What’s the Game?

Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, April 14th, 2018 - 194 comments
Categories: International, Politics, Propaganda, Syria - Tags: , ,

I was no great fan of Obama. But at least when it came to foreign interventions he didn’t cower before the hawks. Notwithstanding his illegal drone programme that targeted US civilians abroad in a series of extrajudicial killings, when it came to Iran, he sought to dampen down tensions. He left the destruction of Libya to France and Britain. And in the case of Syria, he took steps to align with Russia against ISIS.

But these days we have a grotesque caricature of a statesperson in the shape of Teresa May; Macron who could always be spat further than trust might ever carry him, and Trump – a compliant clown of a man who once spoke as though he would turn from the insanity of US foreign policy – all ramping up tensions over the head of Syria, and being all eager to play with lots of shiny things that kill people.

Why? What is it about Syria that has these idiots so “besides themselves”?

It’s not down to Assad being some kind of evil incarnate that they, the forces for good, feel duty bound to remove from the face of the planet. There are disgusting and decrepit enough leaders that the US, France and UK fete and court. (You can name them and/or their respective countries for yourself).

It’s not down to Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons. Hell, these people (“our” masters) provided Sadam Hussein with all the precursors he could wish for during the Iran/Iraq war – that he used liberally in that war, and that he also used against Kurds within Iraq. It wasn’t until years later, when Sadam decided to do something about Kuwait stealing oil from Iraqi oil fields that things went sour for him with “our” masters.

Look. Do I need to mention that this Syrian nonsense has got nothing whatsoever to do with “bringing democracy” to the country? Surely not. That gets filed alongside the notion of dropping bombs to achieve humanitarian goals. Right?

So if it’s not the intrinsic evil of Assad, and it’s not “democracy” or “humanitarianism”, and it’s not some deep seated aversion to chemicals, then what is behind all this bullshit?

In September 2016, Mike Whitney, authored a piece for Counterpunch titled “Assad’s Death Warrant”. That article leaned heavily on the analysis of Robert F Kennedy Jr and suggests Assad’s rejection of a gas pipeline deal that would have seen Qatar “corner the market” for European gas supplies at Russia’s expense, and his endorsement of an Iranian pipeline instead, is what lies behind the push for regime change. The piece is worth reading. Robert F Kennedy Jr’s original article in Politico is also worth reading. Make of them what you will.

Stephen Gowans has given presentations relating to his book “Washington’s Long War On Syria” that provides very useful historical and political contexts on the country. As he points out, the tension between a radical Sunni agenda and the equally anti-imperialist Baathist agenda is irreconcilable. And it has resulted in bloodshed in Syria before. The video behind this link is some forty minutes long, and again, as with the articles above, if you want to avail yourself of some deeper analysis of Syria beyond some white hat/black hat nonsense, then find the time to give it a listen. And make of it what you will.

Should we throw in Israels preoccupation with Iran and their support of Hezbollah in Lebanon? Probably. I don’t think it has “nothing” to do with what we’re seeing in Syria. Hell, even the simplistic “fear and loathing” of Russia and all things Russian (except under Yeltsin) “our” masters have, and that stretches all the way back to 1800’s  Tsarist Russia is an ingredient in the mix.

We know that the UK and US (as well as many others) have given direct logistical, military and financial support to Jihadist gangs or groups within Syria. The Guardian had a very good article on some of the machinations it uncovered back in May of 2016. Interestingly, one of the groups mentioned in that article as receiving support is Jaish Al Islam – that’s the same Jaish Al Islam that has just recently departed from Eastern Ghouta after claiming civilians had been subjected to a chemical attack by the Syrian government. Make of that what you will.

My question is this though.

What happens if Assad survives and the steady flow of information that has been flying in the face of what we’ve been told every night and every day from mainstream/corporate/liberal media outlets becomes a stream, and then a flood washing down from the soggy, broken dam of government bullshit?

Will we, as with Iraq, tut-tut and then go back to our Netflix or whatever? Why do we keep on giving “our” masters a free pass when they, in our name, perpetrate evils on other people in this world? Shouldn’t we, as conscientious citizens, and as a duty, be making it clear and known to our governments, that the price they will pay for indulging in mendacious bullshitt is so high that they simply won’t be able to so much as contemplate stepping out of line?

That’s my question, regardless of where you stand on the rights and wrongs and maybes that are swirling around on Syria at the moment. Do we not all have a duty to seek ways whereby actions of the institutions of the countries we’re citizens of are restrained at our moral insistence?

There is something very wrong with our political culture when leaders can casually bandy about notions of military intervention and war.

Update According to the Guardian, Trump has just “ordered strikes against the Assad regime ”

From the Guardian –

“Trump refers to the “righteous power” of the US, UK and France in acting in the region. He urges Americans to say a prayer. He finishes with: “We pray that god will bring comfort to the suffering and guide the whole region.”

194 comments on “What’s the Game? ”

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  1. mickysavage 1
    14 April 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Perfect timing Bill. Trump just announced a joint UK-France-US attack on Syria.

    • Bill 1.1
      14 April 2018 at 1:18 pm

      Yeah. Kind of wanting to throw up about now micky. Need to distract myself. It’s sunny. And I have things hereabouts that need my attention.

      • D'Esterre 1.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 3:33 pm

        Bill: “Kind of wanting to throw up about now…”

        Yup. Me too. Blithering bloody idiots…

  2. SARAH 2
    14 April 2018 at 1:21 pm

    Watching the live announcement from Trump – OMG is all I can think of saying. Are UK, France and US now at war with Russia?

    • Wayne 2.1
      14 April 2018 at 1:34 pm

      SARAH,

      No, they are not at war with Russia.

      This whole thing has been carefully signalled. The attacks will be “de-conflicted” with Russia, to ensure Russians are not in the firing line. Syria will lose some aircraft and airfields, and command and control centres will be hit. Essentially to indicate to Syria not to cross the chemical warfare redline. Assad did so with impunity when Obama let him cross the “redline” in 2013 without consequence. Unlike Bill, I think that was Obama’s worst decision.

      There is also a broader signal to Russia. That the key nations in the West (US, UK and France) can act in unison, just as they have over the Salisbury attack. It is intended to make Putin think twice about his actions, primarily around Ukraine, the Baltics, and Georgia. But also on Russia’s actions interfering in elections (US and France were both affected) and undertaking cyber attacks. They want a Russia that respects the normal rules of international discourse, and acts with more restraint.

      • Muttonbird 2.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 1:41 pm

        More likely that the West wants to reduce Russian opposition to the expansion of Western interests close to Russian borders and the borders of Russia’s allies in the Middle East.

        • mikesh 2.1.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 2:09 pm

          It is a great pity Jubilation T Trump doesn’t show some “restraint”. But I guess he felt he had to act before the OPCW representatives reached Douma and proved the the allegations against Assad were ill founded.

          • D'Esterre 2.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 3:27 pm

            Mikesh: “But I guess he felt he had to act before the OPCW representatives reached Douma and proved the the allegations against Assad were ill founded.”

            Yup. Never let the facts get in the way of a good bombing, huh?

            I guess these warmongers get off on this stuff. But they sure wouldn’t like it up ’em, were the boot on the other foot.

      • D'Esterre 2.1.2
        14 April 2018 at 1:52 pm

        Wayne: “No, they are not at war with Russia.”

        Yes. They are. Do you understand nothing? All of this warmongering is aimed at Russia.

        “primarily around Ukraine, the Baltics, and Georgia. But also on Russia’s actions interfering in elections (US and France were both affected) and undertaking cyber attacks.”

        The above ranges from propaganda to outright lies. None of it justifies what’s happening today.

        “They want a Russia that respects the normal rules of international discourse, and acts with more restraint.”

        No. The US wants Russia as a vassal state, as it believed Russia was during the Yeltsin years.

        If the west wants other polities to respect the rules of international discourse, it could begin by doing so itself. I scarcely need to adduce the numerous ways in which the US, UK and France have acted in blatant disregard of international law.

        Christ almighty…. More innocents set to die, just to satisfy the Washington neocons’.

        Crazies…

        • Ovid 2.1.2.1
          14 April 2018 at 2:24 pm

          Well what are you doing here, then? If the US and Russia are at war, go out immediately and get any necessary supplies you need that can’t be produced in NZ.

          I know it’s 30 years old, but New Zealand After Nuclear War (PDF) is the best guidance available.

          • D'Esterre 2.1.2.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 2:37 pm

            Ovid: “go out immediately and get any necessary supplies you need that can’t be produced in NZ.”

            Oh yeah, like all those supplies designed to get us through the aftermath of an earthquake. Hahaha!

      • One Two 2.1.3
        14 April 2018 at 2:27 pm

        War on behalf of Israel… once again…

        They want a Russia that respects the normal rules of international discourse, and acts with more restraint

        So proxy wars, illegal occupations, overthrowing legitimate governments, murdering and maiming and displacing tens of millions…

        Whose ‘god’ are ‘they’ fighting for, Wayne…

      • cleangreen 2.1.4
        14 April 2018 at 2:48 pm

        Wayne Mapp again saying “nothing to see here”!!!!!!!!

        This is like he did a Afganistan over the the NZ Military strikes on civilians there!!!!

        So we think nothing of what ‘Wayne’ says now.

        • gsays 2.1.4.1
          15 April 2018 at 1:10 am

          Spot on, cleangreen.
          ‘De-conflicting’, ‘pre emptive strikes’…. it’s de-javu, all over again. Nothing to see here.

          I know little of the factional goings on in Syria, however I do see unpopular leaders.
          As Bill Hicks called it The Gulf war distraction.

          Edit. Snap Kay. Well said.

      • Liberal Realist 2.1.5
        14 April 2018 at 2:57 pm

        Essentially to indicate to Syria not to cross the chemical warfare redline. Assad did so with impunity when Obama let him cross the “redline” in 2013 without consequence.

