Something Stinks: British Detention & FBI Investigation

Court reveals FBI still investigating WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Date     March 5, 2015 - 2:21PM     -     Philip Dorling A United States court has confirmed that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is still being targeted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation more than five years after the anti-secrecy website's first publication of a secret diplomatic cable leaked by US soldier Chelsea Manning. In a judgment handed down on March 4, 2015, US District Court judge Barbara Rothstein has stated that the FBI and the US Department of Justice are still pursuing an "ongoing criminal investigation of WikiLeaks" arising from the leaks of classified information by private Manning in early 2010. In largely rejecting an application by the US Electronic Privacy Information Centre for release of documents under US freedom of information laws, Judge Rothstein accepted FBI and Justice Department claims that the disclosure of any information would prejudice a "multi-subject investigation" into WikiLeaks that is "still active and ongoing." Judge Rothstein found that the FBI and Justice Department's National Security and Criminal Justice Divisions provided "sufficient specificity as to the status of the investigation, and sufficient explanation as to why the investigation is of long-term duration." She also confirmed that the WikiLeaks investigation is "separate and distinct" from the investigation and prosecution of private Manning who was convicted by a US military court of espionage and other offences in July 2013 and sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment. Judge Rothstein accepted claims by the FBI Justice Department that disclosure of any details about the investigation could "expose the scope and methods of the investigation, and tip-off subjects and other persons of investigative interest". The judge said she gave "appropriate defence to the executive on issues of national security..." In January it was revealed that that three journalists who have worked for WikiLeaks since 2010 – Sarah Harrison, Joseph Farrell and Kristinn Hrafnsson – had been informed by Google that all their Gmail account content, metadata, subscriber information, and other content were provided to US federal law enforcement in response to search warrants issued in March 2012. US laws referenced in the search warrants related to espionage, conspiracy, theft of US government property and computer fraud and abuse. WikiLeaks first published a US diplomatic cable leaked by Private Manning in February 2010. The anti-secrecy website subsequently published tens of thousands of secret documents covering US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and the conduct of US diplomacy. Australian diplomatic cables released to Fairfax Media under freedom-of-information laws later revealed that in December 2010 senior Justice Department officials privately described the WikiLeaks investigation as "unprecedented in scale and nature". Since June 2012, Mr Assange has lived at Ecuador's London embassy, where he has been granted political asylum by Ecuador on the grounds that he is at risk of extradition to the US to face espionage and conspiracy charges. British police are on guard outside the embassy 24 hours a day, waiting to arrest Mr Assange so he can be extradited to Sweden to face questioning about sexual assault and rape allegations first raised in August 2010. Mr Assange's lawyers have advised that his extradition to Sweden could facilitate his extradition to the US. A recent freedom of information application by Fairfax Media shows the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has largely given up reporting on Mr Assange's circumstances, with the Australian embassy in Washington mentioning WikiLeaks in only two brief diplomatic cables between November 2013 and January 2015. One cable referred without comment to a Washington Post article in November 2013 that quoted unnamed US administration sources as saying that it would be difficult to bring espionage charges against Mr Assange, although no final decision had been taken. http://www.theage.com.au/world/court-reveals-fbi-still-investigating-wikileaks-julian-assange-20150305-13vuwj.html?utm_source=FreeAssangeNow&utm_medium=Twitter COMMENT A frothing at the mouth USA launches an unprecedented investigation into the activities of publisher Julian Assange & WikiLeaks, following the 2010 publication of the whistleblower Chelsea Manning US classified information. Lo and behold, by August-September 2010 (on the eve of publication of further US classified material - Iraq war logs), Sweden (long-time political, intelligence and military partner of the US) is suddenly pursuing WikiLeaks publisher, Assange, in relation to sexual assault related allegations. Following an initial police investigation that was dismissed by a Swedish prosecutor and then quietly and mysteriously reactivated shortly thereafter by a Stockholm prosecutor, Sweden issued a dime-a-dozen European Arrest Warrant (see Sweden hypocritical 'concerns' re misuse of EAW for political persecution) and an Interpol Red Notice for the suspiciously convenient arrest of Assange. Taking a look at the WikiLeaks releases timeline, it's obvious (to all but the disturbingly naive or wilfully stupid) that multiple US government agencies must have been frantically deployed to shut down WikiLeaks operations by any means.  