Friday, March 07, 2014

Les Russes bombardés par la propagande du régime


LE FIGARO: L'ensemble de la société est absorbée dans un élan patriotique entretenu par les chaînes de télévision publiques qui relayent une vision unilatérale du conflit russo-ukrainien.

«La vérité est de notre côté»: c'est un cri du cœur qu'a lancé Dmitri Kissilev, le présentateur vedette de la chaîne Rossia 24, dimanche dernier, au plus fort de la crise ukrainienne. La sentence de l'homme qui passe pour l'un des chefs d'orchestre de l'appareil de propagande pro-russe, était formulée juste après la diffusion d'un sondage constatant la forte hausse de la cote de popularité de Vladimir Poutine et celui d'un commentaire hostile au pouvoir «sauvage» installé à Kiev, avec «l'aide des Américains». Quelques jours plus tôt, cette chaîne d'information continue s'était illustrée en interrompant brutalement, en direct, un député de Crimée expliquant que les tensions dans la péninsule étaient provoquées par les autorités locales.

Cette vision unilatérale du conflit russo-ukrainien est la seule accessible à l'immense majorité de la population, quotidiennement abreuvée par les chaînes de télévision publiques. Le quotidien gouvernemental Rossiskaya Gazeta n'est pas en reste. Celui-ci a accusé des activistes pro-Maïdan d'avoir piraté son site, inaccessible vendredi matin. Dans ces médias qui relayent les mots d'ordre du Kremlin, les troupes russes présentes en Crimée sont transformées en «groupes locaux d'autodéfense». » | Par Pierre Avril | vendredi 07 mars 2014

Krise in der Ukraine: Steinmeier sendet klare Worte nach Moskau und Kiew


Mit Blick auf die Krise auf der Krim zeigt sich Frank-Walter Steinmeier besorgt. Am Rande einer Sondersitzung der EU-Außenminister sendet er deutliche Botschaften nach Russland und in die Ukraine.

Lage zwischen Russland und Westen bleibt angespannt


In der Ukraine bleibt die Lage kritisch. Währenddessen ist eine politische Lösung des Konflikts nicht in Sicht. 30.000 Soldaten hat Russland auf der Krim stationiert.

German President Apologizes for Nazi-era Massacre


YNET NEWS: During a diplomatic trip to Greece, President Joachim Gauck visited site of 1943 atrocity to pay respect, ask the families for forgiveness.

A visibly emotional German president laid a wreath Friday at a monument in northwestern Greece to villagers massacred by German soldiers during World War II, at the end of a three-day visit that combined political talks with efforts to bring closure to wounds from the German wartime occupation of Greece.

Joachim Gauck expressed "shame" at the 1943 atrocity at Ligiades, where Nazi troops executed dozens of villagers, including months-old babies, in reprisal for a partisan attack: "With shame and pain I ask the families of those murdered for forgiveness in Germany's name."

The German president emphased: "I pay my respects to the victims of the monstrous crimes mourned here and in many places across Greece." » | Associated Press | Friday, March 07, 2014

Pentagon Confronting Putin with 'Second Best' Units?


Mar. 07, 2014 - 3:26 - Fox News military analyst retired Maj. Gen. Bob Scales weighs in

Netanyahu on Ukraine Situation, Seized Iranian Arms Shipment


Mar. 05, 2014 - 3:01 - Israeli prime minister speaks out

Diplomacy Falters as Putin Rebuffs Obama on Ukraine


Mar. 07, 2014 - 3:37 - Russian leader brushes aside U.S. warnings

Austria Becomes Part of Germany: The Anschluss 1938


Nick Clegg: 'Nigel Farage Wants to Turn the Clock Back'

Nick Clegg wants to be seen as the Stop Farage candidate in
the European elections.
THE GUARDIAN: In an interview the Liberal Democrat leader spells out plans to tackle Ukip by stressing benefits of EU membership

In perhaps the most cited speech of any Liberal leader, Jo Grimond closed the Liberal assembly in 1963, ahead of the 1964 election, with the promise: "I intend to march my troops to the sound of gunfire."

Nick Clegg, as he faces the European elections in May, has set his party on the same course. Faced with ever growing hostility to the EU, and to immigration, Clegg has decided to present the Liberal Democrats unambiguously as the party of "in" and of openness. He wants to be seen in these elections as the Stop Farage candidate and to make the debate about the very character of Britain. The planned TV debate with the Ukip leader will give him a chance not just to stand up to Farage, but to stand up for a Britain that does not want to hide.

There is an element of calculation in this. In a crowded field the Liberal Democrats risk being ignored and dumped into fourth place with Ukip replacing the Lib Dems as the amorphous party of protest. The Lib Dems may well be the party of in, but also come polling day the party of out, with all 12 of its MEPs expelled from the European parliament. It's not an outcome that Clegg discounts, saying simply if he is to lose any of his MEPs the thing he would hate most is losing them without a fight. » | Patrick Wintour, political editor | Friday, March 07, 2014

Merkel Backs Call for EU School Lessons to Counter 'Growing Euro-scepticism'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Irish Prime
Minister Enda Kenny
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The German Chancellor wants "EU education in schools across Europe to prepare the next generation and to nurture a European approach"

School students should be given a "European Union education" in the classroom to tackle "ignorance" and growing public Euro-scepticism, according to an election manifesto signed by Angela Merkel and eight other of Europe's leaders.

