A Different Perspective

The neocons have finally snapped - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

2011-12-12T03:00:00.000Z

MJ Rosenberg, Senior Foreign Policy Fellow at the Media Matters Action Network provides a brilliant a critique of the loony Hasbara brigade in the following opinion piece on Al Jazeera.

The neocons have finally snapped - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

The Battle for Hearts & Minds

2011-12-08T22:53:00.002Z

WARNING - Viewer discretion is strongly advised, do not watch this video if you are easily disturbed

Feed the Palestinians to the Sharks!

2011-10-30T13:27:00.005Z

Hat tip to Al Akhbar for headlining this story in which the genocide supporting tendencies of the Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin are highlighted.

Rubin happily tweets a blog by neo con crackpot Rachel Abrams, which calls for a mass genocide of Palestinians, including children. If Abrams remarks weren't reprehensible enough she goes further by outlining the method in which this should be done ..... taken out to sea and fed to sharks!

For Rubin however that's no issue at all as she happily retweeted Adams call for mass murder.

What's more shocking, as highlighted by Al Akhbar, is that she still has a job at the Washington Post.

Clarity should be sought from the Posts's Ombudman, Patrick B. Pexton, on whether calling for the genocide of Palestinians is in line with the Washington Post's editorial stance?

Mr Pexton can be reached By emailing ombudsman@washpost.com

Neo-Cons in Wonderland!

2011-10-19T22:02:00.002Z

At a GOP Presidential debate Rep. Michele Bachmann stated in her "wisdom" that Iraq (and Libya) should repay the United States for liberating them.

That's right she used the word liberate in relation to Iraq.

That's the deluded view that Bachmann along with the rest of the Mad Hatters of the Tea Party movement have of the World.

I guess Bachmann expects the people of Iraq to be grateful for the fact that only a million Iraqis have died since the US led war rather than 2 or 3 million.

Palestine has a right to exist

2011-09-21T13:26:00.001Z

Join Palestine194 as they demonstrate for a Palestinian State.

Join them opposite Downing Street from 5pm until 7pm today.

Netanyahu is a Con

2011-09-20T20:05:00.002Z

When Settlers Attack...

2011-09-07T21:23:00.003Z

What happens when on the odd rare occasion Israel takes a step, albeit still equating to tiny drop in a huge bucket, and dismantles just one of the many hundreds of illegal colonies (settlements) it has established on Palestinian land?

Settler militias, based in these settlements, carry out terror raids on Palestinian communities including this cowardly act in which they torched a Mosque in the village of Qusra south of Nablus.

What crime did the Palestinians commit to deserve this? Nothing.

This apparent act of "protest", according to the New York Times, was the result of one illegal settler outpost being demolished by the Israelis. The same paper described the Mosque in Qusra as "disused".

I guess that makes the settlers actions acceptable in their warped biased minds?

God Bless the NHS

2011-08-18T09:57:00.001Z

It's soapbox time!

Don't you just love the NHS?

Fortunately I've not had to use the NHS much aside from trips to the GP but trips to the maternity ward have shown me the joys that I have been missing out on.

Let's start with parking, where it is available it's inadequate i.e. not enough spaces. The overflow in place is the best part of half a mile away from the main building. Add to that the fact that it's pay & display and the nearest, working, machine is back in the main car park adding another round trip on foot.

Must be a Government conspiracy to keep people fit so as to reduce cases of obesity in later life.

Lets not forget that the pay & display machine takes correct change only and definitely no cards. After all in this day & age of modern banking who carries around a debit card?

Now we're in the main building and it's time to have the scan and catch your first glimpse of the miracle of life.

A magical moment like this can be captured on a photo which you can buy ...... except that it'll cost you £4, I'm fine with that but of course a simple transaction like this needs some added layers of complexity this being the NHS.

First, you need to buy a small stamp like ticket from a machine (why!?). And of course the machine only takes correct change.

Given you're in the building you'd think that you can get change from one of the shops except that the canteen has a large sign stating;

"we do not give change for the scan machine"

I guess the words they forgot to add were;

"... so piss off!"

And of course there's no option to pay by card.

Some bright spark within their ranks ought to realise that it might actually save the NHS money if they opted for electronic card payments instead of dealing in bulky coins.

I leave the Hospital and think to myself that there's another sign that should be displayed on the exit, one that states;

"thank you for visiting the NHS, we try and excel to be as unhelpful as we possibly can to you, the people who fund our existence, please come again"

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

"The West" attacked by itself

2011-07-23T08:35:00.005Z

Twin co-ordinated attacks on a Western Liberal Democracy
Indiscriminate targeting of innocent helpless civilians
Must be the work of Islamic Fundamentalists, right?

WRONG!

The horrific tragedy that has unfolded in central Oslo and on the idyllic island of Utoeya, leaving more than 80 people dead, is instead being linked to the far right Christian Fundamentalist movement and Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik has been charged.

All terrorists are Muslim right?????

Camera Shy?

2011-07-07T23:04:00.001Z

People who run trash rags like News of the World invade others privacy like its their God given right. However they tend to be quite camera shy themselves.

That's exactly the reason why we owe it to all those who were hacked by the News of the World under Rebekah Brook's watch to share this very distressed looking photo of her with the World through all our social media outlets.

Let's see how much she enjoys the unwanted attention.

Where's the outcry?

2011-06-19T11:47:00.002Z

Imagine what the the tabloid headlines would look like if this ruling was passed by a Muslim court?

Rabbinical court sentences dog to death by stoning

An Interview with a Wacko

2011-05-19T21:02:00.002Z

Enter the words "Pamela Geller" and "Mad" into Google and in 0.21 seconds you'll be presented with just under 600,000 hits.

This interview with the Independent presents us sane people with an insight into the deranged mind of this full-time Islamophobe whose sole raison d'etre is to oppose Islam. Yet despite her vehement opposition to all things Muslim she claims in the interview that she "...loves Muslims..."

A wacko indeed!

French Niqab ban kicks in

2011-04-11T19:05:00.003Z

Liberté, égalité, fraternité

The "Civilised World" ladies and gentlemen

Vive La France!

The Zionist Plot

2011-04-04T21:52:00.004Z

Declassified files from the MI5 reveal that Zionist terrorist groups operating in Palestine during the Second World War proposed the assasination of high profile British ministers including Winston Churchill.

God Bless America!

2011-03-10T22:19:00.004Z

In this time of economic turbulence and uncertainty, Governments across the World are tightening their belts.

But even during these tough times, which country's leaders would snatch morsels of food from their own people (literally) yet leave military aid to a foreign country untouched?

The answer, as MJ Rosenberg explains in this article, is America and it's unflinching support for Israel even at the expense of its own poor people.

Truly, God Bless America!

Daily Star's hidden anti-Islam agenda

2011-03-06T09:13:00.005Z

"The lies of a newspaper in London can get a bloke's head caved in down an alley in Bradford."

These are the words of Richard Peppiatt in a resignation letter to the owner of the Daily Star, Richard Desmond (above).

In it, Peppiatt unveils a damning insight into how the tabloid concocts fictitious stories and engages in scaremongering to generate sales for its red top rag.

Peppiatt should be applauded for finally seeing the light and blowing the whistle on Desmond's activities and revealing how his paper's actions go against the very British values that the
self righteous rag claims to defend.

The Maghreb Revolution

2011-02-21T23:02:00.001Z

Not since the Banking crisis of 2008 have we witnessed such upheaval and unpredictability.

Back then, the integrity of the financial system was under attack and no one was sure which Bank was safe & which one would need rescuing?

Now it's a question of Politics in the Maghreb region.

After Egypt, one can safely argue that no Arab dictator is safe, not even Assad of Syria, and given the pace of developments in Tripoli Gaddafi is all set to join the casualty list which currently includes Ben Ali and Mubarak.

A desperate attempt to crush the uprising by force has all but backfired with 2 Pilots defying orders to bomb the people, whilst the Libyan delegation to the UN is calling for Gaddafi to step down.

Whilst Gaddafi and his sons may appear to be oblivious to the growing reality, these acts show that the security & power apparatus in Libya can see the writing on the wall and are clearly demonstrating to the people whose side their on. No doubt, such actions are designed to secure their own future in a post-Gaddafi era.

Once Gaddafi falls however, one needs to scan the Maghreb & Levant and wonder who's next to fall victim to the Maghreb Revolution?

Who knew that the first two months of 2011 would turn out to be defining moments of History.

The People are Victorious

2011-02-11T18:08:00.002Z

The battle has been won by the people of Egypt, but the war to ensure that Egypt transitions to a truly representative Government now begins.

The Army, which has truly played an admirable role in the revolution until now, needs to ensure that it maintains stability, hands power to a popularly elected Government (irrespective of who that is) and return to the barracks.

Victory to the people, victory to the revolution!

Egyptian Army, your people need you!

2011-02-10T21:18:00.003Z

It's time for the People's army to push Humpty "Mubarak" Dumpty into the Nile.

Mubarak's denial

2011-02-10T20:21:00.003Z

History has indeed been made, in so much that Mubarak has missed an opportune moment to leave and let his country return to normalcy.

He has plunged his country into further chaos and his words will no doubt embolden the pro-democracy protestors who will now more than ever dig themselves in and up the ante on the regime.

15 Minutes to History

2011-02-10T19:44:00.001Z

In Fifteen minutes time Mubarak will address the people of Egypt, hopefully for the very last time.

Victory to the revolution, victory to the people

Triumph for Kemalism?

2011-02-08T20:43:00.002Z

The video certainly makes a strong case for the model laid down by Ataturk however the crucial facts, as stated in the video, are that economic progress and improving human rightsin Turkey have been delivered by the very Party that was seen and portrayed (in the Western media) as a threat to Turkey's Militant brand of secularism.

Rather than being a triumph for Kemalism, Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party has shown that it's not "Mildly Islamist" political parties, which is the terminology often used to describe the AK party, that should be feared by the West but rather the ugly and widely prevalent prejudice against Islam.

As events unfold in Egypt there have already been warning sirens sounded by many Western Government's and media outlets about the prospect of a Muslim Brotherhood Government taking over from the last Pharaoh. There is a sense of deja vu as the rhetoric is similar to when AK was on the cusp of winning elections in Turkey.

