Idi Amin - another Tyrant allowed a free rein for killing a country and it's people

A snap Lord Patel took of Idi Amin and its his beautiful wife in February 1972 in front of the Brandenburger Gate, Berlin. Amine, the Ugandan Light Heavyweight boxing champion 51-60, Sandhurst educated was the first colored soldier in Uganda to become an officer.

Brigadier Pierino Okoya, the deputy chief of the army and Amin's sole rival among senior army officers and his wife are shot dead at their home January 25th 1970.

He took power on 25th January 1971 in an Israeli backed coup d'etat in 1971 whilst pipe smoking President Milton Obote was out of the countryat the Commonwealth Conference in Singapore.

His first overseas trip as President is a state visit to Israel.

He embarked on a crazy journey of bloodletting, savagery and crafty biffonery ...nobody was spared, and one was immune from the murder squads. The chief justice, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was dragged from the High Court by soldiers and never seen again. The vice-chancellor of the University of Makerere, once the finest university in black Africa, disappeared. When Janan Luwuum, Uganda’s Anglican Archbishop, spoke out against the reign of terror, Amin publicly denounced him. The archbishop’s bullet-riddled body, still in ecclesiastical robes, was later dumped in a Kampala mortuary. Amin also killed and dismembered Kay, the feistiest of his many wives, and dumped her remains in the boot of the car of her lover, who was also killed.

After ejecting the Asians, the economy goes in free fall and over 300,000 are killed by Amin. Amin invades Tanzania in 1978 and the invading Tanzanian forces take Kampala on 11 April 1979. Amin flees to Libya, taking his four wives, several of his 30 mistresses and about 20 of his children.

Besides a huge death toll, Amin has left Uganda with an annual inflation rate of 200%, a national debt of US$320 million, an agricultural sector in tatters, closed factories and ruined businesses.

He dies in exile in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 16th August 2003.

Mugabe is way up there with him, 250,000 Matabele were killed were killed nu imported North Korean mercenaries. No-one dare calculate the killings today as hundreds of thousands have fled to surroundings countries.

.... and let's not even mentionthe ranch owned by Prince Harry's girlfriends family, Charles Davy ans his beautiful daughter Chelsey just back from the beach at Acapulco and recovering fro her Rand 250,000 21st. birthday bash - the old Justin von Leibig place, the man who invented the OXO cube - twice the size of Surrey where safari mad Americans kill tethered animals. NO, we won't mention that .. but you can read about it here

We won't mention Mengistu the Dictator and Butcher of Ethiopia, spirited out by the Americans to Kampala who is the architect of Operation Murambatsvina (Shona for "drive out the filth") in which the police and army destroyed shanty towns and cracked down on unlicensed traders after Mugabe decreed that they needed to be forcibly "re-ruralised" to regain their peasant roots... and who have diappeared off the face of the earth.... also Operation Maguta ( which in the double speak of the double ungood means "live well", prompted by a shortfall in maize production since the white owned and run commercial farms were destroyed. Maguta means villagers on communal land are compelled by Army thugs them to grow maize and sorghum, which they must then sell to the army-run Grain Marketing Board(GMB)

... but you can read about it here.

General Nizar al-Khazraji / Naji Sabri al-Hadithi pop up into view again - Iraqi Gvt to change ?

Ali al-Fadhily, in Electronic Iraq, 15 March 2007 has an interesting article about the failed Government of Iraq entitled "Iraqis place hope in local politics" which includes a very interesting note ....

Rumors run of "shadow governments" being formed abroad, but Iraqis have little faith in people who fled and left them to face the situation.

General Nizar al-Khazraji, former chief of staff in the previous army, former minister for foreign affairs Naji al-Hadithi (see pic) and some others are said to have formed such 'governments' abroad to replace the current government when the time comes.

Today is of course the grim anniversary of the day when the Iraqi Army under the command of General Nizar al-Khazraji bombed Halabja (BBC Caversham monitoring report) with cyanide gas - the man who the BBC went to Copenhagen to interview in September 2002, the man who the CIA got excited about as the successor to Saddam. And he has raised his head.

Naji Sabri Al-Hadithi, 59 was of course the Foreign Minister of Saddam's regime who stole US$15 Mn from the Foreign Ministry's treasury before Bagdhad fell. He smuggled it with him abroad, according to the Austrian Der Standard newspaper at the time . The newspaper quoted the Foreign Ministry's workers in Baghdad, as saying that the sum confiscated by Al-Hadithi was transported abroad on April 7, before the US entered Baghdad.

Al-Hadithi might currently be with his friend, the far-rightist leader Joerg Haider, in southern Austria, said the newspaper." The newspaper also said his mobile phone is registered in the name of a member of the Iraqi embassy in Vienna. (see BBC Online report)

Jorg Haider told Lord Patel at the time that "He is in safety." The former leader of the far-right Freedom Party and Governer then of Carinthia also told the radio station Krone Hit, describing Mr Sabri as a "personal friend". "He has good connections the world over. We don't need to worry about him," he said. Naji Sabri was made Iraqi Ambassador to Austria in 1998 where he gotto know Haider. He was also named as Permanent Representative to the International AtomicEnergy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO) and to the United Nations Office (Vienna) during1999-2001. He was only made Foreign Minister on Augest 4, 2001.

There is a fascinating report by BBC's Mark Doyle of interviews that he had with Naji Sabri in Cairo dated March 29th 2003."The invaders" , he proceeded to say with absolute certainty,..." will be beaten. They will die and be buried in the deserts of Iraq."

It is intriguing to remember that there were 3 prominent Iraqi ministers also do not appear on the list of 55 most wanted after the occupation who appeared on those ridiculous playing cards.

They are Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Sahaf, (Comical Ali) Health Minister Umid Mubarak and Foreign Minister Naji Sabri. U.S. officials at the time said the three ministers were not regarded as key members of the Saddam regime. He also does not feature on the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Blocked Persons List. So no doubt his US$15 MN loot is safe.

There is a report from October 2002 by BBC monitoring at Caversham that he was "Described by commentators as "smooth and sophisticated", "suave" and"a type that appeals to Westerners", he is said to have relished his renewed contact with the West." He was also said to be CIA director George Tenet's "source who had direct access to Saddam and his inner circle." He politely but firmly declined the oportunity to defect however.

A PBS report in 2002 states he is a member of a historically powerful family, and holds a doctorate in English literature from Baghdad University. During the Gulf War, he was Deputy Information Minister and, at one time, ran Iraq's Press office in London.

In the days immediately prior to the illegal invasion of Iraq when Tony Blair had accepted that Saddam could leave the country unharmed - Naji Sabra said..."(BBC)

"The only option [to avoid war] is the departure of the number one warmonger in the world [US President George W Bush]. "His policy has brought disaster to the United States. This crazy man should go and also his subject, disciple and follower [UK Prime Minister Tony] Blair."

