For all those nutters who cry “Conspiracy theory” whenever it is stated that the CIA have ever done anything wrong, here is a story from that impeccably conservative source, the Daily Telegraph:
A 50-year mystery over the ‘cursed bread’ of Pont-Saint-Esprit, which left residents suffering hallucinations, has been solved after a writer discovered the US had spiked the bread with LSD as part of an experiment.
“obnocracy”
What an amazing neologism! Even better than one I invented (I think) the other day to refer to someone who didn’t like computers: Paleolithicism. Try saying that backwards seven times. I got fed up saying ‘technophobe’.
That last message of mine was meant for the Cambereley thread. Sorry.
Larry,
Islam is not failing in the UK, quite the contrary, it has achieved focus because of the dark, dangerous and frightening ‘War on Terror’ launched by an intolerant Christian right in America and espoused by George W Bush, McCain, Huckabee and many others.
The ‘terrorist’ attack on American soil, suddenly made it acceptable to target and persecute all Muslims, including the some 6 million Muslims who live in America.
Bush we remember used religious language not political script when he said to Abbas, “”God told me to strike at al Qaida and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them.”
This statement to many Americans amounted to a dangerous divine mission to murder on a grand scale, unrepresentative of the people, rather a leadership that transcended the will of the people. It seems George Bush already knew the truth before the evidence was presented. He was guided by God.
Here we have exposed the very essence of the ‘American problem’ where a huge chasm exists beween people and state.
Bush described the “war on terror” as a war against totalitarian Islamofascism while the Israeli air force was dropping tens of thousands of pounds of iron fragmentation bombs up and down Lebanon, an air campaign that killed 1,300 Lebanese civilians.
Even today we note an abupt rebuke by AIPAC that warned that the stern US remarks to Israel were “of serious concern.”
It is quite clear to me the faith of the American people has been captured and manipulated into a triumphant crusade that Blair, Bush and others are using to blind failure and distort American thinking such that self-reflection and self-critism are a form a treason.
It reduces the world to a cartoonish vision of us and them, good and evil. It has turned America into children with bombs.
But Mark, don’t you believe that bin Laden was buzzing the WTC in a black helicopter just prior to September 11? Don’t you believe that the WTC buildings collapsed in a controlled demolition? Don’t those things make you quite a stupid person?
Mark Golding: “Bush we remember used religious language not political script when he said to Abbas ….”
He didn’t say that, you moron. Once again proving that you idiots will believe anything as long as there is one source.
Your local village idiot could tell you that the Jews have poisoned the wells and you’d believe it.
Heh Craig Murray, what’s it feel like being a de facto leader of a hate group?
Is this where you thought you would be 10 years ago?
Btw why don’t you ever talk about the Jew-haters you teamed up with for the “Axis for Peace” conference?
It’s OK, Mark, anyone who can google can learn that the source for the Bush quote was Haaretz, via Abbas. Hope you’re well.
Jackson Lears in the New York Times reported Bush as saying, “”Events aren’t moved by blind change and chance”…, but by ”the hand of a just and faithful God.” From the outset he has been convinced that his presidency was part of a divine plan, even telling a friend while he was governor of Texas, ”I believe God wants me to run for president.” This conviction that he is doing God’s will has surfaced more openly since 9/11. In his State of the Union addresses and other public forums, he presented himself as the leader of a global war against evil. As for a war in Iraq, ”we do not claim to know all the ways of Providence, yet we can trust in them.” God is at work in world affairs, he says, calling for the United States to lead a liberating crusade in the Middle East, and ”this call of history has come to the right country.”” (http://bushwatch.org/evangelist.htm — a biased site, but the quotes are accurately attributed)
Was it God who thought it right to murder, maim, orphan and disable 327,576 babies, juniors and teens in Iraq?
“It’s OK, Mark, anyone who can google can learn that the source for the Bush quote was Haaretz, via Abbas. Hope you’re well.”
Right, and anyone who can google can learn that the White House denied the President having said it, it comes from an Arabic transcript translated back into English, etc. etc.
I would also not Haaretz an unimpeachable source.
Yes, once or twice Bush used the extremely unfortunate “crusade” word – probably his most serious gaff.
