I have travelled this world much more extensively than either Obama or Romney, and I still do. I find everywhere, even in areas of conflict and economic difficulty, the vast majority of people are friendly, even kind, and have very similar aspirations, across cultures, to personal development and emotional fulfilment.
The striking thing about tonight’s US Presidential “foreign policy” debate, is when it did occasionally discuss foreign policy, the world out there was discussed not as a place of vast potential, but as a deeply disturbing place full of foreigners who are, apparently, all evil except the Israelis, who are perfect.
The vast benefits from cooperation and trade with “abroad” were not mentioned once that I noticed (though I confess the thing was so awful my attention wandered occasionally). Europe apparently doesn’t exist, other than Greece which is nothing more than a terrible warning of the dangers of not being right wing enough.
The correct attitude to all these foreigners that God so unfortunately and inexplicably placed on this planet, is apparently to maintain incredibly large armed forces, murder people with drones (they were both very enthusiastic on this one), place sanctions on them and declare them “currency manipulators”. The only surprising note was that both agreed that they could not kill everyone in Iran.
But “We can’t just kill our way out of this mess” was spoken with regret, rather than as an affirmation of the possibilities of cooperation instead. What a grim and joyless world view. Maybe I had better not step out of this hotel into Africa this morning; those Islamists might get me.
“all these foreigners that God so unfortunately and inexplicably placed on this planet”
Ha. You nicked that from Robert Tressell.
Anyhow, where is George McGovern when we need him?
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/10/on-war-and-peace-george-mcgovern-will-die-vindicated/263839/
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-george-mcgovern-20121021,0,4225248.story
(Off-topic. Doug, an 0845 number is a non-geographical UK number, and so the people operating it must be known to the telephone system, since they have to pay to use it. You should get in touch with Phone Pay Plus, who regulate the system. They can take complaints, and I think they have the power to shut lines down, and they will pass evidence to the police. See http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/).
Yitzchak Gruenbaum’s son Eliezer would be called a Holocaust survivor if alive today. He was Jewish and he was in a concentration camp in Poland.
The problem arises in Paris after the war where he is spotted on the street by two Jews who immediately seize him, claiming he is a guard who abused them when they were in the same camp. Turns out little Eliezer became a Kapo for the Gestapo. He was acquitted of the charge and later went on to serve in the IDF.
You can’t make this stuff up you know.
Doug Scorgie
See here
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08451262675
It appears you’re not alone, anyway. And it’s not Santander.
[I had the same problem, for months, with people phoning apparently from India and trying to persuade me they were Microsoft Support, anxious to “fix” something on my computer – they wanted remote access to it. I tried to get the number blocked, but couldn’t, and I was told the Gardaí/police were ‘onto it’.]
Hi Craig, i was wondering if you know Peter Lilley, MP, he is heading to Uzbekistan this week to promote british business there.
Anapa
Horrible man, Was close to Thatcher.
Respect. How Blair & Iraq turned UK’s MidEast specialist on the UN Security Council (& Craig’s colleague during the first Iraq war) into an anarchist:
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http://businessinnovationfactory.com/iss/video/bif8-carne-ross
This, at London’s Frontline Club 15 November, may be of interest to readers. Craig, needless to say, is an obvious omission from the panel:
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http://www.frontlineclub.com/events/2012/11/cruel-britannia-a-secret-history-of-torture.html
@dreolin, re Bad Pharma:
http://anthraxvaccine.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.tomatobubble.com/manifesto93.html
As I said we chosen our pastimes badly.
What comes of war?
A greater piece for sum!
Clark (if despite yourself you’re reading this), quite understand your resignation, but I hope your opinions will still be aired here. If this comment appears, it means the problem I was having is fixed, thanks very much for your input.
Rose – sorry you think you’re not a member of the club! Sure you’re as welcome as anybody, and more than some. Say on…
I am very sorry to read of your resignation Clark and hope you will reconsider.
You and Jon are very much needed at this critical time as our voices which supplement Craig’s words should be heard. You aid that process of course.
A Simple Jew – sorry, we have to draw the line somewhere. There are plenty of sites for holocaust denial on the web. Your views on the US presidential candidates are welcome, however.
Mary, thanks.
(Komodo, I switched back to the old anti-spam system, since the new one seemed to be less accurate. I’ll try again today with a different spammer database).
It was very depressing to get this news yesterday in spite of our petitioning of MEPs.
‘EFI, European Friends of Israel is proud to announce that this afternoon in the plenary session in Strasbourg, Members of the European Parliament voted in favor of the ACAA Agreement (EU – Israel Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products).
379 deputies voted for the agreement, 41 abstained from voting, 230 voted against.
