I did not believe the official story of Hasna Ait Buolacehn the moment I saw it. The official line was that she was a suicide bomber who blew herself up when the police stormed the apartment in St Denis where the alleged terrorist ringleader was hiding out. But that story seemed to me completely incompatible with the recordings on which she could plainly be heard screaming “He is not my boyfriend! He is not my boyfriend” immediately before the explosion. She sounded like a terrified woman trying to disassociate herself from the alleged terrorist. It was a strange battle cry for someone who believed themselves on the verge of paradise.
Then yesterday the truth emerged from forensics that she was indeed not a suicide bomber. None of the mainstream media appeared to find this in any way troubling. And just in case anybody did, the BBC (and I assume all the French and major international media) then immediately did an interview with an anonymous member of the French Police attacking squad, who stated that Hasna was:
“trying to say she was not linked to the terrorists, that she had nothing to do with them and wanted to surrender”.
But he said that due to prior intelligence, “we knew that she was trying to manipulate us”.
Unfortunately this would have been a very great deal more convincing had it been stated 48 hours earlier, rather than only after the original reports that she was a suicide bomber had been corrected on forensic examination. As it is, it looks very much like a post facto justification, a new story to cover the new facts.
Besides, it is very difficult indeed to see what prior intelligence could explain if someone was genuinely trying to surrender or not. There appears to be no information available to the public that gives the slightest indication that Hasna was an extreme Islamist; what public information there is paints the opposite picture. The best the media have been able to dredge up are quotes from friends saying “if she was, then she must have been drugged or brainwashed”. Google it yourself.
But even were she an extreme Islamist, that does not mean she was not attempting to surrender. All of which is a bit nugatory if she were then killed by an explosion triggered by the terrorists themselves. But the changing story about Hasna makes me less than confident that is what actually happened.
I have no difficulty with the principle that the police should shoot people who are shooting at them. I outraged many friends on the left for example by not joining in the criticism of the police for killing Mr Duggan. People who choose to carry guns in my view run a legitimate risk of being shot by the police, it is as simple as that. Jean Charles De Menezes was a totally different case and his murder by police completely unjustifiable. In Paris it appears plain that the police were in a situation of confrontation with armed suspects.
There are severe intelligence disadvantages to killing people with profound knowledge of terrorist organisations. It also cheats the justice system. Nevertheless I can conceive of situations where simply taking out by an explosion a terrorist cell might be justified. But only if you are quite certain of the situation. The case of Hasna is to me troublingly reminiscent of the case of Jean Charles De Menezes, in that it became obvious in the days after his death that everything the police and establishment had leaked to the media about him (leaping over barriers, running through the tunnels, heavy jacket, wires protruding) was a complete, utter and quite deliberate lie.
The media could help if they were in any way rational and dispassionate, or ever questioned an official narrative. It is an urgent and irrepressible question as to why the BBC journalist did not ask the French policeman “and why did you not say this 48 hours ago when you were content to allow the story to run that she was a suicide bomber?”
Similar media manipulation is at use here by the Guardian in telling us the police stormed a “terrorist apartment”. What is a “terrorist apartment”? Are the walls made of semtex? The intent of course is to assure us everybody inside was a terrorist. It is not just the Guardian. The phrase is all over the media. Again, google it.
I am worried in case Hollande’s Rambo impersonation is steamrollering justice. It may well be that Hasna was a dreadful and bloodthirsty terrorist. I do not know. It may well be she was killed by the terrorists not the police. All we know at the moment is she was in an apartment with people who allegedly were terrorists, and died in the “battle”. But I do not trust the changing stories of the authorities.
Monteverdi
23 Nov, 2015 – 1:33 pm
re: http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/149414/board-meets-sky-news-discuss-concerns-over-israel-reporting
Bloody hell, you couldn’t make this stuff up!
