My body and mind are still in Ankara, fully engaged with the Syrian peace talks. But my heart is in Catalonia.
A great day. The achievement is colossal – a pro-independence majority achieved despite the leadership being in jail or in exile, and on an 84% turnout. The lies being spewed out day by day by the neo-liberal media about a “silent majority” are well and truly exposed, as is the EU’s contempt for democracy.
I guess now they have to charge over million people with sedition.
Our own blond thug ( as opposed to the one in Washington) has been insulting the Russians. If I was Lavrov I would have decked him.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson clears up his USSR-Sparta comparison (VIDEO) https://www.rt.com/uk/413980-boris-johnson-sparta-russia/
Theresa is playing her part in the anti Russian propaganda too. Two RAF jets carried out an exercise using the plane in which she was being transferred as the ‘Russian intruder’. Is there no end to this nonsense? And perhaps she will be confined to barracks for the duration and prevented from wasting yet more fossil fuel on her recent and numerous trips abroad
Theresa May’s plane intercepted by Typhoon jets practicing to tackle ‘Russia threat’
Published: 22 Dec 2017 | 17:41
https://www.rt.com/uk/414005-theresa-may-russian-jets/
In the name of God she should go and go now.
I feel sorry for Boris (not really), he must be so out of his depth meeting with one of the most seasoned and respected diplomats and making a fool of himself.
Fair point SA- there are times when our buffoonish Foreign minister just about ‘wings it’ via the deployment of charm, classical allusions and playing to the gallery eccentricity, but that act won’t wash with a real heavyweight like Lavrov.
That said, I for once feel even more sorry for Ms Mogherini, who has to pretend the EU has a ‘foreign policy’ and speaks as one on the issues of the day. To understand the impossibility of her task, take a look at how various European countries voted on Trump’s decision to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv, the internationally recognised capital, to Jerusalem, the capital Likudniks and dispensationalist Christians think (if that is the right word) is the ‘eternal capital’ of Israel.
Essentially all the big countries in Europe that count on the international stage voted to censure the US decision ie the UK, Germany. Italy, La Belle France etc
The European countries that abstained are a real rag bag, and their reasoning for not giving the finger to Trump, unlike their big brothers and sisters, can be summarised as follows-
Bosnia- our days as an EU protectorate are probably running out, ditto endless money from Brussels, so we’ll brown nose the septics instead. We must keep up our appearance as the model poster boy mainly muslim country that just luurves the US, when the populace in most other muslim countries hate Uncle Sam’s guts – especially so in alleged ‘allies’ like Saudi & Pakistan
Croatia- remember ‘Operation Storm’ in 1995 when the Croat army, with covert septic support, took back those areas of the country with Serb majorities? These areas had made unrecognised declarations of independence themselves- so in a way the present territorial integrity of the current Croat state results from these covert US actions two decades ago. So, thankyoo Uncle Sam!
Czech Republic, Hungary & Poland- These 3 countries are presently seriously pissing off Brussels by saying Bob Hope- No Hope to the Sprouts’ insolent suggestion that err, lets all share the burden of all these TransMed ‘refugees’ presently camping out in Italy & Greece. Its Euro solidarity innit ? To which the Visegrad countries reply- bugger that for a game of soldiers, we prefer ethnic & cultural homogeneity ta very much! Their vote in this instance is another way of distancing themselves from the EU mainstream.
Latvia- the Baltic State with the largest resident Russian population; clearly they think that, if the Russians there (largely denied Latvian citizenship, and mostly Soviet era immigrants) ask Uncle Vlad for help with their grievances, the US is much more likely to offer meaningful aid and assistance than the EU- you and whose army herr Juncker ?
Old Mark
Thank you. You articulated what I was thinking about the abstentions on this vote. It is interesting how the Visegrad group are so much more aligned with US policy sometimes appearing to be more royalist than the king. Ukraine didn’t even bother to turn up for the vote.
“.. one of the most seasoned and respected diplomats (S.Lavrov) ”
___________________
Uncle Joe’s one-time Foreign Minster V.M.Molotov (1890 – 1984) also met that description rather well, I’d say.
Habbabkuk-
Ditto his partner in crime Ribbentrop
Ditto Talleyrand
Ditto Metternich
As Craig discovered to his cost, brazen honesty isn’t a characteristic one should develop to the fullest if you wish to be a success either as a diplomat, or as one of their political masters. Playing the eloquent fool (as BoJo likes to do) isn’t to be recommended either!
Happy Christmas !
A very Happy Christmas to you too, Old Mark, all the very best!
Rajoy said again today that he will not meet with Puigdemont or the other secessionist leaders. FT: Rajoy warns Catalan leaders not to restart independence campaign: Spanish prime minister dismisses calls for a meeting with ousted leader Carles Puigdemont.
As far as I am concerned – John Ward of The Slog, gets my award for Blog of the Year. I don’t know everything he knows, about the people he mentions, and I suspect he doesn’t write quite everything that he thinks he has knowledge of, but I think he is a good bloke. Coming from Manchester probably helps, and I too have been to Goa around much of Christmas time, and found it wonderful.
