SYRIA: INTERNATIONAL WAR MONGERING, OR REAL THREAT?

INTERESTING GEO – STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

In recent past TURKEY has permitted NATO to erect missile defense radar that will detect Iranian Missile launches and thus indirectly supports ISRAEL with whom in recent past, diplomatic ties have somewhat suffered, officially because of the GAZA Flotilla incident, unofficially because of the gas findings in the Easter Mediterranean Sea and ISRAELS “flirting” with TURKEYS arch enemy, GREECE and CYPRUS.

In a remarkable turn of events RUSSIA suddenly announced it has activated a radar warning system in the western region of KALININGRAD in response to a planned US missile shield in EUROPE. That is the official statement. In reality it is a response to NATO radar in TURKEY and the looming threat of NATO or other foreign intervention in SYRIA. 

Furthermore MOSCOW is deploying warships to its base in the SYRIAN port of TARTUS. The long-planned mission comes, providentially, at the very moment when it could help prevent a potential conflict in the strategically important MIDDLE EASTERN country.

The RUSSIAN battle group will consist of three vessels led by the heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser.
This move was planned a year ago and has nothing to do with the ongoing crisis in the region; according to a RUSSIAN military official who was quoted by Izvestia newspaper. Apart from SYRIA, the aircraft carrier and its escort ships are set to visit the LEBANESE capital, BEIRUT, GENOA in ITALY and CYPRUS.

Nevertheless, the RUSSIAN Military official stated that the presence of a military force other than NATO’s is very useful for this region, as it will apparently prevent the outbreak of an armed conflict in the region.
Russia allegedly created a special naval squadron to deter Western military forces in the Mediterranean Sea. To repair and supply its ships, Moscow needed its own maintenance base in the region, and that was how the base in Tartus came into being. At present, the base is mostly used to support vessels of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Some 600 military and civilian personnel of the Defense Ministry serve there.

News of Russia’s naval deployment in TARTUS came shortly after the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush anchored off Syria, along with additional naval vessels. The US battle group is to remain in the Mediterranean, allegedly to conduct maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. 

RUSSIAN UAV DEPLOYMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Allegedly RUSSIA has increased its research and development program into UAV (Unman Aerial Vehicles, also known as (UAS) unmanned aircraft system, or (RPA) remotely piloted aircraft) operations and is rumored to deploy them in the region in due course.

Middle East

The Arab Spring Revisited 

Article by Mark Silverberg

With all the talk of revolutions, the Middle East continues to slip backwards. We see mobs burning buildings, and President Obama quoting Martin Luther King - “There is something in the soul that cries out for freedom” - while the leaders of this "democratic transformation" read Mein Kampf and are well on their way to establishing Islamic theocracies across the region.

While the Administration has sought “clarifications” from the Muslim Brotherhood concerning future relations with Israel, and minority and women’s rights, it has not received any formal response. What it did receive was news that Muslim Brotherhood leader Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb had just told thousands of his followers in a major Cairo mosque: “In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything.” Time and again, a Koran quote vowing that "one day we shall kill all the Jews" was uttered at the site.

Change is indeed coming, but it is not the sort of change this Administration has in mind. For anyone who has the slightest understanding of the socio-political crises gripping the Arab Middle East today, it is clear that the “Arab Spring” is morphing into an “Arab Winter” leaving in its wake political instability, Sunni-Shiite rivalries, bloody clashes, assassinations, bombings, massacres of civilians, sectarian violence, Islamic theocracies, and massive refugee problems – most notably from Syria - everything except liberal democracy as we know it. If anything, it's an "Islamic awakening", and the only winners will be the Muslim Brotherhood (whose political aims are akin to those of the revolutionary Khomeinists in Iran), its ideological ally Hamas, and the Salafists (who are even more extreme in their Islamic views).

We never learn from history. In 1979, as the Ayatollah Khomeini was seizing power in Iran and turning a largely peaceful secular revolution into a brutal Islamic theocracy, the New York Times ran an op-ed column entitled "Trusting Khomenei." The column argued that Khomeini was being depicted unfairly as an anti-Semitic theocratic reactionary when instead, "Iran may yet provide us with a desperately-needed model of humane governance for a third-world country." We all know how that turned out, but that didn't stop the Times from running another front page "news analysis" in February 2011 extolling the virtues of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. What happened in Iran, it assured us, could never happen in Egypt as the Brotherhood "is a mainstream group that stands as the most venerable of the Arab world's Islamic movements." And then there is the senior member of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Kamal al-Halbavi, who said he hoped Egypt would have “a good government, like the Iranian government, and a good president like Mr. Ahmadinejad, who is very brave.”

Even now, the Administration does not yet fully understand the implications of probable Muslim Brotherhood victories in Egypt, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco and the West Bank. To do so, it need only consult the April 2011 Pew Research Center poll results in Egypt (and Egypt is typical of other Arab countries in this regard) where 60% of Egyptians said that Shari'a must be the only source of legislation in their country, 82% said they favored stoning adulterers, and 77% supported flogging or cutting off the hands of thieves. In such a society, acceptance of Islamism and Sharia is to be expected, especially when 30% of the population is illiterate, 40% live on less than $2 a day, and the nation can barely feed itself.