        Wayne, where is the evidence Assad crossed any red line? That’s right, there isn’t any! So why then do you repeat lies and propaganda?

        There is zero evidence that Syria remains in possession of chemical or biological weapons, or that it has used chemical weapons on anyone.

        BTW, I consider Obama allowing the Russian brokered compromise leading to destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons as one his best decisions. In this, Obama stood against the war hawks, avoided the murder of many innocents, and the potential for a super power standoff.

        • SPC 2.1.5.1
          14 April 2018 at 3:15 pm

          Then the Syrians lost nothing in the strikes on the so called chemical weapons production sites and stockpile locations.

          For mine whenever air attacks occur in civilian areas a red-line has been crossed.

          • reason 2.1.5.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 7:37 pm

            Supporting terrorists and being part of a rat line sending billions of dollars in weapons to these terrorist ‘rebels’ ….. could probably give us a red line painted with the blood of Syrians stretching to the white house and 10 Downing street over and over again. https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Mark-Curtis/Secret-Affairs–Britains-Collusion-with-Radical-Islam/21378882

            MI5 had maintained Libyan terrorist Assets in Manchester for 20 years … one group of extremists being anti-Gaddaffi ‘Libyan Islamist fighting group’.

            The British suicide bomber who blew himself up in England, along with over 22 teenage girls was part of the ‘Libyan Islamist fighting group’

            In Libya many ‘rebels’ were secretly supplied and trained by british SAS …. many went on to Syria to join Isis.

            John Pilger from the 1hr 43 min mark is very informative

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.5.2
          14 April 2018 at 7:57 pm

          So why then do you repeat lies and propaganda?

          Because that’s what he does. Lying and spinning appears to be his job.

      • reason 2.1.6
        14 April 2018 at 7:14 pm

        battle of the rogue nations …. http://markcurtis.info/2018/04/06/when-it-comes-to-middle-east-policy-the-uk-is-nothing-but-a-rogue-state/

        in the 15th year since the illegal invasion of Iraq …. “To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.” ,,,,

        ,,,,,, Wayne Mapp, A supporter of this ultimate crime walks into a thread without a shred of shame …. and writes exactly what we would expect based on his past form.

        At about the 48 minute mark of this doco you will hear ‘ Wayne Speak’ https://off-guardian.org/2018/01/11/documentary-ukraine-on-fire-2016/

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.6.1
          14 April 2018 at 7:56 pm

          Wayne Mapp, A supporter of this ultimate crime walks into a thread without a shred of shame …. and writes exactly what we would expect based on his past form.

          QFT

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.7
        14 April 2018 at 7:54 pm

        They want a Russia that respects the normal rules of international discourse, and acts with more restraint.

        Those normal rules apparently being that the US does what it wants and everyone else gets to kowtow to them in fear of being bombed back to the stone age.

        Yeah, I think we’d all be better off without that normality.

      • Kaya3 2.1.8
        15 April 2018 at 1:59 am

        Am I reading a report from Fox News ffs?
        What red line did Syria cross? Show some proof? There is no proof of Assad carrying out ANY chemical weapons attacks. If you have some show it.

        What Salisbury attack? The one where both parties survived a nerve agent 5 times deadlier than VX?? What did Russia do in Ukraine and Georgia? Apart from support and defend their own people? There was NO interference in US elections, oh, except for that British company, Cambridge Analytica – or is Putin a majority shareholder?

        “They want a Russia that respects the rules of international discourse and acts with more restraint.”
        I swear that statement is funnier than anything in any Monty Python sketch. Russia is the only country in recent times that actually is playing by international rules. Unless of course you have evidence to support all those theories you read on the BBC or the Guardian recently.

        • Brigid 2.1.8.1
          15 April 2018 at 10:10 am

          QFT!!

        • Stunned mullet 2.1.8.2
          15 April 2018 at 10:12 am

          “Russia is the only country in recent times that actually is playing by international rules. ”

          😆 comedy gold.

          • Kaya3 2.1.8.2.1
            16 April 2018 at 10:59 am

            Instead of inane responses how about actually coming up with something to disprove my statement? I can give you plenty to show it is 100% accurate. Take as long as you need but I won’t be holding my breath.

            Let me know how many examples you want of Russia acting with integrity while the West is breaking every law and convention we have.

    • D'Esterre 2.2
      14 April 2018 at 1:38 pm

      Sarah: “Are UK, France and US now at war with Russia?”

      Looks like it. And likely with China as well.

      God help us all: none of us will escape the consequences.

      • Stunned Mullet 2.2.1
        14 April 2018 at 2:51 pm

        Do you want me to send some pearls over so you can clutch them ?

        • adam 2.2.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 3:04 pm

          Oh look, active murder at a state level, and stunned mullet makes jokes. What a guy.

          • stunnedmullet 2.2.1.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 3:15 pm

            🙄 limited strike which had been telegraphed well before time and targeted to ensure there were no Russians within cooee and we have the usual crew stating that it’s the start of WWIII .

            Have people already forgotten that Israel shot up an airfield and Iranian personnel in Syria last week with virtual impunity -there’s more going on behind the scenes than we’re aware of and none of it has the smell of a direct conflict between the Russia and the West.

            • Bill 2.2.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2018 at 4:49 pm

              Some people are scared. Taking the piss isn’t useful. And besides, what would it take for something to go awry in all this ‘calculated’ bullshit and for things to kick off?

              Because, way I see it, we’re dealing with complete fucking idiots throwing their weight around and fucking idiots tend to get things fucking idiotically wrong eventually.

              • D'Esterre …
                14 April 2018 at 10:00 pm

                Bill: “Because, way I see it, we’re dealing with complete fucking idiots throwing their weight around and fucking idiots tend to get things fucking idiotically wrong eventually.”

                Exactly. People who are flippant about this have no imagination. And no empathy.

              • Kaya3 …
                15 April 2018 at 2:04 am

                Exactly, as Roger Waters wrote in a song,

                Every time a smart bomb does its sums and gets it wrong
                Someone else’s child dies and equities in defence rise
                America, America, please hear us when we call
                You got hip-hop, be-bop, hustle and bustle
                You got Atticus Finch
                You got Jane Russell
                You got freedom of speech
                You got great beaches, wildernesses and malls
                Don’t let the might, the Christian right, fuck it all up
                For you and the rest of the world

        • D'Esterre 2.2.1.2
          14 April 2018 at 3:25 pm

          Stunned Mullet: “Do you want me to send some pearls over so you can clutch them ?”

          Do you want to make any comments that are less facile?

        • Gabby 2.2.1.3
          14 April 2018 at 6:16 pm

          You into pearl necklaces stunted?

      • SPC 2.2.2
        14 April 2018 at 3:18 pm

        Doing something Russia does not like does not result in war with Russia unless Russia declares one.

        China’s attitude on war, is not to join on the side of the party that starts it.

    • Sanctuary 2.3
      14 April 2018 at 3:41 pm

      The Russians are having their bluff called. Russia is a military lightweight that would lose a war to Britain, let alone the USA.

        • Sanctuary 2.3.1.1
          15 April 2018 at 7:30 pm

          The UK has a bigger defense budget than Russia, much higher GDP per capita, is the worlds 5th or 6th biggest economy vs Russia coming in at 12th- just ahead of Australia. In fact, Russia’s GDP will soon be passed by the ANZAC partners, particularly as the Russian economy remains in the doldrums due to sanctions.

          The size of the Russian military counts for nothing. Numbers ceased to be a valid measure of military effectiveness over one hundred years ago. The UK military is much more efficient and effective than the Russian one and the UK commands a far stronger strategic position. For all the numbers, most of the Russian army is basically useless conscripts and most of it’s equipment is not operational or obsolescent.

          • Liberal Realist 2.3.1.1.1
            15 April 2018 at 7:51 pm

            Care to substantiate your claims? Thought not…

            • joe90 2.3.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2018 at 8:08 pm

              Probably.

              This essay on the fast-evolving European security situation by Aleksandr Khramchikhin—one of Russia’s most wide-ranging and prolific military observers and analysts—sheds light on how many Russians view the strategic environment and the strengths, weaknesses, and intentions of their adversaries in the West.

              […]

              The best evidence that the military situation in Europe is stable and that the continent is not on the brink of World War III is in the forces that each side has available for conducting military operations. Even a brief comparison of the present-day arsenals of Russia and NATO to those of the Soviet Union and NATO during the height of the Cold War should allay fears of military conflict (see table 1). This comparison should also take into account critically important political and psychological factors. Russia’s and NATO’s present-day forces do not measure up well against their predecessors of a generation ago.

              […]

              The very idea of Russian aggression against a NATO country is absurd and not worth discussing even hypothetically. All such scenarios belong to the category of propaganda or delusions, and are based on a complete lack of understanding of what has happened in the post-Soviet space over the past thirty years. The concept of “hybrid war” also belongs to the category of propaganda. There is no scientific definition of hybrid war, and any attempt to define it will lead anyone to the conclusion that hybrid war is war. War has always been a combination of regular and irregular armed hostilities, as well as economic and information warfare, even if their mix is different from one conflict to another.

              http://carnegieendowment.org/2018/01/25/rethinking-danger-of-escalation-russia-nato-military-balance-pub-75346

              • McFlock …
                15 April 2018 at 8:22 pm

                The claim was russia v uk, not Nato.

                Hybrid war also seems to be a smoother transition between regular and irregular warfare. If you look at the command structures for regular and irregular military activities from WW2 (Army with uniformed commandos vs SOE/OSS), Vietnam (especially NVA vs NLF(VietCong)), and the Russians in Ukraine, the last is a single integrated command structure bridging assets that previously were largely command-independent of each other. So that’s why it’s different and interesting.

      • Kaya3 2.3.2
        15 April 2018 at 2:06 am

        Probably the most idiotic comment of the decade.