As regards Christmas time, and young Children, well this time next year, we will have two Grandchildren, and the eldest, who is already tremendous fun, will be old enough to really appreciate me playing Father Christmas’s Dad at home.
Other than that, I wish I was in Goa now. All these lies and bollocks are doing my head in.
“Peace on Earth and goodwill be unto all men. Except Boris Johnson and Damian Green.”
https://hat4uk.wordpress.com/2017/12/22/peace-on-earth-and-goodwill-be-unto-all-men-except-boris-johnson-and-damian-green/
Tony
With Loony showing a keen interest in Gaelic earlier, I hope he enjoys this Gaelic Christmas Carol.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CGXrKaFt8EE
It was translated to English in 1888, so it’s unlikely Loony has heard the Gaelic version, with Gaelic very much suppressed at that time.
Cat Stevens also picked up on the tune and wrote Morning has Broken to it.
Best wishes to all in Catalonia and hope 2019 brings them a solution, whatever it may be, without further oppression and violence from Madrid.
The reactions are almost as priceless as the performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLMezRa0l0E
@ JOML December 22, 2017 at 20:19
Nice tune. And quite a historic year – the year the Masons did the ‘Jack the Ripper’ murders to protect the ‘Monarchy’.
Very strongly suspect, in fact virtually certain, they had their blood-soaked hands in Princess Di’s ‘accidental death’, as well.
“My body and mind are still in Ankara, fully engaged with the Syrian peace talks. ”
Wow, is that as a direct participant, a go between or observer. Whatever do let us know if you can, this is exiting.
Good piece, that cites the saying “those who know no history are bound to repeat it” in referencing Trump to Balfour; with Israel, I’m actually always reminded of the short-lived Crusader Kingdoms, artificial settlements of foreigners to the Middle East, and I doubt very much that the Israel, at least in its present apartheid state, will last even as long as these Crusader Kingdoms:
https://consortiumnews.com/2017/12/21/delusional-self-interest-in-trumps-jerusalem-move/
Macky.
Alas Jerusalem has been fought over as who the rightful occupiers should be. In 1191 Richard 1st was entrenched outside the city in one of the nine crusades to the Holy Land.
The defender of Jerusalem at the time was the Kurdish ruler and leader of the Islamic opposition Saladin.
Saladin gave a speech, a plea if you like to Richard and his army, that Jerusalem was just as much ours as it is yours, from that speech came the Treaty of Ramia.
In which both Christian and Muslim alike shared the city peacefully. I guess there’s a lesson in there somewhere to be learned, by those who fight over Jerusalem today.
Indeed a lesson for us all.
When the Crusaders, originally took Jerusalem, they slaughtered all the Muslims inhabitants, literally wading through the streets with the blood covering up over their ankles; when Saladin reconquered Jerusalem, the native Christians were allowed to remain in the city while those of Crusader origin were allowed to leave Jerusalem for other lands along with their goods with safe passage; showing that “Christianity” was hardly the “Religion of Peace” back then, as now per the recent devastation in the ME by “Christian” countries.
A reminder of how religion can be misused and should be kept out of politics and governance.
SA,
I don’t know, how much if at all, Craig Murray is involved in Syrian Peace Talks.
However, if you want some idea, of how potentially good he could be if involved…
Buy his book
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/books/the-catholic-orangemen-of-togo/
I read most of it on a plane – there and back.
Not quite finished it yet….
Some of the detail, I think oh FFS Craig
You may like or dislike him, but Craig Murray has got the most tremendous Balls (Courage)
I like people like that, even though I have never met him.
If he was formerly known as Sir Shagalot, then its probably true, but not a criminal offence.
Tony
“Every year two or three readers write to educate me that religion is the source of wars and persecutions. These readers confuse religion with mankind’s abuse of institutions, religious or otherwise. The United States has democratic institutions and legal institutions to protect civil liberties. Nevertheless, we now have a police state. Shall I argue that democracy and civil liberty are the causes of police states?”
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/12/21/christmas-column-2017/
Not the same at all Macky. The difference is that in different religions not everyone is equal because the believers have a ranking system for their gods which places others in an inferior category with the best will in the world, otherwise why believe?
This is what the crusaders believed when they wanted to save the Holly land from the ‘infidel ‘ Muslims and also what has caused a lot of religious wars in Europe before the reformation.
“Nevertheless, we now have a police state. Shall I argue that democracy and civil liberty are the causes of police states?”
Mackie.
In my opinion the fault lies with us, we elect officials to do our bidding, then most of us forget about them.
We must (all of us) hold them accountable, for if we fail to do so, then they will stray from the path of democracy.
If you haven’t seen this speech by Sean Penn from the film Fair Game, I’d advise anyone to take it in, it covers my point, and I’d say part of yours. It’s only two and half minutes long but its point is infinite, with regards to the people holding a government to account.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FKbpLDdw4KU
SA; “The difference is that in different religions not everyone is equal because the believers have a ranking system for their gods which places others in an inferior category with the best will in the world, otherwise why believe?”
