prepareforchange--2020-03-08--Failed United States Military Coup In Saudi Arabia Explodes Into Oil Market Declaration Of War

A very concerning “ You Could See This Coming From A Mile Away ” new Security Council ( SC ) report circulating in the Kremlin today states that after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “ arrested top Saudi royals for plotting with the Americans against the King ” , a chill swept across the leadership in Saudi Arabia when security forces detained dozens of Interior Ministry officials , senior army officers and others suspected of supporting this coup attempt—and while rounding up these coup plotters , Crown Prince bin Salman turned his full wrath on the United States in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market equivalent of a declaration of war ” —an all-out oil war that now sees Crown Prince bin Salman destroying OPEC as he floods the world with oil to crush US shale oil producers—the same US shale oil producers who were previously warned “ need a miracle ” if they have any hope of surviving the market bloodbath about to wash over them .
[ Note : Some words and/or phrases appearing in quotes in this report are English language approximations of Russian words/phrases having no exact counterpart . ]
According to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world began within the 60-year-old non-government organization known as the Organization Of The Petroleum Exporting Countries—more commonly known by its acronym OPEC , and sometimes OPEC+ when Russia participates in joint actions with its members—and in the OPEC+ configuration , sees its two largest oil producing nations being Russia and Saudi Arabia—a Russia that ’ s in a good position to withstand any oil price slump as its budget breaks even at a price of $ 42 a barrel and the Ministry of Finance has squirreled away billions-of-dollars in a rainy-day fund—as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost entirely dependent on oil to fund government spending , and the economic impact of any oil price slump will be immediate—and is the same Saudi Arabia that desperately needs another primary energy source in the relatively near future because it has nowhere near the amount of oil remaining that it has stated since the early 1970 ’ s .
Over the past two months , however , this report details , China , the world ’ s largest importer of oil from OPEC+ nations , drastically cut its energy needs in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glut of unused oil that ’ s slashed its price to near 10-year lows—that then led OPEC , on 5 March , to announce that they had agreed to drastically cut oil production in order to stabilize its price—and agreement , however , OPEC made the day before Russia joined these talks .
Upon joining the now OPEC+ talks in Vienna-Austria on 6 March , this report explains , Russia pointed out to its members that the United States , in 2018 , became the largest oil producer in the world—who just last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exports hitting their highest level ever recorded—is the same United States that has repeatedly placed sanctions on Russian oil and gas producers in attempts to take out one of their main competitors , to include their last month targeting the multi-billion-dollar Russian-German gas pipeline project Nord Stream II—as well as these American having placed oil sanctions on oil producing giants Venezuela and Iran—and is the same United States oil producing giant , that in spite of its global oil market manipulations , isn ’ t itself prepared to cut its own oil production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the other oil producing nations in the world would just roll over for them—but which Russia told the OPEC+ members at this meeting it wasn ’ t going to do—thus igniting what is now being called an “ Oil Price Armageddon ” .
In unleashing this “ Oil Price Armageddon ” , this report continues , Russia flat out told OPEC+ member nations that not only wouldn ’ t oil production be cut to stabilize its price so American oil producers can avert the inevitable doom awaiting them—because they have more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next four years , starting with more than $ 40 billion in 2020—Russia is going to ramp up oil production to slash its price even further—the response to then saw the United States attempting a military coup in Saudi Arabia , as only by the Saudis drastically cutting oil production can the price be kept artificially high—but when this coup attempt failed yesterday , it saw Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman starting his own all-out oil war to destroy OPEC by flooding the world with oil to collapse its price even further—an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production likely to rise above 10 million barrels a day in April , from about 9.7 million a day this month—and who could raise oil production much higher if needed , even going to a record of 12 million barrels a day—thus causing some oil experts from around the world to say that “ the time has come for Saudi Arabia and Russia to snatch the title of largest oil producing country from United States ” —a target , however , that can ’ t be achieved without plunging crude oil prices below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many US shale oil companies to shut down their operations .
…have already begun filing for bankruptcy in record numbers .
As is most often seen in an America where its citizens are repeatedly pummeled by mainstream propaganda leftist news media distorted headlines , like one today about the present crisis that hysterically says “ Russia Yanks A Leg From U.S. Shale ’ s Three-Legged Stool ” , this report concludes , President Donald Trump , at least , appears to facing it like one would expect the leader of the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exampled when after Trump was confronted with headlines say such true things as “ Thousands Of Houston Jobs Could Be Cut If Oil Fails To Recover From Friday Plunge ” , he sent out his top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow to declare : “ We are in the camp that wants timely and targeted micro-measures ” —a declaration though couched within the economic turmoil being caused by the coronavirus , sees Trump unmistakably knowing that the targeted bailouts of his nation ’ s oil producers is rushing towards him—as his only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia to keep oil prices high—which one can ’ t imagine a businessman like him doing—but that doesn ’ t include the dangerous idiots in the US military and intelligence communities who just tried to stage a coup in Saudi Arabia—and one hopes Trump can regain control of before anything worse happens .
Disclaimer : We at Prepare for Change ( PFC ) bring you information that is not offered by the mainstream news , and therefore may seem controversial .
The opinions , views , statements , and/or information we present @ @ @ @ @ @ @ espoused , or agreed to by Prepare for Change , its leadership Council , members , those who work with PFC , or those who read its content .
However , they are hopefully provocative .
Please use discernment !
Use logical thinking , your own intuition and your own connection with Source , Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not .
By sharing information and seeding dialogue , it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realm .

By Whatdoesitmean,
A very concerning “You Could See This Coming From A Mile Away” new Security Council (SC) report circulating in the Kremlin today states that after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “arrested top Saudi royals for plotting with the Americans against the King”, a chill swept across the leadership in Saudi Arabia when security forces detained dozens of Interior Ministry officials, senior army officers and others suspected of supporting this coup attempt—and while rounding up these coup plotters, Crown Prince bin Salman turned his full wrath on the United States in what is being described as “the oil market equivalent of a declaration of war”—an all-out oil war that now sees Crown Prince bin Salman destroying OPEC as he floods the world with oil to crush US shale oil producers—the same US shale oil producers who were previously warned “need a miracle” if they have any hope of surviving the market bloodbath about to wash over them. [Note: Some words and/or phrases appearing in quotes in this report are English language approximations of Russian words/phrases having no exact counterpart.]
According to this report, the present crisis unfolding around the world began within the 60-year-old non-government organization known as the Organization Of The Petroleum Exporting Countries—more commonly known by its acronym OPEC, and sometimes OPEC+ when Russia participates in joint actions with its members—and in the OPEC+ configuration, sees its two largest oil producing nations being Russia and Saudi Arabia—a Russia that’s in a good position to withstand any oil price slump as its budget breaks even at a price of $42 a barrel and the Ministry of Finance has squirreled away billions-of-dollars in a rainy-day fund—as opposed to Saudi Arabia whose government is almost entirely dependent on oil to fund government spending, and the economic impact of any oil price slump will be immediate—and is the same Saudi Arabia that desperately needs another primary energy source in the relatively near future because it has nowhere near the amount of oil remaining that it has stated since the early 1970’s.
Over the past two months, however, this report details, China, the world’s largest importer of oil from OPEC+ nations, drastically cut its energy needs in response to the coronavirus outbreak—thus creating a global glut of unused oil that’s slashed its price to near 10-year lows—that then led OPEC, on 5 March, to announce that they had agreed to drastically cut oil production in order to stabilize its price—and agreement, however, OPEC made the day before Russia joined these talks.
Upon joining the now OPEC+ talks in Vienna-Austria on 6 March, this report explains, Russia pointed out to its members that the United States, in 2018, became the largest oil producer in the world—who just last month, also saw its net petroleum exports hitting their highest level ever recorded—is the same United States that has repeatedly placed sanctions on Russian oil and gas producers in attempts to take out one of their main competitors, to include their last month targeting the multi-billion-dollar Russian-German gas pipeline project Nord Stream II—as well as these American having placed oil sanctions on oil producing giants Venezuela and Iran—and is the same United States oil producing giant, that in spite of its global oil market manipulations, isn’t itself prepared to cut its own oil production to stabilize its price—as they insanely believed that the other oil producing nations in the world would just roll over for them—but which Russia told the OPEC+ members at this meeting it wasn’t going to do—thus igniting what is now being called an “Oil Price Armageddon”.
