The French government has suspended training for Afghan forces after four of their troops were killed by an Afghan soldier under training. Extraordinarily, that makes eight NATO troops killed by their trainees in 2012 already. It is the most extreme example of the complete failure of the occupation to achieve any of its ostensible aims. It is not even achieving any of its hidden aims, other than the channelling of huge amounts of our money to the arms industry.
But do not worry: NATO have come up with a brilliant and effective policy response to this problem. They are suppressing statistics on NATO personnel killed or wounded by Afghan army and police personnel. So that’s alright, then.
1) PROTEST NEXT SATURDAY 28 JAN, 2PM – HANDS OFF IRAN & SYRIA
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The first major protest against an attack on Iran and Syria is scheduled for next Saturday, January 28, outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London. The prospect of a new war in the Middle East is growing. As well as tightening sanctions, covert operations, assassinations and cyber attacks on Iran there is clear evidence of hostile US troop movements in to the region. The right in the US is pushing hard for intervention and these kind of provocations could spark war at any time. Meanwhile calls for intervention in Syria are getting louder and, as Jonathan Steele reported in the Guardian this week, there is a NATO backed military build up on Syria’s borders too.
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We need to start mobilising the anti-war majority now to swing the argument away from war. We are asking our supporters to do everything possible to publicise this protest and organise other protests and meetings locally.
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For more information or to help organise in youyr area please phone the office on 0207 801 2768.
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2) FRANCE SUSPENDS OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN
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On Friday four French soldiers were shot dead by a member of the Afghan army. Contrary to claims that the situation in Afghanistan is stabilising, the incident highlights the growing violence in the country.
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Like similar incidents where Afghan soldiers have turned ther guns on their trainers, this one also highlights the deep flaws in the US-NATO strategy of training up the Afghan army in the hope of leaving behind a pliant and effective client regime.
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France has effectively suspended operations in Afghanistan in response, and sent a probe to consider whether accelerating withdrawal of troops. This is good news amid a grim situation. Cessation of military operations and withdrawal of foreign troops is the only way to stem the bloodshed. We have to continue building pressure for withdrawal and hope the French actions will send a message to the US and UK governments.
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http://stopwar.org.uk/
Will this guy be charged with advocating terrorism and locked up? or hit with a drone attack? (I think not):
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Uproar after Jewish American newspaper publisher suggests Israel assassinate Barack Obama
Op-ed in Atlanta Jewish Times says the slaying of the president may be an effective way to thwart Iran’s nuclear program.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/uproar-after-jewish-american-newspaper-publisher-suggests-israel-assassinate-barack-obama-1.408429
Who cares about Press TV? They forced an imprisoned journalist against his will to be interviewed which broke very useful rules. When they didn’t pay their fine and continued to act like asses they got their license revoked.
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Good.
By the way, who is Larry Levin and why is everyone being so nasty to him?
I was wondering the same about Larry Levin.
“Who cares about Press TV?”
Certainly not the ziofuckwits, as the rantings and ravings prove.
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However in internet we trust and I have been watching and I am sure others will soon be getting their dishes and watch it too. As this egregious attack on freedom of expression could be to the advantage of the shitty little strip of land the following sums up the extent of the victory;
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On the NBC show Rock Center the other night, Ted Koppel asked Newt Gingrich why Sheldon Adelson is funding his campaign Super PAC
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Koppel: There has to be a so-what at the end of it. So– if you win what does Adelson get out of it?
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Gingrich. He knows I’m very pro Israel. That’s the central value of his life. I mean, he’s very worried that Israel is going to not survive.
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PS when ITV was broadcasting the fake reports of the concentration camps in Serbia, or zioBBC refers to “vandals” and not settlers, Ofcom is benevolent and all forgiving.
BTW the clever move by PressTV in not paying up the fines has really pissed off the “plotters” hasn’t it? (as seen on display)
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The notions were, first take their (Iranians) money, and then come up with the crass rolling about the “constitution” and remit bollocks; editorial control is from Tehran.
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Yeah how very true, the editorial control ought to have been in Tel Aviv like the rest of the pusillanimous wankers masquerading as the Media.
Iran reciprocates ‘backing off’?
