![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/empire.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Western Empire is dying; but, there are no Western leaders, particularly in Europe, who have any ideas on how to arrest the collapse. The ones we are cursed with can only see one way out and that is by going to war. It is not going to be an easy death.<\/strong><\/p>\n Georgescu\u2019s Ban from Standing in Romanian Election Has Been Overturned, or Has It?<\/strong><\/p>\n The decision by Ploie\u0219ti city appeals court to overturn the Constitutional court\u2019s decision<\/a> on banning Georgescu from the election has ruffled a few feathers in Bucharest.<\/p>\n The decisions of the Constitutional Court of Romania are final and are not subject to any appeal, declared for Agerpres, Prof. Dr. Tudorel Toader, former judge at the CRR and former Minister of Justice.<\/p>\n According to his statements, \u201cthe judge who issued such a decision (suspending the CCR decision on the annulment of the presidential elections of November 24, 2024) managed to put his name into public discussion, even if through an inadmissible decision, outside the constitutional legal requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe decisions of the CCR are final, generate effects from the publication in the Official Gazette, and cannot be subject to any appeal. The judge of the merits, such as the one in question, has no competence over the constitutional jurisdiction, which is outside the judicial system, but has managed to make himself, let\u2019s say, known in Romanian society, even through a legal anomaly,\u201d said Tudorel Toader. Asked if the decision of the judge from the Ploie\u015fti Court of Appeal can be implemented, he replied: \u201cCategorically not.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The upcoming elections, where Georgescu\u2019s political ally, George Simion, is leading the polls ahead of the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicu\u0219or Dan, and Crin Antonescu, representing the ruling Social Democratic party (PSD) and the center-right National Liberal party (PNL), will still take place on May 4th<\/sup> (1st<\/sup> round) and 18th<\/sup> May (2nd<\/sup> round).<\/p>\n Romania is the second most corrupt country<\/a> in the EU, Bulgaria is in first place and, in the region, Moldova, even though it is not yet a member, is the most corrupt. It\u2019ll fit in nicely.<\/p>\n The previous President of the Social Democratic Party, who was also President of the Chamber of Deputies in the Romanian Parliament, Liviu Dragnea<\/a>, was convicted in 2019 for abuse of power and corruption. He was sent to prison for 3 and a half years but his party got the sentence substantially reduced.<\/p>\n Pakistan Is Blaming UK And US for Jihadi Terrorism<\/strong><\/p>\n Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that his country has been supporting Islamic terrorism for decades on behalf of the UK and US.<\/p>\n Speaking to RT on Saturday, Asif called the decisions by the country\u2019s past rulers to join the Soviet-Afghanistan war in the late 1980s and thus become a platform for training and indoctrinating jihadists on behalf of the West a mistake. The minister said his country was used as a springboard for the Soviet-Afghan war and now there are millions of extremist Jihadis living in Pakistan and carrying out acts of terrorism.<\/p>\n \u201cThe introduction of jihad, which was invented by the West, changed the country\u2019s ethos and led to its current issues. The whole ethos of the society was changed to support the jihad,\u201d Asif said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main target or main\u2026 you know, victim of terrorism, in this region is Pakistan. And we\u2019ve been blamed by India for something with which we have nothing to do,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can watch the interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can see the reaction to his admission from an Indian point of view here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9, the interim president of Burkino Faso, has just survived his sixth coup attempt<\/a>. This time it was launched from within the C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, which is a French vassal led by an ex-IMF banker, Alassane Ouattara, who was educated in the US. He first came to prominence in politics when in April 1990, the IMF under the Structural Adjustment Program forced the Ivorian president, F\u00e9lix Houphou\u00ebt-Boigny, to make Ouattara the Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Coordination of the Stabilization and Economic Recovery Programme of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. In November 1990, the IMF demanded that he be given the post of prime minister.<\/p>\n According to the constitution he was banned from running in the election for President as he was born in Burkino Faso, but was put in place with the backing of the French after a disputed election where his opponent, Laurent Gbagbo, was arrested by French troops. U.S. President Barack Obama applauded news of the takeover in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying Gbagbo\u2019s capture \u201csends a strong signal to dictators and tyrants\u2026. They may not disregard the voice of their own people\u201d.<\/p>\n Their own people being the French army.<\/p>\n Gbagbo was hauled off to the ICC, the first head of state to be imprisoned there, where he spent almost 10 years proving his innocence, despite the best efforts of the ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, who kept appealing the not guilty verdicts given by the court. He was finally released, in March 2021, after Ouattara safely \u2018won\u2019 his third election (which was illegal under the constitution but the handpicked constitutional court made a loophole for him to stand two further times) when the ICC found<\/a>, yet again, that he was innocent and would be allowed to return to the country.