Tony Blair visit to Iraq
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Anyone who agrees with the pathetic comment of vecvechookattack,
should look at their (or if civi, any soldier, sailor or airmans), first pay statement and realise that the first deduction made is in fact the Shilling they gave you in the first place.
As soon as that deduction is made, surely that level of expected commitment has been bought back!
If you take the kings shilling then you must be prepared to suffer the ultimate sacrifice.
As soon as that deduction is made, surely that level of expected commitment has been bought back!
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I do believe that Scottish National Party leader, Alex Salmond, has beautifully encapsulated the continuing mendacity, shamelessness and utter dishonour of our Great Leader:
"This situation (not one of the more than 4,000 British soldiers flown home from Iraq for medical treatment has received a visit from the Prime Minister in hospital on their return) is a damning indictment of a failing Prime Minister who is refusing to confront the horrific consequences of his own actions. While he is happy to go on triumphalistic media-friendly tours of Iraq, the fact that he has failed to meet those soldiers who have put their own lives on the line for his unjust cause, speaks volumes for his lack of honour and integrity."
Meanwhile - BBC Website, Monday, 26 December 2005
Blairs take Red Sea winter break
Tony Blair has begun a family holiday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm- el-Sheikh, Downing Street has said.
The Blairs will be paying all their own transport and accommodation costs during their vacation
.
"The prime minister is now on holiday for a short winter break," a Number 10 spokesman said.
This is the fourth Christmas running that the Blairs have holidayed in the Red Sea resort, which was hit by a series of suicide bomb attacks in July. More than 60 people died in those attacks, including 11 Britons.
Last year, Mr Blair faced some criticism for choosing to stay on holiday in Egypt instead of returning to deal with the Asian tsunami crisis.
But Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Blair had been directly involved in decisions and was in regular contact, even while on holiday.
Downing Street imposed a news blackout on the Blairs' summer holiday in Barbados. The blackout was broken when Mr Blair visited a public war memorial service on the island.
"This situation (not one of the more than 4,000 British soldiers flown home from Iraq for medical treatment has received a visit from the Prime Minister in hospital on their return) is a damning indictment of a failing Prime Minister who is refusing to confront the horrific consequences of his own actions. While he is happy to go on triumphalistic media-friendly tours of Iraq, the fact that he has failed to meet those soldiers who have put their own lives on the line for his unjust cause, speaks volumes for his lack of honour and integrity."
Meanwhile - BBC Website, Monday, 26 December 2005
Blairs take Red Sea winter break
Tony Blair has begun a family holiday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm- el-Sheikh, Downing Street has said.
The Blairs will be paying all their own transport and accommodation costs during their vacation
.
"The prime minister is now on holiday for a short winter break," a Number 10 spokesman said.
This is the fourth Christmas running that the Blairs have holidayed in the Red Sea resort, which was hit by a series of suicide bomb attacks in July. More than 60 people died in those attacks, including 11 Britons.
Last year, Mr Blair faced some criticism for choosing to stay on holiday in Egypt instead of returning to deal with the Asian tsunami crisis.
But Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Mr Blair had been directly involved in decisions and was in regular contact, even while on holiday.
Downing Street imposed a news blackout on the Blairs' summer holiday in Barbados. The blackout was broken when Mr Blair visited a public war memorial service on the island.
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And I would like to see Mr Bliar read some of the critics on this thread and others. Who can believe him when he ignores the wounded. That is unforgivable. The guys at the front are, sadly, nothing more than Bliar's media fodder. With the greatest respect for all of them. His sancitimonious BS is so obvious it should choke him. As for honour and integrioty Alex Salmond has got it just right. He thinks only of himself.
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I understand that they will be taking a trip to Giza.
The Dear Leader is looking for architectural tips for his posthumous palace. Watch for ASBO breachers working out their community service in the construction of the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Pyramid of Blair!
The Dear Leader is looking for architectural tips for his posthumous palace. Watch for ASBO breachers working out their community service in the construction of the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Pyramid of Blair!
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Without wanting to sound like a supporter,.... what would you all have said if there hadn't been a visit?
