Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 The Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 [email protected] Is Zika propaganda a "virus of the mind"?
Threat or Hoax A health writer digs into the headlines and concludes that the Zika propaganda is a 'virus of the mind' rooted in fabricated hysteria, government junk science and dark political agendas
article will discuss how the program started, how it has been de- — by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger — veloped, and where it is going.
Zika: A Masterpiece of Public Mind Control Zika is not a Threat to the Babies of the World t's been nearly nine months since the word "Zika" flashed like Just to be absolutely clear from the beginning, there is a lightning bolt in the headlines of mainstream news. Before no solid evidence that Zika is a threat to humanity. It is a IJanuary 1, 2016, Zika was just one of many viruses that public minimally dangerous viral infection, which does not cause health officials monitored. But suddenly in January of this year microcephaly. everything changed, as a nearly harmless virus was transformed In the almost 70 years since the Zika virus was patented by the into a worldwide threat. Rockefeller Foundation, [1] no one ever notice any association As we will see, the Zika propaganda machine was turned on in between Zika infection of pregnant women and their babies be- October of 2015 and it has been running wild ever since. This is a ing born with abnormally small heads or with defects in brain classic example of a mind control program, a public brainwashing development. But in 2015, we were suddenly made aware of project, or a high powered marketing campaign. this supposed problem. This claim, based on nothing more than Regardless of what you call it, it is clear that the mainstream circumstantial evidence, was the beginning point for the propa- news media, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan ganda campaign. A propaganda claim doesn’t need to be true; it American Health Organization (PAHO), the US Centers for Dis- just needs to be repeated over and over again until people believe ease Control and Prevention (CDC), Big Pharma, Big Chem, and it is true. both Republicans and Democrats have joined forces to sell a Zika After half a year of fear and hysteria in the mainstream media, eradication program to the people of the United States and to the even officials in Brazil admit that Zika is an unlikely cause of their rest of the world. This has been and continues to be one of the microcephaly... best orchestrated programs of propaganda in recent history. This Continued on Page 5
• Venezuela Hosts 17th Non-Aligned Summit – Pages 2 and 10 • Was a Saint Lucia Ambassador denied a US visa? – Page 6 IN THIS • Big Brazilian Business Mission Coming in November – Page 3 • Taiwan ready for Montreal Aviation Summit – Pages 8 and 12 ISSUE • Mexico seeking ‘Greater Caribbean’ Business Talks – Page 3 • Morocco helping promote Climate Smart Agriculture – Page 9 • The Prime Minister Hails the King! Page 3 • Clinton Campaign regrets not telling the whole truth – Page 12 [email protected] Page 1 Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016
Editorial Venezuela Hosting 17th Non-Aligned The Margarita Summit Summit This Week his weekend’s summit in Venezuela comes at a good time for the nation – Tand for the Nicolas Maduro adminis- tration. It will show solidarity with and for the Venezuelan government, which has as- sumed the Presidency of the NAM. Over 120 world leaders, representing gov- ernments, organizations and people in Af- rica, Arabia, Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Latin America, will gather in Margarita to review the state of the world today and where the NAM stands in the current global dispensation. The leaders will review everything from the implications of recent world politi- cal, economic and social developments for developing countries to the consequences of failing to adapt to Climate Change fast enough. They will examine the effects of instability Security personnel tighten up a street in Margarita Island, Venezuela on September 12, in the world oil market on both producing 2016 ahead of the summit to be attended by delegations from 120 nations. and non-producing states. They will look at the latest developments in he 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is under way in Venezue- Europe -- from Brexit and the Refugee Crisis, la, where several Caribbean and Latin American Heads of State and Government to the implications of the rise in right wing nationalism and racism in Britain and Eu- Tfrom 120 countries have gathered on a Caribbean island -- for the third time -- to rope for non-European nations and people. come to grips with the myriad problems facing the world’s second largest grouping. They will examine the War on Terrorism The September 13 to 18 summit, being held in the island of Margarita, got under way that is causing more deaths the world over Tuesday with a welcome address by Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Nelcy Rod- 15 years after 9/11, than ever before. riguez. The leaders will assess and analyze, pre- Hosting representatives from nations worldwide, the small Venezuelan ward island is dict and propose in Margarita. But they will home -- for the rest of this week until Sunday -- to delegations from the second largest also have to pay much attention to what is international body after the United Nations (UN). happening in the host nation, where the gov- ernment remains under intense US-backed The 55-year-old body today comprises 54 members from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from opposition pressure. Latin America and the Caribbean and one from Europe. It also has 17 observer countries The Caribbean is well represented, all and 10 observer organizations. CARICOM and OECS nations being mem- Ahead of the meeting, the NAM’s Coordinating Committee held its last session on Sep- ber-states. They will have to consider the im- tember 11 at the UN headquarters in New York, chaired by Iran, to make arrangements plications for the future of Latin American for the Margarita summit. and Caribbean political and economic coop- The meeting, which was held at the level of ambassadors of NAM member states, was eration if the PetroCaribe and ALBA initia- chaired by Iran’s UN Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo. tives are to fail. They will note recent developments in Bra- The session produced a 194-page draft final document that includes an introduction, zil and Argentina and implications of other three chapters and 907 articles, all of which explain NAM stances on different interna- political changes for the flag-bearers of the tional and regional issues. Non-Aligned Movement in the hemisphere. The NAM is a group of states not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. But most of all, the movement will, once But it constantly defends its members everywhere. again and for a third time, gather in the Car- Ahead of the meeting, it firmly rejected the latest set of sanctions imposed by the United ibbean for the leaders to determine the fu- States against Venezuelan officials. ture of the second largest group of countries The group issued a statement denouncing the sanctions as “an intervention” in Ven- in the entire world, representing more than half of Mankind. ezuelan affairs. It will not be a tourist outing in Margarita. It said the sanctions were “intended to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty, its political But it will be the most significant gathering independence and its right to self-determination.” of world leaders since the G-20 in China last The NAM said it considers the unilateral sanctions a “violation of international law, week and ahead of the upcoming 2016 UN including the United Nations Charter and the basic principles of international law of rela- General Assembly. tions between states.” If the Caribbean does not take this oppor- It also said the measure was “coercive” and expressed its solidarity with the Venezuelan tunity as a common host of the leaders of the people and government. world to make its voice heard and put its is- sues on the table in Venezuela this week, it Tuesday’s meeting was the start of three stages of the summit, which begins with of- ficials, to be followed by a later meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers and then the summit will not know when next. of Heads of State and Government to take place this weekend.
