My post on the shootings in France has brought tens of thousands of people to this site – but not to read my dull contribution. People are coming to read the comments from other readers.
Today’s development of the bomb squad descending on the al-Hilli house does not in itself worry me enormously. You may recall the massive terror scare that was ramped up when some Muslim students in Manchester were found to own a bag of sugar.
In fact we have the opposite phenomenon today, with the spook-fed “security correspondents” on TV lining up to tell us it is probably just everyday household stuff. This deviation from the standard Islamophobic “Muslims = bombs” narrative is so startling it makes me wonder why the “move along, nothing to see here” line is being taken so quickly.
My own security services sources insist that al-Hilli was not a person of current interest to the UK intelligence agencies and was not involved in anything clandestine. I have no reason to disbelieve them. On the other hand, the limited and confusing information in the media is almost entirely from official sources. I find it very strange indeed how little attention has been paid to the murdered French cyclist, and how easily it is presumed he was just a passerby. Surely it is as likely he was the intended victim and the al-Hillis the accidental witnesses?
Please do read the comments on my first entry on the subject to see the debate unfettered by the censorship in the mainstream media. This is perhaps my favourite comment:
From Janesmith101
All comments regarding Sylvain, Al-Hilli and a possible nuclear link are being removed from sites I’ve posted on in The Guardian, Independent and Huffpo UK.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/sep/09/alps-killer-motive-baffles-police
Here was my comment, I added as a point of fact it was completely speculative and an unproven theory in a later comment, also removed.
Sylvain Mollier, the ‘passing’ cyclist, was in fact a nuclear metallurgist who worked for a french nuclear company called Cezus (a subsidiary of Areva). Cezus fabricates and processes zirconium into metal and nuclear grade zircoaloy for nuclear fuel assemblies – it also has other applications in aerospace such as components and ceramics for missiles and satellites. Mr Al-Hilli was also a skilled aerospace engineer, on what looks to be his first camping holiday.
What is the probability that two highly skilled engineers managed be at the same remote place, at the same time, yet still managed to end up dead as a result of what looks to be a military style assasination?
As someone else pointed out in The Independent comments, the deceased were found by a ‘retired’ RAF officer who, we assume, will recieve perpetual anonymity as a witness. If the police are looking for a motive, try an intercepted rendevous by a security service fixated on denying a hostile power illicit nuclear technology.
http://wrmea.org/component/content/article/162-1995-june/7823-israel-bombs-iraqs-osirak-nuclear-research-facility.html
The Huffington Post UK reports that this wasn’t the family’s first trip to the camp site. An earlier report had asked other camp site visitors whether they had seen the family before and they had replied they hadn’t. If this isn’t wasn’t the first visit by Al-Hilli, it might slightly increase the odds that he knew or had met Mollier before, this being the last in a series of rendevous of a transactional nature. Mollier lived and worked locally.
Again, I’m not sure of the truth of these reports, there is some very sloppy journalism, as there is always seems to be. I’ve read for example Mollier’s company Cevus descirbed as a steel firm something which it is patently not, but perhaps it may have been a detail lost in translation.
An interesting comment summing up some of the strange coincidences, at least, surrounding these murders. My other favourite comment calls me a “macchiavellian shill”.
I have only one thought of my own I want to add at the minute. Al-Hilli was a Shia muslim and had been on pilgrimage to Qoms in Iran. What if it is indeed true that he was in possession of no especial nuclear or defence secrets to pass on to the Iranians, but the Israelis thought that he was? The Israeli programme of assassination of scientists involved in Iran’s nuclear programme is a definite fact. It makes as much sense as anything else at the moment, as a possibility.
I am not saying that is what happened. But the directions in which the mainstream media is being so strenuously pointed by official sources, like the massacre of an entire family over an inheritance, are certainly no more inherently probable. Certainly as we are now told all the shots were from one gun, for the assassin to get each victim in the head with none of them being able to escape, indicates real proficiency with the weapon and a very high level of training.
I see there’s a snippet this morning AH selling his house.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9557078/France-shooting-British-victim-was-selling-second-home.html
Morning, and Katie you just beat me to it.
I see the Telgraph hints at more than one gun being used.
Dopey, yes results out next month October.
I’ve been thinking about these properties which is seems AH didn’t use,has anyone thought of money laundering. I must say to buy that house [?] in the Gironde seems an odd choice,low key too.
Was it difficult for the father to get capital out of Iraq ?
New News?……………………no!
What got me about BM’s house and I think its a safe house, would you have known Silver Fern existed before this case? and then when we found the site it suddenly goes down for maintenance!!! just strange!
@Suhayl
Agreed, absolutely.
@Felix
Thanks for the link, and the map ref. How far does that place him from the lonesome track?
this link says BM had only owned the house for two years.
… which ties in perfectly with the accounting records.
