Russians catch British firm training terrorists to stage chem false-flag attack in Idlib UPDATED

UPDATE 3:15 pm EDT
I see Col. Pat Lang's Sic Semper Tyrannis is discussing the same reporting. One reader, Willy B, posted this helpful information in the SST comment section:

The Olive Group, the mercenary firm that Konashenkov named, is under the umbrella of something called Constellis Holdings, which also owns Academi, the mercenary company formerly known as Blackwater, the company founded by Eric Prince. The CEO of Constellis is a man named Jason Deyonker, a University of Michigan classmate of Prince's and the man who bought out Blackwater, enabling Prince to move his operation to the UAE.

https://lobelog.com/trump-a...

END UPDATE

From Sputnik, August 25, 2018:

According to the Russian Defense Ministry a group of militants is arriving in Syria's Idlib after being trained by a private British military company called Olive. The group was trained to work with poisonous substances.

"To carry out a chemical attack in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the province of Idlib, militants from the Tahrir al-Sham group delivered 8 tankers with chlorine to a village a few kilometers from Jisr al-Shughur," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman General Igor Konashenkov said. [...]

Readers might want to go to the Sputnik site to read the report there because I did a drastic editing job on the report, which seems hastily translated from the Russian while a Sputnik editor labored to stuff the news about Olive under the headline "US, UK and France Prepare New Strike Against Syria - Russian MoD."

But don't look for anything more about Olive in the Sputnik report; I put all the sentences relating to it in the above paragraphs. I doubt the Russians would publicize anything more regarding what they've learned about Olive's activities without the risk of revealing "sources and methods," as they say in the Intel Community.

Yet I think it's obvious by now that no foreign government deeply involved in the Syrian War can as much sneeze in Syria without this being observed by a 'local source' and duly reported to the Russian MoD.

Would the British go so far, however, as to help HTS actually carry out a chemical weapons attack in the effort to frame Syria's government? I know nothing about Olive and so have no idea whether it's connected to the British government. But I certainly wouldn't put it past HTS, and to stage a really effective false-flag attack, they could need help from people skilled at working with chemical weapons. They might have told Olive that they didn't intend to stage a real attack, just make it look like the real thing.  

In any case the Russians are alarmed because the Trump regime is overtly encouraging terrorist groups in Idlib to stage a chemical attack, whether real or phony; it's doing this by publicly stating that if any such attacks happen during the Syrian army's Idlib Offensive, the regime will attack the Syrian government even more forcefully than it's done before. And it's very clear from John Bolton's statements that the U.S. won't wait for an investigation of any chem weapons attack before launching missiles.

From the Sputnik report, Gen. Konashenkov is voicing the Russian MoD's speculation that U.S. deployments are being done for just such an attack:

"This provocation with the active participation of the British special services will serve as a pretext for the US, UK and France to conduct more missile strikes on the Syrian government and Syria's economic facilities.

[...]

The spokesman suggested that for this purpose, the destroyer USS "The Sullivans," armed with 56 cruise missiles, arrived in the Persian Gulf several days ago, while a US В-1В bomber carrying 24 air-to-surface AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles has been deployed at Al Udeid air base in Qatar.

The deployments could have more to do with a reply to Tehran's saber-rattling than with Syria but the timing is ominous. The U.S. has been very clear in conveying that they and their coalition want to prevent the Idlib Offensive, which is imminent, from going forward.

*********

Hurricane Lane at Cat 2: Another of those deadly slow-moving weak storms

"Hurricane Lane was moving so slowly that band after band of torrential downpours were continuing to lash the Big Island on Friday ... As Hurricane Lane continued to trudge along late Thursday into Friday, its slow pace was emerging as the biggest concern. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center, in Honolulu said, "Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides."

This happened with Hurricane Harvey; that storm had also weakened by the time it hit land but because it was so slow-moving it kept hugging the shoreline instead of blowing inland -- so it went back and forth, back and forth, between land and water, sustaining itself by drawing energy from the waters. It actually created its own weather system. Result: catastrophic flooding. 

But on the Maui island there's a twist with Hurricane Lane: an uncontrolled wildfire, would you believe. The rains haven't hit the affected area yet, but gale-force winds from the hurricane have, driving the fire. Well, should be doused by tonight their time, when the rains arrive.  

CBS News 

Hurricane Lane: Category 2 storm bringing "catastrophic flooding" to Hawaii
Last Updated Aug 24, 2018 - 6:39 PM EDT

• Hurricane Lane barreled toward Hawaii on Friday, dumping torrential rains that inundated the Big Island's main city. Residents elsewhere stocked up on supplies and piled sandbags to shield oceanfront businesses against the increasingly violent surf.

