My successor as Rector of the University of Dundee, Brian Cox, has left Labour and joined the SNP. Almost no mainstream media coverage – if it was the other way round, we would have Murphy and Cox wall to wall for weeks. I am delighted about Brian’s move as it is more evidence of genuinely radical voices coming in to the party. I was similarly happy yesterday to find that Tommy Sheppard, for whom I voted, has been selected to fight Edinburgh East, where I live. I think the SNP with its new membership is going to be a great deal more radical than it was before.
Long term readers may recall that in 2010 I stood down as Rector of Dundee University after only one term, as I did not feel I had been able to give it as much time as I would wish to do a really excellent job. Now I have moved back to Edinburgh, those problems no longer apply, and I shall be standing for election to take the post again next year, as Brian Cox completes his second (and final) term.
I cannot help but recall that on the polling day of my election as Rector in 2007, the Daily Record came out in Dundee with a full front page photo of my opponent, Andy Nicol (unionist rugby player), and a single front page headline “I was born to lead Dundee students”. The lengths to which the Establishment will go to try to ensure that whistleblowers stay down and stomped upon sometimes surprise even me.
There is a pro-Independence rally outside parliament from 11 am on Saturday. I shall be speaking. I am not sure how widely it has been publicised, but I do hope that it will show that the extraordinary spirit that has been awakened in Scotland is still alive and kicking.
Habbabkuk,
You havent got a clue about how other posters have arrived at their positions.At best youre glimpsing through a keyhole.
So stop your petty judgementalism and know-it-all cant.
You havent a clue.
Mary, thanks for your link above to the debate on the Iraq Inquiry including Elfyn Llwyd’s contribution about the transcripts.
The discussion in the parliamentary Iraq Inquiry on 29th Jan includes in passing comment on whether Britain should become a Denmark or not is also interesting. Our defence expenditure per capita is not much more than that in Denmark. Rory Stewart’s point about our fundamental lack of intelligence in understanding other countries and cultures is fundamental. What is the point in snooping electronically, or in getting involved in anything internationally, if we don’t have a wide range of skilled civil servants who really understand the countries and cultures. That is not being a good colonialist as opposed to a bad colonialist, but simply being pragmatic.
The 2009 per capita defence expenditure figs on wiki show:
1) US $2141
….
9) Britian $940
14) Denmark $804
24) Russia $430
32) China $75
The total expenditure tables on wiki has US 1st China 2nd and Russia 3rd.
I support Rory Stewart on this. We need to improve education, encourage independent thinking and have some backbone both individually and as a nation.
I want to see how much of the debate is reported in the press. I wonder whether they will report Elfyn Llwyd’s contribution about the transcripts?
Interesting to see that the BBC pushing heavily this morning the new British Army “77 Brigade (PSYOPS) Information Warfare) based in Hermitage, Berkshire. They will start operations on Social Media on the first of April!
Really! ?
Surely the beeb means last April as 77Bgd’s presence on Craig’s Blog has been scientifically measurable for ages…
CIA interrogated suspects on Diego Garcia, says Colin Powell aide
Lawrence Wilkerson is the latest of a number of US officials to say British territory was used in CIA rendition programme
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/30/cia-interrogation-diego-garcia-lawrence-wilkerson
Really Mr Wilkerson? You don’t say!
77 Brigade are probably located at RAF Welford, (leased to USA for ages), which is noticeable for its secret access road from Junction 13 and a half, off the M4.
Or alternatively it could be a couple of geeks in a pub with a MacBook running Kali OS
YouKnowMyName extract from
British army creates team of Facebook warriors
Soldiers familiar with social media sought for 77th Brigade, which will be responsible for ‘non-lethal warfare’
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/31/british-army-facebook-warriors-77th-brigade
‘The Israel Defence Forces have pioneered state military engagement with social media, with dedicated teams operating since Operation Cast Lead, its war in Gaza in 2008-9. The IDF is active on 30 platforms – including Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram – in six languages. “It enables us to engage with an audience we otherwise wouldn’t reach,” said an Israeli army spokesman.