You accuse me of being patronising, and here you lecturing me with the equivalent of “water is wet”; either you didn’t read the PCR piece, or if you did, it went straight over your head; your later comment to ROS that Soviet & Chinese Communist, as well as Nazi fascism, were” religions of sorts”, further confirms to me that your antithesis towards religion is extreme & irrational.
Time for a song;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozzUkVr7ndk
Exactly Macky
I am not really sure what the argument is about anyway.
Wish you a very happy christmas and all the seasonal good wishes.
And this is for you Macky, great work.
Interestingly Lutherans believe that the sacrifice on the cross was for everyone not just the chosen ones.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpaNo4mWRBE
Not taking sides, I should point out Mackie, that Christian’s have suffered their fare share of persecution, none more so than under Roman emperor Diocletian.
His successors, Valerius and Constantine, issued, a proclamation known as the Edict of Milan, announcing religious tolerance throughout the empire.
My point is that through the ages all of the worshippers of the Abrahamic religions have suffered, yet even the Roman empire in 303AD could find a way to tolerate others beliefs.
Again history has lesson for us all, including those who currently claim a right to Jerusalem.
Some of the atrocities of the religious wars in Europe are even worse and not forgetting the Spanish Inquisition and the annihilation of the indigenous South Americans by the post Colombus Spanish conquistadors in the name of religion. Most religions have suffered as well as perpetuated violence at some point in time.
SA.
Indeed yes they have, however Stalin, Hitler and Mao, killed quite a few people, without need of religion.
It was a religion of sorts.
Syria is a religious war between two religions, Islamism which was invented by the Islamist Brotherhood using the good name of Islam, and Islam. Islamism, as instructed to me by one of them states that nothing will change unless you stir it up. By this logic any war is advantageous even if it destroys the Muslims, their infrastructure, their safety and their way of life.
This argument was heard previously by the Sufi sects which proclaimed that it they were wrong, at least that would galvanise you to find out what was right. This sordid argument not only justifies deliberate ignorance but also masks the consequences of that ignorance. But the Muslim Brotherhood still wheel out the excuse which all failed philosophies maintain which is that it only failed because people did not apply it hard enough.
Fortunately for the whole of humanity Lavrov and Putin , with help from China, have refused to let Muslim Brotherhood stupidity, aided, abetted and given diplomatic cover by USUKIS, work its way to its own logical destruction taking the Muslims of the Middle East with it. If it did not affect anyone else one could have left them to render themselves into ghee like Little Black Sambo’s tigers.
The consequence of Russia and China’s actions are that Russia and China now occupy the moral high ground that after the war USUKIS used to occupy. The institutions of USUKIS are like congealed drains of London’s West End, saturated with excess and unfit for the purpose for which they were intended. Or statesmen and women who once commanded Empires, now squabble with junior policemen who have caught them like wasps in a jam trap.
It’s very unedifying I know, to be participating in the decline and fall of once great nations. Probably best to get oneself somewhere else.
@ Macky December 22, 2017 at 20:53
I spoke to it once (offering a leaflet). It literally lives up to the title ‘Bounder’ – it doubtless is a ‘Cad’ and a ‘Dastard’ to boot.
It literally ‘bounded’ up to the entrance. And no noticeable ‘minders’ in sight. Mind you, they could have been present, but certainly not noticed by me.
JC was due to speak at a hustings near the Elephant and Castle; for some reason he didn’t show, and was replaced by John Pilger, or another Left luminary – memory is a bit iffy these days.
Now That is very interesting.. Syrian Peace talks.. I hope Craig’s Voice is Listened to.
And I hope He can get a break For Family time this Christmas.
Cheers For the Gaelic Christmas Carol. JOML
Seasons Greetings All …. May this Display of Dancing Youth, Warm yir Weary Cockles –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxgFyLf6sdI
“(A) pro-independence majority (was) achieved (in Catalonia) despite the leadership being in jail or in exile, and on an 84% turnout”
Such spin gets right up my tits. Pro-independence PARTIES won a majority of SEATS, 70 out of 135. They did not win a majority of votes. They only got 47.5%. That is NOT a majority for independence, regardless of how high the turnout was.
Independence is an issue that should be decided by a referendum that both sides consider to be legitimate – as it was in Scotland.
The figure I’ve got for turnout in Catalonia is not 84% but 82%, up from 75% in 2015. If a legitimate referendum is ever held, as it should be, the turnout will probably be higher still.
Turnout figures show the proportions of the electorate that think a vote is important. For example, in Scotland the hierarchy of importance goes like this:
(lowest importance)
1) local issues
2) representation in the Scottish parliament
3) representation in the British parliament
4) the status of the country: staying in the union or becoming independent
(highest importance)
If the result was reversed, would you complain then?
K. Crosby.
If your first name is Keith, then I won’t ask.
However if its Karen Crosby, your name has already been mentioned in a book .I..imay eventually read.
Do you know Rob? I think he is still a virgin, but he wrote the book. I suspect it has very little first hand in it – or maybe all of it.
Tony
@ Tony_0pmoc December 23, 2017 at 02:25
Good on yer!
Free Ahed Tamimi, and all Palestinian children in Israeli jails.
