The Dysfunctional United Kingdom 2388


Recently an Angus mother of three infant children was separated from them and jailed for ten months for over-claiming £10,000 per year in benefits. Meanwhile the Duke of Westminster evades £3.6 billion in inheritance tax through a transparently fraudulent use of trusts which “have the option” to give the money to someone else instead.

The United Kingdom is a socially backward and sometimes vicious polity, an island which prides itself on the state enforced conservatism which allowed it to evade intellectually motivated reform and retain a historical legacy of gross injustice and privilege.

For historical reasons land reform is an immensely popular cause in Scotland, and one of so many areas where SNP timidity is a deep, deep disappointment. The fact that they are covered in buildings does not make the vast London estates of the Grosvenors any more acceptable than the unnecessarily empty Highland estates where golden eagles are destroyed so the chinless wonders, hedge fund managers and sheikhs can blast away at tame grouse.

The late Duke of Westminster is characterised as a “philanthropist” by mainstream media even though the percentage of both his income and his wealth he gave to charity was less than most ordinary people’s mite, myself included, and I am willing to bet that what he did do, was tax-deductible. That a parasite who sat on £9 billion of unearned money in a country where disabled people commit suicide from poverty, and who got two O levels from Harrow, was Prince Charles’ closest friend, cuts through the lying propaganda about the Royal family we are constantly fed.

The political class have a deliberate will not to enforce inheritance tax on the super wealthy. They have a political will not to tackle landlordism, which as it affects both residential and commercial tenants is a fundamental malaise of the British economy. Neither problem is technically difficult. The problem is that the political class as a whole are in the pockets of the super-wealthy, promote their interests and ache to join them.

Which is why in the UK it is important that the threat to them posed by Corbyn is maintained, and why in Scotland it is essential that the SNP membership now push their own leadership into bold action on fundamental land reform and Independence. To call the current SNP approach to both issues desultory would be excessively polite.

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2,388 thoughts on “The Dysfunctional United Kingdom

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  • Republicofscotland

    This is a excellent article by Mark Curtis as to why any government, not just the British one has to wage war on two fronts, foreign and domestic, to achieve their goal.

    “British wars abroad have two enemies. First, the official enemy, portrayed as a monster whom we always battle with noble intentions. But second is the enemy within – us, the public. ”

    “The danger posed by the public is that we may stop elites doing what they want, hence we are subject to state ‘information operations’ to convey messages and obscure facts, usually via compliant media organisations.”

    “Current British policy in Syria, which is having the effect of prolonging the terrible war by supporting forces fighting the regime, involves outright lying by ministers at a level similar to that over Iraq in 2002-3.”

    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-curtis/syria-war-iraq-war_b_11625902.html

    Incidently if you haven’t, read Mark Curtis’s fabulous book, Secret Affairs, you really ought to, it should be compulsory to do so.

  • Tony_Opmoc

    I have to admit my ignorance, as before I read this, I didn’t know the difference between Celtic & Rangers. I knew one lot had a largely Catholic (in name) supporters and the other lot Protestant…are they both in Glasgow???

    Anyhow – I liked this..

    https://alethonews.wordpress.com/2016/08/24/defiant-celtic-fans-game-changer-for-palestine/

    Extract

    “Defiant Celtic fans’ game changer for Palestine”

    Glasgow Celtic Football Club is arguably Scotland’s most famous and successful team, but rarely does it make headlines beyond the sports pages; until now. Celtic’s fans have demonstrated an unprecedented act of solidarity with the people of Palestine, and it is going viral.

    What have the generous folk in Scotland done? Quite simply, in terms of peaceful civil rights movements, they have produced a “game changer” which will go on to have a profound effect on the future of the already powerful global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

    Thousands of ordinary Celtic fans picked up and waved Palestinian flags at their Celtic Park Stadium during a match against an Israeli team, as reported here in MEMO ; the flag-waving demonstration flew in the face of police advice. This simple but powerful act of mass defiance created a storm of media attention across the Middle East, which has now propelled Celtic alongside the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United in terms of stature and popularity in the region.

    Football’s European governing body, UEFA, warned that it would fine Celtic for its fans actions, but the fans retorted that they would match any fine imposed on the club, pound for pound, in donations to Palestinian causes. True to their word, the Green Brigade has raised nearly £100,000 in a crowdfunding appeal for Palestinian charities; the total continues to rise.”

    Tony

    • Anon1

      “I have to admit my ignorance, as before I read this, I didn’t know the difference between Celtic & Rangers.”

      Two cheeks of the same arse. That’s all you need to know.

      • Paul Barbara

        This was aimed at you Anon1 – lest it misses the point:

        Paul Barbara
        August 24, 2016 at 23:10
        Have you looked in the mirror lately? Touche!

    • lysias

      Most of the Irish, including the Irish in Scotland, understand what it’s like to be the victims of settler colonialism. So they can sympathize with the Palestinians.

      • Republicofscotland

        Lysais.

        I agree, that’s why Celtic fans feel a sense of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

        Which brings me back quite nicely to Israel, and the poser of why is Israel allowed to have a team in Euro 2016 in the first place, it’s not a European nation?

        Israel should be made to return to the (AFC) Asian Football Confederation, mind you it has been touted that even those nations won’t play the apartheid country’s teams, and with good reason.

        Hopefully UEFA, will see sense, and revoke the apartheid nations 1994 membership.

          • Paul Barbara

            @ Alan August 24, 2016 at 21:18
            “I agree, that’s why Celtic fans feel a sense of solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

            We know all about non-Celts who try to identify with Celts and thus speak for them:

            http://www.bandia.net/caorann/ie.php

            H.T.H. ‘

            Not so much ‘for them’ as in support of them. By the by, how do you spell ‘troll’? Just wonderin…

          • Alan

            Like I said earlier, it’s only taken them 50 years to develop this affinity with Palestinians. Where were they until now?

            Troll is spelt T-R-O-L-L. How do you spell “Control-Freak” as in control-freaks who jump up and down screaming “troll” whenever anybody disagrees with them?

          • Node

            Like I said earlier, it’s only taken them 50 years to develop this affinity with Palestinians. Where were they until now?

            It goes back to at least the 1990s. Google it.

        • Paul Barbara

          Quite right – but they are ‘exceptional’, aren’t they? ‘By appointment to Yah-Bul-On’, couldn’t make it up….

  • RobG

    President Putin speaking earlier this year about the ‘Panama Papers’. This doesn’t look staged to me, and is nothing compared to Cameron & Co wearing a flourescent jacket and addressing a group of zero hours workers in a warehouse, workers who are too terrified to question or boo; and of course American politics is beyond parody at the moment. Notice how Putin talks about real things, including the arts and literature (it’s an 8 minute clip)…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVSvRzRzaUg

  • michael norton

    Dysfunctional
    Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.A.

