The Indispensable Nation and the Dear Leader

Image by Rob Rogers

North Korea is branded a rogue nation with their Dear Leader portrayed as a psychopath bent on destroying the US or any nation that criticises him or his alleged provocative actions. His persistent testing of missiles which are assumed to be nuclear capable ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) is condemned daily, by specifically, the US and its allies and perpetuated by a pliant mainstream media. The global perception, as a result of this condemnation and media frenzy, unsurprisingly categorizes the North Korean leader as an evil maniac itching to start another world war. On the face of it, the projected perception makes any logical thinking person agree with this status quo. But as in any situation, there are always two sides to a story, and this little story is no exception. 

The history of the North Korean/US relationship goes way back to the Korean War between North Korea/China and South Korea/US from 1950 through 1953. Near the end of the war, the US military ran amok on the Korean Peninsula, and wiped out approximately 30% of the North Korean population. Included in its vast arsenal of conventional weapons, chemical weapons (Napalm) were used in abundance. The amount far exceeded the quantity used in the entire Second World War by the US. The destruction wrought was a deliberate, horrific slaughter of men, women and children from a war mongering nation against another. In the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, only two buildings were left standing. A total of seventy eight cities were flattened.  The US only relented when the Chinese intervened. The North Koreans will never forget; and all its leaders since, have vowed never again would their nation be subjected to such brutality. Thus, it was agreed that the only way they could protect themselves from such brutality was to create a deterrent. Hence, the North Korean Nuclear arms programme.

Since the Korean war, the US maintained up to 54 military bases in South Korea,  but eventually scaling down to the current 16, with at least three on the border of the two countries. This excludes the bases stationed in Japan and the Island of Okinawa of which there are no less than 20. With these bases in South Korea, the US, in partnership with the South Korean military, conducts annual military exercises on the peninsula with a strategic focus of the “decapitation of Kim Jong Un and his Generals”; basically, regime change. As if that is not enough provocation, the US persistently overflies B-1B bombers over North Korea in “simulations” with their ally.  Suffice it to say, these B-1B bombers flies from a military base in Guam. This may explain the Dear Leader’s threat of a possible attack on Guam. A total of eleven such overflights had occurred since May 2017. The simulation exercises for this year, bizarrely named Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, is taking place throughout this month of August, and includes the militaries of South Korea (50, 000 troops), Australia, Canada, Netherlands and Japan.

By now you are probably wondering why the US is threatening and bullying a small country like North Korea with a population of only 26 million people. Without stressing the obvious fact that the US government is nothing but a schoolyard bully, who finds pleasure in picking a fight with small nations who are unable to fight back, (like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Granada, Yemen), this is no exception, but with underlying strategic intentions.

Let me put this into perspective. North Korea is the only country in North East Asia that is not an ally of the US/West, but is instead aligned with China and Russia. China is North Korea’s number one economic trading partner, with Russia being the second. The US strategically wants total control over the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan in its bid to contain China’s influence in the region and in so doing have complete control of Regional Economic activity aligned with its own interests. The growth of the Chinese economy and the expansion of their regional influence (throughout Asia and Eastern Europe) have the US government pissing in their pants. The strategic partnership between Russia and China on all diplomatic fronts, has already gained significant traction in Eastern Europe and Central/South Asia through bodies such as ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) and the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union). The diplomatic relationships and trade partnerships forged between members of these Organisations are changing the political and economic landscapes in the region. For obvious reasons, the US and the West is doing whatever they can to derail this amalgamation of nations.

The Chinese have a standard military agreement in place with North Korea since 1961, in that, should the North Koreans be attacked militarily, the Chinese are obliged to assist militarily. Conversely, should the North Koreans invoke a military provocation and start a war, the Chinese would be neutral. The tense stand-off of the US/Korean crisis, has seen China and Russia call for restraint on both sides and urged the US to refrain from their provocation with their military exercises in exchange for Pyongyang suspending their missile tests. The latest missile test by Pyongyang is a direct response to the persistent military exercises by the US and its allies. Yet, only one side of this situation is covered by the mainstream media with the US playing the victim amid threats of full scale war against North Korea. However, all this rhetoric, sabre rattling and hubris coming out of Washington will amount to nothing lest they forget the implications of starting a fire fight with the Dear Leader.