  The storm had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and was moving at a pace of just 5 mph, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET advisory (11 a.m. local time).

  The city of Hilo, population 43,000, was flooded with waist-high water. The National Guard and firefighters rescued six people and a dog from a flooded home. Five tourists from California were rescued from another home.

  "There's so much rain, the drainage is all saturated," said Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe. "We're just letting nature take its course, getting water down to the ocean and responding to any rescues."

  The Category 2 storm was expected to turn west on Saturday before reaching the islands and skirting Oahu -- the state's most populated island. Even without making a direct hit, forecasters said the system threatened to bring a huge storm surge, high wind and heavy rain.

  Early Friday morning, a brushfire on the island of Maui forced a hurricane shelter to evacuate in Lahaina. The flames spread to 300 acres, and officials said a woman who was burned in the hands and legs was flown to Honolulu.

• ​Officials say damage is potentially catastrophic

  With rain pounding Hawaii's Big Island, officials who have seen the damage call it potentially catastrophic. Inside one home in Hilo, there appeared to be a waterfall, cascading down the stairwell, CBS News' Mireya Villarreal reports.

  Hurricane Lane was moving so slowly that band after band of torrential downpours were continuing to lash the Big Island on Friday. The storm was heading directly toward Hawaii's most populated islands of Oahu and Maui. On Waikiki, tourists were being warned to stay out of the water.

• A new threat was also coming from tropical force winds that were pushing a large wildfire on Maui near Lahaina. Five inches of rain were in the forecast Friday night, but until it falls, there is little to stop the fire.

• Hawaii officials warn about risks from runoff

  Hawaii health officials warn that Hurricane Lane has caused storm-water runoff to enter the ocean, posing possible health risks to swimmers and surfers.

  The state Department of Health issued a statewide advisory Friday about brown water. Officials warn the public to stay out of floodwaters and storm-water runoff because of possible overflowing cesspools, sewers and manholes, along with chemicals, pesticides and dead animals from flood debris.

  They say if the water is brown, stay out.

Dozens of people are still swimming and surfing off the famed Waikiki Beach in Honolulu despite police or fire vehicles blasting out periodic warnings that the beach is closed and everyone needs to leave.

[Well, what can be said? TIH: This is Hawaii]

Flooding closes major roads on Hawaii's Big Island

The hurricane is taking a toll on roads on Hawaii's Big Island, with three major roads closed due to flash flooding, according to officials. Officials said early Friday morning local time that only one highway was available for travel across the island.

Numerous secondary roads also were closed.

Multiple landslides could force more closures as rain pounds the island. More than 30 inches of rain associated with the hurricane had fallen on the Big Island as of early Friday, with some areas recording 35 inches in 48 hours.

• Brushfire on Maui forces relocation of a shelter

  A brushfire on Hawaii's island of Maui has forced the relocation of a shelter for people who were staying there as Hurricane Lane approaches.

  Maui County officials said there was a rapidly spreading fire in the community of Lahaina Friday on the island's western side. Nearby residents were being evacuated.

  Officials, as a precaution, moved 26 people who evacuated because of the hurricane from a shelter at a Lahaina school to a civic center. Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said it's not clear if the fire is hurricane related.

• Hurricane watches and warnings

  Friday morning, the islands of Oahu and Maui remained under a hurricane warning, while Kauai was under a hurricane watch.

  The hurricane warning for the Big Island has been dropped, and the island is now under a tropical storm warning.

  CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB reports heavy rains that started late Wednesday have triggered widespread flooding and evacuations on the Big Island, and have closed off several main thoroughfares.

• FEMA briefing: "Please heed the warnings"

  Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service held a briefing about the hurricane response in Washington Friday morning.

  "Please heed the warnings. It's very dangerous to be outside," FEMA Administrator Brock Long said. "Bottom line is that we're going to see torrential rains that could occur for the next 48 to 72 hours."

  He warned that it will be "a marathon."

  "The big island in Hawaii, Hawaii counties received in some cases 2 feet of rain already. And unfortunately there's more to come," Long said.

  The weather service said Lane was centered about 160 miles southwest of Kona, on Hawaii's Big Island.

  Meteorologist Steve Goldstein said its track is expected to continue through the day before turning west on Saturday. Lane will remain at hurricane strength, "dangerously close" to Hawaii through the day Friday and Saturday, while heavy rainfall and flooding will continue even after the eye of the storm passes.

• • 1,500 spend night in shelters

    Red Cross officials say more than 1,500 people across the state stayed in shelters Thursday night as they waited out the storm, CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB reports. The largest number sought shelter in Oahu, where 20 shelters hosted about 1,100 people overnight.

