''We are Not at War  with  Islam''  -  President Barack Obama

As I see it, the following situation exists:

We are at war with The Palestinians, at war with Syria, at war with Iran, at war with Hezbollah, at war in Yemen, at war in Iraq, at war in Afghanistan, at war in Libya, at war in Egypt (against the majority of the population who support the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIL), Western Christian and African Allied Forces combating ISIL in Muslim Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Mauritania, Central African Republic, Somalia (The Horn of Africa) , Kenya and in Nigeria...and..it's spreading...and...just for good measure... almost at war with the Russian Federation....

If we are not at war with Islam nor with Russia....we are certainly sleepwalking ourselves into something pretty dire and ominous....

Iraq Revisited

Not too long ago I said on a Middle East TV Network Program that Paul Bremer, the U.S. appointed ProConsul in Iraq, is directly responsible for the rise of ISIL.

His total humiliation of the Sunni Iraqi aristocracy and elite after the (then popular) overthrow of Saddam Hussein and his destruction of the Iraq Ba'ath Party is directly responsible for their unequivocal support for ISIL this day - and no amount of American expressions of 'regret' will change their support for this militant sect of Islam intent on creating the worst possible nightmare since Pol Pot in their zeal to create a global Islamic Caliphate.

History teaches us that religious wars can go on for a very long time – in the hundreds of years.  I have said in an earlier blog that if this looks like such a war

our politicians will either ultimately do a deal with ISIL - as their populations will simply not back a hundred or more years of warfare in alien lands – or alternatively hurtle us all into a scenario very few in this world really comprehend and appreciate the implications of.

That aside, the issue is not whether the West will do business. My anxiety is that historical events have crossed the Rubicon and ISIL have decided, unlike their predecessors, the Taliban and Al Qaeda, never to negotiate with 'the Infidels' and their 'devil worshippers' in the Muslim world - as their ultimate defeat [by Allah] is already a foregone conclusion – so why negotiate with 'Satan'?

This is the problem with religious wars – when the Rubicon [or Styx] has been crossed.

I am of the belief that this has already happened.

Such realization will ultimately unsettle even the most 'seasoned' of politicians.

Political ignorance will result in a stampede to understand the true 'nature' of a religious war, mediaeval style.
                              [That interview was never broadcast]

Collective Amnesia

There is a 'collective amnesia' for, what the Sunni Iraqis now regard as 'U.S. War Crimes' preferring instead to just resume normal working business with the new post-Saddam regime.

It is not fully appreciated that the 'execution' of Saddam Hussein is now regarded by a majority of Iraqi Sunnis (excluding the Kurds and Marsh Arabs) as a 'war crime' to be avenged (as was the 'execution' of Gadhafi); representing just one of many complex obstacles in prying Sunnis away from their support for ISIL.

Vengeance or revenge, in this part of the world, transcends the centuries.

Do not forget, it is from this ancient civilization that the 'Hashashim' (or Assassin) originated.    It was not 'somewhere in Persia or Iran' as your online references would have you believe, but in modern day Iraq.

[It is in similar ancient lands that Alexander the Great [356-323 BC] took revenge on villages by the wholesale slaughter of every man, woman, child, animal and scorched villages in Persian-ruled lands to 'right' an old grievance [499-449 BC] caused by the treachery of Greek communities who had sided with the Persian Empire during the Persian Wars.

[My reading of history was that Alexander made them feel the pain which the Greeks endured through their own loss of life more than a century earlier - caused as a direct result of this betrayal.]

Such 'thinking' requires a little explaining to 'politically correct' 'sensitive' Western Christian audiences more sensitized to making money than to the implications of policy catastrophies in alien lands.

So what does the future hold for Christian military interventions in Muslim lands to secure strategic assets?

In the short term it will succeed. This statement may be surprising to some and will anger many others.

[I have never failed in my utterances to make as few friends as possible because the truth is always unbearable to everyone and these days (as always) the path to promotion and career success is paved with donkeys 'kissing ass' from 'charm school' to the grave. ]

The Carve Up

A temporary (historical) carve-up of Iraq (with the usual 'experts' being wheeled in to say why this is historically the right thing to do) will give temporary respite to a rapidly deteriorated situation – and blunt Sunni-ISIL territorial ambitions for perhaps a century, maybe longer. This facilitates the desire to not completely weaken the Sunnis in Iraq vis-a-vis their expansionist neighbors in Shia Iran, whilst holding out the 'prospects' of a future united country, should ISIL be marginalized. It may also give the Saudi regime and others some further respite from having to fight, with the backing of Western Christian forces, on at least two fronts against Shia Islam and continue to block internal reforms for their restless populations.

What this strategy fails to take into account are the antiquated theocratic tribal

Arab regimes which will never voluntarily reform, their burgeoning unemployed educated and semi-literate youth populations with no hope nor prospects of hope. Then there are the more 'progressive' kingdoms such as Bahrain, in a hopeless situation, caught between a rock and a hard place.

All the above I have mentioned for years and all continue to be largely ignored by mainstream media so as not to offend oil-rich kingdoms.

Reform is much more difficult now than it would have been twenty or thirty years ago.   Again these issues are covered in detail in earlier blogs and elsewhere.

Strategic Assets: The Caspian Sea and The Crimea

The new region of opportunity, chaos and future wars will be over the wealth of the Caspian Sea.   The complexities of having to deal with both Iran and Russia have still not been resolved (see my earlier blog about the Nuclear Deal with Iran.)

An unsuccessful [covert] attempt was made for several decades to create a 'secure' Western (NATO protected) oil and gas 'corridor' from the Caspian through to Turkey.  This has failed abysmally – and Russia has not forgotten the lessons learnt from that experience. This may have been just one of the reasons why President Putin reacted so quickly to re-incorporate The Crimea before it too became another 'Chechnya'.  The West has likewise learnt from that bitter experience – and has likewise not forgotten – nor forgiven Putin for this 'annexation'.

ISIL - Islamic Caliphates On The Shores Of Europe:

Libya Is Only The Beginning – Egypt Soon To Follow

The general media are now tamely and apologetically telling the public that Al Qaeda and ISIL's new base in North Africa is in Libya. [If you have been following events from this site you have had the wisdom to plan for this much earlier.]

