The problem with the Geneva Communique from the first Geneva round on Syria is that the government of Syria never subscribed to it. It was jointly chaired by the League of Arab States for Syria, whatever that may mean. Another problem is that it is, as so many diplomatic documents are, highly ambiguous. It plainly advocates a power sharing executive formed by some of the current government plus the opposition to oversee a transition to democracy. But it does not state which elements of the current government, and it does not mention which elements of the opposition, nor does it make plain if President Assad himself is eligible to be part of, or to head, the power-sharing executive, and whether he is eligible to be a candidate in future democratic elections.
Doubtless the British, for example, would argue that the term transition implies that he will go. The Russians will argue there is no such implication and the text does not exclude anybody from the process. Doubtless also diplomats on all sides were fully aware of these differing interpretations and the ambiguity is quite deliberate to enable an agreed text. I would say that the text tends much more to the “western” side, and that this reflects the apparently weak military position of the Assad regime at that time and the then extant threat of western military intervention. There has been a radical shift in those factors against the western side in the interim. Expect Russian interpretations now to get more hardline.
Given the extreme ambiguity of the text, Iran has, as it frequently does, shot itself in the foot diplomatically by refusing to accept the communique as the basis of talks and thus getting excluded from Geneva. Iran should have accepted the communique, and then at Geneva issued its own interpretation of it.
But that is a minor point. The farcical thing about the Geneva conference is that it is attempting to promote into power-sharing in Syria “opposition” members who have no democratic credentials and represent a scarcely significant portion of those actually fighting the Assad regime in Syria. What the West are trying to achieve is what the CIA and Mossad have now achieved in Egypt; replacing the head of the Mubarak regime while keeping all its power structures in place. The West don’t really want democracy in Syria, they just want a less pro-Russian leader of the power structures.
The inability of the British left to understand the Middle East is pathetic. I recall arguing with commenters on this blog who supported the overthrow of the elected President of Egypt Morsi on the grounds that his overthrow was supporting secularism, judicial independence (missing the entirely obvious fact the Egyptian judiciary are almost all puppets of the military) and would lead to a left wing revolutionary outcome. Similarly the demonstrations against Erdogan in Istanbul, orchestrated by very similar pro-military forces to those now in charge in Egypt, were also hailed by commenters here. The word “secularist” seems to obviate all sins when it comes to the Middle East.
Qatar will be present at Geneva, and Qatar has just launched a pre-emptive media offensive by launching a dossier on torture and murder of detainees by the Assad regime, which is being given first headline treatment by the BBC all morning
There would be a good dossier to be issued on torture in detention in Qatar, and the lives of slave workers there, but that is another question.
I do not doubt at all that atrocities have been committed and are being committed by the Assad regime. It is a very unpleasant regime indeed. The fact that atrocities are also being committed by various rebel groups does not make Syrian government atrocities any better.
But whether 11,000 people really were murdered in a single detainee camp I am unsure. What I do know is that the BBC presentation of today’s report has been a disgrace. The report was commissioned by the government of Qatar who commissioned Carter Ruck to do it. Both those organisations are infamous suppressors of free speech. What is reprehensible is that the BBC are presenting the report as though it were produced by neutral experts, whereas the opposite is the case. It is produced not by anti torture campaigners or by human rights activists, but by lawyers who are doing it purely and simply because they are being paid to do it.
The BBC are showing enormous deference to Sir Desmond De Silva, who is introduced as a former UN war crimes prosecutor. He is indeed that, but it is not the capacity in which he is now acting. He is acting as a barrister in private practice. Before he was a UN prosecutor, he was for decades a criminal defence lawyer and has defended many murderers. He has since acted to suppress the truth being published about many celebrities, including John Terry.
If the Assad regime and not the government of Qatar had instructed him and paid him, he would now be on our screens arguing the opposite case to that he is putting. That is his job. He probably regards that as not reprehensible. What is reprehensible is that the BBC do not make it plain, but introduce him as a UN war crimes prosecutor as though he were acting in that capacity or out of concern for human rights. I can find no evidence of his having an especial love for human rights in the abstract, when he is not being paid for it. He produced an official UK government report into the murder of Pat Finucane, a murder organised by British authorities, which Pat Finucane’s widow described as a “sham”. He was also put in charge of quietly sweeping the Israeli murders on the Gaza flotilla under the carpet at the UN.
The question any decent journalist should be asking him is “Sir Desmond De Silva, how much did the government of Qatar pay you for your part in preparing this report? How much did it pay the other experts? Does your fee from the Government of Qatar include this TV interview, or are you charging separately for your time in giving this interview? In short how much are you being paid to say this?”
