Is US Setting Up Eastern Europe As Iran Attack Springboard?

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It' s not surprising that Scotland's 'Sunday Herald' is an award winning, independent newspaper.

Since so often it's the first in the British Isles to break big stories - in fact, sometimes it's the only one to touch on some ultra touchy subjects.

For example, examine this headline, courtesy of one of our best blogging buddies from across the Atlantic.

America ‘poised to strike at Iran’s nuclear sites’ from bases in Bulgaria and Romania

Filed under: Main Blog — Tom @ 9:44 am

by Gabriel Ronay -- Sunday Herald

Next, examine an extract from the story.

PRESIDENT BUSH is preparing to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities before the end of April and the US Air Force’s new bases in Bulgaria and Romania would be used as back-up in the onslaught, according to an official report from Sofia.

An 'official' announcement, eh?

So, read on and see some more.

The American build-up along the BlackSea, coupled with the recent positioning of two US aircraft carrier battle groups off the Straits of Hormuz, appears to indicate president Bush has run out of patience with Tehran’s nuclear misrepresentation and non-compliance with the UN Security Council’s resolution.

So much for the United States' new found friends from the new Eastern Europe, eh?

Or should we say -- old Soviet Bloc?

Now take a look at this little eye opener.

In Central Europe, the Czech Republic and Poland have also found themselves in the Pentagon's strategic focus.

Last week, Mirek Topolanek, the Czech prime minister, and the country's national security council agreed to the siting of a US anti-missile radar defence system at Nepolisy.

Poland has also agreed to having a US anti-missile missile base and interceptor aircraft stationed in the country.

Russia, however, does not see the chain of new US bases on its doorstep as a "defensive ring".

Russia's defence chief has branded the planned US anti-missile missile sites on Czech and Polish soil as "an open threat to Russia".

Thanks to Tom Rushing, here at his 'Current Era' you can put yourself completely in the picture.

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This Old Brit : Award Winners Announcement ...

My Lords, ladies and gentlemen -- please be upstanding and pray silence for an all important, imminent announcement.

Wherein, we have great pleasure and pride (without prejudice), to announce our very own 'New Year Honours'.

For continued unstinting bravery, support, loyalty, encouragement, integrity, intermittent tittering, commentorial temperance and right honourable commitment to truth-telling -- it has today been decreed that most well earned and unarguably richly deserved, official aristocratic British titles are hereby and henceforth to be bestowed with immediate effect, upon each and every respected & revered regular at This Old Brit's and Richard's blog.

Implementation of aforementioned decree is hereby commanded and duly authorised this 30th day of January in the year of good grace 2007.

Herein layeth said promised deeds of title. Simply follow two short step instructions as shown.

And, may milady of good & great fortune, good health, much wealth and eternal happiness speed unto thee and thine - and all who have so steadfastly serially sailed so similarly close to the wind - as wot we 'ave.

With bells, whistles and ribbons on ; to be worn with pride.

Batteries not included.

Cash only.

Used, low denomination, non-sequentially numbered notes in plain brown envelopes preferred.

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Did US Really Scupper Israel Attempt To Nuke Iran This Month?

Talk about hogging the limelight.

There have been so many amazing, Israel related reports recently that it's now become almost impossible to ignore them.

But surely this one beats the band; by a long chalk.

Latest Update

Wrestling With The Devil

Behind The Story Of Israel’s Aborted Nuclear Strike

By William Thomas Jan 25th 2007

What does a reporter do when handed the most incendiary story of his career?

What if it’s wrong? What if it’s true?

When no one else is reporting Israel’s attempted nuclear strike on Iran—and a pair of intelligence agents are tracking your source, “publish or perish” takes on new meaning.>>>

Israeli Nuclear Strike On Iran Turned Back ...

Yeah, when we saw that we both blinked too.

Here's what we found when reading further.

A recent strike by nuclear-armed Israeli Air Force fighter-bombers bound for targets in Iran was turned back after being intercepted by U.S. fighters over Iraq, this reporter has learned.

Two sources have independently confirmed the encounter, which took place on January 7, 2007.

Though the first informant offered few details beyond an initial tip, a second source long-known by this reporter to have well-placed U.S. and “non-U.S.” military and government contacts provided specific information regarding the raid, which was aimed at the radical religious ayatollahs holding ultimate power in Iran.

Jaw dropped yet?

Gob smacked yet?

Eyes out on stalks yet?

Mind boggled yet?

Pants pissed yet?

Kecks crapped yet?

All of the above?

And there's more of the same scary sort of stuff where this came from.

Feast your eyes on the following for example.

According to this very reliable source, on two previous occasions Israeli fighter-bombers armed with nuclear bombs have headed “downtown” before being turned back over Iraq.

The January 7th mission, which trespassed beyond 160 station before being recalled by Israeli authorities, comprised three IAF F-16s. Each carried conventional munitions—as well as a single 20-kiloton nuclear bomb.

The atomic detonation that razed the city of Hiroshima and killed 140,000 people outright was a 13-kiloton blast. [Agence France-Presse Aug 6/05]

Even as we type we've not figured out whether we should file what we've found -- under 'fact' -- or under 'fiction'.