Donald Trump and his battle with the Deep State

The last time I wrote about The Donald, I defended his success in the US Elections in 2016.  Some friends voiced their disappointment in my stance, yet others (childishly) unfriended and blocked my profiles on Social Media. I don’t know what it is, but when everyone else goes left, I will unassumingly go right! Maybe it’s that silent rebel in me, or that uncontrollable urge to piss people off!

Anyway, my analysis was partly based on his promises and commitments to the American people and his stance on America’s foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere.  Though it probably has always been a risk trusting politicians with their promises during campaign trails, I threw my hat in with the Donald due to my distrust of a Presidency of one Hilary Rodham Clinton. This scepticism was based purely on her history of sowing chaos in the Middle East (Libya, Yemen) and Eastern Europe (Ukraine). I firmly believed that Hilary Clinton would have been the cause of the next global war between nuclear armed countries. I firmly believed that this woman was crazy enough to instigate such a global catastrophe. If you have seen the video of her interview commenting on the destruction of Libya and the death of Muhammar Gadhafi, you would understand what I’m talking about.

With a reflection on the list of failures in his career, and his family’s alleged affiliation with the far right, The Donald’s success in the White House was always going to be questionable and controversial.  His success at the polls was the last thing that was expected from liberal America and prior to the elections Hilary Clinton’s rise to the White House was a forgone conclusion by every media pundit trolling the mainstream media; Little did they know that rural America was going to have none of it, and was sick of the cyclical bullshit every US President had brought to their Society since the first Clinton enjoyed fellatio in the White House. They were sick of the endless wars their government was sowing around the world. They wanted real change locally. They wanted someone who would provide some hope of rebuilding their country, and not send their fathers, sons, brothers, and partners to remote areas of the globe to fight wars which had very little bearing or influence on the prosperity of their society. On the contrary, these wars fueled more hatred for the US government, from almost every other nation in the world, especially in the Middle East. In Donald Trump, they had a flicker of hope; not much, but it was a better choice than ordering more of the same in Hilary Clinton. They knew that in Clinton, nothing would change, but things would probably get worse. Her political scandals did little to convince the American public that she was the real deal. Thus, the electorate decided that they would choose the lesser of two evils, in Donald Trump.

Donald Trump’s first 100 days in the White House was not convincing, and there was little evidence of commitment to his campaign promises. He flip flopped on various issues and occasionally did or said the exact opposite of what he promised. He changed staff in his team the way American Football players are substituted. He would say one thing today, and a few days later would totally reverse and take a different stance. After the first one hundred days, it was starting to look like The Donald was totally out of his depth and it seemed like he didn't have a clue.

One of the things Trump promised on his campaign trail, was that he was going to “drain the swamp” when he got to the White House.  He implied that he was going to purge his administration of the undesirable factions whose agenda was not consistent with the policies of the US Government or in the interests of the American Public. On his arrival in Washington, he realized that this draining the swamp would be more challenging than hanging someone from a tree in the Deep South. He realized that running the US Administration was not the same as running an Academy of MBA hopefuls. But, he was consistent in his “You’re fired” mantra when someone did not supposedly conform, as was witnessed in his chopping and changing staff almost weekly in those one hundred days. 

In politics around the globe there will always be groups or organisations, be they profitable or non- profitable, contesting for a slice of a sitting government’s influence to further their own interests. In American politics this type of external influence in government policy is no exception.  Depending on the extent to which this interest is sought, it can hugely affect the strategic goals of that Administration. The bigger the influence, the more a sitting Government may surrender their mandate in exchange for political favours or self-interests. This phenomenon has come to be known as a “Shadow State” or “Deep State”.  There are various examples around the world where this “takeover” of a sitting government is evident.  A prime example of this would be none other than in my own country, the South African Government.

This “Deep State” is what Trump was referring to when he committed to “draining the swamp” in Washington.  On taking up the Presidency, only then did he realise the extent to which this Deep State had influenced the US Administration.  Needless to say, this external influence on the US Government dates back to the George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton Administrations. These influences were especially prominent in the many State Security agencies, like the FBI, CIA, and some fifteen other agencies. Yes, there are 17 official State Intelligence agencies in the United States. Therefore, this changed the simple task of “draining the swamp” into a mammoth Macro Project of desalinating the Atlantic, instead. When Trump showed signs that he wanted to deliver on some of his campaign trail commitments, e.g. improve relations with Russia, he was accused of colluding with the Russians to influence the elections in his favour.  When he tried to de-escalate the US presence in Syria, more allegations of bribery and corruption were leveled against him. He subsequently had no choice but to play ball with his adversaries in his Administration, or risk the possibility of impeachment through nefarious motives and unsubstantiated allegations.

