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What happens when an empire is in decline? The natives start getting restless…
In the lawless shamble that is occupied Iraq the private mercenaries have, and continue to run amok.
“Saad al-Muttalibi, an adviser to the Iraqi council of ministers, said on Friday that if the [5] guards did not receive a just sentence for the killing of 14 Iraqis in 2007, the issue would complicate relations between Iraq and the United States.”
Not particularly surprising. Gunning down innocent people is usually frowned on, unless of course they the enemy. Then it is O.K..
” Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesman, said in a statement: “The Iraqi government will follow up on this issue in strength and resolution to bring those murderers of Blackwater to accountability in order to return the rights of iraqi people who are the victims of this crime.”
He said “the investigations carried out by the specialised Iraqi authorities confirmed with no doubt that the guards of Blackwater company have committed a criminal murder act and they have violated the combat environment rule to use force while there was no threat against them”
The Iraqi authorities are justifiably pissed off as Blackwater has had a history of shooting and looting in their country and want to see justice done. Yeah right:
“Ricardo Urbina, a district judge, dismissed the charges against the five men on Thursday, saying US justice department prosecutors improperly built their case on sworn statements that had been given under a promise of immunity.
Urbina said the government’s explanations were “contradictory, unbelievable and lacking in credibility”.”
Technicality observed. Get out of Jail Free card handed out, problem solved.
Via the CBC.
“Denmark’s intelligence service says police have foiled an attempt to kill cartoonist Kurt Westergaard — the artist who drew cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, causing outrage in the Muslim world.”
Let us celebrate the forces of anti-modernity, anti-rationality and anti-intelligence. The man’s crime against Islam? He drew cartoons. Yes, and now he deserves to die:
“akob Scharf, who heads the PET intelligence service, said a 28-year-old Somalian man was armed with an axe and a knife when he entered Westergaard’s home in Aarhus.”
Armed with an axe and a knife, the Somalian man was not there for tea and crumpets. Pumped up past rationality and reality, this religious fanatic was going to murder someone to clean his imaginary goddouche’s reputation.
It is actions such of these that further confirm the inanity, cruelty and delusional nature of religion.
Given the bias of our media, this story should be filed in the official ‘memory hole’ of our imperial consciousnesses.
“Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are marking one year since the start of Israel’s 22-day offensive on the territory, which left hundreds dead and damaged millions of dollars worth of infrastructure.”
Had this happened to an ally, or at least a non official enemy, the network feeds would be all over this. As is, the somber notes are duly recorded by Al Jazeera.
“Ismail Haniya, the deposed Palestinian prime minister, was expected to unveil a plaque commemorating the 1,600 people that Hamas officials say were killed during the war.
Other estimates put the Palestinian death toll closer to 1,400, the majority of whom were civilians, including around 400 children.”
400 hundred children slain. Ho Hum. Why all the carnage in the first place?
“The stated aim behind Israel’s “Operation Cast Lead” was to cripple the ability of Hamas and other Palestinian groups from launching rockets into southern Israel.
Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokesperson, told Al Jazeera on Sunday that the operation had been successful.”
Ah, those darn children making rockets. Oh I’m sure it can be all dismissed by calling them collateral damage and the fault of Hamas by intentionally putting innocents in harms way. Was it worth it? Not according to Hamas sources:
“Dr Ahmad Yousuf, a senior Hamas official and former advisor to Haniya, said that the political movement also remained strong despite the devastation caused by the Israeli offensive. “The Israelis failed their objectives on all accounts,” he told Al Jazeera from Gaza City. “Hamas is still there and we try to help our people, but we are still under occupation and suffering from sanctions.”
Hmm. Complete success and complete failure depending on who you ask. For 1400-1600 hundred people it does not really matter anymore. Oh hey, western media look here a story that is reporting from both points of view. You should try it sometime.
Oh and another little tidbit that ‘escapes notice’ in the western media:
“Last week, 16 rights groups including Amnesty International and Oxfam issued a joint statement saying the world has “betrayed” civilians in the Gaza Strip by failing to end the Israeli blockade of the enclave.”
Huh. But of course, they are of the wrong nationality, colour and political leanings. We can safely ignore them and their concerns.
We are heading to into the next decade of the 21st century. My question is when will women be invited to join our so called advanced civilization? Follow the link back to the Feministe eZine for the whole article. One picture below the fold shows a woman being prepared for gang rape, be forewarned.
Unsurprisingly, not much happened at the latest and greatest climate conference. Many thanks to the hackers who spun up a flurry of negative PR for a meeting that only had the slightest chance of reaching a meaningful agreement in the first place.
What is utterly discouraging is that nothing will come of this. It was a waste of time (emphasis mine):
“The agreement recognizes that an increase in global temperature should be kept to two degrees Celsius — the threshold that UN scientists say is needed to avert serious climate change — but the deal is not legally binding and has no long-term global targets for emissions cuts.”
So really, in essence, let us continue to our plunder of the earth. We will make the requisite noises:
“Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the agreement “realistic” and said Canada was “very comfortable” with it.”
You know if Harper agrees with this particular tidbit of climate folly it is can only be a hollow shell of dank turpitude and risible half truths. In other words nothing will change.
For the eternally optimistic:
“Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the United Nations, welcomed the climate deal as an “essential beginning,” but said it must be transformed into a legally binding treaty next year.”
Yep. The US will also get Israel to respect the 1967 borders, pay reparations to Iraq for ruining their country and will make peace with Osama bin Laden. I’ll also be having a piping hot mug cocoa and a blueberry scone with Pope while we discuss how he should not act like such a douche bag.
The Conservative government is handling our alleged abuse of Afghan detainees with an sublime air of stupidity that George Bush made (in)famous. It seems that outright lying has not worked. We are now own to indignant posturing and appeals to patriotism. Allow me to illustrate.
Richard Colvin, a senior intelligence officer brought to light Canadian misdeeds:
“According to our information, the likelihood is that all the Afghans we handed over were tortured,” Colvin told a parliamentary committee on Nov. 18.
Canadian Defence Minister War Propagandist Peter Mackay said:
“The member is suggesting by implication that the military did something wrong, that somehow they did not do the right thing. That is what is so despicable,” MacKay said on Dec. 10.”
What? How dare anyone question the character of our troops and our mission in Afghanistan! Especially when their allegations are false…
“The documents reveal that in 2008, military police launched six separate investigations into allegations of abuse involving Canadian troops.”
Errr….whoops! It seems like something is going on over there. However, so far we’re clean according to our military:
“The military police determined that the allegations were unfounded in five of the six cases, and the remaining investigation is ongoing,” said Maj. Paule Poulin, a spokesperson for the Canadian Forces Provost Marshall.
One can always trust the military to police itself.
And now the sour flourish:
“However, MacKay apparently never told the House there were allegations against Canadian troops, at least one of which is still being investigated.”
We can always trust politicians to act unethically. It is nice that Mr.Mackay provides such a clear example (via his briefing notes) of his dedication to the service and maintenance of power, justice be damned.
bleatmop
Mystro
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