  3. Poission 3
    14 April 2018 at 1:24 pm

    Explosions heard in Damascus.Where a large number of Russian members of the Duma have been since Wednesday.

    Raving nutcase (and known chicken and self admitted draft dodger) Bolton wants substantive targeting of syrian infrastructure.

    “Mr. Bolton favors an attack that would be ‘ruinous,’ crippling some part of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and national infrastructure, according to a person familiar with Mr. Bolton’s thinking.”

    https://twitter.com/MaxAbrahms/status/984906554766962688

    • joe90 3.1
      14 April 2018 at 1:27 pm

      Multiple air strikes.

      Reports coming out of strikes vs Jemraya District, Damascus. Jemraya is where the Scientific Studies and Research Centre is located

      https://syria.liveuamap.com/

    • mickysavage 3.2
      14 April 2018 at 1:32 pm

      What better way to return a nation to civilisation than by bombing it to rubble.

      • SPC 3.2.1
        14 April 2018 at 3:34 pm

        Most destructive action has been by the government to passive areas they do not hold.

        • Bill 3.2.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 5:44 pm

          Really? You even got some names of some areas that are “passive” but have seen more destruction than seen by “non-passive” areas? Some links too perhaps?

          • SPC 3.2.1.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 9:11 pm

            It was an auto-correct typo, replace passive with pacify.

            • Bill 3.2.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2018 at 9:29 pm

              Not “free” or “liberate” then. “Pacify”. I get you now.

              • SPC …
                14 April 2018 at 10:12 pm

                That sort of depends whether the civilians are forced to remain / unable to leave or not.

                Of course in most cases people just stay in their homes unless the fighting gets so extreme they leave if they can.

                The governments comparative destructiveness is related to its weapons capability. This does not speak to “people” remaining in their homes being oppressed while under Islamist rule – but this rarely involves destroying property.

  4. Kay 4
    14 April 2018 at 1:33 pm

    I don’t understand the politics. I’ve tried to but I just can’t.
    BUT-
    May- Brexit, NHS, Austerity disasters, incompetance in general.
    Macron- national rail strikes, industrial action, he doesn’t seem terribly loved by his people
    Trump- Porn stars, love child and everything else. Seriously wants and needs the media distracted.

    What better distraction for all 3 but to go and bomb someone? Wouldn’t be the first time would it?

    • D'Esterre 4.1
      14 April 2018 at 3:32 pm

      Kay: “I don’t understand the politics. I’ve tried to but I just can’t.”

      That’ll be because the motivations of the west are inexplicable to anyone with an ounce of common sense such as your good self.

    • Bill 4.2
      14 April 2018 at 4:44 pm

      The 40 min vid linked in the post gives a very good explanatory background and solid analysis based on sources that can be checked via simple enough google searches if you’re interested.

      My rule of thumb is that if “our” media is presenting a confusing or contradictory picture, it’s usually because we’re meant to throw up in our arms in bewilderment and walk away.

      That’s when it pays to seek out intelligent and well researched opinion from beyond liberal/mainsteam/corporate sources of media. The info is there. It’s just that most people haven’t the time or inclination to go digging.

  5. Tony Veitch (not etc) 5
    14 April 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Your Attention Please by Peter Porter

    The Polar DEW has just warned that
    A nuclear rocket strike of
    At least one thousand megatons
    Has been launched by the enemy
    Directly at our major cities.
    This announcement will take
    Two and a quarter minutes to make,
    You therefore have a further
    Eight and a quarter minutes
    To comply with the shelter
    Requirements published in the Civil
    Defence Code – section Atomic Attack.
    A specially shortened Mass
    Will be broadcast at the end
    Of this announcement –
    Protestant and Jewish services
    Will begin simultaneously –
    Select your wavelength immediately
    According to instructions
    In the Defence Code. Do not
    Tale well-loved pets (including birds)
    Into your shelter – they will consume
    Fresh air. Leave the old and bed-
    Ridden, you can do nothing for them.
    Remember to press the sealing
    Switch when everyone is in
    The shelter. Set the radiation
    Aerial, turn on the Geiger barometer.
    Turn off your television now.
    Turn off your radio immediately
    The services end. At the same time
    Secure explosion plugs in the ears
    Of each member of your family. Take
    Down your plasma flasks. Give your children
    The pills marked one and two
    In the C D green container, then put
    Them to bed. Do not break
    The inside airlock seals until
    The radiation All Clear shows
    (Watch for the cuckoo in your
    Perspex panel), or your District
    Touring Doctor rings your bell.
    If before this your air becomes
    Exhausted or if any of your family
    Is critically injured, administer
    The capsules marked ‘Valley Forge’
    (Red pocket in No 1 Survival Kit)
    For painless death. (Catholics
    Will have been instructed by their priests
    What to do in this eventuality.)
    This announcement is ending. Our President
    Has already given orders for
    Massive retaliation – it will be
    Decisive. Some of us may die.
    Remember, statistically
    It is not likely to be you.
    All flags are flying fully dressed
    On Government buildings – the sun is shining.
    Death is the least we have to fear.
    We are all in the hands of God,
    Whatever happens happens by His will.
    Now go quickly to your shelters.

    • Kay 5.1
      14 April 2018 at 1:47 pm

      Oh jeeze Tony, really didn’t need that. Flashbacks to a couple of horrific movies we were forced to watch at high school in the 1980s.

      • Tony Veitch (not etc) 5.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 2:02 pm

        Sorry, Kay – an over-reaction on my part – I hope!

        Did you see ‘Threads?’ This is where we could be heading!

        • Kay 5.1.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 3:03 pm

          We all hope it is Tony. (the over-reaction part)
          Yeah, Threads. And The Day After. Dragged off to see that with my entire 4th Form year for English class. I don’t think we ever really got over it.

          • Beatie 5.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 9:14 pm

            Yes Kay, in 1970 my class had to watch a terrifying BBC documentary ‘The War Game’ about the aftermath of a nuclear attack. Even at 16 years old, I was angry about having to watch it because it made nuclear war seem inevitable and why were they forcing children to watch, rather than those who created war.

    • gsays 5.2
      15 April 2018 at 1:41 am

      Hi Tony, I read Your attention please and the words are familiar, annoyingly so.
      Like an earworm, I have been (w)racking my brain….

      The Scars, an 80’s band from Scotland, used it on their Author Author album.

  6. JohnSelway 6
    14 April 2018 at 1:41 pm

    I don’t think anyone knows who or what is right in Syria anymore.

    Everyone is wrong and no one seems to know what they are doing

    • Monty 6.1
      14 April 2018 at 1:47 pm

      Your quite right. The first thing that is lost in these situations is the truth.

      Watching the Russian news channel here in Hong Kong and there is a lot of angry rhetoric.

      My Russian is good enough to keep up sadly.

      • JohnSelway 6.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 1:50 pm

        No one seems to know why they are doing it anymore either. It just a proxy war between everyone else to prove they are the most righteous and be damned the civilians

  7. Ad 7
    14 April 2018 at 1:52 pm

    There are no good moral positions left to take in Syria, for anyone.

    • adam 7.1
      14 April 2018 at 2:58 pm

      Actually there are, but if you want to run with that lie feel free.

      Rojava, but as you have aptly done, like many a western liberals – you will wash your hands and make statements which write real human beings off.

      • stunnedmullet 7.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 3:17 pm

        In regards to Rojava i’ll agree with you 100%.

      • Ad 7.1.2
        14 April 2018 at 6:06 pm

        Any particular Just War theory you would like to roll out in Syria?

        If you have one, there are plenty in response right now.

        There’s certainly no legal fiction being proposed here. No one on any side bothers with mandates.

        In moral terms right now in Syria, any attack by any side is just another show of force.

        You can try and find little motes of idealism to defend, but then, they have others.

        • adam 7.1.2.1
          14 April 2018 at 7:24 pm

          Are you anti democratic and anti working people Ad? Just wondering, as the people of Rojava are both those things.

          So your saying that democratic Rojava has no mandate process? Wow, just wow. You have no idea what is going on there do you? If you’d like a link Ad, ask I can help with that.

          Mind you with the comment “little motes of idealism” I’m convinced you actually don’t know what is happening in Rojava.

          Women and men trying to build a better world is not worth a dime in the eyes western liberalism, thanks for confirming that for me Ad.

    • Carolyn_Nth 7.2
      14 April 2018 at 7:32 pm

      Trump could at least act within the framework of the US constitution.

      Bernie Sanders tweeted:

      It is Congress, not the president, which has the constitutional responsibility for making war. The international community must uphold the prohibition against the use of chemical weapons, but it is unclear how Trump’s illegal and unauthorized strikes on Syria achieve that goal.

  8. joe90 8
    14 April 2018 at 2:09 pm

    2018 Russian presidential candidate Alexey Navalny –

    Башар Асад нам не друг. Его семья пришла к власти в результате нескольких военных переворотов. Это настоящая хунта. Они ограбили страну и терроризирует собственный народ. Путин сейчас спасает Асада деньгами российских пенсионеров. Это должно быть прекращено.— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) April 14, 2018

    Alexey Navalny
    Verified account @navalny
    33m33 minutes ago

    Bashar Assad is not our friend. His family came to power as a result of several military coups. This is a real junta. They robbed the country and terrorized their own people. Putin is now saving Assad with the money of Russian pensioners. It must be stopped.

    google translate

    • One Two 8.1
      14 April 2018 at 2:38 pm

      What’s your view J90?

      Does your stated ‘russophobia’ smear every Russian?

      Or only the ‘bad’ ones…

      Account verified 33minutes ago…

      Numbers have meanings…

    • D'Esterre 8.2
      14 April 2018 at 3:37 pm

      Joe90: “Alexei Navalny”

      Who?

      [No idea why your comments ae caught in “the trap” today. If you have sign in details, then use them. That’s sometimes the solution] – Bill

      • adam 8.2.1
        14 April 2018 at 7:33 pm

        He’s a centre right Presidential candidate.

