The british have again laid claim to the legitamacy of the Britishness of the Falkland Islands . When Argentina claimed the Islands in the early 80s the british sent a fleet into the Southern Atlantic to reclaim what were little more than a cluster of craggy patches where sheep farmers eeked out a meagre living .
The Times ran an editorial to substantiate the Tory claim yesterday .
The following comments ensued ( among many others ) Mine are those headed ''Don '
Don says
The war was Thatcher's ''Churchill-moment ''.
She wanted a war to confirm that she was as Iron as her soubriquet suggested , and her Ministers confirmed
Best forget about the Falklands now.
The British invasion of the island of a few scattered sheep in the southern Hemisphere -( before the war ) was as inglorious as the sinking of the hospital ship Belgrano. Sunk while it was in retreat in neutral waters .
Besides what difficulty did Barroness Thacher ever have in non accommodating brutal dictators. What about Pinochet ?
The personal sense of triumph which the war undoubtedly brought to Thatcher will always be linked to her
ravenous appetite to be remembered as being as bellicose as any man .
Then she went on to dismember British Society , saying there was no such thing as society - Yes . In a different context - She and Reagen agreed on the liberation of the markets allowing them free reign .; but at the same time abandoning central Keynesian economic philosophy , which was all about society.
Mike says
January 20, 2012 4:52 PM
What the hell does that have to do with the rights of the Falkland islanders to self determination or the current threat posed by the Argentinians to obtain sovereignty over them and to try blocade them into submission !
Don Says
Mike ,
You come from the generation which believed that there was a ''Right of Conquest ''- Colonialism . Britannia
Rules ,and all that rot .
Sorry , But they've discovered that its an oxymoron , or something .
But yours Mike is the land of Alf Garnett - Till Death Do Us Part-
Alfred Edward Garnett. was reactionary, self righteous mean-spirited, selfish, bigoted, anti-Irish, anti-Catholic, Jingoistic racist, , who only disliked Mrs Thatcher because he believed a woman's place was in the kitchen , "chained to the bloody kitchen sink!" ..
The war had nothing to do with protecting residents of the Malvinas .
It was to secure in her time the great British Empire , and meanwhile diverting public attention from her unpopularity at home . Good -time- to release- bad -news strategy.( familiar ?)
But Mike ..Ahh THe Empire .!!
What Ho Mike ..Ye Olde Empire.
But riddle me this . Why did the sun never set on the Empire ?
Because God didn't trust the Brits in the dark .
And now what have we have .. well ... a kingdom ? a disunited one perhaps.and we have OBE's and stuff even if the '' E'' is no longer for Empire , but Excellence
But maybe they should send those self same soldiers north and knock some sense into those Scottish Celts who just dont know how bloody good things are for them...too late for Wales I suppose . Well , we still have the Prince of Wales , whether the Welsh like it or not ..More mule pigheadedness from more thankless Celts.
The residents of the Malvinas have the right to self determination without any assistance from Britain or should that be England ? And when they do vote on the issue they can themselves determine what they wish to be ,through the auspices of the UN - exclusively .
Now what would Alf think about that ?
Mike had many other comments on other peoples comments which is why I introduced the Alf Garner character .
Despite claims made by the British ( esp Tory party- Who knew what Blair was ever thinking other than stacking up facts for his memoirs and after dinner speeches at 100 Grand a whack ?)
Ultimately it must come down to a referendum. But my guess that any Brit borne in the 90's has no idea what the Falklands war was about or where in fact the Falklands are located .
But the new interest is not motivated from any sense of loyalty to a former colony . Now there's the whiff about the Islands , and that is what is making them British . The three most powerful words in geo-politics O.I.L.
There is the added urgency that with the threat by the Iranians in the Straits of Hormuz , the British source of cheap oil would be jeopardized , as N sea Oil is running out rapidly .
Look out for more of this Jingoistic Oxbridge rants in the coming months , and think of Alf , who despite his fictitious background as being low working class is a Tory supporter. He would now be a member of the National Front of course . His son would be married to a coke addicted hooker . He would be tattooed from forehead to toe with God Save the Queen , and I LOVE LINDA on his forearms , and I LUV MUM on his fingers
Friday, January 20, 2012
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Norris and the Irish Presidency ; Empathy expressed with perpetrator of Paedophelia - little understanding or concern for victim of child rape
We have 7 candidates lined up for election to the Irish Presidency .
The salary is about € 300,000 / annum.
Among them we have ;
A song contest winner
A gay activist
An ex IRA Commander .
David Norris is the Gay representative . HE is an acedemic ; a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin. He claims to be a Joycean Scholar.
Just listen to him doing the impression of a wave following Joyce's '' text'' in Finnegans Wake.
Norris's problem is that he sent a series of letters to petition the Israeli authorities for his jailed lover, who raped an Israeli boy.
Norris claimed that the letters were not available to the media because of legal issues. When pressed on this by legal experts here he resorted to saying he couldn't
disclose the letters because of advice he is getting from Israel. He doesn't say when he received this advice, or whether it is from a professional lawyer.
