The Respectability of Torture
St Mary’s University College, Thurs 1st August, 7.30pm
Craig Murray, former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, was a whistleblower who was removed from his ambassadorial post by Tony Blair for exposing the Tashkent regime‟s use of rape and systematic torture, including the boiling to death of political opponents. He has also spoken out against Central Asia‟s appalling dictatorships, regimes which are allies of the West, involved in torture and rendition, and was accused of threatening MI6‟s relationship with the CIA. Now a human rights activist, author and broadcaster, he outlines the dynamics of torture and the hypocrisy of incriminated Western governments.
My first public appearance for a while will be in Belfast on 1 August where I shall be giving a talk. Long term readers of this blog will recall that, while my focus is largely on international affairs, the domestic political achievements I most hope to see are a united Ireland and an independent Scotland.
Reminds me of ‘Descent into the Maelstrom” Arbed. Who benefits from Chaos?
Arbed; Two years hence and it’s the same ‘Descent into the Maelstrom’. Who benefits from chaos?
Don’t tell me. I’ll think of it
dang. thought that post got eaten…rinse , repeat.
DesRes
‘the West’s imperfect democracies are the least worst I have seen in history’
What a little Englander! Let me remind you sir that during the last 15 years this slightly imperfect bunch of couch potatoes has had nothing to do with ferocious and illegal wars that have displaced and killed millions of Muslims, nothing to do with the collapse of the financial institutions and nothing to do with the grand deception of pointing the finger of terror at Islam. Nothing to do with the preparation of seed dictators by torturing Muslims in its clients’ jails, nothing to do with mass storage of confidential information about its own and other nations citizens.
Pompopompompom Pom OOmpah oompah The British ermpire has morphed into a War Machine Robot with Willie Hague’s joystick being wiggled by a juniour colleague in a cheap hotel room. The pressures of office – viz – being in charge of the War Machine Robot that has done all these wrongs! What a horrible little man.
The purpose of these trolls is solely to praise the status quo with pathetic statements like: “the West’s imperfect democracies are the least worst I have seen in history”
Flaming June is more of a man than any of them.
James/Ben/Arbed, found this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomatic_courier
Looks too simple. But, Keep in mind, Ecuador has strong support from the Latin American govts, if they ever wanted to up the ante.
An ad-hoc appointment could mean he wouldn’t have to qualify the same as Ambassador?
Is that what you are inferring from the link, Villager? It could have slipped through the wringer of law, but it does sound too simple for bureaucrats to overlook, but why wouldn’t JA’s legal staff have recognized?
Ben, just uncovered this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPkD8d9TcJY
Yes, Ben thats my implication so who knows that may be a current diplomatic negotiating point on Ecuador’s behalf… Any views Arbed?
And this Ben, haven’t seen the whole of it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYaJqRRBRVs
Coming up to Stillness soon before an early night so that one can enjoy the fresh air and flowers early morning in the park, before an hour’s swim.
Fearsome foursome, villager. They give cowboys a good name.
Villager; My folk/country artist of choice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIx3R2mhWHI
They’re sure looking like they’re having fun. If you know any current good country singers do tell, i’ll look out for them visiting London.
You read my mind…its been a good day’s chatting. Gonna have to do some real chores tomorrow.
I last saw Hoyt circa 1980 at the Palomino in California. It’s my perfect venue; small. he took requests and at one point, he responded; ‘Yeah, I wrote it but I don’t remember it”
He’s been dead now,….20 years….holy moly.
Seems like twenty years (October 1999.)
Ben here’s one by Kristoferson?H/w men which mentions one u mention sometimes–mohandas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6GdpCUkaI8
And a spiritual one to listen to in the morning, sound s ancient but i believe 19th century–wiki has a note on it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BPHl_120gw
Brain dead now — only good for Oral B and the laps of the Gods! Beautiful unreal Golden Half Moon out there. Sleep in Peace!
MJ
If you want Mary’s posts just track back from the ones I linked to – I trust you can do this yourself.
Guano
Rather than throwing rhetoric and insults around perhaps you could tell us what forms of government have done better than western democracy – the Ottoman Caliphate?
