Australia: One Foot in Asia v the West

 

QUESTION: Hello Martin Armstrong,

Australia seems to have one foot in the West and one in the East. With the fall of the Western economies and then the rise of Asian economies, how does that affect the Australian economy? Does the real estate bubble collapse the Aussie economies and then the rise of China creates the opportunity to rebuild the economy after 2032?
Thanks for all the work you do.

Italy and Poland in talks on anti-EU league

Polish ruling party chief Jaroslaw Kaczynski seldom meets foreign visitors (Photo: pis.org)

 

Poland and Italy’s right-wing rulers are to cement their “special relations” at a meeting in Warsaw, in what could make a new anti-EU league a major force in the next European Parliament (EP).

The meeting, between Polish ruling party chief, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and Italian interior minister and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, on Wednesday (9 January) is to discuss Poland’s membership in Salvini’s new EP group, according to Italian daily La Repubblica.

The Prophesied Holy Roman Empire Has Arrived

 

Prominent European leaders are pushing for a revival of the spirit of Charlemagne.

In a November 17 interview with the Austrian daily newspaper Kurier, former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg made a statement that ought to shock the world. He said that European heads of government should take a close look at, or follow the example of, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

Kurz has proudly declared that his religion guides his politics. Which religion is that? The same one that has powered the Holy Roman Empire in the spirit of Charlemagne for centuries! We are witnessing the seventh and final incarnation of this bloody empire. God’s Church has warned about this for over 80 years!

Italy: A Brewing Storm Within the EU

 

Over the last couple of years, the main challenge to EU cohesion has been Brexit, with the media sharply focused on the negotiations and all relevant developments. Since the release of the draft withdrawal agreement, largely perceived as a victory for the EU, those who support the European project and believe in a strong leadership from Brussels have projected confidence and optimism for the future. According to these voices, the divisions caused by the rise of nationalism and populism in the past years are healing, the relationship between member states is normalizing, while a future of stability and harmony awaits.

However, such a vision might prove naive, as it discounts a much greater risk to the EU than Brexit ever was: the political and economic powder keg that is Italy.

Secession From The European Union

British Prime Minister Theresa May looks to passing by heads of government after the family photo at the informal EU summit in Salzburg, Austria, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018.

 

The member states of the European Union seem unaware of the clouds that are gathering above their heads. They have identified the most serious problems of the EU, but are treating them with nonchalance, and fail to understand what the British secession (Brexit) implies. They are slowly sinking into a crisis which may only be resolved by violence.

The origin of the problem

During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the members of the European Community accepted to bow to the decisions of the United States and to integrate the states of Central Europe, even though these states did not correspond in any way to the logical criteria of adhesion. With this momentum, they adopted the Maastricht Treaty, which transformed the European project of economic coordination between European States into that of a supra-national State. The idea was to create a vast political bloc which, under the military protection of the United States, was intended to engage with the USA on the road to prosperity.

Mayday! British PM’s Brexit Deal on Verge of Collapse

(Photo Credit: Office of President of Estonia)

 

Two Cabinet secretaries have resigned and long knives have come out for Theresa May.

British Prime Minister Theresa May is on the political brink tonight after presenting her government’s draft withdrawal agreement with the European Union that has been almost universally panned, despite her assertion it is the best deal that can be had.

Merkel calls for ‘real, true’ EU army

Merkel received a standing ovation – but also boos from some MEPs (Photo: European Parliament)

 

German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday backed the idea of creating a “real, true” army for the European Union as the geopolitical alliances are redrawn all over the world.

Merkel spoke to MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday (13 November) backing up France’s Emmanuel Macron’s call last week for a European army, and rebuking US president Donald Trump, who has tweeted that the idea was “insulting”.

The German chancellor, who has already announced this is her last term in office, also called for a European security council with a rotating presidency of each EU member state, “where decisions can be made more rapidly”.

“The time when we can rely on others have passed, we have to take our fate into our own hands if we want to defend our community,” Merkel told the European Parliament.

Nigel: Military-focused EU has launched new Cold War against USA

 

Nigel Farage today responded to Angela Merkel’s call for a EU Army by claiming that Brussels had “launched a new Cold War against the United States of America”.

It comes after Frances President Macron also called for an European Army and Germany’s EU Commissioner described US President Trump as an “autocrat”.

