You may have to trust me on this, but the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is a terrific organisation that does remarkably good work, considering that it works for member states as diverse, and governments as severally ill-intentioned, as the United States, Russia, Uzbekistan and the UK.
When I was looking to leave the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, I applied for a senior post at ODIHR and travelled to Warsaw for an interview. I believe my application was torpedoed by the FCO, who considered me far too committed to democracy and human rights to be allowed to work on the subject in a formal international body. There is a de facto – amd perhaps even an acknowledged – veto by member states on employment of their individual nationals in international institutions.
Yet somehow despite national governments ODIHR has managed to do its job credibly, and by and large OSCE election monitoring in particular has been very valuable, even where the result of the monitoring is not what some or even most member states on the OSCE Council want. All of Uzbekistan’s elections have been judged not free and fair, for example, with election monitoring missions generally not even being deployed on the grounds of assessment by ODIHR that the preconditions for free and fair elections simply do not exist.
Unfortunately ODIHR has no means to prevent member states from simply ignoring its reports, which they do, and the Heads of State whose election OSCE pronounced fraudulent immediately turn up as members of the OSCE council. But the rports themselves and the work behind them are good.
One important criterion for a free and fair election is that there should be a real choice offered to voters between genuine political alternatives. You find this expressed several times in the ODIHR guidance for election observers:
Genuine elections presupposes that the electoral process will be conducted in an accountable
and transparent manner and will provide a real and informed choice for voters,
A genuine election is a political competition that takes place in an
environment characterized by confidence, transparency, and accountability and that provides
voters with an informed choice between distinct political alternatives.
In Uzbekistan, for example, everyone has the chance to go and vote and there are several alternative candidates to choose between, but they all support President Karimov and his policies. In fact, this provision on distinct political alternatives and genuine choice has been repeatedly used by ODIHR and OSCE against elections throughout the former Soviet Union.
So what do we make of the EU – all of whose members are members of the OSCE – insisting that the leaders of all Greek political parties must sign up to an agreement to supprot the dreadful cuts in public spending, in imminent elections? With severe financial menaces, they are demanding that the Greek people be denied any real choice in the upcoming election. The EU members are thus in the most brazen breach of their OSCE commitments and obligations. It is appalling hypocrisy.
I am not sure in practice what mechanisms exist in Greece to keep independent candidates off the ballot or deny them access to the media. But the institutional advantages enjoyed by the main parties are massive throughout Europe, and having all the main parties campaigning on the same economic policy – due to direct foreign political pressure – cannot be a free and fair election.
I hope that the example of Greece will further open people’s eyes to what has happened in the UK, where the massive and growing gap between rich and poor is enmeshed with complete corporate control of what are now three neo-con main parties, whose policy distinctions are absolutely tiny. They all support bank bailouts, quantitative easing, public spending cuts and aggressive neo-con wars. The differences of degree are extremely marginal.
I published an article on this in The Guardian before our last general election – the rather foolish headline was not mine. But I am quite proud of that article, and believe there is increased understanding and support for the view it expresses.
The drone.
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Feb 16 (Reuters) – France and Britain will unveil plans on Friday for a joint project to develop a next-generation unmanned stealth aircraft, or drone, following a cooperation accord signed in 2010, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
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President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister David Cameron, who are set to meet on Friday at a bilateral summit in Paris, will announce a non-binding letter of intent, with the project to be headed by France’s Dassault Aviation and British defence contractor BAE Systems.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/france-britain-drone-idUSL5E8DG2L820120216
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PS Cameron looks sweaty. They are congratulating themselves on their Libyan adventures.
Sarko must have put something in Cameron’s cafe au lait. Cameron is now bright red. Or perhaps he is going through the menopause
This was not referred to in the press conference.
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Cameron and Sarkozy agree to speed up joint military HQ
Nicolas Sarkozy greets David Cameron before their talks in Paris
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Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
UK and France sign nuclear deal
UK ‘proud’ of Libyan revolution
UK nuclear subsidies ‘unlawful’
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The UK and France have agreed to speed up creation of a joint control and command centre for military operations.
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Prime Minister David Cameron said the deal was “a real breakthrough” which would boost both nations’ capability.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17075043
Good form Mary – I needed a laugh.
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UA or Unmanned Aircraft
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If the aircraft weighs less than 20 Kg then it requires no insurance, no airworthiness, no collision avoidance and I can fly one over your garden and video you bathing in the nude. I can also fly over your allotment and check whether your pumpkin is bigger than mine!
