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.
Ben @ yesterday @ 3;33pm
“It was the Bee Knees ” Lol, nice one
here’s some important Questions and Answers on Fukishima’s ongoing calamity.
Answers can be found at National Geographic Link
TEPCO, which has come under severe criticism since what many view as its belated acknowledgement July 22 that contaminated water has been leaking for some time. The government now says it is clear that 300 tons (71,895 gallons/272,152 liters) are pouring into the sea each day, enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool every eight days. (See related, “One Year After Fukushima, Japan Faces Shortages of Energy, Trust.”) While Japan grapples with the problem, here are some answers to basic questions about the leaks:
Q: How long has contaminated water been leaking from the plant into the Pacific?
Q: How much AND WHAT SORT OF RADIATION is leaking from the plant into the Pacific?
Q: Why is the plant continuing to leak?
Q: What can be done to stop the leaking?
Q: How far is the radiation spreading, and how fast does it travel?
Q: What are the potential risks to humans, and who might be affected by the contamination?
Q: Will seafood be contaminated by the leaks?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/08/130807-fukushima-radioactive-water-leak/
Then there’s a good comment from Peace Seeker –
The film tells the story of the Japanese nuclear plant meltdown in 2011 and the cover-up by the Japanese government and TEPCO. The film documents how the nuclear energy program for “peaceful atoms” was brought to Japan under the auspices of the US military occupation. It explores the criminal cover-up of the safety dangers of the plant by TEPCO and GE management, which built the plant in Fukushima. Included is an interview with Kei Sugaoka, the GE nuclear plant inspector from the bay area who exposed cover-ups in the safety at the Fukushima plant and was retaliated against by GE. The film features the voices of the people and workers about the reality of the disaster. It shows what this means not only for the people of Japan but the people of the world as the US government and nuclear industry continue to push for more new plants and government subsidies. This film breaks the information blockade and the cover-up by the corporate media in Japan, the US and around the world that seeks to convince the public that Fukushima is over.
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/11961
I browsed through the new book on David Kelly’s death by Robert Lewis in a shop today.
It is basically a biography of David Kelly, not an investigation.
Only the last chapter deals with Harrowdown Hill (briefly) and the Hutton enquiry is hardly mentioned.
The conclusion of the author is that Dr Kelly committed suicide.
If you don’t accept that conclusion (which was also the conclusion of Hutton) don’t waste your money on this book.
Dreoilin
8 Aug, 2013 – 10:11 am
“Connections Between Michael Hastings, Edward Snowden and Barrett Brown — The War With the Security State”
http://whowhatwhy.com/2013/08/07/connections-between-michael-hastings-edward-snowden-and-barrett-brown-the-war-with-the-security-state/
Dreoilin, I found the article very interesting but the video of Hastings running a red light and then being chased by the police might indicate that he was trying to avoid being stopped; perhaps he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
I think that scenario may be more plausible than some other theories that have been espoused here.
His death was a tragedy for his family and friends but also a tragedy for investigative journalism.
It is possible that powerful people were out to get him but I think fate may have stepped in first.
@DS – so what was so explosive about the surroundings of ONE MAN Kelly’s death that made Hutton to require it be kept under wraps for 70 WHOLE YEARS?!!
Doug @ 7:40. I had to look again when you mentioned the cop.
The dash cam was activated 2 mins after Hastings went through red light. He was not evading police.
Doug Scorgie @ 5.28pm and others
Walk Away, Palestinians!
Choose new leaders and fight for justice under fair and decent procedural rules
By Stuart Littlewood
August 07, 2013 “Information Clearing House – (London) – While a fanfare of trumpets announced the resumption of so-called peace talks between Israel and the trampled Palestinians, to be held under the watchful eye of America’s Zionist ‘facilitators’, the Israelis were awarding special priority grants and other government funding to a number of their outlying West Bank “settlements”. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/israel-moves-to-boost-west-bank-settlements-before-peace-talks-1.1484539
/..
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35782.htm
I had noticed all the comments and photo ops. So has Patrick Wintour in the Guardian. Is Cameron in election mode already or just practicing?
