The Labour Party is being remarkably coy about releasing the actual result of its Scottish accounting unit leadership election, giving only a percentage. The entirely complacent unionist media is complicit in what amounts to a deception. The stunning truth is that in a one person, one vote election among the entire membership of the Labour Party in Scotland plus trades union supporters, Dugdale won with 5,217 votes (out of a claimed electorate of 21,000, many of whom do not exist or could not be arsed to choose between two right wing numpties).
UPDATE: A second Labour figure just rang me to assure me my information – which was from a good source – is wrong. She would not give the actual figure and only said it was “higher”. I offered to take down the post and publish an accurate figure if she would give it, but this was declined.
Yes Ba’al thanks I knew about the trade – as you say interesting – I have to admit nil time for ‘sting’ operations or on the same parallel honeytraps (I’ve experienced the sweet-talk).
Thanks, YKMN; your input appreciated. I should have said ‘prosecution case’ rather than ‘charges’, which, as you confirm, were known. And, had it been an espionage case, I’d have to concede the US would probably have tried Bout in equal secrecy. There are almost certainly cases in which the US has done so, following an abduction or entrapment, to say nothing about the rendition programme, but Bout isn’t the example I’d choose.
However, this just in:
http://news.err.ee/v/politics/ac93eb9b-e2f3-4ba9-8435-50001ecd9400/russian-dissident-in-estonia-willing-to-be-swapped-for-kohver
Very nice of that blogger to offer himself up, but I expect the Russians may be more interested in their alleged spies currently jailed in Estonia.
Dangerous game that, especially if you’re a wee wee country with 25% Russian population, bordering a big big country.
I’d imagine NATO is even less interested in Estonia than it is in Poland.
Ba’al Zevul; “Thanks for telling me. I would far rather have the support of a rational foe than a batshit and occasional ally”
No doubt, but maybe the problem that you are not realizing it that perhaps you yourself are not as rational as you like to think you are.
Ba’al Zevul; “I’m glad you are able to rationalise your hypocrisy.Both the Russian and Israeli cases are equally against international law: both achieve the complete dominance of a favoured group in the region of interest: both were achieved by violence.”
Sorry but this is so surreal that it’s really hard to take seriously, but I’ll try !
Firstly, when we or the Yanks, or other Westerner countries act without the consent of the UN Security Council, “International Law” doesn’t matter, or even exists according to some Westerner Government Spin-doctors, yet when “enemies” try to do the same, they usually get bombed back to the stone age, (of course itself in direct contravention of any “International Law), unless the Country is, as in Russia’s case, able to defend itself via possession of nuclear weapons. Secondly, there is no rational comparison to make between the world of difference of an indigenous people being violently occupied by an alien foreign power, and an indigenous people who form the massive majority in a given territory, voluntary deciding on self-determination (as per UN Charter), and then freely choosing to unite with an ethnically linked another country. The real hypocrisy is the West’s violent blood-soaked power-play in engineering “independence” for Kosovo, yet crying foul over the virtually bloodless & legal self-determination of Crimea; Crimea unlike Kosovo, had already all four traits of statehood under international law – a permanent population, defined territory, government and the capacity to enter relations with other states.
Ba’al Zevul; “You may find this of interest, though I suspect you will ignore it completely as it doesn’t come from Tass (etc)”
Rather strange, pointing to an article that quotes that even longtime Putin foes, are supporting Putin’s action over the Crimea ! Your point ?!
Ba’al Zevul; “Putin is popular because he is a patriotic nationalist, not because he has any concern for the good of mankind.”
Meaningless waffle, like any leader he is charged with looking after his own people first & foremost.
Ba’al Zevul; “He’s eying up, and has huge support for, the restoration of the Soviet empire. He is an expansionist, and he uses force.”
Unless you can provide credible rationale for this conjecture, it remains baseless Russophobic conjecture, as is the rest of your post.
I see the polonium’s taking its time with Macky.
I’d have thought it starkly obvious that NATO/EU are very much the expansionist entities.
Amusing though that people convince themselves otherwise:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-08-21/u-s-told-ukraine-to-stand-down-as-putin-invaded
Part of the pattern we see in Russian behavior is to test and probe when not faced with pushback or opposition,” said Damon Wilson, the vice president for programming at the Atlantic Council. “Russia’s ambitions grow when they are not initially challenged. The way Crimea played out, Putin had a policy of deniability, there could have been a chance for Russia to walk away.”
When Russian special operations forces, military units and intelligence officers seized Crimea, it surprised the U.S. government. Intelligence analysts had briefed Congress 24 hours before the stealth invasion, saying the Russian troop buildup on Ukraine’s border was a bluff. Ukraine’s government — pieced together after President Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev for Russia following civil unrest — was in a state of crisis. The country was preparing for elections and its military was largely dilapidated and unprepared for war.
IOW, they believed Putin’s cover story. As do some commentators here.
