggression in the Ukraine, followed by the facts that his assertions ignore or distort.

    Pas forcément étonnant que nos médias ne traduisent pas la liste... C’est du niveau de la cour d’école.

    • 1. Mr. Putin says: Russian forces in Crimea are only acting to protect Russian military assets. It is “citizens’ defense groups,” not Russian forces, who have seized infrastructure and military facilities in Crimea.

      The Facts: Strong evidence suggests that members of Russian security services are at the heart of the highly organized anti-Ukraine forces in Crimea. While these units wear uniforms without insignia, they drive vehicles with Russian military license plates and freely identify themselves as Russian security forces when asked by the international media and the Ukrainian military. Moreover, these individuals are armed with weapons not generally available to civilians.

      2. Mr. Putin says: Russia’s actions fall within the scope of the 1997 Friendship Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

      The Facts: The 1997 agreement requires Russia to respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which have given them operational control of Crimea, are in clear violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

      3. Mr. Putin says: The opposition failed to implement the February 21 agreement with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

      The Facts: The February 21 agreement laid out a plan in which the Rada, or Parliament, would pass a bill to return Ukraine to its 2004 Constitution, thus returning the country to a constitutional system centered around its parliament. Under the terms of the agreement, Yanukovych was to sign the enacting legislation within 24 hours and bring the crisis to a peaceful conclusion. Yanukovych refused to keep his end of the bargain. Instead, he packed up his home and fled, leaving behind evidence of wide-scale corruption.

      4. Mr. Putin says: Ukraine’s government is illegitimate. Yanukovych is still the legitimate leader of Ukraine.

      The Facts: On March 4, President Putin himself acknowledged the reality that Yanukovych “has no political future.” After Yanukovych fled Ukraine, even his own Party of Regions turned against him, voting to confirm his withdrawal from office and to support the new government. Ukraine’s new government was approved by the democratically elected Ukrainian Parliament, with 371 votes – more than an 82% majority. The interim government of Ukraine is a government of the people, which will shepherd the country toward democratic elections on May 25th – elections that will allow all Ukrainians to have a voice in the future of their country.

      5. Mr. Putin says: There is a humanitarian crisis and hundreds of thousands are fleeing Ukraine to Russia and seeking asylum.

      The Facts: To date, there is absolutely no evidence of a humanitarian crisis. Nor is there evidence of a flood of asylum-seekers fleeing Ukraine for Russia. International organizations on the ground have investigated by talking with Ukrainian border guards, who also refuted these claims. Independent journalists observing the border have also reported no such flood of refugees.

      6. Mr. Putin says: Ethnic Russians are under threat.

      The Facts: Outside of Russian press and Russian state television, there are no credible reports of any ethnic Russians being under threat. The new Ukrainian government placed a priority on peace and reconciliation from the outset. President Oleksandr Turchynov refused to sign legislation limiting the use of the Russian language at regional level. Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers have filed petitions attesting that their communities have not experienced threats. Furthermore, since the new government was established, calm has returned to Kyiv. There has been no surge in crime, no looting, and no retribution against political opponents.

      7. Mr. Putin says: Russian bases are under threat.

      The Facts: Russian military facilities were and remain secure, and the new Ukrainian government has pledged to abide by all existing international agreements, including those covering Russian bases. It is Ukrainian bases in Crimea that are under threat from Russian military action.

      8. Mr. Putin says: There have been mass attacks on churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.

      The Facts: Religious leaders in the country and international religious freedom advocates active in Ukraine have said there have been no incidents of attacks on churches. All of Ukraine’s church leaders, including representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate, have expressed support for the new political leadership, calling for national unity and a period of healing. Jewish groups in southern and eastern Ukraine report that they have not seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

      9. Mr. Putin says: Kyiv is trying to destabilize Crimea.

      The Facts: Ukraine’s interim government has acted with restraint and sought dialogue. Russian troops, on the other hand, have moved beyond their bases to seize political objectives and infrastructure in Crimea. The government in Kyiv immediately sent the former Chief of Defense to defuse the situation. Petro Poroshenko, the latest government emissary to pursue dialogue in Crimea, was prevented from entering the Crimean Rada.