Since Hilary Clinton was the preferred candidate to push the agenda of the Deep State, yet lost the election, it put much more pressure on The Donald to conform to their needs or face the consequences.  Hence, his unpopularity from the day he beat Hilary at the polls. His battle with this party of rogues is far from over, and they will not rest until he is totally in their court, or he is impeached. Their goal was always to have a pliable individual in the White House to further their agenda.

Donald - The Trumpian

Donald Trump has been labelled a racist, foul mouthed misogynist and a circus clown. He has no tact or diplomacy and says what he thinks, literally. His debating skills are less than ordinary and his capacity to maintain an intellectual conversation is in itself debatable.

Be that as it may, Donald Trump represents  the majority of the American public who are sick and tired of living on food stamps; being frustrated by unemployment; sick of endless wars the US military is incapable of controlling, with more body bags of their loved ones returning home daily. They have had enough of their government expending more time and money on a foreign policy for the Middle East and Eastern Europe that has miserably failed since Barack "yes we can" Obama took office in 2009.

They are sick of the corruption on Wall Street and the big Banks who are "too big to fail". They've had enough of the Clinton scandals and her empty rhetoric with nothing concrete to offer the American people. Notwithstanding the fact that her criminal activities are all but swept under the carpet at the 11th hour. The American people collectively decided not to put someone, with a tainted reputation, in the White House.They are well aware that should she have won, all they would get was more of the same with a  rapidly eroding  socio-economic climate at home.

Regardless of his unsavoury utterances and  thoughtless outbursts, the American public took a chance with Trump because he may, just may deliver on his promises of abandoning the Establishment's current focus on foreign policy and overhaul internal policies to benefit the American people.
With a Clinton presidency they know that would have been a pipe dream, because she undoubtedly represents the elite establishment and that's where her focus would have been.........

The world as most of us did not know it in 2015.

The Global Geopolitical changes witnessed by people in the know, through 2015, give one a sense of hope for the New Year. The shift of Geopolitical power from the West to East has moved up a few gears with the takeover and control by Russia of the War in Syria. Russia’s phenomenal success in only three months of operations in the war has left the Western nations at a loss for a meaningful response to the developments in this region. The rise of the evil entity called ISIS has brought about untold fear for the citizens of the world. Their expansion across Iraq/Syria and the Kurdish republics resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands and displacement of millions from the region.  The intervention by Russia in the region has stopped this ISIS expansion and growth and given people of the region the hope of improved prospects in 2016.

The migration problem in the EU has yet to be resolved, with EU members implementing all sorts of movement restrictions between countries and predominantly targeting foreigners from entering the EU. Increased border patrols, the building of huge walls and fences, etc , is common purpose under the circumstances. The rise of the right and far right political parties in various European member countries poses a serious threat to the longevity of the EU as an entity. The revolt by EU citizens against the influx of migrants in their respective countries have increased the support for these  far right parties who are gaining political relevance as a result of the migration crisis. Other issues which plagued the EU, was the Greek bale out, and the consequences thereof. With the move of support for the far right in various EU countries, how will they react to the Mafiosi style of economic management of the Union.

The slow but certain downfall of the US as the sole global Superpower became a sober reality to the powers that be in Washington. Internal strife in the form of civil disobedience and revolt by US citizens against police brutality of minors has reached epic proportions with the situation becoming unmanageable by local authorities in their specific states. The gradual loss of US dominance in the Middle East as a result of Russia’s intervention has left the US Neocons scratching their heads for a meaningful response with significant answers. These are only two examples of the problems facing the US Empire for which they are clearly unable to contain.  I have penned a few articles this year of the impending downfall of the US Empire in light of their catastrophic management of the terror threat in the MENA (Middle East/North African)  region and elsewhere. Lacking a meaningful policy and strategy to combat the terror threat in this region, will leave the US out in the cold as the Russian coalition is doing the job for them. This naturally will leave a huge scar to their egos and may prove to be the catalyst that would instigate a desperate fight to maintain dominance over the MENA region and globally.

