Yesterday, a report calling for even more U.S. military build-up was released by the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, initiated by Congressional action in 2022. After stating that the current security environment is more dangerous than the Cold War, the report calls for a faster, bigger U.S. military build-up than already in motion, because otherwise the U.S. would lose a future conflict with Russia and China. “A bipartisan call to arms is urgently needed so that the United States can make the major changes and significant investments now rather than wait for the next Pearl Harbor or 9/11,” it states.
This crazed worldview, offered by the Washington consensus figures who produced the report, is clearly, fundamentally opposed to the view of economic development and peace, which in recent days is to be seen in the deliberations and policies explicitly put forward during the process of the Third Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee July 15-18. On July 21, President Xi Jinping released his own “Explanation” of policies, in a 10-page document. In it, he spoke of the material, scientific, and cultural development of China, and national partners. On July 26, Xi presided over a meeting of non-CPC experts to further the goals.
Today, the leadership of the CPC met, again under Xi’s chairmanship, to focus on how to carry out the positive perspective.
The Global Times, in covering today’s CPC meeting, carried the comments by Helga Zepp-LaRouche, one of the leading world organizers for peace through development, about how important the Chinese commitment to development is for the world. She initiated the International Peace Coalition just over a year ago. The Global Times writes, under the headline, “CPC Leadership Sets Out Economic Priorities for H2 2024,” that “Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder of Germany-based political and economic think-tank, the Schiller Institute, told the Global Times that the economic development blueprint put forward by the CPC leadership has laid the foundation for China’s increased productivity and technological breakthroughs. She voiced strong optimism that the world’s second-largest economy will sustain its recovery momentum this year, channeling a sense of continuity and certainty to the Global South.”
The Global Times concluded in its article that “Zepp-LaRouche said that she was impressed by the innovation-driven strategy China put forward through the conferences, which puts the development and expansion of emerging industries and future industries at the core. She suggested all countries across the Global South apply the principle of continued innovation in the same vein as China, so they ‘don’t have to repeat a prolonged process of industrialization.’”
The new U.S. report for its defense build-up also calls for international collaboration, but for arms. Because the U.S. industrial base is not up to the task, collaboration with allies on munitions is in order. When you get into real-world details, this is playing out like a Hollywood Grade C comedy. Funny, if it weren’t so grim.
For example, look at the steel sector in the United States: Steel production—essential for weaponry, as well as for development—has been declining per capita in the U.S., and has leveled off for years in terms of absolute tonnage. To prop up what’s left of American steel capacity, Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp. is near finalizing a $15 billion takeover of United States Steel Corp., the Pittsburgh-based iconic symbol of U.S. manufacturing. The deal is under federal review.
To clinch the deal, whom has Nippon hired as a consultant? Mike Pompeo! The target deadline is year-end. Thus, an infamous Trump backer of MAGA—Make America Great Again—does so by working to sell off American steel capacity to Japan.
Multinational industrial/financial “cooperation” like this sell-off is exactly the Global NATO model of jointly destroying economies in the name of war readiness, to “Make Globalization Great Again.” Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin are doing their part this week in the Indo-Pacific. Today, in the Philippines, they announced a $500 million donation to Manila’s military. Meantime, the death toll and immiseration continue under the warfare in Southwest Asia, Ukraine, and elsewhere, from the perpetuation of the Malthusian, warfare paradigm.
Tonight, reports are coming out about the impact of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strike on Beirut, escalating the fighting in the Israel-Lebanon region. Last night, Iran’s new President Masoud Pezeshkian called French President Emmanuel Macron to warn against escalation by Israel.
Zepp-LaRouche continues her call, with associates, for a Council of Reason to take shape internationally to intervene and reverse this doomsday direction. There are individuals speaking out. For example, French Gen. Daniel Schaeffer (ret.) spoke out in July in favor of the peace mission by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Schaeffer has served as France’s defense attaché in China and other countries.
Now is the time for coming together to speak out, and take all possible action necessary.
