Sister Sharon Roach

According to Prophetess Sister Sharon Roach, God showed her Americas’ future from 2009 to 2018. Her visions revealed that the U.S. economic crisis will worsen in the years 2012 and will introduce the dollar’s complete devaluation by 2013. The dollar’s death will cause panic in America’s streets. The U.S. will experience the greatest riots in history due to hyperinflation. In 2014, God will intervene to stop Satan’s plot from completely destroying America. These turbulent times will facilitate great change in the U.S. In 2016, an American leader will emerge and he will rebuild the U.S.  From 2017 to 2018, this will be a significant era for U.S. because this leader will lead the country into a celebrated time of prosperity. However, by 2018 world war 3 may have already commenced and the U.S. will enter the tribulation times.

John Paul Jackson

According to Prophet John Paul Jackson, God showed him the future of America and the world from 2008 to 2018. His visions revealed geophysical, terrorism, warfare, economic, political, Rioting, and religious activities.  Jackson’s geophysical visions revealed that there will be woes in 2012; jet streams will go wild and cause major weather shifts around the world; there will be droughts in some areas and water will become more expensive than oil and some cities will evacuate thousands because there is not enough water to meet their needs and Jesus will make rain in one city and no rain on another city.

Geophysical Actions: Coastal cities will experience earthquakes and there will be a major earthquake in the mid-west for first time in many years; a volcano will become active and erupt in the U.S. again; thunderstorms with softball size hail and 24 inches of rain will fall in 24 hours; there will be places with 3 feet of snow in 6 hours; tornados will hit with 350 mph winds in unusual places; A hurricane with 180 mph winds will have a diameter of 500 miles and have storm surges 150 miles inland; a blight will hit a type of hybrid seed as a strike of god; the storms will disrupt food harvest and a nation food shortage in food storage; there will be an epidemic that will kill many and it will start from another country and come to America.

There will be signs in the sun moon and stars as the prophet Joel spoke of; the bubble around our solar system will weaken and come in to cause a new form of skin disease; the magnetic field will shift and will form cracks that solar winds will effect weather patterns; this activity will also cause communication problems with plans and cell phones and cable T.V.

Terrorism and Warfare: Jackson’s terrorism and warfare visions reveal that a dirty nuclear bomb will explode in a port city in the United States; Israel will have devastating attacks that will involve nuclear material being released; Israel will respond with missile strikes and will eventually bomb Iran and this will cause fuel prices to rise again; Russia will enhance this tension in the Middle East by creating an oil crisis. Russia will try to take control of Ukraine and continue to give Iran weapons to further ignite the oil crisis because with conflict in the middle east oil will escalate because Russia need the oil to rebuild itself once again as a new mother Russia; when president Hosni Mubarak is no longer the leader of Egypt a new terrorist leadership will take his place and terrorisms will take a higher profile than before; Pakistan will become more terrorist oriented and become more of a harbinger of terrorist.

Economic: Jackson’s economic visions reveal that a bubble of hope in the economy, but it will be short lived and in that period there will be enough time for godly people to make the necessary adjustments, but it will not be a time to take on more debt; commercial paper and credit card problems is a domino that will fall as jobless ness increases and buildings lay empty; shopping malls will lay more than half empty and stores remain closed and strip malls also with this no one is leasing the buildings that the owner needs to service the debt of the building so this will make commercial paper problems also with lending institutions; there will be waves of economic stagflation, deflation, and hyperinflation, but God will guide those investors he can trust; the dollar will lose value and become on par with the paso; a new north American currency is going to be established similar to the euro, which may be called the Amero-Dollar; there will be reports of many new finical corruptions uncovered in the years that lie ahead; people will start to grow their own food in some cities and in 1 or 2 cities he saw men ripping up the streets to try to grow food.

Politics and Rioting: Jackson’s political visions revealed that Christians should pray for president Obama and his protection because there is a plan by Islamic militants to try to take his life to start riots as destabilization to divert attention from their nefarious activities; we will we will see the worst riots in history in America it will be race riots but more economic in nature, these riots will negatively impact many African American people living in the inner city.

Economic difficulty will cause mobs to roam the streets with a robin hood mentality of taking from the rich to give to the poor; there will be many new corruption reports at very high levels; terrorist activity will hit America again as a flaw in the border protection is discovered by our enemies; rural land will become more valuable as people leave the cities to seek the security of a urban lifestyle; social security and retirement accounts will become of little value; as the economic crisis continues America will bring home most of its troops to save finances; because of the economic severity America will cut much of its foreign aid to developing countries and the results of this is a growth of international dictators and Islam will multiply.

Religion: Islam will force its way into school systems by demanding time to pray; Islam will work to take control of a large American city; it could be Detroit as they begin a multiplication project; Islam will continue to make threats to influence congressional decisions; Islam will initiate a plan to have a president by 2024; medical advances and organ transplants will make it possible for homosexual men to be in vitro fertilized and give caesarian birth; many churches will file for bankruptcy as payments to large buildings cannot be made; large ministries will disband from financial difficulty; house churches will begin to grow as a need for intimacy and spirituality with God increases; hidden sexual perversion will be exposed and the numbers will be shocking.

