THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019

Volume 6, Number 211

EIR Daily Alert Service

P.O. Box 17390, Washington, DC 20041-0390

• Victory in Syria-Bring in the New Silk Road
• President Trump Declares End of ‘Ideaological’ Warfare
• A Primary ‘Source’ for Peter Navarro’s Book Death By China Never Existed
• U.S. Troops Leaving Syria Will Go Home
• Putin Convinced Turkey To Accept Far Less Than Intended
• Big Day Claimed by Climate Freaks for Lawsuit Campaign Against Oil Companies, Fossil Fuel Use
• Russia Favors ‘Civilized Competition’ in Africa, Putin Tells TASS in Exclusive Interview
• Industrialization, Science, Growth Dominates Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit
• Russia and Egypt To Accelerate Industrial and Nuclear Projects
• NASA Administrator Bridenstine Assures, ‘Lots of Room on the Moon’

EDITORIAL

Victory in Syria—Bring in the New Silk Road

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump today addressed the nation from the White House on the victory in Syria, asserting that this was not a victory against any other nation, but a victory of all against terrorism, and against the colonial “regime change” wars which the U.S. had been drawn into under Bush and Obama. Left unsaid, but critically important, is that the potential “loser” in the process is the dying British Empire, and those in the U.S. who have played the patsy for British Imperial wars and geopolitical color revolutions.

This is precisely why the British assets in the U.S. are in a panicked flight forward to impeach President Trump, despite the absence of any wrongdoing, or even the appearance of any crime. They are furious that Trump dared to challenge the British “permanent warfare” policy—the surrogate wars intended to keep the U.S. in a state of conflict with Russia and China. Trump made this clear in today’s statement: “As a candidate for President, I made clear that we needed a new approach to American foreign policy, one guided not by ideology, but by experience, history, and a realistic understanding of the world.” He stated the obvious—that the entire Mideast “is less safe, less stable, and less secure than before these conflicts began,” and that those demanding more war are the same people who created the mess in the Middle East in the first place with the wars on Iraq and Libya.

While the hysterics in the Congress and the media are screaming that Trump “sold out” to Russia, Trump clearly coordinated the move with Turkey and with Russia, in returning sovereignty to Syria, albeit with a few speed bumps yet to navigate.

The coup plotters against Trump are equally worried that when the rapidly expanding bubble in the financial system explodes, as it must, that Trump will turn to the economic ideas of Lyndon LaRouche: the urgent necessity to put the bankrupt Western banking system through bankruptcy proceedings on the model of FDR’s Glass-Steagall bank separation; restoring Hamiltonian “directed credit” into industry, agriculture, health and education of the population; and pushing ahead on the frontiers of human knowledge, focused on space exploration and fusion energy development. Such an endeavor requires cooperation internationally, especially with Russia and China, which Trump has repeatedly insisted he will achieve during his Presidency. That was the cause of the Russiagate hoax, and the reason for the massive McCarthyite hysteria aimed at all things China.

In fact, the issue which will determine if Trump’s efforts to resolve the Middle East quagmire can be sustained is that of the New Silk Road—how rapidly can the new international relationships being forged by President Trump bring China’s Belt and Road into the region, preferably with full cooperation between China, Russia, India, the U.S., and others. As Lyndon LaRouche said after the Oslo Accords in 1993 gave hope for peace between Israel and Palestine: “Get the tractors rolling immediately.” Reconstruction and development are the preconditions for sustainable peace, and the remnants of the collapsing British Empire will do everything possible to stop that development, as they did in undermining the Oslo Accords.

A major step forward is also taking place in Africa, as 44 presidents and prime ministers from Africa are participating in the first Russia-Africa Economic Forum Summit in Sochi today and tomorrow. Over 60 nations, and 3,000 participants attended the opening presentations by Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the current chairman of the African Union. Putin, who is committed to “lighting up Africa” with peaceful nuclear power agreements across the continent, also pledged a doubling of trade, doubling of Russian food exports, and other industrial and military cooperation.

This is the “New Paradigm,” rapidly coming into being around the world, against the wishes of the anti-growth “greenies” funded by the City of London and Wall Street, against the warmongers, against the geopoliticians of all stripes. The dangers are great, but the potential for a world, and a universe, fit for the dignity of mankind, has never been greater, if people of good will choose to act.

