Stratfor: Defending the Aegean from invasion will be the challenge ...! we have the problems we have and the CIA to make us symbol

"Greece Aegean controlling facilitate trade, defense and communications in the Mediterranean. Protecting the core of this invasion is to Greece's largest geopolitical challenge they face, "says an analysis of the American Institute of geostrategic analyzes Stratfor, which is staffed by former executives of the U.S. State Department and the CIA.


The publication of this analysis is not a random point in time if one takes into account developments in the field of hydrocarbons and the simultaneous surge of Turkey's aggression against Greece, while Stratfor believes that during the economic crisis in Greece will klithei to solve this major problem. A crisis, as stated in the resolution, "the overcoming of it is one of the basic goals of economic, social and political life in the coming years."
Practically the crisis calls into question the ability of Greece to meet the challenge of defending the Aegean during the Stratfor. The rest of geopolitical analysis for Greece is as follows:
"Greece is a mountainous country located in Southeastern Europe. It borders with Albania, FYROM, Bulgaria and Turkey. The Rhodope Mountains and Pindos form a natural barrier with its northern neighbors. The Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean include Greece, giving the country one of the longest coastlines in the world. The country has over two thousand islands and life in Greece has traditionally grown near the sea. In ancient city-states such as Athens and Sparta have expanded their influence throughout the Mediterranean installing colonies in Italy, Turkey, northern Africa and around the Black Sea. Today, the Greek merchant navy is the second largest in the world who contributed to a very large part in the country's economy after tourism.
Athens is the capital of the country and the most popular. The Athens with Aegean sea it surrounds is the core of the country. Because of its strategic location in the "heart" of the Mediterranean Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire respectively dominated Greece for over 2000 years. After a great war Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. Because of the mountainous country makes its governance from a central point of administration difficulties, few cities in the mountainous area along with bad transport hinder economic growth by making the country the least developed state in the eurozone. "

