The Tony Blair House Journal (editor Alan Rusbridger) reports on Kanye West’s disgusting private performance for the Kazakh dictator and his family, and takes a sideswipe at David Cameron for visiting that country.
But peculiarly they fail to mention that Tony Blair receives US $4 million a year as a consultant to the worker murdering Kazakh dictator, and that Alistair Campbell and Jonathon Powell as well as Blair visit to give this support – which has included a behind the scenes campaign to help Nazarbaev win the Nobel Peace Prize, fortunately with no result to date.
Chemical weapons sent from Turkey to Syria
Arbed, thanks for link to Privacy SOS.
I wonder on what day the US goes to action against Syria and if that action leads to World Action III. Wasn’t there some goofy euphemism called Kinetic Action in Libya or Bosnia, and why did they drop the kinetic this time?
Anyone think Robert Fisk has lost his edge? Producing more and more “puff” pieces that have little or no depth and little or no information …
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/this-bombardment-of-syria-clichs-shows-no-sign-of-stopping-8798719.html
why did they drop the kinetic this time?
Because they’ll be stuck there for a decade? Or because someone thought it sounded like “kinetic cack – shun”?
Yes, Dreo. It’s the David Frost ™ (RIP) Effect. A cutting-edge, irreverent, seeker after truth undergoes metamorphosis when it finds it no longer has to work very hard for its living. It emerges from the cocoon as a pundit. Happened to Bernard Levin, too…
Beyond Violence
J. Krishnamurti Third Public Talk at San Diego State College, California April 1970
“And what is our life, a life of conflict, a life that has really no meaning as it is, a life that is a battlefield, not only in yourself but also in your relationship, a life of division, contradiction, routine, monotony. And a life that is, when you look at it very deeply, utterly lonely, a life that has no beauty. And that is our life and we are not exaggerating it, if you observe yourself very carefully, without any prejudice, bias, when you look at every human being, right through the world, the saint, the priest, the specialist, the careerist, the ordinary layman are all caught in this.
And we want to escape from it. And so you escape through nationalism, through beliefs, through dogmas, through innumerable forms of entertainment, in which is included the religious entertainment. That is our life, comparing ourselves with something that should be, comparing ourselves with the greater, with the nobler, with the more intelligent, with the more spiritual and so on and on. Therefore conflict and fear. This is our life, a battle for security and in the very search for security, psychological as well as physical, we bring about destruction. These are obvious facts.
And from this we want to escape, because man has lived like this for thousands and thousands of years, with sorrow, confusion and great misery and mischief. And without changing all that, completely, radically, mere outward revolution, changing a particular system for another system, does not solve this aching agony. There is only one revolution, the inward revolution.
So, spitting on society, blaming society for your condition, is obviously blaming something which you have created – it is your society, you have built it, by your greed, envy, ambition, competitiveness, comparison, by one’s own inward hatreds, violence. So that is our life, a really quite insane life.
Now the question is, how can that life be changed, not gradually, but immediately?
(Otherwise you’re sowing the seed of violence, though you may want peace, you are actually sowing the seeds of enmity, misery.)”
Video
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/krishnamurti-teachings/view-video/understanding-meditation-requires-order-part-3-of-4.php
Full transcript
http://www.jkrishnamurti.org/krishnamurti-teachings/view-text.php?tid=961&chid=665
Note K speaking with complete passion, extempore without a single note of reference. Direct intelligence.
Democratising Iraqis, the good olde fashioned way
Obama War Buddy Enjoying His Picnic, Despite Being Short of A Loaf!
How’s Libya getting on these days?
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/09/04/libya_oil_crisis.html
Oh. Regime change didn’t do Big Oil any favours, it would seem.
http://www.fairobserver.com/article/weapons-proliferation-libya-threatens-stability-sahel-northwest-africa
Better arm the militants in Syria, then. Why delay?
Just breaking news.
