Peter Koenig -- Coronavirus Is More Than a Health Disaster – It’s a Human Calamity

Coronavirus Is More Than a Health Disaster – It’s a Human Calamity

By Peter Koenig

Global Research, March 30, 2020

Theme: Intelligence, Media Disinformation, Science and Medicine

The New York Times of March 20, asks rhetorically – “Is Our Fight Against Coronavirus Worse Than the Disease?”

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in relation to China’s novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) categorized  as a viral pneumonia. was declared by WHO’s Director General, Dr. Tedros on 30 January 2020, when outside of China there were only 150 WHO-registered infections.

This declaration – nowhere justified – has devastating effects on the entire world population and the world’s socioeconomic fabric. The globe is literally on lock-down, until – who knows – but the latest date put forward by President Trump is 12 April 2020. It can almost be taken for granted that the date will have global validity. The world at large dances to the tune of the United States.

Some ten days ago, Mr. Trump declared, that this “situation” is enough and that it is time to get the economy working again. He is a business man and knows best. He suggested March 30 for going back to work. He then must have gotten instructions from his higher-ups, that more time was needed – this is just my guess – to prepare whatever sinister plan is in the making. So, he postponed by two weeks the “back-to-normal” day.

The coronavirus, COVID-19, has a catastrophic impact on the world, on the population, on the economy, and most importantly on the livelihoods of about a quarter of the world population, who are at the margin or below the level of vulnerability and precariousness. Without work, even occasional, hourly or daily work to make some money to buy food, these people are doomed – doomed to die from disease, famine or sheer neglect. Their disappearance will be unnoticed. They are the non-people.

This fake global public health emergency (January 30) was imposed on almost every country of the 193 UN members. It is “fake”, because when it was declared, as said before, there were only 150 cases outside of China, in a population of 6.4 billion people.

This is by no stretch of imagination a pandemic.  (While the PHEIC was declared on January 30th, the pandemic was casually confirmed by the WHO Director General on March 11)

Noteworthy is, this decision was taken by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos (21 – 24 January 2020), behind closed doors, by an entirely non-medical, but political body. Dr. Tedros, WHO’s DG, who for the first time in WHO’s history, is not a medical doctor, was present.

What Happens In the Wake of the COVID-19 Lockdown? Economic Destruction, Global Poverty, Bankruptcies, Mass Unemployment. Neoliberalism to the Rescue

What Happens In the Wake of the COVID-19 Lockdown? Economic Destruction, Global Poverty, Bankruptcies, Mass Unemployment. Neoliberalism to the Rescue

By Prof Michel Chossudovsky

Global Research, March 28, 2020

Theme: Global Economy

In the wake of the lockdown: Bankruptcies and mass unemployment, the economic destabilization of entire countries. 

Millions of people have lost their jobs, and their lifelong savings. They are unable to pay their home mortgages.

In developing countries, poverty and despair prevail.

The political implications are far-reaching. The lockdown undermines real democracy. 

It would be naive to believe that the financial crisis was solely the result of spontaneous market forces. It was carefully engineered.

The coronavirus continues to provide a camouflage. Fear and panic (generated profusely by the corporate media) create “favorable conditions” for “institutional speculators”, many of whom had detailed foreknowledge of the WHO decision to launch a Global Public Health Emergency on January 30th, at a time when there were only 150 “confirmed cases” outside China.

The collapse of stock markets has resulted in one of the most important transfers in money wealth in modern history, yet to be firmly established.

The Coronavirus is not the cause of financial collapse. What prevails is an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty which enables powerful financial interests to manipulate the stock market and consolidate their financial positions.  There is evidence that “corporate insiders sold off billions of dollars worth of shares in their own companies just before the stock market imploded.”

This crisis has led to an unprecedented concentration of money wealth.

In early February, roughly $6 trillion were wiped off the value of stock markets Worldwide. Massive losses of personal savings (e.g. of average Americans) are ongoing not to mention corporate failures and bankruptcies.

Each time Trump opens his mouth, or blames the Chinese on twitter, the stock markets respond. Those who have inside information or foreknowledge of US policy decisions will make a bundle of money.

Behind the global public health emergency, there are powerful economic interests: Wall Street, Big Pharma, the Washington Consensus, Corporate Charities and Foundations, the IMF, World Bank, et al. They met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on January 21-24, one week prior to the launching of the WHO global public health emergency.

