EDITORIAL
LaRouche PAC Announces Upcoming National Day of Mobilization for LaRouche’s Four Laws
March 1 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump’s Feb. 28 speech to a Joint Session of Congress and the American people, kept the international process in motion towards creating a global New Paradigm to replace the disastrous British Empire and its policies of speculation, permanent war and genocide—the legacy of the Obama and Bush administrations. The unceasing activities of China and Russia around building a New Silk Road for the entire planet, continue to play the central role in that paradigm shift.
In his speech, Trump presented a hopeful vision for the future of the United States, as it approaches its 250th anniversary as a nation in 2026. He recalled the 1876 centennial celebration in Philadelphia, where “the country’s builders and artists and inventors showed off their creations.” And, he asked, “what kind of country will we leave for our children?” only to answer: “American footprints on distant worlds are not too big a dream.”
President Trump also issued a call for building peace, rather than pursuing the endless wars of recent presidencies. “America is willing to find new friends, and to forge new partnerships, where shared interests align”—a clear reference to his oft-stated willingness to cooperate with Russia, China and other nations, much to the horror of the British and Obama.
He further emphasized the need to reactivate the economy with the help of protectionist policies, such as those implemented by Abraham Lincoln, who rightly warned, Trump reminded listeners, that the “abandonment of the protective policy by the American government [will] produce want and ruin among our people.” Trump denounced and detailed the wreckage produced under Obama and Bush, especially the devastation of America’s inner cities, and vowed to reverse it.
But Trump shied away from any mention of Glass-Steagall, or of the Hamiltonian credit system that is actually required to make his stated intentions a reality.
In the course of a policy review today of President Trump’s address to Congress, and the political actions that must now be taken, Helga Zepp-LaRouche noted that the world is not yet in safe waters. The blowout of the trans-Atlantic financial system is imminent; the euro crisis is fully back on center stage, and the euro itself could disappear even before the United Kingdom formally files for Brexit. So it is imperative that the Four Laws put forward by EIR Founding Editor and statesman Lyndon LaRouche be immediately taken up by the Trump administration. Zepp-LaRouche underscored that it is the special responsibility of the LaRouche movement internationally to ensure that those Laws are known, understood in their deepest scientific import, widely disseminated, and made the law of the land.
In this same policy review, Lyndon LaRouche asserted that, “I think the global crisis can be stopped; we have to mobilize to do it.” The mobilization which LaRouche PAC will now undertake, includes rallies, lobbying, petition drives, and educational work calling on President Trump to immediately implement FDR’s Glass-Steagall Law, as the first step towards returning the U.S. to a Hamiltonian credit system that will permit the financing of a science-driven rejuvenation of the American economy—in other words, Lyndon LaRouche’s Four Laws.
As Lyndon LaRouche quipped: “Those are one of the best laws I ever passed.”
U.S. ECONOMIC & POLITICAL
Obama’s FBI Caught Paying British Intelligence To Launch Coup Against Trump
March 1 (EIRNS)—The Washington Post reported yesterday that the FBI “planned to pay” former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele to continue work on his discredited, lying dossier alleging Trump campaign contacts with Russia. According to the Post, the FBI agreed to pay Steele to continue his work in October 2016, one month ahead of the election, but the deal failed because of the exposure of Steele’s report.
Later in the day, CNN corrected the Post’s report, which had claimed “ultimately, the FBI did not pay Steele.” CNN’s source, an unnamed official, revealed that while the FBI did not hire Steele as an informant, an arrangement had been reached which “allowed for [his] expenses to be paid,” although “it couldn’t be learned how much he was paid and for how long.”
According to NBC’s version of the story, released this morning, this would not be the first time MI6 agent Steele had been hired as a paid FBI informant. “A law enforcement official did not dispute the agreement to pay Steele, and noted that the FBI had a previous relationship with the former British intelligence operative. The source said Steele provided crucial help in the FBI’s investigation of corruption in FIFA, the international soccer body,” NBC wrote.
Steele was a senior career MI6 officer and Russia expert. His scurrilous 35-page dossier against then-President-elect Trump—which we now learn the FBI financed—was deviously released to the public by Obama’s outgoing intelligence chiefs in January 2017, to build the case that Trump was functioning as a Russian agent and thus a potential threat to national security, laying the groundwork for his rapid impeachment. Steele’s dossier was immediately and roundly discredited as a pack of scurrilous lies (which hasn’t stopped BBC from reviving it at any opportunity, even as it admits most claims were “untrue”).
