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The MoA Week In Review – OT 2021-074
Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama:
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Other issues:
Assange:
> In 2017, as Julian Assange began his fifth year holed up in Ecuador’s embassy in London, the CIA plotted to kidnap the WikiLeaks founder, spurring heated debate among Trump administration officials over the legalityand practicality of such an operation. Some senior officials inside the CIA and the Trump administration even discussed killing Assange, going so far as to request “sketches” or “options” for how to assassinate him. Discussions over kidnapping or killing Assange occurred “at the highest levels” of the Trump administration, said a former senior counterintelligence official. “There seemed to be no boundaries.” <
Fake cyber threat:
Brexit:
Covid-19:
Use as open thread …
karlof1 @197
It seems to be that you are “playing the man, not the ball” – attacking the messenger so that you can ignore the argument. This wouldn’t really matter but you have a stellar reputation on MoA and it’s a shame that you should use your status against Ehret rather than address his arguments. Many commentators will trust you enough just to accept what you say – but, not pogohere who @215 punctures your position with ease.
I really don’t see your fundamental disagreement with Ehret over the financial crisis? Nobody goes to Ehret to understand the ins and outs of the western financial system and its problems, but his passing reference to the 2007 collapse of the financial system seems (to me) to be consistent with other writers (such as Michael Hudson) and I don’t see any fundamental differences with your own position?
The big difference between Matthew Ehrett, Cynthia Chung, The Schiller Institute/Larouche Organisation, etc. and other writers (who are also sympathetic to China) is their interpretation of what is happening. As you are probably aware their view is that the Anglo/US/West has been following a de-growth, malthusian agenda and that climate change is essentially a hoax to bring the world under this “ideology”. They see China and its partners following a pro-growth, pro-human, multi-polar agenda and the “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) network (of transport, energy, resources, communication, etc) is a direct challenge to the uni-polar, climate change, de-growth ideology.
If you disagree with Ehret, Chung & Schillier then it is likely that you believe that the west is inevitably collapsing because capitalism is at an end (compatible with Marxist thinking on capitalism) and that a communist-type system will naturally takeover (or something like that) – this seems like wishful thinking to me (no matter how you dress it up). You are also probably aware of the view that it is intended that the system will change, not to a communist/socialist ideal, but rather to a neo-feudal, managerial, globalist nightmare (which [I believe] many Trotsyists, Markists, communists, socialists, etc. are somehow confusing with utopia) and that China (and Russia and other independent nations) will be brought to heal under this system. Please note China and Russia’s constant reiteration of a multi-polar world and non-interference in other countries – this is the complete opposite of the intention of the climate change agenda. There is no secret Chinese plan to establish a world communist system – China intends a multi-polar world that cooperates on a win-win basis not an over-arching world communist system. It is the global elites that are advocating a globalist system where “you will own nothing, but be happy”. You can only believe that China are pursuing a world communist system if you believe they are lying and then you have a whole different set of problems (i.e. working out what the truth is).
I look at both viewpoints (of the Ehrett, Chun Schiller, etc. and the inevitablists) and the only effective difference for the likes of me and you is that the first argument means that the outcome is far from certain and will have to be fought for, whereas the latter argument means (conveniently) that you don’t have do anything but sit on your butt and everything will “inevitably” fall into place. I think that the second argument is delusionary but what do I know?
The message from the Ehret, Chung, and The Schiller Institute/Larouche Organisation is that the west should join the “OBOR” and follow a pro-growth agenda – in case, you haven’t noticed barely anyone in the west is arguing for this. Assuming that the “OBOR” will just naturally happen is a mistake. Everything you have read about neo-liberalism indicates that the western global elites are not just going to allow a new economic sytem (because that is what the OBOR network really is) just take everything from them (because, unless it is destroyed that is what it will do).
For what it is worth I believe that Covid-19 was/is esstentially a narative war against China intended to bring them into line and that their is no real pandemic (and that most deaths were the result of deliberate inappropriate protocols, neglect, psychological terrorism and suggestion). I appreciate that others believe that the pandemic is real. The consequence (for me) of my belief is that it is clear that what the West is doing to its own citizens has nothing to do with China who serve as a convenient scapegoat (and a future justification for war). The consequence for people who believe that the virus is real is that they end up advocating for more-lockdowns, more masks, more gene-therapy, more experimentation on their population, the abonimation of injecting children and preganant women with experimental potions, more tough measures, more control, more totaliarianism, less freedom, etc. in the mistaken belief that this is how China sucessfully dealt with the virus.
