New Mossad Head Yossi Cohen

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.timesofisrael.com/our-new-spymaster-and-the-demise-of-israeli-politics/ Analysis / Yossi Cohen is now effectively Israel's top diplomat Our new spymaster and the demise of Israeli politics There is an irony at the heart of the Netanyahu premiership — a dramatic consolidation of political power driven by a collapse in Israelis’ faith in such power By Haviv Rettig Gur January 6, 2016, 7:06 am Gur Haviv Rettig Gur is The Times of Israel's senior analyst. On December 7, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an unprecedented and slightly embarrassing press conference to announce that National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen would be appointed the next chief of Israel’s famed Mossad espionage agency. CONTINUED http://www.timesofisrael.com/our-new-spymaster-and-the-demise-of-israeli-politics/ In Summary Netanyahu was late Netanyahu did live camera appearance rare - unless there is political benefit Netanyahu administration -- becoming most centralised & powerful Israel admin -- since David Ben Gurion Mossad -- long-time underground foreign service -- doing diplomatic work -- Mossad in Egypt has more influence -- than official Israel diplomacy in Egypt -- Israel diplo relations focus on national security -- Mossad infiltrates high level foreign govt communications -- Mossad, under Netanyahu, is replacing Foreign Ministry -- re planning & diplomatic agency re:     - Iran nukes     - high level Washington relationships     - high level major Euro capitals relationships     - coordination w/ Arab govts -- Mossad can keep a secret, whereas Israeli normal diplo are leaky -- but key is:  Mossad operates deep w/in scope of PM Office & under PM authority -- Israel coalition govt system -- foreign minister direct political competitor of PM -- thus political interest to clash w/ PM -- Mossad = foreign policy w/out coalition politics interference Netanyahu - address - sees Mossad: 1. operational body; 2. intel agency; 3. forefront of path to diplomatic relations (esp where no formal ties) eg.   UN climate conference Paris, meeting with Arab & Muslim leaders Bibi spin re standing in the "face of radical Islamic forces" & "determined fight against terror" Yossi Cohen -- who led talks w/ Turkish officials in Zurich to restore relations -- effectively Israel's top diplomat, according to Bibi announcement -- PM's right-hand man, charged with handling most strategically critical matters re Israel foreign policy. Bibi address was a muscle-flexing exercise -- showcasing Bibi's own power -- Bibi holds posts of:     - foreign minister     - economy minister     - communications minister     - regional cooperation minister Bibi may fear cabinet-seat imbalance in re coalition -- hence not handing over above portfolios Communications Ministry -- Bibi has kept regulatory powers (communications) -- but appointed ally to the ministry Economy Ministry -- Shas Party -- leader Aryeh Deri 'fled' Nov. -- to avoid using powers to help pass controversial natural gas framework -- advocated by Bibi -- Aryeh Deri traded for something less controversial Foreign Ministry -- former UN ambassador Dore Gold -- Bibi loyalist -- appointed director general -- Bibi (via Dore Gold) -- to keep official diplomatic corps under the thumb -- & out of way of Bibi and Yossi Cohen (Mossad) Yossi Cohen -- originally Mossad deputy head Mossad -- 2013, transfer to Bibi national security adviser -- aim for top Mossad job -- Yossi Cohen = ex-ops man -- becomes Bibi go-between re:  Arab, Euro & US leaders -- speaks English, French & Arabic - advantage -- inexperienced re diplomacy -- disadvantage -- proved himself on the job & thus got top job Mossad Implication: -- even Mossad head believes must be buddies with Bibi -- to meaningfully influence Israel policy Ofer Shelah (fmr journalist) Yesh Atid Member Knesset -- concerned re position Cohen will leave -- concern re lack of independence from Bibi re thought & speech -- independence compromised when closeness to PM is factor in job prospects -- fear adviser will only tell PM what PM wants to hear -- Cohen's successor (presumably national security) -- should be someone experienced in defence w/ no ambition declarations Ofer Saleh Yesh Atid Party -- concern that Israel national security & foreign policy organs -- shifting towards American or French models National Security Adviser -- post was for retired ex-defence heads -- described as 'sidelined post' -- but has become concern for Bibi opponents Netanyahu -- controls mechanisms of policy-making -- wields huge power Political Conditions -- 25 years -- left-right divide -- political experimentation -- issue:  Palestinians Grand Peace Experiments of Elected Israel Leaders Yitzhak Shamir -- acquiescence to US-led multilateral peace talks Yitzhak Rabin -- initiative:   Oslo process (1992) Netanyahu -- Wye agreement -- last signed b/w Israel & Palestine Ehud Barak -- deal w/ Palestinians (Camp David 2000) Ariel Sharon -- unilateral withdrawal from Gaza Ehud Olmert --  campaign promise of withdrawal from West Bank (2006) Israel - Palestinian Explicit Separation Election Campaign Promises won elections: 1992 1999 2006 2000 - Second Intifada 2006 - Second Lebanon War Israelis lose faith re: 1) Palestine holding up peace 2) in leaders urging peace gambles = Israelis unwilling to elect anyone who does not share distrust -- and belief no way out of conflict w/ Palestinians Polls - same ambiguous results for decade: -- majority favour separation from Palestinians -- yet also:  not convinced it can be implemented “The only party for which a majority of the voters think a peace agreement would bring an end to the terror is Meretz (81%).” "... Meretz is also the only Jewish-majority party in the Knesset that still openly advocates a near-term Israeli withdrawal." ** I'm confused:  Israel voters want to withdraw from Palestinian territories? MK Isaac Herzog -- Bibi chief political rival (but not on policy) -- speaker had to shut down microphone & call recess -- when Isaac Herzog speaking -- Knesset almost did a Ukraine: shouting, clapping, pounding desks -- something to do with 'incitement' -- Isaac Herzog challenged Bibi re PA Pres. Mahmoud Abbas -- Herzog said that like Abbas, Bibi does not condemn incitement -- against the president of the State of Israel -- that doesn't make sense to me ... -- unless he's referring to incitement against Abbas? -- lol ... Bibi demands Herzog condemn -- Breaking the Silence -- (ex IDF left-wing protest org IDF occupation) -- Herzog acknowledges they cross the line at times -- but insists Bibi must let ex frontline soldiers express themselves -- Herzog says he's disgusted, but insists on permission to express -- Knesset mayhem ensued, after Bibi & opposition fencing -- loud & shallow show, not substantive debate -- lol ... debates between the two don't involve policy agreements Netanyahu -- Meir Dagan (former Mossad) - critic of Bibi on Iran -- Yuval Diskin (former Shin Bet) - critic of Bibi on Palestine -- Yaakov Peri (former Shin Bet) - critic of Bibi on Palestine Palestine = stalemate Bibi policy = “wait-for-them-to-change” Bibi most effective opponents: -- former heads of security agencies -- criticise him publicly -- but Bibi continues to consult with them (whaaaaa?) Sheldon Adelson -- funds pro-Netanyahu:   Israel Hayom freebie newspaper ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Part summary above. Already did a summary on Israel's view on its neighbours in 2006, just before this, so I'm sort of going to sleep & need a break for a bit. Might watch that Russian documentary:  'World Order' and get back to this later. ꕤ

