If anybody is surprised that key letters between Tony Blair and George Bush on launching the invasion of Iraq have gone missing, they have not been paying attention. On both sides of the Atlantic, the Obama and Cameron regimes have consistently and continually covered up the crimes of their predecessors, from launch illegal wars of aggression to instituting programmes of torture and extraordinary rendition and murder.
The motive in both cases is the same. Not only are the senior politicians in all mainstream parties members of the same “club”, committed to the same neo-conservative principles and indebted to the same corporate paymasters. But also these crimes involved the active complicity of thousands of senior members of the establishment, in the armed services, the secret services, the diplomatic services and other public servants. To come clean would take down thousands of people still in public service. or in other high places. In the UK, for example, war criminals Sir Richard Dearlove now master of Pembroke College Cambridge and Sir Mark Allen of Shell are only two who would have to go to jail. I am sorry to say that I am convinced that some people I know and like myself, ought to be sentenced. Not that it will happen.
When a state embarks on illegal war and systematic torture and murder, as a state, the ramifications go extremely wide. Literally thousands of highly placed people are implicated. There is nothing short of political revolution which would bring justice.
It is fascinating how far even the “liberal” media will and will not go in reporting these crimes. The murder part is almost entirely left out – it is well documented, for example, that scores of rendition flights went to Uzbekistan, including many from the CIA black base in Szymano-Szczytny in Mazuria, Poland. But it is almost never noted that not one person who was rendered to Uzbekistan ever emerged alive. They were all murdered.
The astonishing disparity of wealth in the UK – with just nine families owning as much as the poorest 15 million in the country – has now reached the point where, together with the crimes described above and the takeover of all main parties by the same neo-con philosophy – I have become, for the first time in my life, a political revolutionary. I have, unexpectedly, lost my faith in the ability of the currently constituted “democratic” system to provide a fair society. That seems to be because the extreme and escalating concentration and control of capital coincides with the extreme and escalating concentration and control of the media. That media control seems, despite the availability of alternative new media, to have sufficient power of influencing people to grant untrammeled hegemony over society to the wealthy.
Working on the Voltairian basis that il faut cultiver le jardin, I shall continue to work for Scottish independence on the grounds that smaller polities have a greater chance of resistance, a kind of theory of political asymmetric warfare, and that for cultural reasons there has been a less complete neo-con takeover of political debate there.
To return to Chilcot, there is a sense in which it is good that he has not yet reported. Chilcot is holding out to be able to include the Bush-Blair correspondence, which offers conclusive proof that the “WMD” meme was a knowing lie to justify a vicious and pre-determined war. The recent Tory pressure for early publication is for publication without these documents. Much better to wait and get the actual proof.
The idea that two heads of state corresponding on taking their states to war can be “private” and kept from their people, is so outrageous that the fact it is stated at all is, in itself, sufficient evidence of the media control being as complete as I assert. It is a laughable proposition. Besides which, if these were private letters, why were Sir David Manning and Sir Christopher Meyer delivering them at public expense? Can we charge Blair for this service? Meyer and Manning don’t come cheap. It was, incidentally, Sir David Manning who brought back to No. 10 the request from the White House that I be sacked as British Ambassador in Uzbekistan for kicking up a fuss internally over extraordinary rendition.
After careful consideration of the Rome Statute, I am convinced that an independent Scotland will be able to refer Blair to the war crimes tribunal at the Hague, and I am determined to make sure that this happens.
Like what, Phil?
I haven’t discovered anything that makes a bit of difference.
Rehmat
20 May, 2014 – 1:20 pm
“…Rupert Murdoch, a Zionist Jew…”
I must inform you Rehmat that Murdoch is a Zionist but NOT Jewish.
It helps if you check the facts otherwise our Zionist friends on this blog will scream anti-Semitism!!
Errrr…craigmurray.org – hadn’t you better delete the link to John Friend on Kempe’s post?
I mean, really ironic, yeah?
38 degrees campaigning group are warning members of a prospective trade deal which perfectly illustrates the above.
NOTES
[1] World Development Movement: EU-US Trade Deal:
http://www.wdm.org.uk/food-and-hunger/eu-us-trade-deal-written-banks-banks
[2] The Guardian: The lies behind this transatlantic deal:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/02/transatlantic-free-trade-deal-regulation-by-lawyers-eu-us
[3] Independent: NHS could be ‘carved open’ by US health profiteers:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-could-be-carved-open-by-us-healthcare-profiteers-warns-shadow-health-secretary-andy-burnham-9292530.html
[4] EurActiv: TTIP means trading away better regulation:
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/science-policymaking/ttip-means-trading-away-better-regulation-301454
Graham W Phillips a reporter for RT ,UK citizen and top bloke is being held by the National Guard in Maripol any idea how to approach the British Embassy to deal with this?
