After UK and US bombs have been devastating the Middle East for over a decade, killing certainly tens and probably hundreds of thousands of people, including many thousands of children, the media have suddenly noticed this morning that bombs kill an awful lot of civilians. But only Russian bombs, of course. British bombs are cheerful, happy and their shrapnel and blast are brilliantly engineered only to go in the direction of bad guys.
The UK/US bombing of Sirte was approximately 500 times more devastating than the Russian bombings yesterday. Yet strangely there was not one single BBC report on the thousands of civilian casualties they caused in just one of many towns they bombed in Libya.
It is worth pointing out that whether yesterday’s bombing by the Russians was against ISIL or against a different bunch of crazed Islamist rebels, one still supported by the CIA and Saudi Arabia, makes no difference whatsoever to the legal position. It was at the request of the Government of Syria and thus legal. That is not to say I support it. I do not. Bombing kills civilians and just causes more hate.
I have the confidence in my fellow human beings to believe that a substantial number will see through the propaganda and realise British bombs do that too.
My optimism extends to the quite astonishing media attack on Jeremy Corbyn. The scorn and bias of the media in dealing with him has awoken many to the fact that we do not in reality live in a democratic society. People are not free to present alternative ideas to the electorate and obtain a fair hearing for them.
But still I think there will be some effect. For an entire generation, broadcast media and print newspapers had never given the slightest indication that there might be a moral dilemma involved in pushing a button to kill a billion people directly, and set off a chain of events that will destroy all human life. The spluttering fury by the establishment at the revelation that there are in existence the kind of people who would not do that, is a wonder to behold.
But all that rage is revealing the existence of the moral dilemma to people from whom it has been effectively hidden as a topic of legitimate and serious debate. People will start to think. That is why Corbyn is so dangerous to the establishment. He has opened a Pandora’s box of ideas.
I like that on R4 – Russia “has admitted” attacking enemy positions. That requires an “admission” now, with the loaded term implying a confession of misdeeds. The only real “admission” today has been the news that a bunch of the
terroristsfreedom-fighters against Assad are actually on our payroll, and backed by UK and the CIA!“Excellent speech by the Prime Minister of Israel at the UNGA – ongoing.
I imagine that anyone interested will be able to find it online somewhere.”
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Tell me Habb, is Netanyahu ergo Israel, still whinging about Iran, and its nuclear deal.
If so I shall not be to bothered about missing his the end is nigh speech, no doubt Netanyahu will resort to the old picture of a nuclear explosion, you know the same one showed the UN GA, a few years back…….the end is nigh.
Whats your problem ishmael?
Are you/do you feel as if you’re not getting enough attention after all the posts you provide us with?
Chilling: Netanyahu Glares at UN Delegates for 45 Seconds for Their ‘Deafening Silence’ on Iran Deal
Oct 01, 2015
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/cortneyobrien/2015/10/01/netanyahu-un-speech-n2059774
LOL
Did he have training?
@Habbabkuk (la vita e’ bella)
1 Oct, 2015 – 5:39 pm
A lot of people think that Netanyahu is a psychopath:
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.638529
He’s off his trolley. He has made himself a laughing stock. Last time it was the drawing of a ‘berm’ and his red line.
Netanyahu glares at U.N. for 45 seconds after berating its silence on Iran threat to Israel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YllqrXMkDWo
Very many empty chairs.
Thanks Mary for the link, to Bibi’s snarlllll!
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Habb old boy my previous comment regarding Netanyahu and my half joking remark of he won’t do the old Iran story again, was just that.
Now it turns out Netanyahu is stuck firmly in Groundhog day, with same tired old rhetoric about Iran bad….the UN GA, must be sick of listening to that dronious shit…..I know I am.
Hi Ishmael, I count 19 comments from you above, not including any that you say have been deleted. That’s nearly 20% of the 105 comments made thus far, which is rather a lot, and as you say, you have stiff competition for off-topic! My advice (as an ex-mod) is keep it on-topic on the first page, squash two or three small asides into one where you can.
I’ve said before I would like to see more comments deleted, as there is so much noise and unpleasantness here that serious, learning discourse is often impossible.
(This message will self-destruct).
For new readers who might not have seen it: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/06/some-rules-for-comment-moderation/
Ishmael continuation of last comment, as I was saying don’t take a comment or comments getting removed to heart….afterall this is just a blog and we are only commenting.
If a comments removed just move on and comment again.
Thanks for the brilliant YouTube link, Mary.
