I have often pointed to Melanie Phillips to illustrate the fact that while left wing radical thought is excluded from mainstream media, you can be as completely mad, raving off the wall right wing as you wish, and yet still get invited onto every BBC panel or discussion series in existence. She still justifies the Iraq War. She thought Saddam did indeed have those WMDs and they were hidden in secret underground chambers underneath the Euphrates.
Less harmlessly, Phillips employs hate speech and was praised by Anders Breivik. Sweeping anti-Muslim Phrases such as “the Islamic enemies of civilisation” come easily to her. I was appalled by this particular example of Phillips’ hate speech four years ago. You can see how Breivik found her inspiring:
Romney lost because, like Britain’s Conservative Party, the Republicans just don’t understand that America and the west are being consumed by a culture war. In their cowardice and moral confusion, they all attempt to appease the enemies within. And from without, the Islamic enemies of civilisation stand poised to occupy the void.
With the re-election of Obama, America now threatens to lead the west into a terrifying darkness.
I called this out at the time as incitement to religious hatred. Interestingly enough it has now disappeared from Phillips’ own website: http://melaniephillips.com/america-goes-into-the-darkness. But you can’t hide your disgrace on the internet.
Today Phillips spreads the hatred still wider by telling us the Scots and the Irish are not real nations. Only Britain is an authentic nation (behind the Times paywall). Scottish nationalism, she states, is based purely on romance and a hatred of the English. As for Ireland:
The truth is that a large majority of the states in the world achieved independence after 1922. Even if you pretend an Irish nation did not exist until 1922, that still makes it one of the world’s older states. In fact of course Ireland, like most other states, re-emerged into independence following colonial dominance. Nationality is a human construct, not a fact of physics or geography – there never was a state before colonialism with the precise boundaries of India or Nigeria or almost any post-colonial state you can name. But there were autonomous peoples. And very few would describe them as not a nation now.
Even old states change their boundaries from time to time. Norman Davies has a beautiful phrase about Poland emerging again and again into statehood through the mists of history, but never in the same place twice. Yet despite radical boundary changes and having had political autonomy for only 50 of the last 250 years, nobody doubts Poland is a nation state. Nobody doubts Ireland is a nation state either, except Mad Mel. As for Scotland, not only was it a full nation state for hundreds of years until it entered into a voluntary union, it is possible to trace distinct political and cultural expressions of popular nationhood.
Phillips’ hate-filled opinions would be her own affair, were she not given such powerful platforms from which to expound them. I return to where I started. Phillips is evidence you cannot be too right wing for a media platform in the UK, even if you propound actual religious hate. By comparison, nobody as left wing as Phillips is right would ever be given airtime on the BBC or a column in The Times.
In case anyone missed this article by Greenwald of last week, very informative:
https://theintercept.com/2017/03/07/leading-putin-critic-warns-of-xenophobic-conspiracy-theories-drowning-u-s-discourse-and-helping-trump/
There is dishonesty in the black slavery narrative which casts it as worse than it was, which needs to be judged in the context of the time. Slaves were better off than many non-slaves, because they were looked after as a valuable commodity by their owners. Its similar to the hardship of domestic service, which nevertheless often provided better conditions than non-domestic service.
Its cast as worse than it was for political rather than economic reasons, as another excuse to bash the “White Anglo-Saxon Protestant” that once ruled in the West with “race guilt”, similar but not as effective as the Holocaust narrative. But the initial plantation slaves were white and the new supply of blacks were facilitated by black tribal leaders in Africa and Jewish merchants, as pointed out by Jackie Walker, during a debate on “anti-Semitism”, resulting in her suspension from the Labour Party.
Also slavery is given as the reason for the American Civil War that involved a colossal loss of mostly white lives. So the worst victims of black slavery was the white population and once the war was won, the black slaves were left destitute as their labour was replaced with machinery.
“…the black slaves were left destitute as their labour was replaced with machinery.”
This would have been news to the millions of ex slaves and their descendants who provided much of the labour force in the post 1865 South. In fact far from being ‘replaced by machinery’ they worked as share croppers and forced prison labour until the 1950s when, indeed, machinery began to replace share cropping.
I would recommend the book Slavery by Another Name, by Douglas Blackmon but there are very many which show in detail that the mythology that you appear to be believe in, though it has many half truths, adds up to a a nasty lie.
“Its cast as worse than it was for political rather than economic reasons, as another excuse to bash the “White Anglo-Saxon Protestant” that once ruled in the West with “race guilt”,”
This argument is a wonderful way of combining the millions of those white people who had nothing to do with slavery-in fact suffered from a system which lowered all workers’ living standards, with the capitalists, most of whom were white, protestant and anglo saxon (in the US and the UK) who were responsible not only for the plantations but for the factories into which the cotton went. There is no reason why descendants of Oldham cotton operatives, for example, should feel either guilt over slavery or any sort of solidarity with the slave-owners.
Why you identify with the slave owners and the capitalists is something you can probably explain for yourself,. The truth is that the victims of capitalism have much in common, much more than the incidental differences in skin pigmentation differentiate them.
Yes, saying immediately replaced by machinery was overstating it as the south had to recover from the war first, so as worse off or destitute as the non-slave share croppers would be more accurate, although whether this shared fate with the white poor was worth the civil war is another matter.
But my point was slavery, indentured labour, within a plantation could provide better conditions than the alternative of a “self-employed” share cropper. That’s not saying slavery was good, but in context, not as bad as cast and some black slaves became freemen and slave owners. And without the slave trade there wouldn’t be the large black populations in America and Caribbean or should they all be repatriated to make amends?
Class consciousness can be strong as can racial consciousness and put together they’re a powerful combination that grew the trade union movement, but racial consciousness is a genetic inheritance that trumps the sense of solidarity with someone of another race who does the same job as opposed to the loyalty to a brother who does a different job.
