No posts for a while. Really not sure what to say. So was kind of relieved to read this today - I actually thought maybe I was a bit off script on this issue initially but then Dangerously Subversive Dad puts it far better than I have when it comes to ‘American Bloggers scornfully prophesying doom and gloom for us 'Europeans'. In relation to the current illegals amnesty in the US, DSD draws some parallels.

“I hope our US colleagues will view this episode as a wake up call, and that in future instead of spending so much time telling us how we here in Europe aren't doing enough to fight the good fight, they will start looking at how their own great champions maybe are, when it comes down to it, politicians first and heroes second”.

The same point remains true on the issue of free speech which even if it isn’t officially ‘outlawed’ in the US seems to have led to pretty much de facto censorship everywhere thanks to a political lack of courage.

‘Europe’ is awake to a problem. But much like the US it has an issue with unscrupulous politicians or disappointing politicians. And always everywhere theres the left.

One of the charmers up there in the Old Bailey’s high profile terrorism case at the moment who worked so tirelessly with his British chums to ‘blow up the slags dancing around’ in the MOS (‘slags’ like me and my sister presumably), is in fact an American citizen, radicalised IN the US. He's not simply off the hook for being a supergrass imho.

With regard to perception and propaganda, the MSM and unheroic politicians, The Dick List made a great point. And Alice re-emphasizes this - how the media were handed their story on a plate by those same unheroic politicians (again) and that what was really useful to hear and understand was lost as a result.

What's wrong with politics

Continuing with Maggies speeches and their relevance, I’m posting another. Throughout our history we have seen politics waver and then evolve and for the most part it is us that has pushed the envelope. In itself reason to be cheerful.


It is our job continually to retest old assumptions and to seek new ideas. But we must not try to find one unalterable answer that will solve all our problems for none can exist.


“The dissatisfaction with politics runs too deep both here and abroad. People have come to doubt the future of the democratic system and its institutions. They distrust the politicians and have little faith in the future”


Why the present distrust?

Let us try to assess how and why we have reached this pass. What is the explanation? Broadly speaking I think we have not yet assimilated many of the changes that have come about in the past thirty to forty years.

First, I don't think we realise sufficiently how new our present democratic system is. We still have comparatively little experience of the effect of the universal franchise which didn't come until 1928. And the first election in this country which was fought on the principle of one person one vote was in 1950. So we are still in the early stages of dealing with the problems and opportunities presented by everyone having a vote.

Secondly, this and other factors have led to a different party political structure. There is now little room for independent members and the controversies which formerly took place outside the parties on a large number of measures now have to take place inside. There is, and has to be room for a variety of opinions on certain topics within the broad general principles on which each party is based.


Thirdly, from the party political structure has risen the detailed programme which is placed before the electorate. Return to power on such a programme has led to a new doctrine that the party in power has a mandate to carry out everything in its manifesto. I myself doubt whether the voters really are endorsing each and every particular when they return a government to power. This modern practice of an election programme has, I believe, influenced the attitudes of some electors; all too often one is now asked ‘what are you going to do for me?’, implying that the programme is a series of promises in return for votes. All this has led to a curious relationship between elector and elected. If the elector suspects the politician of making promises simply to get his vote, he despises him, but if the promises are not forthcoming he may reject him. I believe that parties and elections are about more than rival lists of miscellaneous promises—indeed, if they were not, democracy would scarcely be worth preserving.


Fourthly, the extensive and all-pervading development of the welfare state is also comparatively new, not only here but in other countries as well. You will recollect that one of the four great freedoms in President Roosevelt's wartime declaration was ‘freedom from want.’ Since then in the Western world there has been a series of measures designed to give greater security. I think it would be true to say that there is no longer a struggle to achieve a basic security. Further, we have a complete new generation[fo 2] whose whole life has been lived against the background of the welfare state. These developments must have had a great effect on the outlook and approach of our people even if we cannot yet assess it properly.


Fifthly, one of the effects of the rapid spread of higher education has been to equip people to criticise and question almost everything. Some of them seem to have stopped there instead of going on to the next stage which is to arrive at new beliefs or to reaffirm old ones. You will perhaps remember seeing in the press the report that the student leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit has been awarded a degree on the result of his past work. His examiners said that he had posed a series of most intelligent questions. Significant? I would have been happier had he also found a series of intelligent answers.


Sixthly, we have far more information about events than ever before and since the advent of television, news is presented much more vividly. It is much more difficult to ignore situations which you have seen on film with your own eyes than if you had merely read about them, perhaps skimming the page rather hurriedly. Television is not merely one extra means of communication, it is a medium which because of the way it presents things is radically influencing the judgments we have to make about events and about people, including politicians.

Seventhly, our innate international idealism has received many nasty shocks. Many of our people long to believe that if representatives of all nations get together dispassionately to discuss burning international problems, providence and goodwill will guide them to wise and just conclusions, and peace and international law and order will thereby be secured. But in practice a number of nations vote not according to right or wrong even when it is a clear case to us, but according to their national expediencies. And some of the speeches and propaganda to explain blatant actions would make the angels weep as well as the electorate.

All of these things are a partial explanation of the disillusion and disbelief we encounter today. The changes have been tremendous and I am not surprised that the whole system is under cross-examination. I welcome healthy scepticism and questioning.

It is our job continually to retest old assumptions and to seek new ideas. But we must not try to find one unalterable answer that will solve all our problems for none can exist.

Margaret Thatcher 1968

Full Speech at Margaret Thatcher Foundation

Some interesting debate going on

Forget red, blue and yellow. Now the choice is Progressives v Reactionaries

Decline & Fall in the US

Britain - Awake yet?

Police have finally removed those placards from peace activist Brian Haw at the scene of his five-year vigil outside Parliament.

Officers went to Parliament Square in the early hours of Tuesday to deal with alleged breaches of Mr Haw's 'demonstration conditions' (how sinister sounding is that).

"They have left me with just one placard. All of my personal belongings have been taken and dumped in a container along with nearly all the displays.

"They have completely destroyed all the expressions of people who opposed the war in Iraq."

Indeed Brian. Your piss poor demo and anti American drivel might do nothing for me but I’d defend to the death etc and so on and so forth…...even when Cindy Moonbat pays you a visit.

