Patience and a lot of Perseverance.

"US condemns Taliban video of captive soldier". Well of course they do, dont they.

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:18:00 +0000

Pte Bergdahl is the only known American captive of the Taliban

The US has condemned a Taliban video of an American soldier captured by the militants in Afghanistan last June as an affront to his family at Christmas.

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I can just imagine it, the Taliban around about June, or whenever, thinking let's capture an American soldier so that we can affront his family, by showing a video of the unfortunate guy at Christmas?

Anyway what else do you expect the Yanks to say, after all he is one of their guys, "the good"guys, and it's the Taliban, the bad guys that have their "good" guy?

From where I sit it's just part and parcel of the war "game", that the US and the UK are playing, which unfortunately, there's no sign so far of it ending.

"How do I know China wrecked the Copenhagen deal? I was in the room". No me, him.

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:58:00 +0000

As recriminations fly post-Copenhagen, one writer offers a fly-on-the-wall account of how talks failed

• Ed Miliband: China tried to hijack climate deal

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 December 2009 19.54 GMT
Obama's speech at Copenhagen climate change conference 18 December 2009

A woman listens to Barack Obama's speech at the Copenhagen climate change conference on 18 December. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

Copenhagen was a disaster. That much is agreed. But the truth about what actually happened is in danger of being lost amid the spin and inevitable mutual recriminations. The truth is this: China wrecked the talks, intentionally humiliated Barack Obama, and insisted on an awful "deal" so western leaders would walk away carrying the blame. How do I know this? Because I was in the room and saw it happen.
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Whether China was trying to humiliate Bambam or not is immaterial, the real truth was, because there was a lot of money - a mega amount - involved, in fact, the mega amount of money was National Capitalist Corporate Profit, and in capitalist society, as we all know, Capitalist Corporate Profit is sacrosanct, so, end of story!
By the way, the Planet is not in danger from Global warming, it will carry on as usual, but if Global Warming is to be a reality, then we Humans are in mortal danger, and all for the sake of Capitalist Corporate PROFIT!
So. People wake up! Are you willing to risk the future of humanity, which is principally yourselves, for the sake of the greedy few's Corporate f***king Profits?

"Chilcot says Iraq war inquiry is not entertainment". Aye, well if you say so?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Chairman responds to critics by says he was not out to 'ambush witnesses or score points'

Richard Norton-Taylor
guardian.co.uk, Friday 18 December 2009

The chairman of the Iraq inquiry today defended the way he has conducted the hearings, saying he was not out to "ambush witnesses or score points". He added: "We are not here to provide public sport or entertainment"

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The inquiry is not going to apportion blame, so it may as well be entertainment!

Blair and his fellow conspirators, it seems, are going to get away with the Iraq war, and the continuing invasion scot free.

"Mystery of Tony Blair's money solved" ?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:33:00 +0000

The winner of the Guardian's online contest to solve the mystery of Blair's finances is Richard Murphy, a crusading accountant from Tax Research UK. His entry unearthed the small print of the Partnership (Accounts) Regulations 2008 to reveal that Blair has found an unusual method to keep his wealth secret from the rest of us. Murphy wins an original cartoon by Steve Bell.

David Leigh and Ian Griffiths
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 December 2009 15.00 GMT

Tony Blair, in effect, has the benefits of running a British company without the drawbacks of unwelcome publicity. Photograph: Bob Strong/Reuters

A little-known loophole in UK company law is being used by Tony Blair to keep his finances secret, the Guardian can disclose.

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Would it be unkind to suggest that Tone had all this planned before he handed over the poisoned chalice to G. B.?

I don't know if the streets of London are paved with gold, but Downing Street certainly seems to be, for one ex-prime minister anyway?

After all he had insider information, and it appears that he has used it to hide his Prime Ministerial ill gotten gains - oh well, such is life.

PS, Plenty of links above which may be of some interest to somebody?

"Palestinians shun Israeli settlement restriction plan". Is it any wonder?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Palestinians say the move makes little difference in practice

The Palestinian Authority has reacted negatively to Israel's offer to temporarily restrict construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

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Maybe the Israels would get a more positive answer if they were to permanently restrict the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank?

Maybe I'm a bit simple, but it seems to me that the Palestinians are always branded the bad guys, but from where I sit, the aggression, for the most part comes from the Israelis, now why is that, I wonder?