    The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency says public schools can serve as shelters but most are not strong enough to withstand hurricane-force winds. Authorities are evaluating which school facilities are strong enough and in safe areas.

  • Lane triggers major flooding on Big Island

    The monster storm is expected to bring torrential rains to island communities. That was exactly what the Big Island saw through much of the day Thursday, reports CBS Honolulu affiliate KGMB-TV.

    Heavy rains that started late Wednesday on the island triggered widespread floodingand evacuations, and closed several main thoroughfares.

    Over the course of the day Thursday, several communities had already seen more than a foot of rain. Waiakea saw more than 23 inches, while Hakalau saw over two-and-a-half feet.

    Saddle Road above Hilo was inundated with water, and officials with the Hawaii Department of Transportation reported water levels two to three feet deep.

As Hurricane Lane continued to trudge along late Thursday into Friday, its slow pace was emerging as the biggest concern.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center, in Honolulu said, "Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides."

[...]

Torrential rain shaping up as main event

As Hurricane Lane continued to trudge along late Thursday into Friday, its slow pace was emerging as the biggest concern.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center, in Honolulu said, "Excessive rainfall associated with this slow moving hurricane will continue to impact the Hawaiian Islands into the weekend, leading to significant and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides."

"Lane is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts of 30 to 40 inches possible over portions of the Hawaiian Islands. Over two feet of rain has already fallen at a few locations on the windward side of the Big Island."

According to the center, as of 11 p.m Thursday local time, Lane was about 215 miles south of Honolulu and 165 miles southwest of Kailua-Kona, moving north at 6 mph.

Maximum sustained winds were almost 120 mph, with higher gusts.

"On the latest forecast track, the center of Lane will move over, or dangerously close to portions of the main Hawaiian islands late Friday and Friday night," the center said. "Some weakening is forecast from Friday through late Saturday, but Lane is expected to remain a hurricane as it approaches the islands."

[...]

********

Russia has proof of governments' direct transfer of weapons to Islamic State

aesh in Syria Supplied with Arms by Foreign Agencies – Russian Envoy to UN

© Sputnik / MORAD SAEED

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik - 8/24) - Russia has proof that the Islamic State terror group has been receiving weapons from other countries with the help of foreign security agencies, Russian envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzya said.

"We have amassed evidence that weapons are being smuggled [to Syria] from outside, including through semi-legal organizations or even under protection of security agencies from other countries," he told the United Nations on Thursday.

[...]

More on Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Nebenzya's remarks on the topic from the Russian state news agency TASS, 8/24:

... He recalled that during the discussion of the UN secretary-general’s previous report on anti-Islamic State efforts, the Russian delegation had drawn attention to flagrant violations of the ban to sell weapons to terrorists. "The question is still open: how this gang of bandits managed to collect an arms arsenal to be able to resist the world’s biggest armies, by hook or by crook," Nebenzya said.

"The current report presents the situation in a way [to make it seem] that Islamic State militants are making do only with what turns up -- plundering warehouses in territories they control and making improvised explosive devices," he noted, adding that, as a matter of fact, they can make only the most primitive weapons and in small amounts.

"More and more evidence indicates that weapons are supplied from outside, including via semi-legal structures or even under supervision of special services of a number of countries," the Russian diplomat stressed.

"We hope to discuss ways to resolve this problem at an international conference on counteracting illegal weapons supplies in the context of efforts against international terrorism due to be held in Moscow on September 3-4."

The bombshell Mr Nebenzya dropped yesterday at the United Nations Security Council could explain the length of yesterday's meeting in Geneva between U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia -- five hours. 

Mr Nebenzya's remarks could also explain why U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo phoned Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov yesterday.

As we see Mr Nebenzya did not specify the number of security agencies involved in the alleged transfers and didn't identify them by name. But I'd say it's a good guess that if the subject arose during their conversation Mr Pompeo would have asked Mr Lavrov for names of the agencies.

Now isn't it a criminal violation for a government agency to transfer weapons to a group that's designated a terrorist organization by the government? The U.S., at least, claims they transferred weapons to moderate rebels and couldn't be responsible if the rebels sold the weapons to a terrorist group, or had them taken away by terrorists. But the Russian envoy indicated the Kremlin has evidence of direct weapons transfers to Islamic State. So, just hazarding a guess, I'd assume it's a crime in any country that outlaws Islamic State if it can be proven in a court of law. However, given that security agencies are allegedly involved, it might be very hard to bring such prosecutions. 

Direct weapons transfers to a terrorist organization would certainly be a violation of international law. Would it be a war crime? I think families of the victims of Islamic State and indeed everyone with conscience would say so. 

