Following the results of yesterday’s primaries, the odds are against Bernie Sanders winning the Democratic nomination at the convention according to the delegate and superdelegate math. There are primaries in the coming weeks that will give a clearer picture. More than half of the delegates are yet to be chosen and the next races may favor Sanders campaign while the past primaries have been in Clinton territory. Clinton is winning the Democratic nomination thanks to the super Pac and rich donor money which finances her campaign and the campaigns of the Democratic congressmen that endorsed her. The Democratic party machine and a sympathetic media coverage promote her candidacy notwithstanding her domestic failures, foreign policy blunders and revelations about her private email server and the Clinton Foundation dealings.

It may come the time for Sanders to consider the option of running as an independent for President if he does not collect enough delegates to win the nomination, which is likely unless there is a political earthquake such as Hillary Clinton indicted by the FBI or else. There are more than seven months to the November elections, an arc of time long enough to turn events around. Sanders and the movement, which he represents, deserve to make their case until the November elections given the crucial issues facing the nation. As shown in several polls Clinton won the majority of Democrats in most primaries and Sanders won the independents and the new voters, two groups that will have more weight in the November elections than in the primaries which are slanted in favor of the political parties.

If Sanders runs as an independent for President chances are he will not be a “spoiler,” the label used against third-party candidate Nader when Gore lost to Bush in 2000. On the contrary Sanders may attract Trump low-income supporters who share his same concerns on the issues of jobs, trade, economic inequality, health insurance, college tuition, etc. On the other end Hillary Clinton may lose in a matchup with Trump or Cruz because of her political past and a majority of Americans think she is not honest and trustworthy. Personally I think that Sanders has a chance to win a three way contest between him, Clinton and Trump (or Cruz.)

Time will run out to be an independent candidate for President if Sanders wants to go this route. There are deadlines for gaining ballot access to run as an independent or 3rd party candidate in every state starting with Texas on May 9, North Carolina June 9, Illinois June 27, Indiana and New Mexico June 30 and so on. Here are filing deadlines and signature requirements for independent presidential candidates in all states.

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Syria News - Mar 14 , 2016

Ahead of peace talks Syria government says the future of Bashar Assad is nonnegotiable, his ouster is a 'red line' - AFP

VIDEO: Syria FM: "We will not negotiate with anyone on the presidency. Bashar [Assad] is red line and belongs to the Syrian people” - YouTube

Syria's opposition leader says Assad must go in a political transition, dead or alive - Business Standard News

VIDEO: Assad must go dead or alive: Syrian opposition leader - YouTube

Kerry accuses Syria FM of 'disrupting' peace talks over Bashar al-Assad red line - The Independent

VIDEO: Kerry claims Syrian FM’s comments on Assad transition ‘disruptive’ - YouTube

UN envoy de Mistura says Kurds must be able to give views on Syria's future even if they are not invited to the peace talks in Geneva - ekurd.net

The PYD says it will not accept any other format for the Kurds' participation in the peace process but the UN Geneva talks - sputniknews.com

U.S. supports 'proper consultations' with Syrian Kurds in Geneva peace talks, says final decision to invite the PYD left to U.N envoy Staffan de Mistura - ekurd.net

US secretly backs federal future, say Syria's Kurds - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Russia insists on UN sending invitation to Kurds for Syrian peace talks, notes that their participation was blocked by Turkey - sputniknews.com

Russia: Turkish troops in Syria for operation against Kurds - ABC News

Russia asks EU to clarify position on Turkey’s plans for Syrian safe zones - sputniknews.com

Syrian FM praises Kurdish role against IS ahead of Geneva talk - rudaw.net

Disagreement emerges between the Syrian regime and PYD over future of Afrin - BasNews

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Al-Qaida affiliated Nusra Front seizes weapons and bases from U.S.-backed Syrian rebels, seven FSA fighters dead and other arrested - AP

More on Nusra Front attack on FSA Division 13 headquarters in Idlib - The Long War Journal

In a nutshell, FSA group Division 13 no longer exists in Maaret AlNoman. City now fully under Nusra - Jenan Moussa on Twitter

Seems main factions Faylaq al-Sham & Ahrar al-Sham haven't done anything to help FSA Division 13 against Nusra - Al-Tamimi on Twitter

Nusra Front broke up opposition protest in Idlib last Friday - NOW

VIDEO: Syrian pro-democracy protesters attacked by Jabhat al-Nusra in Maaret AlNoamm last Friday as they return to streets during ceasefire - The Independent

VIDEO: Maaret AlNoamn residents protesting against Nusra - liveuamap.com

VIDEO: Women’s demonstration against Nusra in Maaret AlNoamn - Aghiad Al Kheder on Twitter

Nusra threatened to fire on anti-government protesters last Monday - Yahoo News

Nusra deflects blame for protest suppression, says ‘mandate flag…sows division’ - Syria Direct

MAP: Al-Nusra strongholds in Idlib - washingtoninstitute.org

A jihadi crackdown on demonstrators in Idlib is testing the alliance between two of the insurgency’s most powerful factions, Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham - Syria Deeply

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Focus: Donald Trump - Mar 13, 2016

I think Bernie Sanders should refrain from calling Trump names like evil, fascist, racist, bigot, etc. Although Trump's words are hash, extreme, sometimes offensive, criticizing his views on the issues should not equal to insulting him. This means waging a positive campaign and not indulging in personal attacks. We must avoid to debase the political debate to a brawl.

Trump's political positions should be criticized for what they really are and not distorted. For instance he said that the worst criminal elements of the Mexican society cross the border to enter U.S.. This statement is wrong but does not necessarily mean that Trump is anti-Mexican. He said that he would "temporarily" block all Muslim to enter U.S. due to the spread of the Islamic State. This measure is wrong but it does not necessarily mean that he is anti-Muslim. Finally, contrary to the hawkish attitude of Republican opponents and Hillary Clinton, Trump's foreign policy towards Russia, Syria, Libya and Ukraine is remarkably dovish, advocating against violent regime change which is at the root of the current world crisis.

Trump's supporters are mostly low income people who, in the future, may support Sanders' policies directed at addressing social reforms and economic inequality, i.e. the scandalous accumulation of wealth in the hands of the rich at the expense of the whole nation. Insulting Trump is perceived as insulting his supporters and may generate sympathy towards him. Sanders should not endorse or justify the Chicago protest that forced Trump to cancel the rally over security concerns when protesters clashed with his supporters inside an arena where he was to speak. "We came in here and we wanted to shut this down”, said a protester. Trump and his supporters must be allowed to freely speech and assemble with no threats.

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Libya News - Mar 10, 2016

Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing: U.S. commander in Africa says Libya is a failed state - militarytimes.com

AFRICOM Cmdr, Gen. Rodriguez's written testimony to Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing - US AFRICOM on Twitter

Top U.S military official supports sending special operators to Libya, says they could work with the Islamist Tripoli government - TheHill

Pentagon has plan to cripple IS in Libya with air barrage - The New York Times

Satellite imagery confirms the arrival of French special operations forces to Benghazi air base which is under the control of Gen. Haftar - Stratfor

Libya military intervention may worsen situation: Italy minister - THE DAILY STAR

Arguments between US and Italy on intervention in Libya - Libya Prospect

Tunisian forces in deadly clashes with jihadists near Libyan border following attacks earlier this week - France 24

Egyptian Special Forces deployed to borders with Libya after Qaddafi: Sisi - nsnbc international

Islamic State threat rising in Morocco, analysts aay - VOA

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Push for unity government stalls amid frictions between the country’s East and the West factions - Reuters

Tobruk House of Representatives again fails to vote on Libyan unity government due to lack of quorum - digitaljournal.com

Tripoli detention of presidency security team members angers UN envoy Kobler - libyaherald.com

Libya: the unity government agreement lacks the political will and commitment from the factions who signed on to it - atlanticcouncil.org

Analysts: Immediate international action against Islamic State in Libya is needed regardless of the status of peace talks on a unity government - VOA

Tobruk House of Representatives condemns prime minister-designate Serraj visit to Jakarta - libyaherald.com

Tobruk Libyan air forces strike Islamic State held Sirte while UN unity efforts remain stalled - Tunisialive

New MiG-21s and Mi-8s for Tobruk-based Libyan National Army Air Force - AeroHisto

Tripoli-based Fatwa House Research Council calls for supporting Benghazi Islamist fighters - The Libya Observer

ISIS' weekly magazine spotlights Libya, introduces new leader - vocativ.com

Suspected IS fighters kill 3 guards at Libya checkpoint - ABC News

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Libya News - Mar 8, 2016

Tunisia: 45 killed as Islamist fighters launch RPG assault reportedly from Libya on border town of Ben Guerdane - ibtimes.co.uk