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Iran: American warships in Persian Gulf “routine”
An Iranian military official announced on Saturday that the presence of the American warships in the Persian Gulf is no more than routine. “US warships and military forces have been in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East region for many years and their decision in relation to the dispatch of a new warship is not a new issue and it should be interpreted as part of their permanent presence,” Hossein Salami, Deputy Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, was quoted by Al Arabiya television as saying. The announcement has been interpreted as backing away from Iran’s earlier warnings to the US not to enter the area.
http://rt.com/news/line/2012-01-21/#id25301
Who cares about Press TV?
WE care.
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You can watch Press TV broadcast from anywhere in the world by visiting the following websites:
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Press TV watch live services (Worldwide)
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Zattoo (Internet platform and IPTV. Supports PC, MAC, Linux and all tablet PCs and smartphones) (UK)
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OHTV Box (Internet Set-top box) (Worldwide)
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Roku Box (Internet Set-top box) (Worldwide) (Available in UK from January 2012)
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Livestation (Internet platform. Supports PC MAC, Linux and all tablet PCs and smartphones)
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You could also view our broadcast through the following satellites:
Hot Bird 8 (13E)
12437
27500
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Eurobird 1 (28.5E)
11222
27500
2/3
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SES ASTRA (19/2E)
12460.50
27500
3/4
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http://www.presstv.com/detail/222136.html
BREAKING NEWS:Islamist parties win overwhelming majority in Egyptian parliamentary elections, final results confirm
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Note ZBC’s use of word ‘Islamist’.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9683000/9683030.stm
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an item on the publicy funded British state broadcaster this morning, no bias here we’re British !
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actually being thrown off the sky platform is no big deal, it saves Press TV the fee it has to pay Sky (News International) for the privilige, the signal is still there, just takes a bit of work to find it. Phone up Sky and ask them how to put it on the Other Channels menu of the decoder.
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Will Russia Today be next? It’s hardly pro-USA now is it?
Mary: You can watch Press TV broadcast from anywhere in the world by visiting the following websites.
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No big loss in it losing its broadcasting license in the UK then.
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I don’t know why they didn’t simply accept the fine (a well deserved one, by the way) and then they’d be able to keep on transmitting Lord Haw Haw sermons.
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I don’t approve of much of the demonization of Iran, but in this case I have no sympathy. Serves them right.
@Angrysoba, firstly this was not the matter of fine, the licence was revoked and TV press knew that this was going to happen, therefore did not pay the fine either. Secondly if you read Mark Golding posts, you will see that other TV channels many times were out of line so to speak, they were just given a reprimand and not a fine. If I were TV press, I would not pay the fine , to pay the fine it is to accept the double standards of OFCOM.
Despite Netanyahu denial, campaign to smear Haaretz as “enemy” of Israel already underway
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Submitted by Ali Abunimah on Thu, 01/19/2012 – 20:12
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to deny comments attributed to him that The New York Times and Haaretz are Israel’s greatest enemies. But despite his denials, there are signs that right-wing Zionist groups, funded by large donations from the United States, are preparing to launch a major campaign to smear Jewish Israeli journalists who are perceived as being too critical or disloyal as feeding “anti-Semitism.”
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/despite-netanyahu-denial-campaign-smear-haaretz-enemy-israel-already-underway
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are we now going to see the demise of Haaretz?
Azra: If I were TV press, I would not pay the fine , to pay the fine it is to accept the double standards of OFCOM.
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Which other stations beat up a journalist and made him “confess” on their news programme?
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It doesn’t matter that OFCOM doesn’t dish out the same fines for every single infraction. What matters is what Press TV did and also their non-compliance when it came to paying a well-earned fine.
Nuid: are we now going to see the demise of Haaretz?
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I doubt it and I also hope not. Ha’aretz is a great source of news.
When an Official Enemy doesn’t allow our broadcasts, that’s a Bad Thing. When we don’t allow theirs, that’s just as it should be. It’s good to be clear and consistent on such matters.
