Okay, now that we have all celebrated the beautiful Greek “NO!” to the EU plutocracy, we need to get real again and look at the Empire’s options. Or, in fact, at the Empire’s option (with no ‘s’ at the end).
The Empire is extremely predictable. The example of Greece is a textbook case of how the Empire uses banks to strangle a country with debt, creates a comprador ruling class, turns the national media into an instrument of imperial propaganda and tries to completely halt any democratic process by dealing only with the ruling class. By some quasi miracle this last phase has failed in the case of Greece.
I might be mistaken, but my feeling is that the Empire never took Syriza very seriously or, if it did, it did so way too late. As for Tsipras and Varoufakis, they probably were as suprized as the rest of us when they suddenly were “upgraded” for the leadership of a 5% party to the leaders of the entire Greek nation. I also get the feeling that neither Tsirpas nor Varoufakis fully expected the tsunami which they unleashed with this referendum. But whatever may be the case, was is done is done and, to the absolute horror of the Eurobureaucrats, the Greek people have spoken and right now the Empire has only one option: to either co-opt or overthrow the Greek government, which ever works best.
My strictly personal feeling is that it is too late co-opt the government. Besides, both Tsipras and Varoufakis have become such hated figures amongst the Eurobureaucrats that overthrow is probably the preferred option.
Apparently, this process is already under way. Varoufakis who has late has yesterday was saying “you are stuck with me” to a reporter, has now already resigned. As for Tsipras, he appears to be begging for negotiations. I hope that I am wrong, but I am underwhelmed by what I have seen so far.
Yet another color revolution next?
The example of Gaddafi clearly shows that a national leader can totally roll over and submit to the AngloZionists and *still* be overthrown. My guess is that no amount of concessions from Tripras will be enough to keep him in power. He has humiliated the Eurobureaucrats and they will not forgive him. The only logical solution for the Empire now is to make an example of Greece.
No matter what, Greece will face extremely difficult times, both politically and economically. We have recently seen how a country – in this case Armenia – can be easily “punished” for daring to disobey the imperial diktats. I think that Greece right now is a much weaker and fragile country than Armenia. For one thing, the Germans and Americans more or less run, and even own, the place. Second, a good solid third of the country was willing to accept the terms of the ultimatum of the transnational plutocracy. Third, Greece is surrounded by NATO and instability on all sides. Fourth, the country’s entire media is owned by the AngloZionists. Fifth, Greece lacks natural resources or a good market outside the EU.
Unlike others, I do not fear the Greek military too much. Yes, it is generally on the side of the comprador elites but the last thing the EU wants is yet another Fascist military junta in power in an EU country. Also, the reaction of the Greek people to an overt coup might be very unpredictable.
I think that the most likely scenario is that the next thing that will happen is a Greek Maidan, followed by accusations of police brutality and all the rest of the typical color revolution scenario. At the end of the day, what will happen will largely depend on the stance which Tsipras and his party will take: if they seek to appease the Eurobureaucrats, if they offer infinite concessions and if they act like loyal “EU patriots” they will be crushed. But if they appeal directly to the Greek people and explain to them that this is a struggle for national-liberation and that they need the people’s support, help and protection, then they might well prevail, especially if they chose to break free from the Eurozone and turn to the Eurasian Economic Union and China for support. I hope that I am wrong, but I don’t see Tsipras daring to do something that dramatic. This is why I predict a color revolution next.
We shall all know soon enough.
The Saker
Maybe but not to soon. If it goes that way they’ll need time to turn Tsipras into a Chavez like figure. Even so, that will be a tough sell.
I rather expect economic crushing and a media blackout for at least a pair of years. Then they’ll advise. Provided EU is still a thing then.
Correct. Anyone thinking Greece will exit EU is smoking something. They will not let Greece go, but rather put new government in place that will accept austerity measures…
Once in, no one leaves EU.
Correct…and sink with the weak baby giant EU. Oh, mommy! It hurts so much! All my gold is gone
forever. And then, we the people will go to the streets and rejoice and burn the stinking body of the
monster, body of the clumsy Frankensteins monster, that murdered children, and didn´t care anything but the gold. Oh, and those lies, lies, lies, lies and again lies. How I hate those lies!
You know, it´s the easiest way to get rich: to lie to your own people. As EU politicians are used
to do. It´s their nature. They don´t even understand that there´s the truth walking on the streets,
right now. And it´s so dangerous to them. The truth will destroy them forever. But, to be honest,
I think that there will be some wise rats that will leave this sinking boat, before it´s too late.
Zero Hedge just reported creditors (Germany) want Greece out of Euro for 5 years.
Saker, what a mind-blowing prediction!
I can see nothing but a mild compromise position by the EU in which they ramp down their payment demands as little as possible. I also think the US & EU are potentially divided on this, with the US urging that Greece remain in the eurozone. It’s possible that the EU wants them out of the eurozone, although this may be a little too self-indulgent a punishment of Greece by the EU. After all it must result in Greece turning east.
Although German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that the vote had “torn down the last bridges on which Greece and Europe could have moved towards a compromise,” I don’t take him seriously. Germany holds 14 billion euros in revenue from Greek sovereign bonds and so can’t afford the “grand gesture.”
The Germans, like the Swiss, are extremely prudent financially so that it must be immensely frustrating to them to be saddled with the eurozone. Per Christof Lehman’s nsnbc:
“One factor that is generally being omitted by European and U.S. American media is that France (and other “German allies”) made it a precondition for the reunification of Germany that Germany abolished the German Mark and accept the euro.
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl would note that French President Mitterand issued a thinly veiled threat, stating that unless Germany accepted the euro, “it could easily see itself as isolated as it was in 1913″ (before WW I). Kohl would describe the situation as “one of my and Germany’s darkest hours”.
Germany, which is the strongest EU economy has been paying the heaviest price for the bailouts of other EU economies while Germany still cannot act as a sovereign State, is declared as enemy state to the UN in the UN Charter’s paragraphs 53 and 110, and has no peace treaty.”
http://nsnbc.me/2015/07/01/leaked-documents-why-tsipras-said-no-why-germany-cannot-act-as-sovereign/
So you think EU might get Syriza kicked out & continue looting Greek’s assets?! I guess I don’t think so only because they can mostly continue WITHOUT getting rid of Syriza, and a true leftist govt might replace it. Wow! I’m still stunned at the possibility.
I agree with you on the problems Germany faces with the EU and US.But I believe that is a purely “self-inflicted” wound.And that if the German leadership wanted to breakout of that straitjacket they would/could.It is “convenient” to have that as an excuse,”Well,we can’t do anything,they won’t let us”.I think of that as total BS.Germany is the “motor” of the EU.One of the World’s 3 top economies.With around 1/4 the US population.And Russia and China almost literally “slobbering” on the sidelines to have them join them.Saying “Come on Germany you can do it.Just jump,we’ll catch you.There’s nothing to fear”.And yet the German elite won’t make that jump.They have sold themselves to the US/NATO.They are like the old stories of the “good” house slave.They might complain about their “master” every once and awhile.But the warm bed and food the master provided was just too tempting to join the rest of the slaves and revolt or run away.For the local German elite life is just “too good” under the “master” for them to revolt.The opinion polls we constantly see where more and more Germans are questioning the Empire’s rule (only 38% that would fight for NATO,etc) are worthless.There is an American saying that fits those “yeah,that and a buck will get you a cup of coffee”.The Empire couldn’t care less what the people “think” they want.As long as they own the elite (overseers) in Germany, the Germans can whine all they want to.As long as the Empire doesn’t have to worry about a revolt,they don’t care.As long as Russia had a Yeltsin and they “thought” Putin would be another one.They didn’t worry over Russia being loyal.But as soon as the “ruling” elite changed.Russia became this great “threat” and Putin the “new Hitler”.Its the same with Germany.As long as the “elite” is loyal,the people don’t matter.That’s what the “bought” MSM are for,to control them.
yes, agree with you that German leaders (and perhaps even voters) are not acting for the benefit of their own country. As George Friedman said in a video some months back: the US is most afraid of Germany + Russia. Ukraine is just a wedge so that Germany and Russia does not “get together”, as together, they will be unbeatable!
UB 1,
You have to remember that Germany, contrary to what we are lead to think, is not a free country. It hasn’t been one since the end of WWII. It’s totally controlled by “Allied Forces – less Russia”
Maybe Russia is in it as well, I am not sure. Well, after giving it some more thought, I do not think so, because Russia was in DDR, which later on was gifted to the West.
As an example, Germany had to modify it’s Constitution in order to commit some of it’s forces to Afghanistan, because it’s previous Constitution forbade it’s forces to participate in any conflicts outside it’s borders.
As we now see in Japan. The boss orders, the vassals do it.
No, Russia voluntarily gave up control over Germany at reunification. US & UK retained it. To learn more search within nsnbc international.
. “German sovereignty” is probably a good search term.
And of course US has all those thousands of troops still w/in Germany.
but merkel does not represent the german industry…I don’t know how she stays in power. who is voting for her ? and when is the next election ? who are her opposition ? Germany will eventually leave the EU. The people are great, its the leaders that stink..same as USA, and England.
And now the merkel has so openly betrayed German industry, she’ll be gone. the problem is that German Industry is probably not going to vote radical left.
@ Penelope,
Q; I also think the US & EU are potentially divided on this…
R; You might want to consult Evo Morales on how divided the inflatable FUKUS doll really is, when push comes to shove…
hm, is Syriza and Tsipras plus Varoufakis not Soros sponsored? I read something but am not able to find it right now…
This would turn things on its head and this might as well just be a ploy to undermine the EU and Germany (semi Russia friendly with Northstream 2 and Minsk II) and “kill” or rather place in turmoil the EU and hinder them deciding – the way Greece has been used all along.
curious.sle,
the two articles I know of regarding Varoufakis connections, history:
http://m.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/01/29/a-soros-trojan-horse-inside-the-new-greek-government.html
http://journal-neo.org/2015/07/03/what-stinks-about-varoufakis-and-the-whole-greek-mess/
Tsipras doesn’t seem up to the job. No vision, no viable plan. Ending austerity and staying in the EU seem conflicting aims.
My Jaw dropped when I read that Varoufakis Resigned. Seriously in his moment of triumph he bails on the Greek people. He apparently did this to make negotiations go smoother with the EU, this will only look like a sign of weakness to those vultures.
Sorry Canadian, but he did not bail. He was forced out.
