text:
Andy Myles
by craig on March 26, 2014 11:18 am in Uncategorized
One of my oldest and dearest friends has gone public on his support for Scottish Independence. I am greatly cheered by this. More thoughts later.
by craig on March 26, 2014 11:18 am in Uncategorized
One of my oldest and dearest friends has gone public on his support for Scottish Independence. I am greatly cheered by this. More thoughts later.
Hopefully it will be a landslide. Beware of mass emigration from England.
Off this topic but have you heard the news about Gulnara Karimova Craig? Under house arrest etc.
'Bring power closer to the people of Scotland' –
That's sound.
That's real.
That's for sure.
Placing Scotland's future in Scotland's hands is something that must be done.
As am I, having known him from University days. I was especially heartened by his coherent reasoning in making what, for him, will have been a difficult decision but, having been made, will lift a weight I'm sure
Apparently the UK has the 5th highest 'defense' spending after the US, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. No way an independent Scotland would continue that obscene profligacy.
Let's hear more publicity about the Peace Divident.
If the people of Scotland vote for independence from the UK, I will respect their decision. But I hope they vote to stay in the UK.
Abe, and when the people of Scotland vote against independence, I hope the Nat Socs on here will respect their decision.
Node: "Apparently the UK has the 5th highest 'defense' spending after the US, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. No way an independent Scotland would continue that obscene profligacy."
That is because an independent Scotland would be about as relevant on the world stage as Moldova, and probably as well off.
"I hope the Nat Socs on here will respect their decision."
Saw what you did there. But gather round, and I'll tell you about the 1745 Anschluss…
"That is because an independent Scotland would be about as relevant on the world stage as Moldova, and probably as well off."
As Fred would say, can I see your figures? And are they based on the assumption that the freedom n' democracy flagflappers round here would respect a Yes decision to the extent of not interfering in Scotland's new international alignment?
Anon 26 Mar, 2014 – 1:25 pm
"That is because an independent Scotland would be about as relevant on the world stage as Moldova, and probably as well off."
Good. Suits me.
Do you approve of the UK spending so much on 'defence' when we can't afford to maintain our infrastructure?
If so, why?
…or grab the Hebrides back?
Moldova's not the best example you could have chosen, is it?
It's political independence which will be wholly orchestrated from the present dichotomy.
The big decisions on revenue and expenditure should be transparent and the ability of Scotland's independence to restructure should not be in doubt. For the ability of the British parliament, we can all question in our language.
"Lang may yer lum reek"
It's political independence which will be wholly orchestrated from the present dichotomy.
The big decisions on revenue and expenditure should be transparent and the ability of Scotland's independence to restructure should not be in doubt. For the ability of the British parliament, we can all question in our language.
You do to the English language what Cumberland did to the Highlands.
Wonder if the articles about the ship-building of those two aircraft carriers at Rothsay has anything to do with it – what would be left in some limbo if Scotland breaks up Britain?
Ben-William Wallace
26 Mar, 2014 – 1:38 pm
"Lang may yer lum reek"
Tell Ben tae come ben. If Ben doesnae come ben, tell Ben I'll be ben to bring Ben ben.
"A'm leukin swatchin for John."
Sorry. That's the extent of my vocabulary.
One thing is for certain if a majority of us here in Scotland do vote Yes in September, we can kiss goodbye to future Royal Navy contracts. The rUK government will re-open the Portsmouth yard to massive acclaim while what is left of Scotland's heavy industry goes down the pan.
Good job there is so much talk from the SNP about a 'fairer society' ie. enhanced welfare and benefits as there will be many who are going to require that safety net.
You Scots are being conned by your so called "Independence"
* The Queen will still be your head of state. Long rule the Saxe Coburg Gotha's! [not] Wise up the power of the crown
* You will not have your own money. So you will be enslaved in the western debt based money system still
Don't tell me that you will change this later on. That is just wishful thinking. And disingenuous too. If that is what you intend then it should be on the ballot
The globalists always want to divide and rule. They want you to be "Independent". Please don't fall for their con
Be interested to know what he thinks of the LD creeps occupying ministerial jobs in the cruel coalition we were landed with.
See my links on the deteriorating NHS on the previous thread. One example yet alone the warmongering in Libya and the attempt to do the same in Syria, etc etc.
"Apparently the UK has the 5th highest 'defense' spending after the US, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia. No way an independent Scotland would continue that obscene profligacy.
Let's hear more publicity about the Peace Divident."
Yes I know people here who are in the armed forces and part of that money feeds their wives and children.
Defence supports a lot of families in Scotland.
"* You will not have your own money. So you will be enslaved in the western debt based money system still"
Scotland already have their own currency, independent of the rest of the UK, not controlled in any way by the Bank of England.
The Scottish pound is worth the same as a UK pound for the sole reason the issuing banks promise to pay the bearer one UK pound for one.
This system could continue in an independent Scotland, Scotland could keep reserves of sterling to back their currency or they could decide to back their currency with something else. The only difference is that Scotland would have to fund their own lender of last resort and the UK tax payer wouldn't be forced to bail out Scotland in the event of economic collapse.
fred 26 Mar, 2014 – 3:35 pm
"Defence supports a lot of families in Scotland."
Spend the peace dividend on hospitals and schools – let those 'defence' workers be nurses and teachers.
My best wishes to the Scots in whatever they choose.
I should say though, in my experience independence movements are rarely, if ever, the endogenous affairs many imagine.
Craig recently denied the large part played by the West in fomenting the Ukrainian coup.
Here however is a detailed analysis of how the West organised that coup:
"Meet the Americans Who Put Together the Coup in Kiev"
Beware billionaires bearing freedom and democracy.
"Spend the peace dividend on hospitals and schools – let those 'defence' workers be nurses and teachers."
To be honest I don't think my friends would make good nurses or teachers, that's why they joined the navy.
"Abe, and when the people of Scotland vote against independence, I hope the Nat Socs on here will respect their decision."
It depends what you mean by "respect", Anon.
In practical terms they will respect it, of course, if only because they have no say and no influence in the wider world outside the bubble of this blog. They will have no choice but to respect it.
But in mental terms they will of course not respect it. As various posts on previous threads have already shown, they will find a hundred and one reasons for claiming that the referendum was unfair (threats, media bias, disinformation, etc etc zzzzzz…).
PS – teacher's apple for Mr John Goss (first comment on this thread, posted a mere 21 minutes after the thread opened)
Herbie reveals something interesting:
"I should say though, in my experience independence movements are rarely, if ever, the endogenous affairs many imagine."
I had no idea that you had experience of independence movements, Herbie!
Would be fascinated to get more detail – which independence movements do you have experience of? And what was your rôle in them?
Vote #1 Free Scotland
Free of England, London and Downing Street
Free of external interference, mulicultural fantasies and Islamic infection
Free of European carpet baggers
Free of delusions of grandeaur
I'm quite content that you remain as ignorant on this as on everything else.
I'll just put you down as a middling level operative.
Thanks for the tell.
I myself believe Scotland's independence is conducive to human evolution in a world now dominated by a weak, frivolous symmetry.
The old form has vanished, replaced by a framework of greed, selfishness, competition and war. The center of this framework is the City of London, the laundry of commerce, a monolith of distorted power that has burned out the single market in an effort to support the British currency. Competitive challenges are becoming obsolescent such that market integration is championed by exchange, good-will trade and respect for dwindling resources.
It is this respect for life and our partners that can for instance strengthen our security in a way that returns 'bipolar unemotional coalition wars' to the waste bin of history.
The interdependence of English and Scottish families, friends, ideas, institutions and identities has composed a strong bond that will remain, developing further towards an enriched and homogeneous coupled society working together in a wise, thoughtful and intelligent way inspired by an exciting, exhilarating period of fresh, neoteric and ground breaking ideas from a Scotland liberated from terminal illness.
Your modesty is most becoming, but don't you feel you owe it to your many admirers on this blog to tell them which independence movements you have "experience of"?
Surely such information would only serve to enhance your credentials? After all, you made the claim in order to enhance them, didn't you?
Building carriers at Roth(e)say would be brilliant for the local economy, alas they are in fact constructed in Rosyth!
You're quite welcome to dispute the proposition.
Are independence movements invariably exogenously produced affairs, or no.
Then you can deal with the evidence of Western intervention in the Kiev coup:
Oh, dear! I will be flabbergasted if a smidgen of benefit accrues to the population of this country from this sideshow. The suggestion that politicians are interested in returning power to the people is clearly ridiculous. They would be talking themselves out of jobs if they were – advocating the reduction of their own numbers, not their increase. Whoever thinks we need more of the homicidal, kleptocratic buggers establishing their little fiefdoms about the place clearly likes paying taxes more than I do. I would also point out that we could degenerate into an array of city-states if we were daft enough (as perhaps some people no doubt are) – that would be something to look forward to.
Genuine best wishes to all and try not to allow yourselves to be duped. After all, people like me, Craig Murray and, I suppose, Andy Myles will be all right anyway no matter what happens.
You're quite welcome to dispute the proposition.
Are independence movements invariably exogenously produced affairs, or no."
I'd love to debate with you, Herbie, but it'd be a pointless exercise because I'd be completely outclassed by someone who, after all, has personal "experience of" independence movements!
Just as a matter of interest though, Herbie, which are the independence movements you claim to have "personal experience of" (your post at 4.46pm)?
Failure to inform might just lead readers to think that you were telling ….porkies. LOL
"Vote #1 Free Scotland
Free of England, London and Downing Street
Free of external interference, mulicultural fantasies and Islamic infection
Free of European carpet baggers
Free of delusions of grandeaur
It's this kind of bigoted and narrow-minded outlook that gives the yes campaign such a bad name.
OK, habby.
I'll just note your reluctance to engage the argument, as per usual, and of course we can leave readers to judge as they see fit.
Fine by me.
"I myself believe Scotland's independence is conducive to human evolution in a world now dominated by a weak, frivolous symmetry."
So how come they call it devolution then?
I wonder if Richard wasn't spoofing….?
Yes indeed, note away and enjoy, you doughty experiencer of untold (and inidentified) independence movements! LOL
Oink! Oink!
Mark 'The old form has vanished, replaced by a framework of greed, selfishness, competition and war. The center of this framework is the City of London, the laundry of commerce, a monolith of distorted power that has burned out the single market in an effort to support the British currency. Competitive challenges are becoming obsolescent such that market integration is championed by exchange, good-will trade and respect for dwindling resources.'
A case in point was just illustrated on BBC London News ref Thames Water's capital works and their intention to charge the customers for the cost. A multiplicity of companies lies behind Thames Water and the main shareholders are Macquairie Bank (Australia),China's Investment Corporation, Abu Dhabi and other pension funds (foreign owned). Collectively these shareholders have taken £2bn in dividends since 2006. These dividends could be paying for renewal of the mains and sewerage systems and for the Thames relief tunnel.
It was particularly galling to be reminded of the existence of the Metropolitan Water Authority, the publicly owned water and sewerage provider pre Thatcher.
Coming shortly on iPlayer towards the end http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03yvtqk
'Thames Water is regulated under the Water Industry Act 1991 and is owned by Kemble Water, a consortium formed in late 2006 by Australian-based Macquarie Group's European Infrastructure Funds specifically for the purpose of purchasing Thames Water. Other large shareholders in recent years include: BT Pension Scheme (13%), the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (9.9%) and the China Investment Corporation (9%).'
Thames Water 'customers' including me. Our bills are going up with a bang.
Farage and Clegg face to face on Sky News if anyone is interested.
Disrupter, diverter, as per usual.
Mary writes:
"It was particularly galling to be reminded of the existence of the Metropolitan Water Authority, the publicly owned water and sewerage provider pre Thatcher."
Erm, would that be the same Water Authority that spend decades NOT renewing London's sewers, with the result that many of them are crumbling away fast?
Surely not!
As the methodology becomes more apparent, it is more amusing than porblematic.
Habbabkuk, you are showing your historical ignorance. Herbie stood alongside Wallace at Stirling Bridge and later, with Gandhi, agitated against the British throughout the 'Quit India' movement. A leading Republican commander during the Troubles, in recent years he has offered his considerable experience in support of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Ba'athist regimes of Iraq and Syria, and lately the SNP.
A node re Scotland resembling Moldova: "Good. Suits me.".
Have you thought about leafleting for the Yes campaign on this particular point, Node? I mean, it's bound to be a winner with the electorate!
I stand abashed, discombobolated and yet seized with admiration. Admiration on the one hand for your historical grasp and detective skills, and on the other for Herbie's drive, energy, commitment and, yes, courage. And also for his modesty – why, but for you, this blog and I would forever have remained in ignorance of Herbie's personal "experience in independence movements"!
Many thanks!
Old Metropolitan Water Authority (R.I.P.) : absurdly low prices; few sewer repairs despite no need to pay dividends to shareholders.
New Thames Water : higher prices; pays shareholders (including your pension funds) dividends while at the same time putting billions into much-needed sewer repairs.
Both painful and appalling.
My piece on the rip off crowd at Thames Water seems to have been worthy of producing two inane responses which gives me the opportunity of providing further information.
There is a network of 47 active companies linked to Thames Water at RG18DB.
'Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.'
Sir Walter Scott Marmion 1808
Why a "rip-off crowd" and why was my post "inane"?
You know as well as I do that water was fantastically underpriced (the water companies were public utilities and successive govts didn't want to piss of voters) – which was one of the reasons why next to no money was spent on maintaining, renewing and upgrading crumbling sewer systems (many of which had been left untouched since the Victorian age).
Sure the price has gone up since the 1980s – as has the price of everything else, and as have wages. And money is being invested in sewer infrastructure at long last. Fact.
Anon 26 Mar, 2014 – 7:41 pm
I answered your question but you didn't answer mine. Here it is again:
Do you approve of the UK spending so much on 'defence' when we can't afford to maintain our infrastructure?
Good to see you posting again so prolifically, Craig. Popping in to see what I've missed – plenty, it seems!
Interesting to see Galloway come out so strongly against independence. I don't follow what he does particularly closely, but like some here I have mixed views about him, right though he's been on Iraq. It's going to feel odd – for both him and the Establishment that despises him – to have so much now to agree about.
I do think his argument is worth examining, though I am not sure "more of the same" is a good recipe for surviving neoliberalism (or representing Scotland well at the EU). But here it is (from the Guardian):
Scotland's presence in the union acts as a brake on the more swivel-eyed free-marketry that runs riot in the Conservative party, partly thanks to the 58 non-Tory MPs it sends to Westminster. If independence comes, what remains of the UK will face Tory government "in perpetuity" and be run on the basis of economic liberalism gone truly mad. The only way for its new neighbour to keep up will be to join in a race to the bottom – which, says Galloway, the SNP will be only too happy to do.
For me, that's an interesting view, even though I am minded to disagree with it. But I wonder, for folks here who believe the financial elite want to shift the UK towards an unfettered neoliberal economic model, would independence worsen austerity policy and widen the wealth gap in England? Indeed, if we think it might, would that be a reason to suggest that Scotland should remain in the union?
When you guys are finished with your Forrest Gump impressions and bathos, any chance of addressing the issue.
Here it is again.
Whilst I wish the Scots well, I fear that absent a collapse in the UK, they will not be allowed to seccede other than with strong external support.
At the moment that probably means the US or EU.
As I've said before I don't quite see why EU apparatchiks would not welcome the splitting of member states, since that increases central control of power, which is what they're all about of course.
I suggested recently that habby may have worked at the EU. I'm now much more convinced that he's former FCO. Definitely British. He's admitted to drafting speeches and whatnot for the likes of Baroness Golly Gosh. Apparently he's an expert at that. Would explain a lot too.
I'm now wondering is he that other former UK ambassador. You know. The horrible one. And am amused by the idea that even he finds his blog so boring that he's always over here.
I have often wondered if he is Charles Crawford of Blogoir fame!
Great minds, Mary. Great minds.
You see, I think Craig knows habby. It was just an exchange they had once.
Habby was up to his usual personalising diversionary tactics, people were rightly complaining and habby addressed Craig, asking him was he OK with his commenting here, and Craig came back with a kind of weary OK.
There was just something a bit over familiar and presumptious about it, as if he already knew the answer.
But yes. He's got his own blog. It's not very good. So he's jealous of Craig and he's over here trying to wreck poor old Craig's blog.
That's what they're like, these people. Always jealous of what the other chap's got. Horrible, horrible people.
Just heard the first argument for Scottish Independence that gets anywhere near being convincing – George Galloway is against it, but reassured that Mr Goss is now on the opposite side of the debate.
More seriously can anyone thing of a case where encouraging more nationalism rather than dampening down has ever been a force for good.
So you and Andy finally made up? Congratulations!
You can always say sorry.
Hullo Jon…good to see ya still aroon…
i can see some of your points… but -
But I wonder, for folks here who believe the financial elite want to shift the UK towards an unfettered neoliberal economic model, would independence worsen austerity policy and widen the wealth gap in England? Indeed, if we think it might, would that be a reason to suggest that Scotland should remain in the union?
i have wondered about this…how would the Elite allow it ( independence ) But the thing is…it aint for the Criminal Elite to Decide…. Rather the people of Scotland… Or Should Be. Obviously.
Rd …Come on…is that not a daft Question….
Perhaps a better question would be –
" can anyone think of a case where encouraging more nationalism rather than dampening down has ever been a force for good…. DEPENDING OF COURSE ON SIZE OF A NATION / ISLAND…
But going back to your original Question…. whether it be a nation of just many hundreds… or just a few thousands…Yes i can think of a few examples.
I'm Scottish (insofar as i was labelled thus at birth and i had no input on that).
I've not really decided yet although,as a principle,i think all countries should have the right to self-determine thus i'm veeeeeering towards the Yes camp.
I have one major worry though:
If Scotland votes to seperate then for those who think Westminster has a big enough say presently it's gonna get much worse after independence.
It's just that Scotland will be overrun by shadowy London spook types(moreso than it is already) seriously trying to destabilise and control.
That worries me alot.
@Jon 26 Mar, 2014 – 10:00 pm
Hi Jon,
Nice to hear from you.
I have more time for Galloway than most on this blog. Sure I disagree with a lot of his ideas, but then again I've never found anybody that I'm in total agreement with. In fact I've never known any two people who totally agreed with each other.
The world as presented by the MSM is a lie, an illusion created and maintained by clever, subtle people with powerful tools. There are probably enough clues in the public domain for an intelligent person to piece together the truth, but distinguishing all those clues from the lies, misinformation and false histories is practically impossible. My own awakening began about 20 years ago, and I thought then I had a pretty good idea of how it all worked. But 19 years ago I saw through more of the illusion and realised that the 20-year old me had been pretty naive. Then 18 years ago, I found out how little the 19-year-old really understood. And every year since more scales have fallen from my eyes, exposing more of my beliefs as conditioning, more of my 'facts' as lies, more of my 'knowledge as disinformation.' That process continues to this day, and I have no reason to believe I've reached the end of the journey. The logical inference is that some of my beliefs are incorrect. [yes, really!]
All truthseekers are going through the same journey and even Galloway has to sift the wheat from the chaff. He undoubtedly has access to better sources of information than me, but he probably has less time and more people determinedly trying to mislead him. He and I and everybody else on this blog have spent our lives evolving our own world models to reconcile our own beliefs with optimum consistency …. and none of our models match. We've all taken a different path, have a different blend of beliefs, had a different set of lies slip past our guard. Nor is he, or I, or (sorry to have to say this) anyone else on this blog perfect. We all have our individual blend of hang-ups, vanities, weaknesses, blind-spots.
If we're only going to respect someone who is omniscient and perfect, forget politics, try religion.
I disagree with him about Scottish Independence – he's spent most of his life in politics, his perspective is from Westminster. His argument is bad psychology and misses the point when he tells Scots that they shouldn't want an Edinburgh parliament because of the detrimental effect it will have on Westminster party politics. As to the knock-on effect on Scotland of an eternal Tory Government in the rest of the UK, I believe he is ignoring the requirement of the establishment to preserve the illusion of democracy in our land. I bet that no party will ever rule Westminster for more than two terms in my lifetime – just as it has always been. And anyway, hasn't his doom and gloom prediction "of economic liberalism gone truly mad" been a reality for 2 decades?
So I disagree with some of his opinions, big deal, I still respect him hugely. He fights and sacrifices himself for causes which I believe in but don't have the strength of character to do myself. He's a Socialist, tireless supporter of Palestine, peace campaigner, and champion of the underdog. That's good enough for me. He's a far better man than his detractors on this blog. For all his talk, he walks the walk too.
George, Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.
Stunning Piece of Thought A Node
I will never forget his (GG) spanking of the Senate re Iraq sanctions…
but i wish he'd Drop the God willing stuff… just gives his detractors amo.
anyhoo…cheers for that A Node
Jon – The waves of damaging economy in any situation are a potent force and who can ignore this incestuous lure.
I wonder thinking in this way do we not buy into the greed, selfishness and 'be happy' black hole of the financially elite?
@ Herbie (26 Mar, 2014 – 4:46 pm)
That is a great article on Ron Paul's site, it bears reposting.
I do believe the movement for Scotland's Independence is truly endogenous, all the dirty tricks and outside interference are coming from the establishment in support of the No camp. Tonight's (Mis)Reporting Scotland had the BBC again, for the nth time, bigging-up predictable and disingenuous 'sky will fall in' economic scares and 'warnings' from the CBI. The details were fuzzy, it just seemed a made up story, an anti-independence screed fabricated on the spot as a time-filler before yet more effing football 'news' which predominates the whole program. There is a serious failure here to provide any actual real news, the ITV companies have been castigated for this, especially Scottish TV; in the case of Border TV there's no need for any media study there, there might as well be no referendum taking place, its flagship 'Lookaround' program treats its viewers as apolitical cretins, with paint drying somewhere on the Isle of Man or a lost wheel-trim in Kendal, as exciting or controversial as it gets. The BBC however must somewhere in its charter have a stated duty to provide actual news. It wasn't like this on STV in days of John Toye or of 'What's Your Problem'.
BBC Scotland tonight also downplaying shady looking forced evictions, making it seem as if the house demolitions for the Commonwealth Games have affected just one brave woman who's portrayed as eccentric standing up to them, but whole streets and districts of once fine imposing red-sandstone tenements, that define Glasgow, are being demolished wholesale, thousands cleared from properties which have been purposefully unmaintained and let fall into rack and ruin. Hardly anyone is aware that in a city with acute housing shortages the vast number of 'athletes village' houses have been constructed with no kitchens, which after the games, would be better demolished themselves as no amount of retro-fitting can tack on kitchens to rabbit-hutch never designed to have any from the outset.
I think the BBC have over-reached in their dishonesty and half-truths, the people aren't having it, not for a long time and never again, certainly the BBC will suffer, they are amongst the enemies within. As for fucking CBI -Boycotting these behemoths and dinosaurs must be the only way to hit back, shaming them won't penetrate their thick skins. Big companies such as BAe are hard for consumer-based actions to target, firmly attached to the public funding teat through penetration of government itself and are effectively remote-control[l]ed arms of Westminster, we don't many of us shop for aero-engines or frigates or fighter planes or find supporters amongst the foreign despots they arm to the hilt. The only low-hanging fruit might be BP, but the CBI has many smaller fish too. There doesn't seem much cohesion of diaspora Scots that could have significant impact abroad, but memories are long and CBI members party to this attempted interference in Scottish politics might take note, there might be not long till the referendum, but there's a long time, the whole future to consider after it.
"Today's release from the CBI in London is an entirely one-sided misrepresentation of the business and economic evidence concerning a vote for Scottish independence. Business for Scotland – which has a membership of over 1,600 Scottish businesspeople – considers that Scotland will be better off financially with the full economic powers of independence."
Seems the CBI is reticent about publishing its membership list, I expect many are glad to remain in the shadows, you would think them an overtly public organisation but are a private company, conspiracy, cartel and price-fixers and engaged in such dirty tricks as employee and union activist blacklists, even with our woeful state broadcaster showing their interminably dull conferences of shiny-suited spivs, its hard to find there any respectability or relevance, the predominance of titled 'Lords', CBEs and other pretend titles doesn't hide, it confirms that they're really Crime Incorporated. Does anyone have a comprehensive list, it's almost as shady as the mysterious Tory-supporting Midlands Industrial Council (MIC). I know Sainsburys are amongst them but probably most other UK-owned retailers are too.
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), not the last but the first resort.
Good to see true Liberals still support "Home Rule". It was after all a Liberal mantra for many years.
An interesting link on Liberals in Scotland
A Node
Brilliant post. Thank you for that. I have made a similar journey. I'd put John Pilger alongside George Galloway.
I abhor his indy fathead venality.
"Seems the CBI is reticent about publishing its membership list,"
Not half as reticent as Salmond is about publishing the budget deficit forecast.
Please God. Not another Western warmonger to visit the Pope.
ZBC said Obomber hoped to pick up some shine from the contact as his ratings are very low. Wonder why that is!
Obama to meet Pope during Rome visit
Not forgetting GG's overland relief convoys to Gaza. Such energy and commitment.
I remember him being attacked on Sky News by one of the presenters, Anna Botting whom I actually like. Her attack was most likely scripted as he is always attacked by the corporate media. He gave as good as he got. Here -
George Galloway on Sky News with Anna Botting
Sky had another go later that year.
George Galloway Smashes Sky PART DOUX
His best ever performance at the US Senate Committee.
George Galloway BLISTERING ATTACK on the U.S. SENATE
The list is endless in the RH column on You Tube.
If anyone is the least bit interested. What a line up. Wasn't the ginger in Simply Red Cherie's fave?
'BBC Question Time will broadcast from Brighton today.
It will be the first time the political panel show has been filmed in the city since 2012.
On the panel for the weekly debate programme will be Conservative MP for Putney Justine Greening, Labour MP Diane Abbott, Roger Helmer UKIP MEP for the East Midlands, pop singer and songwriter Mick Hucknall and chief executive of clothing retailer Next, Simon Wolfson.
It will be shown on BBC1 from 10.35pm.'
Brighton Argus
A reminder who Hucknall is!
Andy Myles continued
: "As a liberal, I believe that sovereignty starts with the people and is passed upwards. Devolution is, on the other hand, about sovereignty being passed downwards"
Tax havens need to be addressed and postal coded.
Let me second all the thanks A Node for thoughts on Galloway, and special thanks too for Tony M, for his Ron Paul link. I have argued, badly it would seem from the number of converts, that the so-called popular rising was a US initiative, with links to those organisations like Swedbank, NATO, Chatham House that openly sponsored Yatsenyuk. The Ron Paul article tells how a new media outlet played its part. Yesterday we learnt that 4 main Russian TV stations had been stopped from broadcasting in this new 'democracy'.
"Revolution on Demand
Arriving in the Ukrainian capital on August 3, Pyatt almost immediately authorized a grant for an online television outlet called Hromadske.TV, which would prove essential to building the Euromaidan street demonstrations against Yanukovych. The grant was only $43,737, with an additional $4,796 by November 13. Just enough to buy the modest equipment the project needed.
Many of Hromadske's journalists had worked in the past with American benefactors. Editor-in-chief Roman Skrypin was a frequent contributor to Washington's Radio Free Europe / Radio Libertyand the US-funded Ukrayinska Pravda. In 2004, he had helped create Channel 5 television, which played a major role in the Orange Revolution that the US and its European allies masterminded in 2004.
Skrypin had already gotten $10,560 from George Soros's International Renaissance Foundation (IRF), which came as a recommendation to Pyatt. Sometime between December and the following April, IRF would give Hromadske another $19,183.
Hromadske's biggest funding in that period came from the Embassy of the Netherlands, which gave a generous $95,168. As a departing US envoy to the Hague said in a secret cable that Wikileaks later made public, "Dutch pragmatism and our similar world-views make the Netherlands fertile ground for initiatives others in Europe might be reluctant, at least initially, to embrace."
For Pyatt, the payoff came on November 21, when President Yanukovych pulled back from an Association Agreement with the European Union. Within hours Hromadske.TV went online and one of its journalists set the spark that brought Yanukovych down."
And its not even April 1st yet!
"Male university students in North Korea are now required to get the same haircut as their leader Kim Jong-un, it is reported."
"It seems that haircuts have been state-approved in North Korea for some time – until now people were reportedly only allowed to choose from 18 styles for women and 10 for men. Earlier, North Korea's state TV launched a campaign against long hair, called "Let us trim our hair in accordance with the Socialist lifestyle".
"Let us trim our hair in accordance with the Socialist lifestyle".
More cuts, eh? Remind you of someone else's lifestyle? I wish the little bastard would stop calling what he does Socialism, though.
Re. Galloway's Gaza relief convoy – yes a convoy arrived, and yes it probably did some good, and I'm not disputing that. But did it do as much good as it claimed, and how much of the cost was directly raised by Galloway's organisation? The Charity Commission's investigation continues…
This is a thorny topic,and care in steering between Galloway's supporters and some poisonous Israeli-BICOM propaganda is strongly advised.
In terms of lasting advantage to the causes he supports (and I often support), I think GG is a bit of a liability, actually.
An Australian reporter here in the mould of John Pilger.
Mrs Weiss is lovely – "this land was promised to the Jewish nation by God." No argument. She acknowledges that there was another people on the land – a difference from the PR statement of Golda Mwir who said "A land without people, for a people without land." Always thought that slogan came from Bernays or similar.
What hateful people. Devils, and the countless world leaders who support them are devils too.
Stone Cold Justice Four Corners
Published on 10 Feb 2014
The Israeli army is both respected and feared as a fighting force. But now the country's military is facing a backlash at home and abroad for its treatment of children in the West Bank, occupied territory.
Coming up, a joint investigation by Four Corners and The Australian newspaper reveals evidence that shows the army is targeting Palestinian boys for arrest and detention. Reporter John Lyons travels to the West Bank to hear the story of children who claim they have been taken into custody, ruthlessly questioned and then allegedly forced to sign confessions before being taken to court for sentencing.
He meets Australian lawyer Gerard Horton, who's trying to help the boys who are arrested, and talks to senior Israeli officials to examine what's driving the army's strategy.
The program focuses on the stories of three boys. In two cases the army came for the children in the middle of the night, before taking them to unknown locations where they are questioned. A mother of one of the boys described the scene.
'This is a thorny topic,and care in steering between Galloway's supporters and some poisonous Israeli-BICOM propaganda is strongly advised.'
So why raise it? Ammo for the t—-s. I agree there about BICOM. The CC has its chairman William Shawcross, a Zionist supporter. How about the CST trustees being given anonymity by the CC. Why?
John Goss: The Ron Paul link was Herbie's originally. The sums from the ebay/paypal guy who blocked Wikileaks from Paypal and is backing Greenwald's new news venture are greater. I think most of the estimated $5billion the US.gov pissed through various intermediaries has went on bribes.
Net nanny mode: Topic is drifting, we're still on the first page.
"So why raise it?"
Why not? Don't you like a discussion to represent differing viewpoints? Maybe "thorny" is what put you off? You think GG is cool, I think he's a bit of a bags. Discuss.
And your question is one I have wanted to ask you, repeatedly, but usually managed to stop myself, as some wholly irrelevant interjection, usually C&P'd from the MSM, is yet again hurled into the middle of a discussion about something else. Sorry, but you asked.
All the parts the convoy visited, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, thereafter experienced western-backed Arab Springs installing extremists. Wheels within wheels.
I'll clarify that:
While there will have been many with a sincere desire to help the trapped, starved people of Gaza/Palestine involved, the convoy will/may have been used by others for other purposes
Mud sticks. And a lot has been thrown at Galloway. By whom? Work it out.
"It's this kind of bigoted and narrow-minded outlook that gives the yes campaign such a bad name."
It's this kind of ignorant and superficial thinking that gives the liberal establishment a bad name.
No smoke without fire. And I smell burning…
Picture, if youse will, a Tory MP being paid regularly by a PR firm:
A Tory MP with this voting record -
And a Tory MP with this record (scroll down – no. 622) of responding to constituents' letters.
Imagine what you would say about such a Tory MP. Or I can do that for you if you have trouble with that.
Sorry, this link for GG's concerned response to the people who voted for him -
Komodo I neither think GG is cool or hot. Just that he gets a hard time of it from the media and others.
If you are referring to my posting of that Stone Cold video, I see it as relevant to Galloway and to my concern for the Palestinians. Surely I am free to post Craig and the moderators permitting. You got in a huff with me before for some reason and went off in high dudgeon.
Tony M I cannot see that a convoy of vehicles containing aid had any effect on Western initiated uprisings in North African countries bordering the Mediterranean. One of the convoys was delayed but I cannot recall at which border along the route.
Habba 9-44 pm:
The billions that you say are put into 'much needed sewer repairs' are a fantasy and with you being so well informed, will know this. Reporting on expected maintenance costs, the water companies have estimated sewers to last for an average 280 years and in one calculation as much as a 1000 years. Water UK estimated that many sewers have an asset life of less than 100 years and few, if any have lasted that long.
Sewage repairs and maintenance activities are forecast and submitted as actual costs without ever being completed, which leaves more to be paid out in dividends, leaving crumbling pipes supplying consumers (as well as obscenely inflated water bills).
The privatisation of water, just like all the other sell off's were a fraud enforced on the people of this country to make the wealthy even wealthier and to get more money out of bill payers, who have had no choice but to pay up. A perfect year on year scam that none of us can escape.
Further, as I have just read your earlier one. I looked up Molucca Media Ltd if that is what is referred to. It is his own company. What's wrong with that? The BBC presenters do it, so do some pocket pols. Why is he not allowed to join. He is not stupid.
He appears to be totally open about his receipts.
I wasn't referring to the video. I was referring to "So why raise it?".
My position is that, ever since the Mariam Appeal case (still rumbling on – http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/content/17195/commission_wins_foi_exemption_over_mariam_appeal_in_supreme_court_but_faces_fresh_legal_challenge ), the media are right to take an interest in Galloway.
The man sought election repeatedly, and got it in Bradford. An MP, more than anyone else, should IMO have the interests of his own country, and of his constituents, in mind. I'm sufficiently old fashioned to think that regularly being paid by foreign media to advance the propaganda of foreign countries is not a legitimate occupation for an MP, particularly one whose day job appears to suffer markedly as a consequence. But take comfort – I feel the same way about Atlanticist Tories.
Mary, I haven't time to trawl for one of yours on the subject of troughing Tories with their own companies, but I think a Tory MP with his own PR company, paid to work for (say) the US and Israel* and neglecting his constituents, might attract your interest….
*rather than Russia and Iran – to spell it out.
The Scottish Herald declares Farage the winner after yesterdays Clegg debate, where Scottish independence was hardly mentioned,
but the Telegraph talks madly about an EU assisted Coup in Kiev! Surely this is OFF TOPIC for MSM?
Quote"Mr Clegg described Mr Farage's comments as "insulting" and "extreme".
The Deputy Prime Minister told LBC Radio: "I was extraordinarily surprised – if not shocked – that he agrees with Vladimir Putin. To somehow suggest that because of Nigel Farage's loathing of the European Union – that is the reason why Ukrainian protesters sought to reclaim their own freedom and their own country on the streets of Kiev. I just think it's really insulting to those people in Kiev who were simply standing up for values that we should share and support.
"For Nigel Farage to side with Vladimir Putin – well, he'll have to explain why he did that. I was really astounded he did so."
Mr Clegg added: "It shows quite how extreme people like Nigel Farage can be when their loathing of the European Union becomes so all-consuming that they even end up siding with Vladimir Putin in order to make their point.
"And to suggest that it's somehow the European Union's fault that the Ukrainian people rose up as many did on the streets of Kiev against their government…I just think is such a perverse way of looking at things.""
If MSM prints these opinions over the forthcoming May EP elections then just what is going to happen in the actual Scottish Devo debate is unfathomable….though If I had to guess, I'd bet that Alex Salmond will be accused of siding with North Korea
I'd bet that Alex Salmond will be accused of siding with North Korea
By Galloway?
"It's this kind of ignorant and superficial thinking that gives the liberal establishment a bad name."
Fred had you down to a tee when he said the following:
"…..Like I said a despicable nasty little shit, Salmond's little Blackshrt. You confirm everything I have said about Nationalists and Nationalism. History has shown them to be thugs and bullies and it doesn't seem the SNP can claim to be any dfferent.
Now crawl back into the hole you crawled out of, probably Salmond's arsehole, you slimy little turd."
What a pathetic showcasing of apparent party politcal discourse that was yesterday, from all three of them. He who sold his soul Wilson was bamboozled by the two cockerels and the media lapped it up, Electioneering to the marginals.
Just love to hear the conversation on the doorstep, to both of them…'so you say Putins nailboot antics at home and abroad are the right thing to do? do you?…..
Most important news yesterday was Ban Ki Moons announcement of a devastating UN climate report, that should come out today, not that this matters to the BBC Today programm, and the question should now be answered as to what we will be the precautionary planning to house some 20-40 million Bangladeshi's soon.
Well, my guess is in approx. 20 years plus.
Equally, 89 cm rise of sea levels this century should galvanise the insurance giants and Governments somewhat, should we now contemplate building a superdyke from Norfolk to Kent with massive locks and tidal energy systems replacing dangerous nuclear PWR power, safeguarding the Thames and London, leaving acces via a new barrier, and protecting the Blackwater estuaries and low lying Essex, all Suffolk estuaries, with Harwich and Felixstowe getting a moving barrier too, and buying us all some 150 years time?
@ Mark G. Have left you a little link to a very good filmaker who has travelled widely in Iraq, pg.3 on the previous thread.
Did I just advertise pg 3? I'll ask myself… whatever next!
It isn't a PR company. It is there to receive his earnings on which he will pay corporation tax exactly like the TV and media people rather than income tax. Still a free country, just.
To me Russia and Iran are not the bogeymen as they are portrayed by the paleocons in the western media. We are not going to agree.
Thanks Herbie for the link and Tony M -a penetrating read. I have sent a letter to Dutch Embassy entitled 'Busted' over Ukraine.
I asked, "is this [Hromadske's biggest funding] symptomatic of past history when 'Ivar the Boneless' -Marauding Danish Conqueror hit the shores of Britain?
(Trying desperately hard not to confuse the word Danish with the word Dutch).
Are you being stress-tested Danielbot, you've directed your bile to the wrong person, a completely innocent nice person. Don't over-stress your cpu. Fred says that about everyone, it's a term of endearment. I would be moderated if I expressed my suspicions about you.
Fred (Bull) was actually referring cruelly, maliciously unfairly and irrationally to Juteman in that unpleasant tirade, not Jemand. Jemand has made some very strange posts such as the one above, but also some thought-provoking ones, I'd rather hear from Jemand than hear any of Fred's foul-mouthed eruptions and I'd rather hear from Juteman all day long than either of the other two, or you.
I think you should apologise to Juteman for repeating Fred's slurs.
Your job is done anyhow, what do you care who you've maligned wrongly.
"…it's not a PR company…"
Pay per click. Ok, it's his personal TV station. However you cut it.
So funny. From Medialens.
Had a look at the Sun this morning, (a work colleagues, I swear) there was a story about a 16 inch rat that had been caught somewhere; it was named 'Putin', after rudely invading the family's home.
Only now read your piece anode, well said.
Also thanks to Tony M for being succinct, I think the BBC is slowly working themselves to a frenzy, come the referendum. They are desperate to show Scottish voters that they are impartial, unbiased and that they would not like to loose 5 million broadcasting tax payers. Tough the day may come not soon enough.
Re: excuse, yes he should say sorry to Juteman, but some can't ever spill those words across their lips, they get palpitations writing it.
"…. he will pay corporation tax…."
Indeed. So much cheaper (25%) than paying personal tax on his earnings. And, as you say, a widespread dodge. Wonder if I'd get away with it?
"Channelling payments through a private company permits these earnings to take advantage of corporation tax of around 21 per cent rather than all of his earnings being subject to income tax, which rises to 45 per cent on earnings above £150,000.
Those who structure their affairs in this way can offset the cost of clothes, cars and other work-related expenses against their income. There are also potential savings on National Insurance.
