Neil Kinnock appeared on both Dispatches and Panorama this evening bemoaning the presence of socialists in the Labour Party. Neither programme succeeded in finding anything sinister happening, but they did succeed in playing a great deal of sinister music. This must have been a great boost to the sinister music writing industry, for which we should be grateful. I think they have definitively proved that some people are left wing, and would like to have left wing MPs.
But seeing Kinnock reminded me of another bit of TV I saw today, a heartbreaking advert for Save the Children featuring a dying little baby, unable to ask for help. The advert urged you to give just £2 a month to help save her.
If 11,000 people responded with £2 a month, that would not save the little baby, but it would exactly pay the £264,000 per year salary of Neil Kinnock’s daughter-in-law Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Chief Executive of Save the Children and wife of MP Stephen Kinnock. Indeed if 20,000 people gave £2 per month, that would probably cover Mrs Stephen Kinnock’s salary, her other employment costs and the money paid to Sky for the advert. When you toss in Stephen’s salary and expenses, the Stephen Kinnock household are bringing in just shy of a cool half a million pounds a year from public service and charity work.
The salary of Ms Thorning-Schmidt is approximately twice that of her predecessor, Justin Forsyth, who was on an already unconscionable £140,000. I exposed their massive salaries at the time the Save the Children awarded a “Global Legacy” award to Tony Blair. Indeed to meet the salaries and other employment costs of just the top executives at Save the Children would take 80,000 people paying £2 a month. They would be funding executives with an average salary of over £140,000. For those in work paying the £2 a month, the average UK salary is £26,000 a year, and many retired and unemployed people scrimp to find money to give to try to help the needy.
The use of charities as a massive cash cow for the political classes is a real concern. David Miliband is on over 300,000 for heading the International Rescue Committee. When I listed the Save the Children executives, they included Brendan Cox, on over £100,000. He was the husband of Jo Cox, the murdered Labour MP. Brendan Cox and Justin Forsyth were both advisers to Gordon Brown and both moved to Save the Children when they lost their jobs on Brown losing power, sliding in on 6 figure salaries. Jo Cox was an adviser to Glenys Kinnock and left that job to be an executive at Oxfam before she too worked as a highly paid Save the Children executive.
Brendan Cox left Save the Children due to allegations from several women that he sexually harassed female staff and volunteers. Justin Forsyth left at the same time amid allegations he had not effectively acted to have his friend Cox investigated. This has not stopped Forsyth from now popping up as Deputy Chief Executive of UNICEF. Misery for some is a goldmine for others.
You have to be careful who you give to. For example, the charity World Vision has had to remove its 120 staff in Gaza and close down all its projects after it emerged that its regional director, Mohammad El Halabi, had been siphoning off £7 million a year to Hamas.
Furthermore, making donations to Islamic charitable organizations can be a hazardous affair, as one’s donations may well be returned in the form of a fully trained and primed suicide bomber.
You know that for sure of course.
A correction,
Statement on World Vision Staff Arrest
http://www.worldvision.org/press-release/statement-world-vision-staff-arrest
What’s really behind Israel’s attack on Christian charity World Vision?
Ali Abunimah
5 August 2016
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/whats-really-behind-israels-attack-christian-charity-world-vision
Anon1, (good) sources and (reliable) evidence, please:
1) Hamas is a governing political party, albeit with dubious mandate, but it does build schools, hospitals etc, so such donations may be legitimate.
2) You must be more specific than accusing “Islamic” charities – radicalisation primarily issues from the ideology of Western ally Saudi Arabia, which aggressively and institutionally promotes the killing of “appostates”. If you want this stopped, you must address the West’s collusion with it and support for many of the extremists it produces. In the UK and the US, I expect that far more tax money than Islamic charity donations go towards supporting Islamic extremism. The liquid fuel we buy also makes a massive contribution via Saudi Arabia, of course.
1) Hamas is a governing political party, albeit with dubious mandate, but it does build schools, hospitals etc, so such donations may be legitimate.
I don’t think funding Hamas propaganda is a legitimate (or even legal) way to spend charity money.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/section/15
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/section/1
The only thing dubious about hamas’s mandate is that it has been subject to a coup by the Israeli/US backed Abbas Authority in the Est Bank. Hamas won the elections, fair and square. In Gaza it managed to hang on. In the West Bank Abbas does not dare to call an election, though his mandate-as President- long ago ran out.
Wasn’t Hamas the party democratically elected to represent the Palestinians, but because the Israelis didn’t want them in power the US didn’t want them either so both said they were terrorist? And now every chump who can’t tell his anus from his elbow calls them terrorist?
1) LOL
2) You can’t keep blaming Islamic extremism on the fact that Britain does business with Saudi Arabia. Islamic fanaticism is as old as Islam itself. It IS Islam. And neither is it confined to states under Saudi influence in the present day.
But I understand. I know it enables you to keep the blinkers on and pretend that there is no problem with Islam other than that caused by the West through its dealings with Saudi Arabia. You just can’t accept any other explanation. It must always be the fault of the West.
What you have to come to terms with, Clark, is your support for a violent, fanatical cult that respects none of the modern progressive values you are supposed to cherish.
RELIGIOUS fanaticism is as old RELIGION itself; stop pretending it’s a uniquely Islamic problem.
NO, the fanaticism isn’t the UK or US’s fault, it’s Saudi Arabia’s fault. Fuck off putting words in my mouth, bigot.
Anon1, there are 1.7 billion Muslims in this world. What do you propose? Exterminate them all? Partition the world? Fight to the death? In any case you can’t stop an ideology by killing people, nor by restricting people’s movements (which I know you’re keen on). So do you propose thought police?
You have no proposal yet you detract from the vital message – Saudi Arabia is trying to control Islam worldwide.
Anon1, 19:39:
– “And neither is [fanaticism] confined to states under Saudi influence in the present day”.
No it certainly isn’t. Saudi Arabia spread it around the world by funding mosques and supplying books. And the US, UK etc. supply weapons, training and funding to those fanatics who they hope will attack US targets, such as Syria, despite repeated blowback.
Clark: “ … despite repeated blowback.”
Blowback, schmoback. We don’t care. In fact, it might even be beneficial. We get to sell weaponry, making plenty of money. If they get used on Official Enemies, great. If the don’t… aww, shucks – but that’s just proof of how bad/evil these people are, so we need to defend ourselves all the more (and make more money selling weapons while we’re at it). Better increase State Security (making money for the security industrial complex in the meantime) – any terrorist sympathisers here who are going to disagree? After all, look at the terrible weapons these people are willing to use!
Anyway, I don’t know why you’re getting upset with Anon1. He is what he is. Islamisisisisists are evil and always have been. Never mind the fact that, historically, us good God-fearing Christianists have carried out crusades, mass torture and executions, established beheading as punishment for infidels, despoiled entire continents and our work will doubtless end in the destruction of all life on Earth.