As far as U.S. politicians are concerned ''Gadhafi is gone, what happens next is up to the Libyan people.'' It's this alarming naivety which translates into Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and demonstrates a simplistic perception of the management of Empire which, historically, traces and mirror images can be found in the study of other civilizations and empires after their cusp - but long before their decline as pre-eminent superpowers.

Indeed the great empire of Phoenicia itself was no exception to this rule.

Project Exodus

If You Are a Coptic Christian, Get Out of Egypt While You Still Can 

Empires have always had 'blind spots' for tyrants who did their bidding – right up until the moment when they too became expendable. Such is the case of Egypt.  al-Sisi is the flavor of the month. Things however have reached the point of no return. Egypt will become part an Islamic Calpihate ruled by the Muslim Brotherhood.  The only question which remains is how long it will be before one brutal tyrant is replaced with another murderous bloodthirsty regime – this time intent on butchering Coptic Christians, wholesale, as lambs to the slaughter – at least those unlucky (or unable) enough not to get out now, whilst al-Sisi rules the roost.  If not exterminated or forced 'by the sword' to convert (to Islam) they will be held, as the Nazis held some prominent Jews in mainland Europe during the Second World War, for 'propaganda' purposes, to show how 'just' the Islamic Caliphate is to 'non-believers' or 'Infidels' 'Kafirs' or 'Kuffars' – but with little prospect of exodus other than Western Christians [the general public] being beckoned [via the internet] by this mediaeval ISIL regime to 'pay' exhorbitant mediaeval 'ransom' in gold or other currency for each Christian to be 'released' and deported to Christendom. Believe me, this is on the way for Coptic Christians unlucky to be trapped when Egypt descends into hell.  And don't expect the West to offer any help.  Christian communities millennia old in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Iran have all been allowed to be exterminated with less than a whisper from either Western Christian politicians nor Christian spiritual leaders.

Theres Always A Silver Lining

Are there any silver linings?  Well if you are employed in the armaments industry in Christendom or in Muslim lands in conflict and turmoil mentioned above the future most certainly is very bright.

Likewise if you are in the funery business – especially in the Middle East and North Africa - the future is very positive.

[In parts of Africa where ISIL conflict spreads religious discord, you and your family can expect to be left on the side of the road as carcasses for wild animals as continuing savage conflcit over decades have destroyed even human dignity in this regard, and, in any event, nobody can afford to bury your chopped up decaying remains.]

Holy War

Since nobody on either side is talking compromise expect the media to trundle out new justifications for this hundred (or more) year war as the decades pass by with no end to conflicts (that is to say, Christian military involvment or support) in Muslim lands in sight.

ISIL could be defeated tomorrow – but the political price (of including Shia armies into the equation) is far too high for the U.S. to justify to regional allies – including Saudi Arabia and Israel.  In any event both would reject any suggestion of alliances with, what is considered to be, the worst of two bad options.

Whether this analysis (that an alliance with the Sunni moderate States, Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Kurds rather than combined alliances (in the face of a common enemy) with Shia Iran and it's allied forces is ultimately the wisest of political decisions, only time will tell.   What is for certain is that the Arab
populations throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Gulf areas, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, Christian, Muslim and Animist Africans in Kenya, Central Africa and West Africa will all bear the brunt of this hundred-year plus religious war.

Changing The Narrative
Likewise, do not expect your mainstream Western media to start admitting anything to you until decades have passed and this Holy War has been morphed, redefined and further refined in it's objective – perhaps ultimately dropping the concepts of 'the good fight' for Arab democracy, freedom of religion, individual rights and liberties or sovereignty or territorial integrity into more atavistic strategic objectives, as such wars drag on past one century. - and we are all still committed.

(edited version)

©Patrick Emek, February 2015

[ What Your Mainstream Media is Not Telling You:
Perhaps you have not heard that the principal (presiding) judge involved in the U.S. initiated Saddam Hussein 'War Crimes' trial was himself very brutally murdered by ISIL not too long ago. Likewise many of the Iraqi 'participants' in this trial (or as many Sunnis and ISIL see them - 'collaborators' ) have met very bloody ends if not having already fled to neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey.]

The Long Good Friday

Some time after The Good Friday Agreement (between the IRA and The British Government) I rekindled some long lost links.

I say 'long lost' because during 'The Troubles' we were at political loggerheads – on opposite sides of the political divide – to be more precise.

Even the many times I visited Dublin I 'held my counsel' as a word out of place could have meant a death sentence. I just did not move in any circles I knew to be Republican and stayed well away from (known) Republican 'haunts' (and 'Hills' - which certainly had eyes and ears!) on the North side of the City.  Tony Baker, a childhood friend, long deceased, kept me informed of what was happening and of  local gossip.  

[I had been 'schooled' in Republican values and ideals but the Marxist-Leninist-Trotskyist side of politics was never very appealing to me. I had access to a wonderful Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Bookshop from the age of about 11 and had read Mao's 'Little Red Book' by the age of 13.

I had read several of such booklets in my spare time - including Gadhafi's Little Green Books – so was quite versatile in politics by the age of 15.]
My mother was not a staunch Republican but on the mantelpiece of what was her and my aunt's bedroom, apart from candles and holy water from Lourdes, were pictures of St. Martin de Porres, Jesus Christ, The Blessed Virgin and Gerry Adams.  It was a typical Catholic household. 
In their active years they both went to church at least once a day - so I have never been disrespectful of people with religious values and ideals.
[I often used to taunt the kids - once by extracting a lithograph from a book over a hundred years old where it shows veiled women ( wearing niqabs, hijabs, al-amiras and shaylas) all together (separate from men) in a house of prayer.  Unanimously they would say 'Arabs in a Mosque' then I would show them the full quote describing the situation as ''veiled women in a synagogue'' with the words underneath: ''Is it comely that a woman pray uncovered''? 1-Cor.xi.13. The book was a faithful graphical representation of a situation encountered or known to exist either in the Middle East or North Africa around the turn of the last century.]