Pastor Lindsey Williams

According to pastor Lindsey Williams, who worked with the elite on the trans Alaskan oil pipe line for three years, he was shown the hidden plan to kill the U.S. dollar for the purpose of a global government. His account shows that by the end of 2012 the dollar will be dead this will lead to the greatest riots in U.S. history in the year 2013. The Mideast will erupt in apocalyptic violence because this was part of the plan by the global elites. The global elites seek to take away control of the Mideast oil from Muslim dictators. In other words, the elite plan on using the U.S. military to control Mideast resources. The elite will stabilize the economy worldwide with new global currencies, but America must first fall as a superpower.

Future Scenario

Finally, after researching eschatology along with the dreams and visions of the above prophets, this may happen in the near future and this may be the likely order of events. First, the mortgage crisis set off a global recession up to today and it was planned by bankers that gave bad loans to poor U.S. citizens for more debt.  The debt has gotten bigger and the 2011 Bilderberg meeting clearly shows that that they want to extend the recession up to 2012 and by the end of that year a financial crisis will hit New York City when Greece default of debt in 2012. The crisis in the Middle East will get worse when it involves Saudi Arabia and it will cause gas to hit $7 and gold $3000 in 2013. The feds will print more money and will cause hyperinflation and many banks will close in 2013.  Second, the Middle East crisis will impact Israel in 2013 into the years 2014 to 2015 when red moons appear as a sign of blood and war with Israel. The riots will calm in the years after 2015 into 2016 and America will adopt a new currency that amero.

And third, following the year 2018, the world will never be the same again and there will be a season of preparation before WW III commences as Russia and a coalition of Islamic nations seek to destroy the U.S. and Israel.  When the Third World War ends, the U.S. and Russia will be significantly weakened, while Israel increases in wealth, size, and military power and influence. The surrounding Arab nations will disappear, while Europe will replace the U.S. in power and influence. There will be a call for a global religion, economy, government, and military to prevent future wars. The Anti-Messiah will answer the call and he will deceive the whole world.

Sources:

• American in Prophecy; Sister Sharon Roach; 2009
• The Perfect Storm; John Paul Jackson; 2008.
• The Global Elites Interview; Lindsey Williams; 2011.
• Prophecy Blog; John Mcternan; 2012.

I can immediately help you get out of trouble through dream translation. You only have to submit one of your dreams for a professional dream translation in order to receive immediate support and safe guidance.

Carl Jung was a genius not properly recognized by our hypocritical and superficial word. My work proves that he discovered the only right way to translate the symbolic meaning of the dream images, so that we may understand the unconscious guidance.

He discovered the right method of dream interpretation but he shouldn’t believe that the divine unconscious mind was merely ‘a good counselor’ for our conscience. We are too ignorant and we make too many mistakes in life. How can we know what to do when we are facing difficult life situations?

We should ask the divine unconscious mind what to do. We will have the answer we need in our own dreams. The unconscious mind always helps us solve unexpected problems and find salvation.

I’ve cured numerous people from various mental illnesses through dream therapy. However, the real doctor is not me, but the unconscious mind that produces our dreams. When you trust the scientific method of dream interpretation you learn the divine unconscious guidance in your dreams.

I’m a professional dream translator who respects the meaning of the dream language and accurately translates the dream messages. Thus, you learn God’s guidance in your own dreams. This is a big privilege.

You are very lucky because Carl Jung discovered the real meaning of the dream language after very arduous research, and also very lucky because I’m proving this truth to the world. Otherwise his discoveries would remain under-evaluated, instead of saving humanity from despair.

You are even luckier because I simplified Jung’s complicated method of dream interpretation, clarifying all the obscure and vague points in his work. Without my clarifications only intellectuals could follow his method, which was also incomplete. I had to complete the end, and show you the entire truth.

My mission was very difficult. Besides having to fight craziness and win this battle, I had to bear many humiliations in order to prove to the world everything I had discovered.

I was only trying to find psychotherapy because I understood that I was neurotic when I was 23-years-old (in 1984). I studied Carl Jung’s method of dream interpretation and numerous other scientific works in order to understand everything. Then, I discovered that God had prepared me to continue Jung’s work and become a psychiatrist and psychologist.

Nobody could accept and recognize the fact that I became a very serious doctor. However, I had to become a doctor in order to help the unconscious mind cure others.

I had no intention to cure others, but I learned that this was my moral obligation because I was saved from schizophrenia through dream translation without deserving to be cured.

I had no intention to prove God’s existence. As a matter of fact, I hated the obligation to prove to our atheistic world that God exists and sends us important messages in dreams.

I was a literature writer and I had a great talent. I didn’t want to become a doctor. I didn’t want to face the attacks of the world against me because I was a psychiatrist without an academic degree, since I had studied what the unconscious mind was teaching me.

However, the divine unconscious mind showed me that I simply had to bear all the attacks, and face all humiliations with courage. This was my moral obligation because I had to prove to the world the truths I had discovered.  

God gave me all this knowledge not only because He wanted to save me from schizophrenia, but because he needed my help. I had the obligation to obey the divine unconscious guidance and face all humiliations without complaining. My obedience would also work like psychotherapy for me.

I deserved to be humiliated because I had humiliated many people in my life. I had the personality of a dictator. I was too proud of my intelligence, too demanding, and too impatient. I would surely become a terrible creature like my father without psychotherapy.

So, I courageously faced all humiliations. I even used my sense of humor and everything I could think of in order to bear facing so many humiliations during so many years. I had the spirit of a hero. I knew that everything I learned for obeying the unconscious guidance had a tremendous value and I had to always be very obedient.

I learned how to feel sorry for those who humiliated me because my studies were not based on the limited knowledge of our historical time. I learned how to be humble and accept seeing myself in an inferior position.