The somewhat infamous Haaretz piece I linked to earlier is behind a paywall. The article can be found reproduced in full here:
http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2015/01/israeli-politician-basically-psychopath-guess/
22.35 BBC 1
01/10/2015
Question Time
David Dimbleby presents topical debate from Cardiff. He is joined on the panel by Conservative secretary of state for Wales Stephen Crabb MP; newly-elected Labour MP Stephen Kinnock; leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood AM; Daily Telegraph columnist and Margaret Thatcher’s biographer Charles Moore; singer and campaigner Charlotte Church.
??
Republicofscotland
I know you were joking because it’s obvious that the Prime Minister of the State of Israel’s speech would mention Iran, isn’t it. Only a half-wit would have thought otherwise and you’re certainly not a half-wit.
Re the glare and the plenty of empty seats – I didn’t notice the former, I did notice the latter and I also heard quite a bit of applause at regular intervals.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If Netanyahu is a basilisk, is Mary a Gorgon?
“David Dimbleby presents topical debate from Cardiff.”
Wonder if he’s there early for this Sunday’s 1/2 Marathon? If so, I hope that’s one person, at least, that I might hope to beat. (Unlikely to win against my wife again this year, she’s done some training.) Whoops… not too o/t, I trust… will find out soon… :#
“22.35 BBC 1
01/10/2015
Question Time
David Dimbleby presents topical debate from Cardiff. He is joined on the panel by Conservative secretary of state for Wales Stephen Crabb MP; newly-elected Labour MP Stephen Kinnock; leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood AM; Daily Telegraph columnist and Margaret Thatcher’s biographer Charles Moore; singer and campaigner Charlotte Church.”
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Mary – are you a franchisee of the “Radio Times”?
Any tips on how I can become one as well?
Glenn
Good luck and good running on Sunday – more power to your legs!
Jon
“Hi Ishmael, I count 19 comments from you above, not including any that you say have been deleted. That’s nearly 20% of the 105 comments made thus far, which is rather a lot”
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It certainly is! Reminds me of some of the Excellences in the old days before I really took the gloves off.
Jon
“I’ve said before I would like to see more comments deleted, as there is so much noise and unpleasantness here that serious, learning discourse is often impossible.”
_________________
But what you’d really like is to ban people altogether, right?
You may recall you tried it on with me a while ago.
“Iknow you were joking because it’s obvious that the Prime Minister of the State of Israel’s speech would mention Iran, isn’t it. Only a half-wit would have thought otherwise and you’re certainly not a half-wit.”
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Okay Habb old boy, you got me, I was taking the piss, something you’ve done quite often in here yourself.
But seriously don’t you agree that Netanyahu in parts of his speech was overly melodramatic, he would’ve made a good actor, kind of a angry Ronald Reagan type.
I could picture him in a western movie as the villainous ranch owner telling the newcomer “This is my town get out, and stay out.”
Where’s Shane when you need him.
“Hi Ishmael, I count 19 comments from you above, not including any that you say have been deleted. That’s nearly 20% of the 105 comments made thus far, which is rather a lot”
Yea, I still have trouble catching up with MaRy though, and on the ‘off topic’ subjects, and I take it your also counting these comments made in fast annoyance?
I don’t swamp this blog. Look back over a normal day and stop twisting reality to fit your own demonisation.
Oops
“CIA pulled officers from Beijing after breach of Federal personnel records”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-pulled-officers-from-beijing-after-breach-of-federal-personnel-records/2015/09/29/1f78943c-66d1-11e5-9ef3-fde182507eac_story.html
Related:
“How to explain the KGB’s amazing success identifying CIA agents in the field?”
“Paranoid CIA heads blamed Soviet moles, but the real reason for the repeated disasters was much simpler”
“His approach required a clever combination of clear insight into human behavior, root common sense and strict logic.”
http://www.salon.com/2015/09/26/how_to_explain_the_kgbs_amazing_success_identifying_cia_agents_in_the_field/
========
Wouldn’t that Chinese boat have been noticed passing through Gib, the Bosphorus or the Suez.
The rivers of Europe.
Is there another secret way in.
Or did they hump it overland, like Aguirre.
There’s certainly enough of ’em, eh.
RobG
01/10/2015 6:28pm
It is frequently alleged that there is a higher proportion of psychopaths among high-level political and corporate leaders and executives than in the population at large.
That would make sense to me for two reasons: people are selected into these professions for certain traits, and people self-select into the roles for similar traits. These are professions in which it is very difficult to pursue an action which will bring benefits to one group of persons, without simultaneously harming other groups of persons. Therefore a certain measure of callousness and lack of empathy for others, and an indifference to the objections of others, will make for success.