Tunisia Closes Border with Libya After Attack Kills 50 - teleSUR English

VIDEO: Tunisia’s president: "Today’s attack on the army is unprecedented, organized and was probably meant to declare a new state" - euronews

Islamic State expands in post-Qaddafi Libya - CNN.com

Islamic State forging migrant army in Libya by dominating human trafficking routes - Middle East Eye

Has Islamic State acquired Qaddafi’s deadly shoulder-held missiles? - newsweek.com

VIDEO: Islamic State militants muster ‘military style’ attack in Tunisia - CNN

VIDEO: Live footage of the battle in Ben Guerdane, Tunisia - YouTube

VIDEO (Arabic): Islamic State message to Tunisia - YouTube

Did Islamic State chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi moved from Turkey to Libya to escape hunt operation? - alalam.ir

Islamic State in Libya: How Boko Haram jihadis are flocking to join holy war in North Africa - ibtimes.co.uk

Qaeda affiliate Ansar Dine claims four attacks in Mali - The Long War Journal

The Islamic State papers: leaked documents show how Isis is building its state - The Guardian

The Islamic State papers: behind 'death cult' image lies a methodical bureaucracy - The Guardian

Islamic State faces crude reality as oil output slumps, the well-oiled war machine is starting to creak - CNN

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International Libya force led by Italy readied as dozens killed in Tunisia - The Guardian

PM Renzi: Italy won’t rush into action, move against Islamic State remains on hold as long as Libya has not formed a unified government - The Local

Italy foreign minister Gentiloni discusses Islamic State militants, migration from Libya - ibtimes.com

VIDEO (and transcript): FM Gentiloni on Italy's role in the Mediterranean - Council on Foreign Relations

Foreign minister Lamamra: Algeria won't be involved in military intervention in Libya or elsewhere - allAfrica.com

Sisi says Egypt won't intervene militarily in Libya - Ahram Online

Egypt, France hold joint Mediterranean military exercise amid concerns over the growing influence of IS in Libya - alaraby.co.uk

Will Islamic State use Libya as a springboard to attack Egypt? - Commentary Magazine

Hillary Clinton says she supports using special forces in Libya - TIME

VIDEO: Hillary Clinton defends past intervention to overthrow Qaddafi, says she supports using special forces in Libya now - Fox News

Islamic State's setback in Libya bolsters defiant general Haftar who scored success over jihadist groups in Benghazi - Bloomberg Business

General Khalifa Haftar: man on whose shoulders ‘peace’ in Libya rests - New Delhi Times

Revolutionary Brigades gathering forms unified operations room in Tripoli, “we call on the UN to stop the war waged by rogue General Khalifa Haftar" - The Libya Observer

Libya’s militias in Tripoli take justice into their own hands - Al-Monitor

Libya's central bank causing 'civil war' by paying rival militias, says UK envoy - Telegraph

Libyan Wealth Fund control dispute reaches London court, disagreement mirrors battles between the two Libyan governments - Bloomberg Business

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Focus: Yemen and Saudi Arabia - Mar 7, 2016

'Shocked and profoundly saddened’ Pope Francis calls nuns killed in Yemen martyrs and and victims of global indifference - America Magazine

VIDEO: Pope Francis prays for martyrs of Yemen attack - Reuters.com

Yemeni officials blame Islamic State for killing four nuns, kidnapping priest - UPI.com

UN reports sharp rise in civilian casualties in Yemen - VOA

U.N. warns against slowing recent increase in aid flow to Yemen - Business Insider

Yemen's food crisis deepens as banks cut credit for shipments - Reuters

Saudi Arabia rejects UN Security Council action on Yemen aid crisis - Yahoo News

Rights group: Saudi Arabia used U.S. cluster bombs in civilian areas - CNNPolitics.com

European Parliament calls for Saudi arms embargo over Yemen bombing - Reuters

David Cameron boasts of 'brilliant' UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia on the day the European parliament votes for an arms embargo - The Guardian

ARCHIVE: EU criticises British arms sales to Saudi Arabia - The Guardian

Hollande under fire for awarding top French honour to Saudi royal, bilateral ties sealed by major arms deals - France 24

Saudi Arabia diverts French arms originally intended for Lebanon to its own military, 'So the contracts [with France] will be completed’ - THE DAILY STAR

The Golden Age for Saudi-French relationship, that is how a French official described it - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT

Since September 2014, the Obama Administration has notified Congress of proposed foreign military sales to Saudi Arabia with a potential value of more than $21 billion - Vox

REPORT: Saudi Arabia: Background and U.S. Relations - Congressional Research Service

Former US ambassador to Yemen: Yemen’s destruction is one cost of the US-Saudi alliance - The Boston Globe

ARCHIVE: Saudi Arabian foreign minister: British and US military 'in command room' for air strikes on Yemen - The Guardian

Saudi Arabia has been Hillary Clinton's ‘top priority' for years, showering missiles and fighter jets on an extreme human rights abuser - Alternet

Conference examines the U.S.’ 'special relationship' with human rights abuser Saudi Arabia - Alternet

Amnesty International: Governments must halt all arms flows to the Yemen conflict that could be used by any of the warring parties - Amnesty International USA

Report: Arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Qatar almost triple in four years - Middle East Eye

Saudi Arabia’s unholy war: Riyadh has failed to achieve its military strategic goals in Yemen, its campaign has boosted popular support for the Houthis - The Cairo Review of Global Affairs

Yemen's ousted president is still a stumbling block for Saudis - Bloomberg Business

Cable, Dutch gov't official: Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen motivated partly by oil pipeline fantasy - mintpressnews.com

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Syria News - Mar 5 , 2016

In its first week, Syria truce brings sharp drop in violence - AP

Syria accord lays ground for vital progress, say aid chiefs - aa.com

UN delivers aid to rebel towns east of Syria capital - Al Arabiya English

Water returns to Syria’s war-torn Aleppo - Al Arabiya English

Syrians resume peaceful anti-government street protests in rebel-held areas - DW.COM

VIDEO: Syria’s first major public protests in years - Fusion

Truce reached with Syria’s Jaysh al-Islam, opposition groups: Russian MoD - Sputnik International

Islamic State’s governor for Aleppo reportedly killed in airstrike - The Long War Journal

IS, al-Nusra declare mutual ceasefire in southern Syria, it comes after two days of fighting between the two organizations - The Times of Israel

Is ISIS going broke? - CNN

Is the Islamic State hurting? The President’s point man on ISIS speaks out - The New Yorker

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France, Britain, Germany urge Syrian opposition to attend peace talks - Yahoo News

Syria opposition: Circumstances not suitable for peace talks - AP

UN envoy optimistic about the ceasefire, says Syrians should decide Assad's fate - Yahoo News

VIDEO: UN envoy insists Syria peace talks have momentum - France 24

Assad: Syrian ceasefire a ‘glimmer of hope’ - VOA

Putin: Syrian regime poll ‘does not interfere’ with peace process - Al Arabiya English

Large landing warship to deliver supplies for Russian air task force in Syria: source - TASS

Underwater and underhanded: Russian submarines come to the Mideast - Observer

All hands on deck: Russian military sets up high-tech radar system in Syria - Sputnik International

Armenia pulled into Russia-Turkey clash in Syria - Washington Times

Russia has been 'helpful, and… cooperative' in Syria peace process: State Dept - sputniknews.com

GOP foreign policy hawks declare war on Trump, some say they could vote for Hillary Clinton - POLITICO

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Kurds receive no official invitation to join Next Syria peace talks - Sputnik

Syrian peace talks without Kurds 'incomplete', Russian FM says - ekurd.net

Kurdish YPG accuses Syrian Arab opposition in Aleppo of violating deal - ekurd.net

43 YPG, 140 IS forces were killed during clashes on Geri Spi: Kurdish official - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Kurd-led fighters take key hill from Nusra Front - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Turkey ‘protects & supplies’ Al-Nusra camps at its border: Syria’s YPG (VIDEO) - RT News

Russian MoD accuses Turkey of ongoing hostilities in Syria's Aleppo, Idlib as it ensures steady supply of weapons to terrorists and keeps shelling Kurdish militia - Sputnik

Turkey not shelled Syrian Kurdish YPG since truce: Ankara official - ekurd.net

Erdogan accuses Turkey's constitutional court of breaching Constitution, by releasing two journalists arrested for investigating the delivery of weapons from Ankara to radical groups in Syria - Sputnik

Erdoğan: Prosecutors may object to the release of the journalists who unveiled a story on MIT trucks delivering weapons to radical groups in Syria - todayszaman.com

