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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Putin Ready For World War 3

Is This the end? Pope gives up cryptic hint

PopeFrancisRomanusJesuit2

An author who successfully predicted Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation now is suggesting Pope Francis may be a believer in an ancient prophecy that foretells disaster for the Roman Catholic Church.

The pope unleashed an international frenzy of speculation when he recently commented, “I have a feeling my pontificate will be brief. … It is a vague feeling I have that the Lord chose me for a short mission.”

Bestselling author Tom Horn, featured on the blockbuster movie, “The Last Pope?,” told WND in an exclusive interview that the statements imply the man once known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio sees himself as part of a prophecy.

Horn stated, “The comments by Pope Francis regarding possible assassination or retirement and that he may not be the pontiff much longer make me wonder if he is a believer in his role as the last pope (pope No. 112 in the ‘Prophecy of the Popes’), which speaks of the destruction of Rome.”

St. Malachy’s “Prophecy of the Popes” is said to be based on his prophetic vision of the next 112 popes, beginning with Pope Celestine II, who died in 1144.

Malachy presented a description of each pope, culminating with the “final pope,” “Peter the Roman,” whose reign would end with the destruction of Rome and judgment.

But other Catholic prophecies also speak of the final subversion of the Roman Catholic Church.

As Horn notes, “Even St. Francis of Assisi – the current pope’s namesake and one of the most venerated religious figures in history – gathered his devotees shortly before his death and prophesied, ‘At the time of this tribulation a man, not canonically elected, will be raised to the pontificate, who, by his cunning, will endeavor to draw many into error and death. … Some preachers will keep silence about the truth, and others will trample it under foot and deny it. … for in those days Jesus Christ will send them not a true pastor, but a destroyer.’”

Horn believes Francis may also see his fate revealed as part of one of the famous “secrets of Fátima.”

“The final secret of Fátima was supposedly given to three Portuguese children, Lucia dos Santos, Jacinta Marto and Francisco Marto, when they saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Fátima) in 1917.”

As Horn observed, “There is a great deal of controversy over whether the third secret was ever completely released by the Vatican, but part of what was released describes a city, which some believe to be the Vatican City. The city is attacked and many priests, including the pope (described as the ‘Bishop in White’), are killed by fighters who could easily be interpreted as members of ISIS.”

This section of the prophecy reads,

… before reaching there the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way [and] on his knees at the foot of the big cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other bishops, priests, men and women religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions.

ISIS has vowed to “conquer Rome” by 2020 and has called for an alliance with the radical left to further its objectives. ISIS has also included Catholic countries like Spain in its vision of the restored caliphate.

Pope Francis seems aware of the danger posed by the terrorist group. Only a few days before musing on the likely brevity of his papacy, the pope spoke fatalistically about the danger of assassination. The pope declared his life or death is “in God’s hands” and joked, “I have said to the Lord, ‘You take care of me. But if it is your will that I die or something happens to me, I ask you only one favor: that it doesn’t hurt.’”

Such levity, says Horn, conceals more disturbing questions about the nature of Francis’ papacy and the manner in which he obtained his office.

Horn explains the Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano claimed to have uncovered a plot in 2012 to assassinate Pope Benedict XVI because of an internal power struggle. Horn asks, “Is that why Benedict ‘retired’ officially in 2012, though not publicly until 2013?”

Pope Francis is doing his best to convince the world about the stability of the papacy. Despite his reputation as an innovator, the pope has expressed opposition to an age limit for future popes.

New York Times bestselling author Jerome Corsi also wonders about instability in the Vatican. In an interview with WND, Corsi said Pope Francis’ comments about a short papacy surprised him.

“With Pope Benedict resigning, a new model of the papacy seems to be developing. Granted, Benedict is not day-to-day active, but he appears to give advice to Pope Francis when consulted. Do we already have two popes?”

“In the future, will popes have terms for which they serve, as presidents in the USA have term limits?” Corsi wondered. “Is Pope Francis the last pope to be appointed for life? Will Francis step down as Benedict did? We do appear to be in a new age where the papacy is undergoing redefinition.”

But Horn said the events in progress may be something far more substantial than simply organizational changes.

“Francis appointed Pietro Parolin as his secretary of state, an Italian (Roman) whose name is Peter,” Horn said. “If the Vatican were attacked or Francis and his Camerlengo (papal administrators) were to be killed at the same time or taken out of the way, this man would sit on the pope’s throne and literally be known as ‘Peter the Roman,’ the final line in the Prophecy of the Popes.”

