Historical record revisited - and corrected...
An organization devoted to inter-religious understanding has uncovered a large amount evidence to rebut the charge that Pope Pius XII was indifferent to Jewish suffering during WW2. The Pave the Way Foundation has announced discovery of a large quantity of evidence showing that Pope Pius XII actually worked to save the lives of Jews. The group's president says that most of this evidence is already "available publicly but simply not known."
The group also notes that the efforts of the wartime Pontiff had enraged Adolph Hitler, who made plans to kidnap the Pope and seize the Vatican. Pope Pius XII was aware of these plans, the group says, adding: "The Vatican had actually begun forming a government-in-exile" in case Hitler's plan was carried out.
In a volte face by the Vatican a controversial visit to Rome's ancient La Sapienza University by Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday was today called off apparently because of security concerns amid mounting protests by both students and academic staff. The Vatican, which had earlier insisted the visit would go ahead, said it was "opportune to postpone". Behind the controversy over faith and science lies a broader row over what many see as the Vatican's interference in Italian affairs.
Benedict XVI canceled his visit to Rome's Sapienza University amid protests from professors and students regarding the Church's role in science. The visit was planned for Thursday, but a group of professors and students signed a letter protesting the visit by a Pope whom they claimed is "hostile to science." On Tuesday, the protesters occupied the rector's offices in protest.
Weekly edition of Vatican newspaper in English.
Cardinal Lehmann said he would resign from his post as German Catholic Church leader next month, after having led the country's bishops for over 20 years. Considered to be a relatively liberal Catholic theologian, the cardinal is a close associate of Pope Benedict XVI.
Germany balanced its budget in 2007 for the first time since 1969, the Federal Statistics Office announced Tuesday. The statistics office said economic growth was driven by heavy corporate investment and by exports. But record oil prices, the strength of the euro against the dollar, and concern over the global impact of the US subprime credit crisis are expected to take their toll this year.
German press
Roland Koch, the controversial governor of Hesse, has raised eyebrows recently with a re-election campaign some have called xenophobic. Now, though, it looks like he has gone too far. German commentators think the Koch show may be at an end.
When the Berlin government issues one denial of reality after another, there can no longer be any doubt that the whole world financial system is hopelessly bankrupt. The globalization system and the so-called "free" market economy is now, as of the beginning of 2008, just as wrecked as the Communist system was in 1989.
It is now urgently necessary to activate the Basic Law and other existing laws and regulations, to uphold the vital functions of the economy—production and trade, the budgets and the states, and to protect the population from the impact of the financial collapse.
"It is the whole world which seems to be going over the precipice. As if a collision of trains going at full speed was in the making. As if, in a vortex emptying the bottom of a bathtub.... There is no hope of a return to stability for the global economy."
We can thank François Mitterrand and Margaret Thatcher, for this. Because they forced Germany to accept the euro as the price for reunification, and they are to blame for the fact that we in Germany no longer have any instrumentarium for defense of the common good. In switching to the euro, we gave up sovereignty over our own currency to the European Central Bank, and since the treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam, and the Stability Pact, the government's hands have been tied.
Then we come to the differing interests of the individual member countries of the Eurozone. The differing appraisals of the risk thus exist not only between the Fed and the ECB, but also between the national central banks within the Eurozone. The transfer of sovereignty over one's own currency to supranational institutions must be suspended. The Maastricht Treaty and the Stability Pact must be frozen.
A day after the German government spokesman said during a news conference that Germany was "open" to the idea of a special euro area summit during the French EU presidency in the second half of this year, Angela Merkel yesterday effectively said such a summit was unnecessary.
"Our experience is that politicians should never ever call into question the independence of the central bank... The euro is not a national currency. Its acceptance depends on the assurance that monetary policy remains independent, which is a completely different situation from that of the US."
Financial market turbulence, an appreciating euro, inflation pressures and a slowing economy pose serious challenges for the euro area. At a time when euro area member states increasingly pursue national strategies, there is growing doubt about the euro area's ability to meet these challenges.
One of the biggest threats to US security may now come from within Europe, US Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff has told the BBC. He said militant attacks and plots in Europe over recent years had made the US aware of the "real risk that Europe will become a platform for terrorists".