And now this:
Might explain the sudden upsurge from the useful idiots/Kremlin hacks…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2015/08/20/is-a-slow-putsch-against-putin-under-way/
Putin’s failures are becoming more evident on a daily basis. No one denies that Russia is a kleptocratic state whose leaders have stolen much of the national wealth.
But Russia has also become a pariah that breaks rules of the international order, engages in official lies, and owes huge damages in international courts. Putin’s Kremlin promotes and supports a view of the world that causes world leaders to scratch their heads in dismay.
Putin’s economic policies are a disaster. Despite promises of diversification, Russia remains a petro state at the mercy of the price of oil.*
Struck by a perfect storm of falling oil prices, international sanctions and self-imposed embargoes, the Russian economy is in its sixth quarter of recession with only miserly growth in sight.
Living standards are falling despite Putin’s promises of stability and prosperity. The investment collapse has served to mortgage Russia’s economic future.
Only Putin’s bureaucracy seems to be surviving unscathed. The vaunted reserve funds are close to being depleted. Little is left for a rainy day, and Putin’s handouts are ceasing even to his friends.
*Down:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/20/us-markets-oil-idUSKCN0QP01M20150820
Ah, well. Fred’s happy…
Part of the pattern we see in US behavior is to organise coups…
Except in Ukraine, of course.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_United_States_foreign_regime_change_actions
“Amusing though that people convince themselves otherwise:”
Nothing funny about it Herbie. The Milgram experiment is, dare I write it, ‘shocking’, but is typical of the sheeple we have in the world. NATO and EU expansionism cannot be denied. But there seem to be more than a handful who comment here who are under the impression that Russia is expanding. In fact the old USSR was much bigger. Perhaps one day they will see the light. There is only one side to that story. Perhaps one day Tony Blair will apologise for his warmongering. We live in hope.
Thank God for people like you, and Peacewisher, and Macky and a few others who are not taken in by our MSM.
For those who prefer a more sober and accurate analysis than fantasists Forbes Tea Partiers:
“Vladimir Putin’s approval rating at record levels
Almost nine out of 10 Russians approve of their president, according to survey that also highlights support for Ukraine strategy”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/datablog/2015/jul/23/vladimir-putins-approval-rating-at-record-levels
http://www.kasparov.ru/material.php?id=553FD1FF1829D
Anyone care to translate this for me?
http://www.kasparov.ru/material.php?id=553FD1FF1829D
Think it’s about personality cults.
Question: what happens to poor old suffering Russia when Putin dies of old age (or before)?
There doesn’t seem to be a Plan B at the moment.
Cheers, John.
My major concern is that Europe will be sacrificed to US interests.
Not an uncommon concern in Western European political circles.
Useful idiots, eh.
“I’d have thought it starkly obvious that NATO/EU are very much the expansionist entities”
It’s certainly easy to see why western financial interests would see Russia as a target. Oil, minerals, the huge untapped resources of Siberia, the threat of the new Brics financial system and the demise of the dollar as the reserve currency: all good reasons to point the bandwagon towards Russia.
The counter-narrative, in which the west is struggling to contain Putin’s expansionism needs fleshing out a little. What’s he after? What’s his game?
Why might Putin’s Russia appeal to French ultraconservatives?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/18/the-inevitable-putin-le-pen-alliance-is-so-on.html
It’s that old authoritarian appeal. Faintly echoed by Sarkozy’s mate, Blair, with his coded preference for ‘firm government’ and uncoded attraction to dictators with money. And, if I can find the article, explicitly embodied in his own political model by Putin. Laters.
There are plenty of pro-American/ anti-Putin propagandists to choose from.
We know that already.
You can see how it all works if you look at their treatment of Corbyn, Assange etc.
But, facts is facts.
It’s certainly easy to see why Russia would see any unbolted door as a target. Oil, minerals, the huge untapped resources of Central Asia, a pack of rabid oligarchs with global ambitions and the demise of the rouble as anything other than toilet paper: all good reasons to subvert, coerce or plain invade its neighbours,
Fixed.
There are plenty of pro-American/ anti-Putin propagandists to choose from.
We know that already.
Bully for you. Just bringing a few up from the cellar for you to taste.
“The counter-narrative, in which the west is struggling to contain Putin’s expansionism needs fleshing out a little. What’s he after? What’s his game?”
He’s trying to counter their attack.
China has big interests here too.
Pipelines.
The US is trying block off pipeline potential to European markets.
Yugoslavia, Middle East, Caucasus, The Uyghur territory, Afpak, Greece.
Same objective.
Could be Turkey’s next.
And Ukraine, of course.
Join the dots, eh.
That’s what the US is doing.
Containment they call it.
