Telling His All

This is one of those things the web was made for. An 89 year old living in the Midlands of England started producing a kind of vieo memior just a couple of weeks back and has since become one of the most popular broadcasters on You Tube. A wonderful character and quite captivating, playing the latest installment above you'll see for yourself. Reading and viweing the comments, it seems most of his fans are considerably younger than himself.

It's giving me ideas, but we'll see about that ...

Later.

Times Past

BBC Travel

A sweet and wonderful clip from the BBC archives. A bit sad now of course - watch and you'll see what I mean.

Also at the BBC, the excellent "Newsnight" programme has just begun its own blog-cum-forum which is eliciting some intruiging response to current news. Click here.

When a ceasefire is declared in a war, convention has it that both sides will start to reduce hostilities to bring it about. Although all parties in the Lebanon have agreed (more or less) to abide by the UN accord, it is alarming to see how they are all trying to accomplish as many of their goals as possible before the dealine for stand-down arrives. "Cease" it may well be, but "peace" ?

Later.

Halfway there?

Hezbollah 'will observe UN truce'

The BBC report that Hezbollah have agreed to the UN peace proposals. Here's hoping their opponants do the same.

Later.

Discussions about the disrupted terror plot in London

A discussion programme in the US from Charlie Rose currently running via Google and looking at various aspects of the alleged terror plot here in Britain

Charlie Rose - Discussions about the disrupted terror plot in London

Victims of War

A Photo collage along with music, dedicated to all victims of war & mayhem. The sad result of terrorism "unfoiled" as two tribes are allowed to go to war.

Victoria's Secret

Oh dear, oh dear, Bob!

Words

BBC News

The UN have come up with a resolution and the vote was unanimous. Full text courtesy of the BBC above.

Meanwhile, Israel has stepped up its actions and Amerika (who have approved the above) has shipped an urgent consignment of "cluster bombs" to Israel on condition that "they use them carefully". Exactly how one uses these waepons "carefully" is beyond this author's imagination.

The last fews days have been busy here in Britain. News of the detail about the present alleged terror threat has emerged slowly, mostly from US and Pakistani sources. The timing of this may have distracted our attention from the mid-east but it does look to be the real thing. Sharing intel with Amerika seems at odds with the secrecy of our own government and Bush seems to have been very quick to capitalise on his fore-knowledge of this operation - using it both to discredit democratic winner Lamont and also for a new speech re-iterating Amerika's war with "Islamic Facists". The latter statement looks like yet another shift in terminology, notwithstanding the fact that for facism to exist there would have to be a central command structure to the enemy.

The very fact that this latest attack was planned by dis-affected British citizens who are ignorantly and blindly walking into the propaganda of a fundamentist cause which has no defined structure nor any sane idealogical outcome is more symptomatic of government foreign policy failures than the presence of any organised army. If a significant threat of consolidated "facism" does ever emerge from the Islamic world, it will more than likely be the result of similar tendencies in the dictates of the increasingly fundamentist attitudes prevelant in the military-industrial complex of the so-called "civilised" west.

Britain learned the hard way with Northern Ireland that communication and compromise were ultimately the only weapons where two intransient forces were resorting to terrorism as a method of warfare. The solution wasn't easy, nor is it even yet fully resolved. But it does to some extent provide a model for an alternative to all-out war. Until the UN can learn to mediate without partiality, the international community will continue to suffer the war games of unmoderated opportunism. Whether the cause of conflict is greed, disaffection or disenfranchisement becomes almost irrelevent.

Later.

UK goes to high alert

The following, quite literally verbatim, from Channel 4 News.

A plot to blow up passenger flights in mid-air has been foiled by police and security services. The official security threat level in Britain has been moved up from severe to critical which means an imminent attack is expected. Around 20 people were arrested overnight in London in connection with the plans which are believed to involve detonating explosives smuggled onto planes in hand luggageFlights between Britain and the US are thought to have been targeted. Security at all UK airports has been increased and additional security measures been put in place for all flights. All passengers will be hand-searched and have their shoes X-rayed before boarding their flight and all bags must now be checked in. Travellers are only allowed to carry a few items such as wallets, travel documents, medicines and spectacles into the cabin and are being asked to put them in a clear carrier bag. Parents with young children can take baby food, milk, nappies and wipes aboard. But the cabin ban includes handbags, mobiles phones, laptops, iPods and electrical key fobs. For a full list click here http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/page/dft_about_612280.hcsp Pushchairs and walking aids must be X-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point. All passengers boarding flights to the USA will have to undergo a second search at the boarding gate. A spokesman for the Department of Transport said: "Regrettably, significant delays at airports are inevitable. "Passengers are being asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time and to ensure that other than the few permitted items, all their belongings are placed in their hold baggage and checked in. "These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year. But they are necessary and will continue to keep flights from UK airports properly secure. "We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the Government, will need to be in place for a limited period only. "In light of the threat to aviation and the need to respond to it, we are asking the travelling public to be patient and understanding and to co-operate fully with airport security staff and the police. "If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports they should contact their airline or carrier." A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds. This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex." Home Secretary John Reid said the alleged plot was "very significant" and was designed to "bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life".

Latest: http://www.channel4.com/news/content/news-storypage.jsp?id=28016753

Later.

The World According To Bush

Revisting a French film from 2004 - before Dubya was re-instated as president. It covers a realm of information about Bush, his administration, his family and his international business connections and is well worth the watching.

Dimona Nuclear Weapons Factory in 3D

"Interesting".

911 Cover Up

Loose Change 2nd Edition. This is the complete new edition of the "Loose Change" documentary, also available on DVD. It is one of the best examinations of the 911 truth available.

George Galloway

George Galloway speaks on the lebanon. He was also one of the speakers at last weekends anti-war march in London.

Standing Still - Continued

Delays & Diplomatic Chaos

No surprise that the UN got nowhere yesterday. Whether the Arab leaders can influence the security council today is also doubtful although this is probably the only way around Quatar's veto of any Israeli-favouring solution.

There was one big surprise - the revelation that Blair has been effectively ostracised in the negotiations by France and Bush. His interference as mediator between Europe and the US was finally considered be be more of a hinderence than an aid to communication. As he now gets to take his holiday with Cliff Richard after all, maybe he should take time to consider where is transatlantic loyalties actually lie.

Recommended articles on the Lebanon today include George Monbiot in the Guardian and Robert Fisk in the Independent. See "Latest Clicks" for more.

Later.

Timeline: Point Zero?

A reminder of a news item from back in June. I linked to the full uncensored footage at the time.

There is an increasing tendency for the news media to anchor the current hostilities in the Lebanon to a fixed timeline that begins with the Palestinian (and subsequent Hezbollah) kidnapping of Israhelli servicemen. I would contens still that it was the events in this report that led to the Palestinian action, which, contrary to poular reports, actually occured when the soldier in question was on Palestinian soil. Details in "latest clicks". The later action by Hezbollah can be seen as an act of solidarity which also be seen as a bargaining chip for the release of countless Lebanese and Palestinian civilians previously kidnapped and incarcerated by Israel.

Neither party realised that Israhelli/Amerikan planners were just waiting for such events as an excuse to trigger a conflict which would shift the focus of power in the region further in their favour.

Today, the UN will try to vote on a halk-hearted, Israeli-supporting resolution. Also today, the Arab league are in emergency meeting in Beruit itself - albiet under fire from the Israelis. Finally (see "latest clicks" again) Syria is said to be on the verge of an alliance with Hezbollah which would effectively extend the war front to all Israel's land borders.

Where it goes from there is anyone's guess.

later.

One of my snaps from the anti-war march in London on Saturday. One of over a 100 - Hopefully I'll have a full slideshow posted later this week.
eTV Picture Post

Surveillance State - Cracked

Hackers crack new biometric passports

£415 million! That's how much Blair is spending on our new hi-tech passports.

Hackers have cracked the system already. See above - Nuff said!

Later.

Oily Truth: The west has no "Plan B"

Middle East at a crossroads

An extraordinary article published in Energy Bulletin above - it's about the state of oil supply and the devil is in the detail. Supplies from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia appear to be running out, Iraq supplies have been hi-jacked by the invasion and the global supply industry is ever more desparate to get its hands on Iran's resources.

