theduran--2020-04-15--The end of the oil age

The end of the oil age

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Lucas Leiroz , research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro… A historic agreement was signed last weekend between the main oil powers in the world , promoting an unprecedented cut in the production of daily barrels in order to face the global economic crisis generated by the pandemic and the commercial war on oil prices .
In short , the agreement provides for a cut in oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day from May 1 , 2020 , for two months , in order to stabilize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the level of cuts will be reduced to 7.6 mbpd by the end of the year , then to 5.6 mbpd by the end of 2022 , when the agreement expires .
Mexican Energy Secretary Rocío Nahle said in a social network that the agreement signed by the 23 countries participating in the remote meeting last Sunday was “ unanimous ” and “ will start a reduction in the oil platform of 9.7 million barrels per day starting in May.
” According to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Energy , at this tenth meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was decided that the United States will reduce its production by an additional 300,000 barrels per day to compensate ” for what Mexico wants to cut .
Initially , Mexico should reduce its production by 400,000 barrels a day , but it refused to make a cut of this size .
On Thursday , OPEC+ and other producers reached a basic agreement to reduce their supply by 23 % in the face of the drop in demand and prices caused in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic , however , the parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico abandoned the meeting due to a disagreement with such levels of cut .
Kuwait ’ s oil minister Khaled al Fadhel said on Twitter on Sunday that thanks to “ wise instructions , continued efforts and continued talks ” , it was possible to reach a “ historic agreement ” to cut the production of oil .
Around the world , the responses of several political analysts to the news of the agreement have been the same : historical , but insufficient .
The reduction is undoubtedly significant , but it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with a global quarantine scenario , where practically all air transport and much of the land transport were paralyzed , in addition to the devastating effects of the economic recession .
The world demand for oil fell by an uncertain number between 20 % and 30 % , which is frightening when we consider that we are far from any sign of improvement in the situation of the infection .
One way to understand the optimism of world leaders in relation to the agreement is to imagine it only as a bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thus , we understand the optimism of American President Donald Trump , who wrote on his social network : “ Having been involved in the negotiations , to put it mildly , the number that OPEC + is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day , not the 10 Million that is generally being reported .
If anything near this happens , and the World gets back to business from the Covid 19 ” .
This expectation is shared by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman , Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19.5 million barrels per day .
In fact , neither the apparent optimism of world leaders nor the pessimism of analysts is sufficient to understand the new dynamics of the global economy and the strategic importance of this agreement .
The fundamental mistake is to reduce the crisis generated by the coronavirus to a mere natural catastrophe , the effects of which will be reversed in the medium or long term .
Conversely , the data seem to indicate that this crisis is not only unprecedented , but irreversible , which will force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from those followed in the last decades .
In a recent article , I commented on how the coronavirus brings us to a new “ Bretton Woods moment ” , predicting that soon the main world powers will come together again to decide a future for the world economy , once and for all overcoming financial capitalism , whose structural crisis has dragged on since 2008 .
Likewise , the central role played by oil in the global economy seems to be in collapse .
The agreement for the cut in production does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a simple objective of facing the coronavirus , but that of beginning the end of the oil era .
In a world with increasingly scarce natural resources , with profound environmental damage , with an increasingly fierce struggle between global potentials and multinational corporations for the control of natural reserves and with the rise of the so-called “ green capitalism ” ( the “ non-profit ” lobby ) , how can we expect the oil sector to continue to guide the world economy and sustain the foundations of the unproductive financial system ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Petroyuan and the signs of crisis of the dollar ’ s hegemony , what would be more profitable for the US than a systematic devaluation of oil ?
As Michael Liebreich , founder and senior of Bloomberg New Energy Finance , recently wrote : “ I ’ ve always said the end-game for oil is not when it reaches $ 200 / barrel , it ’ s when it settles at $ 20 / barrel ” .
In other words : the end of the oil era will not be due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its decrease , due to its devaluation .
Perhaps awareness of this reality is the reason for the optimism behind last weekend ’ s deal .
Perhaps the interest behind the agreement is not to “ save ” the oil sector , but to program a profitable crisis there , as a major damage control mechanism .
No one knows what will be the status of the world economy in two or three years .
As stated earlier , a new economic order is likely to be planned at an extraordinary meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from which a new phase of capitalism or an alternative system will emerge .
What is known is that in the same way that this system emerged , it will fall : programmed , previously agreed by the global powers .

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Lucas Leiroz, research fellow in international law at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro…
A historic agreement was signed last weekend between the main oil powers in the world, promoting an unprecedented cut in the production of daily barrels in order to face the global economic crisis generated by the pandemic and the commercial war on oil prices. In short, the agreement provides for a cut in oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day from May 1, 2020, for two months, in order to stabilize the global market. In June, the level of cuts will be reduced to 7.6 mbpd by the end of the year, then to 5.6 mbpd by the end of 2022, when the agreement expires.
Mexican Energy Secretary Rocío Nahle said in a social network that the agreement signed by the 23 countries participating in the remote meeting last Sunday was “unanimous” and “will start a reduction in the oil platform of 9.7 million barrels per day starting in May.” According to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Energy, at this tenth meeting of the OPEC members and non-members “it was decided that the United States will reduce its production by an additional 300,000 barrels per day to compensate” for what Mexico wants to cut. Initially, Mexico should reduce its production by 400,000 barrels a day, but it refused to make a cut of this size. On Thursday, OPEC+ and other producers reached a basic agreement to reduce their supply by 23% in the face of the drop in demand and prices caused in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, the parties were unable to seal a deal because Mexico abandoned the meeting due to a disagreement with such levels of cut. Kuwait’s oil minister Khaled al Fadhel said on Twitter on Sunday that thanks to “wise instructions, continued efforts and continued talks”, it was possible to reach a “historic agreement” to cut the production of oil.
Around the world, the responses of several political analysts to the news of the agreement have been the same: historical, but insufficient. The reduction is undoubtedly significant, but it does not seem to be strong enough to deal with a global quarantine scenario, where practically all air transport and much of the land transport were paralyzed, in addition to the devastating effects of the economic recession. The world demand for oil fell by an uncertain number between 20% and 30%, which is frightening when we consider that we are far from any sign of improvement in the situation of the infection.
One way to understand the optimism of world leaders in relation to the agreement is to imagine it only as a bridge to a much larger cut in production. Thus, we understand the optimism of American President Donald Trump, who wrote on his social network: “Having been involved in the negotiations, to put it mildly, the number that OPEC + is looking to cut is 20 Million Barrels a day, not the 10 Million that is generally being reported. If anything near this happens, and the World gets back to business from the Covid 19”. This expectation is shared by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabian Minister of Energy, who believes in a cut of 19.5 million barrels per day.
In fact, neither the apparent optimism of world leaders nor the pessimism of analysts is sufficient to understand the new dynamics of the global economy and the strategic importance of this agreement. The fundamental mistake is to reduce the crisis generated by the coronavirus to a mere natural catastrophe, the effects of which will be reversed in the medium or long term. Conversely, the data seem to indicate that this crisis is not only unprecedented, but irreversible, which will force international society to follow paths completely different from those followed in the last decades.
In a recent article, I commented on how the coronavirus brings us to a new “Bretton Woods moment”, predicting that soon the main world powers will come together again to decide a future for the world economy, once and for all overcoming financial capitalism, whose structural crisis has dragged on since 2008. Likewise, the central role played by oil in the global economy seems to be in collapse. The agreement for the cut in production does not, in the end, have a simple objective of facing the coronavirus, but that of beginning the end of the oil era. In a world with increasingly scarce natural resources, with profound environmental damage, with an increasingly fierce struggle between global potentials and multinational corporations for the control of natural reserves and with the rise of the so-called “green capitalism” (the “non-profit” lobby), how can we expect the oil sector to continue to guide the world economy and sustain the foundations of the unproductive financial system? Still, with the recent rise of the Petroyuan and the signs of crisis of the dollar’s hegemony, what would be more profitable for the US than a systematic devaluation of oil?
As Michael Liebreich, founder and senior of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, recently wrote: “I’ve always said the end-game for oil is not when it reaches $ 200 / barrel, it’s when it settles at $ 20 / barrel”. In other words: the end of the oil era will not be due to the maximization of its demand, but to its decrease, due to its devaluation. Perhaps awareness of this reality is the reason for the optimism behind last weekend’s deal. Perhaps the interest behind the agreement is not to “save” the oil sector, but to program a profitable crisis there, as a major damage control mechanism.
No one knows what will be the status of the world economy in two or three years. As stated earlier, a new economic order is likely to be planned at an extraordinary meeting of the world’s greatest leaders, from which a new phase of capitalism or an alternative system will emerge. What is known is that in the same way that this system emerged, it will fall: programmed, previously agreed by the global powers.
