78 people died at Glencoe and we still sing about it over three hundred years later. Over 700 have been massacred so far in Gaza, 80% of them innocent civilians. The UN Human Rights Commissioner has made the very obvious, the unarguable, point that there is prima facie evidence of war crimes by Israel. These include the killing of four young boys playing football on the beach at Gaza, and the use of industrial nail bombs in civilian areas.
Yet the UK refused to support even having an investigation. Please note this was not a vote to condemn Israel, or to declare war crimes. It was a vote to have an investigation.
I am ashamed to belong to the UK. Just as having served the UK for twenty years and having worked my way up to be a proud British Ambassador, I became so ashamed at our complicity in torture and extraordinary rendition, I had to resign.
I want to be part of a country of which I am not ashamed
Now imagine that board with Scotland on it and a green light next to it.
This is the British Foreign Secretary. He declares that Israel “has a right to defend itself” and that for the UN to investigate Israeli war crimes is “unhelpful”.
This man does not represent me, or anything about me. Nor, emphatically, does that flag behind him.
Mr Scorgie
“Uzbek, are you Special Branch or MI5 ?”
____________________
I think he is neither; he is soleone in this blog who “speaks truth to impotence”
You really don’t like dissenting voices, do you?
Lets gauge the Scottish people on their attendance at Saturdays pro Palestine anti Israel demonstrations. I will be at the Mound in Edinburgh and hope to see thousands this time and not the 50 odd that attended the last time. It might just inconvenience the Saturday ritual shopthon.
The majority of people in Scotland are just as msm brainwashed and self centred as the rest of the haves in this world. They will always go with the popular choice so not to be different or part of a minority opinion….unfortunately. And this pisses me right off!
Mr Scorgie
““I thought to abstain meant not expressing an opinion either way rather than opposing.”
You thought wrong Kempe.”
______________________
No, I’m afraid Kempe’s correct and it is you who are wrong.
It is rather pointless to quote the admirable Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose moral stature is considerably greater than his understanding of what abstention means in the context of UN voting.
*******************
La vita è bella, life is good!
Sofia Could you tell your father to f off and not to ask such personal and invasive questions the answers to which are none of his bloody business. Also that I will be missing from here for a couple of weeks but like General McArthur ‘I shall return’ (Deo Volente) much to the trolls’ annoyance presumably.
In the meantime I hope and pray that no more Palestinians will be murdered or wounded by these damnable Occupiers of their land.
Sorry to bother you.
“And note:
…..military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said the military had urged the U.N. and the Red Cross to evacuate the school for three days leading up to the incident.
The U.N. said it was trying to do just that when the school was hit.”
___________________
If all of the above is true – why did the UN takes three days to start evacuating the school?
GENEVA CONVENTIONS
Some more Key points
ACTS THAT CAUSE UNNECESSARY SUFFERING
It is especially forbidden to employ arms, projectiles or material
calculated to cause unnecessary suffering.
Use of Expanding Bullets
Hollow Points
Use of Non-detectable Fragments
Glass or Plastic Munitions
Use of Poison (Chemical)
Nerve Agents, Blister Agents, Blood Agents
Altering Weapons
…
AMMUNITION
Weapons may be illegal per se
By improper use
By agreement or prohibited by specific treaties
Hollow point ammunition
Fragmentation
Chemical Weapons
Altering Lawful Weapons
…
Ben.
Re firstlook.org
Thanks. Will check it out. A bit tied uptonight.
Mary
“Sofia Could you tell your father to f off and not to ask such personal and invasive questions the answers to which are none of his bloody business.”
______________
Yes, it is nasty when people comment about whether other people are married or not and whether they have children or not, isn’t it.
Just thought I’d give you a taste of your own medicine, and you din’t like itn did you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“‘I shall return’ (Deo Volente) much to the trolls’ annoyance presumably.”
_____________________
Why annoyance? It’ll be a pleasure and amusing to have you back.
