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.
Plenty of material about 2007 FT3 online. NASA, who claim to know about such things, reckon it will miss earth by 132.25 earth radii (about 850,000 km) this year. That’s a near miss in astronomical terms but no reason to cancel your holiday. It’s 2107 that looks really dangerous.
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/2007ft3.html
“It’s good to see that shy Fedup’s personal battle with finding a job is right up there with Syrian massacres in evoking angst and worry among the many kind posters here.”
I take it you weren’t among the many who wished Craig well with his health problems recently.
Compassion is definately not your forte.
“Eager to defend”
Your words love.
“Disturbed by war”……
@ Kempe
“It’s 2107 that looks really dangerous.”
_________________
The feeling of relief with which I woke up this morning evaporated rapidly when I read your post. I’m really worried about 2107; can you advise on the best way in which this blog might influence events in a more positive direction?
@ Technicolour
I must admit that your posts are of a nature and diversity as to keep me guessing. If you aren’t careful I shall have to remove you from the Eminences’ First XI and put you into the reserves. 🙂
Have a good day nonetheless…
Jemand says;
“Russian interest in Syria hasn’t been adequately explained.”
Really?
Well, there are the direct interests. That would include things like their only Med naval base on the Syrian coast, their export market, their direct investments in Syrian infrastructure, energy and tourism, but the real biggie for Russia is the ongoing American plan to destabilise the ME with knock on effects for Russia’s own neighbouring muslim lands, which in the medium term can be used to destabilise Russia itself, and indeed China and India, and ultimately Africa.
It might help if you read Zbigniew Brzezinski’s book, The Grand Chessboard. It should be on the reading list you were given when you applied to join this board, unless of course you opted only for associate membership, in which case all I can say is happy chatrooming.
ThanK you Herbie… Cheers Dude..
Kempe,
As I posted that link in the first place I clearly know that. But take a look at “observations used” to make that projection. They have used an arc consisting of one day (March 20th/21st 2007). There have been no updated observations ever – and that’s what doesn’t make sense. Especially as the closest approach in 2007 was March 30th. So the earth flyby data from 2007 is missing and without that there can no really accurate projection. That is why there is still a non zero impact probability for 2013.
Kempe,
Or to put it another way, If it went through the “keyhole” in 2007 then we don’t know. All we do know is that it was mathematically possible it did. Just everyone forgot to look again to see,
I think the Russians are being wary of supporting any humanitarian intervention in Syria because of what happened in Libya. They gave the go ahead for a no fly zone on humanitarian grounds then America and the UK interpreted that as meaning they could shag Gadaffi up the arse with a piece of stick.
@Brian.1 46am
Re RT’s “Crosstalk” on Syria,
http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/syria-putin-obama-us-807/
”…thanks a bunch Lol, for making me stay in and watch that Mark eejit tell us how well Libya went Arsehole (Him, not you Sofia ) thank god the anchor was fit for him. good sounds from the English dude too, re international law.”
I was trying to bring the focus back to the issue of the day while all that china was flying. I’ve never linked to anything that long before. It seems a bit presumptuous to expect anyone to divert
for 30 mins but I just thought it was so revealing. Thanks for checking it out.
What a pity you have to go to RT for that kind of quality.
…
Meanwhile, and off topic, here’s 2mins 23secs of footage of Dad and my little brother in action here last night.
“Another nice mess…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIPfEBuA7HY
Macky, words are cheap as you should well know, being a cheap dispenser of words yourself.
“Wishing” anybody “well”, unfortunately, doesn’t make them well. But good advice, of which I expect you have none, can offer remedies to problems. As to whether I genuinely “wished” Craig well or not you can never know from words alone. But of course, you’re not really interested in Craig’s wellbeing, rather you are simply interested in the vulgar sport of pissing on people who you dislike to attract cheers from a crowd whose approval you secretly pine for.
It’s not surprising that you and some others here have that quality in your personalities where you stand watch over what people say and do, and what they do not say and not do – and then pass judgement on imaginary sentiments. You really need to move on from it for your own wellbeing.
“…the ongoing American plan to destabilise the ME with knock on effects for Russia’s own neighbouring muslim lands, which in the medium term can be used to destabilise Russia itself, and indeed China and India, and ultimately Africa.”
_________________-
Herbie, you appear to have missed out Oceania and South America – or do you consider them to be lesser breeds not worth mentioning?
