The “anti-semitism” witch-hunt that accused so many human rights advocates for supporting Palestine, has weirdly come to a dead halt when confronted with an actual anti-semite. Thomas Mair has been judged competent to be charged by two doctors, yet the right throughout both new and old media still hide behind his mental illness as an excuse to avoid the issues of right wing terrorism. As a bipolar person, I find a great deal of the comment around mental health deeply insulting.
Let me avoid hypocrisy. I do not think Thomas Mair should be charged with terrorism because I do not think anybody should be charged with terrorism. I have held that the law-making orgy of new “terrorist” offences was legally unnecessary and purely political propaganda. Murder and conspiracy to murder always were perfectly adequate offences and that is what terrorists ought to be charged with. Murder is the same sordid murder whatever the motive, and to have terrorist murder as a separate offence imbues it with a nobility it does not deserve.
But now terrorism has been created as a separate offence, the blatant discrimination in non-application of terrorist charges to right wing terrorists is indefensible.
Mair is not an isolated case. Ryan McGee – who built a nail bomb to attack Muslims – and Pavlo Lapshyn – who murdered a Muslim and bombed mosques – were not charged with terrorism either. Mair, McGee and Lapshyn would all, beyond any possible shadow of a doubt, have been charged with terrorism if they were Muslims. The decision is made by the Crown Prosecution Service, which has also recently decided that Tony Blair, Jack Straw, John Scarlett, Mark Allen et all will not stand trial for extraordinary rendition and complicity in torture, despite overwhelming evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police, including my own.
There is a dark cloud of Islamophobia hanging over the Crown Prosecution Service. Given the totality of these decisions, there has to be.
Or Catholic? At least if Irish?
The Irish (the IRA at any rate) used to be terrorists. They wouldn’t be considered that now.
I think you are making the assumption that the Islamists accused of terrorism are Muslims – they most clearly are not, I don’t believe that the religion would under any sensible reading support their actions.
What do they call themselves? Under any sensible reading of Christian doctrine, IRA and INLA and UDA members would not be called Catholics or Protestants, either. That would cut no ice with them, and it has been common parlance for a long time.
Also, tell that to the tabloids and pundits.
As you say any sensible reading – so why leave the senseless in charge of defintions.
Presumably they are commonly called Muslims because it is ideologically serviceable to do so – which is exactly the point Craig is making.
I worked on the FCO South Africa desk in 1985/6 when the official British government position was that Nelson Mandela was a terrorist.
Strange that Tomlinson and Dorrell said he worked for MI6 and Mandela became a bigger British hero than Churchill.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/jan/27/nelsonmandela
‘Mandela named as MI6 agent’ By Neil Mackay HERALD SCOTLAND 2000
http://archive.today/adTW9
The head of the British Intelligence Service (MI6) John Sawers smiles at the media as he arrives for the Nelson Mandela memorial service at Westminster Abbey in London
http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/gallery.php?highlight_id=6052644&category=36
@Craig, interesting that you omitted to mention the attack on George Galloway.
Perhaps engaging in fisticuffs is not enough to define a terrorist attack? Although if it had been a Muslim beating an MP who voted in favour of attacking Syria then the treatment might have been a bit different.
Ahem, It was a lot more serious than “fisticuffs” !!
http://www.islamophobiawatch.co.uk/extremist-who-attacked-george-galloway-is-jailed-for-16-months/
I also used the word “beating”, which is more accurate, true. I meant to convey that no weapon was brought and used, as far as is known.
Not before you used the downplaying/minimising “fisticuffs”. It was a horrific & brutal assault, so why would you try to infer otherwise ?
It was, indeed. But it was not a nail bomb, and it was not a bombing, and it was not a murder. It was a bare-handed beating and kicking. Perhaps that is why Craig omitted it.
People have been known to die from a mere “bear handed beating and kicking”. I wouldn’t downplay it that much.
Well yes there is but I think it is exemplified by matters further diwn the food chain. Schoolboys and girls doodling in notebooks or online have been appearing both in person and by vudeo link, at the Old Bailey. These kuds arent terrorists, they are teenagers getting involved in issues and msking in some cases unwise comments. Instead of detention they are being locked up for years by this fetid, corrupt system, of which the CPS is the stormtrooping vanguard.
