EDITORIAL
The Choice Is Posed
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—The great question posed by history at this moment, which stands to determine the course of future history, and even whether there will be future history, is whether or not the United States, under President Donald Trump, will join fully with China and Russia in the great project of the World Land-Bridge, while implementing the Four Laws of statesman and economist Lyndon LaRouche.
President Trump’s Sept. 19 speech to the United Nations, which has been deliberately, completely distorted by the lying trans-Atlantic media, showed anyone who would take the time to read it, how close we are to being able finally to make these historic changes for the better—if we act now. As indicated in the short excerpts below, President Trump’s actual speech was a passionate appeal to the power of the sovereign nation-state to improve the fate and condition of humanity, and for sovereign nation-states to join efforts in behalf of the human species, and, in effect, foster a new renaissance. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was responding correctly to the thrust of President Trump’s address as a whole, when he characterized it as “remarkable,” and “a very welcome statement, which we haven’t heard from an American leader for a very long time.”
At the same time, the harsh denunciations against four foreign governments were there as well. There is no need to repeat them here, because they are the only thing the media has covered from that speech, forever repeating and expanding on them. But they were ill-advised, and they increase the danger of war.
The efforts of the LaRouche movement now can make the difference for which way this goes, even in the short term. Will the coup attempt against the President be defeated, finally freeing him to cooperate fully with Russia and China as he wishes to, and as he must? That will change everything.
The hard-fought campaign against the “Russia-gate” hoax against the President, using the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity memorandum of July 24, has inspired more forces to enter the fight, and helped inspire those already fighting to fight more decisively and tenaciously. Yesterday Bill Binney and Ray McGovern of the VIPS, fresh from speaking at the Manhattan EIR conference on Sept. 9, issued a new blockbuster article, “More Holes in Russia-Gate Narrative” on ConsortiumNews soon to appear in EIR. They take the battle directly to the enemy, and make no concessions. Also yesterday, WikiLeaks head Julian Assange tweeted that neither Robert Mueller’s team, nor the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee had “bothered” to contact WikiLeaks or himself. This invalidates their entire so-called investigations—that they would make no attempt to contact a party uniquely holding decisive, and perhaps conclusive evidence.
Now Hurricane Maria has “obliterated” Puerto Rico, as President Trump said, as never before in its history. Its power grid has been destroyed, and will have to be rebuilt from the ground up. There is massive flooding. The Federal government is responding to the emergency, but the bigger issue is immediately posed: rebuilding all the stricken areas of the U.S., and putting the right, new, infrastructure in place, cannot be done short of the LaRouche Plan and LaRouche’s Four Laws, with massive issuance of Federal credit, as called for in LaRouche’s Emergency Plan of Action “No More Harveys” of August 31.
U.S. POLITICAL & ECONOMIC
President Trump at the United Nations—What You Missed
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—The following short excerpts represent the true tenor and content of President Trump’s Sept. 19 UN General Assembly address as a whole—not the selective clips which the lying media is endlessly repeating and elaborating. A glance at the full transcript or an uncut videotape will confirm this. No victim of the trans-Atlantic mass-media could have a clue why it was that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov told the interviewers from Associated Press and TASS that he found the speech “remarkable.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/09/19/remarks-president-trump-72nd-session-united-nations-general-assembly
Trump said, “We have it in our power, should we so choose, to lift millions from poverty, to help our citizens realize their dreams, and to ensure that new generations of children are raised free from violence, hatred, and fear.
“To overcome the perils of the present and to achieve the promise of the future, we must begin with the wisdom of the past. Our success depends on a coalition of strong and independent nations that embrace their sovereignty to promote security, prosperity, and peace for themselves and for the world.
“We do not expect diverse countries to share the same cultures, traditions, or even systems of government. But we do expect all nations to uphold these two core sovereign duties: to respect the interests of their own people and the rights of every other sovereign nation. This is the beautiful vision of this institution, and this is the foundation for cooperation and success.
