Government extends work by Blackwater successor in Iraq
see: reuters.com
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5817DB20090902
CIA Hires Blackwater for Assassinations
see: thenation.com
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090831/cia_video
Kabul U.S. Embassy Guard: Sexual Deviancy Required for Promotion
Whistleblower Says Bosses Required Sex Acts for Guards Seeking Best shift, Promotion
see: abcnews.go.com
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=8474937
CIA doctors face human experimentation claims
see: guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/02/cia-usa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nch43wy8Zb8
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1396836/who_funds_aipac/
http://www.rense.com/general27/jlobby.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/23/AR2005052301565.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1080184.html
http://www.freedom.ucoz.de/news/2008-06-16-61
http://www.antiwar.com/frank/?articleid=10372
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Senator_Clinton_wont_run_out_war_0203.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N294FMDok98&hl=de
http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=7999343597466477342&hl=de
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=12788
http://jewsforhillary.wordpress.com/2007/02/05/aipac-transcript/
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/November_2005/0511019.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/990201.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=AIPAC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7437060.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7349371.stm
http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=2894821400057137878
Please see:
http://www.hrw.org/features/rain-fire-white-phosphorus-gaza
http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3207
http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3192
http://stopthewall.org/index.shtml
Boycott Israel! Please! Take action now! The time for action is now!
stop supporting Israel and the killing by non-action
stop believing what Israel says
stop believing that Hamas is the solution or the sole/main cause
stop this killing and mutilation of children
stop the destruction of these children's lives by Israel
stop believing that the rockets fired at Israel are the real problem (take a deeper, critical look)
stop the way Israel treats these children day in and day out
stop a culture that allows and encourages children to sign bombs that will kill other children, parents, and innocent people
Israeli children sign bombs to be dropped on the people of Lebanon in 2006
copyright: picture/text is from http://bdsmovement.net/
In Israel "the children sign bombs" before they are used!
Join the Global BDS Movement! Boycott Israel! http://bdsmovement.net/
Israeli forces and settlers watch as an occupation bulldozer destroys a Palestinian water tank
copyright: picture/text is from http://bdsmovement.net/
Please! Take action now! The time for action is now!
Join the Global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement
stop supporting Israel and the killing by non-action
stop believing what Israel says
stop believing that Hamas is the solution or the sole/main cause
stop this killing and mutilation of children
stop the destruction of these children's lives by Israel
stop believing that the rockets fired at Israel are the real problem (take a deeper, critical look)
stop the way Israel treats these children day in and day out
stop a culture that allows and encourages children to sign bombs that will kill other children, parents, and innocent people
YOU are change!
YOU can bring the change needed!
YOU and ONLY YOU can bring change!
In 2002, the Occupation dropped a one-ton bomb on a civilian area of Gaza, killing nine children
copyright: picture/text is from http://bdsmovement.net/
This time 1,314 Palestinians were killed
412 of them children
5,300 men, women and children were injured
and in Israel the children sign bombs and shells before they are used!
Please! I call on you! Take action now!
Join the Global BDS Movement!
go to: http://bdsmovement.net/
or create your own movement!
See the telegragh.co.uk article:
Bullets in the brain, shrapnel in the spine: the terrible injuries suffered by children of Gaza
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/4279102/Bullets-in-the-brain-shrapnel-in-the-spine-the-terrible-injuries-suffered-by-children-of-Gaza.html
Take action
stop supporting Israel and the killing by non-action
stop believing what Israel says
stop believing that Hamas is the solution or the cause
stop this killing and mutilation of children
stop the destruction of these children's lives by Israel
stop believing that the rockets fired at Israel are the real problem (take a deeper, critical look)
stop the way Israel treats these children day in and day out
Take action
YOU are the real solution!
YOU are the ONLY real solution
Join the
Movement to Boycott Israel
or create a new movement!
(see articles on left side under Take Action)
Barack Obama's inauguration cost is predicted to reach over $150m!
$42.3m was spent on George Bush's inauguration in 2005
and
$33m spent on Bill Clinton's in 1993
The economy is is great trouble, not just in America but all over the world. People are losing jobs everywhere. People are losing their houses! People are losing all they have! People are losing their lives! Yet $150m can be spent for this!
A $700 billion Wall Street bailout was asked for and arranged, so perhaps Obama thinks $150m is “nothing” but "small change" in comparison. A drop in the ocean. What does it matter! At a time when “change” is really needed due to the extremely serious downturn in the American and World economy Obama lets the cost of his inauguration reach this absorbent amount. Lets not fool ourselves, Obama could have prevented this if had reallly wanted. But he has stayed as silent on this matter as he has on others.
Over 1000 people killed in Gaza, but what has that got to do with it, nothing, they are just people....
....all that matters is having a $150m party!
And this is “change”?
More than 1,000 killed in Gaza
.........more than a third of these are children.....
......And we do nothing.... NOTHING....
......We, yes.... YOU AND I..............we do NOTHING...
......we do nothing about Israel and what Israel does...
......we use the same old arguments.......
...... believe the same old arguments...
......that have been used time and time again....year after year......
......this is KILLING.........pure
.....The silence of Obama...the words of Hillary Clinton are sickening.......
......almost as sickening as the actions of Israel ...
......but WE.......WE do NOTHING...............
......are we not sickening too........... ?
Change! Such a nice word. Nice and short, and you don't need a sentence to offer so much (or so little) with this word.
Lets take an example. I'm a heavy smoker and it is December 2008, I have a really bad cough and the state of my health is not good because of this. I promise I am going to “change” for 2009. I tell everyone this, putting the emphasis on “change” so that everyone thinks I am going to stop smoking, convince everyone I'm going to bring “change”. 2009 comes. People are surprised to see me still smoking away. I point out that I have changed. I now smoke filter cigarettes. The people are not that impressed. So I point out that I also now smoke the low nicotine cigarettes. To really impress them of my “change” I tell them I go for a short jog each day (taking a pack of low nicotine filter cigarettes with me of course). And I tell them I am going to do this.....or...that... and do here and there this or that....... I still smoke of course, but I have brought change......
Hillary Clinton appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: besides dodging the questions about her husbands actions and fund-raising and the serious question of “the conflict of interests” (so “change” is put to test straight away and what do you think happened - yes your right - were still smoking)
On the extremely serious question of Gaza and all those dead and dying people Hillary Clinton did some more political dodging. She came out with such “changing words” regarding the violence (Killing) in Palestine such as “must only increase our determination to seek a just and lasting peace agreement” . Now I don't know about you but I have the feeling I have heard those words, or similar words, so often before, but I must be wrong, because this is all about “change." She did get around to mention her “husbands” actions and policies in the past (so another clear indication that were going to get “change”). She also expressed that she was “deeply sympathetic” to Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks.......Oh wow......a clear indication of “CHANGE” and if this isn't enough to convince you of “REAL CHANGE” then what about this......she reiterated her opposition to direct negotiations with Hamas unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.................
....now isn't that "REAL CHANGE" for you!.......(cough....cough.....cough.....cough...... ....cough....cough.........sounds like I'm getting better).
So now we know it folks “real” I mean "real" change is coming......cough....cough.....cough........”
(This article is extension of article below this one)
It doesn't look very promising does it? Is this change? Is it real change? Are these peole going to provide “change”! It looks very doubtful. Okay, I can hear some of you saying “give him a chance, he is not President, not in power, yet”! Yeah okay, but he didn't get elected on the basis of “give me a chance” he got elected on the basis of “change” and I am sure that most people meant “real change” when they voted. So what about his silence or non-action over the Israel – Gaza situation with over 900 dead. Is this change, real change? So the "I am not yet President" silence and non-action, is this a sign of real change? Wouldn't real change have meant doing something, something different from the past, which includes not remaining silent, non-active just because presidency has not yet taken force. Doesn't this mean taking action that is really different from the past, not following routines and ideas from the past, and policies of the past? Even doing something even though the presidency has not yet come into force? Wouldn't this be the real change? Are we truly seeing change here? Change from the Bush policy, the Clinton policy, and all the policies before that! Is this just more of the same, in a different wrapping?
Is this really change? Does this really promise real change? Yeah right, the court is still out on this one! But somehow or other, sadly, I feel it might not be..........
Hey, who is running the show folks?
Obama.: More of the same? And the same from whom?
Over 900 dead in Gaza and still Obama says and does nothing! Israel and Jewish influence still is the master!
Obama's determination to carry on the fight in Afghanistan! Does this mean another war loving President?
Hillary Clinton as secretary of state? The papers talk of „...conflicts of interest...“! What conflict of interests? It is possible that some people might see this as some kind of pay-off position, but there is no evidence of that. Of course she is married to an ex-president who still has much power and sway, and whose charitable foundation have received a number of donations from foreign governments and multinational corporations. And who is still actively busy in business and political matters all over the world. She did run for president herself, and only gave up reluctantly (has she really given up?), so she has strong ideas and policies of her own, she was rather quick to vote for the Iraq war (so does this mean she is another warmonger?), Obama and Hillary Clinton clashed on some foreign policy issues during the primary campaign ........So, what conflict of interests?
Robert Gates: a former director of the CIA, appointed Defence Secretary by President Bush and who promoted the military surge in Iraq..................
