Auschwitz Commemoration: Bush - The Great Absent
~by Veronica Bicer
From Bush’s explosive inaugural speech we’ve learned that the main goal of his second term will be, without a doubt, that of promoting US arrogance and aggressiveness in the rest of the World.
The dream of the re-elected American president is therefore “the expansion of freedom in all the world”, defending “liberty” “by force of arms”, whether or not anybody out there, in “the darkest corners of our world” asks for it.
BUSH PREPARES THE GROUND FOR HIS VISIT TO EUROPE
Ahead of his visit to Europe, France and Germany, the parents of the independent European Union, have been shattered by “spontaneous” strikes and mass demonstrations, aimed to interject a sensation of weakness and uncertainty amongst the main European leaders: Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder, who, as is well known, will have to face elections not too far from now.
Bush’s inaugural speech seemed to mark another phase in the US’ war against the whole planet. In contradiction with the expectations of those who were envisaging a policy of diplomatic rapprochement promoted by the US with the occasion of Bush’s meeting with the leaders of the “old Europe”, during the couple of months preceding the important event, we’ve instead seen a real hurricane of social movements take place right in the core of the old continent.
The strikes and demonstrations that have shattered the political scene in both Germany and France were carefully masterminded and controlled from the center of globalization in Washington, demonstrations aimed at touching the most sensitive segments of the society: the intellectuals. Teachers, judges and doctors have filled the streets of Paris, criticizing the French government and promoting contradictory requests.
Lacking the minimum decent diplomatic approach on the issue, Bush practically left no room for putting Europe on a parallel with the US in the talks set to take place next month in Brussels. Bush’s meeting with the European leaders is set to unfold under the sign of force and of the US’ expectations of Europe’s automatic subordination in its relations with the North-Atlantic superpower.
The US hence expects that Europe will welcome Bush next month with reverence, surrendering before the overwhelming pressure put by the Bush administration on its very existential structures and hence will agree to blindly bow to pressure under the US’ globalist policy.
CIA’S REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION
The most eloquent proof of Bush’s plan for Europe and of his arrogant approach toward the issue is CIA’s recently published report on the EU, a document that has found a powerful echo in the French press.
The report predicts that the European Union will break up within 15 years unless it radically reforms its ailing welfare systems, warning that Europe could be dragged into economic decline by its aging population.
It also claims that "The current EU welfare state is unsustainable and the lack of any economic revitalisation could lead to the splintering or, at worst, disintegration of the EU, undermining its ambitions to play a heavyweight international role."
The report adds that the EU’s economic growth rate is dragged down by Germany and its restrictive labour laws. Reforms there - and in France and Italy to a lesser extent - remain key to whether the EU as a whole can break out of its "slow-growth pattern".
The reality that, quite ahead of Bush’s visit to Europe, this report points its finger toward Germany and France and “to a lesser extent” towards Italy - the European states with the greatest desire to build a powerful EU independent of the center of globalization in Washington, shows pretty clearly the desire of the Bush administration to “administrate” a dose of diffidence into the core of the EU and therefore to hope to receive in return, from the EU main leaders, a policy of obedience.
CIA’s harshest statement (meant as a slap in the face of the ambitious European states) was to forecast that “by 2020 China’s gross domestic product will exceed that of individual western economic powers except for the US” and that “the economies of other developing countries, such as Brazil, could surpass all but the largest European countries by 2020”.
The embarrassing document prompted the French politicians to question the very announcement of Bush’s visit to Europe, stating that they “don’t understand” how the head of such a powerful state could be interested having direct contacts with a Europe in disintegration, wasting his time with such a long and obviously useless trip.
MASS PROTESTS AND ARTIFICIAL ANTI-SEMITISM IN RUSSIA
The social unrest in the old Europe coincided with the protests that have spread across Russia, mass demonstrations organized by the so-called “communists” - the oligarchic Russian political faction.
The demonstrators demanded, amongst other things, like the traditional benefits of the Soviet-era, the resignation of the current government and even the very resignation of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise as, in his European trip, the American president is also scheduled to meet the Russian president in Bratislava, Bush being eager to apply to Vladimir Putin the same “diplomatic” treatment he has accustomed the main West European leaders with.
Far from settling down, the Russian mass demonstrations are set to continue next month when (aside from the pensioners who have already presented their demands) the students, the police and even the soldiers are expected to join the protests.
But under the superficial demands of the masses hides a more profound purpose. Bush’s people have organized these demonstrations. They want the resignation of Russia’s PM Mihail Fradkov, in order to make room for a “government of national interests”, as the communist leader Gennady Zyuganov stated.
Shortly before President Vladimir Putin attended the events commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops, 19 members of the State Duma asked the Prosecutor General to launch proceedings to prohibit "all religious and ethnic Jewish organizations as extremist".
They called for an investigation aimed at outlawing all Jewish organizations in Russia, accusing Jews of inciting ethnic hatred, controlling the world and provoking anti-Semitism.
Meanwhile Andrei Cherkizov -- one of Moscow's most noted Jewish commentators who appears on Moscow Echo radio -- accused the Russian government itself of secretly harboring anti-Semitic views.
