**Date for Diaries** Please join us outside HMP Edinburgh on the morning of 30 November 2021 to celebrate Craig’s release from prison. Speech from Craig. All welcome. It’s St Andrews Day – bring your Saltire. #cmcountdown #ScotlandJailsJournalists
— Craig Murray Justice campaign (@cmurrayjustice) November 17, 2021
Craig Murray #CountdownToFreedom series #ScotlandJailsJournalists Peter Oborne, journalist & former political commentator of the Daily Telegraph describes his friend as a hero, truthteller, dissident – https://t.co/MZhxu46YPR pic.twitter.com/hBcd1xj8A2
— Craig Murray Justice campaign (@cmurrayjustice) November 22, 2021
I want to make one or two points for you to ponder while I am in jail. This is the last post until about Christmas; we are not legally able to post anything while I am imprisoned. But the Justice for Craig Murray Campaign website is now up and running and will start to have more content shortly. Fora and comments here are planned to stay open.
I hope that one possible good effect of my imprisonment might be to coalesce opposition to the imminent abolition of jury trials in sexual assault cases by the Scottish Government, a plan for which Lady Dorrian – who wears far too many hats in all this – is front and centre. We will then have a situation where, as established by my imprisonment, no information at all on the defence case may be published in case it contributes to “jigsaw identification”, and where conviction will rest purely on the view of the judge.
That is plainly not “open justice”, it is not justice at all. And it is even worse than that, because the openly stated aim of abolishing juries is to increase conviction rates. So people will have their lives decided not by a jury of their peers, but by a judge who is acting under specific instruction to increase conviction rates.
It is often noted that conviction rates in rape trials are too low, and that is true. But have you ever heard this side of the argument? In Uzbekistan under the Karimov dictatorship, when I served there, conviction rates in rape trials were 100%. In fact very high conviction rates are a standard feature of all highly authoritarian regimes worldwide, because if the state prosecutes you then the state gets what it wants. The wishes of the state in such systems vastly outweigh the liberty of the individual.
My point is simply this. You cannot judge the validity of a system simply by high conviction rates. What we want is a system where the innocent are innocent and the guilty found guilty; not where an arbitrary conviction target is met.
The answer to the low conviction rates in sexual assault trials is not simple. Really serious increases in resources for timely collection of evidence, for police training and specialist units, for medical services, for victim support, all have a part to play. But that needs a lot of money and thought. Just abolishing juries and telling judges you want them to convict is of course free, or even a saving.
The right to have the facts judged in serious crime allegations by a jury of our peers is a glory of our civilisation. It is the product of millennia, not lightly to be thrown away and replaced by a huge increase in arbitrary state power. That movement is of course fueled by current fashionable political dogma which is that the victim must always be believed. That claim has morphed from an initial meaning that police and first responders must take accusations seriously, to a dogma that accusation is proof and it is wrong to even question the evidence, which is of course to deny the very possibility of false accusation.
That is precisely the position which Nicola Sturgeon has taken over the Alex Salmond trial; to be accused is to be guilty, irrespective of the defence evidence. That people are oblivious to the dangers of the dogma that there should be no defence against sexual assault allegations, is to me deeply worrying. Sexual allegation is the most common method that states have used to attack dissidents for centuries, worldwide and again especially in authoritarian regimes. Closer to home, think of history stretching from Roger Casement to Assange and Salmond.
Why would we remove the only barrier – a jury of ordinary citizens – that can stop abuse of state power?
I am worried that this abolition of juries will have been enacted by the Scottish Parliament, even before I am out of jail. I am worried Labour and the Lib Dems will support it out of fashionable political correctness. I am worried an important liberty will disappear.
I want to touch on one other aspect of liberty in my own imprisonment that appears not understood, or perhaps simply neglected, because somehow the very notion of liberty is slipping from our political culture. One point that features plainly in the troll talking points to be used against me, recurring continually on social media, is that I was ordered to take down material from my blog and refused.
There is an extremely important point here. I have always instantly complied with any order of a court to remove material. What I have not done is comply with instructions from the Crown or Procurator Fiscal to remove material. Because it is over 330 years since the Crown had the right of censorship in Scotland without the intervention of a judge.
It sickens me that so many Scottish Government backed trolls are tweeting out that I should have obeyed the instructions of the Crown. That Scotland has a governing party which actively supports the right of the Crown to exercise unrestrained censorship is extremely worrying, and I think a sign both of the lack of respect in modern political culture for liberties which were won by people being tortured to death, and of the sheer intellectual paucity of the current governing class.
But then we now learn that Scotland has a government which was prepared not only to be complicit in exempting the Crown from climate change legislation, but also complicit in hushing up the secret arrangement, so I am not surprised.
What is even more terrifying in my case is that the Court explicitly states that I should have followed the directions of the Crown Office in what I did and did not publish, and my failure to not publish as the Crown ordered is an aggravating factor in my sentencing.
If the Crown thinks something I write is in contempt and I think it is not, the Crown and I should stand as equals in court and argue our cases. There should be no presumption I ought to have obeyed the Crown in the first place. That Scottish “justice” has lost sight of this is disastrous, though perhaps as much from stupidity as malice.
My next thought on my trial is to emphasise again the dreadful doctrine Lady Dorrian has now enshrined in law, that bloggers should be held to a different (by implication higher) standard in law than the mainstream media (the judgement uses exactly those terms), because the mainstream media is self-regulated.
This doctrine is used to justify jailing me when mainstream media journalists have not been jailed for media contempt for over half a century, and also to explain why I have been prosecuted where the mainstream media, who were provably responsible for far more jigsaw identification, were not prosecuted.
This is dreadful law, and my entire legal team are frankly astonished that the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal on this point. This excellent article by Jonathan Cook explains further the chilling implications.
Those articles which the Court ordered me to take down, have been taken down. But I was not ordered to take down this one, which was found not to be in contempt of court. I was also not ordered to take down my affidavits, which though slightly redacted are still extremely valuable. I swore to the truth of every word and I stick by that. At the time I published these, far less was known about the Salmond affair than is known now, and I believe you will find it well worth reading them again in the light of your current state of wider knowledge – absolutely nothing to do with learning identities, but to do with what really happened on the whole plot to destroy Alex Salmond (something the judgement states I am allowed to say).
Finally I urge you to consider this truly remarkable speech from Kenny MacAskill MP. Scotland’s former Justice Secretary, and consider its quite staggering implications. It tells you everything you want to know about the British Establishment’s capture of the Scottish government, that the mainstream media felt no need to report the main points he was making, which constitute a simply astonishing outline of corrupt abuse of power.
An explanation: this blog is going dark because I cannot by law publish from prison or conduct a business from prison. Access to this blog has always been free and open and subscriptions have always been a voluntary contribution and not a purchase. It is understood that all new and continuing subscriptions from today, until we go live again, are voluntary contributions to the welfare of my family and not in exchange for anything.
I am afraid one off contributions to the defence fund are also still urgently needed. Legal costs so far paid amount to over £200,000 and continue to rise as we head towards the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which has to be via another Scottish Court called the nobile officium. Astonishingly, over 13,000 individuals from over 120 countries have contributed to the legal defence fund. People all over the world value freedom and realise the terrible precedents established by this case must be overturned.
We are equally grateful for all donations and all really do help – donations of £5 or less total over £30,000. But I must mention the special generosity of Roger Waters and Vivienne Westwood, and the anonymous individual who gave one bitcoin. 80% of the fund is reserved for legal fees, but up to 20% may be used to fund campaigning to raise public and political awareness of the human rights issues involved.
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Excellent Piece by John Pilger over at mintpressnews.
“I sat with Stella in the court’s colonnade while she drafted words to say to the crowd of media and well-wishers outside in the sunshine. Clip-clopping along came Clair Dobbin, spruced, ponytail swinging, bearing her carton of files: a figure of certainty: she who said Julian Assange was “not so ill” that he would consider suicide. How does she know?
Has Ms. Dobbin worked her way through the medieval maze at Belmarsh to sit with Julian in his yellow arm band, as Professors Koppelman and Melzer have done, and Stella has done, and I have done? Never mind. The Americans have now “promised” not to put him in a hellhole, just as they “promised” not to torture Chelsea Manning, just as they promised ……
And has she read the WikiLeaks’ leak of a Pentagon document dated 15 March, 2009? This foretold the current war on journalism. US intelligence, it said, intended to destroy WikiLeaks’ and Julian Assange’s “centre of gravity” with threats and “criminal prosecution”. Read all 32 pages and you are left in no doubt that silencing and criminalising independent journalism was the aim, smear the method.
I tried to catch Ms. Dobbin’s gaze, but she was on her way: job done.
Outside, Stella struggled to contain her emotion. This is one brave woman, as indeed her man is an exemplar of courage. “What has not been discussed today,” said Stella, “is why I feared for my safety and the safety of our children and for Julian’s life. The constant threats and intimidation we endured for years, which has been terrorising us and has been terrorising Julian for 10 years. We have a right to live, we have a right to exist and we have a right for this nightmare to come to an end once and for all.”
https://www.mintpressnews.com/julian-assange-extradition-pilger-day-in-the-death-of-british-justice/278197/?