        • D'Esterre 8.2.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 10:39 pm

          Adam: “He’s a centre right Presidential candidate.”

          Yeah, I do know who he is: just attempting (not very well) to make the point that he’s a no-account would-be pollie with microscopic support in Russia. His opinion has as much worth as the size of that support.

    • Kaya3 8.3
      15 April 2018 at 2:20 am

      You are kidding aren’t you? Navalny?? Presidential candidate??? He had less than 2% support before he was arrested as the western shill that he was.
      Put the Herald down for a minute and read some real analysis.

      https://off-guardian.org/2018/01/17/russian-election-2018-why-navalny-with-2-support-a-criminal-conviction-is-the-wests-only-opposition-to-putin/

      • D'Esterre 8.3.1
        15 April 2018 at 8:51 am

        Kaya3: “You are kidding aren’t you? Navalny?? Presidential candidate??? He had less than 2% support before he was arrested as the western shill that he was.”

        Yeah, I omitted to mention that, but you’re so right.

  9. Siobhan 9
    14 April 2018 at 2:11 pm

    Congressional Democrats aren’t exactly challenging Trumps bombing Syria. They have “assented, if not openly endorsed”. Its pretty much a total replay of 2017. This article might as well be reprinted today.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/syria-strike-trump-democrats-congress/522312/

    Politics these days really are like Groundhog Day…I just have a bad feeling were never going to live this day the right way.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1
      14 April 2018 at 8:24 pm

      Politics these days really are like Groundhog Day…I just have a bad feeling were never going to live this day the right way.

      QFT

      I suspect it isn’t that far different to what was happening during the collapse of the Roman Empire. Got the big, powerful nation telling everyone to do things their way backed up by muscle transforming over time to the same nation cutting taxes, cutting back on the army and paying off the ‘barbarians’. The ‘barbarians’ just waited until Rome wasn’t powerful enough due to politics catering to only the rich and then ran over them.

      We can see the same trend in the US Empire. Just a lot faster.

      • gsays 9.1.1
        15 April 2018 at 1:33 am

        I referenced Bill Hicks up thread.
        He talks about the US Iraq ‘war’. Bush snr’s middle east war.
        Michael Franti- “Bush War one and Bush War two”.

        Their is a sickening familiarity to these goings on.

  10. joe90 10
    14 April 2018 at 2:17 pm

    CNN –

    Mattis: “No additional attacks planned.”

    Dunford: “This wave of airstrikes is over.”

  11. cleangreen 11
    14 April 2018 at 2:27 pm

    Trump needs a distraction from the investigation upon him from FBI/CIA.

    Trump will follow the line used by Thatcher before the falklands war, so you know where we are going now.

    As your article does say “Trump refers to the “righteous power” of the US, UK and France in acting in the region. He urges Americans to say a prayer. He finishes with: “We pray that god will bring comfort to the suffering and guide the whole region.”

    God help us all I say.

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1
      14 April 2018 at 8:25 pm

      God help us all I say.

      Why would he bother?

      Shit like this only happens because we let it.

    • cleangreen 12.1
      14 April 2018 at 3:03 pm

      Jor90

      You are showing what CIA wants you to see ‘nothing’ as you do know that the US intelligence network has a system to prevent any planes being tracked don’t you?

      If not then you are less informed than you believe you are.

    • Sacha 12.2
      15 April 2018 at 6:36 am

      Standard daily flightpaths, sorry. Can’t get insurance to fly over there at the best of times.

  13. SPC 13
    14 April 2018 at 2:44 pm

    WORLD

    The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993.

    In 2013 President Obama claimed he would uphold the use taboo as a “red line”, but didn’t.

    Under a 2013 agreement for which Russia was a guarantor, Syria was to have eliminated all its chemical weapons.

    It has become a test case for the international rule of law.

    FRANCE

    Last year Macron told Putin that the use of chemical weapons in Syria “would result in reprisal and an immediate response”.

    Obama was derided in France for not following through on his own “red line” after Syrian attacks five years ago.

    “When you fix red lines,” Mr Macron told a French newspaper last year, “if you can’t enforce them, you decide to be weak.”

    He said any action would “target chemical weapons” stocks.

    BBC

    UK

    In 2013, Parliament defeated a call by then-Prime Minister David Cameron for air strikes in response to an earlier chemical attack in Syria (the Obama inaction). Labour legislator Emma Reynolds, whose party helped defeat Cameron’s planned 2013 strike, said failing to act then had set a “dangerous precedent”.

    In the UK, cabinet ministers agreed “on the need to take action” in Syria to “deter the further use of chemical weapons”, the office of Prime Minister Theresa May said.

    BBC

    USA

    Trump’s options ACCORDING TO MEDIA REPORTS

    the sort of limited response he ordered last year in response to another suspected use of chemical weapons (unlikely as Syrian airfields have now been cleared of assets).
    repeated attacks on airfields designed to show the cost Assad brought on himself by using such weapons again (a form of no fly zone)
    delay of threatened action to quarantine Syrian airforce capability in hiding at Russian bases (what has happened so far) to realise a form of no fly zone at no expenditure of weapons stocksi
    major strike against rebuilt military command and control system (bunker bsuters and deep penetration warheads)
    bombing chemical weapons stocks locations

    I am becoming a fan of delayed but coming action – form of no fly zone against Syrian air capacity. It’s a win if civilians do not die as readily from air bombing in the months ahead.

    • cleangreen 13.1
      14 April 2018 at 3:10 pm

      Good propaganda there SPC. Did you know the white helmets are US CIA funded activists/associates?

      That line is used by the 1% who want total control of our Governments under the ‘Agenda 21’ plan so you must be proud of your work there.

      Any sovereign state now is under your plan under an attack from USA or it’s allies and we all now are very less safe because USA/UK/France gang crossed the line declaring war of a sovereign state with their will.

    • dukeofurl 13.2
      14 April 2018 at 5:32 pm

      Chlorine as an industrial gas isnt banned under the Chemical Weapons convention., but its use as a weapon is.

    • Jenny 13.3
      14 April 2018 at 7:45 pm

      In the face of genocide this may be the only option.

      “I am becoming a fan of delayed but coming action – form of no fly zone against Syrian air capacity. It’s a win if civilians do not die as readily from air bombing in the months ahead.”

      SPC

      The following will really put the Assadists and Putinbots in a spin.

      “Donald Trump Would Be Right to Strike Syria”
      An opinion in favor of intervention

      As New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote in 2013, “it’s better to stand up inconsistently to some atrocities than to acquiesce consistently in them all.”

      That doesn’t mean Americans shouldn’t worry about how Trump might try to use strikes in Syria to divert attention away from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, help himself electorally or encourage calamitous wars with Iran or even North Korea.

      Whatever his motivations, Trump was right to hit Al Assad in April 2017 … and would be right to do so now. Yes, mass murder by Al Assad’s and Vladimir Putin’s forces continued after Trump’s first strike in 2017 last year, but larger-scale gas attacks ceased for a full year. That made the difference between life and death for countless Syrian civilians.

      https://warisboring.com/donald-trump-would-be-right-to-strike-syria/

      • Morrissey 13.3.1
        15 April 2018 at 7:36 am

        You’ll be signing up for some of the killing, no doubt, Jenny?

        • Jenny 13.3.1.1
          15 April 2018 at 1:54 pm

          You mean, this?

          Or this?

          • Morrissey 13.3.1.1.1
            15 April 2018 at 2:11 pm

            How does following the lead of Donald Trump and bombing more Syrians help improve the situation, Jenny?

            • Jenny 13.3.1.1.1.1
              15 April 2018 at 8:56 pm

              Yes, mass murder by Al Assad’s and Vladimir Putin’s forces continued after Trump’s first strike in 2017 last year, but larger-scale gas attacks ceased for a full year. That made the difference between life and death for countless Syrian civilians.

              https://warisboring.com/donald-trump-would-be-right-to-strike-syria/

              In answer to your question Morrissey, we can only wait and see.

              P.S. What I also might mention here in passing Morrissey is that according to all sources so far, no Syrians were killed in these strikes. This is mainly due to the fact that this attack just like the last one was telegraphed to the regime well in advance.

              And yes mass murder by conventional means will be continued by the regime against the Syrian people.

    • reason 13.4
      14 April 2018 at 9:20 pm

      The ‘no fly zone’ imposed over Libya …… resulted in around 9000 bombing raids killing many many children …. the majority of whom were under 10 years old…

      If I had their names I’d shame SPCs vanished memory …

      And for blood hawk Jenny to ignore …. A link to the rat line sending billions of dollars of death to the people of Syria … from a country with a proud fascist past ///Croatia was among the first countries to supply weapons to anti-Assad rebels as part of a CIA-led and Saudi-funded program.

      ” identified 68 cargo flights (50 confirmed as carrying arms and ammunition plus 18 likely) from South Eastern and Central European countries in just over one year, to three key suppliers of the Syrian rebels: Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. ”

      http://balkanspost.com/article/290/rijeka-krk-airport-pentagon-hub-weaponry-terrorists

      • SPC 13.4.1
        15 April 2018 at 11:30 pm

        The no fly zone over Libya was not a no fly zone, it acted outside of its no fly zone mandate (which was to prevent air force power being exercised in civilian areas during a “civil war”).

        • reason 13.4.1.1
          16 April 2018 at 7:18 am

          Well how about the Iraq no fly zone …. when the sanctions / siege were in the process of killing half a million Iraqi children …. was that a good no fly Zone ?.

          No fly zones seem to be a propaganda construct …. manufacturing consent for bombing / destruction / subjugation.

          A better idea IMO …. would be to stop sending weapons and training extremist mercenaries.

          Hows that for a novel idea ?

          • SPC 13.4.1.1.1
            16 April 2018 at 2:24 pm

            You seem to have the problem of conflating one thing with another.

