Here in Ghana people are stunned by the announcement that a bond of £3,000 will have to be submitted by visa applicants to the UK, redeemable on return.
It is unpleasant for a nation to be singled out as comprised of particularly untrustworthy individuals against whom special measures are needed. Theresa May appears quite deliberately to be singling out countries whose citizens are normally black or brown – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Nigeria. They are all citizens with extremely close ties to the UK. For example, all of those countries supplied large numbers of men to British armed forces in two World Wars; with little resulting gratitude.
The true level of Britain’s regard for the Commonwealth is disclosed in all its arrogance; citizenship of the Commonwealth countries with the longest link to the UK will become a positive disadvantage in visa application. Israeli settlers living in Occupied Palestine on the West Bank, incidentally, will still be allowed to enter the UK without any visa at all, despite membership of neither Commonwealth nor EU. Paradoxical, isn’t it?
The measure shows the arrogant British disdain for these countries – of which India pre-eminently but also Ghana are fast growing and important trading partners. Undoubtedly Ghana will retaliate with measures which hurt British businesses; many of my good friends are senior Ghanaian politicians, and they are all furious. The rhetoric the British employ about transformation from colonial status to a modern partnership of equals is exposed for the tissue of lies it has always been. This is a straightforward racist measure, aimed at securing the racist vote to the Tories.
Not does it make any sense. If you are intending to enter the UK under false pretences, and have the intent illegally to settle and start a new life there, then £3,000 is scarcely a deterrent given the substantial economic gains you intend to make over the long period you intend to stay. It will rather seem a good investment; people will find the money. The people it will deter are those who never intended to overstay. The extra cash upfront, to the businessman for a business trip, for the student coming to study, for the tourist will drive them to go elsewhere, to the UK’s net loss.
More cruelly it will deter decent middle class people from coming to see grandchildren in the holidays, from going to the niece’s wedding, from going to graduation. Those things will become the prerogative of the wealthy, those with plenty of cash to spare.
This does nothing to deter illegal immigration. It merely demonstrates populist racism, demonstrates contempt for some of the UK’s best-disposed friends, and demonstrates that the government thinks the right to travel is only for the rich. It is contemptible.
Jives –Former 2nd highest US General James Cartwright under investigation over the Stuxnet leaks.
Just shooting the messenger, I think.
This may be of interest:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5968088
Congress seems to have no concerns whatever about the legality of Stuxnet, or its obviously provocative intention. What bothers them is that the US was found out.
More on Marc Rich, aka Marcus Reich, who has died. OldMark put up a Torygraph link earlier.
Weekend Edition June 28-30, 2013
Fixers Indicated That Hillary Was a Key Player in the Marc Rich Pardon Deal
The Clintons and the Rich Women
by JEFFREY ST. CLAIR
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/06/28/the-clintons-and-the-rich-women/
Jeffery St Clair, the author is one of the Counterpunch co-editors.
Planted ?????
Whistleblower Snowden ‘May Return To The US’
Edward Snowden’s father fears his son is being manipulated by others, including WikiLeaks, and may return under certain terms.
2:14pm UK, Friday 28 June 2013
Banner in support of Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden is said to still be in the transit area of Moscow airport
Edward Snowden’s father has said he is reasonably confident the whistleblower will return to the US if certain conditions are met.
In an interview with NBC, Mr Snowden’s father also said he plans to make that point in a letter to US Attorney General Eric Holder later today.
Those conditions could include not detaining Mr Snowden before trial, NBC reported.
In the interview, Mr Snowden’s father also expressed fears his son is being manipulated by others, including WikiLeaks.
/..
http://news.sky.com/story/1109235/whistleblower-snowden-may-return-to-the-us
Ben,
“Equal treatment under the law must be the public relations message.”
Indeed.Perish the thought equal treatment under the law was an actualite…
There is astory in the Independent , about the stabbing of a young lad on his holidays in turkey. The comments section, is filled by the comments of an overtly racist thing, pouring its wit and hateful bile without any let or hinderance. This is the kind of incitement to racial hatred that is tolerated, in the name of “free speech”, and “freedom of expression”.
Note the among the labels: “dhimmi” that is getting used akin to a another racial slur “goy” and the connotations thereof. Whilst masquerading as an “Englishmen”.
