Friday, March 20, 2015
Palestinians confirm U.S. 'studying' abandoning Israel at U.N.
TEL AVIV, Israel – A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party told WND his information confirms a report Thursday that the Obama administration is studying the possibility of supporting a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for the resumption of talks to create a Palestinian state.
Dmitry Diliani, who is also a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, stated, “Now the United States, at the same time, yes, it has been studying its position.
“Especially at a time when Benjamin Netanyahu basically not only slapped the face of American policy by a statement rejecting a two-state solution,” he said. “He spat on the face of the American policy. Something that I don’t think any American would allow this to happen to the greatest country in the world.”
Diliani further confirmed reports that in light of the re-election of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Abbas may turn to the U.N. and other international bodies for recognition without the approval of Israel.
“This is something that is a total right for an independent state of Palestine that is recognized by the United Nations,” he said.
Diliani commented on Netanyahu’s election promise to reject the formation of a Palestinian state during his tenure in office.
Stated Diliani: “That means he basically canceled all the agreements. All the political planning in the region. Everything that is considered a political map for the whole region that was adapted by the whole world and former governments of Israel and the Palestinian people.”
On the eve of this week’s elections, Netanyahu stated in a video interview with Israel’s NRG news website: “I think that anyone who is going to establish a Palestinian state today and evacuate lands is giving attack grounds to the radical Islam against the state of Israel.”
He said anyone “who ignores this is sticking his head in the sand.”
“The left does this time and time again,” Netanyahu said. “We are realistic and understand.”
The interviewer asked Netanyahu specifically whether he meant that a Palestinian state would not be established if he were re-elected.
“Correct,” he replied.
On Thursday, Foreign Policy magazine quoted Western diplomats stating the Obama administration is “edging closer” to abandoning years of blocking U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing so-called peace talks.
The magazine reported the U.S. administration may back a resolution calling for the resumption of talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state, according to the unnamed Western diplomats.
The magazine indicated the Obama administration’s willingness to accept a U.N. resolution depends on the politics of Netanyahu’s soon-to-be formed coalition.
If the new governing coalition consists of right-wing parties instead of a unity deal with the left, the likelihood of the U.S. supporting U.N. action would increase, the magazine indicated.
Reported Foreign Policy:
U.S. officials signaled a willingness to consider a U.N. resolution in the event that Netanyahu was re-elected and formed a coalition government opposed to peace talks. The United States has not yet circulated a draft, but diplomats say Washington has set some red lines and is unwilling to agree to set a fixed deadline for political talks to conclude.
Credit to WND
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2015/03/palestinians-confirm-u-s-studying-abandoning-israel-at-u-n/#cdzyspS6D00YDOxy.99
Pope to address UN general assembly on September 25
Mark your calendar it's going to be there for the feast of Tabernacles and the next Red Blood Moon
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the announcement that Pope Francis would visit the United Nations the morning of Sept. 25 to address the U.N. General Assembly.
In a statement March 18, the United Nations also said the pope would meet separately with the secretary-general and with the president of the General Assembly and would participate in a town hall gathering with U.N. staff.
Ban noted that the pope's visit came during the United Nations' 70th anniversary, in which its members would make decisions about sustainable development, climate change and peace. He said he was confident the pope's visit would inspire the international community to redouble its efforts for social justice, tolerance and understanding.
The United Nations did not release the detailed itinerary for the meetings, part of a larger papal visit to Washington, New York and Philadelphia. The Vatican is expected to release the official itinerary about two months in advance of the trip, unless local officials release it earlier.
In February, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced that Pope Francis will address a joint meeting of Congress Sept. 24, making him the first pope to do so.
The Archdiocese of Washington said it would host the pope for his visit, but did not announce dates. On his flight from the Philippines to Rome in January, Pope Francis said he would canonize Blessed Junipero Serra at Washington's Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Pope Francis already had announced his participation Sept. 26 and 27 for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
Credit to American Catholic.org
Solar eclipse Friday has some looking for signs from God
Rare celestial event at the North Pole, ahead of the 3rd of 4 ‘blood moons,’ to be marked in Jerusalem with 2 minutes of interfaith prayer near the Temple Mount
While some Christian leaders debate whether the current celestial tetrad phenomenon — four blood moons in two years — signals the end of times, ahead of this Friday’s once-in-100,000-years full solar eclipse over the North Pole, a fledgling Israeli-American interfaith organization is ascribing to the heavenly displays a decidedly optimistic and universal spin.