British In Bed With The Saudis - No Regard for Human Rights - It's A Scam

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/bribery-over-humanity-the-uk-saudi-arabia-and-the-un-human-rights-council/ http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/bribery-over-humanity-the-uk-saudi-arabia-and-the-un-human-rights-council/ January 5, 2016 Bribery over Humanity: The UK, Saudi Arabia and the UN Human Rights Council by Binoy Kampmark Wither human rights – especially when it comes to strategic partnerships. The UK-Saudi Arabia relationship has been one of a seedier sort, filled with military deals, mooted criticism and hedging. When given the John Snow treatment as to what Britain’s role behind securing Saudi Arabia its position on the UN Human Rights Council was, Prime Minister David Cameron fenced furiously before embellishing Riyadh’s value in its relations with the West. [comment:  not sure who John Snow is ... it may be Channel 4 presenter, Jon Snow - here] The paper trail in such matters is always useful, and given that Britain remains one of the most secretive states in the western world, those things are not always easy to come by. Light, however, was already shed by cables released through WikiLeaks suggesting that a degree of haggling had taken place between the states over the subject of compromising human rights. The Saudi cable trove, made available to WikiLeaks last June, has spurred various groups to comb through the foreign ministry collection with an eye to decoding the Kingdom’s sometimes inscrutable positions. The relevant documentation in this case touches on talks between Saudi and British officials ahead of the November 2013 vote on membership of the 47 member body. Cables from January and February 2013, separately translated by UN Watch and The Australian, discloses proposed positions of support. One cable posits how, “The [Saudi] delegation is honoured to send to the ministry the enclosed memorandum, which the delegation has received from the permanent mission of the United Kingdom asking it for the support and backing of their country to the membership of the human rights council (HRC) for the period 2014-2016, in the elections that will take place in 2013 in the city of New York.” It goes on to say how, “The ministry might find it an opportunity to exchange support with the United Kingdom, where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia would support the candidacy of the United Kingdom to the membership of the council for the period 2014-2015 in exchange for the support of the United Kingdom to the candidacy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” The cables also reveal how money was expended for the campaign to gain the seat, noting a transfer of $100,000 for “expenditures resulting from the campaign to nominate the Kingdom for membership of the human rights council for the period 2014-2016.” While the itemisation of that item is not available, the Kingdom’s record on sugaring and softening its counterparts to improve its image is well known. A spokesman from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office attempted to nip any suspicions in the bud in rather unconvincing fashion. “Saudi Arabia took part in an uncontested election for a seat as one of the Asian Group members in the UN’s Human Rights Council.” Besides, the UK’s position, so went the argument, was of no consequence, whatever might have been said behind closed doors. The UK might not publicise “how it votes” but as “this was not a contested election within the Asian Group… the UK’s vote was immaterial.” The situation has also been further excited by the mass execution on Saturday of 47 individuals, including the outspoken Shia cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr. It was the largest show of death put on by the Kingdom since 1980. Neither the Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett or Tim Farron of the Liberal Democrats, could let that one pass. “In light of the weekend’s events,” claimed Bennett, “the government should be launching an inquiry to establish who made the decision to so abuse the UN process and the principle of universal human rights.” The perennial problem here is that any government inquiry tends to be an exercise of exculpation rather than revelation. [comment:  eluding responsibility rather than fact-finding / exposing] The response from the British FCO to the spectacular bloodletting on Saturday was of the tepid, pedestrian variety, taken straight out of its precedent book of tepid, pedestrian responses. “The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. The death penalty undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent.” The statement goes on to suggest that the foreign secretary is doing his job, regularly raising “human rights issues with his counterparts in countries of concern, including Saudi Arabia. We seek to build strong and mature relationships so that we can be candid with each other about these areas on which we do not agree, including on human rights.” So candid were these exchanges, they led to a compromise regarding Britain’s own stance on human rights abuses. If anything, it induced a cynical caricature, one of positioning and sponsorship for an image distinctly at odds with the reality. For Riyadh, this could not be seen as anything other than a coup in international diplomacy. The Kingdom had found its own useful, complicit fool. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email:  bkampmark@gmail.com http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/bribery-over-humanity-the-uk-saudi-arabia-and-the-un-human-rights-council/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT The human rights topic is wasted on me. As I see things, universal human rights principles are just a means of (a) interfering with other nations (bullying, shaming, undermining, pressuring, smearing, fomenting dissent etc), while maintaining pious intentions; and (b) a means of politically assaulting and manipulating domestic political opponents (or other targets), in the usual guise of 'concern', 'condemnation' and other holier than thou rubuke, or whatever else. I highly doubt that those at the top end of national government (whoever they may be) actually consider the notion of 'human rights' (and certainly not domestic rights), as they plot their way to domination and exploitation of whatever is coveted and targeted for gain, on behalf of whoever their masters may be. Western governments that pour billions of dollars (while depriving their own citizens and/or condemning them to generations of debt slavery to finance wars etc), Western governments that supply tons of arms over decades of relentless interference in the affairs of foreign targets, with the aim of destabilising sovereign states, when they're not raining down tons of bombs, or otherwise pursuing regime change, faking reasons to wage war, waging war illegally and destroying entire regions, regardless of the grand scale of destruction and number of direct and indirect deaths, probably don't really care much for universal human rights principles ... or much beyond the principles of self-interest. The British Foreign Office personnel wouldn't lose any sleep over beheadings in Saudi Arabia.   In fact, they're probably in favour of whatever blood-letting it takes the Saudis, if it serves to preserve the power of the Saudis (whom the British installed on the throne), because the British elite interests and the Saudi elite interests coincide beyond the UNHRC body. The rote non-statement 'nowhere' response, that serves to create an appearance of an appropriate official 'response', must be standard practice in British politics -- and maybe all politics.  I've not really been listening. Getting a bit off topic:  what's the bet that the following isn't an aberration, and that it's also a standard British political manoeuvre?   No Evidence of Iran’s role in violence and instability in Iraq – confirms British Foreign Minister by Mehrnaz Shahabi(CASMII Columns) Wednesday, July 18, 2007 David Milliband, British foreign secretary, confirmed in an interview (1) with the Financial times, 8th July, that there is no evidence of Iranian complicity in instability in Iraq or attacks on British troops: Asked by the FT, “What do you think of Iran’s complicity in attacks on British soldiers in Basra”?, Miliband’s first response was, “Well, I think that any evidence of Iranian engagement there is to be deplored. I think that we need regional players to be supporting stability, not fomenting discord, never mind death. And as I said at the beginning, Iran has a complete right, and we support the idea that Iran should be a wealthy and respected part of the future. But it does not have the right to be a force of instability”. However, prompted more closely, “Just to be clear, there is evidence?”, he replied, “Well no, I chose my words carefully…”. This confession came in the context of an implied accusation or a not so subtle suggestion of Iranian role in the instability in Iraq which seem to have stimulated the question “There is evidence?”, to which the reply “Well no …”; a possible disappointment, was nonetheless crystal clear: There is no evidence. Contextually, this important admission by the British Foreign Minister of absence of any evidence linking Iran to the violence and instability in Iraq was preceded by the discussion about Iran’s nuclear programme and Britain’s readiness to impose another set of punishing sanctions on Iranian people, for Iran’s non-compliance with the security council’s resolutions which have no basis in international law, imposed based on supposed suspicions for which again, there is no evidence. [...] CONTINUED http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/?q=node/2609 In Summary FT did not dwell on Milibrand admission FT had published without evidence that Iran govt cooperation w/ al-Qaeda using Iran territory for launching anti-coalition ops in Iraq mainstream media response re Milibrand admission, also silence war media / orchestrated chorus "finding shadows of Iranian culprits at every corner" Tape of Abu Omar al Baghdadi al-Qaeda Iraq leader released by Associated Press >> threatens to war w/ Iran  >> unless Iran stops supporting Shia in Iraq >> no USA govt response >> absence of media interest That caught my eye somewhere today (not sure what I was reading) ... and it sort of stuck. Lucky the Financial Times guy followed up the misleading statement with a clarifying question.  lol EDIT:  It looks like FT itself didn't then follow up further on the Milibrand admission, nor did the media in general. This is the funniest British-Saudi image I could find.  Not sure how accurate it is -- as in, who is really in control in this relationship?  [CLICK image for clarity / enlargement] ꕤ COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ꕤ

The Rape of Germany - German Women Urged by Cologne Mayor: to Alter Their Behaviour & Culture To Accommmodate Foreign Rapists

ꕤ Article SOURCE AS MARKED https://www.rt.com/news/328045-cologne-women-sexual-violence/ Hundreds rally against sexual violence after NYE attacks in Cologne Published time: 6 Jan, 2016 04:15 Several hundred people have rallied in Cologne in protest against heightened trouble stemming from the migrant community, and the authorities’ failure to intervene and prevent the dozens of sexual assaults which took place during wild New Year celebrations. Organized via social networks, hundreds of men and women demonstrated against the intolerable levels of abuse witnessed by women at the hands of the male refugee community at Cologne’s main train station on New Year’s night. So far some 90 women have reported being sexually molested, threatened and robbed outside Cologne Cathedral by men of “Arab or North African” origin, police said on Tuesday. READ MORE: Locals voice fears, minister vows punishment after 'Arab' crowd blamed for sex assaults in Cologne Addressing a crowd of up to 500 citizen activists, speakers took turns raising their concerns to the public, urging authorities to defend female integrity. Again and again the question was raised of what was law enforcement had been doing on that night to allow such large scale attacks to happen. Those gathered at the scene of the crimes slammed the government's open door refugee policy, enacted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in September. Women held up signs reading, “Mrs Merkel – Where are you?” and “Thank you [Cologne Mayor] Mrs. Reker. Arm Cologne.” The mass attack on women in the middle of the city around Cologne Central Station on New Year's happened to the loud cheers of festivities. Up to 1,000 men could be suspects in what the authorities called a “crime of a whole new dimension.” To quell the New Year’s disturbance in the city, authorities eventually deployed more than 200 officers, involving 143 local policemen in addition to 70 federal officers. So far fewer than a dozen arrests have been made. Tuesday’s rally to protect women’s rights came after Mayor Henriette Reker held a crisis meeting with Chief of Police, Wolfgang