theduran--2020-03-10--United States Imposed Economic Sanctions – The Big Heist

The US has become increasingly dependent on the use of unilateral economic sanctions to achieve its policy objectives against its declared targets since the start of the great recession in 2008 .
Presently , sanctions impact one-third of humanity in 39 countries .
Economic sanctions not only cause untold death and devastation to a given country by denying it access to US-dominated markets – which restricts its ability to generate wealth , stabilize its currency against price fluctuations and provide critical services and resources for its people – but economic sanctions also serve to justify and conceal theft , through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate only previously accomplished through invasion & occupation .
As the justification for applying economic sanctions becomes increasingly nebulous and contradictory , and more US governmental entities are granted sanction making authority through a maze of acts , executive orders , and laws – rendering the navigation and analysis of economic sanctions complex at best – it becomes increasingly important to not only uncover the victims of economic sanctions but also the victors .
Additionally , it ’ s necessary to understand how economic sanctions are used to prop up an unsustainable financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repo ) market , and how sanctions are critical to buttress troubled industry by engendering monopoly capitalism – via the selective approval of sanction waivers/licenses .
It is also important to note that this massive ongoing bailout does not serve American businesses or its working-class , as profits are extracted and concentrated into the hands of oligarchs and are thereby not reinvested productively into the national or global economy .
Inflated prices for imported commodities and raw materials , and the loss of once prospering export markets , remain in the wake of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic sanctions can only be understood as a street corner shell game leading up to the big heist .
The victims of economic sanctions are easy to identify because they are visible – there are dead bodies and malnourished children , with stunted growth & development , in once-thriving communities .
They constitute the underemployed and working-class and are predominately people of color .
Whereas the victors are concealed .
They hide behind banks , leveraged financial institutions ( hedge funds ) and major industry through their controlling interest .
They constitute the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this context , economic sanctions are shown as class & race warfare cleverly and conveniently disguised as a “ more friendly ” way to “ make the world safe for democracy ” .
But , it isn ’ t bad enough that economic sanctions are a means to sanctify robbery and are a precursor of financial doom , their gory horror rests in them being an incidental mode of genocide through lethal selection – which operates through the destruction of the individual by some adverse feature of the environment , such as excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodily deficiency .
Note that the US white ruling elite has a history of funding eugenics research/experimentation and fascist dictatorships , and is particularly interested in “ population control ” – when it involves people of color .
As applied , economic sanctions function as undeclared war by creating severe economic disruption and hyperinflation in many countries – effects that can be illustrated by the grave economic upheavals experienced by Venezuela , Iraq , Iran , and Cuba .
In Cuba ’ s 2019 report , it ’ s explained that the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 922.6 billion ( adjusted for inflation ) over nearly six decades .
Further , because economic sanctions interfere with the functioning of essential infrastructure i.e .
electrical grids , water treatment & distribution facilities , transportation hubs , and communication networks by blocking access to key industrial inputs , such as fuel , raw materials , and replacement parts , they lead to droughts , famines , disease , and abject poverty , which results in the death of millions .
Exact numbers are difficult to quantify because no international tally of casualties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which obfuscates its overall fatal impact .
According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research ’ s 2019 report , 40,000 people have died in Venezuela since 2017 due to US sanctions .
According to a new report , sanctions against North Korea found that 3,968 North Koreans died due to sanctions-related delays and funding deficits in 2018 , including 3,193 children under the age of 5 and 72 pregnant women .
A report on Iraq from 1995 attributes the death of 576,000 children to US sanctions .
Further , sanctions weaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle natural and climate change disasters .
For example , Haiti was subject to sanctions from 1992-1996 and simultaneously suffered Hurricane Gordon in 1994 , which resulted in 2,000 deaths and disappearances in addition to the deaths of thousands of children directly caused by US sanctions .
In the case of Lebanon , food , clothing , and medicine intended to be used to relieve human suffering were specifically blocked .
As shown by Iran with the COVID-19 epidemic , banking sanctions have delayed Iran from importing test kits .
“ Several international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis kit to Iran , but we can not pay them , said Ramin Fallah , vice president of the Iranian Union of Importers of Medical Equipment.
” This delay may have contributed to 34 deaths and over 388 new cases .
According to statistical models the epidemic may impact 18,000 Iranians .
Overall , economic sanctions deny hospitals and health care facilities essential supplies needed to initiate lifesaving procedures and operate machinery and equipment .
Additionally , economic sanctions undermine progressive social programs that improve health , nutrition , and education in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zimbabwe amongst other countries .
Within this context , the victims of economic sanctions aren ’ t the white ruling elite , that can travel at will and pay inflated prices for commodities , but the indigenous people of color without sufficient means or resources due to the historic underdevelopment inherited from colonialism and prior installations of US puppet regimes .
Economic sanctions violate international law and the fundamental principles that govern diplomacy and multilateralism under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter .
Further , they circumvent human rights obligations and international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Geneva Convention , the Genocide Convention , Nuremberg Charter , Constitution of the World Health Organization , and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , and Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court .
Additionally , since economic sanctions violate international law , they are thereby in violation of domestic law pursuant to the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution and US Supreme Court ’ s decisions holding that “ international law is our law ” .
This list is culled from research , as the US entity that promulgates , develops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against its targets , The U.S. Department of the Treasury ’ s Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) , does not offer a comprehensive list .
• Afghanistan , 2 .
Belarus , 3 .
Bosnia and Herzegovina , 4 .
Burundi , 5 .
Central African Republic , 6 .
China ( PR ) , 7 .
Comoros , 8 .
Crimea Region of Ukraine , 9 .
Cuba , 10 .
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , 11 .
Democratic Republic of the Congo , 12 .
Guinea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Haiti , 15 .
Iran , 16 .
Iraq , 17 .
Kyrgyzstan , 18 .
Laos , 19 .
Lebanon , 20 .
Libya , 21 .
Mali , 22 .
Mauritania , 23 .
Moldova , 24 .
Montenegro , 25 .
Myanmar , 26 .
Nicaragua , 27 .
North Korea – DPRK , 28 .
Palestinian Territories,29 .
Russia , 30 .
Rwanda , 31 .
Serbia , 32 .
Somalia , 33 .
South Sudan , 34 .
Sudan , 35 .
Syria , 36 .
Tunisia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yemen , 39 .
Zimbabwe Approximately 6,300 entities and individuals are on OFAC ’ s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List ( “ SDN List ” ) .
Since these entities can reside anywhere globally , even more countries than what is listed above may be indirectly sanctioned – especially if the given targets hold leadership roles in government or key industries .
Entities that an SDN owns ( defined as a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50 % or more ) are also blocked , regardless of whether that entity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Aggregate data that would be useful for comparison to earlier years is absent from OFAC ’ s website , as is a comprehensive list of sanctioned countries as mentioned above .
However , growth in civil penalties is reported in aggregate and shows that sanctions violations skyrocketed to $ 1.3 billion in 2019 from $ 3.5 million in 2008 .
Additionally , besides the president and congress , state & local governments and thirteen US agencies and offices now have sanction making authority .
The proliferation of sanctions cases over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over their effectiveness as a foreign policy tool .
In terms of changing behavior , sanctions are considered to have a poor track record , with a modest 20-30 percent success rate at best .
Extraterritorial sanctions are proliferating too .
They apply to persons in countries not otherwise subject to sanctions .
For example , while the 2012 Magnitsky Act was originally set against Russia , it has been repurposed to apply to any foreign national deemed responsible for or complicit in “ human rights violations ” or “ corruption ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as the National Endowment for Democracy ( NED ) , Organization of American States ( OAS ) , Amnesty International , Human Rights Watch and religious organizations , etc .
are notorious for assembling and proselytizing baseless cases against leaders that Washington targets for regime change , while ignoring the flagrant human rights abuses of military dictatorships and coups that allow the United States unfettered access to their natural resources .
The Russian Foreign Minister , Sergey Lavrov , claims that the US simply confiscates Venezuela ’ s money under the guise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is experienced in such illegal affairs , giving Iraq , Libya , Iran , Cuba , Nicaragua , and Panama as examples .
As can be shown below , these economic sanctions involve sizable assets .
Note that the concept of “ frozen ” assets only applies to the sanctioned entity ’ s access .
The sanctioned capital is worked by banks and hedge funds .
The following examples are illustrative but not exhaustive – as it is nearly impossible to find information on frozen foreign assets in publicly released government reports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shows in aggregate in 2018 that Iran , Syria and North Korea had $ 216 million in blocked funds by the OFAC .
In the news media , the listing of frozen assets is either aged or incomplete .
In August 2019 , Venezuela ’ s foreign minister , Jorge Arreaza , stated that the sanctions the United States imposed against it had left more than $ 3 billion of its assets frozen in the global financial system .
Additionally , The Bank of England blocked Venezuela ’ s attempts to retrieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the nation ’ s foreign reserves in Britain .
It is reported that former national security advisor to President Donald Trump , John Bolton , pressured England to freeze Venezuelan assets .
By some estimates , Venezuela holds more than $ 8 billion in foreign reserves .
Additionally , the US froze all the assets Venezuela ’ s state-owned oil company , PDVSA , has in the United States .