British intelligence’s flagrant intervention into the U.S. elections and now against the Trump administration, has not gone unnoticed by senior members of the U.S. intelligence community. In his Feb. 28 article in the American Conservative, “Is There More to the Flynn Story?” former U.S. CIA Case Officer and Army Intelligence Officer Philip Giraldi suggests that the abrupt Jan. 23 resignation announcement by Robert Hannigan, the head of GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), Britain’s equivalent of the NSA, may be fallout from the likely role played by GCHQ in providing Obama intelligence officials with the tapes of former National Security Advisor Gen. Michael Flynn’s discussions with Russia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Taping Russian officials is not a crime, but not redacting tapes involving U.S. citizens requires a court order to be legal, and there is no evidence that the FBI had a court order, Giraldi notes. Because “information derived from a major foreign intelligence partner could not be easily dismissed or ignored and would have to be acted upon,” General Flynn was “aggressively” pursued.
Giraldi admits that he is speculating on why Hannigan resigned, but what is of interest here is that Giraldi and other “former colleagues” in the U.S. intelligence community have their eyes on a British role in the coup plot against Trump.
Insurrectionists Scramble Back to Their Drawing Boards after Trump Address to Congress
March 1 (EIRNS)-Wall Street’s Obama Democrats and its spoilers like Bernie Sanders, were left twisting in search of a new “narrative” after President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, which even CNN and The Hill admitted was viewed positively by three out of four of the tens of millions of Americans who watched. CNN’s Van Jones, the black liberal commentator turned “star” of the anti-Trump crowd during the election campaign, summed up the problem faced by the British agents seeking to oust Trump before his Presidency is much underway. Van Jones told CNN, that whether you liked what Trump said or not, in the course of the speech, Trump “became President of the United States” [!], and “if he finds a way to do that over and over again, he’s going to be there for eight years.”
Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY), who has headed up the “resist everything Trump” policy in the Senate, reassured anyone who would listen that this was just a speech, and it will be forgotten quickly. Trump had a “rough” first month, and will continue to have trouble, Schumer insisted.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) gave his own response via his Facebook page, following former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s official Democratic response. (Beshear repeated the Obama/Clinton mantras against Russia, in defense of Obamacare, the press, intelligence community, etc. in a folksy, “just us neighbors in the local diner” style.) Sanders had raised Glass-Steagall again, in a short interview with MSNBC before Trump spoke. After the speech, Sanders listed of all the “issues” from his election campaign which Trump did not mention in his speech (income inequality, student debt, etc.), saying in passing, that Trump didn’t mention that he would re-instate Glass Steagall as he had promised during the campaign. Did Sanders say he would introduce a bill to reinstate it? No. He announced instead that he and 20 Senators had introduced a bill yesterday to allow Americans to import pharmaceuticals from abroad to drive down their cost.
Russians Respond To Trump Address To Congress
March 1 (EIRNS)—President Trump, during his address to the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress last night, did not explicitly mention Russia by name. The closest he came was to say: “America is willing to find new friends, and to forge new partnerships, where shared interests align.” The response from the Kremlin was one of patience. “No, it was no surprise” that Trump didn’t mention Russia, said Russian Presidential Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, this morning, reports TASS. “He is President of the United States of America, so it is natural that he tackles the American issues,” Peskov said, and that in Russia “Putin tackles the Russian issues…. This is completely normal.”
“Of course, [Moscow and Washington] have some common interests, there are also differences and opposing views,” Peskov continued. “In his opinion, this is ‘a normal practice.’ We have heard President Trump make various statements; we are waiting with patience for some actions to follow words, so that we could understand where we are at.”
In terms of areas of common interest, Peskov especially stressed anti-terrorism cooperation. “Cooperation in the war on terror comes first; this is what Putin and Trump discussed in their telephone conversation when Putin called Trump to congratulate him on his inauguration,” Peskov said. According to him, “everyone is likely to agree that all countries should cooperate in order to facilitate the fight against terrorism.”
“In any case, it is impossible to effectively combat terrorism if the most powerful countries, such as the U.S. and Russia, do not cooperate,” he said.
Senator Alexei Pushkov, a member of the Federation Council upper house, said that Trump’s speech “stood out” for not being aggressive toward Moscow and having a “balanced tone…. Trump’s performance in Congress stood out due to self-restraint, balanced tone and absence of vicious nonsense toward Russia that was common for [former President] Obama,” Pushkov tweeted. Pushkov also mocked the Democrats for complaining about Trump’s policy towards Russia. “Democrats accuse Trump of ignoring the ‘Russian threat.’ This was all that Obama and [Hillary] Clinton thought about…. Didn’t help them during the election,” he tweeted.