This was very hard in the beginning. I wanted to kill my enemies. However, I learned how to forgive my enemies and show them compassion, instead of feeling angry with their attacks.

I’m sure that your problem is not as serious as the problem I had when I learned that I had to fight schizophrenia by learning how to attain sanctity. Your problem can be only as serious as my problem was.

Schizophrenia is pure hell. If you have to face this battle, you are in a situation as terrible as the situation I was in when I was a young mother.

If your case is like mine, don’t lose hope. The unconscious mind will surely help you get out of trouble and solve your problems, no matter how serious they are.

If you are merely facing a separation, a financial crisis, or something not as difficult as a mental illness, you will find relief faster than those who have to deal with psychological issues.

I can translate your dreams for you now that you are in this difficult situation, and help you really understand what to do in order to successfully solve each problem until you’ll manage to feel safe. Later you can study the meaning of the dream language with my work and translate your dreams without my help.

Christina Sponias continued Carl Jung’s research into the human psyche, discovering the cure for all mental illnesses, and simplifying the scientific method of dream interpretation that teaches you how to accurately translate the meaning of your dreams, so that you can find health, wisdom and happiness.

Learn more at:

http://www.scientificdreaminterpretation.com

http://www.booksirecommend.com

He believes that countries that had so far rapid economic growth in 2012 will have problems.

“There’s a pretty high probability of an emergency landing in China this year, but things will work in 2013,” he explained.

Even if Asian state has recovered quickly from the crisis in 2008, Edwards says that this recovery was due to austerity measures imposed by the government.

But authorities in Beijing no longer allow further cuts because the economy is still fragile.

China increased by 10% each year, thus becoming, in two decades, the second largest economy in the world.

But the plight of some Western countries, the main market for Asian countries, and China’s real estate crisis, has led some analysts to predict that this country you will face serious problems in the near future.

Exports to the EU fell by 9% in October over the same period last year. Total exports increased, however, by 15.9%, due to explosive demand from South America.

However, it is the weakest growth in the last two years.

Image via Wikipedia

Timelines are always good ways to understand important events in history, especially when it comes to revolutions. If we look back at European history, we can see almost exact correlations between the 1848 revolutions and those happening in the Middle East today. With the success of the American and French revolutions in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, everyone followed these as models to revolt against their oppressive governments. Each revolution sparked a new one in another country; however, very few of these revolutions succeeded. The most notable of which that succeeded was Greece’s separation from the Ottoman Empire (with the aid of other European powers).
          European and East Asian countries, as well as the U.S, have kept a still tongue on the topic of the Middle Eastern protests. With a majority of the world’s oil coming from that area, as well as the necessity of the Suez Canal for oil and other trades, taking sides on such a sensitive subject could prone disastrous for each country’s foreign policy if they choose the wrong “side” to be on. Not only that, but the sensitive information held by these crumbling governments could cause further polarization and dissent within the world economy and world conflicts.
           The beginning of protests and demonstrations began in Tunisia on December 17, 2010, later intensifying in January, with more Tunisian revolts and thousands of protesters calling for Mubarak’s removal in Egypt. These, and other oppressive governments refused to let their power go, as they sent out loyalists to fight the protesters. Tunisian’s early protests began a regional dissension with the governments in the Middle East, pre-empting Egypt’s first protests on January 16.
           Egyptians were inspired by the Tunisian revolts, and ultimately called for the end of Hosni Mubarak’s 30 year dictatorial. After weeks of constant bombardment of protests, Mubarak was taken out of office on February 11, leaving the military in control of Egypt.
           Algerian protestors planned a march on their parliament building, yet were met with Algerian police blockades which injured 42 activists. Many other protests have been evolving since and continue from the problems created by the 1992 civil war.
           Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Syria, Oman, and Yemen citizens who were fed up with their governments and did not trust them used previous and still occurring revolutions to fuel their own protests. Of course, with the world watching and hoping for the best, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has signed a deal under which he will step down after months of unrest in Yemen.[1] Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi had been killed in action by the Rebel troops, where the new governmental system is beginning to take place, and Tunisia has already casted its first election.
          Recently, Libya and South Sudan have gained their independence from their oppressive regimes. South Sudan splitting from Sudan was probably the most notable event to occur, as before, the Genocides in Darfur were an untouchable problem to the international community due to the anarchic state of the world. This means that Sudan was its own sovereign problem, and any Governmental attempts to intervene would be a violation of Sudan’s sovereignty. Since the split, the International community (including NGOs and IGOs) has been able to pledge their support of the oppressed South Sudan.  Because South Sudan now exists as its own sovereign power, it has the ability to ask for and receive aid from the international community. Libyan rebels had confirmed the death of Gadhafi around a month or so ago, and have been on the fast track to starting up their Islamic infused Liberal Republic government system. As previously stated, Tunisia has already had their first elections and the world is very optimistic about the outcome of the first Islamic state to obtain its independence.

The odd thing about the entire Arab Spring is that Iran’s President Ahmadinejad has voiced his favorable opinions of the protestors (who can also be seen as a model by the Occupy movements all across the world); however, Ahmadinejad has proven to be hypocritical as he is not a legitimate ruler. Not counting the voter fraud, Iran’s president really only has power over Kabul (because of the government’s weak and unstable structure), as well as being oppressive (cutting out people’s internet, phone, TV, etc…), but he is blatantly hiding behind the idea that because Iran has “elections” that it is a democracy; when in reality it isn’t a true Democracy per it’s major modern influence, Emmanuel Kant, who authored the Democratic Peace Theory. His writings state that a Liberal Republic (I.e. – the US) consists of a separation of powers, Independent judiciary, and individual rights honored.  By all means Iran fails this mold, and only further shows Ahmadinejad’s illegitimacy.

