Vessels have the right of freedom of navigation through straits, on “innocent passage” under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. As it sounds, that amounts to a right to pass straight through on normal business. Territorial waters do not affect innocent passage. The coastal state has the right to establish sea lanes for maritime safety purposes.
So whether the Marshall Islands flagged Maersk Tigris was in Iranian territorial waters is not relevant to its right to pass through. If, as Iranian sources have indicated, it really was impounded for commercial debt, then that would have to be in territorial waters. But for that the crew could not be detained, and the debt would have to be immediately stated and the ship released if paid. Iran is not acting as though this really is for debt.
The Maersk Tigris is however a good example of why the shipping industry is an absolute disgrace. It is flagged in a country with which neither the vessel nor its owners have any connection. It is owned by Maersk, leased to a renting company in Berlin, and then rented back by Maersk. The purpose of the flagging arrangements is to avoid proper safety, crew qualification, wage and trade union regulations which go with a genuine state flag. The leasing is an international tax fiddle. For reasons nothing to do with Iran or the US, I have no sympathy with the owners or insurers.
I rather expect the Iranians are lying about the commercial debt. Iran and the US are playing a pointless, massively expensive hawkish game in the Gulf. At least the Iranians have the excuse that they live there.
Just as Iran should not have stopped the passage of the Maersk Tigris, so the US Navy had no right at all recently to threaten Iranian cargo ships which may or may not have been on the way to Yemen. Even if those ships had entered Yemeni waters, the US would only have had the right to intervene if asked to do so by the government of Yemen. While that government is a Saudi and US puppet, they are not keen for all their people to know that. Giving permission for invisible blasts from the sky is much more deniable than for huge warships.
I was sorry for the two American hostages who were killdied in a drone strike, but sickened that given all the hundreds of innocent women and children he has murdered in drone strikes, Obama finally got all sackcloth and ashes over two American men.
The trial of William Joyce (“Lord Haw-Haw”) for treason in 1946 repays close attention. It was a bit touch and go whether he would be found guilty at all.
Kind regards,
John
“Don’t these people disgust you?” I did not mean those killed because I realise that sentence is ambiguous. I mean the disgusting people who comment here regarding the death of anyone except Jews as being expendable. They glory in it. Craig should admonish them because the blog was brought down when similar assertions were made about Jews.
The collapse of the US is very definitely immanent.
Anyway. Nice to see the Scots poised to wipe NuLab from Scotland.
And about to give Westminster and City paedos a long belated kicking.
Spot on, Clark.
Sorry, but its that time of night..I am just trying to communicate…
Tim, Nice But Dim, I try to tell you..when I can’t get through to the few “journalists” left on the Daily Telegraph
Get John Pilger on…
I know He’s an Australian..and he hasn’t quite come out about 9/11 (well a bit) cos he knows it would be Professional Suicide…
But The Guy’s a Fckin Star
You are Much Younger Lad…You Ain’t Really That THICK are you…so fcking Bend it a bit Like Beckham
Come on Be a Clever Boy…
You Got To Go With The Evidence..The Pure Raw Science of Physics and Maths..and Understand The Motivations…with Deep Training in Psychology..The Most Powerful “Science” which is a study of the Human Mind at The Communication Level and How To Use Techniques To Control What People Think and Do…
Maybe you didn’t do Pure Physics and Maths and Bricklaying and Mechanical Engineering and The Work Experience…
And Then Go on to What You Really Wanted To Do…….and Then well at The Same Time..Learn Professionally Learn Leadership and Management Techniques..and Behaviour analysis and Behaviour modification…
Didn’t they Teach You All That at Oxford and Harvard…
Well You Should Have Gone to School in Oldham in Lancashire..cos They Taught Me All That
Tony
@Tom Welsh
29 Apr, 2015 – 3:55 pm
As a rule, I don’t put links here to my own blog posts. However, I’m too tired at the moment to write a long piece here with lots of links; so:
‘Alchemy and Mass Murder’
http://www.spiderbomb.com/blog/?p=2579
This discussion of drones reminds me of a remarkable one-off book I own, but have not read for many years. “Killing No Murder” by Edward Hyams (1970) examines political assassination and advocates it as a preferable alternative to war. Never read anything quite like it, and I am not sure what to make of it.
http://www.molash.com/archive/hyams.htm
Kind regards,
John
Sorry, not Awlaki’s nephew, his 16-year-old son.