“Strong, sovereign nations let diverse countries with different values, different cultures, and different dreams not just coexist, but work side by side on the basis of mutual respect.
“Strong, sovereign nations let their people take ownership of the future and control their own destiny. And strong, sovereign nations allow individuals to flourish in the fullness of the life intended by God.
“In America, we do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to watch. This week gives our country a special reason to take pride in that example. We are celebrating the 230th anniversary of our beloved Constitution—the oldest constitution still in use in the world today….
“In foreign affairs, we are renewing this founding principle of sovereignty. Our government’s first duty is to its people, to our citizens—to serve their needs, to ensure their safety, to preserve their rights, and to defend their values.
“As President of the United States, I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries will always, and should always, put your countries first. [Applause]
“All responsible leaders have an obligation to serve their own citizens, and the nation-state remains the best vehicle for elevating the human condition.
“But making a better life for our people also requires us to work together in close harmony and unity to create a more safe and peaceful future for all people….
“In fulfilling our obligations to our own nations, we also realize that it’s in everyone’s interest to seek a future where all nations can be sovereign, prosperous, and secure….
Finally, in conclusion, he said, “Now we are calling for a great reawakening of nations, for the revival of their spirits, their pride, their people, and their patriotism.
“History is asking us whether we are up to the task. Our answer will be a renewal of will, a rediscovery of resolve, and a rebirth of devotion. We need to defeat the enemies of humanity and unlock the potential of life itself.
“Our hope is a word—and world of proud, independent nations that embrace their duties, seek friendship, respect others, and make common cause in the greatest shared interest of all: a future of dignity and peace for the people of this wonderful Earth.
“This is the true vision of the United Nations, the ancient wish of every people, and the deepest yearning that lives inside every sacred soul.
“So let this be our mission, and let this be our message to the world: We will fight together, sacrifice together, and stand together for peace, for freedom, for justice, for family, for humanity, and for the almighty God who made us all.
“Thank you. God bless you. God bless the nations of the world. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much.”
The White House has posted the complete speech on its website.
Congressmen To Introduce Resolution To Get U.S. Out of Saudi War against Yemen
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—Two Democratic Representatives will introduce a resolution Sept. 25 calling for the United States to stop supporting the Saudi “coalition” genocidal war on Yemen. The Dear Colleague letter by Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin begins: “We invite you to join us as an original co-sponsor for a resolution to withdraw U.S. forces in a timely manner from the unauthorized hostilities they are participating in alongside a coalition of militaries led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Our privileged resolution will be introduced next week and could come to the floor in early October. We therefore hope you would consider co-sponsoring before the date of introduction, Monday, September 25th.
“In Yemen, the Saudis—with direct U.S. military involvement initiated by President Obama—have been fighting a Shi’ite rebel group, the Houthis, who are entirely unrelated to the Sunni extremists of al-Qaeda or ISIS. Irrespective of debates over how broad the targets of U.S. counterterrorism operations are, U.S.-Saudi hostilities against Yemen’s Houthis constitute a completely separate war that remains unapproved by Congress, in defiance of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Corker made it clear to the press that he doesn’t believe the Authorization for the Use of Military Force [AUMF] that Congress passed in 2001 to counter al-Qaeda would apply to the Houthis.”
And it concludes: “By introducing a privileged resolution to withdraw unauthorized U.S. forces from this conflict—an idea endorsed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) last week—to reassert its authority over the executive branch when it comes to war power, we aim to reassert the rightful role of Congress as the constitutionally-mandated branch of government that must both declare war and retain oversight over it. Our bill strengthens U.S. governance to better comport with the Constitution, assists in reducing a genuine threat to national security posed by the expansion of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula [AQAP], and promises to assist in ending the senseless suffering of millions of innocent people in Yemen, as aid experts warn that Yemen may soon experience a famine of biblical proportions, largely as a result of the Saudi war tactic of imposing a blockade of food and medicine imports into the country.”