The UN Security Council planned a meeting today to review the UN's mission in Kosovo that could degenerate into a debate on the disputed future of the breakaway Serb province. Serb President Tadic and Kosovo Prime Minister Thaci were both to attend the meeting after specifically requesting to be present. But only the Serb president will be allowed to speak during the public debate as the representative of a recognized government. Thaci can address the 15-nation council in a second, closed-door session of the meeting.
A joint NATO-Russia joint missile-defence training exercise is set to go ahead in Germany in spite of growing tension between the two former Cold War foes, the military alliance confirmed. In a statement, NATO said the joint operation would take place January 16-25 in Ottobrunn, near Munich. The exercise will be limited to computer procedures. No hardware is involved and no missiles will be exploded.
Britain's relations with Russia deteriorated further today after the director of the British Council office in St Petersburg was detained and its local staff were summoned for questioning. A statement from the British Council said it was "deeply concerned" by the incident.
As we still have to learn what exactly people like Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy mean when they speak of a "privileged partnership" between Turkey and the EU, some elements are obvious and some might be inferred from historical precedents quite prominent in European history. Perhaps one idea expressed, for instance, by Sarkozy and Edmund Stoiber, may give us a hint. They say that the EU shall be prevented to border on states like Syria or Iran.
The idea has really ancient predecessors, the "Mark", or "Grenzmark", already applied in Carolingian times (the Frankish Empire around 800-900 A.D.), and later in the "Holy Roman (German) Empire" [962-1806]. It means a border province facing a possibly or actually dangerous neighborhood, where the military ruler has specific privileges in return for protecting his foreign borders.
Hezbollah's leader said that President Bush's visit to Israel had empowered the Jewish state to wreak havoc in Palestinian areas, and warned against a worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Many in the Arab world feel that their governments must succumb to Israeli, American, European or other pressures.
Osama bin Laden's top deputy, former Egyptian doctor Ayman al-Zawahiri, is taking questions from his friends and enemies alike on 4 al-Qaida-sanctioned jihadist Web sites. Providing a one-off advice column is just one way in which the international terrorist organization has adopted Web 2.0.
Ethiopia and Eritrea, stubbornly hostile neighbors for years, are possibly weeks away from a renewed border war that could engulf the volatile Horn of Africa region, according to a report. The current military buildup along their border has reached "alarming proportions," with opposing troops separated in some areas by only a dry riverbed. Ethiopia also has been building up its air force and jamming Eritrean radar, according to a US government source, who speculated that Ethiopia may strike by air in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, hoping to topple the government there.
Hundreds of militants have overrun a paramilitary fort in north-west Pakistan, killing or kidnapping many troops. The area is a known stronghold of pro-Taleban and al-Qaeda militants
In rare public comments, the Chinese military chief of staff told ABC News that the US should not be concerned about China's rapid military buildup, saying "there is no need to fear us." "It is impossible for the US to be afraid of our military development. If you say the US is afraid of our military development, then it means the US does not have enough guts, it's easily scared. We are not that capable. There is no need to fear us."
Uh-oh...
A rocket fired at Israel by Palestinians earlier this month was made in Iran, an Israeli lawmaker and security officials said Tuesday. Speaking at a press briefing, a retired Israeli air force general estimated that Gaza militants had several such weapons in their arsenal, but "not many."
Hizbullah's leader said that any US attack on his patron Iran would be "the biggest folly" in American history. "If America launches a war against Iran, it will be the biggest folly committed by America in its history." He suggested that if the US attacked Iran, there would be such a backlash that American interests in the region would be destroyed. "Who said that a war on Iran will achieve America's expectations?"
President Bush has urged Arab states to think of Iran as the greatest threat to their security, but his warnings are likely to fall on deaf ears in the Middle East. Middle East analysts say the US president is too late as key American allies in the Arab world have thrown their weight behind a growing rapprochement with Iran. "At this moment in time, the United States' popularity is at its lowest level among the people all over the Arab world, and Iran's popularity has grown immensely as the only regional power standing against the US in the same region."