OF course it seems unlikely that the Coalition of the totally useless and fed up would engage the services of General Nizar al-Khazraji and Naji al-Hadithi, but as we are never tired of hearing ..."My enemies enmy is my friend".. the very recent accomodation with a tribal leader in Anbar suggests that there sre some forces at play to give the Sunni a stronger hand.

Lord Patel did have some interesting correspondence with Prime Minister Tony Blair in February 2005 prior to the General Election, about General Nizar al-Khazraji and his military friends such as Head of Military Intelligence Wafiq Samarra'i. There is an interesting report here at Investigating New Imperialism
prime Minister Tony Blair did say .... inter alia

“I was concerned to hear about these reports and asked for them to be investigated. It is clear that general al-Khazraji did indeed have an appalling record of human rights abuses in Iraq. For this reason, the Government’s only interest in General al-Khazraji is to see him brought to justice. We continue to support the efforts underway in Iraq to establish a fair and transparent system for prosecuting those suspected of human rights abuses under Saddam.“The reports of General al-Khazraji’s association with the Iraqi Government appear to be the result of unfounded media speculation in the region. We have seen no evidence of any connection between General al-Khazraji and the Iraqi Government.

We have reason to believe that, far from working in support of the Iraqi Government, General Khazraji is actively engaged in opposing it.”

So it would be strange, funny even, if these guys popped up in the Government of Iraq ... but it wouldn't be unexpected.

Tim Spicer, Aegis and the rest of the Lady Dame Pauline Neville Jones Fan Club in the Green Zone with the greenbacks

Tom Griffin at the Green Ribbon has long kept an eye on Tim Spicer. 2 soldiers under his command in Ulster shot an unarmed teenage father of two in the back, killing him. The soldiers were tried, convicted of murder, and imprisoned for life. However, as part of a very murky deal at the time of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the soldiers were released. Spicer successfully argued for their return to their unit.

Tom points us to a write up about this gun for hire , an ex British soldier (and officer) , gun runner, money launderer, liar, by an ex CIA liar, Robert Baer, in this month's Vanity Fair

To those who have followed the intermeshing careers of the Lady Dame Pauline Neville Jones Fan Club , the RUSC, Erinys, Executive Outcomes and all the other oozing shite that lives in the shadows of megolamaniac and murderous statesmen, like Blair, Bush (es) Cheney, Chalabi, this is an ane old song. It gets no better with the telling.

For those interested, Bill Roggio the Voice of the CIA over at The 4th Rail is now running a company Public Multimedia, Inc, ("a non-profit media company" Ho.Ho.Ho.) that arranges the "embedding" of reporters with US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Helping of course to provide an independent and balanced view of what is happening in Iraq.

A recent such example was by Chris Muir , author of the beautifully drawn but dire and unfunny Night and Day cartoon strip. His visit to Iraq adds nothing to our understanding and the photographs could have been taken in Flint. His site does have a good FREE Pammy Anderson video ... if your taste in breast runs to the the Chicken' Lickin' kind.

Morality - In Black and White ?

Maryland born , Richie Anderson, 35 was an NFL running back with 13 seasons under his belt with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. He was a 2000 Pro Bowl selection with the Jets and holds the team record of 305 by a running back for receptions. He retired from playing with the Cowboys due to a neck injury in 05 and last season was assistant wide reciever coach with the Jets.

Georgia born, Ken Whisenhunt, 45 the Arizona Cardinals new head coach on a 4 year contract (salary US$2.5 Mn - enough to buy a US $1.85 million home in south Chandler, AZ.) , hired Anderson as wide receivers coach in January. His wife and 2 children had hardly settled in and he hadn't been in the job 4 weeks and at about 9:30 p.m. March 8th he was stopped for soliciting for prostitution.. The Phoenix POlice department's vice unit was conducting an undercover sting operation in south Phoenix when Anderson allegedly solicited an officer posing as a prostitute - the "cop as a ho trick ". If charged with solicitation for prostitution which is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona he could end up with six months in prison and a $2,500 fine.

4 days later Whisenhunt fired him.

Pity he wasn't a nice rich, white college boy playing lacrosse... just think, if they sacked every player / staff member in the NFL who chased hookers .....

Is That a Stick Shift or Are You Just Glad to See Me?

A different result to the case of Joe Cullen, a Detroits Lions coach. Jethro Lett, a shift manager at a Wendy's restaurant , told police that a buck nekkid man wheeled through the drive-up window and ordered food. Cullen was hauled in on indecency and obscenity charges. Faced with 30 days in the slammer or a US$500 fine he paid up.

Days later the Police hauled him again (fully clothed this time) and a breath test determined his blood-alcohol content was .12, over the legal limit of 0.8. originally charged with drunken driving which was reduced to DUI.

He got 2 years probation and must attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings ( fully clothed) twice a week... pay US$300 court costs and he kept his job.

There is a school of thought that the only indecent thing about the Lions, is the way they are playing - they have the worst record in the league over the past 5 years. Probably because the coach is permanently pissed or waving his dick around, running down Dearborn Avenue.

Joe of course is a WHITE guy.

Maybe there is a place for Richie in Detroit.... he can only help improve their performance.

Lest we forget

So in the Mother of Parliaments we have had a massive Parliamentary debate about Trident, Nuclear weapons, proliferation ..."which we are all working towards" etc ....

Duringthe whole debate nobody mentioned the one nation that hasn't, and won't sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The nation that has a massive arsenal of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. The nation who took a man who exposed their nuclear arsenal and put him in solitary confinement for 20 years. A nation that has such territorial ambitions that it will not state what it's borders are. A nation that is building an Apartheid state behind 45 foot concrete walls. A nation that kills civilians, men, women, children on a regular and casual basis.

Israel.

A nation that murdered Rachael Corrie (23) on March 16th 4 years ago by crushing her with a bulldozer.

Also remember Tom Hurndall (22) murdered on April 11 2003 by an IDF soldier with a single shot to the head.

.... or the many, many thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes, killed, starved, and caged in the Gaza prison by that Israeli state and it's willing citizens.

Crime does not go undetected - A Moral Fable

It was with some relief that my new Butler, Mc Ternan told me at breakfast that PC Plod had telephoned with the good news that the mystery of my car stolen last year had been resolved.

Apparently a Mr Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, well known as the evil mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, confessed ,(amongst many other crimes) according to a transcript released by the Pentagon yesterday after a military hearing held in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He also confessed to a string of other offences and asked them to be taken into account . This included the theft of and from Patel Towers of an expensive British Racing Green Aston Martin Vantage in full "Prince of Wales" spec.

