(Own report) - In the run-up to new elections in Greece, the German elite is discussing various scenarios involving the use of force to ensure control over Athens, including the establishment of a protectorate or the deployment of "protection forces" in that southern European country. The German austerity dictate, pushing Greece into destitution, is provoking growing popular resistance, which, apparently, can no longer be suppressed with democratic means. Berlin has failed in its efforts to force Athens into subordination by threatening to withdraw the Euro, as much as with its demand that Greece combines its parliamentary elections with a referendum on the question of remaining in the Euro zone. Berlin categorically rejects the option of retracting the austerity dictate and replacing it with stimulus programs, as is being demanded by leading economists world wide, even though the exclusion of Greece form the Euro zone threatens to push the currency, itself, into an abyss.

(Own report) - Berlin should use the UN observer mission in Syria to urge Russia and China to be more aggressive in opposition to the Assad regime within the UN framework, insist German government advisors. According to a recent publication of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the UN observers' mission in Syria can be expected to fail. Experience, however, shows that such a failure could pave the way to open intervention. It is strongly recommended that the Federal Republic of Germany also "engage personnel." The German government is in fact preparing to make the decision to deploy German soldiers in Syria, with one officer active already in the country for a UN mission. While Berlin is considering a more aggressive intervention against Damascus, the press reports that Syrian insurgents are in Kosovo receiving instruction in methods of insurgency - apparently in full sight of the German troops stationed there. In addition, two Arab allies of Germany, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, are exacerbating the Syrian civil war by arming the rebels. The same holds true for the former Libyan insurgents , bombed into power last year by NATO - and with whom Berlin is also seeking cooperation.

(Own report) - With help of the Boxing World Champion, Vitali Klitschko, the CDU-affiliated Konrad Adenauer Foundation is in the process of establishing a pro-EU party in the Ukraine. In April 2010, shortly following the collapse of the Ukrainian pro-EU government of President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Klitschko founded the party UDAR (in English "Punch"). The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is supporting this project as much as possible. The CDU explicitly admits that the foundation "assigned" Klitschko the task "of establishing" a Christian conservative party in the Ukraine. The boxer's popularity should raise UDAR to third place in the Ukraine's fall parliamentary elections. The party's success could be the prerequisite for creating a permanent pro-EU majority in the Ukraine - if the currently imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko's "Fatherland" party, which also orients its policy on Berlin and Brussels, maintains its electoral strength. Recently Elmar Brok (CDU), Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the European Parliament, told Vitali Klitschko about Berlin's interests in the Ukraine. According to Brok, "this key East European country" should neither for geopolitical, nor for economic reasons, be lost to Russia.

(Own report) - Using a deceptive strategy, Berlin seeks to ward off the French President-elect François Hollande's demand to put an end to the German austerity dictate. Other heads of EU member nations have begun to demand alongside Hollande that the EU return to credit financed stimulus programs, to prevent the complete collapse of several national economies, such as Greece is now confronting. Since the demise of the coalition government in the Netherlands, Berlin has found itself rather isolated and, alongside declarations of not allowing the EU zone to budge from its current austerity course, is resorting to methods to create confusion within the rebelling populations. The government is keeping "a placebo for the Euro partners" on hand, explains the press. The chancellor will most likely adopt some of the terminology used by François Hollande, but with her own interpretations. For example, she will speak of "promotion of growth," while meaning the imposition of "structural reforms," as envisaged by the austerity dictates. No new expenditures are planned. This is how the French growth offensive will be verbally ensnared, without having ceded an inch on the essence.

(Own report) - With yesterday's parliamentary elections, Greece, which is already shattered by the German austerity dictates, is entering a new phase of instability. Predictions confirm that the country's two largest parties, which until now have imposed the austerity dictates against massive popular protests, have suffered great losses. The conservative Nea Dimokratia will probably receive only about 20 percent and the social democratic Pasok hardly more than 14 percent of the votes. In Athens, even before the elections, it was being forecast that it would be impossible to create a stable government with a small majority, and that within a few months, new elections would have to be held, which would jeopardize EU and IMF financial aid. This would mean that, to obtain promises of dubious financial assistance, Greece, which has been forced to downsize its economy into an abyss, will be faced with utter ruin. The social situation is desolate. The number of unemployed, as well as of those dependent on food allocations has dramatically grown, just as the number of suicides. German enterprises, whose profitable business in Greece has contributed to the development of Athens' debt crisis, are now seeking to exploit the crisis for lucrative business opportunities. The dramatic aggravation of the situation is also flanked by a rise of the extreme right.