Thanks for the two excellent links, Brian. No spam for Just in from the US revenge justice system argues for the contempt of real justice to be applied to Dani Garavelli and Kirsty Wark as well as Sky news, as they have published Real Names, not letters of the alphabet
The contempt of Scottish justice does not end with upholding contempt of legislation partially for Craig Murray, despite the crescendo of chitter chatter and fluff that marks the upper echelons of a civil service in peril, desperate to hold on to their shaky occupations.
Still waiting for the 400 possible witnesses of the misappropriation of Indy funds by SNP apparatschiks to be interviewed under oath by police Scotland, insuring that the dire finances ofthe SNP, after losing so many members, possibly due to ‘lawful fluff and ignorance’ within the leadership, are investigated as to the lawful accountability and financial probity required by any other NGO or political party?
The last contempt of court case of a BBC journalist was 50 years ago, as he refused to give up a TERRORIST’S identity before a Belfast court. He served 4 days in jail for that.
Craig dared to allocate random letters of the alphabet to complainers/ possible perjurers who as yet have not faced justice before the courts.
He never named these possibly collaborating individuals and the world knows it? as does a disturbed judiciary.
Total Obliteration of Social Contact.
Who is A and who is B?
A is defined as a person neither male or female.
It is clear that A must be capable of any of the following;
B is undefined and could be male or female.
B must have at least one of the following
As defined
A can be male or female
B can be male or female
Apparently a sexual assault between A & B can occur between at least a
Let your imagination run free as you contemplate the potential of this draconian legislation.
No more of those wet kisses from aunty Maude??
No more unsolicited hugs from your wife??
Sexual assault is:
(1) If a person (“A”)—
does any of the things mentioned in subsection (2), then A commits an offence, to be known as the offence of sexual assault.
(2) Those things are, that A —
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (2), penetration is a continuing act from entry until withdrawal of whatever is intruded; but this subsection is subject to subsection (4).
(4) In a case where penetration is initially consented to but at some point of time the consent is withdrawn, subsection (3) is to be construed as if the reference in it to a continuing act from entry were a reference to a continuing act from that point of time.
(5) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a) of subsection (2), the reference in the paragraph to penetration by any means is to be construed as including a reference to penetration with A’s penis
To avoid crime stay alone, never see anyone, never go any where. Perfect for social distancing but how long would a person survive?
“To avoid crime stay alone, never see anyone”.
Sounds like an ‘incel’ (involuntary Celibate). Apparently, the Führerin Priti Patel is considering classifying ‘incels’ as terrorists following the events in Plymouth. Maybe all those singletons need to get a partner quick before they are sent to the showers.
O/T
‘HongKong Pooey by an anonymous Guardian writer’
in the Craig Murray forum: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/forums/topic/guardian-balls/#post-75741
From Nadira’s account of her visit on the Justice site:
“When Craig asked for the release-on-tag paperwork from the prison he was told he is not eligible for release on tag because he is not a criminal prisoner.”
What does “release on tag” mean?
David G, it means a locked tag around his ankles, coupled with movement restrictions during certain hours of the day.
I know Craig for some 15 years, never have I seen him falling into a trot, ever. To allude that he could be ‘running away’ is a figment of a fetid imagination that could be construed as negatively influencing/maligning his 12 year old son’s view of his father.
It looks like the ‘bendy rules’ are a tool, used to taint his wife and children’s life with grief and sorrow.
Thanks.
It’s never mentioned, but Julian Assange’s current nightmare accommodations in Belmarsh are also predicated on an exaggerated fantasy of flight risk.
And as for the most recent court decision in favour of further US discrimination/persecution of Assange ……… what can one but think of the UK’s lapdog position, other than it being most unfortunate and likely to be criminal and also maybe treasonous in every sense of the word?
amanfromMars [2108141226] ……. giving AI IT a SMARTR Whirl on https://www.zerohedge.com/political/strange-worrying-turn-assange-extradition-case
I find it utterly and absolutely unbelievable that the US, with all of its snooping abilities/assets, was not already fully aware of the Julian Assange/Stella Moris relationship and consummation ergo is their challenge extremely malicious and vindictive rather than admissible or acceptable as legal and warranted.
Sorry o/t re Twitter Am I the only one experiencing this?
Has anyone else experienced Twitter not allowing access via browser anymore? It seems to insist signing up or logging in or downloading on App?
I can’t peruse comments on your or any other Twitter feed since the weekend.
Works fine on my browser (Firefox). There’s a bar on the bottom inviting me to sign up/in, but you can still look at anyone’s feed
You might be better off making a few ecosia searches instead of asking the few individuals here, there’ll be a better chance someone else has seen your problem and has a remedy.
“This is the last post until about Christmas; we are not legally able to post anything while I am imprisoned”
Why?
Surely something could be posted by for instance Craig’s family or colleagues.
Did Dorian put a suppression order on Craig?
Did Dorian put a suppression order on the whole world?
Jon – what I found very interesting about Lady Dorrian’s judgement is the phrase `not in the public interest’. Reading between the lines, it is clear that protecting the identities of those who come forward to press charges for sex crimes is not the main issue for her here. She thinks it is very dangerous – and not in the public interest – if journalists probe too deeply into the inner workings of the government and the judicial system, thus causing disquiet and potentially destabilising institutions that she considers vital.
In other words, she is very dangerous in her current position.
Extracts from Nadira Murray’s public letter. Spelling errors are OCR and me.
“My husband was in incarcerated 12 days ago and today was the first day I and our two sons were able to see him in person. Seeing him was a shock. While we had the reassurance of the HMP Edinburgh’s governor that Craig would be treated as a ‘civil’ prisoner, which ought to afford significant ‘privileges’ compared with the treatment of ‘criminal prisoners‘ my husband was dressed in a prison tracksuit when we finally got to see him. He had asked the prison staff about why he had to wear it, given that in his cell he is able to wear his own clothes. He was told that it was to prevent him from potentially escaping in civilian clothes.”
—————————————————–
When Craig asked for the release-on-tag paperwork from the prison he was told he is not eligible for release on tag because he is not a criminal prisoner: We are still trying to verity that claim and are yet to find anyone that can give me a to get an explanation for such a potentially absurd rule.
============================================
The Murray’s need help.
“we had the reassurance of the HMP Edlnburgh’s governor that Craig would be treated as a ‘civil’ prisoner”
It took 12 days to get the first visit. (Only 2 visits every 28 days anyway and visits can be humiliating & depressing)
Civil status as a political prisoner may not be advantageous. Remember the Russian gulags?
“which ought to afford significant ‘privileges’ compared with the treatment of ‘criminal prisoners “
Prisons ought to do lots of things and don’t. So called ‘privileges’ are actually prisoners rights being infringed on less. Getting special treatment looks bad to other inmates, some of whom are paranoid and likely to jump to the conclusion you are a “dog” or a “rock spider”. Privileges can get you locked down for 22 hours a day indefinitely.
Craig’s position may be worse than necessary. (Possible isolation is a privilege)
“my husband was dressed in a prison tracksuit “
Its good idea for Craig to blend in. Wearing the prison garb is a good disguise.
Craig “is not eligible tor release on tag because he is not a criminal prisoner:”
Ah, yes this is another of Craig’s “privileges”. Prison is like living in treacle. Everything takes forever and the screws realise Craig will just go way in a few months and therefore ignore his needs/rights.
Can someone help these guys? Please!
Who is his member of parliament if Scotland’s got any?
Are you speaking of experience Jon?
Just to say that as soon as I get back to my lair, I shall have a look to donate another sum.
The EUHR courts will cost a pretty penny.
Are Court fees affordable? Maybe.
Are Lawyers fees affordable? Not unless you are a billionaire.
How much has Craig paid so far? Far too much.
What is the result? Craig is in jail.
Does Craig need to pay more legal fees? No he needs to get out of jail.
Getting Craig out of jail does not involve the EUHR. That action is needed to defend journalism.
What does Craig need now? Tag and release.
He needs us to enforce his and our rights. Hopefully there are millions of people ready to help in any way available.
If we write a million letters to the Queen, a million letters to Boris, a million letters to Nicola, and have most members of the SNP resign Craig has a chance of being treated fairly and be considered for the tag and release program. Its an executive decision that has nothing to do with Dorian.
If we spent millions of dollars on lawyers fees in the EUHR, Craig would still be in jail.
Tag and release all civil prisoners.
Thanks for giving Craig some cash.
Jon, you’re sounding plain ridiculous. It’s all very well knowing that Craig Murray has been treated harshly but letters to the Queen won’t help, or to Johnson or to “Nicola”. As for getting most members of the SNP to resign, good luck with that! Lady Dorrian was on a mission when it came to Craig Murray and, come hell or high water, civil prisoner or not, he’ll get no favours from her or from “Nicola”! It has EVERYTHING to do with Dorrian! Everything. Have you not been paying attention to anything she’s done?