🙂
One other thing about the house, the DIY could be perfect cover why it’s not yet been available to let (if that is indeed the case). He could just reply by email “sorry, we’re renovating, we’ll get back to you when it’s available” or something like that”.
On LinkedIn, interestingly, Silver Fern (Sussex) Ltd’s profile says that BM’s role is “Human Factors and Leaership [sic] course design and training” which doesn’t tie in with anything in their stated company activities (but this may have changed again this year though). His wife is down as “Cabin Crew” which is consistent. No mention of holiday homes or futures & options trading, nor flight simulations training, which is odd because these three are their stated company activities on their accounts.
@Bajer
I share your frustration at how much time it takes to follow this thread. Mind you, I think it’s unfair to park the blame solely at Anders’s feet, Katie has been doing much of the running during the day shift!
Re “playing chess with a pigeon”, the thing is that it’s really not chess here, at least not a straight game of it. The best argument doesn’t always “win” – and it’s like that in the media too.
Did you read the stuff Anders posted about the techniques of disinfo? And if so, do you not think at least some of them have been used at times by some posters? For me, it was an eye-opening revelation and I’ve enjoyed seeing through some people (and getting it wrong sometimes!) His posts are one of the main reasons I come here.
Take Peter’s post last night for example. He has (apparently) claimed to be a ballistics journalist, and was implying the Al-Hilli murders might have had some link to a series of anti-muslim murders in Germany carried out with a silenced 7.65mm. But he failed to mention that there was a second gun involved in those murders, whose calibre was 6.35mm, which doesn’t fit our case at all. And that those murders were single targets at a time. And that in our case there is no proof of a silencer.
Surely he must have known that there was a 6.35mm involved too, given that he’s supposedly a German ballistics journalist? If not, he is a rubbish ballistics journalist (or not one at all) or his post is disingenous in not mentioning it, nor the other discrepancies in the Modus Operandi.
And Peter comes across as such an honest, well-spoken, well-reasoned gentleman, doesn’t he?
See what I mean about not being a game of chess?!
@Felix the 20 Intelligence officers must have flown in a Heli as the Paris consulate is 5 hours away!!!
What got me about BM’s house and I think its a safe house, would you have known Silver Fern existed before this case? and then when we found the site it suddenly goes down for maintenance!!! just strange!
Aint it just!
😀
Ricki that makes sense, they’d fly to Chambery airport or there’s a military base close by too.
@ ricki
I’m not surprised Brett’s site was pulled. It would have received tens of thousands of hits as soon as his name was released, enough to potentially put a strain on the host’s server.
@ katie
Yes, buying property is a way of getting rid of dubious cash. Back in the early 90’s though I bet that ruin was bought for peanuts, a few grand. Rural property in France went for song and even in the last ten years I’ve seen remote cottages in good states of repair up for £10k-£20k.
@ ricki
21 Sep, 2012 – 8:40 am
Or flown to Lyons airport? I don’t think Chevaline is more than an hour’s drive from there.
As a kid we drove through the alps from Lyons airport to Geneva airport. I don’t recall it taking more than an hour and a half or so, two hours tops.
@Dopey
I’m not surprised Brett’s site was pulled. It would have received tens of thousands of hits as soon as his name was released, enough to potentially put a strain on the host’s server.
I must say it’s funny how you always seem to have an innocuous explanation for everything, isn’t it… without doing any research whatsoever…
a) His web host is 1&1 (www.1and1.co.uk). They are one of, if not THE largest webhost in Europe, and could easily cope with even millions of hits on his site.
b) The “unvailable” message is not from the web host, it’s from Joomla, the web hosting system, it’s something either BM or his web designer has done.
… and since when do web hosts “pull” your website when it gets too many hits? That’s the whole idea of websites, you know – to get as many hits as possible!
🙂
“Pull” the other one…
Maybe the Brit spooks flew via Geneva airport? If so, they could’ve waved to the Israeli General on the tarmac as he was flying out!
😀
I agree Dopey, BM probably didn’t want the world & his wife turning up on the doorstep.
Especially if there is a holiday let. They would have bought the weeks/ holiday on the quiet location . Could demand their money back !!!
Morning all.
Bajer, I’m off work for two months following an operation so I can keep up with the thread for you 😉
The racist angle irked me for personal reasons last night so apologies if I was short with anyone who didn’t deserve it. We must, however, apply logic and not only does a purely racist motive not make any logical sense, it fits in well with the methods of message-board disinfo’s. Peter in particular has appeared desperate to keep the official line believable, which aroused my suspicions. He writes like he’s trying convince. Like the Ugly Sisters trying to squeeze into Cinderella’s glass shoe! No offence Peter, I’m sure you have lovely feet, but the shoe’s too small!
