A CUP OF TEA IN RIO
Whilst most of the media distract us with trips to the
moon and distorted narratives about the war against Iran, Starmer and the
government are making discreet moves. What could be brewing in the South
Atlantic?
By Sir Charlattam
I must say that I still retain the spirit of my younger days, as I can’t
think of any other way to explain my urge to travel. In fact, I’ve heard
rumours – or rather, information from a reliable source – claiming that
‘something is brewing in Brazil’ that links Britain – and possibly NATO – and
has a lot to do with the current, appalling circumstances that Mr Netanyahu and
his sidekick, Donald Trump, have got us into. I certainly take it seriously
because I know very well where it comes from; the 11-hour flight is worth it
and, besides (I must confess), I was in need of some tropical sunshine.
As soon as I came down the jet bridge at ‘Galeão’
airport, I could see plenty of plainclothes police discreetly stationed all
over the place, but they certainly weren’t there for me, not at all. You might
notice the same thing at Heathrow or JFK in New York. It’s surely down to the
application of the same internal security protocol taught to them by the
Americans and Israelis, the latter (according to my source) being very active
throughout the River Plate basin, although the trip is for another matter.
In fact, according to my contact in Rio, MI6 agents
have been arriving very discreetly over the past few months and, after lying
low for quite some time, it seems they’ve been active for the last month or so,
setting up a base of operations in the city and travelling south. As usual, and
in keeping with my already wary distrust of mobile phone technology that spies
on you even when switched off, I arranged a meeting the old-fashioned way with
my old ‘Frenchy’ friend (a term of endearment), who, following his unannounced
retirement from the DGSE a few decades ago, packed his bags and settled in this
idyllic spot.
Without specifying where, for obvious reasons, I met
my old colleague in a luxurious restaurant with a priceless view where the sea
and the mountains merge, and I invited him for a cup of tea.
There was no need for him to ask the absurd questions
that the simpletons and amateurs in the disinformation media on the other side
of the River Plate in Buenos Aires usually ask to make themselves look clever.
And I speak specifically of them because all this fuss seems to have something
to do with Argentina, and in particular with the South Atlantic and the sea
passage to the Antarctic sea.
According to my friend, ever since these gentlemen
arrived, there has been intense human and electronic activity directed towards
the south. Some civilian and military flights carrying specialist British
personnel from GCHAQ have been departing for Port Stanley in the South Atlantic
islands, apparently without Buenos Aires’ knowledge. Of course, Lula da Silva’s
government is aware of all this; perhaps not in great detail, but his Home
Secretary and his operational chiefs at the Ministry of the Interior cannot be
unaware of the activities of British personnel. A BRICS member like Brazil
cooperating with the main enemies of this bloc? The reality is that this means
nothing. It has nothing to do with the fact that Lula Da Silva and his PT party
are left-wing, seeking equality through dubious and forced identity politics,
or that they hold well-known and public anti-imperialist positions. All that is
mere window dressing for ordinary citizens; the cruel reality is quite
different.
Not only our brilliant politicians in Parliament, but what
of our leaders such as Sir Keir Starmer – who could soon be ousted for a
cover-up – his old mentor Jonathan Powell, or Secretary Ivette Cooper? They are
as fickle as water. South Americans, and in this case Brazilians, are
scandalously far more hypocritical and malleable than their European and
American mentors.
According to my colleague, MI6’s main task would be to
set up its own electronic intelligence operations programme to gather and
collate information from all computer networks in the region, with a particular
focus on those operating within the island territory – clearly involving
Argentina and Chile, and thus the South Atlantic. At first, this didn’t strike
me as anything new. I already knew that the Falkland Islands serve as a base
for the strategic electronic intelligence network not only of Great Britain but
of NATO as well, but what did pique my curiosity is the intensity with which
they are operating in the region. I believe that, once again, this is an
operation directed from Washington and delegated to London.
We were exchanging views and some data on the growth
of naval activity by the Royal Navy and the RAF across the southern hemisphere,
which is particularly curious given that one of the biggest problems for London
at the moment is budgetary, and this hits the military sector directly. We face
major dilemmas regarding personnel due to shortages, as well as individual
issues with existing staff stemming from serious misconduct, compounded by
constant reports of faults and breakdowns in the fleet’s ships and submarines
(at least in the northern fleet), where many repairs have been put on hold due
to a lack of funding.
According to rumours in Whitehall, on top of all this
– and as a result of the aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran – there
are restrictions on the use of fuel for ships and airborne units, except for
those currently operating in the Gulf of Oman.
But for some mysterious reason, flights, ships and
submarines travelling to and from Ascension, crossing the entire Atlantic and
anchoring in Port Stanley and the surrounding archipelago, have their needs
well catered for, and any technical or structural issues with a vessel are not
affected by budgetary constraints here. As far as I know, there are no reports
of fuel shortages for patrols and air-naval operations. I am not surprised that
they refuel at Chilean ports such as Punta Arenas, nor, from what I can see, in
Argentina. Some of the RFA TIDE-class logistics vessels are even available,
ready for refuelling at sea. So, what could these plans be that are so
important that the British South Atlantic fleet is being prepared? I do not
believe this has anything to do with the joint exercises due to take place in a
few days’ time.
I’ll say it again, gentlemen: I believe these British
movements are not taking place without the Pentagon’s consent and are
operationally subordinate to the US Southern Fleet Command. What would be
interesting to know is: for what purpose?
