This is a great conspiracy theory from The Agitator (thanks to Political Betting for the spot) which runs "I wonder now if Clinton’s comments may sprung from something even deeper. The thing is, Bill Clinton is incredibly savvy. He may be the most talented politician of my lifetime. The Jesse Jackson comments were uncharacteristically sloppy. What in the world made him utter them?
So here’s a crazy theory that occurred to me the other day, and that gets more plausible the more I think about it: Clinton’s comments were calculated, but they may have been more sinister than even the activist I met knows. Clinton–perhaps subconsciously–was sabotaging his wife’s campaign...
So why would Clinton do it? Well, maybe he doesn’t want his wife to be president.
They don’t come much more alpha male than Bill Clinton. The guy’s a walking erection. I can’t imagine anything more emasculating to an alpha-alpha like Bill than to watch his wife arc over him–for her to become more powerful than he. Actually, it’s quite a bit worse than that. Hillary Clinton was on the verge of not only becoming more powerful than Bill, she was ready to become the most powerful person on the planet. Not only that, she was about to do so by assuming the very office Bill once held, but (probably) won’t ever hold again. Bill, on the other hand, would be relegated to first lady. I can’t see how that wouldn’t mess with the psychology of a guy like Clinton....
Remember, Clinton said some other strange things at about the same time, including his weird, unsolicited comments that Hillary and John McCain are good friends, and would run one of the friendliest presidential campaigns in American history. In the heat of a primary, in an election to replace a Republican administration universally loathed by movement Democrats, is it really wise to casually note that your wife the candidate is chummy with the GOP frontrunner, a guy who would continue most of the current administration’s policies, including (most notably) the Iraq war, the one issue that raises primary voters’ haunches than any other? Democratic voters are out for blood, and Bill Clinton says of Hillary, “Oh that John McCain? She loves him!”
Certainly, Clinton’s gaffes played a big role in turning the Democratic primary around. But the more I think about them, the more it seems like they may not have been by accident."
Wow, could this be possible?
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
A comment from Lola on Guido Fawkes' blog that caught my eye
If it is bad form to publish a comment from another blog, then I apologise and I will remove this. I just read this and it struck me as probbaly being true for a lot of people who were swept up in the "Things can only get better" tide in 1997 - I was not one of them.
"Lola said...
Like, I suspect, many people in 1997 I looked at the political alternatives offered and was not impressed. On one side you had a Tory outfit too long in the line and bereft of energy and good people in authority needing time to regroup. On the other side you had a fresh looking 'reformed' labour party led by someone dripping charisma. (I ignored the lib dems as any sane person should - at least in their current guise.) And I thought long. My decision to go with the Tories was based on a complete disbelief that any Labour party ever in all of time has ever been able to run the economy successfully. By nature they are tax and spenders. They just cannot help it.
So I voted accordingly. For the least worst option.
And I sat back and waited, and waited and watched as New labour morphed ever so not slowly into the flawed old ways of tax and spend. I saw that they had lucked into power at the most proptious time possible. The public finances in very good shape the economy strong, with a final international victory over Socialism. I watched as, as is usual under Labour, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. I watched as inflation stormed ever higher (house price inflation is just that, inflation), public spending and borrowing began to run out of control and taxes became eye watering, and visited entirely on those in the middle.
And I knew I had been right. And I am deeply ashamed of being so.
I am ashamed that we have yet again allowed ourselves to be ruled by useless profligate clowns and ashamed that we have yet again squandered capital on overhead and ashamed that we have let down so many public sector workers (who are frequently Good Blokes) by bad leadership and unsustainable fiscal management.
It is a tragedy that we will have to yet again go through a serious amount of financial pain all because we elected such a shower of incompetents into power.
It's not their fault that they are in power, it is ours. We should be thoroughly contrite that we have been so arrogant to assume that we have the divine right to all sorts of prosperity, genuinely bought at the cost to others.
And that is the final conundrum that confounds socialists. How come socialism, which seems to reside in 'fairness', always does the opposite and increases 'unfairness'? I know why. It is obvoious why. So why do they keep doing it time after time after time?
End of rant."
"Lola said...
Like, I suspect, many people in 1997 I looked at the political alternatives offered and was not impressed. On one side you had a Tory outfit too long in the line and bereft of energy and good people in authority needing time to regroup. On the other side you had a fresh looking 'reformed' labour party led by someone dripping charisma. (I ignored the lib dems as any sane person should - at least in their current guise.) And I thought long. My decision to go with the Tories was based on a complete disbelief that any Labour party ever in all of time has ever been able to run the economy successfully. By nature they are tax and spenders. They just cannot help it.
So I voted accordingly. For the least worst option.
And I sat back and waited, and waited and watched as New labour morphed ever so not slowly into the flawed old ways of tax and spend. I saw that they had lucked into power at the most proptious time possible. The public finances in very good shape the economy strong, with a final international victory over Socialism. I watched as, as is usual under Labour, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. I watched as inflation stormed ever higher (house price inflation is just that, inflation), public spending and borrowing began to run out of control and taxes became eye watering, and visited entirely on those in the middle.
And I knew I had been right. And I am deeply ashamed of being so.
I am ashamed that we have yet again allowed ourselves to be ruled by useless profligate clowns and ashamed that we have yet again squandered capital on overhead and ashamed that we have let down so many public sector workers (who are frequently Good Blokes) by bad leadership and unsustainable fiscal management.
It is a tragedy that we will have to yet again go through a serious amount of financial pain all because we elected such a shower of incompetents into power.
It's not their fault that they are in power, it is ours. We should be thoroughly contrite that we have been so arrogant to assume that we have the divine right to all sorts of prosperity, genuinely bought at the cost to others.
And that is the final conundrum that confounds socialists. How come socialism, which seems to reside in 'fairness', always does the opposite and increases 'unfairness'? I know why. It is obvoious why. So why do they keep doing it time after time after time?
End of rant."
Fancy a job?
I know Guido got there first but this is too good to not comment upon. The labour Party are advertising for a Compliance Administrator to work in their Compliance Unit in their London Head Office. Here's the whole advertisement:
"Compliance Administrator Reference:11923
Posted: 12 February 08
Working for The Labour Party
Salary £23k - 25k
Details The Labour Party is seeking to recruit a Compliance Administrator to work in our Compliance Unit in our London Head Office.
The successful applicant will work with the Compliance Unit Manager to ensure that the Labour Party complies with its obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.
You will play a key role in the preparation of all Labour Party reports to the Electoral Commission and be a point of contact for information and guidance to Labour Party staff and other key stakeholders about the reporting of donations and loans.
You should have:
Experience of basic office administration systems and knowledge of financial record-keeping
The ability to compile information accurately and methodically
Excellent communication skills with the ability to distil complex information to a range of key stakeholders
Experience of working to tight deadlines in a highly pressurised environment
A commitment to the Labour Party
A full job description is available on the Labour Party's website at www.labour.org.uk/new_job
Closes Thursday 28 February 2008
Contact Please send CV and covering letter to compvac@new.labour.org.uk
Website http://www.labour.org.uk"
I especially like:
1) "The successful applicant will work with the Compliance Unit Manager to ensure that the Labour Party complies with its obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act."
This must be a new requirement!
2) "Experience of basic office administration systems and knowledge of financial record-keeping"
The latter being something that the Labour party seems to have great problems with, maybe installing Sage Line50 would help.
3) "The ability to compile information accurately and methodically"
Again, his must be a new requirement!
4) "Experience of working to tight deadlines in a highly pressurised environment"
Once again meeting deadlines must be a new requirement.
5) "A commitment to the Labour Party"
Isn't that discriminatory?
I have just downloaded the full "Job Description" and here it is:
"Job Title: Compliance Administrator
Responsible to: Compliance Manager
Location: The post holder will be based Head Office, London
Key Purpose: To support the Compliance Manager in ensuring that the Labour Party complies with its obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act and other related legislation.
Specific Responsibilities:
1. To maintain the database of donations and loans and assist in the preparation of the Party’s quarterly report to the Electoral Commission.
2. To assist in the preparation of the Party’s weekly report to the Electoral Commission during general elections.
3. To assist in the preparation of statutory returns of campaign expenditure to the Electoral Commission.
4. To maintain the Party’s list of accounting unit registered treasurers and deputy registered treasurers.
5. To provide advice and guidance to Party staff and accounting unit registered treasurers under the supervision of the Compliance Manager about the reporting of donations and loans and other related matters and to undertake follow-up when necessary.
6. To assist the Compliance Manager in the preparation and delivery of training programmes. This may on occasion require weekend work away from home.
7. To assist the Compliance Manager in the development of the on-line reporting system
8. To assist in the administration of legacies
9. To keep accurate records and produce statistics as required
10. To undertake other administrative tasks within the Compliance Unit as required.
11. To attend (by agreement) national and regional events, including annual conference."
Best of all are the "SKILLS/ABILITIES" required:
"Ability to compile donation and loan information accurately and methodically"
Again, his must be a new requirement!
"Ability to understand and communicate the main requirements of the law in relation to donation and loan reporting"
Again, his must be a new requirement!
"Ability to use Microsoft applications in particular Word and Excel"
I would say that a knowledge of Excel date arithmetic might be useful.
"Ability to prioritise workload and work to pre-determined deadlines"
Useful in most compliance jobs, I would have thought.
So the labour Party are looking to beef up their compliance department; a phrase involvin horses and stable doors comes to mind!
"Compliance Administrator Reference:11923
Posted: 12 February 08
Working for The Labour Party
Salary £23k - 25k
Details The Labour Party is seeking to recruit a Compliance Administrator to work in our Compliance Unit in our London Head Office.
The successful applicant will work with the Compliance Unit Manager to ensure that the Labour Party complies with its obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.
You will play a key role in the preparation of all Labour Party reports to the Electoral Commission and be a point of contact for information and guidance to Labour Party staff and other key stakeholders about the reporting of donations and loans.
You should have:
Experience of basic office administration systems and knowledge of financial record-keeping
The ability to compile information accurately and methodically
Excellent communication skills with the ability to distil complex information to a range of key stakeholders
Experience of working to tight deadlines in a highly pressurised environment
A commitment to the Labour Party
A full job description is available on the Labour Party's website at www.labour.org.uk/new_job
Closes Thursday 28 February 2008
Contact Please send CV and covering letter to compvac@new.labour.org.uk
Website http://www.labour.org.uk"
I especially like:
1) "The successful applicant will work with the Compliance Unit Manager to ensure that the Labour Party complies with its obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act."
This must be a new requirement!
2) "Experience of basic office administration systems and knowledge of financial record-keeping"
The latter being something that the Labour party seems to have great problems with, maybe installing Sage Line50 would help.
3) "The ability to compile information accurately and methodically"
Again, his must be a new requirement!
4) "Experience of working to tight deadlines in a highly pressurised environment"
Once again meeting deadlines must be a new requirement.
5) "A commitment to the Labour Party"
Isn't that discriminatory?
I have just downloaded the full "Job Description" and here it is:
"Job Title: Compliance Administrator
Responsible to: Compliance Manager
Location: The post holder will be based Head Office, London
Key Purpose: To support the Compliance Manager in ensuring that the Labour Party complies with its obligations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act and other related legislation.
Specific Responsibilities:
1. To maintain the database of donations and loans and assist in the preparation of the Party’s quarterly report to the Electoral Commission.
2. To assist in the preparation of the Party’s weekly report to the Electoral Commission during general elections.
3. To assist in the preparation of statutory returns of campaign expenditure to the Electoral Commission.
4. To maintain the Party’s list of accounting unit registered treasurers and deputy registered treasurers.
5. To provide advice and guidance to Party staff and accounting unit registered treasurers under the supervision of the Compliance Manager about the reporting of donations and loans and other related matters and to undertake follow-up when necessary.
6. To assist the Compliance Manager in the preparation and delivery of training programmes. This may on occasion require weekend work away from home.
7. To assist the Compliance Manager in the development of the on-line reporting system
8. To assist in the administration of legacies
9. To keep accurate records and produce statistics as required
10. To undertake other administrative tasks within the Compliance Unit as required.
11. To attend (by agreement) national and regional events, including annual conference."
Best of all are the "SKILLS/ABILITIES" required:
"Ability to compile donation and loan information accurately and methodically"
Again, his must be a new requirement!
"Ability to understand and communicate the main requirements of the law in relation to donation and loan reporting"
Again, his must be a new requirement!
"Ability to use Microsoft applications in particular Word and Excel"
I would say that a knowledge of Excel date arithmetic might be useful.
"Ability to prioritise workload and work to pre-determined deadlines"
Useful in most compliance jobs, I would have thought.
So the labour Party are looking to beef up their compliance department; a phrase involvin horses and stable doors comes to mind!
With colleagues like these...
From Conservative Home comes this report on how Ken Livingstone is perceived by some of London's Labour MPs. Not a terribly popular chap is he?
Something else to worry about
Further to my post about Pakistan's store of nuclear weapons I now see that "Two nuclear scientists have been abducted near Pakistan's north-western border with Afghanistan, police have said, in the latest embarrassment to President Pervez Musharraf's government."
It all gets so much better doesn't it.
It all gets so much better doesn't it.
Bill and Hilary in action
From Captain's Quarters and Judicial Watch comes this analysis of the records from Hillary Clinton's task force on revamping the American health-care system. Some rather interesting information has come to light about Hilary Clinton's plans for revamping the American health-care system whilst her husband was US President.
You must read the whole article, but some extracts that may haunt Hilary if someone has the balls to bring them up are:
1) "A June 18, 1993 internal Memorandum entitled, “A Critique of Our Plan,” authored by someone with the initials “P.S.,” makes the startling admission that critics of Hillary’s health care reform plan were correct: “I can think of parallels in wartime, but I have trouble coming up with a precedent in our peacetime history for such broad and centralized control over a sector of the economy…Is the public really ready for this?... none of us knows whether we can make it work well or at all…”"
2) "A “Confidential” May 26, 1993 Memorandum from Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) to Hillary Clinton entitled, “Health Care Reform Communications,” which criticizes the Task Force as a “secret cabal of Washington policy ‘wonks’” that has engaged in “choking off information” from the public regarding health care reform. The memorandum suggests that Hillary Clinton “use classic opposition research” to attack those who were excluded by the Clinton Administration from Task Force deliberations and to “expose lifestyles, tactics and motives of lobbyists” in order to deflect criticism."