Jo1
Thanks for the response.
There is a story told by a political prisoner who was released due to the efforts of Amnesty International.
This prisoner sat forgotten in jail for several years on an indefinite sentence never to be released.
One day the screws came to her cell and told her to pack as they had done numerous times before. They took the prisoner to the jail gate handed her a sack and locked her out. That sack contained thousands of letter begging for her release. She was completely unaware that her plight had attracted any interest at all. The story goes that she sat crying outside the prison gate.
In the case of the Queen it is possible to ask for a pardon, which she can grant.
Do you think the Queen will ignore a million such requests?
I was referring to a Scottish Prison System program known as HDC or home detention or tag and release. Under this program Craig can be released in 2 Months.
The HDC program is not administered by the judiciary but by public servants.
The Executive government controls the public servants and should ensure that Craig receives fair treatment.
Nicola Sturgeon could easily do this herself. It speaks volumes that no-one believes she would.
Dorian has no control over the SPS and is irrelevant.
Many here will, like me, be following events in Afghanistan-as the Taliban prepares to resume government. There is one highly authoritative voice missing from ranks of commentators- that of Craig Murray. Does any westerner know better the history, culture and modern politics of the region than the author of Sikunder Burnes and former ambassador to Uzbekistan?
Robert Fisk was a close second, IMO. Who are the young pretenders to the crowns of Murray and Fisk ?
Great relevant quote here from Jonathan Cook in the Canary:
“grassroots activism is the antithesis of a modern politics in which corporations use their huge wealth to lobby and buy politicians, who in turn use their spin-doctors to control the public discourse through a highly partisan and sympathetic corporate media.”
Stevie Boy, Hi,
Politicians are well down the command and control chain and are but as useful as chaff in the battle for the capture and captivation of hearts and minds. There is a lot more to be learned of such matters from a browse of pages offered from the post copied below here ….
amanfromMars [2108150915] ….. offers another much clearer view on a right dodgy matter on https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/psyop-mindwar
The increasingly destructive and crippling problem Uncle Sam has is of its own making*, and is neatly and succinctly summed up in the following few words …….
…the enemy that has had Russia in its crosshairs for over two centuries now, is the same system, or structure of power that has taken the American people and their government captive, squandering America’s wealth and destroying her prosperity in their drive to build a global empire. This enemy is the global financial oligarchy that has been able to impose control over most nations of the world through their system of money and credit and their central banking franchise. ….. The Killing of William Browder … https://dxczjjuegupb.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/TheKillingOfWilliamBrowder_PrintLayout_6x9-1.pdf
The vile enemy that is effectively destroying America is the cancerous growth that prints dollars from within in order to continue to survive and spread its malignant and malevolent infection and incestuous addiction to unwarranted power worldwide?
And if the honest truth be told, y’all know that to be perfectly true too, but haven’t a clue about what to do to halt the disease and remedy the situation without creating a great panic and manic reaction.
* ….. or do you identify another agent responsible for leading with that observation?
Mark Curtis also perhaps, think he runs Declassified. Extract from his book – Secret Affairs: Britain’s Collusion with Radical Islam
http://markcurtis.info/2016/09/30/training-in-terrorism-britains-afghan-jihad/
Hello ?
I hope everyone is doing well this wonderful summer Sunday, at the very middle of the blessed August summertime, when we have excellent weather and a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables ?
I’ve been on a short vacation to visit my family, and to meet my new niece Veronica. Oh, cutie little baby girl, the first girl among all our generation’s children – myself, my sister and all of our cousins only had boys. Now we’ve got a girl to exercise ribbons in hair and dresses, and jewelry, and dolls!
I’d like to share this Twitter entry
https://twitter.com/cmurrayjustice/status/1423652404218716163?s=20
“Craig asked us to say thank you very much to all those of you who have already written to him through us. We’re now able to pass on his direct contact information that will allow you to write to him in prison.”
“Any letters to Craig can be addressed to
157095 C Murray
G3/34
H M Prison Edinburgh
33 Stenhouse Road
Edinburgh
EH11 3LN
(Please remember, letters you sent to us for Craig via [email protected] have already been forwarded to him via snail mail!)”
Thank you for sharing your family reunion with us, Tatyana, and congratulation for keeping the female family line intact. May she grow up happily and healthy.
My wife and her sister have sons but my first born has a little daughter, she has her own mind.
I was privileged to meet Craigs lovely little Oscar, he is calm as his brother and had no problem with me holding him, a bonny boy.
I very much hope that the prison govenor can see that Craig is the ideal person for a taged home sentence, and that he has enough sovereign decision making powers to allow it to happen.
The humiliation and loss of freedom has happened, now is the time to show balance and strenght of heart.
My postcard arrived in three days for Craig to read, it is the greatest morale boost one can achieve. By telling somebody that they are still part of our lifes and in our minds can only have positive outcomes.
Thank you, nevermind!
I want to send a letter to Mr. Murray, but I’ve never wrote to anyone in prison. Can you please advise what type of mail is allowed? Is it a postcard only, or they allow enveloped letters? If I can put a photo into the envelope? I guess Mr. Murray may like some colorful pictures there in prison.
Is it a good idea to send a letter from Russia to Mr. Murray? I’m afraid it may be unwelcomed and even harmful in his position.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Tatyana I also had misgivings about writing to Craig…I didn’t want to do or say anything that would cause him trouble. I kept the words I wrote very general, not at all controversial.About the changing seasons and assuring him he is not forgotten. I imagine it is just the receiving of letters and cards that will help his morale.Not so much what you say.
Congratulations on the birth of your little niece.
I think you can pretty much write any thing that you want so long as it is not an escape plan or illegal in some way.
I wrote about prison life in the hope that the anecdotes would help Craig escape some of the pitfalls awaiting him.
He immediate problem is that the court designated him as a civil prisoner. (We call the Russian equivalents political prisoners). Unlike Alexei Navalny, Craig was not charged with a crime although the alleged offence, a contempt of court,could have been a crime.
The Scottish Court made the contempt civil to circumvent Craig’s right to a jury trial in criminal matters.
Most people think that a jury would have found Craig not guilty and he would be free today.
Craig’s status a civilian prisoner is unfortunate.
The prison seems to have him in isolation, resulting in him being locked down for 22 hours a day.
During exercise Craig wears civilian clothes, which makes him stand out from the rest of the prisoners. He has already been hit on the head by a liquid filled missile while exercising alone.
Scotland has a tag and release program for non-violent criminals. Craig meets the criteria in all ways except he is not a criminal.
No doubt the same reasoning can be used to discriminate against Craig in other ways such as denying him access to courses, activities etc.
The media in the United Kingdom are steadfastly ignoring this travesty of justice. It would be good if the Russian press took up his cause.
Craig is hopefully getting swamped with mail so don’t expect a reply too soon. He probably needs a personal secretary by now 🙂
“Craig .. has already been hit on the head by a liquid filled missile while exercising alone.” I thought he was being treated “very respectfully” both both warders and prisoners. What’s this about a jugging?
Thank you!
When the first news about the poisoning of Yulia Skripal came, I thought of ordering the delivery of a small souvenir to the hospital, attaching a couple of encouraging words for a compatriot woman in such trouble. I wondered if this would seem strange and inappropriate, because we do not know each other. Later, when the details about her father and the whole background of this case were revealed, I was glad that I did not have free money on the same day.
In the case of Mr. Murray, my doubt is that I’m used to expressing my attitude directly. While I’m allowed to behave freely here on his website, I fear that my honest letter sent to prison might be harmful.
After all, my vivid imagination has already composed a whole mail packet with long text in flowery expressions, with witty jokes, and I even remembered a suitable illustration – a picture in the Bruges City Hall “Skinning a Corrupt Judge” by Gerard David.
Somehow, I’m sure the mail is being examined by the overseers, and I’m sure the paranoid sensibilities of your British judges, politicians and the Queen are shared by these workers. I am 100% sure that such a letter would be regarded as “disturbing, harassing and offensive” by those employees who check incoming mail.
After all, Mr. Murray is imprisoned for exactly the same direct expression of his opinion.
So, trying not to harm, I would have to write some kind of completely neutral letter, and I never manage to write castrated letters. Well, even if I succeeded to, I’m still afraid that the very fact that the letter is sent from Russia would harm Mr. Murray, because it seems to me that being a paranoid Russophobe is an absolutely necessary condition for getting a position in government institutions in your country.
This is such a free “freedom of speech” and this is such a “free” expression of one’s opinion.
Tatyana
“Somehow, I’m sure the mail is being examined by the overseers,”
You are absolutely correct that the prison staff will examine and read all mail.
However Craig is in prison for Contempt of Court which is not the same as what he said.
He may enjoy a few jokes at the expense of the judiciary.
Craig is critical of Russia as well as many other regimes but in his own way.
A letter from Russia may cheer him up.
Well, then I can add some greetings from Russia for the prison staff 🙂 I hope they will enjoy it!
Hmm, I can see your dilrmma. I would start with a postcard, maybe a nice uplifting picture Craig is able to pin to the wall.