RON PAUL -- While Trump Fights Coronavirus, Pompeo's On The Warpath

While Trump Fights Coronavirus, Pompeo's On The Warpath

written by daniel mcadams

tuesday march 31, 2020

Keep your eye on Pompeo! President Trump is understandably distracted by the coronavirus outbreak in the US but in the "never let a good crisis go to waste" mode, the neocons in his Administration - led by Pompeo - are launching their war plots without the normal scrutiny. Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Russia - the long knives are coming out. Trump has been able to put the kibbosh on Pompeo's plans before, but a distracted Trump is in danger of losing control of his foreign policy. Launching a foolish war in the midst of the current crisis would surely spell disaster for the president. Watch today's Liberty Report:

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Eric Zuesse -- The Post-Coronavirus World Will Be Far Worse than the Pre-Coronavirus World

The Post-Coronavirus World Will Be Far Worse than the Pre-Coronavirus World

News-Reports About the Bailouts of MegaCorporations Are Being Suppressed

by Eric Zuesse

March 31, 2020

Homeless man sleeps in Colorado. The rate of homelessness has jumped 8% since pot was legalized here.

Eric Zuesse, originally posted at Strategic Culture

Signs, especially in the United States, are that the post-coronavirus-plagued world will have even more inequality of wealth, within each nation, than existed prior to the plague. Billionaires are demanding to be included in the bailouts by their governments; and, because billionaires financed the careers of the successful politicians who won seats in their country’s legislature, those demands are almost certain to be complied with. Only the least-corrupt nations will be able to recover fully from the current plague.

In the United States, one Party, the Republicans, doesn’t even pretend to be concerned about the sharp growth of wealth-inequality that has occurred after 1980; but the other Party, the Democrats, do make that pretense; and so a deal is being worked out in the U.S. Congress that both Parties tout as being a ‘balanced’ bailout bill, because it will bail out both the megacorporations that the billionaires own and control, and the public — their workers (especially the ones that those billionaires are now laying off). Because of the enormous give-aways to the billionaires, deficit-spending by the government will be soaring out of control, and ultimately paper money will plunge in value, which will bring on a global depression that will be even worse than 1929. Some governments will find ways to nationalize the wealth of billionaires and perhaps also of centi-millionaires in order to fund the continuing needs of the public, and there will be a scramble by many of those super-rich to relocate to countries where they still will be able to bribe enough government officials so as to provide safe haven for their accumulated wealth. Graduated exit-taxes will be instituted by any of the industrialized countries that aren’t totally corrupt, but the most extremely corrupt industrialized countries will experience massive capital-flight and a future as a “third world” nation, under extended martial law.

El científico que lideró la lucha contra el coronavirus en China revela el "gran error" que cometen EE.UU. y Europa

 El científico que lideró la lucha contra el coronavirus en China revela el "gran error" que cometen EE.UU. y Europa 

Publicado:30 mar 2020 18:45 GMT

Source 

El director general del Centro Chino para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades inisite en que el covid-19 puede ser controlado solo si se logra eliminar la fuente de la infección.

Una enfermera en un hospital de Shanghái, China, 17 de febrero de 2020.Noel Celis / Reuters

El director general del Centro Chino para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades, George Gao, asegura que no implementar el uso generalizado de mascarillas para protegerse del covid-19 es un "gran error" que está cometiendo tanto Estados Unidos como los demás países del mundo en su respuesta a la pandemia.

"El gran error en los Estados Unidos y Europa, en mi opinión, es que las personas no usan mascarillas. Este virus se transmite a través de gotas y contacto cercano", manifestó Gao en una entrevista a la revista Science. "Las gotas juegan un papel muy importante: hay que usar una mascarilla, porque al hablar, siempre salen gotas de la boca", y dicho accesorio puede evitar que las gotas que transportan el virus infecten a otras personas, explicó.

Para Gao, el uso de mascarillas debería ir acompañado por otras medidas, como la instalación de termómetros en los accesos de todos los lugares públicos, con el fin de detectar en una etapa temprana a las personas con fiebre alta y aislarlas para evitar que propaguen el virus.

"La estrategia esencial"

"Las personas infectadas deben estar aisladas. Eso debería suceder en todas partes. El covid-19 puede ser controlado solo si se logra eliminar la fuente de la infección. Es por eso que [en China] construimos hospitales modulares y transformamos estadios en hospitales", subrayó.

Asimismo, el entrevistado manifestó que el distanciamiento social "es la estrategia esencial" para el control de cualquier enfermedad infecciosa, en especial para las infecciones respiratorias. Gao hizo hincapié en la necesidad de aislar "cualquier caso" sospechoso y a todos sus contactos cercanos, así como suspender las reuniones públicas y restringir la circulación mediante cuarentenas masivas.

Todas esas medidas son las que han ayudado al gigante asiático a neutralizar la propagación del nuevo coronavirus, subrayó. "Por el momento, no tenemos ninguna transmisión local, pero el problema para China ahora son los casos importados", dijo Gao, añadiendo que la estrategia ahora es ganar tiempo mientras la comunidad científica trabaja tanto en vacunas como en medicamentos contra el covid-19.

