Israel: IDF - Press Assaults

ꕤ Article SOURCE as marked News Brief Israeli officer removed after soldiers destroy journalists’ cameras October 4, 2015 7:14am     JERUSALEM (JTA) –An Israeli military officer has been removed from his position after soldiers under his command which soldiers caught on film destroying cameras belonging to journalists. During the Sept. 25 incident near Nablus in the West Bank, soldiers smashed the cameras of two photographers for the French news agency AFP as they filmed a Palestinian demonstration. The AFP said that one of the photographers was thrown to the ground and had a gun pointed at him as he looked for his press card. The disciplinary action was announced on Friday, a day after a hearing before IDF Southern Command Chief of Staff Brigadier General Udi Ben-Moha. The IDF said it would consider whether to allow the officer to continue to serve in the military in any capacity. He was suspended after the incident. “This was a serious incident from an ethical and command perspective that will be investigated and its lessons learned,” the IDF said in a statement. The commander’s attorney, Eidan Pesach, said the officer, identified only as A, was “sacrificed on the altar of political and diplomatic interests.” Other members of the officer’s battalion have said they will refuse to serve in the next operation in protest of the punishment. More than 3,600 people have “liked” a Facebook page in support of officer A. http://www.jta.org/2015/10/04/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/israeli-officer-removed-after-soldiers-destroy-journalists-cameras Soldiers Invade Home Of Slain Palestinian In Jerusalem, Kidnap Three Family Members author Sunday October 04, 2015 12:53author by IMEMC & Agencies Report post  Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Sunday morning, the home of Fadi Samir Alloun, 19 years of age, who was shot and killed at dawn, searched the property and attacked several family members, before kidnapping three. Media sources in Jerusalem said dozens of soldiers surrounded al-Misrara area, in Bab al-'Amoud, and fired dozens of rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, wounding many Palestinians, including Hana' Hammad, a journalist working for the Al-Mayadeen TV.  The wounded journalist continued the media coverage, after medics bandaged half of her face. Mahameed said the soldiers threw dozens of concussion grenades and sounds bombs at the Palestinians who flocked to the home of Fadi 'Alloun, and also targeted her, her team, and many other reporters. The sources said the soldiers also confiscated mobile phones from the invaded home, and assaulted several women. The invasion led to clashes between the invading soldiers and dozens of local youths, especially near the al-Arba'in Mosque, in al-Misrara. Alloun is from the al-'Eesawiyya town, in occupied East Jerusalem; he was shot with seven live rounds in al-Misrara. A video published by Israeli media agencies showed a several Israelis chasing the young man, who ran towards the police, while both of his hands were clearly visible, but an officer jumped out of a police car, and shot him dead. Lawyer of Ad-Dameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association Mohammad Mahmoud, said the soldiers are still refusing to hand the bodies of 'Alloun, and Mohannad Shafiq Halabi, 19 years of age, who stabbed an armed Israeli, then shot several others after grabbing the gun from the man he stabbed. In addition, clashes took place in several areas in occupied Jerusalem, especially in Bab Hatta and Bab Al-Asbat, leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. More clashes also took place near the Al-Quds University, in Abu Dis, east of occupied Jerusalem. http://www.imemc.org/article/73232 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Every time I think I can identify with Israel and can sort of support Israel if I put an Israeli mindset on to see things only from Israel's perspective, Israel does something that I find abhorrent and I'm back to not being able to see Israel in a positive light. Foreign photographers do not deserve to have their equipment smashed or to have guns drawn on them. While the IDF is doing the proper thing officially by reprimanding the commander in charge, I find it absolutely disgusting that this commander's battalion say that they'll refuse to serve in the next operation as a protest. It makes the IDF sound like scumbags -- scumbags with no discipline who should be court-marshalled as a battalion. I'd hate to think how these men of the IDF behave towards the occupied people, when nobody's watching or filming. Targeting news reporters covering the current raid on Palestinians (in the aftermath of Jerusalem stabbings) and assaulting women is getting pretty low. How can Israel expect bystanders to support Israel (as in, the 'I Stand With Israel' promos) when Israel does things that aren't honourable? As for the shooting of those that have carried out knife attacks, in a place like Israel I'd say it's probably to be expected, and I think it's a case of tough luck if that's the typical Israeli response, even if the civilised ideal would be to bring perpetrators before the courts.   