Reuters: The triangle power Greece

In late 2011, the Greek finance minister made an impassioned plea for help to save the country from financial ruin. "We need a national collaborative effort: everyone has to carry the burden together," said Evangelos Venizelos, who has since become the leader of the socialist party PASOK. "We need something that is fair and socially acceptable."
It was meant to be a call to arms that ended in •, highlighting a key weakness in Greece's efforts to reform.
The idea of ​​Venizelos was a new tax on real estate levied through electricity bills to make it difficult to avoid. The public was outraged and the press has also highlighted the anger, pointing out that tax as "Haratsi" as he was named a fierce charge from the Ottomans had once imposed on the Greeks. The name stuck and George Papandreou, the prime minister then, he felt obliged to beg voters: "We all lose something, so you do not lose everything."
But I will not lose all of the tax. Two months ago, a man from within the electricity industry has revealed that some of the largest companies in the country, including the media, paid less than half the full rate, or not paying any tax. Nikos Fotopoulos, o President GENOP-PPC, claimed to have been exceptions.
"It was a gift for the real bosses, the real owners of the country," he said. "Rich people do not pay, even at this time."
This time the media made little fuss. "The news has not been covered by the media ... because the owners of the media was among those who benefited," Fotopoulos said later. Leading daily newspapers in Athens either not reported or downgraded allegedly held as a preview to Reuters.
For many observers, the episode illustrates the interplay between politics, big business and powerful media owners. The interrelated interests of these areas, but not necessarily illegally or improperly considered an obstacle to Greece's efforts to rescue the economy. In part, critics say, are responsible for the current crisis and to prevent reform.
Leading media owners in contact with Reuters, declined to exert undue influence or to seek favors, or did not answer the questions.
But given the international impact of the crisis in Greece, it now concerns and other factors beyond the country. A source troika of lenders that maintains life in Greece - the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank - said: "The system is extremely incestuous. Vested interests resisting the reforms needed to make the economy competitive . "
Opposite sides of the Greek political spectrum speak on the subject in colorful terms. "In Greece, the real power is with the owners of the banks, members of the corrupt political system and corrupt media. This is the triangle of sin," said Alexis Tsipras, SYRIZA leader of the Opposition.
Panos Glowing, leader of the right-wing Independent Greeks, said: "The Greek media are under the control of people dependent on the state. Media control the state and the state controlled media.'s A picture of mutual blackmail. '
Others are more measured. Asked about the 'Haratsi', Venizelos acknowledged that some "blatant cases paying less tax or no", but blamed it on the poor records kept by public power company. "In any case there was no discrimination in favor of certain property owners," he said.
Simos Kedikoglou, the government spokesman, said officials attending the property tax and any errors will be corrected.
Previous attempts to reduce potential conflicts of interest - particularly in the media - had little effect, according to a European Commission report on media freedom and independence, which was published in December 2011. He said the Greek media, "remained highly centralized in the hands of the government," and that "fully affected, albeit opaque and informal ways, from powerful economic and business interests have sought to increase their power, profit , or both. "
The rise of private media
The interaction between politicians and the media are common in many European countries, mainly in Italy, where Silvio Berlusconi was both Prime Minister and head of a group of media, and the United Kingdom, where media owners like Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp, had contacts with successive prime ministers.
However, critics say that these connections are especially important in Greece, because the state plays a large role in the economy, and because of the way the media have been developed there.
Private radio stations and TV channels appeared only in the 1980, after decades of state control of the media. As entrepreneurs rushed into the fray, the configuration was random. Successive governments allow broadcasters to operate without proper authorization, according to the EU report in 2011 on the Greek media. This semi-organized approach led Greece has a large number of media for the population of 11 million.
In 2009 the country had 39 national daily newspapers, 23 national Sunday newspapers and 14 national weekly newspapers, according to an earlier study of EU media. Per capita, Greece has much more national headlines than, say, Germany or the United Kingdom. The country also has nine national television stations, six of which are privately owned, and many private radio stations.
A cable report of 2006 by the U.S. Embassy in Athens, taken from Wikileaks, said: "How can all these media to operate profitably? Can. Subsidized by their owners, who, while they would welcome any Revenue from sales of media, using the media primarily the political and economic influence. "
Simultaneously, a large part of the economy outside of the shipping industry depends on government contracts or licenses. "Most companies in Greece actually expect to get money from the state," said Theodore Roussopoulos, former press secretary of the government. "Greece is officially capitalist, socialist but in reality."
Media owner John Alafouzos told Reuters that some of the media "are the Press Enterprise group." The Alafouzos, whose family owns SKY TV, the fifth largest station in Greece, Kathimerini, a leading newspaper, adds: "It has evolved into a completely unhealthy situation. The purpose of the media is largely performance specific tasks for their owners. "
The Alafouzos, whose wealth comes from shipping, said the family was careful to not depend on the transactions of government. His critics say that SKY was among the companies that were not paying any hike - an omission SKAI argues that caused by the local bureaucracy - and that the media interests benefit from government advertising. The Alafouzos described the latter as a minimum percentage of revenue for media interests.
Family Ties
A matrix of interlocking interests is MEGA Channel, the largest television station in Greece, which is co-owned by entrepreneurs who are leaders or have strong linkages with other sectors of the economy.