Larry Romanoff -- COVID-19: visando a Itália e a Coréia do Sul? “A cadeia de transmissão da infecção”

COVID-19: visando a Itália e a Coréia do Sul? “A cadeia de transmissão da infecção”

Por Larry Romanoff

Global Research, 21 de Março de 2020

 

Um virologista italiano de alto nível, Giuseppe Remuzzi, publicou uma colecção de artigos no Lancet e outros textos nos quais afirma factos até agora desconhecidos. (1)

O médico afirmou que os médicos italianos se recordam agora, de ter visto:

“Uma pneumonia muito estranha e muito grave, principalmente em idosos, em Dezembro e até em Novembro [de 2019]. O que sugere que o vírus estava a circular, pelo menos, na Lombardia e antes de termos conhecimento deste surto estar a ocorrer na China. ”(2)

As autoridades médicas chinesas determinaram o mesmo fenómeno, posteriormente, que o vírus estava a circular entre a população talvez, durante dois meses, antes de, finalmente, explodir em campo aberto.

Mais ainda, de acordo com o Serviço Nacional de Saúde de Itália (ISS):

 “Não é possível reconstruir a cadeia de transmissão da infecção de todos os pacientes. A maioria dos casos relatados em Itália, refere uma ligação epidemiológica com outros casos diagnosticados na Lombardia, Emilia Romagna e Veneto, as áreas mais afectadas pela epidemia. ” [tradução de italiano] (3)

A declaração acima é de importância crucial, visto que apoia a afirmação de vários agrupamentos de infecção simultâneos e vários 'pacientes zero'. Existem casos na Lombardia, que não puderam ser colocados numa cadeia de infecção e o mesmo também deve ser verdade para outras áreas. (ver abaixo) Dado que o vírus eclodiu separadamente em várias regiões de Itália, podemos esperar a identificação de grupos infecciosos independentes também nessas regiões. O que significaria que a Itália foi atingida por, pelo menos, várias 'sementeiras' individuais do vírus.

O surto de consequência na China, ocorreu principalmente na cidade de Wuhan, mas com várias fontes na cidade e vários pacientes zero, com um surto menor em Guangdong que foi contido facilmente. A China teve vários grupos em Wuhan. Não houve uma fonte de origem única e nenhum paciente zero foi identificado, o que é semelhante ao sucedido em Itália.

PT -- Manlio Dinucci -- A Arte da Guerra -- Manobras estratégicas por trás da crise do Coronavírus

A Arte da Guerra

 Manobras estratégicas por trás da crise do Coronavírus 

Manlio Dinucci

ITALIANO  PORTUGUÊS

À medida que a crise do Coronavírus paralisa sociedades inteiras, forças poderosas movem-se para tirar a máxima vantagem da situação.

·    Em 27 de Março, a NATO sob comando USA, expandiu-se de 29 para 30 membros, incorporando a Macedónia do Norte.

·         No dia seguinte - enquanto o exercício USA “Defensor da Europa 2020” prosseguia, com menos soldados, mas com mais bombardeiros nucleares - iniciou na Escócia, o exercício aeronaval NATO Joint Warrior com forças USA, britânicas, alemãs e outras, que durará até 10 de Abril, também com operações terrestres.

Entretanto, os países europeus da NATO são advertidos por Washington de que, apesar das perdas económicas provocadas pelo Coronavírus, devem continuar a aumentar os seus orçamentos militares para “manter a capacidade de se defender”, obviamente, da “agressão russa”.

Na conferência de Munique, em 15 de Fevereiro, o Secretário de Estado, Mike Pompeo, anunciou que os Estados Unidos solicitaram aos aliados para reservar outros 400 biliões de dólares para aumentar as despesas militares da NATO, que já ultrapassam bem mais de 1 trilião de dólares, anualmente.

A Itália deve, portanto, aumentar as suas despesas militares, que já subiram para mais de 26 biliões de euros por ano, ou mais do que o que o Parlamento autorizou destinar, precisamente, para a emergência Coronavírus (25 biliões). Assim, a NATO ganha terreno numa Europa largamente paralisada pelo vírus, onde os USA, hoje mais do que nunca, podem fazer o que querem.

Na conferência de Munique, Mike Pompeo, atacou violentamente não só a Rússia, mas também a China, acusando-a de usar a Huawei e outras empresas como “cavalo de Tróia dos serviços secretos”, ou seja, como ferramentas de espionagem. Deste modo, os Estados Unidos aumentam a sua pressão sobre os países europeus para que também quebrem os acordos económicos com a Rússia e com a China e fortaleçam as sanções contra a Rússia.

O que é que a Itália deveria fazer, se tivesse um governo que quisesse defender os nossos verdadeiros interesses nacionais?