Respect, the political party Mr Galloway represents, called for the stamping out of tax avoidance and associated loopholes in its 2010 general election manifesto.
In a speech during last year's election campaign for the Scottish parliament, Mr Galloway said: "We support progressive taxation that means the rich will pay more. We will campaign to close all tax loopholes – this measure alone would bring in an estimated £120 billion in unpaid or avoided tax and eliminate the budget deficit in a flash."
Still, he wasn't claiming expenses (Channel 4: 10 O'Clock Live, 4 April 2012 (Series 2, episode 6 23 minutes in, maybe still on Youtube or summat).
He says.
At risk of being tedious, Mary…and I don't really care…would you stand for this from a Tory?
Some timely self-flagellation from Labour -
It's all Blair's fault that the natives are revolting….
Note also that Ben Riley-Smith, Scottish reporter, cannot spell 'privatisation'. Repeatedly. The Torygraph's going down the drain.
Does he employ anyone in his family?, Ba'alzevul, do you know?
I don't care one bit either but carry on if you must.
Good site, more on Riley-Smith -
Re GG, I imagine his youngest, by his third wife, the second of whom was born just four months before he married his fourth wife, are probably too young for politics. Though Embryo Hague set an alarming precedent…but a quick search indicates that at least George isn't doing a Blair/ Straw dynastic number.
I will, Mary. I will. Thank you.
Pleasing link-Happy days! Nevermind-The black cloth of death has covered the eyes of so many Iraq families.
I pulled this archived interview from a man still fat, dumb, happy and at ease with his god:
In another interview a week earlier, on January 14, on CBS's 60 Minutes, Bush repelled any suggestion of responsibility for error in his Iraq policy. He located the lack of public support in the United States in the insufficient thanks offered by the Iraqis. "Do you think you owe the Iraqi people an apology for not doing a better job?" asked correspondent Scott Pelley. "That we didn't do a better job or they didn't do a better job?" replied the president. "Well, that the United States did not do a better job in providing security after the invasion." "Not at all," said Bush. "I am proud of the efforts we did. We liberated that country from a tyrant. I think the Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude, and I believe most Iraqis express that. I mean the people understand that we've endured great sacrifice to help them. That's the problem here in America. They wonder whether or not there is a gratitude level that's significant enough in Iraq."
"Fred says that about everyone"
No I don't, I have perfectly civilised discussions with loads of people here and other places too.
If someone decides they would like to abandon civilised debate and resort to name calling then I'm happy to play that game too, I'm rather good at it.
Everybody get to choose which sort of game they want to play.
Did you know he's painting dogs Mark and strange self portraits of himself in the bath and shower??
Perhaps the self portraits are some attempt of self absolution of his sins? Like BLiar in the confessional perhaps?
If these illustrated here are really his work, then a psychiatrist should be brought in or is he just laughing in our faces.
Vultures right enough.
'Private companies are helping to decide the future of the NHS.
It's come to light that a lobbying outfit working for big drug companies was paid by NHS England to write an important report. It's claimed that this report could help shape £12bn (!) of NHS spending over the next five years. [1]
The NHS is owned by all of us. But NHS England – the body that runs the NHS here – doesn't have to publish conflicts of interest like this, or details of the lobbyists they meet with. We may never have even found out this was going on.
If enough of us kick up a stink, we could force NHS England to come clean about who's deciding the future of our NHS. Let's show them that the taxpayers who fund them expect honesty about who's advising them, especially when these people might profit from the decisions.
Will you add your name to the petition to demand transparency over who's deciding the future of our NHS?
Private companies getting involved in NHS decision-making is exactly what we all feared would happen when the government passed the Health and Social Care Act. As well as providing local services, private companies are now being ushered in at the top of the NHS.
There's no reason why NHS England can't publish potential conflicts of interest or meetings with lobbying firms. Government departments regularly do this. [2]
NHS England is less than a year old. They're not used to being on the receiving end of a big people-powered petition. Thousands and thousands of names on a petition, delivered to their offices, could embarrass them into coming clean about who's influencing them.
Can you sign the petition and demand that NHS England register any links to big business?
38 Degrees members have voted time and time again to ensure that protecting our NHS is at the core of what we do. [3] It's moments like this where we can come together and take action. Let's fight to protect our NHS from the vultures that are circling it. The first step is to find out who they are.
[1] The Independent – Revealed: Big Pharma's hidden links to NHS policy, with senior MPs saying medical industry uses 'wealth to influence government':
[2] Who's lobbying? – Government departments' registers of meetings:
[3] 38 Degrees blog post: Poll results: March 22nd 2014:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/03/24/poll-results-march-22nd-2014/ '
Does matter who owns the a Nhs ultimately the people will decide the standard of which it operates.
It comes down to money and the distribution that contributes to end user care.
Quality of management then are responsible. There then their are good and bad managers.
As politicians they are hand reared by reprobates in the case if G W Bush. They do a job.
It is all systemic in our attitude.
As with the vaccinations we are sincere in our reservations as people. Like Habba of high intelligence, why are they here instead of doing a useful job?
Habba would make a better politician than Bush.
Mark; Redemptive Awareness is not a quality contained in the Bush Dynasty.
But then, sociopaths enjoy a care-free lifestyle when conscience is absent.
Ba'al Zevul (Whose Dog Are You?)
27 Mar, 2014 – 12:41 pm
"I'm sufficiently old fashioned to think that regularly being paid by foreign media to advance the propaganda of foreign countries is not a legitimate occupation for an MP…"
Anyone who knows Galloway's politics knows full well that the views he expresses on Press TV or RT are his own and are views that he has expressed long before those channels offered him any shows.
So Ba'al Zevul / Komodo or whoever; as you must be fully conversant with Galloway and his views you are being dishonest and misleading.
A salient justification for Scottish Indys, ASAP?
Why, then, have the Scottish police and Crown Office failed to approach the witnesses who can attest to the mismatch between the fragment and the Libyan timers – witnesses who include the man who made the boards used in the those timers, and two independent scientists? The obvious answer is that they want to avoid evidence that shows the official case to be built on sand.
What a total hypocrite.
Jack Straw's tribute to 'family man' Tony Benn
Many comments today on Medialens about his funeral.
"A salient justification for Scottish Indys, ASAP?"
No Ben, one of the worrying things about independence is that the people would lose their right of appeal to the Supreme Court and the House of Lords. They would be left at the mercy of the Scottish establishment.
Take a look at this site and all will be revealed.
Communication Management Units are a new kind of prison born out of 9/11. People, mostly Muslims, are banged away, imprisoned for no known reason. Readers of this blog who refuse to believe what is going on, or divert attention from the truth, must be ignored or everybody who opposes the US, will end up in some kind of high-security penal institution, regardlless of whether they have committed a crime or not.
Annie P. Waldman investigates these little Guantanamos. Wake up world.
"It is becoming increasingly clear that the BOP is using these units to silence people, and to crack down on unpopular political speech. They have become units where the BOP can dump prisoners they have issues with or whose political beliefs they find anathema. In the months that come, with CCR's help, I hope to prove that in court and show what is happening at the CMUs. This needs to be dragged into the sunlight.
Less than three days after McGowan published his article on the Huffington Post, the Bureau of Prisons remanded him into custody for "publishing under his own byline," a violation of his probation. Although McGowan was released after one evening and was not charged with anything, the detention deeply troubled him. It was a reminder of the bureau's ability to curtail his freedom of speech. It was a reminder of the lack of transparent rationale or process. As in the CMU, it seemed to McGowan that the bureau was making up the rules and regulations as it went along."
A Node, thanks for your post in reply. I agree with what you say – yes, some disagreement is inevitable between people who broadly agree on things. I'm very much in favour of joint campaigns in general, unless the gap between groups is irreconcilable; for example, I fully support Craig being interviewed for Galloway's film. The need to bring Blair and company to justice is of substantial importance.
We should remember that disagreement amongst Left groups is always more likely (and of greater vehemence) than groups supporting the Establishment – this point is often forgotten. The distance that anti-war campaigners, feminists, socialists, and gay rights campaigners have to travel is much farther than those who believe in the status quo. So, here, we have another reason for tolerating small differences.
That all said, there's no harm in sifting through Galloway's views, in this small corner of the internet. I didn't know his position on independence before his recent tour, so it has come as a surprise to me. I'd have greatly thought that his views would have matched mine: London's arrogance is that Westminster will retain as much power over Scotland – and its
income – as it can. Some minor powers may be devolved, but they will be carefully circumscribed, if they are even delivered upon.
Meanwhile, Scotland is in social terms more generous than the English, poisoned as we are with the anti-politics of middle class envy and the petty jostling within a class pecking order of our own making. So, when Scot's views are genuinely sought, achieving policy that is a social benefit to Scotland might extend beyond excellent outcomes such as free higher education. I see an independent Scotland as putting forward Scotland's majority view on war, too. Even a campaign like Yes, wanting to be all things to everyone, is happy to state unequivocally: nuclear weapons are immoral and London can find a new home for them. Good for them, I say.
I'd have thought all of the above would be the poke in the eye that Galloway believes Westminster deserves, after Iraq, and austerity, and the increase in the wealth gap. With all that in mind, the "Naw" position seems to be: Scotland, don't abandon us to the Tories! We're better off being mediocre together!
I should welcome further notes on these reflections. Meantime – though I forget who used to be annoyed at my love of a good dram – a small Scotch is called for! Tomatin, I think – not a well known distillery, but highly recommended.
"I didn't know his position on independence before his recent tour, so it has come as a surprise to me."
If you check I think you will find that George has always spoken out against Right Wing Nationalism. He opposes Nationalists in his English constituency, he opposes Zionism in the Middle East.
I hope the Berezovsky family request a second inquest and that the police keep the case open. I believe the word of the German pathologist, Progessor Brinkmann who said that Berezovsky did not hang himself and that there were two people involved.
Germany has a reputation for excellence in forensic pathology.
Open Verdict In Berezovsky Death Inquest
The coroner's finding follows months of speculation over whether the Russian oligarch was killed or committed suicide.
'However, evidence pointing to suicide was called into question when an expert on hanging and asphyxiation cases said he believed Mr Berezovsky had been strangled.
Professor Bernd Brinkmann said: "In my view there is no way for death by hanging."
He told the hearing there was evidence to suggest two people were involved in the death of the businessman, who was known to have survived two assassination attempts.
Firstly, the marks on his neck were "far away from the typical inverse 'V' shape" usually seen in hanging cases, Professor Brinkmann said. Secondly, congestion to Mr Berezovsky's face was not consistent with being hanged.'
Professor Brinkmann of course.
Ah Fred, if memory serves: you and I had that discussion before, and we were unable to resolve it. I'm aware that you see parallels between the campaign for Scottish independence and the BNP, but I'm afraid I still don't see them. We will have to continue to agree to disagree on that one.
Jon, welcome back. Scottish independence is a bit of an enigma for me. I am a recent convert to it because of Tory interference by getting its servants to threaten withdrawal of business from Scotland to put pressure on voters – a really disgusting piece of dirty politics. I am still an ardent supporter of the European Union which might seem like a contradiction. In essence I would like Scotland to be part of the UK but because it is running its economy more on socially-concerned policies, like the non-existence of university fees, and Westminster imposes all kinds of capping on town and county councils, it needs a sizeable part of the UK to show that London is not the only place of any significance. I would personally like to see Birmingham break away. We get so little from the national pot. London bankers get so much!
Jon 27 Mar, 2014 – 10:34 pm
"I'm aware that you see parallels between the campaign for Scottish independence and the BNP, but I'm afraid I still don't see them."
Er, nationalism?
Are ya serious about coming to Stay in Scotland… i shall keep my ear to the ground for ya..Inverclyde area.
Independence movements may use nationalism as a means of rallying people, but they're always much more braodly based than that.
That's why you often get civil wars after the event.
So far as I can see the SNP mostly make economic arguments.
I'd say that the BNP types are mostly on the Unionist side of the argument, the remnants of British empire nationalism.
"So far as I can see the SNP mostly make economic arguments."
Oh good, do they have the budget deficit forecasts?
"Oh good, do they have the budget deficit forecasts?"
There certainly do appear to be some differences of opinion over oil revenues and whether they're decreasing or not.
"There certainly do appear to be some differences of opinion over oil revenues and whether they're decreasing or not."
So that just leaves us with the "unfair, biassed, scaremongering" economic arguments then.
fred 27 Mar, 2014 – 11:30 pm
"Oh good, do they have the budget deficit forecasts?"
Let's check the UK deficits while we're waiting, Fred ………
Ahhh …… an average of 131.25 billion/year for the past 4 years.
And your point was, Fred ….?
" Scottish independence is a bit of an enigma for me. I am a recent convert to it because of Tory interference by getting its servants to threaten withdrawal of business from Scotland to put pressure on voters – a really disgusting piece of dirty politics."
John it didn't happen.
They are businesses not charities. They will go where they make most profit which is the country where most of their customers are. The UK government didn't get them to do it any more than the Scottish government got the ones that say they will stay to stay.
It's all bottom line with businesses, if there is no monetary union then the businesses with most of their customers in the UK will move to the UK and those with most of their customers in Scotland will stay in Scotland. Anything else is just Nationalist propaganda.
"Let's check the UK deficits while we're waiting, Fred"
At least they will be this year's forecasts.
"At least they will be this year's forecasts."
Not a strong inducement to stick around, though
"Not a strong inducement to stick around, though"
Their honest, based on this year's figures, they aren't still using last years figures because they're better.
"Their honest, based on this year's figures, they aren't still using last years figures because they're better."
They're honestly terrible, then.
I can't understand why some folk get so vexed over the issue of independence.
It seems a very simple matter of democracy to me.
Should countries govern themselves, or should they get a neighbour to run their affairs for them? I would think the people best placed to govern a country are those that live there.
Jon, Fred
Do you categorize in any way yourselves?
"Anyone who knows Galloway's politics knows full well that the views he expresses on Press TV or RT are his own and are views that he has expressed long before those channels offered him any shows.
So Ba'al Zevul / Komodo or whoever; as you must be fully conversant with Galloway and his views you are being dishonest and misleading."
No, I think that's unfair. I don't think RT or (especially) PTV would buy time from anyone who wasn't prepared to advance their agenda, whether he was aware of it or not. I don't know if he approached them or they him, but that's irrelevant IMO, as the ideological fit – as you say – was well known in advance. And as an MP – which he chose to be – he has responsibility to this country first and foremost.
As I said earlier, I am equally critical (on the record) of those admirers of the US and Israel who sell, or even lend, their talents to the agendas of those countries. As an MP, he has a clear responsibility to his constituents, within the context of their being British citizens, and as I have said, with figures, he doesn't seem to make this his priority.
I stand by what I said, therefore. I think he is at best naif, and at worst a self-promoting, self-deluded Messianic chancer in the Blair mould, whom you would damn utterly were he a Tory, and rightly so. That said, I freely acknowledge his adoption of the Palestinian cause , with the caveat that by further polarising the issue, and placing himself firmly outside mainstream politics (which has the only power available to change things) he is probably not helping the Palestinian cause as much as he may think.
But he's not actually important.
Fred -"If you check I think you will find that George has always spoken out against Right Wing Nationalism. He opposes Nationalists in his English constituency, he opposes Zionism in the Middle East."
And he strongly supports Russian nationalism – which is no more leftwing than Prince Philip – in the Crimea:
Just sayin'.
The comments are fun, too.
Fred, A Node: ""Their honest, based on this year's figures, they aren't still using last years figures because they're better."
Any chance of seeing the figures from either side? With some idea of how they are reached? I'd welcome the chance not to have to search the Google world of finance myself, and I'd like to see this catfight underpinned by solid numbers. Not a chance, though. We are dealing with predictions, and , inevitably, predictions massaged by each side to suit its own cause. Fred, you're between a rock and a hard place. You have to believe statistics emanating from a Tory government to make your Socialist case. Caution!
"And he strongly supports Russian nationalism – which is no more leftwing than Prince Philip – in the Crimea:"
I don't tend to watch RT much but I'd assumed George supported the union of Crimea and Russia.
Is Craig's tweeting brevity encouraging concise responses; hope so.
Against exploitation and slavery!
"Jon, Fred
Do you categorize in any way yourselves?"
Rational, I categorize myself as rational.
There are right wing Nationalists in very other country and I find it hard to believe there aren't any in Scotland.
Especially as I've come across quite a few.
A bit of light distraction for those who have difficulty with the spam maths used in posting a comment.
4 x 4 + 4 x 4 + 4 – 4 x 4 =
Just put a single answer with no comment about it please.
Those who don't have difficulty with the spam test can have a go too. Habbabkuk phone a friend!
"I can't understand why some folk get so vexed over the issue of independence.
It seems a very simple matter of democracy to me.
Should countries govern themselves, or should they get a neighbour to run their affairs for them? I would think the people best placed to govern a country are those that live there."
It might be difficult to understand if you see everything in terms of "us and them".
If you just see one big "us" it will make more sense to you.
And just how big is your "US" ? How many borders do you wish to get rid of ?
Who do you want to make your decisions for you ?
Are you so insecure about your countrymen that you feel other nations are better equipped to make decisions ?
Do you decide when it's time to go to the Loo or does your mother still do that for you ?
If the big US is Westminster and they made good decisions for Scotland then I might be inclined to agree with you,but they don't and rarely have.As in Brussels which is another big US where there are over 70,000 lobbyists working daily to promote someone elses agenda,Westminster has their thousands of lobbyists working for business and not the people.The City of London has a rep sitting right behind the Speakers Chair making sure that Parliament does their bidding.The big US are left out by lobbied Interests.
Or is the Big US , the UN ? Which is a very one sided ,corrupt institution allowing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Israel,but punishing it elsewhere.
Who exactly is your big "US"?
Scotland has been used as a testing ground for weapons and policies, as well as a dumping ground for nuclear waste and nuclear weapons.They are continually outvoted in a lopsided parliament.If Westminster says No ,it's no, no matter if all 5.5 million Scots said Yes.
There is no Big US in the UK!
Independence will not fix everything,but it will allow the Scots to deal with their big US.
Israeli soldiers shot dead Palestinian teen in cold blood
March 27, 2014
(Al-Akhbar) – Israeli occupation forces who shot dead a Palestinian teenager in the West Bank last week used live fire, without warning, against innocent youngsters out foraging for roots, an Israeli rights group said Wednesday.
After investigating the March 19 death of 15-year-old Yussef Sami Shawamreh, B'Tselem said it had found no evidence to support the army's version of events that troops had opened fire at youths who had "sabotaged" the West Bank apartheid wall.
B'tselem is the Israeli founded and staffed Human Rights group of whom the British government professed to have no knowledge last week in the HoC.
You Tube is banned in Turkey.Twitter a few days before that.
Erdogan has gone mad.
MSM have reported the ban ,but not the reasons you tube got banned.
It was banned because it exposed a high level discussion in Erdogans military command discussing using Al Qaeda to missile attack a shrine in Syria which is guarded by Turkish special forces.They then state that this would be a cause of war between Syria and Turkey.
False Flag's by a NATO country would bring all of NATO into the fight.
Parliament wouldn't be needed to go to war then,because of our NATO commitments.
Or am I wrong about that ?
Embassy of Israel – London
Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 08:17
Subject: Automatic reply: Hebron
Thank you for your message.
We would like to share with you that Israeli diplomats and the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are currently engaged in a labor dispute. As a result, we won't be able to respond to this message or other requests.
Our struggle is an attempt to strengthen the Israeli Foreign Service as a major contributor to national security, to its ability to promote Israeli values and interests, and to give a better service to Israeli citizens.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Plus a version in Hebrew. What is the Hebrew for 'Trouble at mill'?
DonnyDarko, you're probably right. There are so many false flags kicking off and have kicked off in the US aims at global domination, including the Ukraine and Somalia, it is probably true. My worst fears are that when the US realises that world domination is unachievable, it will only have nuclear weapons left. Knowing all these criminals will be facing war-crimes it will destroy the planet.
At the time we went to war in Iraq the leaders of all three political parties were Scots. Just how much control did you want?
Our local MP fought hard to have the first Nuclear reactor in Britain built here and a great benefit it has been and still is to our community. People who served apprenticeships at Dounreay, welders, electricians, went on to work offshore. I've never met anyone here wishes it had been built elsewhere, I've met an awful lot of people damned glad it wasn't.
"There are right wing Nationalists in very other country and I find it hard to believe there aren't any in Scotland."
I notice you are defining your term very precisely. Is there such a thing at all for you as a left-wing nationalist (without capitals)? No? Then doesn't any nationalist whatever necessarily figure as rightwing on your personal radar?
The popularity of the SNP is by no means entirely due to its nationalism, and is arguably more due to its resonance with genuine Socialists (capital) who felt increasingly betrayed by Nu Labour's Nu Thatcherism, and who demonstrably wanted no part of the Conservative and Unionist Party, which treated Scotland with complete contempt.
Re unionists and nationalists, there's a letter in the Guardian today describing the reaction of an Ulster prison officer to being asked how the prisoners of the two factions spent their time in jail. The unionists spent their time in the gym. The IRA boys spent their time reading and studying for degrees.
Go figure.
O/T-The Celtic force of Finian Cunningham
This elite Western narrative espoused by Obama and his club of bankrupt European non-entity politicians has by now alienated a global audience at home and around the world. Certainly not in the Rembrandt class, but most people can now see elite Western posturing as a masterpiece of illusion.
"I've never met anyone here wishes it had been built elsewhere,"
I have. A universitu lecturer and researcher. He performed a plutonium particle survey on a nearby beach. And felt badly enough about it to detail what he had found in every module he taught.
"I have. A universitu lecturer and researcher. He performed a plutonium particle survey on a nearby beach. And felt badly enough about it to detail what he had found in every module he taught."
What was his name? Where did he rather it was built?
There were a lot of people died in the coal mines of South Yorkshire and Wales, I don't remember many of the people who lived there supporting their closure.
Ba'al Zevul (Liberté, Egalité, Shopping Malls!) 28 Mar, 2014 – 8:32 am
"No, I think that's unfair. I don't think RT or (especially) PTV [Press TV] would buy time from anyone who wasn't prepared to advance their agenda, whether he was aware of it or not. I don't know if he approached them or they him, but that's irrelevant IMO, as the ideological fit – as you say – was well known in advance. And as an MP – which he chose to be – he has responsibility to this country first and foremost."
This is an extract from an article written by the refreshingly honest Geoffrey Alderman in defence of Press TV when it was banned by Ofcom from broadcasting to Britain:
"I believe this action by Ofcom to be thoroughly deplorable as well as palpably cynical. But before I go any further I must make two declarations of interest. The first is that I am a proud Zionist. The second is that within months of its establishment in the UK in 2007, I became an occasional broadcaster on Press TV, appearing mostly on panel discussions. In 2011, I made four such appearances, and received a total of £300 in fees, which I donated to Israel.
My Zionist affiliation and sympathies are of course very well known to Press TV. But I have never been censored, nor has the company ever made the slightest attempt to get me to modify a particular view. Press TV's considerable following in the Middle East has thus been exposed to opinions and arguments – especially in relation to Israel – that they might otherwise never hear. Now this voice of balance has been silenced."
This "proud Zionist" is getting an average of £75 per appearance on Press TV. He clearly isn't doing it for the money. He appears to suggest that he is doing it to advance his Zionist views.
Ba'al Zevul, does this advance the agenda of Press TV, and if so what are these agenda?
Interesting, and relevant point, about nationalism from this article (I recommend the whole blog – it makes sensible points with an extremely cheeky humour). It refers to Michael White, a Guardian man, writing in New Statesman:
As political analysis Michael's Caledonian musings are not even anal, he just makes an arse of them. It's more than a wee bit alarming that a politics guru can't get over the simple word "nationalism" and appreciate that common or garden words mean different things in different contexts and that this is true in spades of political words. You'd think that would be the most basic tool of his trade.
The goal of a movement which seeks self determination for a country without a state is qualitatively different from the nationalism of a political party which seeks to aggrandise an existing state and isolate it from the world in a red white and blue wet dream. The goal of Scottish independence is diametrically opposed to the goal of UKIP, and many if not most supporters of Scottish independence are nationalist only in so much as they recognise the existence of Scotland as a nation.
Ba'al Zevul (Liberté, Egalité, Shopping Malls!) 28 Mar, 2014 – 8:56 am
" Any chance of seeing the figures from either side? With some idea of how they are reached? I'd welcome the chance not to have to search the Google world of finance myself, and I'd like to see this catfight underpinned by solid numbers"
I wasn't talking about a budget deficit forecast but Fred seemed to think I was and seemed to be on the defensive about it, so I didn't correct him
I couldn't find a UK forecast so I quoted the budget deficits for the past four years, an average of 131.25 billion/year. Here's the solid numbers:
Ba'al Zevul, does this advance the agenda of Press TV, and if so what are these agenda?
Fair question. I don't have enough information to answer it. But tokenism comes to mind. We have moved on from the days when Radio Moscow figured extolling the glorious people's revolutionary advances in tractor gearbox production had any relevance to the West, and PTV isn't simpleminded, I'll give it that.
The agenda of PTV, which is funded by the Iranian state, and said to be close to the Revolutionary Guard, is to advance Iranian interests. As it is entitled to do.
And your exemplar isn't an MP. Which was, after all, my point.
"What was his name?"
What's yours? As this is a public space, and I don't have his permission, I decline to answer your question. However, he is English, a senior academic, meticulous, and additionally now holds a responsible position in local politics. If I have to take your (many) unsupported statements as fact, please return the courtesy. Thanks.
Thanks A Node. Telling indeed…
Fred? Forecasts?
There were a lot of people died in the coal mines of South Yorkshire and Wales, I don't remember many of the people who lived there supporting their closure.
I don't recall them objecting to improved safety procedures and cleanup of their localities either. I'm not talking about the people with a stake in the operation, anyway. Some of them would sell their own grannies for a job (forgivably; more of them, since Thatcher, and under policies pretty well endorsed by Nu Libor), and whistleblowers are severely discouraged. I'm talking about everyone else.
Still, if you've developed a mysterious lump after swimming near Dounreay, on your head be it!
Left wing nationalists? Fred?
Right said Fred !
So you've gone from the big US to lokal hero?
There was such a huge job pool and under employment in the the North of Scotland way back then that building a test reactor along with the weapons Dept was welcomed by the local sheep.
It had nothing to do with the fact they needed large amounts of cold water and it to be as far away as possible from London.
Sorry Fred , but you're full of it!!
You've got to do this test. Get it wrong and you can't move to Scotland!!!
4 x 4 + 4 x 4 + 4 – 4 x 4 =
Just put a single answer with no comment about it please.
Apparently 73% of people get the answer wrong in the above question.
Only 20 if you accept the normal conventions of mathematics – given JG doesn't accept normal conventions (such as not telling people how to reply to your own comments) I suspect that he reaches a different answer – probably 0.8181818181 or similar.
Or 16
sorry, 20. But I got the Captcha right.
below the cut and pasted quote there is the link to the article.
Since you are probably not Scots and definitely not from the area, you've now become a local zero in my humble opinion.
"Dounreay was chosen chiefly because of the assumed risk that, in the event of a catastrophic control system failure leading to core meltdown, a release of radioactivity to the environment was a likely consequence. This would result in the necessary evacuation of people living in the vicinity of the reactor, possibly within a radius of a few miles. The population density around Dounreay was very low, lower than that of West Cumbria. If it hadn't been, the fast reactor would have certainly gone to Windscale. To its credit, the UKAEA has never made any secret of its prime reason for coming to Caithness.
From the outset the authorities had sought to allay public fears about the fast reactor. Immediately after the Government's announcement about Dounreay, Sir David Robertson, the charismatic MP for Caithness and Sutherland had addressed a packed meeting in Thurso's Miller Calder Hall. Sir David's speech is a masterpiece of tub-thumping triumphalism, in which he stated, with some justification, that had he not been the area's MP the fast reactor project would never have come to Caithness. These far from modest claims were endorsed by his platform partners, Brigadier Keith Murray, Convener of Caithness County Council, and John Sinclair, Thurso's Provost. John Sinclair advised the audience to continue eating fish, which would not be affected by the small amount of radioactivity discharged to the sea from Dounreay. He had personally sought the opinion of an expert who had studied data from surveys of the marine environment around Windscale, Sir David Robertson also promised to ensure that full compensation would be paid to anyone whose property or activities were adversely affected by the fast reactor. Reassuring words from well-respected public figures who had done everything in their power to ensure that the fast reactor came to Caithness. But when someone asked whether, given his assurances as to the reactor's safety, Sir David would exchange his London house for a croft at Buldoo, the audience's nervous laughter betrayed a still lurking sense of apprehension.
Early in April 1954, the Scottish Trade Union Congress, meeting at Aberdeen, passed a motion calling for the outlawing of the hydrogen bomb in particular, and atomic weapons in general. One delegate warned that Dounreay would be a potential atom bomb; another asked what would happen if the reactor got out of control. A week later the Caithness Courier started a series of articles drawing its readers attention to an HMSO publication entitled Britain's Atomic Factories. This booklet contained information on the discharge of liquid radioactive effluent from Windscale, concluding that no concentrations of radioactive contamination had been detected so far, and in Dounreay's case, effluent would quickly disperse in the swift running waters of the Pentland Firth. The book also declared that while danger did exist, workers in the nuclear plants were better protected than in any other industry, a statement which, arguably, remains true today. Whether or not these learned articles had any pacific effect on local fears is uncertain. To any half-decent public relations officer, faith in a known and respected local person would have seemed a better bet.
When Donald Carmichael arrived in Caithness in the summer of 1954, his prime mission appears to have been the recruitment of suitable staff for the fast reactor project. For weeks he journeyed all over the North, interviewing, assessing, sounding out likely candidates, relying on the contacts he had made as wartime officer in charge of shore radio stations in the northern highlands. From Tongue to Golspie he scoured the country, driven by Rab Murray whose father had owned a lemonade factory in Shore Street, Thurso, until the early 1950s' when failure to keep pace with mechanised production methods had led to its closure. Rab was later to become one of the first two Dounreay transport drivers. "
"Sorry Fred , but you're full of it!!"
Well now I ignored your personal insults in your previous post.
This time I'll just tell you straight, I tell it how it is from first hand knowledge. If the truth doesn't match your propaganda that's your problem.
Next time I will feel justified in responding in kind.
Hi Fred
there is an easy way to settle that.
Is it pawldies or is it peevers ?
"This booklet contained information on the discharge of liquid radioactive effluent from Windscale, concluding that no concentrations of radioactive contamination had been detected so far …."
If that was true then, it isn't now.
"Sellafield discharges two million gallons of radioactive water into the Irish Sea every day at high tide. This includes a cocktail of over 30 alpha, beta and gamma radionuclides. BNFL admits that radioactive discharges in the 1970's were 100 times those of today. As a result of these discharges, which include around half a tonne of plutonium, the Irish Sea has become the most radioactively contaminated sea in the world. Caesium-137 and Iodine-129 from Sellafield have spread through the Arctic Ocean into the waters of northern Canada and are having a bigger impact on the Arctic than the Chernobyl accident. Sellafield's gas discharges of Krypton can be measured in Miami.
The guinea pigs in a 'deliberate scientific experiment' to find out levels of contamination in the food chain, were the Cumbrian people and their environment. Claiming then that the radioactive materials discharged from the 2km pipeline would dilute and disperse into the wider oceans, the industry clearly got it wrong, with high levels of radioactive discharge material washed ashore and trapped in the coastal sands and sediments.
A leading government-backed scientist from East Anglia University discovered that plutonium particles, concentrated in waves breaking on the shore, was being blown over West Cumbria, as far as 37 miles inland.This was confirmed by analysis of vacuum cleaner house dust samples taken up and down the coast by a National Radiological Protection Board investigation.
That Sellafield plutonium gets everywhere was shown in post-mortem examinations of former Sellafield workers. Concentrations of hundreds and in one case thousands of times higher than in the general population were found. Cumbrians who never worked at the plant had plutonium levels ranging from 50% to 250% above the average compared to elsewhere in Britain. Atomic Energy Authority scientist, Prof. Nick Priest, studied the teeth of over 3000 young people throughout Britain and Ireland. He found traces of Sellafield plutonium in varying doses, the highest doses being closest to Sellafield."
"below the cut and pasted quote there is the link to the article.
Since you are probably not Scots and definitely not from the area, you've now become a local zero in my humble opinion."
Well shit for brains you just posted a load of stuff confirming a lot of what I said and contradicting none of it.
So as you are the one madly googling while I'm speaking from personal experience I don't think your humble opinion is worth a shit.
Your Nationalist bully boy tactics are not going to work on me so go fuck yourself retard.
DoNNyDarKo 28 Mar, 2014 – 3:25 pm
"Hi Fred
there is an easy way to settle that.
Is it pawldies or is it peevers ?"
I'm born and bred in the Highlands and I don't have a clue what your talking about. Leave out the anti-English comments, please.
@Ba'al Zevul, So you have gone from bolding asserting that Galloway was "being paid by foreign media to advance the propaganda of foreign countries", as if some sort of traitorous fifth columnist, to then accepting that the views he broadcasts are his own, but still claiming that he was advancing an Iranian agenda, either directly or inadvertently; when it's pointed out to you that ardent Zionists are also paid to appear on PTV, you downplay this inconvenient fact that runs contra to your charge of PTV only employing pro-Iranian propagandists, as irrelevant "tokenism", and try to defend your wandering, and increasing weakening, attempt to smear him, by stating that your point all along, from the beginning, was that as an MP, "he has a clear responsibility to his constituents, within the context of their being British citizens" & "he doesn't seem to make this his priority".
So your charge really seems to be that as an MP, he doesn't devote enough attention to his constituents, because of his attention to World affairs. So what does he track record show ?
His serving as an MP in Glasgow for 18 years straight years, winning election after election, would tend to indicate that his constituents there appear to have no complaints about his service to them;
"The George Galloway that the people of Glasgow say they know is quite different from the showy Commons performer and Labour party irritant. In Glasgow he is regarded simply as a fixer: a pensioners' bus service; an asylum seeker's complaint – the bread and butter of British politics.
"People have this idea of George as the MP for the West Bank and not the west end of Glasgow and it's not true," said the constituency chairman, Mark Craig.
One senior Westminster politician tells of an elderly widowed aunt who lives in Galloway's constituency and became the target of vandals. She wrote to her MP, without mentioning her political link, to ask for help. "He got in touch with the chief constable who put a police car in front of her house for three days," the MP said yesterday. "Although she is a west of Scotland Tory lady, my aunt thinks George Galloway walks on water."
After being expelled from the Labour Party, he formed Respect & promptly won a spectacular victory in becoming MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in 2005; an area with a high immigrant population, in which his view & positions on international affairs, were actually an important factor as to why people voted for him; as to local issues, during his time as MP there, his Surgery was one of the busiest in the country, to the extent that at his own expense, he hired people to help out, and was attending the HOC practically everyday, including Bank Holidays, (even X-mas Day !). He didn't stand again there, as he had already made clear before winning the seat, and instead stood & won his fifth election victory in Bradford West, again another area with a high immigrant population, where his interests in World affairs yet again played a role in his election success.
So it seems that your doubly charge of neglecting his responsibilities to the people who actually voted for him, and concentrating too much on international affairs against their wishes, is not borne out, and the opposite is revealed to be true.
Re your comment to Mary;
"I have wanted to ask you, repeatedly, but usually managed to stop myself, as some wholly irrelevant interjection, usually C&P'd from the MSM, is yet again hurled into the middle of a discussion about something else"
If I could afford to spend the time, I would find your comment address to a Habby, who was repeating this very same objection to Mary's posts, in which you actually defended her right to do so, and advised him to simply ignore her posts if he didn't like them; perhaps you should take your own advice.
Guess you never played when you were a kid then A Node. No pavements ?
Why do you think the question is anti-English ?
"Guess you never played when you were a kid then A Node. No pavements ?"
Country boy, mostly played in the woods
"Why do you think the question is anti-English ?"
I can't see any other interpretation. Why did you ask it?
"there is an easy way to settle that.
Is it pawldies or is it peevers ?"
Are you calling me a liar as well?
I thought I was the shit for brains retard that had to go and fuck myself?
You are such a tease, Fred. I thought I was special, and now I find out you sweet talk all the boys.
My mum played peevers, but our thing was pitchy.
"I thought I was the shit for brains retard that had to go and fuck myself?
You are such a tease, Fred. I thought I was special, and now I find out you sweet talk all the boys. "
I try not to put too much effort into flaming people, sort of defeats the object.
Rationalist. Thanks,means well
For you today.
I called my boat Peril.
I get loads of people praying for me.
I guess Fred never did, those early years must have been bleak.
No conkers, no marbles, no hunts, no kick the can, no british bulldogs, no rounders.
No friends, no company, no chance to learn empathy, social interaction, compromise.
Anti-democratic and pro-nuclear contamination amongst the results of such deprivation.
You are all snared by this damaged one, yet must it by now and know it's futility squared.
@Tony M
Go fuck yourself pathetic little creep.
You hussy, Fred. So that's my insults finished?
I went and got a box of tissues ready, and all for nothing.
Israeli Soldier Admits Lying About Being Stabbed
March 28, 2014
The Israeli soldier who was allegedly stabbed yesterday [Thursday, March 27, 2014], has admitted to the police that he made up the story, according to Haaretz.http://www.imemc.org/article/67384
He was probably under orders from his superiors.
You did not get a reply from Komodo Macky. He's knocked off the for the weekend probably. I think he is a weekday contributor here if I remember correctly. Little meeting of minds here these days judging from the previous page. If you look back at old CM threads, there was more fun and many more contributors. Where are they now?
If I may make a suggestion about lack of fun on this thread, Mary.
Most threads are theoretical 'discussions', but the possibility of Scottish independence is a real event. The vote is happening on September the 18th, and it is a threat to the British State, not just an internet 'what if'.
Defenders of the British State will do their damnest to dis Indy supporters, and vice-versa.
Mary; "there was more fun and many more contributors. Where are they now?"
The fun has become a casualty of shambolic moderating, past & present, and the neocon friendly position of CM's Ukraine position, is probably responsible for the departure of many.
"You did not get a reply from Komodo Macky"
I think he was looking for a debate with anybody, even the you know whats, probably why he had a poke at you as well; alas I only managed to free some time in the late afternoon, too late perhaps for very bored lizards !
"The fun has become a casualty of shambolic moderating, past & present, and the neocon friendly position of CM's Ukraine position, is probably responsible for the departure of many."
It's true that Craig's posts on Ukraine/Russia/rasPutin et al did cause a sharp intake of breath and a certain tightening of sphincters, resulting in the departure of some. But hey, that's the danger of the inmates believing, after time, that they own the asylum!
But don't worry too much – there are still far more people commenting here than on Mr Goss's blog. Last time I looked, I couldn't find a single comment on any one of John's last half a dozen threads
La vita è bella, life is good!.
Returning to the topic, remember that?
Is Mr Myles of the Liberal persuasion or of the SDP ilk.
There have obviously been a great deal of so far hardly aired spookery involved in the creation of the SDP, or as it was formerly known as the SDA (NOT the Scottish Development Agency). Its backers, its creators were the usual rogues gallery of US-enslaved right-worshipping subservient NGO's, that supported and drove Britain's own colour revolution, it's Yellow Revolution, must take its place alongside Rose, Orange and other shades of democracy's undermining. Alongside spadeloads, assisted by the press, of demonisation of the democratic Left in Britain and a few murders along the way, Operation Gladio too wasn't some japes over on the continent, but was as strong, as evil as operational over here. They might never have formed a government till this bastard Tory/Lib Dem coalition, but certainly delivered the Thatcher governments of '79 and complete takover of the state by '83. I always knew Shirley Williams and David Owen were wrong 'uns but for every rat that left the Labour Party, a greater number remained to form the core of the ultra-reactionary Nu-Labour.
