大象传媒

Obama:

A nice summing up of Labour and what it's done to this country.

paul

did you see that now

..the British government must pay a higher interest rate to borrow money for ten years than either the Italian or the Spanish governments.. [telegraph]

> the fastest annual pace for 14 months

Of course it is
This month - VAT from comparison month = 15% and VAT now = 17.5%
Last month - VAT from comparison month = 15% and VAT now = 15%
The twelve months before that - VAT from comparison month = 17.5% and VAT now = 15%
If it didn't have the highest CPI of the 14 that'd be or more note.
Which is not to say that the discussion you're going to have isn't a worthwhile one.
I thought CPI would be more like 3.7% so I'm slightly less concerned that it's going to charge off into the sunset. I still think it'll go the far side of 4.5% in the next few months but I no longer think it'll hit 5% and if it gets back to 2% by the end of the year I'll be pleasantly surprised.
Food prices, in particular, seem to be on the rise to me.

Interesting today - one would have thought gold (the real stuff) would be taking a hit but it seems to be shaking free from its $ shackles and no doubt every other currency . Maybe the London bullion vaults have been emptied by Chinese and Swiss billionaire's with dodgy deal cover ups - all looks like a tasty story in the making.

5

due to the shortage of gold there are thousands of gold plated tungsten bars out there. its a bubble.

terrorists wife should have told police?



the State seems to be asking a lot for civilians to take on hardened killer terrorists. Would they expect the wives of ira gunmen to grass them up?

if it is a crime not to report another crime then how does drug dealing take place in the uk where even the police know who they are?

i reported being shot at twice and the police didn't even take a statement as a report of gun crime looks bad for the figures.

to expect wives and children to grass up their terrorist relations is bonkers. for them to do so even if they wanted to would mean a death sentence and/or a life forever on the run from their communities. the uk has no uk wide witness protection programme. even then people get found and killed.

if the state was to lock up everyone who knew of crime activity then it would be probably simpler to put the few innocent in gated building and make the rest of the uk a prison?

Interesting that Greece has suddenly disappeared from the news. Just in case anyone thought it has all gone away, here's what is happening, first the EU has put off any decision on what to do for a month, even though they said they were going to come out with the details this week-



and a bomb has exploded outside the offices of JPMorgan Chase investment bank in Athens.

In other ecomonic news in the US Paul Volcker is warning of complete government collapse, Societe Generale is predicting the breakup of the Euro region, and here Moodys has said of the 拢319BN of MBS banks will need to refinance -

鈥淚t is highly uncertain that the mortgage-backed securities market will have the capacity to absorb the level of refinancing needed in the required timeframe鈥�


So another 'Taliban leader' has been caught, and nothing has changed, except some positive headlines for the government. Last nights Storyville on 大象传媒4 about Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers was far more inciteful as to what is happening in Afghanistan today than NN or any of the other 'news' programs who continually recite government press releases.

Ive just heard some economist (I think) on 大象传媒 news saying that shares and property will beat inflation and not gold - don't believe it.

Beat inflation - gold or buy art work of all the contestants of an important art prize like the Turner. Major battles are being fought to hold gold down but they will fail. Real money isn't a piece of paper that says 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of twenty ponds' when your skint in massive debt with no more (allegedly) gold bullion in the vaults and that's what we have.

There is a market for paper money at higher than face value with nutty train spotter collector types who have a fetish for bank note prefix's and a mint condition an*l retention issue.

The so called "bomb detector" has also been used to dowse for marijuana in students lockers at US secondary schools:

HOW CASUAL WE ARE WE, IN 'THE AGE OF TERROR', OVER STATE MURDER 'ABROAD'

The 10.00pm News, reported the alleged Mossad killing, much as if it were a change in the price of fish. If it was featured on Newsnight, at all, I must have nodded off (no mention in Kirsty's piece above).

Are we to assume that all is well with this event? Surely, when a country appears to have sent a state hit-squad to kill another's national, in a third country, that is pretty serious stuff? Might it be called a 'terrorist act' (if it had not been perpetrated by a respected democracy)?

