Category The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Sep 8 2022

Is the US Sacrificing Europe to Maintain Global Dominance?


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Sep 8, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Vladimir Putin believes that Washington is sacrificing Europe to maintain global dominance. The United States has always been the world police, and the top country that others turn to in times of crisis. America’s post-World War II status left it as the financial capital of the world, and the dollar has remained the world’s reserve currency. Nothing has topped the dollar.

Europe attempted to create the European Union in an effort to prevent European conflicts, but it also created the euro to compete against the dollar. I explained various times how their attempts have failed. However, the euro is now beneath the dollar and on the decline. Nations maintain diplomatic relations, but only Schwab wants a one-world government as everyone is competing for global dominance.

Putin claims that the West rushed to place sanctions on Russia. There was indeed a rush to place sanctions on Russia despite Joe Biden himself coming out and admitting sanctions never work. Peace talks were never an option. Returning land or promising to curtail NATO was never an option. Sanctions and threats were immediately imposed. Why?

“The pandemic has been replaced by new challenges of a global nature, carrying a threat to the whole world, I’m talking about the sanctions rush in the West and the West’s blatantly aggressive attempts to impose their modus vivendi on other countries, to take away their sovereignty, to submit them to their will,” Putin told delegates at Russia’s Eastern Economic Forum in the port city of Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific coast, as reported by CNBC.

It is true that Europe is facing the brunt of these sanctions as they sacrificed their main supplier of energy to save a nation with a GDP of roughly only $200 billion. Europe did not want to allow Ukraine to join the euro, and they had no interest in the country prior to this conflict. The hatred for Russia runs deep in Europe, especially in Germany after Russia took hold of the east after the last World War. The politicians are certainly old enough to remember when Germany was split in two until 1989. There is a reason Russia’s integral support for the axis powers during World War II is diminished in Western history books.

Putin went on to say that the standard of living in Europe and overall social and economic stability was “being thrown onto the fire of sanctions.” The United States has been eager to sanction Russia since the war in Syria began. Obama tried but failed to kick Russia out of the SWIFT system in 2014, with Christine Lagarde offering her support. Zelensky, who rand the NYSE bell this week remotely, admitted that he needed America to place harsh sanctions on Russia to accelerate the war.

“So far, I think that the United States of America is the accelerator of the sanction policies and I think they do more than any other country. And this is the way it should be because they are the most powerful country right now. I see the same support with respect to sanctions from the United Kingdom,” Zelensky told reporters at Fox in May.

The dollar remains strong and is the last safe haven. The war in Ukraine has only promoted capital to rush into the dollar. So is Europe “being sacrificed in the name of preserving the US dictatorship in global affairs,” as Putin claims? Europe will suffer more than the United States due to these sanctions. In fact, had Biden not eliminated domestic oil production, the US would not be facing an energy crisis at all. One thing is clear – the support to Ukraine is not an act of kindness. The invisible hand is at play.

Sep 8 2022

British Pound Falls to 37-Year Low


Armstrong Economics Blog/BRITAIN Re-Posted Sep 8, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

The Bank of England has admitted defeat, admitting they cannot prevent a recession. The pound fell to the lowest level against the USD on Wednesday afternoon after declining 0.64% to $1.145. When asked if the central bank could prevent the next recession, Governor Andrew Bailey was blunt in his answer. “Insofar as the war is having this huge effect, the answer to that would be no.”

I touched more on the decline and fall of Britain on the private blog last week. Socrates agrees with Bailey’s pessimistic stance. Inflation has surpassed 10% in the UK, and food and energy costs are expected to rise continually. The Bank of England now projects that the economy will shrink during Q4 2022, and the decline will continue until the end of 2023. Our models state that the decline will last longer than they expect.

If the new PM Truss is any indication of where policy is heading, Britain is in big trouble. Central banks do not like to admit defeat either. Look how Powell carefully changed his stance over the course of the year in terms of inflation. He did not want to create a panic by telling the public that they were screwed. The BoE has no other choice but to be brutally honest. The heads of central banks are now coming forward to offer their condolences for an issue they helped to create with artificially low rates. The BoE is still in better shape than the ECB, but that is not saying much.