By whom is the question? His party just scored a huge victory.Why not say “I ain’t goin nowhere,screw yourself”,a la Nuland.
from http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150706/1024252731.html
“Soon after the announcement of the referendum results, I was made aware of a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted ‘partners’, for my… ‘absence’ from its meetings; an idea that the Prime Minister judged to be potentially helpful to him in reaching an agreement. For this reason I am leaving the Ministry of Finance today”, Yanis Varoufakis said on his website.
I think that was a bit disingenuous of him, “Soon after the announcement of the referendum results, I was made aware of a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted ‘partners’, for my… ‘absence’ from its meetings; “.I have a strong feeling he was made aware of that long before then.So why resign? According to this “an idea that the Prime Minister judged to be potentially helpful to him in reaching an agreement. For this reason I am leaving the Ministry of Finance today”,it appears Tsipras forced him out.That doesn’t bode well for Tsipras’s trustworthiness.We shall see!
@ALL,
There are few possible options:
1. I read somewhere that he was told that if he shows up for the meeting on Monday nobody will be talking to him, as he is not welcome.
2. This one seems to be rattling my brain. The day before the referendum, he said that if YES wins he is going to resign because there is no way he is going to put his signature under that enslavement. Now, the question is: Did he quit, because Tsipras is so desperate to stay in EU, Eurozone that even though NO won he was going to ask Varoufakis to sign it? Or is it really because the EU clowns refused to talk to him.
3. His replacement, seems totally Brussels’ man, but he went to the meeting without any offers, which would suggest that maybe he and Varoufakis are playing tactical game with Brussels.
Maybe to force the Brussels hand to expel Greece from EU/Eurozone, this way the Greeks will blame them for getting out? Yet, as I understand Obama called Brussels and ordered them to do all possible to keep Greece in shackles.
My apologies I was unaware he was forced out when I wrote that.
It will help EU save face when he resigns. Have to give them something.
Exactly!
This is quite remarkable, the way it’s playing out. The next best step. They could not have gotten here and to the NO vote, which was so important, without Varoufakis. It was actually his victory, in a way. But at this next stage his stepping aside may be just what’s needed. It’s been an incredibly delicate game, requiring finesse. I am super impressed with Syriza, their ability to walk a tightrope.
It’s telling to read all the comments of various EU economic ministers and the like, saying that the NO vote means nothing and will make it worse and in the next breath acknowledging that they may be willing to consider debt relief or at the very least negotiation of the debt if Syriza introduces it. Of course they’ll introduce it. It’s what they’ve wanted all along. The EU refused to put that on the table. The whole point of the NO vote was to get that on the table. And it was Varoufakis resolutely holding the line, refusing any deal without debt relief and negotiation that got them where they are now.
If Merkel, et al are smart, they will agree to a workable deal (whatever she’s saying now, still hoping for capitulation). It’s an incredibly complicated game that’s been played. Syriza is very impressive. They could have been out so easily but Varoufakis is brilliant (and an expert in game theory, by the way) and he did exactly what was needed to get to this point. And is also sharp enough to step aside now that his implacable, outspoken style worked, because something softer is best for the next stage.
I agree, anonymous, he is helping the EU save face so they can now say, well of course, with a calmer finance minister we could work something out. But they wouldn’t have before. Not until their hand was forced by Varoufakis first holding the line and then the referendum. Now they are up against the wall. And if they don’t have the sense to do that, make a workable deal, then Greece will leave the EU. But there will be contagion, the thing the EU fears, along with Russia and China helping.
Tsipras has pulled all the opposition together for the negotiations. He just may have the courage to pull it off and get debt relief or negotiation on the table and the basis for the new agreement.
It is quite possible that Varoufakis was forced out by a threat to his life. Its great that the Greeks appointed a real leftist to replace him.
Regarding Varoufakis the FS3 has to offfer an interesting essay by Wil Engdahl: “What Stinks about Varoufakis and the Whole Greek Mess?”
Either he was “implanted”, or he pretended to be implanted and has now decided to step back for strategic reasons – which might not be a bad idea…
Time will tell.
Best would be, if Greece could issue their own IOUs – so to say still imprinted with “EURO” on it – follow the Iceland path – and cut the “Greek” central bank of its dependability towards the ECB. That will make the eurocrats fume…
FS3
He did not jump, he was pushed.
Fortunately, his replacement is just as good, if a little more emollient – he will certainly continue to run rings around the technocrats in Brussels.
There is a silverlining to Varoufakis’ departure. If the negotiations with the EU fail and Tsipras has to resign, Varoufakis, having been on the outside, becomes a viable candidate for PM.
Varoufakis has resigned because the Eurogroup refused to have him on the table. Varoufakis is too much Varoufakis for them. He, Varoufakis, call them “terrorists”, for have cut liquidity to Greek banks. Lagarde said it could negotiate but with “adults at the table”. Apparently, adulthood in Europe institutions means drop your pants, they do not accept anything more from the 30s onwards.
Shame!
What people say, they do not care.
That of Varoufakis is an attempt to delegitimising people, young people who have voted overwhelmingly “OXI”.
They may with those floats that are now on the Eurogroup, but the young, those in southern Europe, which are already poor,even if they are working all day, almost from the age of majority, will not have much to lose.
Qué viva Varoufakis!
Yanis!, you must only start the motorbike and tell us to where we will follow, running, by bike, motorbike or on skates.
This is Varoufakis,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toyoT3w8qo8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_O8r3WU0Pc
As has been shown many times in the past.Screwing over a volatile “youth” is a very bad idea.The Empire was able to co-opt many of the “youth” in Ukraine through fascist nationalism.But it might be that in Greece (and throughout the Southern EU) the shoe is on the other foot.The youth seems to be less liable to support the Empire.Unlike in Ukraine, the EU youth have an intimate experience with the “benefits” of the “European values of austerity and kneeling to the Empire”.And many of them don’t like what they see.
UB 1,
You should know that vast majority of Greek students have historically been on the real left. Particularly that tools like Samaras were toying with privatizing universities. This did/does not go well. Even more so, that more than half of Greek youth can’t get the job and everybody know who is behind all that.
In my mind there is a great divide between Greek and Ukrainian youth, as the Greeks will not go for “F**k the EU cookies” or such BS.
Varoufakis is his own man, as proved on many occasions. He has written several statements since the vote, including this long assessment of EU leadership few making comments seem to have read, https://www.jacobinmag.com/2012/01/europes-greek-moment/
Saker, you need to do more research into Greece before writing the sort of “analysis” you did. Foremost is the fact that China has billions invested, so Greece’s assets aren’t owned by just certain EU countries. Further, a great item was published today by Sputnik detailing the fact that Germany never repaid its creditors and had its debts forgiving/restructured, http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150706/1024292414.html
I expect the already publicly announced Odious nature of most of the debt to deliver the Greeks from the jaws of what’s Dollar Diplomacy on steroids. Michal Hudson weighed in on the outcome and what might happen going forward, which would have been a better item for this spot on the blog, http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/07/06/greece-rejects-the-troika/
Outlaw Historian,
I’m going to post part of the Michael Hudson article– the big thing is Syriza needs to start printing drachma NOW, cuz they’ll run out of ATM cash by tomorrow. Of course I guess they can replace existing checkbook balances as numerical balances & people can still write checks against it??
Michael Hudson:
“Juncker threatened to expel Greece from Europe, despite no law permitting this to occur. Let us see now whether he still tries to carry out his bluff, which has been echoed by right-wing leaders throughout Europe.
His retaliatory actions from an ostensibly non-political, non-elected office are not alone. The eurozone class war in support of finance against labor and industry is now open and in earnest. Instead of doing what a central bank is supposed to do – provide liquidity (and paper currency) to banks, ECB head Mario “Whatever it takes” Draghi forced them to shut down even their ATM machines for lack of cash. Evidently this was intended to frighten Greek voters to think that this would be their country’s future if they voted No.
What Greece needs is a domestic central bank – or failing that, a national Treasury – empowered to create the money to monetize government spending on economic recovery.
[Did you know there was a unanimous vote July 2 by the European Parliament in support of a “No” vote?] But there also was concern that the Syriza leaders did not begin immediately upon their January election victory to educate voters on what actually is at issue: why remaining subject to the junk-economics dictates by the IMF and ECB, will make the economy subject to chronic debt deflation. Instead of spending the past six months educating the public over what is at issue with the Troika, Syriza focused on playing political rope-a-dope to demonstrate how firmly the ECB and EC were committed to austerity.”
Terrific article; read more here.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/07/06/greece-rejects-the-troika/
Lagarde said it could negotiate but with “adults at the table”.
What mind blowing arrogance on her part. She is every bit as arrogant as Victoria Nuland, imho.
hugs,
The Saker
you will be pleased to hear that an investigation into Sarkozy has uncovered text messages or letters, can’t remember which, from her where she essentially offers herself as slave for anything (could be sexual, but she probably meant political).
Can you source these claims with something substantial, Anon?
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/06/17/la-lettre-d-allegeance-de-christine-lagarde-a-nicolas-sarkozy_3431248_3224.html
Saker,
I saw Lagarde first as finance minister in France and was not impressed. She stood out as one more of the Sarkozy girls from the 92 department (clique who are all under investigation today for one financial misdemeanor or the other).
I did not expect anything from her, especially considering she was a replacement for the DSK enforcer who had failed to break the Greek fingers when asked to.
Time is provng me right. But once more,the Greeks are playing a brilliant game for their survival knowing that like Siamese twins, if they drown while in the EU, the EU goes with them. The anger from the Troika is because they are dealing with people who understand that.
Therefore, Saker, please include that in your hypotheses, that the Greeks trying to stay in the EU while manifesting their desire for different rules are not completely mutually exclusive but a strategy to buy another day.
Kind regards
ElRius
I think you mean this:
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/06/17/la-lettre-d-allegeance-de-christine-lagarde-a-nicolas-sarkozy_3431248_3224.html
Interesting
Varoufakis already had to stop negotiating and let Tsipras do it, months ago, because the other side can’t stand him (he is too right too often).
Anyway he is still there. This last paragraph of his farewell speech doesn’t get quoted much:
“We of the Left know how to act collectively with no care for the privileges of office. I shall support fully Prime Minister Tsipras, the new Minister of Finance, and our government.”
but what it means he is still there, only in the background. “I shall support” means actively support, not just not go against them.
And as others have said already, if they do somehow get forced to another election, he is available to take over, officially not being part of the Government that got thrown out. However the Oposition has made an agreement to back Tsipras, too, so who are the colour revolutioners going to find?
Tsipras’ plan seems to be getting a deal around the IMF assessment on Greece. i.e a 20 year grace period on repayment and a 30% haircut while remaining in the EU.