I post in the purest spirit of enquiry, you understand.

The Hamas assassination is interesting as the claim is forged UK passports were used, now the government has been pushing biometric passports so the possibilities are the passports were-

None biometric.

Biometric and either they-

a) have been hacked, which means biometric passports are useless and the government is perpetrating a fraud on the British public.

b) were provided by the UK government deliberately, which means they conspired in the murder.

c) were provided by someone in the UK government but were not authorized to do so, meaning the government has been infiltrated by foreign agents at the highest levels.

After witnessing the lies of Iraq WMD and recent warmongering against Iran option b seems the most likely at this juncture.

#12

turbojerry

Ad c): and what have I been saying for the last few months?

It's embarrassing, however!

Well, tomorrow's the PMQ Time - hopefully an effort will be made in the iright direction to.......!

mim

And now on a different note altogether:

Contemplative musings on musings to come:

No ditties 鈥� enrichment needed of other people鈥檚 musings
For which I鈥檓 waiting,
I.e. to start reading absorbing their input
Into the gamut
Of the English language as well as some others
Hoping their contribution mothers and fathers
My brain cells and the beats of my heart
As well as my soul
Into creation of something quite smart.
In the meantime, I鈥檓 thinking of painting my nails
Light blue before telling some tales imbued with sparked hue.

mim

Re #13:

By rhw same token, it's just possible that Newsnight itself has been affected by the agents mentioned by turbojerry.

P.S. Instead of 'iright' it should be 'right' - it's not a deliberate change of word.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

#16 amendment

Responding to #7 jc's 'terrorists wife should have told police? I made the mistake of anticipating the court decision (due to scarce internet at my present remote location) and have been appropriately kennelled.

In brief, I had quoted from my previous #51 of 16th Feb., dealing with 鈥榠ntended鈥� acts of terrorism:

鈥�...The only other alternative is for urgent work to be done on improving or developing truth drugs, brain scanners and psychological techniques. And persons suspected of criminal intent, and indeed all those who wish to settle in UK, should have to swear an oath, not of allegiance to the Crown - but on the holy book appropriate to their faith - that they renounce all belief in jihad and martyrdom, and will abide by UK law鈥�

I added my view that the Human Rights Act has been myopically used by judges focussing on the rights of the individual (often a suspected criminal) and in so doing thus ignoring the rights of the community at large to enjoy life. The principle of 鈥榯he greatest good for the greatest number鈥� should prevail. Unlike drug crime, terrorism is intended randomly to inflict fear, terror and death on innocent people who have no means of defence or rejection. Thus those with knowledge of planned atrocities are complicit, and knowledge of intended random attacks against innocent people should be treated as special and serious cases.

I await with interest the judgement in the case of Mrs Ali and any new thinking on dealing with crimes of 'intended' acts of terrorism that emerge from President Obama's review.

18

going to war on muslim communities based on fictions and bias is also terrorism?

why are they trying to kill us? this question is always avoided in the 'lets torture the women and children of terrorists' narrative.

are these highly educated highly intelligent people [including scientists and doctors] just the crazed killers the hollywoodmedia wants us to believe or might they have a set of reasons? including western support for arab dictatorships where there is little democracy? That the uk acts unjustly and with bias then sets up Inquisition style laws that creates 'thought crimes'.

if there was a truth drug then the iraq inquiry might be coming up with more insights?

if there wasn't an orchestrated media campaign to demonise then there would also be a 'Generation Crusader' to expose their networks? That all the evidence is terrorists are combated by counter insurgency not armed forced occupation of countries. We never invaded Ireland or the Boston USA to clean out those supporting the IRA but suddenly this becomes the correct tactic against AQ Wherever AQ are we must invade that country and turn it into rubble and chaos. Bonkers.

the UK Foreign Policy has been hijacked by 'war on terror' ideologues. They are the real threat to the UK.

counter insurgency should read counter intelligence.