Sep 8 2022

EU Commission Announces 5 Point Plan for Energy Crisis, Including Increased Imports of U.S. Natural Gas Driving Up Prices for U.S. Consumers


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 7, 2022 | Sundance 

According to the U.S. Energy Information Association (IEA), U.S. storage of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is 12% below the five-year average (LINK).  Additionally, the IEA is expecting the U.S. to export 11.7 billion cubic feet of LNG per day during the fourth quarter of 2022 — up 17% from the third quarter. The destination of that export is Europe.

Consider that 43% of U.S. households use LNG for home heating, and power suppliers use LNG to create electricity.  With the massive 2022 exports of LNG to Europe (+17% in fourth quarter alone), that means lower domestic supplies and increased prices here in the United States for electricity and home heating.  We are seeing and feeling these massive price increases right now. As a result, consider this reality….

Not only are U.S. taxpayers directly paying for the majority of costs in Ukraine, but we are also subsidizing the European Union by exporting LNG and driving up the price here at home.

We are directly paying Ukraine, and indirectly paying Europe to maintain gas sanctions against Russia.  This is the reality of the current situation as created by the Biden administration.

Now, consider this.  The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen held a press conference in Brussels today, announcing five initiatives to contain the expensive EU energy crisis: “The goal is clear. We must cut the revenues of Russia that Putin uses to finance this atrocious war against Ukraine. And now our work is paying off. At the start of the war, gas from Russian pipelines accounted for 40% of all imported gas. Today it has dropped to only 9% of our gas imports. These are tough times. But I am convinced that Europeans have the economic strength, the political will and the unity to maintain the upper hand,” she said.  The United States and Norway are the primary suppliers of gas to the EU to fill the void.

Commissar von der Leyden’s five initiatives include:

(1) Conservation of electricity through forced and mandated cuts in electricity use.  The amount of the cut has yet to be determined but reducing demand through forced curtailment of electricity use is the first approach.  [Insert California as an example here in the United States.]

(2) A cap on the profit generated by energy suppliers who use renewable energy like wind and solar.  The renewable industry has lower costs, yet they are profiting from the top line increase in delivered electricity.  The EU commissar is proposing to confiscate the profits of Green Energy suppliers, direct the funds to the member states and then use those funds to subsidize the energy costs of poorer EU citizens.

(3) A cap on the profits generated by traditional fossil fuel energy suppliers (oil, coal, nuclear, gas electricity generation), and the diversion of those profits following the same formula as above.

(4) Banking support and financial liquidity for smaller regional energy providers who are having short term financial issues as they must pay massive amounts of money for the raw material needed to generate electricity.  Essentially, the cost of coal, oil and LNG has skyrocketed, and there is a lag between the time they energy company must pay for the fuel source and the time the customer pays the electricity bill.   The inbound fuel costs (new) are so extreme the inbound payments for prior electricity (old) are not covering the cost of the new supplier purchase.

(5) A price cap on Russian natural gas.  To accompany the increased import of Norwegian and U.S. gas.  This sounds like a bizarro effort to manipulate the market which could backfire.  If Russian gas is cheaper than EU market gas, the smart energy providers will purchase the Russian gas.

Not a single word about increasing the supply of any traditional energy resource.  These ideologues are so committed to the cult of climate change and renewable energy, they are intent on destroying the economy in order to lower demand to the level of their windmills and solar farms.  This is madness, absolute madness.

Here’s the presser:

.

Sep 8 2022

German Minister of Economics, Robert Habeck, Under Fire as Energy Driven Reality of Economic Collapse Starts Sinking In


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 7, 2022 | Sundance

German Minister of Economics Robert Habeck is under fire after his comments during an interview with an ARD broadcaster on Tuesday evening.

The conversation surrounded the astronomical rise in the price of energy taking all the income away from people who would purchase other goods and services. As Germans no longer can afford purchases, the stores and businesses can no longer operate.  Minister Habeck was asked if that means a wave of bankruptcies and business closures are forecast.

