International military review: Syria, Dec.10,2015

#Syria

Foreign Policy Diary – The Russia-Turkey standoff: Bosphorus blockade

#Russia, #Turkey

Ukraine's Yatsenyuk Faces Dismissal Pressure From Protesters, Poroshenko

Ukraine's Prime Minister Yatsenyuk faced pressure from the president's parliamentary bloc to resign, as his own faction refused to enter a new ruling party. Several hundred people blocked the streets of Kiev on Friday to demand the dismissal of Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who was giving an annual report on the government's work in the Ukrainian parliament.

YEMEN MAP OF WAR – Dec. 10, 2015

The war in Yemen has spilled over into Saudi Arabia and continues to drag on. It is no longer confined to the Saudi coalition versus the Houthi alliance but Al Qaeda, target of the drone war, controls almost the entire eastern half of Yemen, including Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province. Initially, the Saudi coalition included AQAP against the Houthi alliance but some fighters have joined IS/Daesh, (typically) targeting all sides and this complicates a negotiated settlement.

The war has restored the popularity of Saleh, one of the main players in the Houthi alliance, whereas Hadi is resisting talks. His popularity is waning and talks may end his political aspirations. This is posing a serious challenge to the Saudi coalition, explaining their all-out pursuit of victory.

Russia in an invisible war

Source: http://oko-planet.su/politik/politiklist/301881-rostislav-ischenko-rossiya-v-nevidimoy-voyne.html

Rostislav Ischenko

Translated by Seva

Russia in an invisible war

How could Russia in just 20 years, without wars or other perturbations, rise from a semi-colony to an acknowledged world leader, equal among the top ones?

Kitchen “strategists”, who sincerely believe that massive nuclear strike is the universal solution to any international problem (even the hottest one, close to military confrontation), are unhappy about the moderate position of the Russian leadership in the crisis with Turkey. However, they deem insufficient even direct participation of the Russian military in the Syrian conflict. They are also dissatisfied with the Moscow’s activities on the Ukrainian front.

Supreme Court Decides Rev King’s Death Sentence Feb 26

The judgement on the appeal filed by the General Overseer, Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, a.k.a Reverend King, challenging the judgement of a Lagos High Court sentencing him to death by hanging, was on Thursday, fixed for February 26, 2016, by the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja.
The apex court presided over by Justice Walter Onoghen adjourned for judgment after entertaining arguments from counsel to prosecution and defence in the matter.

Godswill Akpabio Loses At Court Of Appeal - Sahara Reporters

The Court of Appeal has nullified the election of Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio. Re-run in 90 days. The un-common transformer has been shown the way out of the Senate. Reporting live from the court.

Things That Make You Go Boom: Russian Jets Filmed Bombing Jihadis in Syria

Footage from the Abkhazian news agency Anna-News has emerged on the Internet revealing Islamist militants being pounded by Russian and Syrian airstrikes.

In the footage, Russian and Syrian warplanes launched air raids on militants based in the western Syrian province of Latakia.

Active Shooter at Arkansas State University Prompts Evacuations

Arkansas State University is reportedly on lockdown after a man with a weapon was spotted on campus, potentially an active shooter.

An armed individual, reportedly male, has been surrounded by authorities. No shots have been fired at this time, and there are no reported injuries. Ambulances are reportedly en route.

Officials say the incident began when the suspect crashed his car into barriers at the university, and also stressed that there were no previous threats made, according to CNN. Students were alerted to avoid the area via a campus-wide text message.

Ukraine 'On the Cusp' of an All-Out War as Biden delivers new war message

A new war is breaking out in Ukraine, and it has been triggered off by no other than the vice president of the United States. During his visit to Kiev last weekend, Joe Biden publicly warned President Poroshenko that "the country is on the cusp" of being completely ruined by rampant corruption.

Ukrainian media reports Joe Biden, US Vice President, demanded action, among other things, the removal of certain Ukrainian officials in the Ministry of Defense and the Prosecutor General's Office.

“The U.S. will continue to stand with Ukraine”-@VP speaking to the Ukrainian Rada → https://t.co/DF3Acy0I9g

— WH National Security (@NSCPress) December 9, 2015

Triple Explosion Hits Syrian Tel Tamer City

A series of explosions have hit the Syrian city of Tel Tamer, leaving 15 dead and more than one hundred wounded.
​Terrorists have detonated three cars in the city of Tel Tamer, in the Syrian province al Hasakah, a source in the people's militia told RIA Novosti. Casualties among civilians are reported.

Greek Jets Target Intruding Turkish F-16 Fighter

A Turkish jet intruded into Greek airspace, which according to the Turkish General Staff, led two Greek jets to keep a radar lock on it as a target.

Two Greek F-16 fighter jets held a radar lock on a Turkish F-16 over the Aegean Sea, the Turkish General Staff said on Thursday.

Turkish President Rules Out Troops Withdrawal From Iraq

Turkey will withdraw troops from Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said firmly on Thursday.

ANKARA  — Turkey will not pullout its troops from Iraq as they have been deployed in the country for training of Iraqi military and police rather than for combat, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday.

"Our servicemen went to Iraq as instructors, their mission is limited to training," Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara.

