How George Soros quietly advised US to ditch al-Qaeda offshoot’s terror label
George Soros’ reputation as a benefactor of Western ‘soft power’ operations has been well-documented, but did you know the financier actually lobbied Washington to lift the “terrorism” designation against an al-Qaeda* offshoot in Syria? Take a look:
🔺For over a decade, Soros has been deeply involved in Syria, with his organizations providing legal, humanitarian, and media support to rebel-held areas. They've backed groups like the infamous White Helmets, linked to jihadists, and pushed for Western military action against Assad. In 2021, a Soros-funded think tank suggested Washington should quietly remove the terror label from Hei’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)*, the al-Qaeda offshoot running Idlib, Syria's last anti-Assad stronghold.
🔺The think tank also recommended that US policymakers scale back drone strikes targeting terror leaders, suggesting “the lack of clear, conditional pathways for designated groups to exit their ‘terrorist’ box may discourage them from moving in a direction more amenable to Western interests and local concerns.”
🔺The International Crisis Group also suggested that the West treat HTS with “carrots and sticks” instead of labeling them terrorists. This approach aims to maintain instability in Syria and prevent Assad from achieving complete victory in the CIA-backed conflict.
🔺Whether thanks to Soros’ advice or due to Washington's nature, the US has leaned toward informal cooperation with HTS, even if it hasn’t yet formally lifted the jihadist group’s “terrorist” status.
🔺The ‘philanthropist’s’ involvement in shaping US policy in the Middle East sheds new light on the role American billionaires’ pet think tanks and grantmaking networks can influence efforts to patch up the faltering Western liberal hegemonic order.
* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
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George Soros’ reputation as a benefactor of Western ‘soft power’ operations has been well-documented, but did you know the financier actually lobbied Washington to lift the “terrorism” designation against an al-Qaeda* offshoot in Syria? Take a look:
🔺For over a decade, Soros has been deeply involved in Syria, with his organizations providing legal, humanitarian, and media support to rebel-held areas. They've backed groups like the infamous White Helmets, linked to jihadists, and pushed for Western military action against Assad. In 2021, a Soros-funded think tank suggested Washington should quietly remove the terror label from Hei’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)*, the al-Qaeda offshoot running Idlib, Syria's last anti-Assad stronghold.
🔺The think tank also recommended that US policymakers scale back drone strikes targeting terror leaders, suggesting “the lack of clear, conditional pathways for designated groups to exit their ‘terrorist’ box may discourage them from moving in a direction more amenable to Western interests and local concerns.”
🔺The International Crisis Group also suggested that the West treat HTS with “carrots and sticks” instead of labeling them terrorists. This approach aims to maintain instability in Syria and prevent Assad from achieving complete victory in the CIA-backed conflict.
🔺Whether thanks to Soros’ advice or due to Washington's nature, the US has leaned toward informal cooperation with HTS, even if it hasn’t yet formally lifted the jihadist group’s “terrorist” status.
🔺The ‘philanthropist’s’ involvement in shaping US policy in the Middle East sheds new light on the role American billionaires’ pet think tanks and grantmaking networks can influence efforts to patch up the faltering Western liberal hegemonic order.
* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
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National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who said "my uncle used to say... that the best manure salesmen often carry their samples in their mouths. Russian officials seem to be pretty good manure salesmen," got a tough response from Russian FM spokeswoman Zakharova to his impudent statement:
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"There are no such proverbs in Russian because 'they carry manure in their mouths' not here but overseas. But there is our saying: 'Whoever hurts, talks about it.' By the way, it now becomes clear why the expression 'wash your mouth with soap' is common in the States."
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Is there a connection between Moscow concert hall attack and Western interests in Central Asia?
It's no coincidence that the masterminds behind the Crocus City Hall terror attack in Moscow region picked terrorists associated with ISIS* originating from Central Asia, Sputnik's interlocutors say.
"In addition to sowing panic, the goal of those behind the terrorist attack was to play an ethnic card. That is, to drive a wedge between us, Russians, and Tajiks, as well as other migrants," Andrey Popov, a reserve colonel of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), told Sputnik.
The Russian special services detained 11 people in connection with the terrorist attack. The suspected executors of the heinous crime are citizens of Tajikistan, a Central Asian country which borders on Afghanistan.
The strategic importance of Central Asian countries for the West has taken on a new significance after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine.
"Central Asia borders Russia and China, the main geopolitical competitors of the West," Stanislav Pritchin, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Sputnik.
In addition, Western special services could seek to set Central Asia on fire and to open a "second front" against Russia amid Moscow's military successes in Ukraine, suggested Popov.