U.S. POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC

President Trump Declares End of ‘Ideological’ Warfare

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump today issued a powerful report from the White House on the victory in Syria, while stating that he will do everything he can to end the era of wars based on “ideology,” but on a “realistic understanding of the world.” He explicitly acknowledged the Syrian government’s role, with Turkey, in maintaining the peace and preventing a return of ISIS. Extensive excerpts follow:

“My fellow Americans, I greet you this morning from the White House to announce a major breakthrough toward achieving a better future for Syria and for the Middle East.  It’s been a long time.

“Over the last five days, you have seen that a ceasefire that we established along Syria’s border has held, and it’s held very well, beyond most expectations.  Early this morning, the government of Turkey informed my administration that they would be stopping combat and their offensive in Syria, and making the ceasefire permanent.  And it will indeed be permanent.  However you would also define the word ‘permanent’ in that part of the world as somewhat questionable, we all understand that.  But I do believe it will be permanent.

“I have therefore instructed the Secretary of the Treasury to lift all sanctions imposed on October 14th in response to Turkey’s original offensive moves against the Kurds in Syria’s northeast border region.  So the sanctions will be lifted unless something happens that we’re not happy with.

“This was an outcome created by us, the United States, and nobody else, no other nation.  Very simple.  And we’re willing to take blame, and we’re also willing to take credit.  This is something they’ve been trying to do for many, many decades. Since then, others have come out to help, and we welcome them to do so. Other countries have stepped forward, they want to help, and we think that’s great.  The nations in the region must ultimately take on the responsibility of helping Turkey and Syria police their border.  We want other nations to get involved….

“In any event, by the moves that we’ve made, we are achieving a much more peaceful and stable area between Turkey and Syria, including a 20-mile-wide safe zone. …  Thousands and thousands of people have been killed in that zone over the years. But it’s been sought for many, many decades, and I think we have something that’s going to be strong and hold up.

“Turkey, Syria, and all forms of the Kurds, have been fighting for centuries.  We have done them a great service, and we’ve done a great job for all of them.  And now we’re getting out….

“Countless lives are now being saved as a result of our negotiation with Turkey—an outcome reached without spilling one drop of American blood.  No injuries.  Nobody shot, nobody killed.

“I have just spoken to General Mazloum, a wonderful man, the Commander-in-Chief of the SDF Kurds.  And he was extremely thankful for what the United States has done.  Could not have been more thankful.  General Mazloum has assured me that ISIS is under very, very strict lock and key, and the detention facilities are being strongly maintained.  There were a few that got out—a small number, relatively speaking—and they’ve been largely recaptured.

“I’m also sure that he will be issuing his own statement very shortly.  We had a great talk.  But we’ve saved the lives of many, many Kurds.  He understands that.  The war was going to be vicious and probably not very long….

“There were some political pundits who responded to Turkey’s offensive in Syria by calling for yet another American military intervention.  I don’t think so.  But halting the incursion by military force would have required deploying tens of thousands of American troops against Turkey—a NATO Ally and a country the United States has developed a very good relationship with, including President Erdogan.

“The same people that I watched and read—giving me and the United States advice—were the people that I have been watching and reading for many years.  They are the ones that got us into the Middle East mess but never had the vision or the courage to get us out.  They just talk.

“How many Americans must die in the Middle East in the midst of these ancient sectarian and tribal conflicts?  After all of the precious blood and treasure America has poured into the deserts of the Middle East, I am committed to pursuing a different course—one that leads to victory for America.

“Through much work, we have done things that everybody said couldn’t be done.  Today’s announcement validates our course of action with Turkey that only a couple of weeks ago were scorned, and now people are saying, ‘Wow.  What a great outcome. Congratulations.’  It’s too early to me to be congratulated, but we’ve done a good job.  We’ve saved a lot of lives.

Most importantly, we have avoided another costly military intervention that could’ve led to disastrous, far-reaching consequences.  Many thousands of people could’ve been killed….

“Eight long years after President Obama’s ill-fated push at regime change, U.S. troops are still on the ground in Syria. More than half a million people are dead, hundreds of thousands are terribly injured, and millions more Syrians are displaced. It really is a nightmare of misery.

“Across the Middle East, we have seen anguish on a colossal scale. We have spent $8 trillion on wars in the Middle East, never really wanting to win those wars.  But after all that money was spent and all of those lives lost, the young men and women gravely wounded—so many—the Middle East is less safe, less stable, and less secure than before these conflicts began….