Mr. Mohammed declined to speak under oath, saying his religious beliefs prohibited it. But he said he was telling the truth. Which apparently means ( explained Plod ) that whilst this can be credited against the crime as a Class IIIa Clear up, proceedings cannot be entered into, solely on the basis of a confession based on illegal abduction, rendition and ceaseless torture without the presence of a lawyer.

Butler McTernan, , appears a bright lad (although his references look slightly dodgy) , and took the opportunity to point out to Plod that the vehicle was stolen last year and it appears from reading the press that Mr Mohammed was arrested in Rawalpindi on 2nd March 2003 and at the time of the offence was safely tucked up in a spacious cell at Camp Freedom on Diego Garcia.

"God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform" , was the response from the officer of the law, who then put the phone down.

PS At the time of Mr Mohammed's arrest Ari Fleischer the White House press secretary said ."Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is one of Osama bin Laden's most senior and significant lieutenants, a key Al Qaeda planner and the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks," ... So it must be true.

Curiously if you turn to Chapter 5 of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission)

You will find how Mystic Meg had been at work and safely predicted ...

"No one exemplifies the model of the terrorist entrepreneur more clearly than Khalid Sheikh Mohammed,(see pic Chapter 5 Image 1 ) the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks. KSM followed a rather tortuous path to his eventual membership in al Qaeda.1 Highly educated and equally comfortable in a government office or a terrorist safehouse, KSM applied his imagination, technical aptitude, and managerial skills to hatching and planning an extraordinary array of terrorist schemes. These ideas included conventional car bombing, political assassination, aircraft bombing, hijacking, reservoir poisoning, and, ultimately, the use of aircraft as missiles guided by suicide operatives."

You will find much else besides which proves ... er...well .... he looks a right evil bastard.

UPDATE 16th March

Hans-Christian Ströbele,(PIC) (Deputy Leader of the Green Party) and Herta Däubler-Gmelin Charman of the Human Rights Committee of the Bundestag (Social Democrat, and Minister of Justice in the Gerhard Schröder government who was forced to resign when she compared George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler) both members of the German Bundestag have ridiculed Mohammed's portmanteau confession . Casting doubts on it's vailidity or credibility given the circumstances of his imprisonment. “He might as well have confessed to being the Satan himself”, "Er hätte wohl auch gestanden, der Satan persönlich zu sein" Ströbele told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Däubler-Gmelin said, "Hier veröffentlicht eine Militärbehörde, was ihr passt",“The [U.S.] military authority publishes whatever it wants to publish.” They both mentioned the “torture factor” and the dubious status of the Guantanamo tribunal.

The SZ also quote Ruth and Judea Pearl from Encino, California saying of his claims to have killed their son Daniel."Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt können wir unmöglich wissen, ob seine Prahlerei mit dem Tod unseres Sohnes der Wahrheit entspricht" .. We cannot posibly know after all this time that he is responsible for their son's death

Interesting view here at Rumour Mill that KSM is actually someone else, but someone provides evidence that that is probably untrue.

Taking things with a pinch of salt pan

Her Maj's Ambassador to Ethiopia Robert Dewar has just made a statement.

"I am extremely relieved and happy, as are all of us at the Embassy, including DFID and the British Council, that our five friends and colleagues are safe and well."

"I am pleased to report that the five all seem to be in generally good health."

Press Office, Downing Street (West), London SW1A 2AL

Seeing that the Dame Lady Pauline Neville Jones Fan Club were called out en masse to root around 7 squillion miles of desert for the missing dips, it seems (to Lord Patel in his snug hideout) that their anonymity has been remarkably well preserved.

It would require an exceptionally disordered mind to begin, even to start to think that this wonderful desert holiday in the searing heat was quite the carefree break away from it all ,in the stuffy Embassy. Thank goodness they didn't take any children !

Perhaps they were just looking at salt pans and lots, and lots, and lots of sand. Or are we taking this with a pinch of salt pan ?

UPDATE Thursday night

Happily the anonymous adventurers are returned to the bosoms of their family and children - the press seemingly incapable of either naming them , getting a decent snap. or signing them up for "My Holiday in Hell in the hot salt pans on the Ethiopian Border" sories.

UPDATE Sunday Newspapers 18th March

Not a whisper about the Ethiopian adventures.Nul.Zero.Blank.

Are the Miliband twins Mad ? Is civilisation safe in their hands ?

Environment Secretary David Miliband said on Channel 4 News about the Draft Climate Change Bill : 'With climate change we can't just close our eyes and cross our fingers. We need to step up our action to tackle it, building on our considerable progress so far. And time isn't on our side.

Crossing fingers ? Closing eyes ? ..is this the new Masonic signalling system ... is the sorely harassed Lord Levy .. the increasinly distant Sir Ian Blair and Dame Pauline Neville's Fan Club having an effect. Is he going mad ? Has he gone mad. This is serious but then .....

Ed Miliband, his brother, has told Lord Patel that as Minister for the Third Sector ( WTF !?) the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) (WTF !?) will run a £2million programme to help local authorities harness the potential of the third sector to improve people's lives.

Ed Miliband (pic drumming up ideas), Minister for the Third Sector, said (apparently):

“To bring about genuine culture change we must foster greater understanding – particularly at local level – of the benefits third sector organisations can bring in delivering services that change people's lives for the better."

For more information about this programme or the OTS, please contact Campbell McDonald or Stephen Coomber on 020 7276 0317.

Closed eyes, Climate Changing Rooms, Third Sector, culture changes. Any ideas what all this is about? Please contact Lord Patel. URGENTLY

Julian Bevan ..The Star at the Bar

After 93 days , pissing away £20MN - no one has been convicted over the killing of Mr Musa, a 26-year-old father of two who suffered 93 injuries including fractured ribs, a broken nose and kidney failure during his detention.(pic of his father with pics of the family)

This result was entirely predictable.

How so?

Keen followers of the career of that ornament at the Bar, Julian Bevan QC were immediately alerted when he was chosen to lead the case for the prosecution. Their inoccence was assured.

So effective was he in making the case for the prosecution that when he had finished stating the case , Justice McKinnon threw out the case of five soldiers and that of Col. Jorge Emmanuel Mendonca, 43.

It was downhill all the way from there.

It was Julian Bevan, whose Rolls Royce mind missed the opportunity to expose the statistical fallacy of Professor Meadowcraft in the Sally Clark double infanticide case - which for an encore he also missed the purport of the question that the jury asked about the blood samples taken from the dead children. So sure of success was this gilded silk that he never even met his client - oerhpas if she had she might have sought other counsel.