(Own report) - German government advisors are considering new restrictions for combating the Euro crisis. It may be necessary, even in the field of economic policy, to lift the sovereignty of EU nations and initiate a "growth pact," according to the new edition of "Internationale Politik," a foreign policy magazine. This will become necessary, if the crisis cannot be mastered with the current austerity dictates. This is precisely what German, but particularly foreign, experts have been warning against for years. The German austerity demands risk "ultimately to further exacerbate the debt crisis," writes, for example, one of the critics also in the new edition of "internationale Politik." His analysis is a damning indictment of German attempts to dominate the EU. Berlin's crisis policy needs to be fundamentally revised, he concludes. However, "Internationale Politik" presents proposals for a change of course, based on and including these austerity dictates, including supplementary rights of EU intervention to subvert the competence of democratically elected governments that would reinforce German hegemony over Europe.

(Own report) - German foreign policy experts are discussing what form "German leadership" in Europe and the world should take. Germany has "a duty to take the lead," according to the latest edition of the most influential German foreign policy journal "Internationale Politik." Several well-known experts are presenting their proposals on the role German hegemony should play. In addition to advocating Germany's global engagement for free trade and "human rights," experts are proposing that, with its "global political mission," Germany has to reconstitute "the West," i.e. an alliance with the USA. On a par with Washington, Germany should help this alliance experience a "renaissance." To achieve the necessary political weight, the EU's instruments of power should be used to have "leverage for German foreign policy interests." For the first time, with its current edition, "Internationale Politik" is launching a larger public debate on Berlin's hegemonic policy. Even though this policy is already being applied, until recently, it was officially denied, to avoid humiliating other EU countries.

(Own report) - Berlin is threatening a boycott because of the continued detention of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko, a longtime ally of the West, has been convicted of abuse of power and is facing other criminal charges. She is complaining of torture and insufficient medical care in prison. The German government, which has been silent about accusations of torture and denial of medical attention in Ukrainian prisons, while Tymoshenko was Prime Minister of that country, is now declaring, "penal law" should "not be abused to curtail democracy and prevent opposition." This must be seen in the context of power struggles focusing on the country's future foreign policy orientation now taking place in Kiev. Berlin is worried that the Ukraine could ally itself too closely with Moscow, if important pro-western forces, such as Tymoshenko, have no role to play. According to voices in Berlin, a boycott of the forthcoming European Soccer Championships could be a means for pressuring Kiev, if it does not comply.

(Own report) - The German foreign minister hopes to use his visit to Southeast Asia to reinforce Berlin's standing with countries on the periphery of China. Over the past few years, a booming People's Republic of China has significantly enhanced its political power and its economic influence in the ASEAN Alliance countries. The United States, which, like Europe, is economically losing ground, seeks to better its position through military cooperation with countries, like Vietnam and the Philippines. According to voices in Washington, an "American Pacific Century" is in the making, meaning the focus of US global political orientation is being shifted to Asia for a power struggle with China. Not to be sidelined, Berlin and Brussels are also focusing on closer relations with ASEAN. The agenda of today's EU-ASEAN foreign minister summit, also attended by the German foreign minister, is focusing on the intensification of cooperation in "security policy." EU measures for interventions in armed conflicts in Southern Thailand and the Philippines are under consideration. Military contacts are also being strengthened at national levels. The Bundeswehr is broadening its training programs for Southeast Asian soldiers and German arms producers are exporting more combat material to the region.

(Own report) - The German austerity dictate is leading to new economic and social turbulence in the indebted counties of the southern Euro-zone. Spain, compelled in late March to make financial cutbacks totaling 27 billion Euros, must extend its austerity program to a total of 37 billion Euros. An increasing number of debtors cannot repay their credits on time. With their backlog of 143,8 billion Euros, the country's banks, in fact, can only refinance themselves through the European Central Bank. Italy is also slipping into the downward spin of cutbacks, growing unemployment, decreasing purchasing power and increasing social spending and, like Greece a few years ago, must already readjust its savings goals. Greece has been fully drawn into this development. Last year, 68,000 enterprises went bankrupt - the volume of incoming orders has dramatically shrunk. A high number of bankruptcies is also expected this year. This offers German enterprises good opportunities for acquiring the fillet morsels of state enterprises at rock-bottom prices.