In unleashing this “Oil Price Armageddon”, this report continues, Russia flat out told OPEC+ member nations that not only wouldn’t oil production be cut to stabilize its price so American oil producers can avert the inevitable doom awaiting them—because they have more than $200 billion of debt maturing over the next four years, starting with more than $40 billion in 2020—Russia is going to ramp up oil production to slash its price even further—the response to then saw the United States attempting a military coup in Saudi Arabia, as only by the Saudis drastically cutting oil production can the price be kept artificially high—but when this coup attempt failed yesterday, it saw Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman starting his own all-out oil war to destroy OPEC by flooding the world with oil to collapse its price even further—an all-out war that will see Saudi oil production likely to rise above 10 million barrels a day in April, from about 9.7 million a day this month—and who could raise oil production much higher if needed, even going to a record of 12 million barrels a day—thus causing some oil experts from around the world to say that “the time has come for Saudi Arabia and Russia to snatch the title of largest oil producing country from United States”—a target, however, that can’t be achieved without plunging crude oil prices below $40 a barrel which will force many US shale oil companies to shut down their operations.
American oil producers slamming into unsustainable “Debt Wall”…
…have already begun filing for bankruptcy in record numbers.
As is most often seen in an America where its citizens are repeatedly pummeled by mainstream propaganda leftist news media distorted headlines, like one today about the present crisis that hysterically says “Russia Yanks A Leg From U.S. Shale’s Three-Legged Stool”, this report concludes, President Donald Trump, at least, appears to facing it like one would expect the leader of the world’s largest oil producing nation to do—best exampled when after Trump was confronted with headlines say such true things as “Thousands Of Houston Jobs Could Be Cut If Oil Fails To Recover From Friday Plunge”, he sent out his top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow to declare: “We are in the camp that wants timely and targeted micro-measures”—a declaration though couched within the economic turmoil being caused by the coronavirus, sees Trump unmistakably knowing that the targeted bailouts of his nation’s oil producers is rushing towards him—as his only other choice is war against Russia and Saudi Arabia to keep oil prices high—which one can’t imagine a businessman like him doing—but that doesn’t include the dangerous idiots in the US military and intelligence communities who just tried to stage a coup in Saudi Arabia—and one hopes Trump can regain control of before anything worse happens.
Source: http://www.whatdoesitmean.com/
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prepareforchange--2020-03-08--Gantz has votes to ban indicted Bibi from forming an Israeli government

Two weeks ago Bibi floated the idea to trigger his voters getting out to the polls with his passing a bill to give him retroactive immunity on his three felony charges .
In his usual pompous manner , he claimed that his 35 seat election victory was the people ’ s vote that he was innocent , quite a stretch , but Bibi knows no limits .
Gantz was trailing in the polls at the time , so his team was planning what it would do in this case .
As it stands now , Bibi seems frozen with 58 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to put him in a position to form a government .
It has been all over the Israeli press that the Likuds were shopping for other party defectors to put them over the top , using the usual goodies , like offering them a ministerial position .
So far , none are taking the offer .
But Avigdor Lieberman has throw his party ’ s votes in with Blue and White to give it 62 votes to pass a bill in the new Knesset on March 16th that would ban an indicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is screaming to high heaven how “ undemocratic ” that would be , even if passed by a majority of the Knesset , which many would consider the “ voice of the people being heard ” .
The Israelis do not have the American system where the head of state can veto a bill under a two thirds vote .
Blue and White MPs are telling the press that Likud party members are hoping that Netanyahu can be gotten rid of , so Israel can move forward by shaking off their sociopathic Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Mr. Trump in the US .
Bibi ’ s first trial date is March 17th ; so all of this will be rolled into a momentous two day event which could turn the Israeli political landscape upside down .
Disclaimer : We at Prepare for Change ( PFC ) bring you information that is not offered by the mainstream news , and therefore may seem controversial .
The opinions , views , statements , and/or information we present are not necessarily promoted , endorsed , espoused , or agreed to by Prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members , those who work with PFC , or those who read its content .
However , they are hopefully provocative .
Please use discernment !
Use logical thinking , your own intuition and your own connection with Source , Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not .
By sharing information and seeding dialogue , it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm .

Jim W. Dean,
Two weeks ago Bibi floated the idea to trigger his voters getting out to the polls with his passing a bill to give him retroactive immunity on his three felony charges. In his usual pompous manner, he claimed that his 35 seat election victory was the people’s vote that he was innocent, quite a stretch, but Bibi knows no limits.
Gantz was trailing in the polls at the time, so his team was planning what it would do in this case. As it stands now, Bibi seems frozen with 58 seats, three short of the 61 needed to put him in a position to form a government.
It has been all over the Israeli press that the Likuds were shopping for other party defectors to put them over the top, using the usual goodies, like offering them a ministerial position. So far, none are taking the offer.
But Avigdor Lieberman has throw his party’s votes in with Blue and White to give it 62 votes to pass a bill in the new Knesset on March 16th that would ban an indicted MP from forming a government.
Bibi is screaming to high heaven how “undemocratic” that would be, even if passed by a majority of the Knesset, which many would consider the “voice of the people being heard”. The Israelis do not have the American system where the head of state can veto a bill under a two thirds vote.
Blue and White MPs are telling the press that Likud party members are hoping that Netanyahu can be gotten rid of, so Israel can move forward by shaking off their sociopathic Prime Minister, similar to how many feel about Mr. Trump in the US.
Bibi’s first trial date is March 17th; so all of this will be rolled into a momentous two day event which could turn the Israeli political landscape upside down.
Source: https://www.veteranstoday.com
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prepareforchange--2020-03-08--Tourism is 10% of GDP in France, 13% in Italy, 15% in Spain. And Now it’s in Free Fall

“ If the situation of generalized panic continues , thousands of businesses , especially small ones , will first enter a liquidity crisis , then close their doors.
” This is all happening just weeks before high season is about to get under way .
But with millions and millions of tourists voting with their feet by staying at home , one of Europe ’ s most important and ( until four weeks ago ) fastest growing industries is taking a hammering .
The world right now is full of places that should be teeming with people but are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attractions .
In Italy , home to Europe ’ s third biggest tourism industry , large parts of the country are on lock down after being hit by the biggest outbreak of the COVID-19 outside of Asia .
Many of the most famous tourist attractions have been closed and big international events , including the Venice Carnival , have been cancelled .
The impact on the country ’ s tourism industry has been brutal , prompting panicked representatives to warn that a “ generalized panic ” over coronavirus could “ sink ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Italy will drop off the international tourism map altogether , ” said Carlo Sangalli , president of Milan ’ s Chamber of Commerce .
“ The wave of contagions over the past week is causing huge financial losses that will be difficult to recoup.
” Even by late February , when the outbreak was still in its infancy , €200 million worth of travel and accommodation bookings in March had already been cancelled , reported Italian tourism association Assoturismo Confesercenti .
That figure , based on data provided by Italy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies , doesn ’ t include lost tourist revenue for transport , tour guides , bars , restaurants and shops .
Bookings are also “ sharply down ” until June .
In the three most affected regions — Lombardy , Veneto and Emilia-Romagna ( in descending order ) — cancellation rates on bookings of hotels , flights and apartments have reached as high as 90 % .
These three regions also happen to be the main motor of Italy ’ s economy , accounting for 40 % of Italy ’ s GDP .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and capital of Lombardy ) , Milan , is like a ghost town , with many of its most important landmarks , including the Teatro alla Scala opera house , closed to visitors .
“ In recent history Italian tourism has never experienced a crisis like this , ” Vittorio Messina , National President of Assoturismo , stated in a press release .