And too, that'll be Nicol 'No Surrender' Stephen, now in the House of Lords, that gallery of crooked, bent crones, after an epic journey from mediocrity through fourth rate to nothingness.
Have a gong for services rendered on hands and knees before empire.
'But don't worry too much – there are still far more people commenting here than on Mr Goss's blog…'
At least he has the integrity not to conceal his identity. A person who endlessly sneers and smirks and taunts like you but hides behind the cloak of anonymity is a disreputable coward in my view.
A Node… could never have been an anti English jibe.
It's a simple wee test that tells which part of Scotland you grew up in.
And you're a country boy… West country by the sounds of it.
KingOfWelshNoir 9.37pm.
Well said,well said.
Habbabkuk you're just a pathetic see through troll fake.
Grow an honest pair or just go.
You're a dishonest broker on this blog Habbabkuk.
State broadcaster says:
Downing St issues statement denying claim that currency union between UK and an independent Scotland will be agreed
Scottish independence: Currency union comments spark denial
Mr Myles with his RSPB connections might already know of this cruelty -
'THE killers of Scotland's birds of prey are switching from poisoning to shooting, trapping and nest destruction, the latest wildlife crime figures have revealed.
However, figures from the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (Paw) Scotland still showed the number of illegal poisonings in Scotland doubled in the past year – there were three in 2012 and six in 2013.
A red kite, a golden eagle and four buzzards were poisoned in 2013 but the number remains well below a peak of 30 in 2009.
In a bid to curb the increase in killings, Paw has published a set of maps which show the location of all recorded crimes against birds of prey last year.'
"'But don't worry too much – there are still far more people commenting here than on Mr Goss's blog…'
At least he has the integrity not to conceal his identity. A person who endlessly sneers and smirks and taunts like you but hides behind the cloak of anonymity is a disreputable coward in my view."
. My dear fellow, your thought processes need to sharpen up a little. Your post is a good example of how to confuse two entirely separate issues, I'm afraid. One issue is how many people are visiting/commenting on this blog (and on Mr Goss's) and the other issue – which you've thrown in, somewhat irrelevantly, concerns identification/anonymity. To be noticed that your irrelevant point itself mixes up two things, ie, the anonymity or otherwise of the blogmaster and the anonymity or otherwise of commenters.
On the anonymity of commenters,
1/. it's difficult to know whether commenters on Mr Goss's blog would "hide behind the cloak of anonymity" becuase there seem to be no commenters at all
2/. as for Craig's blog, how many commenters have revealed their identity? I refer you to Ba'alZevul's post yesterday for an example…)
So, very politely, I would invite you to piss off.
Actually, some time ago Mary suggested registration, presumably on order to be able to comment on this blog.
I think I'd agree with that. People wishing to comment should be registered….but should give full detail of themselves so that we could all get anh idea where they're coming from. In other words, full name, town where they live, age, ethnicity, party or organisations they may be members of, what they do for a living, etc, and a brief biographical sketch. These details should be verified by Craig/the moderators on the basis of documentation where possible, and should be available for reference to all readers (eg in a special section of the website). The task of verification shouldn't be that diffficult since there cannot be more than 20 or 30 regular commenters.
There you are – I wonder how many people would be up fir that, eh, King?
"KingOfWelshNoir 9.37pm.
Well said,well said.
Habbabkuk you're just a pathetic see through troll fake.
Grow an honest pair or just go.
You're a dishonest broker on this blog Habbabkuk.
Give us an example of courage, Jives.
Your full name, town you live in, age, occupation, ethicity, plud anything else you consider relevant.
Distractions, distractions.
Please Mr Policeman, can I put 'Somewhere in leafy Surrey' as my place of residence.
If I recall my suggestion was for a measure to combat t****s, the use of multiple names and sock puppeting.
The Bundle of Sticks
Independence from England could bring dependance on Europe.
As a strong body wilful decision could be sounded, and With proper representation Europe could realise noble aims.
As Kempe says we should think local in terms of trade and commercial interests to rationalise principles of consumerism. Joining the Euro has many possibilities.
An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him
to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to
bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son: "Break
it." The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was
unable to break the Bundle. The other sons also tried, but none
of them was successful. "Untie the faggots," said the father,
"and each of you take a stick." When they had done so, he called
out to them: "Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. "You
see my meaning," said their father.
Union gives strength.
As usual, you obfuscate:
'…your irrelevant point itself mixes up two things, ie, the anonymity or otherwise of the blogmaster and the anonymity or otherwise of commenters.'
There was no such mx-up: you invented it. My point was clearly about the anonymity of commenters on this blog, not on John Goss's blog. If you click on John's name it takes you to his blog where you can find out about him.
Clicking on your name takes you, appropriately, nowhere.
I am definitely in favour of non-anonymity, I think anonymity is responsible for much of the needless unpleasantness we get online; people strangely liberated by their avatar behave in ways they would never do if people knew who they were. I think most people would accept that. Of course there are occasions where people genuinely need to protect their identity, but these are rare. That said, I don't advocate the extensive list of identity information you list at the bottom of your post.
So, in answer to your question, yes I would be up for it. I think it would make a vast improvement to the tone, flavour and atmosphere of this and most forums and comment boards.
Union is strength,but there are many ways of being United.
Westminster abuses its power and banks have far too much influence over policy.
Brussels has become fascist in nature and has a very obscure leadership dropped into place very much like the leaders of Italy,Greece and Ukraine.Unelected ,with usually a banking background ,dedicated to following through on IMF policy.
Mussolini used that bunch of sticks as a symbol of Fascism…. in fact that is where the word comes from.
Even if the people of Scotland vote for independence that is not what they will get, when Uncle Sam says shit Salmond will jump on the shovel.
That is because the states of the United States are united.
I like your avatar Andy. That's Bibi with his bomb* and his famous red line isn't it? Cannot say how many lines of all colours he himself has crossed.
*PS Or 'boeum' as pronounced by the French policeman in 'Allo 'Allo.
In a performance of 'Allo 'Allo by members of this blog, I nominate Habbabkuk, in the light of his recent suggestions, to play Colonel Von Strohm.
'Name, rank and number and keep your thumbs in line with your trouser seams.' 'Shun! To the right, quick march!'.
PS I want to be René.
Before I know whether to feel pleased or not, I need to know what (?) 'Allo 'Allo is.
"Downing St issues statement denying claim that currency union between UK and an independent Scotland will be agreed"
That doesn't change anything then, we still don't know, the independents says they will have union and the unions say they will have independence.
It casts a lot of doubt about Trident though.
'Allo, 'Allo
It was one of the most over-rated sitcoms of all time, set in a French cafe during World War II. There was only one joke, as far as I remember, and that consisted of caricaturing the funny accents of foreign people.
"There was no such mx-up: you invented it."
It is not by denying something that you make it untrue, KingOfWelshNoir.
Your response quoted a part of my post, which concerned the numbers of commenters of Mr Goss's blog as compared to the number of commenters here, only to dive straight into a point about anonymity (John Goss's and mine). Now these are two different issues which you have mixed up.
"I don't advocate the extensive list of identity information you list at the bottom of your post."
Why not? Just giving a correct name and surname doesn't mean very much, does it; it certainly doesn't help readers gets a sense of the poster's background and where s/he's coming from.
It is true that John Goss does provide some info, although it's sketchy for an only casual reader who wouldn't necessarily be able to make the connections. But even so he's very much the exception. Who's Ba'al Zevul (apart from being Komodo)? Mary? Herbie, Macky, Jives, Doug Sccorgie? Fred, DoNNyDarKo, Tony M? Our Californian seer ("Ben")? Never mind all those "new" names which suddenly popped up on the Ukraine threads.
But it still attracted more attention than your books!
BTW I did read one many years ago – but sorry I found the humour somewhat forced and hence false.
Fred. What Is the necessity of Trident. Controlled destruction?
Interesting, such efforts and money employed in controlled construction is some what more appealing though….
Ah jobs. o well have to go with Trident then.
Thanks for the info. Ignorance was bliss…
It's something everyone seems to feel strongly about, both sides have their arguments and good arguments they are. I wouldn't like to say which side was right and which side was wrong.
If Salmond gets a lot of people voting for independence because they think he will get rid of Trident then decides it can stay that would be wrong, very wrong indeed.
"If Salmond gets a lot of people voting for independence because they think he will get rid of Trident then decides it can stay that would be wrong, very wrong indeed."
It's what politicians do, Blair sold off ATC after promising "our airspace is not for sale", Wilson said the UK would ditch nuclear weapons when he became PM and he ended up buying Polaris, Kinnock swore he was going to abolish the House of Lords but still accepted a peerage and so on.
Don't kid yourselves that Salmond is any different.
"Don't kid yourselves that Salmond is any different."
I wasn't, I don't kid myself that junior ministers risk their kid's school fees for nothing either.
The message is clear, when Salmond has to choose between tree huggers and investment bankers he's going to hang the tree huggers out to dry every time. So if anyone was thinking of voting on principles forget it, Salmond hasn't got any.
I meant to say René's wife, Edith, in 'Allo, 'Allo.
King of Welsh Noir didn't like it. It was funny the first time around with the policeman's mispronunciations. But like every series of programmes on the BBC, they continue for too long and become repetitive.
10 years of it.
Sun's out. So is the traffic. So are the would-be Bradley Wigginses en masse.
Ah intelligence and compassion.
Ben over at Squonk tells us that Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone has joined Greenwald and the others at the Omidyar funded First Look.
Will we ever read lines like these again?
His July 2009 Rolling Stone article "The Great American Bubble Machine" famously described Goldman Sachs as "a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money". The expression "Vampire Squids" has come to represent in financial and political media the perception of the financial and investment sector as entities that "sabotage production" and "sink the economy as they suck the life out of it in the form of rent."'
"Ah intelligence and compassion."
I honestly don't know on nuclear weapons, only the future could tell.
Everybody lives with a threat of annihilation hanging over them but on the other hand nobody flattened Coventry since we've had them.
Can we presume that Mary is eulogizing a different Matt Taibi than the one who gave the National Bolshevik Eduard Limonov a regular column in the magazine he published and who provided a foreword to one of his books? Or is it ok to support fascists as long as they are anti-American?
Fiest look blog here Mary:
"Sun's out. So is the traffic. So are the would-be Bradley Wigginses en masse."
Let's hope there are a few would be Victoria Pendleton's as well! My daughter is pedalling furiously outside as we talk.
Sir Bruce Keogh told Hunt to b****r off. The stooges that were set into the places to privatise the NHS seem to be revolting.
'Control freak' Jeremy Hunt accused of manipulating NHS for political ends
Senior figures tell of fears that health secretary has torn up coalition pledge to make service operationally independent
Denis Campbell, health correspondent
The Guardian, Thursday 27 March 2014
Soros and his 'progressivism'…false flag?
Fred. Sometimes something's will change.
We won't need Trident.
"I dont believe in the justice system. I have seen things go on in the world & how people get away with them"- Michael Jackson
"Fred. Sometimes something's will change.
We won't need Trident."
Yes some things will change, others will stay as they are.
I've lived three score years never having to go to war and never having war come to me.
Throughout history few have been so fortunate, that is a change worth keeping.
Fred says, "I've lived three score years never having to go to war and never having war come to me"
It's just a pity that your beloved British State has been at war in other countries for each of those three score years.
@Mark Golding
If you do not consider First Look horrifying then may I recommend some Tarzie for you. Tarzie has been shifting perspectives on Greenwald/FirstLook for a while. I think you might like it. It's all excellent so click away but here's some to start:
Phil; I'm not sure I want to call the Coroner yet. I think we should give them a chance. Any start-up co has got to find it's bearings. As for Tarzie, we have a lot of 'liberals' in the US who think Snowden is a traitor. It's useless to attempt some reason, because TREASON !
Btw; Most of those 'liberals' are connected to the legal profession, and are jealous to guard their continued employment. They find it undermines the rule of law which insists that justice prevail and the guilty be punished; humanely, of course.
There are warmongers everywhere around the world there are also many pacifists.
The question is how do we fight for peace?
"There are warmongers everywhere around the world there are also many pacifists.
The question is how do we fight for peace?"
You don't, fighting for peace is like…
There is no way, maybe one day reason will prevail, we can hope.
"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. it works the same in any country."
Hermann Goering
"Sun's out. So is the traffic. So are the would-be Bradley Wigginses en masse."
It must be that time of the year again – Mary's complaining about cyclists!
"It's just a pity that your beloved British State has been at war in other countries for each of those three score years."
Oh no, not that old canard again, surely?
Though I do note that last time round it was "at war WITH other countries" and it's now "at war IN other countries", which would very conveniently cover events like EOKA in Cyprus and Mau Mau in Kenya.
Wake up there! You were going to give us an example of courage and identify yourself fully for this blog, weren't you? Unlike that "coward" Habbabkuk, dontcha know
Channelling me again. Tedious.
I was not complaining about cyclists, I was reporting a fact. I feel sorry for them cycling on the potholed Surrey Cary tracks that are called roads. The police cannot distinguish between drunk drivers and those weaving around the potholes!
RE Trident…
i'm heading to Glasgow next Saturday morning for the Spring Walk Anti trident March…
Speaker's Include Nicola Sturgeon… Anyone else Going along ?
Brian; Wish I could join you.
Looks like they've got Ukraine sorted.
Two opposing oligarchs are going to fight it out for the presidency.
Much more honest than our system, where the oligarchs remain hidden, pulling the strings from behind the curtain.
Petro Poroshenko, his nickname seems to be "Great", as in Peter the Great. Could be a joke, maybe not.
No Fear Ben… You shall be there in Spirit… Cheers.
Herbie Kool link on Ukraine Thanks
This one takes on Obama Speech -
"But even in Iraq, America sought to work within the international system. We did not claim or annex Iraq's territory. We did not grab its resources for our own gain. Instead, we ended our war and left Iraq to its people in a fully sovereign Iraqi state that can make decisions about its own future." – well, it is even inconvenient to comment. A complete trash. The latest briefing on the situation in the war-torn failing state of Iraq is here.
"It is absurd to suggest, as a steady drumbeat of Russian voices do, that America is somehow conspiring with fascists inside of Ukraine but failing to respect the Russian people. " – the facts tell for themselves – Ukrainian ultranationalists are funded and controlled by the US intelligence till now.
Finally, another correct phrase: "No amount of propaganda can make right something that the world knows is wrong." You are talking about your own propaganda machine, president Obama! Just switch it off!
Just a minute: An Egyptian court has sentenced two supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi to death in connection with violence that followed his ouster last year.
Are we stuck in the 17th century?
The unseating of Morsi involved a labyrinthine of many-faceted subterfuge. Now, two more die by way of some of those tricks.
Mark More on Death sentence's in Egypt….
The purpose of the military junta's savage repression of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), expressed most recently in the mass death sentence handed down March 24 against 529 of its members, is not just the elimination of its main bourgeois political rival. It is aimed at intimidating and suppressing opposition to what the military-backed government has in store for the working class.
And Preparing for More False Flag Death and Shit stirring…
In a devastating exposure of the criminality of the US-led proxy war in Syria, Turkish officials have been caught planning an attack on their own forces to manufacture a pretext to attack Syria.
This is the content of a leaked audio recording, posted to YouTube, of a meeting between top Turkish diplomats and intelligence officials, including Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT). At one point in the meeting, these officials discuss the possibility of organizing an attack from inside Syria across the Turkish-Syrian border, or on the Tomb of Suleiman Shah. Under the 1921 Treaty of Ankara between Turkey and France, then the colonial power in Syria, this tomb is a piece of sovereign Turkish territory inside Syria, guarded by Turkish forces.
Much more on this @
You're a fake Habbabkuk,
My name is Jonathan Ives,and my full address is 22(1/1),Byres Road,Glasgow.
Dont expect you to be so brave as to follow suit.
Habbabkuk,you're a coward-as we all know.
07526 916630
Call me,sweetie…yeah?
You fake coward.
Why don't you call me you cowardly yellow streak of fake piss?
You're a weak fake Habbabkuk.
Weak,i said….yes that's right.
Weak and fake.
I've given you my address and phone number.
Why won't you call me?
Is it because you're a fake plastic sock puppet troll or not?
Come on Habba…grow a pair why dontcha eh?
Let us know that you're not a little prick Habba eh?
What's it like Habba?
Every day waking up and looking in the mirror knowing you're just a footsoldier repeating your Master's lies and idiot self-serving narrative…
For money?
One of the Ukrainian 'olli gark' presidential candidates is a confectionery tycoon.
The chocolate king. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Poroshenko
Another resignation in HMG. The spin doctors are between a rock and a hard place. The usual comment is that there is no comment.
Mark Menzies quits as aide over newspaper allegations
"I was not complaining about cyclists, I was reporting a fact."
I detected a slight note of complaint in your post, Mary, but of course accept your assurance that it wasn't and that you were just reporting a fact.
But, you know, this is supposed to be a political blog, not a blog for all kinds of scraps of not very useful info.
Whatever. The sun's shining (I hope) and I wish all an excellent day!
That's rich coming from t—l who tells us nothing and who informs even less.
See Sofia on the preceding thread.
You omitted your postcode, which is….? Employment, age, ethnicity, political affiliations if any…..?
But, for the rest, and assuming that what you wrote is correct, I'll admit you met my challenge and that you are entitled therefore to invite – but not demand of – others to reveal their real personae. I would not hold it against you if you were to call those who fail to respond to such an invitation cowards (compared to yourself) – provided of course that you applied that description to all and not just to me. I refer of course to all the regulars, new and old: Ba'al Zevul, Mary, Herbie, Macky, Phil, Tony M, Juteman, Jay, Californian Seer Ben, Mark Golding, BrianFujisan, etc, etc, etc….
Have a nice day.
Sore head this morning, Jives?
"That's rich coming from t—l who tells us nothing and who informs even less.
See Sofia on the preceding thread."
I think I'll pass on giving out information on the density of cyclists and on similar topics. No harm writing about it, but perhaps on another, less political blog. BTW, who's "Sofia" – that curious middle-aged bloke pretending to be a teenage schoolgirl? Sound kinky to me
All from me for now, have a nice day.
Name: Elan Goldberg
Address: 31a, Yom Kippur Rd, Haifa, Israel 194822014
Occupation: Palestine
Ethnicity: Chosen
Political affiliations: For hire
Payment: Shekels
Potholes are political. The cost to the country in terms of personal injury, damage to vehicles, suspensions, tyres and wheels let alone the larger cost of having to resurface complete roads where the potholes have allowed water penetration into the foundations. There have even been crashes like this one between a car and a school coach.
Cameron keeps promising extra £millions but nothing happens. Much like all those promises to those recently flooded out.
Surrey CC used to have its own labour force which was efficient and responsive when defects to roads or pavements were reported. All that was swept away and contractors were given county wide contracts. A disaster. Poor quality work, fraud in the contract, overcharging etc etc.
A new contractor came with a PR flurry. All started well with proper repairs – cutting out a rectangle, refilling with hot asphalt, sealing with liquid bitumen etc
Now we are back to men in white vans laying loose fill asphalt to fit the contour of the hole, tamping it down and driving off. Lifetime of repair – very short and costly if and when it is repaired again.
Repairs to dropped gullies, dropped drain or inspection covers? Forget it. Just watch out.
I pity any badly injured patient being transported by ambulance around here. It must be an absolutely horrendous experience.
Jaw jaw….2012 ….
Cutting roads repair budget will cost taxpayer more, MPs warn
Motorists will have to spend more repairing their cars because cuts to road maintenance budgets will lead to more potholes, a committee of MPs has said
But it still attracted more attention than your books!
BTW I did read one many years ago – but sorry I found the humour somewhat forced and hence false."
The sock-puppets and trolls have a rare and unfathomable sense of humour. So dour! Never a witty comment! Devoid of original metaphor, trudging along in their leaking wellies through the churned up sludge, effluent, sewage and detritus of their lonely lives can hardly be conducive to humour. Except for those of us witnessing it. Reasoning of the type found in their comments does not demonstrate an intellect capable of understanding humour. No wonder they cannot smile at the things that make the rest of us laugh out loud. Pity them.
Let me recommend "From Aberystwyth with Love" which I started yesterday. I met some familiar characters from "The Day Aberystwyth stood still" which I read last year with great pleasure. It has already had me laughing.
When Habbabkuk was creeping up to the owner of the blog KingOfWelshNoir made me laugh by hinting that he would be bringing a teacher's apple next. Since then Habbabkuk has demonstrated his originality by using the same illustration when I have agreed with Craig. So original. And that Stalin quote. Oh my God. Think of something new you dreary disrupters.
Fear not Habbabkuk, we may have got through the horror of people enjoying themselves at Cheltenham, but we still have the disgusting cruelty of the Grand National and the bourgeois elitism of Wimbledon to come. With the added bonus of this year's "FOR PROFIT" Tour de France starting in Britain, 2014 looks set to be every bit as miserable as last year, for some anyway. Have a nice day!
I've often noticed that some of the more expensive roads in Surrey are often kept in appalling condition. I believe this is a deliberate ploy to stop the proles driving through them.
Mr Goss
When crawling please remove the thesaurus from your teeth; it will make it easier to understand what you are saying. I do hope Mr Pryce has thicker skin than yourself.
"I pity any badly injured patient being transported by ambulance around here. It must be an absolutely horrendous experience."
Also think of the Waitrose vans. Safe conveyence of their Heston Blumenthal Organic Fairtrade, Guetemalan cacao Easter Egg (£25) is all but an impossibilty in such an environment.
Anon seems to have some deep knowledge of upmarket bonbons from Waitrose By Royal Appointment. Personally never go in to one. Too pretentious in their blandness and with all the partners working hard towards their annual bonus. Not a socialist worker in sight.
He even knows of roads leading to expensive houses. Perhaps he lives in one. Perhaps we should be told. The only word missed out was 'leafy'.
PS The roads chosen for the Boris Prudential cycle routes are usually kept in good order. Must not have the cameras zooming in on any potholes or catching any cyclists being thrown off.
The deal to have more of the same (more kettling of residents, more road closures) was done in secret between Boris and David Hodge, leader of Surrey CC. So open and democratic these Tories but mind you Hodge would have been no match for Boris in full on blustering steamroller mode.
'SURREY County Council's leader has revealed he made a verbal agreement with Mayor of London Boris Johnson to host two annual cycling events for five years without consulting residents.
David Hodge made the revelation at a meeting of the council's executive, saying he had taken the unilateral decision as he believed it would be "for the long term benefit of the community".
The circumstances surrounding the deal were heavily criticised by Councillor Hazel Watson, leader of the county's Liberal Democrats, who had demanded to know how the arrangement had been reached.
Her questions led to the release of a previously unseen cabinet paper from December 2011, revealing when Surrey had been committed to hosting both the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey and Tour of Britain cycling events.'
No palms were greased we trust or promises made to rise in the partei.
"Address: 31a, Yom Kippur Rd, Haifa, Israel 194822014″
Good God, Anon, we're almost neighbours! See you at the next bar mitzvah!
what a coincidence just round the corner from my autumn residence on HaHashamal Street, why don't you come round mine in October, socket, around the 17th. when I come over to clean my swimming pool, you could have those physical education lessons you've been yearning for and chantering on about for so long.
I don't want to be anyone's nanny but maybe the mods should remove Jive's comments containing his address and phone number. Considering the content and time they were written it's a fair guess he was a bit worse for wear.
He can always repost them if he wants but the longer they stay there the more likely a bot will pick them up and spam him relentlessly for the rest of his days.
"Not a socialist worker in sight"
Lol! You write it like it's a bad thing. Who wants some grotty scrote picketing the local grocery?
"He even knows of roads leading to expensive houses. Perhaps he lives in one."
Then again, perhaps he doesn't, perhaps he lives without a massive chip on his shoulder.
"More kettling of residents…"
More evidence, if needed, that you live a very sheltered life indeed.
More weird and dark fantasies from Nevermind ^^
Truth is hard to find (thanks Brian) most times smothered in wisecracks, padded and faked out by deception.
Seeing through this suffocating noise is a gift. The proxy war in Syria has been exposed, guilt and shame fills the plate.
That's a fair call, Phil. No Eminence* would want it known they live in Glasgow's equivalent of Camden. Terribly middle-class. Mods: delete!
*I'm no longer using the term 'Murrayista" as our host has shown a dangerous inclination towards independent thought on topics such as global warming and Putin's Russia, leading one or two to resign in disgust.
Has Jives even woken up yet?
If you are back John, how did yesterday go? Hope there was a good turnout.
Hurrah for those standing up to May and her border agency operatives. That was her head teacher, her fellow students and very many concerned members of the public.
30 March 2014 Last updated at 11:56
Yashika Bageerathi's deportation to Mauritius delayed.
Yashika was due to be deported to Mauritius without her family.
The deportation of a Mauritian student has been delayed after lawyers said they would seek a High Court injunction to block her removal.
Yashika Bageerathi, 19, from Enfield, was scheduled to be on a flight from Heathrow at 17:00 BST.
The Tag-Team has returned to supplant the tired and ineffective Freddie Blassie showmanship.
Mark; I wonder if you would expand. MH 370 has dominated the news for 3 weeks, and possible misdirection is part of the double-header event.
Judging by the school photo she might as well be home anyway.
What an unpleasant racist remark. Some skins there too brown for your liking are they?
Mary; Racism comes standard on this year and model.
I met your challenge and,as predicted,you werent up for it.
So,as predicted,youre a coward and a fake.
"More weird and dark fantasies from Nevermind ^^"
Yes indeed, his ravings remind me of the writings of Roman authors on the Germanic tribes living in dark forests full of unimaginable horrors
Or perhaps he's just hinting – yet again – that he'd like to punch me on the nose
"So,as predicted,youre a coward and a fake."
How much evidence do we need?
Hey, at least we know 'coward/fake' are not keywords.
Jives' earlier remarks have gone. Those of the t—-s remain. Strange that?
Anon; "Judging by the school photo she might as well be home anyway"
And there's Craig insinuating that those who opposed his neocon take on the Ukraine were the BNP supporters ! It's not the first time Anon has revealed his racism, as I distinctly remember a previous occassion, where his comments would have probably even made an actual BNP member disown him in embrassement !!
I'm still wondering why this supposedly banned Poster not only can still post, but that his comments are allowed to stand ?
Muhammed Ali and Freddie Blassie…lol
I met your challenge and,as predicted,you werent up for it.
So,as predicted,youre a coward and a fake."
Yes, you met my challenge, issued after KingOfWelshNoir made a rather irrelevant point about John Goss posting under his real name whereas I don't.
For the rest, please REFER to my post at 09h12 on 30 March, and DISCUSS the following proposition : Habbabkuk is a bigger coward and fake, for not revealing his/her true identity, than the following assorted Eminences who seem to be keeping their heads low on this one (Herbie, Macky, Mary, Doug Scorgie, Jay, Tony M, Fred, Phil, Mark Golding, Californian Seer Ben, Ba'arZevul, Juteman, BrianFujisan, etc, etc, etc).
Of you go!
La vita è bella, life is good!
"It's not the first time Anon has revealed his racism, as I distinctly remember a previous occassion, where his comments would have probably even made an actual BNP member disown him in embrassement !!"
That's a serious accusation. As our friend Doug Scorgie would surely say : please provide references to back up your accusation. Thank you kindly.
Questions of Style — to Mr John GOSS
"When Habbabkuk was creeping up to the owner of the blog KingOfWelshNoir made me laugh by hinting that he would be bringing a teacher's apple next. Since then Habbabkuk has demonstrated his originality by using the same illustration when I have agreed with Craig. So original;"
Yes, I wasn't very original, was I, when I used the teacher's apple image on 26 March (16h55). Do forgive me.
BUT – what to say, then, about the poster who wrote the following on 16 March (09h22, "The Wrong Referendum" thread):
"One sycophantic comment-maker has been raiding the apple-barrel to set himself up as teacher's pet again…"
Could it have been the very original John Goss? Why, I do believe it could!
"Life has becolme better, life has become merrier!" (J. Stalin, ca. 1934)
Dad. 9 17 am
How could you talk like that about your own daughter? It's as if I don't exist. You know what Mrs Prentice said about pausing for a moment before you hit that "Submit" button. Sometimes I think those parenting classes the magistrate made you do were a total waste of time. It's a good job I have a hide like an alligator.
Here's another old fossil like you. The difference is he's talking about something that matters and he makes sense.
"Russia's relationship with the West has been quite eventful in the post-Soviet period. We were welcomed to the democratic world, because they expected us to follow their orders and observe all the rules created by the west in this segment of the Christian civilization. This is not partnership, but rather an attempt to take under control a non-aligned geopolitical 'turf'. We saw that attitude exposed in developments in Ukraine. We saw how desperate the West was to drag Ukraine into its orbit, without paying attention to the interests of the Ukrainian economy, culture and the nation. Ukraine is a very complex, multi-ethnic and multicultural country. The ultimate motive behind all that was to separate Ukraine from Russia. Remember how Zbigniew Brzezinski said that with Ukraine Russia is a great power, yet without Ukraine Russia is not something less significant? " Sergey Lavrov 29 03 14
Mary, Macky, Ben,
Such disgusting waythism on display from each of you. The young woman ought to feel at home in the joyous, multicultural, enriched and diverse society we have created for her, not the deeply waythist and unenriched land from which she hails, which the backward natives still hold to be their own. There is no such thing as nation, race or belonging. They are just social constructs invented by the BNP. Shame on all three of you.
Macky, I know you feel scorned, but there's no need to try and fit in a little aside at Craig in every post. It just makes you come across as a sore loser.
The list of commenters @ 6.38pm does not include the names of any t—-s. We know roughly who each other is, where they come from and therefore place trust in each other. OTOH we know nothing about the t—-s. That is the difference. We don't even know whether you and your best mates here are male or female!
Is it me or am I getting it wrong?
He/she said: Judging by the school photo she might as well be home anyway.
Now we are getting a lecture from the same person as if from Liberty or similar. Have the asylum gates been opened and the inmates released?
'The A-level student came to the UK with her mother and younger brother and sister in 2011 to escape a relative who was physically abusive.
The family claimed asylum last summer but all four now face deportation.'
Forgive me, but shouldn't domestic abuse in Mauritius be a matter for the Mauritian authorities to deal with? And if they are incapable of doing so then why should it be the UK's responsibility to offer the victim(s) asylum? Are we not setting a precedent for anyone, anywhere to come and settle here as long as criminality can not be dealt with in their own countries? Do you understand the full implications of this?
"Have the asylum gates been opened?"
In answer to your question, yes!
You are an obvious racist and also a twister. I have no wish to have anything further to do with you. Talk to your hand.
"We don't even know whether you and your best mates here are male or female!"
And why should you? This is a political blog, not a dating site.
La vita è bella, life is good!
Very, very strange, that – a middle-aged man posting as a teenage schoolgirl.
Perhaps a kind of phantasy, but certainly unhealthy.
Thanks Mary for raising the issue of Yashika and facing off, together with Macky the racist Anon's comment. I wrote to Mauritius Airlines director yesterday as did thousands of others. Power is in the hands of the people.
Theresa May fills decent people's hearts and minds with disgust.
Phil @ 2;55 Pm
Well said…and i Agree 100%
Could the Mods take Phil's and Now My own request on this one.
Thanks John. Did you get my earlier question?
Horrible here isn't it with these sickos on board? And very off putting and intimidating to anyone new thinking of posting here. That is their aim of course – to bring the blog down. Craig and the mods do not seem to get it.
Guess who?
I found this rather creative (and attributed) extract elsewhere but thought it worthy of re-quoting to see if anyone can put a name to the crackpot to whom the allusion is made.
"In argument this person own'd his skill,
For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still.
And words of tedious length he always found
Dumbfounding gazing bloggers rang'd around;
And still they gaz'd and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could have so loose a screw.
All others knew his game. His tedious plot
Which marked him simply as a dull crackpot."
One word answers please. Habbabkuk, phone a friend!
Mary, yesterday went fine. We had to leave early to get the hired coach back to the garage.
There were delegates from all over the country, Scotland and Wales with a few others from abroad. It was announced that membership had increased by 200 in a day following Ken Loach's Guardian article to which you posted a link. This is comforting. Decent people are looking for a grass roots alternative. It is early days yet but this might be the acorn planted among the grass roots from which a tall oak will grow.
As with all political meetings there was hearty debate. I remain optimistic.
"One sycophantic comment-maker has been raiding the apple-barrel to set himself up as teacher's pet again…"
I wish I'd said that. What a gem!
[Note, Mary can't answer the questions so instead cries 'racist!'.]
Dross, you earlier claimed that the 'trolls' have no sense of humour.
If you'd be willing to once again don the orange jump suit and do your one-man jig on top an apple cart in Brum, perhaps with some stuff about Rothschilds and HAARP thrown in, I'm sure we could show you how to laugh.
Mary, I don't think the mods or Craig are around and expect to see some moderation tomorrow.
The T****ops are worth their weight in entertainment shite.
Anon 30 Mar, 2014 – 9:07 pm
"Forgive me, but shouldn't domestic abuse in Mauritius be a matter for the Mauritian authorities to deal with? And if they are incapable of doing so then why should it be the UK's responsibility …."
Forgive me, but shouldn't domestic strife in Lybia/Syria/Ukraine/etc be a matter for the Lybian/Syrian/Ukrainian/etc authorities to deal with? And if they are incapable of doing so then why should it be the UK's responsibility ….
Brian writes:
"Phil @ 2;55 Pm Well said…and i Agree 100% Could the Mods take Phil's and Now My own request on this one."
Well, seeing as Jives (alive and presumably sober) has dropped in since last night's outburst, perhaps he would have made such a request to delete himself? Not being a coward he wouldn't ask his mates to it for him, or would at least insist you don't fuss about it!
Quite right, Node. Now answer the questions!
Exactly A Node…
And whilst Anon thinks we should not be concerned with Domestic Abuse in far flung Lands…. I think the Elite War monger Criminals would have us think otherwise…We are meant to Believe the Elite actually Give a fck ???
For example -
Women gained rights in Afghanistan in the 1970s, before the United States intentionally provoked the Soviet Union to invade and armed the likes of Osama bin Laden to fight back. There has been little good news for women since. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) was established in 1977 as an independent political/social organization of Afghan women in support of human rights and social justice. In 2010, RAWA released a statement commenting on the American pretense of occupying Afghanistan for the sake of its women:
"[The United States and its allies] empowered the most brutal terrorists of the Northern Alliance and the former Russian puppets — the Khalqis and Parchamis — and by relying on them, the US imposed a puppet government on Afghan people. And instead of uprooting its Taliban and Al-Qaeda creations, the United States and NATO continue to kill our innocent and poor civilians, mostly women and children, in their vicious air raids."
In the view of many women leaders in Afghanistan, the invasion and occupation have done no good for women's rights, and have achieved that result at the cost of bombing, shooting, and traumatizing thousands of women. That's not an unfortunate and unexpected side effect. That is the essence of war, and it was perfectly predictable. The Taliban's tiny force succeeds in Afghanistan because people support it. This results in the United States indirectly supporting it as well.
At the time of this writing, for many months and likely for years, at least the second largest and probably the largest source of revenue for the Taliban has been U.S. taxpayers. We lock people away for giving a pair of socks to the enemy , while our own government serves as chief financial sponsor. WARLORD, INC.: Extortion and Corruption Along the U.S. Supply Chain in Afghanistan, is a 2010 report from the Majority Staff of the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs in the U.S. House of Representatives. The report documents payoffs to the Taliban for safe passage of U.S. goods, payoffs very likely greater than the Taliban's profits from opium, its other big money maker. This has long been known by top U.S. officials, who also know that Afghans, including those fighting for the Taliban, often sign up to receive training and pay from the U.S. military and then depart, and in some cases sign up again and again.
This must be unknown to Americans supporting the war. You can't support a war in which you're funding both sides, including the side against which you are supposedly defending Afghanistan's women.
Much More http://www.worldbeyondwar.org/wars-waged-generosity/
"Quite right, Node. Now answer the questions!"
"Is it me or am I getting it wrong?"
No, Mary, you're right, he's a racist.
"Guess who?"
BDS gaining momentum.
"Opposition to the BDS movement has become a crucial test of loyalty to the pro-Israel cause in the U.S. Jewish community in recent months. It has not replaced the Iranian nuclear program as the most prominent cause for alarm raised by the Israel lobby and its allies, but it is moving in that direction."
From, http://jfjfp.com/?p=57737
Good to see you recognise truly great poetry. You are clearly a very cultured and discerning man.
I had forgotten how much it rattles Dad's cage. It's moments like these that warm a troll's heart and confirms the value of her existence. He would never admit it, but I know Dad's secretly quite proud of me.
Must go I can hear Dr Bullstrode's car outside and he's not going to be pleased having to come over at this time on a Sunday night to deal with the old fool. If I hang around he'll gi
i stand by my request… Which i think is a fair one…
I don't know why some contributors seem very keen to go off on this random tangent about UK involvement in Syria, Libya, etc., but I have never expressed support for any such intervention, which is irrelevant anyway to the point at hand. So I would urge Node, Brian, Mary and any others who wish to join in to address the points I made at 9:07pm rather than sounding off about their usual bugbears.
Node 10:47pm, hapless and floundering, cries 'racist', again!
Mr Goss
""One sycophantic comment-maker has been raiding the apple-barrel to set himself up as teacher's pet again…"
I wish I'd said that. What a gem!"
You did, Mr Goss. See your post at 09h22 on 16 March 2014 ("The Wrong Referendum" thread)
"Women gained rights in Afghanistan in the 1970s, before the United States intentionally provoked the Soviet Union to invade"
Beyond parody
What planet do you hail from?
"i stand by my request… Which i think is a fair one…"
Yes it is, Brian. And let me be clear that I am not in the least bit interested in Jives' personal details.
That said, I think our former mod and Suhayl did find out my identity and had a look through my Picasa web albums online, sharing some humorous details on here. I pointed out they were behaving like GCHQ and that seemed to be the end of it, but there seems to be no such thing as internet anonymity unless you try really hard at it.
"I don't know why some contributors seem very keen to go off on this random tangent about UK involvement in Syria, Libya, etc."
That's because you don't comprehend the word 'context' especially historical context.
Maybe if you educamated yerself wrt World events, the exercise wouldn't cause you physical and emotional pain.
Habbabkuk, 11:17pm
I'd missed that one. Beyond parody and into the realms of pure farce. Is there nothing the West can't be held responsible for?
Bin jamin,
My point was about whether it is feasible to allow every victim of domestic violence, or any other crime, asylum in Britain.
Now, if you would like to educate me wrt your theories on world affairs and their relevance to this case then the floor's yours.
" Is there nothing the West can't be held responsible for?"
Krakatoa, dinosaur demise and the sacking of Jerusalem circa 607 BCE.
Is my list complete?
Anon; 'Bin Jamin' is supposed to offend?
'Ben' in Hebrew tradition means 'son of'. Just so you know.
According to the Torah, Benjamin's name arose when Jacob deliberately corrupted the name Benoni, the original name of Benjamin, since Benoni was an allusion to Rachel's dying just after she had given birth, as it means son of my pain.
Theresa May is today's hate figure but let's face it, she has a lot more responsibility than writing letters to airliners.
The support for the woman in question is probably well-meaning, but ultimately deluded. Many on the left just see evil Tory vs. poor asylum seeker and immediately and unthinkingly leap to the latter's defence. Cases such as these do, however, have far-reaching implications – in this case a grant of asylum (which I understand has now been upheld) might imply that any victim of crime the world over can settle here as long as the law enforcement of their country is incapable of dealing with crimes committed against them. That's quite a lot of people.
Can you see how to defeat the opposition? Words have power. Comprende'?
Never mind, Ben.
Anyway, "Krakatoa, dinosaur demise and the sacking of Jerusalem circa 607 BCE."
Probably a Zionist conspiracy.
Anon 30 Mar, 2014 – 11:13 pm
"Node 10:47pm, hapless and floundering, cries 'racist', again!"
