Did the entire world go mad yesterday?
Dear readers,
Unusually for me, I’m honestly a bit lost for words this morning because I am still dumbstruck by the astonishing things that have happened in the last 24 hours. I keep telling myself I should feel angry, yet I appear to be completely paralysed by an overwhelming sense of “WTF?!” from yesterday’s events, and here’s why:
- Alastair Campbell told the Chilcot Inquiry that he “defends every word” of the ‘Dodgy Dossier’ that had a huge part to play in justifying the war in Iraq. Apparently, he is not bothered by the fact that the dossier – which Campbell and his team wrote, not our Intelligence Services - was largely lifted from a PhD thesis by Ibrahim al-Marashi entitled rather conservatively “Iraq’s Security and Intelligence Network: A Guide and Analysis” that was published on the internet. Even the then Home Secretary David Blunkett said it should never have been published. Intelligence officers were furious at the time that they were credited for material in the dossier on the Iraqi security services, which was subsequently used by Colin Powell to help justify war. Is Alistair Campbell the most accomplished liar in New Labour history, or does he genuinely believe that the dossier was water-tight?
- Islam4UK will now be banned under counter-terrorism laws thanks to Alan Johnson, after they planned a protest to honour Muslims killed in the Afghanistan conflict. The government had been considering outlawing the group under its original name, al-Muhajiroun. A spokesman for Islam4UK told the BBC it was an “ideological and political organisation”, and not a violent one. Johnson said: “I have today laid an order which will proscribe al-Muhajiroun, Islam4UK, and a number of the other names the organisation goes by. It is already proscribed under two other names – al-Ghurabaa and The Saved Sect. Proscription is a tough but necessary power to tackle terrorism and is not a course we take lightly. We are clear that an organisation should not be able to circumvent proscription by simply changing its name.” Under the Terrorism Act 2000, a group can be banned if it “commits or participates in acts of terrorism, prepares for, promotes or encourages terrorism or is otherwise concerned in terrorism”. Groups can also be outlawed if they “unlawfully glorify the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism”. Islam4UK spokesman Anjem Choudary said: “What the people will see is if you don’t agree with the government and you want to expose their foreign policy, then freedom quickly dissipates and turns into dictatorship.” He denied Islam4UK members were involved in violence: “I challenge anyone to authentically prove that any of our members have been involved in any violent activities or promoting violent activities or asking anyone to carry out any sort of military operations.” So no evidence of violence or terrorism links, no concerns about free speech or freedom of expression – just ban them. *roll eyes*
- Kate and Gerry McCann, both 41, were in court to hear how the detectives leading the investigation into their daughter’s disappearance believed they had lied to hide the truth. “She died in the apartment as a result of a tragic accident and the parents simulated an abduction after failing to care of their children,” Tavares de Almeida, former chief inspector at Portimao police station during the initial months of the investigation, told the court in Lisbon. The allegations against Kate and Gerry McCann were presented in court on the first day of a hearing to challenge the publication of a book written by Algarve detective Goncalo Amaral. Lawyers for the detective, who led the team that made the McCanns arguidos – suspects – in their daughter’s disappearance, called witnesses to support the claims outlined in his book. The McCanns arguido status was lifted after ten months in July 2008 when the Attorney General ruled there was no evidence against them. The pair came face to face with their detractor for the first time since they were officially made argiuidos in September 2007, four months after they daughter vanished days before her fourth birthday. Mr Amaral, 50, led the initial investigation into Madeleine’s disappearance from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on 3rd May 2007 while her parents dined with friends at a tapas bar nearby. He was sacked from the case, which remains unsolved. His book, entitled “The Truth of The Lie”, published in July 2008 claims that Madeleine died in the apartment and questions her parents’ account of events that evening.
I mean, seriously, where do you start with all of this? Did the entire world go mad yesterday? Did common sense go on holiday?
Witanagemot Blogs
LFAT, Campbell HAS TO defend every word of the dodgy dossier. Given the opprobrium to which it has been subjected, its devastating consequences, and you’ve gone down so far down the mendacity route and for so long, it’s the only sensible and tenable position for him to hold. There will be no damascene conversion to the notion of truth and reconciliation. Expect the same from T. Blair in due course. This particular symbiotic relationship will not falter – it can not: not in our time anyway.
Did we really expect him to come to Chilcot saying, “Look guys, I’ve been thinking”? There’s some things you need to know. Blair was mesmerised by the USA and Bush, and, for his own aggrandisement, was determined to support him in Iraq come what may. I took it from there – best man for the job as it were. You know what I mean: I always had them all by the balls. We contrived, obfuscated and lied to the public and Parliament to achieve our ends. But we got it wrong. After ‘Shock and Awe’ we cocked-up royally: no strategy, no plan. Iraq is in danger of becoming a failed state. Thousands have died unnecessarily, and will continue to do so”.
