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The Japanese Have The World’s Longest Life Expectancy

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The Japanese Have The World’s Longest Life Expectancy

Trade significantly impacts a population’s overall health and prosperity, closely linking it to life expectancy.

This graphic, created by Visual Capitalist’s Julia Wendling, in partnership with the Hinrich Foundation, visualizes life expectancy at birth across 29 major economies.

Data is from the United Nations’ Human Development Index (UN HDI).

The analysis comes from the 2024 Sustainable Trade Index (STI), which the Hinrich Foundation produced in collaboration with the IMD World Competitiveness Center.

Data Overview

To create the STI’s lifespan metric, data on life expectancy at birth from the UN HDI were converted into a numerical index score. Scores were averaged for each economy, with a range of 0 to 100. 

A relatively high life expectancy at birth translated into a high (and favorable) STI lifespan score. Conversely, a relatively low life expectancy at birth translated into a low (and thus unfavorable) STI lifespan score.

A country’s openness to trade can determine access to essential resources, including medical supplies, healthcare services, and nutritious food. Furthermore, trade policies shape the availability of educational infrastructure and can either foster or hinder job creation. Both of these factors are critical factors in improving public health and estimated lifespans. 

Japan’s advanced healthcare system, low obesity rates, low crime levels, and active lifestyle have all contributed to the country’s remarkably high life expectancy.

Unsurprisingly, this metric is closely related to GDP per capita. Countries with lower GDP per capita, including Myanmar and Papua New Guinea, tended to have lower life expectancies. Conversely, countries with higher GDP per capita, such as Australia and Singapore, tended to have populations that lived longer.

As one of the only developed countries without Universal Health Coverage, the U.S. is the sole outlier in this dataset. The country has the second highest GDP per capita, yet its lifespan ranking is only at #12.

This infographic provides a preview of the Sustainable Trade Index, which evaluates 30 major economies using 72 economic, societal, and environmental indicators. Download the free report from the Hinrich Foundation.

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 11:05

“Make Deal To Protect National Security”: Trump Prepares Executive Order To Save TikTok

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“Make Deal To Protect National Security”: Trump Prepares Executive Order To Save TikTok

Update (1035ET):

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the divest-or-ban deadline and allow enough time for a deal in which the US will have 50% ownership via a joint venture with TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance. 

Trump’s statement was posted on Truth Social on Sunday morning:

I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.

Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations.

I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without US approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars – maybe trillions.

Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the US gets a 50% ownership in a joint venture set up between the US and whichever purchase we so choose.

Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale made a great point on X: 

Meanwhile, Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist involved with “White Dudes for Harris,” freaked out on X as Trump could save TikTok: “And Trump is going to position himself as the savior. JFC.”

*   *   * 

Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok suspended all US services early Sunday morning, while Apple and Google removed the app from their app stores to avoid hefty penalties under a new law. This follows the expiration of the divest-or-ban deadline for TikTok at midnight, just one day after the Supreme Court upheld the mandate.

A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!” TikTok’s US website landing page reads. 

On Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump said he would give TikTok’s owner, Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance, a three-month reprieve from the ban to find a buyer.

“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC News in an exclusive interview, adding, “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

Bloomberg noted, “It was TikTok’s choice to suspend availability late Saturday” or “face enormous penalties.” 

The unprecedented shutdown of TikTok will mobilize its massive base of 170 million monthly US users and demand action against political leaders who have been trying to nuke the Chinese video-sharing app, as well as, call on Trump to reverse the ban.

The Biden-Harris administration has made it very clear to the incoming administration to take action against TikTok over national security concerns. 

Early Sunday, Elon Musk confirmed that X is exploring the very real possibility of bringing back the short-form video app Vine in some capacity to his social media platform, which has become a central hub for Americans to access news.

TikTokers are freaking out about the ban…

Goldman told clients on Thursday that “Tiktok refugees” were finding alternative video-sharing platforms worldwide, such as downloading the Chinese app RedNote… 

TikTok influencer Tiffany Cianci told Bloomberg she hopes that Trump can deliver to reverse the ban: “This is a promise Trump made and it is a promise he used to get a large number of young people to vote for him,” adding, “We are calling on him to deliver immediately.”

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 10:35

What Americans Predict Will Happen In 2025

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What Americans Predict Will Happen In 2025

The year 2025 begins with a new president taking office, a ceasefire in Gaza, and wildfires causing extensive destruction in Los Angeles – all within the first month.