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/free_ahed/
Please sign. Over 123,000 have done so already.
Done Sharp Ears..It’s At 125, 300 .
130,061
It’s quite hypnotic to watch the counter. Every second or so, another name is added. They come from all over the world, many from Turkey and some from Palestine. I have not seen anyone’s name as coming from Israel.
131,850 now
I also became quite hypnotized watching the names flooding in from all over the world. There have been some from Israel, but l think they are mostly Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.
Your description fits very many of those currently inhabiting Pugin’s Palace.
Anyway, they are now on a nice little break of 17 days for the festivities.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/business-faq-page/recess-dates/
Tweeted to our great friend Oliver Kamm today, copy to Neil Clark and Media Lens:
“Your claim regarding RT is “total fabrication” according to this study, and other claims you make are equally useless. Like you. Enjoy! :)”
https://medium.com/@Reg_Left_Media/murdochs-war-on-rt-ofcom-breaches-the-bbc-how-the-numbers-stack-up-91313b7dcb39
Well said and well done Messrs Stubbs and Spooner for their excellent work.
Kamm, Aaronovitch and the rest of the Times outfit should be driven from these shores.
I see no basis for seeing the vote as a colossal achievement. The weak coalition will quickly fizzle out unless the Catalans resort to force.
See no basis for the resumption of the civil war.
This is extremely scary stuff, which powerfully demonstrates Western Civilisation’s descent into complete lunacy. I think there is little if any personal protection, you can do about it, except don’t watch TV, don’t use Twitter, don’t use Facebook, and seriously consider only using your mobile phone for emergency purposes. You can read mainstream newspapers if you want, but it is probably safer to read The Dandy & Beano (if still available). That will give you a grounding in words and images, and may even motivate you to read books instead. You can go to university if you like, but I think it far more sensible to learn a practical skill first, hopefully taught by a master craftsman with you as his apprentice. If you are any good, he will pay you, as you learn, because you are an asset, doing lots of productive work instead of being brainwashed with useless nonsense.
http://thesaker.is/when-sanity-fails-the-mindset-of-the-ideological-drone/
Tony
“My body and mind are still in Ankara, fully engaged with the Syrian peace talks. But my heart is in Catalonia.”
As long as you are keeping body and soul together.
Yes a good result for Catalonia.
On another topic you may recall that Theresa May sent poet Talha Ahsan, Babar Ahmed (who was beaten up by British police) and others to US maximum security prisons. Talha’s brother Hamja has written a book about his own struggles and how as a “Shy Radical” he moved from being a bullied child with psychological issues to shoulder the responsibility of campaigning on behalf of his brother Talha. I have met this family and can vouch for how reserved and decent they are. Here is a review of what looks like being a very thought-provoking read.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/hsiao-hung-pai/shy-radicals
Yes her record as Home Secretary is almost forgotten by the sheeple. A vicious and cruel woman who professes to be a Christian.
She has the nerve to hold forth today to her ‘valiant hearted’ troops, perhaps borrowing some thoughts from Bunyan’s To Be A Pilgrim. ‘He who would valiant be, gainst all disaster’.
‘The prime minister has used her Christmas message to the armed forces to pay tribute to the “valiant hearts” of British servicemen and women who are working to keep the UK safe.’
Troops keeping UK safe, PM says in Christmas message
3 hours ago
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42468209
Pass the sick bag. It’s not the troops fault. I noticed a lot of adverts recently recruiting for the armed forces aimed at young people challenging them to become “real men” asking if they have got what it takes. I remember Thatcher when her popularity was low. The Falklands, which is still costing the UK taxpayer an arm and a leg, was just the answer for her. With the US (our strongest Ally) having given the go-ahead to send lethal arms to Ukraine in yet another unwinnable civil-war God knows where the planet will be by the year 2020.
https://www.rt.com/news/414054-us-lethal-arms-ukraine/
They’ve got what it takes, John Goss, some see no other way to get a job/feed the family, so they fight and die In Afghanistan or Syria, wherever they’re sent. They are all brave and do exceptional service, but when they are injured and or die, then they are a charity case, their service to the country reduced to being dependable on street collections. People with PTSD are being left to find their way, some wait for years before they receive counselling, other dare not ask for it, don’t want the social stigma.
This is a crying shame!
Arming Ukraine at this point in time is akin to a petrol can landing on the fire, Jerusalem being the first.
Was it not Ukraine’s missile guidance systems that were sold to Kim Yong Un?
Which nut job brokered that deal? Are the same people now receiving best technologies and top arms?
What sort of f….d up wind up regime are we being subjected to by this psychopath egomaniac of a president?
It is legit for Israel to destroy and interfere with Hezbollah’s arms.
but it is not ok for Russia to interfere with the arming of some corrupt fascists in power in the Ukraine?
What ever the peace talks come up with, Trump is not in charge anymore, imho, he’s given control over to the military/arms dealers and he’s eroding the fabric of US society with racial hatred.
Thanks Nevermind.
Or maybe this was the source, from WW1.
O valiant hearts who to your glory came
through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
your memory hallowed in the land you loved…..
One small chink of light has appeared.
