THE BALTIC TIMES 29 OCT - NATO JETS INTERCEPT RUSSIAN PLANES OVER BALTIC SEA

NATO jets have intercepted a group of Russian fighter planes flying over the neutral Baltic sea. The German jets were scrambled from Estonia on Tuesday following the discovery of seven Russian jets. NATO says the interception was the biggest seen in recent years. The discovery comes after a Russian spy plane allegedly violated Estonian airspace last week. NATO says the plane entered airspace illegally before being seen off by NATO jets. Russia has denied the claims. Latvia's Defense Ministry has reported a rise in the number of Russian jets and warships observed near Baltic territory this year. "All these processes cause concern. I have a question, why is such a demonstration of force needed? There must be some political reason behind it. There should not be fear of a direct threat, as we have to see the full picture about how the escalation will turn out. However, we know that any escalation can lead to unpredictable moves," Raimonds Graube, the head of Latvia's Armed Forces said last month, cited by the LETA news agency. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blasted NATO's thoughtless and limitless expansion. "Instead of making OSCE a normal organization, which would become a real security organization, ensuring security for everyone, our western colleagues took the course of thoughtless, limitless NATO expansion, telling us directly, that legal security guarantees can only be given to those who join the North Atlantic Alliance," Lavrov said in an interview with the Life News TV channel and the Izvestia newspaper, cited by Voice of Russia. LINK: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/35706/#.VFFKSs6Imq0

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD 25 OCT - 'WE DID NOT START THIS': PUTIN ACCUSES US OF DAMAGING WORLD ORDER

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Friday of endangering global security by imposing a "unilateral diktat" on the rest of the world and shifted blame for the Ukraine crisis onto the West. In a 40-minute diatribe against the West that was reminiscent of the Cold War and underlined the depth of the rift between Moscow and the West, Putin also denied trying to rebuild the Soviet empire at the expense of Russia's neighbours. "We did not start this," Putin told an informal group of experts on Russia that includes many Western specialists critical of him, warning that Washington was trying to "remake the whole world" based on its own interests. "Statements that Russia is trying to reinstate some sort of empire, that it is encroaching on the sovereignty of its neighbours, are groundless," the former KGB spy declared in a speech delivered standing at a podium, without a smile, in a ski resort in mountains above the Black Sea city of Sochi. Listing a series of conflicts in which he faulted US actions, including Libya, Syria and Iraq, Putin asked whether Washington's policies had strengthened peace and democracy. "No," he declared. "The unilateral diktat and the imposing of schemes (on others) have exactly the opposite effect." Putin, 62, has stepped up anti-Western rhetoric since returning to the Kremlin as president in 2012, helping push up his popularity ratings since the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March. Even so, the speech was one of the most hostile Putin has delivered against the West and it appeared partly intended to show Russian voters he will stand up to the rest of the world and defend their interests. The criticisms of a world order dominated by Washington, more than two decades after the Cold War, recalled a 2007 speech in Munich in which Putin shocked the West by lambasting Washington's "unipolar" world view. The speech prompted many Western leaders to reassess their view of Putin. The annual meetings of what is known as the Valdai Club have rarely featured such open, direct and tough language in their debates on Russian policy. Critics say the meetings have become a showcase for Kremlin policy, with the session attended by Putin shown live on state television and little discussion of Russia's record on human rights and democracy, which is criticised in the West. Putin rejected criticism over the Ukraine crisis, in which Moscow has sided with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, and threw the West's criticisms of Moscow back in its face. Repeating accusations that Western governments helped pro-Western groups stage a coup d'etat that ousted a pro-Moscow president in Kiev in February, Putin said: "No one wanted to listen to us and no one wanted to talk to us." "Instead of a difficult but, I underline, civilised dialogue they brought about a state coup. They pushed the country into chaos, economic and social collapse, and civil war with huge losses," he said. Dismissing US and European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow as a mistake, he said: "Russia will not be posturing, get offended, ask someone for anything. Russia is self-sufficient." He made only passing references to the decline of Russia's $US2 trillion ($2.27 trillion) economy, which is in danger of sliding into recession as its currency tumbles along with the price of oil, its main export item. But he said in a question and answer session after his speech that Russia would not burn though its gold and foreign currency reserves thoughtlessly to prop up the economy. Putin has increasingly sought to shift blame for the economic crisis onto global problems, the sanctions and the oil price. He and other Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, have also used increasingly tough language to blame the West for the Ukraine crisis. A ceasefire has been in force in Ukraine since September 5, but it has been violated daily and the West says Moscow continues to have troops and weapons in east Ukraine. Russia denies this. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/we-did-not-start-this-putin-accuses-united-states-of-damaging-world-order-20141025-11bl4m.html#ixzz3H7UvgQLb

