The Singapore govt is going into the insurance business in a big way.
After the trial run of two compulsory schemes, CPF Life and Medishield
Life and facing no objection and opposition, it now feels free and
unrestrained to legislate more compulsory insurance schemes for the
people using their CPF savings. Now there are Eldershield Life,
Careshield Life and dunno what more are in the pipeline.
Is this a business or a racket? What I would consider or define as a
racket is a scheme that the buyer does not want, does not need, cannot
afford but still forced into buying it, compulsory, cannot say no.
How many people need or want to buy so many insurance schemes when they
could not even afford to live decently, not having three good meals,
everyday trying to make ends meet?
How many people can afford to pay for so many insurance when life is a financial struggle?
How many people would want to empty or deplete their diminishing life
savings in the CPF due to inflation, high property prices to buy and
buy, pay and pay, for more insurance schemes?
When a person cannot say no to buy things that he does not want, does
not need, cannot afford to pay for it, it is daylight robbery no matter
under what guises. No one shall be forced to buy things against his
wishes especially when he cannot afford it and to deplete his life
savings against his wishes.
Compulsory insurance schemes are rackets, daylight robbery in disguise.
No, it is good for the people? Sure they are good for the people, if
they are not forced to buy them and can afford to pay for them. When
they are schemed by other people to dip into their life savings against
their wishes, the schemes are not so innocent and altruistic. And worse,
when the schemes would end up in a lot of surplus or profits that would
not benefit the people being forced into paying for them.
Oh, the schemes are not profit making! Did you hear that, non profit
making whoa. Then why insist on keeping the surplus for the future that
may not come to many of the contributors forced to pay for them? Keeping
for the future, the rainy day that may not come is a bad excuse.
Period.
With the stroke of a pen, a few million policies were sold as a few
million CPF captive members would be made to pay for the insurance they
did not want. One compulsory scheme, say 2 million paying, multiply that
by 4 schemes, how many insurance policies are sold? Imagine how tough
it is for an insurance agent to sell 20 policies in a year.
Damn senang to make millions and billions without having to sweat the
small stuff. Worse than ‘pah chioh’ if you understand this phrase in
hokien.
7/22/2018
The Americans coercing the UN to do its biddings
In this little red dot, China is being singled out, identified and accused as if it is the only country that is influencing, manipulating and coercing Singapore to be more friendly in its policies towards China. Now read this on how the USA is coercing and influencing the whole world, the UN, to do its bidding.
"UNITED NATIONS: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday (Jul 20) urged UN member-states to keep tough economic sanctions fully in place on North Korea and maintain pressure on Kim Jong Un to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear program.
"We need to see Chairman Kim do what he promised the world he would do," Pompeo told reporters after meeting with the Security Council.
The United States believes that North Korea can shed its "pariah" status from its nuclear and missile programs, but "it will take full enforcement of sanctions for us to get there," he said...." CNA
The Americans are using all its powers to influence and coerce the UN to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, Iran and its enemies openly, blatantly as the biggest bully in the world. No condemnation. In the North Korean case, having a few missiles and nuclear bombs is bad, a pariah state. But owning thousands of such bombs and missiles is regarded as a super power, with respect or in fear. No one dares to breathe a word about how violently wrong for a country to possess such an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. It is a given that the Americans can have all the weapons of mass destruction they want but others especially small states, cannot do so.
What irony, what injustice and abuse of military might! And the whole world is being coerced to accept this fait acompli, this status quo. No one shall be allowed to challenge the American dominance in nuclear might. It is ok for the Americans to have all the weapons of mass destruction to coerce and bully small and big states. And the Americans are not stopping at that. They are going to develop more weapons of mass destruction with more destructive powers. How's that for insanity and stupidity?
No, the Americans are not simply manipulating or trying to influence other states, it threatens everyone with wars and destruction if anyone dares to oppose the Americans.
Why should the whole world, the UN, do the biddings of the Americans to bully smaller states. The UN should say no to the Americans and ignore the American sanctions on North Korea and Iran. The whole world and the UN must rise up against this world menace from bullying small states. The Americans have no moral high grounds to stop other countries from posssesing WMD when they are the biggest culprit and daily threatening to use them to destroy smaller states.
