Maurizio Blondet — US-Congress checkmate the Merkel-Europe

Translation a bit rough but revealing the degree to which the US exercises domination. American law has a similar reach and effect as Roman law at the time of the empire and designed and implemented in the interests the empire.

Geopolitika

US-Congress checkmate the Merkel-Europe

Original Il Congresso Usa Ha Dato Scacco Matto All’europa-Merkel

Maurizio Blondet, Italian journalist and author
Translation by Costantino Ceoldo - Pravdafreelance

Dirk Kurbjuweit — One-Hundred Years of Fear: America Has Abdicated Its Leadership of the West

Spiegel doubles down.

For 100 years, the United States was the leader of the free world. With the election of Donald Trump, America has now abdicated that role. It is time for Europe, and Angela Merkel, to step into the void.

Spiegel Online — Opinion
One-Hundred Years of Fear: America Has Abdicated Its Leadership of the West

Dirk Kurbjuweit | Editor-in-Chief

Also

Sputnik International
UK Fears Brussels to Undermine NATO Following Trump Victory

Wayne Madsen — Soros Ran US Foreign Policy on Post-Coup Ukraine

Not just Ukraine, either. Wayne Madsen reads though the Wikileaks docs so you don't have to.

George Soros has two side, political and economic/financial. Of course, they meet in promoting his overall interests. Politically, Soros is a liberal internationalist and liberal interventionist who uses his wealth and the influence it gives him to shape geopolitics through both US policy and personally funded subversion through NGOs. His goal is a neoliberal Europe effectively without borders from the Atlantic to the Urals. These policies also contribute to his financial interests in the affected areas. when push comes to shove, idealism gives way to realism and Soros acts to protect his interests.

Strategic Culture Foundation
Soros Ran US Foreign Policy on Post-Coup Ukraine

Wayne Madsen

Also

Major media outlets in the US have ignored the leak of thousands of emails from billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundation by the activist hacker group DCLeaks. The OSF is the vehicle through which Soros has funneled billions of dollars over the past two decades to non-profit organizations in the US and throughout the world.

According to the documents, Soros has given more than $30 million to groups working for Hillary Clinton’s election in November, making him her largest single donor. So it is likely the case that the media’s support for Clinton has played some role in the mainstream media’s bid to bury the story.

It is also likely however, that at least some news editors failed to understand why the leaked documents were worth covering. Most of the information was already public knowledge. Soros’s massive funding of far-left groups in the US and throughout the world has been documented for more than a decade.

But failing to see the significance of the wider story because many of the details were already known is a case of missing the forest for the trees. The DCLeaks document dump is a major story because it exposes the forest of Soros’s funding networks.

The first thing that we see is the megalomaniacal nature of Soros’s philanthropic project. No corner of the globe is unaffected by his efforts. No policy area is left untouched.
On the surface, the vast number of groups and people he supports seem unrelated. After all, what does climate change have to do with illegal African immigration to Israel? What does Occupy Wall Street have to do with Greek immigration policies? But the fact is that Soros-backed projects share basic common attributes.

They all work to weaken the ability of national and local authorities in Western democracies to uphold the laws and values of their nations and communities.
They all work to hinder free markets, whether those markets are financial, ideological, political or scientific. They do so in the name of democracy, human rights, economic, racial and sexual justice and other lofty terms.

In other words, their goal is to subvert Western democracies and make it impossible for governments to maintain order or for societies to retain their unique identities and values.…

The peoples of the West need to recognize the common foundations of all Soros’s actions. They need to realize as well that the only response to these premeditated campaigns of subversion is for the people of the West to stand up for their national rights and their individual right to security. They must stand with the national institutions that guarantee that security, in accordance with the rule of the law, and uphold and defend their national values and traditions.

Internationalists like Soros view national sovereignty and democracy as the enemy of international
organizations making the rule and policing the globe to ensure the rules are followed.

Jerusalem Post

Our World: Soros’s campaign of global chaos

Caroline B. Glick

Michael Lind — Can America Share Its Superpower Status?

Forward looking.

The National Interest
Can America Share Its Superpower Status?

Michael Lind, fellow at New America, a contributing editor of the National Interest, and author of The American Way of Strategy.

Ronald Zonca — "France has let Russia turn to Asia rather than seeing it as a link between Europe and Asia"

Who lost Russia? 

This is one of the greatest strategic blunders ever committed.