Have not sent a letter, sorry, so cant advise. You could find someone who is going on holiday and let them post it from another country.
But then…why should he not be able to receive post from abroad, including Russia?
ypu can send letters to the justice campaign and have them deliver it.
Do hurry up, he might be released on tag soon.
Good luck.
Thanks for the advice, Nevermind.
This is the right idea. I’ll send a decent picture and some neutral words of support on the postcard.
I’m surprised to realize that the ‘do no harm’ principle is my absolute moral imperative, even above freedom of expression. I hope that Mr. Murray will understand correctly the reasons why my message will be much more moderate than usual. He is a very intelligent person and has an absolutely delightful ability to feel for people.
Tatyana,
Great photo of you. I’ve had a few days away too.
I have always been a massive fan of Craig Murray, even though I disagree with some of his political views.
His courage and integrity are beyond reproach, for exposing the evil of The British State. I have read most of his books, and I expect him to write another, on paper and pencil, if that is all they will allow him.
Many have done this before in jail.
There is now very little difference, between the state of the UK, and the state of the USSR under the most obscene totalitarian repression.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn lived to the age of 89
I hope Craig Murray does too.
Otherwise, they seem pretty much the same to me.
Tony
Felicitations to you Auntie Tatyana. I expect she will be inspired by your great example to Russian womenhood here.
I have never met Craig but I have emailed him several times, each time he has replied in a friendly positive way, almost as if, we did know each other.
I have just realised, that perhaps , me writing him a letter, might be well received.
Warms my cockles. Would love to have CM’s running commentary.
Have to make do with bernards excellent coverage instead.
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2021/08/afghanistan-taliban-enter-kabul-will-announce-interim-government.html#more
That the Taliban is more popular than American Caesar doesn’t say much for the Taliban but it says somerthing.
But we can still read Craig’s incisive experienced posts on Why and Who? The last from a few months ago.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2021/04/yet-another-imperialist-occupation-of-afghanistan-ends-in-disaster/
The first from almost twenty years ago not long after his defenestration. The search throws up plenty.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/?s=Afghanistan
No wonder THEY have conspired to silence one of the greatest truth on the record tellers of this century. It also explains his ambivalence towards Putin and his St Petersburg hood where the pipeline led and a Litvinenko angle i had somehow missed all these years.
Absolutely fascinating and well worth the fre hours of reading as history finally seems to give Afghanistan a chance.
Stand withCraigMurray
Moon of Alabama is a CCP funded propaganda site. His “coverage” will tell you precisely nothing.
The Newstatesman on journalism.
=================================
“Competence in basic journalistic craft is rare in this world; last week the pro-independence blogger Craig Murray was sentenced to eight months in prison for contempt of court, after repeatedly ignoring orders not to render complainers (accusers) in the Salmond trial identifiable.”
=================================
BBC on jig saw identification.
=================================
“If anyone out there thinks that playing with fire in the field of jigsaw identification is a zero-sum game, their views have been disabused by the ruling this court has already made.”
=================================
No mention that main stream media published most of the pieces of the jig saw.
You wonder if whoever came up with this hackneyed expression ever actually saw a jigsaw puzzle. The finished picture is already identified on the box.
Iain, very good point.
As usual it is all about knowledge and power: a few are to have the knowledge and power; the masses must not have the knowledge or they might take power away from those who currently hold power.
Tag and Release Program: aka Home Detention.
Extract from https://www.familiesoutside.org.uk/publications/information-sheets/home-detention-curfew-hdc/
Home Detention Curfew (HDC)
Who is eligible?
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) must work within the law when it releases prisoners on HDC. They are only allowed to release low risk offenders on the HDC scheme. This means that SPS will make a full assessment of the circumstances surrounding the offence and – if not the first offence – the history of offences.
They will also have to consider whether the prisoner will meet with all the requirements of the scheme. If the assessment decides that the prisoner is at low risk of re-offending and likely to comply, and the home address is suitable, they may be eligible for release on HDC. This will apply to prisoners serving sentences of more than three months but less than 4 years.
Long term prisoners (those serving a sentence of more than four years but excluding life sentence prisoners) who have been granted Parole on their first application may be considered for release on HDC.
Prisoners will not be eligible if they have:
If you have been released on HDC before and were recalled to prison, this does not automatically exclude you from being released on HDC again in future. Each case will be assessed individually and the address would be subject to the same risk assessments as before.
==========================================
Does the prisoner have to apply for HDC?
Yes. The SPS will identify when prisoners are eligible and invite them to apply. If a prisoner is serving a sentence of more than 3 months (and up to 4 years) and is not excluded on the grounds noted above, an application form should be completed by the prisoner and returned to a member of staff. The Scottish Prison Service will do the rest.
=========================================
If HDC is approved, how soon will a short term prisoner be released?
The prisoner must serve at least one quarter of their sentence – or 30 days, whichever is greater – in prison. For example:
If the sentence is for three months (90 days) in custody, the prisoner would remain in prison for 30 days and spend 15 days on HDC – a total of 45 days. This would bring the prisoner to the half-sentence stage (45 days) when they would normally be released.
========================================
Craig would have to spend 2 months in stir and then 2 months Home Detention before being freed.
The New statesman is a fading ghost of relevance now. It was once great.
Who is the governor of Craig’s prison? They used to have real leeway. I think letter or two to him/her would not go amiss.
As for that lag who dropped something on CM’s head – I hold the screws and the Guv equally responsible for exposing him to that – that lag needs a bit of education.
“As for that lag who dropped something on CM’s head – I hold the screws and the Guv equally responsible for exposing him to that – that lag needs a bit of education.”
Yeah they’ve got Craig walking around in civvies like a rock spider in iso.
Boss man, Edinburgh
Governor: David Abernethy
Deputy Governor: Gillian Walker
Address
33 Stenhouse Road
Edinburgh
EH11 3LN
I intend to send Craig something each week so this time it will be no. 2.
i think prison is a mindset. You can be in the prison but with a proper mindset you can be free inwardly, so many people died in the prison due to lack of freeing their mind to the reality that is going on, they have caged their minds and that got the to depression. Well i have learnt alot from this article. Good music in the prison can also help
Here’s a UK prison guide. Dated but rings true.
http://ldmg.org.uk/files/HMP-A-Survival-Guide-Carl-Cattermole-2015.pdf
How can we get this to Craig?
No internet in prison?
One aspect of the depressing stories we get to digest with regards to Craig’s incarceration is that I learned here that in prison he has no access to the internet. The following article by Dirk Voorhoof
http://merlin.obs.coe.int/article/7530
covers a case that brought this topic into a European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decision. The Court’s conclusion was that a general refusal of internet access may be a violation of Article 10 paragraph 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR).
No doubt Our Ambassador will be making the most of learning the detail of how fucked up our penal system is. He is not anything if not observant. That’s what makes great journalists. I am reminded of a great old film about a journo who went on a chain gang. No doubt OA CM will inform the future of prisons as much as law and failing judiciary . Ah to hope to live in that future world born of suffering and sacrifice in this is worth all the aggro.
That what does not kill you makes you stronger, so I’ve heard.
Stand with Craig Murray.
A Stand With Craig Murray Protest… Sounds good…I’m in
It seems that Craig is able to correspond by email?
https://twitter.com/leftworks1/status/1427692130537984006?s=20
Not quite – if you read that thread which you referenced above, one of the replies notes that emails sent to the address in here:
https://craigmurrayjustice.org.uk/#contactcraig
… will be forwarded via snail-mail. No Internets in jail, unfortunately.
A good third of the old lags Craig meets will be functionally illiterate, he’ll make himself some friends by teaching people the basics. I imagine he’ll be the most interesting and entertaining inmate any of them will have met, they’ll miss him when he gets out.
Nice words from Caity –
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2021/08/15/stop-believing-us-military-invasions-have-noble-intentions-notes-from-the-edge-of-the-narrative-matrix/?
Thanks fr the link Brian,) Cathlin Johnstone makes very good points about the corrupted Federal Government in the US being led by the arms industry which runs America and uses wall street as their trough.
It was policy writer and the CIA who, with the help of Pakistans ISI, (dont you know we fund your countries military efforts) concocted the creation of a politically orientated Islam to oppose the Russian invasion and support for the then regime in Afghanistan.
They created the Taliban who now, after playing the long game for 20 years, won the war and are trying to form a Government along sharia law principles.
I agree with Xaitling when she says that doing nothing is infinitely better than more bloodshed and war on the civilians who are constantly torn to pieces by either war lords or or the bombing from great heights by the so called NATO coalition.
when did Afghanistan ever sat near the North Atlantic?
Me and my 8 year old daughter have been jigsawed by the Scottish Legal Journal, where I was the complainant in a contempt of court case, not only has there been one rule for the Scottish Legal Online Journal, and another rule for the blogger, and also, even though the mother of my daughter in that case was found in contempt of court in matters relating to a child, she has faced no punishment, yet Craig is doing an 8 month stretch for nothing. I would like to reach out the Legal team of Craig Murray and assist them with any hypocrisies within the system. I am just a man with Aspergers syndrome who knows what it is liked to be marginalised within the Scottish legal system, but I will do what I can
Thanks Benjamin. Your experience has opened up the bigger picture that strongly suggests Craig was inveighed as a lesson to others. A message that must fail in exactly the same way the UK/US nation building and counterterrorism lies failed as witnessed from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
@ Benjamin Hackett, good man.