Anon, if I've wrongly called you a racist, I apologise. Please clarify. What did you mean by:
"Judging by the school photo she might as well be home anyway."
it would seem you have been on Craig's Longer than i …can't be sure, i read for a long time before posting…
but but pause a while before jumping on the Habs blabbings…
Check out some fotos Here -
Women's rights are increasingly heralded as a useful propaganda device to further imperial designs.
Western heads of state, UN officials and military spokespersons will invariably praise the humanitarian dimension of the October 2001 US-NATO led invasion of Afghanistan, which allegedly was to fight religious fundamentalists, help little girls go to school, liberate women subjected to the yoke of the Taliban.
The logic of such a humanitarian dimension of the Afghan war is questionable. Lest we forget, Al Qaeda and the Taliban were supported from the very outset of the Soviet-Afghan war by the US, as part of a CIA led covert operation.
Anon; Any time you wish to pay tutorial fees for educamation in Hebrew linguistics or tradition, I'm available.
Gotta keep dem shekels coming in. Even a Leftist has his vices.
Mohamed Ali link…Thanks.
…It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will... Otis Redding
Goodnight all.
What am I becoming in the Craig Murray Alterverse?
Maybe its Trotsky?
I Knew you would appreciate that, Sophia,
Ben – Morsi was cagey like a fox; he knew he was elected to fail, to destabilise Egypt and once again invoke a military rule, this time the army returning to 'free' the people from 'Brotherhoodization' of the state, that was stifling civil society and choking an already obstructed legal system.
Morsi caught on quickly that Putin would refuse to take up his baton and run with a Russia/Syria/Iran/Egypt pact. Putin knew his UKUSIS Brotherhood masters would take him down as quickly as they had elevated him to power.
Exactly as John Brennan imposed, 'Traitor' Morsi will now witness his so called following lieutenants, his radical allies privileged to his game, die in damp torture chambers, pawns in a barbaric and brutal blueprint for power.
Excuse me but if MH370 was pinging for a further SIX HOURS after loss of ATC contact, wasnt someone supposed to tell the Malaysians, so that an aerial interception could be made. Instead they had the world diverted to the South China Sea for another SEVEN DAYS?!!
The Malaysians are either stupid or complicit. We need to investigate INMARSAT right here in London.
Phil & Brian Fujisan et al,
Appreciate your concern and suggestions chaps …however:
No,i wasn't drunk at all last night as some seem to think,just sick of the bullshit artists/sockpuppets.
I really don't give a fuck if my details are posted and whatever spam/hasbara/spook shite i get back.
I put my details upfront simply to show how cowardly the multi-ID liars and frauds these sockpuppets are.They could/would never do this.
We are heading soon towards a world where nobody will be able to hide anymore and i am happy to stand as i am-for whoever wants to present my account,so to speak.
Y'all know my particulars now.Cool.The good ones can call me anytime and come round for a coffee and chat,whatever.The rest of them can wallow in their own cowardice and hypocrisy.
I feel sorry for the weakness and cowardice of trolls who hide behind their lies.
Fuck 'em all.
Well said Jive's And Got your text too You got my No.
Shit ..that was you last night then??…lol
Yes Jives…. That was Me.. Peace And respect
I note the racist troll proceeded with a little rant on immigration as if that excused his previous racist comment. UKIP have a supporter there I reckon. Normality is NOT resumed Anon. You will be remembered for this.
There has just been a death at Yarls Wood detention centre which is where Yashika is being held. The woman who died was 41. An unusally young age at which to have a heart attack. An inquiry is being held.
'A 40-year-old female detainee at Yarl's Wood Immigration Centre has died, the Home Office has confirmed.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances around the death at the centre in Bedfordshire, which is the main removal centre holding women and families facing deportation.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the woman may have suffered a heart attack and had complained of feeling unwell.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has also been informed.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "Sadly, we can confirm the death of a female detainee at Yarl's Wood on 30 March.
"It would not be appropriate to comment further as the death is subject to a police investigation. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed in line with standard procedure."
Protests took place outside the centre on Saturday to vent frustration against the decision to deport Mauritian student Yashika Bageerathi, who has been housed at Yarl's Wood since 19 March.
A legal battle is ongoing to keep her in the UK.'
BBC website
'Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre is an immigration detention centre at Milton Ernest in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire. It opened on 19 November 2001 and was built to hold up to 900 people making it the largest immigration detention centre in Europe at the time. Since opening in 2001 has been dogged by controversy. In February 2002, it was gutted through a fire, reopening in September 2003. Throughout its operational period a number of hunger strikes and riots have occurred there. On 11 January 2011, the High Court ruled that the continued detention of the children of failed asylum seekers at Yarl's Wood is unlawful.
It is operated by the Serco Group.'
My idea of a hellhole. Read on
Habbabkuk; "That's a serious accusation. As our friend Doug Scorgie would surely say : please provide references to back up your accusation. Thank you kindly"
Always happy to back-up my POVs;
(not actually the one I had in mind, which seems to have been removed, but this one is also quite bad enough)
Let's not forget your own BNP like revealing comments also;
"the perpetrators should, after they have served their sentences, be deported to the country(countries) whence they or their forefathers came so that they could practice their bestial predilections on young girls of their own country and religion?"
Plus here's you sock-puppetting as an anti-Semite;
Speaking of sock-puppetting, funny how you & Anon not only have the same shared avatar, but also echo the exact same shared views.
"So it seems that your doubly charge of neglecting his responsibilities to the people who actually voted for him, and concentrating too much on international affairs against their wishes, is not borne out, and the opposite is revealed to be true."
You're talking about his Hillhead years, when he was indeed the very model of a red Clydesider, and none the worse for that.
Nevertheless, since he went south, ceased to take the Labour whip, and went into the selfpromotion business, his Commons voting record has been abysmal. And should Russia and Iran prove to be hostile entities, which god forbid, but our neocons would just love, he has given aid and comfort to them.
Which. A. British. MP. Has. No. Business. Doing.
But if you don't agree with that as a matter of basic politics, then I cannot hope to convince you.
"….time-reversed scalar wave which destabilised the volcanic island."
which also accounts for the dinosaurs. The waveform collapsed ca -63My to produce a megaparticle collision near Guatemala (as it is now). It wasn't an asteroid.
This is secret.
More on the bag carrier, Mark Menzies, Con MP Fylde who has resigned as PPS to Alan Duncan. Duncan is now DfID Minister and was previously a FCO minister for the Middle East an North Africa.
Menzies will be refuting some of the claims we hear.
He is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel. Surprise? No surprise.
His register of interests http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=24804 reveals that he has visited all these countries – Saudi Arabia. Israel (several times). Algeria. Azerbaijan. Switzerland. UAE. Sri Lanka.Jordan. Eqypt. Kurdistan et al.
Many of those places were on Fox and Werrity's itineraries. Was Menzies going to Herzliya too at some stage? Or perhaps he has just been a messenger for HMG.
Previously he carried Prisk's bag. Prisk was a business minister and then a housing minister before removal in 2013. Before Prisk he was Hendry's PPS at the DECC.
Donations received are recorded at Search the Money. £51,483 http://searchthemoney.com/profile/425
That sum includes these donations made prior to his election in 2010.
Windmill Business Group £8000
Property developers Lytham St Annes
Universal Products (Lytham) Manufacturing Ltd £10.000
'UPL offers flexible, expedient solutions in the development, manufacture, filling and packing of a wide range of liquids, creams, ointments and gels.' Their website
Mr Menzies has certainly led a busy life since May 2010.
Unconnected events?
So that's the moderates discredited then. Meanwhile Netanyahu confirms (for the benefit of anyone who, being blind, deaf and living at the bottom of an oilwell, hasn't twigged already), that the peace talks are not going anywhere if he has anything to do with it. And he has-
And the whining continues. The UNHCR is the new Himmler…
"Let's not forget your own BNP like revealing comments also;
"the perpetrators should, after they have served their sentences, be deported to the country(countries) whence they or their forefathers came so that they could practice their bestial predilections on young girls of their own country and religion?""
The above attempted to encapsulate two points:
1/. Where serious criminals are foreigners, they should serve their sentence and then be deported. No human rights nonsense about "having a girlfriend here". If they have acquired UK citizenship by registration, that citizenship should be revoked
2/. The victims of those grooming gangs were, curiously enough, all Caucasian and non-Muslim. I do not recall that any Muslim girls were groomed and abused. That, I think, is fair comment.
"Plus here's you sock-puppetting as an anti-Semite;
Taking the piss out of a hasbara poster, you chump (Oniel/O'Neil; smuty reference to a sausage): Habbabkuk is even-handed on his exposure of inanity and idiocy when they appear on this blog. You should try it some time, Macky.
"Speaking of sock-puppetting, funny how you & Anon not only have the same shared avatar, but also echo the exact same shared views."
You seem to be the Hercule Poirot of sock-puppeting. Or perhaps the Inspector Clouseau. Here's a task for you – go back to the various Ukraine threads and find out who all those "new" commenters who suddenly popped up (and haven't been heard of since) really were.
Off you go, O Dullest Blade.
Clsrk I know you are a Wiki editor. How do you get errors corrected?
The entry for Menzies is incorrect.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Menzies
'Mark Andrew Menzies[2] (born 18 May 1971) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Fylde in Lancashire since 2010.
He was formerly PPS to Charles Hendry MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change before both moved in the 2012 Cabinet Reshuffle. He resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Housing and Local Government in March 2014.'
It doesn't mention that he was made PPS to Alan Duncan at DfID last Autumn following his job as PPS to Prisk.
Prisk was booted out in Oct 2013 if you refer to Prisk's Wiki entry, so Menzies could not have resigned as his PPS in March 2014!!
Interesting that all mention of Alan Duncan has been omitted or even excised. I have not looked at the edit history.
Some editing by the Tory spin doctors perhaps? Don't want any mud sticking do we.
Mr Omlet (Olmert) has been found guilty of bribery. Will he go to jail? Rhetorical question. Nice type.
Israel's ex-PM Ehud Olmert convicted of bribery
Israel's former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been found guilty in a bribery trial in a case which forced him to resign to office in 2008.
Olmert was convicted in what is known as the "Holyland affair" in which bribes were paid and received to speed up a luxury property development.
He has already been cleared in several other corruption trials.
The 68-year-old former Kadima party leader had denied wrongdoing and had hinted at a political comeback.
Delivering the verdict in Tel Aviv on Monday, Judge David Rozen said the case "exposed governance that grew more corrupt and rotten over the years", with bribes paid to public officials," the Associated Press news agency reported.
Olmert succeeded Ariel Sharon as Prime Minister after the latter had a stroke in January 2006. He was mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003.
In 2012 Olmert was cleared of two major corruption charges but convicted of illegally granting favours to a business friend during his time as trade and industry minister under Mr Sharon.
See mine @8.55, Mary. Same event. Different interpretation.
Ba'al Zevul; "You're talking about his Hillhead years, when he was indeed the very model of a red Clydesider, and none the worse for that"
The second part of your assertion, namely he spends too much attention on international affairs to the detriment of his constituents, is rather oxymoronic as it was this very attention to World affairs that was a key factor as to why people voted for his present & previous election wins.
"Nevertheless, since he went south, ceased to take the Labour whip, and went into the selfpromotion business, his Commons voting record has been abysmal. And should Russia and Iran prove to be hostile entities, which god forbid, but our neocons would just love, he has given aid and comfort to them."
Your "self-promotion" is just a subjective charge, he would argue that things like going on Celebrity Big Brother, was a means to an end, to bring politics to young people, as he was specifically told that his political conversations would not be censored, yet as we know he was doubly-crossed by being lied to on that score.
He has answered this misleading voting record charge countless times;
Your "has given aid and comfort to them" is straight Neocon doubletalk, aimed at curtailing criticism of bad foreign policies undertaken by the West.
"Which. A. British. MP. Has. No. Business. Doing"
Not the dreaded "My Country, Right Or Wrong" mentality !!
"But if you don't agree with that as a matter of basic politics, then I cannot hope to convince you"
You're certainly right on that score.
Sorry Ba'al. Missed that. So our state broadcaster followed the line given. Omlet is bad boy etc.
PS Still will never ever forgive him or Livni for Cast Lead.
Colonisation proceeds apace in East Jerusalem -
"A large part of the property, which also houses East Jerusalem's main post office and an Israeli police station, was purchased last year by a radical settler group called Ateret Cohanim, which bought it from Israel's Bezeq telecoms company.
Located on the corner of Salah al-Din and Sultan Suleiman in the busy center of East Jerusalem just outside the Old City walls, the property is currently being converted into a Jewish seminary, or yeshiva, an Israeli official and Palestinian workers said.
Ateret Cohanim actively works to settle as many Jews as possible in densely populated Palestinian areas in and around the Old City.
The purchase was first reported in Israel's Haaretz newspaper, which published part of an email in which Ateret Cohanim's executive director Daniel Luria contacted supporters to announce the acquisition of more than 1,000 square meters in "a very large and strategic building" just outside the Old City.
An Israeli official confirmed the group had bought parts of the property and was currently carrying out renovations in order to have it ready for occupancy before the week-long Passover festival begins in mid-April.
"They are now renovating it for the yeshiva and for a school to prepare Orthodox Jews for military service," he told AFP. "They are trying to set it all up before Passover on April 13."
Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Bezeq refused to confirm who was behind the purchase.
"We will not disclose the identity of the buyers," he said.
Luria declined to speak to AFP.
The building is currently being renovated by Palestinian workers under the supervision of Israeli technicians and engineers."
Me at 8.57 Clsrk Sorry Clark.
Details of Olmert's corrupt deals.
Israeli media: Ex-PM Olmert convicted of bribery
Posted Monday, Mar. 31, 2014 By ARON HELLER
Associated Press
JERUSALEM — Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was convicted on Monday in a high-profile bribery trial that will likely involve some jail time, Israeli media reported.
The Tel Aviv district court handed down the verdict in the wide-ranging Jerusalem real estate scandal case related to Olmert's activities before becoming prime minister in 2006. A total of 13 government officials, developers and other businesspeople were charged in three separate schemes.
Olmert was forced to resign as prime minister in 2009 amid a flurry of corruption allegations. Monday's verdict seals the most serious legal battle the 68-year-old Olmert has been waging since he stepped down and rules out any political comeback in the near future..
Jives 31 Mar, 2014 – 2:17 am
I agree that they are cowards and not just because they hide behind their pseudonyms to snipe like instigators of the Kiev coup, but because I have yet to witness one of them criticise drone-strikes (the ultimate in cowardice). I stopped responding to one (who proves from his 30 Mar, 2014 – 11:14 pm he is totally devoid of understanding humour) because he would not condemn torture. It came about from a general discussion on torture which I tried to get Habbabkuk to condemn. Instead, as he did a usual diversion, trying to get a comparison of scale between torture and death in Nazi concentration camps and Guantanamo and Bagram. Although I thought it was a stupid comparison I provided an answer. I asked him to do the same. I repeatedly asked:
"Do you believe it is legal to imprison, torture and kill people in Guantanamo and Bagram?"
I had to go out that evening. In my mind I knew Habbabkuk never answers questions, because that is not what he is here for. But I made a personal pledge to ignore this troll if when I came back he had made no attempt to answer my question. His business is to disrupt the blog. So he asks but never answers questions. He got this message from me.
He has to my knowledge never answered this question confirming tacitly that he does agree with the illegal imprisonment, torture and killing of those held in Guantanamo and Bagram. I have little time for this shit of a person. He is, as you have deduced yourself, a coward of the first order.
"Your "has given aid and comfort to them" is straight Neocon doubletalk, aimed at curtailing criticism of bad foreign policies undertaken by the West.
Not the dreaded "My Country, Right Or Wrong" mentality !!"
You may dread it. I'm not sure why. When I was a kid, there were still a fair few blank spaces in the London map where counter-arguments had exploded in WW2. For me, the balance of terror is elsewhere.
But if the British taxpayer is paying a British MP to support and represent British interests, then I think he/she is entitled to ask that the MP doesn't engage himself on a freelance basis in the service of Iran, Russia, Israel, the US or anyone else. If you fail to see my point, you are also failing to see anything wrong in FoxWerrity's (Gove's, Hague's, etc) Atlantic Bridge project. A neocon project. Back at you.
As for the voting record, the numbers I cited are clear enough, no matter how G rationalises them.
Self-promotion (if you look at his declared income) appears to come with benefits outside whatever public good he claims to be serving by, eg, putting on a catsuit on a reality TV show. Subjective? His socialist credentials are heavily tarnished by his fairly opulent lifestyle…idealism would seem to be at best a minor motivation for G these days. So, no.
Anyway. You think I'm being nasty to George. But I'm trying not to be. I'm actually trying to be fair. This guy isn't -
"We all await the day when the people of Bradford West tire of Mr Gorgeous, and he moves on to the great Stamford Hill by-election of 2016.
"Don't kvetch with me," he will dreidel. "Palestine, Zion: these are just two words for the holy land God has long since promised to good Jews like me. Now, let's all have another Jaffa orange, do some more mitzvot and get in the Volvo."
Perhaps it is simply that Galloway understands the literal meaning of Islam: "submission", as: "submission to that which improves George Galloway's lifestyle". Understandably enough, given his talent for storming out of interviews, he might argue that there is no higher path to righteousness than the day that a man lays down his own ego and yokes himself to believing in the saviour of the one true Labour Party.
But in the meantime, he still has a lot of work to do on his present disguise. When Galloway was 900 lines deep into his victory speech, he made the sort of schoolboy error you just wouldn't have got with Hussain, an actual Muslim. He invited everyone to join him for an FA Cup-style open top bus tour of the city around midday the next day. "What about Jumu'ah?" someone in the crowd shouted out. And it was then that Galloway realised that, yes, come to think of it, Muslims do rather like to pray around midday on a Friday."
Come to think of it, it can't be a disaster for "Yes" that GG supports "No".
Mary 31 Mar, 2014 – 8:57 am
"I know you are a Wiki editor. How do you get errors corrected?"
Edit it yourself! That is the point of Wikipedia.
Create an account, read a tutorial and take on the spindoctors.
There are still a few places at the ICAHD-UK (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions) conference in London this Saturday. It promises to be a very interesting conference with some excellent speakers: Ilan Pappe, John McCarthy, Jeff Halper.
We are also saddened by the news below of the killing by Israeli soldiers of a nephew of Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh who spoke very movingly at our meeting four years ago about the impact on their family of house demolitions. Their home near Jerusalem has now been demolished six times by the Israeli occupation authorities.
http://www.icahd.org/uk/node/542 The killing of Salim and Arabiya's nephew by the IDF.
http://www.icahd.org/uk/node/538 ICAHD Conference next Saturday
The pitch of the trolls gets ever shiller.There's some serious overtime being made,or there's a baton change at the terminals… All for Craig's blog.
I suppose it is good for the ego to think that these employees are busy all day long being smart in trying disrupt and side track the blog,but to the part time visitor it's demoralising to watch as the same ol suspects drift into what they're here for.
Isn't it possible to build in a filter so a user can block out the voices that bring head pain ?
Can't believe that tax payers have to foot the bill for these jokers.
Habbabkuk; "The above attempted to encapsulate two points:"
You can try to backtrack in your trademark disingenuously weasel worded way, but the case you were referring to, all the perpetrators were British born Asians, so you were actually advocating one law for those of certain "forefathers", and another for the rest. Further your remark was clearly stating that you prefer that foreign girls be abused in their countries rather than sex offenders be jailed in the UK; as to your irrational point that these sex offenders being racists because their victims were "Caucasian and non-Muslim", it simply & clearly illustrates your own reflected bigoted mentality.
"Taking the piss out of a hasbara poster"
Yes of course you were, that's when you are not busy fighting the Zionist corner by smearing all critics as anti-semites.
Nothing to say about your alter-ego's BNP like language ?
"Mr Omlet (Olmert) has been found guilty of bribery. Will he go to jail?"
Well, one swallow does not make a summer, but former President Moshe Katsav did (on rape charges).
Will rasPutin and his oligarch friends ever go to jail? And President Nicolas Maduro Moros?
"Sorry Ba'al. Missed that. So our state broadcaster followed the line given. Omlet is bad boy etc."
Straighten up, Mary. If the BBC had downplayed the affair, you'd have accused it of being in the pocket of the Zionists. Now that it hasn't downplayed it (much to your surprise), it's "following the line given".
I do wish you wouldn't exorcise your demons in public.
Make an effort, for Heaven's sake. Even though you're not the Sharpest Blade.
Are you against extraditing foreign born serious criminals after they have served their sentence? If not, why not?
Are you denying that the perpetrators of those several grooming/child abuse events were almost exclusively (1) of foreign origin – whether born in the UK or not, and Muslim, and (2) their victims were exclusively of British ethnic origin and not Muslim?
Is it not perhaps significant that none of the young victims was Muslim? I suggest the reason is two-fold:
1/. certain Muslims consider non-Muslims as cattle undeserving of human consideration (as certain Jews consider non-Jews in the same way), and
2/. the perpetrators might have feared getting killed in an honour killing had they gone for Muslim girls.
You do anti-discrimination, religious tolerance and anti-racialism no favours by parroting your ultra politically correct line. Grow up!
""Taking the piss out of a hasbara poster"
Yes of course you were, that's when you are not busy fighting the Zionist corner by smearing all critics as anti-semites."
So according to you, I'm both an anti-semite and fighting the Zionist corner?
Now, you may be a schizophrenic, but you musn't assume that everyone else is
"I do wish you wouldn't exorcise your demons in public."
If the spectacle is too distressing for your tender soul, you know where to go. Plenty of unexorcised demons there.
"Will rasPutin and his oligarch friends ever go to jail? And President Nicolas Maduro Moros?"
The entire Saudi royal family? Islam Karimov? (Gulnara's there already, mind you. Allegedly) Nursultan Nazarbayev? Tony Blair? Silvio Berlusconi? (Ans: No)
So many questions. Thank you for incessantly and pointlessly asking.
Reposted (Sofia Kibo Noh)
"Ode to Dad.
Upon yon struggling laptop taped away
With keen intent to upset and dismay
There, in his noxious manner, skill'd and rude,
The old blogmaster sought to hush and rule;
A man most drear he was, without a clue,
I knew him well, as any daughter knew;
Well had the trolling wreckers learn'd to trace
The day's distractions arrogant and base;
Full well they laugh'd with counterfeited glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he:
Full well the busy whinger searched and found,
Conveying insults for to hound.
Yet in his mind from endless contradiction wrought,
His fevered accusations quite unsought.
The village all declar'd how much he knew;
'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too:
Correctness he could measure, attitudes proscribe,
And motives dark and evil then ascribe.
In argument this person own'd his skill,
For e'en though vanquish'd he could argue still.
And words of tedious length he always found
Dumbfounding gazing bloggers rang'd around;
And still they gaz'd and still the wonder grew,
That one small head could have so loose a screw.
All others knew his game. His tedious plot
Which marked him simply as a dull crackpot."
Premature, but true.
"..but because I have yet to witness one of them criticise drone-strikes (the ultimate in cowardice).3
I recall that I've asked you this question before, but of course without ever getting an answer.
WHY, exactly, are drone strikes cowardice?
Is their use more cowardly than the use for the first time of muskets against an opponent armed with swords and lances; than the use for the first time of cannon against those who had no cannon; against bombing from the air (to give only a few examples)? If not, then do you believe that the only form of warfare which is not cowardly would be when opponents are using exactly the same technology?
I'd be interested to see where you're coming from on this one.
"Always happy to back-up my POVs;
(not actually the one I had in mind, which seems to have been removed, but this one is also quite bad enough)"
My dear Macky, as even you ought to be capable of working out, no one is going to post that sort of thing on a public forum unless they're trying to stitch someone up. If you believe I wrote that then ask the mod to check the IP. Failing that call the police, or are you afraid they might knock on your door?
As Habba has observed re the Ukraine threads, you would appear to be the one here using multiple IDs – isn't that why you always have a handy little store of old comments to bring up against someone very time the opportunity arises? I think we should be told!
"If the spectacle is too distressing for your tender soul, you know where to go."
Good advice, I hope your friend DoNNyDarKo (12h31, above) follows it.
"So many questions. Thank you for incessantly and pointlessly asking."
And thank you and your fellow Eminences for never answering. Bringing that to light is one of the points.
"Always happy to back-up my chum buggerlugs' POVs"
"And thank you and your fellow Eminences for never answering."
A rational entity might conclude that it is a waste of time asking, and abandon the transparent pretence of an earnest spirit of enquiry. Mightn't it?
"Good advice,"
As always. A pleasure.
"I hope your friend DoNNyDarKo (12h31, above) follows it"
I think you'll have to lead him by example, buggerlugs. But I don't actually know what he's done to annoy you (more), and can't be arsed looking. A provisional "good for you, Donny" is all that's needed.
Please clarify. What did you mean by:
"Judging by the school photo she might as well be home anyway."
Why would shooting somebody in the back be considered cowardice?
Here we go.
A cut of the saw's blade on the limbs of the NHS from a Blair ex civil servant, then Health Minister.
Call for £10 a month fee to use NHS and £20 a night to stay in hospital: Former Labour health minister says out-of-date service needs the cash
•Lord Warner called for levy to be paid before anyone receives free treatment
•There is rising concern that the NHS is running out of money
•Former adviser to Tony Blair said health service was 'unaffordable'
By Sophie Borland
30 March 2014
So those who can afford private health insurance will say 'What's the difference . I would rather go private and be in a nice hospital with a foyer that resembles a hotel.' The rest of us can go hang.
Warner's Register of Interests
1: Directorships
◦Executive Director, Sage Advice Ltd (own private company engaged in advisory work, including public affairs advice – see category 3)
3: Clients
◦Adviser to Synlab Limited (German pathology company)
4: Shareholdings (a)
◦50% of shares in Sage Advice Ltd (see category 1)
10: Non-financial interests (e)
◦Trustee, Council for European and Palestinian Relations
◦AMember of Advisory Council of Reform (a think tank)
113. Lord Warner: Labour – Former adviser (until 2009) to Apax Partners, one of the leading global investors in the healthcare sector. Current director of Sage Advice Ltd. Works as an adviser to Xansa, a technology firm, and Byotrol, an antimicrobial company, which both sell services or products to the NHS" and was "paid by DLA Piper, which advised ministers on the £12 billion IT project for the NHS" projects that he was responsible for when he was a government minister. Lord Warner explains his role here.
Warner has just been on Sky News saying that his proposals would raise £2bn. The ConDems have just spent £3bn on a reorganization that nobody wanted. No irony there.
He introduced independent sector treatment centres which were expensive and generally speaking had indifferent results. Mostly South African owned companies set them up. They addressed the waiting lists and patients were treated according to their place on a list and not for reasons of clinical need.
Guardian Link from Agence France Presse report that the Ukrainian situation will soon be solved by Darth Vader, running for President! or something like that. BBC will announce that this is Putin's fault, whilst RT will announce that everyone in Russia is happy for the new Federal Ukraine empire under Darth.
God. I have been out in the garden for most of the morning, came in for a break and see they (the t—-s) are still at their task. Beyond a joke.
To the Thicko t—-. The BBC DID downplay Omlet's misdeeds. They reported the bare minimum cf that Star report I sent in which had all the details. ZBC wrote a few lines.
You are a day early for the UK YouKnowMyName. But I suppose you could be in another time zone.
To keep you amused until tomorrow.
BBC challenged for misleading its audiences on status of Jerusalem
March 31, 2014
The BBC's insistence on referring to the whole of Jerusalem as an Israeli city, despite the position of international law, is being challenged in the office of the Information Commissioner by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Friends of Al Aqsa.
The two organisations have today submitted a request to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) asking that it investigates the BBC's decision to consider Jerusalem, in its entirety, to be Israeli.
The BBC's decision was outlined in an email sent to Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in May last year by the BBC Trust. The email made clear that the BBC did not consider it was in breach of its editorial guidelines on accuracy and impartiality by referring to Jerusalem as an Israeli city.
The corporations should be taxed to subsidise the NHS as it is Britain
Needs to finance the NHS. Something's will need to change, with an ageing, ailing, selfish people the NHS has an ever increasing commitment to health care.
I am sorry to say there imeasureable needless actions that cost the NHS that comes straight off the bottom line.
Violent injuries
Accidents through neglect.
Sexual diseases, malfunctions.
Health and social guidance would be responsible in altering the NHS.
"Why would shooting somebody in the back be considered cowardice?"
In war (or war-like sitautions) I don't think it would be.
In peace, what is the difference between shooting someone in the back or from the front? Neither should occur.
Ba'al Zevul
""I hope your friend DoNNyDarKo (12h31, above) follows it"
I think you'll have to lead him by example, buggerlugs. But I don't actually know what he's done to annoy you (more), and can't be arsed looking."
That's OK, happy to arse for you – anyway, other way round, BlabberFull: judging by the whine reproduced below, I think I must have done something to annoy him:
"but to the part time visitor it's demoralising to watch as the same ol suspects drift into what they're here for.
Isn't it possible to build in a filter so a user can block out the voices that bring head pain ?"
Boo hoo
"Call for £10 a month fee to use NHS and £20 a night to stay in hospital: Former Labour health minister says out-of-date service needs the cash"
Nothing wrong with that, surely. In some continental countries people pay for healthcare both through taxation and social security contributions and through compulsory affiliation to a 'mutuelle', for which they have to pay a monthly amount (to the 'mutelle'). Warner's idea is merely a variant of that. In addition to this, in virtually all continental systems there also is an element of self-financing – not only on the 'input' side (ie, contributions) as descrobed above but also on the 'output' (ie, one pays a small part of the cost of medicines, stay in hospital, tests, visits to the GP, etc).
Continental health care seems to work fine.
May put James Brokenshire to answer about the death at Yarls Wood, the detentiomn centre run by Serco.
He also answered Yvette Cooper on the removal of the young girl from there to Mauritius.
His performance was poor and unconvincing. I have heard better pitches from estate agents.
May is carrying on as before with Yashika's removal and deportation.
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=15153&player=smooth&st=15:35:08&wfs=true 15mins 35secs in.
H is sneaky. His posts (two out of three within 18 mins) are on the bottom of p2 and top of p3, for maximum effect – or so he thinks. Nobody is impressed. They consist of the usual disruptive, diverting bilge and contribute nothing.
DoNNyDarKo 31 Mar, 2014 – 12:31 pm
"Isn't it possible to build in a filter so a user can block out the voices that bring head pain ?"
You'll be wanting Greasemonkey for that.
Alternatively, use the "scroll past" method.
Or this.
Pastiche poetry from a sock-puppet, BlubberFull?
Who is SKN's real father, I wonder?
"H is sneaky. His posts (two out of three within 18 mins) are on the bottom of p2 and top of p3, for maximum effect"
In the Ben style : Paranoia? Have the inmates taken over the asylum, in meaningful symbiosis with the Insolent Squatter?
"H is sneaky. His posts (two out of three within 18 mins) are on the bottom of p2 and top of p3, for maximum effect – or so he thinks. Nobody is impressed. They consist of the usual disruptive, diverting bilge and contribute nothing."
Well, Mary, my post at 16h46, on healthcare, could be discussed – provided of course that you were capable of discussing anything rather than just cutting and pasting in whinging mode. But I know that you get distressed when anyone disagrees with you, so perhaps you could sub-contract discussion to one or several of your Fellow Eminences?
Back to healthcare, the NHS and Warner's proposal.
Mary says: "So those who can afford private health insurance will say 'What's the difference . I would rather go private and be in a nice hospital with a foyer that resembles a hotel.'"
Habbabkuk says: but people who can afford private health insurance ALREADY tend to go to private ("nice") hospitals, so how would Warner's proposals change anything there?
Warner's proposals – which as I've already said are simply a variant of what already happens in most of western Europe – appear to offer a way of putting more money into the NHS.
And I'd point out, in that context, that people who have private health insurance in the UK are not thereby exempted from paying social security charges (N.I.) – so they in fact contribute to financing a service they do not use.
Please don't bother to discuss this, as I'm obviously only trying to divert and disrupt.
BTW, foyers can be important and contribute to raising morale.
Pity some of the NHS (yes, NHS) doctors' practices don't invest some of the NHS doctors' extremely high salaries (the highest in Europe) on nicer foyers for their patient waiting rooms.
And when necessary spend longer than 10 minutes with each patient.
Who is SKN's real father, I wonder?
Ask your wife!
Thanks !
Wow! Fascinating post. Twenty-one words prompting four hundred and something comments. Terrific. I will come here more often in the confident expectation of further enlightenment.
"Wow! Fascinating post. Twenty-one words prompting four hundred and something comments. Terrific. I will come here more often in the confident expectation of further enlightenment."
I agree that the phenomenon's fascinating. If only the quality matched the quantity.
My post was not aimed at being detrimental to any individual rights, I mean as responsible citizens our health and well being in general terms are concern for both society and the individual and our current responsibility of indulgence regarding how and what we consume as a socialist society that put strains on our systems of governance.
Stupidity and irresponsible actions and silly mistakes, vanity, and lack of confidence all should be addressed through education and media.
£10.00 a month is all very well but the bigger picture needs looking at.
Radical socialism and liberalism through education can find responsible capitalism via sustainable corporatism.
As share holders in the system we could appease the Gods and find harmony in whatever are choosing?
£10 a month, or whatever amount, would be the thin edge of the wedge and in reality, another poll tax.
The NHS belongs to us, the British people, and is under an enormous attack from the privateers. Lose it and it's gone for good. It does not belong to the insurance companies. We should be proud of it and cherish it.
The consequences. Private medicine in the USA.
Biggest cause of personal bankruptcy: Medical bills – TODAY.com
25 Jun 2013 – Rising medical bills are expected to push 1.7 million American … to pay more out-of-pocket costs are a challenge for many households.
"The NHS belongs to us, the British people, and is under an enormous attack from the privateers. Lose it and it's gone for good. It does not belong to the insurance companies. We should be proud of it and cherish it.The consequences. Private medicine in the USA."
It's almost like a religion. No one is suggesting we adopt the American system. As has been pointed out, a Continental-style system seems to work well enough and yes, that involves the partial death of your sacred cow but does not entail a fully privatized service.
Good news Nevermind if you are around.
King's Lynn incinerator: £500m scheme set to be scrapped
I forget who it was I heard on the radio the other day. Some council jobsworth was boasting that very little of the refuse his council collected went to landfill. It went to create 'energy' he said.
The t—-s are echoes of each other.
Some more on BDS
" How do you describe the feeling that your life has been a lie? I think that the reason Jews are so reluctant to acknowledge what is clearly in front of them, is that shifting from 'Israel is never wrong' to 'we have created a monster' is such a terrifying realisation, self delusion is the easier path.
Please hold my hand. I need you to talk me 'down from the ledge' because as I finally see the horror in front of us, I am petrified. I'm reaching out because I don't know what to do and I hope that by explaining to you, how scary shifting your position on Israel is, I can help us establish a process for other Jews. I need help.
Like Alcoholics Anonymous we need a place where Jews can safely process the ramifications of Israel. This is not a well written article, I've edited it many times, but please identify the confused structure, panic and paranoia as the experience all Jews go through when we realise what is in front of us.
I am sure there is a clever word for people like me (a play on birthright, birthrefusal?) who were raised pro-Israel and now see that the only logical position, any sane person can take is that the USA was complicit in Israeli crimes against humanity. How can any normal person not be pro-Palestinian? How can any American not be outraged at what they funded, supported and received hatred for?
I live in London in the UK, my father is Israeli and I was raised to support Israel. Pure hasbara. The atmosphere in Europe towards Israel was bad but is now toxic. If the USA shared the European view, the Jews would be deported out of Israel. Europe used to hate Jews because of anti-semitism, now they have a reason to hate us.
No sane person can support Israel. Any sane person can form a conclusion that the organized American Jewish community, that I admire and love so much, has blinded Americans, given tax money to Israel, and put a bullseye on their back.
My concern is not a reduction in support for Israel, but a vitriolic backlash from the American people, towards Israel, the Jews, the Adelsons of this world, AIPAC, etc. Support for Israel won't go from 51% to 49%, it will fall off a cliff, with massive implications.
While we sit and dither, the BDS and internet movements have hit a nerve. Students and academics are the only people 'the lobby' can't buy or intimidate. Telling young people no, only makes them more determined. No open debate can support Israel. This is an albatross and will haunt us forever. President Obama has set up Israel perfectly and even peace now won't suppress future criticisms and revisions. Israel is a stain on America's history"
Full piece @
What Nye Bevan says
"The collective principle asserts that the resources of medical skill and the apparatus of healing shall be placed at the disposal of the patient, without charge, when he or she needs them; that medical treatment and care should be a communal responsibility that they should be made available to rich and poor alike in accordance with medical need and by no other criteria. It claims that financial anxiety in time of sickness is a serious hindrance to recovery, apart from its unnecessary cruelty. It insists that no society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means"
"Continental health care seems to work fine."
but not as well as the NHS
So why the relaxed approach to changing it into a different and increasingly privatised model? Why the attempt to make this sound reasonable?
Having just recently been rescued from the clutches of thieving Western bankers, Crimean pensioners will be delighted that Putin has now doubled their pensions to bring them into line with Russian pensions.
Public sector workers will have their salaries increased to bring them up to Russian standards, and a variety of tax breaks have been announced.
Crimea is now looking very very investable.
I daresay even Tatars will be pleased.
The New York Times is of course delighted at the good fortune of all these new Russian citizens:
"So why the relaxed approach to changing it into a different and increasingly privatised model? Why the attempt to make this sound reasonable?"
There's money to be made.
And those who advocate it are not very shy about their direct financial interest in the change.
"Greed is good".
Dad! 5 08pm
"Who is SKN's real father, I wonder?"
This is getting so embarrassing!
I'd like to be able to apologise for you. Maybe tell readers that there was a time when you did something more productive with your talents than trying to upset people. But we both know that wouldn't be true, don't we?
I still remember that time when I was a toddler and you got all those nuns fighting at Lourdes. What had they done to deserve you telling them I was possessed by demons? I'll never forget your self-satisfied smirk as they were loaded on the bus by the Gendarmerie Swat Team. If only they'd known about you.
No wonder mum moved to South Georgia. Those penguins have more manners and talk a thousand times more sense than you.
Ba'al Zevul 1 20pm
"Premature, but true."
True, but surely not premature. The old fool has been obsessive in his devotion to upsetting people here ever since I discovered what he was up to in the garden shed about this time last year.
But I have to acknowledge and admire your appreciation of fine poetry. You have convinced me that you, like John are a titan of culture and erudition.
Meanwhile some images from occupied Palestine,
Chris Hedges, with Abby
AM: You talk about the impending environmental catastrophes, and also the severe economic uncertainty on the horizon—why do you think there is no sense of urgency on a large scale to address these troubling trends?
CH: Because they're not reported. The commercial media is about bread and circus. It's about spectacle. It's about celebrity gossip. It's about the Super Bowl. I mean, every week it's something new. If we had a responsible media, especially a broadcast media, we would understand that climate change at this point is an emergency; that at this point the effects of climate change are unstoppable, and if we don't radically configure our relationship with the ecosystem, very, very quickly the human species itself is in jeopardy. You can look at the World Bank report on climate change, turn up the heat, the World Bank can hardly be accused of being a radical organization and they speak at the end of that report in utterly apocalyptic terms. So, scientists—especially people who study climate change—they know very well what's happening, and yet we are not hearing their voices.
We are mesmerized by electronic hallucinations, and that's of course how corporations want it. When forty percent of the summer Arctic Sea ice melts, companies and corporations, like Shell Oil, look at the death throes of our planet as a business opportunity and they'll run up and drop a half a billion dollar drill bits down into the Arctic Sea. I think what we have seen is a kind of iron control of the systems of information by corporate power who are determined to exploit, and exploit, and exploit until collapse, and now we're about to see—in all likelihood—the President approve the northern leg of the Keystone XL Pipeline. So, it's an uninformed public. It's a public which has been diverted. They're emotional and intellectual energy has been invested into spectacle, coupled with a ruthless corporate totalitarianism that thinks only in terms of quarterly profit and has absolutely no concern for the common good or sustenance of the ecosystem that might provide some kind of decent and acceptable living standards for future generations.