We even get some proper righteous indignation from Liberty ...and some people wrestlng with the police (and ending up looking a bit daft…)

Doug Jewell, from the civil rights group: "The government's intolerance has surely reached a fever-pitch when 50 police are sent in to dismantle one man's peaceful protest in the middle of the night."

Yeah well Doug we had 50 or so looking on menacingly and taking our photos with 50 foot zoom lenses and camcorders, at the free speech rally, banning our flags with bogus by-laws...where were you then?

Haw was being mobbed by photographers, cameramen and reporters, including a crew from an Iranian TV station all eager to get a shot of Krusty who couldn’t give a shit about the Kurds. (And who frankly offends me)

A group of supporters had already gathered, including one guy wearing a t-shirt sporting the Hoxton slag's slogan "Bliar", and shouting phrases like "House of Criminals" in the direction of the Palace of Westminster…. Oh, finally, the righteous indignation.

Yep…your basic rights as an individual - to protest, to criticize...to offend….be it politics or religeon....slowly being eroded…to keep us all in check. Awake yet?


So…Could Lord Haw Haw save free speech????

(..dont get too excited - thats a link to the BBC so obviously it isnt the answer...im still working on that)

Britain Awake (The Iron Lady)

The first duty of any Government is to safeguard its people against external aggression. To guarantee the survival of our way of life. ....The question we must now ask ourselves is whether the present Government is fulfilling that duty…. It is dismantling our defences at a moment when the strategic threat to Britain and her allies from an expansionist power is graver than at any moment since the end of the last war….I would be the first to welcome any evidence that the Russians are ready to enter into a genuine detente. But I am afraid that the evidence points the other way. …We must remember that there are no Queensbury rules in the contest that is now going on. And the Russians are playing to win……The advance of Communist power threatens our whole way of life. That advance is not irreversible, providing that we take the necessary measures now. But the longer that we go on running down our means of survival, the harder it will be to catch up ……In other words: the longer Labour remains in Government, the more vulnerable this country will be. (Applause.) ….What has this Government been doing with our defences?...We have a difficult year ahead …I hope it will not result in a further decline of Western power and influence... It is clear that internal violence—and above all political terrorism—will continue to pose a major challenge to all Western societies, and that it may be exploited……We look to our alliance with American and NATO as the main guarantee of our own security and, in the world beyond Europe, the United States is still the prime champion of freedom....But we are all aware of how the bitter experience of Vietnam has changed the public mood in America......We should seek close co-ordination between the police and security services of the Community, and of Nato, in the battle against terrorism. .. But we have to wake up to those developments, and find the political will to respond to them…..In the meantime, the Conservative Party has the vital task of shaking the British public out of a long sleep…..
There are moments in our history when we have to make a fundamental choice.[…This is one such moment—a moment when our choice will determine the life or death of our kind of society,—and the future of our children. ….Let's ensure that our children will have cause to rejoice that we did not forsake their freedom.

excerpts from Speech at Kensington Town Hall 1976 Jan 19 by Margaret Thatcher which remain true today & resonate on many different levels, international and domestic.

Margaret Thatcher Foundation

Seeing Red

Public ‘supports’ retiring at 68

Oh do they.

“MINISTERS will tomorrow claim strong public support for their plan to raise the state pension age to 68 by the middle of the century as part of a shake-up of Britain’s pensions”

Public support. Heh. Would they be PUBLIC sector workers by any chance?

The latter probably also support unlimited immigration just to support their pension funds. And would buffer up any opinion polls the government might care to whip out in the future to support their case on the latter.

I accept we are living longer and need to work longer though frankly I think we should be allowed to enjoy those extra years with family given the hours and hours of free work we put in ex contracted working hours. Id really only support it if public sector workers did the same without moaning. Frankly they should have to work one extra year given all their extra benefits in kind some of them get. Whatever it is they do its no more important a role to society than mine.


Hat tip Not Proud of Britain


On a less important issue I had similar ‘be all and end all told you so’ stats waved in my face when I wrote to TfL recently to ask how they managed to put new very futuristic red double decker buses on the roads without any air conditioning. How is it possible when overhauling the buses they could forget this?

It was all so thoroughly well thought through that we have ghastly bright yellow poles to hold onto specifically for the ‘visually challenged’ – you know - the people that you see cramming onto the buses every day, brandishing white sticks in rush hour. The ones a fellow passenger couldn’t possibly steer towards a pole if required - or even a seat.

You have to be visually impaired to deal with those sorts of acid colours at 7am.

After several frankly shitty pieces of correspondence between me and some union-bound *** (who was always right), she whips out some stats to prove me insane.

‘A majority’ of those surveyed wanted bigger windows on the buses. Their first priority.

I don’t recall being asked my opinion. And I live here and use transport every day.

Could it be that of those ‘Londoners’ surveyed they were a) tourists and/or b) it was winter?

Did anyone think to supply a checklist of the blindingly (ha ha) obvious? I doubt it. Don’t want to give anyone any expensive ideas eh.

(the pic is of a French riot officers boot. The CRS, riot experts in my opinion, use paintguns, to identify the 'casseurs' - trouble makers - that they want to arrest. The CRS are scary. You get three warnings and then they charge at you. They show no mercy. And that includes dumb bystanders trying to take pics. Trust me)

"Slimeballs Always Hate a Strong Woman"

Theyre all at it.


From Michelle Malkins site this weekend



Think This is Funny?




Slimeballs Always Hate a Strong Woman

You should read the lot. Its a great tribute. Considering the authors a Marxist. And makes some salient points.


"I couldn’t help coming back to the fact that the level of criticism aimed at Margaret Thatcher was often unbelievably babyish and bullying. It highlighted a tendency that the Left has always pretended was a weakness of the Right — silliness about sex. I’ve noticed over the past few years that when some poor liberal clown wants to deal what he fondly imagines to be the "killer blow" to the Bush–Blair alliance, he’ll draw a cartoon of the Titan Two apparently bending, blowing, buggering and generally being gay with each other. In this easy assumption that calling him a homosexualist is the most devastating thing you can do to an enemy, certain sections of the Left reveal their shocking lack of sexual health and sophistication — no wonder some of them have hopped so easily into bed with woman–oppressing, gay–executing Islamic (funda)mentalists. Personally, I like Bush and Blair, and do you know what? If I thought they really were serving it to each other on a regular basis, I’d like ’em even more"



Previously Julie wrote for the Guardian until her inability to tow their line on Israel meant she was forced out. She wrote for the Times, brief stint with TV and then published a book (Sugar Rush). Currently taking a year out to study theology I believe. Lets hope she comes back guns blazing?