John Friend’s piece is right on target about 9/11 and its memorial except for his questioning its three thousand plus victims.
But I find the anti-semitism it elicits distasteful.
I recall the Swedish Jewish couple who commemorated Anna Linidh’s cruel assassination so tellingly and graphically that the Israeli Ambassador to Sweden felt obliged to wreck it.
Thing to remember about UKIP is that they’re there to scoop up discontents.
A managed operation.
Couldn’t quite do it with BNP. Remember how they tried. Much too much baggage. Another try with EDL and its dancing partner UAF came to naught.
Elite manufactured entities all.
Should Scotland seccede from the UK then you’re looking at the final collapse of English power on the world stage. Actually happened some time ago, but this will be the first public performance.
This too will be managed.
English scapygoats aplenty. A whole history of their utter horribleness on endless replay.
Trials likely.
And each of us will play our part in this unfolding drama, the script already written.
A Node – timely info.
More on the corporate takeover of government:
http://corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/attachments/record_captive_commission.pdf
A Node
20 May, 2014 – 3:19 pm
“That media control seems, despite the availability of alternative news media, to have sufficient power of influencing people to grant untrammeled hegemony over society to the wealthy. “
“38 degrees campaigning group are warning members of a prospective trade deal which perfectly illustrates the above.”
Absolutely correct A Node. The 38% group is struggling to get the message out to the public when it should be the duty of our media to inform us properly on the consequences of this deal.
A deal that is completely anti-democratic and puts profits over people.
Crackerjack piece, Craig Murray – bloody well done.
Throughout the run-up to Chilcot there were persistent rumours that the anti-Blair faction inside the FCO would destroy Moral Tone by releasing this very correspondence.
When – showing their usual degree of spine – the Sir Humphreys failed to do this, my one source at the time assured me, “Don’t worry…the Obama administration will release it to further smear the GOP in the end”. That didn’t happen either.
All I can say is that Mr Blair must have some very entertaining pics/videos/screen captures/affidavits squirreled away somewhere in Zurich.
“Errrr…craigmurray.org – hadn’t you better delete the link to John Friend on Kempe’s post? ”
Actually I was going to suggest the same thing. I really shouldn’t have cut and pasted the whole post.
Friend’s whole blog is so crackpot I wonder if he really believes it or if it’s just a hoax. Sadly I think he might really believe it.
@Gordo
Scotland must become independent as its the only way to escape from the scammers and conmen like George Galloway and the rest of them at Westminster who live off our backs
How does an independent Scotland escape Scots like Galloway, Blair, (Brown and Cameron[yes!])? Will all Scots to the right of Marx be exiled?
“In a key agreement Venezuela created a new corporation, Petro-Palestina, through which Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA will send oil to Palestine at a subsidised price.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro committed to sending an initial shipment of 240,000 barrels of oil.”
“It is not clear how the shipment will reach its destination, as Israel maintains an economic blockade of the Palestinian territories.
However Maduro said that he didn’t anticipate a problem and that the oil’s passage could be agreed through “dialogue”.”
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/10692
I’m not as optimistic as Maduro that the shipment will be allowed in. Zionists being Zionists.
“There is nothing short of political revolution which would bring justice.”
excellent article, now, with which bits shall we start, council tax boycotts? barricading transport hubs and motorways a la Putin?
And how do we bring the masses on to the streets? by stopping their benefit payments?
A BBc production of ‘come die for Britain’?
How do we do it and where are the computers that need ‘re structuring’?
The Conservatives at Norfolk county Hall are at it again, trying to wrest power for themselves and schemeing as usual. These are the chaps who signe a 682 million contract to bvuilt a 1960’s waste burner, without planning permission.
This from their deputy top Tory Ian Mackie
“Dear Fellow Conservatives,
As some of you may have been aware we have been approached to form the
Administration on the2TthMay, and regain control of the Council.
