"We know what a person thinks, not when he tells us what he thinks, but by his actions." - Isaac Bashevis Singer - (1904-1991)

"Every nation gets the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre - (1753-1821) Savoyard lawyer, diplomat, writer, and philosopher

"To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease." - Lao-Tzu - [Li Erh] (570-490 BC)

"The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in, and ready at any instant to fall." - A. E. Housman - [Alfred Edward Housman] (1859-1936) British writer

 

 MIDDLE EAST

15 Killed As Russian Plane Shot Down in Syria
https://www.wdio.com/national/russian-plane-shot-down-in-syria/5075806/

Watch: Russian Il-20 downed by Syrian missile after Israeli F-16s used it as cover during attack - MoD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=YEioP7zJzMc

Russia blames Israel for friendly fire attack on its aircraft by Syria which killed 15 servicemen
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/18/russianmilitaryjetvanishes-radar-syria/

In case you missed it:
Israel warns of attacks on Russian air defence systems in Syria if used against its warplanes
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-warns-of-attacks-on-russian-air-defence-systems-in-syria-if-used-against

Putin seeks to defuse downing of Russian plane off Syria:
Russian Defense Ministry accused the Israeli military of deliberately using the Russian plane as a cover to dodge the Syrian defenses and threatened to retaliate.
https://apnews.com/49ff908bba924ee1a43b5a6db3917bcd

MoA - Syria - Israel Provocation Kills Russian Soldiers - Moscow Will Take Political Revenge
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/09/syria-israel-provocation-kills-russian-soldiers-russia-will-take-political-revenge.html

Putin - operations of Israeli air force breach Syria's sovereignty
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-netanyahu-putin-airpla/putin-operations-of-israeli-air-force-breach-syrias-sovereignty-idUKKCN1LY2MT

It's Official, Russia and Syria Have Linked Their Air Defense Networks
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/13836/its-official-russia-and-syria-have-linked-their-air-defense-networks

Assad Has Won and U.S. Must Go: What does Washington think it can accomplish in Syria?
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/assad-has-won-and-america-must-go-31447

Congress Members Demand Trump Seek Approval Before Military Action In Syria
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-09-18/over-40-congress-members-send-letter-white-house-demanding-trump-seek-approval

Iraq: 15 Islamic State militants killed in joint operation, west of Anbar
https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/15-islamic-state-militants-killed-in-joint-operation-west-of-anbar/

Six Islamic State members killed in Iraqi military airstrikes between Kirkuk, Salahuddin
https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/six-islamic-state-members-killed-in-iraqi-military-airstrike-between-kirkuk-salahuddin/

Yemen's government forces abort Houthi attack killing 18 rebels
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/19/c_137479739.htm

18 fishermen killed by naval warship near UAE-held port in Yemen
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/18-fishermen-killed-naval-warship-near-uae-held-port-yemen-408003115

Made in America: Shrapnel found in Yemen ties US bombs to string of civilian deaths
https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2018/09/world/yemen-airstrikes-intl/index.html

'Killing a generation': Five million Yemeni children face famine: Conditions in war-torn nation could 'cause starvation on an unprecedented scale,' Save the Children warns.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/generation-million-yemeni-children-face-famine-180919054701532.html

Bannon: Saudi, Egypt, UAE prepared to occupy Qatar
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180917-bannon-saudi-egypt-uae-prepared-to-occupy-qatar/

Saudi Arabia bans 300,000 Palestinians from Makkah
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180919-saudi-arabia-bans-300000-palestinians-from-makkah/

Buried on his birthday: Palestinians mourn 23-year-old killed by Israeli occupation forces
https://www.middleeasteye.net/Ahmed-Omar-buried-birthday-Palestinian-Israel-shot-forces-Gaza

Apartheid Israel bars EU Parliament delegation from entering Gaza
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180918-israel-bars-eu-parliament-delegation-from-entering-gaza/

Apartheid Israel says it is 'allowed to ignore international law' anywhere it wants
https://mondoweiss.net/2018/09/legalize-landgrab-international/

America 'One Of 45 Countries' Infected By Uber-Powerful Israeli Smartphone Spyware
https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2018/09/18/america-one-of-45-countries-infected-by-uber-powerful-israeli-smartphone-spyware/#f1d5ebb72ffa

Post Columnist and Trump Administration Team Up on Iran Regime Change
https://lobelog.com/post-columnist-and-trump-administration-team-up-on-iran-regime-change/

As Twitter Purges Real Iranians, US-Backed MEK Cult Revealed to Run Anti-Iran Troll Farm
https://www.mintpressnews.com/as-twitter-purges-iranian-users-mek-cult-revealed-to-run-anti-iran-troll-farm/249548/