Norris gave an interview to Magill magazine some years ago, This might put in perspective his view on pedophilia . He talks about the classical love between a man and a boy , without penetrative sex. ( pederasty ) . But is is the ease with which he talks of this love - a love which he himself would have enjoyed as a child- he doesnt seem to give any thought to the boy's feelings which chills the reader .
It is a most disconcerting interview , and it is my belief that it is tendentious . And it displays a laxity of scruples regarding the innocence of the boy .
It is my view that unless Norris discloses all the letters of petition he wrote on his lovers behalf, and subjects himself to scrutiny as to where exactly he stands on the
love - classical Greek or otherwise , between an adult and a child who is not his son. That love he speaks of is to my mind a flagrant expression of empathy if not
advocacy of pedophilia.
If Norris does this soon , he may retrieve some of his credibility. But this is one area where the invasion of the person is justifiable in the greater public interest - the OLd Latin Adage - Pro Bono Publico springs to mind.
Mr Norris's arguments without either disclosing these letters to the media will run to the Reductio ad absurdiam. His patronizing cods wallop about the ''Plain People
Of Ireland '' stands for nothing unless he comes clean with these intelligent decent people he keeps harping on about as if it were just the media who want to know the disposition of a future President towards pedophilia .
To quote what Norris often refers to as Blooms obduracy in Ulysses , one of the characters . He holds a straw in front of Bloom and says ; '' Lookit Bloom ..Its a straw .. I declare to me ant macassater that he would talk about it for an hour so he would. And talk solid .
Lookit David - Its just s straw !! Isn't it ? What is the problem.
Do You approve of open love between a man and a boy who is not his son - irrespective of the physicality of that love or the expression thereof.
You have the name of being witty , charming , engaging , garrulous , loquacious - and of course a Joycean scholar.
Talk for an hour or so and talk solid. But keep it solid for the Plain Peole of Ireland !!
The salary is about € 300,000 / annum.
Among them we have ;
A song contest winner
A gay activist
An ex IRA Commander .
David Norris is the Gay representative . HE is an acedemic ; a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin. He claims to be a Joycean Scholar.
Just listen to him doing the impression of a wave following Joyce's '' text'' in Finnegans Wake.
Norris's problem is that he sent a series of letters to petition the Israeli authorities for his jailed lover, who raped an Israeli boy.
Norris claimed that the letters were not available to the media because of legal issues. When pressed on this by legal experts here he resorted to saying he couldn't
disclose the letters because of advice he is getting from Israel. He doesn't say when he received this advice, or whether it is from a professional lawyer.
Norris gave an interview to Magill magazine some years ago, This might put in perspective his view on pedophilia . He talks about the classical love between a man and a boy , without penetrative sex. ( pederasty ) . But is is the ease with which he talks of this love - a love which he himself would have enjoyed as a child- he doesnt seem to give any thought to the boy's feelings which chills the reader .
It is a most disconcerting interview , and it is my belief that it is tendentious . And it displays a laxity of scruples regarding the innocence of the boy .
It is my view that unless Norris discloses all the letters of petition he wrote on his lovers behalf, and subjects himself to scrutiny as to where exactly he stands on the
love - classical Greek or otherwise , between an adult and a child who is not his son. That love he speaks of is to my mind a flagrant expression of empathy if not
advocacy of pedophilia.
If Norris does this soon , he may retrieve some of his credibility. But this is one area where the invasion of the person is justifiable in the greater public interest - the OLd Latin Adage - Pro Bono Publico springs to mind.
Mr Norris's arguments without either disclosing these letters to the media will run to the Reductio ad absurdiam. His patronizing cods wallop about the ''Plain People
Of Ireland '' stands for nothing unless he comes clean with these intelligent decent people he keeps harping on about as if it were just the media who want to know the disposition of a future President towards pedophilia .
To quote what Norris often refers to as Blooms obduracy in Ulysses , one of the characters . He holds a straw in front of Bloom and says ; '' Lookit Bloom ..Its a straw .. I declare to me ant macassater that he would talk about it for an hour so he would. And talk solid .
Lookit David - Its just s straw !! Isn't it ? What is the problem.
Do You approve of open love between a man and a boy who is not his son - irrespective of the physicality of that love or the expression thereof.
You have the name of being witty , charming , engaging , garrulous , loquacious - and of course a Joycean scholar.
Talk for an hour or so and talk solid. But keep it solid for the Plain Peole of Ireland !!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Expansion in occupied territories continues
In the face of the Palestinians , in the coming weeks , going to the UN to apply for part or full membership , Israeli Premier Benjamen Netentahu has accedded an extreme right wing Jewish lobby to the construction of a further 1100 units in East Jerusalem.
Bear in mind that this Jewish expansion into Palestinian territory is a continuum of the violation of the UN rule of law.
As if it is calculated to provoke the oppressed Palestinians into retaliation in defense of her already compromised territory , Netenyahu will put this proposal before Israeli planning authorities to give validation to these constructions .
In even entertaining such an application for further constructions in occupied territory ie ; territory taken by force by the Israelis during the 1967 war Netenyahu is again showing not just disdain to the UN but loathsome contempt for the UN , the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
In another development the Israelis have just released an al Jazera news reporter who was held for 6 weeks on trumped up charges by the Israeli Shin Bett .
Samar Alawi , admitted under coercive physical and mental pressure that he was acting as an agent for Hamas .
