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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

possumdag - 12:00am May 15, 2001 EST (#3878 of 3889)
Possumdag@excite.com

A clear and present danger http://abc.net.au/4corners/ 14 May

Reporter Chris Masters travels to Russia, the US and western Europe and meets bankers, regulators and senior law enforcers in preparing this special report.

Masters tracks a single operation in which $70 billion exited Russia. It's an illustration of how globalisation and the Internet have become important tools of the modern criminal.

Banks are set up on the Internet and registered in a regulatory backwater (anyone with the Internet and a few thousand dollars can do this). These virtual banks become a conduit through which billions pour into established banks in the west.

Masters' report questions whether many established banks want to stop the business of money laundering or prefer not to question the colour of money.

His report not only reveals an Australian connection to Russia's financial plunder but also sounds a warning of the danger that Russian organised crime poses to Australia. As a top Australian crimefighter warns: "The sums of money are vast, and with greed and with unscrupulousness and with complete disregard to laws our very institutions are in peril. Our economy is at risk."

"A Clear And Present Danger"

possumdag - 12:06am May 15, 2001 EST (#3879 of 3889)
Possumdag@excite.com

The Russian Maffia have stripped the Russian people of their savings.

It's been a 'too hard' problem for Russia to co-operate with internationals to try to combat it. The UK crimefighters saw an involvement by the Bank of New York that allowed people to set up accounts and then gave them access to the computer system. From this money could be transfered to different accounts within the bank ...and out of Russia.

Russian age of death is ever younger, because, people don't have the means of survival.

almarst-2001 - 12:11am May 15, 2001 EST (#3880 of 3889)

possumdag 5/15/01 12:00am

It was known for a while that "The money can't smell badly";)

Just ask the Rokfeller or Kennedy or any other "respectible" western "money bag"

almarst-2001 - 12:16am May 15, 2001 EST (#3881 of 3889)

One should ask the basic question if the US socio-economical model of wealth distribution (80% of the wealth to the 20% of the population) and the capitalism in general is apllicable in a country with a deficit of the goods and services.

The tricle-down process is drying up well before reaching even the upper half of the population.

possumdag - 12:26am May 15, 2001 EST (#3882 of 3889)
Possumdag@excite.com

The trickle down re 4Corners was a seepage out of Russia .... the money gets spent elsewhere, leaving those from whom it was stolen starving ... making the theives rich ... and creating new wealth external to Russia.

Program said that the givers of foreign aid expected 90% of what was given to the theives and only 10% to be of advantage to Russia.

This is where the development of a new legal framework is important.

almarst-2001 - 12:27am May 15, 2001 EST (#3883 of 3889)

The Wrong Debate Over Missile Defense - http://www.stratfor.com/home/giu/archive/051401

Pushback: Human Rights and Geopolitics - http://www.stratfor.com/US_Canada/commentary/0105142000

possumdag - 12:31am May 15, 2001 EST (#3884 of 3889)
Possumdag@excite.com

a point the program made was this:

internationally people want globalisation and free trade

(Enables competitive advantage to give best value to buyer)

But the downside is that additional to the flow of bona fida goods and services, there can be criminal reverse flows.

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