Irrespective of what the Egyptian people decide, and it is crucial that they decide who represents them whether that includes the Brotherhood or not, it's important for Western Capitals to respect their decision. Who knows, they may even be pleasantly surprised by the result, just like the AK party of Turkey.

Footage of the EDL demo in Luton

2011-02-06T21:48:00.001Z

Day of Departure

2011-02-04T07:22:00.002Z

Today is Friday 4th February, 2011.

Today is the day that hundreds of thousands of Egyptians will take to the street.

Today is the Day of Departure for Mubarak and his regime.

Victory to the people.

Chaos reigns whilst Mubarak sleeps

2011-02-03T20:15:00.005Z

In an interview with ABC's Christiane Amanpour, Mubarak has stated that "If I resign today there will be chaos".

It is possibly the clearest sign yet, not just of how out of touch Mubarak is with the Egyptian Street, but also a sign that he has now officially lost the plot. Whilst he talks to American news networks the Chaos is already unfolding before our eyes and as I type.

The only guaranteed way of ending it is for Mubarak to leave, not just power, but to leave Egypt with his cronies and for the Egyptian people to slam the door shut after him.

On the plus side, Mubarak is weakening and it is now a question of how many more days he can sit it out considering that his strongest Western ally has publically abandoned him.

Leave now!

2011-02-01T21:43:00.003Z

Almost three decades at the top has clearly left Mubarak deluded.

His much anticipated appearance on state tv tonight was eagerly awaited as most expected him to step down in line with the wishes of the Egyptian people.

He claimed to hear what the people were saying but decided to announce that he will see out the rest of his term but not stand for election again......he just doesn't get it.

The message from Tahrir Square and from every Egyptian is loud and clear - "LEAVE"

The winds of change reach Amman

2011-02-01T13:49:00.001Z

Jordan's King Abdullah has sacked his Government and ordered his new PM to carry out political reforms.

The panic stricken move shows the impact that the people of Egypt are having on the region through their popular revolution.

Shifting the fear factor...

2011-01-31T22:24:00.001Z

... to the West

When it comes to Journalists, John Simpson can be considered an elder statesman given his vast experience of reporting from the front line of major global events.

With that in mind one would expect him to be the responsible type of journalist i.e. factual & objective as opposed to the the rogue tabloid style adopted by so many of today's journalists, especially those employed by the Right Wing media outlets.

That said, it was saddening to see Simpson on TV last night reporting from Alexandria and in this report from the BBC website.

On TV Simpson made a point of stating that there were more "Islamists" amongst the protestors, whilst the camera showed images of women wearing the Hijab. The website article also alludes to the religious composition of the city of Alexandria.

With respect to the Egyptian uprising, it begs the question, "what's religion got to do with it?" if you excuse the pun.

The answer is absolutely nothing.

All along we've seen that this is a popular revolution where Egyptians from all walks of life, irrespective of religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds have come together to demand freedom from Mubarak's tyranny.

This of course has left the Leaders of the West in a bit of a conundrum. It has made it impossible for them to denounce or delegitimise the protestors and their demands. It's also made it difficult to show their support for a key Western ally for fear of vividly exposing the dark truth to their own masses that they have propped up this Tyrant, who has been dubbed the last Pharaoh, for the past three decades.

Calls by Obama, Cameron, Sarkozy, Merkel et al for the will of the Egyptian people to be respected are frankly too little too late and a slap in the face for the Egyptian people. This is because the Leaders of the West are arrogant enough to think that the Egyptian people are ignorant of their track record & unquestioning support for Mubarak.

Now we see a new tactic being deployed by both the leadership of the West and the media outlets based there including the Beeb to try and confer a bit of positivity on the Mubarak regime.

This new avenue is all about playing the dreaded "Islamist" card i.e. that Mubarak may not be perfect but he's better than the Muslim Brotherhood.

We are being told through the Western based media that Egypt must not fall into the hands of "Radicals". Joining in this chorus, unsurprisingly, is the regional rogue Israel and its leader Bin Yamin who painted a doomsday scenario of an Iranian style regime taking hold of Egypt.

Of course such talk is meant to do one thing only, to scare the masses of the West into thinking that Mubarak is better for Egypt because the alternative is allegedly worse.

When Egyptians took to the streets in their tens of thousands Mohammed Elbaradai said that the people have lost their fear factor.

The fear factor has indeed dissipated, it has now shifted and entrenched itself firmly in Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and Tel Aviv.

It is the Egyptian people that will determine what's best for them not the self righteous Leaders and media machine of the West.

History in the making...

2011-01-28T23:32:00.003Z

If at the start of 2010 anyone had said that in 12 months time the foundations of the one-party states of North Africa would be shaken to their core and that someone as rock solid as Hosni Mubarak would be facing a mass uprising by his people, chances are that you would have been despatched at the earliest convenience to have your head examined.

Yet here we are on Friday 28th January; Zinedine Ben Ali has fled Tunisia and the heart of the Arab World, Egypt, is the grips of a revolution that, given the current pace of events, could see Mubarak end up with the same fate.

President Obama, a staunch ally of Egypt, has just been on TV with a speech that only a President of the United States is capable of delivering. A speech where he is strategically placing himself on the fence i.e. despite publicly stating his support for Mubarak he has also voiced his support, however weakly, for the demands of the Egyptian people.

It's just a shame that such a demand came after nearly three decades of unquestioned support for Mubarak and his regime.

An Egypt without Mubarak would indeed send shockwaves not just throughout the Middle East but to the World. Whilst not one of the major oil producers Egypt controls the strategically important waterway, the Suez Canal, through which most of the Oil to the West passes.

The potential toppling of Mubarak could send the price of Oil skywards and no doubt the economies of the West, currently struggling with recovery, record debt & uncertainty, back into the red.

From a Political viewpoint the removal of Mubarak would be a doomsday scenario for Israel for it could result in the Muslim Brotherhood filling any vaccum left by him. However the Americans are unliklely to sit idle and allow this situation to unfold in a country which is strategically crucial to them. That said, the probability of this scenario can not be written off completely.

Whatever unfolds, one thing is for certain that we are seeing a truly historic event unfold across North Africa, one that has not been seen since the fall of Communism.

Sleeping Giant Wakes Up

2011-01-26T11:16:00.001Z

By Yvonne Ridley

The Arab world's sleeping giant has finally woken from its slumbers after years of being drugged and mugged by the West.

Having witnessed - and experienced - first hand the brutality of the Egyptian and Tunisian police and their undercover stooges, I can tell you that the uprisings of the masses took real courage.

Over the years, dictator Hosni Mubarak has traded on their fear using some of the foulest methods of intimidation imaginable.

But like their counterparts in Tunisia, the Egyptian people are losing their fear and tearing away the chains of oppression.

The Pharoah's police state is now teetering as a second day of protests begin.

Whatever the outcome over the next few weeks, I think it is clear that America and Britain can no longer manipulate and control the politics - or lack of it - in the Middle East.

Washington's silence over the weeks of civil unrest on the streets of Tunisia was almost deafening, so when Barack Obama chose to congratulate the uprising only once Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's plane was in the air, his message of support rang hollow. Today he urged the Egyptian authorities to show restraint.

The world's most powerful man's weasel words tripped from his lips as blood was shed on the streets of Cairo, Assiut, Alexandria, Mansura, Tanta and Aswan as the people faced down 2.5 million uniformed and plain clothes thugs using water cannon and teargas.

The truth is the scenes of civil unrest from Tunis to Cairo speak volumes about US and Western interference as much as the actions of the tyrants they have bankrolled and supported.

All of them have seriously underestimated ordinary Arabs. The brutality of tyrants has been allowed to go on for countless decades and the silence of the Western superpowers today exposes their own deep-seated racism and double standards towards the people.

Is the blood of an Arab worth less than that of an American? It's a rhetorical question and we all know the shameful answer.

With the exception of Iraq (and let's not go down the road of who created and supported Saddam), all of the governments in the Middle East are identified by their Western-installed family dynasties, sham democracies, rigged elections punctuated by extreme reaction to any signs of dissenting voices.

While these leaders have lived a life of luxury bordering on obscene, they've carried out their orders from Washington, London, Paris and beyond without question - and this goes for the corrupt Abu Mazen and his Palestinian Authority. If ever there was a dictator-in-the-making it's this odious pygmy of a man.

As Robert Fisk pointed out a few days back, the emergence of The Palestine Papers are as damning as the Balfour Declaration. The right of return for millions of Palestinians, for instance, was traded and eroded beyond measure.

From the West Bank to Gaza and the refugee camps beyond, Abu Mazen sold his people down the river. And the fact that Hillary Clinton's predecessor, Condaleezza Rice saw no problem in moving the Palestinians half way across the world to settle in South America, exposes the real contempt US Administrations have for the Arab people, not to mention those living in Latin America.

And for why? For Israel, a festering pustule not the size of a South African game park, squatting in the Middle East. The creation of this nuclear-powered Frankenstein State and the determination to force it on Arabs will turn out to be America and Britain's biggest ever mistake.

But it's not just the US to blame, Britain under Tony Blair has been a prime mover in overseeing the brutalisation of the Arab world.

The UK's intelligence service, MI6, drew up plans to help the Palestinian Authority crush the Islamic political movement Hamas and armed groups in the West Bank.

Documents – part of nearly 1700 transcripts and emails leaked to Arab TV channel Al Jazeera documenting more than a decade of Israeli-Palestinian talks – shed light on a little-known role played by British security services in shoring up the corrupt PA's security apparatus. It was all done on Blair's watch.

The West has bribed, bullied and cajoled Arab leaders in to accepting the vile Zionist State to the detriment of their own people and this is now coming back to haunt them.

The movement of the masses isn't just about oppression under tyrants, it is also about the creation and maintaining of Israel and the unconditional support it is given by the West and the West's puppet leaders in the region.

Well the sleeping giant has finally woken up and when the people start to lead their leaders will and are becoming irrelevant.

Israel's biggest ally Mubarak must now be planning an exit strategy, wondering to where he can flee - or even if he can rely any more on his Western puppet masters. They all turned their back on Ben Ali, didn't they?

