Machiavellian USA Spying on Japan - Consistent With US Bid for Total Control on Economic & World Stage

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-08/02/c_134472389.htm Commentary: U.S. spying on Japan proves it has never treated allies as equals English.news.cn 2015-08-02 16:37:13 [More] BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The recently exposed U.S. spying on Japan, one of its most loyal "allies," has once again proved to the world that U.S. foreign polices are still based on realpolitik and it only sees other countries as objects to control, no matter whether they are "friends" or foes. The Wikileaks website on Friday posted National Security Agency (NSA) reports and a list of 35 Japanese targets for telephone intercepts of senior Japanese government officials including the Japanese Cabinet Office, the Bank of Japan, the country's finance and trade ministries and major Japanese trading companies. However, the world is not completely caught off guard when the Wikileaks websites posted NSA reports revealing the United States is also spying on Japan. The United States is often criticized for applying double standards on various issues, but the world's "freedom leader" has been very realistic and consistent when it comes to eavesdropping: from the potential rivals such as Iran and Russia to close allies such as France and Germany. So there is no reason to believe it should treat Japan differently. The United States has been trying to maintain its dominance in global politics, economy and military power. And one of the most important reasons for the United States to spy on other countries is that it wants total control -- to be in total control. Namely, it needs to be "omniscient." Spying on the telephone conversations and emails of other countries' leaders is not only immoral but is also in violation of international law. But the United States did it anyway, because it knew perfectly well that even if it got caught, no one would be there to punish the only super power in the world. The United States' licentious spying on other countries once again proves how hypocritical its course of defending freedom and democracy is. The truth is that the United States has never treated its "allies" on an equal footing, but sees itself as their superior, having the right to do whatever it wants on them. It is also noteworthy that stepping up of espionage activities against other countries actually coincides with the rise of emerging markets and the unification of Europe, which, in the eyes of the United States, is gradually encroaching upon its dominance over economy as well as other fields. The United States is afraid of losing its status as the single pole in the present unipolar world, and the almost reckless spying means, however futile it would be, that it attempts to turn the tide around. But no matter how much the United States has benefited from knowing other countries' secrets, it will always lose more for the distrusts and mutual suspicions it has stirred up among countries. Seeing how the United States treats its "allies," the world can have a better measurement of the values it actually "upholds."  [Ouch] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-08/02/c_134472389.htm Realpolitik = "politics or diplomacy based primarily on power and on practical and material factors and considerations, rather than explicit ideological notions or moral or ethical premises." "Realpolitik is sometimes used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral, or Machiavellian." [wikipedia]  --------------------- COMMENT I love articles from alternate sources. So all that insane spying is to keep the US in control economically and otherwise. But having been caught out, although the US is in violation of international law, there's nobody to sanction the US because the US (Wall Street, Federal Reserve, IMF, World Bank etc) is in financial control, I guess. 'Machiavellian' is a description that definitely fits the US.  Think fake WMDs, Gulf of Tonkin, coups, supporting terrorists etc.

