theduran--2020-04-13--New Contract May Put the U.S. Navy’s Massive IT Network At Risk

The U.S. Navy operates several of the largest IT networks on Earth .
In order to better integrate communications between installations in the United States and around the world , it wants to combine those networks into one massive IT enterprise .
At the same time , the Navy intends to modernize that new network , adding advanced cybersecurity and additional functionality .
Yet this alone did not seem to be a big enough challenge for the Navy .
In a move that can only be described as adding risk to the effort , the Navy dismissed the companies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combined total of thirty years and awarded the contract to manage the new consolidated enterprise to a company that has little experience working Navy and Marine Corps IT .
In 2000 , the Navy and Marine Corps took the forward-leaning step of undertaking the creation of one IT network that would connect all of its CONUS-based installations and selected sites overseas .
In doing so , the Sea services had to integrate hundreds of stand-alone networks of different sizes , incompatible protocols , and widely disparate technologies into a single modernized and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet ( NMCI ) , initially brought together some 400,000 computers and devices at more than 1,000 sites in the homeland and abroad .
For its first two decades of operation , NMCI and a smaller system called the Marine Corps Enterprise Network ( MCEN ) were managed by a single contractor team in a program called the Next Generation Enterprise Network ( NGEN ) .
Because NGEN was one of the first of its kind in IT network integration contracts and such a massive undertaking , it proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreover , NGEN had to evolve over time as technologies changed , the Navy and Marine Corps expanded their use of the networks , and threats evolved .
Over time , the Navy decided that it wanted more control over the NGEN effort and greater flexibility in the modernization of hardware .
Consequently , it released a Request for Proposal for a follow-on to NGEN , called NGEN-Recompete or NGEN-R , which divided the overall work into two major parts : the first , called Service Management , Integration and Transport ( SMIT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hardware ( EUHW ) .
Were this not enough change and uncertainty to inject into the process , the Navy will serve as the overall program manager , a job it has not done for almost twenty years .
The U.S. Navy recently awarded two follow-on contracts under NGEN-R .
The smaller of the two , EUHW , was awarded to HPI Federal .
The larger and more complex contract , SMIT , was awarded to Leidos .
Under SMIT , Leidos will be responsible not only for managing the existing NMCI and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their operations and adding features such as cloud storage .
In addition , the new contract will include integrating not just NMCI and MCEN but a third network , the OCONUS Navy Enterprise Network ( ONE-NET ) , to create a globally integrated enterprise .
Having won the SMIT portion of NGEN-R , the challenges for Leidos are enormous .
While there is a transition period , it is relatively short—just nine months .
Leidos must hit the ground running in order to achieve a seamless handover .
It must do so while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and the integration of a number of IT companies that it only recently acquired .
The SMIT contract includes an imposing set of performance requirements .
Leidos will be responsible for delivering periodic software upgrades , network logistics management , day-to-day network operations , comprehensive security , virtualization services and even manning the help desk .
At the same time it is learning its way around NMCI , MCEN and ONE-NET , Leidos will have to start planning for the necessary modernization of these massive networks , as well as their eventual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both a tune-up and changing the tires while the car is in motion .
Of cause for some concern is the fact that Leidos has had problems managing other IT networking efforts .
In July 2015 , the Department of Defense ( DoD ) awarded the Military Health System Genesis contract to Leidos Partnership for Defense Health ( LPDH ) .
The objective was to provide DoD with an electronic health records system based on commercially available technology .
With options , the contract had a potential duration of 10 years and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , Genesis has experienced a lot of difficulties .
DoD has identified a long list of technical and functional problems with the program .
The initial system was judged to be neither operationally suitable nor effective .
Moreover , rather than saving money by using commercially-based software , the cost of the contract has increased by 27 percent since 2015 with no change in requirements .
It is also uncertain whether Genesis will be able to fulfil the requirement to be interoperable with the Department of Veterans Affairs ’ electronic health records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leidos that , unlike NGEN-R , Genesis is being rolled out in stages and has until 2024 to be completely installed .
It is bad enough to have problems building an electronic health care records system .
Particularly at this time , the health of every service person and veteran is an important issue .
But any major problems with the Navy and Marine Corps major networks could be a matter of life and death .
In awarding the SMIT contract to Leidos , the Navy took the risk of losing the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NMCI and ONE-NET embodied in the current contractor teams .
It went with a contractor team led by a company without significant experience managing Navy and Marine Corps IT programs .
At this point in time , this seems like an excessively risky and potentially costly decision .

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 U.S. Navy operates several of the largest IT networks on Earth. In order to better integrate communications between installations in the United States and around the world, it wants to combine those networks into one massive IT enterprise. At the same time, the Navy intends to modernize that new network, adding advanced cybersecurity and additional functionality. Yet this alone did not seem to be a big enough challenge for the Navy. In a move that can only be described as adding risk to the effort, the Navy dismissed the companies that had worked on its networks for a combined total of thirty years and awarded the contract to manage the new consolidated enterprise to a company that has little experience working Navy and Marine Corps IT.
In 2000, the Navy and Marine Corps took the forward-leaning step of undertaking the creation of one IT network that would connect all of its CONUS-based installations and selected sites overseas. In doing so, the Sea services had to integrate hundreds of stand-alone networks of different sizes, incompatible protocols, and widely disparate technologies into a single modernized and more secure network. The new network, called the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI), initially brought together some 400,000 computers and devices at more than 1,000 sites in the homeland and abroad.
For its first two decades of operation, NMCI and a smaller system called the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) were managed by a single contractor team in a program called the Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN). Because NGEN was one of the first of its kind in IT network integration contracts and such a massive undertaking, it proved extremely challenging in its early years. Moreover, NGEN had to evolve over time as technologies changed, the Navy and Marine Corps expanded their use of the networks, and threats evolved.
Over time, the Navy decided that it wanted more control over the NGEN effort and greater flexibility in the modernization of hardware. Consequently, it released a Request for Proposal for a follow-on to NGEN, called NGEN-Recompete or NGEN-R, which divided the overall work into two major parts: the first, called Service Management, Integration and Transport (SMIT) and the second, End User Hardware (EUHW). Were this not enough change and uncertainty to inject into the process, the Navy will serve as the overall program manager, a job it has not done for almost twenty years.
The U.S. Navy recently awarded two follow-on contracts under NGEN-R. The smaller of the two, EUHW, was awarded to HPI Federal. The larger and more complex contract, SMIT, was awarded to Leidos. Under SMIT, Leidos will be responsible not only for managing the existing NMCI and MCEN networks, but also for modernizing their operations and adding features such as cloud storage. In addition, the new contract will include integrating not just NMCI and MCEN but a third network, the OCONUS Navy Enterprise Network (ONE-NET), to create a globally integrated enterprise.
Having won the SMIT portion of NGEN-R, the challenges for Leidos are enormous. While there is a transition period, it is relatively short—just nine months. Leidos must hit the ground running in order to achieve a seamless handover. It must do so while managing the hiring of thousands of new people and the integration of a number of IT companies that it only recently acquired.
The SMIT contract includes an imposing set of performance requirements. Leidos will be responsible for delivering periodic software upgrades, network logistics management, day-to-day network operations, comprehensive security, virtualization services and even manning the help desk. At the same time it is learning its way around NMCI, MCEN and ONE-NET, Leidos will have to start planning for the necessary modernization of these massive networks, as well as their eventual integration. This is akin to doing both a tune-up and changing the tires while the car is in motion.
Of cause for some concern is the fact that Leidos has had problems managing other IT networking efforts. In July 2015, the Department of Defense (DoD) awarded the Military Health System Genesis contract to Leidos Partnership for Defense Health (LPDH). The objective was to provide DoD with an electronic health records system based on commercially available technology. With options, the contract had a potential duration of 10 years and a ceiling of $4.3 billion.
Since 2015, Genesis has experienced a lot of difficulties. DoD has identified a long list of technical and functional problems with the program. The initial system was judged to be neither operationally suitable nor effective. Moreover, rather than saving money by using commercially-based software, the cost of the contract has increased by 27 percent since 2015 with no change in requirements. It is also uncertain whether Genesis will be able to fulfil the requirement to be interoperable with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ electronic health records system. It is perhaps fortunate for Leidos that, unlike NGEN-R, Genesis is being rolled out in stages and has until 2024 to be completely installed.
It is bad enough to have problems building an electronic health care records system. Particularly at this time, the health of every service person and veteran is an important issue. But any major problems with the Navy and Marine Corps major networks could be a matter of life and death.
In awarding the SMIT contract to Leidos, the Navy took the risk of losing the more than thirty years of total experience with NMCI and ONE-NET embodied in the current contractor teams. It went with a contractor team led by a company without significant experience managing Navy and Marine Corps IT programs. At this point in time, this seems like an excessively risky and potentially costly decision.
