BACK-DOOR DEALS WITH SADDAM

by Jeremy Lee
Blowing through the fluttering papers in Saddam Hussein's ransacked foreign ministry was a handful of pages which caught the attention. They reveal one of the unsavory backroom deals that continued right through the period the world was officially applying sanctions against Saddam's regime. The Weekend Australian (20-21/9/03) said: "Translated and investigated, the documents show a BHP executive met a senior representative of Hussein's regime at the height of Western sanctions on Iraq, in the hope of winning lucrative oil contracts…."

Which merely goes to confirm that what happens for public consumption and what happens behind the scene are two different things. However, by mid-1999 BHP ceased angling for Saddam Hussein's favours. Perhaps they ran into trouble from Vice-President Dick Chaney's Halliburton?

MEGAWATI SPELLS IT OUT TO THE U.N.

President George Bush's popularity is dropping at about the same rate as the American dollar. His behaviour at the recent General Assembly of the U.N., where he appeared anxious and unsure of himself, was in stark contrast to that of a year ago, when he arrogantly demanded the U.N. do his bidding. Nothing is more pathetic than the sight of the bully who has lost his punch!

While it is all diplomatic politeness in public, there is no doubt there are many who are enjoying America's discomfort - particularly the French, who even had "French fries", "French omelettes" and "French wine" decried at the height of the euphoria for war. Even the benign and timid Kofi Annan has been gently sticking it to the U.S.

With the latest attacks on United Nations personnel in Iraq, it is going to be a major job mustering a U.N. peace force, and finding enough money to bail George Bush out of his horrendous financial problems. Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia, who is herself facing major problems in the scattered and densely-populated archipelago of Indonesia, did not mince words at the U.N. She must be conscious that her country contains the biggest Islamic group in the world. Terrorism in Indonesia has not gone away. In fact, the latest judgments in the Bali bomb trials may well have enraged more of the population. She condemned the West as responsible for the climate of violence across the world in which terrorism thrives. She put the West's Middle East policies at the heart of Muslim dissent.

She said: "… Indeed, so many eminent Muslims in Indonesia believe that once the major powers behave in a more just manner and make clear their impartiality in the Middle East, then most of the root causes of terrorism, perpetrated in the name of Islam, - which in any circumstance cannot be justified - would have been resolved". (The Australian, 25/9/03)

She pointed out that the Bali bombers, during their trials, had cited their hatred of the US and their behavior in Israel, Iraq and Afghanistan as the cause of their actions: "… The motives and justifying arguments of their movement apparently arise from the prolonged unjust attitude exhibited by big powers towards countries whose inhabitants profess Islam, particularly in resolving the Middle East conflict….These sentiments have been argued by Islamic leaders throughout the world, and are a clear reason why the United States should remove itself from any attempt to arbitrate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and stop funding one side."

The latest act of 27 Israeli ace-airmen in refusing to serve in what they describe as an "illegal and immoral" war situation is a reproof of George Bush as well as Ariel Sharon, and vindication of Megawati's remarks.

THE PASSION

An increasing number of reviews round the world are directed to a film that won't be launched officially until just before Easter next year. The film, being made under the direction of Australian film star Mel Gibson, has caused consternation and remonstrations, accusations of 'anti-Semitism', laudatory statements, delegations for selective pre-views and general controversy. Gibson himself has said he might become a target for assassination.
Whatever else is said, the pre-launch publicity must be worth tens of millions - if it is ever allowed to be screened publicly by the normal outlets.

The film, to be called "The Passion", covers the last 12 hours before the crucifixion of Christ - the arrest, the midnight interrogation before the Sanhedrin, the appeal to Pontius Pilate, the whipping-up of the mob when Pilate appeared inclined to release Christ having "found no fault with this man". It is strictly faithful to the narrative of the gospels in the New Testament.

