Dear President Ahtisaari,
I had the pleasure of meeting you on a number of occasions over the years, including when I was British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, and I recall your genuine concern for democracy and human rights in a region where they are sadly neglected.
Like a great many people in Scotland I was shocked that CMI is employing Jim Murphy. Of course, in a democracy there are always losers as well as winners in elections, and both are genuine and valid participants in public life. It is not the fact that CMI employs a politician who has been so recently, comprehensively and humiliatingly rejected by his national electorate that will do any damage to CMI. In a sense I think it does you credit.
What shocks many people here is that Mr Murphy is by any standards a dedicated warmonger. He was a major and important proponent of the invasion of Iraq, and is the strongest of supporters of the massive increase of Britain’s nuclear arsenal, in breach of the Non Proliferation Treaty.
Mr Murphy is a member of the Henry Jackson Society, which as you know is a body which exists to promote United States neo-conservative foreign policy in its most aggressive sense, and openly and actively supports and condones extraordinary rendition and the use of torture by the CIA. It has supported every single military action by the USA since its formation, and defends United States exceptionalism in international law, including US non-membership of the International Criminal Court.
Mr Murphy’s belief set is therefore fundamentally at odds with the stated aims of CMI. Indeed, his employment by you can only lead to the suspicion that CMI’s stated objectives are not its real objectives, and that like Mr Murphy and the Henry Jackson Society your overriding goal in the regions where you operate is to promote the interests of the United States.
As you are funded by charitable donations and by governments, I think some explanation of your employment of Mr Murphy is in order, particularly when you have employed him as a conflict resolution expert in the Caucasus and Central Asia when he has no relevant experience of conflict resolution at all, virtually none of the Caucasus, and absolutely none of Central Asia.
I was the Head of the UK Delegation that negotiated the Sierra Leone Peace Treaty, and certainly under no circumstances would I let Jim Murphy anywhere near that kind of negotiation.
With All Best Wishes,
Amb (rtd.) Craig Murray
“By the way, whether or not it was Foreign Minister (later Prime Minister) Villepin who called Israel a shitty little country,…”
_______________________
Pay attention, my Transatlantic Friend – I’ve already told readers it wasn’t.
As I’ve already said, it was the then French Ambassador at the UN (Jean-David Levitte, as it happened). Remark made at a dinner party.
Please stick to the topics you have some close knowledge of, ie, 500BC Athens, the USS Ronald Reagan and paedophilia in the UK.
Is it lost in translation?
Sinjar is in Iraq! What has it to do with Assad or Putin?
For the last four years that place has been under attack by Daesh and for the duration of the last two years under the control of Daesh who have been daubed ISIS by none other than beebeecee in case they insult this terror group by calling it Daesh as it’s opponents do!
These mercenaries let out of Saudi and Qatari Jails have been busy molesting eight year old girls and kept on molesting these until they turn fifteen after which they are sold for their organs!
After the Russian attacks on Daesh the Iraqi government asking Putin to help combat these terrorist spared on the attacks by the US et al air power that now is being hailed as a great success!!!!
why the rancid tones of the comments?
“Why doesn’t Israel take any Syrian refugees ?”
________________
Why doesn’t Mary?
Just one, and only temporarily of course.
Republicofscotland
“France is currently stripping Mali of precious minerals…”
________________________
Like the Chinese, d’ye mean?
Meanwhile the real terrorists of the Middle East, (if Baal’s interested in women’s rights) Saudi Arabia has bought $1.2 billion worth of weapons from the US. The replenishment is required due lengthy sorties over Yemen.
The arsenal includes smart bombs and Paveway II BLU-117’s, whatever they are. The sale reflects Obama’s pledge to support its attack dog (Saudi Arabia) and other Sunni allies in the region.