I had friends who went off to Kibbutzim in Israel but all seemed to return pretty weird - re-programmed like Nazis with an obsessive racial hatred of Arabs. Other than in the history or geography books, I didn't know until then what an 'Arab' was.    So I made up my mind there and then I would never be 'Kibbutzed'(!); and have always maintained a distance from active involvement in Israeli lobbies.

Apart from anything else, my work often placed me in a difficult situation.

Dublin is a very small place not somewhere you can easily 'disappear' into and 'outsiders' stand out like a sore thumb (something like Mossad - which is why they had chosen to live - in a derilict - at number 6 Elgin Road - whilst planning their Gulf caper – rather than 'mix' with the general population. They chose this road I presume because it is the only one where they could find a derilict property in what is a well-to-do  Embassy quarter where it's impossible to find empty units - much to the consternation of all the neighbors! )

So with the Good Friday agreement in place I met up with Martin McGovern, the United Kingdom Representative of Sinn Fein (the political wing of the IRA) at a very open 'private' club in Central London - near to Marble Arch. [The only reason I am refraining from mentioning the name of the Club is because I don't have their permission and it is a 'private' venue.  I was, through NATO's Atlantic Council, then a member - and it's always an advantage to have places you can meet away from the prying eyes and ears of 'mainstreet' to have a heart-to-heart chat.

Marble Arch or 'Tyburn' was indeed an apt location for our meet-up.  The venue was very familiar because at that time myself and R (a Home Office Consultant) used to meet with a senior diplomat from the Russian Embassy (just down the road) intermittently, ostensibly for a 'working lunch'. The meetings were not in any way covert and enabled R to exchange views and ideas with our counterpart, who always came by himself from the Embassy.

The 'Decommissioning' Process

To come back to our meeting in Great Cumberland Place, I had, of course, given advance notice of booking a table and put down as my invited guest 'Mr Martin McGovern, UK Sinn Fein Representative' to find the main dining room completely cleared of guests so we had the grand room all to ourselves.  I am not sure to this day whether the clearout was deferential, done in panic or just 'in protest'(!); but in any event it afforded us the opportunity to 'decommission' several bottles of really fine wine along with a very tasty meal.

It started during the era of Margaret Thatcher (whom I met socially on many occasions, and, I actually liked her the more I got to know her) and concluded during the Blair administration (I have never had any contact with the Blairs on any occasion.)

Prime Minister Blair did conclude what were historic negotiations which have brought about peace in Northern Ireland. I personally put it down to Margaret Thatcher's longer-term vision (when contacts were secretly initiated with the IRA) but Blair is rightly credited in the history books as having concluded the deal.

Nothing But Doom and Gloom – Give Up On the Arabs and Israelis – They Are Both Lost Causes!; A Waste of Time and A Waste of Space!

My previous but one blog was very negative about the Middle East – Israelis and the Arabs and the prospects for 'eternal' war and possibly world war started by one or other party.

Tony Blair was an excellent choice as a Middle East Peace Envoy in the aftermath of his success in Northern Ireland.

The problems were, however, of a different dimension in the Middle East than in Northern Ireland.

They were then and still are today.

Sinn Fein have always been supportive of other revolutionary groups worldwide struggling to free themselves from the shackles of servitude – the Palestinians being no exception.

Their greatest historical success was the African National Congress which they had always supported from amongst the diaspora Irish Republican communities – especially in the United States.

You need to appreciate that during this era of Apartheid in South Africa, Sinn Fein were themselves a small financially struggling politically powerless movement so to even give vocal let alone a modicum of active support was a considerable commitment on the part of the Irish Republican movement.

I think the photographs during Nelson Mandela's historic visit to Ireland say it all – compare the much more relaxed Mandela with Adams and McGuinness, as brothers in arms, to the more formal with Irish Parliamentary representatives - the only 'war' most of latter had ever seen, up close and personal, was that while downing the last of an evening's black gold - with a white froth on the top - without having to run back and forth for relief (!)

Back to our meeting.  'There's no doubt about it'' said Martin ''it's the real thing – and it will stick....................................................''

So after centuries of conflict against the 'British Imperialism' the wars in Ireland were finally coming to an end.  The road ahead would not be without it's obstacles – but at least everyone was now on the same talking page – and saw that they were all human beings with the same desires for their future, that of of their families, their communities and were now ready to share in a common future for the destiny of their country.

I contrast this with the Middle East.   If you read my last but one post you'd might as well just give up – that is how you would interpret my language – which was dark , gloomy, with no hope of reconciliation, peace, nor forgiveness.

Don't Give Up On us Baby!

[Walking In Memphis]

The message should have been – don't give up – but proceed with extreme caution(!)

I have spent some time anaylzing the Arab and Israeli mentality and discussing with others so this is why I am more pessimistic than most about a 'final solution' to the Arab-Israeli problem.

Sometimes, 'holding solutions' for particular points in time (such as Cyprus, Israel-Palestine,

the Shia versus the Sunni) maybe more appropriate than absolute definitives.

I still maintain that if Tony Blair could not move the peace process forward, even with the advice and input of Senator George J. Mitchell, who, being of Christian Lebanese Arab extraction, understands the mentality better than most, then the prospects for the road ahead do not look very promising.

Just to digress for a minute, I can't understand the tsunami of jealousy which the Blairs are continually under - essentially for 'making good' financially.  It seems that British Labour Socialists have an obsessive hatred for any Christian who breaks the financial sound barrier and still retains social values and ideals.

To come back to our lunch.  The 'decommissioning' was a total success and we both departed with a lot of optimism for the future. 

 

Sadly for the Arabs and Israelis, they will never (jointly) share the elation of such a process (!)

©Patrick Emek, 2015

updated 17th and 19th February to correct typographical errors

Finally!

President Obama  Has  an Anti-ISIL Strategy:

For Immediate Release

February 11, 2015

Remarks by the President on Request to Congress for Authorization of Force Against ISIL

Roosevelt Room

3:37 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Today, as part of an international coalition of some 60 nations -- including Arab countries -- our men and women in uniform continue the fight against ISIL in Iraq and in Syria.  