When these attitudes translate themselves into an electoral victory, the Brotherhood can be expected to prevent parliament from passing any law that contradicts the explicit commands of Allah as conveyed through the Koran, the Hadith, and the example set by the prophet. Uriya Shavit of Tel Aviv University explains the implications of this in the autumn issue of AzureOnline (Shalem Center): “As Islamist scholars have explained repeatedly, human beings cannot permit what Allah has forbidden, nor can they ban what Allah permits.” She continues: “The inevitable result of (the Muslim Brotherhood’s) electoral victory will be the formation of a theocracy. It will not permit the scientific and technological revolution of which Arab societies are in such dire need.”

If Sharia is to become the supreme adjudicator of future legislation across the Arab world, non-Muslims will be excluded from full participation in Arab societies, official second-class status (dhimmitude) will be conferred on them, and their lives and property will be protected only so long as they pay the Jizya – a discriminatory tax that must be paid by non-Muslims under Islamic law. 

It can also be assumed that Islamic law will validate polygamy, the amputation of limbs, gender apartheid, the ethnic cleansing of Jews, mandatory donning of the veil for women, honor killings, the execution of homosexuals, prostitutes and apostates (those who convert away from Islam), female genital mutilation, bans on music, dancing, men and women mixing in public, the blowing up of liquor stores, restrictions on scientific and technological inquiry (the effect of which will suffocate philosophy, art and research), suppression of freedom of expression for artists, journalists and writers, the punishment of those in the media who disagree with their government, and the practicing of any religion other than Islam (witness the recent attacks on Copts and Christian Coptic churches in Egypt).

In his blog, analyst Daniel Greenfield also notes…“If the Brotherhood achieves its aims, the military will be taken apart and replaced by an Iranian-style Revolutionary Guard. That process is already underway in Turkey where there are more generals in prison than on the front lines. But if the military waits out all its rivals and then picks up Western support for stabilizing Egypt, then a new Mubarak will be in power.” Only the army can prevent the establishment of an Islamic state.

All this should lead the Western powers to reflect on the true meaning of democracy. It is much more than the process of voting in free elections. When we speak of democracy, we assume it means the same thing to all peoples everywhere. The assumption is that popular power goes hand-in-hand with freedom and tolerance for minorities. It is an assumption not founded on history or reason, but on wishful thinking. 

Democracy is no solution in countries where tolerance and the freedom to organize or dissent do not exist. In the Arab Middle East, Islamic democracy will justify democratic tyranny by the majority and will unify countries by purging them of all their divisive elements. And if the rest of the population doesn't agree - especially non-Muslim minorities - elections will be rigged, bullets will fly, protesters will be slaughtered in the streets, and the prisons will be full.

THE MEGA BANKS:

 GOLDMAN SACHS, JPMORGAN CHASE, ETC. CONTROL EUROPE'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

by Bob Chapman

In Europe each time a new player is presented we find he is a Goldman Sachs’ alumnus. Recent entries are Mario Monti “appointed” PM of Italy, Lucas Papademas “appointed” PM of Greece and Mario Dragahi “appointed” President of the European Central Bank. The banks blatantly control governments and agencies presenting us with an oligarchy, which controls most of the nations on the planet. In America politicians are bought and paid for. In Europe there is a different mind set, a shared worldview of bureaucrats, technocrats, politicians and the elite bankers of world government and domination. What has happened in this process is that Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and other mega-banking has retained power for decades. They control all the players in the field, so the outcome is always in their favor. The bankers and others in turn are paid via billions of dollars in bonuses. Banks are now bank holding companies having become that to avoid failure as brokerage firms. That is the case in the US, UK and Europe.

One of our subscribers in Brussels sent us a copy of “A European Mechanism for Financial Stability.” The present danger is seen in sovereigns heavily in debt and the heard effect of hedge funds. They say they won’t allow speculators to govern their societies. If they are serious why don’t they ban them from their markets? A universal ban would be even better and they could throw in derivatives for good measure.

Europe still does not have a longer-term structural solution to their debt crisis and none is in the offering. Germany cannot sell its total tranche of bonds and Mrs. Merkel says that if Germany can only sell 65% of its bonds how can Eurobonds or bonds of the six insolvent nations sell theirs? The debt crisis is burrowing even deeper like a large worm undermining the entire continent. Worse yet, we just found out that the Bundesbank usually holds back bonds for market making operations, thus, they only sold about half of the issue. If the crisis continues to deepen Germany and the other euro zone nations will have to reexamine where they are headed. 

 As we know all currencies and debt rates are increasing, which ties the banks of all the participants, including the solvent ones. Even with the German bunds, who is going to want to hold debt in a country that will have to guarantee one-half or more of the debt of other countries? At the same time the call goes out for strict supervision and enforcement of budget discipline. We have lived in these countries and that is not possible for any sustained period of time.