Managing directors and other top executives of corporations are selected by other executives and shareholders precisely for their perceived capabilities of being a safe pair of hands, willing to take tough decisions, put the company’s interests first, etc. In practice, this ultimately means being capable of making people redundant or moving jobs geographically without taking the slightest fucking interest in how this is going to affect the lives of the people who have put their efforts into the company and are now faced with appallingly stressful life changes. All that matters is that the shareholders are satisfied and the directors get their big salaries and share options, etc. I have seen plenty of that first hand, and I am sure anyone who has worked in the corporate world has, as well.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20422644
I have no doubt that exactly the same principles apply in the political sphere.
Kind regards,
John
“Netanyahu glares at U.N. for 45 seconds after berating its silence on Iran threat to Israel”
Wish he’d do that more often.
Quite telling.
Even when his lips aren’t moving, he’s lying.
“Good luck and good running on Sunday – more power to your legs!”
Why thank you! All good wishes much appreciated (and needed, if I’m going to win against the misses!) 🙂
” I also heard quite a bit of applause at regular intervals.”
Not surprising, really. Although it’s good that the UN isn’t as choreographed as our party political conferences (the latest one of Labour’s aside).
As far as BeeBee is concerned, remember that ridiculous spectacle when he addressed the US House of Congress earlier this year? They all jumped up and down like bobbins, bursting into applause each time BeeBee as much as coughed, burped or farted.
Then the Republicans have the almighty gall to complain about Pope Francis, saying that he ought to stick to religion and not go onto politics, that nobody has the right to tell them what to do, and so on and so forth. Either they’re incredibly stupid, or the public is. Hang on, both is a very distinct possibility.
Thinking of Syria, it’s interesting to note that during the sixties, Syria under its real leader, Salah Jadid, and not Nureddin al-Atassi, who was merely a figurehead.
Aligned itself with the Soviet Bloc, Jadid, tried to impliment a type of socialism, but the rise of the Ba’ath party combined with Israels triumph in the Six Days War weakened Jadids hand. Not long after in 1970 Halfez al-Assad, overthrew the government in a coup.
Now once again Syria’s dictator leader Bashar, son of Halfez, is relying on Russia to safe guard it and him from Israel and Saudi Arabia.
It would appear that Syria has a long association with Russia, Putin now bombing Syria, possibly those who oppose Assad, will be reluctant to give up that long connection with the country.
Emptywheel has an interesting and relevant post today:
https://www.emptywheel.net/2015/10/01/with-one-bombing-run-russia-gets-the-us-to-identify-cias-covert-forces/
Heh. No mention of Yemen…..http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-arabia-says-deeply-concerned-russia-attacks-syria-075557551.html
” Saudi Arabia, a leading foe of President Bashar al-Assad, demanded his ally Russia end its raids on Syria, saying the strikes had caused civilian casualties while failing to target the hardline Islamic State militants Moscow says it opposes.
In remarks at the United Nations in New York, a senior Saudi diplomat suggested both Russia and Assad’s other main ally Iran could not claim to fight Islamic State “terrorism” at the same time as supporting the “terrorism” of the Syrian authorities.”
Someone above said that laws are based on morality. In reality the law is a tool for the Status Quo’s self-maintenance.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/09/23/yemen-as-laboratory-why-is-the-west-so-silent-about-this-savage-war/
“What is at stake in Yemen that far more systematic violations of the Geneva Conventions than in any of the recent wars which Western powers have supported in the Arab world (Iraq, Syria, Libya and Gaza) are met with resounding silence?
For six months there has been a blockade of food and fuel, and management of aid (even that through the UN) as part of war strategy, bombing of civilian, historical, educational, religious and medical targets, destruction of infrastructure from roads to electricity and water, and use of prohibited weapons.
All of this occurs in a country of over twenty million persons, which has no effective air defences – a country as open to aerial bombardment as Gaza. Yet as an Israeli Foreign Ministry official has pointed out, the principles of international humanitarian law systematically violated in Yemen are those invoked by UN bodies, governments, the Western media, and civil organisations when they charge Israel with the commission of war crimes in Gaza.
In other words, by its silence and support for Coalition bombing in Yemen, the international community completes the erasure of legal reference in war.
If only looks could kill! The chief zionist supremacist vermin could not contain itself. Staring at the delegates, and menacing them. Fact that world is sitting idly by and letting this lunatic to have access to nukes is an incitement of the insanity of the US et leaderships.
The forty five second menacing stare comes on the back of a piss poor day for zionistan; the flag of Palestine getting raised and fluttering in the freedom in front of the in the UN Building. Abbas delivering his speech and said; “Israel must assume all of its responsibilities as an occupying power,” That is a prelude for the coming war crimes charges in years to come. Russians singularly swept away all the deceitful jockeying around Syria and put and end to a boatload of wet dreams.