More than 2,000 coalition airstrikes have pounded these terrorists.  We’re disrupting their command and control and supply lines, making it harder for them to move.  We’re destroying their fighting positions, their tanks, their vehicles, their barracks, their training camps, and the oil and gas facilities and infrastructure that fund their operations.  We’re taking out their commanders, their fighters, and their leaders.  

In Iraq, local forces have largely held the line and in some places have pushed ISIL back.  In Syria, ISIL failed in its major push to take the town of Kobani, losing countless fighters in the process -- fighters who will never again threaten innocent civilians.  And we’ve seen reports of sinking morale among ISIL fighters as they realize the futility of their cause.    

Now, make no mistake -- this is a difficult mission, and it will remain difficult for some time.  It’s going to take time to dislodge these terrorists, especially from urban areas.  But our coalition is on the offensive, ISIL is on the defensive, and ISIL is going to lose.  Its barbaric murders of so many people, including American hostages, are a desperate and revolting attempt to strike fear in the hearts of people it can never possibly win over by its ideas or its ideology -- because it offers nothing but misery and death and destruction.  And with vile groups like this, there is only one option:  With our allies and partners, we are going to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist group. 

And when I announced our strategy against ISIL in September, I said that we are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together.  Today, my administration submitted a draft resolution to Congress to authorize the use of force against ISIL.  I want to be very clear about what it does and what it does not do.

This resolution reflects our core objective to destroy ISIL.  It supports the comprehensive strategy that we have been pursuing with our allies and partners:  A systemic and sustained campaign of airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.  Support and training for local forces on the ground, including the moderate Syrian opposition.  Preventing ISIL attacks, in the region and beyond, including by foreign terrorist fighters who try to threaten our countries.  Regional and international support for an inclusive Iraqi government that unites the Iraqi people and strengthens Iraqi forces against ISIL.  Humanitarian assistance for the innocent civilians of Iraq and Syria, who are suffering so terribly under ISIL’s reign of horror.  

I want to thank Vice President Biden, Secretaries Kerry and Hagel, and General Marty Dempsey for their leadership in advancing our strategy.  Even as we meet this challenge in Iraq and Syria, we all agree that one of our weapons against terrorists like ISIL -- a critical part of our strategy -- is the values we live here at home.  One of the best antidotes to the hateful ideologies that try to recruit and radicalize people to violent extremism is our own example as diverse and tolerant societies that welcome the contributions of all people, including people of all faiths.

The resolution we’ve submitted today does not call for the deployment of U.S. ground combat forces to Iraq or Syria.  It is not the authorization of another ground war, like Afghanistan or Iraq.  The 2,600 American troops in Iraq today largely serve on bases -- and, yes, they face the risks that come with service in any dangerous environment.  But they do not have a combat mission.  They are focused on training Iraqi forces, including Kurdish forces.  

As I’ve said before, I’m convinced that the United States should not get dragged back into another prolonged ground war in the Middle East.  That’s not in our national security interest and it’s not necessary for us to defeat ISIL.  Local forces on the ground who know their countries best are best positioned to take the ground fight to ISIL -- and that’s what they’re doing.    

At the same time, this resolution strikes the necessary balance by giving us the flexibility we need for unforeseen circumstances.  For example, if we had actionable intelligence about a gathering of ISIL leaders, and our partners didn’t have the capacity to get them, I would be prepared to order our Special Forces to take action, because I will not allow these terrorists to have a safe haven.  So we need flexibility, but we also have to be careful and deliberate.  And there is no heavier decision than asking our men and women in uniform to risk their lives on our behalf.  As Commander in Chief, I will only send our troops into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary for our national security.  

Finally, this resolution repeals the 2002 authorization of force for the invasion of Iraq and limits this new authorization to three years.  I do not believe America’s interests are served by endless war, or by remaining on a perpetual war footing.  As a nation, we need to ask the difficult and necessary questions about when, why and how we use military force.  After all, it is our troops who bear the costs of our decisions, and we owe them a clear strategy and the support they need to get the job done.  So this resolution will give our armed forces and our coalition the continuity we need for the next three years.  

It is not a timetable.  It is not announcing that the mission is completed at any given period.  What it is saying is that Congress should revisit the issue at the beginning of the next President’s term.  It’s conceivable that the mission is completed earlier.  It’s conceivable that after deliberation, debate and evaluation, that there are additional tasks to be carried out in this area.  And the people’s representatives, with a new President, should be able to have that discussion.

In closing, I want to say that in crafting this resolution we have consulted with, and listened to, both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.  We have made a sincere effort to address difficult issues that we’ve discussed together.  In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll continue to work closely with leaders and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.  I believe this resolution can grow even stronger with the thoughtful and dignified debate that this moment demands.  I’m optimistic that it can win strong bipartisan support, and that we can show our troops and the world that Americans are united in this mission.  

Today, our men and women in uniform continue the fight against ISIL, and we salute them for their courageous service.  We pray for their safety.  We stand with their families who miss them and who are sacrificing here at home.  But know this:  Our coalition is strong, our cause is just, and our mission will succeed.  And long after the terrorists we face today are destroyed and forgotten, America will continue to stand free and tall and strong.  

May God bless our troops, and may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you very much, everybody.

END 

3:45 P.M. EST

copied direct from the White House website:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/02/11/remarks-president-request-congress-authorization-force-against-isil

[any later strategy than this would be taking place against the background of ISIL asking for the keys to the White House!  PE] 

(Come back Donald Rumsfeld - all is forgiven!) 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Rumsfeld

British Politics

HSBC Scandal – A Timely Affair – But Is It Too Late To Save The British Labour Party from a Humiliating Defeat on 7th May?*

'Ship of Fools'

With The British Labour Party's vote crashing to oblivion in the Polls just weeks before the General Election and a majority Conservative Government most likely to be re-elected, in a a last-ditch desperate and final battle call, an effort is being made by key Labour Party members to 'Black Ops' the Conservative Party – but will it have to be something more creative than a banking scandal, a car accident or plane crash to swing undecided young and middle class voters in favor of the British Labour Party?