Freed journalist says no response came after seeking MİT’s view on trucks story - Cihan

Turkey seizes control opposition Zaman newspaper linked to Gulen - BBC News

VIDEO: Turkish police raid Zaman HQs, fire tear gas on readers after gov’t takeover - todayszaman.com

Jordan foils Isis terror plot as Saudi Arabia calls for Syria's Arab neighbours to pick a side - ibtimes.co.uk

Saudis ready to give Syrian rebels missiles against Russian warplanes and tanks - debka.com

Newly translated WikiLeaks Saudi cable: Overthrow the Syrian regime 'by all means available', but play nice with Russia – Levant Report

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Focus: The New York Times on Hillary Clinton and the Libya War - Feb 29, 2016

Hillary Clinton, ‘smart power’ and a dictator’s fall: Libya as a failed state and terrorist haven, 769 readers comments (Part 1) - New York Times

New Libya with ‘very little time left': militias fanning civil war and Islamic State rising out of chaos, 196 reader comments (Part 2) - New York Times

In their own words: the Libya tragedy, interviews with decision makers involved in the intervention about what went wrong - New York Times

VIDEO: Hillary Clinton’s legacy in Libya, as secretary of state she pressed the Obama administration to intervene militarily - New York Times

VIDEO ARCHIVE: Hillary Clinton laughing comment on Qaddafi death: we came, we saw, he died - YouTube

The New York Times accurately portrays Hillary Clinton as an unrepentant warmonger, who will call her on it? - Reason.com

The New York Times' cover-up of Hillary's illegal Libyan war - Frontpage Mag

NYT is whitewashing Clinton and her war on Libya - M of A

NY Times shamelessly whitewashes Hillary’s intervention in Libya - independentsentinel.com

ARCHIVE: Hillary Clinton Libya war genocide narrative rejected by U.S. intelligence, undercutting her primary argument for using the U.S. military to remove Qaddafi from power - Washington Times

BOOK REVIEW: Daughter of empire in its heyday: Diana Johnstone dissects Hillary Clinton in ‘Queen of Chaos’ - counterpunch.org

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DNC vice chair Tulsi Gabbard resigns and endorses Sanders, blasts Clinton’s 'interventionist, regime change policies' - Salon.com

VIDEO: Tulsi Gabbard on endorsing Sanders: we need a commander in chief who do not waste precious lives and money on wars - YouTube

Bill Clinton gets into heated exchange with Benghazi protesters - CNNPolitics.com

VIDEO: Protesters talk Benghazi four at Bill Clinton rally for Hillary 2016 - YouTube

Robert Kagan's Premature and Wrongheaded Decision to Endorse Clinton - PJ Media

Robert Kagan op-ed: Trump is the GOP’s frankenstein monster, the only choice will be to vote for Hillary Clinton - The Washington Post

Trump's spotty memory on Libya: In a February 2011 video he called for U.S. intervention in Libya - US News

VIDEO: Donald Trump flip flop on Gaddafi & Libya 2011 - 2016 - YouTube

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Libya News - Feb 26, 2016

Secret's out: French special forces, along with U.S., U.K. teams, fighting Islamic State in Libya - The Japan Times

France’s ‘secret war’ against IS in Libya: Defence Minister launches an investigation alleging 'breaches of national defence' - France 24

UK Special Forces spearheading 'secret war' against IS in Libya - Mirror Online

French forces arrived in Libya to support Haftar in Benghazi, a common operations room has been set up - middleeastmonitor.com

Deploying land troops in Libya ‘unthinkable’ and ‘absurd': Italy Defense Minister - EUROPE ONLINE

Italy seeks to keep allies in check, tries to persuade them to limit action in Libya until a unity government is in place - Reuters

Libya’s neighbours to meet March 21 in Tunisia on ending IS crisis - Africanews

Bombing of Libya looms as neighboring states seek to seal the borders and build refugee towns - The North Africa Journal

US rules out leading coalition to stop IS in Libya - Worldbulletin News

U.S. unable to halt IS march towards Libyan oil - OilPrice.com

Hunting Boko Haram: U.S. extends its drone war deeper into Africa with secretive base - theintercept.com

Libya’s warring governments launch separate assaults on IS - The National

PHOTOS: Benghazi celebrates after government forces seize control of areas once controlled by Islamic militants - ibtimes.com

Libyan Tobruk-based parliament to move to Benghazi within week - sputniknews.com

Libya unity government vote stalls after threats, Washington strongly condemns all attempts to obstruct the political process - AFP

UN cites torture, murder, violations and abuses in lawless Libya - United Nations

Investigation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Libya (Short Version) - United Nations

Investigation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Libya (Long Version) - United Nations

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‘Bravo!’ In email Clinton’s friend praises her for convincing a reluctant President Obama to take military action in Libya - In These Times

VIDEO: Hillary Clinton answers a question about her support for the 2011 Libya war which toppled Qaddafi and led to five years of anarchy - CNN

ARCHIVE: Emails show Clinton’s interest in arming Libyan rebels despite prohibitions - Fox News

Assange: Vote for Hillary Clinton is ‘vote for endless, stupid war' which spreads terrorism - RT News

Gowdy: Benghazi findings likely public before summer, ‘our committee continues to break an immense amount of new ground' - Washington Examiner

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Syria News - Feb 24, 2016

Syrian war: Before Senate hearing John Kerry touts Russian help with truce - CNN.com

Joint statement of the United States and the Russian Federation, as Co-Chairs of the ISSG, on cessation of hostilities in Syria - state.gov

John Kerry says partition of Syria could be part of ‘plan B’ if peace talks fail - The Guardian

VIDEO: John Kerry says partition of Syria possible if ceasefire fails - The Guardian

Pentagon, CIA chiefs don’t think Russia will abide by Syria cease-fire, Russia hawks in cabinet exposes disagreement in the administration - WSJ

Foreign Ministry: Syria accepts cessation of fighting actions on the basis of excluding ISIS and al-Nusra - Syrian Arab News Agency

Syria's opposition HNC agrees to temporary truce - Syria Opposition HNC on Twitter

Putin says ceasefire in Syria presents real chance to stop bloodshed - TASS

Mechanism to be established to monitor ceasefire in Syria: Putin - Chinadaily.com.cn

Vladimir Putin’s address following adoption of a joint statement by Russia and US on Syria • President of Russia

VIDEO: Vladimir Putin on the ceasefire in Syria - Global Research

Putin’s Personal Intervention Lends Weight To Syria Ceasefire - ibtimes.com

Russia 'Opens Center In Syria' To Monitor Truce, Organize Aid - rferl.org

A fortress to be reckoned with: how Russia's airbase in Syria is protected - sputniknews.com

Advanced Russian plane spies on Turkey from Syria - Arutz Sheva

Russia, with Turkey in mind, announces big weapons deal with Armenia - EurasiaNet.org

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Turkey 'not optimistic' on Syria truce, threatens new artillery strikes against Syrian Kurdish fighters - Daily Mail Online

Turkey to not allow terror zone near border with Syria, PM says Ankara will foil designs of Russia, Assad regime, YPG and Daesh - aa.com

Turkish president accuses US of supporting ‘terrorist' Kurdish PYD and its armed wing YPG - todayszaman.com

Obama administration argues over support for Syrian Kurds - Bloomberg View

This highly advanced U.S.-made anti-tank missile is in the hands of Kurdish forces on Syria’s frontlines - The Washington Post

Hammond: 'Disturbing evidence' that Kurds are coordinating with Syrian regime and Russia - Telegraph

Turkish PM says Syrian Kurdish militia taking orders from PKK - Reuters

PYD’s Muslim says no plan for Kurdish state in Syria - todayszaman.com

No doubt YPG-PKK behind Ankara bombing: Turkish PM - hurriyetdailynews.com

DNA report suggests Ankara bomber was Turkish, not Syrian as stated by the government - Reuters

Government’s foreign policy discrediting Turkey, main opposition leader says - hurriyetdailynews.com

HDP co-chair defends PYD against Turkish government - hurriyetdailynews.com

Daily: According to wiretapped telephone calls, Turkish border officers cooperate with ISIL - todayszaman.com

Report: Turkey sixth biggest importer of arms in world - todayszaman.com

Iranian Saberin Special Forces at work in Syria - The Long War Journal

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Focus: Syrian Kurds and Turkey - Feb 20, 2016

Backed by US strikes Kurdish-led force takes Islamic State stronghold Shaddadi in northeast Syria - AFP

Syrian Kurds further weaken Islamic State after taking Shaddadi, cutting off key supply route between Mosul and Raqqa - middleeasteye.net

Islamic State leaders, media official killed in American strike in the vicinity of Shaddadi city - ARA News

