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.
“We don’t want any foreigners here thank you, not even Mrs Merkel’s wasps.”
“Despite their name, German wasps are native to Britain and common in most areas.
Their numbers have been boosted this year by the mild winter and dry spring.”
You didn’t read it to the end, did you.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6601114/Brits-on-alert-over-drunk-wasps.html
“It’s very curious, but the noun “empath”, meaning “person who experiences strong empathic feelings towards others”, does not appear to be a dictionary definition.” JSD
Definition of empath in English:
“noun
(Chiefly in science fiction) a person with the paranormal ability to perceive the mental or emotional state of another individual.”
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/empath
Whatever the precise definition is, it seems that Fedup was not applying it to Suhayl. He (Fedup) thought it (empath) meant something else.
“Just when most of Europe was wondering why we need USA warmongers over here “US soldiers prevent French train massacre”
https://uprootedpalestinians.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/just-when-most-of-europe-was-wondering-why-we-need-usa-warmongers-over-here-us-soldiers-prevent-french-train-massacre/
The Telegraph appear to have been running a live blog about the incident, and they are positively orgasmic about the whole thing.
However, they show a picture with the caption “The gun, left, from a video on board the train, and right, the cartridges” but what they call the gun looks more like a screwdriver to me. Not that I’d know a Kalashnikov if I fell over it.
Elsewhere, I read last night that the Americans “heard the unmistakable sound of a Kalashnikov being loaded” (inside the toilet) and that’s when they “went into action”. That part of the story seems to have been left out of today’s accounts.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11817490/France-train-attack-US-soldiers-foil-massacre-live.html
I’ll toddle off now.
Is anyone here voting in the Labour leadership elections? If so I have found two Left blogs that give some background and discussion:
http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.mx/
https://ososabiouk.wordpress.com/
And mine received by you apparently Anon 1.
Does the cap fit?
This will come as such good news to the likes of BLiar, Cameron and other warmongers. What twaddle.
‘Middle East conflict drastically ‘improves air quality’
Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News
21 August 2015
Emissions of some air pollutants have decreased dramatically as conflict has spread in Syria
Political disturbance and armed conflict in the Middle East since 2010 have had the unintended consequence of making the air cleaner.
Researchers say that in countries like Syria and Iraq, levels of air pollutants have fallen dramatically.
The amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air over Damascus has fallen by up to 50% since start of the civil war.
/..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34002865
Silly season indeed.
Dr David Kelly was a consummate insider, a trusted keeper of state secrets; dangerous and deadly secrets that could topple governments.
Certainly our own intelligence services did not murder David Kelly although arms were severely twisted I believe to connive the subsequent cover-up.
From ‘Not for South Africa Eyes’ decrypted signals it is clear Dr Kelly knew much about British/American involvement with biological weapons including anthrax in South Africa as well as the South Africa nuclear bomb preparations that would also test Israel’s ‘Lakam’ procured bomb that used SA procured uranium. David had formed close relationship with Dr. Wouter Basson a SA bioweapons scientist financed with American dollars who had intimate knowledge of Israel’s nuclear activities in Pretoria.
So it was Israel and her Lehi לח”י – לוחמי חרות ישראל inspired IDF extermination commander that murdered David Kelly, and who later formed the hit squad that would murder Darioush Rezaei an Iranian nuclear scientist in 2011 [“Covert war against Iran’s nuclear scientists: a widow remembers,” Christian Science Monitor, July 17, 2014; Josh Levs, “Who’s killing Iranian nuclear scientists?,” CNN, January 11, 2012.]
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/26/arnon-milchan-israeli-spy-past
From the DailyWail today we learn that last year’s presumed Project Fear members were frightened?
Maybe next time then it should be project peace & happiness, nyet?
“Well, that’s the Labour Party’s problem. The rules were apparently fine until they meant Corbyn looked like winning, now apparently they are not fine. Do you seriously imagine that there would be all this fuss if Corbyn were not standing, or did not look like winning?”