Is that Tommy Mair with the cap?
It is widely alleged so, John. It certainly looks like him but I can’t be definitive given the quality of the photo.
The “photoshop hoax” is now doing the round on Right Wing sites, overlooking the fact that it’s on a Britain First site ! 😀
He appears to be giving two-fingers to the Muslims behind him.
There’s a video of someone just like him on “training” with them too
If it is one would assume that he was in contact with others of a like mind-by email? Text? phone? etc?
If the system of surveillance is as comprehensive as one is led to believe, why was he not on some kind of monitoring process.
A good piece Craig, unfortunately the real terrorists of this world are some politicians, hiding behind the power of law, or in some cases, like Tony Blair, keep saying its legal then terrorising the middle east. Labels are set by those in power and legality is set by those in power.
Your right murder is murder, no matter who commits the crime. No matter wether the murderer is Muslim, Christian, white , black or any other colour! However our hate generating politicians, the press and the media would have us believe otherwise!
They generate then fan the fear. Then sit back and shed crocodile tears!!
“Asked his name the defendant in the dock says “My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain.”
There must been a lot of excusing apologists squirming right now, well maybe not as that would imply a sense of shame.
[Mods: screen name edited: “…But the adoption of multiple identities within the same thread is not to be allowed, nor the creation of identities of which the purpose is to ridicule, attack or insult another contributor.]
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/06/some-rules-for-comment-moderation/
The truth is;
He was wired with a speaker and when he appeared in the court and was asked the question, a voice over actor answered through the wired speaker; “I am death ………..”
Or:
The plot thickens he was wired with a taser and an earpiece that was ordering him to say those things or he would be tased!
Or
The lying liberal media are making the stuff up!!!!
Today’s blog post contains a passing reference to the curious case of Pavlo Lapshyn.
Lapshyn was a Ukrainian student who came to the UK to further his doctoral engineering studies. He had only been in the UK for 5 days when he stabbed to death an elderly Muslim gentleman. Shortly thereafter he commenced a bombing campaign targeting mosques Whilst his bombs were viable slight errors in construction and placement prevented detonation. There is no doubt that had he not been apprehended he would have continued with his bombing campaign.
Lapshyn was (and maybe still is) a fanatical neo-Nazi and various social media platforms that he used in the Ukraine contained references to white supremacy type organizations and ideas. Additionally he came to the attention of the Ukrainian authorities in 2010 after he had detonated a bomb in his Mother’s flat – blowing out the windows and doors of that flat.
There are in excess of 300,000 non EU overseas students in the UK at any one time.
Just prior to coming to the UK Lapshyn attended a formal ceremony organized by the British Embassy in Kiev and was personally presented with his ticket to the UK by the British Ambassador.
I wonder what percentage of non EU overseas students are personally presented with tickets to he UK by the British Ambassador to their country of origin. Is it normal practice for British Ambassadors to select individuals to meet and present with travel documents or do they rely on the advice of their staff? Is it normal practice for British Embassy staff to conduct background checks on people that are scheduled to meet with the Ambassador? Would the fact that an individual has previously detonated a bomb and has social media accounts largely dedicated to white supremacist ideas have any bearing on whether such an individual is considered an appropriate candidate to meet with the British Ambassador.
Lapshyn received a 40 year sentence – which is at the high end of the range for murder. Defining what constitutes a racist can be quite a subjective matter, but whatever your definition of racist Lapshyn would definitely fit. The UK has a lot problems. but fortunately there is a paucity of people running around planting bombs and trying to start a race war.
All in all Lapshyn was an unusually dangerous, dedicated and committed criminal. Fortunately there are not many people like him around. How very strange that such a man would gain entry into the UK personally assisted by the Governments most senior representative to his country of origin. This is almost as strange as the complete disinterest in examining just how strangely unusual this case really was.
I wonder if there is anyone with meaningful diplomatic experience who would care to comment.
It would appear that Brendan Cox agrees with Craig:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jo-cox-s-bereaved-husband-says-mainstream-politicians-are-legitimising-extremist-anti-immigrant-a7088831.html
“Mainstream politicians are legitimising extremist anti-immigrant views by “aping” far-right rhetoric, the bereaved husband of killed MP Jo Cox has said.”
It’s also known as applying Commonsense.