Eric Holder: another Clinton ...he was number two in the Clinton Administration Justice Department
Susan Rice, to be UN ambassador was also in Clinton administration
Lisa Jackson to head Environmental Protection Agency -worked for the EPA under Bill Clinton
Shaun Donovan: Secretary of Housing/Urban Development - was also in the Clinton Administration
Tom Vilsack: Agriculture Secretary - endorsed Hillary Clinton in the primaries.
Leon Panetta: to head the CIA (?) - former Clinton White House chief of staff
Janet Napolitano: to head the Department of Homeland Security - President Bill Clinton appointed her US Attorney for the District of Arizona.
whose show is this really?
Forget Obama he is only “concerned” for the press but not concerned enough to do something, speak out, take the risk....
if this is change....
(the usual political games and manoeuvres, staying out of trouble to keep your seat and the votes, don't rock the boat, be careful of the powerful Jewish and other powerful right-wingers...stay on the old road, old policies, old tactics, old everything...)
then lets forget this kind of change, forget Obama and his kind of change...and we can all (accept Israel who are grateful to him) certainly forget Bush....(and we forgot him in this sense long ago....but we wont be able to forget what he did to the world, and how many lives have been lost, how much destruction.....)
it is YOU who brings real change YOU AND ONLY YOU
Stop the Killing – TAKE ACTION! Stop Israel!
If the links are the wrong ones for your country then go to yours and do the same!
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/index.asp
http://www.protectthehuman.com/
Stop the Killing – Take Action! Stop Israel!
If the links are the wrong ones for your country then go to yours and do the same!
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/index.asp
http://www.protectthehuman.com/
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090126/klein?rel=hpbox
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081117/klein
See the side bar for other links to Naomi Klein articles.
The Red Cross has accused Israel of failing to fulfil its obligation to help wounded civilians in Gaza.
International Red Cross workers find four weak and scared children beside their mothers' bodies in houses hit by shelling in Zeitoun.
Shame on you! Shame on your kind of change! Shame on Israel!
and as for Bush.........
As dead bodies of men, women and children litter Gaza Obama the president of the future with presidents of present and past cut the meat of another dead body. Champagne, caviar and foie gras were all on the menu as people in Gaza starve, have nothing to drink, and are surrounded by the dead meat and dead bodies, that were once family, friends, daughters, sons, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, school friends, neighbours, and innocent people.
Obama is deeply concerned he said, he is certainly showing it!
This is change to Obama!
My oh my, Obama is „deeply concerned„! What about! There is nothing to be „deeply concerned“ about is there? I mean Israel has only killed about 600 people or more, and goodness knows wounded how many more, and many of these children and women or innocent men! What has Obama to be concerned about? And why should he be concerned at all, after all he is only the president elect that takes office in a few days time. Why should he be bothered or concerned with such matters? The inauguration party is more important! Sitting on the fence is more important! Not upsetting those Jewish power bosses and voters and right-wingers is more important. Not going against the American trend of supporting Israel no matter what they do, or treat other people, is more important. Why should Obama be „deeply concerned“! What good is that going to do anyway, lets get on with the big party in Washington, that’s more important, that’s what we have be more concerned about!
Bush supports the war in Palestine, he supports Israel. We can not expect anything good or worthwhile from him. Obama canvassed for election on the word “change”. Apparently change for him is sitting on the fence.
Obama is busy. Busy sitting on the fence, enjoying his view from a luxury hotel of the Whitehouse, “busy” making financial plans for the “recovery of America“. Very noble. The only trouble is as he is doing this hundreds of people, once real live people, are being killed in Palestine. Not his problem! Not his business! Not his watch!
Come on, what a load of rubbish!
I would say it is every human beings problem, no matter where they are.
Not his business? Why not? He is a human being isn’t he? It’s the business of all of us.
He has been elected because he promised change and just because he is not in the White House (on Watch!) surely does not exclude him from this; he is busy with other presidential problems.
Not his watch (Only one president)! Well I don’t see what his not yet being president has to do with this. I am not president and even I am trying to do something (by writing this and other things) and he is in a more powerful position than I am.
There are a lot more reasons. For example how about the unbalanced and biased support of America for Israel. How about that America has helped Israel to be such a well armed and powerful country and force, even having nuclear capabilities. How about the fact that America has armed Israel. How about the way America has encouraged Israel over all the years, either directly or indirectly or secretly or through third parties. How about the fact that America is still doing that right at this moment. How about the fact that America is responsible for what is going on now, directly or indirectly. How about so many reasons. ……
…….How about the simple fact that these are human beings, that Palestinians are human beings too, and are supposed to have human rights too…but no one can ever really believe this…
…not his watch…only one president at a time……
….come off it…..
…..were not talking about real change…(and he has been elected now so forget that)….
…………..were talking about the game of politics…staying in power…not upsetting those powerful right-wingers, the powerful and influential Jewish votes and power bosses….
….change…what change…change is selective, it means I’m going to talk about it, promise it….it don’t mean I’m going to do it…and even if I do…well don’t expect any heroics or anything "really changeful "
I haven’t written anything for this or any other of my blogs since 7 June 2007. That’s a long time ago and a lot has happened in the world since then. I gave up writing for my blog for a mixture of reasons. Firstly because I did not really have the time anymore, and since I thought no one ever really reads what I write I (rightly or wrongly, probably wrongly) kind of thought “why bother”. Other reasons played a role too and I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue with this kind of blog writing.
But I am back (for this one time).
My second to last article on my blog was titled “The Top Ten Greatest Threats to the World”.
Due to the length of time that had passed since I wrote this article I was surprised to receive a comment for this article on 18 October 2008 from: Blackrain. His comment was:
So right Joe. How prolific. You wrote this almost a year and a half ago, and look at us now!
Blackrain was of course referring to the latest economic situation in the world. Which I had listed many times in my list, directly and indirectly.
I also listed another major threat to the world. Listed at Nr. 5 that has now become acute.
Israeli Politics.
Once again, just as in Iraq, we in the World stand by and passively watch as human rights violations, unjust and disproportionate and illegal death and destruction, on MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN is carried out by a superior power.
Yes, rockets have been and are being fired at Israel. Yes, this is not right and is not to be supported or condoned. This is a reality.
But there is also another reality. That these rockets (while they should not be excused, supported or condoned) usually only cause some damage and rarely death. This does not mean that this makes them right, or acceptable, or harmless, or any other thing. They are not right and should be stopped.
But to kill over 500 people (and how many more to come?) and create so much destruction of homes, properties and people lives is shameless, and is a far greater crime.
It is a crime against all human rights, and human life, and life in all forms.
It is a disproportionate, inhuman crime.
To treat people the way Israel treats Palestinians, treating them like dirt, like nothing, barricading them from food and supplies, from medical care and help, from travelling, from life, from their own land and property, building walls, denying them any real decency, hope or possibilities, or future, denying them their beliefs, denying their human rights, controlling them in every way possible, denying them energy and water….and continually using their superior and disproportionate military and technical power……and doing this year after year after year…then it is little wonder that you aggravate some reaction….
..it is to wonder if this is what Israel really wants…keep the rockets coming and they have arguments and excuses to squeeze the Palestinians from their land, their hopes, and…? They certainly do not show any real meaningful sign of truly wanting peace. Peace in any relationship has to be suitable for both sides. But Israel has the power and upper hand and is not willing to sacrifice this. And certainly not so long as it is supported by America.
As in the case of Iraq we, the rest of the World just stand by and watch, and do nothing. All too often we believe the arguments that Israel gives to support its actions and policies. Just as the Americans and so many others believed Bush about the reasons for (illegally) invading Iraq. It turned out not to be true.
Yet once again we do the same. We believe the arguments quickly. It is no surprise that Bush supports Israel, although he does it indirectly, as so many things. That politicians like rightwing Angela Merkel of Germany who also quickly supported Israel is probably also no great surprise, although downright disgusting and a shame and a crime against humanrights.
I think it is unlikely that much will change when Barack Obama is in power either. I would truly like to hope that he will bring change, but…If he truly wanted change from his heart he would not be keeping silent now. But in politics it is always politics that are more important, being popular and keeping in power…not real human lives…not real real change. If we see the people he is bringing into important positions in government then change would not seem to all that high on the list…..and certainly not human lives.
And what about us…we keep silent of course, just watch passively, believe the Israeli and other Western powers propaganda…the propaganda from (political background) radio and T.V. senders such as the BBC….
We see the destruction and the death…we know it is disproportionate…illegal….inhuman…a crime….we know it is power….. But we do nothing…
….are we not also committing a crime…
A crime against humanity, human rights, against life….?
The premiere has been and gone, now the leading actors (George Bush, Tony Blair and Angela Merkel) stand bowing to the audience as they await the applause, the encore calls, the backslapping, and the breathtaking caressing critic of how great they were and are, how there has never been a show like it, and how much they accomplished in their breathtaking and spellbinding performance.
And when we the audience awake from the spell as we stagger out of the mesmerising atmosphere of the G8 theatre and realise that real life is just as it was before and that a performance is just a performance, and that a visit to the theatre is just a visit to the theatre, and not a thing has really changed in our life at all, with the exception that now we have the memory that we have seen a theatrical piece that is now a been and gone.
