Does Iran’s President Want to Wipe Israel off the Map or Deny the Holocaust?

February 5, 2012 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

What’s Behind the West’s Involvement in Lybia?

September 18, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

Some food for thought regarding Lybia (a friend forwarded several articles to me):

First off, I believe it’s quite curious that the IMF was so quick to recognize the TNC as Lybian government:

International Monetary Fund (IMF) today recognised the rebel’s National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate government of Libya, assuring the war ravaged country of rapid and sustainable economic recovery.

“I am happy to report that reflecting the views of the international community, the IMF will deal with the NTC as the government of Libya,” IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said.

“In this context, the Fund stands ready to help the authorities through technical assistance, policy advice, and financial support if requested, as they begin to rebuild Libya’s economy,” she said.

… it certainly helps motivate “rebel” leaders to seize power when they are given the ability to request massive financial aid, pay it out to themselves and their cronies, and kindly pass the bill on to the country’s future taxpayers, in short … the IMF’s modus operandi.

In March BBC already reported:

Libya has declared gold reserves worth more than $6bn at current prices, thought to be held largely at home.

The reserves are substantial, ranking in the global top 25, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) data.

… since then gold has risen by about 30%, so those total reserves would now be closer to $8bn, if the reports are accurate.

And Asia Times Online asks Libya all about oil, or central banking?:

(…)

I have never before heard of a central bank being created in just a matter of weeks out of a popular uprising. This suggests we have a bit more than a rag tag bunch of rebels running around and that there are some pretty sophisticated influences.

(…)

Another provocative bit of data circulating on the Net is a 2007 “Democracy Now” interview of US General Wesley Clark (Ret). In it he says that about 10 days after September 11, 2001, he was told by a general that the decision had been made to go to war with Iraq. Clark was surprised and asked why. “I don’t know!” was the response. “I guess they don’t know what else to do!” Later, the same general said they planned to take out seven countries in five years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran.

What do these seven countries have in common? In the context of banking, one that sticks out is that none of them is listed among the 56 member banks of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). That evidently puts them outside the long regulatory arm of the central bankers’ central bank in Switzerland.

The most renegade of the lot could be Libya and Iraq, the two that have actually been attacked. Kenneth Schortgen Jr, writing on Examiner.com, noted that “[s]ix months before the US moved into Iraq to take down Saddam Hussein, the oil nation had made the move to accept euros instead of dollars for oil, and this became a threat to the global dominance of the dollar as the reserve currency, and its dominion as the petrodollar.”

According to a Russian article titled “Bombing of Libya – Punishment for Ghaddafi for His Attempt to Refuse US Dollar”, Gaddafi made a similarly bold move: he initiated a movement to refuse the dollar and the euro, and called on Arab and African nations to use a new currency instead, the gold dinar. Gaddafi suggested establishing a united African continent, with its 200 million people using this single currency.

During the past year, the idea was approved by many Arab countries and most African countries. The only opponents were the Republic of South Africa and the head of the League of Arab States. The initiative was viewed negatively by the USA and the European Union, with French President Nicolas Sarkozy calling Libya a threat to the financial security of mankind; but Gaddafi was not swayed and continued his push for the creation of a united Africa.

(…)

So is this new war all about oil or all about banking? Maybe both – and water as well. With energy, water, and ample credit to develop the infrastructure to access them, a nation can be free of the grip of foreign creditors. And that may be the real threat of Libya: it could show the world what is possible.

Most countries don’t have oil, but new technologies are being developed that could make non-oil-producing nations energy-independent, particularly if infrastructure costs are halved by borrowing from the nation’s own publicly owned bank. Energy independence would free governments from the web of the international bankers, and of the need to shift production from domestic to foreign markets to service the loans.

If the Gaddafi government goes down, it will be interesting to watch whether the new central bank joins the BIS, whether the nationalized oil industry gets sold off to investors, and whether education and healthcare continue to be free.

Of course health care is never free, so just ignore that nonsensical statement. The article also makes some, in my opinion, very questionable analyses about monetary policy and central banking which I am sparing you in the excerpts above. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide a lot of interesting journalistic insights into what may be going on behind the scenes in this project.

As my friend who sent me these articles pointed out: Let’s see how long it’ll take until we hear stories about Lybian assets missing.