The largest collective participation in the television station owned by members of the family of George Bobola. One of his sons, Photios, is director of the telex, the holding company of the channel. Another son, Leonidas, is CEO and principal shareholder of Postbank, a construction giant founded by his father, and has participated in several billion contract with the state. Leonidas has no involvement in the telex.
The family also controls Bobola Nation, a popular daily and Sunday newspaper, other print media and websites. From the large, gray headquarters of the publishing company at Halandri, a northern suburb of Athens, the area of ​​family interests is obvious. Nearby is the ring-road of Athens, built by an international consortium which includes the Ellaktor. Alongside the road is a new rail line to the airport, also built with the participation Bobola.
George Bobolas initially did not answer questions about the various interests of his family. Instead, the newspaper Ethnos published several articles in the days after Reuters had submitted questions. One claimed that the Reuters continues, it seems to be aimed at our country, the Greek economy and entrepreneurship. Another described by Reuters as "the fifth column" for the troika and argued that Athens was flooded by foreigners who had "undertaken the demolition of public persons in accordance with the Anglo-Saxon practices."
After an additional request by Reuters, the Bobolas stated in a letter: "I have never used the media owned by companies in which I participate, to promote the interests of the parent company ELLAKTOR SA ... The Nation newspaper ever has used its influence, or seek favors from rulers in favor of Postbank. "
The Bobolas said that former prime ministers could verify that he had never asked any favors and adds: "You could say that the severe criticism of the newspaper Ethnos on government actions and policy in general, could be regarded as an obstacle and did not contribute to corporate interests Ellaktor. "
In a written statement, the construction company Ellaktor said that subsidiaries are involved in private and public markets, and seeking public contracts "by participating exclusively in open international competitions, according to the Greek and European legislation."
Other factors involved in MEGA Channel include the family of Vardis Vardinoyannis, which is prominent in the oil and shipping, and Stavros Psycharis, who controls the company DOL media.
Vardinoyannis George, son of Vardis, serves the MEGA Channel, and the family also has a smaller station called Star Channel. The family is also the majority shareholder in Motor Oil Hellas, one of the two Greek refining companies.
In an email, one family spokesman, said: "Most companies pays us based abroad or have an international exposure. Production and sales of refinery Motor Oil Hellas, the greater our investment in Greece is firmly oriented at 70 % export ... None of our companies are not based in any way on government contracts or undertakings. "
Psycharis whose company DOL issues leading newspapers and has won government contracts in education, culture, travel, and printing, is president of MEGA Channel.
In 2006, sued two investigative journalists who claimed in a radio broadcast that pushed for the sale of Eurofighters to Greece and had used his newspapers to promote the benefits of an agreement. Psycharis denied the allegations. Three years later, after a hearing, the case was dismissed.
The court rejected a request by journalists, but admitted that his newspaper Psychari had campaigned for the agreement of the Eurofighter. The appeal is pending. Psycharis not responded to questions about the case.
In late November one of the newspapers criticized Apostolos Kaklamanis, former Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, who had told PASOK lawmakers that the time when oligarchs "appoint the leader of the party" had passed. Days after the Kaklamanis spoke bluntly,
Step, a leading newspaper controlled by Psychari published an article referring to his comments and promised to make supposedly embarrassing revelations about Kaklamanis. Psycharis not responded to questions about his investments in the media or the wider interests.
Critics of ties between the media and businesses also report the case of a gold mine project in Halkidiki, Northern Greece. The mines were sold by the Greek government in 2003, a newly formed Greek mining company. Shortly after, the construction company which has interests Bobola family, acquired a stake in it.
Local opponents fought vigorously against a license for the mining project granted, arguing that it would harm the environment. Tolis Papageorgiou, a leading figure in Greek protest group Mining Watch, argued that newspapers are controlled by the family Bobola omitted major demonstrations opposing the mine and criticized the Environment Minister Tina Birbili, which blocked a permit for it.
"Just a few days in her new job in 2009, became the target of media controlled by Bobola for refusing to grant a license to a mining company," claimed the Papageorgiou.Ligo Birbili after his appointment in 2009, the newspapers owned Bobola family dubbed the "Green Tina" and criticized her performance. The reports said that had prevented many kinds of development. The articles have not mentioned that the owners of newspapers had an interest in the family trade or mine construction.
In his letter to Reuters, the Bobolas said that the Nation strongly supports large-scale projects that create jobs and help the country recover from the economic crisis. The Birbili, which declined to comment on this article, was fired in June 2011. The license to operate the mine was then. Once adopted, the construction company Ellaktor, according to its annual accounts, earned € 261 million from selling off partly and partly revised participation in a Canadian company that had previously bought 95 percent of the mine.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of the Greek era, said the dismissal Birbili not associated with the mine. Former environment minister approved the license, George Papaconstantinou, said that "the decision was solely based on the environmental impact assessment", which was positive for the mine.
In his letter to Reuters, the Bobolas said that the only connection to his family's mine is his indirect involvement with his son less than a 1% rate.
TWO HATS
In the media, potential conflicts of interest may arise even at low levels. Hidden inside the headquarters in Athens, the Union of journalists, the IFJ, is a list of its members who work for the government, for example in press offices. Tens wear half hat as a newspaper once.
The European Union rules prohibit its members to work for organizations that cover as journalists. In an effort to expose those who violate the rule, the Union received the list of journalists employed by the government in 2005. But never dimosiefthike.Kapoioi than those named on the list complained. Greek officials felt that the publication of the list would violate privacy.