The Spanish election turned out as well as could be expected Calling for a vote on November 20th, the anniversary of Generalisimo’s death, turned out to be the kiss of death for Socialist PM Joe Luis Zapatero. There are too many people who liked Franco. The PP is a pro business party and already governs 11 of 17 of the country’s autonomous regions. If PP beats the Socialists in their stronghold in March, the PP will be in power for a number of years. Zapater’s legacy to the PP will have its work cut out for it with 22% unemployment and almost 7% yields to contend with. They will have to also try to restore the country’s AAA rating. Many voted for the lesser of two evils.

In France we have another case of government bailing out the banks and other euro zone members. These efforts could cost France its AAA rating. We’ll know in mid-January, but it does not look good.

Funding costs on a 10-year bond level are up and they look like they are going to stay there. Major countries are still paying close to 7%, which is the highest funding cost since the creation of the euro. The spread between French and German rates is about 2%, which is unheard of. The euro continues to be hammered vs. the dollar and the same is happening worldwide in stock markets. Most two-year paper has risen in yield over the past month. France is paying close to 4% versus .40% in Germany and in the US .28%. In Europe these bond markets could not function without the assistance of the ECB and the money and credit creation of sovereign governments, some banks are showing desperate signs. The biggest bank in Italy, Unibank, has to refinance $51 billion of bonds shortly. Their bond yields are now over 10%. Only the ECB can bail them out like the Fed bailed out banks in the US and Europe three years ago.

While this transpires 70% of Americans are unaware of the seriousness of what is taking place in Europe. Wait until 2012. Banks alone have to raise $660 billion of maturing debt, most 10-year paper is selling above 7-1/4%, which is a sign that they all need the help; Greece, Ireland and Portugal has already received. Remember, we are talking $6 trillion just to bail these countries out and to keep their economies going sideways. The solvent countries cannot come up with that kind of money without failing themselves. You have to ask why did the bankers let things go so far? They deliberately impeded the system, because they cannot be that stupid. Then there is the matter of capital flight. This year Greek banks have lost 20% of their deposits. We hope they bought gold and silver. We ask are Italian and Spanish deposits next? Over in Hungary Moody’s has cut their debt to non-investment grade. In the wake of that announcement France’s Sarkozy and Germany’s Merkel tell us that the ECB will act appropriately, whatever that means. These leaders do not know what to say or what to do. The situation is unsustainable, but we wouldn’t be surprised if this phase lasted into late January. Remember, Europe virtually closes down from December 7th until January 10th. This while the future of the European banking system is in dire trouble. 

While this transpires we wonder how many derivative failures there are and what their consequences could be? At last we heard from the US government, US bank exposure was $670 billion, mostly in credit default swaps. If the six European countries default on their debt, US banks cannot possibly stay solvent. The knack on contagion could take the US banking system down with it. In Europe there is no question that all European banks will have to be recapitalized by the countries in which they do business. In fact, it has already begun, just as it did in the US three years ago. That makes their currencies worth much less and gold and silver worth much more.

This is the greatest risk the EU has ever faced and as yet no one has any solutions. The euro and the entire 27-country union are at risk. This as we predicted has no solution. The weaker states have to be cut loose and the euro has to be phased out. Article 123 of the EU Treaty, prohibiting monetary financing or central bank funding of government, is illegal. That certainly is a stopper. That means the euro zone and the EU are trapped by their treaty and would have to change the treaty and, of course, the outcome would be massive inflation. If they stick to the treaty the euro will collapse. 

What it comes down to is that desperate violators do not care about the law. All they want is survival. On the other hand, Germans are unwilling to sacrifice their credibility or to abandon the legal path. Crisis or no crisis there is no reason to break the rules for those who have already broken them. Monetary inflation is the direct result of bailout and purging the system is the only solution for the long-term. We do not think Germany will abandon the rules and their principals. That means they are prepared to cut loose the six insolvents and hope the core euro nations can hold together. It is not only inflation, but credibility and trust as well.

Monetary financing only extends the problem; it is illegal and destroys the credibility and trust in national institutions.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Geopolitics

GEO – STRATEGIC RESHUFFLE  

That there is currently a reshuffling of the geopolitical landscape is nothing new. The question is where does all this lead to? 

THE OLD CONTINENT 

Let start in Europe. The current financial crisis in Europe some say is a monetary war between Anglo American establishment and the Europeans. If this is the case the current Rating Agencies hype makes sense for most of them are US Agencies and since we are living in a period where every move of our life is rated it is a easy task for corporate and politically motivated media to conduct a “PSY OPS” style propaganda where everyone seems to think the world is going to collapse because one of rating agency threatens to downgrade a country. Thus the Anglo American axis seems to have the upper hand in the monetary war against Europe. 

