Koh Samui hide ‘n’ seek: Fugitive’s 19-year retreat ends in arrest

[rooster59]

Russia complains to U.S. over exclusion from Syria chemical probe

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has told the United States it regrets Washington's opposition to letting its inspectors take part in an investigation into a chemical weapons attack in Syria earlier this month, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

 

It said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the two sides agreed to consider one more time an "objective investigation into the incident" under the aegis of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

 

The U.S. State Department said that during the call Tillerson reiterated to Lavrov his support for the OPCW's existing investigative mechanism. They also discussed a range of issues, including those covered during Tillerson's April 11-12 visit to Moscow, the department said in a statement.

 

The United States accused the Syrian army of carrying out the April 4 attack in which scores of people died from poison gas, and it responded by launching cruise missiles against a Syrian air base.

 

Russia has defended its ally Damascus and blamed the incident on rebels fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

 

The episode added to a long list of disputes between the two countries and has dashed Russian hopes that ties might improve with Donald Trump in the White House. Trump said last week that relations with Moscow "may be at an all-time low."

 

Referring to another irritant in the relationship, the Russian ministry said Lavrov called on Tillerson to hand back "Russian diplomatic property in the USA unlawfully confiscated by the Barack Obama administration."

 

Former President Obama expelled 35 suspected Russian spies in December and ordered the Russians to depart two countryside vacation retreats outside Washington and New York that he said were linked to espionage.

 

The ministry said the parties had agreed to launch a working group soon "to seek ways to get rid of irritants in bilateral relations."

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-22

[Stargeezr]

Cold War of USA  and Russia is back on.  Good  as Russia  needs to be treated like a country  that has invaded another country, Ukraine, the Crimea, was not Russias  for  it to take over as Russia has done.  Russia get back into your own country.  Get out of Syria while you are at it and quit supporting the war criminal Assad.

Geezer

[Andaman Al]

10 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Cold War of USA  and Russia is back on.  Good  as Russia  needs to be treated like a country  that has invaded another country, Ukraine, the Crimea, was not Russias  for  it to take over as Russia has done.  Russia get back into your own country.  Get out of Syria while you are at it and quit supporting the war criminal Assad.

Geezer

And those opposing your statement will say that Iraq and Afghanistan was not the USA's to take over. "USA get back to your own country" resounds across the world. Try to think of the parallel situations before going on a verbal/written offensive against bad boys, as without thought you make them all out to be bad boys. War is very dirty and is the consequence of very dirty international politics, demanded by very dirty international politicians. You can't call one side without calling the other, they are all as bad.

 

The Ukraine and Crimea was part of the USSR and Russia seem to want them back. We will say but that was years ago, yet we have the USA supporting it's major ally wanting land and territory back that it left 2000 years ago. It is futile supporting all of the various arguments. Back to the "let he who is without sin cast the first stone..............bullet/bomb", a standard that if applied would mean no more bullets and bombs ever.

[craigt3365]

Just now, Andaman Al said:

And those opposing your statement will say that Iraq and Afghanistan was not the USA's to take over. "USA get back to your own country" resounds across the world. Try to think of the parallel situations before going on a verbal/written offensive against bad boys, as without thought you make them all out to be bad boys. War is very dirty and is the consequence of very dirty international politics, demanded by very dirty international politicians. You can't call one side without calling the other, they are all as bad.

 

The Ukraine and Crimea was part of the USSR and Russia seem to want them back. We will say but that was years ago, yet we have the USA supporting it's major ally wanting land and territory back that it left 2000 years ago. It is futile supporting all of the various arguments. Back to the "let he who is without sin cast the first stone..............bullet/bomb", a standard that if applied would mean no more bullets and bombs ever.

The US hasn't taken over Iraq nor Afghanistan.  They are there by invitation of the government, along with forces from many other countries. Nothing like what Russia has done in Ukraine,  Moldova,  Georgia,  etc. Impossible to compare. 

[JAG]

They (the Russians) should know all about the stuff. Its use was absolutely central to the Soviet military doctrine. A significant proportion of their artillery munitions was filled with the damned stuff.

Given that the Syrian's were for many years a Soviet military client, trained and equipped by them, it doesn't take much to work out where the kit or the ideas for its use came from!

 

 

[Andaman Al]

47 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

The US hasn't taken over Iraq nor Afghanistan.  They are there by invitation of the government,

Sigh!

 

[sirineou]

52 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

The US hasn't taken over Iraq nor Afghanistan.  They are there by invitation of the government, along with forces from many other countries. Nothing like what Russia has done in Ukraine,  Moldova,  Georgia,  etc. Impossible to compare. 