Among the most vociferous of the critics are the Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and progressive elements in the Christian church. There has, for a number of years, been "dialogue" between Christians and Jews, aimed at eliminating areas of conflict between the two faiths. Inevitably, this has resulted in the attempted eradication of any emphasis on parts of the gospels which reflect unfavorably on the Jews of Christ's time, and which sent His disciples into hiding "for fear of the Jews". In fact, many Jews consider that parts of the New Testament are "anti-Semitic".

Gibson's "The Passion", evidently, does not spare its audience. The scourgings, the Crown of Thorns, the painful and tragic journey up the "via dolorosa" to Golgotha, the nailing to the Cross, the agony of Mary and the other women who witnessed the crucifixion are portrayed in every detail.

Gibson himself, a traditionalist Catholic, is financing the film to the tune of $A40 million. He's putting his money where his mouth is. So keen is he to create an accurate and authentic picture that even the original languages of the time - Latin and Aramaic - are being used. Sub-titles will appear

Deal Hudson, who attended one of the previews, wrote a double-page article in The Weekend Australian (13-14/9/03) in which he observed:
" … Whatever the final cut shows, however, the attacks on Gibson are likely to continue. The real scandal remains the Gospel. The debate that has raged these past six months raises the question whether there is any way that Christians can portray the Passion as depicted by the evangelists, without encountering charges of hostility and anti-Semitism. The answer is probably no. The Gospels make difficult reading for everybody, but perhaps especially for the Jews …. Gibson holds fashionable beliefs. Will he have to issue an endless stream of reassuring press releases and trim his film,to make it acceptable to the consensus? Or will he be able to release the movie he wants to release? We shall see. But one thing is clear. The Passion will not inspire hatred towards the Jews - among some viewers at least it will inspire faith in Jesus Christ. This is, in the end, what most of Gibson's enemies fear - the restoration of traditional Christianity and its faith in the God-man …. Gibson's suffering Christ … burns itself into the imagination, convincing you, with or without faith, that something extraordinary happened that evening on Golgotha. The Passion is a great work of art". (emphasis added)

The last comments are portentous. The Zionists have never feared anti-Semitism. Some of their leaders have claimed it is essential to their cause. But a resurrected Church and a resurgence of Christian faith? Now that really would be something. No wonder the possibility is feared.

For film-viewers the end of the year looks enticing; the third and last part of Lord of the Rings, (including the highly relevant Cleansing of the Shire); to be followed in time for Lent with Gibson's film.

HOW DARE YOU BE OUT OF WORK?

Despite his catholic faith and his seminary training for the priesthood, Minister Tony Abbott takes the old puritan work ethic extremely seriously - so much so that he is tightening up the dole for the 700,000 Australians who receive it. Miss a lined up job interview and you're in trouble. Whether you are sick or homeless, if you haven't provided a good excuse within 48 hours, the wheels begin to turn remorselessly, and within a fortnight your payments grind to a halt.

While those who shirk while there's plenty of work available are a burden to others, the true employment environment mitigates against full employment. The true unemployment figures have been cooked for a long time, and a large proportion of what is conveniently called "full employment" is in reality part-time employment, or simply useless government 'make-work' schemes. That is the real crisis which Abbott - and his counterparts in the Labor Party - simply dare not face.

Trying to juggle punitive levels of tax revenue around to satisfy the myriad of hands held out has long failed Australians. It simply creates an ever-expanding underclass of part-time employed, people who can't find jobs within reasonable access to their means, and now joined by two-income families at the lower end of the income scale who are gradually slipping behind.

There is now an argument as to whether people can pay their taxes by time payment. Household debt is out of control. Yet the ALP is advocating raising taxes even higher. None of this appears in the only figures the government takes seriously - Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). How many have a share of a grossly inadequate cake is not considered.

We are not far behind the situation in the biggest economy in the world - the US. Blighted by unemployed workers and wide scenes of destitution, America is now a colossus with feet of clay. Douglas's "Critical Moment" is there for all to see.

