The Parmesan Has Fallen ...

 ... yep, import substitution as tried on Italians. No need to know Italian. 

25,000 Italians Wrote Petition ...

... with apologies to Russian people after the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella compared Soviet Union to Third Reich. Italians reacted and today presented Maria Zakharova with those signatures. As the result--Zakharova sang Bella Ciao and recalled the fight of Garibaldi Partizans in Italy in WW II. 

Meanwhile, rumor has it that nothing much will change in Germany despite all those totally unjustified hopes for Alternative for Germany likely getting second place in elections. The coalition of CDU and Social Democrats is there to stay and that means no substantive changes for Germany. As Kraftwerk (love the guys) sang: Europe, Endless, the time is to change the lyrics: Europe, Hopeless. 

Ha, They Talk About Me...

 ... in Italy. Naturally in Italian)) 

But here is English too by Perrin Lovett.

America and the Combined West face a daunting series of “ifs” as this young century unfolds. Will America have a 2024 presidential election? Will America suffer a civil war? Will Europe continue to exist? In his new book, America’s Final War, Andrei Martyanov addresses these unpleasant, conjoined topics and much more. Concerning America’s declining role and prospects, in his Preface, Martyanov ponders and considers: “The question remains—can the United States, unlike Europe, survive its hubristic pursuit of globalism and the subjugation of its political institutions to Zionism? There is no clear answer to that.” The rest of the book largely centers on the pursuit of globalism and resulting failures, particularly regarding military affairs, and especially concerning the US and NATO’s losing war against Russia in Ukraine (Russia’s Special Military Operation). The portrait painted is both artful, factual, and realistic, yet it bodes poorly for an entire civilization in crisis.

My many thanks to Perrin for his kind words when judging my work.

Italy Must Oblige...

No matter what Italy does, and her ridiculous proposals for being a "mediator" between Russia and 404 have been flatly rejected by Russia, she will remain the US lap-dog and will do as ordered. As la Repubblica reports:

Washington chiama Roma: "Mandate a Kiev lo scudo anti-missile”. Il consigliere per la sicurezza nazionale Sullivan telefona a Palazzo Chigi e sollecita l'approvazione del sesto decreto di aiuti militari. 

Translation: Washington calls Rome: "Send the anti-missile shield to Kiev". National security adviser Sullivan telephones Palazzo Chigi and requests the approval of the sixth military aid decree.

Sullivan wants Rome to send SAMP/T air-defense complexes to 404. Well, SAMP/T is an Aster missile family complex which in its tactical characteristics is somewhat similar to Patriot PAC2/3, with a slightly shorter range but with a fully vertical start, and demands to Rome to send it are just another manifestation of the US reluctance to satisfy mom's basement dwelling community of military porn masturbators to see further NATO technology being obliterated in 404 by Russia. But the trend on increasing NATO involvement by supply of what passes for "top of the line" technology in NATO is obvious and the US continues to exert pressure on its NATO vassals "to do something". 

To demonstrate the way brainwashed Western public is "engaged" in the narrative, here is one of many fanboys' "military analysis" UTube channels which states this: 

This fits very well with my long-standing contention that the field of ANY military analysis anywhere, Russia including, has been completely hollowed out by military and geopolitical illiteracy and pure "monetization" greed. That applies top-bottom. That is why it becomes difficult sometimes to point out pretty evident to any attentive observer things which are the real drivers and impetuses behind one or another action of Washington. 

Here, we come back to Gorshkov's deployment which, of course, serves as a PR action too, which in military circles means Demonstration of Flag. But even in Russia, the sixth column (per Saker's definition) begins to rear its ugly head and begins to sing beaten to death false song about... and you may have guessed it--targeting. Obviously, this song is heard from quarters of old farts who long ago lost any touch with modern technology and the way contemporary targeting systems and data fusion and probabilistic analysis are done in modern Combat Informational Control Systems. Not to mention the fact that Liana has large enough constellation to provide both signint and active radar and optical picture for Russian Navy, and I don't even talk about over-the-horizon capabilities of such things as "navalized" RLK 34K1 Monolit on Gorshkov-class, which has full both active (250 km under super-refraction and natural wave-guide) and passive (400 km) over-the-horizon capability. 