Do those smearing tactics remind you of New Labour's tactics under Tony Blair/Alastair Campbell and Gordon Brown?
3) "A February 5, 1993 Draft Memorandum from Alexis Herman and Mike Lux detailing the Office of Public Liaison’s plan for the health care reform campaign. The memorandum notes the development of an “interest group data base” detailing whether or not organizations “support(ed) us in the election.” The database would also track personal information about interest group leaders, such as their home phone numbers, addresses, “biographies, analysis of credibility in the media, and known relationships with Congresspeople.”"
4) "The memoranda can now be read in full, and the Rockefeller memo has some interesting passages. He offers the suggestion that opponents should have their "lifestyles" exposed at least twice, and argues both for engaging lobbyists and smearing them. Rockefeller also offers a little intellectually honest advice at least twice. When discussing abortion, he gets very terse (emphasis mine): Response concepts: ... Full Reproductive Services. Do not engage on this topic.
When it comes to actually discussing the plan in detail, Rockefeller had this advice: don't do that, either. He wrote that the effort to mobilize public support should focus on providing only a "broad" picture of the benefits and costs, and that the Task Force would "LOSE by focusing on the mechanical details". Opponents of the plan had to be shown as "perpetrators" who had to be "isolated" from each other."
All in all an interesting read and a good insight into the workings of the Clintons.
You must read the whole article, but some extracts that may haunt Hilary if someone has the balls to bring them up are:
1) "A June 18, 1993 internal Memorandum entitled, “A Critique of Our Plan,” authored by someone with the initials “P.S.,” makes the startling admission that critics of Hillary’s health care reform plan were correct: “I can think of parallels in wartime, but I have trouble coming up with a precedent in our peacetime history for such broad and centralized control over a sector of the economy…Is the public really ready for this?... none of us knows whether we can make it work well or at all…”"
2) "A “Confidential” May 26, 1993 Memorandum from Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) to Hillary Clinton entitled, “Health Care Reform Communications,” which criticizes the Task Force as a “secret cabal of Washington policy ‘wonks’” that has engaged in “choking off information” from the public regarding health care reform. The memorandum suggests that Hillary Clinton “use classic opposition research” to attack those who were excluded by the Clinton Administration from Task Force deliberations and to “expose lifestyles, tactics and motives of lobbyists” in order to deflect criticism."
Do those smearing tactics remind you of New Labour's tactics under Tony Blair/Alastair Campbell and Gordon Brown?
3) "A February 5, 1993 Draft Memorandum from Alexis Herman and Mike Lux detailing the Office of Public Liaison’s plan for the health care reform campaign. The memorandum notes the development of an “interest group data base” detailing whether or not organizations “support(ed) us in the election.” The database would also track personal information about interest group leaders, such as their home phone numbers, addresses, “biographies, analysis of credibility in the media, and known relationships with Congresspeople.”"
4) "The memoranda can now be read in full, and the Rockefeller memo has some interesting passages. He offers the suggestion that opponents should have their "lifestyles" exposed at least twice, and argues both for engaging lobbyists and smearing them. Rockefeller also offers a little intellectually honest advice at least twice. When discussing abortion, he gets very terse (emphasis mine): Response concepts: ... Full Reproductive Services. Do not engage on this topic.
When it comes to actually discussing the plan in detail, Rockefeller had this advice: don't do that, either. He wrote that the effort to mobilize public support should focus on providing only a "broad" picture of the benefits and costs, and that the Task Force would "LOSE by focusing on the mechanical details". Opponents of the plan had to be shown as "perpetrators" who had to be "isolated" from each other."
All in all an interesting read and a good insight into the workings of the Clintons.
Complete control
The government's Unique Learner Numbers scheme means that every schoolchild over the age of 14 will be issued with a personal number and have their records stored permanently on a Government database. A way of getting children onto the National Identity Register (NIR) by stealth, surely not. At least we can trust the Government with this sort of data, oh hold on that's not right is it?
And you wonder why the BBC rarely criticise the Chinese government
The BBC won the rights to cover the Beijing Olympics this year and apparently will spend £1 million on doing so.
Now do you see why the BBC has a vested interest in the Chinese Olympics being a success and why they will not criticise the hosts in case their coverage is affected; isn't freedom of speech marvellous.
Now do you see why the BBC has a vested interest in the Chinese Olympics being a success and why they will not criticise the hosts in case their coverage is affected; isn't freedom of speech marvellous.
The public finances are "far worse than even independent forecasters have predicted"
So reports Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor of the Telegraph. He writes about Alistair Darling acting as a lightening rod for Gordon Brown, diverting criticism from our glorious leader. The part that most interested me was this line "Last week, Whitehall's top permanent secretaries were called to a meeting to be told that the public finances are "far worse than even independent forecasters have predicted", according to one well-placed source."
It is no more than I have been saying for many months now, the economy is screwed and it has been screwed by Gordon Brown's ineptitude. We will all pay for his lack of foresight and ability, whilst he retires on his index-linked, gold plated pension.
It is no more than I have been saying for many months now, the economy is screwed and it has been screwed by Gordon Brown's ineptitude. We will all pay for his lack of foresight and ability, whilst he retires on his index-linked, gold plated pension.
Another brainwashing video
Have a watch of this video from MEMRI, here is the transcript. The video concerns "Hamas Bunny, Assud, Replaces His "Martyred" Brother Nahoul the Bee and Vows to Liberate Al-Aqsa and "Eat" Jews". Do watch it to the end, brainwashing of children at its finest.
Are we mad?
Jeff Randall in The Telegraph thinks we might be. Do read the whole article, but the thrust is that British business and politics have fallen prey to collective madness.
"Britain is supposed to be a boom economy, yet it has about 5m people living on benefits. We have been through a decade of unbroken economic growth, but the Government is borrowing more than £40bn a year. Crazy.
London, the success story of the financial-services era, is blighted by youth unemployment: 42.9pc of Londoners, aged 16-17, are out of work. Meanwhile young Poles come here and find jobs in a day. How mad is that?"
"Then there's the cost of living. Petrol prices, food bills, tax demands, train fares, energy costs and mortgage payments are powering ahead, but the Government insists that inflation is running at just 2.2pc. I don't know anyone who thinks that rate reflects the real increase. It's nuts."
It is indeed nuts, but that's Gordon Brown's Britain.
"Britain is supposed to be a boom economy, yet it has about 5m people living on benefits. We have been through a decade of unbroken economic growth, but the Government is borrowing more than £40bn a year. Crazy.
London, the success story of the financial-services era, is blighted by youth unemployment: 42.9pc of Londoners, aged 16-17, are out of work. Meanwhile young Poles come here and find jobs in a day. How mad is that?"
"Then there's the cost of living. Petrol prices, food bills, tax demands, train fares, energy costs and mortgage payments are powering ahead, but the Government insists that inflation is running at just 2.2pc. I don't know anyone who thinks that rate reflects the real increase. It's nuts."
It is indeed nuts, but that's Gordon Brown's Britain.
More "big ideas" from Gordon Brown's Labour government
This time it's a daily 'culture hour'. I have heard Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary on the radio twice this morning and each time his performance was woeful. The idea, and I use the word idea loosely, is that "Ministers want pupils of all ages to be offered at least an hour a day of culture during the week." A noble aim but I would have thought that teaching pupils to read, write and do simple arithmetic might be a better idea. Maybe once these were mastered, teachers could move on to teaching some real science and proper history and geography and maybe even a foreign language or two.
The Telegraph reports that "At first, the scheme will run as a series of pilots but Mr Burnham will say that, eventually, the Government intends all children to have access to five hours of culture a week as a right."
The government is setting aside £25 million for this project, that's £15 per pupil, per week - which should cover a lot of theatre visits!
Has any government since that of Stalin and his successors in the USSR been so happy to promote five year plans? Of course whilst this Labour government fail to meet their five year plan targets, except in their own minds, the real resemblance is to the 12th Soviet Five Year Plan - the one that ended among a profound economical crisis in virtually all areas of Soviet economy and a drop in production.
The Telegraph reports that "At first, the scheme will run as a series of pilots but Mr Burnham will say that, eventually, the Government intends all children to have access to five hours of culture a week as a right."
The government is setting aside £25 million for this project, that's £15 per pupil, per week - which should cover a lot of theatre visits!
Has any government since that of Stalin and his successors in the USSR been so happy to promote five year plans? Of course whilst this Labour government fail to meet their five year plan targets, except in their own minds, the real resemblance is to the 12th Soviet Five Year Plan - the one that ended among a profound economical crisis in virtually all areas of Soviet economy and a drop in production.
Inflation news
I see that the truth about inflation is spreading. Whilst "Big discounts in the January sales kept a lid on inflation but economists warned that prices are set to rise sharply in coming months as rising food, energy and utility bills continue to ratchet up the cost of living... the latest government prices data would provide only a temporary respite for the Bank of England's rate-setting committee, ahead of the publication later today of its quarterly Inflation Report."
With even the government's artificially low of measure of inflation above the target, the room for the Bank of England to reduce interest rates is reduced; so as I have said before, we can look forward to inflation, a falling pound and a stagnating economy - in other words a good old-fashioned Labour run economic disaster.
With even the government's artificially low of measure of inflation above the target, the room for the Bank of England to reduce interest rates is reduced; so as I have said before, we can look forward to inflation, a falling pound and a stagnating economy - in other words a good old-fashioned Labour run economic disaster.
Well done Steven Spielberg
I read that "Steven Spielberg is ending his involvement as an artistic adviser for the Beijing Olympics.
The film director made the decision Tuesday, hours after actress Mia Farrow and several humanitarian groups assailed him for working with the games' Chinese organizers.
At issue for both Farrow and Spielberg is China's close relationship with Sudan, where thousands have been killed and millions displaced in the Darfur region.
China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil exports. In turn, China sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the U.N. Security Council."
Well done indeed, now who else has a backbone?
The film director made the decision Tuesday, hours after actress Mia Farrow and several humanitarian groups assailed him for working with the games' Chinese organizers.
At issue for both Farrow and Spielberg is China's close relationship with Sudan, where thousands have been killed and millions displaced in the Darfur region.
China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil exports. In turn, China sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the U.N. Security Council."
Well done indeed, now who else has a backbone?
Priorities
From The National Literary Trust website comes this litle gem -
"In 2003, the Central Office of Information (COI) Strategic Consultancy Inclusivity team was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to undertake a review of the ethnic minority languages used by the department. The aim was to understand the communication needs of each community and recommend languages into which DWP information should be translated. The key written languages (in alphabetical order) were:
1. Arabic
2. Bengali
3. Classical Chinese
4. French
5. Gujerati
6. Polish
7. Punjabi
8. Somali
9. Tamil
10. Urdu
Some local authorities can provide information on the communities in the area, and which languages are spoken, from their local knowledge. Otherwise, it is worth contacting CILT, the national centre for languages, for more information. Visit www.cilt.org.uk/research/statistics/index.htm"
You may also see an interesting table showing "Percentage of pupils in the UK gaining five or more grade A*- C at GCSE:" here. This table shows unsurprisingly that the best performing pupils are from the Chinese community, then the Indian, then a long way behind the White, then the Bangladeshi and even further behind Arican, Pakistani and Caribbean. To put some figures to that, 81% of Chinese ancestry pupils get five or more A*-C results at GCSE compared to 41.7% of Caribbean ancestry pupils. The relative rate of improvement since 1998 is also interesting. Do bear in mind that the exams have got progressively easier since this Labour government came to power, as has the marking.
Another interesting table was this one:
"20 most common languages in London schools, 2006
Research has revealed that more than 300 languages are spoken by children in London's schools, making the capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world. Although English remains overwhelmingly the most common first language, for more than a third of children it is not the language they will speak or hear spoken at home.
Language Approx. total
English 608,500
Bengali and Sylheti 40,400
Punjabi 29,800
Gujarati 28,600
Hindu/Urdu 26,000
Turkish 15,600
Arabic 11,000
English - based Creoles 10,700
Yoruba (Nigeria) 10,400
Somali 8,300
Cantonese 6,900
Greek 6,300
Akan (Ashanti) 6,000
Portuguese 6,000
French 5,600
Spanish 5,500
Tamil (Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu- India) 3,700
Farsi (Persian) 3,300
Italian 2,500
Vietnamese 2,400
(thelondonpaper, 18 September 2006)"
"In 2003, the Central Office of Information (COI) Strategic Consultancy Inclusivity team was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to undertake a review of the ethnic minority languages used by the department. The aim was to understand the communication needs of each community and recommend languages into which DWP information should be translated. The key written languages (in alphabetical order) were:
1. Arabic
2. Bengali
3. Classical Chinese
4. French
5. Gujerati
6. Polish
7. Punjabi
8. Somali
9. Tamil
10. Urdu
Some local authorities can provide information on the communities in the area, and which languages are spoken, from their local knowledge. Otherwise, it is worth contacting CILT, the national centre for languages, for more information. Visit www.cilt.org.uk/research/statistics/index.htm"
You may also see an interesting table showing "Percentage of pupils in the UK gaining five or more grade A*- C at GCSE:" here. This table shows unsurprisingly that the best performing pupils are from the Chinese community, then the Indian, then a long way behind the White, then the Bangladeshi and even further behind Arican, Pakistani and Caribbean. To put some figures to that, 81% of Chinese ancestry pupils get five or more A*-C results at GCSE compared to 41.7% of Caribbean ancestry pupils. The relative rate of improvement since 1998 is also interesting. Do bear in mind that the exams have got progressively easier since this Labour government came to power, as has the marking.
Another interesting table was this one:
"20 most common languages in London schools, 2006
Research has revealed that more than 300 languages are spoken by children in London's schools, making the capital the most linguistically diverse city in the world. Although English remains overwhelmingly the most common first language, for more than a third of children it is not the language they will speak or hear spoken at home.
