Hidden truth - Assange and the Attack on the Republic of Ecuador
source: http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/recent-news/43077-hidden-truth-assange-and-the-attack-...
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- worrg
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http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/recent-news/43077-hidden-truth-...
Today we talk of geo-politics and the freedom of information. But what is happening today technically (i.e. politically) began on 12 December 2008, though some say September of that year, but it took four years for the shock waves to reach Europe and America. The issue relates to Julian Assange, Wikileaks, and the Republic of Ecuador. Mind you, it was assumed in the entire American continent, Australia, and Europe that the world was the same as ten years ago. But the world does not work that way anymore.On August 3 in New York, Ecuador became the first nation in the Americas and only nation in the Western world since 1948, to apply the concept of “immoral debt” or the political and technical refusal to pay foreign debts because they were made by previous governments through corruption, in violation of constitutional laws and requirements.
Bush said that the US was even ready for a ‘military option to safeguard US interests.’ The next morning, the powerful New York law firm of Goldberg & Goldberg submitted that there was a legal precedent for Ecuador’s action. Six hours later, the US gave up and called on the international community to challenge the legitimacy of the concept of “immoral debt”.
Interestingly, the legal precedent was dated 4 Jan 2003, and signed by George Bush. Yep. This happened in Iraq, which at that time was’technically’ an American possession since it was occupied by US forces and the interim government was not yet recognized by the UN. Saddam Hussein had left debts of 250 billion euros (40 billion euros against Italy, thanks to the transactions concluded Tareq Aziz, deputy to Hussein and an ally of Vatican’s Opus Dei), which the US erased by applying the concept of “immoral debt”, thus creating the recent historical precedent.
http://www.makeahistory.com/index.php/recent-news/43077-hidden-truth-assange-and...
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fiberbundle
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"Ecuador became the first nation in the Americas and only nation in the Western world since 1948, to apply the concept of “immoral debt” or the political and technical refusal to pay foreign debts because they were made by previous governments through corruption, in violation of constitutional laws and requirements."
Technically "true" if you put time and geographic limits--but does not further the argument against immoral payments being repudiated--as beyond the pale.
In the summer 1933, Hitler made the decision to stop making reparations payments.
Also I might mention Argentina and Spain's YPF interests.
It seems that it is Okay to violate or threaten to violate national sovereignty to collect debt, if you think you can get away with squashing the government or fomenting a coup; but when you are confronted with armed men, as the British and the French were in 1933--they decided it was Okay to forgive the reparations.
I'm sure it can be argued the other way by some--but I take the position that in a lawful world order--sovereignty trumps--debt--even if you have the military clout to crush the debtors.
IMO, lawful retaliation would include sanctions and withdrawal of investment.
- 8 months ago
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fiberbundle
