Russia Only Power Able to ‘Quash’ ISIL While Ignoring Western Accusations

November 18, 2015 By administrator

Former White House National Security Council advisor Gwenyth Todd claims that Russia is the only major power able to destroy the Islamic State terrorist group because it can ignore Western accusations and media backlash while doing so.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Russia is the only major power able to destroy ISIL terrorist group because it can ignore Western accusations and media backlash while doing so, former White House National Security Council (NSC) advisor Gwenyth Todd told Sputnik.

“The world needs a truly powerful country, ready to do whatever is necessary to quash well-armed and financed terrorists, in the face of accusations of gross human rights abuses, to stop the Turks and Arab Gulf states from continuing to fuel the Islamic State terrorist machine,” Todd told Sputnik on Wednesday.

Todd explained that the Unites States has great difficulty exacting revenge on terrorists because “a large segment of US citizens feels a deep obligation to avoid any collateral damage or even brutal treatment of the guilty.”

The British, French and Germans are also prone to forgiveness, but in their case they seek to preserve economic interests, even with countries whose governments have sponsored horrific acts against their own citizens, Todd added.

“Neither of these approaches is viable when dealing with the rise of Islamic terrorist activity. When the West does retaliate, the terrorists know they can protect themselves by surrounding themselves with civilians,” Todd noted.

Now, “foolish terrorists” have made the assumption that Russia has adopted the Western fear of appearing too harsh: those who bombed the Metrojet flight and publicly threaten Russia today are testing this theory, she said.

“The US will be incredibly relieved if the Russians can ignore public handwringing and attack and destroy the headquarters of Islamic terrorists,” Todd asserted.

The former NSC official added that Western liberals will be more forgiving of Russian military operations in the face of Russia’s announcement that ISIL was behind the Metrojet bombing.

The chilling photos of the brightly coloured luggage of the families aboard that flight behind police cordons in the Sinai Peninsula make any Russian actions against ISIL more acceptable and the Paris attacks magnify that acceptability, she continued.

“That window will only be open for a short time, however, and Russia therefore needs to move quickly and with great force against the Islamic State,” Todd pointed out.

Russia knows it will face criticism after the fact, even as the West winks and nods at Russian operations over the coming weeks, she said.

“The West quietly recognizes the role of Turkey, one of NATO’s key members, in supporting Islamic State terrorism and is unlikely to defend Turkey if it chooses to confront Russia in Syria. The Gulf Arabs are certainly not going to risk armed confrontation with Russia,” Todd insisted.

If Russia is willing to “take one for the team,” and carry out the necessarily brutal operations to cut off the head of ISIL, the West will be tremendously grateful, even if Western governments refuse to admit it publicly, she concluded.

Source: sputniknews

Turkey Mazlumder report says civilians targeted with real weapons during Kurdish town Silvan curfew

November 18, 2015 By administrator

A report prepared by the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (Mazlumder) on a curfew that had been in place for the past 12 days in the southeastern town of Silvan has said civilians were targeted with real weapons during the curfew.

The report, which was released on Tuesday, said Mazlumder’s inspections as well as witness reports revealed that the operations carried out in the district threatened civilians’ security of life and property and that security forces targeted civilians with real weapons. “In contrary to authorities’ claims that no civilians suffered damage during the curfew, we have found that many civilians suffered damage and some were even killed during the curfew,” the report said.

The report said security forces houses, workplaces and cars of civilians were damaged by security forces who forcefully entered some houses, searched and damaged them.

Mazlumder said security forces went beyond the laws and violated civilians’ right to life during the curfew.

Intense combat beginning Nov. 3 between security forces and the Patriotic Revolutionist Youth Movement (YDG-H) — an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — forced hundreds of families to flee their homes in the curfew zone. This latest curfew was the sixth time Silvan has been effectively paralyzed in the past three months, and it is not expected to be the last.
The 12-day curfew has drawn widespread criticism from opposition politicians, especially from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and rights groups, who said the civilians had suffered immensely under the curfew.
Curfews like these have become frequent in the predominately Kurdish-populated southeastern region of Turkey, where the areas of Cizre and Nusaybin are currently under lockdown.