            1. A no fly zone does not involve bombing targets (unless the mandate is exceeded), it prevents others doing so.
            2. A no fly zone and sanctions are two separate things.

            The no fly zone concept is not discredited under 1, those applying it are.

            And as for 2, the no fly zone successfully protected Kurdish Iraqi lives, that sanctions on Iraq put other Iraqi lives at risk does not change that.

            • reason 13.4.1.1.1.1
              16 April 2018 at 3:16 pm

              Your channeling Madeline Albright … with half a million children killed … Thats Killed …. not put at fucking risk……. you mealy mouthed apologist.

              “Pilots patrolling the so-called no fly zone in the north of the country have spoken angrily about how they have been ordered to return to their base in Turkey in order to allow the Turkish air force to bomb the Kurds in Iraq-the very people [the U.S. and] the British are meant to be “protecting”…

              “Human Rights Watch noted:
              It appears that in return for Turkey’s support for Operation Provide Comfort, the U.S. has agreed not to publicly criticize what Turkey does with its own Kurdish citizens, located directly across the border from the zone protected by U.S. warplanes…. [E]lements within the U.S. government possess detailed knowledge of the full scope of Turkish abuses as well as the key role played by U.S. weapons.”

              You do realise the no fly zone in Iraq was just a pretext for bombing and destroying whatever they wanted ? … “the Bush administration has used the zones to preemptively degrade Iraq’s already limited ability to defend against a large-scale US attack, while not citing a single incident of attempted repression of Shi’ite or Kurdish populations as justification.”

              ” The no-fly zone bombings represent the longest continuing US bombing campaign since the Vietnam War. The Pentagon estimates that it carries out an average of 12 “missions” a month in Iraq (other figures put the number higher)”

              ” Largely, Washington leaves the story about humanitarian justifications to the obliging media, which continues to report the raids as being motivated singularly by concern for the rights of Shi’ites and Kurds.” ….

              While here at TS we have you… SPC

              No fly zones are western propaganda … manufacturing consent for the bombing and killing which is their true purpose …. or do you trust Trump, May and the other blood hounds to be good boys and girls with their bombs and missiles this time round?
              http://www.thirdworldtraveler.co/Iraq/Targeting_Iraq.html

              https://www.counterpunch.org/2002/12/04/no-fly-zones-over-iraq/

              • SPC …
                16 April 2018 at 4:00 pm

                It’s you’re, you are, not your.

                Differentiating between the concept of a no fly zone and what those who enforce them have done while enforcing one is not hard either.

  14. D'Esterre 14
    14 April 2018 at 3:18 pm

    Bill: “But at least when it came to foreign interventions he didn’t cower before the hawks.”

    You could have fooled me and many others. If it walks like a duck and all that….

    “when it came to Iran, he sought to dampen down tensions..”

    Obama’s motivation regarding Iran was transparent: he did that purely so as to get up Netanyahu’s nose. They hated each other. Ditto that resolution on Israeli settlements he allowed to go thru in the UN, in the dying days of his presidency.

    “He left the destruction of Libya to France and Britain.”

    He failed to prevent Clinton from triggering that regime change, but was too cowardly to commit US troops to the battle.

    “And in the case of Syria, he took steps to align with Russia against ISIS.”

    Say what? When did that happen?

    Throughout his two terms Obama was pusillanimous. In terms of foreign policy – that part which affects the rest of us – he was no better than any of his predecessors, nor of his successor, as it turns out.

    Those poor bastards in Syria: being sacrificed by yet another POTUS who doesn’t have the cajones to stand up the the neocon crazies.

    • Bill 14.1
      14 April 2018 at 4:31 pm

      “And in the case of Syria, he took steps to align with Russia against ISIS.”

      Say what? When did that happen?

      From July 2016.

      The proposal, as revealed in a leaked document, was an offer for the US military to work with Russia against Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra. In exchange, Russia would have to convince or strongarm its ally, Bashar al-Assad, into grounding his own planes and halting attacks on civilians and moderate opposition groups.

      https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/nice-terror-attack-obama-offers-putin-joint-plan-to-smash-isis/news-story/7102d75842d5198ed8b4af49b0d5af17

      Now sure. Those “moderate” opposition groups were a fiction. But by (how to say?) convincing Russia to jointly focus on groups and gangs the US (and others) weren’t supporting, then the US and others could have perhaps established a better foot hold in the country.

      So the overture (cynical as it was) was made. And (rightly in my opinion) rejected.

      • D'Esterre 14.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 11:12 pm

        Bill: “The proposal, as revealed in a leaked document…”

        Ah, so that’s what you were talking about. No wonder I couldn’t remember it.

        As you rightly point out, that offer was deeply cynical and unprincipled: yet another way in which Obama revealed his pusillanimity.

        And Putin’s response to it demonstrated his courage, and showed strength of character that Obama didn’t have.

        Obama was just as awful as every other US president in my lifetime.

  15. D'Esterre 15
    14 April 2018 at 3:21 pm

    Bill: “Do I need to mention that this Syrian nonsense has got nothing whatsoever to do with “bringing democracy” to the country? Surely not. That gets filed alongside the notion of dropping bombs to achieve humanitarian goals. Right?”

    Right.

  16. Ad 16
    14 April 2018 at 3:46 pm

    With the attacks so well forecast to Russia and Syria by the US President, he can show he did something, and get back above 50% poll favorability.

    Also works just as well for Putin and Assad, who had well enough time to shift assets and achieve eradication at the same time.

    The careful timing between attack, tweet, and action sets the equation out carefully.

    Putin and Trump have precisely priced and contracted the cost of using chemical weapons here:
    Russia completes the military conquest of Syria and Trump regains political control of the US.

    Trade.

    • cleangreen 16.1
      14 April 2018 at 3:53 pm

      Ad; you seem to enjoy war games right?

      • Incognito 16.1.1
        15 April 2018 at 12:55 am

        With all respect, if one tries to make sense of something that is utterly senseless, if one tries to understand something incomprehensible, it does not mean that they enjoy it or get some morbid satisfaction from it, does it?

        Why do some many commenters here on TS feel the need to judge (and correct) other commenters on their presumed personal traits? Why can’t they just focus on and reply to, and challenge, the comments and opinions without resorting to personal attacks or insinuations?

        Maybe this (my) comment should go to OM but I think it is pertinent to Bill’s OP because many comments under this Post don’t seem to deal with the actual content of the OP or relevant commentary.

        I’ve said enough; it saddens me that so much energy & effort gets f-ing wasted here; we’re obviously not getting any closer to a solution or general understanding.

    • Stunned mullet 16.2
      14 April 2018 at 3:56 pm

      Cynical and probably a good guess.

  17. joe90 17
    14 April 2018 at 3:52 pm

    Please do something, please, theatre.

    /

    "And we are also hearing reports, many of the targets, in particular the air bases in some of the military installations that had been struck, had indeed been evacuated of personnel earlier in the week," @sethdoane reports from Damascus, Syria https://t.co/bTaJ40jGwj pic.twitter.com/DEbN2aQFjG— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 14, 2018

  18. cleangreen 18
    14 April 2018 at 3:58 pm

    War seems inevitable now.

    This is a very dark day on sunday, we just hope this does not escalate out of control as russia is the cool head here not the warring US/UK/France coalition.

  19. Adrian Thornton 19
    14 April 2018 at 3:58 pm

    Exactly what legal grounds to the US, UK and France give for this act of aggression?

    It seems have they have acted unilaterally, with no mandate from either their own citizens let alone any real international support, they are now so arrogant they have not even bothered to even to pretend there is any evidence of guilt on Assad’s part or otherwise. (and I am not saying he didn’t order the gas attack).

    Corbyn has been the ONLY sane political voice that I have heard throughout this whole affair.
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/13/jeremy-corbyn-calls-for-uk-to-lead-un-push-to-defuse-syria-crisis
    But then again being sane and reasonable doesn’t seem to be that politically fashionable these days…the MSM certainly don’t like it much…except at FOX!

    Even Tucker Carlson on FOX (WTF) saw straight through the very thinly veiled bullshit on this one…

  20. cleangreen 20
    14 April 2018 at 4:15 pm

    This was a very good analogy of what will happen if this is allowed to carry on here by aggression from these trio of US/UK/France.

    FRANCESCA says: on TDB

    “Major wars don’t happen by calculation and deliberation. They happen by an accumulation of tensions ,hair trigger alerts, a build up of armaments,and strategic positioning, then a misstep, irrational actors, and an unstoppable juggernaut set in to motion.”

    We should reconsider our hunger for aggression shown by some bloggers here.

  21. Cinny 21
    14 April 2018 at 4:24 pm

    Uncross your arms trump and show us the proof

  22. RuralGuy 22
    14 April 2018 at 4:44 pm

    The boss seems like she accepts Assad as the source of the chemical attacks and the rationale behind the airstrikes. JA says all the right things re: diplomatic solutions and UN Security Council, but there isn’t any condemnation of the US, UK and French action.

    Given she gets security briefings, and is elected to govern on behalf of us, if she’s onside with the bombing – then I’m onside with the bombing.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103109334/new-zealand-accepts-reasoning-behind-usled-strike-on-syria

    • SPC 22.1
      14 April 2018 at 4:52 pm

      Playing it safe she joined in criticism of “any” chemical weapons use.

      Easy enough, it’s those taking action that have to be sure about evidence first.

    • Bill 22.2
      14 April 2018 at 5:00 pm

      What chemical attack?

      The OPCW were invited in by Syria and Russia in order to inspect the site of the alleged attack. They are due to arrive in Damascus on Monday.

      But when a terrorist organisation that you’ve been funding (Jaish Al Islam), who themselves have been accused of using chemical weapons (link in the post), says, via fucking twitter!, that there’s been a chemical attack, then hey – I guess that’s proof that the Syrian government and Russia used chemicals.

      Jaccinda’s either idiotic or happy enough to play the game. She hasn’t gone down in my estimation.

