Secrecy and Cover-Up for Trump War Plans?

Syrian retaliation – example of fraudulent “resolve” while South Korean election may encourage deescalation

By Ann Diener

Why invite the Senate to discuss North Korea to the White House when Trump could easily invite them to Mar-a-Lago for a field trip, because isn’t that where the real business is done?  It seems off color, but at the same time, how unusual for a President to invite 100 Senators to make the case for war, not in public view, but behind what are now the tightly closed doors of the White House, where the public is not allowed to know who goes in or comes out, unless spotted by the media, of course.

As the Senators stand to be briefed tomorrow by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will anyone be told about the significance of the upcoming May 9, presidential election in South Korea, that may shift the South Korean national policy towards deescalation?

Last Sunday, South Korean presidential candidate Moon Jae-in of the Minjoo (Democratic) Party released a “list of the inter-Korean policies he hopes to enact if he wins power on May 9,” according to JH Ahn of NK News. Moon currently leads in the polling by the Korea Society Opinion Survey (KSOI) with 44.4%, Ahn Cheol-soo 32.5%, Hong Joon-pyo 8.41%, Shim san-jeong 5.3%, Yoo Seung-min 5.0% and 2.2% are undecided.

Moon’s list of inter-Korean policies “contains proposals for the restarting of the six-party talks, increasing economic cooperation between the two Koreas, and a plan to set inter-Korean policy in stone through legislation that can be ratified by both the South’s National Assembly and the North’s Supreme People’s Assembly.

“In short, the statement confirms what many believed would be the approach of a future President Moon Jae-in: an unapologetic return to the “Sunshine Era” policies of the early 2000s. His team calls it a ‘bold’ blueprint, and, if enacted, it’s certain to cause friction between Seoul and the Trump Administration, particularly in its proposals for a South Korean defense policy which distances itself from the U.S.”

NK News translated parts of South Korean presidential candidate Moon Jae-in’s statement which was published in Korean. Below are the translated portions which will provide a completely different understanding than what we are currently told in the West:

“Animosity has grown, and ‘unification’ is turning into something that is only troublesome (to South Koreans).

“Neither peace nor prosperity can be assured this way. For the permanent peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula, we need a completely new plan. We need a bold blueprint to overcome today’s (inter-Korean) crisis.

“I will not allow any form of North Korea’s armed provocations against us. I will prevent war with thorough crisis management and a steadfast commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance.

“Nothing is more dangerous than letting others decide our fate.

“Forming an unwavering national security posture will be our first step towards the peace. With the strong defense, South Korea will not only preserve peace – we will build it as well.

“First, securing the means to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missiles programs will be our top priority.

“To counter the North Korean nuclear weapons, the government will establish the Kill Chain and Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) – the core systems needed to counter the North’s nuclear arms.

“We will enhance our military’s independent capability for the surveillance, reconnaissance, and acquisition of information. We will strengthen the forces to be able to paralyze the enemy’s command and long-range artillery.

“Second, wartime Operational Control (OPCON) will be transferred to South Korea in early stages. Seoul will actively utilize the U.S.’s strategic assets, but we will take the responsibility for our defense.

“Third, South Korea will annually increase (drafted) soldiers’ salaries to reach 50% of the minimum wage by 2020.

“Fourth, South Korea will root out corruption in the defense industry.

ON ENGAGEMENT

“From the foundation of the overwhelming dominance of the national defense, we will build a peaceful Korean Peninsula.

“Pyongyang will have to choose one between two options: insist on nuclear and missiles and end up in isolation and annihilation, or to give up the systems and choose peace and prosperity.

“70 years ago, we were powerless. But the situation is different now.

“Seoul will persuade Beijing and resume the six-party talks, Washington will improve its relations with Pyongyang and bring Pyongyang to the negotiation table.

“Instead of urging that ‘Pyongyang should act first’, Seoul will lead the simultaneous actions from Pyongyang, Washington and other parties concerned.

“We will no longer rely on ‘Beijing’s role’ (to change Pyongyang) and will form a new framework of inter-Korean policies based on “Seoul’s role.”