1) George W. Bush
2) American political policies
3) American corporate/economic/legal policies and actions
4) Global warming
5) Israeli policies
6) The so called war on terror
7) American public’s internal view and actions
8) World economic policies
9) Hedge/ private equity funds and shareholders
10)Tony Blair mentality and British Policies
another case of selective human rights and selective justice
George W. Bush and Tony Blair’s decision to illegally invade a foreign country has (illegally and against all Human Rights) cost the life of tens of thousands of innocent people, and is still costing thousands of lives. Yet, today Tony Blair travels around the world as a free man like a proud peacock showing of its feathers.
Yesterday a 79 year old man was released from prison after having served almost 8 years for assisting terminally ill people in their deaths in what he considered was a humane act.
Do I need to say more!
It is not only human rights and human lives that Bush is against but against the world in general. George W. Bush is only interested in one thing: the views of George W. Bush!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6694227.stm
http://www.wombles.org.uk/actions/g8/g82007
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2557996,00.html
http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/g82007/
http://www.g8-2007.de/index.php?lang=en
http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2007heiligendamm/2007agenda.html
There aren’t that many flea circuses any more but a big one took place the other day with performances of jumping through the loops, spewing of slightly tepid air (fire had died long ago), scratching each others back, (bare) back patting (sorry riding wasn’t allowed and the performers too weak for anyway), pulling the (broken down) cart, much applauding of their own tricks……and so on. Sadly it was more pathetically boring than entertaining and a clear indication why such circuses have died out.
By the way take a look at this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/stevebell/0,,2082804,00.html
Human rights, humanity, and real democracy are, at long last, about to receive a great gift. Tony Blair is finally going to announce the date he will stand down. That day must surely be a great gift for humanity. Of course he will go leaving behind a trail of blood, death, shattered bodies, shattered lives, shattered homes and families, shattered human rights, shattered everything. Since the blood and death is so deep he will practically have to swim and climb to leave, but at least he is going. Perhaps an even greater gift would be when he is put on trial, together with George W. Bush, for his/their crimes.
Are not the arguments for troop withdrawal confirmed with this survey?
A survey of battlefield ethics amongst US troops in
The survey showed that less than the half the troops in
More than a third believes torture is acceptable!
10 % of just those surveyed admitted to having actually mistreated
The survey recommends that tours of duty be reduced to a maximal of six months but in reality under Bush policies the tours of duty are being extended and even more troops are being sent to carry out even more mistreatments and atrocities of civilians.
Obliviously a similar situation will apply to US Troops in
This report goes against everything Bush argues. Instead of improving the situation of the Iraqi people clearly (if this wasn’t clear enough before) shows that US troops are making it far worse.
Bush argues that troop withdrawal will lead to a bloodbath in
Bush argues that withdrawal will send the wrong messages, be a sign of defeat. In reality what he means is that this will send the wrong messages, be a sign of defeat, of him as President of the
How can you not expect a decline in moral behaviour of the troops on the ground when there is a decline of moral behaviour from the chief of those troops? Illegal invasions of foreign countries, human and civil rights abuses and reduction of, illegal and secret prisons, people kept without legal rights or trial, people being tortured, and innocent people locked away and tortured with legal rights……the list goes on and on and on. A list of shame.
We condemned Hitler but condone this!
If you are a politician, rich, famous, powerful or have good connections and support from any of these then you have other standards, and mostly other laws and justice, than the rest of us in the world. Hypocrisy is just a word to be used on others. You can change things to suit your own needs, even laws and justice, and most certainly jobs and pay-packets. Are we not used to big bosses awarding themselves, or some other person they choose, extraordinary high pay rises or rewards.
You can move your girlfriend (in the World Bank case Shaha Riza) to a new job to give the impression that no other standards are being applied, no conflicts of interest is taking place. You can suggest that she gets a very high increase in pay ($60,000 pay rise), to earn even more than the
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6592457.stm
The bill provides $100bn in new war funds, if troops start leaving in October, with the withdrawal planned to be complete by March 2008.
President Bush has repeatedly threatened to veto the bill.
The commander of US forces in
Republicans and Democrats have been in deadlock on the legislation for weeks, and it finally passed by 218 votes to 208.
The $124bn bill would pay for military spending in
"Tonight, the House of Representatives voted for failure in
Although the Democrats control both houses of Congress, they do not have enough votes to overrule a presidential veto.
If President Bush does veto the bill, temporary measures are expected to be tabled to provide funding until the summer.
Military appeal
Before Wednesday evening's debate, Gen Petraeus was trying to gain support for Mr Bush's plan to increase troop numbers in
"General Petraeus continued to say that he can give a comprehensive assessment as to whether or not the surge is in fact working around September," said Democratic Representative James Clyburn.
Not all the new extra
The Iraqi foreign minister also criticised the Democrats' bill.
Speaking to the BBC while on a visit to
Dr Zebari said he was amazed people had started talking of a timetable when the UN resolution giving the US-led coalition its mandate would be reviewed in June, and then again at the end of the year.
The minister also stressed withdrawal of US troops would have to wait for the Iraqi military to be self-reliant.
Dr Zebari is in
'Surrender date'
| | Al-Qaeda will view this as the day the House of Representatives threw in the towel |
"The sacrifices borne by our troops and their families demand more than the blank cheques the president is asking for, for a war without end," said the leader of House Democrats, Nancy Pelosi.
She urged the president to sign the bill, so that "we can focus on winning the war against terrorism, which is the real threat to the American people".
But Republicans have vowed to back the president's refusal to support what they call a "surrender date".
"Al-Qaeda will view this as the day the House of Representatives threw in the towel," said Republican Jerry Lewis.
Mr Bush shows no signs of budging from his determination to veto any bill tying war spending to a timetable for troop withdrawal.
The legislation was an attempt to "handcuff our generals, add billions of dollars of unrelated spending and begin to pull out of
"To accept the bill proposed by the Democratic leadership would be to accept a policy that directly contradicts the judgement of our military commanders."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6592457.stm
Published: 2007/04/26
© BBC MMVII
The European Parliament has added its voice to those calling on World Bank boss Paul Wolfowitz to resign over a promotion row involving his partner.
MEPs voted by 332 to 251 to ask Germany, which currently holds the EU Presidency, to call for his departure at next week's EU-US summit.
Their resolution states his resignation would be a "welcome step" in supporting the body's anti-corruption strategy.
Mr Wolfowitz is accused of intervening to secure a big salary for Shaha Riza.
'Undermining policy'
The former US deputy defence secretary has been under pressure since it emerged that he sought a promotion and a $200,000 (£100,000) salary for Ms Riza in 2005.
Mr Wolfowitz has apologised for his actions and pledged "major changes" in the way that his office is run in light of the episode.
But his position at the head of the global lending body remains insecure with unions, former bank officials and politicians across Europe calling for him to step down.
Our message for him must be it is time for you to go
Graham Watson, MEP
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6593503.stm
He has hired a leading US lawyer to defend him while the Bank's board of directors considers his long-term future.
The motion passed by the European Parliament stated that Mr Wolfowitz's "withdrawal from the post would be a welcome step towards preventing the bank's anti-corruption policy from being undermined".
During a debate on the issue, a succession of MEPs called on him to stand down.
"Our message for him must be it is time for you to go," said Graham Watson, leader of the liberal and democrats' alliance.
Martin Schulz, leader of the socialist group, said Mr Wolfowitz's position was "untenable".
US support
The parliament's action is likely to have little direct impact on Mr Wolfowitz's fate.
But its symbolic significance will renew the pressure on the World Bank ahead of President George W Bush's meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on 30 April.
The US government, a powerful voice within the World Bank, has backed Mr Wolfowitz, saying that it has "full confidence" in him.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6593503.stm
Published: 2007/04/25 19:20:08 GMT
© BBC MMVII
My thanks to Mia who sent a link regarding my last post (below this). I am posting the link so everyone can check it out. Once again my thanks Mia, you can see Mia’s comment under the last post.
Link: http://joeleonardi.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/true-american-heroes/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6588611.stm
The brother of former American football star Pat Tillman, killed by friendly fire in
Kevin Tillman said that by claiming Cpl Tillman had died fighting the enemy in 2004, the army had tried to "hijack his virtue and his legacy".
He was testifying to a congressional panel investigating if misinformation from the battlefield was deliberate.
Jessica Lynch, an injured
Questions have been raised over the details of her capture and subsequent rescue by US forces, with the
Pte Lynch told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that
"The bottom line is the American people are capable of determining their own ideals of heroes and they don't need to be told elaborate tales," she said.
'Hero's death'
Last month, a Pentagon watchdog confirmed that Cpl Tillman's family had not been told the truth about his death for more than a month, even though commanders knew soon after his death that he had probably been killed by fellow soldiers.
| | We believe this narrative was intended to deceive the family but more importantly the American public |
The Pentagon's inspector general recommended action be taken against nine officers over the matter, but found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing and no deliberate cover-up.
In an emotional address to the panel, Kevin Tillman accused the military of exploiting his brother's death.
He claimed a decision had been made to cover up the real cause of Cpl Tillman's death - the recklessness of some of his fellow soldiers - and portray it as a heroic event, at a time when
"This freshly manufactured narrative was then distributed to the American public and we believe the strategy had the intended effect," he said.
