Just back from Accra and just about to set off for Berlin. I am very rude about the partiality of the Guardian’s focus on occasions, but they deserve congratulations for getting it spot-on with this article explaining Cameron and Hague’s sudden activism on Somalia.
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I think the Nobel peace prize has been with a few exceptions null and void for years.
Obama received it because he might pull back from US wars of aggression and stop torture. He didn’t !
The prize should have been taken back.
The Nobel Peace Commitee must have shares in the MIC.
Kissinger , Peres , Obama ??? Genghis Khan,Adolf Hitler,Timur could’ve been recipients as well.
Netanyahoo will probably recieve it this year for showing restraint !!
Radio 4 Today: Monday 5th March
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Vladimir Putin is celebrating victory in the Russian presidential election despite allegations of widespread vote-rigging.
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Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, has claimed victory in his country’s presidential election amid accusations of election fraud. Diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall reports from Moscow. Read more
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Vladimir Putin and his supporters have been celebrating victory in Russia’s presidential elections after seemingly winning with 65% of the vote. But as Steve Rosenburg reports from Moscow, opponents to Mr Putin are planning to stage more street protests amid claims of vote-rigging. Sergei Markov, a leading member of Putin’s United Russia Party, gives his reaction to the result.
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Vladimir Putin has declared victory in Russia’s presidential elections, returning for a third term after spending the last four years as the country’s prime minister. World Affairs editor John Simpson and Edward Lucas, international editor at the Economist, discuss Mr Putin’s role in Russian politics.
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Just the audio output on the hour every hour almost. Add to that it’s the lead story on the TV Breakfast news and the news channels. The emphasis is on vote rigging being ‘widespread’.
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‘Will there be riots or violence?’ asks Ms Bridget Kendall in hopeful anticipation.
PLUS this from Kendall. Note the inverted commas. Did she query the ‘victory’ of the ConDems here in 2010 which was a stitch up by a small group of unelected civil servants including O’Donnell?
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Russian election: Rivals criticise Putin ‘victory’
By Bridget Kendall
Diplomatic correspondent, BBC News Moscow
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17253982
Wall Street & London elite lay groundwork to justify large scale destabilization in Russia.
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by Tony Cartalucci
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March 5, 2012 – As predicted – the Western media and US State Department-funded “opposition” inside Russia have called Vladimir Putin’s landslide victory a “fraud.” It was stated on Thursday March 1, that the Western media had “already determined how Russia’s elections will unfold, creating the pretext in the minds of impressionable viewers to justify the unrest the US is undoubtedly planning.”
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/..
http://info-wars.org/2012/03/05/us-to-attempt-overthrow-of-putin-government/
Should we wait and hear what INDEPENDENT observers to these elections have to say about Putins machinations? Rather than reacting to reactions.
Whatever the result, expect large amounts fo Russians to bother coming out in freezing cold and wet winter days, setting examples to others.
@ Tee Hee. “I’m not suggesting anarchy or mob-rule, though we need some of that now and again; some notable, if by then unrecognisable corpses could adorn the Olympic venues with their grisly remains and still other live wriggling wretches could add a joyous celebratory note to the events with their gurgling demise, for the benfit of the crowd.”
Whilst agreeing that some anarchy lies at the heart of histroic change in this country, I fail to see why it should be done to please the arrangements of Olympic havoc planners and the assembled 30.000 police wo/men feeding on our taxes. Far from using the olympics as a target, too many will make their point already and 12 million Londoners really do not need us to come in and clogg up the traffic, we should assemble in Towns and Cities nationwide, creating our own protests locally.
And we can rely on the unionists, led by Mc Cluskey at the front, ha, ha bloody fat chance of that happening, covering all airports and train/bus stations with their civil disobedience, traffic would come to a stand still and the economy/daily debt repayments would have to be upheld by those companies making money in the Olympic village and grounds.
Off course, if it rains, everything will be off and they’ll be watching the Olympics, thats just how it is in Britain.
Interestingly but I was monitoring Russian presidential election on Russian TV (an trust me you have to do the same to fully realise all irony of it no BBC/SKY is match here).