The trouble with common sense is that it isn’t so common.
http://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/mp-killing-doesnt-make-sense/
” He’s either an extremely angry and violent right-wing sympathiser who hates people of colour, Europe and the rest of the world or he’s a quiet chap with no violent background whatsoever who likes foreigners, flowerbeds and the elderly.”
Seems that extreme xenophobic nationalism is too complex or too awkward a concept for some to understand; this would explain all the apparent “contradictions” in that piece; Quietly liking individual foreigners but violently hating his “Country being swamped”, are not self-contradictory.
What about Jo Cox’s connection to “The White Helmets”?
http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/10/23/syrias-white-helmets-war-by-way-of-deception-part-1/
Any comments?
More on these “White Helmets” that Jo Cox supported here:
http://21stcenturywire.com/2016/04/30/video-syria-white-helmets-exposed-and-petition-to-prevent-their-nomination-for-nobel-peace-prize/
“Any comments?”
Not good, but what possible relevance has that got to do with Jo Cox’s murder ?!!
He targeted the MP specifically because she was an MP!
This is common knowledge among the politicos. The game was given away by the vox popped liberal activist on site of the memorial as; “I am shocked he killed her because she was an MP”.
You will not read about this because it does not suit the neoliberal narrative. Peasants are revolting is not the kind of story they like to run in their Oligarch Owned Media. In fact the said neoliberals don’t like to even talk about the French strikes, in case it gives any ideas to the great unwashed over here, and instead divert attention by focusing on the hoards of illegals trying to come over here and that is why Calais is shut was the narrative of the OOM.
“He targeted the MP specifically because she was an MP!”
More exactly because she was a pro-immigration MP.
The terrorist’s name seems to be a propaganda statement, according to ITV news reporting his routine arraignment. . .
I totally agree with what you are saying Craig. With respect to Jo Cox, murder is murder and it is appalling that it happened.
However, I do grieve over the reaction in the MSM and from our ‘leaders’. All up in arms, all mightily aggrieved when one of their own is brought down. All this while in the UK on a daily basis people up and down the country are being emotionally, psychological and physically tortured by the DWP and staff at the JobCentre. This has lead to starvation for large numbers of people and death via suicide or by the sheer pressure being brought to bear on people in highly compromised physical condition. Yet there isn’t a peep from our grandees – not a word of concern anywhere. Yet the truth is that you are more likely to be killed by the DWP/JobCentre in this country than by any action ‘terrorists’ will take. Makes me wonder who the real terrorists are. I think I know the answer. Britain is rotten to the core and out ‘leaders’ are a large part of the problem.
Very true Peter, with the zero hour contracts, that not many people actually understand what it means. Also in addition to the slow and unresponsive benefits systems working people are going hungry and getting evicted from their homes, because they do not have a steady stream of revenue, and cannot meet their expenses of the essentials, water, food, and shelter.
The benefits systems has effectively been withdrawn from the zero hour contract workers, and the fact that these workers will only be notified of the hours to work on Sunday evenings for the duration of the coming week, and the limited numbers of hours they may find themselves working, which will not provide enough income for these workers to buy food stuff or pay their rents.
The rise in the fixed costs of citizenship* in UK have risen so steeply, concurrently the incomes of the standard citizens have been reduced. This unholy combination have brought about a situation in which more and more citizens are becoming bankrupt and ending up hungry going without food or becoming homeless and without a shelter to sleep in. Thus these unfortunate citizens end up sleeping in the parks, alleys and shop door ways. That is when they are not being attacked and mauled, knifed, set on fire by the far right activists. Surviving their ordeal then these unfortunate citizens will endeavour in rubbish bin diving or begging for food.
This is the reality of the withdrawal of services that is being touted as “austerity” for the benefit of tax cuts for the super rich, whom already have their offshore tax avoidance measures set in place, as in the case of Panama papers.
Totally agree, when I heard about the murder I was thinking why couldn’t it have been IDS or Osborne, at least they deserve it.
Meanwhile in the US;
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/nyregion/weapons-cache-and-bomb-making-instructions-found-at-long-island-home.html?_r=0
Bipolar is a label used by dodgy doctors to induce the gullible to take vile drugs.
Since Craig has just stated that he is bipolar himself, he probably has a better idea of how the definition of bipolar applies to him personally than you do.
