A Post Script

A Post Script ...

Layla Anwar Baghdadi in Exile

Postscript. I have not used that word in ages...

A postscript -- there is a script and there is a post script, another script that comes after the main script...

What I retain is the word - script.

I have affinities with this word - script. Maybe because deep down I believe we are all living out a script...a personal script, a collective script...and I don't understand how come no one has ever paid attention to the script...

I am not trying to be pedantic or anything...seriously. Am just interested in scripts...

I was asked today what's the postscript for Iraq ? The person who asked me this question formulated it in good faith - ok she was a foreigner, but still in good faith. (it happens sometimes i.e to be a foreigner and in good faith). She said she wanted to understand...

I said - understand what ?

She said - understand, now that the "dictatorship" is over and done with, how come people in Iraq are still massacred daily...after 7 years of American "liberation"

I told her it was postscript. She did not understand what I meant...

I felt I had to go back to square 1, square zero...and I could not be bothered..

Over 7 years have elapsed, and thousands of dead and I was expected to go back to square 1, square zero, square infinity...

She said - you're from there, you must know...

I said - I did know but how much of a difference would it make if she understood or not ?!

She said she was curious...she wanted to understand why all this blood, now that the "dictatorship" was over.

I tried to keep it simple...

I said - Iraqi blood is still being spilled, maybe because dictatorship has only just begun...

She was at loss, she did not understand...

Only those who have written the script will, and only those who live the postscript do...

 

 

 

Painting : Iraqi female artist, Betool Fekaiki.

 

Should Bullfighting be Banned ?

 

 

Catalonia's parliament has voted to ban bullfighting. Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is an important tradition that should be preserved while opponents say it is outdated and barbaric. Do you think bullfighting should be banned? Are you in Spain? Have you ever witnessed a bullfight? Your views please

 

http://travelblog.dailymail.co.uk/2010/07/posted-by-priscilla-pollara-for-travelmail--so-thats-it-after-several-decades-of-dogged-tussles-for-independence-and-a-d.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10798210

Spanish bullfighting sector vows to fight Catalan ban

By Gilbert Grellet (AFP) –

MADRID — Top Spanish bullfighting entrepreneurs vowed Thursday to take Catalonia's parliament to court to try to reverse its decision to ban the bloodsport and stop other regions from following their lead.

"We are going to launch a huge battle" against this "outrageous" measure, promoter Luiz Alvarez, a founder of the bullfighting lobby group Mesa del Toro, told AFP.

Catalonia's regional parliament on Wednesday voted to ban bullfighting from January 1, 2012.

It would thus become the first region in mainland Spain to outlaw the centuries-old tradition, which has inspired artists from Goya to Picasso.

But Alvarez said the ban was unconstitutional: he insisted that the wealthy northeastern region did not have the right to abolish bullfights, but only to regulate them.

The lobby group would go to court in a bid to reverse the Catalan parliament's decision in court, he added.

"We will use all the tools available to us by the law because not everything is lost," Mesa del Toro spokesman Eduardo Martin-Penato told radio Onda Cero

Culture Minister Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde said that bullfighting "falls within the framework of art" in an interview with radio Cadena Ser Thursday.

"Of course bullfighting is culture," she added.

Catalonia, which has its own language and a strong nationalist movement, has followed the lead of the Canary Islands, which outlawed bullfighting in 1991

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5je8lSqeR3TADqGl0aFjmJN9LpCBQ

 

 

Is Kim Jong Il Dead?

He suffered a stroke in August 2008.

Last seen in public April 2009.

I'm expecting to hear he has died any day now, not least because his first statue has just been unveiled, and whoever has been calling the shots in his place has threatened to use a nuclear deterrent in response to joint US-South Korean military exercises.  This weekend.  Pure sabre-rattling, hubris, media hype.  The war machine is simply keeping the door open for when they're ready to have that war, because as everyone knows, the US can't afford it right now.  But - do the people pulling the strings give a damn about the dollar?  Conflict with North Korea, on the 'axis of evil', could, if done badly, lead to conflict with China.  Otherwise they'd have taken him out ages ago.