Last month the US approved the sale of four Littoral combat ships to Saudi Arabia costing $11.25 billion, it’s no wonder Obama and Cameron wont won’t hear a bad word about their “golden goose” Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia will continue to terrorise the region, and commit atrocities at home and repress women’s rights, and Western powers will turn a blind eye.
I wonder why our Transatlantic Friend is getting so excited about mere gesture politics:
“En su actual redacción, el artículo 23.4 de la LOPJ dispone la competencia de la jurisdicción española si los hechos son constitutivos de un delito de tortura o contra la integridad moral, siempre que el procedimiento se dirija contra un español o “la víctima tuviera nacionalidad española en el momento de comisión de los hechos Y LA PERSONA A LA QUE SE IMPUTE EL DELITO SE ENCUENTRE EN TERRITORIO ESPANOL”.
………..
Los presuntos responsables de planear y ordenar el ataque son israelíes Y NADA SE PUEDE HACER CONTRE ELLOS, debido a la reforma del PP, SIEMPRE QUE NO PONGAN UN PIE EN ESPANA.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
I do hope that Mary and the other nutter who first posted about the arrest warrant will have the grace to thank my Transatlantic Friend for finding out what the charges actually are (somethiong they were incapable of doing for themselves 🙂 )
Fedup
Never mind that shit. ( your dry way of agreeing with someone ) We appear to have a leader in Jeremy Corbyn who’s ready to take a lot of flak. The Red Tories are outraged that Corbyn is prepared to be a real opposition. May his feet gain a firm foothold against neo-con war-mongering slobbering Tory gibberish.
If they can be prevented from ever setting foot on Spanish soil, I would say that’s more than mere gesture politics.
True, and correct. However in the follow up the keyboard warriors have prevaricated whom the comment is attributed and not the fact that zionistan indeed is a shitty strip of land occupied by crazed lunatics that would make any antisocial bunch of cretins in any council housing state look positively desirable neighbours!
The pathetic attempt of the keyboard warriors to dispute whose observations coined the shitty strip of land, is a kind of reaching for a comfort blanket by an anxious doggy!
Have you heard about Sibel Edmonds and the latest weapons hauls missing in US?
could the zionists be at it again stealing weapons and munitions as per usual.
Also noteworthy is Sibel Edmonds maintains German and French SIS knew of the coming attacks on Paris.
Looks like the Kiev fascists are backing ISIS:
“A Ukrainian nationalist, leader of the “Brotherhood,” Dmitry Korchinsky proposed to offer asylum to ISIS terrorists in Kiev, the former head of UNA-UNSO [Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian People’s Self-defense] wrote on his social network page. According to Korchinsky, SBU must see ISIS as “allies in the struggle with Russia.””
http://fortruss.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/ukrainian-nationalist-leader-isis-is.html
With the West now following Vlad’s lead on Syria, all now singing from the same hastily rewritten script, it can’t be long before the fascists in Ukraine receive their own visitation.
Some seem to be jumping early:
“Dmytro Yarosh resigns as leader of Ukraine’s nationalist Right Sector”
http://uatoday.tv/politics/dmitry-yarosh-resigns-as-leader-of-ukraine-s-nationalist-right-sector-531810.html
Why is it that Putin always seems to be able to run rings round the West’s brightest and best.
And what of Israel’s plans for the region.
Are they arrested too.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-issues-arrest-warrant-for-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-over-2010-gaza-flotilla-a6736436.html
“In its current wording, article 23.4 of the judicial power Organization Act has the competence of the Spanish jurisdiction if the facts constitute a crime of torture or against moral integrity, provided that the procedure is directed against a Spanish or” the victim had Spanish nationality at the time of Commission of the facts and the person who is IMPUTING crime is present in Spanish territory “.”
………..
Israelis are presumed responsible for planning and ordering the attack, and nothing can be done against them, due to the reformation of the PP, provided that does not put a foot in Spain.”
Note that a Spanish judge considered the charges of war crimes, murder, torture, and illegal imprisonment substantial enough to justify his issuing the order.