By the time Sweden suddenly revived a tossed out allegations inquiry with which to pursue Assange, WikiLeaks had already enraged US government officials by publishing the explosive Manning material in April 2010, followed by publication of the Afghanistan war logs and announment of an imminent publication of the Iraq war logs:  WikiLeaks Timeline 2006-2009 Exposing government & corporate wrongdoing 2010 (April) Manning material incl. VIDEO:   Collateral Murder 2010 (July) Afghanistan - war logs 2010 (Oct) Iraq -  war logs With US determination to shut down the WikiLeaks organisation and to cripple all those associated with whistleblower publisher which exposed US wrongdoing, it's  unsurprising that Assange's political asylum has been blocked by cooperative allied governments, hang the cost to the British taxpayer:  https://govwaste.co.uk/ Let that be a terrifying warning to all journalists and would-be publishers of US secrets. Five years on, the US is actively investigating the publisher and those associated with the organisation and citing 'national security' interests to block release of further information regarding their multi-subject investigation. Declaring 'national security' is a government trump card for shutting down transparency and, basically, doing whatever the government officials choose to do, relieved of public scrutiny and therefore of accountability. Meanwhile, journalists and others associated with the non-US publisher organisation are being harassed and intimidated by what surely must be yet another example of US government overreach, seeing the non-US organisation and people associated with it are beyond American borders and have not committed any crime within their own national jurisdictions. Assange, in the meantime, has been deprived of liberty in Britain for over 4 years without charge and the Australian Foreign Affairs department has barely shown interest in Assange in the last year or so.  Never mind fighting fearlessly for the freedom of an Aussie journalist-publisher by strongly (and publicly) condemning Sweden, Britain and United States, and challenging what is de facto detention and obvious political persecution of Julian Assange. Israel Stands By Israelis / Australia Kowtows to America Were Assange an Israeli citizen, there would be no keeping Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman from doing everything they possibly could do to protect their citizen, which is enough to make you want to be an Israeli. Take Jonathan Pollard, US citizen convicted of spying for Israel and others, arrested 1987.  Pollard was a US navy analyst who sold information.  Yet he was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995 and Israel has been doing everything it can to secure his release: Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard release talk infuriates US intel community http://www.smh.com.au/world/israeli-spy-jonathan-pollard-release-talk-infuriates-us-intel-community-20140401-zqpm5.html  ................................................ Israel fights for Pollard: 1998:  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that Pollard was an Israeli agent, handled by high-ranking officials of the Israeli Bureau for Scientific Relations (Lekem). The Israeli government ... continues to ask for his release. Benjamin Netanyahu has been particularly vocal in lobbying for Pollard's release, visiting Pollard in prison in 2002. Netanyahu raised the issue with President Bill Clinton during the Wye River peace talks in 1998. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Pollard Netanyahu has characterized Pollard as "a warmhearted Jew, proud and a real Zionist." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Netanyahu Israel consistently and persistently stands by its own no matter what. Even over the passage of decades, regardless of a conviction for wrongdoing. In contrast, Australia sits on its hands doing nothing while an Australian journalist and publisher, who is has committed no offence, is trapped and deprived of liberty without charge, for over 4 years.  ................................................ Julian Assange has committed no crime in Australia: AFP http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/julian-assange-has-committed-no-crime-in-australia-afp-20101220-190eb.html December 20, 2010 Dylan Welch Neither WikiLeaks nor its founder Julian Assange has committed any crime in Australia over the leaking of official United States government documents, the Australian Federal Police announced this afternoon. This comes despite Prime Minister Julia Gillard labelling the actions of the group "illegal" two weeks ago. A statement released by the federal police just before 1pm said: "The AFP has completed its evaluation of the material available and has not established the existence of any criminal offences where Australia would have jurisdiction.  ................................................ End the persecution of Julian Assange, now http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/end-the-persecution-of-julian-assange-now/ Australian Times (UK) is a London publication for and by Aussies.  No idea who the author of the article in Australian Times (UK) is, but I rather liked the article and have linked it.    ................................................ SWEDEN -  Hypocrisy Selective Human Rights Concerns SWEDEN - Gregorian Bivolaru Asylum / European Arrest Warrant (EAW) In meetings 17th October [2013] in Brussels several Swedish MEPs expressed their concern and interest to work for the case, and the Romanian misuse of the European Arrest Warrant to pursue political persecution of the refugee Bivolaru.  ................................................ Blog post and link regarding the Gregorian Bivolaru matter in Sweden - here.