But this is what happens to people, who graduated Nakhimov's naval academy in Sevastopol in mid-1970s, having experience only with already then obsolete AD complex Volna, and not having any experience with gaining steam computerization of the Soviet Navy and then almost immediately "transferred" to "serve" in the Black Sea Fleet's newspaper "The Flag of the Motherland" and doing so became Captain of the 1st Rank. No wonder, people like that continue to repeat outdated baloney (in Russian), especially in the sixth column rag. Yet, here we are. This will continue because military "journalism" is a sort of mental illness which cannot be addressed until people study the subject thoroughly and have enough moral fortitude to beat back the temptation of false hype, which, sadly, nowadays often translates in money and 15 minutes of fame. Warhol was prescient about that.

Forza Azzurri.

I didn't like your kneeling, but as always--you delivered when it mattered. I simply always loved Italian football. Nothing I can do about it. Bonucci, you son of a bitch, you were barely 19 in 2006 when magnificent Italy returned with a vengeance against legendary Zidane and France which was worthy of admiration and praise. Now you have done it!! Again. There is something about Italian spirit which endears Italian football to so many. You seem to always overcome when it matters.

Congratulations, European Champions. Hey, England. 

I guess Karma is a bitch. You were still better than Danes, but then Sterling decided to dive to make it easy.

P.S. Give it up for Cameron Diaz, she was an absolute knockout before she damaged her face.

It Is Friday.

Just a piece of music by a boy, now a young man, who I follow for almost a decade now and whose story is almost a fairy tale story. It started here in 2012. 

Now Jonathan is globally recognized as one of the best tenors and the sky is the limit for this guy, who, I am sure, should not feel in any way sensitive about his weight, as long as he feels fine himself, his true talent eclipses anything. I am sure many girls would find it a blessing to date this wonderful human.

I will try to address Russia's soft power later. But for now, you may want to research what CIAO, 2020 is and why Italy fell in love. Evidently, so did Rod Dreher. A hint--in this show, there is no a single Italian but it is the best "we love you to Italy" which people of my generation, whose youth passed in 1970-1980s, could have said;))) Hint, the only real 1980s song here is a hilarious gopnik rendition by Little Big of classic Ricchi e Povery hit Mamma Maria. The rest is Russian pop... sang in Italian with 1980s Italian pop-sensibilities and sound. Enjoy.

  

Russian (And Italian) Troops Disperse Novichok In Italy.

I hope Guardian or NYT will pick up this story. WaPo will do too, together with CNN. Here is 80% "useless" Russian and Italian bio-weapons specialists dealing with Covid-19 in Bergamo today. 

 Here is another one:

I have to admit, as a man who spent my share of time in Chemical Suits (aka in USSR/Russia--Chem-condoms), I approve of these new suits. Really cool. I like how they communicate. 

We still hope that we will be able to make it to Turin and Rome. We planned it this year but everything changed. But it is heartwarming seeing humanity fighting back.

Finally! I Was Beginning To Worry.

I almost thought for a couple of days that I live in a different world and started to worry since my matrix began to disintegrate. And now I can exhale, everything is back to normal. Whew. First they understood it:

BRUSSELS/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's military planeloads of aid to Italy to combat the spread of coronavirus have exposed the European Union's failure to provide swift help to a member in crisis and handed President Vladimir Putin a publicity coup at home and abroad. Italy has been thankful for the Russian decontamination units and army medical staff sent over the past four days, contrasting it with a piecemeal response by EU states. But senior EU and NATO diplomats and officials see the assistance less as generosity and more as a geopolitical move asserting Russian power and extending influence.

