Tony Blair names Henry Kissinger as his role model. Honestly, not kidding. It is of course literally true, as they were both responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands through neo-colonial war. What a pity he forgot to mention it when he stood for leadership of the Labour Party. On the other hand, it is the sort of thing Jim Murphy of the Henry Jackson Society is quite open about, and it doesn’t seem to hurt his career prospects either.
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OK, Tim, thanks for explaining the difference to a rookie economist like me, but it is still surprising that the UK has such a high value.
I think this set of figures would be closer to what I was trying to show… but unfortunately they are out of date (2012):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_public_debt
It might be the only “pro-independence” newspaper we have, but how much of that otherwise and shamefully anti-democratic wall-to-wall triumphalist unionism is a product of the tight stranglehold over distribution held by an establishment clique, largely managed by the commercial arm of John Menzies, which absolutely guarantees that no new title could ever get a foothold or even reach the public. Without freedom of the press (including TV) we’ll never achieve anything remotely like a functioning democracy, but it is certain that the trajectory of print media is to crash, burn and die; in this internet age, their business model, as well as their appallingly dishonest products are finished.
Syrian chemical weapon attack, Malaysian flight MH17, still unsolved heinous crimes, for the former William Hague and Malcolm Rifkind must be considered suspects, for the latter I think David Cameron, believed residing at Downing St, London, could help with enquiries.
UK Mass Surveillance Regime Does Not Breach Human Rights Law, Tribunal Rules
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/12/06/uk-mass-surveillance-regime-does-not-breach-human-rights-law-tribunal-rules
Seeds of Democracy or Cruel and Illegal Weapons?
From Human Rights Watch… “It is shocking to see a weapon that most countries have banned used so extensively in eastern Ukraine,” said Mark Hiznay, senior arms researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Ukrainian authorities should make an immediate commitment not to use cluster munitions and join the treaty to ban them.”
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/10/20/ukraine-widespread-use-cluster-munitions
The HRW statement confirms data contained in the White Book released by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The updated 3rd edition contains documented proof of new crimes and abuses, in particular those connected with the strategy of “social and economic strangling” of the eastern republics by the Kiev regime.
Roll on the day when the perpetrators and their paymasters/mistresses are publicly held to account for their actions.
I suggest that you all watch Kissinger on Charlie Rose this year. And Hagel’s interview a couple of weeks ago. I think Hagel’s praise of Kissenger’s recent book contributed to if it did not trigger his firing.
Men change. I was born in 1945, and know what the man did.
For whatever reason, he is now arguing for sanity.
Knee jerk ‘Kissinger Condor’ Kissinger ‘Laos’ Kissinger whatever from fifty years ago is not useful.
What does he have to say now, and is he right?
I believe he is massively informed, very articulate, and absolutely right.
But I am not sure this blog has that intellectual scope to admit such thinking.
Another missive from the cloud/386 in the cupboard under the stairs:
I had hoped for an impassioned, almost compelling but in all probability reason and fact-free defence of the grand National. I’m not dissing it completely (yet) I’m seeking re-assurance, but there seems little or none out there, only blind faith and possibly sorely mis-placed hope.
I’ve not bought a newspaper regularly (hardly at all actually) in more than ahem many years, and I’m not likely to start doing so now, even if they gave away free soma and promised more paradise with every copy. I’m happy to see those that do do so, do so.
The disinformation and deceit is thickly spread and covers well from a vast number of orifices; the complete collapse of the printed sector would leave broadcasting having to cover so much more, more strictly, more stridently; the nauseous noxious output of BBC, STV, SKY etc. would have to become so much more splenetic and disgusting, so desperate that something would have to give; the rickety dam of lies would be torn asunder and realisation then profound discontent, anger would wash across the commons, drown some pestilential rats and lap all round isolating the strongholds of malign power.
But what could have wrought such a change in Kissinger’s stone cold mechanical heart. Is it the proximity, the number and the noise of the baying angry mob, and the growing likelihood of a noose tightening round his bull neck. If so that’s as it should be, and is long overdue. I’m afraid he and his generation should be first incase general mortality denies justice, but the likes of Bush, Blair should be forced to watch their heros, whilst waiting in line for their turn. They might prefer a quick exit than to become inmates of Guantanamo with entries in Who’s Who, but the mob is unlikely to give them the choice.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2863844/How-pass-vast-deficit-triumph-away-George-Osborne-s-cunning-genius-make-Machiavelli-proud.html
Kissinger was always the arch pragmatist. He respects power. Putin has it.
http://johnpilger.com/articles/we-need-to-be-told
Pilger is great, I remember seeing some of his stuff on tv as a kid. Seems little chance of that now in the uk.