Albers, and head of federal police, Wolfgang Wurm, where she urged women to adopt a “code of conduct.” “It is important to prevent such incidents from ever happening again,” Reker said according to RP Online. The code includes advice to maintain a distance of an arm’s length from strangers, not to walk alone at night, to conjugate with a team of friends, to ask bystanders for help and to inform the authorities of an assault. Reker also called for a “better explanation” of acceptable behavior at public gatherings to the city’s migrant community, as she pledged to step up security ahead of next month’s Cologne Carnival. “We need to prevent confusion about what constitutes happy behavior and what is utterly separate from openness, especially in sexual behavior,” she said, promising to beef up security at mass events. The mayor also called for new regulations requiring event organizers to place temporary video surveillance at public gatherings. The mayor also revealed that the same kind of New Year’s chaos in Cologne has also happened elsewhere in Germany. “We have heard by now that they [the attacks] have occurred in other cities. This of course is not comforting to us.” In addition to Cologne attacks by migrants on women were apparently reported in Hamburg. At least ten cases were reported over the night of New Year in the St. Pauli district. According to the city’s police, victims had been approached by several men of “southern or Arab appearance” on Beatles Platz and in the Grosse Freiheit, who sexually harassed women aged 18 to 24. Assaults on women have also taken place in Stuttgart where two 18-year-old women had reportedly been sexually abused and robbed by a group of over a dozen men on New Year’s Eve. https://www.rt.com/news/328045-cologne-women-sexual-violence/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT This is f%$#@%g outrage. German authorities opened their doors to mass third world population transfer that has flooded Europe for (a) economic reasons and (b) displacement due to serial American, Western European, and Arab allied military interventions in a string of Middle Eastern and African countries, spanning decades. Western working classes have borne the brunt of the many and enduring (and irrevocable) costs (along with persistently raped women and girls of Europe) on a long-term basis AND not just on New Year's Eve in Cologne:   while the European politicians, European police and complicit media have covered up what is an ongoing pattern of migrant sexual assault  crimes targeting European women. Anti-immigration public protests in the many thousands have been been ignored by warmonger and corporate/banker serving European politicians. Europe’s Rape Epidemic: Western Women Will Be Sacrificed At The Altar Of Mass Migration by Anne-Marie Waters  |  6 Oct 2015 http://www.breitbart.com/london/2015/10/06/europes-rape-epidemic-western-women-will-be-sacrificed-at-the-alter-of-mass-migration/ The New Year's Eve mayhem, when taking into account a consistent pattern of non-European migrant violence and sexual assault upon European women (and other criminal mayhem) -- often immediately upon arrival in Europe and, known for generations beyond -- should have been anticipated by the grossly negligent German authorities. http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1754 Raped in Oslo From the desk of Fjordman on Wed, 2006-12-13 08:23 The number of rapes in the Norwegian capital Oslo is six times as high as in New York City. I’ve written about the issue of rape and Muslim immigration so many times that I am, quite frankly, a bit tired of the subject. But as we all know, problems don’t disappear just because you are tired of talking about them, so here goes. There has been an explosive increase in the number of rape charges in the city of Oslo, but both the media and the authorities consistently refuse to tell us why. They did do so, however, in 2001, when two out of Norway's three largest newspapers, Aftenposten and Dagbladet, reported that most of these rape charges involve an immigrant perp, which again mostly means Muslims. Both newspapers have since then conveniently “forgotten” about this, and have never connected the issue to Muslim immigration although the number of rape charges has continued to rise to historic levels. They are thus at best guilty of extreme incompetence, since their former articles about this issue are still available online. Norway’s Minister of Justice from 2001 to 2005, Odd Einar Dørum, mentioned the problem in 2001 but has later gone quiet about the issue. The reported number of rapes in Oslo is now six – 6! – times as high per capita as in New York City, yet the media keeps warning against Islamophobia. According to Aftenposten, the clinic (voldtektsmottak) at the emergency hospital known as Legevakt has never had so many rape victims to treat. Its ability to care for them all is being severely tested. The number of reported rapes has skyrocketed this year. Two out of three charged with rape in Norway’s capital are immigrants with a non-western background according to a police study. The number of rape cases is also rising steadily. Unni Wikan, a professor of social anthropology at the University of Oslo, in 2001 said that “Norwegian women must take their share of responsibility for these rapes” because Muslim men found their manner of dress provocative. The professor’s conclusion was not that Muslim men living in the West needed to adjust to Western norms, but the exact opposite: “Norwegian women must realize that we live in a Multicultural society and adapt themselves to it.” http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1754 It's appalling that the civil liberties of Europeans are being eroded and infringed upon by the authorities, and that German authorities are demanding that German women restrict their freedoms in order not to get raped by foreigners.  But this violation, outrage, and insult to European women has not been publicly uttered for first time in Europe:  see article re this exact issue and this exact response by an academic in Norway (article above & here) -- as far back as 2001. Hello?  In 2001, when the academic advised Norwegian women to adapt to rape by foreigners,  there was war on Afghanistan (commencing 2001).  At the time of the 2006 article the professor is mentioned in, there was war in Afghanistan as well as Iraq, following illegal invasion of Iraq (2003). Actually, the US had been supplying and backing the Taliban mujahadeen (same 'difference' ... militant Islamists) versus the Russians (who were backing the then, Russian aligned, Afghan government 1979-1989), as I understand, and what followed (after Russian withdrawal in 1989) was civil war in Afghanistan (the result of power vacuum, manifested by USA interference & arming of Taliban mujahadeen opposition) -- so those rapists of Western European women are the result of American interference in Afghanistan & European complicity & open-door policy, I gather.  