Sweden - Selective Human Rights Concerns: Gregorian Bivolaru / EAW Julian Assange

20 Oct 13 Live discussion with vice-president Viviane Reding on the Romanian misuse of EU mechanisms to continue persecution of refugees VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rnb_PbUpYY#t=14 On 14th October Mrs. Reding visited the Citizens’ Dialogue in Stockholm. The Swedish representative of Soteria International, Mr. Konrad Swenninger brought up the issue of a human rights contradiction between the European Arrest Warrant and the International Convention for protection of Refugees. As an example, Mr. Swenninger mentioned the case of Gregorian Bivolaru, a Romanian political dissident continuously targeted by Romanian authorities and was given political asylum in Sweden. The asylum is now threatened by a European Arrest Warrant issued in June 2013 by Romanian authorities, as a result of a highly controversial decision of the Romanian Supreme Court against Bivolaru. Acknowledging the case, Mrs. Reding stated that indeed the European Arrest Warrant has been a complicated subject in European politics. She and her team have insisted on precise procedures related to the warrant, so that it cannot be used by national authorities to pursue undemocratic interests. Referring to the situation in Romania, Mrs. Reding is concerned that indeed the country struggles with implementation and respect for democratic procedures. Mrs. Reding reminded the audience that in the summer of 2012, the Directorate General for Justice of the EC, which she conducts, severely criticized the attack on the constitution of Romania attempted by opposing Romanian governing parties. In a follow-up briefing Mrs. Viviane Reding, Mrs. Brigitta Ohlsson, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and MEP Olle Ludvigsson who co-chaired the meeting with citizens expressed their concern and interest to follow the case and received a communiqué from Gregorian Bivolaru concerning his situation. In meetings 17th October in Brussels several Swedish MEPs expressed their concern and interest to work for the case, and the Romanian misuse of the European Arrest Warrant to pursue political persecution of the refugee Bivolaru. We remind that earlier in October the case has been discussed at the Human Dimension Implementation meeting organized by OSCE in Warsaw, both in the plenary discussion on the protection of refugees and in the side-event conference organized by Soteria International. Representatives of the Swedish government assured Soteria International and the international community that Sweden takes its international obligations on Human Rights very seriously and reminded that Swedish legislation, as well as European law, foresee that national courts should take consideration of human rights implications in their rulings. The statement of Swedish governmental representatives and the strong position of Viviane Reding in matters of defending human rights and democratic procedures bring confidence that human rights will be efficiently protected and countries such as Romania, still on their way to democracy, will be given a strong good example and will be prevented in their attempts to disregard or violate the rights of its citizens. http://www.soteriainternational.org/live-discussion-with-vice-president-viviane-reding-on-the-romanian-misuse-of-eu-mechanisms-to-continue-persecution-of-refugees COMMENT The misuse of the European Arrest Warrant ("EAW") is not confined to issue of EAWs on trivial grounds.  The EAW is also misused for political persecution of dissidents or those who otherwise fall foul of authorities. Significantly, misuse of the EAW is not confined to dissidents of 'repressive Eastern European' regimes.   The dubious EAW has been used by Sweden and Britain to facilitate persecution of journalist-publisher Julian Assange, by blocking political asylum granted to Assange by Ecuardor.  So we have witnessed Sweden issuing a EAW and Interpol Red Notice in order to merely question Assange in respect of 'allegations' the Swedish prosecution claims it is 'investigating'. Sweden has been able to issue such an arrest warrant because (a) it is a member of the European Union and (b) the requirement for proof that there is in fact a case to answer has not been written into legislation by Union lawmakers.  How easy is that? While Sweden was quick to issue an EAW and Red Notice, it has been unusually resistant in getting around to even questioning Assange during the 2 years he remained under house arrest in Britain, in addition to a further 2.5 years that Assange has remained trapped at the Ecuador embassy, under threat of British arrest and extradition to Sweden (almost certainly leading to subsequent extradition from Sweden to the United States). The treatment of Assange is in stark contrast to Sweden's selectively liberal stance protecting Gregorian Bivolaru. Gregorian Bivolaru's 2005 arrest would have been effected under an Interpol all-points-bulletin apprehension, as Romania's accession to the European Union was in 2007. Despite allegations of a sexual nature involving a minor (which were later dropped on claim of 'coercion') and a whole host of other serious charges, Sweden refused to extradite Gregorian Bivolaru and proceeded to grant Bivolaru asylum in 2005. A 2013 EAW now threatens Gregorian Bivolaru's asylum in Sweden and Swedish politicians are commendably quick to express their concern regarding Bivolaru's matter, but remain curiously silent regarding WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who has now been denied liberty (without charge) for over 4 years. EAWs are a dime-a-dozen and generally used for pursuit of trivial matters, as the British surge in figures and analysis attests.  