Sunday, August 09, 2009

G-20 IMF GOVERNANCE REFORM

THE REVOLUTION OF AMERICANS STANDING UP AGAINST THE NEW WORLD ORDER OFFSHORE BANKERS HAS OFFICIALLY BEGAN.LOOKOUT NEW WORLD ORDER NUTCASES THE WORLD IS WATCHING USE LIKE USE ARE WATCHING US.AND ITS NOT LEFT AGAINST RIGHT,ITS LEFT, RIGHT, REPUBLICAN,DEMOCRATES AGAINST THE NEW WORLD ORDER ENVIROMENTAL WORSHIPPING,MURDERING NUTCASES.

VARIOUS DEM ON DEM,REP ON REP (NON PARDISON,ALL AGAINST TYRANNY)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Boa77oBPZ8M&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYl6KQpHCkc&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiW8s-Vld88&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8UjY3YDlwA&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonyBfwQaio&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9v4i6Z_tRQ&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXax-wjOW44&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlmX3ytIIDs&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXfe_bVbaY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTXBOgPCh9w&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdkzHRgoIn0&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_h7iKQ3Xps&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV84OBtGpSQ&feature=player_embedded

MEDIA COVERS OBAMA JOKER PICTURE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vOQkXFcZxg&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4w12wW2kgA&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alRD9Gr4shU&feature=player_embedded
NATIONAL DEMOCRATES WANT DOBBS FIRED FROM CNN
http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/checker.aspx?v=GdnzIrkUkU
OBAMA DESERVES AN F-RON PAUL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INtoIkn0k28&feature=player_embedded
THX TO PEOPLE JONES DOUBLES FIGHT AGAINST NWO NUTCASES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G0KSOL9aiE&feature=player_embedded

NOW WITH THE REVOLUTION STARTING OBAMA WILL HAVE TO HAVE FALSE FLAGS TO GET THE PEOPLE UNDER CONTROL.I BELIEVE THESE FALSE FLAGS TO BE FIRE OR TERRORIST RELATED LIKE THE 911 ATTACK BY THE GOVERNMENT.GOD GAVE ORAL ROBERTS A VISION OF FIRES ALL OVER THE WORLD JUST BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH TO HEAVEN IN THOSE DAYS.GOD GAVE ORAL ROBERTS ACTS 2 AS THE SCRIPTURES TO GO BY.

ACTS 2:1-47
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:(NUKES OR FALSE FLAG BOMBINGS I BELIEVE NOW BY OBAMA AROUND THE WORLD)
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.


22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The Start Of The Second American Revolution? Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com Friday, August 7, 2009

http://www.infowars.com/the-start-of-the-second-american-revolution/

For a long time people have been asking why Americans are not up in arms, screaming and shouting about their fast disappearing liberties along with the continuous passage of legislation that they vehemently oppose, from the banker bailout, to the cap and trade bill, to Obamacare. Well now they are screaming and shouting – and if the momentum continues to build, this rebellion could the spark to ignite the second American revolution.For those waiting for a summer of rage it has now arrived – outraged Americans across the country are exercising their first amendment rights to do the most American thing imaginable – speaking truth to power through non-violent civil disobedience.At first the establishment left media attempted to attack the credibility of the protests by claiming that they were the work of health insurance company lobbyists – but when that fizzled after ABC News reported that there were no lobbyists present at the demonstrations, the attack dogs shifted their rhetoric to claim that the protesters were Nazis and right-wing extremists.Meanwhile, at the same time media apologists for the administration are labeling the protesters as violent and dangerous extremists, Obama supporters are beating up Obamacare protesters while foundation-funded organizations like ACORN, MoveOn.org, the National Council of La Raza, the eugenics front Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Clintonite John Podesta’s war-mongering Center for American Progress are supporting moves to chill free speech and eliminate protesters at town hall meetings.The only people acting like Nazi brownshirts are the White House front groups who are now calling for the police to crack heads and silence voices of dissent.The desperation on behalf of the Obama administration and its mouthpieces in their attempts to denounce the protests is clearly evident, to the point where they are now compiling an enemies list via snitch tips sent to them via the White House website in order to try and neutralize the growing anger.

Another talking point now making the rounds is that it is uncivil and belligerent to become rowdy at town hall meetings, when in fact nothing could be more Americana, nothing could be more in spirit with the legacy of the founding fathers and the very soul of the country.The establishment is scared to death that Americans may see beyond the scope of their partisan divisions and come together to stand up in unison against the offshore bankers and corporations that run the White House, which is why the constant politicized drumbeat that the protesters are nothing more than astroturf Republicans is constantly echoed.In reality, for anyone who has closely tracked the evolution of this movement, the demonstrations owe their origins in an increasing sense of outrage about the multi-trillion dollar looting being carried out by the Federal Reserve in the form of the bailout, the nightmare cap and trade bill, the totalitarian health care proposals, and the general handover of American sovereignty to globalist interests through crony infrastructure sellouts and the emerging North American Union.Although admittedly at an embryonic stage, the scenes we see unfolding across the country could be the spark that ignites the second American revolution. At the very least, the passionate, outraged and bold reaction to the Obama administration’s big government agenda is definitely a sign of things to come, and as each new totalitarian program is rolled out the resistance will only increase and get louder as momentum builds and people across the nation get in the face of the system and yell, don’t tread on me.

HOARDING OF GOLD AND SILVER

DOCTOR DOCTORIAN FROM ANGEL OF GOD
then the angel said, Financial crisis will come to Asia. I will shake the world.

JAMES 5:1-3
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

REVELATION 18:10,17,19
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

EZEKIEL 7:19
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

REVELATION 13:16-18
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM

Geithner asks Congress for higher U.S. debt limit By David Lawder – Fri Aug 7, 9:43 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner formally requested that Congress raise the $12.1 trillion statutory debt limit on Friday, saying that it could be breached as early as mid-October.It is critically important that Congress act before the limit is reached so that citizens and investors here and around the world can remain confident that the United States will always meet its obligations, Geithner said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that was obtained by Reuters.

A Treasury spokeswoman declined to comment on the letter.

Treasury officials earlier this week said that the debt limit, last raised in February when the $787 billion economic stimulus legislation was passed, would be hit sometime in the October-December quarter. Geithner's letter said the breach could be two weeks into that period, just as the 2010 fiscal year is getting underway.The latest request comes as the Treasury is ramping up borrowing to unprecedented levels to fund stimulus and financial bailout programs and cope with a deep recession that has devastated tax revenues.It is expected to issue net new debt of as much as $2 trillion in the 2009 fiscal year ended September 30 and up to $1.6 trillion in the 2010 fiscal year, according to bond dealer forecasts.The request to increase the debt limit will likely raise the ire of Republicans who have accused President Barack Obama of runaway spending. They may try to hold up the legislation in effort to win concessions on Obama's health care reform plan.Geithner urged Reid to not let politics hamper U.S. credit-worthiness and said he looked forward to working with the Nevada Democrat to secure enactment of legislation on the debt limit as early as possible.Congress has never failed to raise the debt limit when necessary. Because members of both parties have long recognized the need to keep politics away from this issue, these actions have traditionally received bipartisan support, he wrote.This is clearly a moment in our history that calls for continuation of that tradition.(Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Carol Bishopric)

US deficit climbs to 1.3 trillion dollars
(AFP) – AUG 7,09


WASHINGTON — The US budget deficit reached 1.3 trillion dollars for the current fiscal year in July, official data showed, news set to fuel opposition to US President Barack Obama's ambitious health care and climate change proposals.The deficit for the first 10 months of fiscal year 2009, which began October 1, reached 1.3 trillion dollars, close to 880 billion dollars greater than the deficit recorded through July 2008, said the US Congressional Budget Office (CBO).Outlays rose by almost 530 billion dollars, or 21 percent, and revenues fell by more than 350 billion dollars, or 17 percent, compared with the amounts recorded during the same period last year, the non-partisan CBO said.The new data was likely to stoke Republican opposition to Obama's plans to remake the US health care system and enact sweeping legislation to battle climate change, as well as fuel criticism of his handling of the economy.Republicans have charged that the nearly 800-billion-dollar economic stimulus package Obama and his Democratic allies pushed through earlier this year only swells the deficit and has not paid off in jobs recovered.The president late Thursday declared America may be seeing the beginning of the end of its economic nightmare, and fired a blistering attack on his Republican critics.The recession was years in the making, it didn't just start last month. That bank crisis didn't happen on my watch. Let's get the history straight,he said in a fiery and partisan speech reminiscent of his barnstorming 2008 election rhetoric.The president argued that his mammoth 787-billion-dollar rescue plan and other emergency measures had stopped the economy's free-fall and cut the rate of job losses.We may just be seeing the very beginnings of the end of this recession,he said.

