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.
America’s Great Lie. Europe’s Great Shame. Russia’s Great Case – Historian Eric ZUESSE blames America for the chaos of today-
http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/11/21/america-great-lie-europe-great-sham-russia-great-case.html
I ask, is the US Europe’s enemy, truth’s enemy and democracy’s enemy?
History reveals the US drew it’s constitution from the Enlightenment, from which America’s “Founding Fathers” created the lie of constitutional ‘liberal democracy.’ From the very early days of America’s existence, they created an elitist ‘deep state’ of landowning, slave-holding, bankers, lawyers and militarists, covering their assets from each other using a “Constitution.”
History reveals after all Adam Smith, a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, and a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, wrote ‘Wealth of Nations’ the book that Thatcher always carried in her handbag as a neoliberalism bible. Smith’s construct was based on a free market without any form of intervention and rules. It advocated a rich elite guided by an ‘invisible hand’ that ensured wealth trickled down to the poor and thus the gluttony of the rich fed the poor.
Daesh/ISIS/ISIL/al-Qaeda is the army of the rich, the oligarchy/plutocracy It’s ‘Rule by the Rich’ or else, that’s been the modus op for humans on Planet Earth. In effect, the rich are governing the serfs with their consent via voting and playing by their rules within their systems i.e. the Bank of England, the same difference three party ‘tripoly’ and the 90% plutocracy owned propaganda and social conditioning system (mass media).
We are born subject to the laws and systems put in place by the rich just like the serfs and the royals of centuries past. We have no voice in the decision making process when the only voices heard are those with the most money and wealth.
Rule by the Rich has to end or we’ll never end the wars and wealth inequality and the lies and injustices. I urge a ‘Great Election Boycott’ in 2020 which aims to withdraw consent from being Ruled by the guilt-edge, noble, aristocratic Elite, i.e., being governed by an illegal, immoral Mafia, ‘family’ style government controlled by the rich.
Is it time to end this madness and chaos once and for all? Not just because it’s gone on for far too long but because those who rule us are becoming increasingly dangerous and rabid. imo they have to be ‘kettled’, cut short and stopped.
Resident Dissident: Interesting how you feel the need to put words into my mouth
[…..]
Put then you do think that Saddam was a honourable man.
Don’t put words in my mouth, RD. I didn’t say Saddam was an honourable man, I said he was more honourable than Tony Blair or David Cameron. That’s not a high bar. For a start, Saddam didn’t betray his country.
You say you don’t regret arguing for Western intervention in Syria, so it follows that you think the price was worth paying. Do you think ordinary Libyans would agree with you? Why do you think you know better than Libyans what is best for them?
By what right do our corrupt leaders decide who should best be leader of Lybia, Syria or any other country?
AlCyan
Sorry, that’s not you. Maybe you’re really Al Zuccone.
Second hand human being ? Like the Dalai Lama, you mean.
Alcyone
23 Nov, 2015 – 10:46 am
“Pan:
” I think the neighbouring Arab states would have been quite content simply to be left alone ”
___________
Sure they would and for the most part they have been left alone.”
For the most part they have been left alone?
Israel has invaded ALL its neighbours at one time or another, some repeatedly. That is well-documented fact.
And you say MY “research skills are in dire need for [sic] improvement”!
As for my being “not nearly as well educated as [I] like to put [myself] out to be” – I have never made any claims whatsoever regarding the level of my education.
I am only too aware of how many well-educated (and well-informed) people frequent this blog. All I try to do is not make a fool of myself (having not even attended university) while I hang out in their company.
(There, I’ve given you a gift-horse!)
I DO, however, try to educate myself about things I find either interesting or of serious concern, whenever the opportunity arises, and I am an avid reader of books, especially those written by people who are widely admired and/or respected in their particular areas of expertise.
I do NOT, however, make any apologies for my attempts to write coherent English (if that is what is perhaps bugging you). I have no time for inverted snobbery, nor wilful misunderstanding.
One more thing – I am NOT afraid of being humble, when it is appropriate. You might try that some time. False pride is merely a hindrance to further understanding.
Mark
Kettled or Cattled. The ongoing debate of this blog is whether the Zionists control the Colonialists or the other way round.
I believe there are more players than this because I fled from the Colonialists to Islam and I found Zionists and Colonialists inside Islam. It is the political/lying mind against the straight/siratal mustaqeem.