Merciless war between the Germans and the domestic interweaving

The attack launched by the detailed reports of the German magazine Stern against the business elite of Greece confirms that the war has already begun.
A war between the Germans and the business elite, who for years dominated the economic life of the country and set policies and developments.
The Greeks oligarchs supported in every way Memoranda. Through the media, which they controlled, maintained its policy of internal devaluation that was imposed by the Troika.
Mr. Samaras, the era of heroic struggles of antimnimoniakon and Zappeion faced hostile climate of specific channels and newspapers.
Until recently, SYRIZA had the same response.
Domestic interweaving believed that with the advent of the Troika and the support they provide will continue to play a leading role in developments. We had a special relationship to the new redistribution of national income and the'' loins'' public property, which is in progress.
But last month the war began.
For Germans are no longer useful Greeks oligarchs, if not an obstacle and sinker.
For Greek oligarchs, the Germans and the troika longer pose a threat to their interests. Stavros Psycharis xifoulkise first, speaking of de-Hellenization of Greek enterprises while the delay and extortion for dose attacked an article published in the website of Bema and entitled "xeftilismenoi But so are the Europeans? '.
At the same time began to diversify and MEGA, while more cautious stance keep the media Mr. Bobola.
But what really happens?
What lies behind this conflict?
Why the Greek business elite discovered so late, dangerous pursuits and the Germans are ready to come to the guerrilla?
Why do Germans earn the kickoff Greek oligarchs who had "put back" to spend Memoranda?
The answers to these questions illuminate the unseen background and what they are ...
The Germans invest in negative feelings that nourishes the Greek people for domestic entanglement, they want to pass the image that they are the only ones that clash with Greek oligarchs.
With the war against interlinking believe will minimize the social reactions from political ftochopoiisis and tradition of the country to the Germans.
Must understand that Greek oligarchs and bobs are obstacles for their designs. Firstly, the intrusive and usefulness of systemic media they control are minimal to nil. Despite the rabid support of memoranda fell two governments (Papandreou Papademos) and came the elections of May that swept the old political scene.
The Germans want the Greeks oligarchs on their feet, knowing that some of them want to take control of strategic enterprises such as OPAP, PPC, EYDAP, the Greek and Hellenic Petroleum.
If that happens will gain even greater power and uncontrolled.
In reality, however, these ventures for German interests.
The Germans started the war against collusion to weaken it, they know that these elites are capable of everything. Even lead to destabilization and collapse the government, if they see that their interests are threatened. And that would be disastrous for Berlin.
So targeting specific businesses.
Mr. Psycharis easy target for them. DOL's debts amounted to 280 million euro and control over the banking system by placing Commissioners makes it easy'' stranglehold'' of.
Mr. Bobolas player is tough and it stochopoieitai from Reuters and by Stern. Is a key player in the construction sector, in the works. Can claim a share in the Greek, new motorways.
Furthermore shows keen interest in plants handling and processing waste for which there is strong interest in German.
The Stern also highlights the high cost of crossing the Attiki Odos motorway and national road networks to hit Mr. Bobola.
Mr. Vardis Vardinoyannis considered a threat in the energy sector. The monopoly that the charge was not created now has its foundations in the past. While having special relations with Arabs and Americans considered a threat to German interests.
Striking absence of any reference to the Stern group Alafouzou, which brings the wrath of others who accuse Mr. Alafouzou cooperation with lenders to hit the Greek business elite and rearranged the map.
Warning shots unleashes the Stern and Mr Kokkalis trying to avoid involvement in the privatization of OPAP. They care even pass the messages and reports of Siemens and Stasi.
It is obvious that this attack is not based on journalistic research, but there are other sources of information employed in this war.
Series takes Mrs. Gianna Angelopoulos, who enters in this frame of interactions that must be struck. The Germans believe that there umbilical cord between the Angelopoulos family and SYRIZA, while the vast liquidity Angelopoulos allows him to claim some of the loins of public property.
Mrs Angelopoulos, is also a recipient of warning shots, the cost of the Olympic Games.
Targeted and Mr. Spiros Latsis, despite the fact that all the companies and the Group's interests are abroad. The Germans never forgive Mr Latsis the deal to merge Eurobank and National which surprised them.
They have a special reason, which is that the Deutche Bank had invested 10% of the shares of Eurobank.
Know that Mr. Latsis keen interest in the field of real estate, something that conflicts with their own aspirations.
In fact, lenders want to'' burn'' the Greek business elite.
They fear that the entanglement, if you lose that game, it will create scenery political destabilization of the government, which is a risk-death for their designs in Berlin, especially as it has not yet managed to lead to more realistic positions the SYRIZA.
Naturally interrelation has its own responsibility for the current situation, as well as governments that tolerated and nurtured. But it is not its own way and lenders.
The interweaving theriepse on day of Costas Simitis, the founder of German silent party in Greece. Ever since our country began to move away from Atlanticism and pass the German sphere of influence.
Tolls are indeed expensive, the price of tolls on national roads is unacceptable and constitutes a colonial practice.
The same thing goes for the airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" Chochtif operated by the start of the operation. The "Eleftherios Venizelos" is the most expensive airports in Europe, while Chochtif refuses to pay 500 million euros and considered debts from VAT
Siemens also a German company, which continues to operate in Greece, despite what happened. Achieved even with architect Mr. Venizelos, a very favorable settlement out of court in which the Greek government waives any requirement getting crumbs ...
The question that arises is: could a Greek company to continue to exist and get jobs in Germany if there had done what he did and Siemens in Greece?
It is clear that we are led to a final round reckoning with unpredictable end.
Lenders want to clean up the landscape and with them the Greek business elite, who as a threat.
This is awkward that monitors the government, which can serve as the collateral damage of this conflict.

