Monday 17 August 2009
Here's what's coming up in tonight's Newsnight:
At the beginning of a decisive week for Afghanistan, and with images of the British soldiers who have lost their lives there in many of today's newspapers, what has been the impact of the policy of liberal intervention and "nation building" promoted particularly by the USA and Britain since 2000? Where did the seed of this philosophy lie, and where is the evidence that it works? Have the attempts to establish human rights, democracy and security been realistic or would an alternative stratgey have delivered better results? Gordon Corera will report, plus we'll be speaking to international politicians and diplomats live.
Also tonight: one hundred public figures have joined calls for a High Pay Commission to curb "excessive" pay. Politicians, trade unions and academics are backing the centre-left Compass group's campaign for steps such as maximum wage ratios and taxes on bonuses. Our Political Editor Michael Crick will be considering how the political parties will respond.
We have a film from Ethiopia about how the life of one man - which has been chronicled for 25 years by a British documentary maker - is emblematic of Ethiopia's recent history. .
And Matt Prodger will be scouring the biographies which undermine the reputations of the literary greats. Revelations in a new biography of Lord of the Flies author William Golding claim he tried to rape an underage girl, Evelyn Waugh is said to have had three homosexual affairs, and Arthur Ransome led a very exotic life, . So does it matter if the reputations of our literary greats are undermined?
Do join Kirsty at 10.30pm on 91Èȱ¬ Two.
Comment number 1.
At 17th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:There will be no quick end to the war in Afghanistan because its serves the function of providing a virtual welfare state for the stock market parasites. A relative of mine has just come back from a year teaching in the Falklands, it was a private charter jet because all the normal RAF planes are working on the Afghan route. The US airlines were all going bust before the Afghan war, and then Iraq saved them from bankruptcy.
Perhaps Blair had no option to join the US in said wars, if like Harold Wilson who refused to participate in Vietnam, the stock market parasites and their corporate multinational cartel would have crashed the value of the Pound. Brown is the puppet of the stock market parasites so no chance of a unilateral withdrawal by the British. Plenty of false economic growth building alleged safer replacements for " snatch Land-Rover's " Defence company share prices inflated, likewise mining stock's up on the prospect of firing even more expensive munitions with ingredients such as copper etc.
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Comment number 2.
At 17th Aug 2009, barriesingleton wrote:DOING THE JOB THEY LOVE
When I spent my days as a laboratory chemist, the part of the job I loved was ENQUIRY AND DISCOVERY coupled with OBSERVATION AND DEDUCTION.
I make the assumption that our troops know what aspects of soldiering give rise to the term: 'the job they love'.
With revelations of injury statistics, might we expect a complaint to Advertising Standards soon, for failing to represent the job accurately? Or is the risk of injury or death, what makes the job lovable?
I have yet to hear a word of 'protecting the folks back home from Terror', come from the lips of a front line professional. Hence, until I am persuaded otherwise, it is 'extreme paintballing' with unspeakable consequences.
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Comment number 3.
At 17th Aug 2009, barriesingleton wrote:FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION COPPER (#1)
I understand it to be a component of Thermate, employed in the demolition of towers 1, 2 and 7 on 9/11.
Much is made of the Afghanistan factor, with regard to Obama's second term, but the turmoil that will follow the truth about 9/11, will make Afghanistan a sideshow.
I wonder what copper ions do in the upper atmosphere?
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Comment number 4.
At 17th Aug 2009, Jupiter wrote:A High Pay Commission - sounds like the sort of socialist nonsense the 91Èȱ¬ would support. Oh wait, what about all those vastly overpaid 91Èȱ¬ 'celebrities' and managers, maybe not such a good idea after all is it?
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Comment number 5.
At 17th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 6.
At 17th Aug 2009, kashibeyaz wrote:The involvement of NATO will last 3 years; when Afghanistan = Vietnam in the eyes of Americans, their already prepared exit strategy will kick in and we will leave also.
Gordon Brown was never in favour of this or the Iraq war; so why does he persist?