(Cartoon: The conflict with Iran)
The US is using an international criminal investigation into a 1994 terrorist attack in Argentina to keep Tehran in duress. The Wall Street Journal reveals the Bush administration's behind-the-scenes machinations to encourage the 14-year-old probe, which claims Iranian agents planned the bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
There have been many arrests but no convictions in the investigation of the bombing. Iran and Hezbollah have been suspected in the attack for years, and formal charges were filed against them in 2006. Both vehemently deny any involvement. Iranian diplomats call the Argentine investigation a "propaganda act" orchestrated by the US and Israel.
President Bush says the White House would hold Iran responsible if American ships were attacked in the Persian Gulf. The remarks came after the US Navy withdrew the allegation that Iran had harassed US warships. "If they hit our ships, we will hold Iran responsible. He also reiterated his past threats that 'serious consequences' will await Tehran if Iranian forces confront US Navy warships in the Persian Gulf.
President Bush on Tuesday appeared to distance himself from what he called an "independent" US intelligence finding widely seen as dousing the likelihood of armed confrontation with Iran. "I defended our intelligence services, but made it clear that they're an independent agency; that they come to conclusions separate from what I may or may not want."
Citing an anonymous senior US administration official, Newsweek magazine reported that Bush had all but disowned the NIE in talks with Prime Minister Olmert. "He told the Israelis that he can't control what the intelligence community says, but that (the NIE's) conclusions don't reflect his own views" about Iran's nuclear-weapons program.
(Also: A rush to war?)
(Also: A military option?)
(Puh-leaze: UK says Iran hoodwinked US)
Bad news for Iran...
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) is urging the House Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment hearings against Vice President Dick Cheney, despite opposition from House Democratic leaders. Wexler said Cheney has to be ousted in order to restore the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, which in his view, has been eroded by an ever-expanding claim of authority under Cheney and President Bush.
As US presidential candidates battle it out to become the leader of the world's only superpower there is one subject on which they all, in public at least, agree - the US relationship with Israel. To leading politicians on both sides of the partisan divide the special relationship is sacrosanct, largely due, critics say, to the power of pro-Israel lobby groups.
It's a presidential campaign like no other. The candidates have been falling all over each other in their rush to declare the depth and sincerity of their religious faith. In fact, faith talk often has little to do with candidates' stands on the issues. There's something else going on here.
In itself, faith in politics poses no great danger to democracy as long as the debates are really about policies -- and religious values are translated into political values, articulated in ways that can be rationally debated by people who don't share them.
Voters reward faith talk because they want candidates to offer them symbols of immutable moral order. The root of the problem lies in the underlying insecurities of voters, in a sense of powerlessness that makes change seem so frightening, and control -- especially of others -- so necessary.
Japan's prime minister and main opposition rival clashed over the controversial naval mission in support of US-led forces in Afghanistan as the ruling bloc prepared to force an enabling law through parliament. On January 11th 2008 the opposition-controlled upper house voted down the bill to restart the mission to refuel US and other ships patrolling the Indian Ocean.
A member of the Japan Democratic party made a 20-minute long statement at the upper house of the Diet (parliament) ahead of the voting. He questioned the official version of 9/11 presented to the japanese government and the public by the US administration: "How could terrorists attacked the Pentagon?"
He presented several largescale photographs of: the Pentagon entry and exit hole,the flight path towards the Pentagon, the exploding WTC towers and the WTC 7 collapse. He concluded that the japanese governments support of the "war against terror" is solely based on information provided by the US-administration.
Queen Elizabeth II had warned the late Princess Diana's butler about mysterious "powers at work", the former butler told an inquest into her death. His meeting with the Queen took place at Buckingham Palace less than 4 months after Diana's death, and lasted for at least an hour and a half.
Burrell said the Queen told him during the meeting: "Be careful, Paul. No one has been as close to a member of my family as you have. There are powers at work in this country of which we have no knowledge. Do you understand?" He said he had no idea who the Queen was referring to and did not think it polite to ask her.
Six US senators and 49 House members are advisers for a group working toward a Transatlantic Common Market between the US and the EU by 2015. The Transatlantic Policy Network – a non-governmental organization headquartered in Washington and Brussels – is advised by the bi-partisan congressional TPN policy group, chaired by Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah.
The plan – currently being implemented by the Bush administration with the formation of the Transatlantic Economic Council in April 2007 – appears to be following a plan written in 1939 by a world-government advocate who sought to create a Transatlantic Union as an international governing body.