You seem to be saying that a person of one “race” will feel a greater loyalty to someone else of the same “race” than they will to a comrade in the same trade or trade union but who is of a different “race”. I seriously doubt it. Where on earth do you get that idea? I would feel a good deal more solidarity with a black psychotherapist than I would with a white managing director of a FSTE 100 company.
Its not black or white, but yes there are a range of ‘sense of identities’ that shape our outlook and racial consciousness is one of them and becomes apparent when you in an alien environment. My point is its a genetic inheritance that is not easily trumped by economic interests.
Would you concern about black prisoners in the US being used as forced labour extend to the use by Putin of Russian conscripts to do exactly the same thing.
http://www.ebco-beoc.org/node/73
This is something I have seen with my own eyes in Moscow many times with conscripts being marched to and from building sites.
” But the initial plantation slaves were white and the new supply of blacks were facilitated by black tribal leaders in Africa and Jewish merchants, as pointed out by Jackie Walker, during a debate on “anti-Semitism”, resulting in her suspension from the Labour Party.”
_______________________
Which is an excellent example of what I have called “hate speech”.
Why?
Because the new supply of slaves was facilitated not only by black tribal leaders but also by merchants who were Jewish, Christian (in all the different manifestations of that religion) and Muslim (= the Arab slavers).
But it is typical of the haters and hate-purveyors to mention only the Jewish merchants.
Except the non-Jewish participants had already been mentioned, so its hate speech to say its hate speech!
The only non-Jewish participants mentioned in your post are the black tribal leaders (presumably animists).
Where is there a mention in your post of Christian or Muslim traders?
Nowhere.
Just “Jewish traders”.
So my point about hate speech (against Jews in this instance) stands.
It would not have been hate speech had you said that Jewish, Christian and Muslims traders were involved.
Capeesh?
Have a bale of straw, will build. Ad-nauseam.
Links, sources, evidence?
From the website of Veterans for Peace
A gilded fiction is still a fiction
http://vfpuk.org/2017/a-gilded-fiction-is-still-a-fiction/
‘Folding three wars of aggression into one fictional humanitarian aid operation is bad enough, I thought… and that was before I realised this latest extravaganza is the brainchild of the Murdoch press and was part-funded by global arms giant BAE Systems.
This state of affairs rules the Iraq Afghanistan Memorial out of representing the reality of the wars for many of the veterans who served in them or, indeed, the forgotten people of the victim nations.’
‘In less than two minutes, the slick and emotively scored promo re-brands three wars of aggression – the signal foreign policy disasters of our time – as a 25 year long humanitarian aid operation carried out in uniform.
In a masterclass of selective memorialisation, it appears there will be no references at all to dodgy dossiers, extrajudicial drone assassinations, massive refugee crises, oil, Isis, a re-energised Taliban, rendition, Tony Blair or any of the other tentacled horrors which have come to define Britain’s recent adventures in the sandpit.’
https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/839167006637244419 MoD video
What a waste of £1m+.
Promoted in the Soaraway Sun originally and then a charity was formed with trustees Milords Boyce and Stirrup ex CGS, and some others.
The Iraq/Afghanistan Memorial Project
http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1160028&subid=0
Milord Boyce (an admiral in Her Maj’s Royal Navee) was caught out way back for not declaring his interest in VT Group manufacture of weaponry. They profited hugely from the Iraq War. So Boyce, ever the hypocrite, sets up a charity to remember those who lost their lives for nothing.
LORDS A-REAPING
EXCLUSIVE Defence spending critics hold top jobs with military firms
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/lords-a-reaping-529971
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT_Group
I omitted Lord Walked from the list of trustees for the memorial charity.
More bloodied hands.
‘After relinquishing command of the ARRC, Walker spent three years as Commander in Chief, Land Command, before being appointed Chief of the General Staff—the professional head of the British Army—in 2000. In 2003, he was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS)—the professional head of all the British Armed Forces. While CDS, Walker attracted controversy during the modernisation of the armed forces, over allegations of prisoner abuse during the Iraq War, and over comments that the media coverage of Iraq may have endangered British troops.’
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Walker,_Baron_Walker_of_Aldringham
Thankfully we will not see Cameron getting behind a memorial for British casualties in Libya in 2011 as there were none. Thousands of Libyans were killed in that offensive.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ellamy
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_military_intervention_in_Libya
Filthy propaganda video, I have told them so on Twitter, and posted VoP critique, but I think they’ve deleted it.
Train /station attacks in Europe
by people who the authorities describe as deranged /unhinged/mad but not terror.
Düsseldorf, Germany
The assailant was aboard a train when he suddenly began attacking fellow passengers with an axe. A fellow passenger managed to push him off the train, whereupon he attempted to get back on board by kicking and beating against the door. When he was unable to force the door open, he began attacking people in the central train station.
If these ” mad ” people are inspired by Islamic State is there any real difference
to the horror mad or bad,
the outcome to the innocent victims is the same.
“If these ” mad ” people are inspired by Islamic State is there any real difference to the horror mad or bad, the outcome to the innocent victims is the same.”
Seems logical. And if Islamic State are a creation of the usual suspects from Saud to the USA not least by way of UK, why should the logical implications of that be so opaque to your otherwise willing suspension of disbelief?
With hindsight it is now accepted that the Würzburg train attack
was coordinated from Saudi Arabia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_W%C3%BCrzburg_train_attack
lorry attack/ car attack /axe attack/knife attack
there have been so many since the Madrid Train attacks in 2004
it would be hard to believe they are mostly done by lone nutters.
For the word mad to stick. surely these attacks have to be by only one person?
I can’t understand why Ms. Nicola Sturgeon is holding back, the polls have never been so positive for Scottish Independence.
A NEW poll has shown Scots are split 50/50 on the issue of independence.
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/scots-are-split-5050-on-independence-according-to-new-poll/
Scotland still has around 23 billion recoverable barrels of oil in its waters.
Lovely
Scotland is the biggest producer of oil in the European Union.