The rules were fine until people realised they could use the new phenomenon of social media to exploit them.A genuine Labour supporter being able to register and vote in the leadership election was a good thing. If the rule is going to be abused then it will need to be changed which would be a loss.
“… blind loyalty to Craig…” Macky.
I have disagreed with Craig on a number of issues. I don’t agree with his views on Russia/Ukraine, for example. I think the Ukraine situation basically has been caused by NATO, as was the Georgia situation a few years ago.
But what exactly is so wrong about the fact that many people do agree with Craig on many matters and support his stance as a key whistleblower of recent times and in relation to the current (post-1991, or post-2001) war configuration? Why might you have such a big a problem with people agreeing with, or supporting, Craig Murray? Why don’t you direct your attention largely at the real enemy – the War Machine of NATO and the neoliberal economic fundamentalist ideology in whose service it is promulgated?
Instead of which, your most florid and visceral attacks – and those of Fedup – seem to be directed at specific supporters of Craig on this blog. People who support Craig’s position might well have differing views on Russia, Israel, the UK, Scotland, the Monarchy, space exploration, genetic engineering, abortion, immigration, economic policy, health provision, feminism and so on. One would expect and welcome such a broad political cartography. If everyone constantly attacked and harangued everyone with whom I disagreed on every subject, not necessarily on the actual subject-matter of the subject but in personal terms and on their aetiology (and that is a crucial distinction) with regards to Craig Murray’s blog, there would be no blog left.
“Elsewhere, I read last night that the Americans “heard the unmistakable sound of a Kalashnikov being loaded” (inside the toilet) and that’s when they “went into action”. That part of the story seems to have been left out of today’s accounts.”
___________________________
The unmistakable sound, in a toilet on a train wow, those American have not only wonderful hearing, but almost clairvoyant perception.
Terrorist says the Telegraph, towing the political line, apparently the dimwitted so called terrorist said “Give me back my guns” have you ever heard the likes of it? I haven’t.
Not only that but it appears the dopey would be terrorists weapons were faulty, who’s pulling who’s leg here.
Mr Skarlatos (isn’t he the leader of the Daleks) also said the thin dopey would be terrorist with faulty weapons didn’t know how to handle them either, are we sure he not Frank Spencer, some mothers do have them you know.
Ah well, that doesn’t matter eh….as long as it allows more restrictions of freedoms, under the guise of protecting the people and democracy.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11817490/France-train-attack-US-soldiers-foil-massacre-live.html
To top it all off video has emerged of the wannabe dopey inept so called terrorist being restrained, this rebel makes Mr Bean look like James Bond.
No doubt train fares will rise again, as new security measures are introduced.
Typo: “… with whom THEY disagreed…”
“Maybe next time then it should be project peace & happiness, nyet?”
Starting in Uddingston and Bellshil.
http://www.motherwelltimes.co.uk/news/local-headlines/chaos-as-snp-meeting-is-abandoned-1-3863202
Canadian Spring?
Social media is affecting spies/politicos
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/22/social_media_driving_change_in_canada/
Some Shias are nervous about an embassy
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940531001099
Bless, they suspect the new UK embassy in Tehran might try a little, . . . playing, as-if!
So the Americans are currently working through the Swiss embassy in Iran, whilst the British government have gotten their feet back under the table with the opening of a embassy in Iran, no doubt the the show Uncle Napoleon will be rerun in Tehran sooner than later.
So why are the Americans so slow off the mark this time? Well the Republicans are threatening to overturn Obama’s agreement with Iran, mainly due to big US corporations not making a killing out of the agreement, I mean why should Iranian businesses flourish in Iran whilst US interests look on from the outside. It’s just not American.
If there happens to be a Republican president in the Whitehouse come the next election, if you’re an Iranian in Iran you’d better watch out.
Dreoilin
22/08/2015 2:35pm
Yes, I know there is a dictionary definition, but it’s not the one I suggested. It’s the one you suggested. That is why I said, “Dictionaries talk about psychic perception, which I don’t happen to think exists.” Did you read that sentence?
