The Free Gaza movement has just announced that they are sending their ship, the Rachel Corrie, to a port to have a check up in view of apparent Israeli sabotage of some other freedom flotilla ships even ahead of the murderous attacks.
So we are going to make sure the Rachel Corrie is well protected and that Israel is put on notice that anything that happens to her, the passengers and the crew will rest with Israel. As a result of these threats, we’re going to pull Rachel Corrie into a port, add more high-profile people on board, and insist that journalists from around the world also come with us.
I do hope that by well protected they mean physically. Boarding a moving ship from boat or helicopter is not easy, and can be made almost impossible with imaginative deployment of purely defensive measures like razor wire around the rails and razor wire interspersed with sharp metal spikes on open decks.
Interestingly the Free Gaza website is still referring to the Mavi Marmar as Turkish fflagged.
Already it is well known that the Rachel Corrie is on its way to Gaza, so any action against is is preplanned and not a hasty self defence action, should it come to this.
The UN/EU should offer a Naval escort to the aid convoy, make sure it arrives safely.
The shills coming on here trying to divert the thrust of this blog have no legs to stand on.
Whatever utube shows is irrelevant, u-tube is not the Loyds register and it is staffed by irish nationals, but if israel wants to get jiggy with Ireland and Cambodia, that would be another new enemy in the book.
Thanks for reading my brain wrtiterman, apt description as always, I was more thinking of a young puppy Israel, soiling his basket, because nobody wants to take him out into the world, the poor thing is helpless totally dependent on its own, shackled to the basket by its handler.
Now, growing up, the basket still stinks and it has become so pervasive, the soiled doggy is fed up and about to loose his wits, biting and raging against anybody who wants to come near it, its violence becomes as normal as the odour.
Who will save the dog? will it realise that there is more to the world than its own basket and biting people?
Northern Ireland assembly to discuss the attack on the flotilla, and the prospects for MV Rachel Corrie, today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/10234485.stm
@Media Whore – giggle – are you writing a Private Eye piece for yourself? 😉
Loony from St Louis
On the relevant Topic, Why Don’t you tell us about the murder of US servicemen on the USS liberty?
peaswisher
DUP to block Gaza debate at Stormont.
eli,
The offer to unload cargo at Ashdod is worthless as Israel refuses to allow all the cargo into Gaza.
Hamas won the elections in the Palestinian Territories. It was Fatah who tried to overthrow Hamas using henchman Mohammad Dahlan. (ref: David Rose, Vanity Fair).
Gaza IS short of food, just ask the UN. Toys are banned as luxuries as is chocolate, tinned fruit, fresh meat. Chickens are also not allowed into Gaza.
There may be smuggled food in shops, but the vast proportion of citizens can’t afford it.
“Loony from St Louis
On the relevant Topic, Why Don’t you tell us about the murder of US servicemen on the USS liberty?”
This has been answered.
Are you next going to ask about Bigfoot or 911 controlled demolition?
@Manfarang
That’ll work wonders for the N. Ireland peace process – not!
I really, really, hope this won’t be the case, but… wouldn’t it be ironic for Tony Blair if Israel (and his support for it) becomes the reason for the N.Ireland peace process to lose momentum.
Re: current location of MV Rachel Corrie.
As has been mentioned previously, no Automatic Identification System (AIS) data has been received from the MV Rachel Corrie since she left her moorings at Malta 5 days ago.
The reason for this has not been clear.
The AIS is primarily a collision avoidance system and is mandatory for ships over 300 GT.
However, I have just discovered in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) guidelines for AIS operation (Resolution A.917 (22) that:
“AIS should always be in operation when ships are underway or at anchor. If the master
believes that the continual operation of AIS might compromise the safety or security of his/her
ship, the AIS may be switched off. This might be the case in sea areas where pirates and armed
robbers are known to operate. Actions of this nature should always be recorded in the ship’s
logbook together with the reason for doing so. The master should however restart the AIS as
soon as the source of danger has disappeared. If the AIS is shut down, static data and voyage
related information remains stored.”
http://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/SMD/ism/pdf/09_IMO/A.917(22).pdf
Incidentally, I happened to noticed that the AIS for the Rainbow Warrior was also switched off 24 hours ago when she left her moorings also at Malta.
Ah, the reason for the Rainbow Warrior switching off her AIS is here:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/Medterranean-bluefin-action040610/
Interesting update about Irish diplomatic moves on Friday:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/passengers-of-rachel-corrie-reject-israel-ireland-deal-1.294173
Larry said: “Are you next going to ask about Bigfoot or 911 controlled demolition?”
Larry didn’t have sex with big foot!!!
Larry is still a Virgin, Because
Big foot said he isn’t intrested unless Larry losses and gets a Job!
And 911 was my fault, sorry, I ate too many beans when I visted WTC.
Sorry.
“I ate too many beans”
Stick to the fish, mate.
Writerman – another fast growing population group are orthodox Jews, so in a couple generations a much bigger Arab Israeli minority will be faced down by a Jewish group even more right wing than today’s government. These are the same people standing outside one of Christendoms holiest churches every week hurling abuse at worshippers and spitting at them. Incidentally, the population group shrinking fastest today are Christian Israelis who have been leaving the country in great numbers for the last decade or so – not because of security concerns due to the Palestinians but, apparently, because of discrimination by the government.