Elections to the Russian Duma in 2016: relevant or a waste of time and money?

This article was written for the Unz Review:http://www.unz.com/tsaker/elections-to-the-russian-duma-in-2016/

Judging by the reactions in the western corporate media, the 2016 elections to the Russian Duma are basically a non-event: evil Putin kept his “grip on power”, all the parties in the Duma are basically under his control and no real opposition was allowed to emerge. Even in Russia, there are some who agree, but for different reasons. They say that everybody knew that United Russia (the party of Putin and Medvedev) would win no matter what and that the entire election was therefore a rather boring event. Actually, there is some truth in all of the above, but this also completely misses the point.

Russia Elections results, The US Military revolt and a Syrian kerfuffle SITREP by Scott Humor

Russian election results in two words: We Won!

That’s it. “Bloody revolution” had been canceled.

In May I posted an article, Waiting for Yalta – 2, or What the Kerry-Lavrov pact brings to the table.  In accidence with the new principles of the new world. ” Color revolutions” will not be allowed.

It doesn’t mean that an illegitimate government of the US won’t stop plotting them. We simply can’t let the illegitimate government of the US to keep destroying country after country, leaving in its wake mountains of dead bodies, drastically reduced population, poverty, hunger on unprecedented level, the degradation of civil societies that extremely difficult if not impossible to stop and reverse.

Elections to the Russian Duma in 2016: relevant or a waste of time and money?

by Pepe Escobar for Russia Today:

You may have never heard of LEMOA. In Global South terms, LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement) is quite a big thing, signed in late August by Indian Defense Minister Mohan Parrikar and Pentagon supremo Ash Carter.

As Carter spun it four months before the signing, LEMOA rules that US forces “may” be deployed to India under special circumstances. Essentially, Delhi will allow Washington to refuel and keep contingents and equipment in Indian bases – but only in case of war.

In theory, India is not offering the US any permanent military base. Yet considering the Pentagon’s track record that may of course change in a flash.

No wonder Indian nationalists were outraged – insisting there is no strategic gain out of this gambit, especially for a nation that is very proud of being one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

"Nobody – not even EFCC – can steal recovered loot," Nuhu Ribadu

The pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says there is no way anybody can steal money recovered by the EFCC, TheCable reports. Ribadu expressed surprise that people were saying such money could be tampered with.

Syrian Army Pounds 40 Terrorists Near Aleppo

Forty terrorists have been killed, and four infantry combat vehicles and seven pickup trucks with machine guns have been destroyed by the Syrian Army near Aleppo.


The Syrian Arab Army has killed about 40 terrorists, as well as has destroyed four infantry combat vehicles and seven pickup trucks with machine guns in Aleppo, the Russian centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria reported.

Emefiele says Nigeria’ll start getting out of recession by October, 2016

According to Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the nation’s economy will likely come out of recession by the fourth quarter of this year when the result of the various measures put in place by the FG and the monetary authorities become manifest, Punchng reports.

Buhari, Osinbajo, Ministers, Others Pocket N2.3bn Salaries In One Year

Despite cut in the salaries of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, both of them including cabinet ministers and other political appointees pocketed the sum of N2.295 billion as official salaries and allowances in the last one year.

Recession: Investment Inflow Shrinks By N642bn Under Buhari

The Nigerian economy recorded a total decline of $2.1bn in investment inflow in the first 12 months of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The $2.1bn, when converted based on the N305.5 per dollar official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria, translates to about N642bn.

Take The Red Pill Or Fight World War 3. – Interview With The Saker

by Katherine Frisk for the International Reporter

Only those with their head in the sand are not aware that NATO, the western allies and the Wall Street bankers are determined to follow a course that will lead to World War 3. With Russia in particular and any other country that stands in their way. In a recent interview Vladimir Putin chided western

'Hypocrisy Beyond Classical': US-led Bombing of Syrian Army Wasn't 'Mistake'

While the Pentagon claimed that US coalition's strikes on the Syrian Army in Deir ez-Zor was unintentional, Moscow and Damascus said that the attack has led to Daesh's advance in the region. Sputnik spoke to political analyst and commentator on Middle Eastern affairs, Hafsa Kara-Mustapha.

23 Niger Delta Militants ‘Killed’ In Gun Battle With Soldiers.

Twenty-three Niger Delta militants were allegedly killed during a firefight with troops of the Nigerian Army. Ibrahim Attahiru, general officer commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Enugu, disclosed this on Saturday, saying 55 assorted weapons were recovered and 38 camps destroyed.  He added that 91 illegal refineries were destroyed and many of the suspects fled with various degrees of injury.