AM: Chris, but on the flip side you've also said that as collapse become palpable, humanity will retreat in what anthropologists call 'crisis cults'. What is a 'crisis cult' and why does our psychological hardwiring always revert back to these modes of groupthink?
CH: When things become so desperate, human societies retreat into forms of magical thinking. At the end of the Indian Wars and the latter part of the 19th Century, you saw the rise of the Ghost Dance which swept through the remnants of native communities. These communities believed that the Great Spirit, the warriors would come back; the buffalo herds would come back; they would get their lands back; the white colonizer would disappear. That is replicated, as anthropologists have studied, throughout societies that collapse.
Now, the way we express our crisis cult, is through the radical Christian right, again, a form of magical thinking which denies evolution, which believes in the rapture; that those believers, when Jesus returns, will be raptured up into heaven. That's a classic example of a crisis cult, so that when things become desperate you gather in a church, you pray, you carry out Christian ritual, you tend to lash out at a society to purge. You see it in the rhetoric. Whether it's against homosexuals; whether it's against undocumented workers, Muslims, a long list of contaminants that will somehow make the society right—all of that has within it the makings of a crisis cult. But crisis cults are what societies do when despair reaches such a level—and we're certainly headed in that direction—when you are unable in a real way to affect the environment of the world around you, then you wrap yourself in these cocoons of fantasy……
AM: Let's talk about that new Oxfam study that recently came out that shows how eighty-five people control the equivalent of the bottom half of the World's wealth. What's your response to people that say, "We just have to remove those eighty-five people"?
CH: Well, it's a system of corporate power which is not necessarily driven by individuals so much as driven by corporate interests. Exxon Mobil, Citibank, Goldman-Sachs. So, you can arrest and imprison the head of Golman-Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein—which is where he belongs—but somebody will take his place. What has to happen is we have to break the back of corporate power which is now global, and break the logic whereby everything is about profit; that nothing has value beyond its monetary value. That's an extremely dangerous moment for any society to live in, because when nothing has an intrinsic value, whether that's water, air and human beings, then the ruthlessness of those corporate forces mean that you will squeeze every ounce of potential profit. Everything becomes a commodity and you squeeze those commodities until there's nothing left and that's exactly what's happening. So, it's not individuals, it's the rise of corporate power which is a species of totalitarianism. Different; it differs from past systems of totalitarianism but it is no less totalitarian than fascism or communism, or totalitarian forces.
AM: Right. The system is a machine at this point. If those people died today, it would still grind on. In a recent article you discuss the menace of the military mind and how only devotion to establish forms of behavior result in individual success. How do you think this concept applies to the director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, and his feelings towards journalists who have exposed NSA documents?
CH: Well, I speak as a former war correspondent who spent twenty years covering conflicts around the globe—Latin America, the Middle East, the Balkans, Africa—so, I know the military really well and blind obedience, aggressiveness resort to violence. All of these things; you know, destruction of individuality, all of these things work really well on a battlefield. They don't work very well in a peacetime society. So, when Clapper made this comment that Edward Snowden and his quote-unquote 'accomplices'—and he was clearly referring to journalists such as Laura Poitras and Glen Greenwald—should be prosecuted, I understood exactly what he was saying. He was a former Lieutenant General; he comes out of this military culture which detests the press, and has always made war on an independent press. Their vision of journalism are all the little lackeys who sit through their press conferences and follow them around and write glowing tributes to their heroism, or whatever they're directed to write in press pools.
But actual journalism is something that within the military culture they're deeply hostile, too, and the triumph of military values is—again—symptomatic of a civilization in decline; the rigidity, the celebration of hyper-masculinity, the lack of empathy, the belief that every problem should be dealt with by force both internationally and domestically, militaristic hyper-masculine regimes speak exclusively in the language of force, and then you see within popular culture, subsequently, a celebration of those hyper-masculine military values. I've been in enough combat to tell you those values are quite useful in a firefight, but they will destroy a civil society. I think that is a window into how tattered our civil society has become, and how we have shifted our allegiance from an open society, from empathy, from a capacity to embrace various opinions and outlooks and political stances to this increasingly rigid militaristic society, and Clapper is a figure who exemplifies precisely this sickness.
AM: Chris, in a recent speech you gave, you said quote, 'I do not know if we can build a better society. I do not even know if we will survive as a species. But I know these corporate forces have us by the throat. And they have my children by the throat. I do not fight fascists because I will win. I fight fascists because they are fascists." Chris, Glen Greenwald recently spoke about how one man, Edward Snowden, has changed the world, and that singular capacity is the antidote to defeatism. What do you regard as the antidote to defeatism?
CH: You can't talk about hope if you don't resist, and Edward Snowden has certainly resisted. Heroically. We must carry out the good, or at least the good so far in as we can determine it, and then we have to let it go. The Buddhists call it 'karma'. I come out of the seminary; that's what faith is. It's the belief that it goes somewhere even if empirically everything around you seems to point in the other direction. Once we give up, once we stop resisting, then we're finished. Not only finished in a literal sense, but finished spiritually and morally. So, I fall back in moments of distress like this on that belief, which is one that I learned in seminary; that we have a capacity and an ability and a moral duty to fight against forces of evil even if it looks almost certain that those forces will triumph.
ALCANON ALERT…. EDIT Button Please….
The Link to Above Copy… with More @
"What has to happen is we have to break the back of corporate power which is now global, and break the logic whereby everything is about profit; that nothing has value beyond its monetary"
That's wrong thinking, we have to influence and educate the minds of the consumer, corporations and banks are reactionary!
Good article.
I watched a party political broadcast on behalf of UKIP tonight. …… well, ….. Channel 4 was pretending it was a documentary but it was an hour long homage to Nigel Farage.
Here's the hard-hitting, not, film-maker Martin Durkin, in a Telegraph article to promote his film …..
….. and here's some quotes so you don't have to read it:
"When he speaks of liberty, he does it with a certain something in his voice and a glint in his eye.
He may come across as posh Home County respectable (he was raised in Kent, where his father was a stockbroker), but, believe me, he has the heart and soul – and politics – of an Essex barrow boy.
Compared with our career politicians, Mr Farage is indeed perverse, bolshie and doolally – and normal. That is why he is so popular, and that's why I now like him such a lot."
I've been reading and hearing this guff about Farage for a while now. Seems to me they're setting him up to fill the same role as the Tea Party did in the USA – drive the political debate even further to the right.
The media keep telling us UKIP will win the upcoming European Elections. They're probably right, but it won't be because of Farage's 'charm' or UKIP's policies – it'll because the media keep telling us that supporting Farage is OK because it's the 'new middle class cool' and a 'guilty pleasure' and it'll 'to shake things up."
So UKIP will win in Europe and the Question Time panel will earnestly conclude that the voters have issued a wake-up call to the major parties, and our three 'leaders' will heed the cry of middle England and lurch rightwards, bickering about Europe while agreeing to embrace UKIP's libertarian laissez-faire capitalism, and Farage will be be yesterday's news in time for the General Election.
I wonder how far in advance all this stuff is scripted?
Brian. 11 25 pm
Chris Hedges, spot on! Thanks
"It's a public which has been diverted. Their emotional and intellectual energy has been invested into spectacle, coupled with a ruthless corporate totalitarianism that thinks only in terms of quarterly profit and has absolutely no concern for the common good or sustenance of the ecosystem that might provide some kind of decent and acceptable living standards for future generations."
And since you never seem to sleep, here's some music to while away the quiet hours.
Well Thank you wee yin…
great sounds and vibes Magico… Sort of Stuff One just has to move the hips to
my Musical range is vast as the Cosmos…
Sofia.. to Cross Post From Squonk / Alcanon's Joint
Seen these kool dude's a couple of weeks ago in Glasgow
Give it a few mins…. @
Sorry Jay…
Meant to say Cheers .
Craig; Just an FYI. Ebola has gone airborne in Africa….
'Today'(BBC R4) reports that UKIP is against wind turbines because they are ugly and noisy.
Checked the mirror lately, Nigel?
Thanks Technicolour and Herbie for those comments in support of OUR NHS. Wonderful use of the English language by Nye Bevan. Can you imagine the spivs in Whitehall at the moment being able to speak like that?
As you say, the main motivation for the privateers is greed.
These brilliant performances came to mind!
Brian. 2 21am
WOW! Thanks.
What an empowering treat to start a new day with. Truly inspirational. No wonder he was silenced.
It prodded me dig up the full text. Reading it is like witnessing a day of big surf on Inch Strand when the wind has backed to the east. Paragraph after paragraph rolling in towering waves of truth. Spray streaming from the curling crests.
It's hard to choose what to quote from such a feast but here's a taster
"Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late." There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect. Omar Khayyam is right: "The moving finger writes, and having writ moves on." Martin Luther King – Beyond Vietnam
I'll mull it over through the day.
Full Text here, http://www.famous-speeches-and-speech-topics.info/martin-luther-king-speeches/martin-luther-king-speech-beyond-vietnam.htm
And as if we needed telling what we already knew. The NAO is redundant here.
Royal Mail Sell-Off 'Cost Taxpayer Millions'
The Government priced the shares too low with buyers raking in £750m in the first day alone, says the public spending watchdog.
What is news is that the 20 banks and hedge funds (described above as 'priority investors'!) who scooped the winners' prizes have already flogged them on.
Gideon retains 30% of the now not-so=Royal Mail.
Apart from the NHS, is there anything left to privatise? Well I suppose they could flog off what's left of the BBC. And then there's the air we breathe. They've already got our water.
Another concise observation from Hedges -
"Everything becomes a commodity and you squeeze those commodities until there's nothing left and that's exactly what's happening. So, it's not individuals, it's the rise of corporate power which is a species of totalitarianism. Different; it differs from past systems of totalitarianism but it is no less totalitarian than fascism or communism, or totalitarian forces."
Good catch, Brian. The public's indifference to being looted by corporations makes turkeys voting for Christmas look like red revolutionaries by comparison. Though I take issue with the idea that this is entirely new. Bread and circuses, backed with overwhelming military power, have been around since Roman times. What is new is the infinite flexibility of modern finance, which can buy and sell options on options on options using purely imaginary money to obtain actual, convertible profits. At least Rome had a hard currency.
Chris Hedges' father was a Presbyterian minister so I reckon he had good training in public speaking and use of the language.
"True, but surely not premature."
I meant that as your dear father is not yet pushing up the daisies – which will surely be glad to relocate elsewhere to free up bedding space for large families of dandelions – an obituary was, in classical terms, inappropriate. However, in any unified-field theory, that would be no objection, and it could be that even as I write, your parent has turned blue and irrevocably collapsed in the shed, possibly aided by the tangerine jammed in his mouth. If so, condolences.
Ba'al Zevul. 8 29am
"True, but surely not premature."
OK. So you were right on one minor, if rather significant, detail.
But I stand by everything else I wrote.
Who did the state broadcaster get in last night to review today's papers? The subjects discussed included UKIP and the Royal Mail give away.
A. Cornelia Meyer
BBC World News Paper Review (Le Pen, UKIP, Russia, China, Royal Mail)
Cornelia Meyer Independent Energy Expert and Chairman, MRL Corporation, United Kingdom
Studies at St Gallen University, London School of Economics and Tokyo University. Formerly: Economic Policy Adviser, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Japan; senior positions in banking and development banking covering four continents; senior positions with several GE businesses, BP and Kimberly Clark. CEO and Chairman, MRL Corporation and Non-Executive Chairman, Gasol. Holder of non-executive positions. Member, Global Agenda Council on Energy Security, World Economic Forum. Identified by CNN as a thought leader on emerging markets. On the panel of experts on the Global Exchange programme. Member, Oxford Energy Policy Club.
MRL Corporation extracts graphite from Sri Lanka and Gasol is a West African energy development corporation.
And I agree with it, Sofia.
If I can offer a helpful word:-
I think your old Dad still uses sleep-hypnosis tapes in the intervals between his strange outbursts here. My pattern-recognition app has identified one – "I Don't Have To Prove Anything", by Frank Lee N. Sain, a Baptist preacher and economist from Armpit, Oregon. I would also look out for "Be as Wise as Sir Keith Joseph" and "Bedtime Hayek". Tactfully remove these from his toy cupboard, ignoring the rubber and leather items, burn them, and I think you will find his mental state improves.
NHS facing biggest ever challenge, says new boss
Where has he been for the last 10 years? Why. At United Healthcare in the US of course.
'UnitedHealth Group Inc. is a diversified managed health care company headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S. It is No. 17 on Fortune magazines top 500 companies in the United States. UnitedHealth Group offers a spectrum of products and services through two operating businesses: United Healthcare and Optum. Through its family of subsidiaries and divisions, UnitedHealth Group serves approximately 70 million individuals nationwide. In 2011, the company posted a net earnings of $5.142 billion.'
You could not f…..g well make it up.
'Health & Government
In 2010, UnitedHealth Group spent more than $1.8 million on lobbying activities to work to achieve favorable legislation, and hired seven different lobbying firms to work on its behalf. In addition, its corporate political action committee or PAC, called United for Health Reform, spent an additional $1 million on lobbying activities in 2010.
QSSI, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, is one of the 55 contractors hired by United States Department of Health and Human Services to work on the HealthCare.gov web site.
Health Care Reform
Through 2010 and into 2011, UnitedHealth senior executives have been meeting monthly with executives of leading health insurers to limit the effect of the health care reform law.'
Russia's Gazprom raises gas prices for Ukraine, ending discount agreed before the crisis that overthrew its pro-Moscow president.
Naughty Mr Usmanov.
Mary, the Royal Mail giveaway was just that. Before hiving it off they pushed postage stamps up to twice their former cost. Long-term preferential shareholders made a short-term killing. The taxpayer was robbed. Prepare for year on year stamp increases (like the energy bills). I need to speak to my colleagues at Left Unity but I am sure I can get many to agree that the Royal Mail, together with all the other industries robbed from you and me: energy companies, water companies, railways, health-services, education, prisons and, if I got my way, banks. In private hands you just make the unhealthy miniscule rich all that much richer. It is what has demolished society – greed. Get these industries back. Bring decency back into society.
Ba'al Zevul.
You can see by my last post how deep the genetic imperative to be argumentative goes.
Dr Bullstrode says by the time I'm 18 I'll be unable to respond to even an inoccuous "How are you?" with any response that doesn't call into question the person's motives and sanity and accuse them of being raving anti-semites.
So I better make hay while the sun is still out, so to speak.
Here's more news that suggests BDS is working. Profiting from illegal occupation seems to be toxic to Sodastream's share price.
Should have read: "I need to speak to my colleagues at Left Unity but I am sure I can get many to agree that the Royal Mail, together with all the other industries robbed from you and me: energy companies, water companies, railways, health-services, education, prisons and, if I got my way, banks, back in the public domain.
Third time lucky. Should have read: "I need to speak to my colleagues at Left Unity but I am sure I can get many to agree that the Royal Mail, together with all the other industries robbed from you and me: energy companies, water companies, railways, health-services, education, prisons and, if I got my way, banks, would be brought back into the public domain.
Let hope AS can spend some time sorting this mess out
BDS is the way to go, certainly. Meanwhile, on again, off again…Israel's blatant timewasting, with absolutely no intention of ever agreeing to anything, continues -
And rumours that they're going to be given back their extremely nasty spy are circulating -
Was rereading Mearsheimer and Walt last night…then (Lebanon, 2006) as now, if the US isn't prepared to use its muscle as opposed to making slightly unhappy noises, quickly stifled by AIPAC's stooges in Congress, nothing whatever is going to change.
Ba'al Zevul. 8:53 am
And I tried to ignore the items you warned me about. Impossible job, that one.
Dad says they are mementos from his time in the Met. I don't think he is being 100% truthful. Nobody would forget being beaten over the head with a truncheon like that!
I'm sorry you had to see that*, Sofia, but desperate remedies, and that.
More on the Pollard rumours here:
Stiff opposition from the American military and intelligence community has deterred the White House (from releasing Pollard -BZ). Intelligence officials have argued that his release would harm national security and that the US must maintain a strong deterrent to allies by warning them of the consequences of spying on American soil.
The consequences of spying on US soil since 2001 have included free access to the State Department for Israeli spooks, and the penalty for Israelis selling F-35 plans to China being a slap on the wrist. Therefore…
But there are signs that that resolve may be softening. In recent years, former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and George Schultz, along with prominent figures such as Sen. John McCain and former CIA Director R. James Woolsey, have all called for Pollard's release.
Woolsey (AIPAC point man) would qualify in a civilised country as an absolute barking lunatic:
However Schultz, an old-school free-market Reaganite, shows occasional flashes of rationality.
The Pollard proposal has the attributes of a kite flown by the Israelis, not the US. In return for various attractive but nebulous concessions to the Palestinians, such as giving them some of their own land back, but without interfering with the overall ethnic cleansing scheme, Pollard's case will be reviewed and he will be returned. Not long after he returns, to a hero's welcome, the Palestinians, or failing that, Mossad, will fire a firework at Israel, and the concessions will evaporate during the ensuing punitive measures.
I hope the US isn't stupid enough to buy this. But I fear it may be.
* that.
They are mementoes from the Met, Sofia. The masks were given to him by Charlie Richardson in gratitude for not noticing some of the working girls on his beat. And the Arifs donated some fluffy manacles. An ex-DI who knows your Dad told me so, and added that he was very proud of them. That's history, Sofia, and you can be proud your Dad helped make it. Whatever went wrong later.
One of Cherie's clients (see link above):
I hope he can afford her "strategic counsel". Most of his subjects can't.
Damn. Wrong thread. Ali Bongo belongs on "A Good Idea". Where you can find out why.
Ba'al Zevul (New Every Morning is the Love) and Sofia Kibo Noh. Thanks for the entertainment.
More entertainment: Anyone noticed that when Farage is being most daringly disparaging of the EU, he's doing it on Russian TV? The Grauniad has -
His silence on Russian politics is refreshing by comparison. So, no doubt -
The Ukip leader has appeared so frequently that he is cited in literature for the TV station Russia Today as one of their special and "endlessly quotable" British guests. "He has been known far longer to the RT audience than most of the British electorate," Russia Today claims.
Our next panellist is Hoodah Thunkit ….what do you make of that, Hoodah?
Last November…..Indian billionaire couple hosts Prince Charles' birthday dinner
November 22, 2013
File photo of Prince Charles and wife Camilla, Dutchess (sic) of Cornwall
London-based Indian billionaire couple, Cyrus and Priya Vandrevala, hosted a gala event at (the) Buckingham Palace to mark the 65th birthday of Prince Charles, heir to the British throne.
The fact that the Vandrevalas were extended this privilege is noteworthy and thereby, by way of proximity to the British royal family, might have stolen a march over richer Indian businessmen resident in Britain, such as Lakshmi and Usha Mittal of ArcelorMittal and the Hinduja brothers and their wives of the Hinduja Group, both of whom were present at the function on Thursday, Raymedia reported.
Whereas four months later….
Billionairess who splashed out £500,000 for Prince Charles' 65th birthday party faces £350million fraud probe
Priya Hiranandani-Vandrevala sat with Charles at Buckingham Palace party
She and her husband have also paid a record £7,000 for a chocolate egg
Court in Isle of Man is due to hear case over 'missing' £350million
It was given to company she headed by London investors including HSBC
The socialite, aged 37, denies claims of 'fraudulent misrepresentation'
Who will P Charles find to cough up for this year's bash? Perhaps the tenants of the Duchy of Cornwall would like to show their gratitude in the usual way for their landlord's munificence.
I see Vince was at that bash. He is being made the fall guy for Dave and Gideon's prezzies for the Royal Mail vultures.
Vince Cable defends Royal Mail sell-off in Commons debate | UK …
http://www.theguardian.com › News › UK news › Royal Mail
2 hours ago – The business secretary, Vince Cable, has refused to apologise over the government's privatisation of Royal Mail, despite a scathing report from
Came across this, as ya do.
Quite funny from a medja studies, how not to do it, perspective. Almost thought it an April Fool.
Their website is very Web 0.5 too:
The cast of characters are pre-Web as well, like an 80s sitcom that was hot in its day, but:
These are Conservatives who are aghast at developments towards global one-worldness and prefer old fashioned national self-determination.
There are many on the left in that camp of course.
There seem to be a lot of these old Conservatives in many countries arguing against what the neocons are up to.
One of those above even seems to carry l'imprimatur du Rothschild, the French branch.
What can it all mean?
I always look to see who is on the board and where the money comes from.
Their own website doesn't say not does Wiki.
…nor does Wiki.
The Conservative ones of them at least are mostly involved in finance and banking. Redwood, for example works for Rothschild's French branch. They have similar views to the Reaganites. See Paul Craig Roberts, for example, or even the recent interview with Malcolm Fraser ex Australian Conservative PM.
I know we all used to knock these guys back in the 80s, but now we can agree with what they're saying, at least on the biggest issue of the day which is the neocon global agenda.
Farage is connected to the City of London and you'll often see him in alternative financial media attacking the direction banking has taken.
It looks very much to me that there's some sort of split amongst the bankers themselves and that's key to understanding what's going on.
Redwood looked particularly worried when he was discussing the direction things were taking. His employer, French Rothschild aren't insignificant in terms of the banking world, and I expect he represents their view.
So, what does it all mean.
It seems to me to go back to that dispute between the Atlanticists (the neocons) and those who'd prefer to run their own local show (I suppose the nationalists).
It's not quite the way the debate is represented in mainstream media, nor indeed is it the debate as most people understand it, but the dispute is very real and between very powerful people.
UKIP are central to this of course and their fortunes may tell us a lot about the way things are going in Britain. The French recently elected French nationalists and Europe now seems to crawling with nationalists and fascists and whatnot.
The matrix is looking a bit bit glitchy, let's just say.
A predictable reaction from that great defender of the NHS as is, Mary.
I post a couple of times, Mary responds (but not to the points I made), Anon replies to Mary by saying, inter alia, "No one is suggesting we adopt the American system. As has been pointed out, a Continental-style system seems to work well enough and yes, that involves the partial death of your sacred cow but does not entail a fully privatized service.", and what is Mary's "response" to that? Why, just the following:
"The t—-s are echoes of each other.".
Wonderfully profound.
Here is a question to Mary.
You are evidently unhappy with the NHS as is, and even unhappier with the NHS as you seem to believe it will be in the future. What, in your opinion, is wrong with the NHS as it operates at present, and what should be done to make it better?
Preferably in your own words, expressing your own thoughts, than cut-and-paste.
Mary, you of course don't have to answer those questions if you believe – against appearances – that the NHS is just fine and dandy as it is.
"Thanks Technicolour and Herbie for those comments in support of OUR NHS. Wonderful use of the English language by Nye Bevan. Can you imagine the spivs in Whitehall at the moment being able to speak like that?"
Bevan was indeed a master of the English language. I'm particularly fond of the expression he used when, as Shadow Foreign Secretary, he spoke passionately at a Labour Party Conference in favour of keeping Britain's nuclear deterrent : something about "not being sent naked into the conference chamber".
What is the technical term, in the world of blogging, for someone who posts as two separate people conducting an animated exchange with one another? Is it a "Komodo"?
Sorry everyone.
Dad's escaped.
Dr Bullstrode took all his clothes and said he had to stay in till he calmed down but He got that stuff out of the wardrobe and climbed down the wisteria.
Last seen heading down Surbiton high Street with a large crowd fleeing before him.
Mary- the idea of a neo-con Europe has moved closer to reality as Kiev approves a series of joint drills with the Western military alliance.
With increased criticism of Western policy towards Russia I have understood intelligence whispers to be that a false-flag attack within Russia financed and facilitated once again by Saudi Arabia is adjunct to NATO expansion in Eastern Europe. Such an attack would be blamed on certain fighting groups within Syria.
Interestingly Turkey has delivered 2,000 trucks of weapons and ammunition to these 'insurgents' in Syria.
The so called 'leaked' plans for false flag attacks on Turkey or Turkish property to justify an attack from Turkey on Syria is in fact a spun version of the plan I have exposed above. No such attack on Turkey is in the making. What is prepared is a 'no fly' zone over Syria to 'assist' Russian efforts to counter terrorism.
Currently Erdogan I believe has refused to endorse any US/Saudi tactics and tricks to concoct an attack on Russia; it would seem he considers this atrocity as breakneck, the fatal fallout of which would be a threat of nuclear war.
On the Royal Mail
Mr Goss says
"Mary, the Royal Mail giveaway was just that. Before hiving it off they pushed postage stamps up to twice their former cost."
"Prepare for year on year stamp increases" (I suppose he meant pro-ice increases)
Could I just point out that
1/. the cost of posting a letter within the UK – and the cost of posting a letter overseas) is very similar throughout Western Europe;
2/. the price of stamps has risen steadily over the least 5, 10, 20, 30 and indeed 40 years. As has the cost of many other things and as, for that matter, have average wages and salaries.
Very true, it's no longer applicable. As you wisely say, "that was then". In the same way, I suppose, as 1948, the date of the foundation of the NHS, was "then".
BTW, any thoughts from you on what I said about the NHS and the Royal Mail (price of stamps)? In loco parentis for Mary and Mr Goss, so to speak.
Habbakuk: the report I linked to from the Telegraph demonstrating that the NHS was – then, and still – one of the best healthcare systems in the world is dated 2011. Not an outmoded 1948 invention.
Mary reports (breathlessly):
"Whereas four months later….
Billionairess who splashed out £500,000 for Prince Charles' 65th birthday party faces £350million fraud probe
Priya Hiranandani-Vandrevala sat with Charles at Buckingham Palace party"
A probe, eh? Innocent until proved guilty, dear girl, innocent until proved guilty. But perhaps not in your grey absolutist world?
If I thought you'd appreciate a serious reply, I'd give it to you. Do you?
BTW, feel free to answer the questions I put to Mary at 18h51
You know perfectly well what I was getting at. Which was that the model which may have been perfectly fine in 1948 os not necessarily perfectly fine in the changed circumstances of 2014.
It is a mistake, I think, to say that changing a model is somehow anti-progress; indeed, the opposite is more likely to be true.
Crikey H must be getting smashed in a bar in a Spanish resort or similar. It's ten posts in row since I last opened my laptop.
The state broadcaster should have a category called Old News in their news output.
Just saw this item on the TV text headlines –
Senate report 'reveals CIA abuse'
A secret 6,000 page report says the CIA misled the US government over how effective its interrogation methods were, the Washington Post says.
1 April 2014
CIA HQ 14/08/2008 The findings relate to CIA practices under former President George W Bush (File photo)
CIA interrogation techniques exposed Watch
CIA 'searched US Senate computers'
CIA probes Senate staff monitoring
The CIA repeatedly misled the US government over the severity and effectiveness of its interrogation methods, the Washington Post reports.
A long-awaited US Senate report said that the CIA used secret "black sites" to interrogate prisoners using techniques not previously acknowledged.
These included dunking suspects in icy water and smashing a prisoner's head against a wall.
The findings stem from the time of former President George W Bush.
Officials familiar with the secret document said that the CIA's interrogation programme yielded little useful intelligence.
They also said that this intelligence had then been exaggerated so that the interrogation programme looked more effective than it actually was.
A horrible reminder of what went and yet the psycho Bush sits painting dogs and cats. By rights, he and Bliar should have had sticky ends by this time.
Habbakuk: certainly I would appreciate a serious reply; what makes you think I wouldn't?
As to what should be done to the NHS: I'm in the middle of something but meanwhile would suggest that, while refinements to a working and valued system, or principle, can be helpful, wholescale alteration, or destruction, means that you no longer have the system, or the principle, from which you once benefited.
NHS fees plan is a turning point in privatisation. April 1st 2014
habby approvingly quotes Nye Bevan's view:
"in favour of keeping Britain's nuclear deterrent : something about "not being sent naked into the conference chamber"."
BUT Britain doesn't have an independent nuclear deterrent anymore. They can't shoot their load without first getting guidance codes from Washington.
Britain is now completely naked, without whatever briefs Washington cares to supply.
And the cleaning bill is very high.
"According to a US diplomatic telegram released by WikiLeaks last year, President Obama handed over the unique serial numbers of the UK's missiles to the Russians as part of an arms reduction deal, despite the strong objections of Her Majesty's Government. As a result the Russians now know exactly what we have got and what it can do. Sucking up to Putin is clearly more important than the 'independence' of the British deterrent."
That's Crispin Black, no less, who knows where all the dirty briefs are buried.
Why has the US stayed silent over the missing Malaysian Boeing 777 when it has the best equipment in the area where the plane was said to be heading? Diego Garcia, where the US has a specialist and highly secret base acquired in a land-grab coup, from where the Chagossians were kicked out, after all their dogs had been gassed by the good old Yanks, to where UK residents were extraordinarily rendered, has its own runway and prison, yet not a squeak from our so-called ally across the Atlantic.
For a few hours it looked like you'd gone away HabbAKÜK; but alas like the bad penny that you are, you crop up.
No love,no hate, but I am curious as to why you are here. You don't seem to like many of the posters.. all you seem to have is a well ironed turn of phrase.
They say they want to turn the NHS into a profit centre,(making business), and yet at every turn they forbid the NHS to work with the money making stuff.Virgin can take over all of that. It's a scam. The NHS does not get VAT back,but business does. Why ? That's a huge chunk of money.
This Govt ,supported by the Liberals are setting the NHS up to fail…. then of course it needs replaced.
At the same time ,Cost + in the NHS is no different to QE 1 ,2,3 & 4 in the finance world.
Difference is that the money helps sick people as opposed to the money creating sick people.
Interesting concurrence with Craig's views on Crimea from Gregor Gysi, http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/951.php
This seems crucial to his argument: 'Through the violation of international law via customary law you can also create new international law.' Sounds like he's referring to the ICJ endorsement of Kosovo secession with which Putin justified Ukraine's secession. But was the ICJ wrong? Is the new law invalid? If somebody could explain his point I would be much obliged.
Stuart Littlewood's good piece on DV about Livni and the JNF's invite to her. He explains the current law. In September 2011 the British government changed the ground rules by providing the director of public prosecutions with the power of veto over private applications for arrest warrants. That is a lengthy process which allows the person in question to slip away and also costly in terms of legal fees presumably.
This coalition changed the law on universal jurisdiction by slipping it in to the Police Reform and Social Responsiblity Act. Yet another facet of their fascist mindset.
£50 for an Audience with Israeli "Justice" Minister on War Crimes Wanted List
…and Basking Under the Special Protection of Her Majesty's Government
by Stuart Littlewood / April 1st, 2014
Michael Mansfield on the change in the law.
Sleep easy, war criminals
Britain's insulting new rules on arrest warrants will only encourage Israel's view of itself as above international law
The Guardian, Friday 7 October 2011
"Why has the US stayed silent over the missing Malaysian Boeing 777″
Probably because they know very little – especially as it was heading away from Diego Garcia. But don't let that stop the usual conspiracy theory on your part – why let a little thing like no evidence get in your way, it never has before.
I thought Redwood worked for a subsidiary of Credit Suisse First Boston – last time I looked neither Switzerland or Boston were French and CSFB was not owned by the Rothschilds. Can I presume that you will be the banking adviser to John Goss and Left Unity friends when they nationalise all our Banks on the day they string me up a lamp post?
John Goss – btw is it true that Left Unity only managed to fill 20 out of the 40 places on its National Council at its conference? Never mind it leaves open the opportunity for a bit of "democratic centralism".
ferd; "Interesting concurrence with Craig's views on Crimea from Gregor Gysi"
I can only assume you have not read Craig posts on the Ukraine, as not much of this concurs at all, unfortunately, quite the opposite.
"This Govt ,supported by the Liberals are setting the NHS up to fail…. then of course it needs replaced."
Needed repeating. The US insurance firms have been circling the NHS for years, ever since it became obvious that their model back home was leading one way: to bankruptcy (in the course of this, many many individuals became rich, naturally).
Resident Dissident
Read the article and argue against it. I know this would stretch your grey matter to its limit. Never an iota of substance from you. You just lift a sentence and think this will do. I'll tell everyone it's wrong and they'll believe me. Truth is RD nobody gives you any more credibility than Habbabkuk, because you have been cloned from the same mould. Get a grip and argue the case against the article. Otherwise people will think you're a twat, that is more of a twat than they already think. And address me properly if you want to gain my respect.
"This Govt ,supported by the Liberals are setting the NHS up to fail…. then of course it needs replaced."
That's been ongoing a long time. The NHS is the biggie. the last on the list.
Takes a bit of time, cunning and effort to overturn the British people's fondness for the NHS, to the point where they'll agree to nearly anything so long as they can retain the brand name, NHS.
The Royal Mail was second last. Sold off at 50% its value. Knowingly.
They're doing exactly the same to Britain as they did to their colonies before.
But they're running out of things to rape and plunder.
They'll be needing new territory before the dollar falls.
Anyone come across this.
It's an account of Libya by an American business couple who were working on quite a substantial contract with the Libyan government, in Libya, prior to and during the invasion.
It's even better than that though.
It gives you a perfectly full picture of just how the whole Neocon scam works.
Tomorrow, in about half an hour, it is world autism day. Theresa May sent a sufferer from Asberger Syndrome, Talha Ahsan to a maximum security prison on behalf of her masters. Talha, after spending more than seven years in UK prisons without being brought before a court, was extradited to the US, and has since been in solitary confinement. We are supposed to be a civilised country!
This from John Goss to RD is nonsense. "Never an iota of substance from you". There has been plenty of substance in Resident Dissidence's posts; most recently in his posts on Russia. Not that he is 'right' all the time; no-one is 'right' all the time. But the fact that almost everyone here screams 'troll' when faced with someone who disagrees with them and feels free casually to then insult them is shameful, I think. What are you all here for? To reinforce your prejudices? Or to be challenged on, and therefore analyse, your own preconceptions?
It gets boring and it gets tiring to reiterate facts, and consequences, in the teeth of people who don't seem to care about either. But it has to be done. And if you can't do it with grace and without awareness that even that person who makes millions out of the destruction of the health service/environment/lives is still a person, then – well, then we're lost, in this mindless and heartless morass.
Rant over, I thankyew. I'm not here all night, so goodnight.
You would have thought that more than eight years would have been long enough for the Yanks to have put a case together, but he is still there 23 (sometimes 24) hours a day, every day. I have no time for Theracist May.
John; quick addendum: I do think there comes a point where people cross the line between needing facts to needing help, rather than argument. As far as I can see there are a few people who comment on this blog who do this, and RD is not one of them.
This article in The Guardian seems to have caused quite a stir:
As I said before I'm seriously thinking of voting for UKIP (or Green) and will watch tomorrow's debate with interest just because Farage has got the guts to speak out. My view on Putin is that he had and has a pretty poor human rights record, but nothing like as bad as the 21st century leaders of the West. The history lesson of the 20th century (as of every previous century…)was that if you let your government do terrible things to people in other countries, and believe their obvious lies something terrible will come back on YOU. This was most recently true in Belgrade. The citizens of mainstream Serbia still don't seem to know what Barbary was perpetrated in their name.
I think it's fair to say that most Americans don't know what's being done in their name.
They're poorly educated and fed non stop bread and circusses through the box.
But it's they and their brand which will take the blame, whilst the brand owners create another brand and pull the same trick again.
Nothing personal. Just business.
Hmmm, Herbie. That's a very cold comment, but probably right on the money, if you'll excuse the pun.
Harking back to the last thread, I wonder if that's the way Teflon Tony perceived it regarding Iraq. Nothing personal, we just needed the oil.
And, sadly and just as coldly, we did,and do. Can the up-coming generation imagine life without petrol (or computers!) As I've got two generations coming behind me, perhaps I should turn to the Greens rather than UKIP…
"Sorry, world, we tried (half of America)"
But sure 'they' are mainly stupid, not.
Greens or UKiP: strange choice. No decent independents? Then vote for the ones who at least have a decent track record – cf 'Caroline Lucas' v 'the ones who have mysterious millionaire backers, and chisel millions out of taxpayers' expenses' ?
Macky, don't be a dick. Craig said, "In fact of course Russia was right over Kosovo, and thus is wrong over Crimea." Gysi would agree. Now, I'm not asking you for an explanation because you failed so dismally to explain anything last time, but I want to know, from somebody who can do more than just piss randomly on other commenters,
- Does this mean the ICJ was wrong about Kosovo when it said in its July 22, 2010 advisory opinion "No general prohibition may be inferred from the practice of the Security Council with regard to declarations of independence," and "General international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence,"
- Or, does this mean the ICJ was recognizing precedents that actually changed the law, as Gysi implies?
Not in my area, Technicolour… and I don't want to have to spoil my vote. I started off "anti-Europe" was then persuaded to thinking it was a good thing, both in terms of encouraging peace and economically. The first of these was dashed in 1991-2 over Yugoslavia, but I thought Europe made economic sense until the banking crash, and a slow and reluctant acceptance that unelected European bureaucrats were partly responsible. Last time I voted Libdem because I was still giving Vince Cable the benefit of the doubt. Never again!
Peacewisher 2 Apr, 2014 – 1:24 am
"…and I don't want to have to spoil my vote."
Why not?
Pretending you have a choice where there is none just prolongs the delusion. Don't vote, do something useful instead.
Not that 'fair' Herbie from my own experience; our friends across the pond hold a sure enough sense of community. That accommodation and sense of association has lead to an 'out to lunch' mentality on all things non-American unless experienced directly when an amazing eagerness and spirit to engage hits pay dirt.
I agree that conditioning and brain-washing play some part on conscious development although that is universal and is outweighed by fear of vulnerability, isolation and detachment together with a growing fear of the state. We witnessed the 'Occupy' movement in America 'taken down' in a brutal way by authorities in Emergency management mode now an addendum to Homeland Security doctrine after the attack on America in 2001.
Being lied to by government is taken as 'normal' in America – "Its what our governments[administration] do," said an American work colleague, "they cover all bases to insulate our lives."
So sad..
Democracy is in trouble because an increasing number of people aren't engaging with it. If the people decide not to engage, for whatever reason, it will become a dictatorship, and there's no point then in crying because your voice isn't being heard.
The "don't vote" movement need to think it through. Are you one of them, Phil? You should know what happens to people who don't speak up about injustice. If you have thought this through, what would you expect to replace democracy with when you've achieved your goal?
(apologies if you were just being facetious )
Peacewisher 2 Apr, 2014 – 1:49 am
"Democracy is in trouble because an increasing number of people aren't engaging with it."
No, we are in trouble because people think that voting once every few years for one of several variations of the same party (the big business party) is democracy.
"it will become a dictatorship, and there's no point then in crying"
People not voting will not make a dictatorship. People not engaging in politics in a meaningful way might.
"The "don't vote" movement need to think it through."
We do. Have done for yonks.
"what would you expect to replace democracy?"
As discussed, we currently have no real political choices. I would like, by radical decentralisation, a more democratic democracy.
Peacewisher, it's been thought through, quite conclusively, http://fubarandgrill.org/node/1172
You're making the common mistake of forgetting that there's more to civil society than electoral politics – especially when electoral politics is rigged to undermine the democratic standards of ICCPR Article 25 clause b by failing to guarantee the free expression of the will of the electors.
If you walk into a restaurant and the unctuous waiter hands you a heavy menu with two items, the Shit Sandwich and the Deluxe Shit Sandwich, are you going to tuck in your napkin and eat? Of course not.
Peacewisher, you might find this short article interesting: Are You An Anarchist? The Answer May Surprise You!
For anyone who has been noticing the push for genetically modified organisms, here is the latest roundup of news items from GM Watch.
I see the weed killer Roundup on supermarket shelves and also glyphosate products. Do the purchasers have any idea of the dangers contained within those brightly coloured packages which are heavily advertised?
See these items on the link.