AFRICA

Amnesty says at least 400 killed in Cameroon violence
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/africa/Amnesty-says-scores-killed-in-Cameroon-violence/4552902-4767086-f6kq23z/index.html

Report: South Sudan troops raped, killed while peace pursued
https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/report-south-sudan-troops-raped-killed-while-peace-pursued-20180919

ASIA

Taliban militants kills 10 police officers in Afghanistan's Farah
https://www.janes.com/article/83149/taliban-militants-kills-10-police-officers-in-afghanistan-s-farah

7 Afghan family members killed as mortar shell hits house
https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/7-afghan-family-members-killed-as-mortar-shell-hits-house/1318489/

5 militants, 3 security personnel killed in Afghan northern Kunduz province
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/19/c_137479565.htm

Afghan government controls 56% of country, Taliban controls rest of it
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2018/09/19/afghan-morass-how-afghan-government-controls-56-of-country-taliban-controls-rest-of-it/

North Korea agrees to shut down missile test sites as leaders hail 'leap forward'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/19/north-korea-shut-missile-test-summit-kim-jong-un-moon

North Korea to allow international inspections for nuclear dismantlement, if U.S. takes reciprocal measures
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-summit-inspecti/north-korea-to-allow-international-inspections-for-nuclear-dismantlement-if-u-s-takes-reciprocal-measures-idUSKCN1LZ09F

Two Koreas agree to end military exercises near border, withdraw GPs in DMZ
https://www.nknews.org/2018/09/two-koreas-agree-to-end-military-exercises-near-border-withdraw-gps-in-dmz/?c=1537356445679

China slashes US Treasury securities to six-month low as trade tensions mount
https://www.rt.com/business/438829-china-us-treasuries-drop/

China still has "bullets" to fight Trump's trade war
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-still-has-bullets-to-fight-trumps-trade-war/

No, the UN Did Not Report China Has 'Massive Internment Camps' for Uighur Muslims
https://grayzoneproject.com/2018/08/23/un-did-not-report-china-internment-camps-uighur-muslims/

EUROPE

Watch: Russian MoD reveals new findings in MH-17 investigation
https://thesaker.is/russian-mod-reveals-new-findings-in-mh-17-investigation/

US-Poland base plans must include NATO, says ex-Pentagon official;
Retired General Ben Hodges has told DW that any new US military base in Poland must be a 'cohesive' NATO plan. That's because "all allies will have to bear some of the consequences" of Russia's reaction, he warned.
https://www.dw.com/en/us-poland-base-plans-must-include-nato-says-ex-pentagon-official/a-45566504

Brexit: Theresa May faces business backlash over 'disastrous' proposals to clamp down on EU workers
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-workers-uk-brexit-immigration-skilled-migrants-theresa-may-nhs-a8543796.html

The real danger facing the European Union: EPP leader Manfred Weber says he will fight the radical right if elected EU Commission President. Can we believe him?
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/real-danger-facing-european-union-180913164702155.html?

Is the "deep state" trying to undermine Corbyn?:
A raft of hostile stories suggests the intelligence services may be working to block the election of a Labour government
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/09/deep-state-trying-undermine-corbyn

AMERICA'S

Maduro's Beijing Visit Spooks a US Plotting Venezuela's Isolation
https://www.mintpressnews.com/maduros-visit-to-china-spooks-a-us-plotting-venezuelas-isolation/249354/

Hurricane Colonialism: The Economic, Political, and Environmental War on Puerto Rico
https://theintercept.com/2018/09/19/hurricane-colonialism-the-economic-political-and-environmental-war-on-puerto-rico/

Prison Labor Is Slave Labor, and We Should Get Rid of It:
Incarcerated workers - who often make less than $1 an hour producing profits for big companies - are on strike across the country.
https://otherwords.org/prison-labor-is-slave-labor-and-we-should-get-rid-of-it/

Revealed: The Justice Dept's secret rules for targeting journalists with FISA court orders
https://freedom.press/news/revealed-justice-depts-secret-rules-targeting-journalists-fisa-court-orders/

Kavanaugh accuser's call for FBI inquiry before testimony is dismissed:
Senate committee head says no need for delay after Christine Blasey Ford urges investigation before she testifies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/18/christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh-sexual-assault-claim

Patrick J. Smyth Denies Being at Party With Kavanaugh, Ford:
"I have never witnessed any improper conduct by Brett Kavanaugh towards women."
https://heavy.com/news/2018/09/patrick-j-smyth-brett-kavanaugh-classmate/

Kavanaugh Friends Have 'No Memory' of Party Where Alleged Sex Assault Took Place:
https://reason.com/blog/2018/09/19/kavanaugh-buddy-says-reason-roundup

Trump on Sessions: 'I don't have an attorney general'
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45577781