So, what can we expect from the rest of the year?

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, presents predictions for 2025 on various topics, based on a survey conducted by Ipsos between October 25 and November 8, 2024, in the United States.

What Will 2025 Bring?

Below is the full table of data presented in the visualization:

Highlights from the survey include:

  • Americans foresee an increase in extreme weather events in 2025. A majority (56%) also expect immigration to rise, despite Trump’s promises to deport illegal immigrants and impose taxes on products from Mexico and Canada if neighboring countries don’t improve border security.

  • Most respondents also anticipate their personal data being leaked on the internet and believe that unemployment will increase.

  • Only 2 in 10 Americans think the conflicts in the Middle East will end in 2025 (noting that the survey was conducted before the Gaza ceasefire agreement). Additionally, 3 in 10 Americans believe the war in Ukraine will conclude this year.

  • Finally, 63% of respondents feel it is unlikely that people will become more tolerant in 2025.

If you enjoyed this chart, check out this graphic that shows the countries most exposed to potential immigration policy changes under the Trump presidency.

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 09:55

With Trump In Power, Orbán Vows To Expel Soros Network From Hungary, Urges Patriots Across Europe To Do Same

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With Trump In Power, Orbán Vows To Expel Soros Network From Hungary, Urges Patriots Across Europe To Do Same

Authored by Liz Heflin via Remix News,

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who bet big on a Trump victory, is now making broad predictions about a “new golden age” for Hungary with Trump in the White House, while taking shots at Democrats and George Soros, including a promise to expel his organizations from Hungary.

“Everything will change, a different day will dawn over the Western world on Tuesday morning. The failed democratic governance in America will come to an end,” Magyar Nemzet reported Viktor Orbán as saying in his first interview this year with Kossuth Radio’s Good Morning Hungary! program.

Calling the Democratic Party and George Soros “a bunch of idiots,” Orbán claimed the Democrats want to force what they think is right on the world, including regarding migration, gender, and wa.

He further called U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman a “bully” who sought to “push Hungary into the globalist canon.”

“It is not in the Hungarian people’s thinking that a tyrant comes here and says that people from the other side of the world should come here and populate this region before us,” the Hungarian prime minister said, admitting that he “was not willing” to meet Pressman even once during his four-year tenure. 

Regarding Antal Rogán being put on the U.S. sanctions list, Orbán said this actually strengthened Rogán’s position in the government and that the U.S. move proves the minister is doing his job well. Although Rogán’s official title is minister of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office; Orbán mentioned his job specifically as being related to Hungary’s “intelligence/secret services” (titkosszolgálatok).

Believing that a Trump administration heralds a “new golden age” for Hungary, Orbán said that his top priority for 2025 is to send George Soros back to the United States, with the “expulsion of the Soros network from Hungary” starting this spring. Orbán also expressed his hope that “patriots elsewhere” will also do the same.

“It must be shown that the Soros network’s presence in Europe is contrary to the interests of the people,” he stated.

Stating that Brussels is in the pocket of George Soros, he said, “If there is corruption, this is it.”

Noting the start of a “new era in Brussels,” the prime minister said Brussels needs to “sober up” and “adapt.”

Although the prime minister lauded Hungary’s economic policy plans, he said they will only work if the war does not escalate and the sanctions policy is stopped. He also believes serious protective measures will be needed.

“Without Western money, there is no Ukraine. Ukrainian agriculture clashes with European agriculture, and its economy does not fit into the European system,” he added. 

Promising jobs and wage increases for everyone, he sees the middle class growing stronger in 2025, highlighting Hungary’s financial reserve system to boost consumption. Orbán also noted that Hungarians save an average of 24 percent of their income, compared to the EU average of 14 percent.

Energy will, as for many countries, remain a concern, especially with ongoing sanctions and as Hungary’s nuclear plant expansion (Paks II) will not be completed until. 2030-2032. Thus, keeping the TurkStream pipeline open will be of key importance. 

Read more here…

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 09:20

Goes Dark: “Sorry, TikTok Isn’t Available Right Now”

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Goes Dark: “Sorry, TikTok Isn’t Available Right Now”

Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok suspended all US services early Sunday morning, while Apple and Google removed the app from their app stores to avoid hefty penalties under a new law. This follows the expiration of the divest-or-ban deadline for TikTok at midnight, just one day after the Supreme Court upheld the mandate.