Say No to the evil Americans and their hypocrisy. Do not agree to their sanctions against any state. The real pariah state is the USA, the biggest bully and murderer of human beans. Russia and China should take the lead to stop the Americans in the UN. Put a stop to this world menace. The sanctions must be on the Americans instead.
When would the UN tell the Americans to denuclearise? Why the Americans no need to denuclearise?
PS. Open your eyes and see which country has been fighting wars non stop all over the world, killing hundreds of thousands, millions of innocent civilians, not counting those maimed and the destruction of their countries. Which country is threatening wars, provoking wars, inciting wars and bullying countries all over the world?
"UNITED NATIONS: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday (Jul 20) urged UN member-states to keep tough economic sanctions fully in place on North Korea and maintain pressure on Kim Jong Un to dismantle Pyongyang's nuclear program.
"We need to see Chairman Kim do what he promised the world he would do," Pompeo told reporters after meeting with the Security Council.
The United States believes that North Korea can shed its "pariah" status from its nuclear and missile programs, but "it will take full enforcement of sanctions for us to get there," he said...." CNA
The Americans are using all its powers to influence and coerce the UN to impose economic sanctions on North Korea, Iran and its enemies openly, blatantly as the biggest bully in the world. No condemnation. In the North Korean case, having a few missiles and nuclear bombs is bad, a pariah state. But owning thousands of such bombs and missiles is regarded as a super power, with respect or in fear. No one dares to breathe a word about how violently wrong for a country to possess such an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. It is a given that the Americans can have all the weapons of mass destruction they want but others especially small states, cannot do so.
What irony, what injustice and abuse of military might! And the whole world is being coerced to accept this fait acompli, this status quo. No one shall be allowed to challenge the American dominance in nuclear might. It is ok for the Americans to have all the weapons of mass destruction to coerce and bully small and big states. And the Americans are not stopping at that. They are going to develop more weapons of mass destruction with more destructive powers. How's that for insanity and stupidity?
No, the Americans are not simply manipulating or trying to influence other states, it threatens everyone with wars and destruction if anyone dares to oppose the Americans.
Why should the whole world, the UN, do the biddings of the Americans to bully smaller states. The UN should say no to the Americans and ignore the American sanctions on North Korea and Iran. The whole world and the UN must rise up against this world menace from bullying small states. The Americans have no moral high grounds to stop other countries from posssesing WMD when they are the biggest culprit and daily threatening to use them to destroy smaller states.
Say No to the evil Americans and their hypocrisy. Do not agree to their sanctions against any state. The real pariah state is the USA, the biggest bully and murderer of human beans. Russia and China should take the lead to stop the Americans in the UN. Put a stop to this world menace. The sanctions must be on the Americans instead.
When would the UN tell the Americans to denuclearise? Why the Americans no need to denuclearise?
PS. Open your eyes and see which country has been fighting wars non stop all over the world, killing hundreds of thousands, millions of innocent civilians, not counting those maimed and the destruction of their countries. Which country is threatening wars, provoking wars, inciting wars and bullying countries all over the world?
7/21/2018
Singapore China bashing or Kausikan China bashing?
For several weeks the Singapore main media have repeatedly publishing
Bilahari’s view on how China manipulates and coerces Singapore to become
more pro China in its policies. One comment by a Kesavapany even
suggested that this is Singapore govt’s position and Singaporeans should
speak out in a similar view to attack China for doing so. The
impression given is that only China is the only bad guy manipulating
Singapore and other big powers are not, all so innocent and angelic.
The recent spat with Malaysia over the HSR and water agreement is another episode of how Malaysia tried to influence and manipulate Singapore’s policies and decision to favour Malaysia. Or is this not manipulation or coercion? Every state would influence and manipulate another country to its advantage without exception. This is called cultivating good relations or diplomacy.
Reflect a little on Singapore’s actions and policies with other countries and ask the same questions Kausikan had asked, whether Singapore has been influenced, manipulated or coerced to act or speak in the way it did. The Philippines China island dispute case would be a good starting point. Singapore kept saying that it was not a party to the dispute and had no claim to the South China Sea islands but was the one that carried the biggest loudspeaker to lambast China, telling China to accept the decision of the funny private court in Hague and even telling China to obey the rules of law as if China was not. On the other hand, nothing was said when the Americans broke all international laws and agreements, the TPP, Paris Climate Accord, not being a member of UNCLOS.