Blood moons are full lunar eclipses in which the sun’s rays entering through the earth’s atmosphere make for a red, or blood-like appearance. Two instances of the current tetrad have already occurred, on April 15, 2014 (the Jewish Passover) and October 8, 2014 (Sukkot, or the Feast of the Tabernacles). The next blood moon is scheduled for April 4, 2015, the first day of Passover this year and two weeks after the upcoming solar eclipse.
According to popular American evangelical Pastor John Hagee, the blood moons are historically linked with a time period “that begins with a tragedy and ends with a triumph” for the Jewish people.
The Spanish expulsion of its Jews and discovery of the New World in 1492, the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and the Six Day War in 1967 are all examples of triumph overcoming tragedy, said Hagee. This epic saga will be presented in a movie based on his book, “Four Blood Moons: Something is About to Change,” which is to be screened in select theaters on March 23.
In an interview with CBN News on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Hagee claimed that in each era marked by this tetrad phenomena, “there’s a sense in the world that things are changing and God is trying to communicate with us in a supernatural way.”
‘I believe that in these next two years, we’re going to see something dramatic happen in the Middle East involving Israel’
“I believe that in these next two years, we’re going to see something dramatic happen in the Middle East involving Israel that will change the course of history in the Middle East and impact the whole world,” said Hagee, the head of the 1.3 million-strong Christians United for Israel organization he founded in 2006.
The two upcoming blood moons, Hagee said, are likely linked to Iran and the United State’s role in negotiating a nuclear deal. As reported by JTA, Hagee’s CUFI organization recently published full-page ads urging undecided Democrat senators to back a bill mandating congressional approval of any Iran nuclear deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Evangelical Christian movement and a mission of approximately 800 members of Pastor John Hagee’s Christians United for Israel (CUFI) organization, in Jerusalem on Sunday night MArch 18 2012. (Amos Ben Gershom/Flash90)
“The only reason that Iran will not acquire a nuclear bomb will be that Israel chooses a military solution to that crisis,” Hagee said in the CBN interview.
“I believe that if that happens, it will start a series of events that will change the course of world history,” he said.
Credit to Times of Israel.com
Read more: Solar eclipse Friday has some looking for signs from God | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/solar-eclipse-friday-has-some-looking-for-signs-from-god/#ixzz3Uw2bHwbo
Putin Targeted for Assassination-Will This Mean WW III or Russian Civil War?
Many in the independent media are proclaiming that a massive coup, which includes security personnel, top military leaders and top Russian businessmen, led by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu is intent on removing Putin and restoring relations with the West. I wish these reports were accurate, but the recent course of actions strongly suggest that the opposite is in fact true.
Will a Russian Coup Lead to a Russia Civil War?
According to ZN,UA, a Ukrainian publication, former Russian presidential adviser Andrey Illarionov has stated Vladimir Putin will be removed from power within the next few days and the forces of a “big blood” are poised to take over Russia. The forces of big blood are a group of hardliners who will undoubtedly push the world to the brink of World War III and beyond when they assume full power. As I write these words, there are reports that Russian government and key business figures are being taken to underground facilities. Does this mean that World War III is days away? It could, but not necessarily. This could be nothing more than blustering and posturing on the part of the Russians. However, blustering is not normally accompanied by a coup and that is what we are witnessing in Russia.