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theduran--2020-04-13--DEATHS IN ENGLAND & WALES 2019-20: Comparisons From February And April

Broadly speaking there are two views of the coronavirus pandemic : one is that this is the biggest threat to civilisation in a long time , one that is a lot more tangible than the nuclear annihilation with which we in the West were threatened during the Cold War .
The other , extreme version , is that the whole thing is a gigantic hoax .
The governments of the world are caught between a rock and a hard place .
If they assume the latter is closer to the truth and it turns out to be a rerun of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even hundreds of millions of deaths , while if they assume the former and it turns out to be no more lethal than common or garden influenza , then literally billions of people will have experienced everything from inconvenience to bankruptcy and worse .
Assuming the former isn ’ t a failsafe error but is by far the lesser of evils .
We have had many reports of identifiable people dying from the coronavirus , many of them quite young .
Boris Johnson is 55 , and is lucky to have survived the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were not so lucky include these NHS staff .
Many famous people have also died , most of them not so young .
These include American singer-songwriter John Prine , who was 73 , and musician Adam Schlesinger , a relatively youthful 52 .
Younger people whose deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 are said largely to have had underlying health conditions .
Let us though consider just two comparisons from UK statistics .
The following estimates of deaths registered in England and Wales can be found on the British Government website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths from all causes week 7 , 2019 – 11,824 deaths from all causes week 6 , 2020 – 10,986 deaths from all causes week 7 , 2020 – 10,944 deaths from all causes week 11 , 2019 – 10,567 deaths from all causes week 12 , 2019 – 10,402 deaths from all causes week 11 , 2020 – 11,019 deaths from all causes week 12 , 2020 – 10,645 deaths from all causes While there were significantly more deaths in week 11 this year and a couple of hundred more for week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall .
It remains to be seen if there would have been significantly more without the lockdown and social distancing , but who wants to find out ?

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.
Broadly speaking there are two views of the coronavirus pandemic: one is that this is the biggest threat to civilisation in a long time, one that is a lot more tangible than the nuclear annihilation with which we in the West were threatened during the Cold War. The other, extreme version, is that the whole thing is a gigantic hoax.
The governments of the world are caught between a rock and a hard place. If they assume the latter is closer to the truth and it turns out to be a rerun of 1348, we could see tens or even hundreds of millions of deaths, while if they assume the former and it turns out to be no more lethal than common or garden influenza, then literally billions of people will have experienced everything from inconvenience to bankruptcy and worse. Assuming the former isn’t a failsafe error but is by far the lesser of evils.
We have had many reports of identifiable people dying from the coronavirus, many of them quite young. Boris Johnson is 55, and is lucky to have survived the disease. Other, mostly younger people who were not so lucky include these NHS staff. Many famous people have also died, most of them not so young. These include American singer-songwriter John Prine, who was 73, and musician Adam Schlesinger, a relatively youthful 52. Younger people whose deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 are said largely to have had underlying health conditions. Let us though consider just two comparisons from UK statistics. The following estimates of deaths registered in England and Wales can be found on the British Government website:
week 6, 2019 – 11,660 deaths from all causes
week 7, 2019 – 11,824 deaths from all causes
week 6, 2020 – 10,986 deaths from all causes
week 7, 2020 – 10,944 deaths from all causes
week 11, 2019 – 10,567 deaths from all causes
week 12, 2019 – 10,402 deaths from all causes
week 11, 2020 – 11,019 deaths from all causes
week 12, 2020 – 10,645 deaths from all causes
While there were significantly more deaths in week 11 this year and a couple of hundred more for week 12, there have been fewer deaths overall. It remains to be seen if there would have been significantly more without the lockdown and social distancing, but who wants to find out?
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theduran--2020-04-12--FDR’s Anti-Colonial Vision for the Post-War World: ‘As He Saw It’ Revisited

The 75th Anniversary of the passing of American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt should give the world a chance to revisit the immortal life and courage of the man whom decades of revisionism have turned into a popular aristocratic cartoon character .
The decades of intense of effort to distort the life of the true Roosevelt from the minds of todays ’ citizens has much to do with the fact that not only did he break from his own class loyalties during his lifetime , but powerfully challenged the structures of the financial oligarchy during a time of global crisis both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the earliest days of America ’ s entry into World War II , Franklin Roosevelt clearly and loudly defined the conditions upon which he chose to bring his nation into collaboration with Britain and other allied powers of Europe in the struggle against fascism : freedom and sovereignty for all nations , an end to want , and especially an end to all systems of empire and exploitation .
Hitler and the fascist axis powers were admittedly the greatest immediate threat to world peace and as such FDR agreed must be put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realize what stark contrast occurred between Roosevelt and Britain ’ s Prime Minister Winston Churchill over what exactly the post-WWII order would look like .
Even if the threat of fascism could be put down , FDR always knew that the evils of colonialism were just as great , if not greater , than the worst expression of fascism and this was the real enemy which he targeted as soon as America entered the war .
One of the greatest living testimonies to FDR ’ s anti-colonial vision is contained in a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elliot Roosevelt who , as his father ’ s confidante and aide , was privy to some of the most sensitive meetings his father participated in throughout the war .
Seeing the collapse of the post-war vision upon FDR ’ s April 12 , 1945 death and the emergence of a pro-Churchill presidency under Harry Truman , who lost no time in dropping nuclear bombs on a defeated Japan , ushering in a Soviet witch hunt at home and launching a Cold War abroad , Elliot authored ‘ As He Saw It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a living testimony to the potential that was lost upon his father ’ s passing .
As Elliot said of his motive to write his book : Even before America had entered the war , the principles of international harmony which FDR enunciated in his January 6 , 1941 Four Freedoms speech to the U.S. Congress served as the guiding light through every battle for the next 4.5 years .
In this speech FDR said : “ In future days , which we seek to secure , we look forward to a world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The first is the freedom of speech and expression–everywhere in the world .
“ The second is the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way–everywhere in the world .
“ The third is the freedom from want–which , translated into world terms , means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants–everywhere in the world .
“ The fourth is freedom from fear–which , translated into world terms , means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor–anywhere in the world .
“ That is no vision of a distant millennium .
It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our time and generation .
That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb .
“ To that new order , we oppose the greater conception–the moral order .
A good society is able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolutions alike without fear .
“ Since the beginning of American history , we have been engaged in change–in a perpetual peaceful revolution–a revolution which goes on steadily , quietly , adjusting itself to changing conditions–without the concentration camp or the quicklime in the ditch .
The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries , working together in a friendly , civilized society .
“ This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of millions of free men and women ; and its faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere .
Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights or to keep them .
Our strength is our unity of purpose.
” Upon hearing these Freedoms outlined , American painter Norman Rockwell was inspired to paint four masterpieces that were displayed across America and conveyed the beauty of FDR ’ s spirit to all citizens .
FDR ’ s patriotic Vice President ( and the man who SHOULD have been president in 1948 ) Henry Wallace outlined FDR ’ s vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in 1942 which should also be watched by all world citizens today : Churchill vs FDR : The Clash of Two Paradigms Elliot ’ s account of the 1941-1945 clash of paradigms between his father and Churchill are invaluable both for their ability to shed light into the true noble constitutional character of America personified in the person of Roosevelt but also in demonstrating the beautiful potential of a world that SHOULD HAVE BEEN had certain unnatural events not intervened to derail the evolution of our species into an age of win-win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In As He Saw It , Elliot documents a conversation he had with his father at the beginning of America ’ s entry into WWII , who made his anti-colonial intentions clear as day saying : “ I ’ m talking about another war , Elliott .
I ’ m talking about what will happen to our world , if after this war we allow millions of people to slide back into the same semi-slavery !
“ Don ’ t think for a moment , Elliott , that Americans would be dying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t been for the shortsighted greed of the French and the British and the Dutch .
Shall we allow them to do it all , all over again ?
Your son will be about the right age , fifteen or twenty years from now .
“ One sentence , Elliott .
Then I ’ m going to kick you out of here .
I ’ m tired .
This is the sentence : When we ’ ve won the war , I will work with all my might and main to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not wheedled into the position of accepting any plan that will further France ’ s imperialistic ambitions , or that will aid or abet the British Empire in its imperial ambitions.
” This clash came to a head during a major confrontation between FDR and Churchill during the January 24 , 1943 Casablanca Conference in Morocco .
At this event , Elliot documents how his father first confronted Churchill ’ s belief in the maintenance of the British Empire ’ s preferential trade agreements upon which it ’ s looting system was founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ FDR ] remarked , with a sly sort of assurance , “ of course , after the war , one of the preconditions of any lasting peace will have to be the greatest possible freedom of trade.
” He paused .
The P.M. ’ s head was lowered ; he was watching Father steadily , from under one eyebrow .
“ No artificial barriers , ” Father pursued .
“ As few favored economic agreements as possible .
Opportunities for expansion .
Markets open for healthy competition.
” His eye wandered innocently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his armchair .