Here's the whole hair-raising story.

See what you think.

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Turkey Talking Tough Re; Kurds, Iraqis And Americans ...

The following Al-Jazeera-English report took us by complete surprise.

Much more than that, it came as a personal shock.

Regular readers will no doubt realise immediately why we should be so shocked.

While it's far too soon for us to be able to talk about this startling development (particularly re ; possible partitioning), in any kind of detail, we thought it extremely important that this news be more widely known as earlier in the 'proceedings' as possible.

Turkey mulls 'invading' Iraq

By Jonathan Gorvett in Istanbul

Turkey's parliament went into secret session this week to debate sending troops to invade and occupy northern Iraq for security purposes.

More than 30,000 people have been killed in the confrontation between the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) and the Turkish army – about 400 last year alone, according to Turkey's Human Rights Association.

Onur Oymen, the deputy chairman of the Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said: "Northern Iraq is the only place in the world where a terrorist group can operate without being pursued."

"If the Iraqis and the US are not prepared to take action over this, then we must."

Read the rest of this report right here.

And be sure to see this from the same source.

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Moshe Katsav, Iranian Born President Of Israel; Is All This For Real ?

Excuse our language, but ..... WTF?

These pictures are of Moshe Katsav, the Iranian born President of Israel who earlier this week was (among other things) saying shouting screaming raging raving ~ or, whatever -- as shown below.

In an emotionally-charged news conference, Mr Katsav said he would fight to clear his name, "even if it means a world war".

See BBC link.

So, we ask again ..... WTF?

See Guardian link.



See some Israeli press reactions.


See President Katsav's BBC profile here.

And see President Katsav's Wikipedia entry here.



Well, we already asked WTF ~ twice.

So, here's WTF we two think could well be the case.

We think it sounds like the man's counter attacking: fighting fire with fire: threatening to blab; and to blab, bloody big time.

So big and bad in fact, that he personally believes that whatever it is he's (so far), keeping quiet about could be big and bad enough to cause the third World War.

But the real big, bottom line bummer we're stuck on is -- blab about who?

And/or about what?

(Your mileage may vary.)

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SOTU : SO WHY WASN'T THERE SILENCE ?

Of all the G.W. Bush 2007 SOTU address related pieces we've read during the last 24 hours, here's the one we most wish we had written ourselves. Since it mirrors most closely our own innermost sentiments. And we mean that most sincerely.

But before we go further, here's a huge public hat-tip to our regular reader/commentator Tom V. for the original heads-up on this excellent article. Thanks a million, Tom. Keep 'em coming.

Now, here's the header plus opening para(s).

There Should Have Been Silence…..

Tonight, George W. Bush was cheered and applauded by members of Congress as he approached the dais to present his sixth SOTU address.

He was applauded regularly throughout his address to the nation. That response was an unforgivable, yet predictable disgrace.

The members of Congress applauded the words of their failed and incompetent leader.

They applauded when there should have been total silence.

We could not agree more;our own feelings exactly.

(snip)

There should have been silence for the thousands of dead American and coalition troops, and for the maimed and blinded and limbless soldiers who have been sacrificed for nothing more than greed and hubris.

There should have been silence for the hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded Iraqis whose nation will never recover from its wounds.

There should have been silence for the victims of Katrina whose plight has been ignored and forgotten in Louisiana and Mississippi, and who know first hand that their President is a professional liar who cares nothing at all for their continued suffering.

And, last but not least, there should have been silence for the Constitution of the United States that is now on its deathbed. There should have been total silence, and yet, there was applause.

(snip)

In my private scenario, I would have placed a photo of a dead soldier or marine to be held aloft by every honorable and enraged member of Congress.

Here at 'TV News Lies' you should read the whole heartfelt piece.

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The Bush SOTU Speech And Some Other Tall Tales ...

Decisions, decisions, decisions -- don't you just hate having to make decisions?

Usually, we two do, too.

Yet we've managed to make another one anyway.

As (almost), everyone knows (or should do), here in the UK it gets later earlier than it does in the US.

So faced with the choice of either staying up late to see the State Of The Union speech or snuggling up at a much more respectable time, while having the missus read us a far less, far-fetched fairy tale than any Dumbya's likely to spin tonight, we forgot the former and settled for the latter.

We just hope we have none of those nasty dreams that can often be brought about by bedding down so soon after some supper.

You know, like when no matter how hard you try to run away from the big bad bogeyman who's out to get you, and no matter how fast your feet & you are fleeing -- you ain't getting nowhere. Period.

We bet George Bush knows exactly where we're coming from with that one.

After all, he's managed to make a nightmare of almost all his fellow citizens' (once, so traditionally shared & cherished), great American Dream.

That's all for now folks.

Good night.

And good luck.

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Now Hear The Word Of The World : Earth Calling America ...

Short.

Sweet.

To the point.

Just hours before Bush's -- 'Sorry State Of The Union Speech'.

A double barrel blast via the BBC.

You MUST read them both.

That is all.


