Listening to the BBC and Sky, and reading The Guardian, all on the subject of whether the UK establishment knew about CIA torture or not, the realisation dawned on me that I had imagined my entire life story and in fact I had never actually existed. For a little while it was like being in a particularly scary Japanese film.
Then fortunately, I started to look through the comments threads and discovered that even though every journalist in the mainstream media does not know that I blew the whistle on all this a decade ago, the general public do apparently know of me and know a very great deal more than the so-called journalists. So it seems I do exist after all.
That is really quite a relief, because I was about to cancel my walk to Sandy Bell’s on the grounds that if I was merely a metaphysical concept, I probably would not be able to drink anyway.
O/T
A 340 page PDF of a book about Julian.
http://media2.libertarianbooks.se/2013/12/SWEDEN-VS.ASSANGE-HUMAN-RIGHTS-ISSUES-By-Prof-Marcello-Ferrada-de-Noli.pdf
‘A distinguished European human rights advocate is relentlessly exposing
abuses by mainstream Swedish news organizations covering the prosecution of
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Dr. Marcello Ferrada de Noli is a medical
school professor who splits his time between Sweden and Italy after surviving
politically motivated torture decades ago in Chile. He was imprisoned in
Quiriquina Island Camp, after resisting Pinochet’s Military Junta, and he was
himself a whistleblower upon the Russell Tribunal in Rome in 1974, on the
crimes perpetrated by the Junta.
As Swedish authorities push for a secret trial of WikiLeaks founder Julian
Assange, the noted human rights activist has repeatedly challenged the oftpraised
fairness of his nation’s legal system and its media coverage. His
columns have shown how Sweden’s major broadcasters and newspapers
support their government’s campaign against Assange……..’
@Ben: “The Matrix” was a marvellous film, now from another, brighter era when a holographic world, and world view, was merely a science fiction reality. “Neo” was a very bold choice of name.
After 9/11, it looks as if some very sick people have been trying to create such a world… where reality is irrelevant and the picture painted by the mainstream media is all that matters. They were probably driven to do it by the thought that facing the reality of US defences being penetrated to the core by a bunch of amateurs was too much to accept. A government elected on a smaller number of votes than the opposition allowing US to be invaded within a year would be too much for the great American people to stomach.
Those of us who instinctively thought something wasn’t right in the aftermath of 9/11 were proved right again and again in the years of extreme violence that followed. We also saw our fellow countrymen and women becoming less challenging of the absolute garbage that sometimes counted for news, and the media world view created after 9/11 became their reality as well.
The reason the Blair government is worse than most if that they weren’t just going along reluctantly with the neos, but were clearly players in the creation of that media matrix. Whereas the British aristocracy are traditionally in favour of war, I saw them for the first time in 2003 out on the streets protesting against the outrage that was about to unfold. People like Lord Rees-Mogg, for example, who last night was probably even more scathing about Blair inc. than Ken Livingstone. I think Stephen Hawking helped as well earlier this week with his rant about artificial intelligence. I remember that he was one of the celebrities that read out the names of the Iraq dead on All Souls Day (how appropriate was that!) back in November 2004.
Now, thanks mainly it seems to the breath-taking heroism of the US alternative media and the late Brian Haw, the Blair-world is unravelling daily in front of our eyes, as the fear that gave it energy starts to subside. More and more people are coming forward to help us get back to a more normal reality, and the UK media managers must be wondering what’s hit them. Even the BBC, who (inadvertently) helped to create that matrix, are now occasionally broadcasting unpleasant truths about the people who seized control of a reasonably democratic system. There is hope that justice will be done.
Do not bother Mr Jim ‘Labour Friends of Israel’ Murphy.
Scottish Labour to unveil new leader
Jim Murphy is seen as the frontrunner in the Scottish Labour leadership contest
Scottish Labour is announcing its new leader, with former UK cabinet minister Jim Murphy the perceived frontrunner to win the contest.
The MP and former Scottish secretary is standing against MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack.
