Condi Visit

Spot on.

Far more entertaining than my turgid output - this is the US State Department's Official version of Condi's trip to Liverpool and Blackburn, full of links to Condi's interviews, speeches and pleasantries.
Hat-Tip to the US State Dept for the transcripts, especially the Dimbleby one!

Goatchurch, who pursued Condi and Jack doggedly throughout their tour of Liverpool was written up his experiences and thoughts on their visit, and the build up to it:

He includes a partial transcript of the Saturday morning Today interview, with a comment from Jack Straw that says more about the man than any of us detractors could:

Go there - read it.

This round up of Condi's tour of Blackburn and Liverpool is an amalgamation of the last couple of day's posts.
[links to our posts are underlined, to save people who have been here before reading them again]

The contrast between the Condi's trip here, and Jack's earlier trip to Alabama couldn't have been greater. In Alabama Condi was greeted as an aspirant presidential candidate, with the ever faithful Jack Straw trotting along behind, much to the bemusement of the locals, most of whom didn't know who he was, and cared even less.

So, thought Jack, why not invite Condi to Liverpool for a bit of the same? After all, it is reputed Jack harbours leadership delusions ambitions himself.
Some have suggested that there is a more personal aspect to their relationship. That Jack hankers after Condi's tight fitting trouser suits, or her kinky 'address the troops' boots, but we couldn't possibly say...
It looks more like a Master / Gimp relationship to us!

So the invitation was duly extended to Condi, to come over here for a grand tour of the North West. Confident the people of Blackburn would be as pliable as ever, and the people of Liverpool would be so intent on the Capital of Culture 2008 project they would be happy for any publicity, plans were made.

But Jack forgot to consider how much he and his government are loathed and detested, which is nowhere near as much as the Bush administration that Condi represents is loathed and detested. But when you live on Planet Jack and have absolute faith in your own propaganda, it must be easy to miss these little details.
So the visit was announced, with the date a closely guarded secret, and the rumblings of protest started .

Jacks careful plans started falling apart before Condi arrived. The visit to a Blackburn Mosque was cancelled because Jack's good friend Ibrahim Master had given the invitation without consulting the local community, who were outraged.

A damage limitation exercise was launched, spinning that the invitation was withdrawn for security reasons, that the Mosque was to be invaded etc which the media lapped up. Pressure in Blackburn was also growing on the visit to Pleckgate school, with parents up in arms about Condi's visit and attempts to have that visit cancelled as well.

Meanwhile, here in Liverpool, there were also problems with the itinerary. Roger McGough pulled out of the show the Philharmonic were to put on for Condi. Cathy Tyson publicly rejected the £500 to perform and the slot was eventually filled by Jennifer John, on the condition she could sing Imagine to make her protest.
There was talk of trouble at LIPA, where protest from the students was threatened, and Stop the War were making plain their intention to dog Condi and Jack's footsteps wherever they went.

[There was one stroke of luck though.
The National and Local press failed to spot the irony of Condi flying in to Liverpool John Lennon airport, given that a couple of weeks ago Alistair Darling told us in a parliamentary answer that Liverpool John Lennon airport was used by CIA transport flights linked to the Extrordinary Rendition programme that Condi is tasked with defending, and Jack is tasked with ignoring.]

The damage limitation here was to spin the threat of trouble. The ridiculous claim was made that Liverpool workmen had been told to re-lay the pavement outside LIPA to prevent superhuman protesters throwing loose paving slabs at Jack and Condi, and the local press started making veiled hints about trouble being expected.

The bullshit that is this Paving slabs story is exposed by these photos, clearly showing the big pile of loose paving slabs right next to where the police put us when we went to welcome Condi to LIPA.

So, on Thursday night, Condi landed without incident, and was whisked off by Jack to a hotel on Hope St, to be met by a crowd of 50 or so protesters who made their presence felt - a pattern that was to continue through the visit. It was reported that her security detail were not happy, the threat of protest was being taken as a security threat, and the itinerary was looking shakier than ever.