Of course he was hated by his people, that’s why they came out on the streets to show it.
The democratic free west ‘saved’ them from being the richest independent African nation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icqzJY8J_bU
Pan
“Inverted snobbery”
Alcy1 is a troll. They are ugly enough as they are, without turning them outside in.
Can you imagine 1 to 1.7 million people (out of a 6 million population) coming out to support a ‘mad brutal dictator’ who was in the middle of fierce civil war which wasn’t going his way at the time, that’s what happened.
Why?
Giyane,
Thank you, but practice in expressing oneself is not necessarily a waste of time, n’est-ce pas?
BTW, I haven’t come across the term “turning them outside in” before. Even if you meant to say “inside out”, I’m afraid I still don’t get it!
Which means that 4-5 million didn’t. You’d have thought that with so much going for them they’d have resisted any change unanimously.
Fredi : ” Why ”
And why the straight Muslims of Syria have parked their families in refugee camps and fought against crooked Political Islam released on them by USUKIS to clear the land of Syria for colonialism.
Cameron and Erdogan would love to genocide the refugees in a ” safe ” zone. About the only thing that would distract Assad’s army from exterminating the scourge of USUKIS pseudo-Islamic terrorism.
Russia rightly makes no distinction between Al Qaida and IS. if it looks like a terrorist, walks like a terrorist etc. Syrian people have the help/nusra of Allah with them. that’s why their dogs of hell USUKIS mercenary enemy have to use all the good slogans.
Nusra Amrikia or Shaytan State just wouldn’t have the same pulling power.
My God, is this what we have come to? does no-one have any brains? just falling for the false-flag footage and cheap advertising slogans?
Inside out …
Ok, I get it.
No everyone comes out on the streets to show support. A majority of supporters do other things, like watch TV or Sport or go shopping. Or just try to stay alive.
Death sentences spark pro-Gaddafi protests
LibyaCrisisLibyan prime minister also announces resignation as displaying of Gaddafi-era green flags in south highlights growing frustration –
The death penalty verdicts passed on Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and eight regime-era officials by the Tripoli Appeals Court at the end of July have sparked a backlash of protests across Libya, showing that the green flag of Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule is more than just a historic artefact.The largest demonstration was held in the southern town of Sabha on 7 August, where residents reported many hundred protesters taking to the streets in one district. The protest, described as peaceful by local resident Mohamed, was dispersed after security personnel opened fire, he said, killing at least four people and injuring many more.Previous modest pro-Gaddafi celebrations in the town had been overlooked by the Misratan-led Third Force, stationed in Sabha for over a year – originally to act as a peacekeeping force following local clashes.“This time, I think the Third Force saw the seriousness of the pro-Gaddafi movement because a demonstration this big has not been seen in the last four years,” said Mohamed. “There were a lot of people, including women and children, and people were not afraid to show their faces.”He said that the protest had two purposes. The first was taking action against the decision made by the Tripoli Court and calling for the release of Saif, and the second was to try and pressurise the Third Force to leave Libya’s south. “People don’t want them to be in control here any more, but they don’t want to leave because the south has Libya’s most important resources – the oil and the water.” – See more at:
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/death-sentence-verdicts-spark-pro-qaddafi-protests-803699087#sthash.PTZR8Hwd.dpufSee more at: http://
Pan
hollow?
http://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.M2ebf8888ea79283602148913b7468347H0&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0
Congrats to your baby grandchild Tony O, thanks also to Fredi for his useful link inciting envy in US contributors and other western subjects/slaves that hold sway here. Pan, I like you humour, not enough about these days, par Mitchell &Webb’s pre chewed jokes.
Mary, these 5000 extra soldiers are necessary to keep us in check when the brown matter hits the fan, because we have cut down on police. Arming Britain on the backs of the poor and dead disabled, whilst opening up EU manufacturing and markets to be inundated with China’s and Indias ‘wares’, or excellent quality, made in India and China, by poor workers, to undermine the richer workers here in Europe here.
The Tory agenda is now becoming clear and we should help them by saving them some money on soldiers. We should form the ‘new dads army’ in our respective areas, to uphold and safeguard peace for those in our midsts who need it most.
EADA, after googlin and ducking and gogoing did not turn up anything at all, means East Anglian Dads Army.
We are looking for sponsors, maybe a little gambling money from the lottery, always up for paying large sums to reminiscence the past. Anybody with previous military experience are welcome for their expertise, please bring a pitchfork and a file.