No, it’s these stirred-up and over-excitable Muslims who are simply Bad People. And you know what we need to do to _them_.
It’s all so simple to the likes of Anon1 – we’re the ones who agonise over what the heck is the right thing to do.
Anon!
Are you sure you’ve got the right charity and the right guy there?
Perhaps after listening too long to the siren voices on this blog, I was under the distinct impression that all Palestinians were saintly characters who left embezzlement and corruption to the evil Zionists.
If what you say is true, you have ruined my day.
“The siren voices on this blog”? What crap is that? You really think that Zionists do J-ws any favours? No they don’t, they just set law abiding British J-ws to become victims of hate crimes, exactly the same as ISIS sets Moslems up in the same way. You are just a fucking idiot!
Looks like your favourite mod is on tonight Habba, but on behalf of my first wife, and her family, I hope your ears are burning
It came as a major blow to me as well, Habbabkuk. We’ll have to await the outcome of the trial, but in the meantime let me say this was a ZION!ST PLOT against a poor Palestinian aid worker.
It came as a major blow to me as well, Habbabkuk. We’ll have to await the outcome of the trial, but in the meantime let me say this was a ThION!ST PLOT against a poor Palestinian aid worker.
“What will the social order of the future be like? Comrade, I will tell you. There will be a class of overlords, after them the rank and file of the party members in hierarchical order, and then the great mass of anonymous followers, servants and workers in perpetuity, and beneath them again all the conquered foreign races, the modern slaves. And over and above all these will reign a new and exalted nobility of whom I cannot speak… but of all these plans the militant members will know nothing. The new man is living amongst us now! He is here. Isn’t that enough for you? I will tell you a secret. I have seen the new man. He is intrepid and cruel. I was afraid of him.”
Now who exactly was he talking about Anon1?
Jeremy Corbyn?
http://www.nkusa.org/aboutus/zionism/opposition.cfm
What is “The People of Israel” ?
Looks like the censorship is going overboard tonight, but who cares, I’m English and living in England. ROFL I don’t need to be living in fear like some folk.
And of course, as long as Mr R continues living in that big house just to the south of us, there ain’t nothing bad gonna happen 🙂
I also remember yesterday when Clegg was the hope of all the world, and off course, before that it was Blair. Was it you, or Habba said we must beware of false gods?
Certainly not the first, nor likely to be the last, But you’r getting the idea…
Great Piece Craig,
Such high Salaries of charity money..I bet they can sleep just dandy at night too.. as you exposed some of these shenanigans in an earlier post, it makes one wonder how stupid Kinnock must be to stick his gab in for the Anti Corby bashing,Drawing Ire, and attention upon themselves.. or is it a case of fuck the public, we don’t care
Anyway, Well done Ken Loach..
A great wee documentary here on Corbyn’s summer campaign -In conversation with Jeremy Corbyn | documented by Ken Loach –
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/watch-ken-loachs-jeremy-corbyn-labour-leadership-documentary_uk_57e2343fe4b0db20a6e783f6
A fuller version is here –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPC_phLWNK4
All these bloated corporate chains like Oxfam and Save the Children have become mouthpieces for the Labour Party, more interested in politically motivated campaigns against the Tory Party over ‘austerity’, the bedroom tax and foodbanks than tackling genuine poverty. It is no surprise that there is a revolving door between these organizations and senior positions in the Labour Party.
@ Anon1
‘It is no surprise that there is a revolving door between these organizations and senior positions in the Labour Party.’
No, you’re right their. What better way to corrupt ‘Labour’ leaders? And I believe it was George V1 who suggested creating a Parliamentary Lodge ( http://freemasonrywatch.org/labour.party.freemasonry.pdf ) in order to get the powerful Labour MP’s ‘under the thumb’, cosy ‘deals’ amounting to bribery from fellow-Masons. It was supposed to have a permanent Labour majority, and would ‘steer’ them in the ‘Right’ direction!
Disclosure: I used to work for or with a number of the organisations referred to in this discussion: NSPCC, Save the Children, Shelter, RSPCA. I quite like them all.
The work they do is very important. Finding out what some people do to animals and to children, for example, and knowing the work that some other people (social workers, police etc) do to try to stop them, which sometimes succeeds and sometimes does not, is pretty tough. Also seeing this week that humanitarians were bombed on their way to Aleppo, well, that’s quite hard to take too. Some of the work I did with colleagues at NSPCC promoting self protection amongst young people definitely put a paedophile teacher in prison. It cost a lot of money to do that work. More than you have been worrying about. I think it was well spent.
I also used to work in a local nightshelter run by a local organisation beneath a church and I recognise some of the commentary in the thread. The nightshelter was mostly funded by that joyous deal called “housing benefit”. Shoot me. These were all are pretty complex organisations, large or small, and needed management for which there were insufficient resources given the scale of the problems the organisations were facing. I understand the general anger in the thread but I don’t share it. And no, I am not advancing the banking argument. We had a very good Chief Exec at NSPCC and a great Chairman at the same time, for a while. I daresay they were paid eye-watering sums of money. I don’t support the political corruption that Craig is right to highlight but for the most part the attacks here on charities large or small are wildly short of balance.
Your serious points are taken. But, if we grant the need for good managers, and I do, is it even desirable that they are poilitically connected, and in the case of Miliband, appointed? Had Miliband any prior charity experience before being made CEO of International Rescue? Had the Kinnock woman ditto StC? If high salaries have to be paid, are they (pace your own experience) invariably paid to the right people? And, fair play to mainstream charities with stated definite objectives, and some reporting of what is actually happening at the other end of the chain, but I also have in mind the likes of Blair’s Africa Governance Initiative, whose actions are very vaguely reported, even by Blair, and whose main function seems to be to introduce banks, phone providers and mining companies to African leaders – all very well, but couldn’t they introduce themselves?
Lastly, IMO, anyone working in a night shelter fully deserves high pay for their own management skills when dealing with often extremely troubled and troubling people, and sometimes achieving the unlikeliest of happy outcomes for their clients. It comes down, as usual to the disparity in our valuation of people who didn’t go to Oxford and haven’t sat on company boards, and those who did and have, and it goes far beyond the charity sector.
I think the CEO at NSPCC at the time was a labour party insider! No, Miliband did not. And I am not certain if IRC is better for him or not but then I don’t live in NYC which is I suppose where he matters (it will be about money). And the recruitment decisions at NSPCC subsequent to revered CEO & Chairman were terrible. And the Blair stuff is disgusting (it will be about money). And yes, it goes far beyond the sector. They are definitely all at it together.
The IRC is… is governed by a volunteer unpaid board of directors.
The IRC is generally agreed to be a jolly good show, but its management is free, according to this. Milband’s £300,000 sinecure doesn’t reflect its policy on directors.