Why not go for Independence today?
Police Scotland:
investigating horrific catalogue of threats and abuse against Ms. Nicola Sturgeon
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15150383.Police_investigating_horrific_catalogue_of_threats_and_abuse_against_Nicola_Sturgeon/
Does she get a twenty four hour armed body guard?
Do Police Scotland have a shoot to kill policy?
It’s terrible what Scotland has become under the SNP. Their divisive politics have turned it into a country of hate.
Hate Crime is the highest priority of Police Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37584951
They have their work cut out.
So Chancellor Phil Hammond, in his budget speech made a big song and dance, about Scotland getting an extra £350 million quid placed into its coffers.
However what Hammond omitted to say was that, according to the House of Commons library, Scotland’s budget will be further slashed by over £1billion pounds during this term of parliament.
For those of you, who probably think that I’m reporting another SNP whinge. The most vociferous voice on the matter, comes from die-hard unionist Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South.
Still I’m sure along with Murdo Fraser, Murray will have his Union Jack suit on today, hoping the Queen’s eleven (a Murdo Fraser quote) do well.
Alex Salmond, has come out and said that he spoke with Dominic Cummings, a guy that was running the leave the (EU) campaign, last year.
Cumming’s gave a interview at the time to the Economist, in that interview he said, that no one one in their right mind would trigger Article 50, and begin a legally defined two year maximum period to conduct negotiations, before they actually knew, (more or less) what the process was going to yield.
Theresa May is on the verge of doing that very thing – Brexit is going to be a unmitigated disaster, for the UK.
Meanwhile, one of more prominent isolationists Nigel Farage, is thinking of making a comeback, in an attempt to enter parliament.
“The former Ukip leader is considering standing as a candidate if a by-election in sparked in South Thanet.
Nigel Farage has said he would ‘probably’ stand again in the Kent constituency he fought at the 2015 general election if a fraud investigation leads to a by-election.”
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/12/nigel-farage-threatens-to-run-for-parliament-again-6504893/#ixzz4b7NFHrTI
Staying on parliament, for a moment, I’m reminded of Sir Issac Newton, astronomer, philosopher etc. Who was also MP for Cambridge (one wonders were when he found the time) Newton spoke only once in parliament, to say. Would someone please close that window, it’s a bit draughty in here.
The Elected Mayor of Tower Hamlets was deposed and barred from standing again by an ‘election court’ following court action by 4 residents claiming serious fraud during the election, but who runs these ‘election courts’ and how do they determine the evidence, because no charges, let alone prosecutions were brought by the police against the Elected Mayor or his campaign staff, before or after the ‘election court’ decision!
Thank you Dave for that info, you obviously know more about it than I do.
Well, RoS, he obviously doesn’t, otherwise he would not be asking ” who runs these ‘election courts’ and how do they determine the evidence”, would he.
He appears to know even less about the matter than you do.
The Conservative chairman of a GLA, probably police committee, raised the matter of lack of police charges and prosecution, probably to counter the controversy over police investigation into conservative election fraud/overspending.
But the point about the ‘election court’ is it can nullify an election and bar people from office for alleged malpractice without evidence, charges or prosecutions from a police investigation. So how do they decide it? And remember the Elected Mayor is the new model of governance promoted by EU Heseltine, Blair, Cameron and now May. I think the ease with which they can be removed is the reason they are being promoted.
So what did he say or do that is unpopular with the ruling elite; or is that secret too?
A SECOND Scottish referendum looked increasingly likely today as it emerged United Kingdom Government ministers privately accepted they might not be able to refuse Ms. Nicola Sturgeon’s demands.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/777866/Scottish-referendum-could-go-ahead-in-2018-Nicola-Sturgeon
Project fear wont wash this time for Indyref2.
James Mitchell, a professor at the University of Edinburgh, said: “If it’s Nicola Sturgeon against Ruth Davidson, it’s game over.”
Scotland will be free before the end of the year.
Mrs. May will want this sorted as soon a possible, if the vast majority of people now living in Scotland want to leave the rest of the United Kingdom,
this should be enacted with haste.
Then we can all get on with our day jobs.
“If it’s Nicola Sturgeon against Ruth Davidson, it’s game over.”
Nicola Sturgeon’s approval rating is down to 11% and falling.
Ruth Davidson 25% and rising.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/might-nicola-sturgeons-sinking-approval-ratings-explain-appetite-referendum/
Not to worry Fred, the SNP along with Sturgeon got 44% of the vote, in 2016, double that of Ruth Davidson.
Infact not even Tony Blair, nor Margaret Thatcher at the height of their popularity reached 44%.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/how-elections-work-with-the-lib-dems/#more-92600
If I were you, I wouldn’t right-off Sturgeon just yet.
Fred, I had no idea that Ms. Nicola Sturgeon was so reviled in Scotland,
some give the impression that she is beloved by all and can walk on water.
Alex Salmond
“Saint Theresa May is about to put a gun in her mouth and pull the trigger”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/15150403.__39_Theresa_May_is_about_to_put_a_gun_in_her_mouth_and_pull_the_trigger__39_/
The highest concerns of Police Scotland are
Hate Crime
May becomes completely unstuck if there is a yes referendum. NI would probably go too. England and Wales do not a UK make. Brexit becomes completely unstuck if there is a yes referendum. It is a very high risk strategy for both. If it is another no the SNP will collapse into the bottomless void of politics at terminal freefall velocity.
Your second scenario is the correct one.
Michael.
I often think that the Express, should have a red strapline/masthead, instead of a black one. Afterall it’s articles are more inline with the Daily Star or Sun newspapers.
As for the actual article, I doubt Theresa May would deny issuing a Section 30 to Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish electorate overall, if that is their wish.
Coming back to the Express newspaper for a moment, it was former owner, Lord Beaverbrook who said of the Express newspaper.
“I run the paper purely for the purpose of making propaganda, and with no other motive”.