Ø  Antes de tudo, deveria recusar-se a aumentar a nossa despesa militar, avolumada artificialmente com a fake news da “agressão russa”, e submetê-la a uma revisão radical para reduzir o desperdício de dinheiro público em sistemas de armas como o caça americano F-35.

Ø  Deveria suspender imediatamente as sanções contra a Rússia, desenvolvendo o intercâmbio ao máximo.

Ø  Deveria aderir ao pedido - apresentado em 26 de Março à ONU, pela China, Rússia, Irão, Síria, Venezuela, Nicarágua, Cuba e Coreia do Norte - que as Nações Unidas pressionem Washington para abolir todas as sanções, particularmente prejudiciais no momento em que os países que sofrem com elas, estão afectados pelo coronavírus.

Da abolição das sanções ao Irão também resultariam vantagens económicas para a Itália, cuja troca com este país foi praticamente bloqueada pelas sanções USA. Estas e outras medidas dariam oxigénio, sobretudo, às pequenas e médias empresas sufocadas pelo encerramento forçado, disponibilizariam fundos para a emergência, especialmente, a favor das camadas mais desfavorecidas, sem, por isso, se endividarem.

O maior risco é sair da crise com o nó corrediço no pescoço provocado por uma dívida externa, que poderia reduzir a Itália às condições da Grécia.

Mais poderosas do que as forças militares, aquelas que mantêm as alavancas das tomadas de decisão, mesmo no complexo industrial-militar, são as forças da grande finança internacional, que estão a usar a crise do Coronavírus para uma ofensiva global, com as armas de especulação mais sofisticadas. São elas que podem arruinar milhões de pequenos poupadores e que podem usar a dívida para se apoderarem de sectores económicos inteiros.

Decisivo nesta situação, é o exercício da soberania nacional, não a da retórica política, mas a que está consagrada na nossa Constituição, a verdadeira soberania que pertence ao povo.

Manlio Dinucci

il manifesto, 31 de Março de 2020

IT -- Manlio Dinucci -- L’Arte della guerra -- Manovre strategiche dietro la crisi del Coronavirus

L’Arte della guerra

 Manovre strategiche dietro la crisi del Coronavirus 

Manlio Dinucci

ITALIANO  PORTUGUÊS

Mentre la crisi del Coronavirus paralizza intere società, potenti forze si muovono per trarre il massimo vantaggio dalla situazione.

·         Il 27 marzo la Nato sotto comando Usa si è allargata da 29 a 30 membri, inglobando la Macedonia del Nord.

·         Il giorno dopo – mentre proseguiva l’esercitazione Usa «Difensore dell’Europa 2020», con meno soldati ma più bombardieri nucleari – è iniziata in Scozia l’esercitazione aeronavale Nato Joint Warrior con forze Usa, britanniche, tedesche e altre, che durerà fino al 10 aprile anche con operazioni terrestri.

Intanto i paesi europei della Nato vengono avvertiti da Washington che, nonostante le perdite economiche provocate dal Coronavirus, devono continuare ad aumentare i loro bilanci militari per «mantenere la capacità di difendersi», ovviamente dalla «aggressione russa».

Alla Conferenza di Monaco, il 15 febbraio, il segretario di stato Mike Pompeo ha annunciato che gli Stati uniti hanno sollecitato gli alleati a stanziare altri 400 miliardi di dollari per accrescere la spesa militare  della Nato, che già supera ampiamente i 1.000 miliardi annui.

L’Italia deve quindi aumentare la propria spesa militare, già salita a oltre 26 miliardi di euro all’anno, ossia più di quanto il Parlamento abbia autorizzato a stanziare una tantum per l’emergenza Coronavirus (25 miliardi). La Nato guadagna così terreno in una Europa largamente paralizzata dal virus, dove gli Usa, oggi più che mai, possono fare ciò che vogliono.

Alla Conferenza di Monaco, Mike Pompeo ha attaccato violentemente non solo la Russia ma anche la Cina, accusandola di usare  la Huawei e altre sue compagnie quale «cavallo di Troia dell’intelligence», ossia quali strumenti di spionaggio. In tal modo gli Stati uniti accrescono la loro pressione sui paesi europei perché rompano anche gli accordi economici con Russia e Cina e rafforzino le sanzioni contro la Russia.

Che cosa dovrebbe fare l’Italia, se avesse un governo che volesse difendere  i nostri reali interessi nazionali?

Ø  Dovrebbe anzitutto rifiutare di accrescere la nostra spesa militare, artificiosamente gonfiata con la fake news della «aggressione russa», e sottoporla a una radicale revisione per ridurre lo spreco di denaro pubblico in sistemi d’arma come il caccia Usa F-35.

Ø  Dovrebbe togliere immediatamente le sanzioni alla Russia, sviluppando al massimo l’interscambio.