“South Korea will make the Korean Peninsula a nuclear free zone.

“Within this new framework, North Korea’s complete disposal of nuclear arms and denuclearization should be comprehensively pushed ahead with the sign of peace treaty.

“We have to eliminate the source of possible war, by implementing a mutual arms control agreement in stages.

“Inheriting the Sunshine Policy and the engagement policy towards North Korea, we will strategically push North Korea towards change.”

UNIFICATION BLUEPRINT

“First, no matter what, the government will make sure that meetings of separated families are held regularly.

“Soon the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games will be held. We will support the North Korean team’s participation and joint cheering squad that South Koreans can participate.

“The central government should not monopolize inter-Korean cooperation.

“The second is the enactment of inter-Korean cooperation and agreement on the Korean Peninsula.

“From the July 4 South-North Joint Communiqué, Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, June 15th North–South Joint Declaration and to October 4 Declaration: we have to continue our valuable outcomes from the past.

“The agreement made between the leaders of the South and the North should be ratified and enacted by National Assembly, so we can establish lasting inter-Korean policies that do not swing back and forth between the change of the government.

“To make this possible, National Assembly’s role in the inter-Korean cooperation will be increased.

“The assembly will lead the enactment of the inter-Korean agreements, and produce a bill with North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA): it will result in the increase of predictability and permanence of inter-Korean policies.

“Each side will no longer shift the responsibility to the other side. Incidents like the closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) will be preventable.

“The third is economic unification, so that both the South and the North can prosper.

“South Korea is in urgent need to expand its market, and that is same for North Korea. This means that depending on how we build the inter-Korean relations to come, and we may be able to find the way to resolve worries about the daily livelihood of South Koreans.

“We should not be bound just to political unification. Both the South and the North need to form an ‘economic community’ to prosper.

“Formation of the common economic community will lead to the rise of the market of 80 million population. If the economic bloc of Korean Peninsula is set, our potential growth rate will increase by one percent.”

It seems ignorant for the US not to take into account the South Korean election that occurs in two weeks when making “war plans,” and the potential for shift within South Korea that may change the entire landscape to deescalation through strength, cooperation  and a more peace focused approach.

” ‘Recently, U.S. President Trump stated that Washington’s strategy on Pyongyang would be ‘maximum pressure and engagement,” said Bae Ki-chan, a former presidential secretary to Roh Moo-hyun, said to NK News.

“ ‘That is not so different from Moon’s policy towards Pyongyang,’ said Bae, arguing that the two sides may have a lot in common. ‘The question is when we will engage the North. Once the new government is born, around June to July this year, there might be the opportunity to start engagement.’

“A long-time DPRK watcher argued that managing relations with Washington will not be easy should Moon become President, as Trump will likely oppose his new ‘Sunshine 2.0’, as it’s been called by observers.

“ ‘But never say never – when Moon was chief-of-staff to Roh Moo-hyun he had first-hand experience of trying to warm relations with the DPRK whilst the U.S. administration was trying to do the opposite,’ Tristan Webb, a senior analyst for NK Pro and a former senior DPRK research analyst for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), said to the NK News. ‘President Trump might be willing to let the ROK give the Sunshine Policy another try so long as the DPRK doesn’t launch any ICBMs or test any nukes.’ ”

Still with Trump’s modus operandi in both Syria and Afghanistan, will he and his staff really work towards deescalation and be willing to allow South Korea to lead in creating its own future, one geared towards self-sufficiency militarily, shared peace and prosperity with North Korea, as well as potential reunification?

OR does Trump want to be known as a ”war time” President, which provides the additional powers to control situations and information, as well as cover up any other investigations that have been ongoing using war as a pretext for the cover-up?

Thinking of the incident in Syria in Khan Shaykhun, evidence was brought forward that Khan Shaykhun was struck by the same gas used by radical armed groups on Kurds in Aleppo  Khan Shaykhun is a terrorist controlled city, located only 60 miles from Turkey. While the mainstream media is claiming its residents to be activists, this area has been under terrorist control for several years.