The stunning charges were first laid out in a letter published in a "patriotic" newspaper and signed by over 500 people, including newspaper editors, academics, intellectuals and the 19 nationalist members of the lower house of parliament.
In a similar incident in Germany, 12 members of a nationalist party walked out of the state parliament in Saxony last Friday to protest a tribute honoring victims of Nazi aggression.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RUSSIAN MASS DEMONSTRATIONS: THE DISMISSAL OF FRADKOV GOVERNMENT
In March 2004, Putin, in a totally unexpected move, dismissed the government, to name in a few days Mihail Fradkov the PM of Russia, a Russian with Jewish ancestry who was close to the security services and a former KGB operative in his youth.
Putin’s plan was pretty clear from the day he appointed the Jewish PM, seeking the rapprochement of the Jewish minority and the collaboration of the Jews in rebuilding a Russia seriously weakened during Gorbachev’s perestroika, Jews who not long ago were exclusively working for the US’ camp in order to help it to achieve its supreme globalizationist goal of splitting Russia into pieces and draining its natural wealth through pipelines meant to fuel (without payment) “the land of promise”.
After less than one year since Mihail Fradkov was sworn in, his intervention amongst the Jewish political representatives has shown its first fruits, causing unrest in American political circles that considered taking action to discourage Russia’s rise, by threatening its political circles with the “Orange Revolution”.
THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE ROMAN ABRAMOVICH
The British courts now pursue the Russian born Jewish Roman Abramovich who, not long ago, was nominated on the same list with the greatest enemies of Russia, being the second richest oligarch after Khodorkovsky.
Refugeed in England after Putin’s anti-oligarchic campaign, now Abramovich has found himself in the strange position of being sued by the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the return of $17.5 million, which should have been spent “helping small businesses in Russia”, as the ERDB states.
Abramovich, a controversial character, who was believed to be the next in line to be pursued by the Kremlin after Khodorkovsky’s jailing, has been increasingly suspected of making secret deals with the Russian president Putin.
Certainly, his evolution was completely different from Khodorkovsky's, probably due to the British protection he has benefited from all this time.
However, a recent article published by the official Russian website “RIA Novosti” reveals the unexpected support Kremlin shows to the main shareholder in Russian oil firm Sibneft, this coming as another proof that Abramovich benefits at present from protection from the highest ranks of Russian politicians.
The quote below from the article entitled “WHAT DOES ABRAMOVICH FEAR MORE - A SWISS COURT OR A RUSSIAN STREET?” looks like a bell rung by the Kremlin with the purpose of calling the common people towards amnesty for the oligarchic class.
The article is nothing but an attempt by the Russian officials to try to acclimatize the population with the new trend in Russian policy openly promoted by Vladimir Putin ever since the tragic events in Beslan took place:
“Nevertheless, the Russian business community is starting to realize the historical inevitability of closer cooperation with the government in Russia's social revival. Often, without advertising their actions, Russian businessmen anonymously start supporting the country's poor. They set up targeted social foundations, whereas some large companies finance housing projects in neighboring residential areas, and help to maintain transportation infrastructure, schools and local hospitals.
Gradually, the public is coming to see oligarchs less as unscrupulous squanderers of illegally acquired wealth, and more as influential citizens capable of feeling sympathy for their less successful compatriots.”
In another article published by RIA Novosti on the same topic, it reads: “as things really are, Runicom Co. (Roman Abramovich's Switzerland-based company from which ERBD is seeking to recover the $ 17.5 million), had paid the debt in full even before it was ceded to the EBRD, argues a person close to Mr. Abramovich.
As the EBRD now alleges, certain papers confirming the debt paid are forged. That is all wrong, and if the EBRD people say so in public once again, former Runicom functionaries may bring a libel suit, warned our informant, who made anonymity a prerequisite for his Novosti interview.”
The mild manner in which the ‘Abramovich’ case is presented on RIA Novosti, in opposition with the harsh accusations brought by the Western press, lead the reader to think that Abramovich might be benefiting from special treatment from Kremlin.
More and more publications lead us to believe that Putin and Abramovich have a special relationship and that Abramovich, unlike other oligarchs, benefits from special protection from the Kremlin.
Certainly, this time Abramovich has been framed by Bush’s people and, as far as the events have developed by now, it looks like Bush indeed is trying to rid Abramovich of his freshly pro-Russian air, which he could wave in the Jewish high circles.
Also obvious is that Abramovich hasn’t been automatically blessed with this special treatment from Kremlin, but that his behaviour has helped him to gain it and the Russian PM, Mihail Fradkov, who finds himself in the awkward position of artificially being rejected by the Russian people, could’ve been the man who paved the way for this to happen.
BESLAN EVENTS AND THE ISRAELI CONECTION
Immediately after the terrorist strike that occurred in September 2004 in Beslan, the Russian and also the Israeli politicians have connected the tragic events with the terrorist attack that occurred in Israel on 31-st of August 2004, both states hence announcing the need for the “development of broad bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation in fighting international terrorism”.
Just a few days afterwards, on 6-th of September, during a one-day trip of Serghei Lavrov to Jerusalem, Israel’s and Russia’s foreign ministers inked a deal to step up intelligence cooperation, branding terrorism “the biggest challenge facing the international community.