Herbie,
No, those standard interests don’t explain much except for maybe arms sales. And having a naval base is supposed to support strategic interests, not be one in itself. I don’t want to have to read a whole damn book to get a summary account of a Russian political interests in the ME.
Craig once wrote of how he doesn’t comment much on Syrian events because of the tortuous issues that obfuscates what seems to be happening. But I think all of those events can be analysed within the larger framework of Syria’s pivotal geopolitical value in future energy transport. Maybe I’m alone here in having an interest in this line of enquiry.
“Herbie, you appear to have missed out Oceania and South America – or do you consider them to be lesser breeds not worth mentioning?”
No, habby.
The American objective is Eurasia. I suggest you direct your question to them.
But, it’s not too hard to work out their thinking on Oz, NZ and S. America.
Fred,
Russia is not interested in humanitarian missions. Whatever allowances they made for Western intervention in Libya was, at the very least, to exercise the appearance of having a power of veto that would need be negotiated away in private. They will stand between the US and a target, waiting for a payoff to move out the way. Any mention of “humanitarian” by any country offering their services, is for public consumption and has little to do with humanitarian considerations.
Jemand
“No, those standard interests don’t explain much except for maybe arms sales.”
It seems you’ve excluded the existential threat posed by Islamist terrorism infiltrating Russian borders.
“And having a naval base is supposed to support strategic interests, not be one in itself.”
That’s nonsense. Pure nonsense.
“I don’t want to have to read a whole damn book to get a summary account of a Russian political interests in the ME.”
Well, if you don’t want to put the work in, so be it.
I think he explains this aspect in a chapter, so it shouldn’t be too taxing.
@ Herbie
“But, it’s not too hard to work out their thinking on Oz, NZ and S. America.”
___________________
I note with interest that for you, Oceania seems to consist of only Australia and New Zealand. Isn’t that a little rascist?
@ Jemand
“Maybe I’m alone here in having an interest in this line of enquiry.”
_________
On the contrary, I think this is a significant line of enquiry, and interesting. It doesn’t get mentioned much on here because it requires some thought and a wider grasp of certain issues than the Eminences can master. Glad to here more thoughts from you on this, as and when.
BTW – you are of course right to say that naval bases exist in furtherance of strategic objectives and are not strategic objectives in themselves.
@ Herbie
““And having a naval base is supposed to support strategic interests, not be one in itself.”
That’s nonsense. Pure nonsense.”
__________________–
Please explain why. Thank you.
@ Herbie
“I think he explains this aspect in a chapter, so it shouldn’t be too taxing.”
__________________
You think?
By the way you were talking earlier on, I was under the impression you knew the book by heart.
Or are you theorizing, like George Galloway?
News from the propaganda wars. Two hosts on CNN US fuming and foaming that the NYT published Putin’s opinion piece. They’ve discovered arrangements were made by Russia’s K Street lobbyist.
H1: “Russia has lobbyists? They aren’t even a friendly democracy!” [Like u-know-who]
H2: “Yes we checked. It’s perfectly legal. Even Libya had DC lobbyists.” [Libya didn’t receive value]
H1: “Putin doesn’t speak good English. He can’t have written it himself.” [No US prez since Lincoln wrote anything solo. Do they think Putin lives in a log dacha in Siberia?]
H2: “We checked with their lobbyists and they assure us they did not write it.”
H2: “Senator McCain is preparing a rebuttal and arranging for publication in Pravda.” [Does McCain think Pravda is still the paper of record in Russia? A while back, they were a fun Russian Daily Mail, news, bikinis, big-foots in the tundra, fark.ru for jokes. Now it’s three day old news and anti-American conspiracies.]
The conspiracy corners of the web have a good one bouncing around. All based on usual highly trusted but unnamed sources. Namely, that days ago the US fired two missiles at Damascus and Russia intercepted both, an astounding tech feat. In some versions cruise missiles, in others ICBMs.
Allegedly Russia said they consider Damascus as Moscow, but would remain quiet and let US concoct cover story. Supposedly explains Israel’s reversal of their original denial, and subsequent tale of tests.
@Jemand. 1012Am
”They will stand between the US and a target, waiting for a payoff to move out the way.
Interesting point, but, are not the realities so multidimensional that the best we can do is try to make informed guesses?