“ It is the darkest moment .
Not even 9/11 affected it so heavily.
” The industry group Confturismo- Confcomercio has forecast that the sector , which accounts for 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total losses of €7.4 billion in the second quarter .
It ’ s the small businesses that are most at risk , warns Messina : “ If the situation of generalized panic continues , thousands of businesses , especially small ones , will first enter a liquidity crisis , then close their doors .
We urgently need to work towards normalization.
” This unprecedented slowdown of a sector as vital as tourism does not bode well for a country whose economy has barely grown for 20 years and whose banking sector continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerously high levels of non-performing loans ( NPL ) .
While the NPL ratio has fallen from a peak of 17 % in late 2015 to 8.2 % ( in September 2019 ) , its still way too high for comfort .
In the coming months it ’ s likely to undergo a sharp resurgence as businesses and households struggle to generate enough income to cover their liabilities and service their debt .
And that is the last thing that Italy ’ s already fragile financial sector needs .
In Spain , tourism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , generating approximately €180 billion a year — close to 15 % of GDP .
In 2019 , Spain was the second most visited country in the world , attracting 83.7 million foreign tourists .
In Barcelona , thousands of tourist-dependent companies have already had to forego the lucrative spoils provided by the Mobile World Congress , the world ’ s biggest annual mobile trade that last year attracted 100,000 people from all over the world , generated around 14,000 temporary jobs , and produced close to €500 million in revenues for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event was cancelled after dozens of participating companies pulled out over fears about the coronavirus .
The virus has also been a big blow for the city ’ s luxury and jewelry sectors .
Until recently , Chinese visitors accounted for around 40 % of all purchases on the Paseo de Gràcia promenade .
Last year alone , those purchases grew by 16 % .
February and March are normally the busiest months for arrivals from China , Japan and South Korea .
But this year , they are conspicuously absent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores on Paseo de Gràcia , which pay eye-watering sums in monthly rent , could suffer a 50 % decline in sales as a result .
As the number of cases of the novel coronavirus in Spain rises , attention is turning to Easter , one of the busiest weeks for the nation ’ s tourism industry .
That industry was already battered by the collapse late last year of the global tour operator Thomas Cook , which prompted the government to bail out the sector .
But that wasn ’ t enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of tourist arrivals in both December and January .
In the destination most dependent on Thomas Cook bookings , the Canary Islands , tourist arrivals fell by 5 % year over year in January .
That was before the Coronavirus had officially arrived in Europe .
Now that it is spreading at an alarming rate , March has been all but written off by Spain ’ s tourism industry .
The initial signs for Easter are not good either .
Hotel bookings last week were down by a fifth on the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islands , they ’ re down by as much as 30 % .
Sources from the industry have also detected a year-on-year collapse of almost 40 % in the number of Internet searches for flights , trips and hotels .
France , with 89 million tourists in 2018 ( last year ’ s figures are yet to be released ) , the most visited country in the world , is also feeling the fallout from of COVID-19 .
Tourism contributes about 10 % to GDP .
France ’ s Finance Minister , Bruno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the outbreak had triggered a 30 % -40 % plunge in the number of overseas visitors .
At that point , the virus was barely present in the country .
Now , it ’ s in all 13 of France ’ s metropolitan regions , as well as French Guiana .
This is all happening just weeks before high season is about to get under way .
But with millions and millions of tourists voting with their feet by staying at home , one of Europe ’ s most important and ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries is taking a hammering .
Disclaimer : We at Prepare for Change ( PFC ) bring you information that is not offered by the mainstream news , and therefore may seem controversial .
The opinions , views , statements , and/or information we present are not necessarily promoted , endorsed , espoused , or agreed to by Prepare for Change , its leadership Council , members , those who work with PFC , or those who read its content .
However , they are hopefully provocative .
Please use discernment !
Use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own connection with Source , Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not .
By sharing information and seeding dialogue , it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm .

“If the situation of generalized panic continues, thousands of businesses, especially small ones, will first enter a liquidity crisis, then close their doors.”
By Nick Corbishley,
This is all happening just weeks before high season is about to get under way. But with millions and millions of tourists voting with their feet by staying at home, one of Europe’s most important and (until four weeks ago) fastest growing industries is taking a hammering.
The world right now is full of places that should be teeming with people but are not, including many iconic tourist landmarks and attractions. In Italy, home to Europe’s third biggest tourism industry, large parts of the country are on lock down after being hit by the biggest outbreak of the COVID-19 outside of Asia. Many of the most famous tourist attractions have been closed and big international events, including the Venice Carnival, have been cancelled.
The impact on the country’s tourism industry has been brutal, prompting panicked representatives to warn that a “generalized panic” over coronavirus could “sink” the sector. “There is a risk that Italy will drop off the international tourism map altogether,” said Carlo Sangalli, president of Milan’s Chamber of Commerce. “The wave of contagions over the past week is causing huge financial losses that will be difficult to recoup.”
Even by late February, when the outbreak was still in its infancy, €200 million worth of travel and accommodation bookings in March had already been cancelled, reported Italian tourism association Assoturismo Confesercenti. That figure, based on data provided by Italy’s hotels, B&Bs and travel agencies, doesn’t include lost tourist revenue for transport, tour guides, bars, restaurants and shops. Bookings are also “sharply down” until June.
In the three most affected regions — Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna (in descending order) — cancellation rates on bookings of hotels, flights and apartments have reached as high as 90%. These three regions also happen to be the main motor of Italy’s economy, accounting for 40% of Italy’s GDP. The country’s financial capital (and capital of Lombardy), Milan, is like a ghost town, with many of its most important landmarks, including the Teatro alla Scala opera house, closed to visitors.
“In recent history Italian tourism has never experienced a crisis like this,” Vittorio Messina, National President of Assoturismo, stated in a press release. “It is the darkest moment. Not even 9/11 affected it so heavily.”
The industry group Confturismo- Confcomercio has forecast that the sector, which accounts for 13% of Italian GDP, will suffer total losses of €7.4 billion in the second quarter. It’s the small businesses that are most at risk, warns Messina: “If the situation of generalized panic continues, thousands of businesses, especially small ones, will first enter a liquidity crisis, then close their doors. We urgently need to work towards normalization.”
This unprecedented slowdown of a sector as vital as tourism does not bode well for a country whose economy has barely grown for 20 years and whose banking sector continues to be plagued by systemic problems, including dangerously high levels of non-performing loans (NPL). While the NPL ratio has fallen from a peak of 17% in late 2015 to 8.2% (in September 2019), its still way too high for comfort. In the coming months it’s likely to undergo a sharp resurgence as businesses and households struggle to generate enough income to cover their liabilities and service their debt. And that is the last thing that Italy’s already fragile financial sector needs.
In Spain, tourism is even more important to the national economy, generating approximately €180 billion a year — close to 15% of GDP. In 2019, Spain was the second most visited country in the world, attracting 83.7 million foreign tourists.
In Barcelona, thousands of tourist-dependent companies have already had to forego the lucrative spoils provided by the Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest annual mobile trade that last year attracted 100,000 people from all over the world, generated around 14,000 temporary jobs, and produced close to €500 million in revenues for the City. But this year, the event was cancelled after dozens of participating companies pulled out over fears about the coronavirus.
The virus has also been a big blow for the city’s luxury and jewelry sectors. Until recently, Chinese visitors accounted for around 40% of all purchases on the Paseo de Gràcia promenade. Last year alone, those purchases grew by 16%. February and March are normally the busiest months for arrivals from China, Japan and South Korea. But this year, they are conspicuously absent. According to some forecasts, the luxury stores on Paseo de Gràcia, which pay eye-watering sums in monthly rent, could suffer a 50% decline in sales as a result.