Ø  Dovrebbe aderire alla  richiesta – presentata il 26 marzo all’Onu da Cina, Russia, Iran, Siria, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba e Nord Corea – che le Nazioni Unite premano su Washington perché abolisca tutte le sanzioni, particolarmente dannose nel momento in cui i paesi che le subiscono sono colpiti dal Coronavirus.

Dall’abolizione delle sanzioni all’Iran ne deriverebbero anche vantaggi economici per l’Italia, il cui interscambio con questo paese è stato praticamente bloccato dalle sanzioni Usa. Queste e altre misure darebbero ossigeno soprattutto alle piccole e medie imprese soffocate dalla forzata chiusura, renderebbero disponibili fondi da stanziare per l’emergenza, a favore soprattutto degli strati più disagiati, senza per questo indebitarsi.

Il maggiore rischio è quello di uscire dalla crisi con al collo il nodo scorsoio di un debito estero che potrebbe ridurre l’Italia alle condizioni della Grecia.

Più potenti delle forze militari, quelle che hanno in mano le leve decisionali anche nel complesso militare-industriale, sono le forze della grande finanza internazionale, che stanno usando la crisi del Coronavirus per una offensiva su scala globale con le più sofisticate armi della speculazione. Sono loro che possono portare alla rovina milioni di piccoli risparmiatori, che possono usare il debito per impadronirsi di interi settori economici.  

Decisivo in tale situazione è l’esercizio della sovranità nazionale, non quella della retorica politica ma quella reale che, sancisce la nostra Costituzione, appartiene al popolo.

Manlio Dinucci

il manifesto, 31 marzo 2020

FR -- Manlio Dinucci -- L’Art de la Guerre -- Manoeuvres stratégiques derrière la crise du Coronavirus

L’Art de la Guerre

 Manoeuvres stratégiques derrière la crise du Coronavirus 

Manlio Dinucci

FRANÇAIS  ITALIANO  PORTUGUÊS

Tandis que la crise du Coronavirus paralyse des sociétés entières, de puissantes forces sont à l’oeuvre pour tirer l’avantage maximal de la situation. Le 27 mars l’OTAN sous commandement USA s’est élargie de 29 à 30 membres, en englobant la Macédoine du Nord. Le jour suivant -alors que se poursuivait l’exercice USA “Défenseur de l’Europe 2020”, avec moins de soldats mais plus de bombardiers nucléaires- a commencé en Écosse l’exercice aéronaval OTAN Joint Warrior avec des forces US, britanniques, allemandes et autres, qui durera jusqu’au 10 avril y compris avec des opérations terrestres. 

En attendant, les pays européens de l’OTAN sont avertis par Washington que, malgré les pertes économiques provoquées par le Coronavirus, ils doivent continuer à augmenter leurs budgets militaires pour “conserver la capacité de se défendre”, évidemment de l’”agression russe”.

À la Conférence de Munich, le 15 février, le secrétaire d’état Mike Pompeo a annoncé que les États-Unis ont sollicité les alliés à débourser 400 milliards de dollars de plus pour augmenter la dépense militaire de l’OTAN, qui dépasse déjà amplement les 1.000 milliards annuels. L’Italie doit ainsi augmenter sa propre défense militaire, qui se monte déjà à plus de 26 milliards d’euros annuels, c’est-à-dire plus que le Parlement n’a autorisé à débourser ponctuellement pour l’urgence Coronavirus (25 milliards).  

L’OTAN gagne ainsi du terrain dans une Europe largement paralysée par le virus, où les USA, aujourd’hui plus que jamais, peuvent faire ce qu’ils veulent. À la Conférence de Munich Mike Pompeo a violemment attaqué non seulement la Russie mais aussi la Chine, en l’accusant d’utiliser Huawei et d’autres compagnies comme “cheval de Troie de l’intelligence”, c’est-à-dire comme outils d’espionnage. Ce faisant les États-Unis accroissent leur pression sur les pays européens pour qu’ils rompent aussi les accords économiques avec Russie et Chine et renforcent les sanctions contre la Russie.

Que devrait faire l’Italie, si elle avait un gouvernement qui veuille défendre nos réels intérêts nationaux ? 