So, was Singapore coerced, manipulated or influenced by the Americans to say those things, to behave in such a bizarre manner that eventually led to the souring of relations with China when it should have just shut its mouth like other countries? The big question, was it in Singapore’s interest to be the spokesman for the Americans against China? Singapore did it freely, willingly, to harm its own interest? If Singapore did not open its little big mouth then Singapore’s interest would be harmed by the coercive big power and by opening its little big mouth, Singapore’s interest was advanced, protected by the big power?
Another point, why would a little prick like Singapore be so willing to send its soldiers to the Middle East and Afghanistan to fight along side the Americans when all the smart countries in the world would not do so? Was Singapore being forced by the Americans, arm twisted by the Americans to do so and in so doing, stand up like a sore prick and risking itself being a target of ISIS attack? Singapore doing it willingly without being coerced to do so? The Americans did not manipulate, pressure or force Singapore to send troops to the Middle East and Afghanistan? Are Singapore leaders really so stupid to play with fire when they don't have to?
Between China and the USA, who has been influencing and coercing Singapore into doing things against its national interest? Who is the bigger devil and why nothing was spoken against the bigger devil?
You ask me? It is ok to be manipulated and do the biddings of the Americans or what the Americans did were not coercion or manipulation, no, the Americans did not influence our policies and decisions in how we conduct our international relations?
How did Singapore's healthy relations, crafted over decades by Lee Kuan Yew denegerated to this poor state of affairs? Who has or have been instrumental in sowing the seed of hate against China. Where did this hate China agenda originated?
Any Chinese Singaporean with a little ethnic pride and self respect would not take it kindly with such open warfare to bash China. It is so insensitive for Kausikan and his likes to promote such a hate China agenda in a multi racial society paying no due respect to the feelings of the Chinese community. Be he a banana, a chap cheng or a Chinese Singaporean, he has his roots in China. And no self respecting man would ignore or show distaste to his roots and ethnic identity in the face of a loose cannon attacking his roots open defiance. The reticence of the Chinese community does not mean that they are taking this kind of attack kindly or condoning it.
The recent spat with Malaysia over the HSR and water agreement is another episode of how Malaysia tried to influence and manipulate Singapore’s policies and decision to favour Malaysia. Or is this not manipulation or coercion? Every state would influence and manipulate another country to its advantage without exception. This is called cultivating good relations or diplomacy.
Reflect a little on Singapore’s actions and policies with other countries and ask the same questions Kausikan had asked, whether Singapore has been influenced, manipulated or coerced to act or speak in the way it did. The Philippines China island dispute case would be a good starting point. Singapore kept saying that it was not a party to the dispute and had no claim to the South China Sea islands but was the one that carried the biggest loudspeaker to lambast China, telling China to accept the decision of the funny private court in Hague and even telling China to obey the rules of law as if China was not. On the other hand, nothing was said when the Americans broke all international laws and agreements, the TPP, Paris Climate Accord, not being a member of UNCLOS.
So, was Singapore coerced, manipulated or influenced by the Americans to say those things, to behave in such a bizarre manner that eventually led to the souring of relations with China when it should have just shut its mouth like other countries? The big question, was it in Singapore’s interest to be the spokesman for the Americans against China? Singapore did it freely, willingly, to harm its own interest? If Singapore did not open its little big mouth then Singapore’s interest would be harmed by the coercive big power and by opening its little big mouth, Singapore’s interest was advanced, protected by the big power?
Another point, why would a little prick like Singapore be so willing to send its soldiers to the Middle East and Afghanistan to fight along side the Americans when all the smart countries in the world would not do so? Was Singapore being forced by the Americans, arm twisted by the Americans to do so and in so doing, stand up like a sore prick and risking itself being a target of ISIS attack? Singapore doing it willingly without being coerced to do so? The Americans did not manipulate, pressure or force Singapore to send troops to the Middle East and Afghanistan? Are Singapore leaders really so stupid to play with fire when they don't have to?
Between China and the USA, who has been influencing and coercing Singapore into doing things against its national interest? Who is the bigger devil and why nothing was spoken against the bigger devil?
You ask me? It is ok to be manipulated and do the biddings of the Americans or what the Americans did were not coercion or manipulation, no, the Americans did not influence our policies and decisions in how we conduct our international relations?