In Lebanon, America's friends are folding as a prime minister is appointed who will support Israel's arch enemy Hizb'Allah, and from the West Bank to Gaza, Hamas is being seen as the peoples' choice. The Muslim Brotherhood is being re-energised in Egypt where it has been robbed over the years of election victories. They would be the ruling party if free and fair elections had ever been allowed.

And in the coalition unity government of Tunisia, alliances may well be made with returning and previously banned Islamic political parties.

It's only a matter of time before the rest of the tyrants come tumbling down like a pack of cards.

The game is up. It is over.

The Arab world is going to start and choose its own leaders. We in the West might not like the choices of the people but we should respect their wishes.

Western leaders have a great deal to think about in the coming weeks as the Arab people decide how to shape their future in the Arab world.

But the first thing to do is send Air Force One around the region to collect all the dictators, tyrants and despots on the US payroll and take them back to Washington.

Like pet poo in New York's Central Park, you have to take responsibility for the mess your dogs' mess.

*British journalist Yvonne Ridley is also the European President of the International Muslim Women's Union

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Open your eyes

2011-01-24T19:30:00.003Z

There are many people in Britain who refer to Islamophobia as a myth and deny its existence. These people should look no further then the furore over Baroness Warsi's speech on Islamophobia at the University of Leicester.

Far from endorsing the underlying message of her speech (rising bigotry against British Muslims) her own party has distanced itself from Baroness Warsi's speech with the infamous Norman Tebbit going that one step further and saying that she shouldn't have said anything at all.

It seems that Tebbit took offence, however calling for the Baroness to be gagged flies in the face of the "freedom of speech and right to offend" mantra that is carted out all too often when attempting to silence discontent from Muslims, not that anything that Baroness Warsi said was offensive.

This is the same Tebbit remember who in 2001 wrote a piece for a website with racist links and called for Muslims in Britain to undergo a "civilisation" test.

The fact that Baroness Warsi rattled the cage of someone like Tebbit is no surprise, however the clearest vindication of her stance and argument comes in the form of comments left on the Daily Mail site, here's an example from someone called "Harry"

"I am phobic about all religions, especially the monotheistic ones. It's just that out of the three, islam is the most reprehensible and nauseating"

More worrying is the fact that this comment has been "liked" 912 times.

For those who say Islamophobia doesn't exist...it's time to open your eyes.

The Palestine Papers

2011-01-24T07:14:00.003Z

Details of the Palestine Papers are only just emerging but if intial details about the concessions that the PLO were allegedly willing to make are true, then it raises serious questions about whether the PLO are best placed to negotiate the future of the Palestinian People.

Preachers of hate not welcome here!

2010-12-14T14:42:00.001Z

Guardian Poll on whether Pastor Terry Jones should be banned from entering the UK

Vote no!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Truth triumphs over lies and smear

2010-11-29T22:32:00.004Z

Hopefully this verdict will teach Melanie Phillips a valuable lesson that one shouldn't go about making false accusations because eventually the truth shall prevail and one will be forced to to backtrack despite a concerted effort to pass off their lies as fact.

The Spectator apologises for falsely accusing Muslim of antisemitism

Pirates of the Med - take 2

2010-11-15T12:11:00.005Z

The following story from Veterans Today shows the complexity and danger that accompanies those wishing to help the people of Gaza, who endure collective punishment at the hands of Israel. The video has been shot by Ken O'Keefe, peace activist and survivor of the Mavi Marmara massacre committed by Israel earlier this year.

On Wednesday November 10th $82,500 was transferred to the Egyptian Shipping Agent representing Maltese registered “Strofades IV” for charter from Derna (Libya) to Al Arish (Egypt). Convoy Leader Kieran Turner, speaking from the ship off the coast of Libya commented that “Ten members of the convoy along with seven Libyan police officers (including the port captain of Derna, Libya) have been kidnapped.”

At the time of writing, convoy members have been held on the Greek-owned ship – at sea with its cargo ramp open (endangering all aboard) – for 40 hours. When mobile phone signals were available while the ship was passing Crete, Turner commented that “We believe we are now being taken towards Greece, away from Gaza, the destination we have been pursuing for four weeks – including over two weeks stranded at the Egyptian border.

With Egypt insisting that aid convoys must travel by sea rather than land, we were compelled to embark on what has been shown to be a dangerous, difficult, and unnecessarily expensive path to Gaza.”

Ken O’Keefe, a convoy leader and survivor of the Mavi Marmara massacre, who on that occasion disarmed two Israeli commandos, said “We have spent the past two weeks in Libya trying to get our aid through Egypt by land to Gaza.

Instead we were compelled to enter complex negotiations with shipping agents who appear to have had some kind of falling-out with the ship owner – with no apparent concern for the suffering being experienced in Gaza. This begs the question why land access is not possible into Egypt for Gaza?”

After 36 hours at sea approximately 20 Greek commandos boarded the ship in Greek waters by Zodiak. The owner of the Strofades IV (who directed the captain to depart Derna Port unlawfully) communicated to the Greek officials that the kidnapped convoy members were “terrorists”. Ken O’Keefe commented that “Despite this, the Greek commandos were professional, moral and humane. This runs in stark contrast to the brutal and murderous treatment we received from the Israeli commandos on the Mavi Marmara.”

“As of this writing (aboard the Strofades IV) we are safe and comfortable, with one sick convoy member being tended to, and water and toilets being provided on request. We hope to be processed promptly.” Convoy team leader Tauqir Sharif says “Our main priority now is to be reunited with the convoy in Libya and take our aid to Gaza as soon as possible, whether by sea or land.”

Paranoid Activity

2010-11-13T10:40:00.001Z

The fact that Islamophobia is reaching dizzying heights, especially in the U S of A, is not a surprise.

However the extent to which it has affected people's minds and turned them into nervous quivering wrecks is a worrying new development.

Hat tip to the guys at loonwatch for exposing the paranoia that prevails across the pond.

This story shows how anything that might come close to resembling a crescent moon is now being seen as a sinister Islamic plot.

One wonders whether Danny Gonzales of 'Moving America Forward' will be writing to NASA next to complain about the appearance of the crescent moon over the skies of the United States every month.

No one's that stupid, I hear you say??

The way things are going I wouldn't rule it out!

Liberated Women

2010-10-30T13:13:00.003Z

They say that life is full of surprises and today this proved true for me as I saw a link to an article in the Mail with the title;

Why ARE so many modern British career women converting to Islam

Over the years I have built up a natural expectation that anything related to Islam featured in a paper like the Mail is bound to be one-sided, loaded with unspeak, and to put it bluntly a pile of Islamophobic trash.

And the first dozen paragraphs of this piece by Eve Ahmed fully live up to expectations as she sums up in a nutshell her experiences of growing up with her Pakistani Father's version of Islam i.e. not really Islam but cultural dogma from the subcontinent. However the Mail feels content to describe this to readers as a 'Muslim upbringing' as far as Eve is concerned so that they equate the regressive cultural traits of Ahmed's father with the faith of Islam.

From there on in however, the article takes a significantly different turn as Eve explores the growing trend among White, Educated, middle class women freely embracing the faith.

It is these stories that start to sort the fact from fiction for the readers and attempts to cleanse their minds of the negative preamble shoved down their throats at the beginning of Ahmed's piece.

What emerges is, for me, the best advert for Islam that I have ever come across.

The individual stories helps the readers to see Islam from an altogether different perspective i.e. that of individuals who have been raised all their life as 'free women' but who have found something missing in their lives and it has been the beauty of the faith of Islam that has helped to plug this void.

For those with the will to read the full piece with an open mind, they will by the end of the article come away (hopefully) with a more understanding view of Islam. After all, it is the ignorance of Islam which breeds the fear and ultimately hatred towards Islam these days and any article which helps to clear this ignorance should be promoted.

I highly doubt that it was the Mail's intention to write an article which reflects positively on Islam, however the truth & sincerity of the individuals' stories helps to cut through any journalistic bias shown by Ahmed and the Mail.

Sir Gerald Kaufman in Conversation with Michael White

2010-10-17T15:23:00.004Z

Sir Gerald Kaufman MP tells Michael White of the Guardian about his life in politics and his thoughts on the prospect of peace in Palestine. The event is sponsored by Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, and the Middle East Monitor (MEMO).

Settler Leader ploughs into Palestinian Children

2010-10-09T07:58:00.004Z

This video speaks for itself, the only extra bit of information you need is that the driver, David Be'eri, was the Head of a right wing organisation called Elad whose goal it is to futher propogate the illegal occupation of Palestinian land by expanding the illegal Israeli settlements.

Israel gives Nobel Laureate the boot!

2010-10-06T19:32:00.003Z

Innocent Palestinian Men, Women, Children, foreign Peace Activists and now a Nobel Laureate.

These are the people Israel targets with a host of measures ranging from imprisonment, occupation, White Phosphorous and in the case of Mairead Maguire, expulsion.

What was her 'crime'?

She tried to break the illegal Israeli siege of Gaza by trying to take aid to its impoverished and imprisoned people.

Yet another example of "the Middle East's only Democracy" in action.

From the BBC

Settler Militia attacks Mosque

2010-10-04T19:12:00.004Z

Settler Militia in the Occupied West Bank launched a raid on the Palestinian town of Beit Fajjar this morning and set fire to a local Mosque.

During the attack the Militia also sprayed racist graffiti on the Mosque Walls.

The Settler Militia operate out of illegal Israeli settlements that are scattered throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories in defiance of International and UN law.

The return of Old Labour?

2010-09-30T21:14:00.005Z

This certainly has been an eventful week.

Last weekend the centre of Manchester was transformed and given its own version of the Green Zone as the Labour Party rolled into town for its annual conference.

I attended a few of the fringe meetings that took place including the Labour Friends of Palestine (LFP) reception sponsored by Friends of Al Aqsa.

To my surprise the event was held in the secure zone of the conference thus was one of the more mainstream of the fringe events. The guest list included Labour MPs Yasmin Qureshi, Anas Sarwar, Douglas Alexander, Stephen Timms, Shabana Mahmood, Andy Slaughter, Andy Burnham, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Manuel Hassassian and Knesset Member Haneen Zoabi amongst many others

However the biggest shock of the night was to see the newly elected Labour leader Ed Miliband not only attend but take to the stage to address the attendees at the reception. He gave his support to the group and reaffirmed his commitment to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territories including Gaza. We'll be watching closely to see if he honours this promise. Defeated leadership candidate, Andy Burnham, also addressed the gathering later that evening.