Obama cranked up his counter-attack as a new poll suggested voter patience may be wearing thin with his economic rescue effort, with his sky-high job approval rating slumping to 50 percent, the lowest since his inauguration.The Quinnipiac University poll rating was a significant dip from the 57 percent Obama enjoyed on July 2, and followed a month of fierce battles of his economic rescue plans and signature healthcare reform.The White House is also bracing for new unemployment figures due Friday that analysts expect to show the jobless rate climbing to a 26-year high of 9.6percent, ever closer to the politically perilous 10-percent mark.

UK national ID card cloned in 12 minutes Author: Ian Grant Posted: 11:30 06 Aug 2009

The prospective national ID card was broken and cloned in 12 minutes, the Daily Mail revealed this morning.The newspaper hired computer expert Adam Laurie to test the security that protects the information embedded in the chip on the card.UPDATE: ID card cannot be hacked, UK Government claims - encryption secrets revealed.Using a Nokia mobile phone and a laptop computer, Laurie was able to copy the data on a card that is being issued to foreign nationals in minutes.He then created a cloned card, and with help from another technology expert, changed all the data on the new card. This included the physical details of the bearer, name, fingerprints and other information.He then rewrote data on the card, reversing the bearer's status from not entitled to benefits to entitled to benefits.

He then added fresh content that would be visible to any police officer or security official who scanned the card, saying, I am a terrorist - shoot on sight.According to the paper, Home Office officials said the foreign nationals card uses the same technology as the UK citizens card that will be issued from 2012.Guy Herbert, general secretary of privacy lobby group NO2ID, said it was a mistake to assume that the Home Office cared about the card, or identity theft or citizens' benefit. He said the Home Office wanted the central database to record citizens' personal details in one place for official convenience. It is that database which will deliver unprecedented power over our lives to Whitehall and make the Home Office king in Whitehall. The card is an excuse to build the database. If the card is cancelled it already intends to use passports as a secondary excuse,he said. Home Office officials said they were working on a response to the story, and would issue a statement later today.

GDF Suez unit gets EU approval to take water firms
Wed Aug 5, 2009 9:44am EDT


BRUSSELS, Aug 5 (Reuters) - French water distribution firm Lyonnaise des Eaux, a unit of GDF Suez (GSZ.PA) won permission from the European Commission on Wednesday to acquire six firms active in water collection, treatment and supply in France.

Lyonnaise des Eaux (LDE) is to buy shares held by Veolia Eau-Compagnie Générale des Eaux (Veolia Eau) in six subsidiaries owned jointly with Veolia Eau (VIE.PA).The executive arm of the 27-nation European Union said in a statement that its investigation had revealed the proposed deal would not harm competition in the markets concerned.LDE and Veolia Eau have decided to sell each other their holdings in nine joint subsidiaries which they control together. At the end of the proposed operation, LDE will take sole control of six of these companies, the Commission said.
The transaction would not raise competition concerns given the limited market shares of the companies to be acquired, the Commission said. (Reporting by Bate Felix)

THESE ARE NWO NUTACASE SIGNS NOT THE MOTHERS,BABBIES IN THIS STORY.

SINS OF PEOPLE

2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

DECIEVERS WAXING WORSE AND WORSE.

2 TIMOTHY 3:13
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

MORE SIN SIGNS

EPHESIANS 5:5-8
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

HAVING CHILDREN IS BAD FOR THE ENVIROMENT.THESE NEW WORLD ORDER NUTCASES TAKE THE CAKE WITH THIS STORY.

August 7, 2009, 10:32 am Having Children Brings High Carbon Impact
By Kate Galbraith Reuters


Her carbon footprint is getting bigger, too, a new study suggests.
Having children is the surest way to send your carbon footprint soaring, according to a new study from statisticians at Oregon State University. The study found that having a child has an impact that far outweighs that of other energy-saving behaviors.

Take, for example, a hypothetical American woman who switches to a more fuel-efficient car, drives less, recycles, installs more efficient light bulbs, and replaces her refrigerator and windows with energy-saving models. If she had two children, the researchers found, her carbon legacy would eventually rise to nearly 40 times what she had saved by those actions.Clearly, the potential savings from reduced reproduction are huge compared to the savings that can be achieved by changes in lifestyle, the report states.The impact of children varies dramatically depending on geography: An American woman who has a baby will generate nearly seven times the carbon footprint of that of a Chinese woman who has a child, the study found.The calculations take account of the fact that each child is, in turn, likely to have more children. And because the calculations derive from the fertility rate — the expected number of children per woman in various countries — the findings focus on women, although clearly men participate in the decision to have children.In discussions about climate change, we tend to focus on the carbon emissions of an individual over his or her lifetime, said Paul Murtaugh, a professor of statistics at O.S.U., in a statement accompanying the study’s release.Those are important issues and it’s essential that they should be considered. But an added challenge facing us is continuing population growth and increasing global consumption of resources.The full report is published in the February 2009 edition of the journal Global Environmental Change: Human and Policy Dimensions.

Why Do You Submit to the People Who Rule You?
Karen De Coster LRC Blog August 7, 2009


These are the people who rule you, and they are carrying out their donor maintenance. Political donors are the people who buy politicians so they can have a piece of your pie redistributed to them through the application of a cascade of unconstitutional decrees.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi moves in a rarefied world of high society and high-level politics — and nothing underscores that fact quite like her plans for the August recess.Pelosi will spend next weekend quietly tending to top party donors and political allies at a series of private events in Northern California.The two-day issues conference starts next Friday night with a dinner for roughly 170 guests on the back lawn of Pelosi’s multimillion-dollar home in the fashionable Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco.

The following day, Pelosi will shepherd her guests to a Napa Valley winery with buildings designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry; the speaker and her husband, investor Paul Pelosi, own a nearby vineyard worth between $5 million and $25 million, according to her annual financial disclosure report.To be invited, one must have raised money for the DCCC, been a longtime friend of Pelosi’s or contributed $30,4000 to the DCCC this cycle. The maximum an individual may give to a national party committee in any one year.A donation to the DCCC of that size qualifies a donor to be part of the Speaker’s Cabinet, a fundraising program that gives supporters expanded access to Pelosi.Nancy Pelosi, a multi-millionaire, is destroying your life and freedom through her control of the governing body that lords it over all of us. Powerful and wealthy people are not buying access to this wrinkled, old hag because they like her or the Democrats. They do so because they get special favors and access to the redistribution booty at the expense of you, the middle-class wage earner or entrepreneur. Politics is coercion, and still, no matter how much people learn about the establishment and its reason for existence, they sanction it. They sanction it each time they concede to the government’s arbitrary decrees and go along with its mandates. And especially, the masses consent to total control and tyranny each time they vote for any one of these swines.When the economy tanks and inflation runs rampant, forcing Mom and Pop into food lines and unemployment lines, begging for tidbits, Mrs. Pelosi will be comfortably ensconced behind the walls of her California mansion, complete with servants, crystal, and fine wine. When Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class are lying in an overcrowded, musty, appalling medical clinic somewhere, being ignored for days under a socialized health care plan, Mrs. Pelosi will have private and immediate access to the best doctors and best hospitals in the world. These monsters, who have been given extraordinary powers to rule over you, have become so used to ramping up their powers and stomping their legislative jack boots down on your head, that they are not the slightest bit tolerant of resistance. They loathe your disobedience, your verbal challenges, your hostility to their supremacy.

