Update: Catholic Orangemen instantly into top 1000 on Amazon, many thanks.
My book The Catholic Orangemen of Togo is now available in paperback and Kindle
I have explained before that this blog does not ask for donations but is financed through book sales. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this blog, I do urge you to buy a copy of The Catholic Orangemen of Togo. Here is the blurb from the book:
In this prequel to the bestselling Murder in Samarkand, Craig Murray describes how he discovered the dark heart at the centre of Tony Blair’s shiny New Labour administration shortly after its beginning, when Murray was the key witness in the Arms to Africa Affair which rocked the British political establishment. Murray makes a strong case against “liberal intervention” as he describes the use of mercenaries to obtain African mineral resources for Western financial interests. In so doing, Murray takes us on a journey into some of the darkest recesses of colonial history in Africa. As ever with Murray the story is laced with personal anecdotes, sometimes hilarious, sometimes terrifying, and sometimes both.
It was a blow to me when my publisher backed out of publishing this book after threats from mercenary commander Tim Spicer, then head of Aegis, the mercenary command which had more troops in Iraq than the British army and made billions. Spicer wished to suppress the revelations in this book about Executive Outcomes and Sandline, and their history of atrocity in Africa.
The privatisation of killing is the ultimate expression of Toryism.
After the publisher dropped the book I self-published 1,200 hardback copies, which soon sold out. I also made it available free online, where more than 100,000 people downloaded it. Spicer and his lawyers Schillings never did carry out their threat to sue.
I have now brought it out in paperback using Amazon’s self-publishing platform. I appreciate people’s objections to Amazon, but it is the most practical method for me at the moment. I do hope those who have not read The Catholic Orangemen will find it informative. It is, I believe, a massive refutation to those who hold out Sierra Leone as Blair’s “good war”. This brief talk in American University, Washington DC last year is the only one I have ever given where I basically outline the main content of The Catholic Orangemen.
If you have already read it online for free, you would do me a large favour by purchasing the paperback to help with funding my work here. You can always give it as a present!
Like Murder in Samarkand, it is very much a warts and all autobiography, and I hope is a fearlessly honest look at myself. One young lady told me she hated me already by the end of page one, and had recovered by the end of the book, but would find it easier to say why she hated me than what dissipated the feeling! I rather know what she meant.
The major theme of the book is my personal encounters with the varied legacy of colonialism in Africa, of which my stumbling upon Catholic Orangemen is an amusing if somewhat whimsical example. I do hope you enjoy it.
I hope to have Murder in Samarkand back in print by the same method in a few weeks.
The Tory government hasn’t even expressed solidarity with Iran over the recent terrorist attacks!
Perhaps you could point us to the Iranian Government expressing solidarity with the UK Government over the attacks in Manchester and London Bridge?
Here it is: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-security-manchester-iran-idUKKBN18J0YF
Can only find a hard cover of the original edition.
Can you tell me how I can order the paperback, and will see if Barnes and Nobel will get supplies here.
I just clicked on the link in the page, and it all worked. I agree that it seemed to be unsearchable inside Amazon though, which is weird…
its your blog. put a personal add on it if you want.
Appreciate your blogs Craig so have ordered both books.. with good memories of Tashkent and your tine there too.
When I click to pick up, all I get is other books I can buy from Amazon.
Have you considered setting up a patreon account?
Id certainly say a link for donations would be fine also, but this patreon thing looks better being regular donations.
My feeling is you have a valuable take on politics. Though with a quite partizan leaning.
Just as a suggestion (reflecting on how content creators operate nowadays) id say it’s definitely worth considering as it gives much more potential freedom. You get a lot of people viewing this sight, I for one would be happy to make a regular contribution.
The only thing that irks me is the political campaigning.
A patreon account would be brilliant for Craig. I have a friend that makes a proper living from her’s
Possibly. I do think he has valuable knowledge into the political landscape. I can imagine as a political commentator of sorts.
But though nothing wrong with having a position, advocacy etc. I think for me and others such a fixed position on things, and this quite personal commentary…Maybe less appealing.
Ie, “The art of photography” (ones such content creator, though not a great example) doesns’t just make it about his likes but the broad subject. Though there are many political commentators who do this and get away with it and I certainly like the focus of left activism, human rights etc, in other ways I’m not so sure for broad appeal..
I’m quite anarchist in politics and art when it’s comes to telling people what to do. And I think a lot of people are even if they don’t identify as “that”. Though still many valuable insights here.