The Politics of Propaganda [or 'Triumph Of The Will']

Margaret (née Oppenheimer) Hodge, Chairman of The Public Accounts Committee of the British House of Commons and her nephew Philip Martin Edmonds (Hodge) may soon be embroiled in different scandals of their very own*, but before all this happens, let us look here beyond the claims against HSBC (a banking group, incidentally, over which neither the Oppenheimers nor Rothschilds exert any financial influence so no financial motive exists - which is important to mention before people start to question motive in this regard) and see if there are other issues which the electorate, not the politicians, have in their sights as they weigh up the merits of last-minute attempts to salvage what is already regarded by some pundits as an abysmally lackluster and failed campaign to persuade the British electorate to vote a Labour Government back into office in the forthcoming British General Election.

'J'accuse': The 'Evidence' Against The IRS, HMRC and HSBC

This article will not look at the 'evidence' presented against HSBC by the Oppenheimers nor the Rothschilds nor anyone else nor will it look at the (hitherto) unreported unprecedented cooperation (and restitution) which HSBC has given to the IRS and the U.S. government in the international war on terrorism and the war on drug trafficking worldwide.

Neither will the article look at hidden agendas for the targeting of HSBC – of which several conspiracy theories exist.

What it will look at is the context in which such information has been made available to the general public, it's timing and the likely effects on it's intended audience – the voting British public - in the forthcoming General Election.
So public perception of the Labour Party and especially it's leader is going to be a key factor influencing the outcome of the forthcoming British General Election in May.

'Operation Overlord'

The first rather curious thing which I notice is the timing of Mrs Hodge's interventions in the battle to swing popular opinion in favor of The British Opposition leader, Edward Miliband, and the unease which the British electorate have about electing a Labour Government.

There are extremist groups within the British Labour Party which are pushing the country into a war in the Arab world 'in defense of democracy' but one which the vast majority of the British public simply does not want.

'Chatham House Rules'

The views expressed to me privately were done so with the knowledge that I do not name names and in some instances I have just been a silent party to cursory talk or chit chat.

The ordinary British voter is seriously questioning whether at this time the country wants a Prime Minister so over-committed to the Israel lobby that it would pose a direct threat to Britain's security and financial interests throughout the Arab world. Equally important is the question of whether the country wants to go to war, big time, in the Arab world be that in Syria, Iraq, Iran and certainly not big-time in the jungles of Nigeria, Central African Republic, nor Cameroon nor any other part of Africa against Boko Haram nor any other ISIL or Al Qaeda affiliate.

In other words Conservative Party Leader David Cameron, a staunch supporter of Israel (but himself not Jewish) is regarded by the ordinary non-Jewish Christian mainstream moderate voter, at this time in history, as a 'safer pair of hands' than is his counterpart in a very perilous world where 'cooler heads' (sic. than exist in the Middle East and North Africa) and politicians 'without excess baggage' are desperately required to keep the country on a firm 'non-partisan' course internationally and steer it out of economic recession on the home front.

It is for these reasons that Mrs Hodges' family connections to the Oppenheimers and Rothschilds may, at this particular time, backfire with regard to her HSBC targeting.

In any event, the whole matter is regarded as a rather crass attempt to shore up a fast-collapsing Labour vote amongst the moderate Christian middle-class electorate prior to the British General Election in May.  Conversely what are being flagged up are Hodge's own motives – which incidentally do nothing to add credibility to any wrongdoing HSBC may (if at all) have to answer for.

'Straws In the Wind'

I have taken my own 'poll' of 'ordinary' Brits and for the first time in decades, I was shocked by the real fear which ordinary people have expressed to me about having a Labour Government led by it's current leader.

From what I can gather the fear stems not just from a combination of world events but more decidedly from what they do not want for Great Britain.

I was actually taken aback when one individual I know brought up the issue of Edward Miliband's religion (he is Jewish.) I was shocked because I know this individual and the person is far removed from being anti-Semitic. The fears appear to stem from what people have seen about how both the Arabs and Jews 'tear each other apart' and there seems to be a genuine fear that, 'to get even with each other' they (Israel and The Arab world) are both also prepared to tear this world apart, to hell with everyone else – and anyone who stands in their way or disagrees with them both.   Having listened to this view, I genuinely believe the same attitude would prevail if the current leader of the British Labour Party was a Muslim and given the parameters above, would likewise be unelectable for the same reasons. In my opinion, it's not hatred nor racism but a genuine fear or rather, unease, that both would bring too much 'baggage' to an already over-chaotic situation on the international front – be that in Europe, Eastern Europe or the Middle East or in Africa.
(If the analysis of what has been said to me is correct, Barack Obama would still have been elected as President of The United States by such Democratic and Liberal voters as he would,  conversely, have been seen as someone whose family 'escaped' a religion (Islam) where the usual 'punishment' for exiting or voluntarily changing, in Turkey, the Middle East and in Africa, is death.  In other words, once in, you rarely escape from Islam to another religion with your life and that of your family, intact.)

That's it, in a nutshell. You won't hear these views expressed on politically correct CNN nor Fox but they are real and they may very well be factors, for the first time in a long time, in a British General Election.

Even if such views are totally unfounded, there is an undercurrent of apprehension about 'cooler heads' being required to lead the United Kingdom at a very perilous economic time in Europe – and one where the country needs as many friends as it can muster throughout the world – rather than be seen as 'partisan' to one cause or another - particularly a cause which is polarizing the planet into one of two camps.

'The Manchurian Candidate'

[No folks, it's not One of Prince Philip's House Jokes!¹]

Prince Charles, for example, would appear to exemplify exactly the type of Prime Minister or Leader moderate Britons would like to see at this moment in time and would eagerly rally around to support. His popularity amongst the general public has sky rocketed over the past decade and he would seem to project that moderation which so many ordinary British people yearn for and see as lacking in all of today's politicians.

'You Don't Have To be Jewish'

Another issue is that The Labour Party Leader's Jewish background is not well understood by the British public - because it is not discussed in the mainstream media.

