http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/02/david-cameron-migration-crisis-will-not-be-solved-by-uk-taking-in-more-refugees David Cameron: Britain should not take more Middle East refugees David Cameron: "try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world". "Cameron insisted the best solution to the crisis was to bring peace and stability to the Middle East" It is indeed ironic, that Cameron should use this phraseology, at this time. It would appear that the vast majority of those refugees locked out from Budapest's Keleti railway station, thousands more in Greece and Serbia and yet thousand more crossing the Mediterranean (and many being drowned in the process), are in fact from Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Perhaps Cameron and other members of his government could explain how a long term solution, like bringing "peace and stability to the Middle East", will solve, or at least improve the current crisis, today or tomorr...
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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-prescott-links-tony-bl-airs-invasion-of-iraq-with-radicalisation-of-young-muslims-10108322.html John Prescott links Tony Blair's Iraq invasion with radicalisation of young Muslims Former deputy PM believes the 2003 invasion of Iraq was 'wrong' How strange and sad that the politicians (and others) now crawling out of the wood work to criticise Blair and the other warmongers for their illegal wars in Iraq and Libya and the folly of the Afghanistan invasion, have taken so long to speak out publicly. Had they had the backbone to take a stand against Blair and Bush and stay out of American interventions at the time, then perhaps this country would have been spared the consequences of these wars and many families in the United Kingdom would have been spared the trauma of losing loved ones in the pointless and futile conflicts. Even at the time, there was substantial public o...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/the-last-exit-the-union-flag-is-lowered-british-troops-depart-and-afghanistans-next-chapter-begins-9819826.html The closure of British base marks the end of Britain’s ground war in Afghanistan The "cost" to the United Kingdom alone, of this Blair/Bush adventure into Afghanistan is the lives of 453 British service personnel, and hundreds if not thousands of maimed and injured.At the end of the day, this "cost" becomes another statistic of a futile war, which never had any possibility of fulfilling the objectives set out in 2001. The ego's of Blair and Bush, fueled by the rhetoric of politicians both here and in the United States, has resulted in what can only be described as a defeat for the western powers. The Taliban are still very much in evidence, the Poppy and opium industry is still flourishing, and the Afghan army has little if any possibility of maintaining control of even the small amount of the ...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-soldier-held-by-taliban-in-afghanistan-freed-after-five-years-9467018.html US soldier held by Taliban in Afghanistan freed after five years Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. captured since 2009 Best wishes to Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl on being released. However, it is a great shame that the media and world public opinion does not get as aroused about the detainees incarcerated without trial in Guantanamo Bay prison.Some inmates have been incarcerated in Guantanamo for over 12 years, without trial or legal representation. Guantanamo Bay detention camp While this stain on civil liberties and human rights remains in operation, we should not become overly excited about the release of one Taliban prisoner.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/10/us-hamid-karzai-afghan-elections-robert-gates US 'tried to oust Hamid Karzai by manipulating Afghan elections' Robert Gates, former Defence Secretary A little ironic. Hamid Karzai was a "consultant" for Halliburton, a contractor for the CIA and was a close friend of the Bush family for many years prior to being "elected" with massive American support, as President of Afghanistan in 2004, having been effectively filling the post since the "Loya Jirga" or "Grand Assembly" of 2002, again with American support. Strange then that Robert Gates, former Defence Secretary, should now reveal that the US tried to remove Karzai in the 2009 elections. President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan Perhaps it is an example of the falling out of thieves.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/09/marine-murder-insurgent_n_4244907.html Army Chiefs Call For Leniency For Marine Who 'Executed' Injured Afghan Insurgent Major-General Julian Thompson When is a war crime, not a war crime? Judging by many of the “comments” against this Huffington Post article, it seems that the indiscriminate killing of an unarmed, wounded enemy while in the custody of soldiers, (particularly if those soldiers are British troops) qualifies only for praise and commendation. Is it not the case that a war crime is a war crime, whether committed in Deir Yassin, or Mai Lai, or at Saarbrücken, or in Hellmand province? The is no doubt that the British service personnel currently serving in Afghanistan, and those who have died there, are deserving of the greatest praise and respect. That in itself does not justify or excuse behaviour of the type described in the court. Nor does it warrant intervention by Major-General Ju...
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/anne-speckhard/chelsea-manning-transgender_b_3797221.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Chelsea Manning's Transgender Dilemma in the US Military - A Secret That Needed to Be Told? Is it absolutely necessary to have Manning's sexuality and transgender dilemma spread all over the media? His "crime" was to expose United States government malpractice, lies and war crimes. It is enough that he has been given 35 years, but to add character assassination and cheap personal jibes, stinks of spite and malice. Those in government responsible for this odious campaign should be ashamed, but with the clearly demonstrated attitudes and prejudices of those responsible for the prosecution in the first place, shame is not a word in their dictionary.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/taliban-could-soon-be-coming-in-from-the-cold-8680013.html Taliban could soon be coming in from the cold 12 years on, over 400 British service personnel (and thousands of civilians together with other NATO troops) killed with thousands more severely injured, and nothing has been achieved. Blair and Bush "standing shoulder to shoulder" has extracted a very high cost.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/06/18/taliban-us-peace-talks_n_3459741.html?utm_hp_ref=uk Taliban And US Officials To Meet In Doha For Afghanistan Peace Talks The opening of the Taliban Political Office, in Doha, What has actually been achieved during the 12 years since the United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 ? The answer of course is not very much. The Americans, (forget the ISAF and NATO labels, this was always an American escapade), have learned what numerous other countries have learned throughout history, that no foreign invasion has ever had a successful outcome (from the invaders viewpoint) in Afghanistan. Regardless of the announcements by Bush, and others over the years, to the effect that victory was imminent or had actually been achieved,the fighting and the killings, and the suicide bombers and the IED's continue on a daily basis.Even on the day that these "talks" were announced, 4 American soldiers were ki...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/three-british-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan-roadside-bomb-blast-in-helmand-8598370.html Afghanistan Deaths 'High Price' Says Cameron David Cameron has visited Afghanistan a number of times Prime Minister David Cameron said the country has paid a "very high price" for the work it is doing in Afghanistan.A high price indeed David. It is the price that this country pays for being "shoulder to shoulder" with the United States of America in their Bush inspired escapades in the Middle East. The "very high price" of a Blair/Bush fairy tale, endorsed by a majority of the House of Commons, in a war which could never be won. Shoulder to shoulder The "very high price" of invading a country which has never been conquered in more than 500 years as everyone knew in October 2001. Since 2001, a total of 444 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan, predomi...