On payment of a $900 fine and 6 weeks incarceration by Israel he was released having made the confession , which he immediately repudiated .
Following a funeral of an Israelis father and son who perished in a car accident , allegedly caused by a Palestinian throwing stones at the car , a Rabbi has called for '' collective punishment '' against the Palestinians saying '' there are no innocents in war ''
In any other society this would be regarded as an incitement to hatred .
That it is incitement there is little doubt and that hatred exists there is none.
But this is all part of the retaliation before the provocation strategy on behalf of Israel , which are occurring in the West Bank , in the run-up to the Palestinian application for statehood with the UN.
Why the Israelis even bother with this provocation at all is an enigma as Israel do not adhere to the notion of co-existance , much less the rule of law by the ICJ .
At least the EU representative Catherine Ashton has made her objections to the Israel authorities . Needless to say Tony Blair has made none on behalf of the Quartet .
Bear in mind that this Jewish expansion into Palestinian territory is a continuum of the violation of the UN rule of law.
As if it is calculated to provoke the oppressed Palestinians into retaliation in defense of her already compromised territory , Netenyahu will put this proposal before Israeli planning authorities to give validation to these constructions .
In even entertaining such an application for further constructions in occupied territory ie ; territory taken by force by the Israelis during the 1967 war Netenyahu is again showing not just disdain to the UN but loathsome contempt for the UN , the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
In another development the Israelis have just released an al Jazera news reporter who was held for 6 weeks on trumped up charges by the Israeli Shin Bett .
Samar Alawi , admitted under coercive physical and mental pressure that he was acting as an agent for Hamas .
On payment of a $900 fine and 6 weeks incarceration by Israel he was released having made the confession , which he immediately repudiated .
Following a funeral of an Israelis father and son who perished in a car accident , allegedly caused by a Palestinian throwing stones at the car , a Rabbi has called for '' collective punishment '' against the Palestinians saying '' there are no innocents in war ''
In any other society this would be regarded as an incitement to hatred .
That it is incitement there is little doubt and that hatred exists there is none.
But this is all part of the retaliation before the provocation strategy on behalf of Israel , which are occurring in the West Bank , in the run-up to the Palestinian application for statehood with the UN.
Why the Israelis even bother with this provocation at all is an enigma as Israel do not adhere to the notion of co-existance , much less the rule of law by the ICJ .
At least the EU representative Catherine Ashton has made her objections to the Israel authorities . Needless to say Tony Blair has made none on behalf of the Quartet .
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Israel / Palestine - 2 State Solution or Pretext for War ; What's the West done to help? Tony Blair as '' Special Envoy '' Blairs for Blair period
As the date for the Palestinians to declare their Statehood to the UN draws neigh ,it is unfortunate that we know that the USA will use her veto to keep the Palestinians out of the Security Council.
That the USA are taking this initiative in order to show her unequivocal support for the State of Israel is a cause of great concern for the Palestinians .
That they have lived in the region for over two millennia counts for nothing . But that this aggressive attitude should come after the Israelis have broken 2 UN resolutions , calling for them to cease building further settlements on Palestinian land , and their refusal to return to their pre- '67 birders .
Not only did Israel choose to break the peace with Palestine by resuming the illegal constructions but that they choose to do so on the very day VP Mr Joe Biden arrived in the region was surely to give the two fingers to her main sponcers ( USA) . This diplomatic insult was calculated only to singularly embarrass and demean Mr Biden . Yet Mr Obama has declared that he will use the power of veto to thwart Palestinian membership to the Security Council.
Why ?
The powerful speech which Mr Obama made in Cairo was inspiring ; it lifted the hopes of the Arab world that maybe after all this time the a new USA administration could at last deal the Arabs a decent hand . But it was not to be .
Now they look with distrust and suspicion again towards the USA . All of the dreams and hopes they held dear after the speech were dashed when the Israelis played their emotional blackmail card .
Now the Palestinians will be relegated to applying for membership to the General Assembly of the UN.
They may have to settle for less than full membership of the General assembly and enjoy a much more emasculated form of admission- one similar to the Vatican State enjoys .
But at least they will have access to the ICHJ - Courts of Human Justice- aka -The World Court or ICJ) . This is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the The Hague.Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international organs, agencies, and the UN General Assembly.
At least now , the Palestinians can invite UN observers to officially report on the progress of the illegal constructions in the West Bank.
Why have the Palestinians been reduced - or have always endured- the existential state of second class citizenhood ?
The Israelis have every reason to complain that they were abandoned by Europe during WW2 - but because of the atrocities perpetrated against their race leading to the appalling Holocaust - is this sufficient reason for them to exercise such oppression over the Palestinian peoples - The Palestinians have seen their farms carved up by the illegal security wall ; seen their border crossing access points grievously restricted , and in Gaza - her port opened at the whim of the Israeli Naval services .
.
Background and development
As if the Palestinians are not already beleaguered and besieged I quote from Harriet Sherwood of the London Observer
In Qusra, deep among the terraced hills of the West Bank, fear is on the rise ,according to Harriert Sherwood .Settlers come down the hill from the outpost, mostly on foot, but occasionally on horseback or in tractors or 4x4s. They carry Israeli flags, and sometimes bring guns, shovels and dogs. There may be as few as three or as many as 40. They taunt the local villagers and sometimes attack them. Often the Israeli army arrives and trains its weapons on the villagers.
