My world view changed forever when, after 20 years in the Foreign Office, I saw colleagues I knew and liked go along with Britain’s complicity in the most terrible tortures, as detailed stunningly in the recent Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee Report. They also went along with keeping the policy secret, deliberately disregarding all normal record taking procedures, to the extent that the Committee noted:
131. We note that we have not seen the minutes of these meetings either: this causes us great concern. Policy discussions on such an important issue should have been minuted. We support Mr Murray’s own conclusion that were it not for his actions these matters may never have come to light.
The people doing these things were not ordinarily bad people; they were just trying to keep their jobs, comforting themselves with the thought that they were only civil servants obeying orders. Many were also actuated by the nasty “patriotism” that grips in time of war, as we invaded Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost nobody in the FCO stood up against the torture or against the illegal war – Elizabeth Wilmshurst, Carne Ross and I were the only ones to leave over it.
I then had the still more mortifying experience of the Foreign Office seeking to punish my dissent by bringing a series of accusations of gross misconduct – some of them criminal – against me. The people bringing the accusations knew full well they were false. The people investigating them knew they were false from about day 2. But I was put through a hellish six months of trial by media before being acquitted on all the original counts (found guilty of revealing the charges, whose existence was an official secret!). The people who did this to me were people I knew.
I had served as First Secretary in the British Embassy in Poland, and bumped up startlingly against the history of the Holocaust in that time, including through involvement with organising the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. What had struck me most forcibly was the sheer scale of the Holocaust operation, the tens of thousands of people who had been complicit in administering it. I could never understand how that could happen – until I saw ordinary, decent people in the FCO facilitate extraordinary rendition and torture. Then I understood, for the first time, the banality of evil or, perhaps more precisely, the ubiquity of evil. Of course, I am not comparing the scale of what happened to the Holocaust – but evil can operate on different scales.
I believe I see it again today. I do not believe that the majority of journalists in the BBC, who pump out a continual stream of “Corbyn is an anti-semite” propaganda, believe in their hearts that Corbyn is a racist at all. They are just doing their job, which is to help the BBC avert the prospect of a radical government in the UK threatening the massive wealth share of the global elite. They would argue that they are just reporting what others say; but it is of course the selection of what they report and how they report it which reflect their agenda.
The truth, of which I am certain, is this. If there genuinely was the claimed existential threat to Jews in Britain, of the type which engulfed Europe’s Jews in the 1930’s, Jeremy Corbyn, Billy Bragg, Roger Waters and I may humbly add myself would be among the few who would die alongside them on the barricades, resisting. Yet these are today loudly called “anti-semites” for supporting the right to oppose the oppression of the Palestinians. The journalists currently promoting those accusations, if it came to the crunch, would be polishing state propaganda and the civil servants writing railway dockets. That is how it works. I have seen it. Close up.
This looks pretty comprehensive, in it’s limited “to be continued” capacity.
And some pretty …eye opening… ground it covers. Im glad I’m not the one to point some of these things out.
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2018/08/17/finkelstein-on-corbyn-mania/
“The JPR study compiles a seven-item roster of stereotypes. If they are designated anti-Semitic, according to the researchers, that’s because Jews find them hurtful: “Some ideas are known to resonate with Jews as antisemitic, and this study adopts a Jewish perspective on what constitutes antisemitism as its starting point.”[4] But a generalization can plainly be both hurtful and true, as in truth is often a bitter pill to swallow. If the hurtful generalization is true, then—inasmuch as the epithet anti-Semitic signals an irrational animus—it cannot be anti-Semitic. “
Oh dear! One of the press reviewers on Sky tonight is Michael Heaver of Westminster, an Arron Banks creation. He started off by cutting off whatever legs Jeremy Corbyn has left and went on to dismiss any question that the Indian floods are connected in any way to climate change. He sounds like a Fred Oik but I am sure he isn’t one.
http://thesteepletimes.com/the-roll-call/michael-heaver/
They return for a second go at 11.30. He is on with a sensible young woman from Positive Money, Fran Boait the executive director. The fact that she has two geography degrees did not impress Heaver at all in their discussion on extreme weather.
_____
Positive Money – http://positivemoney.org/what-we-do/
Westmonster – https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arron_Banks#Westmonster
‘Westmonster is co-owned by Arron Banks and Michael Heaver, former press adviser to Nigel Farage.
The official registered owners of the site are Heaver, who owns 50% of the website and is a daily editor, and Better for the Country Ltd. Better for the Country Ltd is the company that ran Leave.EU (one of two main pro-Brexit campaigns, affiliated to Farage) and is directed by Leave.EU’s chief executive, Elizabeth Bilney. Better for the Country Ltd is also registered to the same address as Westmonster.’
‘EXCLUSIVE: Israel offers Gaza a sea passage if border attacks stop’:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-hamas-talks-egypt-fatah-1401674839
A beam of sunlight breaking through, or another set-up-to-fail promise?
If the Gazans have a lick of sense, they will stop their rockets and incendiary kites, and settle down to a more tolerable life; let the overseas Solidarity Groups keep up the campaigning pressure for a realistic, back to pre-1967 borders agreement (or something very close).
Little hope when this sort of thing is happening. The arrest took place in the night.
‘Inciting violence’: Israel arrests Palestinian journalist for live-streaming IDF soldiers
17 Aug 2018
A Palestinian journalist has been arrested by Israeli authorities for filming soldiers operating in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Facebook Live. They claim he was inciting violence against Israel and the army.
Ali Dar Ali live-streamed two videos on Facebook on Tuesday morning, which showed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers operating in the Al-Amari refugee camp. They were drawing up a plan of a Palestinian home, a procedure typically done before demolishing a building, according to Gaza-based journalist Hind Khoudary.
[..]
Filming IDF soldiers is illegal in Israel, while filming them with the intent of “undermining the spirit of the army” is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Ali is at least the eighth Palestinian journalist to be arrested by Israel since July 30, according to numbers cited by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which said in a statement that “Israel has been relentless in its assault on the Palestinian press” and called on all detained journalists to be released.’
https://www.rt.com/news/436241-palestinian-journalist-arrested-video-idf/
They don’t have “rockets”, And according to international law (though as basically helpless victims in an effective outdoor prison, obviously violence is not going to work for them) as an occupied people “they” (those few who do) have a right to use violence as resistance.
The fact is they barely any use violence. And to expect zero to come from Palestine (though they have stopped using it many times in the hopes of trying to reach agreement) under such circumstance?
The point is this is nothing to do with Palestinian acts, as an occupying force ALL responsibility is on Israel to lift the blockade unconditionally. And it just goes to show what a threat these “rockets” are that they haven’t stopped any acts of occupation that would surely help reduce tensions.
It’s like asking a gang rape victim to not resist and they will take it easy. They have a responsibility to stop, that’s it.