Afghan torture survivor gains 11th hour reprieve from deportation
Lawyers for the man due to be sent home on Christmas Day say the original decision was ‘deeply disturbing’
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/23/afghan-torture-survivor-wins-11th-hour-reprieve-from-deportation
Simple rules for a nice happy family Christmas dinner.
1. Prepare almost everything the night before. That’s a big bird there, and she needs stuffing (sage and onion and sausage meat with streaky bacon on top) you should do this preferably before midnight mass, or going to the pub.
2. You have not got a lot of time, because almost everyone will want to see The Queen’s Speech at 3pm and Top of The Pops from 1972.
3. Make love on Christmas morning – be aware that sprouts are involved, and on Boxing Day Morning the results can be close to a knock-out.
4. As its a big bird, it is no spring chicken, so it is highly advisable to get up at 7:00 am, and cook it slowly. Then you can go back to bed for number 3.
5. If you have got 3 cats, it is incredibly important – not just to pre-feed them on Whiskas supermeat – but also give them the remnants of the Turkey’s neck and guts which you have boiled for hours to make delicious gravy complete with Bisto Gravy Granules and Cornflower (if you are really posh). If the cats have got their tummies full, then they are far less likely to make a dash over The Christamas table, just as you are about to pull the wishbone, before The Christmas Pudding and Brandy Cream, whilst trying to understand the jokes from The Christmas Crackers.
It usually works reasonably well, so long as you invite your friends round on Boxing Day for Turkey, Chips, Veg and Gravy, after a long walk in the Countryside together.
Have a Nice Christmas,
Tony
I feel sick. Is it ‘Kill a Turkey for Christmas’ time?
Sharp Ears,
We went to Kerala a few years ago. It is almost completely vegetarian. It is very much nicer than Goa, which has been heavily corrupted, by Western Industry.
Kerala has always been, and I suspect largely will remain, an Independant State of India (often labelled as Communist).
There is very little industry there, yet the population which is now relatively stable in terms of population growth (or decline) look to me exceedingly happy and healthy. The vast majority of them, have never eaten meat, nor even fish, if they are over 50 miles from the sea. We just loved the people of Kerala, even though they understood very little English. They were just so nice and friendly and welcoming.
Their almost all vegetarian food – was just completely georgeous. I could quite happily live there without even thinking about eating a rat. They have dogs and cats to do that.
I won’t bore you with the details of how The Natural World is, and its food chain,which largely involves a lot of animals and insects eating each other, down to at least the level of ants, who are so incredibly well organised, I sometimes just sit there and watch them working together – wondering what they are doing, until they grow wings, and turn into a swarm and try and eat me.- en mass. The worst ever was in North Wales, but to be fair – when I was swimming off Nefyn bay with my brother in a rowing boat, I seriously thought we were under a shark attack, but it was merely a school of dolphins, who we have made great friends with since in various parts of the world.
Should we tell them not to eat fish, cos unlike sharks (who we know well too), the dolphins do not try to eat us, and as strange as it may seem, sharks are incredibly shy. I have some wonderful underwater videos swimming with them.
Happy Christmas Sharp Ears. I have massive respect for you, and the things that you write.
How’s Dreolin? I used to really like what she wrote too.
Have you two ever met?
Tony
Or alternatively…(you are extremely unlikely to like this – unless you were there – which we were)
“Hawkwind – Sonic Attack – (Live at Stonehenge Free Festival, UK, 1984)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUYq_QAkw4
https://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/hawkwind/sonic_attack.html
Tony
unless you were there – which we were)
“Hawkwind – Sonic Attack – (Live at Stonehenge Free Festival, UK, 1984)”
I was.
And me, blue Comer van called ‘rebel kitchen’. It was great until some pissed up Hells Angels created chaos as usual,.
But they were opposed by the peace convoy, a euphemism, and told to sling their hook by about 50 people who gathered and took no crap from them.
But that was one hell of a gig, I was about 100 yards behind the stage it was awesome.
I trepeditiously venture forth into the comments section on Craigs site after a year of following it as part of alternative and hopefully independent opinion.
I do so because of Catalonia, my unease about the use of state violence to stop people voting! The response of the EU and the baffling response of our Govt amongst others and the reluctance of the UK media to offer a balanced coverage and free comment.
I now find the various inconsistencies beginning to point to a common denominator, a PR campaign. By the PR masters of the dark arts and unsavoury a client list and history from the heart of that Industry , London.
I refer to THE usual suspect.
I am informed that a connection between EU funds and Ciudidad party is imminent.
And that electoral fraud is not impossible in the elections – a 80% turnout in any functioning democracy – which never usually achieves such levels is verging on implausible.
I don’t know if Craig Murray is earnest and honest in his statements here – but they generally read as so and in the absence of any evidence against him , heartfully thank him for his excellent posts and most of the commentators for theirs – most – not all.
Happy Xmas and a hopefull new year to all.
Does anyone know how tall Con Coughlin is?
I do realise this is a strange request, and I do know he comes from Essex, as does the band, who turned up in our local pub a few years ago.