For the LFP this was certainly a big night and the strong endorsement from the party heavyweights signals the groups rising influence, which is a welcome development.

Whilst there was certainly a lot to cheer about on the night, I know better than to get my hopes up based purely on the attendance of such notables. However its symbolic value can not be overlooked and the fact that the new Leader of the party made an appearance at a Friends of Palestine event and spoke is a significant step and a positive one.

Miliband later went on to make a groundbreaking speech to the Conference as Leader, the key highlight was a long awaited admission that we were wrong to go to war with Iraq.

Of course, that doesn't make the troubles in Iraq go away nor does it bring back to life the million plus Iraqis murdered since the US led invasion. However it is, hopefully, a key signal that Miliband plans to put an end to Blair's New Labour project and with it any lasting Blairite legacy. The bold declaration also doesn't exonerate those in Labour who voted for the War, I know that prosecuting Blair for War Crimes is pie in the sky thinking but here's hoping that the changed direction sets us on that path. An important test will be to see if Miliband excludes the war mongering MPs who voted for the invasion from his shadow cabinet.

So to sum up, the streets of central Manchester are open once more and any visible reminders of the Labour party's presence in Manchester are gone. What's left are the words and the promises made by Miliband, he certainly seems to be making all the right noises and the fact that his mother is a survivor from the Nazi concentration camps and a pro-Palestinian activist provides some form of reassurance that maybe he won't renege on his promises.

However Politicians always say the right things and make the right sounds, that's why they're Politicians after all. It's the delivery of actions that counts and that's the real test for Miliband as Leader of the Labour party.

Is he genuinely going to take Labour in a new direction or is he, like Blair, going to spin the story and pull the wool over our eyes?

And they say that all Extremists are Muslims

2010-09-14T21:24:00.004Z

The following is sick, disgusting, racist and incitement to murder.

Inspired by Pastor Terry Jones' 'Burn a Koran' an event has been created on facebook called 'Burn a Paki Day'.

Please click on the link above and scroll to the bottom of the page and click "report event", select "contains hate speech or attacks an individual" and then select "targets a race or ethnicity" from the drop down list.

Facebook needs to delete this page event immediately and report the creator to the authorities for inciting murder.

Update - Wednesday 15th September

Thank you to all those who responded to the above, this time round Facebook appears to have got its act together and the page seems to have been deleted.

However we shouldn't ignore the fact that extremism is an ideology which has no faith, race or creed and is, unfortunately, present in elements of each society. Itis not as some Islamophobes claim, 'a Muslim problem'.

Woolas in the dock!

2010-09-14T20:01:00.005Z

It appears that when MP Phil Woolas isn't referring to voter concerns as "crap", he is in the dock defending himself against allegations that he exploited racial tensions in his constituency to smear his opponent in the last General Election to secure victory.

Great to have folk like this representing us in Parliament isn't it!?

The new anti-Semitism

2010-09-13T12:00:00.000Z

The new anti-Semitism

from Mondoweiss

"I now oppose ALL Churches"

2010-09-11T09:55:00.008Z

The ongoing row over the so called "Ground Zero Mosque" has forced me to evaluate my stance on churches and I have reached the conclusion that I now oppose the construction of all Churches.

Why!??

It's simple, I regard the KKK as an extremist group who base their beliefs and practices on the Bible therefore I think that the building of Churches anywhere in the World honours their ideology and dishonours the memories of all those who have been lynched by the KKK.

Okay, now let's return to sanity....

For the record you'll be pleased to know that I DO NOT oppose churces but felt it necessary to make the stark statement above to highlight the absurdity of the argument being put forward by opponents of the Muslim cultural centre in NewYork, Park 51.

Yesterday marked the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and what was particularly saddening to see on TV were relatives of the victims who were opposed to Park 51. The rationale for their opposition was, to put it bluntly, illogical and nonsensical.

For example the following are some of the comments that I came across on radio and tv

"They (terrorists) murdered in the name of that religion (Islam) and therefore the Mosque represents what they did..."

"I'm not opposed to them building a Mosque, but why does it have to be here, it's like building a Nazi museum near a Holocaust memorial"

"That's no place for a Mosque, it's a financial district not a religious place...I'm sure a lot of Muslims don't want the Mosque either"

Can people who make comments like this expect people to believe them when they say that they don't oppose Muslims or Mosques?

Consider the following, suppose for a second that a person made the following statement

"I'm not against Black or Asian people but I don't want them living on my street. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a racist but why do they have to live here when there's plenty of other places for them to go."

Can a person who makes such a blatantly racist comment have any moral ground to claim that he or she is not prejudiced?

Of course not, in the same way the relatives of 9/11 victims who are opposing Park 51 have no grounds for claiming that they don't have anything against Islam or Muslims, when they quite clearly do.

Unfortunately this massively blown out of proportion fiasco over Park 51 is just another example confirming that we live in an increasingly Islamophobic World where Muslims can not put a foot right.

It is quite literally a case of damned if we do, damned if we don't.

I for one want to see Park 51 open in its current proposed location so that the real extremists, the Islamophobes, can be defeated and America can rightly claim to stand for religious freedom for all.

Blood Sport

2010-09-10T20:13:00.003Z

These "soldiers" represent the Armed Forces of the (alleged) 'Civilised World'.

US Soldiers killed 'Afghan civilians for sport and collected fingers as trophies'

Always about the spin!

2010-09-08T10:16:00.001Z

Blair runs scared

When one spends years in the company of close friends it shouldn't come as a surprise if one picks up their habits, be they good or bad.

Having Alastair Campbell around for all those years certainly seems to have left its mark on Tony Blair, who had to cancel a book signing event in London owing to a planned protest against his visit.

Blair, however, never misses a trick and decided to use the the opportunity to spin the situation to his favour by portraying himself as a considerate citizen who canceled the book signing to spare Londoners the hassle & inconvenience caused by the protestors blah blah blah......

The truth of course is that he would have had to face up to the fact that someone with a tainted past like his can not simply go about their money spinning business without being held to account by citizens of conscience.

He can run away for now but, God willing, I look forward to the day when his shrivelled face is in the dock at The Hague facing up to the war crimes he's committed.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lynch Mob aka Israeli Knesset

2010-09-04T03:50:00.004Z

"The Middle East's only Democracy" in action ladies & gentlemen. MK Haneen Zoabi attempts, unsuccessfully, to convey the truth behind the Gaza Flotilla Massacre only to be viciously attacked by Zionist Extremist members of the Knesset.

Blind Support in more ways than one!

2010-08-22T11:10:00.005Z

I'm no expert on the English language but if I were to attempt to define the term 'Blind Support', I'd describe it as follows;

"where one offers support to a third party irrespective of its conduct or actions i.e. unquestioning or unconditional support come what may"

The term has particular relevance when referring to the Middle East especially with regards to support for Israel.

However when it comes to Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley & Broughton in North Manchester, the term has an additional meaning.

When one of his constituents wrote to Mr Stringer following Israel's attack on the Free Gaza Aid Flotilla, his response confirmed that he had little interest in the plight of the Palestinians given his regurgitation of the official Zionist argument with respect to the region.
Graham Stringer Letter PDF

However more worrying was Mr Stringer's lack of knowledge about the geo-politics of the region considering his strong support for Israel.

As shown in the attached letter that he sent to his constituent, Mr Stringer was of the view that the Free Gaza Flotilla was attacked by the "Iraqi Armed Services".

That's quite a feat considering Iraq doesn't actually border the Mediterranean Sea.

If anyone has a spare Atlas lying about the house please forward this to Mr Stringer at the following address so that he can better understand the region about which he holds such strong one sided views.

Graham Stringer MP

Blackley & Broughton

House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

One hopes that Mr Stringer doesn't still think that the World is flat!

Update - I'm conscious that a number of you were having difficulty in accessing the document using the Scribd link. Hopefully this is now fixed but please let me know if you are still having trouble.

Open letter to Jane Corbin

2010-08-21T18:15:00.003Z

Following the 30 minutes of lies, propaganda and bias that the BBC broadcast on Monday 16th August, conscious minded people throughout the country have written in to the BBC to complain about the Panorama programme "Death on the Med".

A summary is provided on our sister blog, Manchester Evening Snooze, if you want a quick overview of what was broadcast or you can catch the entire episode on BBC iplayer.

Former US Marine turned peace activist Ken O'Keefe was featured on the programme but it now transpires that the presenter Jane Corbin undertook selective editing to leave out key facts from his interview in order to cast further negative light on the Mavi Marmara.

Mr O'Keefe has written an open letter to Corbin which is posted on the excellent British Propaganda Corporation site asking her to do a bit of soul searching, assuming one still lurks beneath her icy exterior.

Click here to see the open letter by Mr O'Keefe.

BBC to Israel's rescue ........... again!

2010-08-16T17:17:00.008Z

Israel's piracy and murder on the high seas earlier this summer left it's global image in tatters, despite desperate attempts by it's loyal Hasbara foot soldiers to try and spin the story in Israel's favour.

Now it seems that the Israeli pirate unit that carried out the attack on the unarmed aid flotilla, is going to be the subject of a BBC Panorama programme to be broadcast tonight at 8:30pm on BBC1.

"Death on the Med" will give airtime to Israel's "Naval Commando 13", who launched the unprovoked attack in International Waters and murdered at least 9 peace activists.

If the above article by Jane Corbin on the BBC News wesbsite is anything to go by then there is little doubt that this programme will give a platform to the pirates so that they may portray themseleves as the victims in this whole affair.

We are all too familiar with the Beeb's pro-Israel stance, one only needs to cast their minds back to January last year. At that time the BBC refused to broadcast the aid appeal by the Disasters & Emergency Committee when Israel was bombing Gaza's men, women and children with deadly white phosphorous.