As the number of cases of the novel coronavirus in Spain rises, attention is turning to Easter, one of the busiest weeks for the nation’s tourism industry. That industry was already battered by the collapse late last year of the global tour operator Thomas Cook, which prompted the government to bail out the sector. But that wasn’t enough to prevent consecutive year-on-year drops in the number of tourist arrivals in both December and January. In the destination most dependent on Thomas Cook bookings, the Canary Islands, tourist arrivals fell by 5% year over year in January.
That was before the Coronavirus had officially arrived in Europe. Now that it is spreading at an alarming rate, March has been all but written off by Spain’s tourism industry. The initial signs for Easter are not good either. Hotel bookings last week were down by a fifth on the same week last year. In the Canary Islands, they’re down by as much as 30%. Sources from the industry have also detected a year-on-year collapse of almost 40% in the number of Internet searches for flights, trips and hotels.
France, with 89 million tourists in 2018 (last year’s figures are yet to be released), the most visited country in the world, is also feeling the fallout from of COVID-19. Tourism contributes about 10% to GDP. France’s Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, said two weeks ago that the outbreak had triggered a 30%-40% plunge in the number of overseas visitors. At that point, the virus was barely present in the country. Now, it’s in all 13 of France’s metropolitan regions, as well as French Guiana.
This is all happening just weeks before high season is about to get under way. But with millions and millions of tourists voting with their feet by staying at home, one of Europe’s most important and (until four weeks ago) fastest growing industries is taking a hammering.
Source: WOLF STREET.
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prepareforchange--2020-03-08--Astrology Says March 2020 Will Be A Hard Month For These 3 Zodiac Signs

March 2020 is here and it has brought with it some major changes .
The Spring Equinox will happen this month and so will the entry of Saturn in Aquarius .
These shifts will affect every zodiac sign but a few will be more affected than the others .
Aquarius , Leo , and Scorpio are the 3 zodiacs that will be most affected .
Mercury Retrograde is re-entering Aquarius on 4th March , while Venus is entering Taurus- it ’ s home .
9th March will be important as well since Mercury will go direct in the sign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Full Moon in Virgo will happen .
Mercury will then again travel through Pisces on the 16th of March .
On 21st March , Saturn will enter in Aquarius , just after the Spring Equinox happens on the 19th .
Mars will be joining Saturn in Aquarius after the New Moon happening on the 24th .
Let ’ s see how the 3 zodiac signs will be affected .
You are either giving your 200 % or not even 20 % , Aquarians .
Are you sacrificing too much of your security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Aquarians .
Nurture yourself this month , in a way that you have been nurturing other people .
It is not necessary for it to be emotional ; you can nurture yourself by thinking about your future too .
Don ’ t put your time and energy into things that no longer serve you .
As Saturn enters your sign later in March , it is high time you realize all this and become mature .
With the Sun being in your 8th house of investments , transformation , and sex , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things .
But make sure that you ’ re also focusing on what you ’ re receiving .
If you ’ re applying some energy and time somewhere then it is only fair that you get something in return .
Also , Mercury will be traveling through your 7th house of marriage and partnerships .
This will lead to conversations between you and your partner so make sure you take them seriously .
Later , Saturn will also come into your 7th house making you aware of what ’ s to come .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ your 5th house of romance , art , inspiration , and creativity , you ’ ll try to re-evaluate your life .
You ’ ll seek the meaning of love and passion in life .
You ’ ll also want people to acknowledge you , and it is fine !
It doesn ’ t mean that you ’ re needy , Scorpio .
Mercury will affect your 4th house of family and home , so you ’ ll feel emotional about these areas .
Your inner child might seek your attention during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming into your house representing home , you ’ ll become aware of what needs to be repaired .
So , hold on tight and ride through the month !
Although these 3 signs are to face most of the adversities during March 2020 , this doesn ’ t mean that you should be sad about it .
You just need to stay focused and do the necessary things to smoothen this month !
All the best .
Disclaimer : We at Prepare for Change ( PFC ) bring you information that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore may seem controversial .
The opinions , views , statements , and/or information we present are not necessarily promoted , endorsed , espoused , or agreed to by Prepare for Change , its leadership Council , members , those who work with PFC , or those who read its content .
However , they are hopefully provocative .
Please use discernment !
Use logical thinking , your own intuition and your own connection with Source , Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm .

by Conscious Reminder
March 2020 is here and it has brought with it some major changes. The Spring Equinox will happen this month and so will the entry of Saturn in Aquarius.
These shifts will affect every zodiac sign but a few will be more affected than the others.
Aquarius, Leo, and Scorpio are the 3 zodiacs that will be most affected. Mercury Retrograde is re-entering Aquarius on 4th March, while Venus is entering Taurus- it’s home.
9th March will be important as well since Mercury will go direct in the sign of Aquarius. At the same time, a Full Moon in Virgo will happen. Mercury will then again travel through Pisces on the 16th of March.
On 21st March, Saturn will enter in Aquarius, just after the Spring Equinox happens on the 19th. Mars will be joining Saturn in Aquarius after the New Moon happening on the 24th.
Let’s see how the 3 zodiac signs will be affected.
Aquarius
You are either giving your 200% or not even 20%, Aquarians. Are you sacrificing too much of your security and/ or comfort? Know your self-worth, Aquarians.
Nurture yourself this month, in a way that you have been nurturing other people. It is not necessary for it to be emotional; you can nurture yourself by thinking about your future too.
Don’t put your time and energy into things that no longer serve you. As Saturn enters your sign later in March, it is high time you realize all this and become mature.
Leo
With the Sun being in your 8th house of investments, transformation, and sex, you’re focusing on the right things. But make sure that you’re also focusing on what you’re receiving. If you’re applying some energy and time somewhere then it is only fair that you get something in return.
Also, Mercury will be traveling through your 7th house of marriage and partnerships. This will lead to conversations between you and your partner so make sure you take them seriously. Later, Saturn will also come into your 7th house making you aware of what’s to come.
Stay steady and strong!
Scorpio
As Neptune and the Sun come into your 5th house of romance, art, inspiration, and creativity, you’ll try to re-evaluate your life.
You’ll seek the meaning of love and passion in life. You’ll also want people to acknowledge you, and it is fine! It doesn’t mean that you’re needy, Scorpio.
Mercury will affect your 4th house of family and home, so you’ll feel emotional about these areas. Your inner child might seek your attention during this time.
And lastly, with Saturn coming into your house representing home, you’ll become aware of what needs to be repaired. So, hold on tight and ride through the month!
Although these 3 signs are to face most of the adversities during March 2020, this doesn’t mean that you should be sad about it. You just need to stay focused and do the necessary things to smoothen this month! All the best.
conscious reminder
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prepareforchange--2020-03-09--Devastating vaccine news released by film Vaxxed 2

Your Tax Free Donations Are Appreciated and Help Fund our Volunteer Website and Orphanage Your Tax Free Donations Are Appreciated @ @ @ @ @ Website and Orphanage Disclaimer : We at Prepare for Change ( PFC ) bring you @ @ @ @ @ by the mainstream news , and therefore may seem controversial .
The opinions , views @ @ @ @ @ we present are not necessarily promoted , endorsed , espoused , or agreed to by @ @ @ @ @ leadership Council , members , those who work with PFC , or those who read @ @ @ @ @ they are hopefully provocative .
Please use discernment !
Use logical thinking , your own @ @ @ @ @ with Source , Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and @ @ @ @ @ sharing information and seeding dialogue , it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness @ @ @ @ @ us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=400&v=SjfIlo3Ou4g&feature=emb_title
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prepareforchange--2020-03-09--Black Monday and the Collapse of Everything

That worst-case isn ’ t here yet , or is it ?
They are already calling today Black Monday as things crash hard all over the planet .
At the opening bell the Dow is down 2,013 points or 7.8 % making it the greatest collapse of value in history .
“ It ’ s an absolute bloodbath , ” writes Graham Summers .
Ignore events at your peril .
Don ’ t be the last to prepare .
At least stock up on what you will need if you and your family are quarantined and that includes having the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to your home .
Meaning be sure to have iodine , bicarbonate , magnesium , selenium , vitamins C and D in good supply .
