SCO: The Shanghai Cooperation Agency. Who?
Submitted by the_sentry on June 23, 2006 - 10:01am.
Energy
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance. ~Sun Tzu
Have you ever been blindsided? If youve been in a car accident, you know what I am talking about. Youre driving along in your car, and then suddenly *BAM*, your skull is jarred as a tremendous force hits your vehicle. Its a very unsettling feeling, and its not something that you forget for a while.
Well, this is how I feel today.
I have come to the conclusion that our news sources have sold their filthy, dirty souls to the east lock, stock and barrel. There are major events happening in the world that they are not talking about. I didnt learn about the Shanghai Cooperation Agency from FOX news, or CNN, or MSNBC, or even CNBC. Nope. Heck, there wasnt even a peep about this on the Drudge Report. And, I doubt our government is going to be very anxious to talk about this organization either.
So, what is the big deal, you ask? And, is this a conspiracy theory?
Well, the answer is no, this is not a conspiracy theory. And, in my own meandering way, Ill try to explain this as best as my meager skills will accommodate me. The Shanghai Cooperation Agency or otherwise known as SCO was an alliance formed between Russia and China back in 2001 with the intent of fighting terrorism. Since then, it has expanded into a bloc of nations that seek economic alliances, security alliances, and control of the geopolitical issues in their region. In short, this agency has all the earmarks of becoming the next Warsaw Pact with rising power China at the helm.
Do I have your attention?
One might initially think Hey, this isnt so bad. Russia and China are working together to address the issues of their region. Well, before we go there, (and dont expect me to), I think people should know that SCO is ready to accept IRAN as a full-fledged member.
Yes, that Iran. I think it should also be mentioned that India and Pakistan are also seeking membership in this bloc as well.
What is at stake here is the world, folks, and our future is at stake if this bloc has its way. China, in their ever growing expansion, has forged close economic ties all through Africa and Latin America. The Chinese are doing everything and anything to expand their influence from forging closer ties with Saudi Arabia to projects like a joint-oil exploration deal with Cuba that will take place 50 miles off of the coast of Florida. (If this isnt enough to get your attention, note that it is China who is working to expand, and invest seriously in the Panama Canal. Yes, its gotten that bad.) As for Russia, they are buying up all of the gold that they can get their hands on while the same time telling these nations that if they dont want to deal with the US, Russia will exchange oil for rubles which in turn can be converted back into Euros. Russia has also been a long-time critic of the US dollar hegemony, and in light of how great our deficits are becoming overseas, I cant imagine that it will be too much longer before this bloc works a deal in which to throw off the fiat currency altogether.
Compounding this is a strong footprint in their region, with the Caspian basin at stake. Near Kazakhstan, it is a very large untapped source of oil that almost every oil company on the planet would like to develop if they had the potential. If indicators of SCO hold, then the US is going to miss the boat. And, as our dollar continues to depreciate, we may end up losing our fortune as more nations seek business, economic, and security ventures with SCO.
Lets also not forget the current status of our own economy. Currently, we consume 4ore of our GDP every year, and this has been paid for by passing off trade deficits to other nations. Note that since 2003, our currency has lost 30f its value against the Euro. And, as more and more debt is incurred, our dollar is devalued more and more. Of course, some might argue that this will be good for America exports, but if its a question of asking these nations to continue to buy out US debt in the form of Treasury Bonds?
I cant shake the feeling that our economy is in serious trouble.
If there is anything one feels after being blindsided, its typically anger after some time goes by. Quite frankly, I am disgusted that the major media is selectively NOT covering this group which could become a serious threat to the future of the United States, and could end up as a body that might seek to counteract NATO in the East.
And yes, Im angry. Our current leadership has all but encouraged this group to rise to power. The opposition fumbles as they have since 9/11. And, the media outlets have chosen to keep us blind, deaf, and dumb when it comes to SCO.
Here are some links:
Wikipedia: Shanghai Cooperation Agency
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organization
Iran in talks to join alliance against West
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2228233,00.html
Thank you for sharing this, and welcome to CCN. I am looking forward to reading more of your post.
You know, this is the first time I hear about SCO. I mean from what I understand SCO was created so they can play military and economic sanctions with US and European countries, you know trying to get us back. And from what I understand did 9/11 open economic curtain even though the east bloc keeps bluffing with their nuclear power? For some reason, this is what came to my mind and I hope this doesn’t sound as a conspiracy theory, I mean please correct me.
And one thing that did occur to me, what if the US and European countries become less depended on oil for recourses? How will it affect the Middle East and other countries that we depend on and they depend on our buying? Now that “all of a sudden” the hybrid cars are in the market and the big oil companies made their profit and their “goal” has been achieved, where is this leading to now? Is this going to be NATO vs. SCO because the economy is really bad through out the world?
SCO is sending mix massages as well. It looks like their logo is making them look good but in fact their intentions are different. Where is the red star on this logo? 
Well media has always been a big tool for politicians but who use it and how it is used is just another sad story.
MA3, Personally, I don't think that SCO has any real malicious intent, other than pursueing what they believe is simply in their national and strategic interests. Energy and oil is the central focus of their strategy here; and geopolitically, they've certainly benefited from Bush's failures to implement a more substantive one towards our own national and strategic interests.
So, the real problem that I'm concerned about is whether this mostly reflects what's been lost relative to our strategic position/image in the world. How much has it been hurt? What is clear -- Bush and the Republicans have failed on all fronts on foreign policy, which for short term their political gains, they've seriously undermined our national security for many years ahead.
I know, perhaps I got a bit carried away… It’s just very complex, I mean that is to me. There is a lot of thinking going on when you reflect in the past and then try to see where it is leading us... And you wonder, what are the possibilities?
While the rest of the world was thinking geopolitically, our lame brained 'leaders' were invading a sovereign nation that posed no direct threat to us. The fact that it has become a boondoggle has allowed other countries to fill the leadership vacuum which rightly should be ours.
Our influence in a world that we helped create, is being minimized daily while our duly electeds hold hearings on flag burning.
I don't blame you for being angry. I'm #$%^&%^&* furious!!!
This is not a time for a candidate who will offend no one; it is time for a candidate who takes clear stands and kicks ass.....Molly Ivins
In the greater scheme of things, I think one thing also needs to be considered before everyone goes off half-cocked regarding SCO (myself included).
First, a lot of this does have to do with the world economy, and geopolitics, but the greater question must be asked: Realistically, how long does the United States have the auspicious title of "The world's only superpower?" Granted, in the immediate days after 9/11, many people were ready, and wiling to work on an international level publicly. But, what I describe as "The Game of Thrones" behind the scenes was always geared towards not only economics, but leverage as well. It probably goes without saying that all sorts of leverage and Machiavellian overtures were taking place that the world at large is unaware of. In some respect? Yes, this bloc has formed as an answer to the possibility of a permanent global hegemony, and in reality there is a "tripolar chessboard now in play". But, on another note....is this also just the natural order of things? Has anyone really considered what it might have taken for the US to keep that "sole superpower" title for decades on end?
Citizens of this nation are not completely convinced that the notion of an American Empire (baggage and all) is how they want to be remembered through history, nor are we comftorable with what it would take to enforce something like that when the carrot might find itself rejected. And, as the devil's advocate, I also have to question whether this is just a natural evolution in terms of the global economy.
S
Here's to us all...
LindaG