EDITORIAL
Face to Face with the Unknown
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—No one in the U.S. can miss the strained air of anticipation pervading these early days of 2017. One way or the other, the accustomed verities of sixteen bloody years of Bush-Obama tyranny are quickly coming to their end; all of us are face-to-face with the unknown. Surrounding this development and conditioning it, is a completely new, revolutionary situation on the entire international plane, of which the huge majority of Americans has not the slightest idea.
At the same time, as Inauguration Day approaches, some of our lower-level lackeys of the British Empire are white with fear. Will they lose some of their privileges? What will happen to them? They appear to be taking leave of their senses, as they scream out ever-wilder hoaxes against the President-elect. Instead of this madness, they should rather be attending to “regret, repentance, and making amends,” as patriot Andrew J. Bacevich wrote in a Jan. 9 article (“After the ‘End of History,’ ” in The American Conservative).
Meanwhile, ignored by the major media, and therefore unseen by those who read it, that majority of Americans who have had to eat dirt for sixteen years and longer, are hoping at last for a better diet.
But all of us together, without exception, are staring into the face of the unknown and unanticipated—the unexpected. And whoever is the first one to land back on his feet, ready to act effectively, will begin at a great advantage. We must be the first. It certainly won’t be the pitiful lackeys of the press or the conscience-free bureaucrats who now head the “intelligence” agencies (but not for long). As each hour passes, more becomes evident of the British pedigree behind the concocted “Russian hacking” scandal and the smear-Putin-and-Trump operation.
The question before us is: what to do. How can we avoid an impending collapse of the financial system? How can we have a real economic recovery? Where do we fit in the world system? Where is humanity heading?
To mobilize the commitment to respond to these questions, the LaRouche PAC was out in force this week in Washington, D.C., and in many states as well, to engage lawmakers, and policy leaders to act on the LaRouche “Four Laws” of economic measures—most immediately to re-instate the Glass-Steagall law, and equally importantly, to begin to understand the thinking and principles behind the proposals. As it happens, Jan. 11—the day of action in Washington, was the 260th birthday anniversary of Alexander Hamilton. A LaRouche PAC rally on Capitol Hill carried the banner, “Hamilton & LaRouche—Glass Steagall Now!”
U.S. POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
The Foreign Power Corrupting U.S. Politics Is Britain, Not Russia
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—The details emerging about the origin of the “fake news” dossier about President-elect Donald Trump’s supposed sordid ties to Russia, show clearly that the entire operation was run by British intelligence. From what has now come out in various press reports, it is clear that the allegation that Russia interfered in the U.S. election on behalf of Trump was cooked up in Britain, funneled into the FBI and supporters of Hillary Clinton, and then pushed into the U.S. media by British intelligence. In sum, it is Britain that is corrupting U.S. politics. That is the real scandal.
The “fake news” dossier that was leaked earlier this week, began to be compiled during the Democratic and Republican primaries as a project commissioned by a wealthy Republican donor who was opposed to Trump. The BBC reports that this person was supporting Jeb Bush, although that is not confirmed. That donor hired a D.C.-based opposition research firm named “Fusion GPS,” which was founded and headed by Glenn Simpson, a former Wall Street Journal reporter. Fusion GPS had been hired by Obama operatives to do opposition research against Mitt Romney in 2012, and had also been hired by Planned Parenthood in 2015. However, Simpson is also tied to neo-con networks. He is a Senior Fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, where he specializes in corruption and transnational crime. According to the IASC website, Simpson has written extensively about corruption in Russia. According to the New York Times, Simpson is known to be anti-Putin.
After Trump secured the Republican nomination, funding for the project temporarily stopped. At that point, Fusion GPS was hired by supporters of Hillary Clinton to continue their opposition research against Trump. In June 2016, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced it had been hacked, and blamed the hacking on Russia. The source for this original allegation of Russian involvement in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee was also British intelligence.
According to British daily the Guardian, back in August 2015, British intelligence had contacted the FBI to tell them the DNC had been hacked. The FBI in turn contacted the DNC, but the DNC did not believe them. It wasn’t until May-June 2016, after Trump had secured the Republican nomination, and after Fusion GPS had been hired by Hillary Clinton supporters, that the DNC had a private security firm announce publicly that they had been hacked, and that the Russians allegedly did it.