Credit to WND
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/03/this-is-the-end-pope-gives-up-cryptic-hint/#TgduQWEI0HarX4V9.99

The Coming Technocalypse: CERN, Quantum Computing, and Particle Teleportation





As we rapidly approach the scientifically-prophesied year of singularity in 2045, we look at our modern technology and wonder where it is headed? The scientific discoveries made today will become the norm and lead to commonplace devices tomorrow. What might these devices look like? Where will they lead humanity? Can we trust in our own human innovations to save us; or in believing that, are we already doomed? Science and technology are heading into unknown realms. 

Even though the ones in charge admittedly don’t understand the full consequences of their research, they still continue in their pursuits. They are on the ultimate quest of discovery and no one will stand in their way. In a strange way, we as Christians might be able to understand their passion, at least to a certain extent. We are on the quest of the Great Commission, and nothing, be it torture nor death, will stand in our way.

 Our mission is set forth by Jesus Christ for the betterment of mankind and eternal salvation of their souls. Therein lies the difference. The goals of innovation outside of God are the physical betterment of mankind, as determined by man himself, and the extension of physical life with no regard to the human soul and spirit. 

At times we can benefit from these innovations, at other times they bring in a moral dilemma: where is the line?

Instead of allowing mankind to define the line for us, we should allow God. Simply speaking, things just seem to work out better that way. Sure, it may mean that we can't do everything we might want to do, but the reward and security is more than worth it.

In this post, I want to look at three innovations being researched today. My hope is you will ask yourself, is this technology crossing the line? Would God approve? If not, what can we do about it? As of now, I believe the best thing we can do is be informed and prepared to give an answer if asked.

It also helps if we understand the origins of technology. From chapter 2 of my book, Cherubim Chariots:



"There is a common tradition that teaches the Serpent of the Garden of Eden was the one responsible for the development of ancient and modern technology. This view stems from certain verses in the third chapter of the book of Genesis:


17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Genesis 3:17-19

23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Genesis 3:23

The common interpretation of verse 19, specifically where it says in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, is that Adam would now have to work to prepare his own food. No longer would it be readily available as it was in the Garden of Eden; if Adam wanted bread, he would now have to make it himself. Also, verse 23 states that they had to till the ground. Since tilling ground requires tools and innovation, and since the Serpent was the one who tempted them into this position, it is commonly believed that the development of technology resulted from the influence of the Serpent."

There are those that state the LHC at CERN can almost be looked at as a giant interdimensional portal. Back in 2010, Reuters reported:

"Guido Tonelli, spokesman for one of the CERN specialist teams monitoring operations in the vast, subterranean LHC, said probing for extra dimensions -- besides length, breadth, height and time -- would become easier as the energy of the proton collisions in it is increased in 2011." (1)

At the time of this post, we are mere days away from another massive power-up of the LHC. One of the many goals at CERN is the discovery of extra spatial and/or temporal dimensions. The CERN press office states:

"As far as we know, we live in four dimensions, three of space and one of time. But experimentalists at the Large Hadron Collider are looking for evidence that the universe contains more than that. The existence of extra dimensions could explain some puzzling properties of the universe." (2)

The fact is, whether their intentions are malevolent or benevolent, humanity simply does not have enough information to properly calculate the consequences of their experiments. Such is the same with an emerging technology known as "quantum computing". Quantum computing relies on things like superposition and quantum entanglement to operate. (3) From my book, Quantum Creation:



"Another interesting thing about photons is their ability to seemingly communicate with each other by means of something at an instant. Einstein called this “spooky action at a distance”, yet we would recognize it today as “quantum entanglement”. Somehow, by means that are not yet understood, photons seem to be able to communicate vast distances at faster-than-light speeds. This, of course, would seem to be theoretically impossible. It is no wonder Einstein was not a fan of this idea of quantum entanglement. However, by various means, it has shown to be true. Regardless of how far away they are from each other, photons seem to be able to communicate with each other instantaneously. To this day, how exactly this works is a complete mystery." (4)

Again, we see an example of mankind attempting to utilize something they do not fully understand. From my own personal opinion (keeping in mind I am not a physicist, so take it for what it is worth), the only way something like quantum entanglement can be possible is if it is a phenomenon operating in higher spatial dimensions.