Wouldn’t you say that any one of these reasons, not wanting to be surrounded, economically bypassed, destabilised by gulf-backed terrorists, unable to service a fleet in the Mediteranean, etc,
would be enough to short circuit the cynical horse-trading you refer to?
Habby
“BTW – you are of course right to say that naval bases exist in furtherance of strategic objectives and are not strategic objectives in themselves.”
Go on then, habby. Explain how that is so in this context.
Jemand 14 Sep, 2013 – 9:34 am
““Wishing” anybody “well”, unfortunately, doesn’t make them well.”
Not so my angry aussie friend. Most people get that pleasantry is conducive to well being. The inverse is also true. For example, reading your nasty bile, gloating over someone else’s misfortune, makes me feel queasy.
The US Senate’s draft proposal as to who is really a journalist.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-shield-law-20130913,0,4553946.story
Reader’s comment: “A 17 year old with his own blog”, has more crediblity that the lying Facist Sen. Finestien… And why does she feel she can dish out journalistic rights to the American people young or old?”
Matt Drudge Tweets:
DRUDGE Gov’t declaring who qualifies for freedom of press in digital age is ridiculous! It belongs to anyone for any reason. No amendment necessary
DRUDGE Federal judge once ruled Drudge ‘is not a reporter, a journalist, or a newsgatherer.’ Millions of readers a day come for cooking recipes??!
DRUDGE Comments from Sen. Feinstein yesterday on who’s a reporter were disgusting. 17-year old ‘blogger’ is as important as Wolf Blitzer. Fascist!
DRUDGE Newsroom hopping here in London. Media remain much more vibrant than states. Sharp criticism of Obama all around…
DRUDGE Doesn’t everyone realize America deserves Obama? He IS us. He perfectly mirrors our confusion and division. In the end, it wasn’t about him.
Sofia 10;30 am …. Briliant Thank you
technicolour 14 Sep, 2013 – 1:05 am
“You know, I bet you’ll both enjoy this: Arctic Monkeys innit”
Yeah! Arctic Monkeys. Finally something from the current century.
Later
Kempe 6.57am
By your pointed change of subject, I take it that you are not going to either back up your claim that Galloway lied to Parliament or apologise to him for the false accusation. You asked him to ‘do the decent thing,’ but you won’t do it yourself. I shall take a small consolation from the fact that you expect Galloway to behave according to a higher code of moral conduct than you ask of yourself.
I’ve called you on this because I recognise a consistent tactic in your behaviour on this blog. You make unsubstantiated smears, respond with bluster when asked to justify them, then drop the topic before your credibility is too damaged. This is the third time I’ve caught you out, and I’m only an occasional visitor to this blog.
I BELIEVE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS BLOG ARE DELIBERATELY DISHONEST, KEMPE.
AFP: US-Russia reach deal on Syria weapons
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov say they have reached an agreement on a framework for securing Syria’s chemical weapons after the third day of intense negotiations in Geneva.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2013/09/14/08/59/watchdog-to-mull-syria-treaty-request
still must project presidential POWER though. not sure the spectacle of Kerry scampering around the world to consult with warmongers looks too powerful!
NYT: Obama Demands ‘Concrete’ Acts by Syria on Chemical Weapons
We need to see concrete actions to demonstrate that Assad is serious about giving up his chemical weapons.” Just to be sure, he said he would keep American destroyers and other forces in the region for a possible punitive strike…
The president would not agree to Syria’s demand to renounce any use of force, said the officials, who argued that it was the threat of force that had brought Moscow and Damascus to the negotiating table…
Mr. Ban, in comments that he thought were private but that were inadvertently broadcast over an in-house United Nations television channel, said that Mr. Assad had “committed many crimes against humanity” during more than two years of civil war and that there would be a “process of accountability when everything is over.”…
As deliberations continued in Geneva, Mr. Kerry’s aides announced that he would travel to other capitals to consult with allies. On Sunday, he will fly to Jerusalem to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister…
After Jerusalem, Mr. Kerry plans to meet on Monday in Paris with the foreign ministers of America’s two principal allies on Syria, Laurent Fabius of France and William Hague of Britain. ..
While in Paris, Mr. Kerry will also meet with Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, which has been a strong supporter of the anti-Assad Syrian opposition and an advocate of taking tough action after the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/world/middleeast/syria-talks.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0