It was at that point that Fusion GPS hired British operative, Christopher Steele, a former MI6 agent, to work on the dossier. Steele had worked undercover in Moscow and Paris for MI6, and was also known to be anti-Putin. The FBI was also familiar with Steele, who had supplied the “Eurasian Organized Crime” squad of FBI New York office, with information about corruption in the international soccer federation FIFA. This information led later to indictments of top FIFA officials, which was also aimed at Russia.
On behalf of Fusion GPS, Steele hired contacts in Russia to gather information from his former MI6 informants. During the Summer and Fall of 2016, Steele wrote memoranda to Fusion GPS which now comprise the 35-page “fake news” dossier that was leaked this week.
Steele’s memos were circulating in Washington throughout the Summer and Fall of 2016 among political circles and news organizations in the U.S., but no one would publish them because they were so obviously phony. According to the New York Times, the memos were given to the FBI by Steele through an FBI agent in Rome, whom Steele knew from his MI6 days.
When Trump won the election, Fusion GPS was no longer being paid for their work, but Simpson and Steele continued their investigation and their promulgation of the phony dossier anyway. In December they arranged for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to obtain it. McCain personally passed it on to FBI Director James Comey, even though Comey already had it from Steele’s channels. The dossier was so obviously bogus that it was never aired publicly, until Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and CIA Director John Brennan elevated it from mere gossip to “news,” by including a summary of it in their report to Barack Obama and Trump on Russian influence on the U.S. election. Once given the imprimatur of “intelligence” in this way, it was then finally disclosed by CNN and published in whole by “BuzzFeed.”
COLLAPSING WESTERN FINANCIAL SYSTEM
China Is the Driver of World Economic Growth, as Even the IMF Admits
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—The Chinese word for “economy” means “for society to prosper and benefit the people,” today’s Global Times explains. That this is the organizing principle of the Chinese economy can be seen in both domestic and global terms, when looking back at last year.
According to the International Monetary Fund, China contributed 39% of world economic growth last year, a rise of 14.2% from the year before. In addition to indicating the directionality of China’s economy, this is, of course, an extraordinary marker of the economic collapse of the trans-Atlantic economies.
According to Chinese figures, 12.49 million jobs were created in cities and townships last year, while 10 million people overcame poverty. For 2017, the article predicts that China “will inject into the world economy ‘Chinese dividends’ that are full of hope.” It previews that at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China later this year, policymakers “will formulate and implement some major policy measures.” China will have the opportunity this year, through its leadership and participation in various international fora, such as the BRICS Summit, Davos, etc., to work with other countries “to promote the building of a shared destiny and the recovery of the world economy.”
THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC ORDER
Helga Zepp-LaRouche Addresses Stockholm Seminar on ‘Trump and the New International Paradigm’
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—A seminar on “Donald Trump and the New International Paradigm,” was addressed the Schiller Institute Chairman Helga Zepp-LaRouche in Stockholm Jan. 11, hosted by the Schiller Institute and EIRNS. Zepp-LaRouche’s presentation, and the reaction by the audience of some 60 people, including a large contingent of top-level diplomats, created an atmosphere for discussion, which, as one participant praised it, was “sublime.” Zepp-LaRouche’s speech moved the audience to address the fundamental epistemological, deeper meaning of the New Silk Road, and the meaning of the development of mankind in the universe. This deeper meaning even touched the diplomats present. An Ambassador from an important Asian country started to discuss exactly the need to address these broader cultural and human implications during the question period.
In all, there were seventeen diplomats present, among them seven ambassadors. Four European countries were represented; nine from Asia; and four from Africa. Among the other participants there were representatives from different Swedish associations working for friendship with Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, the Baltic Sea area, and another group working to leave the EU, as well as numbers of businessmen, and many longtime activists of the Swedish LaRouche Movement. The Chairman of the Schiller Institute in Sweden Hussein Askary moderated the event.
Zepp-LaRouche’s keynote address conveyed a hopeful outlook for the world. She laid bare the ongoing struggle to turn around the election of Donald Trump by the outgoing neo-conservatives and mainstream media. She pointed to the broad reaction by the American population, against the neoliberal-instigated economic and foreign policy disaster in the United States, as the real basis for the election of Trump, as well as other such reactions around the world; and explained that, that is the place to look for the reason why Trump was elected, and not any hacking of computers.