In my opinion this is a mistake as there appears to be a belief amongst some that Mr Miliband is concealing this fact whereas in actual fact it is a media decision for their own reasons.

This in itself has created all sorts of rumours and scaremongering (which incidentally are totally unfounded but nonetheless 'play' to stereotypic views which are exploited by extremists.)

'Heard It On the Grapevine'

Now you might think I get my information from a very narrow source but individuals I speak with are from areas which have significantly few minorities and who would be considered 'moderate' Christians with very few (if any) ties to the Middle East, Africa or Asia (other than perhaps a son, daughter or relative serving in the military, medical corps, missionary work or doing some other job of work or profession in some part of these regions.)

I would call them the equivalent of 'middle' 'fair-minded' 'bible-belt' America but without the over-emphasis on Israel, as in the Good Book.

These are not individuals who have travelled extensively throughout the world but get their information (and form their opinions) from mainstream news sources (The BBC, Sky, perhaps CNN, CBS, CNBC, Bloomberg TV a few maybe from Fox and mainstream newspapers such as the Independent, The Guardian, the Mirror Online, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, Church Times.)   If they are accessing information socially or online, it would more likely be 'chat' with fellow-Christians or after Church on Sundays or at Christian meetings.

Yes of course I know people who are Jewish, Muslim, African-Caribbean, Italian and from the diverse range of communities you find in most metropolis' but I am now talking about the majority population and how they are perceiving reality. These are what we call 'the silent majority'.

Will British Public Vote in Public As they Say They Will in Private?

Only time will tell.

The feeling of fear amongst the 'majority' voting of the British population seems quite genuine.  For reasons of political correctness (or some might say the fear which political correctness imposes) such views would never be expressed openly but would translate themselves in the privacy of the polling booth.

The extent of such fears could very well be reflected in the size of a Conservative Party victory.  Again I would speculate that should, as I predict, the Conservative Government is returned to Office, should it's vote in the United Kingdom (apart from Scotland) be sizeable, this may well have had  little to do with policy and more with personality of the leaders of both major parties and the direction of policy – especially foreign policy via-a-vis Israel and The Arab world.   There is a 'fear' of both entities – for different reasons.   I think in both instances the country does not want to be dragged further into wars in the Middle East regardless of who says the other is to blame.

Don't misunderstand me, British people will fight and die for principles if need be – but not for Arab nor Israeli values.  [Perhaps the people I meet and speak with more reflect my own viewpoint in this regard and therefore I am not entirely unbiased?]

So it appears to be more a fear about the direction the country and the world seem headed in and they, the majority electorate, want, what are perceived as a safer pair of hands to steer the economy than a Labour government offers – hence a desire to stick with the status quo and, internationally, they just don't want to go any further down the path of involvement in wars in Europe, the Middle East, Iraq nor in Africa.   More critically, they perceive Edward Miliband, as Prime Minister, as taking the country down a path of 'partial' extremism – rather unfortunately (in my opinion) because he happens to be Jewish, happens to be Leader of a major political party at a time when most ordinary people want to 'turn their thoughts off' from the 'headaches' of the Middle East, Ebola, America versus Russia, ISIL and every other 'gift' Raccoon City and the Umbrella Corporation have to offer. [Here I am of course using metaphors to interpret what I think are the real motives behind the ordinary man and woman in the street voting for or sticking with 'the devil they know' (David Cameron) as opposed to the other 'Nick' (or Edward Miliband) as the case may be.]

As a personal observation, I believe that the general public in the Western democratic world are of the increasing belief that the Arabs and Israelis will never compromise – and if this means 'taking the whole god-damned house down with them' in the process, then they both will do that.

All that now exists on the Middle East table is war and the prospects of more war – with both sides blaming each other.

In the civilized world we know what the effects of nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological weapons are.

This 'eternal war' between Arab (Muslims) and Jew sees no end in sight and nobody I know (with any sanity) will be volunteered (or be press-ganged) to go sleepwalking into a Third World War on behalf of either parties.
(Yes I know Arabs will say that the Jews lived 'happily' under Muslim rule for centuries before the creation of the State of Israel.  If you call paying special taxes because you were a non-Muslim and semi-slavery 'living happily without a care in the world' then I suppose what the Arabs say is true.)

Despair!

The pathos here is that whichever Party is elected Great Britain will have to deal with all of these issues, whether they and their supporters like it or not - and no politician will be 'exonerated' as 'impartial'.

The Middle East will continue to be a 'no-win' 'no peace' eternal war scenario with intermezzos of 'phoney war' (and phoney peace) along the way.

ISIL, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram and all their affiliates, franchises, contractors and sub-contractors will not pack up their camels and go away after the British General Election.

The Ukraine and Israel will still not have moved their landmasses to Canada (Alberta) and the United States (Florida) respectively, after the British General Election.

We all have to live and work and negotiate in the real world and not the one we would like to exist within our very own 'comfort zones'.

Having said that, the 'comfort zone' offered by the British Conservative Party and it's fair-minded and fair-handed approach to current Middle East and European politics appear to be more tempting to a majority British Christian electorate, at this point in time, than any alternative offered by the British Labour Party.

© Patrick Emek, 2015

Notes

Already in the public domain: 

'Justice Denied'; ''Islington Heart Of The Pedophile Scandal'': http://google-law.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/islington-heart-of-pedophile-scandal.html

 https://dublinsmickdotcom.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/pedophile-ring-kidnapped-madeleine/ 