Another way of looking at it is that Europe’s current crisis is just a natural cycle that was bound to happen since Europe has prospered for more than 60 years and thus has reached its zenith; therefore it is only natural that a decline is imminent. Some even argue that a war in Europe is unavoidable and as a result of which the economy would once again kick start, political echelons of the European Union Powerhouse would shuffle new cards, as a subsequent of which Europe would enter another cycle of prosperity. 

The prospect of war in Europe is not such a farfetched scenario if one looks deeper into Europe’s history and how multi cultural diversity triggered armed conflicts in the past.

Last but not least there are the conspiracy theorists who view the current crisis in Europe as something triggered deliberately in order to justify a “new world order” in which Europe is part of one sovereign entity, one government and one monetary control body.

MIDDLE EAST

The euphoria bubble surrounding the Arab Spring has burst and brought back the harsh reality to its people. Only the naive ones truly believed that with the Arab Spring, true democracy would hold a triumphant victory march into Arab society. Instead we are back at square one. Egypt has and will not see significant changes, not now nor after the elections. Egypt will continue to be governed by an autocratic government. As for the rest of the “Arab Spring” countries, mainstream media naively continue to report that “Moderate” Islamic governments are about to take over and thus democracy is destined to take over in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Well keep on dreaming. 

SYRIA - SUNNI MONARCHIES VERSUS SHIITES AND ALAWITES?

The situation in Syria on the other hand is becoming increasingly complex and hard to analyze, because of a full out “PSY OPS” style covert operation by foreign entities, starting from the UK, USA and THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES. Monitoring main stream media such as BBC, CNN and the rest of corporate print media, one cannot avoid detecting certain PSY OPS tactics. First of all most of main stream media unquestioningly convey statements given by the Syrian Opposition in the UK and other countries as given fact. Furthermore many mainstream media outlets claim to have obtained information from opposition groups in Syria via cell phone and internet.

People how lived or visited Syria, know how rigorously mobile phone services and the internet are monitored and controlled by the Assad clan and their security services. Thus it seems rather unlikely that information obtained from the opposition via cell phones and internet social networks are genuine. 

In most likelihood these feedbacks are part of a PSY OPS strategy in order to destabilize the situation. One must not forget that SAUDIA ARABIA and TURKY seem to have a very strong geo- strategically interest in SYRIA and thus are eager to tumble the government.

Mainstream media also neglects to provide in-depth analysis as to why suddenly THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES is so desperate to sanction SYRIA. THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES was formed by eight ARAB states, all of whom are governed by ROYAL FAMILIES, BAHRAIN, JORDAN, KUWAIT, MOROCCO, OMAN, QATAR, SAUDI ARABIA and the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES and all of whom are predominantly SUNNI MUSLIMS, (including Turkey) and NATO allies, whereas SYRIA is ruled by the ASSAD clan which are ALAWITES and foster close ties to RUSSIA and IRAN which is predominantly SHIITE. Thus it becomes imminent why suddenly THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES is increasing its pressure on SYRIA. 

Geo-Strategically RUSSIA needs to support SYRIA in order to keep its only “foot in the water” in the MEDITERRANEAN SEA with its naval base in TARTUS. A regime change in DAMASCUS would oust RUSSIA and IRANIAN navies from the sea, thus eliminating the only friendly docking facilities.

As I have mentioned in previous articles in this blog, toppling the current regime will turn the region into utmost chaos and civil war, something ISRAEL and the USA can’t afford to risk.

USA PACIFIC REACH 

The USA, despite its debt crisis, is always on the quest for new geo strategic advantages and thus does not hesitate to change its geo-political tactics. It therefore does not come as a surprise that the USA currently is trying to gain a footstep in the door of the Pacific Rim. The latest activities being the increase of  number of troops in AUSTRALIA and closer ties with VIETNAM in order to gain more influence in the CHINESE sea which would take them at the doorsteps of CHINA.

Unfortunately RT is the only alternative video news resource on youtube that covers subjects mentioned in this blog,which makes this blog not as impartial as intended to be!!

Aside from the pacific quest the USA increasingly are trying to mend relations with certain LATIN AMERICAN countries such as ARGENTINA and BRAZIL in order to gain a share of their economic boom and to have a “foot in the doorstep” in the food supply chain. (Related article will be published on this block in due course).

The current geopolitical seismic shift the world is experiencing will bring about changes upon many generations to come, and for sure they are not for the better.  

Goldman Sachs and Europe's "Inside Job"

Goldman Sachs has infiltrated senior positions of power across Europe, says Le Monde's London correspondent, Marc Roche.

Debate on Austerity and the Eurozone

Cameron of Arabia, Sarkozy of Damascus

Cameron and Sarkozy to lead a "diplomatic drive" to remove the Assad? 

 

REGIME CHANGE IN EUROPE, FROM DEMOCRACY TO FINANCE DICTATORSHIP?