As Saker says the EU’s plan is to make an example of Greece. Unfortunately for the EU they must walk a fine line in torturing Greece. Russia and China along with BRICS, SCO and the EEU are waiting in the wings. If the EU is too hard on Greece it will drive it straight into eastern arms. If Tsipras falls, the result might be an even more left wing government. Perhaps with Varoufakis as PM.
Ngoyo, I, too, would like to see Greece leave the euro. But bear in mind that both Varoufakis & Tsipras said repeatedly that 1. They wanted to pay. & 2. They weren’t going to leave the euro. Unless Tsipras has changed his mind or was pretending before I doubt he’ll leave the euro. Bearing in mind the admission by the IMF on Saturday he will certainly look for a reduction of the debt & a delay in resuming payments.
It would be wonderful if he branded the debt odious, but totally out of character with the person he has pretended to be so far.
btw, I believe there is no legal means to evict them from the EU.
Penelope, you are correct. What I’m trying to say is that if the EU decides to force Greece out i.e by refusing credit, then they will be shooting themselves in the foot as BRICS and SCO are waiting in the wings to receive Greece. So the EU’s options are not so good either.
So what happens? First it is likely that there are a few more elections in Greece’s immediate future. A deal with the troika will probably have to go to a vote. I feel that given Tsipra’s stance his government may fall and its place taken by an even more left wing government. Perhaps with Varoufakis in charge. Varoufakis leaving the stage now creates an opportunity for him to return later if thing get out of hand.
Ngoyo, I don’t think EU can refuse liquidity to a country in the eurozone. Wd be part of the legalities in forming it in the first place. Euros are printed in Greece, controlled by their central bank at behest of ECB, of which they are a branch. I read that Greece cn declare state of emergency due to non-fulfillment of liquidity by ECB, and then take over printing euros on their own (emergency) authority. Don’t know if Tsipras has the courage. On the other hand wd take a lot of courage to face Greeks who can’t get money & Tsipras is the responsible party.
@ Penelope
“1. They wanted to pay. & 2. They weren’t going to leave the euro. Unless Tsipras has changed his mind or was pretending before I doubt he’ll leave the euro.”
That’s the million dollar question. Does Syriza actually mean they don’t want to leave the Euro nor the EU, or they’re just saying that to appease a very propagandized population that stubbornly doesn’t wanna leave the EU?
I heard from a commentator on RT, he was saying that the Greek population wasn’t ready yet to face the fact that leaving the EU is the best thing for them and their country.
I find it hard to believe Syriza doesn’t know that leaving the EU is the correct course of action, considering that Michael Hudson himself has been in communication with some Syriza members.
It might be hopeful thinking on my part, but I do tend to agree with some analysts who theorize that Tsipras & Co are just playing along (or playing a game of chicken, if you will) with the Troika, mainly to show their people back at home what the EU bureaucrats are truly like, namely; ruthless and anti-democratic.
The more the EU crowd show their true colors, the easier it is to sell a Grexit to the foolishly deluded pro-EU Greek people.
As I understand it, this hypothesis is based on the fact that for Greece to leave the EU 1- They would have to vote themselves out of it (but the Greek people are not ready for it) or 2- They would have to be kicked out by the EU, thus breaking their own rules and treaties – not unheard-of (since the IMF and others like to bend the rules whenever it suits them) – but highly improbable at this point in time.
If the analysts’ estimation is correct, Syriza has the Troika in check, not a check mate yet, but check.
No wonder, prior to a new round of negotiations the EU talking heads were saying this morning that the “ball was in Greece court”… No! You dishonest dimwits, when you’re in ‘check’ the ball is pretty much in YOUR freaking court.
.
BTW, here’s one of the latest Dr. Michael Hudson’s articles on the issue (apologies if it’s been shared already)
Greece Rejects the Troika
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/07/06/greece-rejects-the-troika/
-TL2Q
Yes, the empire is very predictable!
Another element in the future “sure” color revolution that is going to hit Greece is the side the military will take. I hope in his talking with President Putin, Tsipras did touch this point as weel, and
a strategy might have been developed to counter attack any coup by the military.
Color revolution: Greece. Yes, a color revolution but not immediately. Tsirpas ( replacing his economic minister) is going to try to play. In the meantime the opposition will have time to mobilize the 1/3 who voted yes around some bogus issues. Hitler only needed 1/3 of the Germans behind him but he played a step by step game to gain state power. It will be a drawn out ‘color revolution’ perhaps over a 2 year period. They are learning from Macedonia and Armenia. Street protests have to be carefully coordinated with staged violence. Their coordination was off in Macedonia and their timing was off in Armenia. Because they were premature and had no Plan B for when the Armenian government got clever ( surprise, surprise), they were outmaneuvered. Hopefully there are some competent strategists in the organizations that mobilized the 2/3 “no” vote in Greece. One can hope Color revolutions come in many shades and sizes and require a “softening up” period. An army coup is the tool of the impatient and arrogant and will be a tempting to use, however and that kind of hammer is just what the dummies in Washington prefer.
A “Maidan” requires young people. 80% of the young said NO!.
The 1/3 were mostly pensioners. Can’t see them throwing Molitovs from the parapets of burning tires.
A bigger worry is alienating that 80% which will turn if they sense they’ve been sold out.
I agree, Erebus, with your comment about the 1/3 mostly pensioners. One lady questioned about how she voted said she voted Yes because she didn’t want to leave the EU. Propaganda works, fortunately not in the case of 61%.
This (61%) would never happen in the U.S. Folks here (most) believe anything they’re told.
@ Erebus
“A “Maidan” requires young people. 80% of the young said NO!.
The 1/3 were mostly pensioners. Can’t see them throwing Molitovs from the parapets of burning tires.”
True, true and true! *nodding enthusiastically*
Mind you, for some reason I’d love to see pensioners chucking Molotovs around, burning tires and raising havoc, if for nothing else, for the novelty of such an unusual picture ;-)
-TL2Q
word through the grapevine is YV was fired by Tsipras at the unspoken behest of the eurocrats.
i don’t think that anyone will try to destabilize Greece, NATO southern flank.
Gossip on some blogs said that on the last Bilderberger meeting / recently in Austria /that the Empire representatives they have decided to step back and leave or postpone the plan for the NWO, get rid of the people who knows too much and wait for the future…..
I have a feeling that this energy what was created by the anger, many years of enslavement, injustice of the Europeans nobody will be able to stop this movement. It is going to be a social and political avalanche especially from the former Eastern European countries who had enough from the looting of the Empire and enslavement from the EU.
Anonymous, Do you have a link on that business about the Bilderbergers? They seem to be doing just the opposite– that is, speeding things up. What do you make of this below?
This is Zerohedge’s conclusion to a story:
“Needless to say, this decision makes it quite clear that it was not Greece, but the ECB pushing all along for “burning the Greek bridges” – just as we warned in “Goldman’s “Conspiracy Theory” Stunner: A Greek Default Is Precisely What The ECB Wants” – and as a result any chance of a compromise resolution with Greece may have just been, well, burned”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-06/it-begins-ecb-adjusts-greek-ela-haircuts-full-depositor-bail-sensitivity-analysis
Anonymous, the conclusion isn’t surprising since IMF (US controlled) was clearly working against the EU when, on Saturday, it came out for a softening of terms to Greece & more bail-outs. A message clearly designed to boost the “No” vote.
Presumably ECB is under IMF control as are all other central banks. I read a Greek default as a tremendous punishment of Germany, since she’s holding 14 billion in Greek bonds. I’m lost. Does US desire to punish Germany trump EU desire to punish Greece? What would be Germany’s sin? Does US oppose Nordstream II?
I don’t really understand the link above– talks about a haircut on ELA (emergency Liquidity Assistance) to Greece. Actually, a haircut on the collateral permitted for it; does that amount to the same thing?
Somebody please help me understand this.
Germany’s sin is working to get into bed more with Russia economically.
I confirm,more and more german MP’s are switching side,and want(asap)the sanctions lifted(not only the left party)but even CDU now.The worst against RF are the SPD supposed to be ‘socialist’ and ‘democrats’….a joke.
Greece, as Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Israel, Ghaza, Sinai are full of Gas. This is not told in public, but nonetheless it’s true. Bill Clinton – as a member of a big american Gas exploration company – already made deals about exploration with George Papandreou (a native American). All these infos are well known by the specialists and corporations. So, buying a greek island means much, much more than simply tourism for the owner.
You, Saker, just made an interview with F.W. Engdahl, he can tell you everything about this, because this is his field of expertice and he already wrote a lot about this.
Looking into the future, Greece can be a rich country, if it learns how to diminish corruption, how to effectively control and taxes it’s few very big ship owners and some other bosses, how to make good deals with international corporations and their dangerous law companies. Beeing a big Gas and Oil producer in the future makes it possible to payback their depts.
One special aspect will also be cruical: As it was the fact in Chile 1973 under Alliende, the Greek military is in total control by extreme and dangerously right fractions. The “peacy” youth even makes things worse. Tsipras took care of a possible coup by changing some higher posts in the military structure after he took office, but his current defence minister wasn’t one of them. Changing this will be a long time undertaking of strictly democratic and hopefully progressive governments abd the Greek society as a whole.
The “game was rigged” from the beginning and Greek politicians have to face the truth. My opinion is, that Papandreou has to be trialed for treason as well as Goldmann&Sachs, who managed the fraud. People – no exception allowed whatsoever – have to take responsibility for their action. And so, betraying and looting must be punished as any other form of crime.
From a more sociological aspect, it might also be important to look deeper into the causes and dynamics of the specific Greek form of “Clans”, something we normally are aquainted with in the tribal structures of muslim populations and countries. This clan structure is a big drawback to this day forany real progress in Greek, much too many people think they are save and can live a happy live if they obey to some big, big boss. Think about it deeper, because it has to do with the “real” foundings and origins of the Greek people and not the myths that are told to us.
As I already layed out yesterday in my comment, I don’t see an actual danger for a coup. What could more likely happen is, that peace for peace we might see some changes in politics (did you ever heard of “affirmative action”?), the english thugs know for some hundreds of years how this works.
My personal perspective for Greece is, that this was well managed show, to “sell” massive spending to the european people. This will be played out in the next days, therefore Varuflakis predictably left the scene just in time for the “new deal”. The haircuts (30%-50%) where already anticipated and agreed on behind closed doors (see systematically unnoticed IMF paper – 50 Billions more dept in reality, haircut proposed by IMF! – say Goldmann&Sachs and Co.).
What will change in Europe in the next years is this: The game will change, from brutal and pure austerity to more and more full blown state deficit spending. So, Germany’s policy lost and we will see a full blown Transfer-Union as new Phoenix. America and the Banks laugh, they win anyway and all european states will be left without any form of souveraignity. The Dollar will NOT be challenged by Europe, because the Euro will become a very week currency, managable by the international banking cabal (Brics).