PS – how are we going to keep up-to-date with the news, with you away? Dp pmease reconsider! 🙂
**********************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And, ‘flechettes’?
http://news.genius.com/United-nations-human-rights-council-goldstone-report-excerpts-relating-to-white-phosphorous-annotated#note-2200256
“Based on its investigation of incidents involving the use of certain weapons such as white phosphorous and flechette missiles, the Mission, while accepting that white phosphorous is not at this stage proscribed under international law, finds that the Israeli armed forces were systematically reckless in determining its use in built-up areas. Moreover, doctors who treated patients with white phosphorous wounds spoke about the severity and sometimes untreatable nature of the burns caused by the substance. The Mission believes that serious consideration
should be given to banning the use of white phosphorous in built-up areas. As to flechettes, the Mission notes that they are an area weapon incapable of discriminating between objectives after detonation. They are, therefore, particularly unsuitable for use in urban settings where there is reason to believe civilians may be present.
As described in detail in chapter IX, the Mission investigated the attacks against al-Quds hospital in Tal el-Hawa, one of the hospitals which were allegedly used for military purposes by Palestinian armed groups. This hospital was directly hit by white phosphorous shells and at least one high explosive shell on 15 January 2009. The Mission conducted extensive interviews with al-Quds hospital staff and others who were in the area at the time of the attack and concluded that it was unlikely that there was any armed presence in any of the hospital buildings at that time. The Mission also investigated the attacks against al-Wafa Hospital in eastern Gaza City. As in the case of al-Quds hospital, after hearing credible testimony from doctors at that hospital, the Mission excluded the possibility that there were combatants inside the hospital at the time of the attack. However, the Mission did not make any findings with respect to the possible presence of Palestinian combatants in the surroundings of the hospital.
Following Operation Cast Lead, an Israeli military strike on the Gaza Strip, the United Nations sent in a fact finding team to assess the aftermath and investigate the conduct of both sides of the conflict.
The report issued after the assessment determined the claims of Gazans to be verifiable, that the Israeli Defense Force had used white phosphorous on Gazan citizens. White phosphorous is a legal chemical munition.
*AND THE CLINCHER….*
The OBAMA administration stood with their allies in the Israeli government to BLOCK the report from any serious consideration, including the possibility of war crimes tribunals at The Hague.
“A bit tied uptonight.”
No deletions or over-active mods. It’ll be there when you have time. cheers.
Republicans gnawing on their own nuts over cancelled flights to Israel.
“There are still flights to Afghanistan and even the Ukraine, where rootin’ tootin’ Putin murdered 300 people. Israel is being singled out”.
I hope so.
Halibaba
It is embarrassing to teach you simple facts of life concerning the saintly figure called Amos. Living saints usually bear no children as they have no idea what that fucking piece of anatomy between their legs is used for. La vita è bella particolarmente in culo!
Well, it seems someone took notice….
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/07/24/israel-flight-ban/13082351/
That kind of a mother always eats her offspring, before they can manage to run away from her, it is nothing unusual.
http://cannonfire.blogspot.ca/2014/07/send-leftists-to-gas-chambers-please.html
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/patrick-strickland/bombing-gaza-children-gives-me-orgasm-israelis-celebrate-slaughter-facebook
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/castrate-them-burn-them-bullet-head-facebook-israelis-react-photo-palestinian
Ben.
Great link.
Thanks.
I loved…
“…concrete facts are not necessary…”
Almost an epitaph!
When that’s the MO of a government how can it be heading for anything but trouble.
I have a dear friend with a scared face from finding out, as a kid, what it was like to ride her bike with her eyes closed.
Regarding the human dramas and dilemas that this kind of madness generates, and the power for doing people harm that those engaged in a police state find they have, it put me in mind of the brilliant film “The Lives of Others”.
…
Back on topic. It’s easy to see the deep trauma visited on the Palestinians will blight countless lives, but equally the brutalisation of it’s own young men and women will surely boomerang back into Israeli society just as the brutalisation of young Americans drafted to kill in Vietnam, Iraq etc has done in the US.
‘great link’.
Intercept has been a little disappointing in it’s reticence to publish, but it is great for commentators who seek a venue to air their grievances.
And that;s no bullshit, sofia.
Riding a bike with no hands is what Palestinians do.
Sofia: I understand the thrill your friend sought. There is an occasional temptation to close my eyes for a few moments. while riding my 1-litre superbike (a Honda Fireblade, Respol edition, if anyone’s really interested):
http://www.motofoto.es/fotos/3904/big-honda-cbr-1000rr-fireblade-repsol-83063.jpg
The best way to do this, is get a friend/wife/etc. to talk to you, while you cycle along a massive beach on an off-road cycle. Cover your eyes, cycle while blind for a mile or so – it’s indescribable. Running while doing so – the same.