******** 

Russian military spots chemicals transfer from Turk border town to N. Latakia

No, this isn't the same convoy that was spotted some days ago. I see from the following report that the bad guys, now clearly aware that the earlier convoy was spotted, are trying subterfuges to shake off the observers. 

I should add that the very last sentence in the report conflicts somewhat with a few of its earlier statements. This leads me to wonder whether these chemicals-transporting convoys are being helped by the Turkish military, or whether the military is trying to stop them. Maybe the tie-breaker is that the military is now trying to stop such convoys after being caught red-handed facilitating the previous shipment. But that's just a guess based on very limited information. The fog of war is getting thicker than pea soup. 

FARS, 8/23 - 4:11

[...]

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted several local sources as reporting that the White Helmets have sent 8 truck vans carrying chemicals stored in a local Chlorine Recycling Company near the town of al-Tamah at the border with Turkey to Jisr al-Shughour in Northeastern Lattakia, which is under the control of Tahrir al-Sham, under tight security measures.

It went on to say that the chemicals would go through Ariha town under tight security measures of Tahrir al-Sham. The White Helmets were also called for help by Tahrir al-Sham in several regions of Idlib concurrent with the arrival of the chemicals in Jisr al-Shughour.

In a relevant development earlier this month, the White Helmets had sent chemicals for the Turkistani Islamic Party in Jisr al-Shughour in Northeastern Idlib.

Irregular movements by the White Helmets have been recently spotted in a large triangular region from the Turkish borderline to Jisr al-Shughour and the borders with Lattakia in West, the media outlet reported, adding that Tahrir al-Sham and White Helmets are preparing to launch a fake chemical attack in Idlib to later accuse the Damascus forces.

Media sources reported earlier this month that the Turkish army sent several trucks carrying chlorine to the Ankara-backed terrorists' stronghold in Idlib, adding that a number of commanders of militant groups left the region.

The Arabic-language website of Sputnik news agency quoted local sources in Idlib province as saying that a Turkish military convoy, consisting of tens of trucks, and accompanied by Tahrir al-Sham terrorists, entered Syria through Kafr Lousin passageway in Northern Idlib and were transferred to the region under the supervision of Turkey in Jisr al-Shughour in Western Idlib and Northwestern Hama.

They added that 8 trucks carrying plastic barrels containing fluid Chlorine were unloaded in one of the bases of Turkistani terrorist group in the village of Halouz in Western Jisr al-Shughour.

Also, 18 other trucks, carrying prefabricated residential boxes, cement walls and other technical equipment, communication systems and electronic sniper guns, were transferred to Jabal Ishtabraq region.

The sources also said that 3 trucks moved towards Turkey at night under heavy security measures of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at, raising the speculations that they had transferred the foreign terrorist commanders of Tahrir al-Sham to Turkey.

Meantime, the Turkish forces stopped activities of al-Barqoum checkpoint which was the biggest Tahrir al-Sham checkpoint in Aleppo-Damascus highway.

[END REPORT]

*********

Hello, General John Bolton, Iranian forces were massing there to prevent terrorists fleeing the SAA from flooding into Iraq

Has somebody told SecDef Mattis that John Bolton believes himself to be another Patton? Bolton does not have a strategic bone in his body or a military cell in his brain. So what has he been doing in Israel conferring with IDF on a plan to jointly waste the IRGC in Syria and Iraq? And that's not his job at NSC, anyhow. Hello, President Trump, that's what you have a military for.  

Now just see, there are downsides to making a real estate developer the U.S. Commander in Chief. Well, the last one was a community organizer, so from one angle Trump is a step up. But again, the CiC is supposed to be commanding the armed forces, not using State Dept. types as military officers.

All right. Here's the latest from the laptop bombardiers at DEBKAfile:

"Breaking News"

August 23, 2018 - 20:27

DEBKAfile

Exclusive: The pro-Iranian Iraqi Khatib Hezballah Shiite militia was heavily bombed on Thursday, Aug. 23 on the Syrian-Iraqi highway near the eastern Syrian town of Abu Kamal, our military sources report. On Monday, we were first to reveal that US National Security adviser John Bolton had this week discussed with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a possible joint military operation by the US and Israel against Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s Al Qods Brigades in the Middle East, and the pro-Iranian Shiite proxy militias in Syria. 

The Iraqi militia hit on Thursday belonged to Soleimani’s forces in that country. The attack took place as Bolton sat down with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushov in Geneva, and was presumably meant to warn Moscow that the US was serious about military action for ousting Iranian forces from Syria. 

