An Unofficial Plebiscite

BERLIN/BARCELONA (Own report) – The German establishment is sending mixed signals in reaction to the announcement of an unofficial plebiscite on Catalonia’s secession from Spain. Catalan Prime Minister Artur Mas has declared the September 27 regional elections a de facto plebiscite on the region’s secession. Should his alliance secure the absolute majority, he will proclaim independence from Spain within 8 months. In the past, Germany had repeatedly supported Catalan secession. Influential German think tanks are demanding that secession not be obstructed. However, there is opposition rising from within business circles. Catalonia is a central site for German companies in Spain. Engaged in trade throughout Spain, they do not want to see their business possibilities limited to one region and Barcelona’s secession from Madrid could possibly prove an obstacle. According to German government advisors, on the other hand, these problems could be solved. Some economists contend that the EU’s currency, the Euro, can, in the long run, only be maintained within a uniform economic area. This would exclude Spain, but include a seceded Catalonia, the strongest economic zone on the Iberian Peninsular.

King of Sweden congratulates ‘State of Palestine’ on its ‘National Day’

The king of Sweden on Saturday congratulated the people of the “State of Palestine” on their “National Day” in a letter.

It marked the first time a European monarch officially hailed the Palestinians’ unilateral declaration of independence in 1988.

“On the occasion of the National Day of the State of Palestine I wish to convey to your Excellency my best wishes for your health and happiness and for the prosperity of the people of the State of Palestine,” Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden wrote in a letter to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority and chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

PLA may build airfield on disputed South China Sea island

China, aided by the People’s Liberation Army Navy, may soon build a military facility on the disputed Johnson South Reef to expand its scope in the region, according to Duowei News, an outlet run by overseas Chinese.

Iran planning to target decoy U.S. aircraft carrier in drills

An Iranian newspaper is reporting that the country’s military plans to target a mock-up American aircraft carrier during upcoming war games.

The Sunday report by independent Haft-e Sobh daily quotes Adm. Ali Fadavi, navy chief of the powerful Revolutionary Guards as saying Iranian forces should “target the carrier in the trainings, after it is completed.”

That time Ronald Reagan met Vladimir Putin

Ronald Reagan had called the neo-Soviet Union, today’s Soviet Union, the “Evil Empire” for a reason. It hasn’t changed and communism never died because a wall was simply demolished in Berlin. Nor did Reagan have much to do with that either, contrary to popular belief. This also wouldn’t be the first time US politicians have been fooled into not knowing what they’re looking at. It’s downright alarming to know how badly the west is deceived by the Perestroika Deception, and falls for the next trick, over and over again. Only if Reagan knew then that he had met Russia’s future leader of today who was bent on, and currently coming close to, bringing down America.

In May of 1988, President Reagan traveled to Moscow for a  summit with Mikhail Gorbachev. They rolled out the proverbial red carpet for the U.S. president and repainted buildings and repaved streets.

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The most interesting part of the trip, though, was unscheduled and was initially unremarkable. Gorbachev was introducing the president to tourists. When Pete Souza, the photographer, remarked to secret service that he was surprised by the pointed questions, the agent told him that they were all KGB families. Looks like he was right.