GERMAN BUSINESS LEADERS BEGIN TO BALK AT RUSSIAN SANCTIONS
While Angela Merkel & Co., A.G. have been politely and quietly toeing the Washington party line - more or less - and sending noises about the Ukrainian crisis upsetting the world conference of G-8 nations, German businesmen have been expressing their growing concern over the noises on sanctions against Russia for its "meddling" in the Ukraine(not one, so far as I know, is talking about imposing sanctions on the USA and EU for their meddling in the Ukraine). But when German business speaks, Berlin listens, perhaps even more so than Washington, which apparently isn't listening to much of anyone lately, unless of course one counts the NSA spying, in which case, it's listening to everyone.
Zero Hedge is reporting the German businessmen's concerns:
German Exporters Fire Warning Shot About Russia “Sanction-Spiral,” Banks At Risk
I want to draw your attention to these paragraphs:
"It isn’t just German exporters that are fretting, and lobbying with all their might. Russia, with an economy that is already stagnating, and dogged by vicious bouts of capital flight, has $732 billion in foreign debt. Relatively little of it is sovereign debt, but nearly $700 billion is owed by banks and corporations – most of them owned or controlled by the Kremlin. Oil major Rosneft and gas mastodon Gazprom owe $90 billion combined to foreign entities; the four state banks Sberbank, VTB, VEB, and Rosselkhozbank owe $60 billion. Some of this debt matures this year and next year.
"US banks are marginally involved. Between Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan, and Wells Fargo, they have only $24 billion on the line. But European banks and insurance companies are up to their dirty ears in this suddenly iffy and potentially toxic Russian debt.
"When it comes due, it will have to be rolled over, and some of the companies will need to borrow more, simply to stay afloat. Alas, the current sanction regime of visa bans for the elite, asset freezes, and trade restrictions could make that difficult. Then there’s the threat, now more broadly but still unofficially bandied about, that Russian companies should simply default on this $700 billion in debt in retaliation for the sanctions.
"Some European banks, including some German banks, might crater. Even the possibility of a major loss would further rattle the confidence in these banks with their over-leveraged and inscrutable balance sheets and their assets that are still exuding whiffs of putrefaction. And this sort of fiasco, as the financial crisis has made clear, has an unpleasant way of snowballing – and taking down the already shaky global economy with it.
"During the financial crisis, German exports collapsed, banks toppled and got bailed out, and the economy experienced its two worst quarters in the history of the Federal Republic. No politician in Germany has any appetite to re-experience that. And the banking industry, with its powerful and long tentacles winding their way through the hallways and doors of the German government, has been assiduously at work, quietly and behind the scenes, to whittle any sanctions down to irrelevance.
"Washington’s defaulting on an agreement with Russia about Ukraine’s future, and the prospect of NATO troops in Ukraine, convinced Putin and much of the Russian elite that there’s no point in negotiating with the US."
It's that last statement - that the Russian elite is convinced there is no point in negotiating with the US - that concerns us. In my opinion, the USA has clearly embarked on a course of action designed to make Russia submit to Washington's unipolar, New World Order will. But, as is pointed out, there are costs involved: major European, largely German, and American banks and corporations have major interest in Russia. A breach in relations now would endanger those interests for all three parties, Germany, the USA, and Russia. And such a breach would seriously cripple Germany's economy, and hence, that of Europe.
This puts Germany in to a delicate diplomatic position, one fraught with opportunity, and danger, for Germany is positioned - again - to be a diplomatic go-between between Washington and Moscow. Failure of Berlin to communicate Russia's legitimate interest to Washington would only fuel the growing opinion in Europe that their influence and voice count for nothing in Washington. And that would only serve, in the long term, to convince Europeans to increase their independence from Washington.
The more dangerous scenario - the high octane component - is this: the Ukrainian situation may have twin objectives, the obvious one being to open that country to Western(re. American) looting and dominance. But the more hidden objective would be to impose Washington's will on a Germany that increasingly has acted with more independence. Insisting on sanctions could seriously cripple the German and hence EU economy, and in that weakened condition, Washington could step in and offer "trade agreements," meaning a tighter grip by Washington on Europe.
In the short run, of course, it would work. But in the long run, it creates even more ill-will towards Washington as it extends the dictatus Americanae to Europe even more tightly.
Regardless of which route one envisions here, in my opinion, one thing seems evident, and that is unless the current insanity of covert operations led by NGOs, radical rebels in "liberation" efforts that have become Washington's standard means of dealing both with friends and enemies, is changed, the only result will be the creation of a world-wide resentment and mistrust.
As for the USA, it bears repeating once again: drone strikes against leaders or other people a regime does not like, covert operations, assassinations, and proxies - the whole miserable game - are operational tactics not reserved to Washington's exclusive use alone.