"Former Conservative Pearson elected UKIP leader". Do I care?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:05:00 +0000

1 hour 1 min ago

One of five candidates, Pearson, who had been backed by outgoing leader Nigel Farage, received more than half the around 9,900 votes cast, the party said on Friday.

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Leaders, who needs them?

Obviously UKIP, and all the rest of the no gumption politicians, of which ever bourgeois party seeking to attempt the running of capitalism.

As if it makes any difference to their clapped out policies anyway?

Bourgeois politicians dream on, but sad to say, their dream, is our - the workers - nightmare.

"Does this picture show British soldiers broke Geneva Conventions?" Hmm...

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Public inquiry to be launched into allegations of abuse against Iraqi civilians at UK-run detention camp

By Robert Verkaik, Home Affairs Editor

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

A photograph handed to The Independent claims to show Iraqi civilians captured in southern Iraq being mistreated by British soldiers in breach of international law and the Geneva Conventions.

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Well, from the way the Iraqis are lying face down on the ground, and trussed up like chickens, with a soldier armed to the teeth standing over them, hardly suggests that they are being well treated, would it?

And if anyone thinks that this sort of behaviour is a new phenomenon, it is not, this is historically par for the course of occupying armies everywhere, and Britain is not immune.

You need only look to the British Army's history since the end of world war two, Malaya, Aden, and Kenya, to name but a few.

War is indeed a very dirty business, and as soon as society can operate without the eternal international corporate competition for profit, and its consequent wars.

Only then can society progress, to promote the general wellbeing, and comfort of Humanity - all of us - the world over

"Belgian PM named as EU president". Ya Boo, Blair!

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:07:00 +0000

Mr Van Rompuy was widely tipped, but Baroness Ashton was not

EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President.

The other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - foreign affairs supremo - has gone to the EU Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton from the UK

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Well well, Tone didnae get the big job after all, awe, shame.

I wonder, does anyone - apart from Tone - care?

For me, I don't give a shit who got the job, because for us mere mortals it's just another name to read about in the newspapers, or see on the TV, and that's all the general level of effect that Mr Van Rompuy and Ms. or Mrs. Baroness Ashton will have on our existance.

Boring, boring, and - f*****g boring!

"Care for elderly a priority - PM". What's taken them so long? and again?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Improving the care available for the elderly will be Labour's domestic policy "priority" should it win the next election, Gordon Brown has said.

As he prepares to unveil a series of care proposals in the Queen's Speech, he told the Daily Mail the current system was not "fit for purpose".

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But after sixty years of the NHS, you would think that care for the elderly would be par excellence by now.

But no, G Broon tells us that he is making care for the Elderly his 'priority'?

Dare we ask why?

Yes, but we wont get a satisfactory answer, only a lot of waffle about how much the NHS costs, and tough decisions have to be made, which means, that care for the elderly is minimal, and not fit for purpose, as it is for the NHS in general.

The truth is that capitalism will never supply or finance a truly adequate health care, or the social services system, because everything is tied up with money, and the money to maintain the NHS, and the social services, [which in the main help to maintain the poor] comes from taxation, the burden of which fall on the capitalist class's profits.

Now the logic of this, is that the more that is spent on the social services for the poor, the less there is for the capitalist class's PROFIT, now we can't have that can we, when the purpose of capitalism is the aggrandisement of the rich, and to pauperize the poor.

1948 and sixty years on, and we're here, so what hope for the future?

My guess, is that the politicians will still be making the social services, the NHS, et al their 'priority' five, ten or whatever years from now, and if history is anything to go by, then the prospect is gloomy, to say the least.

'Reckless' bankers face bonus cut...?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:28:00 +0000

Lord Myners: We need to take this action to make the banking system more stable

Bankers who take "reckless" risks with investments could be stripped of future bonuses, the government has said.

City minister Lord Myners said banks must be "more secure", with taxpayers "never again" bailing them out.

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You will notice 'could be stripped' - not - will be stripped.

Enough said, business as usual for the b[w]ankers, and as ever, the weak-kneed politicians doing their Corporate master's bidding...

Of course, I could be wrong, but time will tell.

However, I wouldn't bank on it, will you?

"By-election win 'endorses Brown''. Aye OK?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:36:00 +0000

Willie Bain won with a majority of 8,111 votes

Labour have hailed their win in the Glasgow North East by-election as a dramatic victory and an endorsement of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's policies.

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Well, that's it.

The by-election's by, done and dusted, and of course they are claiming all sorts for Labour's win.