“Israel has been the first country to offer assistance to Moscow in the aftermath (of the tragic events)”, Lavrov said during his visit to Jerusalem.
Since the Russian president appointed Mihail Fradkov as Russia’s PM and more so after the tragic events in Beslan occurred, Putin had a clear plan in mind – to mend ties with Israel, a plan that alarms the American Zionists and which, in consequence, must be kept at the stage of cocoon at any cost.
Therefore, in answer to the question whether the American Zionists will manage to hinder Putin’s efforts at copying the American model, by trying to rebuild his prosperous Eastern superpower from its ashes, lies not only in the continued existence of the Russian state, but also in the very survival of the World balance of power.
CHINA-ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION
In another train of thought, a fact worthy to keep in mind is that Israel has planned to upgrade a major weapons system sold to China more than a decade ago.
The United States claims that by upgrading the system, Israel violated its commitment not to transfer US technology to China without Washington's permission.
Further interfering in Israel’s personal deals, the US Under Secretary of Defense Doug Feith had demanded the Israeli Defense Ministry director general Amos Yaron's resignation, because he believed that he had misled him on the arms sale to China.
Therefore, with Israel already breaking some of the US’ commandments, as in the case of Israel’s clandestine military cooperation with China, Russian-Israel tacit cooperation should not come as a surprise.
Fradkov proved to be the suitable catalyst, able to improve relations between Russia and Israel. Under these circumstances, his dismissal would come as an indubitable victory for the US’ camp.
THE AMERICAN FISHER BECOMES GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL
The reaction of the Bush administration concerning the US-Israel relations, paradoxically proved, as in the EU case, to be dominated by anger and followed by reckless decisions.
The appointment of Stanley Fischer as governor of the Bank of Israel, a widely respected American economist and banker, who has left a job as a vice chairman of Citigroup just to become governor of the previously mentioned Israeli bank, could’ve been the sparkle meant to produce dissention in Jewish political circles and therefore the catalyst meant to encourage the development of diplomatic relations between Israel and the US’ rivals: Russia and China.
Ari Shavit, a writer for the daily Haaretz, went so far as to call Fischer's appointment morally unacceptable no matter how fine an economist he was: “It is bad enough, that the largest private bank in Israel is owned by a cruise-ship heiress from Florida, Shari Arison, chairwoman of Arison Holdings. The possibility that the government bank will now be handed over to a guest governor from Manhattan is simply intolerable." Shavit wrote.
"Fischer has a very liberal, capitalist and nonsocialist agenda," "He believes in markets, small government and that people should work for their living. That's why Netanyahu brought him in." said Omer Moav, a senior fellow at the Shalem Center and a senior lecturer in economics at Hebrew University.
But there are many Israelis who dislike Netanyahu and his policies: a significant part of the political center and the left in Israel. On the other hand, the fact that the US has decided to promote a pure capitalist to lead the Bank of Israel could’ve been a US’ reaction to the Israel’s tendencies of allying with leftist powers.
The main reason for the Israelis’ irritation comes from their frustration at having to face the reality of an outside choice, from suddenly realizing that the US is treating Israel as its Cinderella sister.
Renowned political philosophers like Shlomo Avineri, the former Foreign Ministry official, have also raised their voice against Fisher’s appointment, stating that “the fuss is reflective of a deeper Israeli ambivalence toward successful Jews in the rest of the world, who are a source of both pride and resentment”.
AUSCHWITZ COMMEMORATION: BUSH – THE GREAT ABSENT
The biggest diplomatic mistake in US policy towards Israel was to come only afterwards, when the most important heads of state were flying to Auschwitz to commemorate 60 years from the Jewish liberation from Holocaust, the most sensitive topic for Jews all over the World.
The big surprise was that at the commemoration only the trio Putin-Chirac-Schroeder was present to shake hands with the Israeli president, who was facing the awkward situation of meeting there, instead of Bush and Blair, Bush’s substitute – Dick Cheney and the freshly American-appointed presidents of Ukraine and Romania, Victor Yushchenko and Traian Basescu.
A diplomatic mistake of such scale can’t escape the observation of the highest rank of diplomats, but also of the unwariest of us, creating marks in the conscience of Jewish people for a long time.
RUSSIA –SYRIA ARMS DEAL
The warm relations between Russia and Syria and the arms deal these two states seem decided to conclude, should not be necessarily seen as an anti-Israel line in Putin’s external policy, but rather as Russia’s effort to consolidate its position in the Middle East, preparing to face an increasing US influence in the area.
Under the circumstances that the US has finally managed, after Arafat’s mysterious death, to arrange the Palestinian elections in its favour, that the American influence in Iraq is more and more visible, at the same time Iran being openly threatened with an American military intervention, Putin has to take concrete counter measures if he still hopes to preserve Russia’s influence in the Middle East.
The key asset of Syria is that it happens to share its Eastern border with Iraq. Russia’s efforts of mending ties with Turkey should not be viewed only from the economical prospective, but also as an effort of Russia to mend ties with another neighbour of Iraq.