While it allows PDVSA ’ s US-based subsidiary , Citgo , to operate , it confiscates the money it earns and places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still question what happened to an estimated $ 100-120 billion in frozen Iranian assets which were reportedly being held by banks and institutions around the world in 2015 .
To give some perspective on future value , consider that in interest alone , without including the opportunity cost of not being able to invest the funds productively in the Iranian economy or inflation , $ 400 million in Iran ’ s frozen assets that date back to the overthrow of the shah theoretically yield $ 10 billion – taking into account the high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2003 , President Bush signed an order to take possession of the Iraqi government assets that were frozen in 1990 , before the Persian Gulf War .
As a result , seventeen of the world ’ s biggest financial institutions were told by the Treasury Department to hand over $ 1.7 billion in frozen Iraqi assets that the US government intended to place in an account at the NY Fed .
In 1990 , President Bush froze $ 30 billion in Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets in the United States to deny Kuwait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petrodollar investments , valued at close to $ 100 billion .
In 2015 , it was announced that $ 67 billion in Libya ’ s assets remained frozen from 2011 .
In 2018 , it was announced that Libya ’ s assets had decreased to $ 34 billion .
The UN Libya Experts Panel is “ looking for answers ” to explain the disappearance of $ 33 billion in frozen assets .
To unearth the beneficiaries of US economic sanctions , its necessary to follow the money .
Here , the trail leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York ( NY Fed ) .
The NY Fed is the bank the United States government uses to administer approximately 250 foreign government accounts , according to its 2015 promotional material .
A list detailing the countries and the value of their accounts is not available to the public .
This is not an oversight by the Federal Reserve ; as currently , even the US General Accounting Office is prohibited by law from auditing the Federal Reserve ’ s transactions for or with foreign central banks , the governments of foreign countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S.148 – Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2019 was proposed to correct this issue .
Foreign governments use the NY Fed to receive and make payments in US dollars , for investing in and holding US dollar-denominated debt securities , and for executing transactions in the foreign exchange market for the purchase and sale of non-dollar currencies .
Most of the assets in foreign official accounts at the New York Fed are in the form of marketable US government securities and securities of government-sponsored enterprises ( federal agencies ) .
The NY Fed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which consists of 12 banks administered by a Board of Governors and is directly accountable to Congress .
Within this context , the NY Fed serves as the non-black-market conduit for the transfer of wealth from targeted countries and entities into the coffers of select US banks and hedge funds through the repo market , which functions as a $ 1-trillion-a-day credit machine .
Essentially its assets , which include ill-gotten foreign funds , end up as risk-free low-interest loans to its “ dealers ” in a stopgap measure to offset the large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury Department .
As the growing federal deficit tops one trillion dollars , and the consumer debt exceeds 14 trillion – extreme pressure is put on the NY Fed to keep interest rates artificially low in the short and medium-term via Quantitative Easing ( QE ) and repo agreements .
While the NY Fed maintains $ 3.3 trillion in foreign assets , seized and frozen foreign accounts are not flagged by either the NY Fed or by OFAC ( except for terrorist asset funds as detailed above ) .
This unconscionable omission shields @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and taxpayers , as well as journalists .
However , The NY Fed ’ s Independent Auditors ’ Report for Years Ended December 31 , 2018 , and 2017 , does explain that reverse repurchase agreements may also be executed with foreign official and international account holders as part of a service offering .
Also , the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.4.,1 dated February 27 , 2020 , notes on line item titled “ Reverse Repos ” that it totals $ 221 billion , and that line item titled “ Foreign Official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” is equivalent to “ Reverse Repos ” .
To better understand how precarious the US economy is due to profiteering by the NY Fed ’ s dealers , consider that they take between $ 20 to $ 30 billion in net assets ( see table 1A .
Memorandum Items , Securities lent to dealers ) under management and leverage it up to $ 200 billion .
In 2017 , the top 25 U.S. banks were reported to have $ 222 trillion of exposure to repos/derivatives .
When understanding that this level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Domestic Product ( GDP ) of the United States times twelve , it ’ s clear that the US ’ s artificial dependence on repos undermines its economy , and that literally all the theft in the world is not enough to stave off the US ’ s impending systemic collapse .
Another method used by the Treasury to redistribute and concentrate wealth is through the granting of exclusive monopoly style sanctions waivers/licenses in a veiled process that benefits select corporations and individuals .
Through this method , the US can target entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil , pharmaceutical and agricultural industries to decimate them and force dependence on the products/services of elite US corporations .
Lastly , through sanctions waivers/licenses it can reward countries favorable to US corporations by eliminating its global competition .
Note how sanctions against Venezuela and Iran increase Saudi Arabia ’ s oil industry market share .
Due to sanctions on Iran , Saudi Arabia overtook Russia to become China ’ s top oil supplier .
Also , contrived scarcity conditions serve to inflate price without increasing cost as is also in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealers ’ access to repos by interfering with the repatriation of wealth .
Through delays to crucial cash deliveries and slashed sanctions waivers , Iraq ’ s Central Bank must fly in $ 1- $ 2 billion in cash almost monthly from the NY Fed , where all its oil revenues are kept , to pay for official and commercial transactions .
Oil accounts for 90 % of Iraq ’ s state revenue .
Sanctions cost U.S. companies billions of dollars a year in lost sales and returns on investment—and cost many thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today may mean lower exports even after sanctions are lifted because US firms will not be able to supply replacement parts or related technologies .
Foreign firms may also design US intermediate goods and technology out of their final products for fear of one day being caught up in a US sanction episode .
As a consequence of US sanctions , workers probably lost somewhere between $ 800 million and $ 1 billion in export sector wage premiums in 1995 .
Using this formula , the cumulative loss of wage premiums may exceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly $ 1 billion a year , not taking into account inflation , the rising annual loss of exports or the exponential increase of sanctions by 2020 ) .
However , these costs are routinely overlooked or underestimated because they are not factored into any US government budget table .
Within this context , the proliferation of economic sanctions can be added to the list of indicators that reveal the failing health of the US economy , as plunder through economic sanctions , not productivity , is instrumental in keeping the impending “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2008 great recession , it can be argued convincingly that the capitalist system is in its death throes .
While unilateral coercive economic sanctions are transactional constraints imposed by the US against countries , groups , entities , and individuals that resist its dictates , neoliberal policies , and regime change efforts , Washington instead markets economic sanctions to the gullible as a “ smart ” and “ more peaceful ” way to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction , terrorism , money laundering , and drug , weapon & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are sometimes too difficult for even Washington to manufacture and maintain through its captive news media , as the United States criminal leadership in these illicit activities often gets exposed .
Not only did the US 1981 coup attempt in Nicaragua fail , just as it did again in 2018 , but it revealed the drug , weapon & human trafficking operations routinely undertaken by Washington ’ s intelligence agencies to the public and members of congress and the senate .
And , the opium trade has never been better in Afghanistan since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now supplies 80 percent of the world ’ s supply and US troops are spotted protecting poppy fields .
As such , economic sanctions are also slyly marketed by Washington , as being a means to forward its speciously defined “ humanitarian ” and “ democratic ” agenda .
This sets a much lower bar with an even more subjective and easier to fake criteria ; and allows the United States to implement , with impunity , economic sanctions that devastate the most vulnerable people in the countries it hypocritically claims it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicaragua , a tiny peaceful country , the size of New York state , that shares no border with the US superpower ; has no weapons of mass destruction ; no trafficking – unlike its neighboring countries ; has no terrorist cells , and ; was lauded by the IMF and World Bank in their 2018 reports , was nonetheless called by US President Donald Trump in 2019 “ a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States ” .
This bold-faced lie of Trump ’ s serves to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ( 50 U.S.C .
1701-1706 ) and clearly exemplifies how economic sanctions are a charade and an economic weapon used purely for regime change .
The branding of a target with a terrorist label enables an even faster method of appropriation .
So far in 2020 , the State Department lists 69 entities as terrorist organizations .
Because it includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) on its list , Washington justifies sanctions being waged even against Iranian banks under Executive Order 13324 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Bureau of Counterterrorism identifies potential targets for designation , not the CIA .
But not only does it consider actual terrorist attacks that a group has carried out for this sanctionable classification , but also if a group has the “ capability and intent to carry out such acts ” .
Thus , an entity can be sanctioned for thought crimes projected upon it by the United States government .
In effect , only the United States and its select allies can “ safely ” have a functional military with weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position to defend themselves .
Further , a “ terrorist activity ” or “ terrorism ” is not only defined as an imagined threat to the United States “ national defense ” but also an imagined threat to its “ foreign relations and economic interests.
” Often sanctions are set specifically to disrupt trade relations with China and/or Russia as in the case of Zimbabwe , a country with an abundance of strategic raw minerals .
But it ’ s not unilateral sanctions imposed by the US alone that devastate a targeted country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secondary sanctions upon foreign third parties that represents the final blow to its economy and people .
These measures threaten to cut off foreign countries , governments , companies , financial institutions and individuals from the US financial system if they engage in prohibited transactions with a sanctioned target – irrespective as to whether or not that activity impacts the United States directly .