Although the Russian coalition has made tremendous strides in containing the ISIS threat in the Middle East, it may not be accepted that the US will follow suite and assist the coalition in fighting this terror scourge. Recent developments have fingered a NATO country, Turkey, as funding, aiding and assisting the ISIS jihadists, and allowing stolen crude to be transported from Syrian oil fields through Turkey to international buyers at low cost.  As a NATO country it cannot be expected that the NATO Alliance, and inadvertently the US, was not aware of these operations and they may be complicit in encouraging or turning a blind eye to Turkey’s criminal activities. That said it would be only a matter of time before others are exposed in similar criminal activities involving the funding of ISIS.

The New Year will bring in many more surprises from the Geopolitical arena regarding the Syrian war and the ISIS phenomenon. For the benefit of prosperity to all mankind in the New Year, we hope and pray that things do not turn out for the worse as far as the US is concerned in the Syrian oil/Turkey/ISIS developments. If that be the case, the world may be in for an extremely bumpy ride in 2016.

 

Terror attacks in France – a predictive false flag?

The latest terror attacks in France on Friday (13-11-2015), comes shortly after the French air force allegedly joined in the bombing of Syria with the US and other allies. It is also claimed to be a result of the refugee influx into Europe from various parts of the Middle East, especially Syria. The main concern from European governments was the potential of ISIS jihadists infiltrating European countries in the guise of a refugee.

The refugee crisis has become an issue which European authorities are battling to contain and manage. Various proposals were made by the EU Commission to Turkey and other North African countries to assist with the crisis and take in some of the refugees with financial assistance to help deploy them (refugees) into their countries’ mainstream economies.  Not one of the countries approached by the EU Commission took the bait; thus, leaving the EU solely with the headache of trying to resolve the crisis.

Faced with this problem, EU countries took various steps of stemming the influx, but evidently nothing seemed to stop the refugees from entering EU in their droves.  Borders were temporarily closed, with tighter restrictions put in place. Emergency blockades in the form of barbed wire and high electrified fences were built.  But somehow the refugees found ways of bypassing these additional controls, with the result that they were made ineffective within the first few weeks of implementation. The EU parliament was now running out of ideas in their efforts to control the problem, and it seemed they had no effective alternative plans or answers to resolve the crisis. 

What are they to do?

As with all Geopolitical goals and objectives, everything is never what it seems. As I have always said, in situations like these, one needs to look beyond the obvious for an insight into the reasoning and motivations of such actions.  Firstly, the immediate assumption that the attack was carried out by ISIS jihadists in retaliation for France’s participation in the Syrian war seems feeble, given the fact that there is an alleged coalition of approx. 11 countries militarily involved in the war in Syria. Why choose France as a target? In addition, the previous terror attacks in France earlier this and last year, has resulted in the French government improving national security to prevent any more attacks from being carried out in that country. The fact that this improved security was easily breached is a convenience like no other. My suspicion of the attacks being a false flag ties in perfectly with the scenario outlined above, given that something needed to be done to resolve the refugee crisis effectively.  If not, the EU faces the prospect of being non-existent within a few years.

The claims of ISIS jihadists infiltrating Europe in the guise of refugees is a perfect excuse to plan a false flag attack, blame it on the Jihadists, then implement draconian laws throughout the EU with military execution to stem the influx of refugees.  As a result the EU Commission now has enough reason to crack down, with all means possible, on the refugees, to resolve the problem.  #justsaying!

21st Century Looney Toons - courtesy of Disneyland Europe

The influx of refugees into Europe from North Africa and the Middle East seems to be taking its toll on Governments in the European Union. Back and forth blaming for the crises is the order of the day, and no-one seems eager to take responsibility for the situation.  The European Union leaders are blaming its individual EU members and conveniently passing the buck without any shame.

The refugee crisis is a direct result of the endless wars the Western leaders perpetrated on these ravaged countries. Rewind back to 2003 when the first wave of attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq by the US and its NATO allies, who claimed to free the people from dictatorship and tyranny and bring democracy to their countries. Twelve years and several wars later these and other ME countries are now in total chaos with no sign of democracy or freedom but utter destruction, misery, death and poverty bestowed on the citizens. The result?  People are fleeing their devastated lands in droves and seeking shelter in the nearest place of safety, namely Europe and Britain.