Julie Birchill On Islam and the Left

(Just google Julie and Islam for that matter)

If youre unfamiliar with Ms Birchill:

Spiked Interview with Julie Birchill

If Julie needs an introduction, it's tough knowing where to start. Running away from her working-class Bristol childhood at the age of 17 to scribble speed-driven venom for the NME at the height of punk, marrying and deserting Tony Parsons prior to queening it over the Groucho journo set, skipping gaily from highly paid column to spiky column in a variety of newspapers across the land. Enraging the Left with her hard-line anti-liberalism and some-time Thatcher worship, the Right with her brazen pro-Soviet Communism and hatred of the bourgeoisie, and everyone with her particular and peculiar blend of narcissism, iconoclasm and rudeness

Most of the attacks on Julie ressemble those made on Michelle. If you do a google search you'll find the same sort of shit.

In Hollands Defence

Ayaan Hirsi Ali. She’d lied on her asylum application apparently. But I learned in quick succession that - it wasn’t new news, Hirsi Ali was ‘surprised’, its all Hollands fault, Ritas fault, Europes fault, ‘Europe’ doesn’t deserve her and that finally the US is the only all embracing nation on earth that could give her the safe secure welcoming platform she deserves according to the blogosphere.

Well, umm, wrong. I think we all forget that this was a unique political experiment in unique times. It is Holland that gave her a chance and propelled Hirsi Ali into superstar status. And on that last bit *superstar status* therein lies the problem in politics. When theres a lot at stake ‘Et tu’ and all that. I thought the whole Clinton affair stuff was a load of baffling old bull but that didn’t stop him being hounded out.

In an age that has brought us the Theo van Gogh assassination, deadly riots over a series of Danish newspaper cartoons, the Pym Fortune assassination, the death threats against Salman Rushdie, Hirsi herself, Dr. Sultan, Ibn Warraq, among many others - , it requires truly remarkable courage to stand your ground and speak your mind - which these incredibly brave individuals have all done.. But doing that from within a political circle, full of all those ruthless self motivated and self serving agendas in election run up - you need to be superhuman and have your wits about you. The higher up you go the harder you will fall if you lose a strangle hold on whats going on around you. And that’s where I cant make up my mind anymore. Did she lose her grip or did she decide that cutting edge politics was not the platform to fight such far reaching ideological battles.


Rita Verdonk is well known for her strict immigration policy. She had become a very popular right wing minister. Her - and Ayaan's - party were gaining in the polls having been trounced by a strong muslim Labour vote earlier this year. The right were gaining ground. Indeed those Dutch friends of mine charted Ritas career with enthusiasm “Shes what this country needs”.

Just a couple of weeks ago she'd sent a young girl Taida Pasic - who lied to get into the Netherlands - back to her own country. Clearly she doesn’t mess about.

The documentary, essentially showed nothing new, [everyone knew Ayaan had lied]. But it was made by the tv station Zembla, owned by the Labour party. And its sole focus was her background and entry to Holland tracking all the way back to Somalia. They called it Saint Ayaan, i believe. Alarm bells.

In the dorg eat dorg world of politics why didn’t Hirsi anticipate this rather thorough sounding investigation highlighting -if not entirely focusing- on those awkward issues about her entry to Holland. Especially when her brother had accompanied the film makers to Somalia? It must have taken at least a few weeks if not months to pull that together. And coming on the back of the Pasic case, rise in the polls for the right and ‘Iron Ritas’ popularity, it all seems highly suspect timing that would have forced a stand by position discussed and agreed with the party in advance. Im amazed the calls Hirsi made to her party, where she was clearly concerned after seeing the final piece and with a warning of what might follow, came so late.

If Iron Rita was unflinching and too quick to react then the criticism I would level at Hirsi Ali is that she was somewhat cavalier. Given who she works for. Rita the minister who has vowed to take an incredibly hard line on immigrants, deportees, asylum seekers. Rita who wants to have the burqa banned. They are close friends. Women talk. You would think that they would have had this nailed well in advance had it been taken seriously.

As Theo van Gogh's Mother said: 'Labour laid a mouse-trap for Rita Verdonk, with Ayaan Hirsi Ali as bait.' All too easily.

Regards protection and her accommodation which led her to feel hounded out, she was afforded round the clock protection. The government had fought hard to find her alternative premises. There were a number of people in the building who opposed the eviction order mounted by some residents (who had feared for their lives) . And since her address had been made public I cant blame them for that. But surely even Hirsi Ali was aware of what was at stake now and how hard a battle this would be - and could take some comfort in the support she did have in the building. What was it Machiavelli said 'be feared but dont be hated'?

I don’t think things will be that much more reassuring in the US.

Dr. Sultan a Syrian American secular psychologist who lives in LA, has been very outspoken about Islam. She took on Al Jazeera TV and argued with the host and Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khoulisaid on the battle between what she called ‘modernity and barbarism’ which she summised Islam would lose. ‘Dr’ Ibrahim accused her of being a heretic (like Hirsi Ali). Sultan said she took those words [the "heretic" accusation by Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli] as a formal fatwa, a religious condemnation. Since then, she said, she has received numerous death threats on her answering machine and by e-mail.

One message said: "Oh, you are still alive? Wait and see." She received an e-mail message in Arabic, that said, "If someone were to kill you, it would be me."

Dr. Sultan said her mother, who still lives in Syria, is afraid to contact her directly, speaking only through a sister who lives in Qatar. She said she worried more about the safety of family members here and in Syria than she did for her own.

The polls showed after the affair that the public were split – 50:50 on supporting Verdonk and Hirsi over the who debacle. You could consider that many of those who supported Verdonk probably also think Hirsi’s views are worthy but that immigration is the key issue (which it is in the Holland of now). Parliament rounded on Verdonk and ripped her to shreds.

I don’t think you can therefore say in broadstroke terms that Holland simply hounded her out.

The problem with politics, its inclined towards scandal and has its limitations when your cause is as far and wide reaching as Hirsi Ali’s - and when you reach superstar status, all the knives come out. That’s as old as time. Hers was never ever going to be an easy task.