But, about 2/3 rds of the populace stayed away, so not even by the wildest stretch of the imagination can that be much of an endorsement for Broon's policies.

It's more like the voters gave Broon the two fingers salute, and resigned themselves to their fate, which is - unfortunately - the continuing grind of poverty and deprivation, sad - but true.

" 'Big society' is the solution to poverty, declares Cameron." Big Society? Goodness gracious, whatever next, I ask myself?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:06:00 +0000

The Conservatives will replace Labour's "big government" with a "big society" which would be more effective at tackling poverty, David Cameron pledged last night.

In a keynote speech, the Tory leader rejected both a return to Thatcherism and New Labour's vision of a "smarter" state. He said voluntary groups and charities could take on a key role in helping people to escape poverty.

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Cameron is short on memory, voluntary groups and charities taking over, was one of Thatcher's claims - was it not?

I'm afraid there is only one word, as far as I can see, to describe Cameron's proposed solution to the poverty problem.

Bollocks, with a capital [B]

"Can Mervyn King save us?" Well...no!

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Can the Bank of England governor save us from financial disaster and what needs to be done?

Can Mervyn King save us from financial disaster? Image - Ian West - PA Wire

The Bank of England (BoE) has decided that it's going to pump another £25 billion into the economy over the next three months.

That'll take the grand total of money the Bank and its governor Mervyn King have "pumped" into the economy via quantitative easing to £200 billion.

So where exactly has this money been going and where's it coming from?

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That question is easily answered.

The money is going into the fat cat banker's pockets, and it is coming from the printing press at the Bank of England.

At any other time this would be rampant inflation, but the the money is soaked up in the b[w]ankers pockets.

So, all is right with the bourgeois scheme of things - aye, right?

"I'm doing 'God's work'. Meet Mr Goldman Sachs" Jings?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:37:00 +0000

From The Sunday Times

November 8, 2009

The Sunday Times gains unprecedented access to the world's most powerful, and most secretive, investment bank

John Arlidge

."World's key industrialised nations say they have abandoned hope of legally binding deal at Copenhagen summit". So what's new?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:51:00 +0000

John Vidal in Barcelona, Allegra Stratton in London and Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 November 2009 20.52 GMT
Article history

Oxfam protesters at the Barcelona climate change talks. Photograph: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters

A global treaty to fight climate change will be postponed by at least six months and possibly a year or more, senior negotiators and politicians conceded today.

In a day of gloomy statements, the world's key industrialised nations said they had abandoned hope of a legally binding treaty at the Copenhagen summit next month and had begun to plan only for a meeting of world leaders.

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If climate change is a coming reality, you would wonder why all the prevarication about an agreement, or treaty to deal with the possible outcome?

The short answer is capitalism - our "glorious" world wide social system of production and distribution of goods and services for sale, and the most important thing - above all else - is to make profits.

And in order to exist, and realise their share of the profits, the companies, corporations, and countries of the world are in a constant state of competition with each other, and this to the detriment of the great mass of humanity, I might add.

So there you have it, we are all going to hell in a handcart, and all that the politicians, and their corporate C.E.O. masters are worried about - is their f***ing bottom line.

Click here if you want to read more about the excuses, but then there is no immediacy, because this will run and run, for the foreseeable future anyway.

Finally a thought, if global warming is happening, then remember this, the Planet does not depend on us for its survival, but we most certainly depend on it for ours.

"£3bn ‘black hole’ threat to care policies" Mair penny pinchin?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:51:00 +0000

(www.alamy.com)

An ageing population means increased spending on policies such as free care for the aged

Angus Macleod, Scottish Political Editor

"Species' extinction threat grows" So what one might ask, is new?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:14:00 +0000

The Kihansi spray toad is now considered to be extinct in the wild

More than a third of species assessed in a major international biodiversity study are threatened with extinction, scientists have warned.

Out of the 47,677 species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 17,291 were deemed to be at serious risk.

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When it comes to making corporate profit, nothing is safe, not even the living environment, and that means the Flora and Fauna, of which we are a major part.

Alarm, doom and gloom, certainly, and the more it is shouted about the better.

Don't worry about the planet, it will survive, after all it is not dependent on us - but we most certainly are dependent on it.

So carry on with business as usual destroying the living environment all in the interest of corporate profit - and Humanity is doomed, more than that - committing total social suicide.

Finally, of course all this could be an environmental red herring, but do we dare take that chance?

A nice photy of the Toads, by the way.