Johann Lamont quit the leadership in October, accusing Westminster colleagues of treating Labour in Scotland like a “branch office”.
Scottish Labour will also name a new elected deputy leader.
The party uses an electoral college to decide the victor
/..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-30434528
PS I thought that one unveiled plaques, paintings or statues.
BBC’s QT was excellent. On RT there was Crosstalk, which was (lol!) less biased (one person speaking up for torture…):
http://rt.com/shows/crosstalk/213639-us-cia-tortures-sic/
It may well be, Craig, that the bastards will ignore you more than ever, now that you have been proved to be right, and now that these folks in the States have had the balls to come out and say what you have been saying for ten years.
Of course I don’t know what it feels like to be you, or anyone else for that matter, but I would guess you feel some relief that a part of the burden you have been carrying has been lifted by the publication of the report.
You have travelled a long road with this one.
By the way, I was astonished watching Question Time on Thursday night that there were no questions about the implications of the report.
I assume the beeb didn’t want to be hosting some dialogue where people were speaking the truth!
Oops! @Conjunction. I meant BBC’s AQ was excellent, not QT. Already given the link in an earlier post, and well worth listening to the first 11 minutes if you didn’t catch it live.
Mr Scorgie
“Bunny la Roche
12 Dec, 2014 – 7:39 pm
“Seriously, though, Doug, could you flesh out a little what you mean by the “establishment narrative”?
………………………………………………………………………………………..
If you don’t know what “establishment narrative” means Bunny perhaps this blog is a bit above your intellectual paygrade.”
_________________
That response is rather disappointing, Doug, but perhaps not surprising.
It looks like a cop-out to me – on a blog which is supposed to “discuss” and “illuminate” political, economic and social matters.
On the other hand, it may be just another indication of your mental laziness. After all, I still recall you once saying that you “couldn’t be arsed” to read a link which I furnished following a request of yours.
“Intellectual paygrade” indeed!
“Do not bother Mr Jim ‘Labour Friends of Israel’ Murphy.
Scottish Labour to unveil new leader
Jim Murphy is seen as the frontrunner in the Scottish Labour leadership contest..”
________________
As so often, Mary appears to be judging a politician solely on the basis of whether he or she us a supporter of Israel.
A rather limited (and perhaps obsessive) vision, if I may say so.
Mr Scorgie
“I suspect Mary that our “Bunny” is more likely to be a right-wing infiltrator of the Left who’s embarrassing outburst against Nigel Farage was designed to give credibility to UKIP and at the same time undermine anti-racist campaigners.
Time will tell but the credibility of those on the left who seek a sensible debate on immigration has been damaged by this silly woman.”
_________________
An interesting take.
As you say, time will tell, but in the meantime, would you like to flesh out your thought a little for our edification (links and references not necessary, just your own thoughts will do!)?
@Canspeccy
“Today we have the Internet, which offers a different picture, but it is the home of every kind of crank and crackpot, as well as a legion of disinformation agents.”
What with this and the hero worship of Russell Brand I cannot only declares that irony still lives but she (well she is as female as Sofia anyway!) has made a full recovery.
” suspect Mary that our “Bunny” is more likely to be a right-wing infiltrator of the Left”
What you mean the “smallest mass party in the world” has now been infiltrated – oh well that would explain all those rumours about the rapists among its leadership. As I said Lady Irony is in fine fettle at present.
“On RT there was Crosstalk, which was (lol!) less biased (one person speaking up for torture…):”
A former KGB officer by any chance?
Master Scorgie’s concept of right wingers infiltrating the left so that they can weaken the cause of the left by incoherent and strident arguments is a rather fascinating one.
Perhaps it now needs a few double bluffs to throw us off the scent.
““On RT there was Crosstalk, which was (lol!) less biased (one person speaking up for torture…):”
A former KGB officer by any chance?”
_________________
Nice one, Resident Dissident!
Expect a speedy rebuttal from one of the Usual Suspects!! 🙂
More fallen leaves for the council sweeper.