Brazil's public prosecutor wants to ban glyphosate 26 March 2014
How "extreme levels" of Roundup in food became the industry norm 26 March 2014
Public consultation on re-approval of glyphosate – please comment 24 March 2014
Glyphosate in animals and humans – new study
Technicolour, when I outed RD as a sock-puppeteer both he and ESLO (the two puppets) were slinging the same @Goss tag at me because they were incapable of addressing the argument. I have seen it time and again. When that tag is used I discovered the puppeteer is mad at me, largely because the argument cannot be dismantled, as with the Boeing 777 disappearance. The puppeteer never read the article but chose to argue against it anyway. It is not so much me that casually insults the puppeteer than the other way around.
"What is the technical term, in the world of blogging, for someone who posts as two separate people conducting an animated exchange with one another?"
An Anonocuk?
What brought that on, buggerlugs? You don't think Sofia and I are the same person, do you?
LOL. You're crazier than I supposed. and, let there be no doubt, that's crazy crazy.
There was a big media push yesterday heralding the arrival of the new chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens who replaces the abysmal Nicholson. *
New NHS chief angers unions with praise for private sector innovation
1 Apr 2014:
Unite says Simon Stevens's comments demonstrate his and government's shared agenda to draw in private providers
The Department of Health list 28 personnel in their Press and Media departments. Many more not listed probably plus likelihood of outside PR agencies being employed. The state broadcaster is adept at giving the message too. Much knocking copy of late if you have noticed.
Thanks for the Libya link.It opens the eyes and fills them full of tears.
The scale of the subterfuge and amounts that were stolen are unfathomable.
Western civilisation eh ?
98% certain that the next Bilderberg meeting of Satanists, global dominators and dominatrixes will take place at the Marriott Hotel Copenhagen, where means of manipulating the rest of society will be discussed.
Yet another report here which confirms what most of us already knew.
Bedroom Tax Causing 'Hardship And Distress'
Disabled people, carers and the homeless are suffering because of benefit reforms implemented by the Government, a report says.http://news.sky.com/story/1235589/bedroom-tax-causing-hardship-and-distress
So what is the coalition's response? Nil.
"Democracy is in trouble because an increasing number of people aren't engaging with it. If the people decide not to engage, for whatever reason, it will become a dictatorship, and there's no point then in crying because your voice isn't being heard."
While I agree heartily that not voting simply invites worse excesses (our wannabe leaders will fully appreciate that it's due to disillusion, but continue to assert that it isn't – from a position of enhanced assumed authority), I'll take issue with that statement. Democracy is in trouble because it all too visibly isn't democracy.
"If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal" has, over the last three or four decades, become hard fact. "The Market" determines what happens and does not happen in this country. We don't. End of. The situation has been made very much worse by the increasing prominence of speculation in The Market, and The Market's insistence that our real earnings are transferred by financial magic into deeper, usually offshore, pockets.
What we see now is what The Market terms a "growth" economy – one in which rampant inflation, rather than production of anything useful is necessary to assure corporate profits, with the inflation (boo) being intentionally buried in (eg) property price rises (hooray). All parties agree that this is good for us, since the only option is to tear the system apart and build one which is based on a wider consensus than that of Hayekian economists. And that would be difficult, and lead to a lot of short-term pain: politicians think only as far ahead as the next election.
I'd suggest, as I have done before, that we stop buying stuff we don't need, and in particular, imaginary stuff, like financial products. If we are in the happy position of being investors, invest only in specific productive enterprises, rather than hedge funds….etc. Contradict the assumption that wasteful and inefficient consumerism is in any way good for our personal or our public economy, at all points of contact. Boycott. Divest. Sanction.
BDS seems to be getting results in Israel – at the very least, it's creating debate about Israel's objectives.
It would send a message to our own mendacious, greedy, fatcat financiers, marketeers, branders, self-exalted management, big oil, gigantic pharma, and all the rest, which voting utterly fails to send.
Last seen heading down Surbiton high Street with a large crowd fleeing before him.
Update: 0907: Seen in deep conversation with the Coronation Stone in Kingston. Appeared to be annoyed that the stone is not answering his questions. Police advisory – do not approach this man. Taser officers deployed. Daughter contacted, situation contained for the moment. Ends.
I haven't visited this blog much in recent times, largely because Craig hasn't had much to say and many of the commenters just say the same thing ad nauseam, I did however notice on a rare visit this morning that John Goss does accuse me of being the same the person as Resident Dissident among his usual garbage, could he please elucidate since as to the best of my knowledge I am not.
Yes, Mr Goss has been spending a fair bit of time venting against different posters of whom doens't approve, rather than countering their arguments. Accusations of sock puppetry and long, angry self-justifications as to why he won't respond to x, y and z. Two-blogs John's "attacks" appear to have intensified after he got outed as a hubristic squatter on, and colonizer of, Craig's blog.
It's sad really. Mr Goss in venting mode, Mary cuts and pastes merrily, the mow corporals Macky and Herbie play tag team and BlubberFool (whence he?) plays footsie with someone who is someone else (or perhaps not). Thank God for you, Kempe, Resident Dissident and, dare I say very modestly, myself
We need a new thread from Craig.
that should have been "the low corporals"
ESLO, where have you been hiding? Not sure I should engage in your subterfuge but let's listen to what have you dreamed up in the past fortnight.
The comment Resident Dissident purportedly made (or at least it has his name on it) was:
My response was directly below.
You chimed in at 2.03 am the next day under ESLO but forgot to change the sock and answered as though you were RD.
Update: 0950: Disturbed individual tasered (low setting) at Coronation Stone, Kingston. Dart hit tinfoil hat and shorted out. Suspect unaffected, evaded pursuit. Later reported by member of public on Kingston Bridge, chewing what appeared to be a small dog. Current whereabouts unknown. Ends.
John Goss
The explanation is plain and simple Mr Goss (I note your lack of manners in not saying please when asking for an explanation) is that I meant to say "I think you will find that RD said" or similar – I seem to remember changing the original "He" to what I intended as my post came several hours after RDs but obviously something went wrong with the editing. Apologies to RD for the confusion caused. No apologies to Mr Goss who in his usual style has used the flimsiest of evidence to make defamatory comments about RD and myself.
I think I shall stay away from the blog until it regains some substance rather than being dominated by the cacophony of the usual empty vessels exercising their prejudices.
Ferd ; "Now, I'm not asking you for an explanation because you failed so dismally to explain anything last time"
How interesting ! So who were you before ?! Seeing as your avatar is the same as the banned Anon, which is the same as mysterious new Poster "Fffff", which is the same as "Habbabkuk", you're quite right, there is no point at all in engaging seriously with you on this or any other issue.
"I think you will find what" ESLO "said"* was:
"I was talking about Russia – on every sensible measure of left vs right it is pretty clear where your heroes stand. You have no shame whatsoever." (ESLO)
Got to admit I'd have drawn the same conclusion as John. Underlining the wisdom of checking your copy before hitting submit…or not being ResDis.
* Passive-Aggressive for "You're (expletive)wrong, you (expletive), how (expletive) dare you?
With all my analytical skills I could not come up with a defence for you either.
A huge earthquake, 8.2 mag, has hit Chile. Warnings of a said tsunami to follow.
10.35am 'We need a new thread from Craig.'
11.35am echoed by 'I think I shall stay away from the blog….' Fine by us.
Craig has posted over 20 times since the beginning of February. That is insufficient for the trolls. They would like one quaque die.
They have absolutely nothing of interest to say as usual.
Ba'al Would that be Kingston in 'leafy' Surrey or Kingston, Jamaica? I had the location in some Spanish beach resort.
'Farage and Clegg set for 'ding-dong'
UKIP's Nigel Farage predicts his comments about President Putin will come under fire in his TV debate with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on the UK's membership of the EU'
Trust that will not be a rendition of 'Ding Dong The Witch is Dead' which we heard many times last April.
What a travesty that state funeral was.
Mary: Initial reports suggested that Sofia's Dad had been talking to the Bob Marley statue in Kingston, Jamaica, but the timeline suggested otherwise, and this was corrected. Police are now gathering outside a thé dansant venue near Bushey Park, and an arrest is expected.
Ex Constable H. Bono in happier days, with partner:
Ba'al Zevul (I Am The Egg Man)
09 29am
11 03am
Thanks for showing your concern for Dad by keeping us up to date on the developing crisis in Kingston.
Since the unfortunate business with the dog, the Beeb has gone into damage limitation mode, while 60 SAS troopers maintain a tight cordon round the internet cafe on Morton Road. Witnesses report seeing a figure answering Dad's description and dressed in fetching two piece leather-studded bikini lurching into the cafe in persuit of Mrs De Croisson's chihuawa at 11 45am.
As for the report on the 12 o'clock news. That's just typical propaganda of the sort we've come to expect when an "asset" becomes too much of an embarrassment. "Saddam Bin H'abbah" is of course a fiction. His shadowy terrorist group "Al Asbarra" is just a front for the latest psy-op, aimed at maintaining the fear levels of the Great British public by way of their pets.
Meanwhile, real people and real terror in the only democracy in the Middle East.
John Goss
So you wish to play for the defence as well as the prosecution – I wonder where that habit came from? Fortunately we still live in a part of the world where there is a presumption of innocence no matter how much it runs counter to what you see in your favoured regimes.
Your last comment really is just classic trolling – posted for a reaction with no content whatsoever.
End of conversation.
Bushy Park to Morton Rd in 3 minutes. Dad was always a good sprinter!
And that's not my mum in the picture either.
From Sofia' link, 1.10 pm -
v) Translation (2012-2013) – In order to ensure a fair trial, it is essential that all relevant materials and laws are translated into the language of the defendant – in this case Arabic. In 2012, some Israeli military orders were translated into Arabic and made available on the website of the Military Advocate General.
However, at the time of writing, Military Orders 1711 and 1726 appear not to be available in Arabic, almost one year after the former came into effect. Further, the simultaneous translation provided by non-professional translators in the military courts remains problematic, with one child recently reporting that the translation was sporadic and made no sense.
In February 2013, the Israeli Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, delivered a judgment in Khaled el-Arej v Head of the Central Command in which it ruled that all indictments in the military courts must now be translated into Arabic, although the subsequent amendment to the military law allows for this right to be waived by the defendant – a situation that the Applicant's legal counsel pointed out is inappropriate in the circumstances.
The Court did not rule on whether interrogation materials, court transcripts or judgments of the military courts have to be translated into Arabic. The decision of the High Court in Khaled el-Arej has itself not been translated into Arabic, even though Arabic is one of the official languages of the State of Israel.
Military Order 1711 that goes into effect in April (2013 -BZ), stipulates that children under 14 must be brought before a judge with 24 hours and children aged 14 to 18 must be heard by a judge within 48 hours, according to UNICEF. (Jerusalem Post 06/03/2013)
It is relevant to note that these new time periods are still twice as long as those applied to Israeli children living in West Bank settlements. (JFJP link)
Antisemites. (Arabs are Semitic, too…)
Apologies. The amendment to 1711 increases the time for 16-17-year olds to 4 days: four times as long as an Israeli settler teenager might get even if arrested on suspicion destroying a Palestinian olive grove – which he probably wouldn't be.
" Fortunately we still live in a part of the world where there is a presumption of innocence no matter how much it runs counter to what you see in your favoured regimes."
You want to try telling that to Talha Ahsan, locked away for 7 years despite suffering from Aberger Syndrome in this beloved 'favoured regime' of yours without being brought before a court, then extradited to the US, that other 'favoured regime' of yours, and held in solitary confinement for approaching two years so a plea bargain can be negotiated under such torture.
Today is World Autism Day. Concerned people should be thinking about Talha and Herman Wallace, the man held for 43 years in solitary confinement despite not having been guilty of a crime in this 'favoured regime' of yours where there is a 'presumption of innocence'. And don't come with that old chestnut about emigrating. I intend to stay and fight for a better society, one fit for a free society.
Aberger = Asberger
"A huge earthquake, 8.2 mag, has hit Chile. Warnings of a said tsunami to follow."
What's it to be, John? Rothschild Zionists or HAARP?
"Aberger = Asberger"
Or even Asperger.
"Antisemites. (Arabs are Semitic, too…)"
Well done Komodo! I must have read it on just about every Jew-obsessed site out there.
Really playground stuff Komrade.
When your comprehension skills improve, you will learn to overlook the basic message(Arabs are Semites too, so Likud policies are antisemitic) as thoroughly as you do the evidence for it:
"It is relevant to note that these new time periods (for detention without charge of Arab kids rounded up in night raids by the IDF) are still twice as long as those applied to Israeli children living in West Bank settlements."
Practice, troll. Practice.
Playground stuff?
Quite so. Didn't have to look far for that, either.
The page is cached, and available in full if you can make this work.
Salient bit:
Since Israel controls the airspace, it is reasonable to assume that the drone is Israeli (and not, say, Iranian). Of what terrible terrorist activities are the people in the tent encampment suspected that would warrant flying a drone above them? Coincidentally or not, shortly after the drone flew over their shacks, pens and tents, inspectors from Israel's Civil Administration – and not soldiers or agents from the Shin Bet security service, showed up. They confiscated two trucks that had arrived that morning. One held cement, the other playground equipment: a three-seat swing set and a slide with a tunnel and two ladders. Donated by the Italian government, they were a logical addition to the eco-friendly school, built in 2009 out of tires and mud. The students barely had a chance to cheer for the gift, which a delegation from the Italian Consulate in Jerusalem came to present, before it was taken away from them. And the terrible terrorist activities that were presumably stopped by the drone? The installation of a playground and the rejoicing of children.
And that's from an Israeli, mainstream, paper.
Back to the sandpit, troll.
Anti-Semitism is a term coined in 19C Europe to describe hatred of Jews. Nothing to do with Arabs whatsoever. That is what it means in our language and only an entry-level Jew-obsessive would feel all clever about pointing out that Arabs are Semitic too. 6th Form stuff, Komrade, and I would have expected better from a veteran such as yourself.
A last ditch legal attempt is being made to get an injunction to prevent Yashika being put on a plane to Mauritius at 9pm tonight. Shame on May and Brokenshire, her sidekick behind whom May is hiding.
They are hypocrites with their immigrant skivvies.
"Or even Asperger"
Of course the important thing was the fact that people are imprisoned without trial in this free western society, and just because it is not you trolls, you just don't care, ignoring the important in exchange for the inane, though those of your clan brag:
"Fortunately we still live in a part of the world where there is a presumption of innocence no matter how much it runs counter to what you see in your favoured regimes."
Brokenshire has previous. An eager beaver like him should go far in the Tory partei.
'From May 2011 to February 2014, James served as Security Minister at the Home Office with responsibility for domestic national security and counter terrorism including supporting the Home Secretary with oversight of the work of the Security Service (MI5) and the national Police Counter-Terrorism network. James responsibilities also included the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, and he was part of the Prime Minister's Extremism Taskforce.
James led negotiations with the Jordanian government to secure the deportation of Abu Qatada…..
Of course this free Western society isn't perfect, but when you seem to hate it and openly prefer regimes which actually are vicious then you have quite clearly lost the plot.
So puerile.
'Dunce v Muppets' at Prime Minister's Questions
PS Vaz has just raised Yashika'a deportation as a Point of Order. He says that ahe should not be deported as she is due to be a witness at a hearing of his committee, the Home Affairs Committee. Ms Primarolo prevaricated needless to say.
In one leap, Brokenshire is on his feet again moving on 'Statutory Instruments relating to Terrorism'. More screwing down and removal of libertiea no doubt.
The definition of semite is quite clear. It is not an exclusive Jewish / Israeli/ Arab or Bedouin term. Anti Semitism therefore applies to all of them.I s'pose you could even apply it to the Gypsies,Sinti and Vlach populations of Europe.
"habby approvingly quotes Nye Bevan's view:
"in favour of keeping Britain's nuclear deterrent : something about "not being sent naked into the conference chamber".""
Do you really understand nothing, you dolt?
That was an indirect piss-take of those prats who were busily praising Aneurin Bevan in relation to the NHS – thought I'd remind them of what their hero's position on nuclear disarmament was….:)
Wakey wakey!!
The dangers of self- deception iro Russia;
How very one-dimensional of you, Habbakuk
"I think I shall stay away from the blog until it regains some substance rather than being dominated by the cacophony of the usual empty vessels exercising their prejudices."
I urge you to remain and carry on the good fight. There is always the slight hope that if the Original Trolls (including the Insolent Squatter and Colonizer)get whupped often enough they might learn. But even if this won't be the case, there is still a duty towards casual, non-committed visitors to this blog to expose the inacccuracies, lies, misleading statements, irrelevant links and spurious arguments which the OTs so often come out with.
We are the only ones keeping this blog on the right side of reason and sanity!
Mr Goss
With all my analytical skills…"
If you have any, they appear to be deeply embedded in that Jurassic interior of yours. Only fracking could bring them to the surface for us to admire.
"John Goss
So you wish to play for the defence as well as the prosecution – I wonder where that habit came from? "
I can enlighten you, ESLO.
It was a feature of the Stalinist show trials of the 1930s that the laughingly titled "defence lawyers" joined with the state prosecutors in denouncing the accused.
Only one of the indications of what has influenced Mr Goss's style and modus operandi.
Oh dear!
Mary sighs
"So puerile.
'Dunce v Muppets' at Prime Minister's Questions"
I heartily agree. HoC should be replaced by a British State Duma. Boxing gloves and bullet-proof vests optional.
Am I going to make it to the top of page 4 as well? Should I try? Would Mary be unhappy?
Seems to have completely lost the plot now. There are another 38 to go ?????
Tired of scrolling past an unwanted contributor? Then try Habbabreak v1. The all friendly sanity helper for Craig Murray's blog.
100% safe. 100% effective. Habbabreak.
Afrend (or whatever your usual handle is)
A most useful tool, but not one which Mr Goss is likely to need or use, given the absence of comments on his own two blogs. But cheers anyway!
Afrend, perhaps we could all chip in and have it permanently removing mindless comments. Habbabreak looks like a really good product. Give it to me now!
Lots of comments criticising John Goss, not one addressing the issues raised. The puppets and trolls have their jobs to do, which amount to targeting individuals and ignoring comments. This, from Anon, is the nearest I can find from any of them discussing a point:
"Of course this free Western society isn't perfect, but when you seem to hate it and openly prefer regimes which actually are vicious then you have quite clearly lost the plot."
What it lacks is argument. What regimes? How are they more vicious than NATO countries? Where are the links? No wonder people who do discuss think you're all trolls.
Passionately optimistic!
A credible essay on intuitive writing from a great.
The anon at anon dot com email address is about to be blocked. From now on, comments submitted with that address will not be displayed.
Two examples of "discussion" from an Original Troll and the Impident Squatter respectively:
"And I agree with it, Sofia.
If I can offer a helpful word:-
I think your old Dad still uses sleep-hypnosis tapes in the intervals between his strange outbursts here. My pattern-recognition app has identified one – "I Don't Have To Prove Anything", by Frank Lee N. Sain, a Baptist preacher and economist from Armpit, Oregon. I would also look out for "Be as Wise as Sir Keith Joseph" and "Bedtime Hayek". Tactfully remove these from his toy cupboard, ignoring the rubber and leather items, burn them, and I think you will find his mental state improves."
"98% certain that the next Bilderberg meeting of Satanists, global dominators and dominatrixes will take place at the Marriott Hotel Copenhagen, where means of manipulating the rest of society will be discussed.
And, as a bonus, this one (Impudent Squatter):
Resident Dissident
"Read the article and argue against it. I know this would stretch your grey matter to its limit. Never an iota of substance from you. You just lift a sentence and think this will do. I'll tell everyone it's wrong and they'll believe me. Truth is RD nobody gives you any more credibility than Habbabkuk, because you have been cloned from the same mould. Get a grip and argue the case against the article. Otherwise people will think you're a twat, that is more of a twat than they already think. And address me properly if you want to gain my respect."
Pot – kettle??
Big changes here, avatar abstractions notwithstanding.
John Goss writes:
"The puppets and trolls have their jobs to do, which amount to targeting individuals and ignoring comments."
On the contrary, Mr Goss: most of my comments, as well as those by Resident Dissident, ESLO, Kempe and Anon are actually incisive and pertinent comments on comments and would be most conducive to discussion if the original commenters were so inclined. Hence your complaint is unfounded, wrong, misleading, vexatious and not in the spirit which should animate discourse on this blog. Apology, please.
Hey, Mr Moderator Man, don't we get to choose our own colours?
But the angular design is fine. Angular comments and thoughts, angular avatar, there's symmetry there!
Habbabkuk (La vita è bella) !
31 Mar, 2014 – 4:46 pm
"Nothing wrong with that, surely. In some continental countries people pay for healthcare both through taxation and social security contributions and through compulsory affiliation to a 'mutuelle', for which they have to pay a monthly amount (to the 'mutelle'). Warner's idea is merely a variant of that."
Habbabkuk I see that yet again you don't supply any links to back-up your position. What is the problem you have? Scared that your claims could be demolished?
French Healthcare:
"The system is amongst the most expensive in Europe. Cost-containment policies aiming at limiting supply and restricting coverage has been hindered by public discontent and ardent opposition by the medical professions which traditionally enjoy very liberal conditions of independent medical practice."
"The general scheme covers about 80% of the population…"
"The very poor can qualify for medical aid provided by various charitable organisations." [How nice for them]
"Coverage for services through NHI is not exhaustive and approximately 87% of the population either take out supplementary voluntary insurance with non-profit mutual benefit societies or purchase private insurance."
"The main purpose is to cover the LARGE SHARE of expenses which are NOT reimbursed by the national insurance funds after the patient has paid the initial bill." [My emphasis]
"Warner and O'Sullivan could propose a 0.05% rise in income tax, to raise roughly the same amount, but with no extra collection charges, unlike their scheme, which, if it is anything like road tax, would lose over half the amount collected in administration."
(bonne journée)
While we're at it, how much relevance do Bevan's views on that particular nuclear issue have to do with his passionate and measured support for a National Health Service? The answer, by the way, is 'none'. It seems that people who support wrecking one of the best health care systems in the world are reduced to distractions rather than explanations. How strange.
None, of course. I just thought the person who quoted him so approvingly might also be interested to learn of Bevan's position on nuclear disarmament.
Mr Scorgie
""Nothing wrong with that, surely. In some continental countries people pay for healthcare both through taxation and social security contributions and through compulsory affiliation to a 'mutuelle', for which they have to pay a monthly amount (to the 'mutelle'). Warner's idea is merely a variant of that."
Habbabkuk I see that yet again you don't supply any links to back-up your position. What is the problem you have? Scared that your claims could be demolished?"
The day you demolish what I say will be long in the coming, mon cher ami!
No, seriously, I don't have to provide any links because those are the facts. If you don't believe me, then google up something like "medical provision in…" and you can check for yourself. I'm not your reference librarian, surely – especially since you once said that you "couldn't be arsed" to look up a link I supplied.
Et maintenant, casses-toi!
Con'troll'ed demolition—test
'nother test
Macky, you are a positive Sherlock Holmes of deductive computer wizardry. The mysterious avatar you have detected with your pipe and your cape and your deerstalker cap and your awesome powers of Dunning-Kruger observation is, in fact, what everybody in the world gets when they put email@example.com into the email box. Even habbakuk knows this, for chrissakes.
Here is the problem. Somebody comes seeking information, and some dumbshit takes it upon himself to police the thread though clearly having no idea what the fuck the inquring commenter is talking about. This is as bad as for the discourse as habbakuk's OCD.
Yashika Bageerathi is now at 30,000 facing an awful future in Mauritius. Please bring her back home by using Twitter and all available platforms to demand the flight is turned around. If not we'll have to find another cause célèbre in the morning. #teresamayisvileracistscum
As the new avatar has not been universally applied to Habbabkuk's posts on all three pages of this thread, whereas all of mine have the same avatar, does that mean that he is posting from different IP addresses and/or using different e-mail addresses? I think we should be told.
It would also be nice to know why they have been introduced. I dislike the colour of mine! Do we have any choice?
'In computing, an avatar (usually translated from Sanskrit as incarnation) is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form,[1] as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities.[2][3] It can also refer to a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs.[4] It is an object representing the user. The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.[5]'
Also gravatars http://en.gravatar.com/
Poor Yashika. She will spend the night on the plane. Her mother is heartbroken.
Brokenshire and May do not have hearts. SHAME ON THEM.
Not in our name Yashika. We are very sorry at the cruel and heartless treatment that you have been subjected to. Your stay in Yarls Wood was bad enough for an educated and upright young woman such as you.
wow, what fun! let's see if my avatar is the same colour, certainly beats politics!
Also, this actually does result in many minutes of amusement: the artybollocks generator:
Mary, yes, it's several kinds of sick – not the avatar, Yashika.
Anon, why don't you just add 'mwah ha ha ha' to your posts?
68% to Farage 27% to Cleggover. You Gov poll on the debate tonight. Labour and LD voters are moving to Farage, Peter Kellner of You Gov said earlier. He is married to the EU's Ashton.
I mean, let's face it. We don't really give a toss about this Yashuka woman whatever her name is. She's only going home and whichever family member was being abusive is probably well out the way by now.
No, what we really see this as is an opportunity to stick it to the Tory scum. And when this one's passed we'll forget all about her and find another one.
Ukraine far-right leader Sashko Bily 'shot himself'
A Ukrainian far-right leader accidentally shot and killed himself during a shoot-out with police last month, an investigation has concluded.
The inquiry by the interior ministry said Oleksandr Muzychko, aka Sashko Bily, had shot himself in the heart as police tried to wrestle him to the ground during the chase.
Shot himself in the heart while handcuffed behind his back. Must have taken some doing.
Does it really hurt so bad, being a Tory?
Habbabreak looks like a really good product. Give it to me now!
Take it now! Don't prevaricate, Habbabreak.
Is Habbabkuk's avatar supposed to match Israeli blue.
viz http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/Pages/default.aspx
Sick. That's all we can say when we have the hard truth told to us
Personally I'd have a 'Sofia' – my dad blah blah not funny bollox here's a dollop of fact – break any day. I'd rather like the original poster back, please.
What 'hard truths' would they be, Anon? You seem deeply upset about the deportation of a victimless young woman; but particularly about the efforts of other people to stop it. Efforts which apparently have been useless. And which you see as an excuse to castigate your party (?). So you're a) upset that people are trying to help b) upset that efforts to help will not work c) upset because people will carrying on trying to help other people in the same position?
Perhaps a small whimper instead of 'mwah ha ha ha', on reflection.
Mary, you can upload any Avatar you want to gravatar and it will use that one instead. Not really much of a privacy issue because your email address (encrypted) gets sent to WordPress/Automattic/Gravatar whether you register a gravatar or not.
anon at anon dot com (sunglasses avatar) is now banned for future posts, as I understand, but will still show for old posts.
[Had to resubmit this post as it entered moderation because of the banned email address in the content ]
"Is Habbabkuk's avatar supposed to match Israeli blue." – no, Mary, since you ask, I shouldn't think so, since you didn't choose your colour either.
It's like this. We don't really bother about the legal implications or complexities of the case. We don't really care about Yashiko or the fact that she's very safe. What's important is that we make a great show of our compassionate credentials whilst sticking it to nasty Tory scum. That way we feel all good about ourselves and our silly delusions.
Gee, such purdy colours…I want some. But I done lost mah frontal lobe.
I have had a long felt wont to brighten my presence with some folderol in the little icon box. Can some kind soul please tell a fuckwit how to achieve satisfaction in this regard?
Also strike-throughs and underlines. Like – how?
It's magic.
'Scuse the oblique demotic. And no, that isn't my new aftershave, Mr H !
Interesting take on the stuff in Ukraine and the political scene in Russia ….
Oh it happens straight away? Shite.
Sofia, I have always loved your posts.
Don't leave me this way…
Anon, yes, I think it is an emotional thing, you're right. There was leeway in the decision and the decision was taken against human – compassionate and sensible – considerations.
Ferd; "is, in fact, what everybody in the world gets when they put email@example.com into the email box. Even habbakuk knows this, for chrissakes."
As I have too much self-respect to lower myself in engaging in sock-puppeting, the mechanics of which I know very little, I bow to your & Habbakuk's expertise in this field; you still haven't confirmed who you were previously, as your comment here reveals;
Just who were you "last time" ?
"68% to Farage 27% to Cleggover. You Gov poll on the debate tonight. Labour and LD voters are moving to Farage, Peter Kellner of You Gov said earlier. He is married to the EU's Ashton."
Well well well! You sound rather pleased about that. I had no idea you have a soft spot for Nigel and UKIP. But I am rather surprised.
La vita è bella, life is good!
I would be quite surprised too.
Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who's surprised.
Seriously though, should I throw a "John Goss" and, after going out for the evening, vow never to talk to Mary again on the grounds that she's a fan of Nigel and UKIP?
Farage said he was against bombing Libya and Syria and that the British people were sick and tired of endless foreign wars, so there's at least some common ground there.
Er, no. I said ' would be'. Just because someone feels honest revulsion at the policies which the Lib Dem executive has helped implement, does not mean they would support Ukip. Even if they did, of course one shouldn't ostracise someone solely for that reason – wouldn't you agree?
If, however, that person started, say, actively attacking the vulnerable in the name of Ukip (or even in the name of 'Conservative', or 'Labour') then one would feel impelled to oppose them. Don't you think?
An interesting exchange. I look forward to your thoughts.
Questions aside, that's what I think, anyway. Semi-selfish; that 'vulnerable' person could be me. Or my grandmother.
"Seriously though, should I throw a "John Goss" and, after going out for the evening, vow never to talk to Mary again on the grounds that she's a fan of Nigel and UKIP?"
There's a big difference between supporting a political viewpoint and supporting torture, imprisonment and death in Guantanamo and Bagram.
Clegg represents the interests of the neocons, as does neo Labour. That's the globalist agenda.
Farage represents UK resistance to that agenda, in favour of smaller competing fiefdoms.
That debate is ongoing, all over Europe, and beyond.
I'm not sure it adds to the debate to personalise it. Were it not Farage it would be someone else.
Ultimately it's all just oligarchs fighting for turf.
This time though, it seems they've got a philosophical dispute. That's never good. It's always best when they're busy doing stuff. When they start thinking, you worry.
You see, some of them think that it's best to have a one world system and others prefer their own little fiefdoms.
They may well fight it out over this doctrinal dispute.
testing …. testing … 1,2,3
It's a tale of Two posts at Ten mins past Varied Hours…
Firstly .. Herbie i second DoNNy's post @ 8;46 am 2nd.. Re Libya
Thanks for the link at 11;10 pm 1st April…and here is some From that…
" The bombing and killing went on all night and for the next three nights. Next shiploads of Al Qaeda rebels flowed into the Tripoli port from Benghazi and unloaded on the roads around Tripoli. All of the people were bearded and carried AK-47's. As they rode around Tripoli in their caravans they began to set up check points every 500 yards or so. They looted every store and every home they could get into, they broke into every vehicle and stole everything that they wanted. They took over hotels and set up torture centers. The Russian Ambassador had called and offered to put our name on a list on a rescue ship that was being sent from the Prime Minister of Malta. We were approached by a couple other westerners and asked how we planned to get out of Libya. We said we were trying to get on the rescue ship sent by Malta, they asked if they could join us and we said we would ask that their names be put on the list. The FIFA soccer coach for Libya from Germany joined us, the sister of the President of Mauritania, a Baharani Prince, a man from Texas that we did not know before and a Filipino lady who had been working at the hotel.
They took all of our belongings and our passports. They interrogated us and filmed it using a British film crew. We could hear the men being tortured but we could do nothing. Finally after many hours and it was now day light, they said we were going to be allowed to go. Right before that a big fat Sheik with a long beard came in and look down his nose and said something in Arabic at us. The driver to our van had been changed to a man we knew from the hotel and we said we wanted to go to the rescue ship now, he said this van is going back to the hotel, we argued with him but he pulled us aside and said "What you did not understand that Sheik say was: "When they go to the rescue ship, kill them, chop them up and burn the bodies and blame in on Ghadafi". We decided to go back to the hotel. We had to pay all of our last money to the mercenaries so that they would let us go, they were paid $2500 for each person they killed and $1000 to burn the bodies. That took all of our money.
We knew that we were on their list and we knew why, a US attorney, double spy working for Hezbollah had put all of our names on a list and sent it to them. The next miracle was a friend of the sister of the President of Mauritania had a friend that was in charge of the IOM (Immigration) ship. They were able to sneak us on that ship to Benghazi the next day. That saved our lives because we know that the Al Qaeda mercenaries were looking for us so that they could get paid again. The ship ride was the ride from hell. It took 2 days in massive heat, no a/c, windows all around the seated area, no food except hot water, moldy bread and outdated juice cartons that caused everyone to use the bathroom. There were probably 300 to 400 refugees on the ship and there was 2 bathrooms. Our friend from the IOM took charge of us in Benghazi and took us to a hotel. Lucky for us the list with our name had not reached Benghazi because the communications were down.
After NATO handed Libya over to Al Qaeda, many Libyans were imprisoned, tortured and killed. Many of them left so that they could survive. There are now 2 million in exile. We are very close to the Tribes of Libya, we speak with the tribal leaders in exile now almost every day. They have appointed us as their official spokespersons. We have been attempting to make it known to our congress that they were completely wrong footed in Libya and that we basically had handed Libya, a peaceful Muslim country, over to Al Qaeda. No one was interested. The tribal leaders began to pass intelligence regarding the internal movement of Al Qaeda inside Libya, we started passing this information to Dr. Jerome Corsi who was more than willing to report the truth. We were then contacted by US intelligence (4 different divisions).
We have had 3 different divisions of the US intelligence in our home, getting intelligence from our tribal leaders. But we have discovered that they have no intention of doing anything with the information and the intel was being used to warn Al Qaeda not stop it, so we stopped passing the information. One of the intelligence people was a lady; she called us after she left and told us that if we ever wanted a life we needed to shut up about Libya and that they (the government) had done a "soft" attack on us (ruined our life and finances) and that we were lucky because they could have chosen to do a "terminal" attack on us. We have been literally destroyed, but we have decided to open our mouths and not shut them. We realize the only way to protect ourselves is by getting our story out to the most people possible. We will be homeless next month as we have no more assets to sell and cannot pay our expenses. We are hoping to start giving presentations and sharing our story with paid honorariums; in that process we will hope to find good people who might like to hire two very production, intelligent and talented people."
James and Joanne Moriarty
Sofia.. @ 1;10 pm 2nd… Cheers for the Link Re Israel's all but Open War on Palestinian children… Cowardly Bastards
Glad to have Brightened the morning for you on the first day of April… Cheers for the full script… what Eloquent, Poetic wisdom.
You may Have seen this Amazing speech too From October 1940, …but for those who have not… years ahead of his time was ol Charlie Chaplin
Mary quoted, 68% to Farage 27% to Cleggover. You Gov poll on the debate tonight. Labour and LD voters are moving to Farage..
On 24 August 2012 the spectator reported
One of the solutions Tory MPs are mulling over now the boundary reforms are dead in the water is some sort of partnership with UKIP to boost the party's chances in 2015. As many as 60 per cent of Conservative activists are reported to favour such a pact.
In hindsight we deduce will a little insight, from the actions of Nick-I'm sorry-Clegg, that Farage is a proven stooge of the elite?!
Perfect Brian at 12:37 – Cheers – in summary the sign of the times and I believe fair warning:
The collapse of social programs, IMF engineered global poverty and UKISIS lead wars, UK supported al-Qaeda 'freedom fighters' and neo-Nazi government sway in Ukraine: NS combative and aggressive EXECUTIVE orders to NATO commanders and their experts in Kiev, suggests we are at a dangerous cross-roads, an impending world-wide crisis.
Mmmm -where is my BID 150 clone? "one nine for a copy…"
Piss of will ya-and all your alter-ego shite.
You're always a fake,always.
See how the t—l deliberately misconstrues things. I report the results of a poll and he makes an incorrect inference that I support the winner.
I suggest that he is still channelling me.
Mike. 10 37 pm
…As if I'd ever dream of deserting you!
Thanks for your revealing review of my contribution here. Too bad it doesn't meet your high standards.
Can you offer your wisdom regarding Dad's long-term occupation of these threads.
What do you believe he contributes?
Do you think it is possible to truly discuss anything with him?
What do you think motivates him?
If you think you have any relevant info that might help, please toddle off down to Surbiton where the siege goes on and a team of psychiatrists is working hard to restore the sanity of a third negotiator.
Thanks also for mentioning the "a dollop of fact" that I offer.
Here's one, http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Hasbara
Do you think that Dad could tell us a lot more about this?
"In hindsight we deduce with a little insight, from the actions of Nick-I'm sorry-Clegg, that Farage is a proven stooge of the elite?!"
Exactly Mark. Some things he has said in the past (I did not watch the debate) appeal to most people but he started on the right of the Conservative Party. His politics are extreme right. He has become the 'human face' of racism. Theresa May runs him close.
The last comment should have looked like this (he hopes) .
"The [Hasbara] manual goes on to describe seven propaganda techniques:
1 Name calling: through the careful use of words, then name calling technique links a person or an idea to a negative symbol.
2 Glittering generality: Simply put, glittering generality is name calling in reverse. Instead of trying to attach negative meanings to ideas or people, glittering generalities use positive phrases, which the audience are attached to, in order to lend positive image to things. Words such as "freedom", "civilization",…
3 Transfer: Transfer involves taking some of the prestige and authority of one concept and applying it to another. For example, a speaker might decide to speak in front of a United Nations flag, in an attempt to gain legitimacy for himself or his idea.
4 Testimonial: Testimonial means enlisting the support of somebody admired or famous to endorse and ideal or campaign.
5 Plain folks: The plain folks technique attempts to convince the listener that the speaker is a 'regular guy', who is trust-worthy because the are like 'you or me'.
6 Fear: Stressing that ignoring the message will likely lead to war, terrorism.
7 Bandwagon: Suggest that the stated position is mainstream and use polls to suggest this."
Thanks for posting the link to how Hasbara operates in practice. Although we see it every day on this blog (at least I see item 1 every day) I did not realise they worked from a manual. Interesting. Thanks.
"Anti-Semitism is a term coined in 19C Europe to describe hatred of Jews. Nothing to do with Arabs whatsoever. That is what it means in our language and only an entry-level Jew-obsessive would feel all clever about pointing out that Arabs are Semitic too. 6th Form stuff, Komrade, and I would have expected better from a veteran such as yourself."
Does this semantic point really matter so much to you? OK. Let's look at it.
If precision was the intention, why isn't it called anti-Judaism? I will tell you. It is because the coinage coincided with the rise of an erroneous racial theory, the precursor of Nazism, in which "Semite" was taken as synonymous with "Jewish" – while other Semites were quietly ignored, as not – then – presenting an (alleged) existential threat to what we still call Caucasian (or, formerly, at risk of raising your outbursts to high doh, Aryan) nations. The usage to which you refer conforms, therefore to an outdated and despicable ideology, as well as to a current and equally despicable one, Zionism.
While you are singing from the Zionist hymnsheet, I am something of a lover of my own language, and try to use it with some precision. The Zionist philosophy is, I insist, as antisemitic – in the strictest sense – as the Nazi one, or as the Salafist one for that matter.
You might also take cognisance of the notion that the vast majority of settlers in Israel are not semitic in any racial sense at all – they're Caucasians and Slavs by current criteria -, and that any claim they make in regard to being the victims of antisemitism is utterly void. What they mean is antijudaism,(and it is hard to see how, living in a country run exclusively for their benefit, they can make any such claim in the first place).
But it is not in their interest to make the distinction. "Antisemitism" (wide sense), inspired by a racist philosophy, is far preferable; it appears to include religions other than Judaism without in practice doing so; and they will be glad to see to see that apologists for militant Zionism, such as yourself, clearly understand this.
Pity you didn't make it to the 6th form, I'd say.
In a land-grab by developers, in coalition with the Haitian government, the people of Ile a Vache, a paradise island, islanders are being dispossessed, one of two island policemen has been imprisoned on the mainland, military police have taken over, and the islanders have not been consulted in this land-grab.