Come and get me, copper! The attitude of a scofflaw.
Has a national state of emergency been declared? SAS at Wembley. Is that lawful?
Wembley’s ring of steel: Thousands of defiant England and France fans including Jeremy Corbyn begin arriving for most high-security British football match ever – with the SAS ready to shoot to kill
Some 80,000 supporters will watch the two nations in international friendly after 10,000 tickets sold since Friday
Wembley arch will be lit up in French tricolore while words to the French national anthem will be shown on screen
Security has been heightened with SAS units patrolling 90,000-seater stadium, while 5,000 troops remain on standby
Armed police have been combing area with sniffer dogs for bombs and will use shoot to kill policy if terrorists strike
Prince William said game was ‘powerful message of Britain’s friendship’ while David Cameron also vowed to attend
17 November 2015
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3321831/Defiant-football-fans-snap-10-000-tickets-join-Prince-William-tonight-s-Wembley-match-England-France-guarded-armed-police.html
RIP Jean Charles de Menezes
“it’s no wonder Obama and Cameron wont won’t hear a bad word about their “golden goose” Saudi Arabia”
I do hope Corbyn uses PMQs tomorrow to plug away at Saudi Arabia. The argument that the best and quickest way to defeat “ISIS” is to cut off its funding and supplies is a powerful one. Ditto the fact that the UK is well-placed to help in this regard owing to its close ties with SA and that it could all be done through diplomacy without a shot being fired.
Then we could all sit back and enjoy watching Cameron turning pink and getting all flustered.
My Transatlantic Friend
Any comments on your friend Giyane’s translation of
“..Y LA PERSONA A LA QUE SE IMPUTE EL DELITO SE ENCUENTRE EN TERRITORIO ESPANOL”
as
“..and the person who is IMPUTING crime is present in Spanish territory “.” ?
MJ:
“… way to defeat “ISIS” is to cut off its funding …”
IS is funded by oil sales via Saudi,Turkey, Kurdish,Israeli and UK politicians.
For Cameron to cut off IS funding , he has to cut off himself. Being a clever political bullingdon piece of scum, he decided the best way to do this was to cut off his pig’s head and then insert his penis in his mouth.
This on the good old Oxford principle that swimmers cover their faces not their penises when bathing naked. We know the illegal oil is coming to the UK, but we don’t have evidence to show it is Cameron who’s doing it.
fuck me, with brains like Cameron’s, Corbyn doesn’t stand a chance.
Mary
“Has a national state of emergency been declared? SAS at Wembley. Is that lawful?
Wembley’s ring of steel: Thousands of defiant England and France fans including Jeremy Corbyn begin arriving for most high-security British football match ever – with the SAS ready to shoot to kill
Some 80,000 supporters will watch the two nations in international friendly after 10,000 tickets sold since Friday
Wembley arch will be lit up in French tricolore while words to the French national anthem will be shown on screen
Security has been heightened with SAS units patrolling 90,000-seater stadium, while 5,000 troops remain on standby
Armed police have been combing area with sniffer dogs for bombs and will use shoot to kill policy if terrorists strike
Prince William said game was ‘powerful message of Britain’s friendship’ while David Cameron also vowed to attend”
____________________
After the horrible acts of terrorism which took place in Paris, would it not be remiss of the UK authorities not to take all possible precautions to avoid something similar happening at Wembley?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As far as the “illegal” is concerned, I sincerely hope that we shall one day – sooner rather than later – see legislation which will make it an offence to post terrorism-supporting discourse on the internet.
Glenn Greenwald
Stock Prices of Weapons Manufacturers Soaring Since Paris Attack
Nov. 16 2015,
https://theintercept.com/2015/11/16/stock-prices-of-weapons-manufacturers-soaring-since-paris-attack/
With graphs. Raytheon. Northrup Grumman. Lockheed Martin. General Dynamics. et al.
ALL UP.