Given that many in the audience were unfamiliar with the record of the Schiller Institute, Zepp-LaRouche presented the history of the organization, which, in fact, is also the history of the New Silk Road policy.
She described how the economy evolves from one platform to another, and pointed to the Chinese policy for pushing for the next, higher platform of economic activity, to come from Moon-based industrial development. This will create still more advanced conditions for the further development of mankind as no longer an Earth-bound species.
The transcript of her keynote is in preparation.
In the discussion period, the Chinese motivations for their worldwide, “New Silk Road” policy came up in the context of Africa. Zepp-LaRouche stressed, with her background of long study of China’s history and Confucian thought, that her conclusion is, that China is really pursuing a “win-win” policy based on the Confucian notion of pursuit of wisdom and harmony. She stressed the need for a Classical Renaissance for the New Paradigm to succeed, and that this is something we cannot leave to Trump.
Afterward, two Asian ambassadors expressed their personal thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Zepp-LaRouche for the depth and beauty of her remarks.
China To Dramatically Increase Investment in the Economy of Nigeria
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday met in Nigeria with Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeana, after which, Wang made the announcement of pledging an additional $40 billion of Chinese investment in Nigeria, on top of the $45 billion China is already investing in Africa’s most populous country. Wang also stressed that the two nations are strategic partners. His two-day visit in Nigeria culminates a five-nation tour in Africa.
Wang said of the new commitments in Nigeria, “In China, we have already financed a total of $22 billion of projects in Nigeria, and $23 billion [of] projects are ongoing. We are also following up on another $40 billion investment in [an oil] pipeline,” as reported by the Daily Trust of Nigeria.
Minister Onyeana, reprised the previous meetings on economic cooperation with Chinese government officials, stressing Nigeria’s long-standing and ongoing economic ties to China. He said that “in the area of infrastructure, which [is] one of the priorities of the federal government’s diversification program [from oil], the Chinese government has been showing a lot of cooperation with us in this area, helping us in the area of transportation—in particular, rail and airport projects.”
Nigeria also pledged to shut down a commercial office that Taiwan maintains in the country, in a show of steadfast adherence to the one-China policy.
China is involved, as well, in the critical, regional Transaqua project. In December, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Nigeria—which is the leader of the five countries most affected by the water crisis in this area—with PowerChina, which will pay for a feasibility study of the project. (See “Transaqua: A Dream Is Becoming a Reality,” EIR, Jan. 6, 2017).
Japan’s Government and Industry Will Invest in the Philippines
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on a two-day visit to the Philippines, with his wife and a business delegation. He is the first head of government to visit there since Rodrigo Duterte became President. During their talks, Abe pledged $8.7 billion worth of Official Development Assistance and private sector investment over the next five years. A report in the Philippines Star Tribune adds that Japan pledged $5 million for boats and other counter-terrorism equipment. Abe also said Japan will help the Philippines fight illegal drugs by helping to formulate treatment programs and improve facilities.
Abe said, as quoted in the Philippines ABS-CBN News: “We will leverage Japanese technology and know-how to the fullest extent to positively cooperate for the improvement of infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole of the Philippines.”
One of the projects that has been discussed is, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, to provide aid to Manila to study the feasibility of building railways that will connect the capital to nearby provinces, and also to study the first-ever rail system in Mindanao.
Duterte said that Manila and Tokyo’s economic agencies were instructed to seek new areas for collaboration, and work for the fulfillment of agreements signed during his visit to Japan in October. “We are encouraging our business sectors to intensify two-way trade and investment,” Duterte said. He secured $1.85 billion in investment pledges during his visit to Japan, which include deals with Toyota Motors Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors.
STRATEGIC WAR DANGER
Former German MP Willy Wimmer Takes On the ‘War Establishment’ against Trump
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)— Former German Bundestag member Willy Wimmer (CDU) has described the coalition of Democrats and Republicans who refuse to accept Donald Trump’s victory, as part of the “war establishment.” Speaking to RT International, Wimmer said: “When you see the situation in Washington, I think they are not willing—those who lost the election—to accept the new President whose name is Trump.” Wimmer, sincerely worried, says that “what is going on in Washington sounds like the beginning of a civil war.”