So, sorry guys. I’ve learned from my mistakes. I’ll stop more buggering about in the Labour Party I helped to ruin. I’ll retire from public life, keep quiet and live humbly in the ignominy I have brought on myself”.
We must dream on.
Poor Alistair was suffering from incipient mental exhaustion at the time. You clearly cannot suspect a man whose reputation for integrity and honesty are a byword to be hiding anything. We are faced with the stark fact that the dodgy Dossier was not. in fact a serious attempt to explain the situation but a facile bit of Marketing puff to sell Tony’s Big Idea. Dr Kelly was merely the first Briton to die for the sake of a politician’s “legacy”
Islam4uk were never going to be allowed to demonstrate in the way intended, as such a demonstration would almost certainly led to public disorder. The Marxist tactic of planning for an impossible demo then crying foul, so plentifully used by Anti- bomb campaigners pre-perestroika, have worked perfectly.
““I challenge anyone to authentically prove that any of our members have been involved in any violent activities or promoting violent activities or asking anyone to carry out any sort of military operations.” Note, the word “terrorist” is not used, “military” is substituted. In itself a claim of legitimacy for terrorist outrage. Gerry would approve. It’s also a pretty bare-faced attempt to find out what the security forces know. There are many British Muslims working undercover, early disclosure of iiinformation to justify the Home Secretary’s action could expose one or more of them.
I feel certain that if Madeleine had died violently in the room, indications would have been found during the intense forensic investigations. However, the strangely emotionless appearances of the McCanns on TV during the investigation need some explanation. I feel that if she is not dead already, the alternatives would probably make her wish she was.
And then there’s the EU ruling our stop and search illegal and Postman Pat sticking two fingers up to them…
Alastair Campbell is a p**t who, I think, genuinely manages to persuade himself – and hence others in the New Labour government – of the truth of his spin. What he says and writes has absolutely no intellectual or moral integrity: his sole rationale is to defend and spin his political masters. He’s like the ‘educated’ version of a minder whom his bosses get to do the dirty work and parrot their words.
The question is, on what basis can we believe a single word he says at the Inquiry? He’s so pervaded by the ethos and techniques of spin that we can have no confidence that even what he says with conviction bears any relationship to the ‘truth’.
The whole world has been mad for a lot longer than a day, LFaT. Yesterday just had several mad things happening at once…
Islam4UK. Note to Mr. Choudary. Perhaps a bit late now but maybe it would have offered a less threatening face to HMG and Blighty had you first dropped the ‘K’ from your organisation’s title.
But, anyway, here we go again. A Labour party lacking in any sort of imagination, competence or creativity. Desperate to push out another initiative it would, presumably, see as populist; particularly so close to a general election. So we have the insubstantial figure that is Alan Johnson, Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for knee-jerk reactions, proscribing this rag-tag bunch. For God’s (Allah’s?) sake; if there’s evidence and they commit offences, nick them! But that’s no good for Johnson is it? Because that would mean, well, arresting Muslims. And that doesn’t compute in Brown’s PC Britain, does it? Too much grief, what with all that subsequent placard-waving and death-to-whoever in the streets and outside police stations. It really is pathetic.
Incidentally, I think it is a bit rich if that nice Mr Choudary is harping on about things like “…then freedom quickly dissipates…”, and “dictatorship” when, if my eyes did not deceive me, he spoke outside court in front of a poster which said ‘Islam will dominate the world. Freedom can go to Hell’.
Nice.
Dear LFAT… I think that exact same thing everytime I open the papers or put the news on!
There’s the global climate change scam (Nigerians have nothing on scientists and politicians) Engineered solely to ensure the taxpayer has to pay more and more for “lining pockets”.
Our rights as freemen being stolen and sold to the EU Dictatorship for power and money! We want a referendum!
Our politicians (including the Tories), who just can’t stop whinging about their expenses even now. Do they know how real people live?
Our police and legal system have been turned into the scariest modern version of the Spanish Inquisition, unless you’re guilty or “diverse” of course, then you’re protected!
The Swine Flu pandemic “global scam”, which didn’t fool anyone with any sense, but lost the UK government a billion quid and now they can’t give the stuff away!
The Chilcot Enquiry (as the Expenses Enquiry), will no doubt cost millions. Nothing will come from either enquiry. We all know that Blair and his “circle” are guilty of an illegal war but you can bet your life nothing will happen! Even now the outcome of the expenses enquiry is being watered down and I am furious about it!
What about “Browns most radical manifesto ever”… what will Nero up with next? Open borders? 75% tax rate? Install a camera in everyone’s house?
The mind boggles!
If in doubt, do a Fun Online Poll. In the Court of Fun Online Poll-opinion, the McCanns were found probably a bit guilty.
Alistair C is clearly a liar, but we knew that. Logic says, if you are faced with a mad dictator who can launch WMD’s within 45 minutes, you do not announce weeks in advance that you are going to invade (see also: Cold War). We did the latter, ergo, we must have known that the first assumption was not true.