Watch the programme tonight and use the relevant channels to register your complaints of bias, you can do it online, by phone on 03700 100212 or by emailing panorama.reply@bbc.co.uk

Our sister blog , Manchester Evening Snooze, will be presenting a full review of the programme in a couple of days.....watch this space.

Land of Hate

2010-08-13T17:08:00.002Z

In the article below the Guardian writes how the construction of a cultural centre 2 blocks away from the site of the World Trade Centre, dubbed 'Ground Zero Mosque' by Stateside Neo-cons, is fuelling a worrying a tide of Islamophobia in America.

One wonders what the reaction would be, particularly in the tabloids, if such hatred was being perpetrated by Muslim groups?

Equating the horrendous act of September 11 with all Muslims and Islam is Islamophobia in it's ugliest form.

Read the full article on the Guardian website

Ramadhan Kareem

2010-08-10T20:57:00.004Z

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa" (The Quran, Chapter 2: Verse 183)

This is a month to think about those less fortunate than yourselves such as the millions affected by the flooding in Pakistan. Please remember them and the countless others around the World who are in need, remember them in your duahs and give generously in this blessed month.

Click here to visit the Disasters & Emergency Committee (DEC) donation site for Pakistan.

May Allah accept all our prayers and fasts in this month and ease the suffering of the destitute, Ameen.

Poor Pam

2010-06-14T22:03:00.002Z

I'd like to think that, despite the passing years, I'm still down with the kids.

So how do I best sum up my response to the news that Pam Geller's hate filled cess pool Atlas Shrugs (correctly dubbed Atlas Drugs by the fine folk at Loonwatch) has been declared a hate site by Paypal?

How's this?

LOL! :-P

Israeli Flotilla Attack - Raw Footage

2010-06-13T11:42:00.004Z

Along with murdering peace activists and kidnapping & detaining those on board the Gaza aid flotilla, Israel also stole any video it could find to ensure that any unedited version of events could not be released to the World.

However, thanks to the efforts of Lara Lee, a 1 hour raw footage aboard the Mavi Marmara has now been posted online at Cultures of Resistance for all to see, including Hasbara stalwarts.

Here's the clip from youtube, please share.

If in doubt, blame Pakistan

2010-06-13T11:09:00.004Z

So a report has been published by Matt Waldman of the Kenndy School of Government, which accuses Pakistan's ISI of offically backing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

This is an accusation which has been tabled numerous time before, but this time it's contained in a nice glossy report so of course it must be true!

There is of course the matter of proof. In Waldman's case the following are just some of the words he presented during an interview on Al Jazeera to try and justify his very serious accusation under some much needed scruiny by the news anchor who did a fantastic job.

"I'm reporting what I have heard from a source (Afghan Commanders in Afghanistan)....I believe these individuals were speaking very frankly...." and so it went on but no actual admission that he had any shred of evidence.

Basically the report is based on the hear say of Afghans on the ground.

One would've thought that an institution as prestigious as the Kennedy School of Government would have based such significant accusations on credible and tangible proof as opposed to producing something based on nothing more than a hunch.

Queen Rania of Jordan: Hardliners are now the face of Israel

2010-06-11T10:00:00.000Z

From The Independent

Gaza blockade: By attacking criticism as part of an anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda war, they yet again fail tounderstand that the problem is policy, not PR

What do chocolate, cookies, A4 paper, potato chips, cumin, toys, jelly, nuts, dried fruit, nutmeg, and goats have in common? It's a tricky one. If you're a moderate, they have nothing in common. But if you are a hard-line Israeli politician, they are all potentially dangerous goods that could threaten Israel's security. It seems that side of the political spectrum has won the argument, as all the above are items that the Israeli government has prohibited from entering Gaza.

It's understandable. I mean, you can inflict a lot of damage on your oppressors with a chocolate biscuit. And those paper cuts, boy, they can really hurt. But I don't want to over-dramatize the situation, because it's not all doom and gloom down in Gaza. Many items are allowed in: mops, sponges for washing, egg cartons, glass cleaner, hair combs, plastic chicken cages, and lentils, for example. So what exactly are the 1.5 million Gazan people complaining about? What could possibly have been on the Freedom Flotilla that Israeli commandos attacked early last Sunday morning in international waters, in yet another assault that has appalled our global community?

By most accounts, on the flotilla were 10,000 tonnes of, not guns, but vital humanitarian aid. The people of Gaza desperately need it to survive the 1,000 days of illegal blockade which has crippled Gaza and reduced it to a barely functioning, open-air prison. This is aid like cement to rebuild homes, which have lain in rubble and ruin since the monstrous attacks on Gaza last year; school supplies; and medical equipment, like water purification tablets and wheelchairs.

The attack stunned the world because of its blatant and absurd disregard for anything resembling international law, human rights, and diplomatic norms. Its glaring outrageousness stunned, but didn't surprise, me. It cannot be viewed in isolation. It is another upshot of a dogma long fermenting on Israel's political landscape.

It is a doctrine that lives for itself and off others. It survives by tapping into the subliminal and cognisant levels. It implants into public consciousness a set of tenets that see Israeli's very existence as eternally under threat, to be defended through any means (preferably through use of force to show the enemy who's boss). It is best served through the adoption of an "us against the world" mentality. By its very nature, hardline ideology is self-serving and self-perpetuating. Its primary goal is to survive – and that precludes everything. If to exist it must redefine what is acceptable, redraw the lines of international law, and re-imagine what weapons are appropriate – so be it. Assigning themselves authority and immunity, Israel's leaders feel licensed to do whatever they like and not expect an international outcry.

But this hardened path is fraught with dangers for all of us. These radical policies debar Palestinian value and, by extension, human value. Harsh measures then become more palatable. Inflicting violence upon an innocent majority to punish the guilty few now seems necessary. Every day the blockade continues is another day our humanity remains under siege.

The effect is a people trapped between a rock and a hardline policy. The product is desperation; the reaction, more hardline policies, attempting to defend previous hardline policies. After all, did this outrageous attack take place to preserve Israel's security, or to sustain the blockade itself?

What is most frustrating is Israel's defence of its actions. By attacking criticism as part of an anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda war, Israel, yet again, fails to understand that the problem is policy, not PR. Now and always, hardline policy and those who embrace it are vessels for darker forces that are at once self-cannibalising and combustible. No good can come of them. They are unsustainable because their sense of righteousness denies human worth. Apart from other hardliners on all sides who now have been gifted the fuel to invigorate their fanaticism and circulate it far and wide, everyone else loses out. The people of Gaza lose out: 80 per cent of them live below the poverty line. The children of Gaza lose out: one third of their schools, destroyed during the attack on Gaza last year, still haven't been rebuilt. The newborns of Gaza lose out: 95% of Gaza's nitrate-full water fails the World Health Organization's standards, leaving thousands of babies at risk of poisoning.

The people of Israel lose out: rejected by a third of the countries in the United Nations, shunned by much of the global community, ordinary Israelis find themselves persona non grata outside their "borders". Living defensively isn't a way of life; people only thrive on secure foundations. Is the Israeli government really prepared to condemn its own people to the shaky foundations of rule-by-fear, and its consequences?

Israel's leadership needs to ask itself some tough questions. "Is our long term strategy to rule by fear? Is our long term outlook for the Israeli people one of constant defence? Are these horizons of hopelessness what we want for our people?". And moderates around the world lose out: people like me, who dared to believe that the road to peace doesn't have to be a lonely and desolate one. That a two-state solution is not the figment of a naïve idealist's imagination. And those whose ethical responsibility it is now to deal with the science of reality, to form a coalition of humans that question and confront the assumptions of those on their far right, and to reaffirm the ethos of moderation. After all, isn't moderation where most of the living is done?

Speaking as a moderate, I fear if the tides don't turn in our region, moderation will be amongst the most painful casualties of continued aggression and hardline policies. As someone who lived through the late King Hussein's fight for peace, until his very last breath, and watches his son, my husband, King Abdullah, continue that fight, it actually breaks my heart to see us moving further and further away from peace.

Peace. People. Moderation. I would have thought that those were too heavy a price to pay for sustaining a hardened stance. So, when flotillas came to break the blockade, they came to help the people of Gaza. But, just as important, they came to break the blockade on the Israeli mind.

Gaza Flotilla Massacre - Eyewitness Account

2010-06-10T10:00:00.000Z

Kevin Ovenden of Viva Palestina was onboard the Mavi Marmara when it was attacked by the Israeli Navy and 10 of his fellow peace activists were shot in cold blood by the Israelis.

Here is his eyewitness account of the events that will cut through the lies being churned out by the Israeli propaganda machine

Israeli Flotilla Attack Was Not Bungled

2010-06-09T10:00:00.000Z

By now we're all tired of hearing Israel and it's Hasbara footsoldiers around the World churning out the lie that Israel acted in self defence when it murdered peace activists aboard the Mavi Marmara.

We've been told passionately by Israeli spokesman Mark Regev that the Israelis had no intention of using force against the Aid flotilla.

All credit to Max Blumenthal for exposing this claim as a big fat lie, read here for more details.

5th June - London Demo Against Israeli Piracy

2010-06-07T19:28:00.033Z

Over 20,000 people turned out on Saturday 5th June to protest Israel's piracy and murder on the high seas, including veteran MP Tony Benn.

Stand up against Israeli Piracy

2010-06-04T06:32:00.000Z

Reality Check

2010-06-02T17:10:00.004Z

The Israeli Government has been pleading it's case in the PR arena by continuously peddling the lie that it's soldiers acted in 'self defence' when they murdered peace activists aboard the Mavi Marmara.

It is a lie which Israel's merry band of Hasbara footsoldiers has been only too willing to pick up and propogate through their own cesspools (websites).

Caroline Glick is one example of a loyal Hasbara recruit only too happy to spread Israeli lies. Sloppy, inaccurate and otherwise incompetent is her journalistic style as demonstrated through this piece.

On her site she is proudly displaying a video prepared by the Israeli Occupation Force to help state the case that they acted in 'self defence.

I think it's time that Glick and other members of the Hasbara brigade got a reality check.

In international waters where a Nation does not have sovereignty, the act of boarding a vessel uninvited i.e. by force, with heavily armed men is an act of piracy or hijacking.

To put it simply this act is an ATTACK or OFFENCE.