Turkish shelling in border areas continues: Syrian Kurds - The financial express

Syrian rebels say at least 2,000 reinforcements get free passage via Turkey heading into Azaz - todayszaman.com

Why Turkey is losing hope in Syrian border town of Azaz - Al-Monitor

CHP head again accuses Turkish gov’t of sending arms to jihadists - hurriyetdailynews.com

Erdoğan slams intellectuals who opposed going to war in Syria - todayszaman.com

Russia fails in UN bid to rein in Turkey over Syria - rappler.com

Syrian Kurds: Russia will fight ‘big war' to protect us from Turkey - breitbart.com

NATO Worried about Possible Turkey-Russia Hostilities - SPIEGEL ONLINE

Saudi king Salman, Putin hold talks on Syria crisis - Saudi Gazette

Saudi foreign minister says Syrian rebels should receive anti-aircraft missiles - Middle East Eye

Interview with Saudi foreign minister Adel al Jubeir on Syrian War - SPIEGEL ONLINE

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Turkey asks US to cut ties with Syrian Kurds - ABNA

Turkey's Erdogan says saddened by U.S. arming of Syrian Kurdish militia - thestar.com

Turkish minister says US making conflicting statements over Syrian Kurdish YPG - todayszaman.com

In a telephone call with Erdogan Obama calls for 'restraint' from Turkey, Kurdish YPG in Syria - Yahoo News

Readout of the President’s call with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey - whitehouse.gov

Erdoğan says no doubt YPG behind Ankara attack, urges allies to label PYD as terrorist group - Reuters

Turkey claims they can change Incerlik airbase terms AND more if Washington doesn’t label PYD a terrorist group - Joshua Landis on Twitter

Syrian PYD leader rejects responsibility for Ankara attack - todayszaman.com

Turkey manufacturing reasons to invade Syrian Kurdistan: YPG spokesman - ekurd.net

Turkish-based Kurdish splinter group claims responsibility for Ankara bombing - DW.COM

Meet the obscure Kurdish fighters taking responsibility for the the Ankara bombing - Foreign Policy

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Focus: Clinton and Sanders in the Polls - Feb 18, 2016

POLL (Quinnipiac University): Dead heat: Sanders, Clinton in virtual tie nationwide - TheHill

POLL: Full results of the Quinnipiac University poll - quinnipiac.edu

POLL (Economist/YouGov): Hillary Clinton Least Trustworthy Of All Candidates - The Daily Caller

POLL: Hillary Clinton loses to four top Republican presidential contenders, including Donald Trump, - TheHill

POLL (Public Policy Polling): Clinton leading Sanders in 10 of 12 early March primary states - TheHill

POLL: Full results of Public Policy Polling - publicpolicypolling.com

POLL: Voters Say Money, Media Have Too Much Political Clout - Rasmussen Reports

POLL: Nevada: Clinton, Sanders tied; Trump way ahead - Las Vegas Sun

POLL: Clinton leads Sanders by 26 points in Tennessee - tennessean.com

POLL: Sanders ahead of Clinton in Mass., poll finds - The Boston Globe

POLL: Clinton, Trump lead in Va., poll says, but voters have doubts - The Daily Progress

POLL: Clinton, Trump leads getting smaller in North Carolina - abc11.com

POLL: Poll shows Democratic primary race tightening in Oklahoma - NewsOK.com

POLL: Trump, Clinton hold strong leads in South Carolina polls - FOX2now.com

Big Win For Bernie: AFL-CIO Holds Off On Presidential Endorsement - huffingtonpost.com

House Dem uses online poll to decide between Sanders, Clinton - TheHill

Hillary Clinton's Wal-Mart ties breed mistrust among liberals, boost Bernie Sanders - Washington Times

Superdelegates Could Affect US Presidential Nominee Selection - VOA

Lobbyist superdelegates tip nomination toward Hillary Clinton - theintercept.com

Unpacking the Role of the Superdelegate in the Democratic Party Primary - huffingtonpost.com

N.H. GOP urges Democratic superdelegates to support Sanders - AP

Trying to predict the election? Forget about Twitter, study concludes - The Guardian

Thomas Piketty op-ed on the rise of Bernie Sanders: the US enters a new political era - The Guardian

VIDEO: This looks like video evidence of Bernie Sanders getting arrested in 1963 as a young activist fighting racial discrimination - dailykos.com

Clinton email chain discussed Afghan national's CIA ties, official says - Fox News

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Focus: Syria/Turkey News - Feb 17, 2016

Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces take town near Turkish border, pushing towards Islamic State-held territory east of Azaz - Kurdpress

Pro-gov’t daily claims 500 rebels crossed into Syria through Turkey to prevent Kurds from advancing to rebel stronghold Azaz - T odays Zaman

Turkey will not allow Syrian town of Azaz to fall to Kurdish militia: PM - Reuters

Russia says Turkey supplies Islamic State via Syrian town of Azaz - Reuters

Azaz corridor: across a narrow strip of border territory a ferocious battle with huge implications for Syria’s civil war is playing out - AP

Syrian army is now 15 kilometres away from cutting ISIS in half - russia-insider.com

Syrian army charges toward the ISIS capital Raqqa - The Daily Caller

Syrian troops regain control of Aleppo power plant - Tasnim News Agency

Syria government allows humanitarian aid into 7 besieged areas: UN - Yahoo News

Aleppo rebels unite under former Ahrar al-Sham commander - Middle East Eye

MAP: This animated map portrays the advances of the Kurdish & loyalist forces over the last weeks north of Aleppo - Joshua Landis on Twitter

US DoS estimates Daesh at lowest level of manpower since 2014 - sputniknews.com

ISIS faces budget crunch, killing perks and slashing salaries - Fox 5 NY

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Turkey calls on US, allies to launch ground operation in Syria - Fox News

Turkey renews shelling of YPG targets on fourth day - todayszaman.com

Russia-backed Syrian offensive aims to forge Kurdish militia corridor, Erdoğan says - todayszaman.com

UN Security Council expresses concern over Turkey strikes in Syria, urge it to comply with international law - Todays Zaman

US-Turkish Tensions Escalate Over Syrian Kurds - VOA

EU asks Turkey to stop bombing Kurds in Syria - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Turkey expresses dissatisfaction with French criticism of shelling of Kurdish YPG militia targets in Syria - Reuters

Russia blasts Turkey's 'provocative' shelling of Kurds in Syria - Yahoo News

Turkey-Russia Antagonism Draws Kurds Closer To Moscow - ibtimes.com

Russia has just deployed its most advanced spyplane to Syria - The Aviationist

Putin holds meeting with Iranian defense minister: Kremlin spokesman - TASS

Tehran: Saudi troops could battle Iranian Guard in Syria - WND

Hezbollah chief says Turkey, Saudi Arabia prefer war over political agreement in Syria - Yahoo News

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Syria News - Feb 15, 2016

In phone call Obama urges Putin to end air strikes against Syrian opposition: White House - ndtv.com

US and Russia to chair a meeting with military officials next week to seek agreement on which areas of Syria can be bombed - Bloomberg

Medvedev warns against any foreign ground troops in Syria, says it will cause 'a full-fledged, long war' - ITV

VIDEO: Interview: Medvedev warns against foreign ground troops in Syria, says there would be chaos if Assad ousted -Euronews

TRANSCRIPT: Interview with Medvedev - euronews

Speech by Dmitry Medvedev at Munich Security Conference 2016 - voltairenet.org

At Munich Security Conference Senator McCain blasts Syria truce deal, says serves Putin's purposes - rferl.org

McCain favors U.S. and Turkish troops take Syria's Raqqa from ISIS, establishing a no-fly zone - New York News

Syrian rebels say a ceasefire is ‘not realistic, objective, or logical' - VICE News

Assad's army setting its sights on Isis stronghold of Raqqa - The Independent

Syrian Army reaches important crossroad in southern Raqqa - almasdarnews.com

TRANSCRIPT: President al-Assad speaks to AFP on Syrian and regional developments - Syrian Arab News Agency

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Turkey vows not to be in ‘defensive position’ over Syria - hurriyetdailynews.com

Ankara: Turkey, Saudi Arabia ′could send ground troops to Syria′ - DW.COM

Main opposition Republican People’s Party ‘against all decisions to plunge Turkey into war’ - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey opposition Nationalist Movement Party warns of catastrophe in event of Syria incursion - todayszaman.com

Turkey shells Kurdish positions in Syria for second day, demands YPG militia withdraw from areas that it had captured - euronews

PYD rejects Turkish demands, warns against intervention - todayszaman.com

Turkish authorities allow 350 fighters to cross the Syria border and oversee their transition to the northern countryside of Aleppo - Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Damascus says believes some Turkish forces entered Syria - Ynetnews

