Those coming from Central Asia, Bahrain, Qatar or Saudi Arabia to the Olympics, interested to see what life in a democracy feels like, will find it seems exactly like life at home in their dictatorship. 17,000 soldiers will be glowering over the venues, checking identity documents, stopping and searching. The mlitary will occupy residential buildings, be buzzing overhead, rolling down the streets and patrolling the river. There will be missiles on land, sea and air, though nobody knows what the threat is that this is supposed to counter.
What will make our dictatorship resident visitors feel especially at home is the contempt for the ordinary citizen. Not only will they have the military all over them and be subject to frequent stopping and questioning, they will be expected continually to get out of the way of their betters. Special VIP lanes on the road will allow officials to sweep by, while normal citizens will simply have to sit in gridlock and stew. Who cares? The military will stick missiles on your roof if they wish. What they are going to shoot down, and which bit of London it will land on, is not to be questioned.
Here in Ramsgate we are losing our regular train service to London completely for the duration. All the HS1 trains are being commandeered to run a shuttle service between Ebbsfleet and Stratford. 22 trains a day from Ramsgate are simply cancelled. Slow trains are available, but a journey normally 70 minutes will become – at the fastest possible – 2 hours and 35 minutes. A large number of commuters will simply be unable to get to work anything like on time, and have to spend door to door over seven hours a day in travelling as well as their working day. Nobody was consulted. Quite a few don’t yet know – there has been no determined effort to tell people. Leaflets are available in the ticket office if you ask for one.
But the leaflets might as well just say, “You are fucked, and we don’t care”.
The extra 3,500 military personnel it was today announced will be used at the games cover a shortfall in Group Four personnel. Group Four were providing 4,000 paid staff and 6,000 unpaid volunteers. It is the unpaid volunteer numbers which are short by 3,500.
Most people are not stupid. They may volunteer happily for sport or for charity, but to work for nothing to make tens of millions of pounds of profit for Group Four as it exploits them, plainly does not have universal appeal. Those 2,500 who have volunteered to work for nothing for G4S are the idiots in this story. How gullible can you be?
Bob Russell, MP for Colchester, today in parliament made the excellent point to Teresa May that Group Four (or G4S as they now call themselves) should not be employed because of their role in aiding and abetting Israel’s illegal activities in the West Bank and human rights abuse there. With breathtaking chutzpah Teresa May replied that it was this kind of valuable international experience that made Group Four the right company to provide security for the games.
Which brings me back to my point at the start. Those visiting from oppressive regimes will feel absolutely at home. That is the one and only thing you can trust Teresa May to ensure with grim efficiency.
“why is blair back?”
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Good Q, Wendy. I have yet to see a good explanation.
Nuid
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Will you argue with the (fact) that it (Munich) was truly horrible event?
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It is not just about as you call them (chosen ones) it is about inhumane acts against humans whether chosen or not.
Uzbek in the UK,
Give over ma8 don’t even go there.
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there is the two million Iraqis dead, nearly a million Afghans dead, the Burmese have declared open season on their Muslims population and are committing genocide, all happened/happening this minute and in the recent past and you are harping on about the umpteen years ago?
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Go ahead m8 keep two hours of silence and give over, there you happy now?
Passerby, there is no point directing insults and foul language those you believe to be shills. It just makes whoever does so look bad from the point of view of readers that don’t know enough background or haven’t made their minds up yet.
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In fact, some obvious trolls use such reactions to their advantage. They post a comment in contradiction to things that are demonstrably true but mis-reported in the corporate media, to deliberately provoke such outbursts. They know that some of those who support the truth will end up looking like unreasonable, foul-mouthed hot-heads, and the mainstream lie will be reinforced as a by-product.
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Yes, I considered deleting Guest’s response, too, but I try to keep deletions to a minimum. I really try not to delete on the basis of the direction of argument (though I’m only human and I’m bound to have my own prejudices). But you started throwing insults, so your comment got the snip. Sorry.
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The same rule applies even if Tony Blair turns up here (though if it gets serious, anyone claiming something like that will asked by me to prove their identity). You can accuse him of being a war criminal, because that’s a matter that can be argued objectively, but calling him names or swearing at him will result in deletion.
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Do you see? We want to put such people on public trial, and that means evidence and sound argument. Insults etc. demonstrate (or at least look like) prejudice, and that undermines our position, thus strengthening theirs.
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Guest, none of the above implies that I agree with Passerby’s opinions of you. I hope you’ll keep to civility and facts, too.
Wendy
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Everyone of us (humans) have talent some even talents. Blair has a (or even the) talent (possibly the most important one) of smelling the money.
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One the other hand his appearance is another confirmation that Labours had not changed since his departure.
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As some suggested here, western politics turning (or even turned already) into corporatism, where it does not matter what colour tie one is wearing, what matter is how far one can go in order to progress professionally.
