Palestine Enters the Chat


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted Jun 20, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day visit. Xi called Abbas a “good friend” and said that China fully supports Palestine. “We have always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights,” Xi stated. China and Palestine have had good diplomatic relations for years, but this is the first time Xi fully committed to helping Palestine restore statehood.

Peace talks between Palestine and Israel ended in 2014. China may have mended tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, but Israel-Palestine is another issue entirely. The land dispute in this region can be traced back to biblical days. Historians believe Palestine comes from the word “Philistia” or Philistines who are cited in the Torah and Old Testament as sworn enemies of the Jews. Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike know the story of King David battling the Philistines to become king of Israel, albeit they all interpret him a bit differently.

The region has been taken over by numerous empires over the ages. More recently, after the demise of the Ottoman Empire during the Great War in 1918, the British claimed Palestine. The British then established a Jewish nation in the region in 1923. Two decades later, in 1947, the United Nations decided to split Palestine into two states – one Arab and one Jewish. Arab leaders disagreed with the ruling. Britain withdrew, Israel then became a state in May 1948, leading to the Arab-Israeli War. The war ended in 1949, with Israel claiming control of over two-thirds of the territory. The two have been at odds ever since.

That is an extremely over-simplified version of events, but the hatred runs deep. The West has fully supported Israel in maintaining its territory, and China’s intervention in Palestine will be seen as a threat. “We especially appreciate the Chinese side’s commitment to financing a number of development projects presented by Palestine. We wish the speedy dispatch of technical delegations to implement these projects,” Abbas said. China is strategic. They want to assert dominance in the Middle East, where the West has lost its footing nearly everywhere besides Israel.

Iran and Saudi Arabia – Mutual Friends


Armstrong Economics Blog/World Trade Re-Posted Jun 7, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Iran and Saudi Arabia are now mutual friends through China. The two countries had been sworn enemies since the beginning of time, representing conflicting Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups that have been battling since their religion was founded. They were murdering one another through a proxy war in Yemen that has left over 150,000 dead. Then the unthinkable happened – the two nations came together at the request of China and made amends.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made them an offer they couldn’t refuse – the potential to form a strong alliance through trade without Western influence. Saudi Arabia issued a shocking press release in March, given the deep hatred it had for Iran. Saudi Arabia stated it was keen on “developing good neighborly relations…in light of their brotherly ties.”

Now, Iran announced it is reopening its embassy in Saudi Arabia as the two continue to put their differences aside for the prospect of economic prosperity. The embassy closed abruptly in 2016 after Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite cleric, leading to mass protests outside the embassy in Tehran. Riyadh and Tehran have not had diplomatic relations since.

Iran and Saudi Arabia would like to join the BRICS alliance between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. If the two nations join, all major energy exporters will be within this alliance. BRICS currently contains 42% of the global population and over a quarter of the global economy. There would be absolutely no need for Western interference, and the threat of sanctions would hold little meaning. Saudi Arabia has already begun settling some oil transactions in the yuan instead of the dollar. Iran has been aggressively trading with the bloc; non-oil trade between BRICS and Iran reached $38.43 billion in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, marking a 14% year-on-year increase. China is Iran’s top trading partner in the BRICs alliance, with $30.32 billion of the aforementioned funds going directly to Beijing. An alliance could mean economic domination.

China seems to have done the unthinkable by brokering a peace treaty between the two nations. Opening an embassy signals that the countries are now ready to begin diplomatic relations once again. The BRICS alliance is growing stronger by the day, and there are rumors of the UAE, Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, and even Turkey requesting to join. As our models have been warning, China is posturing itself to claim the throne of the financial capital of the world by 2032.

Tiananmen – 34 Years Ago, Tonight


Posted originally on the CTH on June 4, 2023 | Sundance 

It was 34 years ago tonight when the Chinese government sent the Mongolian Army into Tiananmen Square to crackdown on the mostly student protestors.

It is against the law in China to recognize today, memorialize the dead, or even speak publicly of this bloody anniversary. Few people know the short and long-term political ramifications to this event which extended far beyond the borders of China.

Many people are familiar with this image:

However, not as many people are as familiar with the wide shot.

That’s some serious courage right there.

The June 4th 1989 anniversary holds a great deal of personal significance for those who witnessed the events.  Many of us remember exactly where we were as the first reports started to leak out.

Few people know how most of the regular Chinese military refused orders to open fire on the protesting crowd. Hundreds of young Chinese military soldiers actually formed lines around the mostly student activists in an effort to protect them. The Chinese government eventually bypassed the regulars and instructed the Mongolian military divisions who carried out the orders.