Language Approx. total
English 608,500
Bengali and Sylheti 40,400
Punjabi 29,800
Gujarati 28,600
Hindu/Urdu 26,000
Turkish 15,600
Arabic 11,000
English - based Creoles 10,700
Yoruba (Nigeria) 10,400
Somali 8,300
Cantonese 6,900
Greek 6,300
Akan (Ashanti) 6,000
Portuguese 6,000
French 5,600
Spanish 5,500
Tamil (Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu- India) 3,700
Farsi (Persian) 3,300
Italian 2,500
Vietnamese 2,400
(thelondonpaper, 18 September 2006)"
The EU can do this?
I read this morning that "DSG International, the retailer formerly known as Dixons, has been drawn into the European Union's investigation of chipmaker giant Intel.
EU regulators - investigating claims that Intel abused its dominance of the market for central processing units (a key component in personal computers) - raided DSG International's offices in Hemel Hempstead as part of a Europe-wide investigation.
"I can confirm that officials from the EU Commission conducted an inspection at our Retail Support Centre in Hemel Hempstead," said a spokesman for DSG, which owns Currys and PC World."
Did you know that EU regulators had the powers to carry out this sort of raid? What other powers do they have they we do not know about? And why have the BBC, so far as I can tell, not covered this story? Oops I have just found this hidden away in the "More from business" section on the Business news page. Anyone would think the BBC were trying not to cover a story, too deeply, that shows the powers that the EU have, now why would they do that?
EU regulators - investigating claims that Intel abused its dominance of the market for central processing units (a key component in personal computers) - raided DSG International's offices in Hemel Hempstead as part of a Europe-wide investigation.
"I can confirm that officials from the EU Commission conducted an inspection at our Retail Support Centre in Hemel Hempstead," said a spokesman for DSG, which owns Currys and PC World."
Did you know that EU regulators had the powers to carry out this sort of raid? What other powers do they have they we do not know about? And why have the BBC, so far as I can tell, not covered this story? Oops I have just found this hidden away in the "More from business" section on the Business news page. Anyone would think the BBC were trying not to cover a story, too deeply, that shows the powers that the EU have, now why would they do that?
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Mark Steyn on fine form
Mark Steyn on fine form "Just for the record, it's true that Muslims, like Jews, are not partial to bacon and sausages. But the Koran has nothing to say about cartoon pigs. Likewise, it is silent on the matter of whether one can name a teddy bear after Mohammed. What all these stories have in common is the excessive deference to Islam. If the Three Little Pigs are verboten when Muslims do not yet comprise ten per cent of the British population, what else will be on the blacklist by the time they're, say, 20 per cent?"
Do you lie awake at night worrying about who has control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons?
I would imagine the answer is no... But maybe you should.
Back in November last year Eight air force officials died and 40 were wounded in a terrorist attack on a military bus heading for the Sargodha Air Force Base in Pakistan's Punjab. The Sargodha Air Force Base is the "Headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command and home base for nuclear-capable F-16 combat aircraft, and Hatf-III/Ghaznavi/M-11 ballistic missiles...Some analysts believe that components or partially assembled air-deliverable nuclear devices might be stored at an ammunition depot at the Sargodha air base. Pakistan's nuclear-capable, short-range, solid-fueled Hatf III/Ghaznavi/M-11 (total number estimated at 34-80) ballistic missiles are also believed to be stored at facilities near the Central Ammunition Depot on Kirana Hills at Sargodha. The evidence captured on US satellite imagery includes missile crates; storage sheds for transporter-erector launch vehicles; missile maintenance facilities; and housing for missile crews. The Pakistani military has also been sighted conducting simulated launches with assistance from visiting Chinese experts. Indian intelligence sources believe that during a crisis or war, the missiles would be dispersed and re-deployed at Gujranwala, Okara, Multan, Jhang, and Dera Nawab Shah, where defense terminals have been constructed. "
Sleep well...
Back in November last year Eight air force officials died and 40 were wounded in a terrorist attack on a military bus heading for the Sargodha Air Force Base in Pakistan's Punjab. The Sargodha Air Force Base is the "Headquarters of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command and home base for nuclear-capable F-16 combat aircraft, and Hatf-III/Ghaznavi/M-11 ballistic missiles...Some analysts believe that components or partially assembled air-deliverable nuclear devices might be stored at an ammunition depot at the Sargodha air base. Pakistan's nuclear-capable, short-range, solid-fueled Hatf III/Ghaznavi/M-11 (total number estimated at 34-80) ballistic missiles are also believed to be stored at facilities near the Central Ammunition Depot on Kirana Hills at Sargodha. The evidence captured on US satellite imagery includes missile crates; storage sheds for transporter-erector launch vehicles; missile maintenance facilities; and housing for missile crews. The Pakistani military has also been sighted conducting simulated launches with assistance from visiting Chinese experts. Indian intelligence sources believe that during a crisis or war, the missiles would be dispersed and re-deployed at Gujranwala, Okara, Multan, Jhang, and Dera Nawab Shah, where defense terminals have been constructed. "
Sleep well...
Inflation
I know I have blogged about this before, but I will keep doing so. According to the BBC "Last month's Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation figure rose to 2.2%, up from 2.1% in December. The rate is the highest since June 2007."
The CPI is the government's preferred measure of inflation and the one they quote when working out the level of pay increases that they would prefer.
However as the BBC point out "The Retail Price Index (RPI), which includes mortgage interest payments, rose to 4.1% from 4% in December."
Now if you have a mortgage and you receive a pay rise in line with "inflation" of 2.2%, then you are going to experience a real terms drop in income.
The CPI is the government's preferred measure of inflation and the one they quote when working out the level of pay increases that they would prefer.
However as the BBC point out "The Retail Price Index (RPI), which includes mortgage interest payments, rose to 4.1% from 4% in December."
Now if you have a mortgage and you receive a pay rise in line with "inflation" of 2.2%, then you are going to experience a real terms drop in income.
You just can't escape this sort of news, can you?
More EU/Muslim "political engagement" newshere and how much happier do you feel now that you know "that foreign ministers from the European Union and Arab League have begun arriving in Malta for a two-day meeting aimed at fostering "political engagement between the two regions”. Maybe you'll be even happier when you read that "nine EU countries are represented, including Spain, Italy, Ireland, with Slovenia, the current EU president, co-chairing the talks along with Saudi Arabia and host Malta. Germany, France and the UK sent lower ranking officials rather than ministers.
The putative EU foreign minister, Javier Solana (pictured) is also there and twelve member states of the Arab League are being represented, including the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Morocco."
The putative EU foreign minister, Javier Solana (pictured) is also there and twelve member states of the Arab League are being represented, including the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Morocco."
Turkey
It has been a while since I blogged that "On Sunday Turkey holds a general election... "For 84 years, modern Turkey has been defined by a holy trinity — the army, the republic and its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Each was linked inextricably to the others and all were beyond reproach." Thanks to the New York Times for that succinct comment. This election could have repercussions for the whole of Europe. A victory for the AK Party (AKP) could mark the beginning of the end of secularism in Turkey and the Turkish army may feel forced to react and what ensues may not be pleasant to behold. If the AKP fail to win then the backlash by increasingly radicalised religious elements within Turkey also does not bode well. The end of Kemalism, the fiercely secular ideology that sought to extinguish religious networks and ultimately religion itself from society, may be nigh unless those Turkish liberals who have allied themselves with the AKP are right and they AKP really are not a threat to secularism. However, I find it rather tricky to know what set of circumstances will allow the Turks, the Kurds, the Muslims and the rest of the Turkish population to live in peace. Do bear in mind that what happens in Turkey may have repercussions in Iraq, the Middle East, Europe and the rest of the World."
Now I read that "A crowd of 16,000 expatriate Turks cheered Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a vast indoor auditorium in Germany on Sunday as he told them to resist assimilation into the West..."Assimilation is a crime against humanity," he told the crowd. Many Turks had travelled from France, Belgium and the Netherlands to hear his hour-long address in the shiny venue, the Koelnarena. "I can well understand that you are against assimilation," he said. "It is important to learn German, but your Turkish language should not be neglected." He said ethnic Turks abroad should be more confident in standing up for their interests, and should win election as mayors and members of European national parliaments."
Remember this when you are told that we must let Turkey into the EU. How will Europe cope with another 20 million or so poor Turkish Muslims moving to Germany, France and the UK, told not to assimilate but to win elections. My despair is getting deeper by the day.
Now I read that "A crowd of 16,000 expatriate Turks cheered Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a vast indoor auditorium in Germany on Sunday as he told them to resist assimilation into the West..."Assimilation is a crime against humanity," he told the crowd. Many Turks had travelled from France, Belgium and the Netherlands to hear his hour-long address in the shiny venue, the Koelnarena. "I can well understand that you are against assimilation," he said. "It is important to learn German, but your Turkish language should not be neglected." He said ethnic Turks abroad should be more confident in standing up for their interests, and should win election as mayors and members of European national parliaments."
Remember this when you are told that we must let Turkey into the EU. How will Europe cope with another 20 million or so poor Turkish Muslims moving to Germany, France and the UK, told not to assimilate but to win elections. My despair is getting deeper by the day.
I think we maybe past the point of parody
The Telegraph reports that "Dutch Catholics have re-branded the Lent fast as the "Christian Ramadan" in an attempt to appeal to young people who are more likely to know about Islam than Christianity...The Catholic charity Vastenaktie, which collects for the Third World across the Netherlands during the Lent period, is concerned that the Christian festival has become less important for the Dutch over the last generation. "The image of the Catholic Lent must be polished. The fact that we use a Muslim term is related to the fact that Ramadan is a better-known concept among young people than Lent," said Vastenaktie Director, Martin Van der Kuil."
In this instance it is The Netherlands, but it is this attitude that is spreading across the whole of Europe and it does not bode well for the survival of the Christan west - and I say that as a non-Christian.
In this instance it is The Netherlands, but it is this attitude that is spreading across the whole of Europe and it does not bode well for the survival of the Christan west - and I say that as a non-Christian.
Barack Obama campaign
Take a look at this video and wonder what it says about a US Presidential candidiate whose team has pictures of Che Guevara on their wall.
For all you freedom fighters who still idolise Che Guevara, remember that Che Guevara "himself boasted of "manufactured evidence" and stated flat out "I don't need proof to execute a man, I only need proof that it's necessary to execute him." "Certainly we execute," boasted Che at the UN General Assembly in 1964, "and we will continue executing as long as it is necessary."
Che Guevara - a great democrat and now maybe a great Democrat.
For all you freedom fighters who still idolise Che Guevara, remember that Che Guevara "himself boasted of "manufactured evidence" and stated flat out "I don't need proof to execute a man, I only need proof that it's necessary to execute him." "Certainly we execute," boasted Che at the UN General Assembly in 1964, "and we will continue executing as long as it is necessary."
Che Guevara - a great democrat and now maybe a great Democrat.
Humorous image of the day
From A Tangled Web comes this humorous imgage - "the Clintons haven't faced this great a crisis since one of the neighbors' kids rang the doorbell to sell them Girl Scout Cookies (combining Bill's two greatest temptations)."
More on the Gershon Review
I blogged yesterday about "Whitehall lay-offs, Gordon Brown style" and today I see that Buring Our Money have more to say on the same matter.
A must read article at Conservative Home
You must read this from Conservative Home.
"Gordon Brown has been at it all along appeasing the agenda of ‘peaceful’ Islamist groups in the UK, who reject violence, but have stated they want to see a gradual move towards an Islamic state in Britain by means of a step by step alignment of British law with sharia."
"Gordon Brown has been at it all along appeasing the agenda of ‘peaceful’ Islamist groups in the UK, who reject violence, but have stated they want to see a gradual move towards an Islamic state in Britain by means of a step by step alignment of British law with sharia."
Global warming may save lives
The BBC must have hated to report thus, that "The risk of a fatal heatwave in the UK within five years is high, but overall global warming may mean fewer deaths due to temperature, a report says.
A seriously hot summer between now and 2012 could claim more than 6,000 lives, the Department of Health report claims.
But it also stresses that milder winters mean deaths during this time of year - which far outstrip heat-related mortality - will continue to decline...
While summers in the UK became warmer in the period 1971 - 2003, there was no change in heat-related deaths, while annual cold-related mortality fell by 3% as winters became milder - so overall fewer people died as a result of extreme temperatures."
Od course we intelligent people know that the Earth is not getting warmer and that Man Made Climate Change is one of the biggest cons ever perpetrated on the world.
A seriously hot summer between now and 2012 could claim more than 6,000 lives, the Department of Health report claims.
But it also stresses that milder winters mean deaths during this time of year - which far outstrip heat-related mortality - will continue to decline...
While summers in the UK became warmer in the period 1971 - 2003, there was no change in heat-related deaths, while annual cold-related mortality fell by 3% as winters became milder - so overall fewer people died as a result of extreme temperatures."
Od course we intelligent people know that the Earth is not getting warmer and that Man Made Climate Change is one of the biggest cons ever perpetrated on the world.
Two articles that you should read
These articles are not what you want to read, but I feel you should.
The first is from The mail and warns us that "Islamist extremists have infiltrated Government and key public utilities to pass sensitive information to terrorists, the security services have warned...It is understood a number of suspected jihadists working in Government departments and the public services are being monitored by the security services. Details of the threat emerged months after the Daily Mail revealed fears that Scotland Yard has been infiltrated by individuals linked to extremist groups including Al Qaeda. Several police officers and civilian staff are being monitored amid claims they are long-term sleepers trying to gain sensitive information of use to terrorists...Security sources say there is evidence that UK-based terrorists have discussed the possibility of attacking national infrastructure targets with the help of a "sympathetic insider"."
The Mail also reminds us that "A terrorist jailed for his involvement in a bomb attack on the Paris Metro later came to England and got a job as a traffic warden...Mustapha Boutarfa, 32, was arrested by Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist squad in 1996 and extradited from Britain to France two years later.