That is what any decent journalist would ask. Which is why you will never hear those questions on the BBC.
John Goss
The translation was by A S Kline – see here
http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Russian/Akhmatova.htm#_Toc322442229
I’m afraid my Russian isn’t up to the original – although I do just love the cadence which Russian’s give to their poetry, which we just do not have, and which I think explains why poetry is so integral to their being. Gove would have no problem in enforcing his views on reciting and memorising poems on the Russians. Akmatova is one of the few Russian poets that works in translation in my book.
She also lost her lover to the Stalinists
The statue to Akmatova in Petersburg has now been built – see the end of the poem – but it is pretty clear that Putin just hasn’t got it in either the original or translation.
Elso. 1. 19pm
To explain all that as a result of Israeli settlers seizing land from Palestinians and the resulting poisoning of relations, or the encouragement of migration by Israel itself, just doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
No of course it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, as it would have done in 1948.
Now you have to add the subsequent history, year after bitter year of barbarity, yes barbarity up to this moment.
‘ until Ashkenazim acknowledge Sephardim as Jews and as equals, the very raison d’être of a Jewish state/State for Jews will remain in question.’
http://www.kevjnlim.com/other-research/from-plowshares-to-swords-the-sephardi-ashkenazi-schism-and-the-problems-of-ethnic-discourse-in-israel/
Good article.
“There was one Arab state created out of the British mandate – it is called Jordan”
And one state that wasn’t created – it’s called Palestine.
If you’re such a stickler for international law you’ll support Israel withdrawing to their 1948 borders then, the only borders legitimate under the UN partitioning.
We can probably play ‘He started it’ indefinitely. And the Jewish mythos does
And not only the Jewish mythos if this blog is at all representative – all a pretty pointless exercise I’m afraid.
If you cannot understand why Russian Ashkenazim felt they had the right to a better life elsewhere where they were not persecuted for their beliefs then my guess is that you never will – but please don’t lecture me on my understanding of history.
Agent Cameron chose the Limp Ic park to issues his anti Scottish independence speech. I believe he was speaking in the velodrome so there was a strange echo to his words. Worthy of a Third Reich rally.
He was attempting to hang his hat on whatever residual propaganda he sees existing from the Limp Ics by citing the wins of Chris Hoy, Mo Farrah et al. He even used the image of the Butchers’ Apron, the Union flag, and actually used the phrase ‘the red, white and blue’ to describe his enduring memory of 2012.
What a creature.
Get up to Scotland you coward and face the Scots and have it out with Alex Salmond.
Scottish independence: Seven months to save UK, Cameron says
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26071166
The BBC gave full spin to his efforts on the World At One on Radio 4 via Chris Mason.
“If you cannot understand why Russian Ashkenazim felt they had the right to a better life elsewhere where they were not persecuted for their beliefs then my guess is that you never will – but please don’t lecture me on my understanding of history.”
How about we lecture you on your lack of understanding of international law then.
Yes Sofia I agree 100% that it was all the fault of the Jews who should all be sent to the naughty step or returned to Wales or from where they came. Happy. Now get back to playing with your Lego, dolls, railway set or whatever turns you on.
Yep Fred
Lecture me on why Israel doesn’t have the right to exist under international law.
ESLO :
‘If you cannot understand why Russian Ashkenazim felt they had the right to a better life elsewhere where they were not persecuted for their beliefs:’
As far as I have any understanding at all of the matter, their sole claim to Israel is that (their) god promised it to them. Allegedly. The title deeds have long since dematerialised.
‘ but please don’t lecture me on my understanding of history.’
I said I didn’t think you had much of a clue. That isn’t a lecture. It’s an observation. I had taken your dissent for granted.
“Yep Fred
Lecture me on why Israel doesn’t have the right to exist under international law.”
Were you claiming all religions have a right to their own state under international law?
Where is that written?
Zionism began in the middle of the 19th century.
1843 First Zionist writings of Rabbi Alcalay and of Rabbi Kalischer, Emuna Yeshara.
1856 Ottoman reforms (Tanzimat) – including requirement to register ownership of land in Palestine and pay taxes on it.
1860 First Jewish settlement (Mishkenot Sha’ananim) outside Jerusalem walls.
1878 First Zionist Settlement – Petah Tikwa.
1870s Formation of ‘Hovevei Tziyon in Russia
1882 Leon Pinsker writes Auto-Emancipation in 1882; formation of Bilu; beginning of the First Aliya (wave of immigration).