If Kim had been dead since, lets say summer 2009, who might benefit from keeping him 'alive' a little bit longer?  See link below for four more leaders whose whereabouts are unknown.

No, Bin Laden isn't one of them... but I think Osama's been dead for nearly 10 years.

If you hear any news, please let us know?  Will Kim's passing be the end of an era, or will his successor (son?) be even more paranoid?

Let's see how long it suits the war machine to keep him on media-life-support...

Spies, Lies & Geopolitics presents - The SB1070 Game

A little role-play if you will.

Imagine you're an official - border patrol, police, whatever you like, and you've been instructed that, by law, you have the right to demand identification papers from anyone that YOU deem to LOOK like they might be an illegal immigrant.  The location is a US State which borders with Mexico.

So, you all probably know what this is about.  Even if not - of these, whose papers do you think you might ask to see?

Daughter of Mossad Chief: I Refuse to Enlist in the Israeli Military

 

to view video click on link- I cannot view it from turkey

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m68086&hd=&size=1&l=e

I refuse to take part in the war crimes committed by my country. Violence will not bring any kind of solution, and I shall not commit violence, come what may.
Omer Goldman, age 19, Tel Aviv

First Prison Sentence: 22nd Sept. - 10th Oct. 2008 (18 days)
Second Prison Sentence: 12th - 24th Oct. 2008 (10 days)

Omer Goldman, has had to confront the values of her own family. She is the daughter of the former deputy head of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service and who is still considered one of the most powerful men in the Israeli security system. Omer, without her father's permission visited a Palestinian town in the West Bank and at a check-point, alongside Palestinians, her supposed enemies, was fired upon by Israeli soldiers: "We were sitting by the roadside talking and soldiers came along and after a few seconds they received an order and fired gas grenades and rubber bullets at us. Then it struck me, to my astonishment, that the soldiers were following an order without thinking. For the first time in my life, an Israeli soldier raised his weapon and fired at me"

Although, not surprisingly, her father does not support her decision to refuse, he still supports her as a daughter. He and I have very similar characters. I, too, fight to the end for what I believe in. But we are opposites ideologically.

In her declaration of refusal she stated:

"I refuse to enlist in the Israeli military. I shall not be part of an army that needlessly implements a violent policy and violates the most basic human rights on a daily basis.

Like most of my peers, I too have not dared to question the ethics of the Israeli military. But when I visited the Occupied Territories I realized I see a completely different reality, a violent, oppressive, extreme reality that must be ended.

I believe in service to the society I am part of, and that is precisely why I refuse to take part in the war crimes committed by my country. Violence will not bring any kind of solution, and I shall not commit violence, come what may."

PLEASE SEND THIS VIDEO ALONG. Send your message to Israel. Americans aren't supposed to know this, THE REST OF THE STORY...

If you were a captive of the media mind control police (i.e. the corporate news media) you'd
believe two things:

1. Israel is "defending" itself against the Palestinians

2. All Israelis support their government's policy of endless war against Palestinian civilians.

It's this second lie that the Israeli media mafia guards most closely - and desperately hopes Americans never figure out.

Contrary to Israeli war party propaganda in the US, not all Jews and not all Israelis support Israel's Nazi-like conduct in the Occupied Territories.

This simple fact is probably the single most censored piece of news in the United States.

Here are some young people heading to prison because they won't join the genocide. You can support these brave kids here:

FORUM TO WRITE TO ISRAEL
http://december18th.org

I support the Shministim and their right to peacefully object to military service. I call for the release of those teenagers who have been jailed for their principled refusal to serve in an army which occupies the Palestinian Territories. The imprisonment of these conscientious objectors is a violation of their human rights and contrary to International Law.