Come On Mods
That was A Compliment …A wee Laff From Jives..Still Giggling
Explain these new Rules To Everyone
Well Any Hoo
Nevermind and yir Fair Lady..Thank you Both
And here be a wee Cheeky one – From Islay –
Called ‘ The Angels Share ‘ By Me
Saturated Airs
Breathing in ‘ The Angels Share ‘
Tipsy Whisky Mists
Republicofscotland
23 Nov, 2015 – 2:25 pm
“Cameron and Hollande in Paris today … Dressed in black overcoats, looking like street corner sellers, about to open their jacket to reveal a raft of watches and earings that Del Boy would be proud of.”
“Both paused on the top stair of some important French building, their black three-quarter length coats fluttering in the breeze, both had solemn scowls on their faces, as though they were about to reposses a tv or sofa from said building.”
LOL!
If only they could see themselves how others see them!
Then again, they are so completely without shame…
“So Brussels is now sealed up tighter that a duck’s sphincter during a biblical flood.”
RoS, you’re making my night!
“Order! Order!
The monkey wants to talk.”
“The fat heap sitting behind him…”
Mary, you’re quite the wag sometimes too, aren’t you!
I’m enjoying this afternoon’s banter very much.
RoS, again
re https://seeker401.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/blair_1833408c.jpg
The one in the middle looks like he’s thinking “You make a wrong move with that camera and I’ll ram it down your throat”.
Twitter message quoted by Mary:
“If you’re sympathetic to the weak, it’s activist journalism. If you’re sympathetic to the powerful, it’s objective journalism.”
Ustinov’s “Terrorism is the war of the poor, and war is the terrorism of the rich.” is in a similar vein.
The Scourge –
“ten shekels to anyone who can translate [Fedup’s comment] into the Queen’s English”
The proposed changeover in this country from Pounds Sterling to shekels is still in the planning stage, and classified three levels above “Top Secret”.
I suspect there are very few here on this blog who collect their Air Miles points by way of return flights to Tel Aviv.
Therefore, seeing as shekels are welcomed in shops here about as much as rancid farts, don’t expect your hoped-for translation anytime soon (especially as we natives understand every word of Fedup said, already).
Fed Up ..That HAD To Be Done
Thank you .. I did not forget aboot ye ..
For You Then..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGzrF8LoHWs
For Mary –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0o2PEewTu8
‘Conscious cruelty’: Ken Loach’s shock at benefit sanctions and food banks
‘Hunger is being used as a weapon,’ says veteran director, calling for public rage over situation he says is worse than when he made Cathy Come Home in 1966
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/23/ken-loach-benefit-sanctions-jeremy-corbyn-food-banks
‘Loach, 79, is shooting what may be his last film, I, Daniel Blake, based on the writer Paul Laverty’s research of jobcentres, benefit sanctions and food banks. It tells the story of Blake, who has worked for years as a joiner but is then forced to give up work and claim benefits. “The present system is one of conscious cruelty,” Loach said. “It bears down on those least able to bear it. The bureaucratic inefficiency is vindictive and hunger is being used as a weapon. People are being forced to look for work that doesn’t exist.”
Loach, whose film is to be released next year, said he was shocked by the sheer number of hungry people he had seen at a food bank.’
Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn, when replying to the warmonger, raised the subject of food security. He had to stop when there was jeering from the oiks on the opposite benches. He’s good at giving them filthy looks over the top of his glasses and waits for them to shut up.
‘We are naturally focused on the immediate threats today, but it is disappointing that there is insufficient analysis in the national security strategy of the global threats facing our country and people around the world, including inequality, poverty, disease, human rights abuses, climate change and water and food security—[Interruption.] I have no idea why Conservative Members find food security such a funny subject. The flow of arms and illicit funds enables groups such as ISIL to sustain themselves and grow.’
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/187/#c187
When he finished, the spiv opposite, aka the Prime Minister, leapt to his feet and full of it, said:
‘I think the best that can be said about that is the longer the right hon. Gentleman went on, the less he had to say.’
That says a lot about him.