Piece in Times today (p8-9)on the odd coalition of ex Barthist senior Iraqi army officers with wahabists (which I was asking about yesterday and Herbie kindly provided an explanation) headed “Biggest Terror Group in History Bred in a US jail” and goes on to explain that Camp Bucca in southern Iraq brought the two together thereby “allowing them to plot in a way they could not have done outside”……..Can you Adam & Eve it.
If someone complains on here about the precautions being taken at Wembley Stadium there can only be two possible explanations:
– that person is merely venting/giving voice to some kind of complex or obsession
or
– that person is angry that those precautions are likely to diminish the chances of a possible terrorist attack succeeding and is “petitioning”, so to speak, for those precautions not to be taken.
If second explanation is the correct one, then could it not be argued that that person is – albeit indirectly – supporting terrorism?
Giyane
“This on the good old Oxford principle that swimmers cover their faces not their penises when bathing naked.”
_________________
Well, actually, it’s not a good old Oxford “principle” .
It is a quip told by Maurice Bowra , who was referring to his own modus operandi.
El Flaccido
SIS had prior warning of Paris attacks => they supported terrorism in doing nothing. Sometimes your logic comes out in neat little packages from your arse.
“Note that a Spanish judge considered the charges of war crimes, murder, torture, and illegal imprisonment substantial enough to justify his issuing the order.”
____________________
Probably a loose cannon and/or a publicity seeker like Judge Garzon.
I rather doubt that the Prime Minister and the others will lose much sleep over not being able to visit Spain for the time being pending the quashing of the arrest warrant.
Giyane
If it was you at Parson’s Pleasure, would you cover your face or your dick?
Not very fond of the rule of law when it applies to Israel, are you habby.
Kurbaan ClassRoom Debate HQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-LhnzszFOw
Habba,
Since last Friday there has been a marked “your either with us or against us and if your against us your a traitor” sound to your posts and your suggestion at 5.48 is one such item.
When the IRA bombed London we didn’t then react by arming the police and our streets.
In the 1970’s we took pride in our Blitz spirit resistance to the IRA and insisted in continuing without buckling to fear or intimidation, which having to have armed police and forces on the streets implies. Was not our confident resistance in the 1970’s the cornerstone of what it (was) to be British.
Now, apparently being British means cowering in fear and welcoming a full surveillance security and police state. That has to be bullshit.
If we are so scared why don’t we do what the Swiss do and require householders to keep guns at home and learn how to use them, but presumably we are not to be trusted.
Guns, like cars, knives, water, fire, electricity, nuclear power, even life itself are only as bad as the use made of them.
A society with a lost road map may have problems with guns (US) whereas others perhaps not. I am not in favour of US gun laws here (because no doubt they would be misused), but nor do I see the need for such a show of weaponry on the streets. What are we children calling for nanny.
Its one thing to have soldiers in barracks living in cities who in a genuine emergency might be called upon to take urgent action, but its just show boating having lots of guns on the street. And as any reader of the Art of War knows when a weapon is being showcased is not when it is about to be used.
If our society is fractured and lost and we can’t trust ourselves with guns or knives why should we have such confidence that our authority should have guns. As an idle observer it appears to me that when I see army with guns I see discipline but when I see police with guns I do not see the same discipline. You look at guards well drilled but with a rifle and a bayonet, but then see policemen undrilled with machine guns.
Why are our leading public schools so successful? Because they turn out intelligent youth who are not frightened to question authority. That is why its a positive that the Russians and the Chinese send their elites to our schools. Lets not suggest that someone who questions authority is a traitor. That is a dead end street.
Looks like Einstein and Arendt, amongst others, were correct in their assessment all those years ago, and we’ve lived with that fascism and terrorism ever since:
“The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party. This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a “Leader State” is the goal.
In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Begin’s efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin.
The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/albert-einsteins-letter-warning-of-zionist-facism-in-israel/5438170