1./ 'Listen more' is world's message to US


2./ View of US's global role 'worse'

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RIP Abbe Pierre : Our Planet Is A Poorer Place ...

This old Frenchman has died.

Though it's doubtful that many outside France will have heard much about him, or will even recognise him from his photo (left).

And that's a shame.

Since with this man's passing this planet and it's people are inarguably the poorer.

Here's an inkling as to what and who this hero was.

Abbe Pierre dies aged 94

The frail, stooped figure of Abbe Pierre, with his white beard, black beret, thick walking cane and mountain boots, was familiar all through France where, for four decades, he acted as the national conscience towards the homeless and the poor.

This man's religion is irrelevant - to us two at any rate. As we've long since severed all & any connections we may ever have had to/with any organised religion. And just for the record, even before we accepted as inevitable our personal 'conversion' to agnosticism, we were never Catholic Christians, as he was.

And it's well over half a century since we decided we'd forever judge men (and women), solely by their actions -- not by their words nor professed philosophy, neither by any prophets followed. After all, words were always ten a penny and talk has always been cheap.

So here we list just a few of this grand old man's actions over the years, along with a few other tid-bits about him -- and you'd better believe both of us when we say there are lots of them; years and actions.

Abbe's growing army collected huge amounts of secondhand furniture and household goods to finance cheap housing,

And,

The Abbe, [was] a former Resistance leader and a member of the French Parliament from 1945 to 1951, was never taken in by flattery ... for nine years he refused to accept proffered appointment as a Grand Officier de la Legion d'Honneur in order to put pressure on the Government.

And,

He continued to campaign into extreme old age, notably via his bestselling book, Dieu et les Hommes, a series of conversations with Bernard Kouchner, the founder of Medecins sans Frontieres and a former minister for humanitarian action in the Socialist Government.

And,

Born in 1912, [named] Henri Groues was the son of the prosperous director of a Lyons silk company.

And,

In 1931 he gave away his worldly goods and spent eight years with the Capuchins, being ordained on August 14, 1938.

An assistant priest at Grenoble Cathedral at the time of the 1940 armistice, he started to help Jews to cross the Alps to Switzerland.

On another occasion he carried Jacques de Gaulle, the paralysed brother of Charles de Gaulle who was being hunted by the Gestapo, across the barbed wire of the Swiss border and to safety in Geneva.

And,

He ran a clandestine printing plant for false documents from his Grenoble home and organised the theft of arms from Italians occupying Grenoble.

And,

... arrested by the Italians, [he] managed to escape and join the Maquis in the Vercors. He ran a clandestine newspaper and formed networks to help young men fleeing the German-imposed service du travail obligatoire ...

And,

Abbe Pierre even risked going to Paris to run another clandestine printing works. He was held by the Gestapo at one time, but managed to escape.

And,

For his wartime activities he was awarded the Resistance medal and the Croix de Guerre with palms.

And,

... he himself begged in the streets of Paris to raise money for his so-called chiffonniers-bâtisseurs (ragpicker-builders).

And,

In the terrible winter of 1954, when the homeless were dying in night-time temperatures of minus 15C (they included a baby who died in an abandoned bus), Abbe Pierre successfully mobilised newspapers and radio to badger the Government to revive the flagging post-war housing programme, and he persuaded the parliament to pass a law forbidding landlords to evict tenants during winter months.

And,

For 40 years the Abbe also battled for better conditions in millions of homes. At one time, according to his estimate, five million people were badly housed in France, and he enjoyed considerable success in influencing government decisions to overhaul decaying social housing.

And,

... he travelled widely and met many world leaders, from presidents and kings to religious leaders. On a visit to Argentina in 1963 he was shipwrecked on the River Plate and was initially reported to be dead.

And,

In 2004 Abbe Pierre was appointed to the rank of Grand Croix de l'Ordre de la L'egion d'honneur, the highest distinction that the French State can bestow.

He continued to campaign almost up to his death, last year addressing the French parliament, from his wheelchair, on the importance of low-cost social housing.

Well, were we right?

Is our planet (plus it's people), the poorer for his passing?

It may help you more easily make up your mind, if you read the full report from today's London Times: Abbe Pierre -- August 5, 1912 - January 22, 2007

Bearing in mind that all men & women should be measured by individual actions, regardless of religion, race or anything else 'accident of birth' related.

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John Pilger's Latest Palestine/Israel Power-Peace-Piece ...

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Today we're beginning with an ending.

Below, is the final pair of paragraphs from (multi award winning, international investigative journalist and film maker), John Pilger's latest power-piece published in the UK's New Statesman.

Amira Hass, who has lived in Gaza, describes it as a prison that shames her people. She recalls how her mother, Hannah, was being marched from a cattle-train to the Nazi concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen on a summer’s day in 1944. "[She] saw these German women looking at the prisoners, just looking," she wrote. "This image became very formative in my upbringing, this despicable 'looking from the side'."

"Looking from the side" is what those of us do who are cowed into silence by the threat of being called anti-Semitic. Looking from the side is what too many western Jews do, while those Jews who honour the humane traditions of Judaism and say, "Not in our name!" are abused as "self-despising". Looking from the side is what almost the entire US Congress does, in thrall to or intimidated by a vicious Zionist "lobby".