The next day [Friday], it was off to BAE Systems in Samlesbury. This is probably the one stop she had that can be said to have gone well, despite a bit of confusion about the location - Jack was under the impression he was in Blackburn, and Condi thought she was at BAS Systems, but they got through this one alright. It is perhaps appropriate that this previously unannounced stop at the arms manufacturer was probably the highlight of Condi's trip!

Next stop was Pleckgate school in Blackburn, where things didn't go nearly as well. The 200 or so protesters were obviously too much for Condi and Jack, so they were smuggled in through a side door out of sight, but not out of earshot of the angry parents, pupils and protesters. Smuggled out again, Condi was whisked off to an empty Ewood Stadium, apparently to meet the American goalkeeper and get given a shirt. The surreal nature of this particular stop off was underlined by a reporter asking her if she had the answer to the question that had reputedly been perplexing her - did she now understand that lyric about 4000 holes in Blackburn...

Then it was off to Chatham house, for a set piece speech with the usual justifications and explanations about US foreign policy, only to admit thousands of tactical errors in Iraq during the Q&A that followed.
Little reported was the fact she was shafted by Lord Hurd, who also spoke, pulling her analysis to pieces. Anybody who watched it will have seen the uncomfortable looks on Jack and Condi's faces.
Jack, who had drifted off into a Condi's kinky 'Address the Troops' boots fantasy during Lord Hurd's speech looked like he had been slapped around the face when he snapped round to glare at Hurd outlining the [self evident] probems with a Foreign Policy that causes tens of thousands of civillian deaths.

But after the politics, an afternoon and evening of entertainment was planned. Back to Liverpool, for a tour round the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts [founded by Sir Paul McCartney] where the students were due to entertain them. As it is just around the corner for me, we went to add our voice to the welcoming committee [our photos].

This was a vocal protest by a couple of hundred of us waiting outside. Condi was whisked in so swiftly, that she was rushed straight past the founding Principal who was there to welcome her, to boos and protest by 20 or so students. Reputedly, there was also a silent protest by some other students who pointedly refused to applaud at the approprate time, but the principal was so enthusiastic about her vist, that he must have made up for this, and the banner that unfurled from one of the windows before she arrived...

Running the gauntlet of the protesters again, whe was bustled back into her car for the couple of hundred yards back to her hotel, while the protesters gathered for the main event.

Word had gone out that 5.30 was the time and the Catholic Cathedral at the other end of Hope St was the place.

Just prior to this was the only real confrontation of the day. A small group from the LIPA protest decided to see how close they could get to Condi's hotel, and the only people more suprised than them about the fact they manged to walk pretty much right up to it were the police, who apparently hadn't anticipated this. Rather panicked by a group of people in orange jump suits walking past them they used horses to drive the protesters back up the street.

But the crowd was gathering [our photos], and by 6pm there were a good few of thousand there. The photos probably tell more than my writing, so you might want to look at them and skip this next paragraph. Estimates of the number of protesters range from the police's 1500, to the organisers 4000, so somewhere in the middle is probably about right. It was a loud, vociferous 'peaceful' protest. The rhetoric was scathing, the chants personal and cutting, and did I mention loud? But peaceful and non violent with no confrontations with the police, who I thought handled things pretty well.
We gathered at the cathedral, and filled Hope St as we marched down towards the Phil, where Condi was shielded from view by cars as she arrived. But she heard us, loud and clear.
I've been told we could be heard inside the Phil. The volume was kept up for a couple of hours, and if the aim was to make our presence felt, to let Condi and Jack know how angry people are, then it worked.
Condi will not hear "we all live in a yellow submarine" as anything other than "we all live in a terrorist regime" for some time to come.

