04/17/11

Say “Goodbye” to the Dollar

By: Trevor Loudon
New Zeal

Commentator J.R. Nyquist on the recent BRIC Summit and a probable Russian/Chinese attack on the US dollar.

The BRIC Summit, held on 14 April in Sanya (People’s Republic of China), brought together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The key to understanding the summit may be found in the joint statement, which refers to “the inadequacies and deficiencies of the existing international monetary and financial system….” Without question, this statement is about eliminating the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency. Therefore, the BRIC countries are asking for “the reform and improvement of the international monetary system, with a broad-based international reserve currency system providing stability and certainty.”

It appears, with the addition of South Africa to the BRIC alliance, that gold is being contemplated as a means for backing a new reserve currency. China and South Africa are the two leading gold-producing countries. Russia is the sixth leading gold producer, and Brazil is 15th. But this is not an easy game to win, because the dollar’s position is almost unbeatable. Furthermore, the United States, Canada and Australia have steady gold production. But here, at the BRIC Summit, a serious challenge is being mounted. If the dollar is to be overthrown, a humble beginning must be attempted. And who knows what countries will join the BRIC Summit next year?

The United States appears to be a well-ordered and stable society. How could anyone seriously hope to challenge the economic might of America? Yet, there is reason to worry that America’s strength has long rested on a false foundation. Slackness, intellectual laziness, obesity and cultural degradation – are causes for serious concern. Under a regime of false expectations and artificial stimulants, the United States has been weakened financially, and is ill-prepared for further trouble. Yet trouble may be on the horizon. (Rumors of an impending large-scale terrorist attack, greater in effect than 9/11, continue to make the rounds).

In 1998 Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov, a strategist and master spy, conceived of an economic alliance between Russia, India and China. The purpose of this combination was to counter the international influence of the United States. In subsequent years Brazil was added to the combination; yet the anti-American purpose of the idea should be underscored. By now it should be apparent that Russia and China intend to launch an attack against the U.S. dollar.

Do we yet realize that such an attack is possible? And have we reckoned the political consequences? As these words are written, a small minority of persons inside the United States are trying to stir up a revolution. If the economy continues to function, these people have no chance of success. But if the U.S. economy collapsed, the extremists of Right and Left would gain millions of followers. The greatest potential for harm would then come from inside the country, through internal conflict. Political revolutions occur from time to time in all states; and they are to be dreaded.

The strategist and historian Viktor Suvorov was recently asked in an interview whether he saw signs of revolution in today’s Russia. His reply was characteristically wise. “Certain people prepare revolutions,” he said, “many accomplish them, but the fruits always go to the bastards! In all the past revolutions throughout the world, those who join with an open heart usually die.” Suvorov then quoted the famous remark that, “Revolutions devour their own children.” The same would hold true if a revolution took place in the United States.

It is true, of course, that people are becoming angry at present-day policies. However bad things are, they can be much worse if a revolution begins. Actions born of anger engender counter-actions born of anger – and a vicious cycle of violence invariably follows. Under current strategic conditions, there is a further consideration. An economic disruption, followed by a political upheaval in the United States would tend to the spontaneous disarmament of the country. The nuclear deterrent could cease to function, with potentially fatal consequences for hundreds of millions of people.

The potential for a revolution in the United States has long been a topic of discussion by strategists in Moscow and Beijing. In fact, the breakdown of America’s economy leading to a revolution was discussed by Soviet bloc leaders as far back as 1967, and Soviet strategy envisioned this eventuality as the key to victory over the United States. Even more alarming: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the United States, with all its self-made problems, has been pushed deeper into crisis by the hidden hand of Moscow. Readers should be directed to Kevin Freeman’s June 2009 report titled, Economic Warfare: Risks and Responses. Freeman outlines a three-phased attack on the U.S. economy which he suspects is already underway. The First Phase involves a “speculative run-up in oil prices” that generate as much as $2 trillion of excess wealth for oil-producing nations. Second comes “a series of bear raids targeting U.S. financial services firms.” Third is a “direct attack on the U.S. Treasury and U.S. dollar.” Freeman explained that, “A focused effort to collapse the dollar by dumping Treasury bonds has grave implications including the possibility of a downgrading of U.S. debt forcing rapidly rising interest rates and a collapse of the American economy. In short, a bear raid against the U.S. financial system….”

This is not wild speculation. The Chinese regime is a Communist dictatorship, and the Russian Federation is run by the KGB (together with former Communist Party structures). Do we imagine they will not take advantage of the situation? As the Federal Reserve has massively increased the money supply by an estimated $12.8 trillion in economic stimulus, the system’s vulnerability is without parallel. Put this together with massive annual Federal budget deficits and you have the perfect recipe for disaster. “Based on the assumed nature of Phase One and Phase Two,” noted Freeman, “a Phase Three attack would likely involved dumping of U.S. Treasuries and a trashing of the dollar, removing it from reserve currency status. This is clearly foreseeable as a risk….”

