(Own report) - The German foreign spy agency camouflages its agents as development aid workers, even in war zones. This was exposed by concordant reports on the arrests of three agents of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) last week in the Pakistani border region with Afghanistan. It was reported that the three spies claimed to be involved in so-called development aid activities and were using vehicles and calling cards with the emblem of the German Association for International Cooperation (GIZ). The GIZ - as other German organizations - is engaged in the border areas, where the West is waging war, aided by intensive espionage, against the supporters of Afghan insurgents. With the use of this camouflage, the BND is tolerating the eventuality of additional dangers for development aid workers. The BND has been active in the Pakistani border regions of Afghanistan since the 1980s, when it was supporting warlords, still waging war today at the Hindu Kush. At the time, the BND's activities contributed toward reinforcing Pakistan's intelligence service, which today is considered one of the predominating forces in the Pakistani establishment.

(Own report) - The German Foreign Ministry is warning that unrest in Nigeria could escalate. The German government is "very worried" about developments in that country, declared the Africa Commissioner in the German Foreign Ministry. For years, Nigeria has been the scene of violent upheavals in the Niger Delta and more recently has been marked by an escalation of attacks by Islamist organizations. Over the past few weeks, a nationwide general strike has paralyzed the country, during the course of which, government repressive forces have killed at least nine people. The widespread impoverishment of broad sections of the population in this country rich in petroleum and natural gas is the primary reason for these protests. Germany is interested in more than only Nigeria's natural resources; Germany also attributes significant geo-strategic importance to Nigeria, as a western proxy in African conflicts as well as a deputy in fighting against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Apprehension is now growing in government circles in Berlin, that Nigeria could be politically destabilized, which, in the eyes of Germany, would reduce its geostrategic usefulness. By intensifying cooperation with Abuja, the German government is attempting to counteract this development.

(Own report) - Parallel to the Arab League's war threats against Syria, Germany is pleading to raise the pressure on the Syrian regime. It is consensus in the main capitals of the western world, including Berlin, that Moscow’s recent UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria is not confrontational enough and therefore insufficient. The Arab League's Syria observers are expected to deliver their report tomorrow, Thursday, which can serve as a justification for tougher action. The emirate Qatar's autocrat, who for the past few months has taken on the role of the Arab League’s rabble-rouser with the German government’s approbation, is now calling for military intervention against Syria. Berlin's use of an alleged concern for the violation of human rights, to justify its aggressive policy toward the Assad government, could serve as a prime example of the German government’s humanitarian cynicism to legitimatize its global policy. The German government was indifferent to human rights, as long as Damascus was a helpful partner for warding off migrants and as a torture chamber for interrogations within the framework of the "war on terror." Today, human rights activists are being ignored, when they criticize the Arabian Gulf dictatorships, such as Qatar, because they serve as the West’s auxiliary forces. The focus is on geo-strategic plans, such as the neutralization of Iran's last ally in the Arab world, Syria.

(Own report) - In answer to the most recent threats of a putsch in Pakistan, Berlin and Washington have been intensifying their consultations on a common policy toward that country. In light of the West's announced withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan's predominating military intends to tighten its grip over the country to enhance its influence in that neighboring country, according to rumors in Islamabad. The generals are also no longer willing to sit back and accept the continuous violation of Pakistani sovereignty by ambushes from US drones and NATO aerial attacks. The country's military, which is already cooperating closely with China, could, in the long run, turn its back on the West and form an alliance with Beijing, according to speculations expressed in Berlin. Whereas the USA and the EU - particularly Germany - are insisting that violations of Pakistan's sovereignty be attenuated with conciliatory gestures, influential German politicians are warning against overstraining US operations in Pakistan. The cooperation should be intensified in the business and educational fields, otherwise it would not be possible to maintain long-term western influence in that country.

(Own report) - German policy advisors are calling for closing western ranks in favor of possible military aggression against Iran. The attempts to "promote diplomatic solutions" in the so-called nuclear conflict with Teheran are "out of touch with reality," alleges an article in the latest issue of "Internationale Politik," the most influential magazine in the German foreign policy establishment. The "Iranian threat" stands beyond the logic of traditional policy. It is similar to "classical Greek tragedies," which "as a rule, end in a slaughter." Berlin should not refuse participating in the military campaign and must prepare the population for possible consequences, such as terror attacks on European targets or higher costs of gasoline. These demands are explicitly directed against a second tendency in Berlin's foreign policy, which sees Germany's interests better served by using cooperative means to gain influence (change through rapprochement). This viewpoint is primarily held by business circles interested in expanding, and do not appreciate having to forgo this business with Iran. As the circles promoting military engagement in the media are going on the offensive, tensions are rising at the Persian Gulf.