An activist group Just Foreign Policy is sending to Congressional staffs a statement of backing for this resolution by leading individuals and former Members of Congress:
“In Yemen, Saudi Arabia was able to recruit direct U.S. participation under President Obama to start a war that threatens 7 million people with starvation and has empowered both ISIS and al-Qaeda in Yemen. We hope your boss will consider co-sponsoring this effort to reassert Congress’ sole right to declare war, on constitutional, national-security, and humanitarian grounds.”
‘Obliterated’ Puerto Rico Vows To Rebuild, as Federal Government Immediately Responds
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—The damage Puerto Rico sustained from Hurricane Maria is unprecedented in the island’s history. President Trump had it right today, when he told reporters that the island had been “obliterated” and is in urgent need of assistance, with the island power grid completely destroyed, massive flooding (most major rivers overflowed their banks), and with little or no communications capability. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló says it will be “months, not weeks or days” before the power grid can be restored.
As one observer put it, “it’s like a bomb hit the whole island.” The extent of the island-wide devastation makes it difficult to get an accurate damage assessment. President Donald Trump last night declared Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands major disaster zones, making them immediately eligible for Federal disaster assistance. The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), FEMA and military units have already been deployed. FEMA is coordinating directly with Governor Rosselló, who yesterday expressed his gratitude to the Trump administration for its quick response, and told Puerto Ricans, “I have faith in our resilience to rebuild.” He recalled that even when reeling from Hurricane Irma, Puerto Rico took in refugees from other badly-damaged Caribbean islands, and served as a staging ground for the deployment of disaster-relief teams throughout the region.
The island is in “perilous shape,” the President said. An estimated 25-35 inches of rain fell—40 inches in some areas—and the National Hurricane Center is warning of “catastrophic” flash floods and a possible tsunami. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, as many citizens were stranded on rooftops, when water engulfed their homes in many communities.
The island has 34 hospitals, but only a few of them are providing service right now, using generators. Rosselló’s chief of staff told National Public Radio today that many don’t have enough fuel to keep the generators operating, and because so many roads are impassable, transportation to resupply them with fuel is impossible. A top priority, with FEMA and the Army Corps’ help, will be to ensure that fuel is supplied to these hospitals as soon as possible to keep the generators going.
VIPS’ Binney and McGovern Make the Case against ‘Russian Hacking’ More Conclusive
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—Fresh from speaking at the Sept. 9 Manhattan EIRconference against the “Russia-gate” fraud, Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity leaders William Binney and Ray McGovern coauthored an exclusive Sept. 20 article for the online publication ConsortiumNews, which added more proof to the VIPS case that a July 5, 2016 intrusion into DNC computers which has falsely been blamed on Russia, was not a Russian hack, as has been alleged, or any hack at all, but instead a “download/copy onto an external storage device by someone with physical access to the DNC.” An insider leak rather than a hack, in effect.
The new evidence cited by Binney and McGovern fits exactly into the place where critics have tried to attack the VIPS case: their contention that the speed at which the data was transferred was so high, that international transfer over the internet was impossible. Binney and McGovern conducted three real-life tests, and the highest transfer speed obtained was barely half of that of the July 5, 2016 download/copy. https://consortiumnews.com/2017/09/20/more-holes-in-russia-gate-narrative/
STRATEGIC WAR DANGER
Russians Warn U.S., They Will Suppress Syrian Democratic Forces, If It Attacks Syrian Arab Army
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov has charged that the U.S. is behind the recent moves of the (largely Kurdish) Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against the Syrian Arab Army in Deir Ezzor. “The Syrian government troops have been shelled twice from the areas on the western bank of the Euphrates controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces and the U.S. military,” he told reporters at the Defense Ministry yesterday. He further charged that the U.S. military facilitated the movement of SDF units out of Raqqa to Deir Ezzor, a distance of about 140 km.