In the name of the Name http://www.economist.com/news/christmas/21568601-monks-who-were-suppressed-tsars-navy-century-ago-are-still-regarded-subversive

The causes of the overthrow Karamanlis in 2009: Hydrocarbons and 3 +1 agreements with Putin

Since 2007 he had become known to the U.S. government's huge hydrocarbon deposits south of Crete and the revelation seems to have played a key role in the overthrow of the Karamanlis government, but probably connected with other disasters experienced since the country such as fires August and September 2007 and the riots across (!) the country following the death of 15 year old Alexis Grigoriadis Exarchia in December 2008.

All recent reports came in publicity, in principle show that the potential EEZ had become a "strainer" by all companies from 2004 onwards. Everyone knew who and what quantities exist.

But Stratfor also gives another dimension telegram leaked to WikiLeaks: "There are huge quantities of hydrocarbons south of Crete by the research done in recent years in the region," noted a telegram in 2009. People of Noble Energy (Ed then nobody knew nor had heard the Noble Energy), be sure of that. We spoke with the head of the company "!

Followed by leak surveys in several closed meetings of public etireia geological surveys of the U.S. USGS that now characterizes the region as a "gas giant" that is hiding that huge potential reserves of gas and oil are down, south of Crete.

In Athens, the Karamanlis government has come in three critical agreements with Russia's Vladimir Putin, showing that all that wealth could be partly detox Europe from Russian gas, and it will come under the control of Moscow: South Stream, Burgas Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, supply TDMA BMP-3HEL.

And a fourth, agreement in principle, to protect the whole of this region with the supply air defense / missile antiballistic S-400 Triumf, which would cover a diameter range of 200 + miles!

Installation of such a system in eastern Crete "lock" even Kastelorizo. An agreement in principle that few knew, as then A / CHOD D.Grapsas.

Result: From Setpemvrio of 2008 broke the "scandal" of Vatopedi. Dissolve the hard tissue of the government that had hitherto seemed mighty: In June the scandal had broken out with the Siemens bribery protoklasaton strains of PASOK (Tsoukatos, Mandela etc) and PASOK "says" historic lows in opinion polls in advance of SYRIZA!

The first attempt to overthrow the government Karamanlis in September elections did not succeed, as the "horse" is not G.Papandreou travage with anything. If you do not come in Vatopedi and the December, everything would be different.

In December 2008, things were critical to the major Greek media known to play the role, of course: The global economic crisis had struck "at the heart" and the Greek economy. In December events, catalysis of the legal system and the proven involvement of foreign agents in the riots were an indication that something was amiss. The tielfrafima the U.S. embassy from Athens came to publicity by WikiLeaks says it all: "We need to reverse this policy leads to Greece in the arms of Russia" ...

Was preceded by the preparation of the murder of Kostas Karamanlis may averted at the last moment by the GRU and the FSB, but showed "the road to the then prime minister two years after his victory in 2007, led to elections and formal defeat.

The agreements with the Russians all canceled.

The new Prime Minister George Papandreou, stated Friday, 11 December 2009 from Brussels that "Greece does not have oil or oil that we have too little."

Six months after he refused all offers bis bilateral lending country and all countries have resorted to the Memorandum and kechorisi sovereignty.

Just one month later, in June 2010 gave a mandate to set up the times you gave licenses for hydrocarbon exploration.

The Russians had "wiped" off the map, the man the U.S. had anarichithei in power, the country was "bound" hand and foot, it was time for a job: Making drilling and take the wealth of the country.

A small detail: 2.5 years passed to uncover all of the day was the carrier. Should be followed by other two Memoranda ...

The conflict US-German and Greek politicians

Recall that even Mr Constantine Mitsotakis, despite the fact that it is known who maintained friendly relations with Germany over time (especially Mr Genscher), during the premiership of Greek-American relations developed to the fullest. In fact on the day we were the first U.S. president to visit Greece after the restoration of George Bush Sr., in the summer of 1991.