A companion body, the IRC overseers, provides counsel to the board on matters of policy, fundraising and advocacy.The IRC has some high-profile people among its overseers, including Madeleine Albright, Kofi Annan, Tom Brokaw, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, Liv Ullmann and Elie Wiesel.[24] (Wikipedia -duplicates info on IRC site, but overseer list may vary)
Here we suddenly become coy on the topic of remuneration. There are one or two on the list who normally don’t get out of bed for less than, oooh, $50K, aren’t there? Is this much political clout actually needed in order to get an emergency team into a disaster area? Or are we talking policy-making?
Or maybe, given who the overseerers are one should wonder what exactly the purpose of the IRC is.
Judging by the names of these “overseers” and the research carried out by this author (see link), the IRC appears to be primarily an instrument of US power
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Covert-Network-Progressives-International-Committee/dp/1563245515/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474398301&sr=1-1&keywords=Covert+Network%3A+Progressives%2C+the+International+Rescue+Committee%2C+and+the+CIA
@ Decent G
‘… Also seeing this week that humanitarians were bombed on their way to Aleppo, well, that’s quite hard to take too.’
Surely you mean ‘allegedly bombed’? And just who did attack the convoy, by whatever means? Screams ‘False Flag’ to me, but their is no proof either way.
As a worker in the above-mentioned charities, you likely are a ‘Decent Guy’, but the colossal salaries are unconscionable
IF the CEO’s are ‘Decent People’, then why the heck can’t they take a huge salary cut, and STILL help the needy.
As Jesus said: ‘And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.’ Matt. 19:24 King James Bible
Re the White Helmets –
See Vanessa Beely’s Exhaustive work on the W.H. –
https://thewallwillfall.org/2016/04/30/video-syria-white-helmets-exposed-and-petition-to-prevent-their-nomination-for-nobel-peace-prize/
DO NOT GIVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2016 TO THE SYRIAN WHITE HELMETS
https://www.change.org/p/nobel-prize-do-not-give-2016-nobel-peace-prize-to-syrian-white-helmets?recruiter=36326166&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
Brian.
There is a certain level of doubt, over the true purpose of the White Helmets in Syria. Especially when you see who funds them.
“Funded to the tune of over $60 million by the US, UK and EU member states, these mercenaries in beige clothing have a base of operations in Turkey, but appear to operate exclusively in terrorist-held zones in Syria, and can also be seen running ‘mop-up’ operations for Al Nusra Front and other terrorist fighting groups.”
This is quite a interesting article on the White Helmets.
http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/09/15/video-netflix-and-the-white-helmets-hand-in-hand-with-al-qaeda/
Of course Brian, when you look back at some of recipients, who’ve received the Nobel Peace prize, such as Obama and Kissinger (two of the greatest warmongers in history) you come to realise that alls not what it seems.
RoS
I Hear what you say about the Nobel Peace Prize, Re the war criminals.. certainly one of the things that worry me when the White Helmets are nominated.. and following their Logic,( Nobel Committee ) the next Pres will be nominated too.. Clinton that is..already a war criminal.
Vanessa Beeley should get a nomination, and Craig
“Firstly, I’d like to say that if Russia is found culpable in the destruction of the UN aid convoy, those responsible should face the full wrath of International Law.
“The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed the bombing was carried out by either Syrian or Russian aircraft. But Russian officials claim that the convoy caught fire. I can find only one or two pictures of the UN HGV vehicles, allegedly struck, (by Russian/Syrian forces) and in my opinion, they do look structurally intact, but badly burned…”
RoS: Both the White Helmets and the Syrian Observatory are financed and directed by the British government- and they do very well out of it, almost as well as the Kinnock lady heading Save the Children. There are clear links between Save the Children and White Helmets, too.
As to the attack on the aid convoy, like the deliberate attack on the Syrian forces besieged by ISIS (forces which have been in the same place for more than six months, so that their positions were very well known, even to the USAF) it was undoubtedly designed to prevent the agreement for joint Russian-US air operations from going into effect on Monday.
The warmongers in the Pentagon, led by Ashley Carter the Secretary of Defence, want to keep the war boiling and the people dying until Hillary comes to office and all restraint-all decency- is is removed.
The object is a confrontation with Russia, in Syria and on its borders which will make the Cuban Missile Crisis look very tame.
Those running the US government-and by extension its satellite regimes- are mad, bad and extremely dangerous. It is foolish to pretend otherwise.
“RoS: Both the White Helmets and the Syrian Observatory are financed and directed by the British government”
_________
Bevin,add in the American government as well, see (my comment to Brian on this page, and my comment to Paul near the bottom of the last page).
The point I was trying to get across, is that governments must hold their troops actions abroad as accountable. For far too long aid workers and doctors have been murdered, whilst carrying out voluntary work, which often saves the lives of those caught up in the conflicts, thrust upon them by foreign governments, hellbent on regime changes, and asset stripping.
The terms “collateral damage” and “casualties of war” should at the very least have some form of justice applied to them. Alas war crimes and the flouting of IHL, only applies when it, when the atrocities are carried by those who aren’t on our side, whatever side that may be.
This is an interesting development, if there’s any truth in it.
“Russian warships stationed in Syria’s coastal waters targeted and destroyed a foreign military operations room, killing over two dozen Israeli and western intelligence officers”
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950631000607
Thank you MJ for that link, if true, this paragraph, may well be the reason its not be widely reported in the West.
“Several US, Turkish, Saudi, Qatari and British officers were also killed along with the Israeli officers. The foreign officers who were killed in the Aleppo operations room were directing the terrorists’ attacks in Aleppo and Idlib. “
There appears to be another power involved in this attack on the aid-convoy. According to Russia Today Sergey Lavrov is asking questions of NATO powers as to what a US drone, launched from Turkey was doing in the vicinity of the attack.
https://www.rt.com/news/360165-us-drone-syria-russia/
All praise to the Great Leader who is incapable of sin and a curse on all the naysayers.
@ lysias September 20, 2016 at 22:52
‘Fletcher Prouty was in a position to know, and, according to his narrative, neither Eisenhower nor even Allen Dulles authorized Powers’s U-2 flight.’
I’ve read Fletcher Prouty’s ‘Secret Team’; it is very informative, and was recommended by Mark Philiips in his and Cathy O’Brien’s book ‘Access Denied: For Reasons of National Security’. ‘Access Denied’ is also an incredibly powerful book, and details the depths of depravity of Presidents, Senators, Congressmen, Military, Police and Judicial leaders in America.
The following will give just a small glimpse into America’s woeful state: ‘Satanic subversion of the U.S. Military’ by Jeffrey Steinberg:
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/satanic_subversion.htm
I believe it was in Prouty’s book I read that the U2 had been sabotaged by not having sufficient hydrogen in it’s tanks.