Looking from the side is what "even-handed" journalists do as they excuse the lawlessness that is the source of Israeli atrocities andsuppresss the historic shifts in the Palestinian resistance, such as the implicit recognition of Israel by Hamas. The people of Gaza cry out for better.

Now, perhaps this is the most appropriate place to point out that just last week we were personally 'attacked' elsewhere online, and were publicly (albeit entirely erroneously), accused of anti-Semitism. Why? Simply because we had the terrible temerity to type the words 'zealot' and 'Zionist' in a single sentence. Quite a cardinal sin, eh? At least it seems to be in some circles.

Still, never mind. It's not the sort of snide (and stupid), sniping that'll ever succeed in stopping us from saying it as we see it.

Next, read the opening paragraphs of the pertinent piece (from which we earlier appended the ending).

In his latest column for the New Statesman, John Pilger describes the warnings of genocide in Gaza, and the suffering of 1.4 million Palestinians living a "life in a cage" as the world looks on. He quotes Israeli journalist Amira Hass on the experience of her mother in a Nazi concentration camp and the Germans who watched, "looking from the side".

A genocide is engulfing the people of Gaza while a silence engulfs its bystanders. "Some 1.4 million people, mostly children, are piled up in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, with no freedom of movement, no place to run and no space to hide," wrote the senior UN relief official, Jan Egeland, and Jan Eliasson, then Swedish foreign minister, in Le Figaro. They described people "living in a cage", cut off by land, sea and air, with no reliable power and little water and tortured by hunger and disease and incessant attacks by Israeli troops and planes.

Clearer now why we wanted the paragraphs read in reverse order?

We hope so, since it should certainly save us all some extra time and trouble.

And because we wouldn't even pretend to be able to put any words together better than Pilger can, we strongly suggest you read the rest of his article for yourself.

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Downing Street -v- Scotland Yard:The Cash For Honours 'Battle Of The Blairs'

In the aftermath of the London tube terrible terrorist attack of 7/7 and the subsequent 'summary execution' of an irrefutably innocent Brazilian boy - London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair was thought by many to have been badly let down by his ultimate boss, PM Tony Blair.

However true any currently circulating claims may actually turn out to be, there's something already certain. Sir Ian Blair's best-of-British bobbies continue to busily beaver away on the, so called, New Labour 'Cash for Honours' case.

And apparently they don't give a flying squad - nor a flying anything else - about who they upset. Nor how, nor when.

Since it also appears that no toes at all are thought to be too high & mighty to be trodden on -- including some well pedicured ones strutting their stuff in Downing Street.

See some more re; Tony Blair's New Labour's 'iffy-finances-fuss' - from today's Telegraph.

Then there's this background/timeline page (full of further links), at the BBC site.

As to anything eventually being brought to light and anyone eventually being brought to book, that still remains to be seen.

But it's damned difficult to believe that so much time, effort and expense would be literally 'lavished' like it is -- unless those controlling investigations felt fairly sure of securing some spectacular conviction(s).

Which would/should lead one to wonder -- why one or another of the Blairs involved hasn't yet halted it all.

Eh?

If anyone asked us, though we freely admit that no one has so far, we'd say we're already completely convinced of at least four things.

(1) This is super-serious.

(2) This is some sort of set-up

(3) This is patently personal.

(4) This is a 'Battle of the Blairs'.

And we two know who we want to win.

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No Climate Change? Seen Some Of The Severe Storms Across Europe ?

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Have you had a nice day?

We wish we had.

Here's how things looked here at home on Merseyside, on Thursday.




So there's no such thing as global warming/climate change, eh?




Tell it to the marines, Mr Bush.




And it isn't just we Brits who've been battered lately.


Almost all Northern Europe has been hit with the same sort of shit.

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Important Iran Info:What Washington Warmongers Won't Admit To Americans

Thanks to today's terrible storms here in the UK (as well as much of Northern Europe), we've too many tedious real life tasks to tackle tonight to sit and write much.

But we want those who should see this, to do so.

Washington 'snubbed Iran offer'

Iran offered the US a package of concessions in 2003, but it was rejected, a senior former US official has told the BBC's Newsnight programme.

(snip)

One of the then Secretary of State Colin Powell's top aides told the BBC the state department was keen on the plan - but was over-ruled.

"We thought it was a very propitious moment to do that," Lawrence Wilkerson told Newsnight.

"But as soon as it got to the White House, and as soon as it got to the Vice-President's office, the old mantra of 'We don't talk to evil'... reasserted itself."

Read the rest of this BBC report.

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Ali : An American Muslim Man : The Greatest ...

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He's having his birthday today.

He's 65 years old.

He's the greatest there ever was.

He's an American.

He's of Southern slave-stock.

He's an awesome achiever.

He's an excellent example and role model.

He's got courage - and class.

He's avowedly anti-war.

He's always put his money where his mouth is.

He's always stood up for his principles & beliefs.

