IMF Seeks Collective World Bailout

Now IMF Seeks Collective, World Bail-Out of Europe

via The Daily Bell

December, 2011 – by Staff Report

IMFwants the world to save Europe .. Christine Lagarde., the managing director of the IMF, said the escalating crisis now needed to be addressed as "collectively as possible" ... The European financial crisis is "escalating" and is so serious that it is unlikely to be solved by eurozone countries alone, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned Thursday night. British taxpayers are now likely to be involved in an internationally co-ordinated bail-out led by the International Monetary Fund [IMF] for countries in the single currency. Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the IMF, said the escalating crisis now needed to be addressed as "collectively as possible". Without action, the world faces the spectre of a 1930s-style depression, she said. – Montreal Gazette/UK Telegraph

Dominant Social Theme: Unshackle the IMF to save the world.

Free-Market Analysis: Right on schedule, the International Monetary Fund's Christine Lagarde has emerged to call for a united, Western effort to salvage the Eurozone and perhaps the euro.

This is entirely predictable in our view and has to do with the larger strategy of the Anglosphere power elite, which is to create a worldwide economic crisis in order to provide the requisite centralizing solution. If one wants to create global governance, a few "eggs" may have to be broken in the process.

Of course, as we've pointed out before, the preference of the powers-that-be would be to keep the EU together and expand it, along with the euro. But the alternative course has its attractions, too, if one is trying to build world government. Out of chaos ... order.

And here comes the IMF. It is no surprise that the International Monetary Fund is raising its profile once again. It was developed after World War II as part of a larger global-government-in-waiting. In fact, the history of the modern age is the history of wars and economic depressions, each leading to greater sociopolitical and economic centralization.

We have come to call this trend "directed history" because not only do the results seem predictable but so do the events leading up to them. It is just as Shakespeare once said: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."

Only he didn't mean that history was being organized and directed from the top. But in the 19th and 20th centuries anyway that certainly seems to have been what happened. From the American Civil War on, especially, one can see the centralization of society advance, not only in the US but throughout the West.

Through the twin tools of war and central banking, a power elite located in the City of London with subsidiaries in DC, and the Vatican has advanced global governance step by step.

It has used dominant social themes in order to frighten Western middle classes into giving up power and wealth to specially created globalist facilities. The most pervasive political tool is the UN, and its funding source is the central banking mechanism. The IMF is a large part of the mechanism as well. Here's some more from the article:

Mrs Lagarde spoke out after other European countries indicated that they were unlikely to back a new treaty designed to shore up the single currency. Hungary and the Czech Republic said they would not agree to any new deal that involved European-wide taxes. David Cameron has already vetoed any British involvement. Yesterday, the head of the IMF described the prospects for the global economy as "quite gloomy".

"There is no economy in the world, whether low-income countries, emerging markets, middle-income countries or super-advanced economies that will be immune to the crisis that we see not only unfolding but escalating," Mrs Lagarde said."If the international community doesn't work together, the risk from an economic point of view is that of retraction, rising protectionism, isolation.

"This is exactly the description of what happened in the Thirties and what followed is not something we are looking forward to." She added: "It is not a crisis that will be resolved by one group of countries taking action. It is going to be hopefully resolved by all countries, all regions, all categories of countries actually taking action."

We can see from this excerpt how direct Lagarde is being. From our point of view, the economic crisis is a manufactured one, but it doesn't matter much. Once a war or economic crisis has been created, the next steps flow logically from what has occurred. The opening is there for the taking.

And she is surely playing her part. She is quoted as comparing the Euro-crisis to the ancients' Gordian Knot and the need for concerted action as Alexander's sword. "[It starts] with those at the centre [and then includes] the support of the international community probably channeled through the IMF."

She is already focused on the channeling as well, explaining that both European and non-European countries will be asked for more money. "What is happening now is that conversations, contacts are taking place between the fund and its membership about the scale and the amount in which this could be brought to a conclusion," according to an IMF spokesperson.

And so it builds. Suddenly the IMF, which the powers-that-be have already designated as a kind of world central bank, is in charge of collection efforts to save the EU. In fact, the EU doesn't need salvaging, nor does the euro. If both foundered and failed, the world would pause for a few moments and then go on.

Conclusion: But without a crisis there can be no further centralization. And without further centralization there can be no world government.

SYRIA - CAUSE AND EFFECT

NO PROVE - NO VERIFICATION 

Since the beginning of the uproar in SYRIA, mainstream media, political analysts etc. have been speculating about the cause and effect, the SYRIAN upraise has and will have  in the region, as well as who or what is behind it, and last but not least, why. Subsequently conspiracy theories such as US intelligence services involvement, foreign mercenary infiltration, PSY- OPS etc. have been on the rise. The fact is that none of the mainstream media reports can be verified or considered impartial, thus we are exposed to speculations and conspiracy theories, none of which we are able to confirm.