<\/p>\n C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire is one of the wealthiest countries in Africa yet many of its people live in poverty. <\/a>For much of Ouattara\u2019s tenure, French troops were stationed in the country to keep him in power. They were told they had to leave in January<\/a> this year, but a substantial number of French Foreign Legionaries are reported to have remained to make sure the president doesn\u2019t stray too far from France<\/span> act as peacekeepers.<\/p>\n The coup attempt followed a US senate hearing where U.S. General Michael Langley, head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), accused Burkina Faso\u2019s President Traor\u00e9, of misusing the country\u2019s gold reserves for personal protection rather than national benefit (he has just opened a Gold smelter so the country can refine its own gold instead of sending it abroad). General Langley\u2019s mendacity caused a wave of outrage throughout Africa<\/a>, where Traor\u00e9 is regarded as a post-colonial hero<\/a> who is genuinely dedicated to improving his country\u2019s prospects.<\/p>\n Traor\u00e9 came to power following a series of coups starting with the one against Blaise Compaor\u00e9<\/a>, who had murdered his predecessor, the charismatic Thomas Sankara<\/a>, who had regarded him as a brother. Traor\u00e9 undertook a number of positive changes to the country, including removing French forces from the country and reclaiming the country\u2019s mineral rights.<\/p>\n Naturally, this gained him a lot of enemies in France, but his p\u00e9ch\u00e9s graves was when he called for the ex-French colonies to stop using the Colonial Franc<\/a>. This earned him the nickname of the new Gaddafi and marked him for removal. The Colonial Franc (CFA) is a currency created by De Gaulle in the late 1940s in order to create a financial hold on its colonies, especially across the Sahel. Under its terms, a percentage (generally between 50 \u2013 100%) of the currency reserves of these regions are held in Paris (for safekeeping) and are regarded as French assets. So, they can\u2019t afford to lose them.<\/p>\n France has been having a torrid time with its satraps in the Sahel, culminating with the military coup in Niger<\/a>, where their man, Mohamed Bazoum, was ousted by his own presidential guard \u00a0led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who proclaimed himself president. Niger has substantial resources, including Uranium and Oil, so naturally France wanted it back. After the intervention of Tony Blinken and Victoria Nuland, ECOWAS<\/a>, which was supposed to be the African free trade block equivalent of the EU, suddenly turned into the Afrika Korps and threatened to invade Niger and put Bazoum back in power.<\/p>\n For weeks we had images of portly middle-aged gentlemen in camouflage strutting purposefully around and sitting behind trestle tables, led by the convicted Chicago heroin smuggler<\/a>, Bola Tinubu, who is currently the President of Nigeria. But, despite being supported by the US, the UK and France, they didn\u2019t really have their hearts in it and when Russia\u2019s Wagner group turned up in Niger the intervention fizzled out.<\/p>\n Now, the three most significant Sahel states, previously controlled by France, namely Niger, Mali and Burkino Faso, \u00a0are creating a federation<\/a>, which will make them more secure against outside intervention. Togo, which is a small African nation, has access to the sea and is also interested in joining the federation.<\/p>\n Now, we wait to see what France does next. Meanwhile, you can read more of\u00a0 Traor\u00e9\u2018s accomplishments here<\/a> and\/or watch this video<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Daily Mail Prints Some Awkward Facts<\/strong><\/p>\n The article is behind a paywall, but a couple of the truth bombs he released are:<\/p>\n According to Peter Hitchens, the long-time correspondent at the Daily Mail, much of what we\u2019ve been told about the SMO in Ukraine is not true. The timing of this is curious, given the Mail\u2019s propensity to print government press releases almost verbatim (they just add adjectives) and the fact that Starmer is starting to get cold feet over putting UK boots on the ground<\/a> there. Britain, France and Poland are all seemingly committed to providing a peace-keeping force to Ukraine to enforce the ceasefire, if it ever happens. The reason seems to be that they can then grab parts of Ukraine for themselves. For example, the UK deep state operatives would sell their first born into slavery if they could achieve the goal of HMS Odessa.<\/p>\n Originally, the idea was that once the Russians lost their key base in Sevastopol after the lease was revoked by the post Maiden government, hand-picked by Victoria Nuland, Britain would have a naval base around the east coast of Crimea and right on the Kerch strait. The base, at Berdyansk<\/a>, tentatively named HMS Azov, was intended to keep the Russian fleet bottled up in the sea of Azov, while the NATO Black Sea fleet headquarters were to be based in Sevastopol. This was thwarted when Russia honored the referendum<\/a> in Crimea, where the citizens first voted to become independent and then to become part of Russia.