"It shifted the focus from the grotesque torture at Abu Ghraib [jail] and a downward spiral of an illegal act of aggression to a great American who died a hero's death.
"We believe this narrative was intended to deceive the family but more importantly the American public."
Crucial equipment belonging to his brother, such as his uniform, had been destroyed before a thorough investigation could be carried out, Mr Tillman added.
The
The move follows complaints from families of those who died that they have not always been given accurate information.
Cpl Tillman's death was highly publicised in the
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6588611.stm
Published: 2007/04/24
© BBC MMVII
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6582701.stm
A group of senior former World Bank employees has urged beleaguered head Paul Wolfowitz to resign, saying he can no longer be an effective leader.
Mr Wolfowitz is battling to remain in his job after admitting helping his partner win a promotion and pay rise.
More than 40 World Bank officials, including 18 former vice-presidents, published their call in an open letter to the Financial Times newspaper.
They said Mr Wolfowitz had "lost the trust and respect of bank staff".
Mr Wolfowitz, who has apologised for his "mistake", has vowed to stay on to continue what he called "important work".
He has said that he is confident he can carry out the World Bank's mission.
But the authors of the letter said, "There is only one way for Wolfowitz to further the mission of the bank: he should resign."
"He has [...] damaged his own credibility on good governance - his flagship issue," the letter reads.
The letter was signed by, among others, the former number two in the organisation during the first year of Mr Wolfowitz's time at the Bank, Shengman Zhang.
The former senior officials warn that if Mr Wolfowitz remains in office, he will "preside over a rudderless hulk".
The letter comes as the group responsible for overseeing the workings of the World Bank, the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG), warned that the current crisis was already having a negative impact on the work of the lending agency in developing countries.
The IEG statement will be presented to the Bank's board, which is expected to reach a decision on the fate of Mr Wolfowitz later this week.
Controversial nominee
The row concerns events that occurred shortly after Mr Wolfowitz assumed his position at the World Bank.
His girlfriend, Libyan-born Shaha Riza, was seconded from the World Bank to the
There she received promotions and pay rises which the bank's staff association say were "grossly out of line" with bank rules.
The bank's executive board has said that it did not give its approval for Ms Riza's wage rise.
Mr Wolfowitz was seen as a controversial nominee to the role from the beginning due to his part in driving forward the war in
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6582701.stm
Published: 2007/04/23
© BBC MMVII
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6579511.stm
The
The report, submitted in 2006 but now declassified, said the
A total of 24 men, women and children were killed at Haditha by marines who said they were attacked by insurgents.
A criminal investigation into the incident is continuing.
The Haditha inquiry is just one of a number the
Maj Gen Eldon Bargewell's report is an indictment of actions throughout the whole chain of command, from the general in charge to the men who carried out the killings on
"All levels of command tended to view civilian casualties, even in significant numbers, as routine and as the natural and intended result of insurgent tactics," the
Gen Bargewell said statements taken from those involved suggested the marines thought "Iraqi civilian lives are not as important as US lives, their deaths are just the cost of doing business, and that the marines need to get 'the job done' no matter what it takes".
The
However, a local journalist took video footage showing men, women and children shot in their homes. Locals said the marines had gone on a rampage.
The
Three marines have since been charged with unpremeditated murder and four with attempting to cover up the incident.
Gen Bargewell is quoted as saying officers had tried to protect themselves and their troops by wilfully ignoring reports of civilian deaths.
There was no interest in investigating reports of a massacre, although there was also no specific cover-up, he is reported to have said.
The general's report, filed in June last year, does not address the specifics of the killings, which are the subject of the criminal case, rather it tackles the command structure and investigation procedure.
Gen Bargewell found that the marines had not identified targets properly, the Washington Post says.
The report also says the marines' story was passed up the chain of command and at all levels signs that the incident was significant were ignored.
A military judge has yet to decide if there is enough evidence against the seven accused marines to convene a court martial.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6579511.stm
Published: 2007/04/21
© BBC MMVII
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6558569.stm
President George W Bush's concept of a "war on terror" has given strength to terrorists by making them feel part of something bigger, Hilary Benn will say.
The international development secretary will tell a meeting in New York the phrase gives a shared identity to small groups with widely differing aims.
And Mr Benn, a candidate for Labour's deputy leadership, will confirm that UK officials will stop using the term.
The White House coined the phrase after the attacks of 11 September 2001.
'Disparate groups'
Mr Benn will say: "In the UK, we do not use the phrase 'war on terror' because we can't win by military means alone.
"And because this isn't us against one organised enemy with a clear identity and a coherent set of objectives."
# By letting them feel part of something bigger, we give them strength -
Hilary Benn #
It is "the vast majority of the people in the world" against "a small number of loose, shifting and disparate groups who have relatively little in common", he will say.
"What these groups want is to force their individual and narrow values on others, without dialogue, without debate, through violence.
"And by letting them feel part of something bigger, we give them strength."
'
In a
"The fight for the kind of world that most people want can, in the end, only be won in a different battle - a battle of values and ideas."
Mr Bush first outlined the concept of a "war on terror" shortly after New York and the Pentagon were attacked by Islamist terror group al-Qaeda on 7/11.
"Our war on terror begins with al-Qaeda, but it does not end there," he told Congress nine days after the attacks.
"It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6558569.stm
Published: 2007/04/16
© BBC MMVII
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6556721.stm
At least 12 civilians died and 35 were injured during the incident which took place on 4 March in Nangarhar province.
The report, published by Afghanistan's Human Rights Commission, said the reaction was disproportionate.
The special command unit used "indiscriminate force", it says, killing both women and children.
The findings of the report echo those of the US military's own initial investigation which concluded that the marines' response "was out of proportion to the threat that was immediately there".
Deleted footage
The Afghan report said that, in failing to distinguish between civilian and legitimate military targets, the US marine corps used "indiscriminate force".
"Their actions thus constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law standards," it said.
The
But the Afghan report said that the evidence of a complex ambush involving militant gunmen who fired on the convoy was "far from conclusive".
According to the authors of the report, who spoke to victims, police and hospital officials as well as eyewitnesses, the marines fired indiscriminately on civilians and their vehicles as they left the scene.
Journalists said that US soldiers deleted footage, including photos and videos, showing the aftermath of the Nangarhar violence.
The soldiers, serving under the Nato-led Isaf force, were moved out of Afghanistan after the incident.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6556721.stm
Published: 2007/04/15
© BBC MMVII
See:
or
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/6550995.stm
or
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/875846d8-e9bc-11db-91c7-000b5df10621.html
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6544149.stm
Human rights group Amnesty International has released a highly critical report on
The issue was recently highlighted by the emergence of mobile phone film of policemen raping a man with a stick.
The report says
There was no immediate reaction from the Egyptian government.
- “ We are now uncovering evidence of Egypt being a destination of choice for third-party or contracted out torture in the 'war on terror'” Kate Allen, UK director of Amnesty International -
Egyptian officials have in the past denied that torture is systematically practised in the country.
The AI report calls for other countries to abandon "no torture" deals with Egypt.
Under such deals governments, including the UK's, deport suspects to Cairo having been assured by Egyptian authorities that the suspect will not suffer torture.
"A 'no torture' deal with Egypt would not be worth the paper it was written on, and rather than bargain over illegal detention and torture the UK should unequivocally condemn torture in Egypt," UK director of AI, Kate Allen, said.
The report says that many violations occur within the context of domestic and international security operations.
In 2005,
Detailed accounts
The report details the case of Abu Omar, an Egyptian resident in
Abu Omar was held without charge in Egyptian jails for nearly four years and in testimony given to an Italian prosecutor he has alleged that he was whipped, subjected to electric shocks and raped.
He was never successfully charged and was released in February 2007.
AI also highlights the case of Mamdouh Habib, an Australian national of Egyptian descent.
He alleges that he was detained and tortured in
There he was tortured, including in a "water cell" in which he had to stand on tiptoe for hours in order not to drown.
Under torture, Mr Habib says, he confessed to training the
He was later taken to
Recommendations
The report calls on
It calls on the government to publicly condemn torture and other ill-treatment, and ensure that all allegations of such abuses are promptly and independently investigated and the perpetrators tried.
It also urges
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6544149.stm
Published: 2007/04/11
© BBC MMVII
The countries had tried to "keep the lid on" problems by military force and had failed to address the root causes, the Oxford Research Group warned.
It said Iran, Syria and North Korea had become "emboldened", while the Taleban was on the rise in Afghanistan.
The UK government said the past decade of foreign policy had been effective and action in Iraq was "justified".
Global instability
It comes as a separate report from Oxfam said the Iraq invasion had "seriously undermined" Britain's reputation.
However, the charity warns Britain must not be reluctant to send in troops to deal with future humanitarian crises.
| | We are looking at a highly unstable global system by the middle years of the century unless urgent action is taken now Chris Abbott Oxford Research Group |
In a report a year ago, the Oxford Research Group (ORG) highlighted four areas that it said were contributing to world instability.
Climate change, competition for increasingly scarce resources, marginalisation of the majority of the world's population as socio-economic divisions widen, and the increasing use of military force and the further spread of military technologies were all threats.