He's suffered sorely for steadfastly standing by the same.

He's a long time hero of ours, and of many millions more.

He's recently signaled (publicly), that G.W. Bush is screwy.

He's a mountain among men.

He's the former kid called Cassius Clay.

He's Mohammed Ali. And he's a Muslim man.

Here's hoping he has the happiest of birthdays.

And may he have many, many more of 'em.

He deserves to.

He's earned them.

Cheers, Champ.

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Russia Arming Iran - And Asking "Why Not ?"

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Only rarely do we post pieces of news - without adding anything.

Today, is such an occasion.

=========================

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov

Photo — MosNews Archive

---

Russia Delivers Surface-to-Air Missiles to Iran — Defence Minister

Created: 16.01.2007 15:37 MSK (GMT +3),

Updated: 16:16 MSK





, 6 hours 36 minutes ago

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Russia has delivered new anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran and will consider further requests by Tehran for defensive weapons, the Reuters news agency quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov as saying on Tuesday.

“We have supplied the modern short-range anti-aircraft systems TOR-M1 in accordance with our contracts,” Ivanov told reporters “Iran is not under sanctions and if it wants to buy defensive ... equipment for its armed forces then why not?”

See for yourself via Mosnews.

Russia Delivers Surface-to-Air Missiles to Iran — Defence Minister
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Attention: American President Halts Hostilities ...

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Okay, we'll hold our hands up; we misled you. But then who the hell hasn't lately?

And we both firmly believe that anything Bush and Blair can do, so can we. In fact, we dare say we'd probably do it damned better -- whatever it was.

To be completely honest, the truth is that we grabbed your attention by writing about a different American war and a different American President -- and where it had all eventually led to, exactly 33 years ago today.

Now, you be honest; if we two hadn't reminded you about that other war, which was also based on a lot of lousy, stinking lies, would you really have remembered?

And even now, how many really care?

About the millions who suffered and were slaughtered -- so needlessly.

Soldiers and civilians.

All in Mr & Mrs Average American's name.

Have you ever given those who gave their all, out of misguided loyalty to a previous pack of political pricks (including presidents), a moment's thought?

And if so, when? And if so, for how long? And if so, how sincere where those thoughts?

Well, whether you did or you didn't -- whether you have or you haven't, here's something we say you should read -- and learn -- and inwardly digest -- and analyze -- and ask questions about.

Also, try to find it somewhere within yourself to avow that from this moment on -- you simply aren't standing for any more of this sickening sort of shit.

All war is wanton waste.

There are no such things as winners in war.

In war, everyone looses.

Witness what we append.

15th January 1973:

Nixon orders ceasefire in Vietnam

President Nixon has ordered a halt to American bombing in North Vietnam following peace talks in Paris.

The decision comes after Dr Henry Kissinger, the president's assistant for National Security Affairs, returned to Washington yesterday from France with a draft peace proposal.

Representatives from North and South Vietnam and the United States have been at the negotiating table and reports from Paris say progress has been made with compromises on all sides.

Read all about it.

Please.

You owe it to yourself.

More importantly, you owe it to millions of others

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MI5 Send Brit Secrets To The US ...

Well, we're certainly not sorry to have to say that - nope, not in the slightest - we told you so.

Though the truth is that even a couple of cynical old codgers such as ourselves never expected to see the MI5 'terror-alert-email' suckers being proved to be so patently stupid ( as we warned they were), -- so soon.

After all, it's only been six short days since we said:

UK Secret Intelligence Services Set To Start Spam Surge Soon ...

Then, in this morning's Sunday Mail we read this:

MI5 terror alert blunder sends private data to US mailshot firm

By JASON LEWIS - Confidential details sent to MI5 by thousands of individuals and businesses have ended up with an American company specialising in supermarket mailshots.

The security service's new email early warning system was designed to reassure the public in the wake of the July 7 bombings and the disclosure of a string of failed terror plots.

It was launched by the Home Office last week. The Government said it was part of a long-planned programme to keep the public better informed about the terrorist threat.

People signing up for the alerts were asked to type their name and email details into the MI5 website alongside an assurance their personal information would be protected by the Data Protection Act and the Security Services Act.

They were emailed back by MI5 with the message: "Thank you for your request to subscribe to the MI5/Home Office Threat Level Update email list."

Subscribers were led to believe their details were being kept in secure computer files at MI5's Thames House headquarters in Whitehall.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal the service is not being run by MI5. Instead it has been paying Whatcounts Inc, a US computer firm based in Seattle ...

Make no mistake, this is a serious scandal. This is precisely the kind of (criminal), cock-up that truly does threaten our national security.

That such personal details/data of Britons - be they naive buggers or not - be purposely passed to such a (self confessed, self-interest-serving), foreign country is beyond belief. At least would have been, once upon a time .

So.

So much for the 'intelligence' of those trusted with the tremendously, important task of running Britain's Secret Intelligence Services - of which MI5 is just one department.

Eh?

Perhaps an extra word ought to be added to their tremendously secretive sounding title. One which might much more readily reflect the reality of the rapidly increasing number of goof-ups going on therein -- apparently on a ruddy regular basis.