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http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP722.pdf
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These are the only rules I must follow:
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Small unmanned surveillance aircraft
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167.—(1) The person in charge of a small unmanned surveillance aircraft must not fly the aircraft in any of the circumstances described in paragraph (2) except in accordance with a permission issued by the CAA.
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(2) The circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) are—
(a) over or within 150 metres of any congested area;
(b) over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons;
(c) within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft; or
(d) subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), within 50 metres of any person.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4), during take-off or landing, a small unmanned surveillance aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person.
(4) Paragraphs (2)(d) and (3) do not apply to the person in charge of the small unmanned surveillance aircraft or a person under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft.
(5) In this article ‘a small unmanned surveillance aircraft’ means a small unmanned aircraft which is equipped to undertake any form of surveillance or data acquisition.
Large military plane (Hercules?) flew at tree height across the cornfields just south of Stirling today – nosed up, just scraped over the top of our factory (looked as if it was coming into the canteen for a moment, nearly dropped my roll and sausage) then somehow managed to bank and miss the Wallace Monument. Cameron Plan B for keeping Scotland in the Union?
“Cameron Plan B for keeping Scotland in the Union?”
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Very possibly. Might even be Plan A. Better make sure you’re well stocked up with military gear and ammo before you start talking about evicting those nuclear subs. It’s a jungle out there.
A friend spotted this on the Israeli Embassy website.
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About Us
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Welcome to the Embassy of Israel in London, the home of the State of Israel’s official mission to the United Kingdom, over which it has jurisdiction.
http://www.embassyofisrael.co.uk/about-us/
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How true. How very very true.
Read this moving letter to the EU’s Catherine Ashton about her response to the plight of Khader Adnan who, on the 62nd day of his hunger strike, is reported to be near death.
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/david/few-weasel-words-eu-adnan-nears-death?utm_source=EI+readers&utm_campaign=b48201792f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email
I’m greatly attracted by Vronsky’s highly economical suggestion (at 7.09 am on 16 Feb)of being legislated for by one’s peers, chosen by lot. Rather similar to how we enforce the rule of law in serious cases by turning to twelve good people and true. Maybe thew idea should be tried out on an experimental basis in a small country – what about Scotland? A much more sensible social/ political experiment than the poll tax.
Interviewed by the Daily Telegraph, William Hague said if Iran developed nuclear weapons then “other nations across the Middle East will want to”.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17082433
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And what if Iran were to build a Death Star in Earth’s orbit? These are the two most important, hypothetical, non-reality based issues the world faces.
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US defence secretary Leon Panetta stated categorically two days ago that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program but that they could ‘deiced’ to have one at anytime. Just like they could decide to build that Death Star. Pesky Iranians and their evil schemes to destroy the world.
Hague is bizarre. First he talks up the threat and elaborates. Then he comes out with ‘”All options must remain on the table” but a military attack would have “enormous downsides”, he said. “We are not favouring the idea of anybody attacking Iran at the moment.”
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Hague fears Iran could start ‘new Cold War’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17082433
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What is going on and what game is he playing? We really are in Wonderland territory.
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I heard on the World Service that he has given new life to the Foreign Office!
The Daily Mail is leading with the more sobering, mature and relevant “Hitler lovechild” story. I hear they’ve also got the dirt on Kaiser Wilhelm II. I cant wait.
We are not favouring the idea of anybody attacking Iran at the moment.
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Allow me to interpret those words into plain English.
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“we are actively attacking Iran directly through our terrorist proxies and indirectly through illegal sanctions.”
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“Most of the hardware for a sustained campaign has now been deployed and US troops are on standby in Kuwait, Jordan and Israel.”
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“We’re just waiting for the Iranians to respond to one of our countless provocations.”
Sensationally, evidence that Hitler had a British lovechild emerged five years ago when a magazine journalist [unnamed] was contacted by a woman [unnamed] who said that her aunt [unnamed], a nurse, had [sic] may have delivered it.
Sensational!
Downwiththissortofthing:The Daily Mail is leading with the more sobering, mature and relevant “Hitler lovechild” story…
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What?!?!?!? And that was such a good paper back in the good old days!
@Iain Orr: 18 Feb, 2012 – 3:40 am (on sortition)
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I started off proposing this as a joke a few years ago, but the more I think about it the harder it is to find anything wrong with it. It would certainly get rid of Oborne’s ‘political class’ who I’d guess would be the people most likely to oppose the idea. This argues for its merit. Yes, post Scottish independence I’ll need a new project – that could be it.
Hitler’s Love Child Was my Neighbor
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I know this for a fact, because he always liked going to Brazil, and had these blue eyes and brown hair, and was a cheeky little twat. Low in stature and high in opinion, and BTW he was a BNP stalwart too. After his Friday and Saturday Night-outs, when his pals dropped him off he used to nazi salute them off. His choice of career as a car mechanic somehow did not reflect his genius though.