Its latest report said these issues were still the greatest threats, but added that the ongoing war on terror and the war in Iraq were increasing the risk of future terrorist attacks on the scale of 9/11.
"Treating Iraq as part of the war on terror... created a combat training zone for jihadists," it says.
Lead study author Chris Abbott said: "There is a clear and present danger - an increasingly marginalised majority living in an environmentally constrained world, where military force is more likely to be used to control the consequences of these dangerous divisions.
"Add to this the disastrous effects of climate change, and we are looking at a highly unstable global system by the middle years of the century unless urgent action is taken now."
Iran's nuclear plan
The report, Beyond Terror: The Truth About the Real Threats to Our World, said any military intervention in Iran would be "disastrous". However, it warned that Iran should not be allowed to develop civil nuclear power.
"This would involve the development of facilities that are potential terrorist targets, as well as encourage the spread of technology and materials that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons," the report said.
It also added that the British government's decision to replace its nuclear submarine system Trident could "substantially encourage" other states to develop nuclear weapons.
A Foreign Office spokesman said the past decade of foreign policy had been effective and that the military action in Iraq was "justified".
"We have rightly focused on 'hard' security issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone as well as 'softer' issues such as climate change and poverty eradication," he added.
But it also warns against the UK drawing back from a policy of trying to solve the world's worst crises.
It would be disastrous if the "misadventure in Iraq" led to the next prime minister not attempting to resolve other conflicts, Oxfam says.
The government said the past decade of foreign policy had been "effective".
Meanwhile, a separate report by the Oxford Research Group (ORG) has warned that British and US policy towards Iraq has "spawned new terror in the region".
'Damaged relations'
The Oxfam report, A Fair Foreign Policy, argues that the positive effect of interventions in Sierra Leone and Kosovo should not be forgotten amid debate about Iraq.
An online survey of 2,374 adults conducted for Oxfam showed that 67% of people would support Britain sending troops as a last resort to stop genocide and other atrocities in the future.
It calls for foreign policy to refocus on protecting civilians, as well as challenging human rights abuses by friends as well as enemies.
But the report also says that wider policy towards the Middle East - and not just Iraq - has soured relations between many developing countries and the UK, based partly on a perception of double standards.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have rightly focused on 'hard' security issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone as well as 'softer' issues such as climate change and poverty eradication.
"We disagree that the UK now exercises less influence because of Iraq.
"On the contrary the UK remains at the heart of every major international debate and our influence as consensus builders is recognised worldwide."
Training zone
The ORG study argues that by including Iraq in the "war on terror", Britain and the US have "created a combat training zone for jihadists".
The strategy has also "emboldened" Iran, Syria and North Korea and led to a resurgence of the Taleban in Afghanistan, it said.
And it added that the continuing military action has increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks on the scale of 9/11.
| By Amber Henshaw BBC News, Addis Ababa |
The ministry of foreign affairs said the detainees were from 17 countries including America, Canada and Sweden.
It is the first time the government has admitted that it is holding the foreigners, defending the action as part of the "global war on terror".
Ethiopia denied the detainees had been held incommunicado. It says five have been released, with 24 more to follow.
US ally
Some of the detainees were picked up in Somalia by Ethiopian troops fighting alongside Somalia's transitional government against a radical Islamist group at the end of last year.
Others were deported from Kenya, where many Somalis have fled continued fighting.
| | Nothing has been done in secret. All legal procedures are being followed and the suspected terrorists have been allowed to appear before the relevant court of law Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
"This real and concrete struggle is being conducted against local and international terrorism in Somalia... in the course of this confrontation, suspected international terrorists have been and are still being captured by the joint forces of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and Ethiopia," the ministry said in a statement.
Last month, Human Rights Watch accused Kenya of secretly expelling people, Ethiopia of making dozens "disappear" and US security agents of routinely interrogating people held incommunicado.
In recent years, Ethiopia has been a key American ally in the fight against al-Qaeda, which has been trying to sink roots among Muslims in the Horn of Africa.
In a statement, the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs said 12 of the 41 people would remain in custody and would appear before court on 13 April.
Human rights fears
One of those is a 24-year-old American, Amir Meshal.
His lawyer, Jonathan Hafetz, told the BBC Mr Meshal had not had access to legal advice in Ethiopia.
He is concerned about Mr Meshal facing court in Ethiopia, which he said had a horrific human rights record.
Mr Hafetz said his client should be freed and sent home immediately.
The International Committee of the Red Cross in Ethiopia said it had not been granted access to any of the detainees, despite having tried for the last month.
The Ethiopian government denied that any of the people had been held in secret jails or incommunicado.
"Nothing has been done in secret," the statement said. "All legal procedures are being followed, and the suspected terrorists have been allowed to appear before the relevant court of law."
Welcome to the Joe Blogs Customer Care Service. Thank you for Blogging-On to Joe Blogs World. Since it is always our aim to give you the best possible service please be kind enough to answer the following questions:
If you would like to read this article please press 1
If you have already read this article please press 2
If you cannot remember if you have read this article please press 3
Thank you for pressing 1. You would like to read this article.
In order for us to give you the best possible service please answer the following:
If you would like to read this article next week please press 1
If you would like to read this article today please press 2
If you would like to read this article last year please press 3
If you are unsure about reading this article please press 4
Thank you for pressing 2. In order for us to give you the best service please help us to help you by answering the following:
If you are short-sighted please press 1
If you are deaf please press 2
If you are stupid please press 3
If you are blind please press 4
If you need glasses please press 5
If you eat carrots please press 6
If you think you can read without any trouble please press 7
Thank you for pressing 7. You can read the article without any trouble.
In order for us to give you the best possible service please choose one of the following
If you read slowly please press 1
If you read quickly please press 2
If you are unsure please press 3
If you read while doing something else please press 4
If you consider yourself to be a normal reader please press 5
If you need to read aloud please press 6
If you always start at the end please press 7
If you start but never finish please press 8
Thank you for pressing 5. You are a normal reader. Unfortunately a technical problem has arisen and regrettably we must terminate your request to read this article. Please rest assured that we at Joe Blogs Customer Care Service Department will do our utmost to resolve this technical problem quickly. Please try again later.
In order to terminate this request please select one of the following:
Please press 1 if you are fully satisfied with Joe Blogs Customer Care Service
Please press 2 if you are less than fully satisfied with Joe Blogs Customer Care Service
Please press 3 if you are terminating this because you are dissatisfied with the article you read
Please press 4 if you would like to terminate this request immediately
Please press 5 if you cannot remember why you wish to terminate
Please press 6 if you do not wish to terminate this request
Thank you for selecting 4. You would like to terminate this request immediately.
Unfortunately a technical problem has arisen. We at Customer Care will do our best to resolve this problem as soon as possible. Please press 1 to leave Customer Care Service
Thank you for pressing 1. We at Joe Blogs Customer Care Service are absolutely thrilled that another customer is fully satisfied with what they have read and with our service which is second to none in customer relationships. We look forward to welcoming you back soon to read another article provided with the best possible service, until then this is your friendly Customer Care Service saying how happy we are with your full satisfaction. Thank you, please come again.
You can’t even have a good fart – oops sorry, flatulence – and cause a good old stink these days without getting into the “stink”. George Bush’s war on terror has got the whole world sitting on the edge of our seats in fear of some stink or other, it’s enough to give anybody the stink, or should that be wind or gas! Well this lady in question was full of it, wind or gas, that is. Unfortunately she was in midair at the time, not rocket self-propelled by the gas of course, but flying on one of
A Shiite Bloc has threatened to pull out of the Iraqi government if Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki meets with President Bush in
A spokesman for the Shiite Bloc is quoted as saying we are killed by the insurgents by day and by the Americans at night. He went onto to say they considered Bush a criminal.
After the car bombs from Thursday which has left more than 200 dead, Sunni mosques in central
Additionally American soldiers are said to have killed four passengers on a minibus in
Surely it is time for Tony Blair and George W. Bush to go!
The blood washes around the feet of us all, but none stand as deep or as covered in blood as Blair and Bush!
The countries with the bloodiest policies of the world are the
Poisonous Propaganda the very true words from Tony Blair! In the world of psychology, it is usually recognised that people who use certain words often, or on a regular bases, or in a certain way to blame another person are very often projecting there own “things” onto this other person or persons. This certainly would seem to be the case regarding Tony Blair.
Tony Blair talks of poisonous propaganda warping the minds of young people. He and the head of the British MI5 say that they know of 30 terror plots threatening the
However (BBC News quote): “……Massoud Shadjareh, of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said he accepted there was a terrorist threat but it had to be put into perspective.
"Over 1,000 arrests have been made under anti-terrorism since 9/11 and out of those, 27 have been found guilty. Out of those 27, only nine have been Muslims," ……….”
(end of quote from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/6137188.stm)
If there are so many “warped” people how come? In addition, how come so many “warped” were (apparently) not about before 9/11? Why are there all of a sudden so many “warped” people, most of whom would seem to be young Islamic people according to Tony Blair. Moreover, what about real scientific proof? Who decides that these young people are “warped” or being “warped”? And how, on what basis, and to what criteria and whose criteria?
Tony Blair’s, MI5’s, the police, right-wingers, or?