Mr. Habeck responded that businesses can stop operating, but that doesn’t mean they will go insolvent.  Just because the business loses most or all of their revenue, doesn’t mean they will go bankrupt.  That doesn’t make sense, Minister Habeck was pressed to apply commonsense. If businesses close to save money, workers are not employed. If workers are not employed people do not earn income.  If people do not earn income, the economy worsens.

Habeck had no response other than an economically detached “Green Party” perspective that businesses will not go bankrupt just because they are not operating. However, his facial expressions reflect that he knows what comes next, total economic collapse. WATCH: 

(Reuters) – German Economy Minister Robert Habeck faced a backlash on Wednesday for saying he could imagine parts of the economy stopping production due to rising energy prices that German firms say are threatening their existence.

Asked whether he expected a wave of insolvencies at the end of this winter due to companies’ rising energy bills, Habeck said “No, I don’t. I can imagine that certain industries will simply stop producing for the time being.”

The answer, in an interview with ARD broadcaster on Tuesday evening, sparked criticism of the minister in charge of Europe’s biggest economy, with mass-selling Bild newspaper saying Habeck “has no idea about the economy.”

Friedrich Merz, the conservative opposition leader, also took the opportunity to criticize Habeck, Germany’s second most popular politician, saying he and his ruling coalition were not taking energy and economy questions seriously.

“One could see how helpless Mr. Habeck you are with these questions last night on German television,” Merz told the lower house of parliament.

Habeck’s comments come as economists and industry groups warn that rising energy prices are a growing risk for Germany’s medium and small-sized businesses, which form the backbone of the economy.  (read more)

Things are about to get very spicy in Germany as the reality of the unsustainable Build Back Better agenda starts to sink in.  The intellectual disconnect from an economic minister to the consequences of an energy policy removing trillions of dollars from the economy is stunning.

Sep 7 2022

Omicron Boosters Untested On Humans: Can Doctors Be Punished For Questioning Safety? – Ask Dr. Drew



Dr. Drew Published originally on Rumble on September 6, 2022 10,681 Views

Dr. Drew answers your calls LIVE on AB 2098 (California’s “medical misinformation” bill), new Omicron boosters that weren’t tested on humans, Dr. Fauci’s recent statements on annual COVID-19 shots, and more from your questions!

Sep 7 2022

JACKSON HINKLE JOINS TUCKER CARLSON ON FOX NEWS


The Dive With Jackson Hinkle Published originally on Rumple on September 6, 2022 

The Deep State now controls Congress, the White House and who every controls Brandon.

Sep 7 2022

Millions of Chinese on Lockdown


Armstrong Economics Blog/China Re-Posted Sep 7, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

At least 65 people are dead after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the province of Sichuan. This comes as 21 million people in Chengdu are confined to their homes as China has placed yet another city on a strict lockdown to adhere to its zero COVID policy. In fact, 65 million people in 33 cities are on some level of lockdown in China.

The government places more concern on COVID than an actual natural disaster. Lockdowns create a domino effect. People began panic buying supplies after seeing the starvation and extreme rationing that occurred during the last lockdown when the government was unable to adequately provide supplies to those they confined. Businesses will suffer immensely. Children in at least 10 provinces will be unable to attend school until everyone tests negative for the virus.

Drones are flying around Chengdu, reminding the people to stay inside and obey. This is an example of what could happen when government has complete power over the people. It can also affect the global economy, as we saw when Shenzhen entered a lockdown, closed the ports, and prolonged the supply chain crisis. Government’s abuse of power is yet another reason why it is hard for the central banks to forecast economic recovery. According to our computers, the recovery will be a slow

Sep 7 2022

Washington Post Jumps Back onto the Foreign Nation Nuclear Secrets Angle to Mar-a-Lago Documents


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on September 7, 2022 | Sundance 

The Washington Post goes back to the prior narrative surrounding the Mar-a-Lago documents saying, “a document describing a foreign government’s military defenses, including its nuclear capabilities was found by FBI agents who searched former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and private club last month.”…. with Devlin Barrett adding the usual, “according to people familiar with the matter” sourcing.