GEO STRATEGIC NIGHTMARE  

Geo strategically speaking, tumbling the Syrian government does not make sense. I have posted numerous articles about this topic on this blog. If the ASSAD regime is removed, ISRAEL’S worst nightmare will come true: Civil War in a neighboring Muslim country. Enough that EGYPT has become a geo strategic uncertainty factor for ISRAEL. ISRAEL can hardly afford an unstable EASTERN frontier. Such scenario will be a strategic and tactical nightmare.

One should not forget that although SYRIA and ISRAEL are technically still at war, the frontier  between the two countries has been the most stable one in the entire Middle East, thus all the speculative theories of ISRAEL and other US friendly ARAB countries trying to tumble the Assad are irrational. One can argue that SYRIA’S close ties with IRAN are one of the reasons ISRAEL and the US would like to see the Assad regime tumble, even so it is much easier for ISRAEL to clutch onto the current status quo, and live with the fact that IRAN is influencing SYRIA, rather than face a country in civil war which subsequently will end up being a FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAMIC state. 
So much as for rational thinking, but if looking at the entire situation from another angel, ISRAEL could shift its geopolitical doctrine towards a "irrational" one and support a regime change in SYRIA in order to gain a Geo-strategic advantage. ( The details of which will be analyzed in due cause on this blog )    

 

ARAB LEAGUE, GATEWAY FOR ASSAD TO EMERGE WITH MINIMUM COLLATERAL DAMAGE?

First feedback's from the ARAB LEAGUE s observer mission suggest that their observations and opinions are used as a gateway for the ASSAD regime to emerge with minimum collateral damage in order to sustain geo - strategic stability in the region.

IS THE TRANS ARABIAN PIPELINE “TAPLINE” THE ANSWER TO THE WHY?

The TRANS-ARABIAN Pipeline Company, a joint venture by STANDARD OIL OF NEW JERSEY (ESSO), STANDARD OIL OF CALIFORNIA (CHEVRON), THE TEXAS COMPANY (TEXACO) and SOCONY-VACUUM OIL COMPANY (MOBIL), was a major factor in economic development of LEBANON after independence and especially in the emergence of the south, Tapline was an important industrial adventure in global trade, the petroleum industry and AMERICAN - MIDDLE EAST politics.

The company which started operations in 1950 was the largest oil pipeline of its time, transporting SAUDI ARABIAN oil from the gulf fields to the terminal at ZAHRANI south of SAIDA, where it was shipped to the markets of EUROPE and the eastern UNITED STATES seaboard. At the peak of its operations in 1950, Tapline is said to have transported up to 30% of ARAMCO’S production of SAUDI ARABIAN crude, which amounted to 300,000 barrels per day which was increased by adding some additional pumping stations to 500,000 barrels per day.

The pipeline was originally planned to run from SAUDI ARABIA'S ABQAIQ oil fields to the port of HAIFA in ISRAEL where there already was a modest terminal facility for a pipeline from the Kirkuk oil fields in IRAQ. The conflict between the BRITISH MANDATE and the ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE movement had the Tapline Company surveying alternate routes already in 1946. These routes were all aimed at circumventing Palestine territories . "TRANS-JORDAN" appeared also at the time to be a country to be avoided. The final route went through JORDAN, over the GOLAN HEIGHTS in SYRIA - and not without some political consequences - to end at SIDON in LEBANON. 

SYRIAN PARLIAMENTARY OBJECTIONS NECESSITATED THE CIA-AIDED 1949 COUP

SYRIAN parliamentary objections necessitated the CIA-aided 1949 coup in order to secure "right of way" over the GOLAN HEIGHTS. The end of pipeline operations were also instigated by sabotage and related problems with the portion passing over the Heights in the climate of political turmoil after the 1967 occupation by ISRAEL. All oil transportation in the western (SYRIAN and LEBANESE) portions of the line ceased in 1976. That portion of the line was evacuated of all crude oil and the installations in LEBANON were handed over to the LEBANESE government in 1983.
Despite these problems, the Trans Arabian pipeline is considered a potential export route for crude oil transport from the PERSIAN GULF region to EUROPE and the UNITED STATES.

An analysis has shown that the transport cost via the Tapline through HAIFA to EUROPE is up to 40 percent lower than by tankers through the SUEZ CANAL.

 

Worthwhile to monitor is why British and USA mainstream media keep up negative reporting on the Syrian issue, despite being supporters of the Arab League observer mission, thus sparking new and controversial theories and assumptions. Cause and Effect!

The Economists Sorry Journalism

Argentine Bashing

(Spanish version will follow in due course.)

Reading “The Economist” on ought to believe that its articles are of highest quality and objectivity. Unfortunately this is not the case when it comes to topics related to Argentina. For years “The Economist” has made it a habit of bashing Argentina. Every single article about Argentina is negative, lacks objectivity and distorts facts. 