    “In a separate development on Wednesday, President Erdogan said he would press Vice-President Biden for the extradition of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom he blames for the recent coup attempt.

    At a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Mr Biden said of Mr Gulen: “We have no interest whatsoever in protecting anyone who has done harm but we need to meet the minimum legal standard of our law.”
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37171995

    Well it seems Turkey is playing all sides, they swing this way, then the other way, then back again.
    Turkey is actually invading Syria, backed by Saudi and America.

    No fly on its way.

  • Tony_Opmoc

    I came across this young man about 6 months ago..I think I even made a comment somewhere – and he actually replied to me. He’s a lot cleverer than me – which I find incredibly impressive cos he only looks about 27. (Mind you I was pretty good when I was 27). I read this yesterday..

    https://beforethecollapse.com/2016/08/20/our-rulers-require-empire/

    “Our Rulers Require Empire” Posted on August 20, 2016 by Cathal Haughian

    Extracts…

    “It is and was always about the interlocking of confidence, power and empire.”

    “Confidence that one would get one´s gold for dollars — broken first for US citizen by Roosevelt in 1933 and for nations by Nixon in 1971. Cutting this link to gold was cutting the external anchor impeding war and deficit spending. The promise of gold for dollars was revoked, one could only exchange a dollar for two times 50 cents from that moment on. A non-US-central bank could still buy gold on the open market, but it presumably would not come out of US gold reserves and soon cost much more. Also, it would expose itself in not playing along with international central bank politics decided upon by The Powers That Be.”

    “Anyway, we now know the game has definitely changed. The Reserve currency role of the dollar is in question – as John Kerry admitted recently before camera. (What he said was astoundingly honest but as First Diplomat he may have better let that moment of truth pass.)

    For some years now some countries are trying to get away from the dollar slowly while the US tries to collapse their financial systems. In a paradoxical and hard-to-grasp way a simultaneous run into and out of the dollar has begun: Russia and Brazil are best examples of what happens to you if you have not enough reserves of a reserve currency you actually do not want to hold – but have to, because your monetary system is built upon it. Too much reserves and best case its value gets slowly or less slowly inflated away (with zero or maybe soon negative interest as compensation), worst case frozen by an US enemy act or decree (see Iran early 80ties); not enough of them and your local currency comes under attack by the banks and hedge funds looking to short it into a hole provoking and causing (or being provoked and being caused by) capital flight and color revolution. Nobody knows what the right amount of dollar reserves should be under these circumstances, or more to the point, if such a right amount even exists.

    So yes, there is a dollar bear case, too.

    The Empire will do everything to keep the monetary charade alive – including all sorts and forms of war: sanctions, blockades, assassinations, color revolutions, hacking war, kinetic war, orbital war and maybe even nuclear war – all while using the historically successful method of accusing the other side of starting hostilities (while repeating the lie often enough).

    One could argue that we are already in the third or fourth inning of an international financial war and the events in Syria, Yemen and Ukraine suggest that we are in the innings of kinetic warfare.

    What’s next? South China Sea and the Baltic region as candidates for conflict, and perhaps Turkey, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil as candidates for civil war. All the undecided areas of importance in this Great Duel between competing systems may be decided by violence.

    In the last analysis, it was power and confidence that allowed our Empire to encompass the World and in a way that was largely hidden from Americans. Now the Empire is quite clear to see as our rulers require brute Imperial force to render power and continuing confidence. Humanity is once again about to enjoy the curse of interesting times.

    By all means share and reproduce.”

    Tony

    • Paul Barbara

      Tony, check out ‘The Creature From Jekyll Island (by G. Edward Griffin)’; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu_VqX6J93k

      There’s lots up on the web, including books.
      JFK had decided to tackle the Federaal Reserve scam, and had started printing ‘Government’ dollars; that, in addition to his decision to disband the CIA and replace it with an ‘accountable’ intelligence agency, to retire J Edgar Hoover as head of the FBI, to sto[p Israel getting nuclear weapons, to properly tax ‘Big Oil’, to have a ‘rapprochement’ with Castro, to end the Vietnam War,were among the many reasons he was assassinated (by a CIA-planned plot).

  • Tony_Opmoc

    Paul Barbara,

    Yeh, Cynthia McKinney is great in many ways – and I know she is as honest and courageous as anyone…but I have serious problems with The Green Party – for reasons to do with physics, maths, biology, and its origins and funding and ultimate agenda of mass human depopulation (and I do understand exponential growth) – and I do understand why nearly all the issues the Green Party raise are extremely valid – in fact most of my friends and my wife and daughter – are natural supporters of The Green Party.

    I voted for them once and yes I still go to The Green Events and Parties – they have by far the nicest people.

    Tony

    • nevermind

      ‘ultimate agenda of mass depopulation’? come on Tony, can you link to that policy in the MFSS?

      Please tell us that you are not going for the reasons stated but because they are ‘by far the nicest people’.

      These neocon goals you are not quiet sure about are more likely to be implemented by Hillary Clinton, straining at the leash to get into Syria and mix it with Putin, so the choice is clear and you nor I have a vote.
      Cynthia Mc Kinney and Jill Stein are doing a splendid job in projecting some sustainable realities to the US voters.

      If you are really intere4sted in Green Politics please look at their planned progressive Alliance debate with Lisa Nandy, a declared new Labour MP and a specialist on Tennis, a TV commentator, Chris Bowers. That says it all. Why was Momentum not chosen, clearly representing more of the membership than 1 single sitting MP.

      A progressive Alliance talk this is not.
      https://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference/timetable/panel-debates-at-conference/

  • RobG

    Americans are now so dumbed-down/propadandised that I can only sadly say that they deserve everything they get…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqdJbDr9bk8

    But that means us lot in the rest of the world will get the whirlwind of ignorance.

    I wait for the day that the entire world stands up in the United Nations and calls out the United States of America for the pariah state it is.

    • Alan

      “I wait for the day that the entire world stands up in the United Nations and calls out the United States of America for the pariah state it is.”

      As do I, RobG. As do I.

      • Paul Barbara

        @ Alan August 24, 2016 at 21:45
        “I wait for the day that the entire world stands up in the United Nations and calls out the United States of America for the pariah state it is.”
        As do I, RobG. As do I.’…

        Does that mean you agree that it should occur, but that bribery, corruption and threats will pprevent it?

      • Republicofscotland

        Alan.

        Yet you berate the Celtic fans for not having solidarity sooner with the Palestinian people. A people who’ll remain oppressed until the Great Satan (consecutive US governments) can be held accountable for backing and endorsing Israeli actions, against the usurped Palestinians.

        Aren’t you the confused one?

    • Ben Monad

      “But that means us lot in the rest of the world will get the whirlwind of ignorance.”

      Let’s exempt RobG and Alan from the whirlwind since they are special. Whom else seeks exemption from idiocy? Shall we poll all those who possess sentience or shall we limit to the electorate? It’s your option as the largest aggregate sub-group of unaccountable voter blocs.