A lot of people believe that events are guided by God. I don’t, but I know other people who do who I otherwise respect. I respect them slightly less for it, but I can’t deny that extremely virtuous people do believe such a silly thing.
(And I don’t think that Bush was/is virtuous).
Is that the best you can do? Really? He told a friend that he believed in God and that fact informed his career?
Fancy you remembering what I said Suhayl. I was working in Harlesden in those days and got to know some decent had working West Indians who had come over here. Their experiences of the discrimination they had encountered on finding lodgings and jobs were terrible.
Something else I said is confirmed except I would say that the quoted number is low.
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2067528_county_is_uks_pothole_capital_report_claims
btw has LfStL ever heard the expression – Take a running jump?
You say many memorable and poignant things, Mary.
I know the 4X4s churn-up the roads.
Nonetheless, in humourous mode, especially perhaps on this thread, of course one is reminded of:
“10,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall…”
(er hem) point of order: 4000 holes.
Larry
One of the most disturbing changes I have witnessed in my lifetime is the emergence of a group of women who say that they ‘in control’ of their lives, because they can accept /reject 1/ partners, 2/ pregnancy, 3/ even truth itself, as they please.
George Bush seems to have bought into this seriously delusional arrogance, that having the power to destroy is equivalent to having the power of God. Abraham’s reply in the Qur’an to one such dictator, was that His Lord was the one who rises the sun in the east and sets it in the west.
George Bush used the language of faith in God, but practised the delusional arrogance of denial of any accountability to Him. Bush and Blair are fully aware that if they were left on their own, unprotected, anywhere from the UK to Afghanistan, the public of these countries would tear them apart, limb from limb.
Well, suit-button from suit-button anyway, or in Bush’s case shoe from shoe. Like surfing on a tide of human self-control.
“One of the most disturbing changes I have witnessed in my lifetime is the emergence of a group of women who say that they ‘in control’ of their lives, because they can accept /reject 1/ partners, 2/ pregnancy, 3/ even truth itself, as they please.”
OK, so you don’t believe in gender equality. How primitive.
Even truth itself? Have you had a problem with the ladies talking back to you?
“Abraham’s reply in the Qur’an to one such dictator, was that His Lord was the one who rises the sun in the east and sets it in the west.”
Nope, anno, didn’t happen.
And if someone at this blog started spewing crazy Christian crap, I’m sure commenters at this blog would jump on that person. Especially if the Christian stated that women were not equal with men.
But you’re Muslim, so these pathetic weaklings let you get away with it.
And by the way Anno, the rest of your religion is total shit. Completely made up by frauds and believed by incurious primitive baboons.
I’d say the same about Christians, but I never run into them preaching to me.
We’re the Flintstones! Dooby dooby dooby do. Don’t make me laugh too much Dooby do.
Hi Larry; regarding the portrayal of US and other forces in Hollywood, there have been many films which ignore the presence of Commonwealth and other allied forces in campaigns, or denigrate their contributions. Even documentaries such as the ubiquitous Nugus Martin productions make a point of saying that “a handful of US pilots” fought in the Battle of Britain while completely ignoring the Commonwealth contribution to the Pacific campaign, apart from a mention of Australian coast watchers. In North Africa they refer to the “British” 8th Army advancing from the east to meet the Americans from the west, as if Torch were solely a US Operation. Then their are travesties such as “U571” and “Objective Burma”. Spielberg did use British actors in “Band of Brothers”, which I take to be a deliberate reflection of the combined effort. The mentions of the British in the series were all derogatory however. It’s not that we aren’t grateful for the sacrifices made by so many young Americans. Unfortunately, people get identified with the policies of their governments, even though they may strongly oppose them. Living abroad I got tired of people referring to “your Margaret Thatcher”, but I didn’t take it personally.
Sorry, it was indeed 4,000 holes. Unfortunately, our Council leader was (allegedly) on coke, and so the number became un-rationalised.
Band of Brothers – Wow. That was a story of a particular company of men. That was the point. Knowing that, can you seriously criticize that series for not including the British contribution? And apart from the British tank operator in the Market Garden scene, I don’t know why you think there were so many derogatory references to the Brits. And, gee, what if that scene actually happened?