A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!” TikTok’s US website landing page reads. 

On Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump said he would give TikTok’s owner, Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance, a three-month reprieve from the ban to find a buyer.

“The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it’s appropriate,” Trump told NBC News in an exclusive interview, adding, “If I decide to do that, I’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

Bloomberg noted, “It was TikTok’s choice to suspend availability late Saturday” or “face enormous penalties.” 

The unprecedented shutdown of TikTok will mobilize its massive base of 170 million monthly US users and demand action against political leaders who have been trying to nuke the Chinese video-sharing app, as well as, call on Trump to reverse the ban.

The Biden-Harris administration has made it very clear to the incoming administration to take action against TikTok over national security concerns. 

Early Sunday, Elon Musk confirmed that X is exploring the very real possibility of bringing back the short-form video app Vine in some capacity to his social media platform, which has become a central hub for Americans to access news.

TikTokers are freaking out about the ban…

Goldman told clients on Thursday that “Tiktok refugees” were finding alternative video-sharing platforms worldwide, such as downloading the Chinese app RedNote… 

TikTok influencer Tiffany Cianci told Bloomberg she hopes that Trump can deliver to reverse the ban: “This is a promise Trump made and it is a promise he used to get a large number of young people to vote for him,” adding, “We are calling on him to deliver immediately.”

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 08:45

Lithuania Becomes First NATO Ally To Commit To Trump’s 5% Defense-Spending Goal

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Lithuania Becomes First NATO Ally To Commit To Trump’s 5% Defense-Spending Goal

Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times,

Lithuania has announced plans to boost its defense spending to between 5 percent and 6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), becoming the first NATO country to make a firm commitment to President-elect Donald Trump’s request that allies spend at least 5 percent of GDP on defense.

The decision, announced on Jan. 17 by top Lithuanian officials, is driven by the Baltic nation’s determination to confront the threat of Russian aggression. Lithuania, which shares a border with Russia and its heavily militarized Kaliningrad exclave, has repeatedly emphasized the need to bolster its defenses.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters after a Jan. 17 meeting of the State Defense Council in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, that a historic decision has been taken to nearly double the country’s defense spending. Currently, Lithuania spends a little over 3 percent of its GDP on defense.

“The possibility of Russian military aggression is still real, but not imminent,” Nausėda said.

“We need to increase our efforts to strengthen defense and deterrence significantly, devoting more resources to this end.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys clarified in a post on X that the country’s commitment to spend between 5 percent and 6 percent of GDP would start in 2026 and continue through 2030.

“Difficult times require bold decisions & leadership,” he wrote.

“We call on our allies to follow this lead. The era of passive ’sit-and-wait’ strategies is over.”

The announcement, which comes days before Trump assumes office, makes Lithuania the first NATO ally to formally commit to the 5 percent of GDP spending target that the president-elect has demanded.

Trump has long criticized NATO members for not meeting the alliance’s 2 percent defense spending target and recently proposed a more ambitious 5 percent goal, saying during a Jan. 7 press conference at Mar-a-Lago that “they can all afford it.”

Poland, the current NATO leader in defense spending, has vocally supported Trump’s 5 percent target. However, Warsaw has framed its 5 percent support as an aspirational goal for all NATO members, suggesting it could take some countries a decade to achieve it. As of now, Poland has not officially declared when it will meet or exceed the 5 percent mark. Poland spent 4.12 percent of GDP in 2024 and projects that will rise to 4.7 percent in 2025.

In backing Trump’s call for the 5 percent target, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told the Financial Times in a recent interview: “If we could afford to go into debt to rebuild after Covid, then we must surely find the money to protect ourselves from war.”

Poland, which shares a border with both Ukraine and Russia, has long argued that greater defense spending is needed to deter Russia. Overall, however, European NATO leaders have offered a mixed response to Trump’s demand for a significant defense spending boost. For instance, France is grappling with the challenges of managing a debt burden exceeding 110 percent of GDP, while Germany is constrained by constitutional limits on additional borrowing.

In 2014, NATO set a target that all members should be spending 2 percent of GDP by 2024.

By the end of 2023, 10 of 31 NATO members had reached the 2 percent goal, although projections published in June 2024 suggest that number could rise to 23 out of 32 in 2024, following Sweden’s accession.