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Well, yes, Iran does jam BBC broadcasts and in these parts, “that’s just as it should be”. On the other hand, Press TV is not being banned primarily for its propaganda but because it was party to an interview co-erced by torture. Now, in my book, “that’s a Bad Thing.” You may disagree and think the exotic behaviour of Press TV is all part of life’s rich pageant that only fuddy-duddy squares protest against but I think that stripping them of their license to broadcast is more than apt given that they could have got away with a simple fine but chose to play the martyr. Looks like they have no shortage of dupes who will fall for their act, of course.
Angrysoba, I think it will enlighten you if you read the first book Miss Ridley wrote before she converted to Islam! How the government agencies pushed her to say lies about the time she was kidnapped,and the treatment she received from Taliban, and how the agencies did not like it when she refused (and their reactions and subsequent actions).
I have no doubt lot of atrocities goes on in Iran, but did they torture journalists to say something then released him to go and claim he has been tortured and what he confessed was under duress?
Israeli Lobby launch new Super PAC effort to bring down Ron Paul
by Patrick Henningsen
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http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28776
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PAC-Political Action Committee
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For decades, lobbies and special interests have ruled Capitol Hill, with PACs effectively steering the outcome of every major political campaign by injecting money and buying influence. Now we find out that Texas Congressman and GOP candidate Ron Paul has been targeted by a new breed of PAC, this time with foreign backing.
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In recent years, activists and advocates have won back some ground in terms of placing limits and disclosure on campaign donations from individuals, businesses and have attempted to rein in some of the financial influence of political action committees (PACs). Just when one dragon was slayed, another, more menacing one was born. Enter the world of the Super PAC.
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As 501c organizations, these new Super PACs take advantage of recent election funding rulings which allow corporations, unions and wealthy individuals to operate totally independently – and spend as much as they wish on election campaign media packages. Super PACs can also hold fundraisers to solicit money from donors – with no limits. The rise of the Super PAC has meant a complete runaround of any campaign ethics, or campaign finance regulation.
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According to a recent article in the Washington Post (linked) this week, David Donnelly, National Campaigns Director for the Public Campaign Action Fund revealed, “There are probably fewer than 100 people who are fueling 90 percent of this outside money right now.” The report also adds:
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In total, these new and unrestrained political action committees spent more than $15 million supporting GOP candidates in Iowa and New Hampshire and are now outspending the official campaigns in South Carolina by 2 to 1, according to advertising and expenditure data.
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Out of this small handful of mega-rich donors, the Israeli lobby is represented heavily. The Washington Post adds here:
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And casino magnate Sheldon Adelson recently dashed off a $5 million check to a group backing former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), marking what may be the largest single political contribution in U.S. history. Adelson is well known for supporting hard-line policies favoring Israel while also advocating measures that would benefit the gambling industry.
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Very well said here.
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Military Wives Choir’s Smokescreen of Success
by Matthew Vickery / January 19th, 2012
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It is almost the new taboo in the United Kingdom. To question ‘our troops fighting for our country’, and anything, anyone or any institution attached to ‘our troops’. By doing so, you open yourself up to being branded disrespectful at best, traitor at worst.
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The Military Wives Choir, with their primetime BBC 2 programme, ended up outselling the rest of the top 10 combined on Sunday to win the coveted UK Christmas No. 1 spot. The nation celebrated the success of the women in the choir, women whose partners serve in the British Army in countries such as Afghanistan. However maybe this ‘groupthink’, this unconditional support for anything attached to ‘our troops’, is not in the benefit of those who fight for ‘our country’; the Military Wives Choir is a case in point.
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http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/01/military-wives-choirs-smokescreen-of-success/
Azra: I have no doubt lot of atrocities goes on in Iran, but did they torture journalists to say something then released him to go and claim he has been tortured and what he confessed was under duress?
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Are you saying Maziar Bahari is lying?
If US politicians were seriously concerned for Israels survival,then they would perhaps curb the billions that are given them to buy,produce and use weapons bullying their neighbours.It’s business and it also suits US interests in that region.
Israel has now painted itself into a corner by being successful with their ethnic cleansing of Palestine.They will have to become a single united state for Arabs as well.Either that or continue down the fascist nazi path that they have been treading for years and become the type of people that exterminated themselves.Talk about disappearing up your own asshole. They use plenty of banned weapons and substances on the Palestinian population but they are still there!Will the peace prize winners begin building ovens to complete the job ?