There is also the suggestion that the well-planned current war in the Lebanon is fully intended to destroy that country's infrastructure with the intent of creating a massive debt and dependency burden for its subsequent rebuilding. Why? Israel is desparate for water supplies via both the Lebanon and Palestine, but the Amerikan Empire and its pawns (including huge Israeli corporate enterprises) are becoming urgently dependent on the oil pipeline scheduled to run from Iraq into Israel via both Syria and Lebanon.

If other oil sources are declining as quickly as indicated, taking over Iran as an extension to this pipeline is seem as an essential "lifeline" for energy-hungry nations. Whatever the cost! The problem is the west has no "Plan B". It's 21st Century Energy Wars have been calculated to precision, but the relience on technology and covert strategy has failed to take into account the gritty reality of ground activity and the old-fashioned manpower needed to achieve victory. Moreover, they believe their own propaganda, whereas others do not.

In WW3, the enemy is anyone who doesn't subscribe to the Amerikan Imperial Dream. To the distress of the perpetrators, the perception-lacking incompetence of their own actions is consolidating the forces of opposition. On their own doorstep in Latin America. Throughout the Middle East. And among fair-minded people worldwide.

Without a conscience, let alone a "Plan B", they have set in motion an architecture of conquest that is being fought on so many fronts that they increasingly look destined to lose. As Britain and other "rich" nations stumble towards the intent of self-sustainability, any real change in lifestyle and energy creation is preceived as a decades-long process. The energy wars are our very own "buffer zone" - played out on on an almost fictional timeline. There is no "safety net" and the rug of comfort is very likely about to be pulled out from under us.

Without energy, our consumer trinkets and diversions will be useless. Futhermore, the systems of human communication on which we now all rely could become redundent. Such a collapse, especially if it happened rapidly, would bring total chaos to the west. The winners would be those left worldwide who can depend on or trade their own resources. Sadly, that could also be a world of regressive doctrine, entirely new economics and a dark age of new opportunism.

Later.

Wank-a-thon

Believe it or not, this is not a reference to political self-indulgence of our so-called world leaders - although it might well be. Rather, London yesterday was host to a public "masturbation" event designed to raise money and promote the breakdown of sexual tabboos. The red faces of even the more normally laid-back TV reporters forced to cover the event were a sight to behold - so what I first considered the strange folly of a couple of Amerikan "sexologists" may actually be serving a needed purpose after all.

Those of you who check my calender on left may have assumed yesterday was a blissful sojourn at the Fruitstock Festival. Sadly not. Although I do intend to pop over there later today, yesterday required adding my presence to the large anti-war demonstration here in London. A long and winding stream of people coursed from Hyde Park down to Parliament Square and some of the rear guard didn't arrive at the destination until the speeches were virtually over. My photos will be up later.

Parliament Square is normally out-of-bounds for demonstrations these days, but with Parliament on holiday this one was tolerated. Speakers included most of our "usual suspects" but a few surprises like Bianca Jagger and assorted diplomats. Sadly, unlike the Iraq War protests and probably due to the overall shaky ground on which Blair's government is attempting to balance, the stage was also, I felt, hi-jacked by a number of political opportunists who seemed less-than-convincing on the conviction front whilst somewhat overkeen and egotistical on the rabble-rousing front. Still, the event more than served its purpose despite the fact that Blair, still in residence nearby, probably had his ear-plugs on.

Today is the anniversary of the 1945 atom bomb drop on Hiroshima.In today's mail, a pertinent note from Richard Neville points out some facts which remain largely unknown...

In the Second World War, three months after the defeat of the German army in May 1945, Europe was at peace and Japan was on the verge of surrender. At this time, on August 6, US President Harry Truman announced that an "American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base", though he was well aware the target was a city of 400,000 inhabitants. Despite Truman's pledge that the US wanted to "avoid, as much as possible, the killing of civilians", the world's first Atomic bomb was detonated without warning 600 meters above the Shima hospital in the center of the city during morning rush hour. Between a quarter and a half of its people were instantly incinerated, and over a thousand died slow agonising deaths. However, General Grove assured Congress that nuclear radiation caused "no undue suffering – in fact, they say it is a very pleasant way to die". (On the eve of the Baghdad invasion George W Bush assured the world that Iraqi civilians would be spared "in every way we can"). Three days after bombing Hiroshima, the US dropped a nuclear bomb over the Roman Catholic cathedral in Nagasaki, with incredible effect, but for no apparent reason. The official July 1946 report on the Pacific air war by the US Strategic Bombing Survey concluded: "Japan would have surrendered even if Atomic bombs had not been dropped".

The day before obliterating Nagasaki, the allies signed the London Agreement, which made crimes against humanity punishable in an international court. Awkwardly, the fourth Hague Convention of 1907, had banned the bombardment of civilians. However, the American war crimes prosecutor, Telford Taylor, decided that since air bombardment had become a "recognised part of modern warfare", such acts had become "customary law". As historian Sven Linqvist points out: rather than ruling that the allies – "especially the allies" – had committed this kind of war crime, "the American prosecutor declared the law had been rendered invalid by the actions of the allies". (See A History of Bombing by Sven Lindqvist, Granta Books, London, 2001). The condoning this criminality left a bloody legacy, now being played out in Beirut "

Returning the events in the Lebanon, I have noted previously that opposition to Israhell is not the same as anti-semitism. Sadly, because Irsahell is not a secular state, its religion is paramount and its current behaviour tends to lead some to criticise Judeaism itself. This author opposes virtually all forms of organised religion, especially those whose doctine relies on mythology and incomprehensible attempts at logic. I'm no fan of Jewish beliefs any more than I am of others. My opposition to Israhell however, is largely with its obsession with Zionism - a movement originating in the mid-1800s to pursue the return of the Jews to Palestine. Post-WW2, Britain relinquished its mandate for the protection of Palestine and handed the (largely dispossessed group of) Jews a clearly defined part of those lands for the formation of Israel. At this time, many "assimilated" Jews around the world expressed concern that Israel should not be created as a "Zionist" state, believing it might prove divisive among the pre-existing communities inhabiting the land and a source of future conflict. How right they were!

In May 1948, Israel was established and granted statehood by the United Nations. Worries about Zionism were largely ignored and the fledgling state left to its own devises. The wars began almost immediately and subsequently Israel, led by those pursuing the Zionist cause, pretty much ignored the advice and desires of the UN - it's creator. Zionism itself changed character and the quest for a return to roots in Palestine became both an "expansionist" policy and a propaganda "call to arms" for the Jewish communities worldwide. Ultimately, it sought and achieved, support for itself amongst Jews and Jewish Enterprises worldwide and actively promoted the emigration of those of the faith back to the "Promised Land" from wherever they were. In the case of Soviet Jews, there was even a campaign of direct agitation towards this end. Simultaneously, the UN slowly became concerned that Zionism was seeking to perpetuate Israeli rule over the Arab lands and was pusuing this with unwarrented agression.

By 1967 this proved to be true, but the UN remained impotent in the face of considerable Zionist sympathy, especially in Amerika and amongst a majority of the leaders of the elite group of governments forming the UN's own Security Council. Nonetheless, almost a decade later, in November 1975, the UN declared Zionism to be "a form of racism and racial domination" and condemned it accordingly with a majority vote at the UN General Assembly. The Security Council remained impotent and all Israeli governments since, both to the left and right of their so-called democratic process, have continued to pursue the Zionist cause.

Any reservations about this policy were effively laid to rest when, following the 911 incident in New York, the new Amerikan dictatorship set a precedent by pursuing a very similar policy of its own. The engineering of the present conflict began at that time.

Later.

Resolution Pending? Come again

A list of UN Resolutions against "Israel"

A quick link here. After much inexcusable fucking around, we are told France and Amerika have agreed on a plan of action for the Lebanon. This will presumably rushed through in the form of an inactionable UN resolution with suitable haste for the PR machine. Let;s not forget that the UN has a rather long outstanding list of "resolutions" concerning Israhell already - see the page link above.

Also, unless I'm very much mistaken, Israhell has been saying since the start of this conflict that they DO NOT want a UN peace keeping force anyway. Rather, they are willing to accept an "international presence" in the so-called buffer zone, provided said force is willing to "fight" against Hezbollah. It sounds to me like this latest "move towards peace" is yet another agreement going nowhere. One supposes its purpose is the convince the world that its authors are trying to do something, whereas the solution offered is as biased toward Israel as ever and probably too ill thought out to be workable anyway.