Keeping in mind the traditional relationship that exists between specific media outlets and their deep state sources, the most obvious source for Devlin Barrett is the DOJ National Security Division (DOJ-NSD), FBI Counterintelligence division, or larger intelligence community (IC).  However, what is also obvious from the way the documents are described is a narrative framework to make the innocuous seem looming.

PICTURED: Chairman Kim Jong-Un reads a letter from President Donald J Trump

I would be willing to bet the “document” in question is a letter from North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-Un to President Trump about the status of the DPRK military intent and weapons.  You might remember Chairman Kim and President Trump developed a good relationship and exchanged letters related to matters of national security between North Korea and the United States.

The Intelligence Community in combination with the U.S. military industrial complex and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, did not like that level of direct diplomatic contact and discussion between President Trump and Chairman Kim.  Direct communication between the two leaders subverted the IC’s ability to shape the DPRK messaging to support an interventionist and hostile U.S. geopolitical outlook.

The professional bureaucrats in charge of guiding and shaping all United States foreign engagements do not like being cut out of the geopolitical equations.  As the former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chuck Schumer famously said, “the intelligence community has six ways to Sunday to get back at you” if the President does not adhere and acquiesce to their power and authorities.

(more…)

Sep 7 2022

Nancy Pelosi: Inside Trader of the Year


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Sep 7, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Pelosi knew when to sell! Paul Pelosi, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, sold off 25,000 shares of Nvidia. A month later, the US government banned Nvidia from selling chips to Russia and China to “address the risk that the covered products may be used in, or diverted to, a ‘military end use’ or ‘military end user.’” Nvidia also happens to produce the A100 GPU in Taiwan, where Nancy’s attention has been suddenly diverted.

The microchip ban for Russia and China could cost Nvidia $400,000,000. Yet, Paul Pelosi managed to save $600,000 by selling his stock off a month before the news broke. Paul claims he does not consult his wife about trades, but what married couple would not discuss millions being moved? This is no coincidence. Paul even knew when to buy as he purchased the stock back in June when his wife was pushing for a multi-billion dollar government grant for the domestic production of semiconductor chips.

The Pelosi family has earned millions through insider trading. In July, Paul earned $5,300,000 after exercising a call option to buy 4,000 Alphabet shares. Not so coincidentally, this occurred when the House Judiciary Committee cracked down on antitrust practices. There have been numerous instances of the Pelosi family earning money through trades that could have been exercised due to Nancy Pelosi’s political insights. This is insider trading, and it is illegal.

Insider trading is so blatant that even the Democrats want to end the practice. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in December 2021: “There is no reason members of Congress should hold and trade individual stock when we write major policy and have access to sensitive information.” Even a broken clock is right twice a day. “It incentivizes this bad behavior,” she added in a separate tweet. So yes, US lawmakers are pushing legislation forward that directly benefits them. This is completely unethical and a threat to overall democracy.

Sep 7 2022

Ukrainian Parliament Lines Pockets with Western Aid


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Sep 7, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

The pro-war People’s Deputies of Ukraine Party are using Western funding to line their pockets. It has been reported that the average paycheck went from 28,800 to 49,600 hryvnia, and taxpayers in other countries will pay for their raises.

This news came out shortly after CBS attempted to release a documentary that claimed weapon shipments from the US were frequently missing. CBS was forced to redact parts of the documentary, “Arming Ukraine,” after Ukraine’s government threatened them. The first report stated that 70% of the weapon purchases had gone missing, while another piece said only 30% of aid had arrived. “Since that time, Ohman says delivery has improved,” CBS backtracked. “We are updating our documentary to reflect this new information and air at a later date.”

“The weapons are stolen, the humanitarian aid is stolen, and we have no idea where the billions sent to this country have gone,” an anonymous veteran originally told reporters. He went on to claim that soldiers are receiving less pay while those at the top are lining their pockets. Zelensky continually claims that his country needs endless funds for the endless war. Where is this money going? Since WE are paying for the war, we deserve to know the truth.

https://rumble.com/embed/v1cekpj/?pub=4#?secret=N3Xrpl0SVY