“Empathy” is a perfectly uncontroversial word, meaning “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another”.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/empathy
Empathy is a prerequisite of my profession; therapists would not be much good if they couldn’t do this.
One would think that “empath” would therefore be defined as “a person who has the ability to understand and share the feelings of another”. But it’s not. It drags in this “paranormal ability” nonsense.
John
Suhayl, thanks for your thoughts. I too have disagreed with Craig on a number of points – on feminism, the value of political correctness, maintaining civil discourse, and likely some things I’ve forgotten. However I think the charge that I/we might be facing is that we’re “gatekeeping” views to sit within certain parameters (if I am then I am not doing it consciously!).
We see this a lot with some of the classically difficult points on the Left – dealing with religious extremism, whether immigration should be capped, does welfare dependency exist, etc. I like to think I treat these subjects honestly – including saying that I don’t know the answer where appropriate.
Israel/Palestine has been the trigger for this accusation before. I try to deal with the situation on the ground as I see it, in a fashion that upholds Palestinian and Israeli human rights in the best way possible. No solution will be perfect, of course.
Perhaps one difficulty we have is that some posters here specifically do not wish to uphold Israeli human rights – as per my earlier post, this board has several times seen people express the view that Jewish/Israeli people deserve to be killed for what has happened in Palestine, and I have said on many occasions that I do not think this is a liberal or principled resolution.
Fred
22/08/2015 4:27pm
“The rules were fine until people realised they could use the new phenomenon of social media to exploit them.A genuine Labour supporter being able to register and vote in the leadership election was a good thing. If the rule is going to be abused then it will need to be changed which would be a loss.”
The rules were fine until people realised that supporters of Jeremy Corbyn’s view of the world, which incidentally is a Labour view of the world, were signing up in large numbers in order to vote for him. That doesn’t suit the neo-cons, so they are doing their best to chuck out people who support the Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn for leader.
Kind regards,
John
“That is why I said, “Dictionaries talk about psychic perception, which I don’t happen to think exists.” Did you read that sentence?”
Yes, John. I did. I think whether it exists or not may be an open question. We certainly can’t prove that it doesn’t.
“Empathy” is a perfectly uncontroversial word, meaning “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another”.
Yes, I know.
“One would think that “empath” would therefore be defined as “a person who has the ability to understand and share the feelings of another”. But it’s not. It drags in this “paranormal ability” nonsense.”
Maybe because the word empath is used in science fiction?
No doubt it comes from the word empathy, but it’s now being used regarding holistic healing (at least at some of the links I visited).
I believe that we all have the ability to heal ourselves – depending on circumstances, e.g. the strength of our belief in the person or thing who/which is supposed to be healing us. I believe this explains so-called miracles.
Republicofscotland, I thoroughly enjoyed your comment at 4:28 pm. What a hoot!
“The rules were fine until people realised that supporters of Jeremy Corbyn’s view of the world, which incidentally is a Labour view of the world, were signing up in large numbers in order to vote for him. That doesn’t suit the neo-cons, so they are doing their best to chuck out people who support the Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn for leader.”
If Jeremy Corbyn’s view of the world is Labour’s view of the world then he would have no problem getting elected by Labour party members. If he gets elected by a bunch of adolescents rebel roused by cyber activists for no other reason than because they can and can for less than the cost of a pint of beer then he will find himself head of a party which will refuse to follow him.
Dreoilin
22/08/2015 6:11pm
To paraphrase Theodore Sturgeon, we can’t prove either that there isn’t an asteroid circling the Sun in the asteroid belt that is made of chocolate cake.
That does not mean it’s an open question. We can’t prove fairies don’t exist on Earth now. That does not mean it’s an open question whether they do or not.
Kind regards,
John
Not very long so in full. Good piece. The author is a retired British Iraqi university lecturer. He is spot on.