From Baku Pogroms to Elected Office in Maine

November 18, 2015 By administrator

BY RUPEN JANBAZIAN

From The Armenian Weekly

WESTBROOK CITY, Maine (A.W.)—“Coming to the United States as a refugee in 1992, I was always fascinated with the electoral process, the judicial system, and the way of life here. I love this country. I voted the minute I could vote after getting my citizenship at 19,” says Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, who became Westbrook City’s youngest and only female city councilor on Nov. 3, with 64 percent of the vote.

Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1978, Turcotte fledto the United States with her family after a wave of Azerbaijani aggression towards Armenians in 1990. “I never thought I would run for any office, but what’s amazing about this country is that anyone can, and anyone who wants to should.” She explained that her first presidential election vote was absentee, and that she still has the little pencil they sent in with the ballot packet.

Turcotte’s background is in legal and risk management, and she had no real political experience or knowledge of what running a campaign involved. But with guidance from her friends and help from her family, she ran successfully for the position against an incumbent and another candidate. Running as a Democrat, she beat out long-time city councillor Paul Emery and Republican Susan Rossignol in a landslide victory in Westbrook City’s Ward 3. She secured 308 votes to Emery’s 88 and to Rossignol’s 83.

“I ran the textbook grassroots campaign,” she says. Turcotte went to City Hall, obtained a map of her ward, and knocked on the door of every house of her section of the city with her kids after work and school. “They were on bikes and scooters, and I was with a stack of palm cards knocking on doors and describing my qualifications, my family background, and my vision for the city’s future. On weekends, my husband joined us. We met many wonderful people along the way…and got some exercise too.”

Turcotte credits the success of her campaign to face-to-face interactions. “Yes, sure, they can see my interview in the local paper, but they get to see much more when they meet me and know that I’m a real person with a real family in this city. And we are all in it together. We had fun as a family doing it for about five to six weeks,” she says. “I am terrified of dogs, and it seems everyone has a dog, so it was not easy for me on many different levels, but so rewarding.”

Having children has prompted Turcotte to become more invested in the success of Westbrook City. “I believe the success of the city directly contributes to the success of my children and their friends. I am not the type of person who can comfortable sit back and observe things from the sidelines,” she says.

Turcotte has been volunteering with various organizations and has been a tireless voice advocating for increased U.S. aid for Nagorno-Karabagh. She also recently published her memoirs, titled Nowhere, a Story of Exile, which tells the story of her life in Baku and the Azerbaijani brutality that shattered her childhood.

Recently, Anna’s husband John suggested that she should run for public office. “I thought he was crazy, but he is my biggest fan and supporter, always believing in me,” she says.

Turcotte believes the election results reflect the people’s need for a change in the city and their trust in her. “I encourage fellow Armenians to become more politically active in their communities. And on a personal note, I want my daughter and son to see their mama succeed in various aspects of life, whether it’s the kitchen, the business, writing and publishing books, or running for office. Children need more examples of women being out in the world, making their own way, just as they want it.”

Run for the Hills: ISIL Fighters Fleeing Raqqa Amid Russian Air Campaign

November 18, 2015 By administrator

Islamic State fighters are fleeing Raqqa, the terrorist group’s stronghold in Syria, as Russia and France have intensified airstrikes on their positions, Russian media reported on Wednesday.

The terrorists have abandoned their positions and are fleeing toward the Turkish border, while some of them are hiding in civilian buildings, RIA Novosti news agency wrote, citing local eyewitness reports on Wednesday.

In Tel-Abyad, a town 100 kilometers north of Raqqa, ISIL fighters abandoned their strongholds under pressure from Kurdish self-defense forces.

The Islamic State group is coming under increased military pressure after claiming responsibility for last month’s bombing of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt and Friday’s attacks in Paris, which killed more than 120 people.

Russia said on Tuesday that it had doubled the scale of its attacks on Syria.

The latest airstrikes are “the most intense” since world powers led by the US started targeting the group.

Russia deployed 37 new aircraft to carry out airstrikes after security officials said the passenger plane that crashed over Egypt’s Sinai on October 31 was caused by a bomb. ISIL Egyptian affiliate had claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed 224 people.

Russia conducted 34 cruise missile strikes and deployed long-range Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers from its bases to hit ISIL’s de-facto capital of Raqqa as well as other targets.

Russia planned 127 sorties on 206 targets in the first 24 hours of the new campaign, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

France bombed Raqqa on Sunday night in its most aggressive strike against ISIL to date destroying a command center and a training facility used by the terrorists.