If Israel or the US attacks Iran, then Israel will be the big loser in all ways while Iran will walk away with a bloody nose, shocked and awed by the US arsenal.
Difficult to play the victim when you have 300 nukes that you will ultimately die using.None of their neighbours have anything like the weapons that Israel have. Their problem is that they cant use them because no-one is attacking them.Hezbollah in Lebanon showed them what they have to fight against and the result didnt make the IDF very happy.
“but did they torture journalists to say something then released him to go and claim he has been tortured and what he confessed was under duress?”
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Azra, I saw him interviewed on Sky – or a part of an interview he gave was shown on Sky, when they reported the revocation of PressTV’s license. That’s exactly what I was wondering (what you said above). He said he was given the choice of doing the interview or death. He then said his captors were “feeding the questions to PressTV” and it was he who complained PressTV to OFCOM after he was released and came to the UK. I must say I find all that rather hard to follow … it’s an outcome that could have been predicted.
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Has PressTV given any answer to his allegations? I haven’t seen that anywhere.
What I am saying is it is possible! As I said if you read Ms Ridley book, and how they tried to push her into lying about Taliban and the treatment she had, I would not put it pass them to push Maziar Bahari to lie as well. but irrespective of that , OFCOM informed Press TV
months ago that they were going to be taken off the SKY platform, I believe they were informed of this so that Press TV would not pay and OFCOM will have an added excuse to revoke their licence. (Give us the money but we are going to take you off the air just the same!).
Yes Iran is Jamming BBC now, in retaliation, but during the past 5 years whenever I have been in Iran, I have watched BBC, CNN, FOX and every other channel. What is good for goose is good for Sauce , don’t you think??
@Nuid,
Yes, exactly my sentiments. At one time I would have believed what I watched/read, but not any more! I see what a scumbags we are dealing with in UK media and I hardly believe anything coming from them or their sources. I mean look at Syria and the way it is reported in UK .Lot of exaggeration and lies. Not that there is no demonstration but it is limited to one or two cities and much smaller number of people that ZBC reports!
Azar: What I am saying is it is possible! As I said if you read Ms Ridley book, and how they tried to push her into lying about Taliban and the treatment she had, I would not put it pass them to push Maziar Bahari to lie as well
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I don’t know who “they” are so it is difficult to know what you are alledging. I read Maziar Bahari’s article that appeared in Newsweek a few years ago and followed this story on and off for a while. I think he is genuine. You may not. If he’s genuine then your goose and gander cliches don’t apply here.
Larry Levin: I don’t know what you wrote to make Craig tell you to crawl away, but you need to be a little thick-skinned in this place. But I must admit that I dropped out of sight myself once a year or two ago, when one discussion got heated enough to disturb my peace of mind when writing a postgraduate dissertation. I realised that my work had the priority, and so stayed away from here till I had handed it in. Then I gradually returned (and the dissertation eventually passed, I’m glad to say).
I suggest that you remain calm and rational at all times, so that, even should the Great C himself tell you crawl away, you will be able to counter calmly and rationally.
But perhaps you deserved the rebuke. In that case I suggest that you sincerely repent.
There ends my good deed for the day. Of course, should anyone tell me to crawl wherever, I will be happy to disobey them.
Abe Rene: But I must admit that I dropped out of sight myself once a year or two ago, when one discussion got heated enough to disturb my peace of mind when writing a postgraduate dissertation.
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If I was responsible I apologize.
Angrysoba, they that I refer to, are the agencies in UK (MI5, MI6), and goose and gander I am referring to is the fact that Iran has started recently to block BBC (or Jam their signals), they only started recently in response to the Press TV shenanigan . I was in Iran in late August and I could watch BBC via satellite , but I have been told by my relatives in Iran that they cannot watch BBC any longer.
Angrysoba: that’s all right. I probably started it by making an unsympathetic statement about people who get mixed up in left-wing revolutions, but let’s not go there. Nelson Mandela after 27 years of imprisonment could say ‘let the past be the past’, which makes him a spiritual giant in my book, who deserved his Order of Merit. I’m happy to follow his example here.