It was this question, to which the paediatric pathologist Dr Williams lied, and to which he failed to appear to answer at the Appeal, when the case had been handed by a desperate defence to Claire Montgomery QC which finally sunk the case against Clark and led to her immediate release.

On December 10, 1996, businessman Richard Watson was murdered as he arrived home from work. The killer - ruthless, efficient, dressed in balaclava and jogging bottoms - shot him twice and then ran off. In April 1999 the case against his wife having procured a killer was due to start. It didn't. Within 30 minutes, the Crown case was aborted, on the advice of its leading counsel, Julian Bevan QC. The case had been dropped on the basis of information that had been available to the prosecution from January 24, 1997.

In November 2002 in the Court of Appeal, Robert Brown, one of Britain’s longest-serving prisoners, who had protested his innocence for 25 years was acquitted. Lord Justice Rose, with two other judges spent an hourconsidering the case and announced: "This verdict cannot be regarded as safe. We could not possibly be sure on what we have heard that the jury, had they known what we know, would have reached the same verdict. It is, to put it at its lowest, a possibility that they might have reached a quite different verdict."

The Scotsman reported at the time that within 18 minutes of the hearing starting at 10:30am on Wednesday November 13th 2002 , the Crown Counsel, Julian Bevan QC, was on his feet manfully explaining that he had no fight to fight. In legal terms he explained that he was, to all intents and purposes, throwing the towel in.

On the 15 January 2002 at the Court of Appeal took of Matlock's s conviction for murder was quashed after a sorry tale of lies, incompetence aStephen Downing's nd legal stupidity. Matthew Parris writing in the Times wrote, "For the Crown, Julian Bevan, QC, ....still managed to spend nearly an hour throwing in the towel. A kind of brow-furrowing bemusement hung over the public gallery as it slowly dawned on us that everyone - Crown, Defence and all three judges - agreed and had from the start. - They agreed not only that the conviction should be quashed, but on all the reasons why."

What finer man than Julian Bevan to present the Crown case if you wish to lose. The only problem now is Cpl Donald Payne, 35, of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, pleaded guilty to the charge at the start of a court martial to inhumanely treating Iraqi civilians....but was found inoccent of charges of manslaughter and perverting the course of justice.

Those further interested in the illustrious career of Julian Bevan might be interested in his role in supressing evidence in the M25 Murder case in 1993 before Justice Taylor.....here

Julian Bevan .. a man to watch.

UPDATE SENSATIONAL NEWS

Lawyer .com announces today ...

A group of star silks are breaking away from Hollis Whiteman Chambers to launch the most significant new set since Matrix Chambers was formed in 2000. These will be based in Smithfield and bear the name of Cloth Fair Chambers.

Julian Bevan QC, Timothy Langdale QC John Kelsey-Fry QC, and leading juniors Richard Horwell and Ian Winter are all understood to be leaving together with tenants from other leading criminal sets, including Edmund Lawson QC of 9-12 Bell Yard.

The barristers have declared their bold intention to form a set comprised only of QCs and leading juniors, who will focus on private and high-cost work.

The departures coincide with management changes at Hollis Whiteman as it comes to terms with the implications of the proposed changes to legal aid funding proposed by Lord Carter of Cole in his recent legal aid procurement review.

This move coincides with the retirement after 50 years at the Hollis Chambers in the Temple of the legendary senior clerk Michael Greenaway. Nicholas Purnell QC
previously of 23 Essex Street will head the chambers. Purnell acknowledges that the four most senior members of chambers - himself, Langdale, Lawson and Bevan - will at some point in the not-too-distant future be retiring.

Elsewhere the launch a new chambers focusing on high-value work has raised more than a few eyebrows (and hackles it seems) within the Inns of Court. Competitors said the establishment of the new set, Cloth Fair Chambers, smacked of arrogance: why should the seven assume that clients would pay more for their services?

This is how Chambers and Partners describe them ....

Whatever befalls it, as one observer stated, “the list of founding members is full of enough talent to make a grown man cry.” Fraud and libel specialist John Kelsey-Fry QC’s (Winner of a Chambers Bar Award in this field) place at the very top of the criminal Bar is agreed by all. As one eminent peer stated: “Were I to find myself in some really serious trouble he is the only person I would have to represent me.” Julian Bevan QC is another renowned big hitter in the fraud arena. Superlative praise abounded for Timothy Langdale QC, who is considered by commentators to come second to very few. He is a favourite among solicitors and opposing counsel alike, as is Edmund Lawson QC, who was referred to as “quite simply the greatest.” “Fearless advocate” Nicholas Purnell QC is best known for the quality of his criminal fraud practice. He was commended to researchers for two qualities in particular: “He is not selfishly ambitious - he doesn’t care who he offends and will fight any argument regardless of the personal cost.” The “absolutely brilliant” Ian Winter QC has earned the greatest repute for his fraud work and it came as no surprise to anybody when he was appointed silk this year. High-profile prosecution work this year for Richard Horwell QC has included the Chohan murders. He too was appointed silk in 2006.

Straws in the wind ? Dust storms in the eye of the Holocaust ?

Countdown to Armageddon ?

Israel's National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Division has issued updated travel warnings for Israelis traveling abroad.

1. It is advised that travellers should avoid visiting and leave the area as soon as possible in the following high to very high-threat countries: Algeria, Afghanistan, Chechnya, (southern Russia) Djibouti, Egypt, (especially the Sinai peninsula), Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kashmir (northern India), Lebanon Malaysia, Mindanao, (southern Philippines) Northern Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Southern Thailand, Syria & Yemen.

2. Travelers should postpone non-essential travel to: Bangladesh, Bangkok, Libya, Oman, Nigeria & southeastern Turkey (borders with Iraq and Iran).

3. Travelers in general, should avoid visiting the following countries: Bahrain, Chad, Kenya, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia.

4. Israeli citizens are called upon to be especially cautious when visiting: Philippines, Turkey, Thailand, & Uzbekistan. (Sources: National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Division, GPO)."

Of no possible importance is public unveiling of the new Israeli made “Heron” Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) . This advanced new model can fly for 2 days at 30,000, night / daytime inall weathers carying a 250KG payload (older version 100Kg)

This, the 2nd largest UAV ever made has the most sophisticated intelligence-gathering equipment on the aircraft to provide better umanned capabilities in target location and carrying out surveillance. Satellite communication systems allow usage in long range operations as far away as Iran.

Meanwhile the Israeli EROS B launched in May 2006 is providing excellent heliosynchronous images (i.e images - up to 380 miles wide - are always taken in sunlight)

Don't forget to read this again.

Sad Sicko pervert San Salvador Israeli Ambassador and his colleagues : Amazing Pictures !