But the protests were not confined to outside, Jennifer John did more than sing Imagine, she broke into Give peace a Chance, and said she was dedicating it to the protesters outside. So respect where respect is due!
A group of about 20 or so protesters stayed to see Condi out of the Philharmonic Hall and over the road to bed.

Not that anybody reading Saturday mornings papers will know that. There is a superb write up in the local paper the Daily Post, but I can't find it online. But the National press didn't have any pictures of a couple of thousand people marching, and very little written reference to it. Not to mention the fact it was apparently the bigest policing operation Liverpool has ever seen. There were plenty of press milling around, the major TV companies, radio people.
But there wasn't any trouble.
I can't recall which crestfallen reporter on which TV station I saw telling us there had been no trouble, as if he had wasted his time going to cover it. It feels like the press were interested when there was talk of scousers rioting and throwing paving slabs, but when nothing of that kind happened, then there were other things to fill this mornings column inches.

There are many reasons why the protest Blackburn was more significant, but in terms of numbers, and the potential for 'iconic' photos, last nights action in Liverpool was notable and there is precious little evidence of it in the press.

Saturday started with this Today interview, it's ripe for a fisking, especially the segment on Rendition. The Jack and Condi odd couple double act was starting to look more than a little ridiculous, and the tried and tested lies lines are sounding even more strained and unbelievable.

We also hear, that a couple who live near to the hotel managed to get a quick chat with Condi over the Palestine issue as she was getting into her car early Saturday morning, and that Condi failed to reassure them... as far as we know this is the only unscripted encounter with a member of the public who had not been vetted.

The loving couple headed back to Blackburnistan for a visit to the Cathedral, and a meeting with local Muslim and Civic leaders followed by a press conference

Time to run the gauntlet of the protesters once more, but the grins were looking more rictus after they rushed passed the 500-1000 strong welcoming committee.

In this press conference, it was Jack's turn to throw down the gauntlet, as he had to speak up to be heard over the noise of the protesters outside. He told us he was unimpressed with the numbers, and tells us he could have done better. Then he took us on a trip to Planet Jack and explainied that there were actually more people on the streets in support of Condi and her visit than protesting against it. This is more than a little curious, as nobody else saw these people during the visit, other than the small group outside Blackburn Town Hall who were dwarfed by the number of protesters. It didn't stop Jack and Condi waving desperately to them as they went in to do the Press Conference though. I wonder if Condi can see them too, it's kind of like the Emperor's new clothes in reverse...

Condi delivered her usual lines - 'We don't torture nobody, rendition is really quite fun, Guantanamo is a great place to be, everything is going to be fine in Iraq, and she just loves all these protesters making her moist with democracy. And when Condi's moist, Jack is...

A long leisurely lunch, then back to Liverpool for a civic reception at the Maritime Museum. it appears Condi got off scot free at the museum, the layout means it is simple to keep her isolated from any protest, and I doubt she was going round the exhibits with us the great unwashed.

So what was Condi thinking when she left? With any luck, she will have been thinking thank f*** I'm outta there! Unable to leave her 'secure zone' at any time, unable to meet people that haven't been vetted, shuttled between Liverpool and Blackburn like a prize poodle, with only Jack for company [although Tessa Jowell did turn up to lower the tone at the Philharmonic on Friday night].
Protests outside everywhere she went, protests inside several of the events she attended. Most importantly, given that she is such a big player in the Bush regime, maybe she will take back the message that people that are supposed to be America's No1 ally are more than a little pissed off, that whatever relationship the UK government have with this Bush administration, the people here disagree. That the actions of her government impact on how she as a representative of that government is received on the home turf of one of her most vociferous supporters.

I should imagine she is also pretty pissed off that she shows Jack a lovely time in Alabama, and she has a nightmare in Blackburn and Liverpool.