<\/p>\n Crimea, long regarded as part of Russia, was handed over to Ukraine during a late-night drinking session in 1954 by Khrushchev, who was the Ukrainian First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and some of his cronies. Russian constitutional scholars have stated that the vote to hand it over to Ukraine was illegitimate as the parties that voted for it did not form a quorum. Nothing was done on the issue, even after Khrushchev was deposed, as Ukraine was still part of the USSR. Instead, after the Ukraine decided, against the wishes of its citizens<\/a>, to become a Western vassal<\/span> independent, Russia leased the base at Sevastopol as the HQ of its Black Sea fleet.<\/p>\n The British pressed ahead with their base in Berdyansk, even though they admitted that it may lead to an invasion<\/a> by Russia. And thus it came to pass, on 27 February 2022, three days after the SMO started, their plan fell apart when the port was captured by Russia. So, taking Odessa is the latest iteration of the plans to bottle up Russia\u2019s Black Sea fleet and its only warm water port. To this end, there are currently a large contingent of French soldiers in Romania (rumored to number about 15,000 troops) that will move rapidly to Odessa if it is threatened, which is another reason that Georgescu is banned from standing in the election (see above).<\/p>\n Britain has had special forces operatives based in Odessa since long before the SMO, going back to the 2021 Black Sea incident<\/a>, where Boris Johnson tried to provoke Russia into sinking a Royal Navy ship, HMS Defender, by entering Russian territorial waters. Johnson said that the British government regarded them as Ukrainian territorial waters as they were off the coast of Crimea. The British Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives in Odessa were conducting sea drone strikes on Sevastopol and against the Kerch bridge until they were killed in a Russian missile strike<\/a>.<\/p>\n The latest British proposal<\/a> is to have a Royal Navy base in Romania where British designed type 41 frigates will be built in order to \u2018counter Russian aggression\u2019. These ships will not leave the Black Sea and will be present to help protect the Romanian offshore gas and oil fields<\/a> in the Exxon-Mobil Neptun Deep gas project.<\/a> This gas project would provide an alternative gas supply to Europe so it is important to stop anyone who is not 100% committed to the EU ever being elected.<\/p>\n \u201cJust two operational Type 31 class frigates could contain up to 328 missiles, which, when working in tandem with NATO air and land forces, would provide a formidable defensive screen with which to strengthen the alliance\u2019s posture in the Black Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n And just two Russian Kalibrs<\/a> could sink them.<\/p>\n Have You Ever Wondered What Is in the UK\/Ukraine Security Cooperation Agreement?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, wonder no more because here it is<\/a>. Part of it is the provision of public\/private partnerships<\/a> (PFIs), which have been a disaster for the UK\u2019s public but made serious profits for the financiers. And this is what is being proposed for the Ukraine \u2013 as the local government article above says:<\/p>\n PFIs are now widely considered to be an outdated model that doesn\u2019t provide good value. Although their original selling point was the transfer of risk from the public to the private sector, Carillion<\/a> has demonstrated that such risk transfer may not be all it seems. In failed schemes, the taxpayer picks up the tab along with the many thousands of affected sub-contractors, notwithstanding the profits made by the private sector during the good times.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The agreement also covers the economic and business environment by\u2026<\/p>\n \u2026modernising the economy by progressing reforms that will attract private finance, boost investor confidence, tackle corruption and create a fair and level playing field for all parties, including through a reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So, privatization it is then, where UK finance will buy up Ukraine\u2019s public owned assets. And it\u2019ll be done through:<\/p>\n \u2026 supporting Ukraine in delivering its reform agenda, sharing the UK\u2019s strength in harnessing and coordinating public-private partnerships, enabling financial and capital markets, and our specific expertise in anti-corruption, security and defence sector reform, judicial reform and support for inclusive and democratic institutions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The most widely scrutinized section was on defense:<\/p>\n Part VIII. Cooperation in the event of future armed attack<\/p>\n 1. Any future Russian invasion would violate the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, and would grievously undermine Euro-Atlantic security, including that of the UK.<\/p>\n 2. In the event of future Russian armed attack against Ukraine, at the request of either of the Participants, the Participants will consult within 24 hours to determine measures needed to counter or deter the aggression.<\/p>\n 3. The UK undertakes that, in those circumstances, and acting in accordance with its legal and constitutional requirements, it would: provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment across all domains as necessary, and economic assistance; impose economic and other costs on Russia; and consult with Ukraine on its needs as it exercises its right to self-defence Good luck with that.<\/p>\n Back in 2015 the head of the RAF said that the UK would lose a war against Russia<\/a> and things have got worse since then. And Alistair Carns, the defense minister and former Royal Marine, claimed, in November 2024, that the regular British army could be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. Plus, there is a recruitment and retention crisis.