Whitney Webb -- John McCain Takes “Unusual” Secret Trip To Syria

John McCain Takes “Unusual” Secret Trip To Syria

McCain’s trip coincided with President Trump’s memorandum to prepare a plan to “defeat” ISIS within the next 30 days.

By Whitney Webb | February 24, 2017

Independent U. S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, left, and Republican Sen. John McCain, of Arizona are seen at a Syrian refugee camp in Yayladagi, Turkey, Tuesday, April 10, 2012. (AP/Umit Bektas)

(ANALYSIS) — Despite his experience as a U.S. veteran and prisoner of war, Arizona Senator John McCain is about as pro-war as they come. While he faded from view somewhat following his failed bid for the presidency in 2008, McCain remains a very active senator, particularly in regards to the Syrian conflict that has raged on for the better part of six years. Since the the conflict began in 2011, McCain – along with many other establishment politicians – has been resolute in his call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. He has repeatedly argued that regime change in the embattled nation is a necessity and has openly supported U.S. military intervention in Syria to remove Assad from power.

Indeed, McCain has been so committed to removing Assad from power that he even fostered ties with the shadier parts of the Syrian opposition, including both its “moderate rebels” and more notorious factions such as the Islamic State. Photographic evidence has confirmed this, with one infamous photo showing McCain posing with Khalid al-Hamad – a “moderate” rebel who gained notoriety after a video of him eating the heart of a Syrian Army soldier went viral online. McCain has even admitted meeting with ISIS, going so far as to acknowledge that he is still in contact with the infamous terrorist group. While this may seem mind-boggling to some, the Arizona Senator’s connections to ISIS and other terrorist elements in the Syrian opposition makes perfect sense considering his strong commitment to deposing Assad and the U.S.’ role in covertly creating ISIS in the first place.

However, recent months have thrown a wrench in the plans of those hoping to see Assad removed from power by opposition forces. Assad’s retaking of Aleppo last December was a demoralizing defeat for ISIS and the Syrian opposition and, in the months since, Assad and his Russian allies have advanced on the last remaining ISIS stronghold of Raqqa. In addition, President Trump – who campaigned on partnering with both Assad and Russia to eliminate ISIS – recently issued a Presidential Memorandum that gave Secretary of Defense James Mattis 30 days to draw up a military plan to counter ISIS, declaring that “it is the policy of the United States that ISIS be defeated.”

It is under this backdrop that Sen. McCain decided to recently take an “unusual” secret trip to Syria. The Senator’s office confirmed the trip on Wednesday, stating that McCain had “traveled to northern Syria last week to visit U.S. forces deployed there and to discuss the counter-ISIL campaign and ongoing operations to retake Raqqa.” McCain also met with Turkish President Erdogan before returning to the U.S. from Syria where the U.S. support of Kurdish fighters in Northern Syria, which Erdogan fiercely opposes.

While McCain has officially explained his visit as being related to “countering” ISIS, his documented ties to the organization suggest that there may be more to this “unusual” trip than is being made public. With the Syrian opposition quickly losing ground it is unlikely that neo-conservatives like McCain plan to sit idly by as the “moderate” and terrorist rebel factions are decimated by Assad and his allies. Could McCain’s trip have served an alternative purpose to that which was publicly stated? We’ll find out soon enough.

Whitney Webb -- Congress Begins Investigating George Soros’ Influence In European Politics

Congress Begins Investigating George Soros’ InfluenceIn European Politics

After years of speculation, the influence of billionaire George Soros and his NGOs on European politics has finally caught the attention of Congress.

By Whitney Webb | February 24, 2017

Soros Fund Management Chairman George Soros speaks at the Nicolas Berggruen Conference in Berlin, Germany, Oct. 30, 2012. (AP/Thomas Peter)

WASHINGTON — After years of veiled accusations condemning the “empire” of organizations controlled and funded by Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros, U.S. lawmakers have finally decided to open an official investigation into allegations that Soros has subverted European governments that resist neoliberal policies.

Earlier this month, Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, and other lawmakers announced an investigation into the U.S. Embassy’s activities in Macedonia, demanding answers from Ambassador Jess Baily regarding Soros’ possible influence in the Balkan nation.