For example, they could become the Inept Secret Intelligence Services.

Or, the Incompetent Secret Intelligence Services.

Maybe, the Idiotic Secret Intelligence Services.

Perhaps, the Infantile Secret Intelligent Services.

Possibly, even the Infiltrated Secret Intelligence Services.

You may even have some suggestions of your own which you'd care to share.

If so, feel free; be our guest.

But not before reading the rest of today's Mail's report.

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Middle East Nightmare : Blair's Blame-Game Backfires ...

Bloomin' eck, Mr Blair!

Blaming the British media?

Alongside a very varied assortment of tenacious truth tellers, determined blogger's and numerous other dedicated 'This Old Brit' types ?

As well as almost anyone & everyone else daring to air any anti-war thoughts at all?

For the effing enormous foul-up(s), you've made in the Middle East?

A bit strong that, wasn't it Anthony?

Seems to have backfired a bit too, Tone. And that's putting it mildly, mate.

For example:

Perused this, perchance, Prime Minister?

Tony Blair has turned the blame for his disastrous military campaigns in the Middle East on anti-war dissidents and the media.

See this in today's Independent?

Shoot the messenger: PM blames media for anti-war mood

And this?

Adrian Hamilton: Blair is up to his tired old tricks again

And this?

Leading article: A mendacious attack by Mr Blair

Tut, tut, Tony - talk about being taken to task - and pretty publicly too.

Though we will grant you that things could have turned out worse -- and that you could quite easily have come an even bigger cropper .

By which we mean, Mr Tony - bloody-handed - Blair, that we could well have been talking tarring & feathering -- had we been living in more enlightened times than these are.

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Friday: Fat Pet Blogging ...

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Don't worry, you've not blundered into the wrong bloody blog by mistake.

And yep, you read our header right.

When we were first informed of the following, we wondered whether we should laugh or cry.

Brothers guilty in fat dog trial

Rusty the fat Labrador

Two brothers who allowed their dog's weight to rise by almost four stone in two years have been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering.

Derek Benton, 62, and his brother David, 53, were found guilty of providing their pet Labrador with an inappropriate diet.

The Bentons, of Fordham, Cambs, were given a three-year conditional discharge by magistrates in Ely.

Rusty resembled a walrus after his weight soared to 11 stone (69.8kg).

Erm, umm, er, grrrr, eh?

So, let's see what you say.

We two thought we'd take things easy tonight.

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US Forces Forcibly 'Snatch' Some Iranian Diplomats ...

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Well, barmy Bush didn't waste much time did he?

Within hours of his public pro-more-war pronoucements, we hear this has happened.

Obviously, operations such as this are/were carefully planned well in advance.

Some people are now saying Bush has finally gone completely crazy, and doesn't any longer realize what he's doing.

We disagree.

We say, sure he's crazy - but he knows exactly what he's doing. Damn him.

Because being the belligerent, bloody barmpot that he is, he simply doesn't give a shit.

Increasingly people are asking if we're already well & truly (and possibly irreversibly), way along the road to the next world war.

We wish we knew.

What we do know, is this.

US forces storm Iranian consulate

US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six members of staff.

The troops raided the building at about 0300 (0001GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials.

The US military would only confirm the detention of six people around Irbil.
The raid comes amid high Iran-US tension. The US accuses Iran of helping to fuel violence in Iraq and seeking nuclear arms. Iran denies both charges.

Tehran counters that US military involvement in the Middle East endangers the whole region.

A local TV station said Kurdish security forces had taken over the building after the Americans had left.

Irbil lies in Iraq's Kurdish-controlled north, about 350km (220 miles) from the capital Baghdad.
Reports say the Iranian consulate there was set up last year under an agreement with the Kurdish regional government to facilitate cross-border visits.

Pressure

Iranian media said the country's embassy in Baghdad had sent a letter of protest about the raid to the Iraqi foreign ministry.

One Iranian news agency with a correspondent in Irbil says five US helicopters were used to land troops on the roof of the Iranian consulate.

Dozens of casualties resulted from a truck bombing in SamarraIt reports that a number of vehicles cordoned off the streets around the building, while US soldiers warned the occupants in three different languages that they should surrender or be killed.

In December, US troops detained a number of Iranians in Iraq, including two with diplomatic immunity who were later released.

Thursday's raid came as US President George W Bush unveiled his new strategy in Iraq, which included increasing troop numbers and a commitment to stop Iranian support for "our enemies in Iraq".

BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the raid could signal a ratcheting-up of pressure on the Iranians, in line with the rhetorical thrust of his speech.

Read a full BBC report right here.

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Atlanta Arsehole-Policeman Arrests And Molests A Brilliant Brit ...

Professor Felipe Fernandez-Armesto

A dear American friend of ours whose abode's in Atlanta has always admired his city's 'finest'. Not.

Now we can understand why.

Apparently, increasingly authoritarian BushAmerica's attempts to try winning friends and influencing people from overseas are about as abysmal in Georgia as they are at the current maladministration's temporary camp in the capital.