      10. Mr. Putin says: The Rada is under the influence of extremists or terrorists.

      The Facts: The Rada is the most representative institution in Ukraine. Recent legislation has passed with large majorities, including from representatives of eastern Ukraine. Far-right wing ultranationalist groups, some of which were involved in open clashes with security forces during the EuroMaidan protests, are not represented in the Rada. There is no indication that the Ukrainian government would pursue discriminatory policies; on the contrary, they have publicly stated exactly the opposite.

    • Russian FM slams US report on Putin’s remarks on Ukraine as ‘double standards’
      http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/722469

      “We will not relegate ourselves to polemics with petty propaganda. We will only say that once again we have to deal with unacceptable arrogance and claims of ultimate truth. The U.S. has no and cannot have moral right to lecture others on how to comply with international rules and respect the sovereignty of other countries. What about the bombings of former Yugoslavia and the invasion of Iraq on falsified pretexts?” the statement said.

      “If we turn to more distant historical events, we can find many examples of American military interventions far away from the national borders in the absence of real threat to the security of the United States. The war in Vietnam claimed the lives of two million peaceful citizens, let alone the completely devastated country and the contaminated environment. Under the pretext of protecting their citizens, who had simply happened to be in conflict zones, the U.S. invaded Lebanon in 1958 and the Dominican Republic in 1965, attacked tiny Grenada in 1983, bombed Libya in 1986, and three years later occupied Panama. Nevertheless, they dare accuse Russia of ‘armed aggression’, when it steps in to defend its compatriots who make up the majority of Crimea’s population in order to prevent ultranationalist forces from organizing yet another Maidan bloodbath,” the ministry said.

    • From Washington to Moscow, everyone is lying about what’s happening in Ukraine
      http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/.premium-1.578397?v=46E241E032D2DB4C06BC1E868F8C9CB3

      Putin’s statement about the crisis was full of distortions and manipulations. But in an unusual paper meant to expose them, the U.S. State Department offered its own share of inaccuracies and half-truths.

      In Paragraph 3 the Americans seem to be choosing a very specific interpretation of the situation as it developed in Kiev late last month. “Mr. Putin says: ‘The opposition did not implement the February 21 agreement with former President Viktor Yanukovych.’ The facts: ‘The agreement presents a plan according to which the parliament must reinstate the 2004 constitution, as well as returning the country to a system that strengthens the legislative branch. Yanukovych was supposed to sign the legislation within 24 hours and to bring the crisis to an end peacefully. He refused to meet his commitment, and instead packed up the contents of his home and fled, and left behind evidence of extensive corruption,’” said the document.

      In effect, there was chaos in the Ukrainian capital, and a substantial percentage of the anti-Russian opposition demonstrators rejected the agreement formulated by the warring parties with the mediation of the European Union. The developments from the moment of the signing until Yanukovych’s flight and his ouster from parliament is not entirely clear, nor is it clear why mention of his ostensible corruption is relevant to the question of the legitimacy of removing him by force.

      In addition, the protest leaders still recognized him as president on February 25, and only said that he “is not actively leading the country as of now.”

      In Paragraph 4 the Americans deal with the legitimacy of the new government, and with Putin’s claim that Yanukovych is still Ukraine’s legitimate leader. The document of the State Department in Washington notes that on March 4 Putin himself said that the ousted president “has no political future,” and that his party, the Party of Regions, voted in favor of removing him and installing the new government, and that the parliament in Kiev confirmed the swearing in of the government by a huge majority of 82 percent.

      But the Obama administration ignored Paragraph 111 in the Ukrainian constitution, which states that parliament can oust the president only if he committed a crime. The initiation of an impeachment process must be approved by two-thirds of the legislators, with 75 percent of MPs voting in favor of the ousting itself. Those votes were not held, and therefore ratification of the new government, even with 82 percent support, was passed in contradiction of the constitution.

      In Paragraph 8 the State Department wrote: “Mr. Putin says: ‘There were mass attacks against churches and synagogues in southern and eastern Ukraine.’ The facts: ‘The religious leaders in the country and activists who favor freedom of religion said that there were no attacks against churches. All the leaders of the Church in Ukraine support the new political leadership and called for national unity. Jewish organizations in southern and eastern Ukraine reported that there was no increase in anti-Semitic incidents.”