As to the Muslim nutters, either individual members have committed criminal offences or they haven’t. It doesn’t matter what they call themselves. Paxo messed up badly yesterday, he should have just let the beardie guy ramble on and explain why and how he was going to kill or enslave us all.
As I mentioned in my own blog last week, the treason act still exists and I cannot understand why there have not been any prosecutions.
It is a treasonable offence (since 1351)
“if a man do levy war against our lord the King in his realm, or be adherent to the King’s enemies in his realm, giving to them aid and comfort in the realm, or elsewhere”.
Surely Choudary is doing just this, and I can only assume that the government is too lily-livered to think about prosecuting him.
I was suprised to learn al-Muhajiroun hasn’t been banned years ago – I’m sure I recall Blair promising to do so.
Any kafir who’s had any dealings with them knows what they’re really like.
Unfortunately, beheading members of Islam4UK would probably gain them more members, not less – such is the way when the Government tries to crush democratic freedoms.
1) Campbell is a liar. It was in his job description. Like Goebbels, his philosophy is tha if you tell a lie often enough, however big it is, it becomes the truth.
2)I would have been all for banning the march (had Chaudary had any intention of mounting one), but I think the security service will be furious at the way the organisation has been banned. These organisations become less effective as they become more public and more top heavy,and easier infiltrate.
3) I’m sorry, but I seem to be the only person in Britain that thinks the McCanns should be residing in a Portugese jail, probably not for murder but certainly for child neglect. Had a working class person with no government connections committed the same offence of leaving their children entirely unattended in a foreign country, a sentence would certainly have been passed.
@Tony E – Prompted by your reference to the McCanns I revisited the Daily Mail for 17th November last. It deals with the well-publicised case of Rebecca Stevenson, the 22 year old inadequate, Blackburn mother of 4 young children.
Unlike the McCanns who left their children alone, then, along with their friends, probably enjoyed an agreeable repast of tapas, accompanied by a nice Rioja, when Rebecca left her children alone she enjoyed a ‘drink and drugs binge’ along with her friends.
Judge Norman Wright said of Stevenson that she was guilty of ‘an absolute complete dereliction’ of her duty as a parent.
The Mail continues, ‘Child welfare campaigners reacted with disbelief when Stevenson was not given a jail sentence’ (it was suspended for 20 weeks). ‘Claude Knight of children’s charity, Kidscape, said “The important message should be that the safety and welfare of children must come first and that anyone who put them at grave risk could face a custodial sentence”‘.
Just saying.
The fact that Campbell lied should be a matter of neither shock nor surprise. The fact that the Portuguese police accused the McCanns of lying should also be unsurprising.
When there is a general failure on behalf of government to act honestly and in accord with the agreements of the UN, then of course lackeys will lie to preserve their own no doubt lucrative contracts and speaking engagements at the Ginsters’ Pie Annual Awards Dinner.
Likewise, when police chases have failed to provide any substantive leads, it is only natural that they will turn and pick on the most likely suspects – even if there is no evidence at all. The same thing happened in the Rachael Nichols case, Guildford four, etc etc.
The world didn’t go mad yesterday; it has always been mad. Yesterday it just manifested itself in a concentrated form through the media.
Sursum Corda!
No, you’re not the only person!
Bah, fumblefingers! That last was in reply to Tony E, re the McCanns…
I’ve got NO chance of winning the ‘most comments’ game if JuliaM double posts on everything!
Wait, perhaps that’s been her plan all along…
Damn it! Rumbled!
Tony. You certinaly aren’t the only person…
@Tony E -
Dear LFaT,
Sorry for not writing to you for awhile. I’m writing in reply to your letter of the 13th of January concerning various events of the 12th of January and the weirdness thereof.
Dodgy:
Saddam Hussein had some pretend-Chemical Artillery without any shells but with some scary NBC suits near Basra. This was for the benefit of the local Shiite population. In reality it was only really a threat to the luckless Iraqi blokes who had to wear the NBC gear and run around in the hot sun.
Saddam also had some rockets that didn’t have warheads and were essentially expensive and not very impressive fireworks.
Islam4UK (quite a nice name> Think Gardeners4UK):
This group is an already banned group under a different name. So it’s still banned isn’t it? It is still the same people. What does banning these groups mean? Their aim seems to be treasonous. What the hell is going on?
I wouldn’t stop them marching peacefully in Wootton-Bassett. However, they are an already banned group who have admitted treasonous intent on TV. I’m totally puzzled about the whole thing really.
Yours Sincerely,
Conand
Cameron reporting to controller
Stuff the voters (after the election of course)
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2010/01/04/david-cameron-talks-exclusively-to-cancer-research-uk-ceo-harpal-kumar/
Ex Tory
No Tony, you’re not. The small quiet voice of common sense can still be heard. I wouldn’t take the word of either of the McKanns even if they told me that it’s a bit chilly right now.
They seem to be in the Alistair Campbell league for dodgy sob stories and blatant self-promotion.