Daily Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that the Israeli ambassador to El Salvador for the last 6 months , Tzuriel Refael, 50 years old and single , was found by the residence Police unit in the back yard (some reports say he was in the street) of his residence naked, drunk, bound and gagged, it emerged Monday.

They report that policemen who guard the ambassador's residence found Refael with his hands tied, a rubber ball gag in his mouth and wearing sex toys. (See pic on right)

And why not ?

This is simply further evidence, if needed, that some sort of deviant sexual proclivity, whilst not essential for Israeli diplomatic staff, does help you get and keep the job.

In 2000, Israel's ambassador to France, Eliahu Ben - Elissar aged 68 was found in a hotel (Hotel Atala Champs Elysee) , a swanky 48 room palace in the most prestigious district of Paris -"All the 48 rooms are stylishly decorated and perfectly equipped".) under circumstances the Foreign Ministry refused to publicize and also under a woman who was not his wife at the time. His bodyguards had been stood down. Ben-Elissar served for 10 years in the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency, before embarking on a career in politics.

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Ben-Elissar ambassador to the United States in 1996 and to France in 1998.

Naftali Tamir who represented the apartheid pariah state in sunny Oz told Haaretz that Israel and Australia are white sisters amid "the yellow race" of Asia and was recalled in October 2006.

Amir Laty, an Israeli diplomat was quietly expelled from Australia in 2004 which was blamed on his "close" friendship with the daughter of Federal Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock.

It was speculated in the Australian press that he was a Mossad handler of the three follwing agents ....

In the same year 3 Mossad agents Eli Cara, and Zev Barkan (who had diplomatic status when in Austria and Belgium and Uriel Kelman were run out of Australia. They had been detected stealing New zealand passports. Mossad had used a false Canadian passport in an attempt to assassinate a Palestinian leader in Jordan in 1997.

In 2005, Israel canceled the appointment of a diplomat to replace Amir Laity . It was a Aryeh Scher who was caught at the centre of a child sex scandal in Brazil five years ago. Aryeh Scher, was allegedly photographed in the nude with young girls. (see pic) He had previously been the Vice Consul (!) in Rio de Janierio - where he held parties with a Professor of Hebrew Georges Schteinberg involving (very) young girls. Read more here.

Between them they produced over 100 videos of children, countless photographs which were posted on 9 websites. Scher skipped the country and despite requests, extradition was refused. Arie Scher currently holds the office of first-secretary of the scientific and cultural department of the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Jerusalem.

In September 2005 Netherlands based Uriel Yitzhaki, 55 Israeli consul in the Hague, skipped the country after he was charged with issued 150 duplicate Israeli passports to people who were not entitled to them, in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars and other perks. The The Israeli business journal Globes Online and Haaretz reported he also "unlawful consensual sex" which means sex with a boy or girl aged 12 or younger, as the legal age of consent in the Netherlands is 13.

The head of the Israeli Defence Ministry Mission to Europe, David Dahan, was found dead in the Seine near Rouen in January , this was later described as a suicide although he left his mobile phone at home, and the tracker on his car had been disconnected.

ZAKA, a civilian team best known for its work recovering human remains at terror and accident sites in Israel, which was involved after 9/11 , and the Istanbul synagogue bombings in Istanbul sent a 10 man team to look for him when he went missing.

An Israeli diplomat, Yosef Sagiv Ofri,37 who worked in the Israeli Consulate was arrested on the 1st September 2006 in Atlanta GA on suspicion of computer related offences linked to pornography and the sexual exploitation of children. Ofri was accused of using emails and online messages to seduce a child from a suburb of Atlanta for "illegal acts relating to sodomy, aggravated sodomy, child molestation and aggravated child molestation."

Copy.Right ? J'accuse cries Lord Patel

The entangling cash for Coronets affair gets more bizarre every day. Surely if, (as is alleged) Truth Turner writes a memo which simply resides on her computer (or even that of her employer) it is copyright. A copyright which has very effectively been breached.

By whom this copyright has been breached it is difficult to determine because :

1. (it is alleged) She supplied a copy to her lawyers, (it is alleged)
2. Plod were either supplied with a copy by her lawyers or (as is further alleged) or Plod's hired hackers retreived one (and maybe much else) from Downing Street data storage.
3. A Judge in the High Court has disclosed details in the High Court in an action brought at the insistence of Plod and that ornament of the Bar , Lord Goldsmith.
4. Maybe Truth has a copy wich has been mislaid (not the only thing in this complicated tale).
5. Maybe her employer has the Copy. Right. ... and someone has throwin it in a trash can , elecronic or more corporeal.

These leaks / disclosures are now well and truly in the public domain - the intended recipient of this "letting of of steam" , Jonathan Powell, the guy in the next office, the fact that the fall other guy my Lord Levy, the perfumed and talented Labour Party Fun raiser attempted to seduce her - if only to tell lies, (rather than remove her clothing and lie down and think of Israel etc., ) .

We even know her contribution to what must now be seen as the modern Dreyfus Affair - the hounding of a Jew in public - commences (it is alleged) with the word "Fuck" - which seems an unlikely start for this pretty, pert, elfinesque and demure lady to utter.

In the Dreyfus affaire one must remember that much importance was attached to the notorious bordereau retrieved from the waste paper basket of the German military attache Major Max von Schwartzkoppen by an Alsatian cleaning lady (in the absence in those days of electronic hackers) who was employed by the French counter-intelligence to stoop to such low tricks. This bordereau (it was alleged) offered future and further access to secret French military information ..... however the handwriting was disputed and it was evident that it's secrets never reached anyone.

Eventually it transpired that the bordereau was in fact a fabrication procured by or had been hand written and delivered by an unpleasant and insufferable, Grade A1 shit, and serial liar, a French-born officer of Hungarian descent Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy (see pic) - who in turn proved to be a French traitor and a German spy and that his claim to his ancient Austro-Hungarian Title was bogus. He eventually fled to and died in England.

In his famous letter, Emile Zola, finished with the flourish ..."Let them dare, then, to bring me before a court of law and investigate in the full light of day!" ...which they did , he was sued successfully for libel and he had to escape like Esterhazy to England.

What effect all this has on preparing a case by Plod to prove a conspiracy to pervert the course of Justice (thoughts of raising charges for Cash for Coronets is firmly outta the window - NOBODY wants that ) remains to be seen. Lord Levy's claque (consisting solely of Sugar and his Rabbi currently) tcertainly have raised the spectre of anti-semitism, the reflexive action of any guilty Jew - although no-one is suggesting in any way that he pint sized Lord Levy is guilty of anything - apart maybe some dodgy singing at the Karaoke bar at the White Horse (Known apparently in the local argot as the Sloaney Pony) .

