EDITORIAL
Criminalizing Policies Which Counter the British Empire
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—The process of fraudulently criminalizing policies which undermine the “divide and conquer” intentions of the British Empire and its assets in the U.S. has taken another step forward. We have seen how Special Counsel Robert Mueller, based on the discredited “cash for trash” document prepared by former MI6 official Christopher Steele (and promoted by Obama’s intelligence team), is in the process of running a coup attempt against the President of the United States in order to prevent his policy of establishing friendly and cooperative relations with Russia and China. Any cooperation with Russia is criminal in the British view. Obama’s Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told CNN on Nov. 12 that Trump’s effort to work constructively with Russia is “a peril to this country” and a “national security” threat.
What is this but criminalizing policy based on the British geopolitical division of the world into warring factions, the hallmark of Empire?
Today, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post launched a campaign declaring Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s first National Security Advisor, to have broken the law by promoting a “Marshall Plan” for the Middle East, to build nuclear power plants to advance the economies of the Arab nations. “It was a business proposal in the form of a policy paper,” an “unnamed source” told the Post in regard to the proposal advocated by Flynn while he was in the White House. The supposed “crime” is defined as corruption, simply because Flynn, before joining the government, had promoted the plan as a consultant to companies that could potentially benefit. The Post also says that the issue has been referred to Mueller’s witchhunt team.
In fact, this demonstrates clearly that development itself is seen as a crime by this gang of economic hit-men. President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker earlier said that the EU fully intends to block Chinese investments in Europe under all kinds of pretexts, while the Western press is full of warnings that China’s Belt and Road Initiative is an attempt to take over the world from the U.S.
And yet, reality is showing these thugs to be nothing but a modern version of the Emperor with no clothes. Across the world, nearly every nation is embracing the New Paradigm of peace through development. This week alone, conferences on the New Silk Road are taking place in Hungary (between China and 16 Central and Eastern European nations), in Uruguay (the China-Latin American-Caribbean Business Forum), as well as several bilateral meetings between China and other nations. The idea developed by statesman Lyndon LaRouche over the last half-century—that only a total reorganization of the world financial and economic order based on real development could prevent the descent into depression and war—is becoming manifest through the Belt and Road Initiative.
Trump has become a threat to the British Empire by positing that America can only be great again if it drops the anti-industry, anti-science, greenie ideology, crushes the (British) Opium War against the United States and the world, and joins with Russia, China, and other nations in peaceful development programs.
The danger the world avoided when Hillary Clinton was rejected by the American electorate in 2016 was on full display Tuesday in a video presentation by Hillary to the annual conference of Caijing business magazine in Beijing. Just days after Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping dedicated themselves and their nations to cooperation in resolving conflicts around the world, Mrs. Clinton ranted that Xi Jinping was guilty of an “unprecedented consolidation of power” and warned against China’s “secret military build up on contested islands” and “bullying smaller neighbors.”
To the contrary, China’s “smaller neighbors,” and others around the world, are joyfully greeting China’s Belt and Road as the means to liberation from the colonial and neo-colonial backwardness imposed upon them for centuries by the European imperial powers and the “debt slavery” under IMF dictatorship.
As to the response in the United States, take five minutes to watch the LaRouchePAC video “West Virginia Joins China’s Win-Win Cooperation,” to see how China’s New Silk Road is already contributing to making America great again. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=xkUFrJ78l_k
U.S. POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
Hillary Clinton Bashes China, President Xi and President Trump at Beijing Conference
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton continues her path over the cliff. In an hour-long video presentation yesterday to the annual conference of the Caijing business magazine in Beijing, Mrs. Clinton openly denounced China and President Xi Jinping. Clinton’s speech comes less than a month after Trump’s state visit to China which dramatically brought China and the U.S. together for economic and political cooperation in solving the world’s problems.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Clinton ranted about Xi’s “unprecedented consolidation of power” which has triggered “anxiety about a more assertive Beijing and worries from your neighbors as well as the United States.” The path to legitimacy and leadership, she pontificated, “runs through responsible cooperation, not through secret military build-ups on contested islands or bullying smaller neighbors.”
