04/23/14

Permalink FBI Plans to Have 52 Million Photos in its NGI Face Recognition Database by Next Year

New documents released by the FBI show that the Bureau is well on its way toward its goal of a fully operational face recognition database by this summer. EFF received these records in response to our Freedom of Information Act lawsuit for information on Next Generation Identification (NGI)—the FBI’s massive biometric database that may hold records on as much as one third of the U.S. population. The facial recognition component of this database poses real threats to privacy for all Americans.


Permalink US sends 600 troops to Eastern Europe, warship USS Taylor enters Black Sea

US frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) has entered the Black Sea, according to the US Navy, as the Pentagon announces plans to dispatch some 600 troops to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia for military exercises. The US claims the ship’s entry is “to promote peace and stability in the region.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously stated that the US has been violating the Montreux Convention which restricts the number of US vessels operating in the Black Sea and sets a time limit of 21 days for each one. At the beginning of February, the USS Taylor was initially posted in the Black Sea. However, damages to the warship’s propeller assembly after running aground in the Black Sea caused a spike in tensions between the US and Russia after it caused the ship to exceed the time allotted to its stay by 11 days. French frigate Dupleix is expected to enter the Black Sea April 26-27, a military-diplomatic source told Itar-Tass. Once it arrives, the Black Sea will host three NATO vessels. The third one is French surveillance ship Dupuy de Lôme, which is expected to leave for the Mediterranean on April 30.


Permalink New York Times propaganda photos on Ukraine exposed

Alex Lantier A day after the New York Times published a front-page report purporting to show the involvement of Russian Special Forces in protests in east Ukraine, its report, titled “Photos Link Masked Men in East Ukraine to Russia,” has been exposed as a blatant fabrication. || The Times printed low-resolution pictures of fighters—allegedly wearing Russian insignia while in Georgia, and then later as protesters in east Ukraine—asserting they were the same men, thus proving the existence of an armed Russian intervention in Ukraine. It was based on a crude trick first noted by a commenter on a link posted on Reddit. The photos in the Times were down-sampled versions of higher-resolution images circulating online, which show that the men in the different pictures are in fact not the same. It very rapidly became clear that the Times’ claims to have proven that Russian soldiers were driving the east Ukraine protests against the pro-Western regime in Kiev were complete rubbish.

Alex Lantier: The New York Times finds Russian spies in eastern Ukraine
Robert Parry: Another New York Times-Michael Gordon Special?

WSWS: German magazine Der Spiegel campaigns for war and rearmament || One of the most unmistakable signs of the return of German militarism is the barrage of war propaganda in the media. The conservative Die Welt and FAZ, the liberal Süddeutsche and Zeit and the “Green” taz newspaper have all published a torrent of articles urging German rearmament and more aggressive action against Russia.


Permalink Lavrov: Kiev issued 'criminal order' allowing use of weapons against civilians

The coup-appointed Kiev government’s order to use force against Ukrainian citizens is “criminal,” the Russian Foreign Minister told RT. He also denied claims that there is Russian military presence on Ukrainian territory. In an interview with RT’s Sophie Shevardnadze, Sergey Lavrov called acting Ukrainian President Alexander Turchinov’s order to reinitiate an anti-terror operation in East Ukraine, a criminal act. Referencing the four-sided talks between the EU, the US, Russia and Ukraine that took place in Geneva on April 17, Lavrov accused Kiev’s coup-appointed government of going back on its pledge to put a stop to all violence. “In Geneva we agreed there must be an end of all violence. Next afternoon [interim Ukrainian President Aleksandr] Turchinov declared almost a state of emergency and ordered the army to shoot at the people.


Permalink Biden Uses Kiev Visit To Lecture Russia

US announces extra £30m for coup government US Vice-President Joe Biden told Russia today “to stop talking and start acting” to reduce tension in Ukraine. He insisted that Moscow should be using its influence to encourage pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine to vacate government buildings and checkpoints, accept amnesty and “address their grievances politically.” Mr Biden had nothing to say about the ongoing occupation of property by pro-government forces or the role of far-right paramilitary groups. He lectured Moscow on the need to act “without delay,” adding: “We will not allow this to become an open-ended process.” Apparently oblivious to his own country’s history, Mr Biden said that no country had the right to take another’s territory.

PressTV: US controlling interim Ukrainian government: Analyst - Video
RT.com: Lavrov to RT: Americans are 'running the show' in Ukraine
RT.com: Churkin: US behind Ukraine crisis after investing $5bn in 'regime change'

Stephen Lendman: US Threatens Russia Washington bears full responsibility for elevating illegitimate fascist putschists to power. Doing so reflects another sordid chapter in US history. For sure, it won't be the last. Bullying, bluster and threatening ultimatums define US policy. John Kerry warned Sergei Lavrov. Moscow has "days, not weeks," to assure Ukrainian four-part agreement terms are implemented. [...] Fact check: Kiev putschists deployed neo-Nazi Right Sector thugs. They did so to Eastern Ukraine. They unleashed violence. They violated Easter truce terms straightaway. Deescalation is a convenient illusion. Washington bears full responsibility for Ukrainian crisis conditions. Rogue EU nations partner in crime. Cold War 2.0 rages. At stake is world peace. A potential East/West confrontation looms. Washington wants all rival governments eliminated. It wants pro-Western stooge ones replacing them. It wants unchallenged worldwide dominance. It risks possible global conflict in the process. Psaki didn't explain.