When Trump took office in 2016, only five NATO members met the 2 percent minimum defense spending target; by the end of his presidency, that number had increased to nine.

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 08:10

Russian Media Alleges NATO F-16 Pilot Killed In Strike On Ukraine

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Russian Media Alleges NATO F-16 Pilot Killed In Strike On Ukraine

Russia is claiming that its military has killed a NATO flight instructor who was on the ground in Ukraine advising Ukrainian pilots after they received several rounds of F-16 fighter jets from European countries.

“Danish instructor Jepp Hansen, who was training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, has allegedly been killed in a Russian missile strike in Ukraine, TASS reported on Saturday,” according to Russia’s English-language media.

Illustrative image via X

Regional reports say that an Iskander missile was launched by Russia on a university building in the city of Krivoy Rog in Dnepropetrovsk Region which was being used by the Ukrainian military.

The Danish government has not commented on the claims, nor is it expected to:

According to Russian media reports, citing a post by Hansen’s friend on social media, the Dane had significant experience in flying F-16 jets and had trained “hundreds of Ukrainians” to operate the planes

Neither Denmark nor the Russian Defense Ministry has officially commented on the reports.

Denmark and the Netherlands have been leading European countries in the F-16 program, having also hosted Ukrainian pilots as they undergo training.

While speculation has abounded over whether or not NATO trainers are actually inside Ukraine, Russia has on several occasions warned that any such Western personnel present in Ukraine are fair game for attack.

In the recent past, Russia has claimed to have taken out French mercenaries in the north. These current Russian media reports mark the first claims of a NATO flight instructor having been killed, and the reports are surprisingly specific, mentioning the allegedly deceased Danish pilot by name.

Some media reports and pundits have gone so far as to suggest that NATO pilots are actually operating Ukraine’s F-16s in Ukraine’s skies in some cases. But this has never been confirmed nor is there evidence of this.

Russia’s military has been searching for base locations in Ukraine where the F-16s are hosted on the ground. Kiev has kept this a carefully guarded secret since receiving the advanced fighters. It could be that some are based in neighboring Poland, and then fly missions in Ukraine.

The US has also been hosting a Ukrainian pilot training program, especially out of San Antonio and Arizona, but has allowed European partners to largely spearhead the bulk of the training, some reports indicate.

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 07:35

The Merits Of A Demilitarized ‘Trans-Dnieper’ Region Controlled By Non-Western Peacekeepers

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The Merits Of A Demilitarized ‘Trans-Dnieper’ Region Controlled By Non-Western Peacekeepers

Authored by Andrew Korybko via substack,

This proposal is the most realistic means for keeping the peace after an armistice…

Bloomberg cited unnamed “people with knowledge of Kremlin thinking” to report that Russia will only demand that Ukraine restore its constitutional neutrality, “drastically cut back military ties with the NATO alliance”, limit its army, and freeze the front lines, albeit with some territorial swaps. Also, “The Kremlin’s position is that while individual NATO members may continue to send arms to Ukraine under bilateral security agreements, any such weapons should not be used against Russia or to recapture territory.”

To be sure, Bloomberg might have either invented their sources or they’re uninformed of what the Kremlin thinks, but there’s also the possibility that they’re accurately reflecting what it plans to ask for during peace talks. Hopefully Russia’s demands of Ukraine are more than what Bloomberg just reported, however, because the aforesaid requests would be settling for much less than it might otherwise be able to achieve as suggested by some of the proposals made at the end of this analysis here.

For instance, any agreement to limit the Ukrainian Armed Forces is meaningless without a monitoring mission paired with credible enforcement mechanisms to enforce compliance. After all, even written guarantees that individual NATO members won’t arm Ukraine for the purpose of using these weapons against Russia or to recapture territory – not to mention purely verbal ones – could be broken. There’s also the question of how Russia would respond to future drone and missile strikes from Ukraine.

The most realistic way to address these concerns is through the participation of only non-Western countries in monitoring and peacekeeping roles, the latter of which could concern deployment along the entire Russian-Ukrainian border, including the Line of Contact (LOC). About the second-mentioned, the reported territorial swaps could see Russia give back its part of Kharkov Oblast in exchange for Ukraine giving back its part of Kursk Oblast, which each would formally retain their territorial claims to the other.