As we all know our run of the mill “bigoted thugs and morons” are hardly pressed to string three words together. To find a constant torrent of racial abuse post on the comments sections, that is even more horrific upon inspecting the profile of this bigot, it clearly points to a hasbara operative* bent on incitement to hatred and shouting down any opinion that is contrary to its perceived mission statement.
Fact is why on Earth is the independent tolerating such an egregious hateful conduct, and would it have tolerated any such a nonsense if the words; “Muslim” were to be replaced by “Jew”, and “Islam” replaced with “Judaism”?
* the hateful mongrel goes on record: “Islam is – it is the absolute negation of both Judaism and Christianity -” ergo the clean tracks of a hasbara warrior in full flow.
======
Thanks Komodo for Africa Check link.
Glastonbury before the total corporate takeover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3gqy93jCK0
June; He may have been in communication with his father, but I listened to the interview and he sounds mostly speculative. I think he’s negotiating with the Feds to pave a way for his son to surrender establishing terms kind of like a hostage negotiator.
Letter to the editor Passerby?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amol_Rajan
Or to the Letters Editor
[email protected]
http://www.independent.co.uk/service/contact-us-759589.html
Thanks for that Ben Franklin. Could not understand the smear on Wikileaks. Just hope he doesn’t end up like Bradley Manning.
Nice sly misrepresentation dear Clown, but what I actually wrote was;
“to single out people from only certain countries is basic racial profiling, essentially inherent discrimination, and contra to the principle of universal human rights and freedoms, which is what we as a country agreed to abide by when we voted for adoption of “The Universal Declaration” at the UN”
Note the words “contra to the principle”, which means this can be interpreted as “contra to the spirit of universal human rights and freedoms, which is what we as a country agreed to abide by”, but which cannot be interpreted as “contra to the provisions of the UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human rights; two complete & different things, as you well know.
Quite a poor attempt really, surely you can do better stitch-ups !
Anyhow I’m glad that my comment occupied some of your time & effort, in conducting your red-herring “research”, and I wonder if you came across the “Baiai Case”, which the Home Office lost at the Court of Appeal, being told that it needed to examine each application on its own merits rather than a wholesale approach which carries the real risk of unfairness and injustice, this was iro its requirement that all foreign nationals who were subject to immigration control, be compelled to obtain Home Office permission before marrying. I think if this Bond scheme ever gets implemented, it will go exactly the same way.
Now how about a bit of reciprocation iro that KOWN Post ?
@ Flaming June (16h05)
“More on Marc Rich, aka Marcus Reich, who has died.”
_______________
Yes, he’s ‘aka Marcus Reich’ especially to those who find it relevant to remind people that he is/was Jewish.
Russia Today have been showing this video of further beheadings of Assad supporters by the rebels yesterday. One of the victims was a Christian bishop. The beheadings were carried out in the sight of women and children.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ead_1372329728
The Medialens editors have published this alert today.
http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/alerts-2013/737-snowden-surveillance-and-the-secret-state.html
Some responses.
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/thread/1372431642.html
~~~
Separately, Garton Ash on GCHQ and NSA. He can’t seem to make up his mind whether surveillance should be carried out by the state or by commercially interested companies. We are not a totalitarian state apparently.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/27/big-brother-public-private-partnership-nsa?commentpage=1
His pathway
Spectator>Independent>Guardian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Garton_Ash
@ Macky
Just admit you messed up and stop being so daft.
Your attempted justification amounts to saying that you can at the same time violate the principles of something but not violate the provisions which are there precisely to give concrete expression and effect to those principles.
One a more concrete level, it also implies that immigration law and measures designed to ensure that that law is upheld effectively (which is what we’re talking about here) are against the principle or the “spirit” of human rights. In which case, by the way, every state on earth must be in violation of that principle or ‘spirit’, since there is no state which does not have its body of immigration law and measures designed to uphold that law.
”
Flaming June
28 Jun, 2013 – 3:25 pm
Infiltration into Glastonbury. How many of those attending will have a clue about the Occupation, al Naqba and the ongoing oppression?”
What a strange way of judging other human beings going out to have fun and enjoy themselves. Next they’ll have to pass exams to get tickets, while the Self-Righteous One fights at her keyboard saving all of humanity including us!
Amazing!
