Just between 2003-5, US forces killed 15 journalists in Iraq, the majority either Westerners or working for Western news agencies. The figure is from the mainstream American Journalism Review. 94 aid workers died in the Iraq conflict, according to Reuters. I don’t have a figure for how many of those were killed by the US forces, but many. Journalists and aid workers have been among the 2,540 people killed in “collateral damage” of drone strikes since Obama became President. Now the US has just killed medical staff and aid workers in Kunduz.
I do not want to downplay the horror and cold-heartedness of the grisly ISIL executions. But the United States military has killed more journalists and NGO employees than ISIL ever will. An inconvenient fact you will never see reported in the mainstream media.
Some of those US killings of journalists were not deliberate targeting. That is of little comfort to the dead people and their loved ones. Some were not accidental.
Tony M
Not putting down glue traps for the kafir/cockroaches in case the owner of the blog his little pink paws stuck as well.
How anybody can make an informed opinion about 25 years of slaughter and destruction of Muslims and their culture and countries, without respecting their basic beliefs, defeats me. All I can say is that the coalition of ex-communist China and Russia seems to have more residue of basic morality and compassion than the decadent capitalist West. Wonder why?
Jemand
No glue traps. Walk in, wee on everything. I’ll clear up the mess later.
Nevermind
If this blog didn’t discuss the religion of Islam, there’d be nothing left to talk about.
You could talk about the weather amongst yourselves like good little brits. feel free.
“Why on earth Putin waited so long to get involved is the question?”
Yes, the battle plans must have been in the can for while now. I can think of a couple of reasons why now might be the best time. Firstly, over the summer Putin was able to secure Greek permission to use its airspace in September, the period during which Russia built its bases in Syria. The Greek crisis fell into his hands and may have provided the last piece in the logistical jigsaw.
Secondly there’s the question of Russian public opinion, which, since the Afghanistan debacle, has been mostly opposed to Russian military involvement abroad. However, the US’s recent description of Russia as a “regional power” probably didn’t go down well and a little muscle-flexing may now not seem such a bad idea after all.
Clark, hang in there chap. Whilst the blog is rather boisterous below-the-line at present, and is ergo not ideal for people looking for solace and comfort, there are many people here who would be most upset if you did not post here again.
John Goss, your link from 11:22am can be safely, even advisedly shortened to
http://russia-insider.com/en/us-satellites-work-syria-not-ukraine/ri10106
But in the bottom photo there, those aren’t planes, they’re plainly dustcarts.
Giyane.
When I was a teenager an old coal miner told me that the Moslems wanted to Rule the World and the Roman Catholics wanted to Rule the World also.
He said this would lead to endless wars.
Looks like he is not far off the truth, as the last fifty odd years substantiate his remarks to me.
Enter the Jews with their aspirations???.
Sometimes I feel like the meat in the sandwich!
Me being neither of the above.
Organised religions have no purpose but to enslave people, already gripped by insecurity and fear. And then to keep them psychologically imprisoned.
It’s quite simple really, but Man complicates life.
Nevermind
following your logic, 14 million homeless Syrians and umpteen million homeless Afghanis, Somalis Libyans Iraqis would all be a bonus in your opinion.
Clark; Everyone has bad days. There are always good days down the line.
Jon It is much more serious than not posting here.
Clark is planning suicide.
http://www.killick1.plus.com/home.html
I am so distressed. PLEASE does anyone know where he is? He needs a human hand on his shoulder and a hug and to be told that we care very much for him and his welfare.
Robert C you’ve got it back to front, all people want to rule the world, including, even especially your coal-miner who seems afflicted badly and has a belief system that has been particularly effective, setting one against another whilst a third milks it for all its worth. Coal-miners (ex) are no more deserving of special reverence than priests, vicars, mullahs, prophets and other charlatans, though they might be rather better rulers than the current lot, it would still end in tyranny. We don’t need no secular heroes, any more than religiously befuddled ones. Religions are created by man as vehicles to achieve such personal rule on the madness, insecurity and sweat of others. Remember folks, religion is all in the mind. We’re a quarrelsome lot as a survival mechanism, and this legacy its not going away any time soon. Knowing this we need to mitigate this admitted flaw in our nature. Artificially dividing ourselves into such super-tribal affiliations, with one set of barmy belief systems squaring up to another, seems calculated to accentuate this fault and utilise it it for misanthropic ends. Religions only exist to increase the wealth and status, the power of their elites. Nothing else.