I’m sympathetic in the abstract to what your saying, but to suggest Israel couldn’t (or doesn’t/hasn’t) manufacture such things in Palestine if they wanted?
@ Ishmael August 18, 2018 at 00:08
‘…but to suggest Israel couldn’t (or doesn’t/hasn’t) manufacture such things in Palestine if they wanted?…’
Far from it – I suspect they are behind it (cui bono?) which is why I added: ‘..or another set-up-to-fail promise?..’
It does sound almost too good to be true, but perhaps they have become worried by International and public reactions (little as they may seem).
Perhaps more pressure has been put on them by governments and the Diaspora than we are aware of.
Hodge is criticized for comparing her current situation to that of J.wish people facing the holocaust. Chris Williamson defends Jeremy Corbyn and says Hodges is being ridiculous. Now Gideon Falter steps in to have a go at Williamson.
Falter –
https://antisemitism.uk/about/management
and on this set up. https://www.jnf.co.uk/our-people/
A long list of names on there inc Bliar and Brown.
When will it ever dry up? Fed up with it.
Yup. They will be wanting to pin a symbol in their breasts in solidarity next no doubt.
They will go with the footprint of the CLP’s on their exiting asap.
They have no choice. It is not a sinking ship. More a deadend cornering and we all know how vicious it can get there.
Not long now.
Re the link to jnf.co.uk/our-people
I had no idea Reading had a Marquess:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Rufus_Isaacs,_4th_Marquess_of_Reading
Isn’t time the UK moved into the 20th century and abandoned its archaic aristocratic institutions and had a proper elected second chamber, a written constitution and a fair voting system?
Of Ben’s Musical Interlude..It’s Farewell To Runrig weekend..Thank you for the 45 years
there will be almost 50,000 at tonight, and tomorrow’s last dance78 in Stirling
from their 30th tour –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaFUfdJqPGk
And one We were at.. 5 mile tailback on the road to Balloch.. People were having Picknicks beside their cars on the Dual carrige way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHu0h9XaNcg
I thought he had adopted rope a dope tactics, and even if he hadn’t, its worked, as the madness of Corbyn’s attackers shines with Madge’s latest offering, that will be followed, get the timing right, at the end of August, by Corbyn saying “forgive them Lord and help them find peace”.
Think i’ve got 3 seriously worthy comments to report in the last few days, they’re not my popular ones tho.
1.”Think it should also be said it ain’t JC who needs to apologise for the hurt and fear caused to ordinary Jewish ppl by the current poohshow. IMO it’s some of the more extreme elements in the Jewish Community, the usual suspects in the Labour Party and much of our MSM, who need to take a long, hard look at themselves.”
2. “Wow! That is a serious doozy of a diatribe, Mags has officially entered the Twilite Zone. S’pose some logic could be attributed to it if she was to turn out to be a secret JC fan really, on a mission to prove orgs. like Labour Friends of Israel are not friends to ordinary Jewish people/British ppl. Won’t hold my breath on that one tho!
It’s likely she wants to be expelled to kick off the usual suspects leaving the LP to start a new Party. Please, go for it, the LP will be WAAAY better off without their ilk causing strife, can even get on with preparing to possibly be the next Govt too.
Doubt she’ll accept or feel shame for the harm she has done to ordinary Jewish people by her vile, opportunistic trivialisation of genuine AS, or the hell she’s caused for JC, whois a lovely dude.
3. “Going to say something which is SO important, the massively important thing is getting the needed msg out there.
Blow looking good in front of mates, gathering recs etc, get the msg out there in a way that is hard to delete so more ppl get to read about something, in a way they might not have considered b4.”
Hope you’re just taking a much needed break Craig and you’re not too heartsick. Love and hugs for now, all that’s good.
Forgot this one from me, which the Guardian didn’t delete!
“I’m not surprised much of our MSM isn’t reporting Hodge’s car crash interview on Sky, just hope it makes some who doubt how many malicious lies and smears are being told about JC, realise it’s a real possibility.
Think Norman Finkelstein sums up the outrage and hurt many Jewish ppl feel after her Sky interview, seriously well in this vid: Norman Finkelstein to Dame Margaret Hodge: ‘You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt5fOmtJfGQ “
Serious apologies for being pissed a few times lately, i was heartsick. Happier now i can use the Indy to post important stuff in MSM so it reaches more ppl, hope it lasts a while.
Reposting what i think is important stuff i posted on the last page:
Cesca
August 17, 2018 at 23:57
Think i’ve got 3 seriously worthy comments to report in the last few days, they’re not my popular ones tho.
1.”Think it should also be said it ain’t JC who needs to apologise for the hurt and fear caused to ordinary Jewish ppl by the current poohshow. IMO it’s some of the more extreme elements in the Jewish Community, the usual suspects in the Labour Party and much of our MSM, who need to take a long, hard look at themselves.”
2. “Wow! That is a serious doozy of a diatribe, Mags has officially entered the Twilite Zone. S’pose some logic could be attributed to it if she was to turn out to be a secret JC fan really, on a mission to prove orgs. like Labour Friends of Israel are not friends to ordinary Jewish people/British ppl. Won’t hold my breath on that one tho!
It’s likely she wants to be expelled to kick off the usual suspects leaving the LP to start a new Party. Please, go for it, the LP will be WAAAY better off without their ilk causing strife, can even get on with preparing to possibly be the next Govt too.
Doubt she’ll accept or feel shame for the harm she has done to ordinary Jewish people by her vile, opportunistic trivialisation of genuine AS, or the hell she’s caused for JC, whois a lovely dude.
3. “Going to say something which is SO important, the massively important thing is getting the needed msg out there.
Blow looking good in front of mates, gathering recs etc, get the msg out there in a way that is hard to delete so more ppl get to read about something, in a way they might not have considered b4.”
Hope you’re just taking a much needed break Craig and you’re not too heartsick. Love and hugs for now, all that’s good.
August 18, 2018 at 00:11
Forgot this one from me, which the Guardian didn’t delete!
“I’m not surprised much of our MSM isn’t reporting Hodge’s car crash interview on Sky, just hope it makes some who doubt how many malicious lies and smears are being told about JC, realise it’s a real possibility.
Think Norman Finkelstein sums up the outrage and hurt many Jewish ppl feel after her Sky interview, seriously well in this vid: Norman Finkelstein to Dame Margaret Hodge: ‘You haven’t a clue what you’re talking about’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt5fOmtJfGQ “
‘Monsanto Lobbyist Claims Roundup Is Safe To Drink – Refuses To Drink It’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbfJ4VwHIqw
Short (1 1/2 minutes) but sweet!