Unfortunately, the EAW also does away with arrest initiating-authorities being required to prove subjects of an EAW actually have a case to answer. The EAW sidestepping of the burden of proof is a travesty of justice that should never have been permitted (let alone recently adopted by the British, by default, thanks to the British Conservatives pushing through legislation by sleight of hand). Uproar in Commons over vote U-turn on European Arrest Warrant Cameron narrowly avoids rebellion after European Arrest Warrant vote scrapped The arrest warrant allows any European Union country to request the arrest and extradition of a wanted person without proving they have a case to answer – the traditional burden of proof that British courts insisted foreign countries pass before agreeing an extradition. Critics say the burden of proof now is too low, and can lead to people being arrested simply on the word of foreign police or magistrates, without any case to answer. EXTRACT - http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/uproar-in-commons-over-vote-u-turn-on-european-arrest-warrant-1.1995697 Sweden's treatment of American target, Julian Assange, captive without charge on what strongly smells of trumped up allegations that serve US political objectives, is blatantly incongruous and jarring. Where Sweden's conscience should be, concerning the detention and political persecution of publisher Julian Assange, lies a gaping, unmentionable hole that goes unchallenged. ................................................................... Something Stinks: British Detention & FBI Investigation Australia Kowtows to America LINK

ISRAEL - IRAN: Benjamin Netanyahu Speech to US Congress 2015

Benjamin Netanyahu Speech to Congress 2015 [FULL] | Today on 3/3/15 | New York Times  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRf1cdw4IAY Blogger Rough Summary  [opening portion abridged]: Senate suck up to Netanyahu big time Lots of applause. Truman to Obama support airing. Appreciates Obama. Applause. Applause.  Applause. Applause.  Applause. Applause.  Applause. Applause.  Applause. Applause.  Applause. Applause.  Staged? Senate waaaaay more receptive & supportive of Netanyahu than were the crowd at AIPAC. US Senators representing corporations, military manufacture, various lobby groups, probably clapping for war. Purim Haman Esther - right to defend against enemies / plot foiled / our ppl were saved Today, another attempt by Persian potentate to destroy Israel. Ayatollah Tweet - During Israeli 'Operation Protective Edge' in Gaza.  [  My warped idea of:  Persia vs Israel through the ages - Image source: tumblr  ] Mentions Hezbollah. 1979 Iran hijacked by zealots. New constitution. Ideological mission of jihad. Founder Khomeini extorted followers to export. [ Iran is the new #BlamePutin -  ie #BlameIran ] Every drama in Middle East is sponsored by: Iran, according to Netanyahu Global terror network, he claims Do not believe  'Iran's aggression' left unchecked / gobbling up the nations. Iran's march of conquest, subjugation & terror. Probably should have made that clearer: I, personally, find this unbelievable (rather than instruction not to believe). Congress applauds like crazy b/c Netanyahu is painting Iran as responsible for evil around the world. Dumb. Ideology of Iran 'regime' deeply rooted in Islam / always enemy to America / Iran & Isis competing for crown of militant Islam Both want to impose: first region & then entire world. Just can't agree between themselves who will take that crown. Mentions Islam medieval creed (?) or similar. Do not share [values] Intercontinental ballistic missiles & bombs scaremongering. To defeat ISIS but let Iran get nuclear weapons is to win battle but lose war. We can't let that happen. Congress applause. Iran still refuses to come clean about military & nuclear program. Iran caught TWICE operating secret nuke facilities. Uh-oh. Facilities, that inspectors didn't even know existed. Right now, Iran could be hiding nuke facilities we don't know about. As IAEA inspection authority said 2013: If no undeclared nuke facilities in Iran, it will be first time in 20 yrs it doesn't Iran has proven time and again, that it cannot be trusted. That is why the first major concession = source of major concern. Major concession: leaves Iran with a vast nuclear infrastructure & relies on inspectors to prevent a break-out. Major concession: creates a danger that Iran could get to the bomb by violating the deal. Major concession creates a second, even greater, danger: that Iran could get to bomb by keeping the deal. Danger in concession: virtually all of Iran restrictions would automatically expire in about a decade. Decade may seem a long time in political life, but it is the blink of an eye in the life of a nation. We all have responsibility to consider what will happen when Iran's nuclear capabilities are virtually unrestricted. When Iran's nuclear capabilities are unrestricted, Iran would have capacity to build a huge nuclear capacity: many nuke bombs Iran supreme leader says Iran plans to have 190,000 centrifuges - 10x what Iran has today - enriching uranium. With this massive capacity, Iran could make the fuel for an entire nuclear arsenal in a matter of weeks, once it decides. John Kerry confirmed last week, Iran could legitimately possess massive centrifuge capacity when deal (restriction) expires. Foremost sponsor of global terrorism could be weeks away from having enough enriched uranium for an entire arsenal nukes .. Iran intercontinental ballistic missiles program is not part of the deal. Iran refuses to even put on negotiation table. Iran intercontinental ballistic missiles prog = Iran has means to deliver nuke arsenal to far reaching corners world, incl US Deal has 2 major concessions: 1)     Leaving Iran w vast nuclear prog 2)     Lifting restrictions on prog, in about a decade = BAD Deal does not