“As a candidate for President, I made clear that we needed a new approach to American foreign policy, one guided not by ideology, but by experience, history, and a realistic understanding of the world.

“We are building up America’s military might like never before, investing $2.5 trillion since my election.  But we will not be depleted.  We will not happen again.  It will not be allowed to happen again, where our military is depleted, fighting in areas of the world where we shouldn’t be.

“When we commit American troops to battle, we must do so only when a vital national interest is at stake, and when we have a clear objective, a plan for victory, and a path out of conflict.  That’s what we have to have.  We need a plan of victory.  We will only win.  Our whole basis has to be the right plan, and then we will only win.  Nobody can beat us.  Nobody can beat us.

“I want to again thank everyone on the American team who helped achieve the ceasefire in Syria, saved so many lives, along with President Erdogan of Turkey—a man I’ve gotten to know very well and a man who loves his country.  And, in his mind, he’s doing the right thing for his country, and we may be meeting in the very near future….

“The job of our military is not to police the world.  Other nations must step up and do their fair share.  That hasn’t taken place.  Today’s breakthrough is a critical step in that direction.

“Thank you all very much, and God bless America.  Thank you. Thank you.”

A Primary ‘Source’ for Peter Navarro’s Book Death By China Never Existed

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—Peter Navarro, President Trump’s trade advisor and an anti-China wacko, was caught last week by the Chronicle Review in a filthy piece of provocation—the lead character in his 2011 book, Death By China, Confronting the Dragon—A Global Call to Action, one Ron Vara, a Harvard grad and a savvy investor, who is the source of some of Navarro’s most outrageous accusations against China, never existed. He was totally made up by Navarro.

Navarro’s response to the exposure: “It’s refreshing that somebody finally figured out an inside joke that has been hiding in plain sight for years.” This is classic BS. Even his publisher, Prentice Hall, did not know, and is not happy that they published such trash.

Most interesting is the response from the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Tuesday:

“Frankly, this case triggered strong responses and astonishment worldwide. On some level, it shows that out of personal or political hidden intentions, certain people in the U.S. can do whatever they can think of to contain and smear China without scruple. It is absurd and extremely dangerous to make lies, spread lies and even formulate policies based on lies. Such moves will threaten and undermine normal international relations and order. Apart from that, the U.S. will hurt its own interests in the end….

“We did see lies are which the U.S. used to fuel the wars in Iraq and Syria, and now they are again used on issues related to China’s Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Huawei and related 5G technologies, the Belt and Road Initiative….

“It is necessary for one to set some bounds on one’s behavior. We hope certain people in the U.S. will return to reason as early as possible. In the meantime, we hope the international community including you, my journalist friends, will learn something from this case and carefully examine the ideas and views that certain people in the U.S. are so desperately disseminating in their propaganda.”

STRATEGIC WAR DANGER

U.S. Troops Leaving Syria Will Go Home

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, speaking to reporters before he left Riyadh, yesterday, explained that, in fact, the troops being pulled out of Syria will eventually go home, now that the Iraqi government has made clear it doesn’t want them. What’s not clear is how long it will take them to get there. “[W]e’ll reposition as they come out of northeast Syria into Iraq,” said Esper. “You know, eventually, their destination is home. But what we’ve got to do is pull them out deliberately, out of northeast Syria, and make our preparations to go home from there….” Esper arrived in Baghdad early this morning, where he was to discuss the matter with Iraqi government officials. He repeated, in response to a later question, that “the end state is to bring the troops home, which is what the President wants to do, and—and we’ll have those conversations, those details, as—as events unfold.”

Putin Convinced Turkey To Accept Far Less Than Intended

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—Meduza, a Latvian-based Russian language service with an English sector, reported today that it was Russian President Putin’s meeting in Sochi with Turkish President Erdogan which convinced Turkey to stop far short of their intended 250 km long safe zone along the border, 32 km deepinto Syrian territory, with several Syrian cities under their control. Rather, they stopped where they were—only 60 miles along the border and about 6-10 miles deep, with only two Syrian cities.

