The 1st scenes from inside the BBC in Glasgow have surfaced on YouTube.
Sky News reports 100 protesters have occupied the Glasgow Headquarters of the BBC over the refusal to air an emergency aid appeal for Gaza. The report continues: “The BBC is still standing firm on its decision not to show the advert for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). The corporation has said it has received “approximately” 1,000 telephone complaints and a further 10,000 by email. Rival broadcasters ITV, Channel 4 and Five have now agreed to air the appeal. Sky is still considering its position”.
Saturday's march to End the Blockade on Gaza
This action has taken place the day after thousands marched on the BBC in London before heading to Trafalgar Square via Oxford Street and Piccadilly Circus. The “End the Blockade on Gaza” demonstration was organised by the Stop The War Coalition and others and asked for the BBC to immediately air the Gaza Aid Appeal.
Free & Independent has spoken with protester Keith Boyd. The occupation has ended peacefully without arrest. Mr Boyd noted Al Jazeera were there to report the story.
The Telegraph, which has been banned along with other foreign media from entering Gaza, has reported the “2nd stage” of Israel’s operation has begun under cover of darkness.
Telegraph EPA photo from Gaza's norethern border
“It also came in defiance of calls from European leaders – including Gordon Brown – for Israel to scale back its violent attack on Gaza.”
Tens of thousands of reservists are being called up by Israel
Israeli media is announcing that the government has okayed the call-up of tens of thousands of reservists. Does this suggest that Israel is engaging in an Iraq style invasion of Gaza or is the call-up simply precautionary?
At 10 am cypriot time, a ship flying the flag of Gibraltar was rammed by surrounding Israeli gunboats. The Dignity is carrying 3 tons of aid and passengers from around the world. Journalists (including CNN’s Karl Penhaul), human rights activists, doctors and US representative Cynthia McKinney. Shots were fired into the water by the Israeli Navy.
SS Dignity rammed.
The ship was rammed in international waters, 90 miles off the Gaza coast, and is said to be taking on water. There are no reported injuries to the passengers on board. Lebanon has granted a permission to dock and will lend assistance. (Free Gaza website)
UPDATE:
SS Dignity has docked in Lebanon as jubilant crowds welcome the vessel. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor has suggested the incident occurred when SS Liberty tried to outmaneuver the Israeli gunboats, crashing into one of them (yalibnan). This statement is in direct conflict Free Gaza’s version of events. Cyprus (who previously had port authorities search the boat for dangerous cargo) and Lebanon’s governments intend to protest Israel.
UPDATE:
CNN’s reporter on board the ship claims the SS Dignity was rammed without warning and later was accused by the Israelis of being involved in terrorist activities. Images from CNN show damage to the boat. Cynthia McKinney claims yacht was rammed 3 times and calls for Obama to make a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The CNN report also highlights claims the SS Dignity attempted to run the blcokade. Cynthia McKinney dismissed the claims as misinformation. CNN
Madoff makes headlines as former Treasury Secretary, Robert Rubin, slips under the media’s radar.
On 4 december 2008, the New York Post announced a federal lawsuit had been filed against Citigroup’s Robert Rubin, and former citi CEO, Prince.
The 2 are alleged to have played a role in a Ponzi scheme which has wiped out trillions of dollars worldwide.
The lawsuit says Citigroup’s shareholder value lost over 122 billion dollars. This would suggest that Rubin is accused of involvement in a scheme that would dwarf that of Madoff.
When the news broke of Madeoff’s scheme, the media jumped to cover the story. Time magazine even suggested the story as a contender in the top 10 scandals of 2008.
Why was the New York Post the only mainstream media source to have covered Robert Rubin’s story?
The independent media and the blogosphere picked up on it though. LiveLeak and other sites on the internet noted conspiracy researcher Henry Makow highlighting Rubin’s high profile links to the president elect Barack Hussein Obamah, as a possible reason for the silence. Rubin’s son Jamie was the main fund raiser on Wall Street for Obama.