Removing the Popular Putin Is Not a Simple Task
There are complications in carrying out the coup. Putin is enormously popular among the Russian people. Subsequently, a bigger picture looms; Will the Russian people support such a coup? More importantly, many of those who are reporting on this issue are overlooking this fact as well as the popularity that Putin enjoys in some circles of the Russian intelligence community as well as in certain parts of the military. Putin’s removal from power is a prescription for civil war because of his popularity. And because of the role that Ukraine and some of the former outlying Soviet states play in the formation of the emerging Eurasian Union, a Russian civil war would spill over to Asia and Europe and ultimately lead to World War III. If a country was ever in need of a false flag, the Russian hardliners could use one right now. This would go a long way towards securing the popular support that this coup will ultimately require. One piece of speculation has Putin being assassinated and forces connected to Western interests are implicated. Thus, the world would have its Archduke Francis Ferdinand moment.
The Facts Don’t Support a Peaceful Resolution
Putin disappears for 1o days, he returns, appearing to have gained 20 pounds in water weight, NOT looking like himself and has done nothing but engage in a series of military drills designed to antagonize the West. In actuality, the military antagonism of the West was the byproduct of whoever was running Russia during the Putin disappearance.
The speculation that Russian Defense Minister, Sergey Shoygu, has rescued Russia from Putin’s warlike tendencies and plans to restore relations with the West when the coup is complete is not supported by the recent facts
Since Putin Disappeared from March 5th-March 15th Russia Has Been In War Mode
Since when does a Defense Minister increase war preparedness drills in preparation for negotiating peace with his enemies? The notion that Russia is moving toward a position of negotiation, conciliation and peace is laughable given the following chain of events.
The following is a small sample size of the Russian war preparations which transpired during Putin’s disappearance.
The 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 subsequently conclude in five days. The mission is to provide support for existing Russian military forces in the Arctic.
Various 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.
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 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 NATO to retaliate by air. THESE ARE OMINOUS SIGNS THAT THE RUSSIANS BELIEVE THAT WW III IS INEVITABLE!
In alliance reminiscent of World War I, “Air Force officials from Russia and Serbia agreed at a 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.
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 Stavropol territory.
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.
“NATO jets scrambled out of Lithuania to intercept 11 Russian warplanes flying with their transponders veered off over the Baltic Sea”.
According to powerful and influential member of the Russian Oligarchy, the owner of the ‘Alpha Bank’s‘ Oleg Sysoyev, has stated that pro-war elements are gaining power at the Kremlin.
A tweet, listed below, indicates that Shoigu launched a surprise inspection key Russian troops and equipment with regard to the war readiness of nearly 80,000 Russian troops.
Gregor Peter
SHOIGU: NORTHERN FLEET SURPRISE CHECK INVOLVES SOME 76,000 SERVICEMEN, OVER 10,000 TANKS AND ARMORED VEHICLES — IFX
Ukraine@warRussian “Alpha Bank’s” Oleg Sysoyev says war faction gains power in Kremlin http://m.tvrain.ru/articles/usilivaetsja_partija_vojny_i_eto_opasno_dlja_samoj_vlasti_pervyj_zampred_alfa_banka_oleg_sysuev_o_nemtsove_i_nastroenijah_elit-383874/?video …@RyskeldiSatkeOn March 14th, Venezuela and tens of thousands of Russian troops staged a military exercise to counter an alleged U.S. threat, deploying soldiers and partisans across the country to march, man shoulder-fired missiles and defend an oil refinery from a simulated attack.
DO THE ABOVE RUSSIAN MILITARY ACTIONS LOOK LIKE RUSSIA PLANS TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH THE WEST?
Conclusion
With all due respect, anyone who thinks that Putin has been deposed by more moderate and peaceful forces in Russia are mistaken. Whether Putin has been deposed by war hawks or this coup will result in a bloody civil war, is irrelevant. Unless there is a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough, the world is on a clear path to World War III.
Iran endorses nuclear EMP attack on United States
Suspected for years of plotting to dismantle the U.S. electric grid, American officials have confirmed that Iranian military brass have endorsed a nuclear electromagnetic pulse explosion that would attack the country's power system.
American defense experts made the discovery while translating a secret Iranian military handbook, raising new concerns about Tehran's recent nuclear talks with the administration.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, attends a graduation ceremony of army cadets, accompanied by Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, left, Chief of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Hasan Firouzabadi, second left in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 5 2013. (AP Photo/Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader)
The issue of a nuclear EMP attack was raised in the final hours of this week's elections in Israel when U.S. authority Peter Vincent Pry penned a column for Arutz Sheva warning of Iran's threat to free nations.