The lobbyist was not quite so thick as John Gummer; but at least Gummer really thought the beef was safe, unlike the lobbyist:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_2913000/2913807.stm
‘1990: Gummer enlists daughter in BSE fight
The government has again attempted to reassure the public that British beef is safe, despite growing fears over the cattle disease, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
The Minister of Agriculture, John Gummer, even invited newspapers and camera crews to photograph him trying to feed a beefburger to his four-year-old daughter, Cordelia, at an event in his Suffolk constituency.
Although his daughter refused the burger, he took a large bite himself, saying it was “absolutely delicious”….’
Also, tho i do appreciate McCluskey calling out extremists in the Jewish Community and the Labour Party, think he’s drop dead wrong to think the LP should accept the inadequate IHRA, let alone the SO dangerous examples.
It’s a stupid and unnecessary change which would lead to legitimate criticism of the Jewish Community and rogue/Apartheid Stale current Israel being censored.This great article from the progressive Jewish Socialists’ Group (JSG) http://www.jewishsocialist.org.uk/news/item/fight-antisemitism-and-defend-free-speech deals with many of my concerns
Seriously hope JC won’t allow it, he’s out there on own atm tho. Stay strong if you can JC
Cesca
Do we know which countries agree with the “””” internationally “””” agreed IHRA definition of AS?
There are 2 separate issues here. First, the issue of Israel’s totalitarian attitude to its own citizens, second, the issue of what causes offence.
I am of the opinion that what causes offence should be defined by the offendee, not the offender. But Israel wants to move the goal-posts beyond what causes offence to re-define their right to totally dominate and persecute their Muslim neighbours and the Palestinans living inside Israel.
All politicians use slogans, Hitler called his thugs , Youth groups. Islamists use the good name of Islam to perpetrate the opposite. We should not be surprised to find the victim of Fascist politics try to copy the process of their own persecution against others, but we must never allow them to perpetrate the same against the Palestinians. Jeremy Corbyn is absolutely right to refuse to adopt the IHRA definition. Israel desperately wants the international community to allow it to do what was done to them.
The IHRA as recorders of historical truth should not allow their words to be a tool for Israel to perpetrate similar crimes.
I do not do politics, nor religion, with my friends who are mostly into music, who I have met over the last 20 years…and see quite regularly in various pubs – all over the place, but I am not going to stand for that, without response to my friend…
“If you keep posting ANY More Boris Johnson Videos – I am Going To Respond”
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgV4T1wDRd4AV31qGYbY39g
Tony
The Tories are obviously going to get rid of Theresa May, they are already jockeying and salivating for Position.
Personally, I think our Best Hope is Either Jeremy Bernard Corbyn and/or Jacob William Rees-Mogg
I accept that neither of them are ideal, but I think they are both highly intelligent men of integrity, and will do their best to Deliver what the majority of us voted for.
Which is to leave The Totally Undemocratic Fascist Dictatorship, controlled by The CIA – “THE EU”.
Our lot might be rubbish, but they are not as bad as that lot.
They have already Destroyed Greece…unless we get out – We will be NEXT
It is all about Escaping American Control.
Tony
“It is all about Escaping American Control.”
wtf?
Tony, getting out, especially by forcing it though, e.g, crashing out (because anything remotely sensible would taker decades). Will totally mess us up.
It will put us more in the hands of the US, because thats what Tory brexiters want . Our membership to the EU has nothing to do with it. Is Germany selling arms to SA? No. It’s a choice. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-ban-arms-sales-saudi-arabia-turkey-uae-human-rights-abuses-a8327036.html
It seems that you have a pathological desire to be lied to and to wallow in those lies.
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-quintuples-arms-sales-to-saudi-arabia-and-egypt/a-41370500
Weapons sales tend to have something known as a lead time – it is not like buying a packet of sugar. Germany may be banning weapons sales today – but they are not banning the delivery of weapons sold yesterday.
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away – but then along came German poison gas salesmen and poisoned all the people there.
https://fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/cw/az120103.html
Ishmael
August 18, 2018 at 09:17
“It is all about Escaping American Control.”
wtf? ”
Ishmael Tony is telling the Truth.It seems you don`t do history.The EU was a CIA project started by Allen Dulles who was a CIA fascist spymaster and are still pulling the strings today as they were in the run up to the 1975 referendum in conjunction with Norman Reddaway of the IRD.
The Tories will get a no-confidence motion and a re-run of the general election. Cameron was hugely more popular than May, as was shown when she went to the polls. If you think Rees-Mogg is intelligent, I’m afraid all that music and alcohol must have affected your braincells. He is a total fraud, starting with his voice, and ending with his readiness to sell the electorate down the river with WTO rules.
No-confidence motion and general election. let the people, not the infighting Tories, decide.
As Hodge flies to near to the sun… with inevitable result, the gate keepers and damage limiters are sent out in full frenzy to double up the attack on JC.
The msm itself in meltdown.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/17/jeremy-corbyn-jack-nicholson-a-few-good-men
Ms Hyde mentions Hodge NOT once while she delivers a Polly Filla of a column.
A couple of observations, first, her allusion to Col Jessup could be read as a classic example of a shadow projection (psychologically). Secondly, no comments open as yet!
The ubiquity, the ubiquity…?
The Hyde article is a classic case of the MSM defining the parameters of argument. Corbyn is likened to Jessup. Jessup was a nasty character with a nasty past. Therefore Corbyn is automatically assumed to be the same. Corbyn’s options:
1) He can “own up” and so prove the insinuations.
2) He can deny it and so prove the insinuations.
3) He can fail to comment and so prove the insinuations.
Wheel in the famous Hitller dub, except that it has already been done to death by Guido and his mates.
“Sir, What do We Do? The more we Slag Off Jeremy Corbyn, the more popular he becomes.”
Mein Führer, hast du die Popularitätszahlen gesehen? Sie werden uns nicht mögen. Sie bevorzugen Jeremy Corbyn
Tony
Nigel Farage is involving himself in the Swedish general election, supporting the far right Sweden Democrats, referencing the recent organised arson attacks and the “huge levels of rise in sexual crimes” while sounding off about immigration.
The Financial Times is advising its readers that immigration is providing an opening for Sweden’s right wing.
And for those who don’t already know, the Sweden Democrats say they want a Swexit referendum.
It’s also the key factor in the neoliberal turn in social-democratic Scandinavia. Support for the social contract has fallen dramatically with the advent of mass immigration. .
In the face of brexit chaos – most anti EU crap has been dampened.
Only large amounts of City money, MSM ownership, CA/AIQ/SCL/Bell Pottinger election fraud and kippery creations with paid thugs, are threatening the EU poltical and Economic union.
The banking laws WILL come into effect – the last ditch attempt to disrupt the political will of the EU by the Atlantists will fail – i hope to see the European Courts prosecuting the attackers in new ‘nuremberg’ trials for the crimes they are committing.
“In the face of brexit chaos – most anti EU crap has been dampened.”