The hydrogen was used when the U2 had an engine ‘burnout’, which it frequently had at the extreme altitudes it flew at, so when a burnout occurred, Powers was unable to restart the engines.
So it may have been ‘belt & braces’; altitude recorder nobbled, plus not enough hydrogen (like Princess Di: ‘Boston Brakes’ & military strobe light flashed in Henry Paul’s eyes.
A very simple way to perform a karate chop to a charity mugger is to ask how much their CEO is on. If they do not know or won’t say, just tell them you never donate without checking a charities accounts. All charities accounts are available online via the charity commission website.
The charity commission declared that charities paying wages above £100K were in danger of “loosing legitimacy”. Personally, I wouldn’t give any charity a penny if their CEO was on say more than £30K, but not worry, they are ALL on lots more.
I discovered that McMillan, the cancer charity is one of the worst for wages….
Number of Employees
2014 2016
£60,001 – £70,000 24 22
£70,001 – £80,000 13 8
£80,001 – £90,000 7 5
£90,001 – £100,000 4 3
£100,001 – £110,000 4 1
£110,001 – £120,000 1 3
£120,001 – £130,000 2 –
£170,001 – £180,000 – 1
£180,001 – £190,000 1 –
Notice how the CEO got a nice wage rise, likely above inflation.
Fair enough Jay. Don’t give to them if their CEO is on more than 30K. And good that you can see in the accounts roughly who earns what so you can take that decision. That is why those rules exist. It is a good thing that you can know this and a good thing that you can decide not to give. Others will decide otherwise. That’s ok too. I will continue to give to them.
Macmillan nurses have helped in my life so many times, they do an incredible job. It’s sad that these charity CEOs are paid so much, I suppose the proof of whether they’re any good is how successful the charity is. I do feel it’s frivolous to spend money that could provide more final care nurses on fat cat salaries. I also believe it’s dangerous for the charity, people often look for an excuse not to give money to charity, and this is exactly the ammunition needed.
Even sadder is that the last CEO of Macmillan spent millions advising on and promoting how a large chunk of health and social care services should be outsourced. The tendering exercise cost all involved (including the NHS hospitals and community services forced into the tendering exercise to try and continue to provide the services) a great deal of money, and even more importantly time of key staff who should have been focusing on providing patient care. In the end the whole thing was abandoned. The CEO left shortly after….
Shatnersrug…Well, that is the other aspect that I resent, being made to pay twice, once through my taxes and then again through the rattled tin. After all, these are not the days of Dickens and we do pay a lot of taxes for social care.
Soon it seems, the only thing not to be a charity, will be ‘White men with nothing wrong with them!
Another charity factoid…The Dogs Trust CEO is on around £100K, I ask you, the Dog’s Trust….
Well indeed, The Charity Commission itself names a figure, maybe you could email them this same helpful advice?
Guardian and most others currently making hay out of the UN convoy story which feels dubious on so many levels. Anyone hearing reliable reports of what happened?
Coming so immediately after US provide unambiguous air support to ISIS, killing many in the process, and after the story was wiped from the front page of US news by the New York bombings, we’d appreciate any reliable info.
RT article on the convoy: Russia presented all evidence on aid convoy attack, now wants impartial investigation – Lavrov.
Article ends with this horrifying update based on the speech Kerry just gave:
Does “the opposition forces” include ISIS?
What kind of proof is the U.S. offering that the convoy was attacked by Russian planes? Can a ground attack by artillery or the like be ruled out? Can an aerial attack by another power like Israel be ruled out?
“Kerry added that in his view, Assad “does not believe in ceasefire””
Not surprising really given that the SAA is poised to retake Aleppo.
“Kerry also urged that Syrian government forces should be banned from flying over territories held by the opposition forces”
Is this man actually sane?
Sorry Lysias. I had not noticed you posted this earlier.
As to the war in Syria it is another US-funded attempted coup. Leaked cables show that as soon as Assad refused to have the western-backed Saudi pipeline his overthrow began. This is why they continue now with their attacks despite the lying toad John Kerry purporting to broker a peace-deal. Peace is the last thing they want. Oil is the first.
Don’t they make you sick. 🙁
This comment should have gone below Lysias at 17:09.
Yes, it’s very strange on the surface, but less so if one realises that it is a staged photo-op. The only reliable source would be oneself if one witnessed it.
False flag attack? Another rogue operation by the U.S. military?
RT: US coalition Predator drone spotted at time & place of Syria aid convoy attack – Russian military:
Sorry Lysias. I had not noticed you posted this earlier.
As to the war in Syria it is another US-funded attempted coup. Leaked cables show that as soon as Assad refused to have the western-backed Saudi pipeline his overthrow began. This is why they continue now with their attacks despite the lying toad John Kerry purporting to broker a peace-deal. Peace is the last thing they want. Oil is the first.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/09/15/assads-death-warrant/
Don’t they make you sick. ?
As I understand socialism it does not require charity because the state provides. Charity is the get out of jail free card for religions and right wingers.
Elliot Murphy details in The Scotland-Yemen Connection the extent to which Scottish universities and the SNL Scottish Government invest in arms makers.
You gotta laugh at Kerry squirming. He only seems to be in favour of a ceasefire when the NATO-trained heart-eaters of east Aleppo are getting hammered. Funny, that.
They did their best to scupper it when they attacked the SAA at Deir Ezzor, and now all those “rebel” offensives have been reversed they start bleating about ceasefires again. A week clearly isn’t long enough to resupply the crazies – press for a month, John !
Now we’re back to no-fly zones. And no wonder: https://southfront.org/30-foreign-intelligence-officers-israeli-us-turkish-killed-in-missile-attack-in-aleppo-unconfirmed/
Lysias, Ros ect
Some more –
A great piece by Felicity Arbuthnot
” Konashenkov said that damage visible in footage was instead the result of cargo igniting – “oddly” occurring at the same time as militants (formerly Nusra Front) had started a big offensive in nearby Aleppo, backed by tanks, artillery and other heavy equipment.
He added:
“Only representatives of the ‘White Helmets’ organization close to the Nusra Front who, as always, found themselves at the right time in the right place by chance with their video cameras can answer who did this and why.”
Indeed the ‘White Helmets’ boasted in a video of being on the scene within “moments.”
The “White Helmets” who have had the gall to entitle themselves the Syrian Civil Defence Force are seemingly neither Syrian, nor Civil, nor Defence. Vanessa Beeley who has meticulously charted their antics points out (2)
“This is an alleged ‘non-governmental’ organization … that so far has received funding from at least three major NATO governments, including $23 million from the US Government and $29 million (£19.7 million) from the UK Government, $4.5 million (€4 million) from the Dutch Government. In addition, it receives material assistance and training funded and run by a variety of other EU Nations.”
She informs of such concerns regarding the organization that:
“A request has been put into the EU Secretary General to provide all correspondence relating to the funding and training of the White Helmets. By law this information must be made transparent and available to the public.”….