It has been approached by several western countries, keen to learn from its expertise.
During last summer’s war in Gaza, Operation Protective Edge, the IDF and Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, tweeted prolifically, sometimes engaging directly with one another.’
Perhaps the Israelis will be giving some useful help to the 77th.
@Mary: I’m sure Habby will be interested in this article about Diego Garcia because… as we know, he told us, he is against torture.
So, Habby, are you going to join the campaign to bring Blair to justice?
Back on theme… a political pollster on radio 4 has just said that according to the polls the SNP will get more than 50 seats in the Gen Election. However, he also says that he thinks they’ll actually only get 15-20 seats. What does he know that we don’t?
It’s all very sad what’s happening in the Ukraine. I can’t believe “normal” Ukrainians believe the appalling propaganda dished out by their government, even if the Western media do. I guess a population under occupation has to pretend they don’t see through it, because if they show outward signs of discontent, they run the risk of being arrested or even shot.
By contrast, the people of Donbass collectively chose that risk, choosing freedom and accepting material destruction, rather than physical and mental subjugation. They are heroes, and I’m sure a lot of “normal” Ukrainians think that as well.
If anyone in London can overcome their sadness for the people of the world and face the weather here, today’s action is March For Homes. See you there.
61 killed in suicide bombing at mosque in Pakistan
http://www.thejournal.ie/61-killed-in-pakistan-suicide-bombing-1913389-Jan2015/
Jivesy
“Habbabkuk,
You havent got a clue about how other posters have arrived at their positions.”
________________
I believe I said that, didn’t I?
Why should that disqualify me from commenting on matters of interest to the contributors to this blog?
Reasoned response, please.
Peacewisher
“So, Habby, are you going to join the campaign to bring Blair to justice?”
___________________
Which campaign is that, Peacewisher?
Peacewisher
“Back on theme… a political pollster on radio 4 has just said that according to the polls the SNP will get more than 50 seats in the Gen Election. However, he also says that he thinks they’ll actually only get 15-20 seats. What does he know that we don’t?”
____________________
Is that a rhetoric
..rhetorical question, Peacewisher?
Did the pollster not explain why he thought that?
@Habby: he didn’t say. But it fits the agenda of Cameron getting to power as a minority government supported by the libdems. It’s going to be very close and it won’t happen if the SNP get more than 20 seats. A lot of SNPs would mess up the scenario that’ll be laid on with a trowel over the next three months.
Why do you think a commentator on a top BBC political programme would say something different from what all the polls (and the bookies!) are predicting.
There are many campaigns to bring Blair to book, Habby. Take your choice… or start a new one yourself (!)
Habbabkuk
Why is RoS referring to you as Guido? Is he implying you are Guido Fawkes the blogger?
KOWN
You’ll have to ask him, I suppose. Good luck with that, RoS doesn’t do straight answers! 🙂
Habbabkuk,
Well,for example, you should stop your speculative thrusts about some posters private lives and motivations when theyve expressly asked you to desist and leave them alone.
Another thread turned to shreds by our ‘it’ man using his chop words and housekeepers’ guile to strike fear into new posters here, as well as annoying/cyber stalking those who commented here for some time before s/he arrived with his Schmalz.
I hope that this little poem will bring some happiness to those s/he maligned.
Smiling is infectious,
you catch it like the flu’,
when someone smiled at me today
I started to smile too.
I passed around the corner
and someone saw me grin,
so when he smiled I realised
I’d passed it on to him
I stopped and thought about that smile
then realised it’s worth.
A single, simple smile like mine
could travel round the earth.
So when you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic NOW
and get the world infected.
from a local publication, without dedication.