I am inspired by these caring students and their counterparts in Palestine, whose nonviolent resistance to the Occupation points the way to a just peace and security for all people in the region. They are our best hope for the future. I urge you to heed them, and not punish them

Name: Or Ben-David
Age: 19
Location: Jerusalem
Why I am one of the Shministim:
“I refuse because I want to make a difference. I want all those Palestinian youths who have lost hope to see that there are Israelis who care and who make a different choice. I want all those of my friends who became soldiers or who are about to become soldiers to see that things don’t have to be the way they are…”
Pre-Sentence: 28th Sept. 2009 (7 days of confinement to base)
First Sentence: 29th Oct. 2009 (20 days)
Second Sentence: 16th Nov. 2009 (20 days)
Third Sentence: 15th Dec. 2009 (34 days)

http://december18th.org/category/Testimonials

 

 

Lebanon by Samuel Maoz

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Absolutely edge of your seat, provokes an emotional response (and claustrophobia if you are affected that way). The stage is the inside of an Israeli tank, 'clearing' an area in Lebanon in 1982. The confined space concentrates every word, only the gun sights revealing the world outside.

Great bit of filming, but awkward to watch, I do get claustrophobic. I'm tempted to compare it to Waltz with Bashir, but all that can be said is that one is an animation, while this is equally clever in the way it is filmed.

Winning the Leone d'Oro at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, nominated for ten Ophir awards including Best Film, it still has not enjoyed wide release. Has been called an anti-war movie, maybe, maybe not, but like the best war movies, it shows the effects of war on the people involved, not least those who are killed. The triggerman in the tank has never fired a shot in a real war situation before. Oil drips from the ceiling, the tiny space they're in is not clean and comfortable. And its dark. With subtitles.

Only 4 stars. Would have been more if it wasn't so hard to watch.

Group Policy on Multiply's new Online Shopping venture

Should Spies, Lies & Geopolitics accept membership requests from Multiply's Online Shops?

Yes

 

 0

No

 

 16

You'll be aware by now Multiply has recently expanded into the online shopping market?

We've begun getting membership applications from these online shops, and this prompted a discussion among the admins of this group.  We feel, unanimously, that this is a political debate forum, a place for bloggers, intellectuals, people interested in current affairs, history and discussion thereof, and there is no place for those who wish to use it as a market stall to sell various unrelated goods.

So we will be declining these requests.  Nor do we have any intention of including a 'Market' section on the group. I guess if we get one selling rare books or other study resources that relate to the topic, and they can give us a good reason they want to be here, then maybe, just maybe...  but until then, protecting our members' privacy is paramount.  Those who are not members here cannot see who is a member, but they can see public posts like this one, and the shops only want in to get at your details; the numbers we have in here are quite healthy even if participation rate can be relatively low... high numbers and/or thriving activity are always going to attract them.

I thought a poll would say it best.  I'm guessing one or two jokers will vote yes, but otherwise I don't imagine any of you want the shops in here?  Please vote, and we will have this post to point to in future, to show new applicants when they come, trying to sell their cheap plastic Disney nonsense.  Obviously, we aim to be democratic, but this one's a no-brainer, right?

Beyond that, good luck to you, Pez and everyone on the Multiply team (the few we have on board, perhaps you'd like to say a few words on this?), we wish the online shopping angle the best of luck.  I'm an online seller myself, using another well-known site.  Can be a good place to find bargains.  But we don't feel it belongs here on SLG, as I hope this members' poll will reflect.

Dziekuje bardzo,

RemixedPhoenix

Women Who Deserve Our Respect

I'm a man, so it's par-for-the-course I'm going to forget one. Shoot me now.

I decided today, to think of however many amazing female humans I could, and create this gallery. I think you'll get the idea, these are not pin-ups, and many are long dead. To really dig into deep history would have been too obvious... but other than the Suffragettes, Queens, Bodicea, who from yesteryear qualifies? Try doing this same exercise with men. It's sick that I can even post this honestly - why are there so few who spring instantly to mind, compared with men? But I gave it my best shot. Analyse, evaluate and add to this if you please.