“What better chance to push “the No Fly Zone scenario” than arriving within “moments” of the convoy tragedy, filming it and creating a propaganda scenario before any meaningful forensic investigation could even be started, since the trucks were still burning. And of course, the “White Helmets”, aka “Syrian Defence Force”, were filming rather than attempting to put out the fire and rescue those in the burning trucks…
” ….. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to comment: “We are reaching a really terrifying conclusion for the whole world: That the White House is defending Islamic State. Now there can be no doubts about that”,
http://www.globalresearch.ca/syria-attack-on-aid-convoy-kills-twenty-destroys-aid-and-obliterates-us-war-crimes-in-support-of-isis-daesh-terror-group/5547059
Oh so 18 lorries just happened to spontaneously combust and there were no craters:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37430824
RT described it as an attack, obviously they were missed off the briefing.
You have introduced the notion of spontaneous combustion. Why?
From the GlobalResearch (lol) article link above:-
” The Russian Defence Ministry has categorically denied any attack and claims the convoy caught fire ”
Quickly enough to kill 20 people.
Geez Peace…
And DO NOT give me lols When talking about Felicity….. Or Vanessa
Spontaneous combustion of truckloads of ammunition and explosives is quite common. But in this case it looks as if the trucks were attacked from the ground.
Bevin
Re ‘truckloads of ammunition’, you’ll recall than when Russia send aid supplies to the beseiged Donbass regions in 2014 they were widely accused, by the like of Kempe, ress Diss and others, of using ‘aid supplies’ as cover for sending the rebels arms and ammunition. Given that the UN personnel allegedly overseeing the present day aid efforts in Syria are , understandably, very thin on the ground, it would of course be quite feasible for the ‘white helmets’, or other supposed Syrian ‘humanitarians’ , to hijack the process, use tactics similar to those alleged against Russia 2 years ago , and utilise the ‘aid convoys’ as a means of re-suppling the rebels with ammunition and/or arms.
The absence of any bomb craters in the photos released hitherto ( over which fact the supporters of the Kerry line are strangely silent) to my mind makes the ‘exploding ammunition’ explanation for this tragedy more than simply a Russian sponsored ‘conspiracy theory’.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed the bombing was carried out by either Syrian or Russian aircraft. But Russian officials claim that the convoy caught fire. I can find only one or two pictures of the UN HGV vehicles, allegedly struck, (by Russian/Syrian forces) and in my opinion, they do look structurally intact, but badly burned.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2016/09/20/109097322-truck-news-large_trans++C_LLCXkS_z-CZqgOMP7BeysHzjQpVngxpF9kb9ZTW04.jpg
Russian authorities in Syria, claim a indepth look needs to be taken in view of the White Helmets, who receive millions in financial aid from the US and Britain. With regards to their impartiality – the White Helmets, have recently been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize.
__________
Thank you Brian for that comment and link, it goes a long way towards confirming suspicions, that the destruction of the UN convoy isn’t all that its claimed to be.
I posted the above comment this morning, my suspicions already aroused due to the structural integrity of the vehicle( in the link I provided above), which is intact more or less. My conclusion as best as I can make from the photo, is that the vehicle was indeed destroyed by fire, and not by heavy ordance or missilie strikes. But people can make their own minds up, as to what they really think destroyed the UN convoy.
The SOHR is one man in a flat above a shop in the Midlands. Take no notice.
Thank you Paul for that, I was already aware of the SOHR’s status, being run from London by a disgruntled exiled Syrian, who runs a clothes shop. One does wonder why anyone, would take accounts from the SOHR seriously.
_________
Yes Sharp Ears you are correct, I said the above to Paul earlier on today . ?
Indeed, Brian F ! I’ve noticed a wee shift in the BBC’s reporting of Syria. Small, but it’s there.
Somebody started a policy of giving your first new polymer fiver to charity. It seems to be catching on apparently.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/people-doing-something-amazing-new-8883019#rlabs=1%20rt$sitewide%20p$6
With regard to what’s going on in Syria, et al, here’s John Pilger’s famous ‘Year Zero’ about the killing fields of Cambodia…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rpZz5I_ylo
This report was aired on ITV, a major UK broadcaster. The BBC, too, were also putting out similar news reports at the time, as were the major American broadcasters.
That’s the difference between then and now – in Vietnam and other parts of IndoChina, correspondants were allowed to roam freely and actually report on what they saw, which was then put out on the mainstream media. It was this, and the resulting public outrage, that played a major part in ending the Vietnam war. The psychos in Washington learned a hard lesson from this, and ever since they’ve never allowed any free and open reporting of their wars.
As a result bods like us, on web sites like this, have to try and make sense of the propaganda diatribe, while trying to convince ourselves that we don’t live in totally closed societies.
So true, those days of some ability for proper investigative journalism to get into the main stream are almost completely gone on the odd article makes it through. One reason I gave up on tv but the wall to wall propaganda especially on BBC really became unbearable in the end.
John Pilger has a new film out hopefully this year. Partly crowd funded and to which I gladly donated a modest amount. This is the type of thing I like to support with my funds. http://johnpilger.com/articles/the-coming-war-between-america-and-china-the-new-documentary-project-from-john-pilger
All charities should be made to publicise all the names of all people working there and their salaries if making more than 35000 pounds a year from it.
Zimbabwe’s 92-year-old President Robert Mugabe should step aside without delay and allow new leadership of a country whose political and economic implosion since 2000 is dragging down the whole of southern Africa, Botswana President Ian Khama said.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-botswana-zimbabwe-idUKKCN11R1BB
Agree 100 per cent
Botswana is perhaps the best run country in Africa.
Why are the U.S.A., the U.K., France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
so adamant that Assad must go, yet they show no interest in saving Zimbabwe?
You’re an idiot too. Who do you think now owns all the wealth in South Africa?
I’ll tell you who; exactly the same people as owned all the wealth previously, and Zimbabwe is exactly the same. Lets start with De Beers and Rio Tinto Zinc, for example.
Turkey wants to be the middle-man power-house, it wants to host the gas line from the former U.S.S.R. states, it does not want to be 3/4 surrounded by Russia and the Shia world. Turkey wants to be the middle-man between the Mid-East and Europe.
Turkey would like a large slice of Syria, if not all.
Turkey would very much prefer Russia, not to be in Syria.
Turkey will find it more difficult monitoring the movements of Russian ships, if they use the habour of Tartus and do not necessarily have to go via the Bosphorus
TURKEY WILL get visa-free travel with E.U. NEXT YEAR, says Luxembourg
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/713058/Turkey-visa-free-travel-European-Union-next-year
The deal, made in exchange for stopping the flow of migrants from Syria into Europe, offered a number of sweeteners including cash and freedom of movement.
Surely this is a wind-up?
Of course the US and Russia re in ‘parallel universes’ regards Syria.
