The far right CIA funded Henry Jackson Society, Vice President Jim Murphy, officially supports torture. Here is the odious Douglas Murray putting the Henry Jackson Society view on This Week.
I have searched everywhere I can, and in a week where every politician in the World has expressed his views on torture, I can find nothing from CIA poster boy Jim Murphy. He is a founder member of the Henry Jackson Society, so I think it is fair to presume he supports their official view as shown in this video.
The BBC had a choice of two Murrays. The could have chosen Douglas Murray, full time paid propagandist for the USA. Or they could have chosen Craig Murray, ex-Ambassador sacked by Labour for blowing the whistle on CIA torture ten years ago, and now proved to have been right. Guess which the BBC chose.
You at least had an ‘honorable mention’, Craig.
“LABOUR MP Jim Murphy claimed the “noisy tap of mob mentality” has been turned off as he made a return to the referendum campaign trail in Edinburgh city centre.”
http://www.jimmurphymp.com/news-room/News-desk/news.aspx?p=1041587
Thought about a campaign manager yet? Publicist?
There was no choice from the BBC’s point of view. They have no choice. They have to do what their bidders bid.
“We DEMAND UNITY”-Adam Sutler.
“Former CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden on Thursday defended revelations from Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats that the agency used rectal rehydration on detainees.
“These were medical procedures,” Hayden said during a tense interview on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” He added that the method was used because detainees were dehydrated, and that giving them intravenous fluids with needles would be dangerous.
“I’m not a doctor,” he said. “What I am told is that this is one of the ways that the body is rehydrated.”
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/226883-ex-cia-director-defends-rectal-rehydration
OMERTA is their only recourse.
Perhaps they are frightened you might drop a few names into the ring. Gavin Ewart is still smarting from the mention of agent Anna Ardin’s name. They don’t want people who tell the truth on the BBC. Yes-men only – unless it comes to the Scottish referendum. Oops.
I suggest the game is changing but you just don’t see it yet. Tomorrow will probably be a wedge between you and the SNP leadership. Disproportionate power will be used against you for political reasons. Exactly what you did yesterday. Anyway, I sincerely wish you fortitude for the next few days.
Torture works. And it works in the following ways:
i) It procures an evidentiary basis for convictions and supports dominant narratives about a global conspiracy against civilization. A case in point would be Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his remarkable, extravagant confession, extracted under torture.
ii) It supplies a flow of information justifying bureaucratic practices. Of course most of the information is bullshit, and none of it leads to the disruption of major ‘plots’. The Republicans are hugely inconvenienced by the discovery of this fact. However, bullshit information can be ‘actionable intelligence’ if it allows the state to perpetuate policies the ruling class supports. Fielding and monopolising information to produce the discourses of statecraft is exactly what states do. In that sense, bullshit may be exactly what the torturers were looking for. If Abu Zubaydah did not provide information about real plots, he nonetheless provided information that state agencies could use.
iii) It intimidates and punishes enemies of the state. This does not necessarily break resistance movements. The IRA, for example, understood torture as part of their national struggle, and prepared for it and symbolised it as such. However, it’s an open question how much this demoralises potential supporters, as opposed to inciting further resistance. Obama’s critique of such methods upon taking the White House was that it merely provided further incitement. But given that he has allowed torture to continue, that is necessarily a provisional judgment about a certain kind of very public, spectacular form of torture.
iv) It identifies social inferiors. This is a sociological commonplace. In ancient Rome, the torture of slaves was justified on the basis that slaves were not rational creatures like citizens. Truth could only be induced from them not through discourse but by tormenting their bodies. In modern states, ‘terrorists’ and communists and various racial others are those from whom no truthful statement can be elicited except through torture. As such, a de facto caste system is produced in juridical practice wherein a certain special case of people can be rendered, interned, tortured and only released at the pleasure of captors. Their status as inferiors is inscribed on their bodies, as well as in the technical discourses of the state.
http://www.leninology.co.uk/
Ben
A publicist? Ugh. PR is the rotten master of the persuasion industry. Isn’t it everything we rail against here? No, no, let me guess, there is no choice, our PR different from the rest.
In these compromises to gain their type of power we become the beast ourself.
Whatever you want to call it Phil; it’s assistance with countering the propaganda. He can’t possibly have enough time to do everything his own self.