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Speaking in rally in Moscow at night Putin (was crying) and thanked all those who helped them (although I believe he meant he) to win these FAIR elections (he seemed forgotten that one and only opposition candidate Yavlinsky was not permitted to participate in those elections) and that they (I believe he meant he) will now work hard to transform Russia into modern 21 century society (like he had NOT already been running Russia for the last 13 years). He also thanked all those who voted for him and PREVENTED all those forces that wanted to break up Russia (something of spymania popular during Stalin’s tenure).
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Interestingly, no major Russian TV new channels even mentioned that Yavlinsky was not permitted to participate, neither they mentioned election fraud during last (Duma) parliamentary election.
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Here I do not question that Putin would have won these elections even if Yavlinsky was allowed to participate (and this is not as much to Putin’s popularity as to his ability to ensure that opposing voices are remained unheard), and I am still confused why would Putin need such extreme measures to ensure his grip on power is unchallenged. Is this typical KGB tactics (to use preventive measures) or is this long term policy directed to eliminate all possible signs of opposition in order to ensure either yet another Putin’s victory in 2016 or to ensure victory of Putin’s successor. My feeling is that Human Rights and other liberal issues are to get worse in Russia in the next 4 years and that Putin’s victory has benefited KBG and not Russians.
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In years to come we will see if Russia is closer transformed to 21 century modern state or to something more like Uzbekistan (political structure wise).
About US sponsored unrest.
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All those who lived, or visited Russia in the last 10 years might have noticed how dramatically US influence in Russia have been reduced. Russia is no more Russia under Yeltcin which was directed from IMF and Dep of State. Today Russia is very different. Due to high oil prices (and only due to this) Russia has managed to pay off all its previous debts and also save around equal to 250 billion US dollars in so called stabilisation fund (and this is despite over 500 billion dollars a year leaking from Russia legally and illegally).
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If today anyone believes that Dep of State or CIA is capable of organising rallies of tens of thousands participants and even influencing ruling elites I would advice to such person to visit Russia and try to participate in what they believe is possible. Mind you having UK passport would limit your punishment to deportation which is not necessarily the same punishment for “lucky” holders of Russian passport.
It is interesting how all these people who are very vocal here about Human Rights and freedoms of Palestinians, Iranians, Iraqies and other deprived of these universal values are at the same time quite uncritical of the fact that the same values are being denied to 140 millions of Russians and over 100 millions of others who live in former USSR.
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Is this hypocrisy? Is this blind hatred?
Uzbek in the UK, why are you here if this cause is so close to your heart? I’m sure that those who Mary rightfully pointed out in her last link, and who are busy undermining Russia’s resolve, could offer you some meaningfull position or payment for your troubles.
Here on the other hand, everything stops when it rains and we are merely bashing the living daylight out of keyboards, so what are you doing here?
Take your point, Craigs occaisional reverberations do make it a great place to be, but is it actually helping any of the human rights causes round the world?
Maybe Mark could show/tell us what the forum has achieved for the children of Iraq’s future.
Craig did the right thing when he prostituted himself before the electorate and tried to change the deliberate equation at election time, but what of others with the same goals? what are they prepared to actually do?
More ungodly shenanigans:
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Tony Blair’s priest fixed papal knighthoods for cash:
Senior Catholic took up to £50k donations for honours
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Father Michael SeedOne of Britain’s most high-profile Catholic priests has admitted arranging papal knighthoods for wealthy businessmen for money.
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Father Michael Seed, who regularly celebrated Mass for Tony Blair and his family in Downing Street, now faces questions from his religious order after an investigation by The Mail on Sunday.
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The most damaging evidence concerns his attempted cultivation of an Israeli arms dealer, Hezi Bezalel, who was seeking business opportunities in the Balkans …
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Whole story here:
http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/2011/03/tony-blairs-priest-fixed-papal.html
Down with this sort of thing:
Got any Boris Yeltsin jokes?