Saudi Arabia confirms sending jets to Turkey - Al Arabiya English

Saudi troop deployment in Syria up to U.S.-led coalition: foreign minister - Reuters

Saudi Arabia FM: If needed, remove Syria's Assad by force - CNN.com

Qatar ready to send troops to Syria - aa.com

20 nations join major military manoeuvre in Saudi Arabia - Zee News

Pundits rule out Jordan’s participation in possible ground intervention in Syria - Jordan Times

Iran warns against Saudi intervention in Syria: general - Business Standard News

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Hillary Clinton - Feb 13, 2016

POLL: Who won the Democratic debate? Hundreds of thousands voted online and declared overwhelmingly Sanders the winner - Huffington Post

POLL: Bernie Sanders closing the gap, pulls within 7 points of Hillary Clinton in national poll - morningconsult.com

POLL: Clinton, Sanders deadlocked in Nevada - Washington Examiner

Is the Clinton campaign panicking over Nevada? - slate.com

POLL: Sanders gaining on frontrunner Hillary Clinton in Illinois - The Daily Caller

Spearheading a $4.5 million effort Super PAC makes big play to lift Hillary Clinton in primary states - The Washington Post

DNC rolls back Obama ban on contributions from federal lobbyists, some suggested it could provide an advantage to Hillary Clinton’s fundraising efforts - The Washington Post

Hillary Clinton’s Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorsement approved by board awash in lobbyists - theintercept.com

VIDEO: Who endorsed Hillary Clinton? The Congressional Black Caucus or its PAC filled with lobbyists? - Democracy Now!

VIDEO: At Democratic debate Clinton and Sanders spar over super-PACs and megadonors - realclearpolitics.com

Hillary Clinton's paid speeches to large Wall Street banks reportedly bordered on 'gushy’ - Business Insider

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FBI, foundation controversies missing from Clinton questioning at debate - Fox News

VIDEO: Fox News panel excoriates PBS moderators, Sanders for ignoring Hillary Clinton’s scandals - newsbusters.org

Clinton Foundation received subpoena from State Department investigators - The Washington Post

Clinton campaign accuses State Dept. IG of Targeting Hillary - newsmax.com

VIDEO: Hillary Clinton FBI investigation has 2 tracks: classified email & public corruption - YouTube

Judge orders Clinton’s last emails public before Super Tues. - KSN-TV

State Dept. won't rule out more 'top secret' Clinton emails - Washington Examiner

Official: Clinton aides also handled ‘top secret’ intel on server - Fox News

Emails appear to show how key Clinton aide manipulated media coverage - Fox News

Benghazi panel nears final report examining Clinton's response - Bloomberg Politics

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Syria News - Feb 12, 2016

U.S. and Russia Announce Plan for Humanitarian Aid and a Cease-Fire in Syria - The New York Times

Statement of the International Syria Support Group - state.gov

VIDEO: Kerry, Lavrov and de Mistura holding a news conference on Syrian crisis (full) - YouTube

Syrian opposition says must see peace plan in action before political talks - Yahoo News

NATO 'exploring possibility' of joining anti-IS coalition: US - Yahoo News

NATO to backfill AWACS freeing up nations to use their own against the Islamic State, assist Europe with Syrian migrants - Defense News

Erdoğan says patience running out in Syria, Turkey could take action - todayszaman.com

Can Erdogan bully Turkey's armed forces into invading Syria? - Al-Monitor

Turkey threatens to open the gates and send refugees to Europe - Telegraph

US ignores Erdoğan’s call, insists on partnership with Syrian Kurds - todayszaman.com

Kurdish fighters surround rebel stronghold of Azaz in northern Aleppo (Map update) - almasdarnews.com

Saudi Arabia says it has made a 'final' decision to send troops into Syria - Business Insider

VIDEO (English): Saudi military spokesman: Decision to send troops in Syria ‘final’ - Al Arabiya English

New Saudi-led coalition against ‘terrorism’ to meet - nation.com.pk

Iraq PM says sending ground troops to Syria would be 'dangerous escalation’, comments aimed at Sunni Arab countries that have said they are prepared to enter the fray - Yahoo News

Iraq appreciates Russia’s support in freeing its territory from terrorists: minister - TASS

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Syria News - Feb 11, 2016

Syrian government forces 25 kilometers from Turkey's border - VOA

Damascus aims to secure Syria's border with Turkey and recapture Aleppo with its latest military offensive: Assad adviser - Reuters

Wounded Syrian rebels say Russia crippling their insurgency - Yahoo News

Nusra Front jihadists reinforce other rebels during key battle in Aleppo province - The Long War Journal

Russia, pressed to end Syria bombing, proposes March truce - Reuters

Backed by Russian airstrikes Syrian Kurds seize air base held by insurgents - Telegraph

Kurdish YPG recaptures towns from Islamic group in the northern countryside of Aleppo - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Syrian Kurds to continue working with Russia to halt illegal oil to Turkey - sputniknews.com

Syrian Kurdistan mission opens in Moscow - RT News

PYD chief Salih Muslim meets Russian deputy FM, Moscow stresses on Kurdish participation in peace talks - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Syrian Kurds plan opening missions in US, EU - TASS

Opposition group attacks funeral of Syrian President’s mother - Al Bawaba

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US Won't Intervene in Syrian-Russian Assault on Aleppo: Pentagon - Military.com

Pentagon Spy Chief: Russia’s Airstrikes ‘Change Syria Calculus Completely’ - Antiwar.com

United States has no desire to confront Russian air power in the skies above Syria - Stratfor

Syrian Opposition Groups Sense U.S. Support Fading - The New York Times

French Foreign Minister Quits, Lashes Out at Obama on Syria - VICE News

Turkey's Erdogan chastises U.S. over support for Syrian Kurds, says failure to understand the essence of the PYD and YPG caused a 'sea of blood' - Reuters

Turkey summons US envoy over comments on Kurdish PYD in Syria - todayszaman.com

Turkey's Syria strategy in ruins as Aleppo teeters - CNN.com

Syria invasion plan? Turkey will defend its ‘Aleppo brothers,’ says PM Davutoglu - RT News

Turkey Sees Russia's Syria Tactics as 'Ethnic Cleansing' - VOA

Turkish President Erdoğan hosts urgent security summit with top officials - hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey, Saudi Arabia to hold joint drills, military sources deny such a planning - hurriyetdailynews.com

Lavrov: US-led coalition will not allow Turkey’s invasion of Syria - todayszaman.com

Lavrov: ISIL, Turkey discussing new smuggling ways across Syrian-Turkish borders - almanar.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Hillary Clinton - Feb 8, 2016

VIDEO: Clinton says she’ll release speech transcripts if opponents do the same - ABC News

VIDEO: Clinton: Sanders putting artful smear on my Wall Street donations…I’m not going to sit and take it anymore - CBS News

Hillary Clinton has made millions from her Wall Street speeches... but what did she say? - Daily Mail Online

GOP: Hillary, Release the Transcripts - GOP

Contracts indicate Clinton owns transcripts, controls their release - The Wichita Eagle

Hillary's Goldman Sachs speech fee set by her agent, not 'what they offered' - Washington Examiner

Here’s What Hillary Clinton’s Paid Speaking Contract Looks Like - theintercept.com

Hillary won't release her speaking transcripts, but LOOK what we found! - Allen B. West

Sign the petition: Hillary, release the transcripts of your paid speeches to Wall Street banks - Vets For Bernie

Wall Street Distrust Fuels Millennial Opposition to Clinton - valuewalk.com

VIDEO: Donna Brazile: Wall Street issue is playing same role for Clinton that Iraq war vote did in 2008 - RealClearPolitics

$153 million in Bill and Hillary Clinton speaking fees, documented - CNNPolitics.com

Meet the lobbyists, donors and bundlers behind Hillary’s $157 million campaign juggernaut - Yahoo News

Fund-raising alliances with 33 state Democratic parties fuel Clinton with cash - philly.com

The vote for bankruptcy reform that haunts Hillary Clinton - The New York Times

VIDEO: George Stephanopoulos presses Clinton on Elizabeth Warren’s criticism on bankruptcy bill - YouTube

VIDEO: Elizabeth Warren on Hillary Clinton and bankruptcy bill (2004) - YouTube

Time for Chelsea Clinton's easy ride to end, she’s a board member at Barry Diller’s IAC (paid a reported $300,000 a year, plus stock awards) and charges $65,000 per speech - politico.com

Goldman Sachs chief Lloyd Blankfein: Sanders candidacy a 'dangerous moment' - politico.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: U.S., NATO and Russia - Feb 6, 2016

Note: We are witnessing the making of a strategic military blunder by the Pentagon. Treating Russia as a top threat to U.S. national security is wrong and dangerous.