Fort Russ
"France has let Russia turn to Asia rather than seeing it as a link between Europe and Asia"
Ronald Zonca, in Boulevard Voltaire, August 19, 2016
Translated from French by Tom Winter

Emmanuel Quiet — Two years of Russia-West sanction war: Things won't be the same again

Good article focusing on Russia and Europe. Only a bare mention of China, but China is replacing many European firms' investments and products in Russia. These will be long term relationships.

Russia Direct

Two years of Russia-West sanction war: Things won't be the same again
Emmanuel Quidet, president of the French-Russian Chamber of Commerce

Moon of Alabama — Clashes In Marseille Foreshadow Wider Sectarian War

The crazy escalates in Europe, fueled by old sectarian (religious) animosities. And no. not involving Islam in this case. Just the standard Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox sects that were involved centuries of European wars.

Ancient tribalism are resurfacing now that the going is getting tougher in globalization.

Moon of Alabama
Clashes In Marseille Foreshadow Wider Sectarian War

Leonid Ivashov — Is NATO Really Preparing for War with Russia?

In Ivashov's view, yes, but war is unlikely.

This is just a geostrategic move to bind Europe closer to the US (Atlanticism as form of exceptionalism), colonize central and eastern Europe and Westernize its peoples, and put pressure on Russia to Westernize and turn away from China and Asia in general.

Fort Russ
Is NATO Really Preparing for War with Russia?
Leonid Ivashov
Zavtra
Translated by Kristina Kharlova

Eric Zuesse — Russia Bombed Syria to Flood Europe With Refugees - National Public Radio

Yep - and this from one of America's most trusted news sources!

The “Morning Edition” program of the U.S. National Public Radio network — which is America’s most-trusted American source of news as measured by “the ratio of people who trust a news outlet to those who distrust it” — included on May 20th a segment, “Russia's Involvement In Syria Worsens Migration Crisis, Zannier Says”, in which the interviewer, Renee Montagne, opened her interview of Lamberto Zannier, the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), by saying:

“There is actually a theory out there to do with the migration crisis in Europe, that Russia may have purposely been bombing Syria with an air campaign in order to send more Syrian migrants into Europe, to destabilize Europe. Now, I’m wondering whether you think that’s far-fetched, but, at the same time, it sort of fits the picture of a Cold War?”

He answered:

“Yeah, certainly Russia dealing in Syria had a number of goals, … but then of course, the impact of the bombings on civilian infrastructure, hospitals etcetera, has created an additional wave of refugees. … It is very difficult to tell whether this was intended or not, but certainly it would fit the picture in a way.”

Propaganda spin. Don't lie blatantly, where you can get caught out, just use implication and innuendo.

Nothing about Erdogan blackmailing Europe, either.

Interestingly also, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) of which Zannier is the Secretary General is monitoring the casefire in eastern Ukraine.

Russia Insider
Russia Bombed Syria to Flood Europe With Refugees - National Public Radio

Eric Zuesse

Vasily Koltashov — The EU, not the US, Is Russia’s Major Opponent in the West

A Russian economist looks west and sees trouble, not so much from US and UK elites, as most Russian suppose, but rather from German elites bent on pan-Europeanism under Germany through German control of the Eurocracy.

Koltashov doesn't say it but others have:  The EU and EZ are producing financially and economically the result for Germany that Hitler and the Nazis aimed at militarily. It's a strategy that is working brilliantly in some respects but in others it is failing, since it is not sustainable in its present form.

Is this what Germany is aiming at? Is there a conspiracy of the German elite? Probably not. Just Germans being Germans.

Russian Insider
The EU, not the US, Is Russia’s Major Opponent in the West

Vasily Koltashov

Originally appeared at Vzglyad.ru.
Translated by Julia Rakhmetova and Rhod Mackenzie

Manila Dinucci — Nuclear Escalation in Europe

For all you folks living in the vicinity.

Since reagan announced Star Wars and G. W. Bush unilaterally withdrew from the ABM treaty, things nuclear have been headed down the slippery slope. Now process is accelerating.

Voltaire Network
Nuclear Escalation in Europe
Manlio Dinucci

Eberhard Hamer — The US are using Volkswagen (VW) to test their TTIP power

What the United States and their global corporations call “Free Trade Agreement” (TTIP) has been compared to NATO by former US-vice president Biden. It is meant to subject Europe to American economic domination and their interests. This has an inner and an outer goal….

