When The Kiev Army Has No More Tanks

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source: http://www.odnako.org/blogs/kogda-u-kievskih-voysk-zakonchatsya-tanki/

by Denis Selesnev

Translated by Eugenia

The military operation in Donbass resulted for the Ukrainian army in huge losses of weapons – first of all, tanks. It has been estimated that during hostilities of 2014 the Military Forces of Ukraine (MFU) lost up to 200 tanks destroyed or taken by the adversary. The resumption of the active hostilities naturally leads to new losses. From the beginning of 2015 through the mid-February 50 tanks were destroyed, at least 40 taken, and a number damaged and had to be removed for repairs. Therefore, in a month or so of fighting Kiev lost more than 100 tanks, or at least 300 from the beginning of the military campaign. The age factor is also worth noting – most tanks in the army of Ukraine were produced about 30 years ago. This further increases the rate of breakups and malfunctions.

PDF Report: War crimes of the armed forces and security forces of Ukraine: torture of the Donbass region residents (English)

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March 13, 2015

Democracyfund.ru

Published November 24, 2014

This report was written by a non-state organization ‘The Foundation for the Study of Democracy’ (headed by M. Grigoriev) and the Russian Public Council for International Cooperation and Public Diplomacy (presided by S. Ordzhonikidze) with the assistance of V. Dzhabarov, S. Mamedov, I. Morozov, S. Markov and other members of the Committee for Public Support of the Residents of South-Eastern Ukraine.

Nemtsov's killer was hired by the commander of Dzhokhar Dudaev Battalion in Ukraine, Adam Osmaev

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March 12, 2015
Anna Veligzhanina for Komsomolskaya Pravda
Translated by Kristina Rus

FSB source to "Komsomolskaya Pravda": "the customer of Nemtsov's murder was preparing an assassination of Vladimir Putin"

The main suspect in the organization of the high-profile crime - is a commander of the Ukrainian battalion in the name of Dzhokhar Dudayev, Adam Osmayev.

The correspondent of "Komsomolskaya Pravda" met with the FSB agent, who is part of the team investigating the murder of Boris Nemtsov. In an exclusive interview he spoke about the new details of the crime and named the most likely customer of the murder.

The Bengal Famine: How the British engineered the worst genocide in human history for profit

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“I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion. The famine was their own fault for breeding like rabbits.” -Winston Churchill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
The British had a ruthless economic agenda when it came to operating in India and that did not include empathy for native citizens. Under the British Raj, India suffered countless famines. But the worst hit was Bengal. The first of these was in 1770, followed by severe ones in 1783, 1866, 1873, 1892, 1897 and lastly 1943-44. Previously, when famines had hit the country, indigenous rulers were quick with useful responses to avert major disasters. After the advent of the British, most of the famines were a consequence of monsoonal delays along with the exploitation of the country’s natural resources by the British for their own financial gain. Yet they did little to acknowledge the havoc these actions wrought. If anything, they were irritated at the inconveniences in taxing the famines brought about.

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The first of these famines was in 1770 and was ghastly brutal. The first signs indicating the coming of such a huge famine manifested in 1769 and the famine itself went on till 1773. It killed approximately 10 million people, millions more than the Jews incarcerated during the Second World War. It wiped out one third the population of Bengal. John Fiske, in his book “The Unseen World”, wrote that the famine of 1770 in Bengal was far deadlier than the Black Plague that terrorized Europe in the fourteenth century. Under the Mughal rule, peasants were required to pay a tribute of 10-15 per cent of their cash harvest. This ensured a comfortable treasury for the rulers and a wide net of safety for the peasants in case the weather did not hold for future harvests. In 1765 the Treaty of Allahabad was signed and East India Company took over the task of collecting the tributes from the then Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. Overnight the tributes, the British insisted on calling them tributes and not taxes for reasons of suppressing rebellion, increased to 50 percent. The peasants were not even aware that the money had changed hands. They paid, still believing that it went to the Emperor.

