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3,629 thoughts on “Amnesty International Conference on Torture”

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  • Macky

    Calgacus: “Please, instead of being polarised into opposing camps on the Ukrainian crisis, could we not come together to assist in preserving the precious ceasefire that presently exists?”

    What we say makes little difference, it’s just sad that supposedly bright progressives, on a whistle-blowers’ blog, are defending & promoting war propaganda, & so end-up doing the Neo-cons work for them;

    http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1425726687.html

  • ------------·´`·.¸¸.¸¸.··.¸¸Node

    @ Mary “Whence cometh [Ashcroft’s] wealth?”

    It definitely isn’t from money laundering and drug-dealing because in 1999, The Times issued a front-page statement saying “The Times is pleased to confirm that it has no evidence that Mr Ashcroft or any of his companies have ever been suspected of money-laundering or drug-related crimes.”

  • ------------·´`·.¸¸.¸¸.··.¸¸Node

    Fred, aren’t you a British nationalist?

  • Dave

    The western leaders needs to reflect on their crimes.Their level of awareness is less than my bootlaces.

    As for “democracy”, Putin said it best himself:
    “Am I a ‘pure democrat’? (laughs) Of course I am. Absolutely. The problem is that I’m all alone, the only one of my kind in the whole world. Just look at what’s happening in    America, it’s terrible—torture, homeless people, Guantanamo, people detained without trial or investigation.     And look at  Europe—harsh treatment of demonstrators, rubber bullets and tear gas used in one capital after another, demonstrators killed on the streets….. I have no one to talk to since Gandhi died.”
    Well said, Vladimir.
    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article41143.htm

  • ------------·´`·.¸¸.¸¸.··.¸¸Node

    …. cont ….

    In fact, we can be certain that William Hague’s good friend and patron Lord Ashcroft didn’t obtain his wealth from money laundering and drug-dealing because he said ….

    “I have never been involved in drug trafficking or money-laundering. My business affairs are entirely proper and no amount of smear, rumour, or innuendo will alter that fact.”

    …. in response to Labour MP Peter Bradley saying in parliament in 1999 ….

    As long ago as 1989, Mr Ashcroft’s name was linked to a DEA drug trafficking inquiry that stretched across Europe, the United States and Canada, Mr Bradley said.

    In 1992, he went on, a man called Thomas Ricke was arrested and jailed for organised crime, the proceeds of which were paid into the Belize Bank, belonging to Mr Ashcroft.

    In 1993, the DEA investigated a number of businesses in Belize, about half of which – 12 in all – had links with Michael Ashcroft.

    Three years later Mr Ashcroft’s name appeared in connection with yet another investigation, Mr Bradley said, and in 1997 a man arrested in Holland on suspicion of drug offences gave the same address in Belize as Mr Ashcroft’s BHI Corporation.

    Mr Bradley stressed he was not claiming that Mr Ashcroft was guilty of any offence, but added that William Hague, the Conservative Party leader, should be concerned about the allegations.

    …. and Labour MP, Dennis Skinner, causing uproar among Conservatives and cheers from his colleagues by declaring …..

    “The Tory opposition are receiving a million pounds a year from one of the biggest drug runners in the West. Isn’t it high time that the Leader of the Opposition had the guts to get rid of him?” he asked.

    …. so the question of where he obtained his wealth wil have to remain a mystery.

  • Mary

    Ukraine contd. Links from Medialens.

    They’ve arrived.
    Posted by zemblan on March 7, 2015, 11:11 am
    Russia denounces arrival of U.S. military trainers in Ukraine
    http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-russia-us-trainers-20150305-story.html

    Peter Hitchens in the MoS
    March 2015
    A Review of ‘Frontline Ukraine’ by Richard Sakwa
    You might have thought that a serious book on the Ukraine crisis, written by a distinguished academic in good clear English, and published by a reputable house, might have gained quite a bit of attention at a time when that country is at the centre of many people’s concerns.
    http://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2015/03/a-review-of-frontline-ukraine-by-richard-sakwa.html

    Why do Russians still support Vladimir Putin?
    Talking to Russians young and old, Jana Bakunina found five main reasons why support for the president has not declined in the face of international pressure.
    http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/03/why-do-russians-support-still-support-vladimir-putin

    On Radio 4 this morning, we had Liam Fox upping the ante. War war! He wants more defence spending. He has just been to Washington and Poland.

