Westminstenders: Throwing Boomerangs

[RedToothBrush]

British politics and media in a nutshell.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomerang_effect_(psychology)#Political_beliefs

No EU progress, no discussion. Just this. Keep everyone in line by bouncing boomerangs.

Disaster capitalism looms, they just have to get us to the edge of the cliff before the centre reforms. That's it.

If the legal roads to stop Brexit are closed as David Allen Green says, then how do you force the political flood gates to open, especially with both the far left and the far right using micro-aggression against the public to keep the centre ground weak?

Answers on a ballot paper on 3rd May.

The use of chemical weapons is barbaric

The use of any weapon against civilians is barbaric. I hope we're not being led down an alley where it's OK to shoot or bomb innocent civilians as long as you're not gassing them ?

Dare I say it: Israel does, and without criticism from WM.

I think Yemen was/is excused away. Disgracefully. No US or UK revulsion or tears about children dying there. Or noise about who is supplying the weapons.

Thinking about the anniversary of the GFA. The NI Womens' Coalition. The rubbish they had to put up with. Plus ca change... . And they should have at least have have had Séamus Mallon representing John Hume. Hume worked more than anyone to prepare the ground for the GFA. He brought the Americans in. He is being kind of airbrushed out with the extreme bookends of SF and the DUP.

twitter.com/SiobhanFenton/status/983677253006577664

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/20/john-hume-steered-northern-ireland-peace-process

I think Yemen was/is excused away.
Poor peasants/nomads without oil, I imagine, so no one in Govt knows or cares. Or even knows where the place is.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/ukip-councillor-criticised-after-blaming-1445874.amp

Ken Dilanian @KenDilanianNBC
New: The US has obtained blood samples from Syrian victims that tested positive for chlorine and nerve agent, and the US is confident the Assad regime carried out the attack, according to reporting by @ckubeNBC and me.

Joyce Karam @Joyce_Karam
SIGNIFICANT: NBC after CNN confirms US obtained Intel (Evidence) that Assad carried out Chemical Weapon attack; Used Chlorine + Nerve Agent. White House meeting Soon
Why this is significant?
•Provides evidence to pin Assad responsibility
•Nerve Agent = More serious than Chlorine
•Means Assad never got rid completely of Chemical Weapons stockpile as Russia promised in 2013
•Info involves another country, reviewed by US military
#Syria

'Nerve Agent'

As an aside about the steady job losses since the ref.

A minimum of 300 jobs are now to go at Carpetright possibly more.

This is another Brexit-related rationalisation or collapse because there was steady growth up to 2015 and sales only started to fall after the referendum.

The referendum trigger of sterling's devaluation also impacted profits. The company's
branches in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands are not similarly affected.

Also not sure if there have been postings about this...

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/16152953.MaysetttolaunchhlegalbiddtostoppSturgeon399sBrexittBillinnitstracks/

The gift that keeps on giving.

That's sad news re carpetright - I've always had my carpets from there.

I've no idea what to think about Syria.
Assad has to go...but I thought the same about Saddam Hussein and look what's happened in that region since the 2003 invasion.

It's shameful that the West has not acted before now. Assad has used nerve agents and gas against Yemen. Where's the outcry over that???

I guess Yemen doesn't have much oil?

I always wondered why the first Iraq war left Sadam in situ ?

I find it interesting that a nerve agent was used in this country and the response was to expel a few Russian diplomats.

Nerve gas was used in another country and we take military action.

WFT?

And why aren’t Germany and other powerful EU countries refusing to get involved while we wade in?

And where is the money to do this coming from? I thought we were all out of magic money trees.

I strongly suspect that the British public have very little appetite for more wars in distant lands, that ultimately seem to result in less stability, not more. If TM steams ahead I think this will be her downfall.

Assad did not use nerve agents and gas against Yemen. In the 1960s Egypt used gas or chemical weapons, while an ally of the US.

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a war against Yemen for about three years at this point. There have been allegations of war crimes, targeting of civilians, use of cluster munitions, use of US-made white phosphorous which burns flesh off victims, torture of prisoners, bombing of medical personnel and facilities, starvation and water and medicine shortages deliberately inflicted by means of embargo.