But how has Jack come out of it? Well, it is hard to escape the conclusion he come out of it looking a complete prick. He entertains the most powerfull woman in the world, by taking her to a school, a college, an empty football stadium and an arms factory. His carefully planned itinerary falls apart, as events spiral beyond his control in his own back yard. His supposedly compliant constituents, and supportive muslim community leaders fail to deliver, and for a community like Blackburn, that is significant. His fawning sycophancy must have been driving her nuts after a few days and has made him a laughing stock. He has also exposed his guest to a constant barrage of protests, taunts and jeers.

Jack tried to show us he is a player, all he succeeded in doing is showing us and the world how unpopular he and Condi really are.

UPDATE: The final word should go to Goatchurch, who has been chasing Condi and Jack everywhere they went in Liverpool. Still doing the double act, they have flown off to the Green Zone in Iraq - from Blackburn to Baghdad...

View photos from the LIPA protest in Liverpool this afternoon:
Condi Comes to LIPA

View photos from the main protest this evening:
Condi Comes to Liverpool

lo Res versions on our Flickr photostream

UPDATE - US Press Coverage:
Rice concedes 'errors' in Iraq, elsewhere - USA Today
Rice: US Does Not Want to be 'World's Jailer' - Voice of America
Rice Faces Cancellations and Catcalls on British Visit - New York Times
Rice encounters protesters in England - Mercury News
Condi Keeps a Stiff Upper Lip - Time
Rice Gets a Cold Reception in England - L.A. Times
Protesters greet Rice, who admits to tactical errors - Houston Chronicle

Up to 1-3000 people, dependng on who you talk to, absolutely no trouble, lots of noise, I think Condi got the message.

She was smuggled in and out again, not much chance of engaging with the protesters as she intimated she wanted to do earlier in the day.

Everybody met up at 5.30, the usual pre protest speeches, notable was Omar Deghayes brother, and stirring stuff from a local Liberal [not lib dem] councillor, Steve Radford.

A minutes silence for the dead, the release of balloons and the march down Hope street. The aim was for Condi to simply know we were there, and having been told that we could be heard within the Philharmonic, by that measure it was a sucess.

The crowd filled Hope St from end to end as we moved down, lots of locals, but also support from further afield.

Like many, I was worried that our typical British apathy [and I include myself in that] would mean no more than a few hundred people. The numbers were closer to a few thousand, people were roused by Condi's visit which is maybe a sign that people disillusioned with mainstream politics are starting to vocalise their discontent. Im not trying to blow a couple of thousand people out of perspective here, but there were a lot of people there who were most certainly not the usual suspects, and the event had a buzz to it that other protests I have been to haven't...

The pictures tell more than my words, I added some small ones to our photostream [on the right sidebar], and uploaded a full higher resolution set to the gallery here and here.

We have just been down to welcome protest Condi back to Liverpool, she arrived at the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts just after 4pm, to a rousing welcome...

There were about 200 people turned out to welcome protest Condi's visits, split between 3 entrances.

All was peaceful, well non violent anyway, but suffice to say Condi and Jack heard us, and I doubt they feel she was made very welcome, but after all, that was the idea...

Rumour has it that there are protests planned by LIPA students, and that some or all of the members of the choir due to perform for her are going to walkout of the performance, but I have heard nothing yet...

Have just seen Sky News, the crowds are gathering for the main event by the Catholic Cathedral, and the numbers are looking good. Organisers estimate 4000 due, the police are working on 1500.

We are off back out for the main event, will upload photos later.

Oh, and remember that bullshit story about having to repair the streets to remove any loose paving slabs the superhuman among us might be tempted to throw? The proof of the bullshit is in the photos...

The tour started at BAE Systems in Samlesbury, though there was some confusion at the press conference with Jack being under the impression that they were in Blackburn, and Condi thinking she was at a company called BAS, but hell, those are just details. One arms manufacturer is as good as another to start of a tour...?

Both Condi and Jack expressed themselves delighted at the fact people were protesting the visit, with Condi saying she is used to it, because she gets it wherever she goes... Can't imagine why...

