President George Bush, President Vicente Fox of Mexico, and Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada unveiled a blueprint for a safer and more prosperous North America when they announced the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) on March 23 in Waco, TX. They agreed on ambitious security and prosperity agendas to keep our borders closed to terrorism and open to trade. The SPP is based on the premise that security and our economic prosperity are mutually reinforcing, and recognizes that our three great nations are bound by a shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity, and strong democratic institutions.
The SPP provides the framework to ensure that North America is the safest and best place to live and do business. The Partnership is a trilateral effort to increase security and enhance prosperity among the three countries through greater cooperation and information-sharing.
Guided by a Leaders Statement and Action Plans on Security and Prosperity, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers convened trilateral working groups to develop concrete work plans and specific timetables for securing North America and ensuring legitimate travelers and cargo efficiently cross our shared borders; enhancing the competitive position of North American industries in the global marketplace; and, providing greater economic opportunities for all of our societies while maintaining high standards of health and safety. (www.spp.gov)
The CFR says: “The best way to serve the U.S. today is not at our two borders with Mexico and Canada, but at the borders of North America as a whole”.
“What we hope to accomplish by 2010 is a common external Tariff which will mean that goods can move easily across the border. We want a common security perimeter around all of North America, so as to ease the travel of people within North America”.
“Indeed, a change of personnel that brings Canadians and Mexicans into the Dept. of Homeland Security.” (Dr. Robert Pastor of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in testimony to Congress June ‘05).
And…there’s also a CFR document on all this: “BUILDING A NORTH AMERICAN COMMUNITY”. (This same Dr. Pastor, of the CFR’s “Task Force on the Future of North America”, helped write it.) “Google” that too. Some quotes:
“Establish a common security perimeter by 2010.”
“Develop a North American Border Pass.”
“Develop a unified North American border action plan.”
“Expand temporary migrant worker programs.”
“Lay the groundwork for a freer flow of people within North America.”
“Fully develop Mexican energy resources.”
“Establish a North American Investment Fund for infrastructure and human capital.”
“Establish a Seamless North American Market for Trade.”
“Establish a permanent Tribunal for North American dispute resolution.”
“Establish a joint approach to unfair trade practices.”
“Implement the Social Security Totalization Agreement negotiated between the U.S. and Mexico.”
“Support a North American education program.”
“Develop teacher exchange and training programs for elementary and secondary school teachers.”
“A North American inter-parliamentary group.”
You get the idea: a “pocket-sized” regional government, which serves as stepping stone toward FTAA and a new global government (see www.stoptheftaa.org).
How does this sound do you folks? How will it effect each of us and our families?
It reminds me of what investigative journalist Barry Chamish said about the corrupt Israeli government: Instead of locking us out, they intend to lock us in...in bondage, that is. We are trapped like slaves inside our own country. If we don't like it here, we still have the option of moving to another country where guess what? You'll meet up with the same band of conniving globalists, the same ugly game played by their rules, no matter where you travel or live on earth. They've turned our world into "a Prison Planet," as Alex Jones would say...and their dark NWO plan for mankind is only getting started.
It looks like the PTB are going to get away with shoving the SPP down our throats. I expect it will evolve into the United states of North America. I've been trying to figure out how that will affect me and my wife first, and them how it will affect our kids. How might it affect our fixed income retirement funds? How might it affect the cost and standard of living, and in what ways? I feel tough times lie ahead, but I cannot figure out what to expect.
What you can expect in the short term is an extremely devalued dollar to pave the way for the scenario you mentioned above.
Moo
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/06/342746.html
Why the Dollar Bubble is about to Burst
Steve Masterson | 14.06.2006 17:28 | Analysis | Globalisation | Sheffield
London - 24 May, 2006
The Voice (issue 264 - 11th May) ran an article beginning, "Iran has really gone and done it now. No, they haven't sent their first nuclear sub in to the Persian Gulf. They are about to launch something much more deadly -- next week the Iran Bourse will open to trade oil, not in dollars but in euros." This apparently insignificant event has consequences far greater for the US people, indeed all for us all, than is imaginable.
Currently almost all oil buying and selling is in US-dollars through exchanges in London and New York. It is not accidental they are both US-owned.
The Wall Street crash in 1929 sparked off global depression andWorld War II. During that war the US supplied provisions and munitions to all its allies, refusing currency and demanding gold payments in exchange.
By 1945, 80% of the world's gold was sitting in US vaults. The dollar became the one undisputed global reserve currency -- it was treated world-wide as `safer than gold'. The Bretton Woods agreement was established.