Does anyone have any idea how close a PI could get to the “witnesses” (campers, women who saw the 4×4, lucky hiker with two sexy ladies)? Journalists have obviously been warned off (injunction/D notice etc) but would a PI have these restrictions? Would the intelligence services get to them? I read yesterday that the local, French journalist has stopped tweeting/reporting. Any idea why?
Anyway, a new day…I’m beginning to see Ferret’s point about extraction as being likely now. I’d always assumed they were being removed for some reason (possibly for safety following the leaking of info/material) but they didn’t have to be there at all. Not hidden in plain sight, so to speak. There’s actually no evidence they were in the car at all, is there? The could have gone straight from the campsite to the helipad and whisked away.
@Katie
Liar liar pants on fire
And a racist to boot
[:'(]
@ ferret
I must say it’s funny how you always seem to have an innocuous explanation for everything, isn’t it… without doing any research whatsoever…
……………..
What? Got out of bed on the wrong side this morning ferret? PMT? Or just no one else to have a go at yet today?
I stand by what I said. I was speaking generally, and I didn’t need to do any research. I know the basics, having worked in the tech industry for more than 20 years.
Brett’s site would have got more visits in a day than an average business site gets in a month. Aside from the fact he’d possibly be liable for excess data charges, he’d no doubt have had the account temp suspended or been contacted about it. Such high and unusual activity would have flagged up as a possible network attack.
And if I had a website that was about to be hit, I’d get some advertising on there and make the most of it…make hay while the sun shines.
The idea that it would be taken down because it had too many hits is laughable. Hence Dopey is now on the list. Sorry old boy.
Stop shouting like a playground bully Ferret. Grow up & stick to the blog topic.
@Blue Bear
Anyway, a new day…I’m beginning to see Ferret’s point about extraction as being likely now. I’d always assumed they were being removed for some reason (possibly for safety following the leaking of info/material) but they didn’t have to be there at all. Not hidden in plain sight, so to speak. There’s actually no evidence they were in the car at all, is there? The could have gone straight from the campsite to the helipad and whisked away.
Good point, they could have, couldn’t they… someone saw their car being driven up the track at 3pm didn’t they? But I doubt if they noticed the occupants… it could all have been staged… or just a fairytale…
And no one has claimed to have seen them (or their car) between when they left the campsite at when, 12 noon was it, and 3pm?
Good reply Dopey, that also explains why you have consistently found & posted good links.
@Katie
I’m no bully, but I’ve been called worse by better!
😀
Apologise for your racist posts last night and for lying to us all – or get out.
People need to know with whom they are talking.
Scroll up if you don’t believe me, people.
Katie, it was a rubbish reply:
“Brett’s site would have got more visits in a day than an average business site gets in a month.”
Unprovable but fits in well with the official line. As I said, hits are good. They’d be more keen to keep it open to see who visits it!
“Aside from the fact he’d possibly be liable for excess data charges, he’d no doubt have had the account temp suspended or been contacted about it.”
Unprovable but fits in well with the official line. “fact” and “possibly” in the same sentence is always a tell.
“Such high and unusual activity would have flagged up as a possible network attack.”
He’s assumed too much here. Who said it was high and unusual? If I were investigating a crime I’d leave certain traps open to attract flies. Wouldn’t you…?
Brett’s site would have got more visits in a day than an average business site gets in a month. Aside from the fact he’d possibly be liable for excess data charges, he’d no doubt have had the account temp suspended or been contacted about it. Such high and unusual activity would have flagged up as a possible network attack.
You are wrong on all counts. If you are really in the tech industry I feel sorry for your clients!
😀
If you are right, can you
a) Show us the kind of 1&1 account which has any limit on data, as you claim, or your so-called “excess data charges”?
b) I have already dealt with your bogus claim about 1&1’s servers not being able to handle it, they are the biggest in Europe and have massive data centres all of their own.
c) I’ve already dealt with your claim that his account is suspended, it’s not, it’s a Joomla message meaning that BM or his web designer has set it “off” for now
d) What kind of network attack would it look like, exactly, if a site suddenly gets a normal pattern of hits from a bunch of people across the web, amounting to a month’s traffic in a day? DDOS? I don’t believe it but even if so, and the site was pulled, we’d get a 404 or “unavailable” message. Right now the site IS available and IS taking hits – but Joomla is returning a “down for maintenaince” message.
Your technical “expertise” is laugable.
* laughable
I thought Katie was just a daft racist but I’m less certain now. What do you do for a living Katie?
@Ferret 21 Sep, 2012 – 9:15 am
‘People need to know with whom they are talking.’
That’s just the exact point, isn’t it? In the absence of real name registation, on the internet this is impossible.
Blue Bear he is in fact a she & see my reply RE: Holiday lets.
Also, if the house is in fact empty too many knowing that makes it vulnerable to thieves.
Blue Bear I work for Mi6, all your suspicions are right..I’ve blown my cover, you are such a clever clever bear.
I don’t however wear a dear stalker or smoke a pipe !!!