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Mr Murray for instance did not get far, because his principles prohibited him. Otherwise, for one with no principles and ambitions only there are enormous opportunities for professional progress and enrichment.
“Two-thirds of us now realise their game doesn’t work…”
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Handy flyer – feel free to print and distribute
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http://www.coia.org.uk/pdf/Flyer2.pdf
Last time we held the Olympics: 1948…
January 7 – A British officer was killed by Jewish militants near Hebron.[74]
February 29 – As part of the Cairo-Haifa train bombings, Lehi fighters mined a train that included coaches used by British troops north of Rehovot, killing 28 British soldiers and wounding 35.[75]
March 1 – Irgun bombed the Bevingrad Officers Club in Jerusalem, killing 20 Britons and wounding 30.[76]
April 6 – Irgun fighters led by Ya’akov Meridor raided the British Army camp at Pardes Hanna, killing seven British soldiers.[77]
April 20 – Jewish snipers attacked British soldiers and policemen throughout Haifa, wounding two policemen and a soldier.
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Should be worth a couple of minutes’ silence at least.
“Will you argue with the (fact) that it (Munich) was truly horrible event?”
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No. And I wasn’t talking about it. I was talking about the minute of silence.
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“The hypocrisy of ‘kill list’ Obama and the ‘evil, senseless violence’ of the Aurora mass murder”
http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php/usa-war-on-terror/1707-the-hypocrisy-of-kill-list-obama-and-the-evil-senseless-aurora-mass-murder
In truth the UK has had the same government in power since 1979, different faces, same mind.
“It is not just about as you call them (chosen ones) it is about inhumane acts against humans whether chosen or not.”
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It’s not what *I* call them, Uzbek, it’s what they call themselves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews_as_a_chosen_people
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And if you want to talk about inhumane acts – which was not the point of what I said – shall we list all of the inhumane acts since 1972??
Here, hear! Komodo
thanks for that reminder komodo, add to that list the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, this year is its 30th. anniversary, and we have enough political dynamite and public reason for a solemn five minutes.
Remember them all, that should be agreeable to Haaretz readers and the regime, should it not?
Passerby
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I would happily support if you or anyone else (or possibly all of us here) demand 5-10, 30 minutes or more silence for all killed in conflicts since and even before US/UK intervention to Iraq. I wish all these rich Arabs financing expensive constructions in London and elsewhere in Europe, or investing in western financial institutions could lobby for support of such minutes of silence, at least in support of when Muslims have been killed by acts of terror, either state or other kind. But refusing to accept one act of terror while arguing in support of another is called hypocrisy.
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Not going to as far as Burma (where government is not Muslim or where Muslim are not majority) there are number of countries where Muslims are being killed/oppressed by governments despite governments themselves acting on behalf of Islam, or where members of government have Muslim names, and where Muslims are majority. Not at least in my native Uzbekistan. However, as I remember you never seem to be concerned with this. Your only concern is when Muslims are being killed or oppressed by non-Muslims. Why is that?
“Guest, none of the above implies that I agree with Passerby’s opinions of you.”
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Clark (as moderator)
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Why should you ?. I have put nothing in my above posts that would lead to such a conclusion!. Passerby does have a problem of reading into others that post on here things that are not there!, all too quick to attack, as you already know!!!.
“But refusing to accept one act of terror while arguing in support of another is called hypocrisy.”
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Who is arguing in support of another?
Your only concern is when Muslims are being killed or oppressed by non-Muslims. Why is that?
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These days overtly being racist towards blacks is frowned upon. further, any overt color prejudice is frowned upon, woe-betide anyone mentioning gays in a derisory or anti gay fashion, these are right up there with the self anointed chosen ones whom will complain of the calumny of the offender and the racist agenda of the offender.
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Alas Muslims and Gypsies seem to have drawn the short straw and in any given day they are subjected to the bile and hatred poured in the media, conversation and debate. This hatred dished out to Muslims is systematically accepted and tolerated. In fact in your own statement, you will gladly do this and they other, but then you go on about the rich Sheikh’s spending habits. WTF do these parasitic sock puppets set in place by the various overlords as their charge hands have to do with any Muslims interests, and why do you mention these parasites in the same breath as your coming out in sympathy for all the dead in the world?
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It is sickening to see such a a matter of course racism that goes so far as not even getting noticed it as racist or sectarian.
Nuid
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“And if you want to talk about inhumane acts – which was not the point of what I said – shall we list all of the inhumane acts since 1972??”
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Yes, we well may (since and even before) for the benefit of readers, and then if it gets re-logged for the benefit of many other people who do not read this particular blog. Komodo listed some already, but with somewhat limited scope (concerning only British victims).
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And by listing inhumane acts lets not forget that inhumanity of these acts is with regards to all humans, chosen and non-chosen alike.
