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Showing posts from September, 2014

In the wake of President Mahmoud Abbas address to UN, a voice of reality from amongst the vitriolic responses.

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.617951#  Israel’s criticism of Abbas’ speech is the rhetoric of despair Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses UN General Assembly   One Israeli newspaper at least is prepared to think the unthinkable and speak the unspeakable truth, that  Israel and the Israeli leadership are wrong. "The government is now grasping at Abbas’ statements as if it were grasping at a life raft. But leaning on Abbas’ speech reflects nothing but fear and weak leadership. Israel has neither an answer nor a strategy for the diplomatic elements in Abbas’ address." Haaretz: Sunday, September 28, 2014 Tishrei 4, 5775 The longer that Israel resists the inevitable establishment of a Palestinian State, based on the 1967 borders, then the more they will become isolated and marginalised around the world.

Creating a monster and making a bad situation even worse.

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/war-against-isis-its-started-but-do-we-know-what-were-doing-9760131.html It's started, but do we know what we're doing? Cameron and Obama at United Nations   A contrived "threat", manufactured, exaggerated and hysterically hyped up to suit the hidden agenda of Washington and London to attack Syria via Iraq and ultimately overthrow Bashar al-Assad. "It's started, but do we know what we're doing?" The answer is "No. We have no idea what we are doing. We only know that al-Assad must go and this might be one avenue to help us get rid of him," IS or ISIL or what ever other label you may choose to put on them, is an organisation now controlling in excess of 5 million people, thousands of square miles of territory, significant infrastructure and an industrial and commercial capability which would be envied by many countries around the world. It is also an organisation which until

Is Gordon Brown seeking to become leader of the Labour Party, again?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-referendum-secures-glorious-future-for-gb-gordon-brown-that-is-9746502.html Vote secures glorious future for GB (Gordon Brown, that is) Gordon Brown vows 'powers will be delivered' Brown seems to be jockeying for some sort of position within the Labour Party, perhaps even usurping Miliband and installing himself as leader! It does sound rather conceited of the man to assume that he, as a backbench MP, is in a position to "make sure that these promises that have been made will be upheld." and that the " the timetable we set out will be delivered." Ed Miliband addresses supporters in Manchester   He may have resigned as Leader of the Labour Party, and lost an election as Prime Minister, but he has certainly managed to hang on to the delusions of grandeur which drove him, Blair, Mandelson and Campbell in their mission to destroy the Labour Party. Is it conceivabl

The triumph of bribery and fear over the reality of experience.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scottish-referendum-results-crossparty-consensus-collapses-amid-torylabour-spat-on-the-english-question-9745125.html The Conservative, Labour, Liberal consensus of "The Vow" which finally defeated calls for Scottish independence, has been shattered     Cameron: Further powers for Scotland will be linked to change in England. Within hours of the results of the Scottish referendum being announced, David Cameron and Ed Miliband threw the question of further devolution of powers to Scotland, and the timetable for implementation of such changes, into chaos. The much publicised "Vow" to the Scottish people bearing the signatures of Cameron, Miliband and Clegg, was heralded days before the vote as, a solemn undertaking to begin the process of greater devolution of Scottish affairs "the day after" the Referendum vote takes place. At the time, many writers considered that "The Vow" was nothing mo

The Cameron, Clegg Miliband "Vow", is nothing more than a not very subtle bribe

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-final-opinion-polls-show-undecided-voters-could-swing-the-result-either-way-9739059.html Final opinion polls show undecided voters could swing the result either way Cameron, Clegg and Miliband reveal the "Vow" and promise to protect "Barnett formula"  For anyone in Scotland thinking about voting “No” in today’s referendum, there is a very good reason for voting with the “Yes” campaign. For anyone who thinks that the promise made by Cameron, Miliband and Clegg in respect of greater autonomy to the Scottish Parliament including powers over taxation, spending an even greater devolution, in exchange for a “No” vote, should consider what has emerged since the three “leaders” went to Scotland to unveil their “Vow” and plaster the front pages of practically every newspaper in the United Kingdom with the text. It has become apparent that not all MP's at Wes

An "emotional appeal" in front of a selected audience.

  http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/15/david-cameron-emotional-plea-scotland-independence David Cameron makes emotional plea to Scotland David Cameron makes emotional plea "David Cameron gives emotional speech to the Scottish people"? Well, not quite. What he gave was another rambling speech to a selected audience of Tory party hacks, members, "Vote No" campaigners and the party faithful, who cheered and applauded at the end of practically every sentence. We have seen similar performances at Conservative party conferences over many years with the customary standing ovation at the end. The scripts of the "speeches" actually seem to contain the phrase "Pause for applause" liberally sprinkled throughout the text. What "the Scottish people" actually got, was the potted and edited version of the good bits, which the BBC, Sky and the other political editors of the television stations chose to put into their broadca

BBC bias in Scottish referendum

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-scotland-protests-scottish-independence-referendum-coverage-institutionally-biased-salmond-claims-9732095.html   BBC Scotland's referendum coverage 'institutionally biased'. BBC Scotland protests   Notwithstanding yesterdays protest, which was given only passing acknowledgement on the BBC news programmes incidentally, the BBC reverts today, to its now accepted role as “The Union's Champion” and official propaganda tool for the "Vote No" campaign. About as subtle as an elephant rampaging around the shelves of Royal Doulton or Wedgwood or Royal Albert dinnerware in some exclusive department store, the BBC bounces back on its news programmes (so far) this morning, with all the “too close to call” headlines and interviews with Labour shadow ministers who, with their own agenda for retaining the Union, are given leading questions to be used as a vehicle to trot out the now well worn prophesies of do