Six years in jail, no charge: the war on terror's forgotten victim speaks Home News, UK - The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/six-years-in-jail-no-charge-the-war-on-terrors-forgotten-victim-speaks-2021138.html
A friend from NZ posted this, I'm not sure she's in this group, so here it is again

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25903.htm

http://www.freebabarahmad.com/



Timeline:

24-Nov-2009 : The Crown Prosecution Service informs Babar Ahmad’s lawyers that it is conducting a review into whether any police officers can be prosecuted for abusing him in December 2003.

03-Nov-2009 : Following his acquittal in a separate racial assault criminal trial at Kingston Crown Court, PC Mark Jones of 1 Unit 1 Area TSG (based at Paddington Green police station) is named as the principal perpetrator of the attack on Babar Ahmad.

26-Mar-2009 : Mayor of London Boris Johnson announces an inquiry into the Babar Ahmad police abuse case with external judicial oversight by retired High Court judge Sir Geoffrey Grigson, to report back to the Metropolitan Police Authority.

18-Mar-2009 : In a historic, unprecedented victory, the Metropolitan Police admits full liability for subjecting Babar Ahmad to grave abuse tantamount to torture and offers to pay him £60,000 (US$100,000) in damages. The admission, at the High Court in London, receives worldwide press coverage. Babar Ahmad is present in court to hear the admission.

16-Mar-2009 : Babar Ahmad’s civil case trial against the Metropolitan Police begins at the High Court in London before Mr Justice Holroyde. Babar Ahmad is represented in court by counsel, Miss Phillippa Kaufman. Babar Ahmad appears by video link from HMP Long Lartin.

10-Mar-2009 : Metropolitan Police offers Babar Ahmad an out-of-court settlement of £60,000 (US $100,000) without admitting liability. Babar Ahmad refuses this offer.

18-Feb-2008 : The Rose Inquiry reports back to Parliament stating that nothing illegal happened in the police surveillance of the Sadiq Khan MP-Babar Ahmad prison visits but that the law should be clarified.

04-Feb-2008 : Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw MP announces in the House of Commons that there is to be an official inquiry into the bugging of Babar Ahmad’s prison visits with Sadiq Khan MP, to be conducted by a retired High Court judge, Sir Christopher Rose.

03-Feb-2008 : UK newspaper, The Sunday Times reports that anti-terrorist police had covertly recorded BA’s confidential prison visits in 2005 and 2006 with his MP, Sadiq Khan.

20-Jan-2008 : Metropolitan Police Service offers Babar Ahmad an out-of-court settlement of £20,000 (US $40,000) without admitting liability. Babar Ahmad refuses this offer.

04-Oct-2007 : Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Manchester to HMP Long Lartin Detainee Unit.

04-Jul-2007 : Babar Ahmad lodges civil proceedings at the High Court in London against the Metropolitan Police Service claiming damages for assault in December 2003.

10-Jun-2007 : In a miraculous intervention at the last minute, the European Court of Human Rights freezes Babar Ahmad’s extradition until further notice whilst it considers his case.

09-Jun-2007 : Babar Ahmad kisses goodbye to his family, awaiting extradition.

04-Jun-2007 : House of Lords refuses leave to appeal to it, meaning that Babar Ahmad is to be extradited within 7 days, barring a last-minute reprieve from the European Court of Human Rights.

19-Dec-2006 : The High Court in London gave certification for two points of law, that are of public importance, to be taken to the House of Lords. These points of law concerned Military Detention and Extraordinary Rendition.

13-Dec-2006 : Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Belmarsh to HMP Manchester, where he is again placed into Segregation for 48 hours for no reason.

30-Nov-2006 : Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Walker dismiss Babar Ahmad’s High Court Appeal in Ahmad & Aswat vs. USA. Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Woodhill to HMP Belmarsh and placed in the Segregation punishment unit for no reason.

13-Jul-2006 : This was the last day of Babar Ahmad's High Court appeal hearings. Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice Walker will now give their decision either towards the end of July 2006, or in the beginning of October 2006.

12-Jul-2006 : Several Members of Parliament mention Babar Ahmad’s case in an emergency debate on UK-US extradition at the UK House of Commons.