      We found no evidence of attacks against churches in Ukraine, but in Haaretz we have already reported on a fear in the Jewish communities of an increase in anti-Semitism, as well as several incidents in which extreme right-wing gangs intensified their activity against synagogues and Jewish institutions. Our correspondent in Crimea, Anshel Pfeffer, reported that Jews were beaten in Kiev and a synagogue was destroyed there, and similar incidents occurred in the city of Zaporozhye in southeast Ukraine and in the Crimean capital of Simferopol.

      Despite that, many pointed to the fact that Russia is trying to defame the new government in Kiev by portraying it as extremely rightist, anti-Semitic and Nazi in its entirety, and some people even wondered whether those incidents weren’t Russian provocations, in order to arouse opposition to the new government. Whatever the case, it can’t really be said that there were no anti-Semitic incidents at all in southeast Ukraine.

      In the last paragraph, Paragraph 10, the United States claimed that Putin is lying about the fact that the Ukrainian parliament is influenced by extremists and terrorists. The Americans claim that the Rada (parliament) is the institution most representative of the Ukrainian public, and that extreme-right organizations that were involved in the clashes in Independence Square are not represented in it.

      But the actual situation differs significantly from the picture Washington is trying to paint. It’s true that legislators from the pro-Russian parties voted in favor of the new government, but we cannot ignore the fact that many of their members fled from Kiev, so that it is hard to claim that the parliament provides optimal representation for the pro-Russian east. In addition, the far-right party Svoboda (Liberty) received 38 seats in the legislature in the most recent elections, and its members espouse extreme anti-Semitic and nationalist views.

      In addition, the party received five portfolios in the new government, including justice minister and deputy prime minister. “The Right Sector, a small organization, armed and more extreme, which espouses a pro-Nazi ideology and is opposed to joining the EU, is not represented in parliament, but its leader Demytro Yarosh declared recently that his organization and Svoboda share many views and values," the paper stated. Incidentally, Yarosh was appointed in late February as the deputy head of the National Council for Defense and Security.

      In Paragraph 6 the Americans tried to contradict the words of the Russian president to the effect that ethnic Russians in Ukraine live in fear of the new government in Kiev, and stated that there are no reliable reports on that. They also presented the fact that the interim president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov, refused to approve a law limiting the use of the Russian language in the country, but forgot to mention that prior to that parliament had approved the law.

    • From Washington to Moscow and Kiev, everyone is lying about what’s happening in Ukraine

      Je trouve le mot « mensonge » exagéré pour la matière qui nous intéresse, ie la géopolitique. Les points de vue diffèrent, certes. Mais parler de mensonge fait plus penser à une volonté de clore tout débat, à la façon dont on évoque le point Godwin à tous propos.

      Et... les occidentaux sont, amtha, particulièrement minables dans l’affaire. Car la narrative du peuple victorieux a sérieusement du plomb dans l’aile, avec toute la documentation sur les nouveaux membres du gouvernement Ukrainien, sur les partis qui les soutiennent, et sur les mensonges au sujet des massacres lors de ce qu’il est difficile de ne pas nommer coup d’état. Et donc, je trouve les occidentaux très silencieux sur ce sujet. Limites merdeux. Ce nouveau précédent dans le « 2 poids 2 mesures » sera-t-il celui qui mettra un terme à la relative impunité de l’occident ces 20 dernières années (et plus) ?

      De plus en plus se dessine un monde « à la XIXème siècle », où les élites du monde entier font et défont les alliances, se font la guerre ici ou là, pour un bout de terre gorgé de ressources, et en entraînant les peuples derrière eux.

      Les Nations unies ne sont jamais plus efficaces que lorsque règne la crainte du nucléaire. C’est malheureux. Et j’ai cru lire que les américains envoyaient leurs bateaux vers la Crimée. Pour y faire quoi à part faire augmenter la pression ?