“ The British Empire trade agreements ” he began heavily , “ are— ” Father broke in .
“ Yes .
Those Empire trade agreements are a case in point .
It ’ s because of them that the people of India and Africa , of all the colonial Near East and Far East , are still as backward as they are.
” Churchill ’ s neck reddened and he crouched forward .
“ Mr .
President , England does not propose for a moment to lose its favored position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has made England great shall continue , and under conditions prescribed by England ’ s ministers.
” “ You see , ” said Father slowly , “ it is along in here somewhere that there is likely to be some disagreement between you , Winston , and me .
“ I am firmly of the belief that if we are to arrive at a stable peace it must involve the development of backward countries .
Backward peoples .
How can this be done ?
It can ’ t be done , obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Whichever of your ministers recommends a policy which takes wealth in raw materials out of a colonial country , but which returns nothing to the people of that country in consideration .
Twentieth-century methods involve bringing industry to these colonies .
Twentieth-century methods include increasing the wealth of a people by increasing their standard of living , by educating them , by bringing them sanitation—by making sure that they get a return for the raw wealth of their community.
” Around the room , all of us were leaning forward attentively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Churchill ’ s aide , was looking glum and alarmed .
The P.M. himself was beginning to look apoplectic .
“ Yes .
I can ’ t believe that we can fight a war against fascist slavery , and at the same time not work to free people all over the world from a backward colonial policy.
” “ I ’ m glad you mentioned them .
They get their independence , you know , in 1946 .
And they ’ ve gotten modern sanitation , modern education ; their rate of illiteracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be no tampering with the Empire ’ s economic agreements.
” “ They ’ re the foundation of our greatness.
” “ The peace , ” said Father firmly , “ can not include any continued despotism .
The structure of the peace demands and will get equality of peoples .
Equality of peoples involves the utmost freedom of competitive trade .
Will anyone suggest that Germany ’ s attempt to dominate trade in central Europe was not a major contributing factor to war ?
” It was an argument that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The following day , Elliot describes how the conversation continued between the two men with Churchill stating : “ Mr .
President , ” he cried , “ I believe you are trying to do away with the British Empire .
Every idea you entertain about the structure of the postwar world demonstrates it .
But in spite of that ” —and his forefinger waved— ” in spite of that , we know that you constitute our only hope .
And ” —his voice sank dramatically— ” you know that we know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without America , the Empire won ’ t stand.
” Churchill admitted , in that moment , that he knew the peace could only be won according to precepts which the United States of America would lay down .
And in saying what he did , he was acknowledging that British colonial policy would be a dead duck , and British attempts to dominate world trade would be a dead duck , and British ambitions to play off the U.S.S.R. against the U.S.A. would be a dead duck .
Or would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his fathers ’ passion for development and uplifting the standards of living of the world ’ s poor , Elliot described a January 1943 conversation where FDR outlines his grand vision for Africa : “ Over coffee , he got back on the theme of the development of colonial areas , increasingly one of his favorite topics .
For a man who had never been in Africa before , he had picked up an amazing amount of information , geographical , geological , agricultural .
Of course , I thought I knew the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a good bit of it , months before , photographing it from the air .
But somewhere he had had a chance to learn even more than I had .
We discussed the great salt flats in southern Tunisia , which must have at one time been a vast inland sea .
He reminded us of the rivers that spring up in the Atlas Mountains , to the south , and disappear under the Sahara , to become subterranean rivers .
“ Divert this water flow for irrigation purposes ?
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look like a cabbage patch !
” And the salt flats : they were below the level of the Mediterranean ; you could dig a canal straight back to re-create that lake—one hundred and fifty miles long , sixty miles wide .
“ The Sahara would bloom for hundreds of miles !
” It is true .
The Sahara is not just sand , it has an amazingly rich potential .
Every time there is a rain , there is a consequent riot of flowers for a few days , before the dryness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franklin and I winked at each other : Father was having the time of his life , his active mind and quick imagination working overtime as we all speculated on what intelligent planning could do for this land .
“ Wealth !
” he cried .
“ Imperialists don ’ t realize what they can do , what they can create !
They ’ ve robbed this continent of billions , and all because they were too short-sighted to understand that their billions were pennies , compared to the possibilities !
Possibilities that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who inhabit this land… ” While close allies of FDR like Henry Wallace ( Vice President from 1940-1944 ) , Sumner Wells ( New Deal leader of the Republican party ) , Harry Hopkins and Harry Dexter White shared his post-war vision and documented Elliot ’ s testimony in their own books , speeches and writings , nothing comes close to the first-hand accounts of FDR ’ s dream and battle than that outlined in As He Saw It .
With the knowledge that FDR ’ s internationalization of the New Deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprising form of the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative , we hope that FDR ’ s life mission may finally take hold on the evolution of civilization and perhaps , with America ’ s increasing collaboration with China vis a vis the Health Silk Road , the better constitutional traditions of the Republic may yet come alive once more .
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , a BRI Expert on Tactical talk , and has authored 3 volumes of ‘ Untold History of Canada ’ book series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tide Foundation and can be reached at [ email protected ]

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.
From the Strategic Culture Foundation
The 75th Anniversary of the passing of American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt should give the world a chance to revisit the immortal life and courage of the man whom decades of revisionism have turned into a popular aristocratic cartoon character. The decades of intense of effort to distort the life of the true Roosevelt from the minds of todays’ citizens has much to do with the fact that not only did he break from his own class loyalties during his lifetime, but powerfully challenged the structures of the financial oligarchy during a time of global crisis both within the USA and globally.
Even before the earliest days of America’s entry into World War II, Franklin Roosevelt clearly and loudly defined the conditions upon which he chose to bring his nation into collaboration with Britain and other allied powers of Europe in the struggle against fascism: freedom and sovereignty for all nations, an end to want, and especially an end to all systems of empire and exploitation.
Hitler and the fascist axis powers were admittedly the greatest immediate threat to world peace and as such FDR agreed must be put down. However, very few today realize what stark contrast occurred between Roosevelt and Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill over what exactly the post-WWII order would look like. Even if the threat of fascism could be put down, FDR always knew that the evils of colonialism were just as great, if not greater, than the worst expression of fascism and this was the real enemy which he targeted as soon as America entered the war.
One of the greatest living testimonies to FDR’s anti-colonial vision is contained in a little known 1946 book authored by his son Elliot Roosevelt who, as his father’s confidante and aide, was privy to some of the most sensitive meetings his father participated in throughout the war. Seeing the collapse of the post-war vision upon FDR’s April 12, 1945 death and the emergence of a pro-Churchill presidency under Harry Truman, who lost no time in dropping nuclear bombs on a defeated Japan, ushering in a Soviet witch hunt at home and launching a Cold War abroad, Elliot authored ‘As He Saw It’ (1946) in order to create a living testimony to the potential that was lost upon his father’s passing.
As Elliot said of his motive to write his book:
“The decision to write this book was taken more recently and impelled by urgent events. Winston Churchill’s speech at Fulton, Missouri, had a hand in this decision,… the growing stockpile of American atom bombs is a compelling factor; all the signs of growing disunity among the leading nations of the world, all the broken promises, all the renascent power politics of greedy and desperate imperialism were my spurs in this undertaking… And I have seen the promises violated, and the conditions summarily and cynically disregarded, and the structure of peace disavowed… I am writing this, then, to you who agree with me that… the path he charted has been most grievously—and deliberately—forsaken.”
The Four Freedoms
Even before America had entered the war, the principles of international harmony which FDR enunciated in his January 6, 1941 Four Freedoms speech to the U.S. Congress served as the guiding light through every battle for the next 4.5 years. In this speech FDR said:
“In future days, which we seek to secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. “The first is the freedom of speech and expression–everywhere in the world. “The second is the freedom of every person to worship God in his own way–everywhere in the world. “The third is the freedom from want–which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants–everywhere in the world. “The fourth is freedom from fear–which, translated into world terms, means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor–anywhere in the world. “That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb. “To that new order, we oppose the greater conception–the moral order. A good society is able to face schemes of world domination and foreign revolutions alike without fear. “Since the beginning of American history, we have been engaged in change–in a perpetual peaceful revolution–a revolution which goes on steadily, quietly, adjusting itself to changing conditions–without the concentration camp or the quicklime in the ditch. The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society. “This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of millions of free men and women; and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights or to keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose.”
Upon hearing these Freedoms outlined, American painter Norman Rockwell was inspired to paint four masterpieces that were displayed across America and conveyed the beauty of FDR’s spirit to all citizens.
FDR’s patriotic Vice President (and the man who SHOULD have been president in 1948) Henry Wallace outlined FDR’s vision in a passionate video address to the people in 1942 which should also be watched by all world citizens today:
Churchill vs FDR: The Clash of Two Paradigms
Elliot’s account of the 1941-1945 clash of paradigms between his father and Churchill are invaluable both for their ability to shed light into the true noble constitutional character of America personified in the person of Roosevelt but also in demonstrating the beautiful potential of a world that SHOULD HAVE BEEN had certain unnatural events not intervened to derail the evolution of our species into an age of win-win cooperation, creative reason and harmony.