Couldn't be bothered to .....
Doesn't care about.....
Always sends his cronies.....
Not in touch with the man on the front....
or would you all be saying
Look, he mised a golden photo shoot...
He was flying that way anyway, why didn't he pop in?...
If every political leader ALWAYS visited their troops on Christmas day, how long do you think it would take before some half brained terrorist worked out the sequence??
PLEASE lets think realistically. Any visit was better than no visit.
Couldn't be bothered to .....
Doesn't care about.....
Always sends his cronies.....
Not in touch with the man on the front....
or would you all be saying
Look, he mised a golden photo shoot...
He was flying that way anyway, why didn't he pop in?...
If every political leader ALWAYS visited their troops on Christmas day, how long do you think it would take before some half brained terrorist worked out the sequence??
PLEASE lets think realistically. Any visit was better than no visit.
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Unmissable
I really don’t think any of us would have noticed or cared much whether Bliar turned up or not in Basra on a pre-Christmas “morale boosting” visit to the troops he (or his successor) is intent on decimating in his ongoing “rationalization” of UK forces, once out of his present little spot of bother. Certainly his non-attendance would have made not the slightest jot to events in that city.
In the event, his attendance drew our attention, yet again, to his nauseating smugness, lying hypocrisy, cant and the utter cynicism of his latest trawl for good press and eye-catchingly “caring and compassionate” photo opportunities.
Further, we are all scenting “blood in the water” and our baser predatory instincts are rising like sap in a late spring. You may well be aware of the following, recently culled from the Spectator:
• Bliar failed to secure the assent of the House for the proposal to detain terror suspects for 90 days without charge.
• Bliar’s pension reforms, proposed by protégé Lord Turner, were recently contemptuously demolished by the Treasury (prop. G. Brown).
• Government has now backed down on its proposal to abolish juries in complex fraud trials.
• Bliar’s Racial Hatred Bill has been substantially rewritten in the Lords as the government is terrified of New Labour rebels and is therefore happy to collaborate quietly in the emasculation of its own proposals.
• Bliar is in full retreat on his proposals to reform disability benefit, which were announced in ringing tones in his party conference speech in the autumn.
• Charles Clarke’s (Bliar groupie Home Secretary, in case any of you have forgotten) proposals for identity cards, currently being torn to shreds in committee in the House of Lords, are due to be debated on the floor of the Commons in the New Year.
• The Education Bill, expected in the spring, looks doomed, for all David Cameron’s earnest protestations of support.
In short, Tony Bliar has lost the ability to govern and the smart money is on him being out by next Christmas, so grandstanding in Basra this Christmas is a bit like fiddling while Rome burns - and attracts the same contempt.
No visit would have been better than any visit!
I really don’t think any of us would have noticed or cared much whether Bliar turned up or not in Basra on a pre-Christmas “morale boosting” visit to the troops he (or his successor) is intent on decimating in his ongoing “rationalization” of UK forces, once out of his present little spot of bother. Certainly his non-attendance would have made not the slightest jot to events in that city.
In the event, his attendance drew our attention, yet again, to his nauseating smugness, lying hypocrisy, cant and the utter cynicism of his latest trawl for good press and eye-catchingly “caring and compassionate” photo opportunities.
Further, we are all scenting “blood in the water” and our baser predatory instincts are rising like sap in a late spring. You may well be aware of the following, recently culled from the Spectator:
• Bliar failed to secure the assent of the House for the proposal to detain terror suspects for 90 days without charge.
• Bliar’s pension reforms, proposed by protégé Lord Turner, were recently contemptuously demolished by the Treasury (prop. G. Brown).
• Government has now backed down on its proposal to abolish juries in complex fraud trials.
• Bliar’s Racial Hatred Bill has been substantially rewritten in the Lords as the government is terrified of New Labour rebels and is therefore happy to collaborate quietly in the emasculation of its own proposals.
• Bliar is in full retreat on his proposals to reform disability benefit, which were announced in ringing tones in his party conference speech in the autumn.