THE LONDON FREE PRESS 22 OCT - HOMEGROWN TERROR STRIKES AT HEART OF CANADA

TORONTO - Homegrown terror struck at the heart of Canada on a fall morning, leaving a soldier murdered, the shooter dead and a nation reeling in shock. Canada, it seems, is under siege from within. For the second time this week, Canadian soldiers came under attack on our own soil. Yet another terrorist took aim at the people who stand on guard for us, this time right at the epicentre of our democracy within metres of Parliament Hill. And even more egregious — the gunman targeted a military reservist guarding the National War Memorial — a revered national symbol in memory of so many brave men and women who have given their lives to protect our freedom and way of life. The Western way of life that seems to so offend these jihadi terrorists. Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a 24-year-old father of one and a reservist with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Hamilton, was standing sentry at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when he was executed at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday by a masked man bearing a long-barrelled rifle. One witness told reporters the young shooter with long black hair and a “black and white Palestinian type head scarf over his face” raised his arms in triumph after shooting Cirillo twice at point blank range. Despite frantic efforts by a tourist and later by emergency responders, the soldier died in hospital from gunshots to his abdomen. Warmly remembered as a man who loved dogs and had joined the cadets as a 13-year-old, Cirillo had just arrived in Ottawa for sentry duty a few days before. In addressing the nation, a grim Prime Minister Stephen Harper called it a “cold-blooded murder” and a terror attack on our values and our society. “Let there be no misunderstanding,” he vowed, “we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated.” By nightfall, the gunman had been identified — ironically first by U.S. officials — as 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, Canadian-born and a convert to Islam. Media reports said he was one of the many “high risk travellers” identified by Canadian intelligence officials and had his passport seized to prevent his joining Islamic terrorists overseas. So he launched his attack at home. The gunman stormed his way into Parliament Hill where Conservative and NDP MPs had just begun their respective weekly caucus meetings. The Prime Minister himself was in the building as well. There could be no better prize for a terrorist intent on making a terrifying impact. Harper, of course, was one of the targets of the so-called Terror 18, the ragtag group of radicalized young men who had unsuccessfully plotted to attack Parliament Hill and behead the prime minister. Eight years later, was Zehaf-Bibeau striving to make those pipe dreams a reality? And if not for a brave sergeant-at-arms, would he have been successful? The brazen gunman certainly managed to evoke a scene never before witnessed in this nation’s 147-year history: A wild firefight erupted in the seat of Canada’s government between the shooter and the guards bent on stopping him. In a chilling video recorded by a Globe and Mail reporter, the exchange of bullets could be heard echoing through the beautiful marble hallway of Centre Block. “Will always remember the sound. Parliament will never be the same,” tweeted NDP MP Ryan Cleary. As the smell of gunpowder filled the air, frightened MPs barricaded themselves behind doors reinforced with furniture. “Shots fired during caucus meeting. at least 30 shots. MPs piled out. I’m safe with 2 colleagues but we’re still at risk...,” tweeted MP Tony Clement. “PM was in Caucus but now secure. Assuming it’s not safe to venture out yet.” During the hail of gunfire that rang through the main Hall of Honour, one parliamentary guard was shot in the leg and another was grazed by a bullet. In all, three people were treated in hospital and released. It’s terrifying to think how high the body count may have been if not for the courage of Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers. The former Mountie is being widely praised as a hero after he shot and killed Zehaf-Bibeau just outside the parliamentary library before he managed to reach the MPs. “He was in his office and went out to deal with it,” MP Julian Fantino told the Sun’s Joe Warmington. “He is definitely a hero and there are a bunch of heroes here today.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper was rushed out of Parliament to a secure location. A photo of him being briefed by security officials was released to the media to quell public fears he may have been injured in the terror attack. While he was safe, his staff received an e-mail ordering them to remain in their offices and take cover under their desks. “There are currently active shooters in the Parliament Hill vicinity,” they were warned. Fear and panic filled the capital as authorities couldn’t determine the number of accomplices still on the loose. The Rideau Centre mall, the U.S. embassy and other downtown buildings went into lockdown as rumours spread that at least one other gunman was still at large. Residents were warned to stay away from the area and if they were in the vicinity, they were to stay away from windows and not tweet police locations as the hunt continued for an “active shooter.” By evening, though, no other suspect had been apprehended. More, though, was being learned about the dead gunman. Zehaf Bibeau had a long criminal history including convictions in Montreal and Vancouver. Wearing a black and white kiffeyeh similar to the one described by witnesses, his photo appeared on an #ISIS Twitter account, poised for battle. Was he inspired by his fellow jihadist just a few days before? This was the second attack on the Canadian military in three days — on Monday, extremist Martin Rouleau ran down one soldier and injured another in Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. before he was shot dead. The radical convert had been under watch by the RCMP and had his passport seized when he tried to fly to Turkey this past summer to join ISIS — just as Zehaf Bibeau’s travel documents had been revoked. And they are just two of an estimated 90 potential terrorists in our midst. It’s not as if we had not been warned. Just last month, Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney tabled his report “2014 Public Report On The Terrorist Threat To Canada” and warned “Terrorism remains the leading threat to Canada’s national security.” How prophetic those words now ring in Ottawa. No one really paid much heed. On Oct. 8, NBC News reported that Canadian officials had thwarted an ISIS-inspired plot to carry out a “knife and gun” attack at a “public place” in Canada. It seemed the stuff of over-reacting Americans. Terrorism doesn’t happen here. It was admittedly alarming when two intelligence agencies told Parliament two weeks ago about their increasing concerns about radicalized jihadists. But still, they had assured us there was no imminent threat. How wrong they would be. CSIS director Michel Coulombe told a Commons committee that they know of at least 80 violent radicals who have returned here after being involved in terrorism overseas. “By the time I leave this room, it’s going to change,” he warned. “Are there some that we are not aware of? Probably. I don’t want to speculate.” RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson told the same committee that they had 90 Canadians under investigation for suspected terrorist leanings — and we’ve now learned that Rouleau and Zehaf-Bibeau were among them. Known to the government, and yet nothing could stop them. Last Friday, just days before the Quebec attack, the domestic terrorism threat level in Canada was quietly raised from low to medium for the first time in four years. Intelligence agencies had picked up increased “chatter” from radical Islamist groups about possible attacks after Canada announced this month that it was joining the battle against Islamic State fighters who have taken over parts of Iraq and Syria. Despite this warning, two fatal attacks on Canadian soldiers have now followed. It proves the startling and terrifying truth we now must face — no matter how vigilant we may be, it will be incredibly difficult to protect ourselves from the radicals hidden among our own countrymen. Now an innocent man’s blood stains the granite Cenotaph, spilled not by a foreign enemy, but by an enemy within. LINK: http://www.lfpress.com/2014/10/22/canada-under-attack-by-homegrown-terrorists

