1. Updating a series about German corporate control over the American media, this broadcast deals with the entry of Deutsche Telekom into the American telecommunications market and the resultant influence of the company on the American media.
2. The program begins with an excerpt from FTR #235, noting fundamental differences between German corporate behavior and that of American companies. In particular, the excerpt highlights the influence on German corporate life of the remarkable and deadly Bormann organization.
When considering German corporations, it is important to remember that they are controlled by the Bormann Organization. This institution has perpetuated its power in an effective, clandestine, and deadly, Mafia-like fashion in the years since World War II. American corporations are driven by the profit motive, and coordinate policies on labor, environmental, marketing and taxation issues–they are otherwise apolitical. In contrast, German corporations (under control of the Bormann group) function as coordinated elements of international, economic and political control, not unlike the divisions in an army. Although they, too, strive to make money, profit is subordinate to the goal of German national hegemony.
3. This program (and the entire series on German corporate control over the American media) must, in turn, be understood in the context of the Nazi tract Serpent’s Walk (National Vanguard Books, soft cover, copyright 1991, ISBN # 0–937944-05‑X. The book, supposedly a novel, is a blueprint for the strategic policy Nazi elements are currently pursuing. In this regard, it would resemble The Turner Diaries, also published by National Vanguard–the publishing arm of the National Alliance. This book was the role model for Timothy McVeigh & Co. in the Oklahoma City Bombing, as well as the Nazi group The Order.)
4. Deutsche Telekom’s influence on the internet is of paramount importance. One of the most important tools for accessing internet content figures to be mobile telephones. (The Los Angeles Times, 7/24/2000, p. C1.) (For more on German corporate control over the internet, see FTR-242, in addition to other programs in this series.)
5. Already Europe’s largest internet provider with its subsidiary T‑Online, Deutsche Telekom looms large on the horizon of this new technology. (CBS.MarkeWatch.com, 7/7/2000.)
6. The company is planning a global telecommunications offensive. (The New York Times, 7/5/2000, p. C1.)
7. This offensive will emphasize “four areas: data networking based on the Internet protocol; wireless; online services; and basic access, including broadband Internet access.” (The Wall Street Journal, 7/6/2000, p. A23.)
8. Each of the company’s acquisitions will be evaluated in terms of its potential for advancing Deutsche Telekom’s agenda in these areas. (Idem.)
9. Much of the broadcast centers on DT’s purchase of VoiceStream Wireless Corporation. Although many analysts felt that DT paid too much for the Seattle-based firm, Voice-Stream uses the GSM technology, used by most European companies. (The San Francisco Examiner, 7/25/2000, p. C‑1.)
10. It is viewed as being “one to two years ahead of other cell phone networks in the United States.” (Ibid., p. C‑3.) It is important to bear in mind that Deutsche Telekom is controlled by the German Government, which owns more than 50% of its shares! (The exact figure is put at between 56 and 58%, depending on the source.)
11. Next, the program recapitulates another excerpt from FTR 235, discussing the European Union. In addition to representing a fundamental incursion on American sovereignty (the United States is not represented in the European Union), the EU’s influence on American corporate practice can serve as a vehicle for German economic hegemony. (Mr. Emory’s observations in this context should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of economic globalization or concentration of economic power. Rather, they should be understood as analysis of the geo-political implications of undercurrents within these important, and on-going, economic phenomena.)
12. In addition to pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice over potential monopolistic overtones to the deal, the recent cancellation of the WorldCom-Sprint merger stemmed, in part, from opposition by the EU. This cancellation may facilitate the takeover of either WorldCom or Sprint by Deutsche Telekom. (The New York Times, 6/27/2000, p. C2.)
13. A number of Senators introduced legislation intended to block the purchase of an American telecommunications firm by any company with more than 25 % of its shares owned by a foreign government. (The Los Angeles Times, 7/25/2000, pp. A1, 9.)
14. Some analysts view this legislation as retaliation for the EU’s role in deep-sixing the WorldCom-Sprint merger. (Idem.)