In As He Saw It, Elliot documents a conversation he had with his father at the beginning of America’s entry into WWII, who made his anti-colonial intentions clear as day saying:
“I’m talking about another war, Elliott. I’m talking about what will happen to our world, if after this war we allow millions of people to slide back into the same semi-slavery! “Don’t think for a moment, Elliott, that Americans would be dying in the Pacific tonight, if it hadn’t been for the shortsighted greed of the French and the British and the Dutch. Shall we allow them to do it all, all over again? Your son will be about the right age, fifteen or twenty years from now. “One sentence, Elliott. Then I’m going to kick you out of here. I’m tired. This is the sentence: When we’ve won the war, I will work with all my might and main to see to it that the United States is not wheedled into the position of accepting any plan that will further France’s imperialistic ambitions, or that will aid or abet the British Empire in its imperial ambitions.”
This clash came to a head during a major confrontation between FDR and Churchill during the January 24, 1943 Casablanca Conference in Morocco. At this event, Elliot documents how his father first confronted Churchill’s belief in the maintenance of the British Empire’s preferential trade agreements upon which it’s looting system was founded:
“Of course,” he [FDR] remarked, with a sly sort of assurance, “of course, after the war, one of the preconditions of any lasting peace will have to be the greatest possible freedom of trade.” He paused. The P.M.’s head was lowered; he was watching Father steadily, from under one eyebrow. “No artificial barriers,” Father pursued. “As few favored economic agreements as possible. Opportunities for expansion. Markets open for healthy competition.” His eye wandered innocently around the room. Churchill shifted in his armchair. “The British Empire trade agreements” he began heavily, “are—” Father broke in. “Yes. Those Empire trade agreements are a case in point. It’s because of them that the people of India and Africa, of all the colonial Near East and Far East, are still as backward as they are.” Churchill’s neck reddened and he crouched forward. “Mr. President, England does not propose for a moment to lose its favored position among the British Dominions. The trade that has made England great shall continue, and under conditions prescribed by England’s ministers.” “You see,” said Father slowly, “it is along in here somewhere that there is likely to be some disagreement between you, Winston, and me. “I am firmly of the belief that if we are to arrive at a stable peace it must involve the development of backward countries. Backward peoples. How can this be done? It can’t be done, obviously, by eighteenth-century methods. Now—” “Who’s talking eighteenth-century methods?” “Whichever of your ministers recommends a policy which takes wealth in raw materials out of a colonial country, but which returns nothing to the people of that country in consideration. Twentieth-century methods involve bringing industry to these colonies. Twentieth-century methods include increasing the wealth of a people by increasing their standard of living, by educating them, by bringing them sanitation—by making sure that they get a return for the raw wealth of their community.” Around the room, all of us were leaning forward attentively. Hopkins was grinning. Commander Thompson, Churchill’s aide, was looking glum and alarmed. The P.M. himself was beginning to look apoplectic. “You mentioned India,” he growled. “Yes. I can’t believe that we can fight a war against fascist slavery, and at the same time not work to free people all over the world from a backward colonial policy.” “What about the Philippines?” “I’m glad you mentioned them. They get their independence, you know, in 1946. And they’ve gotten modern sanitation, modern education; their rate of illiteracy has gone steadily down…” “There can be no tampering with the Empire’s economic agreements.” “They’re artificial…” “They’re the foundation of our greatness.” “The peace,” said Father firmly, “cannot include any continued despotism. The structure of the peace demands and will get equality of peoples. Equality of peoples involves the utmost freedom of competitive trade. Will anyone suggest that Germany’s attempt to dominate trade in central Europe was not a major contributing factor to war?” It was an argument that could have no resolution between these two men… The following day, Elliot describes how the conversation continued between the two men with Churchill stating: “Mr. President,” he cried, “I believe you are trying to do away with the British Empire. Every idea you entertain about the structure of the postwar world demonstrates it. But in spite of that”—and his forefinger waved—”in spite of that, we know that you constitute our only hope. And”—his voice sank dramatically—”you know that we know it. You know that we know that without America, the Empire won’t stand.” Churchill admitted, in that moment, that he knew the peace could only be won according to precepts which the United States of America would lay down. And in saying what he did, he was acknowledging that British colonial policy would be a dead duck, and British attempts to dominate world trade would be a dead duck, and British ambitions to play off the U.S.S.R. against the U.S.A. would be a dead duck. Or would have been, if Father had lived.”
Roosevelt’s Vision for Africa: Make the Deserts Bloom!
Documenting his fathers’ passion for development and uplifting the standards of living of the world’s poor, Elliot described a January 1943 conversation where FDR outlines his grand vision for Africa:
“Over coffee, he got back on the theme of the development of colonial areas, increasingly one of his favorite topics. For a man who had never been in Africa before, he had picked up an amazing amount of information, geographical, geological, agricultural. Of course, I thought I knew the country pretty well: I had flown over a good bit of it, months before, photographing it from the air. But somewhere he had had a chance to learn even more than I had. We discussed the great salt flats in southern Tunisia, which must have at one time been a vast inland sea. He reminded us of the rivers that spring up in the Atlas Mountains, to the south, and disappear under the Sahara, to become subterranean rivers. “Divert this water flow for irrigation purposes? It’d make the Imperial Valley in California look like a cabbage patch!” And the salt flats: they were below the level of the Mediterranean; you could dig a canal straight back to re-create that lake—one hundred and fifty miles long, sixty miles wide. “The Sahara would bloom for hundreds of miles!” It is true. The Sahara is not just sand, it has an amazingly rich potential. Every time there is a rain, there is a consequent riot of flowers for a few days, before the dryness and the sun kill them off. Franklin and I winked at each other: Father was having the time of his life, his active mind and quick imagination working overtime as we all speculated on what intelligent planning could do for this land. “Wealth!” he cried. “Imperialists don’t realize what they can do, what they can create! They’ve robbed this continent of billions, and all because they were too short-sighted to understand that their billions were pennies, compared to the possibilities! Possibilities that must include a better life for the people who inhabit this land…”
While close allies of FDR like Henry Wallace (Vice President from 1940-1944), Sumner Wells (New Deal leader of the Republican party), Harry Hopkins and Harry Dexter White shared his post-war vision and documented Elliot’s testimony in their own books, speeches and writings, nothing comes close to the first-hand accounts of FDR’s dream and battle than that outlined in As He Saw It.
With the knowledge that FDR’s internationalization of the New Deal is now finally coming alive in the surprising form of the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative, we hope that FDR’s life mission may finally take hold on the evolution of civilization and perhaps, with America’s increasing collaboration with China vis a vis the Health Silk Road, the better constitutional traditions of the Republic may yet come alive once more.
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , a BRI Expert on Tactical talk, and has authored 3 volumes of ‘Untold History of Canada’ book series. In 2019 he co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation and can be reached at matt.ehret@tutamail.com
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theduran--2020-04-12--Corrupt OPCW doubles down on Syria false flag

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss how the corrupt and discredited OPCW continues to push the narrative that the Syrian government was responsible for the 2017 chemical attacks , even when OPCW whistleblowers have stated the organization falsifies evidence .
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The OPCW has issued its first report explicitly blaming Syria ’ s government for chemical attacks on civilians , pointing to three incidents in 2017 and saying there ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air force was responsible .
“ Attacks of such a strategic nature would have only taken place on the basis of orders from the higher authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic military command , ” Investigation and Identification Team ( IIT ) coordinator Santiago Oñate-Laborde said .
In the end , the ITT “ was unable to identify any other plausible explanation , ” he added .
The chemical weapons watchdog maintains that Syrian Arab Air Force pilots flying a Sukhoi Su-22 military plane dropped a sarin bomb in southern Ltamenah on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the OPCW claims , a helicopter belonging to the Syrian Arab Air Force dropped a chlorine cylinder on the Ltamenah hospital which went through the roof and ruptured .
Another bomb containing Sarin was dropped in southern Ltamenah on March 30 by an Su-22 military plane , the report said .
OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias noted in a statement that the IIT is “ not a judicial or quasi-judicial body with the authority to assign individual criminal responsibility.
” It is now up to the Executive Council and the Conference of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United Nations Secretary-General , and the international community as a whole “ to take any further action they deem appropriate and necessary .
”

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 how the corrupt and discredited OPCW continues to push the narrative that the Syrian government was responsible for the 2017 chemical attacks, even when OPCW whistleblowers have stated the organization falsifies evidence.
Support Free Speech:
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute.
The Duran Audio Podcast:
Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes.