On Friday, violence between settlers from the outpost of Esh Kodesh and around 300 Qusra villagers ended in a haze of teargas and bullets fired at the villagers by Israeli troops, two of which struck Issam Odeh, 33, killing the father-of-eight.
Qusra set up a defence committee earlier this month after one of the village's four mosques was vandalised in a settler attack condemned by the US and the European Union. Up to 20 unarmed men patrol the mosques from 8pm to 6am every night, and Abu Reidi claims they have already foiled at least one attack. Other Palestinian villages have followed suit.
This week, photographs were published on a pro-settler news website, Arutz Sheva, showing women from Pnei Kedem, an outpost south of Bethlehem, learning to shoot. In Shimon Hatzadik, a Jewish enclave in the midst of the Palestinian neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in east Jerusalem, settlers are preparing to invoke a law allowing self-defence against intruders. "We are talking about shooting at their legs and if that doesn't work, and our lives are in danger, we won't be afraid to shoot straight at them. Most of the residents here are armed," spokesman Yehonatan Yosef told parliamentarians two weeks ago.
Preparation for war?
Israeli settlers have become more militant even defying the orders they receive from the Defence Forces. They fear that the Israeli military will restrain their antagonism and confrontation with the Palestinians . Provocation , were it to be successful would spark a retaliation from Palestinians , possibly from the extreme Islamists - possibly the Hezbollah . And this would bring world attention to the area , apportioning blame on the Palestinians for precipitating the conflict and scuttling the talks.
Demands of either side
At the moment the talks seem in a state on entrenchment . The Israelis will not agree to basic minimums to facilitate Abbas's agreement to his minimums.
The settlement talks require the Palestinians to recognise an Israeli State with Jerusalem as its Capital
The Palestinians demand that the Israelis return to the pre 1967 borders - borders which were imposed by the Israelis and are in contravention of UN law , which declares void the claim to land taken by conquest .
The Palestinians in demanding the pre 67 border position are by association demanding a removal of the settlements , and equally the removal of the Separation Wall
They are also demanding recognition of Palestinian Statehood , with Jerusalem as its Capital.
The Quartet
The '' Quartet '' which is made up of the US UN EU Russia - arguably the most balanced and powerful organisation in the world , have as its representative one Tony Blair .
One can only pause for a sharp intake of breathe here . What a choice . A man who followed the USA into two ignominious wars . One who had access to the private dossiers of the unfortunate scientist Mr Kelly , who repudiated the fact that Saadam ever had WMD’s or who was prepared foor world war within 30 minutes- Who said his own documents were ‘ sexed up’ to advance the case against Iraq , and who ( we are told ) then took his own life .
Mr Blair has been making contacts for his own ends during his tenure as ''Special Envoy to the Quartet ' A Panorama programme last night showed how he ( and his staff ) lived in a luxury hotel in Jerusalem , occupying one entire floor at the cost of € 1 million / yr .When he learned that the Panorama team were on to him he moved to a moderately less luxurious hotel. He has spent less that ½ of any year of the tenure in the region .
He has visited Gaza on two or three occasions .
But most of his time he has been feathering his own nest - Tony Blair Inc. He gives lectures at the princly cost on €100.000 minimum. He is currently involved with Russian oil and Gas Oligarchs , and inveigled his way into many more industries involving vast amounts of money .
Mr Blair - Special Envoy to the Quartet .!!
It makes me want to puke , but watch the Panorama programme or read about it in London Observer 25 Sept.2011
With this kind of assistance it is easy to see how the settlers are arming themselves , and the Palestinians are getting more frustrated than restive .
With this kind of self interest - Blair for Blair . USA for Israel , should we be really surprised if there is yet another outbreak of violence in the region.
Worst Fears
I fear that there will be another Israeli incursion into as yet unoccupied territories, and perhaps even into Lebanon again.
Another 6 day war may be looming .And we in the west are presiding over its incubation
That the USA are taking this initiative in order to show her unequivocal support for the State of Israel is a cause of great concern for the Palestinians .
That they have lived in the region for over two millennia counts for nothing . But that this aggressive attitude should come after the Israelis have broken 2 UN resolutions , calling for them to cease building further settlements on Palestinian land , and their refusal to return to their pre- '67 birders .
Not only did Israel choose to break the peace with Palestine by resuming the illegal constructions but that they choose to do so on the very day VP Mr Joe Biden arrived in the region was surely to give the two fingers to her main sponcers ( USA) . This diplomatic insult was calculated only to singularly embarrass and demean Mr Biden . Yet Mr Obama has declared that he will use the power of veto to thwart Palestinian membership to the Security Council.
Why ?
The powerful speech which Mr Obama made in Cairo was inspiring ; it lifted the hopes of the Arab world that maybe after all this time the a new USA administration could at last deal the Arabs a decent hand . But it was not to be .
Now they look with distrust and suspicion again towards the USA . All of the dreams and hopes they held dear after the speech were dashed when the Israelis played their emotional blackmail card .