Looking closer at “The Economists” true agenda, it becomes evident that it follows a political cause, influenced and dictated by powerful political entities that are unhappy with Argentine politics and subsequent economic success by defied international economic doctrines. This clearly upsets power-brokers, for it jeopardizes their geopolitical and economic agendas in the region. 

Due to its stagnating economy The United Kingdom is desperate to venture out into “new territories”, thus the ongoing Malvinas (Falkland) dispute with Argentina and the possibilities of large oil and gas findings around the disputed Islands as well as having a footstep in the door  to the Antarctica, once natural resources explorations is about to start. Thus the cause becomes obvious as to why corporate media such as the “The Economist” use manipulative journalism and flatly reject impartial news coverage.

“The Economist” is a mouthpiece of influential Anglo American entities, thus its articles are focused on free-market and business issues only within the larger context of Western military and economic powers. The need for state control in all matters, and especially regulation, is  fundamental of any Economist commentary. This is because certain powerful eco – political entities desire the growth of nation-states and regulatory democracy in order to provide the basis to achieve up-solute eco-political control.

The Economists latest article on Argentina is a perfect example on how bias the magazine is when it comes to Argentine related issues. (Comments on article are posted in yellow beneath each paragraph.)

On 17 December 2011 The Economist wrote:

Argentina’s president

Cristina prepares to defy gravity 

The president begins her second term facing an economic slowdown. She will meet it with a mixture of rhetoric, controls and austerity

The headline in itself is hypocrisy at its best. How can the Economist know how the Argentine Government will tackle alleged economic slowdown? 

Dec 17th 2011 | BUENOS AIRES | from the print edition

SHE owed her crushing victory in a presidential election in October to the economy’s vigorous growth and to public sympathy over the sudden death last year of her husband and predecessor, Néstor Kirchner.

Alleging that the president owed her victory to public sympathy over the death of her husband showcases how the article lacks objectivity and deliberately tries to manipulate opinions. Could it be that the overwhelming victory was because the government initiated a social welfare program that benefited the poor working class all over the country? Naturally such deeds are not noteworthy for the Economist, for it tampers with its eco – geopolitical doctrine!

Cristina Fernández inaugurated her second term as president on December 10th still dressed in widow’s black and glorifying her husband’s name almost as of a deity.

For an renowned news magazine, which the Economist claims to be,  focusing on what and why the president is wearing widows black seems pathetic and showcases only how prejudice the magazine is. Objective professional journalism does not need to focus on banalities, even if the magazine is not a supporter of the government or the country.

Her message was triumphalist. Contrasting Argentina with Europe and the United States, she crowed: “They govern with growth targets for the financial sector …and we govern with growth targets for work and employment.”

It must be a bitter pill to swallow for the Anglo American financial power elite, otherwise the Economist would not use disrespectful terminology such as “she crowed”. This shows that objective journalism is not a stronghold of magazine!! Obviously growth targets for work and employment are not in the interest of corporate media outlets of which the Economist obviously is part of! 

Those words may come back to haunt her. Ms Fernández is starting her second term in very different circumstances from the first, back in 2007. Argentina’s hectic growth was built on a weak currency (a legacy of default and devaluation in 2002), booming world demand for its agricultural commodities, strong growth in neighbouring Brazil, and a huge increase in government spending. Those tailwinds have now died down, or risk doing so. World commodity prices are no longer rising. Brazil’s economy has stalled. After years of high inflation at home the peso is no longer weak, and extravagant subsidies mean there is little or no scope for further fiscal stimulus.

About 4 years ago the Economist also predicted that the government would face difficulties due to declining demand in agricultural commodities. The paper also criticizes the government for not cutting subsidies, now that the government initiated subsidies cuts; the Economist held an online survey, questioning the Argentine Government, and its implementation of subsidy cuts, deeming that they are not appropriately administered !!!!! Needless to say that the Economist published an article on subjects matter prior to the survey!!! Manipulative journalism I would say! 

The government still denies that inflation is a problem. For years it has fiddled the numbers: officially, inflation is just under 10%, but independent economists put it closer to 25%, even though many energy and public-transport tariffs have long been frozen. Ms Fernández did admit that Argentina has a “competitiveness problem”. But the government’s solution looks to be a retreat into mercantilism, restrained by hints of realism.

The inflation topic of Argentina is arguably an issue that needs to be addressed but then the Economists should not forget to look at its own doorsteps, where inflation is quoted at 5.4%, according to The Office of National Statistics!!!!, so most likely one should add a few % to that figure as well. Argentine current Public Debt to GDP ratio equals 41.53% versus that of the UK of 83.70%. External Debt to GDP Ratio: ARG 36.75% versus that of the UK to 472.92%. Source: (http://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html#)

This year the UKs debt burden will grow by £167.9 billion.