Last but not least, Pakistan – possibly the biggest threat to the world today. The major problem we have is how to deal with this uncooperative state in the midst of it being a nuclear state. The Middle East, in general, has had a long history of being exploited for various resources and political reasons by the European and Western worlds. These, as well as the uncontrollable economic, cultural and political forces of Globalization have ended up severely infringed on not only the sovereignty of these states, but also the traditional Islamist culture they wish to keep. While many embrace the various aspects of Globalization; however, various factions and political leaders have taken this nationalist spirit to an extreme via a backlash of globalism. These backlashes have resulted in instability in nearly all aspects of government, as well as spikes in violent protest (a.k.a. – terrorism). While terrorism can be born regardless of state or nationality, Pakistan stands out among the crowd. Considering the aid received from various nations in Pakistan’s quest for independence from India (succeeding via the Partition of India in 1947); one would think with such international support that Pakistan would be more stable and peaceful.[2] Despite the long-term attempts to have peaceful, diplomatic relations with Pakistan, it remains the epicenter of dealing with terrorism, as well as one of the most violent, unstable nations there is.[3] [4]  As Pakistan remains a nuclear power, along with containing 15 nuclear power sites within its borders, the international community therefore must carefully craft their approach to this unstable state.[5]  While many argue that violence / military action is the only way to deal with people like this[6], a full scale war would prove to be disastrous in the end (note the aforementioned nuclear missiles). We, instead, must use diplomatic means of re-structuring the Pakistani government’s egregious world goals. Various economic and militaristic sanctions, revoking certain privileges granted by the U.N., along with keeping a “close eye” on the internal machinations of the Pakistani government are very possible alternatives to combat.

In the end, I would argue that most people in the world would rather see an internationally aided Pakistan revolution than continuing with the status quo. The benefits of such exponentially outweigh the drawbacks, despite claims by many media outlets (i.e. – Fox News) that the Muslim Brotherhood and/or terrorists would take the place of the fallen, corrupt regimes. However, this could not and will not happen, as according to polls in Egypt, such groups have approval ratings close to that of Hosni Mubarak’s 10%.[7]  With Democratic policies setting in among the Arab Spring states, Tunisia already casting its first election, it is reasonable to believe that these people are much better off now than they were at the beginning of 2011, and the same could be said for Pakistan. As long as the international community continues to send the message to Pakistan that their pro-terrorist/militant agenda will not be tolerated, the gears of Revolution will continue to turn, and hopefully, revolution can spark and replace this corrupt and unstable government, with a new international ally, trading partner, and peacekeeper. Also considering the amount of money the world has pumped into an unwilling and immovable Pakistan, a new, Liberal Republic government could soothe the economic pains of those who loaned money by re-gaining control of their share of OPEC, the Nuclear sites and missiles. This wouldn’t only calm the fears of oil sanctions on the international community (by a corrupt Pakistan) but it would greatly reduce the international security and safety risk with more transparency and better anti-terrorism measures in place.

[1] Ginny Hill, BBC News, “Yemeni President Saleh signs deal on ceding power,” (November 23, 2011)

[2] U.S. Embassy in Islamabad

[3] Michelle Bachman, GOP Presidential Debate, Tuesday November 22

[4] Timothy Roemer (US Ambassador to India), April 2011

[5] Jeffrey Goldberg and Marc Ambinder – Atlantic Monthly, “Pakistan Dispatch”

[6] Associated Press, the Denver Post, “Sen. Graham: Consider military action against Pakistan”

[7]   CBN News, Polls: Muslim Brotherhood unpopular in Egypt

Image by Omer Wazir via Flickr

The Middle East, in general, has had a long history of being exploited for various resources and political reasons by the European and Western worlds. These, as well as the uncontrollable socioeconomic, cultural and political forces of Globalization have ended up severely infringed on not only the sovereignty of these states, but also the traditional Islamist culture they wish to keep. While many embrace the various aspects of Globalization; however, various factions and political leaders have taken this nationalist spirit to an extreme via a backlash of globalism. These backlashes have resulted in instability in nearly all aspects of government, as well as spikes in violent protest (a.k.a. – terrorism). While terrorism can be born regardless of state or nationality, Pakistan stands out among the crowd. Considering the aid received from various nations in Pakistan’s quest for independence from India (succeeding via the Partition of India in 1947); one would think with such international support that Pakistan would be more stable and peaceful. Despite the long-term attempts to have peaceful, diplomatic relations with Pakistan, it remains the epicenter of dealing with terrorism, as well as one of the most violent, unstable nations there is.[1] As Pakistan remains a nuclear power, along with containing 15 nuclear power sites within its borders, the international community therefore must carefully craft their approach to this unstable state.  While many argue that violence is the only way to deal with people like this, I argue that a full scale war would prove to be disastrous in the end (note the aforementioned nuclear missiles). We, instead, must use diplomatic means of re-structuring the Pakistani government’s egregious world goals. Various economic and militaristic sanctions, revoking certain privileges granted by the U.N., along with keeping a “close eye” on the internal machinations of the Pakistani government are very possible alternatives to combat.