This forces all parties worldwide to comply with US dictates or risk financial penalties , criminal charges , and sanctions .
This has a chilling effect on the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctant to cross Washington to trade with sanctioned countries , as corporations and banks not on Washington ’ s inside track suffer harsh penalties .
Presently , any entity that violates US unilateral sanctions risks severe penalties that range from up to $ 5 million for individuals , $ 10 million for corporations , and up to 30 years imprisonment .
With over 1,000 military bases and installations in over 120 countries , US aggression remains an ever-present threat against noncompliance as well .
In 2019 , Standard Chartered PLC and Standard Chartered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were issued penalties totaling $ 1.1 billion for “ inadequate sanctions controls and failure to disclose sanctions risks to the Federal Reserve ” .
And , New York ’ s Manhattan district attorney reportedly received $ 4.6 billion in penalties due to a dozen large criminal cases against major foreign banks for alleged violations of U.S. economic sanctions and New York state law within the last decade .
Penalties accrued in the past two years ( 2018 & 2019 ) alone account for 17 % of the total .
The largest case involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state authorities against BNP Paribas SA , a French bank , for violating US sanctions by processing transactions for blacklisted clients .
When analysis is done to uncover the big winners of US economic sanctions it ’ s learned that ExxonMobil and JP Morgan Chase Bank are often front and center ; case in point , Iran , Iraq , and Venezuela .
Also , consider that JP Morgan Chase Bank did very well in the 2008 collapse through vulture capitalism .
Fortunately , US economic sanctions contain the seeds of their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of foreign reserve currencies at the expense of the US dollar , and the phasing out of the US money transfer system ( SWIFT ) to alternate foreign models such as Russia ’ s System for Transfer of Financial Messages ( SPFS ) .
But since millions of lives are at stake now , it ’ s imperative that secondary sanctioned countries , business owners , workers , and elected officials join together with sanctioned countries and peace activists to end economic sanctions .
The oligarchy must be stopped from literally stealing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an independent journalist and a contributing writer with Sanctions.Kill.org .
Her work has been published by Counterpunch , Common Dreams , Telesur , Monthly Review , Alliance for Global Justice and Global Research , CA amongst others .
She holds a BA in Politics , Economics and Society from SUNY at Old Westbury and an MPA in International Development Administration from New York University .
Her historical fiction novel based on Nicaragua ’ s 1979 revolution is due out this year .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by Lauren Smith…
The US has become increasingly dependent on the use of unilateral economic sanctions to achieve its policy objectives against its declared targets since the start of the great recession in 2008. Presently, sanctions impact one-third of humanity in 39 countries. Economic sanctions not only cause untold death and devastation to a given country by denying it access to US-dominated markets – which restricts its ability to generate wealth, stabilize its currency against price fluctuations and provide critical services and resources for its people – but economic sanctions also serve to justify and conceal theft, through asset freezes and seizures, at a rate only previously accomplished through invasion & occupation.
As the justification for applying economic sanctions becomes increasingly nebulous and contradictory, and more US governmental entities are granted sanction making authority through a maze of acts, executive orders, and laws – rendering the navigation and analysis of economic sanctions complex at best – it becomes increasingly important to not only uncover the victims of economic sanctions but also the victors. Additionally, it’s necessary to understand how economic sanctions are used to prop up an unsustainable financial house of cards through the repurchasing (repo) market, and how sanctions are critical to buttress troubled industry by engendering monopoly capitalism – via the selective approval of sanction waivers/licenses.
It is also important to note that this massive ongoing bailout does not serve American businesses or its working-class, as profits are extracted and concentrated into the hands of oligarchs and are thereby not reinvested productively into the national or global economy. Inflated prices for imported commodities and raw materials, and the loss of once prospering export markets, remain in the wake of sanctions. In its entirety, US economic sanctions can only be understood as a street corner shell game leading up to the big heist.
VICTIMS & VICTORS
The victims of economic sanctions are easy to identify because they are visible – there are dead bodies and malnourished children, with stunted growth & development, in once-thriving communities. They constitute the underemployed and working-class and are predominately people of color.
Whereas the victors are concealed. They hide behind banks, leveraged financial institutions (hedge funds) and major industry through their controlling interest. They constitute the capitalist class and are white. Within this context, economic sanctions are shown as class & race warfare cleverly and conveniently disguised as a “more friendly” way to “make the world safe for democracy”.
But, it isn’t bad enough that economic sanctions are a means to sanctify robbery and are a precursor of financial doom, their gory horror rests in them being an incidental mode of genocide through lethal selection – which operates through the destruction of the individual by some adverse feature of the environment, such as excessive cold, or bacteria, or by bodily deficiency.
Note that the US white ruling elite has a history of funding eugenics research/experimentation and fascist dictatorships, and is particularly interested in “population control” – when it involves people of color.
IMPACT OF SANCTIONS
As applied, economic sanctions function as undeclared war by creating severe economic disruption and hyperinflation in many countries – effects that can be illustrated by the grave economic upheavals experienced by Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, and Cuba. In Cuba’s 2019 report, it’s explained that the US economic blockade has deprived it of $922.6 billion (adjusted for inflation) over nearly six decades.
Further, because economic sanctions interfere with the functioning of essential infrastructure i.e. electrical grids, water treatment & distribution facilities, transportation hubs, and communication networks by blocking access to key industrial inputs, such as fuel, raw materials, and replacement parts, they lead to droughts, famines, disease, and abject poverty, which results in the death of millions.
Exact numbers are difficult to quantify because no international tally of casualties related to economic sanctions is recorded, which obfuscates its overall fatal impact. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research’s 2019 report, 40,000 people have died in Venezuela since 2017 due to US sanctions. According to a new report, sanctions against North Korea found that 3,968 North Koreans died due to sanctions-related delays and funding deficits in 2018, including 3,193 children under the age of 5 and 72 pregnant women. A report on Iraq from 1995 attributes the death of 576,000 children to US sanctions. Further, sanctions weaken a targeted country’s ability to handle natural and climate change disasters. For example, Haiti was subject to sanctions from 1992-1996 and simultaneously suffered Hurricane Gordon in 1994, which resulted in 2,000 deaths and disappearances in addition to the deaths of thousands of children directly caused by US sanctions. In the case of Lebanon, food, clothing, and medicine intended to be used to relieve human suffering were specifically blocked. As shown by Iran with the COVID-19 epidemic, banking sanctions have delayed Iran from importing test kits. “Several international companies are ready to ship the coronavirus diagnosis kit to Iran, but we cannot pay them, said Ramin Fallah, vice president of the Iranian Union of Importers of Medical Equipment.” This delay may have contributed to 34 deaths and over 388 new cases. According to statistical models the epidemic may impact 18,000 Iranians.
Overall, economic sanctions deny hospitals and health care facilities essential supplies needed to initiate lifesaving procedures and operate machinery and equipment. Additionally, economic sanctions undermine progressive social programs that improve health, nutrition, and education in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and Zimbabwe amongst other countries. Within this context, the victims of economic sanctions aren’t the white ruling elite, that can travel at will and pay inflated prices for commodities, but the indigenous people of color without sufficient means or resources due to the historic underdevelopment inherited from colonialism and prior installations of US puppet regimes.
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL & HUMANITARIAN LAW
Economic sanctions violate international law and the fundamental principles that govern diplomacy and multilateralism under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Further, they circumvent human rights obligations and international humanitarian law set forth in the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Genocide Convention, Nuremberg Charter, Constitution of the World Health Organization, and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Additionally, since economic sanctions violate international law, they are thereby in violation of domestic law pursuant to the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution and US Supreme Court’s decisions holding that “international law is our law”.
LIST OF COUNTRIES UNDER ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
This list is culled from research, as the US entity that promulgates, develops and administers laws that impose economic sanctions against its targets, The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), does not offer a comprehensive list.
Afghanistan, 2. Belarus, 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4. Burundi, 5. Central African Republic, 6. China (PR), 7. Comoros, 8. Crimea Region of Ukraine, 9. Cuba, 10. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 11. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 12. Guinea, 13. Guinea Bissau, 14. Haiti, 15. Iran, 16. Iraq, 17. Kyrgyzstan, 18. Laos, 19. Lebanon, 20. Libya, 21. Mali, 22. Mauritania, 23. Moldova, 24. Montenegro, 25. Myanmar, 26. Nicaragua, 27. North Korea – DPRK, 28. Palestinian Territories,29. Russia, 30. Rwanda, 31. Serbia, 32. Somalia, 33. South Sudan, 34. Sudan, 35. Syria, 36. Tunisia, 37. Venezuela, 38. Yemen, 39. Zimbabwe
EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS
Approximately 6,300 entities and individuals are on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”). Since these entities can reside anywhere globally, even more countries than what is listed above may be indirectly sanctioned – especially if the given targets hold leadership roles in government or key industries. Entities that an SDN owns (defined as a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more) are also blocked, regardless of whether that entity is separately named on the SDN List.
Aggregate data that would be useful for comparison to earlier years is absent from OFAC’s website, as is a comprehensive list of sanctioned countries as mentioned above. However, growth in civil penalties is reported in aggregate and shows that sanctions violations skyrocketed to $1.3 billion in 2019 from $3.5 million in 2008. Additionally, besides the president and congress, state & local governments and thirteen US agencies and offices now have sanction making authority.