For example, imagine a two-dimensional universe called Flatland. (5) If I, as a three-dimensional being (speaking only of spatial dimensions), were to stick my finger into Flatland, a Flatlander would only see a line appear before him, and through inspection, would be able to determine it is a circle. However, this is just a single, two-dimensional slice of my actual finger. Now imagine if I were to stick two fingers into Flatland. The Flatlander would have no way of knowing the two circles he now sees are parts of the same higher-dimensional object. He would assume they are similar, possibly even the same, yet separate.

We can use the Flatland example to help visualize higher dimension, as I explain in depth in Quantum Creation. If we see two three-dimensional spheres before us, we might assume they are similar, yet separate. However, we might be mistaken, because these spheres could just be three-dimensional slices of an object made of four spatial dimensions, or even more. This might help explain something as strange as quantum entanglement. If the entangled particles are actually just three-dimensional slices of a single higher-dimensional object, we would not have two separate particles exchanging information; we would have two slices of the same object receiving information at an instant.

If there is any validity to this view (and I admit, that is a very big "if"), then we really don't know what we are dealing with. We cannot comprehend the entire higher-dimensional structure that would make quantum entanglement possible. We have no idea what the consequences of trying to use entangled particles for the purposes of computing really are. It has even been admitted recently that the basic building blocks of quantum computing are "highly unstable", and yet we continue in our pursuits. (6) We may very well be delving and probing into higher dimensions than our own.

Similar ignorance is found in the research of particle teleportation, sometimes called "quantum teleportation". A definition, according to Wikipedia, is as follows:

"Quantum teleportation is a process by which quantum information (e.g. the exact state of an atom or photon) can be transmitted (exactly, in principle) from one location to another, with the help of classical communication and previously shared quantum entanglement between the sending and receiving location." (7)

Here we see the utilization of quantum entanglement repeated. The most important thing for us to realize is these things are no longer confined to the realm of science fiction; they are a reality. Last year (2014), it was reported by CNET:

"Physicists at the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, part of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, report that they sent quantum data concerning the spin state of an electron to another electron about 10 feet away. Quantum teleportation has been recorded in the past, but the results in this study have an unprecedented replication rate of 100 percent at the current distance, the team said.

Thanks to the strange properties of entanglement, this allows for that data -- only quantum data, not classical information like messages or even simple bits -- to be teleported seemingly faster than the speed of light...Proving Einstein wrong about the purview and completeness of quantum mechanics is not just an academic boasting contest. Proving the existence of entanglement and teleportation -- and getting experiments to work efficiently, in larger systems and at greater distances -- holds the key to translating quantum mechanics to practical applications, like quantum computing. For instance, quantum computers could utilize that speed to unlock a whole new generation of unprecedented computing power." (8)

The main point with this post is there are emerging technologies being developed with little to no regard to the consequences. Should anything go wrong, we are the ones who will suffer those consequences. With the 2045 singularity event rapidly approaching, I believe it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to look into these things and prepare accordingly. The information is available; there is no need to take my own word for it. We all have that responsibility to move from the uninformed to the informed. The good news is that you do not have to have a doctorate or be an absolute genius to understand these things; strip away the scientific terminology and the concepts are available to the level of intelligence of the general population (and I am absolutely putting myself in that category). We are not required to adhere, or even listen, to what the world tells us. As Romans 12:2 states:


"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."


Credit to Skywatch.com

Putin’s Return Coincides with Greatly Increased Russian War Preparations

The now you see him, now you don't Putin, reappeared on March 16 in during his meeting with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in the Konstantin Palace outside St. Petersburg, Russia, Monday, March 16, 2015.
The now you see him, now you don’t Putin, reappeared on March 16 in during his meeting with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in the Konstantin Palace outside St. Petersburg, Russia, Monday, March 16, 2015.

Putin has come out of captivity, self-imposed, or otherwise, swinging for the fences. In an unprecedented series of moves, Putin is more aggressive, more warlike and more daring than any time in his Presidency. His military exercises which coincided with his return to the limelight, are unprecedented in the post cold war era.
Putin laughed off his 10 missing days as “Life would be boring without rumors”. His 10 day disappearing act has been attributed to his being bedside with his mistress as she gave birth to his love child and to his self-imposed quarantine for a religious holiday.  His 10 day absence is no laughing matter as Putin missed two major meetings with heads of state in a part of the world that is one provocative incident away from World War III. And I will overlook, for the time being, the persistent claims which state that the photos being released to the media are over a year old. Whether Putin is still truly in charge of his own domain, or he has become the puppet of more sinister and psychopathic forces than he and these sinister behind-the-scenes forces needed 10 days to get their more aggressive points across to Putin, is wholly irrelevant to the fate of the world. The fact remains that Russian forces are engaging in a series of snap exercises which just coincidentally coincides with Putin’s reappearance.
Some say that to suggest that the manner of Putin’s reappearance is strongly suggestive of Russia moving the world toward World War III is “unfounded paranoia”.  In this case, the facts speak for themselves.

