Evening News: Russia, Iran, Gaza, EU

The usual line-up, but note how things continue to progress, even in the course of a single day:

First up - we see more and more stories about tensions between Russia and the U.S. The cold war seems alive and well:

U.S. Caught Meddling In Russia Elections

What would Americans say if they found their polling stations and certain political parties entirely infiltrated by Chinese money, Chinese observers, and Chinese-backed candidates promoting China’s interests in an AMERICAN election?

The answer ranges from incarceration, to trials featuring charges ranging from fraud, to sedition and even treason with sentences ranging from decades to life in prison, perhaps even death, as well as possible military action for what could easily be considered an act of war.

Indeed, the attempted subversion of a foreign nation and/or meddling in its elections are acts of war, an act of war the United States government through its various “Non-Governmental Organizations” (NGOs) have been committing on and off for decades around the globe. In fact, the very “Arab Spring” is a geopolitical conflagration tipped off by this vast network of Western backed NGOs.

Back to Russia. Whether this is true or not is irrelevant - what matters is the increasing rhetoric and tone between the U.S. and Russia:

Most recently, as Russia’s elections approach, AFP has claimed that NGOs such as US NED-funded Golos and New Times’ slon.ru, which regularly features columns by the now jailed and above mentioned Khodorkovsky, were attacked in order to prevent the exposure of “mass election fraud.”

NED’s official website lists an astounding number of meddlesome NGOs conducting activities across the Russian Federation that no American in their right mind would allow on US soil. Golos is just one of many NGOs funded by the United States government, overseen by the US Embassy in Russia, and used to meddle in the sovereign internal affairs of their nation.

AFP reported, “Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, whose United Russia party has won Sunday’s polls but with a reduced majority, has denounced non-governmental organisations like Golos...And indeed, Golos is certifiably betraying the Russian people by taking foreign money and pursing a foreign agenda, masquerading as “pro-democracy” crusaders.Golos’ activities, mirroring those in the US-engineered Arab Spring...in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of upcoming elections Putin and is party are predicted to easily win.

Russia and a growing number of other nations are openly exposing and holding accountable agents of sedition operating in their country, sent and funded by US tax payers’ money.

Putin Slams Clinton For Encouraging Protestors

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin strongly criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday, accusing her of encouraging and funding Russians protesting election fraud, and warned of a wider Russian crackdown on dissent.

By describing Russia's parliamentary election as rigged, Putin said Clinton "gave a signal" to his opponents.

"They heard this signal and with the support of the U.S. State Department began their active work," Putin said in televised remarks. He said the United States is spending "hundreds of millions" of dollars to influence Russian politics with the aim of weakening a rival nuclear power.

Putin's tough words show the deep cracks in U.S.-Russian ties despite President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" relations with the Kremlin. Ahead of the election, President Dmitry Medvedev threatened to deploy missiles to target the U.S. missile shield in Europe if Washington failed to assuage Moscow's concerns about its plans.

Next we see the EU moving into more and more central control and less and less national sovereignty:

EU leaders embrace 'fiscal compact' demanded by central bank

European Union leaders have endorsed a series of rules tightening budget surveillance and institutionalising limits on public spending - the 'fiscal compact' that the European Central Bank (ECB) has demanded before it can more aggressively purchase Italian and Spanish debt.

But employing language stressing the unity of the bloc as a whole, they said: “The European Council is determined to preserve the integrity of the EU and the coherence between the euro area and the EU as a whole.”

The eurozone leaders also endorsed new rules proposed by the European Commission on 23 November that give the EU executive far-reaching new powers over domestic fiscal policy decision-making.

Under the proposals, almost all fiscal policy-making would be taken out of the hands of national assemblies and delivered up to European civil servants.

If the commission does not like what it sees, it can demand changes to the budget, as well as other mid-term plans a government may have for its economy.

Those countries that have exceeded EU rules on the size of their debt and deficit would also be subject to tighter monitoring by Brussels and would have to submit regular reports on how they are progressing in trying to correct the situation.

“This will imply more intrusive control of the national budgetary stance by the EU,” they continue

IAF Strikes Terror Targets In Gaza In Response To Rockets

The Israel Air Force struck targets connected with terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip early on Friday morning in response to a spate of rockets fired into southern Israel from the coastal territory on Thursday, the IDF Spokesman's Office said in a statement.

IAF aircraft recorded direct hits on a center of terrorist activity in southern Gaza, as well as an additional terror target in northern Gaza.

Iran State Television Displays 'Downed U.S. Surveillance Drone'

Iraninan state television displayed what it said was a downed U.S. surveillance drone on Thursday, days after U.S. officials expressed concern that Tehran would be able to glean information about a classified military program.

According to the Iraninan military official, the drone was "equipped with highly advanced surveillance, data gathering, electronic communication and radar systems," saying that "this kind of plane has been designed to evade radar systems and from the view point of technology it is amongst the most recent types of advanced aircraft used by the U.S."

"Military experts are well aware how precious the technological information of this drone is," Fars quoted Hajizadeh as saying.

Iran, Israel Prepare For War

Israel's Home Front Command on Thursday held a nationwide drill simulating missile attacks on the Jewish state, just days after a report indicated that Iran's Revolutionary Guards were preparing for war.

Air raid sirens blared in Jerusalem and across northern Israel Thursday morning in a test of the warning system. Meanwhile, soldiers with the Home Front Command continued a week-long exercise in southern Israel simulating long-range missile attacks on hospitals, schools and other public buildings where mass casualties would be expected.

According to the British Telegraph, Iran's Revolutionary Guards is certain Israel will attack, and is preparing to retaliate. Western intelligence officials told the newspaper this week that Guards commander Gen. Mohammed Ali Jaafari recently ordered all of Iran's long-range missiles to be moved to more secure locations in preparation for a retaliatory launch against Israel.

While such an exchange would certainly lead to wider hostilities with Syria, Lebanon and possibly the new regime in Egypt, it is unlikely that the entire Arab League would join in an attack on Israel. In fact, many Arab states would be pleased to have Israel solve the Iran nuclear problem.