Honoured to give the keynote speech at Amnesty’s conference on torture in London yesterday. Then dashed back to Edinburgh for a very romantic evening with Nadira – and Cameron!
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That headline wasn’t dreamed up by me, or taken from some leftist source. It comes from the Wall Street Journal.
Lysias
Stop attempting to divert. Are you calling for the assassination of Mr Varoufakis?
Hee hee
Lysias
“That headline wasn’t dreamed up by me, or taken from some leftist source. It comes from the Wall Street Journal.”
_____________
Nobody said it was, Lysias.
And would just like to point out the WSJ headline (as shown by following your link) doesn’t actually say “They blinked”.
It says “Eurozone Agrees on Four-Month Extension of Greece Bailout”
Not quite the same thing, Lysias.
And now fuck off. 🙂
“Ignore postings that ask personal questions. They are meant to divert from the issues.”
Lysias
You’re not here long enough to make the tea, yet. So don’t start issuing orders.
🙂
Such class. Such logic.
What’s wrong with an economic revolution, habby?
You surely can’t be arguing that things are fine and dandy as they are.
You’d have to be completely insane to argue that.
Things are certainly fine and dandy for the banksters, for as long as things stay as they are. Presumaby, they are also fine and dandy for their hirelings, or at least they will say they are.
This week, my friends, is the week NATO collapsed.
NATO doesn’t matter any more.
Hungary is back in the Russian sphere of influence. So is Estonia. It doesn’t matter that those countries belong to NATO. Putin has gone round the obstacles. Atlanticist strategy in Europe has been completely outplayed by the Kremlin and the KGB (FSB/SVR).
British figures, including military top brass, are talking of a return to the “Soviet era”. Actually they are the ones who are living in the past – they are still living, pathetically, in the NATO era. The Warsaw Treaty Organisation dissolved – remember? Those who run the NATO countries didn’t have the sense of Gorbachev, of Putin, or even of the drunkard Yeltsin.
Generations of working as poodles for the Americans have eventually brought a result: Britain has no influence in Europe whatsoever. A British ‘NATO general’ issues warnings about Russia. A British defence minister babbles on in similar fashion. Who’s listening in Berlin? In Paris? In Washington DC, even? Absolutely no-one except maybe a few clippings filers.
Even if they wanted to sacrifice British soldiers’ lives in a hopeless provocation of Russia in the Ukraine, how would these chinless wonders get their troops into position? Hungary’s out of the question. Poland? Turkey? This is fantasy. And all to protect Russians from Russians, right?
All these British figures are is a bunch of public-school public relations ponces doing a bit of mouthing off for companies seeking weapons contracts off the back of recent events, using their most serious faces and voice tones.
Sadly, while that’s all they are, who knows, perhaps they may yet find a way to contribute to starting WW3.
I originally suggested there may have been a protocol to the Minsk agreement that stipulated that the fascist government in Kiev wouldn’t defend Mariupol and the Russians wouldn’t attack it. Of course, I didn’t know then, nor do I know now, what was or wasn’t in any secret protocol. But whatever. It now seems that the Russians will secure the whole of Novorossiya – which is what the vast majority of people in those two provinces want – within a few weeks. So no need for a bridge to the Crimea; they can communicate by land. Anyone salivating at the thought of a piece of the construction contract can dribble down their shirt and leave it at that.
NATO is finished.
The French and German relationships with the US will never be the same again.
And d’you know what? I could have told them, if anybody had asked me, that relying on Ukrainian Banderists and other flavours of Ukrainian fascists and Nazis was fucking stupid. The KGB had those scenes stitched up for years.
Ditto with the government and business scenes in the Baltic States – and, on a proportionally smaller scale, in Germany. They had files on all the up-and-coming figures. Get it?
Who even cares what the US leadership says about the Ukraine now?
I mean look at this plonker Cameron, whinging as if were an Osborne that’s too coked up to remember its safeword, about Russian warplanes over the Channel.
Well what’s he going to do about it? Take it to the UN Security Council? Send some British planes to do some acrobatics over the Barents Sea?
No, he’s going to whinge and whine and bleat.
What a great image that gives Britain abroad, eh?