Even Condi must realise that she is only going to meet people who have been vetted as friendly and welcoming, surely? Kinda like the Iraqis that talk to US and UK politicians when they visit Iraq. Though of course, despite the best efforts of spin and the media to tell us otherwise, there isn't a threat to Condi's safety on the streets of Liverpool and Blackburn to justify keeping her away from the general public, just a threat she might hear what people really think...

She also added, that if she didn't encounter protests, then she wouldn't be serving democracy... and Jack enthused about vibrant debate over that most important of subjects - war and peace.

Which is presumably why she was smuggled through a side door on her visit to Pleckgate School shortly afterwards, kept well away from the 200 or so protesters gathered outside.

On leaving Pleckgate School, Sky news were talking about a heavy and intimidating police presence, with police surrounding the protesters and parents photographing and videoing them for 'evidence'.

Evidence of what I am not sure, why the security services would need photographic evidence of protest is unclear...

Condi and Jack should have finished their visit to Blackburn Rovers stadium about now, and she is off to Chatham House to deliver her lecture, which should be broadcast live in Sky News and News 24 at 13.00 hrs.

Then it is back to Liverpool...

Thanks to Julian who sent this question for Condi via email.

A few more oil quotes for you...

Condeleezza Rice's visit to Liverpool and Blackburn, and the growing wave of protest has been playing across the News throughout the night. The coverage has been mixed, but perhaps the most revealing has been Bridget Kendall's report for the BBC 10 'o clock News.

I can't find a clip online, but she outlined the level of pressure that the visit is under, talking about concerns over security [just substitute the word protest].

She talks about the carefully crafted itinerary the Foreign Office has been working on for weeks unravelling, citing the withdrawl of the mosque invitation, the level of disquiet amongst parents at Pleckgate school, the interview the principal of LIPA gave saying he thought some of his students would be protesting when Condi arrives, and the more organised protests. They could also add the small but vocal protest that took place this evening to start the ball rolling.

Speaking from the airport after Condi landed she also talks about a considerable sense of unease amongst US officials, who are looking pretty uncertain!

All a far cry from Alabama, where Jack was warmly received as Condi's guest. The following might go some way to explaining why...

The story about the Masjid Al Hidayah Mosque has been spun throughout the day - in the media mainly by Jack Straw's erstwhile friend Ibrahim Master. The line has been that the visit was cancelled because of a planned "invasion" of the mosque by militant Muslims at dawn prayers at the behest of the Stop the War Coalition.

Actually, as we have been saying since last night, the invitation was withdrawn because it was made by a few people without consultation, who came under such pressure from the local community when the decision became known that they had to withdraw it.

This is explained by Abdul Hamid Quereshi, Chair of the Lancashire Council of Mosques in this PM interview, and further backed up by this latest press release.

What level of protest that takes place tomorrow, and what impact it will have is anyone's guess. What is becoming clear is that Jack and Condi have heard the noise, that all this is having an impact on the trip, and maybe Condi will take back some understanding of how strongly people here feel about the actions of her government. The fact that his local Muslim constituency is not as pliable as he thinks it is might even penetrate Jacks limited understanding...

COME ALONG, on Friday or Saturday and lend your voice. All the latest details on Condiwatch.

From the Press:
The Independent: Rice arrives in UK to a reception as cool as the weather
The Times: Sorry. Condimania stops here
BBC: Condoleezza arrives in Liverpool
C4: Rice abandons mosque visit

From the Blogs:
Postman Patel: Blackburn warms up for war criminals visit
How This Old Brit Sees It: Condoleeza Rice And Jack Straw Visiting This Old Brit's Hometown On Friday
Molara Wood: Condoleeza the motherhawk has landed
Beau Bo D’OrBin Laden Found in Liverpool Cave[ern] :)
MPACUK: Success: Condoleezza Rice Masjid visit cancelled!
Craig Murray: Pressure grows on the Straw-Rice visit to NW England
A Logical Voice: UPDATED: Artists snub Rice, Liverpool protests on Friday, Blackburn on Saturday

We also hear from people on the ground in Blackburn that there is a growing sense of resentment amongst people on the street as awareness of the visit grows, that support for the protest is growing, that Pleckgate school will be populated by kids from other local schools to replace those who have been kept off by their parents in protest, that some local Muslims feel that the community have stood up to a leadership rather closer to Jack Straw than they are and that there is a pretty menacing security presence in town.