EU27 are still being portrayed as bloody difficult foreigners who don’t know what’s good for them. Farage has now “returned” in British politics, to “Leave Means Leave”, which will oppose “Chequers”, or whatever it turns into, as “semi-Brexit” or “Brexit In Name Only”.
Leave Means Leave may join with Remainers in calling for a third referendum. The statement by Bob Kerslake, former head of the home civil service, that EU27 may ask for a third referendum as a condition for an “extension of Article 50” is interesting. It will be great for Leave if a third referendum can be sold as something “forced” on British people by foreigners.
Within a few weeks the “store bottled water, just in case” government advice will be published.
Will voters be more scared of starving or of black people and Muslims?
All it will take is a few videos of moped muggings, a car driven on the pavement, a gruesome church stabbing, etc., all carried out by non-whites (and terror can if necessary be raised to a much higher level – e.g. the use of automatic weapons in a Beslan or Dubrovka or Bataclan operation), and Leave will get 60%. Never mind Geordie Greig (whose dad was a “Gentleman Usher” to the “queen”) at the Daily Mail. This is assuming the referendum is held quite quickly and not only after 10 million people haven’t eaten for a week or have caught typhoid. Things can certainly move quickly, as anyone who has studied crowd psychology knows, but xenophobia is growing.
The Sweden Democrats may well win a plurality too. The arson attacks shows someone is serious. Then the MSM in Britain will splash on “Swexit”.
I refer to the so called anti EU desires of the other EU countries – not the UK.
As far as the UK opinion goes – there is absolutely no way that a retun of the referendum would result in the same result. Or even a 50/50 split.
A 60/40 remain majority at minimum.
Without the dodgy money, the dodgy SCL/CA Dominic Cummings shenanighans; without the Aaron Banks Dodgy Call centres; without the kipperish dabblers.
And if you also let UK citizens living abroad vote.
It is a dead cert.
I agree with most of your other observations.
It is more that since 2000, the Social Democrat party has adopted New Labour style politics, cut backs, privatisations, austerity etc., combined with the mass immigration, there has been a back lash as they no longer act in the interests of their political base. Just like the Blairites.
Sorry to barge to the front, but on the previous page I’ve posted some questions that I’d really like some answers to, about some points raised by The Quilliam Foundation:
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/07/the-ubiquity-of-evil/comment-page-25/#comment-769839
My link above is to where Loony introduced the matter. You might prefer to go to the start of my numerous questions which are a bit further down:
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/07/the-ubiquity-of-evil/comment-page-25/#comment-769879
The way i look at it is this, islam & christianity are “fundamentally” the same thing. & they have been at this for centuries.
And remember, “we” are not just following some mild christian stuff like is mainly what’s around in the uk, our actions are governed by the USA, and they is Wiiiiiiiiierd up the heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W5hSNYjpUg
– ‘“we” are not just following some mild christian stuff like is mainly what’s around in the uk’
As I understand it, in the UK we have a monarch who is the head of state and the ultimate ruler of both Parliament and the armed forces; the troops fight “for Queen and country”. And that monarch rules “by the grace of God”, and is crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the state religion the Church of England.
Isn’t that rather similar to the structure of Saudi Arabia?
The Monarch is the titular head of Parliament and the armed forces – something very different from the “ultimate ruler” and hence very different from the structure in place in Saudi Arabia.
The headchoppers were crucifying a convict the other day.
‘The crucifixion practice is a gruesome one and is employed sparingly; most capital crimes in Saudi Arabia are punished through beheadings alone.’ So that’s OK then.
Saudi Arabia Rejects Human-Rights Criticism, Then Crucifies Someone
Most capital crimes in Saudi Arabia are punished through beheadings—but this week officials beheaded and then displayed the body of a convicted criminal.
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/08/saudi-crucifixion/567128/
Crucifixion in Saudi Arabia is different to our understanding of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Saudi_Arabia
People who are opposed to the monarchy should stop calling Britain “the UK”.
Saudi Arabia does not offer much by way of hospitality – but they make an exception if you are interested in visiting Deera Square (Chop Chop Square) on a Friday morning after prayers.
Foreigners are almost always offered a place near the front with the very best views of the forthcoming head chopping carnival. People are keen to explain the intricacies of what is about to take place and a jolly time is had by all. It gets especially exciting when the legendary efficiency of the Saudi’s kick in and the executioner needs more than one attempt to actually sever the head.
The only person I ever knew interested in this kind of entertainment was Scottish, and he was always very careful to make sure I understood that Scottish is different from English. I have no idea what, if anything, this says about Scottish people.
Yes. It is very similar. & goes way back in support for right wing dictators. Imperialism, colonialism, capitalism.
It’s not our government, it’s her majesties, as is the judiciary. Class interests.
They didn’t really mean “take back control”, they meant bow & scrape before your betters. Hence Mogg worship. Kings & queens & ladies & lords.
This country is like a jurassic tour where rare creatures still roam, eating people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fglhch-gE5g
– “…very different from the structure in place in Saudi Arabia”
Really? I thought state funerals such as Margaret Thatcher’s were performed at St Paul’s Cathedral, and the national anthem was “God Save the Queen”? Aren’t the most popular newspapers highly supportive of the monarchy, and of British military operations overseas? And aren’t the Royal Family the most prominent proponents of British arms sales to Saudi Arabia, to the extent that the supposedly independent government quashed the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation into corruption?
I agree there are differences, but they seem to be mostly theoretical. Practically, there seem to be more similarities than differences. For instance, the government and the ‘news’ media are far more keen that Britain fight wars than the population are, nearly all of the time; ie. the establishment encourages the population to support a more aggressive foreign policy.
And I thought that among the population, support for the armed forces, and Queen and Country generally correlated with support for Britain’s Christian tradition, such as the Royal Family certain politicians being married, christened and holding funerals in prominent holy buildings.
Sorry, please correct me. I must be getting this wrong somewhere. The armed forces, state, church and the Royal Family; they all seem to go together somehow. Aren’t these all emblems of the state religion, placed at Westminster Abbey for Remembrance Day?
Sorry link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Westminsterabbeypoppies.jpg
And an abbey is a prominent church, isn’t it?
The behaviour of Britain in the world seems very similar to Saudi Arabia’s; both states work with their monarchs and their religions to honour their combatants, legitimise war, and encourage their subjects to feel aggressive towards other populations.
Clark, why don’t you go to Saudi Arabia and organise a music festival and manage the bar and see if you don’t find yourself Up the Camel’s Arse on your way to the Utopian Nirvana you imagine.
“…the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the state religion the Church of England.”
The Monarch is the head of the Church of England.
Observer, the Saudis wouldn’t do very well if they came here and held one of their amputation fests either, would they?
Deb O’Nair, thanks. So even worse than I thought then?