He stood trial for his auxiliary role in the 1995 attack on the St Michel station by a notorious Islamist militant group, in which eight were killed and 80 wounded, and was given a two-year prison sentence. But after his release, Boutarfa, who held dual French and Algerian nationality, managed to get back into the UK with his wife and children and secured the job as a parking attendant in Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, with NCP Services. Boutarfa's secret would probably never have come to light had he not accused a van driver of assaulting him in a row over a parking ticket in October 2005. It led to the sensational disclosure about his past in open court. That case was then dropped and he was charged with fraud but walked away with a 12-month suspended sentence. He has quit his job. It is still not clear how he was allowed back into Britain."
In answer to that last sentence - because this Labour government got rid of all meaningful border controls and made this country's borders as porous as ... (something really porous!).
The second article is from The Asia Times and is about the whole Sharia law debate, do take a read - it might make you listen to Tariq Ramadan rather more carefully in future. For more on Tariq Ramadan you might also like to read this . Maybe the BBC should read these articles and discuss them with Tariq Ramadan the next time they inflict him upon us.
The first is from The mail and warns us that "Islamist extremists have infiltrated Government and key public utilities to pass sensitive information to terrorists, the security services have warned...It is understood a number of suspected jihadists working in Government departments and the public services are being monitored by the security services. Details of the threat emerged months after the Daily Mail revealed fears that Scotland Yard has been infiltrated by individuals linked to extremist groups including Al Qaeda. Several police officers and civilian staff are being monitored amid claims they are long-term sleepers trying to gain sensitive information of use to terrorists...Security sources say there is evidence that UK-based terrorists have discussed the possibility of attacking national infrastructure targets with the help of a "sympathetic insider"."
The Mail also reminds us that "A terrorist jailed for his involvement in a bomb attack on the Paris Metro later came to England and got a job as a traffic warden...Mustapha Boutarfa, 32, was arrested by Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist squad in 1996 and extradited from Britain to France two years later.
He stood trial for his auxiliary role in the 1995 attack on the St Michel station by a notorious Islamist militant group, in which eight were killed and 80 wounded, and was given a two-year prison sentence. But after his release, Boutarfa, who held dual French and Algerian nationality, managed to get back into the UK with his wife and children and secured the job as a parking attendant in Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, with NCP Services. Boutarfa's secret would probably never have come to light had he not accused a van driver of assaulting him in a row over a parking ticket in October 2005. It led to the sensational disclosure about his past in open court. That case was then dropped and he was charged with fraud but walked away with a 12-month suspended sentence. He has quit his job. It is still not clear how he was allowed back into Britain."
In answer to that last sentence - because this Labour government got rid of all meaningful border controls and made this country's borders as porous as ... (something really porous!).
The second article is from The Asia Times and is about the whole Sharia law debate, do take a read - it might make you listen to Tariq Ramadan rather more carefully in future. For more on Tariq Ramadan you might also like to read this . Maybe the BBC should read these articles and discuss them with Tariq Ramadan the next time they inflict him upon us.
Ken's war against the private motor car continues
I read that the next link in Ken's long avowed aim to rid London of motor cars has been announced. This time it is to raise the charge to enter central London from £8 to £25. So much for the "congestion zone", it appears that Ken is trying to justify this increase on the grounds on the grounds of reducing emissions.
Ken is proposing that low emitting cars will pay nothing, but has left himself some wriggle room - an aide is reported to have said "We're convinced there's no risk of increased congestion in the first few years but we'll put in very careful monitoring so we would be able to bring in a band B charge of £4 very quickly if we need to,"
I note that The Mayor is also scrapping the 90 per cent discount for zone residents owning "gas-guzzlers" - meaning they will have to pay the full amount wherever they live.
I hate the phrase "gas-guzzlers" and resent the way that the press and especially the BBC are following Ken's agenda by using the term. This little remarked upon wrinkle will raise income for Ken and punish the mainly Conservative voters of Kensington and Chelsea.
I did enjoy this line "The plans, unveiled by the Mayor at his City Hall press conference, are likely to form the centrepiece of his reelection campaign." Please do Ken, I think it might tip the balance towards Boris. I must listen to radio bloke tomorrow - that's TalkSport - should be interesting...
Ken is proposing that low emitting cars will pay nothing, but has left himself some wriggle room - an aide is reported to have said "We're convinced there's no risk of increased congestion in the first few years but we'll put in very careful monitoring so we would be able to bring in a band B charge of £4 very quickly if we need to,"
I note that The Mayor is also scrapping the 90 per cent discount for zone residents owning "gas-guzzlers" - meaning they will have to pay the full amount wherever they live.
I hate the phrase "gas-guzzlers" and resent the way that the press and especially the BBC are following Ken's agenda by using the term. This little remarked upon wrinkle will raise income for Ken and punish the mainly Conservative voters of Kensington and Chelsea.
I did enjoy this line "The plans, unveiled by the Mayor at his City Hall press conference, are likely to form the centrepiece of his reelection campaign." Please do Ken, I think it might tip the balance towards Boris. I must listen to radio bloke tomorrow - that's TalkSport - should be interesting...
A tally of who the Labour government have pissed off so far
From Conservative Home comes a list "of just how many interested parties that the Government have alienated. This is all the more surprising given that Tony Blair spent years in opposition, doing the exact opposite..."
Do read the list and maybe add to it.
Do read the list and maybe add to it.
Dizzy on sunbeds
Here on Dizzy Thinks is an article that just could be an accurate prediction re the banning of sunbeds.
Poor Alistair
I still believe that Gordon Brown really wanted to keep the Chancellor of the Exchequer position within the family (as it were) and appoint Ed Balls to the position when Tony Blair finally resigned. Gordon Brown realised that this would be too obvious a promotion too far, too soon and so appointed a malleable alternative. The trouble is that the job is an impossible one, virtually any criticism of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer is by extension a critiscism of his long serving predecessor. THe BBC Toady programme got into a bit of a linguistic minefield over this area this morning when Robert Peston was spouting rubbish just before 08:00.
I read in the Mail this morning that Benedict Brogan has his own theories, do read the article...
I read in the Mail this morning that Benedict Brogan has his own theories, do read the article...
Monday, 11 February 2008
Whitehall lay-offs, Gordon Brown style
Is Gordon Brown capable of getting anything right? Gordon Brown's government of all the talents (!) is meant to be more than halfway through the Gershon Review inspired three-year programme designed to save £21.5bn in spending by government departments. However it seems that payments totalling £432 million have been made to the 7,718 staff so far made redundant - I'll save you the calculation, that's an average of almost £56,000 per head and I am sure that whilst many would have received less than that, there are many who would have received a lot more. According to the Lib Dems Lord Oakeshott, "Two Treasury bigwigs really hit the jackpot, splitting over a million pounds between them...Did 67 senior managers at the Treasury really deserve golden goodbyes averaging over £220,000 each, on top of their generous pensions?"
Once again Gordon Brown's government is more than happy to waste public money in a way that the private sector just wouldn't.
The other part of the BBC report that inrigued me was this, "Lord Oakeshott said:...The Home Office and MoD are totally incompetent for failing to give answers, when other big departments can give us these vital figures...No wonder the Home Office loses track of who to deport if it can't even count its own redundancies. The MoD doesn't seem to have a clue what 19,000 non-retiring leavers have cost the taxpayer."
"A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This information could only be provided to Lord Oakeshott at disproportionate cost as it would require a department-wide trawl to establish the number and cost of voluntary and compulsory redundancies that have taken place to date as a result of the Gershon review.""
Can you imagine there being any large private sector organisation which could go though a programe of redundancies and not have a record at Head Office of the total numbers? It is basic Human Resources accounting; the public sector should be run as well, if not better, than the private sector - it quite clearly is not.
Once again Gordon Brown's government is more than happy to waste public money in a way that the private sector just wouldn't.
The other part of the BBC report that inrigued me was this, "Lord Oakeshott said:...The Home Office and MoD are totally incompetent for failing to give answers, when other big departments can give us these vital figures...No wonder the Home Office loses track of who to deport if it can't even count its own redundancies. The MoD doesn't seem to have a clue what 19,000 non-retiring leavers have cost the taxpayer."
"A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This information could only be provided to Lord Oakeshott at disproportionate cost as it would require a department-wide trawl to establish the number and cost of voluntary and compulsory redundancies that have taken place to date as a result of the Gershon review.""
Can you imagine there being any large private sector organisation which could go though a programe of redundancies and not have a record at Head Office of the total numbers? It is basic Human Resources accounting; the public sector should be run as well, if not better, than the private sector - it quite clearly is not.
EU Treaty news
Well you're not going to get this news from the BBC are you? Here is an article written by Philip Johnston in The Telegraph that makes the point rather better than I would.
Strange Maps
I love maps and this website may become a favourite site to visit. "237 - Regionalism and Religiosity" is rather good and they also include "229 - Vital Statistics of a Deadly Campaign: the Minard Map" one of my favorites from an excellent book whose name is "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information".
One of the funniest pieces of video documentary I have seen for years
Take a trip over to David Thompson and watch all six of the videos. A marvelous set of videos from this 1980s documentary showing how a collection of socialists really couldn't manage to produce a left wing Sunday paper. Absolutely hysterical if are in the right mood; the factionalism, the bickering and the sheer ineptitude are breathtaking. You will love the "political correctness" around the recruitment process and Jon Pilger being as always right as ever he was. I found the video of Neil Kinnock singing and being a general pillock especially enjoyable.
The real punchline though is that some of this bunch of jokers became and/or are now in senior positions within the media. One of them became the chief editor for several newspapers and another one became head of documentaries for the BBC. So at least one of the great failures was still able to spread their left wing bias but this time at the taxpayers expense. So laugh at the story of their failure but the last laugh may be on us.
The real punchline though is that some of this bunch of jokers became and/or are now in senior positions within the media. One of them became the chief editor for several newspapers and another one became head of documentaries for the BBC. So at least one of the great failures was still able to spread their left wing bias but this time at the taxpayers expense. So laugh at the story of their failure but the last laugh may be on us.
Valentine's Day
Here's two Valentines stories from the Islamic world.
1) "Religious police ban red roses" - "SAUDI Arabia's religious police have banned red roses ahead of Valentine's Day, forcing couples in the conservative Muslim nation to think of new ways to show their love.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has ordered florists and gift shop owners in the capital Riyadh to remove any items coloured scarlet, which is widely seen as symbolising love, newspapers said..."
2) "Kuwaiti MPs seek to ban Valentine's Day celebrations" - "KUWAIT CITY: Two Islamist MPs on Sunday called on the Kuwaiti government to ban Valentine's Day celebrations, saying they flout Islamic values and promote immorality. "We call on the commerce minister to perform his duties by banning celebrations of Valentine's Day which is alien to our society ... and contradicts our religion's values and teachings," MP Jamaan al-Harbash told reporters. He said that Valentine's Day, marked on February 14, spreads "immorality" in society and warned concerned authorities that he will take action against them if they do not ban it. MP Waleed al-Tabtabai, who heads a parliamentary committee for monitoring alien practices, said the panel will on Wednesday meet with officials from the ministries of information, interior and commerce to study measures required to curb the celebrations. He said they will review restrictions needed to prevent such celebrations from spreading "moral corruption" among youth in Kuwait. - AFP"
I have no problem with Islamic countries not celebrating Valentine's day, myself and Mrs NotaSheep don't really celebrate it either BUT don't you find the sheer lack of joy in life that they express in this regard so depressing? I wonder how long before the celebration of such immorality as Valentine's day will be frowned upon within the new Islamic Europe.
1) "Religious police ban red roses" - "SAUDI Arabia's religious police have banned red roses ahead of Valentine's Day, forcing couples in the conservative Muslim nation to think of new ways to show their love.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has ordered florists and gift shop owners in the capital Riyadh to remove any items coloured scarlet, which is widely seen as symbolising love, newspapers said..."
2) "Kuwaiti MPs seek to ban Valentine's Day celebrations" - "KUWAIT CITY: Two Islamist MPs on Sunday called on the Kuwaiti government to ban Valentine's Day celebrations, saying they flout Islamic values and promote immorality. "We call on the commerce minister to perform his duties by banning celebrations of Valentine's Day which is alien to our society ... and contradicts our religion's values and teachings," MP Jamaan al-Harbash told reporters. He said that Valentine's Day, marked on February 14, spreads "immorality" in society and warned concerned authorities that he will take action against them if they do not ban it. MP Waleed al-Tabtabai, who heads a parliamentary committee for monitoring alien practices, said the panel will on Wednesday meet with officials from the ministries of information, interior and commerce to study measures required to curb the celebrations. He said they will review restrictions needed to prevent such celebrations from spreading "moral corruption" among youth in Kuwait. - AFP"
I have no problem with Islamic countries not celebrating Valentine's day, myself and Mrs NotaSheep don't really celebrate it either BUT don't you find the sheer lack of joy in life that they express in this regard so depressing? I wonder how long before the celebration of such immorality as Valentine's day will be frowned upon within the new Islamic Europe.
Sharia law in action
Apparently "A GIRL of 15 was tricked into a "telephone marriage" ceremony to a Sheffield man with a mental age of five in a ceremony recognised by sharia (Islamic law).
When the girl arrived from Pakistan expecting to meet the handsome man she had been shown in a photograph, she found that he was 40 years old, unemployed and disabled.
To make matters worse, her mother-in-law decided to exploit her attractive looks by forcing her into prostitution.
The family invited men to the family home to rape her before she managed to escape to the police by bolting through the front door. She was taken into care and now lives in a refuge."
Do read the while article from the weekend before the ABC (I do like that shorthand) caused the recent fuss.
When the girl arrived from Pakistan expecting to meet the handsome man she had been shown in a photograph, she found that he was 40 years old, unemployed and disabled.
To make matters worse, her mother-in-law decided to exploit her attractive looks by forcing her into prostitution.
The family invited men to the family home to rape her before she managed to escape to the police by bolting through the front door. She was taken into care and now lives in a refuge."
Do read the while article from the weekend before the ABC (I do like that shorthand) caused the recent fuss.
Police Chief Martin Brody is no more
Roy Scheider died this weekend; so as a tribute, some Jaws clips:
First the singing scene...
Not much of Roy Scneider in this one, but what a great story...
and finally the swim to shore scene...
First the singing scene...
Not much of Roy Scneider in this one, but what a great story...
and finally the swim to shore scene...