The more the UK shrinks in relevance and power, the more pathetic these pompous speeches in Parliament sound. Unless you’re the British media.
To coin a phrase from Uncle Joe.
“Nothing will fundamentally change “
He means nothing much will change for the US Corporates and nothing will change for the ordinary US people or anyone else across the Globe either.
Despite all the windy words the UK is irrelevant in all this.
I can only say that the Taliban have a long way to go in terms of death in order to beat this governments figures for deaths in the UK alone – Covid or otherwise.
The US is worse.
Remember though – they are Democracies – so that’s OK then?
@mark
“I can only say that the Taliban have a long way to go in terms of death in order to beat this governments figures for deaths in the UK alone – Covid or otherwise.”
So that’s ok then is it?
“So that’s ok then is it?”
So what’s ok?
The point is that the US and UK govs are worse than the Taliban and so they are not to be trusted or followed. Making it about the Taliban is changing the subject, i.e.’ what about the Taliban then?’
I am saying that despite the Taliban ( who are not all Jihadists/ those who are for a WORLD Islamic Caliphate ) they ( the Western rulers relative to say Al Quaeda – whatever that is?) cannot dream of having killed so many by means of Terrorism as the West has itself through the pursuit of keeping the private economy going instead of the health of the people.
if you want to be a pedant please continue with your argument. and we’ll go further.
Mao of Communist China probably holds the record, more than Hitler.
“While most scholars are reluctant to estimate a total number of “unnatural deaths” in Communist China under Mao, evidence shows he was in some way responsible for at least 40 million deaths and perhaps 80 million or more.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/07/17/how-many-died-new-evidence-suggests-far-higher-numbers-for-the-victims-of-mao-zedongs-era/01044df5-03dd-49f4-a453-a033c5287bce/
A few posts above I lament the absence of commentary by Craig on the Afghan debacle. What a refreshing start to the morning to discover the following in today’s Herald:
“A WARRING NATION, UNITED AGAINST US
NOBODY should be surprised by the rapid collapse of the western puppet government in Kabul.
Prior to 2001, the Taliban were very much a Pashtun nationalist force, fiercely opposed by the Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara forces of the Northern Alliance.
Twenty years of hated foreign occupation has transformed the Taliban from a Pashtun internationalist force to an Afghan nationalist force.
As with the previous three times when UK invasions were defeated in Afghanistan, we have united a warring nation in hatred of us.
Journalists and politicians who never left the bubble of NATO-protected, pro-western NGOs are as surprised as they are ignorant.
Craig Murray, HMP Saughton, Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan.”
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19522601.letters-repeat-berlin-airlift-essential-afghans-risk/
It seems rather odd but Craig is allowed to publish his views via a letter in the MSM but not here. Can anyone make sense of that for me?
Does “here” maybe count as gainful employment?
Craig Murray
“An explanation: this blog is going dark because I cannot by law publish from prison or conduct a business from prison,”
“It seems rather odd but Craig is allowed to publish his views via a letter in the MSM but not here. Can anyone make sense of that for me?”
It seems very odd to me that Craig cannot publish anything at all i.e. one of Nadira’s letters or an article written by a third party.
Yet he can publish numerous comments.
Justin. Would you care to comment?
The newspaper is the publisher.
Craig is the publisher here.
They can, he can’t.
That’s the law.
It’s an ass.
Anyway enjoy Steve Bells take on the evolution of the 20 year War on a word.
https://www.belltoons.co.uk/bellworks/var/albums/leaders/2021/4636-170821_WARONTERROR20.jpg
Thanks.
And newspapers are, of course, “regulated” which allows Lady Dorrian to give jigsaw identifiers In their employ a free pass while unregulated Craig is banged up in the slammer.
“That’s the law.
It’s an ass”.
The expected result when laws to regulate the behaviour of 66 million people engaged in the widest range of work and other activities are written by professional politicians who have mostly never done anything useful or challenging.
TO ANYONE WHO CLAIMS THAT CRAIG MURRAY IS BEING TREATED RESPECTFULLY.
Craig is locked in his cell for 22 hours a day with no activities on offer.
Prisoners are supposed to be assessed within 72 hours of arrival but Craig is still waiting.(19 days later)
He remains surprisingly cheerful.
Brill. Our Ambassador finds a way with indomitable will. As we know he always does.
I wonder if the usual editor is away enjoying the shooting moors or some other August travels? If not, bravo that editor.
Of course it is the only letter on there that makes sense the rest of them are muddled and befuddled. One thinks money is borrowed by government and ran wants to send it to the Taliban; another that a Berlin airlift effort is needed – failing to note that the ‘doughnuts’ weren’t being evacuated but brought in; further dissonance is shown by these who ignore 10’s of thousands of Afghanis who have been streaming out of there getting away from Nato and the drug lords they have been protecting and enabling the massive production of opium – some that ends up on the streets of Scotland but mostly in the Big Pharma Opiod crisis and murders of addicted in the US!
Finally some idiot thinks Starmer has ‘shown up finally’ ! If that is an example of most Scots beliefs – no wonder they are as easily led by the nose as utter asses by Nicola and probably believe the GERS fake numbers insisting Scotland is reliant of English Money. Idiots.
I expect that most of the letters are plants to isolate the description of the bleeding obvious by one C. Murray PP (political prisoner).
Craig Murray is alone in a miserable little cell in Saughton prison for 22 hours each day.
Craig Murray has been there for 20 days waiting for his first assessment that must, by law, be done in the first 3 days.
Every thing Craig Murray does is scrutinized by Scottish Prison Service staff, even his legal mail can be opened.
Craig Murray can only exercise alone.
Craig Murray does not even have access to Request Forms to ask for for example some toothpaste.
Any belief that Craig Murray is being treated “respectfully” or can perform any devious task or even take care of himself is utter nonsense. Craig is in prison hell.
Another journalist and blogger is persecuted by the government with complete silence in the international media.
Anatoliy Sharij, Ukrainian journalist and blogger with 2.5 million followers,
who revealed the role of neo-Nazis in modern Ukraine,
who exposed the Ukrainian consul in Hamburg Marushinez as a fan of Hitler and fascism supporter,
who reported about the pro-Russians burned alive in Odessa in 2014,
who revealed the government’s corruption schemes.
Currently he resides in Catalonia and is wanted by Ukrainian authorities for state treason.
He speaks of all that in his interview to Ulrich Heyden.
The video in Russian and German is here
https://youtu.be/mVC-Phf3kCE
The report by Tom J. Wellbrock in German is here
https://www.neulandrebellen.de/2021/08/der-fall-anatoli-schari-totgeschwiegen-und-lebensbedrohlich/
Thanks for the great links Tatyana, it shows that we have two measures of justice and international acceptance as to what it means reporting on bloggers who expose right wing fascists, the Azove brigade Petroschenko trained with, and bloggers such as Craig who was reporting facts from Assange’s and AS’s trial.
Politicians on all sides are trying to deflect their dirty actions by silencing the media who at large conforms to this Goebelian concept, or is hung out to dry with trumped up charges.
Sharij is not safe in Spain, it has a problem with right wing supporters since ww2 and allies to those who deem themselves the heirs to A. Hitler’s suppression tactics.
Right and left radicals are not equally marginalised and the fascist underground in Europe clearly is favourite of the west, part of the systems that defend false memes like the Skripal consstruct.
Sharij must keep moving to stay safe.
Diether Dehm in that interview says clearly they see different standarts when covering events around Skripal and Navalny who are talked about at every corner. He says they need the SPD and CDU members to drive attention to the Sharij case.
I hope they do something sooner, because Ukraine wants Anatoliy to visit the country to face 18 criminal charges! Anatolij says he noticed some enquires about him were made, someone searched for his personal information and also some people are making public his home address.
I do not trust Spain. It’s a monarchy. And it was spanish company who filmed Assange’s meeting with a lawyer at a foreign embassy in order to convey it to the CIA.
I can understand why some politicians and journalists in Germany are concerned about the information that Anatoly Sharij revealed. Germany has a very clear understanding of the terrifying essence of Nazism.
But it seems to me that Europe for the most part has rather naive views.
Ulrich Heyden asks Anatoly a question – ‘how are you going to convince the Germans that there is Nazism in Ukraine, when we see the absence of fascist parties in the Ukrainian parliament?’
To which Anatoly replies – if you lock 100 people in the school gym and 5 of them have weapons, then these 5 armed people will control the remaining 95.
Seriously, Ulrich?
Do you really think that until the Nazis are represented in the government there is no cause for concern?
The National Corps did not receive the required number of votes, but they interfere in the work of city councils simply by coming to meetings and disrupting them. These people are ready to fight and know how to kill, they fought in the Donbass, they are armed and they know that their actions will remain unpunished. They have carte blanche from the government.