Meanwhile his Defence Secretary Michael Fallon talks about a “real and present danger” – is the man’s head so far up the American’s arses that he’s even forgot how to speak British English?
typos – “American’s” for “Americans'” and “forgot” for “forgotten”
Talking as if there’s just been an oik demonstration outside Eton, he says
“I suspect the Russians were trying to make some sort of a point.”
Yes, I imagine they were.
http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/greece-bends-eurozone-will-find-short-term-agreement/
“I suspect the Russians were trying to make some sort of a point.”
That sounds like something that could have been said by the German Kaiser in 1918, but heavily flavoured with dimwitted British upper-class contempt.
“Suspect”
“were trying”
“some sort of”
The Russians made a fucking point all right! And here it is:
“Don’t fuck with us in our backyard.”
“We overstretched you and your influence is finished. We’re the military superpower around here. Worked out how we cyber-whacked Estonia in 2007 yet, suckers? We are superior in the structuring of our forces, in their weight, in our intelligence capability, and in the contemporary character and pragmatic nature of our military doctrine. If you think you’re hard enough, you and whose army?”
Oh yes, you chinless wonder scum, those Johnny Foreigners are really ‘making a point’ this time!
Is this the equivalent of Suez 1956, only this time for the U.S. too?
Aye, Judoman throws the Drone King again, just like he did with his visit to Sisi – canny butcher-dictator in charge of pivotal ME state – and with the Turkish South-Stream-alternative pipeline deal.
I’m in shorthand mode. Deal with it.
Now the BBC are advising us, in their lead fuckin item, How To Spot A Russian Bomber.
Can enough Brits look up from their phones and tablets for long enough to see the sky?
Neocon psycho CEOs want lukewarm war with BRIC-muscle Russia. BRICS on-track for their development bank. Saudi oil blackmail hasn’t worked in Moscow. Hezbollah and Iran choking off Zionist-supported proxies near Golan.
Here’s Ted with the sports. Starring George Guiness as George W Smiley.
Alec was his name. Spying was his game.
To All,
Here is something of interest – to bring some life and real relevance to the debate and to avoid the slagging going round:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIcb_Uh3ciY
One love -and – let me hear positive and thoughtful views and opinions.
CB
Our UK political establishment seems to have become completely irrational… they can’t face the truth about what they’ve helped achieve in Ukraine, now it is staring them in the face. After 2003 they were like this about Iraq. After 2011 they were like this about Libya. Psychologists may try to be kind to them and call this “cognitive dissonance”.
There is no way a Brit can stand on a UK media platform and speak anything remotely close to the truth about Putin or what has happened in Ukraine over the last year. Even Michael Heseltine was being dissed on QT when he tried to give a balanced view. What does that say about our democracy?
“Mr Goss here’s one, that didn’t escape the clutches of the US.”
I know but I think Martelly’s days are numbered. Mass protests on the streets of Haiti today. Ordinary Haitians have no vote. And unfortunately countries like Ecuador are putting so-called UN peacekeeping forces into the country to try and maintain the status quo.
This could save the planet once it gets away from dealing in dollars. Ditching the dollar is the only way forward. Think about it!
http://rt.com/business/234027-russia-ratifies-brics-bank/#.VOdB6ttYEj8.facebook
@Courtney: One love…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoIPBdxhg04
BRICS bank predicted to be operational next summer. Great!
But…
Bearing in mind that the current Russiophobia is likely to continue, do you think a BRICS bank would be allowed to do business in the UK, John…? anyone?
More Love…of Sorts…
Austrailan Pink Floyd Glasgow tomorrow night
Some More MUSICAL INTERLUDE –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CCDcchHWO0
“Bearing in mind that the current Russiophobia is likely to continue, do you think a BRICS bank would be allowed to do business in the UK, John…? anyone?”
In my opinion it would have no option if that was the will of the people. People not of my generation don’t question what happened to the NHS, or university grants, or affordable utility bills, or affordable public transport. What has happened is this. The gap between rich and poor has gone from large to massive. The one per cent have the money that funded further education, apprenticeships, nationlised industries, prescriptions and so on. Having identified where the problem lies the solution should be easy. Starting a new stable currency and New Bank. Even the Pope has recently called for a new world bank, but as the Vatican was involved with establishing the last one, if I recall, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. The old banksters are the ones that need to be got rid of, and the new ones should come from the common people. Read ‘The Great Money Trick’ from Robert Tressell’s “The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists” and you will see where we go wrong all the time. Understanding how it works is key. Then the banksters can do what they want with their God. We don’t need them. 🙂
Thanks for the Marley. I thought that was what Courtney had posted but his was a bit longer.
