With over 50,000 sorties already flown by allied aircraft against ISIL, it added nothing substantial for a tiny number of British jets to fly instantly after the Westminster vote to hit an oilfield in Syria. It was purely war porn, to provide all those pictures of jets taking off to excite the public and continue the propaganda. Worth noting that none of the mythical magical missiles that don’t kill civilians was used last night, just high explosive freefall bombs. The target is also a useful reminder that, as always, oil features prominently in neo-con foreign policy. MPs spoke openly in last night’s debate of breaking up Syria, which will be music to the ears of Genie Energy and Messrs Murdoch and Rothschild, and the Israeli government which astonishingly has already issued oil licences within Syria.
If we actually wanted to bomb the oilfields that fund ISIL, we would be bombing Saudi Arabia.
Scotland is being dragged into a war it voted near unanimously against. 96.5% of Scotland’s MPs voted against the airstrikes in Syra. On platforms all up and down this country, I argued that I do not care a damn about how strong powers are given to Scotland’s parliament in domestic affairs, it we are not a sovereign nation and can still be taken to war against our will. I was proud of Alex Salmond last night for expressing contempt at the notion that civilians are not killed in British airstrikes, a big lie nobody else directly challenged.
I am reassured that last night’s events must be yet another step along the road to independence, and will have invigorated SNP hearts against the temptation of being too comfortable at Westminster.
I don’t know how many oil engineers, or people who cook and clean for oil engineers, we incinerated last night, but the triumphalism of the Blairite warmongers over it is not a very edifying sight. It says something for the strength of the delusions entertained in the Blairite bubble that the fact that Hilary Benn’s speech led to the rafters echoing with Tories making HWOAR HWOAR noises, is taken by them as a massive sign of imminent triumph within the Labour Party. The 28% of Labour MPs who supported Cameron – which they did with explicit attacks on their own leader and on Labour members who were opposing the Tories – will be experiencing the shock of hangover as the heady moment of triumph seems a lot less clever the next day.
UPDATE: I have withdrawn a statement about British aircraft intercepting Russian aircraft, as my informant has been in touch to say they were in fact referring to an incident several days ago.
There’s some confusion, I think, between “free-fall” and “unguided”. The reports say Paveway bombs were used this morning. These are free fall, but laser-guided, and intended to be accurate. The Paveway IV 500-lb bomb has an estimated cost of £30,000 a pop. So (neglecting the delivery charge) HM Taxpayer was down £180K on the very first mission this morning. Say at least a quarter of a million so far. I hope Osborne is counting.
But if the Blair claque thinks Benn is any more electable than a YouTube kitten, think again.
Unfortunately, it seems the majority of the British electorate will vote for who they are told they want to vote for. Furthermore, in order to maintain the illusion that the UK is a democracy, it is desirable to occasionally rotate the puppet parties. Put these factors together and Hilary Benn may very well be our next Prime Minister. Watch out for him visiting Israel soon to make a speech about its right to protect itself.
Parliamentary evolution – promotion of the sickest.
A good day to bury good news. Yentob’s a gonner.
Phil is after Fred’s crown, much to Fred’s alarm, for he is king of vacuity and witlessness.
Phil made a good point earlier, that a number of commenter’s here were suggesting the way to deal with ISIS is to take out their supply lines. Now we are doing just that they are still whinging.
So far “we’ve” bombed an oil installation. That may or may not be useful, but it is still not part of a co-ordinated strategic approach to the supply problem. It’s still “targets of opportunity”. Daesh has more important sources of support than oil.
Incidentally, your apostrophe’s (sic) are showing.
Fred
3 Dec, 2015 – 10:35 am
“What struck me was how many of them [MPs] represented constituencies…”
The word “represented”, in the context you are using it, is what one might call an ‘Orwellian Euphemism’.
That is to say, it means the OPPOSITE of what you THINK it means.
I thought everyone here on this blog knew that!
Phil, It is dawning on me that you really do believe this propaganda nonsense.
Not a chance. Calculated naivety.
Funny
Putin 3 december 2015: “Allah punished the ruling elite of Turkey depriving them of reason”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG8JFYlW5es
I wish I could listen to one of our politicians and laugh.
Rome wasn’t built in a day. I never said that the strikes on the oil field have destroyed all of ISIS financial support. Merely that it is a starting point in targeting ISIS funding.