Subsequently, if the passengers on board the vessel in question resist the armed hijacking then that is an act of SELF DEFENCE.

It is, to someone with an ounce of intellect, literally common sense.

However common sense is an attribute in short supply or non existent when it comes to stalwarts of the Hasbara brigade.

Their better judgment and sanity are inhibited by their complete and utter blind support for a nation that has become synonymous for state terrorism, flagrant violations of international laws and a complete disregard for the laws of humanity & decency.

It's about time!

2010-06-02T06:44:00.002Z

It took longer than one had hoped but at last Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, called on Israel to lift the "unjustified and untenable" blockade/siege of Gaza.

It is up to us to keep up the pressure and at the same time show support to Mr Clegg, please email him, cleggn@parliament.uk otherwise the Hasbara brigade will pressurise him to retract his comments.

Manchester marches against Israeli aggression

2010-06-01T20:56:00.014Z

In response to Israel's unprovoked attack on the Gaza Flotilla, the people of Manchester came out in force with just a few hours notice to speak out against the criminal actions of the Israeli state.

To reflect the global outrage at Israel's actions, the Manchester demo was just one of countless many across the World.

Here's a short recording I made plus some photos from the demonstration

Israeli massacre - 31st May 2010

2010-05-31T09:30:00.003Z

The Israeli Navy launched an unprovoked attack on the flotilla of humanitarian aid ships en route to Gaza in International waters.

This has left at least 10 peace workers dead, after the Israelis used live ammunition.

Not content with inflicting collective punishment on the people of Gaza, the Israelis have now resorted to attacking unarmed humanitarian vessels in International waters.......this is piracy.

Dear Mr Clegg.....

2010-05-20T22:07:00.002Z

An excellent letter from Michael Mansfield QC to the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg from Thursday's CiF on the issue of Palestine.

Dear Nick Clegg,

This is a request for action speaking louder than words by the new coalition. I welcome your early commitment to the restoration of civil rights as part of the mainstream agenda for the UK. However, there is a civil rights crisis in the Middle East. Both these situations were seriously ignored by the previous Labour administration.

I appreciate that you are well aware that the humanitarian disaster occurring on a daily basis in Palestine has been brought about by the well-recognised and documented unlawful activities of the Israel state. Your article in the Guardian last December admirably exposes the iniquity of the Gaza blockade. There are of course many other examples – illegal settlements, the separation wall, the demolition of Palestinian homes, sequestration of water supplies, destruction of olive groves, etc.

The UN and other bodies have passed resolution upon resolution about these matters as well as an extremely strong judgment by the international court of justice in The Hague concerning the wall. But nothing ever happens.

As I write, a flotilla of ships convened by a collective of courageous individuals is heading towards the coast of Gaza laden with cement for the long overdue reconstruction and school books for the children. The Israeli navy regularly and illegally restricts Palestinian territorial waters and prevents lawful activity by Palestinians and the entry of humanitarian aid. It is utterly predictable, given the Israeli flagrant disregard for international law, that they will attack this flotilla.

You are now in a position to implement the policies you expressed in your article.

First: the Royal Navy (recently employed to rescue stranded airline passengers) should be on hand to prevent the Israeli navy from violating the lawful activities of European citizens.

Second: for the longer term, the UK government must fulfil its obligations as clearly set out by the international court of justice to terminate Israel's manifold violations.

Third: your support of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine when it comes to London in November will be much appreciated. I write as a jury member of the tribunal and as someone who has participated in two missions to Palestine in the past.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Mansfield QC

Beauty pageant re-affirms the ugly face of Islamophobes

2010-05-18T18:58:00.004Z

The Daily Express today featured a front page photo of bikini clad Rima Fakih with the caption "first Muslim Miss America" emblazoned across the bottom. For factual accuracy she is actually Miss USA as Miss America is a completely different contest.

It is not my place to comment or pass judgement on Ms Fakih as she is not my mother, sister, wife or daughter.

However one thing that is worth flagging is the discontent that her crowning has caused amongst notable Islamophobes such as Daniel Pipes and the aesthetically challenged Debbie Schlussel.

The latter has used Ms Fakih's victory as a launchpad into the twilight zone, drawing conclusions and alleging conspiracy theories that would give David Icke a run for his money. Schlussel's foray into insanity is captured brilliantly in this piece by Loonwatch.

The moronic conspiracy theories aside, Ms Fakih's victory does serve as a useful reminder to us all of the level of hatred and contempt that these Islamophobes harbour towards Muslims.

They will cry out against religious Muslim women who cover up or wear the veil and accuse them of undermining "western values" or "our way of life".

Arguments like that would make you think that they would be more accepting of Muslims if "they became/behave more like us".

In truth the sad fact is that for these Islamophobes Muslims can fall on opposite ends of the religious spectrum, but so long as they cling onto any semblance of their Muslim identity, the likes of Pipes and Schlussel simply aren't prepared to make their peace with them.

With intolerance towards one particular group of people so firmly entrenched in their hearts, it does beg the question as to who are the real extremists?

(Ir)responsible journalism

2010-05-03T15:21:00.003Z

Watch these 2 Australian cameramen hound and eventually provoke a respectable man into giving them the footage that they want to broadcast to the rest of the World.

The internet however has made it easier for the truth to come to light, therefore please share the following video with as many people as you can.

Afghan Conundrum

2010-03-22T20:41:00.004Z

The Economist writes an article about Afghanistan and Pakistan's interest in its North Eastern neighbour.

It really irks me when the article states that ordinary Afghans resent their neighbour (Pakistan). If that was really true then why would countless Afghans still choose to live in Pakistan's cities? There is a strong bond of ethnicity and kinship between the Pashtuns on both sides of the border. To flippantly remark that ordinary Afghans resent Pakistan is to mislead people.

Then there's the question of India.

India's interest in Afghanistan is not borne out of compassion or humanity. India has no strategic interest in landlocked, impoverished and resource-dry Afghanistan other than to encircle Pakistan in order to prop up an Afghan regime that's, at worst, lukewarm or, at best, hostile towards its arch rival Pakistan.

And let's not forget that Afghanistan is perfectly positioned as a platform for India's sinister spy agency, the Research & Analysis Wing or RAW (emblem pictured above), to wreak havoc in Pakistan especially the province of Baluchistan.

In a best case scenario India would like to have an Afghan regime that's a thorn in the side for Pakistan so as to distract it and divert its military resources away from its border with India.

Rather than dwell on Pakistan's future interests in Afghanistan, it's about time that the right wing neo-con analysts at the the Economist stopped glossing over India and its own agenda in Afghanistan.

Lula refuses to honour a fascist

2010-03-16T07:08:00.005Z

Would you visit a shrine devoted to the memory of a man who founded a vile rascist political ideology?

If you had any regard for decency and morals then of course you wouldn't

We are talking about Theodore Herzl, the founder of the Zionist ideology. That same ideology, which has fueled and continues to drive the longest running occupation in modern history, the suppression of basic human rights & dignity and can be considered one of the biggest obstacles to achieving peace in the Middle East.

President Lula of Brazil took a similar stance on his visit to Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan by refusing to pay his respects to Herzl. Extremists in Israel, like Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, were infuriated and boycotted a reception in honour of President Lula.

Frankly, if I were President Lula I'd be thankful for being spared the company of an ex-Moldovan bouncer who stands for nothing but hatred towards the Palestinians.

Brazil is emerging as an important player on the geo-political scene and should be applauded for using its new found influence to approach the Middle East with a balanced view, including its refusal to isolate Iran.

The "Quartet" has tried and failed to deliver peace in the Middle East, it's time for others to try and make a difference.

Damned if we don't, damned if we do!

2010-03-02T20:43:00.004Z

Muslims need to integrate, assimilate etc.........

That is the mantra that you will have heard time and time again. Muslims in Britain have been singled out numerous times to be told that they need to play a more active role in society, demonstrate that they are committed to democracy and join the 'mainstream' so that "violence and extremism" can be defeated, blah blah blah!

So surely one way to end such dictats from being dished out is to demonstrate that they are playing an active role in democracy right?

WRONG!

Channel 4's Dispatches documentary, broadcast on Monday, plummetted to new depths of gutter journalism.

The programme engaged in scaremongering, months before a General Election, about how Muslims in the Tower Hamlets area of London are planning to stage a coup & declare an Islamic Republic of Britain.

'And how do they plan to pull off this dastardly feat?'

Simple, by "infiltrating" the Labour party.

Amongst those making the ridiculous allegations was Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick (pictured), who famously stormed out of a Muslim wedding because he objected to the segregated seating arrangements.

The programme's rhetoric was inflammatory to say the least and talking up wild conspiracy theories of a Muslim takeover of Britain, a country where over 90% of the population is non-Muslim, was absurd.

The programme featured the kind of accusations, which wouldn't look out of place in a BNP leaflet.

This was irresponsible journalism on a massive scale.

It is for this reason that every decent person out there needs to take action and complain about this programme.

You can fill out a complaint online or write to the following address;

Channel 4 Enquiries
PO Box 1058
Belfast
BT 1 9DU

Better late than never

2010-02-21T12:16:00.011Z

When allegations first broke that Mossad, Israel's sinister spy agency, had forged British passports & sent a Death Squad to Dubai to murder murder Mahmoud al Mabhouh, I waited anxiously for the Hasbara stalwart, Melanie Phillips, to play her usual bigotry and anti-semitism cards.

After a full day passed and no reaction on her cesspool (aka her Spectator blog) I was beginning to get worried.....was she alright?

How could she possibly sit back and allow this unprecedented cross-party & media criticism of her favourite country (Israel) to continue?

Alas, it seems she was waiting for a hook, no matter how small or weak, which she could use to manipulate her readers into thinking that the matter was being used to stir up racial hatred.

No change in tactic I see......if in doubt, cry out anti-semitism!

She referred to a piece by Douglas Murray (always a bad move). Murray commented in a Telegraph news blog that an interviewee on BBC Radio 4's PM programme claimed "...that up to one million Jews worldwide might be on hand to assist Mossad in executions."

Murray uses this to launch into a sarcastic tirade that amongst all his Jewish friends , some may well be members of this hit squad. We have to remember that Murray and his shabby Islamophobic think tank, Centre for Social Cohesion, is no stranger to twisting words. Take a look here and here for previous examples.

