WORLD ROUNDUP

An overview of significant world events over the last week

USA

It has been extraordinary to see the protests at the homes of conservative justices of the Supreme Court. The Biden administration is promoting lawlessness because there is a federal law that forbids demonstrations that pressure judges and this law is being ignored by authorities. There has been a reluctance by any of the Democrats to condemn the harassment of the conservative justices and this is another symptom of the impending breakdown of US society. There is no reconciling the differences between the left and the right sides of politics when the rule of law is ignored. I feel very concerned for the US and for Australia and other Western countries because US issues are always exported and we can anticipate similar pressure for “social justice”.

The US appears to be in a death spiral as China prepares to be the dominant world economy and military power. Is this part of a left-wing plan to destroy US influence and destroy the US Constitution so that the US can be assimilated into a global government or is it just incompetence? It doesn’t matter because the outcome is probably the same but my money is on an evil Marxist agenda, as demonstrated in Curtis Bowers film “Agenda” which is worthwhile taking the time (90 minutes) to watch and is linked below":

Food shortages have been increasing as supply chain problems increase internationally. Now there are a string of unusual events in the US with food processing plants burning down and even planes crashing into food processing plants in Idaho and Georgia. Additionally, it is estimated that 20% of cargo ships are stuck in ports around the world. Now there is a baby formula crisis and other shortages are certain to follow. The supply chain crisis is exacerbated by the world’s busiest port, Shanghai, under lockdown. Meanwhile the US faces a flood of illegal immigrants (around 2 million in the last year -  and illicit drugs are pouring into the country with more than 100,000 deaths in the last year from fentanyl or synthetic opioids and will continue because the Biden administration has no idea or no desire to fix any of these issues. I suspect that the challenge of defending the indefensible (as well as a bag of cash) were behind the decision of Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, to leave this week for a job at MSNBC. The whole scenario reminds me of the story about the man who was asked about how he went bankrupt – he said: “slowly, then quickly”. Supply chain problems and shortages will continue and we need to take steps to prepare.

United Kingdom & Europe

I heard an interesting analysis on UK Column of “beergate” – which has engulfed Sir Keir Starmer, the left wing Labour Leader. Starmer has been putting pressure on the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in relation to around one dozen parties held in ther Prime Minister’s residence, No 10 Downing Street, at various times during the lockdown in the UK. This issue was termed “partygate” by the press and there is an ongoing police investigation and a report still to be released by a senior UK civil servant. Some commentators believe that this report could be spell the political end for Boris. On the UK Column program earlier this week, Iain Davis provided his analysis (watch from around the 15 min mark). His assessment was that both the Conservatives and Labour supported extremely stringent lockdowns with no gatherings and no visits because they claimed that there was a “serious threat to public health”. Yet, the leaders of both political parties, MPs and key advisors, ignored the rules and the behaviour of these people “illustrated that they did not believe that there was ever any serious or imminent risk from a pandemic disease”. Iain’s analysis is worthwhile viewing and he correctly states that many of of the most influential people from both parties either didn’t believe that there was a risk or that the risk didn’t apply to them. He says that the real issue is not that “the rule makers became the rule breakers” but that the leading architects of the measures, that destroyed people’s lives and the economy, “did not, for one moment, believe that there was ever any public health justification for doing so”. This is an issue that requires a full investigation, which of course will never happen.

In the meantime, Boris has been swanning around Scandinavia and this week signed defense agreements with Finland and Sweden, countries that previously have been neutral but have indicated that they wish to join NATO. Boris said that the agreement “is a symbol of an everlasting assurance between our nations”, which seems difficult to fulfill, unless you are God. It is somewhat surprising to see this move by Finland and Sweden towards joining NATO as the Ukraine’s desire to join NATO was one of the final factors provoking the Russian invasion. Finland and Sweden have maintained their independence – in the case of Sweden – for more than 200 years and Finland since the Second World War.

My US and Australian readers will be intrigued to know that “the Queen’s speech”, given this week by Prince Charles, is not written by the Queen but written for her by the government. Because the Queen has “mobility problems”, Prince Charles stepped in for this speech which is held at the re-opening of Parliament and outlines the government’s proposed legislative agenda. The event is full of pomp and circumstance but as UK unity collapses and Northern Ireland becomes ungovernable following recent elections, all the pomp can’t hide the ongoing malaise and the UK’s fragility.

Russia and Ukraine

 The situation in Ukraine seems to be somewhat of a stalemate. Objective reporting is hard to find as most mainstream media and Western governments are all the way with Ukrainian President Zelensky. A Catholic magazine noted around 6 weeks ago that Zelensky, having suppressed any local criticism was now a “full-blown dictator”. Reports out of Russia seem to indicate that President Putin is ill with “early Parkinson’s disease, cancer and a schizoaffective disorder”. If true, this means that Putin’s decision-making will be unpredictable and anything could happen. Putin must feel under increasing pressure at home and also by the threatened expansion of NATO. As usual, international conflicts have a range of unintended consequences and I feel concerned about what may happen next.

China vs The West

 There has been consternation in Australia with reports of a Chinese spy ship off the coast of Western Australia. It does seem that the Australian (left wing) Labor Party, which is almost certain to win the Australian election next weekend, has close ties to China and the Deputy Leader has had a series of meetings with Chinese officials over the last 5 years.

A former Australian High Commissioner to the Solomons Islands, Trevor Sofield, was manhandled on the election campaign trail in Northern Tasmania. by Scott Morrison’s security detail. Mr Sofield tried to talk to the Australian PM regarding Sofield’s view that Australia had mishandled the relationship with the Solomons that resulted in a security pact being signed with China. I believe that Mr Sofield is correct and this seems to be one of the greatest security strategic blunders in Australian history and is enough to indicate that Scott should be thrown out.

The lockdown continues in both Shanghai and Beijing as there are reports that “authorities scoured the city of Shanghai for its last remaining COVID-19 cases”. Beijing also is under restrictions and it is clear that these control measures have little to do with the disease but a demonstration of control by the Chinese regime.

Israel

It doesn’t take much to start an enormous conflict in Israel and the death of the Al Jazeera journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, killed during an Israeli army raid but possibly shot by Palestinian gunmen, has ignited a fire that has resulted in violence.  Ten Palestinian protestors were hurt during the funeral procession in East Jerusalem when Israeli police intervened to stop the journalists coffin from being seized by rioters. Israel always bears the brunt of Western criticism when there are events like this and the challenges of keeping the peace in Israel are ignored by many governments. I spent several weeks in Israel about 4 years ago and I was continually impressed by the diligence and care of Israeli police.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is hanging on to government by the “skin of his teeth”. The Jerusalem Post cites a recent cartoon with Bennett swimming in shark-infested waters and saying “so far so good” but behind him are a large number of sharks waiting! A government formed with Ra’am, the major Arab party in Israel, was always going to be a challenge. Incidents such as conflict at the Temple Mount and intermittent terrorist attacks can stoke a fire that is waiting to flare up. Naftali Bennett has his hands full managing the disparate interests of the coalition government and it does seem like sooner than later, the sharks will get him!