Observer, when it gets to the point that people living in this country are declared radical for praying for the same side as the government, are hemmed into the country and then blow themselves and others up at concerts, the system’s obviously fucked, right? So the people have to win it back, apparently from the likes of you who keep shouting “no, leave it alone, leave it alone”! And the way we do that is by standing up and being counted.
Have you got a problem with that?
Clark
Excellent summary of the hypocrisy displayed by HMG in the Syrian war and its role in encouraging ‘jihadis’ secretly but not publicly. This was very clear from the beginning. The two way traffic of foreign fighters joining the war in Syria and of refugees out through Turkey and the Turkish collusion with Isis through a clandestine oil trade was exposed by the Russians in 2015 when they exposed this trade and started bombing the tanker convoys travelling in big numbers unmolested by the ‘coalition’ forces sent to fight Isis. In fact Turkey, which apparently has changed sides is also not to be trusted and these are our NATO allies, so that NATO under Turkish cover has also been involved.
At least the Iraq war lies have been openly exposed although with no comeback, but it seems that the west’s conspiracy against Syria is still denied. The serious problem lies in the future when all of our agents in the Syrian war will be repatriated to European countries, through countless refugees but also done of them under cover of organisations such as the White Helmets as has happened recently.
What poinst exactly?
“I’m not imagining it, am I? This isn’t the first time a terrorist has seemed more like our side than the other.”
No, it’s well known. What do you think “we” support Saudis and it’s fundamentalist version of islam. The same version Tommy likes to highlight to spread his own war on muslims. He reinforces that version by making himself that enemy. & he’s totally not anti establishment.
I’ll try and divine other questions you had, but it’s not very clear what others your asking aside from that.
Kill-i-am is a obvious front as the other Q outfit across the pond – deepstate, out of control, covert string pullers, useful idiots.
The only solution is to name them and rely on a clean skin military, police, judiciary, media and politicians to remove them. Supported by us voters, who are independently informed and make up our own minds. Following orders is not a defence.
They may choose to fight us to the death in our homes, in the streets, from some bunker in the City or Elsewhere.
I have started to resort to imagery to keep the focus as the barrage intensifies – It is man against mammon, the ancient earthly spirits demand change in the sordid, putrifying pond that the worshippers of mammom have created, upon which they float like scum – not self deluded cream they believe themselves to be.
The activities they support are levelled squarely at stopping society coalescing and turning its gaze directly upon their works. The alr -rightist (Fartage and co), their secret donors, their media coordination, their false flags …are just so much hot air wizards of oz charlatans.
Enough – they are doomed. They have lost control of the narrative; from #metooers to the wheels falling off the shiny billionaire geek kids and the toys they have us hooked on.
For the benefit of the future life on earth, stand up and resist – let their propaganda words be deflected and as they resort to sticks and stones, the blows we take (i am old and willing) will be finsl proof to all who still have their heads buried. When they see their parents, grand parents as well as the young and multicultural society being attacked, hurt, killed … the scales will fall from their eyes, like the wizards curtain and the establishment will lose everything, this time for ever.
? Did i get enough metaphors in there?
Sold.
But you’ll have to fight me for the front row.
In simple terms the UK has been captured by a cult of idiots obsessed by spreading lies and misinformation, and reacting with manufactured moral outrage to anyone that points out their lies.
Here is a story from Pakistan
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-35341256
Are the events described in this story reasonable, rational or acceptable? Should this kind of behavior be encouraged? What motivates people to behave as this boy did?
It seems reasonable to suppose that the proximate cause of the events described have something to do with religious instruction/indoctrination. Indeed Pakistani authorities are concerned that certain Imams (for example Syed Muzaffar Shah Qadri) are preaching a message so extreme as to be deleterious to society. Consequently and despite being a Pakistani national Qadri is banned from preaching in Pakistan.
Conversely the same person is allowed to enter the UK and preach his message in various UK mosques.
Does the government of Pakistan know more or less about Islam than the British Home Office? Apparently to ask such a question makes you a racist in the cultural nirvana that is the UK.
Any reasonable analysis indicates the insufferable arrogance and stupidity of the British administrative classes. Here they are effectively dismissing the Pakistani government as fools who know nothing …and on the basis of what?
This makes the true racists not those who question what is going on, but the British government who so obviously despise their counterparts in Pakistan and who so obviously regard the Pakistani government as comprising idiots and bigots. So what you have is a racist British government determined to label vast swathes of its electorate as racists. The only way to avoid being labelled a racist by the British government is to elevate ignorance to the highest of virtues.
Thanks for highlighting that. Keep up your voice of sanity.
Loony
But the bible preaches the same doesn’t it?
https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-30.htm
And this is from Matthew NT.
Maybe you should ask yourself why you are so interested in misdirection.
If you know of any Church of England Vicar who is urging members of his congregation to chop off their hands, for any reason whatsoever, then you should make that information public. Sitting on knowledge like that would also make you guilty of a crime under English law.
Or could it possibly be that there are no Vicars who are interpreting the Bible in the way you appear to think appropriate?
No, readers need to wonder why you are so keen to misdirect.
The question isn’t whether vicars would support a Saudi practice but a British one, such travelling with the armed forces to invade foreign countries and inflict corrupt puppet governments upon them. And yes, the CoE does support that.
Bullies are about getting their own way. They don’t like people standing up to them, but thats what must be done if we don’t want them controlling us.
Unfortunately they are postions today where they control all the MSM, Water cannons, hi-tech weaponry, and they will kill people to maintain domination over us. It’s sick beyond belief that this is the situation of society, but this is exactly (and no more) what they are.
Yes, TpTB are in essence, at base level, criminals. Control over others is a priority for genuine criminals, it’s how they operate
I hope Eva Bartlett is setting a trend.
‘She’s just posted this to her Patreon account:
Open Content, Alternative to Zionist Social Media
Hi Folks, perhaps too late a decision but as of August 18, I’m deactivating my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Anyone who wishes to follow me can do so without any financial support here, I keep my posts open.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/open-content-to-20828475. ‘
h/t TLN
I beat Eva to it, closed my FB and Twitter (as well as google) ages ago. Also stopped reading or watching MSM. The only way to beat the buggers is to stop using them.
Quilliam
Never forgetting that they tried to shut Craig down nor that their founder is all over the UK media. Nawaz has his own phone in programme on LBC and frequently appears on Sky News’ The Pledge in company with the likes of Rachel Johnson! Nick Ferrari!, Carole Malone!! et al. The Pledge is a talking shop where each of five individuals sit round a table and give their opinions on each other’s suggestions for discussion, usually topical.
https://mobile.twitter.com/thepledge?lang=en
A recent recording – https://youtu.be/VB-7GJnJF8g
Quilliam staff in number here.
https://www.quilliaminternational.com/about/staff/
Queen Elizabeth is heading to the US East coast. Not the nonagenerian monarch but this soon to become redundant £6billions’ worth heap of metal.
HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier heads to US to carry first aircraft
American F-35s to be used for test flights but first landing is likely to be by a British pilot
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/18/hms-queen-elizabeth-aircraft-carrier-heads-to-us-to-carry-first-aircraft
Remember. There is NO money.
PS £6.2billion for the two. And the rest I bet tucked away in the MoD accounting system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth-class_aircraft_carrier
The order was placed in 2008.
@Sharp Ears,
there is always more money to be had from the magical military money tree – fat with $ & £ – which operates to a completely different set of rules than the austerity money tree – a withered and sad specimem.
There is always money for the MIC to parade their filthy killing machines and boast about how hard they are, but there is never enough money to repair our infrastructure or keep our NHS running as it should.
They are militarising the City of London police and making sure Parliament is secure from terrorist attack! Alternatively they are putting measures in place ready for the coup! Remember the Parliament lock down/in during the Westminster event involving MPs from the Ministry of Defence!
A coup is an interesting idea, Dave.
It’s going to be an interesting few months, for sure.
@ N_ August 18, 2018 at 13:40
I hope I get to share Corbyn’s cell.
Behind Israel’s Troll Army
@AntiBDSApp
Israel’s official propaganda app is retweeting an article by far-right UK gossip blog Guido Fawkes attacking Labour candidate
@faizashaheen over her interview defending Jeremy Corbyn.
https://twitter.com/AntiBDSApp/status/1029347929813909504
August 14th 2018
‘Behind Israel’s Troll Army
@AntiBDSApp
Pointing out when pro-Israel social media is fake astroturf coordinated by the Israeli government’s official anti-BDS app // tweets by @mbueckert
https://jacobinmag.com/2017/07/israel-social-media-app-idf-shin-bet-bds
Joined April 2018
Kofi Annan, Ghanaian born UN Secretary General, has died aged 80.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Annan which is fairly benign apart from:
See Iraq war https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Annan#Iraq and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Annan#Oil-for-Food_scandal
To my mind, a stooge for the war mongering USUKIsNATO axis.
Kofi Annan the first black African UN Secretary General did have some success in his time in office. Infact he openly criticised the US in 2006, claiming that they were trying to use the UN, to further US goals. Butrus Butrus Gali, was another UNSG, that the US wanted removed because he wouldn’t play ball at times.
Kofi Annan, also established a global fund to fight the then epidemic of HIV/AIDS. He also oversaw the the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon.
You’re quite correct to say that Kofi Annan had his fair share of failures. However even after his tenure as UNSG ended, Kofi Annan, still worked on, based in Geneva, promoting humanitarian causes.
Are you awake? Can you smell the coffee?
Annan did nothing to stop Bush, Blair and that coalition from wrecking Iraq, killing, burning and shredding millions of Iraqis.
Similarly, Afghanistan.
What has the UN ever done to stop war and prevent killing?
Eulogies today from the likes of Blair and Theresa May leave nothing more to be said about him.
Also look up The Elders. Mandela is another one who has been mistakenly beatified.
“What has the UN ever done to stop war and prevent killing?”
Well Sharp Ears, I did say that Kofi Annan, in his nine year tenure as UNSC, had his success’s and failures.
“What has the UN ever done to stop war and prevent killing?”
https://www.unric.org/en/latest-un-buzz/30764-the-un-is-more-effective-in-preventing-wars-than-many-experts-think
You are clueless about the UN and its limitations, including the bullying and undermining it is the perpetual recipient of. That is why Annan deserves the praise he is getting for his quiet but effective countering of a lot of that pressure – actions which earned him the undying hatred of the US administration.
SE
Harsh. Annan could do nothing about Bush and Blair over Iraq. They walked away from the Security Council and the UN to launch their illegal war. That they were able to do so is a sad illustration of how toothless the UN really is.
Your ears are not very sharp if you think UNSG telling US President to behave has any effect.
The UN is an anochronism of 1945 world power structures, meaning Godfathers of a few thug yob gangs get to tell decent world opinion to go hang.
What piffle. Whatever he was, it wasn’t a ‘stooge’. Such a cheap shot, same old cliches.
Kofi Annan came out in public in 2003 and declared the Bush/Blair war illegal. It’s not his fault if the US/UK media choose to ignore him and instead publish pro-war propaganda.
So it seems labour is not going to be a serious place for activists. ?
I don’t accept any, not one, of these guidelines on anti-Semitism. That mural did not do it for me, i don’t accept the premise. Antisemitism is a prejudice against all jews for being Jews (what ever the hell that means). Not things in the modern day that happen to align with a trope that some find offensive from a lifetime ago..
Aaron & co have already accepted the premise, and people like suzanne moore are still attacking. Labour seeks to cut of it’s very soft & compromising “radicals” never the less.
I suggest this is not some compromise to “fight another day” but a purge of the left, all who defend JC, it will be the beginning of the end for Labour. You do as them old warn out proven losers want, or your out.
As suzanne said to me of twitter “bog off”. because I treat people to an equal standard based on facts on the ground.
And back in the day, Would that mural have fit in to anti-semite ideolagy. ? No, because it included many other people on that table. …ALL the arguments iv seen (and iv seen thousands) ZERO resonate with me. ZERO.
But that’s not allowed, I’m not allowed to have my own opinions based on my own observations & experience. And go anyway near the labour party groupthink. And it’s those pushing this line hardest who are breaking the party.
& Im not antisemitic, it would be very hard for someone with my perspective to be so. Collective identity is a nonsense, and anything a group comes up with will surely leave out members of the group they claim to represent. And labour should not just represent its members (not that they even are trying to do that) but the whole country, they have no right to tell me what to think.
They can “bog off”.
I have looked at the Mural too, the imagery is from the Illuminati trope:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=illuminati&t=vivaldi&iax=images&ia=images
referencing the Freemason truncated pyramid with radiant eye. It suggests it’s about the power elite, nothing more, I see no problem with it.
New rules; 6 mins.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx-E54P_pOY
Bill Maher returns to a favourite subject; how the left hobbles itself with political correctness.
Trump is popular because “he speaks what’s left of his mind”.
Hillary’s persona was just a politically correct, fake avitar and people saw through it.
“what’s left of his mind”.
lol
But yea, exactly. As an individual he can pretty much say what he wants, and they like that, hell even I like that aspect of him, gross form it takes but still.
We don’t all agree on the left, far less than everyone agrees with Trump. That should make us stronger because each opinion has it’s own merits & should come from our own perspective & experience, but with thoughtful intent.. The right do none political correctness to be a’holes or stir people up.
David Graeber talks about this, how the right embrace their radicals/odd people. The left shun theirs. My feeling is it’s the fact we do think for ourselves more. That’s the kind of thing they say they are fighting for? I think it just does not fit in the structures that are present. But that’s a good thing, that’s the whole point, we don’t want these structure..