The sequence of unraveling is easy to follow. If you dump U.S. Treasuries, how will the U.S. dollar remain the global reserve currency? In that event, how will the United States finance its deficit spending? Interest rates would skyrocket, with predictable consequences. “Pushed to the limit,” Freeman wrote, “the U.S. dollar would follow the path of the German currency … following defeat in World War I.” The danger should be perfectly clear, and Freeman spells it out so that even a simple person could understand: “U.S. military strength hinges on economic well being and innovation. These facts are well understood by our enemies, prompting the desire to change the balance of power.”

The BRIC summit testifies to the desire of Russia and China to undermine the dollar. However crazy you think such a scheme, they are nonetheless pursuing it. You might say it makes no sense, but you are not a “former” KGB officer or a member of the Chinese Communist Party. Do you really imagine that KGB officers and Communists are bourgeois, like you? No, they are not. They are the declared enemies of the bourgeoisie.

You may rationalize this any way you please. You can tell yourself that Communism is dead, that Russia and China are attempting to build consumer societies like our own. BRIC may sound foolish today, but tomorrow you may find your local grocery store empty and gasoline unavailable because the dollar is no longer worth anything.

JR Nyquist is one of the very few commentators to actually be prepared to name the enemy. Russia and China have long since re-united as one force against the West and the US in particular.

If the US goes down economically, will Russia and China sit on their hands and give America time to recover?

Or will they strike and strike hard, when the “main enemy” is on its knees.

If you believe Beijing and Moscow would pass up this great opportunity, maybe you should leave all your doors unlocked and put a sign on your lawn advertising the fact.

Let me know how you get on.

04/17/11

China Offers Places to 10,000 US Students, Steps Up Cooperation With MIT

By: Trevor Loudon
New Zeal

Let’s make treason, espionage and subversion even easier, shall we?

From the Communist Party of China website.

MIT President Susan Hockfield, Liu Yandong, China, June 2010

Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong announced here on Tuesday an additional 10,000 scholarships for Americans to study in China.

The announcement was made during the second meeting of the China-U.S. high-level consultation on people-to-people exchange held in Washington.

The new scholarships are made in addition to the pledge by the Chinese government last year of 10,000 “Bridge Scholarships” for American students to study in China.

Realizing the strategic importance of the U.S.-China relationship, the U.S. government has called for more Americans to study in China.

In November 2009, during his visit to China, U.S. President Barack Obama announced the “100,000 Strong” initiative, a national effort designed to increase dramatically the number of American students studying in China.

How many of these people will be recruited, or blackmailed into becoming spies or “agents of influence?”

How can the FBI possibly keep track of so many potential traitors?

During a speech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also highlighted the importance China attaches to its relations with the U.S., and gave a detailed introduction about China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for socioeconomic development.

After the speech, she answered questions by MIT teachers and students on topics including the outlook of China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges, the comparison between the two countries’ education systems, and professional ethics for scientists.

Susan Hockfield, president of MIT, said that Liu’s speech provided rich information for the university’s teachers and students to have a “comprehensive understanding of China.”

MIT has strengthened its cooperation with China in recent years, jointly launched many innovative programs which benefited the university a lot, she said, adding that MIT is hoping to deepen its cooperation with Chinese universities.

I’ll bet China would love to have access to all MIT’s groundbreaking research – a process which has already begun.

04/17/11

Tea Time in Wisconsin

By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

Greeted by the Tea Party as well as local and bussed-in thuggish astro-turf minions dispatched by Richard Trumka and President Obama’s Organizing for America, Andrew Breitbart once again showed what a courageous patriot he was during his introduction of Sarah Palin. Amid cheers of support and hurled insults, Breitbart roared to the forefront with bold and utterly truthful statements that labeled the progressives for what they are – unmitigated cowards. Nipping at Breitbart’s heels like rabid curs, the left’s desperation came through loud and clear after Governor Walker’s win over the Communist controlled union leadership in Wisconsin. Adding insult to well-earned injury, the final blow came as a Constitutionalist judge was elected in Wisconsin that will uphold Governor Walker’s budget.

Not caught adequately on camera (are you surprised?) were the names that Breitbart was labeled with. Who could forget the stupid, crass classic, “Koch Suckers!” along with the ever-popular middle finger gesture which belied the “breeding” of the progressives in attendance. Palin was called names that were befitting of a bathroom wall, penned in the vitriol of the conservative-hating radical left. Breitbart told the progressives to go to hell and rightly so. They would be right at home.

In the absence of crutches and props, most notably a teleprompter, Sarah Palin took the stage. John Nolte at Big Government put it well: Sarah Palin Steps Into Wisconsin, Points to Left Field, and Hits a Grand Slam. And indeed, she did hit her message right out of the park and across the nation, leaving the Marxist left eating her dust and cursing her presence as she ascends to the 2012 political stage. As I listened to her passionate, succinct and moving speech, I couldn’t help but feel that we were witnessing history. Not just for the Tea Party movement, but for America. She strongly supported Governor Walker and supported union workers, not union leadership. I can relate – I come from a union family myself. And in a common sense and plain-spoken pronouncement, she stated that Governor Walker was working to make sure workers get to keep their jobs and pensions, not lose them because of solvency lies and union politics.

