I wish a speedy recovery, both physically and mentally, to the people stabbed at Leytonstone tube station. It must have been horrifying.
The following comments are in part predicated on a presumption that the media reports of the incident are broadly true. This comes with a serious health warning. At this stage after another tube station incident, we were universally assured that various official “sources” and “eye-witnesses” had affirmed that Jean Charles leapt the barriers and ran through the tunnels, wearing a bulky jacket with wires sticking out. All of those turned out to be absolute lies deliberately spread by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office.
But assuming this time the account of his shouting about Syria is not lies, what we can see from video is that a single man in a very silly hat, armed with a very small knife indeed, can carry out a vicious terrorist attack with apparently no need for planning at all. Not even planning enough to get a less tiny knife from his kitchen.
Because, sadly terrorism is easy. As I stated recently, if I were crazed enough to want to kill somebody tomorrow, and did not care how I did it, who I killed or if I died myself, I could kill a few people without too much effort or planning. That is why the continual propaganda about “seven foiled ISIS terrorist plots” or “4,000 active Islamic terrorists in the UK” is quite simply untrue. If all those terrorists existed, they would not be so entirely unproductive. What the authorities do catch continually are fantasists, often children, boasting and “plotting” online about being terrorists. That is quite a different thing. It is worth noting that nobody has been charged over any of these seven foiled ISIS plots. Strange that, isn’t it?
As for the man in the silly hat, I fear he is mentally unstable. That is no comfort to his victims. The truth is, of course, that it is always the little people who get hurt. None of the 1% who foment, promote and profit from war have ever set foot in Leytonstone Tube Station. But their agenda is forwarded today. By its continual acts of violence and repression, the neo-con state eventually goads a mentally unstable person into a nasty, vicious and pointless act. They then use that act to justify more wars and repression.
For the security and armaments industry it is a very profitable cycle.
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/14128666.BREAKING__Arrest_made_after_reports_of_man_wielding_knife_in_Abingdon_Poundland/
ISIS have denied involvement, care in the [Oxford constituency] community have also denied caring
O/T
@Tony M
Re: “eejit”.
Perhaps you might find this of interest…
http://tinyurl.com/jr86nxz
Ishmael
7 Dec, 2015 – 3:12 pm
“It’s why I generally stay away.”
Don’t do that, mate! (You’d be missed).
Look this up, and remember it: Nill illigitimi carborundum
(BTW, a gentle word of advice – try not to confuse the words “decency” and “decadence”.)
So the sad rush to oblivion continues;
Note the plausible excuses forwarded in the indy, as “excess luggage”, and Swearing and uncooperative” the usual padding to justify a vile reaction of a bunch of racists!
However as per the Metro (free paper part of DM) this angle is clearly knocked wide open;
Needless to point out that the institutional racism is now going beyond the Dreyfus affair, and the matter of fact and daily tolerance of racism towards Muslims is now akin to the Nazi Germany in it’s pupation to become the most vile state that evidently has become to be the the standard of evil that can never be surpassed by anyone system or any country, so it is contended!
For anyone interested, the latest episode of the Empire Files, which concentrates on America’s involvement in Latin America…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUtumGk0E6Q
This episode of the Empire Files was released a few days before yesterday’s election in Venezuela, in which the ruling Socialist Party was roundly defeated.
If interested here’s the report on it by TeleSur, a left wing broadcaster funded by a number of South American countries, and in particular Venezuela…
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Venezuelas-President-Accepts-Assembly-Loss-Calls-for-Peace-20151206-0046.html
All eyes are on the Middle East at the moment. It’s worth keeping an eye on South America, and in particular, Ecuador.
So the Secretary of State for Bombing, Michael Fallon has eventually admitted what everyone else and their dog knows, that bombing carries a risk of killing civilians.
The Secretary of State for mass murder in Raqqa added “We do our best to minimise civilian casualties”. Sure you do Michael we believe you.