Hirsi Ali has bettered her life, and has bravely championed causes that NEED determined champions like her HERE. So I’ll admit it. Since the AyaanGate story broke ive been somewhat disappointed. In Hirsi Ali. She’s tougher than that. Stand your ground against the bitter blind twisted lefties! The very people who should be your champion.

Get out of politics since its run its course (and was always going to) but start your own think tank here! Easy for me to say. I know.

I don’t know what conclusion to draw other than that the experiment didn’t pay off. But taking everything into account above Im not blaming Holland for that. What concerns me is that perception is everything in the propaganda war and im none too thrilled to see how this is running its course in the blogosphere right now.

I refuse to give in to the idea that ‘the lights are turning out in Europe’. On that note I took heart when I read that where the Wall Street Journal cited the fleeing “Hans-Peter Raddatz” to support this lights out idea, ‘an Islamic-studies expert under police protection, recently moved to the U.S.”. One commenter over at the Brussels Journal, whose author is facing his own battles at the moment, set the record straight (hat tip anonymous at Pub Philosopher)

"That’s definitively wrong (re Raddatz), we met last week in Munich. He is living under police protection, that’s correct, after receiving a so called “prayer” via the Internet saying that Allah should destroy him and all those who follow him in what he is writing; he is author of five Islam-related books, among them “Von Gott zu Allah?” and “Von Allah zum Terror?”. Raddatz announced today, that he will stay in Germany”.

Its Friday. Thank...f

I knew there would eventually be a legitimate way to get a pic of Maximus Decimus Meridius onto my blog.

And here it is


Ridley Scott's Gladiator is on its way to becoming a musical.


?


The Oscar-winning film, which starred Russell Real Men Restoring Balance to the Universe Crowe, will be adapted for the stage by William Nicholson, who wrote the original screenplay.



The original Hans Zimmer score will be used, but Crowe will not be reprising his role as Maximus Decimus Meridius. Brian Stokes Mitchell will take on the part instead.

Umm, I cant imagine anyone singing “Would you quit this Quintus? Would I?”*** in front of a line of toughguys in Germania and not having hysterics.

Its just not right.

In other news – Tom Cruise likes to run a lot, jump up and down on sofas and pull funny strained faces in his films, tis true!

Just Cruise

And I had well over 60 google hits looking for Evangelinaaaaa this week. Sarkozy fell well short. I hope that isn’t the case next year.

Che-ars

*** note the appropriate line i have chosen here.

I've just been reading that new anti-terrorist security equipment to screen passengers on the London Underground is to be trialled later this week in Docklands. Im amazed. The government is actually sticking to its word and carrying out these tests. The four-week trial is to take place at Canary Wharf station on the Tube's Jubilee line. The portable equipment can detect traces of explosives on passengers' fingertips or on their clothing or tickets.In addition, there is an X-ray machine to test Underground passengers' bags. Some of this equipment has already been tested at Paddington.


Anti-terrorism Tube security pilot to go live


GOOD.


I watched these Total Recall style full body security scanners in operation at Heathrow. Amazing technology. Even the laptops were being swabbed and the swab was put through some kind of chemical test. As i stood in the queue they hand picked individuals to test out the full body scanner. Problem was that every single person they picked was white and over 60. It just reminded me of all that fuss with Hazel Blears after July 7 when she suggested the police not use racial profiling to stop and search on the tube. I mean, if that is how the scanners would be used assuming they do roll this out, what would be the point?:

Im directing you to Lone Voice for this weeks Jack Idema update. Lone Voice carries a good news piece about Iraq almost every day and has done for months and months. Every military success is detailed.


"Please consider the Americans at Pulacharke prison at this moment, and think about it: It’s been over a year since they’ve been declared completely innocent by the Afghan appeals court, yet they’re still being held. The question is…why? If the Afghans admit that no torture occurred (which they did), there was no torture chamber (which they did) that they entered the country legally (which they did), then why has the American government turned its back on them?"

continue reading

Urgh. I stood in the pouring rain waiting for a cab. Im not wearing the right kind of shoes for rain. Unaccustomed as I am to such weather. Seriously. It hasn’t rained for months and months. We’re headed for a drought where the water people are thinking about floating huge blocks of ice up the Thames (?) to reservoirs so we can ensure there is enough drinking agua. We’ve had that little rain.

It was already quite dark when I left. Id spent a long long day brokering compromise between Europe and the USA at work. And occasionally catching updates reading the blogs on Hirsi Ali, Bush, Livingstone. The humour and tyrettes needed to see me through the day had fast faded.

Finally. I see a yellow light, few and far between tonight. He doesn’t seem to see me. I panic. Start jumping like a loon. He still hasn’t seen me. He whizzes past. I whistle and then scream “Oiii!” quite charmingly through his open window. He screeched to a halt.

I spring off the pavement into an oily puddle. Im wearing a skirt. Urghaaargh!I want to get home to watch the football.

I may not support the Gunners but I live in Gunners territory.

Cabbie: “Sorry love...Nearly didn’t see you.…(maudish pause) Lehmans just been sent off”, his radio is blaring.

Me: “But isnt he the goalie?”

Oh.

for.

FS.


Still as the 'Londonist' states, it could be worse. This week in 1536 Henry VIII put Anne Boleyn and her brother on trial in the Great Hall of the Tower, charged with pretty much everything in the book. She denies the charges. He denies the charges. His wife disagrees and testifies against them. Her lover, Henry Percy, sits on the jury. Their uncle, Thomas Howard, sentences them. Execution by beheading, two days later.

"I didn't see anything about pulp, I was just looking at her."

"She was very pretty and I blew her a kiss," said Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, who spoke to reporters in Vienna after security ejected Greenpeace activist and Carnival queen Evangelina Carrozo from the room where the joint summit photo was taken. She evaded security as she stripped to a tasselled bikini and thigh-high leather boots carrying a sign protesting plans for the pulp mill along the Uruguay river.

"It was one of the best things that have happened at this summit," said Chavez, a left-winger who has become an icon of the anti-globalisation movement but who has been criticised by other Latin American leaders in Vienna for his confrontational style.

Sadly after she'd left Mr Morales bored everyone senseless with his rejection of the free market.

EU leaders rounded on Bolivia and Venezuela for challenging free market policies.

Wolfgang Schuessel, the Austrian chancellor and the event's host, told the two countries open markets were key to promoting economic growth and prosperity.