That, of course, was followed by La Stampa's piece that 80% what Russians sent to Italy was useless. Of course. Maria Zaharova was forced to comment on this "article" in La Stampa with only one question (in Russian): "Why does La Stampa use anonymous sources?" While the President of Lombardy Attilio Fontana was even more direct--he quoted Dante (in Russian): "They all are not worth the words--look at them, nothing to see." You can find proper translation if you get to Divine Comedy when you have the time. But, generally, everything is back to normal" "evil Rooskies", "evil plans by evil Rooskies" and "evil Rooskies' evil aid with evil plans in mind", and so on. Damage control, of course. Obviously La Stampa needs to recall this:  

Messina

This is the monument to Russian Navy's sailors who rushed to help Messina and its inhabitants in 1908, after devastating earthquake.

The scale of the destruction caused by the Earthquake was so large that the contacts of the mainland with the city of Messina were lost for a few days and the Italian government was slow in sending a relief force. For at least a couple of days, the survivors of the earthquake were helped only by an international force, mainly composed of the sailors of four Russian military ships that happened to be cruising nearby. British and German ships also provided help and, subsequently, the Italian navy took over with a large relief effort. Still, it seems that the Russians did a lot and with great good will. We have little detail of the events of those confused first days, but some surviving documents of the time tell us much about the gratitude of the survivors. One note sent to the Russian consulate by the Pira family says, "Jesus is with Russia, thank you!" The Russian intervention was so much appreciated by the inhabitants of Messina that, shortly after the earthquake, the city enacted a decree that dedicated a square of the town to the Russian sailor and planned to build a monument to them. It took more than a hundred years to build the promised monument. It is hard to say exactly why it took so long but, eventually, it was done in 2012. Today, it stands, little known outside Messina, but a reminder of a story of human solidarity and friendship.

You may not know this, but Russians have this knack for being in the wrong place at a very right time. San Francisco can testify to this, not without a scandal, of course. 

VALLEJO, Calif. —A gesture by the Russian government to honor six of its sailors who were buried in a San Francisco Bay area cemetery nearly 150 years ago is not sitting well with preservationists. The visiting Russian sailors died in 1863 while helping to fight a massive fire near San Francisco’s waterfront. They were buried at the Navy cemetery on Mare Island, where weathered, broken stone slabs marked their graves for decades. To honor their heroism, the Russian Consulate decided last year to buy new cross-shaped, granite headstones for the burial sites of A. Trapeznikov, K. Kort, Y. Bootorin and three unidentified sailors. But Vallejo officials and preservationists told the San Francisco Chronicle that the Consulate did not follow proper procedures for the oldest Navy cemetery in the West, which became a national landmark after it closed in 1921.

But by now we all must get used to acrimony in Russian-American relations. But here is the part which is most important. Relations are not only the governments anymore, they are also today between people. And, in fact, primarily between people. In case of Russian aid to Italy it is an absolutely overwhelming wave of love and support from Russians to Italians, who pay back in kind. You can see it everywhere--on every public forum. The atmosphere of mutual warm feelings between two peoples. Here is one example, from 2017:

Authorities of the northern Italian town of Vagli Sotto on Sunday unveiled a memorial commemorating Russian 1st Lt. Alexander Prokhorenko, who in 2016 called an airstrike upon himself in Syria after being surrounded by Daesh terrorists, Mario Puglia, the town's mayor, told Sputnik.

Here is this incredible monument.