    • michael norton

      Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem said in a Wednesday press conference, according to AP.

      Around 500 school administrators will also be trained each year at the national gendarme training center to manage crisis centers and act as liaisons with security officials.

      Vallaud-Belkacem said during the press conference that the new plans are “not about ceding to panic or paranoia,” but conceded that “the threat is high, it is real.”

      Listen out for somebody screaming
      Allahu Akbar

    • RobG

      I’m not the least bit afraid of the ‘lone wolf’.

      Why are you propagating such fear/propaganda?

      Do you yourself really believe this rollocks?

      • michael norton

        New school year to include terror attack drills for FRENCH students
        http://www.france24.com/en/20160824-france-schools-security-drills-safety-terror-attack

        What does it take to scare you RobG?

        My father was a motorcycle despatch rider in Belgium & France in the war, was shot at by a stuker ( they missed him)
        was evacuated at Dunkirk, then got more than 200 fragments of schrapnel embedded in him from a thousand pound bomb, while he was night, fire watching in London, he did not like the sound of bangs but was not afraid of people, was afraid of dogs though.

        If a nineteen ton truck was charging towards you with the driver screaming Allahu Akbarat 70 kph would you be frightened?
        I would.

        • glenn_uk

          You respond to RogG’s appeal to stop posting terror/fear propaganda by immediately posting more of the same?

          WTF is the matter with you?

          • michael norton

            Rob G thinks it is all imaginary, he says he does not believe any of it, it is all false flags.
            I am inclined to think some of it is false flags but I also think much of it is true.

            Wind your neck in.

          • glenn_uk

            MN: Fair enough.

            I think RobG’s point (in one way) is that we get constant propaganda about terrorist attacks. The gutter-press is alive with it, seething, to bring every whisper of a threat to our attention, and scream about it whenever it happens.

            Giving exactly what Thatcher denounced as “The oxygen of publicity” to such outrages. Doing the terror-work.

            Putting it in perspective, thousands of people have died due to the negligence of the DWP, every year. Thousands more die on the roads, countless multiples more maimed and crippled. And who cares about the wildlife.

            Why doesn’t the express talk about another 1000 tragedies a day, from smoking, excessive drinking and a junk food diet?

            How about global climate change, which will have a very, very, major effect on us all in less than a few decades?

            Too boring. So why are you – Michael – helping the gutterpress along with these screaming announcements? Do you think we are so unaware of this terror-threat that is broadcast from every angle?

            Wind your own neck in – this is not news, that you post 100 times/day. It’s simplistic sensationalism.

        • Alan

          “If a nineteen ton truck was charging towards you with the driver screaming Allahu Akbarat 70 kph would you be frightened?”

          No, because under EU rules, anything bigger than a van is restricted to 90 Kph which is about 56 Mph, so you’d have to be dreaming to see one going that fast 😉

  • RobG

    A quick caveat about trains (a subject I could talk about all night): before the channel tunnel, on a premier service you could go from London to Paris in about 8 hours (maybe 10 hours if there was bad weather on the Channel crossing). From Calais you headed down to Paris via Amiens. It used to take about five hours. From Paris Gare du Nord the world was your oyster. On the departure board were trains leaving for Amsterdam and Copenhagen, for Munich and Nuremburg, and of course the old Ost -West Express (which I have taken many times and no longer runs), which used to go from Paris to Berlin to Warsaw and Moscow.

    From Moscow you could hop on the Trans-Siberian railway, to either Vladivostok, which was 8 days or five time zones away, or down to China via Mongolia, which was just a six day journey on a train.

    I’ve done them all, and as such I find it hard to relate to the present appalling rail service in the UK.

    At least on the 8.32 from East Croydon you don’t have to deal with goats and chickens and drunken Red Army soldiers who want to kill you.

    • Paul Barbara

      @ Reply Rob August 24, 2016 at 23:22

      I’ve done the ‘Orient Express’, can’t remember whether it was the Gar du Nord or Gar du L’Est, back in ’74.to Istanbul (I’d been there previously, in my 1967 ‘Hippy Trail’ trip to India, original destination Australia, mostly ‘auto stop’, but I got caught up in the ‘Hippy Trail’).

      • RobG

        Paul, you are going back a few decades before my time. I can only say that the old Orient Express used to run from Paris to Istanbul; this during the days of the Cold War. In the timetables the trip was scheduled at 65 hours (that’s more than 3 days), but it often took much longer than that.

        I’ve only ever done the old Orient Express from Paris as far as Belgrade, in what was Yugoslavia (and that used to take the best part of 2 days).

        The modern Orient Express is a tourist thingy that has nothing to do with its glorious past.

  • Tony_0pmoc

    What most people don’t understand about me is that I don’t have a death policy – and I don’t even have life insurance – well I used to kind of – but despite all my attempts flying gliders and diving, and riding motorcycles and driving really fast cars and other stuff – I’m still here.

    Not only that – according to an offer I got in the post – and I worked out the numbers – the insurance company made me an offer betting on me staying alive for over another 20 years +

    That was a nice offer – but there’s no way – I am sending you buggers £50 a month.

    I will outlive you too. You will go bust before I drop dead.

    Tony

    • glenn_uk

      Why not still ride motorcycles, Tony? That’s among the greatest physical thrills you can have, bungie-jumping and sky-diving aside. Own bikes myself – one simply fast, one just fun, and another for cruising. Can’t beat them.

      • RobG

        I used to have a Honda 250 (I know, you lot will call me a wimp) which I got 120mph out of down the old A2.

        I love motorbikes!

        • Paul Barbara

          @ Reply ↓ RobG August 24, 2016 at 23:44
          ‘I used to have a Honda 250 (I know, you lot will call me a wimp) which I got 120mph out of down the old A2.
          I love motorbikes!’

          I used to have a BSA 650, with sidecar gears, which never reached a ton. I toured all round Spain in ’63, and came off it south of Barcelona. Had to get it back to Blighty on the train (after a three-day spell in a Spanish clinic.

          • glenn_uk

            That’s the spirit, Paul – don’t let a nasty crash, a stolen bike or a blown up engine get you down. Bikes really are for the living, and I hope to ride them for decades to come 🙂

        • Ba'al Zevul

          I once had an RG125. Derestricted, it was as much fun as almost anything else I’ve ridden. Got 80 out of it once.

          • glenn_uk

            Quite believable…. I got over 70 out of my first bike, a GP100 (sports model!). Cracking machine – red and chrome.

      • Paul Barbara

        @ glenn_uk August 24, 2016 at 23:33
        ‘Why not still ride motorcycles, Tony? That’s among the greatest physical thrills you can have, bungie-jumping and sky-diving aside. Own bikes myself – one simply fast, one just fun, and another for cruising. Can’t beat them.’

        Yep, but then again, the PTB aren’t gunning for you – bit foolish driving motor bikes (or push-bikes – Jeremy listen up!) if they are.

