Geopolitics

Lockheed Sees $28 Billion From Saudi Arms Sales; $50 Billion to Boeing

"The massive US arms deal with Saudi Arabia signed last month by President Trump is continuing to drive up arms makers’ stock, though at present the exact dollar values for specific companies are a matter of some speculation. These companies and other well-connected US arms makers are all expected to make quite a bit of money off this new arms deal with Saudi Arabia, as well as more money off of President Trump’s planned military spending increases. As the chance of peace suddenly breaking out looks more and more remote, the arms makers are expected to continue raking in money hand over fist." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLockheed Sees $28 Billion From Saudi Arms Sales; $50 Billion to Boeing

Congress to ‘fight’ 0.1% of massive Trump Saudi arms deal

"Trump has said he wants to encourage international weapons sales as a way to create jobs in the United States. Saudi Arabia agreed to buy $110 billion of U.S. arms, with options running as high as $350 billion over 10 years. The lawmakers aim to block about $500 million of the sale, the portion including precision-guided munitions and other offensive weapons. 'Given Saudi Arabia's past support of terror, poor human rights record, and questionable tactics in its war in Yemen, Congress must carefully consider and thoroughly debate if selling them billions of dollars of arms is in our best national security interest at this time,' Paul said in a statement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress to ‘fight’ 0.1% of massive Trump Saudi arms deal

Ten Ways to Reduce Terrorism – Can We Admit The War On Terror Has Failed?

"In the wake of the terror attacks in England, France, Germany and elsewhere, can we finally admit that the war on terror is an utter and complete failure? So if the war on terror has failed, what should we do to stop terrorists?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTen Ways to Reduce Terrorism – Can We Admit The War On Terror Has Failed?

The 45 times Trump said attacking Syria was a bad idea and might start WWIII

"In October, Trump blasted then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's position on Syria — that the U.S. military should take out al-Assad's airfields, the exact type of strike Trump ordered Thursday — by saying attacking a Russian-backed government could start World War III." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe 45 times Trump said attacking Syria was a bad idea and might start WWIII

The Anarchists vs. the Islamic State

"The YPG is not your typical ethnic or sectarian faction. Its fighters are loyal to an imprisoned guerrilla leader who was once a communist but now espouses the same kind of secular, feminist, anarcho-libertarianism as Noam Chomsky or the activists of Occupy Wall Street. The Kurds are implementing these ideals in Rojava, and that has attracted a ragtag legion of leftist internationals, like Belden, who have come from nearly every continent to help the YPG beat ISIS and establish an anarchist collective amid the rubble of the war – a 'stateless democracy' equally opposed to Islamic fundamentalism and capitalist modernity. They call it the Rojava Revolution, and they want you." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Anarchists vs. the Islamic State

US secretly sent plane with $400 million in cash to Iran

"President Barack Obama approved the $400 million transfer, which was the first payment of a $1.7 billion settlement resolving claims at an international tribunal at The Hague over a failed arms deal under the time of the Shah. The Iranians were seeking more than $10 billion at arbitration. Because existing US sanctions ban American dollars from being used in a transaction with Iran, officials said the money was procured from central banks in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and an unmarked cargo plane loaded with wooden pallets of Swiss francs, euros and other currencies were flown to Iran." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS secretly sent plane with $400 million in cash to Iran

World Bank tells Saudis to prop up currency amid global devaluation war

"Saudi Arabia should use its massive foreign exchange reserves to defend the riyal, amid fears the world is descending into a new phase of global currency wars, the World Bank has said. The kingdom’s shaky currency peg with the dollar has come under record pressure this week as the price of oil has plummeted to near 12-year lows. Central bank reserves have dropped from a peak of $735bn to around $635bn this year - a pace of spending which will exhaust the kingdom’s fiscal buffers within five years The monarchy has vowed to stick by the exchange regime and is instead planning to strengthen its coffers through the unprecedented flotation of its state-owned oil giant, Aramco." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWorld Bank tells Saudis to prop up currency amid global devaluation war