In November officials announced timid steps to cut subsidies that now amount to 4.2% of GDP. Some large firms, along with richer households, must now pay closer to the true cost of energy.

Above assumption clearly not reflects the entire truth. Lower and Middle class households are not affected by subsidy cuts. Small businesses saw a minimal increase in their utility bills, hardly affecting their budget. 

Even so, to balance its books, the government will have to turn to the money markets during 2012, thinks Miguel Kiguel of Econviews, a consultancy. One sign that it is preparing the way is Ms Fernández’s appointment of Hernán Lorenzino, who is respected in financial markets, as economy minister.But these steps have been overshadowed by a tightening of controls aimed at curbing capital flight. In October the government ordered mining and energy firms to repatriate all their export dollars and citizens to justify every purchase of foreign currency. Tax inspectors were put in foreign-exchange bureaus.

Guillermo Moreno, the thuggish secretary for internal trade who has persecuted independent economists for their inflation estimates, has been put in overall charge of foreign trade too. Some importers have already been required to become exporters as well if they want to get hold of dollars.

The subject of capital flight is not an entire Argentine phenomenon, and occurs in many parts of the world, as is Protectionism. Objective journalism would try to use neutral wordings and not “thuggish” when commenting on a public figure, no matter how much one disagrees with the deeds of the person. 

Lower growth can probably be sold to Argentines provided that other countries are doing worse. The opposition is weak, divided or co-opted. But austerity, if it comes, will require Ms Fernández to adjust her political alliances. The trade unions have been warned that demands for big pay rises will be met by curbs on the right to strike. Ms Fernández reminded private businesses that they have done very well in recent years, and warned them not to “spit at heaven”. Having regained a congressional majority in the election, the government is now pushing through a measure to regulate newsprint, which arouses fears in newspapers that have been critical of the Kirchners.

The Economist, it seems, is also the mouthpiece of the Argentine political opposition as well as certain Media outlets, for it lashes out in all possible directions. If the article would have been written in an impartial and objective way, the journalist would have report the true reason behind the regulatory measures concerning Media bill. They neglects to mention that the Clarin Group together with La Nacion, hold a vast majority over “Newsprint”. In addition the “Clarin Group” owns a powerful TV and Internet empire which gives the group a quasi media monopoly in the country. 

In 2008 when Argentina’s output briefly shrank, the government balanced its books by nationalising private pensions. What might it take next? The potential targets are neither so easy, nor so rich. The risk now is that inflation and a rising current-account deficit will trigger a rush to buy dollars and a downward spiral of devaluation and price rises like the one that scarred the country in the 1970s and ‘80s. Ms Fernández’s government will hope that its controls can stave that off, at least until new finds of shale oil and gas can be developed. But one way or another, things look likely to get rougher in Argentina.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell one would call the Economists views desperate “PROJECTIONISM” and wishful (bad) thinking. Agricultural commodity demand will most probably be somewhat lower than in recent past, but then again one has to bear in mind that the world needs to be fed, thus the need for agricultural commodities will not cease, thus making Argentina, a valuable assets for global food supplies and this is exactly why the Economist and global eco- political power entities are eager to portray Argentina as a bad economic sample, for Argentina has defied the international monetary system and still succeeded to “eco-financially” prevail amidst the current eco – financial turmoil, thus corporate media such as the Economist will not lose a chance to portray Argentina in negative ways. In its last paragraph, the Economist revealed its true cause, namely what I have claimed many times; UK’S interest in the Southern Cones natural resources!

Argentina, the land of Agriculture commodities, vast areas of fertile land, fresh water resources (the commodity of the future) and possible oil and gas findings in the South are the reason why the UK and other entities (IMF, World Bank, etc.) are desperate to gain eco political influence in the region in order to enforce upon Argentina their eco political doctrines and subsequently obtain the countries natural resources.

Here are some reader’s comments regarding above article:

If indeed there are elements of this article that point to legitimate macroeconomic concerns Argentina faces, it is worth looking back at the coverage of The Economist over the last 8 yrs. This publication has been predicting doomsday in the country more or less since 2004. Why? The country did not follow the prescriptions for austerity and financialization that The Economist has been recommending for years, the results of which are plain to see in Europe and the US today. Frankly, the entire worldview of this magazine has been so deeply discredited that it shocks me that anyone should take it seriously, particularly those with global investments.

Agreed, people who pay for this magazine don't seem to be too smart. The target customer base of the economist are IQ100+ wannabes.

If we equate Argentina's total growth over the last 8 years versus the economist expected growth, then this magazine ought to answer for about a 70% difference.

People at The Economist, If you are wrong once it's OK,
twice... maybe,
three times.. wait a minute
4 times.. maybe you should revise your methodology
5 times... you lie to us and you know it
6 times... you know you are lying and you do it because you have an agenda
7 times... you have an agenda and you are being paid to do lie despite all the embarrassment.
8 times... all of the above plus you don't have a lot of respect for your readers.