If you could pick one word to define the market leading into this week it would be “ chaos.
” An oil price war is in the making , treasuries are going haywire and coronavirus fears are everywhere .
“ We are facing an emergency , a national emergency .
We have to limit the spread of the virus and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they quarantine16 million people .
Italy has formally locked down more than a quarter of its population in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , as the outbreak reached Washington DC and a political convention attended by Donald Trump and Mike Pence .
The lockdown decree includes the power to impose fines on anyone caught entering or leaving Lombardy , the worst-affected region , until 3 April .
It provides for the banning of all public events , closing cinemas , theatres , gyms , discos and pubs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be prohibited , and leave for healthcare workers has been cancelled .
More and more people are asking is the cure worse than the disease ?
The New York Times says , “ China ’ s blunt force strategy poses deeper questions for other countries .
Its campaign has come at great cost to people ’ s livelihoods and personal liberties .
Even countries that could copy China still have to ask whether the cure is worse than the disease ?
” As the coronavirus races around the world , tanking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspending school for hundreds of millions of children , governments are desperate for something not attainable .
There is no way to contain the virus , but it does look like they will collapse the world economy in trying .
No matter how bad the disease turns out to be the public response is already catastrophic .
However , did China really close down the activities of hundreds of millions of their citizens for a mild virus ( most people without preconditions do just fine with this infection ) or is something more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early on that China bulldozed large piles of material on roads of cities to block people from entering and leaving .
China has welded people in homes and dragged them out of their homes to medical detention centers .
China has shutdown most of their factories collapsing their economy .
People have been seen falling down dead in China and even already in Iran .
China has shut down social media .
The extremely harsh reaction of the Chinese suggests a more dangerous virus than the mass media is portraying .
The worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 83 % exposed become infected .
Infections double every 3 to 6 days .
Up to 50 % infected need hospitalization .
Of those 50 % ; with hospital care the death rate is 15 % , without hospital care the death rate is 65 % .
That might have been the truth in Wuhan where they have the complication of extremely heavy air and water pollution as well as newly installed 5G .
It still remains to be seen how high the death rates will go especially when we see the medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is doing public perception is slaughtering the economy .
Even if the disease kills fewer people this year than the common cold , the global medical response is a wrecking ball crashing through the economies at too many points to count .
I think it obvious that public perception was engineered from the beginning .
Just to put things into perspective : “ The business response to COVID-19 is completely unprecedented .
So is the US government response .
So is the Chinese government response .
So are the stock markets ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , therefore , so is the general public ’ s response because what else can they make of all these responses by governments and health agencies and businesses with their constant warnings on every radio channel and television news program ?
” “ Even the notorious bubonic plague , which has broken out several times in the US , never got a response anything like this !
Yet , even with treatment , the bubonic plague has a much higher death rate than COVID-19 ( as high as 30-90 % without treatment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment ) , and there is no effective vaccine for the bubonic plague either.
” Fear of the illness is killing us economically .
Entire skyscrapers are being shut down , conventions and festivals that profit entire communities shut down , airports empty , states of emergency breaking out everywhere , entire corporate work forces sent home for a month , schools and colleges closed !
Dramatic measures will be taken to combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus , yet officials have already conceded that we will not be able to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
We have never seen anything like this — not on 9/11 , not in any viral outbreak in the US .
Social activity is grinding to a halt .
The spread of the coronavirus is shutting down the world economy .
In increasing numbers people are no longer travelling .
The spread of the virus , whether through fear or fact , is sharply reducing both production and demand .
Indebted businesses will not have the cashflow to pay debt interest and supply chains will be riddled with payment failures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Banks will need to be rescued from defaulting customers and the euro ’ s future will be increasingly questioned .
The party is over .
“ The world is now facing the gravest economic and social downturn in modern history .
We are entering a period of global crisis that will change the world for a very long time to come .
Closing all factories , offices , schools , shops , railways , cinemas etc .
will paralyze the countries and the world economy .
To totally close down countries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medicine , will probably kill more people over time than the virus itself , ” writes Egon von Greyerz .
Disclaimer : We at Prepare for Change ( PFC ) bring you information that is not offered by the mainstream news , and therefore may seem controversial .
The opinions , views , statements , and/or information we present are not necessarily promoted , endorsed , espoused , or agreed to by Prepare for Change , its leadership Council , members , those who work with PFC , or those who read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopefully provocative .
Please use discernment !
Use logical thinking , your own intuition and your own connection with Source , Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not .
By sharing information and seeding dialogue , it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm .

Dow Jones sinks over 2000 points in worst single-day drop in history amid oil price war, coronavirus, with such a massive sell-off that circuit breakers were triggered putting a halt to trading for 15 minutes. This is a legitimate “black swan” event and markets are reacting in full panic mode to this surprise.
Dr. Mark Sircus,
That worst-case isn’t here yet, or is it? They are already calling today Black Monday as things crash hard all over the planet. At the opening bell the Dow is down 2,013 points or 7.8% making it the greatest collapse of value in history. “It’s an absolute bloodbath,” writes Graham Summers.
Ignore events at your peril. Don’t be the last to prepare. At least stock up on what you will need if you and your family are quarantined and that includes having the natural medicines to treat the coronavirus if it comes to your home. Meaning be sure to have iodine, bicarbonate, magnesium, selenium, vitamins C and D in good supply.
If you could pick one word to define the market leading into this week it would be “chaos.” An oil price war is in the making, treasuries are going haywire and coronavirus fears are everywhere. “We are facing an emergency, a national emergency. We have to limit the spread of the virus and prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed,” the Italians said, as they quarantine16 million people.
Italy has formally locked down more than a quarter of its population in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, as the outbreak reached Washington DC and a political convention attended by Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
The lockdown decree includes the power to impose fines on anyone caught entering or leaving Lombardy, the worst-affected region, until 3 April. It provides for the banning of all public events, closing cinemas, theatres, gyms, discos and pubs. Religious ceremonies such as funerals and weddings will also be prohibited, and leave for healthcare workers has been cancelled.
More and more people are asking is the cure worse than the disease? The New York Times says, “China’s blunt force strategy poses deeper questions for other countries. Its campaign has come at great cost to people’s livelihoods and personal liberties. Even countries that could copy China still have to ask whether the cure is worse than the disease?”
As the coronavirus races around the world, tanking markets, cutting off global travel and suspending school for hundreds of millions of children, governments are desperate for something not attainable. There is no way to contain the virus, but it does look like they will collapse the world economy in trying.
No matter how bad the disease turns out to be the public response is already catastrophic. However, did China really close down the activities of hundreds of millions of their citizens for a mild virus (most people without preconditions do just fine with this infection) or is something more deadly spreading like wildfire?
We saw early on that China bulldozed large piles of material on roads of cities to block people from entering and leaving. China has welded people in homes and dragged them out of their homes to medical detention centers. China has shutdown most of their factories collapsing their economy. People have been seen falling down dead in China and even already in Iran. China has shut down social media.
The extremely harsh reaction of the Chinese suggests a more dangerous virus than the mass media is portraying. The worst I have seen in print suggests that 83% exposed become infected. Infections double every 3 to 6 days. Up to 50% infected need hospitalization. Of those 50%; with hospital care the death rate is 15%, without hospital care the death rate is 65%. That might have been the truth in Wuhan where they have the complication of extremely heavy air and water pollution as well as newly installed 5G. It still remains to be seen how high the death rates will go especially when we see the medical response failing.
Slaughtering the Economy
No matter what the virus is doing public perception is slaughtering the economy. Even if the disease kills fewer people this year than the common cold, the global medical response is a wrecking ball crashing through the economies at too many points to count. I think it obvious that public perception was engineered from the beginning. Just to put things into perspective:
“The business response to COVID-19 is completely unprecedented. So is the US government response. So is the Chinese government response. So are the stock markets’ responses all around the world. And, therefore, so is the general public’s response because what else can they make of all these responses by governments and health agencies and businesses with their constant warnings on every radio channel and television news program?”