19ljsl20r4
Page2 of 2
his was discussed on Friday with UKIP, details of their modest ask for discussion at
our Group Meeting, Tuesday at 5pm, at County Hall is attached. This would be a
common understanding, not formal con/UKIP/Lib coalition
Given where we have been, and where we could end up from now until 2017, this is a
considerable turn-around, it will give us 600Z control with 45% of the Qouncil, it will
also ensure that we would have 63 votes in full council and representT5o/o of the votes
cast inNorfolk. This once only offer is from May 2014 until2017.
The offer would mean Conservatives have the following posts across the 5 main
committees:
1. Leader of the Council
2. Chairman – PolicY and Resources
3. Chairman – Communities
4. Chairman – Adult Services
5. Chairman – ETD Econ Dev Committee
6. Vice Chairman – Children’s Services
7. Vice Chairman – Adult Services
Conservatives would have the majority on all committees. Conservatives
Member Special Responsibility Allowances based on the above and other committees
would Ue C.S,t 17,000pa or c.f,351,000 across the next three years. In
addition, Conservatives would have the status, office and profile to assist in the 2015
elections, ensuring we are the ones to deliver azero council taxfteeze in election year’
we can claim the ciedit for all WE did to create 400 apprentices, launch OIIR Better
Broadband across Norfolk in 2015 and push for the A47 duelling. We can stop the raid
on second homes bonuses, halt all the anti Conservative messaging being pumped
out and ensure our rural roads and capitai assests are not at the mercy of Labour.
Also attached is a second chart showing how the council will look without this offer.
This is based on UKIPs discussions with others, but does not form their wish, that is to
enable us to lead the council again now the committee system is in place. This chart is
how the council would look until 2017.
I very much look forward to seeing you on Tuesday’
Best wishes,
Ian
Ian Mackie
Deputy Conservative GrouP Leader”
J Street banned from Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations
“J Street, recently rejected by the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish organizations, arrogantly claims to be a heroic group daring to criticise Israel when others fear to. But it merely echoes mainstream media and organizations that are constant critics of Israel”
“Since its inception in 2008, J Street, co-founded by Jeremy Ben-Ami, who is highly experienced and skilled in public relations, has been very successful in gaining access to and presenting its point of view in Jewish and other public forums.It was a legitimate issue for the Conference to discuss whether J Street should be allowed inside the tent.”
“By a vote of 22 against, 17 in favor, and 3 abstentions, a vote that was related to both ideological and tactical issues, J Street was denied entry.”
So, even if you are Jewish and support a Jewish state alongside a Palestinian state you get barred from joining the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish organizations!!
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/4959/j_street_s_one_way_traffic
What a set of tossers
Yes Doug,
Bearded man in skirt sings – blanket coverage.
Trade agreement which will deeply effect everybody in the Western world for decades to come – blank it.
P.S.
Mr Scorgie (re J Street – 17h34)
The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations
“By a vote of 22 against, 17 in favor, and 3 abstentions, a vote that was related to both ideological and tactical issues, J Street was denied entry.”
“What a set of tossers”
___________________
Since 17 voted in favour of admission, surely you meant 22 (or perhaps 22+3) “tossers”, Doug?
Dunce’s corner awaits!
Since 17 voted in favour.
Mr Scorgie
““In a key agreement Venezuela created a new corporation, Petro-Palestina, through which Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA will send oil to Palestine at a subsidised price.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro committed to sending an initial shipment of 240,000 barrels of oil.””
_____________________
Would you not agree, Doug, that this has a whiff of Chavez-esque gesture politics about it?
Especially as you also quote President Nicolas Maduro MOROS as saying, in an appealingly understated way:
““It is not clear how the shipment will reach its destination, as Israel maintains an economic blockade of the Palestinian territories.”
Galloway is no Nationalist. Internationalist for sure. I love to hear him speak but do not agree with his views on Scottish Independence.
Not sure if anyone remembers the joke, “come home to a real fire, buy a holiday cottage in Wales ” and at the same time there was the so called so called Scottish Liberation Army blowing up pillar boxes and lamp standards in remote locations.It was said that the English were doin it themselves.It never made sense back then but there are rumours that it was MI5 and their army of provocateurs.When I saw the faces of the two SAS prisoners in Basra caught red handed with explosives , detonators , Arab clothes and beards at the same time that Mosques were being attacked all over the south of Iraq, I realised then that we were the bad guys.So with all likelihood our forces were doing the nasty stuff in Scotland and Wales to keep the people quiet. No-one wanted what was happening in Ireland to cross the sea.