Dad and his minions think they can plug the holes in the info dam with their fingers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubXmfUTTA4s
Speedy rebuttal granted, Habby! Very witty, RD, but Clearly you haven’t watched it! The point I was making was that (ironically, perhaps…) the BBC panel on Any Questions were universally against torture. However, the contributors on Crosstalk had one person arguing the case.. a CIA Analyst, actually, if you’d bothered to check. His strongest argument for torture was that “they cut off peoples heads”, and he used the now well oiled argument against the damning report that “US lives will probably be lost because of it”.
I was really impressed with Rees-Mogg last night. Between them, he and Ken Livingstone presented a clear picture of unaccountable and unbound security services out of control and accepted by the British public because of the James Bond image. Strenuous applause. Definitely a new zeitgeist in the making.
The security services, media, gatekeeper politicians and neo-cons have spent 20 years trashing the Muslim world, laying the seeds of disaffection , poverty, neglect for another 200 years. The object of the exercise is Crusading against Islam.
For opposing teams in a football match, they are both in support of football. Purely metaphorically speaking, I hate Football.
The definition of Metaphysics is the taking of metaphor to its logical conclusion.
Hear, hear Peacewisher. It will be interesting to hear how Ms Anand deals with the subject on Any Answers later today after the AQ repeat.
Will she toe the BiBiCee line?
Thanks for the link Geomannie:
http://batemanbroadcasting.com/episode-26-shocking-tale-torture-indifference/
Splendid credible interview.
Peacewisher
The point you haven’t grasped is that I am universally against torture – unlike many contributors here who take a more selective approach. For example where is Mark Golding’s condemnation of the torture employed by the Assad monarchy against its people for many many years?
Mary
Don’t you understand that trees drop their leaves for the purpose of surviving cold winters.
I’m very pleased to hear that, RD. I will bear it in mind in any future online conversation.
Mary: yes, that will be interesting. Perhaps they’ll aoid that question altogether. Won’t be the first time…
If any of you can cope with any more anti-torture “propaganda”, George Galloway has Norman Baker and Charles Shoebridge on his latest “Sputnik”:
http://rt.com/shows/sputnik/213975-uk-general-election-campaign/
For the very very dim, that means that both the perpetrators and the public in general believe in the values of UK plc a former Christian nation which now has 99% of its Islamic understanding from the Gospels missing. Like some ancient hieroglyphic letters on a tomb.
The public believe in the values which the neo-cons espouse. Enough said. It really isn’t interesting to debate a subject which just goes round and round and round. If only the Muslims would give up their values, we wouldn’t all have to agree that it was unfortunately necessary to keep on persecuting them ad infinitum.
Large pools of public crocodile tears and politician wringing of hands.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!”
“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
And this was scarcely odd, because, they’d eaten every one.
“It seems a shame,” the Walrus said,
“To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“The butter’s spread too thick!”
“I weep for you,” the Walrus said:
“I deeply sympathize.”
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/walrus.html
Metaphysical hammer on nail in one.
The ‘newt loving’ but newly testosterone-free Ken Livingstone is now chatting for the next 3 hours on LBC (on DAB in UK, on TuneInRadio ap outside) he will be talking with David Mellor about the CIA/MI6 torture, they sometimes allow former ambassadors to put a POV.
Is there a tariff of dates to release embarrassing admissions of the bleeding obvious so that the corp-0-rat press can bury them efficiently? Mid-December seems well-chosen in the absence of an air disaster or Prince in nazi regalia shocker.
Still, it’s nice to be vindicated even after being kept waiting for a decade. Do you think you can provoke Straw and the other terrorists into suing you or will that have to wait until they’ve rigged the rules of evidence even more than hitherto?
@Giyane: As a kid, I enjoyed reading “Through the Looking Glass” more than the popular “Alice in Wonderland”. Maybe because I was keen on chess?! However, to my knowledge it has never been made into a film. Surprising… maybe its moment will come.
Thanks, YNMN. Available through the Internet via:
http://www.lbc.co.uk/listen-live-3578
You have to bear with the adverts first, however.