#18

Ah, but Indignantindegene, as far as I can gather, the worst 'intention terrorists' have family roots well 'gronded' in the British soil at least 2 generations back, with some out of the European stock while other/others from further afield.

mim

jauntcyclist

1. Does the first part of your nickname come from the colour yellow or jaundice?

2. Have you thought of submitting yourself to a lies detector tests and are you really motivated by search of the truth behind the fight against terrorism or somethig much more earthly, like satisfyig a personal obsession or desire?

#19jc
鈥済oing to war on muslim communities based on fictions and bias is also terrorism?鈥�

If the Iraq Inquiry finds that the war was illegal, and/or the matter is referred to the ICCourt, then so be it, let those accused go on trial.

Like millions in UK, I opposed the war, though regime change was initially well received by the citizens of Iraq, as was the war in Kuwait against Saddam Hussein following his invasion there.

However, significant acts of terrorism 鈥� meaning the use of terror against innocent civilians 鈥� had already been carried out by religious extremists in several countries, from the bombing of embassies to that most atrocious act of terrorism of 9/11 justifying the invasion of Afghanistan.

鈥渁re these highly educated highly intelligent people [including scientists and doctors] just the crazed killers the Hollywood media wants us to believe or might they have a set of reasons? including western support for arab dictatorships where there is little democracy? That the uk acts unjustly and with bias then sets up Inquisition style laws that creates 'thought crimes'.鈥�

Many of those highly educated and intelligent people supported the invasion, including many exiles forced to seek sanctuary in UK and elsewhere. The terrorists and suicide bombers were insurgents hell-bent on destroying any form of government in order to retaining their form of power and killing 鈥榝ellow鈥� muslims of different persuasion. (ideologies based on differences of opinion about 6th Century happenings!).

鈥� the UK Foreign Policy has been hijacked by 'war on terror' ideologues. They are the real threat to the UK.鈥�

I accept that UK foreign policy is often based on un-admitted objectives (including oil and commerce with the Saudi oligarchs) and I saw plenty of such double-standards when working for ODA in Malawi, where funding was knowingly misappropriated 鈥� all in the name of keeping Africa non-communist.

The protracted occupancy and inefficiency of the war plan and failure to preplan the follow-up of reconstruction, have certainly raised the threat level to UK. But that threat is a clear and present danger IN UK due to UK Home Office policy rather than Foreign Policy. The (recently revealed) government conspiracy to force multiple cultures on our people took no account of the religious extremism element that has no allegiance to this country, but only to its 鈥榖rothers and sisters鈥� worldwide, and to its own laws that do not mesh with UK law, and preach violence against non-believers.

That is why I proposed 'an oath of renunciation' although the tipping point has been passed and no amount of appeasement will end this clash of cultures in UK. Regretably, I can only see it progressively worsen.

abbey road webcam

#20 mim

We have written up our family back through several generations (of Thames boatmen and lightermen) but there was no mention of terrorism in any discussions with either of my late parents. My mother was 'dragged up' in Bethnal Green, which experienced the influx of many groups of immigrants, and the attempted rise of fascism. Immigrants settled unobtrusively and did contribute to the development of several industries and to our culture. We also had many prominant Jewish politicians, but they seemed not to force their beliefs on our nation, unlike immigrants of the past decade.

As for your 'tribe' I'm glad that we went to war (on my 7th birthday)in defence of your nation and have nothing but admiration for their service during WWII when I watched the 'dog-fights' over London and Kent.

ps. and am an ardent admirer of Frederick Chopin, whose music I play regularly, albeit imperfectly!

THERE IS AN ASSERTION THAT 'PANTS' BLAIR WAS FIREPROOF AT CHILCOTT - BUT:

EXCERPTS FROM DOSSIER-FORWARD BY BLAIR

'What I believe the assessed intelligence has ESTABLISHED BEYOND DOUBT is that Saddam has continued to produce chemical and biological weapons, that he continues in his efforts to develop nuclear weapons, and that he has been able to extend the range of his ballistic missile programme. I also believe that, as stated in the document, Saddam will now do his utmost to try to conceal his weapons from UN inspectors.