I think back then (early 90s) there was a chance of us becoming at least an ok country. Now it’s just a place for class war, Waged by people who need for nothing. It’s a real mind bender at times.
I would not mind so much, personally, if they really enjoyed and made the most out of all they exploit, but they look very sad to me. And none of them, with all there money and power make a dam bit of difference.
Maybe people will look back and think of all these people, ‘they where just those who through some pathology where only out for themselves and saw fit to dominate and manipulate others’. I know there is a lot more variation in real politicians/people, but it seems to be what is being distilled atm.
Don’t watch the lights kids.
‘it’s a lie, and it’s a scam, they wind us up, put us down, and watch us go’.
Lenny kravitz….How things change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh-aoxDLEdw
While we’re on the implied topic of imperialism, indiscriminate slaughter, unnecessary war and governmental hubris, it might be instructive to look at these poor sad bastards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPaEYoPnA1k
They ought to be part of the E.U. so they can emulate Poland and leave behind their miserable lives among crumbling ruins and economic depredation. When they’ll ever realise that, I don’t know.
And, while Blair may have many things in common with Kissinger, education and literacy weren’t among them. I’ll bet that when he got the job, Kissinger didn’t have to send some underpaid minion rushing out to buy an atlas, anyway.
Scots, please take note. When you acheive national self determination, make sure you restructure your institutions so you don’t end up like Ireland.
Here’s a brief timeline:
1167 Arrival of Normans initiates rule by the senior nobles and monarchy of England, aided by Irish elites.
1649 Arrival of the Lord Protector of England, Oliver Cromwell. English troops kill thousands of Irish people in a campaign of terror that ends with a great part of Irish lands confiscated and divided among the English elite.
Ireland’s population reduced by two thirds during Cromwell’s rule. Irish people sent as slaves to work on plantations in the islands in the Caribbean.
By the early 1700’s Irish people hold just 7% of land in Ireland.
1845-49 The Irish Potato Famine. Many Irish emigrate to America. Irish population drops from 8 million to 6 million due to death from starvation or emigration despite abundant food production and export.
1916 British Army crushes Easter Rising in Dublin with artillery then executes leaders pour encourager les autres, thus radicalising a previously uncomitted Irish population.
1919-21 Irish War of Independence ending in the Anglo Irish Treaty.
Ireland partitioned. 26 county Irish Republic formed. Unionist-dominated north east remains a British colony.
1951-1994 Low level insurgency in Northern Ireland.
1969 British Military occupation of the six northern counties stepped up.
1994 IRA declares cease-fire.
1998 Good Friday Agreement, accepted by all parties.
2010
November 21st: Vast liabilities of failed corporate banking sector nationalised. Sovereignty ceded to IMF and EMU. Irish population assured it is being “bailed out” and will have to accept Austerity in return.
2014
Nov 25th: Documents emerge in a German newspaper indicating the British spy agency General Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had directly tapped undersea communications cables between Ireland and Britain for years.
Nov 26th: Irish Government responds by quietly was enacting new law. Foreign law enforcement agencies will be allowed to tap Irish phone calls and intercept emails under a statutory instrument signed into law by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald. Companies that object or refuse to comply with an intercept order could be brought before a private “in camera” court.
Dec 7th: Queen Elizabeth of England agrees to help Ireland mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/10755530/The-Queen-to-help-the-Irish-commemorate-the-1916-Easter-Rising.html
Someone, please tell me this is all just a bad dream!
rm -f The_Smith_Commission_Report-1.pdf
Mr Scorgie
“Castro a despot?
Now I know you’re an idiot!”
_____________________
Of course he’s no despot! Just a cuddly old buffer, never hurt a fly.
Mr Scorgie
“Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)
6 Dec, 2014 – 5:50 pm
“2/. Gaza’s border is with Israel and Israel has the right to police its borders as it sees fit with regard to both entry and exit. As does every other country (except those in the Schengen area).”
………………………………………………………………………………………..
As you know Habbabkuk, Israel has no defined borders nor does Palestine.”
_____________________
You may repeat that until you’re blue in the face, Doug, but Israel had de facto borders which are policed, as are all borders.
As Mr Adams had apparently recently found out…and as you too would find out if you ever tried to travel to Israel (or Gaza).
Sorry, but that’s how it is! 🙂
Tony M (re Dr Henry Kissinger)
“..and the growing likelihood of a noose tightening round his bull neck..”
________________
I note the way you (and some others) occasionally indulge in gory wishful thinking.
What goes on in the deepest recesses of your minds, I wonder?
