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758 thoughts on “Cui Bono?

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  • A Node

    Above, I should have said :

    “.. he would certainly be classified by some as a loony,…”

    And while I’m at it, close inverted commas at end of first sentence.

  • Ben-LA PACQUTE LO ES TODO

    EU is at the other end of an uncompleted bridge, guys. Build your pylons, one at a time. Start with String. It’s ephemeral, though, and many don’t trust anything but concrete. Use some imagination and heuristics in the evaluation, but only if you enjoy the mind game.

  • doug scorgie

    To Resident Dissident

    Doug Scorgie posed a question:

    “I think that countries with vast poverty levels should not host expensive international events.”

    “I think the priority of those countries should be lifting people out of poverty through the redistribution of wealth.”
    Do you agree ResDis?

    Resident Dissident answers:

    “Well actually I do – as would almost every other believer in social democracy and Keynesianism like myself…”

    Hold on ResDis, the ultimate aim of social democracy is to eventually create democratic socialism i.e. a democracy with a socialist economy – that does not sound like you does it?

    A pork pie perhaps.

    You go on: “…where we of course differ is the means of achieving that progress…the market mechanism has a part to play in the allocation of resources.”

    Which mechanism would that be ResDis?

    The invisible hand of the market (Adam Smith)? Not very Keynesian that is it?

    Or maybe you mean the “trickle down theory? A theory anathema to real social democrats.

    Then you say: “…before you go expounding the superiority of the BRICS…”

    I have never expounded the superiority of any BRIC country ResDis it’s all in your mind.

    I said that Venezuela would be a good illustration of a country where rich individuals and corporations have, for years, undermined the democratically elected government, which has been trying to bring about the elimination of poverty, illiteracy and health inequalities. That statement is true.

    “All you can say is: NO this is not a good illustration – the people in charge have failed to show basic economic competence, a disregard for the better features of market economies, not a little corruption, together with a disdain for freedom of speech and other basic liberties…”

    I find it unsurprising that you make these wild statements, as if they are fact, without any back up.

    You seem to be implying that you would support the forceful removal of the democratically elected governments of the late Hugo Chaves and now Nicolas Maduro. Is that so?

    You go further: “…we [I assume you mean yourself and Habbabkuk] are both quite happy with systems where governments can change in response to what people want and where they are offered a choice…You will of course say that such a choice is illusory – but then rather bizarrely back regimes where the alternatives offered is even more limited.”

    Which regimes have I “bizarrely” backed ResDis?

    You suggest: “…the main reason why democracy doesn’t work for you is that your ideas are so obviously flawed…”

    Which ideas of mine are “so obviously flawed” ResDis? It might help your case to back up what you say.

  • Peacewisher

    @Ba’al:

    Blair must go petition now over 10000, and the Channel 5 news item really helped kick start. Even Rebecca Brookes can’t save his legacy now (but maybe her lawyers can?)

  • Ba'al Zevul (Chimp Assassin)

    Peter Oborne goes the extra mile:

    http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100277509/why-tony-blair-must-stand-down-as-middle-east-peace-envoy/

    That in response to this press release (all tailwagging media) from Blair:

    A spokesperson for Blair responded that all those signed onto the letter are from the “hard right” and hard left” who are “viscerally opposed” to him and averse to his approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which believes in a two-state solution that can only be achieved in negotiation with Israel.

    Not seeing much sign of the centre ground loving his approach, either. Which believes in going with the Bantustan option only as far as Israel will allow, actually. But that’s just me…

    In addition to the pointers Oborne gives to Blair’s mix ‘n match approach to charity, business interests, his personal wellbeing and his (only) official role as Quartet envoy, it might also be noted that he is planning to extend his operations in Abu Dhabi…facilitated on the ground, perhaps by his remarkable compliance with AD’s rulers’ interest in criminalising the Muslim Brotherhood as an entity throughout the region, and his eagerness to promote that agenda with the aid of multiple murderer and suppressor of free speech, Egypt’s Sisi.

  • Mary

    24 June 2014, 22:14

    Iraq: “The influence of the West is very limited now”

    Play Podcast on the link below 30 mins

    Islamists fighting under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) say they have fully captured the country’s main oil refinery at Baiji, north of Baghdad. It comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry met Kurdish leaders in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil after he visited Baghdad and pledged US support for Iraqi security forces. Mr Kerry said Iraq’s very existence was under threat. VoR’s Brendan Cole hosts a debate.

    Iraqi Kurdish President Massoud Barzani has strongly suggested that his region would seek formal independence from the rest of Iraq.

    ISIS have overrun a swathe of territory in the north and west including the second-biggest city, Mosul. They are bearing down on a vital dam near Haditha and have captured all border crossings to Syria and Jordan.

    What kind of threat do they pose to the region and the west? Is it an existential one? Will the current borders of Iraq last?

    To discuss this Brendan Cole is joined by:

    Felicity Arbuthnot, a journalist specialising in the Middle East and Iraq

    Sir William Patey, former UK Ambassador to Iraq and adviser to Control Risks

    Jabbar Hasan, director of Iraqi Association in Britain

    Hussein al-Alak, British-based journalist and chairman of the Iraq Solidarity Campaign UK (on the line from Manchester)

    Zaid al-Ali, author of the recently published book The Struggle for Iraq’s Future (on the line from Cairo)

    Soundbites follow

    http://voiceofrussia.com/uk/news/2014_06_24/Iraq-The-influence-of-the-West-is-very-limited-now-8769/

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