Are You Kidding Me? Chinese Exports Plunge 25.4 Percent Compared To Last Year

We just got more evidence that global trade is absolutely imploding.  Chinese exports dropped 25.4 percent during the month of February compared to a year ago, and Chinese imports fell 13.8 percent compared to a year ago.  For Chinese exports, that was the worst decline that we have seen since 2009, and Chinese imports have now fallen for 16 months in a row on a year over year basis.  The last time we saw numbers like this, we were in the depths of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.  China accounts for more global trade than any other nation (including the United States), and so this is a major red flag.  Anyone that is saying that the global economy is in “good shape” is clearly not paying attention.

If someone would have told me a year ago that Chinese exports would be 25 percent lower next February, I would not have believed it.  This is not just a slowdown – this is a historic implosion.  The following comes from Zero Hedge…

Things are not getting better in China as Exports crashed 25.4% YoY (the 3rd largest drop in history), almost double the 14.5% expectation and Imports tumbled 13.8%, the 16th month of YoY decline – the longest ever.Altogether this sent the trade surplus down to $32.6bn (missing expectations of $51bn) to 11-month lows.

So much for that whole “devalue yourself to export growth” idea…

I don’t know how anyone can possibly dismiss the importance of these numbers.  As you can see, this is not just a one month aberration.  Chinese trade numbers have been declining for months, and that decline appears to be accelerating.

Another very interesting piece of news that has come out in recent days regards the massive layoffs that are coming at state industries in China.  According to Reuters, five to six million Chinese workers are going to be losing their jobs during this transition…

China aims to lay off 5-6 million state workers over the next two to three years as part of efforts to curb industrial overcapacity and pollution, two reliable sources said, Beijing’s boldest retrenchment program in almost two decades.

China’s leadership, obsessed with maintaining stability and making sure redundancies do not lead to unrest, will spend nearly 150 billion yuan ($23 billion) to cover layoffs in just the coal and steel sectors in the next 2-3 years.

For years, the Chinese economic miracle has been fueling global economic growth, but now things are changing dramatically.

Another factor that we should discuss is the fact that the relationship between the United States and China is going downhill very rapidly.  This is something that I wrote about yesterday.  China has seized control of several very important islands in the South China Sea, and in response the Obama administration has been sailing military vessels past the islands in a threatening manner.  Most recently, Obama decided to have an aircraft carrier task force cruise past the islands, and this provoked a very angry response from the Chinese…

The four-ship U.S. strike group that patrolled the disputed South China Sea was followed by Chinese warships, a show of force that prompted a hard-line response from China doubling down on its claim to nearly all of the resource-rich sea.  

China’s foreign minister said his country’s sovereignty claims are supported by history and made a veiled reference to the 5-day patrol by the Stennis Carrier Strike Group, as well as recent passes by China’s man-made islands by destroyers Lassen and Curtis Wilbur in recent months.

“The South China Sea has been subject to colonial invasion and illegal occupation and now some people are trying to stir up waves, while some others are showing off forces,” Wang Yi said, according to an Associated Press report, a day after the Stennis CSG departed the South China Sea.  “However, like the tide that comes and goes, none of these attempts will have any impact. History will prove who is merely the guest and who is the real host.”

Most Americans are not even paying attention to this dispute, but in China there is talk of war.  The Chinese are absolutely not going to back down, and it does not look like Obama is going to either.  Needless to say, a souring of the relationship between the largest economy on the planet and the second largest economy on the planet would not be a good thing for the global economy.

And of course China is far from the only country that is having economic problems.  Yesterday, I discussed how Italy’s banking system is on the verge of completely collapse.  A few days before that I discussed the economic depression that has gripped much of South America.  A new global economic crisis has already begun, and just because the United States is feeling less pain than the rest of the world so far does not mean that everything is going to be okay.

There are huge red flags in Europe, Asia and South America right now.  In addition, our neighbor to the north (Canada) is experiencing a very significant slowdown.  The irrational optimists can continue to believe that the U.S. economy will somehow escape relatively unscathed if they would like, but that is not going to be what happens.