I had been doing my best as just a commenter on The Daily Telegraph to wind him up, instead of just turning up at his local pub, and offering to buy him a drink and shake his hand…
But someone who looks extremely like Con Coughlin, did his best to stop me taking photographs and videos in my local pub, except he couldn’t jump as high as me.
I do have the photographic evidence of the event, and I am still not sure if it was him. Con Coughlin as published by The Daily Telegraph is somewhat better looking (but maybe he has been subtely air-brushed).
I just want to know if he is taller than 5′ 1″ If so – it wasn’t him…
Come on – some of you spooks on here must have met him, even if he was wearing High Heels
Merry Christmas Con Coughlin. I can no longer post on The Daily Telegraph, since being Banned, unless I pay, but I only do it for Free.
I was introduced to this, by one of my team at the time. Most of it was filmed in New York City on St. Patrick’s Day
“House Of Pain – “Jump Around” (Official Music Video)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaz7OqyTHQ
Tony
‘British MPs have expressed support for detained Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi, who was taken from her home in Nabi Saleh by Israeli occupation forces in the early hours of Tuesday.
An Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled yesterday has already attracted signatures from a dozen parliamentarians, including primary sponsor Philippa Whitford (SNP), and co-sponsors Kelvin Hopkins (Labour), Grahame Morris (Labour), Tommy Sheppard (SNP), Hannah Bardell (SNP).
Conservative MP Crispin Blunt, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, was also a co-sponsor of the EDM.’
http://worldnews.easybranches.com/regions/middle-east/re-british-mps-express-support-for-detained-palestinian-teen-ahed-tamimi-548765
Jeremy Corbyn also commented but it is a pity he limited his comments to child imprisonment by the Israelis and not to the plight of the Palestinians in general. Wet.
‘The concern in Westminster over Tamimi’s arrest comes after UK Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke out about the case, saying that the Palestinian teen “should not be in prison”.
In a video posted by journalist Clayton Swisher, Corbyn is asked about Tamimi’s case by Swisher’s six-year-old daughter.
“She shouldn’t be in prison because children should never be in prison”, Corbyn replied. “And if people are standing up for their rights, then they should be allowed to do that.”’
“detained Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi”
Does anyone know how old this “teen” is ?
Habbabkuk
I thought you might like to find out more about Ahed so I am posting this link from a website on site.
https://972mag.com/ahed-tamimi-flips-zionist-mythology-on-its-head/131783/
https://972mag.com/ahed-tamimi-seeing-the-forest-of-occupation-through-the-trees-of-nabi-saleh/131798/
Another good one from the same website.
Thank you for that link, SA (https://972mag.com/ahed-tamimi-flips-zionist-mythology-on-its-head/131783/ ).
The picture on that link is that of a girl who looks as if she’s in the high teens (if a teenager at all).
I note that the text talks about a girl “slapping” an Israeli soldier – presumably the girl in the picture.
I wonder whether a teenager who slapped say a police officer in central London would be arrested…or sent away with a kindly smile and a bag od sweets.
Its all about context Habbabkuk, isn’t it? You obviously haven’t read the two articles otherwise you would not be asking these questions. If the policeman in London has been terrorizing this girl for as long as she was aware and if she has not been treated as an inferior person in her own home and country, then of course you could be right.
Oh, do spare us with that stuff about “context” won’t you?
“Context” might have something to do with why she slapped the soldier but it has nothing to do with her arrest. And her arrest was the subject of the original comment on here.
Slapping a policeman or soldier on duty will lead to an arrest in most countries – and probably much worse in some of the countries many commenters on here seem to admire so much. Try doing that in Damascus. to take a close example.
Ah but remember we are talking about ‘the only democracy in the middle east’.
Surely you understand the meaning of context in law?
A simple click on Google would have provided the answer to that faux and disingenuous question.
19 Dec 2017.
Bethlehem, occupied West Bank – Ahed Tamimi, a prominent 16-year-old Palestinian activist, has been detained during a pre-dawn raid on her home by the Israeli army and border police in the occupied West Bank.5 days ago
Palestinian Ahed Tamimi arrested by Israeli forces | Palestine News …
http://www.aljazeera.com/…/palestinian-ahed-tamimi-arrested-israeli-forces-17121917483475...
“My body and mind are still in Ankara, fully engaged with the Syrian peace talks.”
One notes the preposition “with” (rather than “in”).
Wish you were included?
Shouldn’t think so. Ankara’s a dump, the climate’s awful, and the talks are presumably well provided with Is***li reporters.
One man flames the entire establishment, right in front of them. Watch it in full.
https://youtu.be/JOUFsCS7xYE
And for the lolz:
https://youtu.be/YZ46I3kMOr0
Merry Christmas folks.
And a Merry Christmas to you too, Anon7. More power to your arm, Sir!
Earlier this week the Great Satan received a huge snub from the majority of UNGA envoys, over its violence inciting decision with regards to Jerusalem.
The US envoy (Nikki Haley) who looked isolated and frustrated fir most of the session, issued invitions to a party in January 2018, for those nations that voted with the US or abstained.