Doubtless, there’s a label for this condition 😉
“I have a dear friend with a scared face from finding out, as a kid, what it was like to ride her bike with her eyes closed.”
_______________________
Good to learn that you have at least one adult friend.
And there I was, thinking you were some sort of female Dennis the Menace!
News for ornithologists and others.
The first “fucking” of the year from FEDUP has been spotted!
A little late, if course, but this is understandable given this bird’s unexplained absence from its usual CM habitat.
Geneva Convention
Some more key points
PROTECTED PROPERTY
Civilian Property
Cultural Property
Churches
Universities, Colleges, Schools
Historical Monuments
Museums
Buildings dedicated to Charities (such as Orphanages)
Cultural Property Emblems
Protected Medical Transports
and Facilities
Ambulances
Hospital Ships
Medical Aircraft
MEDIVAC Helicopters
Hospitals
Buildings
Mobile (Tents)
…
I wonder when it started dawning on Hitler’s butchers that they were heading towards the courts.
I look forward to the moment that penny drops the butchers of Gaza.
Every missile they fire make brings that moment a little closer.
…
Mary. 9 59pm
Dad’s really not worth a nano-second of your, or anyone’s, attention.
I know you feel it’s a bit of a cop-out, but I think you’ve earned a short Habbabreak.
Let him display his art here and and show us what it’s like in the mind of a zionist lackey. Just be sure to wash your hands after viewing.
I know I’ve not followed his advice, but Node had a point back along when he said there’s nothing the man hates more than being ignored.
…
OT.
Glen’s Fireblade .
DIME weapons ( a sort of ultra-fragmentation charge) are so new as to be under the international radar. Medical reports suggest that Gaza has been used as a testbed for these since 2006.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dense_Inert_Metal_Explosive
Ironically, these are designed to limit collateral damage. Which suggests only that the Gazan civilians killed and injured by them have been intentionally targeted.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/op-ed-israel-may-be-testing-weapons-in-gaza/article/391073
“I find your passion for the Palestinians admirable. What I can’t get over is the view that the Palestinian nation are entitled to a state but the Scottish nation are not.”
I support a one-state solution in Palestine where some who are currently ‘Israeli’ Jews would get citizenship on exactly the same basis as other people, but certain recent settlers among their number would be denied it. For those in the latter group who retain citizenship of other countries, I would favour expulsion; but in the case of others, some kind of deal might have to be done with other states, probably involving some concessions, because the idea is certainly not to create any more stateless refugees. (Putting an end to Israel will involve a reappearance of international consensus on what is morally right – this may sound corny but in the present horrendous conditions are we wrong to want this?)
I am not sure where to draw the lines, but with regard to the ‘Israeli’ Jews I would strongly reject both extreme positions, namely a) expelling them all and b) not expelling any of them.
Changing the education system will be crucial, as was also recognised to be the case in post-WW2 Germany. So will banning all activities intended to restore Zionist power.
As for Scotland, I support the holding of the independence referendum and therefore surely I do recognise the right of the Scottish nation to have their own state? I also recognise their right not to.
I agree that the BBC is biased towards the Union and that this comes out in its coverage of the Commonwealth Games.
On the other hand, the SNP tells people that Scottish independence won’t mean too much of a frightening loss of what they’ve currently got, because they’ll keep having the BBC and the monarchy and whether or not they keep British citizenship will be up to the rUK government. I think that’s pathetic. What parallels are there? They should say that they want Scotland to pull out of Britain and that whilst there will probably be some cross-border institutions with the country that they share an island with, Scotland will have its own SBC; and that rUK will become a foreign country with which they will strive to have friendly and mutually beneficial relations.
Instead, their policy is a muddle, with some of them referring e.g. to Jersey, which is not independent.