 The Russian Northern Fleet Prepares for War

northern fleetThe Russian Northern Fleet was brought to full combat alert at 8:00 a.m. Moscow time (05:00 GMT), on March 16, 2015. The alert included 38,000 military personnel, 3,360 pieces of equipment, 41 ships, 15 submarines, and a total of 110 airplanes and helicopters. The exercises, which will be run on land, sea and air and will conclude in five days. The mission is to provide support for existing Russian military forces in the Arctic.
On March 9th, I reported that the Russians were taking an offensive posture with regard to its forces stationed at the North Pole as they were positioning to be able to launch attacks in several directions including Europe and North America. Subsequently, we are seeing Russian support forces, as evidenced by the Northern Fleet snap military exercises, standing at the ready to support and Russian incursion.
These events signal a clear intention as to the future direction with regard to Russian military intentions. This exercise is highly aggressive and antagonistic toward the West. More disturbingly, the combat mobilization of the Northern Fleet is not being conducted in isolation. Russia is preparing for World War III on a number fronts and from a number of strategic positions.

Russian Military Communications Exercises Over Nine Regions

nine region russian drillVarious units of Russia’s signals troops began a massive large-scale communications field exercises in nine regions of the Eastern Military District. Russian public relations representatives stated, “The drills envision the use of advanced relay broadcast stations, mobile video-conferencing systems, modern radio stations and satellite communications that were put in service with the Eastern Military District in 2014-2015.” The purpose of this drill would be to coordinate aircraft, mobile forces and troops movements.

Anti-Air Defense Drills In the Eastern Region

On March 12, Eastern Military District press head Col. Alexander Gordeyev said that a military exercise involving anti-air defense troops started in the region. Why would Russia be simultaneously be practicing offense and defensive maneuvers in the same region? Smart money says that Russia plans to attack Lithuania and it is clear from these Eastern Region drills, Russia expects to NATO to retaliate by air.

Lithuanian military personnel.
Lithuanian military personnel.
Lithuania is Moscow’s biggest single biggest obstacle in developing a military type of land bridge between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia. An attack upon Lithuania will provide Russia with clear access to the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania’s paranoia is further on display as in January, Lithuania produced a document which advised civilians how to best respond to a Russian invasion and possible occupation.

Lithuania is not alone in their “unfounded paranoia” with regard to the commencement of World War III. Last week, Norway commenced its “Joint Viking” drills, the largest set of military drills in decades. The drills took plan in the far northern Finnmark region near the Russian border. The exercises consisted of 5,000 military personnel and the exercises are expected to continue until March 18.

Russia and Serbia Joint Military Exercises

In alliance reminiscent of World War I, “Air Force officials from Russia and Serbia agreed at planning conference in the Russian Defense Ministry on March 12 to carry out joint tactical drills in September this year,” stated spokesman Col. Igor Klimov. Klimov further added that both Serbian and Russian pilots will work to intercept air targets while Mi-8 military transport and combat helicopters will work on tactical landings, covering ground units from the air while firing missiles at ground targets at the site.
This joint exercise speaks to an offensive action in which Serbia and Russia will partake. Does one have to wonder why Eastern Europe is mobilizing and drilling?

Live Fire Drills In Starvopol

In the never-ending series of military exercises with live firing drills, this past Wednesday, March 11, in Russia’s southern and western regions and in the Far East, the Defense Ministry held a drill in which 30 sorties with live firing of missiles and rockets were held in the Starvopol territory.

Drills In the Southern Military District

Russian army artillery personnel in the Southern Military District began scheduled drills using new Hosta and Tornado-G systems. Over 8,000 Russian army artillery personnel began exercises in Crimea, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia as well as other areas on Thursday, March 12th.

Conclusion

There are more drills, but the read should get the idea. All of these military exercises have taken place during Putin’s absence or on the first day of his return. Did somebody have a stern talk with Vladamir while he was gone? At the end of the day, it does not matter. Russia has committed its military forces to a very clear course of action and World War III only appears to be unavoidable from the Russian perspective.
Credit to Common Sense

Are the end times here acording to Islam?