I hadn’t heard of Objective, Burma! before, but, reading the Wikipedia entry, it appears to be a 1945 film that’s been forgotten.
I agree that U-571 was silly. For a number of reasons, but really because it should have mentioned all the wonderful work of the Poles.
Larry – I haven’t disputed that the focus of “Band of Brothers” was on the 101st Airborne or saying that it should have had more references to other allied forces, only that what references it contained were derogatory. “Objective Burma” may have been forgotten now, deservedly so, but Hollywood continues to churn out films in the same vein, and I could cite many more examples. When people derive their view of the world from TV and films, this is a problem. Many in the US think the Desert Rats were the bunch featured in the TV series. As for U571, certainly great credit is due to “the Poles”, if by that you mean, Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Rozycki, but while understanding the structure of the various Enigma, (and later the Lorenz machines), was important, calculating the settings for each day was the major problem, and the British deserve most of the credit for that.
“and I could cite many more examples.”
OK, then do so. It should be easy if they’re churning them out.
I’ll help you out.
Ben Affleck in Pearl Harbor. At the beginning of the story, his character was an American pilot (one of the few) fighting in the Battle of Britain. His British colleague said something silly about the Americans being so brave or something like that.
As to Band of Brothers, I’ve seen the series about 4 or 5 times. I can only remember that one reference to the particular British tank commander. And perhaps that actually did happen. So that’s it.
That’s the second time you’ve mentioned the derogatory scenes. What other scene are you speaking of?
I really think it’s the case that there was that one scene with the naive British tank commander (who was actually concerned with civilian casualties, SO WHY THE FUCK WAS THAT SO DEROGATORY?), and that you’ve convinced yourself that the series was full of derogatory scenes as to Brits.
And, shit, in Band of Brothers, was there any talk about Montgomery going a bridge too far? If they were being so derogatory, wouldn’t that have come up in conversation?
“As for U571, certainly great credit is due to “the Poles”, if by that you mean, Marian Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski and Jerzy Rozycki,”
Looks like someone’s been using Wikipedia!
As to the Desert Rats – do you mean this? – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rat_Patrol
?
I’ve never heard of it.
So who are the “many in the U.S.” whose beliefs you feel so confident in knowing?
We await to see whether the shroud of secrecy in trials by Military Commission revived by George W Bush after a fifty year hiatus will be rejected by the Obama administration. The Bush decision to hold such trials after 9/11 was condemned by the world and showed the free country of America was irresolute when it comes to their core values.
I suspect the current administration thinks a public trial will spotlight controversial interrogation strategies such as waterboarding that were used on the self-proclaimed terrorist mastermind and even precipitate the conviction of Bybee and Yoo.
Will America tread on civil liberties again to protect the deeds of criminal Bush or will another death blow be dealt to the Justice Department? Eyes of the world are now on America to witness the flip-flop when America retreats to the Bush military commissions and in doing so loses all credibility with those that care about justice and the rule of law.
Doing a deal on shutting down the detainee prison in Guantanamo Bay is just “leaving the job undone!”
Watch-out Dubya, lying low ain’t no good when fingers start pointing. I know school-kids who want you tried for murder you bastard.
Mark Golding, are you once again passing off the writings of another as your own?
URGENT ACTION: Protest against Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, 22nd March, 5pm, London
Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem behind the announcement of 1,600 new settlement units in East Jerusalem, will be visiting London early next week.
A total of 50,000 housing units have been planned in the coming years – doubling the settler population – and reducing the Palestinian population to a third.
He will be speaking at Chatham House (10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE). Come along and protest against the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from East Jerusalem.
Thank you, Eli Yishai, for exposing the peace process masquerade
By Gideon Levy
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1155646.html
Yet again our resident troll manages to make more posts than any other single poster in a thread, besides being the only person to raise the subject of Jews, the Protocols etc. etc. .
AngryLarry actually has united everyone in contempt and irritation for him/them, which was probably not the original mission. Suggestion AL: Go back to Faux News and learn how the professional scaremongers/ doubt-sowers/ misinformation providers get people all worked up. Maybe you could put on some show emotional outburst like the wannabe Beck / O’Reily shadows that you are. But you’ve still got a problem, because the regulars here are not your usual audience of drooling true-believers, which is why you are so utterly unsuccessful.