COLLAPSING WESTERN FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Wall Street Worries about Glass-Steagall Side of ‘Team Trump’
March 1 (EIRNS)—New York financial news service “The Street” wrote last night that when President Trump’s address to the Joint Session of Congress was over, “executives at the largest U.S. banks likely breathed a sigh of relief after realizing that Trump did not make any mention of a so-called 21st Century Glass- Steagall Act, a variation of a Depression-era law that would effectively have broken up the largest U.S. financial institutions by separating their investment banking units from their commercial bank divisions.”
The Street noted that “Trump had previously expressed support for the measure on the campaign trail,” and cited a pre-speech warning from the Cowen Washington Research Group that Trump could raise Glass-Steagall, in line with the “populist and conservative side of Team Trump.”
STRATEGIC WAR DANGER
UNSC Vote On Syria Was a Deliberate Provocation
March 1 (EIRNS)—Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov charged yesterday that the U.K., France and the U.S. deliberately brought to the UN Security Council a resolution on Syria that they knew would be vetoed, in order to seek a confrontation. “Despite our consistent appeals, the authors chose a politically-motivated path, leading to confrontation and adding complexity to the situation, including on our Security Council platform,” he said. “They opted for deliberately heating up tensions, being well aware from the very start that this initiative has no chance of being approved at the Security Council.”
In this situation, he explained, Russia “had no other choice but to block the passing of this resolution.” Safronkov underscored that by voting against the resolution, Russia voted “against confrontation” that is “doomed to failure and belongs to history…. We are sending a signal that we can solve difficult tasks and advance in the Syrian settlement only through cooperation.”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, since she failed to get this latest sanctions resolution past the Russian and Chinese vetoes, announced instead that she would pressure the European Union to impose more sanctions on Syria. The individuals and entities named in the rejected resolution are already sanctioned by the U.S.; therefore, she said, “we will work with our EU and other like-minded partners to push for similar sanctions as soon as possible.”
Economic Blockade Raises Tensions in Ukraine
March 1 (EIRNS)—In Ukraine, the economic blockade imposed on the Donbass by right-wing militia groups since Jan. 25, is about to explode into a full-scale crisis. Even former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who represents the Kiev regime on the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, warned that the blockade is not doing Ukraine any good. “Such methods are not helping [Ukraine]; their effect has been quite the opposite,” Kuchma told reporters in Kiev, yesterday. He argued that problems of this kind need to be handled urgently.
Boris Gryzlov, the Russian envoy to the contact group, warned that the government in Kiev must take action to end the blockade of Donbass. Otherwise, Ukraine will receive a response. Such actions as expanding the blockade, “actually aimed at economic and social exclusion, will inevitably lead to retaliation,” he said. “Donbass is neither an enclave nor an island…. We cannot allow a humanitarian and socio-economic catastrophe on the territories, whose population exceeds the population of some European countries.”
The head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, confirmed yesterday that the self-declared republic will move to take control of all Ukrainian enterprises operating in the D.P.R. if they have not re-registered with the D.P.R. authorities by midnight, tonight. He noted that many enterprises have ceased operating because of the blockade, a situation which is simply not tolerable. He pointed out that the decision was a long time in coming. “We are at war. It’s time to make strategic decisions,” he said. “This decision has been taken at the time when it is necessary. We have repeatedly spoken about our independence.”
As for which groups are specifically involved in blocking roads and railways, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, in its daily report of Feb. 28, identified members of the Aidar battalion and Right Sector at blockade sites, though the particular groups of men the monitors encountered were not armed.
ISIS-Linked Uighurs Release Video Threatening China
March 1 (EIRNS)—An AFP report, also covered by Time, reported on “a video reportedly released by the Islamic State (ISIS) militants from China’s Uighur ethnic minority threatening to return home to ‘shed blood like rivers.’ ” The video was assessed by U.S.-based jihadist-tracking firm SITE Intelligence Group. In the video, a Uighur fighter issued the threat against China just before executing an alleged informant. “Oh, you Chinese who do not understand what people say! We are the soldiers of the Caliphate, and we will come to you to clarify to you with the tongues of our weapons, to shed blood like rivers and avenge the oppressed,” according to SITE’s translation, reports AFP.
The video also featured images of Chinese riot police guarding mosques, patrolling Uighur markets, and arresting men in what it claims to be western China. Xinjiang province is where most Uighurs live, and which separatists call “East Turkestan.” The video shows the Chinese flag in flames.