A majority, if not all, of these aforementioned problems can be attributed to the pseudo-Democratic system (or Federal Parliamentary republic) that Pakistan has in place. This governmental system is similar to that of China and Iran, where it appears to be a “Democracy,” but it isn’t the kind of democracy we typically think of, which is a Liberal Republic.[2] Pakistan (and other states) uses this façade to trick states that provide economic and military aid to not think twice about where the money is going to or to whom. Now this statement has gradually become less true as intelligence agencies within the major European and Western powers have discovered the corruption and misuse of money. In 2008, an anonymous tip to The Guardian news reported that probably around $3.8 Billion of U.S. aid alone were wasted or misspent by the Pakistani Government, which is calculated around 70% of the aid given between 2002 and 2007.[3] While the U.S. has been the major source of aid to Pakistan, they have also taken large loans from IGO’s and NGO’s such as the IMF, Election Support Group (ESG) and the U.K.[4] [5] [6] [7] While more and more money goes to the Pakistani government for anti-terrorism measures, we continue to see substantially less amounts of it going where it’s supposed to. In conjunction, we’ve also seen a rise in the amount of terrorists crossing in and out of Pakistan, or in Osama Bin Laden’s case, living there peacefully in a large house for 5 years right next to a major military base in Abbottabad.

 As far as Anti-Terrorism goes, the Pakistani government has been not only lying about intelligence pertaining to whereabouts of terrorists wanted worldwide, but they had duped most of the world into believing it, as every time the US or India accused Pakistan of giving terrorist groups a safe-haven, they denied it.[8] Despite the overbearing evidence found from Operation “Neptune Spear” about Pakistani links to Osama Bin Laden, intelligence on other terrorists in Pakistan, etc… Pakistan still denies it’s involvement in aiding terrorists, and they, along with Fidel Castro[9], Ismail Haniyeh[10], and Amnesty International[11], condemned the international community (and the US itself) for allowing the U.S. to violate its sovereignty and assassinate people within its borders. Attorney General Eric refuted this by stating the killing was done in national self-defense, especially after Bin Laden took the blame for the 9/11 massacre of 3,000 peoples. As aforementioned, Pakistan has become substantially more and more aggressive with the international community, and seemingly gave up all stakes in the fight against terrorism. The fact that the U.S. had to keep this raid almost a complete secret among its own government, allies, and Pakistan[12] leads to the conclusion that Pakistan is not to be trusted, especially when considering that Pakistan ‘gave China access’ to the downed US prototype stealth helicopter used in the raid.[13] Not only did Pakistan go behind the entire world’s back by knowingly or (unlikely) unknowingly harboring terrorists, but they also obviously cannot be trusted with money, as seen by reckless spending of Anti-terrorist loans/funds, or information. Contrary to Pakistani claims that US intervention is the sole facilitating force of terrorist growth in the region, AFPAK foreign policy news notes that terrorist groups like the LeJ, LeT, and LeM existed long before US and European involvement.[14]Because of the corrupt nature of this government, it’s not a problem of lack of aid, because there is plenty of military and economic aid being pumped into Pakistan by the IMF and other countries. The unstable and corrupt government is the major problem that has, and continues to be a constant threat to not only their historical enemy, India, but the entire world.[15]

If abusing anti-terrorist aid, aiding terrorists wanted worldwide, and being an overall aggressive and corrupt state wasn’t enough, Pakistan has been a Nuclear power since 1972, and contains around 15 Nuclear (power) sites within its borders.[16] This recently became a very hot topic worldwide when GOP Presidential Candidate Michelle Bachman quoted Goldberg & Ambinder’s (writers for Atlantic Monthly) report in their Pakistan dispatch. According to them, at least six of  Pakistan’s nuclear facilities have been targeted by terrorists, and that (according to satellite imagery & other sources) there are at least 15 other plants around Pakistan in which jihadists can obtain some kind of nuclear materials or even warheads.[17] Bachman, along with President Obama, and other world leaders have acknowledged this very real threat, and because of the nuclear nature of this situation, every move made by a state towards Pakistan must be done ever so carefully.[18] China especially believes that nearly any type of deficiency of international support in Pakistan would imperil the entire stability of the state.[19] Pakistan’s growing violent tendencies is further proved by their direct backing of the Afghan Taliban-allied Haqqani network linked to the September 13th attack on the US in Kabul.[20] The fact that a nuclear state with a corrupt government and weak nuclear security is aiding terrorists isn’t only a US or India problem, it’s a real immediate international threat.

As I mentioned earlier, while the international community (including numerous IGOs and NGOs) have given vast amounts of economic, humanitarian, and military aid to Pakistan, most of it has been misused and poorly appropriated. Over the years, numerous countries have become pessimistic and therefore unwilling to pay their dues for peacekeeping in the UN.  Recently, the UN and IGO/NGOs has generally stayed passive and seemingly unwilling to intervene in Pakistan, mainly because they have yet to find a course of action that would take the neocolonialism aspect out of humanitarian interventions, and therefore a possible violation of sovereignty. In the past, states have attempted to use sanctions against an unwilling Pakistan (per India’s request) to change the course of governmental actions; however, they seem to have failed  as Pakistan still has direct links to supporting internal and external militant groups.[21] [22] [23] It would be ideal if there was an entire restructuring of the government via some sort of revolution by the people, akin to that of the Arab spring. In light of the Arab spring, it seems that a large amount of people in North Africa/the Middle East are keen to the idea of Democracy now with the expanse of the social networking capabilities. Using our own, NATO, UN, or diplomatic means to persuade the people to revolt against their corrupt government, again, is ideal; however the problem lies within keeping the current regime from undermining those efforts and retaliating. Many Europeans and Westerners argue that the age-old campaign of attempting to push Democracy in the Middle East will not work; however, that is not the case. It is quite clear that a real Democracy can be born and thrives from and by the people as seen by the Arab spring.[24]