Armed with new U.S. money, NATO is planning its biggest build-up in eastern Europe since the Cold War to counter Russia - Reuters

NATO chief meets EU defense ministers to beef up their responses to Russia and the Islamic State - Financial Express

Russia ramping up military drills to Cold War levels, NATO says - Fox News

US admiral: Russia's submarine activity in the North Atlantic is at Cold War levels, but we don't know why - Business Insider

Russia simulated nuclear attack on Sweden, says NATO - The Week UK

RAND Report: Russia Defeats NATO in Baltic War Game - Military.com

RAND Report (Full): Reinforcing Deterrence on NATO's Eastern Flank - scribd.com

NATO's top 5 weapons of war pointed at Russia - The National Interest Blog

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Carter: Pentagon seeks to boost defense in Europe to counter Russia as a top threat to US interests - Tribune Washington Bureau

US Defense Secretary: Our most stressing competitors China and Russia developing weapons for use in rapid war - theepochtimes.com

TRANSCRIPT: Remarks by Secretary Carter on the budget at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. - defense.gov

U.S. army budget boosts European presence, sacrifices modernization - defensenews.com

The big budget crunch awaiting America's spies: U.S. intelligence community overall budget may rise but spending on information technology will not, a new report says - Defense One

Robot Boats, Smart Guns & Super B-52s: Carter’s Strategic Capabilities Office - Breaking Defense

How America's New Invisible Flying Gas Stations Could Keep Russia in Check - VICE News

The Pentagon nuclear modernization plan is on the table - defensenews.com

VIDEO: Hillary Clinton: We have to send Putin a clear message that [Russian] belligerence... will have to be responded to - MSNBC

Russians Slam Clinton For Calling Russia A Threat - Vocativ

Jeffrey Sachs op-ed: Hillary is the candidate of the war machine - huffingtonpost.com

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Russia to add new army divisions in the Western military district as a direct response to recent NATO exercises - Telegraph

The West fears qualitative improvement in Russian military - larouchepub.com

Russia considers principles of conventional arms control In Europe treaty outdated - rferl.org

Russia explores asymmetrical response to U.S. military budget hike - TRUNEWS

US rejected Russia’s proposal on Syria consultation center in Amman to coordinate operations: defense ministry - TASS

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Russia, Turkey and Syria - Feb 5, 2016

Backed by Russian jets Syrian Army closes in on Aleppo, peace talks in Geneva put on hold because of the offensive - huffingtonpost.com

UN Security Council to meet Friday with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura on the breakdown in Syria peace talks - Yahoo News

Kerry demands Russia halt Syria bombing after talks suspended - Yahoo News

Lavrov: Russia won’t stop strikes until terrorists defeated, shutting off arms smuggling through Turkey border key condition for ceasefire - RT

The military and political significance of Aleppo: the insurgency and its backers who are stuck in a morass - atlanticcouncil.org

VIDEO: Syrian Army breaks 3-year siege of 2 Shiite villages in Aleppo - RT

VIDEO (Raw): Shiite villages Nubul and Al-Zahraa welcome Syrian army troops after 3 years in siege - alalam.ir

VIDEO: Streams of Syrian refugees from Aleppo try to reach Turkey - LiveLeak.com

Iranian Colonel, 12 elite Guards killed in battle for Aleppo - THE DAILY STAR

Russian aviation attacks almost 900 targets in Syria since February 1: Defense Ministry - TASS

Russia’s advanced Su-35S fighter jet deployed to Syria sends a message to Turkey - TASS

Russia content with cooperation with Israel over military operation in Syria - TASS

Putin meets ‘old friend’ Kissinger visiting Russia - RT News

Kissinger op-ed: Russia should be perceived as an essential element of any new global equilibrium - The National Interest

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Russia Accuses Turkey of Preparing to Invade Syria - The New York Times

VIDEO (English subs): Russian spokesman: Turkey preparing armed forces for military intervention in Syria (Starts at 2:20 min) - YouTube

Russia and Assad may have just delivered a decisive blow to Turkey by cutting off its supply line to Syrian opposition groups - Business Insider

Turkey’s problems in Aleppo: The loss of this territory directly impacts Ankara interests in northern Syria - atlanticcouncil.org

Kurdish YPG advances in N. Syria, Ankara’s red lines crossed - todayzaman.com

Confirmed: At the urging of an American contingent, Syrian Kurds are expanding an airbase in northeast Syria - VOA

US envoy meets with allied Syrian Kurds to step up fight against IS - VOA

Number of ISIS Fighters in Iraq and Syria Drops, Increases in Libya: US Official - ABC News

How the Islamic State is still seeping through Syria-Turkey border - Al-Monitor

Turkey says Syria peace talks pointless while Russian attacks continue - todayszaman.com

Russia won't forget Turkey ‘aiding terrorists’: Lavrov - The Moscow Times

Turkey, Saudi deepen defense relations during Davutoğlu visit - todayszaman.com

Military spokesman: Saudi ready to join ground operation in Syria provided U.S.led coalition agrees - Al Arabiya English

VIDEO (English Subs): Saudi military spokesman Asiri discusses stance on Yemen, Syria wars - Al Arabiya English

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Flint Water Crisis - Feb 4, 2016

Democrats call for Gov. Snyder to testify on Flint water, claim Oversight Committee Chair Chaffetz declined to invite him - Washington Examiner

Letter of Oversight Committee Democrats demanding testimony from Governor Snyder and aides on Flint water crisis - democrats.oversight

VIDEO: Rep. Cummings blasts Oversight Chair Chaffetz for not calling Gov. Snyder to testify at Flint hearing - Crooks and Liars

Congress grills EPA and Michigan State officials over Flint water - Business Insider

VIDEO: House Oversight Committee's Flint water crisis hearing (full) - YouTube

POLL: Poll finds Snyder approval plummets in Flint water wake (VIDEO) - WLNS

Protesters: 'Arrest Rick Snyder! Make him drink the water!’ (VIDEO) - MLive.com

How Rick Snyder doomed Flint from the start: Tax cuts for the ultra-rich, poison for the poor - Salon.com

Lawsuit seeks $150 million in damages for Flint residents related to the water crisis - detroitnews.com

Flint rebukes Michigan Governor Rick Snyder with federal lawsuit over water pipes, wants a federal judge to order the prompt replacement of all lead pipes - CBS News

MAP: See where the highest lead levels are being found in Flint water, more than 300 addresses in the city show results larger than the federal action limit of 15 parts per billion - MLive.com

Water crisis brings Democratic presidential debate to Flint - MLive.com

Who approved switch to Flint River? Decision to use Flint River water in the interim was made by governor-appointed emergency managers, not democratically elected city officials - MLive.com

Here's the June 2013 document signed by emergency manager Kurtz authorizing an engineering contract to figure out how to draw water from the Flint river - publicbroadcasting.net

Former Flint mayor on water crisis: 'This is the worst aspect of the emergency managers...resolutions weren’t going before the public…I didn’t find out about it until after the fact' - Michigan Radio

Emergency management laws and the political coup behind the Flint water crisis - LA Times

Anger in Michigan over appointing emergency managers - The New York Times

Flint whistleblowers who exposed their poisoned water: we’re just getting started - YES! Magazine

Michael Moore op-ed: 10 things they won't tell you about the Flint water tragedy. But I will - huffingtonpost.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Hillary Clinton - Feb 1, 2016

Email Issue dogs Hillary Clinton on eve of Iowa caucuses, she calls for release of those deemed 'top secret’ by the State Dept - New York Times

VIDEO: Clinton: There is no classified marked information on those e-mails...I think they can and should be disclosed - YouTube

Clinton campaign statement calling for release of ‘top secret’ emails: “This appears to be over-classification run amok” - hillaryclinton.com

Clinton is confronted with her non-disclosure agreement which says information is classified either marked or unmarked (VIDEO) - Hot Air

POLL: 64% of U.S. voters now think Clinton broke the law on emails, but serious charges are not likely to be brought against her - Rasmussen

VIDEO: State Department briefing on Hillary Clinton Emails - C-SPAN

FBI, Justice Department ‘super pissed off’ at White House for ‘weighing in’ on Hillary Clinton email investigation, Fox News reporter says (VIDEO) - TheBlaze.com

John Kerry sent Hillary Clinton a 'SECRET' email when he was Massachusetts Senator - The Daily Caller

Bernie Sanders Calls Hillary Clinton's Emails 'A Very Serious Issue' - huffingtonpost.com