"There are always two possibilities in life. Either you want to open your markets or you don't want to open your markets - it's your choice," he said. "But the reality is ... open market societies are better in their performance than closed, restricted structures." Hope Chav had time to check out Vienna and take those wise words on board. Its been rated the world' s no 1 city based on quality of life (Economist).

Hat tip Bad Hair Blog

It cheered Tony up (front row left). And looked like a more exciting event overall than Ken's teen party in Camden.

Sarkozy Nimes last week.

“France does not belong to those who would sit back and watch its decline, to those who would silently rejoice in it…France will take up the challenges of its destiny…Our fate isn’t determined by any supposed decline, only the devastation caused by those who oppose progress…(the devastation) which weakens France, discredits the State, diverts our strength..Every Frenchman has a strong bond with France…and people feel sad, humiliated and angry when France is not achieving its full potential...”

From the BBC

“He talked about his love for France, that everyone's first duty was to love this land and to be proud of it. His wide-ranging speech pushed all the right buttons, touched on all the things any voter should be thinking about before a big election

But he was not afraid to catalogue what was wrong with his country, from public services to the economy, the schools system and even the courts. He said he wanted to convince those who were disillusioned and no longer believed in politics to have faith.

It was a speech regularly punctuated by applause as he worked the crowd, at times gesticulating to emphasise a point, speeding up his delivery, or slowing it down.

This is a man who knows how to connect with people, with voters.

He is a "great communicator" and one thing any great communicator must do is talk about the issues that really concern people.

In this regard, Mr Sarkozy is a genius”.

I was going to take a look and update on Sarko, the Cleargate ‘scandal’, Villepin and Chirac but L’Ombre de l’Oliver (being the maunderings of an Englishman on the Côte d'Azur) has already done such an amazing summary I don’t think ill attempt it! So instead ill refer you to him. Terrific read from a self confessed detester of Chirac and Villepin.

Read it all

(scroll down to Cleargate Update)
L'Ombre de l'Olivier - Shadow of the Olive Tree


There was also a piece that preceded this one which touched more on the Nimes speech and his remarks about exposing the Cleargate plotters but I unfortunately cant seem to locate it as he has written so much since. He certainly likes to write! I also recall a mention of Sarkos Hungarian roots…

’a Hungarian is someone who will enter a revolving door behind you and come out ahead of you.’
L’Ombre:

“…, the key point here is that Sarko is doing something that no other French minister seems to be doing - work - and while the chattering classes may disagree with what he proposes I think it is fairly sure that a large chunk of voters do agree and that particularly includes a whole load of potential FN voters”.

The FN are third still in the polls behind Sarkozy and Royal.

L’Ombre continues:

“So by proposing these changes, even if they end up being rejected, Sarko gets to steal the thunder of Le Pen and hence probably a lot of his support. If he can get an election in the near future while the socialists are still faffing around, Le Pen losing support and no other credible centre-right candidate on the horizon he ought to be a sure victor. The only question will be whether he can fit the election in before everyone goes off on their summer hols”

What I wouldn’t do for a British Sarkozy, lol. Even if he doesn’t make it next year his influence on French politics will be huge.

****Add on from l'Olivier who directed me to the archive post i wanted (thanks!)****

rest here


"...the Clearstream affair in its discussion of his recent Nimes speech (which was damn good and really resonated):

He launched a scathing attack on political leaders over the last three decades, blaming their aversion to reform for fuelling "this France of the 'No'".

He said last month's street protests against a contentious youth labour law reflected the same "anxiety and lost hope" as the No vote in last year's referendum on Europe's constitutional treaty and the shock second-place finish by extreme right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen in the 2002 election.

Much of his speech stressed the need to rebuild French pride and reach out to voters of the anti-immigration National Front.

"It is staggering to see how politically correct thinking has let the extreme right get a monopoly on using the word homeland," he said.

He also took a swipe at France's first ever slavery day, launched by Mr Chirac yesterday. "France has caused suffering, but she never gave birth to Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot," he said. "Making slavery the only face of France is to tar with the same brush all who did not practise it or stood up against it."

Mr Sarkozy's ability to pillory the political elite and its lack of vision, in spite of being one of its members for years, is a delicate balancing act that has become a central theme of his presidential campaign.

What the FT does not mention is that Sarko is indeed an outsider to the French elites in many ways. He is not an énarque, unlike just about every other major political figure in France, his father immigrated from Hungary - and you can tell; the joking definition "A Hungarian is a man who can enter a revolving door after you, but emerge before you" absolutely applies to Nick the Gnome - and he lacks the sort of mutual back-scratching ties to journalists that other politicians have - witness the media firestorm about his "scum" comment"

The UK needs a Sarkozy. Lucky France.

Get a Sense of Perspective

A comment from Azarmehr's blog in relation to May Day demo crack downs in Iran. From an American:

"keep up the good work ... coming from someone who has a religious zealot for a dictator (well, i suppose mr. bush isn't technically a dictator) ... learn from our stupid mistakes ... learn how not to do democracy from the USA, especially after our last civil war ... remember ...'with freedom there is personal responsibility' ... the thing to be most responsible for is remembering the premise of democracy and freedom:'all beings are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and to pursue happiness.'... we too are fighting for true democracy in the United States ... we march in our streets and vote in our elections"

Azarmehr is highlighting routine executions for political dissidents, gays and the plight of young women like Nazanin. He publishes examples of routine patrols of women to check what they are wearing. He is rightly championing an Iranian family's plight to claim asylum here in the UK. They were chased out by fanatics who wish to see their 11 year old daughter married off to a 43 year old man to pay for a 'crime' her father committed. And the first comment he gets on more misery with May Day demo crack downs by the Iranian President is an ignorant comparison with Bush?

There were a few more that followed.

I think his response was as measured as it was excellent. Its maddening that he has to educate Westerners that they are spoiled and blind whilst doing his damndest (and risking his life) to strive for a better future for his homeland.

Iraq Index Shows Progress Being Made

The Brookings Institute released its latest Iraq Index this week. Some of the key points made are below:

-Per Capita GDP (USD) for 2005 is forecast to increase from the previous year to $1,051. In 2002 it was $802.

-Increases in GDP for the next five years: 16.8, 13.6, 12.5, 7.8, and 7.2.

-Actionable tips from Iraqis have increased every month this year. In January, 4,025 tips were received; February, 4,235; and March, 4,578.