In a prior blog post (Town Halls Gone Wild), I pointed out that some town halls had gotten so out of hand that frightened politicians were escorted out by police protective squads. Now, Nancy Pelosi, the repulsive, arrogant bitch that she is, has likened the middle class resistance to her socialist-fascist agenda as an astroturf movement. Ha Ha. She didn’t like the very appropriate swastikas stuck in her face as she tries to ram her perverted health care plan down our collective throats. In fact, the Dems are certain that there is no real resistance at all. They believe it’s just a big setup, with the Republican Party hiring stand-ins to show up and to protest. The term used to describe the resistance is manufactured outrage.Meanwhile, the overlords who rule our lives tell us – and want to force us – to drive little (fuel-efficient) crap cars, use filthy mass transportation, turn down our thermostats, and turn off our lights, while they thrust their arrogance in our faces by ordering up $200 million worth of Gulfstream jets to cart their pompous asses all over the world to lofty gatherings, spending our money so they can trip the lights fantastic with powerful and wealthy special interests, grabbing more and more power, while making us all poorer.Let’s give these hubristic rapscallions the one thing that they detest most – resistance. And plenty of it.

EVIL INVENTIONS ARE PREDICTED IN THE BIBLE.

ROMANS 1:29-32
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

REVELATION 9:7-8
7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

JACK VAN IMPE WAS TALKING ABOUT THESE ROBOTS IN HIS SHOW JULY 29.
http://www.thegospel.com/pages/jvim.asp

PEOPLE AGAINST OBAMA ON THIN ICE-WHITEHOUSE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv03W_M7L9A&feature=player_embedded

Expert Warns Of Terminator Robot Threat
Tuesday, August 4 12:25 pm


Sky News 2009 - Wars will be fought more often and civilians face extreme danger if the development of killer robots goes unchecked, a British expert has warned. Skip related content.Related photos / videos Expert Warns Of Terminator Robot Threat Enlarge photo Professor Noel Sharkey said the technology to create Terminator-style machines already exists and international discussion about its military applications is desperately needed.The University of Sheffield's professor of artificial intelligence and robotics said action must be taken to limit the development of robots that think for themselves.The nub of it is that robots do not have the necessary discriminatory ability. They can't distinguish between combatants and civilians,he said.People talk about programming the laws of war into a computer to give robots a conscience, so that if the target is a civilian you don't shoot.But for a robot to recognise a civilian you need an exact specification, and one of the problems is there's no specific definition of a civilian.

Soldiers have to rely on common sense.Robot weapons, such as the Predator and Reaper drones, have already been used in Iraq and Afghanistan.The pilotless aircrafts armed with bombs and missiles are used against insurgents - but civilians are often also among those killed.These machines are controlled by humans, but Prof Sharkey said the rapid progress of autonomous robots is concerning.The military have a strange view of artificial intelligence based on science fiction,he said.The next thing that's coming, and this is what really scares me, are armed autonomous robots. The robot will do the killing itself.This will make decision-making faster and allow one person to control many robots.A single soldier could initiate a large scale attack from the air and the ground.While Prof Sharkey suggested that scenario was still a long way off, he said robot arms control was an important debate that needed attention.

STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES

LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Hurricane Felicia weakens, now a Category 1 storm AccuWeather Sat Aug 8, 5:08 am ET

MIAMI – Hurricane Felicia has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm far out in the Pacific and is expected to weaken further as it gets closer to Hawaii.The National Hurricane Center said Felicia's maximum sustained winds weakened slightly to near 90 mph Friday evening.Forecasts say people in Hawaii should monitor Felicia's progress. They say the storm is expected to weaken further over the next two days, well before it reaches there.Felicia had reached Category 4 strength Thursday.Felicia is centered about 1,030 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, and is moving west-northwest near 14 mph.

Typhoon Morakot leaves 6 dead or missing in Taiwan AccuWeather By DEBBY WU, Associated Press Writer – Sat Aug 8, 12:44 am ET

TAIPEI, Taiwan – A typhoon slammed into Taiwan overnight, leaving at least six people dead or missing and more than a dozen injured, officials and media reported Saturday.

Typhoon Morakot made landfall in the eastern Hualien county late Friday night, the Central Weather Bureau said. It is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before it hits southern China late Saturday or early Sunday.Morakot, packing winds of up to 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour), was centered about 19 miles (30 kilometers) south of the capital, Taipei, as of 10:15 a.m. Saturday (0215 GMT) and was powering in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 7 mph (11 kph), the weather bureau said.A 67-year-old woman died late Friday when she drove her motorcycle into a ditch during heavy rain in the southern Kaohsiung county, the National Fire Agency said in a statement posted on its Web site.The Apple Daily newspaper said a 47-year-old man slammed his car into a train in torrential rain in eastern Yilin county late Friday and died on the spot. The newspaper did not provide a source.Another four people were missing and feared dead, the National Fire Agency said. Two were fishermen whose boat capsized off the coast of Pingtung county in the south, the agency said.Another man who was fishing onshore in eastern Taitung county fell into the sea and has not been recovered, the agency said. A villager, also in Taitung, set off on a fishing expedition early Friday as the storm approached the island but no one has been able to contact him since, it said. It did not provide any more details.

At least 15 people were reported injured across the island.

Morakot is expected to weaken from typhoon to tropical storm strength before it makes landfall in southern China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces late Saturday or early Sunday, the China National Meteorological Center said on its Web site.The storm is nevertheless expected to bring intense wind and heavy rain to coastal and inland areas on the mainland.In a notice on its Web site, the Fujian government said authorities have moved more than 252,000 people from their homes in coastal areas and some 48,000 fishing boats called back to harbor.All schools and scenic spots in Fujian have also been ordered closed and more than 3,300 paramilitary troops are on alert, equipped with flotation devices, speedboats and other rescue gear, the government said.Schools and businesses throughout Taiwan were closed Friday. Authorities canceled many flights from Taipei to Asian destinations and all domestic flights departing from the capital. They also suspended operations of the island's state-of-the-art high speed railroad.Morakot is the first typhoon to hit Taiwan this year. Typhoons frequently move in between July and September, often causing injuries and deaths in mountainous regions that are prone to landslides and flash floods.
Associated Press writer Henry Sanderson in Beijing contributed to this report.

12 killed in Philippines flooding: officials AccuWeather Fri Aug 7, 11:16 am ET

MANILA (AFP) – Twelve people, including three European tourists, were killed from flooding and landslides triggered by heavy rain north of Manila, police and officials said Friday.Two French tourists and a Belgian who died were among 12 European and South Korean hikers caught in heavy rain after scaling Mount Pinatubo volcano on Thursday, said regional police official Chief Superintendent Leo Nilo De La Cruz.Nine Filipinos also died in separate incidents.A spokesman for the French foreign ministry in Paris said two French nationals had died and six others, including one injured tourist, were rescued.A group of French nationals on an excursion in Mount Pinatubo province were taken by surprise by rising water levels while crossing a river by car, he said.A spokesman for the Belgian foreign ministry, Bart Ouvry, told AFP a man from Brussels aged about 40 died in the incident but gave no further details. The six French tourists who survived, together with three South Koreans, were rescued by an air force helicopter.French embassy consul Arnaut Rayar said he had spoken to the French survivors earlier in the day but they were too shocked to go into details.