How did Singapore's healthy relations, crafted over decades by Lee Kuan Yew denegerated to this poor state of affairs? Who has or have been instrumental in sowing the seed of hate against China. Where did this hate China agenda originated?
Any Chinese Singaporean with a little ethnic pride and self respect would not take it kindly with such open warfare to bash China. It is so insensitive for Kausikan and his likes to promote such a hate China agenda in a multi racial society paying no due respect to the feelings of the Chinese community. Be he a banana, a chap cheng or a Chinese Singaporean, he has his roots in China. And no self respecting man would ignore or show distaste to his roots and ethnic identity in the face of a loose cannon attacking his roots open defiance. The reticence of the Chinese community does not mean that they are taking this kind of attack kindly or condoning it.
7/20/2018
A bestest solution to the perceived flaws in our education system
I say the flaws are perceived because not everyone will agree that the
education is flaw. If it is, how could Singapore be bragging to the
world that we have one of the best education system in the world with
world class top universities ranking at par with the best in the USA and
UK? If our education is so loathsome, how could our students be tops in
many tests conducted by international agencies, not ranking agencies?
Before anyone could attempt to come out with a solution to the perceived flawed education system, let’s look at the perceived problems raised as these would help those who are trying to work out a solution. The solution must address the perceived flaws or else it would be like chicken and duck talking.
From what I could gather, the perceived flaws can be narrowed down to a few points. 1. The education system is too stressful because of the great emphasis on test and grades. 2. The children are not happy because of the stress placed on them because of test and grades. 3. As a result many could not go to the top schools that they wanted, or the parents wanted them to be there.
If only that education could be less stressful, no test, and the children could end up in the top schools, everyone would be happy, the children and their parents. See, the solution is surfacing once the sources or causes of the perceived problems are highlighted.
Here is my brilliant solution
Actually ACS has in a way solved this problem by having 3 kinds of ACS schools, ie ACS Independent, ACS International and just ACS Normal or Ordinary or Traditional. What do all these meant?
Simply it means that all the parents and children would be happy if the children could be admitted into the tops schools like RI, Hwa Chong, ACS, Victoria etc etc. And when the children are in these top schools, how to make them happy, without test and the stigma of poor grades and still do very well on graduation? This is an idealistic type of education system that everyone wins, the ministry, teachers, parents and children will all be very happy, and no stress to worry about. So how to do it? Generally only a small number of parents and children are unhappy with the present education system. On one end are the parents that aspired for their children to be in the tops schools, to get good grades, without test and be happy children. On the other end there are parents and children are are realistic and understand the nature of things and are willing to accept that their children will go to the appropriate schools according to their performance in schools. This group is not crying or protesting about the present education system. Similarly, for parents and children that are doing well academically, they are also not complaining either but only in praises for the present system. So, there is only the first group of parents and children that needs to be appeased with some changes to the perceived flawed education system. There is no need to shake and rock the whole system just to cater to this group, maybe 10% or 20% of the cohorts.
Change the names of some schools to RI Special School, Hwa Chong Special School, ACS, Victoria etc. These special schools would be staffed with the best teachers money can buy, best to recruit teachers from US or Europe and pay them the highest salary possible. Not to worry about the cost of these teachers. The cost can be passed to the parents who can afford to and want their children to enroll in these bestest special schools, ie the fees would be high. Good quality schools must have the right to charge high fees.
The curriculum of these schools should be very relax to make the students happy, no pressure, a lot of play, study less, learn more. And all will graduate with a certificates issued from the respective schools, with straight As. No need to take PSLE, no need to take O or A level examinations. Just take inhouse examinations and be awarded with inhouse certificates from Singapore’s top schools.
One caveat, there is no guarantee if universities or polytechnics would accept these certificates, or if employers would want to employ such happy and stress free graduates. For those who don’t have to work for a living, this is the best school system for them. Happy happy and no need to be stressed out, a lot of free time to enjoy life, no homeworks and guaranteed good grades.
Hope the ministers in education would adopt this novel and marvelous education system of Special Schools.
Before anyone could attempt to come out with a solution to the perceived flawed education system, let’s look at the perceived problems raised as these would help those who are trying to work out a solution. The solution must address the perceived flaws or else it would be like chicken and duck talking.
