Geopolitics

Gerald Celente: The Financial System Is Collapsing Before Our Eyes

"All Cyprus is, it’s (similar to) a division of the Grand Cayman Island, it’s just a different group of people washing and money laundering. But this is about much more than Cyprus, bank runs, and stealing money from the depositors. What we are looking at, Eric, on another level is an alliance, an alliance leading to wars. Look, they just appointed a new President in China, Xi. Where is the first place he went to visit? Moscow. Putin. Then there is Iran. So you can see the alliances already forming: It’s China, Russia, and Iran, against the United States, the Arab League, and Nato. And then you look at where the United States is now moving its military - Asia." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGerald Celente: The Financial System Is Collapsing Before Our Eyes

Is Cyprus a New Energy Battleground?

"If Gazprom were to control this massive resource, combined with the fact that Russia is beginning to court Israel for its natural gas, Gazprom would become the preeminent player in the Middle East for natural gas… and further increase its stranglehold on European energy. The government of Cyprus has initially rejected the offer, opting instead to work with the European Union and keep the natural gas to themselves, the Cypriot government could soon find themselves running away from more EU-mandated madness…and straight into Russian arms. In the next few months, we will definitely see Cyprus become the battleground of the energy cold war." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIs Cyprus a New Energy Battleground?

Report: Russia Offers to Bail Out Cyprus

"Russian energy giant Gazprom has offered the Republic of Cyprus a plan in which the company will undertake the restructuring of the country’s banks in exchange for exploration rights for natural gas in Cyprus’’ exclusive economic zone, Cypriot TV Station Sigma reported. Representatives of the Russian company submitted the proposal to the office of Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Sunday evening. The proposal states that Gazprom will fund the restructuring of the country’s crippled financial institutions in exchange for substantial control over the country’s gas resources while Cyprus won’t need to take the harsh bailout package offered by the EU." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReport: Russia Offers to Bail Out Cyprus

Confidential Wikileaks Cable (US Embassy in Nicosia) on Russian Money in Cyprus

"Curiously, the imposition of a tax on money deposited in Cyprus banks will hurt many Russian tax evaders, as the Wikileaks released cable below highlights, the amount of money placed in Cyprus by Russians attempting to evade Russian taxes is significant relative to the overall Cyprus banking system. The imposition of the tax is surely going to cause a flight of these funds out of Cyprus to a more stable tax haven--which is likely to destabilize the Cypriot banking sector even more." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingConfidential Wikileaks Cable (US Embassy in Nicosia) on Russian Money in Cyprus

Costly Iraq war left U.S. no stronger in Middle East

"The US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew a dictator, but 10 years on the war is seen to have destabilized the Middle East, exposed the limits of military power and left America no stronger than before. With US forces having withdrawn after the deaths of almost 4,500 American troops and an estimated $1 trillion outlay, there is little soul-searching in Washington today about a war that has faded from public consciousness. And 10 years after the 'shock and awe' that launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, removing Saddam Hussein from power, most analysts and diplomats agree the Iraq war did nothing to improve the US position in the Middle East." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCostly Iraq war left U.S. no stronger in Middle East

Costly Iraq war left U.S. no stronger in Middle East

"The US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew a dictator, but 10 years on the war is seen to have destabilized the Middle East, exposed the limits of military power and left America no stronger than before. With US forces having withdrawn after the deaths of almost 4,500 American troops and an estimated $1 trillion outlay, there is little soul-searching in Washington today about a war that has faded from public consciousness. And 10 years after the 'shock and awe' that launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, removing Saddam Hussein from power, most analysts and diplomats agree the Iraq war did nothing to improve the US position in the Middle East." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCostly Iraq war left U.S. no stronger in Middle East

Russia warns UK against arming Syrian rebels

"The UK and Russia remain at odds over the supply of arms to Syria's opposition, with Moscow suggesting that any move by the British government to give the rebels military equipment would breach international law. The foreign secretary, William Hague, last week announced that Britain was stepping up its support for Syria's opposition National Coalition and would be providing non-lethal equipment to rebel fighters. The government is inching towards arming the rebels, with David Cameron indicating on Wednesday that the UK might be prepared to bypass an EU arms embargo as events on the ground unfold." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussia warns UK against arming Syrian rebels

Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Flees Currencies Tainted by Stimulus Addiction

"Norway’s $713 billion sovereign wealth fund is turning away from the world’s biggest currencies and their debt-laden governments as policy makers undermine their exchange rates through unprecedented stimulus measures. The Government Pension Fund Global, the world’s largest wealth fund, cut its holdings in French and U.K. government bonds by almost half last year as it raised its share of government bonds in emerging-market currencies to 10 percent of its fixed-income holdings by adding investments in Turkey, Russia and Taiwan." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNorway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Flees Currencies Tainted by Stimulus Addiction

Iraq’s pain has only intensified since 2003

"Ten years on from the shock and awe of the 2003 Bush and Blair war – which followed 13 years of murderous sanctions, and 35 years of Saddamist dictatorship – my tormented land, once a cradle of civilisation, is staring into the abyss. Wanton imperialist intervention and dictatorial rule have together been responsible for the deaths of more than a million people since 1991. And yet, according to both Tony Blair and the former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright, the 'price is worth it'. The Iraqi people are fully aware that Saddam committed all his major crimes while an ally of western powers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq’s pain has only intensified since 2003

U.S. officials warn Pakistan risks sanctions over Iran pipeline

"Pakistan risks sparking US sanctions if it pursues its plans with Iran to build a $7.5 billion gas pipeline linking the two nations, a senior US official said in a renewed warning Monday. 'We have serious concerns, if this project actually goes forward, that the Iran Sanctions Act would be triggered,' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. 'We’ve been straight up with the Pakistanis about these concerns.' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched the construction of a much-delayed section of the gas pipeline with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony on the border of the two neighbors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. officials warn Pakistan risks sanctions over Iran pipeline