Voltaire Network
The US are using Volkswagen (VW) to test their TTIP power
Eberhard Hamer

Paul Robinson — Kissinger and Civilization

I am with Boris Mezhuev over Paul Robinson here. It looks to me like Russkiy Mir (the Russian world) and the West are different civilizationally. Through Orthodoxy, Russkiy Mir is an outgrowth of Byzantium while Western civilization lies with the Roman heritage.

Western civilization also bifurcates between European and Anglo, with Anglo civilization including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The problem is that Russkiy Mir and Byzantium overlap with Western civilization at the periphery and some influence is felt at the core. This is likely way Paul Robinson conflates them when there are essential differences culturally and historically, not the least of which is religious heritage.

The West is Roman Catholic and Protestant, whereas the East is Orthodox. The East considers itself as the true possessor of the genuine heritage of Christianity and the West as holding a bastardized version. (This by itself underscores the considerable significance of the meeting of Francis and Kirill and their joint declaration of mutuality, if not yet unity.)

Moreover, Islam and Christianity have been integrated in the East but not the West. On these points alone the differences are stark, especially in the eyes of the East. Those following The Vineyard of the Saker are aware this from the posting and comment there.

In addition, a key characteristic for the past half millennium has been Western imperialism and colonialism that has spread Western civilization around that world at spear point. Much of the assumption of the superiority of Western civilization is grounded in the dominance of victors. It is a cognitive bias that many do not recognize or acknowledge. That has created a reaction on the part of former colonies, just as parts of Europe are still reacting to the Islamic incursions hundreds of years ago, and Islamic countries are still mindful of the Crusades. 

Americans tend to be unaware that much of the world is still fighting wars long past. I recall an Serbian Orthodox priest at the time of the breakup of Yugoslavia and internecine violence saying, "As Christians we are required to forgive — but not to forget."

The global problem today is idealist foreign policy that wishes to project Western Civilization on the rest of the world as "obviously superior." This is not going to happen peacefully, and the result of American neoconservative adventurism backed by compliant Anglo and European allies is evident in much of the world, where chaos now reigns.

Perhaps it's time to recall Robert Frost's poem, Mending Wall. "Good fences make good neighbors." I am an idealist at heart, but a realist by observation and reason. While I am reluctant to agree fully with Samuel P. Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations, he does make a point that can't just be waved off.

Irrussianality
Kissinger and Civilization
Paul Robinson | Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa

Lord Keynes — A Neoliberal Vision for Europe

Moar neoliberal nuttiness.

Social Democracy For The 21St Century: A Post Keynesian Perspective
A Neoliberal Vision for Europe
Lord Keynes

See also

Open Borders in Europe means More Neoliberalism

Bill Mitchell— Europe’s future is bleak with an ageing population and policy failure

I read an interesting article that was published on December 18, 2015 by the Center for Global Development, which is one those centrist-type research and advocacy organisations that lean moderately to the right on economic matters. The article – Europe’s Refugee Crisis Hides a Bigger Problem – discusses what it considers to be “three population related crises”, two of which at the forefront of public attention (because they are moving fast) – the “refugee crisis” and the “terrorism crisis”. The third is “Europe’s slow moving and in inexorable ageing crisis”, which is largely being ignored in the public debate. The article provides a basis to link the three crises together – in the sense that “Europe actually needs millions of migrants a year to mitigate its ageing crisis”. While I have some sympathy with the article, there are many omissions that reflect the bias of the author. Two major issues – mass unemployment and productivity growth are ignored completely. The emphasis in the article is on whether the public sector can afford not to bring in more people to offset the ageing of the EU28 population. That emphasis discloses the bias of the author and diminishes the strength of the article.…

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
Europe’s future is bleak with an ageing population and policy failure
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Sexual Harassment in Cologne on New Year's Eve Prepared - German Justice Minister Heiko Maas

A series of assaults on women in the German city of Cologne on New Year's Eve had been planned in advance, German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said.