Via RT…
The OPCW has issued its first report explicitly blaming Syria’s government for chemical attacks on civilians, pointing to three incidents in 2017 and saying there’re “reasonable grounds” to believe the air force was responsible.
“Attacks of such a strategic nature would have only taken place on the basis of orders from the higher authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic military command,” Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) coordinator Santiago Oñate-Laborde said. In the end, the ITT “was unable to identify any other plausible explanation,” he added.
The chemical weapons watchdog maintains that Syrian Arab Air Force pilots flying a Sukhoi Su-22 military plane dropped a sarin bomb in southern Ltamenah on March 24, 2017. On March 25, the OPCW claims, a helicopter belonging to the Syrian Arab Air Force dropped a chlorine cylinder on the Ltamenah hospital which went through the roof and ruptured. Another bomb containing Sarin was dropped in southern Ltamenah on March 30 by an Su-22 military plane, the report said.
OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias noted in a statement that the IIT is “not a judicial or quasi-judicial body with the authority to assign individual criminal responsibility.” It is now up to the Executive Council and the Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, the United Nations Secretary-General, and the international community as a whole “to take any further action they deem appropriate and necessary.”
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theduran--2020-04-12--COVID Orthodox Church closures part IV – Concluding thoughts

We hope that this series was helpful in shining some detailed and critical light on the matter of church closures , particularly in the various Eastern Orthodox Christian national churches in the United States and around the world .
We looked at the historical precedents in Christianity that show the Church trying tirelessly to help her people .
We provided information showing the uniquely unknown nature of the coronavirus and its accompanying illness , COVID-19 , and the complications it brings .
We also noted a little that Churches in Russia are generally still operating .
We want to wind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observations , and then my own opinion ( which is not necessarily the opinion of the Duran , but the opinion of me as a Reader in the Russian Orthodox Church .
– Of course , everyone has an opinion and we all know what opinions are like… ) The ideals on both sides of the church closure debate are significant .
Indeed , they represent utterly different frames of mind : One is the frame of mind that is secular , that nothing is more important than one ’ s health in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to preserve one ’ s life is of tantamount importance .
On the other pole , this life is seen as temporal , only the “ training and proving ground ” for life in eternity , hopefully with God .
Certainly this is the case for very rigorous Christian believers , and this is not limited to Holy Orthodoxy , for there are people who recognize this as truth in other confessions as well .
For them , the move to close Church services to the public seems scandalous , a sellout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who suffered and died , and rose again from the dead , all for the life of the world and its salvation .
What we actually see in the churches that have closed or restricted services has been an attempt for the clergy to intercede for the faithful but an attempt to keep the faithful safe .
In one instance , one of the American bishops for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America decided to forego Holy Communion as one of the laity , because he wanted the laity to understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clergy being “ allowed ” Communion while the faithful aren ’ t .
In a weekly letter from another American Antiochian Church we read the following ( names removed for anonymity ) : I pray you and your loved ones are safe and well .
For those who are ill , and for all the medical people and caregivers , I assure you of our prayers as a Church community .
For those grieving , distressed , or with practical needs , we seek to be helpful as we are able .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others have delivered food to “ shut in ” people or to the food bank .
Deacon … .
is scanning some services to be posted on our Facebook page for people to read as they see the live streams .
Our clergy are glad to talk by phone and offer guidance , or financial assistance in times of serious need .
Let us know when you need us .
We all seek to do what we can for one another .
Thank you to the ones who have been able to send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our parish .
This has enabled us to stay current with our obligations and provide for needs as they arise .
Tomorrow is Lazarus Saturday .
We begin our Holy Week leading to Holy Pascha .
Please keep our singers , chanters , readers , and clergy in your prayers for good health , strength , and voices .
Our Divine Services ( which are as numerous this year as usual in Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha ( called “ Easter ” by many Western Christians ) will be “ live streamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am attaching a Pastoral Letter that we received today from His Eminence , Metropolitan JOSEPH .
It is encouraging to us in this on-going time of the virus crisis .
In a separate email to the clergy today , we are reminded that the timing of the peak numbers of cases and hospital resources are coming in the next days and weeks .
So we are instructed to allow only 5 people who are involved in the Divine Services , to be at our closed temple this week and until further notice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see on Palm Sunday will be kept for a later time of distribution ( after the crisis ) , and the church will not be open for private prayers or lighting candles until further notice ( a stricter change from previous instructions ) .
Priests may have spiritual conversations by phone with parishioners , but absolution will be given later when we are allowed back in the temple or meeting in person .
Blessing of Pascha baskets will happen at the end of the “ live-streamed ” Pascha Divine Liturgy .
After Bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 4p Saturday Vespers and regular Sunday 8a Orthros and 9a Divine Liturgy , until that joyous day we are able to worship together again in person .
This will certainly be a Holy Week and Pascha we will never forget .
It is not what we would desire , but in all circumstances – God is with us and He offers blessings and renewal in our hearts as we open ourselves to Him… Now , where it goes wrong is where people who do not understand or want to understand the actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Take this piece from the Moscow Times , a fervently anti-Putin , anti-Russia publication that is not even owned completely by Russians , but with foreign investment .
Their treatment of how the Russian Orthodox Church is continuing more or less as usual has been very condescending ( emphasis not added , but see if you can detect it yourself ) : After this snarky treatment ( oh !
the horrors !
They believe in God !
! )
, then buried in the piece is some information about measures the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
And finally , my own point of view I am very grateful to the contributing sources for this sequence of news pieces .
Nurse Julie , who provided such excellent medical information , priests and other friends in the United States who weighed in on how they see things , my own spiritual father ( called a father-confessor in the West ) , family and others .
They all have a voice and everyone has many valid points to contribute .
It is clear that there is no desire among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States to “ sell out ” the faith to the secular authorities .
The common factor in the United States is that people are indeed praying , watching streamed services , and they are doing what they can with for the most part , a pretty good spirit .
They are to be praised for this , for their obedience and their humility and care for others by doing what they are doing .
That is unquestionably true .
Yet at the same time , I find myself much more comfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soul being oriented a bit more completely towards the fact that is the Great Fact in Christianity , that this life is not the be-all and end-all of everything .
The best place to be is in Church during such a crisis , and the Divine Services of the Orthodox Church in particular boast a continuous and unbroken connection to Christ Himself as well as His Apostles .
In this very secularized world , such a statement certainly defies human logic .
Yet many people sense that this is really the way we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they unfortunately get caught between two poles of a false argument , which leaves out consideration of one of the most important teachings in Christianity : Not to tempt one another through any particular acts of virtue or judgement .
Romans Chapter 14 makes specific mention of this principle in regards to fasting , the abstinence from various foods such as meat and fish for the purpose of strengthening prayer .
All too easy the temptation for the one who fasts rigorously is to put himself or herself “ above ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the same thing .
Americans are culturally Protestant , which often means that the outward appearance of any given person is fiercely judged by those around him or her in their community .
This characteristic violates the principle Paul set forth , to basically mind our own business about what we personally do for the sake of our salvation and to not look askance at other believers who may not be doing exactly as we are : For one believeth that he may eat all things : another , who is weak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that eateth despise him that eateth not ; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth : for God hath received him .
Who art thou that judgest another man ’ s servant ?
to his own master he standeth or falleth .
Yea , he shall be holden up : for God is able to make him stand .
One man esteemeth one day above another : another esteemeth every day alike .
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind .
He that regardeth the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he that regardeth not the day , to the Lord he doth not regard it .
He that eateth , eateth to the Lord , for he giveth God thanks ; and he that eateth not , to the Lord he eateth not , and giveth God thanks .
For none of us liveth to himself , and no man dieth to himself .
For whether we live , we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die , we die unto the Lord : whether we live therefore , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s .
For to this end Christ both died , and rose , and revived , that he might be Lord both of the dead and living .
But why dost thou judge thy brother ?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother ?
for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ .
For it is written , As I live , saith the Lord , every knee shall bow to me , and every tongue shall confess to God .
So then every one of us shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.Let us not therefore judge one another any more : but judge this rather , that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother ’ s way .
( Romans Ch 14 : 2-13 ) The old country Orthodox , at least the ones I see here in Russia , seem to have this principle down very well .
I never hear anyone talk about the failings of another person in the Church .
They only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all about this .
It is probably not our business to pass judgements about the COVID response then .
While it is probably true that there are some clergy who for whatever reason have no real faith in God ’ s power , there are plenty of laypeople in the same boat .
There are also very faithful dedicated Orthodox Christians ( as well as dedicated people of other confessions of Christianity ) who still are under the same conditions – unable to attend services because of government orders , amplified and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Making an assessment of the nature of these people ’ s faith is primarily God ’ s business , and while we might be right about others , assessing them does nothing for ourselves .
I think the COVID response is problematic .
I think it simply appears to be guided by a worldly sense rather than a sacred one .
That being said , our people have fallen a long way from living the kind of lives where we truly experience a reliance upon God for everything .
So , perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action the Church can take .
