Written by Darius Shahtahmasebi

(ANTIMEDIA) — On November 13, 2017, 23 out of 28 European Union (EU) states signed a declaration to create what is expected to form the nucleus of a joint European army. The five countries that won’t be taking take part are Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Malta, and Portugal, though Ireland previously expressed some interest in joining.

The defense agreement is aimed at developing rapid reaction forces and implementing new material and equipment, including tanks and drones. It will include a five billion euro defense fund for buying weapons, as well as a special fund to finance operations and research.

Germany has almost all but spearheaded this project by itself. Just two years ago, the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag why Germany believes it is important to have a European army of its own.

“You would not create a European army to use it immediately,” Juncker stated. “But a common army among the Europeans would convey to Russia that we are serious about defending the values of the European Union.”

This might sound nonsensical considering NATO is currently surrounding Russia’s borders in an effort to contain Russia within an ambush of American troops and missiles. However, countries like Germany genuinely believe the U.S. can no longer protect Europe from Russia. NATO is essentially headed by the U.S., followed closely behind Great Britain, both of which cannot always act in favor of mainland Europe’s core interests given its geographical detachment (not to mention that Great Britain has opted to leave the E.U., making its influence over Europe’s military interests less apparent).

Under Donald Trump, the U.S. has formally lost the so-called global leadership role that both George W. Bush and Barack Obama had already started eroding. In May of this year, NATO officials had to Trump-proof the president’s visit, ensuring no one talked longer than four minutes to keep up with his limited attention span. In this context, Germany has openly said it can no longer rely on the United States and is reportedly seeking to take up the leadership reigns following America’s demise as a superpower.

NATO also has Turkey as a member, a country that does not always see eye to eye with Germany and has even expressed its willingness to join the Russian and Chinese-led Shanghai Bloc, instead.

Germany’s lack of a positive outlook towards NATO is significant. Germany is Europe’s largest economy. By 2020, it aims to spend 53 percent more on military equipment compared to 2016, according to a German Ministry of Defense estimate. However, though it pledged to increase the size of its armed forces to 200,000 earlier this year, it can’t realistically emerge as a superpower on its own in the face of the rising powers of Russia, China, India, and the rest of the European states. That is precisely why in February this year, Germany took matters into its own hands and announced the integration of its armed forces with Romania and the Czech Republic, baby-steps towards its very own European army.

According to Foreign Policy:

“Romania’s entire military won’t join the Bundeswehr, nor will the Czech armed forces become a mere German subdivision. But in the next several months each country will integrate one brigade into the German armed forces: Romania’s 81st Mechanized Brigade will join the Bundeswehr’s Rapid Response Forces Division, while the Czech 4th Rapid Deployment Brigade, which has served in Afghanistan and Kosovo and is considered the Czech Army’s spearhead force, will become part of the Germans’ 10th Armored Division. In doing so, they’ll follow in the footsteps of two Dutch brigades, one of which has already joined the Bundeswehr’s Rapid Response Forces Division and another that has been integrated into the Bundeswehr’s 1st Armored Division. According to Carlo Masala, a professor of international politics at the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich, ‘The German government is showing that it’s willing to proceed with European military integration’ — even if others on the continent aren’t yet.” [emphasis added]

Germany was not in a position to militarily emerge as a major superpower, but it had other ideas in mind as to how to combat that particular dilemma.

“The initiative came out of the weakness of the Bundeswehr,” said Justyna Gotkowska, a Northern Europe security analyst at Poland’s Center for Eastern Studies think tank, as quoted by Foreign Policy. “The Germans realized that the Bundeswehr needed to fill gaps in its land forces … in order to gain political and military influence within NATO.”

Foreign Policy also highlighted that Germany has to be careful as to how its neighbors, its rivals, and the rest of the world perceive a re-emerging German military given its infamous history in World War II.

Enter an E.U. army, one that would almost certainly be headed by Germany but that would encompass enough states to make it a much more formidable force (minus the negative publicity associated with Germany becoming a military power once again). Another glaring problem is that unelected E.U. officials would then be in a position to send Europe’s troops into combat as opposed to the so-called democratically elected institutions that allegedly have a mandate to decide whether or not to send its residents to die overseas.

One should also bear in mind that France, a keen backer of this project, retains a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council, equipped with a veto power it could use on behalf of this E.U.-led bloc. Even without the U.S. and the U.K., the force would have significant sway and power to implement its will and protect its interests.

While the idea of a European army is still in its early stages, as the dynamics on the global chessboard begin to switch out of Washington’s favor, this is surely one of the more important developments to keep an eye on.