Wimmer developed further, that Donald Trump’s plans to build good relations with other countries may deal a blow to the hawkish worldviews of Democrats and Republicans from the war establishment camp, such as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
“There is a network of resistance against the President who will be in office on the January 20th, and I think when you look at the reality in Europe—people of all our European countries—they want to live in good [relations] with [the] Russian Federation,” Wimmer said. The campaign aimed at vilifying Trump resembles the way the mainstream media used to demonize Russia, he added.
“There is no hostility [between Russia and Europe], the hostility is organized in a very artificial way, and it is the same way of organizing hostilities as we see nowadays against Trump…. This makes it very clear that there is a network of Democratic and Republican war establishment in Washington, and they are not willing to accept the ballots…. I think everybody in Europe wants to see Trump in office pursuing the policy he explained during the campaign, to go for good relationships with others, including with the Russian Federation,” Wimmer said.
OTHER
China Issues White Paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation
Jan. 12 (EIRNS)—China issued its first White Paper on “China’s Policies Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation” Jan. 11, outlining the various areas in which it has been cooperating with other nations in the realm of security, and laying out its blueprint as to where things should develop in this area in the Asia-Pacific region. The document reflects President Xi Jinping’s call earlier, at last year’s meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures (CICA) in Asia, for a new security framework in the Asia-Pacific.
The paper also draws a line in the sand with regard to China’s requirements for appropriate behavior in the international arena. In particular, the document states, “To live together in peace, countries should follow the spirit of the rule of law, the international norms based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and the widely recognized rules of fairness and justice. International and regional rules should be discussed, formulated and observed by all countries concerned, rather than being dictated by any particular country. Rules of individual countries should not automatically become “international rules,” still less should individual countries be allowed to violate the lawful rights and interests of others under the pretext of “rule of law.”
The paper specifically refers to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, underlining, that in order to handle disputes, “the countries in the region should follow the tradition of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and peaceful coexistence, and work to solve disputes properly and peacefully through direct negotiation and consultation.” At the same time, China steadfastly asserted its “indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters.”
In addition, it states, “China resolutely opposes certain countries’ provocations of regional disputes for their selfish interests. China is forced to make necessary responses to the provocative actions which infringe on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
With regard to the previous bogus “arbitration decision,” the white paper states that, “No effort to internationalize and judicialize the South China Sea issue will be of any avail for its resolution; it will only make it harder to resolve the issue, and endanger regional peace and stability.”
The document also warns of the provocative nature of the THAAD deployment in South Korea. In addition, the document reiterates China’s commitment to seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and addresses the Afghanistan issue.
Most interestingly, the document intertwines the various collaborative security agreements with the numerous economic agreements with the same group of countries, underlining the example of the Belt and Road Initiative, the AIIB, the New Development Bank, as aspects of this overall cooperation. “Security and development are closely linked and mutually complementary,” the white paper says. “Equal consideration should be given to both a security framework and an economic framework—the main components of the entire regional structure—to ensure their parallel development. On the one hand, the improvement of the security framework will help ensure a peaceful environment for economic development; on the other, faster regional economic integration will provide solid economic and social support for the development of the security framework.”
Recognizing the complicated military alliance situation in the region, China hopes to gradually work toward a regional security framework. “Countries in the Asia-Pacific region differ in their historical traditions, political systems, levels of development and security concerns. In this region there are ASEAN-led security cooperation mechanisms and platforms such as the SCO and CICA, as well as military alliances formed in history. Given such a diversity, a consistent security framework in this region is not foreseeable in the near future, and it will be normal to see multiple mechanisms advancing together in the evolution of a regional security framework.” Further, “China promotes the building of a security framework in the Asia-Pacific region,” the white paper stresses, “which does not mean starting all over again, but improving and upgrading the existing mechanisms.”
The document also underlines China’s willingness to work together with India, and to establish working relations with Japan. Regarding the United States, it says, “China is willing to promote the sustainable, sound and stable advance of bilateral relations, and work with the new U.S. administration to follow the principles of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation, increase cooperation in bilateral, regional and global affairs, manage and control divergences in a constructive way, and further bilateral relations from a new starting point, so as to bring benefits to the two peoples and other peoples around the world.”