The Secretary of State for Neocon Wars finished with “I’m unable to say how long Britain will be involved in the bombing campaign, we haven’t set a timetable yet.” The longer the better eh Michael you warmongering t*sser.
http://www.thenational.scot/news/defence-secretary-michael-fallon-admits-uk-bombing-missions-may-kill-syrian-civilians.10875
Syrian president Bashir al-Assad gave a interview to the Sunday Times newspaper, the dictator, declared Britain’s involvement in Syria as illegal, and although David Cameron and his warmongering politicians are only obeying their neocon masters (as usual). I find Assads observation more like the teapot calling the kettle black.
Assad who brutally cracked down on the Arab Spring uprisings ( though they were orchestrated by the West as usual) only came to power in Syria due to his brothers death in a car crash.
During the mock election, no other candidate opposed Assad, a sure sign that democracy in Syria was lacking, in a political sense anyway.
But Assad has something in common with Western leaders who meddle in other countries affairs, by exploiting ethnic and secular tensions, Assad has remained in power, the West uses the exact same technique to cause civil unrest, and civil war.
Assads presidential palace is located in Damascus, I wonder who’ll have their “Damascus moment” first, Assad, the coalition or Russia, then again none of the candidates are blessed with foresight.
Fedup
3:37
That’s shocking.
We Brits now have to hang our heads (even lower) in shame when we travel outside the confines of this cold, grey isle.
—–
RobG
3:39
Links much appreciated.
Pan @ 3:17pm
Thanks bookmarked that. Ya blooming eejit 🙂
Also found an old 1952 (not the Irish) version, in pdf of Brewster’s … at archive.org
Meanwhile the good cop, bad cop routine used by David Cameron and George Osborne (better known as the Chuckle brothers) has been rumbled by Friends of the Earth.
Whilst David Cameron has been waxing lyrical at the COP21 gathering in France, his side kick Osborne has in his Autumn Statement scrapped the £1 billion prize for Carbon Capture and Storage, a key element of the Tory climate policy.
The Treasury also plans to sell off the Green Investment Bank, and slash the feed in tariff, that encourages investment in renewables.
Sadly I feel COP21 will achieve very little, due to the attitude of countries such as the USA,China and India, to carbon emissions.
Back to Jacky Sutton, RIP. No inquest. No post mortem AFAIK. Toxicology? Her suicide accepted at face value.
This is Martin Woollacott writing on the decision to go to war against Syria. He is a trustee of the IWPR charity for whom Jacky Sutton worked. Is it not strange for a trustee of The Institute for War and PEACE Reporting to be so firmly in favour of the decision?
Note that Mary Dejevsky, who used to write for the Independent is anti but Owen Jones who has found a niche at the Guardian sees ‘a compelling case’ for war.
Martin Woollacott: Anxiety over past failures shouldn’t influence this decision
Britain does almost nothing in the world alone. Our foreign policy amounts to deciding whether or not to join other countries in projects and campaigns they are conducting or proposing to conduct. That is why to cast the decision over whether or not Britain should bomb in Syria in narrowly national terms distorts the situation.
This is about Britain’s relationship to the United States and especially, after Paris, about its relationship to France. After that massacre, the French president has set himself the task of building a broader coalition against Isis, giving it a more coherent agenda, and making it more effective, both militarily and diplomatically. Whether France has the weight to achieve this, whether France can help bridge the gap between Washington and Moscow, to what extent François Hollande is grandstanding without a real plan, are important questions.
{Cameron sets out ‘moral case’ for airstrikes against Isis in Syria – Politics live
Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happen, including David Cameron’s statement to the Commons on the case for bombing Islamic State (Isis) in Syria}
But the aim is worthwhile and the motivation is eminently understandable. David Cameron has already declared that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with France. In his statement today he is basically saying that shoulder-to-shoulder also means wing tip-to-wing tip.
Our few planes will not make much difference in Syria. They would be less a military contribution than a political signal: to France, to America, and to others, that Britain is with its allies and will join them in doing what we jointly decide is necessary. Cameron makes all the right noises about military force being only one element in a bigger strategy. How much he, along with other leaders, can deliver on this, we will have to wait to see. Too often, in the past, a military campaign has been put in place and the supposedly equally necessary non-military aims have been mismanaged or allowed to drift away.