Sandy Mitchell
Sandy Mitchell's case was reported long before I started this blog but I was reminded of it this weekend by this Telegraph article. Do read the article and question why Saudi Arabia is deemed to be a friend of the UK.
"Sandy Mitchell has terrifying first-hand experience of being on the wrong side of sharia law.
Mr Mitchell, 52, was falsely accused of being involved in a car bombing in Saudi Arabia in 2000 when he was working there as an anaesthetic technician.
He was held in prison for three years and tortured until he eventually signed a confession, which he later had to read out on Saudi television.
A sharia court sentenced him to having his head partially severed, followed by public crucifixion."
"Sandy Mitchell has terrifying first-hand experience of being on the wrong side of sharia law.
Mr Mitchell, 52, was falsely accused of being involved in a car bombing in Saudi Arabia in 2000 when he was working there as an anaesthetic technician.
He was held in prison for three years and tortured until he eventually signed a confession, which he later had to read out on Saudi television.
A sharia court sentenced him to having his head partially severed, followed by public crucifixion."
The West Lothian Question debate
I missed this debate as I decided that my blood pressure probably couldn't take the battering it would have received from the assembled panel of Scots debating the West Lothian question. Thankfully Waking Hereward did attend and we can all enjoy his report..
Treason?
The Sun are reporting this morning that "RAF experts eavesdropped on radio traffic in Afghanistan — and heard Taliban fighters speaking in Brummie and Yorkshire accents.
The voices were detected during top secret spy-in-the-sky surveillance missions over lawless Helmand province.
The revelation proves that growing numbers of British-born Muslims are moving to Afghanistan to fight along side the Taliban.
The conversations were overheard and recorded recently by RAF radio operator linguists on board Nimrod planes in the region, it was revealed yesterday.
The Taliban spoke mainly in Afghan Persian or Pashto — but occasionally lapsed into their home language."
IF this is true and these British citizens are arrested at any time in the future, would it be too politically incorrect for me to call for them to be tried for treason? "As to who can commit treason, it depends on the ancient notion of allegiance. As such, all British nationals (but not other Commonwealth citizens) owe allegiance to the Queen in right of the United Kingdom wherever they may be, as do Commonwealth citizens and aliens present in the United Kingdom at the time of the treasonable act (except diplomats and foreign invading forces), those who hold a British passport however obtained, and aliens who - having lived in Britain and gone abroad again - have left behind family and belongings."
The voices were detected during top secret spy-in-the-sky surveillance missions over lawless Helmand province.
The revelation proves that growing numbers of British-born Muslims are moving to Afghanistan to fight along side the Taliban.
The conversations were overheard and recorded recently by RAF radio operator linguists on board Nimrod planes in the region, it was revealed yesterday.
The Taliban spoke mainly in Afghan Persian or Pashto — but occasionally lapsed into their home language."
IF this is true and these British citizens are arrested at any time in the future, would it be too politically incorrect for me to call for them to be tried for treason? "As to who can commit treason, it depends on the ancient notion of allegiance. As such, all British nationals (but not other Commonwealth citizens) owe allegiance to the Queen in right of the United Kingdom wherever they may be, as do Commonwealth citizens and aliens present in the United Kingdom at the time of the treasonable act (except diplomats and foreign invading forces), those who hold a British passport however obtained, and aliens who - having lived in Britain and gone abroad again - have left behind family and belongings."
Dr Rowan Williams is doomed
I'm sorry Dr Rowan Williams but I have to tell you that you might as well give up all hope, the Great Clunking Jonah "has praised the Archbishop of Canterbury as a man of "great integrity" following criticism of his remarks on Muslim Sharia law."
Anti-semitism in Europe
I read today that "A U.S. professor who was born in Auschwitz just before the concentration camp's liberation in 1945 said he was kicked out of a restaurant in the Belgian city of Bruges two weeks ago because he was a Jew, according to European news reports. Marcel Kalmann said that a waiter in the restaurant saw his skullcap under his hat and shouted at him "We are not serving Jews, out of here," according to the reports."
Anti-semitism is on the rise in Europe and this time it's not from the neo-facist right but from another source, can you guess what?
UPDATE:
It appears that this story may not in fact be true, I will investigate further...
Anti-semitism is on the rise in Europe and this time it's not from the neo-facist right but from another source, can you guess what?
UPDATE:
It appears that this story may not in fact be true, I will investigate further...
Honour crimes
I do not like the term "honour crimes" but that does appear to be what we are stuck with. Here is an article from The Independent showingthe scale of the problem in the UK.
"Up to 17,000 women in Britain are being subjected to "honour" related violence, including murder, every year, according to police chiefs.
And official figures on forced marriages are the tip of the iceberg, says the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
It warns that the number of girls falling victim to forced marriages, kidnappings, sexual assaults, beatings and even murder by relatives intent on upholding the "honour" of their family is up to 35 times higher than official figures suggest.
The crisis, with children as young as 11 having been sent abroad to be married, has prompted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to call on British consular staff in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to take more action to identify and help British citizens believed to be the victims of forced marriages in recent years."
Do read the rest and mull on the fact that this is life in 21st Century Britain that is being described.
"Up to 17,000 women in Britain are being subjected to "honour" related violence, including murder, every year, according to police chiefs.
And official figures on forced marriages are the tip of the iceberg, says the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
It warns that the number of girls falling victim to forced marriages, kidnappings, sexual assaults, beatings and even murder by relatives intent on upholding the "honour" of their family is up to 35 times higher than official figures suggest.
The crisis, with children as young as 11 having been sent abroad to be married, has prompted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to call on British consular staff in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to take more action to identify and help British citizens believed to be the victims of forced marriages in recent years."
Do read the rest and mull on the fact that this is life in 21st Century Britain that is being described.
Buy your own Blackberry, you freeloader
Apparently a £60,000+ salary and £100,000 expenses is not enough for some MPs, Sharon Hodgson (a Labour MP) has "has called for handheld Blackberry computers to be made available - for free - to herself and everyone else with a Commons seat. "
Go and buy one yourself from your earned and taxed income, like a normal human being. You are a high earner, use some of that money for equipment that you want to use.
Oh I am sorry, you're whinge isn't that the taxpayer isn't buying you a PDA so you can keep in contact with your friends and family whilst working, it is in fact that you don't like the free PDA that you have been given! It seems that "the Commons Commission, which oversees the provision of services to the House, said its present set-up was "incompatible" with Blackberry devices." as it was put out to tender five years ago when "At the time, none of the contractors which submitted bids offered a service for Blackberry computers..."In the years since then, the House has gone on to invest a good deal of time and money supporting Microsoft-based handheld devices," he said. "Blackberry operates on a completely different system which would not be compatible with the infrastructure we've developed.""
If I got a job with a large corporation that used Microsoft PDS technology and then called for the system to be changed because I had been "an avid Blackberry user since 2005" and because " I have to say that the PDA I have received... is not in the same league as a Blackberry, in my opinion.", unless I was the new Director of Information Technology (or similar) I think my opinions would not be taken too seriously.
Sharon Hodgson, stop whinging and get on with your job of representing your constituents to the best of your abilities, however limited they may be. If you want a Blackberry and it can be made to work with the House of Commons systems then buy it yourself; if it can't be made to work then tough shit, use the FREE PDA that you have been supplied with and stop moaning.
Go and buy one yourself from your earned and taxed income, like a normal human being. You are a high earner, use some of that money for equipment that you want to use.
Oh I am sorry, you're whinge isn't that the taxpayer isn't buying you a PDA so you can keep in contact with your friends and family whilst working, it is in fact that you don't like the free PDA that you have been given! It seems that "the Commons Commission, which oversees the provision of services to the House, said its present set-up was "incompatible" with Blackberry devices." as it was put out to tender five years ago when "At the time, none of the contractors which submitted bids offered a service for Blackberry computers..."In the years since then, the House has gone on to invest a good deal of time and money supporting Microsoft-based handheld devices," he said. "Blackberry operates on a completely different system which would not be compatible with the infrastructure we've developed.""
If I got a job with a large corporation that used Microsoft PDS technology and then called for the system to be changed because I had been "an avid Blackberry user since 2005" and because " I have to say that the PDA I have received... is not in the same league as a Blackberry, in my opinion.", unless I was the new Director of Information Technology (or similar) I think my opinions would not be taken too seriously.
Sharon Hodgson, stop whinging and get on with your job of representing your constituents to the best of your abilities, however limited they may be. If you want a Blackberry and it can be made to work with the House of Commons systems then buy it yourself; if it can't be made to work then tough shit, use the FREE PDA that you have been supplied with and stop moaning.
Lies, damned lies and Labour government statistics
There has been a lot of coverage this morning on BBC radio (4 and 5Live) of the Firefighters being attacked story. The BBC keep parotting the "fact" that the number of attacks has gone down in the last year, subtext - so why the fuss. Their own website may have the answer "Assaults rose from 1,300 in 2006 to 1,500 in 2007 the union said. Official figures fell from 1,300 to 400...A study commissioned by the union suggests the number of attacks in England and Wales increased by 15% last year, while official data showed a drop of 68%." And the probable reason "In some parts of the country attacks were so frequent that they were no longer being reported, said the union..."
This Labour government's relationship with the truth and with non-politically targetted statistics is shown once agian to be ever looser.
This Labour government's relationship with the truth and with non-politically targetted statistics is shown once agian to be ever looser.
First and second - a difficult concept for at least one Labour minister
James Purnell seems to have problem in this area, take a read of this Times article and wonder if his new department the DWP would be as lenient with a claimant who was working the system so shamelessly.
An interesting article about the speech made a few years back entitled “I have a plan to destroy America”
You may see parallels between this speech's feelings and yours about the UK and Europe.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
All this fuss over Sharia law - what might the BBC be tring to ignore?
The BBC seem more than happy to cover Archbishop Rowan Williams' comments on Sharia law and the ensuing fuss; do you think they are trying to distract us from the way Gordon Brown, David Miliband and the rest of our Qusiling government are signing away our country?
You may want to take a read of this from the Bruges Group telling us what areas of our lives the EU has recently announced its intention to take more control over Britain in:
"These plans include:
● EU control over the insurance market
● EU environmental taxes
● Usurping UK’s positions in tax negotiations
● Tighter EU controls over HM Revenue & Customs
● Charter of Fundamental Rights enforced by stealth
● EU control over electronic communications
● More EU involvement in education
● EU social-security
● More EU control over sport
● More costs on the shipping industry
● Control over transport"
I also suggest that you keep an eye on England Expects and I want a referendum.
You may want to take a read of this from the Bruges Group telling us what areas of our lives the EU has recently announced its intention to take more control over Britain in:
"These plans include:
● EU control over the insurance market
● EU environmental taxes
● Usurping UK’s positions in tax negotiations
● Tighter EU controls over HM Revenue & Customs
● Charter of Fundamental Rights enforced by stealth
● EU control over electronic communications
● More EU involvement in education
● EU social-security
● More EU control over sport
● More costs on the shipping industry
● Control over transport"
I also suggest that you keep an eye on England Expects and I want a referendum.
At last a blog we can all enjoy
Take a trip to this blog - HMRC is shite and enjoy the truth.
Thanks to Burning Our Money for the spot.
Thanks to Burning Our Money for the spot.
Is Irene Lancaster right?
I have been worrying about where this country is heading for quite a while now and this concern has only increased recently. Take a read of Irene Lancaster's view.
Can you imagine the fuss if a Conservative MP had said this?
Phil Woolas recently warned about birth defects among children of first cousin marriages in Britain's Asian community. Phil Woolas said health workers were aware such marriages were creating increased risk of genetic problems.
The BBC report that "The call for action was also supported by Labour MP Ann Cryer who raised the issue two years ago after research showed British Pakistanis were 13 times more likely to have children with recessive disorders than the general population.
Mrs Cryer, who represents Keighley in West Yorkshire, told the Sunday Times: "This is to do with a medieval culture where you keep wealth within the family."
"I have encountered cases of blindness and deafness. There was one poor girl who had to have an oxygen tank on her back and breathe from a hole in the front of her neck," she added.
"The parents were warned they should not have any more children. But when the husband returned from Pakistan, within months they had another child with exactly the same condition."
Research for BBC2's Newsnight in November 2005 showed British Pakistanis accounted for 3.4% of all births but have 30% of all British children with "recessive disorders"."
The BBC report that "The call for action was also supported by Labour MP Ann Cryer who raised the issue two years ago after research showed British Pakistanis were 13 times more likely to have children with recessive disorders than the general population.
Mrs Cryer, who represents Keighley in West Yorkshire, told the Sunday Times: "This is to do with a medieval culture where you keep wealth within the family."
"I have encountered cases of blindness and deafness. There was one poor girl who had to have an oxygen tank on her back and breathe from a hole in the front of her neck," she added.
"The parents were warned they should not have any more children. But when the husband returned from Pakistan, within months they had another child with exactly the same condition."
Research for BBC2's Newsnight in November 2005 showed British Pakistanis accounted for 3.4% of all births but have 30% of all British children with "recessive disorders"."
What happened on that oil rig?
What happened on that oil rig? Apparently "Police are making arrangements to fly a 23-year-old woman from a North Sea oil platform which was at the centre of a security alert.
The British woman, who had been working aboard the installation, was detained by the offshore installation manager. She is thought to have been sedated."
I am sure we are all awaiting more news on this one.
The British woman, who had been working aboard the installation, was detained by the offshore installation manager. She is thought to have been sedated."
I am sure we are all awaiting more news on this one.
Gordon Brown and "Courage"
Gordon Brown just can't get anything right at the moment, he agreed to award the Queen's Gallantry Medal Glagow airport worker John Smeaton last year followng his role in stopping the Glasgow airport terror attack. However according to the Sunday Mail he has decided not to award medals to "Holidaymaker Michael, 40, suffered a broken leg and smashed teeth when he helped fight off the attackers. Stephen, 41, of Penilee, Glasgow, wrestled driver Kafeel Ahmed to the ground. Stephen has since suffered a brain aneurysm. And taxi driver Alex, 45, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, tore a tendon in his foot as he kicked out at Ahmed."