CREATING   MORE DEPTH EQUALS MORE AUSTERITY MEASURES, EQUALS MORE MONEY FOR BANKS

   

For the first time a high-ranking representatives of the financial industry as head of government of a European country has risen. Monti is a member of the Board of International Advisers, the investment bank Goldman Sachs

GREECE AND ITALY, VICTIMS OF A BANKERS' COUP?

The voice of the people is something the markets do not want to adhere to it seems. First there was Greece, the cradle of democracy, where early this month, the mention of a referendum offering the citizens a say in a series of severe austerity measures was enough to cause a uproar among the banksters and political marionettes of the financial markets which resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister George Papandreou who just wanted to bring the proposal before the people, as intended in democracy. Subsequently Merkozy, under the pressure of the banksters forced upon Greece a caretaker government under the leadership of Lucas Papademos, former vice president of the European Central Bank. 

Next on the line was Italy. Berlusconi found himself under pressure from the financial establishment and thus investors made a collective decision that he could no longer be trusted at the helm of the euro zone's third largest economy. Within an eye blinker Berlusconi was enthroned and the very idea of holding a vote to replace him became void. The markets had spoken, and obviously are not in favor of holding democratic elections.

"The country needs reforms, not elections," said Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council!!!

Merkozy and their “controllers”, the market made sure to bring about regime change upon these two countries in order to use the chance of a life time to replace the outgoing leaders with someone from outside the political class.

The two technocrats have been appointed because no politicians wants to face the electorate after doing what the markets have decided that needs to be done.

MARIO MONTI – INTERNATIONAL GOLDMAN SACHS ADVISOR

ANGLO-AMERICAN FINANCE WAR

Italy’s Mario Monti completed his graduate studies under James Tobin at Yale. Tobin was a Keynesian economist who served on the Council of Economic Advisors and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Goldman Sachs will lead the charge in the coming rape of Italy, for Monti is Goldman Sachs's international adviser.  

Thus the wholesale looting of the Italian economy and bankster privatization resulting in mass unemployment, wage cuts, pension thievery, and public services fire sales will be massive.

Monti was the first chairman of Bruegel, the internationalist European think-tank that steers the globalist agenda for the EU. Monti is also the European Chairman of David Rockefeller s Trilateral Commission and also a leading member of the Bilderberg Group.  

In short, Monti is a super-globalist. The Italian people can only expect to be run over and economically exploited once Mario Monti formerly starts to govern.

Parts of the article have been adapted from freelance journalist Kurt Nimmo and Stephan Faris of Times Magazine.

SAVE GERMAN DEMOCRACY

A HEMISFERIO SUR HISTORIA DE ÉXITO HETERODOXOS

  Spanish version of: 

A Southern Hemisphere Heterodox Success Story posted 8th of November

LECCIÓN ARGENTINA DE ECONOMÍA PARA EUROPA

Al contrario de los medios de comunicación argentinos, los medios de comunicación extranjeros pintan un panorama un tanto diferente de la situación eco-política del país. De hecho, la recuperación de Argentina tras su default se toma con frecuencia como ejemplo de cómo Europa, en cierta medida, podría superar su crisis económica. En la parte de habla alemana de Europa, muchos shows de TV eco-politicos muestran como cada vez más hay mas políticos interesados  en la recuperación de los argentinos y el crecimiento económico a pesar de que no se adhirió al Fondo Monetario Internacional, Banco Mundial y las doctrinas de Wall Street, desafiando así a los "eurócratas" a seguir su ejemplo.

Dado que el crecimiento en la Argentina continuó, los críticos en el Financial Times y el Wall Street Journal afirmaron que terminaría una vez que la  "capacidad no utilizada se agote". En lugar de agotarse el crecimiento de las ganancias finació la expansión del mercado interno y la capacidad de crear nuevas oportunidades para el crecimiento, sobre todo a nuevos mercados en Asia y Brasil.

Contrariamente a la tesis proclamada por los expertos económicos, la Argentina todavía tiene una gran cantidad de fondos disponibles y por lo tanto no está en peligro inminente de caer en problemas financieros. Argentina todavía se nutre de sus exportaciones de cultivos favorables. Incluso si los precios de la soja han bajado, la población cada vez mayor en todo el mundo aumenta la necesidad de alimentar a la gente. Por lo tanto el suministro de productos alimenticios no va a disminuir, aunque los especuladores manipular las tendencias de precios.

ARGENTINA CONFUNDÍO A LOS PRESTIGIOSOS ECONOMISTAS

La experiencia argentina va en contra de todos los preceptos de los organismos financieros internacionales (FMI, Banco Mundial), sus patrocinadores políticos y publicistas en la prensa financiera. Desde el primer año (2003) de la recuperación de Argentina hasta la actualidad, los expertos económicos han "predicho" que su crecimiento no era "sostenible" - ha continuado con firmeza desde hace más de una década. Los escritores financieros anunciaron que el default llevaría a la Argentina a ser excluida de los mercados financieros y que su economía se vendría abajo. Argentina se basó en la auto-financiación basado en los ingresos de exportación y reactivación de la economía nacional y confundía a los economistas de prestigio.