It’s heartwarming to see Richard Desmond (the current owner) carrying on that tradition. ?
“As for the actual article, I doubt Theresa May would deny issuing a Section 30 to Nicola Sturgeon, and the Scottish electorate overall, if that is their wish.”
She could delay it till after 2021 easily enough though.
“She could delay it till after 2021 easily enough though.”
___________
It’s very unlikely that May would go down that path. Mind you look at the utter mess we’re in over Brexit.
“Senior Tory sources have argued that blocking another referendum would provoke a massive public backlash in Scotland that could drive up support for independence.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/27/theresa-may-braced-second-scottish-independence-referendum/
“I’D DO IT ALL AGAIN”
Nigel Farage says he could run for Parliament for an EIGHTH time if election expenses row causes a by-election in South Thanet
The former UKIP leader said he would “probably” run again if a fresh vote was forced
George Galloway is also thinking of running in the seat left by the death of Gerald Kaufman
https://www.rt.com/uk/380184-george-galloway-politics-return/
It’s funny you should say that RoS, because I was just finished reading this:
http://www.greanvillepost.com/2017/02/22/lock-up-the-english-establishment-in-a-jail-or-insane-asylum/
“I just want to state what I believe should be so obvious, but somehow isn’t, at least to billions of people all over the world: “Those British blokes running the mainstream media outlets and global propaganda network really cannot be trusted. For centuries, no other country brought more grief to the planet, destroyed more lives, ruined more nations and cultures, and stole more natural resources from the ‘natives’, than the United Kingdom.” All this was done with a straight face, all explained and justified by the most advanced propaganda apparatus on earth, all ‘morally defended’. The entire twisted concept of British-style ‘justice’ was first introduced at home, and then exported to many corners of the globe.”
Somewhat more accurate reporting than CM’s efforts, methinks.
The Spanish people are remembering the terrible events of the 11th of March 2004, when
10 bombs exploded on four trains at three Madrid train stations, killing nearly 200 people.
Nearly 2000 others were injured in the terrorist attacks
http://www.euronews.com/2017/03/11/spain-remembers-historic-attack-on-madrid-s-train-network
The Islamics do seem keen on targeting trains and train stations.
“The Islamics do seem keen on targeting trains and train stations…”
This is religious bigotry with a tinge of racism.
Fair enough! If you really do see the world through the eyes of a religious bigot that is your problem. You’d have made a great Orangeman and a passable Nazi.
It strikes me, however, that Railway Stations, being places where crowds gather and into which it is easy to get access, are attractive to terrorists for fairly obvious reasons. None of which has anything to do with their supposed religious beliefs
Bevin who do you think is attacking people on trains and in Railway Stations, do you think it is the Orangemen or the Nazis?
The Fascists https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_massacre
Operation Gladio!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGHXjO8wHsA
Islamonazis…see Netherlands for the latest Islamic lack of appreciation foe democracy. Ironic..that anti-democratic Trumpism doesn’t reach a consiuous level.
“who do you think is attacking people on trains and in Railway Stations”
Football supporters in my experience. Never get on a football supporters train or go near the destination station.
But how will I get to the match?
What you should be asking is “Are they Catholics or Presbyterians, Buddhists or Taoists…?”
It is reasonable to assume that, given the fact that Islam expressly forbids terrorist attacks, they are not muslims, which is what I suppose you to mean by ‘Islamics.’
We all know where these terrorists came from: the collusion of imperialist government agencies with wahhabi* minions of the Saud family, which supplies the militias just as the Hessian Prince used to supply soldiers to powers, such as the UK, ready to pay for them.
You cannot blame Islam for that and the reality is that most of the victims of these terrorists (sponsored, armed and given PR cover -see White Helmets) by our governments are themselves muslims, hundreds of thousands of whom have been killed by terrorists working for-since you like religious designations- persons calling themselves Christians.
It is they who are attacking people in Railway Stations and elsewhere.
The wahhabis are a tiny insignificant school among muslims who owe their favoured position entirely to the Saud family, a criminal organisation which trades its control of the resources of Arabia for protection. And has done so since 1915.
“You cannot blame Islam for that and the reality is that most of the victims of these terrorists (sponsored, armed and given PR cover -see White Helmets) by our governments are themselves muslims, hundreds of thousands of whom have been killed by terrorists working for-since you like religious designations- persons calling themselves Christians. It is they who are attacking people in Railway Stations and elsewhere.
The wahhabis are a tiny insignificant school among muslims who owe their favoured position entirely to the Saud family, a criminal organisation which trades its control of the resources of Arabia for protection. And has done so since 1915.”
Seconded.
There is no connection between so-called “Islamic” terrorists and religion. Islam is according to certain reasonable accounts (which I cannot vouch for due to my ignorance of the matter, but I accept them to be reasonable accounts) fundamentally a peaceful religion – but as ALL religions it is abused and distorted by extremists who cannot understand its teachings in their true meaning. According to the renowned judge emeritus (of the International Court) and scholar of international law Christy Weeramantry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Weeramantry (who is a Buddhist) real Islamic Sharia law is a model of justice and peaceful conflict resolution – totally unlike the intolerant and brutal savagery that is practiced in the wrong name of “Islamic Sharia Law” in so-called islamic regimes like Saudi Arabia.
In November 2015 we had the ‘Paris attacks’ (on Friday the 13th, no less, because of course Muslims take careful note of western superstition). One thing I found interesting about the wall to wall media coverage was that they kept saying that the Paris attacks were the deadliest in Europe since the war. Not true, but there was no mention of the Madrid train bombings in 2004, which killed 192 people. It seemed like an obvious comparison to make in all the coverage of Paris. Perhaps the reason it wasn’t mentioned was because the Madrid bombings took place shortly before a general election in Spain. At the time Spain was heavily involved in the American-led war in Iraq. The change of government, and public outrage at the Madrid bombings (the day after the bombings there were millions of people out on the streets protesting), meant that Spain pulled-out of the Iraq war.