Page 2 [email protected] Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Brazilian Business Mission Coming in November he Embassy of Brazil in Saint Lucia is preparing to According to Ambassador Couri, “This Brazilian Busi- host a major investment mission with numerous ness Mission will offer this wide range of opportunities Topportunities for business that will also strongly to the Government and People of Saint Lucia, through the strengthen ties between the giant South American nation business community.” and its tiny Caribbean neighbor. He said during their week here, the visiting investors According to Ambassador Sergio Couri, the mission will “will meet with members of the local business community comprise investors and parliamentarians bent on doing and their organizations, to discuss how to merge their syn- business with Saint Lucian entrepreneurs and other busi- ergies to create new investments that both countries and ness persons, in a wide range of sectors. people will be proud of.” The Brazilian Business Mission to Saint Lucia is sched- The Ambassador says planning is well under way in uled for November 11-17, 2016 and it will comprise some Saint Lucia and Brazil for the mission’s arrival. “But,” 15 members anxious to grab new and open opportunities he added, “ahead of their arrival, interested Saint Lucian to invest in Saint Lucia. business persons and entities will be given the opportu- The wide range of business opportunities that will come nity to indicate their interest and arrange interviews.” with the Mission will include prospects for investment Ambassador Couri said the Brazilian Mission “is also in- partnerships in: Construction and Infrastructural Devel- terested in doing business with businesses in other member- opment, Tourism and Hotel Development, Agriculture states of the OECS that may also be present in Saint Lucia.” and Agro Industries, Farming and Food Production, Nu- He also said information on participation “will be made trition, Medicine, Sports, Physical Fitness, Health and available soon, so that interested persons and entities can Beauty, Cultural Development, Training and Investment know how to get involved in this new opportunity for ex- Consultancies, Language Development, Alternative En- pansion of business ties between Brazil and Saint Lucia.” ergy, Water and Electricity. International Business Forum of The Great Prime Minister Hails The King! Caribbean set for Mexico in November
he Embassy of Mexico to the Eastern Caribbean States is glad to announce that the 2016 Cancun Forum “Creating TSynergies to Strengthen the Competitiveness of the Greater Caribbean” will be held from the 16th to the 18th of November at the Peninsula Convention Center in Cancun, Mexico. This event is the most important business forum in the Greater he annual reception in honour of the 17th Anniver- Caribbean and is designed to foster regional economic development sary of the Accession of His Majesty King Moham- and competitiveness by increasing trade and investment flows. med 6 of Morocco to the throne was hosted here The forum also seeks to promote Mexican exports and invest- T ment, and explore potential value chains within the region. on July 31st 2016, by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Mo- The central activity of the Cancun Forum is a business round rocco to Saint Lucia. Ambassador Mohammed Benjilany where Mexican exporters and buyers from the Greater Caribbean and Mrs Benjilany (right and left, respectively) that night countries have the opportunity to make contact and start business hosted several government dignitaries, led by Prime Min- relationships. ister Allen Chastanet (centre) and Minister in the PM’s The program also includes business seminars and workshops on Office with responsibility for Foreign Affairs Mrs Sarah the main challenges and opportunities for the region. Flood-Beaubrun. Also present at the royal reception held For more information, please visit the official event website at the Royal Saint Lucian Hotel were other Saint Lucia http://www.promexico.gob.mx/en/mx/foro-cancun or con- government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps tact the Embassy of Mexico at +1 (758) 451 4254 or via email and other specially invited dignitaries. [email protected]. [email protected] Page 3 Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 France commits US $33M to fund Caribbean David Cameron quits Climate Change adaptation as MP to 'avoid being fficials from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have a distraction' to PM Osigned an agreement to provide US$33,000,000 toward the avid Cameron has stepped financing of sustainable infrastructure projects in the Caribbean. down as an MP after 15 The agreement supports the improvement of the resilience of years saying that he does Caribbean economies through the development of sustainable D not want his presence on the Con- infrastructure projects with significant environmental or climate servative backbenches to serve as impacts. a “distraction” to Theresa May. The funds are being provided by AFD under a Credit Facility The previous Conservative Agreement with the CDB. The AFD is the primary agency through leader, who has ended his career which the Government of France provides funding for sustainable in Westminster politics just two development projects. months after leaving Downing The facility will be used by the CDB to augment financing for Street, hinted that he did not want infrastructure projects in several areas: renewable energy, water people to pore over any differenc- and sanitation, waste management, adaptation of infrastructure to es in opinion between himself and the effects of climate change, and protection of coasts and rivers. his prime ministerial successor. At least 50 percent of the funds will be used to fund climate His departure will trigger a by-election in his Witney con- change adaptation and mitigation projects. stituency in Oxfordshire. The agreement was signed last month at the CDB headquarters Asked about whether his decision opened up the possibil- in Barbados, by French Ambassador to the Organization of East- ity that he was “snubbing” May, Cameron said he thought ern Caribbean States and Barbados, Eric de la Moussaye, in the she had got off to a “cracking start”, before conceding: “Obvi- presence of CDB Vice-President of Operations, Patricia McKenzie. ously I have my own views about certain issues. People know Countries able to benefit from this facility are Antigua and Bar- that. That’s really the point. buda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts “As a former PM it’s very difficult to sit as a backbencher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and and not be an enormous diversion and distraction from what Suriname. This marks the first time that CDB has accessed financ- the government is doing. I don’t want to be that distraction.” ing from AFD. (AFD) He denied that his decision was linked to the controversial policy to increase the number of grammar schools, an idea that he has spoken against in the past and that has caused Taiwan counting on air safety record to concern among many education experts, opposition politi- attend world aviation summit in Canada cians and even a number of Conservative MPs. Cameron said there were “many good things in the policy”, Continued from page 12 and that he had not meant for his decision to come on the The civil aviation authorities in Beijing and Taipei have established same day that the new government introduced a consultation three direct flight routes between the island and the mainland. As paper on the school policy. a result, cross-strait communication has virtually gone through the “This decision has got nothing to do with any one individual skies in recent years. Example: Taiwan has opened 10 airports for issue and that way the timing, I promise, is coincidental,” he told cross-strait flights, while mainland China has opened 61. In an exchange of documents in August 2015, the two sides con- ITV news, adding that the reason was a “bigger picture” issue. firmed that the number of scheduled cross-strait passenger flights “I support Theresa May. I think she’s got off to a great start. operated by their respective airlines could increase to a total of 890 I think she could be a strong prime minister for our country ... per week and the number of scheduled cross-strait cargo flights could I wish her well, I wish the government well.” increase to a total of 84 per week. Cameron, who would be earning £74,962 for his work as an MP rather than the £143,462 current salary for being prime Counting on the facts… minister, did not announce details of what he would do next With only two weeks left before the Montreal ICAO 2016 Assembly but spoke of hoping to “still contribute in terms of public gets going, Taiwan is counting on its impressive air safety record to encourage Beijing to support its bid to be present at the Canada avia- service and to the country”. tion summit for a second time. He said he would “start to build a life outside Westminster” Held every three years, Taipei attended the 2013 Assembly, with Bei- and noted “I’m only 49”. jing’s permission, as ‘Chinese Taipei’. It’s ready to do the same again There was immediate speculation that he could earn this year – and has assured it is prepared to do what Beijing asks to be considerable sums if he followed the path of predeces- able to not only attend again, but to also get more shared responsibility for the shares skies above and between the island and the mainland. sors, including Tony Blair, to take corporate money from Caribbean and Latin American ally governments are all expected – directorships, lucrative book deals and speechmaking. within the next week -- to confirm their support for Taiwan’s attend- ance at the ICAO Assembly this month-end. (More world news on Pages 6, 9 and 12)