“Even the notorious bubonic plague, which has broken out several times in the US, never got a response anything like this! Yet, even with treatment, the bubonic plague has a much higher death rate than COVID-19 (as high as 30-90% without treatment, and still 10% even with antibiotic treatment), and there is no effective vaccine for the bubonic plague either.”
Fear of the illness is killing us economically. Entire skyscrapers are being shut down, conventions and festivals that profit entire communities shut down, airports empty, states of emergency breaking out everywhere, entire corporate work forces sent home for a month, schools and colleges closed!
Dramatic measures will be taken to combat the rapid spread of the coronavirus, yet officials have already conceded that we will not be able to stop or even arrest much the spread of the virus. We have never seen anything like this — not on 9/11, not in any viral outbreak in the US.
Social activity is grinding to a halt. The spread of the coronavirus is shutting down the world economy. In increasing numbers people are no longer travelling. The spread of the virus, whether through fear or fact, is sharply reducing both production and demand. Indebted businesses will not have the cashflow to pay debt interest and supply chains will be riddled with payment failures. Previously acceptable debt is becoming junk. Banks will need to be rescued from defaulting customers and the euro’s future will be increasingly questioned.
The party is over. “The world is now facing the gravest economic and social downturn in modern history. We are entering a period of global crisis that will change the world for a very long time to come. Closing all factories, offices, schools, shops, railways, cinemas etc. will paralyze the countries and the world economy. To totally close down countries and production, leading to shortages of food and medicine, will probably kill more people over time than the virus itself,” writes Egon von Greyerz.
Source: https://drsircus.com
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prepareforchange--2020-03-09--How The Military-Industrial Complex Gets Away With Murder in Contract After Contract

Call it a colossal victory for a Pentagon that hasn ’ t won a war in this century , but not for the rest of us .
Congress only recently passed and the president approved one of the largest Pentagon budgets ever .
It will surpass spending at the peaks of both the Korean and Vietnam wars .
As last year ended , as if to highlight the strangeness of all this , the Washington Post broke a story about a “ confidential trove of government documents ” —interviews with key figures involved in the Afghan War by the Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reconstruction—revealing the degree to which senior Pentagon leaders and military commanders understood that the war was failing .
Yet , year after year , they provided “ rosy pronouncements they knew to be false , ” while “ hiding unmistakable evidence that the war had become unwinnable.
” However , as the latest Pentagon budget shows , no matter the revelations , there will be no reckoning when it comes to this country ’ s endless wars or its military establishment—not at a moment when President Donald Trump is sending yet more U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has picked a new fight with Iran .
No less troubling : how few in either party in Congress are willing to hold the president and the Pentagon accountable for runaway defense spending or the poor performance that has gone with it .
Given the way the Pentagon has sunk taxpayer dollars into those endless wars , in a more reasonable world that institution would be overdue for a comprehensive audit of all its programs and a reevaluation of its expenditures .
( It has , by the way , never actually passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University ’ s Costs of War Project , Washington has already spent at least $ 2 trillion on its war in Afghanistan alone and , as the Post made clear , the corruption , waste , and failure associated with those expenditures was ( or at least should have been ) mindboggling .
Of course , little of this was news to people who had read the damning reports released by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in previous years .
They included evidence , for instance , that somewhere between $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been spent constructing a single gas station in the middle of nowhere , that $ 150 million had gone into luxury private villas for Americans who were supposed to be helping strengthen Afghanistan ’ s economy , and that tens of millions more were wasted on failed programs to improve Afghan industries focused on extracting more of the country ’ s minerals , oil , and natural gas reserves .
In the face of all this , rather than curtailing Pentagon spending , Congress continued to increase its budget , while also supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war spending to keep the efforts going .
Still , the special inspector general ’ s reports did manage to rankle American military commanders ( unable to find successful combat strategies in Afghanistan ) enough to launch what , in effect , would be a public-relations war to try to undermine that watchdog ’ s findings .
All of this , in turn , reflected the “ unwarranted influence ” of the military-industrial complex that President ( and former five-star General ) Dwight Eisenhower warned Americans about in his memorable 1961 farewell address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and grow almost six decades later , as contractor profits are endlessly prioritized over what might be considered the national security interests of the citizenry .
The infamous “ revolving door ” that regularly ushers senior Pentagon officials into defense-industry posts and senior defense-industry figures into key positions at the Pentagon ( and in the rest of the national security state ) just adds to the endless public-relations offensives that accompany this country ’ s forever wars .
After all , the retired generals and other officials the media regularly looks to for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defense industry .
The lack of public disclosure and media discussion about such obvious conflicts of interest only further corrupts public debate on both the wars and the funding of the military , while giving the arms industry the biggest seat at the table when decisions are made on how much to spend on war and preparations for the same .
Media Analysis Brought to You by the Arms Industry That lack of disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest recently came into fresh relief as industry boosters beat the media drums for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a story we ’ ve seen many times before .
Back in 2008 , for instance , in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series , the New York Times revealed that the Pentagon had launched a program to cultivate a coterie of retired-military-officers-turned-pundits in support of its already disastrous war in Iraq .
Seeing such figures on TV or reading their comments in the press , the public may have assumed that they were just speaking their minds .
However , the Times investigation showed that , while widely cited in the media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they never disclosed that they received special Pentagon access and that , collectively , they had financial ties to more than 150 Pentagon contractors .
Given such financial interests , it was nearly impossible for them to be “ objective ” when it came to this country ’ s failing war in Iraq .
After all , they needed to secure more contracts for their defense-industry employers .
A subsequent analysis by the Government Accountability Office found that the Pentagon ’ s program raised “ legitimate questions ” about how its public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it bought , highlighting “ the possibility of compromised procurements resulting from potential competitive advantages ” for those who helped them .
While the program was discontinued that same year , a similar effort was revealed in 2013 during a debate over whether the U.S. should attack Bashar al-Assad ’ s Syrian regime .
You probably won ’ t be surprised to discover that most of the former military figures and officials used as analysts at the time supported action against Syria .
A review of their commentary by the Public Accountability Initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undisclosed ties to the arms industry .
In fact , of 111 appearances in major media outlets by 22 commentators , only 13 of them disclosed any aspect of their potential conflicts of interest that might lead them to promote war .
The same pattern is now being repeated in the debate over the Trump administration ’ s decision to assassinate by drone Iranian Major General Qassem Suleimani and other Iran-related issues .
While Suleimani clearly opposed the United States and many of its national security interests , his killing risked pushing Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ East .
And in a distinctly recognizable pattern , the Intercept has already found that the air waves were subsequently flooded by defense-industry pundits praising the strike .
Unsurprisingly , news of a potential war also promptly boosted defense industry stocks .
Northrop Grumman ’ s , Raytheon ’ s , and Lockheed Martin ’ s all started 2020 with an uptick .
Senator Elizabeth Warren ( D-MA ) and Representative Jackie Speier ( D-CA ) have offered legislation that could shut down that revolving door between the major weapons makers and Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerted resistance from Pentagon officials and others still in Congress who stand to benefit from preserving the system as is .
Even if that revolving door wasn ’ t shut down , transparency about just who was going through it would help the public better understand what former officials and military commanders are really advocating for when they speak positively of the necessity for yet another war in the Middle East .
Here ’ s what we already know about how it all now works : weapon systems produced by the big defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former administration officials , and one-time congressional representatives on their boards ( or lobbying for or consulting for them behind the scenes ) regularly come in overpriced , are often delivered behind schedule , and repeatedly fail to have the capabilities advertised .
Take , for instance , the new Ford class aircraft carriers , produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries , the sort of ships that have traditionally been used to show strength globally .
In this case , however , the program ’ s development has been stifled by problems with its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch and recover its aircraft .
Those problems have been costly enough to send the price for the first of those carriers soaring to $ 13.1 billion .