      • nevermind

        oooh a connoisseur, and no Rob G. why call you a wimp, one needs transport,
        What is surprising is the amount of bikers on this blog, praise the road..
        my last one was a R75/7, its waiting for an enthusiastic rider now.

  • Brianfujisan

    Tony Asked

    “Celtic & Rangers. I knew one lot had a largely Catholic (in name) supporters and the other lot Protestant…are they both in Glasgow???

    Yes Tony..Both teams are based in Glasgow.

    And well done Celtic fans having raised Over £140,000 in just three days for Palestine ( For MAP and the Lajee Centre from Aida Camp, Bethlehem ) And to think their target was initially £15,000 ..Well done ..Superb.

    https://www.gofundme.com/matchfinepalestine

    • RobG

      I second your thoughts, Brian. It was a wonderful gesture by Celtic fans, and the fundraising was magnificent.

      But alas, we live in a lunatic asylum (ie, zionist controlled). and Celtic Football Club will be made to pay for this.

      We will get there in the end…

  • glenn_uk

    Whatever. You probably don’t even remember what you did that showed your true colours – at least, I hope so because that’s the best excuse I could give you.

    You’ve gone from being a good guy, a nice fellow, even a friend – to being dead to me, Ben, because of your utter callousness and the most base behaviour one could expect online from another. I have no idea why. I’m just responding.

    What you profited in the process only you can know. I hope it was worth it to you.

  • Tony_0pmoc

    In Dmitry Orlov’s interview and I will try and quote from memory – I missed much of the Brexit stuff at the beginning -cos we’d just well got up…and so I put my headphones on..and just looked at my lovely wife – and stopped and got dressed and went to Sainsburys by myself – with the shopping list – incidentally – my next door neighbour had been presumably been given much the same shopping list (isn’t it the women who are supposed to bump into each other with their shopping trollies – before driving them to the gym for a swim (and they won’t let us fat bastards in there)…

    He said some Really Strong Stuff..

    I didn’t realise The USA was that bad..but none of us in England (that I know have any plans to move there – though we do have several close relations who live there…)

    I am certain he said this – and I have massive respect for him – even his intonation is brilliant…but you should listen yourself (with headphones on if necessary)

    He sounds like a Brilliant American – but he’s a Brilliant Russian (well so far as I know)

    “Interview with Dmitry Orlov (MUST LISTEN!)”

    http://thesaker.is/interview-with-dmitry-orlov/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEp9d1bUTec

    Tony

  • Habbabkuk

    Has the Alan/Michael Norton/Bevin/RobG/RoS/Paul Barbara blog become a franchise of Craig Murray Entreprises Ltd? 🙂

      • nevermind

        Indeed and we started with a working group on decoupling management, our next goal is to weed out those who’d rather fold Mrs May’s smalls all day, from those who are telling her which colours to wear, the latter is the worst lot.

        News casting and editing will be done by a six form, in rotation with others, they are chosen at random. Come dancing will be replaced with come picking litter, were celebrities, after a night out, are given black bags and gloves and sent into the weekends open air vomitariums around England, to take back control and clean Britain up.
        http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/busiest_night_in_norwich_s_prince_of_wales_road_heaps_pressure_on_police_1_4292630

        The today program will be staffed by non English speakers so they can practise a little, feedback is guaranteed.
        We will be consulting Crufts dog management teams at all times, to deal with all interviews of foreign heads of state, leash at hand.

        Sadly the job of doorkeeper has already gone Habby, so hang around why don’t you.

      • nevermind

        Thanks for that link to Orlovs excellent analysis, Tony and Esclavo, it is high time that Russia is portrait in our media for what it is, a target for the resource hungry US who can’t embrace a sustainable future without war and usurpation of other countries resources.

        Our interest lie in Eurasia, those who find this somewhat coy and speculative I say, we always have had relations with Russia, good and bad, long may it continue, dare I say prosper.
        But they are not there to be colonised, or pressed into some empirical frame, that period has long gone, however much some still hanker for it.

  • michael norton

    So one United Kingdom young woman stabbed to death and one United Kingdom man stabbed mulitple times in the head, still alive by a Frenchman, the only positive is the CCTV exists and has been studied.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37182177
    Confirming there was CCTV footage of the incident, he added: “There’s no-one that can view that CCTV that doesn’t come away feeling sick to the stomach. It’s absolutely horrific.”

    • Node

      Michael Norton

      Your selective posts give the impression that Muslims are responsible for a higher proportion of stabbings in Australia than members of other religions. If you believe that, please provide proof. Otherwise stop misleading readers of this blog.

      • michael norton

        I do not believe the BBC selects stories to put Muslims in a bad light, do you?

        • Node

          I do not believe the BBC selects stories to put Muslims in a bad light, do you?

          Well actually, yes, I do believe that, but that wasn’t my point. I believe YOU select stories to show Muslims in a bad light. There are a thousand news stories about violence every day but you only link to the ones involving Muslims.

          I don’t believe Muslims living in Western countries are more violent than any other group but you portray them as being so and thus encourage others to hate and fear them. You are contributing to an atmosphere of racial and religious tension.

          Please answer my question : Do YOU believe that Muslims living in the West are more violent than members of other religions?

  • bevin

    This article by Mike Whitney is of great interest. He writes that Brzezinzkihas woken up to the fact that America’s position in the world is slipping. And that it should give up its ideas of hegemony and co-operate with Russia and China.
    Coming from the theorist of full spectrum dominance- and the clever bastard behind the wahhabi militias idea- this is a sign that the old fellow has not completely lost track of his small store of marbles.
    http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/08/25/the-broken-chessboard-brzezinski-gives-up-on-empire/

    “…Brzezinski has made a course correction based on changing circumstances and the growing resistance to US bullying, domination and sanctions. We have not yet reached the tipping point for US primacy, but that day is fast approaching and Brzezinski knows it.

    “In contrast, Clinton is still fully-committed to expanding US hegemony across Asia. She doesn’t understand the risks this poses for the country or the world. She’s going to persist with the interventions until the US war-making juggernaut is stopped dead-in-its-tracks which, judging by her hyperbolic rhetoric, will probably happen some time in her first term.”

    At ICH there is this too:
    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article45355.htm
    “According to a think tank that does contract work for NATO and the Israeli government, the West should not destroy ISIS, the fascist Islamist extremist group that is committing genocide and ethnically cleansing minority groups in Syria and Iraq.

    “Why? The so-called Islamic State “can be a useful tool in undermining” Iran, Hezbollah, Syria and Russia, argues the think tank’s director….”

    In the incestuous intellectual world of Think Tanks and Governments, this particular one owes its existence and the generous salaries of the self abusers it billets, to the taxpayer of ‘Pay All’ fame.