23 OCT 14 BLOG'S STATS

THIS AKL-BASED BLOG STARTED IN MARCH 2014. In SEVEN months, I've got followers from 59 countries in every continent, but mostly from (in order): New Zealand, US, France, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Australia, Ukraine, UK, Poland. This blog is really international. SPECIAL THANKS to the NZ, US, French, German and Russian Comrades. Just keep following THE FREE VOICE OF AUCKLAND. Suggestions and ideas to improve the blog are welcome. Just e-mail me at: kingslandbruv@gmail.com Thanx, Kingsland Wolf HERE THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE COUNTRIES: Canada, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Chile; Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, UK, Ireland, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, Spain, Greece, Cyprus; Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Iraq, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan; Morocco, Egypt, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa; Australia, NZ.

BUSINESS INSIDER AUSTRALIA 15 OCT - PUTIN'S NEXT MOVE COULD MAKE EASTERN EUROPE EXPLODE

What is going on in Vladimir Putin’s mind? That’s the question a panel of Russia experts was trying to answer Tuesday morning. Attention on Russia and the crisis in Ukraine has dwindled as the press has focused more on the West’s fight against the extremist group calling itself the Islamic State. US Secretary of State John Kerry also announced Tuesday increased intelligence-gathering cooperation with Russia on the group — also known as ISIS — a particularly significant development given the recent thaw in US-Russian relations. But this panel, which was moderated by Reuters, took a much more alarmist tone when speaking about America’s relations with Moscow and speculating about Putin. All the experts in attendance warned Putin’s recent moves in Ukraine might only be the start of new territorial ambitions. Three of the four panelists — New Yorker editor David Remnick, journalist and author Masha Gessen, Russian political activist and former grand chessmaster Garry Kasparov, and former Treasury Department official Roger Altman — agreed Putin could soon try to stretch his influence into the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. “They already are under pressure,” Gessen, the author of a 2012 unauthorised biography of Putin, said of the Baltics. “That’s very much where he’s doing his nuclear saber-rattling, and that’s where he’s planning to call NATO’s bluff.” Unlike Ukraine, all three Baltic states are NATO members. NATO’s Article 5 requires all members of the alliance come to the defence of any member that is attacked or targeted. Putin last month made casual mention of his country’s nuclear arsenal, around the same time NATO accused Russian forces of an “incursion” in Ukraine. Many analysts have speculated Putin’s next move could come in the Baltic states, something that would be a clear challenge to NATO. Amid the bluster from Putin — who also reportedly said in a private conversation he could invade Poland, Romania, and the Baltic states if he really wanted to — NATO states made a point of countering with strong rhetoric of their own. President Barack Obama traveled to Estonia last month on the way to a meeting in Wales with other NATO states, in a trip the White House said was aimed at reassuring NATO allies in the Baltics that felt threatened by Putin’s moves in Ukraine. The message, a White House adviser said, was for Putin to “not even think about messing around” with the region. But members of the panel were sceptical the US and other European members would rush to the Baltics’ defence if they were targeted. And they said Putin would love a chance to try to embarrass NATO and paint it as nothing more than a symbolic alliance. For his part, Kasparov speculated Putin may try to push NATO by employing some of the same tactics he used in Crimea, which Russia formally annexed from Ukraine in March. He said that, rather than marching across the border, Russia would try to stir up some pro-Moscow “form of dissent” in the Baltics. This would allow Russia to maintain plausible deniability and characterise any military action in the region as a reaction — something that would make it difficult for NATO members to call it an invasion. Remnick agreed a potential Putin playbook for the Baltics would resemble Crimea. He added a potential Putin push into the region wouldn’t resemble “Czechoslovakia in 1968,” when the Soviet