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theduran--2020-04-15--Trump’s Cyprus Signaling Is More against Turkey than Russia

Submitted by InfoBrics , authored by Paul Antonopoulos , Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies… The Al-Monitor portal has left many extremely surprised with news that was not expected in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic .
With over 600,000 cases and 25,000 deaths in the U.S. , President Donald Trump has made a bold geopolitical move and instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to determine whether Cyprus should have its arms embargo against it lifted , according to Al-Monitor ’ s congressional correspondent , Bryant Harris .
“ Trump tasked Pompeo with the decision [ yesterday ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separate bills to lift the embargo in December — legislation that Turkey had unsuccessfully sought to forestall , ” explained Harris .
In 1987 , the U.S. embargoed arms sales to Cyprus under the pretext of preventing an arms build-up on the island .
However , this was not a problem for Cyprus as Russia became one of the biggest weapon suppliers instead .
If the U.S. were trying to have balance on Cyprus , it certainly did not achieve this as the country only became closer with Russia and to this day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Turkey invaded the northern parts of the island to prevent Cyprus from uniting with Greece and to this day continues an illegal occupation .
The occupation is to maintain the quasi “ Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ” that is recognized by no other state in the world bar Turkey and is recognized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 541 and UN Security Council Resolution 550 as illegal .
The U.S. has never taken an interest in protecting Cypriot interests despite the illegalities of the occupied northern Cyprus – up until recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going rogue against U.S. and NATO interests by strengthening relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin , including the sale of the S-400 missile defense system that are not compatible with NATO doctrine .
The irony is that Turkey bought the S-400 system despite the fact that in 1997 Cyprus bought the S-300 air defense missiles from Russia , but had to trade it with Greece for other weapons under a Turkish threat of blockade and/or war .
The S-300 is now located on the Greek island of Crete .
As Greece in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NATO without much independent foreign policy , Washington is now willing to give the country more concessions .
In previous years , Washington would only appease Turkey as it controlled the Bosporus Straits that connects Russia ’ s Black Sea Fleet to the rest of the world .
However , these concessions and attempts to strengthen relations between Cyprus and the U.S. come at a price .
Harris explains that the U.S. Congress laid out specific criteria that Cyprus needs to fulfill before it is allowed to procure arms from the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Specifically , the law requires Cyprus to deny Russian military vessels to its ports despite a 2015 agreement with Moscow to do so .
It also requires Cyprus — a financial heaven for wealthy Russians to evade US sanctions — to comply with anti-money laundering regulations , ” he said .
It is very unlikely that Cyprus will meet these demands made as it is not a NATO member , nor does it have the incentive to abandon a partner that supplied it weapons when the U.S. turned its back .
Knowing this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Cyprus fails to comply with these conditions , the law gives Pompeo the freedom to lift the embargo anyway via a national security waiver.
” This therefore means that the true target of this arms embargo lift is not necessarily Russia , but rather Turkey .
It is effectively in Cypriot hands on whether they want to take on these U.S. conditions .
Cyprus is being ‘ rewarded ’ by Washington as in recent years it has formed a strategic partnership with Israel in the economic , energy and military sector .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. lobbied to lift the arms embargo last year , especially as Erdoğan frequently antagonizes Tel Aviv .
Although it is in Pompeo ’ s hands to decide whether to lift the embargo or not , it is more likely he will choose to do this even if Cyprus decides not to conform to the anti-Russian measures demanded .
Not only is Trump and Pompeo receiving pressure from the Israeli lobby , but they are also receiving pressure from the extremely influential think-tanks .
In an article from June 2019 , titled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” that was first published by The Center for the National Interest , and then republished by the CATO Institute , the author explains “ The current arms embargo on Cyprus is unbalanced and unfair .
Favoring Turkey never was likely to help keep the peace .
Today , given the Erdogan ’ s transformation into a frenemy of America at best , and confrontational policy toward Cyprus and Greece , the embargo rewards an essentially rogue government .
The United States should see Turkey plain and stop tolerating the latter ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no guarantee that just because Cyprus is now being noticed and recognized by Washington that it will quickly abandon Russia , especially because of decades of limited relations and the important role the U.S. played in supporting the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus .
Rather , the lifting of the arms embargo is just one small gesture that Washington might make to antagonize a rogue Erdoğan , and if this is the aim , it will certainly work as the Turkish president believes the island to be a part of his domain @

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Submitted by InfoBrics, authored by Paul Antonopoulos, Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies…
The Al-Monitor portal has left many extremely surprised with news that was not expected in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. With over 600,000 cases and 25,000 deaths in the U.S., President Donald Trump has made a bold geopolitical move and instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to determine whether Cyprus should have its arms embargo against it lifted, according to Al-Monitor’s congressional correspondent, Bryant Harris.
“Trump tasked Pompeo with the decision [yesterday] via a presidential memorandum after signing two separate bills to lift the embargo in December — legislation that Turkey had unsuccessfully sought to forestall,” explained Harris.
In 1987, the U.S. embargoed arms sales to Cyprus under the pretext of preventing an arms build-up on the island. However, this was not a problem for Cyprus as Russia became one of the biggest weapon suppliers instead. If the U.S. were trying to have balance on Cyprus, it certainly did not achieve this as the country only became closer with Russia and to this day still have close ties.
In 1974, Turkey invaded the northern parts of the island to prevent Cyprus from uniting with Greece and to this day continues an illegal occupation. The occupation is to maintain the quasi “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” that is recognized by no other state in the world bar Turkey and is recognized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 541 and UN Security Council Resolution 550 as illegal.
The U.S. has never taken an interest in protecting Cypriot interests despite the illegalities of the occupied northern Cyprus – up until recent times. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan going rogue against U.S. and NATO interests by strengthening relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the sale of the S-400 missile defense system that are not compatible with NATO doctrine.
The irony is that Turkey bought the S-400 system despite the fact that in 1997 Cyprus bought the S-300 air defense missiles from Russia, but had to trade it with Greece for other weapons under a Turkish threat of blockade and/or war. The S-300 is now located on the Greek island of Crete. As Greece in recent years has been a loyal subject to NATO without much independent foreign policy, Washington is now willing to give the country more concessions. In previous years, Washington would only appease Turkey as it controlled the Bosporus Straits that connects Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to the rest of the world.
However, these concessions and attempts to strengthen relations between Cyprus and the U.S. come at a price. Harris explains that the U.S. Congress laid out specific criteria that Cyprus needs to fulfill before it is allowed to procure arms from the U.S., if it ever choose to.
“Specifically, the law requires Cyprus to deny Russian military vessels to its ports despite a 2015 agreement with Moscow to do so. It also requires Cyprus — a financial heaven for wealthy Russians to evade US sanctions — to comply with anti-money laundering regulations,” he said.
It is very unlikely that Cyprus will meet these demands made as it is not a NATO member, nor does it have the incentive to abandon a partner that supplied it weapons when the U.S. turned its back. Knowing this fact, Harris explained that “even if Cyprus fails to comply with these conditions, the law gives Pompeo the freedom to lift the embargo anyway via a national security waiver.”
This therefore means that the true target of this arms embargo lift is not necessarily Russia, but rather Turkey. It is effectively in Cypriot hands on whether they want to take on these U.S. conditions. Cyprus is being ‘rewarded’ by Washington as in recent years it has formed a strategic partnership with Israel in the economic, energy and military sector. Because of this, pro-Israel groups in the U.S. lobbied to lift the arms embargo last year, especially as Erdoğan frequently antagonizes Tel Aviv.
Although it is in Pompeo’s hands to decide whether to lift the embargo or not, it is more likely he will choose to do this even if Cyprus decides not to conform to the anti-Russian measures demanded. Not only is Trump and Pompeo receiving pressure from the Israeli lobby, but they are also receiving pressure from the extremely influential think-tanks.
In an article from June 2019, titled “Lift the Arms Embargo on Cyprus,” that was first published by The Center for the National Interest, and then republished by the CATO Institute, the author explains “The current arms embargo on Cyprus is unbalanced and unfair. Favoring Turkey never was likely to help keep the peace. Today, given the Erdogan’s transformation into a frenemy of America at best, and confrontational policy toward Cyprus and Greece, the embargo rewards an essentially rogue government. The United States should see Turkey plain and stop tolerating the latter’s unfriendly conduct.”
However, there is no guarantee that just because Cyprus is now being noticed and recognized by Washington that it will quickly abandon Russia, especially because of decades of limited relations and the important role the U.S. played in supporting the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus. Rather, the lifting of the arms embargo is just one small gesture that Washington might make to antagonize a rogue Erdoğan, and if this is the aim, it will certainly work as the Turkish president believes the island to be a part of his domain.
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theduran--2020-04-15--MbS: Defeated in oil price war, defeated in Yemen (Video)

The Duran ’ s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss how Saudi Crown Prince MbS has been defeated in on all fronts from a disastrous oil price war to the failed war in Yemen .