block Iran path to nuclear bomb; it paves Iran path to bomb. So why would anyone make this deal? Deal: >b/c hope Iran will change for better in coming years? >or believe alternative to this deal is worse? NETANYAHU disagrees. Netanyahu does not believe Iran radical regime will change for better after this deal. Regime in power for 36 yrs Voracious appetite for aggression grows with each passing year Deal would only whet Iran appetite Would Iran be less aggressive when sanctions are removed & its economy is stronger? If Iran gobbling up 4 countries now, while under sanctions, how many more countries will Iran devour when sanctions lifted? VIDEO – NETANYAHU Speech to Congress -  [10:33]  Four countries ‘gobbled up’ reference: 1)     Lebanon 2)     Syria 3)     Iraq 4)     Yemen *Gaza *Golan Heights Iran aim: 2nd choke point oil supply. If sanctions lifted: Would Iran fund less terrorism when it has mountains of cash with which to fund more terrorism? Why should Iran's radical regime change for better, when can enjoy best of both worlds: >aggression abroad >prosperity at home Iran's neighbours know Iran will become even more aggressive / more terrorism when its economy is unshackled & path to bomb. Many of these neighbours say they will respond by racing to get nuclear weapons of their own. Deal will change ME for worse. Deal supposed to prevent nuclear proliferation, would instead spark a nuclear arms race in the most dangerous part of planet. Deal would not be a farewell to arms; it would be a farewell to arms control & ME would be criss-crossed by nuke tripwires. ME is a region where small skirmishes can trigger big wars. Deal would turn it into nuclear tinderbox. Deal with Iran deferring prob. down the road only creating sit'n where a much more dangerous Iran will have to be faced. A Middle East littered with nuclear bombs = potential nuclear nightmare. Solution: Insist that restrictions will not be lifted as long as Iran continues its aggression in region & the world. Before lifting restrictions, world should demand Iran do 3 things: 1. Stop aggression against neighbours in ME. ... 2. Stop supporting terrorism around the world. 3. Stop threatening to annihilate Israel, one & only Jewish state. If world powers won't insist Iran change behaviour before deal is signed, at least insist Iran change before deal *expires*. If Iran changes behaviour, restrictions would be lifted If Iran does not change behaviour, restrictions should not be lifted. If Iran wants to be treated like a normal country, let it act like a normal country. [cue: standing applause] Deal argument: >no alternative to deal >Iran nuclear knowhow cannot be erased >prog so advanced & best is delay inevitable NETANYAHU: Nuclear knowhow without nuclear INFRASTRUCTURE = no nuclear weapons can be made. Iran's nuclear prog can be rolled back well beyond current proposal: >insisting on better deal >keeping up pressure Keeping up pressure [would be effective b/c]: very vulnerable regime, esp. given recent collapse in price of oil. If Iran threatens to walk from table (this often happens in Persian bazaar), call their bluff. They'll be back b/c need deal. By maintaining pressure on Iran (& those who do business w Iran), you have the power to make them need [deal] even more. We've been told for over year that no deal is better than a bad deal. This is a bad deal. Very bad deal. Better off without. NOW we are being told only alternative to this bad deal is war. That's just not true. Alternative to deal: = much better deal. A better deal that does not leave Iran w a vast nuclear infrastructure in such a short break-out time. Better deal = keeping restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in place until Iran's aggression ends. Better deal = won't give Iran easy path to bomb. No country has a greater stake than Israel in a good deal that peacefully removes this threat. However difficult, second option would prevent nuclear-armed Iran, nuke armed ME & horrific consequences of both. Capping off, better deal option: = security of Israel = security of Middle East = peace of world, that we all desire "My friends, standing up to Iran is not easy. Standing up to dark & murderous regimes never is." NETANYAHU With us today is holocaust survivor & Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel [Seated w Sarah Netanyahu] [Applause] [ Elie Wiesel ] NETANYAHU: Elie, your life & work inspired us to give meaning to the words: never again. NETANYAHU: Wish could promise, Elie, that lessons of history been learned. Urge leaders of world not to repeat mistakes of past. Mistakes: >sacrifice future for the present >ignoring aggression in hopes of gaining illusory peace Netanyahu - days when Jewish ppl remain passive in face of genocidal enemies: those days are over. NETANYAHU: We are no longer scattered among the nations powerless to defend ourselves. We've restored our sovereignty & ancient home NETANYAHU: Soldiers who defend our home have boundless courage. NETANYAHU: For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish ppl, can defend ourselves. [Applause somewhat less enthusiastic on the 'we can defend ourselves' section of Netanyahu speech (it seems to me)] NETANYAHU: As PM of Israel can promise you one more thing: even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand. [Enthusiastic Senate applause to: I know that America stands with Israel ... etc] NETANYAHU: You stand with Israel b/c you know that the story of Israel is not only story of the Jewish ppl but of the human spirit that refuses again & again to succumb to history's horrors. NETANYAHU: Facing me, overlooking this august chamber, is image of Moses. Moses led our ppl from slavery to gates of promised land. NETANYAHU: Before the ppl of Israel entered the land of Israel, Moses gave message that has steeled our resolve for 1,000s yrs NETANYAHU: I leave you with [Moses] message today: Be strong & resolute; neither fear no dread them. NETANYAHU: May Israel & America always stand together, strong & resolute ... may god bless state of Israel & may god bless USA. Lots of applause. NETANYAHU waving. Thanking. Prolonged applause. Walking chamber. Handshaking. Applause continues. Cuts out. NOTE: Netanyahu says Iran gobbling countries, incl. Iraq. BUT Iran is FIGHTING vs ISIS in Iraq Tikrit — Iraq Shiite & Iraq Sunni alliance, mission overseen by Iran military official - http://on.rt.com/q4wvx5   COMMENT The Ayatollah tweet referred to in the speech would be in relation to the then Israel bombing of Gaza (Operation Protective Edge 2014), concerning children that were killed by the Israeli military.  