Bill Van Auken: Vice President Joseph Biden’s two-day visit to Ukraine has ended with a resumption of the Kiev regime’s military crackdown against its political opponents in the southeast of the country and a dangerous escalation of US threats against Russia. Oleksandr Turchynov, who is both acting president and chairman of the parliament following the US-backed, fascist-led coup of February 22, announced Tuesday that he had ordered the country’s security forces to “carry out effective counterterrorist activities aimed at defending Ukrainian citizens living in the country’s east from terrorists.” Troops have reportedly been massed in the town of Izyum, on the border between Ukraine’s Kharkov region and Donetsk, the country’s most industrialized region. Donetsk has been the center of protests against the US-backed ultranationalists who seized power in Kiev.


Permalink U.S. security firm with links to Blackwater sends private army to Ukraine, disguised as "local forces"



Russian Foreign Ministry said there were around '150 American specialists' Statement claimed security firm Greystone sent in specialists 'disguised'. Greystone Ltd founded in 2004 and broke away as standalone firm in 2010. It was an affiliate of Xe Services, which changed name from Blackwater. Russia claims 150 Americans have been sent to Ukraine by a U.S. firm with historic links to Blackwater - the private security contractor which made headlines after a mass shooting in Iraq. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow today condemned the use of a supposed private army by Greystone Ltd 'disguised' as local forces. Greystone, which claims it recruits from the world's top armies and police forces, was founded in 2004 as an affiliate of Blackwater before breaking away to become a standalone firm in 2010. Four former Blackwater security guards are facing trial in the U.S. over a 2007 shooting which killed 14 people in Baghdad.

The statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs came as the Kremlin - which is facing international condemnation for sending troops into Crimea - warned 'civil war' could be looming in eastern Ukraine. It condemned the arrest today of 70 pro-Russian activists who stormed a government building in Kharkiv, just 25 miles from the Russian border. Russia, which has 40,000 troops on its side of the border, claimed the 'crackdown' was 'against the policies of the current government in Kiev'. The statement then added: 'Of particular concern is the fact that in this operation are about 150 American specialists from the private military organization "Greystone", disguised in the form of units of the "Falcon". 'Organizers and participants of this provocation are taking on a huge responsibility to create threats to the rights, freedoms and lives of civilians and for the stability of the Ukrainian State. 'We call for the immediate cessation of any military preparations, which could lead to the outbreak of civil war.'

The Wall Street Journal reported Greystone had categorically denied deploying anyone in Ukraine. An article quoted representative Coreena Taylor saying: 'We do not have anyone working in Ukraine nor do we have any plans to deploy anyone to the region.' However, Greystone gave no comment when contacted by MailOnline today at its head office in Chesapeake, Virginia. Pressed on whether the comments reported by the Wall Street Journal was accurate or officially sanctioned, a representative replied: 'This is officially sanctioned: We have no comment.' A U.S. State Department spokesman said it could not answer for a private company, but added: 'We do not have any U.S. military units in Ukraine.'

Has Blackwater been deployed to Ukraine? Notorious U.S. mercenaries 'seen on the streets of flashpoint city'


Permalink MH370 may have landed safely somewhere

After weeks of search in the Indian Ocean, an investigation into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is considering the possibility that the plane has landed somewhere else. Sources within the team that is based in Kuala Lumpur told the New Straits Times that among areas they were revisiting was the possibility that the Boeing jetliner had landed somewhere else, instead of ending up in the southern Indian Ocean. “We may have to regroup soon to look into this possibility if no positive results come back in the next few days ... but at the same time, the search mission in the Indian Ocean must go on. The thought of it landing somewhere else is not impossible, as we have not found a single debris that could be linked to MH370."


Permalink David Axelrod hired as Ed Miliband’s "communications manager" [Svengali]

David Axelrod, recognized for creating a winning campaign strategy for Barack Obama’s senatorial race (2004) and presidential elections (2008 and 2012), will spearhead Labour leader Edward Miliband’s campaign for the United Kingdom 2015 General Election. The author of the "Yes we can" slogan promised to project an image of Labour as the bearer of hope, as he had done for his other clients, including President Obama. According to him, the Labour campaign should focus on social inequalities and Ed Miliband’s ability to reduce them.


Permalink Citing ‘Coup’ in Ukraine, Putin Reserves Right to Use Force

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, in his first comments since the crisis in Ukraine boiled over, said on Tuesday that he saw no reason for Russia’s army to intervene in eastern Ukraine at the moment, but left open the possibility of military action, saying that Russia “reserves the right to use all means at our disposal to protect” Russian speakers in the country’s south and east if they are in danger. “We are not going to fight with the Ukrainian people,” he said. “I want you to understand me clearly. If we make such a decision, it will only be for the protection of Ukrainian citizens. And God forbid if any of the servicemen tries to shoot their own people, we will be standing behind them — not in front, but behind. Let them try to shoot women and children!” (Source: NYT)

Warsaw Business Journal: Putin accuses Poland of 'training' Ukrainian revolutionaries
Thierry Meyssan: Ukraine: Poland trained putchists two months in advance


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