Is there some quid pro quo for Mandy's help in salvaging his Premiership?
"Don't muck up Tony's legacy; support him for the EU Presidency and we'll give you all the help we can in winning the next election."
Mimpromptu; my circle of friends meet regularly in Istanbul.
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Comment number 7.
At 17th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:A DITTY: 'LIBERAL IS TO DEMOCRATIC' AS SMOKE IS TO MIRRORS
"Where did the seed of this philosophy lie, and where is the evidence that it works?"
a) Geo: Iraq - Israel - Iran - Afghanistan
b) Political-Economics: Israel needs US and UK footsoldiers to fight its proxy wars, just as US/UK retailers/financial service providers need gullible consumers.
Hence mass-immigration into US/UK.
End of.
:-(
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Comment number 8.
At 17th Aug 2009, indignantindegene wrote:#2 Barrie
"I have yet to hear a word of 'protecting the folks back home from Terror', come from the lips of a front line professional."
If 'protecting the folks back home' were the main motivation, then this could be achieved at far less cost in lives by having our troops on duty in UK, assisting other security forces and showing a presence on the streets, which our police seem incapable of doing (other than patroling and pursuing motoring crime in fast cars). And, if the so called 'war on terror' involves protection of Europe and other countries, then why is UK carrying the main front-line responsibility? The terrorism risk to UK is said to be higher that elsewhere (other than USA). Could that be because we are regarded as the uninvited invaders and occupiers.
Russia gave up trying to change this primitive society after losing tens of thousands of troops, but our 'leaders' have a macho arrogance (a hangover from our colonial past?) that prevents them from admitting defeat. Thatcher got a boost to her ratings with a victory in Falklands, but many would question whether it was worth the cost in lives and ongoing burden of expenditure. The haughty President Charles deGaul applied Management-by-Objectives and withdrew French troops from the long-running struggle in Algeria when his stated stop-loss figure of troop casualties was reached. We should do likewise: 200 troops and many thousands of civilians are already far too many.
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Comment number 9.
At 17th Aug 2009, manchester_me wrote:Nation building, democracy, women's rights, terrorism, freedom, blah, blah.
A ring of bases, surrounding the Caspian basin and the Middle East; a barrier to Russian and Chinese interests.
Will Newsnight call a spade a spade for a change?
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Comment number 10.
At 17th Aug 2009, Jupiter wrote:#5 you're an idiot, 100% income tax would raise absolutely £0. Try thinking before you post rubbish next time.
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Comment number 11.
At 17th Aug 2009, bookhimdano wrote:i think we need a high profit commission? to include all utilities and commodity companies who benefit and will benefit from commodity speculation bubbles. Also while the ukk is on its knees because of bank bailout the profits in the finance sector should be taxed at 70% until the little darlings don't need our money to prop up their sham industry. otherwise they are just privatising the profit and socialising the loss?
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Comment number 12.
At 17th Aug 2009, leftieoddbod wrote:please, please can we not fall for the claptrap coming from Bob Ainsworth and Gordon Brown about what this war is about....the one about 'if we are not fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan they will wage war here in our streets...NNNNNOOOOOOO they won't, let us lie this lie once and for all. They keep changing the reasons we are in that third world country like they did before the invasion of Iraq. Seventy per cent of the population want us out of there, most military strategists say it is an unwinnable conflict, history tells us that is a hopeless war, the Russians couldn't do it with a million troops so how could we with piss poor equipment get a result there....it isn't going to happen, the squaddies or at least the one's I talk to say we are out of there soon say it so why is Brown spouting this foolish mantra, the only person who believes it is him and trusty Bob, and a few brasshats with pensions to get.....
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Comment number 13.
At 17th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 14.
At 17th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:#10 Murray
You obviously don't get the point, 99.99% tax whatever way you say, there needs to be a maximum income as an essential ballance to the minimum wage. At the end of they day all stack market parasites do is invent false money, and the primeval function of TAX was to mop up all false money in the economy. I got that from an extremely well educated old man with family links to the famous Kenyan archeologist who found one key example in our human ancestry.