VIDEO: Sanders: Clinton emails are 'a serious issue' - YouTube

Former House Oversight chairman: 'FBI director would like to indict Clinton and Abedin' - Washington Examiner

‘This was all planned’: Former IG says Hillary, State Dept. are lying - New York Post

Hillary’s email defense is laughable, I should know—I ran FOIA for the U.S. government - politico.com

NSA whistleblower: Clinton email server was ‘open to being hacked by anybody’ - Breitbart

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90% of money raised by Clinton super PAC came from donors giving at least $1 million, 98% giving $100,000 or more - Huffington Post

George Soros gives $6 million pro-Clinton super-PAC - TheHill

Pro-Clinton super PAC brings in more than $50 million, and donors have committed to give another $42 million - The Washington Post

A pro-Sanders super PAC raises $2.3 million - usatoday.com

New York Times Gets it Wrong: Bernie Sanders Not “Top Beneficiary of Outside Money” - The Intercept

Here's a List of All the Hillary Clinton Wall Street Fundraisers - freebeacon.com

Clinton's big ticket fundraiser with investment firm facing federal scrutiny - dailykos.com

Goldman Sachs is in the eye of the campaign storm, it’s being singled out for its ties to the political establishment because of two top contenders for the presidency - nationalmemo.com

Clinton laughs when asked to release transcripts from Goldman Sachs speeches (VIDEO) - freebeacon.com

Clintons's $200,000 an hour pay from Goldman Sachs is nothing to laugh at - huffingtonpost.com

Reporters Barred From Hillary's Wall Street Speeches - The Daily Caller

I worked on Wall Street. I am skeptical Hillary Clinton will rein it in - The Guardian

Hillary Clinton whiffs on reforming Wall Street’s ratings agencies - The Intercept

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Oregon Militia Standoff - Jan 28, 2016

Ammon Bundy asks supporters to abandon refuge after he and five others were arrested and LaVoy Finicum killed by the FBI - NBC News

Feds blame Oregon occupiers after one dead in shootout - TheHill

Statements of the FBI and U.S. Attorney for Oregon on the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - OregonLive.com

Reactions to arrests of refuge occupiers: Gov. Brown, Rep. Walden, Sen. Wyden, Sen. Merkley, Oregon Cattlemen's Association - KGW

Eyewitnesses give conflicting accounts of how rancher LaVoy Finicum was killed In standoff - talkingpointsmemo.com

VIDEO: Eyewitness Victoria Sharp: LaVoy Finicum shot & murdered by FBI with hands in the air - YouTube

“I want the world to know how my father was murdered today...there are 6 witnesses to this evil: Thara Tenney, daughter of LaVoy Finicum - Facebook

VIDEO: Account of Bundy driver Mark McConnell: 'LaVoy' Finicum shot and killed while charging police - YouTube

VIDEO: Account of Melvin Lee: LaVoy Finicum came out of that truck and he charged at the law enforcement, as I understand it - YouTube

VIDEO: Cliven Bundy responds to sons' arrests in Oregon standoff - Las Vegas Review-Journal

VIDEO: The Last interview with LaVoy Finicum - LiveLeak.com

Militia groups urge members not to join standoff at Malheur refuge: ‘Cooler heads must prevail’ - rawstory.com

Official Statement of Pacific Patriots Network on the Oregon standoff - Oath Keepers

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Hillary Clinton - Jan 26, 2016

State Dept. accused of tampering in delay of Clinton emails, voters 'to vote without the benefit of important information' - Washington Times

Text of the motion filed to block State Department from delaying release of Clinton emails - documentcloud.org

Can State Department delay Clinton email release until after Iowa and N.H.? Judge to rule - Washington Examiner

RNC: Request to delay emails a 'blatant attempt' to help Hillary Clinton - TheHill

Judicial Watch’s Clinton Records Lawsuits Uncover More Hidden Documents - CNS

Citizens United sues for Chelsea Clinton emails - POLITICO

Email: Clinton aide Huma Abedin rejected idea of government email - TheHill

How the State Department Caved to Hillary Clinton’s Lawyer on Classified Emails - The Daily Beast

Gowdy: 'Eye-Opening' And 'Surprising' Results To Come Soon From Benghazi Investigation [VIDEO] - The Daily Caller

Nine times Clinton Foundation donors got special access at State Department - Washington Examiner

Schweizer op-ed: Bill Clinton’s pardon of fugitive Marc Rich continues to pay big - New York Post

VIDEO: Schweizer on How Bill Clinton Is Still Profiting From His 2001 Marc Rich Pardon - Breitbart

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FBI is investigating whether Hillary’s team 'cut and paste' intel off top-secret server to private email - New York Post

Pro-Clinton Center: NY Post Pushes Dubious Claim That Clinton Aides Improperly Circumvented Email Classification System - Media Matters

Clinton blames Republicans for email troubles - McClatchy DC

VIDEO: Hillary Not Concerned About Email Investigation: I Can’t ‘Control What the Republicans Leak’ - YouTube

VIDEO: Sen. Lankford says Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server during her tenure at the State Department represents a national security threat - KGOU

Video suggests Clinton shared info that 'would never be on an unclassified system' normally (VIDEO, starts at 1:40 min) - Fox News

DeLay: FBI 'Ready to Indict' Hillary (VIDEO) - newsmax.com

VIDEO: Fmr. AG Mukasey predicts criminal charge for Clinton, says if Obama blocks a indictment expect resignations the same level as Watergate - YouTube

Fmr. US Attorney Mukasey Op-Ed: Clinton’s Emails: A Criminal Charge Is Justified - WSJ

Why the Justice Department Won’t Work with the FBI on Clinton’s E-mail Case - nationalreview.com

Inspector General: Clinton emails had intel from most secretive, classified programs (VIDEO) - Fox News

Clinton allies question impartiality of State IG's office: watchdog tied to earlier Clinton probe - POLITICO

State Department Won’t Say Whether Clinton Sent Information Deemed 'Beyond Top Secret' - Washington Free Beacon

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Islamic State in Libya - Jan 23, 2016

U.S. and Allies Said to Plan Military Action on ISIS in Libya - The New York Times

New Western security plans for Libya take shape as the Islamic State threat grows - The Washington Post

Here’s How U.S. Special Operations Command Views Libya - Defense One

In Libya, U.S. Courts Unreliable Allies to Counter ISIS - The New York Times

New Libyan deputy PM says doesn't want British ground troops to fight Islamic State, foreign boots could offend national pride - Telegraph

West ignoring grave threat from IS in Libya, Israeli terror experts warn - The Times of Israel

REPORT: ISIS in Libya: a Major Regional and International Threat - Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

REPORT: Libya’s Chaos: Threat to the West - G atestone Institute

Islamic State leader Baghdadi sends Iraqi commander to tighten grip on new Libya stronghold - Telegraph

ISIS directs jihadi recruits to 'Libya Province' in bid to establish second homeland - Washington Times

Fires still raging at major Libyan oil terminal after an attack by Islamic State - Reuters

Libya Sees Militant Attacks on Oil Storage Tanks Hurting Exports - Hellenic Shipping News

ISIS behead man for sorcery in Sirte - but he was a complimentary therapist practising acupuncture - Mirror Online

Whipped for drinking alcohol and executed for stealing: The horrific moment three men are shot dead in front of a mob by ISIS in Sirte - Daily Mail Online

Gaddafi warned Blair his ousting would 'open door' to jihadis - The Guardian

Clinton Emails on Libya Expose The Lie of 'Humanitarian Intervention' - huffingtonpost.com

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ISIS goes global: Over 60 attacks in 20 countries - FOX6Now.com

Jihadists Deepen Collaboration in North Africa - The New York Times

As ISIS Expands In North Africa, Morocco Faces Rising Threat Of Islamic State Terrorism - IBTimes

Daesh & Boko Haram May Form ‘Axis of Terror’ In North Africa: German Defense Minister - ElectroAkhbar

Boko Haram benefited enormously from the vacuum created following the West’s ousting of Gaddafi - Black Agenda Report

Burkina Faso attack confirms al Qaeda revival in Africa - CNN.com

A list of recent Islamic extremists attacks in Africa - AP

ISIS targets North African nations in massive media blitz, A slew of propaganda videos calls for militants to attack governments - vocativ.com

VIDEO: New ISIS Videos Threaten Maghreb, North Africa - Heavy.com

ISIS video uses Oliver Reed fighting Libyans in Lion of the Desert, The video's audio claims ISIS will not stop until it has conquered Rome (VIDEO) - Daily Mail Online

REPORT: Al Qaeda and ISIS: Existential threats to the US and Europe - American Enterprise Institute

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Oregon Militia Standoff - Jan 22, 2016