The narrative behind population control has all the marbles; Media, political animals with their personal agenda all with cash and access aplenty. Don’t you like underdogs? I do.
Sure, our’s is necessary and different.
Counter the propaganda with propaganda! Fight war with war! Replace the same old same old with more same old same old!
“Counter the propaganda with propaganda!”
Is fact-checking to counter propaganda, also propaganda?
Ben
Craig has an army of free fact checkers here. I thought you were suggesting professional PR.
Anyway, apart from the moral contradictions I am attempting to raise there is the very real problem that no publicist or PR will get CM onto the BBC.
Two forms of propaganda;
Wiki;
Propaganda is a form of communication aimed towards influencing the attitude of a population toward some cause or position.
Propaganda is information that is not impartial and used primarily to influence an audience and further an agenda, often by presenting facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or using loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. Propaganda can be used as a form of ideological or commercial warfare.
While the term propaganda has acquired a strongly negative connotation by association with its most manipulative and jingoistic examples, propaganda in its original sense was neutral, and could refer to uses that were generally positive, such as public health recommendations, signs encouraging citizens to participate in a census or election, or messages encouraging persons to report crimes to law enforcement, among others.”
Phil; There are truths and half-truths encompassed in the word.
“. I thought you were suggesting professional PR.”
He needs more than fact-checkers from comments. A professional would have contacts and relationships which might give him access to outlets. No, probably not the BBC or Guardian, but perhaps guest posts on Wings or an OP-Ed in the Scotsman to give him more exposure. Not to worry. I’m not sure Craig could afford such a person.
Does the UK have anything like the Fairness Doctrine?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine
Or the Equal Time rule?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-time_rule
The equal-time rule specifies that U.S. radio and television broadcast stations must provide an equivalent opportunity to any opposing political candidates who request it. This means, for example, that if a station gives one free minute to a candidate in prime time, it must do the same for another candidate who requests it. The equal-time rule was created because the FCC thought the stations could easily manipulate the outcome of elections by presenting just one point of view, and excluding other candidates. It should not be confused with the now-defunct Fairness Doctrine, which dealt with presenting balanced points of view on matters of public importance.
There are four exceptions to the equal-time rule. If the airing was within a documentary, bona fide news interview, scheduled newscast or an on-the-spot news event, the equal-time rule does not apply. Since 1983, political debates not hosted by the media station are considered “news events,” and as a result, are not subject to the rule. Consequently, these debates may include only major-party candidates without having to offer air time to minor-party or independent candidates. Talk shows and other regular news programming from syndicators, such as Entertainment Tonight, are also declared exempt from the rule by the FCC on a case-by-case basis. [1]
Corruption is the biggest single problem. Until we tackle that, frontally, it will be impossible to get any good solutions or even viable interim measures to the long and growing list of problems we face. Conduct that would have been seen as reprehensible 40 years ago, like foreclosing on people who were current on their mortgages, or selling drugs even when the company knows they increase heart heart attack and stroke risk enough to be fatal for a meaningful percentage of patients, barely stirs a raised eyebrow today.
As Frederick Douglass said:
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.
It has become fashionable to talk of outrage fatigue, but political and economic abusers have used that to press for more advantage. And events of recent weeks suggest that even a downtrodden and disenfranchised public is capable of rousing itself and acting when they have finally been pushed too far. Escalating violence by police and the utter indifference of local authorities to it has produced not just a backlash, but sustained protests. Similarly, while the publication of the CIA torture reports is unlikely to lead to real reform of the CIA, it has embarrassed our foreign collaborators and has confirmed the worst of what US critics and skeptics overseas believe. Even if the report produces little change in the US, it has ended any pretense that the US has moral authority in the world at large.
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/12/joe-firestone-lawless-society.html
So no big surprise then that Jim Murphy won the contest to be manager of the Scottish Labour branch, after all he was 1/5 on with the bookies, and they rarely get it wrong.
But what does it say about Labour’s Scottish branch,personnel, when London feels the need to parachute one of its own in, to run the shop.
Murphy who lost the union vote, but won the parliamentary and ordinary vote, to become leader, Murphy who’s probably the most right wing MP in the Labour party, will struggle to win back voters, simply because Labour is not left wing enough, for ordinary folk.