Meanwhile , Lockheed Martin ’ s F-35 jet fighter , the most expensive weapons system in Pentagon history , has an abysmal rate of combat readiness and currently comes in at more than $ 100 million per aircraft .
And yet , somehow , no one ever seems to be responsible for such programmatic failures and prices—certainly not the companies that make them ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their boards or working for them ) .
One crucial reason for this lack of accountability is that key members of Congress serving on committees that should be overseeing such spending are often the top recipients of campaign contributions from the big weapons makers and their allies .
And just as at the Pentagon , members of those committees or their staff often later become lobbyists for those very federal contractors .
With this in mind , the big defense firms carefully spread their contracts for weapons production across as many congressional districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political engineering , ” a term promoted by former Department of Defense analyst and military reformer Chuck Spinney , helps those contractors and the Pentagon buy off members of Congress from both parties .
Take , for example , the Littoral Combat Ship , a vessel meant to operate close to shore .
Costs for the program tripled over initial estimates and , according to Defense News , the Navy is already considering decommissioning four of the new ships next year as a cost-saving measure .
It ’ s not the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget axe .
In the past , however , pork-barrel politics spearheaded by Senators Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI ) and Richard Shelby ( R-AL ) , in whose states those boats were being built , kept the program afloat .
The Air Force ’ s new bomber , the B-21 , being built by Northrup Grumman , has been on a similar trajectory .
Despite significant pressure from then-Senator John McCain ( R-AZ ) , the Air Force refused in 2017 to make public or agree upon a contract price for the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” not a “ fixed price ” contract , after all . )
It did , however , release the names of the companies providing components to the program , ensuring that relevant congressional representatives would support it , no matter the predictably spiraling costs to come .
Recent polling indicates that such pork-barrel politics isn ’ t backed by the public , even when they might benefit from it .
Asked whether congressional representatives should use the Pentagon ’ s budget to generate jobs in their districts , 77 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifting such funds to sectors like healthcare , infrastructure , and clean energy that would , in fact , create significantly more jobs .
And keep in mind that , in this big-time system of profiteering , hardware costs , however staggering , are just a modest part of the equation .
The Pentagon spends about as much on what it calls “ services ” as it does on the weaponry itself and those service contracts are another major source of profits .
For example , it ’ s estimated that the F-35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lifetime of the plane , but a trillion dollars of those costs will be for support and maintenance of the aircraft .
Increasingly , this means contractors are able to hold the Pentagon hostage over a weapon ’ s lifetime , which means overcharges of just about every imaginable sort , including for labor .
The Project On Government Oversight ( where I work ) has , for instance , been uncovering overcharges in spare parts since our founding , including an infamous $ 435 hammer back in 1983 .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1980s , was a seemingly outrageous $ 640 plastic toilet-seat cover for military airplanes now costs an eye-popping $ 10,000 .
A number of factors help explain such otherwise unimaginable prices , including the way contractors often retain intellectual property rights to many of the systems taxpayers funded to develop , legal loopholes that make it difficult for the government to challenge wild charges , and a system largely beholden to the interests of defense companies .
The most recent and notorious case may be TransDigm , a company that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing spare parts for a number of weapon systems .
That , in turn , gave it power to increase the prices of parts with little fear of losing business—once , receiving 9,400 % in excess profits for a single half-inch metal pin .
An investigation by the House Oversight and Reform Committee found that TransDigm ’ s employees had been coached to resist providing cost or pricing information to the government , lest such overcharges be challenged .
In one case , for instance , a subsidiary of TransDigm resisted providing such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts for weapons to be used in Iraq and Afghanistan , was forced to capitulate or risk putting troops ’ lives on the line .
TransDigm did later repay the government $ 16 million for certain overcharges , but only after the House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing on the subject that shamed the company .
As it happens , TransDigm ’ s behavior isn ’ t an outlier .
It ’ s typical of many defense-related companies doing business with the government—about 20 major industry players , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long Congress has largely abdicated its responsibilities when it comes to holding the Pentagon accountable .
You won ’ t be surprised to learn that most of the “ acquisition reforms ” it ’ s passed in recent years , which affect how the Department of Defense buys goods and services , have placed just about all real negotiating power in the hands of the big defense contractors .
To add insult to injury , both parties of Congress continue to vote in near unanimity for increases in the Pentagon budget , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never-ending gross mismanagement of weapons programs , and a continued failure to pass a basic audit .
If any other federal agency ( or the contractors it dealt with ) had a similar track record , you can only begin to imagine the hubbub that would ensue .
But not the Pentagon .
Never the Pentagon .
A significantly reduced budget would undoubtedly increase that institution ’ s effectiveness by curbing its urge to throw ever more money at problems .
Instead , an often bought-and-paid-for Congress continues to enable bad decision-making about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
And let ’ s face it , a Congress that allows endless wars , terrible spending practices , and multiplying conflicts of interest is , as the history of the twenty-first century has shown us , a recipe for disaster .

Call it a colossal victory for a Pentagon that hasn’t won a war in this century, but not for the rest of us. Congress only recently passed and the president approved one of the largest Pentagon budgets ever. It will surpass spending at the peaks of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. As last year ended, as if to highlight the strangeness of all this, the Washington Post broke a story about a “confidential trove of government documents”—interviews with key figures involved in the Afghan War by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction—revealing the degree to which senior Pentagon leaders and military commanders understood that the war was failing. Yet, year after year, they provided “rosy pronouncements they knew to be false,” while “hiding unmistakable evidence that the war had become unwinnable.”
However, as the latest Pentagon budget shows, no matter the revelations, there will be no reckoning when it comes to this country’s endless wars or its military establishment—not at a moment when President Donald Trump is sending yet more U.S. military personnel into the Middle East and has picked a new fight with Iran. No less troubling: how few in either party in Congress are willing to hold the president and the Pentagon accountable for runaway defense spending or the poor performance that has gone with it.
Given the way the Pentagon has sunk taxpayer dollars into those endless wars, in a more reasonable world that institution would be overdue for a comprehensive audit of all its programs and a reevaluation of its expenditures. (It has, by the way, never actually passed an audit.) According to Brown University’s Costs of War Project, Washington has already spent at least $2 trillion on its war in Afghanistan alone and, as the Post made clear, the corruption, waste, and failure associated with those expenditures was (or at least should have been) mindboggling.
Of course, little of this was news to people who had read the damning reports released by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in previous years. They included evidence, for instance, that somewhere between $10 million and $43 million had been spent constructing a single gas station in the middle of nowhere, that $150 million had gone into luxury private villas for Americans who were supposed to be helping strengthen Afghanistan’s economy, and that tens of millions more were wasted on failed programs to improve Afghan industries focused on extracting more of the country’s minerals, oil, and natural gas reserves.
In the face of all this, rather than curtailing Pentagon spending, Congress continued to increase its budget, while also supporting a Department of Defense slush fund for war spending to keep the efforts going. Still, the special inspector general’s reports did manage to rankle American military commanders (unable to find successful combat strategies in Afghanistan) enough to launch what, in effect, would be a public-relations war to try to undermine that watchdog’s findings.
All of this, in turn, reflected the “unwarranted influence” of the military-industrial complex that President (and former five-star General) Dwight Eisenhower warned Americans about in his memorable 1961 farewell address. That complex only continues to thrive and grow almost six decades later, as contractor profits are endlessly prioritized over what might be considered the national security interests of the citizenry.
The infamous “revolving door” that regularly ushers senior Pentagon officials into defense-industry posts and senior defense-industry figures into key positions at the Pentagon (and in the rest of the national security state) just adds to the endless public-relations offensives that accompany this country’s forever wars. After all, the retired generals and other officials the media regularly looks to for expertise are often essentially paid shills for the defense industry. The lack of public disclosure and media discussion about such obvious conflicts of interest only further corrupts public debate on both the wars and the funding of the military, while giving the arms industry the biggest seat at the table when decisions are made on how much to spend on war and preparations for the same.