From what I could gather, the perceived flaws can be narrowed down to a few points. 1. The education system is too stressful because of the great emphasis on test and grades. 2. The children are not happy because of the stress placed on them because of test and grades. 3. As a result many could not go to the top schools that they wanted, or the parents wanted them to be there.
If only that education could be less stressful, no test, and the children could end up in the top schools, everyone would be happy, the children and their parents. See, the solution is surfacing once the sources or causes of the perceived problems are highlighted.
Here is my brilliant solution
Actually ACS has in a way solved this problem by having 3 kinds of ACS schools, ie ACS Independent, ACS International and just ACS Normal or Ordinary or Traditional. What do all these meant?
Simply it means that all the parents and children would be happy if the children could be admitted into the tops schools like RI, Hwa Chong, ACS, Victoria etc etc. And when the children are in these top schools, how to make them happy, without test and the stigma of poor grades and still do very well on graduation? This is an idealistic type of education system that everyone wins, the ministry, teachers, parents and children will all be very happy, and no stress to worry about. So how to do it? Generally only a small number of parents and children are unhappy with the present education system. On one end are the parents that aspired for their children to be in the tops schools, to get good grades, without test and be happy children. On the other end there are parents and children are are realistic and understand the nature of things and are willing to accept that their children will go to the appropriate schools according to their performance in schools. This group is not crying or protesting about the present education system. Similarly, for parents and children that are doing well academically, they are also not complaining either but only in praises for the present system. So, there is only the first group of parents and children that needs to be appeased with some changes to the perceived flawed education system. There is no need to shake and rock the whole system just to cater to this group, maybe 10% or 20% of the cohorts.
Change the names of some schools to RI Special School, Hwa Chong Special School, ACS, Victoria etc. These special schools would be staffed with the best teachers money can buy, best to recruit teachers from US or Europe and pay them the highest salary possible. Not to worry about the cost of these teachers. The cost can be passed to the parents who can afford to and want their children to enroll in these bestest special schools, ie the fees would be high. Good quality schools must have the right to charge high fees.
The curriculum of these schools should be very relax to make the students happy, no pressure, a lot of play, study less, learn more. And all will graduate with a certificates issued from the respective schools, with straight As. No need to take PSLE, no need to take O or A level examinations. Just take inhouse examinations and be awarded with inhouse certificates from Singapore’s top schools.
One caveat, there is no guarantee if universities or polytechnics would accept these certificates, or if employers would want to employ such happy and stress free graduates. For those who don’t have to work for a living, this is the best school system for them. Happy happy and no need to be stressed out, a lot of free time to enjoy life, no homeworks and guaranteed good grades.
Hope the ministers in education would adopt this novel and marvelous education system of Special Schools.
Russian Collusion & Meddling @ FIFA2018
Russian
Collusion & Meddling @ FIFA2018
By MIKOspace
It was a historic and memorable
Sunday. On 17 June 2018, the world
witnessed France’s 4-2 win over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup Final in Moscow;
marking the second time in 20 years that France won the World Cup. An early 18th minute own-goal by
Croatian star player Mario Mandzukic
set the stage for a new generation of French soccer players in Kylian Mbappe,
Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba to steal the hearts of everyone with their spectacular
footwork and 3 more goals in the newly renovated Luzhniki Stadium, the largest
stadium in Russia and Eastern Europe as well as the 8th largest in
Europe. Mario redeemed himself before
full-time by scoring the last goal of the night to add to his team-mate Ivan
Perisic’s goal in the first half. French
President Emmanuel Macron, sitting with Russian
President Vladimir Putin at the VIP Section, was photographed leaping in
jubilant joy when the final whistle blew.
As celebrations exploded in Paris’
Champs-Elysee Avenue as well as in the Croatian Bana Jelacica Square at the
centre of Zagreb, none of their passionate and enthusiastic supporters knew
about the gathering storm coming from the greatest football and FIFA scandal of
all times!
Did the French collude with the Russians to win the 2018
FIFA World Cup?
And did the Russians meddle in the
fixtures, logistics, play books and conduct of the 64 matches or in any other
manner or shape to assure France of her long-awaited historic victory?