Post at 17h15
“Russia Today have been showing this video of further beheadings of Assad supporters by the rebels yesterday.”
____________
I wonder if the poster concerned believes everything put out by Russia Today.
If ‘yes’, then my condolences. If ‘no’, what is the reason for believing this particular bit of news but not others?
NB – Russia Today supports President Assad the Son, I’ve been told.
@ Villager (17h41)
“Infiltration into Glastonbury. How many of those attending will have a clue about the Occupation, al Naqba and the ongoing oppression?”
________________
Quite agree that this is a somewhat bizarre post. If I didn’t know who posted it I’d say the poster was a little obsessional.
The solution to making sure that the attendees do leave what I hope will be a very enjoyable festival in full knowledge of the Occupation, al Naqba and the ongoing oppression would, I suggest, consist in the poster and as many good people as he or she can find going along to the venue armed with posters, megaphones and leaflets in sufficient number to meet the likely demand. No violence though, please, because the nasty police might crack open their skulls (it does happen, you know!)
Flaming June,
Garton-Ash has been bestest of buddies with the spooks for many a year.He does their bidding albeit a tad more subtly than some.
Ignore it.You’d need an aqualung and for its 2nd last sentence anyway-whatever the garble means.
Unionist propaganda frenzy is stepped up in Scotland as Daily Mail is given away in selected areas of the country with purchases of local-newspapers belonging to local-newspaper monopoly (and financially stricken) Johnston Press of ‘Scotsman’ infamy. Needless to say the free ‘Jockified’ edition of the Mail is packed with preposterous scaremongering concerning Independence and character assassination of Scottish National Party figures. The people aren’t buying it, literally.
Passerby, I noted your post (4:19pm) on the Independent’s comments section which is externalised to the third-party shadowy outfit Disqus. Articles or comments bearing on Palestine, the Israheil conundrum or opportunities to demonise Muslims seemed to be hotlined to Hasbara Towers wherever Disqus is found, and rapid reaction, on-message comments abound.
“Your attempted justification amounts to saying that you can at the same time violate the principles of something but not violate the provisions which are there precisely to give concrete expression and effect to those principles.”
Of course you can ! Commonly known by the term “lip-service”, especially iro the Law, surely you’ve hear of it?! You can violate a principle you claim to believe in, oh, let’s say non-discrimination on race or religion, yet refuse to employ certain people on a variety of dishonest excuses.
“since there is no state which does not have its body of immigration law and measures designed to uphold that law.”
Law is based on all human beings have fundamental rights and freedoms, and EQUALITY in respect of the application of the Law; if an immigration policy uses blanket discrimination against certain groups but not others, then those certain groups are NOT be treated EQUALLY.
All pretty basic stuff, especially for somebody of your self-acclaimed “intellectual fire-power” !!
@ Jives
“You’d need an aqualung and for its 2nd last sentence anyway”
____________
Sound as if you need to exercise a little more, Jives. It’s very good for you and the Revolution, when it comes, will need people in top physical form.
BOOM!
Macky with a perfectly timed volley takes the point and eases home in a straight sets win.
Is name-calling Clown in the spirit of what the moderator has has been propounding here?
Be interesting to see how many people voice their observations. Note no rising to the bait by the “Troll” only robust debate.
Wait till he comes up against Fred next time around.
OBJECTIVITY IS GOOD, EVEN PARAMOUNT!
NATURE IS A MARVEL DESPITE THE JUVENILES!
Am back from Accra folks. Knackered, but home in Ramsgate.
“Yes, he’s ‘aka Marcus Reich’ especially to those who find it relevant to remind people that he is/was Jewish.”
… which does get very tiresome.
Anyway, anyone who wanted to look up Wikipedia, would get chapter and verse on his background. It’s no secret.
Let us know how your heel is, Craig?
@ Macky
“if an immigration policy uses blanket discrimination against certain groups but not others, then those certain groups are NOT be treated EQUALLY.”
______________
In which case, Macky, you would presumably wish to abolish all visa requirements by all states on the grounds that some entrants are required to have a visa and others aren’t?
You really don’t seem to be listening, do you. Never mind.
Dreoilin,
Awful! Thanks.
Welcome home Craig.
And now,for heaven’s sake,put yer feet up for a well deserved break!