Al Qaeda Backs US Regime Change in Syria

Source: Land Destroyer Report
Tony Cartalucci

It is now a matter of established public record that the "Libyan rebels" the US, through the UN and NATO, funded, armed, trained, recognized politically, and even provided special forces and air support for, were in fact led by the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), listed by the US State Department (page 1) as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization." Two West Point reports confirm that LIFG was formally joined with Al Qaeda with many of its top leaders constituting the core of Al Qaeda's upper echelons. These reports also confirm that LIFG fighters were operational in both Afghanistan and Iraq, killing US and British troops and that the vast majority of their fighters were recruited from the Libyan cities of Benghazi and Darnah. In 2011, it would be these two cities that served as the epicenter of NATO-backed resistance against Qaddafi.

More recently it was exposed by French independent reporter Thierry Meyssan of VoltaireNet.org that LIFG commander Abdul Hakim Belhaj has left the NATO bombed city of Tripoli and is now directing the "Free Syrian Army" from the border of Turkey (a NATO member since 1952).

In the wake of growing international anger toward Wall Street, London, and its NATO forces, led by Russia and China's vetoing of their UN Security Council resolution designed to tip off another foreign military intervention, this time in Syria, the corporate media is now reporting that Al Qaeda has called on its supporters to "join the uprising against Assad's "pernicious, cancerous regime."" We are expected to believe that Al Qaeda - allegedly depraved, beheading, civilian bombing, trade tower-toppling modern-day Huns - had pinned their hopes on the UNSC to resolve the Syrian conflict through the mechanisms of "international rule of law" and are only just now mobilizing their forces to act after the "disappointing" Russian and Chinese veto. It is a narrative as bizarre as it is contradictory.

Image: G.I. al-Zawahri: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has called on Muslims from across the Arab World to mobilize and support the Syrian uprising against what he called, "Assad's pernicious, cancerous regime." Apparently he held off military involvement because he had faith in the US-backed UNSC resolution, and is only now mobilizing his forces after the "disappointing" veto - a narrative so ridiculous it can only have come from Langley, Virginia.

Iran Reportedly to Reveal "Very Big New Nuclear Achievements" in Coming Days

Source: Activist Post
Madison Ruppert

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that Iran will reveal “very big new nuclear achievements” in the very near future during a rally in Tehran marking the 33^rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

On Saturday, Iranians celebrated the 33^rd anniversary of the revolution which brought down the Western-backed monarchy; seemingly a great opportunity for Ahmadinejad to make such a landmark announcement.

However, Ahmadinejad would not elaborate on the upcoming announcement, instead just highlighting Iran’s unwillingness to ever give up their uranium enrichment program, according to the Associated Press.

While Iran continually denies the claims that they are working towards producing nuclear weapons – a charge which has also been refuted by United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on no less than two separate occasions – the West refuses to back down from these allegations.

Iran says that they have been forced to domestically produce nuclear fuel rods because international sanctions have blocked them from buying them on foreign markets, and Ahmadinejad said he would never yield to the West if it continued to utilize “the language of force and insult.”

In his speech in Azadi Square in Tehran, Ahmadinejad told a sizeable crowd that “all the needs of the Iranian nation” would be met by Iranian nuclear scientists in the near future.

“God willing, the world will witness the inauguration of great achievements in the nuclear sphere in a few days,” he said.

These are quite bold statements indeed, and it remains to be seen they can be backed up or if it is just hollow boasting in an attempt to show that they are staying strong despite Western sanctions.

Expanding Pakistan-Russia Partnership Within Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Source: Pakistan Today
Qudssia Akhlaque

A move in the right direction
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Pakistan considers Russia as an engine for increased economic growth and a factor of peace and stability in the SCO region. Both the countries seem equally keen to broaden and diversify mutually advantageous cooperation, particularly in the energy sector.

The two countries have also been discussing the possibility of developing rail links with Iran and other areas in the SCO region from Pakistan. Russia had shown some interest in Pakistan’s keenness to develop rail links to Central Asia from Gwadar.

Reaffirmation of Russian support for Pakistan’s request for full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is another encouraging sign.

Notably in June 2005, Pakistan supported Russia’s bid for observer status in the OIC and in turn Russia helped Pakistan obtain the observer status in the SCO.

Both share the view on the need for a multi-polar world and the centrality of the UN role in the world affairs.

The growing presence of US and Nato forces in the region and Pakistan’s active cooperation with both had made Moscow somewhat uneasy. However, Pakistan’s gradual distancing from the US has encouraged the Russians towards closer cooperation. 

Pakistani diplomats at the Envoys Conference in Islamabad a couple of months back had advocated more proactive engagement with Russia. Some promising signs of renewed engagement, including the recently concluded visit of Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Russia, are visible. This visit also signals to the US Pakistan’s greater activity within its Asian neighbourhood. Russia has, alongside China, become more assertive in demonstrating multi-polarity as opposed to uni-polarity on the global power scene. 

Egypt: US-funded Agitators on Trial

Source: Land Destroyer Report
Tony Cartalucci

February 12, 2012 - AP reported that US General Martin Dempsey has met directly with the military leaders of Egypt to discuss an Egyptian "crackdown on Western-funded pro-democracy groups." Threatened with a cut-off from US aid, the Egyptian military is expected to abandon their campaign against US "NGOs."

As usual, AP attempts to diminish the veracity of Egypt's concerns with deceptive language and innuendos such as, "Egypt, which regularly blames anti-military protests on foreign meddling," and "in an indication that authorities will continue to push the line that foreigners are stirring up trouble." Of course it is not a "line" that the Egyptian government is pushing, it is a well documented fact.

Images: From Tunis and Tahrir Square to the Oval Office shaking hands with the US President and receiving the NED 2011 "Democracy Award," the forces behind the "Arab Spring" not only weren't spontaneous nor indigenous, but they most certainly were orchestrated, funded, directed, and finally celebrated and well-rewarded by the US State Department through their National Endowment for Democracy. Egypt's crackdown on these disingenuous NGOs is long overdue and an example for all nations to follow.

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AP goes on to explain the plight of the International Republican Institute (IRI) Egypt office-head, Sam LaHood, son of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who is now on trail amongst 16 American "civil society employees." They are charged with using US State Department funds to fuel unrest throughout Egypt.