• Charles Clarke’s (Bliar groupie Home Secretary, in case any of you have forgotten) proposals for identity cards, currently being torn to shreds in committee in the House of Lords, are due to be debated on the floor of the Commons in the New Year.
• The Education Bill, expected in the spring, looks doomed, for all David Cameron’s earnest protestations of support.
In short, Tony Bliar has lost the ability to govern and the smart money is on him being out by next Christmas, so grandstanding in Basra this Christmas is a bit like fiddling while Rome burns - and attracts the same contempt.
No visit would have been better than any visit!
Highcirrus,
Blimey - you standing for the Tories at the next election then???????
Bliar failed to secure the assent of the House for the proposal to detain terror suspects for 90 days without charge - why was that exactly then?
Mrs Plans, works for those unmentionable people that wanted it, the police wanted it, every body concerened wanted it.
It was a basic attack on TB and nothing else, the needs of the country were ignored, plain and simple and IMHO we are now weaker for it.
Just a point though..........what if that smiling simpleton the Tories have just elected as leader wanted to bring it in..........
Blimey - you standing for the Tories at the next election then???????
Bliar failed to secure the assent of the House for the proposal to detain terror suspects for 90 days without charge - why was that exactly then?
Mrs Plans, works for those unmentionable people that wanted it, the police wanted it, every body concerened wanted it.
It was a basic attack on TB and nothing else, the needs of the country were ignored, plain and simple and IMHO we are now weaker for it.
Just a point though..........what if that smiling simpleton the Tories have just elected as leader wanted to bring it in..........
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Private Eye ran a story that a local Brit magazine ran a front page with the following (ISTR) headlines:quote:HOON VISITS BASRA IN MAJOR COUP FOR MORALE
In other news:
All bears are Catholic
Pope conducts toiletary activities in forest
Salmon live in trees and eat pencils
In other news:
All bears are Catholic
Pope conducts toiletary activities in forest
Salmon live in trees and eat pencils
I personally think that although Bliar would have been 'damned if he did and damned if he didn't' visit - the timing, straight from his fairly poor effort over the European give-away was a little cynical.
Yet again, troops being used to further Bliar's personal standing methinks.
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Plans - I seem to remember that MI6 said that they hadn't championed the case for 90 days ! Nor is it the right of the Police
to engage in political statements to help government policy !
I think in the current case where the government even denies the purpose of the CIA 'black flights' landing in the U.K it was prudent that 90 days wasn't approved.
to engage in political statements to help government policy !
I think in the current case where the government even denies the purpose of the CIA 'black flights' landing in the U.K it was prudent that 90 days wasn't approved.
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If you give up your freedoms in search of security you end up with neither... Just look at how ACPO want to invoke anti terrorist legislation to gain access to private property in order to police hunting.
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Blair does not draw a single breath without thinking "what's in it for me".
Blair, Clarke and Blears acted disgracefully over the ridiculous 90 day detention proposal. As mentioned, they lied by claiming the security service wanted 90 days. Clarke manipulated the grief and outrage over the London bombs to try and browbeat opponents into voting for the unprecedented measure (which was not in demand prior to the London bombs - the words "knee" and "jerk" spring to mind) and used the police as lobbyists in a disgraceful breach of the principle of impartiality - I doubt the same encouragement was used with regard to the views of the police on force mergers.
It is easy to claim that the powers would be used sparingly and appropriately - however, ask a Mr Walter Wolfgang.
Blair, Clarke and Blears acted disgracefully over the ridiculous 90 day detention proposal. As mentioned, they lied by claiming the security service wanted 90 days. Clarke manipulated the grief and outrage over the London bombs to try and browbeat opponents into voting for the unprecedented measure (which was not in demand prior to the London bombs - the words "knee" and "jerk" spring to mind) and used the police as lobbyists in a disgraceful breach of the principle of impartiality - I doubt the same encouragement was used with regard to the views of the police on force mergers.
It is easy to claim that the powers would be used sparingly and appropriately - however, ask a Mr Walter Wolfgang.