    Then there is Pepe Escobar who has been chronicling the rapid rise and precipitate fall of the Niall Ferguson’s second favourite Empire for years:
    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article45349.htm

    About 180 more comments and we will have reached 2017 before Ctraig posts again. It is at times like this that one almost, but not quite, misses that old troll tag team of Jim and Habba. Not to mention Alcyone.

    • nevermind

      thanks for that Bevin. that from the man who predicted 9/11 and instructed everyone on what not to do.
      Far from scaring anyone, today is the third day of training above my heads, today we are mainly flying attack loops, and other selective manoeuvres.

      On the day that Turkish tanks are rolling into Syria, they will not be shot up by Al Nusra’s Tow missiles, the Germans are leaving Incirlik for good. I fear that the Kurds who were making most of the fighting against IS on the ground, are going to be sacrificed by the US and Turkey.
      Rather than letting them establish a state across four borders, Turkey has no plans for peace and it will rip the Turkish state apart for years.

      I don’t blame them leaving, who wants to stick around with 50 increasingly endangered nukes.

  • michael norton

    The Dysfunctional multinational capitalist system of evading responsibilities

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37179785

    Apple has been accused of sheltering billions of pounds in profit in the Republic of Ireland tax-free, under a deal it reached with Irish authorities. JP Morgan, an investment banker for Apple, has said the company could face a bill for $19bn (£14.3bn) in a worst-case scenario.

    Several companies including Apple, Amazon and Starbucks are under investigation by the European Commission over allegations of tax avoidance.

    Last year, the commission ruled that Starbucks and Fiat were given sweetheart tax deals in the Netherlands.

    The EU’s executive body said it was investigating whether Apple was given special tax benefits for setting up in Ireland that were not granted to other companies, potentially violating EU state aid rules.

    • michael norton

      If I remember correctly this “rule” does not apply the the majority owned FRENCH Nuclear Industries because they existed before the “rule” came into being.

      However, currently the FRENCH STATE are instructing E.D.F. to absorb most of AREVA,
      presumably, what emerges will be a “new” corporation, so would then have to comply with the “rules” on State aid?

  • Republicofscotland

    So Turkish armed forces finally rolled over the border into Syria yesterday as tanks, soldiers and fighter jets, allegedly bombed ISIS near Jarablus.

    In reality though it’s more than likely, that Turkish forces were needed to help push on the Free Syrian army, a hotchpotch of Western/Saudi/Israeli backed fighters virtually indistinguishable from ISIS, in appearance and actions.

    In my opinion it looks like Erdogan is, still intent on trying to remove the Assad regime, bearing in mind that if Assad holds on, the Kurdish forces may be allowed to carve out an enclave on the border with Turkey.

    • Kempe

      I seem to recall that somebody here claimed that any incursion into Syrian airspace was impossible since the Russian’s installed their AS400 missile system in the country.

      If that is true then this Turkic invasion must have Russian approval.

      • Republicofscotland

        Kempe.

        It may be the case that Erdogan and Putin came to an arrangement, something like this.

        Turkey and the US, which must be eager to curry favour with Erdogan after the failed coup and the refusal to hand over Gulen. Crossed over the border and bombed and killed Kurds, Erdogan doesn’t want a Kurdish state on its Southern border.

        Russia and Iran, and Assad forces, not wanting to take part in the fighting, knowing that the Western press would have field with it, decided to remain as discreet as possible.

        Putin and Erdogan, probably met and discussed the plan of action, otherwise Russian missilies and forces, would’ve been deployed had it been an assault on Assads forces.

        The real losers in my opinion, could’ve been the Kurds.

      • nevermind

        did you miss Mr. Erdogans ‘i’m sorry’ to Putin two weeks ago? They’ll be allowed so far but no further.

        Although technically still a NATO member, Turkey has clearly got the others rattled with its flip flopping, playing both sides, a double agent state so to speak.

      • Republicofscotland

        Kempe.

        Staying on Russian activities in the region, it would appear Russian forces have pulled out of the Irainian, Shahid Nojeh airbase, as quick as they arrived.

        However, in my opinion in an attempt not to further upset the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia, the Iranian’s have played down, Russian forces in Iran.

        I think that Russia, its TU22M3s, capable of reaching Syrian targets from Russian territories, deliberately set up base for however short a time frame, in Iran, to show support for Iran.

    • Habbabkuk

      “.. it looks like Erdogan is, still intent on trying to remove the Assad regime”

      ________________

      Something the West should have done years ago.

      Pussy foot around and the democratic opposition gets displaced by the likes of ISIS.

      With despicable, murderous tyrants like Assad (family firm Assad & Sons, estb. 1970) action needs to ne speedy and determined.

      That’s how Israel has managed to survive in its hostile environment surrounded by populous, well-armed and unfriendly states.

      • Republicofscotland

        “That’s how Israel has managed to survive in its hostile environment surrounded by populous, well-armed and unfriendly states.”

        _____________

        Habb.

        You’d like to think that, wouldn’t you? When in reality, if the Great Satan (consecutive US governments ) hadn’t backed Israeli actions to the hilt, in arms and funding, things would’ve been very different indeed.

        Still you can dream on, that somehow Israel really matters, to the rest of the world.

        • Habbabkuk

          “Still you can dream on, that somehow Israel really matters, to the rest of the world.”
          ________________________

          Well, RoS, it certainly seems to matter an awful lot to you and your fellows on here.

          Judging by the frequency with which you post about it, that is.

      • John Goss

        Israel has made itself an hostile apartheid regime. Its genocide in 2014 to steal more Palestinian land by murdering the populace is an act beyond any degree of humanity.

        • John Goss

          And the fact that it started at the very same time as the downing of MH17 just shows how much the ‘coalition of the willing’ states were involved in this genocide and the one that took place in Ukraine.

        • Habbabkuk

          Which “genocide” was that, Mr Goss? More details, please.

          Speaking of genocide, did you know that the population of the Russian Federation is falling due, mainly, to lower average life expectancy? Perhaps the govt of the Russian Federation is guilty of genocide for failing to stop this trend….?

  • Republicofscotland

    “Police have arrested a serving member of the British Armed Forces on suspicion of Northern Ireland-related terrorist activities.”

    https://www.rt.com/uk/356999-solider-arrest-ireland-terrorism/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome

    Well, well, well one wonders if Whitehall is up to the old tricks again, the question is, are they intended to demonise Muslims, or to further ignite civil unrest between the peoples of Northern Ireland.

    The long gone British empire had form, when it came to divide and conquer.

  • lysias

    Biden claimed in Turkey that he and Obama were taken by surprise by the attempted coup in Turkey. Biden Attempts To Smooth Relations With Turkey After Coup Attempt:

    (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

    VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: I remember at the time, when he and I heard the news, we weren’t sure whether it was real or whether it was some concoction made up on the internet, on the web. I’m serious. It was so startling.

    It sure looks like a lie, because it’s hard to believe that NSA wouldn’t have had advance knowledge of the troop movements within Turkey through signals intelligence and have given Obama and Biden a head’s up.