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Comment number 15.
At 17th Aug 2009, streetphotobeing wrote:Afgan - curiosity killed the cat - why do humans never learn - just animals?
Like those shoes.
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Comment number 16.
At 17th Aug 2009, KingCelticLion wrote:bounced posts welcome
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Comment number 17.
At 17th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:from mimpromptu
Apologies Kirsty for not watching but am in considerable pain although despite everything have had a great day listening to 'black & white' music and back in the Palace.
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Comment number 18.
At 17th Aug 2009, manchester_me wrote:A message to the 91Èȱ¬.
The UK did not create an Empire to spread human rights, it was to gain influence, open up markets and make money. It tries to maintain influence via gun boat diplomacy with it's partners.
You continually frame UK foreign policy in terms of it's benevolence. You treat your viewers as idiots.
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Comment number 19.
At 17th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:#16
Dear Streetphotobeig
See you're on top form again. Thank you so much for brighetening my evening with your story about the pussy.
mimpromptu
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Comment number 20.
At 17th Aug 2009, KingCelticLion wrote:Given up with NN, usual subjects again
Seem to be following a trend in the blog though. Questioning the need for democracy. Democracy is government by the people OR their elected representatives.
The way democracy is being spread is just as a job creation scheme for politicians.
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Comment number 21.
At 17th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:#19
Streetphotobeing
Apologies for the typos in your name and in brightening
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Comment number 22.
At 17th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:Vince Cable must have blown any acquired credibility he theoretically gained at the peak of the financial crisis. Now like " Sir Henry at Rawlinson End ", he doesn't know what he wants but he wants it now, or so it would appear. Perhaps he has been " got at " by the Corporate Nazi policy enforcers since earlier in the day, I suspect that the eco-fascists rely heavily on stock market parasite alleged charity donations. I will probably comment further when I have watched it again on I player, but even the guest stock market parasite seemed to acknowledge that some city pay contracts were untenable in the current economic climate.
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Comment number 23.
At 18th Aug 2009, streetphotobeing wrote:Nos19
Get well soon mimpromtu and do us a ditty.
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Comment number 24.
At 18th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:#23
To Streetphotobeing from mimpromptu
• I'm hoping that twirling will do me some good, it normally does.
• Despite still being in considerable discomfort, I've managed to watch a few fragments of last night's Newsnight /didn't Kirsty look nice and relaxed?!/.
• Re: the 'excusatory(?)' piece about the dead great writers, I wouldn't put them all in the same basket. To have had a few homosexual affairs seems somewhat different to me than trying to rape a young girl. Trying to rape a young girl could possibly be classified in a similar category as having 'raped' one's country by becoming a communist (be it Russian or Chinese) spy although on an obviously much larger scale.
• I'm also hoping that a bicycletrip to and fro will help for new ditties to spring up to mind but for now there's one from a couple of nights ago:
A reason to crane up one's neck
From down on earth he craned out his neck
'What is it up there?', he asked. 'Oh, heck!
She replied, 'it's that wonderful sphere
Of the vast universe of William Shakespeare'.
And so they proceeded off to the Globe
To further delight in great master's orb.
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Comment number 25.
At 18th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:All very well for Vince cable to bang on about the FSA and its powers, but the Tories have put virtual Leg-Irons on it by proposing to abolish it. No FSA employee is going to take any positive action against any Banks or other financial institutions if there is a chance that they will be hung out to dry when the BoE takes over regulatory responsibility. The same principle applies to new recruits for the FSA, no sane person is going to apply for a job with an organization which will probably disappear in less than a years time. Current FSA employee's who dare to take firm action against financial institutions could end up on some form of Corporate Nazi blacklist. It would appear that effective city regulation is off the agenda until at least after the general election.
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Comment number 26.
At 18th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:addendum to #24
Re: dead 'great' men's misdemeanour
There surely is a 'special' category for a 'great' man who not only wouldn't stop raping a fellow human being (whoever it might be) but would at the same time carry on engaging in destructive spying activities (with whoever it might be) in a delusory hope of being one day named as one of the greats in the history of mankind.