The reserve FSB colonel believes there is a connection between the Crocus City Hall terror attack and the West's interests in the Central Asian region.
*a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.
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It's no coincidence that the masterminds behind the Crocus City Hall terror attack in Moscow region picked terrorists associated with ISIS* originating from Central Asia, Sputnik's interlocutors say.
"In addition to sowing panic, the goal of those behind the terrorist attack was to play an ethnic card. That is, to drive a wedge between us, Russians, and Tajiks, as well as other migrants," Andrey Popov, a reserve colonel of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), told Sputnik.
The Russian special services detained 11 people in connection with the terrorist attack. The suspected executors of the heinous crime are citizens of Tajikistan, a Central Asian country which borders on Afghanistan.
The strategic importance of Central Asian countries for the West has taken on a new significance after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine.
"Central Asia borders Russia and China, the main geopolitical competitors of the West," Stanislav Pritchin, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Sputnik.
In addition, Western special services could seek to set Central Asia on fire and to open a "second front" against Russia amid Moscow's military successes in Ukraine, suggested Popov.
The reserve FSB colonel believes there is a connection between the Crocus City Hall terror attack and the West's interests in the Central Asian region.
*a terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other countries.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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🔺Russian President Vladimir Putin's best quotes about Islam and Muslims
🔺Why sending F-16s to Ukraine is a ‘kamikaze’ mission?
🔺How George Soros quietly advised US to ditch al-Qaeda offshoot’s terror label
🔺Is there a connection between Moscow concert hall attack and Western interests in Central Asia?
🔺Possible avenue for Ukraine-EU terrorist infiltration unmasked by Austrian report
🔺Top 10 Western companies that took biggest hits from break with Russia
🔺Covert allies? What is the relationship between ISIS-K and the US?
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🔺Why sending F-16s to Ukraine is a ‘kamikaze’ mission?
🔺How George Soros quietly advised US to ditch al-Qaeda offshoot’s terror label
🔺Is there a connection between Moscow concert hall attack and Western interests in Central Asia?
🔺Possible avenue for Ukraine-EU terrorist infiltration unmasked by Austrian report
🔺Top 10 Western companies that took biggest hits from break with Russia
🔺Covert allies? What is the relationship between ISIS-K and the US?
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❗️ West has once again blocked Russia's request for a UNSC meeting on NATO aggression against Yugoslavia, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
France and the United States disrupted a UN Security Council meeting requested by Russia on Monday on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Yugoslavia. The French representative said the topic was irrelevant and that no one had agreed with France on the agenda for that day.
Despite the fact that the Japanese presidency had pre-agreed on the agenda, Paris succeeded in getting the issue put to a vote, and as a result the meeting did not take place.
The Russian mission said that the real reason for the disruption was that representatives of Western countries were afraid of a public discussion at the UN Security Council of the horrific and deadly NATO destruction of Yugoslavia.
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France and the United States disrupted a UN Security Council meeting requested by Russia on Monday on the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Yugoslavia. The French representative said the topic was irrelevant and that no one had agreed with France on the agenda for that day.
Despite the fact that the Japanese presidency had pre-agreed on the agenda, Paris succeeded in getting the issue put to a vote, and as a result the meeting did not take place.
The Russian mission said that the real reason for the disruption was that representatives of Western countries were afraid of a public discussion at the UN Security Council of the horrific and deadly NATO destruction of Yugoslavia.
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Sputnik International
❗️ West has once again blocked Russia's request for a UNSC meeting on NATO aggression against Yugoslavia, a Sputnik correspondent reported. France and the United States disrupted a UN Security Council meeting requested by Russia on Monday on the 25th anniversary…
Western countries on the UN Security Council have once again blocked Russia's request for a meeting to mark the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
As on Monday, France again requested a procedural vote on the provisional agenda.
Russia, China, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Guyana and Mozambique voted in favor, while nine other UNSC members abstained. Procedural votes require a minimum of nine votes in favor to be adopted and cannot be vetoed by permanent members.
Western countries are afraid to expose NATO's real history to the world and therefore object to a UN Security Council meeting on their bombings of Yugoslavia, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia said on Monday.
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As on Monday, France again requested a procedural vote on the provisional agenda.
Russia, China, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Guyana and Mozambique voted in favor, while nine other UNSC members abstained. Procedural votes require a minimum of nine votes in favor to be adopted and cannot be vetoed by permanent members.
Western countries are afraid to expose NATO's real history to the world and therefore object to a UN Security Council meeting on their bombings of Yugoslavia, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzia said on Monday.
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The US House Oversight Committee has invited President Joe Biden to testify on his family's “pay-for-influence schemes,” Chairman James Comer revealed in a letter Thursday.