    • Habbabkuk

      It’s quite amusing to observe how the very same people on here claim, on one hand, that the US intelligence agencies are hopeless at getting intelligence and,on the other hand, that they are omniscient. In different posts, of course 🙂

      • Alan

        Oh do some on Habbabkuk, surely the one thing that the whole world agrees upon is that the Yanks are a bunch of wankers? Did not the Vietnamese kick them into the middle off next week? Did they not lose WW2 to the Soviet Union? Anybody who trusts America to defend them is sorely disillusioned, and that includes Israel.

        • Trowbridge H. Ford

          Think you are largely confused about the Yanks.

          They suffer from a lack of brains, not guts.

          Didn’t lose WWII. Only had Truman decline to finish off the Soviets.

          Only stopped fighting the Vietnamese because Congress cut off funding

          Fighting everywhere now because Congress will fund whatever the Pentagon wants.

          • lysias

            The Pentagon didn’t want the intervention in Libya, and there are strong indications (pointed out by Seymour Hersh and his sources) that they don’t want intervention in Syria now.

            So, as with weapons systems also, Congress often imposes things on the Pentagon that the Pentagon does not want.

          • lysias

            That author is wrong about at least one of those WWII myths: FDR was well aware that Germany was going to declare war on the U.S. after the Japanese attacked at Pearl Harbor. From signals intelligence. The U.S. had broken the Japanese diplomatic cypher, and could therefore read what the Japanese ambassador in Berlin was telling his home government in Japan.

            So allowing or even provoking the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor — if that is what happened — would have been a very effective way of entering the war with Germany through the back door.

          • lysias

            In fact, at the FDR library in Hyde Park they have an earlier version of the “Day of Infamy” speech FDR made to Congress the day after Pearl Harbor in which FDR calls for declaring war also on Germany. They took that part out in the speech as delivered. Presumably FDR’s speechwriters were not aware of what the decyphered messages revealed, whereas somebody who had the power to overrule them was.

          • Paul Barbara

            Yeh, it sure takes guts to bomb or strafe the hell out of one of the poorest countries on earth; but, of course, they are good at that (and I know most conscripts did not want to go – pity they didn’t dig their heels in deeper, and leave the likes of Elvis Presley to go and show ’em whose boss (at least on guitar!).
            Psychopathic War Criminals like LBJ (with his fake ‘Gulf of Tonkin Attack’ LIE, will have been long rueing the day he was born, now he has had to answer for his abominations.
            Americans are no more stupid than Brits, who rally to the flag at the first whiff of a ‘False Flag’ attack, or government-led, MSM-fueled ‘humanitarian intervention’.

          • Habbabkuk

            “So allowing or even provoking the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor — if that is what happened — would have been a very effective way…etc”

            __________________

            Another good example of the Lysias technique.

          • Habbabkuk

            The insinuation and then the sly apparent distancing of self from it.

            Deeply dishonest.

        • Habbabkuk

          Feeling lonely again tonight? ‘Fraid I still don’t have time for you at the moment, sorry! 🙂

          • Alan

            Interesting how you and a certain Yanks have this feeling about loneliness. So tell me Habbakook, does loneliness distress you? As a Grandfather of eight, and a father of three, and a stepfather of two, I can assure you, and the Yank, that the last thing I ever feel is lonely. In fact, can you explain this feeling of lonely to me? I’m afraid I just don’t get this needy feeling, unlike you, and the Yank, who obviously do.

          • Habbabkuk

            Alan

            Did you not recently tell us that your way of passing your lonely evenings was either to post your screeds on here or to watch TV?

            I and probably many others wish you’d watch more TV.

            Over and out.

    • lysias

      It has been reported that Russia tipped off Erdogan about the impending coup before it happened. So they did have advance knowledge of it, presumably through signals intelligence.

      Meanwhile, a press release from Incirlik Air Base in Turkey (one of the centers from which the coup emanated) informs members of the U.S. Air Force at that base of reenlistment bonuses for persons with a number of military specialties, including: 1A8X1 Airborne Cryptologic Language Analyst; 1A8X2 Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operator; 1N2X1A Signals Intel Analyst – Electronic; and 1N4X1A Fusion Analyst, Digital Network Analyst.

    • lysias

      The U.S. intelligence community is quite bad at getting human intelligence — hence they have to rely on allied agencies, which may or may not tell them the truth — but they are very good at getting signals intelligence. Trouble is, there’s lots of stuff that signals intelligence won’t tell you. But one thing that it will tell you about is troop movements.

    • Republicofscotland

      “Labour’s purpose has always been to shift the balance of power and wealth in favour of working people and under my leadership we are committed to turning that into reality.”

      Said Jeremy Corbyn in your link Fred, Since the rise of Blair, the Labour party has shifted as far right as the Tories, trapipsing through the corridors of Westminster to vote with the Tories on Trident or DWP sanctions on the poor and disabled, or, in most part, the illegal war in Iraq.

      Your link to the anti-Scottish Express, would be funny if it wasn’t so deluded.

      In a way I’m glad Corbyn has shown his true colours, as Labour have been a complete and utter shambles recently, only the SNP have kept it together in the House of Commons, and attempted to hold the Tories to account.

      Labour have and always will be an enemy of Scottish independence, so Corbyns musings come as no surprise.

      I might add Fred, that Labour are in such a pathetic state right now, that even Kezia Dugdale doesn’t support Corbyn.

      • fred

        I was under the impression Jeremy had a lot of supporters on this blog.

        Can I take it you are not a fan of Mr Corbyn then?

    • michael norton

      La La Land of Scotland Economics and Freedom

      Scotland’s large economic deficit would not disqualify the country from European Union membership, according to Finance Secretary Derek Mackay.

      Mr Mackay confirmed that the Scottish government was considering a second independence referendum to keep Scotland in the EU.

      He also told BBC Scotland a 9.5% budget deficit would not be an obstacle.
      BBC

  • bevin

    “It’s quite amusing to observe how the very same people on here claim, on one hand, that the US intelligence agencies are hopeless at getting intelligence and,on the other hand, that they are omniscient. In different posts, of course ..”
    Thus sprake Habbakuk.

    There is a lions and donkeys aspect to it. Like the Imperial General Staff a century ago, the US Empire is headed by chinless wonders and cronies whose arrogance, combined with the ignorance that the Ivy League specialises in, knows no bounds. Thus it was that it took pretty close to a strike at the Pentagon to dissuade the neo-con infested Presidency from bombing Iran- a position which, that well qualified housewife and hostess, is still determined to reverse.

    We have seen in recent years, the ascent of the Susan Rices and Samantha Powers, we have seen Ukraine wrecked as Victoria Nuland called the idiotic shots to such effect that, in the event of-perish the thought- a Hillary victory, she is being tipped to be Secretary of State. To such incompetent hands are the prospects of the Clinton Foundation entrusted.