And ultimately, that is a game the Washington oligarchs cannot win.
See you on the flip side.
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I think we may just see a coalescence of global commercial interests to finally challenge the neo-con craziness that has becomes so bad for business for so many. In fact, the phrase “the neo-cons are bad for business” may become the secret slogan for this burgeoning conspiracy of businessmen– until they can find just the right charismatic and forceful orator who can shout this slogan for all to hear. An orator who will be well financed and hopefully well protected by the numerous military and intelligence personnel who will find common cause with the commercial interests and their conspiracy against the loathsome neo-cons.
Unfortunately, this will have have been anticipated by the alien elite with their predictive algorithms and they will steer the whole revolt against their neo-con minions into a direction of their liking. The neo-cons will still be sacrificed, but the elite will reap the fruit of this offering, and continue to move their nefarious agenda ahead unabated, but with a new gaggle of demons to do their bidding.
So chevron(standard oil) wants control of russia’s gas exports to europe (germany),surprise .surprise,surprise.Don’t forget roocheafeller also privately ran an MK Ultra program themselves on anmerican citizens they thought were a problem. I tipped off the assistant procecuter of long beach about windfall profits back in the 70’s when I was working lightering operations for chevron shipping(we were a subcontracter responsible for running the operation at sea).Even though the president was on board with the investigation I was thrown into the MK ULTRA program as a result of betraying chevron of their ripping off of the american people. Even though the MK ULTRA program was run off the march airforce base,standard oil was in charge of some of the unwilling participants. If they gain control of the Ukraine pipeline,everyone in close vicinity to it will be subject to a MK ULTRA program treatment…..and trouble will follow.
Just listened to Webster Tarpley’s weekly broadcast. In one section he enumerated the IMF “proposals” re Ukraine:
1. The gas pipeline infrastructure will be given to Chevron
2. The coal concession would be given to a German company–I think Rhein Kohl.
3. Double the residential gas prices.
4. Eliminate subsidized pre-natal care.
5. Eliminate subsidized student text books.
Seems like item #2 would be enough of a reason for German interests to keep quiet.
This will be as ghoulish as the “shock therapy” applied to Russia. The next chapter of Applied Pain in the book Economic Hitmen will be all about Ukraine if they let this go thru.
The other bit I heard was some leaked email from Klitschko looking for a cut in lieu of getting an actual place in the govt.
I might be right in my comments about the $
http://www.testosteronepit.com/home/2014/3/15/kremlin-if-the-us-tries-to-hurt-russias-economy-russia-will.html
“The warning, issued officially and publicly by a Cabinet member, to target the dollar, has been vigorously ignored by the mainstream media in the US. It’s a touchy subject here. The dollar reigns supreme. Its status as the sole world reserve currency, which has provided the US with enormous economic advantages, remains unquestionable forevermore. Or so wishes the Fed, which has done such a wonderful job of managing the dollar for the last 100 years that it has lost most of its value, though it’s still a heck of a lot better than the ruble.”
I nailed it.
The elite never do anything for one reason. The reasons are always multifacted, like a black jewel. But the bottom line is that Ukraine is the high-water mark in the march of the neue Weltordnung. If the tide stops there, it will in the end recede; hence the emphasis and battles of social engineering and Machiavellian manipulation.
I think that the goal for the West is to use the situation in the Ukraine to crash the dollar; that might be the effect of their “crazy” behavior. Take a step back, and realize their recklessness is more about avoiding responsibility for their actions than producing anything positive.
It’s like near the point book I’m now reading, Hollow World, set in the far future where the humans have been engineered to live in a non violent world.
When violence happens “they” are clueless & helpless – except for the time traveler/ He had the pistol & the Y chromosome to use it.
How is the author of Hallow World Robert?
I meant who is the author.
Michael J Sullivan.
It’s my first time reading him.
I got an advance copy.
The above line was poetic fire to me(in the context of the storyline); I just couldn’t wait to use it.
No basta it’s worse than insane it’s evil and stupid if you what to know the face of the CSA look to last night ending of Helix meet The Scathe. Just look it up in the dictionary it means to harm How appropriate name for our masters.
Put aside the Great Game significance of Ukraine as a crucial square on the chessboard, potentially putting Russia itself in check and therby making it a supremely valuable square to possess, and dispassionately consider Ukraine vis-a-vis the EU: What really is there to gain economically and societally for the EU in all this?
Ukraine is a bankrupt, volatile, mostly agrarian Slavic/Russian land riven by fundamental divisions and conflicts. It is essentially Russian in character, history and culture. What good will actually come to the EU to take on such a state? Dispassionately, outside the geopolitical optic, the move is insanity. The German business elites are simply pointing out the obvious.