1897 First Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland.
Nov 2, 1917 British issued the Balfour Declaration, v promising a “National Home” for the Jews in Palestine.
1936-1939 Arab Revolt led by Haj Amin Al-Husseini.
May 9, 1942 Biltmore Program – Zionist leaders, headed by Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion, convene at the Biltmore Hotel in New York and set their postwar program (known as the Biltmore Program).The program recommended an end to the British Mandate and demand Jewish control over immigration to Palestine with the aim of founding a Jewish “Commonwealth.”
May 15, 1948 Israel War of Independence (1948 War). Declaration of Israel as the Jewish State; British leave Palestine; Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia declared war on Israel. Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian invasion began.
April 3, 1949 Armistice – Israel and Arab states agree to armistice. Israel gained about 50% more territory than was originally allotted to it by the UN Partition Plan.
and it’s been grab, grab, grab some more, ever since plus the cruel oppression of the native people under an Occupation.
Today’s speech of Cameron Mary was talking about, his clarion call to all, mobilising the voices of this country as an accomplishment his rethoric, to contact relatives and friends and urge them to vote against.
If you load a shotgun and discharge both barrels into your feet you could not have done more harm to your camaping, what a pratt.
It will only encourage me to ring my relatives and urge them to vote for Independence and I can influence/argue with, if not sway, six votes, shall do my damnest, dear David.
Unless the rights of normal scottish people are worse after Independence there is no reason to vote against.
Elso.
While it’s touching to see you row in to defend Dad’s delusions while he’s a bit tied up, don’t you think you’d be a bit more convincing if you made a bit of sense. I’m beginning to wonder whether you too are on the good Dr Bullstrode’s roll.
I think you need to explain why the Palestinians should have to lose their homeland, homes, communities, livelihoods, olive groves, fisheries, water, clean environment, oil, gas on account of the historical atrocities committed against Jewish people by Europeans.
I know, as you pointed out, I lack maturity, and maybe I’ll never find it, but the facts are pretty clear even to me. Yes, there are two sides, the side that has been dispossessed and violently attacked and the side that is doing the dispossession and, by any measure, most of the attacking. You don’t need maturity to see that the desire for a homeland is unlikely to be achieved by the violent imposition of “facts on the ground” in a place that has been inhabited for generations by a diverse patchwork of peoples.
ESLO, thanks for the link. It’s good to know we have some common ground. Akhmatova suffered badly under Stalinist Russia but not as badly as Mandelstam who died in transit to one of the camps. Ivanov wrote about all these accomplished poets of the Silver Age in Petersburg Winters.
The reason I think this introduction to Requiem was influenced by Gumilyov is because he published a collection shortly after they got married (1910) called Foreign Sky (1912). The marriage was doomed because only shortly afterwards Gumilyov was on his travels again to foreign climes leaving her behind. She was a good poet. Ivanov was great. At one of Ivanov’s talks at the Council of Poets, Irina Odoyevtseva (Ivanov’s wife) mentioned in ‘On the banks of the Seine’ how Ivanov had devised an ingenious method of remembering stress patterns using names of the poets, when she first met him.
Dactyl = Anna Akhmatova (stress on first syllable)
Anapaest = Nikolai Gumilyov (stress on third syllable)
Amphibrach = Georgy Ivanov (stress on second syllable)
That’s not of course why he is great.
Were you claiming all religions have a right to their own state under international law?
No – but there are plenty that do. Sometimes the law is an ass – but that isn’t sufficient argument for ripping up or discarding existing laws – and the ensuing wars and disruption that would follow as a result.
Sofia
As I said maturity is about being able to see both point of view – how do you think an Israeli Jew would respond to your position – yes, I’m a evil bastard, you’ve got me bang to rights take me to the naughty step? Both parties are and see themselves as victims of injustice.
“No – but there are plenty that do. Sometimes the law is an ass – but that isn’t sufficient argument for ripping up or discarding existing laws – and the ensuing wars and disruption that would follow as a result.”
Then what you have to do is tell me where all these rights you claim for the Jews derive from, where it is written.
I can show you chapter and verse where it is written that the people of Palestine have the right to self determination. I can show you exactly where it says Israel does not have the right to gain territory by force.
Now you tell me where these rights you claim for the Jews are written.
Elso.
“…how do you think an Israeli Jew would respond to your position?
Thanks. At last a halfway decent question!
I’d expect most, though by no means all, “Israeli Jews” who have been through a schooling system that assures them every day that all the world wants to destroy them to respond negatively to my position.
