EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021

Systemic Breakdown, Systemic Solution

July 14 , 2021 (EIRNS)—The planet is deep into a systemic breakdown crisis, which is spinning off distinct, profound explosions on every continent—Asia, Europe, Africa, the Caribbean. They may each appear to have different, immediate triggers; but the backdrop to each and all is the collapse of the world’s economic and financial system, and the related COVID pandemic which continues to rage like the Masque of the Red Death that it is. In each circumstance—as globally—these crises are fraught with danger, and with opportunity.

• In Afghanistan, the pullout of American and NATO troops after a 20-year unmitigated failure, now threatens to make that country the new cockpit for British terrorism, drug-running and geopolitical destabilization targeting Russia and China, in particular. But there is also a meeting underway today in Tajikistan of the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is discussing the concrete proposals of China and Russia, among others, for stabilizing that situation based on the pursuit of common development, such as through Belt and Road projects, and “open and inclusive regional cooperation” to create conditions for common security against “terrorism, separatism and extremism.” Will SCO member India, which has not yet joined the Belt and Road, now act on the understanding that it is in its fundamental interest that Afghanistan be stabilized by all of its neighbors working together?

• In South Africa, the politically motivated jailing of former President Jacob Zuma has triggered a wave of protests and now violent riots and looting which have left a death toll of 72 people, as of tonight. Half of South Africa’s 60 million people live in poverty; 43% are unemployed; and the pandemic is ripping a path of destruction across the country and all of Africa, where vaccination levels are close to zero in most countries. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has just restated the obvious: “We need at least 11 billion doses to vaccinate 70% of the world and end this pandemic.... Everyone, everywhere must have access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests, treatments and support.”

• In the Caribbean, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated on July 7, in a black operation carried out by mercenaries and hitmen, many of whom were “former” informants and stringers for the DEA, the FBI and other U.S. agencies. Two days later, the de facto new President of Haiti called for the U.S. to send troops into that country—where African levels of poverty, hunger and disease have existed for decades. (As for COVID, not a single vaccine has yet been administered in Haiti.) Two days after that, street demonstrations were conjured up in nearby Cuba, with funds and political support from the U.S. State Department, NED, and allied NGOs, intended to launch a full-scale destabilization and regime-change operation against Cuba—which for 60 years has endured sanctions and an embargo, which have gravely worsened the economic and pandemic crisis in that country.

The answer for the broader Caribbean Basin, including Mexico and Central America, is for the United States to cooperate economically with China to bring the Belt and Road into that region, and revive large-scale American exports of capital goods in the process. The answer for Africa, is U.S. cooperation with China’s Belt and Road activity in that continent, to construct everything required for a modern health system (and associated infrastructure) to be built in every nation. The answer for Afghanistan lies in the same direction.

The solution for the United States will be found by reviving a scientifically driven industrial economy, whose purpose is to bring advanced development to every corner of the planet—and the Solar System.

Is the systemic crisis bringing us to that branching point in history?