Civil war in Afghanistan (1996-2001) - here. mujahadeen = plural for 'mujahid':  one who engages in jihad (holy war) - here & here CIA:  Operation Cyclone -- CIA program -- to arm & finance Afghani mujahadeen -- prior to & during -- Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-1989) -- CIA supported militant Islamic groups -- favoured by neighbouring Pakistan -- versus: Marxist-oriented Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Operation Cyclone -- longest & most expensive CIA operations EVER -- $20-$30 milllion per year, commending 1980 -- $630 million per year, at 1987 -- funding continued after 1989 -- throughout Afghan civil war (1989-1992) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cyclone THEREFORE:  America has been involved in destabilising Afghanistan (and the region, no doubt) for over 37 successive years -- and has invested a lot of US taxpayer money in securing the spoils of the region (on behalf of US elite interests that are being served:  paid for by generations of masses (ie debt-slaves)).  Europe is the mop-up man who gets the human 'blow-back' from the American (& European elite's) Middle Eastern decades long take-over enterprise agenda. Does that look about right? It does to me. As CIA (America) began arming Islamists before the Soviet Afghan war, I'm guessing that CIA was engineering their speciality in Afghanistan before the 1979 Soviet invasion:  regime change. So, however you look at this, the women of Cologne and the women of Western Europe (who have been raped for decades) continue to be raped, while Europe itself is about to be raped and destroyed:  thanks to America & its partners.  And the Americans (& elite friends) can also take a bow for the subsequent emergence of mass surveillance and totalitarianism in the West, along with the emergence of CIA funded & supported militant Islamism across the Middle East (& Africa, no doubt). Probably additional third world targets during those periods also, but I've not checked. Anyway, here's the non-European third world war and sundry displacements being imposed on Europe.  By 2001, there was already a problem in northern European countries (hence the Norwegian academics two bob's (input)). Therefore, European politicians, law enforcement and complicit media (and Western intelligentsia generally), were not only sitting on this problem and hushing it up for 15 YEARS now, but were/are also party to CREATING this problem & forcing it upon the vulnerable public of Europe (women, working classes & the vulnerable in the community), in the first place. The German public (as a whole) are also expected to be subjected to additional surveillance.  In this case, video cameras at public events.  However, the mass surveillance regime (in wider terms) is a consequence of the insanity of simultaneously permitting mass non-European immigration from backward, religiously fanatic and militant regions (thus potential terrorists), that Western European authorities also happen to be party to militarily assaulting, along with their Gulf Arab and American allies, rendering the said potential terrorists likely terrorists among the host populations (I'm referring to percentages of such populations).  The proposed 'acceptable' behaviour lessons are a f%$#@%g joke, Germany. As if these disgusting creatures don't know that it's unacceptable to rape and assault women, for which they'd probably be beheaded, hanged, or stoned in their homelands -- if not carved up, or dragged around the streets by rope & motor vehicle, by displeased vigilante families. It is an act of violence and an act of gross disrespect to the host communities. These people should have been assisted in situ, well away from European shores.  As for those that were permitted onto European soil, quarantine apart from host communities should have been put in place from the onset, until such time as processing (or deportation) has been completed. Instant deportation is the only sensible course of action for violators of any local laws, but, of course, Germany hasn't the will or the balls -- and deportation is almost impossible to effect, once foreign invasion is permitted onto one's soil. Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker  has been stabbed in the neck over support for the unwanted mass, non-European immigration that has resulted in ongoing chaos, violence, and rapes by foreigners in Germany, and more widely in Western European host communities -- for years. It's not merely 'right-wing' supporters (as spun in the corporate media) that object to imposition of inassimilable, foreign mass population transfer on their homelands (de facto invasion):  everyday Europeans have been fed up for years. I'm surprised Europeans haven't taken up arms yet, and that there isn't a civil war over the potentially irreversible destruction that Western European politicians have imposed upon European nations. Going by the Sydney Morning Herald article (Australia), it looks like Australians don't even get the full news -- Australians get news lite, minus key facts. It should be pointed out that the issues at stake go well beyond the rape of European women:  this the path to rape and destruction of Europe itself. Europe is finished if Europe does not act now. Cologne mayor candidate stabbed in Germany, police say Date  |  October 18, 2015 Attacked: Cologne mayor candidate Henriette Reker Berlin: An independent candidate running for mayor of the German city of Cologne was stabbed in the neck and severely wounded on Saturday while she was campaigning in the city, police said. Henriette Reker and an aide were both severely injured by the attacker, a 44-year-old man, police said. Three other people who came to their assistance were also injured, though not severely. Police said the attacker stabbed Reker and her aide about 9am (6pm AEDT) at an information stand for the Christian Democrats (CDU), Chancellor Angela Merkel's party. The other three people were injured immediately afterwards. [ ... CONTINUED ... ] http://www.smh.com.au/world/cologne-mayor-candidate-stabbed-in-germany-police-say-20151017-gkbrw2.html Cologne mayor candidate stabbed in Germany, police say German politician stabbed in the neck over liberal immigration views Jen Mills for Metro.co.uk   |  Sunday 18 Oct 2015 1:10 pm A German politician active in helping refugees was stabbed and seriously wounded yesterday in a ‘racist, political’ attack. Henriette Reker, a mayoral candidate known for her liberal views on immigration, was targeted on Saturday in the middle of an open air market in Cologne. Her assailant is said to have told police he stabbed her in the neck because he was angry she supported asylum seekers coming to Germany. In a press conference, police official Norbert Wagner said the 44-year-old attacker was arrested at the scene and admitted he had a ‘a racist motivation for committing this act’. German leader Angela Merkel expressed her ‘shock’ over the attack, CNN reported. It came as Merkel, who has pushed for a fairer distribution of refugees across the EU, prepared to travel to Turkey for talks with the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. More than 630,000 people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa have made the journey to Europe this year, many risking crossing the Mediterranean by boat. Germany has said it will accept Syrian refugees and expects to take in one million this year. But the policy has not been welcomed by all in Germany and has been greeted by a growing number of far-right protests. http://metro.co.uk/2015/10/18/german-politician-stabbed-in-the-neck-over-liberal-immigration-views-5446755/ NOTE: REFUSAL TO ACCEPT INVASION IS NOT MERELY A 'FAR RIGHT' ISSUE (as consistently & fraudulently portrayed in corporate Western media). ꕤ