Now the Palestinians will be relegated to applying for membership to the General Assembly of the UN.
They may have to settle for less than full membership of the General assembly and enjoy a much more emasculated form of admission- one similar to the Vatican State enjoys .
But at least they will have access to the ICHJ - Courts of Human Justice- aka -The World Court or ICJ) . This is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the The Hague.Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to provide advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international organs, agencies, and the UN General Assembly.
At least now , the Palestinians can invite UN observers to officially report on the progress of the illegal constructions in the West Bank.
Why have the Palestinians been reduced - or have always endured- the existential state of second class citizenhood ?
The Israelis have every reason to complain that they were abandoned by Europe during WW2 - but because of the atrocities perpetrated against their race leading to the appalling Holocaust - is this sufficient reason for them to exercise such oppression over the Palestinian peoples - The Palestinians have seen their farms carved up by the illegal security wall ; seen their border crossing access points grievously restricted , and in Gaza - her port opened at the whim of the Israeli Naval services .
.
Background and development
As if the Palestinians are not already beleaguered and besieged I quote from Harriet Sherwood of the London Observer
In Qusra, deep among the terraced hills of the West Bank, fear is on the rise ,according to Harriert Sherwood .Settlers come down the hill from the outpost, mostly on foot, but occasionally on horseback or in tractors or 4x4s. They carry Israeli flags, and sometimes bring guns, shovels and dogs. There may be as few as three or as many as 40. They taunt the local villagers and sometimes attack them. Often the Israeli army arrives and trains its weapons on the villagers.
On Friday, violence between settlers from the outpost of Esh Kodesh and around 300 Qusra villagers ended in a haze of teargas and bullets fired at the villagers by Israeli troops, two of which struck Issam Odeh, 33, killing the father-of-eight.
Qusra set up a defence committee earlier this month after one of the village's four mosques was vandalised in a settler attack condemned by the US and the European Union. Up to 20 unarmed men patrol the mosques from 8pm to 6am every night, and Abu Reidi claims they have already foiled at least one attack. Other Palestinian villages have followed suit.
This week, photographs were published on a pro-settler news website, Arutz Sheva, showing women from Pnei Kedem, an outpost south of Bethlehem, learning to shoot. In Shimon Hatzadik, a Jewish enclave in the midst of the Palestinian neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, in east Jerusalem, settlers are preparing to invoke a law allowing self-defence against intruders. "We are talking about shooting at their legs and if that doesn't work, and our lives are in danger, we won't be afraid to shoot straight at them. Most of the residents here are armed," spokesman Yehonatan Yosef told parliamentarians two weeks ago.
Preparation for war?
Israeli settlers have become more militant even defying the orders they receive from the Defence Forces. They fear that the Israeli military will restrain their antagonism and confrontation with the Palestinians . Provocation , were it to be successful would spark a retaliation from Palestinians , possibly from the extreme Islamists - possibly the Hezbollah . And this would bring world attention to the area , apportioning blame on the Palestinians for precipitating the conflict and scuttling the talks.
Demands of either side
At the moment the talks seem in a state on entrenchment . The Israelis will not agree to basic minimums to facilitate Abbas's agreement to his minimums.
The settlement talks require the Palestinians to recognise an Israeli State with Jerusalem as its Capital
The Palestinians demand that the Israelis return to the pre 1967 borders - borders which were imposed by the Israelis and are in contravention of UN law , which declares void the claim to land taken by conquest .
The Palestinians in demanding the pre 67 border position are by association demanding a removal of the settlements , and equally the removal of the Separation Wall
They are also demanding recognition of Palestinian Statehood , with Jerusalem as its Capital.
The Quartet
The '' Quartet '' which is made up of the US UN EU Russia - arguably the most balanced and powerful organisation in the world , have as its representative one Tony Blair .
One can only pause for a sharp intake of breathe here . What a choice . A man who followed the USA into two ignominious wars . One who had access to the private dossiers of the unfortunate scientist Mr Kelly , who repudiated the fact that Saadam ever had WMD’s or who was prepared foor world war within 30 minutes- Who said his own documents were ‘ sexed up’ to advance the case against Iraq , and who ( we are told ) then took his own life .
Mr Blair has been making contacts for his own ends during his tenure as ''Special Envoy to the Quartet ' A Panorama programme last night showed how he ( and his staff ) lived in a luxury hotel in Jerusalem , occupying one entire floor at the cost of € 1 million / yr .When he learned that the Panorama team were on to him he moved to a moderately less luxurious hotel. He has spent less that ½ of any year of the tenure in the region .
He has visited Gaza on two or three occasions .
But most of his time he has been feathering his own nest - Tony Blair Inc. He gives lectures at the princly cost on €100.000 minimum. He is currently involved with Russian oil and Gas Oligarchs , and inveigled his way into many more industries involving vast amounts of money .
Mr Blair - Special Envoy to the Quartet .!!
It makes me want to puke , but watch the Panorama programme or read about it in London Observer 25 Sept.2011
With this kind of assistance it is easy to see how the settlers are arming themselves , and the Palestinians are getting more frustrated than restive .
With this kind of self interest - Blair for Blair . USA for Israel , should we be really surprised if there is yet another outbreak of violence in the region.