Page 4 [email protected] Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 CARICOM Reparations Baton now in Saint Lucia
he CARICOM Repa- Is Zika propaganda rations Baton is now Tin Saint Lucia. The a "virus of the symbolic baton, which is officially recognized and adopted by the CARI- COM Secretariat and the mind"? CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), is this Contiued from Page 1 year moving across the Most people who get Zika, will be completely region to help spread the unaware of being infected. For those who do CARICOM Reparations get sick, it is similar in many ways to having Message. First released in Acting Prime Minister Dr Gale Rigobert passed the CARI- a cold or a mild case of the flu. People experi- and held by the Barbados COM Reparations Baton over to National Reparations ence fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Reparations Committee, Committee Chairman Earl Bousquet after having received The illness is usually mild with symptoms last- the baton has since moved it from Deputy Governor General Mc Donald Dixon. to Guyana and neighbour- (Photo Courtesy: UWI Open Campus Saint Lucia) ing from several days to a week. Infection is ing Surinam, before arriv- thought to provide lifelong immunity. Severe ing here last week. to Chairman of the National Reparations Committee (NRC) disease requiring hospitalization is uncom- Hand-delivered by Guy- Earl Bousquet, who then handed it to National Youth Council mon. Deaths are rare. ana Reparations Committee (NYC) Representative Marnus Cherry. The fact that almost no one dies from Zika member Mrs Penda Guyan Mr Bousquet says the baton was symbolically passed from the infection made it a very unlikely candidate for during the August 17 Collo- heads of state and government to the NRC and the Youth, “be- the development of a vaccine. For those who quy on Slavery and Emanci- cause while the state and government have their roles today, it pation, Reparations, Marcus is the NRCs and the youth who have to carry that Reparations actually feel sick from a Zika infection, they can Garvey and the UN Decade message in a continuous way, today and tomorrow, next year receive comfort care and rest while their im- for People of African De- and beyond, until Reparatory Justice is attained.” The NRC mune systems overcome the viral illness. scent, held at the UWI Open Chairman says the CARICOM Secretariat and the CRC have Campus at Morne Fortune, agreed to work with the Government of Saint Lucia’s Minis- Zika Press Releases Set the Stage for a the baton will be used in tries of Youth and Education, the NRC, the NYC, the National activities to promote aware- Students Council (NSC), the Folk Research Centre (FRC) and Propaganda Campaign ness of the Reparations other stakeholder entities, to put the baton to use in the period However, if Zika could be connected to some cause in Saint Lucia. leading to a major youth rally to be held here on October 30. other horrible consequence, such as microceph- Mrs Guyan handed the Among activities to be organized, he said, are “various aly or paralysis (Guillain-Barré syndrome) for baton at the event to mark Baton Relays in various parts of the island, as well as dis- example, then people would insist that we cre- the 129th birth anniver- cussions in communities about what the baton represents.” sary of Marcus Garvey to According to the NRC Chairman, “CARICOM has also ate a Zika vaccine and would insist that every Deputy Governor Genera pledged to work with the Government of Saint Lucia, to of- person on planet Earth take it. They would be Mc Donald Dixon, who ficially assign local Youth Advocates to work here forthe willing to give up basic individual freedoms then passed it on to Act- Reparations cause,” including the local CARICOM Youth for the benefit of society, which is always the ing Prime Minister Dr Gale Ambassadors, of which Saint Lucian Chard Desir is the cur- goal of mind control programs. Rigobert. rent Dean. Mr Bousquet said that following Saint Lucia, the In 2015, a number of press releases and re- The Acting Prime Minis- baton will be sent to whichever next CARICOM territory ports were released by the Pan American ter then handed the baton will host a regional Reparations youth rally. Health Organization / World Health Organi- zation (PAHO/WHO) and the CDC, to set the stage for the unfolding of a grand mind control Saint Lucia adopts UN Decade for People of project. African Descent on Marcus Garvey’s birthday The documents they published raised the red flag of alarm that a Zika epidemic was unfold- ing throughout South America and Mexico. cting Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Dr Gale T. Rigobert, says Saint Lucia is proud to have officially adopted and launched the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent. The conventional media got excited about the A The Acting Prime Minister spoke following her presentation of an official declaration adopting epidemic when they saw the word “microceph- the UN Decade last week, during a Colloquy on Slavery and Emancipation, Reparations, Marcus Garvey aly.” The prospect of large numbers of babies and the UN Decade for People of African Descent. being born with abnormally small heads and The event, held at the UWI Open Camps Saint Lucia on August 17th, was organized by the Saint Lucia brains was a story that would really grab the National Reparations Committee (NRC). attention of their audience. Dr Rigobert, who is also minister responsible for Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Devel- The media used pictures of deformed babies opment, said her government stands by to observe the relevant protocols the country adopted when the to build fear in the hearts of people and to cre- decade was launched at the UN in New York last year. Speaking before reading the declaration, the Acting Prime Minister said she was also proud to have been ate the perception that we better watch out or part of the historic event, which also observed the 129th Birthday of Marcus Garvey, launched a Repara- Zika is going to get us and our babies! They tions Lecture Series and saw the passing of the CARICOM Reparations Baton from Guyana and Surinam worked really hard to instill public panic about to Saint Lucia. Dr Rigobert traced the history of the UN’s adoption of the Decade back in 2013, when the Zika in January and February of 2016. General Assembly agreed to observe the decade from January 1¸201 to December 31, 2024. The Acting Contiued on Page 11 PM also reiterated Saint Lucia’s commitment, within its means, to implement the agreed UN resolution. [email protected] Page 5 Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Saint Lucia Ambassador denied US visa? Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to UNESCO and The Holy See is a billionaire who donated to the Clinton Foundation. Last year, he was denied entry into the US! — By Joseph Tanfani, LA Times —
igerian billionaire geria in 1995, Gilbert and brother Ronald Chagoury visited McHenry in Gilbert Chagoury, his office at Georgetown University in Washington. The U.S. was push- None of Africa’s richest ing for the return of democratic rule in Nigeria; Abacha, meanwhile, was men, has built a reputation as eager to have his country taken off a U.S. list of nations that enabled drug a giant of global philanthro- trafficking, McHenry said. py. His name is on a gallery “Their effort was to try and influence anyone who they thought could at the Louvre and a medical influence the U.S. government,” McHenry said, adding that the approach school in Lebanon, and he has was heavy-handed. “They tried every key on the piano.” received awards for his gen- Abacha turned out to be “one of the most notorious kleptocrats in mem- erosity to the Catholic Church ory,” stealing billions in public funds, acting Assistant Atty. Gen. Mythili and St. Jude’s Children’s Raman later said. Hospital. He owns a seven- After Abacha’s death in 1998, the Nigerian government hired lawyers to bedroom hilltop mansion in track down the money. The trail led to bank accounts all over the world Beverly Hills, and he has a — some under Gilbert Chagoury's control. Chagoury, who denied know- high-level network of friends ing the funds were stolen, paid a fine of 1 million Swiss francs, then about from Washington to Leba- $600,000, and gave back $65 million to Nigeria; a Swiss conviction was non to the Vatican, where he expunged, a spokesman for Chagoury said. serves as an ambassador for the tiny island nation of St. Ties to the Clintons Lucia. His website shows him In the years afterward, Chagoury’s wealth grew. His family conglomer- shaking hands and laughing ate now controls a host of businesses, including construction companies, with Pope Francis. flour mills, manufacturing plants and real estate. “I never imagined what the future would hold for me,” Chagoury once He has used some of that money to build political connections. As a said of his boyhood in Nigeria. “But I knew there was a vision for my life noncitizen, he is barred from giving to U.S. political campaigns, but in that was greater than I could imagine.