In These New Times

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Archive for the ‘Oceania’ Category

The Twilight of the Woke, Green Gods

Posted by seumasach on February 8, 2023

Cailean Bochanan

8th February, 2023

Jacinda Ardern was the model WEF sponsored politician, a perennial supporter of all things woke and green and an imperious lockdowner. What could have gone wrong?

Back in 2019 the Evil One, Stoltenberg, straying somewhat from his North Atlantic realm, visited Ardern in New Zealand full of praise for her co-operation with the Atlanticist terror-grouping. But there were underlying tensions: New Zealand insisted on an amicable relationship with China and remained insistent in its anti-nuclear stance. Nothing that a bit of lockdown couldn’t set to right! But no. Unlike Australia, which gleefully sacrificed itself for the the higher purposes of war with China and the chimera of an Anglo-led New World Order and agreed to become a nuclear power after being subjected to a punitive lockdown regime, New Zealand continued to be unreceptive to the message. There must some quality in New Zealand culture which renders them capable of independent policy-making even under the worst imaginable leadership.

In April, 2021, one of Britain’s leading warmongers, Con Coughlin, launched an escoriating attack on the New Zealand, strongly suggesting its expulsion from the Five Eyes network (but that would make it the Four Eyes network, an infelicitous name for a spy agency). Outraged by their refusal to break completely with China he concluded:

“We live in an age when, as US President Joe Biden has warned, countries that value democracy need to work together to counter the threat posed by authoritarian regimes like China. By choosing Beijing at the expense of her Five Eyes allies, Ms Ardern risks eroding New Zealand’s credibility on the global political map.”

She had been warned:”Work together or else!”. Or else what? What about removing her from office! If so, there is no evidence, at first sight, that is has worked so far:

“Our foreign policy position hasn’t changed just because there’s a change of prime minister.The government foreign policy is the same as it was under Prime Minister Ardern.” New PM, Hipkins, has said. Apparently that means sticking to a friendly policy with China as well as the rejection of nuclear.

However, Hipkins is, according to ABC News, “axing or delaying many of his government’s more contentious policy plans”. These include a hate speech bill that “would have impinged on free speech” and “a mandate for fuel suppliers to increase their use of biofuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions” which “would have raised the cost of gas”. Since when did exponents of woke politics concern themselves with free speech or the green Gretins abandon their policies just because they were going to destroy the economy! What is going on?

The failure of NATO’s war against Russia has forced reprioritisation. Senator Marco Rubio, ultra war hawk, succinctly expressed one of these new priorities:

“Rather than making the case for American greatness and protecting our nation, the military is parroting woke nonsense. It’s dumb, it doesn’t work, and it’s dangerous. We need to spend more time thinking about how to counter Chinese aircraft carriers and less time thinking about pronouns.”

Actually, they have to spend more time thinking about how Chinese/Russian hypersonic missiles are going to blow US aircraft carriers out of the water but the point is certainly a valid one from the point of view of the effectiveness of US armed forces. Many other voices have joined this chorus.

Similarly for the Green Agenda. Just a few months into NATO’s latest military fiasco, no less a figure than former Secretary of State and former head of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, had this to say:

“It is my conviction that America and the West must acknowledge the centrality of hydrocarbon energy to world geopolitics…….Today’s obscene fuel prices should stimulate increased output. But for the fact that our government’s regrowth policy stands in the way. We’ve become enraptured by unreal narratives. Thank you, Greta!”

The Great Reset wasn’t so great after all! The reset of the reset has begun. Where is it leading us? Well, nowhere, of course- silly! The US is no more capable of taking on China and Russia together than it is of taking on Russia on its own, and less capable by the day as the whole of Western society and economy collapses. Military and economic power has already shifted inexorably to the East and catching up is beyond the reach of even the most fevered and malign spirits in the Anglosphere.

As for Pompeo, just as for his co-religionaries

“He’s a real Nowhere Man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his Nowhere plans for nobody.”

A bit like you and me, in fact!

Posted in Disband NATO!, Oceania, Ukraine War | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

Why a Yalta II ?

Posted by seumasach on June 15, 2021

It would appear that subsequent to the G8 summit, Global Britain is dead in the water. The draught of the New Atlantic Charter signed by Biden does not correspond to the joint statement, the former affirming only NATO as the instrument of the New World Order whereas the latter reaffirms the centrality of the UN. Biden failed to mention the New Atlantic Charter in his press conference. He also pushed the British back towards the EU whereas the Britain seeks to remain outside subordinating it to NATO, creating a military block to counter the Russians just as proposed by Churchill. At the following NATO summit India was not mentioned as a prospective NATO partner. Johnson, following Churchill in 1945, sought to attain decisive influence over Washington, empower a United Europe against Russia and reinforce the British Empire, in today’s terms, to extend NATO to include India and Australia. None of these goals looks achievable.