Just like virtually everyone else on the planet, we are heading into hard times too, and this is going to become a dominant theme in the presidential campaign as we move forward into the months ahead.

Credit to Economic Collapse

MOSCOW WATCHES US-S.KOREA UNPRECEDENTED DRILLS WITH GRAVE 'CONCERN'

Russia Threatens Invasion If North Korea

North Korea’s provocative nuclear rhetoric has gotten so bad even the Kremlin has come out against the hermit kingdom, warning continued nuclear threats could justify an invasion.

The warning was issued in the form of a written statement from the Russian foreign ministry. It follows North Korea’s threat it would engage in a “preemptive and offensive nuclear strike” in reaction to the start of joint U.S.-South Korean war games Monday.

“We consider it to be absolutely impermissible to make public statements containing threats to deliver some ‘preventive nuclear strikes’ against opponents,” said the statement, as translated by the Russian TASS news agency. “Pyongyang should be aware of the fact that in this way the DPRK [North Korea] will become fully opposed to the international community and will create international legal grounds for using military force against itself in accordance with the right of a state to self-defense enshrined in the United Nations Charter.”


Credit to Dailycaller.com
Read more:  http://dailycaller.com/2016/03/08/russia-threatens-invasion-if-north-korea-nuclear-rhetoric-continues/#ixzz42PbbfCdU

North Korea to Use Specialized EMP Weapons Against the United States

TWICE IN 6 HOURS I RECEIVED TIPS FROM HIGHLY RELIABLE INSIDER SOURCES WHICH STATE THAT OUR MILITARY IS OPERATING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT CHINA HAS ENABLED NORTH KOREA WITH MODIFIED EMP WEAPONS FOR USE AGAINST LOCALIZED AND REGIONAL TARGETS WITHIN THE LOWER 48 STATES SHOULD HOSTILITIES COMMENCE IN KOREA.

AND THEN SUPPLIES THESE WEAPONS TO THE NORTH KOREANS FOR USE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES

Stood for his country

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy issued a threat to the Soviet Union that any attack by Cuba upon the United States would be considered to be an attack by the Soviet Union upon the United States. Today, President Obama needs to issue a similar warning to the Russians and the Chinese.

In the spirit of John Kennedy, Obama should state, today, on national television that “Any EMP attack upon the United States by North Korea will be considered to be an attack upon the United States by Russia and China.” Unfortunately, Obama is playing for the other side.

The  Navy Has Prepped for An EMP Attack for 7 Years

Since Obama has been President, the Navy has been involved in an unprecedented 7 year war game. In actuality, this move, by the Navy Department is designed to keep as many ships out to sea because they fear being victimized by an EMP attack.  What has the Navy known about Obama that the rest of us should know?

An unheard of seven year war game that encompasses every US coastline. The potential for an EMP attack upon the United States has been anticipated for sometime.

The Chain of Custody for An EMP Attack Upon the United States

Putin has forged a deep alliance with China through the virtual merging of the energy resources of both countries. China controls the puppet state of North Korea. When Hu says “jump” Kim Jong-un says “How High President Hu?” And make no mistake about it, an attack upon Russia is now an attack upon China and North Korea sits at the ready to do the bidding of its puppet masters. 

 Attacking America at Its Weakest Point

The Navy  has prepared for an outdated mode of EMP attack. Traditionally, most experts agree that the most effective delivery method for a nation-wide EMP, or HEMP attack would be the Club-K Container Missile System.  

The former notion of an EMP attack by way mid air burst of two nuclear missiles near the middle of the country would destroy all infrastructure that was not protected. According to the Naval War College, 90% of the people would be dead within two years. This mode of attack is now outdated.

Sophisticated computer hackers, like the ones from North Korea, now have the ability to generate such an effect on our power grid by simultaneously hacking into our power grid and, in effect, generating a localized EMP attack. The effect would be almost as devastating  in terms of the effects of such an attack on local utilities, especially for the providers of our power and water entities.