Needless to say, the government of Lebanon wants nothing to do with it. The wording betrays it!

Later.

Which war are you watching?

Today with Amy Goodman

Democracy Now's "War On Peace" broadcast has become essential morning viewing UK time. The daily news programme loops for around 24 hours and the latest can be found at the link above.

This particular programme has some excellent analysis of the censorship now in play on the Lebanon War and how, in Israel and Amerika in particular, subscription reporting has all but obliterated any true journalism. CNN's international edition bears little resemblence to that broadcast inside the USA. Israel's media has been under censorship since the war began and Israeli's receive no coverage showing what's happening on the Lebanese side of the border. The Amerikan media, including most of the Murdock Empire worldwide, are effectively being given Israeli propaganda.

It's mostly done by anchoring on a fixed timeline where the first event is seen as Hezbollah agression, but the greater distortion is probably in the editorial slants which are fearful of doing anything which might be at variance with the political agenda of government and media owners.

In Britain, we are at least fortunate in still having alternatives to the state-subserviant BBC and the Murdock-controlled Sky Network, but even the independent organisations are cautious of doing anything that might risk getting them into trouble for "impartiality". Hence, even worthy opinion has to be "balanced" with anecdotes from the opposite side of any argument. Thus, pursuit of any real conviction in broadcast journalism is quickly compromised by prostitution to a concept of "fairness" rarely practised by those actually preaching on the "official" side.

A lot of issues are not being pursued at all. Ireland may have refused to allow Amerika permission to ship arms to Israel, but Britain continues to permit the traffic of what the US classes as "hazardous" materials. These appear to include white phosphorous, cluster-bombs and depleted uranium - which are both supposedly illegal under international law. The "Untouchable" Israel doesn't care - it even admits using them.

Iraq may be descending into civil war, but huge swathes of its population are suffering (probably dying) from radiation poisoning left to linger by these weapons. When the after-effects of such use come home to roost, the wars that created them are often forgotten. Whilst Hezbollah are fighting with conventional weapons, a greater disparity reigns. Lebanese citizens face chemical poisoning, environmental poisoning and an absense of infrastructure which will take decades to rebuild. If the agony gets too great, they might count themselves lucky to step onto a something akin to a "mine" - the legacy of Israel's Amerikan-made cluster bombs.

Later.

End of Enlightenment

THE COLLAPSE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

As usual, Richard Neviile has his own take on current affairs - see his excellent feature above.

The author has survived the dreaded dentist without the aid of either drills or injections. This must be a first! It leaves me, of course, with no excuse not to get back to the grind. So ...

Later.

Matrix Of Evil


A short preview/promo for the Alex Jones' film, "Matrix of Evil".

Remember to check out "Latest Clicks" (left) for all the latest links. Regular blog will return after the author has endured the ordeal of some dentistry.

Later.

Cities take the lead

BBC

Blair and Arnie weren't the only ones at the Climate Conference. Bill Clinton was there, as was London's mayor ken Livingstone. This is a BBC report.

Also a quick plug for Democracy Now where Amy Goodman's show for the last two days has featured an extensive interview by satelitte with Robert Fisk. Robert is a reporter for The Independent but this interview goes beyond reportage to hear his opinions, Highly enlightening.

Later.

Noam Chomsky Meets with Hizbullah

The American progressive Noam Chomsky (who is incidently jewish) visits the leaders of Hezbohhah in South Lebanon.

The Parable of the Tribes

Why the Evolution of Civilization Has Been as Tormented and Destructive as it Has Been

Following my rant yesterday, it was co-incidence to find this intruiging article on evolution at Op Ed today. Less-than-light reading, I haven't even finished it myself, but most certainly will when today's news has been scanned. The editor and publisher of Op Ed News, Rob Kall, seems to be enduring a commenable personal and professional battle with progressive reporting of the Lebanon war - his battle to represent both sides has resulted in "hate mail" from both.

In breaking news, Fidel Castro has retired due to ill health and handed the leadership of Cuba over to his brother. Could this be the start of a dynasty - even a mock monarchy?

Later.

Qana 2006

Some pictures to remind us of the latest Israhelli excercise in destation - the Qana bombing which left around 60 lebanese dead, more than half of them children. All todays papers reported the proposed 48 hour ceasefire on airstrikes although ground activity and artillary fire still continued apace. CBS News (early edition, lunchtime here in the UK) reports that Israhell has broken their own truce already with more air strikes. I guess lies and decption are just another war tactic for a state that has thrown aside the rulebook of humanity.

Later.

Less than Human?

Stone Age - Stoned Age

This link leads to an interesting piece in The Independent about newly discovered historical remains found in France, which suggests that our very own Stonehenge was something of an anomaly.

Basking in the recent heat, I'm currently reading "Evolution - A Novel" by Stepehen Baxter - one of a new generation of writers carrying on the tradition of sound-science fiction in the vien of Arthur C. Clarke and others. As co-incidence would have it, the above article caught my eye just as I've reached the "dawn of human civilisation" in the novel. The book itslef is a fine set of interlinked stories spanning pre-history to the near future. As fiction, there is some postulation regarding the unknown, but it is all based on known evolutionary knowledge.

In both the novel and in conventional wisdom, it is gernally accepted that humanity as we know it began when the brain providing processing power to our bodies acquired "self awareness" - that is, the ability to question one's environment, one;s own existance and behaviour and that of others. Such consciousness has brought about disagreements among tribes and even its members,also wholesale "wars" which may even have been overwhelming enough to have led to extinctions in our lineage. But self-awareness, above all, seems to have led to communication and the legacy of things like trade and co-operation we still rely on in the modern world.

Crucial to humanity surely, is not merely the fact of self-awareness but also the ability to perceive the same in others. And the realisation that, as a species, were are alike but also forever different as individuals.

Maybe it is no surprise that the Ape Emperor promotes creationism. The scientific truths of evolution can hardly be music to the ears to one whose idea of self-awareness does not extend to the recognition of those whose views, opinions and consciousness to not co-incide with the absolute and narrow-minded vision he calls his own. He is symptomatic of the tribal bully whose regressive traits suggest that he has become something less than "human".

It is nothing new. Such anomalies have occured throughout history. Fortunately, the instances where such beings have gained or been able to hold onto positions of power are rare.

Humanity has refined its methods of communication to an unprecedented degree, but in doing so we have increasingly shifted the focus of interaction from our ability to the methodology itself. We have become dependent on routines of our own creation and have possibly damaged our ability to interpret the messages and signals that are the anomalies.

In the Lebanon,through our modern methodolgy of communication, we have witnessed events that in earlier times would have been lost in the local criminal history.An example of regression by people with power that indicates something distinctly "less" than human let loose amongst us. It had been stirring for some time, but ironically its realisation followed a precendent set some years ago by equally backward minds in Amerika. That inhumanity toward fellow humans now pervades the methodology of our communication across the planet is a greater threat to "civilisation" than the individual instances of inhumanity themselves.

If the future is to be anything more than a reversal toward our darker past, people need to start "thinking" again. The opiate of media and systems of belief are not enough.

Later.

Old Timers - New Tour

A couple of months back I was commenting on Neil Young's latest album, "Living With War". Well, he's now back on the road again with all his old mates in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. This film combines a bit of PR with documentary about the band and anti-war footage.

Long weekend for Rupert's Blair

Heatwave shuts down nuclear power plants

The absurdity continues. My rant the other day concerned the lack of integration in Britain's energy sources - I omitted to mention nuclear power simply because it has no duality of function whatsoever. Indeed, a project with any sense would be inclined to avoid such sites like the plague. Our Prime Preacher, in his vast unwisdom, has taken on the additional evangelical chore of promoting these monsters since he clearly can't get his head around the alternatives.

Now we hear of a greater folly courtesy of the headline link above. The current heatwave is merely a foretaste of things to come as global warming now sets in across the planet, yet it seems a few degrees of extra warmth is enough to cause the shutdown of nuclear plants. Can you image the chaos in a high-temperature future where the majority of our power is provided by this wasteful and pollutiing method?