    Week in Westminster
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b054gnrh
    18mins 30aecs in

  • Mary

    A Node :}

    Strange that there is no mention of HSBC?? Drug running. Money laundering. etc. etc.

    ‘A Conspiracy Of Silence’ – HSBC, The Guardian And The Defrauded British Public
    http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/2015/788-a-conspiracy-of-silence-hsbc-the-guardian-and-the-defrauded-british-public.html

    In response to that alert, a Medialens commenter asks why there was no mention of this:

    ‘Latest Alert – why no space for T’graph ditching Oborne’s report on HSBC closing Muslim accounts?
    Posted by marknadim on March 7, 2015, 11:06 am

    “The nail in the coffin for Oborne, it seems, was when it was made clear that the piece about the closed Muslim banks accounts he co-wrote with Delmar-Morgan would not see the light of day.”

    http://www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/inquiry/17370-peter-oborne-hsbc-closures-of-pro-palestinian-accounts-part-of-us-qattack-on-democracyq

    And Oborne’s part 1 of 2 report (which he gave to OpenDemocracy when T’graph rejected it) on the Islamophobic anti-Palestinian unwarranted closing of accounts here:
    http://www.opendemocracy.net/alex-delmarmorgan-peter-oborne/open-for-business

    Just a little surprised that you didn’t include it. Any reason for that I missed?’

  • ------------·´`·.¸¸.¸¸.··.¸¸Node

    Heel, Britain! Obey your master.

    The gross interference by Washington in Britain’s forthcoming election on the vital issue of budgetary priorities clearly demonstrates that British ‘democracy’ is but an appendage to an American leash. And the leash is being yanked to pull the snarling bulldog into line.

    In a brazen show of bringing-to-heel in their ‘special relationship’, American political and Pentagon chiefs are openly rebuking the British government to maintain its huge military spend on the NATO alliance – to the possible detriment of already withering public services in austerity-clobbered Britain. The imposition by Washington raises serious questions about the nature of democracy in Britain – the self-proclaimed ‘Mother of all Parliaments’.

    Outlandish claims of Russian ‘aggression’ and sinister global ambitions of Vladimir Putin are being invoked to justify what is otherwise an extraordinary US infringement of Britain’s democratic rights.

    US President Barack Obama has, according to the pro-Tory Daily Telegraph, personally warned British premier David Cameron that any cuts in Britain’s current military budget – 2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – will “set a bad example for other European allies” and will put “the future of NATO at risk”.

    Obama reportedly told Cameron “if Britain doesn’t spend 2 per cent on defence, then no one in Europe will”.

    Washington’s intense lobbying is being aided by senior members within the British military establishment, who are also warning Cameron’s government over possible downsizing of Britain’s armed forces and weapons procurement.

    http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/2015/03/06/515991washington-yanks-british-bulldog-into-line/

  • John Spencer-Davis

    My wife and I visited our local Costa Coffee this morning around half past eleven, and they told us David Cameron had been there for coffee about an hour earlier.

    I’m just wondering what anyone would have liked to have asked him, or said to him.

    Kind regards,

    John

  • Mark Golding

    The secret time-share agreement afforded to GCHQ by the US National Reconnaissance Office gave Britain and the British army a small advantage in the initial phases of the Falklands war. For instance Hi-res images (expressed here in light hearted terms) assisted the para’s to kick out the ‘argi bargies’ whom had invaded British Overseas Territory.

    Sadly because of satellite real-time considerations the Admiralty selected images provided little help to Sandy Woodward’s old shipmates on HMS Sheffield, one of the decoy vessels (sister ship HMS Coventry the other) stationed on the Falkland’s war map outer perimeter. Captain Sam Salt of Sheffield was so overcome by the trauma of his abandoned ship he failed to come round and sadly passed some years later.

    Our UK armed forces are lacking in space reconnaissance assets and images and in my experience rely on NRO linking GCHQ and forward push information to military intelligence. I think our military leaders become embroiled in US psyOps deception and propaganda. A case in question was the so called ‘leaked’ satellite images which showed a missile streaking towards MH17, produced by Russia’s main state broadcaster as predicted by psyOps.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2835088/Is-moment-MH17-shot-flew-Ukraine-Russian-state-broadcaster-produces-satellite-images-showing-fighter-jet-attack.html

    President Putin realised such images were faked and no official Russian recognition was recorded that would fly back in their faces and dilute integrity. Bravo!