LA ALTERNATIVA ARGENTINA A LA POBREZA Y LOS RESCATES

Incluso tan tarde como 25 de octubre 2011, los columnistas del Financial Times todavía hablan sobre "la crisis que viene" a la manera de fundamentalistas mesiánicos que predicen el apocalipsis. Insisten en "alta inflación", "programas insostenibles social", "sobrevaluación de la moneda", y más predicciones del "fin de la prosperidad". Todas estas advertencias se producen en la cara del continuo crecimiento de 8% en 2011. Los escritores Anglo-Americanos  financiera deben centrarse en la caída de sus regímenes de libre mercado en Europa y América del Norte en vez de denigrar a una experiencia económica de la que puedan aprender.

ARGENTINA NO ES TOTALMENTE DEPENDIENTE DE LAS EXPORTACIONES PRIMARIAS

Refutando a los críticos de Wall Street, Mark Weisbrot y su punto de salida asociados ("La historia del éxito Argentina", Centro de Investigaciones Económicas y Políticas, octubre 2011) que el crecimiento de Argentina se basó en la expansión del consumo interno, aumento de las exportaciones de manufacturas a socios comerciales regionales, así como a tradicionales exportaciones agro-minerales a Asia. En otras palabras, la Argentina no es totalmente dependiente de las exportaciones primarias, sino que tiene un intercambio comercial equilibrado y no es más dependiente de los precios de los productos básicos. En lo que respecta a la alta inflación, Weisbrot señala que "la inflación puede ser alta en la Argentina, pero es el crecimiento real y la distribución del ingreso lo que importa en relación con el bienestar de la inmensa mayoría de la población".

Argentina creó un estado más acomodaticia a su proyecto político de la financiación de la competitividad económica, nuevos mercados y programas sociales. Argentina aseguró que el sector bancario financió el crecimiento del sector exportador, las manufacturas y el consumo interno. Argentina impuso un 75% "recorte" de los tenedores de bonos para financiar el gasto social.

En Argentina, las catástrofes económicas siempre ha dado a  los argentinos la oportunidad de llevar a cabo un cambio básico del saqueo especulativo de los programas sociales y el crecimiento económico sostenido.

El gobierno actual es un reflejo de su éxito en la creación de un estado "normal" del bienestar capitalista. Después de 30 años de que EE.UU. respaldara a los depredadores regímenes neo-liberales, este movimiento estimula un cambio positivo grande. Desde 1983 a 1989 Argentina sufrió bajo un régimen neo-liberal (Raúl Alfonsín) que no pudo lidiar con el legado dictatorial y que presidió una hiperinflación de tres dígitos. Desde 1989 - 1999 bajo la presidencia de Carlos Menem Argentina fue testigo de la mayor venta masiva de sus empresas públicas más rentables, los recursos naturales (petróleo incluido), los bancos, las carreteras, a los inversionistas extranjeros y compinches cleptocrático a precios de ganga.

Por último, Fernando de la Rúa (2000 - 2001), prometió el cambio y procedió a profundizar la recesión que llevó a la caída catastrófica de final de diciembre de 2001 y el cierre de los bancos, la quiebra de 10.000 empresas y la caída de la la economía.

En este contexto de fracaso total y absoluto y el desastre humano de los EE.UU. - el FMI promovió "libre mercado" las políticas, Kirchner / Fernández de pagar la deuda externa, re-nacionalización de varias empresas privatizadas y los fondos de pensiones, intervino los bancos y se duplicó el gasto social, una mayor inversión pública en la producción y el aumento del consumo popular, en el camino hacia la recuperación económica. A finales de 2003 Argentina pasó de negativo a 8% de crecimiento.

DERECHOS HUMANOS, PROGRAMAS SOCIALES Y POLÍTICA ECONÓMICA EXTERIOR INDEPENDIENTE

La economía de Argentina ha crecido más del 90% desde 2003 hasta 2011, más de tres veces que la de los Estados Unidos. Su recuperación ha sido acompañada por una triplicación del gasto social, especialmente en los programas de reducción de la pobreza. El porcentaje de pobres argentinos se ha reducido de más del 50% en 2001 a menos del 15% en 2011. A diferencia de EE.UU donde  la pobreza ha aumentado en la misma década del 12% al 17% y está en una trayectoria ascendente durante el mismo período.

Los EE.UU. se ha convertido en el país con las mayores desigualdades en la OCDE donde un 1% controla el 40% de la riqueza del país, (frente al 30% en menos de una década). Por el contrario, las desigualdades de la Argentina han reducido a la mitad. La economía de EE.UU. no ha logrado recuperarse de la profunda recesión de 2008-2009, durante el cual se redujo en más del 8%. A diferencia de Argentina se redujo a menos de 1% en 2009, y ha estado creciendo a un saludable 8% (2010-2011). Argentina ha nacionalizado los fondos de pensiones, duplicó las pensiones básicas y presentó un programa de bienestar infantil universal a la lucha contra la malnutrición y garantía de la asistencia a la escuela.