The proliferation of sanctions cases over the past two decades has also sparked academic debate over their effectiveness as a foreign policy tool. In terms of changing behavior, sanctions are considered to have a poor track record, with a modest 20-30 percent success rate at best.
EXTRATERRITORIAL SANCTIONS
Extraterritorial sanctions are proliferating too. They apply to persons in countries not otherwise subject to sanctions. For example, while the 2012 Magnitsky Act was originally set against Russia, it has been repurposed to apply to any foreign national deemed responsible for or complicit in “human rights violations” or “corruption”. US captive quasi non-governmental organizations and associations such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Organization of American States (OAS), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and religious organizations, etc. are notorious for assembling and proselytizing baseless cases against leaders that Washington targets for regime change, while ignoring the flagrant human rights abuses of military dictatorships and coups that allow the United States unfettered access to their natural resources.
EXAMPLES OF FROZEN AND SEIZED ASSETS
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, claims that the US simply confiscates Venezuela’s money under the guise of sanctions, noting that the US is experienced in such illegal affairs, giving Iraq, Libya, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Panama as examples. As can be shown below, these economic sanctions involve sizable assets. Note that the concept of “frozen” assets only applies to the sanctioned entity’s access. The sanctioned capital is worked by banks and hedge funds. The following examples are illustrative but not exhaustive – as it is nearly impossible to find information on frozen foreign assets in publicly released government reports, except for the OFAC Terrorist Asset Report that shows in aggregate in 2018 that Iran, Syria and North Korea had $216 million in blocked funds by the OFAC. In the news media, the listing of frozen assets is either aged or incomplete.
VENEZUELA
In August 2019, Venezuela’s foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, stated that the sanctions the United States imposed against it had left more than $3 billion of its assets frozen in the global financial system. Additionally, The Bank of England blocked Venezuela’s attempts to retrieve $1.2 billion worth of gold stored as the nation’s foreign reserves in Britain. It is reported that former national security advisor to President Donald Trump, John Bolton, pressured England to freeze Venezuelan assets. By some estimates, Venezuela holds more than $8 billion in foreign reserves. Additionally, the US froze all the assets Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, has in the United States. While it allows PDVSA’s US-based subsidiary, Citgo, to operate, it confiscates the money it earns and places it in a blocked account.
IRAN
Many still question what happened to an estimated $100-120 billion in frozen Iranian assets which were reportedly being held by banks and institutions around the world in 2015. To give some perspective on future value, consider that in interest alone, without including the opportunity cost of not being able to invest the funds productively in the Iranian economy or inflation, $400 million in Iran’s frozen assets that date back to the overthrow of the shah theoretically yield $10 billion – taking into account the high rate of interest in the 1970s.
IRAQ
In 2003, President Bush signed an order to take possession of the Iraqi government assets that were frozen in 1990, before the Persian Gulf War. As a result, seventeen of the world’s biggest financial institutions were told by the Treasury Department to hand over $1.7 billion in frozen Iraqi assets that the US government intended to place in an account at the NY Fed.
KUWAIT
In 1990, President Bush froze $30 billion in Iraqi and Kuwaiti assets in the United States to deny Kuwait’s government access to the foreign petrodollar investments, valued at close to $100 billion.
LIBYA
In 2015, it was announced that $67 billion in Libya’s assets remained frozen from 2011. In 2018, it was announced that Libya’s assets had decreased to $34 billion. The UN Libya Experts Panel is “looking for answers” to explain the disappearance of $33 billion in frozen assets.
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NY (NY FED)
To unearth the beneficiaries of US economic sanctions, its necessary to follow the money. Here, the trail leads to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (NY Fed). The NY Fed is the bank the United States government uses to administer approximately 250 foreign government accounts, according to its 2015 promotional material. A list detailing the countries and the value of their accounts is not available to the public. This is not an oversight by the Federal Reserve; as currently, even the US General Accounting Office is prohibited by law from auditing the Federal Reserve’s transactions for or with foreign central banks, the governments of foreign countries, and private international financing organizations. S.148 – Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2019 was proposed to correct this issue.
Foreign governments use the NY Fed to receive and make payments in US dollars, for investing in and holding US dollar-denominated debt securities, and for executing transactions in the foreign exchange market for the purchase and sale of non-dollar currencies. Most of the assets in foreign official accounts at the New York Fed are in the form of marketable US government securities and securities of government-sponsored enterprises (federal agencies). The NY Fed is part of the federal reserve system which consists of 12 banks administered by a Board of Governors and is directly accountable to Congress.
Within this context, the NY Fed serves as the non-black-market conduit for the transfer of wealth from targeted countries and entities into the coffers of select US banks and hedge funds through the repo market, which functions as a $1-trillion-a-day credit machine. Essentially its assets, which include ill-gotten foreign funds, end up as risk-free low-interest loans to its “dealers” in a stopgap measure to offset the large amount of debt instruments issued by the Treasury Department. As the growing federal deficit tops one trillion dollars, and the consumer debt exceeds 14 trillion – extreme pressure is put on the NY Fed to keep interest rates artificially low in the short and medium-term via Quantitative Easing (QE) and repo agreements.
While the NY Fed maintains $3.3 trillion in foreign assets, seized and frozen foreign accounts are not flagged by either the NY Fed or by OFAC (except for terrorist asset funds as detailed above). This unconscionable omission shields sanctions booty from scrutiny by US elected officials and taxpayers, as well as journalists.
However, The NY Fed’s Independent Auditors’ Report for Years Ended December 31, 2018, and 2017, does explain that reverse repurchase agreements may also be executed with foreign official and international account holders as part of a service offering. Also, the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.4.,1 dated February 27, 2020, notes on line item titled “Reverse Repos” that it totals $221 billion, and that line item titled “Foreign Official and International Accounts” plus “Others” is equivalent to “Reverse Repos”.
To better understand how precarious the US economy is due to profiteering by the NY Fed’s dealers, consider that they take between $20 to $30 billion in net assets (see table 1A. Memorandum Items, Securities lent to dealers) under management and leverage it up to $200 billion. In 2017, the top 25 U.S. banks were reported to have $222 trillion of exposure to repos/derivatives. When understanding that this level of exposure is approximately equivalent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States times twelve, it’s clear that the US’s artificial dependence on repos undermines its economy, and that literally all the theft in the world is not enough to stave off the US’s impending systemic collapse.
Another method used by the Treasury to redistribute and concentrate wealth is through the granting of exclusive monopoly style sanctions waivers/licenses in a veiled process that benefits select corporations and individuals. Through this method, the US can target entire industrial sectors within countries such as the oil, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries to decimate them and force dependence on the products/services of elite US corporations. Lastly, through sanctions waivers/licenses it can reward countries favorable to US corporations by eliminating its global competition. Note how sanctions against Venezuela and Iran increase Saudi Arabia’s oil industry market share. Due to sanctions on Iran, Saudi Arabia overtook Russia to become China’s top oil supplier.
Also, contrived scarcity conditions serve to inflate price without increasing cost as is also in the case of aluminum. Note how sanctions reward dealers’ access to repos by interfering with the repatriation of wealth. Through delays to crucial cash deliveries and slashed sanctions waivers, Iraq’s Central Bank must fly in $1-$2 billion in cash almost monthly from the NY Fed, where all its oil revenues are kept, to pay for official and commercial transactions. Oil accounts for 90% of Iraq’s state revenue.
IMPACT OF SANCTIONS ON AMERICAN ECONOMY
Sanctions cost U.S. companies billions of dollars a year in lost sales and returns on investment—and cost many thousands of workers their jobs. Exports lost today may mean lower exports even after sanctions are lifted because US firms will not be able to supply replacement parts or related technologies. Foreign firms may also design US intermediate goods and technology out of their final products for fear of one day being caught up in a US sanction episode.
As a consequence of US sanctions, workers probably lost somewhere between $800 million and $1 billion in export sector wage premiums in 1995. Using this formula, the cumulative loss of wage premiums may exceed $25 billion (25 years times roughly $1 billion a year, not taking into account inflation, the rising annual loss of exports or the exponential increase of sanctions by 2020). However, these costs are routinely overlooked or underestimated because they are not factored into any US government budget table.
Within this context, the proliferation of economic sanctions can be added to the list of indicators that reveal the failing health of the US economy, as plunder through economic sanctions, not productivity, is instrumental in keeping the impending “repo crisis” at bay. Since the 2008 great recession, it can be argued convincingly that the capitalist system is in its death throes.
JUSTIFICATION FOR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
While unilateral coercive economic sanctions are transactional constraints imposed by the US against countries, groups, entities, and individuals that resist its dictates, neoliberal policies, and regime change efforts, Washington instead markets economic sanctions to the gullible as a “smart” and “more peaceful” way to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, money laundering, and drug, weapon & human trafficking. However, these lies are sometimes too difficult for even Washington to manufacture and maintain through its captive news media, as the United States criminal leadership in these illicit activities often gets exposed.