Now ask yourself a question--do Russians remember this gesture? Hint: this was covered by ALL major Russian media (minor too). Or do Russians remember who designed St. Petersburg for Peter the Great and Russia. Name of Rastrelli in Russia is next to the name of Peter the Great. So, let's put it in simpler terms--Russia and Italy are a bit closer than mere governmental, however important, relations. Do you think Russia's desire to help is purely for propaganda? Of course not. Western media, however, are nothing more than propaganda outlets with many creatures infesting them qualifying easily for the title of simple human ass-holes and whores. Not even in "journalist" terms, but namely--human. Take a look at NYT or WaPo, as an example. So, it is always pleasant to recognize that I wasn't mistaken in Western "free" media. Luckily, modern technology allows people to see each-other without media's distortions, due both to malice and sheer stupidity, and that gives some hope. After all, what can I say--since 1978 I am a passionate fan of Squadra Azzurra, from the times of legendary Enzo Bearzot, Dino Zoff, Paolo Rossi, to the times of Alessandro Del Piero and GiGi Buffon. There are many people like me in Russia and former USSR. So, how can one Juventus fan not help another Juventus (OK, Milan and Roma too) fan in time of need;))

Unsung Heroes.

Yeah, I know--those economic and military monsters such as China and Russia trying to help, but small Cuba, ever-sanctioned and ever-hated in the US (like Russia), they are those unsung heroes of the fight against Covid-19. They have to be honored as true humanitarians who, despite being vilified non-stop, just sent their doctors to help Italy.  Here is Cuban delegation of 37 doctors and 15 nurses arriving in Milan. 

Or from Al Jazeera. 

In related topic. I am wondering why wouldn't those European "leaders" ask for help from their favorite "humanitarians" from White Helmets "organization". Those "specialists" are really good at fighting all kinds of WMDs, you know those Syrian and Russian chemical attacks on hospitals, children and cute Syrian puppies and baby penguins. I think EU, and especially UK, should enroll them in helping with Covid-19. White Helmets have shown themselves an excellent British-ran Jihad propaganda outlet, so, I am sure, they will be willing to lend their helping hand in combatting this virus in UK. They sure have the "expertise". I would suggest White Helmets start helping The Guardian personnel to survive the virus. Granted, that a volume of filth concentrated in there can only be helped by bulldozing the whole damn thing. Still, interesting idea.

GIGO.

Ah, now, some interesting facts about Italy's pandemic begin to emerge. As Russians say--it doesn't matter how many, it matters who (pun is unintended) counts. As Ria reports (in Russian) there is a teeny-weeny "issue" with the high mortality rate (emphasis on "rate") in Italy because, as it is worded, of the "method of testing" (in Russian). Namely, the issue I am writing about non-stop and appeal to everyone to wait for the larger data set. Well, guess what: as deputy director of WHO stated today, Italy changed the method of testing, due to, get this, shortage of test kits and counts only "confirmed" cases against deaths and here is the direct quote of this WHO deputy director: if the mortality rate would have been calculated against the number of actually infected, which, and I quote, would raise the number of infected many times--the mortality rate would have been much lower. Pardon my French, no shit! 

As was predicted (well, by me) we are dealing with a classic GIGO--Garbage In, Garbage Out. It absolutely doesn't mean that serious measures against Covid-19 shouldn't be taken, they should. But as it is always the case in operational assessments in military, one thing you always need is a reliable verifiable data. One cannot base decision on unconfirmed and un-weighted, that is processed for their probability of being accurate, reports based on opinions of limited number of observers (sensors), military people invented Sensor-Data Fusion for that and have well-agreed upon mathematical apparatus which accounts for probabilistic assessment. I can report that my forces destroyed 50% of enemy's forces based on observations of the front line, but they will tell me nothing (unless I am aware by means of ISR) about the state of reserves which are moving and, once reserves are counted, by percentages describing super-pooper "victory" will drop dramatically from 50% to much lower number.  Even in the old times of steam when navigating oceans, when using Sextant to get a position line form individual celestial body, navigators would take usually five-six measurements within equal short intervals of time to average (that is partially resolve uncertainty) the measurement before applying it. Similar algorithms today are realized in optronic means of navigation and targeting--non-stop measuring, with constant averaging. Of course, today it is done by modern processors. 