The foreigners had hiked up the volcano, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of Manila, but after they descended were caught by heavy rain that mixed with volcanic ash on the slopes to form deadly, fast-moving mudslides.A Filipino guide and a Filipino rescuer were also killed.The 1,475-metre (4,850-foot) Mount Pinatubo erupted with devastating force in 1991, spewing a plume of ash 30 miles into the sky, killing more than 800 people.Since then, it has become a popular attraction for mountaineers and hikers.Meanwhile, in the northern resort city of Baguio, three children were killed after the rain triggered a landslide that buried their shanty town, said local police official Chief Inspector Paul Mencio.In Zambales province, near Pinatubo, the heavy rain caused a dike to burst, flooding 10 villages and leaving a husband and wife dead, said Governor Amor Deloso.The floods also washed out a major bridge and forced some 2,100 people to flee their homes for evacuation centres, the Zambales governor said.He appealed for more assistance, saying some residents were isolated by floods and were forced to climb up trees to avoid the rising waters.Two other locals died near Pinatubo in separate incidents.

WORLD GOVERNMENT

EPHESIANS 6:10-13
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,(DEMONIC ANGELS IN HIGH PLACES) against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.(SPIRTIUAL DEMONIC PERSONS)
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

LUKE 4:5-7(BECAUSE SATAN OFFERS WORLD POWER, WORLD ORDERERS HAVE ACCEPTED SATANS GIFT)
5 And the devil, taking him (JESUS) up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

DANIEL 7:23-25
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

DANIEL 12:4,1
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

REVELATION 13:1-3,7,8,12,16-18
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

REVELATION 17:3,7,9-10,12,18
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

We shall have World Government, whether or not we like it. The only question is whether World Government will be achieved by conquest or consent.James Paul Warburg appearing before the Senate on 7th February 1950

Like a famous WWII Belgian General,Paul Henry Spock said in 1957:We need no commission, we have already too many. What we need is a man who is great enough to be able to keep all the people in subjection to himself and to lift us out of the economic bog into which we threaten to sink. Send us such a man. Be he a god or a devil, we will accept him.And today, sadly, the world is indeed ready for such a man.

EU CALLS FOR WORLD GOVERNMENT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7D21rPpBrk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Feuro%2Dmed%2Edk%2F%3Fp%3D1277&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFs99zBTRO0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTfv6uOHgqQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVeMBNB0cII&feature=related
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4291770489472554607&ei=iaRTSrzHAoqUqQL1gMGqDw&q=EU&hl=en
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVeMBNB0cII&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVmtbLc4t6M&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Feuro%2Dmed%2Edk%2F%3Fp%3D1277&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv5cqh26CC0&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Feuro%2Dmed%2Edk%2F%3Fp%3D1277&feature=player_embedded
EXCELLENT EU REVIEW - WORLD REGIONS,GLOBAL CURRENCY
http://exposureroom.com/members/cybersilence.aspx/assets/d37a8ebc60694cc98173b8f32cfe898d/
EU-NEW SOVIET UNION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM2Ql3wOGcU&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Cj1b-rp1E&feature=player_embedded
WORLD GOVERNMENT UNDER TREATYS-INTERNATIONAL LAW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_government
TRANSATLANTIC POLICY
http://www.tpnonline.org/

JOAN VEON ON TAMAR YONAH 2008 (WORLD GOVERNMENT)
http://britanniaradio.blogspot.com/2009/07/we-are-already-under-global-government.html#links
UNDERSTANDING WORLD GOVERNMENT
http://www.womensgroup.org/
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=504526035342184251
BANK OF INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT PRESS
http://www.bis.org/events/agm2009/pcvideo.htm
HISTORY OF WAR AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1874212534444628577&hl=en

Central Bank governor issues warning BY CMC
Originally published: August 08, 2009 02:25:00 PM


CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC - Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Sir Dwight Venner, has warned member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that it cannot be business as usual if the sub-region is to achieve economic growth in the future.Addressing the St. Lucia Bankers Association (SLBA), Sir Dwight warned the nine-member OECS states that the future was not promising and that they were facing their sternest test since attaining independence.And now there is a major source of worry, with forecasters being undecided on the length of the current global financial and economic crisis,he said.The Central bank governor said that the present global economic crisis has affected the flow of foreign direct investment into the sub-region adding, and this is impacting the construction industry, tourism, the main foreign exchange earner (which) is predicted to decline and remittances are also drying up.Sir Dwight noted that economic growth declined from a high of six per cent in the 1980s to an average of three per cent in the 1990s. Preliminary data indicates that real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the OECS fell to 1.7 per cent in 2008 from a rate of 5.2 per cent in 2007.The ECCB governor said that unemployment is expected to increase and that central governments’ fiscal operations in the sub-region were likely to deteriorate.

However he said inflationary pressures in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) were likely to ease, in response to lower international commodity prices and falling global demand.Speaking on the topic What is the role of the Financial Sector in the implementation of the ECCU Eight Point stabilization and growth programme, Sir Dwight noted that the economies within the ECCU appear to have weathered the global financial and economic crisis because of the effective functioning of institutions created through the OECS Treaty.He said this highlights the urgent need to deepen the integration process and advance efforts toward economic union.He said the OECS needed the financial and economic space which an economic union would create to stabilise and then transform their economies.Meanwhile, SLBA president Mauricia Thomas-Francis is warning regional government which are trying to stabilize their economies in the wake of the international recession that they should seek to access funding currently available from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at low interest rates.But she said that it would also depend on the conditions attached to those loans.Mrs. Thomas-Francis said that a recent meeting of the G-20 developed countries a decision was taken to provide stimulus funding through the IMF to support economies that were in crisis as a direct result of the global recession.My recollection is that the resources which were made available to the IMF through the G20 summit were trebled and it is my view that countries that are feeling the impact of the global recession should make very good use of funding available through that medium.St Lucia is among OECS that have already accessed the IMF funds through the Exogenous Shock Facility (ESF).The government said St Lucia had qualified for US$10.7 million from the Fund. It said the ESF was not a structural adjustment facility and had very little conditionality attached.

The main opposition St.Lucia Labour Party (SLP) has sharply criticized government for accepting the IMF funds contending that the conditions of the loan include additional taxation and reduced social spending.But the SLBA president said that her association had no difficulty with the decision taken by the Stephenson King administration.Mrs. Thomas-Francis said that the rate of interest of 0.5 percent was extremely fine pricing and this government or any government for that matter in the OECS would not be able to access funding at that low rate anywhere.This is obviously a great avenue to help stimulate the economy and any country whose current economic profile is in need of support should access what is obviously a good avenue to stabilize and stimulate an ailing economy.Describing the interest rate as very attractive the bank official said the government would be hard pressed to access funding at this rate anywhere, certainly not within the local banking sector.We do not have the latitude to be able to provide such fine pricing. After all the G 20 has made those funds available for that purpose to ensure that the impact of the economic crisis is cushioned as much as possible.Support for the IMF loan facility has also come from prominent accountant Richard Peterkin, who had earlier encouraged government to borrow from the Washington-based financial institution.

IMF to reinforce governance reform PANA AUG 08,09

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is in the process of reinforcing its governance reform, according to a statement released by the fund.The statement, which was made available to the Pan African News Agency (PANA) in New York on Wednesday, indicated that the Executive Board met to have an initi a l discussion on governance on 21 July, 2009.The discussion was based on a staff paper that summarised the main issues and r eform options from several reports.It noted that the IMF directors considered five core issues, including fair quot a share, high-level engagement, effective decision-making and representation at t he Executive Board.Others are open selection of Fund management and an updating of the fund's manda te.The statement disclosed that a more concise draft, based on the board guideline s, will be discussed by the directors, who will put forward specific proposals f o r immediate action and identify areas for further work.PANA reported that following the current global financial crisis, the governance problem of some major international institutions, such as IMF and the World Ban k , has become a key issue.Critics said IMF's response to the crisis was not effective enough and the decis ion-making mechanism was more influenced by political forces outside the institu t ion.The IMF Executive Board admitted that although the fund's role in the current c risis has shown that its decision-making structures can deliver innovative and r a pid responses that the membership expects.It, however, said more can, and should be done to enhance the institution's leg itimacy and effectiveness beyond the time frame of current events.