It gives those who are not used to reliance upon God a chance to learn it with a minimum sense of cornering them into doing so , which might simply be too harsh for too many .
There is certainly a lot to think about here .

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.
We hope that this series was helpful in shining some detailed and critical light on the matter of church closures, particularly in the various Eastern Orthodox Christian national churches in the United States and around the world. We looked at the historical precedents in Christianity that show the Church trying tirelessly to help her people. We provided information showing the uniquely unknown nature of the coronavirus and its accompanying illness, COVID-19, and the complications it brings. We also noted a little that Churches in Russia are generally still operating. We want to wind this series up with a few more observations, and then my own opinion (which is not necessarily the opinion of the Duran, but the opinion of me as a Reader in the Russian Orthodox Church. – Of course, everyone has an opinion and we all know what opinions are like…)
The ideals on both sides of the church closure debate are significant. Indeed, they represent utterly different frames of mind: One is the frame of mind that is secular, that nothing is more important than one’s health in this world; hence, doing everything possible to preserve one’s life is of tantamount importance. On the other pole, this life is seen as temporal, only the “training and proving ground” for life in eternity, hopefully with God. Certainly this is the case for very rigorous Christian believers, and this is not limited to Holy Orthodoxy, for there are people who recognize this as truth in other confessions as well. For them, the move to close Church services to the public seems scandalous, a sellout to Christianity, to Christ Himself, who suffered and died, and rose again from the dead, all for the life of the world and its salvation.
What we actually see in the churches that have closed or restricted services has been an attempt for the clergy to intercede for the faithful but an attempt to keep the faithful safe. In one instance, one of the American bishops for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America decided to forego Holy Communion as one of the laity, because he wanted the laity to understand that this was not a case of clergy being “allowed” Communion while the faithful aren’t.
In a weekly letter from another American Antiochian Church we read the following (names removed for anonymity):
I pray you and your loved ones are safe and well. For those who are ill, and for all the medical people and caregivers, I assure you of our prayers as a Church community. For those grieving, distressed, or with practical needs, we seek to be helpful as we are able. A parishioner… is making face masks freely. Others have delivered food to “shut in” people or to the food bank. Deacon …. is scanning some services to be posted on our Facebook page for people to read as they see the live streams. Our clergy are glad to talk by phone and offer guidance, or financial assistance in times of serious need. Let us know when you need us. We all seek to do what we can for one another. Thank you to the ones who have been able to send tithes, offerings, and special gifts to our parish. This has enabled us to stay current with our obligations and provide for needs as they arise. Tomorrow is Lazarus Saturday. We begin our Holy Week leading to Holy Pascha. Please keep our singers, chanters, readers, and clergy in your prayers for good health, strength, and voices. Our Divine Services (which are as numerous this year as usual in Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha (called “Easter” by many Western Christians) will be “live streamed” on our private Facebook page… I am attaching a Pastoral Letter that we received today from His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH. It is encouraging to us in this on-going time of the virus crisis. In a separate email to the clergy today, we are reminded that the timing of the peak numbers of cases and hospital resources are coming in the next days and weeks. So we are instructed to allow only 5 people who are involved in the Divine Services, to be at our closed temple this week and until further notice. This means the few palms you will see on Palm Sunday will be kept for a later time of distribution (after the crisis), and the church will not be open for private prayers or lighting candles until further notice (a stricter change from previous instructions). Priests may have spiritual conversations by phone with parishioners, but absolution will be given later when we are allowed back in the temple or meeting in person. Blessing of Pascha baskets will happen at the end of the “live-streamed” Pascha Divine Liturgy. After Bright Week, we will “live-stream” the 4p Saturday Vespers and regular Sunday 8a Orthros and 9a Divine Liturgy, until that joyous day we are able to worship together again in person. This will certainly be a Holy Week and Pascha we will never forget. It is not what we would desire, but in all circumstances – God is with us and He offers blessings and renewal in our hearts as we open ourselves to Him…
Now, where it goes wrong is where people who do not understand or want to understand the actions of people of faith go and bash them.
Take this piece from the Moscow Times, a fervently anti-Putin, anti-Russia publication that is not even owned completely by Russians, but with foreign investment. Their treatment of how the Russian Orthodox Church is continuing more or less as usual has been very condescending (emphasis not added, but see if you can detect it yourself):
On a quiet Saturday outside service hours, worshippers walk with reverence through the shadowy interior of Moscow’s Yelokhovo Cathedral, crossing themselves repeatedly in front of the rows of icons adorning the gilded walls. And then, in accordance with Orthodox practice, they end their silent prayers by touching their lips to the sacred pictures. Nearly all of them are elderly, one of the most at-risk groups for the coronavirus that has swept the globe. Many of them believe that God, unlike the virus, will show mercy. “The churches must not be closed. God sees all and will protect worshippers. In Italy the Vatican closed, and you see what happened there,” said Irina, a 59-year-old pensioner, pausing during a walk in Moscow’s Petrovsky Park this week. As panic over the pandemic that has killed 21,000 has intensified — and churches worldwide have shut their doors to prevent its spread — the Russian Orthodox Church and its 164 million worshippers have been slow to change their ways. Despite medical experts’ warnings that the coronavirus can be transmitted by saliva and survive on surfaces for days, thousands of worshippers lined up at Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg this month to kiss a holy relic with no form of sanitation except the occasional wipe with a rag. In the city of Kazan on March 15, video showed an Orthodox priest continuing to use a single spoon to serve communion wine to worshippers. A man kisses an Orthodox icon in the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery in central Moscow. A worker sped around the cathedral to disinfect the icons about once every hour. Sonia Kopelev / MT This seeming recklessness stems from a mindset within the Russian Orthodox Church — and in other Eastern Orthodox branches — that believes faith in God will protect the devout from illness. On Sunday, a video of popular priest Andrei Tkachev entertaining his congregation by entering church to deliver his sermon wearing a gas mask prompted an outcry. “Turn off the television and there will be no coronavirus,” he told them. The video was later removed by the pro-Kremlin journalist who first posted it to Instagram.
After this snarky treatment (oh! the horrors! They believe in God!!), then buried in the piece is some information about measures the Church has taken to limit exposure to the virus.
Despite the indifference toward infection, the Church last week took some action by distributing sanitary rules to ensure people can continue to worship while minimizing the risk of transmission. The list forbids worshippers from kissing the cross, the communion chalice or the priest’s hand during liturgies. It also calls for disinfection of the communion spoon after each use and the use of Q-tips to anoint parishioners. Worshippers will still be able to kiss icons, but churches are ordered to disinfect the icons between each use. “If the virus spreads and the number of infections grows, if new orders from the authorities appear regarding the fight against coronavirus, the Church will respond to them,” said Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the Church’s public relations department. “This applies both to the Church as a whole and to individual dioceses.” Days after they were announced, it appears that some of the guidelines are not as binding as they may seem, with each diocese able to decide how strictly it wants to adhere to them.
As a resident of Moscow, and a Russian Orthodox believer, I can say that the facts reported are correct. All of them. However, like any good leftist, the religious angle had to be attacked first in this piece in order to set the context that Russian Orthodox Christians are no more than knuckle-draggers because they believe in a God who is much bigger than any earthly institution or state. The Moscow Times has spared no effort in trying to make the Russian Orthodox Church look like it is run by a bunch of backwards rubes, and that is terrible slander against the Church and its faithful. It really ought to not do this.
And finally, my own point of view
I am very grateful to the contributing sources for this sequence of news pieces. Nurse Julie, who provided such excellent medical information, priests and other friends in the United States who weighed in on how they see things, my own spiritual father (called a father-confessor in the West), family and others. They all have a voice and everyone has many valid points to contribute.
It is clear that there is no desire among any of the clergy I know in the United States to “sell out” the faith to the secular authorities. The common factor in the United States is that people are indeed praying, watching streamed services, and they are doing what they can with for the most part, a pretty good spirit. They are to be praised for this, for their obedience and their humility and care for others by doing what they are doing. That is unquestionably true.
Yet at the same time, I find myself much more comfortable with the Russian practice, with the soul being oriented a bit more completely towards the fact that is the Great Fact in Christianity, that this life is not the be-all and end-all of everything. The best place to be is in Church during such a crisis, and the Divine Services of the Orthodox Church in particular boast a continuous and unbroken connection to Christ Himself as well as His Apostles.
In this very secularized world, such a statement certainly defies human logic. Yet many people sense that this is really the way we ought to be thinking about this, and they unfortunately get caught between two poles of a false argument, which leaves out consideration of one of the most important teachings in Christianity: Not to tempt one another through any particular acts of virtue or judgement.