Union lined up tanks and invaded the country to crack down on reformist trends. “There’s a rich tradition of these highly crude, sophisticated provocations,” Remnick said. “It’s not going to look like Czechoslovakia in 1968. Thousands of tanks are not going to cross into [the Baltics]. The operation in Crimea, on a military intelligence basis, was brilliant. Brilliant.” What may be most disconcerting about Putin in general, however, is his lack of predictability. All of the panelists agreed on one thing: Putin’s end goal is to stay in power. And if that goal is suddenly best furthered through making noise in the Baltics, then there’s a very real possibility he’ll take action. “We’re talking about a man who doesn’t have a plan. So we’re trying to figure out what his plan is, but he doesn’t have one,” Gessen said. He sees that as an option. It is definitely an option, he is considering it, and he may wake up one morning and do it.” LINK: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/putin-ukraine-baltics-obama-2014-10

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES UK 21 OCT - AUSTRALIA'S GINGER JIHADIST VOWS TO FLY BLACK FLAG OVER BUCKINGHAM PALACE

A red-headed Australian jihadist has appeared in a new Isis [Islamic State] video, warning that the terror group will continue its war on the west until it flies a "black flag on top of Buckingham Palace". Abdullah Elmir, 17, refers to himself as Abu Khaled during the video, in which he is surrounded by his fellow Islamist militants. During the video, entitled Message Of The Mujahid 4, Elmir launches a scathing attack on the US-led coalition which is conducting airstrikes on the group's "caliphate" in northern Syria and Iraq. "This message I deliver to you the people of America, this message I deliver to you the people of Britain and this message I deliver especially to you the people of Australia," Elmir begins. "I say this about your coalition: you threaten us with your countries, bring every nation that you wish to us, bring every nation that you want to come and fight us. Whether it's 50 nations or 50,000 nations, it means nothing to us. "Bring your planes, bring everything you want to use because it will not harm us because we have Allah which is something you do not have," he continues, seemingly reading from a script. It is believed that Elmir travelled to Syria to fight for the terror group after disappearing from his home in Sydney in June. He is believed to have told his mother that he was "going fishing". He travelled with his friend Feiz to Turkey, where they crossed the border into Syria after making stops in Malaysia and Thailand. The video was released by IS just one day after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced that the country was to send special forces to Iraq to fight the Islamist insurgency. "Is it not apparent to you how are these victories possible?" Elmir asks. "It comes only from Allah and that is why [with] these small numbers of soldiers that we have, we take these massive victories. "To the leaders, to Obama, to Tony Abbott, I say this: these weapons that we have, these soldiers, we will not stop fighting. We will not put down our weapons until we reach your lands, until we take the head of every tyrant and until the black flag is flying high in every single land. "Until we put the black flag on top of Buckingham Palace, until we put the black flag on top of the White House, we will not stop. We will keep on fighting and we will fight you and defeat you." In response to the video, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott reiterated the dangers posed by the militant group to western populations. "This video again highlights the threat posed by ISIL [another term for Islamic State]," his spokesman said. "As the Prime Minister has said on many occasions, ISIL is a threat that reaches out to Australia and our allies and partners." In northern Syria, fighting has continued between Kurdish defenders and IS militants for control over the city of Kobani on the Turkish border, following two days of calm after weeks of clashes. Turkey has performed a U-turn and given permission for Kurdish peshmerga forces from northern Iraq to use Turkish territory to reach the Syrian city and aid depleted People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters. LINK: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/australias-ginger-jihadist-sydney-teenager-abdullah-elmir-vows-fly-black-flag-over-buckingham-1471052