I am also struck my the constant anti-China meassaging on Sky News Australia which blames the pandemic and the lockdown measures on China or the authorities that are following the “Chinese” approach and who are not standing up to China (which has been going on for the entire period of the pandemic). This is completely different to the reporting on, e.g. Sky News UK. Coincidentally, Australia is now the only feasible “safe forward base” from which to launch a war on China (as Taiwan and Japan would cease to matter with days). Propagandising and totalitarain control of the population would be essential if it was intended that Australia should fullfil this role. Regardless it is clear hat both the west and China/Russia are preparing for war – we need to stop this!
In COP14 we see how China didn’t reject the climate change narrative but rather adopted it and bent it to its view. There looks like there will be a re-run in COP26 and Mathew Ehret article suggests we should pay close attention to what happens between 31st October to 12th November.
I am sure that Ehret is not right about everything and I don’t agree with him on everything but how about dealing with his arguments? What did Ehret say about COP14 and COP26 that you actually disagreed with and why?
Posted by: ADKC | Sep 28 2021 11:40 utc | 227
Below is a posting by CarlID that he had trouble posting and I offered so here goes
”
B and Barflies,
I am sure I will get heavy flack from some here at MOA. I will respect the ignorance and/or biases of the critics to my posits.
I will not dwell on the hostility of the USA towards Haiti since 1803 which manifested itself through an embargo that lasted until 1865. The founding Fathers rejoiced after France’s imposition of an independence debt, which it compounded in 1915 through the sequestering of Haiti’s gold deposits at the Haitian National Bank and the imposition of a new debt based on the yet unpaid remnants due to France but at an interest rate 3% higher, this time, the creditors were US Banks.
In 1865, Lincoln repelled the embargo on Haiti and started diplomatic relations with the country.
Ever since the establishment of the Legation of the United States, and until 1945, Haiti was never able to elect the President it needed: Elections were indirect and the president was elected by the Senators. With its acquisitive power, the United States made sure only their candidates were elected and when this failed, the “undesirable”elected one was deposed by armed bands of “Cacos”, or by some form of execution even through things like the explosion of the national Palace or any other “happenstance”.
Superb candidates with great credentials were tossed aside in favour of mediocre or simply obedient ones to the detriment of all Haitians.
from 1910 to 1915, several convicted government officials were “elected” to the Presidency. None lasted a full year.The last one of that series, Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was instructed by “the Embassy” to select a number of family scions, imprison them and let the threat hang over their heads that at any attempt to revolt against him, they would be massacred. And this was done. 312 sons of the best families were massacred that fateful day. The enraged parents and the population at large seized the President who had taken refuge at the French Legation and shredded him to pieces.
The executing officers were tried during the US Occupation of Haiti and nothing came of it. The officers were absolved of any wrongdoing. Did anyone expect it to be different?
Much has been said about the Haitians thirst to destroy forests. First of all, the only vegetation left by the french colonisers were those that graced the mountains of the South Peninsula. The rest was razed to give way to the plantations that made St Domingue into the richest colony of the World, bar none.
But the US entrepreneurs are not free of guilt in the deforestation matter. In 1920, Mr J. J. White was granted ( at gunpoint of course) the exploitation of the Island of La Gonave, a jewel of a forrest comprised of Mahogany, Guayacan, and other precious hardwoods. In 1931, there was not a single tree standing. The Island was as bald as can be. All trees on it today grew after 1932.
There was also SHADA, a US company dedicated to the exploitation off the remaining evergreen forest to the south of the capital Port au Prince. There remains only memories of the “Foret des Pins” they massacred.
Back to the Us and politics.
In 1946, Dumarsais Estime was elected to the presidency despite muscled opposition from US firms such as Standard Fruit, Dole,United Fruit and others due to the support he received from the Levantine entrepreneurs. His Presidency was the Best one of the Century.. He repaid all debts and made infrastructure projects that were beneficial to the country. As such, he had to be removed and was deposed by then Commander of the Casernes Dessalines, Colonel Paul Eugene Magloire,
Maggiore replaced Estime after first degree elections organised by the Haitian Armed Forces put him in power. His was a corrupt Government but at least he built one of Estime’s projects, the Peligre Dam, Built, of course by a US Company. Holman and Moody., at a pretty penny, of course.