So, while I can deal with an outright shooting of a perpetrator by Israel without upset, I draw the line at Israel then punishing and terrorising Palestinian families in violent military raids -- before, most likely, proceeding to demolish the homes of family members of perpetrators of attacks. The guess is that Israel resorts to barbarity and overreaction in an effort to deter future attacks.   Not sure how effective the strategy is.  It is perhaps a deterrent for some people, but obviously not all. However freaked out I get about the current Islamic occupation of Europe, it's difficult not to sympathise with the Palestinian people who are a displaced and occupied people, and have been since the Western sanctioned creation of Israel 67 years ago. People who identify as Jewish have come from countries from all over the world to take possession of a territory that was held by Kingdom of ancient Judea, hundreds of years ago, well before the fall of Rome. However fascinating and amazing Jewish history is, the world  of the ancient Judeans and the state of the ancient Judeans did not exist in 1948 Palestine. Various modern people who identify as Jewish have moved into the world and existence of the in situ but stateless Palestinians, who have since been butchered, driven out and corralled in open prisons for decades.  UN approval notwithstanding, the state of Israel is a foreign occupier. The random attacks on Israelis are retaliatory attacks of an occupied people resisting the injustice and indignities of foreign occupation, and these incidents, however undesirable and horrific, are the consequence of resistance to Israeli occupation. From what little I've seen on social media, there's considerable anger.  And, yes, I can see how upsetting it would be to be the target of random violent attack.  But Israelis forget that their presence is a foreign military occupation of almost 70 years. I don't see how the Israeli-Palestine conflict can ever be resolved.  Israel is unlikely to settle until it has occupied as much territory as it can, while the Palestinians will probably never be satisfied with being driven into some corner by foreign, armed occupation. La corresponsal de Al Mayadeen en Palestina SOURCE http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Al-Mayadeen-Journalist-Wounded-by-Isreali-Troops-in-Palestine-20151004-0006.html Al Mayadeen Journalist Wounded by Isreali Troops in Palestine "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Al-Mayadeen-Journalist-Wounded-by-Isreali-Troops-in-Palestine-20151004-0006.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english EXTRACTS ONLY  After being shot 7 times, Alloun’s body was kicked and dragged by settlers, according to local media reports. The settlers also stormed Palestinian houses and properties in the area. Palestinian sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 27 people were wounded as Israeli military vehicles rolled into the Jenin refugee camp, in the West Bank, where Alloun's family lives. Israeli forces arrested Alloun’s father, brother and uncle, despite no clear connection between the attack and the teenager's relatives has been drawn. The arrest elicited an exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian refugees. Separately, Israeli troops stormed and raided Jenin city as well as the villages of Silat al-Harithiya, Arraba, Yaabad and al-Yamoun. Israeli forces and Palestinians have been clashing at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for weeks, since Orthodox Jews backed by Israeli troops began disputing the holy site. SOURCE http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Al-Mayadeen-Journalist-Wounded-by-Isreali-Troops-in-Palestine-20151004-0006.html In what world do the military throw stun grenades in public places where the people aren't doing anything or resisting in any way? And in what world do bystanders attack corpses and then attack Palestinian houses and properties in the local area? The Israelis are every bit as primitive, deranged, and criminal as the Middle Eastern counterparts they're always casting as savages. The raids on Palestinian villages, the wounding of numerous people, the military storming a refugee camp, and arrests of a number of family members, sounds like collective punishment the Nazi Germans would have resorted to. ꕤ

Germany: Totalitarian State & Totalitarian Press