MoD faces tribunal challenge from whistleblower doctor sacked by text
Stephen Frost, campaigner for inquest into death of David Kelly, fired after revealing alleged dispensing problems at army base
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/30/whistleblower-doctor-sacked-text-mod-tribunal-stephen-frost-david-kelly
The Scottish Parliament had a Chilcot Iraq Inquiry debate.
2.00 pm Parliamentary Bureau Motions
followed by Scottish Government Debate: The Chilcot Inquiry
S4M-12182 Nicola Sturgeon: The Chilcot Inquiry—That the Parliament calls for Sir John Chilcot’s official inquiry into the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent war to publish its findings and all evidence ahead of the UK general election; acknowledges that the Iraq war resulted in the deaths of 179 UK service personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians; notes that the cost to taxpayers of the war is estimated at £9.6 billion, and believes that, six years after the inquiry was established and three years after hearings concluded, it is in the interests of transparency, accountability and democracy that the report is published as soon as possible and that any further delay in publication is completely unjustifiable.
The Presiding Officer has selected the following amendment
S4M-12182.1 Alex Fergusson: The Chilcot Inquiry—As an amendment to motion S4M-12182 in the name of Nicola Sturgeon (The Chilcot Inquiry), leave out from “calls” to end and insert “accepts that the timing of the release of the findings of the Chilcot inquiry into the invasion of Iraq is entirely for the inquiry itself to decide; expresses its disappointment that the inquiry has now stated that its findings will not be published before the 2015 general election, and, despite Sir John Chilcot’s statement confirming this, calls on him to publish the inquiry’s findings as soon as possible.”
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/BusinessBulletin/86231.aspx
~~
Chilcot Inquiry debate video 1hr 31mins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/scotland-31045479
Very few there.
Jives
“Habbabkuk,
Well,for example, you should stop your speculative thrusts about some posters private lives and motivations when theyve expressly asked you to desist and leave them alone.”
_________________
You’re once more attempting to re-write history, aren’t you. Can you furnish examples, and once you’ve done that, compare and contrast them with the speculations of others about me?
And stop whining on behalf of others; your whining about yourself (cf your posts of earlier today)is pathetic enough.
Nevermind
The little poem you offered was most inappropriate for the person to whom it was dedicated since I find it difficult to believe that she has ever smiled much in real life. At least, judging from her posts.
As for you, why don’t you attempt to write something serious for once? Here’s a question to start you off:
“Whether 6, 4.5, 3 or 2.5 millions innocent Jews were killed in the Holocaust, that was 6,4.5, 3 or 2.5 million too many – do you agree?”
“Whether 6, 4.5, 3 or 2.5 millions innocent Jews were killed in the Holocaust, that was 6,4.5, 3 or 2.5 million too many – do you agree?”
____________________________
Guido aka Habb.
Switch the above question, and replace the Jews with innocent Palestinians do YOU agree?
You reminded me of this genius Nevermind. It always brings a tear.
Smile, Charlie Chaplin , Modern Times, 1936
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps6ck1ejoAw
Habbabkuk,
You whine and bitch so much you were banned,remember?
Shill fool.
Why is RoS referring to you as Guido? Is he implying you are Guido Fawkes the blogger?
It’s a reference to the notably bad* holocaust-themed film “Life Is Good” (La Vita e Bella) whose hero, Guido, is shot by a camp guard. Excusably, IMO. Dora and Joshua are also characters. H. cannot complain if he is mistaken for a holocaust-salesman.
*Critic’s note: Anthony Quinn saw it once and wrote a glowing review. Then he saw it again and wrote, “For the record, it stinks – and I wish I’d said so.”,
Back on theme… a political pollster on radio 4 has just said that according to the polls the SNP will get more than 50 seats in the Gen Election. However, he also says that he thinks they’ll actually only get 15-20 seats. What does he know that we don’t?
He knows that the SNP has two major faults. It believes its own propaganda, and it gets complacent at the end of a campaign, when it should be firing its heaviest weapons. Not being nasty: SNP kindly note, and remedy.