Days before the Opening Ceremony on 14
June 2018, FIFA had received an 18-page complaint consisting, among other
documents, sworn affidavits detailing meetings and emails between certain
senior French and Russian politicians, as well as FIFA and national sports
officials concerning the outcome of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Since they contained no specific direct evidence
of any kind relating to the 2018 World Cup, FIFA alerted Interpol who then
authorized secret surveillance as well as wire-tapping, emails and mobile communications
monitoring of the Russian and French officials named in the complaint and
affidavits, together with several unnamed others whom they were in contact with. In an unusual departure from protocol,
Interpol did not inform either the French or Russian enforcement authorities of
the open criminal investigations.
The investigators studied the Moscow World
Cup schedule and fixture which was announced by FIFA on 1 December 2017. Prima facie, the 2018 World Cup fixture was
not particularly unusual. On hindsight,
one is drawn to the fact that Russia (Group A), France (Group C) and Croatia
(Group D) are in separate Groupings.
However, in the actual match fixture, France would meet EITHER Russia or
Croatia as the latter progress (successfully) in their respective games.
Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalty
kicks on 7 July 2018, after a 2-2 draw that included goals by both sides in the
30 minutes of extra time. Croatia thus
created her own path to meet France (after beating Belgium) in the Cup Finale. Did Russia deliberately let Croatia win? Russian interference and collusion would of
course be too obvious if she were to meet France and resulted in a French
victory.
In any case, the Croatian Team was
not getting any easy co-operation from the Russian hosts at their training base
at the St Petersburg’s Lesnaya Rapsodiya Resort on the shores of Bolshoye
Semaginskoye Lake, Leningrad Region, which has a modern stadium built specially
for the 2018 World Cup. The Croatian
Team was personally supervised by a senior FSB Officer. The FSB is Russia’s principal national
security agency and the successor to the former KGB.
The Croatian Team had requested for
30 bicycles for their training, but was disallowed. They were instead directed to the exclusive
use of the 25-meter long panoramic swimming pool and the gym room. According to the Report, the Croatians were
extremely agitated and anxious by the refusal.
Was this a Russian ploy calculated to unbalance the Croatian players in
order to impact their World Cup game, especially in the Final against the
French? Further investigations are
certainly needed.
Compared to the Croatian Team, the French
Team stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn, New Rifa, located at a tranquil location
in the beautiful forested area of Moscow Oblast. It offers a peaceful oasis in the countryside
with easy access to Moscow city center and all of Moscow’s airports via the New
Riga highway.
The French victory was an unexpected
surprise to most soccer buffs, but not to the Interpol investigators. By the end of the Final Game on 17 June 2018,
the French victory answered many questions which they had developed during the
investigations and incidental indirect questioning of several hundred people,
among whom were several unsuspecting persons of interest.
In the evening of 17 June 2018 into
the night and the next day, before departure of the various team, Interpol also
secured the active co-operation of Russian enforcement authorities as well as
the British Scotland Yard after a quick briefing of their investigations status. An Interpol Team also headed to Zagreb ahead
of the returning Croatian Team to continue the investigations in Croatia. Another Interpol Team similarly headed to
Paris. All players, and particularly the
goal-scorers, are expected to be vigorously questioned by Interpol and FIFA
officials.
One can expect Croatian player Mario
Mandzukic to be questioned in
details, together with the match video, on his own-goal which gave France her
early lead in the Final Game.
Mario has already signed a US$9million
book deal with a French publisher for a “tell-all” book on how Croatia got into,
and lost, the FIFA2018 World Cup Finals, which would be titled “What Happened”.
In “What Happened”, Mario promised to
lay out how the 2018 World Cup was marked by an unprecedented assault on his
beloved soccer game by foreign adversarial forces. He would analyse the
evidence of Russian collusion and meddling by connecting the dots to show just
how dangerous the forces are that shaped the final outcome of FIFA2018 World Cup,
and why all soccer lovers need to understand them to protect the integrity of the
game in the future.
By midnight, Interpol had managed to
seize and uploaded the messages and social media accounts from the mobile
phones, and obtained the email accounts, of all the players and officials of
the Russian, French and Croatian Teams.