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Yes, Puttin’ Putin in as PM! 😀
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Apparently, this is a joke about Yeltsin: When Yeltsin resigned from the Communist Party at the 28th Party Congress in 1990, people used to say that “Yeltsin is out of mind,… honour, and conscience of our epoch”.
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You may have to be Russian to get the joke.
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I found another:
Journalist: “So, President Yeltsin, how would you describe the state of the Russian economy in one word?”
Yeltsin: “Good”.
Journalist: “Okay then Mr President, perhaps you would describe it in more than one word?”
Yeltsin: “Ah, in that case – not good.”
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That dipsomaniac was a favorite of the West wasn’t he?
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He was always pissed and allowed Russia’s wealth to be handed over to organised criminals causing an economic collapse which enabled many Western corporations to do their vampire act on the Russian people.
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Yes, Yeltsin was an incompetent drunk and sold off lots of Russia’s wealth at ridiculously low prices.
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In fact, for the sake of argument, let’s say that Yeltsin strangled kittens every morning before breakfast and roasted babies for lunch. How is that relevant to Putin?
Escobar: Putin not part of NWO, labelled evil by elites
http://www.activistpost.com/2012/03/escobar-putin-not-part-of-nwo-labelled.html
Angrysoba
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Well, Yeltcin related jokes are not getting old and will last for at least as his legacy lasts (I mean appointing Putin as his successor for the sake of himself).
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One quite interesting fact is that Putin did not touch those who were in the past in so called Yeltcin’s inner circle. Some of them have been kicked out from Kremlin but no criminal investigations, although there have been more than solid ground for them. This illustrates that appointing former KGB officer as his successor Yeltcin, who was known as liberal reformer and anti-KGB, was mostly motivated by his own security and security of those who were around him. It seems that at the time Yetcin received ill advice and used ill judgement of that if he does not appoint reliable successor that Communists or other more radical forces could come to power and that it would have been better option to transfer powers to reformed KGB (at least it was Yeltcin’s opinion that by throwing out few old school KGB officer he changed KGB’s agenda).
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And yes, most of what Yeltcin did or did not are quite relevant to Putin starting from unfinished war in Chechnya and establishing so called “natural monopolies” like Gazprom.
In fact, for the sake of argument, let’s say that Yeltsin strangled kittens every morning before breakfast and roasted babies for lunch. How is that relevant to Putin?
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Yeltsin was a terrible leader for Russia and the Russian people, and very popular in the West because of it. If he had been a bastard to kittens and babies I’m sure that would have been easily overlooked by the West.
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Putin is very popular in Russia (and elsewhere) for his anti-NATO stance, so it follows that Western power elites find him threatening. Russia remains a super-power despite what the MSM may say.
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The West want a weak Russian leader and therefore a weak Russia so that they can carry on with their global empire building wars unopposed.
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A strong Russia and China is the only guarantee against the world falling under the complete control of the power nexus that controls the US, Western Europe and the English speaking nations, which would lead to dystopia for the entire human race.
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Waging wars of aggression based on lies for conquest and gain is about as low as humans get. It is the socially acceptable embodiment of everything evil in man. State sponsored killing, raping, stealing and lying where the perpetrators are transformed from cold-hearted mercenaries into ‘heroes’ by the likes of the BBC. Anything that stops that must be welcomed.
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There are many valid criticisms of Putin but the nonsense coming out of the BBC is pure, fact-less anti-Russian propaganda. Hypocritical bile of the highest order that I am actually forced to pay £145 for by law just so I can have a TV to watch a DVDs on.
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The second Yeltsin joke was amusing.
The Berlin nightlife must have taken over the agenda, over an above other considerations, its very good to say the least with cabaret of the finest.
Craigs forum has become a haven for spambot attacks and his moderation system looks creaky, not to speak of the OS overall.
That said, the oil, uranium, bauxite and copper rich Somalia must really be a threat to the UK and its vested interest, despite Somali pirates helping out the british economy,stealing ships to enhance stockmarket speculators, so lets steal it from them and give em’ some arms in return so they can defend themselves against those nasty shabab terrorist.