Today the UK's Daily Mail told we Brits of this terrible tale.

I was grabbed and thrown in U.S. jail for crossing road'

A distinguished British historian claims he was knocked to the ground by an American policeman before being arrested and spending eight hours in jail — all because he crossed the road in the wrong place.

The Mail told us this too.

Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, 56, said he had been the victim of “terrible, terrible violence” after he inadvertently committed the offence of “jaywalking” in Atlanta ...

Then went on thus.

Professor Fernandez-Armesto, once described as “the archetypal superdon”, is an expert in various fields, including global environmental history, comparative colonial history, maritime history and the history of cartography.

He is the author of 19 books, which have been translated into 22 languages and he has won numerous awards.

The Prof doesn't seem to have posed any proper problem or appeared to be any kind of terrorist, threat, tough guy or thug. Does he?

Nonetheless, this internationally recognized & respected, mild mannered, middle aged, acclaimed academic alleges ...

“This young [police] man kicked my legs from under me, wrenched me round in what I think is a sort of a judo move, pinned me to the ground, wrenched my arms behind my back, handcuffed me.

I had five burly policemen pinioning me to the ground, pressing my neck with really very severe pain.”

Home of the brave? Land of the free?

Oh, yeah. Sure. Certainly seems so, eh?

Still, things could have been worse we suppose.

After all, the learned professor could have gone to languish in Gitmo. Alongside some other 'swarthy suspects'.

Read more of The Mail's report.

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UK Secret Intelligence Services Set To Start Spam Surge Soon ...

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Interested in any extra intelligence?

Still not being sent sufficient spam?

Can't control a craving for cookies?

Searching for some special spyware?

Or maybe more malware?

Not yet named on enough long governmental lists?

Bursting to become better buddies with Big Brother?

Aren't already attracting adequate attention -- as far as you're aware?

Well, well, well -- we're darned if we can't damn well make your day.

In fact, it looks a lot like your next Christmas has come especially extra early this year.

Okay, okay -- excuse our (so far), coded quips & comments and forgive our friendly, preambling frivolity.

But see for yourself why we're absolutely splitting our sides and simultaneously, practically peeing our pants while laughing out loud as we roll all around the flippin' floor.

MI5 to send e-mail terror alerts

Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller has warned over the terror threat

E-mail terror alerts will be sent out to the public under a new system launched by security chiefs at MI5.

From Tuesday, people will be able to register on the MI5 website to receive updates when the threat level changes.

No shit, Sherlock. That's no spoof. We kid you not. Pulling people's plonkers we ain't.

Would we two lie to you?

Read the rest of this right load of old MI5 rubbish, as revealed today by the BBC.

And remember, smile while you read, since for all we know we could already be starring on 'Candid Camera' - 21st century syle - courtesy BlairBushCo.

Also, in the interests of national security, be sure to swallow this blog-piece when finished with.

Thank you.

Have a hilarious day.

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Iraq Insanity : Facts+Figures+Photos

Are you aghast at the news that more Americans (almost all, young), have now died in Iraq - - directly due to the Bush-neocon-crew instigated, illegal invasion and occupation - - than died in the NYC twin towers on 9/11?

Well, you'd better brace yourself.

The terrible truth is that things over there wouldn't be half so bad, even if they were twice as bad as you've been believing them to be. Which, we bet, was bloody well bad enough.

Confused?

You won't be, if you linger with us a little while longer.

We should warn you though that if you do decide to stay, you're certainly set to be shocked.

As from here on in, we're talking totally about the (well hidden), wounded of the 'coalition of the willing' - not the dead.

And as advised in advance at the top of the blog, we're backing up everything we say, with some seriously scandalous:

Facts.

Figures.

Photos. (Graphic).

As for any similar statistics relating to (in the main, innocent), Iraqis -- be they dead, dismembered, disfigured, driven to distraction and/or any permutation of all the aforementioned -- who the hell knows?

Since, as the almighty American authorities announced almost at the outset -- they don't count.

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Old Brit Signals Distressed Bush ...

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This Old Brit calling George Bush ........

You are here ....


They are there ....

Strongly suggest leave 'em alone ....


Too late to worry - - re; rearrangements.

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More Uncensored Middle East Stories: Saddam - Iraq - USA - UK - And More

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This Thursday we'll try keeping things short and sweet.

We'll simply, super-strongly suggest you read Robert Fisk -- if you want the (often unwelcome), raw truth re; Middle East matters. Especially if you live in, and only have access to news in the increasingly, Censored States of America.

That's Robert Fisk shown below by the way.

We're also saying you should, if you're sensible, save, bookmark and/or blogroll this permanent Robert Fisk link.

Please pass it around too. By email, comments on blogs and every other way you can think of.

To unapologetically harp on and hammer home our point, here we go again. Remember Robert's face - remember his name - read his reports - regularly.

Here's a tasty teaser to tempt you.

[Saddam] takes his secrets to the grave.

Our complicity dies with him.

How the West armed Saddam, fed him intelligence on his 'enemies', equipped him for atrocities - and then made sure he wouldn't squeal.

We've shut him up.