Many, many thanks, Afrend.
Agent Cameron is spinning the smog as a naturally occurring weather event.
As usual, he is lying. The UK's pollution is being combined with dust borne in on a southerly airstream.
London air pollution 'worst in Europe'
Britain faces court cases and unlimited fines after dangerous levels of minute particles breach EU levels
• Comment: London, the dirty man of Europe
• Dave Hill: Where's Boris Johnson's air pollution study?http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/25/london-air-pollution-europe
BBC News – 'Up to 9% of deaths in London caused by air pollution'
10 Dec 2012 – Up to 9% of deaths in the capital's most polluted areas are down to air pollution, a new London Assembly paper has reported.
Clean up your act Dave!
On reflection, I have decided that I hate the new avatars. They are garish, disconcerting and hurt my eyes. They also serve no useful purpose.
Anon 2 Apr, 2014 – 9:59 pm
I mean, let's face it. We don't really give a toss about this Yashuka woman whatever her name is. She's only going home and whichever family member was being abusive is probably well out the way by now.
No, what we really see this as is an opportunity to stick it to the Tory scum. And when this one's passed we'll forget all about her and find another one.
Anon 2 Apr, 2014 – 10:29 pm
It's like this. We don't really bother about the legal implications or complexities of the case. We don't really care about Yashiko or the fact that she's very safe. What's important is that we make a great show of our compassionate credentials whilst sticking it to nasty Tory scum. That way we feel all good about ourselves and our silly delusions.
No need to display your racism twice Anon. If you were on the Just a Minute game on Radio 4, you would get the bell for 'repetition'.
Ba'al Zevul (I Am The Egg Man)
2 Apr, 2014 – 9:08 am
Mary, n Sofia too… Re BDS….
Criminalizing Criticism of Israel in Canada
Bill C-13, A "Digital Trojan Horse for the Surveillance State"
"But what of Canada, whose Prime Minister is Mr. Netanyahu's most faithful friend?8
This essay will argue that revisions to the Canadian Criminal Code proposed by the Harper government contain wording that is designed to enable lawfare prosecutions of human rights activists in precisely the manner desired by Mr. Netanyahu and his associates…….
1. Bill C-13 and its deceptions
Bill C-13, the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, received first reading in the House of Commons in November 2013. In a web page devoted to "Myths and Facts" about this bill, the Department of Justice rejects the "myth" that "Bill C-13 is an omnibus crime bill that deals with more than cyberbullying."
Bill C-13 is not an omnibus crime bill. It combines a proposed new offence of non-consensual distribution of intimate images to address cyberbullying with judicially-authorized tools to help police and prosecutors investigate not only the proposed new offence, but other existing offences that are committed via the Internet or that involve electronic evidence. [....] The Bill does not contain the former Bill C-30′s controversial amendments relating to warrantless access to subscriber information and telecommunication infrastructure modification.9
However, Dr. Michael Geist, the Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, has observed that Bill C-13 does indeed retain provisions that permit an increased warrantless access to personal information, far beyond what is envisioned by the current Criminal Code.10 Criminal lawyer Michael Spratt has denounced the bill as a "digital Trojan horse for the surveillance state":
most of C-13 has little to do with protecting victims [of cyber-bullying]. This bill would recklessly expand the surveillance powers of the state. It sacrifices personal privacy. It limits or eliminates judicial oversight. It is inconsistent with recent Supreme Court jurisprudence. It's a dangerous bill.11
The Department of Justice's claim that "Bill C-13 is not an omnibus crime bill" is transparently false. As another critic, Terry Wilson, has remarked, despite being promoted "as legislation to prevent online bullying, the bill actually has very little to do with bullies and has sections ranging from stealing cable, hacking, surveillance, to terrorism (cyberbullying accounts for 2 out of the 50 pages in the bill) [...]. The bill even includes 'hate legislation'…."12
"This view of the intention underlying Bill C-13 is supported by Prime Minister Harper's speech to the Israeli Knesset on January 20, 2014 (which will be discussed below). It can draw support as well from the fact that an identical change to the wording of the French penal code made in 2003 by the so-called Lellouche Law has permitted the conviction of some twenty French human rights activists for incitement of racial hatred.13
The results in France have been paradoxical. France is, like Canada, a High Contracting Party of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949—whose first article states that "The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances."14 The people convicted for incitement of racial hatred under the Lellouche Law are participants in a movement that has been consistent in its firm rejection of antisemitism and all other forms of racism.15 This movement advocates a peaceful exertion of economic pressure with the aim of persuading the Israeli state to end its multiple and systematic violations of international law, including in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, which Israel has been repeatedly been condemned for flouting by UN committees and reports, as well as by independent agencies such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The facts of the matter are thus unambiguous: in enforcing the Lellouche Law, and redefining human rights activists as people guilty of hate crimes, the French state has simultaneously been violating its prior solemn commitment "to respect and to ensure respect for" the Fourth Geneva Convention "in all circumstances."
One of the aims of Bill C-13 appears to be to place Canada in a similar situation of openly violating one of the central instruments of international law.
5. Prime Minister Harper's January 20, 2014 address to the Israeli Knesset
In this speech the Prime Minister asked, rhetorically, what it is today that threatens societies that, like Israel, embrace "the ideals of freedom, democracy and the rule of law." His answer was sweeping:
Those who scorn modernity, who loathe the liberty of others, and who hold the differences of peoples and cultures in contempt. Those who, often begin by hating the Jews, but, history shows us, end up hating anyone who is not them. Those forces, which have threatened the state of Israel every single day of its existence, and which, today, as 9/11 graphically showed us, threaten us all.34
Eh… and NATO are Fkn Angels too… and all whilst Palestinian infants are starving… older children taken away murdered…
Asshole Harper Screeches on -
" Most disgracefully of all, some openly call Israel an apartheid state "
But Mr Asshole Harper…Israel IS AN APARTHEID STATE….
7. " The debate among Jews over the morality of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians
As mentioned above, many Jewish scholars and public intellectuals, both in Israel and internationally, have placed themselves firmly in opposition to Israel's policies of apartheid treatment of the Palestinians and of ongoing colonization of the occupied territories. The mere fact that this is so, and that in Canada and elsewhere they are joined in this by many Jewish citizen activists, amounts to a living refutation of Prime Minister Harper's repetition of the rhetoric of the "new antisemitism."
8. Most disgracefully of all … an apartheid state
In the concluding section of her essay, Eva Illouz remarks that Israelis fail to understand the nature of their colonization and occupation "because language has itself been colonized." Most Israelis interpret the occupation in terms of "terrorists and enemies, and the world sees weak, dispossessed and persecuted people. The world reacts with moral outrage at Israel's continued domination of Palestinians, and Israel ridicules such moral outrage as an expression of double standards…." Because of this "colonization" of discourse, "the debate dividing the Jewish people is more difficult than the debate about slavery, because there is no agreement even on how to properly name the vast enterprise of domination that has been created in the territories."57
There is in fact quite widespread agreement—at least on the "universal standards of justice" side of the divide analyzed by Professor Illouz—as to an appropriate name.58
The term "apartheid" was applied with clinical accuracy by Marwan Bishara in 2001 to describe what Israel has done in the occupied territories from the early 1990s onward, "physically and demographically divid[ing] up the West Bank and Gaza into islands of poverty, or bantustans, while maintaining economic domination and direct control over Palestinian land and natural resources."59 It was re-used by former US President Jimmy Carter in 2006—a usage validated in 2007 by Israel Prize laureate and former Minister of Education Shulamit Aloni.60 And in January 2010, Henry Siegman, the former Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress and current President of the US/Middle East Project of the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote that Israel's "relentless" construction of new settlements "seems finally to have succeeded in locking in the irreversibility of its colonial project. As a result of that 'achievement,' one that successive Israeli governments have long sought in order to preclude the possibility of a two-state solution, Israel has crossed the threshold from 'the only democracy in the Middle East' to the only apartheid regime in the Western world."61
ANYHOO.. FOLKS… this is a Longish, full essay… Very detailed with much Re International Laws….
BY Michael Keefer @
I actually thought when the Malaysian passenger plane went missing that the pilot had committed suicide and taken the passengers with him. However no wreckage has been found and this does not any longer fit with that theory. Also, as was pointed out yesterday, it is inconceivable that the super high-tech US base on the UK-owned island of Diego Garcia, has no record of this flight. Yesterday I got accused by one of the trolls/sock-puppets of conspiracy theory. This is always a cop-out for not being able to argue an alternative case and this sock-puppet uses the phrase 'conspiracy theory' on a regular basis for any argument against our governments which have the worst human rights' and bloody adventures in the history of the planet. This short 6 minute documentary presents at least 4 government theories as to what happened to the plane. You might ask who are the real conspiracy theorists. It is a must watch from which I learnt something about Osama Bin Laden and his family I did not previously know. So not to disappoint here it is.
Blair To Save Peace Process, bwahahahahaha….
Oddly absent from UK MSM for some reason.
Lol Mary
i have tried changing before…but last night after Alcanon's tip…i got a little farther…. Even looked up what image/ photo i wanted to put up for Avatar… Fucked it up eventually…Bet them techie's could do the task in minits… got tired with it…think i've at least settled on what i'd like….DEM Libran's Lol
"…it is inconceivable that the super high-tech US base on the UK-owned island of Diego Garcia, has no record of this flight."
It's also inconceivable that they'd tell anyone if they did. There is very little evidence on which to base ANY theory, and if you automatically disbelieve anything any government says, none whatever. Discussing it is, therefore, a waste of time. I wish conspiracy theorists could take this on board.
That above was using my main email address and this is the one I have used here for a long time which contains just my initials. Broadband provider is common to both If I was to switch off my router, wait and switch it back on, I would get another avatar presumably so what is the point of them?
What can be stated without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Cheerio Mr Goss
Technicolour; "There has been plenty of substance in Resident Dissidence's posts; most recently in his posts on Russia"
Can you direct me to examples of such "substance"; thank you.
Technicolour – the case was reviewed 5 times and it was decided she was absolutely safe to return to Maritius.
Komodo 8:47am – I'll get back to you later as I haven't time to reply to your long post at the moment.
Anon: 'compassionate and sensible' doesn't, in my book, include forcible tearing a young woman away from her family in the middle of studying for her future.
"The usage to which you refer conforms, therefore to an outdated and despicable ideology, as well as to a current and equally despicable one, Zionism."
That may be – but it is still the one given in the OED and other reliable dictionaries. Given that there are distinct hatreds of Jews and Arabs it makes sense to have different words.
The Normans were a pretty bad lot should we abandon those words that they gave to the English language. Quite a lot of words come from colonial past in India are they too politically incorrect for us now to use. Perhaps we should bear in mind what Orwell said about those who try to twist and reinterpret the language to suit their politics.
I agree the least they could have done is to allow her to finish her school studies by granting a student visa or similar.
Komodo (Who he? – BZ) 8:47am (ah…) – I'll get back to you later as I haven't time to reply to your long post at the moment.
Please don't mistake me for someone who is remotely interested in your no doubt completely predictable opinions.
Despite the URL, the headline reads "Palestinian statehood bid may derail Middle East peace process"
You can't trust these towelheads, can you? First they want Israel to keep to its undertakings, and then they want to set up their own state. Absurd, of course. As anyone reading the headline can see, CiF Watch is well ahead of the game.
The strongest opposition, however, came from the Palestinian leadership, which insisted that Israel was reneging on its obligations and refused suggestions to link the promised release of a fourth group of prisoners with a commitment to extend peace talks beyond a deadline set by the US for the end of April.
The proposed deal was heavily briefed by anonymous US and Israeli officials, but it was clear it fell far short of what the Palestinian side was demanding.Abbas's announcement came after a key meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's action committee which met prior to Abbas's statement.
Kerry has spent days shuttling back and forth to the Middle East in an effort to find a solution in the Middle East. He met the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu twice on Monday evening and Tuesdayyesterday, after meeting Abbas in Jordan last week.
BTW, doesn't look like the Israelis will be getting Pollard. He was in it for the money, and had no particular craving for shekels – offered his huge cache of secrets to three other nations. More details may be released to support this view.
The Normans were a pretty bad lot should we abandon those words that they gave to the English language. Quite a lot of words come from colonial past in India are they too politically incorrect for us now to use. Perhaps we should bear in mind what Orwell said about those who try to twist and reinterpret the language to suit their politics.
Well, yes. Though I don't think Orwell was any more a definitive arbiter of correct usage than I am, and he was pretty critical of politically perverted usages himself.
But the associations attaching themselves to words change without anyone trying too hard – eg "expect" in the 18th century meant only "await", without any sense of "anticipation" – which itself shifted from something like "prediction" to something like "interested expectation"…and I see no enormous harm in giving them a kick in the right direction.
Particularly in the case we are discussing. We have, for instance, "Islamophobia", a recent coinage for political purposes, and carrying with it an automatic association with fear. I propose "antiislamism" or even "antislamism" to carry the same weight as "antijudaism": both expressive, equally balanced, non-prejudicial terms applying to hatred of followers of the two religions respectively. Which is actually the problem, rather than the shape of someone's nose or their predeliction for falafel..
We can dispense with "antisemitism", which has now acquired a meaning, even in dictionaries, (and reminiscently of Humpty Dumpty) which is precisely what BICOM says it means. "Antisemitism" parallels "gay" – it's a hijacked word.
And we could restore the balance by coining yet another term: "judaeophobia" for people who want to incite fear of Jews.
Fair enough, I think.
Goodness. That was quick. It took all of 32 seconds. Agent Cameron is standing by her naturally and gives her his whole hearted support.
'Maria Miller ordered to repay £5,800 and apologise to MPs
Maria Miller: "I fully accept the recommendations of the committee and thank them for bringing this matter to an end"
The Commons Committee on Standards has ordered Culture Secretary Maria Miller to repay £5,800 and apologise to MPs.
It cleared her of the central charge of deliberately submitting expenses claims to which she was not entitled, but said her attitude to the inquiry breached MPs' code of conduct.
The £5,800 is to cover over-claiming of mortgage expenses after she failed to cut her claims as interest rates fell.
In a 32 second statement, Mrs Miller told MPs she apologised "unreservedly".
The committee suggested that she had tried to argue her case before the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in a "legalistic" way.
She should "apologise by personal statement on the floor of the House for her attitude to the Commissioner's inquiries", it concluded.'
To clarify:
my "and he was pretty critical of politically perverted usages himself." simply reinforces what you said. What I should have added was that "antisemite" is exactly such a usage. The word suggests one meaning, but conveys another. It is impossible to characterise someone who hates other Semites as an antisemite: indeed, there is no word which means a hater of Semites, if we accept the harangue of any Zionist apologist.
However, Orwell seems to have accepted the usage uncritically. Though he did say this:
"A Jew, for example, would not be antisemitic: but then many Zionist Jews seem to me to be merely antisemites turned upside-down"*
Which is approximately my original point.
*George Orwell: 'Antisemitism in Britain'
First published: Contemporary Jewish Record. — GB, London. — April 1945.
War criminal Mr Blair was directed by his Israel masters to convince Norway to stop funding the Palestinian Authority:
Norwegian state-owned NRK TV is continuing its investigation into Norway's financial support of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) budget.
The PA uses its budget to pay the salaries of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails for security offences, including those serving multiple life sentences for murder, according to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW).
Some prisoners, it is reported, can earn up to 18,000 kroner per month (£2095), nearly three times the Norwegian public pension base rate.
In an interview with NRK TV, Norwegian MP, Peter Gitmark, expressed his concern over Norway's "indirect" contributions to Palestinian terrorism.
" The word suggests one meaning, but conveys another. It is impossible to characterise someone who hates other Semites as an antisemite:"
It is possible, but extremely difficult since Identity politics has monopolized the word into just one meaning, Ba'al.
Semites also include the Arabic people. They descended from Shem just as did the Israelites
Links are always good, Mark. Here's the story. Also on the Good Idea thread, earlier.
Blair in 2012:
Norway has a population of around 4.5 million and a GDP of $485.8 billion. It also has a sovereign wealth fund presently at over $600 billion rising to $1 trillion by 2020. It has this through vast reserves of oil and gas.
(as usual, skip through a lot of old cock to find it)
Next thing you know he'll have put in a governance squad to tell Norway how to give him money.
Ben – Semites also include the Arabic people. They descended from Shem just as did the Israelites
That's just what the excrescences won't allow. Check out the earlier posts from Anon and me.
Ba'al; Poliitcal correctness is the jibe? The word is as rabble-rousing as…..the JOOOOOOS!
or the MOOOOOOSLIMS! and the pushback is veiled racial, when it is merely politically incorrect for the correct target Zionism.
Is that what Anon is missing?
Afrend. 5 40pm yesterday
Thanks a million for Habbabreak.
WOW! Three minutes and he's gone!
I was hesitating. As you know I owe my existence to Dad's constant bullying. But then I thought, what has my scroll button done to deserve all that work?
Dad. YOU ARE SACKED.
Abbas threatens to actually DO something, so Kerry runs around trying to re-establish the cycle of inertia that characterises what the media describe as the peace process. It is of course nothing of the sort. Every once in a while, Israel agrees to send some people to sit in the same room as a few Palestinians. That's all. These meetings are designed to give the media "something positive" to report while they obligingly ignore the ongoing theft of land and illegal building.
Retune required for the Eminences and sub-Eminences
Doesn't look as if Akavov* is all that averse to other peoples' blood himself -
*Current Ukraine interior minister
He hasn't a prayer if Russia does move, and I don't think it will, so he's safe enough looking decisive.
Is that what Anon is missing?
That and his radio link to Tel Aviv. Normal service will probably be resumed shortly.
It is just part of the zionist mentality.They have a thing about making words and language theirs.Anti-semite is theirs,no matter about Shem.Actually most Israeli's are not descended from Shem, but someone much further north.
"holocaust" only happened to them and can only be used by them about them.Jewish jokes are fine as long as you are a Jew,but the smile vanishes when the joker is not."Nuclear ambiguity" is another.Iran cannot use it despite the fact they have no nuclear weapons, but Israel weilds it as shield to hide their arsenal from the world.Even the word Jew has become explosive for non-Jews to use.
That's what they do with a dictionary and that's what the Israeli's do with the land in Palestine.Doesn't mean they are grammatically correct
There seem to be many terms infecting the target as having 'cooties'. Run for your life from such accusations because…STFU !
"liberal', 'conspiracy theorist', 'smoker' et al.
Post your questions for Ken Loach
This afternoon Ken Loach will answer your questions about why he is backing the new political party Left Unity
3 April 2014 13.48 BST
Ken Loach will be joined by Left Unity activists Sharon McCourt and Salman Shaheen below the line.
"Building a democratic party with volunteer activists is a daunting task. But if we leave the sidelines and finally work together, it might just be possible." Writing for Comment is free last week, the director Ken Loach explained why he is backing the new political party Left Unity. This afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to put your questions directly to Ken, and to party activists Sharon McCourt and Salman Shaheen.
You can leave your questions below from 4.30pm BST, and Ken and co will join us from 5.30pm BST to respond. Don't worry if you don't already have a log-in – you can sign up here.
Good on Archbishop Tutu for speaking out to American Zionists and their supporters.
Statement by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu on US Efforts to Curb Freedom of Speech
2 April 2014
I am writing today to express grave concern about a wave of legislative measures in the United States aimed at punishing and intimidating those who speak their conscience and challenge the human rights violations endured by the Palestinian people. In legislatures in Maryland, New York, Illinois, Florida, and even the United States Congress, bills have been proposed that would either bar funding to academic associations or seek to malign those who have taken a stand against the Israeli Occupation of Palestine.
These legislative efforts are in response to a growing international initiative, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, of which I have long been a supporter. The BDS movement emanates from a call for justice put out by the Palestinian people themselves. It is a Palestinian-led, international non-violent movement that seeks to force the Israeli government to comply with international law in respect to its treatment of the Palestinian people.
"International implications of Scottish independence. Anyone?"
It's all unknown Clark, but here is one possible scenario.
It's the future, Scotland is independent. Scotland's vast wealth has been syphoned off by Salmond's immensely rich oligarth friends. There is mass unemployment the haggis harvest has failed for the third year running, people on Leith Walk have been seen eating salad out of sheer desperation.
There are mass demonstrations in Edinburgh, Salmond has fled to England for his own safety. A group of extreme right wing fanatics from the Western Isles storm Holyrood and declare themselves the legitimate government, they are instantly recognised by France, Germany and Russia. The first thing they do is declare gaelic the official language and make smiling on Sundays illegal.
Britain has no choice but to send in troops to protect the English speaking people. Russia raises a resolution at the UN, Britain vetoes it.
Pure fiction, but not impossible.
"Britain has no choice but to send in troops to protect the English speaking people. Russia raises a resolution at the UN, Britain vetoes it."
So it'll be the Ukraine?
Thanks Mary for the link to Ken Loach and company answering questions from Guardian readers. There is already a lively discussion taking place. It is about time the left had something to latch on to again.
Good to hear that John. Ken Loach has terrific energy too.
Q PS Is Israel allowed under international law to treat Palestinian prisoners as human chess pieces?
Breaking news
Israel cancels release of Palestinian prisoners because of Palestinian drive for further recognition at the UN
Israel does what it wants making up the rules as it goes along.We are quick to jump on Russia, Libya, Jugoslavia,Mali, but Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain,Qatar have their own rule book.The Semites you dont want next door.
The UN should be doing something. They don't. The EU should be doing something, but they give the same allowances as Switzerland has. Strangely enough I read that FIFA might do something to make ISrael treat Palestine and its football players better.
The beautiful game.
"Strangely enough I read that FIFA might do something to make ISrael treat Palestine and its football players better."
Bet they don't.
Shame on these troughers. Occupants of the red benches this time. What do they pick up each day for attending? £300 or similar. Has Cleggover no authority?
46 Liberal Democrat Peers Vote To Keep The 'Bedroom Tax' – 24hrs After Party President Opposed It
Apr 3, 2014
Mary – the Palestinian prisoners were meant to be released several days ago but the Israelis didn't release them. They already tore up the peace process (such as it was up). The BBC article inverts who was responding to who. Placing the blame on the Palestinians for whatever happens… as the BBC have done time and time again in the past…
"It's the future, Scotland is independent. Scotland's vast wealth has been syphoned off by Salmond's immensely rich oligarth friends."
From what I've heard of Salmond it's more likely that the Wealth Fund will be bet on the 3:30 at Ayr.
Comedy Gold. Surprisingly Ukraine and Crimea don't appear to have been discussed. Loved the immediate abolition of VAT – not sure how the £100bn+ addition to the deficit and being thrown out of the EU would be handled – or the resulting increase in interest rates and inflation as a result of Gilts being downgreaded to Junk and £ collapsing for that matter.
The Principle of course, is intact. The ISS is exempt because they need it.
"NASA has been told to suspend contact with Russian government officials because of Russia's "ongoing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to an agency memo circulated Wednesday. The International Space Station, which is jointly operated by NASA, Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and Canada, is exempt and not directly impacted by the new guidelines.
The memo apparently reflects a broad State Department directive to multiple federal agencies that have regular contact with the Russian government. In NASA's case, the space station represents the bulk of the agency's dealings with Russia and the exemption presumably means business as usual."
"I see, you do condemned others for the same crime, but reserve the right to apply different "responses", and/or no responses at all; that normally having different standards, and also having your cake, and wanting to eat it."
Your words not mine – where did I say there should be no response?
My immediate concern would not be with the Crimea but stopping a repeat performance in Eastern Ukraine, and as always with what Putin is inflicting on his own subjects. It is revealing that Putin has suddenly discovered federalization when it comes to his neighbour – but when it comes to his own territory he has a sustained programme of taking powers away from the regions.
Last post should have been posted on the Putin thread in response to Macky.
Links are good Ba'al -evn better when one is provided for you thank-you – we note:
David Cameron orders review of Muslim Brotherhood
Now the spell has been broken, 'agent Cameron' attempts to cleanse his soul… the song and dance is over.
Not actually 'comedy gold' though, largely, is it, Resident Dissident? Agree the scrapping of VAT had me baffled, but:
"Other votes in what was easily the section with the most motions included scrapping zero-hours contracts, abolishing destitution and opposing the US-EU transatlantic trade treaty.
There was a high level of agreement on health policy, with conference backing the health policy commission's "10 point plan to re-instate, protect, and improve the NHS". This includes repealing the Tories' NHS privatisation law, the Health and Social Care Act, a moratorium on closures, and a focus on the "social determinants of health", meaning that we must tackle poverty and inequality in order to improve health.
Amendments added calls to cancel the expensive PFI debts that hospitals have been burdened with, reverse the decline in health workers' wages and replace Big Pharma with non-profit pharmaceutical production. "
I like 'abolishing destitution' – should be easy, given the resources. Norway's on the way:
But then Norway refused to bail out its banks, nationalising two instead:
" nationalising two instead.."
Careful Tech. You are broaching dangerous ground,
Not really, Ben – the Norway example just proves it's sensible
Sharon McCourt says that Left Unity now has nearly 2000 members, quite an attainment in less than 12 months. People are deserting traditional parties because there is nothing for the poorest in society in their manifestos and even less in their delivery of promises. We have three gaffers' parties.
Jamal opens up – A sentient Robin Cook gave us the spark and payed the ultimate price… We, -have a small chance of survival.
Wave of Action:
Share the love…
By the way, in a piece which was supposed to be largely and dully about Bono, there was this quite interesting assessment of what's happening over there in Africa. Have yet to recheck, but sounds about right:
"Last week I drew attention to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launched in the US when it chaired the G8 meeting last year. The alliance is pushing African countries into agreements that allow foreign companies to grab their land, patent their seeds and monopolise their food markets. Ignoring the voices of their own people, six African governments have struck deals with companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Dupont, Syngenta, Nestlé and Unilever, in return for promises of aid by the UK and other G8 nations."
From left unity
….direction as a new party of the left and set up its constitution. This conference looked in more detail at policy areas including economics, health, housing and anti-racism
Sounds like clear understanding of the social problems effecting us all.
@ Resident Dissident. Please can you tell me some of your ideas/opinions as to how we can improve on our society?
The puzzling feature of the Putin 'puppets' from Kiev is that they have been pushing for austerity, despite the opposition from Kremlin.
"It's a safe bet that most of the Ukrainians who flooded Maidan Square in Kiev in February did not do so because they wanted the International Monetary Fund to make their lives even more miserable by slashing subsidies for heat, gutting pensions and devaluing the currency to make everyday goods more expensive.
But thanks to the U.S.-backed coup that ousted elected President Viktor Yanukovych and replaced him with a regime including far-right parties, super-rich "oligarchs" and technocrats with little sympathy for the suffering of average people, that's exactly what happened. Although lacking legitimacy that would come from national elections, the coup regime pushed through the demands of the Washington-based IMF."
Mark; A special invitation to Craig et al.
"We need Mc's Drummers, Street performers anything to kick of the party atmosphere and keep the protesters spirits raised. We are proud to be working long side some fantastic groups UK Collapse Radio, Million Masked March London, and OpSafeLondon to name a few."
Respect Ben.
Behold a bag of games. You'all welcome to play.
Mass gatherings, demonstrations;
> Marches, parades;
> Flash mobs, swarms;
> Shutdown harmful corporate and governmental operations;
> Worker Strikes;
> Hunger strikes;
> Sit-ins;
> Strategic defaults, debt strikes;
> Foreclosure prevention;
> Boycotting corrupt corporations;
> Move your money out of the big banks and the stock market;
> Use alternative currencies and economic systems;
> Cancel your cable television and support independent media;
> Use independent online tools that don't sell your info / protect privacy;
> Online civil disobedience, Anonymous operations;
> Leak information on corruption;
> Use alternative energy;
> Build urban and hydroponic farms, or get your food from them;
> Support local businesses;
> Join local community organizations;
> Take part in food banks and help develop community support systems;
> Start or join intentional and autonomous communities;
> Experiment with new governing systems, Liquid Democracy;
> Host teach-ins;
> Organize socially conscious events;
> Make conscious media;
> Guerrilla postering, messages on money;
> Help inspiring groups and organizations spread their message;
> Random acts of kindness and compassion;
> Mass meditations, prayer sessions and spiritual actions.
RE Bono, and Africa
'Bono's positioning of the west as the saviour of Africa while failing to discuss the harm the G8 nations are doing has undermined campaigns for justice and accountability.'
It was bad enough in 2005. Then, at the G8 summit in Scotland, Bono and Bob Geldof heaped praise on Tony Blair and George Bush, who were still mired in the butchery they had initiated in Iraq. At one point Geldof appeared, literally and figuratively, to be sitting in Tony Blair's lap. African activists accused them of drowning out a campaign for global justice with a campaign for charity.
But this is worse. As the UK chairs the G8 summit again, a campaign that Bono founded, with which Geldof works closely, appears to be whitewashing the G8′s policies in Africa.
Last week I drew attention to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launched in the US when it chaired the G8 meeting last year. The alliance is pushing African countries into agreements that allow foreign companies to grab their land, patent their seeds and monopolise their food markets. Ignoring the voices of their own people, six African governments have struck deals with companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Dupont, Syngenta, Nestlé and Unilever, in return for promises of aid by the UK and other G8 nations.
A wide range of activists, both African and European, is furious about the New Alliance. But the ONE campaign, co-founded by Bono, stepped up to defend it. The article it wrote last week was remarkable in several respects: in its elision of the interests of African leaders and those of their people, in its exaggeration of the role of small African companies, but above all in failing even to mention the injustice at the heart of the New Alliance – its promotion of a new wave of land grabbing. My curiosity was piqued.
The first thing I discovered is that Bono has also praised the New Alliance, in a speech just before last year's G8 summit in the US. The second thing I discovered is that much of the ONE campaign's primary funding was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, two of whose executives sit on its board. The foundation has been working with the biotech company Monsanto and the grain trading giant Cargill, and has a large Monsanto shareholding. Bill Gates has responded to claims made about land grabbing in Africa, asserting, in the face of devastating evidence and massive resistance from African farmers, that "many of those land deals are beneficial, and it would be too bad if some were held back because of western groups' ways of looking at things". (Africans, you will note, keep getting written out of this story.)
The third thing I discovered is that there's a long history here. In his brilliant and blistering book The Frontman: Bono (in the Name of Power), just released in the UK, the Irish scholar Harry Browne maintains that "for nearly three decades as a public figure, Bono has been … amplifying elite discourses, advocating ineffective solutions, patronising the poor and kissing the arses of the rich and powerful". His approach to Africa is "a slick mix of traditional missionary and commercial colonialism, in which the poor world exists as a task for the rich world to complete".
Bono, Browne charges, has become "the caring face of global technocracy", who, without any kind of mandate, has assumed the role of spokesperson for Africa, then used that role to provide "humanitarian cover" for western leaders. His positioning of the west as the saviour of Africa while failing to discuss the harm the G8 nations are doing has undermined campaigns for justice and accountability, while lending legitimacy to the neoliberal project.
Bono claims to be "representing the poorest and most vulnerable people". But talking to a wide range of activists from both the poor and rich worlds since ONE published its article last week, I have heard the same complaint again and again: that Bono and others like him have seized the political space which might otherwise have been occupied by the Africans about whom they are talking. Because Bono is seen by world leaders as the representative of the poor, the poor are not invited to speak. This works very well for everyone – except them.
The ONE campaign looks to me like the sort of organisation that John le Carré or Robert Harris might have invented. It claims to work on behalf of the extremely poor. But its board is largely composed of multimillionaires, corporate aristocrats and US enforcers. Here you will find Condoleezza Rice, George W Bush's national security adviser and secretary of state, who aggressively promoted the Iraq war, instructed the CIA that it was authorised to use torture techniques and browbeat lesser nations into supporting a wide range of US aims.
Here too is Larry Summers, who was chief economist at the World Bank during the darkest days of structural adjustment and who, as US Treasury secretary, helped to deregulate Wall Street, with such happy consequences for the rest of us. Here's Howard Buffett, who has served on the boards of the global grain giant Archer Daniels Midland as well as Coca-Cola and the food corporations ConAgra and Agro Tech. Though the main focus of ONE is Africa, there are only two African members. One is a mobile phone baron, the other is the finance minister of Nigeria, who was formerly managing director of the World Bank. What better representatives of the extremely poor could there be?
If, as ONE does, an organisation keeps telling you that it's a "grassroots campaign", it's a fair bet that it is nothing of the kind. This collaboration of multimillionaires and technocrats looks to me more like a projection of US and corporate power.
I found the sight of Bono last week calling for "more progress on transparency" equally revolting. As Harry Browne reminds us, U2′s complex web of companies, the financial arrangements of Bono's Product RED campaign and his investments through the private equity company he co-founded are all famously opaque. And it's not an overwhelming shock to discover that tax justice is absent from the global issues identified by ONE.
There is a well-known if dubious story that claims that at a concert in Glasgow Bono began a slow hand-clap. He is supposed to have announced: "Every time I clap my hands, a child in Africa dies." Whereupon someone in the audience shouted: "Well fucking stop doing it then." It's good advice, and I wish he'd take it.
Brian; This is the conundrum of centralized bureaucracies or governments.
It's like the music business. If a cult band wants to expand their income or prestige, they start dumbing down their creativity to middle of the road, which is the sell-out their die-hard fans go crazy about.
Bono is just another bureaucrat making his PR bones off the bones of those he claims to serve.
It's enough to make one a cynic.
This is a link from CM 'Disappear..' thread wherein is found text from an Abel Danger youtube. Very interesting….a retired pilot on MH 370.
I found the idea of tentacles of corporate poison swarming over and annexing Africa rather more compelling than under-informed Bono, I must admit.
Ben ..@ 11;17
Well said… though I'm sure his Vastly more Popular identity, and apparent Goody Two Shoes Image…Adds substantially to the Damage…
And cheers for the Wave of Action Link…
BrianFujisan 3 Apr, 2014 – 11:10 pm
"It was bad enough in 2005. Then, at the G8 summit in Scotland, Bono and Bob Geldof heaped praise on Tony Blair and George Bush, who were still mired in the butchery they had initiated in Iraq. At one point Geldof appeared, literally and figuratively, to be sitting in Tony Blair's lap. African activists accused them of drowning out a campaign for global justice with a campaign for charity."
Totally agree, Brian. Geldof knew what he was doing. He earned his ticket to Easy Street in those few weeks. To call him "a sell out" would imply that he had some principals in the first place. The timing and effect of his 'live 8′ concerts in the run up to G8 was too perfect. It was as orchestrated as the attack on Gleneagles marchers which gave the media the images of blood-soaked violent hooligans that they needed.
I was wondering why all the scaffold-mounted TV cameras were ignoring the main gates and pointing at a peaceful field where hundreds of protesters had been allowed to rest in the sunshine towards the end of the march. Then suddenly and simultaneously hundreds of riot cops and dozens of mounted cops appeared from behind the trees and swept through with clubs swinging while 2 or 3 of those double rotor helicopters swooped in like something out of Vietnam and disgorged more uniformed thugs to make a pincer movement. I hadn't heard of kettling then.
Geldof is a conscienceless slimeball with a lot of blood on his hands. He's not stupid or ignorant enough to be unaware that he was stifling a golden and significant opportunity for decent Britain to loudly tell the world what it thought of the mass-murders committed in its name. And even if we grant him the 'excuse' that he couldn't see beyond his colossal ego, he's had 9 years to reflect. Well, excuse me, but only an arsehole would now claim that because of himself and Blair "Gleneagles, [of all summits, was] the most significant. It achieved so much, the breadth of its success is extraordinary and [is] still reverberating in astonishing ways that shape not only our politics but that of the world.
Hold onto your supper if you tackle this recent piece he wrote for the Observer"
"Bob Geldof: Gleneagles G8 summit was a triumph for Africa – and Tony Blair
The Gleneagles summit helped pave the way for a new world order – and saved millions from needless suffering."
Here's a sample vomit-inducer:
"I have no doubt that it is because of Gleneagles that I and colleagues were able to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in Africa and create jobs. Who'd have thought? The people you kept alive all those 30 years ago are now being invested in to create the skills, trades and jobs that go with growth."
But let's not miss an opportunity to brown-nose present day politicians too ….
"This steady commitment has been matched through the Brown government and, to its great credit, the Cameron one. It is an example of coherent, predictive, thought-through government policy"
And one more …
"Gleneagles was many things amongst the murderous bombs, the triumph of the Olympic bid and the thunderous roar of Live8 but aside from the global leaders waking up to the new reality of Africa, China, the modern age of communication and its implication, it is Tony Blair's great lasting legacy – one of which he should be immensely proud. As should Britain."
Blaarrrghhhhhh ………..
A Node…
Jeeeezo Man… What a complete bought n Paid for Devil…. ye were Right about the Fkn Sick bucket… What an arse…
" that I and colleagues [ and I ] were able to raise hundreds of millions of dollars [ Did I and my Colleagues...And I... Did Mention ME yet ] to invest in Africa and create jobs. Who'd have thought? The people you kept alive all those 30 years ago are now being invested in to create the skills, trades and jobs that go with growth." [ so that we could keep a healthy Military industrial Complex to Kill them all nowadays ]
So Whilst I feel ill now… Let me Ask Geldof if we should all be Proud of this -
One Minister Dr Khalid ash-Shaykli:
"described large areas of Fallujah where nothing, people, cats, dogs, birds were left alive, alleging that mustard and nerve gasses had been used. InterPress reported people being roasted alive, in unquenchable, jellied fire. Numerous reports during the assault recorded people on fire leaping in to the Euphrates – and continuing to burn. Bodies were found with clothes melted in to the skin – and bodies were found with no injuries at all, giving credence to the accusation of the use of gasses and chemical weapons."
"It wasn't a war, it was a massacre", wrote an unidentified soldier in militaryproject.org.
More from that piece by Felicity Arbuthnot @
Bliar should be Hung for what he did to Iraq…and annihilation of Fallujah…with illegal, Fuck knows what other Banned weapons.
i had a wee peek around… seems quite a few people regard Geldof as Evil…
And this Extract from Paula Yates wikipedia entry.
Paula Yates wrote in her police statement that Michael Hutchence was "frightened and couldn't stand a minute more without his baby". During their phone conversations on the morning of his suicide he had said, "I don't know how I'll live without Tiger". Yates also wrote that Bob Geldof had threatened them repeatedly with, "Don't forget, I am above the law".[10]
Bono – another one for the chop along with Geldof. How dare they? How did they happen?
'Bono's positioning of the west as the saviour of Africa while failing to discuss the harm the G8 nations are doing has undermined campaigns for justice and accountability.'
It was bad enough in 2005. Then, at the G8 summit in Scotland, Bono and Bob Geldof heaped praise on Tony Blair and George Bush, who were still mired in the butchery they had initiated in Iraq. At one point Geldof appeared, literally and figuratively, to be sitting in Tony Blair's lap. African activists accused them of drowning out a campaign for global justice with a campaign for charity.
But this is worse. As the UK chairs the G8 summit again, a campaign that Bono founded, with which Geldof works closely, appears to be whitewashing the G8′s policies in Africa.'/
Good news from the West Country. The trains are running again. And well done to the young Network Rail project manager, Rosie Major.
The contractors were AMCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renew Holdings plc
'We provide a range of multidisciplinary engineering support services to the rail industry where our operations target the on-going maintenance, asset renewal and enhancement programmes.
Our strength lies in our ability to successfully deliver a variety of integrated and sustainable solutions for our clients.The Group has over 26 years' experience working in the Rail sector delivering projects for clients such as Network Rail, London Underground and a number of train operating companies. Acquired in 2011, specialist engineering business Amco is a leading provider of maintenance works to Network Rail. Work is undertaken through the Building and Civils Delivery Partnership where Amco is the only contractor appointed nationally/'
'Several other suppliers were needed to support BAM Nuttall as principal contractor so Amalgamated Construction (AMCO) was drafted into the process by Network Rail. One of its teams was carrying out other railway work in the area at a significant site near Tiverton, where they are carrying out repairs to Whiteball Tunnel (as reported in this issue on page 92). AMCO was given the responsibility for repairing the 90 metre breach.'