Some insider sources have concluded that there is a significant danger to America from North Korean hackers far beyond the disruption of our movies and corporate accounts that they have hacked.

I have learned that sophisticated computer hackers, like the ones from North Korea, have the ability to generate an EMP effect on our power grid by simultaneously hacking into our power grid and, in effect, generating a localized EMP attack. The effect would be almost as devastating  in terms of the effects of such an attack on local utilities, especially for the providers of our power and water entities.

Many think it is a good thing that the Navy has prepared for an EMP attack, However, they have prepared for the wrong kind of EMP attack .

Where would the Koreans have learned to tap into US power grid and generate a limited EMP attack?  His name is Barack Obama. 

High Treason In the White House

We taught the Chinese and the Russians how to turn the lights out.

Obama has already shown the Russians and the Chinese how to take down our grid. As as part of the November 2013 Grid EX II drill, which simulated an EMP attack upon the United States, Russia and China, are most formidable enemies, were invited to attend.

Who would sanction such lunacy in which we showed them how to take down our grid? And  then I remembered the ubiquitous actions of our current President towards the American people. In other words, Obama gave the Russians and the Chinese the knowledge on how to effect a grid take down. Of course, who could forget when outgoing DHS director, Janet Napolitano, stated in her August 2013 farewell address that it is not a matter of if but when such an attack will occur.  There is virtually no defense.

It is not likely that the Koreans will take down the entire grid because of the vested Chinese interests here. But it will be enough to cause us to lose World War III and throw our lives in total chaos.

More to come as more become available.

Credit to Common Sense Show

"Israel Must Be Wiped Off The Face Of The Earth": Iran Launches Missiles Inscribed For Netanyahu

On Tuesday, Tehran demonstrated its “deterrent” capabilities by launching several mid-range ballistic missiles.

In a show of force dubbed “The Power of Velayat” (a nod to the Republic’s religious doctrine), Iran tested what looked like several medium-range Qiam-1s, missiles based on the Shahab of which Iran has hundreds stashed in underground storage facilities. 

“Defensive” or no, the tests obviously fly in the face of western sanctions and underscore the extent to which Tehran deeply mistrusts its regional rivals in Israel and Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, the IRGC tested more missiles and this time, they had a name on them - literally.

“Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday morning that it said were designed to be able to hit Israel, defying a threat of new sanctions from the United States,” Reuters reports. “The IRGC fired two Qadr missiles from northern Iran which hit targets in the southeast of the country 1,400 kms (870 miles) away, Iranian agencies said. The nearest point in Iran is around 1,000 km from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.”

Here are the visuals:

According to at least one source, the missiles were inscribed with a Hebrew message: "Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth."

Credit to Zero Hedge

Why Threaten North Korea And China? Would Obama Start A War To Stay In Office?

Is Barack Obama trying to start a war, and will that war be used as an excuse to stay in office once his term is over?  Late in his second term, Obama is starting to become extremely aggressive with the rest of the world.  He just angered China by sailing an aircraft carrier task force past disputed islands in the South China Sea, he is provoking North Korea by simulating an invasion of that nation during a military exercise that is going to involve more than 300,000 troops, and he is backing Saudi Arabia and Turkey as they make moves that could very well start World War III in the Middle East.  If a war did begin, that could give Obama the excuse that he needs to exercise his emergency powers, and that could potentially include suspending the election that is scheduled for November.

I know that all of this sounds a little bizarre, but it would help to explain Obama’s extremely aggressive behavior lately.

For example, why is the U.S. military risking a major incident on the Korean peninsula?

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is about as paranoid as they come, and he is extremely alarmed by the massive military exercise that is about to begin in South Korea.  More than 300,000 troops are gathering for what is being billed as the biggest military exercise in the history of that nation.

Reportedly, U.S. and South Korean forces plan to simulate an invasion of North Korea and practice the elimination of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction.