The Russians forces have been put on Alert!
This latest adventure of AIPAC et al is not going to be a cake walk, after all.
Happy New Year to all Jewish friends.
During Business of the House this morning Bob Blackman sent his constituents good wishes on Rosh Hashana and Andrew Lansley repeated the greeting. I don’t remember a minister in the HoC ever greeting Moslems on a Moslem holiday, do you?
This morning on Prayer for the Day/Radio 4, I heard Mr Kessler from the Woolf Institute of Abrahamic Faiths, Cambridge expounded on Rosh Hashanah.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039jn36
‘Good morning.
Today is Rosh ha Shana, the Jewish New Year. 5th Sept
Some years ago I discussed with children at religion school the significance of Rosh ha Shana. I explained that the Jewish New Year has but one similarity with the celebrations that surround the end of the secular New Year, on 31st December – the making of New Year’s resolutions. Rosh Hashana is a time not of parties, I said causing a few gasps of disappointment, but of looking back at the mistakes of the year just ended and reflecting on the changes in lifestyle that are needed to lead a better life in the year ahead.
Judaism accepts that we are not saints, or angels; rather we are human. We should not talk about leaps, but small deliberate steps. Judaism is too sober a faith to demand from us unreal expectations which in all likelihood are doomed to failure. That is why Lo alecha ha’m l’cha lig mor v’ lo atah ben chorin l’vatel mi-mena, which means, ‘You are not free to complete the task but neither are you free to desist from it’, is one of the most famous rabbinic dictums. We must try to do our bit, without expecting that we can do it all.
On Rosh ha Shana, resolutions begin by making one small step, followed by another and then another…. The rabbis describe God’s appeal to us in these words, “my children, open for Me an aperture of repentance as narrow as the eye of a needle and I will open for you gates through which wagons and coaches can pass through”.
May we learn to return to God, taking one small step at a time, knowing that He will meet us more than half way.
Amen’
Nigel Kennedy will be appearing at the Royal Albert Hall this Saturday in the Last Night of the Proms, broadcast live on BBC2 from 7.30pm (also I believe on Radio 3). Before that, Nigel will also make an appearance in Proms in the Park, Hyde Park. (see info lower down). Nigel’s manager Terri Robson writes:
“…. the good news is that the BBC agreed that Mostafa (the young violinist – one of the 3 Saad brothers – who played the Vivaldi duet at the Prom) could play in Nigel’s appearance at Hyde Park on Sat. He just arrived here and we start rehearsals tomorrow. He’s very excited… ”
BBC Proms in the Park will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, Red Button and Online.
Viewers can watch extracts from all four Proms in the Park via the red button on Saturday evening, 7th Sept. Online viewers can also watch all four Parks live, in full, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms Viewers on Virgin Tivo can also watch each concert live, in full, on Sat 7th Sept.
Each of the four Parks will also be available to watch again, on demand, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms and on Virgin Tivo.
Highlights will be recorded for rebroadcast on Sept 20
More details about the Russian forces alert:
It is emerging following the missile firings in the Med. That Russian forces were ordered onto full alert.
Mary – For Truth And Justice 5 Sep, 2013 – 1:08 pm:
“Happy New Year to all Jewish friends. During Business of the House this morning Bob Blackman sent his constituents good wishes on Rosh Hashana and Andrew Lansley repeated the greeting. I don’t remember a minister in the HoC ever greeting Moslems on a Moslem holiday, do you?”
The Prime Minister wishes Muslims “a very happy and peaceful Eid ul Fitr”
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/gazette/2011/08/the-prime-ministers-eid-ul-fitr-message.html
Alex Thomson
“People. Have. Had. Enough.”
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/baghdamascus-iraqs-long-shadow/6112
No record of the Blackman and Lansley exchange on the holiday greetings.
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/284/#c284
But this from yesterday is recorded.