The Greek socialists will have played their part – sadly more in the interests of the ruling elite than in the interests of the people.
That is a good point and little discussed.For years (almost 30) I’ve read every few years or so.A few little articles in economic journals,where the Aegean Sea is mentioned as having the possibility of vast reserves of gas (more than oil I believe,though both).They haven’t made much of an effort to find out,and develop them (the Greek-Turkish disputes being one reason).But it would seem to me, that would be a way for Russia and China to help Greece/Turkey and themselves.And to get the Greek economy moving again.Russian and Chinese oil and gas companies investing in developing those reserves.
Uncle Bob 1, Aegean gas COMPETES with Russian gas.
Not if the same interests help develop it. Also,as has been stated before,there is the potential for a lot more gas to be used in Europe.Russia can’t supply in all.Especially if much of their future shipments are hoped to go to the East. Gazprom,and other Russian companies want to be involved with new sources,and make profits from them.The biggest problem they have with those other pipelines is the Empire controlling them.And using them as an anti-Russian weapon to freeze Russia out.
Good point, Uncle Bob.
My hope is that the outbreak is so firmly within the Euro money system now that it can’t withstand many color revolutions without falling apart. For sure this is what they will try each time a nation can’t bear austerity anymore and starts to fall apart, to keep breaking it further per their basic policies nonetheless. At some point Deutsche Bank’s 100 trillion in derivatives, too, will start to unwind and chances are wars will start to become more localized, if not necessarily fewer and less deadly. Will Greece keep hemorrhaging the Euro body profusely even if reattached?
Saker,
Excellent statement.
The Greek people have entered the stage of history. Their NO cannot be denied, or rewritten.
It’s all good!
NO to phony ‘Color’ “Maidan” Revolutions. Only Revolutions emanating from the People will suffice.
Time for a Greek militia – to assist the Greek Army in defense of their right to Life, Liberty, and National Sovereignty.
The sky is not falling!
We can win this!
NO to the imperialist EU.
For the rebirth and respect for all Europe’s Nations. Europe is naturally wealthy, and their various nations can Live Free and Prosper.
In France, Marine Le Pen made a fine statement.
Death to the EU!
Life to Europe!
One tiny problem, Peter.
The Greek Army historically likes to take over as a military dictatorship, forget the rights of the people. They’re not very long on economists, either, so tend to go along with what the lenders say is good for them.
Kat Kan,
The Greek Militia/citizens must “assist the Greek Army” to do the right thing. Years ago we leafleted the soldiers at the NYC Port Authority – where they returned from their vacations to the Army Base at Fort Dix NJ. The Greek soldiers, and as many of their officers as possible, must be encouraged to fight for their interests (the interests of their countrymen/women), and not those of foreign and domestic Oligarchs.
Revolutions are won when sections of the Army join the people (Russia, France, Novorossiya, Crimea, are a few examples).
It may not be easy to influence soldiers who follow the orders of officers who follow the orders of Oligarchs, but it should be attempted (so as to make more difficult a reactionary coup d’etat by the Officers).
That was a hell of a fine referendum. NO means NO!
Varoufakis studied and taught game theory apparently.
We don’t actually know what the military feels right now, except some high ups made public calls for a “yes” vote. Just a few statements, not pushing hard. For all we know that might be part of the game, the game of keeping EU off balance, hoping the Army IS on their side.
Oligarchs? they’ve taken what they wanted and moved on. Austerity doesn’t affect them, loans they get at their off shore tax havens, Greece is a lovely climate where it is cheap to maintain a mansion or two. Do any of them have political ambitions to become hated and have to work hard? all the laws are written to suit them already, aren’t they? and those laws EU is not asking to dismantle.
The Army I assume is getting paid, and is exposed to NATO attitudes. But they all have relatives who are broke and hungry (and probably rely on the family soldier for everything). Do the generals want the headache of running the country?
All EU can count on is some up and coming hopefuls who are prepared to sell out in exchange for a grab at one of the bargain price items to be sold off – but there’s not much left. Opposition leader resigned after losing the YES vote.
EU had better make a good enough offer on Thursday (which is when they expect Greece to come up with a plan). Otherwise this will be the first colour revolution in history that supports the existing government (albeit perhaps with Varoufakis at its head).
NATO can’t attack a NATO country.
Brilliant move to word the referendum so NO becomes the desired outcome. So much easier to shout, if they need to come out again.
Re NATO can’t attack a NATO country. Ask Aldo Moro about that see Gladio terrorism.
The enemy ie those at the top of the pile who give the orders are ruthless and fanatical about their precious project and the opportunities for looting and asset grabbing that it presents.
Also Turkey attacked Greece & took territory. Both are NATO & NATO did nil.
Empires paranoia war machine
by Gary Franchi
Here’s a story conveniently omitted
from your evening news, it’s called
Operation Talisman Sabre and it’s
coming soon. Scheduled at just the
right time, as the global economy
trembles because nations of the
world are defaulting on debts from
the international banking cabal…
as the militaries of the world prepare
for the inevitable call to war.
Video: (under 7 minutes)
Breaking: 33,000 Troops Deploy to Pacific
for Talisman Sabre 15
http://www.ForbiddenKnowledgeTV.com/page/27368.html
In a victory for open source software and more importantly, for common sense, a judge has thrown out the charges against Sergey Aleynikov
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-06/judge-dismisses-charges-against-sergey-aleynikov
I wrote about Sergey Aleynikov plight back in May
/ukraine-sitrep-may-07th-2015-by-scott/
Congratulations, Sergey!
Another victory against the Empire!
Great news indeed. I hope the same will happen to the case against that poor Indian trader from England, who was arrested for “causing the flash crash”, yeah, right, a single Indian guy caused a the Flash crash… while big HFTs like Goldman are innocent!
The case would have exposed Goldman-Sachs’ criminal trading algorithms. To protect G-S, they had to let him go.
It’s no win for other software cases. It’s a win for Aleynikov’s lawyers. Predictable from the get-go.
The manipulation of HFT and Dark Pool processes has screwed investors and institutional fund managers out of Trillions.
That racket got protection by this decision.
Banksters won.
“The only logical solution for the Empire now is to make an example of Greece.”
here it is:
New Yourk Times: “Now Europe Must Decide Whether to Make an Example of Greece”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/upshot/now-europe-must-decide-whether-to-make-an-example-of-greece.html
For an MSM piece that wasn’t that bad.He pretty much nailed what choices the EU has.
Dario,
NYT article tries to fool us:
“[A much sweeter deal] would send the signal that a country can borrow all it likes, walk away from those debts and make the rest of Europe pay the bill, as long as it is intransigent enough.”
No, what it would tell us is that we should return to the days of banking responsibility: When banks lend unwisely & loans can’t be repaid the banks have to take the loss. They may not pass their loss off to public institutions like the IMF or a local government. They may not lend the interest or the next payment to the debtor so as to take its public assets.
Greece did not steal the money; it was lent by banks & by the IMF and they assume risk when they loan. Life does not come with a written guarantee for the world’s most lucrative profession– banking.
I don’t think the Tsipras government will fall.
The Greeks will rally round it because it is abundantly clear that that is what the EU/ECB/IMF want.
Tsipras will be able say “Don’t think about a deal because they don’t want to compromise – they want to keep the debt millstone around Greece’s neck for a generation”. If it gets nasty, Tsipras will get the Bank of Greece to print Euros like they do already. Let the EU try to stop them. Can you imagine the EU trying to cleanse itself of Greek EU notes and coins? It’s impossible without the EU printing more EU notes to exchange for them.
Hope you’re right about Greece printing its own Euros. IMHO that’s the only possibility that might work, as the equivalent did for Argentina and Iceland. But if it’s done at all, it must be done quickly, before the Empire can have time to strike back. A week, two at the very most.
Well if the military steps in Kamennos will be in charge. His party is traditional conservative a la LaPen. Here he is in Russia….
http://www.peacekeeper.ru/en/?module=news&action=view&id=23689
More here:
http://redefininggod.com/2015/02/globalist-agenda-watch-2015-update-19a-the-greek-peoples-revolution-and-the-new-european-renaissance-brought-to-you-by-the-nwo/
If the military were to step it they would get rid of any pro-Russian elements within the government right away.Under civilian rule the DM is in charge.But in a military coup the generals (colonels,whoever) appoints whoever they want as DM.
True, however the Greek military may not be willing to go completely anti-Russian because of Turkey. It’s a similar situation to Armenia-Azerbaijan. Even the most pro-Empire political elements in these countries are still mostly pragmatic towards Russia. Russia backing Turkey 100% in any future conflict (economic, political, or military) is not something even the most anti-Russian Greek politician is willing to risk.
Tsipras has to keep the social order until true allies emerge, like podemos. Eventually, southern Europe has but one destiny: become a bloc in the BRICS.
The danger from the right is a colored revolution (masterfully neutralized, at least for quite a while) by the referendum, or a military coup (analogy with the post Jeltsin years, in which truly talented pres. Putin has taken over 15 years and still counting, to limit the influence of the pro- western olicharchs.): He cannot be too harsh on tax evasion and military overspending.
Due to the very difficult economic situation he cannot Grexit: Most families depend on remittances from at least one family member benefitting from Schengen. Cutting this off would cause a popular uprising.
I have some hopes that Varoufakis might emerge as a charismatic leader for a southern European uprising…
But maybe, just maybe Tsirpas got his idea for a referendum from you know who and kept it under wraps till the right moment ? If so, he may have a few other tricks still up his sleeve, i live in hope.
It seems that Varoufakis was fired because Tsipras was bullied by EU-someone, but he is still a member of the parliament and can still give advice. Is it a hollow victory for EU-someone, or is Tsipras goinf to fold under pressure? Either way, the Greek people are still the people, and still have lots of power if they choose to use it.
The empire is weaker than it was, getting weaker, with growing opposition. Trying to make Greece an example may end up as the exact oppoiste example the empire wants: that it can no longer snap it’s fingers and subjugate others. Much depends on Tsipras for the short term, but beyond that the trend of failing empire and EU will continue unless it changes course, and BRICS is still dancing to it’s own tune, creating major dissonance with the NWO.
No need for color revolution when the people will barter away their sovereignty.
Weak leader of a marginal leftist party.
Lost the one guy with spine, forced out by the “leader” to make his job easier.
(He who was forced out would never give in. So he had to go because the leader wants to be a Euro hero, not a global or Eurasian or sovereign hero.)
I don’t use their names because I sense in a few weeks, all this “people power” and Greek revival will pass from our memory.