It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to says the song.
https://www.jta.org/2017/12/22/news-opinion/united-states/nikki-haley-throws-a-party-for-nations-that-didnt-oppose-us-jerusalem-stance-at-un
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIsnIt1p978
I thought you needed the music you mentioned to accompany your post.
The UN might ever so gently be nudging the US in the ribs over Jerusalem, of which no great deed will result in the prod from 128 members.
However when it comes to extreme sanctions against North Korea, a country desperately trying to defend itself from the Great Satan, the UN and the US are singing from the same page.
The latest round of sanctions calls on NK citizens outside NK to be sent home, along with the banning of all petroleum products into the country.
These added sanctions can only have a negative effect on the citizens of NK, and move the possibility of a peaceful conclusion further away.
The second Minsk Agreement maybe about to be broken as Russia accuses the US of arming Ukraine with “lethal” weapons. The Russian Foreign minister claims the US has “crossed the line” and it will lead to hostilities in the Ukraine.
The monitoring of heavy/lethal weaponary set out in the (second Minsk Agreement) is carried out by the OSCE. Part of the agreement was the removal of such weapons.
Hostilities in the region never really stopped and Russia and its patsies are mostly to blame.
American Defence Department official Michael Carpenter said on 2 March 2016 that at least 430 Ukrainian soldiers had died since the signing of Minsk II, that Russia maintained “command-and-control links” over the DPR and LPR, and that Russia was “pouring heavy weapons” into the Donbass. Deputy head of the OSCE mission in Ukraine Alexander Hug said on 25 March 2016 that the OSCE had observed “armed people with Russian insignia” fighting in Donbass from the beginning of the conflict, that they had talked to prisoners who said they were Russian soldiers, and that they had seen “tire tracks, not the vehicles themselves, but the tracks of vehicles crossing the [Russo-Ukrainian] border”. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on 27 March 2016 that Russia was “not a party to the Minsk agreements”, and that the agreements were “devoted to two conflicting sides”
American Defence Department, the same dept that applauded masked armed militants seize government buildings in Maiden Sq. They also demanded a change of government and constitution.
“America is with you,” Senator John McCain told demonstrators then, standing shoulder to shoulder with the leader of the far-right Svoboda party as the US ambassador haggled with the state department over who would make up the new Ukrainian government.
In my opinion Putin’s absorption of Crimea and support for the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, is clearly defensive. On this occasion (as in many others) the Great Satan is the aggressor.
” In my opinion Putin’s absorption of Crimea and support for the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, is clearly defensive ”
In what way?
No comment about the OSCE observations?
“In what way?”
I suppose in one way by preventing the treaty granting Russia the use of its Black Sea naval bases from being torn up by the extremist leaders of a coup.
“In what way?”
In halting Nato expansionism.
As for your second point the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the ODIHR, and indeed the OSCE in general are greatly influenced by the US.
OSCE observations were monitored from Kiev. Although invited they would not even go to the crash-scene of MH17 and have only recently observed from Eastern Ukraine. OSCE has the same credibility as the UN. These organisations are paid for in dollars. The return has to be dollar-worthy.
” In my opinion Putin’s absorption of Crimea and support for the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, is clearly defensive ”
Yes, RoS, indeed. I think WW2 started with a Nazi false flag operation against the German radio transmitter at Gleiwitz, didn’t it – the Nazi attack on Poland immediately thereafter being a defensive response to a “Polish provocation”.
@ Habbabkuk December 24, 2017 at 18:07
The West created the Putsch that overturned the government of Ukraine, with money ($5 billion) and with foreign snipers (many of them Georgians), just another case of ‘Regime Change’,
Do you prefer the present ‘Government’ and the state of the country know, to what it was before the Western meddling?
Why do you prefer a Fascist State, to an enlightened Russian aligned State?
Do you really believe it is Russia, rather than NATO, that is pushing towards a nuclear h*l*caust (just precautionary – I don’t want to upset the algorithms)?
The uprising was the result of Putin’s meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. The Ukraine parliament had agreed a deal with the EU but at the last minute Yanukovych unilaterally decided to accept a bail out from and closer ties with Russia. Had Putin not enticed him to do this the revolution would never have happened.
You have to understand the oppression and hardships the former eastern bloc countries suffered during their occupation by the Soviet Union. It’s fear of a return to those days which is driving these nations to join NATO so the effect of Putin’s show of aggression in Crimea and Donbas is going to accelerate NATO expansion not in anyway halt it. Ukraine was once determined to be a non-aligned nation, now 64% of the population in government controlled areas support membership and a Membership Action Plan was launched earlier this year.
“The uprising was the result of Putin’s meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.”