“the left hobbles itself with political correctness”
Agreed. Stick to economic matters. Those sexist, racist, homophobic miners knew what was what.
It’s a matter of form, the 60s was all about not being politically correct. Against all those things that pretty much where.
The demographic of well-meaning, liberal, suggestible types is huge – one of the biggest. For the last twenty years or so it has been been mercilessly exploited by neocon interests cooing comforting words about same-sex warming and the like on the one hand while delivering a hammer-blow to living standards and public services on the other. All the while pursuing foreign policies of naked economic adventurism of benefit to no-one other than the elite globalists who demand it.
Agree. “lean in”
Those things still matter obviously. But yea, I’m someone who does think the emphases should be on changing conditions that allow/encourage minority exclusion. Scapegoating etc.
uh gender and physics aren’t the same, but by all means try to conflate the two. neocons love fossil fuels, couldn’t have so many wars without them.
Things that irritate me about the Democrats slavish devotion to Identity politics.
The idea that they invented it. What was Reagan doing when he united the small government lobby with the Christian Right, the 2nd amendment lobby and the libertarian right? What dog whistle was Trump blowing in 2016?
False attribution of virtue. Why is it especially wonderful that a candidate for office is trans-sexual? It isn’t, it’s neutral.
Over sensitivity to criticism / manipulation of a false shield against robust argument.
‘The Ubiquity of Evil’ – a couple set off to cycle the world to prove that that is BS, only to tragically prove they were mistaken:
‘AMERICAN COUPLE DIES TRAGICALLY WHILE BIKING THROUGH ISIS TERRITORY TRYING TO PROVE EVIL DOES NOT EXIST’:
http://dailycaller.com/2018/08/16/couple-bikes-isis-territory/
Bit like jumping into a lion’s enclosure to show they are really just big cuddly p^ssy cats.
Or the woman who kept a pet python, which she slept with (no sexual context!); she was lucky, though. When the python stopped eating, she worriedly contacted a vet to ask what could be wrong. LUCKILY, he knew a lot about pythons, and told her the creature was starving itself to prepare itself for a big meal (her)!
Fact check: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/millenial-couple-isis-tajikistan/
@ Tom WAugust 18, 2018 at 12:40
From the Snopes site you linked to:
‘..You watch the news and you read the papers and you’re led to believe that the world is a big, scary place. People, the narrative goes, are not to be trusted. People are bad. People are evil. People are axe murderers and monsters and worse.
I don’t buy it. Evil is a make-believe concept we’ve invented to deal with the complexities of fellow humans holding values and beliefs and perspectives different than our own — it’s easier to dismiss an opinion as abhorrent than strive to understand it. Badness exists, sure, but even that’s quite rare. By and large, humans are kind. Self-interested sometimes, myopic sometimes, but kind. Generous and wonderful and kind. No greater revelation has come from our journey than this…’
Well, they found out that many people in those areas are ‘axe murderers and monsters’, contrary to their beliefs.
Anyone who cycles through those areas needs their heads tested. They cannot have been unaware that ISIS/Al Queda/Whatever were murderously marauding over the Middle East (except in I^rael, Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Gulf States, Jordan and Iran).
In 1967 I set off to travel overland to Australia (I know one cannot get all the way without catching a boat or plane).
I never reached Australia, because I inadvertently got thoroughly caught up on the ‘Hippy Trail’ to India (1967 was the height of the Europe/Australia/New Zealand/India/Nepal ‘Hippy Trail’).
I was 24 years old; I travelled basically alone, but sometimes joined up with others going the same way.
I travelled ‘auto stop’ (hitch-hiking) through most of the Europe leg, and through parts of a lot of the other countries (once I joined the Hippy Trail, I no longer took a bee-line towards India, but meandered around the Middle East, before reaching Calcutta, then turning back, and eventually getting repatriated from Delhi.
If there had been the current wars and instability in much of the areas I travelled, there is no way I would have entertained the trip.
Having said that, I did go to Nicaragua for 3 1/2 months in 1984 during the US-backed Contra terrorist invasion against the democratically elected Sandinista government, in order to see the situation for myself. Again travelling alone, I covered a lot of the cities and towns, from Jalapa/Ocotal in the north west to San Juan del Sur in the south west to Rama in the east, and most big towns in between.
Councillor Jim Sheridan is suspended from the Labour Party. I guess he was my MP for some time, can’t say he was particularly memorable. His offence was to post: “For almost all my adult life I have had the utmost respect and empathy for the J***sh community and their historic suffering. No longer due to what they and their Blairite plotters are doing to my party”.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/18/jim-sheridan-suspended-from-labour-over-antisemitism-row-comments
Wonder if it would make any difference if he had written “due to what a faction and their Blairite plotters …… I find myself conflicted.”
May have meant it that way anyway.
“the jewish community” Racist trope?
I think they should all leave, and anyone who’s mentioned such a frightful generalisation in the media etc..
It’s mad, it’s all gone mad.
What’s clear is you can be racist, just in the positive.
@Vivian,
I said in 2001, that Tony Blair and his followers were trying to destroy the Labour party, and that within five years that party would no longer be recogniseable to traditional Labour voters.
How can one very small community and the pariah state which they represent have so much power?
Any sensible and objective attempt to answer that one just brings a torrent of abuse down upon your head. How convenient.
Bacause no-one will confront them like the Allies confronted Hitler, is the answer to that one. A month of carpet bombing the Knesset and other Israeli state buildings might be a start.
No one will call out Netanyahu’s son as a master race-, racist fascist who needed a father to instil some humanity into him growing up. He is portrayed as someone of value…..
Noone will tells Jews outside Israel that if they support Zionist superstates they are welcome to emigrate to Israel but they are no longer welcome in this country, they have three months to sell up and leave or if they wish to stay they accept legitimate condemnation of the abominations perpetrated by the Israeli state. And they accept it by signing a document drawn up to make Jews with Zionist tendencies be legally obligated to respect the views of the nation they live in….
They cannot do the last as they willingly accept headchopping nutcases from the Islamic world as immigrants. Stopping that would be a jolly good idea too.
@Rhys,
I have often wondered where the Israeli nuclear missiles (non existent ones of course – LOL) are aimed, because 250 plus could do a lot of damage around the World.
Rhys Jaggar, I wish to make it publicly clear that I entirely disassociate myself from the sentiments you display in your comment. They do NOT represent my political objectives at all.
Nor mine.
Most of the ‘news’ media has repeatedly pitched this argument as “the J_wish Community criticises the Labour Party”. Mr Sheridan was very wrong if he indeed replied in those same terms.
This is a double whammy. There is s rule on labour not to refer to ‘Blairites’ in the context of all that is wrong with most MPs.