I think This is the One i Meant For Mary..Soz –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYPBIailSn8
Trying to make sense of a surreal world
https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/europe-is-harbouring-the-islamic-state-s-backers-d24db3a24a40#.vn2kdy2p9
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p038wxsm
Yesterday we received a homily from the ex chief rabbi, Lord Sacks, on the benefits and spread of Mitzvah day to other religions. What hypocrisy when these words are set against the crimes of Israel on the Palestinians.
Mitzvah…. a good deed,.. an act of kindness to someone beyond our faith.. we should all reach out in love across the boundaries..blah blah
He got round to Paris and Mali and terrorists of course.
Sickly stuff Lord Sacks.
His HoL register of interests
Category 2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.
The Kressel and Ephrat Family University Professor of Jewish Thought, Yeshiva University, New York, USA
The Ingeborg and Ira Rennert Global Distinguished Professor of Judaic Thought, New York University, USA
Professor of Law, Ethics and the Bible, King’s College, London
Consultant, The Covenant & Conversation Trust, London
~~~~
He has spoken once this year in a debate on the freedom of religion and belief.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldhansrd/text/150716-0002.htm
Absolutely amazing dancers and so beautiful Brian. Loved it. The way in which the music grew. Thanks.
http://www.rambert.org.uk/performances/ghost-dances/
The same ballet company is performing in Edinburgh this week.
http://www.rambert.org.uk/performances/
Sorry about your injury. Hope it heals soon.
Murdoch keeps going on this.
Tory sex scandal moves closer to No 10
The expelled Tory activist Mark Clarke, left, with an aide, India Brummitt, and the party’s former chairman Grant Shapps
November 24 2015
The minister blamed for a Tory sex, bullying and blackmail scandal hit back yesterday as a Downing Street aide launched an extraordinary personal attack on him.
Friends of Grant Shapps said three of David Cameron’s closest allies should share the blame for giving a key role to Mark Clarke, a leading figure of the Tory youth wing who was expelled by the party last week after complaints about his behaviour towards young activists.
In an increasingly toxic row, a senior figure within No 10 laid blame for the scandal on Mr Shapps’s shoulders and suggested that further allegations about his…paywall
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4622039.ece
Also Lebedev
David Cameron invited ‘Tatler Tory’ Mark Clarke to tea party at Chequers
Exclusive: PM invited now disgraced activist to reception, which was cancelled when Tories began bullying investigation http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-cameron-invited-tatler-tory-mark-clarke-to-tea-party-at-chequers-a6745726.html
The Mail have sent a reporter to Barbados where Mark Clarke is holed up with his family in a hotel favoured by Bliar. A snip @ £1,000 a night. YCNMIU
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3329801/Tatler-Tory-gets-away-Barbados-Grant-Shapps-tells-friends-knew-sex-drugs-claims-fall-guy-Mark-Clarke-affair.html
Shapps has gone to South Sudan??
Cameron and OSbourne are ignorant, arrogant amateurs.Not fit for public Office. They are greedy murdering liars. Every contract every overspend is going on the National Debt. Their associates will be getting a big fat fees or consultancy for every over priced contract. There is no money for the latest waste of£Billion for Defence (Attack) equipment. US/UK has funded Daesh in Syria. Now Thry want to blow them to bits, wasting £Billions of public money. Increasing the spend £12Billion, while vulnerable people are staving to death in both countries.
Osbourne/Cameron are a couple of dangerous individuals who are destroying the economy and increasing the debt. They have cut public spending but have increased military spending putting up the Debt and leaving vulnerable people to starve to death. The Tories are a complete disgrace. Labour are no better. The majority of their MP’s are a bunch of troughing liars. They are a disgrace. JC is the only one who has any credibility or humility. Most of the rest are a bunch of self centred, self seeking, arrogant, ignorant troughers. If they go for illegal war again, they will get their jotters.
Since when did £167Billion for Trident become £41Billion. Concocting the truth. Westminster are illegally taxing the Scottish Oil sector at 75% losing thousand of jobs in the Oil sector and the supply chain. Increasing imports of Oil and increasing the balance of payments deficit putting up the debt. Cameron and Osbourne are destroying the British economy and increasing the debt. They have not protected the NHS or essential public services. Sanctioning vulnerable people to death, acting illegally at home and abroad, causing the worse migration crisis Europe since the 11WW. The Tories do not collect enough taxes for the expenditure. They are wasting £Billion of public money. Against the majority wishes and the public interest.