Not only did the US 1981 coup attempt in Nicaragua fail, just as it did again in 2018, but it revealed the drug, weapon & human trafficking operations routinely undertaken by Washington’s intelligence agencies to the public and members of congress and the senate. And, the opium trade has never been better in Afghanistan since the US invasion and occupation. Afghanistan now supplies 80 percent of the world’s supply and US troops are spotted protecting poppy fields.
As such, economic sanctions are also slyly marketed by Washington, as being a means to forward its speciously defined “humanitarian” and “democratic” agenda. This sets a much lower bar with an even more subjective and easier to fake criteria; and allows the United States to implement, with impunity, economic sanctions that devastate the most vulnerable people in the countries it hypocritically claims it’s seeking to protect.
Consider that Nicaragua, a tiny peaceful country, the size of New York state, that shares no border with the US superpower; has no weapons of mass destruction; no trafficking – unlike its neighboring countries; has no terrorist cells, and; was lauded by the IMF and World Bank in their 2018 reports, was nonetheless called by US President Donald Trump in 2019 “a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”. This bold-faced lie of Trump’s serves to justify the grave misuse of executive privilege granted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) and clearly exemplifies how economic sanctions are a charade and an economic weapon used purely for regime change.
The branding of a target with a terrorist label enables an even faster method of appropriation. So far in 2020, the State Department lists 69 entities as terrorist organizations. Because it includes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its list, Washington justifies sanctions being waged even against Iranian banks under Executive Order 13324.
On paper, the State Department’s Bureau of Counterterrorism identifies potential targets for designation, not the CIA. But not only does it consider actual terrorist attacks that a group has carried out for this sanctionable classification, but also if a group has the “capability and intent to carry out such acts”. Thus, an entity can be sanctioned for thought crimes projected upon it by the United States government. In effect, only the United States and its select allies can “safely” have a functional military with weapons of mass destruction and remain in a position to defend themselves. Further, a “terrorist activity” or “terrorism” is not only defined as an imagined threat to the United States “national defense” but also an imagined threat to its “foreign relations and economic interests.” Often sanctions are set specifically to disrupt trade relations with China and/or Russia as in the case of Zimbabwe, a country with an abundance of strategic raw minerals.
SECONDARY SANCTIONS
But it’s not unilateral sanctions imposed by the US alone that devastate a targeted country, it’s the imposition of secondary sanctions upon foreign third parties that represents the final blow to its economy and people. These measures threaten to cut off foreign countries, governments, companies, financial institutions and individuals from the US financial system if they engage in prohibited transactions with a sanctioned target – irrespective as to whether or not that activity impacts the United States directly.
This forces all parties worldwide to comply with US dictates or risk financial penalties, criminal charges, and sanctions. This has a chilling effect on the world economy for even allied developed nations are reluctant to cross Washington to trade with sanctioned countries, as corporations and banks not on Washington’s inside track suffer harsh penalties. Presently, any entity that violates US unilateral sanctions risks severe penalties that range from up to $5 million for individuals, $10 million for corporations, and up to 30 years imprisonment. With over 1,000 military bases and installations in over 120 countries, US aggression remains an ever-present threat against noncompliance as well.
In 2019, Standard Chartered PLC and Standard Chartered Bank, of London, England, were issued penalties totaling $1.1 billion for “inadequate sanctions controls and failure to disclose sanctions risks to the Federal Reserve”. And, New York’s Manhattan district attorney reportedly received $4.6 billion in penalties due to a dozen large criminal cases against major foreign banks for alleged violations of U.S. economic sanctions and New York state law within the last decade. Penalties accrued in the past two years (2018 & 2019) alone account for 17% of the total. The largest case involved a joint investigation with multiple federal and state authorities against BNP Paribas SA, a French bank, for violating US sanctions by processing transactions for blacklisted clients.
When analysis is done to uncover the big winners of US economic sanctions it’s learned that ExxonMobil and JP Morgan Chase Bank are often front and center; case in point, Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela. Also, consider that JP Morgan Chase Bank did very well in the 2008 collapse through vulture capitalism.
Fortunately, US economic sanctions contain the seeds of their own undoing, since they engender the expansion of foreign reserve currencies at the expense of the US dollar, and the phasing out of the US money transfer system (SWIFT) to alternate foreign models such as Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS).
But since millions of lives are at stake now, it’s imperative that secondary sanctioned countries, business owners, workers, and elected officials join together with sanctioned countries and peace activists to end economic sanctions. The oligarchy must be stopped from literally stealing the wealth of the world.
Lauren Smith is an independent journalist and a contributing writer with Sanctions.Kill.org. Her work has been published by Counterpunch, Common Dreams, Telesur, Monthly Review, Alliance for Global Justice and Global Research, CA amongst others. She holds a BA in Politics, Economics and Society from SUNY at Old Westbury and an MPA in International Development Administration from New York University. Her historical fiction novel based on Nicaragua’s 1979 revolution is due out this year.
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theduran--2020-03-10--Biden’s Burisma problem will not go away (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Republican Senator Ron Johnson ’ s ramping up of a probe into Joe and Hunter Biden , and their deep ties to corrupt Ukraine energy company Burisma .
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Senator Ron Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that Senate Republicans are entering a new phase of their investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden and their ties to a corrupt Ukrainian natural gas company , Burisma .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely release an interim report within the next month or two about his committee ’ s probe into the Biden crime family , Politico reported .
“ These are questions that Joe Biden has not adequately answered , ” Ron Johnson said .
“ And if I were a Democrat primary voter , I ’ d want these questions satisfactorily answered before I cast my final vote.
” “ My investigations are not focused on the Bidens .
They ’ re just not .
But I can ’ t ignore them because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They made themselves part of the story , ” Johnson said .
“ If there ’ s wrongdoing , the American people need to know it .
If there is no wrongdoing or nothing significant , the American people need to understand that as well.
” As expected , House Democrats are pushing back on GOP Senators and accusing them of pushing ‘ Kremlin talking points ’ by accusing the Bidens of Ukraine related crimes .
“ I am concerned to see that in the Senate there seems to be a renewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the use of their investigative powers , ” said House Intel Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-CA ) .
“ I just think it ’ s so deeply destructive to be effectively working in a concert with Russian propaganda artists.
” Schiff said he would use his position as chairman of the Intel Panel to call out adversaries for “ furthering Kremlin narratives.
” It was reported Tuesday Senator Ron Johnson will be calling in Andrii Telizhenko to testify in front of the Senate Homeland Security Committee .
Andrii Telizhenko worked as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington DC in 2015-2016 .
Andrii Telizhenko spoke to The Gateway Pundit about the DNC-Russia collusion scandal back in December 2018 .
The Gateway Pundit was the first publication to interview Telizhenko on his meetings with DNC operative Alexandra Chalupa in the Obama White House back in 2016 .
Senators Johnson and Grassley have also requested Biden-Burisma docs from the Treasury Department , State Department and other agencies .
“ In April 2014 , Vice President Biden reportedly became the “ public face of the administration ’ s handling of Ukraine.
” Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s son , Hunter Biden , and his business associate , Devon Archer both began serving on the board of Burisma Holdings , a Ukrainian energy company , ” the letter written by Grassley and Johnson stated , adding that Hunter was being paid as much as $ 30,000 per month ( it was actually more ) .
Grassley and Johnson also stated that Joe Biden bragged about threatening to withhold a billion in aid from Ukraine if they didn ’ t fire Viktor Shokin , the prosecutor investigating Burisma .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got fired , ” Biden said of Viktor Shokin in 2018 to the Council on Foreign Relations .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Republican Senator Ron Johnson’s ramping up of a probe into Joe and Hunter Biden, and their deep ties to corrupt Ukraine energy company Burisma.
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Via The Gateway Pundit…
Senator Ron Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that Senate Republicans are entering a new phase of their investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden and their ties to a corrupt Ukrainian natural gas company, Burisma.
Senator Johnson (R-WI) said he will likely release an interim report within the next month or two about his committee’s probe into the Biden crime family, Politico reported.
“These are questions that Joe Biden has not adequately answered,” Ron Johnson said. “And if I were a Democrat primary voter, I’d want these questions satisfactorily answered before I cast my final vote.”
“My investigations are not focused on the Bidens. They’re just not. But I can’t ignore them because they’re part of the story. They made themselves part of the story,” Johnson said. “If there’s wrongdoing, the American people need to know it. If there is no wrongdoing or nothing significant, the American people need to understand that as well.”
As expected, House Democrats are pushing back on GOP Senators and accusing them of pushing ‘Kremlin talking points’ by accusing the Bidens of Ukraine related crimes.
“I am concerned to see that in the Senate there seems to be a renewed interest in furthering these bogus Russian narratives through the use of their investigative powers,” said House Intel Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA). “I just think it’s so deeply destructive to be effectively working in a concert with Russian propaganda artists.”
Schiff said he would use his position as chairman of the Intel Panel to call out adversaries for “furthering Kremlin narratives.”
It was reported Tuesday Senator Ron Johnson will be calling in Andrii Telizhenko to testify in front of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
Andrii Telizhenko worked as a political officer in the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington DC in 2015-2016.