No one really knows how many were killed, and even the families of the fallen were too scared to speak publicly.

Those who were lost live on in whispered memories of lore.

So many.

So young.

We remember.

…Then the tanks came….

Youth Unemployment in China


Armstrong Economics Blog/China Re-Posted Jun 1, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Chinese youth are struggling to find jobs in urban areas. Unemployment for the 16-to-24 demographic reached a new high in April at 20.4%. Youth unemployment has steadily risen this year after reaching 17.3% in January, 18.1% in February, and 19.6% in March. These young adults were born under the one-child policy that has since been repealed, adding more pressure to succeed to help support their families.

The main change here is that this generation is highly educated. Working in the countryside or in blue-collar roles became less appealing as the opportunity to attend college became widely available. Additionally, China is shifting to a consumer country, and high-paying jobs in the city are more desirable. Chinese students are encouraged to study STEM and seek out top-earning positions. There were 96.37 million people aged 16 to 24 living in urban areas as of March, and 64.18 million were unable to participate in the workforce as the majority were students. Those students are now graduating, and many will be unable to find work in their field of study, similar to most nations.

Unemployment remains low among the “main labor force” aged 25 to 59, but Chinese youth will need to compete for highly desirable jobs in the cities. The new generation is smart, highly educated, and willing to work. But competition will be fierce.

Chinese Hackers Target US Infrastructure


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted May 26, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The US National Security Agency (NSA) issued a warning to all members of the Five Eyes organization that China has launched a cyber attack against the US. “Private sector partners have identified that this activity affects networks across U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, and the authoring agencies believe the actor could apply the same techniques against these and other sectors worldwide,” the report states. They are attributing the attack to a state group by the name of Volt Typhoon.

Microsoft first alerted the NSA that Volt Typhoon had compromised critical systems in Guam by installing surveillance malware on government devices. Guam is significant to China because it hosts the Andersen Air Force Base, which could be used in the event that China invaded Taiwan. Guam also hosts numerous ships for use in the Pacific. “Microsoft assesses with moderate confidence that this Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises,” a NSA spokesperson stated.

Volt Typhoon uses “living off the land” techniques to direct a computer’s operating system, enabling them to evade tracking. “In addition, Volt Typhoon tries to blend into normal network activity by routing traffic through compromised small office and home office network equipment, including routers, firewalls and VPN hardware.”

The Pentagon now believes the spy balloons were affiliated with this operation. The US is too busy with Ukraine to worry about its own national security. The likelihood that the CCP sent bad actors disguised as migrants is more than zero. This malware has now compromised the entire US military, and no one knows how to remove the program from compromised devices and networks.

Chinese Illegals Entering America Surge over 900%


Armstrong Economics Blog/War Re-Posted May 26, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The US government is responsible for opening the border and allowing a full-scale invasion. They announced the end of Title 42, unlike other measures they keep hidden, and gave outsiders the information they needed to plan their invasion. There were numerous stories about Chinese spies infiltrating America.  Companies were prohibited from conducting business with certain Chinese countries due to security concerns. But, after Title 42 ended, countless Chinese military-aged men entered our country never to be seen again.

All reports and video state that the majority of invaders are military-aged males. This is an important point to reiterate because most of these people are not simply seeking a better life. China is nowhere near America. It logistically does not make sense. Someone flew these men near the US-Mexico border and likely instructed them to enter the US. NewsNation stated that there has been a 900% influx in Chinese migrants crossing into the US through the southern border. This was BEFORE Title 42 ended. Some reports state that some Chinese migrants are willing to pay tens of thousands to cartels in Southern America to enter America.

There was a report from Miami that the media conveniently covered up. A boat of Chinese men came on shore and scattered. The police only caught a few men, and they all had the same story. They are simply trying to escape poor economic conditions and future COVID lockdowns. If they were poor, they would not have had the funds to fly across the world. Again, these are MEN traveling ALONE. The media is spinning this invasion to make it seem as if everyone is simply seeking a better life where the streets are paved with gold. Yet they are entering in a manner that completely disrespects our legal system and leaves Americans completely vulnerable.

No one knows exactly how many “migrants” (invaders would be a more accurate term) have entered the US. At a minimum, tens of thousands of undocumented, unknown people are roaming across the mainland. Beijing and Washington are not on good terms. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth warned earlier this year that China would attack on US grounds if a war began. “[T]he United States homeland would be at risk as well, with both kinetic attacks and non-kinetic attacks—whether it’s cyberattacks on the power grid or on pipelines.” We do not have to worry about a foreign military invading from the sky or sea because they are already here, possibly stationed, and no one knows of their whereabouts.