Murdoch is no better. He supports illegal wars and had secret access to Downing street. Going in and out the back door along with the Head of the BBC. A tax evading Non Dom who bribes public Officials He should be in jail. One of the top BBC appointees is a corrupt, defrauding banker who was acting illegally covering up tax avoidance through Swiss Banks.
The Head of HMRC is still the incompetent who was censored by HoC committees. HMRC is not fit for purpose. A shambles. They hound individuals and small businesses to death but ignore Tax evasion on a massive scale by corrupt (foreign) corporations in based in the City of London with an accounting/billing office elsewhere. A complete and utter shambles of incompetence from the UK Treasury.
I completely agree with Ken2’s comments.
Martial law is round the corner in la belle France and in Perfidious Albion soon. Three Bullingdon boys are at the ready.
Prof Chossudovsky warned us in 2004. That is why he is derided by the trolls on here.
The Criminalization of the State. The Roadmap to a Police State
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-criminalization-of-the-state-the-roadmap-to-a-police-state/5490824
Earlier Bernays had shown the possibilities. Some have listened but the Gadarene herd have been driven on by base impulse, constant illusion and ingrained racial prejudice against Muslims. For mass brain washing to really succeed, you start with the prejudice you want amplified. Blair has done his worst on this.
Ms Fairhead, a protégée of Sajid Javid, got the BBC job for no other reason but for the strength of her connections I assume. HSBC, where she is a non executive director, is in rather a mess.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/who_we_are/trustees/rona_fairhead.html
Her husband’s connections important too.
http://www.campbell-lutyens.com/team-members/details/tom-fairhead
A private equity outfit London and NY whose founders have Rothschild connections.
The ISIL air-force F-16s have successfully defended their territory against the pesky Russians, shooting down a Sukhoi
Meanwhile a former Labour defense secretary, Lord Brown, has suggested that the £176billion Trident system might never work due to spider-security & spider-malware attacks
Perhaps the large photo (Benghazi post the coalition war) that Craig has put on his new post will make some here think on.
” The ISIL air-force F-16s have successfully defended their territory against the pesky Russians, shooting down a Sukhoi ”
Must be a fake surely, after everything we’ve been told about the superiority of Russian military technology for an aircraft capable of defeating the Aegis defence system to be brought down by a locally built F-16.
“That’s not the way normal people communicate.”
How would you know?
How would you know?
Because I’ve communicated with people other than you.
@Kempe
Why u defending Turkey providing ground air cover to Jihadis?
Remember the Pakistani terrrrist who was extradited to the US in 2013 for trial at which MI5 witnesses appeared wearing wigs and disguises?
Abid Naseer has just been jailed for 40 years. He had ALKI ADA connections don’t you know. He was first arrested in 2009, released and then rearrested in 2010 at the US’s request.
UK bomb plotter sentenced to 40 years in US jail
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34912242
~~~
Operation Pathway and AC Bob Quick.
‘Wrongly accused’ Manchester bomb plotters take Theresa May to court over ban on re-entering UK
October 29, 2015
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2015/10/29/wrongly-accused-manchester-bomb-plotters-take-theresa-may-to-court-over-ban-on-re-entering-uk/
@YouKnowMyName
How u cum to that conclusion?
The French had many many security forces on the street in very short order. Andrew Neil had said more armed police in Paris activated than exist in all of England but maybe one reason is they were, would you believe it? running a drill that day.
The head of SAMU (The French emergency service in charge of ambulance despatch) in Paris has stated on French TV that there was a large drill on the morning of the attacks and that they switched to real life in the evening which was an “extrordinary COINCIDENCE”.
For his comments with sub-titles -See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUb721gXB5s that somebody has put together and which also notes that there were extraordinary coincidental drills on: 9/11, 7/7. Boston Marathon. Charlie Hebdo.