Nuclear power is a long-term folly of an unimaginable degree. The cost of implementing it cannot be covered by the companies responsible - the needed subsidy will cost the state (and taxpayer) a fortune that could be spent developing new sustainable options, the fasle profits then made by the operators will then be siphoned off by corporate interests and shareholders, then finally the entire plant will reach the end of its life with incalculable radioactive by-product left as waste. That "waste" will then be "buried" underground, in all likelyhood leaking out again as the planet seeks to re-stabilise itself during the coming onslaught to its ecosystem. The only recycling prospect his the use of depleted uranium to tip the warheads of bombs for use in the war adventures whereby the victims are suject to a lingering radioactive poisoning.

As we claim to be interested in building "democracy" in a country like the now-wasted Iraq, just remember how many of its population are dying off slowly from the radiation we've hit them with in the last couple of years. Israhell's doing it too to the South Lebanon - in a few decades there will be less population to worry about!

So Blair has departed once again for the heart of Empire. The present he takes is permission for Bush and company to use Scotland for transport "hazardous" materials to the Israhelli war machine. The "present" he gets back is a bit of half0hearted PR by which he looks to be the peace-maker by getting support for a UN force in South Lebanon itself. This is all posturing - Israhell has said itself that it will not accept any international force of peace-keepers provided by the UN. They want the sole decision on contributing nations to any such force - ie: those "on-side" with the Zionist cause.

Blair's Amerikan adventure has been slightly hi-jacked by the Israhell problem anyway. He's over there to hang out with that sub-emperor of sorts, Rupert Murdock. Who knows what misdeeds he's planning at the big News Corporation party?

That last will not feature high on the newswires, if for no other reason than Murdock owns most of them and anything available will be a sanitised or biased pitch. The public show will be the rendezvous with Arnie and photo-ops with environmental projects. Arnie's California may well be diverging from the Bush administration on energy matters, but the entire escapade is symptomic of Blair's addiction to the culture of Amerika itself. Not really the place to be if you want to set an example. His oppostion counterpart in Britain, David Cameron, at least had the foresight to look toward Northen Europe on sound ecological matters.

Not that Blair cares one iota either way. He's reaching his political end-days and will be paying more attention to hob-nobbing with the behind-the-scenes power-brokers with whom his future is pre-ordained.

Later.

Diplomacy Failed

An appropriate clip from Wednesday night's Dialy Show in which Jon Stewart and his team report from the mid-east (sorta) and get mixed up about god in the process. Hilarious.

Of waste and calamity

London has been hit by some rather disruptive power cuts during the last 24 hours - the kind of thing we expect more in wintertime that at the height of summer. It also shows how inept the government is at controlling the management of the nation's energy infrastructure on the eve of the decline in world resources.

The electric supply should arguably have priority. We can live with out powered transport for a while. We can live without domestic gas supplies for a while. We cannot live without water or electricity - but we can limit its use. With drought threats, we have a ban on using hosepipes. Why then, with power-cut threats is there no ban on using air-conditioners and other non-essential energy-hungry devices?

Without electric power we are deprived some creature comforts, but more crucially we are deprived of most information and communication systems. No TV, no Radio, no Web access, no eMail and in some cases no simple telephony either. Suffer a power-cut and one can't even find out about it. I would rather be asked to put off the washing, the cooking and hot baths for a while than be subjected to a total loss of power. Sadly, in their quest for profits, it seems the energy companies are allowed to encourage us to use maximum product with no thought as to what might happen when the system overloads.

Britain has been hot - very hot! But we can survive it despite the tiredness and irritability. There is no excuse for draining limited resources with vanity equipment like air-conditioners.

This also relates to something else that has been on my mind a while. As we look toward sustainable energy supplies, little attention seems to be being paid to integration. Electric companies contribute to what we call the "National Grid" but water and gas supply run separate systems. They may not need to be re-nationalised (that would mean the even worse incompetence of beaurocrats) but they should be obliged to work together.

Imagine a resevior. How many of them integrate hydro-electric power generators to utilise the outgoing water supply? How many of them host wind turbines or solar-panel arrays as part of their architecture? So too with gas and oil sources - how much of the immense pressure release available in the extraction of these resources is simultaneously harnessed to create direct electric current?

Global warming is affecting our weather. The heat the another day attracted some major electrical storms. We worry about being struck by lightning - maybe we should be directing our attention toward building devices that would deliberately attract lightning and then store the vast amount of nature's power they provide.

Britain is fortunate in that it is surrounded by water. The opportunities for hyro-electric power would seem almost unlimited. More importantly, we should be building a network of de-salination plants which can convert sea water into normal fresh water for a future where rainfall may not suffice. The areas where we are under threat from rising sea levels might be a good place to start.

I'm no expert on this of course. But everywhere one looks there are vast sites and infrastructure projects that seem to be concerned with their own individual use. Nobody in government seems to be paying any attention to making such places and schemes multi-functional.

Before we learning to make, and abuse, petroleum, we built a network of waterways for transport. The canels are still there. They may not be fit for the demands of today's industry, but surely they could provide the basis for a "National Grid" of freshwater supply. They might even provide of renaissance in the transport of local goods. Why too, is is legal to consume petroleum and pollute the environment just to take produce from one end of the country for packaging only to transport it back again to its source for sale.

30 miles off the coast of Cornwall are the Scilly Isles which illustrate the best and worst of this. All their water comes from a desalination plant run by the local council instead of a private company. On the other hand, they are a fishing economy and locals can't even buy part of the catch - that is shipped off to the mainland, transported across country and packaged in a great pool - a small part of which may find its way back to the islands a considerably, "unfreash" time later. The chain of waste in this process will also have resulted in an absurd price inflation all in the pursuit of "profit".

Before this becomes an extended essay, I'll stop. You'll get the idea.

Later.

Toast of the Mid-East?

Tide of Arab Opinion Turns to Support for Hezbollah

Today's NYT (above) leads with indications that Arab states seem to be moving toward an anti-Israel coalition, including states like Egypt and Jordon who supposedly have peace pacts with the jewish state. This trend was probably inevitable but the fact it is happening sooner rather than later may be a good sign. Even Blair seems to have woken up (after the horse has bolted, of course) as the Guardian reports he's telling Bush that Amerika's opposition to a ceasefire may be about to have a "tinderbox" effect. Clearly both are going to have more to worry about than just Syria and Iran.

Later.

Britain's royal dissident discovers flower power. Once upon a time is was the monarchies that waged war around the world - now it's so-called "democratic" governments enslaved to the forces of greed. This chap is almost setting a good example in these fragile times.
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Fiddling in Rome while the world burns

One of the more commendable remarks from his royal dissidentness, Prince Charles, was the stated aim that when he becomes king he would like to be considered "Head of Faith(s)" rather than head of the anglican church. Given that many people, especially in times of insecurity, head for the most locally convenient religious subscription in pursuit of faith they have lost in either themselves or their government, such broad-ranging patronage is worthy intent - hopefully maximising integration and tolerence whilst minimising the hatred of rival doctrines. Personally speaking, I'm pretty intolerant of all religions - I have no particular hatred of any one of them but see them as a form of population control that discourages their subscribers from freedom of thought and independent theological pusuit. Most of them are mere remnants of a communication network designed for primitive times and the messages/ideaology they convey no more than a "marketable" bastardisation of their original foundations. The most common characteristic of their legions of followers is hypocrisy - short and simple.

If anything, capitalism and consumerism, with their inherent greed, have become the true new religions anyway. The media is their church. As a consequence, the new age of religious conflict is to a great extent an illusion. The real motivation of today's warriors is, as so often in the past, greed and power. In the Lebanon there remains the traditional quest for "living space" whilst worldwide the shift is towards grabbing the last of the planet's finite resources. As one half of the world worships wealth and material possessions, the other half are enslaved and abused in ways - sometimes obvious and sometimes less so. It is the groundswell amonst this latter dis-enfranchised, often displaced, majority that is the real enemy in the "civilised" West. It has little to do with any religious cause - that is simply the machinery of empowerment for elite on both sides.

The unwillingness of the selected group of global powers that met in Rome yesterday to do anything about the situation in Palestine and the Lebanon appears symptomic of their impotence. I rather think they may be all-too-virile and that their inaction is simply a desire to see the current prologue play out as they prepare the ground for a grand theatre of slaughter to come. If praying is your thing - then pray that I'm wrong!