AFAIK, one of those countries is in Syria at the request of the only legitimate Syrian Govt there is on this planet in this Universe. There may well be another ‘syrian govt.’ in another parallel Universe. But again afaik there is only one Syrian Govt represented at the only one UN that exists. And that Govt would be legitimate to tell the US to fuck off its soil and airspace.
The American people should ask its Govt ‘Why the fuck are we in Syria at all?’
I’m surprised that Russia is seen to be waffling. They should admit that the US is indeed in a Parallel Universe and it is anything but a legitimate one.
Are, not re in 1st sentence.
“The American people should ask its Govt ‘Why the fuck are we in Syria at all?’”
They should but the fear of being labelled “un-American” pervades their every waking moment. Conformists, one and all!
“They should but the fear of being labelled “un-American” pervades their every waking moment. Conformists, one and all!”
I wonder if you’ve considered the corollary : All Alans are Asswipes?
You seem to have a grasp of generalizations without genuine thinking.
You only have to go there and take a look Ben. Stars and stripes on every house, and even the sad loser with his cart, who wasted his youth in a war in Vietnam, has his little flag on his cart. God, it was so pathetic! The land of the conformist who is so afraid to be labelled “un-American”.
From one of your fellow Americans who is far more awake than you Ben.
Why is America such a conformist, fake, follower, shallow country?
It’s a country where the bad, conformist, sociopathic, FAKE, phony, follower, suv driving, sunglasses wearing, pretentious soccer moms, pretty much judge and dissect and treat everyone that’s NOT like them like total garbage, and everyone is DYING to “fit in.”
This country is such a joke. It crucifies you for being individualistic, and rewards conformity.
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080113140043AAV5VDY
Conformity rules over everything! You have to work , and work a great job, be happy, be good looking, be wealthy, so many things, you really can’t be yourself.
We have countless of malls, makeup counters, books and tv shows on how to look great, plastic surgery, this that, everything.
Why are we trying to please, other Ahole conformists who really don’t care about us anways? it’s silly and masochistic.
Anyone else agree?
People get self-conscious and want some form of an acceptance from the elite, or better off conformists in our society, when these people don’t care to begin with.
What is wrong with this country
Hey Ben, how about this? The Big Lie: Why America is all about Control and Conformity, not Truth or Freedom
http://www.happierabroad.com/ebook/Page31b.htm
“America is one of the most mind controlled countries on the planet. Hypocritically, Americans chant with religious fervor about how they have freedom and democracy, while at the same time ACT like the “Borg Collective” from Star Trek that tries to assimilate everyone, both domestic and abroad. It’s the ultimate lie and as they say “Actions speak louder than words”. So we will look at the “actions” of control and conformity in America as opposed to the false rhetoric that the automaton populace chant as their religion.”
I’m quite happy to hear you hang yourself along with the other bigots at CM.
Please continue your intolerant rash of hatred for those less fortunate….you know those who were born off the Island.
I just cringe when you’re watching American wrestling on the TV and they all start the mindless chant “USA! USA! USA!”
I mean what is that stuff? “We are the Borg! We are the Borg! We are the Borg and you will be assimilated!”
Duh!
Talking about Vietnam Ben, did you know that 58,000 Americans and goodness knows how many Vietnamese were killed in that conflict and nothing sums up more powerfully the lack of respect this mindset has for human life, than the way the CIA smuggled drugs into America in plastic bags hidden in the body cavities of dead soldiers being returned home from Vietnam for burial. CIA operative, Gunthar Russbacher, has told how some bodies were gutted and filled with drugs for shipment back to the States. The bodies carried secret codes which allowed those carrying the drugs to be identified on arrival at West Coast Air Bases, particularly the Travis Airforce Base in California. The drugs were then removed and made available to the young people of America.
These smears, slurs and insults are designed to shut down dissent and questioning against wars. Being un patriot or an appeaser are old favourites. Now we have denier and apologist which connect to the Nazi holocaust which is established now beyond even mild, inquisitive questions, some countries even making holocaust ‘denial’ illegal. Whenever I hear or read these terms applied to people on any subject a red flag goes up in my mind and my suspicions are raised and I look more closely at what others are saying and finding. I’m afraid nothing is beyond question to me. Even questioning why I need oxygen to live was part of my learning, I know I need something called oxygen to live and do nor doubt that but I wanted to know why I needed it and what it was. My mother said to me once is ‘why’ the only word you know!
I will never give another penny to charities whose expenses are high. CEO’s should not be on over £40-£50K some are on more than the prime minister.
Expenses in a charity should not rise above 8p to 10p in pound.
Jobs for the boys
It’s disgusting. Some in London have a concierge on the door. What’s that about? That’s not charity. They should be sacked and get decent shard woring staff in in their place. Sheer greed!
My wife used to have standing orders every month – for only a few quid each to several large charities. You can probably guess which…but they included Save The Children Fund and…
Well one day, we accidentally found ourselves walking through the car park of one of These Charities HQ’s
I mean FFS…look at them all. I used to work for a major British company…and none of our car parks ever looked like that unless the Queen turned up.
So I did a bit of research like Craig did….
Also…
About 15 years ago – I had a bet with someone I didn’t know – over the internet for £100
Whoever won, could choose The Charity of His Choice – and the loser would send them £100.
I lost the bet.
I sent them £100 (and I thought it was a very small charity and certainly one I approved of – his choice was excellent)
So for 15 years – sometimes several times a years – they have been sending me big glossy brochures asking for more money…
They must have spent more than £100 asking me for more money – and I haven’t sent them a penny since I lost the bet and paid.
I suggest you don’t either.
It’s the biggest scam going – ask Hilary Clinton.
Do you want a list?..The People in Power will Bleed you Dry…
Shall we Start with A
You Really Should Do some research of who is in control of Amnesty International…
I did post on here about 4 years ago to the Irish Girl who used to work for them…she fell out with Mary..and no one should do that.
Tony
I’ve been counting and I reckon this is the 37th night in a row that Channel 4 News has produced a report about Brexit being racist. Yesterday it was Poles being beaten to death and tonight it’s a second Holocaust. Jon Snow (chin on hand, nodding) pulled a serious face as he heard from a very serious German federalist about how the Brexit vote resembles the rise of the Nazis in 1930s Germany. Someone should point out to Jon Snow the origins of the idea of a united Europe under German rule.
The idea of a united Europe was devised by Italian anti-fascists like Spinelli as a way to stop European countries fighting with each other.
@ fred:
‘The EU was HITLER’S idea and it proves Germany WON the Second World War, claims new book’:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/470967/The-EU-was-HITLER-S-idea-and-it-proves-Germany-WON-the-Second-World-War-claims-new-book
Perhaps not the best source, but it should do….
‘…”We may think we won the Second World War. But we lost. It is no surprise that we are all living in the Fourth Reich.