Eric,
I very rarely take the drugs – sometimes not for years on end. I control it other ways including by a musical therapy of my own devising!
I think that’s part of your problem…
I agree with what you say Craig but there is a missing element. Really the focus on so called “terrorism” has more to do with what our government/establishment want to do with us, the people of the UK, than having anything to do with “terrorism”.
The government/establishment focus on “terrorism” is nothing more than a convenient and deliberately constructed narrative, promoted by by the establishment and media, under which the, already underway, Surveillance State can be further extended and consolidated. Mass storage of emails, internet websites visited, and phone calls are in the offing right now all in the name of “anti-terrorism”. You can barely walk down any busy commercial hub of a city or shopping mall without being filmed on CCTV. To get a passport there are now strict rules in place as to what facial expression you must bear when getting your photograph taken for the passport – basically a “neutral-faced” mug-shot to please the authorities – all in aid of “facial recognition” computer scanning, all in aid of the Surveillance State. This country is heading into a totalitarian nightmare for the future. The future is looking increasingly grim. And all to “protect” us from “terrorism”. And no one in any political party is saying boo to any of this. We live in sick society ruled by sickos and it’s getting sicker by the day.
The real terrorists are the establishment, government and politicians of all political parties.
John at the rate of the expansion and enhancement of the surveillance systems, and the numbers of the internal security services and other information gathering agency that are around 764 the future that you are talking about is already here.
Yup, it’s pretty obvious that the terrorism narrative and the perpetual call for greater powers to tackle it was never about protecting us but about protecting the elite from us. They know the way things are heading there will be mass civil unrest in the countries of the west and are preparing the surveillance state to contain it.
For a vision of the future, look at the fate of Eliot Spitzer. In 2008 he stood in the way of the massive bank bail-outs. Three weeks later he was forced to resign over a call girl scandal, uncovered by government surveillance of his bank account and other things, using powers granted by the Patriot Act. That was the end of him. The surveillance state makes it extremely easy for the authorities to curb the activities of any investigative journalist, dissident or awkward sod they don’t like. How long before UK biometric ID cards are back on the agenda?
Thomas Mair is not a member of an organisation that has previously carried out terrorist attacks, claimed to, or encouraged their members to. Britain First appears to be a collection of naive, uneducated individuals, almost certainly infiltrated the British security services .
http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=55017
The killer of Jo Cox was reportedly known to be mentally ill and taking meds, those who knew him said he was apolitical, and at least one witnesses quoted as saying the killer shouted “Britain First” says he said nothing of the sort.
Two witnesses are say he did shout it, judging both from his photographic appearances on the Britain First site, as well as his response in Court this morning on being asked his name, it seems somewhat superfluous really !
Did you see the BBC clip of one of his neighbours saying that as a retire nurse she would have picked up on any mental issues if he had any ?
“Did you see the BBC clip of one of his neighbours saying that as a retire nurse she would have picked up on any mental issues if he had any ?”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/17/jo-cox-murder-thomas-mair-asked-for-mental-health-treatment-day/
The man accused of murdering Jo Cox sought help for his mental health problems the night before she was killed – but was told to make an appointment and come back the next day.
Well for what really matters in the legal justice sense as Craig has reported; “Thomas Mair has been judged competent to be charged by two doctors”; but let’s cut to the chase, you reallydo have to be a bit mentally unwell both to be attracted to Right Wing extremism , or any extremism for that matter, and on this criteria all the members of Britain First, Britain National Party, & similar outfits, are also individuals with mental health issues.
This sums up all the keyboard “lone wolves” who have a direct responsibility for creating this toxic hysteria over immigration.
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/5659325a6fa22f67fe71eb48f0413fd340bb8eb5/0_0_4841_3331/master/4841.jpg?w=940&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=0dbbec265af6cf2a32e3cc222d39cebd
The misleading title of the article does not clarify that it was an “alternative therapy centre” which Tommy had walked into asking for a treatment for his depression.
If they were any kind of therapists at all, standard procedure should have included some kind of risk assessment. I would anticipate that Mair would have been asked if he had any thoughts of suicide or self-harm. If so, he should have been offered an escort to A & E for emergency psychiatric assessment and treatment.
Had he chosen to decline and leave, there would have been very little the centre could have done, unless he was actively threatening harm to himself or others.