Source: sputniknews

Iran: Terror cell linked to Daesh ISIS busted in western Iran

November 18, 2015 By administrator

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has busted a terror cell linked to the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in western Iran.

The spokesman for the IRGC in Kermanshah Province said on Tuesday that members linked to the terror group were arrested in a joint operation with forces of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry.

Colonel Mohammad Kalantari, who was speaking to the semi-official Mizan news agency, would not elaborate on further details, including in which city or town the cell was active. The westernmost Iranian province of Kermanshah neighbors Iraq, where Daesh controls some parts far from the Iranian border in the west and north of the Arab country.

Kalantari said the arrested individuals “were militarily prepared and possessed guns and bandoleers.”

It was not clear whether the cell was plotting an attack inside Iran or it was just organizing militants for terror activities in Iraq.

IRGC’s chief commander in Kermanshah said on Tuesday that numerous terror cells working for Daesh have been busted in the province over the past two years. Brigadier General Bahman Reyhani said during a briefing with reporters that all the busted cells had been recruiting and organizing militants for Daesh “outside Iran.”

Iran has previously warned that it will intervene militarily inside Iraq if Daesh manages to reach the 40-kilometer buffer zone outside of the Iranian western borders.

Daesh has been suffering back-to-back defeats in areas under its control in Iraq with pro-government forces managing to liberate over the past few months two key towns of Tikrit and Baiji in the north and major positions in the desert province of Anbar in the west. The anti-Daesh drive in Syria has also gained a fresh momentum since the country began to enjoy Russia’s air support on September 30.

Paris shootout: 2 dead, incl. female suicide bomber, 7 arrested as police, army hunt suspects

November 18, 2015 By administrator

French capital. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann – RTS7R5L

The French police and army swooped on a Paris suburb early Wednesday amid heavy gunfire and explosions in the hunt for those behind last Friday’s attacks. At least two extremists, including a female suicide bomber, have been killed. Seven people were arrested during the raid.

Residents of the suburb of Saint-Denis, north of Paris, were awakened by an exchange of gunfire at around 4:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) local time.

“I was awakened by explosions that lasted about 15-20 minutes,” one resident told Le Monde. “From our window, we could see lights [that looked] like gunfire… Then helicopters landed on the roofs.”

At least 15 people, including women and children, have been evacuated from the building in the area of anti-terrorist operation, the mayor office of Saint-Denis told Le Figaro.

According to police spokesman Jean-Alphonse Richard, officers identified an apartment being used as a base by the alleged terrorists in Saint-Denis in the hunt for a key suspect in last Friday’s murderous Paris attacks and his accomplices.

The primary target of the raid was Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged sponsor and mastermind of Friday’s massacre in Paris, police said. Salah Abdeslam, another suspect in the attacks, was also reportedly targeted in the raid.

There were grenades. It was going, stopping. Kalashnikovs. Starting again,’‘ Saint-Denis resident Amin Guizani told AP.

The terror suspects reportedly barricaded themselves in an apartment.

Later at least 50 soldiers were deployed at the scene of the police operation in Saint-Denis, according to RTL.

Release of the book “The Reform of Time, Ottoman Armenia, Mahmud II, the Tanzimat, Constantinople 1780-1860,” Onnik of Jamgocyan

November 18, 2015 By administrator

After “Bankers Sultans”, the historian Onnik Jamgocyan just published the book “Reforms Time, Ottoman Armenia, Mahmud II, the Tanzimat, Constantinople 1780-1860” published by Editions of the Bosphorus. A reference book on Ottoman Armenia and Constantinople Armenians in 1780-1860.

“The Time of Reforms” of Onnik Jamgocyan is the second volume of a trilogy dedicated to the economic, political and social of Constantinople, after the first book on the Bankers Sultans. Onnik Jamgocyan this Kazaz Artine -saraf Mahmud II and Duzian -Fermiers of the Imperial Mint. Their days are full of events: the hanging of a Greek Patriarch (1821); the end of the Janissaries and their Jewish bankers (1826); the battle of Navarino and the exile of the Catholic Armenians (1828); Paskewitsch Yerevan and the passage of the plain of Ararat to the Russians; the recognition of the Armenian Catholic nation (1830) and the Protestant Armenians (1847). The Tanzimat (1839), and Hatt-i-Humayoun (1856) Abd-ul-Mecid I giving hope to non-Muslim subjects of the Empire and before the organic laws of the three nations.