And then what?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFDoChdlpbE&feature=related
There is no doubt that West want weak Russia but Russia is weakening itself by relying heavily on oil and gas revenues. If only when Yeltcin was president oil cost 120USD and not 18USD I am sure that economic downturn during Yeltcin’s presidency could have easily been avoided. But it has happened that 9/11 was in 2011 and not when Yeltcin was president.
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If anyone here believes that Putin reduced corruption in Russia, or significantly modernised Russian economy they are mistaken. You only need to travel to Russia (outside of Moscow and St Peterburg) to understand this. Capital and brain drain from Russia has actually increased since Putin placed his bottom on Kremlin throne. The irony is that in Moscow where people did the best under Putin he is the least popular comparing to the rest of Russia.
Angrysober,
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“Though inveterately cynical image-makers may disagree with me”
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I saw you coming 🙂
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Crab,
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drole or droll – a soapbox rant gets the numbers.
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“lack of popular support for war, hasnt stopped the destruction of peoples and values so far.” – True – protests, rallies and high profile speakers also seem futile.
For those with an interest in the Falklands (cf Craig’s original blog, tune in to the Radio 4 Document programme at 20.00 this evening about France and the Falklands War. Albion perfide? Main non, mon brave!
Funny how Putin’s reelection has risen the ire of the “protesters” from TelAviv to Washington to London?
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Do the Russians ever get all hot and verbose about the phoney primaries in the US with no recounts allowed, and no identification required voting processes, in addition to the ballot papers being given private property status, hence no public access to these after the apparent count? Let us not forget: these primaries are to select the next el prezidente of the best government that money can buy (AIPAC will vouch for this)to run the US, in the coming elections in US.
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In fact the world somehow gives a wide birth to the irregularities of the US electoral systems, and practices, that will eventually select the chap who will run the US and its backyard the planet Earth, without anyone outside of the US having no say in the matter, that is other than the ziofuckwits whom apparently are more Mercan than the Americans too.
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Somehow the anger and derision heaped upon Putin makes no sense, unless we start seeing the world from the eyes of these detractors. Putin having got the shaft in the Iraq war, and then made a fool of in the Beijing Olympics, that saw his hasty departure to get back and stop Saakashvili from killing the Russian soldiers stationed in Georgia as peace keepers, and declaring the place a NATO enclave. So Putin is sore, in fact pretty sore, and he is going to get even, which means he will be pissing on the parade of imperialists just for the sake of hell of it.
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That is the reason for the partly denuded female rushing into a polling station in front of cameras to convey her discontent and denouncement of Putin. All the while the “freedom dog and pony show” (there should be a law against mis-selling in politics too, dunchyou agree?)rumbles on with disapproval of his elections. These tow faced bastards pontificate, without any reference to the popular uprising of the Georgians whose Rose Revolution saw the ascendancy of Saakashvili, who has no truck with any kind of protest and crushes any kind of “popular demonstration/protest/civil uprising” . (hey he is our son of a bitch)
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Nonetheless those in search of a free lunch, are in agreement with the same bunch of crooks and liars, who have been raining shit on the planet on an industrial scale killing millions and maiming even more to bestow democracy upon their homelands, whilst the armchair fighters and generals seat in the West and get on with denouncing their favorite most hated “despot”.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will defend the targeting killings of terror suspects, including U.S. citizens, in a speech tomorrow.
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Perhaps Mr Holder might also defend the killing of ordinary American citizens at their place of work. For the ‘greater good’ obviously.
At log last the news of the two British Journalists kidnapped in Libya is making it out. these can thank their lucky stars that the Libyans went on a rampage in the war cemetery, otherwise their plight would have been still subject to “media” Blackout.
Libya militia probes UK journalists over ‘spying’
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The third paragraph gives the poor bastards names: Nicholas Davies and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson, and the reason for their kidnap as: “they were reportedly filming in the capital”.
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Fact that is baffling the captors are The Swehli militia of Misrata, that is fucking not in anyway one of the Tripoli’s suburbs, nonetheless the these crazed gunmen, having seen the “Press TV” label on these poor souls equipment, find it “proves” the guilt of the these beyond any shadow of a doubt.