I cant remember when Saddam or the Taliban invited the US.

[craigt3365]

Just now, sirineou said:

I cant remember when Saddam or the Taliban invited the US.

The previous post stated the US had taken over these countries,  which is obviously not true. 

 

The details of the Iraq war are another discussion.  And not a good one. 

[craigt3365]

Just now, Andaman Al said:

Sigh!

 

At least you agree your comment was wrong. 

[sirineou]

3 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

The previous post stated the US had taken over these countries,  which is obviously not true. 

 

The details of the Iraq war are another discussion.  And not a good one. 

 

The Russians have taken Ukraine,  Moldova,  Georgia, as much as the US has taken Iraq and Afghanistan.

in fact more so.

, 

[boomerangutang]

16 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Cold War of USA  and Russia is back on.  Good  as Russia  needs to be treated like a country  that has invaded another country, Ukraine, the Crimea, was not Russias  for  it to take over as Russia has done.  Russia get back into your own country.  Get out of Syria while you are at it and quit supporting the war criminal Assad.

Geezer

                    Putin wants to reconstitute the regions formerly part of the USSR, or at least as much as he can.  Trump makes that easier, that's why Putin was happy to use Russian agents toward that goal.  If Putin and Trump are having a tiff, that's not a big deal in the big picture, from Russians' perspective.

 

              Putin didn't want HRC because he knew she would be a tough adversary, with resolve and intelligence and knowledge of history ......all things Trump flunks.   Trump appears to have resolve, but it dissolves like a lump of sugar in the aquarium of fishes he's swimming with in the Oval Bowl. 

 

Due to the investigations on Capital Hill, it's politically ploy for Trump to appear to have a rift with Putin.  They're not fooling anyone.   Putin very likely has incriminating stuff on Trump.   

[Andaman Al]

42 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

At least you agree your comment was wrong. 

Don't be ridiculous!!

 

Your statement was:

3 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

The US hasn't taken over Iraq nor Afghanistan.

But They DID!! What was the INVASION of each country all about? The subsequent Governments were governments put in place by the invading force. Are you being deliberately obstructive? READ the comment to which I was originally replying to (which was not even written by you).

[craigt3365]

Just now, sirineou said:

 

The Russians have taken Ukraine,  Moldova,  Georgia, as much as the US has taken Iraq and Afghanistan.

in fact more so.

, 

Ukraine,  Moldova and Georgia want Russia to leave.  Iraq and Afghanistan have asked the US to stay. A bit of a difference.  LOL Amazing some don't seem to understand this.

 

http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/10/19/future-of-u.s.-policy-in-afghanistan-pub-61694

 

Quote

And the president of Afghanistan, President Ghani, had requested that the U.S. stay longer and keep more of American presence there. And you can't discount the concerns by the president of the rise of Islamic State and the potential for something similar to what happened in Iraq after all the troops were withdrawn there in 2011 to take place in Afghanistan.

 

Please show a  quote where the president of Ukraine,  Georgia or Moldova have asked for Russian forces to stay in their countries.  LOL 

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, craigt3365 said:

Ukraine,  Moldova and Georgia want Russia to leave.  Iraq and Afghanistan have asked the US to stay. A bit of a difference.  LOL Amazing some don't seem to understand this.

you mean the US installed government in  Iraq and Afghanistan has asked the US to stay.  

LOL Amazing some don't seem to understand this.

[craigt3365]

Just now, Andaman Al said:

Don't be ridiculous!!

 

Your statement was:

But They DID!! What was the INVASION of each country all about? The subsequent Governments were governments put in place by the invading force. Are you being deliberately obstructive? READ the comment to which I was originally replying to (which was not even written by you).

You mean this guy was not democratically elected?  Really?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashraf_Ghani

 

[onthesoi]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

The US hasn't taken over Iraq nor Afghanistan.  They are there by invitation of the government,

 

I must say craig you've really excelled yourself this time on the double speak front ...so Saddam and the Taliban invited the US to invade their respective countries, oh wait you mean the puppet governments installed & handled by the US then invited the invading and occupying US to stay lolz

Edited April 23, 2017 by onthesoi

[craigt3365]

Just now, sirineou said:

you mean the US installed government in  Iraq and Afghanistan has asked the US to stay.  

LOL Amazing some don't seem to understand this.

Shower me a link that says the current government was not democratically elected. 

[craigt3365]

Just now, onthesoi said:

 

I must say craig you've really excelled yourself this time on the double speak front ...so Saddam and the Taliban invited the US to invade their respective countries, oh wait you mean the puppet governments installed & handled by the US then invited the US to stay lolz

What has the Taliban got to do with This? 