Lord Levy, or Mike to his many, many friends who are deluging the press, TV and airwaves with letters, speeches and declarations of support is a man of undoubted probity, integrity, honesty, indeed the TV chat shows are wall to wall with his rabbi. Mike has an easy, cheesy charm, and is well endowed with both charity and business acumen and why Truth Turner describes him in the way she does, and his actions is a mystery (well in our copy of said document - although we entertain doubts as to authroship because a woman like Truth wouldn't mispell certain gyneacological expressions that way). You naughty girl, you need a good spanking... and if what they say about the newly selected Labour candidate for a Northern constituency you have probably already had one. (The previous Labour candidate was beaten and quite coincidentally now runs a Jewish lobbying outfit, whilst hubby is off fighting the Fuzzy Wuzzies on their behalf.

A cynic might suggest however, that if anybody had wanted to scupper any possible legal proceedings, they couldn't have done a much better job in muddying the waters, putting the proverbial spanner in the mills of the law, sufficiently anyway to give the boneheads at the CPS cause for some thought. Notwithstanding the Attorney General (passé BAE bribery in Saudi) deciding that a decree of estoppel might be needed or as m'learned Civil lawyers at Fountain Court might say "non concedit venire contra factum proprium"

Meanwhile the industrious Mr McTernan is kept very, very busy organising the fast disappearing Labour vote in Scotland. We can only hope nothing serves to distract his effort and industry. Especially as it was a filthy Scotsman who set this particular hare running.

NB Bordereau Fr. A detailed memorandum, especially one that lists documents or accounts.

CBI : Double Science Graduates in 10 years or the scientific skills base disappears

The UK employers organisation, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) speaking for 80% of the FTSE 100 and some 200,000 companies has kicked off National Science Week with a clear, unambiguous, easily understood policy objective..

UK NEEDS TO DOUBLE NEW SCIENCE GRADUATES OVER SEVEN YEARS OR SEE SKILLED JOBS DISAPPEAR

The UK needs to double the proportion of science and engineering graduates (currently only 12% 0r 24,000) leaving university by 2014 or see skilled jobs go overseas

The UK's world-leading position in industries like pharmaceuticals, aerospace (?) and bio-technology might be forced to relocate to areas with a ready supply of employees with these skills.

They identify 4 barriers to increasing the output of science graduates:

1. Dilapidated, under resourced teaching facilities - Poor science laboratories in schools - with one in four unsafe or inadequate according to the Royal Society of Chemistry, and four in ten basic and uninspiring. Their report in 2004 identified the need in the UK for £1.9 Bn with an additional £70m per annum for teaching materials, in order to raise all school laboratories to a good standard. ... don't hold your breath.

2. A shortage teachers with specialist knowledge to teach GCSE and A level 25% of secondary schools do not have a specialist physics teacher. See also "2004150 Mathematics and Science in Secondary Schools: The Deployment of Teachers and Support Staff to Deliver the Curriculum"DfES 22/1/2006 Key research priority - world class education workforce

3. A stripped-down curriculum, devoting too little time to science - only 20% of state schools offers separate GCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology - consequently even fewer advance to A level examinations.

4. Poor careers advice, coupled by failure to stimulate young people's interest in the well-paid (?) and cutting edge careers available in science and engineering.

In 2005 the Government pledged to spend £200million improving science facilities in schools but although the money has been allocated it remains unspent.

John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General, said today : "Britain has a world class science base and many world-beating companies but we must build on these strengths, not allow them to wither on the vine."

Sir John Cridland is talking insufferable bollocks here, the UK does NOT have a world class science base. Truly the UK has some ageing, astonishingly brilliant scientists, many of them from the Old Commonwealth. Scientists are as welcome in the Boardrooms of British industry as syphilis in a nunnery.

Let's just look at Sir John Cridlands career ...

He studied Indian and African history at Christ’s College Cambridge and joined the CBI in 1982. He was appointed Director of Human Resources Policy in 1995, negotiating the UK’s first National Minimum Wage, entry into the EU Social Chapter and the Employment Relations Act 1999. Previously he had been Director of Environmental Affairs and played a key role on lobbying for the Environment Act 1995.

He is also a member of the Low Pay Commission and the ACAS Council. He was awarded the CBE in the New Year Honours List 2006.

Martin Broughton the President of the CBI ? ... He joined BAT as a travelling auditor in 1971 and held a variety of financial positions before becoming finance adviser for Asia. He is also chairman of the British Horseracing Board.

Richard Lambert Director-General of the CBI ? History graduate from Balliol, Oxford, journalist.

Sir Digby Jones (Sir "Diggers") the previous President .... ex KPMG, Ex Deloitte's ...

Pic Future mathematicians ... accountants or ...getting ready for a job on the till at Tesco?

That money promised ...well this is what the prudent Chancellor was reported saying in the Guradian after his budget speech March 22nd 2006

Every advanced industrial country knows that falling behind in science and mathematics means falling behind in commerce and prosperity.

So the education secretary is announcing today a comprehensive programme for the recruitment, retraining, retention and reward of 3,000 science teachers; a new entitlement to study the full range of science subjects at GSCE level; and the funding of after school science clubs starting in 250 schools.

And to ensure investment is matched by performance we will benchmark science results, just as we now benchmark English and mathematics.

News of new science teachers ? School science club funding ? Benchmarking results ? Where ?

The Government published the March of Science and Innovation Framework 2004 -2014: Next Steps, which committed it to increase the proportion of science teachers with a specialism in chemistry from 24 percent to 31 percent by 2014. Progress ? Zero.

The CBI are 100% right in calling for an immediate doubling of science graduates in the next decade. This is a massive task, those graduates in 2014/15/16 are now just emabarking on their school careers... there is not a minute to waste. The whole project should be undertaken as a sort of national Marshall Plan...for it is nothing less. The survival of UK manufacturing is at stake ... we have at the most, 10 years.

However consider this first ...

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is the pre-eminent engineering institution in the world. Established as a learned society in 1818, it has 80,000 members and provides a voice for civil engineering, continuing professional development and promoting best practice throughout the industry.

See Lord Patel Thursday, July 13, 2006 Short-sighted energy planning threatens bleak future

Tom Foulkes, MBA BSc CEng FICE FIMechE , ICE Director General, introduced the report The ‘State of the Nation 2003’ three years ago (01/07/2003) which the Press Release said, "Britain will become completely reliant upon energy sources supplied via pipelines from politically unstable countries thousands of miles away. The ‘State of the Nation 2003’ report highlights a potential 80% shortfall in meeting the country’s energy demands from current supplies by 2020, and points to the possibly cataclysmic effects of becoming reliant upon unsecured, imported fuel supplies."