At first I thought the above website was anti-Semitic but on further researching it's overall references they are informative about Jewish life and culture over the centuries.  I am still unclear as to whether this is by design or simply by accident.  It's section about the Hodge-Oppenheimer-Emsheimer family tree however checks out but I am still a little uneasy about it's 'conspiratorial' overtones everywhere as I do not lend myself easily to conspiracy theories.          'Dublinsmick' website blogs or articles are well researched and an interesting read - even if you disagree with the content.  Another issue is that 'Dublinsmick' appears to take himself too seriously - unusual for a Dubliner.  His reply to me would probably be along the lines 'yeah well with drunken  U.S. Army patrols  for a 'fun night on the town' doing drive by shootings of Iraqi kids and civilians while their buddies at the same time are having a quiet night in at the barracks - r****g electrifying and stringing up PoWs by their balls in Abu Ghraib - I've nothing to joke about!')                                                                                             The story about William Hitler*** is also quite informative.    His research about the recent  bloodline genetic origin of Hitler from living relatives is also a must to read.     I am presuming that if he has correctly identified today's Syrian rebel human 'organ eaters' as one part of Hitler's living bloodline, they are just continuing a family ancestral tradition (!)                                                                

http://snippits-and-slappits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/pedophile-ring-kidnapped-madeleine.html 

http://en.metapedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Hodge

http://jillhavern.forumotion.net/t3471-would-this-account-for-the-unprecedented-high-level-of-political-support

http://www.ukcolumn.org/forum/childrens-issues/richard-d-halls-mccann-story


*Ongoing public investigation involving Councillor Caluori (Lady Hodges' Son-In-Law) which has not yet concluded so no recommendations of
criminal proceedings (if any) have yet been recommended.
Included here because all are prominent public figures and while each scandal appears totally separate, independent and completely unrelated, all involve the same family.  So just to be very clear, no inference of guilt by association is being made and each reference has been included on it's individual merit - but unfortunately the authors of the above six references have interlinked and inferred 'collective guilt by association'  which, in my opinion, is very unfortunate and does not serve the course of natural justice in any way, shape or form.

I have excluded from the references above those which clearly have other agendas (such as racially motivated conspiracies) and which focus on issues unrelated to the public interest involving these public figures but appear to be more eager to vent personal hatreds, frustrations and grievances against such individuals who are, quite specifically and in the main, from a particular racial community. 

[ Note:I have not deliberately omitted the fact that Lady Hodge's nephew's family's surname is not originally 'Hodge' nor 'Edmonds' but 'Emsheimer' from Karlsruhe, Germany.  I did not think it relevant to the issues being looked at to include a family name changed over half a century ago.  Should you wish to research this matter further however, it can be found at other reference sites.]

unrelated references:

**https://dublinsmickdotcom.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/adolph-hitler-and-his-half-sister-angela-and-the-thule-society/

***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Patrick_Hitler

 [as at 13th  February, 'Dublinsmick' has  'updated' - see 'Breaking News']

https://dublinsmickdotcom.wordpress.com/ 

  

......now to get on with the more important business of this blog........

General Election Day:7th May, 2015 


*Please note that only postal votes are sent out about a week before the General Election

All election dates - including postal - can be obtained at the two information sites below:
 


http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2015-key-dates-13-days-for-your-calendar-ahead-of-the-big-event-in-may-10005501.html


http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_fools

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Will

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%27accuse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord

http://www.chathamhouse.org/about/chatham-house-rule

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/straw+in+the+wind

http://www.philipcoppens.com/manchurian.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Don%27t_Have_to_Be_Jewish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPnZZTVp_2A

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoney_War


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine

¹and who wouldn't want a joker like this as 'King of The Castle' (!)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-philip-quotes-relive-90-133848

Can ISIS/ISIL Be Defeated?

(fact is often stranger than fiction)

                           

[Repost]

Introduction

The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea

I am reposting this blog because events have shown that the obsession of the West and Israel with defeating (Shia-supported) President Assad in Syria is far more important than the defeat of (Sunni supported) ISIL or Al Qaeda.
The defeat of ISIL could have easily been achieved by the West being prepared to ally with Shia Iran and regional Shia forces which everyone knows have more combat experience, professionalism, and will more better stand their ground (as seasoned fighters) than their Sunni counterparts put in the frontline to battle ISIL.

Intelligence and Wisdom

You, as an intelligent reader, must ask yourself why it serves the West's interests NOT to make the necessary  alliances with Shia forces - which could have very quickly brought an end to the suffering of Sunnis and Christians in the region.
Two issues are of course Saudi Arabia and Israel and their  likely warnings about the regional effects of a Shia 'victory' against ISIL.
Secondly, the advance of Shia forces in Yemen and their likely overthrow of another despotic (and what was very weak ) Sunni administration will bring Shia power right up to the border of Saudi Arabia for a future face-off.
Thirdly, the Iraqi government is quickly realising that it's very survival against ISIL (and indeed the lives of it's Sunni politicians) are as much dependant on their close cooperation with Iran as they are with their Sunni compatriots in the Gulf and Saudi (who only appear to garnish any courage to fight with the backing of U.S. NATO and EU military forces. This point has not been lost on the incumbent Iraqi government.)
Recent events have shown that ISIL will have no less mercy on their Sunni 'brothers' who oppose their advance than they do against Western hostages.  This alone should strengthen their resolve to work closely with Shia forces in Iraq to defeat ISIL.

If, as President Obama has indicated, the 'Great White Hope' to defeating ISIL are the Kurds, and nobody doubts their courage to fight nor tenacity nor historical suffering through adversity, but at the rate taken to retake Kobani, it is likely to be several hundred years before they retake all ISIL territory, town by town, city by city with little thanks nor support from Turkey nor from their less than courageous Sunni 'brothers' in the 'laid back' Gulf Kingdoms - who are more used to paying others to do the fighting and dying than putting their own mortal lives on the line.  When you are that far removed from the firing line, you can always entertain the luxury of 'no compromise'.

As you will see below, there are other options, but to the United States and The European Union, they are all non-options as all involve unpalatable choices which, even in the interests of expediency, in this age where international diplomacy and compromise have vanished (just look around you at the contempt which so many Republicans, Democrats,Conservatives and Socialists regard the word 'compromise' - to be replaced instead with partisan and ideological stances) and are not acceptable as solutions; not even, incidentally, to save the lives of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of Muslims, Christian and Animists (in Africa) by the time ISIL is eventually defeated.