Using the Arab Spring as the example again, the decades old dictatorial and corrupt governments fell to the will of the people. I believe that the educating of the Pakistani people of Democracy and the other successful movements across the Middle East can change the old consensus to want a removal of the current regime. Much like the Libyan campaign of NATO and other economic and militaristic forces aiding the rebels, success can be guaranteed with the same kind of fervor for a Liberal Republic. A way to accomplish this would be more harsh economic and militaristic sanctions (internationally enforced) on the current Pakistani government to not only get the gov’t to act more for its people, but to show the Pakistani people that their government isn’t doing things for their best interest, and rather the world has had to pick up its slack. Like the Arab Spring revolutions, we would need to instill a sense of Nationalism and Globalism at the same time in the Pakistani people so they not only have a sense of community within their borders to want their Government to be more responsive and helpful, but also feel that they are welcome in the Global world today. Some, like Senator Lindsey Graham, argue that this government is too corrupt to negotiate with, and military action must be used in order to end their aiding of terrorists.[25] While we did have to go behind Pakistan’s back to use military force against Osama Bin Laden and kill known terrorists, no state can risk a war with Pakistan, as its nuclear capabilities in the hands of terrorists, or the current government is too large of a risk for large casualties. Not only that, but if the current regime were to fall via war, Terrorist cells would easily be able to infiltrate and obtain nuclear weapons.[26] The proper approach would be for negotiations, sanctions, UN, NATO, US and other states enforcing their presence in Pakistan to act better, and/or whipping up a revolutionary movement.

I would argue that most people in the world would rather see an internationally aided Pakistan revolution than continuing with the status quo. The benefits of such exponentially outweigh the drawbacks, despite claims by many media outlets (i.e. – Fox News) that the Muslim Brotherhood and/or terrorists would take the place of the fallen, corrupt regimes. However, this could not and will not happen, as according to polls in Egypt, such groups have approval ratings close to that of Hosni Mubarak’s 10%.[27] With Democratic policies setting in among the Arab Spring states, Tunisia already casting its first election, it is reasonable to believe that these people are much better off now than they were at the beginning of 2011, and the same could be said for Pakistan. As long as the international community continues to send the message to Pakistan that their pro-terrorist/militant agenda will not be tolerated, the gears of Revolution will continue to turn, and hopefully, revolution can spark and replace this corrupt and unstable government, with a new international ally, trading partner, and peacekeeper. Also considering the amount of money the world has pumped into an unwilling and immovable Pakistan, a new, Liberal Republic government could soothe the economic pains of those who loaned money by re-gaining control of their share of OPEC, the Nuclear sites and missiles. This wouldn’t only calm the fears of oil sanctions on the international community (by a corrupt Pakistan) but it would greatly reduce the international security and safety risk with more transparency and better anti-terrorism measures in place.

[1] Michelle Bachman, GOP Presidential Debate, Tuesday November 22

[2] Kant, Democratic Peace Theory

[3] The Guardian UK

[4] International Foundation for Electoral Systems (2009).

[5] U.S. Embassy in Islamabad

[6] Daily Times (Pakistan), September 10, 2008

[7] Trust.org, “UK Pledges extra 70 million pounds for Pakistani aid” , (September. 2010)

[8] The World Reporter “Pakistan and Taliban, Brothers or Rivals”

[9] “Reflections of Fidel – The murder of Osama Bin Laden”. granma.cu. 2011.

[10] Nidal al-Mughrabi (April 26, 2011). “Abbas government welcomes bin Laden death, Hamas deplores”

[11] “Questions around operation against Osama bin Laden” – Amnesty International

[12] South Asian News Agency, Dec 3 2011

[13] The Guardian, “Pakistan ‘gave China access’ to downed US Helicopter”

[14] AFPAK.ForeignPolicy.com “Pakistan’s real terrorism problem”

[15] Timothy Roemer (US Ambassador to India), April 2011

[16] “Pakistan Nuclear Weapons”. Fas.org.

[17] Jeffrey Goldberg and Marc Ambinder – Atlantic Monthly, “Pakistan Dispatch”

[18] Andrew Small,  Researcher at the German Marshall Fund think-tank, China-Pakistan ties

[19] Reuters, China Treads carefully amid US-Pakistan rift, The Express Tribune (with the International Herald Tribune)

[20] Reuters

[21] NDTV correspondent, NDTV, “Ahead of Obama’s visit, US imposes sanctions against Pakistan terror groups,” (November 5, 2010)

[22] Reuters, “China Treads carefully amid US-Pakistan rift,” The Express Tribune (with the International Herald Tribune)

[23] Roggio, Bill. Long War Journal, “Pakistan backs Afghan Taliban,” June 13, 2010

[24] Saad Hafiz, Pak Tea House, “The state of leadership and democracy in the Muslim world,” (November 2nd, 2011)

[25] Associated Press, the Denver Post, “Sen. Graham: Consider military action against Pakistan”

[26] Jeffrey Goldberg and Marc Ambinder – Atlantic Monthly, “Pakistan Dispatch”

[27] CBN News, Polls: Muslim Brotherhood unpopular in Egypt

When the European Union was founded, no one could predict it would become such a massive project, just as no one could predict how fragile it would become. It is economy that is bringing Europe to it’s knees. Country after country, economic help has been pouring from the richest countries to the more underfinanced ones, but still it seems everything is failing.