Dr. Michael Clarke, a Xinjiang expert at Australian National University, told AFP that the video showed China is now “very firmly a target of jihadist rhetoric…. It is the first time that Uighur-speaking militants have claimed allegiance to ISIS,” he said. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said today that he had not seen the video but affirmed that, “East Turkestan terrorist forces have been posing a severe threat to China’s security,” referring to Xinjiang militants, AFP reported. Geng also called for international cooperation “to combat such terrorist forces.”
NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC ORDER
‘Connectivity’ and China’s One Belt, One Road at Center of ECO Meeting in Pakistan.
March 1 (EIRNS)—The question of economic and “transport connectivity” was at the center of the meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Islamabad. Held under the theme “Connectivity for Regional Prosperity” the conference was attended by eight heads of state and government and all ECO member states: Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The special guest of the conference was Executive Vice Foreign Minister of China Zhang Yesui.
Although the Islamabad Declaration did not mention the Belt and Road Initiative by name, the issue of developing all levels of economic “connectivity,” especially transportation, was at its center. It also welcomed the “China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a far-reaching initiative that would act as catalyst for the development of the entire region.”
The statement also took note that “the multi-dimensional connectivity in road, rail, energy, trade and cyber and associated infrastructure and industrial development can promote integration and economic development of the wider region. And to encourage all relevant international and regional financial institutions to actively cooperate with ECO Member States in financing the development of ECO transport corridors, related connectivity and energy projects.”
Addressing the conference, China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui urged the ECO countries to step up strategic communication and cooperation for greater and in-depth regional cooperation. Zhang said ECO countries have friendly ties with China in terms of cultural linkages, proximity, and old China Silk Road. Such cooperation will help promote China’s initiative of Belt and Road cooperation for greater regional integration, development, and prosperity.
Pakistan daily The Nation reported that infrastructure was a theme presented by many of the leaders at the conference.
Preparations for Another Abe-Putin Summit
March 1 (EIRNS)—Japanese Ambassador to Russia Toyohisa Kozuki told Sputnik that Tokyo is coordinating Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s next visit to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “One visit is already scheduled for September on the occasion of the Eastern Economic Forum. In addition, [Abe] expressed his desire to visit Moscow. The exact date and place will be agreed with Russia,” Kozuki said.
Although an exact date of Abe’s upcoming visit to Russia has not been set, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out that the visit could take place in April or May. On March 18, the first round of consultations on joint economic activities on South Kuril Islands will be held in Tokyo involving deputy foreign ministers of the two countries. On March 20, the Japanese capital will host a “two plus two” meeting between foreign and defense ministers, where it is believed they will discuss the situation surrounding North Korea, Japanese Ambassador said.
The Yomiuri Shimbun daily reports that ahead of the visit, Japan seeks to launch charter flights between its northern Hokkaido Island and Russia’s South Kuril Islands. At present, former Japanese residents of South Kuril Islands, their family members, representatives of public organizations and reporters can travel there without obtaining visas, using the Etopirika motor ship. However, all of them have to undergo specific procedures at the port of Yuzhno-Kurilsk on Kunashir Island from which they can take ships to Iturup, Shikotan and Habomai islands.
SCIENCE & INFRASTRUCTURE
China Planning Urban Local Maglev Lines
March 1 (EIRNS)—Central China’s Hunan province is preparing to build more medium- to low-speed maglev rail lines after the successful launch and satisfactory performance of the first domestic line in the same province in 2016. This first Chinese medium- to low-speed maglev rail line started operation in May 2016 in the provincial capital, Changsha, which goes between Changsha’s south railway station and the airport, at a maximum speed of 100 km per hour.
Changsha plans to build another maglev line in the city’s Xiangjiang New Area, the first “state-level new area” in central China, according to the city’s development and reform commission earlier this month. After the train’s launch, it will only take 30 minutes to travel to the south railway station, and 45 minutes to Changsha Huanghua Airport.
Another maglev line is expected to be built within the year, in the province’s Zhuzhou city. The 27.9-km line will have 24 stops and start operation after a three-year construction period, according to the city government.
Medium- to low-speed trains produce little noise, according to Peng Qibiao, director of the maglev research institute of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Company. “Maglev trains are safer and cheaper compared to current metro and light rail cars. They can also operate in severe weather, with zero emissions,” Peng said. Beijing is also expecting its first medium- to low-speed maglev rail line, which will start operation this year.