The Economist hasn't got an explanation for the success of Argentina, so The Economist denied Argentinian success.

Maybe people who work for this magazine should watch things like this

http://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html#

Or better yet, watch this one: http://www.debtbombshell.com/

Al of what you say is absolutely true. However, companies, people and countries do not default on debt as a whim. or as policy. It is the result of trying every possible way to avoid it until there is no other way out. Another method of default or controlled default is to devalue your country's currency on a massive scale, such as what the UK did in the late 1940's and early 1950s when it owed Argentina at least $2 Billion USD. Granted they did not do this to "screw Argentina", but the fact remains that they must have tried every possible way to avoid bankruptcy, and unfortunately in the world of economics, few are the countries that have avoided debt default or bankruptcy proceedings but at such a great cost that it may have been cheaper to do so - like American Airlines this past week. 

The UK economy is alive in name only due to the banking industry that attracts depositors from all over the world. Almost every good sold there is Made In China, and its current account deficit is covered only by massive borrowing, that will one day have to be repaid. It is only a matter of time before the UK and the USA will have to admit that with massive unemployment, diminished industry, and profits from non-productive speculative trade will not be enough to sustain their economies in the long run. I give the UK 5 years at most before the next crisis hits them such as the current one in the US.

Islam versus Christians

Coincident, or Strategy? 

With alleged Anti Christian violence erupting in the Middle East, Northern Africa and in a turn of latest events in Nigeria, the article blow should provide some  food for thought.

Feel free to form your own opinion!

Anti-Christian Violence in the Middle East?

by Anthony Wile 

The Daily Bell

The UK Daily Telegraph recently posted an article entitled, "How can we remain silent while Christians are being persecuted?" Anybody reading the Daily Bell this past year will not be surprised by this headline, nor the article itself. Turns out that the writer is reporting on "a new evil [that] is sweeping the Middle East" – and that evil is violence against Christians.

"How can we remain silent while Christians are being persecuted?" the article asks. "The Americans have gone now, and Iraq's Christian communities – some of the world's oldest – are undergoing an exodus on a biblical scale."

The article does not only mention Iraq and makes it clear that the anti-Christian sentiment is broad-based: "The attacks, which peak at Christmas, have already spread to Egypt, where Coptic Christians have seen their churches firebombed by Islamic fundamentalists

"In Tunisia, priests are being murdered. Maronite Christians in Lebanon have, for the first time, become targets of bombing campaigns. Christians in Syria, who have suffered as much as anyone from the Assad regime, now pray for its survival. If it falls, and the Islamists triumph, persecution may begin in earnest."

Early in January 2011, we predicted this. In an article entitled, “Western Elites Still Secretly Building Islam" we wrote about the West's strategic undermining of non-religious or Christian regimes in the Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Egypt. 

Here's an excerpt:

Is the war on terror a success? The Anglo - American elite needs an enemy if the authoritarianism that is rising in the West is to continue – because despotism (and globalism) is more easily created when there is an outside enemy. But fighting against 100 Al Qaeda soldiers in Afghanistan is not anybody's idea of a substantive threat. And the Taliban are evidently and obviously fighting an occupying force.

What if the powers-that-be had decided to do what they could to expand the Muslim threat – and thus expand (in the Western mind anyway) the specter of resurgent, militant Islam? A cynical idea isn't it, dear reader. It is merely speculation, but there are reasons to explore it further ...

We are proposing a new stage in the manipulated war on terror. Having built up the Middle East through enormous cash infusions, the Anglosphere is continually expanding the role of fundamental Islam and may even be prepared to overthrow old and trusted allies to do so. The war on terror so far has not proven very terrible (except to Afghan and Iraqi citizens) but if the Jasmine revolution "spreads" throughout the Middle East, resurgent, fundamentalist Islam may indeed become a reality.

Right on time comes this article in the UK Telegraph, almost exactly a year later, demanding that the British foreign office does more to help victims of Arab prejudice. It's an amazing article only because it is so predictable and (surprise) neglects to provide a frame of reference that would explain the rising violence.

Why would the article neglect a frame of reference? Because the Anglosphere power elite that wants to create world government, needs to continually manufacture enemies – to create fear. We call this fear-mongering the production of "dominate social themes.”

The idea is to frighten Western middle classes into surrendering wealth and power to a variety of globalist institutions that the power elite has built and put into place – and is now expanding on. These include the UN, IMF, World Bank, ICC (International Criminal Court), BIS (Bank of International Settlement), etc.

One of the biggest memes the power elite employs is war. Through war, all sorts of authoritarianism can be enhanced and the globalist agenda expanded efficiently in ways that it never could be otherwise. But in order to have war, one must create an enemy. And at this task Western elites are most efficient. 