And what about Irina Ognivets? Anatoliy claims she was one of those who supported Maruschinetz, liked his photos and posts about fascism, especially the photo of the birthday cake presented to Marushchinets by his colleagues, made in the form of the Mein Kampf book.
Atatoliy says Ognivets continues to work as an ambassador of Ukraine to Portugal.
It seems that Navalny is able to write a essay from his prison cell in Russia and have it published in the spooky Guardian under his own byline!
Some jailed journalists are more equal than others according to our perfidious nonsense of fair play.
Russia allows more freedom than Scotland for its jailed critics.
Did you write to Craig Murray?
When he replies please share his thoughts here.
On 18/08/2021, He wrote ” I remain surprisingly cheerful”
Anatoliy Sharij is free at least.
A few years ago I met some Swedish Ultra Nationalists.
Whilst I understood their dismay at Sweden being over run by immigrants and they were friendly and polite I felt very uncomfortable in their company.
This surprised me as I believe racism is all pervasive and should be tolerated in a free country.
I don’t think I can share anyone’s letters without clear permission 🙂
You say “This surprised me as I believe racism is all pervasive and should be tolerated in a free country” – I do not agree.
I distinguish between nationalism, which is love for one’s own nation, from Nazism, which is hatred of other nations.
Nationalists from different countries are able to coexist peacefully, since love for their own respective nations doesn’t exclude respect for all other nations.
But if the ideology is based on xenophobia and hatred, as in Nazism and racism, then peace becomes impossible by definition.
“This surprised me as I believe racism is all pervasive and should be tolerated in a free country.”
Really? I’ve lived here for 59 years and have met very little racism, except from the State (Commonwealth Migration Acts, British Nationality Act, pro-zionist antisemite policies, anti-Muslim bigotry etc). I want racists out in the open so I can do something about the sad bastards.
Young Owen on borrowed time at the MoD-Guardian?
‘Even the crisis in Afghanistan can’t break the spell of Britain’s delusional foreign policy’
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/19/afghanistan-crisis-britain-foreign-policy-delusional
T
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the manufacturers of Britain’s delusional foreign policy listed by Craig, 77th Brigade, integrity Initiative etc. , were on borrowed time?
Is there a team big enough to remove the fatbergers of British Intelligence from the Victorian sewers of British impetialism?
Well yes , Jeremy Corbyn .
I just wonder (misplaced optimism perhaps?) that the Afghanistan debacle has given encouragement to those in the MSM who previously were too scared to poke their heads above the parapet? But now that ex-servicemen/women and the families of the dead and wounded are asking questions about the “point” of the Afghan invasion, thus dismantling previous sacred cows, maybe the whole edifice of lies surrounding the Bush/Blair ‘world policemen’ initiative will be chipped away?
I saw a news item concerning residents of Royal Wootton Bassett the other day, and one of the locals (who was connected to the processions of repatriated bodies through the town had indicated they had been given short shrift by the military bigwigs when asking if the campaign was worthwhile), was musing on the idea that the MoD might have been more circumspect before jumping into bed with the US military?
Fat Jon,
One would have to be both blind and unthinking not to have noticed that the US/UK have been defeated by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
A. Twenty years ago – enter the US/UK into Afghanistan.
B. Twenty years ago – exit the Taliban Government.
C. Twenty years as of present – re-enter the Taliban.
So what has this long war achieved? Defeat for the US/UK.
I think girls have been able to attend schools.
People have been able to play and listen to music.
There has been a vestige of democracy.
Journalism has been practised.
All probably now to be quickly eradicated.
Courtney Barnett.
It has achieved keeping China out of Afghanistan, and on agreement with the Taliban safe passage for the (TAPI) Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan Afghanistan gas pipeline.
Turkmenistan has the fourth largest reserves of natural gas in the world, and an agreement between the Taliban and the USA on safe passage of the pipeline through Afghanistan was concluded in February, the same month that the USA concluded again with the Taliban another agreement to exit Afghanistan.
RoS
I would not be at all surprised if World War Three breaks out over Afghanistan. China is the BIG threat, all that wealth, just waiting to be excavated. China has a one belt one road theme, oil & gas could flow East from Iran to China, China could equip Iran with nuclear tipped missiles, as you say the Stans & Russia are North, Pakistan is South East, Iran is west and China is East. If China does expand West in to Afghanistan, expect a huge number of people to be locked up in re-education camps.
I wouldn’t link the UK to the US quite so explicitly, since the uk isn’t the shite on American Caesar’s shoes. A lackey isn’t an ally.
Michael.
There is a thin strip of land (a valley) in Afghanistan that borders China, its in China’s most Westerly province Xinjiang, I’ve read that currently the Chinese government are making this valley into a highway that will carry China’s (BRI) Belt and Road Initiative into Afghanistan, now that the US and its minion allies are moving out.
Now this is interesting I think Xinjiang, is also home to the Uighur population, they are by far the largest ethnic population in the province, the US has been sponsoring Adrian Zenz, a radical who has radicalised many Uighurs in the region, in what he calls his Holy war on China, radicalised Uighurs have been taken by the Chinese into education camps that the West claim are concentration camps. However since 1949 the Uighur population in Xinjiang has greatly increased as has wealth and employment, schools, and medical facilitates, still the radicialised groups of Uighurs, funded by (NED) National Endowment for Democracy, a CIA funded offshoot, continues to claim that the Uighurs are being ethnically cleansed by the Chinese government.
I think that the idea by the USA is to somehow have China’s most Westerly province Xinjiang, via the out cry by the West of how the Chinese treat the Uighur population, to have it become a independent state of its own, and in the process, cut off China’s (BRI) through Afghanistan.
I wouldn’t put it past them, the Seppoes don’t have much left beyond economic sabotage and the butchering of civilians.
RoS, it is true that Uighurs joined Islamic State in Syria.
https://newlinesinstitute.org/uyghurs/uighur-jihadists-in-syria/
Now Uncle Joe is almost out of Afghanistan and almost out of Iraq.
Will Joe get U.S.A. out of Jordan and Syria?
A secret US military agreement with the Taliban formulated by CIA involves the East Turkestan Islamic Movement ramping up terrorism to impede the BRI.
Cross border terrorism in the guise of refugees has been identified by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Turkestan Islamic Movement
though the United States removed it from its list of Terrorist Organizations in 2020
I think it was this lot that terrified the locals in Syria, they were some of the most hard line Islamic State cretins
Owen the nextgen no longer ingenue limited hang out babyface merchant is guaranteed a job for life to grandee hood for his shit shovelling service for the DS and ancient murderous robber barons. Cf Clare Fox if the Revolutionary Communist Party ennobled by Bozo for services to BrexShit.
Don’t ever sweat a drop over his welbeing and never ever trust him for proffering the approved limited hangout he is scripted. Just like Cadwalladr & Jenkins. Never mind the stable full of Zionist ogres and harridans who rule the roost there.
There are less than a handful of trustworthy journalists left there and they are muted quickly and often not allowed comments. Just like their compromised colleagues who are doppelgängers from birth aimed at being honey pots for the various conscientious duped readers who really believe any shit they are fed at that mirage of an oasis.
Owen Jones is compromised and curtailed writing for the Guardian. But he is spot on in that piece, which us probably why you didn’t address it at all. For all his shortcomings he is a far more credible leftist than you, a fervent fanboy of the EU austerity machine, the People’s vote scammers and … Angela Merkel!?! You are a virtual parody of a Guardian propaganda victim.
What has he said about Assange, Craig or even their coverage of both? Or even the purge in Labour?
I rest my case.
Your blinkers are impressively large.
Ian now, travel in flocks you guys don’t you – answer the question. On Owen’s journalism on Assange and the Groaniad’s fake stories about him? And their equal disregard of failing to support CM? and while you’re here, his non-reporting of the liars’ testimonies against Salmond?
You ain’t putting your blinkers on me. Nay.
Or the Britain’s Genocide in Yemen… The Ongoing Genocide in Palestine,,,Owen is 100 % FAKE
His News site has the blood of millions on their hands…Same as the BBC. Ongoing.. Bastards
I don’t know what your ranting in largely incomprehensible prose achieves, but i suppose it is therapeutic. Of course you want to put me in one of your pre-ordained boxes. Go on, if it makes you happy. That’s where the blinkers come in.
Assange actually got a hat-tip from Peter Hitchins in the Mail today (22 August): “Assange does not deserve this jail hell” etc.
Well the Grauniad doesn’t exactly need much help in being a parody of itself does it?
Owen Jones wrote a book about the working class and has cashed in as a minor celebrity and left-wing kerb who tries to discredit real lefties by pretending that antisemitism is a left-wing crime not a right-wing norm. Has he opined about the imminent demise of the presumption of innocence and trial by jury in Scotland?
@Squeeth
Yes I know all that. My point was that “for all his shortcomings” he is still a more credible leftist than the EU – 2nd ref- Merkel fanboy excoriating him.