On the other side, as far as Russian-Israeli diplomatic relations are concerned, Putin seeks to observe the slogan: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”, Russia therefore promoting a policy of rapprochement towards Israel, a traditional US’ ally, at the same time taking cautious measures.
Bush’s belligerent statements on the Iranian issue could’ve provided Putin with quite the suitable timing for boosting Russia’s diplomatic and military cooperation with Syria, a goal probably existent for long on the Russian diplomatic agenda, but which has been put on hold, until a moment suitable to approach this sensitive issue.
CONCLUSION:
The conclusion I’ve jumped to, after the work of research needed in order to be able to put this analysis in writing, has been confirmed by the article posted by RIA Novosti and entitled “PUTIN AS A VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM.” The article can be read in full at the link below:
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5343839&startrow=11&date=2005-01-26&do_alert=0
REFERENCES:
Full text of Bush's inaugural address
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10691287.htm
1. BUSH PREPARES THE GROUND FOR HIS VISIT TO EUROPE
Protests against new labour laws in Germany
http://chapelhill.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/13367_comment.php
Loss of job benefits brings Berlin protests
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/03/business/german.htm
French government braces for more pressure after strikes
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20050121-0723-france-protests.html
Widespread rail disruption in France on day two of rolling strikes
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/128183/1/.html
Strikes set to bring France to a standstill
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Strikes-set-to-bring-France-to-a-standstill/2005/01/19/1106110815236.html?onfiltered=true
Rail Strike Cripples France
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4019375
Widespread rail disruption in France on day two of rolling strikes
http://www.turkishpress.com/business/news.asp?id=050119164442.t65vz79m.xml
2. CIA’S REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION
CIA gives grim warning on European prospects
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=56762005
3. MASS PROTESTS AND ARTIFICIAL ANTI-SEMITISM IN RUSSIA
Russia: wave of protests against welfare cuts
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/russ-j27.shtml
As students join Russian protests, concerns over stability rise
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0127/p07s01-woeu.html
RUSSIAN NATIONALISTS SEEK TO BAN JEWISH GROUPS
http://www.icej.org/cgi-local/view.cgi?type=headline&artid=2005/01/25/752449943
RUSSIA STILL HAS A CHANCE: COMMUNIST LEADER
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5347199
Ukraine's Lesson for Putin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40072-2005Jan26.html
4. THE PURPOSE OF THE RUSSIAN MASS DEMONSTRATIONS: THE DISMISSAL OF FRADKOV GOVERNMENT
PUTIN AS A VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5343839&startrow=1&date=2005-01-26&do_alert=0
PM FRADKOV FOR BROADER COOPERATION WITH SYRIA
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5346366
Putin, Sharon discuss security in the Middle East
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10741518
5. THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE ROMAN ABRAMOVICH
EBRD says to take Abramovich to court
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=655791
Bates not in Roman's league
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,1396548,00.html
EBRD SUES ABRAMOVICH, DAVOS REFRAINS FROM COMMENTS
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?pr...1-28&do_alert=0
WHAT DOES ABRAMOVICH FEAR MORE - A SWISS COURT OR A RUSSIAN STREET?
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?msg_id=53245
Chelsea's debt of gratitude to Putin
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=D&xml=/sport/2005/01/24/sfnhay24.xml
Abramovich Met Putin Before Yukos Oil Merger Halt, Paper Says
http://www.scandoil.com/moxie/news/world_news/abramovich-met-putin-befo.shtml
Will Roman Abramovich Be The Next In Line?
http://www.mosnews.com/column/2004/03/08/abramovich.shtml
Aid bank sues Abramovich for £10m
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1448131,00.html
ABRAMOVICH CONTROVERSY: TYCOON'S MEN NOT NOTIFIED ON EBRD CLAIM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5325498&startrow=1&date=2005-01-19&do_alert=0
6. BESLAN EVENTS AND THE ISRAELI CONECTION
Israel, Russia Sign Memo on Terrorism
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=12839
Israel, Russia, agree to united front in “war against terrorism”
http://middle-east.news.designerz.com/israel-russia-agree-to-united-front-in-war-against-terrorism.html
7. CHINA-ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION
US up in arms over Sino-Israel ties
http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FL21Ak01.html
Closer Sino-Israel defense ties give US headache
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=10624
8. THE AMERICAN FISHER BECOMES GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL
Israel lures a top banker and sets off political spat
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/23/business/ibank.html
STANLEY FISCHER - A MONSTER IN THE BANK OF ISRAEL
http://www.barrychamish.com/html/fischer.html
9. AUSCHWITZ COMMEMORATION: BUSH – THE GREAT ABSENT
Heads bowed in the snow, old and young pay silent tribute
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=103402005
PUTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES DEVOTED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMP IN OSWIECIM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5343942
PUTIN PROMISES TO COUNTERACT ANTI-SEMITISM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-27&msg_id=5349828
10. RUSSIA –SYRIA ARMS DEAL
Syria worried about Iraq's future
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050127-054354-4238r.htm
Syria-Russia relations important to both
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Syria%20Russia
DAMASK SPEAKS OUT FOR MOSCOW'S ACTIVE ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5346830
Sharon discusses Syria over phone with Russian president
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/530063.html
From Bush’s explosive inaugural speech we’ve learned that the main goal of his second term will be, without a doubt, that of promoting US arrogance and aggressiveness in the rest of the World.