Western involvement

The UK and the U.S. support the effort through arms sales and technical assistance.[386] France had also made recent military sales to Saudi Arabia.[387] MSF emergency coordinator Karline Kleijer called the US, France and the UK part of the Saudi-led coalition, which imposed the weapons embargo and blocked all ships from entering Yemen with supplies.[388] Rights groups have criticized the countries for supplying arms, and accuse the coalition of using cluster munitions, which are banned in most countries.[389] Oxfam pointed out that Germany, Iran, and Russia have also reportedly sold arms to the conflicting forces.[390] Tariq Riebl, head of programmes in Yemen for Oxfam, said, "it's difficult to argue that a weapon sold to Saudi Arabia would not in some way be used in Yemen," or "if it's not used in Yemen it enables the country to use other weapons in Yemen."[386] Amnesty International urged the US and the UK to stop supplying arms to Saudi Arabia and to the Saudi-led coalition.[391]

United States
In March 2015, President Barack Obama declared that he had authorized U.S. forces to provide logistical and intelligence support to the Saudis in their military intervention in Yemen, establishing a "Joint Planning Cell" with Saudi Arabia.[392] This includes aerial refueling permitting coalition aircraft more loitering time over Yemen, and permitting some coalition members to home base aircraft rather than relocate them to Saudi Arabia.[124]

US supported the intervention by "providing intelligence sharing, targeting assistance, advisory and logistical support to the military intervention", according to the state department.[393] In April 2015, the US expanded its intelligence-sharing with the coalition.[394] Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said: "As part of that effort, we have expedited weapons deliveries, we have increased our intelligence sharing, and we have established a joint coordination planning cell in the Saudi operation centre."[395] Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that evidence shows that SA had been using U.S.-supplied cluster bombs outlawed in much of the world.[396] According to Anthony Cordesman, the US government does not want "the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait" to be threatened.[397]

According to press reporting, many in US SOCOM reportedly favor Houthis, as they have been effective at combating al-Qaeda and recently ISIL, "something that hundreds of U.S. drone strikes and large numbers of advisers to Yemen's military had failed to accomplish".[398] According to a senior CENTCOM commander, "the reason the Saudis didn't inform us of their plans is because they knew we would have told them exactly what we think – that it was a bad idea." As Yemen expert Michael Horton puts it, the US had been "Iran's air force in Iraq", and "al-Qaeda's air force in Yemen". According to an Al Jazeera report, one reason for US support may be the diplomatic logic of tamping down SA's opposition to the Iranian nuclear deal by backing them. Another is the view among some US military commanders that countering Iran took strategic priority over combating Al-Qaeda and ISIL.[398]

Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised the intervention, saying, "The prospect of radical groups like Iranian-backed Houthi militants" was "more than [U.S. Arab allies] could withstand."[398]

The U.S. Navy has actively participated in the Saudi-led naval blockade.[399]

On 30 June an HRW report stated that US-made bombs were being used in attacks indiscriminately targeting civilians and violating the laws of war. The report photographed "the remnants of an MK-83 air-dropped 1,000-pound bomb made in the U.S".[337]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabian-led_intervention_in_Yemen#Alleged_use_of_White_Phosphorus

frumpety Thu 12-Apr-18 20:27:23
I always wondered why the first Iraq war left Sadam in situ ?

Because General Colin Powell argued strenuously against it.
As a military strategist, Powell advocated an approach to military conflicts that maximizes the potential for success and minimizes casualties. A component of this approach is the use of overwhelming force, which he applied to Operation Desert Storm in 1991. His approach has been dubbed the "Powell Doctrine". Powell continued as chairman of the JCS into the Clinton presidency but as a dedicated "realist" he considered himself a bad fit for an administration largely made up of liberal internationalists.[28] He clashed with then-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Madeleine Albright over the Bosnian crisis, as he opposed any military interventions that didn't involve US interests
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell#Chairman_of_the_Joint_Chiefs_of_Staff

Instead the US did its usual trick of encouraging rebels to bring about regime change themselves (see for example Syria). The result was the Iraqi devastation of the Kurds when they did what the US suggested.