    • Pour les navires, ils n’étaient sans doute pas loin, puisque les É.-U. avaient envoyé deux unités pour « assister » les Russes dans la protection des JO…

      Et pas n’importe quoi,
      • le USS Taylor, frégate lance-missile (qui s’y est d’ailleurs échouée, le 12/02, en entrant dans le port turc de Samsun (l’ancienne Amisos)
      • et surtout le USS Mount Whitney, « navire de commandement », mais surtout navire espion, comme on peut le constater en comptant ses oreilles…

      Il est d’ailleurs un habitué de ces eaux, puisqu’il était déjà là pour les événements de Géorgie en 2008…

  • Le communiqué du State Department (10/10/2013) sur l’élection présidentielle en Azerbaïdjan

    Azerbaijan Presidential Election
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/10/215283.htm

    The United States continuously urged the Government of Azerbaijan to ensure a free and fair electoral process and to respect the freedoms of assembly, association, and speech. It is with regret that we conclude this election fell short of international standards.

    The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly highlighted in their October 10 preliminary statement serious shortcomings that need to be addressed in order for Azerbaijan to fully meet its OSCE commitments. The United States agrees with this assessment and shares OSCE concerns. Other credible non-government organizations such as the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center reported similar shortcomings. On election day, procedural irregularities were observed including: 1) ballot box stuffing; 2) serious problems with vote counting; and 3) failure to record the number of received ballots. Leading up to election day, the Government of Azerbaijan also maintained a repressive political environment. Authorities interfered with the media and civil society routinely, sometimes violently interrupted peaceful rallies and meetings before and occasionally during the campaign period, and jailed a number of opposition and youth activists.

    At the same time, the United States notes the comments in the OSCE statement on constructive steps taken by the Government of Azerbaijan during the election campaign, including the successful registration of Jamil Hasanli and certain other opposition candidates, authorization of some opposition campaign rallies, the decision to invite the OSCE to observe the election, and efficient technical preparation for the election.

    Democracy is more than one election. The United States urges the Government of Azerbaijan to respect the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association, and speech. We urge restraint and avoidance of violence by all in the post electoral period. We remain committed to supporting the people of Azerbaijan and working with the Government to further efforts to achieve Azerbaijan’s full potential as a stable, prosperous, and democratic member of the international community.

    • Et la réponse de la présidence (ainsi qu’au communiqué de l’OSCE (cf. http://seenthis.net/messages/184543 ). (14/10/2013)

      Azerbaijani people expressed their will in election : Top official - AzerNews
      http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/60608.html

      Position of the U.S. Department of State on the presidential election held in Azerbaijan on October 9 is in contrast with justice and doesn`t reflect the reality.
      Deputy Head of Azerbaijan`s Presidential Administration, head of the foreign relations department Novruz Mammadov made the remark when commenting on statements by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the U.S. Department of State concerning the presidential election in the country.
      “It shows that the ODIHR along with the U.S. consider democracy and issues of human rights as their monopoly, using it according in their own interests,” he said. But now its clear that making democracy and the issues of human rights a tool of pressure doesnt produce good results. There are tens of instances on the international scene.
      Mammadov said that the Azerbaijani presidential election does not fall behind elections in other countries, and is even better in terms of many parameters.
      "Given that the USA and OSCE ODIHR have made subjective judgments of the elections in several other countries, which were marred by serious violations and irregularities, their biased position causes surprise. Those who consider democracy an important value must themselves set an example to others by acting in line with democratic principles.
      “Interestingly about 1,500 observers from 98 countries and 48 international organizations, including the PACE, European Parliament, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), TurkPA election observation mission, as well as the majority of independent foreign observers made positive remarks on the election. But for some reason this issue is not featured in the statement of the U.S. Department of State, whose unequivocal critical statement stands in total contrast to views of ordinary people-elected U.S. congressmen, senators and representatives of other elective bodies, who hailed the election process in Azerbaijan as fair and transparent,” he said.

  • U.S. State Department Requests $10m for 2014 Bahrain Military Assistance: The State Department requested $11.1 million in foreign assistance to Bahrain, $10 million of which is allocated to foreign military financing to sustain the 85-90 percent of the Bahrain Defense Force’s equipment that is of U.S. origin. Bahrain’s ongoing political and social unrest “underlines the importance of the Bahraini government addressing its citizens’ demands for political reform” for both Bahrain’s internal stability and “for the sustainability of the U.S.-Bahraini decades-long security partnership.” The United States will continue to protect its interests and “leverage all tools available, including foreign assistance, to encourage Bahrain’s leadership to implement democratic reforms and adhere to human rights standards…”

    http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/208291.pdf