Meduza claims that U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s discussion in Ankara with Erdogan was based on accepting the full 250×32 km safe zone, but “after talks with Putin in Sochi on Oct. 22, however, Erdogan’s claims were reduced” to the smaller area already under Turkish control. Meduza reports: “The Syrian government and Russian military police will now control nearly all the remaining autonomous Kurdish territory … which will be off-limits to Turkish troops, though Turkey will get the right to participate in joint patrols alongside Russian forces up to 10 km (6.2 miles) from the border.”

Meduza further reports that the agreement does not mention the resettlement of the 2 million Syrian refugees now in Turkey into Kurdish territory, which is not likely possible in the reduced region of control.

Another issue pointing to Syria recovering control over its territory is that some of the anti-Damascus insurgents remaining in Idlib Province were withdrawn by the Turks to participate in the occupation of the northeast—but this has weakened the rebels in Idlib, where President Bashar al-Assad is expected to launch an offensive, which would essentially end the war.

ECONOMY

Big Day Claimed by Climate Freaks for Lawsuit Campaign against Oil Companies, Fossil Fuel Use

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—The “Big Oil” companies may be no angels, but the U.S. state and local officials piling on fraudulent lawsuits against them for alleged “climate change” crimes are operating as loyal servants of British financiers and oligarchs out to cut off Americans’ fuel supplies. Whether they do so out of stupidity or base corruption, does not lessen the responsibility they shall bear for this attack on the nation.

Climate activists are thrilled that yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court refused to stay three state court suits filed against energy companies: by the city of Baltimore, three Colorado municipalities, and the state of Rhode Island. The companies sued were arguing that these suits should be heard in federal courts, since it is national energy policy which is at stake.

Defendants in the Baltimore case (26 major oil and natural gas companies) argued that by its wild claims that these companies are responsible for climate change and an supposedly rising sea level which allegedly threatens the city, Baltimore “seek[s] to transform the nation’s energy, environmental, national security, and foreign policies by punishing energy companies for lawfully supplying necessary oil and gas resources,” as cited by the Daily Caller. The city, they argued, is trying to get a state court ruling declaring the companies’ “energy production and promotional activities across the United States and abroad to be a public nuisance, thereby regulating interstate and international energy production in the name of global warming.”

Yesterday, the infamous New York State lawsuit against ExxonMobil, four years in the making, also went to trial, in Manhattan. “InsideClimate News” website heralded it as “the first major climate change lawsuit against Big Oil to reach trial, and the outcome could influence future cases.”

InsideClimate News counts more than a dozen local and state governments which have sued oil companies, seeking damages for “climate change” effects; the state ofMassachusetts advised Exxon on Oct. 10 that it, too, may file suit shortly against it in civil court “to seek injunctive relief and restitution … in order to address unfair or deceptive acts or practices” in violation of the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act.

Winning these cases may not turn out to be the “slam dunk” the maddened climate panickers would have you believe. The New York trial against Exxon, for example, has been watered-down from the case first hoped for by its initiator, notorious serial woman abuser and Get Trump task force leader Eric Schneiderman, charging now only that Exxon used two sets of books when it calculated “risks” to its profits that could result from potential anti-carbon regulations in the future.

THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC ORDER

Russia Favors ‘Civilized Competition’ in Africa, Putin Tells TASS in Exclusive Interview

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—In an interview with TASS on published Oct. 20, ahead of the Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit, Oct. 23-24 in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin drew a picture of Russia’s policy for trade and development with Africa. The interview, headlined, “Putin: Russia Ready To Compete for Cooperation with Africa,” is posted to the Kremlin website, as well as on TASS.

Putin laid down clearly the kind of cooperation Russia wants to have with Africa, in contrast to that of the Western countries, saying: “We are not going to participate in a new ‘repartition’ of the continent’s wealth; rather, we are ready to engage in competition for cooperation with Africa, provided that this competition is civilized and develops in compliance with the law. We have a lot to offer to our African friends. This will be discussed, among other things, at the forthcoming summit.”

He continued: “We see a number of Western states resorting to pressure, intimidation, and blackmail against governments of sovereign African countries. They hope it will help them win back their lost influence and dominant positions in former colonies and seek—this time in a ‘new wrapper’—to reap excess profits and exploit the continent’s resources without any regard for its population, environmental or other risks. They are also hampering the establishment of closer relations between Russia and Africa—apparently, so that nobody would interfere with their plans.”

According to Putin, “interest in developing the relations with African countries is currently visible not only on the part of Western Europe, the U.S., and the P.R.C., but also on the part of India, Turkey, the Gulf states, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Israel, and Brazil.”