Thierry Meyssan

Voltairenet

15th June, 2021

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Covid, fascism and the road to war

Posted by seumasach on October 2, 2020

Cailean Bochanan

2nd October, 2020

General Sir Nicholas Carter has warned that Russia and China, authoritarian regimes as he has it, are using the covid crisis to undermine Western societies. He even accuses them of seeking to win without fighting. That is probably true in accordance of the dictum of Sun Tzu. In fact, they may already have won. But not in the eyes of out gallant general. This is a man who called for the army to be deployed against coronavrus back in March. He is the symbol and the rallying point of all those who refuse to recognise that the empire is over. In this speech he was introduced in this web conference by David Petreaus, a seasoned neocon. The neocons, the infection which won’t go away, are indeed back. Some of them are featured in the Transition Integrity Project, a more or less brazen attempt to overthrow the president of the USA in the, highly likely, event that he wins the coming election. Where this leads the USA is anyone’s guess but the great hope of the neocons, judging by past form , is that America will once again lead the world to a New World Order by defeating the Russia/China alliance. That certainly seems to be a long shot, but politics as the art of the impossible is exactly attuned to dying empires. 

What concretely, does Carter propose. He has realized that modern warfare is about modern technology, specifically 5G, AI, robotisation and cybernetics. Isn’t it a bit late in the day to realise this? Well, the West thought they could win through their Jihadi irregulars destabilising the Middle East and thence both Russia and China. Empire on the cheap, if you like, actual investment, long term investment, in new technology being beyond the scope of America’s corporate welfare system. So, that all has to change- there has to be a reset. The pretext for the reset is the lockdown, a proposal first mooted by the Chinese and their friends in the WHO. Perhaps the Chinese hoped to out the war party once and for all and Carter and Petreaus have duly obliged. Their language may be newspeak but their intentions are transparent. The US/UK and their self-declared allies have decided to reassert their birthright, their ‘ownership” of the “international community”.

Covid, of course, is about politics rather than public health. In the first instance, it is essential in order to set the US election within the framework of the “new normal”. This enables the subversion of the electoral process as never before. In particular, it allows the postal voting which , as Trump correctly points out, is a guaranteed means of electoral fraud. All that matters if that the outcome, presumably a victory by Donald Trump, can be contested. Why the removal of Trump is such an imperative I can’t say. That it is an imperative is beyond question. If the neocons are in the mix , as they appear to be, then it can only be a question of war or peace. I would then surmise that Trump, despite all appearances, intends to seek an American diplomacy which permits a detente with Russia/China wheres his adversaries seek a New World Order built on the ashes of Russia and China. Trump’s policy then would be a realistic pursuit of US national interests as opposed to the entrenched fanaticism of fantasists.

It is significant that Trump has consistently sought to downplay the coronavirus crisis in contrast to most of the media, the democrats in general and the neocons in particular. Not only is coronavirus a cover for electoral fraud, it is instrumental in furthering the aims of the war party. The USA has to “reset”, restructure in the interests of war. This would entail economies of scale, the monopolisation of the economy, the rapid running down of social programmes, the destruction of independent wealth, the middle class and the scaling down of the population. If fascism is defined as the orientation of an entire society to war then this is fascism- fascism with a transhuman face: the human values of yesteryear and their advocates reduced to naught. We can already get more than a glimpse of this in the lockdown, already a dystopia which leaves 1984 or Brave New World looking not so bad after all. Is this then between an Orwellian vision and a Huxley vision. I believe not. We are firmly placed in Oceania and Orwell’s world of rivalries between power blocks. The Western elites have retreated from globalisation which is now being led by China. They make seek to retool for global war, a ‘challenge” too far I would say, regress into a fourth world misery, or finally embrace the new multipolar reality where no one is top dog, not even China, and the world finds a new equilibrium.

Posted in Multipolar world, Oceania, Uncategorized | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

NATO report exposes the West’s 5G quandary.

Posted by seumasach on August 13, 2019

NATO report exposes the West’s 5G quandary.

Cailean Bochanan

13th August, 2019

National Security Adviser, John Bolton has been in London this week hoping, amongst other things, to pressure the UK government into dropping Huawei from it’s 5G project. With a New Cold War in the air the Americans have raised the spectre of a threat to national security, of China using it’s 5G expertise to spy. We already spy on each other using the Five Eyes network to get round restrictions on intelligence agencies spying on their own citizens: China would be an unwelcome guest at this particular party. Bolton has already claimed his lobbying has provoked a rethink on behalf of the UK government in “appreciation” of the US point of view. If Brexit means anything at all it means rallying to the Americans , a return to Oceania and an Orwellian standoff with Eurasia: that is why Johnson is prime minister.