Tags: bis, central banking, gold, imf, lybia

US Sends Billions in War Equipment to Kabul – Neither Country Can Afford It

September 6, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

Another example of the staggering degree to which western governments are literally dumping armaments into countries that simply can’t afford them:

In an attempt to hide the Afghan government’s military dependency on the United States, the US is sending $2.7 billion of military equipment to the beleaguered, corrupt Afghan government. But neither government can afford it.

Preceding the NATO pull out in 2014, the shipments will include 22,000 US vehicles, 20 Russian helicopters, 120mm artillery guns, and transport aircraft from Italy. It will not include tanks, fighter jets, or Black Hawk helicopters, despite Afghan requests.

Estimates of NATO expenditures on Afghanistan’s security infrastructure are expected to be $11 billion by 2014, and $10 billion for military hardware. It takes approximately $6 billion a year – more than three times the Kabul government’s annual income – to sustain these assets. And the US is unprepared to cover that cost.

The US is finding itself pressured in its attempt to cut costs due to budgetary deficits, while also beefing up Afghan security forces to at least feign some measure of ready independence. A recent congressional report uncovering tens of billions of dollars of waste in Afghanistan warned the losses could continue to accrue if the Afghan is unable or unwilling to sustain US-funded projects after withdrawal.

I’ve said it before. War is a racket, always and everywhere.

Tags: afghan war, afghanistan, war

Protests in Lybia Escalate

February 21, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

Tags: lybia, protests

Middle East Protests Continue – Bloodshed in Bahrain

February 19, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

The Times reports Carnage in Bahrain as the Military Opens Fire:

As a heavy moon rose above Bahrain’s Pearl Roundabout, the locus of the island nation’s protest this week, the army opened fire on a group of men who had just sat down for evening prayer. The military fired live ammunition from nearby buildings or from tanks — it was hard to tell because of the ensuing melee. Canisters of tear gas rained down.

The men scattered as they tried to outrun the billowing wave of tear gas. They squatted in the wing of a small mosque nearby, where another reporter and I joined them, seeking refuge. The wails of sirens rent the air. “We were peaceful,” said Hussein Mashkoor, 25, a technical consultant. “Can you see any armed people here? We want a kingdom with a King but where the people have the right to choose their government.”

Wonder what side the US government will be taking here?

From Wikipedia:

The kingdom has a small but well equipped military called the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). The BDF is primarily equipped with United States equipment, such as the F16 Fighting Falcon, F5 Freedom Fighter, UH60 Blackhawk, M60A3 tanks, and the ex-USS Jack Williams, an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate renamed the RBNS Sabha. The Government of Bahrain has a cooperative agreement with the United States Military and has provided the United States a base in Juffair since the early 1990s. This is the home of the headquarters for Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) / United States Fifth Fleet (COMFIFTHFLT), and about 1500 United States and coalition military personnel.

By the way, Bahrain is a country with a largely Shiite population, subjugated by Sunni (US backed and supported) leaders.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

At any rate. It’s refreshing to see the people stand up for their rights in the Middle East and to see this spread like wildfire.

If this isn’t the beginning of some epic blowback to misguided decades of Western meddling in the region, then I don’t know what is or ever could be …

Tags: bahrain

US Plans to “Aid Democracy” in Egypt

February 12, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

With all the turmoil in the Middle East, it’s good to see that the US Government has learned a lesson not to repeat the same mistakes of meddling in other countries’ affairs … oh wait …

Now that Hosni Mubarak is getting accustomed to life as an ex-dictator, Barack Obama and his foreign-policy aides have a new task. Washington has publicly called for an Egyptian transition to democracy, which Egypt has never known.

To avoid a continuation of dictatorial rule under a new strongman — or a dangerous power vacuum as weaker players try to seize control — Egypt will need to see the lightning-fast development of long-suppressed political parties.

So the U.S. is preparing a new package of assistance to Egyptian opposition groups, designed to help with constitutional reform, democratic development and election organizing, State Department officials tell TIME. The package is still being formulated, and the officials decline to say how much it would be worth or to which groups it would be directed.

(…)

The Obama Administration cut democracy-and-governance aid to Egyptian opposition groups in its first two years in office, from $45 million in George W. Bush’s last budget to $25 million for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. The Obama Administration also stopped providing aid to groups that had not registered with the Egyptian government, drawing criticism from human-rights organizations.