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the cool reaction of the HMG as reflected:
Britain’s foreign office said it was aware that two British nationals had been detained.
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“We are providing consular assistance and we continue to have consular access to the Britons involved,” the statement said.
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Also is due to the “Press TV” being the employer of these turn coats, and honorary “coloureds/immigrants/illegal asylum seekers””.
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Mr Swehli who has his own militia, drives the nail home by recanting the treasonous actions of these poor now “coloured” lads;
Militia commander Swehli said that the suspicious conduct of the journalists led his men to track the pair as they moved around Tripoli and conducted interviews with various ministries of the interim government.
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The commander confirmed that the journalists had been detained because they were found filming in a sensitive area of the city at approximately 2:00 am (0000 GMT) nearly two weeks ago.
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Although he then goes on about the Isreali army bandages and stuff found on them, which of course is another reason for this news making it out
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See these bastards had the audacity of going around and interviewing people, that really smacks of impropriety! They should have sat in their hotel rooms, ordered a few lines of coke and made up the news as they went along with the emphasis being on how the “free” Libyans love their NTC and break out in dance anytime the name of NTC is mentioned.
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PS. I have tried to corroborate the names and places in the presstv site, but evidently it is experiencing a DOS attack and I cannot access it, so here is raw and data. Until I or someone else can corroborate these.
Passerby
“Do the Russians ever get all hot and verbose about the phoney primaries in the US with no recounts allowed,”
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Well, interesting fact here that in Russia presidential candidacy is NOT even popularly tested-no primaries. One just need to submit certain number of signatures to KGB controlled Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and if approved one is allowed to put his name forward next to almighty Mr Putin (well in certain cases CEC could not approve signatures and disallow candidates from participating in elections. Need more info ask Yavlinsky). Following old Russian proverb which says “It is better to be driven in a bad the car than having a good long walk” one could assume that having bad primaries is better than asking for approval from very questionable KGB controlled CEC. This is why perhaps Russian state TVs prefer to keep all primaries related issues hidden from public scrutiny.
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Have you seen Putin’s tears yesterday? Enjoyed it?
“Well, interesting fact here that in Russia presidential candidacy is NOT even popularly tested-no primaries. One just need to submit certain number of signatures to KGB controlled Central Electoral Committee (CEC) and if approved one is allowed to put his name forward next to almighty Mr Putin (well in certain cases CEC could not approve signatures and disallow candidates from participating in elections. Need more info ask Yavlinsky). Following old Russian proverb which says “It is better to be driven in a bad the car than having a good long walk” one could assume that having bad primaries is better than asking for approval from very questionable KGB controlled CEC.
This is why perhaps Russian state TVs prefer to keep all primaries related issues hidden from public scrutiny.”
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how does this really differ from labour or tory lists and ‘interviews’ before being able to become a candidate in the uk?
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as for funding and air time .. do corps and the well heeled give altruistically ?
“It is interesting how all these people who are very vocal here about Human Rights and freedoms of Palestinians, Iranians, Iraqies and other deprived of these universal values are at the same time quite uncritical of the fact that the same values are being denied to 140 millions of Russians and over 100 millions of others who live in former USSR.
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Is this hypocrisy? Is this blind hatred?”
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its a recognition of a greater truth that under usa/western control russia would not be any better : iraq, libya syria bahrain saudi uzbekistan etc all under the sphere of inluence of the west.
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its interesting to watch the same format being rolled out across the mid east and elsewhere and now russia .. the color revolutions .. they are anything but revolutions for freedom and democracy .. even you would recognise that fact … anyone who follows soros et al and usa/uk efforts can readily see the hand behind the puppets claiming freedom or democracy
Wendy
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I was referring to the difference between presidential elections in the US and in Russia.
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And as far as I remember in the UK PM is not directly elected as presidents in either US or Russia. And if we start discussing Russian Duma (Parliament) MP nominations we are at risk to stepping in even shittier water than Russian presidential candidate nomination. For instance it is no secret that some of Russian MPs have criminal record or have in past been associated with well known criminal groups (Bratva).