Later.

Wasted time?

Channel 4 News

Two worthy notes from Channel 4;s newsletter will will probably be covered in full above shortly.

Firstly, the Rome meeting has been a complete failure. Most leaders agreed on a "ceasefire" being reasonable option. None of them however could get to grips with the notion of "immediate". So the bitz in the Lebanon continues.

Second, and more alarmingly, is the fact the Amerika has been found rushing arms to Israehell via Britain and without permission. It seems our foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, is none too pleased about this particular venture despite her silent on the greater issue in Rome. Not that her distress should be misinterpreted as any moral stance - Britain too is making big bucks and nasty friends by exporting its own arms to the Jewish State.

Later.

This Is The The Day (That was!)

This Is The The Day - Jukebox
A few days ago I put "Matt Johnson" into Google and immediately got sent to his site for the band, "The The". I'd been meaning to check it out for some time.

I first met Matt through his brother - artist Andy Johnson, who was an old mate back in the late 70s when I was publishing underground comix. Matt came over one day to raid my counterculture archives and showed great interest in things I guess he was too young to remember himself. Some years later I was invited the the debut gig for his "The The" band at the old Marquee Club in London. I remember little of the songs themselves, just the music - in the words of his brother: "I knew he was good - but not that good".

Times changed and I lost contact with a lot of people from that era, but Matt's band went from strength to strength and next came to my attention with one of the first "long-form" video albums - the excellent "Infected". This time I started paying attention to his words and sought out both the follow-up albums, "Mind Bomb" and "Dusk". There was an extent of international social commentary in his work that was, indeed still is, quite rare. A kind of post-punk sensibility if you will, that ranged beyond the local and national boundaries that frequently limit artistes of a political disposition.

My reason for checking up on Matt was that in recent times I've been haunted by one of his songs from the Mind Bomb album - "Armageddon Days Are Here". It may have been written in the mid-1980s, but it appeared to prophesise the corruption of Christianity and the rise of Islam, even mentioning "blood red skies at five miles high". These were days of airplane hi-jacks of the non-missile variant but also of an earlier conflict in the Lebanon. Looking back at the lyric sheet, the song even refers to Hezbollah!

Matt's site above has a worthwhile jukebox where you can listen to this and most of his back catalogue. I had a bit of a problem doing this myself because what appears to be a security facility stopped the tunes downloading through by proxy server's cache. For general users however, I doubt this will be evident. Check them out.

No link yet, but radio news has just annouced that the families of Iraq War servicemen here in the UK have been in court and won the right to a full public hearing on the legality of the war itself. Naturally some are concerned that they were forced to obey "illegal" orders as a consequence. Needless to say, Blair's government are not at all happy - this is a turn of events they've been trying to avoid for some years.

Other Whitehall sources are said to be claiming Blair plans to join Bush in another war aginst Iran during the coming months. Troops, it seems, are already practicising their tactics down in Australia. Maybe they think nobody's looking. Some are also wondering if the current Isaelhelli adventure is part of a build-up to the same. Such "arms length" antagonisation of Iran and Syria may play well for the long-term Amerikan agenda. See Once it starts and Cradle or Graveyard of Empire.

Later.

Any other country and the world would be imposing sanctions. Maybe people have the power to do what our governments have compromised themselves too much to do themselves.
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Peacekeepers murdered too

4 U.N Peacekeepers Killed In Lebanon

First the civilians, then the foreigners, then the red cross - now the UN peace-keepers. It's bedtime in Britain as this breaking news comes from CBS. I'm won't be sleeping so well as I wonder if there is anything at all the damned Israehelli killing machine doesn't consider fair game as they perpetrate this contemporary holocaust.

Condi's now left and buggered off to the Rome meeting tomorrow. Even she might be thanking her lucky stars she didn't get shot down in the crossfire dominated by her own country's weapons.

Later.

Timeline of Attacks on Lebanon

An illustrated chronology of Israehell's attacks on the Lebanon over the years, ending with some horrific images from the current carnage.

Protests in UK at Israeli action

Some decent coverage of the anti-war protest in London last weekend.

Blood Red Cross

Red Cross ambulances destroyed in Israeli air strike on rescue mission

It is now being described as "The War without Rules". Israel's onslaught in the Lebanon has taken innumerable civilian lives - both residents and foreigners. It must be a first for conflict over a national boundary where no warning signs were given and no opportunity allowed for visitors to escape. Some of the very first innocent victims were Canadians! One wonders why Canada did not interpret this as an act of war against itself?

Since the conflict began, consensus has acknowledged that war crimes are being committed here. Problem is, that other global bully, Bush, thoroughly approves of it all - indeed, he set the recent precedents himself. Nobody wants to take on the imperial might of Amerika - even though it is militarily and financially over-stretched, literally bankrupt in both the fiscal and moral sense. The UN remains impotent and the Geneva Convention can go to hell - or "Israehell" as many commentators have taken to calling it.

The above link to today's Guardian covers the attack on Red Cross ambulances yesterday. Ambulances? That's a plural. It is clear this was no accident and that Israehell (I concurr!) has no conscience or regard for those attempting to extricate themselves from the battlefields. Such indiscrimate murder, on such a massive scale, comes very close to what we would normally consider akin to genocide. That it is being perpetrated by a people the world acted to save from such a fate themselves, is an insult to, and an act of treachery aginst, the global community itself.

An act of compensation for the victims of a 20th century atrocity has created an equally dark regime. The crimes are multifold. The betrayal absolute. Is it any wonder that there are those who question whether such a nation has a right to exist? In barely more than half a century of existence, it's uncaring self-obsession has bred the hatred that now fuels the forces that seek to tether its expansion. The global acts of terrorism that seemingly threaten the whole world today are also in large part the result of the major world powers giving tacit support to an essentially evil regime.

The more this injustice is perpetrated, the more its undoing will need to be absolute. If the world stands aside, its interest restricted to voyeurism and appeasement of the conquerers, it will be watering the seeds of the very future they claim to dread.

In Australia, Richard Neville's troubled venture, JohnHowardPmOrg is finally up and running again. A fine portal which, despite the name, should be of interest worldwide. Richard aslo has a piece on the Lebanon at his own site.

A White House press release also seems to indicate that Amerika wants Israehell to attack Syria too. Is a Zionist control of Amerika almost complete? Danger - Legacy ahead! So what were you saying Condi?

The Guardian also reports that around Two-thirds of British voters want Blair to get his nose out of Bush's ass and serve his own country. Now there's a thought!

Later.

Condi - Off her ass at last!

Rice Makes Surprise Visit To Beirut

But to what avail?

Somewhat earlier than predicted, Condi Rice has stirred and ventured in the direction of the Middle East. She's just landed in Beirut and will move on to Israel later. Hope she doesn't get shot down during the hop!

It seems Israel has agreed to some kind of multinational force taking over in the border regions - provided they are willing to fight if necessary. An odd provision for the idea of peace-keeping. Bush and Blair remain steadfastly opposed to partaking in any such adventure - more than likely because neither actually have any available troops left with which to contribute. They are, after all, entangled otherwise elsewhere.

One is tempted to believe that movements by Condi and the British foreign office are more designed to offset comment by the increasingly critical mainstream media. In all this so-called "diplomacy" there has been no mention of any kind of timetable to stop the Israeli slaughter of innocents. It feels like more a case of who's available to move in to mediate after the Zionist war-mongers have finished their destruction.

In the UK, the government has finally abandoned the CSA as an unrecoverable project. In Amerika, government sources confrim war with Iran will take place this year.

Check "Latest Clicks" for the best articles of the current Lebanon crisis and its history, plus new art, music and photography.

Later.

Sowing The Seeds of Love

A bit of much needed optimism for the weekend. You may remember this song by Tears For Fears from a decade or more ago. The original came with a fantastic psychedelic video, but this more recent clip is an acoustic session. Relish.

A Measured Response? One of the more distressing images of Israeli barbarism in the Lebanon from the site mentioned below.
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Lebanon Action

From Israel To Lebanon

The site above contains of Israeli massacres in Lebanon that the mainstream media don't show. It's not for the squeamish! You can also contribute to the online petition to "Save Lebanese Civilians".