The moment Saddam's hooded executioner pulled the lever of the trapdoor in Baghdad yesterday morning, Washington's secrets were safe.

The shameless, outrageous, covert military support which the United States - and Britain - gave to Saddam for more than a decade remains the one terrible story which our presidents and prime ministers do not want the world to remember.

And now Saddam, who knew the full extent of that Western support - given to him while he was perpetrating some of the worst atrocities since the Second World War - is dead.

Gone is the man who personally received the CIA's help in destroying the Iraqi communist party. After Saddam seized power, US intelligence gave his minions the home addresses of communists in Baghdad and other cities in an effort to destroy the Soviet Union's influence in Iraq. Saddam's mukhabarat visited every home, arrested the occupants and their families, and butchered the lot. Public hanging was for plotters; the communists, their wives and children, were given special treatment - extreme torture before execution at Abu Ghraib.

There is growing evidence across the Arab world that Saddam held a series of meetings with senior American officials prior to his invasion of Iran in 1980 - both he and the US administration believed that the Islamic Republic would collapse if Saddam sent his legions across the border - and the Pentagon was instructed to assist Iraq's military machine by providing intelligence on the Iranian order of battle.

One frosty day in 1987, not far from Cologne, I met the German arms dealer who initiated those first direct contacts between Washington and Baghdad - at America's request.

Read the rest of our intrepid Robert's revealing report, right here.


Maybe some measure of this heroic, honest, honourable, none-whore media man is best shown in our final (bottom of blog), photo. Wherein, you can see for yourself a little of what he got for his troubles when reporting from Iraqi in the initial dangerous days of the illegal invasion.

We actually watched (with our own eyes), while he sustained the injuries shown through being stoned by irate Iraqis as he tried to broadcast live for British TV.

In fact, if it hadn't been for the quick thinking and rapid reactions of the rest of the crew, who quickly picked him up and piled him into their vehicle before speeding off 'the hell outta there' -- it's a safe bet he would not have survived.

But here's the best bit.

A mile or so down the road he insisted they stop. Then calmly, though still bleeding, bruised and quite clearly seriously shaken, he climbed out of the car and bravely began another piece to camera.

And do you know what one of things he said was?

That he didn't blame his attackers at all. That he would probably have felt and acted exactly the same way had he been in their shoes.

What a media-mountain-of-man Mr Fisk is, eh?

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Afghanistan & The Taliban; Still Well Hidden By BushCo Smoke And Mirrors

Remember the terrible Taliban?

Remember Afghanistan?

Where George W. Bush declared victory a while back - before buggering of and leaving the Brits, NATO and Co to clear up the crap he left behind him?

Remember Osama bin Laden, the Saudi Arabian suiciders, the mass 9/11 murderers, the ( 2,100 plus innocent American and 600 odd other nationals), twin-tower-tragedy victims and all that?

What a pity the pathetic prick of a counterfeit cowboy from Crawford calling his crooked self a Commander in Chief can't -- or wont.

Eh?

No matter -- maybe we can jog his memory just a bit by saying this.

Right now, in all probability the Taliban are pissing their big baggy pants with laughter at the news that thousands more US troops are set to be shipped off to Iraq to try to clear up even more BushCo manufactured shit -- since it means none of them are headed their way -- and, that their enemy is becoming even more over stretched with each passing day.

As a matter of fact, this tanned & turbaned bunch of big-time USSR beaters have just taken the time & trouble to remind BushCo -- themselves.

Yep, really, they have.

The barefaced, brazen band of buggers have very recently telephoned Reuters to tell them what their new year resolution for 2007 is -- and it's not nice.

Take a look at this tasty tid-bit to get a gist of what we're talking about.

The Taliban will step up attacks on foreign troops in Afghanistan this year and kill anyone who negotiates with the government, a senior Taliban commander has said.

Then get a good gander at this.

Taliban fighters staged a surprise comeback last year with the bloodiest violence since US-led troops forced them from power in 2001.

More than 4,000 people were killed on both sides in 2006, including nearly 170 foreign troops.

And lookee here.

Dadullah told Reuters by satellite telephone: "Guerrilla attacks on Nato, American and coalition forces will continue and increase this year.

The Taliban will inflict heavy casualties on them."

And there's more.

"They will soon come to know about the Taliban's strength and war strategy.

We will attack with such a force they will have no time to settle."

Read all about it at Al-Jazeera-English.

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Seldom Seen Images Of Saddam Hussein, George W. Bush, Tony Blair And Many More 'Main Men' ...

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As we once again enter a brand new year we would all do well to remember that time never stands still.

And that just like the tide, it waits for no man -- be that fact be for better or for worse.

Witness who and what we show you below.

Can you guess who these three young, mere mortals were?

Or who and what Old Father Time turned them into?

And how and when his end game plans will eventually and inevitably, be implemented?

There are plenty more fantastic photos to be found were they came from -- of plenty more people -- be they the world's good, bad and/or ugly 'main men'.

Open this absolutely awesome album -- and be more than amazed.

And may 2007 bring you and yours all that you wish for -- and have earned -- and deserve.

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