This is one of the best comments on Syria i've seen all day.

Lisa Mutteridge @ lisamutteridge3
'Dont let criminally insane politicians take us to war'. Oh shut up. Just shut up. Just actually shut up. Syria is a vortex of chaos we are already embroiled in. We have no power, no authority and are locked in.
THis is not Iraq, its not Aghanistan. THis is a tiny country, with strained international relations, locked into a seriously complex situation with agents who are bigger than we are, and we have literally zero control or credibility here. We are pawns. Not drivers. Passengers.
I do not comment on Syria. I have never in my life seen tensions so complex and numerous come down in such a terrible way, and can barely make head nor tail of them.
But what this is NOT is Iraq, or another example of UK/US marching ahead. This is entorely different and we are in the shit. And then some with it. Inaction is not an option, action is not an option. Chaos is guaranteed no matter what.
The only sense I could get of direction here when we first got locked into action re: Syria was that this was a chinese fingertrap which binds us to agents who wish to harm us, and which our intervention cannot make better or worse.

She also made further comments

We truly think this is Britannia riding the waves again dont we? The people who think this is the catalyst for a war that is already happening and the people who think we should ride in and rescue. All mistaken. That is not what this is.

Our country is in the shit. We are in deep deep doodoo.

Do I think @theresa_may is criminally insane? No. Do I think she's competent? Am not sure I do. Would I rather have her near this than Corbyn? Yes. Do I think she has capacity to deal with this? No. I dont think the UK even knows what we are embroiled in.

Can I name another politician I think would be competent enough to deal with this? In our current Westminster culture? No. And THAT is one of our biggest problems. We do not hace capacity to deal with this situation

THis does not make it go away. It has to be dealt with. I am glad its not me making decisions here.

Would I rather have a plodder like May than a bunch of testosterone ravaged morons around Corbyn dealing with this? By a country mile. What's her most dangerous trait? She isnt competent. Which is worse than malice.

If you are not scared right now and you are a UK citizen, if you are not worried about your future and ours, and are not looking at the situation we are in in horror, you are not very bright. THat's the truth.

And in response to false flag conspiracy tweeters:
''Deal with what? A fake video by a western funded terrorist group? What do you think the whole Russia hatred was about? They want regime change and will do anything to get it'' How do people get htis dumb?

My understanding of Syria is it was a war we ignored and thought would go away because it didn't affect us. Except politically it very much did. When refugees started to spread across Europe it became our issue. It was our war. Yet we continued to ignore it even though there was plenty years ago about chemical attacks.

The West didn't care about people in Syria and from Syria then and frankly they still don't.

Putin saw it as an opportunity to stir the pot and destabilise the West. It worked. Erdogan and Rouhani also saw the opportunity and the chance for regional control and influence. And ISIS thrived in the chaos and horror of it all.

And we weren't particularly bothered. Cos y'know, Iraq.

Syria was always far more complicated. The comparison has always been unhealthy.

The big question is why now? Why has the West suddenly started caring. I'd argue its got fuck all to do with giving a shit about syrian kids getting gassed. Its an opportunity for all concerned. An unwinnable war. A war that has to be not much more than a stalemate or an exercise in military process. A dick swinging contest. A war for political gain domestically.

And here's the thing. Look at all the major players here: Trump looks tough and anti-Russian whilst distracting from Mueller. Putin gets to look tough back at home. May, well she also gets to look tough and as if we really have international and military prowess of old and it distracts from Brexit, plus it serves well versus Corbyn. Macron gets to look like the hero to more liberal types for saving syrian kids, whilst simultaneously looks like he's doing something about the refugee and is a strong leader to more conservative types. And he gets to lead in terms of the EU as we are leaving. Xi Jinping loves it. Its an opportunity for china to focus on regional development and takes the pressure off the North Korea situation whilst everyone is distracted. Plus it will help with steel prices and counter US tariffs. The Saudi Royal family of course are rubbing hands in glee as the are left to Yemen and developing their regional influence.