The dream of the re-elected American president is therefore “the expansion of freedom in all the world”, defending “liberty” “by force of arms”, whether or not anybody out there, in “the darkest corners of our world” asks for it.
BUSH PREPARES THE GROUND FOR HIS VISIT TO EUROPE
Ahead of his visit to Europe, France and Germany, the parents of the independent European Union, have been shattered by “spontaneous” strikes and mass demonstrations, aimed to interject a sensation of weakness and uncertainty amongst the main European leaders: Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder, who, as is well known, will have to face elections not too far from now.
Bush’s inaugural speech seemed to mark another phase in the US’ war against the whole planet. In contradiction with the expectations of those who were envisaging a policy of diplomatic rapprochement promoted by the US with the occasion of Bush’s meeting with the leaders of the “old Europe”, during the couple of months preceding the important event, we’ve instead seen a real hurricane of social movements take place right in the core of the old continent.
The strikes and demonstrations that have shattered the political scene in both Germany and France were carefully masterminded and controlled from the center of globalization in Washington, demonstrations aimed at touching the most sensitive segments of the society: the intellectuals. Teachers, judges and doctors have filled the streets of Paris, criticizing the French government and promoting contradictory requests.
Lacking the minimum decent diplomatic approach on the issue, Bush practically left no room for putting Europe on a parallel with the US in the talks set to take place next month in Brussels. Bush’s meeting with the European leaders is set to unfold under the sign of force and of the US’ expectations of Europe’s automatic subordination in its relations with the North-Atlantic superpower.
The US hence expects that Europe will welcome Bush next month with reverence, surrendering before the overwhelming pressure put by the Bush administration on its very existential structures and hence will agree to blindly bow to pressure under the US’ globalist policy.
CIA’S REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION
The most eloquent proof of Bush’s plan for Europe and of his arrogant approach toward the issue is CIA’s recently published report on the EU, a document that has found a powerful echo in the French press.
The report predicts that the European Union will break up within 15 years unless it radically reforms its ailing welfare systems, warning that Europe could be dragged into economic decline by its aging population.
It also claims that "The current EU welfare state is unsustainable and the lack of any economic revitalisation could lead to the splintering or, at worst, disintegration of the EU, undermining its ambitions to play a heavyweight international role."
The report adds that the EU’s economic growth rate is dragged down by Germany and its restrictive labour laws. Reforms there - and in France and Italy to a lesser extent - remain key to whether the EU as a whole can break out of its "slow-growth pattern".
The reality that, quite ahead of Bush’s visit to Europe, this report points its finger toward Germany and France and “to a lesser extent” towards Italy - the European states with the greatest desire to build a powerful EU independent of the center of globalization in Washington, shows pretty clearly the desire of the Bush administration to “administrate” a dose of diffidence into the core of the EU and therefore to hope to receive in return, from the EU main leaders, a policy of obedience.
CIA’s harshest statement (meant as a slap in the face of the ambitious European states) was to forecast that “by 2020 China’s gross domestic product will exceed that of individual western economic powers except for the US” and that “the economies of other developing countries, such as Brazil, could surpass all but the largest European countries by 2020”.
The embarrassing document prompted the French politicians to question the very announcement of Bush’s visit to Europe, stating that they “don’t understand” how the head of such a powerful state could be interested having direct contacts with a Europe in disintegration, wasting his time with such a long and obviously useless trip.
MASS PROTESTS AND ARTIFICIAL ANTI-SEMITISM IN RUSSIA
The social unrest in the old Europe coincided with the protests that have spread across Russia, mass demonstrations organized by the so-called “communists” - the oligarchic Russian political faction.
The demonstrators demanded, amongst other things, like the traditional benefits of the Soviet-era, the resignation of the current government and even the very resignation of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise as, in his European trip, the American president is also scheduled to meet the Russian president in Bratislava, Bush being eager to apply to Vladimir Putin the same “diplomatic” treatment he has accustomed the main West European leaders with.
Far from settling down, the Russian mass demonstrations are set to continue next month when (aside from the pensioners who have already presented their demands) the students, the police and even the soldiers are expected to join the protests.
But under the superficial demands of the masses hides a more profound purpose. Bush’s people have organized these demonstrations. They want the resignation of Russia’s PM Mihail Fradkov, in order to make room for a “government of national interests”, as the communist leader Gennady Zyuganov stated.
Shortly before President Vladimir Putin attended the events commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops, 19 members of the State Duma asked the Prosecutor General to launch proceedings to prohibit "all religious and ethnic Jewish organizations as extremist".
They called for an investigation aimed at outlawing all Jewish organizations in Russia, accusing Jews of inciting ethnic hatred, controlling the world and provoking anti-Semitism.
Meanwhile Andrei Cherkizov -- one of Moscow's most noted Jewish commentators who appears on Moscow Echo radio -- accused the Russian government itself of secretly harboring anti-Semitic views.
The stunning charges were first laid out in a letter published in a "patriotic" newspaper and signed by over 500 people, including newspaper editors, academics, intellectuals and the 19 nationalist members of the lower house of parliament.