Pah! Answer the question.
Owen Jones, Britain has blood on its hands over Yemen
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/08/britain-role-yemen-bombs-saudi-arabia-civilians-civil-war
The extradition of Julian Assange would be an attack on journalism and journalists everywhere. The court should stand by freedom of the press.(@OwenJones84) https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/1346041290828427264?s=20
Thanks for pointing out his LIMITED HANGOUT lures.
Now. Can you point out his more substantial pieces which takes on the fake news of his colleagues Narrative Management and integrity Initiative agenda daily?
The fake stories by Luke Harding and co about the goings on at the Embassy? The Poo on wall smearing nonsense?
The escape tunnels ?
The whole Skripal bs?
The AS liars?
Starmer’s destruction of the Labour Movement?
Eg. Corbyn and Ken Loach and many Jewish Old Labour types being ‘thrown out’?
The many friends of Israel and Board of Deputies and so many obscure groups that lay claim to being the only voice of a religion in the U.K.?
The GKH’s turn on BrexShit and failures on Covid? His paper’s participation in the D-Notice committee?
Their bigging-up of Yaxley-Lennon’s personality worship.
The adherence to the fake narrative of taxpayers’ money and govt debt. The demonisation of Trump and worship of Mass murderers Clintons and Blairism?
Etc etc etc.
The role he and Monbiot and so called liberal left bleeding hearts fulfil at the Obsessive Groaniad is as the honey traps that gather the soft minded sjw’s to their flame to than be burnt by the Narrative that needs to be dispensed.
Aided and abetted by a flying blue monkey army of btl trolls.
¡Non fucking Pasaran!
Odd! George Galloway on his Mother of all Talkshows said of Owen Jones “Because you have led the way, you and people like you, have led the way in the anathematization of the British working class.” Think again George…
How much further through the mirror do we have to go?
Ex MI5 head in MSM all over FO /MI6 supposed separated agency’s territory over preserving the DeadDeadDead as a dodo imperial hubris by saying SAS (mod/MI6 special forces) should carry on with their insurgency efforts in a far off country!
The Gestapo/Stasi never achieved such omnipotence!!
I really really really want to hear Craig’s opinion on this right now.
Another reason why they planned to have him shut away as the shit hits the fan, no doubt.
MoA has picked up on it. Well worth a read
“Britain Wants A Rerun Of The War On Afghanistan”
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2021/08/britain-wants-a-rerun-of-the-war-on-afghanistan.html
We are led into the fascist wonderland planned by the ‘Dominate’* as their last gasp cornered rat scream into oblivion.
*’The Dominate is the name sometimes given to the “despotic” later phase of imperial government, following the earlier period known as the “Principate”,’
Gore Vidal said apropos the Vietnam crime “declare victory and leave”. It seems that the British state is trying to declare defeat and stay but who give a toss? The Afghans have won (again) just like anyone with his head out of his arse said they would when American Caesar invaded the place. I’m inclined to look on this as sour grapes and a corp-0-rat media disguise for the inevitable; 1919 all over again.
Yes, and let’s not forget that although the MSM is full of front page horror at the current treatment of Afghan civilians by the Taliban, the Israeli military have been doing similar things to Palestinians for 40+ years and no one seems to bat an eyelid.
We should not forget that with civil war/insurrection comes pestilence. The U.S.A. will no longer be availing covid vaccines to Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan, next door neighbours are rife with covid. Women and girls frightened to leave their homes, probably will not be accessing health care.
Hopefully the Taliban, together with China, Russia and Iran, will have anticipated the West’s schemes for producing chaos in Afghanistan (with an accompanying propaganda campaign) and are taking appropriate and effective counter measures.
Indeed Jon…Why U,N Allow it… And Libya…Syria ..Yemen ….etc etc
A good read in this book by Noman Finkelstein ~
Method and Madness: The Hidden Story of Israel’s Assaults on Gaza
https://www.palestinebookawards.com/books/item/method-and-madness-the-hidden-story-of-israel-s-assaults-on-gaza
King Lear came to mind (Salmondus’s) as a model for his trials. Concerning “the imminent demise of the presumption of innocence and trial by jury” here is some more fractured history:
Nicola, now grown weary of the very facility of her adultery with the English Crown, was rushing into strange excesses, when Dorriana urged the breaking off of all concealment of their design to rule through unrestrained judicial tyranny. Either through some fatal infatuation or because she imagined that, amid the dangers which hung over her, danger itself was the best safety. “They were not,” she said, “in such an extremity as to have to wait for Salmondus’s old age. Harmless measures were for the innocent. Crime once exposed by the noble Murraius had no refuge but in audacity. They had accomplices in all who feared the same fate.
Allow me to add a few sentences to the Nicola and Dorianna complexities.
Nicola feeling politically unwell, pressed her new outfit of Greenious colour to enable her state of affairs to continue. The Greenious pack, devoid of a grand plan to sustain the future, despite looking around,
finding only some ever fainting sound,
with nothing following abound,
were now naked, they have now failed to ‘fake it’
Poor mites did nee see or hear the concrete plans of common wheeld, did not take heed of good ideas, because they talk a lot of cooperation, mouthy as they are,
but deep inside they are as blue as a pair of Nicolas shoes. No action, just a faction that gives others a bad name.
For common wheeld, use common weal. They have a perfectly simple green plan that is based on local action now, not to some spurious future date. Doing what we can do today, leaves us time to do even more in future.
https://scotclimateca.dialogue-app.com/how-should-scotland-change-to-tackle-the-climate-emergency-in-an-effective-and-fair-way/our-common-home-common-weals-green-new-deal-plan
Calgacus – beautifully done. Worthy of ‘yes minister parody’ ?
Thanks. Mildly adapted from Tacitus on Messalina, Caius Silius and Claudius. History may not repeat itself, but it surely rhymes.
Mr. Tony Blair has just walked on to the stage. Tony thinks the manner of the U.S.A. leaving Afghanistan is imbecilic.
I do not agree with much Tony Blair says but he is right on this.
The Taliban will ruin and stagnate people’s lives in Afghanistan, they will rob them of a modern future.
What is much more imbecilic is believing grifters and conmen like Blair, Johnson and Co give a damn about people’s lives in Afghanistan. For a reader of this blog to still believe such a thing defies comprehension.
There are readers and opportunists, Greg. Michael has been and will be the apologist he is, even if it is for an alleged war criminal who lied to the world and is as responsible for many death in Iraq as the current Government is for the death of soldiers in Afghanistan, a country they will never rule.
We can live with those Michaels trying to smooth the status quo.
Blair is damaged and planning to bamboozle us again, he should be thrown out of any club/party, will turn the public against politics altogether.
Fair play to you nevermind. I popped in here this morning expecting to see some good takes and links from Craig’s readers on the abject humiliation in Afghanistan. All I see for the most part is some unironic parroting of establishment delusion and fake humanitarianism by some chauvinist, neo-colonialist called Michael Norton.
Lord knows what Craig will make of his readers’ response to this historic event.
The Taliban are extreme extremists.
They execute homosexuals. They beat and kill people in the streets.
They go house to house looking for young women to rape and abuse.
They shut schools. They shut cinemas, they shut theatres, they shut down music venues.
The playing or listening to music not considered Islamic enough is punishable.
They impose their mindset on the population, who do not want to be fucked with by these monsters.
“Pamdaor Pamdaor Pamdaor…PAMDAOR”
‘Johnny’ Blair wielding his axe to chop us to bits in his evil madness, some never learn eh?
Just to put your concern for Afghans to the most basic test, how many Afghan refugees do you believe Britain should settle here, to the nearest thousand? Bear in mind Germany settled close to a million Syrian refugees, despite having had little role in displacing them. So, Mr Human Rights, how many Afghans do you want to see settled in Britain?
Michael you are spouting out what is in the past, flogging demons and creating Angst and fear.
It’s the argument of warmongers who think that doing it all over again, sacrificing young men, Afghan civilians and using women and homosexuals to advance our argument for more of the same, and for the continuous depletion of our taxes by scrupulous arms dealers.
Thanks but no thanks, you go and fight together with like-minded friends; there is a wreath spare with your name on it.
Michael.
The Taliban tried to surrender twice in 2001. They laid down their weapons and went home, but the USA and was having none of it. The invasion of Afghanistan was planned before 9/11. Indeed the Taliban offered to hand over Osama bin Laden if the USA could provide evidence that he orchestrated 9/11; again the USA was having none of it.
The Taliban has asked UNICEF to remain in the country. As for closing cinemas, I’ve read that children were missing school to go to the cinema so the Taliban closed them.
Ask yourself why Afghanistan fell in a matter of weeks instead of months. It’s because many folk joined them or didn’t want to fight them, the USA were the occupying force, they were tolerated but not liked. Those that are fleeing in most part, aided and abetted this occupying force for twenty-years. History has shown that occupying forces in Afghanistan unite the majority of Afghans to repel them. It’s only when the invading force is removed do they go back to fighting each other.