Later.

Bittersweet Symphony?

More images of the destruction, death and maiming being inflicted on the people of Lebanon by the Israeli invasion.

Makdisi on The Middle East Crisis

Some independent news analysis on Israel and the Lebanon which offers a very different view from the imperial propaganda of Amerika's mainsteam media.

In Bethlehem

A down to earth film in which an American student living in Bethlehem describes the mood of the town and its citizens.

A Time of War

Give them shelter. A short show on the recent history leading up to the latest israeli slaughter in the Lebanon.

Breakfast in the Ruins? A survivor wanders in the morning destruction of Beirut.
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It's not anti-semitism!

Casting Blame , Finding Solutions to The Middle East Conflagration

Opposing Israel and opposing Zionism is not the same as opposing jews, but there is an increasing likelihood their faith will come under greater scrutiny due to the behaviour of the so-called "Jewish State". It may be a "limited menu" democracy, but it is certainly not a secular government any more that that of the likes of Iran. That the world treats it like it were and allows it to pursue its dogmatic agenda is an insult to the intelligence of free-thinking people.

As even Amerikan cities like Detriot begin to witness tension between their large Arab and Jewish communities, there is a danger that anti-semitism itself will be on the rise once more. The above article is by Rob Kall, editor and publisher of "Op Ed News", who also writes ...

"I never thought editing and publishing OpEdNews would be so hard, would tear me apart. But then the conflict in Gaza began, and things started to get difficult. Then the Lebanese conflagration ignited and it's been hell. I want to cover the conflict, the stories, with journalistic integrity. AND I am Jewish, so I run this website knowing that my Jewish family and friends will be looking over my shoulder.

Today, I got a call from one of my best friends, that started, "What the hell are you doing?" And he went on to cite the perspective on the conflict that supports Israel's actions going after Hezbollah. Over the weekend, I got an email from a regular contributor to OpedNews calling me an anti-semite, not the first, and this one came with notification that the contributions would stop, also not the first. I explained to my friend, how challenging it has been setting ground rules and policies that made sense, were fair, that prevented flat out attacks that were not presented within a reasonable context.

The middle east conflict could be the most difficult problem in the world. I believe we have to take a different approach, different approaches if we are ever going to find solutions. I'm hoping my editorial policies will help make a difference."

Don't let them tell you this is a "war on terror" and stand back astonished at the big mess as a Pact allows for foreign ownership of Amerika's Nation Security assets. In Britain, there may be a Rift between the Foreign Office and Downing Street on the whole Lebanon issue.

Later.

As Condi plans plans it's bombs away

U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis

Headlining at the New York Times above is news that Amerika has started shipping arms to Israel with great haste. It thus becomes clear that the Ape Emporer has taken "sides" with the murder machine. Such hypocrisy given that his oppostion to and veto on stem cell research was based on an alleged "sanctity of life". On rule for the elite - another entirely for the "de-humanised" hordes around the world.

Condi meanwhile is planning for plans for talks as they say. Who's kidding who? Book it in for a week or two - after the apocalypse!

Later.

War begats more?

Islamic Leaders Tell Somalis to Prepare for War

The Washington Post report here that yet another war against Islamic militias is now brewing between Ethiopia and Somalia. Not exactly the middle-east but almost certainly brought on by another example of Amerikan meddling and un-nerving in that it could open a new major battlefront.

Later.

Heat is on

Driver fights ban over 'occasional' drug use

An offbeat story hear which is less about drugs or driving than professional confidentiality. You don't expect private conversations with your doctor to be passed on - you certainly don't expect it to take it upon himself/herself to have your driving license revoked because of an indiscretion you might have mentioned. Maybe it's just a symptom of the big brother state where the price of the health service is a neighbourhood spy.

I gather that Bushland is overheating too. The weather here in Britain is the cause of excessive lathargy and it slows the brain too. Hence the slowdown on the words. The only thing I'm tempted to comment on is the murder and attempted genocide happening in the Lebanon, but with the Israeli Embassy about 100 yards away I doubt I've got the energy to escape if Mossad come calling. It all over the mainstream media anyway - except that the Bush/Blair "anti-terror" rhetoric and backing of the slaughter has obscured the criminal, evil and indiscriminating nature of of Zionist campaign itself.

How this plays out is anyone's guess. Israel of clearly being given a week or so to turn a sovereign nation into a wasteland of blood and guts. It may escalate throughout the region or it may be contained. One thing is for sure - it will not be forgotten and Israel will never be forgiven. If anything, the anger and resentment will almost certainly give rise to the use of "terror tactics" by those increasingly displaced from their own lands and with no available platform on which to promote their cause. Already guilty of their own war crimes, the governments of Britain and Amerika turn a blind eye - urged on by the selfish interests of media mogels, financiers and international corporate industrialists - for many of whom the Zionist cause itself is absolute. The global flow of capital, energy and time-limited resources remains paramount and any pretence of commitment to ecological sustainability and equal co-existence is sacrificed on an alter of greed and modern day slavery. The United Nations is impotent in the face of the elite "micro-democracy" called the Security Council, which is too busy organising power-sharing schemes amongst itself to be bothered with the fate of either other countries or even the planet itself. In international governance and the rule of law they are now less than inadquate for the task - they are obselete.

The failure of The League of Nations contributed to the sequence of events whereby WW2 ravaged half the world. The failure of the Security Council (and thus the UN itself) may well be the final catalyst that sets in motion nightmares to come.

Later.

Bush molests Chancellor Merkel

In the furore over Bush at the microphone, there has been less coverage of the incident where he molested the German Chancellor. Lest it be forgetten, here it is.

Daily Show: G8 Summit

Monday night's report on the Bush and Blair indiscretions at the G8 summit - summed up as only Jon Stewart can.

A silent escalation?

Independent Online Edition > Middle East

This report in the Independent suggests that Turkey may be about to move its own forces into Northen Iraq in order to clamp down on the Kurds. This is not to Amerika's liking, especially since the Northern region os one of the relatively quiet places left in the country. If any potnetial conflict here escalates, remember that Turkey borders Syria and is extremely close to Lebanon. One would not want to antagonise them into joining the current conflict there - although facing a military power more their equal might give the murdering Zionists pause for thought.

There's a map of the region in my new picture blog which I'll be testing for the next few weeks. Click on http://web.mac.com/malburns/iWeb for a quick preview.

For more on the Lebanon, see Latest Clicks at left. There are too many new links to comment on all of them.

Later.

The Deepest Secrets of 9/11

As Bush makes a complete fool of himself in front of secret microphones, one wonders what Dick Cheney is up to back in Washington. Chin-wagging with Olmert perhaps?

This clip is one I may have published some time back, but it is newly remastered and far better quality than the original.

Meanwhile in the South

A letter from my mailbox ...

“ ...and the world remains silent...

Friends. Its nearly 4 a.m. here and I decided to go back to my computer to communicate to my friends around the world what every single mainstream media channel..., whether American, European or Arab, is FAILING to communicate in regards to what is happening right NOW in Gaza, Palestine. I have been in front of television for the past few hours monitoring the news and I was shocked to see NOTHING on Gaza except for on 2 local Arab channels and one Arab satellite channel which I shall not name for their own good..., lest the United States with its Israel lobby decide to shut down. Even Al Jazeera channel, to my utter shock, didn't so much as mention Gaza in its last 2 news broadcasts!! Let me tell you my friends what I have been watching for the past few hours and what I am still listening to on my head-phones:

Southern Gaza is in TOTAL DARKNESS. Three quarters of the television frame is PITCH BLACK while northern Gaza has a few lights. About an hour ago, Israel bombed with F-16's the only power station left in Khan Younes plunging it in TOTAL DARKNESS too. Do you know what it means to be without electricity for 10 days in today's world??? No water, no sewage, no cooling, no storing of whatever food is left, no communications....etc. As though this were not sufficient for those poor Palestinians, tonight, like every night, Israel has been bombing and missiling Gaza and flying over it all night with sonic booms to scare the people and especially the children who are totally terrified. Yesterday a one and a half year old child died in an awful way of injuries sustained by Israeli bombing and mainstream media instead of covering it is allowing a terrorist like Ehud Olmert to take the microphone and tell the world that Israel never targets civilians. It has been 10 days now and all Israel has done is target civilians and kill dozens! One of the strongest armies in the world has declared war on a population that does not even have an army! Water is lacking, food is scarce, medicine has run out, FUEL has run out... and Israel refuses to let trucks carrying supplies enter Gaza to save a civilian population which was already condemned to live in refugee camps because Israel kicked them out of their homes and stole them. Even Palestinian hospitals hardly know how to operate. When Israel first bombed Gaza's power mains, hospitals resorted to using their generators. But generators can only keep going if there is fuel.... and there no long is fuel. The sick and elderly who live on machines are slowly dying. Babies in incubators are dying. With the increasing rubbish that can no longer be picked up from the streets, diseases are starting. A humanitarian disaster is taking place in Gaza NOW and Mr. Bush, his Israeli White House, his corrupt AIPAC stooge of a Congress, Mr. Bolton and Mr. Annan are laying the grounds for their attack on Syria and Iran.... and who knows what else.