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Partial failure of crop was quite a regular occurrence in the Indian peasant’s life. That is why the surplus stock, which remained after paying the tributes, was so important to their livelihood. But with the increased taxation, this surplus deteriorated rapidly. When partial failure of crops came in 1768, this safety net was no longer in place. The rains of 1769 were dismal and herein the first signs of the terrible draught began to appear. The famine occurred mainly in the modern states of West Bengal and Bihar but also hit Orissa, Jharkhand and Bangladesh. Bengal was, of course, the worst hit. Among the worst affected areas were Birbum and Murshidabad in Bengal. Thousands depopulated the area in hopes of finding sustenance elsewhere, only to die of starvation later on. Those who stayed on perished nonetheless. Huge acres of farmland were abandoned. Wilderness started to thrive here, resulting in deep and inhabitable jungle areas. Tirhut, Champaran and Bettiah in Bihar were similarly affected in Bihar.
Prior to this, whenever the possibility of a famine had emerged, the Indian rulers would waive their taxes and see compensatory measures, such as irrigation, instituted to provide as much relief as possible to the stricken farmers. The colonial rulers continued to ignore any warnings that came their way regarding the famine, although starvation had set in from early 1770. Then the deaths started in 1771. That year, the company raised the land tax to 60 per cent in order to recompense themselves for the lost lives of so many peasants. Fewer peasants resulted in less crops that in turn meant less revenue. Hence the ones who did not yet succumb to the famine had to pay double the tax so as to ensure that the British treasury did not suffer any losses during this travesty.
After taking over from the Mughal rulers, the British had issued widespread orders for cash crops to be cultivated. These were intended to be exported. Thus farmers who were used to growing paddy and vegetables were now being forced to cultivate indigo, poppy and other such items that yielded a high market value for them but could be of no relief to a population starved of food. There was no backup of edible crops in case of a famine. The natural causes that had contributed to the draught were commonplace. It was the single minded motive for profit that wrought about the devastating consequences. No relief measure was provided for those affected. Rather, as mentioned above, taxation was increased to make up for any shortfall in revenue. What is more ironic is that the East India Company generated a profited higher in 1771 than they did in 1768.

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 Although the starved populace of Bengal did not know it yet, this was just the first of the umpteen famines, caused solely by the motive for profit, that was to slash across the country side. Although all these massacres were deadly in their own right, the deadliest one to occur after 1771 was in 1943 when three million people died and others resorted to eating grass and human flesh in order to survive.

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Winston Churchill, the hallowed British War prime minister who saved Europe from a monster like Hitler was disturbingly callous about the roaring famine that was swallowing Bengal’s population. He casually diverted the supplies of medical aid and food that was being dispatched to the starving victims to the already well supplied soldiers of Europe. When entreated upon he said, “Famine or no famine, Indians will breed like rabbits.” The Delhi Government sent a telegram painting to him a picture of the horrible devastation and the number of people who had died. His only response was, “Then why hasn’t Gandhi died yet?”

Image Source

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 This Independence Day it is worthwhile to remember that the riches of the west were built on the graves of the East. While we honour the brave freedom fighters (as we should), it is victims like these, the ones sacrificed without a moment’s thought, who paid the ultimate price. Shed a tear in their memory and strive to make the most of this hard won independence that we take for granted today. Pledge to stand up those whose voice the world refuses to hear because they are too lowly to matter. To be free is a great privilege. But as a great superhero once said, “With great freedom comes great responsibility.”

China Furious at US 'Childish, Hysterical Paranoia' on Beijing World Bank

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An editorial in the Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency blasts the US government for its attempts to steer Britain away from China's new infrastructure investment bank.

The United States has launched into paranoid hysteria by criticizing the United Kingdom for joining the Beijing-headquartered Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China's state-run Xinhua news agency announced on Friday.

"The US has again launched into paranoid hysteria by manifesting its skepticism toward China's creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank."
Continue..

Latin American Countries Unite Behind Venezuela in Clash With US

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Clearly infuriated by the Obama administration’s decision to declare Venezuela an "extraordinary threat to national security," President Nicolás Maduro demanded that Washington "show evidence" of how Venezuela threatens the US.

"We demand, via all global diplomatic channels, that President Obama rectify and repeal the immoral decree declaring Venezuela a threat to the United States," Maduro said during a speech at an “anti-imperialist march” in the capital city of Caracas, where he nearly shouted out of anger.

CrossTalk: Russia Watching !

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Mars Rover Makes Intriguing Discovery As It Nears 'Marathon' Finish Line

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© AP Photo/ NASA

NASA’s Opportunity Mars rover found some rather peculiar rocks and minerals as it neared the end of its marathon study of the surface of the planet.

The rocks were found on a hill overlooking a site called “Marathon Valley,” named as such because Opportunity will have traveled 26.2 miles on Mars by the time it gets there.

US Bullies Vietnam to Stop Military Cooperation With Russia

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While expanding NATO bases closer to Russian borders, the US government is trying to bully Vietnam into stopping its military cooperation with Russia in the Pacific.

Sputnik's sources in the US Department of State confirm that America is pushing Vietnam to stop letting Russia use Cam Ranh Bay military base. Russian air force recently used the facility to refuel nuclear-capable bombers. US officials say Russian bomber planes have increased the number of flights in the region and even conducted what the Pentagon calls “provocative flights” around Guam, a US territory in the Pacific that is home to a large military base.

Shocking Video !!! 'Start Killing Russians': Outrageous Outburst by Fox News Military Analyst

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A retired US major general thinks an American intervention in Ukraine should involve the spilling of Russian blood.

Robert Scales, a retired US major general and a Fox News military analyst, provided his view on the US involvement in Ukraine, describing it as a “game, set and match” situation; “the only way the US can have any effect in the region is to start killing Russians,” he stated.