The US took full advantage over the next decades and printed dollars like there was no tomorrow. The US exported many mountains of dollars, paying for ever-increasing amounts of commodities, tax cuts for the rich, many wars abroad, mercenaries, spies and politicians the world over. You see, this did not affect inflation at home! The US got it all for free! Well, maybe for a forest or two.
Over subsequent decades the world's vaults bulged at the seams andmore and more vaults were built, just for US dollars. Each year, theUS spends many more dollars abroad that at home. Analysts pretty much agree that outside the US, of the savings, or reserves, of all other countries, in gold and all currencies -- that a massive 66% of this total wealth is in US dollars!
In 1971 several countries simultaeously tried to sell a small portion of their dollars to the US for gold. Krassimir Petrov, (Ph. D. in Economics at Ohio University) recently wrote, "The US Government defaulted on its payment on August 15, 1971. While popular spin told the story of `severing the link between the dollar and gold', in reality the denial to pay back in gold was an act of bankruptcy by the US Government." (1) The 1945 Bretton Woods agreement was unilaterally smashed.
The dollar and US economy were on a precipice resembling Germany in 1929. The US now had to find a way for the rest of the world to believe and have faith in the paper dollar. The solution was in oil, in the petrodollar. The US viciously bullied first Saudi Arabia and then OPEC to sell oil for dollars only -- it worked, the dollar was saved. Now countries had to keep dollars to buy much needed oil. And the US could buy oil all over the world, free of charge. What a Houdini for the US! Oil replaced gold as the new foundation to stop the paper dollar sinking.
Since 1971, the US printed even more mountains of dollars to spend abroad. The trade defecit grew and grew. The US sucked-in much of the world's products for next to nothing. More vaults were built.
Expert, Cóilínn Nunan, wrote in 2003, "The dollar is the de facto world reserve currency: the US currency accounts for approximately two thirds of all official exchange reserves. More than four-fifths of all foreign exchange transactions and half of all world exports are denominated in dollars. In addition, all IMF loans are denominated in dollars." (2)
Dr Bulent Gukay of Keele University recently wrote, "This system of the US dollar acting as global reserve currency in oil trade keeps the demand for the dollar `artificially' high. This enables the US to carry out printing dollars at the price of next to nothing to fund increased military spending and consumer spending on imports. There is no theoretical limit to the amount of dollars that can be printed. As long as the US has no serious challengers, and the other states have confidence in the US dollar, the system functions." (3)
Until recently, the US-dollar has been safe. However, since 1990 western Europe has been busy growing, swallowing up central and eastern Europe. French and German bosses were jealous of the US ablility to buy goods and people the world over for nothing. They wanted a slice of the free cake too. Further, they now had the power and established the euro in late 1999 against massive US-inspired opposition across Europe, especially from Britain - paid for in dollars of course. But the euro succeeded.
Only months after the euro-launch, Saddam's Iraq announced it was switching from selling oil in dollars only, to euros only -- breaking the OPEC agreement. Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Libya, all began talking openly of switching too -- were the floodgates about to be opened?
Then aeroplanes flew into the twin-towers in September 2001. Was this another Houdini chance to save the US (petro)dollar and the biggest financial/economic crash in history? War preparations began in the US. But first war-fever had to be created -- and truth was the first casualty. Other oil producing countries watched-on. In 2000 Iraq began selling oil in euros. In 2002, Iraq changed all their petro-dollars in their vaults into euros. A few months later, the US began their invasion of Iraq.
The whole world was watching: very few aware that the US was engaging in the first oil currency, or petrodollar war. After the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, remember, the US secured oil areas first. Their first sales in August were, of course, in dollars, again. The only government building in Baghdad not bombed was the Oil Ministry! It does not matter how many people are murdered -- for the US, the petrodollar must be saved as the only way to buy and sell oil -- otherwise the US economy will crash, and much more besides.
In early 2003, Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela talked openly of selling half of its oil in euros (the other half is bought by the US). On 12 April 2003, the US-supported business leaders and some generals in Venezuela kidnapped Chavez and attempted a coup. The masses rose against this and the Army followed suit. The coup failed. This was bad for the US.