This all doesn't mean that Italy is not in danger, but it does raise the issue which I raised few days ago: we are yet to learn (hopefully) how WHO arrived to a decision to declare a pandemic globally. There ARE questions about this decision and the panic which ensued. Russia, meanwhile, is operating the air bridge to Italy, the tenth military cargo landed just very recently near Rome, and efforts to contain and prevent will continue in earnest.  But after all is done and over with, we must ask ourselves a question even maroons in NYT are beginning to ask themselves--didn't we all go a "bit" too far? Meanwhile in good ol' USA Congress, as is expected, cannot do anything of value, being embroiled in.... normal political process. 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate's drive to pass a $1-trillion-plus coronavirus response bill remained stymied late on Sunday, as Democrats held out for more money to help state and local governments and hospitals, while Republicans urged quick action to give financial markets a sign of encouragement. Earlier on Sunday, the Senate failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to get the Republican plan over a procedural hurdle after days of negotiations, with 47 senators voting in favor and 47 opposed. Later on Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, announced he would hold a repeat vote early on Monday, only to be blocked by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

Isn't it wonderful? I guess that is how it is supposed to work. Right? It is finally raining today around Seattle, after two very dry weeks. One of the main ways Covid-19, or any other virus, spreads, apart from direct contact, is a an air-droplet way. Rain is a welcome relief from early Spring allergies and raising humidity to levels which help blocking all kind of airborne shit. I am in the mood for the melody.

Russia To Aid Italy.

Eight brigades (no, not brigade size as in armed forces--teams) of military medics, disinfection systems, supplies and medical equipment are on standby in Russia. Defense Minister Shoigu ordered a creation of military-transport aviation group for urgent help to Italy starting tomorrow, March 22 (in Russian). This is getting serious, since Russia, obviously, begins to built air bridge to Italy. As RT reports:

The Russian President voiced his support to the leadership in Rome and the Italian people as he spoke with Conte, according to the Kremlin. But it wasn’t just words, as he said Russia was willing to provide protective gear, mobile sanitizers and other medical equipment to Italy. Eight teams of Russian military medics and virology experts are already on standby and could be deployed  to Italy as early as Sunday, once Rome greenlights the move, Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed. “In response to a request from the Italian side, the Russian president confirmed his readiness to promptly provide the necessary assistance and outlined the specific parameters [of what Russia can offer],” the Kremlin's press service reported. It further noted that Putin initiated the phone call with Conte.

Start your stopwatches, Ladies and Gentlemen, before Western media accuse Russia of "exploiting crisis" and trying to influence... whatever. I guess they will be afraid to see enormously "effective" and humanistic NATO and EU, which literally rushed to help Italy (I am screwing with you, as you noticed), in rather not a very good light.  Chinese provided help to Italy, they were accused of "influence", now, my guess, is Russia's turn. Russia always does this. You may not recall it but during trying times of Katrina's catastrophe in 2005 Russia's Emercom IL-76 Transport aircraft with the first aid were immediately on the standby. This is what Wiki says about it:

   Russia: Was one of the first countries to offer assistance. Up to four jets were placed on standby at the Ramenskoye Airport near Moscow as early as August 30, including heavy Ilyushin Il-76-TDs with special evacuation equipment, medical equipment, a water-cleansing system, a BK-117 rescue helicopter and two special cars; and a passenger IL-62, which brought 10 coordinators and 50 rescuers, as well as 6 tons of drinking water. On September 6, the Bush administration gave its approval

Those aircraft waited for a week for W Administration to get off its ass to allow those evil Rooskies to get much needed help to New Orleans. This is what normal people DO. This is what the United States Navy did when helping victims of a devastating earthquake off Indonesia in 2006. This is how it is supposed to be. But we live in different times today, when last spots of thin veneer of humanity are peeling off the dying old world order. In related news. The Atlantic published a piece on Ukraine's depopulation and I will address the issue of Ukraine soon--it must be addressed. Andrei Raevsky recently did a good write up on this issue, but it needs to be addressed in some other, almost metaphysical, terms. Yes, Ukraine is done, it is just the matter of time before it implodes completely but here is the catch--Russians do not want to have anything in common with these people.  