Multiple contractors by the sounds of it. How do they divi up the money? Another lawyers' paradise. Agent Cameron will bask in reflected glory I bet. Everything is privatised.
I had an e-mail from Ed yesterday about it. He's after our votes
I've been mulling over the JFJFP article on Terrorising Children. It makes me wonder about the mental abilities of the planners.
What are the long term effects on societies when so many people face brutalising traumas in their most vulnerable developing years?
In Israeli society, where is the benefit in having large numbers of citizens trained to treat the young people of Others in these ways?
How clever is it to systematically mass produce deeply damaged citizens?
Images from occupeid Palestine, http://www.activestills.org/images.php?type=top
'Sorry Bob, Band Aid millions DID pay for guns: Charity's man in Ethiopia tells his disturbing storyToday, for the first time, the Band Aid man on the ground in Ethiopia speaks out exclusively to The Daily Mail, saying he believes it is possible that up to 20 per cent of donor's money went to fund the rebels.
Furthermore, he told me that he personally sympathised with the rebel cause he calls 'a liberating force', and travelled in convoys he suspected were transporting arms to them.
[..]John James was Band Aid Field Director in Ethiopia from 1985-91 and was awarded an MBE for his charity work. He says: 'I would be surprised if it were any less than 10-20 per cent of funds were diverted to the rebels.
'Did I sympathise with the rebels? Yes. We would not have tolerated any direct assistance in the purchase of arms or condoned it, but just remember it was a highly complex situation.'
James, a farmer who is now 85 and living in Devon, adds: 'I think it is ridiculous for anybody to claim that not one penny of aid money was diverted.
'You couldn't help the hungry in the rebel-held areas without helping the rebels. You have to be realistic about that. It is probable that some money was diverted to buy arms. I believe a just use was made of the money. I think it fulfilled the interests of the donors.'
He recalls travelling on a rebel convoy, which he suspected carried arms, saying: 'I didn't know what was in the heavily sheeted tarpaulin load of the lorry in which I travelled, and I didn't ask. I would be surprised if it had not contained arms.'
Sorry, I forgot link, http://jfjfp.com/?p=57946
A funny.
David Cameron's Waitrose Comments: A Translation http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/03/david-cameron-waitrose_n_5083413.html?139653186
and a copy of his Waitrose bill
"…just remember it was a highly complex situation".
Yes indeed. The generic cover for bad actions by "good" guys.
I need a bigger sick bucket after the Bono-Geldoff puke-fest.
By the way, in a piece which was supposed to be largely and dully about Bono, there was this quite interesting assessment of what's happening over there in Africa. Have yet to recheck, but sounds about right:
"Last week I drew attention to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launched in the US when it chaired the G8 meeting last year. The alliance is pushing African countries into agreements that allow foreign companies to grab their land, patent their seeds and monopolise their food markets. Ignoring the voices of their own people, six African governments have struck deals with companies such as Monsanto, Cargill, Dupont, Syngenta, Nestlé and Unilever, in return for promises of aid by the UK and other G8 nations."
Thanks, Technicolour.
May I just remind readers of the otherwise unemployable world leaders currently attached to the African investment cash teat?
(You may need to restock on these -
http://www.firstaid4less.co.uk/category.php?Catid=12831&gclid=CPnLiNmsxr0CFSkewwod_5MA9g )
Here's a good take on what possibly the majority of African's themselves think.
Last fall, shortly after I returned from Nigeria, I was accosted by a perky blond college student whose blue eyes seemed to match the "African" beads around her wrists.
"Save Darfur!" she shouted from behind a table covered with pamphlets urging students to TAKE ACTION NOW! STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!
My aversion to college kids jumping onto fashionable social causes nearly caused me to walk on, but her next shout stopped me.
"Don't you want to help us save Africa?" she yelled.
It seems that these days, wracked by guilt at the humanitarian crisis it has created in the Middle East, the West has turned to Africa for redemption. Idealistic college students, celebrities such as Bob Geldof and politicians such as Tony Blair have all made bringing light to the dark continent their mission. They fly in for internships and fact-finding missions or to pick out children to adopt in much the same way my friends and I in New York take the subway to the pound to adopt stray dogs.
This is the West's new image of itself: a sexy, politically active generation whose preferred means of spreading the word are magazine spreads with celebrities pictured in the foreground, forlorn Africans in the back. Never mind that the stars sent to bring succor to the natives often are, willingly, as emaciated as those they want to help.
Perhaps most interesting is the language used to describe the Africa being saved. For example, the Keep a Child Alive/" I am African" ad campaign features portraits of primarily white, Western celebrities with painted "tribal markings" on their faces above "I AM AFRICAN" in bold letters. Below, smaller print says, "help us stop the dying."
Such campaigns, however well intentioned, promote the stereotype of Africa as a black hole of disease and death. News reports constantly focus on the continent's corrupt leaders, warlords, "tribal" conflicts, child laborers, and women disfigured by abuse and genital mutilation. These descriptions run under headlines like "Can Bono Save Africa?" or "Will Brangelina Save Africa?" The relationship between the West and Africa is no longer based on openly racist beliefs, but such articles are reminiscent of reports from the heyday of European colonialism, when missionaries were sent to Africa to introduce us to education, Jesus Christ and "civilization."
There is no African, myself included, who does not appreciate the help of the wider world, but we do question whether aid is genuine or given in the spirit of affirming one's cultural superiority. My mood is dampened every time I attend a benefit whose host runs through a litany of African disasters before presenting a (usually) wealthy, white person, who often proceeds to list the things he or she has done for the poor, starving Africans. Every time a well-meaning college student speaks of villagers dancing because they were so grateful for her help, I cringe. Every time a Hollywood director shoots a film about Africa that features a Western protagonist, I shake my head — because Africans, real people though we may be, are used as props in the West's fantasy of itself. And not only do such depictions tend to ignore the West's prominent role in creating many of the unfortunate situations on the continent, they also ignore the incredible work Africans have done and continue to do to fix those problems.
Why do the media frequently refer to African countries as having been "granted independence from their colonial masters," as opposed to having fought and shed blood for their freedom? Why do Angelina Jolie and Bono receive overwhelming attention for their work in Africa while Nwankwo Kanu or Dikembe Mutombo, Africans both, are hardly ever mentioned? How is it that a former mid-level U.S. diplomat receives more attention for his cowboy antics in Sudan than do the numerous African Union countries that have sent food and troops and spent countless hours trying to negotiate a settlement among all parties in that crisis?
Two years ago I worked in a camp for internally displaced people in Nigeria, survivors of an uprising that killed about 1,000 people and displaced 200,000. True to form, the Western media reported on the violence but not on the humanitarian work the state and local governments — without much international help — did for the survivors. Social workers spent their time and in many cases their own salaries to care for their compatriots. These are the people saving Africa, and others like them across the continent get no credit for their work.
Last month the Group of Eight industrialized nations and a host of celebrities met in Germany to discuss, among other things, how to save Africa. Before the next such summit, I hope people will realize Africa doesn't want to be saved. Africa wants the world to acknowledge that through fair partnerships with other members of the global community, we ourselves are capable of unprecedented growth.
Uzodinma Iweala – is the author of "Beasts of No Nation," a novel about child soldiers.
P.s…. Cheers for putting up the Hang the Bankers Piec Mary… i didn't even notice i left it out.
Guano, Mark and some others may be interested in this:
(Yasir Qadhi has a Bachelors in Hadith and a Masters in Theology from Islamic University of Madinah, and a PhD in Islamic Studies from Yale University. He is an instructor and Dean of Academic Affairs at AlMaghrib, and the Resident Scholar of the Memphis Islamic Center.)
Illuminating to see
(a) the procedure Qadhi had to go through to be accepted for the high honour of attending Blair's lectures
(b) Qadhi's own standpoint
(c) Blair's utter ignorance of Islam and dislike of straight questioning
(d) Blair's easy co-option of faith as a means to promote corporate globalism. Which continues, of course.
I found it fascinating.
Ahh Effin Edit…
That be … Piece Mary
There is a petition to stop women from being detained in Yarls Wood following the deportation of Yashika to Mauritius. I've signed it. What about you?
Ba'al Zevul.
Vom Bags link. Thanks. Will order in bulk.
Re Bono/Geldoff phenomenon,
"I have a small Thai boy who dresses me and every year I let him pick what campaign I am going to work on. It saves me having to worry about it and, bless him, it makes him feel involved in the struggle for global liberation." Mark Thomas
Thanks for the Asylum petition link. Done.
Must switch this thing off and get out into the world.
Interesting looking indeed Ba'al
That deranged cretin sure needs a saviour… Comments look worth a good read too, a lot there…i'll take a good look into that later…
Gotta dash out
Sadly Corinne Souza died on 13 March 2014. She was, in my opinion, one of the best writers in the country.
She wrote Baghdad's Spy, Jasmine's Tortoise, several articles in Lobster magazine, and So You Want to be a Lobbyist?. I saw that Iain Dale and Corinne herself both thought the last-mentioned book wasn't very good (she gave him the wrong disc!), but nonetheless there are passages in which she shows a huge amount of insight which, quite simply, you won't find in any other book whatsoever. The same is also true about most of her pieces in Lobster, to some extent Jasmine's Tortoise, and certainly Baghdad's Spy.
She was a failed publisher – failed because her well-meaning and generous personality made her into the opposite of a breadhead.
An honest, charming and brilliant woman has passed away. RIP Corinne
"Must switch this thing off and get out into the world."
Good idea!
I have just read Yasir Qadhi's piece linked by Ba'al Zevul regarding Blair's visit to Yale. It is typical of many academics who deal with minutiae to give long-winded reasons for their actions. This might seem unfair on Yasir but there are time limitations which militate against this kind of self-indulgence. I did read it, and though he an I are coming from a similar standpoint I did wonder whether I would learn what he had for breakfast before he got to the point, or points, which were his contemplations regarding war on Iraq and:
"1) if Blair had any regrets regarding his decision,
2) if he realized that his actions seemed to demonstrate to many people the hypocrisy of democracy when a majority of his own people opposed the war, yet he so stubbornly brought his country into this conflict against the will of his people,
3) and, lastly, if he understood that his perception in the Middle East, and in fact in many parts of the world, as a man of war, actually made it impossible for him to be an 'Envoy of Peace' in the Middle East."
Anybody knowing Blair could answer these questions and those were the answers Yasir received. He should have taken the opportunity to arrest Blair for war crimes. It is the duty of anybody who meets Blair to arrest him. If I ever get caught with a pair of handcuffs in my pocket, that will be my defence.
Thanks for posting the link Ba'al Zevul.
More lies from the BBC:
"Israel has cancelled the release of a fourth group of Palestinian prisoners over the Palestinian leadership's pursuit of further UN recognition."
It was in fact Israel's refusal to release the prisoners that lead to the Palestinians pursuit of further UN recognition.
"The Palestinians said their unilateral move is a response to Israel's refusal to release a fourth round of prisoners. It therefore considers itself relieved of its commitment not to seek recognition from international institutions, the Palestinian Authority said."
"The PA also said that if Israel releases the fourth group of prisoners, it won't pursue its application to join United Nations institutions."
Re. the charge of Qadhi's longwindedness, remember that the target audience was not a European blog, or the soaraway SUN. The guy is an observant Sunni, and the comments show that his readers are mostly the same. Also, the perception of Blair around Yale is very different to what it is in England, and American Muslims – or Muslim Americans – have to be rather careful that what they say and do does not fuel the antislamism which is rather pervasive in much of non-Muslim America.
But my point in posting this was to highlight something that not "everybody knowing Blair" will usually stress. It's by someone who was actually present at an early exposition of Blair's game plan, and shows that Blair very calculatedly set up his complex organisation with the major objective of promoting globalisation under cover of an attractive (and naive) "Let's get the faiths to be nice to each other" banner.
There seems to have been quite a lot of corporate input to the course, no non-Christian lecturers, and,indeed, Miroslav Volf, a Yale academic, alternating with Blair in presenting the course, is purely a Christian theologian, specialising in reconciliation. While Blair endorsed revenge attacks in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and continues to add his support to Israel's everlasting retaliation.
Blair's selling phosphoric acid, caffeine, flavouring, sweetener and fizz, in other words, with his hands clasped in prayer, against a CGI montage of the people of the world dancing and singing. Blair as Coke salesman.
Thanks, Doug. As predicted, the talks will now fold. Expect more insistence from Netanyahu that it was the other guys' fault, and that he was prepared to offer them a fully-fitted independent state, subject to getting Iran bombed by the US first, just as soon as the lab in the Negev genetically modified a pig capable of airborne surveillance.
Geldof was always a plastic punk. The Boomtown rats 1st hit which he penned the lyrics to describes "Bob Geldof" in perfect detail. It's all about BoB.
The world owes me a living
I've waited on this dole queue too long
I've been standin' in the rain for fifteen minutes
That's a quarter of an hour too long.
I'll take all they can give me
And then I'm gonna ask for more
Cos the money's buried deep in the bank of England
And I want the key to the vault
I'm gonna take your money
Count your loss when I'm gone.
I'm alright, Jack,
I'm lookin' after number one.
If I want something I get it
Don't matter what I have to do
I'll step on your face, on your mother's grave
Never underestimate me I'm nobody's fool
(repeat chorus)
Don't give me peace and love or the good lord above
You only get in my way with your stupid ideas
I am an island
Entire of myself
And when I get old, older than today
I'll never need anybody's help in any way.
(repeat chorus)
Don't wanna be like you.
Don't wanna live like you.
Don't wanna talk like you, at all.
I'm gonna be like
I'm gonna be like
I'm gonna be like ME!
"Also, the perception of Blair around Yale is very different to what it is in England. . ." Well, yes I agree. My criticism was the detail that did not, in my opinion, add to the argument.
You knoe, John, I don't think he intended to make an argument. He was describing his experiences. Think novelist, rather than politician. Academic training relies – or should do – on clearly separating observation (of experimental conditions as well as data) from interpretation. IMO he does that, and it's more telling for that. We know Blair is an asshole…here's the crap it produces.
OK Ba'al. Thanks.
Here is the beautiful, the lovely Elizabeth Kucinich, wife of senator, Dennis, who spoke out against the Iraq war.
The vast bulk of food subsidies go on propping up the meat industry that has made the USA a nation of bloated Kelly dolls, wobbling all over the globe, and still somehow managing to bounce upright in some eyes. Stop the meat subsidies and there will be money to spend on important things, the meat industry will have to get lean, or go to the slaughterhouse. Do the same with defence spending and hey presto: "it's a beautiful world". Thank you Elizabeth for being the beautiful woman you are.
P Harry and Boris endorse the Limp Ics Park now open to all comers.
£15 to go on the Arcelor Mittal heap of junk. £40 for a family.
Cost of transforming the park. Unknown.
Those on the board http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Legacy_Development_Corporation
Sir Edward Lister is on that LLDC board. He featured on BBC London News last night.
Boris's head honcho. Paid more pa (£150k) that Agent Cameron. Has run up expenses > £24,000 and more than £10,000 has not yet been declared.
They are all IN IT together of course.
I see he is quoted here in favour of a 29 storey tower block adjacent to Waterloo Station. The plans went to the High Court where they were rubber stamped by Judge Collins.
The Maria Miller thing is refusing to lie down and die. I had not appreciated that it was recommended that she repay £45,000 but was let off by her parliamentary mates and some other stooges.
'On Thursday, the Commons Standards Committee ordered Mrs Miller to apologise to MPs for breaching the parliamentary code of conduct with her "attitude" towards an inquiry into the culture secretary's expenses claims.
She had supplied the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, whose role it is to investigate allegations of abuses of the rules on expenses, with "incomplete documentation and fragmentary information," it said.
The commissioner concluded that she had over-claimed by £45,000 for expenses towards mortgage interest payments and council tax.
But the committee, which comprises five Conservative MPs, four Labour MPs, one Lib Dem MP and three members of the public, decided that she needed to pay back just £5,800.'
No 10 rejects expenses threat claim
Downing Street denies threatening the Daily Telegraph with tougher regulation as it investigated Maria Miller's expenses.
Miller apologises and repays £5,800
Miller sorry after expenses inquiry
Watch PM backs Miller as inquiry begins
Ex-Telegraph editor on Craig Oliver and Maria Miller
The spin doctor Craig Oliver featured above is married to the BBC News presenter Joanna Gosling.
The godbotherers demonstrate the truly unifying power of faith -
More generally, the Russian Orthodox Church (as opposed to the Ukrainian ditto) offers a peaceful message, while gracefully acknowledging that it is the Ukrainians' fault. Also that it would be far better to pay attention to the peaceful Russian troops currently exercising happily over the border, and sort out your priorities pronto…
Sweden gave us SIPRI, sexual liberation and a drug-culture. In recent years it has become a NATO ally, taken a tougher line on drugs, persecuted Assange and now this: it has made sex with animals illegal. Where will it end?
One farmer disagrees.
"Some of us like girls, others boys, some like cows."
Me earlier.
'Agent Cameron will bask in reflected glory I bet.'
Anything for the smarmy git to get his photo op.
Dawlish rail line to be reopened David Cameron called for three cheers for engineers and labourers who fixed the track and said they had shown the best of British.
No mention by the Guardian of the private contractors used by Network Rail.
Mary @ 2.05 pm
I've absolutely no idea what all the fuss is about Maria Miller stealing a mere £45,000. After all it's part of the Neocon credo to rob the masses. She's doing what comes naturally to these bloodsuckers. After all she's apologised. You don't get that very often.
"The spin doctor Craig Oliver featured above is married to the BBC News presenter Joanna Gosling."
Would you say that anyone who works for the BBC should not be married to someone who works for a political party (or, conversely, that anyone who works for a political party should not be married to someone who works for the BBC?
If so, which one of the two should give up their job? And would such a solution not be a violation of the couple's human rights (freedom of marriage)?
Last night on BBC News, a David Schenker of the Washington Institute can be heard to describe the 1200 Palestinian prisoners as 'killers with blood on their hands'. He was not corrected or questioned and the lie was allowed to stand.
He is: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/view/schenker-david
Its board of advisors includes Kissinger, Perle, Lieberman, Rice, McFarlane, etc http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/about/board-of-advisors
The directors are http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/about/board-of-directors
The actual killers.
About Yousef aged 14 shot in the back and left to bleed to death.
This is not awe-inspiring.
"According to the Kyiv Post, Pierre Omidyar's Omidyar Network (part of the Omidyar Group which owns First Look Media and the Intercept) provided 36% of "Center UA"'s $500,000 budget in 2012— nearly $200,000. USAID provided 54% of "Center UA"'s budget for 2012. Other funders included the US government-backed National Endowment for Democracy. In 2011, Omidyar Network gave $335,000 to "New Citizen," one of the anti-Yanukovych "projects" managed through the Rybachuk-chaired NGO "Center UA." At the time, Omidyar Network boasted that its investment in "New Citizen" would help "shape public policy" in Ukraine…
– See more at: http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2014/03/01/pando-expose-glenn-greenwalds-boss-billionaire-omidyar-co-funded-ukraine-revolution-groups-with-us-government/#sthash.SWxTSzZs.dpuf
Thanks for that link Ben-Scot. It is quite dated but nothing surprises me over the Ukraine issue especially after the BBC yesterday shamelessly reported on the findings of the illegal Yakunyets regime that Yanukovich's police were responsible for the February shootings in Kiev, having failed to report at all the leaked phone call from Paet to Ashton. Has Greenwald responded on behalf of Omidyar do you know?
Rest in Peace Margo MacDonald'
A beautiful Light in Scottish politics goes out
Is anyone going to notice that ESLO (shrieks of tr*ll) also disagreed with the forced deportation of a young woman in the middle of her studies? No?
Poor Habbakuk. I can't see why people would block someone who, by putting in a different viewpoint, is practically begging them to make whatever point they have with reasoned arguments. Seems counterproductive and fingers in ears to me.
But then, in personal arguments, the weight of the evidence gets lost. And there is so much on this board that it can do anyway. I've often wondered about a blog which would compile the research done in the comments section into manageable chunks.
"I don't have much sympathy though, because Habbabkuk goes to great lengths to wind up and belittle other contributors, sometimes submitting nearly as many comments as everyone else put together."
yeah but, yeah but. The belittlement and viciousness against him at the beginning were astonishing. And generally, if you don't know that person personally, then it's not personal? I mean, I don't care if anyone on this board calls me names, unless they're someone I have actually previously 'related' to. It's a forum for political debate and questioning, innit (?) But also an opportunity to use typing to cross a divide, which is jolly important, for us typists.
As for submitting loads of comments – well, many of us are guilty of that (me in the last half an hour) and occasionally Habbakuk does this, but occasionally he doesn't. It's interesting that the strife and trouble has happily, at times, continued quite without him, and with ESLO and RD taking the 'troll' flack, quite wrongly, I think.
Moving onto wiki would indeed be a super thing. I've just had a look back at previous threads and just moving those on Africa to a central point would be a serious work. OK (deep breath) will try when I have a free couple of hours – and thank you.
well, no, everything should have to satisfy those rigorous criteria (my personal rule is 6 sources, btw)
But yes, you're right: primary testimony (among others) is vital and should be included – so a wiki associated with this blog could be a very good thing
Aargh – agreeing and disagreeing: I'm turning into Macky Don't let it mess up anyone's head, please.
So the pilot signed off Malay ATC unaware TWO tracking devices had been turned off 15min earlier. Next minute the plane makes a turn, then rises to 45k feet, then down to 22k and disappears. But Rolls Royce and Inmarsat continued to receive signals for a further 6 hours, until the final good engine landing and cryptic double pings?!! The plane is in Diego Garcia, they tried telling us it was Iranian with 911 boxcutters. Nobody is buying, the Maersk deaths, the one-off 72 hour air curfew over DG, etc are not coincidences. Once again they want us to believe some cave dwellers brought down 110 story WTCs.
Not threatening. Just flagging it up. Quite so Ms Hindley.
'Maria Miller expenses report: Listen to Telegraph reporter's phone call with special adviser Joanna Hindley
The Telegraph releases an audio recording of a call between Joanna Hindley, Maria Miller's special adviser, and Telegraph reporter Holly Watt made as the newspaper prepared to publish a story about the Culture Secretary's expenses claims'
The cat is finally out of the bag
Apr 5th 2014
Tory-in-disguise Lord Warner has confirmed what campaigners knew all along – the plan to end our NHS as a service free at the point of use
So now we know the latest steps being proposed to make the NHS into a full-blown private health service, just like it was before 1948.
The various steps to achieve this supreme goal of the private marketeers have been prepared right from the start with great care.
First, Tony Blair encouraged and then pressured NHS hospitals to become foundation trust hospitals, with more independence and financial self-reliance – the first nudge towards becoming self-standing suppliers within a competitive market.
David Cameron took this further by announcing that all health services would be open to tender by any qualified provider.
That began the massive process of privatising and outsourcing every chunk of the NHS that the free marketeers, nearly always a very small cabal of the biggest healthcare multinationals, could get their hands on – or rather teeth into.
Meanwhile the Lansley plan for the wholesale privatisation of the NHS had been hatched in deepest secrecy between the Tory high command and the big private healthcare companies before the election, with not a word about it in the Tory 2010 manifesto because if it had been known it would have blown the Tories away.
But all the time the mantra was repeated that the NHS would remain free at the point of service.
But now the cat has been let out of the bag – that the Tories and their big corporate friends had in fact intended all along that it would become a fully paid-for service. Only they didn't dare say so before now.
Norman Warner, an ex-civil servant Tory Blairite camouflaged as a Labour health minister, let it be known in the Guardian that the NHS is "an outdated, cosseted and unaffordable healthcare system … which no longer meets the country's needs … and is often poor value for money."
We now see why the Tories, especially Jeremy Hunt, have been so keen to demean and vilify the NHS on every occasion they can over the last several months – cue the need to junk the old, failing NHS and to announce the dawn of a brand-new burnished private healthcare system and – what a surprise – you're going to have to pay for it if you want to get any medical attention.
Oh yes, they've fixed the initial fee at the loss leader level of £10 a month, but don't be taken in by that.
Remember tuition fees. Originally we were assured they'd be held at £3,000, but then as soon as the Tories got in, they tripled them to £9,000 to "market-clearing" levels.
If every adult in the country paid the £10 a month, this new tax would raise £5.4 billion. If that were tripled, it would offer serious money for the healthcare privateers.
It is incredible that Warner has the gall to claim the NHS is "unaffordable" without mentioning that the Tories have deliberately imposed a £20bn cut on the NHS over the current five-year period to put it under intolerable strain and potential breakdown in order to pave the way for a fully paid-for private service, which has always been their secret aim.
But then the Tories would never put profit at risk by telling the truth.
Michael Meacher is Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton.
Oh my god. They will be massacred at the next election.
"Thanks for that link Ben-Scot. It is quite dated but nothing surprises me over the Ukraine issue especially after the BBC yesterday shamelessly reported on the findings of the illegal Yakunyets regime that Yanukovich's police were responsible for the February shootings in Kiev, having failed to report at all the leaked phone call from Paet to Ashton. "
Don't you think that there is just a possibility that your friends might ever resort to spreading misinformation and bugging phone calls – because of course they are not capable of such things are they, having the same high standards of honesty as yourself.
A turn up for the books. The BBC's Spencer Kelly interviews Julian Assange.
6mins 52secs 5.4.2014
I should also add that the BBC TV News at 10 on the 3 April when reporting on the Government enquiry very clearly referred to the Paet-Ashton conversation.
Great cake!
More blackmail by Russia
[Banned from contributing]
Resident Dissident, 5 Apr, 2014 – 9:09 am
Absolute tosh. And you know it. It mentioned the conversation in a marginalised world news report without giving any proper details, and to my knowledge never made the mainstream UK news. Unlike the load of bollocks from Yakunyets investigating his friends and finding them innocent. A balanced news report would have mentioned Catherine Ashton's conversation with Urmas Paet in the same report to show there are two sides. It's you Resident Dissident (or whatever your name is) that does not agree with balanced reporting. You just accept everything the BEEB says. I've already pointed you to two reports that show it was the demonstrators that did the sniping. You're so full of it you can't see the wood for the trees.
John Goss
You said ALL – that was a lie. The BBC TV News at Ten is not a marginalised world news report – and it did mention the conversation you referred to.
As for the criminal investigation in Ukraine – perhaps you might wish to comment on some of the evidence that it revealed like the weapons being shot from positions known to have been held by Government forces, the identification of those they were seeking to question.
You also said in the past that the Ukrainian authorities were refusing to conduct an investigation – yet another lie that has now been revealed.
If I'm stymying dissent on the Palestinian issue I'm being singularly unsuccessful – what you are really saying in your clearly anti-Semitic and homophopic manner is that you are not intellectually capable of handling views and lifestyles that differ from your own.
Anyway Resident Dissident you did not address the issue raised by Ben and probably never even read it. It is about what money was behind the coup. It did not include any of these other subscribers to the illegal coup not mentioned on mainstream media.
Here too is the report of who actually shot the first victims. Every time it is snipers from the protestors. That does not mean all the protestors were snipers because many had been sucked in on the NATO-funded wave.
"More blackmail by Russia"
So when America imposes economic sanctions on a country it's legitimate but if Russia wants Ukraine to pay the same price for their gas as the rest of Europe has to it's blackmail?
Look Resident Dissident your own brain should tell you that since the illegal government took over and forced with violence media personnel of the Ukraine to resign for covering Russian reports, that they are hardly going to be unbiased. Yes they will make these false statements – they are a false government. Next they will be fabricating forensic evidence. Grow up and work it out.
The only inquiry that is likely to get at the truth of the shootings is an independent international inquiry (perhaps involving Africa and South America, countries with no direct interest) – not one conducted by a load of crooks.
John Goss
The only evidence you have produced is hearsay reported from one diplomat to another – you should know that such evidence would not be admissible in any proper court of law.
There is filmed evidence of snipers among government troops on the 20 February which was also corroborated by eye witnesses – but you obviously prefer hearsay evidence as it supports your political position and then you have to resort to clear lies about what the BBC reported. You have done the same on the missing Malaysia Airline where you reach a particular position on the flimsiest of evidence – you say that the plane must have been monitored by the US from Diego Garcia – when the incomplete evidence of its position show that it was flying away from Diego Garcia.
No one is unbiased – but it is clearly dishonesty on your part to think that your own position is not without bias and somehow of superior status to others who present more detailed evidence, which you then proceed to dismiss in your usual arrogant fashion.
I could point to those who have left RT been moved sideways for not following the party line.
The government of Ukraine is not illegal – the previous President fled the country, after on his own admission inviting Russian troops into the Crimea, and a new President was appointed by the Ukrainian Parliament. I suspect your knowledge of Ukrainian law is as negligible as it is on most other matters concerning that country.
Starting with your last "evidence" first. Yanukovich fled the country for fear of his life. The illegal government is illegal because it has not been voted in, though individual members of parliament are legitimate. It is formed from three parties which got together last year to overthrow the Yanukovich government with western finance.
Your trench is so deep I do not ever see you crawling out of it.
"The only inquiry that is likely to get at the truth of the shootings is an independent international inquiry (perhaps involving Africa and South America, countries with no direct interest) – not one conducted by a load of crooks."
And even then if it didn't agree with the position that you hold you would be able to find something that would allow you to question the independence of the inquiry so that you could continue to hold your original position based on your political viewpoint and your own narrow selection of evidence that suited that viewpoint.
I am quitre happy to change my opinion when I am convinced a change is needed. I did it over the topic of this thread – so don't come that. You are the one entrenched.
"Your trench is so deep I do not ever see you crawling out of it."
"The illegal government is illegal because it has not been voted in,"
And what does the Ukrainian Constitution say about what should happen when the President leaves?
Was it legal for Yanukovych to award c50% of state contracts to his son?
Were the actions of the Police against the Euromaidan demonstrators from November onwards legal?
I'm sure that our Ukrainian legal expert will be able to answer with chapter and verse.
"Your trench is so deep I do not ever see you crawling out of it."
Who are you quoting – I am currently reading the excellent "The last man in Russia" by Oliver Bullough and he interestingly points out that one technique of the KGB goons employed by Literary Gazette in their attacks on Father Dimity was to use the same technique of placing their insults in inverted comments so as to give them, what they perceived to be a greater degree of authority. By these little things the true nature of people is revealed.
So a group of MPs in the UK can take over the houses of parliament by mob-led rule forcing Cameron to seek sanctuary in the US? That's OK then? Yes?
Not that I believe Mr Goss to be a KGB goon – he is very clearly a member of the unpaid useful idiot class who do it all for love of the cause.
The EU and US were quite happily supporting that corrupt dictator Yanukovitch until her reneged on the EU deal. That's when the sh** hit the fan.
Over-throwing a Govt was illegal ,and for the European and US powers to be involved in financing it was also illegal. Tymoschenko made quite a bit of lolly before she was caught and she is still a darling of the "West".
The police in most of the film I saw were coming off worst.Unprecedented that so many police were killed , injured and also shot by snipers. There were not that many police casualties in the Cairo uprisings.
An election had been agreed on by all powers, but since it wouldn'T have givem the result the West wanted they simply slotted their muppet Yats into the hot seat.
Our Govt in Britain dealt with the miners a whole lot worse.
RD. 10 43am
"The government of Ukraine is not illegal…"
That's funny. I thought a coup that was sponsored by foriegn government could not possibly form a legal government. But I have to admit haven't read the Ukrainian Constitution and I'm not a lawyer.
So I'm very keen for you to point me to the part of the Constitution makes the Ukrainian junta legal.
"So a group of MPs in the UK can take over the houses of parliament by mob-led rule forcing Cameron to seek sanctuary in the US? That's OK then? Yes?"
If Cameron had been elected on a distinctly dodgy mandate (see Craig's comments on the OSCE report on that election) and once elected had shown gross disregard for the laws of the country,had sought to crush legitimate political protest with violence and had invited in foreign troops to take control of part of the country – yes then I would have no problem with the Houses of Parliament voting to replace him when he had left the country.
As I've never read "The last man in Russia" by Oliver Bullough I have no idea whether what you say is true or not. I re-quoted myself because I thought it was a good summary of your entrenchment. I agree that Christians in Russia during Soviet days were persecuted and read a copy of Irina Ratushinskaya's poems, much praised in the west. I'm currently reading a book which explained among other things how seaside rock is made and how the red lettering was put inside. Hope you enjoy yours too.
"If Cameron had been elected on a distinctly dodgy mandate (see Craig's comments on the OSCE report on that election) and once elected had shown gross disregard for the laws of the country,had sought to crush legitimate political protest with violence and had invited in foreign troops to take control of part of the country – yes then I would have no problem with the Houses of Parliament voting to replace him when he had left the country."
I hope your knowledge of history from reading "The last man in Russia" by Oliver Bullough is more accurate than the fantasy of modern history above.
The legal story is slightly more complex than you might think – the gist of it is here;
Mr Goss
You re quote yourself all the time – the use of inverted commas is entirely unnecessary.
I ssupect you will ask me to explain.
1. See Sofia Kibo Noh's comment at 11.12 am.
2. No foreign troops were invited in.
3. There has been no vote of Yakunyets to power.
Get a grip for God's sake man.
John Goss
And which of those elements in my hypothetical case would you argue did not happen in Ukraine under YAnukovych – we no the last one did because he admitted it this last week and expressed regret for having done so.
"The legal story is slightly more complex than you might think – the gist of it is here;
Quoting you. What a cop out. You make things up. Sofia asks you to show where. You give a Wikipedia link and tell her to find it herself. WHy did you not just say "I made that bit up." Or, if you didn't, quote the section and paragraph. It seems your own knowledge of Ukrainian law is negligible whereas I never professed to be a Ukrainian lawyer.
RD, I read your Guardian link which is more than you appear to do with those I provide. Here is a quote from it.
"Presidential elections will be held on 25 May. Yanukovych suggested that these could scarcely be considered legitimate because his eviction from office was unconstitutional."
How does "eviction from office" equate with your assumption:
"The government of Ukraine is not illegal – the previous President fled the country, after on his own admission inviting Russian troops into the Crimea, and a new President was appointed by the Ukrainian Parliament."?
RD. 11 26am
"…more complex than you might think…"
That's why I asked you for clarification.
You claim that the Ukrainian government is legal. Please can you show me why.
Now where else have I heard that suggestion that an issue is too complex for us ordinary folk to comprehend?
John Goss
I didn't make up – I just provided the most succinct summary I could quickly locate – I should note that it was you who first made the claim that the Government was illegal and was asked to provide the justification for your claim – SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE CLEARLY FAILED TO DO IN ANY FORM WHATSOVER. PUT UP OR SHUTUP
Because Yanukovych was not entitled to block the 2004 Constitutional Amendment that gave the right to appoint the Government to the Rada – apart from 2 ministers.
Clark, I went to the thread you suggested but found myself alone.
"John Goss
I didn't make up"
Show us then.
Fred. 3 Apr, 2014 – 4:44 pm
"It's the future, Scotland is independent. Scotland's vast wealth has been syphoned off by Salmond's immensely rich oligarth friends. There is mass unemployment the haggis harvest has failed for the third year running, people on Leith Walk have been seen eating salad out of sheer desperation.
There are mass demonstrations in Edinburgh, Salmond has fled to England for his own safety. A group of extreme right wing fanatics from the Western Isles storm Holyrood and declare themselves the legitimate government, they are instantly recognised by France, Germany and Russia. The first thing they do is declare gaelic the official language and make smiling on Sundays illegal.
Britain has no choice but to send in troops to protect the English speaking people. Russia raises a resolution at the UN, Britain vetoes it.
Pure fiction, but not impossible."
Not impossible, but once you get up to speed with the complexities of the issue you will realise that the Brits would have to acknowlege the legitimacy of the new government.
You will understand if you take the trouble to read this document, http://en.wikipedia
Another reason to flee to Scotland: teacher's excoriating poem addressed to Michael Gove.
"I should note that it was you who first made the claim that the Government was illegal and was asked to provide the justification for your claim"
I did it here from your own link:
It seems to be you who is always avoiding issues.
'To HMG
Maria Miller is a thief who stole from the taxpayer. Had she been a 'benefits cheat' she'd have been fined, jailed and disgraced. To have any trust in our leaders she must be held to account and sacked.;
Thanks Technicolour for the Jess Green poem which ends something like:
"Well Mr Gove, even if I'm the only one on this picket-line, I will be the one, standing in your way."
Anybody who is a teacher, or is married to a teacher, or living with a teacher, or close to a teacher in any way, will understand exactly what she says. Gove has no idea what it's like in inner city schools, where there is a mixed bag of potential and non-potential. Well said Jess green.
Just over one more year of him and them John. What wreckage they will leave in their wake! The trouble is that it is much harder to create or recreate something than to destroy it.
I see Poison Gove and his mates as vultures, hyenas, death watch beetles, …..
PS I heard the spiv Cameron at Dawlish calling for Three Cheers for the Orange Army!
Did he think he was back in the Ukraine with Yulia?
Incidentally, members of the viewing public would have had no idea of the number of outside contractors to whom Network Rail outsourced the £35m repairs. On the BBC News there were only references to Network Rail and interviews with their management.
new avatars? how progressive is that, so ultra modern for an old thread, with the same contributors, like painting the stairwell….
did they have a choice?
Like I have no choice but to accept it. Could I not just have a erect penis as an avatar instead, you know, something upright and standing, rather than these forced page three geometrics.
What is the hidden strategy behind the widening flare-up between Russia and Britain/America?
To answer this question it might be useful to think of the durability of the secret marriage between 'al-Qaeda' or proxy terrorism and Western governments. Exposures of British intelligence collusion between surrogate fighters in Iraq, in Libya, in Syria and now Ukraine is well documented even in the Main Stream Media i.e in the public consciousness.
To sustain and enhance future policy of power and control enjoyed and networked by the secret activities of the surveillance state and hence governments, new Western and other leaders MUST be able to flip a switch and say because of the crisis, the dangers we face from new and unpredicted threats we need more authority, more power, more control.
And there is nothing the people can do at that point to oppose it.
"It will be turn-key tyranny…
Thanks Clark, think I shall abstain.
It was lazy of me using your Scottish Coup scenario to parody RD's insistence on the legality of the present Kiev junta. But it was too good to leave disappear into the mists of blog history just yet.
I'm still waiting to read the section of the Ukrainian constitution that confirms the legality of a foreign-backed violent overthrow of it's elected government and I couldn't be bothered reading through the whole Wikipedia entry just to find what everyone knows isn't there.
Is this really what a legal transition of power looks like? Feb 22nd outside the Ukrainian parliament building.
Imagine a similar scene outside the Houses of Parliament.
The deed has probably been done by now as the piece in EI below was published yesterday.
Beware Ruth Smeeth who is being considered for selection as a parliamentary candidate by Stoke North Labour party.
She has previous history as a Zionist supporter working for BICOM.
Further on her CV – http://www.borderland.co.uk/index.php/12-searchlighthopenothate/129-labour-party-selection-news.html
A thoughtful insight into the twisting of facts and machiavellian peace politics in Israel.
The comments have it. Bennett is a young rightwing fascist and he has his followers in place.
Missing Malayan Airlines plane:
The media have just reported that a Chinese search vessel has picked up a "signal" in the southern Indian Ocean.
If this signal is confirmed as coming from the missing plane's black box then that would seem to prove that all this talk about the involvement of the Yanks and Diego Garcia (relayed even here on this blog!) has been absolute BOLLOCKS.
(Unless, of course, someone will claim that the Yanks took the black box from the plane and dropped it there as a diversion. Ho hum…..please prove me wrong…:) )
"Could I not just have a erect penis as an avatar"
I hope you don't get your wish, Nevermind. I would not like to read see some vulgar and ill-intentioned poster taking advantage and calling you a prick.
"Clark, I went to the thread you suggested but found myself alone."
As alone as you find yourself on your own blog ("johngossip.blogspot")?