The reference to al Aqsa Mosque (third holiest mosque in Islam) would be in reference to whatever dispute had then been central between the Israelis and Muslims regarding the mosque. It appears the mosque is at the centre of a 'Judaise' dispute (and other disputes) that have arisen out of the reclamation of the ancient Jewish homeland, after the passage of over 2,000 years of occupation and heritage attaching to yet another Levant people (Palestinians), who were under the rule of various empires (including Ottomans and the British), so it is a very unusual set of problems that give rise to ongoing animosities in Israel, Palestine and the region beyond. Initially, I was sceptical.  But as the speech progressed, I was just about convinced of terrorism, the collapse of civilisation, medieval atrocities and a nuclear Armageddon coming our way.  Now I'm not that sure, although the medieval atrocities bogeyman is still scary. The ace up Netanyahu's sleeve would have to be the secret nuclear development facilities, as that just doesn't sound right.  So who can argue with that? What's interesting is that Pakistan (another Islamic state), which seems far more scary and chaotic than Iran, has nuclear arms.   Yet this development wasn't prevented by the Anglo-American side. Israel is lobbying for continued sanctions and restrictions on Iran because Israel ostensibly sees Iran as an existential threat.  However, from what I've read, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is also a threat to Israel's hegemony in the region, so this is worth bearing in mind. While there is much emphasis on common values, this is just persuasive window dressing.  Shared strategic interests play a far greater role in the Middle East than do extraneous cosmetic considerations, such as human rights issues.  We know that because Saudi Arabia isn't all that different to Iran in respect of human rights issues, yet Saudi Arabia isn't singled out as a threat to the world. On the other hand, while Saudi Arabia is said to be funding militants in the region and funding Islamisation beyond the region, the Saudis aren't seeking to develop a nuclear capacity.  Or are they? It would appear that Saudi Arabia is also gearing up to produce nuclear energy: Saudi Arabia plans to construct 16 nuclear power reactors over the next 20 years at a cost of more than $80 billion, with the first reactor on line in 2022. Nobody's complaining about Saudi Arabia's plans, so what's the issue with Iran? The secret development sites came to mind, but then it occurred to me that maybe Iran was forced to engage in secret development because of the sanctions imposed on Iran.  So Iran's secrecy may not be as suspicious as it seems. Between the nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors around the globe, you'd think that everybody would be looking at winding back to zero nuclear arms and zero nuclear energy rather than developing more of the same. Is Netanyahu's war-like speech just bluff to put pressure on the Iran negotiations?  Is it a performance to justify imposition of sanctions on Iran?  Or is it a declaration of Israeli and US intentions?

Netanyahu - AIPAC 2015

Netanyahu AIPAC PC 2015 Monday Morning Session https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u_s7Vnb35eI --------------------------------- SUMMARY [PARTIAL] Founding editor of Times of Israel, David Horowitz Anti-Israel & Anti-Semitic surge in Europe and all parts of world. Reinforced importance of sovereign homeland for Jewish ppl. Global leadership in focus: Pro-Israel champions:  = share the stage = 1) Jose Maria Aznar, Spain 1996-2004 Friends of Israel initiative founder 2) John Baird Canada, former FM / Consistently voted against anti-Israel resolutions in UN = solo afterwards = 3) Milos Zeman, President of Czech republic --------------------------------- >Jose Maria Aznar, Spain 1996-2004 / Friends of Israel initiative founder Trying to de-legitimise state of Israel cannot be accepted There are some that think appeasement is better, to escape reality is better, or fear to confront enemies is better. JMA believes the reality is: Israel is the only democracy that exists between Morocco & Afghanistan. It is the only western world that exists in the Middle East. Is not a country. It is the only western world in the Middle East. Israel has no fear to confront & has good allies and good friends to support them in the future. [skip] >John Baird, Canada, former FM / Consistently voted against anti-Israel resolutions in UN [skip] >Milos Zeman, President of Czech republic First European head of state to address the conference, passionate Israel ally, a public supporter of its defence against terror, and among the first to rise against the tide of anti-Semitism. Says: Czech republic is the best friend of Israel in all of Europe AIPAC Zeman Now we face future: Growing wave international terrorism: Islamic terrorism. Need 2 steps to fight growing wave. Step 1: Solidarity: Ich bin ein Berliner [JFK quote] / we must all say "I am a Jew". Then says: jamin yehudi" (?) - [Hebrew] >> Ani Yehudi = "I am a Jew" But says: this is not enough. Follow up = yours is ours persuasion re victimisation Our society is too hedonistic, too concession oriented. There is cowardliness & appeasement. Step 2 - proposes: = systematic & coordinated fight against basis of Islamic terrorism. Cover org. = Muslim Brotherhood Chief of al-Qaeda is member of Muslim Brotherhood Chief of Taliban " " Ramas ? Hezbollah " " al-Nusra etc. coordinated action of international community, if possible, under umbrella of Security Council. AIPAC Zeman: superpowers have many conflicts, but one common enemy: Islamic terrorism. eg  Looking @ Map of Islamic Caliphate 2020, one might say idea of a madman. But Hitler madman, occupied Europe Edit:  Think he also said it was three-way strategy:  (1) drones (2) rangers ?  (3) intelligence work - but no boots on ground.  Strategy with no ground battle & territory take-over sounds like bullsh*t ineffective to me. No war can be won w/out ground. Met twice with Chief of Mossad. Mossad is single most efficient intelligence service in world. If we are not willing to be future victims of Islamic terrorism, we must remember this sentence ... Never again we shall march, like a sheep to the slaughter. Never again. AIPAC Milos Zeman, President of #Czech republic, presentation concluded. --------------------------------- Samantha Power - academic, author, diplomat United States Ambassador to the United Nations .............................. Further on:  Samantha Power Samantha Power Yale began career: Yugoslav Wars as a journalist HR bandwagon 1998-02 Obama Nat Sec Comm HR assistant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Power Not all bad :)  ... called then Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton “a monster” / resigned http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/obama-aide-apologizes-for-calling-clinton-a-monster/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1 Samantha Power >married law professor Cass Sunstein - 2008 Sunstein = lawyer, Obama admin. Prior: US Dept of Justice .............................. [ Partial summary ] US will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon; period. [Samantha Power] Obama stressing funding to Israel commitment made - larger than any other - as show of commitment to Israel. There will never be a sunset on America's commitment to Israel's security. Never. If diplomacy does not work to prevent Iran nuke arms; Power has basically declared war on Iran (without saying so directly). Now focus of speech = anti-Semitism > US pushing countries to address developing hate crime legislation UNGA resolution that Zionism is a form of racism: > Abomination of anti-Semitism has been given the appearance of sanction. All countries need to be held to anti-Semitism pledges US opposed EVERY resolution at UN US opposed human rights violations of Israel resolution Power: Considers UN resolutions 'anti-Semitic' (?) Says North Korea not getting resolutions [ >> But Norks not bombing Gaza ] International Criminal Court supposedly undermines negotiations by making Israel choose between peace & security. Western European & others group US secured membership for Israel (& another group secured for Israel). US therefore also gets Israel on-board in Western European groups, presumably by applying their influence. USA is designated arm for confronting 'anti Israel bias' Kind of like a champion or enforcer? LOL Power is dredging up US support for Israel as far back as 1967. Now turned to praising Israel re global humanitarian crisis. Treated equally at the UN is US role. Equally? Got to be kidding? Israel has US votes & all of US allies' votes in UN. [ I'm sorry, but this is bullsh*t just not right about UN anti Israel bias. US always votes with Israel and US allies always vote with US (effectively with Israel), so anti Israel bias is simply not the case from my observation (see Chomsky video - talk at the UN, for enlightenment on how US and Israel have a pattern of blocking UN resolutions.] Hypocrisy about human rights, commitments & values to make world more just & more secure ... (never mind Palestine?) Focus on *pluralistic society* Zionism repeatedly endorsed by congress etc. Friendship is USA national commitment / Kennedy Samantha Power is done. --------------------------------- AIPAC - Bob Cohen, President Honoured to be joined by President of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu [applause] Danger of nuclear armed Iran not just to Israel, but to entire world. Welcome to Washington [16,000 ppl @ AIPAC] Sarah Netanyahu also introduced/greeted. Two great democracies celebration. Stand w ppl of Israel in quest to stop Iran. Stand w ppl of Israel in their quest for peace. We stand with ppl of Israel in their quest for a brighter future. Welcomes Bibi. Big applause. Bibi giving lively waves. --------------------------------- AIPAC - Benjamin Netanyahu Wow, 16,000 ppl! Any from Cali? Florida? NY? Colorado .. not so many etc [Key areas of Israeli support appear to be: California, NY, Florida & Texas, judging by applause.] You are here to tell the world that reports of demise of Israeli US relations, not only premature; they're just wrong. Alliance is stronger than ever. B/c of you & millions like you [in US] will get stronger in the coming years. Thanks AIPAC Thanks democrats & republicans for steadfast support of Israel, year in and year out. Have Israel profound gratitude. 