But not a whisper of any of this from the presstitutes.
Little Johnny: Daddy, do we really live in a democracy?
Daddy: of course, son, because they tell us we live in a democracy.
Oh, and as a footnote to my above post: In early December 2015, amid all the media hysteria about the Paris attacks, the UK Parliament held a vote on whether or not to take part in the airstrikes on Syria. There was a lengthy debate beforehand in the House of Commons. There were lots of rousing speeches. The spirit of Winston Churchill was invoked. Some doubters asked the then Prime Minister David Cameron how we would be able to tell the good rebels from the head-chopping ones, and were there enough of the good rebels to overthrow Assad? Cameron produced a sheaf of papers, an intelligence report that identified who were the good guys and who were the bad guys. Cameron was asked how many good guys there were. Under oath, Cameron replied that the good rebels were about 70,000 in number, easily enough to overthrow Assad. It was another dodgy dossier, like the one used to start the 2003 Iraq war. Surely they wouldn’t fall for it again..? The MPs voted by 397 to 223 for airstrikes in Syria.
“Mhairi Black may quit ‘depressing’ parliament after single term as MP”…
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/12/mhairi-black-may-quit-depressing-parliament-after-single-term-as-mp
The subtext that the likes of the Guardian won’t tell you: Westminster is so corrupt that Mhairi Black would rather pursue ‘revolutionary’ politics outside of the present system.
And a big thank you to all the folks back in Scotland who voted for me. If it’s such a drag, she should resign now.
THERE YOU GO !!
Habbabkuk has the best ideas !!
If young Ms Mhairi Black does quit Westminster to pursue politics in another manner, does that offer hope that we shall see her vecpmong a regular and vociferous commenter on this blog?
“..see her becoming..”
Leaving your spelling mistakes aside (we all make them, particularly on a board with no edit feature), are you saying that Westminster is not totally corrupt?
Just wondering…
He is not denying it, Rob G. so there must be something he knows about Westminster corruption.
@ all. Would the EU Brexit negotiation team be right to refuse talking to a Government that in future might be judged illegitimate?
I mean they would want to talk to someone who might not get impeached within the next two month.
Hopefully the E.U. will play silly buggers and no deal, whatsoever will happen.
There’s an even better match in my insight. I think Craig and she, and others, should get together and launch a new party that will also replace the SNP in the unlikely event that Scotland should gain independence, or shall i be saying, when they do.
Lol. More progressive empathy and liberal empiricism from the Craig Murray Bund. Just what the world needs.
What the world needs now is more mass surveillance, of course (cue the psycho music), and love sweet love…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfqND7qROQQ
Anger is an energy (to paraphrase Mr Rotten), but love is a far greater energy…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K7rjVIQcVA
LOVE is the energy you purport to represent?
Sounds like Jesus Freakism.
People like you scream for war all the time.
Who’s the latest enemy for you paranoids, the Iranians, the Russians, the Martians?
Oh, if only we could ship you all off to a galaxy far, far away.
You could then all stomp around and be as ‘exceptional’ as you want.
Meanwhile the planet Earth would become a far saner place.
RobG.
I’m more surprised at the begging tin at the bottom of the page, where the Guardian ask you to make a donation.
In recent years the BBC has spent a £128,000 pounds per year of licence fee payers monies, buying a whopping 80,000 copies of the Guardian every year.
The Guardian’s readership is miniscule, and in reality it should be behind a paying firewall.
I wouldn’t normally link to this paper but it has a good article regarding the woe’s of the Guardian.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3097877/BBC-spends-130-000-year-buying-copies-Guardian-s-equivalent-900-licence-fees.html
What’s going on with the Guardian of late is so cringeworthy as to be beyond belief. People far better qualified than I comment on it, most notably Off-Guardian – https://off-guardian.org/
The Daily Mail is the Daily Mail – it’s exactly what it says on the tin – yet it allows cracks in the edifice, such as Peter Hitchens’ editorial pieces, which are some of the most honest you’ll find in the present day climate. A good example can be found here…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3931038/PETER-HITCHENS-Think-Trump-bad-Wait-comes-next.html
The Daily Mail also do a very good health section, and they’re one of the few MSM outlets who report on Fukushima.
Nothing is black and white in this crazy, fucked-up world, and whilst the Daily Mail are amongst the worst offenders when it comes to pumping out hate and vitriol, I will also acknowledge some of the good stuff that they do.
But when it comes to the Guardian: RIP.
Westminster is so corrupt that Mhairi Black would rather pursue ‘revolutionary’ politics outside of the present system.
Don’t resign Mhairi! One non-corrupted and dedicated activist inside the system is worth 1000 activists outside the system!
Mr Brown said controls have to be in place which address the “seriousness of the problem”.
Recent research by consumer body Which? suggested cities in Scotland have the highest rates of nuisance calls in the UK.
Ministry of Truth
Is one of the callers Alex Salmond?
Swiss cafe Massacre, same day as Dusseldorf train axe attack – coincidence?
Forensics cops look for clues after the gunmen fled towards a railway station
They are now being hunted by police after fleeing the carnage in the direction of Badischer Bahnhoftrain station.
The identity of the three victims had yet to be determined, authorities said.
Investigations are still ongoing but a police officer told The Associated Press: “This is a local incident.
It has nothing whatsoever to do with Islamists or terrorism.”
I must say it is very comforting to know that these incidents have nothing whatsoever to do with Islamic Terror
Michael.
You sound rather disappointed that it has nothing to do with Islamic terror.
A interesting point on Switzerland however is, that skiing in Switzerland became widely popular, when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Louise moved their to Davos in 1893. Prior to that virtually no one skied in Switzerland, Doyle’s wife had tuberculosis, and they thought the climate would do her good.
Skiing soon became the in-thing to do and Doyle’s wife Louise lived on to 1906.