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=63c_1443826634#comment_page=2 The Huffington Post Germany Abusing Media Position & Harassing Ordinary Germans who exercise freedom of speech ENGLISH TRANSLATION Link | here 17 Dec 2014 Anti-Islamist Riots in Germany: Hooligans Against Salafists 23 Aug 2015 Anti-refugee protest turns violent in Heidanau, Germany 3 Oct 2015 Riots in a refugee camp in Kassel / Germany Published on 3 Oct 2015 The European Migrant Crisis: Riots in a refugee camp in Kassel / Germany (State of Hesse) 26 Sep 2015 Immigrants already causing trouble in German MEDIA COVER UP - ZDF 23 Sep 2015 German Media Caught Covering Up Rapes By Migrants 23 Sep 2015 "Paul Watson and guest, Alex Benesch, reveal why Germany cannot handle the number of refugees they are taking in and how the local media is covering up reports of rapes at the hands of Muslims." InfoWars Video:  Transript Alex Benesch talks complete sh*t, discrediting this video Link  |  here ꕤ

Dave Cameron's Bullsh*t Letter to NATO - Propagada & Censorship

ꕤ Media Selling Unicorns❄ Corporate-Serving Media In Service of Aggressive Neoliberal Foreign Policy |  Manufacturing Consent Bias.  Compliance.  Censorship. Disinformation.  Distraction.  Diversion.  Suppression.  Smear. censorship & disinformation is denial of informed consent article ORIGINAL SOURCE New York Daily propaganda http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/britain-prime-minister-warns-nato-allies-prepare-conflict-russia-article-1.1890088 Check out Dave Cameron's absolute bullsh*t 'letter to NATO' Original Post "PROPAGANDA 101 - DAVID CAMERON - WRITE A LETTER TO NATO ..." Link |  here . Re Photo The original post referred to this NYDN source article and to a photograph -- among those used in the article -- which was included in my original post, and has since been censored from this blog. Whoever has had Google remove this image has done so contrary to Copyright fair use provisions (see Universal Music - 9th Circuit Court decision Sept. 2015). Particulars Subject:  Ukraine Photographer:  SERGEI KARPUKHIN Agency:  REUTERS Google censorship of image, contrary to copyright fair use provisions (see decision USA 9th Circuit ruling Sept. 2015) New York Daily propaganda photo caption:  "Armed pro-Russian separatists walk near the site where the downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed." Re Article NYDN US-British propaganda article is 100% bullsh*t ...  It was obvious when it was published and it's clear as day, today. Article's dated August 2014 and Russia hasn't attacked, but the US and its NATO allies have been busy encroaching on Russia's borders. New York Daily propaganda associated article title: "Britain's prime minister warns NATO allies to prepare for conflict with Russia" Anti-Russia & pro-NATO spending scare: Courtesy of:   Dave Cameron Ummm, this is the same Dave Cameron ...   who is conducting drone assassinations of British subjects in Syria, and has conducted drone attacks in Syria, in secret, despite Parliamentary veto ...  psychopath. Britain's slick, used car salesman psychopath quoted in New York Daily propaganda 3 August, 2014: "Britain's prime minister is warning NATO allies to prepare for conflict because he says Russia sees the alliance as an enemy." ""Russia has ripped up the rulebook ..." David Cameron wrote in a letter to NATO Saturday." Published:  Sunday, August 3, 2014, 12:23 AM COMMENT I'm doubly pissed off here. First of all that the photograph has been censored unfairly in an earlier post. Even though my original post wasn't earth shattering political commentary, that's not the point ... and it's in violation of the copyright fair use provisions, as well as the spirit of a free internet. 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. I'm also pissed off seeing Dave Cameron's Russian scare garbage is influencing millions around the world ...  while Dave's droning away and engaged in oil/gas wars that are causing the displacement of millions in the Middle East, and consequently straining both social fabric and budgets of a number of European nations that are inundated by immigration unprecedented since WWII ... ...  while Dave Cameron visits Lebanon for a photo op with refugees, pretending it has nothing to do with his government's aggressive policies (and support of sectarian violence) in the region. "Ripped up the rule book" -- Dave Cameron ... from a country that invaded Iraq illegally. Staged.  Photo op.  Exploiting refugees.  Exploiting women.  Exploiting children. Psychopath. ꕤ

Legal Advice on Extra-Judicial Assassination Drone Strikes & How the British Establishment Works - Syria