Portugal is floating, but in a critical moment.

Spain has never seen so much unemployment, and their interest rate is shooting up.

Italy is struggling to keep  itself at bay from more problems.

But it’s Greece who fills the role of Aquiles heel. With the latest negotiations failing, greek prime-minister is threatening to leave the Euro if their debt doesnt get further forgiven. With a strict position from both Brussels and Athens, the stage is set for the first casualty to this crisis. The newspapers speak about a “disorderly bankrupcy”…

Is this is for the integrity of the European Union? What next? Are other countries going to follow after?

One can never predict today’s economic system…

Sources

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/berlin.htm

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/au-18/au18003c.htm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/34_eisenhower/eisenhower_politics.html

I could wax lyrical about politicians and bank bosses ruling the planet with their greed and corruption, or the oil barons or energy producers making the life we’ve become accustomed to difficult because of the hikes in fuel and energy prices.  The fact of the matter is though, that short of an all out strike or civil action by the entire population of the Western world, we as individuals are not going to make a great deal of difference by complaining.  Ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do or die, I believe that’s what they say.

So, just for a brief moment, I want to forget about all the things in life that make it stressful.  Money does, unfortunately, now very much make the world go round, and I want to take five minutes out to smile about good things and good people, people who’s deeds and friendship make the world a better place and without whom many of us might simply give up and spend our days in gloom and despair.

I have for the past few years been trying to pick up the pieces of an event in life which left me deep in depression, unable to cope with life, and so, unable to work, fall into debt.  Now in a position to try and find employment again, I still continue to battle with financial worries and the worry of buying necessities like food and clothing are still a constant stress.  But, with the help of incredibly supportive people, some old friends, some new, I have found new hope from their wonderful deeds, so small to them, but making such a huge difference to me.

I wanted to share with you, and hope that you will share in return, for the simple telling of good things can bring smiles to faces, make us feel a little better about the world, and give us hope that when we think all is lost, there are kind hearted people out there willing to make small sacrifices themselves just to see others safe and happy.

Having got to a point in recent days when buying basic groceries to feed myself was a constant worry, a wonderful friend I had only recently met, arrived at my door with just a few things, things that had been sat in her kitchen cupboards untouched for a while, and she had gathered these things together so that I may have something to eat.  Such a small thing in terms of monetary value, but such a huge thing in terms of utter kindness, particularly when you learn that this person themselves is in a not too dissimilar position to mine, and battles to budget for a household each and every week.

This person also told me of one of their friends who had helped them out in time of need.  This friend turned up at my friends door, knowing that my friend was in need of help at the time, with a few pounds in an envelope.  It wasn’t much, but it made the difference between having food to eat and going hungry for my friend.  It turned out that this other person had themselves, some years before, been helped out in this way, and as soon as they were able, had placed the same amount of money in an envelope, and kept it, purely for the day when someone else really needed it.

These are simple tales of kindness and caring, but in these hard financial times, when many are feeling the pinch more than they perhaps ever have before, I’m sure you’ll agree that these simple deeds of generosity made a massive difference and brought hope and happiness to someone very much in need.

I would like to spread the kindness a little, and perhaps hear from some of you that wish to share your own little stories that might bring hope to an otherwise bleak situation, and maybe just maybe put a smile on a down face and bring a little warmth to our hearts.  If you would like to share at all, then please feel free to comment below.

I wish everyone a healthy and happy Christmas, and hope that one day I will be in a position to help someone less fortunate than I when they really need it.

Thank you for reading.

Fifteen euro-zone countries are noted by Standard & Poor to be facing an economic downturn. These 15 countries include the six, Standard and Poor’s triple-A rated countries, France, Germany, Austria, Finland, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Due to this assessment from Standard & Poor, Asian currencies are weakening, including China’s Yuan adding concern to the already slow economic growth. Germany and France strike a deal to save the Euro and reduce the euro-zone debt. Journalists report that the euro-zone is now being run by German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French President, Nicholas Sarkozy. Hence, the “Merkozy” deal consists of punitive actions including assured sanctions levied against nations breaching their budget deficit limits.

The implications of the euro-zone crisis are innumerable. Many multi-national corporations, such as banks, from Europe have their operations in Asia. Many European banks have pulled-back on their lending risking a greater credit squeeze for some Asian nations. European banks have repatriated some of the money from Asia risking a financial crisis in the Asian economy.  However, Asian nations have financial scope to respond to the possible financial crisis, with governments borrowing levels lower than other regions. Nonetheless, Asian nations worry about financing in the forthcoming year.

In World-System Analysis Immanuel Wallerstein defines the interaction between core, periphery and semi-periphery states, however Greece challenges this framework through a quasi-sovereign nation that control social and political policy, but not economic. Wallerstein defines the semi-periphery as states that “put forward most aggressively and most publicly so-called protectionist policies” (28). However this is not Greece, because Greece upon acceptance to the EMU became less competitive; they dropped barriers to trade within the EMU, which according to the IMF lost 25% of their competiveness.[i] Wallerstein furthers his explanation as nations that “protect their production process from competition of stronger firms outside,” in addition to attempting to “improve the efficiency of the firms inside” (29). Although joining the EMU made Greece more susceptible to the large economies within in the EMU, it also protected it against other firms in the world. Essentially Greece became an exclusive peripheral state for the EMU; they were treated as a periphery state within the EMU, while gaining core state status in the world economic order.