This would restore the status quo ante bellum along that part of their universally recognized frontier while serving as a legal workaround against their respective constitutional prohibitions on ceding territory, which in Russia’s case is absolute while Ukraine’s requires a national referendum. Accordingly, freezing the LOC through an armistice a la the Korean precedent wouldn’t violate either of their laws, thus retaining Ukraine’s claims to the entirety of its pre-2014 borders and Russia’s to its post-2022 ones.

As for effectively keeping the peace, Russia could be more confidently assured that Ukraine won’t unilaterally violate the armistice with Western encouragement if the proposed non-Western monitoring and peacekeeping contingent is allowed to inspect all trains and cars that cross the Dnieper eastward. Ukraine might undertake a long-term clandestine campaign to rebuild its heavy weaponry presence in proximity to the DMZ ahead of a possible sneak attack so this would be imperative for impeding that.

Likewise, since such equipment could also be smuggled across the river, these forces should also be given the means for patrolling it as well as the right to detain people, seize their contraband, and use lethal force if they come under attack. Kiev should have a special regime since it’s difficult to enforce such checks given the capital’s location on both sides of the river, but one possibility is fencing off its northeastern, eastern, and southeastern reaches beyond the city’s limits and conducting checks there.

The ideal scenario should be to demilitarize everything east of the Dnieper and north of the LOC that remains under Kiev’s formal control, the so-called “Trans-Dnieper” region for lack of a better description, while having its DMZ manned by Russia’s closest non-Western partners. The first part of this suggestion would prevent Ukraine from unilaterally violating the armistice while the second would do the same with regards to Russia since it would be loath to attack Indian and other such friendly peacekeepers.

This proposal takes for granted that NATO will continue expanding its influence in Western Ukraine along that side of the Dnieper, but the river will serve as a major obstacle to on-the-ground offensive action by either party, all while they presumably concentrate air defense systems up and down its banks. It’s unrealistic to expect Russia to plant boots its boots on the NATO-Ukrainian border, monitor everything that crosses, and then hold these positions indefinitely as explained here so this is the next best solution.

In the event that Russia or Ukraine detects illegal military activity by the other in the Trans-Dnieper region such as prohibited arms and special forces, then they should already have a protocol agreed upon as part of their armistice for peacefully addressing this prior to resorting to kinetic action if that fails. This could include a formal complaint with evidence, tasking the non-Western monitoring and peacekeeping mission with investigating, and in the worst-case scenario, drone or missile strikes against those targets.

On-the-ground military activity by either party would be strictly prohibited since that would violate the terms of the armistice and instantly risk another conflict, ergo the purpose of the non-Western monitoring and peacekeeping mission along the DMZ, the Dnieper, and around Eastern Kiev for deterring this. There could also be previously agreed and very severe economic, financial, and other consequences from Western and non-Western countries that would immediately enter into effect if that happens.

Basically, the Trans-Dnieper region would function as a no-man’s land or buffer zone, and the locals who feel uncomfortable living there could either relocate elsewhere in Ukraine such as west of the Dnieper or take advantage of Russia’s simplified procedure from summer 2022 for moving eastward instead. As can be seen, the proposal for a demilitarized Trans-Dnieper region that would be monitored and maintained by non-Western peacekeepers would greatly keep the pace, hence why Russia must demand it.

Any armistice or peace treaty that doesn’t include this outcome risks being unilaterally violated by Ukraine with Western encouragement after some time. Its terms, especially those involving severe multidimensional consequences against whichever party sends ground forces into this zone (though importantly not for carrying out surgical strikes), should also reassure the West that Russia won’t violate this deal either. That’s why the US would do well to seriously consider this proposal if Russia brings it up.

Should Russia settle for less by only demanding what Bloomberg reported, then it would be tacitly requesting nothing more than a temporary lull in hostilities to prepare for the next inevitable phase of the conflict. Officially speaking, Russia remains determined to reach a lasting peace that preferably meets as many of its maximum goals as is realistically possible given the new circumstances in which it now finds itself after over 1,000 days of conflict, so it should be receptive to the Trans-Dnieper proposal.

Tyler Durden
Sun, 01/19/2025 – 07:00

These Are The 25 Most Affordable Cities In America

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These Are The 25 Most Affordable Cities In America

Most Americans know living costs vary widely across the country, with the coasts being significantly more expensive than Middle America.