Uzbek in the UK,
ROFL. (thanks for the laugh, although you did not mean it. BTW I am not being nasty to you, so don’t get all defensive on me).
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You have picked up my sentence, but then went on one of your usual denunciations.
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As Wendy’s contribution clearly highlights the murky “selections” that seems to be the order of the day right across the “democracy preachers” own lands. These facts you remain oblivious to, yet you then pick up on the primaries, without even mentioning that the said primaries need money, oodles of money, finally rounding it with a Russian proverb, about cars, walking, etc.
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What remains unanswered: US et al poke their nose into everyone’s business, denouncing everyone as: bent, corrupt, and worse than bad, without any sense of irony, or a moment of self reflection and pause.
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Although I am mystified as to why I should have enjoyed Putin’s tears?
Evidently you verily believe me and Putin are drinking buddies going out every Friday night for a pint in the local and then turning up on Saturday to go wild boar hunting.
Wendy
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Why do you think coloured revolutions scenario did not work when shit hit the fan in EU including UK? Is it only because these countries are part of NWO? How do you think NWO prevent people from dismissing government in EU? Controlled media? Do you know for instance that in countries where coloured revolutions took place media was 100% pro-failed regime.
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Is not it because living standards in EU are much higher and corruption and social injustice are much less than in those countries where coloured revolutions took place? Could you for instance compare Greece and Egypt, or Spain and Syria?
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Weaker segments of the chain break earlier and similarly places where people feel greater injustice are not immune to various regime change scenarios.
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One would for example prefer for current Assad’s son (if he has one) to become next Syrian president in 30+ years when current Assad is in grave, others would prefer some change from lifelong/dynasty transferable power system.
Passerby
“Although I am mystified as to why I should have enjoyed Putin’s tears?”
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It is just you are so look like many Putin supporters those who share Putin’s sentiments over USSR and enemies of the state bullshit. Also considering your clear judgement over evil US policy I thought that if not your mind but your heart would be touched by few tears of ex KGB officer in his anticipation of yet another 4 years in power. I presume that these tears had its own purpose and I thought that touching your heart was one of them.
Uzbek in the UK,
You have started the hit and run guerrilla blogging, citing everything but the kitchen sink.
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So far as the criminals go, currently we have Eric Joyce who has been jailed for beating (getting drunk on the cheap and subsidized booze) up another MP in the commons bar, and released on police bail, whilst the news of his sexual misconduct is emerging. This aside we have convicted and time served criminals sitting in the Lords and still enjoying their privileges. So what is new there?
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As for the weaker segments of the chain; go and read the Rose Revolution winner, and his strength in putting down any kind of dissent.
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You mix up the two matters, people’s wish and aspirations, and the Imperial masters wish to wally the punters, and slip these a Micky Finn to keep them busy and beating on each other.
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Corruption is a nice term but why and how it comes about somehow is never debated, so why do you think corruption and low wages, and low quality of life are always associated? furthermore, who siphons the money out of these various “dictatorships” to leave the poor bastards residing under the management of these sanctioned and appointed Thugs, to fend for themselves?
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You mention Assad, he has just carried out a referendum for a constitutional change, yet you find that to be of no significances and instead you consider the Eric Prince (Blackwater) trained mercenaries more “democratic”!
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Uzbek are you a member of of the Uzbek Transitional Council? Bent on change, so that you can sit and order about instead of Karimov? Alas you are jumping the gun there, Karimov does what his imperial masters in US wish him to do, so no need for any democracy lark in Uzbekistan for now, or foreseeable future at least.
Little Iceland puts the world to shame
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The only place on the planet that held the banksters and their enablers in the dock and tried these freeloading bastards.
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“I reject all accusations, and believe there is no basis for them,” Geir Haarde said from the dock. He said it was the first chance he had to answer questions in the case.
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Haarde became a symbol of the bubble economy for Icelanders who lost their jobs and homes after the country’s main commercial banks collapsed in 2008, sending its currency into a nosedive and inflation soaring.
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Prosecutors opened the case at the Landsdomur, a special court being convened for the first time in Iceland’s history.