The Tony Blair House Journal (editor Alan Rusbridger) reports on Kanye West’s disgusting private performance for the Kazakh dictator and his family, and takes a sideswipe at David Cameron for visiting that country.
But peculiarly they fail to mention that Tony Blair receives US $4 million a year as a consultant to the worker murdering Kazakh dictator, and that Alistair Campbell and Jonathon Powell as well as Blair visit to give this support – which has included a behind the scenes campaign to help Nazarbaev win the Nobel Peace Prize, fortunately with no result to date.
Last comment for today. CNN US has no luck in finding a Congressperson who became pro-intervention after viewing the “horrific*, heartbreaking* video of gassed children”.
Then CNN asks the unthinkable, “Is the Obama administration asking the media to do all the heavy lifting in convincing the public?”
* Where do they get off telling the public how to react. The images are on the screen. People can decide, according to their individual standards, if they’re sufficiently heartbreaking or horrific to warrant war, aside from the question of who-dun-it.
NR
“Odd reasons for war/not war, from both US/UK”
Yes, indeed, all over the place. I suspect people have gut feelings, “I agree with this” or “I don’t agree”, and then they come to write a comment, and they can’t put that gut feeling into words.
(Meanwhile, anything that doesn’t toe the line will probably be blamed on the The Syrian Electronic Army from now on … ;))
G’night all, sleep tight
PS I don’t blame the American people. But Washington is a cess pit. A nest of vipers. A bunch of liars. And an arrogant bunch of liars which makes it worse.
“PS I don’t blame the American people. But Washington is a cess pit. A nest of vipers. A bunch of liars. And an arrogant bunch of liars which makes it worse.”
Sorry, Dre, but I just had to laff because in addition to all those human failures, we’re
Monopolists, as well.
“To quote from the Book of Weed”
Oh. I missed this earlier missive. How tragic and inconsiderate of me. I am sorry if you have included the Book of Weed along with your own book of Habakuk as inspired reading for the faithful. I also wish to point out to someone who believes in oaths; that they are binding and permanent. So if you wish to continue toward apostasy and false witness, you might want to reconsider the impact on your term in Purgatory, or worse, for violations of Spiritual oaths which are tenth power more egregious than blood oaths. Just an FYI. Dante has some words for you.
WWIII Ben, I remember the British Queen running with a script urging Britons to pray and remain united and resolute in the event of the “madness” of nuclear war.
The Cuban crisis relied on Kennedy to stay his hand, averting an American escalation. The product of a secret Russian/American back-channel secured an agreement to dismantle both countries remote nuclear missile installations.
That back-channel has stalled since the impasse on the ‘missile defence shield’ at the G8 summit.
America has announced a more flexible defense system, with a combination of land- and sea-based interceptors based on the Standard Missile interceptor, SM-3. Under the new plan, the United States would place ship-based SM-3s in the North and Mediterranean seas in 2011, and mobile land-based SM-3s in Central Europe by 2015.
In syncro’ Russia announced a ‘star wars’ S-500 missile system in place by 2017 – Quid pro quo if you like.
A quiescent posture has evolved with a ‘divided’ G20. Negotiation would begin if Israel was removed from the equation that formulates the present crisis involving Syria and regime change.
Israel have formulated a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and a reliable source from Dubai has suggested Israel is ready to strike Syria with cruise missiles. A strike by Israel would spawn a retaliation from Iran.
The statement ‘retaliation from Iran’ was in red ink.
All these ‘quid pro quos’ add up to one thing, Mark
We’re just squids to them. Another harvest to acquire. The Matrix was not far off in concept.
@ nevermind, Meant to say Re That video of the Syrian woman with very long Family history.
The utter callousness in the way he Squashed her Pleas…I Struggle for words Ingo
I’m with commenter – CoreOfTheSpiral –
“Don’t beg this piece of scum, you are wasting your time, he is a self-serving psychopath with no empathy who knows exactly what the agenda is and is carrying out his orders to the letter”.
On an UNLIKELY More positive Note, The Shits at the bbc ( and the rest of the NSM ) could perhaps Take Note
On Oct. 16, 1946, Julius Streicher was hanged, a historical precedent that should hold considerable interest for American journalists who have written in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” – the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Streicher was one of a group of 10 Germans executed that day following the judgment of the first Nuremberg Trial – a 40-week trial of 22 of the most prominent Nazis. Each was tried for two or more of the four crimes defined in the Nuremberg Charter: crimes against peace (aggression), war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy.
Julius Streicher, a German publisher and Nazi propagandist who was hanged at Nuremberg after being judged complicit in crimes against humanity. All who were sentenced to death were major German government officials or military leaders. Except for Streicher. Julius Streicher was a journalist.
Editor of the vehemently anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stürmer, Streicher was convicted of, in the words of the judgment, “incitement to murder and extermination at the time when Jews in the East were being killed under the most horrible conditions clearly constitut(ing) … a crime against humanity.”