… I consider it a duty to give back.” 1996, he gave $460,000 to a voter registration group steered by Bill Clin- Since the 1990s, Chagoury has also cultivated a friendship with the Clin- ton’s allies and was rewarded with an invitation to a White House dinner. ton family — in part by writing large checks, including a contribution of Over the years, Chagoury attended Clinton's 60th birthday fundraiser at least $1 million to the Clinton Foundation. and helped arrange a visit to St. Lucia, where the former president was By the time Hillary Clinton became secretary of State, the relationship paid $100,000 for a speech. Clinton’s aide, Doug Band, even invited Cha- was strong enough for Bill Clinton’s closest aide to push for Chagoury goury to his wedding. to get access to top diplomats, and the agency began exploring a deal, Chagoury also contributed $1 million to $5 million to the Clinton Foun- still under consideration, to build a consulate on Chagoury family land dation, according to its list of donors. At a 2009 Clinton Global Initia- in Lagos, Nigeria. tive conference, where business and charity leaders pledge to complete But even as those talks were underway, bureaucrats in other arms of the projects, the Chagoury Group’s Eko Atlantic development — nine square State Department were examining accusations that Chagoury had unsa- kilometers of Lagos coastal land reclaimed by a seawall — was singled vory affiliations, stemming from his activities and friendships in Lebanon. out for praise. During a 2013 dedication ceremony in Lagos, just after After a review, Chagoury was refused a visa to enter the U.S. last year. Hillary Clinton left her post as secretary of State, Bill Clinton lauded the Chagoury is a prominent example of the nexus between Hillary Clin- $1-billion Eko Atlantic as an example to the world of how to fight climate ton’s State Department and the family’s Clinton Foundation, which has change. come under renewed scrutiny during her presidential run. The organiza- “I especially thank my friends Gilbert and Ron Chagoury for making it tion, founded as a way for the Clintons to tap their vast network for chari- happen,” he said. table works, has tackled some of the steepest challenges in the developing By last summer, U.S. diplomats had selected a 9.9-acre property at Eko world, including rebuilding Haiti and fighting AIDS in Africa. It has also Atlantic as the preferred site for a new Lagos consulate, State Department come under fire for its willingness to accept money from foreign govern- documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times show. Two months ago, ments with interest in swaying U.S. policy during Clinton’s time as secre- James Entwistle, then the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, wrote to Washing- tary of State, and the controversial histories of some donors. ton, asking permission to sign a 99-year lease. Part of a dictator’s inner circle No deal has been signed, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Chagoury was born in 1946 in Lagos to Lebanese parents, and as a child Trudeau said. She did not answer questions about whether the Clintons attended school in Lebanon. He sold shoes and cars in Nigeria, according recommended Eko Atlantic. She said at a recent briefing that she was una- to a biography on his website, before marrying the daughter of a promi- ware of whether Hillary Clinton knew the site was under consideration; nent Nigerian businessman. it was on a list of possibilities submitted by a real estate firm in 2012, During the rule of Gen. Sani Abacha, who seized power in Nigeria in Trudeau said in response to questions from The Times. A spokesman for 1993, Chagoury prospered, receiving development deals and oil franchises. Clinton’s campaign noted that the State Department has said the process In the 1990s, Chagoury portrayed himself as an Abacha insider as he has been managed by “career real estate professionals.” tried to influence American policy to be more friendly to the regime. Soon after President Clinton named Donald E. McHenry a special envoy to Ni- Continued on Page 7
Page 6 [email protected] Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Saint Lucia Ambassador denied US visa?
Continued from Page 6 When Band’s email was made public this month, Donald Trump pounced, calling the Chagoury episode “illegal” and a “pay-to-play” Chagoury declined requests for an interview. A friend and spokesman, scheme. Mark Corallo, said Chagoury was a generous and “peace-loving” man But no meeting ever happened, according to both Feltman and Cha- unfairly scrutinized because of his association with the Clintons. He said goury’s spokesman. Chagoury wanted only to pass along insights on Chagoury last saw Hillary Clinton at a 2006 dinner. The Clinton Founda- Lebanese politics, Corallo said, adding that “nothing ever came of it” and tion and a spokesman for Bill Clinton did not respond to requests for that Chagoury never talked to anyone at the State Department. Band de- comment. clined to comment for this story. Chagoury also has given to Republicans: He and his brother, along with A Clinton campaign spokesman said Judicial Watch, the conservative Eko Atlantic, are listed as sponsors for a 2014 art exhibit at the George W. organization that sued to make the emails public, “has been attacking the Bush Presidential Center. Clintons since the 1990s.” “No matter how this group tries to mischaracterize these documents, Suspicions emerge in the U.S. the fact remains that Hillary Clinton never took action as secretary of In spite of his network of powerful friends, Chagoury has aroused the State because of donations to the Clinton Foundation,” spokesman Josh suspicions of U.S. security officials. In 2010, he was pulled off a private Schwerin said. jet in Teterboro, N.J., and questioned for four hours because he was on This month, the foundation announced that it would stop accepting dona- the Department of Homeland Security’s no-fly list. He was subsequently tions from foreigners and corporations should Clinton win the presidency. removed from the list and categorized as a “selectee,” meaning he can fly but receives extra scrutiny, Homeland Security documents show. The Denied a visa agency later wrote to Chagoury to apologize “for any inconvenience or After Clinton left the State Department, Chagoury again found himself unpleasantness.” under suspicion by U.S. security officials. A 2013 FBI intelligence report, That letter did not explain why Chagoury was on the no-fly list, but citing unverified raw information from a source, claimed Chagoury had another Homeland Security document shows agents citing unspecified sent funds to Aoun, who transferred money to Hezbollah. The source suspicions of links to terrorism, which can include financing extremist said Aoun was “facilitating fundraising for Hezbollah.” The U.S. put organizations; Chagoury later told reporters that agents asked him what Chagoury in its database used to screen travelers for possible links to ter- bank he used in Nigeria. rorism, interagency memos show. Chagoury believes it was unfair for government officials to disclose the The ties between Chagoury and Aoun ended years ago in a dispute over episode and to “suggest that he was a potential threat,” Corallo said. He oil franchises, said Michel de Chadarev, an official with Aoun’s party. said that Chagoury’s lawyers resolved the issue and that he never asked Chagoury now backs an Aoun rival for the presidency. De Chadarev said anyone else for help. Aoun “categorically denied” any arrangement where he shared money with Hezbollah or passed funds from Chagoury: “No, no, no. Of course Gilbert Chagoury's response to the Los Angeles Times not. It is not in his principles to act as transporter to anyone.” Chagoury told ABC News and the Center for Public Integrity at the time Last summer, when Chagoury planned a trip to Los Angeles, he applied that he was miffed because his travel problems made him miss seeing the at the U.S. embassy in Paris for a visitor’s visa and was refused, according Lakers in the playoffs. "I just love the Lakers,” he said. to interviews and government documents. Based on the FBI report and His visa troubles stem at least in part from his involvement in the tan- other allegations from intelligence and law enforcement sources, the State gled politics of Lebanon. Chagoury has contributed to charitable projects Department denied the application. It cited terrorism-related grounds, a there, advocated on behalf of the country’s Christians and formed politi- broad category that can apply to anyone believed to have assisted a ter- cal alliances, including with Michel Aoun, a Lebanese Christian politician rorist group in any way, including providing money. who served as army commander and prime minister during the country’s Chagoury has denied ties to Hezbollah. Two years ago, he helped pay civil war. for a conference in Washington on the persecution of Christians in the For a decade, Aoun’s party has been part of a political coalition with Middle East; some attendees supported Hezbollah, but the director of the Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim group backed by Iran that has seats in Leba- group that organized the conference said that didn’t mean Chagoury or non’s parliament. Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist organization by the other conference organizers were among them. “Hezbollah is part of the U.S., which holds the group responsible for the 1983 bombing of the U.S. political reality of the country,” Andrew Doran told the National Review. embassy in Beirut and a Marine barracks blast that year that killed 241 Corallo did not answer questions about the visa denial, but said Chagoury American servicemen. Drug Enforcement Administration investigations “has been a friend and supporter of America all his life” and that “any al- have also found that Hezbollah is in league with Latin American cartels legation that Mr. Chagoury is involved in any way with providing material to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in drug profits. support to any terrorist organization, of any stripe, is false, outrageous and Chagoury was “known to have funded” Aoun, a Lebanese government defamatory.” He said Chagoury has no business interests in Lebanon. minister told then-Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman in 2007, according to a The visa decision process is opaque and provides little recourse for cable published by WikiLeaks that didn’t go in detail about Chagoury’s re- those who are denied entry. Typically, the person is told of the grounds lationship with Aoun. The minister suggested that the U.S. “deliver to Cha- for refusal, but not the details. The secretary of State can grant a waiver, goury a strong message about the possibility of financial sanctions and travel but that is often difficult when the evidence used to block entry is terror- bans against those who undermine Lebanon’s legitimate institutions.” ism-related. Chagoury never got a scolding, though. Instead, Band, Bill Clinton’s For the last three decades, Corallo said, Chagoury spent at least a few aide, pushed for new access for Chagoury after Hillary Clinton took over months each year in Beverly Hills, where he owns an 18,000-square-foot at the State Department. In 2009, Band wrote his friends in the depart- estate, once the home of actor Danny Thomas, with commanding views ment. “We need Gilbert Chagoury to speak to the substance guy re Leba- of West Los Angeles and the ocean. non. As you know he’s key guy there and to us and is loved in Lebanon. A year ago, after his visa application was denied, Chagoury’s mansion Very imp.” Huma Abedin, a longtime aide and confidante to Clinton and was put on the market, with an asking price of $135 million. It’s still for now vice chairwoman of her presidential campaign, suggested Feltman. sale. ([email protected], August 29, 2016) . [email protected] Page 7 Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Special Report Taiwan is ready for 2nd Montreal international aviation assembly But Taipei calls on mainland China to ‘set aside baggage of history’ to share responsibility for safe skies across the Taiwan Strait
aiwan’s President is calling on mainland China to “set aside the bag- hope that “the two sides can trust and support each other to jointly usher gage of history” and work with it to develop “a new direction and in a new era in cross Strait relations.” Tnew approaches” to sharing responsibility for the safety of the skies It said, “Based on setting aside differences to seek common ground and across the Strait that has historically both divided and unified the island showing mutual respect, the two sides should discuss and consider a new and the mainland. direction and new approaches on which both sides can agree.” The call comes from Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the But, all that said, Taipei is still uncertain about Beijing’s attitude to its leading agency involved in exchanges between the two sides on matters request to be invited or allowed to (again) attend an ICAO Assembly. pertaining to everything from air and sea transport, aviation and tourism, Taipei has done all it expects to be asked to. The MAC says it has “fully business and trade. The MAC’s call also comes ahead of an upcoming exchanged views with the Taiwan Ministry of Transport and Commu- meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 2016 Assembly, nications (MOTC) on participation in the upcoming ICAO meeting next to be held from September 27 to October 5, at the world agency’s lead- month. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), under and ing aviation authority’s headquarters based in Canada. This is not the first through the MOTC, has also submitted an application to the ICAO As- ICAO meeting Taiwan will attend, if invited or allowed. sembly President. Noticeably, the CAA applied to participate in this year’s Taipei sent a delegation in 2013 when the island’s Civil Aeronautics Ad- ICAO Assembly “as the authority in charge of international aviation safety ministration (CAA) was invited by the ICAO to that year’s assembly. But and safety of cross-Strait travel.” The CAA’s application was also submit- that year everything was different – there was a different Government in ted under “a proper name” (Chinese Taipei)—and it also says it “is willing Taipei with a different President. to follow the relevant rules for participation in ICAO meetings.” Beijing, known to favour the demonstrably reformed policies to Main- Taipei also says it “will seek support from the ICAO members and be- land and Cross Strait ties pursued by Kuomintang (KMT) President Ma lieves that this issue could be resolved through cross-Strait negotiations” Ying-jeou, had no problem not opposing Taiwan’s attendance of the 2013 – and, it also says, it “hopes that mainland China could show goodwill to Assembly in Montreal, providing it did so under “a proper name”. the people of Taiwan. In keeping with the 1992 Consensus that drives its Taiwan policy, China The MAC has also reiterated that it “will work closely with the CAA and refuses to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations as provide necessary assistance with cross-Strait interactions.” the Republic of China on Taiwan (ROC). The MAC also says it “hopes that Taiwan could continue to participate But Taiwan will not participate under the flag of the People’s Republic in this year’s ICAO Assembly, based on mutual goodwill from both sides of China (PRC). So the two sides have agreed on a mutually agreeable of the Taiwan Strait.” formula: Taiwan will only participate in non-political word bodies and A skilled negotiator who negotiated Taiwan’s entry into the World Trade activities where China has a say as “Chinese Taipei”. Centre (WTC), a lawyer and economist trained in the USA and the UK, Taiwan indeed got China’s blessings to participate in the United Nations and also a former head of the MAC, President Tsai and her administration World Health Organization (WHO) and to participate in the Olympic say they have said and done everything they could have thought of being Games in Beijing as “Chinese Taipei”. required or expected to do to secure another legitimate entry pass -- and a But this upcoming ICAO meeting is different, taking place three years sure seat -- at the ICAO Assembly in Montreal on September 27th. later – and under a President and ruling Democratic People’s Party (DPP) Will Beijing again agree to allow Taipei to participate in an ICAO As- that replaced the KMT just over six months ago. sembly under “a proper name”, or will China play Cross Strait Ping Pong President Tsai only took office three months ago on May 20. Her lan- with a Taiwan relatively new DPP-led administration that, like the KMT, guage ahead of and during the Presidential campaign rejected outright has also shown it too can shed the excess baggage of history. the 1992 Consensus as the common denominator for maintenance of Cross Under Tsai, the DPP has not pursued the pro-independent foreign policy Strait ties in the manner forged under the KMT in its eight years under her that the previous DPP President, Chen Shui-bian, followed. Her more dip- predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou. lomatic language in cross-Strait talk since winning the election in January But her policy position became clearer on May 20 when she appealed and taking office in May also sounds markedly more peaceful than she during her inaugural address for Beijing and Taipei “to set aside the bag- was credited for during the closing days of the Presidential campaign than gage of history for the benefit of the people of both sides and to develop made her the first elected woman president in her part of Asia. positive cross Strait interaction.” The extent the which the two sides in Taiwan have both expressed will- Where she had been accused of demanding that the 1992 Consensus be ingness to shed harmful foreign policies that further divided in favour of shelved and looking in the direction of inviting Washington to invoke those that support peaceful negotiations and coexistence across the Tai- cross Strait military protection agreement clauses to harden Taipei’s posi- wan Strait will impress and affect Beijing’s response to Taipei’s ICAO re- tion, Washington’s insistence on supporting continued warming instead quest will soon be known. of freezing of cross Strait ties blurred those lines. But Taiwan will not sit by and wait. It is again lobbying its allies and Following the President’s first hint at a policy decision on Cross Strait friends in the Caribbean and Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa for ties, the MAC said in a public statement that it believes that “the differenc- support for its bid to be present at the 2016 ICAO Montreal Assembly. es in social systems exist in cross Strait relations can be resolved through Not that other nations can be expected to influence China to take any po- communication, consultation, increased exchanges and improved under- sition it does not want to. But the hope in Taipei is that any and all expres- standing.” In the August 4 statement the MAC also said it “welcomes the sions of support will or may help persuade Beijing not to oppose Chinese peaceful and stable development of cross strait relations” and expressed Taipei’s presence in Montreal at the end of this month.