Saddam has used chemical weapons, not only against an enemy state, but against his own people. Intelligence reports make clear that he sees the building up of his WMD capability, and the belief overseas that he would use these weapons, as vital to his strategic interests, and in particular his goal of regional domination. And the document discloses that his military planning allows for some of the WMD to be ready within 45 minutes of an order to use them.



The verb: TO ESTABLISH (To cause a principle or theory to be accepted.)

The key sentence in Blair's foreword to the dossier is:
"What I believe the assessed intelligence has ESTABLISHED beyond doubt is that Saddam has . . ."

At Chilcott, Blair (predictably) widened his eyes and, in justification of the words 'beyond doubt' emphasised that HE PERSONALLY WAS beyond doubt. However, I suggest he should have said: "The assessed intelligence has TO MY MIND, established beyond doubt . . ." otherwise, is not the inference a wider acceptance by 'THE ESTABLISHMENT' i.e. GENERAL ACCEPTANCE?

22

...That is why I proposed 'an oath of renunciation'..

which means you follow the same lines of thought the spanish inquisition did.

maybe if we kept to the human rights and justice for all principle rather than being biased and unjust and fermenting lies and propaganda to jedi mind trick the population?

its pretty impossible for many people to have any allegiance with a protestant sect hereditary monarchy? which is why we need a higher more universal principle that represent the state so that people of all creeds can feel at ease being loyal to.

the national oath isn't about defending truth, laws, justice, rights of the ordinary people but the privilege and position of one family of christian role gamers. Which is not the basis for an integrated society or social cohesion.

if a state is trying to frame and smear the uk for the hamas murder then that isn't very 'friendly'?

24

given poland was invaded by both russia and germany [the plan from the outset] the big mystery is why make war on one but no the other?

actually the debate is if the germans had to conquer the whole country themselves before the october snows its not a given they would have done it especially as no one pacified the wetland forests in the east where armies can hide and tanks no use during the whole conflict.

why did HMG protest outrageously over the Mossad action...imagine the screams had it been Hamas...one can only assume that HMG was in on it and it wouldn't be the first time.....

#24 Indingantindegene

There may have been misudinderstanding on your part regarding my address to you at #20. I think I more or less understand what you're about but it's most interestesting to have even more details on your family and family roots.

In brief, I wasn't indicating anything about you and terrorism at all.

And, thank you so much for what you've said about the country I come from.

mim

#26

"its pretty impossible for many people to have any allegiance with a protestant sect hereditary monarchy? which is why we need a higher more universal principle that represent the state so that people of all creeds can feel at ease being loyal to."

Hey, I'm no loyalist, or religious believer, and I wouldn't want a Bush or Blair to 'be loyal to' either. We don't want any more 'charismatic' leaders or preachers with power to lead us astray, and wreck our society.

"the national oath isn't about defending truth, laws, justice, rights of the ordinary people but the privilege and position of one family of christian role gamers. Which is not the basis for an integrated society or social cohesion."

As above; and do you really think that people with such widely different values, and obsessed with the preachings, rules and dogma of widely different 'faiths' will come together as an integrated society with cohesion? NuLabour made that mistake and we now have to live with it.

#30 update

I was referring to some of the other NN bloggers, In dignanantindegene. It seems that those who make most noise about their innocence and self-righteousness, etc, are not all that in innocent or blameless.

Not that, I find, a degree of confidence or self-preservation of presumed or real victims does them any harm. The worst thing one can do in a situation like this is submission and beggardry!

mim

31

..do you really think that people with such widely different values...

not with the current framework. its too sectarian. we would need a more universal set of principles that most people would agree to such as human rights, rule of law justice for all regardless of race colour or creed etc.

an updated usa version would be better than the medieval legacy system. however to suggest that is , under current laws, treason. so it can't even be legally debated. All the agents of the state take an oath to protect the privileges and position of protestant christian monarchy. so they have to see the rights of all people as the enemy.

under current laws people going to fight british troops in afghanistan is not treason but suggesting we elect and amend a head of state is.