"Stitch-up so Tony Blair won’t be President of Europe". Would you buy a car from this geezer? No, neither would I.

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:46:00 +0000

Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor

30.10.09

Tony Blair's chances of becoming EU President looked all but dead today after France and Germany signalled they had a rival candidate

French President Nicolas Sarkozy delivered a body blow to the former prime minister's hopes of the plum post by hinting that he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had agreed on a less high-profile contender.

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Tony Blair is a bit like the mad cartoon scientist trying to take over the world. Correction, the power mad politician.

Could Europe be the first step - I wonder?

Nah, probably not, but with his history and dictorial style when he was prime minister, we can't be sure.

Only joking, I hope.

"Church of Scientology convicted of fraud". Oh dear.

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:41:00 +0000

By Nicolas Vaux-Montagny, Associated Press

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

French socialist MP Catherine Picard at the Paris court for the trial of the Church of Scientology

A Paris court convicted the Church of Scientology of fraud and fined it more than €600,000 ($900,000) today but stopped short of banning the group as prosecutors had demanded.

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There you are now, all their pious sanctimonious self righteous claptrap, doesn't seem keep them on the straight and narrow.

Theives and confidence tricksters if you ask me.

But read on, make up your own minds.

"Oxfam report: Geldof’s appeals haven’t changed a thing as Ethiopians face starvation yet again". Well, surprise surprise?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:46:00 +0000

While Ethiopian famine in the 1980s was attributed to natural disasters, in fact it was the brutal policies of dictator Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam that led to food shortages across the country From Fred Bridgland in Johannesburg

Published on 25 Oct 2009

It is quarter of a century since Ethiopia suffered a devastating famine that killed more than a million people and triggered an outpouring of international compassion from ordinary people, but the world has done little to prevent a rerun of the tragedy.

In a new report, Oxfam International makes a scarcely veiled admission that the Band Aid movement and Live Aid concerts, promoted flamboyantly 25 years ago by rock musician Bob Geldof, have done virtually nothing to change things for the better.

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This comes as no surprise to those of us who said at the time that Geldof et al's efforts would end in tears, not theirs of course, but the victims of the continuing tragedy, the poor and destitute as usual.

I suppose that he genuinely thought that he could effect a change for the poor and destitute by organising Band Aid and Live aid, they raised £millions.

But they were taking on the world MARKET system, and we all know? that in capitalism the MARKET is king, and it brooks no competion from charities - no matter how well intentioned the charities may be.

To blame Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam's brutal policies [brutal indeed] for leading to the food shortages across the country is a wee bit misleading, because he was just applying the normal market forces, in the interest of the Ethiopian capitalist class, as does all bourgeois governments across the world.

That's the way the world capitalist market works, profit for the few, poverty and misery for the many, and not only in Ethiopia.

For example, during the Irish Famine, the Dublin government exported hundreds of tons of all sort of foodstuff, grain, meat etc. to the UK instead of using it to relieve the starvation of the poor people, but of course there was no profit in feeding the starving, so a few million of the poverty stricken Irish people starved to death, and the exporters made their PROFIT, and so, all was well in Ireland, for the rich folks anyway?

Also in depression 1930's USA, tons of grain was dumped in the ocean to keep up the price of grain, hence the PROFIT of the farmers and the grain merchants, and the destitute workers had to depend on charitable soup kitchens.

Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam's brutal economic policies? Yes.

However, the global MARKET itself is a very BRUTAL system, and its sole purpose is for the aggrandisement of the RICH and to pauperise the POOR.

The foregoing dosen't let Sir BOB et al of the hook, after all they have benefitted handsomely from the MARKET system.

"They put me up against a lynch mob, Griffin complains" Well what else, one wonders?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Saturday, 24 October 2009

BNP leader Nick Griffin talks with a market trader in Grays town centre, Essex, yesterday following his appearance on Question Time

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Well it must be said, what else did he expect, considering all pre-broadcast publicity, and the other holier than thou panelists ranged against him?

Now I don't like the BNP, nor do I like Labour, the Tories, or the Lib-Dems, and come to think about it, not even the Greens, because they are all in the business of trying to run capitalism - the source of all our ills.

You could argue that historically, the BNP's extreme nationalism is the product of generations of propaganda about Great Britain and the Empire with its so-called "benefits", and the "civilisation" it brought to the world, and not forgetting the part the christian church, and its missionaries with their racist policies played in the conquest of the said Empire.

Not a glorious history, it has to be said.

