Category: International

Turkish police clash with protesters over freedom of speech

Istanbul, Turkey, November 5 — Turkish police forces have clashed with estimated 1000 people who marched on the headquarters of the Cumhuriyet daily newspaper (translated “The Republic”, via Wikipedia). Earlier the government investigators arrested nine people at the newspaper alleging “terrorism” with connection to PKK which is outlawed in Turkey, reports Hurriyet Daily News.

According to Wikipedia and secondary source news agency for this story Hurriyet Daily News Cumhuriyet is “the one of the oldest and most respected newspapers” in Turkey.

The protest started as the Turkish people are becoming increasingly terrified of the government assaults on the freedom of press after the failed government coup.

German news agency Deutsche Welle reports that approximately 170 newspapers, magazines and TV stations have been closed since July (a result of current government).

Read full articles at Deutsche Welle and the Hurriyet Daily News.

Our possible interpretation

It is difficult for us to make comments on this issue because not many complete facts are known to us. What is known and is a fact that the Turkish government is on a full assault mode arresting anyone and everyone (particularly in Turkish press and academia) under accusations of “terrorism” related to PKK and others.

Mentioned earlier German news agency Deutsche Welle itself fell a bit of a victim to illegal treatment of its own interview crew a month prior.

We hope that the Turkish news agency Hurriyet Daily News is not next in line for the political guillotine.

Freedom of speech and press is one of the most important and fundamental freedoms a human being can have. Speech and writing are the direct bridge to expression of one’s thinking, one’s thoughts. To destroy that bridge is to imprison the individual within his own mind. Mind-imprison enough within a nation then the final likely outcome is the collapse of the self-imprisoned nation.

ISIL fighters continue to sustain casualties

Ankara, Turkey, November 3 — Hurriyet Daily News reports 36 Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) fighters have been killed in heavy fighting on November 2 in northern Syria.

US Department of Defense news branch reported some of the strikes near Abu Kamal attacked ISIL supply route. Near Raqqah two strikes (drones) targeted ISIL tactical unit and an oil truck….. list continues.

Read the full article at Hurriyet Daily News,
Read the full article of listed engagement by the DoD defense.gov.

Steven Seagal becomes Russian citizen

Moscow, Russia, November 3 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree awarding citizenship to US actor Steven Seagal on Thursday.

“I always felt that USA and Russia should be best friends and allies. Despite the unfortunate propaganda going on I remain fully committed to work tirelessly towards this end and I am tremendously grateful for this opportunity,” says Seagal (via TASS).

Read full article at TASS.

S-300 and S-400 SAM-PVO now deployed in Syria

Syria, October 6 — Syrian ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad confirmed the deployment of the S-300 surface-to-air system in Syria, citing required [air defense] protection for Russian troops.

In addition Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed “let me repeat: both the S-300 and the S-400 are purely defensive armaments, which do not threaten anyone”.

Our possible interpretation:

— The Russian S-300 and the S-400 SAMs (surface-to-air) armaments (built by the Russian defense contractor Almaz-Antey) are considered to be the most advanced mobile “air-defense curtains” currently deployed in the world.

In terms of a game of chess, imagine two rooks staggered near each other in such a manner that no enemy pieces can “pass” the kill zones illuminated by the rooks. In a somewhat similar fashion any number of S-300/S-400 systems can be linked to create essentially “air kill zones”, even to high altitude stealth aircraft.

The system according to Russian foreign minister is for “defensive” purposes. Yes but last we were able to check, the ISIS/ISIL forces are not operating high altitude stealth bombers or reconnaissance, or for the matter of fact operating any combat aviation assets in the area.

This leaves the US and the Coalition forces, including Turkey with combat aviation assets in the area. Perhaps this has nothing at all to do with the US-led coalition destruction of a Syrian army unit in middle of last month. Perhaps otherwise.

Although mobile SAMs are “defensive armaments” do keep in mind that it is always a good idea to move SAMs forward into the enemy territory just before opening a new incursion front. (As an example see the October 6, 1973 Yom Kippur War).

Read both, full article at TASS Riyad Haddad, Sergey Lavrov comments, DW (Syrian army bombed by US).

Federal court charges VW engineer over smog device

US, September 9 — Volkswagen engineer James Liang has pleaded guilty to US federal charges to conspiracy. Allegedly Mr. Liang helped develop the emissions defeat device for the Jetta cars in 2006 while working at VW’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, reports Deutsche Welle (DW).

 

Read the full article at Deutsche Welle.

Al-Nusra Front commander killed near Aleppo

Syria, Semptember 8 — Syrian rebel group Fateh al-Sham Front (Al-Nusra Front) reported earlier the chief Abu Omar Sarakeb was killed in Aleppo province. Appears the death was the result of an airstrike but is unclear from which nation.

Al-Nusra Front is a terrorist organization under US State Department’s terrorist organizations list, (05/15/2014).

Read full article at DW.

Russian defense R&D on 5th generation MRSA missiles

Kubinka, Russia, September 8 — Russia’s military technology bureau Almaz-Antey Concern has begun work on the fifth-generation medium range surface to air missile system. The new system will have smaller missiles with more efficient propulsion system enabling better endurance capability.

Report also explains the capacity for the launch platform is increased from four to six missiles. The new missile will incorporate newest target acquisition system, have improved anti-jamming capability and higher destruction area. Allegedly twice better overall capability from previous models.

The design bureau works in conjunction with JSC Tikhomirov Scientific Research Institute of Instrument Design.

Read the full article at TASS.

Freedom of press – not in Turkey

Ankara, September 06 — Deutsche Welle (DW.com) conducted an interview earlier with Turkey’s Youth and Sports Minister Akif Cagatay Kilic. DW asked many questions that were allegedly agreed upon in advance.

Upon completion of the interview Turkish representatives detained the DW interviewing crew until they surrendered the interview footage.

Reasons for confiscation cited (much later) by Ubeydullah Yener, Turkish press officer of the Sport Minister said “There was no authorisation for the interview. The questions asked were not the ones that were planned. Mr. Friendman himself knows exactly why this happened. Some statements were right out allegations. In such a situation, there was no authorization granted.” — writes DW.

DW Director General Peter Limbourg commented on the situation, “[this] incident is a proof of blatant violation of press freedom in Turkey. What we are experiencing constitutes an act of the Turkish regime’s coercion. It no longer follows the rule of law and has nothing to do with democracy….” – reports DW. (We encourage you to read the full article at DW, see links below.)

A serious system is one which grants freedom of speech and press. A serious system is one which categorically restricts freedom of speech and press but that is the system’s normal modus operandi. A spurious system is one which pretends to grant freedom of speech and press but nullifies such grants arbitrarily. K.Hemway

Read the full article at DW.
Read the full article at HurriyetDailyNews.