Elle devrait avant tout refuser d’augmenter notre dépense militaire, artificiellement gonflée avec la fake news de l’”agression russe”, et la soumettre à une révision radicale pour réduire le gaspillage d’argent public dans des systèmes d’arme comme le chasseur USA F-35. Elle devrait immédiatement supprimer les sanctions contre la Russie, en développant au maximum l’échange avec elle. Elle devrait adhérer à la requête -présentée le 26 mars à l’ONU par la Chine, la Russie, l’Iran, la Syrie, le Venezuela, le Nicaragua, Cuba et la Corée du Nord- que les Nations Unies fassent pression sur Washington pour abolir toutes les sanctions, particulièrement nocives au moment où les pays qui les subissent sont touchés par le Coronavirus. De l’abolition des sanctions contre l’Iran dériveraient aussi des avantages économiques pour l’Italie, dont les échanges avec ce pays ont été pratiquement bloqués par les sanctions USA. Ces mesures et d’autres donneraient de l’oxygène surtout aux petites et moyennes entreprises étouffées par la fermeture forcée, rendraient disponibles des fonds à destiner pour l’urgence, en faveur surtout des couches les moins défavorisées, sans pour cela s’endetter.

Le plus grand risque est celui de sortir de la crise en ayant au cou le noeud coulant d’une dette extérieure qui pourrait réduire l’Italie aux conditions de la Grèce. Plus puissantes que les forces militaires, et qui ont aussi en main les leviers décisionnels du complexe militaro-industriel, sont les forces de la grande finance internationale, qui sont en train d’utiliser le Coronavirus pour une offensive à l’échelle mondiale avec les armes les plus sophistiquées de la spéculation. Ce sont elles qui peuvent porter à la ruine des millions de petits épargnants, et qui peuvent utiliser la dette pour s’approprier des secteurs économiques entiers. 

Dans cette situation décisif est l’exercice de la souveraineté nationale, pas celle de la réthorique politique mais celle, réelle, qui, garantit notre Constitution, appartient au peuple.

Manlio Dinucci

il manifesto, 31 mars 2020

Traduit de l’italien par Marie-Ange Patrizio

DE -- Manlio Dinucci -- Die Kunst des Krieges -- Dr. Strangelove kümmert sich um unsere Gesundheit

Die Kunst des Krieges

 Dr. Strangelove kümmert sich um unsere Gesundheit 

Manlio Dinucci

DEUTSCH ENGLISH  FRANÇAIS  ITALIANO NEDERLANDS PORTUGUÊS

Angesichts des Coronavirus „ist es unser oberstes Anliegen, die Gesundheit unserer Streitkräfte und unserer Verbündeten zu schützen“ - erklärte das US-Europa-Kommando. Es kündigte daher an, dass es die Anzahl der Soldaten bei Defender Europe 20 reduziert hat. Aber es wird trotzdem weitergehen.

„Seit Januar hat die US-Armee 6.000 Soldaten aus den Vereinigten Staaten nach Europa entsandt“, mit 12.000 Ausrüstungsgegenständen (von personengebundenen Waffen bis hin zu Panzern), und „der Transport von Soldaten und Ausrüstung von verschiedenen Häfen zu den Übungsplätzen in Deutschland und Polen ist abgeschlossen“, erklärte das Kommando am 16. März. Darüber hinaus werden auch 9.000 in Europa stationierte US-Dienstangehörige an der Übung teilnehmen. Seit Januar hat die Armee etwa 6.000 Soldaten aus den Vereinigten Staaten nach Europa entsandt. Sie hat etwa 9.000 Fahrzeuge und Ausrüstungsgegenstände aus den vorpositionierten Beständen des Heeres und etwa 3.000 Ausrüstungsgegenstände auf dem Seeweg aus den Vereinigten Staaten verlegt. Außerdem schloss sie  die Verlegung von Soldaten und Ausrüstung von mehreren Häfen zu Übungsplätzen in Deutschland und Polen ab.

Der von den USA angestrebte Zweck ist „die Aufstellung einer glaubwürdigen Kampftruppe in Europa zur Unterstützung der NATO“, offensichtlich gegen eine „russische Aggression“. Der eigentliche Zweck - wir haben vor zweieinhalb Monaten in il Manifesto geschrieben (die einzige Tageszeitung, die damals über Defender Europe 20 berichtete) - ist es, Spannung zu säen und die Idee des Feinbildes zu nähren.

Das voraussichtliche Übungsszenario könnte niemals eintreten, denn ein bewaffneter Zusammenstoß zwischen der NATO und Russland wäre auch unweigerlich nuklear. Dies ist das reale Szenario, für das die US-Streitkräfte in Europa trainieren. Es wurde von General Tod D. Wolters, dem Chef des Europäischen Kommandos der Vereinigten Staaten und als solcher Kommandant des Europäischen Kommandos der Vereinigten Staaten und Oberster Alliierter Befehlshaber in Europa, bestätigt.

Am 25. Februar 2020 erklärte der Befehlshaber der US-Luftwaffe - US European Command, General Tod D. Wolters, während einer Anhörung im Senatsausschuss für Streitkräfte der Vereinigten Staaten: „Die Nuklearstreitkräfte sind die oberste Garantie für die Sicherheit der Bündnispartner und garantieren jede militärische Operation der Vereinigten Staaten in Europa.“ Dies bedeutet, dass Defender Europe 20 nicht nur eine Übung der konventionellen (nicht nuklearen) Streitkräfte, sondern auch der nuklearen Streiträfte ist.