The "negative" campaigning of the "Vote No" camp sinks to new depths.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/12/scottish-referendum-icm-poll-too-close-to-call-union "Vote No" big guns fail to halt "Yes" bandwagon. Vote Yes campaigning.   Should the "Better together . Vote No" campaign win the referendum vote next Thursday, it will not be due to  winning the economic, social or prosperity arguments. It will the consequence of many people voting as a result of fear. Fear, generated by the "No" campaign, orchestrated by the Westminster political parties, because they have most to loose should the Scottish people decide to become an independent nation.  Today, 13th September, the last weekend of campaigning, the "Vote No" camp and its allies in the television and media, together with those sections of business who fear for their own positions in an independent Scotland, have launched the most vicious, vindictive and vociferous assault on the voting yes camp ever seen before in British po

Will the negative "Vote No" campaign save the Union?

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-ten-days-to-save-the-united-kingdom-as-george-osborne-promises-further-devolution-after-poll-shows-shock-lead-for-yes-camp-9717329.html Ten days to save the United Kingdom after poll shows shock lead for Yes camp Yes or No? The "Vote No" campaign continue with their policy of threat, intimidation and scare mongering, in an attempt to bring about a referendum result which will retain "the Union". Even at this late stage, when all the evidence suggests that their negative campaign is having the opposite effect on peoples voting intentions, it seems that Alastair Darling and those on his side of "Britain is Better Together" are unable to provide any positive reason why the Scottish people should vote anything other than yes. In a bizarre promise from the government, the Scots are given a firm undertaking that if they reject independence, they will be giv

Deserting the sinking ship.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coalition-rocked-by-bedroom-tax-revolt-9715640.html   Coalition is rocked by Lib Dem-Labour alliance 'Bedroom Tax' One Step Closer To Abolition After Tories Are Defeated The closer the country gets to a general election,the more the LibDems desert the sinking ship to argue and vote against the Conservatives. Perhaps Clegg and his lemmings believe that the public have forgotten the last four and a half years, where the LibDems supported and encouraged the Tories in this ragbag coalition, to enact some of the most divisive legislation ever seen in this country since the days of Thatcher. The increases of tuition fees, cuts to benefits across the board, Iain Duncan-Smith's "Welfare" reforms, including the so called "Bedroom tax", the privatisation of huge parts of the NHS and other industries such as Royal Mail, have been enthusiastically championed by the Liberal Democrats during their period in po

The death of a "comedian"

  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/joan-rivers-dead-comedian-dies-in-new-york-aged-81-9712928.html Joan Rivers dead: Comedian dies in New York aged 81 Joan Rivers   The "tributes" for this woman come pouring into the media and television from "luvies" and (some) critics saying how funny and witty she was. However, many people, myself included will remember her only for her comment on the of the 11th August 2014, some 25 days ago, when she said “Palestinians deserve to be dead. They started it. We now don't count who's dead. You're dead, you deserve to be dead.” Since then the total number of Palestinians killed has risen to over 2100 of which more that 500 are children. Joan Rivers (real name Joan Alexandra Rosenberg) June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014

Medical decisions where "How much will it cost?" is more important than "What does this patient need?"

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/03/ashya-king-father-reunited-son Parents to be reunited with critically ill five-year-old on Wednesday following their release from Spanish prison Ashya King The Prima Donna's of Southampton Hospital who, right up until Monday, insisted that proton beam treatment was unsuitable for Ashya and therefore they would not refer him for treatment in Prague, have this morning announced that they have changed their minds and will refer him after all. If this is the case today, it was the same two weeks ago and the "hissy fits" of the Doctors concerned and the stupidity of the Hospital, Portsmouth Council, the CPS and the police have result ed in trauma for the patient and the patients family. It is a disgrace. It has always been about medical decisions being taken on financial cost rather than medical necessity and the "authorities" should be severely censored for their incompetent and inept handling of t

The treatment of Ashya King and his family is appalling.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/01/ashya-kings-parents-remanded-custody-judge-considers-extradition Ashya King’s parents remanded in custody The parents of brain cancer patient Ashya King   This case is an unnecessary trauma to an already upset family is a complete farce and a waste of our money. To persecute the parents and create stress for the remainder of the family, simply because some Doctor in Southampton Hospital had a "hissy fit" when his "authority" was challenged, is an outrage and abuse of the legal systems in both this country and in Spain where some judge requires 72 hours to make up his mind about extradition and bail and at the same time detains both parent in separate jails! Incredible ! Ashya King   The judge should have thrown out the request without even thinking about it. In the meantime of course, Ashya, the 5 year old cancer patient, is in a children's hospital in Malaga where he knows nobody and does n

The "Playground Bully" rounding up his "gang"

  http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/01/nato-high-readiness-spearhead-force-counter-russian-threat Nato to create high-readiness force to counter Russian threat       US President Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Complete lunacy from Anders Fogh Rasmussen, trotting out  words scripted in Washington under the guise of, "NATO says". The playground bully of Washington wearing its NATO cape,  wanders around dragooning other people into their "gang", to intimidate Russia to bow to Uncle Sam and succumb to the Great American plan for the world. As many (but not all unfortunately) learned from their school days in the "quad", the way to deal with the bully is to look him firmly in the eye, deliver a swift size 10 or whatever between his thighs and cause his nose to bleed profusely with either fist or forehead. Should  Rasmussen, Obama or any other incumbent of the Whitehouse expect me to have any part, no matter ho