At its April 2009 meeting, the International Monetary and Financial Committee (I MFC), an affiliate of the IMF, called on the executive board to report on govern a nce reforms, building on the many contributions to this area in recent years.PANA recalled that in June in New York, the Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said the bank would improve its governance structure, i n order to give more voice and greater representation to the developing countrie s .She also disclosed that the World Bank's President Robert Zoellick had in 2008, created a commission, chaired by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, to as s ess the bank's governance structure.The UN, at its recent high-level economic summit, called for the reform of the i nternational financial architecture, including the World Bank and IMF.Observers had said that despite bearing the brunt of the economic crisis, the de veloping countries have the least say on conditions attached to development fina n cial agreements at the World Bank and the IMF.

IMF warns of soaring debt in major economies
31 Jul 2009, 0310 hrs IST, AGENCIES


WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund warned on Thursday that rising public debt of the major developed countries could undermine efforts to
spur economic recovery.The growing debt levels could undermine investor confidence and push up interest rates, and eventually reverse economic gains, according to an IMF report.With a delayed withdrawal investor concerns about sustainability may increase, leading to higher interest rates on government paper, undermining the recovery and increasing risks of a snowballing of debt,the Washington-based institution said. The IMF said public debt would represent around 120 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2014 in the nine advanced economies of the Group of 20. That would represent a whopping 40 percentage point increase since the start of the global financial and economic crisis in 2007. The report highlighted growing debts in the Group of Seven countries, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, and Australia and South Korea, two other major economies in the G20.

The IMF called on the advanced countries to do more to reduce their budget deficits in the medium term. Although fiscal balances are expected to improve over the next few years as the global economy recovers, the outlook for the public debt in many countries is more worrying,the 186-nation institution said. The average debt-to-GDP ratio of the G20 developed and developing countires, which stood at 62.4 percent at pre-crisis levels in 2007, rose to 82.1 percent in 2009 and was expected to hit 86.6 percent in 2014. The average ratio for the developed countries would rise from 78.6 percent in 2007 and exceed output at 100.6 percent this year. By 2014, it was projected at 119.7 percent.While fiscal policy should continue to support activity until recovery has taken hold, clear strategies are needed to consolidate fiscal balances in the medium term as conditions improve and ensure that solvency is preserved,the IMF said.The IMF, which had urged member nations to adopt stimulus measures to fight the severe economic downturn, has called on them in recent months to formulate exit strategies once recovery takes hold.

WELL THEY GOT ALL THE ARAB,MUSLIMS LEADING THE U.N,THEY MIGHT AS WELL HAVE NORTH KOREA LEADING THE I.M.F.SINCE THESE ARE ALL SUCH PEACE LOVING NATIONS AGAINST THE WEST.ALL WE NEED IS RUSSIA LEADING AMERICA YET AND IRAN LEADING ISRAEL THEN FOR SURE THE WORLD WILL HAVE PEACE AND SAFETY......YEAH RIGHT.

08-06-2009 17:15 Koreans Could Head IMF
By Lee Hyo-sik Staff Reporter


Koreans and other non-European nationals will soon be able to take a shot at becoming the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been dominated by Europeans for the past 65 years.Since its foundation in 1944 toward the end of World War II, only Western Europeans have led the IMF in accordance with a power split deal between the U.S. and Europe. In return, Americans were given the exclusive right to head the World Bank, another international financial body. Both organizations were created to help rebuild European economies and other parts of the world devastated by World War II. They were charged with overseeing the international monetary system to ensure foreign exchange rate stability and promoting the removal of currency restrictions to foster global trade.

But the status quo is to change in the near future.

The IMF said Wednesday that its 24-member Executive Board had reached an agreement to abolish the six-decade old practice, saying the managing director and other executives should be picked in an open and transparent manner. Candidates characters should be the most decisive factor in selecting the managing director and other executive post holders. Nationality should not be an issue in the personnel selection.
French national Dominique Strauss-Kahn was elected as managing director in September 2007 for a five-year term. He will also be eligible for reappointment for another five years.However, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance here downplayed the latest Executive Board decision, saying there is a long way to go before a non-European national becomes the head of the IMF.There are many corporate governance issues under discussion at the IMF. One of them is how to pick the managing director. Board members all agreed to choose the managing director through a merit-based selection. But they have not yet reached a consensus on when and how they are going to implement it. Technically speaking, Korean nationals can lead the organization but I think for now, it is far from realistic,a ministry official, who asked not to be named, said.

The move came after growing discontent among the 186 member nations about the selection of the IMF leader. Developing economies have argued that the global landscape has changed dramatically and that the practice of appointing only European officials to the top post is outdated and unfair.Emerging economies openly expressed dissatisfaction at the practice during April's G20 meeting in London, stressing the IMF head should be picked by character and capability, not by nationality.In a move to have more Koreans work at the IMF and other international economy-related organizations, the Korean government is persuading the World Bank, the IMF, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and others to hold a joint employment fair to hire more Koreans before the year's end.Currently, fewer Koreans are employed by global bodies, relative to its financial contributions. The number of employees the multinational bodies hire as staff from each country varies in accordance with the country's contribution. For instance, Korea assumed 1.2 percent of the World Bank's 2008 spending, but only 46 out of its 11,000 workers, or 0.4 percent, were Korean nationals.Considering Korea's financial contribution to the OECD, at least 20 Koreans should be hired as full-time employees but only three are currently on its payroll.leehs@koreatimes.co.kr

The G-20 and IMF governance reform
August 7th, 2009 Author: Shinji Takagi


The G-20 Summit of April 2009 called for a reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Augmenting the IMF’s resources and making its lending more friendly to potential borrowers hit hard by the global economic crisis has been the easy part. More difficult to reform is the governance of the institution, which among others involves a reallocation of voices among the membership and an overhaul of its governance framework. Nevertheless, the Summit committed to implementing the package of IMF quota and voice reforms agreed in April 2008 and call on the IMF to complete the next review of quotas by January 2011 and agreed to give consultation to greater involvement of the Fund’s Governors in providing strategic direction to the IMF.

Increasing the voice and representation of new economic powers is important if the IMF is to maintain or restore relevance and legitimacy. In this context, what has been achieved in the 2006 and 2008 quota reforms is disappointing: the weight of the Asia-Pacific region has risen only by about 1.5 per cent, while that of Europe has hardly changed. The G-20 Summit called for an acceleration of the next round of quota reform but, given the nature of the voice reform as a zero-sum game, the pace of reform can only be incremental.Voice reform, however, cannot by itself be expected to improve the IMF’s effectiveness or relevance. More often than not, the IMF is managed through consensus; rarely does the IMF Executive Board take a formal vote in its decisions. For this reason, the 2008 report of the IMF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) on governance argued that a reform of the decision-making mechanism would be far more important. The committee of eminent persons, which the IMF Managing Director set up with Trevor Manuel as chairman to follow up on the IEO Report, accepted the IEO assessment on this point.The IEO Report notes that the IMF Executive Board is far too removed from the actual decision makers in the member countries. Executive Directors are usually mid-level bureaucrats from central banks or finance ministries who have little direct access to the governors or ministers. Because they are not given decision-making power, it takes the IMF a long time to make any substantive decision. A more effective and relevant IMF, therefore, requires greater involvement from senior policymakers, who are Governors of the Fund. To make this happen, the Manuel Report proposed that the ministerial-level Council envisioned in the IMF Articles of Agreement should be activated, an idea broadly endorsed by the G-20 Summit though in more general terms.Implementing these reforms will not be easy. Even on the merit of greater ministerial involvement, there is a diversity of opinion, with some countries (or Executive Directors) not so keen on giving the IMF (or Governors) any more authority. We saw a glimpse of the extent of the possible resistance in the April 2009 meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), where IMF governance reform was initially not put on the agenda, even though the meeting immediately followed the G-20 Summit and was timed with the release of the Manuel Report.

If nothing of substance happens at the IMF over the coming months, the prestige and credibility of the G-20 will diminish. What does it mean for a group of counties that constitute some 85 per cent of world GDP to have little meaningful impact on the working of an international organization of 186 members? It means either the G-20 is a sham; the IMF will continue to suffer from legitimacy problems; or both.Shinji Takagi is Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University.