Worst Fears
I fear that there will be another Israeli incursion into as yet unoccupied territories, and perhaps even into Lebanon again.
Another 6 day war may be looming .And we in the west are presiding over its incubation
Saturday, September 24, 2011
For my New Reader
Well , it is nice to be back; back in this cloistered monastic cavern of my own. where only the shards of light are sucked in . This is not a discussion stie . More of a Saadam or Gaadafi podium .
No one argues here .
Uno voce !
I will abide no contrarian opinion. I will treat any such to ''Reductio ad absurdum ''
Some of the things - possibly all - here are dated, and I take no responsibility for them !
I'm weary of these sites howeever as this week alone , my email was hacked into sending mesages all over the place - I abandonded trying to write one common apology , but i do believe it is possible to do this.
Next my ID to acces my bank a/c was foiled- you get 3 tries, when the second try failed I contacted my bank who ' oversaw ' my 3 rd go; this also failed. All of this required that I had to get a new ID and password. Then I noticed that the Norton software was not affording me complete pprotection , so I followed the links and downloaded a patch to fix the problem . THe patch wouldnt run .
I contacted my server. There seemed to be something lacking in the spontaneity with which she replied to me " what I'd like you to do Don....- pause for 3 mins '' - ''' are you still there ''
I asked her where she was ringing from - the Philipines . Then she took over the running of my computor. - no hands .. my mouse skidded this way and that , save-click- run click...
then she told me she could take over the rest from there and I could hang up.
It was curiouser and curioser the more I thought about it. ant the confluence of these 3 things.
Am i being managed from abroad.?
What do you think ?
I could tell you all about the passing clouds and the changing light and what I had for breakfast etc but you too have clouds , and skies and have had a breakfast and or dinner , so I will desist from writing about the mundane world of my vapid thoughts -
Did you ever read '' country notes '' in the Guardian london) - you can download most of the paper free from here at least . try it.
I sent CP a piece I wrote in her 'voice'- did you read it ?
Whats your blog .
We can read one another when I am less afflicted with inertia .
How did you find me - I thought it was '' grumpy old men '' - but as good as it gets hits much the same spot at my age .
No one argues here .
Uno voce !
I will abide no contrarian opinion. I will treat any such to ''Reductio ad absurdum ''
Some of the things - possibly all - here are dated, and I take no responsibility for them !
I'm weary of these sites howeever as this week alone , my email was hacked into sending mesages all over the place - I abandonded trying to write one common apology , but i do believe it is possible to do this.
Next my ID to acces my bank a/c was foiled- you get 3 tries, when the second try failed I contacted my bank who ' oversaw ' my 3 rd go; this also failed. All of this required that I had to get a new ID and password. Then I noticed that the Norton software was not affording me complete pprotection , so I followed the links and downloaded a patch to fix the problem . THe patch wouldnt run .
I contacted my server. There seemed to be something lacking in the spontaneity with which she replied to me " what I'd like you to do Don....- pause for 3 mins '' - ''' are you still there ''
I asked her where she was ringing from - the Philipines . Then she took over the running of my computor. - no hands .. my mouse skidded this way and that , save-click- run click...
then she told me she could take over the rest from there and I could hang up.
It was curiouser and curioser the more I thought about it. ant the confluence of these 3 things.
Am i being managed from abroad.?
What do you think ?
I could tell you all about the passing clouds and the changing light and what I had for breakfast etc but you too have clouds , and skies and have had a breakfast and or dinner , so I will desist from writing about the mundane world of my vapid thoughts -
Did you ever read '' country notes '' in the Guardian london) - you can download most of the paper free from here at least . try it.
I sent CP a piece I wrote in her 'voice'- did you read it ?
Whats your blog .
We can read one another when I am less afflicted with inertia .
How did you find me - I thought it was '' grumpy old men '' - but as good as it gets hits much the same spot at my age .
Friday, December 18, 2009
CATHOLIC CHURCH- STATE RELATIONSHIP ON PRESPICE OF CHANGE
Introduction;
The Catholic church in Ireland has been indicted for its complicity in its collusion in non disclosure of material which was sought by a State appointed commission to investigate the degree of this non cooperation.
The State sought documents from the Vatican pertaining to the extent and type of child abuse perpetrated by priests. The violation of children has been utterly depraved .
The Murphy Commission requested documents from the Vatican in order to determine the degree of the non -disclosure of documents by bishops to the commission. The Vatican did not acknowledge the requests . The defence of the Vatican has been that the Commisssion did not go through the proper diplomatic channells . It maintained that it should be treated as a state and as such documents the orthodox channels should have been used .
The Catholic Church has enjoyed a special position in Irish political life . It had at one time been afforded a ''special position ''under the Irish constitution.
One Bishop has resigned , Bishop Murray of Limerick.
5 other Bishops stand indicted in the public conscience for the same offense which Murray was guilty of ie refusal to cooperate and disclose to the police the names and identity of the offfending priests . Their depraved sexual abuse of children has been tryly shocking.
One priest has been hauled from the courts this week in shackles , to prison for life . There are others who must follow.
But here I address the reason why the bishop in my own diocese must resign.