Tom Foulkes is a military, civil, and mechanical engineer. He was educated at Clifton College, RMA Sandhurst, RMCS Shrivenham (BSc in Civil Engineering), Staff College, RCDS and the Open University (MBA).

Toys for the boys

Ford Motor Company Premier Automotive Group have after 12 months finally entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Aston Martin business. They first bought 75% of the company in 1987 and the remainder in 1993 ;

Headed personally by shy retiring, David Richards, chairman and chief executive of Prodrive ,although Prodrive are not involved in the deal , however they will still run the Aston Martin Racing team in international sports car series events, including the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Investment Banker John Sinders, an extravagant and flamboyant Aston Martin collector from Dallas, and a backer of Aston Martin Racing.

Investment Dar & Adeem Investment Co, 2 international investment companies headquartered in Kuwait Adeem managing director and chief executive officer is Mustafa E. Al-Saleh. His company were major promoters of the World Islamic Finance & Investment Conference just held in Kuwait, March 4th - 5th.

The transaction is said to value Aston Martin at £479 million ($925 million). As part of the transaction, Ford will retain a £40 million ($77 million) investment in Aston Martin.

This is what the BBC News is putting out worldwide as "putting ownership back in British hands".

Green enthusiast Prince Charles is seen getting out of his Aston Volante in the picture above which he specially ordered in BRG, with 432 bph Vantage engine, capable of almost 186mph, and with 0-60mph acceleration times under 5.0 seconds- in what became known as the Prince of Wales spec, including a modestly priced Linn Sondek sound system.

Amusingly The Evening Standard reported on 17.11.06 that Prince Charles has told aides to use bicycles as part of an environmentally friendly masterplan to make him the country's 'greenest' royal. A Clarence House spokesman said 'It is true that the prince has ordered two bicycles for staff to use on business in London, although this is by no means compulsory. "

Here is a jolly pic of Charlie Boy squiring the lovely, beautiful and virtuous Camilla on a sunny day at Hurlingham last year which Lord "papparazzi" Patel managed to snap , of the heir to the throne in his vintage Aston Martin V6 Vantage (only 80 were made) which mummy bought for him.

Science as spectacle- it is the key to winning in the world economy and in the fight against climate change. What utter bollocks

Someone has declared this week National Science and Engineering Week (9-18 March) which is coordinated by the BA in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board, who have a website provided on the Press release as http://www.the-ba.net/nsew and is wrong and returns an error message , the correct one is http://www.the-ba.net/the-ba/Events/NSEW/index.html. Here you will find the opportunity to search for events anywhere in the UK , except the search function doesn't work and you can only find all 1411 events - unless you know the event name, date and venue before searching.

The BA is what old fuddie duddies like Lord Patel used to call the British Association for the Advancement of Science but evidently the swinging cool Britain lot have decided to change the name.

Consequently , shadow being more important than substance, 100 scientists will meet the great Architect, Tony Blair at No 10 today - that should make for some interesting exchanges. "Tell me Prime Minister have you decided what Gravity is yet ?"

Many of who will say to you .... in his remorseless toneless voice ..... "Science and Engineering Ambassadors provide enormously valuable support to teachers and pupils across the UK, bringing in to the classroom real-life examples of exciting work in science, technology, engineering and maths. " Apparently the DTI will spend £6.7 million and aim to have 18,000 Ambassadors across the country by March next year - this program representing over 700 employers sounds more like a recruitment drive for employers desperate to find some young and modestly competent people and lure them away from hairdressing and media studies.

The Prime Minister will say (with conviction and a rictus of a smile) :

"Science is vitally important to the future of Britain. We have to be a magnet for scientific endeavour, attracting the best people and turning scientific knowledge into commercial enterprise.

"We need our young people today to embrace science and to realise that a career in science is an exciting prospect. These scientists provide the advice and practical examples to truly inspire."

About which nobody will argue, a decent salary for the best might help - although we are very generous with peerages for scientists.

The ageless Darling, will continue to drone on ..."UK scientists have transformed our world. Science is not just vital for surviving in the world economy; it is the key to winning in the world economy and in the fight against climate change. " (Anthropogenic Climate change being probably one of the most unscientific proposals made since man discovered fire)

"These scientists are our future. They should be celebrated for the amazing contribution they make. They are inspirational role models who help raise young people's aspirations, encouraging them to pursue careers in science."

Professor Lord Robert Winston, who is more a PR apparatchik for the seedier side of medical science than a scientist will be there spreading his oily charms and he will say :

"Science should be seen as a key part of the culture of our society and it is crucial that we inspire young people to understand science and use it with wisdom."

Along with this Press Release are some helpful notes for Editors -

Research Councils UK is committed to enhancing the quality and outputs of the UK research base through training the next generation of world class researchers. They support over 30,000 researchers at any one time and are committed to improving the quantity, quality and impact of research to the benefit of the UK society and economy. http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/default.htm

DTI sponsors a network for promotion of Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths in Schools (SETNET). Over 13,000 Science and Engineering Ambassadors (SEAs) are stimulating scientific interest amongst school children as part of a £6.7 million programme funded by DTI, and run by SETNET which aims to have 18,000 SEAs in place by March 2008. They represent over 700 different employers from a wide range of organisations. http://www.setnet.org.uk/
Download a form to apply to be an Ambassador here - you undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check which is a compulsory requirement for anyone wishing to be a Science and Engineering Ambassador.

NOISE (New Outlooks In Science & Engineering) is a UK-wide campaign funded by the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Initiated in 2000, it aims to raise awareness of science and engineering among young people. http://www.noisemakers.org.uk/
They advertise "http://www.noisemakers.org.uk/modules/jobs/cooljobs.cfm "

Cool jobs in Science & Engineering
“You mean, they’ll let me do this, and they’ll pay me too?” Our NOISEmakers do all kinds of cool things for a living.

SET for BRITAIN supports and promotes Britain's early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers and technologists who are the "engine-room" of continued progress in and development of UK research and R&D, and ultimately of UK plc. The main strand of activity is helping Members of Parliament organise research presentations by and competitions for Britain's top early-stage researchers at the House of Commons. http://www.setforeurope.org/

Apparently the Public can make Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000 although quite why the International reference is provided is a bit mysterious.

High Crimes and misdemeanours on the NY Subway

March 6, 2007
Editorial NYT
Manufacturing Misdemeanors

The New York Police Department has been going fishing. Not content to nab criminals when they break the law on their own, the department has been planting unattended bags in subway stations to see who might take them, at which point waiting officers pounce.

As NY1 News reported last week, 220 people were arrested last year in the sting, known as Operation Lucky Bag. In dismissing one of these cases, a Brooklyn judge said the police “do not need to manipulate a situation where temptation may overcome even people who would normally never think of committing a crime.” This program bothers us for that and many other reasons and should be discontinued immediately.