-On an index of political freedom for countries in the Middle East, Iraq now ranks fourth, just below Israel, Lebanon, and Morocco.

-Crude oil production reached 2.14 million barrels a day (MBD) in April of this year. It had dropped to 0.3 MBD in May of 2003.

-Revenues from oil export have only slightly increased from pre-war levels of $0.2 billion, to $0.62 billion in April.

-Electrical output is almost at the pre-war level of 3,958 megawatts. April's production was 3,600 megawatts. In May of 2003, production was only 500 megawatts. The goal is to reach 6,000 megawatts, and was originally expected to be met in 2004.

-The unemployment rate in June of 2003 was 50-60%, and in April of this year it had dropped to 25-40%.

-As of December 2005, countries other than the U.S., plus the World Bank and IMF, have pledged almost $14 billion in reconstruction aid to Iraq.

-Significant progress has also been made towards the rule of law. In May 2003 there were no trained judges, but as of October 2005 there were 351.

-As of January 2006, 64% of Iraqis polled said that the country was headed in the right direction.

-Also as of January 2006, 77% said that removing Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do.

-In May of 2003, Iraqi Security Forces were estimated at between 7,000-9,000. They numbered 250,500 in March of this year.

-The breakdown of foreign terrorists by country of origin is interesting. The largest number come from Algeria, at 20%. The next two countries are Syria and Yemen, at 18% and 17%, respectively.

-The number of foreign terrorists fighting in Iraq was estimated at between 300 and 500 in January 2004. That number increased in April of this year, to between 700 and 2,000.

-From May 2003 and April 2006, between 1,000 and 3,000 anti-Iraqi forces have been killed each month.

All Things Conservative
Brookings Institute Report

Well I couldnt very well leave those scary women in black, below, at the top of my blog. Satellite picture of Europe in the evening. No funny remarks about the setting of the sun, darkness enveloping please. Try to resist.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Islamic dress codes should not be imposed by confrontation, Iran's president said on Sunday as police said they would be taking a softer approach during a summer campaign against "social corruption".

"Presumably this means that unlike the early days of the revolution, women will not be forced to wipe their make up with handkerchiefs which concealed razor blades. Yipee!! Iranian women should be so grateful!"

The soft approach. Islamic Republic police and the militia women telling the Iranian women how they should dress:

From Azarmehr's blog . An Iranian living in Britain, last in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Really interesting and thoughtful posts well worth checking out. Bats away SWP members trolling his blog with relative ease (and humour).

I found his blog whilst googling Nazanin updates: Beautiful Brainy and Passionate about Iran

July 7 Someone to Blame

"To have this idiot on the television and try to imply that the coalition liberation of Muslims from a murdering tyrant is responsible for these men carrying out the attacks is just incredible. Either the presenter was poorly briefed or was willing to accept whatever a “community representative” said.

"However I cannot see the same thing happening in reverse. Could you honestly see them letting the odious Nick Griffin on the box and tell the country that these men blew themselves up because they were part of a bigoted misogynistic cult that worships death?"

July 7 Someone to Blame

I agree.

Not much time this week to write a proper post...directing you to some other great stuff out there.

Jack Idema

Along with Ed Caraballo and his brother Richard, I accompanied Idema attorney John Tiffany, who brought this case to the Federal Court in Washington, DC …. Among things that Tiffany later said to the AP reporter…none of which was quoted in the AP story below…was that a multitude of American lawyers had rushed to do pro bono defense for the Al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners captured and incarcerated in Guantanamo, but no one when asked by the Judge, would volunteer to defend an American(s) and an Afghani working with Idema, who had proof of innocence, and were incarcerated in Afghanistan.

Caos Jack Idema Update care of Right for Scotland

*Sigh*

"WHICH INTERNATIONAL leader publicly threatens to blow up his country’s oilfields, supports Iran’s nuclear programme, says that the Falklands belong to Argentina and believes that Robert Mugabe is a “true freedom-fighter”?

And guess who's invited him for dinner?

Its like having Kevin the teenager as your Mayor.

Except it's not bloody funny.

"Hugo Chávez remains the poster boy of the world’s Left. His misiones, while commendable, shroud a raft of anti-democratic actions. In spite of his military background few people outside Venezuela seem to be aware of the militaristic nature of his regime."


"His cheerleaders claim that Señor Chávez is a “social democrat”, while conveniently brushing aside that he supports and aligns himself with some of the world’s worst dictators and human rights abusers. This “democrat” is hell-bent on inducing war in a country that hasn’t seen armed conflicts in more than a century. This “democrat” uses the State as an apparatus of persecution against his political opponents. This “ democrat” does not allow free and transparent elections. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International report that the rights of Venezuelans are under chronic and systematic abuse".

"It saddens me that some British public figures applaud a visit by President Chávez. Less than a year ago, London was struck by terrorist bombings — yet its mayor is welcoming a man who befriends and supports terrorists."

Oh he's excels at that Aleksander, im embarrased to say. (This is what happens when people don't vote)


Tea, terror, dinner, whatever

Funny how teenagers idol worship nutters. Whats the betting Ken never grew out of 'Che' either.

In Fact

Three quarters of young French people say they would like to become civil servants.
[The Economist, 1st April 2006]

The other quarter are on their way to London, capital of Europe
(Alison, 7th May 2006)

Charles Dickens created 989 named characters.
[The Guardian, 25th March 2006]

There are more British troops in Northern Ireland (9,200) than in Iraq (8,000).
[Prospect research]

74 per cent of the women passengers aboard the Titanic survived, compared with 20 per cent of the men.
[Weekly Standard, 10th April 2006]

The average IQ in Germany is 107, the highest in Europe. Serbs have the lowest IQ, with an average of 89. Britain is in the middle with 100.
[The Times, 27th March 2006]

The word "bible" does not appear in the works of Shakespeare.
[The Guardian, 3rd March 2006]


Daniel Dennett introduced the frisbee to Britain. [The Observer, 12th March 2006]
New York City's police force is nearly four times bigger than America's entire border patrol. [The Economist, 1st April 2006]

In 2005, the number of English families with second homes passed 500,000 for the first time—a rise of 10 per cent in a year. Of the almost 330,000 second homes owned in Britain, nearly 80,000 are located in Devon or Cornwall.
[The Guardian, 21st February 2006]