But anxiety on that score should not influence the immediate decision. Do we want to say no to a bleeding France? Do we want to show that parliamentary niggling and point-scoring to do with past wars and divisions within the parties, with a long-gone Tony Blair, prevent us from making rational decisions?’
The case for airstrikes on Syria – our writers’ verdicts
David Cameron addressed the House of Commons this morning on whether to join military action in Syria. Here, our columnists give their views
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/26/david-cameron-bombing-syria-isis
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1027201&SubsidiaryNumber=0
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/10/iwpr/
October 19 2015
I don’t see how he (Assad) was ‘exploiting ethnic and secular tensions’. Each faction or group, even before the postively democratising reforms Assad Jr. made, was represented in the executive, with for example Sunni and Shia and minorities’ representatives were given major cabinet/ministerial posts. I didn’t see any other candidates competing with Queen Lizzie in an election for our head of state.
RoS, was your 4:04pm your own words/opinions, or were you quoting from Murdoch’s organ.
Fedup.
The man in question should’ve done a Rosa Parks.
RoS, was your 4:04pm your own words/opinions, or were you quoting from Murdoch’s organ.
__________
Tony M.
The first sentence is from the National.
Which is owned by Gannet.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gannett_Company
http://www.thenational.scot/news/syrian-president-bashar-al-assad-said-uks-decision-to-join-syria-air-strikes-will-lead-to-more-daesh-attacks-in-europe.10869
The rest is a mixture of my thoughts and info I recall about Assad, and the West.
No Murdoch in sight.
OK Just sounds like it, and the mention of the Sunday Times didn’t help. I’m more perturbed that I had to ask if you were speaking for yourself or quoting Murdoch.
I try not to miss Going Underground.
Today Afshin had ex Ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, Sir William Patey, a Scot and now Agent Cameron’s Military adviser.
Followed by Anthony Lowenstein, an Australian activist, on his book about the outsourcing to the likes of G4S, Serco and Mitie amongst others, of prison management and refugee centre management across the world with dire results. The lack of their accountability is noticeable.
Assad & Al-Qaeda, rebel music & who benefits from bombs in Syria? (285)
7 Dec, 2015
‘Afshin Rattansi goes underground on peace in the Middle East, Britain’s dealings in Yemen, war profiteers and protest songs.
Former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iraq, Sir William Patey, tells us why British bombs on Syria are helping to bring stability to the region. Afshin investigates the connect between Assad and Al Qaeda.
We speak to Anthony Loewenstein, author of ‘Disaster Capitalism: Making A Killing Out Of Catastrophe’ about the price tag of conflict and catastrophes across 4 continents.
Plus Afshin is joined by Founder of None of the Above (NOTA UK), Jamie Stanley aka MAILMAN, as he discusses and sings his new single ‘Never Be Safe’.’
https://www.rt.com/shows/going-underground/324942-assad-al-qaeda-syria/
Excellent. 5*
David Cameron to a tee.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NvdrPRn0LGk/VmCRris5AxI/AAAAAAAAa74/cQsvdXwIp_I/s640/joke1.jpg
U.S. denies Syrian accusations that its warplanes hit a Syrian base.
Who to believe? Well, we know the Pentagon lies. And who else would have conducted this bombing?
This shows how things can go wrong in the Coalition’s bombing offensive. What if it had been Russians who were killed?
Terrorism is certainly made easier if what the DM is reporting is true – e.g., Farook visiting the Riverside Magnum Shooting Range twice a day for many days before the massacre, and shooting up the place with his AR15 and a handgun while he and Malik were practicing dry assaults in their back yard.
Just how incompetent can US counter terrorists get!
“OK Just sounds like it, and the mention of the Sunday Times didn’t help. I’m more perturbed that I had to ask if you were speaking for yourself or quoting Murdoch.”
______________
Tony M.
After two and a half years of reading anti-Scottish independence shite in Newsquest rags passing off as newspapers, including the Times, I’m pretty sure I know Murdoch mince when I see it.