Sputnik
Sexual Harassment in Cologne on New Year's Eve Prepared - Justice Minister

Bill Mitchell — The demise of French greatness and the European Left

The GFC clearly, in my view, demonstrated that the political positions held by both the left- and right-wing governments in the West with respect to economic policy were untenable. Both sides of politics in each major and country adopted versions of market liberalism where the overlap was more dominant than the differences. While the left maintained some emphasis on social policy and the right maintained an emphasis on individual freedom (which was more about corporate freedom than anything), the fact remains that these differences were blurred by the dominance of the free market approach in each of their platforms. It is ironic, that as a consequence of the GFC, the bureaucratic state is more dominant now than it was, especially in the European Union where the political and technical elite interacts with the so-called market to create what has been called the democratic deficit. We now have technocrats in the European bureaucracy, in the IMF, in the World Bank and other multilateral organisations who contrive to implement policies which have allowed the benefits of economic activity to be increasingly diverted to beneficiaries who are at the top end of the income and wealth distribution. Today’s blog continues reporting some of the research I’ve been doing for my next book on the demise of the Left and the subjugation of public purpose in the name of austerity. It seems that we have concentrated on fiscal austerity but the general notion of austerity, which is now the centrepiece of political positions in most advanced countries, goes well beyond just fiscal policy. The response to the recent events in Paris demonstrate how far the state is willing to centralise authoritative controls on the rights of their citizens.…

Connecting the dots between economics and politics in Europe.

Bill Mitchell – billy blog
The demise of French greatness and the European Left
Bill Mitchell | Professor in Economics and Director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Gordon M. Hahn — Europe’s New Terrorist Threat

The threat of terrorist attacks is rising across Europe. Observers rightly point to the rise of the Islamic State, the persistent threat from Al Qa`ida (AQ) and its affiliates and allies in Europe and neighboring Eurasia, and the recent explosion of the refugee flood Syria, Iraq, North Africa, again Eurasia but most notably Syria. However, another terrorism threat has raised its ugly head in Europe; one that has reached across the half-continent from its eastern edge to the far west in London—the Ukrainian neo-fascist terrorist threat.

The CIA defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by sub-national groups or clandestine agents.” It defines ‘international terrorism’ as “terrorism involving the territory or the citizens of more than one country.” (www.secbrief.org/2014/04/definition-of-terrorism/) The term ‘state terrorism’ has entered the field of terrorism studies, with its definition mush as the first one given above, with the difference that the terms ‘state’, ‘state organizations’ and/or ‘state agents’ replace the phrase ‘sub-national groups or clandestine agents.’

Numerous violent acts committed either by pro-Maidan revolutionary, mostly neo-fascist or ultra-nationalist, sub-national groups (i.e., non-state actors and groups) before and during the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich or by state actors, organs and agents after the installation of the new Maidan Ukrainian government or regime qualify as terrorism.…

Russian and Eurasian Politics
Europe’s New Terrorist Threat
Gordon M. Hahn | Analyst and Advisory Board Member of the Geostrategic Forecasting Corporation, Chicago, Illinois; a Senior Researcher, Center for Terrorism and Intelligence Studies (CETIS), Akribis Group, San Jose, California; and an Analyst/Consultant, Russia Other Points of View – Russia Media Watch

George Soros — Ukraine & Europe: What Should Be Done?

George Soros talks his book — again. Is he trying to catch up with Bill Gross?

Obviously five crises cannot all be solved at the same time. There is a need to give preferential treatment to some of them without neglecting any. I have been strenuously arguing that Ukraine should be given top priority.

Soros is heavily invested in Ukraine.

The New York Review of Books
Ukraine & Europe: What Should Be Done?
George Soros

Conn M. Hallinan — Europe’s New Barbarians

On one level, the recent financial agreement between the European Union (EU) and Greece makes no sense: not a single major economist thinks the $96 billion loan will allow Athens to repay its debts, or to get the economy moving anywhere but downwards. It is what former Greek Economic Minister Yanis Varoufakis called a “suicide” pact, with a strong emphasis on humiliating the leftwing Syriza government. 

Why construct a pact that everyone knows will fail?

Dispatches from the Edge
Europe’s New Barbarians

Conn M. Hallinan is a columnist for Foreign Policy In Focus, “A Think Tank Without Walls, and an independent journalist. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. He oversaw the journalism program at the University of California at Santa Cruz for 23 years, and won the UCSC Alumni Association’s Distinguished Teaching Award, as well as UCSC’s Innovations in Teaching Award, and Excellence in Teaching Award. He was also a college provost at UCSC, and retired in 2004. He is a winner of a Project Censored “Real News Award,” and lives in Berkeley, California.

ht Clonal