  • Clark

    Mary, thanks for the link to Peter Hitchens review of Richard Sakwa’s Frontline Ukraine which in turn links to another review of the same book in the Guardian:

    http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/19/frontline-ukraine-crisis-in-borderlands-richard-sakwa-review-account

    There are also some interesting abstracts of Richard Sakwa’s other books on his own page, including this one concerning The Crisis of Russian Democracy (2010):

    The view that Russia has taken a decisive shift towards authoritarianism may be premature, but there is no doubt that its democracy is in crisis. In this original and dynamic analysis of the fundamental processes shaping contemporary Russian politics, Richard Sakwa applies a new model based on the concept of Russia as a dual state. Russia’s constitutional state is challenged by an administrative regime that subverts the rule of law and genuine electoral competitiveness. This has created a situation of permanent stalemate: the country is unable to move towards genuine pluralist democracy but, equally, its shift towards full-scale authoritarianism is inhibited. Sakwa argues that the dual state could be transcended either by strengthening the democratic state or by the consolidation of the arbitrary power of the administrative system. The future of the country remains open

    However, this morning I found two articles about the Kremlin banning the use of the TOR anonymity service; an obvious step towards authoritarianism:

    http://thestack.com/russia-ban-tor-vpn-roskomnadzor-110215

    http://thestack.com/belarus-bans-tor-250215

    http://thestack.com/russia-enforces-new-internet-crackdown-for-bloggers-and-social-networks

    Thanks for linking to considered academic articles. I’d very much like more well-balanced articles about the actual military situation to help dispel the prevailing propaganda wars.

  • Herbie

    “The view that the US has taken a decisive shift towards authoritarianism may be premature, but there is no doubt that its democracy is in crisis. In this original and dynamic analysis of the fundamental processes shaping contemporary US politics, Richard Sakwa’s twin brother applies a new model based on the concept of the US as a dual state. The US’s constitutional state is challenged by an administrative regime that subverts the rule of law and genuine electoral competitiveness. This has created a situation of permanent stalemate: the country is unable to move towards genuine pluralist democracy but, equally, its shift towards full-scale authoritarianism is inhibited. Sakwa argues that the dual state could be transcended either by strengthening the democratic state or by the consolidation of the arbitrary power of the administrative system. The future of the country remains open.”

    FIFY

    But, to be honest, it’s worse in the US.

    Russia is more closely akin to an emergent country, under attack by those who wish it not to emerge at all.

    The US has no such excuse.

  • Calgacus

    @Macky,
    Yes it looks as if the arrival of American front line troops has broken the ceasefire as we speak.

    I must say that I am shocked at some of the warmongering attitudes from some posters here.

  • Herbie

    Interesting and comprehensive account, from Russian Intel insider, of their view of Russian?Western relations since the fall of the USSR:

    “Top Spymaster Explains How Russian Intelligence Sees the US

    Unremitting hostility from Washington regardless of who is in power in Russia. Russia cannot relax its guard”

    “According to its view US hostility to Russia is an unvarying “constant” because Russia, irrespective of its system of government, resists US policies aimed at achieving world hegemony and because the US wants to control Russia’s immense natural resources in order to seal its hegemony.

    Russia’s ties to China and India and the emergence of the BRICS bloc have merely provoked the US to intensify its campaign against Russia. Events such as the war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, the rebellion in Chechnya in the 1990s, the Georgian attack on South Ossetia in 2008 and the February coup this year in Ukraine, are all simply manifestations of US policies targeted at Russia.”

    http://russia-insider.com/en/military_politics_ukraine_opinion/2014/11/10/08-50-10pm/top_spymaster_explains_how_russian

  • Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)

    Mary (re child abuse)

    “PS Methinks the troll doth protest too much on this matter. Why is that?”

    ______________________

    It’s very easy to understand what I’m protesting about, you evil, insinuating old bitch.

    I’m protesting about why you only seem to care about abused, raped, murdered and trafficked children when the perpetrators are the IDF or highly placed public figures in the UK.

    You have never raised your voice about the vicious trafficking gangs in the UK.

    I think this is for two reasons (apart from the fact that you are a two-faced, unsinuating old bitch):

    1/. the perps were very largely ganfs of men of “P

  • Habbabkuk (la vita è bella)

    Mary (re child abuse)

    “PS Methinks the troll doth protest too much on this matter. Why is that?”

    ______________________

    It’s very easy to understand what I’m protesting about, you evil, insinuating old bitch.