Foreign Service Updates

North Korea warns US envoy Mark Lippert of ‘bigger mishap’ than a knife attack if he continues insulting NorK NorK says Lippert has: "bad habit of rashly engaging in scheming chatter distorting the truth and instigating war" http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=262264 Iran Protest outside SaudiArabia embassy re Yemen invasion http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/04/18/406799/Iranians-slam-Saudi-war-on-Yemen China Journalist Gao Yu, a Chinese news veteran & critic of Communist Party / 7yr sentence leaking state secrets sentence denounced Fmr law professor says:  political party’s internal documents cannot be regarded as a ‘state secret. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1324846-chinese-regime-sentences-senior-journalist-to-7-years-on-charges-of-leaking-state-secrets/ IRAQ Friday: Irbil - capital semi-autonomous Kurdistan region - car-bomb explodes outside US consulate & compound *common in Iraq, but rare in Ibril* http://www.dw.de/is-targets-us-consulate-in-irbil-suicide-attack/a-18390760 Ireland  / Venezuela Venezuela – Dublin solidarity rally at US Embassy 2pm Sunday http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/24913  Canada Officials In Hungary To Seek Information On Roma Exodus From Miskolc 40-50 local Roma families emigrated http://hungarytoday.hu/cikk/canadian-officials-budapest-seek-information-roma-exodus-miskolc-44835 Ukraine Zaporizhstal CEO Rostyslav Shurma Ukraine 4th largest steel maker {Rinat Akhmetov} invested abt $120 million in production modernisation William H. "Chip" Laitinen Economic Officer, Office of US Ambassador to Ukraine, approves http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/economic/261154.html India India appointments / Ambassadors to: > Egypt > Venezuela http://netindian.in/news/2015/04/17/00033396/sanjay-bhattacharyya-appointed-ambassador-egypt UK Ugandan High Commission in London worker sentenced to 6yrs prison /£4.8 million tobacco duty evasion http://en.starafrica.com/news/ugandan-jailed-in-uk-for-tax-evasion.html NZ New Snowden docs reveal NZ spies & America's top govt hackers cooked up plan to spy on China http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/snowden-documents-reveal-attempt-to-spy-on-china/ Op "Frostbite" NZ intel plan to spy on China GCSB worked with the NSA's hacker team - TAO 2013 doc = plan had verbal approval same month PM John Key was in China pledging NZ friendship China is NZ largest trading partner bilateral trade =  $20-billion pa Greens Russel Norman says spy revelations put that at risk Spying on Chinese diplomatic communications in NZ to curry favour with US govt  spy agencies = pointless & reckless "The fact that John Key must have personally approved this operation will add insult to injury ..."  "John Key is willing to subvert NZs broader international economic & political interests to please the US Government" http://www.odt.co.nz/source/nzme/339554/leaked-papers-show-plan-spy-china SouthAfrica President Jacob Zuma cancelled trip to Indonesia to deal with xenophobic violence Jan 2015: Soweto violence = 6 killed / looters rampaged South Africa violence sparked angry responses in other African nations http://en.prothom-alo.com/international/news/64223/Zuma-seeks-to-reassure-foreigners Canada Canadians rally nationwide against Bill C-51 anti-terrorist bill PM office picketed / protests scheduled aim to protect & maintain democratic freedoms NDP & Green party oppose the bill 3rd reading Mon, then law http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2015/04/18/22351896.html Pakistan Scholars of Islamic law attend dinner at  Saudi Embassy updates on Yemen Pakistan ready to lay down life to defend Saudi Arabia Pakistan SaudiArabia Yemen Sounds like they're wanting to wage religious war? Saudi Consul says support to Houthis considered attack on sovereignty of SaudiArabia Claims it is 'joint war' SA + Yemen vs rebels http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-37083-Troops-should-be-sent-for-protection-of-S-Arabia-whenever-necessary-Ulema India Shaken by Corporate Espionage Scandal, Defence Ministry issued a series of security alerts &  directives Yikes! Cell phone can be used as effective, unobtrusive, listening device for eavesdropping even when switched off http://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/Spy-Alert-Cellphones-Banned-at-South-Block-Meetings/2015/04/19/article2771047.ece Poland / FBI Poland’s ambassador to US sent letter of protest to FBI Director James Comey over alleged historical revisionism  FBI director Comey:  suggested that Poland shared responsibility for the Holocaust http://sptnkne.ws/eqT USA - Domestic FBI forensic overstated hair 'match' evidence in 95% of 268 trials prior 2000 14 of 32 executed or died prison Note:   pattern-based forensic techniques in question eg hair & bite-mark comparisons = 25% of 329 cases DNA-exoneration http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fbi-overstated-forensic-hair-matches-in-nearly-all-criminal-trials-for-decades/2015/04/18/39c8d8c6-e515-11e4-b510-962fcfabc310_story.html COMMENT Odds and ends that caught my attention. Best is probably the New Zealand spying outed by Snowden documents. FBI 'overstated' evidence story is pretty shocking. Didn't realise you can 'uptalk' science.  Imagined science was sure thing.