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute .
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As the coronavirus continues its assault on members of the Saudi royal family , the rulers of the Kingdom on Wednesday called off its assault on Yemen .
The unilateral ceasefire will begin at noon on Thursday , Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least two weeks .
Its stated intention is to prevent an outbreak of the virus in Yemen .
Under no existing modeling can a coronavirus outbreak be defeated in two weeks .
Senior members of the royal family , including 84-year old King Salman , and the effective ruler , Muhammad bin Salman , have retreated to an island off the coast of Jeddah in the Red Sea .
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , the powerful governor of Riyadh who is a nephew to the king , is stricken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care , The New York Times reported , citing two doctors “ with ties ” to King Faisal Hospital and two other sources near to the royal family .
In all , 150 members of the ruling family are reported to have been infected .
The Saudi government officially said it is seeking the ceasefire because of its fear that the virus could spread in Yemen , where there are still no reported cases .
There are 3,287 cases in Saudi Arabia , with 44 deaths and 2,577 cases still unresolved .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceasefire to “ jump-start ” UN brokered peace talks to end the war .
Joining in the ceasefire would be the nations of the Saudi-led coalition as well as the Yemeni government in exile in the Saudi capital , the Times reported .
Coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki said that peace talks would be held “ under the supervision of the UN envoy to discuss his proposals on the steps and mechanisms to implement a permanent ceasefire in Yemen.
” Al-Malki said the ceasefire could be extended to facilitate “ a comprehensive political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement : Mohammed Ali al-Houthi , a top Houthi official , tweeted an eight-page plan to end the war before the Saudi announcement .
The Houthis control the Yemeni capital Sanaa .
After the truce was to go into effect on Thursday , a Houthi spokesman claimed Saudi attacks continued .
“ The Saudis are still employing their air , land and naval forces to tighten the siege on Yemen … this is an announcement only to restore ( their positions ) , to close ranks , ” said Mohammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vicious five-year campaign by the richest nation in the Middle East against the poorest .
It began on March 26 , 2015 just as the UN was close to brokering a deal to end the political standoff , as the then UN envoy to Yemen told me at the time .
Martin Griffiths , the current UN envoy , said in a statement : “ The parties must now utilize this opportunity and cease immediately all hostilities with the utmost urgency.
” The BBC reported that the two sides would communicate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The proposal calls for the halting of all air , ground and naval hostilities , ” the British national broadcaster said .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday urged Houthis to “ respond in kind to the coalition ’ s initiative.
” The United States has backed the Saudi war with logistical and material support .
It is in the Saudis ’ interests to stop a coronavirus outbreak in Yemen .
Riyadh is spending $ 200 million a day on the war , with oil having fallen to below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allied jihadis , and almost certainly intelligence agents operating inside Yemen , and Yemenis can find their way across the frontier .
On Wednesday , Yemen sealed its last remaining border crossing with Saudi Arabia to prevent a spread of the virus .
An end to the conflict would come as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for a global ceasefire , in which he said some 70 nations have already signed on .
Saudi Arabia would appear on Wednesday to have joined that list .
Joe Lauria is editor-in-chief of Consortium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wall Street Journal , Boston Globe , Sunday Times of London and numerous other newspapers .
He can be reached at [ email protected ] and followed on Twitter @ unjoe .

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 Saudi Crown Prince MbS has been defeated in on all fronts from a disastrous oil price war to the failed war in Yemen.
Support Free Speech:
Subscribe to The Duran on YouTube – Find us on BitChute.
The Duran Audio Podcast:
Follow on Soundcloud – Subscribe on iTunes.
“COVID-19: Devastated Saudi Royal Family Seeks to End Yemen War”, authored Joe Lauria, via Consortium News…
As the coronavirus continues its assault on members of the Saudi royal family, the rulers of the Kingdom on Wednesday called off its assault on Yemen.
The unilateral ceasefire will begin at noon on Thursday, Saudi time, and is to last at least two weeks. Its stated intention is to prevent an outbreak of the virus in Yemen. Under no existing modeling can a coronavirus outbreak be defeated in two weeks.
Senior members of the royal family, including 84-year old King Salman, and the effective ruler, Muhammad bin Salman, have retreated to an island off the coast of Jeddah in the Red Sea.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the powerful governor of Riyadh who is a nephew to the king, is stricken with the disease and is in intensive care, The New York Times reported, citing two doctors “with ties” to King Faisal Hospital and two other sources near to the royal family.
In all, 150 members of the ruling family are reported to have been infected. The Saudi government officially said it is seeking the ceasefire because of its fear that the virus could spread in Yemen, where there are still no reported cases. There are 3,287 cases in Saudi Arabia, with 44 deaths and 2,577 cases still unresolved.
The Times reported that Saudi officials want the ceasefire to “jump-start” UN brokered peace talks to end the war. Joining in the ceasefire would be the nations of the Saudi-led coalition as well as the Yemeni government in exile in the Saudi capital, the Times reported. Coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Malki said that peace talks would be held “under the supervision of the UN envoy to discuss his proposals on the steps and mechanisms to implement a permanent ceasefire in Yemen.” Al-Malki said the ceasefire could be extended to facilitate “a comprehensive political solution in Yemen.”
The coalition further said in a statement:
“On the occasion of holding and succeeding the efforts of the UN envoy to Yemen and to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and work to confront the corona pandemic and prevent it from spreading, the coalition announces a comprehensive ceasefire for a period of two weeks, starting on Thursday.”
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a top Houthi official, tweeted an eight-page plan to end the war before the Saudi announcement. The Houthis control the Yemeni capital Sanaa. After the truce was to go into effect on Thursday, a Houthi spokesman claimed Saudi attacks continued. “The Saudis are still employing their air, land and naval forces to tighten the siege on Yemen … this is an announcement only to restore (their positions), to close ranks,” said Mohammed al-Bukhaiti.
The unilateral ceasefire could end a vicious five-year campaign by the richest nation in the Middle East against the poorest. It began on March 26, 2015 just as the UN was close to brokering a deal to end the political standoff, as the then UN envoy to Yemen told me at the time.
Martin Griffiths, the current UN envoy, said in a statement: “The parties must now utilize this opportunity and cease immediately all hostilities with the utmost urgency.”
The BBC reported that the two sides would communicate in a video conference to discuss the ceasefire. “The proposal calls for the halting of all air, ground and naval hostilities,” the British national broadcaster said.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday urged Houthis to “respond in kind to the coalition’s initiative.” The United States has backed the Saudi war with logistical and material support.
It is in the Saudis’ interests to stop a coronavirus outbreak in Yemen. Riyadh is spending $200 million a day on the war, with oil having fallen to below $30 a barrel. They have allied jihadis, and almost certainly intelligence agents operating inside Yemen, and Yemenis can find their way across the frontier. On Wednesday, Yemen sealed its last remaining border crossing with Saudi Arabia to prevent a spread of the virus.
An end to the conflict would come as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for a global ceasefire, in which he said some 70 nations have already signed on. Saudi Arabia would appear on Wednesday to have joined that list.
Joe Lauria is editor-in-chief of Consortium News and a former correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Sunday Times of London and numerous other newspapers. He can be reached at joelauria@consortiumnews.com and followed on Twitter @unjoe .
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theduran--2020-04-15--#FireFauci Should be the Rallying Cry for a Generation

I ’ m done mincing words .
I ’ m done giving people the benefit of the doubt .
Whenever I do that The Davos Crowd and their highly placed agents make me look like a virtue-signaling fool .
For weeks I ’ ve been careful to separate the threat of the disease , COVID-19 , from the political response .
I ’ ve felt strongly that one can respect the virus while at the same time be wary of the political response and the panic engineered over it .
But that ’ s come to an end .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning was to allow this virus to run wild in high profile places like New York and Italy to create fear .
It is also clear that people like Dr. Anthony Fauci were activated to ensure the worst possible response to the crisis would be implemented in the U.S. And now , after more than a month after shutting down whole swaths of our economy and locking people in their homes under effective house arrest it ’ s also clear that most of this response was overblown and unnecessary .
And here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this insanity has been Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) whose ties to all the worst people you can imagine run very , very deep .
Lastly , it ’ s also very clear that President Trump was the target the entire time .
He finally hit his breaking point yesterday because he realizes that he was advised poorly .
First that tweet then there was the presser where he roasted the media .
Now this morning , the Surgeon General Jerome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dumped the models created by the CDC and the WHO — models backed by Bill Gates and forced on the scene by his gatekeeper Fauci .
From Breitbart and Fort Russ on Adams ’ radio interview : He explained on the Sirius XM ’ s Breitbart News Daily host Alex Marlow , that given the new data , businesses will begin to re-open as early as May , others in June .