In November 2000 the euro/dollar was at $0.82 dollars, its lowest ever, and still diving, but when Iraq started selling oil in euros, the euro dive was halted. In April 2002 senior OPEC reps talked about trading in euros and the euro shot up. In June 2003 the US occupiers of Iraq switched trading back to dollars and the euro fell against the dollar again. In August 2003 Iran starts to sell oil in euros to some European countries and the euro rises sharply. In the winter of 2003-4 Russian and OPEC politicians talked seriously of switching oil/gas sales to the euro and the euro rose. In February 2004 OPEC met and made no decision to turn to the euro -- and yes, the euro fell against the dollar. In June 2004 Iran announced it would build an oil bourse to rival London and New York, and again, the euro rose. The euro stands at $1.27 and has been climbing of late. See the European Central Bank history of the euro/dollar: http://www.ecb.int/stats/exchange/eurofxref/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html#1999
But matters this month became far, far worse for the US dollar. On 5th May Iran registered its own Oil Bourse, the IOB. Not only are they now selling oil in euros from abroad -- they have established an actual Oil Bourse, a global trading centre for all countries to buy and sell their oil!
In Chavez's recent visit to London he talked openly about supporting the Iranian Oil Bourse, and selling oil in euros. When asked in London about the new arms embargo imposed by the US against Venezuela, Chavez prophetically dismissed the US as "a paper tiger".
Currently, almost all the world's oil is sold on either the NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange, or the IPE, London's International Petroleum Exchange. Both are owned by US citizens and both sell and buy only in US dollars. The success of the Iran Oil Bourse makes sense to Europe, which buys 70% of Iran's oil. It makes sense for Russia, which sells 66% of its oil to Europe. But worse for the US, China and India have already stated they are very interested in the new Iranian Oil Bourse.
If there is a tactical-nuclear strike on - deja-vu - `weapons of mass destruction' in Iran, who would bet against a certain Oil Exchange and more, being bombed too?
And worse for Bush. It makes sense for Europe, China, India and Japan -- as well as all the other countries mentioned above -- to buy and sell oil in Euro's. They will certainly have to stock-up on euros now, and they will sell dollars to do so. The euro is far more stable than the debt-ridden dollar. The IMF has recently highlighted US economic difficulties and the trade deficit strangling the US -- there is no way out.
The problem for so many countries now is, how to get rid of their vaults full of dollars, before it crashes? And the US has bullied so many countries for so many decades around the world, that many will see a chance to kick the bully back. The US cannot accept even 5% of the world's dollars -- it would crash the US economy dragging much of the world with it, especially Britain.
To survive, as the Scottish Socialist Voice article stated, "the US, needs to generate a trade surplus to get out of this one. Problem is it can't." This is spot on. To do that they must force US workers into near slavery, to get paid less than Chinese or Indian workers. We all know that this will not happen.
What will happen in the US? Chaos for sure. Maybe a workers revolution, but looking at the situation as it is now, it is more likely to be a re-run of Germany post-1929, and some form of extreme-right mass movement will emerge.
Does Europe and China/Asia have the economic independence and strength to stop the whole world's economies collapsing with the US? Their vaults are full to the brim with dollars.
The US has to find a way to pay for its dollar-imperialist exploitation of the world since 1945. Somehow, eventually, it has to account for every dollar in every vault in the world.
Bombing Iran could backfire tremendously. It would bring Iran openly into the war in Iraq, behind the Shiite majority. The US cannot cope even now with the much smaller Iraqi insurgency. Perhaps the US will feed into the Sunni v Shiite conflict and turn it into a wider Middle-East civil-war. However, this is so dangerous for global oil supplies. Further, they know that this would be temporary, as some country somewhere else, will establish a euro-oil-exchange. Perhaps in Brussels.
There is one `solution' -- scrap the dollar and print a whole new currency for the US. This will destroy 66% of the rest of the world's savings/reserves in one swoop. Imagine the implications? Such are the desperate things now swimming around heads in the White House, Wall Street and Pentagon.
Another is to do as Germany did, just before invading Poland in 1938. The Nazis filmed a mock Polish Army attack on Germany, to win hearts and minds at home. But again, this is a finger in the dam. So, how is the US going to escape this time? The only global arena of total superiority left is military. Who knows what horrors lie ahead. A new world war is one tool by which the US could discipline its `allies' into keeping the dollar in their vaults.
The task of socialists today is to explain to as many as possible, especially our class, that the coming crisis belongs purely to capitalism and (dollar) imperialism. Not people of other cultures, not Islam, not the axis of evil or their so-called WMDs. Their system alone is to blame.
The new Iranian Oil Bourse, the IOB, is situated in a new building on the free-trade-zone island of Kish, in the Persian Gulf. It's computers and software are all set to go. The IOB was supposed to be up and running last March, but many pressures forced a postponement. Where the pressure came from is obvious. It was internationally registered on 5th May and supposed to open mid-May, but its opening was put off, some saying the oil-mafia was involved, along with much international pressure. Just google `pertroeuro', and the story lies before you.
From now on, anyone in the know will wake up every morning and, even before coffee, will check out the latest exchange rate between the euro and dollar.