11-Jul-2006 : This was the first day of Babar Ahmad's High Court appeal hearings. To read the court accounts, please go to the icon on the left hand side marked 'Court Accounts'. Babar Ahmad appears by video link from HMP Woodhill.

23-Jun-2006 : A damning report is released which provides evidence linking the flawed UK-US extradition policy to the radicalisation of British Muslim youth.

10-Apr-2006 : Babar Ahmad transfers representation of his police assault case to Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, having left Arani & Co Solicitors in February 2006.

15-Feb-2006 : Babar Ahmad transfers from Arani & Co solicitors to Birnberg Peirce & Partners Solicitors for representation in his extradition case.

28-Nov-2005 : UK Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee raises concerns about Babar Ahmad’s case due to the possibility of it being prosecuted in the UK.

15-Nov-2005 : Home Secretary rules that Babar Ahmad should be extradited to the United States. Babar Ahmad's legal team launch appeal against this decision at the High Court.

10-Sep-2005 : Home Secretary Charles Clarke requests a further 60 day extension to to making a decision. A petition of over 18,000 signatures is hand-delivered to the Home Secretary's office by Babar Ahmad's MP, Sadiq Khan.

15-Jul-2005 : Home Secretary Charles Clarke requests a further 60 day extension to making a decision.

17-May-2005 : Senior District Judge Timothy Workman rules that Babar Ahmad should be extradited but acknowledges the case is `difficult and troubling because it could have been prosecuted in the UK`. See Court Accounts for further information. The matter is handed over to Home Secretary to give his final decision within 60 days.

05-May-2005 : Babar Ahmad stands for election in the UK General Election, becoming only the second prisoner in history to do so after Irish prisoner Bobby Sands in 1981. He wins 2% of the vote in the Brent North constituency of London, coming fourth after the three main parties.

28-Apr-2005 : Babar Ahmad transferred back from HMP Belmarsh to HMP Woodhill.

18-Apr-2005 : Main Extradition Hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court continues. See Court Accounts section for details. Over 400 protesters against the extradition gather outside the Court

13-Apr-2005 : PC Roderick James-Bowen cleared of all charges at Police Misconduct Tribunal. Tribunal commends him for his ‘great bravery’ in assaulting Babar Ahmad.

11-Apr-2005 : Police Misconduct Tribunal opens behind closed doors at Woolwich Crown Court. Babar Ahmad testifies in person.

22-Mar-2005 : Babar Ahmad transferred from HMP Woodhill to HMP Belmarsh.

02-Mar-2005 : Babar Ahmad appears at Bow Street Magistrate's Court for defence hearing against extradition. Nearly 200 protesters gathered outside the court. The court was adjourned until 24th March for a remand and review hearing by video-link. The final main hearing is to be held on 18th April 2005.

14-Jan-2005 : IPCC announces decision to supervise an internal Police Misconduct Tribunal against PC Roderick James-Bowen (b. 1971) for using ‘excessive force’ on Babar Ahmad.

16-Dec-2004 : BA appeared briefly at Bow Street Magistrate's Court via video-link from Woodhill Prison. This was a routine `remand hearing` which occurs approximately every month. BA just has to confirm his name and date of birth etc.

18-Nov-2004 : Babar Ahmad appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court for the start of the main extradition hearing before Senior District Judge Timothy Workman.

12-Nov-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court via video link and is remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison.

04-Nov-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court and is remanded in custody until 12th November 2004

07-Oct-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court for bail application. Despite numerous referees including work colleagues and doctors; alongside sureties which added up to several hundred thousand pounds sterling, the bail application was refused by District Judge Timothy Workman on the grounds BA may fail to surrender, or re-offend.

10-Sep-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court, remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison by District Judge Christopher Pratt.

08-Sep-2004 : CPS announces that there is ‘insufficient evidence’ to prosecute the police officers who assaulted Babar Ahmad�

13-Aug-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court, remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison by District Judge Christopher Pratt.