Andrii Telizhenko spoke to The Gateway Pundit about the DNC-Russia collusion scandal back in December 2018.
The Gateway Pundit was the first publication to interview Telizhenko on his meetings with DNC operative Alexandra Chalupa in the Obama White House back in 2016.
Senators Johnson and Grassley have also requested Biden-Burisma docs from the Treasury Department, State Department and other agencies.
“In April 2014, Vice President Biden reportedly became the “public face of the administration’s handling of Ukraine.” Around the same time, the Vice President’s son, Hunter Biden, and his business associate, Devon Archer both began serving on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company,” the letter written by Grassley and Johnson stated, adding that Hunter was being paid as much as $30,000 per month (it was actually more).
Grassley and Johnson also stated that Joe Biden bragged about threatening to withhold a billion in aid from Ukraine if they didn’t fire Viktor Shokin, the prosecutor investigating Burisma.
“Well son of a bitch. He got fired,” Biden said of Viktor Shokin in 2018 to the Council on Foreign Relations.
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theduran--2020-03-10--MbS and Coronavirus sink global markets (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the collapse of global markets as Saudi Prince MbS enters into an oil price war with Putin and Russia , while coronavirus spread causes mass panic across financial markets .
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American shale drillers are poised to be among the biggest losers in the Riyadh-launched oil price war , experts told RT .
They say the kingdom ’ s dramatic move will be ‘ painful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia ’ s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to give OPEC control over the price of oil , according to political expert Jack Rasmus .
“ What ’ s really happening long-term… the problem is the US oil fracking , ” he said , explaining that the US is pumping 12 million barrels a day , driving up the glut in global oil at a time when the global economy is slowing down .
“ Bin Salman is rolling the dice , dropping the price of oil even further , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy at Saint Mary ’ s College of California .
He added that “ the idea is to get Russia back to the negotiating table in the short run , but in the long run , I think it ’ s about driving these American fracking companies out of business , you see , causing them to go bankrupt.
” Rasmus explained that the smaller fracking companies are caught in a competitive situation where they , unlike Russia and the Saudis , have no interest and can ’ t afford to agree to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Oil Associates LLC President Andrew Lipow , who told RT that the US shale producers are undoubtedly “ going to feel pain.
” “ We ’ ve already seen a number of announcements of laying off people and cutting rigs , ” Lipow said .
Most of the 57 members of the S & P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index fell on Monday , following the global stock market rout .
US shale producers Oasis Petroleum , California Resources and Occidental Petroleum plummeted more than 40 percent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Parsley Energy said they were cutting the number of drill rigs in response to the oil price crash .
After failing to agree with Russia on production cuts , Saudi Arabia pledged on Sunday to supply a record 12.3 million barrels per day ( bpd ) next month , a massive production hike from the current nine million bpd to flood the market .
As a result , global crude prices dropped 30 percent on Monday .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the collapse of global markets as Saudi Prince MbS enters into an oil price war with Putin and Russia, while coronavirus spread causes mass panic across financial markets.
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Via RT…
American shale drillers are poised to be among the biggest losers in the Riyadh-launched oil price war, experts told RT. They say the kingdom’s dramatic move will be ‘painful’ for the US fracking industry.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to give OPEC control over the price of oil, according to political expert Jack Rasmus.
“What’s really happening long-term… the problem is the US oil fracking,” he said, explaining that the US is pumping 12 million barrels a day, driving up the glut in global oil at a time when the global economy is slowing down.
“Bin Salman is rolling the dice, dropping the price of oil even further,” said Rasmus, professor of political economy at Saint Mary’s College of California. He added that “the idea is to get Russia back to the negotiating table in the short run, but in the long run, I think it’s about driving these American fracking companies out of business, you see, causing them to go bankrupt.”
Rasmus explained that the smaller fracking companies are caught in a competitive situation where they, unlike Russia and the Saudis, have no interest and can’t afford to agree to cut output.
His views were echoed by Oil Associates LLC President Andrew Lipow, who told RT that the US shale producers are undoubtedly “going to feel pain.”
“We’ve already seen a number of announcements of laying off people and cutting rigs,” Lipow said.
Most of the 57 members of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index fell on Monday, following the global stock market rout. US shale producers Oasis Petroleum, California Resources and Occidental Petroleum plummeted more than 40 percent. On Monday, shale producers Diamondback Energy and Parsley Energy said they were cutting the number of drill rigs in response to the oil price crash.
After failing to agree with Russia on production cuts, Saudi Arabia pledged on Sunday to supply a record 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) next month, a massive production hike from the current nine million bpd to flood the market. As a result, global crude prices dropped 30 percent on Monday.
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theduran--2020-03-12--Erdogan has complete MELTDOWN, lashes out at Greece for protecting borders (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan childish tirade against Greece , by stating that Greek security forces are behaving like Nazis , as they protect the Greek and EU border against Turkish trained and coached migrants trying to cross over .
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Turkey ’ s foreign minister has doubled down on Ankara ’ s claim that Greece is using Nazi-like tactics against migrants , tweeting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterpart .
Athens insists the article is untrue .
Mevlut Cavusoglu appeared to be unmoved by Athens ’ condemnation of remarks made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who compared Greece ’ s treatment of migrants to atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany .
The senior Turkish diplomat tweeted at Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in which he included a New York Times article alleging that Greece abuses migrants .
“ Have you seen this ?
” Cavusoglu wrote .
Dendias had earlier shared a statement describing Erdogan ’ s comments as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cavusoglu ’ s message included a link to a New York Times article which alleged that Greece operated “ black sites ” where migrants faced abused and humiliation .
According to the paper , migrants trying to enter Greece have been captured , stripped of their belongings , beaten and returned to Turkey without due process .
The Greek government has denied the article ’ s accusations , and said that efforts to paint their treatment of migrants massing on the border as inhumane is nothing more than “ spreading of fake news @ @

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan childish tirade against Greece, by stating that Greek security forces are behaving like Nazis, as they protect the Greek and EU border against Turkish trained and coached migrants trying to cross over.
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Via RT…
Turkey’s foreign minister has doubled down on Ankara’s claim that Greece is using Nazi-like tactics against migrants, tweeting a widely-cited NY Times article at his Greek counterpart. Athens insists the article is untrue.
Mevlut Cavusoglu appeared to be unmoved by Athens’ condemnation of remarks made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who compared Greece’s treatment of migrants to atrocities carried out by Nazi Germany.
The senior Turkish diplomat tweeted at Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in which he included a New York Times article alleging that Greece abuses migrants. “Have you seen this?” Cavusoglu wrote.
Dendias had earlier shared a statement describing Erdogan’s comments as “sad” and “unfortunate.” Cavusoglu’s message included a link to a New York Times article which alleged that Greece operated “black sites” where migrants faced abused and humiliation.
According to the paper, migrants trying to enter Greece have been captured, stripped of their belongings, beaten and returned to Turkey without due process.
The Greek government has denied the article’s accusations, and said that efforts to paint their treatment of migrants massing on the border as inhumane is nothing more than “spreading of fake news.”
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theduran--2020-03-12--Here is why infection by the novel coronavirus is so dangerous

A pathology report translated from Russian about one week ago explained for the first time in our reading why the COVID-19 illness and its progenitor , the novel coronavirus , is being taken so seriously .
As yet , the virus has infected what amounts to be an infinitesimally low number of people ( 126,258 people worldwide as of 4:47AM EDT March 11 , 2020 ) , but against the known number of infections , its mortality rate shows at 3.67 % , and this appears far higher than that of the normal influenza rates of about 0.1 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the actual number of people who have been affected by COVID-19 is far higher , the kind of things that happen to people who develop acute cases of the disease are alarming and of enough concern that the World Health Organization has deemed this a pandemic , and estimates the global risk for the disease at “ very high.
” President Trump closed incoming travel to the US from all European nations except the United Kingdom for thirty days effective midnight Friday morning .
All over the world , events which gather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or canceled , and in some cases , panic buying and hoarding has led to some strange and even absurd consumption of various items , such as toilet paper .
We do have some promising news about all this , but we want to lay out for the reader what it is about this particular virus that is creating the stir and uncertainty on such a massive scale .
An Izvestia news piece dated February 3rd , 2020 noted that some experts in the field of virology noted at least two factors in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led some of them to believe that the virus was artificially created or modified in a laboratory .
The characteristics are the virus ’ long incubation time , the large genome that the virus possesses , and the severe pulmonary edema it causes during its course of infection are all factors that could be effectively used in the creation of biological weapons .
This is not to say that the virus is definitely lab-created .
Not all virologists researching this pathogen thought that it was .
But these characteristics do raise questions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusually severe on its victims .
The crux of the report from Izvestia , translated into English , says approximately the following : “ Coronavirus can very well be chosen as the object for creating the ideal construct for infection , ” explained a Russian specialist in virus genetics , who also wished to remain anonymous .
“ The virus is respiratory , that is , it spreads effectively ( only the measles virus is more effective ) .
Its genome has a large number of genes , which is convenient .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogen is respiratory , but also asymptomatic in the early stages .
It has a long incubation period .
This is the most dangerous combination that could exist.
” As the specialist further explained , the novel coronavirus is able to suppress the immune response in the first stages of infection .