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If DM want the truth, for a three figure sum or a couple pints I am ready to spill the beans. However, this truth may affect those who have had their cars repaired by Hitler’s bastard son. These can be benefiting by auctioning their cars in the various auctions, although they ought to get a certificate of authenticity of repair from me, at the cost of a three figure sum or a couple of pints whichever they can afford.
I am still finding it hard to believe that so many nations are willing to go to war because of a threat that doesn’t exist and might never exist. And yet, no one is alarmed by the fact that Israel is armed to the teeth with Nuclear Weapons.
Iran hasn’t attacked anybody in hundreds of years in anger and Israel on the other hand has always attacked first.
Iran treats their Jewish population with respect and Israel continues their anti semitic policies against their Bedouin populations and have reduced the Palestinians to living on pockets of land in their own country.Ethnic cleansing + apartheid is alive and kicking. Yet Iran is the bogeyman. They have nuclear ambitions according to our Werrity man Hague.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/18/iran-nuclear-ambitions-middle-east?newsfeed=true
The press in Britain is totally controlled. Noticed that Vodaphone too controls which sites are allowed.They call it parental control,but some of the blocked sites are of no danger whatsoever to children unless enlightenment is not for the under 18’s.
How did we get there so soon ??
Censorship on every corner.
Political repression or justice, which is it?
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HOME Secretary Theresa May is to fly to Jordan to cut a deal to throw terror suspect Abu Qatada back behind bars within weeks.
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This guy has never been tried or convicted for so much as a section five offense, yet May’s anger seem to be sufficient grounds for continuance of his persecution.
She has just been to Herzliya where she would have received her latest instructions.
Into the abyss: Israel and the West prepare the public for the next war
http://www.infernalmachine.co.uk/?p=1332
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Matt Carr’s blog
The Guardian piece linked in that blog was being discussed on Sky News last night in the papers review and heard them say ‘an elegant strike by Israel on Iran might be forthcoming’! What evil and what abuse of the English language.
Mary (at 6.46 am on H ague’s shilly-shallying): No, you’re not in Wonderland but in standard Diplospeaking territory; one which has, however, strong semantic similarities with the language of Humpty Dumpty. A vivid historic example of Diplospeak is currently being brilliantly analysed at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith in Adrian Jackson’s “A Few Man Fridays”. That concerns such words as “no permanent inhabitants”, “British”, “rule of law”, “migrant workers” etc. You can see more about this on the Cardboard Citizens website, including my reviews of both the production and the script, at http://tinyurl.com/84yvfpx .
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This territory was extensively mapped in 1984 by the explorer George Orwell, partly based on his familiarity with that corner of the Raj then known as Burma.
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Diplospeak is the art of speaking out of both corners of one’s mouth – and other orifices – simultaneously to different audiences. It is a skill which is traditionally supposed to be a “British value” (aka “Albion perfide”) and is why British diplomats used to be good at drafting UN Security Council resolutions. As recent events in Iraq, Libya and Iran have shown, this skill is increasingly being replaced by the rather different one – closer to Humpty Dumpty – of reinterpreting resolutions so that they mean something quite different from what was understood (and said) at the time.
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In the UK, Diplospeak is widely spoken in government circles. Particularly clear examples of its semantic and grammatical features can be found in written answers to Parliamentary Questions; in legislation; and in replies to Freedom of Information requests.
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BioDiplomacy is ready to offer discounted courses in Diplospeak to all participants in this blog. William Hague is, of course, one of our star pupils.
Billy fourteen pints is getting ahead of himself with his Churchill impersonation. A none Nuclear Iran still can deliver a hard kick despite all the propaganda in the world. This we all know: if Iran was a weak country that could not defend herself, by now she was invaded umpteen times.
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Fact is Billy is regurgitating the same crap that was being pushed by the Bu$hites about North Koreans. In fact the same wanker who coined the axis of evil and made his wife ever so proud to keep going on about it in any social gathering, namely a David Frum (pudgy tossers always have an attitude problem) who was advocating for Japan to repeal its anti nuclear weapons laws, and start manufacturing nukes pronto.
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Concurrently all the neoconmen were warning the world that there will be a nuclear arms race and South Korea and Japan will get nukes too. The domino “theory” has been forever a good enough reason for war, it was in Vietnam, Cambodia, Africa, and it seems now it is in the mid east. Saudi can buy their nukes from the US if they already have not done so, as for the Israelis they were actively helped by the US/UK to get their nukes and test these too.