Also on the point of believing “propaganda”. Isn’t that exactly what Craig is throwing out?
I think the word is ‘whingeing’ too.
verb
gerund or present participle: whingeing
complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way.
“stop whingeing and get on with it!”
synonyms: complain, grouse, grouch, grumble, whine, moan, carp, mutter, murmur, whisper; More
informalgripe, bellyache, bitch, beef;
informalmither
Just one more post Phil and you can have that hedge-trimmer you’ve been lusting after.
He does seem to be recognising where his interests lie, doesn’t he, Node?
Then:
On UK arms exports to Israel, I have also raised this with the Foreign Secretary. It is clear that no new licences should be granted where there is any doubt about the end use of military equipment and the Government must urgently publish its review into existing UK export licences to Israel. We must be sure that the UK rules on arms exports, which prevent the export of military and dual use equipment which could be used for internal repression, the abuse of human rights or to provoke or prolong armed conflicts, are being applied fully.
http://www.hilarybennmp.com/statement_on_gaza
Nearer now:
Benn praised Israel for its “progressive spirit, vibrant democracy, strong welfare state, thriving free press and independent judiciary.” He also called Israel “an economic giant, a high-tech centre, second only to the United States. A land of innovation and entrepreneurship, venture capital and graduates, private and public enterprise.”
Consequently, said Benn, “Our future relations must be built on cooperation and engagement, not isolation of Israel. We must take on those who seek to delegitimise the state of Israel or question its right to exist.”
http://www.bicom.org.uk/news-article/27556/
Nevermind
3 Dec, 2015 – 10:35 am
“And why are we bombing oil fields during climate week?”
Very well observed.
Fredi
3 Dec, 2015 – 1:37 pm
“I wish I could listen to one of our politicians and laugh.”
I know what you mean. But that would entail having an extremely sick and twisted sense of humour. Better off without!
I have to say some of you are terribly childish……
Actually I meant the mainstream lib/lab/con shower. Farage can incite a giggle on occasion.
Someone earlier asked about Benn and Israel.
In full as there are several other Labour Friends of Israel mentioned. Ed Balls was on the stage rabble rousing when Israel was celebrating its 60th ‘birthday, ie Al Naqba to the Palestinians. Ben Bradshaw is another one as well as a HJS type.
Benn was geeing them up for Syria.
‘Challenge those who delegitimise Israel’, Hilary Benn tells Friends group
By Marcus Dysch, November 17, 2015
Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary has urged the party to combat delegitimisation of Israel, but did not spell out opposition to boycotts of the country.
Hilary Benn told supporters of Labour Friends of Israel that the bonds between his party and the country were “strong and run deep”.
A number of senior party members spoke at the Westminster lunch on Tuesday, but none mentioned the name of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who did not attend.
Mr Corbyn had been heckled at an LFI reception in September after failing to mention the word “Israel” during his speech.
Mr Benn did not refer to Mr Corbyn’s anti-Israel activism, but told the audience that the party was committed to supporting Israel.
“Our future relations must be built on cooperation and engagement, not isolation of Israel. We must take on those who seek to delegitimise the state of Israel or question its right to exist,” he said.
Mr Benn praised Israel for its “progressive spirit, vibrant democracy, strong welfare state, thriving free press and independent judiciary”. The country had become, he said, “an economic giant, a high-tech centre, second only to the United States. A land of innovation and entrepreneurship, venture capital and graduates, private and public enterprise”.
It was essential to work towards a peace process for Israelis and Palestinians, and a two-state solution. “There should be an urgency about the search for peace rather than the shrugging of a shoulder,” Mr Benn said.
The “spirit and leadership” of Yitzhak Rabin were needed “now more than ever”, he added.
On specific foreign affairs aspects, he said he understood some supporters of Israel had “grave reservations” about the nuclear deal with Iran, but it was, he said, “the right thing to do. We must, of course, hold Iran to the undertakings it has made, and while having no illusions about its activities in the region”.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary said: “Whether it is Paris, Tel Aviv, Tunisia, Beirut or Ankara, the scourge of terrorist violence affects us all and we must stand against it. In the case of Isil/Daesh we are all agreed that they must be defeated, but it is negotiation that will bring the Syrian civil war to an end.”
Attendees had earlier observed a minute’s silence for the victims of the Paris terror attacks.
Mr Benn described his family connection to Israel and said his grandmother had been an active member of the Council of Christians and Jews who taught herself Hebrew and collected water from the River Jordan for her grandchildren to be baptised in.