THE LACK OF REALISTIC FAITH IN TODAY'S WORLD

by Betty Luks
"World trade blow makes US the hope"; "The talks break down: rich-poor kills trade hopes"; "Australia's hopes of securing big new export markets now rest on a free trade deal with the US after world trade talks in Mexico collapsed in acrimony between rich and poor nations"… so read the headlines in The Australian 16th Sept. 2003 - our national daily paper.

Farmers' organisations and business lobbies are weeping and wailing over the lack of markets open to them for their goods and services. In this technological-automated age, there is no lack of goods and services, the problem is lack of opportunities to get money in exchange for them; it is the lack of purchasing power, or the fact that what purchasing power is made available via the banking system comes with a corresponding debt.
The whole world is groaning under the burden of financial debt!

The problems, if the farmers and businessmen would only realise it, stem from the policies of Mammon, the financial system of the bankers; that system is quite separate from the goods and services systems. As C.H. Douglas explained in Monopoly of Credit, "purchasing power does not emanate from the production of real commodities or services, much like the scent from a rose."

People find it hard to get their mind around this fact. They confuse systems that have to work in harmony with Natural Law, such as agriculture, with the man-made fraudulent financial system which bears no relation to Natural Physical Law, let alone the Natural Moral Law.

It can be predicted with complete certainty that unless a nation regains sovereignty over its own currency and credit (money) system, and ensures the system reflects the physical realities of the nation's production, it will never, it cannot, secure peace and prosperity for its own people.

THE ORIGINAL CUSTOM OF BARTER

We are all distinct, unique individuals and we perceive things, we 'see' things in 'our mind's eye' in different ways and from different examples. One analogy will become clear to one person but not another. It takes a different analogy for another person to grasp the truth embedded with.

The following illustration, taken from The Essential Elements of Social Credit may be of help in grasping what we understand as the real purpose of a money system and why we insist the under-girding philosophy governing a nation's money system is so important.

The direct consequences of the ancient custom of bartering. Barter is concerned with the distribution of goods, and what we are looking for are the natural consequences of the custom, that is, the exchange, the distribution of goods. Exchange of goods requires an excess of goods (collectively).

Since the exchange of goods serve no useful purpose unless the bartering individual has excess of the commodity bartered, the first necessity of barter is the existence of more than one individual in possession collectively of more than one commodity.

Further, these commodities must be in excess of the need of their possessors to consume them or to use them. As an example: A prehistoric hunter has an assortment of flint arrowheads which he has made, but no food. Another pre-historic hunter has broken his last weapon in killing an animal for food. As a result of the needs of both, and because both can see a benefit in the arrangement, arrowheads are bartered for meat.

The example is worthy of investigating, and provides information along several lines:
(a) The division of labour (in this case, production of capital goods and production and consumption of goods) develops its characteristic increment of association in increased production and enhanced skill in both killing and flint-chipping. It is also time-saving.
(b) Cave bears and flints are not found together, nor is the environment of flint-chipping the best suited to successful hunting: flint-chipping was a localised industry. Distance factors enter; food must be carried to the flint-chipper and flints to the hunter. Physically carrying (transport) entails work (consumption of energy-liberating substances) and lapse of time.
(c) Therefore, the real cost of food plus arrowheads plus transport is a part or the whole of the food, the arrowheads being capital goods. The transport is service and possibly capital goods as well, even if these goods are only a bag for the arrowheads.

This statement holds, even if, let us say, the flint-chipper and the hunter shared the labour of transportation.

Question
What natural circumstances govern the rate of exchange; i.e., the exchange of flints for food?
Answer
Broadly we may say policy not equity, for notions of equity could only be supported by arguments drawn from policy.

Assuming that the individuals associate voluntarily and that their policy (objective) is that consumable goods should be forthcoming with the minimum of trouble to themselves, the optimum rate of exchange, food for flints, is that rate (which may well vary from time to time) which is related to the highest yield from their association.

Please note
Strictly speaking, every exchange of goods that is effected is unique, and that while in a complex society called a nation, (or a complex group of nations called an international society) many exchanges can sometimes be repeated at the same rate, this uniformity arises from their acceptability in the circumstances in which they are offered.