Those of you who watched Murphy’s 100 town tour of Scotland,during the Scottish referendum, would have found him particularly obnoxious, as he shouted down anyone who had a pertinent question, whilst being surrounded by supporters bused in from England.
In my opinion at best Murphy will hold on to the die-hard section of Labour’s support, and maybe even convince a few, disillusioned Tories to switch to Labour due to Murphy’s right wing tendencies.
How can you compete with the media?
“Daily Express owner Richard Desmond has thrown his financial support behind Ukip, pledging £300,000 to Nigel Farage’s party less than five months before the general election.”
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/12/richard-desmond-donation-ukip-nigel-farage
Ed Miliband’s hopes of become Britain’s next Prime Minister suffered a serious setback today as a new poll suggested Labour is facing political annihilation at the hands of the SNP in its Scottish heartlands.
The survey, by Ipsos Mori, found Labour is currently polling at just 23 per cent in Scotland which, if replicated in May, would see the party lose all but four of the 41 MPs it currently has north of the border.
Such a result would make it next to impossible for Labour to win an overall majority in Westminster and form a Government after the next election.
One Labour shadow minister admitted the party had become “moribund” in Scotland, and seemed to think “that infighting is more important than campaigning”.
“We are in a dreadful position,” said Thomas Docherty, shadow Deputy Leader of the House. “We’ve got to be honest about ourselves. We have very low esteem with the electorate [and they] have no idea what our polices are.”
He added: “We can return to be the grown-up party that wants to be in Government or we can self-indulge like a throwback to the 1980s and watch our party implode, and the Tories win again.”
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I sincerely hope the poll holds true, come the GE, and Labour are decimated in Scotland, hopefully Jim Murphy will lose his East Renfrewshire seat to boot.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-faces-prospect-of-losing-more-than-30-seats-in-scotland-at-the-next-election-poll-reveals-9828786.html
Re Jim Murphy’s East Renfrewshire seat, If only the SNP could take that seat at the GE, where would Murphy stand then, of course Labour have a fair majority in East Renfrewshire, but its not insurmountable by a long shot.
If the SNP could, take Murphy’s seat, surely the Labour branch office in Scotland, would go from disarray to sheer turmoil.
Here are the stats for East Renfrewshire 2010 GE, keep in my a lot has changed since then.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Renfrewshire_%28UK_Parliament_constituency%29#Election_results
Douglas Murray,a sneering apologist for torture and a grotesque careerist.
Nasty nasty little prick.
by Brendan Simms
Originally published in LA Times
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‘The gravest immediate threat to the West’s long-term security does not emanate from Vladimir Putin or from the militants of the Islamic State. Rather, surprisingly, it comes from peace-loving Scots.
With polls now showing a majority of Scots supporting independence in the referendum set for Sept. 18, it’s suddenly clear that Scotland might actually break away from Britain.
In the words of Lord West of Spithead, former First Sea Lord, “A ‘yes’ vote for Scottish independence would make it more difficult to defend Britain. It would diminish NATO and the West’s ability to do things.
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The Henry Jackson Society carried this story, which was originally published in the LA Times.
Brendan Simms is the President of the Henry Jackson Society, and by reprinting this story on their website, its clear to me at least what the Henry Jackson Society think of Scots and Scotland.
http://henryjacksonsociety.org/2014/09/10/can-this-union-be-saved/
No doubt Jim Murphy Vice President of the Henry Jackson Society, feels the same way about Scots and Scotland, he just can’t say it openly.
“And the Henry Jackson Society is helping the Labour Party in an entirely non-partisan way in helping to think aloud about some of their policy direction.”
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Above is an excerpt from Jim Murphy’s speech at a Henry Jackson Society meeting on July 9th.
Continue reading:
http://henryjacksonsociety.org/2012/07/09/announcing-hjs-academic-political-policy-councils/
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Alan Mendoza the Director of the Henry Jackson Society, claims that that they have the backing of 45 MP’s and 25 top academic’s around the world.
Jim Murphy was a cabinet minister in the Westminster government and certainly knew about CIA torture and the rendition flights through Scottish airports at the time. He was also complicit in the sacking of Craig Murray, the UK ambassador who brought CIA intelligence, derived by torture, to the attention of Jack Straw and the rest of this Labour cabinet.