The MI5 has 50% more staff than it had before 9/11. The head of MI5 says even so MI5 will not be able to manage.
In an earlier article of mine (The land of 1984 wakes up to 1984) you can read that the British people are the most watched people in the whole world and are equal with
Clearly, these statements from Blair and the head of MI5 are intended to increase this even more.
However no doubt there are other causes and reasons.
Tony Blair used the words “poisonous propaganda”. And we can surely wonder where exactly does this “poisonous propaganda” come from, or arise! Under the leadership of the person who uses these words,
Let us look at some of the advantages of using such fear techniques:
1) First and foremost it serves the person using such techniques and arguments in some personal psychological way.
2) It makes the people easier to control and manipulate
3) It opens backdoors for excuse if anything goes wrong (we warned you = so it is your (own) fault)
4) Makes it easier to get funding for the security departments
5) Makes it easier to increase the security and controlling departments
6) Often such people live in denial states: they often need to see themselves as being the “do gooders” - the “Angels” while the other is the “devil”; are unable to truly admit they are wrong, always see the other as the wrong doers; and that they have not played any negative role in the outcome; this helps them maintain this way of being
7) Helps keep someone in power, or control of power
8) Feeds the hungry ego
9) more and more control
There are more but this is just to get the picture.
Before the collapse of the
“poisonous propaganda”
(Although we are lucky that neither Bush nor Blair were in power then otherwise there might well have been real nuclear disaster, but now we live with another type disaster.)
There is little doubt that something is wrong, the only question is where and with whom is it really wrong? The question is: from where is the real poisonous propaganda coming from and who is really creating it, and what is the real purpose?
In his last speech Rumsfeld said that the question of Iraq was and is too complicated, there are just so many issues we do not understand, one day we are going to look back and thank him, and the soldiers who are dying……..well I guess we are all just too stupid, so it is a pity we loose such a wise man as Rumsfeld who kept the world nice and safe and secure and peaceful.
But, let’s look on the bright side of things, we still have President Bush in office so I am sure he will keep up the good work. And anyway papa Bush certainly wouldn’t leave his son all alone up there in Washington doing all that good work on his own, no sir, no doubt he has recommended the good family CIA friend, and former colleague of papa to take over the job, keep the reigns in the hand, so to speak …….
I mean, lets face it, the CIA is the ideal background for the job, getting things done in secret, not letting anyone know what the real truth is and what is really going on, providing arms and ammunition to groups to fight other unwanted groups and then fighting the groups you gave the arms and ammunition to by supporting other groups and then fighting……..….well sorry about my confusion, it gets a bit hard to keep track of exactly what the CIA do and don’t do, but as Rumsfeld said; its complicated and I guess I am too stupid to understand it all……..
but aren’t soldiers being killed now because of the earlier work of the CIA …….oh okay sorry, people like me cannot really understand such things, we just don’t get the bigger picture…….yeah thank goodness for the Rumsfeld’s in this world, the CIA, and president Bush………at least we can count on them to do the right thing
The CIA with its rumoured secret prisons, clandestine operations, and hints of farming out of torture and assignation work and goodness knows what else; just the kind of person you would want as Defense Secretary. Well that’s the kind of person George W. Bush wants! But what else can we expect from Mr Bush! He doesn’t seem to have much faith in military people to do such a job, perhaps the military are only good enough for dying but not Governing.
Bush says: "the timing is right for new leadership"! It sure is Mr Bush, surely even you must have got the hint? Don’t you think they might just mean you as well Mr Bush, not just the scapegoat and human sacrifice Rumsfeld? But no, somehow that is just too much to hope for I guess!
(Quote from BBC NEWS: Israeli raid 'kills 18 civilians') “……..At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and 40 wounded by
Palestinian officials said Israeli troops fired on houses, and that women and children were among the dead.
The Israeli army has said it fired shells in response to rocket fire by militants……”. (end of quote from BBC News)
See BBC News at:
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6127250.stm)
Today is the day
Although the trial took place in
Justice is not dying on the question of evidence, or lack of it, or on that of guilt or innocence. Justice is dying for the way the trail has been set up, run and manipulated. Justice is dying because it had nothing to do with real Justice. Justice is dying because it is not Saddam Hussein who has been sentenced to death by hanging but Justice.
Three Defending lawyers were shot dead and others intimidated, the first judge resigned because he did not like what was going on, the second judge who took over was then “removed” because he had been a former member of the Baath party and therefore was said not to be impartial, but then the third Judge who was “appointed” had family members who had been gassed by Saddam Hussein forces and was most certainly not impartial.
And this is being called Justice!
There was political interference, during the first year Saddam Hussein had no legal representation, and when representation was finally given to him it had great trouble in even trying to do so, and Saddam Hussein was held in prison by the Americans and not by the Iraqis. And as an Amnesty International person said: "The independence and impartiality of the court was impugned.
This is truly the day that
But
The illegal invasion of
Never again will we be able to look toward America as representing Justice and liberty and freedom and honesty and all the other virtues we might once have valued America representing in a democratic and free world.
The policies and leadership of George W. Bush has destroyed the scales of
And this is being called Justice! A victory for Justice!
It is the day that Justice bows its head in shame as it walks to the gallows through the rubble of the broken scales!
And how many others will die or be imprisoned because of this?
Bush’s “our boys (in
Even the best of us can have enough. Well the
Only days after Bush confirmed that he wants US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to keep his job until the end of his presidency, four US military newspapers, who represent all the branches of the US armed forces, are to call for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld on the 7th of December.
They have had enough!
Haven’t we all!
If the republican Bush war in
Illegal invasion of foreign countries, misinformation, misleading reports and truths, torture, killings of thousands of innocent people - men women and children, degrading of prisoners, prisoner abuse, illegal detention of prisoners, secret prisons, missing weapons, corruption and disappearance of millions of dollars intended for Iraq help, how to build nuclear bomb details on government web page, dubious contracts to companies in Iraq and excessive amounts of money have disappeared or unaccounted for or overcharged, civil rights infringed upon or reduced, people arrested or locked up on false or incorrect charges or misinformation,…….the list on these issues alone is almost endless.
Then there is the Republican Party and its supporters at home in
The leader of the National Association of Evangelicals with 30 million members and representing 45,000 churches across the United States is not only caught up in a sex scandal but also one concerning honesty. First of all the Reverend Ted Haggard denies having anything to do with the apparently self-confessed male prostitute Mr Jones. Then he says he had telephone contact with Mr Jones. Then under pressure, this then turns from a simple telephone contact to buying drugs (methamphetamine) from him. And then this turns into admitting he did receive a massage from this self-confessed gay male prostitute, although still denies there was anything sexual in it? And then….?
That Reverend Ted Haggard was the head of an association representing 30 million evangelical members across America who use their political clout against abortion, gay marriage and other major social and religious issues not only makes them all appear hypocritical, to say the very least, but seems to tie in with the general low Morals of the Republican Party and its close supporters.
Of course the advantage of belonging to a religious group such as the Evangelicals is that you can always find an excuse for some behaviour (if it concerns your own kind that is!): It is the devils work, or it is Gods will, or it becomes an “opportunity” because if he repents we can forgive (and happily forget) him for this,……….the list is almost as endless as are those above concerning the Republican Party. As I said in another article, Americans like the “backdoor” option.
It is amazing how much scandal the Republican Party and its close supporters such as the Evangelicals are prepared to tolerate if it concerns one of their own, however they are soon quick to deny the same rights to anyone who is not one of their own. Abortion, gay marriage war in
Even more amazing is that these people continue to doggedly and blindly support a party that is clearly on the wrong road as far as morals issues are concerned, just for the promise to get their own doctrines listen to and dealt with by Washington.
Hypocrisy is the word of the day. Morals, forget it!
And these low morals are dragging down the rest of the world.
See also:
Vote 2006 Scandal Watch Political Scandals: State-by-State http://abcnews.go.com/
Sue Kelly, who was chairwoman of the House Page Program five years ago, is now being questioned by her Democratic challenger, John Hall, about what she might have known and when. The solid GOP ground Kelly was standing on in
Jeanine Pirro (R-N.Y.), Attorney General Candidate
Jeanine Pirro disclosed that she is under federal investigation for plotting to secretly tape-record her unfaithful husband.
Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.)
Immediately after the Foley scandal broke, Tom Reynolds, as the chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, took the spotlight. Complaints from pages who received inappropriate Foley e-mails were directed to his office by the GOP House leadership.
Despite Reynold's initial appeal that he did what anyone else would do with Foley's e-mails, "report them to his supervisor," the congressman from western
NEW
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez' dealings with a nonprofit agency are being investigated by the U.S. Attorney's office, which his Republican opponent Tom Kean Jr. is eager to remind voters. Bob Menendez was appointed to office after Jon Corzine vacated he seat to become governor of
Rep. Don Sherwood is under attack for an affair he had several years ago for which he was sued and has settled. The story broke recently and is being trumpeted through a slate of TV ads by Sherwood’s challenger Chris Carney. Sherwood has responded in his own TV ad in which he apologies for the affair.
Curt Weldon (R-Pa.)
Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., allegedly used his influence to help his daughter's lobbying firm secure contracts worth $1 million from foreign clients. The FBI raided his daughter's home and office last week in what Weldon termed a politically motivated inquiry.
Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., is the subject of an investigation into federal money given to nonprofit groups that contributed to his campaigns.
Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, pleaded guilty for taking money, gifts and favors in return for official actions on behalf of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients.
While it's expected that Dennis Hastert will be re-elected, his position as House speaker, which he has held longer than any other Republican in the history of Congress, has been put at risk. ABC News' George Stephanopolous has said he does not expect Hastert to retain the speakership if the Republicans maintain control of the house.
Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.)
John Shimkus received complaints about Foley as the chairman of the House Page Program. He intervened last fall to stop Foley from e-mailing a former page who considered the contact inappropriate. "I think there's stuff that everybody would have done differently," Shimkus said after he voluntarily testified before the House Ethics Committee.
Mark Foley's resignation left his own job up for grabs, with most recent polls showing his Florida district leaning toward a Democratic candidate who at one time was considered the underdog. It's too late to remove Foley's name from the ballot, but State Rep. Joe Negron takes Foley's place if the Republicans win.
Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.)
Rep. Katherine Harris, who’s now running for the Senate from
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was the target of an FBI raid in May at his Capitol Hill office as part of an investigation into whether he took a $100,000 bribe -- all but $10,000 of which was found in the freezer of his Washington home -- in 2005.
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, dogged by charges of money laundering in
While Jim Kolbe is retiring at the end of his term, he still has not been able to avoid getting drawn into the Foley fallout. Last week his office confirmed that an inappropriate e-mail was brought to the attention of Kolbe's office and was forwarded to Foley's office for evaluation.
Kolbe is now also under investigation as federal prosecutors in
Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., is serving jail time for taking $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors.
John Doolittle (R-Calif.)
Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., accepted campaign money from Abramoff and used the lobbyist's luxury sports box for a fundraiser without reporting it initially. Doolittle's wife and one of his former aides also worked for the lobbyist.
Tan Nguyen GOP Candidate
Republican candidate and Vietnamese Immigrant Tan Nguyen has been asked by some Republican leaders to leave the race for letters that were sent discouraging certain Hispanic immigrants from voting. Nguyen has said that a member of his staff sent the letter without his knowledge, this staffer has been relieved of duty and he intends to stay in the race.
Sen. Conrad Burns, R-mont., received about $150,000 in donations from Abramoff, his clients and his associates. Burns has since returned the money or given it to charity.
See also:
GOP aides took early Foley 'damage control' call http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/467922p-393664c.html
All in the Family: Fathers, Daughters and Political Investigations
A report published today shows that the British public, so called allies of
Only Bin Laden came higher (87% think he is a danger) in the opinion poll survey. Bush is seen as a far greater threat (75% think he is a danger) than the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (69% think he is a danger), the president of
Bush once saw both
71% of the British voters now say the invasion of
69% of the British voters believe US/Bush policy has made the world less safe since 2001
The survey was also carried out in
62% of Canadians think the world has become more dangerous because of US/Bush policy.
in addition, 73% of Canadians think the war in
57% of Mexicans think the world has become more dangerous because of US/Bush’s policy
in addition, 89% of Mexicans see the invasion of
36% of Israeli voters say that the world is more dangerous because of US/Bush policy
(see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1938434,00.html)
The internet is a great place. You can get cooking lessons; learn all about how a car or some piece of machinery works. You can learn how to build a house, or make a film. So why not also publish the details of how to build a nuclear bomb on the internet? Well perhaps some of you might be a little less happy with this idea, but do not worry President Bush’s administration and the Republican Party in Congress have the matter under control.
Moreover, if “they” have it under control there should be no reason for anyone else to worry about anything, should there now? After all, “they” are working to make the world a better and safer place, are they not? Therefore, if they think everyone should have the instructions how to build a nuclear bomb, then please do not grumble and complain, because we have just agreed that they are working to make the world a safer place for all of us.
Of course there is one little bit of bad news for you, if you don’t already have the instructions then you are too late. Apparently, Bush’s administration took the instructions off the internet yesterday. Yeah, I know that is bad news but I am sure it is only a temporary matter, so don’t worry, we can rely on the Bush administration to replace it with some other juicy details. It is only a slight hitch, some busybodies from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been complaining privately, you know how these busybody types are, always sticking their nose into matters that don’t concern them, trying to stop Bush and his administration from making the world a safer place for all of us.
Listen don’t worry, the republican congress was behind this whole idea as well so they will help Bush get this sorted out and have the details back online. That is the trouble these days just too many busybodies getting in the way of Bush who is doing really great work around the world.
(See article at New York Times: U.S. Web Archive Is Said to Reveal a Nuclear Primer, http://www.nytimes.com/)
George Orwell wrote about it in his book 1984, Science Fiction films have used it, but even so very few people see, or want to see, the magnitude of this 1984 theme that has crept and creeps steadily forward, into our modern society. In fact, in certain senses it already dominates society. Sadly, even fewer people see, or are unwilling to accept, the danger to everyone of this. Yes, everyone! A danger that is already present in society today, not tomorrow, or the far distant future of science fiction, but a danger that has and will have major negative influences on society and everyone’s lives.
For a while, 1984 had some influence on some people. They took it seriously, but mostly this was laughed at and ridiculed by the majority of people, no doubt led or stimulated by those who have the most to gain from derision of such ideas. 1984 was relegated to the shelves of literature in libraries, or studied at schools as literature and less for the warning it tried to give. The term 1984 popped up here and there throughout the years, in books, or films or in other forms but mostly it had this tone of “don’t take it too seriously” attached to it. The actual year 1984 came and went and no visible big brother was present so another reason to shrug off the book 1984, relegate it even further into the dusty shelves. Yet the critical word is “visible”.
It is highly possible that George Orwell’s book 1984 played into the hands of those who gain the most by the use of the themes of the book. They are fully aware of the phenomena that once something has been aired in public by protest, hullabaloo, warnings or whatever then this usually gets pushed away to the dusty background, or shelves, and provided the people don’t receive any further major shocks on this theme then it will remain in that dusty background. Once something has been treated with derision or such like, it is almost impossible to bring it back out into serious daylight to be taken seriously by the majority of the people. Not without some major shock that threatens, or makes people feel threatened personally. Because of this phenomena along with a general unwillingness (possibly part of our natural psychological structure) to see the dangers of such matters, it is, and has been, possible to slip the themes of 1984 into society. And for the greater part unawares to most people, and in such a comprehensive way that most will find it hard to believe.
In another book by George Orwell, Animal Farm, he describes for us the way this is done. A subtle blending of telling us how much it is for our own good, and that it is "being done" for our own good, and most importanly of all, fear! Fear is the major factor in this. This has been known and used devastatingly throughout the history of mankind. And for what purpose? To gain power and often personal wealth.
A man of a different quality but with the same forename as George Orwell uses these techniques intensively. George W. Bush and his government! Animal Farm!
Fear and more fear and more fear, and to give this the right taste, so that this fear is swallowed properly by the public, the sauce is poured over it. And the sauce is: continually being told that what he is doing and the way he is doing it, how much "he" and his government is there for "us", that it is for our own good, and that it is being done for our own good! And while he is doing this, he is creating more and more control over society, reducing personal rights and personal privacy, not just in
George W. Bush and his government uses fear indiscriminately, but they use it effectively. It is the greatest weapon of the human being, and against the people, as long as people allow fear to take over in their life. And we are allowing George W. Bush to create this for fear for us so that we can be manipulated just as the characters in Animal Farm and in 1984.
In the land of 1984 George W. Bush’s companion Tony Blair is doing the same thing.
A recently released report puts
But the cameras are only a very tiny part of the information gathering that is going on in Britain and in most places around the world today, particularly in countries like America. In fact information is being gathered on, and through, almost everything we do. As usual it is argued that it is only for our own good, our own safety, for the greater good, to make life easier, better, richer or more comfortable, or in the fight against terrorism.
In actual fact it is a massive business making lots of money for a small selection of society. Even when it is supposedly done in our so-called interest, with no particular ill will, or ill intent, the results can be devastating. The BBC reported about a woman who had been given the classification of being an alcoholic by the national health service, although this was not true. It took the woman two years of hard work to clear her name and get this classification removed from her health documents, and only then did she succeed in the end by having to appeal to the health minister of the UK.
You might think that what does it matter if this classification is on her records, well it matters a lot these days, because this information is crossed checked in many different ways by different people for different purposes so that it can start having negative influences on many different areas of her life or our life. Such as employment chances, getting insurance, children and so on.
Under the umbrella argument of protection against terrorism this is now being done not only far more intensively, but also over a far wider range of areas in our daily and personal lives. Most of which we have no idea about, could not even imagine, or probably would not want to be believe if we found out. The areas where the information (and the type of information) is being gathered is absolutely staggering, and goes far beyond anything even George Orwell could ever have imagined.
Well Bush should know all about not being able to speak properly and stumbling over bad jokes, after all he trips over his own often enough, remember that joke down in New Orleans after Katrina, when he preferred a bad joke to the reality?