NEXT STEP OF 'FAITH' OR 'BELIEF'

Now, suppose that instead of effecting exchange of food for flints directly, a record of the obligation to pay, an IOU, is handed to the hunter for flints and to the flint chipper for food, a set of instruments would have been created (i.e., a document that states some contractual relationship, or grants some right) entitling someone to food and flints to the amount stated on the 'acknowledgement of indebtedness'.

IT IS NOT UNTIL THE EXPLICIT NATURE OF THE DEMAND ON THE FACE OF EACH CERTIFICATE IS MERGED IN A SINGLE 'UNIT' - SUCH AS MONEY - THAT ANY CONFUSION ARISES.
THIS UNIT - MONEY - IS IN ITSELF FICTITIOUS, i.e., a fabrication of the mind.

The effect upon individuals of such consequences is not necessarily incapable of correction or adjustment, if the appropriate associations are established to secure this end.
As Clifford Hugh Douglas insisted: "A money system is an 'order' system, not a 'reward' system. It is essentially a mechanism of administration, subservient to policy, and it is because it is superior to all other mechanisms of administration that the money control of the world is so immensely important…. The proper function of a money system is to furnish the necessary information."

Consider in the place of the food and flints of pre-history, a more extended list of exchangeable commodities: say to the number of ten? No matter what 'monetary' values are attached to the products, the 'monetary' losses or gains do not alter the quantity of commodities in existence.

MONEY IS….
defined by Professor Walker in his Money, Trade and Industry as: "…any medium which has reached such a degree of acceptability that no matter what it is made of, and no matter why people want it, no one will refuse it in exchange for his product."

Barter is concerned with the distribution of goods and any increment of association - any benefits, any increase - from it, must be distinguished from the increments arising from other associations which are associated with its practice, i.e., with the practice of the distribution of goods; such as the use of 'money'.
Exchange effects distribution, and if 'money' is used to expedite these exchanges, its use is related to policy in the same way as the exchanges. That is why we can insist money is simply a means by which we deal with real things and the true purpose of those real things (the policy of which stems from the Christian philosophy) is for all men - not just the few who 'chose' themselves - to have life, and have it more abundantly.

DEFINITIONS OF CREDIT

THE FABRICATION OF HISTORY

by Betty Luks
My, my! What a kafuffle Keith Windshuttle's book The Fabrication of Aboriginal History has caused within the 'chattering classes'. Readers were treated to a battle of 'titanic proportions' through the columns of Rupert Murdoch's The Australian weekend newspaper of the 27-28th September 2003. The two 'titan' journalists, Paul Kelly and Phillip Adams as usual displayed their own jaundiced-coloured views of history. But long-term readers of League journals would view current 'politically correct' versions of 'history' as five per cent fact and eighty per cent opinion; in other words, written 'history' is coloured by and biased towards a particular viewpoint.

Writing history, at any time, would be like trying to describe a spring morning, the writer describing only the most obvious which took his eye, but sometimes the background events proving to be of much more significance, and having in the long-term, far greater consequences in the fortunes or misfortunes of a nation or nations.

The following letter to The Australian, 26th Sept. 2003 is a good example. In responding to Greg Sheridan's (another of Rupert's paid 'titans') suggestion that the U.S. (read neoconservatives, the Cabal surrounding George Bush) could save the world, the Rev. Dr Vincent Zankin, of Rivett, ACT thought:
"No Greg Sheridan, it is not the US that can save the world but the UN (Opinion, 25/9). Your reference to the UN resolution that equated Zionism with racism as an instance of UN "malevolence" strikes at the very heart of why the US can never be the saviour of the world. Ever since the original founding fathers set sail for America consciously believing that in crossing the Atlantic they were in a figurative sense crossing the Red Sea, Americans have always considered themselves as part of a new Israel specially chosen by God to be a "light on a hill" and a light to the world. This explains why a vast proportion of evangelical Christians in the US today - the so-called Christian Zionists - share with orthodox Jews the same expectation that the occupation of the Holy Land will hasten the coming of their respective long-awaited messiahs, which places them on a collision course with the entire Islamic world. Moreover, since the events of September 11, the stakes on both sides of this religious divide have soared enormously with a recent Time magazine poll indicating that 57 per cent of Americans believe we are literally heading for the biblical battle of Armageddon - where Christendom will be handed its final triumph. The problem is not simply that the UN system has "never provided international order". The real problem is that when Americans see themselves through the narrow lens of biblical Israel they pose the greatest threat to international order ever imagined in all of human history."

