Courage 23 July, 2008

Not withstanding the fact that I am no fan of PM G Brown, I could not understand the wall to wall unanimous poor reviews, from the English, Israeli and international media, of PM Browns recent visit to Israel.

However listening to Barak Obama looking really statesman-like, now in Sderot giving unequivocal support to Israel, but also the bitter pill, however he did it from the front line of Sderot. Contrast that to PM Brown who made a fool of himself barely able to say three words in Hebrew. Then going to the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and talking down to bedfellow that don’t disagree with him.

He does not just get it, it further proves wrong those that say in private Brown is a “big political beast” charming individual. In truth he is highly intelligent, that it where it stops, he is simply a makeweight, who has both never had nor does he understand normal life, he is no persons, person.

Not before time! 22 July, 2008

The arrest a few hours ago of the arch-butcher of Bosnia Radovan Karadzic, may seem to some as a vindication of the softly approach taken by the international community in pursuing the arrest of this war criminal, and the righting of the Balkans wars in the 1990’s.

For me however it was a vindication of Russian muscle, in being able to run amock with international laws and civil norms. By bullying and intimidating the West, they managed to delay Bosnia moving on, and thereby ensuring the country remains unstable for decades longer.

What informs my view is the 100’s of Fridays I spent in my local library and the old library on Mare St in Hackney, reading up on the first and second world wars. What always bothered and still bothers me, along with millions of others was not so much how and why it happened, but why so little was done after the great wars to rectify the wrongs of the wars. Painfully as it sounds Hitler has been partially vindicated, Germany today is a world superpower again and a thriving powerful nation. Whereas Jews, Gypsys and other victims are a pale shadow of their former self.

The international community have played lip service at best, in paying derisory financial compensation, without recognising or rectifying the human toll and damage. The survivors I have spoken to, where unanimous in their goal of justice, not compensation.

The reason it is important today is, in Sudan, Zimbabwe and around the world where more severe atrocities are currently being perpetrated, often beyond the gaze of the international media, those dictators have a reasonable expectation of completely getting away with their crimes.

The world needs strong leadership to stand up to bankrupt and self interested world superpowers. As controversial as it may be, my firm view is, the policy of interventionism, by conviction politicians like Bush and Blair, as unpopular as it looks now, will be vindicated by history. Should we, as seems likely, fail to wake up soon and act, we will not only rue and keep on making said mistakes, but entrench these attitudes internationally, and mass atrocities will continue to be perpetrated with impunity.

Today we are all Zionists 16 July, 2008

For all the hype, for all our leaders imperfections and misdemeanours, it is hard not to be repulsed by the repugnant pictures emanating from Beirut, of leaders giving a Hollywood Style welcome to a terrorist who killed a 4 year old girl by smashing her head on the floor. Compare that to the dignity and pride of the Israeli families who had to engage with the cynical games of the body trader in Lebanon, to get back their loved ones.

Today we are all Zionists! When will the world wake up these people have one suicidal goal, and we are ALL at threat. Lets call a spade a spade, terrorism is terrorism, regardless where when or by whom.

Article 11: Freedom of Assembly 15 July, 2008

In our great socialist republic we are all equal, therefore the £6.6M cost to Greater Manchester Police of controlling this years Labour conference will be met by the Home Office. A full £1,000,000 up on last year, that’s an eye watering 17+%, (mind you Gordon is that much more unpopular) However school children gathering to keep their school open in Salford are saddled with a bill for £1000’s by GMP!

BURY says NO! 4 July, 2008

Result just declared and Bury has said NO to a directly elected Mayor. Congratulations to Bury Conservatives who made the argument against the extra cost of yet another politician.

However, having started off eight years ago opposed to directly elected Mayor, I was won over to the concept, by the leadership elected Mayors have shown across the country and how they have stood up to the established political parties.

The only silver lining was that the yes vote was somehow trying to convince people that by voting yes to a Mayor, they were saying no to the congestion charge.

The truth of the matter is, there is no connection whatsoever, furthermore it is the Conservatives in Bury who have fought BOTH the Lib Dems and Labour in opposing it, and the Conservatives that have been elected to run Bury have already said no!

The bottom line is this was democracy in action, let’s hope we see more of it soon. The voters are always right!

Real Heroes 2 July, 2008

Less than a hour ago, in downtown Jerusalem a man working on the new light railway going into town, turned up and decided instead of working, he would take his monster tractor and kill people, in the heart of the rush hour.

The finer details are still unclear, what is certain is, that instead of running away many people ran towards him to stop him, knowing he was potentially armed. As it was a reinforced cockpit people including special police officer Eli Mizrahi (who was on standby with his motorbike, for exactly this type of incident) had to mount the tractor, wrestle with the terrorist and shoot him, saving countless lives.

Many people are injured, three killed, and at this moment there is a suspected orphan child in hospital unclaimed, let’s pray this madness ends soon!