Mary, thanks, yes. I have gotten in touch with Clark again via email. I hope that he is still reading these comments, and your caring reaction – which I hope he will see – is precisely why I want him to look after himself.
Mary
Doing my best too. J
“Permanent members of the UN Security Council are nuclear powers with a global military reach. African countries HAVE been temporary members and one African country at any single time provides permanent representation. It’s a mischievous lie to say that Africa has no say in the UNSC and imply a non-existent racist motive for denying representation.”
_____________________
Jemand, they’re are no African countries represented on the Permanent Members of the Security Council. However Nigeria and Chad are current members of UNSC.
Finally regarding the “mischievous lie” you mention.
Jemand if you had bothered to read my comment properly, obviously you haven’t, you would’ve noticed that I said there were no African countries on the Permanent Members Council.
I however did not say Africa had no members on the UNSC.
The Pope dies and goes up to the Pearly Gates where he meets St. Peter. He says to him, ‘You must be St. Peter.’ St. Peter answers, ‘And who are you?’ The pope is taken aback, ‘You don’t recognize me? I’m the Pope.’ St. Peter picks up his list and goes over the names, ‘Pope, Pope—I’m sorry, there is nobody here by that name. I’m sorry, but you can’t enter heaven.’ The Pope is shocked. ‘There must be some mistake. It’s impossible—I must be on that list. Please, look again: I’m the Pope!’ St. Peter gets impatient and tells him to buzz off. By now the Pope is in tears and begs him, ‘Please, St. Peter, I’m your successor and the representative of Jesus on earth. I’m the head of the Holy Roman Church. I have a right to enter heaven.’ St. Peter is getting annoyed and says, I’ve never heard of anything so foolish. If you don’t immediately buzz off, I’ll call the angels with the flaming swords.’ The Pope is in utter despair. ‘No, please don’t, I beg of you. Can’t you ask somebody, who knows me? Maybe Jesus or one of the saints will vouch for me.’ St. Peter gives in and says to the chap, ‘All right, I’ll go and ask inside. You stay here. And don’t touch anything.’ So he goes inside, and there are Jesus, his mother Mary, the apostles and several angels and saints. ‘Excuse me, Lord,’ says St. Peter, ‘there is a chap by the name of Pope wanting to enter heaven. He claims to have been your representative on earth.’ Jesus laughs, ‘My representative on earth? That’s absurd, isn’t it? And I’ve never heard of anyone named Pope?’ No one seems to know the Pope, until suddenly the Virgin Mary speaks up, ‘Wait a minute. Pope—isn’t he the one who spread all the rumors about me and the Holy Ghost?
Credit to K
Clark, please consider the anguish you will cause other people if you kill yourself.
RoS, I don’t care.
https://ruok.org.au/stories/details/gavin-larkin
Clark, life is short enough as it is. Despair can turn to ecstacy in the twinkling of an eye. Don’t you want to stick around to see what happens? Globally, things are getting interesting. The neocon project has run into a brick wall and sparks are going to fly. You’d be forever kicking yourself for missing the show.
“I am sorry to see Russia getting involved in the Syrian”
____________________
John Goss, This may come as surprise to you, and possibly others as well. There was a time, when Russia, was the sweetheart and saviour of Europe, and Cossacks walked through the streets of London, kissed by beautiful belles and bestowed with gifts.
There is a simple monument in the Baltic town of Vilnius, which bears two plaques on one side of the monument it say Napoleon marched through here with 400,000 men, in 1812. On the other side of the monument, are the words Napoleon passed this way in 1812 with 9000 men.
The burning of Moscow by Tsar Alexander and the Russian winter had taken its toll on Napoleon and his formidable army.
Russian Tsar Alexander ensued Napoleon all the way to Paris, and Napoleon was imprisoned temporarily I might add.
Russia and its Cossack then became the darlings of Europe, until, a much decorated British General named Sir Robert Wilson, rightfully or wrongfully fearing Russian dominance in the East, began attacking Russia and her methods in warfare as barbaric, or as you woud call it John, the beginnings of Russiaphobia.
Sir Robert Wilson who successfully stood for parliament cemented his attack on Russia by anonymously publishing a book, called, A Sketch of Military and Political Power of Russia.
Wilson forced home the idea that Tsar Alexander, was attempting to complete the death bed wish of Peter the Great of world domination.
Your welcome Fedup – With intention in mind there is always a certain sadness in raising the level of conflict; with that sensitivity and awareness we stay decisive and positive moving forward with a slightly heavy heart to our advantage as our deadpan adversaries fragment into the android smoke of ‘creative destruction’ and a reliance on the lessons of Afghanistan when the “The Bear Went Over the Mountain.” and caved in to the mujahedeen’s “cunning,” “surprise,” “very broad agent reconnaissance network” and “intimate” knowledge of the battlefield.
Glenn
How did your half-marathon yesterday go?
And your wife….?
Thanks Jon and John S-D.
A rather cold and callous approach from the TPA.
Ministers should waste no time to make unpopular cuts to pensioner benefits, a think tank director has said.
Many of those hit by a cut to the winter fuel allowance might “not be around” at the next election, said Alex Wild of the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
And others would forget which party had done it, he added.
At the group’s meeting at the Conservative conference in Manchester, former defence secretary Liam Fox said spending cuts must be “for keeps”.
https://archive.is/kRIQz
I have seen you smile this year at DTRH, Clark, you like life and what it can present to us in its myriad of manifestations.
Your technical IT/nuclear expertise is appreciated by so many and you are not alone in the world, just because you sit alone in a room, many others are in the same position, its very likely that some don’t get out much at all.
Another winter is followed by spring and summer and the worlds negative vibes we all are subjected to will colour our minds and words, but there is always a smile and a kind word which brings hope and re-balances the mind.
talk, occupy your mind, take over your thoughts, however dark they are. You know from the past that you will find relieve, that it will subside and you will get better.
hope is everything!
http://www.caninerescue.co.uk/dogs.asp
Thanks for all the contributions, I second Mark G.’s excellent post at 6.57pm, Russia is doing its best to minimise the neocon’s planned chaos which has been prepared for the penultimate event in the ‘axis of evil’ calendar.
The only problem and difference, the west is not in control of the chaos, it has not much inertia to offer except to train more criminals and terrorists.
Israel is burning up from inside, almost hourly Palestinians are harassed, abused attacked and killed, Netanyahu’s madness now in full bloom, the psychopath did not get his way on Iran and he had his toys thrown back at him, now he’s angry and frustrated.
Once Iran send in ground troops to ‘deal with ISIL’ sorting out these criminals, the theorists at ISIS will have nothing but steam coming out between their ears.
If I had the dosh, to hire a big tow tug and ten barges, sail to Turkey and fill them to the hilt with Syrian refugees, then sail back to blighty, Plymouth will do, even better Poole harbour, sail past mega million houses and see what Britain makes of that, then that would be a consideration.
Dear Clark – I’m sending good thoughts too. Please bide awhile… hugs.
For anyone with an interest in Life and Physics…
The Ending of Time: Where Philosophy and Physics Meet”
http://www.amazon.com/The-Ending-Time-Philosophy-Physics-ebook/dp/B00IZP6EVG
‘The provocative and penetrating philosophical classic of science and spirituality—a discourse between the revered spiritual leader Krishnamurti and renowned physicist Dr. David Bohm, exploring the origin of human conflict and what we can do about the barriers that stand in the way of insight and consciousness, now revised and updated with a new introduction and added dialogues.”
http://www.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Ending-of-Time.pdf
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And then there are at least 2 series of dialogues with David Bohm, the quantum physicist. One is the Ending of Time from which I believe the above book was transcribed. I can’t find it on L’s website, but am sure its in youtube somewhere.
The other is :The Roots of Psychological Disorder
1st Discussion with Drs. Bohm, Hidley & Sheldrake, Ojai, California, 16 April 1982
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/krishnamurti-teachings/view-video/the-roots-of-psychological-disorder.php
This dialogue extends over 4 hours while this first segment is for an hour, so it is not sound-bytes stuff. The follow on of the dialogue can be found in the sequels to the right of the screen.
Please note that this is not an entertainment, nor intellectual stimulation. If understood, by listening through the inner ear, it could change your brain-wiring.
Turkey Shutting the Barn Door
After the blood letting in Syria gradually radicalising the Turkey’s Kurds, now going all medieval on the Kurds in the towns and cities is the only way of keeping the lid on it all.
“Religion is proffered as a vehicle for psychopath actions and the so called believers who forget their own humanity whilst under the influence of those false charlatans, mullahs priests,etc.etc.”
Ideologies are always proffered as excuses for evil .
As RoS’s report from the Tory Conference illustrates the very worst psychopaths have been justifying themselves with liberal and neo-liberal principles of Malthusianism and Economics.
Almost all religions are opposed to such callous calculation- it is only when they try to accommodate their principles to the ‘reality’ of class society that they become dangerously anti-social.
What is called humanism is often just another attempt to remove all traces of conscience and morality from politics.