Konashenkov said that the U.S. has been warned, through the deconfliction line to the U.S. military headquarters in Qatar, that any further attacks by the SDF will be suppressed “by all means of destruction.”
The U.S. military has claimed repeatedly that its only interest in eastern Syria is the defeat and destruction of ISIS. However, the SDF, the Kurdish-dominated militia that the U.S. military created and has supported as the only “viable” force to fight ISIS, seems to have other ideas. Since the Syrian army broke the ISIS siege on the city of Deir Ezzor on Sept. 5, the SDF has moved part of its force down the Euphrates River to the north side of the city, even though its campaign to take Raqqa from ISIS has not yet been completed. Col. Ryan Dillon, the U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, told National Public Radio (NPR) yesterday that the U.S. is not interested in grabbing land from the Assad government, and that such questions should be decided after ISIS is defeated. Yet the same NPR report claims that the SDF decision to move on Deir Ezzor was endorsed by the U.S. military.
Furthermore, the spokesman of the so-called Deir Ezzor Military Council, which is part of the SDF, who goes by the pseudonym Ahmed Abu Khawla, has been quoted repeatedly in the media for the past week or so, declaring that the SDF would not allow the Syrian army to cross to the east side of the Euphrates. “We want to defeat ISIS, and then liberate not only the oil fields but all the land, factories and people” and put the province back in the hands of “its rightful owners,” he said. NPR notes in passing that Abu Khawla fought against the Syrian government in the civil war before the rise of ISIS. It appears that he wants to resume that battle even before ISIS is fully defeated.
Former German Chancellor Schröder Takes On Government Policy on Russia
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—In an interview with the German publication Stern, some of which is available on the internet, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder criticizes the deployment of Bundeswehr troops to the Russian border, sanctions, and in general German policy on Russia, which has reversed the late Chancellor Willy Brandt’s Ostpolitikapproach.
The Bundeswehr presence in the Baltics is not a direct threat to Russia, but it is “a totally false signal to station German troops at the Russian border, because it lacks a feeling for our common history,” Schröder said. A contingent of 450 German soldiers are currently part of the NATO “Enhanced Forward Presence” maneuvers in Lithuania.
Schröder also blasts the term “Putin-Versteher”—literally someone who understands Putin, but used pejoratively to mean a non-Russian sympathizer of the Russian President. “Of course you want to understand Russia and its President,” he asserted. But, from the Russian standpoint, NATO is building a ring from Turkey, through South and Central Europe as far as the Baltic.
“On the basis of our common history, many Russians are disappointed by the German position, especially on sanctions,” Schröder told Stern, pointing out that in his talks, Russians often tell him: “We did help Germany in the reunification.” Crimea has been part of Russia since the 18th century, he underscored, and saying, “my prophecy is that there will be no Russian President who will again decouple Crimea from Russia,” as Khrushchov did in 1954, when he attached it to the then-Ukraine S.S.R.
On Ostpolitik, Schröder said: “We should not easily jeopardize Willy Brandt’s success.” Germany should “not follow U.S. interests in its approach to Russia.” The United States is not interested in a strong Russia, but Europe is, he said.
SCIENCE & INFRASTRUCTURE
TUNeIT Competition Launched for Tunisia-Sicily Mediterranean Bridge Project
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—The Italian press agency Ansa and Tunisia’s French-language Business News covered the launch of the international competition to design the artificial island as first leg of TUNeIT, the bridge project between Italy and Tunisia, yesterday in Tunis. AnsaMed mentioned the Schiller Institute as being among the sponsors.
TUNeIT author Enzo Siviero explained that the competition is for engineering and architecture students. Four islands and four competitions are planned, and “the candidates can unleash their creativity on the level of civil engineering, on how to build and to manage [the islands], and on the level of industrial engineering.
“We want to convince Mediterranean countries that it is worth investing in this operation, because if we let the Silk Road go [only] to the North, the entire southern part will be cut off.