En contraste con el 20% de los niños que en los EE.UU. están sufriendo de la mala alimentación, las tasas de abandono escolares van en aumento en los adolescentes y la desnutrición afecta a más del 25% de los niños de las minorías. En Argentina el ingreso de los trabajadores asalariados ha aumentado en más del 50% durante la década en términos reales, mientras que en los EE.UU. han disminuido en casi un 10%.

Dinámica de crecimiento del PIB de Argentina ha sido impulsado por el creciente del consumo interno y los ingresos de exportación dinámica. Argentina tiene un superávit comercial grande consistentes con la base de los precios favorables del mercado y mayor competitividad. En cambio el consumo interno se ha estancado en los EE.UU., el déficit comercial es cercano a los $ 1,5 billones de dólares y los ingresos se malgastan en gastos no productivos militar de más de $ 900 millones al año.

Lea también los artículos relacionados a historia heterodoxa de éxito económico de los ciudadanos argentinos

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications

http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9

http://issuu.com/washdiplomat/docs/diplomat.november2011

Extractos del artículo anterior han sido adaptados por el Prof. James Petras artículo: "La Argentina de las crisis de crecimiento dinámico"

Greece

How convenient 

Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou had the courage to stand up against the “establishment”, invoking democracy via a popular referendum on Euro zone bailout, but was viciously reprimanded by the entire Euro Zone Technocrats, for Merkoyz (Merkel and Sarkozy) could not allow Greece to oppose the bailout Merkoyz (a term created by Pepe Escoba, a journalist from Asian Times) and their Franco – German banks intend to impose on Greece. 

Should Papandreou go ahead with the referendum, Greece was threatened to be expelled from the EU, which de facto results in blackmailing Greece into submission, for who cares about the Greek people living under a de facto protectorate and losing over 50% of their standard of living, so foreign banks can be repaid? Who cares about Greece still buried under an - unsustainable - debt of 120% of their gross domestic product still by 2021?

So in the end Papandreou had to give in to the bureaucratic vultures at the European Commission, reject the popular referendum and resign in order for the financial establishment to push for “one of their own” to take over the reins in Greece, namely former deputy head of the European Central Bank, Lucas Papademos. How convenient? Now the “banksters” interests are protected and the banks can be bailed out. Where are we heading in Europe?

Feeling the pulse of the People

Below are some comments made by “common people” from the German speaking part of Europe regarding the apparent appointment of former deputy head of the European Central Bank, Lucas Papademos as next Prime Minister of Greece.

……..Former IMF staff, former ECB staff, former staff member of the Boston Fed, a member of the "Trilateral Commission" - a perfect Globalist pack. World Government FTW………

Not even a protest from Papandreou helps: state and people are disempowered. Solely the banksters are now calling the shots. This is a very worrying development away from democracy!

In that case even Samaras  is better as prime minister than this puppet Papademos who is another marionette of the IMF

Former President of the ECB ... this indicates how “public friendly:” he will govern. Usually it's vice versa, policy-makers first serve a bank (Merkel for Deutsche Bank) and then change into the bank. Here we have a banker, who goes into politics, what interest will he defend, those of banks or those of the people?? You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know the answer, and we put up with all this!!! It’s pure Madness. We can already prepare ourselves for record payments to Greece and finally write off our education system due to lack of money for interest payments to the German bank.

In regards to last comment see related links:

Banking institutions are more dangerous than standing armies

Dateline Greece: Goldman, Just Pay Up

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/10/banking-institutions-are-more-dangerous.html

A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE HETERODOX SUCCESS STORY

ARGENTINE ECONOMY LESSON FOR EUROPE

Contrary to Argentine local main stream media, foreign media paint a somewhat different picture of the Eco-political situation of the country. In fact Argentina’s recovery after its default is frequently taken as the example on how Europe, to some extent, could overcome its economic crisis. In the German speaking part of Europe many Eco – political TV shows increasingly show interest in Argentines recovery and economic growth even though it did not adhere to IMF, World Bank and Wall Street doctrines, thus challenging “EUROCRATS” to follow suit. 

As growth in Argentina continued, the critics in the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal claimed it would end once “unused capacity was exhausted”. Instead growth earnings financed the expansion of the domestic market and created new capacity for growth, especially to new markets in Asia and Brazil.

Contrary to thesis proclaimed by economic experts, Argentina still has a substantial amount of funds available and thus is not in immediate danger of running into financial problems. Argentina still draws from its favorable crop exports. Even if prices of soya are down, the ever increasing worldwide population increases the need to feed the people. Thus supply of food commodities will not subside, even if speculators manipulate price trends. 

ARGENTINA CONFOUNDED THE PRESTIGIOUS ECONOMISTS 

The Argentine experience goes counter to all the precepts of the international financial agencies (the IMF, World Bank), their political backers, and publicists in the financial press. From the first year (2003) of Argentina’s recovery to the present, the economic experts have “predicted” that its growth was “not sustainable” – it has continued robustly for over a decade. The financial writers claimed the default would lead to Argentina being shut out of financial markets and that its economy would collapse. Argentina relied on self-financing based on export earnings and re-activation of the domestic economy and confounded the prestigious economists.