An economist from the World Bank has argued in print that the formation of the Transatlantic Common Market is designed to follow the blueprint of Jean Monnet, a key intellectual architect of the EU, recognizing that economic integration must inevitably lead to political integration.
Oil turns out to be too expensive for the US. The world's only superpower now has to beg oil-mining countries to do something to stop oil prices from growing. President Bush set out a hope during his meeting with Saudi King in Riyadh that OPEC would take into consideration the negative influence which high oil prices exert on the US economy.
Asian markets plunged Wednesday on growing speculation the US economy -- a vital export market -- is sliding into a recession that could lead to a global slowdown. Investors dumped stocks after an overnight sell-off on Wall Street and on news that Citigroup had lost nearly $10 billion in the 4th quarter as it wrote down mountains of bad mortgage assets -- the latest fallout from the credit crisis. Weak US retail sales figures added to the gloom.
In Hong Kong, the benchmark Hang Seng index sank 5.4% -- its biggest percentage drop since Sept. 11, 2001. Markets in Australia, China, India, South Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines also dropped sharply on uncertainty about the US economic outlook and the full extent of the subprime mortgage crisis. "American financial mismanagement has brought us to this economic meltdown. Asian stock markets are all suffering; nobody has escaped."
JPMorgan Chase & Co., the 3rd- biggest US bank, said profit fell 34%, more than analysts estimated, after $1.3 billion of writedowns for subprime-mortgage investments.
The Federal Reserve, working to combat the effects of a serious credit crisis, said Tuesday it had auctioned $30 billion in funds to commercial banks at an interest rate of 3.95%. It marked the 3rd in a series of innovative auctions the Fed began last month as a way to provide cash-strapped banks with the reserves they need. The hope is that the increase in resources will keep banks lending to consumers and businesses and prevent the credit turmoil that hit in August from pushing the country into a recession.
(Also: Rescue me, Bernanke!)
An experienced European banker told EIR that "the problems of 2008 are of a completely different order of magnitude than those we saw in 2007." Whereas the losses officially calculated by central banks are already tremendous, in the order of hundreds of billions of dollars, the real write-off concerns some $3 trillion, the source said. That is what is starting to emerge now.
For anyone who follows the financial media these days, it is clear that the situation with the global financial system continues to deteriorate. Giant financial institutions are writing off unprecedented amounts, and desperately seeking new sources of capital to plug the growing holes in their balance sheets. Central banks are injecting funds into the banking system in record amounts, consumer debt and personal bankruptcies are soaring, the whole system seems to be falling apart.
What we are witnessing are not events which could lead to a financial collapse, but events which represent the disintegration of a system which has already died. This point is crucial to understanding all the maneuvering taking place as various financial groupings fight for their survival as their world crashes down around them. Ultimately this is a political fight rather than a financial one, since the real battle is over the nature of the system which will be established to replace the one which has failed.
The nation's biggest financial firms, battered by huge losses in their mortgage businesses, are relying on an enigmatic source for cash: foreign governments in the Middle East and Asia. The worsening credit crunch in the US has left domestic financial institutions with little choice but to seek help from foreign governments that have been enriched by the surge in the price of oil and the trade gap between the US and Asia.
[WAR: "The alien who lives among you will rise above you higher and higher, but you will sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, but you will be the tail. All these curses will come upon you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey YAHWEH your Elohim and observe the commands and decrees he gave you." (Deut 28:43-45)
A controversial new UN forum opened in Madrid Tuesday designed to avert what has become known as the clash of civilizations. The Alliance of Civilizations is the brainchild of the Spanish Prime Minister, who launched it 4 years ago together with his Turkish counterpart, to tackle intolerance and promote understanding, dialogue and reconciliation between world cultures. In 2005, it was adopted by the UN and now has the backing of more than 80 nations.
Would you trust an authorized biography or an autobiography to give you the whole truth about a person's life? It would be foolish to do so because the subject has every incentive to emphasize the positive things he has done and to deemphasize or even exclude the negative ones. Most mainstream history texts are nothing more than authorized biographies of government.
Tonight the waxing gibbous moon can guide your eye to the Pleiades star cluster, or the Seven Sisters. If you draw a line from the moon through the Pleiades, you will soon come to Mars. The planet is near the "horns" of Taurus, the Bull.
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