"Iranian military documents describe such a scenario — including a recently translated Iranian military textbook that endorses nuclear EMP attack against the United States," he wrote.
A knowledgable source said that the textbook discusses an EMP attack on America in 20 different places.
Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks, who is leading an effort to protect the U.S. electric grid from an EMP attack, has recently made similar claims based on the document translated by military authorities.
Once sneered at by critics, recent moves by Iran and North Korea have given credibility to the potential EMP threat from an atmospheric nuclear explosion over the U.S.
Pry has suggested ways for Iran to deliver a nuclear attack: by ship launched off the East Coast, a missile or via satellite.
Either way the result could be destruction of all or part of the U.S. electric grid, robbing the public of power, computers, water and communications for potentially a year.
Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy, said the threat to the grid can also come from solar activity.
He has been pushing Washington and state governments to take the relatively inexpensive move to protect the electric grid, though his concern is from a nuclear attack by Iran or North Korea.
"It is increasingly frightening," he said. "We have to get started on this."
He noted that Iran's top military leader recently announced that he was ready for war with the U.S.
"We are ready for the decisive battle against the U.S. and the Zionist regime," Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hassan Firouzabadi told Iran's Fars News Agency in 2014.
Below is from Pry's column that discusses an Iran EMP attack:
Iran armed with nuclear missiles poses an unprecedented threat to global civilization.
One nuclear warhead detonated at high-altitude over the United States would blackout the national electric grid and other life sustaining critical infrastructures for months or years by means of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). A nationwide blackout lasting one year, according to the Congressional EMP Commission, could cause chaos and starvation that leaves 90 percent of Americans dead.
Iranian military documents describe such a scenario--including a recently translated Iranian military textbook that endorses nuclear EMP attack against the United States.
Credit to washingtonexaminer.com
American defense experts made the discovery while translating a secret Iranian military handbook, raising new concerns about Tehran's recent nuclear talks with the administration.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, attends a graduation ceremony of army cadets, accompanied by Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, left, Chief of the General Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Hasan Firouzabadi, second left in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Oct. 5 2013. (AP Photo/Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader)
The issue of a nuclear EMP attack was raised in the final hours of this week's elections in Israel when U.S. authority Peter Vincent Pry penned a column for Arutz Sheva warning of Iran's threat to free nations.
"Iranian military documents describe such a scenario — including a recently translated Iranian military textbook that endorses nuclear EMP attack against the United States," he wrote.
A knowledgable source said that the textbook discusses an EMP attack on America in 20 different places.
Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks, who is leading an effort to protect the U.S. electric grid from an EMP attack, has recently made similar claims based on the document translated by military authorities.
Once sneered at by critics, recent moves by Iran and North Korea have given credibility to the potential EMP threat from an atmospheric nuclear explosion over the U.S.
Pry has suggested ways for Iran to deliver a nuclear attack: by ship launched off the East Coast, a missile or via satellite.
Either way the result could be destruction of all or part of the U.S. electric grid, robbing the public of power, computers, water and communications for potentially a year.
Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy, said the threat to the grid can also come from solar activity.
He has been pushing Washington and state governments to take the relatively inexpensive move to protect the electric grid, though his concern is from a nuclear attack by Iran or North Korea.
"It is increasingly frightening," he said. "We have to get started on this."
He noted that Iran's top military leader recently announced that he was ready for war with the U.S.
"We are ready for the decisive battle against the U.S. and the Zionist regime," Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hassan Firouzabadi told Iran's Fars News Agency in 2014.
Below is from Pry's column that discusses an Iran EMP attack:
Iran armed with nuclear missiles poses an unprecedented threat to global civilization.
One nuclear warhead detonated at high-altitude over the United States would blackout the national electric grid and other life sustaining critical infrastructures for months or years by means of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). A nationwide blackout lasting one year, according to the Congressional EMP Commission, could cause chaos and starvation that leaves 90 percent of Americans dead.