From rent and groceries to gas, the Midwest often stands out for its affordability. But just how far does this pattern extend?

To find out, Visual Capitalist’s Pallavi Rao ranked the 25 most affordable cities among America’s 50 largest, based on average monthly household spending on 10 common bills.

Data is sourced from payment platform Doxo’s annual report tracking household expenditure.

America’s Least Expensive City: Detroit

Detroit, still home to America’s big three automakers, is the most affordable large American city.

Households in Detroit spend about $1,600 a month, almost $100 less than second-ranked Cleveland, Ohio. This is also the largest gap between cities on this list.

As previously suspected, America’s most affordable large cities are clustered in the Midwest (particularly around the Great Lakes) and the South.

In fact, only five cities on the entire list are not in one of the two regions. Of them, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ($2,060/month) is the only one that can be considered on the seaboard.

But of course, just dollars spent isn’t everything.

By looking at the share of monthly income put towards these bills, new patterns emerge.

For example, Detroit households spent nearly half of their monthly income on these bills, far more than 25th ranked Fort Worth households (37%).

So which cities spend the most on bills? Check out: America’s Least Affordable Cities Going Into 2025 for a breakdown.

Tyler Durden
Sat, 01/18/2025 – 23:00

Here’s Why The Stage Has Been Set For War With Iran…

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Here’s Why The Stage Has Been Set For War With Iran…

Authored by Chris Macintosh via InternationalMan.com,

The stage is set for a major war with Iran. Let’s first go back to what’s happened and potential implications.

Ten days after the attacks of 11 September 2001, former US Army General Wesley Clark revealed a controversial military strategy. In a conversation in the corridors of the Pentagon, Clark learned of a secret plan to “eliminate seven countries in five years.” This 2007 revelation raised many questions about the real motivations of the “War on Terror” and the garbage narrative fed to the world via mainstream media.

Clark reported that the plan was to invade Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and, finally, Iran. The surprisingly extensive list raised questions about US intentions and global strategy after the 9/11 attacks.

According to Clark, the decision to attack Iraq was made without clear justification, underlining officials’ inability to deal with the terrorist threat effectively. The conversation that took place between Clark and another senior Pentagon official revealed the uncertainty and confusion within the upper echelons of the military. “Are we going to war with Iraq? Why?,” asked Clark. The answer was puzzling: “I don’t know. I guess they don’t know what else to do.”

This admission highlighted the lack of a coherent strategy and a willingness to use military power to topple governments rather than directly confront the terrorist threat. Clark’s statement emphasized how the “War on Terror” had been executed ineffectively and for political reasons rather than a real need for national security.

The list of target countries seemed aimed at consolidating US political and military influence in strategically important regions rather than eliminating concrete threats. Twenty years after the 9/11 attacks, Clark’s words still resonate as a warning.

Remembering these events is crucial to understanding today’s geopolitical dynamics and the consequences of the decisions made then. The war in Iraq, which began in 2003, was only the first step in a series of military interventions conducted at the behest of Israel, which have had significant repercussions throughout the Middle East and beyond.

Remember General Wesley Clark?

For a reminder, watch this.

In any event, the West is nearly wetting themselves with glee saying that Syria is now “free.” By free, of course, they have this guy.

Jolani, we are told, is the face of freedom. Who is he? Al-Jolani who fought against the US in Iraq before joining Islamic State and Al-Qaeda and later founding the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, earning a $10 million bounty on his head. As the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), he oversaw a regime of what the UN classified as “war crimes” in Idlib province.

But fortunately for Western media, they’re mostly talking to a bunch of ignorant peasants who won’t do even a cursory investigation into whether or not they’re being fed porkies or not, so here he is, a reformed, legitimate, moderate leader.

Since the 7 countries in 5 years project is entirely an Israeli-led initiative, it is no surprise to see Israel stampeding into the country bombing the isht out of much of it. The operation to divide Syria up will now commence. My guess is Erdy struck a deal and will get a chunk of the north, and Israel will move forward with the greater Israel project.

Just keep in mind that as we watch this taking place in front of our very eyes, any statements to the facts mentioned will be immediately met with the label of “anti semitism.”

It is the same strategy that has been used to silence truth. The labels of “conspiracy theorist,” “anti vaxxer,” “climate denier,” etc. — all are specifically designed to shut down any debate on the topic at hand while ridiculing those pointing out the obvious. The “anti semitism” label is no different. Expect to see it wielded with greater tyranny over the coming years.