The European People’s Party (EPP), the EU’s biggest political grouping, is convinced such a programme would improve the public image of Brussels, which has never been lower.

Its manifesto for May’s European elections calls for the introduction of “EU education in schools across Europe in order to prepare the next generation for future challenges and to nurture a European approach”.

“Europe has been in crisis for more than five years. Many people, especially the young, do not foresee a positive future. Euroscepticism is growing,” the manifesto said.

“United, we can make sure that young people look at the future with optimism, hope and confidence.” » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Friday, March 07, 2014

Putin Mocks the West and Threatens to Turn Off Gas Supplies

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Russian leader says does not want 'new cold war' but threatens to disrupt European gas supplies

Vladimir Putin has mocked diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine crisis as Russia threatened to disrupt European gas supplies by cutting off sales to Kiev over its unpaid debts.

The Russian president said through his official spokesman that, despite deep disagreements with the West, he did not want a confrontation over Ukraine to spiral into a “new cold war”.

Nevertheless Dmitry Peskov ridiculed Western demands for direct talks between the Kremlin and the new Kiev government, claiming that the loss of credibility involved “puts a smile on our face”.

The remarks were broadcast during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, where the Ukrainian athlete carrying her national flag was given a loud cheer.

Earlier, Gazprom, Russia’s state-owned energy giant, said it would start to reduce deliveries to Kiev, a move that would disrupt supplies to Europe. Gazprom said Ukraine had failed to make payments on its £1.2 billion debts. » | Damien McElroy, Donetsk | Friday, March 07, 2014

Muslim Brotherhood Is a Terrorist Group, Says Saudi Arabia

Pro-Morsi protestor flashes the four-finger sign for the Muslim
Brotherhood TV channel, Rabaa, during a rally in Istanbul.
THE GUARDIAN: Statement on Saudi TV also lists Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) as terrorist organisations

Saudi Arabia has formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group in an official report on Saudi television.

Citing a statement by the interior ministry, the report added that the Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) – whose fighters are battling the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad – were also classed as terror organisations.

The move on Friday appeared to enforce last month's royal decree in which Riyadh said it would jail any citizen guilty of fighting in conflicts overseas for up to 20 years. The authorities want to deter Saudis from joining rebels in Syria, fearing they could pose a security risk when they return. » | Reuters in Riyadh | Friday, March 07, 2014

Afghanistan Still One of the Worst Places to Be a Woman, Says EU Ambassador


THE GUARDIAN: Franz-Michael Mellbin criticises prosecution of 'moral crimes' and says Hamid Karzai's government has failed Afghan women

President Hamid Karzai's government has let down Afghan women, according to the new EU ambassador to Kabul, who singled out the failure to end prosecution of rape victims and other abused women for "moral crimes" as a particular "disgrace".

Franz-Michael Mellbin said that despite huge practical improvements in areas from maternal mortality to the number of girls in schools, Afghanistan was still one of the worst places to be a woman and a frontline in the global battle for women's rights.

Mellbin, who previously served in Afghanistan as the Danish envoy, declined to criticise Karzai directly but said the government overall had failed in its responsibilities to be a voice for women's rights, as conservatives opposed to women having any role outside the home gathered strength. » | Emma Graham-Harrison in Kabul | Friday, March 07, 2014

Hannity: Why I Said I'm Humiliated for My Country


Mar. 07, 2014 - 2:16 - Sean Hannity explains the controversial comment he made on his radio show

Worlds Apart: 'US Economic Leverage Against Russia Limited': Dr Angela Stent


Russian - U.S. relations have always been a fragile mix of rivalry and pragmatism. And as the Ukraine crisis highlighted, bursts of cooperation achieved by 'resetting' the relations, are easily undone. Can the two powers find common ground on Ukraine or will their relationship continue to 'overload'? Oksana is joined by Dr Angela Stent, the Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, to unravel these issues.

Wie Hitler Österreich "eroberte" !


Dokumentarfilm über die Zusammenhänge des Anschlusses Österreich´s an Deutschland.

Das deutsche Wien – Der Anschluß – März 1938


The happy population of Vienna welcoming the liberator forces of the German Wehrmacht!

The Anschluss – Austria's Hour of Shame


Doku: Hitlers Österreich: Der Anscluß


Als Anschluss Österreichs oder kurz „Anschluss" wird der Einmarsch deutscher Wehrmachts-, SS- und Polizeieinheiten in Österreich am 12. März 1938 und die darauffolgende De-facto-Annexion Österreichs durch das nationalsozialistische Deutsche Reich bezeichnet.

Durch das am 13. März 1938 von der österreichischen Bundesregierung -- ohne Parlament -- verabschiedete Gesetz über die Wiedervereinigung Österreichs mit dem Deutschen Reich wurde die Diktatur des Ständestaates bzw. des Austrofaschismus (seit 1934) vom nationalsozialistischen Regime unter Adolf Hitler abgelöst.

Mit diesem Tag endete die staatliche Existenz Österreichs. Die Zeit der NS-Herrschaft in Österreich sollte fast bis zum Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges im Mai 1945 dauern.




America in Decline


Mar. 06, 2014 - 4:05 - Talking Points 3/6