‘There are few subjects on which Cameron does not have opinion at the moment, as he sets himself up as a one-man news factory. Badger culls will happen and require acts of courage by government. Parents should boycott social media websites linked to cyber-bullying. References to bongo bongo land are distasteful. Peter Cruddas, the former Conservative treasurer, is probably owed an apology. Hospital waits can be reduced with more money. The human rights act would probably go. Fracking is a golden chance for the UK. The new governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has made an impressive start. In short, there is no piece of breaking or broken 24-hour news on which Cameron could not offer an opinion.
He even has an view on asylum for gay people in Russia: he is in favour. He also tells Capital FM about his perfect weekend: “I love Sunday mornings cooking pancakes with the children”. Unlike Alfred the Great, he says he finds burning cakes are a distraction from politics. “It’s pretty messy, but I love doing things like that. I’ve got a nine-year-old, a seven-year-old and a soon-to-be three-year-old, and doing things with them at the weekend is actually a great way of switching off.” By now, the listener may indeed be tempted to switch off too, but no, there is more.
Cameron is on to sport. Off he goes: “I was very lucky going to the Wimbledon final, and you go to this lunch before the final and you don’t quite know who you are going to sit next to. And I sat next to Justin Rose who’d just won the US open and he’s a really smashing guy.”‘
How David Cameron and Nick Clegg turned into 24-hour news machines
The government’s summer slogan seems to be ‘a lot said, a lot more to say’. Meanwhile, the opposition has gone silent
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/08/david-cameron-nick-clegg-24-hour-news-machines
Israel joins in the terrrrr alerts.
8 August 2013 Last updated at 19:41
Eilat airport: Israeli military orders shutdown
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23625218
“It is possible that powerful people were out to get him but I think fate may have stepped in first.” — Doug
Yes Doug. Sure. In fact anything is possible at this stage, since even after two months very little detail is known.
But I watched that video of “Hastings running a red light” and I don’t know how anyone can identify Hastings car from it. EXCEPT that it was Hastings car they found crashed shortly afterwards.
And apparently Hastings said he hadn’t had a drink in ten years. I think he described himself as a ‘recovering drunk/addict’. I read that at Breitbart and it’s hard to know what to believe from Breitbart – it’s about as good as Beck’s Blaze.
A toxicology report would be helpful.
He did, apparently, receive threats or a threat from some of McChrystal’s men that if what he wrote wasn’t complimentary, they’d kill him. But maybe that was just loose talk.
Hasbarista
8 Aug, 2013 – 7:42 pm
@DS – so what was so explosive about the surroundings of ONE MAN Kelly’s death that made Hutton to require it be kept under wraps for 70 WHOLE YEARS?!!
Habarista, I agree with you.
I believe Dr Kelly was murdered.
Quite the capitalist, Sibel Edmonds. Her top story has a video but you must subscribe (PAY !) for the privilege. She has quite a few pkgs to buy, bundled as a bonus. I asked here a few weeks ago about her ‘subscription’ mania, requiring short or long-term commitment just to comment.
Whatever–
http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/
Ben Franklin -Machine Gun Preacher (unleaded version)
8 Aug, 2013 – 7:47 pm
Doug @ 7:40. I had to look again when you mentioned the cop.
“The dash cam was activated 2 mins after Hastings went through red light. He was not evading police.”
Ben, I’ll have another look, I thought it was all caught on the police camera.
I just read this tweet
From Activism Director, FAIR (@fairmediawatch).
For god’s sake …
No expiration date on the War on Terror, no expiration date on the ‘terror threat’. They want to keep the American population in chains. And I’m afraid it’s working.
Il Duce had wiped out the Mafia in Italy. However as the Americans attacked Italy during the WWII they were heavily reliant on American Mafioso to set up the fifth column beach head in Sicily, and thus the Mafia vermin were re-introduced into Italy and has flourished ever since.
these days Mafioso are protected from arrest and imprisonment by the US and toadies.
Thats right Dreoilin the politics of fear has been turned into a calculative science and now deeply entrenched into American life. Legitimacy is first drawn from that gullible populace and then other countries and leaders are bribed, pressured or bullied to follow suit. Obama is one of the most hypocritical political actors one has seen in one’s life.
dreoilin, thanks for apple stuff, have redistributed a bit!