1967 Benjamin Netanyahu got a Czech rifle Thanks Czechs for support Also: former PM Spain + FM John Baird Canada True champs Baird is such an ass-kisser [I said that] Thanking various ambassadors, incl. UN ambassador & Ron Dermer, Is. Amb. to US Dermer knows how to take the heat. [ Bet he's not as good as Lavrov!!! ] Acknowledges Sarah Netanyahu, proud to have her at his side always. Greetings from Jerusalem, eternal undivided capital. #Netanyahu speaking in Congress tomorrow!!!!! Silence ... then, eventually, applause Uh-oh. Bibi. Give him a break, AIPAC. Speech not intended to diss Obama Has respect Appreciates security, intel co-op etc. Deeply grateful. Not intending to2 inject Israel into American partisan debate. Both dems & reps. worked together fm both sides to strengthen Israel Israel made by USA a first official strategic partner last year. Working together has made Israel stronger. Working together has made 'our alliance' stronger. Israel should always remain a BIPARTISAN ISSUE. Purpose of address to Congress: to speak up threat to survival of Israel Iran foremost state sponsor of terrorism in world [ Bibi told a fib. That is America! LOL ] Imagine Iran with nukes. Wants to annihilate Israel. Must not let nukes happen. Moral obligation to speak up in face of danger while there is still time to avert. For 2,000 years Bibi ppl homeless, etc Could hot speak. Could not defend. NO MORE! Those days are over. [loud applause] Sovereign state of Israel, we defend ourselves & able to defend ourselves, we ally with one another (important to USA) against common Focusing on the strong defending themselves & in so doing creating basis of broader alliance (ie depiction, not as needy) Focus on strength / mutual strength & alliance / mutually beneficial / fighting for common civilisation, is the gist. Israel & US agree Iran should not have nukes. Disagree on how to prevent this developing. Disagreement natural. Important differences. US one of the largest. Israel one of the smallest. Israel in world's most dangerous neighbourhood. Israeli leaders worry about the *survival* of their country. Middle East a dangerous place, in contrast to USA safety. 1948 Gurion was US opposed, but declared independence 1967 Israel did act alone to defend self 1981 Begin, nuke reactor Iraq (?)  [think it should be 'Iran', but not sure] 1972 - Sharon - Operation Wrath of God .. mentioned Share the same dreams: pray, hope & aspire for same better world. Liberty, equality, justice, ..., compassion Descending into Medieval barbarism ... Israel's Christian community growing and thriving; the only one such community in Middle East. Women in region repressed, enslaved & raped. Israel: chief justices, pilots etc. In dark, savage & desperate ME Israel is a beacon of light, humanity & hope Considers US family Disagreements etc .. but must remember 'we are family', sharing common destiny People applauding but not going crazy or anything. Think that's a bit unfair. At least he wasn't laying it on like Power. That concludes the AIPAC morning program. Boy, that was fun. Thanks BiBi! COMMENT Just a rough take of what I saw of the presentation at AIPAC.  Excuse any typos.  Too tired to bother. A link to the video is available for those that wish to watch it. Was going to say I enjoyed 'watching' it, but I didn't have visuals the whole time, as I was mainly focused on keying in what was said and flicking from screen to screen. Difficult for me to believe that a war can be won by the above method:  ie droning extremists & using intelligence services (presumably to find them or whatever they do). I'd read somewhere that no war can be won without boots on ground. Infantry is your most important part of the military.  That's my understanding, anyway. So ... one would think that the only possible way to win is: (a) regime change / obtaining cooperative leadership. (b) boots on ground. (c) complete & instant annihilation - atomic etc. In terms of religious extremists that are all over the shop disrupting a large region, it's doubtful a change of leadership would make a difference and it's highly improbable that they're going for an atomic blitz solution in the Middle East.   So all that's left is boots on ground, even though there's only talk of drones right now. But, hey, what would I know.  It doesn't look like there's much cover in the Middle East (all barren looking), so maybe drones are effective over there. Oh, I forgot to mention.  Thought Samantha Power was laying on the 'we stand by you' performance really thickly.  Don't quite know what the deal is with that.  It was a virtual grovel session to AIPAC.  The Democrats must really want to win the next election. Too tired to add further at the moment.  * A picture of Israeli strength, determination and independence.  Citing previous achievements.  Not sure if he's hinting Israel may well take on Iran with or without the US, or if it was just a part of the strong-ally pitch.

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) - Netanyahu 2015 Morning Talk

Watched Netanyahu speech at AIPAC, a first for me (on the assumption that PMs regularly give talks at AIPAC). Wondered why the Congress speech:  is it election spin, is it pleading to prevent Iran nuke arms or is it something else, I wondered. Well, it has just occurred to me that this visit is probably about getting US commitment to strike Iran (or back an Israel strike).  So it is about lobbying for a US-Israel war commitment. If I hadn't checked other peoples comments, the penny wouldn't have dropped. But someone mentioned that Israel won't strike without US support & that must have got me thinking. The only problem with that theory is that Samantha power virtually declared war on Iran. The wording made it very plain, even though she did not outright say it. Netanyahu stressing Israeli strengths and go-it-alone independence in his talk. I thought it was fine, but there were people canning his talk online (you get that) and, more worrying, I think that there was a bit too long of a pause when he was done and not enough enthusiastic support in the applause. Too tired to transfer over my notes.  Might do that tomorrow if I'm still keen.