This runs contrary to the out-and-out fear-mongering of Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates who have made a media tour , threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for six months to a year , or until and unless governments purchase their conveniently patented , big-pharma vaccination .
“ What the American people need to know now is we actually have data , and so we ’ re tracking that data , ” Before this about-face , which appears to have come as an order from the Trump administration in consultation with the findings of Dr. Adams , the task force was working with ’ predictive models ’ , which had been created by the Bill Gates dominated WHO and CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC has been criticized in the past for its for-profit motive in handling a range of illnesses from HIV to H1NI .
The lock down orders hopefully will be lifted soon , likely May 1st , but yesterday is a better date .
The models have been dumped and the actual data are now in use .
And the data are clear .
There is no pandemic .
The WHO/CDC/Gates models have been horrifically inaccurate , catastrophically so .
If I didn ’ t know better I ’ d think these guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IMF .
I thought this was supposed to be about science ( SCIENCE ! )
?
If so I have a couple of questions for the so-called experts : So why wasn ’ t the CDC advocating widespread testing while monitoring the data from Wuhan ?
Why were the media roasting President Trump over his travel ban from China ?
Why were people like Fauci , as late as early March , saying this wasn ’ t a big deal when he knew otherwise ?
Why is no one roasting New York City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an open fire for not shutting down the biggest transmission vector in the entire country , its mass transit system ?
Why is every death in the U.S. a COVID-19 ‘ related ’ death ?
Why was everyone locked down and not just the high risk people ?
It turns out , like everything else today , the answer to all these questions is simple… politics .
And the worst kind of politics .
Meanwhile , Fauci keeps trying to upstage Trump , thinking he could continue to command the heights because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not Trump ’ s biggest fan , I have to say eventually he puts his foot down and when he does it then goes up the ass of some bureaucrat who richly deserves it .
And Fauci deserves far more than just the boot , as it were .
He deserves all of our scorn and derision .
For all of you thinking I ’ m off base here , that somehow Fauci ’ s experience and credentials count for more than my vitriol I ’ m going to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listen to the word of any doctor that recommends people huddle in their homes afraid of a cousin to the common cold versus building up our immune systems and our herd immunity ?
Fauci shouldn ’ t be leading a Presidential Task Force he should have his medical licence revoked for violating his Hippocratic Oath .
So , is he going to reimburse personally the billions lost by small businesses around the country ?
The destroyed supply chains , the spilled milk , the spoiled food , the people who weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were overrun with his political experiment in mass hysteria ?
He ’ s no more a credible source for medical advice regardless of his resume than I am .
Nearly everyone knows that strengthening the immune system is how you fight a cold .
Vitamin D , C , bone broth , rest and sunshine .
You don ’ t need a medical degree from Holy Cross to know this .
But somehow Fauci never seems to approve or green light treatments that do that .
It doesn ’ t matter if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or COVID-19 , the man is a walking death sentence .
He ’ s the very essence of regulatory capture and prima facia evidence that power and corruption go together like peanut butter and jelly .
If you squint hard enough he really does look like Gollum .
If there is one thing that this pandemic has exposed , along with the concomitant economic dislocation it is that ‘ experts ’ better run for cover .
Fauci , Gates and George Soros ( who ’ s right on time with a new op-ed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need UBI from the Magic Money Tree ) are trying to create a medically-based transnational superstructure in the same way that The Davos Crowd failed to do it through trade deals like TTIP and TPP , which Trump nixed .
And it ’ s time that we looked at this situation with clear eyes and not the rose-colored glasses of what we want our government officials to be .
Because if we don ’ t we ’ ll lose what ’ s left of our dignity .
Forget the republic , folks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ down is about whether or not we ’ re willing to actually walk the walk versus just whine about them ‘ taking our freedoms.
’ They are in the last stages of doing that right now , there ’ s no future tense anymore .
This is the present .
This is real .
Men like Fauci shouldn ’ t just be fired , they should be tried and convicted for gross incompetence for the harm they are doing and the harm they ’ ve done .
Knowingly promoting mathematical models of disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate is FRAUD , not an honest error .
He ’ s not the only doctor in the world with an opinion on COVID-19 .
Many of them are incensed with how this has been handled .
When issuing commands and recommendations that could cost the world its soul it is incumbent on the person making those recommendations to get them right , not run cover for evil oligarchs intent on shepherding humanity to their own private Mordor .
Because if they don ’ t then they are liable for results .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune to the effects of its bad decisions through sovereign immunity .
This is the fundamental problem with creating government agencies that have these powers .
They are staffed by people who can be corrupted , and like Fauci are easy to corrupt to command controls over our lives that they have 1 ) not earned and 2 ) should never have .
And it ’ s why it ’ s time for us to stand up and no longer accept these men and women as any more wise and insouciant than we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the kind of intellectual revolt against the Progressive ideal of the wise engineer .
The palpable disappointment on the part of Gates , Fauci , the media and the Democrats at the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine is all the indictment of these people you need to finally let the scales fall and see them for what they are .
These are megalomaniacs without conscience .
They are Bond villians without the charisma .
And we need to strip them of their legitimacy first in our minds and then in practice .
Because if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never be a cure for COVID-19 , just an endless series of treatments that make us sicker and more dependent on them .
# FireFauci isn ’ t just a meme , it ’ s a metaphor for taking control over our lives and our society .
It ’ s time to go outside , leave our homes and get back to work .
They know that if they keep your business closed for more than three months it ’ ll be gone forever .
Bill Gates is obsessed with killing off billions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us on residual poison waiting for the next vaccination for COVID-20 or COVID-21 .
And while for Gates it ’ s not about making more money , it ’ s about the control , he motivates those around him with the promise of some of that sweet , sweet money they couldn ’ t ever earn for themselves honestly .
After destroying these small businesses and printing trillions will allow vultures allied with them to come in and pick the bones of our gutted society clean .
This is what they are setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , apes the empathy we humans actually feel to demand the government print more trillions to support the common man hurting because of him .
If I didn ’ t have a soul , I ’ d actually appreciate the irony of it .
Frankly , it ’ s beyond sick and it has to end .
If we don ’ t see this lock down and attempted coup to allow doctors to run the country for what it is , then we deserve everything that ’ s coming to us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are a blight on humanity ’ s legacy

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.
Authored by Tom Luongo via Gold, Goats, ‘n Guns blog:
I’m done mincing words. I’m done giving people the benefit of the doubt. Whenever I do that The Davos Crowd and their highly placed agents make me look like a virtue-signaling fool.
Fire Anthony Fauci now.
For weeks I’ve been careful to separate the threat of the disease, COVID-19, from the political response. I’ve felt strongly that one can respect the virus while at the same time be wary of the political response and the panic engineered over it.
But that’s come to an end. It’s clear that the plan from the beginning was to allow this virus to run wild in high profile places like New York and Italy to create fear. It is also clear that people like Dr. Anthony Fauci were activated to ensure the worst possible response to the crisis would be implemented in the U.S.
And now, after more than a month after shutting down whole swaths of our economy and locking people in their homes under effective house arrest it’s also clear that most of this response was overblown and unnecessary.
And here in the U.S. the point man on this insanity has been Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) whose ties to all the worst people you can imagine run very, very deep.
Lastly, it’s also very clear that President Trump was the target the entire time. He finally hit his breaking point yesterday because he realizes that he was advised poorly.
Sorry Fake News, it’s all on tape. I banned China long before people spoke up. Thank you @OANN https://t.co/d40JQkUZg5 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2020
First that tweet then there was the presser where he roasted the media.
This is the supercut video President Trump just played during the coronavirus briefing. It includes clips of MSNBC and CNN pundits downplaying coronavirus, @maggieNYT defending his China travel ban, and Govs. Cuomo and Newsom praising his administration's response. pic.twitter.com/W6O1oEQuso — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 13, 2020
Now this morning, the Surgeon General Jerome Adams has effectively announced the U.S. has dumped the models created by the CDC and the WHO — models backed by Bill Gates and forced on the scene by his gatekeeper Fauci. From Breitbart and Fort Russ on Adams’ radio interview:
Data vs. Models: The Coronavirus Task Force is now working with real-time data about the country, Adams said, instead of the predictive models that were criticized for being overblown and exaggerated. — Breitbart
From Fort Russ:
He explained on the Sirius XM’s Breitbart News Daily host Alex Marlow, that given the new data, businesses will begin to re-open as early as May, others in June. This runs contrary to the out-and-out fear-mongering of Dr. Fauci and Bill Gates who have made a media tour, threatening the public that businesses may not re-open for six months to a year, or until and unless governments purchase their conveniently patented, big-pharma vaccination. According to Dr. Adams: “What the American people need to know now is we actually have data, and so we’re tracking that data,” Before this about-face, which appears to have come as an order from the Trump administration in consultation with the findings of Dr. Adams, the task force was working with’predictive models’, which had been created by the Bill Gates dominated WHO and CDC. Dr. Fausti’s control over the CDC has been criticized in the past for its for-profit motive in handling a range of illnesses from HIV to H1NI.