      • cleangreen 22.2.1
        14 April 2018 at 5:32 pm

        According to the RT TV network the OPCW are scheduled to have arrived today Syria time Saturday morning at around 8am so if US/UK/France who knew the time the international inspectors were to arrive just hours after they hit the tarmac at Damascus.

        As predicted by many, Trump has not waited for an investigative team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to carry out it’s work. This despite an OPCW team having already landed in Damascus to conduct it’s investigation.

        I am so suspicious of what is going on here again now.

      • Brigid 22.2.2
        14 April 2018 at 6:16 pm

        “Jaccinda’s either idiotic or happy enough to play the game. She hasn’t gone down in my estimation.”
        Mine neither.
        In fact I will as far as to say she’s a stupid female dog.

        [Please try to not go down those paths, aye? Besides, when we’re talking canines, there is no such thing as a ‘female dog’ – such a thing being an oxymoron.] – Bill

        • Brigid 22.2.2.1
          14 April 2018 at 7:25 pm

          My bad I know.
          I will desist and also stand corrected on the female canine thing.

    • Southern Man 22.3
      14 April 2018 at 6:19 pm

      I agree with RuralGuy – we sheep have got to stick together.

  23. Anne 23
    14 April 2018 at 4:55 pm

    I confess to being thoroughly confused by the whole Middle East theatre, but RNZ is running the best live updates on the current attack:

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/355049/live-trump-orders-strikes-in-syria-over-chemical-attack

    Jacinda Ardern’s full statement is at 4:11pm

    • Carolyn_Nth 23.1
      14 April 2018 at 6:44 pm

      Ardern seems to be having it both/all ways – talking a line similar to Corbyn in saying countries should return to the UN to negotiate a better outcome, while saying Russia has made it impossible to do anything in the UN Security Council because veto, and also saying she understands why Trump et al have taken the action they are taking.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/355058/pm-on-syria-strikes-time-to-return-to-the-table

      • Anne 23.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 6:49 pm

        Have to agree there Carolyn_Nth, but assume she believed she had no choice but to go along with “the game” – in the meantime.

        I bold the last bit because I know Jacinda and I don’t believe she’s anyone’s puppet, but there is a line she has to be very careful not to cross for the moment.

        Time will tell if I’m right.

        • Carolyn_Nth 23.1.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 6:55 pm

          I agree that it’s highly likely she’s operating within a very narrow acceptable frame.

  24. dukeofurl 24
    14 April 2018 at 5:37 pm

    Whats funny is that the gaolposts have shifted for the West

    “Both the White House and state department announced on Friday that the US had “a high level of confidence” about the regime’s culpability for the use of poisonous gas in Douma.

    The declaration marked a shift from a statement by the defence secretary, James Mattis, on Thursday, that the US was still looking at the evidence.”
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/13/uk-denounces-claims-it-was-behind-staged-syrian-gas-attack

    They seem to have been waiting for the ‘concrete evidence’ but not anymore

    .Defense Secretary Jim Mattis signaled Thursday that the U.S. was prepared to wait for definitive proof that Syria carried out a chemical attack before launching an attack,..

    https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/04/12/mattis-us-wants-proof-striking-syria-chemical-attack.html

    • Bill 24.1
      14 April 2018 at 6:01 pm

      The “first” use of chemical weapons around Damascus was meant to get Obama unleashing hell, yes? But he held back and it transpired that the UN inspection team couldn’t/wouldn’t apportion blame. (That mission was essentially monkey wrenched by France the US, UK and others suddenly alleging multiple uses of chemicals in multiple locations and charging that team on the ground to investigate them all)

      And today, in spite of solid evidence to the contrary (ie, the projectiles used did not have the range to have come from any government held area) “everyone” just takes it as read that the Syrian government used chemical weapons in Ghouta ‘back when’ and that Obama didn’t respond.

      I’m picking this would have been a re-run of that bullshit.

      If there had been chemicals used, their use would have traced back to one of the criminal/terrorist gangs. Again. So that meant getting that attack in quick smart before everything unraveled.

      So by tweet and unverified video footage, claims being made by a terrorist and western backed group Jaish Al Islam, constitutes enough proof to lead to the bombing of Damascus.

      What were the targets btw? I mean the real targets. All this bullshit about chemical facilities when Syria destroyed its stockpiles under international supervision a few years back really needs to be called for the bullshit it is.

      Are we to believe that under some of the most aggressive and widespread sanctions ever imposed on a country that a chemical weapons programme somehow got kick started?

  25. Hellfire 25
    14 April 2018 at 6:02 pm

    Great to see “Dear Leadet” of NZ confirm support for military action by Trump

  26. AsleepWhileWalking 26
    14 April 2018 at 6:06 pm

    Guest points out Syria had no motive for the alleged chemical attack, US was about to withdraw.

    Interviewer responds by cutting home off – can’t go off script!

    https://youtu.be/NGagdWsox0w

  27. cleangreen 27
    14 April 2018 at 6:22 pm

    “Yes Trump did a good job, as he has blown up the evidence now hasn’t he”.

    https://watch4hd.com/movie/on-deadly-ground/

    Anyway it was like the movie “On deadly Ground” when the firefighter actor (Steven Seagal was called to the oil head fire at the Aegis oil field in Alaska that was on fire and actor Steven Seagal came up and extinguished the well head that was on fire,

    His boss said “good job as usual” and he turned to his boss actor (Michael Caine) sitting in the helicopter and said, “It doesn’t really matter anymore now does it, I have blown up the evidence now haven’t I”.

    Was this simply what Donald Trump has done now also using the same Aegis oil policy?

  28. In Vino 28
    14 April 2018 at 6:24 pm

    Ummm Cui Bono? Syria and Russia were obviously going to win there anyway. Trump himself has said Isis is pretty well gone. So why would our dastardly villain Assad need to use chemical weapons? To me it is more likely that the defenders would fake a chemical attack upon themselves. We have not yet had time for full analysis with hindsight and accuracy, but the headlong rush has been made. (Carefully, so as not to provoke the Russians, it seems.)
    Today’s speech by Trump was the most nauseating POTUS speech I can recall.
    When I was young I first questioned our own propaganda after I had read how the British press convinced the British public that it was right to go to war against Germany in 1914. They printed outright rubbish about German atrocities committed in Belgium. Check out Robert Grave’s book ‘Goodbye to all That’.
    So I questioned what I was being told regarding the Tonkin Gulf Incident (Viet Nam War).
    Years later, I found out that I was right to question it – it was contrived bullshit.
    With these gas attacks, why would I be wrong to suspect the same thing?
    So many idiots are keen to drink in our own propaganda.

    • McFlock 28.1
      14 April 2018 at 6:40 pm

      If you’re Assad, why not use chemical weapons? They can cheaply overwhelm emergency services and sow alarm and chaos in the area. Why not turn a withdrawal into a rout? What’s the downside – hunker down for a brief barrage on rear areas, then you’re back in business.

      And similarly, if rebels gas themselves, what tactical or strategic benefit would they expect from it? Ineffectual bombing of hanger-queen aircraft on evacuated airbases that are operational again within hours?

      From any given perspective, use of chemical weapons by either side is either inexplicably stupid or coldly rational. All the existence of the allegation does is indicate just how fucked up the situation is.

      Another motive for airstrikes that I don’t think anybody’s mentioned is that Syria has become a resource suck for the major powers, all (except China maybe?) viewing it as a weapons testbed and a way to impose economic attrition upon their opponents/competitors. Russia’s carrier deployment was a bit of a fizzle, but they also seem to have deployed some late-generation aircraft still in the testing phase, have a load of PMCs and SF in the area, and beefed up air defenses. Whereas the US have their special forces but also ISTR at least one USMC artillery brigade, and the airpower deployments. Folks are spending a shitload of cash, and hoping that the other players at the table go broke before they do.

      • In Vino 28.1.1
        14 April 2018 at 7:35 pm

        They don’t gas themselves, they fake the film etc. Last gasp propaganda.

        Assad would not be so stupid as to do as you suggest . Would you? He was winning anyway.

        • McFlock 28.1.1.1
          14 April 2018 at 7:46 pm

          “So stupid”?

          It’s only stupid if there’s a significant downside. Why would he think the response to this allegation would be any more significant that to the previous occasions he was accused of using chemiocal weapons?

          “Winning” isn’t a binary situation. Advancing into a defended withdrawal is more costly than advancing into an area in chaos with only sporadic resistance. So if I were a complete prick who had stocks of a cheap way of turning a withdrawal into a rout, couldn’t see much of a downside to using it (a low probabolity of significant response and/or a likelihood they West or Israel would bomb me anyway), then yeah, as a totalitarian leader I’d go for the cheaper option.

          The only worry for Assad would be losing the support of Hezbollah or Russia. Neither give a shit, and actually would probably be happier if he takes a bit of grump doing something that makes their fighting for him easier.

          • Exkiwiforces 28.1.1.1.1
            14 April 2018 at 9:27 pm

            You are correct McFlock on your assumptions, Assad lost a lot of manpower during the civil war to point that using CW’s became the only option to plug gaps with his manpower crisis and the same could be said for other side as well.

            As they are both haemorrhaging manpower and territory as military ops in an urban environment sucks the life out of the Infantry units while at the same time trying to hold to territory already gained or about to lose becomes a very fine juggling act or a game of Russian roulette and sooner or later a zero sum game IRT the use of WMD or carpet bomb etc to perverse to your forces in being or lose which is not an option for either side atm.

            Infantry are like police, doctors, nurses, teachers and tradies etc etc as they are a means to achieve an endstate whatever that maybe, but having to few of them leads to all shorts of problems from now and to the long term.

            It’s a numbers game in the end and the use of CW’s by either side is to perverse what they currently have left in Forces and territory. As the Yanks will say the Hail Mary option or MAD.

            In plain English, a game of high stakes poker where no one wants to lose.