I wouldn't have much time for their accomplices neither.
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Comment number 27.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:DOGMA
KCL (#20) "The way democracy is being spread is just as a job creation scheme for politicians."
As one retail pound in every seven is allegedly spent in Tesco alone, presumably, the job of liberal-democratic politicians (in Britain/EU/USA and other nations eager to be 'liberated' from the evil influence of national socialism aka welfare statism which imposes human right oppressions like the NHS), is to keep their electorates spending in 'consumer pumps' such as Tesco, come what may.
Banks now borrow money from said grateful (albeit obese and coronary prone) consumers in order to lend it on as working capital so consumer pumps like Tesco, Top Shop, etc can keep buying their stock.
Their lobby groups and 'useful idiots' are so eager to extend this predatory hedonism ('business model') to 'free Iraq', 'free Afghanistan' and anywhere else idiotic/impulsive enough to embrace this insidious Faustian pact of demonstrable self-destruction that we naively call 'freedom'.
The extinction level TFRs and mental health problems which have followed this 'panacea' wherever it's been peddled:- Japan, Korea, the Tiger Economies in general, Western/Central/Eastern Europe are surely what NN should be looking into as Key Performance Indicators in comparison to other systems of government given the pride of place which choice has in this allegedly market-driven democracy? But no, the merits of narcissistic rights i.e. freedom/equality etc, rather than social and responsiblity (see teh PRC for an alternative, or Burma, Iran, N Korea, Germany in the late 1930s, USSR in the 30s/40s etc) amount to a dogmatic, i.e. unquestioned/unquestionable, metaphysical assumption.
In a word prejudice.
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Comment number 28.
At 18th Aug 2009, streetphotobeing wrote:"I've managed to watch a few fragments of last night's Newsnight /didn't Kirsty look nice and relaxed?!/. "
Yes indeed, but couldnt stay awake, as usual flaked out - too much of an early bird.
"91Èȱ¬ wont pay from flowers at staff funerals" Daily Mail
That true ?
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Comment number 29.
At 18th Aug 2009, streetphotobeing wrote:Nos 28
Clearly still not awake !
Should read:-
"91Èȱ¬ wont pay for flowers at staff funerals"
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Comment number 30.
At 18th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:#28
What a lovely bouquet, Streetphotobeing!
Hope you have another top of the form day!
mimpromptu
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Comment number 31.
At 18th Aug 2009, brossen99 wrote:The thought police would appear to be pretty paranoid this morning, perhaps I should take up writing pointless Vogon poetry ?
Perhaps referring to Sir Henry at Rawlinson End had something to do with it, an excellent comedy film perhaps surprisingly starring Trevor Howard. Never show it these day perhaps simply because the narrator refers to an African person by a slang term offending political correctness.
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Comment number 32.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:brossen99 (#31) "Never show it these day perhaps simply because the narrator refers to an African person by a slang term offending political correctness."
Which is in fact specifically engineered to stop other groups from challenging the egregious, self-intereted, 'racist' behaviour of another, predatory, self-proclaimed elite/venal group.
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Comment number 33.
At 18th Aug 2009, mimpromptu wrote:#24 update
streetphotobeing
it's amazing how invigorating a bike trip can be. Here's a ditty the trip has helped to create:
Streetphotobeing has asked me to ditty -
Hoping, therefore, for the verse to be pretty.
Just like his link turned out to be flowers,
Strong, proud & and beautiful for us to admire.
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Comment number 34.
At 18th Aug 2009, barriesingleton wrote:GO FOR VOGON POETRY 99 (#31)
The (buttock-clenching) Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings variety is already well represented. I am constantly reminded of 'Up Pompei' and the love-lorn lad who could never think of a last line.
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Comment number 35.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:mimpromptu (#33) This blog used to be about rational issues to be covered by Newsnight, or about rational issues of concern which should be covered by Newsnight (usually domestic and foreign politics).