One Man War on Tor

ꕤ Unofficial / 'Civvies' FBI Support for Tor? LINK | Vice Article [ CLICK image to enlarge / for clarity] One Man War on Tor [ CLICK image to enlarge / for clarity] [ CLICK image to enlarge / for clarity] Tor Project Runs Away From Public Questions at 32c3 Dec 29, 2015 http://surveillancevalley.net/blog/tor-project-runs-away-from-public-questions-at-32c3 Tor military contractors try to shut down my reporting Dec 27, 2015 http://surveillancevalley.net/blog/tor-military-contractors-try-to-shutdown-my-reporting [ CLICK image to enlarge / for clarity] What Snowden won't tell you: The conflicted government ties of the Tor Project Oct 11, 2015 http://surveillancevalley.net/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-tor-project ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- US Politics | Koch Industries A People’s History of Koch Industries: How Stalin Funded the Tea Party Movement http://exiledonline.com/a-peoples-history-of-koch-industries-how-stalin-funded-the-tea-party-movement/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- [Tor's a privacy browser]   No time to properly read all of these right now, but I think the one-man-war on Tor is interesting, as is the lengthy Koch Industries article, I would say. These are on the 'to-see' list. The Tor 'debate' has been ongoing for a while, I think. Not sure what the go is with Tor.   I've no idea if it secure or not, or whether it's part of some US regime change greater strategy. It's not the end of my world if it's not 100% secure, because the most I'd ever probably want to do with Tor would be to maybe bypass censorship or something like that. ꕤ

GIF - White House

ꕤ Kim Jong-un Checking Out White House ❤ Via Twitter ❣ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Thought this was hilarious and too good not to share. I love Kim Jong-un. Not sure if this has come up OK (as I don't have the plug-in). If not, link to source - here. Uh-oh North Korea has successfully tested hydrogen bomb. 06 January 2016 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- This is also too good not to share: Polenta With Parmesan and Olive Oil Fried Eggs| NYT The spinach is a must.  Yummmmm. On my to-do list. ꕤ

Andrew Wilkie (TAS) - Warns Parliament: Australia - Police State

ꕤ Andrew Wilkie Warns Parliament Australia - Police State 10 September 2015 Source:  YouTube LINK  |  Wilkie Site OFFICIAL VERSION - LINK PDF| HERE MY TRANSCRIPT [For quotation purposes, confirm audio or official version] ** NOTE ** Square brackets signify my edit, and the headings in the list of ten are headings I have devised re each of the points made by Wilkie (rather than spoken/dictated as headings by Wilkie).   Andrew Wilkie Warns Parliament Australia - Police State https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoIXn066vj4&feature=youtu.be Andrew Wilkie Member for Denison, TAS Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Anything that diminishes the protection for the environment is obviously wrong and to be resisted, Deputy Speaker. So, too, to deny some Australian citizens the right to access all aspects of the legal system — no matter what the matter is — or to deny some Australian citizens the right to judicial view, in particular, is self-evidently wrong. In fact, anything that diminishes the protection of the environment —  anything that diminishes the rights of our citizens — is so self-evidently wrong that it's quite remarkable that it's come before the parliament and that we're even needing to debate the rights and wrongs of these issues. It is also wrong for us to look at these issues in isolation, because, Deputy Speaker, I suggest we need to take a step back at this point and have a look at the direction our country is going in a whole range of ways and, in particular, the direction we are going about the rights of our citizens and the way in which the rights of our citizens and our groups, be it environmental groups or any other groups, are slowly being diminished, in an incremental way; because, when you take a step back and you look at a whole range of decisions that have been made by this and previous governments, including the bill that's before parliament today, that would deny some Australians to access all aspects of the legal system, you can draw a conclusion that Australia has reached the stage of being almost in a pre police-state, where the rights of citizens have been diminished so far, where the power of the state has increased so much, that we are in, what I'll characterise as, a pre police-state. Deputy Speaker, when I turned my mind to this issue today and to preparing this speech, it took me very little time to quickly come up with some ten (10) characteristics of a pre police-state which exists in Australia right now, and I will quickly rattle through them, if you don't mind, Deputy Speaker. No. 1 - Australia Police State Characteristic [MASS SURVEILLANCE] For a start, the way all members of a community are now monitored by the state, on account of mandatory metadata retention, which passed this parliament some time ago, is already in law and will be implemented from next month. The community needs to understand that from next month, every phone call they make, every website they visit, every location signal sent from their mobile phone or other mobile device — electronic device — will be recorded by law, and can be accessed by the security services without warrant. This is something that has been rejected by many other developed countries. The scale of the mandatory metadata retention, which is being implemented in this country from next month, is almost unprecedented around the world in any developed country or democracy. No. 2 - Australia Police State Characteristic [MANIPULATION OF PRESS / MEDIA] Another characteristic of a pre police-state:  the way the media is being manipulated in this country. We have seen:  the way funding for independent broadcasters, the ABC and the SBS have been reduced; We have seen:  the way government ministers have bullied the ABC, bullied