Presenting the case against Streicher, British prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel M.C. Griffith-Jones said:
“My Lord, it may be that this defendant is less directly involved in the physical commission of the crimes against Jews. … The submission of the Prosecution is that his crime is no less the worse … that he made these things possible – made these crimes possible which could never have happened had it not been for him and for those like him. He led the propaganda and the education of the German people in those ways.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-journalists-and-war-crime-guilt/5348727
true to form for AFL-CIO…anyone who supports Unions unquestioningly should study their history:
8 Sept – Politico: Union chief Richard Trumka deplores Syrian slaughter
LOS ANGELES — AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said Sunday that the slaughter of civilians in Syria is “deplorable” and hinted at possible union support for a more robust international response to the humanitarian crisis there…
While the AFL-CIO typically focuses on economic issues, the labor movement’s stance on Syria – one way or another – could conceivably prove consequential as the White House seeks to round up Democratic votes for an intervention that has attracted little public support so far.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/afl-fio-syria-richard-trumka-96440.html?hp=r4
@ Villager,
Off topic – Q: It’s like the husband whose pregnant wife is about to give birth. When they arrive at the hospital, the man asks her, are you sure you want to go through with this?”
R: Sir/Madam, you owe me a new screen. This one’s got coffee all over it :o)
“We’ve seen the video proof of the outcome of those attacks. All of that leads to a quite strong common-sense test irrespective of the intelligence that suggests that the regime carried this out. Now do we have a picture or do we have irrefutable beyond-a-reasonable-doubt evidence? This is not a court of law and intelligence does not work that way,” – White House Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough tells CNN, speaking of multiple clips which show victims of the suspected sarin attack in a Damascus suburb on August 21. LINK
You simply can’t make this stuff up.
It’s interesting to note that the trolls talk mainly to each other these days. As someone else as noted H lurks to bag the spot at the top of the page. Reminds me of the German habit of bagging the deckchairs in holiday resorts by rushing out early to put an item of clothing or a towel on their chosen place. Do they still do that? It’s a long time since I was on a foreign beach holiday.
Villager. Jon did not snip MY Ha’aretz post. He snipped your repetition of it.
A signal here that the case for war is lost? They have been too strident and have overcooked their stew.
‘US Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign secretary, William Hague, are expected to discuss the possibility of the US postponing any attack on Syria until after weapons inspectors have reported and the issue has been discussed again at the UN security council, when they meet in London on Monday.’
Hague and Kerry to discuss Syria as poll shows UK opposes strikes
Foreign secretary and US Secretary of State to discuss delaying any attack on Syria until after UN security council consideration
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/09/william-hague-john-kerry-syria-strikes
Kerry and Hague are having a breakfast meeting before Kerry heads home from his futile trip around Europe.
PS What do the war mongers have for breakfast? Any jokey suggestions?
Gideon is good with his metaphors. First we had the ‘green shoots’. Now we are ‘turning the corner’. Hope it doesn’t lead to a dead end.
Osborne: ‘UK Economy Is Turning A Corner’
George Osborne will say today that a series of upbeat figures have “decisively ended” questions about his austerity campaign.
http://news.sky.com/story/1139041/osborne-uk-economy-is-turning-a-corner
Returning to the greatest prime minister evvvvaaa…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/10293693/Tony-Blair-strikes-new-deals-to-advise-Vietnam-and-Peru.html
How the other 0.000001% lives, eh?
I see these were under the aegis of Tony Blair Associates, the investment arm of Tony Blair Our Saviour Inc ™. That’s Firerush Ventures No.3 LLP. Unlike his visit to Mongolia, whose expenses seem to have been paid by Windrush Ventures No.3 LLP, which is where the charidee cash disappears. Coming soon (if a journalist on a certain tabloid knows his job), a tale of brass plate companies, nominees, and Tony’s offshore tax haven.
Which he denies having. I think I know better.
Batboy Hague in his batty batty way seems to think that he can reverse the vote in the House by polishing his head and reflecting a shining bright light on those nasty perpetrators that voted against humanitarian bombing of women and children.
And here, from Charles Clarke, after leaving the real ale pubs/voters of Norwich for the same in Cambridge, comes another clarion call to debate another vote on Syria in the House. Charles was one of the strong Iraq war supporters, so he’s consistent, pure ale and establishment.
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/parliament_should_discuss_another_motion_on_syria_former_norwich_south_mp_charles_clarke_1_2372128
Did you see someone’s post yesterday Komodo, referring to a large EU bank in imminent peril?
They are still discussing who carries the can when banks go belly up, which makes you wonder how they managed for so long, it is also quiet frightening, as up and coming city gents want their German cars/toys and our politicians know full well what they loose should they leave the EU.
sorry, the link.
http://www.euronews.com/2013/06/21/eu-debates-who-pays-when-bank-go-bankrupt/
Oops! Red box, red face.