This decision is a major step in improving the life of European consumers by reducing the costs of medicine and increasing the quality and quantity of medical products in the market. They will reach the consumers much faster, the quality of control of pharmaceuticals produced outside EU will be enhanced and EU exporters access to the Israeli market will be easier and vice versa.
The Members of European Parliament showed that they can put politics aside and needs of patients first.’
http://www.efi-eu.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=305:acaa-agreement-passed-in-the-european-parliament
The pharmaceticals stuff is a blind. It is the thin end of the wedge.
I have never looked at this stuff before.
“Encourage and cultivate an environment in which Israel’s political and commercial interests are enhanced.” Repeated. Treason as committed by ex chief of staff Lord Guthrie who is a patron of the JNF.
{http://www.efi-eu.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=269&Itemid=145#.UIb_BHbHK8Y}
Some chutzpah – ‘some 1000 members’.
@Ben – Not sure I understand your drift, when you mention Jimmy Hoffa. I’m familiar with the history you mention. Organised workers employed specialists in violence, which organised crime (a faction of capital if ever there was one) was of course very willing to provide (i.e. protection, nowadays usually called ‘security’), and the eventual result was that the mob took over the labour unions. Bye bye most of the space for workers to discuss things freely and self-organise in any genuine sense. Most of the organised workers’ intentions were good (e.g. sorting out particularly obnoxious bosses and resisting their thugs), but they were wrong to employ specialists in violence – I think is this is now clear! (Incidentally, do you know ‘Wasted Life’ by the Stiff Little Fingers?) The use of violence by the suffragettes was much more clued-in.
@Mary – interesting stuff on the EFI. So much stuff is as blatant as anything, when you look at it. It’s remarkable how British MPs are supposed to declare payments from lobbyists etc., in a register available for public inspection, but they don’t have to declare membership of organisations such as Conservative Friends of Israel, or the equivalent groups in other political parties. In 2006, the CFOI boasted that two-thirds of Tory MPs belonged to their organisation. Talk about a Foreign Agents Registration Act! 🙂 Imagine if some KGB front or other had boasted that two-thirds of Tory MPs (or Labour or Liberal or SNP) were on its books.
@Rose – welcome to the club 🙂
I am inclined to welcome Israel’s desire to become part of the European conformity mechanism. It will entangle its manufacturers hopelessly in red tape, management bollox, H&S regulations and endless committees. Failing a genuine trade boycott, it’s about as good as it gets….
Mary whats your understanding of the drugs industry with this new clause how are the benefits and how is it detremental?
Maybe central planning can work if we are all on the same page?
Thanks, Jon. Appreciated.
Re. “those Islamists…”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20037203
“Why are you staying divided?” he asked an audience at Gaza’s Islamic University. “There are no peace negotiations, and there is no clear strategy of resistance and liberation. Why shouldn’t brothers sit together and reconcile?”
The same thought had occurred to me. But:
{http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=163524388}
(BBC has 3 Palestinian dead, but this is better-written)
Jonangus Mackay 24 Oct, 2012 – 4:03 am
“This, at London’s Frontline Club 15 November, may be of interest to readers. Craig, needless to say, is an obvious omission from the panel”
I doubt Craig is unwelcome at the Frontline Club. I would be interested to know if I’m wrong.
Quite agree N_. In 2007 a small group of us tried to have these lobby groups (all parties have FoIs) shut down but were unsuccessful.
Komodo Your comment could be taken as tacit approval of the admittance of Israel to the ACAA.
Jay you are just being provocative. I am not responding apart from repeating that it is the thin end of the wedge.
Komodo Your comment could be taken as tacit approval of the admittance of Israel to the ACAA.
It could. I hope it isn’t. And I would also hope that tacit approval as well as tacit disapproval of Israel’s or anyone else’s actions are not yet a matter for embargo.
And look who’s been bitching since Roman times about racism….
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-new-israeli-apartheid-poll-reveals-widespread-jewish-support-for-policy-of-discrimination-against-arab-minority-8223548.html
Thanks for the link, Vronsky.
@Phil
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‘I doubt Craig is unwelcome at the Frontline Club. I would be interested to know if I’m wrong.’
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Suspect Craig would be interested to know for sure also—given disgraceful way in which he was first invited & then, at the last minute, disinvited as platform speaker at a Frontline/New Statesman event on whistleblowing at Kensington Town Hall a while back. There’s never been an explanation & I’ve felt compelled to regard the ex-Guards-officer-owned club with some caution ever since.
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Shouldn’t stop anyone booking up for the torture event, however.
Jonangus Mackay 24 Oct, 2012 – 2:31 am
Thanks for that link. I had no idea Ross had undergone such a transformation. Very interesting.
“…any student of complex systems knows it is impossible for top down authority to impose order.”