In a similar incident in Germany, 12 members of a nationalist party walked out of the state parliament in Saxony last Friday to protest a tribute honoring victims of Nazi aggression.
THE PURPOSE OF THE RUSSIAN MASS DEMONSTRATIONS: THE DISMISSAL OF FRADKOV GOVERNMENT
In March 2004, Putin, in a totally unexpected move, dismissed the government, to name in a few days Mihail Fradkov the PM of Russia, a Russian with Jewish ancestry who was close to the security services and a former KGB operative in his youth.
Putin’s plan was pretty clear from the day he appointed the Jewish PM, seeking the rapprochement of the Jewish minority and the collaboration of the Jews in rebuilding a Russia seriously weakened during Gorbachev’s perestroika, Jews who not long ago were exclusively working for the US’ camp in order to help it to achieve its supreme globalizationist goal of splitting Russia into pieces and draining its natural wealth through pipelines meant to fuel (without payment) “the land of promise”.
After less than one year since Mihail Fradkov was sworn in, his intervention amongst the Jewish political representatives has shown its first fruits, causing unrest in American political circles that considered taking action to discourage Russia’s rise, by threatening its political circles with the “Orange Revolution”.
THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE ROMAN ABRAMOVICH
The British courts now pursue the Russian born Jewish Roman Abramovich who, not long ago, was nominated on the same list with the greatest enemies of Russia, being the second richest oligarch after Khodorkovsky.
Refugeed in England after Putin’s anti-oligarchic campaign, now Abramovich has found himself in the strange position of being sued by the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the return of $17.5 million, which should have been spent “helping small businesses in Russia”, as the ERDB states.
Abramovich, a controversial character, who was believed to be the next in line to be pursued by the Kremlin after Khodorkovsky’s jailing, has been increasingly suspected of making secret deals with the Russian president Putin.
Certainly, his evolution was completely different from Khodorkovsky's, probably due to the British protection he has benefited from all this time.
However, a recent article published by the official Russian website “RIA Novosti” reveals the unexpected support Kremlin shows to the main shareholder in Russian oil firm Sibneft, this coming as another proof that Abramovich benefits at present from protection from the highest ranks of Russian politicians.
The quote below from the article entitled “WHAT DOES ABRAMOVICH FEAR MORE - A SWISS COURT OR A RUSSIAN STREET?” looks like a bell rung by the Kremlin with the purpose of calling the common people towards amnesty for the oligarchic class.
The article is nothing but an attempt by the Russian officials to try to acclimatize the population with the new trend in Russian policy openly promoted by Vladimir Putin ever since the tragic events in Beslan took place:
“Nevertheless, the Russian business community is starting to realize the historical inevitability of closer cooperation with the government in Russia's social revival. Often, without advertising their actions, Russian businessmen anonymously start supporting the country's poor. They set up targeted social foundations, whereas some large companies finance housing projects in neighboring residential areas, and help to maintain transportation infrastructure, schools and local hospitals.
Gradually, the public is coming to see oligarchs less as unscrupulous squanderers of illegally acquired wealth, and more as influential citizens capable of feeling sympathy for their less successful compatriots.”
In another article published by RIA Novosti on the same topic, it reads: “as things really are, Runicom Co. (Roman Abramovich's Switzerland-based company from which ERBD is seeking to recover the $ 17.5 million), had paid the debt in full even before it was ceded to the EBRD, argues a person close to Mr. Abramovich.
As the EBRD now alleges, certain papers confirming the debt paid are forged. That is all wrong, and if the EBRD people say so in public once again, former Runicom functionaries may bring a libel suit, warned our informant, who made anonymity a prerequisite for his Novosti interview.”
The mild manner in which the ‘Abramovich’ case is presented on RIA Novosti, in opposition with the harsh accusations brought by the Western press, lead the reader to think that Abramovich might be benefiting from special treatment from Kremlin.
More and more publications lead us to believe that Putin and Abramovich have a special relationship and that Abramovich, unlike other oligarchs, benefits from special protection from the Kremlin.
Certainly, this time Abramovich has been framed by Bush’s people and, as far as the events have developed by now, it looks like Bush indeed is trying to rid Abramovich of his freshly pro-Russian air, which he could wave in the Jewish high circles.
Also obvious is that Abramovich hasn’t been automatically blessed with this special treatment from Kremlin, but that his behaviour has helped him to gain it and the Russian PM, Mihail Fradkov, who finds himself in the awkward position of artificially being rejected by the Russian people, could’ve been the man who paved the way for this to happen.
BESLAN EVENTS AND THE ISRAELI CONECTION
Immediately after the terrorist strike that occurred in September 2004 in Beslan, the Russian and also the Israeli politicians have connected the tragic events with the terrorist attack that occurred in Israel on 31-st of August 2004, both states hence announcing the need for the “development of broad bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation in fighting international terrorism”.
Just a few days afterwards, on 6-th of September, during a one-day trip of Serghei Lavrov to Jerusalem, Israel’s and Russia’s foreign ministers inked a deal to step up intelligence cooperation, branding terrorism “the biggest challenge facing the international community.