When the number of copies of the virus exceeds a certain ( rather high ) level , the body ’ s immune response is finally triggered , but this happens in the form of a very strong systemic immune response .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually injures the infected person even more , causing lung damage .
By the time an infected person feel the onset of any symptoms , the virus is already very widespread , [ the report literally saying it is in ] almost all the organs [ cells ] of the body .
As a result , the body ’ s immune system gives such a strong response that pulmonary edema is formed , reducing the lungs ’ capacity for air intake to a minimum , and those who are sick can not breathe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has clear indications that the virus was created artificially .
Again , this is not a smoking gun to say the virus was created in a bio lab , and honestly , even if it is something somebody created , it does not matter beyond the hope that the genome sequence the Chinese provided the world for the virus actually helps in finding ways to effectively treat it .
Certainly the world ’ s best are at work on that very problem now .
Maybe , if the virus was an artificial creation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stave off a massive problem .
The peculiar capability that the virus has for suppressing immune response until an advanced stage of the disease raised the question of the virus being lab-created .
Does this kind of thing happen in nature ?
A subheading for a 1973 article in Scientific American does seem to indicate that this is possible : This is the subheading for the piece , entitled “ How the Immune Response to a Virus Can Cause Disease.
” It goes on to say that the possibility that the immunity system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sixty years before this piece was written , hence approximately 1913 , as noted by Clemens von Pirquet , a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine .
Pirquet ’ s hypothesis was followed up in the 1950 ’ s by a virus investigator named Charles P. Rowe , who noted that mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis ( LCM ) showed no symptoms at all even while the virus was multiplying rapidly in many organs .
However , about six days into the infection ’ s trajectory , the mice ’ immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they still developed meningitis and died anyway .
Rowe thought that the immune response itself might be what caused the onset of meningitis , so he used X-ray irradiation to suppress the mice ’ immune responses .
The result came in – the mice did not get sick .
So , it does appear that while the character of COVID-19 looks like it “ could only be artificially created ” , there is evidence that this does happen in nature .
Further articles noted that some infections attack body cells and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage .
COVID-19 does not fall outside of this scope either , though of course , the fact that it does what it does means that certainly a robust treatment regimen is needed to effectively combat it .
That appears to still be in development .
It also appears to put to rest the notion that something like Project Blue or the zombie apocalypse is coming .
COVID is serious but we have no evidence yet that it is catastrophic , and we do have evidence that measures exist that can slow its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of good news : Coronavirus infection rates are reportedly radically diminished in China , the native country for the disease .
For several days now the incidence of new infections has been below 100 per day .
Also the number of people reported as having recovered from the COVID-19 illness continues to increase , presently sitting at 68,284 worldwide .
The reason for the decline in new cases in China has not come to light , though we will investigate this .
It may well be that the virus has some sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealt with , leads to the diminution and eventual end of the pandemic by the virus ’ own nature .
The real test is yet ahead .
With the coming of warm weather across those parts of the world strongly affected by the virus , such as Western Europe , the USA and eventually the more northern nations like Russia and Canada , we will learn how susceptible the virus is to warm weather , and also how long it can hold out in case it prefers colder conditions .
There are reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus ‘ hates ’ heat over 27C ( about 78F ) but these are unverified by us here at The Duran at this time .
While there still remain more questions than definitive answers about the novel coronavirus at this time , it does appear that the gap will be closed very rapidly .
Until then , the whole world is on an unexpected , very unpleasant and sometimes deadly , roller-coaster ride .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
A pathology report translated from Russian about one week ago explained for the first time in our reading why the COVID-19 illness and its progenitor, the novel coronavirus, is being taken so seriously. As yet, the virus has infected what amounts to be an infinitesimally low number of people (126,258 people worldwide as of 4:47AM EDT March 11, 2020), but against the known number of infections, its mortality rate shows at 3.67%, and this appears far higher than that of the normal influenza rates of about 0.1% of cases. While it is more likely that the actual number of people who have been affected by COVID-19 is far higher, the kind of things that happen to people who develop acute cases of the disease are alarming and of enough concern that the World Health Organization has deemed this a pandemic, and estimates the global risk for the disease at “very high.” President Trump closed incoming travel to the US from all European nations except the United Kingdom for thirty days effective midnight Friday morning. All over the world, events which gather large groups of people are being suspended or canceled, and in some cases, panic buying and hoarding has led to some strange and even absurd consumption of various items, such as toilet paper.
We do have some promising news about all this, but we want to lay out for the reader what it is about this particular virus that is creating the stir and uncertainty on such a massive scale.
An Izvestia news piece dated February 3rd, 2020 noted that some experts in the field of virology noted at least two factors in the characteristics of the novel coronavirus that led some of them to believe that the virus was artificially created or modified in a laboratory. The characteristics are the virus’ long incubation time, the large genome that the virus possesses, and the severe pulmonary edema it causes during its course of infection are all factors that could be effectively used in the creation of biological weapons.
This is not to say that the virus is definitely lab-created. Not all virologists researching this pathogen thought that it was. But these characteristics do raise questions, because the trajectory of the virus is unusually severe on its victims.
The crux of the report from Izvestia, translated into English, says approximately the following:
“Coronavirus can very well be chosen as the object for creating the ideal construct for infection,” explained a Russian specialist in virus genetics, who also wished to remain anonymous. “The virus is respiratory, that is, it spreads effectively (only the measles virus is more effective). Its genome has a large number of genes, which is convenient. It has a very unpleasant characteristic: the pathogen is respiratory, but also asymptomatic in the early stages. It has a long incubation period. This is the most dangerous combination that could exist.” As the specialist further explained, the novel coronavirus is able to suppress the immune response in the first stages of infection. When the number of copies of the virus exceeds a certain (rather high) level, the body’s immune response is finally triggered, but this happens in the form of a very strong systemic immune response. This response is so strong that it actually injures the infected person even more, causing lung damage. By the time an infected person feel the onset of any symptoms, the virus is already very widespread, [the report literally saying it is in] almost all the organs [cells] of the body. As a result, the body’s immune system gives such a strong response that pulmonary edema is formed, reducing the lungs’ capacity for air intake to a minimum, and those who are sick cannot breathe. However, so far no expert has clear indications that the virus was created artificially.
Again, this is not a smoking gun to say the virus was created in a bio lab, and honestly, even if it is something somebody created, it does not matter beyond the hope that the genome sequence the Chinese provided the world for the virus actually helps in finding ways to effectively treat it. Certainly the world’s best are at work on that very problem now. Maybe, if the virus was an artificial creation and accidentally released, such publication can stave off a massive problem.
The peculiar capability that the virus has for suppressing immune response until an advanced stage of the disease raised the question of the virus being lab-created. Does this kind of thing happen in nature?
A subheading for a 1973 article in Scientific American does seem to indicate that this is possible:
The body’s defense mechanism may not always be beneficial. In many cases the very process that should combat a virus is itself a cause of the damage associated with a viral disease.
This is the subheading for the piece, entitled “How the Immune Response to a Virus Can Cause Disease.” It goes on to say that the possibility that the immunity system itself can cause injury was raised nearly sixty years before this piece was written, hence approximately 1913, as noted by Clemens von Pirquet, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Pirquet’s hypothesis was followed up in the 1950’s by a virus investigator named Charles P. Rowe, who noted that mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) showed no symptoms at all even while the virus was multiplying rapidly in many organs. However, about six days into the infection’s trajectory, the mice’ immune systems began to respond to the virus, but they still developed meningitis and died anyway. Rowe thought that the immune response itself might be what caused the onset of meningitis, so he used X-ray irradiation to suppress the mice’ immune responses. The result came in – the mice did not get sick.
So, it does appear that while the character of COVID-19 looks like it “could only be artificially created”, there is evidence that this does happen in nature. Further articles noted that some infections attack body cells and are designed to cause other kinds of damage. COVID-19 does not fall outside of this scope either, though of course, the fact that it does what it does means that certainly a robust treatment regimen is needed to effectively combat it.
That appears to still be in development.
It also appears to put to rest the notion that something like Project Blue or the zombie apocalypse is coming. COVID is serious but we have no evidence yet that it is catastrophic, and we do have evidence that measures exist that can slow its spread.
And now for that bit of good news:
Coronavirus infection rates are reportedly radically diminished in China, the native country for the disease. For several days now the incidence of new infections has been below 100 per day. Also the number of people reported as having recovered from the COVID-19 illness continues to increase, presently sitting at 68,284 worldwide. The reason for the decline in new cases in China has not come to light, though we will investigate this. It may well be that the virus has some sort of a life cycle, that if properly dealt with, leads to the diminution and eventual end of the pandemic by the virus’ own nature.
The real test is yet ahead. With the coming of warm weather across those parts of the world strongly affected by the virus, such as Western Europe, the USA and eventually the more northern nations like Russia and Canada, we will learn how susceptible the virus is to warm weather, and also how long it can hold out in case it prefers colder conditions. There are reports being spread across social media that the virus ‘hates’ heat over 27C (about 78F) but these are unverified by us here at The Duran at this time.