I need say no more about this than to mention it comes from one of the gulags of the country that believes in perpetual war.
http://socialistworker.org/2015/02/20/vision-of-hell-at-guantanamo
@John: Have a good listen to Courtenay’s latest contribution. Apart from being beautiful, she also tells quite a story…
We ain’t got nowt, but so what the fck..We can still change the world to stop doing all these wars..antiwar dot com..bunch of fkin neocons..
Tony
Botswana Gazette – DeBeers/Steinmetz diamonds linked to Israeli war crimes
The Botswana Gazette yesterday reported links between De Beers Forevermark
diamonds manufactured by Steinmetz and Israeli war crimes in Gaza. This is a brave step by the Gazette considering that Botswana, through a 50/50
partnership with De Beers is the largest producer of rough diamonds in
Africa and the diamond industry accounts for 70-80% of exports. This could
be damaging for De Beers flagship Forevermark brand, especially in the run
up to the Oscars this Sunday where De Beers has set up a Forevermark suite
for the Stars to select pieces to wear on the Red Carpet.
“The Steinmetz Diamond Group is a major client of De Beers – buying 1-2
billion diamonds every year according to a report in Globes. De Beers’
relationship with Steinmetz has already resulted in some potentially
damaging publicity for their Forevermark diamond brand, this publication has established.
In 2012, De Beers put on display a Forevermark diamond crafted by Steinmetz in the Tower of London in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Human Rights activists held regular protests outside the Tower protesting Steinmetz’ links to Israeli war crimes until it was removed. Steinmetz Foundation recently scrubbed from their website all reference to their funding and support for the Israeli military during the assault on Gaza (Operation Cast Lead) in the winter of 2008/2009.
A list of Forevermark Diamantaires published in 2013 doesn’t include the
Steinmetz Diamond Group. Other moves that appear to be a re-branding
exercise to distance the diamond company from the tarnished Steinmetz brand include the overhauling of the Steinmetz Diamond Group website which been changed to Diacore. The Steinmetz-sponsored Gaborone marathon was also renamed the Diacore Gaborone Marathon last year.
In its Botswana based subsidiary Steinmetz, mentions its major shareholder
as Ocean Basis Investments Assets Corp which is domiciled in the British
Virgin Islands, another tax haven. A few years ago, the then President Festus Mogae officiated the opening of one of its six diamond factories in
Gaborone. It was hailed as employing over 300 employees and providing skill development of the local gem sector.”
http://www.gazettebw.com/?p=10653
Join and share the Facebook page to raise awareness about the links between the Oscars and the blood diamond trade –
https://www.facebook.com/DiamondFreeOscars
The Oscars is a very important event for the jewellery/diamond industry to
showcase their ware. Follow #oscarjewellery on Sunday evening and watch their reactions.
https://www.facebook.com/Israelblooddiamonds
On topic!
Christian College Gives Torture President Honorary Humanities Degree
Texas Baptists confirm Obama’s comments about Christian crimes
by William Boardman / February 20th, 2015
The American torture president and self-professed Christian, George W. Bush, gratefully accepted an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the Christian-ideology-based University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, on February 11, in a “public” event that was closed to most of the public. The only direct media coverage allowed for the event was by Fox News and the college public relations team.
Even though it might have been headlined as “Christians Honor War Criminal,” there were apparently no national news stories about the former president’s award. Five days after the fact, the Washington-insider publication, the Hill ran a short summary noting that Bush had said, “Evil is evil.”
The European Court of Human Rights has confirmed its judgment that the Bush administration orchestrated a global network of CIA black sites where suspects were imprisoned and tortured, a form of human trafficking for which Bush and his associates have yet to be held accountable. As the human rights organization Reprieve reported on February 17, the corruption of Poland’s “justice” system on behalf of the Bush administration illustrates the sheer horror of the way the U.S. handled people regardless of evidence:
/..
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/02/christian-college-gives-torture-president-honorary-humanities-degree/