Do you have anything along such lines to contribute? If not, why do you post here? You do not appear to be learning anything.
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Comment number 36.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:On Afghanistan there always seems to me to be an air of regarding it as a "Vietnam-class" war - especially when casualties are discussed.
But if that is so the concept is flawed as al Qaeda and its associates are not liberators - they will use WMD, if they can, on the West regardless of what happens on the Indian sub-continent or in Palestine.
So the Allies can't just up and leave when they win, via winning indirectly in Pakistan in my world, or the vacuum may simply be filled by like minded people to al Qaeda who will recommence hostilities.
After WWII the US did not just leave Germany to it and at the time the propagandized population would have been susceptible to a Hitler Mark II and the Nazi (non) ideology. It paid dividends to make sure that did not happen. It was not colonialisation and in Afghanistan they get to choose. That said the CIA backing of the war lords, as I understand it, was a bad mistake.
Similarly while I hope there is no intervention in Somalia, if there is, I can't see how a pure military operation other than a limited "smash and grab" will achieve anything.
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Comment number 37.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:On the Arctic Sea my money is still on it having been an insurance scam that was not very well thought through. If so the Russians are not goig to be pleased as they seem to have mobilised their whole Atlantic fleet and the US probably had to take steps in case it was a terrorist ship headed for their coast.
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Comment number 38.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:#32 Jaded_Jean
"Which is in fact specifically engineered to stop other groups from challenging the egregious, self-intereted, 'racist' behaviour of another, predatory, self-proclaimed elite/venal group."
brossen99 claims to be a "Muslim" but still uses phrases like "anarchist and Trotskyite" - as do you.
You have claimed, I believe, that Islam is "backward and violent".
You are not the BNP or a Nazi you say - but you would like Newsnight to cover the BNP more. You revere Hitler and would replace democracy with something approximating to National Socialism.
The BNP are "not a Nazi Party" they are a "modern and progressive party".
Their website gets "more hits than all of the other political parties put together". So their conference in a field with a bouncy castle probably had tens of thousands of visitors.
Probably not.
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Comment number 39.
At 18th Aug 2009, ecolizzy wrote:Just got the Vogon and Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings joke, after looking it up of course! : ) : D : P : / : (
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Comment number 40.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:The BNP conference-in-a-field had a number of white crosses I believe to commemorate those white people "killed by racists".
Did the number include the three local murders that never happened as claimed by the London Assembly Member of the BNP?
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Comment number 41.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:#8 indignantindegene
"then this could be achieved at far less cost in lives by having our troops on duty in UK, assisting other security forces and showing a presence on the streets"
What is it with people of the far right and troops on the street?
I think people know that the BNP are not allowed in the police and military and long may that remain the case.
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Comment number 42.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:#20 kingcleticlion
"Seem to be following a trend in the blog though. Questioning the need for democracy."
Wow, the regular BNP posters seem less than enthusiastic about democracy and vague about what they would replace it with. You are astute and must be in line for a Nobel sooner or later!
Next you will notice that they have race "realist" views and are "agnostic " about the Holocaust and that they revere Hitler!
Does that mean they are representative of the UK society as a whole?
No.
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Comment number 43.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:On the Djemjanjuk trial is Newsnight aware whether the defence team has received anonymous packages of "proof" and "evidence" and "statistics" that there was no Holocaust and that therefore there could have been no death camps and so on?
I am guessing not as the far right internet experts seem to make themselves pretty scarce when it comes to the crunch and I have never heard of any trial where anybody explained away the camps and previous testimonies or victims, perpetrators and liberators plus Nazi documentation.
The vile and evil BNP-types will make some general claim that the evidence accumulated over fifty years and more has been "discredited".
But they won't be going to the trial and so on as they are frightfully busy....
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Comment number 44.
At 18th Aug 2009, thegangofone wrote:Newsnight is there any chance that we will ever find out whether the Baby P batterer/baby rapist and his brother were introduced to their far right National front views by a mentor exploiting the young and presumably vulnerable and turning them into monsters. Perhaps conversely they were already monsters and simply found an ideology that enhanced their own internal evils.