While there still remain more questions than definitive answers about the novel coronavirus at this time, it does appear that the gap will be closed very rapidly. Until then, the whole world is on an unexpected, very unpleasant and sometimes deadly, roller-coaster ride.
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theduran--2020-03-12--SHAUN ATTWOOD — Charisma In An Empty Suit (Part 2)

In 1986 , the Conservative MP Harvey Proctor was the victim of a sting operation by a notorious Sunday newspaper in which he was caught committing indecent acts with “ rent boys ” , ie male prostitutes .
At that time , the age of consent for perverted sex was 21 , and one of those who serviced Proctor was 17 , which led to a court appearance and his resigning in disgrace .
The third thread of this particular piece of conspiratorial garbage is Elm Guest House .
This was a short-live boarding house in South West London that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kasir and her husband Haroon , it was raided by the police in 1982 .
The two stood trial at the Central Criminal Court and were convicted of keeping a disorderly house ( ie a brothel ) and possessing obscene videos .
They were fined and received suspended sentences .
One of the charges against them was the neglect of a child ; Carole Kasir had a daughter by a previous relationship ; she and Haroon also had a son , who was made a ward of court ; it was him they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there had been any sexual abuse here at all , the police would have found it .
Carole Kasir died in 1990 at the relatively young age of 47 ; she was diabetic , and her death was ruled suicide , apparently because she neglected to take her insulin injections .
In 2012 , a document known as the Elm Guest House List found its way onto the Internet .
It was drawn up by Chris Fay , an associate of Bill Maloney ; Fay claims it was dictated or otherwise given him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly bogus , for one thing , it includes Colin Jordan as a patron , and as a member of the National Front .
The notorious Jordan was never a member of the National Front , and had been living in Yorkshire at the time .
Like all good Nazis , Colin Jordan abhorred homosexuality , and the suggestion that he would have patronised an establishment run by an Asian and his white wife where he would have engaged in acts of sexual depravity with a Jew ( Leon Brittan ) is beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the scene , Elm Guest House and the Central London address Dolphin Square became centres of utter depravity where underage boys were taken to be sexually violated , tortured and murdered .
Mark Watts of the short-lived Exaro website fed a mostly uncritical media this pap , and it was lapped up , including by the police , who raided the homes of Harvey Proctor , Leon Brittan , and Lord Bramall , Britain ’ s most senior soldier ( who died last November aged 95 ) .
Eventually , only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these outrages , Nick himself , who was identified as Carl Beech and given an eighteen year sentence , not a day too long .
Neither this conviction nor any other refutation of the garbage peddled by Sonia Poulton , Anna Brees or any of the other cranks who appear on Shaun ’ s channel convinces him or any of this conspiratard crowd they might just have been conned , but why should it when they are making a comfortable living out of the gullibles ?
Another woman who is greatly admired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was discussed here a while ago .
She has not yet appeared on his channel in person and very likely never will , for one thing , she is making a comfortable living out of trashing Prince Andrew .
We needn ’ t spend much time on her , but take a look at the two photographs at the top of this page .
One shows her with Prince Andrew ; the other shows the then First Lady of the United States with the notorious serial killer John Gacy a few months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what either photograph proves ?
Ask yourself too did any woman in history ever make so much mileage out of such an innocent photograph as Virginia Giuffre ?
When he faced the BBC over this woman ’ s claims , Prince Andrew pleaded amnesia .
He convinced no one , and was probably ashamed of having sex with a prostitute , which is what Virginia Roberts was , aged 17 or not .
The age of consent in England was 16 at the time and remains 16 , so Prince Andrew did nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ludicrous claims that she was “ trafficked ” , Roberts was clearly having fun , visiting an exclusive nightclub , hanging out with celebrities , and at the end of the night , having it off with a prince .
She was also , by her own admission , a child sex trafficker ; one of her few credible claims is that she recruited other girls , vulnerable underage girls , to service her then boss Jeffrey Epstein .
Shaun ’ s distaste of Prince Andrew appears to be based largely on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American ’ s conviction on soft charges of soliciting prostitution .
Here ’ s the thing , Shaun , at one time , drug dealers like you once were , were demonised almost as badly as child sex abusers .
Did your family abandon you ?
Did your friends abandon you ?
Fairweather friends are no friends at all .
Prince Andrew showed poor judgment for a royal , but that is as far as it goes .
A lot more could be written about the content of Shaun ’ s channel and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared therein , but the above should be warning enough .
I should point out that I gave him the opportunity to reply to this article prior to its publication , but he declined .
And he didn ’ t have the courage to do so in person , instead he palmed off the task on his PA .
This is a man who was once on the hit list of the New Mexico Mafia , be it noted .
Nice guy , Shaun , extremely charismatic , but at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
In 1986, the Conservative MP Harvey Proctor was the victim of a sting operation by a notorious Sunday newspaper in which he was caught committing indecent acts with “rent boys”, ie male prostitutes. At that time, the age of consent for perverted sex was 21, and one of those who serviced Proctor was 17, which led to a court appearance and his resigning in disgrace.
The third thread of this particular piece of conspiratorial garbage is Elm Guest House. This was a short-live boarding house in South West London that catered for homosexuals. Run by Carole Kasir and her husband Haroon, it was raided by the police in 1982. The two stood trial at the Central Criminal Court and were convicted of keeping a disorderly house (ie a brothel) and possessing obscene videos. They were fined and received suspended sentences. One of the charges against them was the neglect of a child; Carole Kasir had a daughter by a previous relationship; she and Haroon also had a son, who was made a ward of court; it was him they were alleged to have neglected. If there had been any sexual abuse here at all, the police would have found it. Carole Kasir died in 1990 at the relatively young age of 47; she was diabetic, and her death was ruled suicide, apparently because she neglected to take her insulin injections.
In 2012, a document known as the Elm Guest House List found its way onto the Internet. It was drawn up by Chris Fay, an associate of Bill Maloney; Fay claims it was dictated or otherwise given him by Carole Kasir. The list is clearly bogus, for one thing, it includes Colin Jordan as a patron, and as a member of the National Front. The notorious Jordan was never a member of the National Front, and had been living in Yorkshire at the time. Like all good Nazis, Colin Jordan abhorred homosexuality, and the suggestion that he would have patronised an establishment run by an Asian and his white wife where he would have engaged in acts of sexual depravity with a Jew (Leon Brittan) is beyond belief.
When “Nick” appeared on the scene, Elm Guest House and the Central London address Dolphin Square became centres of utter depravity where underage boys were taken to be sexually violated, tortured and murdered. Mark Watts of the short-lived Exaro website fed a mostly uncritical media this pap, and it was lapped up, including by the police, who raided the homes of Harvey Proctor, Leon Brittan, and Lord Bramall, Britain’s most senior soldier (who died last November aged 95). Eventually, only one person would stand trial in connection with these outrages, Nick himself, who was identified as Carl Beech and given an eighteen year sentence, not a day too long.
Neither this conviction nor any other refutation of the garbage peddled by Sonia Poulton, Anna Brees or any of the other cranks who appear on Shaun’s channel convinces him or any of this conspiratard crowd they might just have been conned, but why should it when they are making a comfortable living out of the gullibles?
Another woman who is greatly admired by Shaun is the former Virginia Roberts, who was discussed here a while ago. She has not yet appeared on his channel in person and very likely never will, for one thing, she is making a comfortable living out of trashing Prince Andrew. We needn’t spend much time on her, but take a look at the two photographs at the top of this page. One shows her with Prince Andrew; the other shows the then First Lady of the United States with the notorious serial killer John Gacy a few months before his arrest. Now ask yourself what either photograph proves? Ask yourself too did any woman in history ever make so much mileage out of such an innocent photograph as Virginia Giuffre?
When he faced the BBC over this woman’s claims, Prince Andrew pleaded amnesia. He convinced no one, and was probably ashamed of having sex with a prostitute, which is what Virginia Roberts was, aged 17 or not. The age of consent in England was 16 at the time and remains 16, so Prince Andrew did nothing wrong legally. In spite of her ludicrous claims that she was “trafficked”, Roberts was clearly having fun, visiting an exclusive nightclub, hanging out with celebrities, and at the end of the night, having it off with a prince.
She was also, by her own admission, a child sex trafficker; one of her few credible claims is that she recruited other girls, vulnerable underage girls, to service her then boss Jeffrey Epstein. Shaun’s distaste of Prince Andrew appears to be based largely on his continuing to associate with Epstein after the American’s conviction on soft charges of soliciting prostitution. Here’s the thing, Shaun, at one time, drug dealers like you once were, were demonised almost as badly as child sex abusers. Did your family abandon you? Did your friends abandon you? Fairweather friends are no friends at all. Prince Andrew showed poor judgment for a royal, but that is as far as it goes.
A lot more could be written about the content of Shaun’s channel and some of the con artists who have appeared therein, but the above should be warning enough. I should point out that I gave him the opportunity to reply to this article prior to its publication, but he declined. And he didn’t have the courage to do so in person, instead he palmed off the task on his PA. This is a man who was once on the hit list of the New Mexico Mafia, be it noted. Nice guy, Shaun, extremely charismatic, but at the end of the day, an empty suit.
Back To Part 1
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