London pays for Blair's colonial dreams
BBC News:
Londoners have paid the price for Iraq and Afghanistan, says George Galloway.
The Respect MP, whose Bethnal Green and Bow constituency includes the site of at least one of the bomb attacks, said the attacks were "despicable".
But he told MPs it was the US-led coalition's actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo which had inflamed hatred of the West in the Muslim world.
You would think that after centuries of forcing the indigenous Irish to live under colonial rule that the British would learn that it is in their own best interests not to invade and occupy other peoples' countries. Of course, the British will now play the victim even though they brought this tragedy upon themselves.
posted by Diarmid @ 2:24 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
This is a disgraceful post. The idea that al-Qaeda, who have been attacking the West since either 1993 or 1998 depending on your count, were responding to the Iraq war is without justification, and you offer none. More serious is your moral myopia, unable to blame the right people. The target of your condemnation ought to be the men who placed those bombs on transport systems and went off. The war is another matter altogether: after all, irrespective of whether or not you support if (I did and I do), opposition to the war would hardly justify these outrages.
Pull yourself together and see past your prejudices - it's not ok to use a terror attack as a rhetorical tool to oppose the ME policy.
This is a disgraceful post. The idea that al-Qaeda, who have been attacking the West since either 1993 or 1998 depending on your count, were responding to the Iraq war is without justification, and you offer none.
So you don't think that Blair's actions in Iraq caused any Muslims to join Al Qaeda?
More serious is your moral myopia, unable to blame the right people. The target of your condemnation ought to be the men who placed those bombs on transport systems and went off.
The right people to blame are the ones who think that they have a right to invade other peoples' countries and impose an alien form of government.
The war is another matter altogether: after all, irrespective of whether or not you support if (I did and I do), opposition to the war would hardly justify these outrages.
Why not? Are you saying that it is alright for Blair to use violence to achieve his political objectives but that it is wrong for Blair's victims to also use violence?
Pull yourself together and see past your prejudices - it's not ok to use a terror attack as a rhetorical tool to oppose the ME policy.
Invading another people's country is a "terror attack." If it is alright for Blair and the British to use violence then it is alright for their victims to use violence as well.
Good post - it needed to be said .
My only regret was that those responsible did not target the Westminster parliament itself and/or the actual venue where the G8 summit was taking place . But then the British and the US do not shy away from civilian targets , either . I wonder will Mr. Blair learn anything from this morning's happenings ; I would like to think so , but then he has not learned anything from his country's 836-year 'adventure' in this country .
Sharon.
http://1169andcounting.blogspot.com
I agree with Richard.
You have NOT served the Irish cause by celebrating Islamic terror.
By using a quote from George Galloway as the focus of your argument tells me that your reading/reference list is limited to left-wing extremism.
You should remove today's post.
For what it's worth (and the author of this blog and myself have had our differences in the past and no doubt will do so again) - I think the post should remain on view . I do not agree with either Richard or 'Anselm' . Did Mr Blair expect that there would be no consequences for the activities of his troops on foreign soil ?
Sharon.
Sharon,
You are a fool.
Did the Iraq election and the images of millions of Iraqi citizens marching to the polls not convince you that democracy is MUCH better than dictatorship? The people of Iraq and Afghanistan wanted freedom.
Please DO NOT insult the Irish people by giving credence to Islamic terror.
And in case you are as ill bred as your words suggest, let me remind you that there are Muslims living in Ireland today that would support the destruction of the Republic of Ireland and replace it with an Islamic state.
The Irish did not suffer to suffer fools gladly.
FYI:
From Newyorker Magazine (2004):
"One of the most sobering pieces of information to come out of the investigation of the March 11th bombings is that the planning for the attacks may have begun nearly a year before 9/11. In October, 2000, several of the suspects met in Istanbul with Amer Azizi, who had taken the nom de guerre Othman Al Andalusi-Othman of Al Andalus. Azizi later gave the conspirators permission to act in the name of Al Qaeda, although it is unclear whether he authorized money or other assistance- or, indeed, whether Al Qaeda had much support to offer. In June, Italian police released a surveillance tape of one of the alleged planners of the train bombings, an Egyptian housepainter named Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, who said that the operation 'took me two and a half years.' Ahmed had served as an explosives expert in the Egyptian Army. It appears that some kind of attack would have happened even if Spain had not joined the Coalition- or if the invasion of Iraq had never occurred."