The Corbyn Effect
Democratic Socialism Is Returning to Britain’s Labour Party
by Adnan Al-Daini / August 22nd, 2015
Who amongst the contenders for the leadership of the Labour Party would have had the vision and the courage of Aneurin Bevan to establish the British National Health Service? The answer, surely, would be only Jeremy Corbyn.
In his ten point plan “standing to deliver” he proposes to return the railways and the energy sector to public ownership, an end to austerity, and the establishment of a national investment bank to direct funds to create tomorrow’s jobs.
This is a direct challenge to free-market unregulated capitalism with its mantra of “the market knows best” that led to the economic crash. The economic collapse was then followed by dogma-driven austerity programmes across Europe that have particularly hurt the poor and vulnerable.
Those who are the true believers in the divinity of the market want even less regulation; health and safety rules and laws at work – forget it; this is red tape devised by bleeding heart liberals and misguided leftists. Employment protection laws, fairness at work; oh no, this is stifling business and enterprise, and should be abandoned.
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens are conditioned by mainstream media to blame the disabled, immigrants, and the unemployed by the highlighting of individual cases of fraud amongst the vulnerable and the poor. The super rich swindling vast sums from the exchequer by tax evasion, tax avoidance, “creative accounting” etc., are not subjected to the same vitriol.
Margaret Thatcher laid the foundations for this attack on public services with the privatisation of water, gas, electricity, and the sale of council housing, thus opening up the market for private landlords to enrich themselves from taxpayers, and for vast profits to go to giant energy companies, once again pumping money up from the poor and middle classes to the super rich. She presided over the deregulation of the financial markets with the “Big Bang”, unleashing the destructive greed of the “moneymen” that is now blighting the lives of millions.
The Labour party under Blair reversed none of the privatisations, and on the contrary they introduced private providers into the NHS and education. Their Private Finance Initiative (PFI), used to build schools and hospitals by the private sector at deferred highly inflated prices, will have to be paid for by our children and grandchildren.
Their election campaign under Ed Miliband lacked coherence; it appeared to be a collection of policies that did not have a common arching principle to connect them. The leadership always appeared to be on the defensive, and unable to reply with a counter-narrative to that presented by the Tories.
Jeremy Corbyn is presenting a coherent counter-narrative to that presented by free-market capitalism espoused by the Conservative party and the “moneymen”. This is how he sums up his mission:
This is a vision worth striving for, matched with policies designed to deliver it. Who would Aneurin Bevan have supported as Leader of today’s Labour Party? Answer: Jeremy Corbyn, no doubt.
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/08/the-corbyn-effect/
“Labour seem determined to make themselves look like farcical fucking idiots to the public.
Kind regards,
John”
___________________
JSD, I’m afraid Labour have already reached that point.
If things don’t pan out they way some of the candidates want them to, then they’ll take court action, meanwhile the delusional Yvette Cooper seems to think she’ll win, whilst her comrade at arms or should I say neoliberalist Liz Kendall thinks the Tories are scared of her.
Labour are a three ringed circus that would make Barnum and Baileys freakshow look positively normal.
http://www.thenational.scot/politics/burnham-threat-to-mount-legal-challenge-to-corbyn-victory.6687
@Suhayl Saadi, You obviously still don’t get it !! It’s recognition of Craig’s brave whistleblowing that draws people to this Blog in the first place, and when he puts up an important Post, like he sometimes does about UK foreign policy or on Israel, he has the support of everybody here, (except of course for the resident trolls); however this Blog is also a bit of an ambush, which at first may not be immediately apparent, this is because Craig has many povs that most people wouldn’t associate with a “Human Rights Activist”, which in turn is just a manifestation of his often expressed contempt for “Lefties”; it is of course his every right to hold whatever views he holds, but it’s not his right to publish them on an open “Free Speech” Blog, and then either himself, or his loyal bodyguards, to suppress & not allow criticism of any such povs.