And as for the Commonwealth Games, let’s not forget that the SNP threw an enormous wobbly saying they’d abstain (in their own referendum!) if the referendum were held in 2013 and not in 2014, 700 years after the freemasons’ favourite mediaeval battle, Bannockburn. That was a classic case of treating people as if they are complete morons. Moreover, Bannockburn was fought in June, not September. The only reason for holding the referendum in September was because the SNP thought they might benefit from the increase of sport-themed, lardarse-style TV ‘come on Scotland’ during the Commonwealth Games. Again, I think that’s an example of treating people like idiots, because I would rather the contest be fought on real issues, not on national pride.
“Also that your unproven assertion that a Scottish state would be Zionist outweighs the stone cold certainty that the UK state is Zionist.”
Better the devil you don’t know? It is as if you arguing that after Scottish independence, anything will be possible! ‘Vote for Camelot’?
Similarly on the currency, why can’t Alex Salmond say “We favour a currency union with rUK, but if that cannot be agreed then we will have our own currency”?
The foot-stamping is such a turn-off. It may be argued that Scotland has a moral right to be in the EU, but it cannot be argued that it has a legal right to be. That is not the ‘Yes’ camp’s fault, of course, but it is a reality, and leaders should recognise realities rather than whipping up starry-eyed Camelot-fervour.
@mary
“The BBC report on the latest atrocity. The shelter was shelled by the Israeli navy apparently.
Shelling ‘kills 15 in Gaza shelter’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28468526
Sky have just shown footage of the hospital receiving casualties including tiny babes. Scenes from hell.”
And yet similar scenes but in another place of the world (guess where) are being largely ignored by most of humane people on this blog. What is it biased approach or simply hidden agenda? So let me get it right. Russian mercenaries can kill people but IDF cannot? Is it right?
It never ceases to amaze me, when I read the comments on here, just how many folk are completely ignorant of the actual debate here in Scotland. This is clearly illustated by the, frankly offensive, comment above at 9.45 am “I think Scottish independence is a con and that the bedrock of Scottish nationalism is dimwitted chip-shouldered anti-English xenophobia”. Can you imagine the outcry in the London based media if one of the “cybernats” made a similar comment about British/ English nationalism? VOTE YES!
Well I have lived in Scotland for many years, Iain, so there is no “inside Scotland” versus “outside Scotland” dividing us.
I have described my take on what is going on, which incidentally coincides with Billy Connolly’s and many other people’s. You quote one of my sentences and suggest that it indicates “ignorance of the actual debate” on my part. I would be happy to discuss with you, but the fact is that you do not give any examples to support your assertion. I do not mean to be rude, but that is typical of people who have arrived at their positions irrationally.
I think you should examine where you are coming from. You may not like what I say, but I am a participant in the “actual debate”.
Addressing the very real xenophobia is not ignorant; nor is addressing the PR strategy of the Yessers, which is Camelotic and, where that doesn’t work, foot-stamping. (Examples given.)
Uzbek in the UK
25 Jul, 2014 – 11:30 am
“And yet similar scenes but in another place of the world (guess where) are being largely ignored by most of humane people on this blog. What is it biased approach or simply hidden agenda? So let me get it right. Russian mercenaries can kill people but IDF cannot? Is it right?”
—————————————-
Uzbek,
The discussion on this thread is about Israel/Palestine; not Ukraine!
yes, 24 Jul, 9:45 am:
I think you should look further ahead. With independence, Scotland will free itself of the outdated Westminster voting system which effectively limits power to the establishment. It’s practically impossible for even one non-conformist MP to be elected under the Westminster “winner takes all” voting system.
The independence referendum is about freedom to choose policy, not policy itself. Secure the freedom, because then you can start voting effectively on the basis of policies.
When I was visiting Scotland last year, many I spoke to were in favour of independence, but were reluctant to vote that way because they dislike the SNP and Salmond. But independence would initiate the decline (or force the transformation) of the SNP by removing its reason for existence; having achieved autonomy, the voters and party members will move on to the actual issues that they couldn’t effectively address under Westminster.
Yes, 25 Jul, 10:21 am:
I think it’s the other way around. Scotland is already in the EU by being part of the UK, and as such it holds responsibilities and treaty commitments towards the EU. Dismantling those commitments would be a bigger job than transferring them to a newly independent Scotland.
Sorry, I didn’t make this clear:
It is unarguably the case that Scotland already has legal responsibilities within the EU which would have to be renegotiated before Scotland could leave.