Finally, all the other bourgeois political parties has their various racist policies, sometimes hidden, sometimes open, vis-a-vis their immigration policies, currently the asylum seekers.

The difference between the BNP, and the rest, is that the BNP states its policies regarding its version of nationalism, and racism, openly, and unashamed.

The rest are more mealy-mouthed about their racist policies.

My opinion - a plague on all their houses, and I'm with the poet Burns on this one.

"For a' that an a' that it's comin yet for a' that,

that man tae man the world o'er will be brithers for a' that".

Only let it be sooner, rather than later?

"BBC to allow BNP on Question Time" What's Peter Hain & co afraid of?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:41:00 +0000

The British National Party won two MEPs in June's European elections

British National Party leader Nick Griffin will be allowed to appear on Question Time, the BBC Trust has said.

The BBC's governing body had convened a meeting to consider complaints from Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and others about Mr Griffin's appearance.

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Just like the good "democrat" that Hain is, he wants the BNP banned, rather than debate with them - on the Tele - about their policies.

Labour's policies on racism are not all that different from the BNP when you come to think about it, the way Labour government treats asylum seekers men, woman, and children locked up in detention centres with no hope of immediate release?

And since the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and Afghanistan with their constant demonising of Islam, and seeing Muslim Terrorists round every corner?

Anyway, enough of that for now, I'm just an old Grump who has been observing the passing scene for a few decades now, and who is getting more and more grumpy by the day, the week, or whatever.

So, does anyone think that tomorrow night's BBC Question Time discussion programme will be interesting - I just think that it might?

"The British base called Stalingrad" ?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Surrounded by the Taliban, British troops and their commander in north Helmand feel let down by the slow pace of reconstruction. Terri Judd reports

Sunday, 18 October 2009 Extra Large

SGT DAN HAMMER/MOD

Soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers patrol near Musa Qala last month. Although British squaddies are welcome in the town, patrols to the north are usually greeted with an ambush

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You can't help but admire the commander's optimism, even when they are on a hiding to nothing.

This is Britain's fourth Afghan War, and the Afghans won the first three, so, whats the odds for this one?

The first one, by the way, was a total annihilation of the British army during their attempt to escape from the Afghan Tribesmen.

The politicians either don't know their history, or they do, it would appear that they choose to exercise a bit of selective amnesia.

War is a crime against Humanity, and as such it is to be condemned, but this is capitalism, and wars are fought for access to, and control of sources of raw materials, trade routes, and markets for the finished goods and services, which means at the end of the day - corporate Britain's, corporate PROFIT.

And when PROFIT is the goal, all else is meaningless. Crimes against Humanity - forget it, and as I have noted in an earlier post.

When it comes to realising PROFIT from foreign adventures, mass murder in a khaki uniform is an" honourable profession", at least so it would seem from the politicians, and media support?

Capitalism - is the current system in a long history of butchery and crimes against HUMANITY.

The question that I'm always asking myself - is how much longer must we continue murdering ourselves in the interest of the Corporate Capitalist World's Corporate PROFIT?

So far, there's no inkling of an answer, there's only the prospect of doom, doom, and yet more doom - unless, of course?

'BNP to consider non-white members' ?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:55:00 +0000

BNP leader Nick Griffin has agreed to ask his party to amend its constitution so it does not discriminate on grounds of race or religion, a court heard.

The UK's equalities watchdog had argued the BNP broke the Race Relations Act by restricting members to "indigenous Caucasian" people.

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It may work out, but it dose seem odd to me, non-white members in a white supremacist political party?

But then, what do I know?

An afterthought.

Non-whites can be racists too, so who knows, they may be well matched - perish the thought?

'JP Morgan bankers on course for bumper bonuses'?

noreply@blogger.com (James) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:48:00 +0000

• Staff on course for average pay of $133,000

• Net profits of $3.6bn in third quarter

Comments (61)

Jill Treanor, Graeme Wearden, Phillip Inman
JP Morgan made net profits of $0.82 per share in the three months to 30 September. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA
JP Morgan made net profits of $0.82 per share in the three months to 30 September. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA

JP Morgan Chase signalled today that City firms are preparing to make huge bonus payments after it kicked off the US bank reporting season by smashing profit expectations. (read on?)
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Capitalism is people friendly?
Well, if you are a banker it is, but for the rest of us, it definitely is not.
There are only two kinds of gangster in the world today, and both of them are BANKERS!
Compared to them, Al Capone was a veritable Pussy Cat.