Oregon governor Kate Brown urges feds to boot refuge occupiers immediately and 'hold all of the wrongdoers accountable' - usatoday.com

VIDEO: Oregon Governor Kate Brown Criticizes Fed Response to Burns Standoff , Says Occupation 'Must Be Resolved Immediately' - YouTube

Read Gov. Brown's letters to Obama and the Justice Department, urging end to Malheur occupation - statesmanjournal.com

FBI releases statement on Malheur refuge situation - registerguard.com

Rep. Walden Sends Message to the Oregon Militia - .kbnd.com

The Bureau of Land Management Considers Reinstating Hammond Grazing Leases - OPB

Oregon standoff leader Ammon Bundy speaking to FBI - Fox News

VIDEO (Raw): Ammon Bundy talks on the phone to FBI, starts at 7:00 min (full) - YouTube

Oregon standoff leader Finicum: militants have no plans to leave refuge, 'this facility will not go back to the federal government, ever' - Jefferson Public Radio

The Bundys plan to open up the 300-square-mile Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for cattle this spring - WBAL

Militants claim they want to return Paiute artifacts from Oregon reserve in new video (VIDEO) - rawstory.com

'God wants us here': More militiamen arrive at Malheur - koin.com

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge staff publishes open letter: 'We hope to be back soon' - OregonLive.com

Oregon standoff exposes urban, rural divide - Capital Press

How tough-on-crime laws became linked to anti-terrorism, The strange legislative history that led to the standoff in Oregon - slate.com

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Utah Congressmen Bishop and Chaffetz release draft of public lands bill - Moab Sun News

VIDEO: Bishop discuss hotly-debated public lands bill - The Salt Lake Tribune

Here are the basics of Bishop and Chaffetz's plan for Utah's public lands - The Salt Lake Tribune

Text of Congressmen Bishop and Chaffets public lands initiative - utahpli.com

After unveiling of Utah public lands proposal, many enviromental groups decry its contents - standard.net

Utah tribes say public-lands bill 'adds insult to injury,' petition Obama to designate monument - The Salt Lake Tribune

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Syria/Turkey News - Jan 21, 2016

U.S., Russia fail to bridge Syria gap, Moscow considers two Islamist militias backed by Gulf states and Turkey as terrorist groups - Bloomberg

Syria's opposition says cannot attend talks if third party joins, only its council can choose the opposition delegation - Reuters

U.N. Envoy Signals That Riyadh Is Obstructing Syria Peace Talks - Foreign Policy

Davutoglu: Turkey will not allow Syrian Kurds to join Geneva gathering alongside the opposition, only 'on the regime side' - Kurdpress Aganecy

Syrian Kurdish leader warns it won’t respect Geneva Conference decisions if receives no invitation - Kurdpress Aganecy

Top U.S. General says Russian strikes in Syria stabilized Assad, American-led coalition made gains against Islamic State - New York Times

Millions in 'Daesh cash' destroyed in US strikes, Pentagon has released videos of huge blasts of what it says are cash-collection facilities - Yahoo News

North East Syria: American forces begin to operate out of Remelan airport, a launching pad for bombarding areas controlled by the Islamic State - syrianobserver.com

US reportedly considering training base in northeast Syria - NOW

Daraa FSA rebels ordered by Jordanian, US and British intelligence officials to stop fighting Syria regime, to focus their efforts against Al-Nusra Front: report - NOW

The CIA’s secret Syria program: There should be a Congressional hearing on CIA-armed groups collaborating with Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front - The Daily Beast

Russian bombs take toll in Syria as Islamic State under pressure - Yahoo News

Russian air force strikes Syrian city besieged by Islamic State, delivers aid - Yahoo News

Russia considering airbase in Syria’s Qamishli: monitor - NOW

The secret contract between Russia and Syria that gives Moscow carte blanche (Text in Russian included) - The Washington Post

ISIS cuts fighters’ salaries by half due to ‘exceptional circumstances’ (VIDEO) - NBC

Islamic State's double standards sow growing disillusion, ‘It’s a gang pretending to be a state’ - AP

British mother Tareena Shakil who fled with toddler to Syria to join ISIS breaks down, says Raqqa was hell (VIDEO) - Daily Mail Online

Zaman Al Wasl obtains names, nationalities and jihadi backgrounds of ISIS fighters, the leaked documents will be published very soon - Zaman Al Wasl

-----------------------------------------------------------

Turkish President Rules Out Return to Peace Process With Kurdish PKK, Says The Organization Will Be Liquidated - VOA

Probe launched into Turkey’s main opposition leader for calling president ‘sham dictator’ - hurriyetdailynews.com

Pro-Kurdish HDK accuses President Erdoğan of staging a coup in Turkey - todayszaman.com

Pro-Kurdish HDP says its politicians caught in line of fire in Cizre, 10 people injured - todayszaman.com

Erdogan warns Turkey academics to pay price over critical petition criticizing his policies in the Kurdish southeast - THE DAILY STAR

Ankara's mayor declares US ambassador persona non grata after his support for freedom of expression for academics - Al-Monitor

Turkish academics’ call on the government to stop its ongoing military operations in the Southeast finds abundant support in foreign universities - todayszaman.com

American Political Science Association calls on Erogan to respect academic freedom, expressing its deepest concern over crackdown on critics of the government policies - todayszaman.com

Turkey infiltrates Syria, eyewitnesses report that the Turkish forces have not encountered any resistance from ISIS fighters - Jerusalem Post

Security sources deny Turkish troops entered Syria, claim soldiers were clearing land mines near border - aa.com

Turkey bombs Kurdish headquarters in northern Syria - ARA News

Clash erupts between FSA-affiliated Syrian Turkmen and Kurdish forces in northern Syria - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Ankara warned US of Kurdish presence west of River Euphrates, Turkey fears a YPG presence along its entire border with Syria - Rudaw

Jailed journalists in Turkey say arrest aimed at gagging press, they uncovered a story about intelligence officials transporting arms to Syria rebel groups - huffingtonpost.com

ARCHIVE: Review of Turkish MPs allegations that their government avoided investigating purchase by Nusra of chemicals for production of sarin used in the 2013 Goutha attack - Who Attacked Ghouta?

Iraqi FM calls Turkey’s military presence in his country ‘unbearable’ - todayszaman.com

3 prominent journalists targeted in Erdoğan insult cases - todayszaman.com

Turkey jails woman for 'obscene hand gesture at Erdogan' - Yahoo News

Trial of judges set to begin 9 months after incarceration, they were jailed for rulings on far-reaching graft probes against the government and the Erdogan family - todayszaman.com

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

Focus: Bernie Sanders on Assad - Jan 19, 2016

Sanders on Assad at the Democratic debate: "And we all know, no argument, the secretary is absolutely right, Assad is a butcher of his own people, man using chemical weapons against his own people. This is beyond disgusting. But I think in terms of our priorities in the region, our first priority must be the destruction of ISIS. Our second priority must be getting rid of Assad through some political settlement, working with Iran, working with Russia.”

Assad is not a ‘butcher of his own people'. Evidence suggests that a Syrian opposition group carried out the Ghouta sarin attack occurred on Aug 21, 2013 that killed hundreds of people. Since the beginning of the civil war the Syrian government and people has been the target of a ferocious, ruthless assault by armed rebel groups, Nusra, Islamic State, etc. The Syrian military bombs and sieges rebel-controlled areas killing civilians but the death toll has been exagerated by sources affiliated with opposition factions.

The language of the Sanders statement, ‘getting rid of Assad through some political settlement’, will be perceived as offensive by the counterparts, not facilitating a diplomatic solution. Assad is supported by Iran and Russia. Iraq share with Syria government the same enemy, i.e. Islamic State, and the same Shite religion. Assad is supported by a significant sector of the population comprised of Alawites, Christians and secular Sunnis. Syrian Kurds, who are battling Islamic State and Nusra, warn that “if the [Assad] regime collapses because of the salafis [fundamentalist Islamic militants] it would be a disaster for everyone.”

The Syrian State institutions are functioning, not near collapse. With Russian, Iranian and Hezbollah help the Syrian military is gaining territory. The Syrian government is open to talk with the opposition about a political settlement leading to U.N. supervised democratic elections. So far the opposition has refused any dialogue by setting the ouster of Assad and his inner circle as pre-condition which is not acceptable by the Syrian government, Russia and Iran.

Note: In general, unlike Clinton, the Sanders diplomacy-driven foreign policy platform is in sync with the world.

To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)

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Focus: Islamic State in Libya - Jan 23, 2016

Oregon Militia Standoff - Jan 22, 2016

Syria/Turkey News - Jan 21, 2016

Focus: Bernie Sanders on Assad - Jan 19, 2016

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