I assume that he presented himself in such a way that the centre was either satisfied that his intention was to return the next day and that he would be all right in the interim, or that it offered him emergency services assistance which he chose to decline.
Craig,
Glenn Greenwald echoes your concerns.
https://theintercept.com/2016/06/17/why-is-the-killer-of-british-mp-jo-cox-not-being-called-a-terrorist/
Kind regards,
Scott
There is not one reference to terrorism in the BBC report of the court hearing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36567005
But in the sidebar there is a link to the report below in which there are three references to terrorism, mention of jihadists, militants, IS, Molenbeek ‘notorious because of its association with jihadists’ and so on.
Belgium arrests 12 in counter-terrorism raids
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36566336
The link says ‘Belgium swoops on terrorism suspects’.
‘The decision is made by the Crown Prosecution Service, which has also recently decided that Tony Blair, Jack Straw, John Scarlett, Mark Allen et all will not stand trial for extraordinary rendition and complicity in torture, despite overwhelming evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police, including my own.’
It is as if Craig did not spend time preparing his evidence and presenting it to the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Most of the members were dead eyed. Only the late Lord Onslow seemed to be affected by the horror.
The first in a series of seven http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF9spgagSHI
Seated to Lord Onslow’s right at that hearing, was Baroness Prashar of the Chilcot Inquiry, and with many other connections judging from this entry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usha_Prashar,_Baroness_Prashar
Interesting to note that a Swedish politician was murdered in 2003 in a similar fashion to Jo Cox, and amidst a Swedish referendum on Europe.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Lindh
There’s something about referendums seems to bring out the worst in people.
Fred.
Ain’t that the truth.
https://mobile.twitter.com/britnatabusebot
COX
COP
SOP
SNP
I wonder if the tragic murder of Jo Cox, had anything to do with this.
“Cox had ties with Syrian refugees, which is a possible reason for her victimization. She was a constant advocate for Britain to do more to help the victims of Syria’s civil war. She also set up a parliamentary group on Syria and staged Commons debates on the plight of the refugees. She argued forcefully that the UK Government should be doing more, both to help the victims and use its influence abroad to bring an end to the Syrian conflict. It is likely that her attacker was against the progression of the rights of Syrian refugees and Muslim immigrants.”
“The MP was also an advocate for Palestinian rights and statehood. During her short-lived career in Parliament, she advocated on behalf of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well. When a proposed BDS ban was brought to Parliament, Cox said, “I believe that this is a gross attack on democratic freedoms. It is our right to boycott unethical companies. It should also be the right of local councils and public bodies that we have elected to make their own decisions, free of government control.”
“Although Cox was from the UK, her activism and dedication to Syrians and Palestinians can be appreciated all over the world. She will be missed as a leader who fearlessly gave a voice to those who often go unheard”
http://www.arabamerica.com/british-mp-advocate-syria-palestine-dies/
Jo Cox also had ties with The White Helmets:
Syria’s White Helmets: War By Way of Deception ~ ‘Moderate Executioners’
http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/10/28/part-ii-syrias-white-helmets-war-by-way-of-deception-moderate-executioners/
Alan. Thank you for that link, it is very interesting, the White Helmets appear to be akin to NGO’s who have alterior motives, the SOHR being a prime example in my opinion.
According to this report, poll shows remain camp down, and leave camp support up after the tragic death of Jo Cox.
From USA Today:
“LONDON — British support for remaining in the European Union has weakened in the wake of the murder of the pro-EU politician Jo Cox, according to an online research company Friday.”
“Qriously, a London-based technology start-up that gathers data and intelligence about consumers through mobile phone apps, found that backing among likely voters for Britain’s EU membership has dropped to 32% from 40% before her death.”
“The poll was based on 1,992 British adults surveyed on June 13-16, and then 1,002 on June 17”
http://www.informationliberation.com/?id=55024
Jo Cox supported “The White Helmets”. Let’s check out these White Helmets, eh?
“‘White Helmets’: New Breed of Mercenaries and Propagandists, Disguised as ‘Humanitarians’ in Syria”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/white-helmets-new-breed-of-mercenaries-and-propagandists-disguised-as-humanitarians-in-syria/5473381
Well they do say they who live by the sword, die by the sword, don’t they?