This is Helen Calthorpe, 52, a well known actress, who lives on Grand St. in Soho NY. She thought was being a good Samaritan when she picked up an apparently forgotten shopping bag on a bench on the Columbus Circle No. 1 subway platform on the afternoon of June 14 2006. She ended up spending five hours in the Midtown Community Court and being booked for petty larceny.

Helen had been caught in the police “Lucky Bag” sting, in operation on the NY subway system since February. The operation involves police putting a shopping bag or backpack on a subway bench and arresting anyone who picks it up for petit larceny and possession of stolen property.

Calthorpe defiantly pled not guilty at a hearing in July. Her trial was scheduled for last week in Criminal Court at 100 Centre St. Prosecutors requested a postponement, claiming they were unprepared for her continued not-guilty plea.

Prosecutors notified Calthorpe’s attorney that they were dropping all charges against her.

“The people could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Jennifer Kushner, a Manhattan District Attorney’s Office spokesperson.

A number of unlucky, unknowing individuals have accepted fines and sentences of community service, rather than risk a trial.

This insane, dishonest and deceitful method of policing hasn't (as far as anyone can tell) reached the civilised shores of the UK ...yet. It will .... It will.

From 1-7th March USAF / RAF flew 309 "close-air-support" missions in Afghanistan and 315 in Iraq

Bruce Miller at Old Hickory's Weblog is always required reading, and his latest post (Sunday March 11th 2007 1.01 EST - but remember the DST !) is an essential read.

OH has been assiduously reading the Air Force Link which posts a daily combined USAF and RAF report on combat missions flown daily - Here are a few details .. you will want to read more.

A GBU-12 is a 500-lb. laser-guided warhead.
A GBU-31 is a 2,000-pound class munition guided by an $18,000 Boeing tail kit.
LP's notes in red the rest in italics is OH.

March 2:

Other F-16s were assigned reconnaissance in an area near Fallujah. A joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) member passed the location of a targeted individual who was hiding in a hole in the vicinity. The F-16s dropped GBU-12s, though the target was not struck.

This is a good example of why more independent reporting is needed on the air wars. The GBU-12 is a 500-lb. laser-guided warhead. They fired it (although the plural is used in the report) to get one guy hiding in a hole - and missed him. This was "near" Fallujah. Was this a hole out in a field somewhere? Or was it in the middle of a populated urban area? And I've got to wonder how many F-16s are being used to drop 500-lb. warheads to get one guy. Let's take it for granted that the F-16 crew had accurate information that this
guy was an enemy guerrilla... or maybe some poor guy got caught short and was having a crap ?

March 4:

In Afghanistan yesterday [Mar. 4], an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s on a building near Sangin containing anti-coalitioninsurgents. A JTAC confirmed a direct hit. The B-1B also provided two shows of force, releasing multiple flares and bundles of chaff in the same area with successful results reported by the JTAC. (Bundles of chaff, do the Taliban have SAM's and nobody is telling us .. or are they just adding to the festive atmosphere ?)

In this case, at least two of the "2,000-pound class munition guided by an $18,000 Boeing tail kit" were dropped "near" Sangin.

March 6:

[In Afghanistan] Other Navy F/A-18s dropped GBU-12s and GBU-38s on two separate anti-coalition insurgent buildings near Sangin. All weapons hit the desired target as confirmed by a JTAC. Other F/A-18s also dropped GBU-12s and GBU-38s on enemy forces in a wooded area and another enemy building near Sangin.

The USAF reports 309 "close-air-support" missions flown in Afghanistan and 315 in Iraq (American USAF and British RAF combined) in the first 7 days of March.

On March 8, U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force and French air force tankers flew 37 sorties and off-loaded more than 2.7 million pounds of fuel -- the equivalent of more than 65 full Air Force logistics readiness fuel trucks.

Picture - TOP Leaflet airdrop delivers message to Taliban

AF 60th Anniversary Flag Dedication Ceremony

Flooded Bolivia gets humanitarian relief

Airman 1st Class Josh Huffman drops warning leaflets over the mountains of Afghanistan March 6. Leaflets were dropped to warn Taliban extremists not to interfere with coalition activities. The mission was launched to help improve security and the quality of life for Afghan people. Judging by the height of release this would appear to be an exercise in futility.

Of course the other pic is of the WWE guys and gals in a RAW tribute at Bagram Air Base, December 19th 2005 (They haven't been back since) "The Divas also helped the troops get in the Holiday spirit, as Trish Stratus & Ashley took on Candice Michelle & Maria. " If you are seling Jeffersonian participatory democracy and schooling for girls, you gotta show'em what it's all about.

Makes you proud to be a soldier.

Margaret Kroch Frischmann 1897 - 1972 and the Nakba - Iqrit and it's destruction Christmas Eve 1951

Feliks Topolski was a Polish artist born in Warsaw. He arrived in the UK in 1935 and had a successful studio near Waterloo Station. His free, loose drawing style coupled with water colour and gouache highlighting was a very popular, he also did over 100 portraits many of which are in Public collections. His son Daniel captained Oxford rowing boats and successfully trained their crews for many years.

Remarks in comments below in the preceding post, has jogged Lord Patel's increasingly disordered memory and he recalled that in his immense collection of post war British art Lord Patel has nothing by Topolski but he has remembered this oil painting some 32" square by his pupil / friend Margaret Kroch-Frischman.

This is described a "Deserted Hill Village in Judaea"by the artist . This bears a remarkable resemblance to Plate 14 of Ilan Pappe's The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine which was recently published - and of which this is an absolutely crap reproduction.

Pappe writes page 186 .." The village was close to the Lebanese border, perched high in the mountains, about 30Kms from the coast. An israeli battalion occupied it on 31st October 19478. The people surrendered without a fight - Iqrit was a Maronite community and they expected to be welcome in the new Jewsih state." This occupation was contested on the courts ..." In order to settle the matter for once and for all, on Christmas Eve 1951 ( a date of very great religious significance to Christian Maronites of coure) the Israeli Army completely destroyed all the houses in Iqrit, sparing only the church and the cemetery.... this was repeated later in nearby villages, Qaddita, Deir Hanna, Kfar Bir'im and Ghabisiyya."

This is the follwing Plate 15 taken in 1990 showing , just the remaining and derelict church.

In the villages of Kfar Bir'im and Ghabisiyya the villagers had obtained court rulings but the military claimed they were conducting military exrecises in the area which including aerial bombardment , somehow it seems, leaving the villages in ruins and uninhabitable.

Apologies for the piss poor quality photographs which will be remedied ASAP. It appears that this picture requires wider circulation and the tale of Iqrit to be more widely publicised. Suggestions are welcome how that might be done.