This work by Onnik Jamgocyan high accuracy, makes us relive this rich period of Ottoman history that the Armenians are closely related. To read.

Onnik Jamgocyan is one of the best specialists in Ottoman Turkey. His first book “Bankers Sultans” is being edited in Turkish in Turkey. Born in Istanbul in 1955, Onnik Jamgocyan is Doctor in History from the University of Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne (1988), authorized to supervise research by the School of Higher Studies in Social Sciences (2011), he studied history Ottoman. The author deals mainly with financial Istanbul, the Armenian nation in Turkey (1700-1900), trade links with Venice and Trieste, the Russian-Turkish relations and navigation in the Black Sea.

The reforms of Time “Ottoman Armenia,” Mahmoud II, the Tanzimat, Onnik Jamgocyan of Constantinople 1780-1860 Editions of the Bosphorus (266 Avenue Dumesnil, Paris 12e), 305 pages, € 26. (+ € 4 shipping) check made payable to the Onnik Jamgocyan and send the Editions of the Bosphorus.

Krikor Amirzayan

Armenian President honors Kaspersky for outstanding contribution to IT sector

November 18, 2015 By administrator

Prominent expert on cyber security, Director General of Kaspersky Lab – one of the leading private companies in the IT sector – Eugene Kaspersky received the 2015 Armenia Presidential Award.

At the ceremony, the Chairman of the Executive Council of the Award Committee of the World Information Technologies (WIT) Hovik Musaelian delivered remarks on the achievements and dynamics of the IT sector in Armenia. According to him, the IT sector has seen a 20-25% growth in the last years. Also, Musaelian dwelled upon cooperation between the Armenian government and the private sector, which allows to implement initiatives aimed at the further development of the IT area.

President Serzh Sargsyan handed the award to Kaspersky, afterwards delivering a speech.

“There is no need to introduce Mr. Kaspersky and Kaspersky Lab; these names are familiar to millions of computer users all over the world, having become part of people’s everyday lives and helping them protect their private data,” Sargsyan said. “Your work is undoubtedly appreciated not only in Armenia but all over the world. You and people like you open new doors for the humankind.”

Also addressing the audience was Kaspersky himself. “I do everything I can. I am motivating my employees for us to become the best in this sphere. I am very grateful to the President of Armenia for honoring me with this award. I am also grateful to the sponsors who assisted in the organization of this event. We must create working systems to eliminate cyber attacks, and I promise take my best efforts to make this a reality,” Kaspersky said.

Sassounian: Only 35 Percent of Americans Are Aware There Was an Armenian Genocide

November 18, 2015 By administrator

By Harut Sassounian

For the first time, a prestigious nationwide survey, conducted on Nov. 9 by Zogby Analytics, reveals the extent of the American public’s knowledge and opinion on the Armenian Genocide and Artsakh (Karabagh). The survey results, made available exclusively to this writer, have a +/- 3.1 percent margin of error.

To the question, are you aware that there was an Armenian Genocide, surprisingly only 34.8 percent of those surveyed answered “yes”; 49.6 percent “no”; and 15.6 percent “not sure.” One would have expected that a much higher percentage of U.S. citizens would be aware of the Armenian Genocide, particularly after the large-scale Centennial commemorative events this year. The fact that half of all Americans have never heard of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians indicates that a major effort is needed to educate the public.

Zogby Analytics provides extensive information about the background of the participants in the survey. Here are some interesting details:

– While male respondents are evenly divided on the above question, there is a serious imbalance among women—twice as many females are unaware of the Armenian Genocide compared to those who are.

– Around half of all respondents are equally ignorant about the Armenian Genocide, regardless of political party affiliation. Liberals are slightly more knowledgeable than moderates and conservatives. Surprisingly, the majority of “Tea Party” and “Occupy Wall Street” sympathizers are cognizant of the Armenian Genocide.

– College graduates are more likely to know about the Armenian Genocide than those who are not.

– The age group 25-34 is the most knowledgeable about the Armenian Genocide, while the least knowledgeable is the age group 35-53.

– Hispanics are far more knowledgeable than “Whites” about the Armenian Genocide; African Americans and Asian Americans are the least knowledgeable.

– Catholics are more aware of the Armenian Genocide than Protestants.