Bolton said later that they had discussed a “series of steps” for removing Iran’s military presence from Syria. Patrushev said nothing had been decided in their talks.

DEBKAfile reported on Wednesday that Soleimani was building up strength to seize control of the Iraqi-Syrian highway and massing troops in the Western Iraqi province of Anbar. 

Three months ago, on June 18, the Israeli air force bombed another Iraqi militia concentration, this one at Deir ez-Zour not far from the Syrian-Iraqi border.

[END REPORT]

Okay; I didn't see the Wed report but here's the one from Monday:

Bolton’s Israel visit rounds off US, Israeli readiness matched by Iran for a showdown in Syria
Aug 20, 2018 @ 8:21 

DEBKAfile

On Aug. 19, the day US National Security Adviser John Bolton landed in Israel, Tehran announced the appointment of a new Iranian air force chief. DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources

On Aug. 19, the day US National Security Adviser John Bolton landed in Israel, Tehran announced the appointment of a new Iranian air force chief.

DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report exclusively that Bolton’s brief visit for two conversations with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was his first trip to Israel in his capacity as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser. His mission was to coordinate a military operation between the US and Israel to counter the Iranian military presence in Syria. 

The US official said frankly, “Obviously we’ve got great challenges for Israel for the United States and the whole world,” he said on arrival, “The Iranian nuclear weapons program [and] the ballistic missile programs are right at the top of the list.” Netanyahu homed in on Israel’s role when he said, “Rolling back Iran’s aggression in the Middle East” – meaning Syria – topped the agenda of this meetings with Bolton.

According to our sources, strategists in Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran appear to share the common assessment that the coming military showdown will consist mostly of aerial and air defense combat. It will therefore be shouldered primarily by Israel’s air force chief Maj. Gen. Amikam Nurkin and Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, whom supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed this week as Iran’s new air force chief and who, like his Israeli counterpart, also bears responsibility for air defenses.

A parallel to Bolton’s visit to Israel may be found in Mike Pompeo’s talks in Israel last June shortly after his appointment as US Secretary of State. His departure was followed immediately with a round of Israel air strikes on Iranian military targets deep inside Syria, including most notably the bombardment on June 18 of the Iraqi Shiite Kata’ib Hezbollah militia in eastern Syria near Deir ez-Zour.
From Tel Aviv, the US national security adviser flew to Geneva to meet his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev. Their conversation was a sequel to the discussion on Iran’s military presence in Syria that was broached by Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at their Helsinki summit on July 16.

[END REPORT]

*********

US-backed SDF throwing Raaqans off their farms for use as command posts

Actually the SDF has been on alert for months, ever since the "popular" protests against the SDF started in Raqqa, as FARS well knows -- and as Pundita readers well know, if they've been following all my re-posts of FARS reports on the situation. By the way Elijah Magnier indicated months ago that the Resistance, as he termed it, is no joke. That's why I started paying attention to the Raqqa situation. It's just been taking time to build because it's risky business for unarmed civilians to stand up to well-armed militias backed by an even-better armed foreign military. 

However from various signs including the FARS report below, it now looks as if civilians are so fed up they don't care if they get shot.  

Odd, isn't it, that the former seat of the IS 'caliphate' is the seat of the Resistance?

US-Backed SDF Goes on Alert as Raqqa Residents Voice Support for Syrian Army

August 23, 2018 - 5:52

FARS

TEHRAN (FNA)- The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) went on a full alert in Raqqa as the city residents have started showing their support for Damascus Army, including painting graffiti.

"The SDF forces are on full alert in Raqqa city in security terms as the Kurdish forces have arrested a large number of civilians," local sources said.

They said that the wave of arrests came as unidentified groups painted graffiti on the walls of al-Badou district in Raqqa city and welcomed the presence of the Syrian Army in the city.

Media activists in Raqqa city also pointed to the fury of Raqqa residents over SDF's measures, including arresting a large number of people on different pretexts and death of a civilian under torture by SDF in Raqqa city.

The news comes as the SDF has detained several civilians on charges of imaging [photographing/videoing?] the SDF movements.

In a relevant development on Monday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) opened fire at protesting civilians in Raqqa city on Monday, injuring several people and arresting a number of others.

The SDF militias engaged in fighting with protestors in al-Mashlab neighborhood in Raqqa city, opening fire at people.

A number of civilians were injured in the clashes.

The SDF further arrested over twenty civilians and kept gunmen on alert to suppress further demonstration.

On Sunday, the SDF stormed the farms near the village of Abu Qabih in Western Raqqa and forced the owners and their family members to leave their properties.

Local sources said that the SDF turned the farms into bases and command posts.