Did he disclose this to the Labour party voters who elected him today? Did he tell the MSM who wholeheartedly supported him, so they could examine and question him? Snigger.
Scottish Green Co-Conveners Maggie Chapman & Patrick Harvie have today congratulated Jim Murphy & Kezia Dugdale on their election to the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party and invited Labour members to join the Greens following the result.
With Jim Murphy’s record as a staunch defender of the Iraq War, privatisation of public services and deep cuts to social security many Labour members and supporters will now be seeking a new political home, following many who have already done so. One in ten Scottish Green Party members is an ex-Labour Party member.
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“I congratulate Jim Murphy and Kezia Dugdale on their election. Neil and Sarah are also due great credit for offering Scottish Labour some more radical options.
By electing Jim Murphy though, Scottish Labour have made a choice that confirms them as a pro-Trident, pro-austerity party, still Blairite so long after Blair, and this will dismay many. I find it hard to see how that agenda can connect with Scotland’s newly politicised voters.”
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Above is what Patrick Harvey of the Greens thinks of Jim Murphy’s appointment, I have found Mr Harvey over the past few years in the run up to the Scottish referendum, to be fair and honest in his opinion, and even he’s dismayed at Labour’s appointment of Murphy.
https://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/greens-comment-on-murphy-election/
Republicofscotland
13 Dec, 2014 – 5:01 pm
“In the words of Lord West of Spithead, former First Sea Lord, “A ‘yes’ vote for Scottish independence would make it more difficult to defend Britain. It would diminish NATO and the West’s ability to do things.”
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More from Lord West today:
Labour’s Lord West says UK agents may have been present while waterboarding was happening – but there is no need for new inquiry
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/12/british-agents-odd-case-cia-torture-lord-west
Lord West.
Another scumbag lacking any moral conscience whaqtsoever.
i wonder how he’d feel if it was him or his family being tortured?
Not quite so fucking urbane then i’ll bet.
These people have to be held to account=and sharpish too or they’ll lead us into a serious hellhole of a society.
Another one who knows about US/UK torture plans to return to help Labour:
David Miliband hints at another stint in British politics
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/13/david-miliband-british-politics-hints-return
Murphy’s opening line seems to be ‘great to see you again’ even if he has never met someone before.
Viz
‘He launched his campaign to an enthusiastic audience of invited Labour supporters. My friend Craig Murray (our ex ambassador to Uzbekistan, sacked by Jack Straw for protesting about torture) accompanied me to the coffee session preceding the launch. He had the rather surreal experience of being greeted by Jim with “great to see you again, thank you so much for coming”. Craig had never met Jim before.
Craig spoke to six people at the coffee hall before the meeting, and reported: “All of them said they were working for the Labour Party.” This is the reality of Labour in Scotland today; take away the staff of MPs, MSPs, MEPs and councillors and the party is a hollow shell.’
and
‘I asked him a question about Trident: “Jim, when the Labour Party in Scotland were last allowed to discuss Trident they voted heavily against it> When you lead the Labour Party in Scotland what will your line be?”
He replied: “Hugh it’s nice to see you again. I read some of your stuff and enjoy some of it! Of course I want to get rid of all nuclear weapons but in this dangerous modern world when many countries like Iran are trying to get nuclear weapons it’s not a time for us to give them up.”
This of course is what I expected. Jim Murphy is not only an arch Blairite, he is a hawk on foreign policy, a keen supporter of the war on Iraq and Afghanistan. He urged the bombing of Syria last year when the House of Commons voted against it. Murphy is also closely connected to US interests as an advisor to the Henry Jackson Society, a right wing foreign policy group.’
http://www.newsnetscotland.scot/index.php/component/content/article/7-politics/9834-murphys-launch-backed-by-the-party-machine
Good bit at the beginning about the corrupt arms deal with the Saudis.
The Yanks are mad. And it is not just their refusal to bring to justice torturers. They have lost any vestige of common decency. They want a war in Europe. But they are going to end up with one in the US. Their economy is down the pan. They have nothing left but a military arsenal. They intend to use it. The world will not know what has hit it.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/americas-war-on-russia-u-s-congress-virtually-100-unanimous-on-joining-ukraines-war-against-russia-americans-are-at-least-67-opposed/5419578