“Knowingly or not those who support and defend the European Union are supporting the Nazi legacy.”
Under a chapter heading ‘The EU was inspired an designed by Nazis’, the authors claim: “Hitler was the man who gave bones to the dreams first expressed by Charlemagne and Napoleon but the finishing touches to the EU as we know it were put in place during World War II by a man called Walther Funk, who was President of the Reichsbank and a director of the Bank for International Settlements.
“It was Funk who predicted the coming of European economic unity. Funk was also Adolf Hitler’s economics minister and his key economics advisor.”
It continues: “The Nazis wanted to get rid of the clutter of small nations which made up Europe and their plan was quite simple. The EU was Hitler’s dream.”
The book argues it is no coincidence that the EU is so close to Hitler’s plan for post-war Europe.
According to the authors: “In 1945, Hitler’s Masterplan was captured by the Allies. The Plan included details of his scheme to create an economic integration of Europe and to found a European Union on a federal basis.
“The Nazi plan for a federal Europe was based on Lenin’s belief that ‘federation is a transitional form towards complete union of all nations’.
“It is impossible to find a difference between Hitler’s plan for a new United States of Europe, dominated by Germany, and the European Union we have today.”…..’
Anon1,
If you want to see the most Embarrassing Piece of British Lies and Propaganda From Channel 4 EVER?? (well I don’t watch TV – and this is an Example why) watch the following video and then read the Truth from Syria
“Don’t Lecture Me From London About What’s Happening In Syria”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article45511.htm
The pretence of peace by Thierry Meyssan
“While the cease-fire in Syria, drawn up by the US Secretary of State and his Russian counterpart, seemed to be holding – apart from the Israëli violations on the first day – the Pentagon attacked the Syrian Arab Army for the second time. Washington claimed it was a mistake, but the reaction of the US ambassador to the UNO, on the contrary, made it seem more like the execution of a plan. What game is Washington playing?”
http://www.voltairenet.org/article193367.html
Tony
Anon 1-
The German guy with whom Jon Snow conducted his softball interview on C4 news last night was Martin Roth, the outgoing director of the V&A. He is (rightly) given much less sympathetic treatment in this excellent article by Simon Jenkins (who voted Remain, but hasn’t joined other high profile Remainers in their collective hissy fit over the referendum outcome)-
http://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/simon-jenkins-arts-lobby-is-as-much-to-blame-as-any-for-the-great-brexit-divide-a3349476.html
I’m very glad you have written on this subject Craig. It is one that needs investigation and addressing for various reasons as well as salaries.
I have read a few articles now linking charitable and ‘good/brave’ causes to political and social influence. Some of these are part funded or boost funds by publishing stories and photos of children in war zones or other distress, which media splashes across front pages for days on end and apparently spontaneous accounts spring up for donating funds to these saviours, The white helmets being one example and the Syrian boy in an ambulance. Here’s one article on them. http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/10/23/syrias-white-helmets-war-by-way-of-deception-part-1/
“The use of charities as a massive cash cow for the political classes is a real concern.”
It is indeed. I was out visiting the other day and TV was on a news channel. The adverts were for saving sick and or starving children with accompanying pictures of these poor mites. Others were for saving magnificent creatures with stunning photos and promises of cuddly toys and other paper materials for display or information, then the girls forced into marriage ones who nearly die during pregnancies under 14. All give £2 a month and designed to pull on the heart and compassionate as well as “I must DO something” strings. Personally I find them an insult to the people and animals they say they help. I refuse to give to any of them. I refuse to give to avaaz etc. campaigns as well.
An aside, I noticed a Virgin trains advert! I haven’t watched TV for a while and I don’t remember Virgin trains advertising before. The Corbyn effect damage limitation exercise?
It appears charities, good causes and foundations etc. have numerous benefits for the wealthy and actively engaged, shall I say, elite classes.
Save the Children are involved in rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean Sea off Alexandria.
SavetheChildren News @SaveUKNews · 9h
BREAKING: one #rescue this morning and another underway in the #Med #SaveChildrenAtSea
http://twitter.com/SaveUKNews/status/778559514278789120
‘ The migrant crisis
Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, Save the Children carried out two migrant rescue missions off the Libyan coast. Pictures showed the men being rescued from an overcrowded rubber inflatable and transferred from a rescue ship operated by the German humanitarian charity Jugend Rettet, to another run by Save the Children.’
http://news.sky.com/story/boat-with-600-migrants-capsizes-near-egypt-killing-at-least-29-10587111
Very interesting. Why not mention that Save the Children will be dumping these refugees (who are really migrants) onto the European welfare system – whether Europeans like it or not. Who gave Save the Children the right to access by proxy European welfare systems?
That’s where the political clout afforded by very expensive CEO/lobbyists comes in. Bypasses the democratic process completely.
Which democratic process?
You cannot mean the general election which takes place every few years.
Which is the democratic process ( and I do not mean public opinion**) which sanctions (or not) the admission of refugees and economic migrants in the case raised by Sharp Ears and taken up by Loony?
__________________________
** I am told that public opinion favours the re-introduction of the death penalty for certain offences.
Owen whats-his-name appears to have already conceded defeat in the leadership race…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjx-mSfgVww
We are now in for some Titanic stuff.
I wonder what total nobody will be put up next year? Probably a female this time, Friend of Israel, that kind of thing.
One of the amusing consequences of Blair-ite lightweights being parachuted into safe seats is that there is literally nobody of any talent whatsoever in the PLP Right. The media love Chukka; nobody else does. Benn just embarrassed himself over Libya. Tom Watson’s more in sorrow than anger routine has got boring. And the rest are just invisible people, and probably US spies. I am not entirely uncritical of Jezza, and his media operation, but compared to his internal foes, he’s Nelson Mandela and Gandalf rolled into one.
Of course, the plotters decided early to resort to cheating, which they have thus far got away with. I hope Jezza shows some steel and shafts them all; he won’t though, or won’t be allowed if he tries …
You will be amused to learn, (I was) that Tony Blair, recorded by Reuters in New York this week, is of the opinion that Jeremy Corbyn will be responsible for turning the UK into a ‘one party state’. Speaking as one whose Tory predecessor described him as her greatest achievement , whose Tory successor was happy to be known as the ‘heir to Blair’, and whose income since leaving office have been reliant on payments from or on behalf of an assortment of leaders notorious for their suppression of the opposition, isn’t this nearly as rich as he is?
Whatever happens in the next attempted coup the rules and odds will be different to this one. Next year Jeremy’s Labour Party will have those members who were purged this year; most of the 180,000+. More will join in the meantime who’ll qualify to vote. And the newly-elected NEC will put rules in place which are clear and will prevent gerrymandering and vote rigging over ambiguities.