IRAN

IRAN BBC Spies? #UK BBC allegedly tried to steal from #Iran govt archives / BBC a cover for spies & dissidents / http://tinyurl.com/l3rmu2h >BBC is BANNED in #Iran & broadcasts blocked / #UK has no diplomatic presence /since militants stormed #UK consulate in 2011. #Iran's state TV said intelligence officials foiled BBC's plan to steal items from govt archives / http://tinyurl.com/qfhoy52 / article IBT #Iran - 2012 - #hacker / attack to jam 2 satellite feeds of BBC Persia into Iran, 2 disrupt London ph lines / multiple automatic calls ..LOL #Iran / #UK BBC had no immediate comment re BBC hacking claim ... "but Iran has a history of accusing" BBC ... lol nice DEFLECTION BBC! #Iran accuses BBC of spies & dissidents cover/foiled attempt steal docs govt archives /Guardian runs AP article: http://tinyurl.com/q8k8clr >> 2012 Iran’s state TV claimed BBC hacked its website to change the results of a poll about Iran’s nuclear programme!!! #UK >> Is the BBC a hotbed for SPIES and engaged in CYBER-WARFARE with #Iran ?? Iran - Israel & US Press TV Iran tweeted that US rejected Bibi's UN speech re Iran ... Hmmm, think Bibi might be spitting the dummy right now? >> Bubble Head Jen Psaki said WA disagrees with Netanyahu's assertion. White House says Iran’s nukes program is peaceful !! >> article link: http://tinyurl.com/kqymkhg >> So why did they hack Iran & destroy centrifuges? Sneaky US is up to *something* >> US former Pres. Jimmy Carter has attested to the existence of the Israeli nuclear arsenal >> http://tinyurl.com/kqymkhg  --------------------------------------------------- COMMENT This amused me greatly at the time but now I'm over it. Although the 2012 satellite jam is rather cool. In other news, Israel was critical of Iran at UN General Assembly, while the US has sidled up to Iran and wants to be buddies -- which is very strange.  US is up to something. Note:  UK no diplomatic presence since 2011.

Boys and their toys: RIMPAC and China's 'surveillance vessel' spy ship

RIMPAC (Rim of Pacific Exercise) World's largest international maritime warfare exercise. First held 1971. By invitation of US. Honolulu, Hawaii Headquartered at Pearl Harbor Held biennially June/July (even-numbered years) Administered by US Navy's Pacific Fleet with: Marine Corps Coast Guard Hawaii National Guard under the control of the Governor of Hawaii. Purpose 'Enhance interoperability between Pacific Rim armed forces, ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations' 'unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s ocean.' Regulars United States (US)* Canada* Australia* New Zealand United Kingdom (UK)     * Participated every RIMPAC since 1971 Other regular participants Chile Colombia France Indonesia Japan Malaysia Netherlands Peru Singapore South Korea Thailand !  Royal New Zealand Navy was frequently involved until 1985 ANZUS nuclear ships dispute (has participated 2012 and will in 2014) "... in late 1984 the United States requested that the ageing guided missile destroyer USS Buchanan visit New Zealand. The Americans hoped that public suspicions that it was not nuclear armed would be enough for it to slip under the political radar, and believed they had Lange's agreement. But on 4 February 1985 the government said no. 'Near-uncertainty was not now enough for us,' Lange later explained. 'Whatever the truth of its armaments, its arrival in New Zealand would be seen as a surrender by the government.' In response Washington severed visible intelligence and military ties with New Zealand and downgraded political and diplomatic exchanges. George Schultz confirmed that the United States could no longer maintain its security guarantee to New Zealand, although the ANZUS treaty structure remained in place." [here] Observer nations (usually invited) (no ships) China Ecuador India Mexico Philippines Russia (first time @ 2012) Strategic level involvement and  opportunity to prepare for (possible) full participation in the future. [SOURCE - Wikipedia]

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COMMENT

Geez, the US sulked a long time after being denied NZ entry. LOL

No doubt Russia didn't get an invite this year.

And, horror of horrors, China (who did get an invite) has been accused of spying from international waters:

China spy ship lurks as vessels join U.S. in naval drill Bloomberg July 21, 2014 10:27  [...] China’s Defense Ministry said the movements of the Chinese ship in international waters complied with international law, the state-owned Global Times reported. “China respects the rights enjoyed by all relevant coastal states under international law, and hopes that relevant countries respect the rights enjoyed by Chinese ships according to the law,” an official in the ministry’s news department was quoted as saying. China has long complained about U.S. surveillance activities off China’s coast within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. In 2009, China said that a Navy surveillance ship conducted activity in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Yellow Sea that violated international and Chinese laws. The USNS Victorious didn’t seek China’s permission, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at the time.  [...]  SOURCE - Thanh Nien News - here .

Not sure why this is considered such poor form; China might have been testing out their equipment.  LOL

Anyway, this is RIMPAC, folks.