ꕤ Article SOURCE http://www.globalresearch.ca/i-can-reveal-the-legal-advice-on-drone-strikes-and-how-the-establishment-works/5475352 I Can Reveal the Legal Advice on Drone Strikes, and How the British Establishment Works By Craig Murray Global Research, September 11, 2015 Craig Murray 9 September 2015 Region: Europe, Middle East & North Africa Theme: Law and Justice, Militarization and WMD In-depth Report: PALESTINE This may be the most important article I ever post, because it reveals perfectly how the Establishment works and how the Red Tories and Blue Tories contrive to give a false impression of democracy. It is information I can only give you because of my experience as an insider. It is a definitive proof of the validity of the Chomskian propaganda model. It needs a fair bit of detail to do this, but please try and read through it because it really is very, very important. After you have finished, if you agree with me about the significance, please repost, (you are free to copy), retweet, add to news aggregators (Reddit etc) and do anything you can to get other people to pay attention. The government based its decision to execute by drone two British men in Syria on “Legal Opinion” from the Attorney-General for England and Wales, Jeremy Wright, a politician, MP and Cabinet Minister. But Wright’s legal knowledge comes from an undistinguished first degree from Exeter and a short career as a criminal defence barrister in Birmingham. His knowledge of public international law is virtually nil. I pause briefly to note that there is no pretence of consulting the Scottish legal system. The only legal opinion is from the Attorney General for England and Wales who is also Honorary Advocate General for Northern Ireland. So Jeremy Wright’s role is as a cypher. He performs a charade. The government employs in the FCO a dozen of the most distinguished public international lawyers in the world. When the Attorney-General’s office needs an Opinion on public international law, they ask the FCO to provide it for him to sign. The only known occasion when this did not happen was the Iraq War. Then the FCO Legal Advisers – unanimously – advised the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, that to invade Iraq was illegal. Jack Straw asked the Attorney General to dismiss the FCO chief Legal Adviser, Sir Michael Wood (Goldsmith refused). Blair sent Goldsmith to Washington where the Opinion was written for him to sign by George Bush’s lawyers. [I know this sounds incredible, but it is absolutely true]. Sir Michael Wood’s deputy, Elizabeth Wilmshurst, resigned in protest. In consequence Blair and Straw decided that, again for the first time ever, the FCO’s chief legal adviser had to be appointed not from within the FCO legal advisers, who had all declared the war on Iraq to be illegal, but from outside. They had to find a distinguished public international lawyer who was prepared to argue that the war on Iraq had been legal. That was a very small field. Blair and Straw thus turned to Benjamin Netanyahu’s favourite lawyer, Daniel Bethlehem. Daniel Bethlehem had represented Israel before the Mitchell Inquiry into violence against the people of Gaza, arguing that it was all legitimate self-defence. He had also supplied the Government of Israel with a Legal Opinion that the vast Wall they were building in illegally occupied land, surrounding and isolating all the major Palestinian communities and turning them into large prisons, was also legal. Daniel Bethlehem is an extreme Zionist militarist of the most aggressive kind, and close to Mark Regev, Israel’s new Ambassador to the UK. Daniel Bethlehem had developed, in his work for Israel, an extremist doctrine of the right of States to use pre-emptive self-defence – a doctrine which would not be accepted by the vast majority of public international lawyers. He clinched his appointment by Blair as the FCO chief legal adviser by presenting a memorandum to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in 2004 outlining this doctrine, and thus de facto defending the attack on Iraq and the Bush/Blair doctrine. A key sentence of Daniel Bethlehem’s memorandum is this     It must be right that states are able to act in self-defence in circumstances where there is evidence of further imminent attacks by terrorist groups, even if there is no specific evidence of where such an attack will take place or of the precise nature of the attack. There is a fundamental flaw in this argument. How can you be certain that an attack in “imminent”, if you are not certain where or what it is? Even if we can wildly imagine a scenario where the government know of an “imminent” attack, but not where or what it is, how could killing someone in Syria stop the attack in the UK? If a team were active, armed and in course of operation in the UK – which is needed for “imminent” – how would killing an individual in Syria prevent them from going through with it? It simply does not add up as a practical scenario. Interestingly, Daniel Bethlehem does not pretend this is accepted international law, but specifically states that     The concept of what constitutes an “imminent” armed attack will develop to meet new circumstances and new threats  [EDIT:  ie ARBITRARY] Bethlehem is attempting to develop the concept of “imminent” beyond any natural interpretation of the word “imminent”. Daniel Bethlehem left the FCO in 2011. But he had firmly set the British government doctrine on this