Page 8 [email protected] Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Climate Smart Agriculture Morocco committed to helping Small Island Developing States resist Climate Change
accepted IICA's proposal because of cli- I did speak earlier of Small Island Developing States on purpose. In fact, mate change and its linkage with agri- on September 20th, 2015, His Majesty King Mohammed 6 and French Iculture. My country is affected by the President Francois Hollande launched the Call of Tangier for a United and negative impact of climate change which Strong Action in favor of the Climate. And I wish to quote here three pas- translates into more desertification, irregular- sages of this important document to depict how committed my country is ity and even scarcity of rainfalls -- and some in this regard. years two seasons literally disappear from the The first quote reads: "While the international community is preparing calendar, moving us from summer into win- to adopt, this September (2015) in the United Nations, the sustainable de- ter without transiting by spring and autumn. velopment goals, it is imperative to take advantage of the conferences due I can assure you that a year without rainfall in Paris and Marrakech to speed up the transition towards a 'green global and without the four seasons that secure agricul- economy' joining the legitimate development aspirations to the imperatives tural production is heavily and tangibly felt in of sustainability of resources and the reduction of environmental risks.” Morocco. Therefore, we absolutely understand The second quote reads: "The battle against climate change is one for the concerns expressed by our friends in the Caribbean region when it comes to development. It can and must be integrated into national sustainable de- the impact of climate change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). velopment policies, whether in the perspective of food security, access to Yet, Morocco has made the firm choice of not letting climate change be a renewable energy or the fight against insecurity.” fatality and has, thus, engaged in the global effort to fight its negative ef- In the last quote, His Majesty and President Hollande stressed that: "Spe- fects. Most of you have noticed the logo saying ‘COP 22 Marrakech 2016’. cial attention should be paid to developing countries, including the least de- In fact, after Lima -- where the parties engaged in the negotiations and veloped countries and SIDS, which are most vulnerable to climate change… Paris where an agreement had been reached -- the Kingdom of Morocco The efficiency and level of ambition of the actions of developing countries aspires to make COP 22 the conference of the implementation of what was against climate change will be even stronger as complementary, consistent agreed to a year earlier. and stable resources will be mobilized in their favor." Concern over Brexit in vulnerable Commonwealth states —By The Commonwealth Secretariat—
ey industries in some Commonwealth Dr Razzaque warns, "More than 80 percent nations could take massive hits if ap- of St Lucia's exports, mainly bananas, to the Kpropriate steps aren’t taken following EU is bound for the UK. Remember that the the UK’s departure from the EU. The fore- country's banana industry has witnessed cast over so-called Brexit comes from policy tremendous competitive pressure. Unless it experts’ analysis in two new research papers secures the same level of market access pro- published by the Commonwealth Secretariat. vision as in the EU, post-Brexit trading could "Brexit is a journey into unknown trading ar- deal a further blow to the sector. Similarly, rangements, both for the UK dealing with the Fiji, a Pacific Island state, sources almost two- EU, and the UK’s trading relationship with a thirds of its European export from the UK large number of developing countries. Many alone. In 2014, 95% of Fiji’s exports to the UK have benefited from EU trade preferences," was raw sugar.” said Dr Mohammad Razzaque, head of the The Commonwealth's developing countries Secretariat’s international trade policy section. export a total of about £25 billion to the UK. A weak pound, following the The analysis is part of the Secretariat's peer reviewed 'Trade Hot Topics' Brexit referendum, will have resulted in a significant loss in export value series. The latest papers suggest that the uncertainties caused by Brexit for these countries. may weaken the chances of world economic recovery. This in turn will "It's not just trade Brexit will affect," Dr Razzaque said. "The impact of a have severe implications for many developing and so called least devel- weaker pound will affect overseas aid from the UK. So imagine a 10 per- oped countries or LDCs. cent depreciation of sterling. $20 billion UK aid is only worth $18 billion. The EU provides special trade deals to support these vulnerable coun- Think about how that extra $2 billion could have been spent. We're talking tries, using often complex mechanisms. Dr Razzaque warns that if equiv- about here, among other things, the UK’s helping 13.4 million people with alent provisions are not provided while the UK leaves the EU, it could emergency food assistance and supporting 11 million children with their mean additional annual export duties of more than £600 million for these education in the past five years." countries. But all is not lost. The Secretariat's policy papers have used scenario "For 36 Commonwealth developing countries, this potential tax hike analysis to produce four options which could help avoid the most vul- could be as high as one percent of their total exports to the UK," he said. "For nerable countries being put at risk. According to one of the papers, the the likes of Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles and Swaziland this could be UK’s commitment to promoting trade-led development has been globally more than 10 percent."So what could this mean for some countries? influential. It has always recognised and championed the special needs "Let's take Bangladesh as an example," said Dr Razzaque. "Unless similar and challenges facing such vulnerable country groups as the LDCs, sub- EU trade preferences are maintained by the UK, Bangladesh will have to Saharan Africa and small states. pay £220 million in tariffs to UK customs. That would put even more pres- “The UK is one of the few high-income countries which fulfils the UN sure on the 4 million, mainly women, workers facing already appalling target of providing 0.7% of gross national income as overseas develop- conditions." ment assistance”, Dr Razzaque pointed out. “It’s in this spirit that the Strong historical ties mean at least 20 Commonwealth developing coun- UK’s newfound trade policy sovereignty should result in continuity and tries rely on the UK for 10 percent or more in trade. The UK is often a niche improvements over the currently existing trade preferences for vulnerable market in certain sectors. countries.” (Courtesy: thecommonwealth.org) [email protected] Page 9 Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Non-Aligned Leaders 3rd Caribbean Summit to re-examine global body’s role and identity — By Earl Bousquet, Editor, The Diplomatic Courier —
he 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement currently taking place in Venezuela isn’t the first to be held in the Caribbean. And TMargarita isn’t the first island to host the heads of government of the largest world grouping after the United Nations. In fact, one Caribbean island state has hosted two NAM Summits. And another Caribbean nation has also hosted the Non-Aligned Foreign Affairs Ministers. Originally scheduled for last year, the Venezuela NAM sum- mit was postponed in July 2015, as was the meeting of foreign ministers scheduled for Tehran. The 16th summit of NAM, held in Tehran in August 2012, was attended The 14th NAM Summit was held at the Palace of Conventions in Havana by leaders and high ranking representatives of the movement’s 120 full in 2006, where then Vice President Raul Castro (at left) led the Cuban members, including 24 presidents, three kings, 6 prime ministers and 50 delegation. (Photo courtesy: NNN, Non-aligned News Network) Foreign ministers. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was also present. Founded in 1961 Maurice Bishop, alongside Cuba’s President Fidel Castro and Nicaragua’s as colonialism collapsed and people took charge of their destinies in new President Daniel Ortega. Jamaica’s Michael Manley and Guyana’s Forbes nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions, has played a fun- Burnham also attended. damental role in preserving world peace, the NAM held its First Summit Saint Lucia was represented by then Government Advisor for (and de Conference in Belgrade, September 1-6, 1961. facto Minister of) Education, Kenny D. Anthony. The Belgrade Conference) was held under the leadership of Josip Broz The NAM Heads returned to Cuba more than a quarter-century later in Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of September 2006, where they reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals, India, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sukarno of Indonesia. principles and purposes the movement was founded upon. The inaugural conference was attended by 25 countries: Afghanistan, Cuban President Fidel Castro was elected Chairman of the Movement at Algeria, Yemen, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, the second Havana NAM summit, but he was unable to attend the meet- Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Mo- ing due to a hip operation earlier, leaving his younger brother Raul (now rocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yugoslavia. President) to lead the Cuban delegation. During its five decades of existence, the NAM has united governments The14th Summit in Havana – also attended by Saint Lucia’s Dr Kenny D. and anti-colonial, pro-independence movements across ideological, politi- Anthony, but this time as Prime Minister -- adopted a document outlining cal, economic, social and cultural boundaries. the purposes and principles of the movement in the present International As the NAM gathers for its 55th birthday in the sunny Caribbean, all juncture. independent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Organization of The movement continues to advocate for international cooperation, mul- Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member-states are members, along with tilateralism and national self-determination. It has also been increasingly Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela, as well as other Latin vocal against the inequities of the current global economic order. American states. The NAM sees its role today as protecting principles of international law, Venezuela has become the second Caribbean nation to assume the Presi- eliminating weapons of mass destruction, combating terrorism, defending dency of the NAM, President Nicolas Maduro taking over from his Iranian human rights, working toward making the United Nations more effective counterpart. in meeting the needs of all its member-states, working to preserve inter- In Margarita these next few days, heavy security will protect what will national peace, security and stability, as well as to realize justice in the be a busy summit on a small tropical Caribbean island better known for its international economic system. sandy beaches and sunny skyline. On the other hand, some long-standing goals remain, among them world But the NAM leaders have met in the sunny Caribbean before – and peace, development, economic cooperation and the democratization of in- twice in Cuba. And the Foreign Affairs ministers have also met in Guyana ternational relations. -- even though lon before CARICOM was born. In Margarita, the NAM will seek to maintain its prominent and lead- Guyana’s then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, after attending the 1970 ing role in current international relations, in defense of the interests and NAM Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, paid official visits to several African priorities of its member states and for achievement of peace and security countries —Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia — in Septem- for mankind. It will also have to reassess its identity and purpose in the ber that year. The Guyana government identified with and supported the post-Cold War era. African liberation movements throughout the 1970s and Burnham sent more than a hundred Guyanese public servants to various departments of the Zambian Government. Many Guyanese doctors, engineers, lawyers and secretaries worked in Southern African states throughout the 1970s. The Conference of Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers was then held in Georgetown, Guyana two years later, from 8 to 11 August 1972. During the conference, a monument to the four founders of the Non- Aligned Movement – Egypt’s Nasser, Ghana’s Nkrumah, India’s Nehru and Yugoslavia’s Tito -- was erected in ‘Company Path Garden’ in George- town and was unveiled by the then President, Arthur Chung. The Guyana conference adopted a NAM Action Programme for Eco- The founding Belgrade conference was held under the leadership of nomic Cooperation (APEC) between member-states. the NAM’s Founding Fathers (left to right): India’s Jawaharral Nehru, The first NAM Summit in the Caribbean took place in Cuba in October Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah, Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia’s 1979, where it was attended and addressed by Grenada’s Prime Minister Sukharno and Yugoslavia’s Josip Broz Tito.
Page 10 [email protected] Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Is Zika propaganda a "virus of the mind"?
Continued from Page 5 CDC official went on to issue a travel warning to women to avoid traveling to Brazil and other South American countries if they are In the timeline that follows, you will see the word “autoch- pregnant, think they might be pregnant or are thinking of becom- thonous.” Public Health agencies use the word autochthonous ing pregnant in the next couple years. to say that an infection was locally generated. An autochthonous “What did the CDC just say?” There is no evidence of causa- case of Zika is one that was acquired in the local area where a tion, and we don’t even know there is even a problem, but women person lives. This is in contrast with a Zika infection that was ac- should stay home any way. “Strange,” I thought as I began to quired while visiting another region or country. remember how the conventional media, the CDC, and the WHO I will list a few of the key points from some press releases to show hyped up the African Ebola epidemic in a similar kind of propa- how a foundation for the Zika campaign was built and how mo- ganda campaign just 18 months earlier. The worldwide threat of mentum was established to project the campaign into mainstream Ebola Zaire completely died out long before a vaccine could be media. May 2015: Brazil confirms first autochthonous cases of Zika. developed, which must have been a major disappointment to Big October 2015: Columbia confirms first autochthonous cases of Zika. Pharma. October 2015: Brazil reports unusually high number of babies But this time, they have a virus that is not going to die out. This with microcephaly. time their propaganda campaign will be much more sophisticat- November 2015: El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, ed, and it will make major steps toward the acceptance of univer- Suriname, and Venezuela report autochthonous Zika infection. sal mandatory vaccination for diseases such as Zika. November 17, 2015: WHO calls upon member states to watch for the occurrence of microcephaly. A False International Crisis Involving Deformed Babies December 1, 2015: PAHO/WHO issued the first of dozens of re- ports, which chronicled the history of the growing Zika epidemic Justifies Action and warned of microcephaly. All through January and early February of 2016, the news media December 21, 2015: WHO reports autochthonous Zika infections provided us with a non-stop litany of stories about Zika and de- in Honduras. formed babies. In a previous article I examined some of the head- December 22, 2015: WHO reports autochthonous Zika infections lines in the propaganda campaign. in Panama. December 31, 2015: US CDC reports autochthonous Zika infec- Are we All Being Forced onto a Passenger Train tions in Puerto Rico, and makes note of microcephaly in Brazil. Named Zika? The CDC was still using the word “possible association,” while Counting Babies with Microcephaly the news media insisted on using the word “cause.” Despite the ini- The mainstream media suddenly picked up on the Zika/mi- tial reserve of the CDC, the news media began to shout the message crocephaly story in January of 2016 and began sensationalizing across America, “Zika is going to deform the heads of our babies it. General concern was quickly transformed into alarm as offi- while they are in the womb, and there’s no vaccine to protect us!” cials in Brazil reported a steady increase in the number of micro- It seems like every Zika story I saw included at least one photo cephaly cases. As of January 30, 2016, they reported 4,783 cases of of a baby with microcephaly and always stated that there is no microcephaly and/or Central Nervous System (CNS) malforma- vaccine yet. We were reminded over and over again that Zika is tion suggestive of congenital infection. They compared this with causing babies to be born with abnormally small heads, mental re- 2001 — 2014 data where there was an average of 163 microcephaly tardation, and blindness. We were warned that some babies were cases. [14] dying at birth because of the severity of their brain deformation. The Brazil data about the babies was poor. We didn’t know their We were told that each baby born with microcephaly will cost ten definition of microcephaly. We didn’t know how many ofthe million dollars or more in medical expenses during the child’s life. mothers actually tested positive for Zika. We didn’t know how the [16] These stories created ever increasing levels of apprehension data was collected. We also didn’t know why there was a strong and fear as they were intended to do. level of insistence that the only thing that could cause these birth As the mainstream media struggled to keep the fear level high defects was infection with the Zika virus. Propaganda campaigns and keep the story line flowing from week to week, they began to always dismissed other viewpoints other than the one being pro- focus in on government efforts to save us from Zika. It didn’t take moted. They don’t want an investigation of truth or a debate about long for them to find people to interview who would ask the ques- the facts – they just want belief and submission. tion they wanted asked.
The US Propaganda Machine Goes Public in “What is the Government Going to Do to Protect January 2016 Our Babies?” CDC officials begin to ponder the situation. First they say there This question was asked over and over again even though there might be an association between Zika and microcephaly, but they was no proof that Zika infection and microcephaly were related. are far from asserting any kind of causative relationship. [15] The question was asked so many times by the media that no politi- “Good for them,” I thought when I heard that report. But their cian could dare to say, “I am not going to do anything, because as apparent wisdom took a nosedive a minute later when the same far as we know Zika doesn’t cause microcephaly.” [email protected] Page 11 Diplomatic Courier Vol. 1 | Issue 3 | September 17, 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign regrets not Taiwan counting on air telling the truth about her health safety record to attend world aviation summit in Canada illary Clinton’s cam- paign has acknowl- Hedged mishandling news of her pneumonia, as Donald Trump sought to capi- talize on growing questions over his opponent’s trustwor- thiness at a critical moment in their race for the White House. “We could have done better,” wrote Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri on Saint Lucia's close ties with Taiwan leave no doubt that Prime Minister Monday, after some Democrats Allen Chastanet will assure Taiwan Ambassador Ray Mou of the began questioning whether the island's support for attending the ICAO meeting this month-end. campaign had been fully trans- parent in its weekend accounts of her health. aiwan is making a strong bid for more say in ensuring safety and On Monday evening, the Democratic presidential candidate security in the skies above it – and is offering its performance in phoned in to CNN, telling host Anderson Cooper that she hadn’t Tthe Civil Aviation Industry as proof it is ready to shoulder the task. initially thought her pneumonia “was a big deal”. She also The Asian island, which has had Caribbean links from as far back as when it was recognized by Haiti in 1956 and the Dominican Republic tweeted her thanks to well-wishers and added: in 1957, has been developing trading ties with its four other CARICOM She went on to issue two tweets attacking Trump. diplomatic allies – Belize (1989), Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983), Saint Lucia Clinton was filmed losing her footing and being assisted into a (1984) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (1981). waiting van after leaving early from a memorial for 9/11 victims But with its 22 diplomatic allies not enough to influence whether it at- in New York on Sunday. tends the upcoming world aviation summit, Taipei has been showing its Initially, campaign aides said she had “overheated”, though positive report card to the Caribbean and Latin America – and the rest of the world. Clinton later insisted “I’m feeling great, it’s a beautiful day in The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will hold its next New York,” after she left her daughter’s apartment, where she Assembly in Montreal starting September 27 and Taiwan wants to be at was taken to rest. the conference table. So, ahead of the meeting, Taiwan has been assuring But once the video footage emerged – which appeared to sup- all who have doubts, that it can fit the bill. And it’s backing its talk with port eyewitness accounts of a more serious incident – the cam- facts and figures. paign issued a short statement from a doctor revealing she was Top Cargo Volumes being treated for pneumonia. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), China Clinton had been diagnosed on Friday but the condition went Airlines and EVA Airways —Taiwan’s two largest — ranked 24th and undisclosed despite the campaign chastising reporters who had 43rd worldwide, respectively, in terms of passenger volumes and 6th and questioned bouts of coughing at recent public events. 15th, respectively, in terms of cargo volumes in 2014. As of the end of 2015, “In retrospect, we could have handled it better in providing there were nine civil aviation operators and 11 general aviation operators more information. That’s on us. We regret that,” said press sec- in Taiwan, with a total of 256 airworthy civilian aircraft. retary Brian Fallon. In addition, there were five airport ground handling services provid- ers, five catering services providers, 1,215 air freight forwarders, seven air The campaign now says Clinton will release “additional medi- cargo center operators, 18 certified aircraft repair and maintenance compa- cal information” from her doctor in the next few days “to further nies and one flight training institute. put to rest any lingering concerns”, but insists there are “no other underlying conditions, the pneumonia is the extent of it”. Flight Safety “I expect by the middle or back end of the week she will be back Also on display ahead of the Montreal meeting is Taiwan’s flight safety record. Taipei argues that through joint efforts of the island’s government out there on the campaign trail,” Fallon told MSNBC. “If it was and the aviation industry, the accident rate of Taiwan-registered jet air- up to her she would be travelling to California today but it was craft has been reduced to a minimum. her doctor’s advice [to rest at home].” Indeed, it says that over the past five years, the highest level of safety has Clinton added in a Monday night phone interview with CNN’s been achieved with regard to jet aircraft operations, due to a systematic Anderson Cooper that she didn’t initially reveal the pneumonia approach and harmonization of the regulatory environment in accordance diagnosis because she “didn’t think it was a big deal”. with standards and recommendations of the ICAO. After the incident on Sunday, where she insisted that she did not Cross-strait Air Transport Services faint, the former secretary of state was now following her initial Cross-strait Air Transport Services are also being highlighted. Scheduled doctor’s advice to take five days of rest in order to fully recover. flights between Taiwan and mainland China were launched in 2009 as part However, even if Clinton does bounce back quickly, the inci- of a series of economic cooperation agreements aimed at improving ties dent is raising fresh questions over trust which could cause more across the Strait dividing the island from the mainland. As a result, mil- lingering political complications. lions of Taiwanese and Chinese have since each year visited in volumes unheard or thought of two years earlier. (See Page 4)
Page 12 [email protected]