Iranian military documents describe such a scenario--including a recently translated Iranian military textbook that endorses nuclear EMP attack against the United States.
Credit to washingtonexaminer.com
“The Enemy Must Be Destroyed Or Conquered; The Ultimate Soviet Objective Is Total Victory”
(Pictured: Dubbed “The Black Hole Of The Ocean” this Russian Kilo Class Submarine is built with advanced stealth technology and sound dampening tiles. It has a range of 4800 nautical miles.)
As of this writing, the hotbed is the Ukraine; however, this is the opener, as the main event in all probability is the defeat of NATO and the U.S. in Europe. The prize: reclamation of all former Com-Bloc satellites previously held by the Soviet Union and the possible conquest of the United States of America.
Yes, the Soviet Union. The Russian Federation, if you prefer. They face a paper tiger: a hollowed-out, command-decimated United States military that is but a shadow of its former self. We have been weakened from within. SHTFplan reported in January of 2013 of how our TARS (Tethered Aerostat Radar System) lining the Gulf of Mexico was mothballed on 3/15/2013, dropping our response time for incoming missiles from 1-2 minutes to 10 or more. After concessions, command-purges, and downsizing, our fighting forces, once the greatest in the world, are now a skeleton.
Enter Vladimir Putin. He vigorously conquered and dominated the Crimea. The contested point was Sevastopol, a critical Russian naval base that enabled her to have access to the Mediterranean. February 28, 2014 the Russian military was sent into Sevastopol. In that time frame, a larger event went unnoticed by most of the world: a blockade by Russian destroyers of Sevastopol harbor. The blockade kept in Ukraine’s only submarine detecting vessel and a command vessel. Indeed, it was the only non-Russian ASW vessel in the Black Sea.
By sheer coincidence, no doubt, the Russians had just rolled two Varshavyanka-class submarines (improved Kilo class boats, designated “project 636”) into the Black Sea. These Kilo-class subs have advanced stealth technology with the outer hulls covered in sound-damping tiles. The U.S. Navy has dubbed these the “black holes” of the ocean because they evade both sonar and AWACS. They have a cruising range of 400 miles and in their complement can hold 8 SAM’s or cruise missiles. Designed for shallow water operation, they have an extended combat range of 4800 nautical miles and can be refueled. These stealth boats can dive to 300 meters.
As you are well aware, the Russians have been running all of the Cold-War bomber routes along the U.S. West Coast, the Gulf, and the East Coast. On March 16, the Russians began extensive air force drills in Siberia, and communications exercises in the Eastern military district. The Russian Northern Fleet with 38,000 men, 41 ships, and more than a hundred planes are conducting Polar exercises in postures toward the U.S. and Europe. March 17 saw Russian Iskander missiles deployed in Kaliningrad for SNAP exercises; these can be nuke-capable. That day also saw a Latvian military report of two Russian “black hole” subs shadowing their territorial waters.
March 18 saw the Airborne units activated and sent from Ivanovo to the Arctic, as well as activation of Spetsnaz units and deployment to LD (Line of Departure) areas. All of these operations are slated to occur until March 21, a significant day, because it is Friday.
All of this is rooted in the plan formulated by Gen. Alexander Shelepin, KGB-Director under Kruschev; he originated a 40-year plan to disarm and eventually defeat the West via strategic deception. The West, followed by the “release” of the satellite nations, would swallow a “managed” collapse of the U.S.S.R. Then would come the march into democracy and false-capitalism. All of this would lead to arms reductions, demobilization, and investment into infrastructure and economic development. Gen. Shelepin’s pursued agenda was spurring Western hopes of democratization, and then ruthlessly exploiting the situation. His plan worked.
An excellent work outlining this plan and Russia’s true stance is J.R. Nyquist’s Origins of the Fourth World War. In addition to this, read Viktor Suvorov’s Inside the Soviet Army. Soviet military doctrine has not changed one iota. The Russian military revolves around one concept: the Strategic Offensive. The best defensive operation for them is an offensive. They also believe that the best method of protection is a massive preemptive attack. And when is the best time for the attack? Friday.