Creative Commons / Anti-Media

REVENGE: YAZIDIS ACCUSED OF EXECUTING IRAQI CITIZENS, INCLUDING CHILDREN, OVER ISIS GENOCIDE

U.S. Satellite Records Massive Chinese And North Korea ILLEGAL ‘Bypass’

Kim Jong-un has become increasingly hostile toward the United States as sanctions have severely impacted the nation.

Chinese vessels have been spotted by the United States selling massive amounts of oil to North Korea. American satellites have captured detailed images of Chinese and North Korean ships side by side at seas transferring a load of oil from the Chinese vessels to the North Korean ships.

The United Nations Security Council has created resolutions which outlaw this trade between North Korea and China. The satellite images are so clear the name of each vessel is legible, the North Korean ship Rye Song Gang 1, is an old 1974 oil products tanker.

In retaliation to the illicit trade the United States has placed further sanctions on the North Korean Maritime administration. Six North Korean shipping companies and four Chinese shipping companies were targeted after violating the previously imposed sanctions.

The United STates satellite images depict the illicit trade between China and North Korea.

In the region the ship to ship trade is taking place, China is the only one who can effectively monitor and disrupt the illicit practice. With China’s strong presence in the region, it is unlikely the country is unaware of the huge transfer of energy resources. China has said it would comply with United States efforts to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, however, China has continued to conduct massive deals with the volatile nation.

The United States has locked up the assets within our borders of anyone tied to the trade companies caught and has forbid citizens from engaging in further trade with the sanctioned North Korean and Chinese companies named. President Trump signed the executive order on September 21, targeting individuals and companies involved in “a significant importation from or exportation to North Korea.”

The Trump administration has come down on North Korea with significant sanctions in order to strain their government and economy. The increasingly harsh sanctions on North Korea have the goal of bankrupting the country’s nuclear programs. The United States’ main interest is keeping the hostile regime from becoming a nuclear power, and a threat to our country.

North Korean military parades are often ridiculed for their hilariously fake weapons.

Kim Jong-un is the dictator of North Korea and has ruled the nation since 1994. Under his leadership the country has conducted several underground nuclear tests in defiance of previous peace agreements. Jong-un’s regime has also developed long range ballistic missile which are reported to be capable of reaching the United States. The most recent North Korean ballistic missile test pushed a rocket 2,800 miles into the sky before crashing down off the coast of Japan.

Jong-un has the fourth largest standing military in the world. A full 25% of the countries entire GDP is spent on their military endeavors. The countries military equipment consists of 3,500 tanks, 545 aircraft, 73 submarines, and 21,100 artillery units. The active military personnel includes 1,190,000 active soldiers in the Army, 60,000 Navy soldiers, 110,00 Airforce soldiers, and 189,000 paramilitary units.

Jong-un has called Trump a “depraved and stupid guy,” while President Trump has nicknamed the dictator “rocket man.” Jong-un’s regime stated his country has “finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force.” Jong-un continues to defy the international community making headway in his effort to strengthen his arsenal, however his country has paid a devastating cost.

While North Koreans are going hungry, Kim Jong-un has maintained a portly figure.

The population of North Korea has endured starvation because the countries resources were improperly allocated. North Korea continues to dump untold riches into their military while their people go hungry, malnutrition has literally caused their population’s average height to deteriorate 1.2-3.1 inches below their neighbors to the south.

North Korea’s plight is reflected in their lack of infrastructure as well. Of the roads in North Korea, 97% are unpaved while their neighbor to south has paved 92% of theirs. The population of North Korea is so poor only about 11 in 1000 own a car. Only about one in ten North Koreans have activated phones which were all on a single network until 2015. The countries internet for its citizens keeps their traffic within the borders of the nation with very few North Koreans being able to access the world wide web.

China is one of the few countries who engage in substantial trade with North Korea. While China has paid lip service to complying with United States efforts to sanction the hostile regime, their participation has been lackluster at best. China conducted about $335 million in trade with North Korea in October, not including the illicit trading caught by satellites and the number of undetected transactions which may have occurred as well. China is crucial to North Korea and the Trump administration will have to force their hand in order to bring Jong-un in compliance.

(conservativedailypost.com)

IRAN RECOGNIZES JERUSALEM AS PALESTINIAN CAPITAL CITY IN RESPONSE TO TRUMP DECLARATION

Report: US, Israel sign secret pact to tackle Iran nuclear and missile threat

'Dramatic understandings' were agreed at the White House on December 12, and deal signed by the two countries' national security chiefs, Channel 10 says

By TOI STAFF28 December 2017, 8:58 pm

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and US President Donald Trump shake hands at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, May 23, 2017. (AP/Sebastian Scheiner)

Israel and the United States have secretly signed a far-reaching joint memorandum of understanding providing for full cooperation to deal with Iran’s nuclear drive, its missile programs and its other threatening activities, an Israeli TV report said.

