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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@Mary: GE Prediction Lab:300, Con:290, SNP: 40, Libdem: 25, Green 6, UKIP 6, Irish Prots 8, Irish Caths 8, and maybe the odd independent. Try to predict a coalition from that lot!
A sensible article on Ukraine/EU/Russia
In their zeal to denounce Russia for putting pressure on Ukraine over gas supplies, Western [media] usually neglected to mention that, through cheap gas and lenient payment terms, Russia was in fact subsidising the Ukrainian economy to the tune of several billion dollars each year – many times the total of Western aid during this period.
This allowed the same [media] not to address the obvious question of whether Western states would be willing to pay these billions in order to take Ukraine out of Russia’s sphere of influence and into that of the West.
[Also], very few Western [media] indeed have mentioned what is perhaps the most significant aspect of the Ukrainian-Russian relationship, namely that Ukrainians are entirely free to move to Russia to work, and to work in the vast majority of jobs and professions.
As a result of Russia’s much more successful economy, more than three million Ukrainians are now working in Russia, and sending remittances to their families in Ukraine – a vital contribution to the economies of several Ukrainian regions.
Whole article:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30278606
Mr Scorgie
As you’re around this morning, any thoughts on what I said earlier on?
“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).”
Anonymous
7 Dec, 2014 – 4:53 am
“Men change.”
…………………………………………………………..
Yes, let’s listen to the poor, misunderstood old gentleman.
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“Knee jerk ‘Kissinger Condor’ Kissinger ‘Laos’ Kissinger whatever from fifty years ago is not useful.”
……………………………………………………………
It was over fifty years ago let’s move on! Forgive him his sins.
……………………………………………………………
“What does he have to say now, and is he right?”
…………………………………………………………….
What he is saying now is probably what his detractors have been saying all along.
He was massively wrong in the past (legally and morally) and should return the Nobel Peace Prize and hand himself in at the Hague .
…………………………………………………………
“I believe he is massively informed, very articulate, and absolutely right.”
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Some people would say that about Hitler and Stalin.
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“But I am not sure this blog has that intellectual scope to admit such thinking.”
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We bow down to your superior intellect Anonymous.
Please say hi to Henry for us when you send your next fan letter.
@Doug: Yes, surprising because it’s on the present-day BBC website. Maybe they’ve found a way to keep their neocon paymasters happy with headlines/first paragraphs, yet providing a more balanced picture for those who wish to read further. And more people ARE reading further.
It’s quite right to criticise Israel denying the access of Gerry Adams or any other democratically elected politicians to Gaza – but where is the criticism from our one eyed monsters of China doing exactly the same to a parliamentary delegation wishing to visit Hong Kong?
Mary
How is it degrading for William and Kate to raise money for charity – given, in my view, the Royal Family have limited usefulness I would have thought that raising money for charity is one of the better things they could spend their time on.
Resident Dissident
Well, to be fair, Republicofscotland did express dissatisfaction with the Chinese authorities – but only after I had challenged and prodded him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But on substance – I hope you don’t think that any democratically elected politician has an automatic right of access to any foreign country? If you do, fair enough. But if you don’t, then why make an exception for Gaza?
Resident Dissident (re HRH Prince William and Princess Kate):
You are of course absolutely right.
But, you see – certain “commenters”, including the one you’ve just taken to task – will damn the Royals if they do and damn them if they don’t.
Do you remember that foolish and spiteful comment – again, from the “commenter” whom you’ve just reproved – criticising one of the Royal Princes for taking up a job as an air-sea rescue pilot on the grounds that “it was doing simeone else out of a job”?
‘Nuff said, I think.
Mr Scorgie (re Dr Henry Kissinger):
““I believe he is massively informed, very articulate, and absolutely right.”
…………………………………………………………….
Some people would say that about Hitler and Stalin.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, the only names that come to mind right now are Holocaust-denying historian David Irving (re Hitler) and our own Mr John Goss (re Stalin), but perhaps you could supply some links and references to further back up what you say?
Thank you.
But on substance – I hope you don’t think that any democratically elected politician has an automatic right of access to any foreign country? If you do, fair enough.
In general I do – sunlight is usually the best detergent when it comes to human rights abuses. Since I doubt that the intention of Gerry Adams was to instigate or encourage further human rights abuses (at least nowadays) I can see very little that would be gained by his exclusion from Gaza. When Adams was muzzled on the BBC it was pretty counterproductive.
Habba
I think the comments re William and Kate, and the idiotic comments re Castro being no despot, just demonstrate what would happen to those who should offer any dissent in circumstances where the commenters politics come to pass. Tolerance of free speech would not be high on their list of priorities – that is why standing up for the right to disagree is so important.
Just to let it be known, you can’t be a full member of the UN if you have not declared your borders, apparently, but I don’t think our learned schoolmaster takes much note of it as he likes to lick ….
Unless off course, some Zionists ignore then UN and just goes ahead enforcing their own rogue regime, stealing land as they see fit, because they can, and their allies, pushed along by their own Zionist immigrants twisting arms, are fearful of loosing their votes and keep them in the UN with their vetoes.
Israel should be expelled from the UN and any global body they fester upon, from ‘special people’ to billy no mates in one single step, its long overdue.
They don’t want to play fair, so send them home packing, including their ambassadors.
Resident Dissident (14h02)
You are again absolutely correct.
People who cannot tolerate free speech even on something as nugatory as an online blog would be unable to tolerate it if in a position of power.