The US and therefore NATO will be brought to the fore in order to fight these wars on behalf of Israel. You didn’t think that Jeffrey Epstein’s hard work for Mossad wouldn’t be put to work, did you?

Which brings me to….

Did Erdy Just Sign His Own Death Warrant?

Erdy has been in power since March 2003. That’s a long time. He’s repeatedly made reference to his vision of restoring Turkey’s influence over former Ottoman territories. This has led to a rebellious (and often ambitious) foreign policy, however he is what I like to call politically promiscuous — he’ll screw anyone.

Before we get into what’s just happened — namely Turkey providing military support for the Jihadists to overthrow Assad — let’s dial back the clock to 2016.

In a CIA-led coup attempt, Erdy found himself in a pickle. He was trapped in his resort in Marmaris, pleading on FaceTime with the citizenry after narrowly escaping assisination. It was reportedly Russian intelligence that saved his skin, notifying him of the incoming threat. Since that event, Russian-Turkish relations have been a lot more positive.

So a couple things happened there. Erdogan had become vehemently anti-Israel, and the coup was a strong message from the West that opposition to Israel would not be tolerated. Secondly, he now owed his life to the Russkies.

The way he’s played it ever since has been with ever increasing trade between the Russians while spewing empty rhetoric about his resistance to Israel, but with no actions taken. For example, despite calling out the genocide in Gaza, he has continued the uninterrupted supply of oil to Israel. Furthermore, he’s continued to undermine the Assad government, which — aside from Iran — has been the most anti-Israel government in the region. This also goes against both Russian and Chinese interests, both of whom have been supporters of Assad. Like I said, politically promiscuous.

So as you can see, it’s complicated. But here’s the thing. When you travel around Turkey, you see that all the major developments are financed by… wait for it, Chinese banks. And much of the infrastructure development is in partnership with or exclusively Russian. Mmmm, tricky!

So why did Erdy collaborate with Israel to take out Assad now? I suspect he’ll walk away with a chunk of northern Syria in a deal already struck. I see Israel taking Western Syria and Turkey taking the Kurdish areas and what it can. Plus, the Americans saying, “Well, we’re here for all the oil, but we’ll give it to Israel.”

The issue is Erdy now has decisively pissed off the Russians for sure as well as the Chinese. And you know what else?

Well, the recent cosying up to Russia and China by the Saudis is likely getting a rethink.

They’ll be correctly thinking, “Hmmm, they’re really trying to grab the whole Near East. Maybe we should be very careful about joining BRICS and threatening to move our assets out of the dollar because we could be next.”

They’re familiar with what happened to the US puppet Saddam Hussein, who was originally installed by the CIA, only to then fall out of favour. They know what happened to him. He developed weapons of mass destruction so well concealed they’ve never to this day been found, and furthermore, 9/11… you know, Al Qaeda was linked to… oh, I dunno. He was a bad man, OK.

The Saudis know that the stories told to the peasants in the West don’t even need to make sense and they will fall for it hook, line, and sinker.

This brings up a point I want to make regarding BRICS. It will shortly dawn on the Chinese in particular and the rest of BRICS that formalising BRICS as an economic alliance will not be tolerated, and if they are to have a multi polar world, then they will be forced to form a military alliance, too. And that means WW3. And yes, I know we are already in it, but it will by necessity go overt.

What else? As is always the case it is worth following the money. Here is the money…

So what we’re likely now to see is the Qatar-Turkey pipeline being pushed. I don’t think it’ll happen for the simple reason that it looks more likely that Syria becomes the next Afghanistan. In other words, a fustercluck. Getting any infrastructure built with dozens of factions of warring tribes will prove costly and ultimately won’t happen — at least not within the next five years or so. This in turn is great news for another country, halfway across the world…

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The Western system is undergoing substantial changes, and the signs of moral decay, corruption, and increasing debt are impossible to ignore. With the Great Reset in motion, the United Nations, World Economic Forum, IMF, WHO, World Bank, and Davos man are all promoting a unified agenda that will affect us all. To get ahead of the chaos, download our free PDF report “Clash of the Systems: Thoughts on Investing at a Unique Point in Time” by clicking here.

Tyler Durden
Sat, 01/18/2025 – 22:10