East Asia, the G20 and global economic governance
March 8th, 2009 Author: Hadi Soesastro, CSIS, Indonesia


East Asian members of the G20 must participate strategically in this emerging global forum. They need to make sure that the G20 can produce policies and actions that will help bring the global economy out of the current crisis as soon as possible. Existing international institutions have been helpless in dealing with the issues the world now confronts and are in dire need of major reforms. There is now no better forum than G20. Essentially, it will act as a ‘steering committee for the world economy’, as Barry Eichengreen aptly said of the G20, and this forum should now replace the G7 or G8 for good.Yet the G20 is still very fragile. In part, this is due to its ad hoc nature. But it also suffers from problems of legitimacy in respect of how its membership is being determined. The problem has deepened with the inclusion of a few additional participants at the coming London Summit: why they and not others? The European members of the G20 are facing the greatest challenge from fellow Europeans on this issue although the EU already has a seat at the table. East Asian members of the G20 will need to adopt a pro-active role to voice the concerns of, and to propose ideas, coming from the region. They already missed a good opportunity to do so when East Asian leaders met at the sidelines of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing about three weeks before the first G20 Summit in Washington, D.C. Their preoccupation has been narrowly focused on the establishment of a regional emergency fund, based on the bilateral swap arrangements known as the Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI). This idea has been aired for some time before there was any sign of the current crisis, and efforts were stepped up after October 2008, but the fund will become operational only in April or May 2009.

This single focus from East Asia is far from adequate. Peter Drysdale suggests that East Asia might be performing in the wrong play.The key issues for East Asian members of the G20 are how measures for global recovery can be crafted collectively, what role the region can play to ensure a sustained and effective recovery, and how can the G20 be mobilized to re-shape global economic governance. The crisis has created an opportunity for new players to bring their plight, interests and aspirations to bear towards more inclusive global efforts to resolve it. Dani Rodrik suggested that developing countries should seize this opportunity. This will be important to a sustained recovery, but it is not clear how best developing countries can undertake the task. Should big developing countries like China, India, and Brazil represent the developing world? Regional or sub-regional arrangements provide an alternative as they can be used to facilitate stronger voice and sense of ownership among smaller countries. Regional arrangements also include a mix of developed, emerging market, and less developing countries. The new global economic governance structure will need to be based on representative institutions. There are demands to reform existing institutions to reflect the changing economic weight of emerging economies in the global economy. There is also the idea that these reformed institutions (the IMF and the World Bank) should be supervised by an over-arching and inclusive global institution, such as the United Nations global economic and social council as proposed by Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. But such a global organization is likely to become rather unwieldy. The better alternative would be to have networks of regional arrangements play into the global forums. East Asia’s emergency fund, namely the multilateralized CMI, for instance, would be more meaningful if it also constituted a part of a network of monetary funds. East Asia needs to be better coordinated if it is to develop a coherent regional agenda to contribute to resolving the global crisis. Meetings of East Asian leaders (ASEAN + 3 and the East Asia Summit) are scheduled to take place in April 2009 after the London Summit. Leaders can agree to direct their finance ministers to have regular ‘strategy meetings’ to strengthen East Asia’s engagement in formulating G20 policies and actions towards the recovery of the global economy and in shaping global economic governance.In early March 2009 finance ministers and central bank governors from 19 Latin American countries convened a meeting in Portugal to demand a bigger say in global economic governance. Earlier, Russia also took the initiative in bringing together governments from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to present the group’s interests in the G20. Such initiatives can only strengthen the G20 by increasing its legitimacy.

East Asia’s strategic participation in the G20 is aimed not only at securing its role in global economic governance but also at increasing its effectiveness in projecting the region’s strategic efforts towards global economic recovery. East Asian countries overcame one major financial crisis a decade ago and undertook a raft of measures to reform and strengthen their financial sector with a good deal of success. Moreover, they have not taken measures that backtrack on their commitment to promote regional financial and economic integration. Presenting these ambitions through the G20 can also help sharpen the focus in the region in undertaking regional infrastructure development projects that could help stimulate the regional economy and recycle the region’s huge reserves as well as promote structural adjustments to redress the global financial imbalance.The region can also more effectively exert leadership on the trade front to keep global markets open, one of East Asia’s top priorities in the G20. The others are: ensuring adequate financial flows for development; and purposeful coordination of their economic stimulus packages.East Asia’s strategic participation in the G20 provides a framework for China to play an increased role – as a key member of the regional community – in the recovery of the global economy and in shaping global economic governance. In the Chinese language, the word ‘crisis’ is made up aptly of the characters for danger and opportunity. Opportunities provided by the crisis need to be fully exploited by East Asia to help avert the dangers that continue to loom large, for the region and for the world, unless a strong framework for collective action can be fashioned through the G20.

AUG 3,2009 First NATO Press conference
by Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen


Thank you all for coming. I’m told that in Brussels, the word August doesn’t exist; the summer months here are June, July, Les Vacances. So it’s nice to see all of you today.As you know, I formally took up my duties as NATO SG on Saturday. But I didn’t think I would get off on the right foot with the press corps if I held my first meeting with you on the weekend.Let me begin by saying how honoured I am to take up this post. I’m grateful to the 28 NATO Allies for placing their confidence in me. And I want to congratulate Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the excellent job he has done over the past five years. I saw that he was back in the office last week – I’m very glad he’s making a speedy recovery. It is often said that NATO is the most successful Alliance in history. That’s been true for 60 years, and it’s just as true today. NATO is doing more, in more places, than it ever has before. Because it is a family of nations that can trust and rely on each other, at any time, against any threat and in any weather. It is a community of democracies defending common values: freedom, peace, security. And NATO remains the ultimate insurance policy for almost 1 billion (actually 900 million) people in 28 countries.My intent, as NATO SG, is to make the most of this enormous capability: in our operations,; in our partnerships; and by transforming the way NATO does business. I want to see NATO reach its full potential as a pillar of global security.Of course, that starts with succeeding in Afghanistan. Our mandate from the UN is clear. So is the importance to global security -- to help prevent Afghanistan from becoming again the Grand Central Station of international terrorism. The moral argument is also powerful: anyone who believes in basic human rights, including women’s rights, should support this mission.

A lot has been accomplished already. But this year will be an important one. This month’s elections will not be to the same standards as we expect from Parliamentary votes in our allied nations. But they must be credible, first and foremost in the eyes of the Afghan population.NATO is doing its part. We’ve transported voting material all over the country and helped candidates meet voters. We’re supporting the election observers from the EU and OSCE. And of course, we’re providing security, in support of the Afghan police and army.That is the immediate goal: credible elections. The longer-term goal must be to move forward, concretely and visibly, with transferring lead security responsibility for Afghanistan to the Afghans.I believe that, during my term as NATO SG, Afghans must take over lead responsibility for security in most of their country. Let me be clear. I say LEAD responsibility for the Afghans. NATO must and will be there in support. Let no Taliban propagandist try to sell my message as a run for the exit – it is not. We will support the Afghan people for as long as it takes – let me repeat that, for as long as it takes. But supporting them means helping them stand on their own feet. Afghanistan needs more trainers; it means more civilian support, and more help for the Afghan to build their institutions. NATO – by which I mean both sides of the Atlantic -- will do its full part, but we can’t do it alone. This has to be an international team effort, military and civilian – with more effort from the Afghans themselves as well.I am convinced that we have to show the Afghan people, and the people in troop contributing nations, more light at the end of the tunnel, if we are to maintain their support. It will not be easy, and the past month has made that bitterly clear. But it can be done. And we will do it. Let there be no doubt about that.Second priority: NATO-Russia relations. I believe that, during my term as NATO SG, we should develop a true strategic partnership with Russia. We should extend practical cooperation in areas where we share security interests.There is clearly scope for us to work together, on counter-terrorism, on Afghanistan, on piracy, on non-proliferation, and many other areas as well.Now, I’m not a dreamer. It is obvious that there will be fundamental issues on which we disagree. We have to insist, for example, that Russia fully complies with its international obligations, including respecting the territorial integrity and political freedom of its neighbours. But we cannot let those areas of disagreement poison the whole relationship. So my message to the Russian leadership and people is clear: let us build trust on cooperation, and base our cooperation on shared interests.Another partnership will also be a priority for me: NATO’s relationship with the Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative countries.