At first glance the comment he is quoting seems quite inciteful against Jewish people as it stereotypes a significant number of them, that exactly what he wants readers to think. However he fails to mention who made the comments, because that is equally significant for readers, and also in what context the comments were made.

I happened to listen to the entire podcast involving said interviewee and not just the point at 17:35, which Murray directs readers to, where the comments were made.

The interviewee was Gordon Thomas, Author of "Gideon Spies - The Secret History of the Mossad", whose book was written after having access to Mossad operatives. In the interview, Mr Thomas claims that Mossad has a network of operatives to carry out their activities "...estimated to be half a million, some say a million, I say half a million" (emphasis added by me).

In the podcast, Mr Thomas says quite clearly "...I say half a million". However Murray has no qualms about attributing the higher figure of 1 million to him even though he didn't say it....classic Murray!

By failing to mention the context and background to Mr Thomas, the average reader could easily fall into Murray's trap of thinking the "interviewee" out to be another anti-semite when in fact Mr Thomas is speaking from research and familiarity with Mossad procedures rather than just hurling baseless accusations.

This of course is missed by both Phillips and Murray in their joint Hasbara barrage ,which seeks to divert readers' attention away from the Israeli forging of EU passports and towards a desperate attempt to invoke sympathy by crying anti-semitism.

Such acts from the Hasbara crew are sick because they detract from actual crimes of hate against Jewish people. And for that, Phillips especially, should be ashamed of themselves.

The truth will eventually emerge and implicate Israel, this report from the Times reports that Bin Yamin signed off on the murder of Mahmoud al Mabhouh.

So in summary, it's not a case of 'if Israel will be found out' but rather 'when'.

Watch this space.

Do you smell a rat?

2010-02-17T20:29:00.005Z

....you should.

The last high profile assassination attempt by Israel was carried under the premiership of the very same Bin Yamin Netanyahu who is, unfortunately, in power today.

Back then the assassination attempt failed to kill its intended target, Khaled Meshaal, and it was revealed that Israel had sent agents with forged Canadian passports to carry out the deed.

Canada with no history of animosity towards the Israeli state was an interesting choice for Israel as it showed that the Government of Bin Yamin couldn't care less if it trampled on the goodwill of friendly nations to carry out its covert operations.

This time round Bin Yamin is in office again, and it's been revealed that 11 suspects are wanted by the authorities in Dubai in connection with the killing of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, a Hamas commander in Dubai last month.

Of the 11, 6 have been revealed as forged British Passports that belong to British citizens living in Israel, all of whom are oblivious about the theft of their identity.

Israel, of course, is denying any allegations of its involvement in the killing but there's no denying Israel's track record when it comes to covert killings.

If, as all the warning signs currently suggest, Israel was involved in the killing of Mahmoud Al Mabhouh, it should raise some serious questions about whether Israel is really an ally of Britain as it claims to be.

In the normal course of friendly relations between states it is not common practice to betray the trust of your allies, Israel has done it at least once before with Canada and now it's Britain's turn.

It's reassuring to see that at least the Israeli Ambassador to the UK has been summoned to offer an explanation.

The stench of Israeli foul play is overwhelming and Israel needs to come clear about what it knows about this operation, if it really is an ally of Britain as it claims to be.

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

2010-01-26T22:10:00.002Z

"The Iraq war as illegal", that was the verdict of the Government's Chief Legal Adviser Sir Michael Wood.

However warmonger Jack Straw, along with Blair, Campbell et al brushed aside the advice as they were hell bent on attacking Iraq no matter what.

The Civilised World in action Ladies & Gentlemen!

Politics of Ignorance

2010-01-18T19:37:00.008Z

Question

If your political party is a minor irritant on the British political landscape that has no chance of forming a Government, how do you raise your profile in an election year?

Answer

Simple! Jump on the bandwagon of Islamophobia and indulge in some good old fashioned Muslim bashing in order to drum up some press.

After wallowing in the depths of PR obscurity, UKIP rears its ugly head with a good old mighty Islamophobic bang.

The argument being presented is that the Niqab or Veil is used to "oppress women".

It's actually funny to think that the UKIP should care for the equality of Women, after all it was Godfrey Bloom of the UKIP that once commented;

"Any small businessman or woman who employs a woman of child bearing age needs their head examined."

And let's not forget this is a party that welcomed people like Robert Kilroy Silk into its ranks and his xenophobic views towards Arabs;

'what do they contribute? Can you think of anything? Anything really useful? Anything really valuable? Something we really need, could not do without?'

The reality is that the UKIP don't really care for women's equal rights. What they care about is the quickest route to securing an MP.

And in this day and age jumping on the Islamophobia bandwagon is the best way of maximising your chances.

Viva Palestina!

2010-01-06T21:48:00.002Z

The Egyptians tried everything they could to restrict access for the Viva Palestina convoy. They put up barriers, both physical and bureaucratic, and they resorted to shameful violence against unarmed peace activists.

The Egyptians displayed a level of harshness and brutality not witnesses since the time of the Pharoahs.

However the resolve of the people is strong and no amount of Egyptian brutality was ever going to stop the Viva Palestina convoy from delivering essential humanitarian aid to the Palestinians of Gaza. Some of the vehicles entered Gaza and here's some coverage of their triumphant entry.

Unfortunately, there was no such coverage of the Egyptians brutality against the peace activists. That is, unless you the people do something about it.

There are British peace activists travelling with the Viva Palestina convoy, they are unarmed, peaceful and on a noble humanitarian mission.

It is absolutely unacceptable that the police force of a foreign dictatorship have used excessive violence against them. Demand that your MP take up these points with the Egyptian Embassy.

Find your MP by clicking this link

Contact Details for the Egyptian Embassy in London

26 South Street
London
W1K 1DW

Tel: 020 7499 3304/2401
Email: eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg

Ross Kemp: Gaza

2010-01-05T21:55:00.002Z

Sky Broadcast a new series with Ross Kemp on Monday 4th January looking at the Middle East. Episode 1 featured the former Eastenders star in Gaza describing life within the Israeli blockaded territory.

Our sister blog Manchester Evening Snooze covered the 1st episode, click here for the full analysis.

Protest Now!

2009-12-31T11:15:00.003Z

Thursday 31st December Emergency Demonstration: End the Siege on Gaza—Stop the Building of the Steel Wall—Let Viva Palestina Convoy into Gaza

Join Friends of Lebanon to protest outside the Egyptian Embassy today (Thursday 31st Dec 2009) 1pm – 3pm.

The embassy is at 26 South Street, London W1K 1DW. Nearest Tube Green Park & Hyde Park Corner. For further info on the Egyptian role in the siege and the wall click here and here.

Egyptian Shame

2009-12-30T10:58:00.000Z

Egypt has a lot to answer for; aside from the fact that it has been ruled by a ruthless despot for nearly three decades, it is also aiding Israel in inflicting misery on the people of Gaza.

Think of Gaza like a rectangle; Israel illegally blockades the 2 longest sides plus one short side whilst Egypt shamelessly assists in blockading the one remaining short side.

The effect is to turn Gaza into the World's largest prison and inflict on its inhabitants a humanitarian catastrophe.

Why does Egypt do this?

No one knows for certain however there could be many reasons for Egypt's unwillingness to stand up to Israel.

It could be because the memories of the humiliating defeats at the hands of Israel are ever present in the minds of the Egyptian leadership & military.

Lets not kid ourselves, despite the billions in economic & military aid it receives each year from the US, the Egyptian military & leadership simply dont have the backbone to risk a confrontation with Israel.

What the Egyptians are capable of though, is to stand up against unarmed peace activists.

In this arena, the Egyptians excel.

This is why they have blocked over 1,000 marchers from walking to Gaza to show solidarity with its people and caused as much hindrance as humanely possible to the Viva Palestina convoy.

The convoy is trying to deliver essential humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

However, thanks to some pressure from conscientious people around the World and the peace activists themselves the Egyptians have made one pathetic concession, which is still woefully inadequate.

Of the 1,300 or so marchers attempting to reach Gaza, they have allowed 100 permission to continue.

Is this enough?

Of course not, however it shows that the campaign that has mainly been facilitated through viral & social networking means is having an impact.

The key now is to up the ante and double the pressure on the Egyptians.

Flood the inboxes of their Embassies with messages demanding the unhindered passagefor all peace activists and convoys. Lobby your MPs to lodge protests with the Egyptian Embassy.

This is the least we can do. Consider some of the steps being taken by Peace activists like 85 year old Hedy Epstein.

A US citizen and former holocaust survivor, she is one the peace activists n Cairo and has gone on hunger strike till the Egyptians allow them access to Gaza.

Having been through an ordeal like the Holocaust, Ms Epstein no doubt feels for the people of Gaza who are imprisoned in their own version of a concentration camp.

Her courage and conviction should be applauded and should serve as a call to action for the rest of us.

Do not give up and ensure that pressure is maintained on the Egyptians until they end their complicity with Israel.

Read more on Al Jazeera

http://m.aljazeera.net/?i=4360&artId=605152&showonly=1

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dan Pipes - loonacy exposed

2009-12-28T17:28:00.002Z

Here's another fantastic example of Loonwatch tearing apart the credibility of full time Islamophobe and otherwise crackpot Daniel Pipes.

Great job Loonwatch, keep it up!

Gaza One year on - The Misery Continues

2009-12-22T18:52:00.004Z

It's the one year anniversary of Israel's war on Gaza that unleashed hell on its people and committed unspeakble war crimes, including the use of white phosphorous against the civilian population.

Israel's big guns may have fallen silent but it still maintains an air, sea and land bloackade of Gaza that imprisons it's entire civilian population.

Shamefully, this collective punishment continues with the approval of nations that like to refer to themselves as "the Civilised World".

One year on 16 humanitarian organisations have urged the EU to put relations with Israel on hold until the bloackade is lifted.

However it's not just the humanitarian organisations job to apply pressure on the Government, it's up to all of us.

One year on from the carnage & massacre unleashed by Israel that murdered 1,400 Palestinians including at least 400 children, we need to apply pressure on our politicians to speak out in Parliament.