The Greeks should be back in the streets demanding their representative be there in any “deal”.
But more, the Greeks have a real future they don’t want. The overwhelming voice of Greece is to be inside the corral of Brussels, sheep.
But this time they won’t be sheered for their “wool”. They will be made mutton and lamb chops.
Two thoughts/related Qs:
1) I saw it ‘regularly’ in Pakistan (ie) 6 and 7 years olds making bricks to repay their parents/dead relative’s debts. Maybe a silly Q, but are Greek and German children responsible for their parent’s debts?
2) Put in other words, does the recent Pikertty interview “revelation’ re German WW2 debt non-repayment have any traction with the Empire’s banksters?
saker –
You said, “My strictly personal feeling is that it is too late co-opt the government. Besides, both Tsipras and Varoufakis have become such hated figures amongst the Eurobureaucrats that overthrow is probably the preferred option.”
It’s already started, in my opinion; Against my better judgment I was listening to NPR this morning – the Diane Rehm Show. One of her guests was Stepan Richter (sp?) – I forget his affiliation – but he was slathering it on like cheap paint on a wall – his opposition to the ‘no’ vote and the subject was bandied about that maybe Tsipras would need to step down. As if anyone but the Greek people have any right to demand that.
I think the AZ Empire is apoplectic over this state of affairs. Warms the heart, it does!
They might try, but a Greek Maidan is basically impossible IMO. The problem is that while it’s no doubt possible to muster some anti-Syriza protesters, most of the groups in Greece who could muster a protest are anti-Troika. Any “Maidan” protests against Syriza would be dwarfed by counter-protests.
A secondary problem is that what you could get for “Maidan” would basically be Golden Dawn. An awful lot of Greeks hate Golden Dawn, and even the Western media would have a hard time shilling for them given the publicity they’ve already had; it’s a little late to pretend they aren’t actually Nazis.
In the end, “Maidan” style takeovers pretty much depend on the people being mostly apathetic and disorganized, undirected, so you can take advantage of their dissatisfaction by filling the void and pointing them in some direction. Currently this is a very common situation; neoliberalism fosters it by making democracy irrelevant. But there are way too many Greeks who are already organized and already have strong political ideas.
Frankly, the only protest movement that might conceivably unseat Syriza would be an anti-Europe one, probably for the most part further to the left than Syriza itself. There’s no percentage for the Empire in encouraging that.
I think it more likely that they’ll just keep on keeping on. They’ll continue the financial blackmail/torture, they’ll keep grinding Tsipras down in the negotiations, they won’t budge an inch, they’ll act as if the democratically expressed opinion of the Greek people is irrelevant (which to them it is). They’ll keep pushing until Tsipras throws in the towel and gives in to stop the massive economic damage being inflicted. Then they’ll keep going anyway, partly just to show the Greeks what happens when you disobey, partly in hopes that Tsipras will be completely discredited and overthrown in favour of someone more pliable.
There are only two things I can think of for Tsipras to do which can avoid this.
1. Grexit. Greece controls its own currency and tells the ECB, the Germans and the IMF to take a hike. Maybe accompanied by default.
2. Get their Euros elsewhere. Greece’s debt is big by Greek standards, but it’s a small economy. The Chinese, the Russians, heck, maybe even a consortium of leftish Latin American countries, would easily have enough Euros to simply lend them the cash to pay off the IMF and the Europeans. They would then owe the debt to someone not committed to fanatical class warfare against the majority of the population as economic policy. True, this would seem like a big risk for the lender–we keep hearing how terribly unsustainable the Greek debt is. But that’s partly because their economy has been trashed; debt-to-GDP gets bigger when the GDP shrinks by 25%. If they weren’t being crushed by austerity and could do some Keynesian intervention, their economy would rebound. If their debt-servicing was at low interest rates and their economy grew, the size of their debt would not be such a huge issue. Still a bit high, but workable. Japan’s is way higher.
“We shall all know soon enough.”
Just look out for Srdja Popovic and his CIA-trained and funded Otpor/CANVAS whereabouts…
Empire?
Egypt has submitted an application for a dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Monday.
http://tass.ru/en/world/806320
This is huge, an Egypt needs this separation from the West.
There is no development financing in the West for Egypt. China has plenty.
There are no allies in the West to fight the Muslim Brotherhood-ISIS cancer which now intends to blowup and tear down all Egypt’s heritage sites, including the Great Pyramids.
I believe we will see joint basing of Russian and Chinese and other SCO anti-terror forces in Egypt.
The Canal alone is a nightmare to defend.
Expect to see Russian “experts” assisting with Egyptian counter-terror forces in the Sinai.
The two most recent phone calls from Putin to Obama were about much more than general ME issues. Putin has made specific the need to the US to get out of the way if they are not going to finish off ISIS. Russia, Iran, China and now Egypt will.
Egypt has the potential to be similar to India with Russia. Joint venture in development (jobs) on military equipment, basing (more jobs), service centers (jobs) for aircraft, naval basing (jobs) for Russian and Chinese vessels.
So, the closer Egypt draws to Russia and China (SCO) the more economic development.
The West offers nothing but chaos next door (Libya) and internal destabilization (Morsi and MB and ISIS in the deserts).
The problem with Egypt is two-fold (maybe three-fold if we include the Israeli connection).They are in a low-level (at present) civil war.And until ISIS and their stooges are defeated in Libya and Sinai,Egypt can’t be secure enough for foreigners to want to risk much investing.And a corollary to the first problem is Egypt isn’t united.The Morsi people have a lot of support.Not the majority certainly.but a lot nonetheless.Unless Egyptians can figure out internally what they want there can’t be stability there for long.I’d like to see them reject Wahhabism and move to more moderate Islam.But having ties with Saudi Arabia can’t let that happen.Egyptians themselves need to figure out where their “souls” lay.
I hope Tsipras’s bodyguards are good. Assassination is a common tool in every Empire.
Yes, it is a purely statistical coincidence that they lately clustered in Novorussya.
And what about all those ‘suicides’ in Kiev?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32341840
color revolutions: Hegemon would like to make one in Venezuela but that situation simmers for years on the back burner. The forces of empire will be more aggressive in Brazil because it is a much bigger prize and it is one that they consider their on their “home turf”. The Venezuelans have held on because they rallied people’s organizations and distributed oil revenues in the form of food subsidies and medical care. In addition, they received excellent advice from the Cubans. Color revolutions in order to be defeated or even to be held at bay require counter organizing.
You may be right about Brazil – it seems that it is under way…
Greece will leave Euro zone and NATO too eventually. The new drac has already been printed in Russia a month ago and will be flown into Athens on commercial jets by end of this month if not sooner. It will be valued against a basket including BRICS currencies.
Hope you’re right about this. But do you have any supporting evidence or documentation ?
I am sorry to see Varoufakis go. He made the dollar so much appreciate against the euro, you wouldn’t believe what one buck now buys you in Greece!
Cheapest holiday I ever had, besides Mexico.
Time for an Alexander to cut the Gordian Knot. Tell the EU to go to hell. Agree to the loan from Russia, and ask for Russian protection. It’s a simple, if hard, choice: slavery to the West and its banks or relative freedom and a new start to join with the East. The Greeks have stupidly identified themselves with the West, whereas in truth their soul, as Orthodox, is to the East. They are not Catholics or Protestants; logically and spiritually they should join their Orthodox brothers in the East: Russia.
Apparently the US regime decides for the EU:
Greece to Remain in EU Only if Agrees to Reforms Package – White House
Only implementation of financing reforms will allow Greece to remain part of the Eurozone, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a briefing on Monday.
Just like with that sen. Durban letter to Yats the suk giving orders on who to fire and hire in Ukrainian regime, the white house is making decisions for the EU.
I saw the article. Doesn’t say anything about WHICH reforms. Syriza suggested reforms, but EU didn’t like them.
the Greek finance minister resigns after a resounding victory just because his opponents do not like him! what a joke. Instead of getting empowered with the no votes in referendum he has made it easy for the greedy angloamerican-the real evil behind eurocracy-to derail the referendum result! he should have fought his distractors.
He’s an appointee and serves at the request of the PM.
That’s the softee. He has a bright smile and no spine.
The Minister was tough, too tough for the EU.
The sadness is thinking like Greeks who insist they must be European first, Greeks last.
The lesson of history is you kneel and beg if you don’t show you will stand and fight.
It is amazing – all this drama, all this financial instability, and China and Russia have not had to do anything. Europe is crumbling financially, hemorrhaging in the derivatives markets, another state that has gone with Europe and lost badly – like the Ukraine.
Some say that the US is bankrupt (Rand Paul). Liabilities exceed assets. It’s the math. Growth is lower than interest rates, and It’s musical chairs time. I think this is the cause of all the desperation. If you don’t make as much of a profit, that is one thing, but if you go under – if you go bankrupt, you lose everything – your country, your economic system, your freedom. People do amazing thing to keep from going under. They even fight wars.
Some one said it is the 4th turning, some the Apocalypse, others WW III. Who is going to stop the rain?
What’s wrong with peace and Love and kids and family and growing things and riding horses? If we had an EMP burst, the Amish would have it made.
Politically, defund the DOD and homeland security, release FEC control of media, end domestic spying by cutting useless programs.
A color revolution requires a popular mobilization against the government in power; that is not likely given the popular support for Syriza’s putative anti-austerity plan. Tsipras has been systematically stripped on any genuine power, and faces strong opposition within his own party to cooperate with austerity. One post-referendum option for the Troika in the face of a “no” vote was to demand a coalition government before continuing “negotiations.” The present solution is a variation on this theme.
The resignation of Yanis Varoufakis at the suggestion of the Troika that he would be unwelcome at future negotiations almost certainly means, as most of us have predicted, that Tsipras will — with the proper element of token resistance — simply and fully capitulate to austerity demands and sell his capitulation to the Greek people as an expression of their will as he points to the element of token resistance he will have introduced.
For all their efforts, the people must be satisfied with having the pig to kiss for their love object, but Tsipras will first anoint the pig with lipstick. Syriza leadership itself has been riven as to how strongly to oppose EU austerity. To appreciate better why Varoufakis in particular resigned, the following article by James K. Galbraith, who has worked closely with Varoufakis for four years, is useful. The key excerpt is below:
http://www.politico.com/agenda…
“9 myths about the Greek crisis: An insider’s take on the
conventional wisdom to ignore.”