But don’t think it’s only non-Jews who think that the present Israeli state cannot continue as it has done for the last 65+ years to ignore international law.
Try reading what Richard Silverstein has to say,
http://jfjfp.com/?p=55728
What do you think?
On page 1 on 22 Jan I said:
I am reliably informed that ESLO was once one of the many “Anons” here, then “I am the lizard Habbabkuk” and then “For the return of Habba and Free Speech”. Perhaps ESLO could verify that this is correct.
On page on the following day ESLO said:
Mary
I’m not sure why you are asking me, who you no doubt consider to be a unreliable source, to confirm what you have been told by a source you deem to be reliable. Nevertheless, the changes in the handles I used were all pretty well documented at the time. Interesting all this suggests that Mary and others have some form of network outside this blog – perhaps this is why they assume that their opponents behave in a similar co-ordinated manner. I do trust that I am on the list of those to dealt with come the Revolution – I wouldn’t want to be left off.
On the same day I said:
The trolls are exhibiting paranoia now. They think there is some sort of secret network from which they have been excluded! If they ever visited the al Hilli thread, which was kept open, they might have noticed this comment. I did. Squonk is a nice blog and full of interest especially for astronomers.
~~~~
Clark
4 Jan, 2014 – 12:51 am
Tim V, it was good to see you at squonk.tk do drop by again, and thanks for the link about the former French foreign minister.
~~~~
I seem to remember I went on Squonk when I found a link to Craig speaking at Nottingham Uni.in November as we did not know whether he was alive or dead! Alive thank goodness.
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/iaps/news/tomlinson-lecture-2013-delivered-by-craig-murray.aspx
~~~
I still think that ESLO and Habbabkuk are two versions of one troll.
how do you think an Israeli Jew would respond to your position – yes, I’m a evil bastard, you’ve got me bang to rights take me to the naughty step? Both parties are and see themselves as victims of injustice.
Sophistry. The Jews are the victims of historical injustice. The West has bent over backwards to help ensure restorative justice for that. The Germans now sell them submarines. There’s a holocaust memorial in just about every capital city in Europe and the Americas. The one item on the history curriculum that I can guarantee Gove will not interfere with is the holocaust. Expressing a personal distaste for Israel, let alone Jews, can get you locked up in some places. The Jews were victims. They’re not now. They’re a protected species, and are probably statistically over-represented in the upper reaches of industry, science and the arts. Israel has nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, a trigger-happy ‘defence’ force. and has been able repeatedly to conduct armed strikes in other countries. Pardon me if I have difficulty seeing either Jews in general (not forgetting AIPAC lobbyists) and Israel in particular as in any way meriting victim status.
On the other hand, the Israeli Palestinians, and most particularly the Gazans, are the victims of a current, continuing, systematic, intentional injustice perpetrated by the very people who might be expected to deplore it most. Defending their rights using any kind of weaponry is apparently unacceptable, and results in massively disproportionate retaliation – the injustices meanwhile continue, enhanced if possible.
So, that’s both sides. Should we redouble our public disapprobation of the historic injustices, and collaborate with the occupiers in intensifying the present ones? Sooner or later, no matter how godlike your view, you have to choose. And I don’t think that’s the right choice, sorry.
Ooh er Missus!
Mr Liddell-Grainger MP on Lord Smith today.
‘Disaster zone’
Lord Smith visited the Somerset Levels for the first time since flooding hit last year.
Ahead of Lord Smith’s visit, Conservative Mr Liddell-Grainger, who represents Bridgwater and West Somerset, said: “I will tell him what I bloody well think of him – he should go, he should walk. I’m livid. This little git has never even been on the telephone to me. When I find out where he is, I will give it to him. He has not told the local MPs, the local council or the local press where he is going to be. He’s a coward.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26078592
L-G is wasting his time. Smith is going soon to spend more time at the ballet and theatre.
Reminder of his other interests. The Sky News harpie Kay Burley read all this out at the end of an aggressive interview with him. I even felt sorry for him.