Clinton claimed to be concerned about the “precarious” state of U.S.-China relations, which she described as being “at a crossroads.” She managed to accuse China of violating human rights, while boasting of her own record of defending Chinese citizens who had been victimized by the government, and repeated that China had “unfairly” treated U.S. corporations and engaged in currency manipulation.
She even had the nerve to lecture the Chinese President that China isn’t doing enough to stem the North Korean crisis. Remember, she advised, “inaction is a choice,” and said that China has chosen to “avoid diplomatic talks with the North Koreans,” amidst increasing tensions. Clinton’s lament, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Postreported, was that the Trump administration had “withdrawn their global responsibility and leadership which has raised questions about stability in the Asia-Pacific, as well as the state power of the U.S.”
Clinton’s presentation coincides with former president Barack Obama’s current tour of Asia—following in President Trump’s footsteps—where he is clearly up to no good.
Secretary of State Tillerson Takes Hard Line in Speech, Tells the Truth in Q&A
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke at the Wilson Center yesterday, where, where in his prepared speech, he blasted Russia in words worthy of Hillary Clinton. But in the Q&A, he spoke freely of the important cooperation in many areas between the U.S. and Russia.
Starting off on a bad foot, he praised Teddy Roosevelt fulsomely for getting the U.S. into World War I alongside the British Empire.
He then denounced Russia for “invading its neighbor Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014. Russia continues aggressive behavior toward other regional neighbors by interfering in election processes and promoting non-democratic ideals. We, together with our friends in Europe, recognize the active threat of a recently resurgent Russia.” He accused Russia of refusing to implement the Minsk agreement and “flagrant violation of international norms.” He used this imagined aggression to justify the massive increase in the U.S. military budget.
But asked about cooperation with Russia during the open discussion, Tillerson pointed to Syria, where “there’s a lot of commonality,” describing the joint Putin-Trump statement on Syria released on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Vietnam on Nov. 11 as “an important alignment of how we see the Syria peace process going forward, and it was an important statement to have Russia confirm that they see it the same way we do. We’ll use that and well build on it.”
But he went beyond Syria: “We think there’s areas of greater cooperation on counterterrorism with Russia. There may be opportunities for cooperation in Afghanistan. We’ve not yet come to what that might be, but we’re talking about it.” He added that “We’ve had some very substantive discussions” on Ukraine, where “we’re pursuing the possibility of a peacekeeping force.”
Major U.S. Dailies Lead Witch-Hunt To Criminalize a Marshall Plan for Middle East
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—Both the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post Tuesday made a show of “exposing” that Gen. Michael Flynn, a leading target of the Mueller coup attempt against President Trump and the U.S. government, is now being investigated for the “crime” of promoting a policy for the U.S. to build nuclear power plants across the Arab world. The supposed crime is that Flynn, as a civilian before he was appointed as President Trump’s National Security Advisor, had promoted the plan as a consultant to companies that could potentially take part in such a plan. Thus, as the Post puts it, his advocacy of this wonderful idea was “a business proposal in the form of a policy paper.” They also claim that questions about this alleged corruption have been referred to amoral legal assassination Mueller for investigation.
The Journal headline says that this nefarious plan to develop Middle East nations “Went Deep into the White House.” They write: “The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating Mr. Flynn’s relationship with the companies involved and to what extent his prior consulting career overlapped with his role as a top advisor to Mr. Trump.”
The Post proclaims that Flynn also served as an advisor to ACU Strategic Partners, which had plans to build nuclear power plants in the Middle East “in conjunction with Russian interests.”
As with the entire Russiagate scam, these assets of the British Empire believe they can convince Americans that peaceful cooperation with Russia in defeating terrorism and building nations is a crime.