Drug trafficking
I remember flying into Bali many years ago and seeing the sign that anyone caught carrying drugs would be liable to the death penalty. It appears that the penalties are being applied in Dubai rather stringently, having read this from Jammie Wearing Fool I am even less likely to take a plane that transits in Dubai. I don't take drugs but I do eat rolls with poppy seeds on top.
"A father-of-three who was found with a microscopic speck of cannabis stuck to the bottom of one of his shoes has been sentenced to four years in a Dubai prison.
Keith Brown, a council youth development officer, was travelling through the United Arab Emirates on his way back to England when he was stopped as he walked through Dubai's main airport.
A search by customs officials uncovered a speck of cannabis weighing just 0.003g - so small it would be invisible to the naked eye and weighing less than a grain of sugar - on the tread of one of his shoes."
"One man has even been jailed for possession of three poppy seeds left over from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow Airport. Painkiller codeine is also banned."
"Meanwhile a Big Brother TV executive has so far been held without charge for five days after being arrested for possessing the health supplement melatonin."
Before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusion, this is nothing to do with Sharia law as according to this US site "Sharia or Islamic courts work alongside the civil and criminal courts in the UAE. The Sharia court is the Islamic court in the UAE and is primarily responsible for civil matters between Muslims. Non-Muslims will not appear before a Sharia court in any matter. Sharia courts have the exclusive jurisdiction to hear family disputes, including matters involving divorce, inheritances,
child custody, child abuse and guardianship of minors. In the absence of any particular provision in the UAE codified law, the Islamic principles of Sharia as found in the Islamic Sharia textbooks are applied."
"A father-of-three who was found with a microscopic speck of cannabis stuck to the bottom of one of his shoes has been sentenced to four years in a Dubai prison.
Keith Brown, a council youth development officer, was travelling through the United Arab Emirates on his way back to England when he was stopped as he walked through Dubai's main airport.
A search by customs officials uncovered a speck of cannabis weighing just 0.003g - so small it would be invisible to the naked eye and weighing less than a grain of sugar - on the tread of one of his shoes."
"One man has even been jailed for possession of three poppy seeds left over from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow Airport. Painkiller codeine is also banned."
"Meanwhile a Big Brother TV executive has so far been held without charge for five days after being arrested for possessing the health supplement melatonin."
Before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusion, this is nothing to do with Sharia law as according to this US site "Sharia or Islamic courts work alongside the civil and criminal courts in the UAE. The Sharia court is the Islamic court in the UAE and is primarily responsible for civil matters between Muslims. Non-Muslims will not appear before a Sharia court in any matter. Sharia courts have the exclusive jurisdiction to hear family disputes, including matters involving divorce, inheritances,
child custody, child abuse and guardianship of minors. In the absence of any particular provision in the UAE codified law, the Islamic principles of Sharia as found in the Islamic Sharia textbooks are applied."
Rugby 6 Nations - Italy v England
I refuse to comment on that match, I am getting really tired of watching the second half of England rugby matches this tournament.
Classic Gordon Brown dithering
From today's Mirror comes a truly pathetic puff piece on Gordon Brown entitled "Gordon Brown: I'm fan of Fabio Capello". The classic line is this "the PM revealed that - despite being a lifelong Raith Rovers fan - he had a "soft spot" for Man United and liked Spurs."
Make a decision and stick to it Gordon, stop dithering!
Make a decision and stick to it Gordon, stop dithering!
More on our "unavoidable" future
Take a read of this from The Guardian/Observer and wonder if this piece of family law is what The Archbishop was thinking of.
"Three senior judges are to rule on the legality of an arranged marriage conducted in the UK under sharia law, a judgment that could have profound consequences for British Muslims.
Last week, as Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, declared it was 'inevitable' that certain parts of Islamic law would be introduced into Britain, the Court of Appeal was told how a 26-year-old British Muslim with learning difficulties was married over the telephone to a woman in Bangladesh. It was arranged by the man's father and deemed lawful under sharia law.
Lord Justice Thorpe, Lord Justice Hall and Lady Justice Hallett were asked by the man's family to reject an earlier decision that, because the groom was unable to give his consent, the marriage was unlawful. Mr Justice Wood said that the true test into the validity of the marriage was 'whether the marriage is so offensive to the conscience of the English court that it should refuse to recognise and give effect to the proper foreign law'.
The judge added that the long-standing British policy to recognise sharia marriages conducted abroad should be offset by the understanding that 'there are occasions when such a marriage cannot be recognised in England, for example where to do so would be repugnant to public policy'.
The case was brought by Westminster city council community services department after the local authority raised concerns about a marriage in which the groom could not possibly have given consent because of his learning disabilities.
The marriage took place in September 2006. Although the bridegroom stayed in London and listened to the ceremony by speakerphone, the ceremony took place in Bangladesh and was declared valid under sharia law.
Yogi Amin of the law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing Westminster council, said: 'This case highlights that the law in this country may clash with sharia law and the cultural wishes of the family.' He added: 'The High Court held that the marriage in this case ... is not valid under English law, and that any marriage entered into by this vulnerable adult whether inside or outside England will not be recognised under English law.'
Legal experts said the case would have ramifications for plans to make forced marriages - often arranged marriages involving youngsters - prohibited in the UK under case law."
"Three senior judges are to rule on the legality of an arranged marriage conducted in the UK under sharia law, a judgment that could have profound consequences for British Muslims.
Last week, as Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, declared it was 'inevitable' that certain parts of Islamic law would be introduced into Britain, the Court of Appeal was told how a 26-year-old British Muslim with learning difficulties was married over the telephone to a woman in Bangladesh. It was arranged by the man's father and deemed lawful under sharia law.
Lord Justice Thorpe, Lord Justice Hall and Lady Justice Hallett were asked by the man's family to reject an earlier decision that, because the groom was unable to give his consent, the marriage was unlawful. Mr Justice Wood said that the true test into the validity of the marriage was 'whether the marriage is so offensive to the conscience of the English court that it should refuse to recognise and give effect to the proper foreign law'.
The judge added that the long-standing British policy to recognise sharia marriages conducted abroad should be offset by the understanding that 'there are occasions when such a marriage cannot be recognised in England, for example where to do so would be repugnant to public policy'.
The case was brought by Westminster city council community services department after the local authority raised concerns about a marriage in which the groom could not possibly have given consent because of his learning disabilities.
The marriage took place in September 2006. Although the bridegroom stayed in London and listened to the ceremony by speakerphone, the ceremony took place in Bangladesh and was declared valid under sharia law.
Yogi Amin of the law firm Irwin Mitchell, representing Westminster council, said: 'This case highlights that the law in this country may clash with sharia law and the cultural wishes of the family.' He added: 'The High Court held that the marriage in this case ... is not valid under English law, and that any marriage entered into by this vulnerable adult whether inside or outside England will not be recognised under English law.'
Legal experts said the case would have ramifications for plans to make forced marriages - often arranged marriages involving youngsters - prohibited in the UK under case law."
Ken Livingstone at it again
The Mail reports that "Furious business leaders last night condemned an "intrusive" questionnaire that requires them to reveal how many gays and transsexuals they employ.
The so-called "supplier diversity development questionnaire" is sent to all bidders for contracts with the London Development Agency.
It asks about the racial origin of a firm's employees, then about their sexual orientation.
The questions include: "Is your organisation mostly owned or led by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transperson) people?" and "What is the percentage of LGBT staff in your workforce?"
The LDA receives £400million of Government funding each year and its board is appointed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
It says it needs the data to monitor progress towards its goal of "maximising the diversity of its supplier base"."
This is just typical of Ken Livingstone and his fellow-travellers priorities and the sooner they are consigned to the dustbin of history the better.
The so-called "supplier diversity development questionnaire" is sent to all bidders for contracts with the London Development Agency.
It asks about the racial origin of a firm's employees, then about their sexual orientation.
The questions include: "Is your organisation mostly owned or led by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transperson) people?" and "What is the percentage of LGBT staff in your workforce?"
The LDA receives £400million of Government funding each year and its board is appointed by London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
It says it needs the data to monitor progress towards its goal of "maximising the diversity of its supplier base"."
This is just typical of Ken Livingstone and his fellow-travellers priorities and the sooner they are consigned to the dustbin of history the better.
Freedom of speech?
British Olympic chiefs are to force athletes to sign a contract promising not to speak out about China's appalling human rights record – or face being banned from travelling to Beijing. This puts the UK alongside New Zealand and Belgium in banning athletes from expressing any negative opinions about the Chinese regimes deplorable human rights record and murderous record in Tibet. Meanwhile, the United States, Canada, Finland, Australia and others – have pledged that their athletes would be free to speak about any issue concerning China.
My views on the vile Chinese dictatorship are well known and my views on this particular matter are that the BOA should be ashamed of themselves. I was against the Olympics being awarded to China and I think that even at this stage the BOA should be using its leverage to try and shame the Chinese abou their record, not that the Chinese regime is particluarly shameable. The Chinese aim to use this year's Olympics to boost their standing in the world and top of that list is that they top the medal table. I expect that the last time so many drug cheats will have won gold medals would have been during the days of the Soviet Bloc's domination of World Athletics in the 1970s and early 1980s. This was when as the expert Jean-Pierre de Mondenard stated drug cheats existed in countries "both communist and capitalist, but the difference with East Germany was that it was a state policy". The Chinese are just as involved and they hide this from the world by keeping their athletes in China as much as possible, so reducing the chances of them being drug tested abroad by the generally supine International bodies. Menawhile in China there is no meaningful testing.
Just as when the Labour government kept protestesters from the eyesight of the Chinese "dignatories" on their State visit, the BOA (no doubt under Labour government control) have shown themselves to be as bad as the Chinese govenmnet that they are protecting. I am a long time fan of athletics but am seriously wondering whether my stomach could take the sight of the preening Chinese politburo drinking in the fruits of their murderous past.
My views on the vile Chinese dictatorship are well known and my views on this particular matter are that the BOA should be ashamed of themselves. I was against the Olympics being awarded to China and I think that even at this stage the BOA should be using its leverage to try and shame the Chinese abou their record, not that the Chinese regime is particluarly shameable. The Chinese aim to use this year's Olympics to boost their standing in the world and top of that list is that they top the medal table. I expect that the last time so many drug cheats will have won gold medals would have been during the days of the Soviet Bloc's domination of World Athletics in the 1970s and early 1980s. This was when as the expert Jean-Pierre de Mondenard stated drug cheats existed in countries "both communist and capitalist, but the difference with East Germany was that it was a state policy". The Chinese are just as involved and they hide this from the world by keeping their athletes in China as much as possible, so reducing the chances of them being drug tested abroad by the generally supine International bodies. Menawhile in China there is no meaningful testing.
Just as when the Labour government kept protestesters from the eyesight of the Chinese "dignatories" on their State visit, the BOA (no doubt under Labour government control) have shown themselves to be as bad as the Chinese govenmnet that they are protecting. I am a long time fan of athletics but am seriously wondering whether my stomach could take the sight of the preening Chinese politburo drinking in the fruits of their murderous past.
Saturday, 9 February 2008
BBC incompetence
Take a read of Edland's reporting of another stonking piece of BBC journalism - they just got the story 100% wrong.
More examples of Sharia law in action
Example 1. "Egypt Rules Christian Convert Must Remain Legally Muslim" "An Egyptian judge ruled this week in an unprecedented case that a Muslim who converted to Christianity cannot legally change his religious status, although he may believe what he wants in his heart. Muhammad Hegazy, 25, lost his case on Tuesday when Judge Muhammad Husseini of a court in Cairo said according to sharia, or Islamic law, Islam is the final and most complete religion and therefore Muslims already practice full freedom of religion and cannot convert to an older belief (Christianity or Judaism), according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. “He (Hegazy) can believe whatever he wants in his heart, but on paper he can’t convert,” Husseini told the administrative court, according to a member of Hegazy’s legal team to Compass Direct. Judge Husseini based his decision on Article II of the Egyptian constitution, which makes sharia the source of Egyptian law."
Example 2. "The Iranian parliament may mandate the death penalty for citizens who leave Islam" "a human rights group announced this week. For the first time in Iranian history, a proposed penal code demands the death penalty for “apostates,” according to a February 5 statement by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy (IRPP). “Apostasy was always illegal, but the court could hand down a jail term, hard labor or the death penalty,” said IRPP President Joseph Grieboski. “Now apostasy [would only] get the death penalty.” Iran has used the “apostasy” law to target Muslim converts to Christianity, liberal thinkers and members of Iran’s Baha’i religious minority. “This is not something new, they just want to be more harsh towards those who are leaving Islam,” an Iranian pastor told Compass. The penal code proposal, already approved by the Iranian cabinet a month ago, appears to have the necessary parliamentary backing to be passed, an Iranian Christian told Compass. Article 225 of the draft, posted on the IRPP website, stipulates two kinds of “apostasy,” “innate and parental,” both of which warrant the death penalty. Innate “apostates” are those who grow up with at least one Muslim parent, are Muslims at the age of maturity and then later leave the faith, the article states.
“Punishment for an Innate Apostate is death,” section seven of the article stipulates. Known as “parental apostates,” citizens who grow up in non-Muslim homes, convert to Islam as adults and then later decide to leave are to be given a chance to repent before their execution, the draft states. “… After the final sentencing for three days, he/she would be guided to the right path and encouraged to recant his/her belief,” the article stipulates. “… If he/she refused, the death penalty would be carried out.” Though sections of the draft appear to indicate that both men and women can be executed for apostasy, others limit execution to males who leave Islam. Section 225-10 states that convicted female “apostates” will be imprisoned for life. The proposed law stipulates that “hardship” will be exercised on a female “apostate,” who will be immediately released if she recants. “The condition of hardship will be determined according to the religious laws,” the draft states...A number of crimes, including repeated drunkenness, rape, murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, “apostasy,” adultery and male homosexuality are capital offenses in Iran. Last week, a Tehran criminal court sentenced a 22-year-old man to death after he was caught a fourth time in possession of alcohol and in a state of drunkenness. At least 28 convicts were executed in January, the BBC reported. According to the news agency, human rights groups said that Iran carried out the death penalty on nearly 300 people last year."