“Israel has been the first country to offer assistance to Moscow in the aftermath (of the tragic events)”, Lavrov said during his visit to Jerusalem.
Since the Russian president appointed Mihail Fradkov as Russia’s PM and more so after the tragic events in Beslan occurred, Putin had a clear plan in mind – to mend ties with Israel, a plan that alarms the American Zionists and which, in consequence, must be kept at the stage of cocoon at any cost.
Therefore, in answer to the question whether the American Zionists will manage to hinder Putin’s efforts at copying the American model, by trying to rebuild his prosperous Eastern superpower from its ashes, lies not only in the continued existence of the Russian state, but also in the very survival of the World balance of power.
CHINA-ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION
In another train of thought, a fact worthy to keep in mind is that Israel has planned to upgrade a major weapons system sold to China more than a decade ago.
The United States claims that by upgrading the system, Israel violated its commitment not to transfer US technology to China without Washington's permission.
Further interfering in Israel’s personal deals, the US Under Secretary of Defense Doug Feith had demanded the Israeli Defense Ministry director general Amos Yaron's resignation, because he believed that he had misled him on the arms sale to China.
Therefore, with Israel already breaking some of the US’ commandments, as in the case of Israel’s clandestine military cooperation with China, Russian-Israel tacit cooperation should not come as a surprise.
Fradkov proved to be the suitable catalyst, able to improve relations between Russia and Israel. Under these circumstances, his dismissal would come as an indubitable victory for the US’ camp.
THE AMERICAN FISHER BECOMES GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL
The reaction of the Bush administration concerning the US-Israel relations, paradoxically proved, as in the EU case, to be dominated by anger and followed by reckless decisions.
The appointment of Stanley Fischer as governor of the Bank of Israel, a widely respected American economist and banker, who has left a job as a vice chairman of Citigroup just to become governor of the previously mentioned Israeli bank, could’ve been the sparkle meant to produce dissention in Jewish political circles and therefore the catalyst meant to encourage the development of diplomatic relations between Israel and the US’ rivals: Russia and China.
Ari Shavit, a writer for the daily Haaretz, went so far as to call Fischer's appointment morally unacceptable no matter how fine an economist he was: “It is bad enough, that the largest private bank in Israel is owned by a cruise-ship heiress from Florida, Shari Arison, chairwoman of Arison Holdings. The possibility that the government bank will now be handed over to a guest governor from Manhattan is simply intolerable." Shavit wrote.
"Fischer has a very liberal, capitalist and nonsocialist agenda," "He believes in markets, small government and that people should work for their living. That's why Netanyahu brought him in." said Omer Moav, a senior fellow at the Shalem Center and a senior lecturer in economics at Hebrew University.
But there are many Israelis who dislike Netanyahu and his policies: a significant part of the political center and the left in Israel. On the other hand, the fact that the US has decided to promote a pure capitalist to lead the Bank of Israel could’ve been a US’ reaction to the Israel’s tendencies of allying with leftist powers.
The main reason for the Israelis’ irritation comes from their frustration at having to face the reality of an outside choice, from suddenly realizing that the US is treating Israel as its Cinderella sister.
Renowned political philosophers like Shlomo Avineri, the former Foreign Ministry official, have also raised their voice against Fisher’s appointment, stating that “the fuss is reflective of a deeper Israeli ambivalence toward successful Jews in the rest of the world, who are a source of both pride and resentment”.
AUSCHWITZ COMMEMORATION: BUSH – THE GREAT ABSENT
The biggest diplomatic mistake in US policy towards Israel was to come only afterwards, when the most important heads of state were flying to Auschwitz to commemorate 60 years from the Jewish liberation from Holocaust, the most sensitive topic for Jews all over the World.
The big surprise was that at the commemoration only the trio Putin-Chirac-Schroeder was present to shake hands with the Israeli president, who was facing the awkward situation of meeting there, instead of Bush and Blair, Bush’s substitute – Dick Cheney and the freshly American-appointed presidents of Ukraine and Romania, Victor Yushchenko and Traian Basescu.
A diplomatic mistake of such scale can’t escape the observation of the highest rank of diplomats, but also of the unwariest of us, creating marks in the conscience of Jewish people for a long time.
RUSSIA –SYRIA ARMS DEAL
The warm relations between Russia and Syria and the arms deal these two states seem decided to conclude, should not be necessarily seen as an anti-Israel line in Putin’s external policy, but rather as Russia’s effort to consolidate its position in the Middle East, preparing to face an increasing US influence in the area.
Under the circumstances that the US has finally managed, after Arafat’s mysterious death, to arrange the Palestinian elections in its favour, that the American influence in Iraq is more and more visible, at the same time Iran being openly threatened with an American military intervention, Putin has to take concrete counter measures if he still hopes to preserve Russia’s influence in the Middle East.
The key asset of Syria is that it happens to share its Eastern border with Iraq. Russia’s efforts of mending ties with Turkey should not be viewed only from the economical prospective, but also as an effort of Russia to mend ties with another neighbour of Iraq.
