terror[ism]

Last night I interviewed William Morris of the Next Century Foundation.

They are involved in conflict reolution in places such as Gaza, Iraq and also facilitate track 2 dialogues, for example arranging confidential discussions between Hamas and people who publically claim they're not/ cannot talk to them. These meetings are a way of initiating a process of dialogue.

An example of such a process would be the secret talks between the UK and the IRA that ultimately led to the peace proccess.

Audio interview with William Morris (mp3 14.5MB)

There are some worried people in Brussels. As the financial crisis deepens, there have been cases of unrest throughout the European Union, especially with the BNP supported wildcat strikes in the UK.

Will the far-right gain from a protest vote, inspired by the political stalemate and financial crisis?

There are a couple of factors for the UK. What will the Conservative party do? Cameron's election campaign involved a pledge to immediately leave the EPP (Centre-right) group in the European Parliament, because they were seen as too pro-Europe. Most Tory MEP's were against this as it would affect financial support and leave them on the sidelines with the far-
-right parties.

So far this hasn't happened and Cameron is trying to sweep it under the carpet. However, pressure in on him to explain himself before the elections.

Where does this leave UKIP? Basically they're a right wing Tory party with a gifted leader and a bunch of ill disciplined eccentrics. They are not a racist party or far-right. But what happens if Cameron does play the Eurosceptic card? Their unique selling point vanishes.

This is why I am wondering about the Geert Wilders controversy, initiated by the UKIP Peer, Lord Pearson and Baroness Cox, a UKIP supporter. Both take a line that can be called islamophobia, and Cox campaigns for all Arabs to be removed from Jerusalem, for example.

The film and Wilders argument is bigoted and racist. He claims that all Muslims are violent extremists and the Koran should be banned. This is a hate filled rant and nothing more.

But is this a sign that UKIP will veer to the xenophobic right? Or, as I suspect, did the leadership of this shambolic party simply have no idea what was going on?

Finally. Finally, after so many wasted years when it seemed that the US was trying its best to alienate the islamic world and help Al Qaeda recruit more potential martyrs, a President talks sense.

“We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith’s name. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down. But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.”

One organisation we've been following with interest is the East-West Institute, and a recent short paper, Faith and Diplomacy in the 21st Century, elegantly sets out what needs to be done.

We'll be following this initiative with interest.

 We would like to congratulate Rachel North, a friend of Blairwatch, who is currently in New York. She's going to address the UN at a forum on supporting victims of terrorism. She's also having dinner with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The Guardian has a report on a classified MI5 internal research document. The findings show a good understanding of the nature of the problem and seem to back up research from Louise Richardson, whose book What Terrorists Want is essential reading.

Rachel North has posted a detailed update on the campaign for an inquiry into the July 7 bombings, together with a damning account of what has been discovered do far, and asks three vital questions:

Could the bombers have been stopped?

Have lessons been learned?

Are we any safer now than we were on 7th July 2005?

Her post is essential reading for all of us.

Our friend Rachel North is one of Britain's most thoughtful and insightful commentators on terrorism and civil liberties and she's written another excellent article on the subject, this time a speech she delivered during David Davis' successful election campaign.

Just a quick round-up of a few stories in the last couple of days:

Now, that's what I call a worrying sentence.

In the meantime, yet more confirmation of what we all know; Medical examinations of former terror suspects held by US troops showed proof of physical and psychological torture. Although only 11 men were examined four came from Gitmo where they were imprisoned for three years before being released without charge.

Will one of these become the next Sayyid Qutb, whose torture at the hands of the Egyptians was a major factor in his radicalisation? How many terrorists are being manufactured in our secret prisons?

We've been saying the same thing for years; security comes from combatting extremism and not taking away civil liberties or continuing policies that almost seem designed to produce more murderous radicals.

Then again we've got New Labour, Gordon Brown, the supply Prime Minister, Hazel Blears, Ruth Kelly and so on in this ' Government of all the talents'. Alistair Darling might have nothing of interest to say, but Mervin King does. If this is talent, what are the rest like?

The Liberals seem to have acclimatised themselves to flatlining in the polls and when I see what their rule has been like in Liverpool I am tempted to put my principles aside and advocate putting them against a wall and shooting the lot of them. Want to know how they would govern? Look towards the Mersey and be shocked.

Cameron's Cuddly Conservatives are gaining in the polls, mainly because if they stand next to the Lib-Dems they do actually look like a real party, but can it last? Stresses over Europe are narrowing, but are they to be good old fashioned authoritatians or dashing young libertarians? The big problem they have is that their membership is tending to the old and senile end of the spectrum and there is a rumour that around 15% of them still think Margret Thatcher is still their leader.

