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.
Mary opines:
“P William would be much better employed in the Somerset levels at the present time showing a bit of solidarity with the serfs/peasants”
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Could this be the same Mary who recently took the piss out of Prince Charles for paying a visit to the area in question?
Just askin’ !
Excellent, well-argued posts from you on 9 February, Anon. Thank you!
Reading them and others, I noticed the following from Mary:
“Have you nothing to say about other more important matters that have been raised here recently?”
Could this be the same Mary who raised the subject of the Princes’ shooting activities in the first place on this thread?
Why, I believe it could!
*********************
La vita è bella, life is good!
@ Clark
“Kempe: “conspiracy theories concerning Harry’s parentage”? I’d never heard of this, but you have made me chuckle.”
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I fond this difficult to believe. If what you say is true, you must have led a sheltered life.
Thanks for making ME chuckle!
Which confirms me in my belief that “Life is getting better, life is getting
merrier!” (J. Stalin, ca. 1932)
A Node
“Your mention of Mali reminded me of our old friend Laurent Louis.”
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Snap!
Monsieur Louis is currently facing criminal charges in the Belgian courts (I’ll leave it to you to check out all the offences he is accused of, but one of them is for slander (accusing the Prime Minister, who is homosexual, of being a paedophile)
Certain posters please note.
“Richard North has in recent years won a reputation as one of Britain s most expert defence analysts, through his Defence of the Realm blog. Formerly a research director in the European …etc, etc”
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To use one of Mary’s favorite practices – I promise not to do it again – Richard North is one of Christopher Booker’s best buddies.
I rest my case.
“Do you mean to say you don’t subscribe to the conspiracy theories concerning Harry’s parentage?”
Kempe, Clark, I can’t subscribe to something I’ve never heard of. But, hey, I wasn’t there when she conceived. Parentage is not really important. It’s what Harry says and does that matters. His actions speak for his morals. But he, and his brother (well there is some similarity one receding like the royal pillocks, and the other with a mop of curly red hair, how could anyone question Kempe?) have judged themselves by their shooting sprees. They are still young and perhaps their morals will develop later when they reflect on their pasts. Hope they’re not as bad as Uncle Charles Edward Maurice’s.
“Some more detail re Victoria Newland, star of “Desperate Ukraine Midwives”,…”
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Any relation to Victoria NULAND?
While I’m at it, is the Percy Shelly mentioned in some post or another yesterday any relation of the post Percy Shelley?
Nevermind :
“Ms Newland’s remarks, not surprising for an immigrant….”
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Always do your research and check your sources (especially the dubious ones) before posting, Nevermind.
Mr Goss
“Parentage is not really important.”
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Well, apart from the that it is, in matters of royal lineage, in general O would agree with you. My apologies!
I trust that various other Eminences will keep your wise words in mind when they next post.
Sorry about Dad.
Dr Bullstrode is on the case but he can’t get the keys to the pharma cabinet becuase Shergar 2 won yesterday by seven lengths and the syndicate overdid the celebrating .
Meanwhile, while the floodwaters rise in Englandland the Palestinians are left high and dry.
http://electronicintifada.net/content/how-historic-israel-jordan-water-deal-leaves-palestinians-high-and-dry/13139
Who would have know that the Newlands have been settled in America well before Leif Erikson, what a surprise.
Nevermind
“Who would have know that the Newlands have been settled in America well before Leif Erikson, what a surprise.”
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Has anyone claimed that they have?
Anyway, why this obsession with Victoria Nuland’s parents? They were (or are ) Jewish. So what?
Remember Mr Goss’s wise words, viz “Parentage is not important”.
“ETON COLLEGE HAS OWN NUCLEAR BUNKER!!!!!!”
https://ianbone.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/eton-college-has-own-nuclear-bunker/
“ARMY SAVES ETON COLLEGE PLAYING FIELD FROM FLOOD THREAT”
https://ianbone.wordpress.com/
Seriously OT.
Dad.
Hang on in there. Dr Bullstrode on the way with a new box.
…”any relation of the post Percy Shelley?”
Do you mean “stake”.
http://img.ffffound.com/static-data/assets/6/457333486c642c2b0fad1632ab0abf4f47d4b1ad_m.jpg
Dear Friends, I just signed the petition: “Support the Nuclear Weapon Free Israel Act”
It would mean the world to me if you could also add your name to this important issue. Every name that is added builds momentum around the petition and makes it more likely for us to get the progressive social change we want to see.
Will you join me by taking action on this petition?
http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/support-the-nuclear-weapon-free-israel-act
After you’ve signed the petition, please also take a moment to share it with others. It’s super easy – all you need to do is forward this email.
Thank you!
Amir M. Maasoumi
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You know it is rumoured that Dolfin class subs are patrolling the Gulf with nuclear armed Cruise missiles. Who has the button? Lieberman, the ex-nightclub bouncer, with Bibi as check? Will we be bounced into WW3?
Do sign this from Amir Maassoumi in Cannata.
Oh I do wish the native peoples were there alone with beech bark canoes and the poetry in their souls. Swift of foot and no imprints. Slaughtered by the cunning of the white man with the gun and gun powder, and small pox infected blankets.