Let me assure the Government and the people in the 11 MD and ICI countries that I am fully committed to building stronger relations with them, on the basis of mutual respect, understanding and trust, and to face common challenges: terrorism, proliferation, the dangers of failed states.Starting today, I will take concrete steps to engage with the MD and ICI countries I will personally engage in dialogue with all of them, to hear their views, and to help support their reforms. And I’ve started today, by inviting each of their Ambassadors to meet with me, one on one, here at NATO HQ, to discuss how to take our relations forward.This Alliance has, over years, built up a strong relationship and cooperation with our MD and ICI partners. I will build on this strong foundation throughout my term as NATO SG.I have highlighted three priorities here. But NATO’s agenda is broader than that, and I am committed to making progress across the board.On Kosovo, my aim is clear. By the end of my term, I want to see KFOR reduced to just a small reaction force, or out altogether. It should not be rushed – we should not stumble so close to the finish line. But I believe that the conditions will, in the foreseeable future, be right to retire KFOR with success.

Fighting piracy is another kind of operation – one I don’t think we could have predicted, a few years ago, would be so important. But the reality is that 20,000 ships a year are passing through pirate infested waters in the Gulf of Aden, and this problem is only getting worse I want to see NATO having a standing anti-piracy role, with the capabilities, legal arrangements and force generation in place to make it happen. These operations, and the many others that NATO has taken on over the past 15 years, make it crystal clear that this Alliance needs to make sure it has the right forces, when and where they are required. Which means enough forces, deployable and sustainable in the field. Forces that have the modern equipment and training they need.With global finances the way they are, we cannot afford anything but efficient, modern and, where appropriate, multinational approaches to defence.And let me add that for the Balkans, as indeed for the Euro-Atlantic community more broadly, I am fully committed to the principle of NATO’s Open Door. Membership is not a right – countries must be ready. But NATO enlargement has already demonstrated it’s power to spread stability and promote reform. I expect that will continue during my tenure.

Today, I am also pleased to launch a new and comprehensive project that will form the framework for the development of the new NATO.NATO needs a new Strategic Concept. Today I’m putting in place a roadmap for the work on this. I will lead this work from now until the Strategic Concept is agreed at our next Summit, in Lisbon. Let me outline for you how I will take this process forward: I have appointed a group of 12 experts; chaired by Madeleine Albright, and co-chaired by Jeroen van der Veer, former CEO of Royal Dutch Shell. The full list is now on the website. They will consult as widely as possible, in NATO and far beyond, with governments, think tanks, NGOs and other international organisations. They will then submit their conclusions to me; I will then lead the final phase of negotiations with nations.It should also be by far the most open and the most inclusive process of policy development NATO has ever conducted. Which is why I am also launching, today, a program of public consultation.

I want to hear the views of the public on what NATO should be and do in future. There is, as of now, a forum on the website where anyone can post their views on how NATO should evolve.I will also conduct town halls in as many NATO countries as I can, to hear from all walks of life. And I want to assure everyone who shares their views with us that they will be heard. We will compile the input and it will be fed directly into the process and to the people that will develop the final document.This will be a major exercise. And I think it is very timely. Since the last Strategic Concept was adopted, 10 years ago, this Alliance has almost doubled in size and taken on missions and threats no one could have imagined at the time. The moment has come for the theory to catch up with the practice, and for all the members of the Alliance, old and new, to chart a common way forward. And that is what we’ll do.

Mesdames et Messieurs, je suis particulièrement heureux de prendre mes fonctions de Secrétaire général au moment où la France a décidé de reprendre toute sa place dans les structures de l’OTAN.Cette décision courageuse ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour la France, pour l’Europe et pour la relation transatlantique.Je souhaite vivement voir une amélioration de la coopération entre l’OTAN et l’UE. Le plein retour de la France facilitera ce processus. Je pense que ce retour coupe court, une fois pour toutes, à certaines des appréhensions qui inhibaient la coopération OTAN-UE. Je compte tout mettre en œuvre, au plus haut niveau, pour essayer d’enregistrer des avancées dans la coopération entre les deux organisation. Je veux qu’il y ait davantage de consultations politiques, tant formelles qu’informelles, et davantage de coopération pratique.Il serait bon, pour toute une série de raisons pratiques, que les relations OTAN-UE soient remises sur les bons rails. Cela permettrait aussi de renforcer l’assise politique qui rend l’OTAN si forte et si indispensable : la relation transatlantique entre l’Europe et l’Amérique du Nord.L’OTAN est unique, parce qu’elle regroupe des pays qui partagent les mêmes valeurs fondamentales, ainsi que la capacité et la volonté de défendre ensemble ces valeurs. L’OTAN est une Alliance essentielle. Et je suis très honoré d’en être le Secrétaire général. Soyez assurés que je donnerai le meilleur de moi-même pour être à la hauteur de la tâche qui m’a été confiée.ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN (NATO Secretary General): Y a t il des questions ? Maintenant, je suis prêt à répondre à vos questions. Merci.ANIMATEUR : Les deux premières questions là et là. Please identify yourselves. Thank you.

QUESTION: I’m right here. Jim Neuger, from Bloomberg. You spoke of success in Afghanistan. You didn’t use the word victory. How do you define success and given that July was the deadliest month so far for international troops in Afghanistan, do you favour setting a timeline for the withdraw of all NATO forces?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: I’m not in favour of setting timelines. Success would be to transfer the responsibility for security to the Afghans themselves. This is the ultimate goal to gradually hand over responsibility for security province by province to the Afghan security forces. And this is the reason why it is crucial to get the NATO training mission up and running and expand the Afghan security forces.
Success is also to see the development of a peaceful and stable society in Afghanistan, good governance, respect for the principles of human rights and rule of law. Obviously, this is not a challenge for NATO alone. We need a comprehensive approach, a reinforced interaction between our military efforts and our endeavours with regard to civil reconstruction.

MODERATOR: Next.

QUESTION: Yes, right here. Slobo Lekic, Associated Press. Two questions. First of all, you mentioned that the KFOR presence in Kosovo should be reduced. Would it be possible to use some of those troops who leave, the troops that leave Kosovo to boost the NATO contingent in Afghanistan? And you also mentioned that NATO cannot do it alone in Afghanistan. It must be an international effort, both military and civilian. Can you just elaborate on that, please?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, I think we should separate between the KFOR and the ISAF operations. A reduction in the KFOR presence in Kosovo can take place in its own right so to speak because of progress on the ground.Actually, the Kosovo story is a success story, is a brilliant example on how NATO, the E.U., the UN can work together and progress and ensure peace, security and stability in a region. And this is the reason why it is possible to reduce our presence in Kosovo, in a coordinated manner, and in such a way that we can still ensure peace, security and stability in Kosovo and in the region.Next as regards Afghanistan, I would very much like to further develop our ability and capacity to work together with international civil organizations. Obviously, NATO is the strongest military alliance and we need a strong military effort in Afghanistan but to win the peace and to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan, we need to provide the Afghan people with better life opportunities, we need to assist the Afghan government in the development of democratic institutions, and to that end, NATO needs to expand the capacity to work together with organizations like the European Union, with the United Nations, even with NGOs. All these elements are crucial when we are speaking about a more comprehensive approach.

MODERATOR: Next is there in the front row.