THE ARGENTINE ALTERNATIVE TO BAILOUTS AND POVERTY 

Even as late as October 25, 2011, Financial Times columnists still prattle about “the coming crises” in the manner of messianic fundamentalists who predict the pending apocalypse. They harp on “high inflation”, “unsustainable social programs”, “overvalued currency”, and more predictions of “the end of prosperity”. All these dire warnings occur in the face of continued growth of 8% in 2011. Anglo-American financial scribes should focus on the demise of their free market regimes in Europe and North America instead of denigrating an economic experience from which they might learn.

(See: Food for Thought, the Anglo – Saxon Quest http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html)

ARGENTINA IS NOT TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON PRIMARY EXPORTS

In refutation of the Wall Street critics, Mark Weisbrot and his associates point out (“The Argentina Success Story”, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Oct. 2011) that Argentina’s growth was based on the expansion of domestic consumption increased manufacturing exports to regional trading partners as well as traditional agro-mineral exports to Asia. In other words Argentina is not totally dependent on primary exports; it has balanced trade and is not over dependent on commodity prices. In regard to high inflation, Weisbrot points out that “inflation may be high in Argentina but it is real growth and income distribution that matter with regard to the well-being of the vast majority of population”.

Argentina created a state more accommodative to its political project of financing economic competitiveness, new markets and social programs. Argentina ensured that the banking sector financed the growth of the export sector, manufactures and domestic consumption. Argentina imposed a 75% “haircut” on bondholders in order to finance social spending.

In Argentina the economic catastrophe provided Argentines with an opportunity to bring about a basic shift from speculative pillage to social programs and sustained economic growth. 

The current government reflects its success in creating a ‘normal’ capitalist welfare state. After 30 years of US backed predator neo-liberal regimes, this move stimulated great positive change. From 1983to 1989 Argentina’s suffered under a neo-liberal regime (Raul Alfonsin) which failed to deal with the dictatorial legacy and which presided over triple digit hyper-inflation. From 1989 – 1999 under President Carlos Menem Argentina witnessed the biggest sell-off of its most lucrative public firms, natural resources (petrol included), banks, highways, to foreign investors and kleptocratic cronies for bargain basement prices. 

Last but not least, Fernando De la Rua (2000 – 2001), promised change and proceeded to deepen the recession that led to the final catastrophic crash of December 2001 and the closing of the banks, the bankruptcy of 10,000 firms and the collapse of the economy. 

Against this background of total and unmitigated failure and the human disaster of US – IMF promoted “free-market” policies, Kirchner/Fernandez defaulted on the external debt, re-nationalized several privatized firms and the pension funds, intervened the banks and doubled social spending, expanded public investment in production and increased popular consumption, on the road to economic recovery. By the end of 2003 Argentina turned from negative to 8% growth. 

HUMAN RIGHTS, SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND INDEPENDENT FOREIGN ECONOMIC POLICY

 

Argentina’s economy has grown over 90% from 2003 – 2011, over three times that of the United States. Its recovery has been accompanied by a tripling of social spending, especially on programs reducing poverty. The percentage of poor Argentines has declined from over 50% in 2001 to less than 15% in 2011. In contrast US poverty has risen over the same decade from 12% to 17% and is on an upward trajectory over the same period.

The US has become the country with the greatest inequalities in the OECD with 1% controlling 40% of the country’s wealth, (up from 30% in less than a decade). In contrast, Argentina’s inequalities have shrunken by half. The US economy has failed to recover from the deep recession of 2008-2009, during which it declined by over 8%. In contrast Argentina declined less than 1% in 2009, and has been growing at a healthy 8% (2010-2011). Argentina has nationalized pension funds, doubled basic pensions and introduced a universal child welfare program to counter malnutrition and guarantee school attendance.

In contrast 20% of children in the US are now suffering from poor diets, drop-out rates are increasing for adolescents and malnutrition affects over 25% of minority children. In Argentina the income of wage and salaried workers has increased over 50% over the decade in real terms, while in the US they have declined by nearly 10%.

Argentina’s dynamic growth of GNP has been fueled by growing domestic consumption and dynamic export earnings. Argentina has a consistent large trade surplus based on favorable market prices and increased competitiveness. In contrast domestic consumption has stagnated in the US, the trade deficit is close to $1.5 trillion dollars and revenues are wasted on non-productive military expenditures of over $900 billion a year.

Read also related articles on Argentines heterodox economic success story

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-argentine-success-story-and-its-implications

http://www.accuracy.org/?s=argentine+success&submit.x=15&submit.y=9

http://issuu.com/washdiplomat/docs/diplomat.november2011

Extracts of Prof. James PETRAS article: “Argentina, from crises to dynamic growth” have been adapted into this article.