    The US spends vast amounts of money on weapons and the result is a not very effective armoury and a very wealthy set of arms manufacturers. It puts enormous resources into seeking out intelligence, and it puts it trust in a coterie of flim flam artistes and fading beauties to to use it.
    The American people are a marvellous lot but they are generous to fault and it is one of their charities to believe that if a man or a woman is good for nothing else, electing them or promoting them to office is the best way of keeping them away from the important things that fools can screw up.
    That is the other side of the Exceptionalist coin: Americans think that nothing can go wrong in their blessed land so they might as well let the village idiots, the neo-cons and the neo-liberal flat earth ideologues, have their way.

      • Anon1

        It’s like a broken record of tired old themes, rehashed and repeated ad nauseam in different order.

        There was a chap called David Lindsay you used to drone on in this way on the now defunct Telegraph Blogs. I used to think “Bevin” might be him, but he was never that far left.

        But yes, in full agreement. zzzzzZZZZZZ.

        • Habbabkuk

          Yes, Anon!, there are several examples on here of what Orwell (I believe) used to call “dead thinkers”. Tired old cliches, never a new thought, mental inflexibility, head in the sand.

  • RobG

    My kingdom for a CIGARETTE.

    I sure picked a bad time for yet another attempt to give up SMOKING, what with the WHIFF of World War Three in the air, and the FUMES of propaganda enveloping us all, and STUBBING OUT any rational discourse.

    I’ve emptied the ASH TRAY in the car and managed to produce one small ROLL UP from the TOBACCO remains. Five PUFFS and it was gone. How can I rant and rave without NICOTINE?!

    I looked to heaven, and tried to pray;
    But or ever a prayer had gusht,
    A wicked whisper came, and made
    My heart as dry as dust.

    I closed my lids, and kept them close,
    And the balls like pulses beat;
    For the sky and the sea, and the sea and the sky
    Lay dead like a load on my weary eye,
    And the dead were at my feet.

    The cold sweat melted from their limbs,
    Nor rot nor reek did they:
    The look with which they looked on me
    Had never passed away.

    • lysias

      I gave up smoking by getting a big supply of chewable Vitamin C tablets. Whenever I felt the urge to smoke a cigarette, I chewed a tablet.

          • RobG

            Glenn, since it seems likely that we’ll all go up in a mushroom cloud sometime soon, giving up smoking does seem a bit superfluous.

            However, I’m very fit for my age (52), but I would like to be super-fit when I get incinerated.

          • glenn_uk

            Good work, RobG: Take a look at this:

            http://whyquit.com/joel/ntap.pdf

            NTAP = Never Take Another Puff

            It worked well for me when I quit. It’s the only answer, and once you’ve fully understood that (it took me a while), you’ll realise you’re actually on the road to recovery rather than just suffering.

            Good luck – I sincerely hope you make it. You might need an online support group to help you out during tough moments, I think quitnet.com is still going (it’s free).

  • Republicofscotland

    This from Corbyn, and the Labour party.

    “In the most high-profile attack on the party since he became Labour leader, Corbyn lays into the SNP’s belief that “low business taxes are the route to prosperity”, saying: “I don’t see a party that welcomed George Osborne’s corporation tax cuts, relentlessly attacked local government and is committed to a benefit cap as reliable allies for a radical Labour Government”

    http://labourlist.org/2016/08/no-labour-alliance-with-snp-in-fight-against-austerity-says-corbyn/

    This from Ed Balls and the Labour party.

    “Ed Balls is to launch a bid to bolster Labour’s credibility with business by promising to keep a low rate of corporation tax and attract long-term investors to Britain”

    http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/29/labour-olive-branch-business-corporation-tax-investment

    Labour will say anything to win voters back, Corbyn as Labour’s current leader is no different.

      • Habbabkuk

        Mr Corbyn and Mrs Sturgeon are both wonderful examples of false gods.

        Mrs Sturgeon succeeded in persuading the Scots (for the time being but the English and Welsh will be more sensible when it comes to Mr Corbyn.

        • Republicofscotland

          Oh Habb, your diplomatic tone precedes you, have you ever thought of a position at the FCO. ?

      • Republicofscotland

        Alan.

        The SNP, have been in power in Scotland since 2007, Labour and the Tories, in Scotland have been on the back foot ever since. The voting population must feel that the SNP are at the very least, doing a reasonable job.

        However South of the border the Tories, (the blue ones that is) have been in power since 2010, and quite frankly don’t look like shifting anytime soon, no matter what noises Labour make.

        As for trusting Corbyn, fair enough, but remember, Labour have a long and difficult road to travel, to reach number 10 Downing st. Sturgeon is already in power and has the backing of most of the people in Scotland, by that account Alan, I’d say it is you who is a loser.

        • Alan

          Excuse me but I was under the impression that our man Craig, you remember he who runs this blog, isn’t exactly a fan of Sturgeon.

          Now can you get back onto the topic of business taxes?

    • Habbabkuk

      Make your mind up, RoS and stick to one line.

      Do you, or do you not, support the idea of low business taxes?

      In either case, why?

      • Alan

        “Business taxes?”

        What a joke. What do you think accountants exist for? You’re like those Labour voters whose only answer was “At least Blair made the Queen pay tax”. Jesus H Christ, what do there losers think accountants exist for?

      • Republicofscotland

        Habb.

        I would say it depends on a countries, circumstances, financially that is, horse’s for courses.

        • michael norton

          The Longer the likes of Ms. Nicola Sturgeon runs Scotland into the ground, the less likely it will be for Ms. Nicola to dare a second ref.
          If she pulls that stroke again and losses again, she will be the dust of Scottish history.

          • Anon1

            It’s been like this forever. As long as the SNP can lord it over Scotland and carry on screwing money out of the English, there will be no appetite for undependence.

            Would the SNP be so stupid as to relinquish their near total control over Scotland for an unknown future for which they will have to take responsibility? I think not. Too ensconced.

          • Republicofscotland

            Michael.

            What are you basing your wild assumptions on?

            The national debt, exceeds £1.5 trillion pounds, Westminster’s mismanagement of revenue and resources over the decades, has brought us to this point, of barely servicing a debt that will never be repaid.

            Think about Michael if Scotland was the barren wasteland that you portray it to be, why would Westminster, bend over backwards to thwart Scottish independence?

            Why not gladly cut Scotland loose, if Scots are such a drain on the revenue of the rest of the dis-United Kingdom.

          • Republicofscotland

            Anon1.

            I’ve heard all this many times before, unfortunately it’s not true, infact the opposite is true, but you won’t read about it in the unionist press.

            Anon1 says:

            “It’s been like this forever. As long as the SNP can lord it over Scotland and carry on screwing money out of the English, there will be no appetite for undependence.”