About 10 years ago for about 5 years I used to post on Alternet ..and since being banned by their new recruit Nick Turse – (I had a conversation with him) occasionally on Truthdig. Even now after all this time, they allow what I write to appear immediately – such that I can have a conversation with Americans…
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/whistleblower_jeffrey_sterling_appears_suffered_heart_attack_20160921
Extract
Tony_0pmoc • 36 minutes ago
In the UK we have a whistleblower too Ex Diplomat Craig Murray who is soon to present The Sam Adams award. He was initially refused to travel to the USA – which caused a kind of firestorm on the Alternative Media across The World..
Let me try and explain….from wiki..
“The Sam Adams Award is given annually to an intelligence professional who has taken a stand for integrity and ethics. The Award is given by the Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence,[1] a group of retired CIA officers. It is named after Samuel A. Adams, a CIA whistleblower during the Vietnam War, and takes the physical form of a “corner-brightener candlestick”.[2]”
http://samadamsaward.ch/2016/09/2016-sam-adams-award-ceremony-honoring-john-kiriakou-2/
2016 SAM ADAMS AWARD CEREMONY HONORING JOHN KIRIAKOU
KAY CHAPEL, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 4-5:30 PM
Tony x
https://cambriandissenters.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/neil-kinnock-money-money-money-its-rich.html
(A few years old but worth a read)
Neil Kinnock – Money Money Money! It’s A Rich Mans World
I’ll start with an anecdote. I was sent to Kenya for a couple of months to cover for a colleague back in 1993. The corruptocrat in charge at the time was an odious creep named Daniel arap Moi.
Hailing from a minority tribe, Moi started life as a school teacher, he then became an MP for a Rift Valley constituency who worked his way up to be party leader and eventually becoming President of Kenya.
I returned to Kenya in 2000 to replace my colleague by which time Daniel arap Moi was worth $1.5 billion, his daughter June was employed in his office with a non job and with daddy’s help his son Gideon became a businessman who was worth a reputed $550 million in 2011.
In the meantime his constituents in the Rift Valley remained dirt poor.
There were plenty of parallels between Moi and Neil Kinnock but unlike Moi, the latter didn’t make it to the top job.
A look at Neil Kinnock’s bio’s reveal that as is usual with Labour Party hypocrites, he benefited from a grammar school education. This was the vehicle that provided social mobility for working class children which was subsequently denied to future generations by his Labour Party. The replacement Comprehensive system locked children into a dumbed down shambles which masquerades as schooling today.
Neil Kinnock went on to become “the first person in his family for a thousand generations to go to University” where he graduated in Industrial Relations and History, a qualification which is of little use for a career in wealth and job creation.
Neil Kinnock is also “the first person in his family in a thousand generations” to accumulate a fortune without ever having done a proper job in the real world outside the incestuous world of party politics.
Neil Kinnock spent 4 years as a tutor for the Workers Education Association, a taxpayer supported charity which laughably includes equality and opportunity as one of its values. (Comrade Neil must have turned a blind eye to that one).
After an exhaustive investigation, that would appear to be it, the sum total of Neil Kinnock’s experience outside of party politics comprises of being a student and a tutor in a taxpayer funded charity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHLr3FzgpOY
Police have fired tear gas during clashes with hundreds of migrants who tried to force their way onto the port approach road at
Calais, FRANCE
The confrontation took place where foundations are being built for a fence along the motorway to the port, intended to add a further layer of protection against migrants’ attempts to delay or attack approaching vehicles.
The 13ft barrier, which would stretch for one a little more than half a mile.
http://news.sky.com/story/tear-gas-fired-as-hundreds-of-migrants-clash-with-calais-police-10587568
@ michael norton
Do you see any link at all with Western bombing of these ‘refugees’ countries, and their desire, nay necessity, od finding a ‘safe haven’?
When was the last time Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq or Afghanistan bombed the UK, France or the USA? No, I can’t think of any, either. Perhaps there is a link?
And then there is the fact that all of the countries you mention are full of Europeans, many of them armed, none of them invited intent on accumulating as much plunder as they can carry off.
I guess they would be Economic Refugees.
What is certain is that people like Michael, who appear to have spent much time with their feet under African tables, are not really in a position to object to the poor bastards driven by imperialist wars and imperialist monopolising of their land and resources, to seek shelter in the epicentre of the criminality.
I often refer to rich people who move abroad to dodge taxes as economic migrants. Isn’t that what Richard Branson is?
Thirty years ago on local radio an old girl said of Branson, “We had people like him during the war. Today they call ’em entrepreneurs but in those days we called ’em spivs.”
I can see a link, the U.K. is paying for the fence in FRANCE to keep them out of the U.K.
Barbara
“Do you see any link at all with Western bombing of these ‘refugees’ countries, and their desire, nay necessity, of finding a ‘safe haven’?”
__________________
Would be interesting to hear your explanation for the fact that a goodly proportion of the people in Calais are from sub-Saharan Africa.
Over 400 of them are children and youth, many are from Afghanistan and, and some are from Libya, thanks to D. Cameron/Shillary, so you might as well explain this outfall of British bomb and sod them policy.
And those (the majority) who are adults from sub-Saharan Africa?
Are they there because of Western bombing?
@ Habby
‘…Would be interesting to hear your explanation for the fact that a goodly proportion of the people in Calais are from sub-Saharan Africa.?
Well, the majority are not, but are you suggesting for a moment that in sub-Saharan nations, ‘Uncle Tom’ dictators haven’t been put in place, and supported, often with military missions, but almost always with arms and diplomatically, by Western nations? And didn’t we also rape and pillage their countries in the past, and created ‘countries’ at our whim, often deliberately with ‘divide and rule’ aforethought, leading to murderous tribal and religious conflicts?
There’s been major riots in both Paris and Nantes, and demonstrations in many other towns and cities.
None of this is reported in the UK media.
What they are protesting about is the reforms to labour laws.
This has zilch to do with immigrants, etc.
Yours
Reporting from the front line
From the “front line” ?
I suggest that the nearest you’ve got to the “major riots” is the zinc of your vlllage estaminet.
“Estaminet”?
I bet you had to search long and hard for that one, Klown. You wouldn’t even know what a feeding trough looks like. PMSL
@ Alan
‘…You wouldn’t even know what a feeding trough looks like…’
Habby may not, but I do. I made a forty-gallon batch of home-brew in one (lined with a heavy plastic sheet, and covered with another plastic sheet, and a heavy door) when I was working on a hop-farm in the early ’70’s.
AND it didn’t go off! A fellow-worker had three pints, and the farmer found him flat out and called the police and ambulance, thinking he was dead (he wasn’t, just pi**ed). Powerful stuff!
That sounds like a good use for them. LOL
Its happening all over:
http://www.greanvillepost.com/2016/09/19/just-5-7-percent-of-clinton-foundation-budget-actually-went-to-charitable-grants/
Of course the Clintons and the Kinnocks are old friends.