UPDATE: 03/22/19.  First seven military cargo aircraft and forces of the  of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense (RHBZ) already landed in Italy. 

You can see photo report  (in Russian) here. And here. Or here. The first aircraft was met by Italy's Chief of General Staff at the air force base near Rome earlier today.  Russians being suckers for giggle already have an anecdote: Russia introduced green polite men to Italy. When is the referendum? Reference to Crimea, of course. All good-natured, of course.

Just Italy.

Humanity at its best and no surprise that it is Italy. Quarantined in their homes in Italy, which is paralyzed with Coronavirus, Italians decided to do what they do best--sing, from their balconies across the streets.  I have a huge smile on my face.

Ah, yes, it is Friday. Just a bit more of Italiano.  And Lovely Viola Valentino from 1980s (she is till lovely). 

Enjoy. 

You Can Not Fix Stupid (In Terminal Stage).

I am no economist, I never pretended to be the one or be able to grasp economics completely, but I slept (when I could) through couple of political economy courses in naval academy and I certainly, once in a while, like to "do numbers". I also like, when I have time, to read what Michael Hudson has to say about modern Western economic "science" and I agree completely with Hudson's (and not only his) assessment:

the way the economy is described in the press and in University courses has very little to do with how the economy really works. The press and journalistic reports use a terminology made of well crafted euphemisms to confuse understanding of how the economy works

In general, to put it in a layman's lingo, you see a financier waxing "economic" or trying to teach you something about real economy and how it works--run away. After all, as Hudson (and, again, not him only) stresses:

To put this issue in perspective, almost all of the growth in GDP – the measure they look at – is taken the form of higher bank earnings, which they call financial services, meaning penalty fees, late fees, and interest rates over and above the banks’ cost of funds; and rising rents that homeowners would have to pay themselves if they rented instead of owned their homes. You mentioned 9 million homeowners lost their homes. They now have to rent. Rents are rising, debts are rising. Corporate debt, municipal debt, and student debt are way higher now than 2008.

As you may have guessed it already, for my line of business, be it my full time job in aerospace industry or what I write in books and this blog, ability to have your both (or one, at least) feet on the ground is a must. It is especially important, imperative really, whenever dealing with such tricky subjects as real economic and military (that is combat) potentials which by their very nature do not tolerate platitudes and contemporary Western "economic science" methodology. In fact, the very foundation of this so called "economy"--global financial capitalism is in the process of implosion due to its massive, historic in nature, crisis and, what Marxists would describe, an accumulation of the irreconcilable contradictions. Those are too many to be listed in a short blog post but one of them, which is a complete loss of the touch with reality, could be. 

Enter Swiss-based and, actually, quite famous IMD Business School for Managers, Leaders and other BS in the world of modern "economy". As any globalist institution dealing with anything BUT real economy, they love to create ratings and they surely created one for 2019. It is called. World Competitiveness Rankings. Well, see for yourself--here is one screen-shot of these rankings, which, as IMD states is created based on criteria of "facilitation of prosperity." 