Suvorov (the pen name of Spetsnaz and GRU-agent Vladimir B. Rezun) wrote this (p 195 of his aforementioned work): “In practice, what happened in Czechoslovakia was an operation by a group of fronts carried out swiftly and without warning. Significantly this operation caught the Czechs off guard – profiting by the Friday evening relaxation of the State apparatus after a working week.”
The field of battle is before us. Now allow me to “prognosticate” the most probable course of actions. The Russians have been prepositioning the subs, and when the moment is right, they’ll pop cruise missiles out of them. The missiles can reach a speed of 550 mph in about a minute. Right at the mouth of the Potomac would be perfect for one sub to pop out half a dozen. One missile incinerates D.C.; one climbs to 300 miles altitude and detonates for an EMP to send the U.S. into the Dark Ages, four more for the East Coast Cities of New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, and Philadelphia.
The West Coast would see the loss of Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The Russians (and their allies the Chinese and North Koreans) will cut off the pipeline and annex Alaska, driving southward into the country east of the Rockies and cutting the nation in half. They could then seize the Mississippi and all of the arable heartland of the Midwest. The invaders would also want the Imperial Valley in CA, and all of the oil of the Gulf States.
Credit to ShftPlan.com
US "Isolated" As Key Ally Japan Considers Joining China-Led Bank
Well, that escalated quickly.
Just a week ago it appeared Washington had managed (for the time being at least) to convince the US’ closest allies to refrain from joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a sinocentric institution aimed at promoting development across Asia that is meant to rival the US/Japanese-led ADB and begin a seismic shift away from the world’s traditionally US-dominated institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF. Then, much to the chagrin of Washington, the UK joined as a founding member calling it an “unrivaled opportunity.”
As we and many other observers correctly noted at the time, the move by Britain could well embolden other countries who had expressed an interest initially but been deterred by pressure from Washington to reconsider their bids for membership. In (very) short order, everyone from Germany to Australia to Luxembourg was suddenly ready to cast their lot with the Chinese despite US warnings that the bank won’t adopt the proper operational standards. As we said yesterday, the world is now wise to the fact that US criticism of the new venture is very likely nothing more than an attempt by The White House to undermine Chinese regional ambition:
...and that means in short order Australia and South Korea will likely be on board and at that point, the stigma the US has created around membership will have completely disappeared (if it hasn’t already), opening the door for other US “allies” to join despite the bank’s alleged “low” standards.
Now, it appears the last valuable friend the US has in the bid to keep China from undercutting the ADB is beginning to consider a bid to join up. Here’s more from Reuters:
Japan's foreign minister signaled cautious approval of the institution that the United States has warned against…The opposition to the AIIB began crumbling after Britain said earlier this month that it would join the institution, saying it was in its national interest. France, Germany and Italy swiftly followed suit.Australia now appears close to joining, although no formal decision has been made, and Beijing said Japan and South Korea were also considering the possibility. Asked about the three countries joining the bank, China's Foreign Ministry said it was "open" to it."They have all already expressed that they are contemplating the issue at hand," ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily briefing. "We are open to them making the relevant decision."Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said Tokyo could consider joining the China-led bank if it could guarantee a credible mechanism for providing loans.
Make no mistake, they’ll still be plenty of officials in Japan who will stick to the script and fight the proposal, but the fact that the country is openly considering it when relations with China are rocky at best and when Japan is so influential in what is pretty clearly a competing institution speaks volumes about the extent to which US hegemony is waning. For his part, PM Abe is still hanging onto the same tired rhetoric:
- ABE: AIIB IS DIFFERENT TO IMF, WORLD BANK AND ADB
- ABE: NEED TO CONSIDER AIIB QUESTION CAREFULLY
As for BoJ Gov. Kuroda, he was apparently too busy buying stocks to comment.
Via Bloomberg:
Asian Development Bank and World Bank have accumulated experience in helping Asia improve infrastructure, Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said Friday, declining to comment on whether Japan should participate in a new China-led lender.Kuroda said he couldn’t respond directly when asked whether Japan should join Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Credit to Zero Hedge
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