How someone can read/write this stuff and keep a straight face simply amazes me.

So the US government finally begins to wind down its meddling, a peaceful revolution ensues, and the first thing they want to do is step up their meddling again.

Guys, it’s fine. Just once keep your sleazy fingers out this one time. Is it really that hard to just let people live their lives and decide their own destiny?

Just look at Iraq. What has the maximum level of meddling accomplished for the people? Ongoing civil unrests, water and foot shortages and 5-20 Iraqis A DAY dying in battle.

Don’t get me wrong. I have no illusions. I’m merely attacking the abstract moral justifications for this endeavor. I am perfectly aware that foreign aid is in actuality nothing but another way to rip off US taxpayers at minimal to no oversight in order to shovel money into the pockets of lobbyists and contractors.

On, and in case it’s of interest, the US government owes the Egyptians over $34 billion. Go figure …

Tags: egypt, Interventionism

Egypt Debt Riskier Than Iraq; Instability Spreads in Middle East

January 28, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

To pick up on Government Collapses, Crises, and Protests Around the World …

Bloomberg reports Egypt Riskier Than Iraq in Swaps as Protests Spread to Mubarak:

Egypt is riskier than Iraq in the market for credit default swaps for the first time in at least a year after protests denouncing President Hosni Mubarak.

The cost of protecting Egyptian debt against default for five years with the contracts jumped 69 basis points, or 0.69 percentage points, this week to 375 today, compared with 328 for Iraq, according to prices from CMA, a data provider in London. Just last week, Iraqi swaps cost 19 basis points more than Egypt’s, and in June, an average 240 basis points more, as Iraq recovered from the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

The unrest, inspired by the revolt that toppled Tunisia’s leader, “does raise political risks,” said Eric Fine, a portfolio manager in New York who helps Van Eck Associates Corp. oversee $3 billion in emerging-market assets. “If this is a revolution, the price of risk for Egypt could go much higher, and if it’s a failed one” the cost will drop to 300 basis points and probably 250, Fine said in a phone interview.

Higher borrowing costs may crimp Egypt’s ability to meet its target of cutting the budget deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product by 2015 from the current 8 percent. Yields at the government’s debt auction climbed this week. The average rate on 91-day bills rose 30 basis points from the previous sale to 9.5 percent, while the yield on 182-day bills advanced 20 basis points to 10.2 percent, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Here’s an anonymous message:

In addition it seems like something’s happening in Yemen …

Also on Thursday, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Yemen, one of the Middle East’s most impoverished countries, demanding the ouster of the 32-year-old American-backed government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, vowing to continue until the government either fell or consented to reforms.

… and in Algeria …

Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is considering high-level cabinet changed in hope of showing a reformist bent after the country was shaken by riots, people familiar with the matter said.

There is no clear timing for the changes, but one scenario under consideration would include the promotion of Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi to be the new prime minister, replacing current Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, they said. Such a move could be part of a broader reshuffle aimed at replacing officials with ties to political parties with technical experts whose reputations remain intact after the protests.

… and last but not least there are some really impressive pictures here.

Tags: algeria, egypt, yemen

Government Collapses, Crises, and Protests Around the World

January 26, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

Something seems to be brewing these days, now doesn’t it?

January 12th: In Lebanon the unity government collapses:

Lebanon’s unity government has collapsed after the Hezbollah movement and its political allies resigned from the cabinet over arguments stemming from a UN investigation into the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, in 2005.

January 14th: In Tunisia the President has stepped down and a state of emergency has been declared:

Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has stepped down after 23 years in power as protests over economic issues snowballed into rallies against him.

Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has taken over as interim president, and a state of emergency has been declared.

Mr Ben Ali left Tunisia with his family, and has since arrived in Saudi Arabia, officials said.

Earlier, French media said President Nicolas Sarkozy had rejected a request for his plane to land in France.

Dozens of people have died in recent weeks as unrest has swept the country and security forces have cracked down on demonstrations over unemployment, food price rises and corruption.

(…)

The protests started after an unemployed graduate set himself on fire when police tried to prevent him from selling vegetables without a permit. He died a few weeks later.