Note Paul Larudee was the originator of the petition. He was with the Free Gaza organisation but he was too ‘strong’ for them and was pushed away.
Regardless of this mornings judderings from our resident socket trying to get that screw tightened, turning it the wrong way, this is a new bookmark for many here.
The NSA, no doubt supported by our well paid snoops at GCHQ, may it flood tomorrow,has been using mobile technology to spy on ‘targets’ for their drone programme, they are also loking at your dad’s unanswered txt messages this morning, Sofia. Good to have you back…
https://www.firstlook.org/#/home
Once corruption is ingrained, it becomes impossible ever to clean it out.
Here below there is a link to a report on EU corruption from one of the most corrupt organisations, the BBC, who is the messenger. The recent appointment of their directors is obviously corrupt. They corrupt every news bulletin from the ME and elsewhere with pro-Zionist propaganda.
Many BBC programmes have the Holocaust (in this case capital H), the European/Jewish Holocaust, woven into it. It even entered into ‘Call the Midwife’ last night.
Yet all the other mass killings by humans (holocausts with lower case h) go unmentioned. The holocausts above all holocausts – Hiroshima and Nagasaki -‘nothing but the smoke – part of the definition’, plus detail of acute and slow death from radiation, hardly get a mention.
‘Falling away’ ie no interest by the people in important matters or loss of that interest, depends on the reduction of principle and moral courage in the face of lies in a critical mass of a population. Instead encourage x million people to watch the bodies in Strictly Come Dancing. Let the NHS go to hell and help the process by broadcasting only bad news about the NHS almost daily.
The BBC has all the power but when anyone speaks of its evil, everyone nods in agreement.
http://politicalcleanup.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/eu-surprise-at-widespread-corruption-in-construction-energy-transport-defence-and-healthcare-sectors/
EU expresses surprise at finding widespread corruption in construction, energy, transport, defence and healthcare sectors
Tried, Mary, but its refusing my ‘zip’code….
This is the new online magazine by Glen Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill, paid for by Mr. Omidyar. enjoy
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/
I think that site has been rumbled Mary, tried twice and have given it publicity on FB, but it is not accepting postal codes the signatures are still at 7, only. The petition must have been rumbled otherwise it would be skyhigh.
Mary re petition.
It wouldn’t accept my postcode either so I googled the Zip code of Denver Walmart and it accepted that and sent me an acknowledement email. Hardly an ideal solution though.
So it looks like the petition is limited to US residents, probably a mistake. I can’t see a way of contacting the organiser.
…. and signatures up to 9 now!
Just posted this on their ‘comments’ section:
TO THE ORGANISERS: Your form will only accept USA zipcodes. It rejected my UK postcode. I had to “borrow” a zipcode to make it work. I know of other people who tried to sign but gave up. You should look into this problem. Good luck and thank you for caring.
Got at by our ‘friends’ presumably like Jonathan Cook’s MAC. We are dealing with very determined and unpleasant people.
Sorry to have troubled you but thanks for trying. It had only just reached me so I hadn’t tried to sign. I will to contact Paul Larudee to find out what is going on.
US foreign policy falling apart. Nulands fucking outburst about the EU.Who’s she gonna call?
Why not complain about eavsdropping ? How undiplomatic !
And then the coverage about Sochi !! Wonderful ! They can’t spit out the problems fast enough.Meanwhile all other reports are positive. Smiles all over the place,but CNN show cars being blown up by exploding toothpaste tubes.The terrorists weapon of choice these days because airport security has become so effective.The security services are wracking their brains trying to keep the terror threat alive.
And for once a Jew standing up in the British Parliament and telling it like it is.He is a real friend of Israel, not one of these paid up party British Zionist, but the real deal. And he is sickened by what he has witnessed.
Why can the British or European parliaments not wake up to Benzion Mileikowsky’s Nazi ways ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGuYjt6CP8
hopefully a taste of things to come
Have sent Paul a message by pressing that little envelope next to his name, lets hope its up and running soon so we all can sign it. Thanks Mary and A node
Re: the intercept seems to have an able team together, looking forward to their articles.
This video is on the front page of Ambassador Dermer’s website. More laughing in the Palestinians’ and our faces as far I can see.
Cruel too.
Sunshine Across Israel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bivYs8oacnA
http://www.israelemb.org/washington/pages/default.aspx
PS They could have called it ‘La Vita Israeliano è Bella’ and be done with it!
Alternatively ‘La Vita Palestinese non è Bello’.
@habs – r u a real Catholic or just another Whoopi Goldberg paid to wear the habit for the Hollywood jews to make fun of Catholics and their Pope? Methinks you might just be wearing a pink or rainbow yarmulke under the habit!! Go on spit it out, Putin is a bad guy, he doesnt want you anywhere near children.
Nevermind.
Thanks. I never thought to borrow.
Borrowers can browse here.
http://www.zip-area.com/alabama/jacksons_gap/
11 signatures now.
A Node. Appolgies. Thanks should have been to you. Am trying, and failing, to multitask.
And Mary. Thanks for digging that one out.