Listen to Anon1 bad-mouthing one of the FBI’s favorite provocateurs, al-Awlaki. Does Anon1 hate America’s brave law enforcement officials? Or is he once again hopelessly out of touch? Awlaki was reluctant at first, until his government framed him twice for sex offenses with embarrassingly homely policewomen, but then he got into the swing of things and pretended to be a terrorist. Then, when people stopped taking him seriously, CIA blew Awlaki up with a drone so they could wave the big foam finger for dumb bumpkins like habbakuke. Could it be Anon1 does not know this? What kind of hick town does he live in?
“I actually feel sorry for ALL the innocent people killed in drone strikes – of whatever gender and/or age”
Does your “compassion” extend to the Palestinian’s killed by the IOF’s use of depleted uranium?
Clark, I agree with you about the pedophile parties. If I had a vote in England (which, as an American, I do not,) I would vote for the Greens. If I had one in Scotland, I would vote for the SNP. For that reason, among others.
I have seen commenters commenting on on-line articles of British newspapers about the pedophile scandals say they were going to vote UKIP because they were so disgusted with the traditional parties.
Ever since both the major parties here in the U.S. were aptured by the financial community, I have been voting for various third parties.
Like you, I am puzzled that more people don’t do that. Well, maybe the pedophile parties over in the UK may be the impetus that leads larger numbers to do so.
RobG
29/04/2015 11:30pm
RobG, that’s a terrific piece of work, you should link to your blog more often. I had no idea you did stuff like that.
Many thanks.
John
Let me echo JSD’s comment. Yes, that’s an excellent piece RobG.
“We may have already lost the game of atomic Russian roulette.”
Clark might not share this speculation. I am an eternal optimist. Nonetheless mankind is doomed in my opinion. Global warming cannot be stopped unless something crazy happens.
Wildfires in Chernobyl Exclusion Zone Prompt Radiation Fears.
@Clark
29 Apr, 2015 – 10:28 pm
And what’s also totally bizaare is that many people believe the propaganda that’s constantly pumped into them by the almost entirely right wing media.
The Tory/right wing media message is just about only that the economy is safe in their hands.
What?! Who trashed the economy in 2008? Was it the socialists and communists et al?
Who caused the Wall Street crash in 1929 and the resulting Great Depression? Was it the socialists and communists et al?
Who caused every other fecking recession between 1929 and 2008? (there’s a serious recession about every 7 years or so)
And yet this ‘socialism is bad’ meme that continues to be pumped out by the media is swallowed by many people, despite the appalling state that the British economy is in, and the shame of food banks, and all the rest of it.
People still vote for these vermin, largely because of the media propaganda, and most of them vote against their best interests. Ain’t ‘democracy’ fun.
And with regard to Miliband and Brand, it brought some kind of normality to this ersatz English election campaign (with politicians making speeches to select audiences in sheds on industrial estates, etc, because if they went out to meet real people they would probably be strung-up on the nearest tree), but it was still a total shame. Miliband never answered Brand’s question about HSBC corruption; in fact, if you watch closely, Miliband never gave a direct answer to anything.
Actions speak louder than words, and if you look at Labour’s record during the term of this parliament, and to quote Mr Galloway, Labour and Tories are both cheeks of the same bum, and you can’t put a cigarette paper between them.
Independence for Scotland is the only way we are going to be able to stop the neo-con lunacy, and I mean that for all people in the UK.
“…. I am puzzled that more people don’t do that [vote for alternative parties]. Well, maybe the pedophile parties over in the UK may be the impetus that leads larger numbers to do so.”
Many, like myself. would prefer to vote Green, but given the flaws of our FPTP electoral system, understand that to do so would be a waste. I’m going to vote Labour with gritted teeth, in the hope of keeping the worst of them all, the Tories, out.
Craig,
Come on – you are a smart and knowledgeable man.
The West fucks with Iran; Iran fucks back.
Tit for tat.
Wish that “tit” was a beautiful one – then no more wars and then what a wonderful world.
Peace and love.
CB
Thieves Steal Van Carrying 70,000 Ballot Papers Destined for Sussex
@RobG “Who caused every other fecking recession between 1929 and 2008? (there’s a serious recession about every 7 years or so)”
Rob, look up the Great American Bubble Machine – great article:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-great-american-bubble-machine-20100405
Clandon Park, the ancestral home of the Onslow family and now in NT ownership, has gone up in smoke. A Palladian style mansion full of objets d’art.
The late Lord Onslow, a very decent human, was the only member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to show emotion when Craig gave his evidence on the terrible torture that was carried out in Uzbekistan. The others were dead eyed.
Tony Opmoc kindly put the hearing on YT. I will look for the links.
