Romanian soldiers stand guard at Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase, which was alleged to be a CIA “black site.” Photo credit: AP Black sites, renditions, and all those other War on Terror-isms that had supposedly been consigned to an earlier and darker period of America’s counter-terrorism efforts seem to be making a comeback. But they were an absolute horror show the first time around, and here’s why. The Washington Post obtained what it claims is a draft version of an executive order reauthorizing a review of interrogation guidelines, along with the continued operation of the Guantanamo Bay prison facility and the possible re-introduction of a number of Bush-era policies, including interrogation of terror suspects outside the United States. During a briefing on January 25, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer didn’t deny the document’s authenticity, opting for the classically non-denial denial-type formulation that the draft was “not a White House document.” Regardless of where in th

Saudi Arabia has 100,000 unfilled, ventilated tents sitting unused while a large number of Syrian untouchables continue preparing in stuffed camps, yet decays to make them open. The news website TeleSur reports that the 20-square-km alternative camp of Mina is used just two or three days a year to offer beds to Hajj pioneers and sits unfilled the straggling leftovers of the year.  THE 20-SQUARE-KM ALTERNATIVE CAMP OF MINA IS USED JUST TWO OR THREE DAYS A YEAR  It says the tents are laid out advantageously, measure eight meters square, are fire safe, consolidate a kitchen and restroom, and could house three million people. As showed by the Brookings Institute, the well-off Arab states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and UAE have not taken a single outcast, while European countries fight to deal with a surge in the few thousands.  The 20 square km temporary camp of Mina is used for five days consistently by Hajj voyagers, and deceived for whatever is left of the time, &

Original by Yuriy “yurasumy” Podolyaka published at Naspravdi ; translation from Russian by J.Hawk It’s the third day of fighting in the area south-east of the city of Avdeyevka. The short and relatively successful UAF attack by a company from the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade undertaken in the pre-dawn darkness of January 29 has led to consequences which were wholly unexpected by those who authorized the operation. As of early January 30, everything looked like the Svetlodarsk scenario. A short attack, then defense. Then several days of opposing artillery fire and you can record another “victory.” But already the fighting on January 30 showed that the Novorossia Armed Forces (NAF) leaders decided to not only recover several positions lost earlier but use this occasion to return the Avdeyevka industrial zone under its control. The importance of the Avdeyevka industrial zone This sector has enormous tactical importance. The zone not only provides cover for the

Russia wants Egypt to take part in the Syrian settlement. While Damascus actively supports this initiative, Ankara opposes it. Photo: asifpress.com Russia considers it necessary to supplement the triumvirate of mediators on the Syrian settlement with Egypt, the Izvestiya newspaper reported, citing sources in Russian diplomatic circles. As for today, the group consists of Moscow, Tehran and Ankara. Turkey has already criticized this idea, while Syria and Egypt have noted that the Russia’s initiative could lead to positive changes in solving the Syrian crisis, if implemented. The newspaper’s sources noted that Ankara has opposed the initiative, as after Egyptian President-Islamist Mohammed Morsi was removed from power by the country’s military, Turkey has a negative attitude to the Egyptian authorities. As First Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation Committee for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Jabbarov told Izvestiya, strengthening of the Cairo’s role would benefit Syrian negotiat

Beijing plans to place its second aircraft carrier near the South China Sea. The Liaoning aircraft carrier berths in a port of China (Photo: AP Photo / Xinhua, Li Tang, File) Beijing is going to place the Shandong, which should become the country’s second aircraft carrier and the first home-made vessel of such a class after its building is finished, near the South China Sea, the center of confrontation between China , its regional neighbors and the US, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported. As the newspaper reported, citing Xiake Dao, a social media account affiliated with the oversees edition of the state-owned People’s Daily, the main reason for such a decision about the placement of the aircraft carrier is China’s intention to increase its military capabilities and readiness to respond to any “complicated situations.” According to the newspaper’s report, ‘Shandong’ is the working title of the aircraft carrier, which was given in honor of an eastern China’s province. Its o