But if you’re interested in Murdoch’s antics, read Dial M for Murder, by Thomas Watson and Martin Hickman.
I wonder if Hilary Benn, recalls this quote by his father, probably not.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPhrvA4ae9M/Vl9_aVpRDkI/AAAAAAAAa7o/p8OM0RFjrkY/s1600/benn.jpg
Correction. Patey Aviation Security Adviser, not Cameron’s Military Adviser!
‘He joined the FCO in 1975. He went to the Middle East Centre for Arabic Studies (MECAS) from 1977-8. From 2005-6 he was the Ambassador to Iraq and from 2002-5 the Ambassador to Sudan. Patey gave evidence to The Iraq Inquiry on 24 November 2009 and 5 January 2010.[7][8] He joined Control Risks as Government and International Relations Adviser in July 2012 and became a non executive Director of HSBC Bank Middle East on 10 July 2012.
[9] Justifying British support for, and arms sales to, serial human rights violators in the Middle East in November 2012—that is, even in the face of the Arab Spring—Patey said, “The people in the Gulf will say, ‘you of all people should understand why evolutionary change is better than revolutionary change’,” referring to European revolutions.[10]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Patey
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/07/leaked-isis-document-reveals-plan-building-state-Syria
The Guardian is running this as it’s main story . The documents on which it is based on are attributed to a man named Aymenn Jawad Al Tamimi who runs his own website but in his info informs us he is a member of the Middle East Forum , the US neo-con think-tank set up by the infamous Zionist warmonger Daniel Pipes who was involved in concocting the WMD story for George Bush . The Guardian is presenting the ‘ story ‘ as a major ‘ Scoop ‘ !!
@Pan
7 Dec, 2015 – 4:09 pm
Whilst I have every respect for Abby Martin, her latest episode of the Empire Files borders on propaganda. I mean that in the sense that it’s way too emotive. America’s interference in Latin America is well-documented. Abby’s programme only needs to state the facts, without all the drama.
I should add that I don’t know Abby Martin personally, and have no grudge against her. It’s journalism, innit. Here’s an interview that Abby gave to RT Germany earlier this year…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA4WWPMDfIw
… before she got the gig with TeleSur.
I should also add that Abby Martin does excellent work and I support that 100%.
I would hazard a guess that Abby reads boards like this, and I would be interested in any comment she might make.
Lysias – I suppose the Russians could have bombed it (although highly unlikely). It probably was the coalition (probably the US, they don’t really bother with recon). But we’ll never know……
I think I read a few days ago that Farook claimed on a social Web site some years ago that he had a hobby of target shooting.
Probably lots of people in the U.S. spend a lot of time at shooting ranges.
I think that all pretence that this action is about degrading David Cameron’s ISIS creation, is now gone, their game is regime change via war on Syria, as most here were well aware. Economic targets such as oil and other infrastructure are being destroyed, regular Syrian forces are being attacked whilst defending their homes and country, their people and their families from rent-a-mob scum. And the UK aircrews are no less scum for being used wittingly, in this way, without protest or revolt.
Drop some high-explosives to blow the roofs off, then incendiaries to set them ablaze.
See them babies burn. Cunts.
Giyane
“I know Craig doesn’t want his blog to be just a place to re-post pieces from other blogs, but as we hover on the edge of WW3 like events, I think it’s as well to be informed about our own leader’s stupid strategy.”
______________________
That raises an interesting couple of questions.
If you know Craig doesn’t want it, why do you (and others) keep doing it? Does that not show a degree of disrespect towards our host?
The excuse you give for disregarding Craig’s wishes us – with respect – a rather flabby one. After all, any poster could decide, unilaterally, that something (eg, global warming…) is so important as to provide him with justification for ignoring Craig’s wishes.
You really are behaving in an arbitrary and almost authoritarian manner and I’m surprised that others should not have taken you to task about it.
“Probably lots of people in the U.S. spend a lot of time at shooting ranges.”
Yeah most of the mentally unstable ones do.