Trump ousts Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, replaces him with Mike Pompeo

President Donald Trump has removed Rex Tillerson as secretary of state and replaced him with current CIA Director Mike Pompeo, after months of speculation surrounding Tillerson’s role in the Trump administration, a fact that Tillerson found out at the same time as the public.

Mr. Trump tweeted the news of Tillerson’s ouster, thanking Tillerson for his service.

Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018

Via CBS

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Featured Image: Donkey Hotey

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Was Tillerson Sacked to Abandon the Iran Nuclear Deal?

[image: AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB]

Tillerson supported Washington remaining on board with the JCPOA nuclear deal – along with other P5+1 countries Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Trump wants it unacceptably changed or abandoned. On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted:

“Mr Trump has made habit of being unpredictable and thus unreliable for anybody to engage with. Nobody will be interested in reaching any agreement with the White House if US signature only good for 4-8 yrs.”

Replacing Tillerson with militantly anti-Iran hardliner Pompeo smoothes things for Trump to pursue greater hostility toward the Islamic Republic with a key administration official on board with his reckless agenda.

Like the president, secretary of state designee Pompeo opposes the nuclear deal. Tillerson’s sacking likely signals Trump’s intention to abandon the JCPOA ahead.

According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, “Americans are determined to leave the JCPOA, and changes at the country’s State Department were made in line with this goal, or at least it was one of the reasons,” adding:

“Europeans are walking on the razor’s edge because if they incline towards Trump, they will lose Iran.”

Days earlier, IAEA head Yukiya Amano said “I can state that Iran is implementing its nuclear-related commitments…If the JCPOA were to fail, it would be a great loss for nuclear verification and for multilateralism.”

Things are heading in this direction, especially with Pompeo succeeding Tillerson at State.

Things pursued by Washington should terrify everyone. Trump escalated rogue policies his predecessors began – notably waging political, economic and hot wars against multiple countries.

Will Iran be his next target for regime change, beginning by abandoning the JCPOA nuclear deal? What took years of negotiations to conclude, he could scrap with a signature taking moments.

Replacing Tillerson with Pompeo signals likely escalated wars of aggression, stepped up hostility toward Russia and China, perhaps scuttling a Trump/Kim Jong-un summit or structuring it to fail, along with abandoning the Iran nuclear deal and targeting the country for regime change.

Trump won’t re-certify the JCPOA in May unless Britain, France and Germany agree to major changes Iran won’t accept.

According to an unnamed White House official, “(i)f the Europeans make it clear that what we are asking for is going too far, then we’ll know, but as soon as they say that, Europe is signing the deal’s death warrant,” adding:

“Tillerson wasn’t faithful to the intent of the president. (He) didn’t agree with breaking the Iran deal.”

“Every time the president’s been persuaded to sign these waivers he’s done so begrudgingly. (I)n January he said, ‘this is absolutely the last time.’ Either we fix it or he won’t sign another waiver. ‘I’m not going to sign it unless Iran agrees.’ ”

Changes he demands Tehran finds unacceptable, including:

• unlimited inspections of Iranian sites, including military ones no countries would tolerate;

• the international community on board, ensuring Iran never develops nuclear weapons it abhors, doesn’t want, and calls for eliminating;

• removing the JCPOA’s sunset clause, effective after 10 years;

• restricting Iranian development and testing of ballistic missiles not part of the JCPOA; and

• reimposing nuclear-related sanctions if Tehran fails to fully comply with the above demands.

Clearly they’re unacceptable. Six countries and Iran spent years negotiating the JCPOA.

Tehran won’t tolerate Trump unilaterally demanding changes during the life of the agreement.

As things now stand, Washington will likely walk away, destroying the deal by illegally reimposing nuclear related sanctions.

Along with other US Middle East policies, abandoning the JCPOA risks greater regional turbulence and instability instead of responsibly stepping back from the brink.

Lunatics infesting Washington threaten everyone. Paul Craig Roberts asked “Will Humanity Survive Crazed Washington?”

We’re all threatened with possible extinction by Washington’s megalomaniacal rage for unchallenged hegemony.

I agree with Roberts, saying “(y)ou can expect the worst” ahead.

Nothing gives me cause for optimism!