The Twickenham Green murderer is a suspect in the Milly Dowler case and revered Hitler and there was the paedophile far right would-be nail bomber jailed over a year ago.
Is there the possibility of paedophile/far right groups being missed? Could the batterer and brother be the product of such a chain?
Did Lewington, the would-be "Waffen SS manual" bomber have inclinations to children?
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Comment number 45.
At 18th Aug 2009, KingCelticLion wrote:#31 Bossen 99
They are on about a film remake of The Dambusters. I have to assume Guy Gibson's 'dog' will not be making an appearance.
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Comment number 46.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:thegangofone (#38) Let me try and explain this to you again.
'Nazi' is short for National Socialist (translated from the German).
That is, it is socialism, but restricted to one nation, it is not International Socialism as the Bolsheviks (essentially under Lenin and Trotsky, see Hansard links provided a few weeks back) promulgated until Lenin's death, after which Stalin led the party. Stalin abolished the COMINTERN.
Stalin then implemented Socialism in One Country, also known as National Socialism. Stalin referred to Social Democrats as Social Fascists. Hitler too opposed the Social Democrats. Why? Why were they do opposed to Social Democrats?
Were Stalin and Hitler both opposed to Social Democracy becasue it is a kissing cousin of Trotskyism, i.e International Socialism (see the Socialialist International website with its rose and fist symbol and note that New Labour is a member). Note that New Labour deregulatred the markets. So. logically and practically, New Labour is anarchistic just like the original Bolsheviks. The latter too wrecked the Tsarist stste.
The Old Labour Party had essentially the same agenda as Stalin's post Bolshevik Democratic Centralist USSR. This is why Sidney and Beatrice Webb wrote so fondly of the USSR (see their book on the Soviet system). Sidney Webb was responsible for Clause Four of the Old Labour Party. The Clause which New Labour got rid of.
If you look into it, you will find thar Old Labour is 'Nazi'. Don't you think that strange?
Those who want free market anarchism, i.e deregulation/naked capitlalism, naturally vilify National Socialism, as this regulates the markets. In fact, it puts the Means of Production (energy, mining etc and communication (transport, telecoms etc) into public ownership which disposseses those who own it.
Look into which group disproportionately owns/controls this - just look at the statistics.
We have all witnessed what happens when socialism is vilified (since 1979, and especilaly since 1989).
Please try to grasp why many people keep telling you that you do not understand modern politics. The BNP is remarkably like the Old Labour party. It will be vilified just as Old Labour was. German Nazis are vilified so the British/EU public doesn't swing to national socialism aka Old Labour.
This vilification served the interest of US (NYC) and UK (London) Financial Services.
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Comment number 47.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:"Next you will notice that they have race "realist" views"
'Race realism'refers to an empirical fact which is not controversial, namely that a) different groups can be discriminated/differentiated by genetic markers and b) that races orracial groups perform differently on cognitive ability tests (as well as differening on other measures of human diversity). These group differences are not controversial amongst those who understand these matters. They have important social and economic implications, some of which we have all been subject to over the last couple of years as a consequence of massive sub-prime predatory lending to people who did not understand the terms which put them in debt.
You appea rto be unable to grasp what has been going on. Your (ignorant) posts make you look naive or just difficult, as you have had all of this explained to you repeatedly, supported with links which you could have followed up.
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Comment number 48.
At 18th Aug 2009, KingCelticLion wrote:JJ and Go1
Todays Daily Mail sprinting and genetics
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Comment number 49.
At 18th Aug 2009, streetphotobeing wrote:Nos 47
*These group differences are not controversial amongst those who understand these matters. They have important social and economic implications, some of which we have all been subject to over the last couple of years as a consequence of massive sub-prime predatory lending to people who did not understand the terms which put them in debt."
Clearly some very *bright bankers* didn't understand either along with Blair, Brown, Darling, Merv and the FSA wallies. Or did they but just saw tax revenue mirage and like gorping gold fish out of water kept on thrashing away to get to the land of delusion ?