Romans Chapter 14 makes specific mention of this principle in regards to fasting, the abstinence from various foods such as meat and fish for the purpose of strengthening prayer. All too easy the temptation for the one who fasts rigorously is to put himself or herself “above” the believer who does not or cannot do the same thing. Americans are culturally Protestant, which often means that the outward appearance of any given person is fiercely judged by those around him or her in their community. This characteristic violates the principle Paul set forth, to basically mind our own business about what we personally do for the sake of our salvation and to not look askance at other believers who may not be doing exactly as we are:
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. (Romans Ch 14: 2-13)
The old country Orthodox, at least the ones I see here in Russia, seem to have this principle down very well. I never hear anyone talk about the failings of another person in the Church. They only talk about themselves if they say anything at all about this.
It is probably not our business to pass judgements about the COVID response then. While it is probably true that there are some clergy who for whatever reason have no real faith in God’s power, there are plenty of laypeople in the same boat. There are also very faithful dedicated Orthodox Christians (as well as dedicated people of other confessions of Christianity) who still are under the same conditions – unable to attend services because of government orders, amplified and supported by the declarations of local hierarchs. Making an assessment of the nature of these people’s faith is primarily God’s business, and while we might be right about others, assessing them does nothing for ourselves.
I think the COVID response is problematic. I think it simply appears to be guided by a worldly sense rather than a sacred one. That being said, our people have fallen a long way from living the kind of lives where we truly experience a reliance upon God for everything. So, perhaps this move may be the most merciful action the Church can take. It gives those who are not used to reliance upon God a chance to learn it with a minimum sense of cornering them into doing so, which might simply be too harsh for too many.
There is certainly a lot to think about here.
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theduran--2020-04-11--Portillo’s Spirit Haunts the Oligarchy

Portillo’s Spirit Haunts the Oligarchy

Mexico ’ s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ( AMLO ) has courageously stood up to the financial oligarchy in recent weeks by rejecting pressure to shut down the entire Mexican economy and bail out financial speculators as false “ solutions ” to the covid-19 pandemic .
Unlike the U.S. which has committed over $ 4.5 trillion to bailout criminal speculators amidst the crisis which is only enflaming the meltdown of the financial system , Obrador took a different approach last week saying : “ No more rescues in the style of the neoliberal period , that provided for banks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t even be thinking that there will be tax forgiveness or other mechanisms that were used before.
” The End of the Neo-Liberal Order This comes in the wake of Obrador ’ s recent anno the creation of a new network of national banks which I discussed in my last paper Mexico ’ s Fight for National Banking Revives a Forgotten History .
Imposing the power of sovereign controls over private finance will give Mexico the capacity to direct productive credit towards things which the IMF/World Bank and international vulture funds have outlawed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress needed to achieve economic independence .
This use of national power over banking , alongside the wise application of a protective tariff is the right of every nation , but since the post-1971 “ globalized laws of free trade ” outlawed the obstructing influence of nations into the world markets , very few nations have acted upon that right .
Faced with the oncoming meltdown of the western financial bubble economy and the proven superior model of China ’ s Belt and Road Initiative that is all beginning to change .
Already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have signed agreements with China ’ s BRI joining a growing array of 160 nations operating in different degrees under this new multipolar system which focuses on real economic development of nations and people over the common practice of worshipping financial profit for the sake of speculators .
Meanwhile the March 20 call for total Ibero-American debt forgiveness drafted by the Latin American Strategic Center for Geopolitics ( LASCG ) and endorsed by dozens of former Latin-American statesmen has put a renewed focus on the need for a re-organized financial system cleanse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private finance .
Due to pressure imposed by imperial forces in the US State Department , Mexico ’ s desires to collaborate with China ’ s Belt and Road Initiative have been terribly set back even as these words are written .
In spite of this , AMLO has made one of his leading initiatives since his 2018 election the Mexico-Central American Development Plan which is a revolutionary $ 40 billion system of mega projects for the poverty prone South Mexico and Northern Triangle of El Salvador , Guatemala and Honduras .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called “ a Marshall Plan for Latin America ” is built entirely around the Belt and Road Model and infuses BRI principles into North American long term planning as it is designed around a Cross Isthmus and North/South railway , ports , new electricity grid , and massive agro-industrial development .
Set side by side with his crackdown on Mexico ’ s deep state , and national banking renaissance AMLO is reviving a fight which last took place nearly 40 years ago when Mexico ’ s great president Lopez Portillo took a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the world as a whole .
Standing defiantly against the empire of Wall Street and the City of London , Portillo recognized that his nation had been targeted for depopulation and destruction .
Henry Kissinger ’ s 1974 National Security Study Memorandum 200 ( NSSM 200 ) had outlined 13 developing nations who aspired to end their colonial scars by following the Japan model of advanced scientific and technological progress .
Kissinger ’ s bone chilling report stated that should these nations succeed , then they would cause an overpopulation crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s twisted mind , had to become wired towards a strict policy of de-population using every mechanism available with a focus on economic warfare .
Mexico was at the top of this list .
Trapped under years of conditionality-laden loans from the IMF and World Bank , Mexico and other nations of the Global South were trapped under usurious debts , underdevelopment ( loans were given on the condition that money would rarely be spent on any advanced infrastructure or industrialization ) , and poverty with no hope in sight .
Lopez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others at this time , he didn ’ t give up .
In order to escape this trap , several major ( yet little known ) decisions were made by Portillo at this time which led into his declaration of war against the oligarchy .
The first major decision occurred when Portillo invited American economist Lyndon LaRouche to the Presidential Palace at Los Pinos in May 1982 where after a long meeting , Portillo requested the economist draft a policy program for Mexico ’ s resistance to the empire and broader economic recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August 1982 entitled Operation Juarez ( named after Mexico ’ s first revolutionary President Benito Juarez ) .
Within weeks , Portillo followed the advice of LaRouche and attempted to gain the support of Argentina and Brazil to stand together against the oligarchy using their most powerful weapon : The debt bomb ( a threat to default on their usurious debts ) .
On September 1 , 1982 , Portillo nationalized the banks of Mexico to the ire of the financial oligarchy .
Portillo moved quickly to nationalize much of Mexico ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combat speculation , and manoeuvred to use Mexico ’ s oil revenues to maximize advanced technological growth in agriculture and nuclear energy as outlined in detail in Operation Juarez .
Then came Portillo ’ s greatest moment when on October 1st 1982 , he stood for all people of the earth at the United Nations in speech which must be heard to be believed .
In his speech Portillo said : “ The most constant concern and activity of Mexico in the international arena , is the transition to a New Economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be subjugated .
We can not paralyze our economies or plunge our peoples into greater misery in order to pay a debt on which servicing tripled without our participation or responsibility , and with terms that are imposed upon us .
We countries of the South are about to run out of playing chips , and were we not able to stay in the game , it would end in defeat for everyone .
I want to be emphatic : We countries of the South have not sinned against the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to conquer hunger , disease , ignorance , and dependency , have not caused the international crisis… .
We have been a living example of what occurs when an enormous , volatile , and speculative mass of capital goes all over the world in search of high interest rates , tax havens , and supposed political and exchange stability .
It decapitalizes entire countries and leaves destruction in its wake .
The world should be able to control this ; it is inconceivable that we can not find a formula that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would permit regulation of a phenomenon that damages everyone .
It is imperative that the New International Economic Order establish a link between refinancing the development of countries that suffer capital flight , and the capital that has fled .
The reduction of available credit for developing countries has serious implications , not only for the countries themselves , but also for production and employment in the industrial countries .
Let us not continue in this vicious circle : it could be the beginning of a new medieval Dark Age , without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without the support of a debtors alliance for progress , Portillo ’ s plans were sabotaged under a barrage of speculative attacks on the peso which drove his plans into the ground , and his nation into turmoil and economic hell for the next 40 years .
Those nations which were too cowardly to stand alongside Portillo suffered as gravely as did Mexico in the coming decades* .
During the last 3 minutes of this video , Portillo is featured at a conference in 1998 sitting beside LaRouche ’ s wife Helga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
In this recording one can listen to the old statesman describe his 1982 battle and his debt to the LaRouches : “ I congratulate Doña Helga for these words , which impressed me , especially because first they trapped me in the Apocalypse , but then she showed me the staircase by which we can get to a promised land .
Many thanks , Doña Helga .
Doña Helga—and here I wish to congratulate her husband , Lyndon LaRouche… .
And it is now necessary for the world to listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now it is through the voice of his wife , as we have had the privilege to hear .
How important , that they enlighten us as to what is happening in the world , as to what will happen , and as to what can be corrected .
How important , that someone dedicates their time , their generosity , and their enthusiasm to this endeavor.
” It is noteworthy , that less than one year before Portillo spoke these words , Helga LaRouche presented a program entitled the New Silk Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new system of economic development corridors and sea routs to be developed by China ’ s government as a means of breaking other nations free from neo-colonialism .
A selection from a 1997 Washington Conference features an incredible preview into the Chinese Grand design which has come to life over two decades later under the leadership of Xi Jinping .