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However Billy fourteen pints reliant on the UK education system believes that not many people know this sort of thing, hence his bullshit about the domino theory or arms race and cold war. Fact that for the last sixty years Isreal has been raining shit on the mid east somehow does not count as cold war in Billy’s book.
Very interesting blog by Matt Carr, Mary – good find – this preparation, this conditioning was the content of my earlier post where I struggled to expose the propaganda behind the recent reincarnation of Falklands war ghosts to oil British nationalism and the ‘rush to war’ syndrome inevitably followed by ‘speak-your-weight machine’ Ministry of Defence spokesman Ian McDonald.
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RAF and Royal Navy activity – I have family connections in both – make me believe Britain is leading the drive to war on Iran.
U.S. drones reportedly monitoring Syria; China wants Syrian sovereignty respected
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/02/18/195343.html
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“A good number” of unmanned U.S. military drones are operating in the skies over Syria, monitoring the President Basir al-Assad’s military’s crackdown against the opposition, U.S. defense officials tell NBC News …
50% of American public are in favour of bombing Iran, (according to Dr Craig Roberts article in Foreign Policy Journal)
majority of American believe invading Iraq was a mistake (majority believed it is a jolly good idea before the invasion)
Almost all American believe Vietnam war was a disaster (Majority believed it is a jolly….
Fooled me once shame on you, fooled me twice shame on me, fooled me three times.. well I must be an idiot
On that note, 50% of Americans must be idiot!
Agreed Azra well said –
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Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. The first dynasty in Iran formed during the Elamite kingdom in 2800 BC.
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Iran is a regional power and holds an important position in international energy security and world economy as a result of its large reserves of petroleum and natural gas.
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British children are interested in Natanz; a project exists to document the many shrines such as the Tomb of Abd al_Samad, built in 1304 and a horticultural project exists to study the well known locally produced pears. An engineering class is proposed to study the Natanz Nuclear Facility, located some 30 km NNW from the town (33°43′N 51°43′E) near a major highway and represents spectacular ingenuity in the precursors to energy production from nuclear fuels.
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I am sending an information pack to every school in Britain…
US hypocrisy in admitting Mossad/MKO behind assassinations in Iran
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US officials have for the first time acknowledged that the terrorist organisation, Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), in collaboration with Israel’s Mossad have been behind the killings of Iranian scientists.
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The most recent assassination was that of Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, who was killed on January 11, 2012 when two riders on a motorbike drove by his car and placed onto it a magnetic bomb that resulted in a deadly explosion. Other attacks include the assassination of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, killed by a bomb outside his Tehran home in January 2010, and an explosion in November 2010 that took the life of Majid Shahriari and wounded Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, who is now the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. A fourth scientist, Daryush Rezaei-Nejad, was killed outside his home by shots fired from a motorcycle on July 23, 2011.
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On Thursday of last week, two senior US officials confirmed to NBC News that the MKO has been collaborating with Israel’s Mossad in carrying out the assassination of Iranian professors and researchers. This development is very significant for the US has not only admitted that the MKO is involved in terrorist activities in Iran, but also acknowledged their collaboration with Israel’s Mossad.
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Full story from NBC News
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http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/08/10354553-israel-teams-with-terror-group-to-kill-irans-nuclear-scientists-us-officials-tell-nbc-news
Mark this is a comment on that piece on Matt Carr’s blog from medialens.
You UNDERestimate civilian deaths by OVER 3 MILLION – many in Pakistan and India and Afghanistan.
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Posted by CJ on February 18, 2012, 6:15 pm, in reply to “Into the abyss: Israel and the West prepare the public for the next war”
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I clearly support the thrust of your blog but note the Oxford paper was 6 years ago and this paper was 7 years ago : {http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/nuclear_weapons/technical_issues/the-robust-nuclear-earth.html}
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“A simulation of RNEP used against the Esfahan nuclear facility in Iran, using the software developed for the Pentagon, showed that 3 million people would be killed by radiation within 2 weeks of the explosion, and 35 million people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India would be exposed to increased levels of cancer-causing radiation
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And note that these papers were written before the information on Chernobyl came out showing deaths exceeded a million and the recent Sherman publication on Fukushima deaths in USA already.
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The best explanation IMO of the disaster waiting for ALL OF US is described here :
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8839.
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Not only do people need to wake up they also need to understand that what Hague and his US and Israeli friends are “leaving on the table” is nothing less than a suicidal Holocaust that will blanket the hemisphere in radioactive particles. These will kill and maim humanity for hundreds of years – that means US as well as THEM!
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Cheers for the post.