Mr. Blair is not renowned for his negotiating skills, but what in heaven's name was he thinking when he single-handedly gave up over seven billion pounds of tax payer’s money - more than enough to pay for the FRC/SAR(H) Programme - in return for what, nothing more than a promise from the French to look again at farm subsidies in the distant future.
This must surely be the biggest defeat the British have suffered against the French since the ‘Battle of Carillon’.
Oh how I love an opportunity to kick a bad man when he’s down.
This must surely be the biggest defeat the British have suffered against the French since the ‘Battle of Carillon’.
Oh how I love an opportunity to kick a bad man when he’s down.
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plans123
No, I’m not standing. I’ve probably more in common with the old style Tory (and some Labour) MP’s, who now seem to be out to grass, rather than the young eager beaver voting fodder required of the modern day sound-bite and photo-op. I would guess that my quota of “care and compassion” would not be up to the required mark and that my sympathy with the Tebbit “on your bike” philosophy of social mobility, coupled with unfashionable views on strong UK defence and small government would not see me past even a Tory selection committee.
In respect of your point alluding to David Cameron, I personally would have the same reservations that I held towards Bliar’s attempted 90 day detention without charge legislation and would similarly have excoriated any Cameron attack on our ancient rights and freedoms had he attempted such legislating in the event he had been in power.
No, I’m not standing. I’ve probably more in common with the old style Tory (and some Labour) MP’s, who now seem to be out to grass, rather than the young eager beaver voting fodder required of the modern day sound-bite and photo-op. I would guess that my quota of “care and compassion” would not be up to the required mark and that my sympathy with the Tebbit “on your bike” philosophy of social mobility, coupled with unfashionable views on strong UK defence and small government would not see me past even a Tory selection committee.
In respect of your point alluding to David Cameron, I personally would have the same reservations that I held towards Bliar’s attempted 90 day detention without charge legislation and would similarly have excoriated any Cameron attack on our ancient rights and freedoms had he attempted such legislating in the event he had been in power.
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The Dear Leader has given his New Year message to his adoring public.
Nowhere can I see a reference to the UK armed forces, the great job they are doing around the world and the greatful thanks owed by him and the nation.
Surely some mistake?
Nowhere can I see a reference to the UK armed forces, the great job they are doing around the world and the greatful thanks owed by him and the nation.
Surely some mistake?
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The UK begins 2006 in a strong position. Despite a more challenging context our economy is enjoying its longest period of growth while employment is high, interest rates and inflation are low. Hospital waiting lists and times are falling, crime is down and our children have had the best-ever exam results.
Britain today benefits from record police numbers and fear of anti-social behaviour is falling. We have successfully combined productivity higher than Germany and Japan, with a minimum wage of over £5 and lifting 700,000 children out of poverty since 1997. We are trebling the UK aid budget; for every pound of UK aid spent in 1997, we will be spending three pounds by 2008
The UK-chaired G8 Summit this year saw commitments to double aid by 2010 - an extra US $50 billion globally, including $25 billion for Africa - and to provide debt cancellation for up to 38 heavily indebted poor countries worth US $55 billion.
Everyone in our country who has worked hard to achieve this can feel proud of the progress we've made this year. Our achievements are being acknowledged across the globe, a fact recognised by the international community when we won the 2012 Olympics for London,
But 2006 is a year in which critical decisions have to be got right if we are to sustain prosperity and fast-improving public services for the long-term.
On schools, local health services, pensions, welfare, the Respect agenda and energy, we face big choices which will decide how prepared we are for the challenges of the future.
In public services like education and health, the challenge will be to ensure continuing investment is matched by greater responsiveness to the needs of the people who use and pay for them. Investment will continue but it must be matched by further change to meet the ever-higher expectations of the public.
In the Respect agenda, the success of the Action Plan we are publishing in January will be vital if we are to make a lasting difference in reducing
anti-social behaviour and effectively tackling the problem families who do so much to damage communities.