the Fairfax papers, have bullied some of the News Limited papers, at least the tabloids; We have seen:  the way, in this country, the Australian spreadsheet [ie broadsheet / newspaper format] has now become almost like Pravda was in the Soviet Union, as the official organ of the Australian Liberal Party. Again, this is a characteristic of a pre police-state, the way the media is being used and manipulated. No. 3 - Australia Police State Characteristic [MANIPULATION OF JUDICIARY] Another characteristic of a pre police-state is the manipulation of the judiciary, and it is remarkable that the government, Deputy Speaker, sees nothing wrong — nothing wrong at all —  in the fact that a Royal Commissioner would agree to go to a party political event. No. 4 - Australia Police State Characteristic [STATE SECRECY - OPACITY - LACK OF TRANSPARENCY] Another characteristic of a pre police-state, Deputy Speaker, is the secrecy that we see with this government and the ludicrous level of secrecy that surrounds our response to irregular immigration, and the development of this term,'on water operations', whatever that is. All we know is that it is some sort of term that means, we're not going to tell you what's going on, even it is being paid for by you and even if it is being done in your name, even if is of very great humanitarian significance. No. 5 - Australia Police State Characteristic [NO EVIDENCE REQUIRED FOR ARRESTS - MERE SUSPICION OF 'TERRORISM'] Another characteristic of a pre police-state:  the fact that in law, in this country now, you can be arrested on suspicion, in the absence of any hard evidence, when it comes to terrorism. This, of course, is contained in one of the approximately [seventy (70)] separate pieces of legislation that have passed the Australian parliaments since 9/11 [ie 2001]. The fact that in Australia you can be arrested, in the absence of hard evidence, just on suspicion of thinking that you are going to do something in the future. No. 6 - Australia Police State Characteristic [DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL / INDEFINITE DETENTION] Another characteristic of a pre police-state — something that we see in Australia — is the fact that, in Australia, some people can be incarcerated indefinitely without a trial, and that's exactly what we are doing to some asylum seekers who are being incarcerated seemingly indefinitely, definitely without trial, in third countries where we send them to, when we send them to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea or to the Republic of Nauru. No. 7 - Australia Police State Characteristic [CONTEMPT FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW & INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS] Another characteristic of a pre police-state, Deputy Speaker, is that — there's no shortage of things I can rattle off here — is the fact that this government now shows complete and utter disregard for international law and any number of international agreements, that previous governments have agreed to. For instance, this government, ignores their own statute. This government ignores the Refugee Convention; this government ignores the Convention of the Rights of the Child, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A healthy democracy, on that respects the rule of law, one that respects the rights of its citizens, one that respects the rights of the citizens of other countries, is a government that respects international law and international agreements. No. 8 - Australia Police State Characteristic [ELECTED REPS OF PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT FORBIDDEN TO DEBATE & DECIDE RE IMPORTANT STATE MATTERS — EG. WAR / USE OF FORCE] Deputy Speaker, another characteristic of a pre police-state, is one in which the parliament, the elected representatives of the people, are forbidden to debate and decide on important matters of state. I mean, we had this situation yesterday where the government, in secret, decided to start bombing the sovereign state of Syria, and the matter was never allowed to be debated by the parliament, [and] was never voted on by the parliament. This makes Australia almost unique among our allies and among many developed countries:  the fact that in this country the parliament is not involved — is not allowed to be involved — in decisions about waging war. In the United States, the Congress has to debate and vote on declaring war. France, Germany, the Netherlands, their parliaments all are required by law to debate and vote on the use of force. Even in the United Kingdom, where it's not law, it's certainly convention, that the House of Commons, these days, will debate and decide on whether or not British military forces are committed to a conflict. But not in Australia.  Not in our pre police-state, where the parliament is not allowed even to have a proper debate — let alone a vote — about these sorts of matters. No. 9 - Australia Police State Characteristic [ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY / SYSTEM SAFEGUARD MECHANISMS] Deputy Speaker, another characteristic of a pre police-state we see in this country these days is the way our safeguard mechanisms are disregarded, or even bullied, if they get in the government's way. We saw the terrible treatment of the Human Rights Commissioner [Prof Gillian Triggs] when she spoke on the issue of asylum seekers. A good government, in a healthy democracy, would have listened to the Human Rights Commissioner, would have listened very carefully and would have been very careful to take the Human Rights Commissioner's advice and be seen to take that advice, but, instead, what we saw was a conga line of ministers all lining up to have a go at her, and to bully her. That is how an autocratic regime acts.  It is not how a democratically elected government would act.  It's not how our government should act.  It was a shame on this government the way it treated the Human Rights Commissioner. No. 10 - Australia Police State Characteristic [SECURITY AGENCIES - EXCEED LAWFUL POWERS] Another characteristic of a pre police-state, Deputy Speaker, is when security agencies start acting beyond their lawful powers. Although it was eventually halted, in the face of overwhelming public concern and protest, the fact that the  Australian Border Force (ABF) thought it was OK to conduct an operation on the streets of Melbourne, a few weeks ago now, where it would have acted unlawfully—         [ INTERJECTION  - male voice ]         "You know that's not right.  Stop telling lies." —by stopping people on the street to check their papers, so to speak, something that is not allowed in the Act:  beyond their legal power. But was there any legal condemnation from this government over this?  Was anyone sacked?  Was anyone held to account?  No. All we heard from the relevant minister, in interview after interview, were attempts to try and downplay the matter and say that:  ah, look, it wasn't that big a deal and it was just a badly worded press release. Well, no, it wasn't a badly worded press release.  