And the world is silent. And mainstream media is behaving as though nothing were. All it cares about is that damned Israeli soldier that means ZILCH amid 1.4 million innocent civilians who had nothing to do with his capture!

Last, but not least...., NONE of this would be happening were it not for the American tax-payer who for decades financed and is still financing every bullet and missile being shot from Israel. What does it take for the American tax payers to understand that they are ultimately paying for their own destruction. The US has created a monster that now controls it. US soldiers are fighting Israel's dirty war in the Middle East. US soldiers are dying so that Israel can prosper. US families are losing their loved ones so that Israel doesn't have to.... After all, what is an American goyim near an Israeli life. American soldiers are kidnapped all the time in Iraq and they are not even mentioned in the news. Yet, when an Israeli soldier is kidnapped, the president of the United States himself comes out to speak on his behalf! Where are the American people? Where is that great nation that we were all told represented "freedom" and "liberty"?? It is being held on a leash by Ehud Olmert and AIPAC. At least in the Arab world we have the excuse of being the underdeveloped third world. What is America's excuse? If only Americans knew that Israel will use them and dump them in a split second.

While I am writing this, I am watching the rescue of bodies from a building that collapsed in Gaza about an hour ago after it was bombed by Israeli F-16's. I see panicked and scared Palestinians lighting the collapsed building with their torches and digging with their hands in the rubble to find survivors. I see a hand sticking out the rubble and it is still moving. A body is under a heavy concrete wall which no one can move without a bulldozer..., but there is no fuel and no bulldozer to help.Palestinians don't have bulldozers.

I am writing this to my internet friends because it is my duty to relay what I am seeing. I cannot just go to sleep as though nothing were. Mainstream media world wide, is obviously complicit in the new world order and I am hoping that the internet community will stand out and will spread the news of Gaza, like we spread the news of Iraq.

I have recorded the horrible events of this evening... and of those past few days..., and I shall find a way to have this footage out. The world must find out what a criminal country Israel is. Tomorrow also, unless my IP is blocked again, I shall be sending you interesting news on Israeli inside Iraq...., also something that mainstream media is conveniently forgetting to mention.

Regards to all from Cherifa Sirry"

Later

Discussing the ChitChat

Some additional coverage from our very own BBC, discussing the Bush/Blair remarks. Strangely, the BBC newsreader gets to repeat the offending word without being "bleeped", but far more important is the analysis from the Lebanese guest.

The British navy have now begun evacuating visitors from Lebanon itself - probably to nearby Cyprus. The operation is being described at the biggest of its kind since Dunkirk in WW2. Israeli ground forces are now on the rampage across the border as the Zionist expansionists attempt to kickstart WW3.

Bush-Blair Confidential

A replay of the inane conversation mentioned below, courtesy of CNN. It's not quite complete, but you get the message. Assholes.

Expletive Undeleted

Arianna Huffington: Bush and Blair's Less Than Excellent Conversation

It would be hilarious were it not so tragic. The microphone that eavesdropped on a "private" conversation between the Ape Emporer and the Prime Preacher revealed such a casual and simplistic approach to events of a wholly deadly serious gravity that one despairs of their ability to even perceive of the mess they have created. As Israel adopts a "scorched earth" policy towards its neighbours, without regard for foreign or civilian casualties, these two act like they are discussing some kind of game. Above is Arianna Huffington's take on it all. There is an edited transcript in today's Independent.

Later.

"Over-reaction" as a sublime understatement

Interactive. Israel/Palestine hostage crisis

Intense heat and a busy time last week have rendered this writer into "slow-motion" mode, all the more weary for the frustration in finding words to express my anger at what is happening in the tiny north west corner of what can effectively be described as "South West Asia".

The main link above leads to an interactive map in today's Guardian which gives a timeline from recent activity in Gaza to the latest incursion into the Lebanon. The battles around Israel's northern border are werll covered elsewhere and sadly detract the world's attention from the likely fate of Palestine. One glance at the map and one is immediately reminded how little territory is left to the Palestinian people - whose resentment at division and occupation by Zionist maurauders remains at the heart of the current conflict. Over 50 years of illegal behaviour by Israel has not only been ignored by the United Nations, but activly supported by the likes of Britain and Amerika. Now we have the hypocritical spectacle of Israel justifying its present excerise in the slaughter of inncocents by citing UN resolutions.

It is said that the Israel lobby has an undue influence on affairs of state in Amerika and Bush's reaction to 9/11 has set a precedent whereby "criminal" acts of terror are being used as an excuse for war-mongering, invasion and colonisation. Israel no longer has to seek justification for what is politely being called "over-reaction" - it has only to point to Amerika for a tactical example and vindication.

Let us not forget too, that only one Israeli soldier was taken hostage in Gaza and only two Israeli soldiers taken in Lebanon. All three were serving military personnel engaged in activities which are illegal in international law. Israel itself holds countless hostages from both Palestine and the Lebanon, many of whom were seized far from any field of combat. The massive, largely Amerikan-supplied, military machinary now being used against the Lebanon is being harnessed for the indiscriminate slaughter of civilians and the destruction of a modern infrastructure that has taken two decades to build. By attacking northern cities like Beirut and Tripoli is seems clear the Israel's intent is to reduce its northern neighbour's status to a backward land ripe for the plucking.

70 years ago, Germany's Hitler sought more living space for his own "master race" to occupy. Amongst his victims were those who later created Israel and were granted statehood within borders they have since failed to respect. 70 years on, their behaviour merely emulates the evil of which they were once victim. That they have nurtured enough power and influence in places like Britain and Amerika to to ensure they can act without any real international opposition is all the more tragic.

Whether by co-incidence or not, the current war has begun as the G8 leaders convened for their annual masturbation convention. Last year the pressure to get their act together was immense thanks to the Live8 events. That it was effectively hi-jacked by the London bombings proved all-too-convenient and little progress on the stated resolutions has been achieved during the last 12 months. Today they will attempt to renew some of those vague pledges. There is unlikely to be much media scrutiny of whatever they cough up - after all, there is a thrilling bomb-fest to be watched on TV - the real blood and gore removed of course lest it upset the sensibilities of the armchair warriors.

Take a look at an atlas. Look up the area roughly described as "South West Asia". To the south, west and east there is sea or ocean. As this war escalates in the north-west corner, consider the threats being made against Syria. Then consider Syria being brought into the war-zone and you'll see Iraq is suddenly part of the same battlefield. Look to the far eastern side and you'll find that other escalating conflict - namely Afghanistan. All that's left in between is that other international bogeyman, Iran. As the new "ol' mate" Olmert joins the Bush/Blair warrior club, it is anyone's guess where this might lead.

Later.

Lord Levy of the Favour Levies

Honours scandal reaches door of Downing Street

Shit flies - if you'll excuse the language. Britain is agahst as the Prime Preacher's personal walking cashpoint machine, Lord Levy, gets arrested in a continuation of the long-bubbling "loans for peerages" and related scandals. Bailed yesterday, but called back by the police detectives today, the labour fundraiser and Bliar confidant is struggling to explain visible cash trails, missing documents and mysterious office fires resulting in more missing documents. Everyone smells a rat!