issue, while all FCO legal advisers know not to follow it gets you sacked. I can guarantee you that Wright’s Legal Opinion states precisely the same argument that David Bethlehem stated in his 2004 memorandum. Knowing how these things work, I am prepared to wager every penny I own that much of the language is identical. It was New Labour, the Red Tories, who appointed Daniel Bethlehem, and they appointed him precisely in order to establish this doctrine. It is therefore a stunning illustration of how the system works, that the only response of the official “opposition” to these extrajudicial executions is to demand to see the Legal Opinion, when it comes from the man they themselves appointed. The Red Tories appointed him precisely because they knew what Legal Opinion would be given on this specific subject. They can read it in Hansard. So it is all a charade. Jeremy Wright pretends to give a Legal Opinion, actually from FCO legal advisers based on the “Bethlehem Doctrine”. The Labour Party pretends, very unconvincingly, to be an opposition. The Guardian, apparently the leading “opposition” intellectual paper, publishes articles by its staff neo-con propagandists Joshua Rozenberg (married to Melanie Phillips) and Rafael Behr strongly supporting the government’s new powers of extrajudicial execution. In summer 2012 Joshua Rozenberg presented a programme on BBC Radio 4 entitled “Secret courts, drones and international law” which consisted mostly of a fawning interview with … Daniel Bethlehem. The BBC and Sky News give us wall to wall justification of the killings. So the state, with its neo-con “opposition” and media closely in step with its neo-con government, seamlessly adopts a new power to kill its own subjects based on secret intelligence and secret legal advice, and a very weird definition of “imminent” that even its author admits to be outside current legal understanding. That is how the state works. I do hope you find that helpful. This article has been updated to reflect the fact the Daniel Bethlehem is now retired from the FCO. SOURCE http://www.globalresearch.ca/i-can-reveal-the-legal-advice-on-drone-strikes-and-how-the-establishment-works/5475352 ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- SUMMARY 'Red Tories' = British Labour Party - aka 'New Labour' 'Blue Tories' = British Conservatives - ie the Tories Subject = extra-judicial drone killings / extra-judicial assassinations region = Syria legal opinion = bollocks state =  law unto itself / making it up as it goes / arbitrary definition etc dissenters - ie legal dissenters =  threat of being fired Jeremy Wright 'Legal Opinion' = charade FCO = Foreign & Commonwealth Office | Link | here FCO *UNANIMOUSLY* Advised:  ILLEGAL to INVADE IRAQ advised:  British Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith Lord Goldsmith = Peter Goldsmith (Baron Goldsmith) = barrister & attorney-general = announced resignation same day as Tony BLAIR stepped down = currently works in private capacity Link | here Jack STRAW Sought Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith dismissal of FCO chief Legal Adviser, Sir Michael Wood Jack STRAW Anglican Labour Cabinet - Gordon govt Cabinet - Blair govt Cabinet = 1997-2010 *Home Secretary - internal affairs; immigration *Foreign Secretary - foreign relations & intelligence Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith = refused to fire:  FCO chief Legal Adviser, Sir Michael Wood Tony Blair = Sent Goldsmith Washington George Bush lawyers = write 'legal opinion' = for Lord Goldsmith, British Attorney-General to SIGN Elizabeth Wilmshurst Deputy of Sir Michael Wood (ie the FCO chief Legal Adviser) = RESIGNS in protest As result: Jack STRAW + Tony BLAIR decide to break with tradition for first time EVER FCO chief adviser to be appointed from OUTSIDE the FCO (not from the FCO legal advisers, who had ALL declared war on IRAQ to be illegal) Jack STRAW + Tony BLAIR turn to: DANIEL BETHLEHEM =  Benjamin Netanyahu 'favourite lawyer' DANIEL BETHLEHEM = extreme Zionist militarist = extremist pre-emptive 'self-defence' doctrine = such pre-emptive doctrine: not accepted by vast majority of international lawyers DANIEL BETHLEHEM = legal opinion that legal to build Wall built = on ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED LAND (surrounding& isolating all major Palestinian communities & turning them into large prisons) DANIEL BETHLEHEM = close to:  MARK REGEV Israel new Ambassador to UK DOCTRINE Daniel Bethlehem developed in work for Israel = right of STATES to use PRE-EMPTIVE 'self-defence' DANIEL BETHLEHEM = de facto defended attack on IRAQ & the BUSH-BLAIR DOCTRINE (previously written by BUSH admin lawyers for  Peter Goldsmith, Attorney-General, Britain) KEY to DANIEL BETHLEHEM DOCTRINE - STATES - 'self-defence' - 'further imminent attacks' - 'IMMINENT'  [arbitrary & accepted on the go to fit whatever circumstances develop as 'new'] - no