Dozy Prime Minister David Cameron leaves official red box behind on train – to nip to buffet car
9 Sep 2013 07:31
Mr Cameron, who once left his daughter Nancy down (at) the pub, strolled off down the aisle without the crucial briefcase.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dozy-prime-minister-david-cameron-2261059
@ KrishnaMacky :
“(The clue is in your word “if”, and note that unlike yourself, Jon the Mod is not quite sure if English Knight was actually banned or not)”
_______________
Wrong, I’m afraid. Jon is clear that English Knight was banned, he’s just not certain that Krishnamurky is English Knight’s new handle.
A course in close reading is required.
@ Nevermind and Mary :
“Note its habit of trying to claim top spot for posting, once again”
_______________
An interesting mini-example of some people’s love of conspiracies 🙂
If that theory were correct, it would imply that readers pay more attention to the first post on every page than to the following ones, wouldn’t it. And that, if I may say so, is an insult to the intelligence of readers of which you should be ashamed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happy conspiracy day, Eminences, and keep up the twaddle!
@ Nevermind –
“Currently there is no EU framework for managing crisis in the banking sector and the lack of regulatory measures hampers the ability of governments to deal with problems in cross border banks.”
http://www.internationalfinancemagazine.com/article/European-Banking-getting-Scary.html
I think that says it all. The West is currently scurrying about in search of a lock with which to secure the stable door as the extended metaphor grazes happily in a distant field.
As the banks have typically leveraged their actual cash deposits by about 3000%, it should have been possible to allow the failures to die quietly without robbing the depositors. This doesn’t seem to have occurred to anyone, or if it has, the banking lobby has swiftly silenced them.
You link there Komodo to the best ev…aaah snake oil salesman.
His PR outfit get results too by getting the stuff into the media.
Also in the Independent:
Mr Tony Blair is having another fabulous Gap year
Presumably the former PM is content with Vietnam’s human rights record
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/mr-tony-blair-is-having-another-fabulous-gap-year-8803810.html
and picked up by all those news aggregation sites so that when you google ‘blair+vietnam+peru’ you get a massive number of results.
Apologies if already posted, but I just watched Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, completely destroy any remaining credibilty of HRW;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ooRICVYWHyQ
Like AI, HRW is now completely compromised after years of being infiltrated by the USG.
“Oops! Red box, red face.”
Give us a break, Mary.
People don’t buy tabloids for a reason. And several of the same people deliberately do without TVs, too.
Going to the top of the page is unavoidable when opening the blog and selecting the page number.
Doh!
Habbu-Clown: “Jon is clear that English Knight was banned”
Jon: “who was I think banned as English Knight previously”
Is English not your first language ?
…his PR outfit…
His PR setup is like everything else, nebulous. Both http://thecentreground.com/ and http://www.portland-communications.com/ have strong ties to the Blair regime.
Another bloke buzzing round the world advising leaders on how to keep the plebs down is, of course, “Lord” Mandelson….
https://www.duedil.com/company/OC359787/global-counsel-llp/people
Morning picture;
http://thinkpress.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/familiar.jpg
“Going to the top of the page is unavoidable when opening the blog and selecting the page number.
Doh!”
It depends on how you come to the blog. I come via my history, which generally brings me to the last page I was on, and the last comment I posted. What’s at the top of the page is irrelevant to me. I’ve never understood the fuss about it, tbh.
As for English Knight, I’m pretty sure Craig posted and asked him not to post here any more. I don’t recall the word “banned” which is used here very rarely anyway.
“I’m pretty sure Craig posted and asked him not to post here any more”
That’s my recollection also; so under the famous “light moderation”, the following can apparently apply;
1. Not just your offending post, but all of your subsequent posts can be deleted if Jon feels like it; (think of the number of times certain active trolls have posted racist posts without reprimand, nevermind having all their subsequent posts deleted).
2. It’s apparently enough that you are suspected of being somebody else, for your posts to be deleted.
3. Not being officially banned but instead being asked not to post here by the Blog Owner, is now deemed as being officially banned by the volunteer Moderator.
Not seeking to defend either English Knight or Krishamurky, just wishing to understand how the moderating works here, or if there is any consistency involved at all.
Mary/Moaner Myrtle: ” Villager. Jon did not snip MY Ha’aretz post. He snipped your repetition of it.”
Quite, and that inexactly what i was acknowledging when i was saying:” I was half going to suggest it myself as i don’t want to propagate Chinese torture on others. Anyway my point’s been made and let’s see if the recipient responds with equal awareness, sensibility and grace.”
Mary, if only your brain was as large as your EGO……”MY Ha’aretz post”! Capital Chump!
(Have you thanked Suhayl for pointing out that we *all* get 10 free articles a month at Haaretz?)
On the tabloids too, i second Dreoilin’s request to give us a break.