STRATEGIC WAR DANGER
North Korea Says It Has Completed Its Nuclear Force
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—Within a couple of hours of the launch, yesterday, assessments from the U.S. and South Korea were that North Korea had tested an ICBM. Yesterday’s test, the first since Sept. 15, was the longest- and highest-flying test carried out by North Korea so far. North Korea said the new missile reached an altitude of around 4,475 km (2,780 miles) and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight, reported Reuters.
“After watching the successful launch of the new type ICBM Hwasong-15, Kim Jong Un declared with pride that now we have finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power,” according to a statement read by a North Korean television presenter. North Korea described itself as a “responsible nuclear power,” saying its strategic weapons were developed to defend itself from “the U.S. imperialists’ nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat.” The U.S. Defense Department statement, issued about two hours after the launch, agreed that it was, indeed, an ICBM. “Initial assessment indicates that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile,” said Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning.
While the expected condemnations of this latest North Korean test were made, there was no flight forward reaction from the Trump Administration. President Trump, himself, reportedly said after the launch, that it does not change the U.S. approach to North Korea. “I will only tell you that we will take care of it,” he said. “It is a situation that we will handle.”
Today, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that additional U.S. sanctions would come very soon and would add “maximum pressure” on North Korea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that “Diplomatic options remain viable and open, for now.” In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered an emergency meeting of Cabinet ministers following the launch, while the South Korean military responded by delivering a “precision strike” on practice targets. The difference between this and earlier such exercises, is that the South Koreans appeared to have been primed and ready to go before the North Korean launch. The UN Security Council was to have met today to discuss the launch.
Perry: Diplomacy Is the Sole Alternative to a Disastrous Military Operation against D.P.R.K.
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—The Japanese Asahi Shimbun newspaper yesterday published a lengthy interview with former Secretary of Defense William Perry, in which he says that the situation regarding North Korea is much more dangerous now than it was when he was dealing directly with Pyongyang in the 1990s. He partially attributes this to the G.W. Bush Administration, which repudiated the agreements that the Clinton Administration had reached with North Korea.
“Discussions and negotiations with North Korea are the only reasonable alternative to what could turn into a disastrous military operation,” he said. Kim Jong-un’s objective, Perry said, “is preserving the Kim dynasty, sustaining the regime. That’s what he’s all about. And he has succeeded in doing that.”
His second objective, he went on, “is to earn international respect and recognition.” He said that this is what he had in mind when he was negotiating directly with Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un’s father, in 1999-2000—i.e., how North Korea could get that respect and recognition without nuclear weapons. Today, Perry said, that negotiation would be much more difficult because now the regime has nuclear weapons whereas it didn’t in 1999. “So, we have to have very powerful incentives, to even get them to talk about doing it, to talk about freezing it, stopping it at some level, and then start working back,” he said. “That’s a very tough negotiation.”
Russian Lawmakers Warn that ‘Incendiary’ Western Actions May Have Provoked North Korea
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—In statements reported by RT, Sen. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s bicameral Federal Assembly, said that North Korea’s missile launch may have been in response to “incendiary” actions and rhetoric from Washington.
Until the Nov. 28 missile launch, North Korea had shown restraint, Kosachev said, and most likely expected that the West would show similar restraint “both in judgments and actions. It appears, however, that the West isn’t interested in détente,” he said, and Pyongyang’s patience “has ended.”
Frants Klintsevich, deputy head of the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee, said he didn’t rule out that the launch may have been aimed solely at testing Washington’s reaction, and expressed the hope that Washington “will have enough wisdom to refrain from any retaliatory measures.”
Kosachev said that the “double freeze” proposal, by which Pyongyang would halt its missile tests and nuclear program and South Korea, Japan and the U.S. cease all military exercises in the region, is the only viable alternative to catastrophe. RT recalls that last September, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called that proposal “insulting.” Senator Kosachev warned that the Trump administration’s putting North Korea back on the list of “state sponsors of terrorism,” is yet another step “in pressuring Pyongyang” and its partners, with the goal of “strangling” that country past the point at which it can survive.
THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC ORDER
At the Sixth CEEC Summit in Hungary, Belt and Road Underpins China’s Diplomacy
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—At the just-concluded sixth summit of China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), known as the 16+1, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was a constant reference, as indicated in the final document, the “Budapest Guidelines for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries.”
The BRI was mentioned repeatedly throughout it. One example: “The Participants, in recognition of the beneficial conditions arising from enhanced connectivity between Europe and Asia and the important opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative in this regard, make positive comments on the outcome of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Participants emphasize their willingness to continue to cooperate within the Belt and Road initiative of China through consultations and shared benefits by making use of 16+1 cooperation, try to further develop synergies between the Belt and Road initiative and important initiatives such as the Investment Plan for Europe, as well as development plans of respective countries.”
Xinhua reported on Premier Li Keqiang’s extensive diplomacy in Budapest during the summit and on the sidelines, in meetings with leaders of Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Each leader expressed a keen desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation, and welcomed Chinese participation in building up their nations’ infrastructure, transportation and power grids and much more, under the rubric of strengthening “win-win” cooperation and connectivity.
Global Times reports that Le Keqiang and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban signed over 10 cooperation agreements spanning agriculture, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, tourism and education, among other areas. At their joint press conference, Li said that, “these deals mean that China will further increase its investments in Hungary,” and help make sure that more job opportunities are created. “Such cooperation is also a good opportunity for Chinese companies to learn advanced technology and management experience from the Hungarian side,” he said. Currently, Hungary is the biggest investment destination for China in Central and Eastern Europe, accounting for one-third of China’s total investment in the CEE. In 2016, year-on-year investment increased by 10%, and China’s imports of Hungarian goods increased by 20%.
In 2015, China established a secretariat in the Foreign Ministry for Cooperation with the CEE countries, and promulgated 12 measures for “promoting friendly cooperation” with the 16 European nations.
China-Africa Forum in Morocco Focuses on New Silk Road Trade Routes To Europe and Africa
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—A two-day investment forum opened in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Nov. 27 to discuss the New Silk Road trade routes from Asia to Europe and Africa. “The question is how to accelerate cooperation in the field of investment,” said Wang Yong, vice president of the China-Africa Development Fund. The event brings together 400 business executives, including 150 from China.
Morocco’s Industry Minister Moulay Hafid Ellalamy said China and Africa “share the same quest for development.” “The Silk Road initiative will change the map of international trade,” he said, adding that trade and cooperation were already at “unprecedented” levels. “China needs Africa and Africa needs China. We want to tighten ties together,” said Tony Dong, executive president of the Sino-European Entrepreneurs Federation. He affirmed the Chinese came to Marrakesh “for investment opportunities.”
China is Africa’s key business partner, with trade reaching $190 billion in 2016, and Chinese industrial enterprises operating in Africa generate annual business of more than $60 billion, having contributed to projects including railways, highways, ports, airports and power stations in Africa, the figures given at the forum showed.
Serbia Begins Construction of Its Section of the Belgrade-Budapest Railway
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—On Nov. 28, Serbia began work on a China-funded Belgrade-Budapest railway line to connect the capitals of Serbia and Hungary. The project was launched on the outskirts of Belgrade by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Minister of Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic. Serbia borrowed $297.6 million from China’s Exim Bank in May to modernize a stretch of this railway line between Belgrade and Budapest.
The high-speed rail link between Belgrade and Budapest is expected to cost $3.8 billion in all and is slated to become the main transport route for Chinese goods that arrive by sea at the Greek port of Piraeus to other parts of Europe. The Hungarian branch of the rail line has been held up by the EU as part of their effort to stall or block certain Chinese investments in Europe.
Brnabic said that the 30 km stretch of line from Belgrade to the northern town of Stara Pazova will be a key step forward. She said she was hopeful that the railway project will help Serbia “establish itself as a central hub of this part of Europe.”