The lock down orders hopefully will be lifted soon, likely May 1st, but yesterday is a better date. The models have been dumped and the actual data are now in use. And the data are clear. There is no pandemic.
The WHO/CDC/Gates models have been horrifically inaccurate, catastrophically so.
If I didn’t know better I’d think these guys were economists for the Fed or the IMF. I thought this was supposed to be about science (SCIENCE!)?
If so I have a couple of questions for the so-called experts:
So why wasn’t the CDC advocating widespread testing while monitoring the data from Wuhan?
Why were the media roasting President Trump over his travel ban from China?
Why were people like Fauci, as late as early March, saying this wasn’t a big deal when he knew otherwise?
Why is no one roasting New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s chesnuts over an open fire for not shutting down the biggest transmission vector in the entire country, its mass transit system?
Why is every death in the U.S. a COVID-19 ‘related’ death?
Why was everyone locked down and not just the high risk people?
It turns out, like everything else today, the answer to all these questions is simple… politics. And the worst kind of politics.
Meanwhile, Fauci keeps trying to upstage Trump, thinking he could continue to command the heights because he’s the chosen expert.
While I’m not Trump’s biggest fan, I have to say eventually he puts his foot down and when he does it then goes up the ass of some bureaucrat who richly deserves it.
And Fauci deserves far more than just the boot, as it were. He deserves all of our scorn and derision.
For all of you thinking I’m off base here, that somehow Fauci’s experience and credentials count for more than my vitriol I’m going to ask my last question.
Why should we listen to the word of any doctor that recommends people huddle in their homes afraid of a cousin to the common cold versus building up our immune systems and our herd immunity?
Fauci shouldn’t be leading a Presidential Task Force he should have his medical licence revoked for violating his Hippocratic Oath.
Do. No. Harm.
So, is he going to reimburse personally the billions lost by small businesses around the country? The destroyed supply chains, the spilled milk, the spoiled food, the people who weren’t treated for non-COVID illnesses as our hospitals were overrun with his political experiment in mass hysteria?
He’s no more a credible source for medical advice regardless of his resume than I am.
Nearly everyone knows that strengthening the immune system is how you fight a cold. Vitamin D, C, bone broth, rest and sunshine.
You don’t need a medical degree from Holy Cross to know this. But somehow Fauci never seems to approve or green light treatments that do that. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking cancer, AIDS, or COVID-19, the man is a walking death sentence. He’s the very essence of regulatory capture and prima facia evidence that power and corruption go together like peanut butter and jelly.
If you squint hard enough he really does look like Gollum.
If there is one thing that this pandemic has exposed, along with the concomitant economic dislocation it is that ‘experts’ better run for cover.
Fauci, Gates and George Soros (who’s right on time with a new op-ed in the L.A. Times telling everyone we need UBI from the Magic Money Tree) are trying to create a medically-based transnational superstructure in the same way that The Davos Crowd failed to do it through trade deals like TTIP and TPP, which Trump nixed.
And it’s time that we looked at this situation with clear eyes and not the rose-colored glasses of what we want our government officials to be. Because if we don’t we’ll lose what’s left of our dignity. Forget the republic, folks. That’s gone.
This lock down is about whether or not we’re willing to actually walk the walk versus just whine about them ‘taking our freedoms.’ They are in the last stages of doing that right now, there’s no future tense anymore.
This is the present. This is real.
Men like Fauci shouldn’t just be fired, they should be tried and convicted for gross incompetence for the harm they are doing and the harm they’ve done.
Knowingly promoting mathematical models of disease transmission that were never intended to be accurate is FRAUD, not an honest error. He’s not the only doctor in the world with an opinion on COVID-19. Many of them are incensed with how this has been handled.
When issuing commands and recommendations that could cost the world its soul it is incumbent on the person making those recommendations to get them right, not run cover for evil oligarchs intent on shepherding humanity to their own private Mordor.
Because if they don’t then they are liable for results. But government operates in a true vacuum, immune to the effects of its bad decisions through sovereign immunity.
This is the fundamental problem with creating government agencies that have these powers. They are staffed by people who can be corrupted, and like Fauci are easy to corrupt to command controls over our lives that they have 1) not earned and 2) should never have.
And it’s why it’s time for us to stand up and no longer accept these men and women as any more wise and insouciant than we are. It’s truly time for the kind of intellectual revolt against the Progressive ideal of the wise engineer.
The palpable disappointment on the part of Gates, Fauci, the media and the Democrats at the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine is all the indictment of these people you need to finally let the scales fall and see them for what they are.
These are megalomaniacs without conscience. They are Bond villians without the charisma. And we need to strip them of their legitimacy first in our minds and then in practice.
Because if it were up to them there would never be a cure for COVID-19, just an endless series of treatments that make us sicker and more dependent on them.
#FireFauci isn’t just a meme, it’s a metaphor for taking control over our lives and our society. It’s time to go outside, leave our homes and get back to work.
They know that if they keep your business closed for more than three months it’ll be gone forever. Bill Gates is obsessed with killing off billions of people and having the rest of us on residual poison waiting for the next vaccination for COVID-20 or COVID-21.
And while for Gates it’s not about making more money, it’s about the control, he motivates those around him with the promise of some of that sweet, sweet money they couldn’t ever earn for themselves honestly.
After destroying these small businesses and printing trillions will allow vultures allied with them to come in and pick the bones of our gutted society clean.
This is what they are setting up while Soros, cyborg that he is, apes the empathy we humans actually feel to demand the government print more trillions to support the common man hurting because of him.
If I didn’t have a soul, I’d actually appreciate the irony of it.
Frankly, it’s beyond sick and it has to end. If we don’t see this lock down and attempted coup to allow doctors to run the country for what it is, then we deserve everything that’s coming to us.
Join my Patreon if you think these people are a blight on humanity’s legacy
Install the Brave Browser because Google sucks.
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theduran--2020-04-15--Trump and Putin Discuss Space Cooperation: Why Open System Economics Must Prevail

President Trump and Putin ’ s 3rd call in three days on April 12 not only involved lengthy discussions on the important matter of oil price adjustments , and COVID-19 response coordination but also the extremely important , yet often overlooked matter of space cooperation .
This topic is more important at this moment of breakdown crisis of the financial system than most people realise and for that reason I ’ d like to say a few words about that here .
I would imagine that most people visiting this website are not ignorant to some of the fallacious “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a daily basis .
You , dear reader , are probably very aware that the financial system is blowing out and you are probably also aware that a financial oligarchy is trying very hard to manage this collapse through the use of the COVID pandemic .
I wouldn ’ t be surprised if you already suspected that this COVID pandemic is very much akin to a new 9/11 operation pre-designed in the bowels of Anglo-American intelligence and banking circles to usher in policies one could only describe as fascist that a normal population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumstances where medical martial law was not in place .
What you may not be aware of however , is that there is not one single “ new world order ” agenda , but two opposing paradigms currently clashing over what the terms and conditions of the new world system will look like .
Only one of those two paradigms is in any way compatible with your life and those lives of your children , family and nation .
Are you a Malthusian… or a Human ?
If you happen to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technocratic ass-licking courtier vying for a position in the new system ) , then you might really enjoy the idea of using the current crisis to impose a new global “ Green governance ” agenda onto humanity .
Since sovereign nation states represent structures designed to protect people from your imperial system , you ’ d probably want to get rid of those too , and as for creative thought… new discoveries which upset the “ equilibrium ” of the system you seek to control like a god… well , those pesky things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if possible .
The system that you would want to support is distinctly “ closed ” ( ie : it is premised upon obedience to fixed limits to existence on every level physical , spiritual and intellectual ) .
If you should however find yourself in the other camp and realize that you are endowed with a heart , conscience and powers of sovereign thinking , then you probably have more of an interest in supporting the newly emerging system of “ open system ” economics , multi-polarism and win-win cooperation .
Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t guessed , simply means a system without any presumed absolute limits to growth .
It means acting upon the principle that human creative reason is more important than all material factors of life ( biological and environmental ) and is humanity ’ s actual species identity .
This concept , IF it is true , means that humanity is distinguished from all other species of the biosphere by being endowed with the unique power of leaping beyond our “ limits of knowledge ” and manifesting that enlarging metaphysical sphere of knowledge into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress !
If this is our true nature , then the behaviour of money and how we define “ value ” in our new economic system should undoubtedly reflect this fact of life .
Perhaps you were not aware , but this potential for a multi-polar world order defined by “ open system ” practices does still exist , and the fact of its very existence keeps many an oligarch up at night .