specific EVIDENCE - no precise NATURE of attack RESULT no EVIDENCE required arbitrary: make up definitions, as you will Stretch definition of 'imminent' threat legalise state extra-judiciary assassinations DANIEL BETHLEHEM = was appointed to FCO = by Jack STRAW & John BLAIR DANIEL BETHLEHEM =  leaves FCO, 2011 Britain's BETHLEHEM DOCTRINE = firmly set British government doctrine = all FCO legal advisers know to follow it or get sacked JEREMY WRIGHT = legal opinion PRECISELY SAME as DANIEL BETHLEHEM legal opinion BETHLEHEM DOCTRINE = not even accepted under international law = what constitutes 'imminent armed attack' is arbitrary *BETHLEHEM DOCTRINE attempts to "develop the concept of 'imminent' beyond natural interpretation of word" DANIEL BETHLEHEM = was appointed by New Labour (Red Tories) - ie Labour Party, UK = appointed PRECISELY because they knew WHAT legal opinion would be given JEREMY WRIGHT = pretends to give legal opinion = ACTUALLY from FCO legal advisers,  BASED on BETHLEHEM DOCTRINE Labour Party UK ...  PRETENDS to be in 'opposition' Meanwhile: PRESS | MEDIA IN DEMOCRACY 'OPPOSITION' PRESS THE GUARDIAN = 'opposition' intellectual press outlet = publishes articles by "its staff neo-con propagandists"  [see propagandists] = strongly SUPPORT govt NEW POWERS OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL EXECUTION OTHER PRESS BBC =  wall-to-wall justification broadcast, for extra-judicial killings Sky News =  wall-to-wall justification broadcast, for extra-judicial killings MURRAY’S CONCLUSION MEDIA  >   closely in step with its neo-con government =   seamlessly adopts new power kill state subjects =   based on secret intel & secret legal advice Assange Transnational Security Elite, Carving Up the World Using Your Tax Money London  OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) Link  |  here ꕤ

European Immigration, Marxism, Censorship, Foreign Policy & Mayhem

ꕤ Media Selling Unicorns❄ Corporate-Serving Media In Service of Aggressive Neoliberal Foreign Policy |  Manufacturing Consent Bias.  Compliance.  Censorship. Disinformation.  Distraction.  Diversion.  Suppression.  Smear. GERMANY 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. EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION 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. LABOUR PARTY (UK) JEREMY CORBYN COMRADE! 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. SOURCE |  GIF |  here WESTERN MEDIA CENSORSHIP DENIAL OF INFORMED CONSENT WESTERN MEDIA IN SERVICE OF AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY 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 ---------------------- Britain's Corbyn's off to a predictable start.  Corbyn's attended a 'refugees welcome' rally, immediately following his election as Labour leader in Britain, working the media momentum to make the most of the opportunity to extend his party's feel-good profile (and, presumably, to also fan the continued goodwill of what I guess is Labour's Marxist liberal supporter base). So, why are lefties evangelising the disastrous consequences of the foreign policies of imperialist interventions abroad, to the immediate and long-term disadvantage of their vulnerable and their working class -- as well as the inevitable social consequences to those at home? More government?  I don't know.   Yes, I guess so ... if he means more services will be required, and maybe more protections and special considerations that may be sought to accommodate those from different cultures, leading to more nanny state encroachment and suppression to keep order, or something like that? Bet there's no mention at Corbyn's rally that there will be less resources for state services that are already stretched, as funding the welfare state is less of a priority for Britain than funding the warfare state:  spending on NATO armaments, on behalf of private interests that are creating mayhem abroad and creating this problem in the first place.  Merkel's Germany is unbelievable.  No wonder there's a history of massive anti-immigration demonstrations in Germany. As for the in-vogue welcome demonstrations, they're not for the new arrivals, who wouldn't a clue what's going on in host countries. So, this would be a show performance ... but I've no idea who the target audience may be. EDIT: this must surely (to some extent) be part of a 'manufacture of consent' campaign, designed to appear a grass roots level support factor (propping up consequences of neoliberal aggression), and is probably indicative of (a) a co-opted left and (b) astroturfing organisations at work on behalf of imperialist interests. Astroturfing:  "Astroturfing is the attempt to create an impression of widespread grassroots support for a policy, individual, or product, where little such support exists. [here]" Really liked that Lenin rising GIF.  Find it amusing.  