The goldfish is trying to attack us…
Pipelineistan
This article and book give a good explanation of what’s going on:
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175050/pepe_escobar_welcome_to_pipelineistan
Can’t help thinking this old colleague of Putin’s is rather forgiving, but a good interview explaining the ‘managed-democracy’ concept:
Putin’s model is completely different from that of Zyuganov, the head of the rump Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Putin’s idea is that we should be bigger and better capitalists than the capitalists, and be more consolidated as a state: there should be maximum oneness of state and business. A two-party system like in the us? Wonderful, we’ll have that too….
…Putin always said that at some point in the future the opposition will gain power, and we must be ready for that moment. By being ready, he meant that we must be both here and there, that is, controlling both parties. The second party hasn’t really worked out yet in Russia; but Putin wasn’t against the Communists turning into social democrats. The parties were all supposed to be controlled by the President, of course. The idea of a presidential power that stands higher than the other three powers is in our constitution. The President has a special kind of power which does not relate to executive power: executive power ends with the Prime Minister. The President is above them all, like a tsar…
…In Germany, for example, there was the same idea: Germans have a tendency to totalitarianism so they must not be allowed near politics. They should have the possibility to vote freely, but the people who control real politics must stay the same, they must not yield. A strict system of control has to be created. Everything in Russia—the high vote barrier to get into the State Duma, the one-and-a-half party system—is taken from the German experience.
http://newleftreview.org/II/88/gleb-pavlovsky-putin-s-world-outlook
Now that should dispel any lingering doubts about Russia being anything other than a capitalist’s wet dream, except for the autocracy bit. I guarantee it won’t.
Thx for the Escobar 2009 piece. Which, curiously, seems to think Holy Russia is involved. But that’s saved for the next in the series – would appreciate that too.
Not that Russia is in the least interested in oil or gas (it’s short of the latter)…
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/putin-we-havent-given-south-stream-project-312224
Russia would certainly like to get its goods to market.
Nothing wrong with that.
Seems the US and UK aren’t too happy with the competition.
Given up on capitalism, have they.
The stench arising from the rotting corpse of the Chilcot Inquiry is attracting the bluebottles.
Lord Morris – hurry up
Dominic Grieve – it must be given proper time for due process
Harry ? QC – Maxwellisation must be allowed time
Dr Acula – there must be fairness
Menzies Campbell – more of the same from this ConDem stooge
World at One today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0689wgk (not on the iPlayer yet at 13.50)
Chilcot has lost control says Blair’s ex law chief: Former Attorney General blames chairman for letting inquiry drag on and attacks ‘feebleness’ at the cross examination of witnesses
Lord Morris says Sir John Chilcot has lost control of the Iraq inquiry
Attacked the chairman for the feebleness when cross examining witnesses
Added he wouldn’t have hired Sir John to run the inquiry into the conflict
Says that the families of those killed in Iraq deserve to be treated better
21 August 2015
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3205383/Chilcot-lost-control-says-Blair-s-ex-law-chief-Former-Attorney-General-blames-chairman-letting-inquiry-drag-attacks-feebleness-cross-examination-witnesses.html
Russia, China Start Joint Naval Drills of ‘Unprecedented’ Scale
You can piss some of the people some of the times, you cannot piss all of the people all of the time!
These are not Iraq and Afghanistan with no capability of retaliation of any kind, at all.
That’s quite a good article on how the democracy game is played.
Here’s Chomsky on the Iran nonsense:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article42674.htm
“all good reasons to subvert, coerce or plain invade its neighbours”
Thus far Georgia (invaded) and Crimea (handed itself over). Not sure what the booty is in terms of oil and minerals in those places. Many of the huge mineral resources of Central Asia are already in Russia, most notably Siberia. Russia is planning to ditch the rouble. The Brics are planning a new central bank and a new gold-backed currency. This makes western financial interests very jittery indeed.
“a pack of rabid oligarchs with global ambitions”
I agree that the real power behind Putin probably comes from the oil oligarchs. So far Putin has delivered them Georgia and Crimea, which might not seem much to pack of mad dogs with global ambitions. An obvious target with real mineral rewards (and not too far away) would be Iran. It would be a start at least but they’d better get their skates on if they don’t want to get beaten to it.
The tag team is missing Macky and Goss. The Kremlin nitpickers remain.
Global capitalists to a stooge. And you used to be so-right-on…
The Chilcot item on WATO is up now.
From the start. The history of some of the announcements with extracts from speeches is interesting.
‘Rigorous analysis of news and current affairs, presented by Shaun Ley.
Pressure is growing on the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War. We’ll hear from a politician whose sympathy for the inquiry is fast running out, and from a former Foreign Secretary who suspects some are trying to neuter it.
Andy Burnham’s Labour leadership campaign, has warned the party that “several thousand” Tory infiltrators could have obtained votes in the contest. We’ll hear from some of those who say they’ve been wrongly excluded.
And the woman who got a shilling for her trouble after answering a message in a bottle that has been floating at sea for more than one hundred years.’
The QC who spoke is Harry Matovu btw.
http://www.brickcourt.co.uk/people/profile/harry-matovu-qc