O.K. RoS if all these attacks by people driving buses / cars / lorries, using machete /axe / Knife / guns / gas bottles
are not Islamic, who is doing it and what would be their purpose?
Islamic terrorism in Europe (2014–present)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_terrorism_in_Europe_(2014%E2%80%93present)
Well Wiki thinks it is Islamic Terror
If Wiki claims to think it is Islamic Terror then it would appear that their chief copywriters the CIA/NSA/GCHQ would like us to believe it is Islamic Terror. Doesn’t mean there is any more truth in it than the rubbish propaganda MSM.
I’d never heard of this Basel Massacre before
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_massacre
Repercussions from The Black Death
Michael, I lived in London during the IRA bombing campaigns in the 1970s and 80s, as I’m sure you did as well. The present hysteria about ‘Islamic terrorism’ seems a bit OTT to me, and seems designed purely to bring in the police state (which is already here). It’s quite breathtaking how people readily swallow all the bullshit and lies (which includes quite blatant false flag events) and are quite eager to give up all their civil liberties, civil liberties which have been hard fought for over the last century or so.
‘Michael, I lived in London during the IRA bombing campaigns in the 1970s and 80s’
Exactly, and what is more we all know who was funding them, as did the BBC back then:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1563119.stm
And the wailing, and the crying, when the pigeons came home to roost on 11th September…………
Maybe the Christian Nation should have read the Book of Proverbs, eh?
http://www.bartleby.com/108/20/1.html#S2
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear cometh;
when your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Then shall they call upon me,
but I will not answer;
they shall seek me early,
but they shall not find me:
for that they hated knowledge,
and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
they would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
Hey, maybe that explains why the Christian Nation is so filled with fear? Maybe there really is something in this God stuff?
Hey, even that whirlwind stuff; remember Hurricane Katrina and the one that followed?
http://www.livescience.com/22522-hurricane-katrina-facts.html
And maybe that also explains why Michael Norton constantly lives in such fear 🙂
RobG March 12, 2017 at 22:04
“Michael, I lived in London during the IRA bombing campaigns in the 1970s and 80s, as I’m sure you did as well. The present hysteria about ‘Islamic terrorism’ seems a bit OTT to me, and seems designed purely to bring in the police state.”
The key event was the Omagh market bombing in 1998, which links the two. Subsequently released official documents prove that MI5, the CIA and the Gardia all knew about the details of the attack well in advance but did not stop it or issue any warnings. There is every reason to believe that Habbabkuk/Anon1’s colleagues in MI5, who had infiltrated the Real IRA and who had been monitoring them very closely, were most probably the instigators of the attack. Immediately after the attack – which was during the parliamentiary summer recess – parliament was recalled to rubberstamp regressive police-state measures that had obviously been prepared many months in advance, but which would have been impossible to push through without the false flag Omagh massacre. This legislation foreshadowed the US equivalent the Patriot Act after the US false flag.
Even before this legislation was passed, the publications department of the EU Parliament published a report on the technology of political control which concluded that EU member states – in 1998 – were already on the road to police state technology and legislational environment, and that the technology of the surveillance state at that time was already far beyond the wildest dreams of the former East German STASI.
Prescient! Just think of the technological and legislational changes since 1998!
Trump is a fireplace faggot meant for the flames of division..sorta like Progressives fanning their embers of empathy. (Intellectually lazy..take a nap)
But he is correct about the penultimate enabling of ignorance seen in devolutinary Islam…you know…the adherents to past history and repugnance for modernity?
It’s way late for conscious redemptive awareness. It is a clash of civilizations not unlike the competition between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons.
I’m no doubt beating my forehead against a wall when I request y’all begin to. demonstrate some common sense derived from contemporary events.
You sound like you want to kill lots of people?
Before you jump to conclusions about contemporay events, have a scan through this:
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015/02/41-admitted-false-flag-attacks.html
Hardly a Harbinger..your progressive bona fide of pulchritude…lacking verse to reverse the hollowness of a ideology supplanted by shallow thinking. Shall I break down the complexity of your response since it will be difficult to be clear?
Zed is Dead, or have you heard?
Spamfiltered on An Apology-
Re. Tony Blair’s recent meetings with Jared Kushner, after whose highlighting in the press, Blair’s spokesthing flatly denied that he was offering his
bodyexpertise, wisdom, services to Trump in respect of yet again battering the USA’s head against the wall that is Netanyahu…FAKE NEWS? Er, no, actually, says the State Department
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4305220/Blair-did-offer-help-Trump-Middle-East.html
Despite the strenuous denial so worded as to make it look that Tony wasn’t in the least interested in pimping his dubious contacts list to the White House, that is apparently exactly what he was doing. Once a pathological liar, always a pathological liar.
Yes, Tony has lots of Arab friends. Who pay him. No, Tony knows fuck-all about bringing peace to ******-Palestine. He couldn’t do it in nine years, and wasn’t in fact charged with doing it. NSA, if you’re monitoring this, please note and inform the boss…Kerry’s a lot nearer the problem, if less popular over there. And works harder.
That denial in full –
The story in the Mail on Sunday (5th March 2017 – BZ) is an invention. Mr Blair has made no such ‘pitch’ to be the President‘s Middle East envoy. Neither has he had any discussions about taking such a role or any role working for the new President.
He has been working on the peace process for 10 years. He continues to do so. He does so in a private capacity. He will continue to do it in that way. Period.
– The Office of Tony Blair
http://www.itv.com/news/2017-03-05/former-pm-tony-blair-seeking-role-as-donald-trumps-middle-east-envoy/
From the Mail on Sunday today (linked above)
American State Department and White House officials told Downing Street and the Foreign Office that this newspaper’s account (published 5th March 2017 – BZ)was accurate: Mr Blair had offered to help Mr Kushner’s Middle East peace effort – and the Trump administration had ‘taken his approach seriously’.