Musings on two of the dumbest wars the US has ever fought

This article was written for the Unz Review:http://www.unz.com/tsaker/musings-on-two-of-the-dumbest-wars-the-us-has-ever-fought/

No, this won’t be about Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan or any other US military war of choice which, while dumb, could at least result in some kind of appearance of victory, no matter how feeble (say, against a few Cuban engineers armed with AKs in Grenada). Today I want to share a few thoughts about the two wars the US has been engaged in for decades even though they never, ever had a chance to win: the war on drugs and the war on guns.

After Killing 62 In Syria, US Ambassador to UN: Emergency Meeting a 'Stunt,' Blasts Russia and Assad 'Game'

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations took a truculent tone during the emergency meeting on Saturday accusing Russia of bombing civilians and blaming the Assad regime for the rise of ISIS calling the meeting "grandstanding," a "stunt," and a "game" after 80 Syrian Army forces were killed in a US-Led airstrike.

Europe Germany Turkey September 2016 SITREP by C.

Western “Culture” is a Cult of Death / Some thoughts on BREXIT and Coup in Turkey / Translation: Interview with Green Youth spokesperson

Why Buhari Wants Emergency Economic Powers — Minister

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, on Friday explained why President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking the National Assembly’s approval for some emergency economic powers.

The minister, who was briefing the media on efforts by the federal government to navigate the country’s economy out of recession, said “unusual times need unusual measures.”

Leary Howl - Comment by Dennis Leary

I’m feeling the love again this morning with the rising of the sun after a full moon night. Yesterday was a day of internal conflict from entering into the world of politics and personalities. The older I get (nearing 77) the more appreciation I have for the beauty of nature (especially our natural selves), and disappointment with how our species has destroyed so much of that.

Russian elections SITREP September 18, 2016 by Scott Humor

The upcoming Russian parliamentary elections

President Putin made an appeal to the citizens of Russia to come out and vote. Considering that he is our commander-in-chief, his words are the command for all.

EFCC Wants To Steal My Money –Patience Jonathan

•Accuses anti-graft agency of using mercenaries to plead guilty in court
•Ex-First Lady may forfeit N6.3bn propery

Former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, yesterday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of using mercenaries in court to plead guilty on her behalf. She said the anti-graft agency was plotting to steal her “hard-earned” $15million (about N6.3billion)
She was reacting to the guilty as charged plea by four companies arraigned with a former aide to her husband, Waripamo Dudafa at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday.

Governors Ask Buhari To Declare Nigeria’s Economic Recession National Emergency

The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, has called on the Federal Government to urgently national emergency on the current Nigeria’s economic recession.

The governors gave this charge in a three-point communiqué read by the Chairman of the Forum and Zamfara Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, in Abuja on Friday.

Dangote To FG: Sell NLNG, Beef Up Reserves, And See If We Won’t Be Out Of Recession By Dec

Aliko Dangote has prescribed ways through which Nigeria can get out of recession before the end of 2016.
In an interview with CNBC Africa, the billionaire said: “The only way for us to get out of this recession is to make sure we move into action quickly; action by diversifying the economy quickly.
Here are the details of Dangote’s prescription:

What You Need To Know When Directed By The Police To Write A Statement

If the police ask you to write a statement, which they normally do when they stop you on the road and take you to their station or when they invite you to their station, you should know how to write a good statement that will not implicate you.

First, whether you write a statement as a witness or as a suspect, you must understand that your statement is very likely going to be used against you either in court or for the purpose of blackmail by some officers (not all). Therefore, take your statement writing as a serious matter.

Unidentified woman snatches and runs with 13-month-old baby in Rivers .

Chinazamepkere Eke was snatched in Rumuokurusi in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, at about 8.30 am on Monday, by an unidentified woman in a commercial tricycle (Napep), who then disappeared to an unknown destination.

The abductor had ostensibly instructed the keke rider to get close to 6-year-old, Chinyere Agbai, who was carrying her younger sister, Chinaza, on her back, before snatching her.

FG releases fresh N350bn for capital projects captured in the budget, to stimulate the economy

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said this today, while briefing journalists on intervention measures being taken by the government to reflate the economy which is currently in recession. She said that the release of the N350bn brings the total capital releases to N770bn.

The Anglo-Zionist nemesis – a nihilist pact with the losing side of history ?

by Paul Matthews

It is in the Book of Proverbs (16:18) of the Hebrew Bible that we may find the locution : Pride comes before a fall. The following report chronicles and contextualizes events and chapters in the saga of a post WWII world under an improvident leadership of Uncle Sam and argues that there is always a good reason to hope even in a period of undiminished gloom. As the freak show of the US presidential election unfolds in the self-reflected glare of the mainstream press and TV, the signs are that partisans of the Zionist Power bloc have finally met their match in the ‘odd couple’ of Vladimir and Bashar.

China ups the game in the South China Sea

by Pepe Escobar for Sputnik News

Joint Sea-2016 started this Monday; that’s the fifth annual China-Russia naval drill, featuring stalwarts from both navies in action at the eastern waters of Zhanjiang, in Guangdong province, the HQ of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Nanhai Fleet.