Infact, the Wall Street Journal pointed out that Obama’s aides have Rubin down as a contender for treasury secretary. Both the New York Times and the Times of London refer to Rubin’s influence in Obama’s selection of his economic team, dubbed, the Robert Rubin Memorial All Stars.
While a wide spectrum of the media brought the sensationalism of madeoff’s scheme to the public. Rubin’s potentially more destructive scheme, has received virtually no coverage at all.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia have signed the six-point peace plan, drawn up by Russia and France, aimed at bringing stability to the troubled region. Their respective leaders, Eduard Kokoyty and Sergey Bagapsh, agreed to the plan during a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.
The Russian President offered his support to the two breakaway republics and went on to criticise the countries which supplied weapons to Georgia.
“We need to establish a final legally-binding agreement on non-use of force that will be signed by sides of the conflicts under guarantees given by Russia, the European Union, OSCE or possibly under some other guarantees,” he said. Link
Russian peacekeepers are finishing their humanitarian mission in the Georgian city of Gori and are handing the city over to Georgian police. Link
Socialist Worker in Britain reports the war in Georgia is an integral part of the US-led “war on terror” and the “drive to war across the globe”. Lindsey German notes the unbelievable rhetoric from George Bush. “Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state… Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century.”
The article then notes the invasion of other sovereign nations by the US under Bush. German confirms that Georgia attacked South Ossetia and goes on to suggest Georgia was probably given the green light by the US to do so.
A column on page 4 and 5 claims that the US broke a “gentlemen’s agreement” made in 1991 where the USA would not expand it’s military influence into Eastern Europe. When NATO members Poland and the Czech Republic agreed to host missile defence systems, Russia threatened to retaliate with military-technical methods (Times Online).The Socialist Worker notes, if Georgia became a full NATO member it would pose a direct threat to Russia.
The Separatists and the West’s Puppet
South Ossetia enjoyed relative autonomy from 1917 as a Soviet Republic, separate to that of Georgia. In 1990 Georgia’s government abolished South Ossetia’s autonomy, shortly after Georgia declared independence from Russia. This was swiftly followed with South Ossetia declaring independence from Georgia. Georgia reacted by sending in troops, the South Osetians pushed the Georgian troops out and soon after the Russians stepped in to back the “breakaway province”. Since then Russia has kept close relations with the region. Despite recent elections resulting in South Ossetians voting overwhelmingly for full independence, not one member of the UN will recognize their sovereignty.
When Saakashvili became president after the Rose Revolution, growing disillusionment exploded into mass demonstrations in Georgia which were crushed by riot police. Saakashvili accused dissenters of being “Russian Stooges”. When Russia increased it’s ties with South Ossetia, in response to NATO’s Polish and Czech missile defence plan, Georgia threatened to invade South Ossetia.
The ties between the Georgian president and the US are indeed strong. Posters of George Bush with Saakashvili line the streets of Tsibili and the road to the international airport is called George W Bush Avenue.
Is France on the war path allied with the US and Britain in the Gulf?
French jets on US carriers, July 24th 2008.
PressTV reports the USS Iwo Jima will be joining the 2 US battle groups previously reported heading to Iran (see article). The Americans will also be joined by a British battle group and a French Hunter-Killer nuclear submarine. This would be the first instance of the French allying with US/UK activity in the Gulf, although France has committed to the war in Afghanistan through NATO’s ISAF. F&I is hearing reports that the USS T. Roosevelt is carying multiple French Naval Rafale fighter jets (freerepublic.com, LiveLeak). Leaked photographic and video evidence of the jets on US carriers are spreading over the internet. With Sarkozy as president, France’s “refusenik” policy to military intervention in the middle-east may be changing as the above evidence suggests. His foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has voiced tough opinions on the tension over Iran back in September 2007 (BBC).
F&I is aware there maybe many more naval battle groups heading to Iran, but has not been able to confirm the alarmingly detailed reports as of yet.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the end of military action in Georgia and it’s breakaway territories. The president also ordered his defense minister to destroy any remaining pockets of active Georgian resistance.