Bob Blackman (Harrow East, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to Baroness Tonge of 30 July 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, column 294WA, on Palestine, if his Department will correct the figures given by Baroness Warsi regarding the number of Palestinian deaths attributed to Israeli intervention.
•Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 4 September 2013, c389W)
Alistair Burt (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Afghanistan/South Asia, counter terrorism/proliferation, North America, Middle East and North Africa), Foreign and Commonwealth Office; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)
In a response, to a parliamentary question asked by the noble Baroness Tonge, the answer contained a clerical error.
The answer should have stated:
‘We have made no assessment of the number of non-violent protestors killed or injured in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 2002.
According to the website of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 3,643 Palestinians have been killed by Israelis since 1 January 2005 in incidents directly related to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in the West Bank and Gaza strip.’
My noble Friend, the Senior Minister of State, the right hon. Baroness Warsi wrote to Baroness Tonge on 16 August, a copy of which was deposited in the House Library, informing her of the clerical error.
I know that Anon. Cameron is assiduous on his greetings to all faiths on Twitter, No 10 website etc.
I said ‘in the House’ though.
Glimpsing the topic briefly….
Tony Blair will be in Mongolia next week. Not far enough away, IMO, but it’s a start.
http://mjayrosenberg.com/2013/09/04/dershowitz-says-war-vote-should-declare-war-on-iran-now-yes-iran/
The Tony Blair Faith Foundation seems to have expanded its remit –
…the government of Mongolia has established one year-term contract with the TBFF to cooperate in education, health, vacancies, legal advice for augmenting foreign investments, and in supporting mortgage loans.
Mission statement on TBFF website:
We provide the practical support to help prevent religious prejudice, conflict and extremism. We work with those of faith and none who are committed to peaceful co-existence.
Translation (apparently): ‘We provide money and contacts, for any purpose, to anyone capable of paying our fees.’
Because if there’s one place beyond the Caspian without a faith problem, it looks like Mongolia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_Mongolia
Damn. Wrong (but interesting) link at the top of that. Should have been:
http://www.mad-mongolia.com/news/mongolia-news/tony-blair-to-visit-us-15329/
Komodo found:
Just as he did in UK; now poor Muslims are getting bombed in their mosques and edl thugs are going around and chanting anti Muslim slogans (their website filled with; they better be scared ……), and reminding the Muslims; they are the outsiders/immigrants/second class beings/unwanted guests/coloured s out/etc. Whilst racism is full on and revived for all intents and purposes. Included in every official form a clause put for asking about the applicants ethnicity, why don’t they just put numbers on the forms and bring back the good old days in south Africa?
This character is now trying to incite civil war in the Genghis Khan lands?
According to that link, too, Blair’s visit has nothing to do with Mongolia’s problems with mining giant Rio Tinto. Perish the thought. But Blair’s linkage to brokering mining deals would not be novel:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jim-armitage-blairs-repeated-guinea-trips-raise-eyebrows-over-his-connections-8467931.html
Blair likes visiting Guinea, evidently. In which RTZ were expropriated by the previous regime, and their holdings sold at a discount to a dodgy Israeli. Sorry, excrescences, but that’s where Steinmetz hails from.
…. President Condé said he wants to keep working with Vale on a new deal, as well as offering London’s Rio Tinto a long-term slug of development rights. Crucially, though, he seems to want to keep these deals clean.
Pure gold.
‘…at a discount by a dodgy Israeli’, sorry.
On September 3, 2012, British Daily Mail reported that Saif al-Islam, 41, had an Israel’s top model and TV actress, Orly Weinerman, 42, as girlfriend for six years. She called former British prime minister Tony Blair to save his old friend’s life. Weinerman, met Saif in London in April 2005. She claims Saif worked closely with Tony Blair before he was captured.