The country was on too good a road for the US. They had to get Haitians to hate each other as prescribed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “we have to get the shoeless to hate those that have shoes, and get those that have shoes to hate each other…”
So, they Selected Dr. François Duvalier, a medical doctor post graduate of Michigan University that had an axe to grind with the Haitian Elite, in fact an aristocracy that was descended from the generals and officers that were granted domains by either Jean Jacques Dessalines or Henry Christophe. Trouble with these domains is that there were few labourers to exploit them so most of these landowners gravitated toward Politics. To promote land exploitation, President Jean Pierre Boyer instituted a program that permitted non land owners to claim any parcel they had been able to exploit successfully for a certain amount of time. “Prescriptive acquisition” it was termed.
But in 1956, many of these land owners were exploiting their domains, at least partially. However, Francois Duvalier, a first generation descendant of an immigrant from Martinique could never understand the subtle class discrimination he had been subjected to. He was the right man to destroy that Elite class that rejected him.
He was very successful destroying the Elite and his American tutors were very happy with him. He was their SOB so he could do whatever he pleased. Thousands died in horrible conditions.
But to his credit, he created several useful institutions, gave a sentiment of belonging to the peasants that had never been able to bear arms for the Republic by allowing them to serve in the VSN corps.
Electrified The Peligre Dam which brought 53 MW to add to the 10MW that the Usine d Eclairage Electrique of Shrewsbury delivered to Port au Prince.
To his discredit he decimated the cadres that Haiti had painfully accumulated during the years and Haiti was bereft of Doctors, Engineers, Agronomists, Veterinarians, Teachers, Nurses, administrative personnel who migrated to the States, Canada, France and the french speaking countries of Africa.
He then proceeded to prepare his succession and his son, Jean Claude Duvalier succeeded him as a much more benevolent President For life.
Many returned to Haiti during JC’s tenure and tourism was booming, production was good, the Economy was doing well, but, but JC did not want neoliberalism for Haiti. Therefore, he had to go.
Dissidents protected by the US Embassy started the motions that would lead to JC’s departure three years later.
Under the provisional Government headed By General Henry Namphy, the then Minister of Finances and Economy, Mr. Leslie Delatour, a Chicago Boy, did away with import permits, custom duties and every other shields benefitting or protecting local production. The year was 1986.
All the problems of today’s Haiti started right then and there.
The first to feel the impact of the new deregulation were the rice growers. Unable to compete with imported rice that sold for half theirs, unable to convert to other staples, they had no choice but abandon the land and flock to the cities and town in search of some subsistence.
Besides this, under the guidance of the AFL CIO, labour unrest began in earnest at the different export factories and the foreign companies operating them left the country towards the Dominican Republic. In a matter of 2 years, the export industries dwindled from 78000 direct jobs to less than 10,000. Tourism fell to zero. Local factories started feeling the pinch of the efforts made by the US to privatise electricity production. They managed to severely damage it without reaching their aim of owning the State Utilities or dominating the Energy market.
As a result, of all these cataclysms, Cap Haitian, went from 70,000 inhabitants to 650,000 in one year.
Saint Marc went from 110,000 to 450,000 in 9 Months. Idem for most towns in all departments.
Hungry mouths with no source of income generate delinquency. And this coupled to the destruction of the Haitian Army and its corps of Chiefs of Section and their deputies left the country with no guarantors of law and order. Even the few peasants left in the countryside that had cultivated some staples for their own consumption would see their crops robbed over and over again.
Of all the “elections” perpetrated after 1986, none were honest. The foreign community stamped its approval wantonly raising to power governments lacking legitimacy and they had a hell of a time governing among the shoals and dangers of the 1987 Constitution. Besides, propaganda originating in the fertile minds of the foreign “friends of Haiti” sidelined many possible candidates that could have impacted the country differently.
In 1995, with much fanfare, The US restored JB Aristide to power in order to grab the Iridium Haiti harboured. Swiss finance circles ascertain that 36billion USD of Iridium were collected and shipped to the uS in the first 6 Months of the restoration of JBA. The Clintons benefitted handsomely from JBA’s generosity with the TELECO sale, the gold concession at Mont-Organisé and other goodies.
These are the highlight of Haiti’s “descente aux Enfers.”
All these factors have contributed to the downfall of Haiti to the status of failed state.
The Core Group rejoices.
CarlD
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Posted by: psychohistorian | Sep 29 2021 4:13 utc | 262
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