Have just heard from someone at last night's "Say No to Condoleeza Rice!" meeting. Apparently there were over 200 people there, which bodes well for the turnout for Friday's protest's at Condi's visit.

The national press are still talking up the threat of trouble, though where they are getting their stories from is anybodys guess. More on the superhuman scousers throwing paving slabs at Condi story this time from the Daily Record.

Before they print this shit, do the writers pause to consider how far the average person can throw a paving slab, and how far we are all going to be kept from the loving couple? Oh those pesky details...

The story about Masjide Al Hidayah Mosque's withdrawl of their invitation for Condi to visit is 'spinning' as the day progresses. The invite was withdrawn due to pressure from the local community this morning on the local news - but the National press has a different quote.

Once again, people talking up the threat of trouble, without offering any evidence... Putting people off joining the protesters here in Liverpool, or Blackburn and justifying whatever police action is planned.

I guess to work out where these stories are coming from, we have to consider who benefits from them...

"The opportunity to stand opposite the most powerful black woman in history whose politics I do not share, and sing Imagine, is not something I could refuse."?

Well, it is something you could refuse - you could have stood outside the Phil and lead the protesters in singing it. that might have had slightly more impact, as would adding your name to those who refused to perform for Condi.

There has been plenty of spin in the press, that Condi is welcome in Blackburn, and Jack was spotted on local TV tonight crowing that all his opponents in the General election this year were anti war, and he still won.
He predicted the Muslim community in Blackburn would welcome Condi with open arms.

It would appear he is wrong.

We hear from Blackburn that the Masjid Al Hidayah mosque have withdrawn their invitation to to Condoleeza Rice, and she will not be making her scheduled visit.

It looks like the people of Blackburn are more engaged than Jack or the local press give them credit for!

Here's the Press Release [pdf], please pass it on.

Update
The press have picked it up.

Actually, we think Jack might be moonlighting for these guys...

Meanwhile, back in the real world, there is another piece in the echo tonight, with the Lib Dem Council leader Warren Bradley and another loyal local MP George Howarth warning us not to make Condi feel unwelcome.

Indeed there is a time and a place to make protest Cllr Bradley, the time is 5.30pm on Friday March 31st, and the place is the Catholic Cathedral, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool.

It looks like Liverpool Philharmonic are struggling to fill Roger McGough's shoes after he pulled out of Friday's Gala Performance for Condeleezza Rice. They have approached a number of people over the last week, but there have been no takers.

Actress Cathy Tyson [Mona Lisa] has refused the Phillharmonic's £500 fee, and said she will be joining us to protest outside.

So if anybody knows an actor/celeb hard up enough to perform for Condi, do let the guys at the Philharmonic know... it looks like they are getting desperate.

Also, Logical Voice point us to this Radio City phone in on the subject tomorrow night:

There is a Public Meeting "Say No to Condoleeza Rice!" on Wednesday 29th March at 7pm.

And Finally, CondiWatch have updated their site with details of the Blackburn Demo on Saturday.

Tell everybody.

UPDATE:
It looks like somebody is talking up the threat of trouble, presumably to justify the scale of the police operation:

Just for the record, I and everyone I have spoken too intends a peaceful protest, throwing paving slabs is NOT on the agenda. Still, if the police have something to worry about the threat of violence for example, then they can use Labour's anti terror laws with impunity...