Α. Papandreou, who succeeded him as prime minister in October 1993, despite the anti-American rhetoric at times during the premiership of the years 1981-1986, made new steps approach and cooperation with Washington. Perceptive, excellent knowledge of foreign policy and geopolitical, Andreas Papandreou "startled" by the mutation that occurs to see the European Union.
Indeed, in one summit, the last found as prime minister, returned so frustrated by the behavior of our partners and especially the Germans who spoke Directorate and catalysis of the European idea. This contributed to his decision to approach the U.S., which culminated with a visit to Washington and meeting with then U.S. President Bill Clinton.
The big upset was the assumption of the premiership of Costas Simitis. For eight years from 1996 to 2004, Greece and Germany came for the first time so close. Large business and government commissions went to German interests companies, Siemens dominated everywhere.
Mr. Simitis, through his brother Spyros has strengthened its relations with the German political and economic establishment, began to take long distance from the U.S., particularly on economic cooperation. In return, he succeeded in having the support of the then Chancellor, Mr. Schroeder made the "blind eye" to the "weird" elements with which he joined the euro in Greece. Indeed, Mr. Stournaras, current Minister of Finance, then played a leading role in the negotiations was the right hand of Mr. Simitis.
Kostas Karamanlis attempted to apply a multidimensional policy of economic diplomacy. Gave OTE to Deutsche Telecom, the port of Piraeus (the freight sector) and the Chinese planned a broad energy cooperation with the Russians. Also continued to promote American relations, which are not disrupted despite interception against the Prime Minister. It is common knowledge that the investigations of the Greek side, just discovered the affair, "stumbled" on the U.S. embassy.
George Papandreou, who succeeded Karamanlis had the image favored in Washington. Some who ignore the facts and all that happened during his premiership, yet this picture.
But is it? These events lead to the opposite.
George Papandreou brought to Greece the IMF, in which there is a strong U.S. influence. He did however hint with the Germans.
In early 2010, the Germans wanted to involve the IMF in Greece's debt crisis for two reasons. Firstly because it had similar support mechanism in Europe and secondly not to assume alone the cost of the rescue. Besides, they were sure that they would have complete control and would turn Greece into a country integrated into their own sphere of influence.
When the IMF and the then President Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn set the 2010 issue of debt haircut then at 120% of GDP and recommended Mr Papandreou to put it strongly, then Prime Minister refused, citing the objections Merkel. Had it been one impaired debt below 100% of GDP, it would dissolve the economy and society. The refusal of Mr. Papandreou triggered the first big surprise in Washington, began to understand that the data for U.S. interests, until then, Papandreou was no longer given and began to listen more to Berlin than the same .
The case of Mr Antonis Samaras is special. The current prime minister, amerikanospoudagmenos in his youth, had difficult relations with the Atlantic factor as Foreign Minister Mitsotakis government.
The Americans did not and does not have the best opinion about Mr Samaras. In their reports to the State Department, the U.S. ambassador in Athens, like M. Sotirhos and T. Niles who succeeded him, was not very positive about the abilities of Mr. Samaras but for political choices.
When Papandreou's government passed the first memorandum, A. Samaras was vertically opposed.
Became the standard bearer and leader of antimnimoniakou match, causing the wrath of Mrs Merkel. Indeed, the anger of the Germans, manifested intention to dismiss the SW from the ranks of the European People's Party, because of the positions expressed by Mr. Samaras and the opposition to support the Memorandum.
European isolation Samaras was given. At the crucial moment, the president of New Democracy tried to reach the U.S., determined to reach even clashed with the Europeans.
But he met the wall and necessarily had to be delivered to Mrs Merkel to survive politically and become prime minister and the most loyal, most, defender of the policies of the memorandum. Close, as foreign minister and another person who enjoys the confidence of Berlin, Mr. John Stournaras literally imposed in this position.
The visit of Mr. Samaras in Germany and the absolute most binding of Greece the chariot of Germany has caused unease in Washington.
It is telling that President Obama speaks regularly with Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Samaras, despite the fact that he had been given the opportunity, did not seek a contact or meeting with the American president.
The Treasury Secretary Mr. Geithner also did not hide his surprise before the negation of Greek Prime Minister to support the proposal of Mr. Lagarde and the IMF on a brave "haircut" on Greek debt.
Any concerns of Americans have dissolved. We now know that the political class exercises governmental power in Greece is closer to Berlin than in Washington. The only possible exception Avramopoulos keeping communication channels with the U.S. factor, something that Maximus with suspicion.
Indeed, the inclusion of some top executives LD, the so-called invisible but very distinct "German party" have caused discomfort and negative comments by former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis not seen with good eyes German dominance in Europe.
The U.S. fears that the "loins" of privatization will pass into German hands and American groups have no luck in this environment is configured.
Most are concerned about the infiltration of the Germans and the critical role they play in issues of governance. They know that the Germans want to control the natural wealth of Greece in any way, because as a country is entirely dependent on energy.
If confirmed, the estimates of oil and natural gas in Greece, the Americans are not going to remain apathetic and indifferent.
Lately there is great interest in Washington for Greek politics. Americans are watching the developments in the political scene and particularly "studying" Mr. Tsipras.
Anyone who carefully monitor public attitudes by Tsipras and the record make the U.S. media about the situation in Greece may combine and understand a lot.
The president of SYRIZA is indeed isolated from the European establishment and especially Germany. Ms Merkel considers him dangerous for German interests, Mr Juncker, who also has an institutional role, ostentatiously refused to meet him during his visit to Greece itself and other European politicians and officials.
European isolation of Mr. Tsipras leads him to search for other allies. And the allies they should have more power than their current dominance of Europe.
The Tsipras will certainly seek a 'other relationship' with the U.S.. And there is no guarantee that it will find the door closed, as happened with Mr. Samaras.