You naively ask me why I don’t direct my attention to the “real enemy”, perhaps having in mind war criminals & war propagandists ? Well the answer is that on the issue of Ukraine, and Russia in general, Craig is acting as a crude Ruossophobic Warmonger even more than many of the Right Wing professional propagandists ! I visit a lot of Left Wing sites, and I can assure you that Craig’s position is shamefully unique in regurgitating all the pro-war lies & propagating ludicrous & dangerous Russophobia. I expect the right on a self-declared “Free Speech Blog”, to be able to challenge him, and those who share his pov, I expect an honest & fair debate, to hear the other side offer an even half convincing rational explanation to justify their position, instead Craig fobbed me off with the Troll favourite of being a “self-hating Westerner” !, and his loyal supporters have used every dirty trick (including bent moderating) to both shut me up & run me off this Blog.
I know that there are some here that consider this Blog as some sort of social club, where they can hang out, have a joke with a virtual (or real) friends, always being careful not to say anything so as to fall out with people, but for me this is not what any serious Political Blog can possible be about, as political issues are far too important not to be debated honestly, but only half-heartedly, measuring each word as not to offend anybody, even if you fundementally disagree with their pov; politics is literally a Life or Death issue, not just concerning brown skin people in the ME, but also right here at home, so don’t expect me to remain silent on such an important topics, one being Ukraine, as you yourself did, all the while the initial debates were raging, and only when pressed months later (by me), you finally reveal that you don’t agree with Craig on this highly important issue.
@Jon, I would be more open to the idea that perhaps you don’t consciously act as a Gatekeeper, if I hadn’t personally experienced, and watch in stunned amazement your very un-even moderating, that always tended to err in one direction only.
“seen people express the view that Jewish/Israeli people deserve to be killed for what has happened in Palestine”
I have been reading here for several years now, and have never seen that expressed here by any bona-fide posters; yes fly-by racists & probably Zionist provocateurs may have posted such comments, but they cannot count iro the issue being discussed by us here.
In fact the only” legit” person I recall stating in the aftermath of a horrendous massacre,, that the victims only have themselves to blame, ie they effectively deserved it, was Craig with his disgusting comments over the Odessa Massacre.
He rises up in my estimation, again.
Corbyn not to become Queen’s adviser if he becomes labour leader
Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:25AM
UK politician not to join Queen advisers if he becomes Labour leader.
Sources close to Jeremy Corbyn say the UK politician would not join Queen’s Privy Council if he becomes Labour party leader.
The sources have told The Telegraph that “the staunch republican” is expected to turn down the role that automatically comes with becoming opposition leader.
When asked by The Telegraph if Corbyn would reject the role they said: “That would be my gut feeling … It is something that he feels very strongly about. He disagrees with the power, money, inheritance – all the staunch republican views.”
/..
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/08/22/425841/Corbyn-Queen-advisers-council
“Republicofscotland, I thoroughly enjoyed your comment at 4:28 pm. What a hoot!”
_________________
Why thank you Dreoilin, I merely read between the lines of the Whitehall Gazette aka the Telegraph newspaper.
We haven’t yet had a story of a terrorist on a hovercraft, I’m sure the Whitehall Gazette could inveigle a good few column inches on that one, enough so to have Christopher Cockerell chuckling in his grave.
Mind you, it opens up whole new avenues that terrorist haven’t properly looked at, with regards to modes of transport. I personally think Segway terrorists or unicycle terrorism, have a catchy and sophisticated ring to them.
Afterall when Germany invaded Denmark during WWII the Danes sent to their front line, a battalion of bicycle soldiers, who were soundly thrashed, but boy could they pedal fast.
“To paraphrase Theodore Sturgeon, we can’t prove either that there isn’t an asteroid circling the Sun in the asteroid belt that is made of chocolate cake.”
_________________________
Ah yes JSD, it may well be a lovely Black Forest gateau, that unfortunately had to be jettisoned from Apollo 13 on their failed mission to the Baked Alaska, I I I…..mean the moon..hmm space sounds very tasty indeed.