The area was also not covered under the ceasefire agreement as the terrorists operating in the area are not a party to the ceasefire agreement, and there are active ant-terrorist operations in the area by the Syrian Army and Russia.

It would not be surprising if the gas was brought in through Turkey, as there is a direct line that can be drawn from the area to the Turkish border, and there were Turkish armed Islamist groups active in the area.

If the Trump administration knew this was rebel gas used in Khan Shaykhun, Trump lied directly to the public to strike at the Syrian military in retaliation for a what was potentially pre-planned false flag attack.

Turkish groups were the first ones on the scene reporting that victims were taken to Turkey for treatment after the “gas attack.” Prior to the attack, “on April 3rd, 2017, an anti-Assad journalist tweeted that the next day he would be launching a media campaign to cover airstrikes on the Hama countryside, including the use of chemical weapons. It is not clear how the “reporter” was able to know that chemical weapons would be used an entire day before the attacks occurred,” according to an article by William Craddick of Disobedient Media that appeared on Zero Hedge.

It is no wonder Turkey was quick to respond as the incident was expected and media was in position with “White Helmets” also ready to respond. Again this is a terrorist held area, and it is impressive that Health Cluster partners were on the ground treating the patients shortly after the attack where it said at least 70 people have died and hundreds more have been affected

“Observers further noted that on April 1st, 2017, a doctor on the ground in Khan Sheikhoun, Dr. Shajul Islam, had received several shipments of gas masks in the days running up to the chemical incident. The revelations on Twitter fueled speculation that opposition figures were aware of the chemical attack days before it actually happened, contesting the narrative that the Syrian government was responsible. Daily Mail has reported that Dr. Shajul Islam was at one point sought by the British government in connection with the abduction of two journalists in Syria, and security services have stated that Islam and his brother may have had ties to ISIS executioner ‘Jihadi John.’

“Additionally, footage from the scene of the incident taken by the Syrian White Helmets appears to show that their operatives were not assisting victims in a manner that was consistent with established protocol on how to handle sarin saturated bodies. Images appear to show that Syrian White Helmet operatives were handling purported sarin victims with their bare hands, rather than with gloves, which is necessary to prevent the rescuer being injured by the chemical themselves. They also appear to be using simple dust masks, which are not suitable protection in the event of a sarin attack.”

So why the “gas attack” and the US “retaliation”?

The US media and UN Security Council have been ignoring the fact that this area is a terrorist controlled area, and the fact that there was foreknowledge of the alleged “gas attack,” while at the same time Tillerson was known to have been working towards creating what was deeply disparaged during the Obama administration as “safe zones” calling them instead “interim zones of stability.”

On March 30, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Turkish President  Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu,  about a week after promoting “interim zones of stability” for Syria. Are the Idlib province and a the areas close to the Turkish border to be made into “interim zones of stability?”

Turkey has been increasing its penetration in Syria despite saying “Operation Euphrates Shield” is over, and this most recent “gas attack” was a potentially pre-planned media event using the same rebel gas used on the Kurds in Aleppo.

Why did those on the ground with the for knowledge not warn the civilians? Were the civilians to be used for visual effect? The Trump Administration retaliated for a gas incident that was known about before it happened by “activists”/possible terrorists, in an area has been well known to be a terrorist stronghold for years.

Because of the incident in Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, it is important to watch what is happening on the Korean peninsula regarding any backroom war deals as well as realize the potential for a false flag attack to spur conflict and change outcomes, even elections.

Vice President Mike Pence said in an appearance with Acting South Korean President Hwang. “Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan.”

Were his actions really showing strength and resolve?

The “war time” President was quickly absolved by the Main Stream Media of any “Russia” ties because retaliation for a terrorist, foreknown gas incident in a terrorist controlled area. What could he be after this time?

Ann Diener

{p}Journalist, former publisher of The Military Beat magazine – serving active duty and retired military personnel in the Northwest US through 2001, Thinker, foreign policy analyst and renewable & advanced technology developer aiming to provide water, food, housing & energy for all.{/p}

anndiener.com