It was worded exactly the way the Australian border force had intended for it to be worded.  A press release that went to the Minister's office beforehand — we're not sure exactly how many times — it seems to have been at least twice, perhaps three times, perhaps more. Now, Deputy Speaker, that's a long and pretty painful list to go through. But if I could come up with ten (10) characteristics of a police state and jot them down in a matter of minutes this morning, and I'm sure I could add to that with any number of other ways in which our democracy is diminished right now, what does it say about our country? And it puts this bill in quite a different light. If we were a healthy democracy without that list of ten (10) characteristics of a police state, if this bill just came in fresh and there was nothing else going on around us, maybe we would respond to it differently. I don't think we would, actually. I don't think we would, actually, Deputy Speaker, because I think — well, I know it's obviously — it's self-evident we shouldn't diminish the protections for the environment; it's self-evident that we shouldn't deny some members of the community (or some groups within the community) the right to access all aspects of our legal system, including judicial review. So it's a serious matter in its own right in this bill that's before the parliament.  But when you put it in the context of all of the other things that have gone on in recent years in this country, you start to understand that this country, not only is going in the wrong direction, but we've gone a long way in the wrong direction. And when you look back at history, and when you look at the lessons of history, when you look at once great countries that deteriorated over time, or their democracy deteriorated over time — and some even ultimately became police states — you see that often it happened incrementally.  Often, it didn't happen with one seismic event where a dictator came to power. Sometimes, these autocratic regimes were democratically elected and over time, bit by bit, the country deteriorated:  its democracy deteriorated, it's democracy was diminished, bit by bit, and then one day the community woke up and asked: How on earth did we get here? How on earth did we allow ourselves to now be living in a country that is so bad, that is so far removed from the wonderful democracy it once was? How on earth did we allow a democratically elected government to bit by bit, incrementally, one bill at a time, take us so far away from the healthy, wonderful democracy we once had? One of the problems, Deputy Speaker is, bit by bit, things become normal.  We get used to one little bit, then there's another little bit:  another bill. I've made the point that since 9/11 [ie 2001], there's been about seventy (70) separate pieces of legislation in this country to do with our national security, even though it could be argued that our laws at the time of 9/11 in 2001, were just about right:  it was clearly as serious criminal offence to murder back then.  It still is now. There is now doubt that much of that legislation, contained in those seventy (70) or so bills, is unnecessary.  We have gone too far in that regard. We must, however, ensure that we keep our safeguards in place. And that's one of the reasons that this bill is so bad:  that we would think it OK to deny some Australians their lawful access to the [inaudible/cross-talk]. — END VIDEO / AUDIO — ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Andrew Damien Wilkie b. Tamworth, NSW (54 years) appears very much a military man (formerly married to fellow army officer) Profession:  Soldier, intelligence officer Royal Military College, Duntroon (1984) University of NSW, BA Grad. Dips. Management & Defence Studies Armed forces rank:  Lieutenant Colonel Office of National Assessments (ONA) intel agency - 1999-2000 Raytheon, US defence co. Raythoen world's largest producer guided missiles ONA - again - (post 9/11 attacks) / intel agency / 2003 - resigned from ONA / (objected to Iraq invasion) Later, provided evidence to British & Australian inquiries re government involvement Iraq War published:  Axis of Deceit (2004) | here describes views on intel agencies & analysts' work history of Iraq War untruths of politicians & suppression of truth former Australian Greens member (resigned 2008) Independent member for Australian Parliament for Denison assumed office:  21 Aug 2010 source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wilkie ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Australian Treaty Series 1954 No 5 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (Geneva, 28 July 1951) http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1954/5.html Australian Treaty Series 1991 No 4 Convention on the Rights of the Child (New York, 20 November 1989) Entry into force generally: 2 September 1990 Entry into force for Australia: 16 January 1991 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1991/4.html International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (New York, 16 December 1966) Entry into force generally (except Article 41): 23 March 1976 Entry into force for Australia (except Article 41): 13 November 1980 Article 41 came into force generally on 28 March 1979 and for Australia on 28 January 1993 http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1980/23.html ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- Prof Gillian Triggs President Human Rights Commission Australian academic specialising in public international law Other: education:  University of Melbourne / crowned Miss University in 1966 husband:  Alan Brown, former Australian diplomat [source:  AAW] ABC - Prof Gillian Triggs http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-30/record-on-asylum-seekers-may-hurt-un-council-bid-gillian-triggs/6816498 Australian Border Force (ABF) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Border_Force ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- HUMOUR [CLICK image to enlarge] [CLICK image to enlarge] Closed Caption Gone Wrong ... lol OK, it's not that funny. But I thought it was rather funny at the time.   ;) Andrew Wilkie sounds really cool. I'm sure I'm on my way to developing a military fetish.  ;) Was shocked to find he's a military guy. Would have thought all the military personnel (or former military) would be really uptight pro police state types. Apparently not.  lol Like the sound of Wilkie. I'm not so much into the pro international laws & promotion of refugees' interests aspect; I'm more into the pro civil liberties and freedom from police-state aspect and pro interests of working classes, and am otherwise strongly in favour of strict immigration controls (which puts me at odds with the liberal left, humanitarians, and similar vocal others in the West). ꕤ