Herbie
The questions you raise are important and serious ones – and the answers involve making judgements about many countervailing processes. I’m more than happy to engage in serious dialogue on the matter providing you and others are not prepared to engage rather than just indulge in pointscoring and nit picking – perhaps to demonstrate this you might wish to put forward yopur detailed analysis of the same questions together with your counter hypothesis as to the way forward. My experience of most on this blog is that they are mopre than happy to indulge in nihilism but pretty clueless when it comes to presenting plausible alternatives of their own.
If the last one resonates, this is a better link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cruU3evP7ds&list=PLC5EA3C6E9E1B5A71
Thanks, James. Very interesting.
“Much international law is observed on the theory that not to do so would result in chaos.”
Taking that into consideration, what’s your view on the Snowden, Russia/US standoff.
Presumably the Russians were carefully observing the law, and the American demands went beyond normal procedure?
More generally, hasn’t there been quite a lot of breaking of the conventions of international law since 911, and what does that say about the potential for chaos?
@ Herbie :
“Res Diss
“Yes I may hold views and opinions with which you disagree, which is yours and anyone else’s perogative – but I am not disingenous.”
OK, let’s see.
Where do you stand on decreasing human rights in the west?
The whys and wherefores and so on.
______________________________
You silly little man, Herbie. Do you k,ow what the word “disingenuous” means?
Here’s a question for you :
“Where do you stand on the question of how to achieve greater economic equality in South Africa (between blacks and whites as well as between blacks themselves?
The ways and means, etc.”
An essay on the reality of The Muslim Brotherhood and Osama bin Laden:
http://www.redmoonrising.com/Ikhwan/MB.htm
RD; i propose a Benevolent Dictatorship, but no one ever asks me… 🙂
Seriously; A direct democracy is best, but that requires an population who wishes to be jacked-in to sausage-making legislation, and I don’t see any such appetite. So if Human self-rule is not an option for the evolved masses, maybe a Theocracy. Wait…that means a human interlocutor will be the bridge.
Ok. I think I am too far into my cups for serious discussion. please disregard.
“Here’s a question for you :
“Where do you stand on the question of how to achieve greater economic equality in South Africa (between blacks and whites as well as between blacks themselves?
The ways and means, etc.”
Very good question(s) Please pass the mustard.
Good lord, Res Diss!
I only asked you a question about your own stated view, which is that you agree:
“that they (human rights) have decreased in overall terms in recent years although the longer term trend has been positive.”
I’m not asking you to design a whole new planetary system!
I’m simply asking you to explain your stated view:
Why do you think they (human rights) have decreased in overall terms in recent years, and indeed why do you think that the longer term trend to which you refer is still in play?
Should be easy enough to answer so long as your original stated view is not disingenuous.
Did cocaine use by bankers cause the global financial crisis?
Later these cokehead fuckwits were bailed out by our tax funds and devaluation of our money that effectively stole our savings to pay these fucking banksters. If you don’t agree with this “rescue” of the banksters, then you are an extremist, islamist, poopy pants communist, who kills puppies and eats their floppily doppily eyes.
Fucking communism for the rich and
fascismcapitalism for the poor.I see extra forces have been drafted in, to root the sniper out.
Colonel Blimpy Habby on the case
And all that from asking a simple question about another poster’s stated view
Dear, oh dear…
@ Villager, James Mason and others:
An interesting exchange of views, or rather, information.
It reinforces my conviction that Ecuador is not going to go for the diplomatic immunity (non-)option.
I would also take bets that while Ecuador has had fun tweaking Uncle Sam’s and the UK govt’s noses JA will be rendered (to the UK authorities) sooner than people think.
@ Corporal Herbie
“I see extra forces have been drafted in, to root the sniper out.”
______________________
I think Resident Dissident has done a pretty good job in flushing you out* all by himself.
And now please show you really want a proper discussion by responding to his invitation.
* I repeat, “out” (rather than “down”)
*******************
La vita è bella, life is good!
“I would also take bets that while Ecuador has had fun tweaking Uncle Sam’s and the UK govt’s noses JA will be rendered (to the UK authorities) sooner than people think.”
‘Celebrate…celebrate, dance to the music……………….’