So, in conformity with this geopolitical realignment it is logical that the UK abandon it’s flirtation with Chinese technology and and put it’s Orwellian 5G project back in the safe hands of Western companies. What could be the problem? The problem according to a recent NATO study, “Huawei, 5G, and China as a Security Threat” is that Huawei “is currently the only company that can produce ‘at scale and cost‘ all the elements of a 5G network, with its closest competitors Nokia and Ericsson not yet able to offer a viable alternative”. In other words, Huawei is indispensable! Well, that is a problem.It is also a humiliation for the West: we have already lost the technological race for 5G.

So the question isn’t really whether Huawei should be involved in 5G or not, it’s whether we have 5G or not, at all. Well, I for one prefer that question. 5G is just one more nefarious telecommunications industry project threatening public health, as is extensively and reliably documented, as well as civil liberties and privacy. And it does so on a massively increased scale. It also has sinister undertones of transhumanism an ideological current which goes back to the English renaissance which views humanity as “work in progress”. It is familiar from the works of Francis Bacon, the Darwins and the Huxleys. The musings of Elon Musk on microchips in the brain are enough to make us nostalgic for the good old days. Can’t we just go back to 1984?

But returning to question of 5G or not 5G, what solutions does the NATO report come up with?

“With a binary choice of ‘take it or leave it’ not among the options – there are as of yet no equivalent alternatives to Huawei 5G technology; the West is neither able nor willing to afford a technological stagnation, and with the expected socioeconomic benefits in the promise of 5G, states will likely remain pragmatic in their approaches. Whether by issuing security guidance to reinforce the security of critical government and commercial functions, strengthening risk assessment and management processes, or agreeing on transparency and accountability mechanisms, national responses will likely seek to improve risk mitigation.”

Logic doesn’t seem to be a NATO strongpoint: with no available alternatives to Huawei the choice is precisely ”take it or leave it”. The rest is what the French call “langue de bois” and the anglo-saxons would call, more bluntly, “bullshit”. So in addition to not recognising the problem NATO doesn’t offer any solutions.

The truth is that the Western model, or, more specifically, the Anglo-American model has exhausted itself in terms of major infrastructural project development. The scandal in the UK over prematurely obsolete schools and hospitals built through private finance initiatives or so-called public/private partnerships has dramatically exposed this reality. A children’s hospital in Edinburgh has just been “completed” for what will eventually amount to half a billion pounds. However, it can’t be opened due to structural flaws and already union representatives are talking about the need to demolish it. The US/UK are bottom of the league when it comes to fibre optic connections into people’s homes. Verizon won a contract to provide fibre optic to homes in New York. They failed to do so and are being sued by the City authorities. In fact, 5G is a poor man’s fibre optic but it still requires massive, and politically impossible, fibre optic roll-out and investment in masts placed in close proximity. Plus, of course, Huawei technology.

In contrast, the Chinese excel in long term, developmental and infrastructural projects. Through the Belt and Road Initiative they are building roads, bridges, airports, ports , high speed trains. Unfortunately, it also involves 5G, for the moment. If 5G was being carried exclusively by Western companies the American NSA would have unrestricted access to all data and therefore, total political control. The Chinese have effectively blocked that. However, we, the people, do not have to choose between a total surveillance state run by the USA or by the Chinese. Not because slaves can’t choose their masters but because we choose not to be slaves. We can simply reject 5G outright as we have every right to do as it constitutes an assault on our persons and our privacy. Italy leads the way in doing precisely that, with growing opposition at very level of civil society, the professions, local authorities and NGOs. Just as 5G epitomises an emerging technocratic elite governance, the opposition to it is a reaffirmation of democracy and citizenship. Let’s make technology our servant and not our master.

Posted in Ecological and Public Health Crisis, Oceania | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Russia, Turkey, Iran: Adversaries of the West’s NATO alliance

Posted by seumasach on August 7, 2019

Telegraph hawk Con Coughlin laments the demise of the Western Alliance. But don’t they still have Oceania- as in Orwell’s 1984? If so, it’s a motley crew under the erratic leadership of Trump with Dad’s Army bringing up the rear under Captain Johnson, Brazil’s thirty families representative Bolsonaro hoping for some rich pickings and an increasingly sceptical ANZAC division hoping they don’t completely destroy good business with China.

Con Coughlin

Gateston Insitute

5th August, 2019

Germany’s outright rejection of Washington’s request [to support Washington’s proposal for a maritime protection force in the Arabian Gulf to protect shipping from attacks by Iran] is likely to inflame tensions further between Washington and Berlin. U.S. President Donald J. Trump is already at odds with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on a range of issues, from Germany’s obstinate refusal to meet its Nato funding commitments to its pursuit of closer energy ties with Russia through the construction of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

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Probes involving Trump associates are becoming difficult for the president to ignore

Posted by seumasach on December 15, 2018

Britain is descending into political chaos as May is seemingly playing for time. Meanwhile, attempts to unseat Trump reach a crescendo at least in the press. The impeachment of Trump would restore the Special Relationship and perhaps put Brexit back on the road to Oceania.