In case your knowledge of US based publications is not very good, let me inform you that The Newyorker is NOT a right wing or conservative mag.
Sharon,
You are a fool.
How well do you know me , 'Anselm' ?
Enough to make a judgement call like that ?
I would imagine from your apparent arrogance that you would consider anyone who disagrees with your political outlook to be " a fool " .
I therefore consider myself in good company !
Did the Iraq election and the images of millions of Iraqi citizens marching to the polls not convince you that democracy is MUCH better than dictatorship? The people of Iraq and Afghanistan wanted freedom.
Freedom from dictators , yes - both the 'homegrown' and foreign type : Blair (and Bush Jnr) have firmly put themselves in the latter category .
Please DO NOT insult the Irish people by giving credence to Islamic terror.
And you , Sir , should refrain from "...insulting the Iraqi people by giving credence to British terror . "
This is the 21st century : a 'resource' war will not go unpunished .
And in case you are as ill bred as your words suggest, let me remind you that there are Muslims living in Ireland today that would support the destruction of the Republic of Ireland and replace it with an Islamic state.
It is precisely because I am not "ill bred" that I do not post the same about you !
I do not subscribe to the maxim that 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' - however , we are not now under threat of destruction from the Muslim world ; rather , the threat comes from Westminster .
The Irish did not suffer to suffer fools gladly.
...and we like to think we still don't !
Blair (and Bush Jnr) are the "fools.. " if they believed their injustices would not come home to roost . The Irish could have told them that would happen - but they would probably have dismissed us as "ill bred... " for doing so !
Sharon.
And in case you are as ill bred as your words suggest, let me remind you that there are Muslims living in Ireland today that would support the destruction of the Republic of Ireland and replace it with an Islamic state.
The crucial difference here is that the Irish did not send soldiers to Iraq, but the British did.
Diarmand,
Canada did not send soldiers to Iraq but we are on the 'hit' list.
Most of the London attacks were in train stations that primarily served the Muslim community, so your first point is mute. Second, the insurgents in Iraq are from countries that are NOT under occupation or are members of the disgruntled Sunnis that want to end majority Shite rule.
Islamic terrorists will aim their sights at Ireland. When they attack Ireland, it will be because Ireland is Catholic (Christian).
Sharon,
Let me add to my earlier judgement call. Your reading list must be limited to conspiracy theories and disproven Michael Moore propaganda.
God help Ireland if socialism becomes its government.
Islamic terrorists will aim their sights at Ireland. When they attack Ireland, it will be because Ireland is Catholic (Christian).
It will be because the politicians in Leinster House (ie the State administration) have allowed Washington to freely use Shannon Airport in their war effort - against the wishes of the population in this Free State ; and I , for one , will not be surprised if/when such an attack takes place . Then the politicians might learn ...
Sharon,
Let me add to my earlier judgement call. Your reading list must be limited to conspiracy theories and disproven Michael Moore propaganda.
I read newspapers , magazines and history books : I have no time for 'conspiracy theories' and am not a 'fan' of Michael Moore . Where does that leave you , 'Anselm' ?
God help Ireland if socialism becomes its government.
Socialism - "...policy aiming at ownership of means of production , transport etc , by the community . "
I have no problem with that - why should I ?
Sharon.
Do you think that all the victims of Thursdays attacks dereved it, British or not, and how do you know that the bombers had any connection with what went on in Iraq?
Do you think that all the victims of Thursdays attacks dereved it, British or not, and how do you know that the bombers had any connection with what went on in Iraq?
As long as the British continue to engage in colonial activities in Ireland, Iraq and elsewhere I have no problems with people using "terrorism" to fight against such colonialism.
" As long as the British continue to engage in colonial activities in Ireland, Iraq and elsewhere I have no problems with people using "terrorism" to fight against such colonialism. "
Very well said !
The British (and the Americans , French etc ) fail to realise that 'might' does not mean 'right' ! Just because they 'can' , does NOT mean they 'should' - if , now and again , they 'bite off more than they can chew' , well ... so be it !
I have no sympathy for them .
Sharon.
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