The buck, of course, stops not with Levy but with the Downing Street incumbant himself. Following simple progressive logic it seems that the Dear Leader (UK-stylee) himself could face arrest. Not for war crimes, not for treason, nor even for actual fraud! If not corruption it becomes ever more clear that Bliar's agenda has been self-serving, self-obsessed and seriously self-centred. Both government and party accountability have been sacrificed at the alter of power and greed. A career supposedly devoted to public service has insidiously morphed into one of corporate subservience and dictatorship.

I'm betting he's gone before the party conference, along with his swaggering deputy. There will still be a legacy of sorts - one of international crime, administrative corruption and betrayal of the his people's interests. The era of "cowboys" belongs in the past and that's where we should bury the current pretenders.

Later.

Syd Barrett: Jugband Blues

Trippin' back to simpler times, as promised, a clip of the original Pink Floys from 1967. The late Syd Barratt sings "Jugband Blues" (one of his most popular) and pre-dates David Gilmour joining the band. Barratt's psychedelic breakdown would come a few months later with Gilmore initially forced to take over both his vocals and guitar parts. Barratt died on the 8th July 2006 - see below for main link.

Later.

A shining Crazy Diamond

Syd Barrett dies after 30 years as a recluse

News has broken that the founder member of the Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, died on Friday last. More and tributes at the link above. He left the Floyd over 30 years ago, but his legacy has always lived on. His influence on other artistes cannot be understated. Watch out for some video archives to be posted here soon.

Later.

Bush for Nuremberg?

Bush Could Be Prosecuted for War Crimes

A fascinating piece above reveals that a Nuremberg Chief Prosecuter says there is a case for trying George Bush for sumpreme crimes against humanity and an illegal war of agression against a sovereign nation. It may sound like stating the obvious, but the weight is in the source.

How practical would such action be? Slightly more worrying is one of the comments from a reader in Holland ...

"As was stated, the ICC is situated in The Hague, The Netherlands. As part of their megalomania, a resolution was enacted by the USA, that would 'justify' an invasion of The Netherlands, in case any American was held in prison by/for the ICC. To subsequently free this person.

Because any American accused of war crimes could only be propaganda from america's enemies, of course. And would only be used against the USA. and whatever more reasoning.

That means that basically the USA declared war on my country, an sovereign nation, that has a State Lottery older than the USA...A long time ally of the USA.

So you see nothing is sacred.

Of course, my country's government was totally inadequate in the reacting to this highly aggressive move."

With nobody else interested in signing up, it seems the US military is increasingly relying on neo-Nazis to fill its ranks. No wonder we're seeing additional atrocities in the war zones.

Forget North Korea for a moment, it seems India has just test-fired its own new long-range missile. So why no concern about this from the international community? In this case the test was sucessful and the country's nuclear arsenal somewhat greater.

The fashionable theory for containment of carbon emissions and nuclear waste seems to be the idea of "burying" it. For Amerika, the new "service industry" in Russia seems all too willing to provide such a solution. Big problem - a report today suggests that increased global volcanic activity would result in frequent "leaks". Also the latest Climate & Energy Report.

Two interesting pieces on medical pot at Counterpunch this weekend. Frontline treatment for childhood mental disorders and Big Pharma's epic quest for cannabis without euphoria. Both suggest that normally silent sources have come to the realisation that the product has its uses. Also on the drugs front, in Scotland alcohol is now cheaper than water.

In the UK, Blair is off on yet another holiday. No surprise there! It is however a slight surprise that his embattled deputy, the increasingly "Press-Caught" Prescott, has been cleared to run the country in his absence again.

After a long absence, artist Gilbert Shelton returns with a new Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers strip which is published online for the first time. For further escapism, you might even try reaching the 10th Dimension. Find out how.

Later.

Alcohol Vs Marijuana

A classic clip from comedian Bill Hicks.

Rememberance Daze

Laura Knight Jadczyk: V is for Vendetta

The above link is to another blog here - an epic read sent to me courtesy of the London 911 Truth group. It comes of course on the anniversary of London's 7/7 attack and Britain went silent for it at midday.

Yours truly is slightly "under the weather" this week - watering eyes amongst the ails. Thus this blog has been rather light the last couple of days. There are still plenty of new links in "latest clicks" (see left).

Later.

Ali G takes on the DEA

A bit of a classic here - or at least some light relief.

Testing problem or testing times?

North Korea Fires Seventh Missile

World furore? Above is one link to the news that's everywhere, although it all seems a bit like a smokescreen. We know North Korea had nukes. We know they had missiles. I'd rather they tested the missiles before arming them than they held back and sat on an unproven arsenal which might be prone to accidents. One doubts such a small power would ever use them except in defense or retaliation. The fact that Amerika is now claiming the excerise was a failure sounds like posturing - did they really think an experimental firing was going to travel all the way to Alaska or California and trigger a "real" crisis?

Why no such fuss about Israel's illegal arsenal? Given their recent behaviour, the Zionists seem far more likely to pursue a policy of devastation where their enemies are concerned. Nuclear technology cannot be uninvented. Only nuclear disarmament can reduce the threat of its use and it is the bigwigs like Britain and Amerika that need to set the example. That they are currently building more "second-generation" weapons at huge cost despite so-called non-proliferation treaties is an act of blatent hypocrisy. It is no good thing, but no surprise either, that the other nuclear powers want to remind us that they remain players on the stage of lunatic posturing.

Later.

Later.

Fewer Secrets Please

We Need Fewer Secrets

The link above is to an interesting piece in the Washington Post written by former US president Jimmy Carter.

It has been a long weekend here - hot, sunny and filled with assorted music events. Both Roger Waters and The Who performed in Hyde Park and a Brazilian Festival took place on London's South Bank. The streets between were decorated by the Pride parades on Saturday. Last night it was back to reality with a meeting of the London 911 Truth group. Comments to come in later blogs.

Today is of course Independence Day in Amerika. As they celebrate what passes for their own self-determination, let's hope more of its people pause to consider the extreme lack of "independence" they have inflicted so many others elsewhere in the world.

Two quick plugs. Richard Neville has updated his site with a piece looks at ecology and the approaching oil/water crisis. Artist Caroline Coon has a new gallery at the Saatchi website. Also, that crucial songwriter David Rovics will be back in Europe in a couple of weeks for more gigs.

So, as I gingerly approach the backlog of mail and news ...

Later.

Al Gore with Jon Stewart

Former US vice-president (Clinton era) and latter-day eco-evangelist Al Gore jioned Jon Stewart on the Daily Show Wednesday night. Well worth watching again, this is the full uncut US broadcast and considerably more worthy of your time than the Jonathan Ross with David Cameron interview mentioned below.

Big bashings in Little Britain

It is one of those days where the news is very different wherever you are. The US supreme court delivers a bashing for Bush (the only abstainers were his own recent appointees) and the public at large have delivered a bashing for Blair in the UK. Welcome news of course, but it means Palestine has lost the headlines.

Blair lost two elections - one to an independent and another to his "official" opposition, the conservatives. The latter aren't exactly celbrating though - they won by a narrow margin that showed massive support for the Liberal Democrats. Conservative leader David Cameron may have been hurt by his appearance on a chat show at the weekend - or at least the media coverage of it.

During the show, host Jonathan Ross asked Cameron jokingly if, as a teenager, he had ever masturbated to pictures of Margaret Thatcher. It was the juvenile banter which we expect of Ross and if Cameron had had his wits about him might have replied with "metaphorically yes, physically no" or a similarly humourous anecdote. He couldn't - and that is probably what damaged him. I was actually recording the interview for some parrying on the issue of legalising drugs which I knew was coming. I remember a slight snigger at the Thatcher remarks, but didn;t at the time assign it any importance. Given that all re-runs of the show on the web and elsewhere have now been censored - it looks like I have a collectors item!

The election blows for Blair have been topped here by revelations that his government has been moving to privatise the health service. Some adverts offering tenders went out early and in public thanks to an administrative goof. It's also revealed today that he has spent £1billion on "reforming" an agency (CSA) the result of which has made its functioning considerably worse.

The blow to Bush was initially seen to be a legal declaration that procedeures in Guantanamo Bay were illegal under both United States and International law. The Washington Post dig deeper and consider it A Governing Philosophy Re-buffed. Alternet suggest it is The beginning of the end for exective power itself.

Later.