Backdrop:
On this board, there seem to be a lot of people who are aware and completely terrified of the rising police state, the looming threat of a North American Union, and the overall agenda for an eventual one-world government. Through central banks, the Fed, think tanks like the CFR, PNAC, and Trilateral Commission, and their media arm, powerful elites and banking interests have been manipulating our government, our currency, and public opinion for a long time in pursuit of their own agenda (as well as European governments, currencies, and populations - see the EU). Through propaganda, fearmongering, and warmongering, the establishment has recently used the neocons in the United States to polarize the world and instigate a lot of conflict. As Putin has said, Bush is running around threatening everyone like a "madman with a razor blade."

Most governments in the world are tied into our Federal Reserve system, so the establishment definitely has an international grip. While many of the elites behind all this are American (Rockefeller, etc.), they are essentially internationalists, and most are probably centered in Europe (Rothschilds). Hence, it's not surprising that Europe is heavily influenced by them, and in some ways, they're actually further along the road to hell than we even are (since the European Union has already usurped the sovereignty of many countries). That said, America is the "real battleground," since our Constitution and especially our redneck gun-loving tendencies have presented the largest challenge against establishing a "new world order" (though they're finally overcoming this challenge). We really can't know for sure how many other countries' leaders are complicit in "playing both sides against the middle" - for instance, is Putin really afraid of Bush's warmongering and trying to find a way to end the madness, or is he just another pawn of the elites, meant to escalate a war with Iran into something much bigger? (Personally, until someone proves my assumptions wrong, I'm guessing that Putin is not actually "one of them," even though he's probably an $#@! in his own right.)

Main point:
However, it's certain that the establishment does not have a death grip over every country in the world. For instance, there's a reason we're picking a fight with Iran of all countries, and considering it's one of the most moderate countries in the Middle East (especially compared to "allies" like Saudi Arabia!), it's certainly not because of their "Islamofascism." Is it because they've switched from dollars to Euros, and the establishment is hellbent on propping up the dollar for longer (perhaps they're not ready to let it crash yet)? Maybe. However, the point is, there are certain countries in the world, regardless of how much or little we like them, that are not controlled by the same establishment. China is probably another good example. Although Japan has strong ties with the US, I get the feeling their leaders wouldn't be entirely thrilled about a one-world government courtesy of western elites, either. Even if the western establishment made offers of "sharing in the spoils," I get the impression that not all of these countries would take them up on it (or perhaps they're just biding their time until they make a move of their own).

So, here's the big question: Do these other countries know who they're really up against? They all have their own intelligence agencies. They all have their own spies. Unless we are very mistaken (which would be wonderful, however unlikely) about the existence of our "shadow government," it seems quite doubtful that these eastern countries would be blind enough to "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." Iran is now coming under direct threat from America; do you think Iranian officials are taking this threat at face value ("Damn that Bush! If only he were out of office we'd have peace!"), or do you think they're looking deeper and paying attention to the people who are really in charge of US policy?