Mahdi

Nine years ago, then president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated in an interview that he experienced a supernatural experience during a speech he gave at the United Nations the previous year. Ahmadinejad claimed that he was bathed in a light from heaven at the outset of his talk, with the light remaining on him for the full length of the speech. Ahmadinejad made a number of references during that U.N. speech to the “mighty Lord” who will hasten the emergence of “the promised one,” the one who “will fill this world with justice and peace.” Exactly who was Ahmadinejad referring to? According to another speech he gave that same year, he saw his main mission to “pave the path for the glorious reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may Allah hasten his reappearance.” CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen points out that ISIS has similar hopes based on their belief in Islamic prophecy. Believing that their actions hasten a supposed final battle at a small, obscure Syrian town named Dabiq between “Rome” and Islam…

Credit to Skywatch.com

HOLY ALTAR CONSTRUCTED FOR 3RD JEWISH TEMPLE



Get Out, Get Out, PLEASE Get Out of the SYSTEM





Russia Escalates Military Posture: Deploys Strategic Bombers To Crimea and Launches Massive Drills Across Nation

All those who were wondering where Putin had "disappeared" to, and spreading rumors whether it was more likely his girlfriend had given birth in Switzerland or aliens had abducted him, will probably be satisfied if he were to promptly disappear once more following news that not only yesterday had he put 40,000 troops on full alert as part of "snap-readiness exercises", but less than 24 hours followed this up with even more demonstrative military "drills" after Sputnik reported that Russian strategic Tu-22M3 (Backfire) strike bombers have been deployed to the Crimean Peninsula to hold snap combat readiness drills, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday, in addition to further massive troops and equipment deployment tests in the western part of the nation as well as around the Arctic circle.
As a reminder, Crimea was recently in the news following a weekend report citing Putin that he was ready to use nukes to secure the recently repossessed peninsula. So one can perhaps look at this as de-escalation. 
“During the snap combat readiness drills by the Armed Forces, strategic Tu-22M3s will be deployed to Crimea,” the source said.
Then, perhaps to counter the build of NATO troops in the Baltics, Russia also deployed fighters and bombers to the country’s western exclave of Kaliningrad for snap combat readiness exercises, a source in the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
“Fighter and bomber aviation is to be redeployed to the Kaliningrad Region, and ground troops on the Baltic will be reinforced with Iskander missile complexes in the Western Military District that will be delivered on large landing ships from the Baltic Fleet,” the source said.
On Monday, President Vladimir Putin gave the order to bring Russia's Northern Fleet, separate units of the Western Military District and the Airborne Troops to full alert in snap combat readiness exercises. The drills involve a total of 38,000 troops, 3,360 military vehicles, 110 aircraft and helicopters, 41 ships and 15 submarines.
Snap military exercises will be held in the sea, as well as on the ground and in the air until March 21. Their ultimate goal is to improve the military capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces, according to the Defense Ministry.
And then completing the trifecta, in addition to Crimea and Kaliningrad, as many as 30 army air force crews of Russia's Western Military District are being redeployed from airfields in the Leningrad and Smolensk regions to a military airfield near the Arctic Circle as part of surprise combat readiness drills being held in the Northern Fleet and the Western Military District, according to an Interfax report.
"Army air force crews, which make up routine squadrons, are being redeployed. During the flight, the crews are practicing their pilot skills flying in units and near ground level," the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.
As a further reminder, Russia has been particularly interested in weaponizing the Arctic in recent months, the location of countless energy deposits, announcing late in 2014 it would build 13 airfields and 10 radar stations to meet "unwelcome guests." This is just a preview 
The crews operating Mil Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters will have to cover more than 1,500 kilometers with a refueling stopover in the Republic of Karelia.
"Upon arrival, the army air force crews from the Western Military Districts will join a simulated operation to drop a landing force at a military training range, as well as will practice providing support for the Land Forces from the air, will conduct an air strike simulation against ground targets using missile and ballistic weapons, and will take part in simulated search and rescue operations," the ministry said.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Northern Fleet, Armed Forces units in the Western Military District and the Airborne Troops to conduct combat readiness exercises, involving 38,000 servicemen, 3,360 units of military hardware, 41 combat ships, 15 submarines, as well as 110 airplanes and helicopters.
As Sputnik adds, military transport aviation crews of the Russian Air Force were redeployed from the Pskov region to the Severny airfield in the city of Ivanovo for further moving of personnel and equipment to a northern airfield, the press office of the Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
"Military transport aviation crews will deliver paratroop units to a military airfield in Russia’s polar region under a snap combat readiness exercise. More than 10 Il-76 aircraft will be used for the redeployment. The aircraft will fly over 3,000 kilometers in 24 hours. The redeployment will take place in the daytime and in the nighttime," according to the statement.
According to the Defense Ministry, the exercises will continue until March 21
Many more are coming: the Russian Defense Ministry announced in December 2014 it planned to hold at least 4,000 military drills across the country in 2015.
And with the US now deploying tanks, armors and various other vehicles literally just across the Russian western border and soon, the Arctic as well, the possibility of an unexpected and unwelcome escalation in hostilities rises with every new military drill.
Credit to Zero Hedge

