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Contrary to perceptions disseminated by the mainstream media Trump, as a virtual captive of the Deep State, is less free to initiate and implement policies than his equally murderous predecessors. This is especially true in the foreign policy area.
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Weeks before meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, Putin explained he’s dealt with three US presidents - Bush, Obama and Trump. “They come and go, but politics stays the same at all times,” he explained. “Do you know why? Because of the powerful bureaucracy.”
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“When a person is elected, they may have some ideas. Then people with briefcases arrive, well dressed, wearing dark suits, just like mine, except for the red tie, since they wear black or dark blue ones.”
“These people start explaining how things are done. And instantly, everything changes. This is what happens with every administration.” Names and faces change. Deplorable US policies continue like always. Over two hours of Putin/Trump talks in Hamburg changed nothing - other than both leaders finally meeting face-to-face, a chance for extended discussion on issues of importance to both countries.
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Russia’s leader genuinely wants improved bilateral relations, conflict resolution in Syria and Ukraine, avoiding a potentially catastrophic one on the Korean peninsula, and putting to rest the Big Lie about Russian US election hacking once and for all. Trump is hostage to America’s deep state, powerful interests controlling him - Wall Street, war-profiteers, other corporate predators, lobbyists and others representing them deciding how America is run, and the Israeli tail often wagging the US dog.
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He and Putin appeared to get along well, their public comments and demeanor far different from Putin/Obama interfacing. Their meeting scheduled for 35 minutes exceeded two hours. Rex Tillerson called it “a pretty good exchange” of ideas. The two leaders “connected very quickly,” adding the Russians “see (things) a little different than we do.”
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Putin pressed Trump for evidence of alleged Russian US election hacking, stressing no meddling of any kind occurred. Trump seemed to accept his assurance. All along he’s been dubious about the accusation. Apparently the US intelligence community briefing on this issue failed to convince him.
Agreeing on ceasefire in southern Syria is dubious at best. Earlier ones throughout years of conflict were observed only by Damascus, its allied ground forces and Russia. Washington and its terrorist foot soldiers flagrantly breached them every time. It’s hard being optimistic for a different outcome this time.
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Regime change and imposition of pro-Western puppet governance remains Washington’s objective in Syria - why Obama waged war in the first place, Trump continuing what he began, escalating conflict, not ending it. In Hamburg, Tillerson said the Trump administration sees no longterm role for Assad in Syria, how he leaves “yet to be determined,” stressing eventual transition will replace him, not a hopeful conflict resolution sign.
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Announced ceasefire in southwest Syria may turn out more mirage than reality. Trump getting along well with Putin during their first meeting belies longstanding US imperial objectives. Washington wants all sovereign independent governments replaced by pro-Western subservient ones - Russia, China, Iran and North Korea on its target list. Given longstanding US hostility toward Russia, Putin aims to make the most out of a bad situation, telling Trump: Phone conversations on international issues aren’t enough. “If we want to find positive solutions to bilateral issues and the most important and urgent international problems, (face-to-face) meetings…are essential.”
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He “hope(s) (Friday’s) meeting will produce positive results.” He knows relations with America are fraught with dangers under Republican and Democrat leadership. It’s been this way for the past century, things today at a post-Cold War low. One meeting with Trump leaves unchanged how far apart both nations are on vital geopolitical issues. Trump saying “(w)e look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for Russia and the United States” ignores longstanding hostility toward a nation dark forces in America consider its main threat.
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It’s not a good sign going forward. In the cold light of Hamburg’s aftermath, bilateral US/Russia relations remain more adversarial than amicable.
Another US/Russia Syria Ceasefire Agreement: Hold the Cheers
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Earlier US agreed on ceasefires were observed only by Syria, its allied ground forces and Russia.
Washington and its terrorist foot soldiers flagrantly breached them. Will this time be different? Will America turn a new leaf from warrior nation to peace champion? Will it renounce its war on humanity at home and abroad and become a model nation for others to emulate? Will the sun henceforth rise in the west? Washington consistently talks peace while waging naked aggression. Chances for a durable ceasefire are no more likely now than earlier.
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Straightaway in office, Trump showed he’s a warrior president like his predecessors. He infested his administration with extremist neocons, delegating warmaking authority to hawkish generals. He inherited Obama’s war on Syria and escalated it. US terror-bombing massacres civilians daily. US special forces on the ground aid ISIS and other terrorists combat government and allied troops. His administration has been undermining peace talks in Astana and Geneva. Months of on and off negotiations achieved no breakthroughs. None are in prospect.
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Washington continues maintaining the myth of “moderate rebels.” None exist. All anti-government fighters are terrorists, cold-blooded killers, death squads imported from scores of countries. Another dubious US/Russia ceasefire was agreed on in southwest Syria, effective July 9 at midnight local time. In Hamburg, Germany at the G20 summit, Sergey Lavrov announced it following the meeting between Putin and Trump, saying “(t)he United States has made a commitment that all the groups present (in southern Syria - Daraa, Quneitra and Sweida) will observe the ceasefire.”