Mimpromtu - this blog is for anyone so that includes those who wish to write ditties, even if a certain someone feels a little red faced at such attention, you should continue.
BTW just to be clear thats not moi in the flower pic. His far better looking than me. lol
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Comment number 50.
At 18th Aug 2009, barriesingleton wrote:I SAW DOUGLAS ADAMS THREE DAYS AFTER HE DIED (#39)
Keep banging the rocks together Lizzie. (:o)
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Comment number 51.
At 18th Aug 2009, Steve_London wrote:Afghanistan
If we withdraw , Afghanistan is not going to go away , it will be even more a civil war over there and each side will have their backers. Needless to point out it will be the Afghan civilians that will pay the heaviest cost for NATO's failings and it will also destabilise even more it's neighbours.
It will be interesting to hear what the Afghan and Pakistan governments could offer the Pashtuns in a combined settlement pact ?
Limit Pay
How very socialist , why not limit property rights too ?
What's the saying "All property is theft".
Anyway has this side show taken the heat of the people and systems that were suppose to regulate our banks yet ?
While on the subject of recession, I see that .
Ethiopia
Over population does what ?
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Comment number 52.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:streetphotobeing (#49) "Clearly some very *bright bankers* didn't understand either along with Blair, Brown, Darling, Merv and the FSA wallies. Or did they but just saw tax revenue mirage and like gorping gold fish out of water kept on thrashing away to get to the land of delusion ?"
What is it whih is clear to you?
You just don't get it do you?
The Financial Service sector has done very well out of this crisis - see bonuses at the top. It's now running on public rather than private risk (cash/debt). It's now taking active steps to start a new Austrian 'business cycle', or had you not noticed?
They engineer these pumps and then assert that their models describe the economy so well that it must be lawful, so give each other large bonuses and Nobel Prizes.
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Comment number 53.
At 18th Aug 2009, JadedJean wrote:Addendum (#52) From Paul Mason's blog of 12th Aug:
"Here's the problem. QE, together with the 680bn guarantee for the bad assets of Lloyds Group and RBS, has begun to turn banking around. But there is scant growth in lending to individuals - and loans to companies are still shrinking. And so the Bank's main target on QE - expanding the money supply - is, well, off target. Growth of broad money (M4) has slumped and continued to slide even after the Bank started printing money. That's because while money makes its way from the BoE to the banks, it does not make its way in sufficient quantities into the pockets of borrowers or businesses.
Let us put it brutally: to save the banks the real economy's recovery is being delayed and perfectly healthy companies sacrificed. The governor of the Bank told me today this was more or less inevitable - we'll be discussing with politicians whether there are alternatives."
It appears to me that rather like thegangofone and mimpromptu, you just don't have much idea about what is going on, and when it's explained to you, it's so hard for you to take in that you think it's all being made up.
Try to learn/contribute a little of substance instead of trying to turn this blog into a pathetic lonely hearts club. To do that you're going to have to learn to take criticism like a stable adult, not a self-centred adolescent, which looks like it may be a very tall order (for the three of you).
Prove me wrong.
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Comment number 54.
At 18th Aug 2009, indignantindegene wrote:#41
Once again you have quoted out of context a part only of a phrase that I used merely as your excuse to launch off into your standard diatribe, entirely unrelated to the issue previously under sensible discussion.
Since you presume (incorrectly)to judge my life values and motiations, I feel that I should reciprocate with my thoughts on how you come across -
I sense an intellectually challenged loner: hence 'gang of one'; or that may refer to a similarity to the testicularly challenged Hitler (who, according to the WWI jingle 'had only got one ball') hence the fixation; or possibly some sort of 'P' envy, which keeps cropping up in rants. A marked limitation in use of English, presumably not one's first language or on the extreme Left of the IQ bell curve, thus envying all on the far Right, plus inability to respond to the issue in hand. Maybe rejected for membership by BNP? but still peers through a hole in the fence at their functions. Am I getting warm? Don't bother to respond, just quote your previous standard blog number.
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