Here is a woman with a spine of steel, who is not afraid to call the President of the United States a liar when the title fits. Palin took the fight to the left and stood in their fetid presence and fought like a girl. Like an “American girl” who has had enough and won’t roll over and watch her country slide into slavery and Marxism.

But she didn’t just go after Obama and the left. No… She threw red meat to the Tea Party and put the Republican Party on notice. Either do what we elected you to do, or you will sink into the unremembered bowels of history and you won’t even leave a ripple. Palin rang out with, “We didn’t elect you just to rearrange the deck chairs on a sinking Titanic. What we need from you, GOP, is to fight.” She defended Wisconsin’s own Paul Ryan and his bold and sane fiscal budgetary plan.

This woman is brilliant and knows how to play the game of politics without losing her soul. The left is terrified of her and rightly so. Palin is a force unto herself and is a true conservative in my viewpoint. Even Reuters gets it:

So MSM, keep obsessing over the shiny new Trump toy if you must. But better keep an eye on a certain sharpshooting, grizzly mama. She’s back.. . . . .

And I am sure the Tea Party feels as I do… As the majority of Americans do… We are coming for the politicians in 2012 and we intend to clean house of progressives on the left and the right. Game on!

04/17/11

Cat Naps on Break are Healthy

By: T F Stern
T F Stern’s Rantings

There have been a flurry of reports recently of Flight Controllers sleeping on the job; one in particular where a couple of airplanes full of passengers landed without assistance. Fox News’ website had yet another story today out of Miami:

“The Federal Aviation Administration is changing air traffic controllers’ work schedules most likely to cause fatigue following another incident in which a controller fell asleep while on duty, this time at a radar center in Miami.”

If the AP writer had any sense of humor, the title could have been, “Sleepless in Miami.” At the end of the article was a short paragraph which offers the answer and would save a considerable sum of investigative money:

“It has been known for decades that fatigue is rampant among controllers. FAA rules forbid any sleeping on the job, even during breaks. Employees who violate those rules can be fired. But controllers told The Associated Press that unsanctioned napping at night where one controller works two jobs while the other sleeps, and then they swap, is an open secret within the agency.”

The simple answer would be to lighten up on the rules and permit workers to lawfully cat nap during breaks instead of threatening them with disciplinary action and/or suspensions. Plenty of scientific studies have been done, results checked and re-checked; when working night shift jobs the human body naturally gets sleepy, especially when the intensity of work dwindles down to pure boredom.

I’ll tell on myself, having been a night shift police officer; almost every night I took a twenty minute nap when I called out for a meal break. I didn’t need to eat; but those twenty minute naps made working all night bearable. This isn’t to say it was within authorized policies of the Houston Police Department which had at the time, and likely continues to have a policy which strictly prohibits sleeping on duty.

My reasoning, call it rationalization if you must; what’s the difference between calling out to eat for twenty or thirty minutes, something which is permitted and authorized; what’s the difference between refueling an empty stomach and refueling a tired mind if they both can be accomplished in the same amount of time?

One night, my supervisor heard me call out at a specific location and since I was on his “list” he checked to make sure I was actually there. He assumed I was at a place that served food, what’s that old saying about assume, “making an ass out of u and me?” In fact I was across the street parked behind a warehouse taking my cat nap break.

He tried to make a big deal out of it; filed disciplinary paperwork claiming dishonesty for calling out at a fictitious address, sleeping on the job and being a regular pain in the butt; that last part may have been worded differently, you get the drift. I beat him on the dishonesty part since the two locations were in the same hundred block and the Department gave me an official warning about sleeping on duty, even if it was my allocated break.

It wouldn’t have bothered me except this was the same supervisor who fell asleep in his patrol car stopped at a traffic light one night a while back. Several concerned citizens thought he was injured or had suffered a heart attack so the call went out as an “Assist the Officer.” Upon arrival we figured out what happened and had a good laugh at his expense; funny how none of us considered filing an official complaint, what a hypocritical jerk!

There are a couple of ways to solve the problem of sleepy air traffic controllers, or for that matter any of a number of night shift employees falling asleep at inopportune moments. I guess we could fire them for being human; but what would that accomplish?

No, the first would be to make sure these folks have at least one other person in close proximity to jostle them into full alert mode if needed. I would have enjoyed having a partner to share the dangers of being a night shift cop; but there weren’t enough to go around. The other obvious solution would be to let employees take a cat nap for twenty minutes instead of loading up on carbohydrates which will almost certainly put them under. All in favor of letting folks take a cat nap raise their right paw.

This article has been cross-posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government & The American Constitution.”