It is important to recall that even though Mexico and the USA currently have many obstacles between them and the New Silk Road , they are both led by two leaders who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within their nations and who would be very open to collaborating with the new multipolar system led by China and Russia as an alternative to burning in the meltdown of the western financial system .
The spirit of Lopez Portillo would certainly smile at this emerging potential .
* A complete overview of the 40 year fight for a new multipolar economic system can be found on the Schiller Institute site here .
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , a BRI Expert on Tactical talk , and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Canada ’ book series .
In 2019 he co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation and can be reached at [ email protected ]

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.
From the Strategic Culture Foundation
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) has courageously stood up to the financial oligarchy in recent weeks by rejecting pressure to shut down the entire Mexican economy and bail out financial speculators as false “solutions” to the covid-19 pandemic.
Unlike the U.S. which has committed over $4.5 trillion to bailout criminal speculators amidst the crisis which is only enflaming the meltdown of the financial system, Obrador took a different approach last week saying: “No more rescues in the style of the neoliberal period, that provided for banks, big companies. They shouldn’t even be thinking that there will be tax forgiveness or other mechanisms that were used before.”
The End of the Neo-Liberal Order
This comes in the wake of Obrador’s recent anno the creation of a new network of national banks which I discussed in my last paper Mexico’s Fight for National Banking Revives a Forgotten History. Imposing the power of sovereign controls over private finance will give Mexico the capacity to direct productive credit towards things which the IMF/World Bank and international vulture funds have outlawed for decades: Advanced infrastructure and scientific progress needed to achieve economic independence.
This use of national power over banking, alongside the wise application of a protective tariff is the right of every nation, but since the post-1971 “globalized laws of free trade” outlawed the obstructing influence of nations into the world markets, very few nations have acted upon that right. Faced with the oncoming meltdown of the western financial bubble economy and the proven superior model of China’s Belt and Road Initiative that is all beginning to change.
Already 17 nations of Central and South America have signed agreements with China’s BRI joining a growing array of 160 nations operating in different degrees under this new multipolar system which focuses on real economic development of nations and people over the common practice of worshipping financial profit for the sake of speculators. Meanwhile the March 20 call for total Ibero-American debt forgiveness drafted by the Latin American Strategic Center for Geopolitics (LASCG) and endorsed by dozens of former Latin-American statesmen has put a renewed focus on the need for a re-organized financial system cleanse of debt slavery, speculation and rule by private finance.
Due to pressure imposed by imperial forces in the US State Department, Mexico’s desires to collaborate with China’s Belt and Road Initiative have been terribly set back even as these words are written.
In spite of this, AMLO has made one of his leading initiatives since his 2018 election the Mexico-Central American Development Plan which is a revolutionary $40 billion system of mega projects for the poverty prone South Mexico and Northern Triangle of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. This development plan which Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard called “a Marshall Plan for Latin America” is built entirely around the Belt and Road Model and infuses BRI principles into North American long term planning as it is designed around a Cross Isthmus and North/South railway, ports, new electricity grid, and massive agro-industrial development.
Set side by side with his crackdown on Mexico’s deep state, and national banking renaissance AMLO is reviving a fight which last took place nearly 40 years ago when Mexico’s great president Lopez Portillo took a major stand in defense of both his nation and the world as a whole.
Portillo’s 1982 Fight for a Multipolar System
Standing defiantly against the empire of Wall Street and the City of London, Portillo recognized that his nation had been targeted for depopulation and destruction. Henry Kissinger’s 1974 National Security Study Memorandum 200 (NSSM 200) had outlined 13 developing nations who aspired to end their colonial scars by following the Japan model of advanced scientific and technological progress. Kissinger’s bone chilling report stated that should these nations succeed, then they would cause an overpopulation crisis. America’s duty, in Kissinger’s twisted mind, had to become wired towards a strict policy of de-population using every mechanism available with a focus on economic warfare. Mexico was at the top of this list.
Trapped under years of conditionality-laden loans from the IMF and World Bank, Mexico and other nations of the Global South were trapped under usurious debts, underdevelopment (loans were given on the condition that money would rarely be spent on any advanced infrastructure or industrialization), and poverty with no hope in sight.
Lopez Portillo was trapped. But unlike many others at this time, he didn’t give up.
In order to escape this trap, several major (yet little known) decisions were made by Portillo at this time which led into his declaration of war against the oligarchy.
How Portillo Played the LaRouche Card
The first major decision occurred when Portillo invited American economist Lyndon LaRouche to the Presidential Palace at Los Pinos in May 1982 where after a long meeting, Portillo requested the economist draft a policy program for Mexico’s resistance to the empire and broader economic recovery. This program was given to Portillo in August 1982 entitled Operation Juarez (named after Mexico’s first revolutionary President Benito Juarez).
Within weeks, Portillo followed the advice of LaRouche and attempted to gain the support of Argentina and Brazil to stand together against the oligarchy using their most powerful weapon: The debt bomb (a threat to default on their usurious debts). On September 1, 1982, Portillo nationalized the banks of Mexico to the ire of the financial oligarchy.
Portillo moved quickly to nationalize much of Mexico’s oil while preparing for capital controls to combat speculation, and manoeuvred to use Mexico’s oil revenues to maximize advanced technological growth in agriculture and nuclear energy as outlined in detail in Operation Juarez. Then came Portillo’s greatest moment when on October 1st 1982, he stood for all people of the earth at the United Nations in speech which must be heard to be believed.
In his speech Portillo said:
“The most constant concern and activity of Mexico in the international arena, is the transition to a New Economic Order…. We developing countries do not want to be subjugated. We cannot paralyze our economies or plunge our peoples into greater misery in order to pay a debt on which servicing tripled without our participation or responsibility, and with terms that are imposed upon us. We countries of the South are about to run out of playing chips, and were we not able to stay in the game, it would end in defeat for everyone. I want to be emphatic: We countries of the South have not sinned against the world economy. Our efforts to grow, in order to conquer hunger, disease, ignorance, and dependency, have not caused the international crisis…. We have been a living example of what occurs when an enormous, volatile, and speculative mass of capital goes all over the world in search of high interest rates, tax havens, and supposed political and exchange stability. It decapitalizes entire countries and leaves destruction in its wake. The world should be able to control this; it is inconceivable that we cannot find a formula that, without limiting necessary movements and flows, would permit regulation of a phenomenon that damages everyone. It is imperative that the New International Economic Order establish a link between refinancing the development of countries that suffer capital flight, and the capital that has fled. The reduction of available credit for developing countries has serious implications, not only for the countries themselves, but also for production and employment in the industrial countries. Let us not continue in this vicious circle: it could be the beginning of a new medieval Dark Age, without the possibility of a Renaissance….”
Ultimately, without the support of a debtors alliance for progress, Portillo’s plans were sabotaged under a barrage of speculative attacks on the peso which drove his plans into the ground, and his nation into turmoil and economic hell for the next 40 years. Those nations which were too cowardly to stand alongside Portillo suffered as gravely as did Mexico in the coming decades*.
During the last 3 minutes of this video, Portillo is featured at a conference in 1998 sitting beside LaRouche’s wife Helga Zepp-LaRouche (chairwoman of the Schiller Institute). In this recording one can listen to the old statesman describe his 1982 battle and his debt to the LaRouches:
“I congratulate Doña Helga for these words, which impressed me, especially because first they trapped me in the Apocalypse, but then she showed me the staircase by which we can get to a promised land. Many thanks, Doña Helga. Doña Helga—and here I wish to congratulate her husband, Lyndon LaRouche…. And it is now necessary for the world to listen to the wise words of Lyndon LaRouche. Now it is through the voice of his wife, as we have had the privilege to hear. How important, that they enlighten us as to what is happening in the world, as to what will happen, and as to what can be corrected. How important, that someone dedicates their time, their generosity, and their enthusiasm to this endeavor.”
It is noteworthy, that less than one year before Portillo spoke these words, Helga LaRouche presented a program entitled the New Silk Road to a conference in Beijing calling for a new system of economic development corridors and sea routs to be developed by China’s government as a means of breaking other nations free from neo-colonialism. A selection from a 1997 Washington Conference features an incredible preview into the Chinese Grand design which has come to life over two decades later under the leadership of Xi Jinping.
It is important to recall that even though Mexico and the USA currently have many obstacles between them and the New Silk Road, they are both led by two leaders who have struggled with the deep state structures within their nations and who would be very open to collaborating with the new multipolar system led by China and Russia as an alternative to burning in the meltdown of the western financial system. The spirit of Lopez Portillo would certainly smile at this emerging potential.
* A complete overview of the 40 year fight for a new multipolar economic system can be found on the Schiller Institute site here.
Matthew Ehret is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Patriot Review , a BRI Expert on Tactical talk, and has authored 3 volumes of ‘Untold History of Canada’ book series. In 2019 he co-founded the Montreal-based Rising Tide Foundation and can be reached at matt.ehret@tutamail.com
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