Always liked the idea of socialism, but my idea of socialism and what I see of socialism doesn't a match. The final video demonstrates just how deceitful and misleading the corporate neoliberal serving media is, in respect to both domestic and foreign policy reporting. JUST WATCHED that last video properly.  It makes me feel sick in the stomach.  Watching what is going on in Europe makes me physically ill.  Not only is it frightening watching this; it's frightening knowing that European governments and various political (and other organisations) are actively promoting this nightmare instead of declaring a militarily backed state of emergency lock-down in Europe. Assange Transnational Security Elite, Carving Up the World Using Your Tax Money London  OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) Link  |  here * Had trouble getting GIF happening, so there's a link to original ꕤ

'Why Murdoch Pushes for War' - Craig Murray

⟴ 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. Why Murdoch Pushes for War ⟴ by Craig Murray  on September 7, 2015 1:33 pm Given the disgraceful Sun front page and middle spread urging war on Syria, and the all-out propaganda on Sky News, it is important to understand why Murdoch is pushing so hard for war. I therefore reproduce my article from February 2013. It is important to note that the links are to industry publications: this is very genuine, hard information. Israel Grants Oil Rights in Syria to Murdoch and Rothschild Israel has granted oil exploration rights inside Syria, in the occupied Golan Heights, to Genie Energy. Major shareholders of Genie Energy – which also has interests in shale gas in the United States and shale oil in Israel – include Rupert Murdoch and Lord Jacob Rothschild. This from a 2010 Genie Energy press release Claude Pupkin, CEO of Genie Oil and Gas, commented, “Genie’s success will ultimately depend, in part, on access to the expertise of the oil and gas industry and to the financial markets. Jacob Rothschild and Rupert Murdoch are extremely well regarded by and connected to leaders in these sectors. Their guidance and participation will prove invaluable.” “I am grateful to Howard Jonas and IDT for the opportunity to invest in this important initiative,” Lord Rothschild said. “Rupert Murdoch’s extraordinary achievements speak for themselves and we are very pleased he has agreed to be our partner. Genie Energy is making good technological progress to tap the world’s substantial oil shale deposits which could transform the future prospects of Israel, the Middle East and our allies around the world.” For Israel to seek to exploit mineral reserves in the occupied Golan Heights is plainly illegal in international law. Japan was succesfully sued by Singapore before the International Court of Justice for exploitation of Singapore’s oil resources during the second world war. The argument has been made in international law that an occupying power is entitled to opeate oil wells which were previously functioning and operated by the sovereign power, in whose position the occupying power now stands. But there is absolutely no disagreement in the authorities and case law that the drilling of new wells – let alone fracking – by an occupying power is illegal. Israel tried to make the same move twenty years ago but was forced to back down after a strong reaction from the Syrian government, which gained diplomatic support from the United States. Israel is now seeking to take advantage of the weakened Syrian state; this move perhaps casts a new light on recent Israeli bombings in Syria. In a rational world, the involvement of Rothschild and Murdoch in this international criminal activity would show them not to be fit and proper persons to hold major commercial interests elsewhere, and action would be taken. Naturally, nothing of the kind will happen. SOURCE https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2015/09/why-murdoch-pushes-for-war/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT Think I might have encountered something about this before, but it didn't really sink in. I think I might be better at remembering things when they have some kind of emotion impact, like they do at the moment. Seeing  things sort of come together makes other details come to life. For me, it began with the flinging open of European borders by Mutti Merkel, at a cost of $6-billion, to Germany, despite a history of violent opposition to immigration, despite European austerity, despite the rise of right-wing dissenting political parties, despite security risks and opposition of EU states etc. Seeing the chaos of Middle Eastern and African refugees and other immigrants flooding Europe; seeing Britain secretly droning Syria, despite parliamentary veto; seeing Australia's Tony Abbott back-flip on his party's immigration stance, while joining the bomb Syria coalition; learning of Israeli bombings in Syria; seeing emotive propaganda and media hype targeting the public and exploiting refugees (that the West