<\/p>\n Over 15,000 British soldiers left the Armed Forces in November 2023 through October 2024, The Telegraph reported on Saturday. The resignations continue to come despite the government\u2019s attempt to stem the recruitment crisis with a record pay raise [6%].<\/p>\n The Daily Telegraph noted that more than half of 15,119 people who left the country\u2019s military forces during the specified time-frame had resigned voluntarily. However, during the same period, they reportedly recruited some 12,000 personnel, resulting in a net shrinkage of the military.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s not just the pay though; accommodation is also sub-standard<\/a> and the troops even have to buy their own food under the \u201cpay as you dine\u201d scheme, where food is supplied by (cheap) outside contractors and in many instances soldiers have to rely on foodbanks<\/a> to feed themselves; particularly, as the portions under the scheme are nowhere near substantial enough to sustain a combat soldier. Army cooks have had enough and are leaving in droves<\/a>.<\/p>\n And then there is the 100 year agreement<\/a> that Starmer signed, with gems such as the pledges of \u00a37.8bn in military assistance, which has already been provided, plus a further commitment for \u00a33bn in annual military aid for as long as it takes, and ongoing energy infrastructure support to help hospitals and community facilities provide light and warmth to innocent civilians impacted by Putin\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n Is it possible for the long-suffering UK public to have some of those things?<\/p>\n It also said Britain would provide security in the sea of Azov. Given that it is now completely surrounded by Russian territory that might be somewhat difficult to achieve.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>Fresh from his triumph as the Middle East Peace envoy (how did that go by the way?), Tony Blair has popped up to say that it is crucial that we are constantly surveilled because\u2026reasons. The centerpiece is the all new digital ID, through which we can all get access to government services, banking etc. through our phones. Which doesn\u2019t sound so rosy when you consider that if you say the wrong thing on social media or stand around near an abortion clinic the police will seize and keep your electronic devices. You can learn more about it by watching this<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Swiss magazine, \u00a0Die Weltwoche<\/a>, the resignation of the European Commission chief could \u201cunblock many processes\u201d in the EU, adding,<\/p>\n \u201cHigh-ranking EU officials are increasingly aware of the toxic nature of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and want her to resign,\u201d according to \u2018sources\u2019 in EU diplomatic circles.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Die Weltwoche pointed out that given the political crises in the EU, policy wonks do not think very highly of von der Leyen\u2019s political and diplomatic skills.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the west \u2013 a trade dispute with the United States, in the east \u2013 the conflict in Ukraine and worsening relations with Russia (sanctions are also a form of trade war). In addition, the confrontation with China, which is not very encouraging for the continent, continues,\u201d the magazine emphasized.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n US President Donald Trump has not met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen since his inauguration on January 20. During that time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled two meetings with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who came to Washington just to meet him. Rubio said this was due to scheduling conflicts.<\/p>\n Will she go?<\/p>\n This is so far beyond ridiculous it\u2019s hardly worth commenting. It\u2019s not as if the UK is blessed with months of glorious sunshine every year \u2013 our kids will end up with Rickets. You can read more about this hare-brained idea here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Dutch King has warned his subjects that the country must arm itself to the teeth to stay safe. You can read more about it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the start of the cold war, the CIA decided that the best course of action to cripple the USSR was to involve them in an arms race, which would bankrupt them. Now the countries in the West are doing it to themselves.<\/p>\n Sensible?\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/pakistan.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
France Wants its Vassals Back<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/peter-hitchens.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/hitchens-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/hitchens-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Guess Who\u2019s Back<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How Many Blonds Would It Take to Ruin The EU?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dim-the-sun.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFUD Watch<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dutch-fud.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nakedcapitalism.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/fud-mail.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\ufeff<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Print](\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/print-button-gray.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n