"Colossal Defeat" For Obama As Australia Joins China's Regional Bank

Image result for australia china love

Having attacked its "closest ally" UK for "constant accomodation" with China, we suspect President Obama will be greatly displeased at yet another close-ally's decision to partner up with the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). As The Australian reports, "make no mistake," the decision by Australia's Abbott government to sign on for negotiations to join China’s regional bank, foreshadowed by Tony Abbott at the weekend, "represents a colossal defeat for the Obama administration’s incompetent, distracted, ham-fisted dip­lomacy in Asia."

The decision by the Abbott government to sign on for negotiations to join China’s regional bank, foreshadowed by Tony Abbott at the weekend, represents another defeat for Barack Obama’s diplomacy in Asia.

The Abbott government is right to make this decision. It had well-founded concerns about the vague and unsatisfactory governance arrangements of the institution when Beijing first invited Canberra to join.

Those arrangements have ­improved since then and Australia is only signing on to negotiate terms of accession.

If the terms are no good, Australia will ultimately walk away.

Canberra’s move follows similar decisions by Britain, Singapore, India and New Zealand.

Make no mistake — all this represents a colossal defeat for the Obama administration’s incompetent, distracted, ham-fisted dip­lomacy in Asia.
The Obama administration didn’t want Australia to sign up for the China-led AIIB. The Abbott government rightly feels that it owes Obama nothing.
Obama went out of his way to embarrass the Prime Minister politically on climate change with a rogue speech at the G20 summit in Brisbane.

The speech had been billed as dealing with American leadership in Asia and instead was full of ­material designed to embarrass Abbott.

Since then, the Abbott government has felt absolutely zero subjective good will for Obama.

This is an outlook shared by many American allies.

It’s important to get all the distinctions right here.

The Abbott government operates foreign policy in Australia’s national interest.

That includes full fidelity to the American ­alliance and to supporting US strategic leadership.

But the Obama administration has neither the continuous presence, nor the tactical wherewithal nor the store of goodwill or personal relationships to carry Canberra, or other allies, on non-essential matters.
The Obama administration has tried to convince both its friends and ­allies not to join the China Bank.
This was probably a bad call in itself, but, as so often with the Obama administration, it was a bad call badly implemented.

The characteristically bad implementation has helped shred Obama’s diplomatic credibility.

The Chinese have been the US’s best friends in Asia, diplomatically. Their territorial aggressiveness in the East and South China Seas has driven Asia to embrace America’s security role more tightly than ever.

The American military are now the best American diplomats in Asia by far.

Such prestige as the US enjoys in Asia these days rests disproportionately on the shoulders of the US military.

Obama has neglected and mistreated allies and as a result Washington has much less influence than previously.

The saga of the China Bank is almost a textbook case of the failure of Obama’s foreign policy.
*  *  *
As we have detailed recently, Australia is in trouble economically and its pivot to China makes perfect self-preservation sense... as Sheridan notes:
Obama treats allies shabbily and as a result he loses influence with them and then seems perpetually surprised at this outcome.

The Asian professionals in Washington regard the Obama administration as particularly ineffective in Asia.

The consensus is that the Obama White House is insular, isolated, inward-looking, focused on the President’s personal image and ineffective in foreign policy.
* * *
Britain and Australia might be too polite to tell the US straight up– “Look, you have $18.1 trillion in official debt, you have $42 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and you’re kind of a dick. I’m dumping you.”

So instead they’re going with the “it’s not you, it’s me” approach.

But to anyone paying attention, it’s pretty obvious where this trend is going.

It won’t be long before other western nations jump on the anti-dollar bandwagon with action and not just words.
*  *  *
Bottom line: this isn’t theory or conjecture anymore. Every shred of objective evidence suggests that the dollar’s dominance is coming to an end.

Credit to Zero Hedge

Saudi Arabia Is A Bigger Threat Than Iran