As out friend Jives would say – very sinister! 🙂
Republicofscotland
“Habb
Of course its an absolute disgrace, if anyone wants to visit Hong Hong, where ever that is, they should be allowed to, I totally agree with you on that one.
Just as Gerry Adams should allowed to visit Gaza.”
________________
I fear you have misread me once again, RoS.
Mr Adams has no automatic “right” to visit Gaza or any other non-EEA country for that matter, just as the HoC Foreign Affairs Committee has no automatic “right” to visit Hong Kong.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But thanks for spreading out your indignation a little (even if belatedly and after some prodding)!
@ James, Tim and Anonymous
Excellent posts.
Always good to see the prevailing orthodoxy on here challenged by a handful of independent thinkers.
Thank you.
The revolting old croaker holds hands with some dim witted TV presenter.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2861739/Top-Chef-host-Padma-Lakshmi-charms-Henry-Kissinger-91-hold-hands-Bloomberg-Businessweek-bash-NYC.html
Does he have a food taster as BLiar is said to have?
Mary
“Troll should cut down on the cooking sherry intake. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nebe1zuEtbc
Defending the indefensible again of course.
I know of several doctors who are not allowed in to the open air prison, their only aim being to heal the injured and maimed.
See Dr Mads Gilbert for one.
Israel bans Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert from Gaza
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-30054556”
____________________
1/. Thanks for the insinuation of drunkenness, Mary, and how are you feeling today? Better, I trust?
2/. Why and in which way is the refusal of the Israeli authorities to let the angelic Mr Gerry Adams into Gaza “indefensible”?
3/. Your (repeated) spiel about the good Norwgeian doctor would be more convincing if you would also remind us (repeatedly) that he is not only a doctor but also a left-wing political activist who combines surgery with extreme anti-Israel views and expression.
Can you assure us that those other doctors you claim to know and who have not been allowed into Gaza confine themselves to doctoring?
The AofC is exercised by the hunger he sees. He wants Cameron to open state food banks.
Archbishop urges help for UK hungry
More help is needed to prevent UK families going hungry, the Archbishop of Canterbury says ahead of a parliamentary report on the issue
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30366020
If anybody wanted an indictment for the effect of four and a half years of Tory rule aided by the execrable LDs, there it is and it will get worse.
Mary
“The revolting old croaker holds hands with some dim witted TV presenter.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2861739/Top-Chef-host-Padma-Lakshmi-charms-Henry-Kissinger-91-hold-hands-Bloomberg-Businessweek-bash-NYC.html
Does he have a food taster as BLiar is said to have?”
___________________
I think you’re getting your revolting old croakers mixed up.
The one you’re thinking of was Uncle Joe Stalin, that cuddly, bewhiskered, droppy-chopped old angel and friend of Mr Goss.
Or were you thinking of some of the more revolting Borgias?
Donbas. The ceasefire continues.
Yesterday, 13 54pm. Gorlovka under fire by brave Ukrainian Army. Terrorists who do not have basements hide in bathrooms and hallways.
Image, http://voicesevas.r/img/0439078b8777bf21b5dc57ba267156a6.PNG
12.06.2014 Chronicle, http://voicesevas.ru/img/0439078b8777bf21b5dc57ba267156a6.PNG
The blog’s humanitarian troll has spoken. As the title suggests, You Couldn’t Make It Up.
Oops!
Link cock-up.
Chronicle here, http://en.voicesevas.ru/news/yugo-vostok/3240-the-war-in-novorossia-online-12062014-chronicle.html
Keeping bad company. They are also meeting Obomber and the dreadful Clinton woman and will visit the 9/11 memorial. Of course.
William and Kate charge 15 couples £32k EACH for dinner in New York:
‘Cash for access’ questions as Royal couple court US super-rich
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave for tour of New York tonight
Will attend lavish dinner hosted by Brit advertising mogul Sir Martin Sorrell
Huge sums of money paid by guests will go to Royal Foundation charity
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2863744/William-Kate-charge-15-couples-32k-dinner-New-York-Cash-access-questions-Royal-couple-court-super-rich.html
How degrading.
@Dreolin: This is five UK judges making a judgement on activities of NSA/GCHQ. Only one way the judgement could ever go, and I’m sure those who brought the case would have had no illusions about that. The next stage will be to test articles 8 and 10 in a more independent arena: Strasbourg.
@Mary: Have you seen the clip of Obama and that Clinton woman “resetting” their relationship with Russia, via Lavrov, back in 2009? How things have changed…
Alex Salmond is coming up live on Sky News’ Murnaghan shortly.
Mary
“The blog’s humanitarian troll has spoken.”
________________
Indeed you have, Mary, and even several times today.
And I have read and responded.