Comer said the Committee has documented more than $24 million that came from foreign sources to Biden, his family and their business associates, however, it has not identified any "legitimate services to merit such lucrative payments."
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"In light of the yawning gap between your public statements and the evidence assembled by the Committee, as well as the White House’s obstruction, it is in the best interest of the American people for you to answer questions from Members of Congress directly, and I hereby invite you to do so," Comer said in a letter addressed to Biden.
Comer said the Committee has documented more than $24 million that came from foreign sources to Biden, his family and their business associates, however, it has not identified any "legitimate services to merit such lucrative payments."
"You have repeatedly denied playing any role in your family’s business activities, but the Committee has amassed evidence — including bank records and witness testimony — that wholly contradicts your position on these matters," he said. "Additionally, the White House has taken a position hostile to the Committee’s investigation and refuses to release certain information or make available witnesses to testify regarding issues relevant to the ongoing impeachment inquiry currently authorized by the full House of Representatives."
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💥 Russian soldiers of the Battlegroup Yug smash the enemy near the city of Seversk.
Rocket and howitzer artillery crews destroyed weapons, military equipment, and camouflaged enemy fortifications.
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Rocket and howitzer artillery crews destroyed weapons, military equipment, and camouflaged enemy fortifications.
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On Monday, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an immediate Ramadan ceasefire in Gaza that leads to a lasting and sustainable ceasefire. The motion was sponsored by the 10 non-permanent members of the council. Fourteen countries voted in favor, while the United States abstained.
"It is good that this resolution has been adopted. But the US passed it, realizing that if it vetoes this one, which is significantly weaker, but at least calls for a cease-fire, then it will generally 'spoil its reputation' in relations with the world majority. But immediately, having adopted this resolution, the US representative to the UN stated that this resolution was not binding. That is, the 'carte blanche' was extended by this," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.
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"The West is suspiciously actively convincing us, not only publicly, but also in contacts through our diplomatic missions, that Ukraine should not be suspected. Without explaining why. Although from the point of view of general logic, answering the question of who benefits from this, we cannot rule out Ukraine," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.
The West is actively trying to convince everyone that this is the work of the Islamic State* and no one else should be suspected, the minister added.
"They constantly directly speak about this country [Ukraine] and its non-involvement. It is becoming obsessive," Lavrov said.
*ISIS, or ISIS-K (also known as Wilayat Khorasan) is a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia.
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"In the fall of 2023, the United States sent us these signals, as always, unable to resist leaking this information to the media. It was an informal document that we responded to in February. They explained that it is impossible to talk about strategic stability in a situation when we are declared a strategic enemy who needs to be 'strategically defeated," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper, adding that "Russia... will be ready to resume the dialogue on strategic stability when mutual respect, equality and movement towards finding a balance of interests will be ensured."
Any current discussions about negotiating on such sensitive topics when "war has been declared on Russia," and the US is helping Ukraine "to point modern types of long-range weapons at our civilian and infrastructure facilities" are absurd, the minister concluded.
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"Apparently, Moldova has decided to 'abandon' Transnistria. They refused numerous offers from Transnistria and the Russia to resume negotiations in the 5+2 format. [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu said that they will hold a referendum on joining the European Union without Transnistria. Probably, there is a desire to unite with Romania as soon as possible and through this gain some additional opportunities. Maybe they are counting on a military solution to the Transnistrian problem," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.
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🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that he will hold a meeting with the ambassadors of the countries of the Global Majority in April and will voice Moscow's position on the current situation in Ukraine.
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"I have already met twice with the ambassadors of the Global Majority in Moscow. Another regular meeting will be held in early April. We will voice our assessment of how the situation around Ukraine is developing," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.
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🇷🇺🇷🇸 A minute of silence in memory of those killed in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack took place before a basketball match in Belgrade between Partizan and Olympiakos.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that after the refusal of European ambassadors to meet with him ahead of the Russian presidential election, every request of communication from European diplomatic representatives in Moscow with Russian authorities will be coordinated by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
In early March Lavrov said he invited EU countries' ambassadors for a conversation ahead of that month's upcoming presidential election, but they refused two days before the planned meeting.
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In early March Lavrov said he invited EU countries' ambassadors for a conversation ahead of that month's upcoming presidential election, but they refused two days before the planned meeting.
"They are here but do not want to communicate with the Foreign Minister. We informed them that from now on, at any level, be it an ambassador, an attache or everyone 'who is between them,' if they have an interest in communicating with the Russian authorities we will consider each such request separately and decide whether to agree to such contact or not," Lavrov told Russia’s Izvestia newspaper.
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