created by backing regional terrorists) has been instructive. Seeing the exploitation of the death of a child, and even exploitation of rape as a means of justifying pre-existing plans for war, by using rape in conflict zones as a basis for predictable calls for 'action' -- most recently, and perhaps aptly, by an actress, in British Parliament -- is seeing nothing but a charade performed for uninformed members of the public, which partly explains why this is an 'acting gig'. Emotive subjects and issues are the best propaganda tools and pretexts for behaviour that would otherwise be unacceptable to the public. The tools used by a criminal state to wage war are the same tools that are at the disposal of a criminal state to use against those it  designates as 'enemies' -- ie  those that pose threats to its illegitimate agenda (eg, by exposure of the corrupt state's wrongdoings, and so on). Allegations of 'rape' may also be employed (and have been employed) to 'justify' the state crime of conducting political persecution of those that expose state crimes.  Australian journalist-publisher, Julian Assange, exposed US and allied war crimes, and has effectively been imprisoned without charge for almost 5 years, and is presently under siege, in London, and denied rightful political asylum, on the basis of nothing but trumped up Sweden police 'rape allegations,' that have been used not only to deprive him of liberty, but also as a pretext for what is, in fact, state political persecution that is taking place before the public's eyes, while the corporate media, the state, its talking heads and its politicians, use  allegations of 'rape' to smear and vilify their target, when not otherwise misdirecting and generating stupor in an uninformed public. As for Syria, we have a military complex serving warmonger (John McCain) with links to US-backed 'moderate rebels' (ie al-Qaeda groups, in Syria, who are responsible for the assault on the Assad government by an assortment of multinational Islamist, as US and Gulf States proxies, which are destroying Syria & displacing millions), and he's perversely exploiting the image of a dead Syrian child in American Congress to, likewise, appeal for 'action' -- which is more of the same public and political performance staged in British parliament, as well as more of like performance staged in the past (Iraq and Libya, for example) -- to justify US and allied corporate-serving aggression abroad. Seeing the 'bomb Syria' Murdoch press, playing on public emotions and ignorance to quietly shape public perception and opinion; seeing a little of the beneath the surface commercial interests; seeing the inanity and PR influence of Hollywood, married to humanitarianism, married to politics, and then married to military intervention, which is married to silent Wahhabi Gulf Arab oil, commercial and political interests and partners of the West; married to Israel; married to energy and, no doubt, banking; which is severally and jointly bent on regime change in the Syria, and bent on destruction and murder, while immersed in deceit, propaganda, hypocrisy and arrogant sacrifice of both domestic and foreign populations; is to bear witness to a marriage made in hell, that somehow animates the otherwise cold, corporate details. It's hard to maintain a positive regard towards Israel or any of the US allied governments that support the destruction of yet another foreign state, in favour of causing mayhem in the region, with a view to, most likely, installing yet another religious fanatic puppet regime in the Middle East, that serves corporate Western interests. No wonder the Middle East never progresses from religious fanaticism; it's probably actively encouraged and reinforced by the West, who use it as a means to an ends. So, if you look at it like that, it is the West that can also take a bow for the entrenchment and spread of (what I see as) unenlightened philosophies under religious grip (that are inherently opposed to progress towards secularism), that Western imperialism has historically exploited, by installing and maintaining Western-serving dictators, and by backing proxy challenger armies (when they're not inadvertently encouraging even more ardent religious fanaticism of an opposition to Western interference), done in pursuit of the gains of the few, to the detriment of the many, in the Middle East and beyond. Guessing that corporate imperialism would nurture anything, as a means to an end, however damaging the 'blowback' to domestic populations, because there's no regard or loyalty to the domestic populations that are subjected to across-borders corporate tyranny. [Note:  I'm no Middle Eastern expert.  This is just my personal appraisal, given my limited knowledge and my limited inclinations, at this point in time.] Assange Transnational Security Elite, Carving Up the World Using Your Tax Money London  OCT8 Antiwar Mass Assembly (2011) Link  |  here ꕤ