US Political 2018 Midterm Elections

 

On the one hand, the Midterm Elections really mean nothing. The Democrats cannot reverse their declining trend since they peaked with FDR, and the Republicans cannot deliver the final death blow to the Democrats to put them out of their Marxist misery. While we have provided the target ranges for the vote, we also have to consider the fact that vote manipulation and rigging will be starting with this election without Russians

It is truly ironic that the Democratic Party was founded by Andrew Jackson to support slavery and then they adopted the Philosophy of Karl Marx to promise Socialism for all. At the end of the day, we end up where we began – endless toxic politics that has turned into bitter hatred which divides the country more so than at any time since the Civil War. All they are doing is creating an equal and opposite reaction from their opponents. The trench between both sides has opened at it is becoming the Political Grand Canyon.

The political climate from here on out looks very dark and grim with no hope of actually returning to any possible form of civility. All we are doing now is waiting for the first shot to be fired that will literally be heard around the world. There will be no return to civility. It will only get worse from here on out. There is no going back. We have actually crossed the point of no return. It is all over. We just have to wait for the fat lady to finish the last song and then the Opera will come to its violent and bitter end.

The EU’s Game of Chicken

 

LONDON/BRUSSELS/BERLIN (Own report) – The EU’s heads of states and governments were again unable to make progress in the Brexit negotiations last Wednesday, provoking strong criticism from the German business community. Their only proposal was to prolong the transitional period another year, which is out of the question for London, because this would cost the UK additional billions of pounds. The EU is “too inflexible” in the Brexit negotiations, criticized the head economist of Commerzbank. It is a “stickler for principles,” even though it has itself “stretched the rules to the point of becoming unrecognizable” – such as those of the currency union. Commentaries assume that Brussels seeks to set a deterrent example. The EU sees itself “too unattractive,” to be able to prevent other countries from leaving by other means. At the same time, Brussels is running the risk of the Brexit negotiations collapsing, which would cause serious losses, particularly to German industry. Experts do not rule out German export losses in the double-digit billions.

Britain and Germany Sign Military Pact

Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), Minister of Defence, and Gavin Williamson, British Minister of Defence, talk during an exercise of tank pioneering. (Ralf Hirschberger/picture alliance/Getty Images)

 

‘The UK is just as committed to Europe’s security in the future as it has been in the past.’

Germany and Britain signed a military pact on October 5 that ensures Britain will retain a military relationship with the European Union after Brexit. The agreement, signed in Germany by German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, is intended to strengthen military cooperation between the two parties.

Von der Leyen called the agreement a “symbolically important sign” that the strategic partnership between Germany and Britain will continue after Brexit. The pact will reinforce British-European military cooperation “in the navy, the air force, and in cyber capabilities.” The agreement states that Germany and Britain are “determined to deepen and strengthen” their relationship by working together on their “common defense and security goals.”

Veterans for Britain: ‘EU army actively undermining NATO’

 

David Banks, a Spokesman for the Veterans for Britain campaign, has told Westmonster that the European Union is actively undermining NATO.

In an exclusive interview, Banks said the EU has “created 20 separate structures which directly duplicate what NATO already does and that’s quite unhealthy for those of us who believe in NATO”.

Farage: Merkel’s finished, migration policy is her downfall

 

“She was the most powerful European leader, been in power over a decade. She was the dominant figure, not just in Germany, but in the entire European Union,” Farage said.

The EU’s Arrogance

 

BERLIN/LONDON(Own report) – With nearly double-digit billions in losses, the German business community would be the main loser of a “hard Brexit” among the remaining EU members, according to a recent analysis on the upcoming Brexit. The EU27 would thus face greater losses than the UK, should Brexit not be followed up with a comprehensive trade and tariff agreement. German companies must expect annual losses of around nine billion euros. The German automotive industry most likely will be the hardest hit. At the moment, a “hard Brexit” seems more likely, because Brussels refuses to include in a post-Brexit trade agreement not only the protection of EU interests but also access to UK financial services. Due to the EU’s obstructionist policy, public opinion is growing increasingly sour toward Brussels. Even British Brexit opponents are lamenting the “EU’s arrogance” and warning that “a Britain that feels humiliated by the EU could be an uncomfortable neighbor.”

Merkel mauled by AfD Leader, told not to punish Brexit Britain

 

Angela Merkel has been put back into her box in a big way by the leader of Germany’s second most popular party, the AfD.

Alice Weidel slammed Merkel’s approach to Brexit, saying Germany shouldn’t be punishing Brexit Britain, saying the EU is afraid other countries will leave now they’ve seen Project Fear predictions were wrong.