The sources said that the SDF occupied tens of farms, lands and houses of the people under different pretexts in the region.

Other sources reported that the SDF again arrested a number of young men in the town of Tal Abyadh under a forced recruitment plan.

The sources further said that a wave of tensions has covered the region following the SDF's continued hostile measures.

[END REPORT]

********

Wake up

Glenn Beck takes a hard look at the stats on California wildfires

‘First look at the facts’: Glenn Beck on climate change and California’s record-breaking wildfires; August 22, 2018 - 9:05 am
7 minute video at Glenn's The Blaze site. 

********

Hurricane Lane: Hawaii braces for damaging winds, catastrophic flooding

Latest Accuweather report on the hurricane:

By Kristina Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
By Kyle Elliott, AccuWeather meteorologist
August 23, 2018, 5:02:25 AM EDT

Major Hurricane Lane is forecast to close in on Hawaii and threaten lives and property on the islands due to pounding surf, flash flooding, mudslides and strong winds.

The farther west Lane tracks prior to making an anticipated northward turn for a time may lower the severity of impacts.

In lieu of a direct hit, "Lane has the potential of bringing the state of Hawaii serious and perhaps record damage," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

[...]

------

Lots more in the report

"Change of plans: Syrian Army to target three major areas in northwest Syria"

"The source did stress that negotiations between the Turkish and Russian governments are still ongoing ..."

Al Masdar News, August 23, 2018  

BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 A.M.) – A source from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) told Al-Masdar News, tonight, that the military has no plans to attack the key town of Morek in northern Hama.

The source, who is currently at the front-lines in northern Hama, said that the Syrian Arab Army will instead focus on three major areas during their upcoming offensive:

1. Northwest Hama: The Syrian Arab Army is going to clear the last areas before the key town of Qala’at Al-Madiq in the Al-Ghaab Plain.
2. Southeast Idlib: The source said that the Syrian Army wants to clear the remaining towns around the Abu Dhuhour area.
3. Northern Latakia: This does not come as a surprise because the northern axes of the Jabal Al-Akrad and Jabal Turkmen regions are all that remain under jihadist control in northern Latakia.

Once these areas are captured, the Syrian Arab Army will begin the second phase of their offensive, which is more heavily concentrated on the strategic city of Jisr Al-Shughour in southwest Idlib.

The source did stress that negotiations between the Turkish and Russian governments are still ongoing at this time; it is very likely that a deal will be reached to set parameters on the upcoming offensive.

[END REPORT]

*********

Kerala: Was it dams or rain?

"He blamed the sudden increase in velocity of the rains as the reason for not being able to lower dam levels long before the rains peaked."

"Mint had reported on 21 August that Kerala’s floods highlight India’s poor dam management. Had the dam reservoirs in Kerala been emptied ahead of the onset of monsoon rains, damages from the floods would have been lower."

I need a more comprehensive timeline than I've seen so far. The issues are crucial. There is tremendous and growing controversy about dams as their construction continues to proliferate around the world.   

Live Mint's report, As water recedes, blame game begins in flood-hit Kerala; August, 22, 2018 - 9:42 pm IST: 

Ernakulam: A political blame game has begun in flood-hit Kerala, with the opposition blaming the government’s dam operations for the calamity.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala of the Congress led the attack on Wednesday, alleging that the government was primarily responsible for the floods, and not the rains. “This is the result of unscientific shutter operations of various dams, and opening them without proper alert.” The Congress leader also demanded a judicial inquiry into the issue.

Chennithala said it rained less in Kerala in 2018 than in 1924, when the state was devastated by floods. However, the damage in 2018 was far more than that in 1924, he claimed.

The floods killed 231 people, and forced more than one million people to move to safer zones, leaving behind a trail of destruction that is officially estimated to be around ₹20,000 crore.

Mint had reported on 21 August that Kerala’s floods highlight India’s poor dam management. Had the dam reservoirs in Kerala been emptied ahead of the onset of monsoon rains, damages from the floods would have been lower.

The report had also pointed out that more than half of Kerala’s dams (57%) are hydroelectric projects operated by the Kerala State Electricity Board. The rest are operated by the irrigation department. For both entities, the amount of water stored is motivated by demand for electricity and irrigation, rather than flood-control measures.

Earlier, environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, who was tasked to write a 2011 report to save the Western Ghats, had also alleged that man-made factors had contributed to the disaster. Unchecked quarrying and construction in ecologically weaker areas contributed to the damage, he added.

Chennithala attacked officials of the Kerala State Electricity Board for trying to reap maximum profit by generating more power, even as the situation was getting out of hand. In mid-July, all dams were 90% full. KSEB and the government ignored the warnings, he alleged.