So a start-up and not a reputable company. And USA Today as a source?!!
Laguerre.
Well according to Wiki, US Today newspaper has a similar circulation to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Of course that in itself doesn’t mean that the US Today newspaper, is balanced and objective, newpapers are under no obligation to print the truth.
As for the pollster Qriously, again one could speculate, are their poll results balanced, but that observation can be said of about any pollster, I found YouGov, rather unbalanced during the Scottish referendum. Yet I found Lord Ashcrofts polls more inline with my thinking at the time, you may have thought otherwise and of course that’s your opinion.
http://www.qriously.com/blog/jo-cox-murder-influence-outcome-eu-referendum/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Today
It doesn’t sound as though you’ve ever read USA Today. Not that I have strong feelings on the question. It’s pretty astounding that even after what Mair claimed in court, the media are still refusing to call him a terrorist, so he’s being excused. That must be the reason.
Lagurre.
No I haven’t read the newspaper US Today, I have however browsed the NYT and the WSJ, on occasion. I would imagine propaganda in the US via its newspapers isn’t that different from propaganda carried in British newspapers.
As for Tommy Mair not described as a terrorist by the establishment, we have been conditioned, over the last few decades by the media and the establishments in the West in particular to relate terrorism to a Muslim, weilding a AK47, fitted out with a suicide vest and yelling insanely Allahu Akbar.
If you’re honest that’s probably the image, you conjure up in your mind when you see a news bulletin regarding a act of terrorism. If it is then the media and the establishments they represent, have done their job proficiently.
I totally agree.
But also have to wonder if you really are ‘bipolar’ or if indeed there is such a thing, given my own experiences….
I shall never accept that being a political dissident makes me a ‘mental person’ or that this somehow justifies the gang raping, beatings, attempts on my life and the rest as ‘treatment’.
Seven Steps of Highly Effective Manipulators
White Helmets, Avaaz, Nicholas Kristof and Syria No Fly Zone
http://dissidentvoice.org/2015/04/seven-steps-of-highly-effective-manipulators/
White Helmets is the newly minted name for “Syrian Civil Defence”. Despite the name, Syria Civil Defence was not created by Syrians nor does it serve Syria. Rather it was created by the UK and USA in 2013. Civilians from rebel controlled territory were paid to go to Turkey to receive some training in rescue operations. The program was managed by James Le Mesurier, a former British soldier and private contractor whose company is based in Dubai.
The trainees are said to be ‘nonpartisan’ but only work in rebel-controlled areas of Idlib (now controlled by Nusra/Al Queda) and Aleppo. There are widely divergent claims regarding the number of people trained by the White Helmets and the number of people rescued. The numbers are probably highly exaggerated especially since rebel-controlled territories have few civilians. A doctor who recently served in a rebel-controlled area of Aleppo described it as a ghost town. The White Helmets work primarily with the rebel group Jabat al Nusra (Al Queda in Syria). Video of the recent alleged chlorine gas attacks starts with the White Helmet logo and continues with the logo of Nusra. In reality, White Helmets is a small rescue team for Nusra/Al Queda.
But White Helmets primary function is propaganda. White Helmets demonizes the Assad government and encourages direct foreign intervention. A White Helmet leader wrote a recent Washington Post editorial. White Helmets are also very active on social media with presence on Twitter, Facebook etc. According to their website, to contact White Helmets email The Syria Campaign which underscores the relationship.
Nicholas Kristof/New York Times
The “White Helmets” campaign has been highly successful because of uncritical media promotion. Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times was an advocate of the NATO/US attack on Libya. According to him, villagers who had been shot, injured and their homes destroyed were not bitter, they were thankful! . “Hugs from Libyans” is how he viewed it. It was, of course, nonsense, helping to pave the way in the invasion and destruction of the country.
Now Kristof is uncritically promoting the White Helmets, aiding and abetting their political and propaganda message seeking foreign intervention in Syria.
More on The White Helmets supported by Jo Cox:
http://www.mintpressnews.com/us-propaganda-war-in-syria-report-ties-white-helmets-to-foreign-intervention/209435/
US Propaganda War In Syria: Report Ties White Helmets To Foreign Intervention
“White Helmets primary function is propaganda” reported an independent journalist, who tied the group to George Soros and the controversial advocacy group Avaaz. ”
Oh not “Mr Colour Revolution” himself?