Am 18. März wurde berichtet, dass zwei US-amerikanische Nuklearangriffsbomber B-2 Spirit, Teil der am 9. März aus den USA eingetroffenen Task Force, diese Woche über Island und den Nordatlantik geflogen sind. Sie wurden von drei norwegischen F-35-Kampfflugzeugen eskortiert.

Diese beiden Flugzeugtypen sind für den Einsatz der neuen Atombomben vom Typ B61-12 vorgesehen, die die USA in Kürze in Italien und anderen europäischen Ländern stationieren werden und die derzeitigen B-61 ersetzen sollen.

In der Senatsanhörung machte General Wolters deutlich, welche Rolle die US-Atomstreitkräfte in Europa spielen. Als Senator Fischer ihn fragte, was er vom Verzicht auf Ersteinsatz von Atomwaffen halte, antwortete der General: „Frau Senator, ich bin ein Fan einer flexiblen Ersteinsatzpolitik.“ Er, der für die US/NATO-Atomwaffen in Europa verantwortlich ist, erklärte offiziell, dass er ein Befürworter ihres ersten Einsatzes für den Erstschlag, den nuklearen Überraschungsangriff auf „flexibler“ Basis, ist.

Angesichts einer derart schwerwiegenden Erklärung, die die russischen Generäle dazu drängt, den Finger auf den nuklearen Auslöser zu legen, herrscht völliges Schweigen von Regierungen, Parlamenten und wichtigen europäischen Medien.

In der gleichen Anhörung sagte General Wolters: „Seit 2015 hat das Bündnis die Rolle der nuklearen Ressourcen stärker betont“ und „das Europäische Kommando der Vereinigten Staaten unterstützt voll und ganz die Empfehlungen der Nuclear Posture Review 2018, die ballistische Niedrigleistungsrakete W76-2 zu stationieren.“

Der nukleare Niedrigleistungssprengkopf W76-2, der bereits auf von U-Booten gestarteten Raketen installiert ist (vom Pentagon am 4. Februar angekündigt), kann auch auf bodengestützten ballistischen Raketen in der Nähe des feindlichen Territoriums installiert werden. Die US-Marine hat den W76-2-Nuklearsprengkopf mit geringer Sprengkraft eingesetzt, der auf der von U-Booten gestarteten Trident II-Rakete verwendet wird.

Es ist besonders gefährlich. Weniger starke Atomwaffen – warnen selbst maßgebliche US-Experten - erhöhen die Versuchung, sie zuerst einzusetzen, sie können die Kommandeure zu einem Vorstoß veranlassen, weil bei einem Angriff die Atombombe in dem Wissen eingesetzt wird, dass der radioaktive Fallout begrenzt wäre. Stattdessen scheint es, als würde man ein brennendes Streichholz in ein Pulverfass werfen.

(il manifesto, 24. März 2020)

Übersetzung: K.R.

The Saker -- A few recent political developments which should not go unnoticed

A few recent political developments which should not go unnoticed

11309 ViewsMarch 25, 2020 97 Comments

[This column was written for the Unz Review]

The COVID19/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is, by any measure, an immense planetary crisis which will probably change the world we live in forever.  Still, there are other issues which are maybe not quite as dramatic and important, but which deserve not to be forgotten.  Here are some of those

The grand betrayal of Tulsi Gabbard:

it was pretty clear to most observers that Tulsi Gabbard, being the only real “peace candidate” would never be allowed to get the nomination, nevermind make it into the White House.  It was also clear that Tulsi, for all her very real qualities, simply did not have what it takes to take on “The Swamp”.  Still, in spite of this all, her candidacy and campaign were like a huge pitcher of cool water in the middle of an immense and dry desert.  Her uniqueness amongst all the candidate is what make her betrayal even more painful for those who respected or even supported her.  Once it became clear that she would never get the nomination, not only did she not run as an independent (something which Hillary seems to fear a lot), she endorse Uncle Joe, the clearly senile, totally corrupt and generally repugnant frontman for the Clinton gang.  This endorsement of Biden is something which she did not have to do, but she did it.

When the DNC stole the nomination from Sanders, he did not lead a protest or run as an independent, he endorsed Hillary.  I always considered him a fraud for this (and many other) reason.  Now Tulsi Gabbard is doing the same thing, which probably is a good indicator that the Democratic Party is evil and corrupt to the core, which is hardly big news, but which is dramatically confirmed by Gabbard profoundly immoral decision.  Why do I say that?  because Biden is the ultimate “anti-Gabbard”, she should have endorsed either Bernie, or even Trump, but instead she endorse a morally corrupt warmonger, a total pawn for the MIC.