African Refugees Say Arab Muslims More Racist than Europeans

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Under liberal dogma, the world is divided between the evil European colonialist exploiters of doom and the Oppressed masses of the Third World. In the real world, things are very different.

This is Morocco, one of the few moderate Arab countries, though not for long with the victory of an Islamist party. It’s fairly tolerant by Muslim standards, which is still wildly intolerant by European standards.

Wikipedia Drags NSA to court Over Mass Surveillance

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© Flickr/ Giulia Forsythe

As Wikipedia formulates it lawsuit against the National Security Agency, prepare to witness a clash between one of the world’s most democratic information collectors and one of the world’s most tyrannical.

On Tuesday, the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation will file a lawsuit against the NSA and the US Department of Justice. The suit argues that the agency’s Upstream collection program violates not one, but two constitutional amendments.

China's International Payments System Ready to Go

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China's long-awaited international payment system to process cross-border yuan transactions is ready and could launch by year-end, Reuters reports, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The launch of the China International Payment System (CIPS) will open the way for the yuan to go international and increase its global usage by cutting transaction costs and processing times.

Iranian Foreign Minister Schools US Senators in American, Int'l Law

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Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, rejected a recent letter sent by US Republican senators, saying that it seems like the authors of the letter do not understand international law.

The debate over a possible nuclear deal with Iran took an unexpected turn when in a rare direct congressional intervention into diplomatic negotiations, US Republicans warned Iran against making any deal with President Obama in an open letter. The senators went as far as declaring that any agreement without legislative approval could be reversed by the next president “with the stroke of a pen,” media reported.

Nemtsov murder – more questions than answers

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According to RT, Zaur Dadaev, who had reportedly confessed involvement in Nemtsov’s murder, said he organized the crime in revenge for the opposition leader’s “negative comments on Muslims and Islam,” according to Rosbalt’s source in law enforcement.  Sounds plausible?

Not really.  Possible?  I suppose so.  But plausible?

Back from Moscow

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by Alexander Mercouris

As everyone by now knows I have been a week in Moscow.

It was an extraordinary, wonderful visit packed with productive work and meetings with good friends.  There is so much to say and I will try to say it when I can.  But first a quick general impression about the economic and security situation unrelated to specific political news or to the Nemtsov murder (of which more soon).

Briefly, there is no doubt the inflation is hurting.  I saw more beggars – overwhelmingly old and poor people – precisely the sort of people on low fixed incomes who get hurt most when inflation takes off.  Their numbers are still far below those in London and compared to Athens there is simply no comparison.

US Acts as Terrorist State Waging Finance War Against Russia – Austrian Magazine

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The United States is waging a financing war against Moscow in a bid to weaken Russia to a spot of economic and social destruction, the Austrian Contra magazine said, adding this campaign goes against international law, WTO rules and bilateral agreements. The United States has a wide selection of instruments at its disposal. The Austrian magazine named assigning false credit ratings as a primary example.

 "Russia's fundamentals are the best in the world. Not a single (big) state has better fundamentals than Russia. However, Fitch downgraded it to a 3B rating – just above junk level. The US has the worst fundamentals in the world. But the same rating agency has given it AAA, the best rating possible. It remains a mystery how the rating agency counts that," the publication said.

The media outlet compared the US to an enemy declare that disregards general code of conduct and acts upon its whims and wishes, forcing other countries to participate. Moreover, Washington threatens any country that's chosen to act independently with war and sanctions. US actions ought to be brought to the eye of the United Nations, the Austrian Contra magazine said.

So did Syriza win a victory?

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by Alexander Mercouris

Since Greek was granted a 4 month extension there has been a sustained attempt both within Greece and in the English speaking world to claim that it is Syriza rather than the EU hardliners that came out ahead on points.  This is the view of Tsipras but also the view of such Anglophone commentators ranging from Jack Rasmus on the far left to Paul Krugman on the liberal left and to Ambrose Evans-Pritchard on the right.

School kids die on their way back from journey to the mount Afadjato (Graphic Images)

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Some school youngsters going on a journey to the mount Afadjato in Ghana lost their lives in an extremely horrible accident today March tenth. As per an observer, the vehicle the youngsters were in was just about completing the hilly drive when the driver lost control and fell into the trench executing understudies between the ages of 7-15 years.
They were from Kasoa going towards Afadjato on an outing. Here are various photographs from the accident. Our hearts go out to all the folks who lost their children. See the pics bellow.

The European Union’s military: yet another sign of impotence

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You probably have heard of the European attempt to reacquire some relevance: the proposal to create a “European Union Army”.  In part, this is, as an attempt by the Europeans to show that they matter, that they can do something by themselves, that they are not completely US lackeys.  This might also be a reaction to the crazy statements of General Philip Breedlove, the Commander of the U.S. European Command and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) whose inflammatory comments even got him a full-length rebuttal in Der Spiegel (There are even rumors that the Europeans want Breedlove sacked).