The Americans now argue against the euro

A crucial political conclusion can be drawn from the attitude of Washington during those years, which along with the global economic crisis and the turmoil raging in the Eurozone and the euro: The U.S. leadership supports most against the euro in its current form and with the existing rules of the Eurozone! ...
Studying the results of ten years existence of the euro as the single currency of Continent in material and not just book-Americans leaders realized that they had committed a serious error in the early 21st century.
Underestimated the consequences of the introduction of the euro with respect to the expansion of economic, and therefore political hegemony of Germany across the continent. They thought that the euro would facilitate further penetration of U.S. firms in Europe, as objectively dramatically limit the multiple exchange rate risks they were exposed U.S. companies in Europe. Life has shown, however, that in the decade that the euro has forced all countries that use it as their national currency to fall to an unprecedented extent German domination.
The truth is that the political developments in the U.S. made it virtually impossible for the U.S. leadership to realize what was going to happen with the euro, which was the final stage before being put into circulation. Recall that the euro came into circulation on 1 January 2002. Just eleven months earlier, on January 21, 2001, took on U.S. President George W. Bush's son, after the fraudulent elections of Florida in November 2000.
That climbed to power the neocons, the American extreme right decides culture which believed that the successive wars of conquest in the Middle East that would ensure the planned global U.S. hegemony over the energy blackmail all major industrial powers and ... allies in Washington - the Europe, Japan, China ... Just three and a half months before the official launch of the euro we were both covered with mystery and suspicion Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., which allowed the neocons of the Bush administration to begin their wars of conquest their initials in Afghanistan and soon in Iraq where things went very differently as expected.
During the eight years of neoconservative far right paranoia in the leadership of the U.S. is no reflection on the euro could not be developed by American leaders. The rise to power of Barack Obama's presidential elections of 2008 coincided exactly with the outbreak of the U.S. financial crisis, when there were very serious tasks for American leadership of the concerns about the euro.
But once things calmed down somewhat, even if the crisis is far exceeded, Washington de facto forced to come into contact with the problem of the euro and the euro through German hegemony in Europe. Through direct and continuous involvement of the IMF, which they control completely, Americans gradually realized that the Memoranda imposed by the Germans in Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus and threaten to expand in Spain and perhaps Italy and who knows what other European country, are essentially in political and economic tradition of the respective countries German dominance! The initial reaction in Washington was to use the IMF as blackmail leverage to increase sharply for Berlin the economic cost of the subordination of these countries in the Eurozone.
The pretext for the U.S. was the view through the IMF's debt sustainability every "traped' country, starting from Greece. In essence, that is, the Americans are seeking to uphold institutions that Germans will even pay hundreds of billions of euros for each country in the eurozone's government debt will become unsustainable, undermining the gains of Berlin, economically and politically, by the operation Eurozone to eventually lead to disintegration of the euro.

"Germany is the largest debt sinners of the 20th century"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Mr. Ritschl, Germany enters into the debate about financial aid for Greece on a know-how. The Federal Government is acting with their intransigence by the motto "money for you there is only if you do what we ask." Is this attitude justified?

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Ritschl: No, there is no basis.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: That probably most Germans see things differently.

Ritschl: That may be, but Germany has in the 20th Century laid the probably the biggest sovereign default in modern history. Its current financial stability and status as head teacher of Europe owes the Federal Republic of the United States alone who have renounced both after the first and after the Second World War a lot of money. Unfortunately, this is always forgotten.