At the end of the day, she mostly betrayed herself, and that is the saddest aspect of this debacle.

The AngloZionist Empire – as clueless as ever

I have forced myself to listen to the daily COVID19 briefings from the White House and I have to say that Trump’s constant flag-waving and self-worshiping is almost physically painful to watch.  The worst parts of these briefings are when Trump, or Pompeo, speak about the US “leadership” as if the entire planet was desperately expecting the USA to help.  It does not.  In fact, most of the planet is disgusted by US action, be it the denial of vitally needed meds to countries like Iran or Venezuela, to the attempts are buying off German vaccines, to the mantric repetition about how great the US private sector is and how Amazon and Walmart will help us weather this crisis.

Pandemic Reveals Misplaced Priorities

Pandemic Reveals Misplaced Priorities

April 2020
By Daryl G. Kimball

For decades, national security and health experts have warned of the risks of global threats that are simply too big for one country to handle, such as disease pandemics, climate change, and nuclear war. For many years, the response of our national and global leaders has fallen short.

Twenty years ago, John Steinbruner, then the chair of the Arms Control Association Board of Directors, warned in his book Principles of Global Security that globalization is generating “a new class of security problems in which dispersed processes pose dangers of large magnitude and incalculable probability.” He argued that policymakers “will have to shift from contingency reaction to anticipatory prevention” and “this will have to be done in global coalition.”

Unfortunately, U.S. spending priorities and modes of thinking about security have been become increasingly defined in military terms. Congress provided a record $746 billion for national defense in fiscal year 2020. U.S. arms manufacturers dominate the global arms trade and help fuel regional conflicts that undermine human development. Making matters worse, the Trump administration’s nationalist “America First” foreign policy has made it even more difficult for the world’s leading nations to work together on the toughest global challenges.

Today, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions worldwide, has laid bare the terrible human cost of these misplaced policy choices.

As the scope and scale of the coronavirus threat began to reveal itself in January and February, the Trump administration focused on other matters. For example, the administration in February asked Congress for $44.5 billion in fiscal year 2021 for programs to maintain and upgrade the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a 19 percent increase above the previous year.

The U.S. government spends tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to maintain a massive nuclear arsenal capable of destroying the planet many times over. Meanwhile, it does not have a stockpile of masks large enough to protect front-line health care workers who are battling COVID-19 and is proposing to cut programs that help provide for early disease detection.

The U.S. stockpile of medical supplies includes 12 million medical-grade N95 masks and 30 million surgical masks, which is only about 1 percent of the 3.5 billion needed in a year to deal with a disease pandemic. At the price of $0.50 a mask, it would cost approximately $1.75 billion to build up the N95 stockpile and about $350 million a year to replace expired masks, according to a report published by The War Zone. That is less than the $3.2 billion increase above fiscal year 2020 levels that the Pentagon is seeking for its multiyear programs to sustain and rebuild the U.S. triad of nuclear-armed missiles, submarines, and bombers.

Meanwhile, the administration is proposing to slash by 37 percent the budget request for the Defense Department’s Biological Threat Reduction Program, which “seeks to facilitate detection and reporting of diseases caused by especially dangerous pathogens.” As a result of that program’s previously provided threat reduction training efforts, local officials in Thailand detected the first case of the novel coronavirus there, only days after its initial discovery in Wuhan, China.

Now is the time for Congress to radically scale back the existing plan to replace and upgrade the already excessive U.S. nuclear arsenal, particularly plans for new missiles and bombers, new nuclear warheads, and production infrastructure. This would save billions of taxpayer dollars that should be spent on addressing higher priority human and health security needs.

Making matters even worse, the United States has become part of the problem rather than helping to find viable solutions to counter the most serious global threats.

While the Trump administration is seeking to expand U.S. nuclear capabilities at the expense of programs that address human security needs, it is turning its back on hard-won agreements that have effectively reduced the nuclear threat.

President Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with no viable plan to replace it creates the potential for a new nuclear crisis. Iran’s leaders have retaliated to the reimposition of U.S. sanctions by breaching key limits on their nuclear activities.

In addition, the post-Cold War progress toward reducing the role and number of nuclear weapons has stalled. To date, Trump has failed to take up Russia’s offer to extend the only remaining treaty that limits the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The global nonproliferation and disarmament regime, the best prophylactic against a nuclear pandemic, is under serious threat.

The unfolding COVID-19 outbreak will not only take away the lives of people, but it will change our personal lives, and it will very likely force changes in the international system. If we are to survive well into this century, there must be a profound shift in the way we deal with global security challenges and how we align our scientific, economic, diplomatic, and political resources to address the health, climate, and nuclear dangers that threaten us all.