The Taliban have made promises of peace. Let’s wait and see if that peace arrives. China might succeed where the West and Russia has failed in having mutual dealing with the Afghanis – something the West fears greatly.
I think you’ll find that that’s what the Americans have done for twenty years.
michael norton – You obviously have no idea whatsoever of what the word “Taliban” means or to which group(s) of HUMAN BEINGS it refers to. As an antidote to such repulsive displays of corporate / military / political brainwashing, try this far more nuanced and believable account from people who have lived in Afghanistan and studied the culture and people for decades.
https://annebonnypirate.org/2021/08/17/afghanistan-the-end-of-the-occupation/#_ftn4
“The Taliban are extreme extremists.”
And yet the USA has managed to be less popular in Afghanistan than the Taliban. Some achievement.
The imbecilic thing was invading and occupying Afghanistan in the first place. Since Bliar was all for it, and since Labour doubled down with sending the army to Helmand later, he can hardly admit it.
Of course Tony Blair should never have agreed to invade Afghanistan. Of course I agree that Tony Blair is a dissembler, a shyster. However that should not mean he can never say anything that is right.
If there is only ever allowed to be one view, how would this be different from the Taliban?
Is there only to be allowed one view? If so, that sounds like the Brexiters – only Brexit is allowed. Nobody else’s point of view is tolerated. By the way I’ve come to the conclusion that Brexiters and Taliban are much the same sort of people. Both populist movements of people claiming to be ‘left behind’, and wanting their place in the sun of an imagined past, mainly conservatives from the countryside and provincial towns, telling the metropolitan elite off for having lost touch. That’s what you’re seeing in Kabul at the moment, and indeed in Westminster under Smogg. The only difference is the old-fashioned religion which has not yet got such a big hold on the Brexiters, though Johnson and Smogg are both on their knees before the crucifix.
Laguerre, I am not an apologist for Tony Blair or Jacob Rees-Mogg or Boris Johnson.
Are you now saying people who are Catholic should have no say in how the World should work?
Silly billy Laguerre, Britain voted for independence from the EU by a majority, the only democratic vote in Britain since the original EU referendum in 1975. If that’s equivalent to the Taliban, you’re a banana.
Free Speech means everyone has the right to say what they think. That includes Blair, Hitler, Stalin, Trump, Sturgeon and other assorted crazies.
However, everyone also has the right to not listen and to just turn away.
“A fool’s mouth is his destruction”
Failure by squeeth to understand what’s going on in Afghanistan, but readiness to abuse others in spite of this failure.
That’s quite an assumption to throw upon the Afghani people in general.
All they want to do ( sophisticated or not ) is to try and make a good life for their families and hopefully themselves ) and the problem is that they are caught between a rock and a hard place -US rule or Taliban rule?
From a relatively Western point of view it may all look like peasant naivety but the big towns and cities are sophisticated but the smaller towns and villages are not.
The Chinese and maybe the Russians will eventually convince the Cities/Towns and the smaller provinces that their interests and development lie not with the West but with the East.
At the moment it may play out as conditional aid but if the Chinese and the Russians want to make a mark then the terms of the trade or aid need to be beneficial l to Afghani ordinary ( as in non Taliban and non western populace) people.
In other words prove to these people that you really raise their living standards and not nick a funnel of corrupt money to the US or dodgy Afghani ex President ( Ghani has legged it with $174 million cash ).
Hopefully the Chinese will prove the point eventually of a ‘ Win – Win ‘ deal maybe? – we shall see but the terms will be better than the West’ s’ Lose – Lose deal which as we know has proved that successful that the major player has given up the ghost.
Being Sunday I would sermonise myself but there are a lot more serious and worthy writers , so as CM can’t, others are having to do some heavy carrying, the mightiest now is the ailing Grouse Beater!
His latest post and reprint of others. On the St Nicola and Green alliance to forestall Indy through this Parliament of Scotland by cover of anything that will stick!
Covid, Climate, Gender Politics, kiddies being groomed at school into sexuality politics and physical contact by removal of separate toilets and changing rooms in STATE schools only and destruction of local services for the poorest.
Please read
https://grousebeater.wordpress.com/
“Trust them? After suffering a hundred false dawns? Are you kidding?”
“A TAWDRY DEAL
by Kevin McKenna”
“TOTAL DUMMIES
by Susan Smith”
“THE FABIANI WHITEWASH
by Gordon Dangerfield “
I think CM would not disapprove of such and he will certainly be able to read the McKenna piece from the Herald.
For these interested in the Max Pressure BS from the US State department / Israeli ambitions and the axis of resistances responses. There are Iranian fuel tankers on way to relieve the crisis in Lebanon being perpetrated by dumb Joe, will some trigger happy arse try and stop it – it only takes 10 missiles to bring Israel to an existential crisis.
Elijah at his best.
https://ejmagnier.com/2021/08/19/lebanon-is-under-maximum-pressure-and-the-target-is-hezbollah-iran-sends-its-support
Amen and stand with Craig Murray.
“The Taliban are extreme extremists.”
And yet the USA has managed to be less popular in Afghanistan than the Taliban. Some achievement.
Angus Robertson and Nicola Sturgeon are there to do the same job as Nick Clegg and Kier Starmer. They are there to prevent any non neo-liberal political platform emerging. That their party will be led into obscurity doesn’t matter.
Peter Hitchens comments in the Sunday Mail today that Julian Assange does not deserve his jail hell. It’s good that Peter remembers this. One little thing I can do is to remember that Craig Murray also does not deserve his jail hell. I look forward to purchasing and reading his next book.
The United Kingdom should have been clever enough to tell George Bush junior, that we did not want or intend to invade Afghanistan. The recent collapse of the Soviet Union was all the proof that was needed. Tony Blair jumped when Bush yelled.
However, there have not been many coalition members killed recently. Operation Resolute Support, seemed to be going reasonably well. Keeping an airbase and ten thousand coalition personnel for another ten years, would have been doable, giving the fledgling Afghan democracy/economy time to develop. Giving girls an education and access to contraception and a future would have been key.
Now some of these girls will be forced to give birth to Taliban fighters’ children, who will in turn be “encouraged” to follow the repressive ways of the Taliban. Perpetuation of mindless thuggery.
you have listen to what the Taliban has said, Michael, not what you can make up reacting to the Government construct.
Michael,
The U.K. were able to be smart But Blair and His neocon masters worked to their plan.
Hell, He and his nazguls, invented a sexed up dossier and Fake WMD scare. And then did a whole lot of nastiness. The silver lining of which is Craig Murray’s blog! For which he is politically imprisoned. Which Bliar hasn’t said single word about, the hypocrite.
PaMdaoR ….
Are you so blinded by the Shining light out of a Bliars bottom, still?
Tell me exactly why you think he is ANY good?
DunGroanin
even the hard right now cloaking imperialism in liberal piety.
their hero trump did not bother with such fakery.
Craig’s friend Alexander Mercouris has some interesting observations of Afghanistan:
Russia China Coordinate on Afghanistan. Putin Lectures Merkel on Realpolitik. Wang Wins Over Italy
https://odysee.com/@AlexanderMercouris:a/russia-china-coordinate-on-afghanistan.:d
Link to Mercouris article doesn’t work for me.
Alexander Mercouris – Russia China Coordinate on Afghanistan; Putin Lectures Merkel on Realpolitik; Wang Wins Over Italy
the link doesn’t work.
Perhaps the YouTube video is some help?
https://youtu.be/yYjWfU5dUV8
Thanks Tatyana The link works if you copy & paste to include the rather odd EOL characters.
Clearly we learn from Putin lectures/statements that Humanitarian intervention and the Responsibility to Protect is by definition abusive, the diktat of the powerful, a form of blatant neo-imperialism and neo-colonialism.
A humanitarian intervention, an oxymoron right there and I argue that this type of intervention is war in the name of humanity, is not war for the sake of humanity, but a war wherein a particular state seeks to usurp a universal concept against its military opponent’, identifying itself with humanity and denying it to the enemy. History confirms it has been used as an ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of economic imperialism frequently used in an IMF framework.
We remember IMF intervention helped to dislocate the Yugoslavian economy coupled with US/UK interference which encouraged secessionist movements by unscrupulous politicians. It appears if humanitarinism were the true motive then debt forgiveness and initiatives to encourage the Yugoslovian political units to remain cohesive would have prevented thousands of deaths.
Whoever (us/uk) invokes humanity wants to cheat – period.
Mark,
I believe the primary states driving the dismemberment of Yugoslavia were US and Germany. If you haven’t read it I would recommend Diana Johnstone’s excellent book on the subject.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fools-Crusade-Yugoslavia-Delusions-Illusions/dp/0745319505
Yes.
I was around then and Germany wanted to digest Croatia and the US took over.
NATO machinations.
I had no idea that Bosnian Muslim’s existed at the time.
By the way we have ‘ Hasars ‘ in Afghanistan and I’ve never heard of them – like the Uigers from a few years back.
It’s a voyage of discovery if you follow the BBC .,
Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ in Milton Keynes – c’mon now?
Thanks IMcK the massive deception pains me to the core.