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Few of my additions from the top of my head.
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Russian-Soviet Civil War. 1917-1919.
Golodomor . Soviet republic 1917-1928.
Kollektivisation. Soviet Republic 1928-1939.
Gulag. Soviet Republic 1932-1954.
Removal of Chechens. Soviet Republic 1940-1941.
Removal of Jews. Soviet Republic 1936.
Removal of Soviet Germans. Soviet Republic 1939-1941.
Holocaust.
Great Patriotic War. USSR-Germany and other well known gang 1941-1945.
Partition of India.
Independence of Bangladesh.
Budapest uprising.
Prague spring.
Vietnam War.
Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia.
Ethnic clashes in Malaysia.
Government terror in Indonesia.
Iran-Iraq war.
Soviet Afghan war.
Ethnic violence in Fergana valley against Turks.
Ethnic violence in Osh against Uzbeks.
Civil war in Tajikistan.
Civil war in Azerbaijan,
Civil war in Georgia.
Civil war in Yugoslavia.
Russian War in Chechnya 1.
Russian War in Chechnya 2.
Nato Afghan war.
US/UK intervention to Iraq.
Andijan Massacre.
And MANY MORE.
The Right Kind Of Terror
By David Cromwell and David Edwards
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When is an act of terrorism not terrorism? When the victims are officially sanctioned state enemies. This was clear from the political and media response to the assassinations of senior ministers of the Syrian ‘regime’.
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On 18 July, a bomb attack on the national security headquarters in Damascus killed three top Syrian ministers: Defence Minister Daoud Rajiha, President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat and General Hassan Turkomani. Two days later, Syria’s national security chief, Hisham Ikhtiari, died from injuries he received in the attack.
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/..
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1343029867.top
Nuid
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“Who is arguing in support of another?”
My English might not be as good as yours, but what I actually meant that while on this blog, it is often argued (and most of the time quite reasonable) of US/UK/Israel and others conspiracy against Muslims, it is hypocrisy not to accept terror against non-Muslims including Jews.
Passerby, so basically are you saying that you’re reacting?
well said Passerby.
Not sure about law and all other smart stuff but…
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When act of terror is committed against those who directly complicit in terror, this for me is mitigated terror.
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As I said earlier there are more than 27 million of my compatriots who would happily see few dozens of people blown up by either act of kindness from God, or from some good Samaritans.
Komodo’s link above:
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/23/israel-eu
Jerusalem? Tel-Aviv, surely?
Passerby
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Now ask yourself what millions of Israelies, Britons or Americans have to do with the wrongdoing of their governments, which most of the time abuses rights of their own population?
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Why when one talks about rich Arabs investing billions in the west instead of helping out their poorer Muslim brothers, one is “talking about Sheikhs spending habits”?
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Why then when one tries to distinguish between crimes committed by certain individuals and whole nations that these individuals supposedly represent, one again is talking rubbish?
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I was arguing for the possible support that some rich Arabs could contribute to the common Muslim cause. But then again, you blame them (those Muslims with money and power) not to be Muslims at all, and having nothing to do with Muslim interests.
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I thought that Islam unlike Christianity was not a religion where wealth is prohibited.
Passerby is right to point out that Islamophobia, anti-Arab and anti-Traveller prejudice are currently “acceptable” and tend to go unnoticed. However, it is still counter-productive to react against them.
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The 1972 massacre serves to illustrate. The Palestinians who took Israeli athletes hostage in 1972 were no doubt reacting to injustice. However, forty years later, their actions lead to the phrase “Palestinian terrorists” appearing repeatedly in the media, and gives Israel a great propaganda opportunity.
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When emotions run high it is so hard not to react, but it’s
reaction => reaction => reaction
that keeps the process going. You can’t put out a fire by throwing fuel on it from either side.
Murdoch
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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/world/europe/murdoch-probe-extends-to-cellphone-theft.html
“what I actually meant that while on this blog, it is often argued (and most of the time quite reasonable) of US/UK/Israel and others conspiracy against Muslims, it is hypocrisy not to accept terror against non-Muslims including Jews.”
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Uzbek, there’s little or nothing wrong with your English. I still have to ask you, where on this blog has anyone not “accepted terror against non-Muslims including Jews”. Where has anyone endorsed terrorism against non-Muslims?
“Passerby is right to point out that Islamophobia, anti-Arab and anti-Traveller prejudice are currently “acceptable” and tend to go unnoticed.”
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So is the demonisation of disabled people by the right wing mainstream media (which is nearly all of the mainstream media) here in the UK.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/04/ian-birrell-prejudice-against-disabled
Would somebody please eat Sebastian Coe?
Glad you wrote “And MANY MORE” Uzbek, as I didn’t see Cast Lead in your list.