“Mr. Blair is a man of God (?) – as a Christian he has the moral duty to help a friend in need,” she said. She also claimed that her parents were against her converting to Islam – and that Israeli press ran a smearing campaign against her having relation with a Muslim.
http://rehmat1.com/2013/08/06/libya-failed-state-blair-and-saifs-israeli-girlfriend/
Senate committee approves military strike on Syria, as Obama argues U.S. credibility is on the line
Bombing the “sandniggers” is not all that much of a problem, and no need to break up the much deserved holidays, and prior vacations arrangements.
Well that is democracy for you the american way.
Bit of background there, Rehmat.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8740464/Libya-secret-documents-link-Tony-Blair-to-Gaddafi-son-Saif-al-Islam-and-his-suspect-thesis.html
I don’t think Tony will want to help his old friend, sad to say. Crocodile tears are the most we can hope for, I think. On the other hand, I would think that having Blair put in a good word for you at a trial in the Maghreb would probably guarantee you a death sentence…
Republican Talks Sense:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/05/rick-santorum-opposes-syria-resolution/
There are no good outcomes here. An al Qaeda-run Syria is no better than an Assad-Iran-Hezbollah-run Syria. What is happening there is tragic, but it is not in the United States’ best interest to intervene with a military strike
Precisely.
I just thought I’d post a comment to say hello, as I’ve again found myself at a place with no internet connection (I’m currently at Fort William Public Library). The Doune the Rabbit Hole festival was excellent and it was good to see Craig, who worked exceedingly hard running the bar, some of his shifts lasting over twelve hours.
The propaganda in support of military action in Syria is simply sickening. Some of it would be laughable if it wasn’t such a serious matter.
Here in Scotland, the the newspapers seem unanimous in their propaganda against Scottish independence. For some reason, various mega-rich men wish to buy large chunks of Scotland. Now, the rich don’t get rich by wasting their money, so if they want to own bits of Scotland they presumably see it as a good investment. This would seem to contradict the chorus from the corporate news media that Scotland is broke without subsidies from England.
I expect I’ll be off-line again for a while. I apologize to anyone who’s e-mailed me but received no reply – I’ll catch up when I get the chance!
Where B.Liar makes his £millions.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/15/article-0-1A5360C5000005DC-887_638x341.jpg
from
Blair’s dirty money: As his tentacles reach Mongolia, how the ex-PM is making millions from some of the world’s most evil regimes
Tony Blair is to advise Mongolian leaders on ‘good governance’
The former Prime Minister won’t say how much he is earning from the deal
Mr Blair is said to be worth between £60million and £80million
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342032/Blairs-dirty-money-As-tentacles-reach-Mongolia-ex-PM-making-millions-worlds-evil-regimes.html
I would add a few zeros to his stated wealth. His property alone must be worth £60m+.
Strange how Canada is not included in that graphic. Perhaps he leaves that territory to his friend Belinda Stronach who flew him to Toronto in her private jet to launch their interfaith outfit. She is a rich heiress to her father’s Frank Stronach’s car parts company and an ex Canadian MP.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/357381/tony-blair-and-belinda-stronach-join-in-collaboration-with-canadian-faith-and-belief-leaders
Phony Tony with the usual hand gestures here.
http://www.tonyblairoffice.org/news/entry/tony-blair-and-belinda-stronach-join-together-to-support-faiths-act-fellows/
Her father, an Austrian, born Strohsack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stronach
He’s not wearing very well, though, is he? Recent pic of our toothy friend –
http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/article8568577.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/TonyBlair.jpg
He’s only 60…Or is that the *Picture of Dorian Blair* he keeps in the attic?
“For some reason, various mega-rich men wish to buy large chunks of Scotland. Now, the rich don’t get rich by wasting their money, so if they want to own bits of Scotland they presumably see it as a good investment”
Land is always a good investment, but I should think the appeal is in owning a large sporting estate.
For those who object to rich Sassenachs buying up chunks of Scotland, there is always the Landless Peasant Party, which managed 57 votes at the last general election.