If you are confused about which one of the two personality types you fall into , please take 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you contemplate your answer : This is why the topics of space cooperation discussed between Presidents Putin and Trump on April 9 , 10 , and 12 are so much more important than most people realise .
While full details have not yet been released , the timing of this topic ’ s discussion to the earlier April 6 executive order signed by Trump to accelerate American lunar , asteroid and mars mining programs is no coincidence .
Both Trump and Putin have made space exploration and constructing permanent scientific bases and industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Russia having even signed a September 2019 bilateral agreement with China to jointly develop lunar bases , and space missions for the next decade .
Both NASA and Roscosmos have also made asteroid defense national priorities with the heads of both agencies coordinating closely on this vital program for human survival ( the vast majority of highly destructive near earth objects orbiting in earth ’ s vicinity have yet to be discovered and ZERO infrastructure has been brought online to do anything about a collision even if we had a years ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 10 , Putin addressed the International Space Station occupied by American and Russian astronauts via video conference saying : Putin went onto say : If genuine international goals like ending world poverty , exploration of the unknown and cooperation on asteroid defense are on the table then perhaps the new system which will replace the collapsing world order may actually be one worth living in .
Perhaps , as we expand human activity beyond the limits of the small blue marble spinning around our local star ( which will certainly go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find out that our true nature is something more than any Malthusian would have ever dreamed .
Perhaps in leaping into the unknown , we might discover that our true freedom is premised less upon our ability to “ do whatever we want ” and more on our capacity to discover and abide by the laws of creation .
Perhaps as we do this we might demonstrate as a living experiment that humanity was always made in the living image of the creator and not merely destined to the pitiful fate of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thumb of a ruling master-class of “ alphas ” .
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 [ 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.
Originally published on the Canadian Patriot Review
President Trump and Putin’s 3rd call in three days on April 12 not only involved lengthy discussions on the important matter of oil price adjustments, and COVID-19 response coordination but also the extremely important, yet often overlooked matter of space cooperation.
This topic is more important at this moment of breakdown crisis of the financial system than most people realise and for that reason I’d like to say a few words about that here.
I would imagine that most people visiting this website are not ignorant to some of the fallacious “macro-narratives” fed to the masses on a daily basis. You, dear reader, are probably very aware that the financial system is blowing out and you are probably also aware that a financial oligarchy is trying very hard to manage this collapse through the use of the COVID pandemic. I wouldn’t be surprised if you already suspected that this COVID pandemic is very much akin to a new 9/11 operation pre-designed in the bowels of Anglo-American intelligence and banking circles to usher in policies one could only describe as fascist that a normal population would resist in a heartbeat… under normal circumstances where medical martial law was not in place.
What you may not be aware of however, is that there is not one single “new world order” agenda, but two opposing paradigms currently clashing over what the terms and conditions of the new world system will look like. Only one of those two paradigms is in any way compatible with your life and those lives of your children, family and nation.
Are you a Malthusian… or a Human?
If you happen to be a Malthusian, depopulation-loving oligarch (or a technocratic ass-licking courtier vying for a position in the new system), then you might really enjoy the idea of using the current crisis to impose a new global “Green governance” agenda onto humanity. Since sovereign nation states represent structures designed to protect people from your imperial system, you’d probably want to get rid of those too, and as for creative thought… new discoveries which upset the “equilibrium” of the system you seek to control like a god… well, those pesky things should somehow be done away with too if possible. The system that you would want to support is distinctly “closed” (ie: it is premised upon obedience to fixed limits to existence on every level physical, spiritual and intellectual).
If you should however find yourself in the other camp and realize that you are endowed with a heart, conscience and powers of sovereign thinking, then you probably have more of an interest in supporting the newly emerging system of “open system” economics, multi-polarism and win-win cooperation. Open system economics, if you haven’t guessed, simply means a system without any presumed absolute limits to growth. It means acting upon the principle that human creative reason is more important than all material factors of life (biological and environmental) and is humanity’s actual species identity. This concept, IF it is true, means that humanity is distinguished from all other species of the biosphere by being endowed with the unique power of leaping beyond our “limits of knowledge” and manifesting that enlarging metaphysical sphere of knowledge into the material world through scientific and technological progress! If this is our true nature, then the behaviour of money and how we define “value” in our new economic system should undoubtedly reflect this fact of life.
Perhaps you were not aware, but this potential for a multi-polar world order defined by “open system” practices does still exist, and the fact of its very existence keeps many an oligarch up at night.
If you are confused about which one of the two personality types you fall into, please take 20 minutes and watch the following video as you contemplate your answer:
This is why the topics of space cooperation discussed between Presidents Putin and Trump on April 9, 10, and 12 are so much more important than most people realise.
Putin, Trump and Xi… Vectoring on a Common Paradigm
While full details have not yet been released, the timing of this topic’s discussion to the earlier April 6 executive order signed by Trump to accelerate American lunar, asteroid and mars mining programs is no coincidence. Both Trump and Putin have made space exploration and constructing permanent scientific bases and industrial mining activities on the Moon national priorities with Russia having even signed a September 2019 bilateral agreement with China to jointly develop lunar bases, and space missions for the next decade. Both NASA and Roscosmos have also made asteroid defense national priorities with the heads of both agencies coordinating closely on this vital program for human survival (the vast majority of highly destructive near earth objects orbiting in earth’s vicinity have yet to be discovered and ZERO infrastructure has been brought online to do anything about a collision even if we had a years’ notice).
Before speaking with Trump on April 10, Putin addressed the International Space Station occupied by American and Russian astronauts via video conference saying:
“We are pleased that our specialists are successfully working under the ISS program with their colleagues from the United States of America, one of the leading space powers. This is a clear example of an effective partnership between our countries in the interests of all mankind.”
Putin went onto say:
“I believe that even now, when the world is confronted with challenges, space activities will continue, including our cooperation with foreign partners, because mankind cannot stand still but will always try to move forward and join forces to advance the boundaries of knowledge… despite difficulties, people sought to make their dream of space travel come true, fearlessly entered the unknown and achieved success.”
If genuine international goals like ending world poverty, exploration of the unknown and cooperation on asteroid defense are on the table then perhaps the new system which will replace the collapsing world order may actually be one worth living in. Perhaps, as we expand human activity beyond the limits of the small blue marble spinning around our local star (which will certainly go supernova some day), we may find out that our true nature is something more than any Malthusian would have ever dreamed. Perhaps in leaping into the unknown, we might discover that our true freedom is premised less upon our ability to “do whatever we want” and more on our capacity to discover and abide by the laws of creation. Perhaps as we do this we might demonstrate as a living experiment that humanity was always made in the living image of the creator and not merely destined to the pitiful fate of a talking monkey fighting over diminishing returns under the thumb of a ruling master-class of “alphas”.
Perhaps.
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--2020-04-15--US take away Ukrainian aircraft factory from China

Washington has been putting pressure on Kyiv during the last months .
President Trump threatens to freeze military aid .
Result – Ukraine is ready to ban the sale of “ Motor Sich ” aircraft engine company to China .
With this step , Ukraine will significantly complicate relations with its largest trading partner , China .
Now the essence of the situation .
In March , the anti monopoly committee of Ukraine announced that “ Motor Sich ” could not be sold to a Chinese company “ Beijing Skyrizon Aviation ” .
This news was immediately reported by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication indicated that this decision was made by President Zelensky taking into account possible violations of the law by the Chinese side and related problems .
“ Motor Sich ” company is one of the largest manufacturers of aircraft engines .
Most of the products were delivered to Russian aircraft factories .
After 2014 , deliveries to Russia ceased .
In this regard , the company experienced tremendous financial difficulties .
The Chinese took advantage of this and entered into a contract with the company on favorable terms .
Initially , cooperation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engines for non-combat aircraft , such as the training L-15 .
But Beijing is interested in much more .
The fact is that Chinese engineers can not develop an engine with a long interservice interval .
And the Ukrainian side has access to Soviet technologies .
China is interested in AI-222 engines for the Yak-130 combat trainer and for the Mi-26 helicopter .
In May 2017 , “ Motor Sich ” , together with the Chinese company “ Beijing Skyrizon Aviation ” Industry Investment Co , planned a joint construction of a plant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also agreed to sell a controlling stake in “ Motor Sich ” .
At the same time , the Chinese company promised Ukrainian financing in the amount of $ 250 million .
However , the transaction could not be completed .
In 2018 , the Security Service of Ukraine opened a criminal case on the export of part of the Ukrainian equipment to China .
The shares of the enterprise and the register of shareholders were seized and the transaction was not completed .
In the summer of 2019 , the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are seriously afraid of competition from China .
For this reason , Washington stopped the $ 391 million military assistance program for Ukraine and suspended the issuance of weapons and ammunition licenses , for which Ukraine paid $ 30 million .