Unavoidable...
Example 2. "The Iranian parliament may mandate the death penalty for citizens who leave Islam" "a human rights group announced this week. For the first time in Iranian history, a proposed penal code demands the death penalty for “apostates,” according to a February 5 statement by the Institute on Religion and Public Policy (IRPP). “Apostasy was always illegal, but the court could hand down a jail term, hard labor or the death penalty,” said IRPP President Joseph Grieboski. “Now apostasy [would only] get the death penalty.” Iran has used the “apostasy” law to target Muslim converts to Christianity, liberal thinkers and members of Iran’s Baha’i religious minority. “This is not something new, they just want to be more harsh towards those who are leaving Islam,” an Iranian pastor told Compass. The penal code proposal, already approved by the Iranian cabinet a month ago, appears to have the necessary parliamentary backing to be passed, an Iranian Christian told Compass. Article 225 of the draft, posted on the IRPP website, stipulates two kinds of “apostasy,” “innate and parental,” both of which warrant the death penalty. Innate “apostates” are those who grow up with at least one Muslim parent, are Muslims at the age of maturity and then later leave the faith, the article states.
“Punishment for an Innate Apostate is death,” section seven of the article stipulates. Known as “parental apostates,” citizens who grow up in non-Muslim homes, convert to Islam as adults and then later decide to leave are to be given a chance to repent before their execution, the draft states. “… After the final sentencing for three days, he/she would be guided to the right path and encouraged to recant his/her belief,” the article stipulates. “… If he/she refused, the death penalty would be carried out.” Though sections of the draft appear to indicate that both men and women can be executed for apostasy, others limit execution to males who leave Islam. Section 225-10 states that convicted female “apostates” will be imprisoned for life. The proposed law stipulates that “hardship” will be exercised on a female “apostate,” who will be immediately released if she recants. “The condition of hardship will be determined according to the religious laws,” the draft states...A number of crimes, including repeated drunkenness, rape, murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, “apostasy,” adultery and male homosexuality are capital offenses in Iran. Last week, a Tehran criminal court sentenced a 22-year-old man to death after he was caught a fourth time in possession of alcohol and in a state of drunkenness. At least 28 convicts were executed in January, the BBC reported. According to the news agency, human rights groups said that Iran carried out the death penalty on nearly 300 people last year."
Unavoidable...
Professor Tariq Ramadan
Professor Tariq Ramadan is a man of whom I have read much but not seen until last night's Newsnight. Whilst I write an article on him, here are some links that I found on page 1 after Googling his name - New York Times, BBC, Daniel Pipes and The Guardian.
Beware, this article contains a sickening photo
Stephen "The people have spoken - the bastards" Pound appears in rather fetching garb in this photo from a BBC article
"Labour MP Stephen Pound is squirming with embarrassment over pictures of him dressed as a Cheeky Girl.
The tattooed Ealing North MP performed two songs with the pop duo at an MPs' variety night on Thursday.
"I was cringing so deep inside my Spandex hot pants I did not even notice the crowd's reaction," said Mr Pound."
What is happening to the Labour party? In the last six months or so, the wearing of make-up and general campness seems to have been all but encouraged. Just this week Andy Burnham appeared on Question Time in what appears to be rather a lot of make-up
Normal on the right, Question Time appearance on the right. Andy Burnham's defence according to the BBC "The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport spent yesterday denying claims that he had layered on the make-up for an appearance on Question Time. He said he had suffered a life-long problem of people thinking he was wearing cosmetics when he was not." Just look at those eyelashes, Mrs NotaSheep is very jealous.
"Labour MP Stephen Pound is squirming with embarrassment over pictures of him dressed as a Cheeky Girl.
The tattooed Ealing North MP performed two songs with the pop duo at an MPs' variety night on Thursday.
"I was cringing so deep inside my Spandex hot pants I did not even notice the crowd's reaction," said Mr Pound."
What is happening to the Labour party? In the last six months or so, the wearing of make-up and general campness seems to have been all but encouraged. Just this week Andy Burnham appeared on Question Time in what appears to be rather a lot of make-up
Normal on the right, Question Time appearance on the right. Andy Burnham's defence according to the BBC "The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport spent yesterday denying claims that he had layered on the make-up for an appearance on Question Time. He said he had suffered a life-long problem of people thinking he was wearing cosmetics when he was not." Just look at those eyelashes, Mrs NotaSheep is very jealous.
Friday, 8 February 2008
Sharia Law in action
Take a read of this article. "The women are killed, police say, because they failed to wear a headscarf or because they ignored other "rules" that secretive fundamentalist groups want to enforce." ""When I came to Basra a year ago," he says, "two women were killed in front of their kids. Their blood was flowing in front of their kids, they were crying. Another woman was killed in front of her 6-year-old son, another in front of her 11-year-old child, and yet another who was pregnant." The killers enforcing their own version of Islamic justice are rarely caught, while women live in fear. Boldly splattered in red paint just outside the main downtown market, a chilling sign reads: "We warn against not wearing a headscarf and wearing makeup. Those who do not abide by this will be punished. God is our witness, we have notified you."....Amnesty International has raised concern about the increasing violence toward women in Iraq, saying abductions, rapes and "honor killings" are on the rise. "Politically active women, those who did not follow a strict dress code, and women [who are] human rights defenders were increasingly at risk of abuses, including by armed groups and religious extremists," Amnesty said in a 2007 report. Sometimes, it's just the color of a woman's headscarf that can draw unwanted attention. "One time, one of my female colleagues commented on the color of my headscarf," Safana says. "She said it would draw attention ... [and I should] avoid it and stick to colors like gray, brown and black." This extremist ideology enrages many secular Muslim women, who say it's a misrepresentation of Islam. Sawsan, another woman who works at a university, says the message from the radicals to women is simple: "They seem to be sending us a message to stay at home and keep your mouth shut.""
There you go Archbishop, unavoidable...
There you go Archbishop, unavoidable...
The BBC bravely fighting the fight
Take a trip to wonderland. I particularly enjoyed the last section in the Q&A article (my emphasis):
"So women have reservations about Sharia?
Some Muslim women in the West would be worried about protection of their rights in Sharia courts where there is discrimination against them because of patriarchal and cultural control in their communities.
This does not mean that they are necessarily opposed to Sharia - only there are live concerns about the fairness of its application.
It's fair to say that many leading Muslim women are more concerned about how existing British equality measures and human rights laws can be used to improve their position and voice in society."
"So women have reservations about Sharia?
Some Muslim women in the West would be worried about protection of their rights in Sharia courts where there is discrimination against them because of patriarchal and cultural control in their communities.
This does not mean that they are necessarily opposed to Sharia - only there are live concerns about the fairness of its application.
It's fair to say that many leading Muslim women are more concerned about how existing British equality measures and human rights laws can be used to improve their position and voice in society."
"The Archbishop of Canterbury’s extraordinary declaration"
I think this article in The Spectator by Melanie Phillips deserves wider readership.
Do read the whole article.
Do read the whole article.
Sharia law update
The line being pushed by the proponents of Sharia law in that it will be purely for civil matters. Obviously you will predict that I see this as an example of the usual salami slicing approach by which piece by piece organisations get what they want in an almost imperceptible manner; see the EU for an example. Anyhow, I see in today's Evening Standard that "Sharia law "courts" are already dealing with crime on the streets of London...it was revealed today that a teenage stabbing case among the Somali community in Woolwich had been dealt with by a sharia "trial". Youth worker Aydarus Yusuf, 29, who was involved in setting up the hearing, said a group of Somali youths were arrested by police on suspicion of stabbing another Somali teenager. The victim's family told officers the matter would be settled out of court and the suspects were released on bail. A hearing was convened and elders ordered the assailants to compensate the victim. "All their uncles and their fathers were there," said Mr Yusuf. "So they all put something towards that and apologised for the wrongdoing.""
The other line being pushed is that very few Muslims want Sharia law and that it is just a few extremists. I draw your attention to this poll reported in the Telegraph almost two years ago. "Four out of 10 British Muslims want sharia law introduced into parts of the country, a survey reveals today."
That's more than a few extremists, unless 40% are extremists which would be even more worrying.
"The ICM opinion poll also indicates that a fifth have sympathy with the "feelings and motives" of the suicide bombers who attacked London last July 7, killing 52 people, although 99 per cent thought the bombers were wrong to carry out the atrocity."
Over 20% had sympathy with the suicide bombers, that's not an overly hopeful message.
Sorry folks but I fear that the non-Muslim British population is not going to take much more of this separation on Muslims from the rest of British society. I am not talking about the BNP and other "white rights" organisations; Hindus that I know are very unhappy and distictly worried by the rise of the Muslim "community" and as for my Jewish friends... One more incident of Islamic terrorism in the UK and I fear for the future of this country's reputation for tolerance, I really do.
Update: A good point made by "Judith" on Archbishop Cranmer's blog:
"Could we straighten up one misunderstanding that seems to be creeping into commentaries:
When Jews marry in a synagogue in the Diaspora, they receive a civil certificate and a religious certificate. If they don't marry in synagogue, a civic registrar is present to provide that certificate. Should they subsequently wish to divorce, they must first go to the civil courts. Then, if they wish to marry again in a synagogue, they must obtain a religious divorce.
It appears that many Muslim marriages are performed only as religious ceremonies, not civil ones, although Muslim authorities say they recommend couples to get a civil union.
It would appear that Williams is advocating that the Muslim religious marriage, for example, should be regarded as a civil contract. This is a huge step change."
The other line being pushed is that very few Muslims want Sharia law and that it is just a few extremists. I draw your attention to this poll reported in the Telegraph almost two years ago. "Four out of 10 British Muslims want sharia law introduced into parts of the country, a survey reveals today."
That's more than a few extremists, unless 40% are extremists which would be even more worrying.
"The ICM opinion poll also indicates that a fifth have sympathy with the "feelings and motives" of the suicide bombers who attacked London last July 7, killing 52 people, although 99 per cent thought the bombers were wrong to carry out the atrocity."
Over 20% had sympathy with the suicide bombers, that's not an overly hopeful message.
Sorry folks but I fear that the non-Muslim British population is not going to take much more of this separation on Muslims from the rest of British society. I am not talking about the BNP and other "white rights" organisations; Hindus that I know are very unhappy and distictly worried by the rise of the Muslim "community" and as for my Jewish friends... One more incident of Islamic terrorism in the UK and I fear for the future of this country's reputation for tolerance, I really do.
Update: A good point made by "Judith" on Archbishop Cranmer's blog:
"Could we straighten up one misunderstanding that seems to be creeping into commentaries:
When Jews marry in a synagogue in the Diaspora, they receive a civil certificate and a religious certificate. If they don't marry in synagogue, a civic registrar is present to provide that certificate. Should they subsequently wish to divorce, they must first go to the civil courts. Then, if they wish to marry again in a synagogue, they must obtain a religious divorce.
It appears that many Muslim marriages are performed only as religious ceremonies, not civil ones, although Muslim authorities say they recommend couples to get a civil union.
It would appear that Williams is advocating that the Muslim religious marriage, for example, should be regarded as a civil contract. This is a huge step change."
"Mayor's aide 'must go' over cash scandal"
More bad news for Ken Livingstone's team in the Standard, this time it concerns Lee Jasper. Do read the whole article and I am sure you can guess Ken's response...
A rumour about Ken Livingstone
If this story from the Standard is true, that "One of the world's greatest purveyors of the notion of Political Correctness has been caught telling an ethnically-incorrect joke?" then hoist by his own petard comes to mind...
The report concerns Ken Livingstone telling this joke - " "Salman Rushdie was on a train and it pulled into a station," said the future mayor.
"He saw Yasser Arafat and his entourage of bodyguards and was so overcome with the emotion of seeing his great hero, he raced to embrace him.
"But the bodyguards weren't very well versed in modern literature and had no idea who he was.
"So they shot him dead, thus proving the value of that old adage: never go for a Shi'ite while the train is in the station.""
The report concerns Ken Livingstone telling this joke - " "Salman Rushdie was on a train and it pulled into a station," said the future mayor.
"He saw Yasser Arafat and his entourage of bodyguards and was so overcome with the emotion of seeing his great hero, he raced to embrace him.
"But the bodyguards weren't very well versed in modern literature and had no idea who he was.
"So they shot him dead, thus proving the value of that old adage: never go for a Shi'ite while the train is in the station.""
Why MPs must get rid of the Speaker
A very worthwhile read was in yesterday's Telegraph Comment section - here - Go and read it.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Here we go again - "Religious police in Saudi Arabia arrest mother for sitting with a man"
From The Times "A 37-year-old American businesswoman and married mother of three is seeking justice after she was thrown in jail by Saudi Arabia's religious police for sitting with a male colleague at a Starbucks coffee shop in Riyadh.
Yara, who does not want her last name published for fear of retribution, was bruised and crying when she was freed from a day in prison after she was strip-searched, threatened and forced to sign false confessions by the Kingdom's “Mutaween” police."
How did she come to commit this heinous crime?
"Her ordeal began with a routine visit to the new Riyadh offices of her finance company, where she is a managing partner.
The electricity temporarily cut out, so Yara and her colleagues — who are all men — went to a nearby Starbucks to use its wireless internet.
She sat in a curtained booth with her business partner in the café's “family” area, the only seats where men and women are allowed to mix.
For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.
“Some men came up to us with very long beards and white dresses. They asked ‘Why are you here together?'. I explained about the power being out in our office. They got very angry and told me what I was doing was a great sin,” recalled Yara, who wears an abaya and headscarf, like most Saudi women. "
How was this American citizen treated?
"Yara, whose parents are Jordanian and grew up in Salt Lake City, once believed that life in Saudi Arabia was becoming more liberal. But on Monday the religious police took her mobile phone, pushed her into a cab and drove her to Malaz prison in Riyadh. She was interrogated, strip-searched and forced to sign and fingerprint a series of confessions pleading guilty to her “crime”.
“They took me into a filthy bathroom, full of water and dirt. They made me take off my clothes and squat and they threw my clothes in this slush and made me put them back on,” she said. Eventually she was taken before a judge.