QUESTION: Denis Dubrovin, Russian News Agency. Mr. Secretary General, in less than a week, it will be one year since Georgia launched an attack against the South Ossetia. So I would like to ask you, what conclusions and what lessons draw NATO today of this incident, which... what influence, how this incident influenced the relations with Russia and the possibility for Georgia to enter their alliance? And do you see in your role of NATO to solve this problem? Thank you.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, obviously, the events that took place last year in August in Georgia had a very negative impact on the relationship between NATO and Russia. And for all of us, it has been very difficult to return to business as usual. And there is no reason to hide that there are real differences in our positions regarding for instance Georgia.This is the reason why I said in my introduction that I’m not a dreamer. We have to realize that we are faced with real disputes on a number of areas. However, I consider it a very important challenge for me to convince the Russian people and the Russian political leadership that NATO is really not an enemy of Russia. NATO is not directed against Russia. Basically, I do think that we have a lot of security interests in common and this is the reason why my position is that the disputes we do have, the differences we have to realize should not overshadow the basic common security interests.And then my pragmatic approach would be to further develop practical cooperation in the areas in which we share security interests; as for instance counterterrorism. We all know that Russia has been hit by terrorism. So it’s a brilliant example of an area in which we could further expand our cooperation and the same goes for a number of other issues as mentioned in my introduction.

MODERATOR: Over here, Secretary General. Egypt.

QUESTION: Thank you very much. I’m Magdy Youssef, from Nile News, Egyptian Television. Back again to Afghanistan, since Afghanistan was among your first priority and a challenge, do you think the story of the cartoon during your capacity as a Prime Minister of Denmark will leave some shadow in Afghanistan? And second, you said you did invite all the 11 ambassadors of the Mediterranean partners today to have them one by one face to face. Can you tell us who is going to be the first leader from these 11 countries will be... will visit you one by one or which European countries are going to visit as the first country? Thank you.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, you mentioned the cartoon case. I consider it an element of the past. Now I’m looking forward and I can assure you that I have had meeting in my previous capacity as Prime Minister with the Afghan political leadership, among them President Karzai and I have never had any problems with the Afghan political leadership. And I look forward to cooperating with the political leadership that will be elected in the coming presidential elections.Concerning the invitation for ambassadors from a number of countries, it will be I think first of all practical questions and calendar questions that will decide when I will meet each of the ambassadors. So we will see. Today, I don’t know. But I have sent an invitation, because I want to reach out and embark on a positive and constructive and fruitful dialogue with representatives from a number of countries.

MODERATOR: The next question is there, and then there.

QUESTION: Sertac Aktan, IHA News Agency, Turkish News Agency. Two short questions. You said the cartoon issue is an element of the past. Are you planning any specific measurement, any steps to build better relations with the Islamic world? And my second question will be first of all, I wish you success in your new office. But one of the reasons you’re in this office right now before us is the verbal agreement that was reached in Strasbourg between Turkey. How much of that agreement is achieved and accomplished by now, do you think, like the rush TV, like Turkey being much more, having much more high ranked officers? Thank you.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: First of all, I have already informed you that I have today taken the concrete step to invite a number of ambassadors to meet with me. In these meetings, we will discuss how we can further develop the Mediterranean dialogue initiative and the Istanbul cooperation initiative. I would very much like to discuss with the ambassadors how we could further develop these partnerships because I consider a positive and fruitful partnership with governments in Muslim countries a very important part of my job as the Secretary General. It’s also crucial for the overall security. So this is the reason why I have taken this initial step and based on my conversation with the ambassadors, I will take further steps. But I think it is the right thing to hear their views before I proceed. I have a number of ideas but I would like to exchange these ideas with the ambassadors.Concerning Turkey, you’re right, we reached an overall common understanding at the Strasbourg Summit and I feel confident that we can and will deliver on that. That’s, of course, not only my responsibility because as you know, we have to make decisions within NATO based on a consensus. I will do my utmost and I feel confident that allies will support me in that.

QUESTION: Ben Nimmo, from the German Press Agency, DPA down here. Secretary General, coming back to the question of Russia, one of Russia’s main security concerns is the idea of NATO taking in Georgia and Ukraine as members. And Ambassador Rogozin said last week that he would like to see this idea dropped as a mark of respect to Russia.
So particularly following the war last summer, what’s your take on Georgia and Ukraine and their future as members of NATO? Are they still realistic candidates? Thanks.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, my position is exactly the same as has been decided by NATO allies. Let me remind you that at the Bucharest Summit, we decided unanimously that Georgia and Ukraine can become members of NATO in the future, provided of course that they fulfil the necessary criteria.They do not fulfil the necessary criteria at this stage, so here and now, it’s a hypothetical question. However, NATO has decided in December last year to embark on practical cooperation with Georgia and Ukraine aiming at developing their military capacity and reform their armed forces. And I stick to that decision. I think that’s the right approach to pursue this pragmatic approach.

MODERATOR: The next question is there.

QUESTION: Valentina Pop, from the E.U. Observer. Mr. Rasmussen, your predecessor said that E.U./NATO cooperation was one of his biggest frustrations, that he didn’t achieve to push them forward in a more practical and hands-on way. What will you do concretely? Maybe if there are three things you can think of in how to develop this further? Thank you.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, first of all, let me say that the French decision to reintegrate fully into the military structures of NATO will definitely facilitate a process towards strengthened cooperation between NATO and the E.U. But we all know that there are other obstacles to an improved cooperation between NATO and the E.U. This is a priority for me to get rid of these obstacles.I know it will be a very challenging task, but I can inform you that it is an issue which I will discuss with Turkish and Greek leaders when I pay early introductory visits to Turkey and Greece later this month.These two countries will be among the very first to which I pay introductory visits and obviously this issue will be one of my focal points.And finally, I will also take initiatives personally to engage with my counterparts in the European Union. From my previous position, I know them quite well.So I want to draw on my network.

MODERATOR: Time for two more. Here and there.

QUESTION: Ian Traynor, the Guardian. Secretary General, you’re talking about relations with Georgia as your number-two priority. Some of the newer member states in the Baltic and in Central Europe directly as a result of the Georgian War are very worried and are very concerned about the inadequacies of Article 5 guarantees to them. I mean, should this kind of work on Article 5 for the Baltic States and Central Europe be part of the new strategic concept and how do you foresee that?

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, this issue will be one of the main subjects to be discussed during the process of developing a new strategic concept. And let me present my position. My position is that the Article 5 commitment is the core function of NATO. We should never forget that.NATO was established to provide security in the Euro-Atlantic area. It has, for 60 years, been the core function of NATO and it will still be the core function. However, we have to realize that in today’s world, territorial defence very often starts out of area like in the mountains of Afghanistan. So I don't see any contradiction between the Article 5 commitment and the territorial defence and at the same time, expeditionary missions and out-of-area operations. And I think this will be a challenge to address in the new strategic concept.All in all, what we need is a more flexible and more deployable military capacity within NATO; and in that respect, I do not see any contradiction between territorial defence and out-of-area operations.

MODERATOR: The last question is there.

QUESTION: Ricardo Martinez de Rituerto, El Pais. Do you keep the dictum that NATO will be make or break in Afghanistan? Do you still keep this idea? And the second question is how do you intend to actually make the input of the public opinion comments on the strategic concept in the actual document? Thank you.

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, it will not be break, it will be make. Let me be clear about that. We must prevail in Afghanistan. A lot is at stake for the Afghan people, for the international community, for the overall security and, of course, also for NATO.And this is the reason why I strongly appreciate decisions taken by a number of allies to increase the number of troops because we need to step up our military endeavours; but as I have said earlier, this is not... there is no military solution solely. We have to step up our civilian efforts as well and cooperate with other actors on the international scene to make our mission in Afghanistan a success. Thank you.MODERATOR: That’s what we have...QUESTION: Public opinion, public opinion on the (inaudible)? MODERATOR: Strategic...ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN: Well, in a number of ways, as I indicated in my introductory remarks, we will launch a comprehensive public diplomacy program and within the framework of that, people will get direct channels through new media to provide input for the whole process and we will listen, we will read and people’s ideas will be taken into consideration. Thank you.
MODERATOR: Thank you.

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