The British Scotland Yard
investigators also wanted to know of any unusual interference which resulted in
England’s devastating 2-1 defeat by a less experienced Croatian Team in the
Semi-Finals. The demoralized English
Team subsequently lost their will to prevail against a better Belgium Team to
lose 2-0 and be denied even the 3rd position. And Belgium’s odd to win the World Cup was
12-1 compared to England’s 20-1.
Interestingly, there were some
“love-bird” chats between several pairs of Croatian and French players, and
Russian-French officials. Consistent
references to Russian sources regarding “France will win” and “Croatia would
lose” appeared frequently and alarming enough to pursue these conversations
further. There was also a reference to
some kind of “insurance policy” to guarantee a French FIFA2018 victory.
What is the alleged “insurance policy” to guarantee a
French victory?
This had led investigators to examine
the FIFA drug tests protocols and actual practice in the 2018 Games. Extra urine samples were taken from all the
other Teams in the Finals. Drug
retesting was also ordered, again, after the end of the Final whistle, and
samples taken in the respective Teams’ locker rooms.
Investigators wondered whether
“positive” drug test results would be used to discredit a Croatian cup victory,
so as to assure a French victory no matter whatever the outcome may be. If true, this would never be known.
It was rumored that the Russians had a video showing the Croatian Team partying wildly with Russian
prostitutes, showing sex orgies as well as the players being urinating upon by
the prostitutes. Together with “fake”
drug test results, the video would also discredit any Finals victory by the
Croatians, which would hand the FIFA Cup to France. Is this also part of the “insurance policy”
to guarantee a French victory?
Again, the investigators wanted to
know whether and how the France-Australia match could have been interfered with
to produce a French victory which led her eventually to the Finals to meet
Croatia.
The key unknown questions to be unraveled by the
investigators relate to motives. Why do
the Russians want France to win the FIFA World Cup 2018?
I think the answer is energy. Russia
is rich in energy resources. Russia has the world’s largest known natural gas
reserves, with the second largest coal reserves, and has the world’s 8th
largest oil reserves. In contrast, France
derives about 75% of its electricity from nuclear energy, due to her policy on
energy security. This share is likely to be reduced to 50% by 2025. Currently, France is the world's largest net
exporter of electricity due to very low cost of generation, and receives over 3
billion Euros annually.
Russian strategic desire is a
pipeline through France and Spain to the Atlantic and the Northern Mediterranean. Most of Europe is dependent on Russia for
energy already, especially Germany, except the United Kingdom (UK), France and
Spain. Post-Brexit, Russia expects UK to
be hungry for energy since her power imports from Europe has increased by 52% over
the past 3 years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French
President Emmanuel Macron met for the first time on 30 May 2017. At that time, President Macron had chastised
Russian media and parties for attempting to meddle and interfere in the French
General Elections. They met again on the
24 May 2018, this time discussing Russian-European relations, the Iran nuclear
deal as well as Ukraine and trade issues.
By their 2nd meeting, they
have discovered substantial areas of strong mutual interest in power and
energy. They agreed for French energy
giant Total to take a 10% stake in a Russian Novatek-led Arctic LNG-2 project which would produce
liquefied natural gas from beneath the Artic ice-cap. Through Total, France now partners with the
world 2nd largest natural gas producer, Russia, after the USA.
At the same time, Russia’s Rosatom,
the supplier of uranium enrichment services and owns 20% of US uranium through
UraniumOne, have also strengthened its client partnership with French companies
Electricite de France (EDF), Schneider Electric, Assystem and others, for joint
nuclear power plant projects in 3rd countries. Russia nuclear energy deals with Egypt
already exceed US$60 billion.
Without any doubt, France’s FIFA 2018
World Cup victory has both short and long-term priceless value to President
Emmanual Macron in political, social and economic terms. This fact is not lost on President Vladimir
Putin. Perhaps, and maybe, the FSB also has
“something” on Macron, as they seem to have on other world leaders, so as to
guarantee Macron’s continuous co-operation?
The investigations into Russian collusion
and meddling will continue until the next FIFA 2022. This could very well be a political
“witch-hunt” where nothing really matters would be found. Would FIFA2018 World Cup Champion France be
disqualified as a result of the investigations, a first in FIFA history?! Imagine FIFA Qatar 2022 World Cup without
France?
BTW, isn’t Qatar also the world
largest producer of LNG (Liquefied nitrogen gas)? Just coincidence? Maybe.
Time will tell.
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