By James K. Galbraith
…7. The Greek government is playing games. Because Finance Minister Varoufakis knows the economic field of game theory, lazy pundits have for months opined that he is playing “chicken” or “poker” or some other game. In Heraklion two weeks ago, Varoufakis denied this as he has done many times: “We’re not bluffing. We’re not even meta-bluffing.” Indeed there are no hidden cards. The Greek red lines – the points of principle on which this government refuses to budge – on labor rights, against cuts in poverty-level pensions and fire-sale privatizations – have been in plain view from day one.
The leaders of Greece played a masterful hand at winning and building the support of the Greek people for standing up to the banksters. They have placed the onus squarely on them for the failure to negotiate a resolution and the misery the Greek people are being subjected to. They still don’t have a mandate for Grexit, and are still fighting for the labor-populist insurgency throughout the periphery of Europe that could put the banksters in check.
Russia and China in the meantime need to play their hands carefully. For Russia in particular the Greek crisis is not unlike Ukraine. If they move in with bailouts before it is absolutely necessary then Greece becomes another part of the faultline through Eastern Europe, and a military target. Russia needs Syriza to win its struggle with Europe, or for it to develop to the point where it is absolutely clear to the people of Greece, Spain, Italy and the rest of Europe that they had absolutely no choice but turning to Russia and China.
Why do I feel so confident in saying this?
First because Syriza keeps doing what I would do, which makes me feel like I know them.
Second, the Greek people, in overwhelming numbers considering the massive blackmail and propaganda they have been subjected to, have voted to stand up together and fight. Which is what a No vote means. And I deeply believe in the power of an aroused and conscious people standing together.
Third, Tsipras has been calling Putin daily, and he’s not calling to beg. These must be strategy calls.
Saker, unfortunately with the sacking of Varoufakis to appease the eurobureaucrats, Tsipras is going from weak to weak (save for the referendum, which in my opinion he does not have the skill to exploit against the eurobureaucrats). He continues to make concession after concession save for the red lines that I am sure his coalition set and not him. He seems to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off running back and forth to Russia in a game of playing Russia against the EU in very a transparent and amateurish way. We will see if Greek participation in the Turkish pipeline will materialize. Doubtful with Tsipras as head of government. I much prefer Varoufakis who seems to understand what is at stake, what he is up against and prepared to fight to the last breath for what is rational and seemingly the only way forward. I must admit however that I was surprised by the referendum move and ecstatic with it’s outcome but Tsipras is not up to the fight unfortunately. Tsipras Must Go. Greece and the world needs a political pugilist.
I have tremendous enthusiasm for everything that’s happening. The fundamentals are so powerfully on the side of Greece. Tsipras has played his hand well (as long as he’s good with Putin, and Mercouris is wrong about his annoying the Russians – this remains to become clear yet).
I almost feel that Varoufakis has taken up position in the hills, while the suits give it one more go around the table, as any good Che Guevara would.
I really do like the concluding paragraphs from the Sputnik piece somebody linked in this thread, especially the very last line:
“This requirement by the creditors is an honor for me,” Varoufakis said. In the English version, which his former colleagues from the Eurogroup will read, the statement sounds harsher: “I shall wear the creditors’ loathing with pride.”
Describing the actions of the Eurogroup and the international lenders, Varoufakis said that “there’s a name to what they are doing to Greece – it is terrorism.”
Varoufakis’ plans are not known. Clearly, he won’t stay unemployed for long.
http://sputniknews.com/analysis/20150706/1024289282.html
The fact that Tsiparas gave in to creditors demands and asked Varufakis to resign does not look very encouraging. Does Tsipras have what it takes to lead Greece to national liberation? Not sure.
IMO, they need to push that declaration of ‘odios debt’ into the courts and go after the crew responsible, in and out of the country. Will anything of account result? Not really, except to inform their citizens about the nature of the reality around them. Obviously, most Greeks and most people around the world haven’t got a clue about what’s really going on, nor why. It’s time to send them to school, before it’s too late.
The oligarchs remain in power in the country in the banks, business, media et al, and removing them from their entrenched position requires the type of talent that the current crew doesn’t seem to have, but they can create chaos in the NWO gameplan and maybe that is enough for now?
@The only logical solution for the Empire now is to make an example of Greece.
An article of Cliff Kincaid of ‘Accuracy in Media’, a conservative media watchdog, spells out loudly all the memes which would justify the necessity of direct intervention by USA, Europeans being too soft and inefficient (“The subject of reports and even a book suggesting she is a Russian agent, Merkel knows full well that Tsipras and Putin have been undermining the NATO alliance at a time when the West fears a Russian invasion of another former Soviet republic”)…
“The coverage of the economic disaster in Greece, a strategic NATO country, has mostly ignored the role of Vladimir Putin’s Russia in the growing global turmoil…The Greek regime is a Moscow-backed left-right coalition led by Alexis Tsipras, the pro-Marxist and pro-Russia head of Greece’s “Coalition of the Radical Left….
Some news organizations have alluded to Russia’s role in the current crisis. “Russian President Vladimir Putin feted Tsipras in St. Petersburg last month as bailout negotiations took place in Brussels,” noted Michael Birnbaum and Griff Witte in The Washington Post….
“Russia has its eye on Athens, trying to break European unity to put an end to economic sanctions imposed over its actions in Ukraine,” Birnbaum and Witte noted in the Post….
But the situation is far more serious than the Post lets on. Syriza’s 40-point program includes undermining NATO, the global battle against Islamic terrorism, and Israel:
Closure of all foreign bases in Greece and withdrawal from NATO.
Withdrawal of Greek troops from Afghanistan and the Balkans. No Greek soldiers beyond our own borders.
Drastically cut military expenditures.
Abolition of military cooperation with Israel. Support for creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders…
In their book, EUSSR, Vladimir Bukovsky and Pavel Stroilov argued that the European Union was itself a project of the old Soviet Union, and that the EU has always been subject to manipulation by Moscow and its agents. Based on this analysis, what’s happening in Greece is part of a process of pulling Europe as a whole to the left and away from the United States.
The eventual goal, some observers say, is the removal of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency, a development that would strike a mortal blow to the global capitalist system.”
@http://www.aim.org/aim-column/pro-marxist-sells-greece-to-moscow/
WizOz, Don’t you know the corporate media is there to manufacture your consent? NATO certainly doesn’t fear some sort of military action by Russia. Look at the map! There are NATO military bases sprinkled around Russia’s borders. I think Russia has 1 base outside her borders & 2 refueling stations. Look at all the countries attacked by the US/NATO & their allies: Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen and others.
You do realize that ISIS, al qaeda, etc are proxy forces of the West, right? It’s been demonstrated in declassified documents.
Terribly interesting, what’s going on, WizOz– but don’t waste your time with the corporate media. It’s all lies.
According to Alexander Mercouris(who of course is Greek even if living in the Uk)a color revolution is impossible in modern Greece.Do not forget that more than 85 pct of the young voted for Tsipras.I do not see the older people making a Maidan,even less during the high season for the tourism industry.
It seems that a grexit is already decided.
We will know by wednesday maximum.
But one thing the banksters can still be able to do is to seize ‘à la Cyprus’,a part of the bank accounts of the greek people,even if more than 150 billions already left the country.They can seize the money of the greeks in the target 2 eurosystem if I’m not wrong?This to get their money back at least some money because the due total amount is far larger(400 billions eur).
Saker just for the information,Greece is an oil and gold rich country.
Check via google,that is one of the most hiden secret about Greece,they are in fact very rich in theory(oil reserves are located near Creta I think).Greece is potentialy the first or second gold producer in Europe.
I’m sure Putin is very aware of these…data,don’t worry(lol).
Just waiting for the right moment(I hope so).
More details about gold and oil rich Greece(in french only)
http://leblogalupus.com/2015/07/04/ce-qui-se-cache-derriere-la-dette-grecque-grece-dimportantes-mines-dor-qui-excitent-les-convoitises-etrangeres-rappel-la-grece-pays-de-lor-noir/
Saker
There is one option that I and most people even in Greece I’ve talked to were not aware of. It also might possibly explain the rather hasty and unexpected (in some quarters) resignation of Varoufakis.
Webster Tarpley has an article on voltairenet about “requisitioning” of the Greek Cental Bank – under the Lisbon Treaty it’s totally possible if a long shot.
Check it out: http://www.voltairenet.org/article188066.html
Sil
Right you are? Saker with your analisys.
Think you and your readers will find the attached article (with some historical parallels) useful and interesting.
“NUDELMAN’S NEW WAR, NULAND’S NEMESIS – WILL GREECE, OR WON’T GREECE BE DESTROYED TO SAVE HER FROM RUSSIA, LIKE UKRAINE?”
By John Helmer, Moscow
A putsch in Athens to save allied Greece from enemy Russia is in preparation by the US and Germany, with backing from the non-taxpayers of Greece – the Greek oligarchs, Anglo-Greek shipowners, and the Greek Church. At the highest and lowest level of Greek government, and from Thessaloniki to Milvorni, all Greeks understand what is happening. Yesterday they voted overwhelmingly to resist. According to a high political figure in Athens, a 40-year veteran, “what is actually happening is a slow process of regime change.”
Until Sunday afternoon it was a close-run thing. The Yes and No votes were equally balanced, and the margin between them razor thin. At the start of the morning, Rupert Murdoch’s London Times claimed “Greek security forces have drawn up a secret plan to deploy the army alongside special riot police to contain possible civil unrest after today’s referendum on the country’s future in Europe. Codenamed Nemesis, it makes provision for troops to patrol large cities if there is widespread and prolonged public disorder. Details of the plan emerged as polls showed the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps neck and neck.” Greek officers don’t speak to the Murdoch press; British and US government agents do.
For full text :http://johnhelmer.net/?p=13712
Based on everything I have read, Tsipras and Varoufakis failed to achieve their goals, and furthermore, at the point to stomping out of negotiations, had nonetheless agreed to 98% of virtually everything the Troika asked for. The flash referendum question, was always designed, either way, to send them back into the same negotiations. As one Greek pensioner put it: ‘It seems as if it’s ‘heads they win and tails we lose.’