Professional life
Chairman Environment Agency 2008-
Board Member Phonographic Performance LTD (PPL) 2007-
Chairman Advertising Standards Authority 2007-
Visiting Professor University of Arts, London 2005-
Founding Director Clore Leadership Programme 2003-08
Housing Development Officer Shaftesbury Housing Association Society for Cooperative Dwellings 1977-83
Public life
Board Member The Sixteen 2013-
Chairman Film Policy Review 2011-12
Honorary Fellow Pembroke College, Cambridge 2004-
Chairman Wordsworth Trust 2003-
Chairman Donmar Warehouse Theatre 2003-
http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-smith-of-finsbury/186
Extensive article concerning Russia’s laws concerning the LBGT community and it’s main concerns regarding the protection of individual rights to protect children (minors)
May be helpful those who are concerned for truth.
http://static.prisonplanet.com/p/images/february2014/white_paper.pdf
Beelzebub
The Jews were given a State in Israel in 1948 when they most undoubtedly had victim status – what do you propose to do take it away from them now?
I never said that the Palestinians were not victims of injustice – in fact quite the opposite – nor that we should collaborate in helping the Israeli state perpetrate further injustices. It is quite possible to condemn these and to want to do something about them at the same time as acknowledging the right of Israel to exist – and indeed this is the only practical way forward from where we are.
“I still think that ESLO and Habbabkuk are two versions of one troll.”
I used to think that, Mary. I’m not convinced any more. Habbabkuk never argues, never answers questions, is very childish. Of course it could be an act. ESLO does answer questions, he answers Habby’s questions as well. It is likely they work as a team but from different computers methinks. There was a time when all three, ESLO, Habbabkuk and Anon all hit the Submit Comment button at exactly the same time and I am convinced that that was co-ordinated. Unfortunately it was at that time when insults were flying wildly and all three comments were deleted that same night.
I am happy, if I get time to open up a debate, like the Israeli/Palestine debate that has been going on all morning and afternoon. I cannot possibly agree that Israel has the right to steal land from Palestine, which it has been doing for decades. It is not possible to argue differently. They have also built a monstrosity of a wall which is as divisive as the Berlin wall, and none day must go the way of the Berlin wall. Israel has a fundamental problem that it is surrounded by countries which largely do not share its ambitions, that is, the United States of Israel. It is clear where I am coming from. They are allowed to argue.
Herald the day when people can travel throughout this small planet without walls or borders. The current issue of the RSPB magazine has discovered that the red-necked Phalarope (I have never seen one) can be found in the Shetlands. It winters in Peru (and Ecuador) and never uses a passport or any other ID except the tags put on it by the RSPB. But nobody stops it. Or the swallow on its journey from Africa. Herald the day!
Beelzebub
The name comes from Ba’al (false deity) and Zubur (hymns of praise)
“If there’s a place where a sudden, out-of-control war is likely to erupt, it’s probably not going to be the West Bank. It’s going to be the vast fields of natural gas discovered in the deep waters of the Eastern Mediterranean”
So it would definitely be a good idea for me to don my battle gear to join the 150,000 jaish army newly recruited by Saudi’s masters in Israel, and Qaida under leader Zawahiri formerly of the Zionist Masonic Muslim Brotherhood, to help Israel achieve its lucrative goal in the Eastern Mediterranean sea.
Quite right John about the migration of birds. They know no boundaries.
Our father used to tell us that a time would come when there would be no passports!
~~~
Agent Cameron has missed seeing the Sochi opening. He has moved down to Somerset to view Ye Great Fludde. Doing that clenched mouth act to show us that he is in earnest. Everything that can be done will be done. No problem at all with money or resources. Ha!
Ye Great Fludde
It was one of those Biblical moments: the thunder roared, the lightning flashed, the heavens opened; and the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth. We never believed that the gods would show such displeasure in quite so apocalyptic fashion.
Weather forecast: Severe warnings of Bot storms in dissident blogs. Several days of heavy anti-Zionist flooding is likely to be followed by life-threatening Bot attacks. Coming soon.
“Why The Next Global Crisis Will Be Unlike Any In The Last 200 Years”
http://www.cyniconomics.com/2014/02/06/next-crisis/
“Jim Willie on Bankster Suicides: Bankers Were Taken Out to Prevent FOREX Fraud Whistle-blowing!”
http://www.silverdoctors.com/jim-willie-on-bankster-suicides-bankers-were-taken-out-to-prevent-forex-fraud-whistle-blowing/
@ Jay 7 Feb, 2014 – 3:39 pm
Thanks, Jay, I ended up reading that from start to finish.
Anybody who’s been taken in by news reports of Russia’s anti-gay legislation should read this.
Much criticism of the comparatively small cost of London 2012, I recall*.
Not one word to be said against the £30 billion plus so far spanked on Sochi 2014.
It seems those Russians can do no wrong as long as they oppose the West!
*Though some Murrayistas did come round to it once they saw the opening ceremony start to resemble a Rungrado May Day parade.