This is England. The solution isn't to run away from the EU or to blame them for all our woes. Perhaps, just once we will actually try to play a full part in Europe, a transformative role in bringing Europe back to the people. Sadly the current crop of UK politicians are as competent as they are interested in this.

Oh, the Good old Westminster bubble, the small enclosed world of Britain's political class. We noticed that, almost unanimously they pronounced David Davis as a wild nutcase off on a farcical flight of fancy. Indeed it was remarkable at just how slow to react the major parties were.

Then the polls came in. The Great British Public seemed to take a different view. This is a problem for democracy as the 'opinion leaders' and 'policy formers' as they like to style themselves have frequently found themselves on the wrong side of public opinion. now sometimes this is no bad thing, but when it happens so often, one must wonder if those providing 'informed comment' really are informed about anything beyond the bubble.

For politicians to reach out beyond the bubble is vital to keep democracy alive.

This is a general political problem that seems to be some kind on natural phenomenon. In Brussels it is magnified, and so is the problem.

It's glaring, embarrassingly so. I love Brussels, it's a vibrant, quirky, multicultural city - frankly underrated in most tourist guides, but the 'EU Quarter is something very different.

It's almost entirely white. As I wander around the parliament and various Commission buildings, practically the only non-caucasians I see are the cleaners and the dogbodies moving furniture.

I photograph a lot of conferences and I'm faced with a sea of pleasant, intelligent white men in suits. Not a photographers dream. Frankly the EU bubble is about as diverse as a  Ku Klux Klan rally. Secondly, almost everyone involved is taking the EU Shilling in one way or another.

I want to make it plain that I am pro-Europe, but I believe fundamental reform, not just of treaties but of the bubble is the only way forward.

One of New Labour's most starry-eyed acolytes, Luke Akehurst, has come up with a truly sickening and repulsive response to Davis' by election, emphasis added:

Repulsive and exploitative, one step away from the Kollerstroms of this world. If New Labour had any concept of decency left there will shortly be one less party member, or is that just me?

Or is New Labour under Brown still the party of Jo Moore and 'A good day to bury bad news'?

In the comments Rachel North, survivor of the 7/7 bombs makes her position clear

Luke's response is just a disgrace:

If anyone has an ethical implant device, could they point it at Luke.

Below we list New Labour figures who have condemned this idea.

1.

The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has issued it's Final Phase II Report on Prewar Iraq Intelligence and it's conclusions are damning.

The massed ranks of the 9/11 conspiraloons are thinning and their lunatic theories are discredited. Although they do follow the dictum of empty vessels make the most noise, their numbers are shrinking. Certainly they've been popping over here, but despite the large number of comments the IP logs reveal that only half a dozen are involved. Indeed they promised a couple of years ago to discredit us through a massive campaign, one that has achieved nothing whatsoever.

The Skeptic magazine has a short article on the decline of the conspiraloons that shows how honest enquiry can win over delusions and paranoia.

As far as the 7/7 loons, well they are in full retreat. After being exposed as anti-semites and Nazi apologists their credibility is fully defenestrated.

However, we at Blairwatch wish to solve the deep seated emotional causes of their psychological need for being initiates of secret knowledge, the standard bearers of a hidden truth.

It will come as no suprise to our readers that behind these misfits is a lonely adolescent, and inner spotty teenager, as the Loon Führer Tony Gosling himself points out:

We're glad to help out these troubled truthers and will shortly be announcing a dating site for conspiraloons.

Simply tick off a list of conspiracy theories you believe in
State how much of a Nazi are you (on a scale of 1 to 10)
List what exactly you blame the Jews for
Take a short personality quiz to list your major deficiencies
Describe what you think a woman is.

Should be a useful service and popular. Signup today to 'Conspiraloon Love'. Because we at Blairwatch care, even when the reptillian overlords don't.

Nicholas Kollerstrom has responded to our outing of him as a holocaust denier and his subsequent dismissal from UCL. Notably he attacks Rachel North rather than ourselves, but that is all apart of the conspiraloons bullying and intimidation of her as a woman and an inconvenient witness to the July bombings.

In his response he identifies the people responsible for his dismissal; the Jews.

Nicholas Kollerstrom is a holocaust denier, a Nazi apologist and an anti-semite. We are fully prepared to defend our views in a court of law, should he be foolish enough to carry out his threat to sue us.

Nicholas Kollerstrom's threatening legal action against us and Rachel North.

Nick, just get your solicitor to put his letter in the comments and we'll get right back to you.