******************
Should Bishop Drennan of Galway resign or Must he be retired
In a word yes . Immediately.
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly .
Should Dr Drennan wish to wallow in the self satisfying delusion that he is better serving his congregation by staying he should look at today 18 Dec .2009 poll on the Galway Bay FM Radio web page . 77 % wish him to go.; 23% wish him to stay.
Despite this Dr Drennan has spoken this morning about the many calls from well wishers and those pleading with him to remain. This is curious perspective in the light of this poll.
But perhaps more well wishers ring the palace than those silent majority who were hoping at least until this afternoon that he might have chosen to act honorably and go gracefully .
They will have been disappointed that he has not done so . Many will startled by the bishop's trenchant obduracy, most especially now that he has attacked Diarmuid Martin , whom Drennan believes has disparaged him.
Dr Drennan does not have a user friendly personna . He comes across as cantankerous , curmudgeonly misanthrope .He has little charm or warmth about him. He exudes a lofty haughter ; an aloofness which not simply alienates - it is hectoring and scarcely what he sees an an outrageous chalange to his authority And he has been less that magnanimous in his own defence .
He has offered no solace ; no comfort; no piety , repentance or contrition.
He is ruthlessly doctrinaire ; a fundamentalist who has manifestly lost the drift of the message of his founder , the gentle Nazarine carpenter .
The common denominator running through the defence of the remaining bishops is the one famously used by Bart Simpson
'' I didn't do it . Anyway no one saw me ( me do it)''
The absence of a single genuine utterance of true remorse is deeply upsetting to the congregations. The remorse they do express seems sadly to focus more on for themselves
In seeking forgiveness they are only asking the remaining faithful to secure for them their tenure in the comfort of their palaces. - '' I have only a few years to go ...'' - an utterly asinine excuse .'' .and ''.if I thought that I would better serve their interests by going I would .go instantly.''
And this disguised platitudinous self centered pity plays to the most fervent and pious of their congregations , most particularly the elderly , who have invested a lifetime in their sincere personal faith in their pastoral carers , and who are loath to accept failings in men they believe are conduits to their God.
These utterings now , especially Dr Drennan's are an unworthy display or hubris . They are worse ; they are an affirmation that their lust for power eclipses all else .
This seems to be a well rehearsed strategy. Deny , remain obdurate ,obfuscate denunciate the vileness perpetrated on the children - but then back off.- NOT ME .
I was not involved .I knew nothing. They have nothing on me.
If the Church through its religious and secular representative , the Papal Nuncio ,is not now called in by the Minister for Foreign Affair to account for the bishops betrayal and abandonment of the common law , this would be an indictment of Minister Martin in his capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs .
If through the Byzantine channels of communication , which the Vatican has sought to use in order to thwart further the legal process the Pope through his own diplomatic channels fails to respond , and his servants ( employees) fail to cooperate with Stait Eireann in providing to the legal custodians of this state , every document which is relevant to the systematic abuse of children- not just those documents which are specifically known to exist - but those documents which are pertinent , Germain , relevant ( as these terms are used in common parlance in the English Language and without availing of the absurdity and demeaning defence of '' mental reservation'' - to the entire case then relationships with the Vatican must change utterly and formally so. The Vatican in these circumstances would have to be regarded as a hostile state .
Ultimately people will have to face the courts for the criminality which the church engaged in in concealing by collusion the evidence which they held and withheld from an Gardai , for that is what the Murphy Commission was all about ; the church's failure to cooperate with the state's own investigating authority .
This is not an exercise in revenge . It is rather more what a '' confident and mature Independent secular state should insist in doing with errant and aberrant members of its citizen ; who if convicted are common criminals.- (but not ODC's)
To haul the convicted elderly men away from the courts in shackles , which seemed to be the case last week - that seemed wrathful and an unnecessary display of bravado , which only serves to confer martyrdom status on them ,when they should be simply reviled and put away.
This is the mature execution of punishment for crime .
Old Testament Justice is not required here ; the laws of Aquinas will suffice.
Cannon Law has been made redundant the very instant that the Vatican insisted on the ruse of obfuscation insisting on the use of diplomatic channels in engaging with an investigating authority commissioned by this State .
''Roma Loquitor , Causa Fineta ''- This no longer applies since the Vatican have elected to be treated as a State rather than a religion .
''Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's ''-
That is the road the Vatican have chosen to go .
And as for Drennan - He must listen to the voice of the people . It is not difficult to hear the silence of the angry rumble ; and if he is still in doubt he could have a look at the Galway Bay FM Web page .
The voice of 77 % of the people should surely warrant his attention and should assist him focus in this , his time of '' reflection''
The Catholic church in Ireland has been indicted for its complicity in its collusion in non disclosure of material which was sought by a State appointed commission to investigate the degree of this non cooperation.
The State sought documents from the Vatican pertaining to the extent and type of child abuse perpetrated by priests. The violation of children has been utterly depraved .
The Murphy Commission requested documents from the Vatican in order to determine the degree of the non -disclosure of documents by bishops to the commission. The Vatican did not acknowledge the requests . The defence of the Vatican has been that the Commisssion did not go through the proper diplomatic channells . It maintained that it should be treated as a state and as such documents the orthodox channels should have been used .