“Murder in Samakand” is one of the most exciting books I have ever read.
Meanwhile, whilst the latest Terrorist attack happened in London (which unlike some others, I am reasonably convinced was real and not faked), the annual Bilderberg meeting was also being held (this may have been a coincidence).
Surprisingly little seems to have leaked from this meeting yet. However, here is a detailed summary of its formation and history, including directly connected events up to the current date. Whilst I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this, in my book Thierry Meyysan has an excellent knowledge of history, and of the analysis of current events and even has accurately predicted events that are about to take place weeks before anyone else.
I thought for years, The British had given up almost all their Empire, but apparently that may not be true.
“Confrontation at Bilderberg 2017 by Thierry Meyssan”
http://www.voltairenet.org/article196617.html
Tony
Thierry Meyssan is always worth reading. Though based in Damascus , he writes freely and critically. He certainly picked up on the inclusion of Ambassador Cui from China at the meeting(even if speaking only on one day)> It appears unusual for non-Westerners to attend and participate actively.
His earlier article ‘What you don’t know about the Biderberg Group’ is a useful counter to overly sinister/occult theories
http://www.voltairenet.org/article169651.html
I have to say that I very much enjoyed The Catholic Orangemen of Togo, it’s a great piece of writing.
As I did also with Murder in Samarkand, which my daughter bought me for Christmas. Having some experience of the region (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan), and some knowledge of the history (I’m an orientalist by training), I wasn’t surprised by what Islamkarimov did, e.g. boiling people in oil. It was par for the course for the Khans of Bukhara, as you will have discovered in your study of Burnes. Central Asian autocratic presidents are not products of the KGB, but rather descendants of the pre-Russian Khans.
This book had me in tears when I read it – and once again, they are streaming down my cheeks. A very potent presentation.
I read it for free years ago, recommend it and shall now finally buy a copy.
The paperback seems not yet orderable thru Amazon.co.uk. The hardback costs the earth. Here is one of the readers reviews. I had always thought Sierra Leone might been a justified intervention
“This riveting book contains a smoking gun. “The Sandline Affair” (Chapter 4) reveals for the first time that in 1998 the Prime Minister had no objection to British mercenaries breaching UN sanctions by selling arms to Sierra Leone. Despite a thick dossier from Customs & Excise recommending prosecutions, the Crown Prosecution Service decided to take no action – without even reading the papers. As Craig Murray notes, “this was the first major instance of the corruption of the legal process that was to be a hallmark of the Blair years.” His account has authority: he was then the most senior FCO official whose sole responsibility was West Africa.
Most of this memoir, including the delightful discovery that provides the title, covers Craig’s subsequent posting to Accra. He was number two in a High Commission at the centre of two key African issues: democracy and development. He also acted as midwife for the safe delivery of the Lomé peace agreement over Sierra Leone, dealing with extraordinary people like Colonel Isaac, a boy soldier forced at age eight to kill his own mother and father.
For all its vivid anecdotes, this is a thoughtful account of why effective diplomacy requires far more than mechanical implementation of directives from Whitehall. There is much here that other diplomats will recognise: why it is sometimes not wise (even if much cheaper) to entrust visa work to local employees; and concern at how UK development aid has become primarily a matter of direct budgetary support. There is valuable documentary evidence in several footnotes.
This book is for anyone for whom Africa matters – and for those drawing up the charge sheets against Blair.”
George,
Have you tried clicking on the link in the post? I was able to order a copy from Amazon no problem.
Which ‘charge sheets’ would they be? I hope I don’t go to my grave without seeing BLiar in the dock at The Hague.
Sharp Ears,
Would you like to see Bliar being arrested?
Then go back to page one of Ripping up Human Rights, my reply to defo, here is my first attempt June 7 at 18:11
I can’t get the link to transfer again this morning.
It will cost you 34 minutes of your time.
I think it is well worth watching, especially as to-day is so important.
Sharp Ears,
Here is the link now, http://dai.ly/x5khzvv
Will do thanks. I actually want him locked up in a cell on a cold island with a loop playing of Iraqi children screaming as their burns dressings are changed. That’s how much I loathe him.
Be wary of using Amazon’s Prime free trial. You could be signed up automatically to their annual fee. £79?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/jeremy-clarkson-signs-amazon-deal–but-is-it-worth-paying-extra/
Clicked the link and bought a copy. Thanks for your commentary on the election.
Nice to be back in the UK – wonderful weather here!
Anything interesting been going on in the past few weeks? Been pretty much off the grid for the duration.