First Phase of Chabahar Port in Iran Is Ready for Opening
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—On Dec. 3, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will inaugurate the first phase of the Chabahar Port in the presence of senior ministers of India and Afghanistan—two other countries directly involved in developing the port to facilitate a sea-land route to link up with the almost-ready North-South International Corridor linking Asia to Europe via Iran.
Iranian media quoted President Rouhani as saying that the port “will enhance trade in the region,” with a final aim to connect not just to Afghanistan via rail, but to the 7,200 km International North South Transport Corridor to Russia. The inauguration ceremony of the port will effectively pave the way for India to carry forward the next phase of construction and development of two berths for its use, particularly for trade to Afghanistan. Next, the government, that has committed $500 million to the port project, will develop a free trade area around the port, and finally will complete the loop with a $1.6 billion railway line to Zahedan, The Hindu reported today.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Financial Tribune reported today that super-large container ships (between 100,000 DWT and 120,000 DWT) would be able to dock in Chabahar’s Shahid Beheshti Port with the completion of the first phase of the development project, an official in charge of the project, Amir Hossein Esmaeili said on Nov. 27. “The current loading and unloading capacity of the port will increase from 2.5 million tons to 8.5 million tons upon the completion of Phase 1,” he said. “Chabahar’s railroad development project has also made a 25% progress. Railroad transportation will account for about 20-30% of the cargo movement in Shahid Beheshti Port.”
Recently, India sent the first of its proposed seven shipments of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar Port. “The shipment of wheat is a landmark moment, as it will pave the way for operationalization of Chabahar Port as an alternate, reliable and robust connectivity for Afghanistan” (i.e., avoiding the route through Pakistan), read a statement issued by India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Financial Tribune reported.
China Plans 7,500 km Rail Connecting Sudan and Chad, and On to the Atlantic
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—The approximately 7,500 km transcontinental rail corridor crossing Africa from Port Sudan on the Red Sea to Dakar, Senegal on the Atlantic Ocean was first proposed by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2005. From its eastern terminus at Port Sudan, this northernmost transcontinental rail corridor is slated to cross Chad to its capital, N’Djamena, then to Maiduguri and Kano in Nigeria, continuing to Niamey, Niger, to Bamako, Mali, on to Senegal.
Agreements have already been made with China for the construction of two sections of this corridor, in Chad and in Sudan. On Nov. 7, 2017, the Sudanese Railways Authority signed an agreement for a feasibility study with two Chinese companies, China Railway Design Corp. and China Friendship Development International Engineering Design & Consultation Co., to be completed in 12 months, to study the 3,400 km trans-Saharan Railway that would stretch from Port Sudan to the Sudanese city of Nyala, close to the border with Chad, and on to N’Djamena. The lines are to be built to standard gauge and will allow trains to run at 120 kmh.
In March 2012, Chad reached an agreement with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corp. to build the Chad portion of the rail line from N’Djamena to the Sudanese border. In 2014, Sudan reached a political agreement with Chad to link their capitals with Port Sudan. There was to be later extensions to the Atlantic Ocean ports in Cameroon, of Douala (the biggest Atlantic port in Central Africa) and Kribi (the deepest Atlantic port in Central Africa). Rebel activities in Chad have prevented these proposals from being implemented up to now. The construction of the Kribi deep sea port was financed by China.
SCIENCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
China To Have Floating Nuclear Plant by 2020
Nov. 29 (EIRNS)—RT today reports that China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. plans to have a commercial floating nuclear plant by 2020. It reports that Russia expects a floating plant to be ready in 2019. “Such vessels may provide electricity, heating and desalinated waters to isolated regions,” the report says.
China Daily, writes RT, reports on the reactors to be used: “Two competing projects are being developed, according to the newspaper, a 200 MW reactor by China General Nuclear Power Group and a small design by China National Nuclear Power Co. Both are in earlier stages of development. The market for floating nuclear power plants is estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars in China.”