In response to these “exercises”, Kim Jong Un has placed his nuclear weapons on standby for “use at any moment”, and he is warning that North Korea may launch a “preemptive and offensive nuclear strike”…

North Korea warned it would make a “preemptive and offensive nuclear strike” in response to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises that began Monday.

The news was announced in a statement by the National Defense Commission of North Korea and published in the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

“As the joint military exercises to be staged by the enemies are regarded as the most undisguised nuclear war drills aimed to infringe upon the sovereignty of the DPRK, its military counteraction will be more preemptive and offensive nuclear strike to cope with them,” the statement read.

I don’t care how crazy someone is – if they have nuclear weapons and they threaten to hit the United States with a preemptive nuclear strike, I am going to get alarmed.

Remember, North Korea did claim to successfully test a hydrogen bomb in January, and the North Koreans did successfully launch a satellite into orbit in February.

The North Koreans absolutely hate us.  In fact, hatred for the United States is one of the pillars of their society.  I know that may sound strange to many Americans, but it is true.  If you can believe it, each year they actually have an entire month during which hatred for America is celebrated.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula are running extremely high, and a single hydrogen bomb could potentially kill millions of people.

So why risk an incident?

Why provoke North Korea more than necessary?

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has been provoking China in the South China Sea.

Yes, it is a problem that China has seized control of several important islands in the Spratly and Paracel island chains.  But there are other ways to handle this crisis rather than trying to show how tough you are.

Last month, China deployed surface-to-air missile systems on the disputed islands.  Obama’s response was to sail an aircraft carrier task force past the islands to see if China would start shooting at it.  The following comes from an article about this incident that was posted by the Navy Times…

The U.S. Navy has dispatched a small armada to the South China Sea.

The carrier John C. Stennis, two destroyers, two cruisers and the 7th Fleet flagship have sailed into the disputed waters in recent days, according to military officials. The carrier strike group is the latest show of force in the tense region, with the U.S. asserting that China is militarizing the region to guard its excessive territorial claims.

Stennis is joined in the region by the cruisers Antietam and Mobile Bay, and the destroyers Chung-Hoon and Stockdale. The command ship Blue Ridge, the floating headquarters of the Japan-based 7th Fleet, is also in the area, en route to a port visit in the Philippines. Stennis deployed from Washington state on Jan. 15.

Do we really want to go to war with China over these islands?

The first time we sailed a military vessel through those waters after China had claimed those islands, a Chinese state-run newspaper boldly declared that China “is not frightened to fight a war with the U.S. in the region“.

Most Americans don’t realize this, but our relationship with China is rapidly going downhill.  There is more to this than just the South China Sea, but without a doubt this is a major point of contention as far as the Chinese government is concerned.

At the same time, we keep getting closer to World War III erupting in the Middle East.  Last month, defense ministers from 49 different nations met in Brussels to discuss a ground invasion of Syria, and since that time forces have been massing in northern Saudi Arabia and southern Turkey.

If a ground invasion of Syria does take place, the goal would be to go to Damascus and take down the Assad regime.  That would put “coalition forces” in direct conflict with Iran, Hezbollah and most importantly the Russians.  It could very easily be the spark that sets off World War III, but Saudi Arabia, Turkey and their allies will never go ahead without the direct approval of the Obama administration.

Barack Obama does not need all of these flashpoints to erupt in order to evoke his emergency powers.

He just needs one of them.

Throughout American history, presidents have always had emergency powers, but since 9/11 these powers have been greatly enhanced.  Given the right circumstances, a U.S. president could now essentially declare himself (or herself) a dictator for the duration of the crisis.

Of course the word “dictator” would never actually be used, but that would be the reality of the situation.

And if we had a “national emergency” that was bad enough, Barack Obama would have the authority to postpone or suspend the upcoming election.

Let us hope and pray that does not happen, but the truth is that such a scenario could actually take place.  Hopefully what we are witnessing around the globe right now are not attempts by Obama to artificially manufacture such a crisis.  Let us hope and pray that when his time is up that Obama is ready to gracefully move into retirement.

Credit to End Of the American Dream

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