Greece: Tsipras Surrenders to Troika Bandits
Global Research, July 13, 2015
Url of this article:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/greece-tsipras-surrenders-to-troika-bandits/5462271
http://www.globalresearch.ca/greece-tsipras-surrenders-to-troika-bandits/5462271
Greece
is being systematically raped and pillaged. It’s painful to see how
easily powerful monied interests can destroy a nation without firing a
shot. Financial war is as cruel and ruthless as naked aggression.
Long-suffering
Greeks understand better than establishment economists – paid to con
people to believe destructive policies benefit them.Harder than ever hard times awaits Greeks and ordinary people throughout Western societies. Regimes in Europe and America serve their privileged elites alone at the expense of most others, especially their most vulnerable and needy.
Their governments
are their worst enemies – in bed with dark forces destroying their
welfare and futures. SYRIZA was elected on a pledge of no more
austerity. Betrayal followed. It’s just a question of how bad things
will be once the dust settles. What’s happening isn’t pretty.
On
Sunday, Eurogroup president/Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem
gave Greece the Troika’s take-it-or-leave-it harsh ultimatum – a list of
stiffer austerity measures than earlier proposed and other tough ones
as a condition for more bailout help – now reportedly for 86 – 87
billion euros over three years (10 billion euros immediately for bank
recapitalizations).Greece’s parliament must approve the deal and legislate Troika diktats into law with Tsipras’ signature by July 15. Terms agreed on include:
Higher
regressive VAT taxes hitting millions of impoverished Greeks hardest
along with broadening the tax base affecting ordinary people most.
Stiff pension cuts (on top of 40% eliminated earlier) including for poor retirees cut no slack.
Adopting
a Code of Civil Procedure to streamline procedures and reduce costs –
in other words, continued stiff budget cuts harming millions of Greeks
already suffering hugely from earlier imposed austerity.
Full
implementation of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance
in the Economic and Monetary Union’s key provisions – including mandated
spending cuts gutting social services more than already.
Giving foreign investors freer access to plunder Greece’s economy.
Privatizing power generation and transmission along with other state enterprises previously off-limits.
Neutralizing
labor rights ahead of eliminating them altogether – including
restricting collective bargaining and right to strike as well as
eliminating hiring and firing restrictions.
Rescinding SYRIZA enacted laws not agreed on by the European Commission, ECB and IMF.Transferring up to 50 billion euros worth of Greek assets to a Troika controlled fund based in Athens to contribute to servicing debt and recapitalizing Greek banks.
Possible debt restructuring by extending maturities, not write-downs.
Troika officials will monitor Greek implementation of demands.
Bottom line: they mandate Athens entirely surrendering its sovereign rights to the European Commission, ECB and IMF.
Greater
than ever austerity will be imposed, hitting millions of
impoverished/unemployed Greeks hardest, including poor pensioners to
receive less than their already meager payments en route to eliminating
them altogether.
Privatizing state enterprises earlier considered
off-limits. Plans are to transform Greece into an nightmarish dystopian
wasteland.It’s hard imagining any government accepting what’s demanded. No responsible one would. Tsipras sold out. His signature on the final deal alone awaits.
Word
from Brussels is all parties agreed on a deal. It’s official. Tsipras
handed Greek sovereignty to Troika bandits, agreeing to all their
unacceptable demands.
European
Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: “Euro summit has unanimously
reached agreement. All ready to go for ESM (European Stability
Mechanism) program for Greece with serious reforms and financial
support.”
Greece’s parliament
must accept the deal and enact demanded legislation by July 15
complying with Troika diktats. It’s almost but not entirely certain –
defying overwhelming public opposition according to polls.
A Final Comment
Greeks
suffered horrifically under Nazi occupation during WW II. It took a
terrible toll on millions. Tens of thousands of Athenians alone perished
from starvation.
Many
thousands more endured barbarous Nazi persecution. Greece’s economy was
destroyed. A Berlin-installed collaborationist regime brutalized it own
people.
Around half a million
perished – from starvation, massacres, assassinations and other forms
of brutality. People were shot on sight for no reason. Women and young
girls were raped, many then savagely murdered.
Greece
is again occupied, a Troika controlled colony, its sovereignty lost.
Tsipras is a modern-day quisling – selling out to monied interests
disgracefully. He’ll be remembered for agreeing to a Greek Versailles.
This
time financial predators are villains – force-feeding pain and
suffering their way. Human need and welfare are sacrificed for
unrestricted profit-making the old-fashioned way – pillaging an entire
nation, wrecking its economy more than already.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III. http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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Copyright © Stephen Lendman, Global Research, 2015
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