            • Brigid 28.1.1.1.1.1
              14 April 2018 at 11:38 pm

              “Assad lost a lot of manpower during the civil war to point that using CW’s became the only option to plug gaps with his manpower crisis”
              I don’t agree with that.
              Syria, under the direction of the opcw destroyed all chemical weapons in 2014.

              Any investigation by the OPCW of alleged chemical weapons attacks have not found that the Syrian Government were culpable.
              All the OPCW reports are published on their website.

              There is no strategic advantage to using chemical weapons, when the Syrian military can destroy what ever is deemed necessary much more efficiently with what arms they have.
              I’d agree they certainly seemed stretched in coping with ISIS/Al Queda et al before Russia offered assistance, but using chemical weapons (which they don’t have, and given the sanctions against the country would have difficulty procuring) would gain very little.

              The Syrian President Bashar Assad explains the pointlessness of using chemical weapons as was claimed in April 2017 at Khan Shaykhun

              • McFlock …
                15 April 2018 at 12:30 am

                Any investigation by the OPCW of alleged chemical weapons attacks have not found that the Syrian Government were culpable.

                That’s not strictly true, is it:

                Expresses grave concern with the findings of the thir
                d and fourth reports of the OPCW-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces had been involved in the use of toxic chemicals as weapons in three cases in the Syrian Arab Republic: Talmenes, on 21 April 2014; Qmenas, on 16 March 2015; and Sarmin, on 16 March 2015;

                • Brigid …
                  15 April 2018 at 1:12 am

                  Yes it is strictly true
                  ‘grave concern’ does not equate with ‘proof’.
                  Does it

                  • McFlock …
                    15 April 2018 at 1:22 am

                    The concern was that they found that the Syrian government had done it.

                    It’s just such a source of sadness that you’ve blinkered yourself to the point of illiteracy.

                    • Brigid …
                      15 April 2018 at 10:30 am

                      LOL
                      “The concern was that they found that the Syrian government had done it. ”
                      No
                      That is not what the report says, as you well know.

                      If they’d found the Syrian Government had done it they would have said.
                      “The Syrian Government did it”
                      The report didn’t say that

                      And please quit your insults

                    • McFlock …
                      15 April 2018 at 5:29 pm

                      Expresses grave concern with the findings of the third and fourth reports of the OPCW-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism that the Syrian Arab Armed Forces had been involved in the use of toxic chemicals as weapons in three cases in the Syrian Arab Republic: Talmenes, on 21 April 2014; Qmenas, on 16 March 2015; and Sarmin, on 16 March 2015;

                      That’s exactly what it says. They literally included the phrase “the Syrian Arab Armed Forces had been involved in the use of toxic chemicals as weapons in three cases in the Syrian Arab Republic”.

                      The third report is pretty explicit:

                      54. The Leadership Panel examined the existing information regarding the two impact locations in Talmenes on 21 April 2014. There is sufficient information for the Panel to conclude that the incident at impact location No.2 was caused by a Syrian Arab Armed Forces helicopter dropping a device causing damage to the structure of a concrete block building and was followed by the release of a toxic substance that affected the population

              • Exkiwiforces …
                15 April 2018 at 10:46 pm

                Actually Brigid,

                Unlike you I don’t rely on news outlets from one side reporting the same garbage.

                I use all open news outlets I can find on the web or in print, then I cross reference it from Janes Defence Web Services which is more reliable than Defence News. Com, David KilCullens analyst of the current shit fight in the MER, the CBRNe monthly both magazine and their website, my background in agriculture/ horticulture and finally my background as a CBRND Warfare trainer with the info that I have been exposed to as member of my units CBRND cadre team.

                Then I use my time as Operations/ mission planner and start do the what’s called the Military Appreciation Process and from there I start at my:
                RFI’s
                My Assumptions
                My Facts:-
                Chlorine and common insecticide use intensive agriculture practices that Syria has. That these chemicals can be use to make a rather cheap nasty and deadly chemical weapon system. That doesn’t require much IRT weaponisation as long it’s causes injures, shocks the defenders in a state of panic/ disorganisation which causes morale to drop or collapse of a part of the defensive line/ positions WTB is the main reason to use CBRN weapons in the first place and death is rather a secondary outcome as CBRN weapon injuries soak up more manpower than conventional WPN’s.
                The Syrian Armed Forces TTP’s are based on the old Soviet/ Warsaw Pact and current Russian Doctrine.

                The Syrian Army has taken a batting IRT it’s Infantry units and combined all arms units.
                Mass desertions of Syrian Army at individual level all the up to Corp level in one and even from his own power base the Alwatie tribe within the Syrian Forces.
                The refugees that flooded in Europe over 70% of them were reported to be men of military age who have completed their National Service or were about to start their National Service IOT avoid being called up for active service.
                Like all single party regimes that we know from history, as long as the regimes power base stays intact then he or she remains on power as they really don’t give a shit about Mrs and Mr Joe Bloggs or their fath as their endstate is to hold on whatever the cost.
                From here I then go into
                Mission Analysis- Review the Situation both En and Friendly
                Own Force Analysis,
                Friendly COG,
                CC’s
                CR’s and
                CV’s.
                Analyse Superior Commanders intent and Determine Own Mission.
                Analyse Tasks-
                Essential Tasks,
                Specified Tasks and
                Implied Tasks.
                Inherent Threats/ Controls.
                Determine Freedom of Action.
                Limitations: Restrictions and Constraints.
                ID Critical Facts and Assumptions.
                Confirm/ Alter Mission.
                Battlespace Analysis-
                Define the Battlespace,
                Environmental Characteristics,
                Battlespace Info requirements and
                Battlespace Assumptions.
                Define Battlespace Effects incl Weather effects.
                ID Battlespace Threats and Opportunities.
                Stakeholder Analysis-
                ID Stakeholders,
                EST Stakeholder Models,
                ID Stakeholder Capabilities,
                Determine Stakeholder COA,
                ID Stakeholder Intent (en force obj’s)
                EN ML and MD,
                Determine ENCOG
                EN CC’s
                EN CR’s
                EN CV’s and
                Stakeholder Assumptions.
                COA Development and the 4 sub para’s.
                COA Analysis and the 3 sub para’s.
                Decision and Execution, and the 2 sub para’s.

                Then I could do a CONOPS brief, and OPORD followed by a formal set of orders. Also there would be map overlays as well as a picture is worth a thousand words.

                And that’s how I come up with my conclusion and resulting comments.

                For further information can be found on Uncle Goggle and Wikipedia IRT’s to the Military Appreciation Process and the History of MAP. If you like watching grass grow or watching golf on the giggle box, then reading about MAP is for you and BTW try deliver it as a lesson.

                The Russian MAP is a interesting read and so is the Chinese one BTW. You should be able to find it on the internet and you might goggle translate.

      • spikeyboy 28.1.2
        14 April 2018 at 11:07 pm

        From Bills post money is the driving dynamic of all war. Someones getting their profits cut and doesnt like it. There is a clear trail of large (eye watering) amounts of money being funnelled from the west to the jihadis in Syria. To think that this money has no strings attached seems naive in the extreme. So asking what benefit the jihadis recieve from “gassing themselves” is not the right question. What benefit the backers of the jihadis gain is more to the point. Pretty sure it was in one of Bills linked articles or video that said the Saudis were prepared to foot the whole bill for a USA invasion of Syria. So the payoff for the “gassing” is to keep the US engaged with Syria. This is the number 1 priority for all the backers of the jihadis.
        If you feel up to a little maths you could check out how to analyse evidence between 2 or more hypothesis. This link is especially in relation to Syria. One downside though is that you have to be prepared to view a lot of disturbing photo and video evidence. If you arent prepared to do this then perhaps you need to be a little more circumspect on how you attribute responsibilty.
        One of th keys to good analsis is to be able to be imaginative when thinking up possible narratives. The reason is that you dont know where the evidence will lead. And if the hypothesis is no good, it really doesnt take long to set it aside

        https://timhayward.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/how-to-weigh-a-mountain-of-evidence-guest-blog-by-professor-paul-mckeigue-part-1/

        And part 2

        https://timhayward.wordpress.com/2017/08/31/who-is-responsible-for-chemical-attacks-in-syria-guest-blog-by-professor-paul-mckeigue-part-2/

        • McFlock 28.1.2.1
          14 April 2018 at 11:58 pm

          2 points:
          Money is a motive for war. Direct income, and longer term strategic blocking of other states. But it is not the only driver of war. Maintenance of geopolitical or even internal political power (money is power, but not all power is money), population stresses, even impulsive and stupid leaders can create wars.

          Secondly, math only applies when the margin for error in probability calculations is unlikely to affect the final result. For example, that body in the morgue. Interesting spin. Of course, if he was closely known to one of the workers, they might have laid him down and covered his face with a bit more care than with the others. Then gets word to the guy’s wife. She lowers the cloth to ID him, holds his hands before placing them back on his torso, puts a sheet under his head, the family took the body away ater in the day, and then all you have is that a body was leaking from somewhere. You pour a litre of milk on the floor, and tell me that the thin sheet wouldn’t be soaking throughout, having at least that much come out onto an impermeable tile floor for that wee dribble.

          So is murder of one particular survivor (when there were other survivors anyway) the “only plausible interpretation” as the dudeyouagreewith says? I’m not so sure about that. So his calculation is seriously flawed, so his result is flawed.

    • Grey Area 28.2
      14 April 2018 at 6:55 pm

      That’s pretty much the same reaction I had to this news tonight – the parallel to 1914. I wondered how much we have we learned in a century? Europe and other chunks of the rest of the World were drawn into fighting a bullshit war then.

      It appears we have learnt SFO.

      We are being led into war by mental midget glove puppets like Trump and May.

      TVNZ’s coverage tonight at 6pm nearly brought me to tears. Who the f*ck is running our newsrooms that allows such accepting, jingoistic lies to be broadcast as news?