With the predicament ever becoming worse and unmanageable, the free-flowing borderless countries of the EU are considering closing their borders as a result of the situation. The irony of the circumstances, is nothing but laughable in the eyes of the world.  Before plundering and pillaging those countries for their own selfish and Imperial interests, the EU leaders had only good things to sell in their quest bomb these lands into oblivion. Example, see David Cameron’s plea to bomb Syria (for a good cause) here: ”http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-23884550”. Subsequent to the crisis and realising the refugees are becoming a European problem, he does an about turn and wants “stability in that part of the world” and to stop people fleeing their countries, see here "http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/02/david-cameron-says-taking_n_8076646.html"

These so-called leaders of the free world, with all their power, imperialism and exceptionalism, could not foresee the current situation occurring back then when they were salivating to bomb every ME and North African country into extinction. At least they did get one thing right; the people DID find a country and a land with democracy, i.e. the closest European country that they could settle in!

There will be more blood.

History has proven that the demise of an empire is preceded by various issues internal and external to its domain. The downfall of the Roman Empire was a result of a combination of factors, namely political disintegration, civil revolt, failing economic policies, soaring debt, global military expansion, numerous failed wars, and corruption in government. Similarly, the Ottoman and British empires crumbled as a result of some or all of the above factors. In the case of all three, the unique miscalculation of overexpansion is blatant. To have complete hegemony and absolute power over all and sundry, the question of maintaining sovereignty and autonomy is lost to mismanagement, loss of control, misguidance and ultimately a failure of the state.

The Empire of Chaos (appropriately named by those in the know), is evidently no different to the empires of centuries past. The US government is tainted by a series of failed military campaigns, think Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, etc. The nation is beset by internal strife in the form of civil disorder as a result of incessant police brutality against minorities; maintaining a foreign policy that is aggressive and hostile towards 1.6 billion Muslims around the globe and an ever increasing total national debt to the tune of approximately 20 trillion dollars. Suffice it to say, a debt that is impossible to repay, and is exacerbated by incorrigible corruption throughout the US Government. The trend in relation to past Empires is clearly significant.

The one and only reason why the US (Empire) is surviving, is the fact that the US dollar is the global reserve currency and all international transactions are negotiated with it. The Federal Reserve Bank in the US can therefore print US dollars ad infinitum, as long as the dollar is the preferred currency of trade, and has substantial value. When various leaders from the Middle East, i.e. Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi,  Bashar al Assad made plans to move away from trading their natural resources in dollars, they were targeted and removed through military campaigns, citing dubious reasoning. The latest target to be subdued is the government of Iran.  For years the Iranians were planning to establish their own Bourse (Stock Exchange) to trade their natural gas and oil in a currency other than the US dollar, and as such have been targeted as a threat to world peace; hence, the accusations of the Iranians building a nuclear bomb to destroy Israel. Although literature suggests that Iran is the most peaceful nation in the Middle East.

The US is well aware that taking the fight to the Iranians, will stir up the Russian bear and the Chinese Dragon, which is something they cannot afford. The demonising of President Putin and Xi Xinping, is a direct result of these leaders insisting on protecting their sovereignty, national and international interests (re: Iran, Syria), and therefore not following US dictates. The establishment of various financial institutions by the BRIC countries, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (NDB), to counter the might and power of the ECB (European Central Bank), the IMF, and the World Bank, is enough cause for alarm from the Empire of Chaos, who inadvertently owns the IMF, World Bank and ECB.  With numerous Asian, Latin American, African, Eastern European and various Western European countries having joined or considering to join these institutions, the US government is feeling left out in the cold, and therefore will fight for the survival of their banking minions and ultimately their own survival.

All international transactions between corporates and countries, uses the SWIFT transactional system to conduct trade in US dollars. The formulation by Russia and China of an alternative system of trade in currencies other than the US dollar is gaining traction and will be implemented in 2016/2017. With successful implementation of this system, the dollar as the preferred trading currency will be exchanged for currencies of the trading partners’ choice, mainly in their own currencies. This poses a huge threat to the US economy should the value of the dollar fall as a result of this development. As countries and corporates successfully switch from the SWIFT system to the new system of trade, the dollar becomes worthless, and the printing of dollars will have little significance or importance.

Therefore the fight to retain the Eurasian landmass and East Asian countries as economic trading partners is imperative for the US in their survival. Should this not be realised or sustained, the collapse of the US economy and as a state would be inevitable. Knowing the arrogance and egotism of the US administration and its war mongering neocons, they will not go down without taking the rest of the world with them. A military confrontation between the US and Russia/China may be globally catastrophic. There will be more blood to spill. God save us all.