There are two pieces I recommend on Greece. One by John Helmer, the other by Greg Palast
Nuland’s Nemesis: Will Greece Be Destroyed to Save Her From Russia Like Ukraine
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2015/07/nulands-nemesis-will-greece-be-destroyed-to-save-her-from-russia-like-ukraine.html
GREECE’d We Voted ‘No’ To Slavery, But ‘Yes’ To Our Chains
http://www.gregpalast.com/greeced-we-voted-no-to-slavery-but-yes-to-our-chains/
47 page memo Palast article mentions is at http://www.tagesspiegel.de/downloads/11870514/2/Regierungsvorschlag%20Griechenland in PDF
That’s what is discussed in German alternative media:
Bitte kapiert doch:
Griechisches “Oxi” ist Teil des Kasperltheaters:
http://staatsstreich.at/bitte-kapiert-doch-griechisches-oxi-ist-teil-des-kasperltheaters.html
60% nein, wie im Link unten vorhergesagt und Varoufakis tritt zurück (Zweck erfüllt?):
http://staatsstreich.at/merkel-tsipras-zocken-gegen-eigene-radikale-gruppierungen.html
http://staatsstreich.at/griechenland-nein-lautet-der-plan-a-unserer-politverbrecher.html
Möglicherweise war Varoufakis ein platzierter Strohmann:
Bevor er im Januar Finanzminister in der Koalitionsregierung von Alexis Tsipras wurde, lebte Varoufakis eine Zeit lang in den USA, wo er für den Videospiele-Entwickler Valve Corporation in Bellevue, Washington, arbeitete. Die Gründer der Firma kamen von Bill Gates‘ Microsoft. Ende der 1980er Jahre studierte Varoufakis Wirtschaftswissenschaften und Spieltheorie an den englischen Universitäten Essex und East Anglia und lehrte in Cambridge. Die folgenden elf Jahre verbrachte er in Australien, wo er die australische Staatsbürgerschaft annahm.
http://info.kopp-verlag.de/hintergruende/europa/f-william-engdahl/was-stinkt-an-varoufakis-und-dem-ganzen-griechenland-schlamassel-.html
MODERATOR: Ask Saker to look at this post in German, or its translation. He would want to know this. It demonstrates that the fix was in between Merkel & Greece the whole time, that the referendum was just to allow Merkel to write down the debt due to the “emergency”. And much more. There’s even a Varoufakis quote on Friday confirming that the arrangement was already final.
Thanks
Penelope
WGF Meister, Thank you so much. It does put the pieces together for me.
This confirms again the assumtions of the FS3 that the “crisis” was used for creating a fog around an actual bailout of the banks and so shifting the burden towards the taxpayers: https://farsight3.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/90-der-hilfszahlungen-an-griechenland/
Is that why the obvious confusion around the real figures of offers/promised payments/actual deliveries is (not) visible? See here (Fig. 8) another variation of the ol’ theme: https://farsight3.wordpress.com/2015/07/06/8ung-6-7/
Shifting the liabilities towards the EU taxpayers can be understood in two ways:
1) Either it serves as a further stepstone into the absolute dependency of the citizen from the totalitarian state…
or…
2) …it is dumping the debt into a “safe haven” – as the (German) leadership knows that their banks are more easily to be conquered by the “enemy” than their folks…
-So who could that “enemy” be? And var. #2 might turn out as adangerous game – for the public.
…
Btw, a must for everyone to read: From a speech of Varoufakis, back in 2013
How I became an erratic Marxist
Gives a very good insight into his personality and mindset….
Kudos,
FS3
so Donbass is being blockaded, Russia is being sanctioned blockaded, Greece is being economically “blockaded” from assistance for debt relief……Transnystria having isolation problems ——–presumably if Greece prints its own euros or drachmas it would be called a “separatist or terrorist”….printing drachmas would give the opportunity for EU to say that they had nominally left the EU…Greece would not be permitted to print its own euros, surely that would have to only approved by central authorities……..
meanwhile Macedonia..”The present Macedonian government of Nikola Gruevski (PM from 2006 and a leader of the VMRO-DPMNE) which has confronted the KLA, is punished (May 2015) by US-NATO for two reasons:
A Macedonian policy not to introduce sanctions against Russia.
A Macedonian wish to join Russia’s sponsored “Turkish Stream” of supplying Europe with the Siberian gas.
As the current Greek government is becoming closer to Russia, the Kosovization of Macedonia could be used against Greece, as a means to undermine the Greek pro-Russian policy. Namely, a summer holiday tourism is for Greece one of the most important incomes for the national budget per year. As a huge number of the European tourists are coming to Greece by the highway that is crossing Serbia, Macedonia and exactly the Kumanovo area it can be expected that in the case of conflict situation in the FYROM, the tourist industry in Greece will be affected.
European tourists travelling by land will have to cross conflict areas in Macedonia.
The conflict in Macedonia could spill over into Greece itself and most probably into Serbia.
Finally, the armed KLA rebellion in May 2015 against the state of Macedonia is used as a means to destabilize the government in Skopje in the form of a Colored Revolution, similar to Belgrade in October 2000. As in Serbia after October 2000, a new post-revolution Macedonian government sponsored by the West would be instrumental into transforming Macedonia into another client state of the post-Cold War NATO’s World Order. The success of the US-NATO plan very much depends on the role played by Russia.[xii]’
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-destabilization-of-macedonia-greater-albania-and-the-process-of-kosovization/5451039
IMO some tourists might go to to Greece in oder to show support though…….
I note your experience reportedly lies mostly in analysis rather than strategy – fortunately this is also reflected in large part by the opponents despite them having organisations allegedly engaged in strategy.
From a strategic viewpoint in context, increased “colour revolutions” or coups/putschs of various sorts are to be welcomed for many reasons including but not restricted to:
1. Increased deliniation/exposure of the opponents.
2. Increased over-extension of the opponents.
3. Increased conflation of tactics with strategies and battles with wars.
4. Increased opportunities for lateral challenge.
@anonymous 11:17
We are very fortunate as a human beings that finally after repeated “Revolutionary Maidan type” of sham was exposed and has opened the eyes to the people of this world. Even the opposition was exposed, this is very good too, because the psychopaths can see directly into the eyes of the masses of the people who are pretty soon going to hunt these psychopath down the road. It is going to be a very short story .
Every single color revolution was nothing just a very cheep sham.
“Every single color revolution was nothing just a very cheep sham.”
Perhaps the phenomena are a little more complex including but not necessarily restricted to:
1. An opportunity to increase the opponents of the exceptionalists.
2. An opportunity for the exceptionalists to extend their illusion that they are exceptional and the deciders – additional dosage of hubris if you prefer.
3. An opportunity to increase the datastream of linear “strategies” adopted by the exceptionalists since say 1954, but certainly since 1973.
Perhaps I can suggest that the use of phrases such as “nothing just” is a practice of self-inflicted blindness limiting perception and implementation of lateral challenge.
As to your use of “sham”, that can be useful in motivating lateral challenge.
As to your use of “cheep”, the notion is often based on evaluation criteria and practices of the present socio-economic system: for example monetary cost, an insignificant notion if underpinned by fiat currencies, often misunderstood by those without possibilities of fiat, and those with possibilities of fiat.
However lateral strategies may not be based on such evaluation criteria and practices.
Evaluation to have validity is often performed over a certain time frame often broken down into event/position sections.
However all may not adopt such methods and/or perceptions; some may perceive the process as laterally ongoing.
Is that you, Data Collector ?
Why are you fixated on attribution?
Perception of fixation is subjective.
….please remember that in Septembeer there will be political elections in Germany. I think Germans might even be as intelligent as Greeks and could overthrow Mrs. Merkel by voting for some alternative political force (don’t forget that the social situation is not so good in Germany either). In this case the greek referendum would be only the first step (hopefully) in a generale european decomposition.
Many people here discard the fundamentals of Syriza. It’s a socialist party sharing the values of the international left. Their dressing code might be slightly proletarian but their values are those of Soros, Chomsky etc… including gay marriage, open borders, pro-zionism. Just read Varoufakis profile on Wiki. He is manifestly in the globalist camp. That’s why Syriza did not ask the Greek people if they want to leave the Euro. They want to keep Greece in the EU and the Euro. Therefore they cannot be trusted, for the real sovereignty of the Greek people is not on their agenda.
Absolutely correct, Monfils. I would like to delve a little further into the subject of Syriza — its main political characteristics as well as the issue of what the Greek crisis entails for it.
Syriza’s political orientation places it first and foremost in the camp of the Western Left, more specifically Social Democracy. As anyone not wilfully blind or plain dishonest can confirm, the imperialists have long since finished off the Western Left by triumphant neoliberalism. Today’s Western Leftists — for the most part anyway — keep parroting Soros and his colour revolutionary ilk spontaneously, albeit with more emphasis put (on the average) on “gay rights” and “anti-authoritarianism”. The non-Western Left, by contrast, is something entirely different, as it’s made up of people objectively confronting imperialism head on. And this is where it gets really interesting. Sure, there is indeed real confrontation going on between Greece and its EU patrons, but the Greek crisis isn’t an expression of deliberately stunted national development as in the Third World. Rather, it’s a very ugly corruption racket that has gone off the rails, partly at considerable expense of the Greek petty bourgeoisie. This takes us to the next paragraph.
If there were no financial crisis and no simmering conflicts with any emerging powers, Syriza might still had been around but then as a minuscule utter nullity, totally dwarved by what used to be the Social Democratic “real deal” — PASOK. However, given the chaos and tensions that have beset the EU along with the ascension of Russia and China, PASOK has become a spent, discredited force all along the line. Sleaze and corruption usually pose just a minor nuisance when everyone is happy but become all the more dangerous in times of severe crisis. The Greek petty bourgeoisie, just like their “peers” in the more wealthy Western countries, were showered in unrestrained credit money while the Greek corporatocracy kept their tax evasion racket going, and the Greek state borrowed money abroad in exchange for purchases of armaments from the creditor countries. When things started to go downhill in 2008, the rotten state of affairs in Greece became totally untenable. The deluded petty bourgeoisie was hit both by the collapsing public sector and of credits drying up. Suddenly, and virtually out of nowhere, there was considerable mass support among the Greeks both for Nazism and Leftist Social Democracy. Syriza has successfully capitalized on this mayhem, with empty promises to the sheeple and sincere promises to Western imperialism.
My conclusion is that,for all its pusillanimity and pro-EU grovelling, even Syriza might prove too much for ailing Western imperialism. If so, Greece will most likely be regime changed not by a colour revolution but by NATO outright. Golden Dawn wouldn’t survive a sell-out to the Zionazis.
Absolutely, Monfils.
Did you see the German link a few comments above? It discloses the whole referendum-bit as an arrangement between Merkel & Tsipras/varoufakis to allow Merkel to write down the debt due to the “emergency”. (The debt obviously couldn’t all be collected anyway).
The translation is worth struggling through and confirms what you are saying and more. Poor Greece will get yet another bail-out and sink further in merde.
I believe that following the resounding victory of the OXI! side, the Greek government and people ought to mobilize massively without delay and take every measure possible to prevent the subversion of Greek democracy by the Empire, with the help of its European accomplices. That is VITAL, as is the need to increase security around all key Greek government officials and to ensure all concerned are most reliable individuals.