Is Zelensky Concerned About a Coup?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Ukraine Re-Posted May 20, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

DNIPRO, UKRAINE - JANUARY 15: Emergency workers search the remains of a residential building that was struck by a Russian missile yesterday on January 15, 2023 in Dnipro, Ukraine. At least 20 people were reported dead after a missile hit the apartment building on Saturday, part of fresh wave of missiles launched by Russia. The Ukrainian president said his forces shot down 20 of 30 missiles fired by Russia on Saturday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

There are quiet whispers inside various EU governments that Zelensky should resign. Inside Ukraine, it was highly suspicious that in January, conveniently, Ukraine’s leading officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (similar to our FBI) charged with protecting the state and the people against illegal actions by those in power all died in a crash together. There were some who had concerns starting to question Zelensky’s ethical position with respect to the people.

This helicopter carrying the leadership team of Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs crashed in the Kyiv region killing at least 14 people, including all nine people on board, according to officials. A further 25 people were injured on the ground including 11 children. Fourteen bodies were found at the crash site, including one child and all nine people who were on board the helicopter – six ministry officials and three crew members, all died according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES).

Ukrainian National Police confirmed that Ministry of Internal Affairs Denis Monastyrsky, First Deputy Minister Yevheniy Yenin, and State Secretary Yuriy Lubkovychis were among the dead. Monastyrsky actually had replaced the previous Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov following his unexpected resignation.  Avakov was a political heavyweight. Avakov was considered by many to be one of the most powerful people in the country after Zelenskey and his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. He oversaw about 300,000 law enforcement officials and a significant share of Ukraine’s annual budget expenditures.

There emerged a conflict between Zelensky and Avakov and it was widely assumed that Zelensky was preparing to fire Mr Avakov who was investigating internal corruption. His removal allowed Zelensky to seize more power and control any investigation into his personal dealings. This was no different than Biden telling the IRS to stop investigating his son Hunter.

Based on information and belief, Zelensky is very concerned about the “traitors” he defines as simply against him, not the people or the country. The rumors are that there are many beginning to question Zelensky’s true patriotism and his willingness to have all of Ukraine destroyed for his deal with Blackrock rather than show the slightest concern about the people of Ukraine. Avakov had served as head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continuously since 2014. During that time, he oversaw the activities of the police and the National Guard. His removal was to cement Zelensky as a virtual dictator.

This has raised questions about the helicopter crash that eliminated Zelensky’s hand-selected Ministry of Internal Affairs who had his back.

When we look at the ECM calculated from the move of Russia to protect the Donbas from the Ukrainians in the civil war instigated by the United States Neocons, it does not appear that Zelensky’s grand scheme to make Ukraine the greatest European investment of all time with Blackrock will succeed. Why the Ukrainian people are willing to sacrifice their country all for the Donbas is insane. They had a country for the first time. The computer is suggesting it is highly doubtful that Ukraine will even survive post-2026. On top of that, we are headed into world war post-2024.

Romania & Moldavia


Armstrong Economics Blog/Foreign Exchange Re-Posted May 19, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: Can you add Romania and Moldavia currencies to Socrates? I greatly appreciate your response to Gold.

HR

ANSWER: Yes, we will add them. I hope I translated your question correctly. If there are other currencies people want to add, drop a request.

Epic – Congressman Byron Donalds Drops the Atomic Sledgehammer of Truth on CNN Panel


May 11, 2023 | Sundance 

Congressman Byron Donalds represents Southwest Florida CD-19; he comes from good stock.   After the CNN attack townhall in New Hampshire last night, Donalds appeared on a CNN panel to discuss.

Prior to Donalds joining the panel, the six other panelists were echo-chambering their narrative talking points without rebuttal. Donalds put that nonsense to rest. However, beyond the epic pushback, notice how the panel reacts to having their narrative challenged; this should be very familiar to people.

Notice how when confronted by an opposing viewpoint the panel uses a familiar tactic. Instead of discussing the policy points, the issues at the heart of the policy positions, the panel instead begins to question the person confronting them.  “Do you want Ukraine to win,” is one question. “Do you accept the results of the 2020 election” is another.