The Catholic Church has enjoyed a special position in Irish political life . It had at one time been afforded a ''special position ''under the Irish constitution.
One Bishop has resigned , Bishop Murray of Limerick.
5 other Bishops stand indicted in the public conscience for the same offense which Murray was guilty of ie refusal to cooperate and disclose to the police the names and identity of the offfending priests . Their depraved sexual abuse of children has been tryly shocking.
One priest has been hauled from the courts this week in shackles , to prison for life . There are others who must follow.
But here I address the reason why the bishop in my own diocese must resign.
******************
Should Bishop Drennan of Galway resign or Must he be retired
In a word yes . Immediately.
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly .
Should Dr Drennan wish to wallow in the self satisfying delusion that he is better serving his congregation by staying he should look at today 18 Dec .2009 poll on the Galway Bay FM Radio web page . 77 % wish him to go.; 23% wish him to stay.
Despite this Dr Drennan has spoken this morning about the many calls from well wishers and those pleading with him to remain. This is curious perspective in the light of this poll.
But perhaps more well wishers ring the palace than those silent majority who were hoping at least until this afternoon that he might have chosen to act honorably and go gracefully .
They will have been disappointed that he has not done so . Many will startled by the bishop's trenchant obduracy, most especially now that he has attacked Diarmuid Martin , whom Drennan believes has disparaged him.
Dr Drennan does not have a user friendly personna . He comes across as cantankerous , curmudgeonly misanthrope .He has little charm or warmth about him. He exudes a lofty haughter ; an aloofness which not simply alienates - it is hectoring and scarcely what he sees an an outrageous chalange to his authority And he has been less that magnanimous in his own defence .
He has offered no solace ; no comfort; no piety , repentance or contrition.
He is ruthlessly doctrinaire ; a fundamentalist who has manifestly lost the drift of the message of his founder , the gentle Nazarine carpenter .
The common denominator running through the defence of the remaining bishops is the one famously used by Bart Simpson
'' I didn't do it . Anyway no one saw me ( me do it)''
The absence of a single genuine utterance of true remorse is deeply upsetting to the congregations. The remorse they do express seems sadly to focus more on for themselves
In seeking forgiveness they are only asking the remaining faithful to secure for them their tenure in the comfort of their palaces. - '' I have only a few years to go ...'' - an utterly asinine excuse .'' .and ''.if I thought that I would better serve their interests by going I would .go instantly.''
And this disguised platitudinous self centered pity plays to the most fervent and pious of their congregations , most particularly the elderly , who have invested a lifetime in their sincere personal faith in their pastoral carers , and who are loath to accept failings in men they believe are conduits to their God.
These utterings now , especially Dr Drennan's are an unworthy display or hubris . They are worse ; they are an affirmation that their lust for power eclipses all else .
This seems to be a well rehearsed strategy. Deny , remain obdurate ,obfuscate denunciate the vileness perpetrated on the children - but then back off.- NOT ME .
I was not involved .I knew nothing. They have nothing on me.
If the Church through its religious and secular representative , the Papal Nuncio ,is not now called in by the Minister for Foreign Affair to account for the bishops betrayal and abandonment of the common law , this would be an indictment of Minister Martin in his capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs .
If through the Byzantine channels of communication , which the Vatican has sought to use in order to thwart further the legal process the Pope through his own diplomatic channels fails to respond , and his servants ( employees) fail to cooperate with Stait Eireann in providing to the legal custodians of this state , every document which is relevant to the systematic abuse of children- not just those documents which are specifically known to exist - but those documents which are pertinent , Germain , relevant ( as these terms are used in common parlance in the English Language and without availing of the absurdity and demeaning defence of '' mental reservation'' - to the entire case then relationships with the Vatican must change utterly and formally so. The Vatican in these circumstances would have to be regarded as a hostile state .
Ultimately people will have to face the courts for the criminality which the church engaged in in concealing by collusion the evidence which they held and withheld from an Gardai , for that is what the Murphy Commission was all about ; the church's failure to cooperate with the state's own investigating authority .
This is not an exercise in revenge . It is rather more what a '' confident and mature Independent secular state should insist in doing with errant and aberrant members of its citizen ; who if convicted are common criminals.- (but not ODC's)
To haul the convicted elderly men away from the courts in shackles , which seemed to be the case last week - that seemed wrathful and an unnecessary display of bravado , which only serves to confer martyrdom status on them ,when they should be simply reviled and put away.
This is the mature execution of punishment for crime .
Old Testament Justice is not required here ; the laws of Aquinas will suffice.
Cannon Law has been made redundant the very instant that the Vatican insisted on the ruse of obfuscation insisting on the use of diplomatic channels in engaging with an investigating authority commissioned by this State .
''Roma Loquitor , Causa Fineta ''- This no longer applies since the Vatican have elected to be treated as a State rather than a religion .
''Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's ''-
That is the road the Vatican have chosen to go .
And as for Drennan - He must listen to the voice of the people . It is not difficult to hear the silence of the angry rumble ; and if he is still in doubt he could have a look at the Galway Bay FM Web page .
The voice of 77 % of the people should surely warrant his attention and should assist him focus in this , his time of '' reflection''
Monday, February 9, 2009
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