SPIEGEL: What exactly happened there?

Ritschl: The Weimar Republic who lived from 1924 to 1929 on credit and borrowed money for their reparations from the First World War America. This credit pyramid collided in the economic crisis the 1931st The money was gone, the damage to the U.S. gigantic, the effect on the global economy devastating.

SPIEGEL: It was similar to the Second World War.

Ritschl: Since America has equally made sure not back high reparations were imposed on Germany. With few exceptions, all such demands were put on the back burner, until a future reunion. For Germany, which has been vital, it was the actual financial basis for the economic miracle. At the same time, the victims had the German occupation in Europe do without, including the Greeks.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: In the current crisis, Greece should first get 110 billion euros from the euro zone countries and the International Monetary Fund. Now, a further rescue package to be adopted, which should have similar dimensions. So it's about a lot of money. How big was the German state bankruptcy?

Ritschl: Measured in each case on the economic performance of the United States alone, German debt default in the thirties was as significant as the costs of the financial crisis of 2008. In comparison, the Greek payment problem is actually insignificant.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Suppose there were a global ranking of bankruptcy kings. On which position would end Germany?

Ritschl: Germany's debt Kaiser: is calculated by the amount of damage compared to the economy of Germany's largest debt sinners of the 20th Century - if not the most recent financial history.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Even Greece can not compete with us?

Ritschl: No, it plays a minor role in itself. Only the risk of contagion to other euro countries are the problem.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The Federal Republic is considered the epitome of stability. How often because Germany was a total bust?

Ritschl: That depends on how you count. In English "haircut" - - only in the last century at least three times after the first debt default in the thirties of the Federal Republic in 1953 by the U.S., a haircut was missed, which reduced the debt problem by a voluminous Afro-Look on a fully bald head. Since then, Germany was as shiny as the other Europeans abrackerten with the burdens of the world war and the consequences of the German occupation. And even 1990 there was still a debt default.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: What?

Ritschl: Yes, then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl refused at that time to implement the London Agreement of 1953. It was stipulated that the German war reparations from World War II in the event of reunification must be regulated. It has handled only serve a small residual amounts. The guests were to minimal amounts. Reparations Germany has not paid since 1990 - apart from the forced labor compensation - and not in the Second World War, pressed out of the occupied countries loans and occupation costs repaid. Also to not Greece.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Unlike in 1953 in Germany when it comes to the current debate on the Greek bailout even less a "haircut" as simply an extension of maturities of government bonds, ie a "soft restructuring". Can we then speak of an impending bankruptcy?

Ritschl: In any case. Even if a country is not blank hundred percent, it may be broke. Just like in the fifties, in the case of Germany, it is illusory to believe that the Greeks could ever pay off their debts alone. And who does not create is just broke. Must now be determined how high the failure rate of government bonds is, on how much money have to give the creditors of the country so. It's mostly a matter of finding the paymaster.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The biggest paymaster would be Germany.

Ritschl: That's the bottom well, but we were also plenty of peace of mind - and our export industry has lived on the good jobs. The anti-Greek sentiment that is widespread in many German media is highly dangerous. And we sit in a glass house: Only by extensive debt and Reparationsverzicht its war dead from World War II, Germany's resurgence has become possible.

SPIEGEL: Germany should be restrained so more?

Ritschl: Germany in the 20th Century started two world wars, the second of which led the war of annihilation and extermination - and then have the enemies adopt reparations whole or to a considerable extent. That Germany owes its economic prosperity of the grace of other nations, including Greece, no one has forgotten.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: How do you mean?

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Ritschl: The Greeks know the enemy article from German media very well. If the mood in the country turns, old claims for reparations levied loud and also from other European countries and Germany would have to demonstrate this ever, we all stripped to his shirt. As we might be compared be grateful Greece luxuszusanieren at our expense. If we follow the propaganda and give the thick Emil, puffing a cigar and do not want to pay, then eventually the old bills will be presented again.
SPIEGEL: At least, finally, a few conciliatory tone: If you draw a lesson from history, which is currently the best solution would be for Greece - and Germany?

Ritschl: The German bankruptcies in the last century show: The sensible thing is to make now a real haircut. Who would have lent money to Greece, then give up a significant portion of its receivables. That would not cope with a number of banks, it would have to be new aid programs. For Germany could be expensive, but we have to pay either way. And after all, Greece would then have the chance of a new start.