(1) The Proposed Iranian Oil Bourse (Krassimir Petrov, Jan 2006) http://www.countercurrents.org/us-petrov200106.htm
(2) Oil, Currency and the War on Iraq (Cóilínn Nunan, Scotland, Dec 2003) http://www.feasta.org/documents/papers/oil1.htm
(3) Petrodollar Became the Essential Basis for the US Economic Hegemoney in the 1970s. (Bulent Gokay, Keele University, May 2006) http://english.pravda.ru/topic/petrodollar-138/
Has anybody figured out what Congress is doing or contemplating about the NAU or the super highway from Mexico up thru Texas to Kansas City? Is there any action brewing in Congress?
Earlier today I had an interesting and lengthy telecon with Arizona State Senator Karen Johnson (R - LDS) about "things". She gave me the OK to share this Nov.2006 email with any and all, so here it is.
Hi All: I just returned from an Eagle Forum intensive training session on this issue of the SPP/North American Union. I was appalled with the information that was presented to us. I know it is completely factual as Phyllis Schlafly does not put out anything she has not throughly researched. I trust her completely. I spent time with four of our Congressman on this issue and found they were unaware of what is happening. I have sent this to both the Tribune and the Republic. Let me know what you think about this as I believe.if we don't get this "beast" under control, none of the rest of what we are trying to do matters as the U.S.- as we know it - will be gone. Best Regards, Karen J.
November 18, 2006
I just returned from a week in Washington, D.C., with a group of concerned women where we learned about the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), also known as “The North American Union.” This partnership was agreed upon at a private meeting held in Waco, Texas, March 23, 2005, between then-President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, U.S. President George Bush, and then-Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada. The SPP is an agreement to merge our United States of America with Mexico and Canada.
I am outraged about what the Bush administration is doing with this partnership behind Congress’s back. (See www.spp.gov)
With virtually no mention in the mainstream media and no oversight from Congress, Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez is pushing forward, through his department, the “working groups” that are currently implementing this plan. Government bureaucrats and business leaders are “harmonizing and integrating” our laws with Mexico and Canada on a broad range of issues such as E-Commerce, Transportation, Environment, Health, Agriculture, Financial Services, and National Security just to mention a few. Do we want our laws “harmonized” with Socialist Canada and corrupt Mexico?
If you are concerned about terrorism in our country just remember that enlarging our borders, merging our security functions with one of the most corrupt nations on earth (Mexico), and giving up sovereignty and constitutional protections does NOT make us safer.
Dr. Jerome Corsi, a Harvard Professor, who has spent months researching this issue was recently able through a Freedom of Information request to obtain about 1,000 pages on SPP/North American Union, which clearly reveal that the Bush administration is running a “shadow government” with Mexico and Canada in which unelected bureaucrats are crafting a broad range of policy changes. The SPP is truly rewriting U.S. administrative law, all without Congressional oversight or public disclosure.
The government watchdog organization, Judicial Watch, obtained many of the same documents that Dr. Corsi has received, including the organizational chart and a listing of trilateral Mexican, Canadian, and U.S. administrative officers who report on multiple cabinet-level “working groups.”
The SPP.gov web site has now put up a “Myth vs. Fact” document posted for public relations purposes to begin the “whitewash” in which they think they can hoodwink the American public. One of the ways the administration has been able to go around Congress is by not having the three countries sign a treaty or “law” on SPP. I want to know - and the American public should demand – where does the Bush administration get the congressional authorization to invite two foreign nations to the table to rewrite U.S. law?
The Bush administration is trying to create the infrastructure for a new regional North American government in stealth fashion, under the radar and out of public view. Congress has unequivocally been asleep at the wheel.
It is incredible but, if this template is followed, just four years from now the United States may cease to exist as an independent nation. Its laws, rules and regulations – including all freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution – will be subject to review and nullification by the
North American Union’s governing body (unelected). There will no longer be a Canadian or Mexican border. Transnational transportation corridors will crisscross the United States delivering the cheapest goods possible from China and Vietnam with Mexican truckers who will work for a pittance of what our U.S. truckers earn. Thousands of middle- class jobs will be wiped out, and the U.S. will become nothing more than a province in an emerging North American superstate.
The American people have got to be alerted and we must contact our members of Congress to put a stop to this. Most Representatives and Senators are largely unaware of the SPP/North American Union. I am certain that an aroused and deeply concerned electorate would have little trouble gaining support to block what is planned and retain our nation’s hard-won independence. Please help stop this insane move towards a North American Union.
Senator Karen S. Johnson - District 18