“The initiative is backed, among others, by EAMC (Engineering Associations of Mediterranean Countries), PAM (Parliament Assembly of Mediterranean), the Schiller Institute, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, the Craxi Foundation, Università La Sapienza di Roma, Ensit, Federarchitetti, and Sistemi Urbani del Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane,” Ansa notes.
Construction of China-Mongolia Economic Zone Has Begun
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—Xinhua reported today on the signing of an agreement to develop the infrastructure of the city of Erenhot, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which is China’s major hub for cross-border trade with Mongolia. The signing triggers the construction of the China-Mongolia economic cooperation zone, Xinhua reported. “Under the agreement, China 22MCC Group is responsible for the construction of underground pipelines, office buildings and roads and plants within the Chinese section of the zone. The total investment for the projects is around 824 million yuan ($125 million).” Construction of the infrastructure will take about two years.
Xinhua wrote that in 2015, China and Mongolia had agreed to dedicate 9 sq. km on either side of the border to a joint economic zone, which comprises land in Erenhot, China and Zamyn-Uud, Mongolia. “In May 2016, the two countries formally agreed on a comprehensive plan for the economic cooperation zone, which is expected to bolster trade in the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor (CMREC),” Xinhua wrote.
The CMREC has two key traffic arteries: one extends from China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to Hohhot and on to Mongolia and Russia; the other extends from China’s Dalian, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, and Manzhouli, to Russia’s Chita. Among the seven major areas of cooperation that define the CMREC, transport will be the main focus.
As the EIR Daily Alert Sept. 20 issue reported, Xinhua named CMREC as one of the six development corridors at the foundation of China’s foreign policy.
OTHER
Heroism, Solidarity Mark Mexican Quake Recovery, as Global Support Pours In
Sept. 21 (EIRNS)—Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is leading an impressive recovery effort in his country to deal with the effects of the Sept. 18 earthquake, even while continuing recovery efforts in the southwestern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca hit by the Sept. 8 earthquake; there are an estimated 300,000 displaced persons in Oaxaca alone, and 309,000 nationwide.
The latest earthquake has so far killed 250 people—that figure will increase—and wreaked enormous damage in five central Mexican states. A state of emergency has been declared for Mexico City, and all relevant national institutions have been mobilized, including all branches of the armed forces, to participate in rescue efforts.
In a statement to the nation yesterday, and a press briefing today, Peña Nieto delivered a message of calm (sorely needed, as a certain level of hysteria and mistrust of government prevails) emphasizing that the first priority is to save lives, provide emergency services to survivors (shelter, food, water, medicine) and to rescue those who may still be alive. This will be followed by a detailed damage assessment, already underway, so that rebuilding can begin. He gave a preliminary report on rescue operations and damages in the affected states, underscoring that “if there’s anything that distinguishes Mexicans, it’s their generosity and fraternity,” which will serve the country well in this crisis.
Displays of that solidarity—and heroism—are evident everywhere. Peña Nieto thanked the hundreds of volunteers, especially young college students, who have mobilized to assist in recovery efforts. Also fully deployed are the specialized rescue units known as “moles,” which were formed in the wake of the devastating 1985 Mexico City earthquake, and have spent the days since this week’s earthquake fearlessly tunneling into, or underneath, damaged buildings in search of survivors—an extremely dangerous job that must be done by hand. Buckets of debris are passed along a human chain of volunteers, to allow the “moles” to do their work. Early Wednesday morning, TV reporters were also surprised to see a caravan of singers walking through the hardest-hit areas of Mexico City, singing the iconic song, “Cielito Lindo” (Beautiful Little Sky) whose refrain is “canta y no llores” (“sing, don’t Weep”) to inspire rescue workers.
There has been an outpouring of support for Mexico from around the globe, and foreign disaster teams have already begun to arrive from the U.S., Spain, Japan, Israel, and Switzerland, among others. Nine other Ibero-American nations have pledged to send search and rescue teams.