Well, how do you like that? UAE and Qatar are in the Top-10 of "competitiveness". Here we may have to decide for ourselves what do we really want to be represented in terms of "competitiveness".  "Prosperity"? Well, if we take this path, I am not surprised in the least that UAE and Qatar are in the Top 10. After all, Qatar's only real economy is solely based on Western technologies and expertise in extraction, processing, transportation, sanitation, defense, well, basically everything, plus, of course, slave labor of the pool of hapless, primarily Asian and Hindu, workers who live in inhumane conditions and are, well, slaves for all intents and purposes. This contingent of slaves is primarily responsible for Qatar's "competitiveness", since also allows native Qataris avoid what is a worst curse and a taboo for many (not all) Gulf Arabs--a productive labor. Yet, these imbeciles from Switzerland think that because the only thing which sustains those Gulf shitholes, oil and gas that is, somehow "facilitate prosperity" then their economies are "competitive". Obviously, as is the case with many people who think iPhone to be high-tech product or are impressed by the lipstick on the p... I mean--for showoff shallow opulence of Gulfies' urban centers, it will be difficult to grasp a simple fact that once slaves and Western technologies are removed from Qatar, UAE or Saudi Arabia, those places will degenerate into their normal medieval state really fast because they are...well, not-competitive in the world of real economy and besides oil and gas have zero competencies and skills in anything, except, drum roll--finances. In other words, they know how to accumulate money and blow them on articles of extreme luxury--all of them produced in the West. 

For people not to misconstrue me as Gulfies-basher (albeit I have zero reasons to admire them for anything), another strange entry is Luxembourg, which with the exception of steel industry (owned by India's Mittal Steel), is nothing more than high standard of living service (finances, of course) economy appendix of EU, which on its own is nothing--zero economically. Again, the question is--WHAT field Luxembourg (a lovely European tourist attraction) is "competitive" in? Competes with WHO, HOW? A conundrum, isn't it? Now let's take a look at the other screenshot, a lower segment of competitiveness, as defined by Swiss MBAs and Ph.Ds in non-existent sciences:

Can anyone explain to me how Lithuania or Estonia which produce next to nothing, except for some foods and STDs for visiting NATO troops, are above Italy? Yes, Italy, which out of own resources produces this, as one example out of many:

Well, this plus Juventus and, of course, this:

Belotti

How Chile, which is nothing more than a raw materials appendix, is higher than Russia? When was the last time Chile launched own satellite constellation (Russia launched yet another GLONASS-M two days ago), built nuclear power station or manufactured this:

One can only wonder what perverted world those people in this Swiss "business" madras live in when create such idiotic, completely detached from reality, ratings. It is, however, expected from people who have zero STEM and industrial education and whose grasp of hi-tech and modern industries is limited to code writing in C++ or Java and, at most, numbers of SMART phones sold. For these people who continue to BS everyone, I have my own rating based not on some "facilitation of prosperity", the prosperity comes with it, but on:

1. Serious hi-tech manufacturing with full enclosed technological cycles, with everything this entails, from defense to top notch STEM education and research of SCALE (Luxembourg, UAE, Qatar--these are not you);
2. Access to resources, energy and ability to "facilitate them". 

Here is my competitiveness rating for 2019 (I hate all those ratings but these ignoramuses from Switzerland made me do it):

1. USA;
2. China;

3. EU as a whole organization, for now;
4. Russia; 
5-6. Germany-France-Italy triangle;

5-6. Japan;
7. India;
.........
The rest are merely for secondary technological and resources roles and markets. It has to be specified even more:
Only nations with very highly developed machine-building complex are real competitors, the rest are merely markets for consumption of those machines, period. 

But to develop such a complex one needs more than some fake pseudo-education in modern "economics". These complexes are developed by top-notch engineers, designers and industrial managers--a set of skills on the order of magnitude more complex and difficult to gain than of some MBAs, whose over-supply helped to drive, among many other factors, a present crisis of the financial capitalism, which in the West resulted in increasing loss of skills, not to mention of a strategic vision,  required for a transition to the economy of the future, where people, other than urban hipsters and snowflakes from Instagram and Twitter, will drive spaceships to the Moon,  Mars and asteroid to mine them for resources, will cure cancer and expand human life, will be able to harness new types of propulsion and maybe, just maybe, make world a better place, less violent. I can guarantee only one thing in this vision--those people will not be graduates of IMD institution, nor will they come from Qatar or UAE. But then again, what do I really know, I don't have MBA and do not measure everything in dollars, or rubles, for that matter.