Essentially the White Helmets are nothing more than a terrorist rescue organization funded, directed, and promoted by Western governments, intelligence agencies, and Foundations aimed at assisting Western-backed terrorists in the destruction of secular Syria. The organization serves as a clever and opportunistic tool to be used by Western media for the purposes of sourcing false claims as coming from “impartial” “activist” groups on the ground in Syria and giving the source the credibility of a “human rights” organization.
https://www.sott.net/article/318008-The-White-Helmets-A-rescue-and-assist-organization-for-terrorists
White Helmets: War by Way of Deception Part I
https://thewallwillfall.org/2015/10/23/white-helmets-war-by-way-of-deception/
“The Ivy League bourgeoisie who sit at the helm of the non-profit industrial complex will one day be known simply as charismatic architects of death. Funded by the ruling class oligarchy, the role they serve for their funders is not unlike that of corporate media. Yet, it appears that global society is paralyzed in a collective hypnosis – rejecting universal social interests, thus rejecting reason, to instead fall in line with the position of the powerful minority that has seized control, a minority that systematically favours corporate interests.” ~ Cory Morningstar
Well it’s amazing what I can find once somebody annoys me enough to start searching.
https://wallofcontroversy.wordpress.com/2016/05/21/stop-the-white-helmets-winning-the-nobel-peace-prize/
the origins of the White Helmets trace back to British “security specialist” James Le Mesurier. Close-up inspection of the organisation also reveals affiliation to a variety of aligned terrorist factions including Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra (aka al-Qaeda in Syria). Evidence of such ties can be found posted across social media by White Helmet members themselves. Furthermore, far from being independent, White Helmets are known to have received $23 million from USAID, €4 million from the Dutch government and multiple millions more from our own Foreign and Commonwealth Office.*
Linked from that:
https://www.change.org/p/nobel-prize-do-not-give-2016-nobel-peace-prize-to-syrian-white-helmets
The White Helmets have received over $ 40 million in funding from the US Government [USAID] and the UK Foreign Office despite their claims of being “fiercely independent and accepts no money from governments, corporations or anyone directly involved in the Syrian conflict”
The UK and US governments are involved in the illegal war against Syria and are intent upon “regime change” in Syria, therefore they are “directly involved in the conflict”.
The White Helmets claim to be “unarmed and neutral” while embedded in areas occupied solely by Al Nusra [Al Qaeda] and ISIS. They are armed. They have been photographed and filmed supporting Al Nusra/Al Qaeda who are foreign mercenaries massacring the Syrian people.
The White Helmets foment sectarianism in Syria, calling for the “burning of Kafarya and Foua”, Shia villages in the Idlib area besieged for 5 years by US NATO backed terrorist mercenaries, Ahrar al Sham and Al Nusra.
The White Helmets have assisted in Al Nusra/Al Qaeda executions of civilians in Aleppo [please see evidence in the video]
The White Helmets have been responsible for the majority of anti Syrian Army and Government propaganda, calling for the familiar “No Fly Zone” which, if it had succeeded, would have reduced Syria to the same failed state scenario as we have seen in Libya.
The White Helmets leader, Raed Saleh has just been deported from the US where White Helmet backers USAID [US Government] were about to present him with an award. The US State Department have stated possible connections to “extremist organisations” as the reason.
However the US State Department have made the extraordinary statement that although the White Helmet leader and chief spokesperson to UN and Whitehouse is linked with terrorism, the White Helmet Group is miraculously unaffected.
Please bear in mind that George Bush destroyed Iraq and Libya on the pretext of nothing more than their “connections to Al Qaeda”
The White Helmets are Al Qaeda “with a facelift”. They are terrorism and neocolonialism under the umbrella of Humanitarianism.
For the sake of Syria, please do NOT give the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Qaeda aka the Syrian White Helmets.
Resident Dissident
It is not the Mods it is I. You are very free to disagree with Alan on Assad and post why you disagree. But not simply to throw insults at Alan. I am trying to crack down on the ridiculous amount of personal sledging going on.
Craig; I thought you might enjoy a just deletion.
FUCK OFF !