Our Government needs to suspend all preferential trade agreements with Israel, hold those Israeli leaders that authorised the massacre to account and flood the Palestinian territories with humanitarian and construction aid.

Find your MP by clicking this link and ask them to speak out against Israeli war crimes and take action to bring justice & reconstruction to the people of Gaza.

Bring to their attention the following report published by Oxfam;

Failing Gaza:
No rebuilding,
no recovery,
no more excuses
A report one year after Operation Cast Lead

Another article on Gaza has been published by Jimmy Carter in the Guardian's Comment is free, 'Gaza must be rebuilt now'

2009-12-21T18:22:00.001Z

When the Swedish Newspaper, Aftonbladet, carried a report accusing Israel of harvesting organs from dead Palestinians there was a huge uproar.

The usual defence tactic was employed and Aftonbladet was accused of anti-semitism.

Alas the reports have now been confirmed as it emerges that Israel not only took organs from Palestinians without permission, but also from its own Israeli citizens.

Just when you thought the "only democracy in the Middle East" couldn't possibly sink any lower, it pulls this out of the bag.

Lets see how the 'Hasbara Brigade', with 'Mad Mel' Phillips at the helm, try to dig Israel out of this one?

Source: Al Jazeera

http://m.aljazeera.net/?i=4360&artId=898444&showonly=1

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Gaza Now - Highlights

2009-12-20T19:27:00.002Z

Highlights from the successful photo exhibition, Gaza Now, organised by Friends of Al Aqsa in Glasgow Central Mosque.

Settler Militias attack Mosque

2009-12-12T17:51:00.004Z

Israeli Settler Militia launched a raid in the North of the Occupied West Bank in which a Mosque was attacked.

The place of worship was daubed with Hebrew graffiti warning of further murderous attacks against the Palestinians.

Settler Militia operate freely in the Occupied Territories and the Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) has proved ineffective, some say unwilling, at stopping their attacks against Palestinian civilians. The latest attack involved the descration of a Muslim place of worship as well as the destruction of hundreds of copies of the Holy Quran.

Although the attack was condemned by Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, who described it as an "extremist act", such words pay only lip service to dealing with the terrorist threat posed by the Settler Militia.

GAZA NOW - The Exhibition

2009-12-11T07:50:00.004Z

Opening Ceremony - Friday 11 December 5pm at Glasgow Central Mosque (click here for map)

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Shattering Israel's image of 'democracy'

2009-12-07T09:00:00.005Z

Whilst we often focus on Israeli rights abuses and crimes against humanity in the West Bank & Gaza, Ben White writes an excellent piece in the Guardian's Comment is free section highlighting Israeli abuses against the Bedouins of the Negev.

Shattering Israel's image of 'democracy'

We're now on Facebook!

2009-12-06T16:41:00.000Z

We have just launched our facebook fanpage, visit the page today and become a fan!

A Different Perspective - Facebook Fan Page

"I'm sorry I exposed my bigotry"

2009-12-06T14:50:00.005Z

That ought to be what Swiss politician Christophe Darbellay should be saying after his attempt to dig himself out of a hole over his comments to ban Muslim and Jewish Cemetries.

In my last post about the Swiss Minaret ban I alluded to the fact that the Minaret ban would only be the start of a campaign that may potentially, God forbid, result in the elimination of Muslims from Switzerland.

Darbellay's initial comments backed that gloomy prediction.

However in an attempted backtrack he stated that "I am sorry. I did not mean it like that" what he meant to say was "It was about the principle that we all belong to the same Swiss society ... but you can't explain that in 15 seconds."

Actually, if you read that sentence and time yourself (I did!) it takes all of 6 seconds to read at a comfortable pace. That means that if he truly wasn't Islamophobic he could have made his point comfortably in 15 seconds....twice!

So I for one don't buy his phoney apology, his actual apology should have gone along the lines of...

"I am sorry that I made my hatred for Muslims and Jews so explicitly clear, I should have stayed true my slimy politician roots and hidden my bigotry and contempt for these non-Christian infidels"

At least that apology would've been more believable!

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Hats off to Boston Globe again!

2009-12-05T15:23:00.003Z

In September last year the Boston Globe posted some excellent photos of Ramadan being celebrated in Muslim communities around the World.

This year they have posted another set of varied photos from around the World showing Muslims celebrating the festival of Eid-Al-Adha.

The photos show the richness, diversity and beauty of the Muslim communities to the wider non-Muslim readers and for this the Boston Globe deserve praise once again.

All the Photos are fantastic and can be viewed by clicking here.

However the photo that is most powerful for me is the image of a Palestinian pilgrim with hands pressed against a fence waiting to cross into Egypt.

We may all have troubles of varying degrees in our lives but I doubt that any of these compare to the imprisonment of all of Gaza's people, including women & children, by Israel. The collective punishment of Gaza, illegal under International law, continues unhindered and with the approval of the "civilised" West.

We don't need minarets....

2009-11-30T17:00:00.004Z

...prayers or Salaat for Muslims can be performed anywhere on this Earth. From the depths of the Amazonian Rainforest to the frozen Antractic, Muslims need not minarets nor indeed a physical building in order to fulfill one of their five basic pillars of faith.

With that said, one should not be dismayed at the outcome of the Swiss Referendum banning the construction of minarets.

If only it was that simple!

On the face of it, it really shouldn't come as a setback to Muslims that Swiss voters have banned them from building minarets however this decision masks a much darker and serious problem of Islamophobia, which appears to be firmly entrenching itself into the mainstream of European Politics.

The right wing and inappropriately named Swiss People's Party is driving an anti-Islam/anti-Muslim agenda under the guise of combating extremism. Widespread ignorance about Islam is being exploited to spread fear & hatred towards Muslims and with this latest decision a firm wedge has been driven between Swiss Muslims and their fellow citizens.

Today they've banned minarets, tomorrow they'll go one step further and say no more mosques, the day after they'll probably decide they've had enough of Muslims altogether.

It's sad and depressing to see that little over 60 years since the end of the Second World War and Europe's last attempt at mass exterminating one group of people based solely on their religious background, we are treading the same dangerous path.

They came for the Jews in Eastern Europe, then they came for Muslims in Bosnia, this time the target appears to be Muslims across Europe and the mindset of fear and hatred is actively being prepared.

All talk of civilised society, democracy and equality in Europe is meaningless unless more is done to tackle Islamophobia which is no longer creeping but is now fast becoming rampant across the Continent.

Shopping Out Of The Blog

2009-11-28T19:25:00.002Z

We are proud to launch our new online store, Shopping Out Of The Blog, a permanent link will be embedded under the 'My Blog List'.

.....get shopping!

No Way Through

2009-11-21T14:11:00.001Z

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Dispatches - Inside Britain's Israel Lobby

2009-11-18T22:42:00.003Z

For those who missed it or those outside of the UK you can now watch the full Channel 4 Dispatches documentary on Youtube.

Unfortunately embedding has been disable which is why I'm unable to post the video here but you can view it by clicking on the following link.

Watch Dispatches - Inside Britain's Israel Lobby

Mad Mad Mel!

2009-11-17T22:25:00.004Z

I predicted in my last post that the Hasbara brigade would be ruffled by Peter Osborne's Dispatches documentary about Britain's Israel Lobby and right on cue the crazy Hasbara stalwart Melanie Phillips appears to have been moved by the programme.

Moved that is to embark on a crazy rant that only she knows best. She fails miserably to hide her frustration at the programme and instead of attempting to offer any counter punch to Peter Osborne she merely displays what can best be described as one long piece of sarcastic dribble.

Looks like Peter Osborne certainly seems to have rattled this crazy bird's cage......and it's left me grinning from ear to ear.

Must see TV - Inside Britain's Israel Lobby

2009-11-15T09:00:00.005Z

The impact that AIPAC has had on America's Middle East Policy has been devastating to say the least.

The one-sided approach adopted by every successive American Administration has kept the prospect of Peace in the Middle East an ever distant dream and the horror of occupation & brutality a living nightmare for Palestinian Civilians.

This situation is thanks to the efforts of AIPAC. Unfortunately there is a similar Pro-Israel Lobby operating in the United Kingdom seeking to ensure that not only does the Government turn a blind eye to the illegal Israeli Occupation but it actively endorses it and legitimises Israel's crimes against humanity and International Law.

Thankfully Channel 4 will screen a Dispatches documentary, which will put the Pro-Israel Lobby in the UK under the spotlight. No doubt, this is likely to ruffle some feathers not least of which Melanie Phillips' and other footsoldiers of the Hasbara brigade......watch this space!

Watch Dispatches - Inside Britain's Israel Lobby on Monday 16th November at 8pm on Channel 4.

A repeat broadcast will be televised on Friday 20th November at 3am.

2009-11-07T12:32:00.003Z

It's been 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, however 20 years later there is another wall which is being used to illegally annex land, to separate families from their loved ones, farmers from their orchards, children from their schools and patients from their hospitals.

The Israeli Apartheid wall must also fall and every inch of illegally occupied Palestinian land must be returned to its rightful owner, every brick of every illegally constructed settlement must be dismantled, the Palestinians must be given their justice in accordance with International Law and the Israeli Government must be held accountable for every violation it has committed.

Occupation no more!

Cassetteboy vs Nick Griffin

2009-11-03T12:00:00.001Z

When madness prevails...

2009-11-02T19:10:00.003Z

...anything is possible.

Take the sudden U-turn by the Obama administration on it's stance towards the illegal Israeli Settlements on Occupied Palestinian territory.

Up until now there were some in the Pro-Palestinian camp who were overjoyed with Obama's rhetoric towards Israel and hopeful for a meaningful change in American policy. Unfortunately all we saw were empty words and powerful soundbites which duped many across the World.

Finally we've now seen the true intention of the Obama administration towards the Palestinian plight.

The about turn by the Obama camp on Israeli Settlements all but legitimises Israeli war crimes against the Palestinians and makes a mockery of all outstanding UN resolutions which Israel is in breach of.

"Yes we can????"

Can we b*****ks!

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Slap Nick Griffin

2009-10-28T07:31:00.001Z

This is just too good not to share!

Have a go yourself, click on the link and go crazy S lap Nick Griffin

PS - Pass it on!