Allegations have also surfaced that the three shutters of Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad district were opened without even informing the district collector.

The ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) Wayanad district secretary P. Gagarin said there were complaints that people were not informed initially, but in the second phase, enough warnings had been given asking people to shift to safer places. “No one has lost life due to rise in water levels. Some deaths had occurred due to landslides.”

The Aliyar dam in Upper Sholayar was opened by Tamil Nadu without warning, thus flooding many parts of Thrissur and Chalakudy, while there are charges that no red alert was sounded before the dams of the Sabarigiri scheme were opened, resulting in severe flooding.

However, dam safety chairman C.N. Ramachandran Nair said that the allegations were “baseless”. “Everyone knows water was rising in the reservoirs and rivers were in spate. Now the allegations are being levelled only for the sake of blaming somebody.”

KSEB chairman K.P. Sreedharan Nair also denied the allegations and said there was no lapse on part of the board, adding the dams were opened after enough alerts. There was no point in blaming the board for opening of the dams as most of the rivers were overflowing due to heavy rains, he added.

On Wednesday evening, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the opposition allegations “baseless” in a press meet, and said the dams cannot be blamed for the floods, as Kerala received exorbitantly more rainfall in this phase of the monsoon.

“Between 1st and 19th of August, Kerala received 788.6mm rains compared to the average 287.5mm. In Idukki alone there was a 617% increase in rains. Chennithala has compared the annual rainfall over the year in 1924 to the season’s monsoon in 2018, how is that a fair comparison? Plus in 1924, Kerala had only one dam. In 2018, we have 82 dams, including 44 major ones. Chennithala himself has written in his previous Facebook posts on the adequate warnings given when each of these dams were opened,” Vijayan said.

He blamed the sudden increase in velocity of the rains as the reason for not being able to lower dam levels long before the rains peaked.

“Before 8 August, we received only 13.8mm. On 8 August, rains increased to 128.6mm. It continued on 8th and 9th and by 16th it increased to 295 mm. This is one-third of Kerala’s average rainfall, within four days,” he said. “It was not the dam spills, the natural rains was the main factor for the floods.”

[END REPORT]

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Mosque gives shelter to Hindu families in flood-ravaged Kerala

The Times of India - August 22,2018

Financial Express - August 22, 2018
(The photo in the report is of a shelter at a university, not the mosque, which I don't think can't be photographed on the inside.) 

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Does Trump know John Bolton is overtly abetting terrorists in Idlib?

April 23, 2018 - 03:59

Sputnik

US President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton fired warning shots at Damascus on Wednesday, saying that the US would respond "very strongly" if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons in an offensive to retake the Idlib province.

Speaking at a news conference in Jerusalem, Bolton revealed that US officials have been informed of plans in which the Syrian government was considering to "resume offensive military activities."

"We are obviously concerned about the possibility that Assad may use chemical weapons again," Bolton said. "Just so there's no confusion here: if the Syrian regime uses chemical weapons, we will respond very strongly, and they really ought to think about this a long time."

Rick Sterling, an investigative journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, told Radio Sputnik's Loud & Clear on Wednesday that the 69-year-old Baltimore native's statement was "just another violation of international law."

"It's a threat that the US will use force," Sterling told hosts Brian Becker and John Kiriakou. "It's another unauthorized assertion that the US is the judge, jury and executioner of the violations of the chemical weapons treaty."

"The US has no authority to do that," he stressed.

[...]

_____

What law? It's international law only if the United States says it's law.          

But with regard to Bolton's statements, it's possible that President Trump instructed him to say what he did -- but say it before an open microphone?  Both Trump and Bolton would have to know that Bolton's public announcement would be read as a clear invitation to terrorists in Idlib to stage a false-flag chemical attack. This is beyond the pale.

I note that no such announcement was made prior to the Syrian army's recent "Southern Offensive." The announcement seems intended to slow or even derail the SAA's advance on terrorists' positions in  Idlib.  The U.S., U.K. and France have longstanding interests there -- and have been overtly aiding al Qaeda in the province.   

But to protect their interests, the Trump regime encourages terrorists to carry out a chemical attack in Idlib? Or does Trump know what his national security advisor is doing?

As to Bolton's insinuation that the Trump regime has just learned about the SAA's planned offensive in Idlib, perhaps it was just the way he worded it. But it's been known for weeks on the internet and all over the Middle East that the assault is imminent. Satellite photographs would have showed the long columns of military convoys headed toward Idlib. 