Where is the independent evidence to this stinking pile of crap – links to petitions from the Syria Solidarity Movement and other Assad sycophants does not constitute independent evidence as any sensible person will know only too well. Smearing the recently deceased only is also pretty classy too.
RD said “Smearing the recently deceased only is also pretty classy too.”
I complained about that myself recently. Why don’t they stop trying to claim Prince was some kind of drug addict and just say goodbye to a great musician? It’s just not right you know.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/murderous-rage-killed-jo-cox-runs-through-britain-584664629
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y
O/T Interlude, picture of spinning pottery wheel…
Had a letter send to me from Will Straws office featuring Alan Sugar urging me to vote to remain in Europe.
He’s avin’ a laff, sending taxpayer paid for literature to an immigrant who hasn’t got a vote? (but who has inadvertently paid the taxes the 6.8 million comes from for these adverts).
That is what happens if you have to deal with dynasty politics and somebody wanting to take over from daddy in Blackburn and Darwen.
interlude finished, picture of finished bowl comes off the pottery wheel.
And now gather round children for ‘muffin the mule’.
How fortunate for Mair that terrorism is not a chargeable or offensive issue for you, sir. This is a problem of those debilitated by either illness or the lack of a secure state where its soldiers are degraded to the status of terrorist who’s methods are exact to the methods of soldiers in armies where states are secure countries. The extraordinary truth more & more an evident fact is many of the so- called terrorists are drug- addicts suffering from psychosis. Huge quantities of stimulants including/ especially ecstasy are consumed by ISIS fighters, & Taliban in their day. This is not only official, it has been on the grape- vine several decades. What’s more, among the suppliers of the ecstasy, are the Israeli & Russian mafias, suggesting a very strong political motive. A great problem in society is the consumption of narcotics & the effects being classified generally as mental illness without recognition of the difference with mental illness of non- drug or alcohol users, when clearly theres a whole field of difference.
…the law-making orgy of new “terrorist” offences was legally unnecessary and purely political propaganda. Murder and conspiracy to murder always were perfectly adequate offences and that is what terrorists ought to be charged with. Murder is the same sordid murder whatever the motive, and to have terrorist murder as a separate offence imbues it with a nobility it does not deserve.
100% agree. There is as far as I can see nothing a terrorist can conceive of doing which is not adequately provided for in English (or Scottish) criminal law. The distinction, if it exists, is one of intention, but that can be taken into account at the sentencing stage of proceedings. Kneejerk populist legislation.
” Kneejerk populist legislation.”
And the thin end of a very dangerous wedge.
By the way “demagogic”is a better description than ‘populist’; there is, as Alcuin pointed out, nothing wrong with populism, though the word is often used in the USA as a means of discrediting democracy, on the basis that the people are too stupid to be allowed to determine their own interests, if they should feel that those interests contradict those of their rulers.
Political expediency requires an extra something in the Law for a greater emotional release for the Public.
In the US they can increase penalties for ‘hate crime’ as though someone in a mental melt-down would consider how much more he could be punished if he/she seem more hateful and bigoted.
Punishment often is not a deterrent to violent crime and we often want more than just getting the punk off the street so he can’t do any more harm. Revenge is a key element in both Crime and Punishment as well as Revolutionary War.
While I take your point, Ben, charging someone with terrorism as opposed to, say murder, rather elides the crime, wouldn’t you say? Rather as our Antisocial Behaviour Order became a rite of passage for unruly teenagers, being a terrorist implies a sense of solidarity with other freedom/unfreedom fighters, if not a conceptual bandana, AK47 and Guevara tribute band. Call ’em murderers*, treat ’em as murderers, and (contentiously) let the punishment fit the actual crime.
*or wankers, which probably carries a less romantic image still…
“While I take your point, Ben, charging someone with terrorism as opposed to, say murder, rather elides(sic) the crime, wouldn’t you say?
As far as I can say there is nothing more punitive than murder. My point is the attempts to put a greater edge on crime by associative terror charges are just political expediency. Unless I am missing your bigger point.
No, Ben, I was missing your point. Apologies.
PS Miriam-Webster supports, if it does not endorse, my fanciful use of ‘elides’ to indicate obscuration (rather than omission). However, ‘obscures’ would have been clearer. Do note that we Brits like to play with the language of Shakespeare, who invented a surprising amount of it…TS Eliot had to come here to play.