So far it is just disinformation and a loaded press + TV against the Yes movement, but should the polls which get suppressed show a continuing rise in support for Independence, then Westminster will probably let their pitbull’s loose north of the border.
They won’t let Scotland go.
Well done there Messrs Cameron and Hague! You have done to Libya what Bush and Blair did to Iraq and have obviously not heard of the phrase ‘leaving a vacuum’ as your legacy.
May 20, 2014
A Nation Disintegrates
Libya on the Brink of Civil War
by PATRICK COCKBURN
Libya is tipping toward all-out civil war as rival militias take sides for and against an attempted coup led by a renegade general that has pushed the central government towards disintegration.
In a move likely to deepen the crisis, the army chief of staff, whose regular forces are weak and ill-armed, called on Islamist-led militias to help preserve the government.
His call came after forces commanded by General Khalifa Hifter stormed the parliament building in Tripoli at the weekend, after earlier attacking Islamist militia camps in Benghazi.
The fighting has been the heaviest since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and there are signs that opposing militias and elements of the security forces in different parts of the country and with differing ideologies may be readying to fight a civil war.
/..
http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/05/20/libya-on-the-brink-of-civil-war/
“Especially as you also quote President Nicolas Maduro MOROS as saying, in an appealingly understated way:
““It is not clear how the shipment will reach its destination, as Israel maintains an economic blockade of the Palestinian territories.””
That’s editorial, habby.
Maduro is quoted as saying:
“that he didn’t anticipate a problem”
New glasses, re-reading and apologies please.
I’m amused to see that a couple of old tropes have suddenly resurfaced.
We have the egregious Herbie with the idea that absolutely nothing is what it seems ( a kind of reverse Occam’s razor) – everything is a sinister conspiracy directed by dark, all-powerful hidden forces: thus, UKIP is “a managed operation” and UKIP, BNP, EDL and UAF are “elite manufactured entities all”.
Followed by “The Slog” (who he?) who appears to believe that the actions or inaction of any public figure can be explained by blackmail:
“All I can say is that Mr Blair must have some very entertaining pics/videos/screen captures/affidavits squirreled away somewhere in Zurich.”
(I love the Zurich touch – sooo redolent of the “Gnomes of Zurich” of yesteryear)
My own opinion is that such dark thoughts are best banished by repeating to oneself, several times a day, the mantra:
La vita è bella, life is good!
Mr Scorgie
“Maduro is quoted as saying:
“that he didn’t anticipate a problem”
New glasses, re-reading and apologies please.”
_______________
He was indeed so quoted, but you do not seem to agree with him whole-heartedly:
“I’m not as optimistic as Maduro that the shipment will be allowed in.”
************
Who is right, I wonder – President Nicolas Maduro MOROS or Mr Doug Scorgie?
Only time will tell, Doug.
I know we can count on you to keep us posted about developments! 🙂
Standard practice, habby. Standard practice.
By the way, only a buffoon would argue that “life is good”. It’s far from good and it’s only going to get much worse, I’m afraid.
But, as we know, you have difficulty reading.
DD
“So with all likelihood our forces were doing the nasty stuff in Scotland and Wales to keep the people quiet.”
___________
Absolutely correct, Donny, and I can inform you on a strictly confidential basis that Prince Charles headed up operations in Wales (he is the Prince of Wales, after all) and in Scotland it was Prince Philip (because of Balmoral and all that).
Any thoughts about the various IRA bombings in England? Would love to know who was behind them!
Herbie
“Standard practice, habby. Standard practice.”
_____________
That reminds me of Mary’s “same old, same old” expression.
Do you use the same instruction manual?
********************
La vita è bellissima, la via non è dolorosa!
Have you ever read any history, habby?
If so, what did you learn?
I am reminded of an old neglected house plant I had completely forgotten to water and attend to. It was wilted and its leaves were dropping off. Suddenly, all by itself, it came to life and wouldn’t stop growing as if by magic.
Right, Nevermind, I have found writing letters to he media and politicians about the most serious problems are just wasted, unacknowledged efforts, posting provocative articles in Europe, the UK, and the USA about all kinds of dirty tricks in the hope they will provoke telling libel cases in the courts go nowhere, adding things to sites like this are simply ignored, getting others to write similar ones result in the same way, etc.
All it accomplishes is all kinds of insults, lies, and real threats which would have succeeded if it had not been for my being most healthy for my age, a good bit of luck, and a modicum of intelligence by me about what was afoot before it was too late.
Our covert governments do not take lightly serious claims and complaints.