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British regime STILL aiding al Qaeda in Syria

"Many opposition-run councils in northwest Syria have been taken over by the al Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, making British support unsustainable" -- The Times (U.K.) 

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

No, they took over years ago -- I think even before they changed the name to HTS -- and the British regime knew this. British support became "unsustainable" only when it was obvious they couldn't stop the Syrian army's advance on Idlib. But the regime knew all along what their aid was supporting -- it was out in the open in the U.K.; the headline in The Times report (8/22) clearly indicates this: Britain scraps controversial aid to Syrian rebel areas: 

Britain is halting a much criticised scheme to support the opposition in rebel-held areas of Syria, in a symbolic move which acknowledges that the seven-year revolution is effectively over.

 But this doesn't mean they've stopped helping HTS:

An attempt to create an independent police force is to be scrapped from next month. Projects financing local councils are under review and likely to be stopped by the end of the financial year.

Only "likely," eh?  They're waiting to see where HTS goes next.

All right; we get a little more of the story from Voltaire Network's discussion of the Times report:

August 22, 2018
Voltaire Network

On August 13, 2018, British Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt assured the House of Commons that he regretted the 2013 vote in which Parliament opposed a military intervention against the "Assad regime" ( sic).

However, according to The Times of August 21 20, the British government will reduce its support programs for "rebel" areas in Syria.

So far, the UK is funding local communities in the Idlib region. In fact, this area is occupied by jihadists from all over the country. Each locality is run by different armed groups, who often fight each other.

Turkey, the United Kingdom and France provide all their supplies. Most importantly, the Turkish army and the British SAS (Special Forces of the Air Force) occupy the area de facto.

Meanwhile, Syria and Russia are preparing to storm the jihadists.

Translation: Roger Lagassé

[END REPORT]

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Just in time for SAA's Idlib Offensive FUKUS warns no chemical weapons use

The French, U.K. and U.S. regimes are as transparent glass and what's more they don't care. They have been furious about the Syrian army's continued victories. And now they are nothing less than hysterical that the SAA will be messing up their project in Idlib to transform Islamist terrorists into law-abiding socialists. So it's no surprise that FUKUS is at it again. From SouthFront's 8/22 Syrian War sitrep:

[...]

While the SAA is deploying additional reinforcements in northern Hama and Latakia preparing for expected battle against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other terrorist groups in northwestern Syria the US, the UK and France have once again resumed their propaganda campaign to accuse the Syrian government of carrying out chemical attacks against civilians.

On August 21, the three countries released a joint statement condemning the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Damascus government. “As Permanent Members of the Security Council, we reaffirm our shared resolve to preventing the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, and for holding them accountable for any such use,” the statement said adding that the US, the UK and France “will respond appropriately to any further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime” -- in fact threatening Syria with new attacks.

Experts expect that if the Idlib operation of the SAA is started, the chemical weapons issue may be once again used by militants and their supporters to justify military actions against government forces by foreign powers.

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Whether in India, Syria, Sweden, realizing the importance of national kinship

While Indian politicians place blame on each other for the horrific Kerala floods, Muslim youths in Kerala help clean up Hindu temples hit by the flooding. 

Over in the Middle East, Syrians are fed up with the entire lot of foreigners pretending to save them by dividing them into ethnic and religious categories.  The vast majority of Syrians want their country back. 

As for Sweden, well, dontcha know there's a bunch of fascists trying to topple a century of socialism in their country. What's the world coming to. Actually, it's a buch of Swedes who've watched EU Socialism methodically strip them of their national identity. They too are fed up.

Granted, it may have taken a flood to remind Indians that they're all in it together, and it took a war to remind Syrians of the same. The Swedes didn't wake up until they realized EU immigration policies were erasing them as a people.

Better late than never. The crowd isn't always wise but sometimes it wises up before it's too late -- and many crowds in many countries are starting to wise up.  

In June RT reported on a poll in a Norwegian newspaper that found almost half of Danes and Swedes preferred belonging to a hypothetical "Nordic Union" rather than a European one. 

Those respondents should talk with Syrians -- not the refugees, the ones who've endured more than seven years in their country. Those people had to learn the hard way what it means to belong to the great transnational union of Arab Peoples, as monsters hired by Arab governments committed unspeakable acts against them. 

As for the Ummah, that wonderful globe-spanning family of Muslims, Syrians learned up close and personal what members of the Ummah were capable of doing to family.

The whole point of the Treaty of Westphalia is that the world is a tough neighborhood and that the chances of surviving it are better if individuals are protected within a national border that's respected by all. So while nationhood shouldn't erase tribal and clan identities, neither should groups based on such identities ignore the survival value of a national kinship and identity.

That's not fascism. That's common sense.  

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