Halfone has been claiming 25000 that is one year’s salary for an average worker, and the incomes of two working class families for a year!!!!
Halfone has spent it staying in his men only exclusive club!!!!! Halfone has claimed back the money for his little breaks because he is disabled, and although he only lives thirty miles away, he has stayed in the exclusive plush East India Club, because he can!!!
Although disabled Halfone has not had any trouble podgering the much younger Alexandra Patterson the wannabe (future) chair of Tory party!!!! So friends of zionistan representative to her madj HOC who is busy shagging his way through the Tory party activists in the way of “interviewing” these for their future posts, whilst stying in the plush clubs and UK tax payers picking up the tab!
Can’t be that bad can it?
BTW It is the same Halfone who was the victim of antisemitic troupes of some MP who mentioned the member for Tel Aviv, the same Halfone who is always prepared to send our troops in, to fight to the last drops of their blood with the last of our tax pennies to protect the only cause that really matters to him; zionistan!
Pan, thanks for your (partial) response. My key questions left unanswered.
Btw, it’s nothing to do with pride at all.
People are sleepwalking through life. When I see this laziness, I point it out. Admittedly I am tempted to be much harsher on fools like Giyane.
Have a good day!
“My God, is this what we have come to? does no-one have any brains? just falling for the false-flag footage and cheap advertising slogans?”
Things haven’t changed much in the last 80-odd years, except that the slogans have become slicker and more sophisticated and now there’s TV.
In 1939 Hitler said: “Germans in Poland are persecuted with a bloody terror and are driven from their homes. The series of border violations, which are unbearable to a great power, prove that the Poles no longer are willing to respect the German frontier”.
Who can argue with that?
Giyane,
“hollow”
Right.
As in ‘non-entity’.
The UK only managed 2Million out of 55Million for the unpopular Illegal Wars which caused the worse migration crisis in Europe since the11WW. Wasting £Trillions of taxpayers money that could be better spent. Trading and giving Aid not invading.
Where’s the Chicot Verdict – 7 year late. Chilcot should be in jail for embezzlement. Blair and Brown should be in jail. Is that the only thing that will stop this idiocy? They will start a 111WW nuclear war.
Which means that 4-5 million didn’t. You’d have thought that with so much going for them they’d have resisted any change unanimously.
Duh, the demonstration was in Tripoli, about 90% of the city was on the street in support of Gaddafi
Giyane: ” Like the Dalai Lama, you mean. ”
I reject every organised religion. You cannot organise the Truth; simple. They are all responsible for much of the conflict in the World. Some moreso than others; Islam, presently, comes top of the table, perhaps because it is more immature and rigid and aggressive than others. Who is ‘legislating’ change in Islam? Buddhism probably comes at the bottom of the table. However, as it is currently ‘fashionable’, ironically it is even more given to misinterpretation by people who are half asleep and looking to clutch straws.
We managed to get out about a million on London’s streets against the Iraq war, that didn’t work out too well either.
Synchronicity there Ken, just seen your post, great minds etc
Kempe
Last time we argued about Libya, you admitted things were worse after Western intervention but you claimed they would soon improve. It’s been 5 years now. Would you care to predict how much longer the average Libyan will have to wait until his standard of living returns to Gadaffi levels?
Population of Syria was 23Million. Reduced 5million since 2011 Civil War. 4Million refugees and 210,000 have been killed.
Mark:
” Is it time to end this madness and chaos once and for all? Not just because it’s gone on for far too long but because those who rule us are becoming increasingly dangerous and rabid. imo they have to be ‘kettled’, cut short and stopped. ”
Mark, it doesn’t work that way.
There is no substitution to each of us lighting our own lamp, one lamp at a time.
No guru, activist, leader, teacher can do it for you.
An enlightened teacher can though perhaps just point the way. The hard work has to be done by one’s self.
__________
Btw have you seen K’s talk at the UN, I believe from way back in the eighties?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcga8ATBNh0
Ganglion
“For a start, Saddam didn’t betray his country.”
_________________
Not quite true, I fear.
He could have spared his country and its people a good deal of grief if he had been less of a cunt.
Syria is secular. Had free education etc but no universal suffrage. It has been reported that Assad has 70% support and was willing to start devolving power. Russia tried to broker talks to find a diplomatic solution. The West refused. Israel flaunts endless UN resolutions.