On the other side, as far as Russian-Israeli diplomatic relations are concerned, Putin seeks to observe the slogan: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”, Russia therefore promoting a policy of rapprochement towards Israel, a traditional US’ ally, at the same time taking cautious measures.
Bush’s belligerent statements on the Iranian issue could’ve provided Putin with quite the suitable timing for boosting Russia’s diplomatic and military cooperation with Syria, a goal probably existent for long on the Russian diplomatic agenda, but which has been put on hold, until a moment suitable to approach this sensitive issue.
CONCLUSION:
The conclusion I’ve jumped to, after the work of research needed in order to be able to put this analysis in writing, has been confirmed by the article posted by RIA Novosti and entitled “PUTIN AS A VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM.” The article can be read in full at the link below:
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5343839&startrow=11&date=2005-01-26&do_alert=0
REFERENCES:
Full text of Bush's inaugural address
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10691287.htm
1. BUSH PREPARES THE GROUND FOR HIS VISIT TO EUROPE
Protests against new labour laws in Germany
http://chapelhill.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/13367_comment.php
Loss of job benefits brings Berlin protests
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/03/business/german.htm
French government braces for more pressure after strikes
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20050121-0723-france-protests.html
Widespread rail disruption in France on day two of rolling strikes
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/128183/1/.html
Strikes set to bring France to a standstill
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Strikes-set-to-bring-France-to-a-standstill/2005/01/19/1106110815236.html?onfiltered=true
Rail Strike Cripples France
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4019375
Widespread rail disruption in France on day two of rolling strikes
http://www.turkishpress.com/business/news.asp?id=050119164442.t65vz79m.xml
2. CIA’S REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION
CIA gives grim warning on European prospects
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=56762005
3. MASS PROTESTS AND ARTIFICIAL ANTI-SEMITISM IN RUSSIA
Russia: wave of protests against welfare cuts
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/russ-j27.shtml
As students join Russian protests, concerns over stability rise
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0127/p07s01-woeu.html
RUSSIAN NATIONALISTS SEEK TO BAN JEWISH GROUPS
http://www.icej.org/cgi-local/view.cgi?type=headline&artid=2005/01/25/752449943
RUSSIA STILL HAS A CHANCE: COMMUNIST LEADER
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5347199
Ukraine's Lesson for Putin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40072-2005Jan26.html
4. THE PURPOSE OF THE RUSSIAN MASS DEMONSTRATIONS: THE DISMISSAL OF FRADKOV GOVERNMENT
PUTIN AS A VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5343839&startrow=1&date=2005-01-26&do_alert=0
PM FRADKOV FOR BROADER COOPERATION WITH SYRIA
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5346366
Putin, Sharon discuss security in the Middle East
http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10741518
5. THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE ROMAN ABRAMOVICH
EBRD says to take Abramovich to court
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=655791
Bates not in Roman's league
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,1396548,00.html
EBRD SUES ABRAMOVICH, DAVOS REFRAINS FROM COMMENTS
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?pr...1-28&do_alert=0
WHAT DOES ABRAMOVICH FEAR MORE - A SWISS COURT OR A RUSSIAN STREET?
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?msg_id=53245
Chelsea's debt of gratitude to Putin
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=D&xml=/sport/2005/01/24/sfnhay24.xml
Abramovich Met Putin Before Yukos Oil Merger Halt, Paper Says
http://www.scandoil.com/moxie/news/world_news/abramovich-met-putin-befo.shtml
Will Roman Abramovich Be The Next In Line?
http://www.mosnews.com/column/2004/03/08/abramovich.shtml
Aid bank sues Abramovich for £10m
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1448131,00.html
ABRAMOVICH CONTROVERSY: TYCOON'S MEN NOT NOTIFIED ON EBRD CLAIM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5325498&startrow=1&date=2005-01-19&do_alert=0
6. BESLAN EVENTS AND THE ISRAELI CONECTION
Israel, Russia Sign Memo on Terrorism
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=12839
Israel, Russia, agree to united front in “war against terrorism”
http://middle-east.news.designerz.com/israel-russia-agree-to-united-front-in-war-against-terrorism.html
7. CHINA-ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION
US up in arms over Sino-Israel ties
http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FL21Ak01.html
Closer Sino-Israel defense ties give US headache
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=10624
8. THE AMERICAN FISHER BECOMES GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL
Israel lures a top banker and sets off political spat
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/23/business/ibank.html
STANLEY FISCHER - A MONSTER IN THE BANK OF ISRAEL
http://www.barrychamish.com/html/fischer.html
9. AUSCHWITZ COMMEMORATION: BUSH – THE GREAT ABSENT
Heads bowed in the snow, old and young pay silent tribute
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=103402005
PUTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES DEVOTED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMP IN OSWIECIM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5343942
PUTIN PROMISES TO COUNTERACT ANTI-SEMITISM
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-27&msg_id=5349828
10. RUSSIA –SYRIA ARMS DEAL
Syria worried about Iraq's future
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050127-054354-4238r.htm
Syria-Russia relations important to both
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Syria%20Russia
DAMASK SPEAKS OUT FOR MOSCOW'S ACTIVE ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5346830
Sharon discusses Syria over phone with Russian president
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/530063.html
posted by NERDMANN at 1:02 PM
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