LFI chair Joan Ryan MP opened the lunch, which was attended by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, communal leaders and more than a dozen Labour MPs.
Ms Ryan said: “Our task is to help support the prerequisites for peace: the stepping stones towards a just and lasting settlement.
“To do that, at the forefronts of our minds must always be the question: by our actions and our words, who are we empowering?
“Are we assisting those who strive for peace, promote co-existence and seek reconciliation? Or are we strengthening those of violence, those who foster division and reject compromise?”
She said the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel was both “wrong in principle” and did “nothing to serve the cause it claims to advance”.
Shadow cabinet members Andy Burnham, Luciana Berger, Michael Dugher were among the audience, as were former front-benchers Yvette Cooper, Tessa Jowell, Ivan Lewis, Jim Murphy and Chuka Umunna.
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/149431/challenge-those-who-delegitimise-israel-hilary-benn-tells-friends-group
This is the kind of bilge that is being passed as “debate” and “reason” emotional tripe that as always ends up in denunciation of those of us whom wish to see our country ran for our benefits and not on behalf of a gaggle of external crazed lunatics parading as supremacist in their bedrooms, settlements, and checkpoints while pretending they are the patriots of the highest in our country and any fora thereof. This is in order for ensuring the continuation of the most iniquitous and calamitous foreign policy that deploys our blood and treasure so that the shitty strip of land can issue Oil exploration licenses in Golan!
Aid pounds getting repatriated, through the bilge spattered here and elsewhere means;
Land stolen from Syrians, Bombs and troops sponged off the UK, et al, so that the Oligarch Mafia can reap the rewards that “rightly” end up in zionistan, to be laundered and reintroduced into the world economy to wreak even more havoc on demand!
…. or to summarise Ba’al’s post at 1.42 ……
Then : We mustn’t be seen to be helping Israel massacre Palestinians.
Now : Fuck that, how can we help Israel massacre Palestinians.
Next : Hey Israel, is there anyone else you’d like us to help you massacre as well as the Palestinians?
Someone earlier asked about Benn and Israel.
In full as there are several other Labour Friends of Israel mentioned. Ed Balls was on the stage in Trafalgar Square rabble rousing when Israel was celebrating its 60th ‘birthday, ie Al Naqba to the Palestinians. Ben Bradshaw is another one as well as a HJS type.
Benn was geeing them up for Syria.
‘Challenge those who delegitimise Israel’, Hilary Benn tells Friends group
By Marcus Dysch, November 17, 2015
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/149431/challenge-those-who-delegitimise-israel-hilary-benn-tells-friends-group
‘Britain is on the verge of entering into a long war in Syria based on wishful thinking and poor information…’
Patrick Cockburn was invited by Jeremy Corbyn to brief MPs on the facts about today’s Common’s vote on air strikes in Syria. This is his briefing to you
Britain is on the verge of entering a conflict in Syria in which its political and military strategy is based on wishful thinking and poor information. British air strikes in Syria will be too few to make much difference to Isis, but are important because they signal Britain’s entry into what may be a long war.
In one crucial respect, David Cameron’s approach is similar to that which saw Britain fight two small but unsuccessful wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003, in both cases without an effective local partner on the ground. Similarly in Syria, Britain will be at the mercy of events which are being shaped by the numerous other players in the conflict, all of whom have their own highly contradictory agendas.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-is-on-the-verge-of-entering-into-a-long-war-in-syria-based-on-wishful-thinking-and-poor-a6756476.html
“I expect [prediction, not preference] that many of the 66 will be re-selected, even though that will include some whom I would fervently prefer to be replaced by better MPs in the next parliament.”
The English disease Ian Orr, why else would our political parties steadfastly hold on to the FPTP system, why else would they huff and puff in unison when they are asked for a referendum and then turn it into an ultimatum, a take it or get nothing vote. When they should have an interest in evolving politics into the 21st century.
This is becoming an outrageous situation, but the timidity that surrounds voters, their lack of understanding what it would mean to have a fair proportional vote, is breathtaking.
I have no more time for trying to change the equation, have tried more than once, let younger folk get off their arses, or be led by their noses. Chloe Smith voted for and Kate Hollern, that bastion of democratic values in Blackburn voted against, otherwise Lord Patel would sink her ship.
The estimable John Hilley.