THE MOSCOW TIMES 14 OCT - IS ALASKA NEXT ON RUSSIA'S LIST?

This Saturday marks 147 years since the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia. If the man in charge of Russia's defense industries gets his way, Sarah Palin will not only be able to see Russia from her front porch, but her front porch will be in Russia. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote a foreword to a book published earlier this year, "Alaska Betrayed and Sold: The History of a Palace Conspiracy," which argues that Russia has a right to get back "Russian America." Rogozin endorses the author's conclusion, which recognizes "the historical and judicial right of Russia for the return of the lost colonies, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands [island chain in the Northern Pacific Ocean], over which the Russian flag flew 150 years ago." Before he became deputy prime minister, with responsibility for coordinating the work of the defense industry, Rogozin was Russia's ambassador to NATO. In 2003, Rogozin was the leader of the Rodina Party, a political organization that received Kremlin support in an effort to draw votes from nationalist parties. Rodina's nationalist message was given extensive exposure on Russian television until about two weeks before the election, when Kremlin spin doctors realized they had overshot and Rodina might do too well at the polls. Rogozin's loyalty in accepting Rodina's downgrade has been rewarded with major appointments. The author of the book on Alaska's sale, Ivan Mironov, was accused of attempting to assassinate Russia's privatization architect, Anatoly Chubais, in 2005. He spent two years in prison before being pardoned by the Russian Duma. Mironov's treatise initially appeared in 2007 with the title "Fatal Bargain. How Alaska Was Sold." Mironov's view of history is that it needs frequent revision in response to how people understand world events. This leads him to revise the evaluation of Russia's sale of Alaska, recognizing it as a betrayal equivalent to Chubais's privatization program in the 1990s. Rather than viewing the sale of Alaska as a decision to jettison unprofitable overseas projects, it now should be seen as a betrayal of Russia's great power status. Rogozin's foreword fully embraces Mironov's version of history. "Russia giving up its colonial possessions makes it necessary to look in a different way at our diplomacy in the era of Gorbachev and Yeltsin, trading away pieces of the Soviet Empire." Rogozin argues that by refuting "the outright lies and falsifications" about the transfer of Alaska it becomes possible to "bring down the liberal idols of the 19th century — the Russian reformers of Alexander II and his brother Grand Duke Konstantin." They betrayed Russia's geopolitical interests in the Pacific, demonstrating "the impossibility of establishing diplomatic relations exclusively on concessions and compromises." For Rogozin, Mironov's book illustrates that a single mistake in foreign policy "can produce an entire century of loss and defeat of a great power." He concludes his short foreword with a call for the return of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to Russia. It may well be the case that Putin is simply using Rogozin's hyperbole as a way to put pressure on diplomatic interlocutors. But the fact remains that Rogozin is not on the fringes of Russian politics — he has consistently been promoted and, as deputy prime minister, now oversees the Russian defense industry. The fact that such a prominent figure could make such statements about Russia's claim to Alaska is significant. After the annexation of Crimea in March, which was only part of Ukraine because of a "historical mistake," according to Russia, could Alaska be next on Russia's list? LINK: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/is-alaska-next-on-russia-s-list/509438.html