06-Aug-2004 : BA appears at Bow Street Magistrates Court, remanded in custody at Woodhill Prison by District Judge Christopher Pratt.

05-Aug-2004 : BA re-arrested on extradition warrant from US

15-Jul-2004 : Metropolitan Police passes case of BA’s assault by police to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

08-Dec-2003 : BA released without charge. Files complaint against police assault to Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)

02-Dec-2003 : Babar Ahmad arrested, assaulted by police officers in London, UK, sustaining over 73 injuries.

'Pulpo Paul' Predicts Spanish Victory in World Cup

Paul the Octopus may not end up battered and fried after all. On Friday, Germany's celebrity cephalopod took a major step toward reconciliation by predicting a German win against Uruguay in the match for third. And he foresees Spain taking the title.

Since his fateful -- and accurate -- prediction on Tuesday that Germany's football team would lose to Spain in this week's World Cup semifinal, Facebook, Twitter and the Internet have been swimming in recipes for octopus. But on Friday, Paul the prophetic cephalopod sought to calm the waters: He's predicted his host nation, Germany, will take third place over Uruguay on Saturday.

Paul is a phenomenon. Since the start of the current World Cup, the English-born octopus has accurately predicted the outcome of every match played by the German team. As of Friday he's six for six -- an extraordinary record in the dubious field of animal prophecies for human athletics.

Paul's keepers at the SeaLife Aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany, place two see-through boxes into the cephalopod's tank. The containers bear flags of two contending teams. Each holds a mussel, and the snack Paul scoops first indicates his tip for the match in question.

On Friday he snatched a mussel from the German box, shunning Uruguay. So Germany is tipped by the octopus to win the match for third on Saturday night.

A short time later, the psychic cephalopod made his first prediction of a game without Germany, predicting a Spanish triumph over the Netherlands in Sunday's final.

These estimates put Paul in line with more conventional oddsmakers for this weekend's games.

'Calamari for Everyone!'

When Paul predicted a Spanish upset against Germany in Wednesday's semifinal, Germans were concerned. When the upset came to pass, German Internet users exchanged insults and recipes for cooking Paul. "The stupid octopus was right," one user wrote. "Calamari for everyone!"

In response, on Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero joked that he would provide state protection for "pulpo Paul." His interior minister, Miguel Sebastian, recommended bringing the octopus to the Iberian peninsula to ensure his safety. And Spanish environment and fisheries minister Elena Espinosa said: "On Monday, I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a (fishing) ban on Paul the octopus so the Germans do not eat him."

According to the German tabloid Bild, there have been no direct threats against the octopus, but the SeaLife Aquarium is taking no chances. Stefan Porwoll, who runs the aquarium in the wester German city, told the newspaper: "For his safety, we have assigned an employee to keep a watchful eye on Paul during opening hours."

Meanwhile, animal welfare group PETA has stepped into the debate, demanding that the SeaLife Aquarium release Paul back into nature. "It is extremely thankless imprisoning the intelligent octopus in order to use it as an oracle," said Tanja Beining, a marine biologist for the group.

But in an interview with news agency AFP, SeaLife officials have defended Paul's captivity. "Animals born in captivity are used to being fed and have no experience finding food by themselves," a spokeswoman said. "It is highly likely that he would die."

A Probabiliy of 1 out of 64

According to Bild, mathematicians have been duly impressed by the octopus' ability to predict the future. Pieter Moree of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn said: "During the six games, the probability (of being correct) was 1 in 64. That means that in a poll of 64 people, 63 would have given the wrong result."

Paul's prowess for good predictions has drawn praise from Britain, the country of his birth. Noting the poor footballing skills of the English team this year, the Telegraph has described Paul as the "biggest English success" of the World Cup.

Paul hasn't been without competition, though. At least one other psychic creature has determined a different outcome for the tournament: Mani the psychic parakeet from Singapore has also accurately guessed a winner in this year's World Cup. The bird's owner, M. Muniyappan claims Mani correctly forecast Spain's victory over Germany this week.

His tip for the World Cup final? The Netherlands.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,705573,00.html