Yes, just as there’s a consensus among certain commenters here that I mustn’t refer to promoters of baseless theories that imply vast conspiracies as ‘conspiracy theorists’. With all these language rules we’ll soon be gridlocked.
I just had a very interesting telephone conversation. My car insurance is due for renewal and I was called by, presumably, my insurance company, but I have no actual proof that it was them, as you shall see. The telephonist announced they were from my insurance company and asked if I was Clark Killick, their policy holder. I told them I was, and asked if they could offer me a better price. The telephonist then wanted me to confirm my identity by disclosing some personal details, but I refused and explained that since the company had called me, it was the company that had to confirm its identity with me rather than vice versa. The telephonist said OK, but then again asked me for personal details, and as I tried to explain again the telephonist suddenly terminated the call – which, incidentally, is exactly what someone phishing for my personal details would do.
The company’s calling policy overlooks a key aspect of security and is illustrative of current commercial hubris. Instead of considering the fundamental security relationship that the caller holds the advantage of knowing who’s number they’ve called whereas whoever answers cannot know who’s calling, the company simply assumes its own position of authority and requires mere policyholders to identify themselves on demand.
By acting this way companies condition the response of giving out personal data to any caller claiming to be from a company, paving the way for identity thieves.
Yes, that’s just a common experience, I always find it tempting to wind them up, my favourite response, found on the net, is to inform them that they have intruded onto a crime scene and ask them how they knew the deceased.
All I asked the telephonist for was a price. The price a company offers isn’t my personal data, so I can’t see how they’d be breaching the Data Protection Act by revealing it. If there’s any restriction it must be the company protecting its own commercial data.
I agree, but I’ve always found insurance prices are based on you personally. My habit is to ring my current insurer (thus not minding identifying myself) armed with a few comparative quotes (cheaper), and invariably they say “Well we love our loyal customers blah blah, oooh look here I think we can do it for ….” strangely enough in the ball park of the quotes I mention.
I can’t take them seriously but I have to get it I guess. If they’re legit, they’ll make the effort.
Baiting scammers is one of those things you either feel you have time and inclination for or don’t. I used to get a lot re “This is your ISP there’s a problem with your internet could you go to your computer and….” After spending a long time pretending to be entirely clueless on the computer (just mostly clueless probably) I tell them it’s a mac (it’s not, but hey). I guess I do have a cruel streak in me.
Nick, I hope you won’t mind me saying so, but you’ve just repeated what the companies would have us believe despite your own evidence contradicting it. The quote can’t be “based on you personally” as you say or it wouldn’t suddenly drop when the telephonist hears your competing quotes – none of those quotes change anything about the customers except how much they might be willing to pay. I think you need to be more cynical.
It’s just another profit-maximising and personal-data-harvesting scheme like everything is these days.
Clark, I certainly don’t mind you saying it. And I appreciate you for saying it politely instead of calling me an idiot. Good points, agree. Had a few jars before saying something, always a bad idea.
Thanks Nick, and a jolly good day to you 😀
This is extremelty intense and heavy going, but at least, I re-explored the contents and meaning of the film Annie Hall, which I thought was O.K.
” Finkelstein on Corbyn-Mania”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/50069.htm
Here is an extract. I can’t be bothered to edit the banned words for this blog. There are too many of them. Delete it if you want. I am seriously not that interested. I just don’t like the media, continually kicking an honest man of integrity.
“Consider these facts. Jeremy Corbyn is the democratically elected head of the Labour Party. His ascendancy vastly expanded and galvanized the party’s ranks. Corbyn has devoted a lifetime to fighting racism; like eponymous labor organizer Joe Hill, where workers strike and organize, it’s there you’ll find Jeremy Corbyn. By British and even global leadership standards, he cuts a saintly figure. On the opposite side, mostly unelected Jewish bodies[21] have dragged Corbyn’s name through the mud, slandering and defaming him. They have refused to meet with Corbyn, even as he has repeatedly extended olive branches and offered substantive compromises.[22] Instead they issue take-it-or-leave-it ultimatums. As it happens, Jews overwhelmingly do not support Labour, even when the head of the party list is Jewish (Ed Miliband in 2015). Nonetheless, these pious-cum-pompous communal leaders do not find it unseemly or even amiss to dictate from afar and from above internal Labour policy. This writer’s late mother used to muse, “It’s no accident that Jews invented the word chutzpah.” The transparent motive behind this cynical campaign is to demonize Corbyn, not because he’s a “fucking anti-Semite,” but because he’s a principled champion of Palestinian rights. However, Corbyn’s candidacy is not just about Palestine or even the British laboring classes. It’s a beacon for the homeless, the hungry, and the hopeless, the despised, the downtrodden, and the destitute everywhere. If Corbyn’s traducers succeed, the glimmer of possibility he has held out will be snuffed out by a gang of moral blackmailers and extortionists. Is it anti-Semitism to believe that “Jews have too much power in Britain”—or is it just plain common sense? (It is, to be sure, a question apart and not one amenable to simple solution how to rectify this power inequity while not impinging on anyone’s democratic rights.) Still, isn’t it anti-Semitic to generalize that “Jews” have abused their power? But even granting that a portion have been manipulated or duped, it certainly appears as if British Jews in general support the anti-Corbyn juggernaut. If this indeed is a misapprehension, whose fault is it? The tacit message of the unprecedented joint editorial on the front page of the major Jewish periodicals was: British Jews are united—Corbyn must go! Is it anti-Semitic to take these Jewish organizations at their word?”
Tony
@Tony_Opmoc,
I wish that I could buy you a beer for posting that. I am totally sick to the teeth of our publicly funded, mendacious, crawling, creeping media and the career politicians which they support.
I totally resent the undeniable fact, that a foreign state is attempting to meddle in our politics, to the extent that they can unashamedly use their own (dual) citizens, in an attempt to destroy a noble politician who cares for the downtrodden, the poorest in society, and is possibly the finest Labour leader for a very long time.
The state of course is Israel, and they are known throughout the World as one of the most barbaric states on earth, who keep the Palestinian people in a constant state of siege. They are guilty of numerous human rights abuses, and yet have the temerity to appeal to others when they feign hurt, as in this totally stagedcharade of anti Semitism.
Here, you can read it on Norm’s site.
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2018/08/17/finkelstein-on-corbyn-mania/
I suggested he go on George Galloway’s talk radio show last week he said he was happy to. I believe it may have been last night, I’ve been working too much so missed it.
I absolutely love the Fink! He’s my kinda lefty. Facts, freedom of thought and governed by a love of humanity. Ofcourse he’s hated by a certain group of people who have successfully ruined his life. But he’s a hard bassterd! He also has the best speaking voice of anyone ever!
Here’s he’s message to Dame Hodgepodge?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xt5fOmtJfGQ