In the US in 2003, the total number of cancer deaths dropped for the first time since records began in 1930. The biggest cause was a decline in the number of people who smoke.
[New Scientist, 18th February 2006]

Starbucks bought 37 per cent of Costa Rica's entire coffee crop in the 2004-05 season.
[The Economist, 1st April 2006]

Starbucks are ubiquitous and a marketing wonder of the world. Brand over substance, they make the worst coffee on the Planet
(Alison, 7th May 2006)

David Irving's brother is chairman of the Wiltshire racial equality council.
[The Guardian, 27th February 2006]

Mostly from 'In Fact' - Prospect Magazine

Legacy

The local elections are over and London is blue. A stronger blue than last time round for sure. Labour lost some mighty strongholds to the Tories and NOC. Still, I cant help feeling dispondent with the political scene at the moment. The Tories should so be able to profit from this but havent yet come out all guns blazing. It should feel exciting but its not. Turnout was up but still very low, somewhere round 30%. The three parties flop around in the centre ground with corrupt Mob rule still in play (The Suns headline on Saturday: 'Now We're ALL being screwed by Prescott' was pretty much bang to rights!). So, anyway, what is the difference between democracy and absolute monarchy again?

Somewhere out there a blogger posted this (sorry i cant recall who)

...
At Runnymede, at Runnymede,
Oh, hear the reeds at Runnymede:
'You musn't sell, delay, deny,
A freeman's right or liberty.
It wakes the stubborn Englishry,
We saw 'em roused at Runnymede!
...

And still when mob or Monarch lays
Too rude a hand on English ways,
The whisper wakes, the shudder plays,
Across the reeds at Runnymede.
And Thames, that knows the moods of kings,
And crowds and priests and suchlike things,
Rolls deep and dreadful as he brings
Their warning down from Runnymede!

Rudyard Kipling


"The name Runnymede is synonymous with the Magna Carta - England's great icon of liberty and first expression of human rights.

In 1215, England stood on the brink of Civil War, because the Barons were increasingly provoked by the amount of taxes that the King was collecting in order to fund a series of unsuccessful wars in France, and by abuse of royal and feudal priveleges. Tax collections were both arbitary and extortionate King John initially refused to consider a Charter, submitted by the Barons, limiting his powers, at which point the Barons marched on London.

In an attempt to stop further unrest, King John agreed to meet his Barons at Runnymede to discuss the Great Charter. The Barons formed an encampment at Staines, and the King and his followers were resident at Windsor Castle,with the two sides meeting at Runnymede meadow.
The outcome was a document known as the Articles of the Barons.

It was the first time that an English monarch was obliged to adhere to rules of law, replacing vague Saxon laws. The initial meeting between King and Barons took place on 15th June 1215, and the Charter was finally approved by eight days later. The King could no longer act in a tyrannical manner to subdue the citizens of the country, nor dominate the Church.

Amongst the rights documented in the Charter was the first law relating to weights and measures- "one measure of wine shall be through our Realm, and one measure of ale and one measure of corn, and one bredth of dyed cloth". Women also gained some limited rights- "No widow shall be distrained to marry ".

The Charter guaranteed feudal rights, and regularised the judicial system, abolished many abuses of feudal tenures, guaranteed the liberties of London, and other cities and ports. It also prevented the arbitrary imprisonment of freemen, and protected the rights of heirs. The Charter gave extensive powers to the Barons who were to oversee compliance with the Charter.
In 1216, during the reign of John's son, Henry III the Magna Carta was confirmed by Parliament.

The Charter was further modified in 1297, during the reign of Edward I. Almost 300 years later in 1689, a Bill of Rights, confirming parliamentary authority over the Crown,was passed by Parliament, and contained many of the elements of Magna Carta.

The rights established under Magna Carta have thus been given the force of Law for over a period of seven centuries"


God, we were great. Are great. Will be great again. If we can get shot of the Mob.

Romarinho

Joga Bonito

(Video)

"The charismatic and talented Romarinho is from the largest favela in Rio, Rocinha. His skills have brought him fame and respect on the backstreets of the favela, and the film traces his desire to achieve his dream of professional football as he tries out with Flamengo FC".

Drinking From Home's excellent weekend summary

John Reid during an interview with Brian Hanrahan on the local elections:

What does it require now? It requires that we listen to the results of the local elections last week. Study them carefully, Brian. You will see that those areas which turned away from us were those areas which came to us under New Labour and are now getting increasingly
worried that we are abandoning the New Labour approach.

?

+ on George Galloway's 'Respect':

"I want to make it clear, I and Respect support the armed resistance in Iraq"

They must have been celebrating yesterday.

A JEERING mob threw stones at the bodies of a British crew whose helicopter was shot down in the southern Iraqi city of Basra yesterday.

My two cents:

Galloways 'armed resistance' in action:

An execution in Iraq. Atwar Bhajat was an Iraqi journalist, you will recall she was abducted and killed earlier this year. It transpires she wasnt shot as thought. (nb: This story is extremely upsetting)

Part of Me Died

"There's been plenty of condemnation of the BNP in the MSM recently, but the political party that promotes attacks on British troops continues to get a free ride."

From English Conservative (link below)

"My Borough picked up a single BNP councillor at the expense of a Tory. Our neighbours - Barking and Dagenham - got 11 with a 12th seemingly likely. Yesterday I listened to a Labour councillor waxing stupidly about how that Party's voters are simply racists proving, as he did so, that at least some Labour members do not recognise that branding every white who does not like uncontrolled immigration and his own second class place in the process as a racist is actually fuel for the BNP's fire. And since the only two people who ranted on about immigration to me during this election were ethnic Indians I think all three main parties need to get their heads out of the sand and move their brains up a gear or two"

When Ken Livingstone was confronted by very angry voters in B&D last week his knee jerk reaction was to ask why they didnt like having 'black neighbours'. The response was 'Its eastern Europeans' and the response was from the community. He then advises voters not to fall for BNP propaganda. Their response was that they could see what was happening to their community. So why dismiss these concerns rather than address them? If it was about propaganda then surely Labour, the consumate spinmeisters, could set them straight.

Anyway congratulations to Gary at his election success:

English Conservative

But anyway isnt this what was being said last time round?

What Was Being Said Last time round!