Media Analysis Brought to You by the Arms Industry
That lack of disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest recently came into fresh relief as industry boosters beat the media drums for war with Iran. Unfortunately, it’s a story we’ve seen many times before. Back in 2008, for instance, in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series, the New York Times revealed that the Pentagon had launched a program to cultivate a coterie of retired-military-officers-turned-pundits in support of its already disastrous war in Iraq. Seeing such figures on TV or reading their comments in the press, the public may have assumed that they were just speaking their minds. However, the Times investigation showed that, while widely cited in the media and regularly featured on the TV news, they never disclosed that they received special Pentagon access and that, collectively, they had financial ties to more than 150 Pentagon contractors.
Given such financial interests, it was nearly impossible for them to be “objective” when it came to this country’s failing war in Iraq. After all, they needed to secure more contracts for their defense-industry employers. A subsequent analysis by the Government Accountability Office found that the Pentagon’s program raised “legitimate questions” about how its public propaganda efforts were tied to the weaponry it bought, highlighting “the possibility of compromised procurements resulting from potential competitive advantages” for those who helped them.
While the program was discontinued that same year, a similar effort was revealed in 2013 during a debate over whether the U.S. should attack Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime. You probably won’t be surprised to discover that most of the former military figures and officials used as analysts at the time supported action against Syria. A review of their commentary by the Public Accountability Initiative found a number of them also had undisclosed ties to the arms industry. In fact, of 111 appearances in major media outlets by 22 commentators, only 13 of them disclosed any aspect of their potential conflicts of interest that might lead them to promote war.
The same pattern is now being repeated in the debate over the Trump administration’s decision to assassinate by drone Iranian Major General Qassem Suleimani and other Iran-related issues. While Suleimani clearly opposed the United States and many of its national security interests, his killing risked pushing Washington into another endless war in the Middle East. And in a distinctly recognizable pattern, the Intercept has already found that the air waves were subsequently flooded by defense-industry pundits praising the strike. Unsurprisingly, news of a potential war also promptly boosted defense industry stocks. Northrop Grumman’s, Raytheon’s, and Lockheed Martin’s all started 2020 with an uptick.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) have offered legislation that could shut down that revolving door between the major weapons makers and Washington for good, but it has met concerted resistance from Pentagon officials and others still in Congress who stand to benefit from preserving the system as is. Even if that revolving door wasn’t shut down, transparency about just who was going through it would help the public better understand what former officials and military commanders are really advocating for when they speak positively of the necessity for yet another war in the Middle East.
Costly Weapons (and Well-Paid Lobbyists)
Here’s what we already know about how it all now works: weapon systems produced by the big defense firms with all those retired generals, former administration officials, and one-time congressional representatives on their boards (or lobbying for or consulting for them behind the scenes) regularly come in overpriced, are often delivered behind schedule, and repeatedly fail to have the capabilities advertised. Take, for instance, the new Ford class aircraft carriers, produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries, the sort of ships that have traditionally been used to show strength globally. In this case, however, the program’s development has been stifled by problems with its weapons elevators and the systems used to launch and recover its aircraft. Those problems have been costly enough to send the price for the first of those carriers soaring to $13.1 billion. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jet fighter, the most expensive weapons system in Pentagon history, has an abysmal rate of combat readiness and currently comes in at more than $100 million per aircraft.
And yet, somehow, no one ever seems to be responsible for such programmatic failures and prices—certainly not the companies that make them (or all those retired military commanders sitting on their boards or working for them). One crucial reason for this lack of accountability is that key members of Congress serving on committees that should be overseeing such spending are often the top recipients of campaign contributions from the big weapons makers and their allies. And just as at the Pentagon, members of those committees or their staff often later become lobbyists for those very federal contractors.
With this in mind, the big defense firms carefully spread their contracts for weapons production across as many congressional districts as possible. This practice of “political engineering,” a term promoted by former Department of Defense analyst and military reformer Chuck Spinney, helps those contractors and the Pentagon buy off members of Congress from both parties. Take, for example, the Littoral Combat Ship, a vessel meant to operate close to shore. Costs for the program tripled over initial estimates and, according to Defense News, the Navy is already considering decommissioning four of the new ships next year as a cost-saving measure. It’s not the first time that program has been threatened with the budget axe. In the past, however, pork-barrel politics spearheaded by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), in whose states those boats were being built, kept the program afloat.
The Air Force’s new bomber, the B-21, being built by Northrup Grumman, has been on a similar trajectory. Despite significant pressure from then-Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the Air Force refused in 2017 to make public or agree upon a contract price for the program. (It was a “cost-plus,” not a “fixed price” contract, after all.) It did, however, release the names of the companies providing components to the program, ensuring that relevant congressional representatives would support it, no matter the predictably spiraling costs to come.
Recent polling indicates that such pork-barrel politics isn’t backed by the public, even when they might benefit from it. Asked whether congressional representatives should use the Pentagon’s budget to generate jobs in their districts, 77% of respondents rejected the notion. Two-thirds favored shifting such funds to sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, and clean energy that would, in fact, create significantly more jobs.
And keep in mind that, in this big-time system of profiteering, hardware costs, however staggering, are just a modest part of the equation. The Pentagon spends about as much on what it calls “services” as it does on the weaponry itself and those service contracts are another major source of profits. For example, it’s estimated that the F-35 program will cost $1.5 trillion over the lifetime of the plane, but a trillion dollars of those costs will be for support and maintenance of the aircraft.
Increasingly, this means contractors are able to hold the Pentagon hostage over a weapon’s lifetime, which means overcharges of just about every imaginable sort, including for labor. The Project On Government Oversight (where I work) has, for instance, been uncovering overcharges in spare parts since our founding, including an infamous $435 hammer back in 1983. I’m sad to report that what, in the 1980s, was a seemingly outrageous $640 plastic toilet-seat cover for military airplanes now costs an eye-popping $10,000. A number of factors help explain such otherwise unimaginable prices, including the way contractors often retain intellectual property rights to many of the systems taxpayers funded to develop, legal loopholes that make it difficult for the government to challenge wild charges, and a system largely beholden to the interests of defense companies.
The most recent and notorious case may be TransDigm, a company that has purchased other companies with a monopoly on providing spare parts for a number of weapon systems. That, in turn, gave it power to increase the prices of parts with little fear of losing business—once, receiving 9,400% in excess profits for a single half-inch metal pin. An investigation by the House Oversight and Reform Committee found that TransDigm’s employees had been coached to resist providing cost or pricing information to the government, lest such overcharges be challenged.
In one case, for instance, a subsidiary of TransDigm resisted providing such information until the government, desperate for parts for weapons to be used in Iraq and Afghanistan, was forced to capitulate or risk putting troops’ lives on the line. TransDigm did later repay the government $16 million for certain overcharges, but only after the House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing on the subject that shamed the company. As it happens, TransDigm’s behavior isn’t an outlier. It’s typical of many defense-related companies doing business with the government—about 20 major industry players, according to a former Pentagon pricing czar.
A Recipe for Disaster
For too long Congress has largely abdicated its responsibilities when it comes to holding the Pentagon accountable. You won’t be surprised to learn that most of the “acquisition reforms” it’s passed in recent years, which affect how the Department of Defense buys goods and services, have placed just about all real negotiating power in the hands of the big defense contractors. To add insult to injury, both parties of Congress continue to vote in near unanimity for increases in the Pentagon budget, despite 18-plus years of losing wars, the never-ending gross mismanagement of weapons programs, and a continued failure to pass a basic audit. If any other federal agency (or the contractors it dealt with) had a similar track record, you can only begin to imagine the hubbub that would ensue. But not the Pentagon. Never the Pentagon.
A significantly reduced budget would undoubtedly increase that institution’s effectiveness by curbing its urge to throw ever more money at problems. Instead, an often bought-and-paid-for Congress continues to enable bad decision-making about what to buy and how to buy it. And let’s face it, a Congress that allows endless wars, terrible spending practices, and multiplying conflicts of interest is, as the history of the twenty-first century has shown us, a recipe for disaster.