As
Russia Denies Paulson's "Dump Fannie Mae" Story,
Chinese Tricks Explored
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 2 -- Buried in the just released memoir of former
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is the allegation that in
August 2008 Russia asked China to join with it in dumping on the
market the securities of Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac.
While
Paulson does
not draw the connection, it was in August 2008 that Russia's conflict
with Georgia about the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
flared up into a war. The U.S. Administration jumped to Georgia's
defense, at least verbally, and according to Paulson, Russia try to
lure China into a "dump the GSEs" campaign. As it turned
out, Russia did sell its over $60 billion stake in the two mortgage
giants.
Inner
City Press
asked a senior Russian representative to the UN about Paulson's story
on February 2, as the Security Council met about its program of work
for February. "I don't think so," the diplomat said.
Why
then would
Paulson tell the story? "We are getting closer with the U.S.,"
the diplomat said. "People get jealous." He went on, "We
don't have a good relationship with China right now. The U.S. does
not have a good relationship with China." He shrugged. "People
don't want Russia and the U.S. to get along."
Paulson
sources
his story in "On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the
Global Financial System" to the Chinese, bragging perhaps that they
hadn't gone
along with Russia's urging. So, in this view, was China trying to
drive a further wedge between Russia and the U.S.?
Paulson, China: Russia's "dump Fannie Mae" strategy
not shown
At
the time of the
South Ossetia and Abkhazia conflict, through which Russia recognized
both territories as countries independent from Georgia, China
expressed unease. What if Tibet or Taiwan, or even Uighur Xinjiang
Autonomous Region, were similar recognized by another state?
If
Chinese
officials did in fact pass dirt about Russia along to the U.S.
Treasury Secretary, perhaps the disagreement about recognizing
breakaway separatist states explains it. It's something that should
be expected to be covered more in the media, as Paulson hawks his
book. It is may arise further at the UN -- watch this site.
* * *
UN
Claims No More Tear Gas, Dodging Wyclef Jean, Killings
by Haitian Police
By
Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS, February 1 -- Of the UN's use of tear gas in Haiti, the UN
first denied it, then called it routine and regulated. Now, with its
quasi
partner Wyclef Jean saying he will speak to Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon about this "unacceptable" practice, the UN is
at once acknowledging past use and saying it won't happen in the
future.
Inner
City Press
at the February 1 noon briefing asked top Haiti envoy Edmond Mulet
and his new adviser Michele Montas about Wyclef Jean's protest of
the UN. Video here,
from Minute 25:51.
Mr. Mulet
answered that in
the "first days" after the earthquake, there were "some
of this incidents."
"All
that has
been taken care of," he said. "That is not happening
anymore." This was tied, as he presented it, not to any swearing
off of pepper spray, but due to what he called the instant success of
the World Food Program's shift to distributing food coupons rather
than food, only to women. He was asked about reports of some
distributions breaking down this very day.
Ban
Ki-moon traveled to Haiti with Wyclef Jean in March 2009, accompanied
by Bill Clinton. What does he think of the UN's use of tear gas?
The
Haitian
National Police, with whom the UN proudly collaborates, are known to
have shot
and killed a number of "scavengers," and even
some others.
Inner City
Press asked Mulet about this. Mulet said the
UN has "heard reports," acknowledged that "maybe
elements of the HNP" shot at "looters." Video here,
from Minute 27:37.
Earlier,
the UN
had urged journalists not to report on "looters."
UN's Ban, Wyclef Jean and Bill Clinton,
earlier - tear gas answers not shown
Now, the
term is deployed in connection with killings by the UN's partner the
Haitian National Police. Meanwhile, there are reports of the HNP
committing summary executions. Where is the UN's Special Rapporteur
on executions, Philip Alston, when you need him? Mulet claimed the UN
is "investigating" cases of killings by the HNP. Inner
City Press was allowed no follow up questions at the briefing, nor
any questions to UNDP's coordinator. Watch this site.
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