As suggested earlier on Blair Miles, there’s a subtle distinction, in spin terms, between ‘working for Kushner’ and ‘working for Trump’. But to anyone outside the PR Machine Of Tony Blair, there’s no difference at all.
(Our normal IndyScot wrangling service will now be resumed.)
Here’s a novel thought (which you are not allowed to think): the USA is a pariah state which we should all boycott.
Everyone in the security services should be put up against a wall and shot (sorry, Clark). Likewise with the bankers.
These people are all total scum who add absolutely nothing to human society.
The revolution against this is happening here in France, but of course you will never be told about it in the western media.
We are at an absolutely crucial point in western history, but most people are now so zombified by their smart phones, etc, that they barely know what planet they are on.
Ground control to Major Tom…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQPx2UVhTUc
‘Here’s a novel thought (which you are not allowed to think): the USA is a pariah state which we should all boycott’
That’s not that novel; Che Guevara said it in his “Message to the Tricontinental”. I’d post the link but I think that would get me moderated.
Just say that Che told the truth when he said “the great enemy of mankind: the United States of America”
But Rob, it’s easily found.on any reliable search engine
Zed, It’s novel in the sense that we are now presided over by a bunch of little tossers who are unelected.
A bunch of little tossers who think they are above the law.
I will repeat again, everything these little tossers are doing is being carefully noted, and they will be held to account, in a proper court of law.
Ah, now the biting makes sense!
Sure does Red.
https://off-guardian.org/2017/03/11/in-a-society-of-believers-or-deniers-we-all-become-inquisitors/
we think that Francois Hollande fits most of your criteria Rob
but he was elected, however who set up D.S.K. for the fall in America, to clear the way for Hollande?
French Elections continues downwards into the gutter.
http://www.france24.com/en/20170312-france-presidential-campaign-ugly-turn-anti-semitism-macron-fillon
RobG March 13, 2017 at 00:40
Zed, It’s novel in the sense that we are now presided over by a bunch of little tossers who are unelected.
A bunch of little tossers who think they are above the law.
There is nothing new about that either! What is different is that it is now all out in the open for anybody to see as soon as they open their eyes.
(Most refuse to open their eyes though, like an ostrich with its head in the sand – the reason being that the reality so profoundly threatens the world-view they have accepted and been accustomed to all their lives. I think many people who see horrific events unfolding before their eyes like the Omagh massacre, 9/11, Paris, Nice etc will probably close their eyes in terror, because it is so overwhelming they cannot bear to see it. The geopolitical truth has the same kind of effect on people, which is why so many are prepared to nod along with the blatent MSM lies and – superficially – believe everything they are told. Not to believe means a complete shattering of the world-view, and that is tough. The shooting down of the flight over Ukrain is a perfect example. It is so obvious that the plane was shot down by the Ukrainian military and covered up by the Dutch, the Americans, the Australians, and the British – but to accept that truth means accepting that the whole world is upside down.)
“We are at an absolutely crucial point in western history, but most people are now so zombified by their smart phones, etc, that they barely know what planet they are on.”
Actually Rob, that also coincides with something I came across earlier today:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/bloggers/Ignorance-and-Indoctrination-of-Westerners-Kills-Millions-20151116-0001.html
‘Our Planet Earth is heading straight towards the most dangerous collision in its history. It is not a collision with some foreign body, with an asteroid or a comet, but with the most brutal and selfish chunk of its own inhabitants: with people who proudly call themselves “members of the Western civilization.”’
Hey, feel free to read on, but it’s not for the likes of some I could name.
Hey RobG, so they are gonna shoot me? Well, guess what Rob, that sure beats dying slowly of Parkinson’s Disease.
What conspiracy crap? Che Guevara, shortly before the CIA shot him. made his “Message to the Tricontinentall” speech. Ok, here is the link, but CM sure doesn’t like anything too revolutionary on his site, as we old hands know too well, so watch this reply dissapear.
https://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1967/04/16.htm
No fear here RobG! I leave that to the likes of Norton!
Hey RobG, when I was 12, around the same time Craig was 12, I was good at physics, but I made a decision that I was not going to make nukes for the empire. CM, at the same age, worked hard to get into the FCO.
Yea right, RobG, but CM is your hero, even though he grew a conscience rather late in life.
I wish I still had that asci finger-up file I used to have for such as you. LOL
Hey, RobG, how about this?
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/11/04/western-culture-is-wrecking-entire-continents/
You say “European cultural institutions”, and what should come immediately to mind are lavish concerts, avant-garde art exhibitions, high quality language courses and benevolent scholarships for talented cash-strapped local students.
It is all so noble, so civilized!
Or, is it really? Think twice!
But then thinking in the west is highly frowned upon, eh RobG?
“We are at an absolutely crucial point in western history, but most people are now so zombified by their smart phones, etc, that they barely know what planet they are on.”
Couldn’t be more true. What happens now will drastically affect the entire planet for the foreseeable future.
You would assume that at least one MP would highlight in Parliament the truth about false flags as propaganda for war or extra spending on security in a time of austerity, but as only 15 MPs opposed the destruction of Libya, I suppose they think there is little advantage in doing so.
I would be good if someone could tell us, which one of the several dozen terror attacks in Europe over the last few years have not been real or false flag.
Let’s start with the Madrid Train Massacre.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Madrid_train_bombings
It is claimed 192 people died.
Carlos the Jackal to go on trial again in France
Ministry of Truth
Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan man behind a series of attacks in France in the 1970s and 80s, is on trial again over a deadly shopping centre attack.
He is already serving two life terms for several killings in the name of Palestinian and communist causes.
Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, was given his nickname when he was one of the world’s most wanted terror suspects.
He spent years on the run before being captured in 1994 in Sudan.
Norton bores us by saying “It is claimed 192 people died”.
Did you know that in 2013 1,713 people were killed in reported road traffic accidents in Great Britain?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-road-fatalities
Now you have something else to worry about. You might get killed in a road traffic accident. Or you might catch some deadly disease, or maybe have a heart attack because of all the adrenaline your body keeps making from the fear that seems to overwhelm you daily.
ruabot?
