For anyone who doubted Washington's involvement in the Greek bailout earlier this year, this article from Das Bild is a Must Read. According to the authors, at one stage Obama designated the continued presence of Greece in the Eurozone as 'a matter of National Security' for the USA.
The following is a translation of this article in Das Bild (27/9/2015) by Peter Tiede and Liana Spyropoulou.
Reports reveal a pact between Obama and Tsipras - A plot against Merkel and Schäuble
Bild has already reported this news on several occasions, but now it's official:
According to internal Greek government documents, the American government directly advised the bankrupt country in its negotiations on the rescue package and reforms, and lobbied expressly against Germany.
The aim of the Obama-Tsipras pact: a broad front against Merkel(61) and Schäuble(72).
Internal documents show the US government chatting openly about discussions between Schäuble and his US counterpart, Jack Lew.
On Sunday, the Greek newspaper 'Kathimerini' published a secret report belonging to the Greek Ambassador in Washington, Christo Panagopoulos, from the 16th July.
It gives details of this anti-Berlin plot, which was months in the making at the highest echelons in Washington.
Bild has reported several times about an alliance between Washington and Athens: now 'Katherimini' has printed it in black and white.
The Greek Ambassador wrote that he was very happy 'with the close co-operation' between the Obama and Tsipras governments, the White House, the US State Department (for foreign affairs), and the National Security Council of the USA - the top Presidential body for foreign policy, defence and US intelligence agencies, in which decisions about foreign policy, secret missions in other countries and wars are made.
The Ambassador wrote: 'I met regularly with a high level representative of the US Treasury department, who told me about the tense atmosphere at a meeting between Schäuble and Lew, when it came to a discussion about our country.'
And: The Americans advised the Greeks and especially the rant-prone former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, to 'avoid direct confrontation with Berlin (in the form of verbal attacks or social media campaigns)'
So Athens didn't worry about Berlin, but instead tried to quietly build an anti-Berlin coalition '...because the goal is the creation of a larger coalition with other European countries, such as Britain, France, Italy and Austria.. so that they will offer their support against Germany.'
Berlin should 'not be given the opportunity to pursue its usual goals' (meaning Grexit, which would have led to worse conditions in Greece).
Clearly, from the US side, it was mainly against Schäuble.
The Ambassador expressly noted that the US government not only did not share the views of Schäuble - who was uncompromising in his desire for the Euro to be a strong currency and to that end, felt it was essential to implement strict reforms - but indeed wanted to change his views.
But not publicly as an example to the bankrupt Greeks, and not at this point in time.
The Ambassador noted, 'From previous discussions, I know that the US side doesn't believe that this is the right time to change Schäuble's philosophical and theological approach.'
The ultra left-wing/right-wing government in Athens and the Obama administration agree on the rejection of Schäuble's austerity policy and on the preference for increasing state indebtedness in times of crisis.
The Greek Prime Minister was apparently also advised by the French government under Hollande, and it seems that the advice was successful.
Although, French President Hollande (61) spoke on Chancellor Merkel's side about the obligations of the Greeks, behind Berlin's and Brussels' backs, it was primarily French experts who for some time have been writing papers and strategies for Tsipras.
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann (55) went to Athens in mid June and demanded moderation from Berlin and assured Tsipras of his solidarity.
Italy's head of state Renzi (40) did much the same thing.
Only the 'No Euro' British wanted nothing to do with Athens and the Euro chaos, but added to the pressure with their own threats to leave the EU.
That something was going on between Washington and Athens quickly became clear at the end of January this year, after the election victory of Tsipras' radical left-wing political party.
Finance minister Varoufakis met Obama in Washington in mid April.
He also met his US counterpart Jack Lew in Washington, who, according to Bild information, assured him that the USA would do everything it could to keep Greece in the Euro.
Bild already announced in April that the US negotiating experts in Athens were there to be especially helpful in dealing with Berlin.
Obama regularly telephoned Tsipras and Jack Lew conversed more often with Varoufakis.
Varoufakis - and also Tsipras - were advised by a network of US investment bankers and top US economists.
In June, Obama had repeated telephone conversations with French President Hollande. His objective was to support the Greeks against the Germans and other nations in the EU.
Hollande had already sent his advisers to Athens. It was above all French experts who wrote the papers that Tsipras then submitted to the EU and other creditors as his own.
Obama designated the continued presence of Greece in the Eurozone as 'a matter of national security' for the United States.
Despite being bankrupt, the Tsipras government has completed new arms deals with American (and Russian) companies.
That Washington was closer to Athens' policy line than Berlin, was clear to the German finance minister early on.
In mid April in Washington, Schäuble said clearly several times, if Greece is so important to the USA, Washington should participate in the Greek bailout with its own money instead of always demanding more money from Europe and especially from Germany.