Or have we forgotten
Have we forgotten that 101
But, as usual, Bush is so desperate for something good in his life he grasps with all his might at the same kind of misplaced joke that he himself is famous for. Bush tries to paint Kerry as unpatriotic and insulting towards "our soldiers" but the blood of so many of those soldiers has been spilt and continues to be spilt, along with so much other blood, because of his leadership, a leadership that misled the American people, including the soldiers, and the rest of the world, and continues to mislead. A government racked with scandals and corruption of all kinds. A government that has no clear strategy other then spread fear and destruction in
Bush prefers to grab hold of one persons (and an irrelevant person in this moment anyway) inability to formulate himself correctly without being misunderstood rather than lead the country and the world in a healthy harmonious way.
But, lets face it, it’s not Bush that has to clean up the blood, try to stitch the ripped off limbs back on, pick up the pieces of shattered lives. It is not Bush who is blown up. All he can really do is “blow up” the bad jokes of someone else! Yet, we have seen that does not really bother Bush, cracking his own stupid jokes at times of national and international emergencies is his way of governing and supporting those “our boys”!
Things are not looking good for the republicans but at least now we know the real reason why!
Vice-President Dick Cheney says that al-Qaida and the militants in
Oh yeah while I am at it Mr Cheney have you heard about that other possible voting conspiracy? No! Oh wow, I tell you, things are real bad in America at the moment, and in the rest of the world of course, you just can’t trust anybody these days, well thank goodness we can trust you Mr Cheney, and of course Mr Bush as well, can’t leave him out, can we now! Where would
We have got to be grateful for small mercies in this life, haven’t we? Well like I said, you just can’t trust anyone anymore, you need eyes in the back of your head today, well to be honest, all around your head (stem cell research might help us to achieve that….but yeah I know, we don’t want that kind of thing going on do we…..mind you it would be handy in these distrustful fear ridden times…okay, okay…..I won’t talk about that anymore….but I mean there is so much fear about, isn’t there, not your fault Mr Cheney, or Mr Bush’s , I know, its just that……okay, okay).
Yeah well, Mr Cheney, I’ll tell you, there is this US supplier of voting machines, yeah you heard right, a supplier of….Voting…(yeah I know Mr Cheney that’s a sensitive word right now for you and Mr Bush, but that’s why I am telling you this)…well like I say there is this US supplier of voting machines that the proper authorities are now checking out. Why you ask, well I will tell you why, this company is owned primarily by three Venezuelans! That’s right, three Venezuelans!
Oh, oh don’t you go fainting on me now Mr Cheney, we need you,
Well hang on in there Mr Cheney while I get this done and told…like I said this company is owned primarily by three Venezuelans….you got to keep your chin up and stay with me on this Mr Cheney, this is important for all of us…..and they own a company that is providing voting machines which are being used in 17 states…yeah, yeah, I know…..you don’t have to say it!
I’m real sorry Mr Cheney, but from what I have read, this gets worse…yeah worse, sorry….the company also provided voting machines for the recall referendum on Mr Chavez's rule in 2004….yeah, you heard right…. President Hugo Chavez!.....yeah, yeah, him!….
oh! oh! oh!...but don’t you go worrying now Mr Cheney, it would seem that Caracas has strongly denied media suggestions that President Hugo Chavez has any role in this firm…..yeah, yeah I know you’d expect them to deny that, but…..yeah, yeah, I know all about that saying that where there is smoke there is fire…
what are you thinking now Mr Cheney…...no, no, surely not........
we can’t really believe that little Hugo Chavez’s might go popping out of the machines to shout abusive remarks about Mr Bush just as a voter is about to touch the voting machine screen….no, no, that can’t be real, can it?.........
no, no, I don’t believe it…well I suppose it might be theoretically possible that the machines have been programmed so that they send all the votes down to President Hugo Chavez and he personally alters all the votes and adds all kinds of abusive remarks about Mr Bush before sending the votes back…….....
I mean I suppose theoretically it might be possible…....
yeah, yeah your right, I see what you mean, you just can’t trust anyone these days, no wonder all the people are afraid of their own shadows….....
conspiracy, that’s the trouble Mr Cheney....…
al-Qaida, and the militants in
as I say, thank goodness for small mercies, we are all real lucky we have you and Mr Bush.....….
* Thanks to the BBC News Service for providing the stimulation for this “story”.
Did you make it to Bill’s “I’m 6o” birthday party in
Mind you, if I am really honest, I did have a bit of trouble with my bank manager about the whole thing. Bank managers just aren’t what they used to be are they? Well mine isn’t anyway. He blew his top when I said I wanted to withdraw $1160,000 out of my account. I said to him what are you ranting and raving about, don’t you know its Bill’s birthday party, he is 60 years old (well he was a few weeks ago, that is). It’s a once in the lifetime thing!
Well my bank manager said it doesn’t matter how many life times it was, the $1160,000 was a no go! So I said, but listen please, if I don’t pay I am not going to be able to sit at the table together with Bill and Hillary and all those others! Well my bank manager got all heated up about this, personally I think he was just jealous because he wanted to sit at the table together with Bill and Hillary, but anyway to cool him down I made an offer. I said listen forget the $60,000 to see those old guys on the stage… what are they called again…yeah the Rolling Stones…that’s right, we can forget that $60,000 and I will just withdraw the $1100,000 so that I can sit at the table with my old pals Bill and Hillary!
Well okay, they are not really old pals but it sure feels like it since they are always in the news. I mean I read one of those gossip articles today about Bill spending too much time chatting with someone’s wife and ignoring her husband who got all heated up (like my bank manager) and told her she couldn’t talk to Bill again (I say, talk about women’s rights!) and then Hillary is supposed to have got upset about it because she thought another scandal was going to start, and then bang goes her political future, well you know how it is…anyway I won’t go into that gossip stuff anymore, lets see where was I?
Oh yeah, my bank managers heating problem! So I told him (my bank manager that is) okay forget the $60,000 I will just withdraw the $1100,000, I mean that is reasonable isn’t it! Well he just got all the more heated so I made him another offer, one he just couldn’t refuse, forget the $100,000 for the poached eggs and whatever with Bill and Hillary at Pastis, I’ll settle for the $1000,000. Now wasn’t that a great offer, but talk about being ungrateful, I mean I had already made so many sacrifices, but my bank manager has got so agitated it looks as though I am going to have to bring him to the hospital instead of going to the party.
Alright, alright, I said, hoping to get his blood pressure down enough so I can go to the party and not have to sit around a hospital bed all weekend. Tell you what we will do, I’m willing to drop the game of golf for $500,000 but I will need the $60,000 back + the last $500,000 so I can go to the old men’s concert after all and for the $500,000 get a “backstage pass”, with dinner and photographed with Mr. Bill Clinton. So there, that is as fair as I can get, and my last offer!
But it was no good, my bank managers steam pressure valve blew (only symbolically of course) and ranting and raving about me not having enough money to even buy food, or pay any rent, and above all pay back my debts at the bank, he called the security guard, who threw me out onto the street.
You got killed, maimed, lost a child, or wife, father or mother, your friends or relations, your whole family, had your home and life destroyed – well hard luck (and join the rest), that’s the way it goes!
What war? Well the war we are fighting against the terrorists, militants, Taliban!
Who decided! Well
But there were no militants in our houses, in our villages when you bombed our houses, and killed our children, our wife’s and wiped out our families! Too bad, that’s the way war is, anyway we know the militants were using you as shields, they are always using you as shields when you civilians get killed, it’s always the militants fault when something like that happens. It’s more important that we kill the militants than worry about civilians getting killed, that’s just the way it is in war.
But we don’t want this war! Too bad, you have got it, Oh and by the way, General James Jones a top NATO commander has said he is sorry, stop moaning and get those children buried; we don’t want the world seeing them (or the truth)!
Whenever and wherever an accident happens you will get a crowd of people gathering to observe, no matter how gruesome or terrible the accident might be.
Yet, how much longer is the World going to stand by and just watch the tactics, actions and politics of
There is no doubt that most politicians are to blame, they are the worst at standing by and taking no action, or even worse, they often mange (intentionally or not) to throw “political petrol” onto a burning fire. We elect politicians expecting them to make wise decisions that secure our safety, take care of the country and the world we live in, give us structures which enable us and our neighbours to live the best life possible. Yet all too often we discover that once a politician is in power that they have their own agenda, and that agenda all too often has to do with personal power, or riches, or making a name for themselves, or whatever other demand their outsized and very personalised ego might be making.
But are politicians only to blame? It is not just politicians who are standing by and just watching, trying to cover there own political egos; we too are standing around and have been for a long time. We are also the ones that elect the politicians (and political petrol throwers) in the first place. Once we have elected them we stand around again. No matter how bad they are we tolerate them, make excuses for them, listen and believe them without taking any real meaningful and deep critical look at their deeds, words and actions, we seem to fall asleep and think we are powerless or decide that there is nothing to be done until the next election “happens” to come along, we might even help them throw that political petrol onto a burning fire.
There can be no doubt that the Jewish people suffered so terribly at the hands of the Nazis (although it was not only the Jewish people who suffered!). What happened then was a crime against humanity, horrible and shocking beyond words. No one can or should dispute this, and we should never forget this. However although we should never forget what happened we still have to move on, this is the way life is. Has
Have the wounds of those terrible years at the hands of the Nazis been allowed to fester instead of encouraged to heal? Has