Everywhere you look its about leaders with a vested interest in controlling the population at home. None particularly demonstrate a particularly high regard for military personnel with the exception perhaps of May and Macron. Even then May's human rights record is poor. What better way to tighten your grip and rid yourself of labour you regard as 'useless' from a political and demographic point of view.

Its almost as if all need this war. A second cold war. Everything sucked into Syria by the vast political vacuum.

It is so very 'we have always been at war with Eurasia'. On every level. Its a phoney war in many senses. There is little real incentive to go past fireworks and tough talk. Or make efforts to help civilians. There us just contempt and a devaluation of human life.

But this is why it scares me. To pull it off you need leaders with cool heads and intellect. None of them war a nuclear war, but this is a high stakes game. Instead what we have is a combination of chancers, incompetents, psychopaths and megalomaniacs. It doesn't bode well for a mistake that could escalate beyond all reason. There is no obvious ways to back off and down.

But we are locked in with this anyway. And have been for some years unwittingly. Particularly if nerve agents are linked directly in here to Salisbury. There is nothing new here.

I find the idea its about Syrians laughable. The whole situation was framed as being like that by the media is nonsense.

Overall it just looks like a much needed war for leaders to jump on board with. Because of the changing political winds.

Geopolitics strikes hard. An inevitable reality.

Wake me up when its over.

Except that Putin won the recent election on a platform of economic development and had for a few months been locked in a struggle within the Kremlin with hawks urging a 'fortress Russia' policy which he and his platform won. There was a speech on 1 March (postponed several times as the internal fight over policy direction wore on) in which he laid out plans for further modernisation of the economy and society, especially the development of the digital economy. You can't accomplish any of that if WW3 breaks out.

One striking thing lacking in all the MN debate on Russia is references to Russian politics.

Also the lack of reference to the waning imperial power of the US, in the post economic crisis world with so much American debt in the hands of China.

This made me laugh this morning:

@KevinPMeagher
The three phases of Britain’s Brexit diplomacy over the Irish border:

1. “Don’t worry Paddy, you’re not top priority, we’ll get to you...”

2. “Now look here Paddy, you’re having a border and you’ll ruddy well like it.”

3. “Please Paddy, be reasonable. We’re old friends...”

Sorry for typo...yes Saudis used has against Yemen not Assad (tired brain!)

Also the lack of reference to the waning imperial power of the US, in the post economic crisis world with so much American debt in the hands of China.

There was a mention of Russia and China beginning to ally more, and the USA's decline, in yesterday's Guardian.

delurking-thank you Red.

Really pissed off this morning with all theses wishes for war. Those who wish for a war have never been in a war themselves.. Let's send them to the front line ... Such hypocrisy-three idiots want to bury bad news back home and sell arms so they do everything to start a war. The usual uneducated public educated by some videos fall for it -this makes me angry.
Am trying to taper my Bromazepan and all this shiet is happening ..😁

YouGov actually asked this question today...

And do you think it would or would not be acceptable for MPs to vote against Brexit going ahead?

•Would be legitimate for MPs to vote against Brexit going ahead

•Would not be legitimate for MPs to vote against Brexit going ahead

•Don't know

It would also be a showcase for weapons manufacturers. Big money.

With the dogs Brexshit they are making, the UK govt was desperate for another jingoistic distraction.

Trump is desperate to distract from Mueller's investigations slowly closing the net on him and his dodgy cohorts

Historically, incompetent & unscrupulous rulers have tended to look for foreign wars to bolster their weak domestic position.

In the UK and US, both populations have been primed for decades by nationalistic crap and fear of the furrin;
all this bile churned out by hard right media has a longterm effect, which is why the oligarchs own so much media.

Carole Cadwalladr @ carolecadwalla
BREAKING: Parliament publishes extensive new details about Vote Leave's alleged overspending scheme. Fearless @DamianCollins & @CommonsCMS publish legal opinion of QCs who say there is 'prima facie case' of breaking of UK laws in referendum
www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/digital-culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/fake-news-matrix-evidence-17-19/
Committee publishes legal opinion on EU referendum campaign spending