We are sleepwalking into war with this election, the NSA knows all about Coulsons hacking of Nulabour inboxes at the last election that gave the chinless wonder an edge. God knows what they have garnered from millipedes mobile fone. And Murdoch took a £300m hit scrapping the NOWT to stop the scandal from reaching the conservative party election office, he will want his pound of flesh too. The Freisians are blissfully unaware Holstein already has a grip on the outcome, its only the pesky SNP causing them worry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9spgagSHI No 1 of 7.
12,076 views. Wow!
Craig Murray – Torture 1 of 7
tonyopmoc
Uploaded on 28 Apr 2009
Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Provides Evidence on UK Government Complicity in Torture.
Good on you for your courage in standing up Craig, and thanks to Tony also. Shame on the voters in that Norwich North by election for depriving us of a good MP. They landed us with the Con clone, Chloe Smith, instesd. Is she standing again Nevermind?
Trying Again to Stop Torture: My Formal Statement for the Joint Committee on Human Rights
by craig on March 13, 2009
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2009/03/trying_again_my/
Other relevant posts. Comments troll free in those days.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/?s=human+rights+committee
~~~
I can’t bear to think of the likes of the execrable Straw going off with £125k of taxpayers’ money.
Amswering my own question, yes. Chloe is standing. What has she ever done for the electorate?
Jess Abato sounds like a ball of fire with a social conscience. Pity she’s Liebour.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-jess-asato–the-candidate-for-norwich-north-who-could-give-labour-the-majority-it-needs-10208179.html
~~~
LOL She is SO dim.
‘During the campaign for the 2015 general election Smith was mocked by political opponents for quoting a constituent’s letter in her election literature.[17] The letter, first published in the Norwich Evening News newspaper, said she seemed “to act more like a Socialist than a Conservative.”[18] Political Scrapbook, an influential left-wing political blog, published a mocked-up photograph depicting Smith as Marxist “urban guerilla” Wolfie Smith giving a clenched fist salute outside Norwich railway station.[17][19] Smith responded: “Clearly I am not a socialist I am a proud Conservative. What the letter writer was saying was my work can appeal across party lines.” Labour Party candidate Jessica Asato said: “Local people won’t forget she is one of the most loyal Conservative MPs and shows unwavering support for the vicious bedroom tax, tax cuts for millionaires and the swift march of the profiteers into the NHS. If this is socialism I’ll eat my hat.”[17]’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloe_Smith
PS She’s also a Con Friend of Israhell just for good measure.
Dimblebore tonight 8 pm BBC1
Election Leaders Special
David Dimbleby presents an Election Leaders’ Special Question Time, with David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg.
1 hr 30mins!!!
Cons crying Foul. LOL
Conservatives outnumbered two-to-one in audience for BBC Question Time debate
The programme’s audience – which have applied for tickets – will comprise 25 per cent each for the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11571975/Conservatives-outnumbered-two-to-one-in-audience-for-BBC-Question-Time-debate.html
From Herbie (university lecturer):
“The collapse of the US is very definitely immanent.”
______________________
I would not quarrel with that prognosis.
However, I do not believe that its collapse is imminent.
“RobG
29/04/2015 11:30pm
RobG, that’s a terrific piece of work, you should link to your blog more often. I had no idea you did stuff like that.
Many thanks.
John”
______________________
Yes, the piece was well-written and argued.
So why does he come across as such an utter chump on Craig Murray’s blog?
I believe that this confirms my belief that RobG is just foolin’ around and having fun on CM.
Dire straits. Money for nothing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwDDswGsJ60
New Trolls. Adagio from concerto rosso.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCgvp6IfE7w
Rolling Stone article – thanks, Glenn. So that’s where ‘giant vampire squid’ came from.
It’s not always easy to accept the reality of what we now routinely allow these people to get away with; there’s a kind of collective denial that kicks in when a country goes through what America has gone through lately, when a people lose as much prestige and status as we have in the past few years. You can’t really register the fact that you’re no longer a citizen of a thriving first-world democracy, that you’re no longer above getting robbed in broad daylight, because like an amputee, you can still sort of feel things that are no longer there.
But this is it. This is the world we live in now. And in this world, some of us have to play by the rules, while others get a note from the principal excusing them from homework till the end of time, plus 10 billion free dollars in a paper bag to buy lunch. It’s a gangster state, running on gangster economics, and even prices can’t be trusted anymore; there are hidden taxes in every buck you pay. And maybe we can’t stop it, but we should at least know where it’s all going.
O/T Ukrainian billionaire jumped, fell or was pushed from balcony of his hotel in Sharm el Shiekh, Egypt.
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/148314/news/ukrainian-billionaire-dies-in-sharm-el-shiekh
Sorry, not in Egypt, in Saudi free state. Reported in Cairo Post.
Sorry I was right first time. It is in Egypt. It just sounds like a Saudi place.