Close To the Edge

There are other factors two of which have altered the fragility of the region: The el-Sisi administration in Egypt and Erdogan's tenacious grip on power in Turkey.
It is highly unlikely that both demagogues will survive politically into the longer term.
Military coups or popular uprisings in both countries which are supported by factions of the military could have a devastating effect on stability in the entire region - with Saudi Arabia on the next precipice of instability.                                            NATO's flank in the Muslim world would be severely put to the test.   With both Egypt and Turkey in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood and Turkey having it's own agenda for an expanded Byzantine 'Islamic Empire', Saudi Arabia is likely to collapse into turmoil and money alone (to buy off the Turks and Egyptians) may not, on this occasion, save the feudal regime from (long overdue) political change.  Such crises would entail a full-blown military deployment of U.S. or NATO forces to Saudi initially to 'hold the line' while the Western politicians attempt to negotiate a transition of power to a more (regionally) acceptable Saudi administration - and this in itself is not guaranteed.

No-Win Situation

No Western country will benefit from Shia (Iranian) dominance of the Gulf.
Neither choice is very palatable - but they are the only games in town.
Saudi Arabia, for all it's despotic shortcomings, has never 'pulled the oil plug' (and apart from China, until fairly recently, bought more U.S. debt than anyone else) but neither has it encouraged reform in the Sunni world preferring instead to seek it's long term anchorage (and feudal survival) in regression to mediaeval interpretations of the Koran and Hadith and the promulgation of radical (extremist) Islam as a way of keeping 'the faithful' 'in fear' and 'in line' - in much the same way as The Pope and the Catholic Church did before Martin Luther and The Protestant Rebellion and Reformation.

If You Seek Answers, Forget the 'Official' Narrative

But where did all this instability - the pouring hundreds of thousands of internally displaced Muslim civilians fleeing as refugees anywhere and everywhere they can fron the terror of ISIL and Al Qaeda - arise from?
It certainly is not Russia which has been militarily intervening in these regions in recent times.
What Western policies have been pursued which have thrown the entire Middle East and North Africa into turmoil (and now, as I predicted several years ago, spreading from Chad, Niger, Mauritania, the Sudan, further South and East into Christian and Animist Africa and South West into Cameroon, Central African Republic and Nigeria) and have made all these regions such fertile grounds for chaos and Islamic extremism?
Again we are seeing a repeat of the same pattern of internally displaced refugees - this time Christian and Animist Africans - to the South of what were 'traditional' Muslim lands - fleeing for their lives against the onslaught of ISIL and Al Qaeda affiliate forces.

Whose Pound of Flesh Is  for Trading This Time?

So the sad fact is that (at the very least) tens of thousands of Sunni (and Shia) civilian lives will be sacrificed in Iraq and Syria and African Christian and Animist lives elsewhere because such deaths more justify long-term foreign policy and strategic objectives than delivering a swift defeat to the greatest threat to world peace since the plague - and that is what ISIL is, a virus which is being allowed to spread and contaminate the region and beyond simply to satisfy the longer term foreign policy objectives of superpowers and their allies.

It seems such a tragedy and an unnecessary waste of human lives but I suppose our politicians would (privately) justify it by saying that they are not the first (and certainly will not be the last generation in the history of mankind) to put longer-term strategic and financial interests above the needs of ordinary (non-combatant) civilians.   Publicly they will of course say that what I have said above is sheer fantasy and they (their governments) have always been pursuing peace in cooperation with allies in the region.

This is one of only two 'fictional' dialogs posted  and utilized to illustrate dilemmas in the human condition.

now read on............................................

                   Can ISIS/ISIL Be Defeated?

(fact is often stranger than fiction)

I want to approach the answer to this question in a non-standard format.

I would like you to allow me the liberty to use fiction to convey the dilemmas.

What follows is a Fictional CONVERSATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF :

PRS.O : Give me the bottom line on this, can ISIL be defeated ?

CJCS : Mr President we can guarantee to wipe ISIL/ISIS off the face of the earth if you can provide us with orders where the following are in place :

The armed forces of Turkey, Syria (The Assad Government) , The Lebanese government (including an agreement to utilize the forces of Sheikh Nasrallah – that is to say, Hezbollah), the Israeli Defense forces, an agreement to utilize the services of the armed forces of the Palestinian authority – Islamic Jihad, Hamas , Al-Nusra and Al-Asque martyrs brigade, an agreement to utilize the forces of the Iraqi government and those of Muqtada al-Sadr , the Kurdish armed forces together with an agreement to utilize the forces of the government of iran and those of Saudi Arabia.

There are certain other Gulf States already providing logistical support and this could be extended.

If you can deliver this to us we can deliver ISIL's head to you on a golden platter and guarantee it's complete obliteration from the face of the earth.

PRS.O : You know what you ask is ridiculous and impossible. Now give me the next best option.

CJCS : you asked me an honest question Mr President and I gave an honest answer .

CJCS : temporary containment is the next option .

On your command We can do a, b, c, d,...... x y, z........but as with many issues in the world, this will be a temporary fix . but we can dress it up to look like a victory .

PRS.O : how soon before these so-called ISIL caliphates and emirates become a reality?

CJCS : Mr President any nutcase who creates a revolution in the Muslim world can call their state a Caliphate or Emirate and themselves part of ISIL/ISIS  ,  but ultimately they will have to trade and do business with someone somewhere and when they do , we will be ready and waiting for them . When they run out of resources, that's the end of their ability to fund the Caliphates or Emirates.

Do you remember Mr President when Hitler invaded Russia during World War II ?; it was a priority to capture the Baku oilfields. The same was true in North Africa in terms of oil security.  When Adolf Hitler was starved of oil and pushed back through the Ukraine and Poland , the war was was effectively over .  Russian , U. S. , British and other Allied  boots on the ground finished off the job.

CJCS: Mr President, do you remember why (the political reasons) the Roman Empire tried so desperately to wipe out the spread of Christianity and what the ultimate result was?

If ISIL can be starved of a, b, c, d,....x, y, z then we can achieve victory of sorts but, in my opinion , a total victory is still illusive for the reasons above.

P.E. The above was an illustrative work of fiction (or fictional narrative) to emphasize a number of dilemmas and paradoxes facing any administration attempting to defeat a quasi – religious movement such as ISIS/ISIL. 

 

© Patrick Emek, 2015