THE REVEREND GENTLEMAN FAILED TO DISCERN!

There is no 'religious divide' between the 'Christian Zionists' - a contradiction in terms - orthodox Jews, and the United Nations. All three groups share the same vision of a New World Order based on the centralisation of financial, economic and political power - ruled with 'a rod of iron' by their very own, very human, messianic political dictator(s).

Brilliant commentator on world events during the 20th century, South African-born journalist and author, Ivor Benson 1907-1993, summarized his observations and research into those events and of the forces that shaped the history of the 20th (and 21st) century - not so readily discerned by the casual observer of the brightest spring-morning. Benson asserted even the briefest survey of the 20th century would be incomplete without a closer look at the relationship of those supposed mighty opposites - capitalism and communism.

The key to the riddle is the word capitalism. Most people, most of the time, make the mistake of supposing that the word capitalism means one thing whereas, in fact, it has two meanings.

Capitalism
As originally understood means private ownership of property and resources and competitive free enterprise in the supply of goods and services. Supercapitalism, i.e., highly concentrated finance-capitalism, is not only different from capitalism, it is the antithesis of capitalism and acquires the character of being actively anti-capitalist. It is not possible to continue concentrating ownership and control of property and resources without at the same time reducing the number of those who own and control property and resources. Likewise, there can be no huge concentration of ownership and control without a corresponding inhibition or suppression of competitive free enterprise.

It is essentially 'anti-capitalism' and 'anti-nationalism'
What we saw over the last century was a progressive degeneration of capitalism into a form of supercapitalism, or anti-capitalism, which the less it resembles the original capitalism the more it resembles socialism, or communism. Just enough genuine capitalism has remained in most countries of the West, and especially in the United States of America to confuse the picture and make it harder for most people to see that capitalism has been largely replaced by what is essentially anti-capitalism.
Supercapitalism's foreign policy includes financial and technological support for communist/marxist regimes (e.g., China now receiving 'favoured nation' treatment by Supercapitalism at the expense of western economies) and hostility towards all forms of nationalism.

At the centre: An illegitimate Money Power drawing its main strength from usury: a global usurocracy: Supercapitalist-Communist-Zionist nexus: with a co-ordinated world-wide Jewish nationalism.

Further reading
This Age of Conflict: The Source and Technology of Illegitimate Power, by Ivor Benson. The Controversy of Zion by Douglas Reed. Available from all League Book Services.

NATIONAL WEEKEND GETTING CLOSER

Details are: The New Times Dinner, Friday 10th October, 2003;
Seminar, Saturday 11th October; and
Divine Service & Action Conference, Sunday, 12th October, 2003.

Speakers for the Seminar: Betty Luks, National Director, Australian League of Rights - "The New Day"; Eve Hillary, Health Care Professional and Researcher - "They are Stealing Our Children"; Donald Martin, National Director British League of Rights - "Is the European Union Faltering?" and Bill Daly, National Director, New Zealand League of Rights - "Is a Revolt Against Globalism Happening?" The MEA Tape Library technician will be there to tape the speakers. Looking forward to meeting up with you and sharing fellowship!

The "New Times" Dinner ($29.50 per person) and Seminar bookings ($15.00 per person) are to be sent direct to the League's Melbourne postal address. Money Order or Cheque, made out to Australian League of Rights:- Box 1052, GPO, Melbourne 3001 - no later than Friday, 3rd October 2003.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS