The only thing to do is blame it on a rogue CIA operation, find a few people to plead guilty in return for a very good pay off and very easy time in jail for a few years. Then pay reparations to Germany, France, Netherlands and Russia. That still leaves the uncomfortable question of how much Europe has to pay for American LNG. Not sure what they can do about that. I think the arbitrarily set the price won't work.
Nice idea but doubt it would work. It was a very large operation requiring a very large amount of logistical support. Some of those arrested would need to be very high up government and military officials and none of them are going to agree to be a scapegoat.
It was unbelievably reckless!
According to Seymore Hersch, high officials in the military, CIA and NSA implored Biden not to do it. Even at the last moment the director of the CIA, in one final desperate move, assured Biden it's not too late to back out of it. But they were talking to the wrong person. Jake Sullivan, Tony Blinken, Victoria Nuland and the Clintons are running foreign affairs for the US gov.
They make fun about the belligerence of Australia here. Not the average person on the street but some relatively prominent people. I don't know why the Aus gov has to be so belligerent. Just a few days ago in an English language publication they had a headline about Aus saying it will be at war with China within 10 years or something like that.Edward you had better let them know over there, the NRL is going into battle with China! This is getting so ridiculous it's making the "pro-Ukrainian" group penciled in for the Nord Stream terrorist attack look credible!
PASIFIKA PUSH THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT CHINA?
Australia’s political fight to keep Chinese influence at bay in the Pacific could provide a path for the North Sydney Bears to return to the NRL. We can reveal the Bears are weighing up whether to align themselves with NRL bid teams from Pasifika or Papua New Guinea – and it could help in the ongoing battle against China to win hearts, minds and wallets in that region.
The Bears played their last game in the premiership in 1999 but refused to give up hope of a fairytale return. China may yet prove their greatest ally in their bid to become the NRL’s 18th team. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already thrown his support behind an NRL team in Papua New Guinea and Bears board member Billy Moore confirmed they are open to exploring the concept of a joint bid.
“What we’ve said to the NRL is you tell us where we need to go to become the 18th team,” Moore said. “Our fans will go with us. We’ve waited 24 years. “All we want is to be back into the competition. Whether that is in Perth, Port Moresby or Wellington. But, during discussions, what has arisen is the prospect of becoming the Pasifika Bears.”
A Pasifika Bears amalgamation would put them in direct competition with an existing Papua New Guinea bid – officials from that country are exploring their own options after being buoyed by Albanese’s public support. It is understood the successful bidder could have access to millions in government support, given the desire to ward off the Chinese influence in the area and improve cultural ties with Australia.
Remarkably, rugby league’s importance in the fight for influence in the Pacific has made it all the way to the American capital. The Washington Post featured a story in September titled: ‘Can this sport (rugby league) outmatch China in the Pacific? The West is betting on it.’ “We want our colours, our brand and to play two games at North Sydney Oval a year. That will give us our history back. We will completely fund it. We will go wherever the NRL thinks is the best option. We will not cannibalise any other club. We will create extra pathways.”
North Sydney chiefs have had talks about joining the potential Perth bid, having previously failed to return to the NRL as the Central Coast Bears. Ex-Canterbury CEO Andrew Hill, who is the strategic advisor to PNG’s 2025 hopes, said the bid team was making progress. However, Brisbane Jets director Nick Livermore has major logistic concerns about a PNG or Pasifika NRL team.
“Where can a Pacific team be appropriately based? How do you fund it commercially and corporately in Cairns?” he said. “It would be a very complex process logistically, but the game is driven by money and if a Pasifika team can attract major funds for the game, the NRL might decide to explore that region.”
Rugby league could emerge as the saviour in the Pacific and the Bears, a 1908 foundation club, could be the key.
I agree Australian gov should just STFU but a lot of people would say that China's actions are very aggressive. Seems almost just a matter of time before they have naval bases in "Pasifika".
Like what? Like Huawei's spying? Anyone found those infamous "backdoors" yet?
If they did, and no evidence they are, wouldn't that be between China and those countries?
They talk here about this quite a lot. They say it's just that Europeans (and their decedents in USA, Australia, Canada) just can't get over their colonial mindset. They clamour for Chinese money but denounce Chinese investments in places like Africa and the South Pacific islands.