Kurds Protest Erdogan's Invasion, Bombings of Iraq

Kurds in Iraq protested Turkey's invasion of Iraq, which is a threat to both the independence of Iraq and the Kurds living in the northern part of the country.

Although Turkey found a friend in Iraqi Kurdistan's most dominant clan leader and current president Massoud Barzani, many Iraqi Kurds have opposed the measure.

World Goes 'Right': US, European Right-Wing Parties on Rise

New Paris-style massacres are likely to happen and will solidify Europe and America's turn to the right, Patrick J. Buchanan predicts.

Syrian Air Force Crushes 1300 Terrorist Targets in Last 2 Weeks

According to a military spokesman, the Syrian Air Force has carried out 364 sorties in the last two weeks, striking 1,300 terrorist targets across four provinces.

According to air force spokesman Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub, the Syrian Arab Air Force has destroyed three terrorist command posts operated by Daesh, also known as ISIL/the Islamic State, in areas around Aleppo and Palmyra. Strikes also targeted three columns of vehicles in Homs province, which took out a number of militants and weapons caches.

Three Dead, 30 Wounded in Recent US Coalition Attack - Syrian Army

The recent coalition air strike on the Syrian Army, which took place on Sunday night, killed three and left thirty wounded, claims a representative from the Syrian Army.

Court Orders Detention Of Dokpesi Till Dec.14

A Federal High Court, Abuja has again, ordered that Raymond Dokpesi be detained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending ruling in his bail application on Dec. 14. Dokpesi, the former chairman of DAAR Investment and Holdings Ltd., is standing trial on a six-count-charge bordering on money laundering and contract fraud to the tune of N2.1billion. Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the order for the remand of the defendant, after lawyers in the trial had argued for and against his bail application. “The court cannot deliver ruling immediately because all the processes filed by the parties are not before the court.

We Must Stop Buhari Before He Sends Us To Jail – Ex- Senator, Zwingina

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Adamawa South Senatorial District, Silas Zwingina, has claimed that the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, intends to send public office holders to jail if he emerges president. Senator Jonathan Zwingina Mr. Zwingina, therefore, urged his party members to work hard to ensure that Mr. Buhari fails in his bid to become president. Speaking in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, Mr. Zwingina said “we have to stop Buhari and his plan to build more prisons to jail politicians.

See Copy of the letter NOI sent to GEJ asking for permission to remit $300m to Dasuki

In an announcement she released yesterday Dec. tenth, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that she released $300 million and 5.5 millions from the Abacha loot to previous NSA Sambo Dasuki for the purchase of arms and ammo for the prosecution of Boko Haram sects Bello after the page break is a duplicate of the said letter.

See copy of the letter after the page break.

 

#NOI

Osinbajo Slams EFCC Over Low Graft Convictions

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday lamented the delay in court processes which often get high profile corruption cases stalled.

He said the development had left the various anti-corruption agencies only able to secure seven convictions in such high profile cases since 1999, a figure which he said was too insignificant.
Osinbajo was represented by the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), at a sensitisation workshop on sections 306 and 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and delay of high profile corruption cases in Nigeria.
Sections 306 of the ACJ Act prohibit courts from granting order of stay of proceedings with respect to criminal trial while section 392 of the Act also stipulates that preliminary objection to a charge would only be considered with the substantive case and a ruling delivered on it at the time of the delivery of the judgment in the case.

Onu: Nigeria Cannot Continue to Import Toothpicks, Others

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, yesterday said Nigeria cannot continue to export its natural forest resources abroad only for it to be imported into the country as toothpicks.
He said the country cannot be a consumer nation that depends on other nations even for her basic needs.
He said it was baffling to note that a greatly endowed nation like Nigeria would export crude oil and import refined oil, export wood and import toothpicks.
The disclosure was contained a statement signed by his Chief Press Officer, Mr. Taye Akinyemi, when Onu, met Directors General (DGs) of agencies and parastatals under the ministry in his office in Abuja.

We'll Substitute Faleke If Need Be, Says APC

Bello gets certificate of return
Party expresses dissatisfaction with Bayelsa poll
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it may be constrained to replace its deputy governorship candidate in the recently concluded Kogi State governorship poll if the need arises.
The party also expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the poll in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, effectively rendering the governorship election inconclusive.

We Don’t Have Money To Complete Our Secretariat – PDP

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has declared that it no longer has money to complete its multi-billion naira new national secretariat.
The new secretariat is located at the Central Business District, Abuja.
Our correspondent, who has been visiting the secretariat for some time, observed that contractors handling the project were only doing skeletal jobs at the site.

NSA Funds: Jonathan Abused The Public Trust, Says Buhari.

Dokpesi arraigned, remanded in EFCC custody
Bafarawa, Dasuki, Yuguda, others charged
Magu: We’ll recover all stolen public funds
President Muhammadu Buhari last night accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of breaching public trust in the procurement of arms by the Office of the National Security Adviser for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram.
Buhari made the disclosure when he hosted members of the House of Representatives to dinner yesterday at the old banquet hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The president stated that it was unfortunate that billions of naira and hundreds of dollars were expended on military equipment which could not be verified.