ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Written by  Robert Parry ; Originally appeared at  Consortiumnews.com The mainstream U.S. media is congratulating itself on its courageous defiance of  President Trump  and its hard-hitting condemnations of Russia, but the press seems to have forgotten that its proper role within the U.S. democratic structure is not to slant stories one way or another but to provide objective information for the American people. The Washington Post building in downtown Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Washington Post) By that standard – of respecting that the people are the nation’s true sovereigns – the mainstream media is failing again. Indeed, the chasm between what America’s elites are thinking these days and what many working-class Americans are feeling is underscored by the high-fiving that’s going on inside the elite mainstream news media, which is celebrating its Trump- and Russia-bashing as the “new golden age of American journalism.” The New York Times and The Was...

ISIS has responded to the government advance  in the province of Homs  with intensified attacks on the Ithriyah-Aleppo road that is the only government supply line to Aleppo city. ISIS terrorists have attacked few Syrian army checkpoints in the area, destroying them and capturing high a notable amount of weapons from government forces including Konkurs and Metis-M anti-tank guided missiles. Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image

FILE IMAGE NATO is joining the US-led coalition operating in Syria and Iraq, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday. NATO leaders will adopt a new plan to step up the fight against terrorism, Stoltenberg told reporters at a news conference in Brussels. The plan will include NATO’s membership in the US-led coalition against ISIS. “This will send a strong political message of NATO’s commitment to the fight against terrorism. And improve coordination within the coalition. But it does not mean that NATO will engage in combat operations,” the alliance’s secretary general said. “Today we will decide to expand our support to the coalition. With more AWACS flight-time, more information-sharing, and air-to-air refueling.” NATO members will reportedly establish a new terrorism intelligence cell here at NATO HQ and appoint a coordinator to oversee efforts in the fight against terrorism. According to Stoltenberg, the military black will not be engaged in...

Government troops prepare to engage insurgents in Marawi City. (Reuters: Romeo Ranoco) The Philippines military has launched airstrikes on the ISIS-held area of Marawi city as the fighting with terrorists is intensifying. “’Yung ginagawa natin, napaka-precise. Gumagamit tayo ng surgical air strikes (What we used is very precise. We used surgical air strikes),” AFP quoted spokesman for First Infantry Division Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera statement during a televised press briefing in Marawi City on Thursday. The airstrikes were conducted in the areas of Gadungan, Basak Malutlut and Bangon where from 30 to 40 terrorists were remaining. He added that the military warned the residents through radio and the local government units to leave their homes before the air force conducted airstrikes. According to the military, 7 government soldiers were killed and 31 wounded in the classhes. In turn, 13 terrorists were killed.