In August , the SSU launched an investigation in connection with a suspicion of illegal deliveries of products to Russia .
The case was opened immediately after a John Bolton ’ s visit to Kyiv ( at that time he was an adviser to the US president on national security ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with the Chinese .
Chinese Ambassador to Kyiv Dai Wei at a press conference accused Americans of unfriendly behavior .
Such speech of the diplomat should be interpreted unambiguously : for Kyiv it is better not to quarrel with Beijing , otherwise Ukraine will lose generous investments .
The current situation has two solutions : diplomatic and forceful .
In the first option , Kyiv must pay compensation .
We are talking about the amount from 500 million to two billion dollars .
Ukraine is not able to pay such money from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all hope is for “ Oriole Capital Group ” .
But the White House decided otherwise .
The Trump administration prefers to act by force .
If the Chinese company does not refuse the deal , the Americans will impose sanctions on “ Motor Sich ” and block the company ’ s foreign accounts .
Given the lack of orders from the Ukrainian Armed Forces , sanctions will block financial flows for the company .
This situation is nothing more than international raiding .
At the same time , everyone knows that anger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And now it is Ukraine .

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.
Washington has been putting pressure on Kyiv during the last months. President Trump threatens to freeze military aid. Result – Ukraine is ready to ban the sale of “Motor Sich” aircraft engine company to China.
With this step, Ukraine will significantly complicate relations with its largest trading partner, China.
Now the essence of the situation. In March, the anti monopoly committee of Ukraine announced that “Motor Sich” could not be sold to a Chinese company “Beijing Skyrizon Aviation”. This news was immediately reported by the American edition of BuzzFeed News. The publication indicated that this decision was made by President Zelensky taking into account possible violations of the law by the Chinese side and related problems.
“Motor Sich” company is one of the largest manufacturers of aircraft engines. Most of the products were delivered to Russian aircraft factories. After 2014, deliveries to Russia ceased. In this regard, the company experienced tremendous financial difficulties. The Chinese took advantage of this and entered into a contract with the company on favorable terms.
Initially, cooperation was carried out only in the supply of engines for non-combat aircraft, such as the training L-15.
But Beijing is interested in much more. The fact is that Chinese engineers cannot develop an engine with a long interservice interval. And the Ukrainian side has access to Soviet technologies. China is interested in AI-222 engines for the Yak-130 combat trainer and for the Mi-26 helicopter.
In May 2017, “Motor Sich”, together with the Chinese company “Beijing Skyrizon Aviation” Industry Investment Co, planned a joint construction of a plant in Chongqing, China. The parties also agreed to sell a controlling stake in “Motor Sich”. At the same time, the Chinese company promised Ukrainian financing in the amount of $ 250 million.
However, the transaction could not be completed. In 2018, the Security Service of Ukraine opened a criminal case on the export of part of the Ukrainian equipment to China. The shares of the enterprise and the register of shareholders were seized and the transaction was not completed.
In the summer of 2019, the United States intervened in the process. Pentagon officials are seriously afraid of competition from China.
For this reason, Washington stopped the $ 391 million military assistance program for Ukraine and suspended the issuance of weapons and ammunition licenses, for which Ukraine paid $ 30 million.
In August, the SSU launched an investigation in connection with a suspicion of illegal deliveries of products to Russia. The case was opened immediately after a John Bolton’s visit to Kyiv (at that time he was an adviser to the US president on national security). This entailed a final break in the deal with the Chinese.
State Department officials found the “proper” buyer – a little-known company “Oriole Capital Group”.
Chinese Ambassador to Kyiv Dai Wei at a press conference accused Americans of unfriendly behavior. Such speech of the diplomat should be interpreted unambiguously: for Kyiv it is better not to quarrel with Beijing, otherwise Ukraine will lose generous investments.
The current situation has two solutions: diplomatic and forceful. In the first option, Kyiv must pay compensation. We are talking about the amount from 500 million to two billion dollars.
Ukraine is not able to pay such money from its budget. In this situation, all hope is for “Oriole Capital Group”.
But the White House decided otherwise. The Trump administration prefers to act by force. If the Chinese company does not refuse the deal, the Americans will impose sanctions on “Motor Sich” and block the company’s foreign accounts.
Given the lack of orders from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, sanctions will block financial flows for the company.
This situation is nothing more than international raiding. At the same time, everyone knows that anger is taken out on the weakest. And now it is Ukraine.
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theduran--2020-04-15--Military branches were set to cut nearly 18,000 medical workers

The agencies that oversee the health of U.S. military personnel and veterans were pushing ahead this spring with the biggest overhaul of their health systems in three decades .
The initiatives aimed to shift up to 15 million patients to private care providers , shutter clinics and hospitals and reduce the number of military doctors and nurses .
The Army , Navy and Air Force , along with the Defense Health Agency , had begun shedding patients and providers under reforms set into motion in 2017 under the National Defense Authorization Act .
Veterans Affairs was due to send scores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of VA facilities , also under legislation passed more than a year ago .
Supporters of the change called it good for patients – because they ’ d gain access to improved care – and for the government – because it would save millions of dollars by eliminating redundant services .
Army , Navy , Air Force were set to cut nearly 18,000 front-line health care workers What no one saw coming was the novel coronavirus , which has thrown those plans into a tailspin and exposed gaps in health care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ COVID-19 has shown the overall weakness of trying to base all of our systems on a goal of maximum efficiency , ” said Kayla Williams , an Army veteran and director of the military , veterans and society program at the Center for a New American Security think tank based in Washington , D.C. “ When you are running on total efficiency models , you don ’ t have any capacity to adjust to crises.
” As part of the restructuring , the Department of Defense in February released a list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop seeing non-active-duty patients or be downsized , reconfigured or closed .
The Army , Navy and Air Force medical commands were on schedule to trim their medical billets by nearly 18,000 front-line health care workers .
The reform efforts coincided with a Veterans Health Administration shortage of 49,000 employees , including medical officers and nurses .
But the global pandemic has put those staffing shortages in stark relief – and prompted a halt to the system overhaul .
Veterans and military advocates say that , with the focus on fighting COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major changes .
Defense Health Agency officials on March 24 placed a 60-day hold on reform .
The Pentagon plans to reassess the situation every 30 days thereafter , DHA spokesman Kevin Dwyer said .
“ We are shifting our focus to support the nation in this effort and devoting all available resources to combat COVID-19 , ” Dwyer told Kaiser Health News .
“ We are assessing all available medical facilities , services and personnel that can be used to provide assistance to our nation ’ s health care providers.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Pentagon and VA .
The Defense Department has a front-line role in treating U.S. forces and dependents , conducting medical research and opening its holdings of gear in the National Strategic Stockpile .
The VA provides backup for the Defense medical system and supports the National Disaster Medical System and Department of Health and Human Services as needed , which means its empty beds can be made available to care for non-veteran patients .
As a result , the departments are set to receive funding from the $ 2.2 trillion coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
The VA is slated to receive nearly $ 20 billion to cover the treatment of veterans for COVID-19 , the cost of overtime for staff as well as personal protective equipment and test kits , and construction of temporary hospitals , clinics and mobile treatment centers .
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda , Maryland , announced it would graduate its fourth-year medical students and advanced-degree nurses early to assist with the national coronavirus response .
And the Army sent a message to retired military doctors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in returning to the service in a volunteer capacity to assist during the pandemic .
The VA has also been cleared to hire retired health care workers to boost medical staff , including doctors , nurses , pharmacists , respiratory therapists and other technicians .
The staffing gaps have been evident at VA medical facilities nationwide .
At the New York Harbor Health Care System ’ s Brooklyn campus intensive care nurse Maria Lobifaro said last week that before the pandemic she would typically care for two patients at a time with ample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and N95 masks , to do her job .
Now she is responsible for five patients , all on ventilators and seriously ill from the pneumonia-inducing coronavirus .
She is working overtime to make up for vacancies and has been conserving supplies , limited to one face mask a day , which she stores in a paper bag when not in use .
“ We can ’ t take on any more patients , ” said Lobifaro , who told KHN she was speaking as a representative of National Nurses United and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day we may be drowning , when we don ’ t have enough PPE or staffing .
It ’ s going to get worse.
” Critics argue changes are an attempt to privatize As of April 13 , 4,097 veterans under VA care had tested positive for COVID-19 and 241 had died .
The Defense Department had 4,528 total cases among troops , families and civilian employees and contractors as of April 13 , including 2,941 among active duty personnel .
Two service members have died , Capt .
Douglas Linn Hickok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New Jersey National Guard , who died March 28 , and an unidentified sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt , one of the nation ’ s largest coronavirus hot spots , with nearly 600 cases .
“ I think right now , [ the Defense Department ] needs to put a freeze with regard to all the changes , ” said Dr. Terry Adirim , a pediatric emergency medicine physician who left her job at the Pentagon as deputy assistant secretary of defense for health services policy and oversight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do this made so much sense because there were so many redundancies .