Once more to insane, corporate-loving war – UK is a failed state
So, here ‘we’ go again. More bombing, murder and misery. Once more to useless war and slaughter under the imprimatur ‘noble Britannia’. A dark and shameful night in the ‘mother of parliaments’, where the fate of so many innocents have been signed-off by so many war-lusting menials in thrall to their political masters.
The words of SNP MP Mhairi Black provide suitable record to the chilling occasion:
Very dark night in parliament. Will never forget the noise of some Labour and Tory cheering together at the idea of bombs falling #SyriaVote
/..
http://johnhilley.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/once-more-to-insane-corporate-loving.html
Phil
3 Dec, 2015 – 1:03 pm
“Before our aircrew conducted their attacks, as is normal they used the aircraft’s advanced sensors to confirm that no civilians were in the proximity of the targets, who might be placed at risk.” From the MoD.”
________
When I first read that, I thought it was written by some Loon on here being satirical.
Advanced sensors indeed.
games with planes
there was mention earlier this year of the defence agreement between Cyprus & Russian federation being renewed, hence could be the pesky russkies trying to exercise their military agreements, or just to drop off some more funds in a bank near
(Global Post is an aggregator relaying Xinhua news and goodness knows who funds this Quebec hosted website: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/01/23/russian-ambassador-in-nicosia-moscow-interested-in-a-military-base-in-cyprus/)
main text from http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-military-agreement-in-cyprus-2015-2
they do have some nice graphics here on (some of) the agenda points, nation by nation, (but not the great-game points):
https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5654621dc2814434008b4f90-1185-889/screen%20shot%202015-11-24%20at%208.10.16%20am.png
just to bring Israel needlessly into the debate, remember that they had some mossad spies captured at Zygi base when Greek Cyprus was planning to buy the S-300 airdefence terror from Russia, 1998 according to http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/11431/mossad-agents-freed-from-cyprus-prison/
(it was later deployed in Crete instead, Zygi mysteriously exploded by itself in 2011)
@ Fred
Funny looking fascists Fred must be the first time ever fascist have not been up for some war and plunder.
You are right Craig we take another step closer to independence,though if you asked most of us independence supporters this is not one of the ways we wanted it to happen as it means more people being killed in the name of UK national security.
The sheer hypocrisy is staggering “national security” is the words used by fascists to cover up the truth.
Oh and Benn is a turncoat someone has giving him the nod and his place in the upper British echelons has been dangled in front of him,as the Rev points out he was singing a different tune only a few weeks ago,i see Labour are still playing with the knifes the tories gave them during the referendum.
Now i like Jeremy he is a good bloke but is out his depth,surrounded by establishment yes men,if he doest cull the Blairites they will cull him,and the more he bends to the PLP the less the grassroots movement will follow,he made a big mistake in not using the whip.
All Labour did was give Cameron legitimacy to the campaign we have been involved in for years and now the neo-con press can run their 24/7 war propaganda,Rule Britannia wave those butchers flags you plebs.
Mary, 1.57
From your link, it woulds appear that Hilary Benn has been baptised in the waters of the river Jordan. Make of that what you will.
Hilary Benn always looked to me like Strelnikov out of Dr Zhivago:
Kommissar Strelnikov:
http://www.seanmichaelragan.com/img/Strelnikov_himself.png
Dunno if it means anything.
Who said this, and when?
“Tell our allies that at the very moment of action, at the very moment when they need our determination that Britain faltered? I will not be party to such a course. This is not the time to falter. This is the time for this house, not just this government or indeed this prime minister, but for this house to give a lead, to show that we will stand up for what we know to be right, to show that we will confront the tyrannies and dictatorships and terrorists who put our way of life at risk, to show at the moment of decision that we have the courage to do the right thing.”
Hilary? No, stupid. That was Tony, before snuggling up to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and China. Though possibly he was on board with Abu Dhabi by then, Hilary said this:
“We believe we have a responsibility one to another. We never have and we never should walk by on the other side of the road.
And we are here faced by
Old Etonians* fascists. Not just their calculated brutality, but their belief that they are superior to every single one of us here tonight, and all of the people that we represent. They hold us in contempt. They hold our values in contempt. They hold our belief in tolerance and decency in contempt. They hold our democracy, the means by which we will make our decision tonight, in contempt. And what we know about fascists is that they need to be defeated.”* Sorry. Couldn’t resist.