    • Carolyn_Nth 28.3
      14 April 2018 at 7:00 pm

      I do think that when the US and/or UK and allies start to intervene in another country through military means, there’s usually some ulterior motive – not a humanitarian one.

      As Bill said in the post:

      There are disgusting and decrepit enough leaders that the US, France and UK fete and court. (You can name them and/or their respective countries for yourself).

      And there’s many other terrible actions being carried out by other countries, while the US, UK et al sit back and do nothing. I think sometimes they just take opportunities when they arise, to further their own aims – doesn’t need to be the result of some false flag thing.

    • Grafton Gully 28.4
      14 April 2018 at 8:24 pm

      Soldiers of the German army killed hundreds of civilians and looted and destroyed buildings in Louvain, including the priceless medieval library. They killed civilians elsewhere too, justifying this by accusing them of attacking German forces as “franc tireurs”.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NESwuWtudtA
      British propaganda used German atrocities in Belgium to justify continuing the war because the atrocities were real.

  29. McFlock 29
    14 April 2018 at 6:25 pm

    I’m not sure there is much in the way of “moral insistence” of the populace for most governments to follow.

    Especially in Syria. Hell, even without chemical weapons I’m in two minds as to whether the less-wrong resolution is to actively and aggressively demolish Assad’s regime with airstrikes, or simply lock in the loss and assist him in the interests of regional stability.

  31. Drowsy M. Kram 31
    14 April 2018 at 9:36 pm

    So many BIG, smart ‘missiles’, so many defenceless ‘targets’. Earn your keep, missiles – show ‘em what you’ve got.

    Trump, May, Macron – triumphant protectors of the innocent, or warmongering neocon escalationists (for the greater good, of course)?

    https://tradermantras.com/2018/04/14/from-skripal-to-syria-the-empires-new-realities-are-reaching-the-end-of-the-road/

  32. Beatie 32
    14 April 2018 at 9:37 pm

    Here’s an interesting article about Washington’s long term strategy in the Middle East. The ‘New Middle East’ project was first introduced by Condeleeza Rice in 2006.

    ‘The “New Middle East” project was introduced publicly by Washington and Tel Aviv with the expectation that Lebanon would be the pressure point for realigning the whole Middle East and thereby unleashing the forces of “constructive chaos.” This “constructive chaos” –which generates conditions of violence and warfare throughout the region– would in turn be used so that the United States, Britain, and Israel could redraw the map of the Middle East in accordance with their geo-strategic needs and objectives.’

    https://www.globalresearch.ca/plans-for-redrawing-the-middle-east-the-project-for-a-new-middle-east/3882

  33. joe90 33
    14 April 2018 at 9:50 pm

    Guess this translates as no need to retaliate.

    MOSCOW, April 14 (Itar-Tass) – RIA Novosti. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that none of the cruise missiles launched by the United States and its allies in the zone of responsibility of Russian air defense units covering the facilities in Tartous and Khmeimim was not included.

    The US did not notify Russia of the impending strikes against Syria
    None of the cruise missiles launched by the United States and its allies in the zone of responsibility of Russian air defense units covering the facilities in Tartous and Khmeimim was not included, “the report said.
    As reported by the department, on April 14 at 3.42 Moscow time to 5.10 Moscow time, aircraft and ships of the US Armed Forces, together with the British and French Air Forces, suffered a missile attack on the military and civil infrastructure of the Syrian Arab Republic.

    https://ria.ru/syria/20180414/1518624760.html

    google translate

  34. mauī 34
    14 April 2018 at 10:23 pm

    A very sad and ominous time. One can only hope the public is a little more schooled up than 15 years ago when Saddam was toppled.

  35. Kaya3 35
    15 April 2018 at 2:35 am

    Anyone who thinks the strikes are in anyway justified and that there is any truth in the accusations leveled against Assad and his military is a couple of cans short of a six pack.
    The empire is crumbling, lashing out on the way down. Macron and May becoming increasingly isolated politically at home and abroad. Time to feel “special” again, so let’s make a gang and hang out with the big thug and beat up some little guys.

    This is the best analysis of the madness that I have read to date.

    “But back to Rove. What was he saying? Three things:

    Number one: We – that is the Globalist Deep State, centred in Washington DC – are sovereign over the entire globe and we will do as we please.

    Number two: That we don’t follow reality, we create it.

    Number three: That we are prepared to do things that will make your jaws drop, your hair stand on end, and your eyes boggle as you wonder what is going on, and while your jaws, your hair and your eyes are busy doing their thing, we will have moved onto create our next reality.

    In other words – we are God – and not a kind and merciful God, but a God who lords it over all peoples’, nations and tongues, who tells lies, and then tells more lies to cover up those lies and – when you poor saps are trying to work out what it is we’re really up to – before you know what has happened, those lies and those lies to cover up lies will have become the new reality. We’ll have moved on and the world with it, and the narrative we have created will have been written in the history books, which we ourselves shall write.”

    http://www.theblogmire.com/from-skripal-to-syria-the-empires-new-realities-are-reaching-the-end-of-the-road/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

    • James 35.1
      15 April 2018 at 7:44 am

      “and that there is any truth in the accusations leveled against Assad and his military is a couple of cans short of a six pack.”

      So Jacinda is a few cans short of a six pack?

      • Morrissey 35.1.1
        15 April 2018 at 7:48 am

        She worked for Tony Blair. What would you expect from her? Courage? Honesty?

    • Ed 35.2
      15 April 2018 at 7:47 am

      Very interesting.
      Craig Murray is another brilliant source.

      “I have always denied the UK’s claim that only Russia had a motive to attack the Skripals. To denigrate Russia internationally by a false flag attack pinning the blame on Russia, always seemed to me more likely than for the Russians to do that to themselves. And from the start I pointed to the conflict in Syria as a likely motive. That puts Saudi Arabia (and its client jihadists), Saudi Arabia’s close ally Israel, the UK and the USA all in the frame in having a powerful motive in inculcating anti-Russian sentiment prior to planned conflict with Russia in Syria. Any of them could have attacked the Skripals.

      It is also worth noting that the most ardent supporters of this military action, outside Saudi Arabia and Israel, are the Blairites in the UK and the Clinton Democrats in the USA. The self-described “centrists” are actually the unhinged extremists in today’s politics.

      This attack on Syria is, beyond doubt, a huge success for the machinations of Mohammed Bin Salman. Please do read my post of 8 March which sets out the background to his agenda, and I believe is essential to why we find our nations in military action again today. Despite the fact the vast majority of the people do not want this.“

      https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/04/just-whos-pulling-the-strings/

  36. Ad 36
    15 April 2018 at 8:08 am

    Consider how unlikely these statements were 24 hours ago:

    – Donald Trump is almost universally praised for doing the right thing

    – Donald Trump looks statesmanlike

    – Donald Trump is in complete control of United States political discourse

    – Theresa May, Emanuel Macron and Donald Trump are united as a global alliance that most people agree with

    – The global mainstream media (apart from a very few) are convinced that Donald Trump, Theresa May, and Emanuel Macron are on the side of the good

    – Most governments (including our own) agree that Donald Trump is right

    – The Russian, Iranian, and Syrian governments do not care whether the United States bombs their assets or not

    – Massive bombing occurred without major civilian casualties

    Now, we should probably all be worried about stuff like facts, or what difference it made, but as politics this is a pretty successful 24 hours for aerial bombing.

    • Stunned mullet 36.1
      15 April 2018 at 8:21 am

      Fair points – it’ll be an interesting couple of months coming up for the geopolitical hacks as tp where it all heads from here.

    • Andre 36.2
      15 April 2018 at 5:50 pm

      However, cheerleading from pundits has been remarkably subdued. Unlike the last time, when lots of pundits that should have known better were orgasming out phrases like “I think Donald Trump became president of the United States last night,”.

      In fact, some of his nominal supporters were pretty negative about the whole thing. Apparently Alex Jones had an epic three-hour meltdown over it.

      ” On the verge of tears, an emotionally distraught Jones, said the president he has long supported had “been doing so good,” but now, “he’s crapping all over us.”

      He added, “Trump’s now a fraud. Done.”

      “I’m not in a f**king cult for Donald Trump, f**k him!” a livid Jones yelled. “F**k his family!” ”

      https://www.salon.com/2018/04/14/hes-crapping-all-over-us-alex-jones-slams-trump-in-tearful-meltdown-over-syria/

    • reason 36.3
      16 April 2018 at 7:34 pm

      “Theresa May, Emanuel Macron and Donald Trump are united as a global alliance that most people agree with”

      your telling porkies with that one AD … read swordfishs post … giving polling results that show even in warmongering England your wrong https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-16-04-2018/#comment-1474793

      Also most people in the world regard the usa as the biggest threat as war makers

      Martin Luther King is more right today than ever ….. “The United States is “The Greatest Purveyor of Violence in the World Today”

      Nelson Mandela is more correct today than ever …. “If There is a Country That has Committed Unspeakable Atrocities in the World, it is the United States”

      Both of these great men would see straight through you AD ….

  37. Cinny 37
    15 April 2018 at 10:44 am

    Åke Sellström is the man tasked with leading the UN Chemical Weapons Inspection team who arrived in Damascus today.

    Here is a TED talk he did from 2015, he tells the story of investigating the same back in 2013. Just over 16 min long, well worth a listen.

  38. mauī 38
    15 April 2018 at 10:58 am

    In the words of Hone – we’ll switch you off if you don’t.. shut up!

    lol Absolute gold 😆

    • dukeofurl 38.1
      15 April 2018 at 11:53 am

      Heres a guy with actual military experience in Iraq, a retired general questions the motives and evidence and they say as they cut you off.
      “Im sorry, well have to leave it there”

  39. savenz 39
    16 April 2018 at 2:29 pm

    A great post, Bill, in particular

    “There is something very wrong with our political culture when leaders can casually bandy about notions of military intervention and war.”

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    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

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