2011 saw the start of European rule by men and women who wear grey suits. Kings have come and gone; democracies have come and gone; dictatorships have come and gone; the men in grey suits have come. In only a short time we will see the interests of China, USA and Russia expressed as blocs within parts of an old union that has been confined to history.
As the markets have made their judgements on the excessive level of borrowing of many countries, elected leaders have been replaced by nominees of the European Institutions, whose mission is to reduce borrowings and to impose severe austerity measures on the people of Europe. There are many men in grey suits, but like the ancient Greek myths, there are only three Graeae; Merkel(with apologies to her sex), Sarkozy and Monti. These are the three swan-necked leaders of the three biggest European countries and like the Graeae, they share one eye and one tooth.
What is becoming increasingly apparent is that the eye they are passing around is blind and the tooth that they all suck is decayed. They have no coherent plan to save Europe or the Euro and I forsee Europe as a feeding trough for the rest of the world.
The USA has always had a love affair with oil and that will become its ultimate tragedy. Before this happens, they will make an alliance with the UK and Scandinavia in an effort to keep North Sea and Arctic oil flowing to the Americas.
Russia is a land of large open spaces and they want more. They also want the expertise of the Northern Europeans to expand and harness new technologies. They will seek an alliance with Germany, France and Poland.
China recognises that they are the natural successors for the next Empire. They want as much of the world's resources as they can buy with their huge wealth. I see them seeking these in southern Europe and the Iberian peninsular with a view to taking control of the Mediteranean.
Asimov would prescribe this as scientific fact, but there is one alternative; we find another Hermes who will make the Graeae's eye the gift of wisdom and perception that was its true destiny.