The president claims the Georgians have been punished enough for their attack on Russian citizens and peace-keepers and that the Georgian military has been disorganized (Associated Press).
Georgians hastily retreat to capital.
The past 12 hours have seen the Georgians either surrendering (RIAN) or retreating to Tsibili (Sky News). Both sides have shown images of POWs on their national television, despite the Geneva Convention.
The end of the conflict no doubt a relief for the Georgian President under the heat of a Russian army making steadfast progress towards his presidential palace. The Georgian town of Gori (outside of the breakaway provinces) is reportedly also occupied by Russian forces (Times Online). It is unknown what Russia intends to do with this city. A dutch cameraman for RTL was killed in a Russian bombing raid last night (Reuters).
French envoy for a peace treaty, Sarkozy arrived in Moscow just before the halt was ordered. Russia is demanding that Georgia stays out of South Ossetia and aggrees to relent from using force in resolving the political situation (ABC).
Col. Sam Gardiner notes, in an interview with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, Russia has deployed tactical nuclear weapons to South Ossetia. The SS-21 Missile launchers are relatively weak compared to bombs that have already been used against Georgia by the Russian air force. However, this move does indicate Russia is potentially upping the game from a conventional weapons war to a tactical nuclear weapons war. Gardiner notes that at a news conference on Sunday, the US Deputy National Security advisor has noted these weapons arriving in South Ossetia.
Business Wire confirms the subject matter of the news briefing in Beijing. Link
Russia Today has reported that Israel is to stop all arms sales with Georgia following a complaint from Moscow. link
Russia moves into Georgia outside of South Ossetia
Georgia claims it ordered a ceasefire on Sunday morning, Russia claims that Georgia’s military was still engaged and had not respected the ceasefire (BBC).
Talk of Georgian War Crimes and Genocide
American eye-witness condemns America’s support for georgia and refers to genocide at the hands of Georgia. See the above video from Russia Today. The Russian broadcaster also reports both Russian president and prime-minister accusing Georgia of genocide. link
A report from Russian newspaper Izvestia claims an African-American soldier was captured with some Georgian soldiers. He has apparently been transferred to the Russian Vladikavkaz army base. If these claims are true the question has to be whether he was actively involved in the conflict.
US training Georgia in ordinances.
The Georgians he was supposedly detained with specialize in handling ordinances. What is known is that US soldiers have been training the Georgian military in dealing with ordinances. The above photo is from a US military website describing US training Georgia in precisely that.
Questionable photograph used by Life News. Nevertheless, the capture is confirmed by many Russian media outlets in radio, TV, web and press.
The Russian article was found by the War News Updates blog, the Russian newspaper’s website is inaccessible at this time in London. However, Russian magazine Life News is also reporting this story and has published the above photograph. The publication suggests he may be a NATO instructor.
The BBC and CNN have reported on their televised broadcasts that Russia attacked Georgia. This is a slight distortion as the russian attack was in fact a counter attack following the attack by Georgia on South Ossetia and the Russian Peace-keepers.
The BBC’s broadcast has also referred to the “1000” georgian dead. Their has been no mention of the “1500” S. Ossetians killed in Georgia’s attack as reported on Russia Today’s broadcast.
Russian News Websites Down
As reported earlier on this site, for a period over several hours, the website of Russian news agency RIAN could not be accessed. Chimes Of Freedom website also reported not being able to access the site, they also report the site for Russia Today was inaccessible for a while.
Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski condemned Russia’s role in the conflict, saying that Moscow’s military actions “run counter to international law and are an act of aggression.” Link
Reuters reports Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland condemn Russia in joint statements. Link
Ukraine threatens Russia
Associated Press reports Ukraine says it reserves the right to bar Russian navy and that Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said the deployment of a Russian naval squadron to Georgia’s Black sea coast has the potential of drawing Ukraine into the conflict. Link
NATO’s Eastern Front
Ukraine and Geordia have been pushing for NATO membership. Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania are NATO states. The Czech Republic is also a NATO state however the unpopularity of the NATO Missile Defence installations maybe why the country has not voiced condemnation of Russia’s activities in Georgia.