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U.S. Policies Continue to Fail in 2018

As of this writing, the Russian military has had three of their bases attacked by drones. They destroyed six of them and captured another seven. The significance: the drones are of a quality that could not have been made by the ISIS “rebels,” and had to come from a technologically-advanced nation. The drones were multidirectional and able to be controlled by satellite through GPS coordinates.

[Schwarzenegger, in “Predator”]: “Heat seeker, Dillon. Pretty sophisticated for a bunch of half-assed mountain boys.”

Exactly. The U.S. (via Tillerson) released a statement that the U.S. was not involved in the drone strike and was unaware of who supplied the drones. Not only does that not hold any water, but as it turns out, a U.S. intelligence aircraft was monitored in the theatre while these drone attacks were taking place. Syria is still being hotly contested between Assad and the “rebels” who are none other than Al Qaeda that “morphed” several times to become the ISIS we all know and uphold in the manner of Emmanuel Goldstein, the bogeyman of Orwell’s “1984.”

On the front with Eastern Ukraine, the Russian-backed separatists are about to receive a present…bequeathed by Obama, and allowed to be delivered by President Trump, certified by the Senate and all on the taxpayer’s dime. This being antitank weapons in the form of Javelins and other antitank missiles to the tune of about $47 million. Now the President is thinking of tripling that amount. So much for “détente,” and the reset that was supposed to happen with Russia.

Domestically, as disturbing as our foreign policy (and in some ways more so) is the project to create a domestic “spy” service to complement the alphabet agencies. One of the individuals considered to head it is none other than Eric Prince, the former Navy SEAL and CEO of the same Blackwater that the U.S. government gave “carte blanche” in Iraq with limited ROE (Rules of Engagement) and almost no accountability.

Internally, the same draconian measures that were emplaced by Obama to circumvent the Constitution are still in place. The police forces are growing throughout the U.S., and via the Fusion Centers and CCTV networks steadily germinating across the nation the local, state, and federal police forces are coming beneath one umbrella. The sled is still traveling downhill. A slower rate than before; nevertheless, it’s still moving in the direction it did prior to the election.

The belligerent and imperialistic foreign policy of before is still in place, with relations souring instead of improving. In the meantime, we are watching a form of “creeping Statism” that is domestically moving almost too slowly to be noticed, but making headway. We have an Attorney General who selectively enforces the law, and has a “hands-off” policy for prominents such as Mueller, Comey, and Hillary Clinton.

The North Korean threat has not dissipated: it persists. They will soon launch Kwangmyongsang-5, a satellite that will be able to map positions with advanced technology to be utilized for a nuclear strike. From this and other problems we are constantly distracted by the MSM (Mainstream Media) with Harvey Weinstein’s escapades and the “witch hunt” in progress against every male in the U.S. We are distracted by NFL players taking a knee, by Oprah Winfrey considering being a candidate for president in 2020 (would her campaign be managed by Harpo productions?), and other items that are nonsensical and nonproductive.

Other nations are making their move, such as China with a gold-backed Yuan attempting to supplant the Petrodollar. If our country doesn’t take some drastic steps with foreign policy and domestic agendas, it may realize a few lighter moments, but that is not enough. This period is the calm before the storm. Those midterm elections will be along in no time, and the next presidential election is right around the corner. Hope that we last long enough as a nation to make it that far.

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Jeremiah Johnson is the Nom de plume of a retired Green Beret of the United States Army Special Forces (Airborne).  Mr. Johnson is also a Gunsmith, a Certified Master Herbalist, a Montana Master Food Preserver, and a graduate of the U.S. Army’s SERE school (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape).  He lives in a cabin in the mountains of Western Montana with his wife and three cats. You can follow Jeremiah’s regular writings at SHTFplan.com or contact him here.

This article may be republished or excerpted with proper attribution to the author and a link to www.SHTFplan.com.

Tillerson Conceals Rape of Raqqa, Meets with Saudi Monarch

[image: Getty]

Washington pretends to be combating the scourge of ISIS it supports.

Tillerson tried concealing it, hypocritically accusing its fighters of “dramatically undermin(ing) stability in Iraq, Syria and the broader Middle East, and pos(ing) a threat to international peace and security” – failing to explain with active support from Washington, using its fighters as imperial foot soldiers, providing them with weapons, munitions, aerial and other support.