[Mod/Jon: excessive focus on one poster, deleted]
2 Mr Scorgie:
“I browsed through the new book on David Kelly’s death by Robert Lewis in a shop today”
_________________
Mr Scorgie, it’s cheapskates like you – browse interminably for free and then exit without buying – who are contributing to driving bookshops out of business.
You could also have asked your local library to obtain a copy for you to borrow, thus supporting local libraries in their important social function.
Are you just another hypocrite rather than the fine, upstanding man of principle I’ve always taken you for?
“How David Cameron and Nick Clegg turned into 24-hour news machines”
_____________
At last! NOW I know where Flaming June/Mary gets her inspiration from! 🙂
cut-backs put you on part-time Havasack?
Habbakuk, have you watched To Shoot an Elephant?
@ Dreoilin 8 Aug, 2013 – 5:33 pm
“Nice one, Apple: Apple has patented a piece of technology which would allow government and police to block transmission of information, including video and photographs, from any public gathering or venue they deem “sensitive”, and “protected from externalities.””
More govt. in our pants — I mean trousers — govt. is already in our underpants at airports.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-la-me-0807-amber-alert-20130807,0,5692385.story?page=2&track=rss
http://www.amberalert.gov/#
The first of these alerts sounded at night recently in California. The sound is akin to a smoke detector or ambulance siren and overrides silence/vibrate settings. People were highly alarmed, and for some the warning repeated through the night.
There are three levels of alerts: imminent threat warning (tornadoes, fires, etc.); missing child alert; Grand Presidential Alert. All are enabled by default.
The first two can be disabled (opt out) with some difficulty; the last cannot. Assume it is preceded by a fanfare of trumpets and “Hail to the Chief”. What, beyond an imminent threat of disaster, would the president wish to communicate? A presidential threat, “Vote for Hillary on Tuesday, or else!”?
A lively debate is under way over the missing child alerts, some claiming only uncaring, unfeeling monsters would object. The usual, “If only one precious child is saved.” and “What if it was your child?” Will all opting out find themselves on a master list of uncaring monsters, not meeting community standards and guilty of inappropriate behavior? Will missing puppy and kitten alerts be added?
Wait for an alert at 8pm on a Friday or Saturday, when people are fine-dining, at a stadium event, a Broadway show, the Opera or one of Ms. Emma Sayle’s clubs.
People asked after the recent nighttime alert, what response is expected; are citizens statewide to rush out on the streets in their nightclothes (if any) and search for the abductor’s car? If an alert sounds while driving and you pick up the phone will you be charged with texting while driving?
Sitting outside on a beautiful day, watching the air traffic. Very low humidity. The first one I see has a con-trail, which rapidly evaporates. Three more flyover @ roughly same alt. No con-trail.
Suspicious minds
Aye Ben, Is this what you mean, Don’t look up ( without the gas Mask )
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=484267765000056&set=a.366990910061076.85872.366987393394761&type=1&theater
Aircraft engines operate with different bypass ratios. Less fud all round.
“Aircraft engines operate with different bypass ratios. Less fud all round.”
bypass ratios? Please expand.
http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-lavabit-edward-snowdens-email-2013-7
TODAY
https://lavabit.com/
Serious Fuck up Office: SFO in biggest criminal data breach ever
To say; you cannot make this shit up! Is a statement that conveys lack of imagination combined with a sense of outrage that is easily aroused. However for those of us with a pretty active imagination and a jaded and fucked up outlook. This latest fiasco of the SFO really only reiterates Serious Fiasco Office adn its remit, which was set up to fail and it has done so spectacularly time and again.
After all it is expected that serious fraud to be engaged in by the serious corporates who pay to sponsor the politicos and own their arse. Hence any fraud perpetrated by these Serious Organisations, effectively ought to go unchallenged, hence the Serious Fiasco Office and its track record.
“The US has apparently accepted the fact that Russia granted one-year asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. Russia has impressed the world, which views the Kremlin as the “winner” and the White House as the “loser.”
This judgment is correct. In the Snowden case, all the other countries involved have become winners while the US is the sole loser. Washington put on a show of bravado, but failed to extradite Snowden in the end. By contrast, Moscow displayed its national characteristics of decisiveness and boldness and kept Washington at bay”
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/802360.shtml#.UgQwOeDTKFJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e59guruVL4o
That had a weird effect on me – in a good way 🙂
‘night