Here's some more from the article:

These dividing lines are now being made into battle lines by hardline Salafists, who are emerging as victors of the Arab Spring. They belong to the same mutant strain of Sunni Islam which inspired al-Qaeda. Their agenda is sectarian warfare, and they loathe Shia Islam as much as they do Christians and Jews. Their enemy lies not over a border, but in a church, synagogue or Shia mosque.

The Salafists may be detested by the Muslim mainstream. But as they are finding out, you don't need to be popular to seize power in a post-dictatorship Arab world – you just need to be the best organised. The West is so obsessed with government structure that it doesn't notice when power lies elsewhere, and Islamist death squads are executing barbers and unveiled women in places like Basra.

Two years ago, the idea of such bloody sectarianism would have sounded like a macabre fantasy in a country as civilised as Egypt. After al-Qaeda bombed a church on New Year's Day, Muslim elders sat in the front pews forming a human shield and defying the terrorists. 

But moderate Egyptians are now losing this power struggle. The killing has started, with another 25 Copts murdered in October. Tens of thousands of Egypt's Christians have already joined their Iraqi counterparts in exile: as Iraq proved, one death can lead to a thousand emigrations. The Salafists are finding it staggeringly easy to realise their fantasy of a "purer" Egypt.

Without explaining the triggering principles of Western intelligence manipulation of Islamic cultures, the article attributes the violence to the nascent Arab Spring. Of course, as is well known in alternative media circles, the Arab Spring itself is an incipient Western invention.

The US State Department and apparently the CIA, through various facilities such as AYM, have sponsored a far-flung youth movement of rebellious young men and women who have been trained to use various tools, including social media, to cause unrest in their home countries. Apparently, these same tactics have been used to create Occupy Wall Street unrest.

"The Arab Spring was always going to mean danger for religious minorities, unleashing the Islamic extremists who previously were kept at bay," the article informs us. We also learn that religious persecution was not a hallmark of previous (overthrown) regimes. "For all their evil, the old secular tyrants abused their victims equally, whether they wore the cross, hijab or skullcap."

The article damns the British foreign office as being "typically slow to recognise the gathering threat, despite repeated warnings." Of course, the obvious reason for this slowness is that the unrest in the Middle East is being deliberately provoked by MI6 – along with counterparts in DC.

You won't read such speculation in this article, however. The rationale pro-offered is psychological rather than strategic: "It might be that the Foreign Office sees this as part of a soppy equalities agenda, unworthy of diplomatic attention. Those who have raised the issue directly with William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, say he is unenthusiastic."

Predictably, the psychological speculation is buttressed by that old rationale: ignorance. "The Foreign Office did not realise the full evil of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans until it was too late: it did not take civil tensions seriously enough. It can do better now, making clear that it regards religious cleansing as an emerging evil that ought to be confronted wherever it is being incubated."

Really? It's funny how much Western foreign policy is larded with ignorance and stupidity. The Anglosphere, for all of its abilities to win wars and dominate the world, is constantly making elemental mistakes: the Treaty of Versailles, Yalta, the emergence of Communist China, etc.

Now as we watch militant Islam emerge from the shadows, we are informed yet again that Western powers-that-be are being caught unawares. "Outright religious oppression is quietly ignored, from Saudi Arabia to the Maldives."

Distribution of World  Religions

Red: Christian faith, Green: Islam (Source: Wikipedia)

Energy Games in the Eastern Mediterranean

In a nutshell Ioannis Michaletos sums up what 

GEOPOLITICAL ANALYSIS AND MONITORING already posted in SEPTEMEBR 2011, regarding the Energy rush in the Eastern Mediterranean and its political implications.

 In September 2011 we wrote the following articles on subject matter:

 

WARMONGERING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY Friday, 9 September 2011 

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/09/warmongerning-between-israel-and-turkey.html

 TURKEYS MIDDLE EAST CHESS GAME Friday, 16 September 2011

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – QUEST FOR NATURAL RESOURCES Sunday, 18 September 2011

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/09/mission-impossible-quest-for-natural.html

NATURAL RESOURCE EXPLORATION, A WELCOME EXCUSE FOR WARMONGERING? Monday, 19 September 2011 

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/09/natural-resource-exploration-welcome.html

On 16 December 2011 he wrote:

Eastern Med. Energy Games

By : Ioannis Michaletos 16 Dec 2011

Last October the government of Cyprus enacted for the first time in its history a process that may well lead it to become an important natural-gas production center, via the hypothetical reserves to be found just offshore this Eastern Mediterranean Island. In parallel, Turkey raised its tones, proclaiming its adamant stance against any exploration without its involvement, whilst Greece and Israel provided both tacit and explicit support towards Cyprus.

Meanwhile, neighboring Syria is crippled by civil strife, and the whole region resembles a powder keg that may explode at any given moment, if one adds the already-explosive political situation in countries like Egypt and the wider climate in the Middle East.