Now… I’m sure there was something important I had to do today… almost as if we returned specifically to do it…
Naa, All quiet on the western front.
It does look a bit nicer today, but it’s been overcast locally and a bit cold the last couple of days. Life on an island.
In Canada I was amazed, days before they could predict weather fronts. Accurately.
An old Iraqi friend said he thought the British discussed the weather as some peculiar observance of protocol, a simple point of conversation or politeness. Until he got here, he had no idea we did so because you _really didn’t_ know what it would be doing from one day to the next.
Labour rep just turned up. I was wounding if we’d get anything, lucy just did the usual leaflet drop….Through post.
Guy said nhs is a big issue locally. And lucy obviously being two faced abut the issue… He looked optimistic anyway.
I think we could have an NHS without a state, or maybe PHS. I know it’s viewed or presented as a “state function” but we pay for it, administer it etc.
I know it’s not trendy even among so called radicals to just view the state as essentially violence nowadays (and id agree for different reasons) but at the same sighting the NHS as something the state also does (or created) is most obviously absurd.
Btw, I totally disagree with this boost in police. Its a political move and not a significant thing in preventing the terrorist threat.
All they have to do was listen to warnings many people sent them, and stop participating in it. I don’t like the police at all really and think we where safer without them. As a cultural phenomena they a reminder of what authority really is about in the system. And they are used to kill democracy.
Craig, I would gladly purchase a copy. Any plans to release it on Kindle?
Here you go – Kindle Link
Still nothing about getting the book if one doesn’t live in the UK
Amazon USA Paperback https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Orangemen-Togo-other-Conflicts/dp/1541023404/
Amazon USA Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Catholic-Orangemen-Togo-Craig-Murray-ebook/dp/B07214RV4L/
The paperback should be available to order in US bookshops at some point if not already.
Got my order secured today..
£9.99 Amazon.. Feckin £6,00 for post cost the order was not over £10..WTF
Craig should demand Amazon sell the Book for £11..Save some souls a Fiver 🙂
Brianfujisan
I’ve just ordered it too. A few days ago I deliberately signed up to Amazon Prime trial. A few years ago, I accidentally did this, and didn’t find out until 6 months later that they had debited me £78. I then found out that the same thing had happenned to several of my friends. I complained to Amazon, stating that their method of operating was outrageous. I got my £78 back. I have now got about 23 days left to remember to cancel it. They do deliver very quickly.
Came through the door literally half an hour ago.
Here is what can bring down this pathetic new Tory government: THE SAUDI ISSUE.
The Tories believe the “DUP” are “sound” on this for a very good reason: the DUP themselves received money from Saudi intelligence during the Brexit campaign.
The money – more than £400,000 – was funnelled through the Constitutional Research Council to DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson. The CRC is chaired by Richard Cook, a former vice chairman of the Scottish Tories. The CRC has been widely exposed to have received Saudi money.
Richard Cook founded a company called Five Star Investment Management Ltd with Prince Nawwaf bin Abdul Aziz, the former head of Saudi Arabian intelligence agency and father of the Saudi ambassador to the UK. Cook was also the spokesperson for the Conservative friends of Israel in Scotland.
EVERYBODY SHOULD GET ON THIS NOW
“Giant billboard warning over Theresa May’s Saudi Arabia ‘handshake’ causes traffic jams on M4”
“Boards appear overnight branding message: ‘Saudis and May bloody handshake = more terrorism’”
“A spokesperson for Highways England told The Independent they were unable to share photographs of the billboards because of the nature of the message.”
It still doesn’t work. Will go to Barnes and Nobel store in New Haven in a few weeks, and try to order a copy.
The role of the DUP in funnelling Saudi money
The newspapers have decide on an acronym for the Coalition Govt’ dealing with Brexit;
Conservative / Unionist Negotiating Team
He’s starting to sound like the people he resented. Some of your ideas are rubbish. Scotland cannot have independence with the current mindset. Tolerating corruption, massive under-investment in Scotland’s critical transportation network. I won’t guess the cost to repair the roads, bridges and develop a future for Scotland. It can be a great nation again, it lost the chance due to some miscalculations in the past.
I have one of the hardback copies… It’s an excellent book that I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in the hard business of international diplomacy in a post-colonial world.
An excellent read; Well written and punctuated with Craig’s great humour which provides a sort of consort as he exposes the pretty harrowing aspects of what certain power holders do – usually with official licence – hidden from public view.. Well worth it.