 

Independent

15th December, 2018

The interview that Michael Cohen gave ABC News on Friday morning should show Donald Trump one thing; that until he surrenders to begin a three-year prison sentence next March, he is unlikely to go away.

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Johnson seeks “great” free trade deal with Australia

Posted by seumasach on July 30, 2017

“Mr Johnson said he expected a “great” free trade deal with Australia which would cover the issue of visas.” Wow! “Great deals” all round! It’s looking very much like TTIP-Trans-Oceanic Trade and Investment Deal, a new British Empire based on the old values of “free trade”. But there may be a fly in the ointment:

Ms Bishop said: “We discussed Brexit and the potential for Australia to enter into a free trade agreement with the European Union, and subsequently a free trade agreement between Australia and the UK.”

Britain’s TTIP -type deals are not compatible with free trade deals with the EU since the EU will not allow the UK to become a conduit for GM crops and other dangerous or substandard products. Johnson looks full of confidence but as Britain crashes out of the EU we will see if they have any realistic basis.

Express and Star

27th July, 2017

Australia’s foreign minister has said the country is hoping to strike a “high-quality, comprehensive free trade agreement” with the UK following Brexit.

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South China Sea: Britain to deploy ‘colossal’ warships

Posted by seumasach on July 30, 2017

Standing up “for the rights of the people of Hong Kong” and sending warships into the South China Sea: dramatic confirmation of my characterization of Brexit as a repost to China-led globalization, as the “upholding of the international liberal order” as Johnson puts it with, of course, the City of London at its head. Add to that the push for the neutralization of the Trump presidency, the enforcement of the new Munro Doctrine in South America and the co-option of Australia and other former colonies and we are well on the way to a London-led Oceania.

MSN

Australia’s oldest ally has vowed to challenge Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea by sailing two new aircraft carriers through the disputed waterways on a freedom-of-navigation operation.

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Australia could align with Asia in Trump era

Posted by seumasach on November 21, 2016

So much for  Oceania! The dominoes are falling in Asia, firstly, with the Philippines and several other countries moving into China’s orbit but now with Australia seemingly poised to exit the Anglosphere. This comes as a blow to the idea of an orderly retreat from empire. The facts on the ground point in a different direction. Hopefully the new US presidency will take an equally pragmatic approach and embrace the rising powers rather than continuing to go against the flow of history.

 

Straits Times

18th November, 2016

SYDNEY • For Australia, the election of President-elect Donald Trump has raised fears about the previously unthinkable: the fracturing of the more than 65-year-old alliance between Canberra and Washington.

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Why American military doctrine Is doomed for fail

Posted by seumasach on October 3, 2016

This article provides some background to the Pentagon’s recent coup against the White House. Their goal is not so much to have a war with Russia but to scupper peace so that they can prepare the military for an eventual confrontation. They know that the current balance of forces is unfavorable. In the meantime , as Theresa May along with the other  Brexit ministers made clear to the Tory Party Conference, it is about using “soft power’ and the “world’s best intelligence services” to advance imperial aspirations. Foreign Secretary, Johnson’s anti- Russia speech made clear that the Brexit government is now aligned with the Pentagon. The war party seeks to consolidate it’s hold on Oceania, an alliance of Anglo-Saxon peoples plus South America whilst preparing for a final showdown with Russia and China.

Federicao Pieraccini

Strategic Culture

An analysis of US generals’ growing dissatisfaction with the political leadership in Washington sheds new light on the direction in which the American military machine is heading. In particular, it is interesting to observe the military planning for the future of the sea, air, space, cyberspace, and land forces.

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‘Australia woos U.S., Canada after rejecting Chinese bids for Ausgrid’

Posted by seumasach on September 14, 2016

“While China is Australia’s biggest trading partner and a major investor, Canberra cooperates closely on intelligence matters with Canada and the United States.”

As with Brexit the message is clear: never mind trade and investment, lets cement security ties with the Americans. Australia can now take it’s place in Oceania, an extreme right-wing neo-feudal remake of Orwell’s dystopia alongside kindred spirits such as Brazil’s Michel Temer and our own Theresa May. The end of globalisation is the talk of the town now that it is being led by China.

Asia Times

14th September, 2016

SYDNEY (Reuters) – North American bidders will not need an Australian partner to bid for Australian electricity distributor Ausgrid, an advisor on the potentially A$10 billion ($7.46 billion) deal said, after the government rejected sole offers from Chinese interests.

Posted in Containing China, Oceania | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

 
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