Almost 80% of Greece’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from the service sector[ii], which includes shipping, telecommunications, tourism and street vendors.[iii] Greece is connecting the world, they have the 12th largest merchant marine fleet[iv] and in this capacity they act as a semi-periphery state, where manufacturing assumes only 14% of GDP[v] and Greece does not harbor monopolies with exported processes, beside perhaps its telecommunications giant, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization. Greek debt was 25% of GDP when they joined the EMU in 1981, but 17 years later it peaked at 115%[vi], showing a strong link between entrance to the EMU and Greek financial problems. These problems came from Greece attempting operate like a core state, with assistance of the EMU amounting to over 3% of their GDP[vii].

The EMU is guiding by economic neoliberal ideology, thus Greece as a member is as well, however their social practices opposed neoliberal policies. Greece was the victim and beneficiary of neoliberalism. As a result of opening their borders to the EMU they achieved core hegemonic status of the EMU. In this sense they sacrificed sovereignty to gain economic benefits and became a part of the periphery of the EMU. EMU gained this lost sovereignty and transplanted it with economic benefits that afforded a more semi-peripheral state like Greece core power through the EMU. However, Greece did not adopt neoliberal social policies and as mentioned loss 25% of their competiveness upon joining the EMU. In the neoliberal framework, the blame is on Greece for creating a welfare state with a large public sector. They economically deregulated and expanded markets by joining the EMU, but Greece maintained high taxes (though often not paid)[viii], large social spending and a large government. This led to a welfare state with more expense and less profit according to Wallerstein.

Now Greece finds itself burdened with the yoke of neoliberal policies that have been forced on other peripheral states. The treatment of Greece is showing their true status as a peripheral member of a core union, as they are being force to raise taxes (however corporate tax has been cut from 40% in 2000 to 24% in 2011[ix]), cut social spending, downsize government and cut the salaries of public employees. In return for the implementation of these austerity measures, Greece is receiving bailouts from the EMU and IMF. Greece is losing sovereignty like other peripheral states and accepting the same structural adjustment policies that have plagued other peripheral economies.

Greece is adopting self-defeating policies that are shrinking the Greek economy with negative 4.5% GDP growth[x]. This is leading to an economy that relies on its service sector to experience a drop in financial spending with further hampered Greek growth through austerity measures. These measures are reducing the purchasing power and confidence of Greek citizens in addition to foreign visitors with tourism receipts dropping, industry decling 8% and manufacturing dropping 10%.[xi] In most sectors of their economy Greece is struggling and is in a state of decline.

Greece has come to the impasse it is at today due to their misperception (as well as financial doctoring of documents and tax evasion) of themselves as a core state and the lack of socio-politically unity of the EU. In the Wallerstein framework, the core powers of the EU opened Greece up decreasing their competiveness and ability to compete as effectively in the EMU marketplace. Neoliberals however, would point to the reckless Greek economic policies that created a huge public sector with huge pensions, in addition to large social spending. The solutions to Greece’s problems are inexorably tied to the EMU, because if they stay and do not default, their economy will shrink anyway and enter sharp decline as they are forced to adopt neoliberal policies. If they leave the EMU, they will certainly default on their debt as they adopt a depreciated Drachma, but will hence regain their full sovereignty from the reins of the EMU. If Greece defaults, it will be felt across the EU and the world, as it will leave other European countries that are highly indebted in very fragile circumstances similar to Greece, possibly causing a ripple of defaults within the EMU that would definitely threaten the future of the Euro. Bailing out Greece is like bailing out a sinking boat just long enough to get back to shore, however the shore seems to be nowhere in sight.

The reality of Greece is one in which EMU interests are superseding the interest of Greek citizens. Austerity will shrink Greece and cause long-term economic hardship, but defaulting will do the same, either way it will take years to restructure the Greek economy and for Greece to recover. If the EMU and IMF bailout Greece the EMU may be salvaged, but the Greek economy and people will suffer either way, because the argument is not about people it is about debt. These austerity measures are preventing the increase of debt, but they do not appear to be reducing debt, especially with Greece receiving more loans at higher rates.[xii] This is a ponzi scheme at the international level, borrowing more money to pay off other debts. This is no different than highly indebted civilians using one credit card to pay off another; the reality has now reached the governments that have accumulated overwhelming amounts of public debt. Either way Greece is going to suffer, protest or not, loans or default, the Greek economy is shrinking; the only question is when Greece begins to grow again, whether they want to regain their sovereignty as a semi-peripheral state or continue to occupy the exclusive periphery of the EMU and sell their sovereignty for money.

[i] http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/faq/greecefaqs.htm#q1

[ii] CIA Factbook

[iii] http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Greece.html

[iv] Ibid

[v] Ibid

[vi] Kouretas, Georgios P., and Vlamis Prodromos. “The Greek Crisis: Causes and Implications.” Panoeconomicus 57.4 (2010): 391-404. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. .

[vii] CIA Factbook

[viii] Ibid vi

[ix] http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-DU-11-001/EN/KS-DU-11-001-EN.PDF

[x] CIA Factbook

[xi] http://www.euromonitor.com/greece/country-factfile

[xii] Ibid vi

Other Sources

David Harvey: Freedom’s Just Another Word

Immanuel Wallerstein: World-Systems Analysis