            “In 2011/12 Scotland contributed £56.9 billion in tax revenue, which is equivalent to £10,700 per person, compared to £9,000 per person for the UK as a whole”

            “Since 1980/81 Scotland has contributed £222 billion more in tax revenues than if it had just matched the per capita contributions of the UK.”

            https://fullfact.org/economy/do-scots-contribute-more-taxes-rest-uk-13582/

          • Republicofscotland

            Michael.

            Firstly I’d like to point out that Murray Foote (the Daily Record editor) colluded with Labour’s one time messiah Gordon Brown, (remember him, he and Labour left government with a I.O.U. in the treasury coffers) to bring us the holy parchment which is better known as the Vow. The Daily Record is a vociferously anti independent rag.

            Anyway Michael my main point is that virtually all countries run a deficit, including the dis-United Kingdom, however Westminster, has borrowed to service prior borrowings, including selling off guilts with exorbitant interest rates to banks. That your grandchildrens grandchildren, will still be paying long after you’ve kicked up the daisies, so to speak.

            At the moment the SNP government hsve no borrowing powers, yet they’ve (mainly thanks to (John Swinney) have balanced the books, year after year, within their block grant.

            A independent Scotland however would be able to borrow, like Westminster, though not as carelessly I might add, which would help to offset the any national debt. That’s why independence is so important a government needs all the fiscal levers to run a country. The SNP have been running Scotland remarkably well, with one hand tied behind their backs.

          • fred

            Yes RoS we know most countries run a deficit, the point is that the Scottish deficit is one of the biggest in the developed world.

        • michael norton

          The longer Ms. Nicola struts about Europe bleating about Scotland’s place is at the heart of Europe,
          when they tell her to F**K O*F
          the more mad she is becoming,
          soon the eyes of the Scottish people will open to the silly tales of Ms. Nicola.

          • Republicofscotland

            Michael Nicola Sturgeon isn’t strutting around Europe, no she’s crucially making allies. Whilst the British rule Britannia mentality is to retreat into its imperial shell. The SNP headed by Sturgeon, saw a opportunity to influence EU ministers, and why not.

            If there’s another Scottish independence referendum, the majority of EU nations may not be hostile towards the thought of Scotland, joining or remaining in the EU.

            It was a blinder of a move by Sturgeon, now Boris Johnson, is a completely different matter, when it comes to EU influence, don’t you think?

          • fred

            This week Nicola has been strutting round Srebrenica where more than 8,000 Bosniaks were murdered by Serbian Nationalists.

            She conveniently forgets that Alex Salmond and the SNP were on Milosevic’s side at the time, they opposed and voted against NATO intervention against the Bosnian Serbs.

            “Alex Salmond will be the toast of Belgrade tonight. To stand aside from NATO and put himself as the only European leader to stand side by side with Milosevic shows he is simply unfit to lead.” Robin Cook

        • Habbabkuk

          In other words, you weasel:

          low business taxes in the UK : RoS disapproves

          low business taxes in Ireland : fine with RoS.

          Usual anti-UK stuff.

          • Republicofscotland

            Habb.

            No that’s your words not mine, each country is a different case, I’m sure the good people of Ireland, are up in arms over low corporation tax. However Ireland isn’t part of the dis-United Kingdom anymore, therefore not my concern.

          • Habbabkuk

            RoS

            Yes indeed, every country is a different case, which is why you slate any UK move to lower business taxes while being happy to defend ireland’s (very) low rates.

            That’s a very convenient position if you’re intent on slating the United Kingdom. of course..

            BTW, what is your basis for saying the people of Ireland are up in arms about low irish business taxes? Can you back up your “I’m sure..”?

            Lastly, if Ireland’s not your “concern” because it’s not part of the UK, why is Israel your concern (judging by your frequent posts about it)?

            Gamma.

        • Alan

          Sounds like a BS answer. If people don’t pay their business taxes, how is the great Scottish project going to pay its way? You won’t have the English, Welsh, and Irish to bail you out once you get independence, you know.

  • Brianfujisan

    With regards How the U.S, U.K..the west, get their intelligence..

    Craig Explains some of the details in this very good interview, Well done Craig –

    Former British ambassador Craig Murray on the UK’s decision to invade Iraq and the lessons still not learned.

    https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/08/chilcot-report-iraq-war-blair-cameron-wmd/

    Bevin you mentioned the Clinton Foundation..here is some more on that –

    Hillary Clinton is an international arms dealer who sells a ton of guns to theocratic police states that also happen to fund the Clinton Foundation –

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV_PLCC6jeI

  • John Goss

    One of the great twentieth (twenty-first) century writers, John Pilger, makes his voice known. Like Jeremy Corbyn (who is a bit younger) it is these voices that the currrent Labour-Party elite seem to be wanting to silence.

    http://johnpilger.com/articles/provoking-nuclear-war-by-media

    Questions need to be asked why so many pro-Corbyn supporters are having their rights to vote removed. Yes there are one or two Owen Smith supporters too, but very few. There are apparently keywords being used to isolate Labour members (I think ‘Blairite’ is one such word) and standard emails are sent out to people caught using these words on social network sites.

    Somebody has raised a petition to return a socialist member, John Dunn, back to member status in the Labour Party, UK.

    https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/re-instate-john-dunn-s-membership-of-the-labour-party

    https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/re-instate-john-dunn-s-membership-of-the-labour-party

  • Paul Barbara

    @ Alan August 25, 2016 at 18:29
    ‘The 5 Most Widely Believed WWII Facts (That Are Bullshit)
    http://www.cracked.com/article_18389_the-5-most-widely-believed-wwii-facts-that-are-bullshit.html

    I’m afraid Jacopo della Quercia is dead wrong about FDR not being forewarned about Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor – in fact he had planned for it to occur for a year previous. He, Corporations and Banks, as well as the Military High Command, wanted to get into WWII, but only 16% of the American people wanted to get involved in ‘another European war’.
    So his National Security Advisor came up with an 8-point plan, of increasing sanctions against Japan, which would inevitably lead to Japan attacking the US; FDR signed off on the plan, insisting it was essential that Japan made the first move. Three aircraft carriers based at Pearl were removed, as they were too valuable to lose, and would take too long to replace. One was sent to San Francisco for ‘training purposes’, the other two were sent out ‘delivering aircraft’ to island bases just before the Japanese attack. Radio silence was NOT kept by the Japanese Task Force; the Americans even knew the names of the ships involved, and their codes were broken, to the extent that the Americans actually knew which radio operators were on the morse code machines due to having tracked them for so long – they could tell by slight variations in the tapping.
    FDR knew, Churchill knew, and the Dutch Government in Exile knew, but no one told Pearl.
    The battleships were sacrificed, along with 2,400-odd person ell.
    But the ‘trick’ worked: FDR and the Congress declared war the following day, and the same day a million men signed up under arms. Source: Robert B. Stinnett’s ‘Day of Deceit’; but search around the net and you’ll find other confirmation.

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