Note what’s at the root of the outrage here: Government restrictionism in action. This is what governments do all over the world, from minimum wage legislation to union legislation to antitrust legislation, and what have you; interesting to see people wake up to the injustice of these concepts. Although I do of course realize that that’s not all that this is about. :)

January 20th: Irish government collapses:

Irish Prime Minster Brian Cowen has called an Irish election for March 11th.

Speaking to a packed parliament, Cowen stated that he was reassigning six cabinet portfolios after six of his ministers resigned.

His comments ended a day of mounting chaos in the parliament as it became clear that the Green Party were preventing the Fianna Fail party from replacing the minsters who resigned .

Opposition leader Enda Kenny of Fine Gael said he was delighted there was finally an air of finality because of the naming of an election date.

The Irish collapse of course has to be seen in light of economic difficulties coupled with political disagreements.

January 25th: “Unprecedented” protests in Egypt:

The scope of Egypt’s protests today, calling for greater freedom and downfall of strongman President Hosni Mubarak, is unprecedented.

Though tens of thousands took to the streets of Cairo in 2005 calling for democratic reform, today’s protests are far beyond the action in the capital. Reporters and activists on the scene in Cairo say there was a spirit of anger and defiance in the crowds and there were protests of varying sizes in at least a half-dozen Egyptian cities.

It will be interesting to see if other US backed dictators will soon face similar challenges across the middle east. In particular Pakistan will be interesting to watch.

In any case … what a turbulent start into the year 2011. What a close succession of government failures, collapses, and mass protests in Europe and the Middle East!

Tags: egypt, government collapses, ireland, lebanon, protests, tunisia

Eleven Days in Burma

January 21, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

My friend just came back from a trip to her parents’ motherland, Burma or Myanmar as it’s officially called.

She’s writing about her experiences in a blog that she just started.

If you’re interested in some first hand reporting from a country that few people visit these days, check it out here.

Tags: burma, myanmar

Irish Government Collapses

January 21, 2011 · Posted in Foreign Policy · Comment

Irish Central writes Irish leader Brian Cowen calls an election for March 11:

Speaking to a packed parliament, Cowen stated that he was reassigning six cabinet portfolios after six of his ministers resigned.

His comments ended a day of mounting chaos in the parliament as it became clear that the Green Party were preventing the Fianna Fail party from replacing the minsters who resigned .

Opposition leader Enda Kenny of Fine Gael said he was delighted there was finally an air of finality because of the naming of an election date.

Minister of State Conor Lenihan called for the Taoiseach’s resignation. Lenihan said that the developments over the past 24 hours meant that those who voted for a motion of confidence Cowen on Tuesday have now changed their minds. He urged senior ministers to act urgently.

The proceedings in Irish Parliament had been suspended as opposition leaders refused to move forward until Prime Minister Brian Cowen explained the six recent ministerial resignations.

Rumors of an impending collapse of the government and an immediate election were circulating as the Green Party met to decide whether they would withdraw support for the government.

Earlier today parliament was suspended after rowdy scenes. Opposition leader, Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny demanded that proceeding be suspended until Cowen could explain what was going on within the Government.

Kenny said “This is the worst government in history…This would not have happened even in the days of great dictators. It is unprecedented, what you have done.”

He continued “These are the last days of the worst government in the history of the state.”

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O’Keefe tendered his resignation this morning. Wednesday saw Mary Harney from Health, Dermot Ahern from Justice, Noel Dempsey from transport and Tony Killeen from defense all resigned. These followed the resignation of Micheal Martin from foreign affairs who resigned after a failed leadership challenge.

Kenny said that the actions of Cowen had been a “cowardly, disgraceful act” and said he was “refusing to come in here today to tell the people of his country what is happening with a Government that has imploded, with a Government that is dysfunctional, that has disintegrated, and that had let our people down”.

Similarly Eamon Gilmore, Labour party leader, said “What is happening here this morning is disrespectful of the people of this country…There is some Kind of political cynical exercise in last-minute jobbery being hatched by this Government.”

John Gormley, the Green party leader, spoke with Cowen about the resignations. The Green party are understood be by frustrated over the departures. Gormley is expect to discuss the matter later today in parliament.

The Green Party, who had asked in November that an election take place in January, yesterday said that it would take place no later than March. March 11 th has now been designated.