Rather than actually listen, Labour continue to make monumental cock ups all round as has been headline news now for eons. Its this which really gets voters going. The Left also then let the BBC legitimise Nick Griffin via their undercover investigation (publicity) work which for all intents and purposes backfires. Then Hodge, instead of targetting her concerns earlier to the powers that be, does the same and announces it to the insatiable MSM two weeks shy of the elections.

However imho

Calling voters dim is lazy - see the comments

And so is glibly talking at them from that same Liberal Ivory Tower - see Class Traitors

I met the Conservative councillor i voted for last night quite by accident whilst out for a drink. Bit of a shock. Hours of talking politics later he mentioned that a number of ballots were spoiled by voters writing BNP across them. Especially surprising in this London Ward even if it was only a few. Not the kind of thing an especially 'dim' person might do, I dont think. This extends beyond 'knuckle dragging' 'racists' and angry alienated 'working' classes and the left know this. Its just easier to smear.

How London looks this weekend. A more confident Blue this time round.

The sun is out. London is buzzing. Its been a crazily busy week. Of course I voted last night though i considered not doing so. Disappointed in the lack of choice as usual, some 12 candidates, 5 or 6 parties. Results this morning came as no surprise whatsoever. Been reading the blog reaction from the left today and will link to some posts tomorrow. Funny bunch, mostly in a permanent state of lazy denial. Right now Im off to the pub.

Sweden: Islamic Association Demands Special Laws For Muslims

From Western Resistance.com:

Mahmoud Aldebe, who is head of the Swedish Muslim Association, (SMF), has written to Sweden's parliamentary parties, demanding special laws for Muslims in Sweden.

Little Green Footballs has covered this already. However the comments section of that blog sometimes infuriate me more than the issue. The usual comment mob load up on 'Europes fucked' euroweenie cliches and rub their hands in glee.

So has Sweden rolled over and died? No. Read the story.

Aldebe is head of the SMF, a CAIR/MCGB equivalent. He sent a letter advocating that imams should be allowed into state schools to give Muslim children separate lessons in Islam and also the languages of their parents' countries. He demanded that swimming lessons in schools should have boys and girls segregated, and also said that in cases of divorce for Muslims, these should be approved by an imam. He also demanded that separate burial grounds be provided for Muslims.

Aldebe's letter was then vehemently dismissed by Jens Orback, Sweden's integration and equality minister, who said:

"We will not have separate laws in Sweden. In Sweden, we are all equal before the law. In Sweden, we have fought for a long time to achieve gender-neutral laws, and to propose that certain groups should not be treated like others is completely unacceptable.."

Orback said he had spoken to representatives of the Swedish Muslim Council who said they did not agree with Aldebe's proposals.

"I think it is very problematic and unfortunate that people who have been in Sweden for so long make proposals such as this that are so opposed to our intentions, when we are fighting for women's rights and the right to divorce."

There are five Islamic organisations in Sweden. Abd al Haqq Kielan (formerly Leif Larsson) converted to Islam thirty years ago, now the chairman of the Swedish Islamic Association, was scathing of Abdele's propositions, calling them "absurd", and suggested they would lead to a "sort of Mullah-rule that people are scared of."

(Quite!)

"He is lucky if he speaks for 70 of his members," Keilan said. "If you open the gate for separate laws for different minorities, where will it end? We have to have one law for all citizens. That is so obvious that I don't understand how he can come up with such an idea."

(It was probably born out of that anglo saxon ideal - multi culturalism, Mr Keilan!)

Other Muslims criticised Aldebe's suggestions. Mariam Osman Sherifay, a lawmaker within the ruling Social Democratic Party, said:

"If we are going to live here, we should adapt to the laws that exist - we should not have a separate law just because we have a different faith."

The leader of the Liberal Party, Lars Leijonborg, wrote:

"Sweden has equality between men and women. To introduce exceptions for Muslims so that women can be oppressed with the support of the law is completely unacceptable to me."


There are Europeans standing up and making a difference and they should be celebrated when they do. Of course this shows you how quickly some people pick up on the act to profit from weak multicultural ethics. Where were the US and UK governments on the issue of free speech? Were they half as angry?

Why are WE the ones on the back foot over our values? Attack is the best form of defense. Bravo Sweden.

Defending Germany's Constitution

From the National Secular Societys website, story dates from March, updated April.

According to the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten, a German group is taking legal action against the Koran, claiming it contradicts the country’s constitution.

"The author of the indictment in Hamburg, Jutta Starke, says that the Quran was reported to the police two or three years ago, but that the report was dismissed on the grounds that it was a book of only historical interest.

“The events of the last months have made clear that the Quran isn’t just a historical book, but very much a potent political book, a thing which we document extensively in the indictment,” Jutta Starke says.

She says it is a task of sisyphean dimensions to inform the media, politicians and churches of the true intentions of Islam in the enlightened world of the West.

“We are grateful to Jyllands-Posten that discussions about Islam have now become possible,” says Jutta Starke.

“You suffer for all of Europe and that’s why we find it indecent that Europe hasn’t loudly, in unison, taken a stand for Freedom of Speech against the laws of the Quran.”

The indictment consists of five pieces of paper and a number of appendices. The indictment says that it is not against Islam’s spiritual message, but against the judicial and political message.

The decisive count of the indictment “is in the Quran’s status vis-a-vis the Federal Republic of Germany’s constitution”. In the appendices to the indictment, 200 points have been listed “where the Quran is against and claims itself above the constitution.”

The indictment has been filed in several states, including Hamburg, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bayern and probably more. In several talk-shows on German TV, conservative politicians have pointed out that the Quran is incompatible with the German constitution. The Turkish-born writer Serap Cileli said on January 29 this year that “the Quran must be considered a historic document. It is not compatible with our constitution and Human Rights.” Now the alliance wants the matter tried at the courts.

A prominent Moslem, Ibrahim El-Zayat, is quoted as saying that he thinks it is possible that “the Federal Chancellor in 2020 is a Moslem, born and raised in Germany, that the Federal Supreme Court has a Moslem judge, and that a Moslem representative will be on the Federal Radio/TV Council to secure the Moslem citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed rights.”

One of the key things to take out of this, rather than dwelling on the depressing bluster by the prominent scaremongerer, is the action by this alliance of grass roots activists and the highly publicised discussion being undertaken by their conservative politicians in defence of their constitution.

Read a translation of the Jyllands Posten article here