Which, of course, they will never be.
Nevermind
“Just to let it be known, you can’t be a full member of the UN if you have not declared your borders, apparently, but I don’t think our learned schoolmaster takes much note of it as he likes to lick …”
_______________
The above is another good example of senseless wishful thinking (a bit like the fool who advised Gerry Adams to “insist” on being allowed into Gaza and the Eminence who said that Israel “has no borders”).
The fact is, Ingo, that Israel IS a full member of the UN.
Irrespective of your fevered fantasies.
Nevermind
If keeping to your declared borders was a de facto test for UN Membership – I think you would find that the list of countries to be excluded would be rather long and would include some of your current and past favourites as well as Israel. Perhaps the role of the UN should be to resolve these disputes rather than acting as a forum for gesture politics and street theatre.
Which, of course, they will never be.
One hopes – but never say never stranger things have happened in the past.
Troll fest here since earlier.
The Royal Foundation.
The Trustees
http://www.royalfoundation.com/about-our-foundation/trustees/ LOL
The home page http://www.royalfoundation.com/
conservation of wildlife – that’s rich coming from a pair of princes who like killing endangered birds of prey and the odd mammal or two.
promotion of the militarization of the UK by way of P Harry’s Invictus Games. Never mind if you lost a limb or two in Afghanistan. You did it to keep us safe at home, etc etc.
and so on.
“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.”
________________________________
Habb
Oh! please, make your mind up, firstly it was Hing Kong, now its Hong Hong, have you been at the mulled wine again?
What will they make of your disruptive techniques at Thames House when you, can’t even tell your Hings from your Hongs.
Mary
“Troll fest here since earlier.”
_______________
The solution is simple – you should post less.
Republicofscotland
Thank you for agreeing with me about King Kong Hong. LOL
ReoublicOfSmoulderingRage
“Habb
Oh! please, {SIC – capital letter needed} make your mind up, firstly it was Hing Kong, now its {SIC – apostrophe needed} Hong Hong, have you been at the mulled wine again?
What will they make of your disruptive techniques at Thames House when you, {SIC – superfluous comma}can’t even tell your Hings from your Hongs.
Keep going!
Putting this on the YCNMIU thread because you could not make it up, literally.
.
On the day when the Archbishop of Canterbury appeals for the state to set up food banks, we have this overstuffed membership of the House of Lords (unelected) refusing to economize on catering.
Champagne wars in the Lords as peers say no to a cheaper vintage
Scheme to save the taxpayer money by merging catering services with those of the Commons was scrapped over quality of sparkling wine
The Observer, Sunday 7 December 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/07/champagne-house-of-lords-reform-taxpayer
Mary
“Champagne wars in the Lords as peers say no to a cheaper vintage”
__________________
I’m puzzled.
Could you explain exactly how the availability of more expensive or less expensive champagne (the Lords pay for what they drink, by the way) will affect the setting up of food banks, or – more generally – impact on the issue of food poverty on the UK?
Thanks.
@Habby: I hope Mary won’t mind me replying, but as you seem to need it spelling out, the reasoning is that inflames the lower orders to see such levels of unfairness. The British ruling class continued to rule because they became savvy to the perceptions of the lower orders and didn’t stir things up too much. Maybe they now think they are unassailable? I think someone will probably have a quiet word with their lordships, and they’ll compromise on a mid-range Champagne. It would be interesting to see what happens next though.
YCMIU.
http://www.tonyblairoffice.org/news/entry/bethlehem-blair-tourism/
He was born there, you know.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27883685
Well, y’know, all those people who don’t want to go on farming and who ask the IDF to move them on, you’ve gotta give them jobs. And the wonderful thing about working in hotels is that you don’t have to pay these people more than a pittance because they’re so grateful for an ex-prime minister coming all this way to arrange their futures for them.
…
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75583000/jpg/_75583199_daher-in-field.jpg
Caption: My olives have gone, but it’s just the place for a tourist industry….
Tourists can experience the authentic four hour wait while being prodded and spat at by the IDF at the checkpoint in the Wall, too.
http://www.travel-images.com/rosto.html
Oh little Tony’s Bethlehem
How sweet we see thee lie.
A great piece from a courageous truth-teller. Along with Seumas Milne, he’s the only person telling the truth about Ukraine and the neocon psychos in Washington.
As he says: Breedlove/Strangelove. Here’s life imitating art.
http://johnpilger.com/articles/war-by-media-and-the-triumph-of-propaganda
Just came across this. He is an evil psychopath.
Revealed 30 years on: secret role of Henry Kissinger in Bhopal tragedy
Eyewitness By Rob Edwards in Bhopal, India
Sunday 7 December 2014
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger put pressure on the Indian Government to agree a legal settlement that let the American chemical company Union Carbide off the hook for the 25,000 people killed by the toxic gas disaster in Bhopal 30 years ago.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/revealed-thirty-years-on-the-secret-role-that-americas-henry-kissinger-played-in-the-.26048852
Weasel evades questioning –
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2866398/Blair-says-busy-attend-IRA-comfort-letters-probe-Former-PM-says-say-MPs-try-six-months-answer-questions.html
‘Giving information in public means that I would have rather less to say.’
‘Twas ever thus, ’twasn’t it?
Included only for the first-rate portrait of a bloody bullshit artist (top right). Usual crop of globalist, mock-democratic platitudes elsewhere.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/opinion/tony-blair-is-democracy-dead.html?src=twr&_r=1