But all the additional changes – cuts to the medical force , cuts to the budget , cuts to research and development – they are not the right thing to do .
… It ’ s just wrong.
” Critics say the reform efforts are a thinly disguised attempt to privatize both systems , gutting services and undermining the departments ’ obligations to provide care for military personnel , veterans and families .
“ There are forces within [ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more privatization , ” Adirim said .
“ You see it at the VA probably more openly because they ’ ve needed legislation , but there are forces that would like to comb down the [ military ] health system above and beyond what was approved by Congress.
” In 2013 , the Pentagon launched a major effort to reform its then- $ 50 billion health care system with an aim to improve service and streamline programs such as administration , IT , logistics and training that existed in triplicate under the separate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commands .
Three years later , the initiative ballooned , with plans for the oversight office , known as the Defense Health Agency , to assume ownership of 51 hospitals and 424 health clinics operated by the military services .
The services were to trim their medical forces and focus on caring for active-duty personnel , while some family members and millions of retirees would be sent to the private sector under the Pentagon ’ s purchased care program , Tricare .
Over at the Department of Veterans Affairs , similar changes have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal erupted over secret appointment lists kept by some facilities that hid the length of time veterans waited to see a doctor – for months and sometimes more than a year .
The solution was to send more veterans to private providers , reimbursable by the VA. And like the Defense Department initiatives , those efforts expanded exponentially in 2018 with legislation that gave millions more former service members access to care at non-VA facilities .
But with both departments supporting the federal government ’ s response to COVID-19 , some reforms have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suspend rollout of its new $ 5.5 billion electronic health record system , called MHS Genesis , which has been in use at six hospitals and clinics in Washington since 2017 and introduced to four more sites in California and Idaho in September 2019 .
Williams , of the Center for New American Security , said health system changes at both the VA and the Defense Department should be put on hold until after the November presidential election .
“ It might make more sense to put a pause on a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ and revisit what we as a society think would be best with fresh eyes after we ’ ve learned some lessons from this .
”

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 agencies that oversee the health of U.S. military personnel and veterans were pushing ahead this spring with the biggest overhaul of their health systems in three decades. The initiatives aimed to shift up to 15 million patients to private care providers, shutter clinics and hospitals and reduce the number of military doctors and nurses.
The Army, Navy and Air Force, along with the Defense Health Agency, had begun shedding patients and providers under reforms set into motion in 2017 under the National Defense Authorization Act. Veterans Affairs was due to send scores of veterans to neighborhood doctors and hospitals instead of VA facilities, also under legislation passed more than a year ago.
Supporters of the change called it good for patients – because they’d gain access to improved care – and for the government – because it would save millions of dollars by eliminating redundant services.
Army, Navy, Air Force were set to cut nearly 18,000 front-line health care workers
What no one saw coming was the novel coronavirus, which has thrown those plans into a tailspin and exposed gaps in health care for America’s service members and veterans.
“COVID-19 has shown the overall weakness of trying to base all of our systems on a goal of maximum efficiency,” said Kayla Williams, an Army veteran and director of the military, veterans and society program at the Center for a New American Security think tank based in Washington, D.C. “When you are running on total efficiency models, you don’t have any capacity to adjust to crises.”
As part of the restructuring, the Department of Defense in February released a list of 50 military health facilities that would stop seeing non-active-duty patients or be downsized, reconfigured or closed. The Army, Navy and Air Force medical commands were on schedule to trim their medical billets by nearly 18,000 front-line health care workers.
The reform efforts coincided with a Veterans Health Administration shortage of 49,000 employees, including medical officers and nurses.
But the global pandemic has put those staffing shortages in stark relief – and prompted a halt to the system overhaul. Veterans and military advocates say that, with the focus on fighting COVID-19, now is not the time to pursue major changes.
Defense Health Agency officials on March 24 placed a 60-day hold on reform. The Pentagon plans to reassess the situation every 30 days thereafter, DHA spokesman Kevin Dwyer said.
“We are shifting our focus to support the nation in this effort and devoting all available resources to combat COVID-19,” Dwyer told Kaiser Health News. “We are assessing all available medical facilities, services and personnel that can be used to provide assistance to our nation’s health care providers.”
$20 billion to the VA
The pandemic response is a call to duty for the Pentagon and VA. The Defense Department has a front-line role in treating U.S. forces and dependents, conducting medical research and opening its holdings of gear in the National Strategic Stockpile.
The VA provides backup for the Defense medical system and supports the National Disaster Medical System and Department of Health and Human Services as needed, which means its empty beds can be made available to care for non-veteran patients.
As a result, the departments are set to receive funding from the $2.2 trillion coronavirus disaster relief bill signed by President Donald Trump. The VA is slated to receive nearly $20 billion to cover the treatment of veterans for COVID-19, the cost of overtime for staff as well as personal protective equipment and test kits, and construction of temporary hospitals, clinics and mobile treatment centers.
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, announced it would graduate its fourth-year medical students and advanced-degree nurses early to assist with the national coronavirus response. And the Army sent a message to retired military doctors, nurses and medics to gauge their interest in returning to the service in a volunteer capacity to assist during the pandemic.
The VA has also been cleared to hire retired health care workers to boost medical staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and other technicians.
The staffing gaps have been evident at VA medical facilities nationwide. At the New York Harbor Health Care System’s Brooklyn campus intensive care nurse Maria Lobifaro said last week that before the pandemic she would typically care for two patients at a time with ample personal protective equipment, including face shields and N95 masks, to do her job.
Now she is responsible for five patients, all on ventilators and seriously ill from the pneumonia-inducing coronavirus. She is working overtime to make up for vacancies and has been conserving supplies, limited to one face mask a day, which she stores in a paper bag when not in use.
“We can’t take on any more patients,” said Lobifaro, who told KHN she was speaking as a representative of National Nurses United and not the VA. “Everyone is anxious for the day we may be drowning, when we don’t have enough PPE or staffing. It’s going to get worse.”
Critics argue changes are an attempt to privatize
As of April 13, 4,097 veterans under VA care had tested positive for COVID-19 and 241 had died.
The Defense Department had 4,528 total cases among troops, families and civilian employees and contractors as of April 13, including 2,941 among active duty personnel. Two service members have died, Capt. Douglas Linn Hickok, a physician assistant and member of the New Jersey National Guard, who died March 28, and an unidentified sailor assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of the nation’s largest coronavirus hot spots, with nearly 600 cases.
“I think right now, [the Defense Department] needs to put a freeze with regard to all the changes,” said Dr. Terry Adirim, a pediatric emergency medicine physician who left her job at the Pentagon as deputy assistant secretary of defense for health services policy and oversight in February. “The drivers to do this made so much sense because there were so many redundancies. But all the additional changes – cuts to the medical force, cuts to the budget, cuts to research and development – they are not the right thing to do. … It’s just wrong.”
Critics say the reform efforts are a thinly disguised attempt to privatize both systems, gutting services and undermining the departments’ obligations to provide care for military personnel, veterans and families.
“There are forces within [the department] that would like to see more privatization,” Adirim said. “You see it at the VA probably more openly because they’ve needed legislation, but there are forces that would like to comb down the [military] health system above and beyond what was approved by Congress.”
In 2013, the Pentagon launched a major effort to reform its then-$50 billion health care system with an aim to improve service and streamline programs such as administration, IT, logistics and training that existed in triplicate under the separate Army, Navy and Air Force medical commands.
Three years later, the initiative ballooned, with plans for the oversight office, known as the Defense Health Agency, to assume ownership of 51 hospitals and 424 health clinics operated by the military services. The services were to trim their medical forces and focus on caring for active-duty personnel, while some family members and millions of retirees would be sent to the private sector under the Pentagon’s purchased care program, Tricare.
Over at the Department of Veterans Affairs, similar changes have been underway since 2014, when a scandal erupted over secret appointment lists kept by some facilities that hid the length of time veterans waited to see a doctor – for months and sometimes more than a year. The solution was to send more veterans to private providers, reimbursable by the VA. And like the Defense Department initiatives, those efforts expanded exponentially in 2018 with legislation that gave millions more former service members access to care at non-VA facilities.
But with both departments supporting the federal government’s response to COVID-19, some reforms have been delayed.
The Pentagon also decided to suspend rollout of its new $5.5 billion electronic health record system, called MHS Genesis, which has been in use at six hospitals and clinics in Washington since 2017 and introduced to four more sites in California and Idaho in September 2019.
Williams, of the Center for New American Security, said health system changes at both the VA and the Defense Department should be put on hold until after the November presidential election.
“It might make more sense to put a pause on a lot of this government reform,” she said, “and revisit what we as a society think would be best with fresh eyes after we’ve learned some lessons from this.”
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