Norton bores. Full stop.
Not to forget Craig’s beautiful post about cows! GCHQ should be surveilling dangerous cows for our protection!
Apparently what Mr. Corbyn was reported to have said about Indyref2, was taken out of context.
Scottish Turbo-charged austerity
Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme on Monday morning, Mr Corbyn attempted to clarify his remarks.
He said: “If the Scottish Parliament decided they wanted to have a referendum then it would be wrong for Westminster to block it.
“But let’s be absolutely clear, I do not think there should be another referendum, I think that independence would be economically catastrophic for many people in Scotland.
“It would lead to a sort of TURBO-CHARGED-AUTERITY with the levels of income the government has in Scotland and because of the very low oil prices and the high dependency on oil tax income.”
Something for the S. N. P. to think on, doesn’t sound too good
turbo-charged-austerity
sounds nasty
It’s funny you should say that because it was Gordon Brown who gave us turbo-charged-austerity, wasn’t it?
Michael,
”Dependent on oil tax income” is a nonsensical argument.
If the Torkips push for a hard Brexit over the next 2 years, an independent Scotland would be perfectly positioned to capitalize on the international exodus of financial services from the City.
Then little England would be ”proper fucked”.
Scotland has the potential to become a power player in Europe straight from the beginning of Independence.
Scotland will need to build the wall.
“Scotland will need to build the wall.”
Yes – and tax all financial transactions that cross the wall! (0.0001% should be enough).
Habbabkuk
March 11, 2017 at 18:43
“Scorgie
“You once told readers you were a black (by which I suppose you mean Afro-Caribbean) lawyer living in Wimbledon. Do you stand by that?”
……………………………………………………………………..
Habbabkuk, I never told you or anyone else that I was a Lawyer. Please prove me wrong by supplying evidence. I am not Afro-Caribbean as you suppose (why did you suppose that?).
I moved out of Wimbledon two years ago to a new home by the sea.
I do like to be beside the seaside.
If you prove me wrong I will send you a generous cheque. Just supply your name and address.
He’s muddled up his files!
Computer error. He’s probably using Windows 10!
Hey, shouldn’t he be giving us a warning under the data protection act that he is keeping data on us on his computer, and give us a chance to correct it? Oh, dear, exception for “National Security”!
Republicofscotland
March 11, 2017 at 18:17
“Corbyn was vehemently opposed to a second indyref not that long ago. I wonder what’s changed his mind? It could be that even he (although he’s somewhat anti-EU) realises that Brexit is going to be a unparalleled disaster, and that at least the Scots could escape the sinking ship, that is HMS Britain, before it hits the Brexit iceberg.”
………………………………………………………..
RoS.
Corbyn is still opposed to Scottish independence but he seems relaxed about a second referendum.
He has said that if the Scottish parliament seeks a second referendum then Westminster should not stand in the way.
He is one of a minority of MPs that truly believe in the principle of democracy. Most MPs pay tribute to democracy but hate it if gives the “wrong” result. eg Corbyn’ s two successful democratic elections for leader of the Labour party.
The thing to note about the first Scottish Independence referendum is that democracy was undermined by the establishment’s “project fear” which was enthusiastically advanced by the MSM particularly the BBC.
The Scottish people were misinformed.
Democracy requires that the electorate are well informed on the relevant issues.
looks like Ms. Nicola Sturgeon is nailing her colours to the mast of Independence within two years.
goodbye.
I see Holywood veteran star Richard Gere, has lashed out at Israel over its illegal settlements. In a interview with Haaretz, Gere called the settlements an “absurd provocation.”
It would appear that Richard Gere, is a “Officer and a Gentleman” afterall. ?
The appointment of David Friedman as US Ambassador to Israel does not bode well for the Palestinians.
US Ambassador to Israel: “Great Advantage” to Netanyahu
David Friedman is known for his support for the most extreme elements in Israel’s settler movement
by Jonathan Cook / March 13th, 2017
The choice of US ambassador to Israel has never before incurred such scrutiny or provoked such controversy.
Usually, the appointment is approved by the Senate’s foreign relations committee by consensus. But David Friedman’s confirmation vote last Thursday split largely on partisan lines, with Republicans backing him and all but one Democrat opposing him.
Tens of thousands of liberal American Jews signed a petition opposing his nomination, and major Jewish organisations and hundreds of rabbis also objected.
/..
http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/03/us-ambassador-to-israel-great-advantage-to-netanyahu/
Intel Buys Mobileye in $15.3 Billion Bid to Lead Self-Driving Car Market
MARCH 13, 2017
In the world of driverless cars, household names like Google and Uber have raced ahead of rivals, building test vehicles and starting trials on city streets.
But when it comes to what is under the hood, an array of lesser-known companies will most likely supply the technology required to bring driverless cars to the masses. And in a $15.3 billion deal announced on Monday, Intel moved to corner the market on how much of that technology is developed.
The chip maker’s acquisition of Mobileye, an Israeli company that makes sensors and cameras for driverless vehicles, is one of the largest in the fast-growing sector and sets the stage for increasing competition between Silicon Valley giants as well as traditional automakers over who will dominate the world of autonomous cars.
/..
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/business/dealbook/intel-mobileye-autonomous-cars-israel.html?_r=0
I really cannot understand what the attraction is to anybody – apart from CIA/NSA/MI5/Mossad/ISIS – of driverless cars. Why CIA et al like it of course is easy to understand. Considering the massive rates of car accidents compared to other kinds of violent deaths, it is not difficult to understand why road “accidents” are by far the preferred medium for political assassinations in the West, even without the driverless car. However they need meticulous planning and an expensive team of highly trained professionals. Come the driverless car, by contrast, all it needs is a computer program. Intel’s role is obvious. Just like their role in personal computers.