In this interview, President Putin also proposed to reduce the role of the dollar in the trade and to move onto other currencies.

Industrialization, Science, Growth Dominates Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—Reports on the agreements reached during the first day of the Oct. 23-24 Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit are beginning to come in. One thing is clear: The African nations are thinking big, and Russia is stepping up to support them. Some examples:

The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) is considering establishing representative offices in a number of African countries, particularly in Ethiopia, South Africa, Egypt and Uganda, RAS Vice President Yuri Balega told TASS.

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Russia’snuclear power corporation Rosatom, told TASS that he had the honor of participating in all the bilateral meetings President Vladimir Putin held with African leaders today—at least eight countries, according to the Kremlin website—and in “all meetings the question was raised of advancing our cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear power…. I can say that we have created a full-fledged regulatory basis with a third of African countries. About half of African states are discussing or have already concluded concrete contracts and launched joint projects with us. As for the other countries, we are still in talks with them, hopefully with chances of success,” he specified.

Nor does Russia have any intention of denying Africa the use of its fossil fuel deposits. The Lukoil CEO Vagit Alekperov told reporters that “an array of agreements” for exploration cooperation, mostly offshore, were to be signed today. Requests from several countries for aid in developing downstream projects (e.g., refining) have been received, but he cautioned those face more “challenging” considerations.

The topics of the numerous panels ranged from housing construction, to securing economic and technological sovereignty, the possibilities for joint transport infrastructure projects, developing integrated processes and collaboration between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Africa, possibilities for industrial and energy cooperation, using minerals in Africa for the benefit of its people, healthcare, and much more.

The agenda set for the panel on “Russia and Africa: Science, Education and Innovation for Economic Development” characterizes the tenor of the forum as a whole:

“The accelerated development of both Russia’s and Africa’s economic potential is inextricably linked to scientific output and the improvement of general education and training. The 21st century has heralded the rise of the knowledge economy. Scientific research and development results in new products and industries, and is able to make a vital contribution to tackling current social and economic challenges facing our countries… What can Russia offer today in terms of developing science and education in Africa, particularly as part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063? What new opportunities does cooperation in science and education with countries of the African continent present to Russia?”

Russia and Egypt To Accelerate Industrial and Nuclear Projects

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—Russian President Vladimir Putin met today with Egypt’s President Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in a bilateral meeting before the Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit, which they are co-chairing, began—their third meeting this year. President el-Sisi is this year’s chairman of the African Union.

In their public opening greetings, both Presidents emphasized the importance of advancing on the “ambitious” nuclear and industrial zone projects the two countries are working on. Putin reported to el-Sisi that, when visiting the United Arab Emirates last week, he had briefed officials on these Russian-Egyptian plans, and they “became extremely interested in our joint project and will also think of how to become involved in our joint industrial development plans.”

El-Sisi pressed for these projects to be moved forward quickly, with the same “get it done now” approach he applied to such success in the Suez Canal expansion. Egypt wants to accelerate the process of setting up the Russian Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone by “resolving all outstanding problems so that Russian companies and enterprises come to Egypt, register and start working there.” Likewise on the nuclear power plant, Egypt “strongly hope[s] that all topics related to this project will be settled without delay so that we can start implementing the project in accordance with the signed contract.”

President El-Sisi then invited President Putin to visit Egypt again for the groundbreaking ceremony of the nuclear power project and the signing of the contract for the Russian Industrial Zone.

El-Sisi took the occasion to thank Putin for holding this first Russia-Africa Economic Forum and Summit. He referenced Russia’s long history of good relations with the whole continent, starting with its support for the African liberation movement. Russia has proved a “reliable partner,” he said, and “we hope very much that Russia will be working in Africa in all spheres and fields, including in that of the development, as well as in the financing of infrastructure projects on the continent and in particular in energy and road construction.”

SCIENCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE

NASA Administrator Bridenstine Assures, ‘Lots of Room on the Moon’

Oct. 23 (EIRNS)—“I think there’s lots of room on the Moon, and we need all our international partners to go with us to the Moon,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told reporters at the 70th International Astronautical Congress held in Washington on Oct. 22. “If we can come to agreements on the contributions of all the nations and how they’re going to be a part of the architecture, then certainly I would, I would see that there’d be no reason we can’t have all of our international partners with us on the Moon,” he stated.

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