The CNN panel approach is to make the person pushing back become the issue, because the points raised are antithetical to their belief system.  This method of distraction is straight from the Alinsky rulebook about debating opposition.  Byron Donalds succeeds because he doesn’t engage the nonsense. WATCH:

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Ron DeSantis Spent $500,000,000.00 For This


Posted originally on the CTH on May 11, 2023 | Sundance 

The SuperPac supporting Ron DeSantis, called Never Back Down, has taken hundreds of millions of dollars from the Wall Street, billionaire, Sea Island, multinational corporation and hedge fund donors.  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is injecting another $85 million from his leadership pac in Florida.  All told, it is the largest single assembly of political cash in the history of presidential campaigning – estimated value well north of $500 million.

With all of that in mind, this is the best the communications team can come up with:

Now, please do not misconstrue what I am saying. I am not saying these people are just bad at their jobs. I am saying these are fundamentally stupid people.

This is the skillset of the professional Republican Party. This is what they are taught to do, study to do, sit around and spend millions in consultancy fees to come up with.

These are professional Republican operations…. They are also just idiots!  This is why some of the billionaire funders have also paused, reevaluated and stepped back from the DeSantis nonsense.  The DeSantis crew are sending out Instagram selfie-pics of their lunches while cheering for their team.

This is like the General Cornwallis version of political warfare.  They sit around in their echo-chambered rooms and might as well put a powdered wig on their candidate.  Everything is fake, pretense, manufactured and sold by the brightest consultants in the world as the stuff that “should work.”   It’s genuinely hilarious!

Meanwhile, MAGA is an insurgency running circles around them, ducking and weaving through their ranks, and they are totally oblivious to it.

This image right here is almost literally who the people behind Ron DeSantis are.  Not all of them, but overwhelmingly the majority of them are just like this disconnected insufferable bunch pictured above.

If that’s who they are, then WHO ARE WE?

We are scruffy, working class patriots engaged in the battle against them!

We are the workforce.

We are digital warriors, meme creators, artists, researchers, autists and ordinarily invisible people now considered dissidents in our own country.

We are the backbone of industry, the people who keep it all working, the builders, diggers and blue-collar workforce that keeps everything functioning. We are the people they will never fully control.  We speak in languages they do not understand, and we absorb targeted ridicule as fuel.

We are the movers of goods, the truckers, the farmers, the nameless people behind the skilled trades that keep what they call American society moving.

We are the people who grow the food, pick the food, transport the food, stock the food, cook the food and facilitate the life they live.  We are a visible, yet disregarded, insurgent force within their sphere of life that is never considered, yet we control the outcomes of every moment they value.

We pick up the trash, answer the phones, run cables to their devices, mow their lawns, solve their problems, control the flow of essential services and keep our heads below the radar.

We are the majority.

We are a self-reliant, freedom loving, normally peaceful and God-fearing assembly.

We drive them to their destination; we are comfortably out of mind until needed, and yet we are irreplaceable for the things they require.

We are armed with hammers, pens, rulers, mice, pickup trucks, laptops, post-it notes, stickers and alternate forms of messaging that circumvent the control mechanisms deployed to create our silence.

We are inside every facility, every institution, every meeting, every moment of their existence – and we notice everything.

We have eyes of eagles and ears of elephants.  We are there when they do not expect, and we melt away before they notice our appearance.

We are smart, strategic, highly intelligent and carry a brutally obvious and pragmatic common sense that finds optimal solutions to everything.

We identify our tribe immediately and without conversation.

We see what they hide, we hear what they whisper, we decipher their codes, and we understand the complexity they create in their effort to conceal.

We control the physical world that operates around every element of society, and we value real and tangible assets.

We do not sit around pontificating eloquently about philosophic nuances; we get shit done.

We are the people who facilitate their ability to take us for granted, and we do so without issue, resentment or desire for recognition.

We are optimistic, affable, kind, generous, friendly, loyal, warm and quietly spiritual in purpose.

We are polite, considerate and slow to anger.

We prefer to be left alone.  However, pushed entirely far enough, decisions are reached.  Right now, we are tenuously staring with deepened gaze.

We are increasingly pissed off…. Big Time!

In every town, village and hamlet we are encountering the same conversation.  On every porch, in every shop, at every event, the topic is the same.

Right now, we are taking this fury to the platforms of visibility where we hope to influence outcomes.  But if that effort fails, and/or if the command-and-control authorities make the mistake of thinking they can shut down our visibility and therefore control the dissent, there will be no quarter provided in the aftermath.

The two biggest mistakes they can make right now is not understanding why we have begun to bow our heads.

First, our heads are not bowed because we are subservient, cowering or accepting the current effort to control us….

….We are praying!

Their second mistake would be to ignore that we are not praying for us

….We are praying for those who trespass against us!

They may not like what follows, “Amen!

We are resolute and of common purpose.

We are MAGA!