Courage 23 July, 2008

Not withstand that I am no fan of PM B Browne, I could not understand the wall to wall unanimous poor reviews, from the English, Israeli and what international media, of PM Browne recent visit to Israel.

However listening to Barak Obama looking really statesman like, now in Sederot giving unequivocal support to Israel, but also the bitter pill, however he did it from the front line of Sederot. Contrast that to PM Browne that 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 Browne 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 amuck 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 Hackney, reading up on the first and second world wars. What always bothered and still bothers me, along with millions of other 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, Gypsy’s 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 too, 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 as it seems likely, we 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 happen 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 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 family’s who has to engage with the cynical game’s 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 GMPT!

 

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 Mayor’s 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 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 Hero’s 2 July, 2008

Less than a hour ago, in down town 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!

Roads pricing 24 June, 2008

The most laughable claim Labour made prior to the local elections, was that the state of the roads in Kersal have greatly improved, I touch ironic considering Labour, having been in power in Salford since time and memorial, they are responsible for the diabolical state of the roads.

The few roads repairs that where being undertaken was an obvious election gimmick, borne out by the fact that currently to my knowledge there is not a single road repair being undertaken in Kersal, it is a sheer shame and disgrace. One of the issues that were raised by residents on the doorstep unprompted was the bus service, or the lack of it, particularly in Lower Kersal. Until Labour give us a real choice in public transport and take the people with them regardless of the price of petrol, or driving charge, we will not be prized out of our cars as there is no alternative, more incentives less coercion is say!

 

 

 

Supply V Demand 8 June, 2008

The most elementary golden rule of commerce is that the price of goods in an open market is fixed by supply and demand. As demand rises so does the price, and conversely as supply increases the price falls and so too vice versa .

However having spend a few days in London, it is increasingly apparent that despite supply falling dramatically, prices have stabilized if not begun to fall, turning the above rule on its head.

It is further interesting to note whereas ordinarily the rest of the country follows London here it is London that is trailing, as prices are flat, whereas they are falling across the rest of the UK. Finally if I had a penny for every property dealer or vested interest that are behaving like ostridge‘s, believing its only a blip, or they are somehow coushened because.. Id be a very rich man.

Lets pray and hope prices do not fall dramatically as we will all pay the price in the long run, though I am not holding my breath.

Dad was right! 3 June, 2008

Many years ago, when I heard the name Max Mosley I asked my father if he was related to Oswald Mosley, my father explained to me that he is his son. The only difference being, his father was openly a Nazi and racist, whilst his son is a closet racist. I felt that a bit harsh, notwithstanding that my father is the son of a holocaust survivor, I felt a man should not be judged for his father’s action. It is now clear that his campaigning for fascists in his early years was not incidental.

My mind boggles what these 103 countries that voted to keep him in post are thinking, I understand he pushed for a secret ballot, and he placated them by secretly promising not to stand again. What a complete joke! It has put me off following motor sport for the foreseeable future, and I hope others vote with their pockets.

Burying bad news - Nuclear 28 May, 2008

Is it cynical of me to suspect Labour of burying bad news again. Today when the headlines are dominated by the high cost of oil, Labour finally confirms what we all knew and they denied, nuclear power will be far more expensive than they would like to admit to, and the cost will only go north.

I happened to be in favour of nuclear energy, global security is the new cold war, it’s below the radar but a mega threat, and here to stay for some time. We have to however be clear about the options. If the public get the impression they are being hoodwinked, it’s the surest way of needlessly fuelling the opposition.