As Varoufakis has readily admitted in his last message, “Minister No More!”, that total war to the finish has hardly begun. If History is any indication, that war promises to be among the most vicious ever seen, much worse than the defunct so-called Arab Spring, with all Mubarak’s and Ben Ali’s friends (among others) back in power with a vengeance. Life in Greece for the Greek people, during the last five years, is already proof enough that the struggle will be extremely vicious in Greece, mainly because OXI! is already considered no less than treasonous by those creatures in power, both at the heart of the Empire and in subservient Europe, now feeling exceptionally threatened. In addition, let us not forget that Greece now rises high geopolitical stakes. In all quarters, appetites are known to be extreme.
___
I welcome your piece, Saker. Last time I posted this on a reputable blog, I got ONE thumb up only… which is why, presumably, what all this is about is so important. — Regards always, LR.
Some necessary rephrasing? Second part, second paragraph, line 3: “Greece right now is a much weaker and fragile country than… Greece” instead of ” a much weaker and fragile country than …Armenia???
Greece and the eurozone are becoming now the new crucial field concerning write-offs of public debts. It is certain that Tsipas administration will receive similar pressures, or even threats, by the global financial mafia after government’s decision to form a Commission to audit public debt because this may trigger a domino of other eurozone countries to follow the same path. It is important for the Greek people to show strong support to the government especially on this matter because the war will be hard: “It is the first time that the Western elites are in such a difficult position after many decades of complete dominance. Grexit or not, it seems that they are losing control. What will they do then? Actions as usual in order of magnitude: propaganda – soft assassinations – economic hitmen – hard assassinations – color revolutions – military coups.”
http://bit.ly/1FYxOoo
http://www.voltairenet.org/article188066.html Excerpt:
“Hardliners within the party – though not Mr Varoufakis – are demanding the head of governor Stournaras, a holdover appointee from the past conservative government. They want a new team installed, one that is willing to draw on the central bank’s secret reserves, and to take the provocative step in extremis of creating euros.”
“’The first thing we must do is take away the keys to his office. We have to restore stability to the system, with or without the help of the ECB. We have the capacity to print €20 notes,’ said one.”
“Such action would require invoking national emergency powers – by decree – and ‘requisitioning’ the Bank of Greece for several months. Officials say these steps would have to be accompanied by an appeal to the European Court: both to assert legality under crisis provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, and to sue the ECB for alleged ‘dereliction’ of its treaty duty to maintain financial stability.”
(quoting Tarpley who’s quoting Ambrose Evans Pritchard)
I think Tsipras is both cleverer and more principled than many people think. BOTH sides (the EU negotiators and their opponents like Saker, etc.) thought he would ultimately roll over, and he’s given that impression many times, but ultimately he hasn’t actually rolled over. I get the impression that he’s using the Putin strategy, just a little bit (don’t forget that Putin also started out by seemingly doing everything that the oligarchs and elites required of him).
And the reason Tsipras ISN’T making that final “appeal to his people” as Saker suggests, is because he knows the Greeks aren’t ready for it, not yet. First, he has to make the EU bureaucrats show their full hand, so that the Greek people can see exactly what’s going on.
Look at the party he formed government with. He had a host of options, but he chose the only other Euro-skeptic party, even though it was a conservative one. He knew what was coming, and chose the only ally that wouldn’t betray Greece, even though they disagree on almost all other social issues.
Guys, remember Tsipras went to visit Putin? what do you think Putin told him?
* do not back down
* when the opponent is making mistakes, don’t try to stop him
* do not back down
* REFERENDUM
* shrug and repeat, sorry, the people just voted…..
All the statements coming out now from everywhere are “it is urgent, it is urgent”. Well it’s not urgent for Greece. If it’s urgent for the creditors, let THEM make an offer Greece can accept.
The referendum told them “forget about colour revolution, the people are behind him”.
GREECE’S ACTUAL DEBT MAY BE 90% LESS
There is a method of reckoning the Greek debt which reduces it by 90%. And the method is internationally recognized and has now been adopted by Greece. And the European Commission has recommended all EU countries adopt it. It values the restructured portion of a debt at market value on the day it was restructured, rather than by the face value when it was first issued. The Greek debt was restructured in 2010, 2011 and twice in 2012.
http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/07/greece-owes-less-than-europe-says-000132
IPSAS [International Public Sector Accounting Standards] is the standard “accrual method” universally used in the commercial/gov world. But the EU uses the Maastricht Standard, which values the debt at original face value.
Until now the auditors have not evaluated the debt– only the politicians. And Greece refuses to allow EU auditors near its books. Apparently something to be hidden there.
I personally don’t understand why computing the debt has anything to do with Greece’s books; I mean both lender and borrower know how much was borrowed, how much was repaid, and have the restructuring documents, no?
There is more at this 2nd link, but not at the first one.
http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/05/greece-germany-european-billion-dollar-money-problem-000045
Haha,maybe that would be the plan the US will try for its debt.Just devalue it by 90%.If it worked I figure all countries would try it (maybe citizens could as well).I could imagine the reaction I’d get if I called the bank and said “BTW I’m figuring from now on my debt to you is 90% less”.
Uncle Bob, the accrual method is the standard method, so presumably yours is already figured that way. The Maastricht Method is an anomoly, or so the author says.
The problem for Tsipras is the only way he can possibly stay in power is to thumb his nose at the institutions. If he capitulates he will be dependent on the opposition to have any agreement accepted by the Greek parliament. If he doesn’t, he might be able to stay in power if he manages the Grexit well. It is said that the extreme left of Syriza already have a plan for exiting the euro and moving to a parallel currency (following the Icelandic example while taking into account the structural deficits existing in Greece). So if he followed that and was able to communicate that the institutions left him no other option, he might survive for a while. Otherwise, if he capitulates he is toast.
John, Agreed. Supposedly his inner cabinet was all for the emergency “requisition” method that was discussed a week before the referendum. http://www.voltairenet.org/article188066.html
Apparently Tsipras vetoed it, and now that silly story is being circulated that he had counted on losing the referendum & just has no idea what to do, etc.
I’m getting the feeling that we are watching a play with too many cartoon characters. Smells fishy, staged.
I have to disagree with this analysis.
Tsipras was elected with the approval of the empire, as he visited most of the empire organizations before the elections.
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/26/tsip-j26.html
The referendum was mainly for greek politic purpose (and Tsipras won over comprehensively). Whatever the answer/the result, the next step was always to stay in the Euro, with the approval of the US, instead of defaulting and going with Russia/the brics.
Furthermore, to continue to have Greece inside the eurozone could mean that ” “sovereign debt crisis” is being used to create a precedent that will apply to every EU member government. The member states will cease to exist as sovereign states. Sovereignty will rest in the EU. The measures that Germany and France are supporting will in the end terminate their own sovereignty. “
If tsipras doesn’t change his mind (and goes with the Brics), or if the Euro country do not dump Greece, the empire might allow Syriza to stay in power in Greece for a while.
Where are the Spartan’s when you need them…lol It’s not just Greece, all the people worldwide must ramp up the NON-CONSENT attitude that they started a few yrs ago, regardless of culture, language or religion, and kick these elite scum down that well for good! As stupid and controlled as the majority of American’s remain these days, far more are being awakened than I expected to see, but because of this, the masters are scrambling and positioning for a final take-down, or so many believe. Which of course they have to do, since we are the most heavily armed population in this solar system. So Greece seems to be nothing more than the initial lynch pin that sets their final solution in motion, as they position military forces nearly worldwide.
SO, we are ALL Greeks! BUT we all now have to become SPARTANS!!
“SO, we are ALL Greeks! BUT we all now have to become SPARTANS!!”
Perhaps the use of helots are best left to the opponents.
“Fifth, Greece lacks natural resources or a good market outside the EU”
Not true.
Greece has many natural resources such as iron ore, lignite, zinc, lead, bauxite, petroleum and magnesite. In 2010, Greece was the world’s fourth largest producer of pumice and a leading producer of perlite. The country also produced about 1% of the world’s bauxite and 9% of the world’s bentonite.
Furthermore, there is some research that there are significant oil and natural gas reserves in the Aegean and Ionian sea but it is not certain if it is economically viable to develop these oil and gas fields.
Moreover, Greece has a strong agriculture even though it is in steep decline since the 1980s because of EU agricultural policies (COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY) and subsidies that have caused a decline in agricultural productivity and output. Greek agriculture is hurt by cheap imports from third world countries. If Greece withdraw from EU, it could become self sufficient in food production and an important exporter of agricultural products to Russia etc.
Besides agriculture, another good source of income is tourism that would provide significant hard currency when and if Greece withdraw from EU.
The problem is industrial development. Greek heavy industry has disappeared after Greece’s entry into EU in 1981 because with the abolition of protective tariffs, the greek market flooded with German/french/dutch etc imports and Greek products could not compete and all these greek firms either got bankrupt or were bought by foreign competitors. One notable example was AGET IRAKLIS, one of the largest cement industries in Europe. In the 1990s the government of New democracy party sold the company to the French competitor LAFARGE who downsized AGET IRAKLIS by closing its factories.
Because of the current crisis, the last remnants of small scale industry have started to disappear too because of bankruptcy, low demand, high taxes, and relocation to cheaper countries (e.g Bulgaria etc).
Greece needs to withdraw from EU and Eurozone and to form economic,investment, trade and military agreement with Russia and Eurasian Union.
With the revenue from agricultural exports and tourism, Greece will have to invest heavily to rebuild its industry and to achieve the long term goal of a self sufficient economy. That cannot happen with free trade and open liberalised markets. It needs import substitution policies, trade tariffs, and state intervention, investment, control and
“Shifting Borders” is the name of a debate on ‘Crosstalk” that encasulates the procedures the very predictable empire uses to fracture to wide open, states to be easily and 100% plundered in a short time, once the tactics of fomenting chaos as in Orange revolutions is done, the society having bloodied cracks all throughout it afterward.
The “revolution that was not” in Ukraine is another action, the US Corporations biding their time restlessly as they await the signal to loot whole sale.As the US did in Indonesia. The 3 to 5 million CIA set up massacre there in one year or less in the 60s was to so instil pure terror, the actual corporate dismantling of the vast archipelago would not cause one riot.
Ukraine is proving a harder nut to crack but must be, for all of Europe is to become as supine as Indonesia became. The American planners figure Russia cracked open and passive is an impossibility they plan to do to them what their dear brother Israel is doing, Palestinain genocide. The genocide of Russia is openly being the subtext of any propaganda out of Washington
Look at <rt.com. Cross Talk , "Shifting Borders" to see clearly what is being done to both Russia and Europe.