(Own report) - Under the pressure of the Euro crisis, secessionist conflicts - some directly supported by Berlin - are escalating in various European countries. Italy is most affected, where the country's more prosperous regions seek to secede from the nation, to escape Berlin's austerity dictate. According to the reasoning, Italy's more impoverished southern regions are responsible for the country's enormous national debt and should therefore be the main ones to pay the price. Secessionist demands are raised particularly in the German-speaking region of South Tyrol and in the Po Valley region "Padania". Whereas in "Padania," prestigious elements, particularly those affiliated with the "Lega Nord" (North League), are seeking to form an independent nation, ethnic chauvinist circles in "South Tyrol" are seeking annexation by Austria. Following the pattern of both Hungary and Germany, Vienna is currently considering granting citizenship to "Austrians abroad." Secessionist forces are also gaining ground in Great Britain. In Scotland, a referendum on the question of forming an independent country is scheduled for 2014 or 2015. Germany would be the primary beneficiary of a weakening of its British rival.

(Own report) - Demands from within Berlin's establishment for a more prominent nationalist oriented foreign policy are leading toward a rearrangement of forces on the rightwing spectrums of the political parties. In the governing CDU Party, a "Berlin Circle" has been formed with the objective of promoting a "Europe of Fatherlands." A prominent former high-ranking German industrial functionary, who has stepped forward with a plea to split up the Euro Zone, is undertaking the establishment of a voter initiative ("Free Voters") - independent of established parties represented in parliament. Both of these initiatives are expressions of a rightward drift in the political spectrum, which has been apparent throughout Europe for years and which has led to a significant reinforcement of the rightwing extremist parties in numerous EU countries. Greece is the most recent example. The government in Athens, installed under pressure from Germany to implement Berlin's austerity dictate, includes a racist, anti-Semitic party that upholds the tradition of Athens's earlier military junta. Phasing out parliamentary democracy is being contemplated also in Germany. The escalation of the crisis is accentuating nationalist and anti-democratic ventures.

(Own report) - German President Christian Wulff's second visit to the Arabian Peninsula this year reinforces ties between Berlin and the local dictatorships. The focus of current cooperation is on Qatar, which has recently been serving the West with a variety of military services - particularly during the overthrow of the Libyan government and most recently, according to reports, in Syria. Qatar is also interested in supporting German industry with billions in investments, as well as award up to 190 billion Euros in contracts over the next few years, according to German company circles, which hope to make huge profits. Construction projects, for example, in preparation for the Soccer World Cup in 2022, are a very lucrative prospect. Critics are warning that the Emirate's construction workers are living literally in a state of "modern slavery." Qatar is using its booming cooperation with the West to reinforce its Arab allies, particularly Islamist organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the Ennahda Party in Tunisia and Islamist forces in Libya. This is similar to Saudi Arabia's cooperation with the West in the 1980s in Afghanistan - in their common struggle against the Soviet Union as well as the socialist forces in Kabul.

(Own report) - The German government's newly published Arms Export Report confirms the main thrust of Berlin's foreign policy. According to the report, Berlin is continuing to pursue the arms buildup of the dictatorships on the Arabian Peninsula - thereby lending support to anti-Iranian measures being taken by the West. German arms companies are also delivering ordnance to several countries in the close vicinity of the People's Republic of China, which corresponds to western efforts to force back or, at least, limit Beijing's influence. The Arms Export Report also points out that last year, Berlin had issued permits for the delivery of firearms to the Arabian Peninsula countries - weapons that had been used this year against demonstrators. Among the customers of expensive arms supplies are the indebted countries of the southern Euro zone, such as Portugal and Greece, who, already deep in a crisis, had been offered and accorded hundreds of millions of Euros worth of arms deliveries in 2010. Germany has now become the world's third largest arms exporter.

(Own report) - Berlin's government advisors are debating measures for weakening Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. The Peace and Justice Party, considered the political party of the Brotherhood, won a clear victory in the first round of parliamentary elections. Islamist parties could hope to win a two-thirds majority. Experts expect this could lead to a less western-oriented Egyptian foreign policy. "The rise of the Brotherhood means that the next Egyptian government will show less inclination toward being cooperative with Europe." The EU must "insure that the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood remains merely a temporary phenomenon and that (...) damage to European interests not be tolerated," demands one expert in the journal "Internationale Politik," the most significant media organ of Berlin's foreign policy establishment. The current tensions between the Muslim Brotherhood and the West obscure the fact that both sides had cooperated - during the cold war against the socialist countries.