The document was signed on December 12 at the White House, culminating intensive talks between representatives of the major Israeli and American intelligence and defense hierarchies, headed by the US and Israeli national security advisers, H. R. McMaster and Meir Ben-Shabbat, respectively, the Channel 10 report said Thursday.

Citing both American and Israeli officials, the report said the document is designed to translate into “steps on the ground” the positions set out by US President Donald Trump in his October 13 speech on Iran, in which he decertified the Iran nuclear deal.

President Donald Trump, right, speaks as Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, left, listens at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, where Trump announced that McMaster will be the new national security adviser. (Screen capture/YouTube)

At what the TV report described as a “secret” meeting at the White House, the US and Israel formulated and signed a joint agreement on strategy and policy regarding Iran. Specifically, they agreed to set up joint teams to handle various aspects of the Iranian threat.

One such joint team, the report said, will deal with Iranian activity in Syria and Tehran’s support for the Hezbollah terror organization.

Another joint team will deal with both diplomatic and intelligence activities designed to grapple with Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.

A third joint team, it was reportedly agreed, would grapple with Iran’s ballistic missile program and its efforts to build accurate missile systems in Syria and Lebanon.

Finally, a fourth team would oversee preparation for any escalation by Iran and/or Hezbollah.

National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat. (Amos Ben Gerschom/GPO)

McMaster and Ben-Shabbat signed the joint document, the TV report said, quoting a “senior US government” source and “senior Israeli officials.”

Quoting the Israeli officials, Channel 10 said that the meeting confirmed that the US and Israel “see eye to eye on the trends and processes in the region,” and have now reached agreement on the strategy and policy required to deal with them.

“With all due respect to President Trump’s [December 6] declaration on Jerusalem [as the capital of Israel]” Channel 10 reporter Barak Ravid said, the December 12 “dramatic understandings” would have “a far greater impact on the security of Israel’s citizens.”

In a speech on October 13, Trump announced he would not recertify the Iranian nuclear deal, and outlined a new, tougher approach toward Tehran.

Trump said he was launching the new strategy to check Iran’s “fanatical regime” and warned that 2015’s landmark international nuclear deal could be terminated at any time.

US President Donald Trump speaks about the Iran deal from the Diplomatic Reception room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 13, 2017. (AFP/Brendan Smialowski)

Trump stopped short of withdrawing from the accord, but “decertified” his support for the agreement and left its fate in the hands of Congress.

“We cannot and will not make this certification,” he said. “We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran’s nuclear breakout.”

In addition, outlining the results of a review of efforts to counter “aggression” by Tehran and its proxies in a series of Middle East conflicts, Trump ordered tougher sanctions on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps and on its ballistic missile program.

Trump said the agreement, which defenders say was only ever meant to curtail Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, had failed to address Iranian subversion in the region and its illegal missile program.

The US president said he supported efforts in Congress to work on new measures to address those threats without immediately torpedoing the broader deal.

In this Sept. 30, 2015 file photo released by the official website of Khamenei’s office, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a graduation ceremony of Iranian Navy cadets in the northern city of Noshahr, Iran. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

“However, in the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated,” Trump said in a televised address from the Diplomatic Room of the White House. “It is under continuous review and our participation can be canceled by me as president at any time,” he warned.

He added later, speaking of Congress, “They may come back with something that’s very satisfactory to me, and if they don’t, within a very short period of time, I’ll terminate the deal.”

Trump accused the administration of his predecessor Barack Obama of lifting sanctions on Iran as part of the 2015 nuclear accord “just before” they could cripple the regime and bring it to collapse.

“The Iran deal is one of the worst and one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into,” he said. “In just a few years, as key restrictions disappear, Iran can sprint toward nuclear weapons breakout… What is the purpose of a deal that, at best, only delays [Iranian nuclear ambitions]?“ he asked.

Trump said he planned to ensure “Iran never — and I mean never — acquires a nuclear weapon.”

Netanyahu was a fierce opponent of the Iran deal before it was ratified in the US, even traveling to Washington to urge Congress to reject it in a controversial speech. Obama, however, insisted that the agreement would benefit Israel as well as the rest of the region, and touted the accord as one of his administration’s signature foreign policy achievements.

(The Times of Israel)