Cyprus

In 2006 Cyprus began looking into the possibility of hydrocarbon explorations in its exclusive economic zone, after a similar move by its southern neighbor Egypt that provided to the company Shell a 42,000 square kilometer concession for deep water researches. That development prompted Nicosia to negotiate successfully with Cairo their borders relating to the economic zones of each country. According to well-placed sources within the British energy market, Shell indirectly assisted these negotiations, wanting to have all legal matters settled in order to proceed in its own planning in the region.

Thereafter Cyprus awarded the French energy exploration company Beicip as well as the Norwegian PGS to conduct seismic researches in order to collect data for potential reserves. Finally a part of the zones researched, codenamed Block 12, was awarded to the Houston-based energy company Noble Energy to conduct its research drills, which started in October 2011 and are scheduled to be completed soon.

Additionally, Israeli reserves, named Leviathan and Tamar, proved recently to have significant amounts of natural gas. In short, the Eastern Mediterranean region seems to have capacity to become an important energy production site, a potential development that will affect one way or another global energy balance and especially the European markets. Cypriot media speculate that potentially tens of billions of dollars worth of reserves may be found, making the island one of the richest in the region and a magnet for a host of other energy-related industries.

Turkey

Since 2007, Ankara has issued a multitude of veiled or direct threats against Cyprus, by not recognizing its right for an exclusive economic zone, let alone to proceed into research for hydrocarbons. The northern part of the island, some 37 percent of the whole, is still occupied by a 50,000-strong Turkish Army personnel, whilst since 1984 a self-proclaimed Republic of Northern Cyprus has been named, recognized only by Turkey.

The basic points as laid out by Turkey regarding the energy issue are that the Republic of Cyprus does not represent the Turkish-Cypriot side (north); therefore until a final solution is found concerning the unification of the island, no energy investments should proceed. On a legal aspect, Turkey claims that the Mediterranean Sea is a landlocked one, thus its islands do not have rights to an exclusive economic zone. It is interesting to note, however, that Turkey itself has not signed the international maritime law convention for which it argues. Turkey traditionally views Cyprus as a dagger in its side and is afraid that the economic empowerment of Cyprus will force a solution to the Island's partition problem that will eventually stipulate the ousting of the Turkish forces from there, thus rendering the geopolitical expansion that Turkey has enjoyed in the Eastern Mediterranean since 1974.

Greece

Athens is officially a guarantee force of the Republic of Cyprus, where the majority of the population is of Greek descent and has maintained an armed presence there since 1963. Over the years both countries have signed a series of bilateral defense agreements stipulating a pact that will throw both of them into battle in case a crisis with Turkey becomes an outright war.

Moreover, Greece is in the process of establishing its own exclusive economic zone in the Eastern Aegean, a move that Turkey opposes, since it hasn't signed the international maritime law. Turkey wants to find a solution with Athens based on a bilateral agreement, a kind of a special exclusion of the U.N. law, which has also become an E.U. law, therefore binding Greece. It is of importance to note that if Greece establishes its economic zone, it will border with that of Cyprus, thus effectively isolating Turkey from the economic exploration of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Israel

Tel Aviv has clearly sided with Cyprus over the past years in order to secure a potential extraction of natural gas from offshore reserves, thus acquiring energy security and making Israel for the first time in its history independent from energy imports to an extent, a crucial aspect in the exercise of policy of Israel towards its Middle Eastern energy-producing neighbors. Further, the Noble Energy Company that currently drills the Cyprus block is a U.S.-based one with a significant number of Israeli shareholders, adding another dimension to the issue. A triangular relationship has been developed between Tel Aviv-Nicosia and Athens, where ministers and officials from all of these countries mention the possibilities of constructing underwater natural gas pipelines for the transfer of gas to Europe and the creation of LNG stations.

That sort of an infrastructure, which has been estimated to cost up to $30 billion, cannot be achieved unless stability prevails. Israel, having a number of adversaries like Iran, would like to attain as much stability as possible in its wider Sea region, hence the backing of Cyprus seems a precaution that will facilitate long-term energy-security planning and at the same time allow Israel to enchase its relations with the Southeastern flank of NATO and the European Union, which is Greece and Cyprus. Israel plans to invest $6 billion in the next four years in the natural-gas sector.

United States

Since the late 40s Washington has enjoyed the role of overlord of the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean, where the 6th fleet is activated and where the interests for the American side run high considering the proximity to the Middle East, the Suez channel and the Caucasus on the north. Since Greece, Turkey and Israel are all considered U.S. allies by, American diplomacy has enacted a careful policy of reassuring all three that it will protect their interests, not wanting to witness a potential crisis in such a sensitive region.