Meanwhile, in welfare, pensions and energy, we have to get right the decisions that will affect the prosperity and security of the people of Britain for the next 50 years. None will be easy, all will have to balance what is best for the future of the country with what is affordable now. But in each case, the decisions taken will affect the future for generations to come.
These reforms at home will be matched by the necessary agenda internationally as we continue to fight terrorism and bring hope and democracy to Afghanistan and Iraq. We will not let our resolve slip to tackle the dangers we face, both at home as so tragically illustrated on 7 July, and abroad.
2005 was a vital year for progress both on global poverty, especially in Africa and on climate change. But in 2006 the challenge will be to push further progress in lifting aid, in bringing the WTO to a successful conclusion and turning the agreement reached at Montreal into practical reality.
Britain in 2006 will continue to be one of the most successful countries in the world with a strong economy and good public services. We live in a beautiful, prosperous country where most of us work hard and live decent, honest lives. In an age of rapid change new challenges and threats will emerge constantly but we should always be grateful for what a great country Britain is.
We are one of the largest economies in the world. We have rising living standards and this is the only Government of any major developed nation investing more public money in health and education every year as a proportion of national income. We have strong alliances with the world's only superpower, America, and the world's largest economic market, Europe. The challenges we face are similar to those of every major developed nation in the world. But our capacity to meet them is well proven and 2006 will demonstrate this yet again.
Britain today benefits from record police numbers and fear of anti-social behaviour is falling. We have successfully combined productivity higher than Germany and Japan, with a minimum wage of over £5 and lifting 700,000 children out of poverty since 1997. We are trebling the UK aid budget; for every pound of UK aid spent in 1997, we will be spending three pounds by 2008
The UK-chaired G8 Summit this year saw commitments to double aid by 2010 - an extra US $50 billion globally, including $25 billion for Africa - and to provide debt cancellation for up to 38 heavily indebted poor countries worth US $55 billion.
Everyone in our country who has worked hard to achieve this can feel proud of the progress we've made this year. Our achievements are being acknowledged across the globe, a fact recognised by the international community when we won the 2012 Olympics for London,
But 2006 is a year in which critical decisions have to be got right if we are to sustain prosperity and fast-improving public services for the long-term.
On schools, local health services, pensions, welfare, the Respect agenda and energy, we face big choices which will decide how prepared we are for the challenges of the future.
In public services like education and health, the challenge will be to ensure continuing investment is matched by greater responsiveness to the needs of the people who use and pay for them. Investment will continue but it must be matched by further change to meet the ever-higher expectations of the public.
In the Respect agenda, the success of the Action Plan we are publishing in January will be vital if we are to make a lasting difference in reducing
anti-social behaviour and effectively tackling the problem families who do so much to damage communities.
Meanwhile, in welfare, pensions and energy, we have to get right the decisions that will affect the prosperity and security of the people of Britain for the next 50 years. None will be easy, all will have to balance what is best for the future of the country with what is affordable now. But in each case, the decisions taken will affect the future for generations to come.
These reforms at home will be matched by the necessary agenda internationally as we continue to fight terrorism and bring hope and democracy to Afghanistan and Iraq. We will not let our resolve slip to tackle the dangers we face, both at home as so tragically illustrated on 7 July, and abroad.
2005 was a vital year for progress both on global poverty, especially in Africa and on climate change. But in 2006 the challenge will be to push further progress in lifting aid, in bringing the WTO to a successful conclusion and turning the agreement reached at Montreal into practical reality.
Britain in 2006 will continue to be one of the most successful countries in the world with a strong economy and good public services. We live in a beautiful, prosperous country where most of us work hard and live decent, honest lives. In an age of rapid change new challenges and threats will emerge constantly but we should always be grateful for what a great country Britain is.
We are one of the largest economies in the world. We have rising living standards and this is the only Government of any major developed nation investing more public money in health and education every year as a proportion of national income. We have strong alliances with the world's only superpower, America, and the world's largest economic market, Europe. The challenges we face are similar to those of every major developed nation in the world. But our capacity to meet them is well proven and 2006 will demonstrate this yet again.
Last edited by vecvechookattack; 31st Dec 2005 at 16:08.