On Feb. 2, Independent.mk, a Macedonian English-language news agency, reported that Smith told a Macedonian television correspondent:

“[I]t seems that the U.S. government funded organizations that have taken sides, specifically, the side of the socialists, which is absolutely unacceptable. I think this is illegal and we will examine this case to the fullest extent.”

Concern over Soros’ impact on Macedonian politics emerged early last month after Nikola Gruevski, the former Macedonian prime minister, told Republika newspaper, “If it were not for George Soros behind it with all the millions he pours into Macedonia, the entire network of NGOs, media, politicians, inside and out … the economy would be stronger, we would have had more new jobs.”

The issue drew even more attention after a group of prominent Macedonian journalists launched “Stop Operation Soros,” a campaign aimed at countering the billionaire’s “subversive” activities in the country.

Whitney Webb -- Media Silent As 4 Top Russian Diplomats Die Mysteriously In Last 60 Days

Media Silent As 4 Top Russian Diplomats Die Mysteriously In Last 60 Days

Four top Russian diplomats, including three ambassadors, have died suddenly and under mysterious circumstances just within the last 60 days.

By Whitney Webb | February 24, 2017

The widow of Andrei Karlov, Marina, kisses her husband during a religious service for killed Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov inside the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

MOSCOW — While few might consider being a diplomat a life-threatening or even dangerous job, that trend may be quickly reversing — that is, at least for Russian diplomats.

With recent media attention squarely focused on Donald Trump’s ascension to the Oval Office and various controversies swirling throughout the early days of his presidency, a string of sudden, mysterious deaths of top Russian diplomats have largely evaded media scrutiny and public attention.

Further, public interest in these deaths, at least in the United States, has been minimized, as much of the negative press Trump has received along the same timeframe has been related to his allegedly close relationship with the Russian government, tying in with months of anti-Russian propaganda relating to the Syrian conflict and allegations that Russia had a role in manipulating the U.S. presidential election.

Since late December, four top Russian diplomats, including three ambassadors, have died under circumstances that remain unclear.

This troublesome trend began on Dec. 20, when Andrey Karlov, Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, was gunned down in Ankara during a photo exhibition event. The assailant, a 22-year-old off-duty Turkish police officer, took advantage of the bloody spectacle to yell, “Don’t forget Aleppo!” — a reference to Russia’s controversial role in helping the Syrian government reclaim what was once the country’s largest city from U.S.-backed Al-Qaida terrorists.

Karlov’s death came at a critical juncture in Russian-Turkish relations, as the two nations were in the midst of reconciliation efforts following an incident in which Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet over Syria in 2015, damaging diplomatic relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Karlov’s assassination a clear provocation intended to derail Syrian peace negotiations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed these sentiments, adding, “Both Turkey and Russia have the will not to be deceived by this false flag attack.”

However, media attention of the assassination was derailed, as it took place on the same day as a high-profile terrorist attack in Berlin carried out by a Tunisian asylum seeker who had allegedly expressed support for Daesh (an Arabic acronym for the terrorist group known in the West as ISIS or ISIL).

A few weeks later, yet another Russian diplomat died suddenly, this time in Athens, Greece.

Andrey Malanin, a senior diplomat at Russia’s embassy in the Greek capital, was found dead on the bathroom floor of his apartment on Jan. 9. After his body was discovered, Greek police launched an investigation into his death. Despite an initial statement that Malanin appeared to have died from natural causes at “first sight,” the investigation has yet to conclude, leaving the official cause of Malanin’s death still unestablished.

The weeks since have seen the deaths of two more Russian ambassadors.

Russia’s ambassador to India, Alexander Kadakin, died at a hospital in India on Jan. 26 following a “brief,” unspecified illness. Indian leaders mourned the death of Kadakin, who was credited with having played a significant role in promoting Indian-Russian relations, culminating in major defense and energy deals between the two nations in October of last year.

Most recently, on Feb. 20, Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, died suddenly at work in New York. In its official announcement, Russia’s foreign ministry offered no details on the circumstances of Churkin’s death, instead offering condolences to his friends and relatives. Unnamed U.S. government and law enforcement officials, however, told Reuters that Churkin had apparently died of a heart attack, though the exact cause of his death remains unknown.

A picture of Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, is displayed while people sign condolences books at the Russian Mission to the U.N. in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. (AP/Seth Wenig)