ISIS couldn’t exist without foreign backing, Washington its main ally, pretending otherwise.

Tillerson “congratulate(d) the Syrian people and (terrorist-infested) Syrian Democratic Forces…on the liberation of Raqqa.”

A separate article explained the city’s rape and destruction, not liberation, tens of thousands of civilians massacred, terror-bombing continuing for months, residential areas targeted, most ISIS fighters redeployed to Deir Ezzor, Syrian ground forces and Russian aerial operations smashing them.

Washington’s rape and destruction of Raqqa was a Nuremberg-level high crime, one of many by US forces in the region and elsewhere, millions of casualties caused in multiple theaters, many more daily.

Tillerson: “Over the last seven months, millions of people have been liberated from ISIS’ brutal rule and working with our partners on the ground we are setting the conditions to enable people to return home.”

Fact: Syrian and allied forces, greatly aided by Russian airpower, alone liberated thousands of square miles of territory from terrorists supported by Washington and its rogue allies.

Fact: They want endless war and slaughter continued, not ended, Russia the only major power going all-out for peaceful conflict resolution.

Fact: Tillerson’s job includes suppressing information about US aggression in multiple theaters, pretending America seeks peace and stability – nowhere, including at home.

Trump’s leading diplomat is on a Middle East trip, visiting Gulf States, reportedly seeking to ally Saudi Arabia and Iraq against Iran.

On Saturday, he arrived in Riyadh, Monday his next stop in Qatar. Trying to form a Saudi/Iraqi alliance against Tehran before wasn’t accomplished, Tillerson’s efforts unlikely to be more successful than earlier attempts.

Iran and Iraq are allies, not adversaries, Tillerson and other US officials unlikely to turn them against each other.

Washington spent decades raping and destroying Iraq, infiltrating the country with ISIS terrorists, perhaps more coming to massacre Iraqis in other parts of the country.

Tillerson represents Washington’s imperial agenda, allied with NATO, Israel and other regional rogue states, fundamentally against peace and stability, waging permanent wars.

He’s participating in the inaugural Saudi Arabia-Iraq Coordination Committee meeting in Riyadh, capital of the despotic regime, the most ruthless among Arab states.

Shia-majority Iraq and Sunni-run Saudi Arabia make strange bedfellows, adversaries for decades, suspicious of each other’s intentions, Riyadh a regime no one can trust, Iraq led by US-installed puppet Haider al-Abadi.

Both countries had no formal diplomatic relations from 1990 to 2015, tenuous ones now.

Iran is a reliable ally, Riyadh and Washington regimes to fear, not trust.

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Tillerson Endorses Regime Change in Iran

[image: Reuters]Saying “(o)ur Iranian policy is under development,” Tillerson responded affirmatively when asked if the Trump administration supports regime change in Iran.

Washington relies on “elements inside” the country to pursue its objectives, Tillerson explained.

In 2009, after its June election, days of US-orchestrated street protests followed – a so-called “green revolution” attempt to replace its government with a pro-Western puppet one, CIA dirty hands involved in the failed scheme.

Decades of US efforts to transform the Islamic Republic into a subservient client state consistently failed. Does Trump intend another attempt?

Tillerson said the administration’s Iranian policy hasn’t yet been presented to the president. He lied claiming “we certainly recognize Iran’s continued destabilizing presence in the region, their payment of foreign fighters, their export of militia forces in Syria, in Iraq, in Yemen, their support for Hezbollah.”

“And we are taking action to respond to Iran’s hegemony. Additional sanctions actions have been put in place against individuals and others.”

“We continually review the merits both from the standpoint of diplomatic but also international consequences of designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in its entirety as a terrorist organization.”

“Our policy towards Iran is to push back on this hegemony, contain their ability to develop obviously nuclear weapons, and to work toward support of those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of that government. Those elements are there, certainly as we know.”

On Thursday, Tillerson’s predecessor John Kerry said unnamed Middle East leaders pressured Obama to bomb Iran – likely Netanyahu and the Saudi family dictatorship.

“Leaders in the region were saying to me personally and to…Obama (to) bomb these guys…We were hurtling toward conflict,” Kerry said.