[sirineou]

2 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Shower me a link that says the current government was not democratically elected. 

Oh yes. The great democracy of Afghanistan , 

[onthesoi]

Just now, craigt3365 said:

What has the Taliban got to do with This? 

 

My my what a question to ask...

U.S.-led NATO invasion of Afghanistan, Taliban overthrow and insurgency

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban#U.S.-led_NATO_invasion_of_Afghanistan.2C_Taliban_overthrow_and_insurgency

[onthesoi]

12 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Shower me a link that says the current government was not democratically elected. 

 

Significant fraud occurred in the 2004 presidential election

 

In September 2009, Hamid Karzai, downplaying the significance of the fraud in the 2009 presidential election, said "there was fraud in 2004" as well.

 

On September 3, 2009, when envoys from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and other Western nations met in Paris to discuss the recent 2009 Afghan election, UN Special Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide said that the 2009 Afghan presidential election, widely characterized by rampant fraud and intimidation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_presidential_election,_2004#Election_fraud

 

In July, certain allegations regarding fraudulent practices in the voting process emerged. The European Union sent 6 observers in Kabul, Balkh and Herat provinces. Thijs Berman, head of the EU election assessment team, called for an in-depth review of the electoral fraud claims and said that necessary steps would be taken to clean it. Abudullah accused President Hamid Karzai of conspiring in the rigging of the elections.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_presidential_election,_2014#Allegations_of_fraud

 

 

Edited April 23, 2017 by onthesoi

[Roadman]

Oh jeez guys get back on bloody topic...totally disappointed as I was opening this topic thinking I was going to laugh all the way through breakfast coffee over the attacks on those lying dishonest Yankees sabotaging the Syrian chemical investigation against the incredibly honest intent of those totally trustworthy moral Ruskies....    

[JHolmesJr]

This does not sound like the behaviour of a country (Russia) that got a puppet elected to the whitehouse so they could manipulate him as necessary.

 

Or is it some oscar worthy acting to dupe all the pundits on Thaivisa?

[sirineou]

44 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

This does not sound like the behaviour of a country (Russia) that got a puppet elected to the whitehouse so they could manipulate him as necessary.

 

Or is it some oscar worthy acting to dupe all the pundits on Thaivisa?

There is more here that meets the eye. 

I suggest you Google "Kara sea Tillerson"

[boomerangutang]

5 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

This does not sound like the behaviour of a country (Russia) that got a puppet elected to the whitehouse so they could manipulate him as necessary.

Or is it some oscar worthy acting to dupe all the pundits on Thaivisa?

                   Overall, Putin and his buddies are glad Trump got the nod, instead of HRC.  Look at this latest Syria think as a lovers' tiff.   Shirtless Putin riding the horse, with Trump close behind in the same oversized saddle.  Putin farts.  Trump pees in his pants.  They're annoyed at each other, but keep riding.   The bigger picture is what counts:  Putin wanting to patch the USSR back together. Both Putin & Trump wanting to get ever richer - particularly with shitloads of oil underground in Russia's Arctic region.  

 

Question:  don't the Russkies have the tech to drill for oil in the Arctic?  Do they need Exxon to drill for them?   I understand that Exxon has no moral compass (they were the only oil corp which chose to assist the hyper-corrupt Chadian gov't.  All the others abstained.)    Yet, Russia was first to put a satellite up, and first with a man in outer space, doesn't it have the equipment to extract oil?

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

15 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

The US hasn't taken over Iraq nor Afghanistan.  They are there by invitation of the government, along with forces from many other countries. Nothing like what Russia has done in Ukraine,  Moldova,  Georgia,  etc. Impossible to compare. 

They are in Iraq by invitation of the government they put in there after they killed Sadam.

[craigt3365]

8 hours ago, sirineou said:

Oh yes. The great democracy of Afghanistan , 

Becoming democratic takes time. And support from the rest of the world. 

[craigt3365]

Just now, FritsSikkink said:

They are in Iraq by invitation of the government they put in there after they killed Sadam.

100% agreed!  Kinda like Assad being elected due to bombings and help from Russia. That was a sham election.

 

No easy answers in the Middle East. 

[sirineou]

8 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Becoming democratic takes time. And support from the rest of the world. 

Unless they democratically chose the Muslim brotherhood, then a good old  military coup is in order 

[craigt3365]

I saw this on the BBC and thought you should see it:

Syrian government made Sarin used in Khan Sheikhoun, France says - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39717894