It can be safely estimated, though, that the potential of hydrocarbon reserves will shift American policy in favor of Israel and Cyprus so as to diversify the energy imports of the European Union, accomplishing in that respect the diversification E.U. energy reliance, decreasing dependency on Russia and the Middle East. Moreover, U.S. companies like Exxon Mobil have shown interest in participating in future rounds of explorations offshore Cyprus, according to local sources

Russia

Although potentially a discovery of large amounts of gas can affect future Russian exports to the European Union, Moscow seems fully supportive of Cyprus and Israel due to its long-standing economic and political interests in Cyprus and due to its overall strategy of diversifying energy consumption globally from oil to gas, thus acquiring a primal role in the world energy game at the expense of Saudi Arabia.

European Union

The European Union is also supportive of the aforementioned, since it agonizes for its energy security and a potential discovery of new reserves by a Eurozone country such as Cyprus further strengthens its energy planning. French and German companies especially, being the dominant players in the European energy corporate environment, estimate they will be able to acquire concessions and strengthen their businesses worldwide. Europe will face an issue with natural gas imports sometime after 2020 due to rising consumption, decreasing North Sea reserves and increase in demand by the rest of the world.

Estimations

The potential reserves in the Noble Energy's Block 12 are estimated at 85 to 255 billion cubic meters of natural gas, and the neighboring Israeli ones at 700 billion cubic meters. Combined, they amount to an 18-month production of Russia, the largest gas producer in the world. Noble Energy estimates a 60 percent chance of geological success. Noble Energy has almost doubled its share price since 2008 based on its involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon researchers.

The coming months will reveal the extent of reserves to be found in the Eastern Mediterranean. Should they prove to be as estimated, this will alter the geopolitical balances in the region. The cooperation between Cyprus and Israel will flourish, and in parallel Turkey may follow a more aggressive policy to secure its interests. It is more than certain that Cyprus will become more of a headline in the mainstream press, while the developments in the region will have to take into account the energy factor.

The probability of a conflict cannot be excluded, although it is not significant due to already-established balances of power. Nevertheless, it should be stated that a deterioration of the domestic conflict in Syria or that of the nuclear project of Iran, along with any destabilization developments in Egypt, may have seismic ramifications, with Turkey and Cyprus near the epicenter.    

Europe's Islamic future

IF CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS PERSIST, EUROPE TO BE MUSLIM BY CENTURY'S END

Islam is on its way to become the most practiced religion in Europe. In a new book published by the University of Leuven, “The Iris and the Crescent,” sociologist Felice Dassetto says that Muslims will comprise the majority of the population of Brussels by 2030. The title of the book refers to the yellow flower symbol of Brussels’ region and to the Islamic emblem: While the first is decaying, the second is growing. 

 Muslims now make up one-quarter of the population of the capital of the enlightened Europe and they are asking to use the empty churches for Islamic prayers. Since 2008, the top seven baby boys’ names in Brussels were Mohammed, Adam, Rayan, Ayoub, Mehdi, Amine and Hamza. Mohammed is also the most popular name for baby boys in Belgium’s second-largest city, Antwerp, where an estimated 40% of elementary school children are Muslim. 

Antwerp is also home to Belgium’s first Islamic Sharia law court, which began operating in September.

Yet Belgium is not an isolate case in fact there are warning signs looming on the horizon that Europe risks being “overrun” by Islam. According to a recent report of the US Pew Center, Islam is already “the fastest-growing religion in Europe,” where the number of Muslims has tripled over the past 30 years. One third of all European children will be born to Muslim families by 2025.

Islam is the most practiced religion in the United Kingdom. In London, more Muslims attend mosques on Friday than do Christians churches on Sunday. The Oude Kerk, the oldest church in the city of Amsterdam, where the kings of Holland were crowned, is now a museum. The only “church” in the largest Dutch city that is crowded is the church of Scientology, a six-story building in the thick of the city center. Only 7% of Dutch Catholics now go to Sunday Mass and 16% of children are baptized.

In Austria, which was 90% Catholic in the 20th Century, Islam will be the majority religion among Austrians aged under 15 by 2050. The French case also shows that the often exaggerated “Eurabia” threat is more a quality phenomenon of religious attendance than of demographic takeover. In France, there are now more Islamic mosques being build - and more frequently so - than Catholic churches, and there are more practicing Muslims than practicing Catholics in the country.

Overall, the total number of mosques in France has already doubled to more than 2,000 in the last 10 years. The best known French Islamic leader, Dalil Boubakeur, Rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, recently suggested that the total number of mosques should double yet again, to 4,000, to meet the growing demand.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church in France had only 20 new churches built in the last 10 years, and formally closed more than 60 churches, many of which became mosques, according to research conducted by the French Catholic daily La Croix.

Princeton University’s Bernard Lewis once told the German daily Die Welt that “Europe will be Islamic by the end of the century.” At the time, Brussels’ political and cultural elites expressed outrage at the alarmist prediction. Yet if the current trends persist, Mr. Lewis may yet be proven right. 

Article by Giulio Meotti