As previously reported, war broke out in the separatist region of Georgia after Georgia (with Israeli and possibly US aid) attacked the capital of the region killing 10 to 15 Russian peace-keepers as well as civilians. Up to 90% of the civilian population in South Ossetia are Russian citizens (BBC).
Russia Today (television) reports an eyewitness account from a S. Ossetian woman making the claim she has seen, amongst the dead in the conflict, a man in black uniform with the American flag on his shoulder. Infowars.com has relayed the story with the video clip.
The website of Russian news agency RIA Novosti is unavailable in London tonight. The agency, established in 1941 in the USSR, has been providing coverage of the Georgian crisis in english. F&I would like readers to check the availability of this site. We are researching if any censorship is to cause.
The URL for the englsh language site is en.rian.ru.
A list of other Russian news agencies is found here from the New York Times.
<<< This site was eventually available at 22.35 gmt in London >>>
The USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Ronald Reagan are reported to be headed to the gulf. Kuwait began finalizing its “emergency war plan” on being told the vessels were bound for the region.
This confirms to some degree an earlier report by Timothy Alexander (writing under the alias Lord Stirling) that a massive naval fleet or “armada” is heading towards Iran.
The Strait of Homuz sees between 20% and 40% of the world’s oil supply pass through, making it one of the world’s strategically important chokepoints.
Dozens of US war ships are headed to the Gulf having completed the recent Operation Brimstone war-games with French and UK navy. A British naval fleet may also be on it’s way. The detailed report comes from a British/Canadian peer living in the USA. View his post at the below link.
Many news outlets have reported on Operation Brimstone but as of the time of this article, no press agency or mainstream news service has reported on the fleet heading to Iran. George Bush is at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Putin & Bush at Beijing Ceremony as war breaks out on the old front.
In the past 24 hours Georgia invaded the separatist region of South Ossetia with it’s population of over 70% Russian citizens. Georgia bombed the Tskhinvali at night and proceeded to invade with tanks and infantry. 10 russian peacekeepers were killed as were up to thousands of civilians. Rumors suggest that russia responded by sending at least 3 jets to the area where Georgian officials claim they were shot down.
Russia has sent up to 150 tanks and unknown numbers of infantry across the russian border into the troubled area. Russia’s military is approximately 20 times the size of Georgia’s.
Georgia bombards South Ossetia.
NATO AND USA – The Cold War continues…
Georgia’s pro-western president has pushed for his country to be integrated with the EU and NATO whose organizations are quickly fencing in the old soviet power, much to the displeasure of the Kremlin.
The US has at least 1000 marines based in Georgia who have been providing training the country’s military. President Bush stated today that he respects the integrity of Georgia’s borders. Russia is the only country to recognize South Ossetia’s autonomy, an autonomy the region officially enjoyed when it was a part of the Soviet Union.
ISRAEL – Military advisers in Georgia and Caspian pipeline interest.
Georgia has commisioned up to 1000 Israeli military advisers from an Israeli security firm. They also purchased weapons, intelligence and electronic warfare systems from Israel. Israel depends on Georgia for the safety of the Caspian pipeline which provides oil to Jerusulem.
IRAN – Russian Nuclear Trade
Israel may have a tense relationship with the Russians due to the trade of products from Russia to Iran for use in it’s nuclear power project, a project elements of the Whitehouse and Israel claim is actually about developing a nuclear warhead.
FIRST STRIKE & GLOBAL APPEAL FOR SUPPORT
Although the past 15 years in Georgia have been troublesome, it is hard to say “who started it”. However it was first announced that Georgia had invaded the area on Friday, war was later declared. There are also unconfirmed reports that Georgia was involved in ethnic clensing in the area. The president of Georgia has appealed to the world for support. However Russia officially asked for UN aid weeks earlier.
UK based independent media bringing you news and analysis from around the world. F&I scours the broadest range of sources to cover all angles of breaking events, making it easier for you to “read between the lines”.
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