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The deal is separate from the Russian-drafted agreement on de-escalation zones, details being finalized before being signed by Moscow, Iran and Turkey, Washington not part of the deal, at least not so far. Separately, Lavrov said called Putin/Trump talks “long and substantive,” adding “both presidents are driven above all by the national interests of their countries and understand these interests in seeking mutually beneficial agreements, rather than trying to play confrontational scenarios…”
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They agreed to establish a communication channel on Ukraine to work for conflict resolution according to Minsk terms Washington and Kiev putschists it installed sabotaged straightaway. They discussed cybersecurity, combatting terrorism (Washington supports) and other issues. Agreeing to work together cooperatively is belied by implacable US hostility toward Russia. Nothing in prospect suggests meaningful and durable improved relations. Reportedly Trump pressed Putin on (nonexistent) Russian US election hacking. Lavrov addressed the issue, stressing during months of accusations, “not a single fact has been presented.”
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“And President Trump said that he heard President Putin state clearly that it is not true, that the Russian government did not meddle” in America’s election. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov numerous times called the spurious accusation “absolutely groundless.” The Big Lie without a leg to stand on persists. Putin’s meeting was scheduled to last from 30 minutes to an hour. It went on for over two hours, both leaders with much to discuss - maybe prelude for more talks ahead.
Putin and Trump Talk While US Rape of Syria Continues
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For over six years, Washington waged naked aggression on Syria, its goal regime change, replacing Assad with pro-Western puppet rule. Putin/Trump talks offered no prospect for change in US imperial aims. The latest bilateral partial ceasefire agreement may prove as illusory as earlier ones, America and its terrorist foot soldiers breaching it at their discretion, Damascus blamed for their high crimes. Turkey shares guilt, aiming to annex northern Syrian territory, supporting ISIS and other terrorist groups while claiming to be combating them.
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Syria’s Foreign Ministry blasted Erdogan for ordering new attacks in the northern Aleppo countryside, conducting incursions in Asaz, Jibrin and Ekhtrin. Erdogan is an aggressor, not a peacemaker, a flagrant international law violator, a “main partner” of ISIS and other terrorist groups, posing a serious threat to regional and international security and stability.
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Washington, NATO, Israel and other regional rogue states ignore his high crimes - like America, pretending to want peace while waging war. US-led coalition terror-bombing is responsible for massacring thousands of defenseless civilians in Iraq and Syria, continuing daily, ignored by media scoundrels. The citizen journalist group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) provides reliable firsthand reports on high crimes of war and against humanity against defenseless city residents, victims of US imperial viciousness.
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Truth-telling is hazardous work, especially in a war theater, RBSS journalists saying they “hide behind fake names, and we don’t trust anyone, so we don’t get captured,” tortured and killed. Several were caught inside Raqqa and brutally murdered. At least five of its member report from outside Syria. RBSS spokesman Abdalaziz Alhamza earlier said “(w)hen we chose to work together against Daesh, documenting its abuses, we understood there would be casualties.”
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“However, it’s been worse than we expected. It is an inevitable price to be paid. So far we have lost 14 people - four group members and 10 friends and family members. Currently we have 18 inside Raqqa and 10 outside Raqqa.”
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On July 6, RBSS reported the following:
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“As the battle against ISIS in Raqqa intensifies, the strategy being used by the International Coalition and their local allies, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), is becoming clearer.” “Their methods rely mainly upon intensive daily aerial bombardment and artillery shelling...These practices cause dozens of civilians deaths every day, as well as contribute to a massive destruction of infrastructure, properties, residential buildings, and places of worship. During the battle, the SDF have committed multiple violations in the newly ‘liberated’ areas of Raqqa. These violations include heavy civilian casualties, forced displacement, and mandatory recruitment into armed service.”
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“Raqqa now is in the same situation as it was before the current battle to ‘liberate it. Raqqa continues to see daily indiscriminate shelling that causes large civilian casualties and massive destruction to the city’s infrastructure...(Defense Secretary)said in late May that ‘civilian casualties are a fact of life in this sort of situation.’ He then added that the US does ‘everything humanly possible consistent with military necessity, taking many chances to avoid civilian casualties at all costs.’ “
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“Activists from Raqqa believe that the brutal bombings and unjust killings of civilians are not accidents. Rather, satellite images reveal an extent of destruction in the city that seems to fall in line with a sinister plan America has prepared for the city.”
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“The US administration may be taking this destructive approach to facilitate SDF’s wishes of establishing a Kurdish State in the city after ISIS’s defeat. This Kurdish establishment would then allow the US to obtain their own control in Raqqa and establish military bases in it.”
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Western media scoundrels suppress this type information - supporting US-led rape of Syria instead of condemning it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STEPHEN LENDMAN lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. |||| VISIT HIS NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org
Contrary to perceptions disseminated by the mainstream media Trump, as a virtual captive of the Deep State, is less free to initiate and implement policies than his equally murderous predecessors. This is especially true in the foreign policy area.
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Corrections: The vetting by the CIA representatives of the capitalist ruling class happens LONG before the president takes office. And, when it comes to Israel, the tail NEVER wags the dog. That notion feeds into fascist conspiracy theories that simply are not true.