15. The European Union, in turn, has threatened to withdraw from the WTO, if the Senate blocks the Deutsche Telekom purchase of VoiceStream. (Financial Times, 7/22–23/2000, p. 1; Financial Times, 7/26/2000, p. 7.)
16. The EU’s stance on this matter further underscores that institution’s role as a vehicle for German corporate hegemony. Not surprisingly, the German government has also vigorously protested against the pending legislation. (The Financial Times, 7/27/2000, p. 7.)
17. Echoing Mr. Emory’s warnings about German corporate hegemony, A. Michael Noll (a professor and former dean at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications) has characterized the Deutsche Telekom/VoiceStream deal as “the colonialism and imperialism of the past.” (The Los Angeles Times, 7/26/2000, p. A17.)
18. Noll also points out that Deutsce Telekom’s stock is greatly overvalued, and that the overvalued stock is the vehicle for its projected purchases of other corporations. (Idem.)
19. As mentioned above, the potential targets for takeover by DT include both WorldCom (New York Times, 7/28/2000, p. C4) and Sprint (The Wall Street Journal, 7/28/2000, p. B6). Again, the WorldCom/Sprint merger was blocked, in part, by the EU. The German government’s argument on behalf of DT’s purchase of VoiceStream (and other companies) is predicated the notion that these purchases will dilute the government stake in the company.
20. The history of Deutsche Telekom and other German companies suggests that DT’s actions may, in practice, turn out to be anti-competitive, their disclaimers to the contrary notwithstanding. (The New York Times, 7/24/2000, p. A8.)
21. A close examination of DT’s sell-off of its cable licenses in Germany strongly suggests that its business may continue “as usual.” Despite the sell-off of the cable licenses, DT retained effective control behind the scenes, selling the licenses to small companies, including a relatively mysterious individual named Gary A. Klesch. (The New York Times, 7/26/2000, p C1.) Virtually unknown, even in the telecommunications industry, the London-based Klesch is characteristic of the type of individual that is frequently utilized by the Bormann group. This suggests the possibility that that organization looms large in the background of DT’s sell-off of its cable licenses.
22. In order to combat the Hollings-sponsored legislation, Deutsche Telekom has retained the powerful Washington law firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. (The Wall Street Journal, 7/21/2000, p. A9.)
23. In an excerpt from FTR 139, the program highlights the recent addition of Matthias Wissman, the treasurer of the CDU party in Germany (and a former transport minister) to Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. (Financial Times, 3/2/99.)
24. The program also notes that Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering had represented Swiss banks in a lawsuit filed by Holocaust victims against Swiss banks, as well as acting as counsel for German corporations being sued over their use of slave labor in World War II. (Idem.) This connection also suggests the presence of the Bormann group in the background of the lawsuits, as well as in the DT machinations. It should be noted that, as treasurer of the CDU, Wissman must have had first hand knowledge of the CDU funding scandal discussed in FTR-193. (This scandal, as well, may involve the Bormann organization.)
25. Next, the broadcast discusses the national security implications of allowing foreign governmental monopolies to purchase American telecommunications firms. Some analysts disclaim the notion that DT could present a national security threat to the United States. (The Los Angeles Times, 7/25/2000, p. A1.)
26. The program recapitulates yet another excerpt of FTR-235, in which Mr. Emory reiterates his fear that DT’s penetration of the American telecommunications market could facilitate the ability of German intelligence and the Underground Reich to tap Americans’ phones. A recent case in El Salvador underscored the possibilities of such an occurrence. A subsidiary of France Telecom (the French telecommunications firm) was apparently involved in tapping phones of private citizens in that Central American republic. (Financial Times, 7/25/2000, p. 6.)
27. In this context, it is worth noting that there is significant capital participation in France Telecom by Deutsche Telekom. (Financial Times, 5/24/2000, p. 18.)
28. It should also be noted that there is a direct connection between the German government and the Oklahoma City bombing. (Recorded on 8/20/2000.)
Discussion
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