– West Coast Americans are more aware of the Armenian Genocide than their counterparts in the east; while those living in central and southern U.S. are the least knowledgeable.

– Americans with the highest income category ($100,000+) know the most about the Armenian Genocide; those making $35,000-$50,000 a year know the least.

In summary, the American most informed about the Armenian Genocide is: male, right or left-wing political activist, college graduate, 25-34 years old, Hispanic, Catholic, lives on the West Coast, and makes over $100,000 a year; whereas the American least informed about the Armenian Genocide is: female, mainstream political party member, not a college graduate, 35-53 years old, African American or Asian American, Protestant, lives in the central or southern states, and makes $35,000 to $50,000 a year.

Here are eight other genocide and Artsakh-related questions that survey participants were asked to answer:

– 46.5 percent of Americans agree that the United States government should call on Turkey to publicly admit the Armenian Genocide; 16.1 percent disagree; and 37.4 percent don’t know.

– 39 percent agree that “the U.S. Congress should pass a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide…even if it risks destroying diplomatic relations with a key, strategic ally in the Middle East”; 22.5 percent disagree; and 38.5 percent don’t know.

– 63.2 percent agree that “if an ally of the United States initiates a program to eradicate, persecute, or displace populations within their own country, the U.S. should end economic and/or military aid to that ally”; 10.5 percent disagree; and 26.3 percent don’t know.

– 20.1 percent believe that when a country commits genocide, it should pay reparations “in cash”; 11.8 percent say that it should compensate by returning the occupied “land”; 10.7 percent, “by other symbolic act”; 9.4 percent, “no reparations should be paid”; and 48 percent don’t know.

– 31.3 percent believe that the United Nations should determine what the reparations should be when genocide is committed; 23.8 percent say it should be decided by the International Criminal Court; 12.1 percent, the United States Congress; 3 percent, Amnesty International; 2.5 percent, the European Court of Human Rights; 0.8 percent, the Pope; and 26.5 percent don’t know.

– 37.9 percent believe that the United States should use “economic sanctions” against a country that “refuses to recognize and take responsibility for its crimes against humanity”; 16.4 percent say the U.S. should use “political/diplomatic pressure”; 8.6 percent, “embargo”; 2.6 percent, the U.S. should declare war; 4.5 percent, “do nothing”; and 30 percent don’t know.

– 38.3 percent agree that “the United States should intervene if Azerbaijan acts to expel the ethnic Christian Armenians [of Artsakh] who have resided there for centuries”; 21.8 percent disagree; and 39.9 percent don’t know.

– 40.4 percent agree that if Azerbaijan attacks Artsakh, the United States should call on Israel, which is selling sophisticated weapons to Baku, to cut off its diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan; 16.9 percent disagree; and 42.7 percent don’t know.

This first of its kind survey could serve as a valuable guide to the Armenian-American community to know where to concentrate its educational efforts and lobbying resources.

About Harut Sassounian

Harut Sassounian is the publisher of The California Courier, a weekly newspaper based in Glendale, Calif. He is the president of the United Armenian Fund, a coalition of the seven largest Armenian-American organizations. He has been decorated by the president and prime minister of the Republic of Armenia, and the heads of the Armenian Apostolic and Catholic churches. He is also the recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Terrorist State of Turkey fans boo minute’s silence for Paris victims

November 18, 2015 By administrator

Turkish fans booed during the minute’s silence for the victims of the Paris attacks before their national team drew 0-0 with Greece in a friendly international soccer game on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The mark of respect was observed at matches across Europe, including at Wembley where France faced England, after Islamic State militants struck Paris on Friday killing 129 people.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras watched the game together, in a sign of reconciliation between the two neighbors, whose relationship has suffered from hostilities in the past.

It was the first time the two teams had met for eight years and the Turkish Football Federation had announced a string of additional security measures before the match at the Istanbul Basaksehir stadium, which was a 17,000 sell out.

Turkey, who have not lost this year, are preparing ahead of Euro 2016, which they qualified for in third place in their group. They enjoyed a 2-1 victory away to Qatar last week.

Greece’s German coach Michael Skibbe led out a team in Turkey for the first time since he had spells at Galatasaray, Eskisehirspor and Karabukspor from 2008 to October this year.

However, the occasion was a disappointment with both teams trying out new players in a game of few chances with former European champions Greece, who failed to qualify for the Euros, having just one goal attempt against Turkey’s 12.