What absolute total and utter bunkum, even by your standards! The uprising was engineered by the US from the US embassy in Kiev. Geoffrey Pyatt was the ambassador. Oleg Tsarnov, a member of Verkhovna Rada spoke there of the plan in October 2013 while the Neo Nazis in parliament tried to shout him down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gbVOr6n8Ww
Then came Victoria Nuland with her “Fuck the EU” and hand-picking of the next government starting with Yatsenyuk, and thanks to Wikileaks, cables that Poroshenko was “our man in Ukraine”. It has only recently come to light that the bullets which brought about the deaths on Maidan for which the Ukrainian Police were blamed came from hired Georgian mercenaries.
http://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-liberal/2017/11/an-italian-documentary-reveals-three-georgians-who-say-they-were-the-snipers-on-kievs-maidan-in-2014-2565092.html
Our wonderful BBC, right up to the coup, was almost nightly broadcasting the formerly peaceful protests on Maidan Square. Since then some 10,000 Ukrainians, in the first civil war for almost a century have been slaughtered with hardly a mention on the BBC. Your knowledge of recent history leaves even more to be desired than your knowledge of Newtonian physics, engineer Kempe.
And you Kempe must understand that the Maidan movement of orange troops was bankrolled by Washington for some 11 years before this apparent Moscow putsch was generated.
We do know who has paid for the Orange army of peaceful protesters and who had a secret plan to advance NATO, who collaborated with a corrupt Julia Timoshenko for years, winding up the Russians whose pipelines were easy to plunder and divert as they were crossing Ukraine.
We don’t forget the massive support that was dealt out to anybody who in any way opposed Russia during the 1990’s, as much as they want us to.
Wishing you all some peaceful days to contemplate with family and friends, and a deftly slide into the new year, hopefully aided by some liquids of sorts.
” The uprising was engineered by the US from the US embassy in Kiev. ”
and we have the word of a leading separatist to prove it! You’re going to have to do better than that.
The events leading up to the uprising are well documented and easily accessible for anyone who wants to look.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine–European_Union_Association_Agreement
Nuland’s “fuck the EU” comment is taken out of context but expresses US frustration with the dithering and lack of cohesion from the EU; ie situation normal.
“and we have the word of a leading separatist to prove it!”
In October 2013 when Tsarnov spoke about what was being planned in the US embassy in Kiev before Euromaidan as it was called began.
Stop trying to wriggle. You’ve been caught trying to spread false propaganda.
Tsarnov made that speech on the 20th November 2013, the same day the Euromaiden protests kicked off. The date is on the link. He’s not demonstrating any precognition or foreknowledge, just reacting to events with propaganda.
Isn’t that just typical of you Kempe. You ignore the main message that what Oleg Tsarnov was saying was right, and those fascists you appear to support in the Kiev parliament were shouting him down because they did not want people to know who was organising the overthrow that was destined to start that day. Yes I got the month wrong but not the argument. But the speech was delivered before Euromaidan began. Whereas you wanted people to believe it was Putin to blame.
“The uprising was the result of Putin’s meddling in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.” and all the nonsense that follows that sentence.
Dr Vacy Vlazna writes on Justice for Palestine Matters. Click on P(alestine) News for full accounts of the latest atrocities perpetrated on the Palestinian people.
http://www.palestinematters.com/
She has just written (copying us in) to Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull abhorring the Australian abstention at the UN on Trump’s Jerusalem proposal, comparing Australia to New Zealand, who firmly voted against.
@ Sharp Ears December 24, 2017 at 13:24
I know the issue of
Ahed Tamimi has been discussed here; how about this:
‘Prominent Israeli journalist calls for the rape of Palestinian women?’:
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/prominent-israeli-journalist-calls-rape-palestinian-women/?
Nothing would surprise me about the Israelis.
‘Cesspit’ says he never wrote it.
https://mobile.twitter.com/BenCaspit/status/945023117923110912?p=v
But we saw his name on the by line.
Sharp Ears December 24, 2017 at 20:52
Yeh, well ‘Cesspit’ is a liar as well as his other slimeball faults:
‘We should exact a price’ from Ahed Tamimi ‘in the dark,’ Israeli journalist says’:
http://mondoweiss.net/2017/12/should-israeli-journalist/
I remember that this depraved behaviour was reported as being also used by US interrogators on Iraqi prisoners;
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.830966
Charles Crawford on Craig last year. You can see he is still jealous of Craig.
http://charlescrawford.biz/2016/09/03/peak-craig-murray-in-uzbekistan/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE9_r_w2ebI
As the Christmas hour approaches, let’s not forget the Israeli Army’s customary visit to ‘ meet ‘ Santa Claus in the little town of Bethlehem in Palestine.
I find it extremely depressing, that this is the kind of crap, from The Independent and The BBC, that we are being drowned with as a major news items, on a daily basis.
Is this a case of a human hermaphrodite fertilising itself twice? Where’s the fun in that?
I thought only plants could do that, or is it a load of (it rhymes with bank).
So my award, for the absolute worst article of the year goes to The Independent, when I thought The Guardian were going to get it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/transgender-father-childbirth-pregnant-man-woman-difference-experience-better-lgbt-a8124326.html
Tony
Is anyone looking forward to midnight mass? I am not going to express my bias, but I do recognise certain aspects of both.
Isn’t the music so beautiful, and yet so similar, from two completely different cultures.
“Monks singing Gregorian Chant in a Catholic Benedictine Seminary”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwh1OXw6uI
“Beautiful Islamic Call To Prayer”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe8qRj12OhY
Personally, I prefer The Groundhogs – Split Part 2. First band I saw, when I gave up religion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ddg7OXoupA
Tony