    I’m protesting about why you only seem to care about abused, raped, murdered and trafficked children when the perpetrators are the IDF or highly placed public figures in the UK.

    You have never raised your voice about the vicious trafficking gangs in the UK.

    I think this is for two reasons (apart from the fact that you are a two-faced, unsinuating old bitch):

    1/. the perps were very largely gangs of men of “Pakistani heritage”. Four legs (men of Pakistani heritage) good, two legs (Uk politicians and public figures) bad.

    2/. the cover-ups in the case of the gangs were due to (a) political correctness, and (b) inefficiency and a deliberate eye-closing by large numbers of OUR public servants, wirking in OUR NHS, OUR social security services and OUR police.

    Hope you enjoyed the read.

  • Republicofscotland

    “It’s very easy to understand what I’m protesting about, you evil, insinuating old bitch.”

    “I think this is for two reasons (apart from the fact that you are a two-faced, unsinuating old bitch):”
    ………………………………

    Dear oh dear, a bit over the top Habb old boy, apart from showing the rest of the blog, what a nasty piece of work you are, it reveals to boot that, you posses, in spades misogynistic, tendencies.

  • Macky

    @Mary, LOL! It seems you have got a certain person so vexed that he still can’t compose a literate post even after a second attempt, nothing but a heap of abuse & stream of spelling errors ! 😀

  • Republicofscotland

    Meanwhile the first Tory lord has hinted at a coalition government with Labour, if, as expected, a hung parliament is in the offering in May.

    Lord Baker, of Dorking, dropped the massive hint, that in order to stop the SNP propping up a poor Labour government, it would be totally justified, if the Tories and Labour, decided to form a government in May.

    Of course, the Tories and Labour have been, joined at the hip, in one way or another, for the past two years, patting each other on the back, when they saw, that they’d thwarted Scottish independence.

    Look out for more back patting, from them in May, when they announce a coalition government.

    Hopefully the sight of Miliband and Cameron, sitting side by side at PMQ’s on a Thursday in the House of Commons, will spur Scots into pushing for independence again.

    The games rigged and Scotland needs to get out fast.

  • Republicofscotland

    John McTernan, a high ranking member, of London Labour in Scotland, speaking at a Tory conference, Labour are now openly cavorting with the Tories, and they couldn’t give a monkeys, who knows.

    When we tweeted a link to this Morning Star story about Scottish Labour chief of staff John McTernan speaking for the right-wing think-tank Policy Exchange at a fringe meeting of the Conservative Party conference last September, several readers found it quite difficult to believe.

    After all, this was a senior Scottish Labour figure telling delegates that It’s a good thing [Margaret Thatcher] did what she did to the UK economy, and that There’s a far wider range of assets that are currently owned by the government which I would privatise, among other not-terribly-socialist views. It seemed implausible.

    Fortunately, we can now bring you the proof. It’s very much worth a watch.

    http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-cuckoo-in-the-nest/

  • YouKnowMyName

    @Clark 14:51

    However, this morning I found two articles about the Kremlin banning the use of the TOR anonymity service; an obvious step towards authoritarianism

    now now Clark, that’s slightly disingenuous of you. You’re fully aware than any activists setting up a TOR exit Server in the UK will get visited by Special Branch. Is the UK hence authoritarian? GCHQ will also do its damnedest to unscramble the comms of any TOR user in the UK, Is the UK hence authoritarian?

    Russian Federation is under attack via externally funded Color Revolution, I would hazard almost constantly having its civil society probed & subverted, having the deep-cover Color team making measurements, planning, scheming, when they are frustrated by a target government re-action to a move then plausibly they’ll ask agents of influence to complain about this, try throwing mud!

    The embedded deep-cover Color team in RF won’t be using TOR, they use the latest versions of NetEraser technologies or sat-burst comms, but they’ll be trying to encourage the pyramid of locally bribed, tricked patsies to use it.

    I’d personally not close down a comms channel such as TOR but monitor its use and find the current bug-doors. Russian Federation, with its use of SORM 1, 2 & 3, is already monitoring much of the webspace in their country. Some of this monitoring is for external defensive purposes, which you have obviously failed to take into account?

    I suppose one thing about the closeness between the UK & the USA is that Britain is one of the least likely countries in the world to have its weaker members of society manipulated into an eventual British Color revolution? perhaps that explains the doubling in the number of Russian high net worth individuals that Dave & Gideon have let into this country recently!

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