Maybe Trump intends crossing un unthinkable red line, Russia likely getting involved if he does, maybe China as well. Attacking Iran would amount to a major escalation of global conflict.

Responding to the threat, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi called Tillerson’s remarks “interventionist, in gross violation of the compelling rules of international law, unacceptable and strongly condemned.”

“Since the 1950s, the United States tried to meddle in Iranian affairs by different strategies such as coup d’etat, regime change, and military intervention.”

Iran is the region’s leading proponent of peace and stability. America’s ruthless agenda is polar opposite.

Tillerson Vows Forever Sanctions on Russia

(image: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

According to acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner, Tillerson spoke to (illegitimate US-installed putschist) Ukraine (puppet) president Petro Poroshenko on Monday.

He reiterated Washington’s firm commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity – saying sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns control of the Crimean peninsula to Ukraine and fully implements its Minsk agreement commitments.

Fact: The Republic of Crimea is sovereign Russian Federation territory. The overwhelming will of its people by national referendum wants it no other way.

Fact: In February, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said “Crimea…belong(s) to the Russian Federation. We don’t give back our own territory.”

Fact: Russia and Donbass freedom fighters alone observe Minsk terms. Kiev putschists consistently violate them unaccountably.

Fact: As ExxonMobil CEO, Tillerson opposed sanctions, calling them counterproductive and ineffective.

On Monday after meeting with Sergey Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called Russian and EU strategic partnership “surreal” with sanctions in place.

The “full implementation of the Minsk Agreements by all sides” is a precondition for lifting them, she said – a pretext for maintaining them. Kiev is a serial violator.

Lavrov blasted its regime, saying “(t)he apparent sabotage by (its) leadership of everything that is written in the Minsk agreements should meet some (responsible) reaction from those who patronize this” rogue state.

Kiev ignores its responsibility under Minsk, pursuing its own agenda – with support and encouragement from Washington and key European nations.

Why is Russia sanctioned for observing Minsk, not Kiev despite its daily violations, Lavrov asked?

EU states are subservient to US imperial interests – maintaining a permanent state of war in multiple theaters, supporting putschists running Ukraine.

Elon Musk’s Crazy Idea to Solve Highway Traffic Looks Like It Is Actually Happening

January 26, 2017   |   Everett Numbers

(ANTIMEDIA) — Forget flying cars. Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is going underground as soon as next month, the billionaire teased on Twitter this week. Inspired by Los Angeles’ car congestion, his enthusiasm for tunnels has grown since meeting with President Donald Trump.

“Exciting progress on the tunnel front,” Musk tweeted Wednesday morning. “Plan to start digging in a month or so.”

Known for chasing seemingly unattainable goals, the innovator who upturned the mobile finance industry by helping develop PayPal is now sounding quite serious about burrowing underneath L.A. and building new tunnels to alleviate the gridlock above.

Musk may not have to dig too deep into his own pockets, however. Last November, Californians voted in favor of big infrastructure spending, while much of the rest of the country elected President Trump, who has vowed to approve some $1 trillion for shovel-ready jobs.

In 2015, L.A. drivers spent an average of 81 hours idling on freeways, making the city the worst in the country for traffic jams, according to Inrix.

“Traffic is driving me nuts,” Musk tweeted in December. “Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging.”

At the time, Musk declared his future tunneling business to be named The Boring Company. He didn’t come up with the idea out of boredom, though. He just wanted to get to the airport sooner, and who doesn’t? Responding to other tweets, he said his initial project would run from “across from my desk at SpaceX,” to “Crenshaw and the 105 Freeway, which is 5 mins from LAX.”

Musk met with Trump on Monday and praised the anticipated new secretary of state Rex Tillerson the following day on Twitter. Is Musk, a clean energy entrepreneur, making good with an old school oil tycoon? With Trump promising to allocate $1 trillion of taxpayer funds towards infrastructure programs, it’s not a far cry to assume Musk is interested.

Indeed, tunneling largely depends on government spending, which makes up 69.5 percent of the industry’s revenue, USA Today reported.

However, there are still issues of regulation, especially in California and particularly Los Angeles, where permits can be hard to come by. That may be the determining factor as to whether there will be any light at the end of Musk’s tunnel vision.

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