“He said 'You are sinful and you are going to burn in hell'. I told him I was sorry. I was very submissive. I had given up. I felt hopeless,” she said. "
And how did the US Embassy protect her and act on her behalf?
"Yara was visited yesterday by officials from the American Embassy, who promised they would file a report.
An embassy official told The Times that it was being treated as “an internal Saudi matter” and refused to comment on her case."
I went to the "Comments" section expecting to read some indignation but the last three comments surprised me:
"As an American, raised by a single mother in this country, this story obviously gave me a repulsive knee jerk reaction. After a second of thought, however, I realized that I have no idea what Yara's actions must have been interpreted as by the locals there in Saudi Arabia.
Their culture says men and women, unrelated, should not mix in public. Although I don't agree with that, if I go there, I must educate myself about this custom, and compy with it while I am there. Else, I subject myself to the consequences. In the U.S., a power outage at your office could easily be circumvented by heading to a Starbucks with your mixed-gender colleagues. In Saudi Arabia, however, it seems a better solution would be to head to a private, more liberal thinking residence to complete the days work. Indeed, the Amsterdamian smoking a joint in Washington is a good example, by the commentor above.
Before you take a step, you might want to look at the ground on which your foot will tread.
Joey, Conway, USA/MA"
How come we have to respect their culture and customs when we are in their country but we have to allow Sharia law in our country because it could help social cohesion?
"The Americans always think they are 'right', they use think only the western customs are legitimate and only these are civilized behavious, but in fact they are wrong, they are just stronger than the other countries. Think of this, what if Saudi Arabia was the most powerful country in the world like the US, people will think this is completely right and also there will think what the American woman had done was completely illegal and she should be punished. If you want to criticize other people, you must respect the tradition and thinking of other people.
Ridiculous! The Americans always advocate the so-called 'human rights', remember one thing, when the students were taking their manifestation in the University of Kentfor the purpose of ending the war in Vietnam, four young Americans were killed by the police. These lovely kids were killed by their own govrenment . So, Americans, have you the got the right to critize on the issue of HUMAN RIGHTS??? Yara, take your time in Saudi
foreigner, Shanghai, CHINA
We wouldnt have so much trouble in the middle east if we werent allways over there sticking our noses in their business. People always like to say "those people have been fighting each other forever" but the truth is they have been fighting outsiders forever because they have stuff we want. Thats why we need to develop alternative fuel sources. Of course then there is still the matter of Israel?
KJ, DC,"
There are some really odd people out there.
Do remember this case the next time one of our "leaders" is photographed with a member of the Saudi Royal Family or we are told that Saudi Arabia is an important trading partner and a force against Islamic terrorism. Do read up on the Saudi regime, there are plenty of articles to be found.
Yara, who does not want her last name published for fear of retribution, was bruised and crying when she was freed from a day in prison after she was strip-searched, threatened and forced to sign false confessions by the Kingdom's “Mutaween” police."
How did she come to commit this heinous crime?
"Her ordeal began with a routine visit to the new Riyadh offices of her finance company, where she is a managing partner.
The electricity temporarily cut out, so Yara and her colleagues — who are all men — went to a nearby Starbucks to use its wireless internet.
She sat in a curtained booth with her business partner in the café's “family” area, the only seats where men and women are allowed to mix.
For Yara, it was a matter of convenience. But in Saudi Arabia, public contact between unrelated men and women is strictly prohibited.
“Some men came up to us with very long beards and white dresses. They asked ‘Why are you here together?'. I explained about the power being out in our office. They got very angry and told me what I was doing was a great sin,” recalled Yara, who wears an abaya and headscarf, like most Saudi women. "
How was this American citizen treated?
"Yara, whose parents are Jordanian and grew up in Salt Lake City, once believed that life in Saudi Arabia was becoming more liberal. But on Monday the religious police took her mobile phone, pushed her into a cab and drove her to Malaz prison in Riyadh. She was interrogated, strip-searched and forced to sign and fingerprint a series of confessions pleading guilty to her “crime”.
“They took me into a filthy bathroom, full of water and dirt. They made me take off my clothes and squat and they threw my clothes in this slush and made me put them back on,” she said. Eventually she was taken before a judge.
“He said 'You are sinful and you are going to burn in hell'. I told him I was sorry. I was very submissive. I had given up. I felt hopeless,” she said. "
And how did the US Embassy protect her and act on her behalf?
"Yara was visited yesterday by officials from the American Embassy, who promised they would file a report.
An embassy official told The Times that it was being treated as “an internal Saudi matter” and refused to comment on her case."
I went to the "Comments" section expecting to read some indignation but the last three comments surprised me:
"As an American, raised by a single mother in this country, this story obviously gave me a repulsive knee jerk reaction. After a second of thought, however, I realized that I have no idea what Yara's actions must have been interpreted as by the locals there in Saudi Arabia.
Their culture says men and women, unrelated, should not mix in public. Although I don't agree with that, if I go there, I must educate myself about this custom, and compy with it while I am there. Else, I subject myself to the consequences. In the U.S., a power outage at your office could easily be circumvented by heading to a Starbucks with your mixed-gender colleagues. In Saudi Arabia, however, it seems a better solution would be to head to a private, more liberal thinking residence to complete the days work. Indeed, the Amsterdamian smoking a joint in Washington is a good example, by the commentor above.
Before you take a step, you might want to look at the ground on which your foot will tread.
Joey, Conway, USA/MA"
How come we have to respect their culture and customs when we are in their country but we have to allow Sharia law in our country because it could help social cohesion?
"The Americans always think they are 'right', they use think only the western customs are legitimate and only these are civilized behavious, but in fact they are wrong, they are just stronger than the other countries. Think of this, what if Saudi Arabia was the most powerful country in the world like the US, people will think this is completely right and also there will think what the American woman had done was completely illegal and she should be punished. If you want to criticize other people, you must respect the tradition and thinking of other people.
Ridiculous! The Americans always advocate the so-called 'human rights', remember one thing, when the students were taking their manifestation in the University of Kentfor the purpose of ending the war in Vietnam, four young Americans were killed by the police. These lovely kids were killed by their own govrenment . So, Americans, have you the got the right to critize on the issue of HUMAN RIGHTS??? Yara, take your time in Saudi
foreigner, Shanghai, CHINA
We wouldnt have so much trouble in the middle east if we werent allways over there sticking our noses in their business. People always like to say "those people have been fighting each other forever" but the truth is they have been fighting outsiders forever because they have stuff we want. Thats why we need to develop alternative fuel sources. Of course then there is still the matter of Israel?
KJ, DC,"
There are some really odd people out there.
Do remember this case the next time one of our "leaders" is photographed with a member of the Saudi Royal Family or we are told that Saudi Arabia is an important trading partner and a force against Islamic terrorism. Do read up on the Saudi regime, there are plenty of articles to be found.
"Controversial" Muslim cleric?
Do read to the end of this piece...
The BBC are reporting that "The controversial Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi has been refused a visa to visit Britain. The Home Office said the UK would not tolerate the presence of those who seek to justify acts of terrorist violence."
Finally; took the Labour government long enough didn't it...
The report has the usual suspects sounding off:
"Reacting to the decision, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) called it deplorable, and said the government had caved in to unreasonable demands spearheaded by the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron.
Inayat Bunglawala of the MCB said the decision had "worrying implications for freedom of speech". "Whatever one may think of some of Qaradawi's views, the way forward is surely to allow them to be aired and then, if appropriate, to challenge them openly."
"This decision will send the wrong message to Muslims everywhere about the state of British society and culture", said Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council. He said Dr Al-Qaradawi was respected as a scholar throughout the Islamic world."
The campaigning group, the British Muslim Initiative described the ban as "disgusting and outrageous" and said it was "an unwarranted insult to British Muslims and all Muslims around the world"."
The Independent, friend of the Muslims and enemy of Israel, has a blog that includes this section "like it or not, Qaradawi isn't really seen to be all that radical by many and has, until now, been allowed into the country a number of times before. Although Qaradawi is very much a conservative jurist, he is also seen to be one of the more progressive conservatives who has shown reformist tendencies and tried to marry traditionalist Islamic ideals with the modern world. He has in the past supported suicide bombings in Israel but has equally been vocal in condemning other terrorist atrocities such as 9/11 and the Madrid bombings."
Let's examine that more closely... Qaradawi is apparently a conservative but a progressive conservative with reformist tendencies - a few examples would be appreciated.
But the piece de resistance is the last sentence "He has in the past supported suicide bombings in Israel but has equally been vocal in condemning other terrorist atrocities such as 9/11 and the Madrid bombings."
I think the point being made here is that as he only supports suicide bombings in Israel, not "the occupied territories" but Israel, then that is OK because Israel and Israelis don't really matter.
The BBC are reporting that "The controversial Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi has been refused a visa to visit Britain. The Home Office said the UK would not tolerate the presence of those who seek to justify acts of terrorist violence."
Finally; took the Labour government long enough didn't it...
The report has the usual suspects sounding off:
"Reacting to the decision, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) called it deplorable, and said the government had caved in to unreasonable demands spearheaded by the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron.
Inayat Bunglawala of the MCB said the decision had "worrying implications for freedom of speech". "Whatever one may think of some of Qaradawi's views, the way forward is surely to allow them to be aired and then, if appropriate, to challenge them openly."
"This decision will send the wrong message to Muslims everywhere about the state of British society and culture", said Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council. He said Dr Al-Qaradawi was respected as a scholar throughout the Islamic world."
The campaigning group, the British Muslim Initiative described the ban as "disgusting and outrageous" and said it was "an unwarranted insult to British Muslims and all Muslims around the world"."
The Independent, friend of the Muslims and enemy of Israel, has a blog that includes this section "like it or not, Qaradawi isn't really seen to be all that radical by many and has, until now, been allowed into the country a number of times before. Although Qaradawi is very much a conservative jurist, he is also seen to be one of the more progressive conservatives who has shown reformist tendencies and tried to marry traditionalist Islamic ideals with the modern world. He has in the past supported suicide bombings in Israel but has equally been vocal in condemning other terrorist atrocities such as 9/11 and the Madrid bombings."
Let's examine that more closely... Qaradawi is apparently a conservative but a progressive conservative with reformist tendencies - a few examples would be appreciated.
But the piece de resistance is the last sentence "He has in the past supported suicide bombings in Israel but has equally been vocal in condemning other terrorist atrocities such as 9/11 and the Madrid bombings."
I think the point being made here is that as he only supports suicide bombings in Israel, not "the occupied territories" but Israel, then that is OK because Israel and Israelis don't really matter.
Polygamy in the UK
I blogged recently about the recent government decision that "Husbands with multiple wives have been given the go-ahead to claim extra welfare benefits following a year-long Government review...Husbands with multiple wives have been given the go-ahead to claim extra welfare benefits following a year-long Government review".
I thought that under Islamic law, a man can only take on up to four wives if he can afford to do so; if he cannot, then he the marriages are illegitimate and they are not his wives. I suppose the argument will be that he can NOW afford to have four wives as the British state is kindly paying for them.
I thought that under Islamic law, a man can only take on up to four wives if he can afford to do so; if he cannot, then he the marriages are illegitimate and they are not his wives. I suppose the argument will be that he can NOW afford to have four wives as the British state is kindly paying for them.
Question Time tonight - 7 February 2008
A nicely balanced panel!
ANDY BURNHAM MP - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport - LABOUR - Loyal Brownite - Left of centre
CHRIS GRAYLING MP - Shadow secretary of state for work and pensions - CONSERVATIVE - Right of centre
JULIA GOLDSWORTHY MP - Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Communities and Local Government - LIB DEM - Left of centre
SHAMI CHAKRABARTI - director of the human rights organisation Liberty since 2003 - Left of centre
DUNCAN BANNATYNE - one of the UK's leading entrepreneurs and star of BBC Two's Dragon's Den, "Duncan Bannatyne was a donor to the Labour Party under Tony Blair" - Unsure but seems unlikely to be right of centre
Well done the BBC, a nicely balanced panel...
ANDY BURNHAM MP - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport - LABOUR - Loyal Brownite - Left of centre
CHRIS GRAYLING MP - Shadow secretary of state for work and pensions - CONSERVATIVE - Right of centre
JULIA GOLDSWORTHY MP - Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Communities and Local Government - LIB DEM - Left of centre
SHAMI CHAKRABARTI - director of the human rights organisation Liberty since 2003 - Left of centre
DUNCAN BANNATYNE - one of the UK's leading entrepreneurs and star of BBC Two's Dragon's Den, "Duncan Bannatyne was a donor to the Labour Party under Tony Blair" - Unsure but seems unlikely to be right of centre
Well done the BBC, a nicely balanced panel...
Newsnight tonight - 7 February 2008
Looks interesting - "Sharia law in the UK? Is this what we really want?...is this really the way to achieve "social cohesion" and has he consulted, in particular, British Muslim women for their views on this? Tonight Newsnight discusses how Sharia would work given equal status to English and Scottish Law, and if Sharia is a legal system you can "pick and choose"."
"Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone appeared before the London Assembly today and Michael Crick was watching. The mayor’s stewardship of London is under question tonight. There have been calls for the resignation of his close friend and race advisor Lee Jasper.
Emails released by the London Development Agency allegedly show that 13 projects in the city run by Mr Jasper or his friends received as much as £3.3m without proper process. Ken Livingstone told the BBC and others that all the paperwork was in place. We've asked Michael to find out the truth."
Looks like another late night for Mr and Mrs NotaSheep.
"Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone appeared before the London Assembly today and Michael Crick was watching. The mayor’s stewardship of London is under question tonight. There have been calls for the resignation of his close friend and race advisor Lee Jasper.
Emails released by the London Development Agency allegedly show that 13 projects in the city run by Mr Jasper or his friends received as much as £3.3m without proper process. Ken Livingstone told the BBC and others that all the paperwork was in place. We've asked Michael to find out the truth."
Looks like another late night for Mr and Mrs NotaSheep.
Tories proposing Lottery reforms
Just read the BBC report on the Conservative party's proposals to reform the National Lottery. See the BBC can do an unbiased piece if they really try - must be an aberration.
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