Open Thread – Mon 4 Sept 2023


The Pont Neuf Rainy Afternoon, Camille Pissaro, 1901

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JC
JC
September 6, 2023 3:41 pm

After 2016, sure. But not from the fall of the wall to that point. Also, when you talk about the “West”, you really need to be specific. And by specific, you need to say that it’s been the American Demonrat party that poisoned the well against Russia with all the hoax accusations. I’d argue the Brits also had something to do with this by partnering with the Demons.

Russia has never given itself a decent break. Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and now this pretend tsar.

Just like you see some people with potential, they always manage to screw things up for themselves. Russia appears to have a self-destructive gene.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 3:43 pm

It’s a revival of the earlier Union State proposal but interpreted by Western elites as a plan of annexation.

It came from Putin’s office, as far as has been reported. Last I saw Putin isn’t one of the Western elites.

Lukashenko certainly has been very wary, and has played the game with great success. He’s even managed to navigate the Wagner fiasco fallout very well.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 3:48 pm

I know, right, its not as if we have a terrible track record over the last two decades of liberating polities from dictators. It’s just one success story after another.

It is certainly foolish in general but Lukashenko is protecting his own interests, not his people’s.

Tom
Tom
September 6, 2023 3:49 pm

The main reason that Labor is so keen on the Voice is because it will make it almost impossible for any future conservative or right-wing party to actually govern.

Correct.

Stupid Frigging Liberals aren’t playing for keeps like the left. As a result, the left will eat the SFLs for dinner. Burp.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 3:54 pm

Because the US (and the Europeans) would never have sought to contain an reinvigorated and prosperous Russia. Does anyone really believe this?

I certainly do. If the US, and it really is the US that dictates foreign policy to the Europeans, allowed China to prosper without much hindrance for 25 years I can’t see the obstacles that you see with regards to Russia being impeded. But tell us what they were.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 3:55 pm

“Russia has never given itself a decent break. Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and now this pretend tsar.”

I would agree with that assessment, JC. As Peter Hitchens has argued (along with others, including the late Russian scholar and historian Stephen Cohen), in the 1990s, directly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West could have and should have implemented a Marshall type plan, like it did with Germany and Japan after World War II. Instead, the West allowed Russia to collapse economically and socially. It devastated Russia and Russians. Putin has not forgotten nor forgiven the misery and humiliation that befell Russia in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 3:56 pm

I think Linky Boy needs to get out and get some sunshine.

Cassie, you could perhaps have checked out the very first link in the Conversation article. But no, you obviously didn’t.

Also a very quick search will find multiple articles on the Belarus nukes story. It was widely reported at the time.

As a political coup it was almost genius: Lukashenko offered to host nukes as a threat to NATO, and to put pressure on Poland. Putin took up the offer, thereby making it almost impossible for Russia to later absorb Belarus. I doubt he would’ve invaded Ukraine if they hadn’t given their nukes up under the Budapest Memorandum. Oh hey that’s amazing, Russia was a party to that agreement giving security assurances to Ukraine. Golly it looks awfully like Russia reneged on the formal agreement, isn’t that funny?

Rabz
September 6, 2023 3:59 pm

Russia’s conventional military forces are in such a sad state …
Having listened to multiple interviews of Ukrainian soldiers and foreign volunteers, I’ve never heard them say anything like this

Yeah, but, Gen Buck Keane (Retd) of the Henry Kissinger Peace Academy regularly appears on Blot assuring the audience that the collapse of the Wussians is imminently imminent.

So there, armchair strategists.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:00 pm

To repeat, there is just no situation wherein the US and its NATO partners would not act to contain Russia if it was reinvigorated and prosperous and wanted to pursue an independent foreign policy. The whole reason of maintaining NATO was to maintain the Western Europeans within its control, and in order to influence matters in the East.

Dover, you can repeat it as much as you want, but it doesn’t make it true. Yeltsin was even advised by Columbia economists on the ways to liberate the economy. Being leftwing idiots they completely screwed it up, but to suggest the US didn’t want the best for Russia is delusional.

At the extreme, Russia could’ve given up all it nukes and joined the EU. There wouldn’t have been an issue in the early part of last century. As for closing down NATO, the problem is that institutions become ossified and often go past their use-by date. Good thing it’s still around too, seeing how Russia is behaving toward it’s neighbors.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 4:03 pm

“Cassie, you could perhaps have checked out the very first link in the Conversation article. But no, you obviously didn’t.”

Linky Boy, I don’t spend my days trawling the internet looking at links. I know you do, it’s sad.

But it’s interesting you post links to sites like The Conversation and The Guardian. Perhaps it says something about yourself that you haven’t ever revealed to us here. One thing for sure, just like the progressives at The Guardian and at The Conversation, you’re loathe to ever admit you’re wrong.

Get some sunshine.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 4:06 pm

You’re going back to China when it was still comparatively weak. There is just no way in hell that the US would not act to contain any power in Europe or Asia that can rival its own.

Dover – I wouldn’t say China under Deng was comparatively weak. And under his policies China was the biggest asian tiger of them all. American companies invested hand over fist in China. That then changed when China started expropriating overseas investors’ assets and arresting their employees on various pretexts.

On the other hand I mentioned the GG and the TT, both of which are examples of natural geopolitical distrust and suspicion. Humans are humans, even in Armani suits. So you are right about eventual isolation. It didn’t work out so well for Athens and Sparta, I doubt it will for the US and China. For that matter the US is looking increasingly like China.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:07 pm

Cassie.

Instead, the West allowed Russia to collapse economically and socially. It devastated Russia and Russians. Putin has not forgotten nor forgiven the misery and humiliation that befell Russia in the 1990s and early 2000s

Clinton was the US president at the time. His only concern was being re-elected. He was the most useless and corrupt president after this carcass currently residing in the White House since WW11.

Having said that, there was an attempt to help them out. They sent those Columbia University morons over there, proposing shock therapy to the economy. It was an unmitigated disaster.

Johnny Rotten
September 6, 2023 4:08 pm

Fauci Worried People Won’t Obey Mask Mandates

“Masks were ineffective. They forced us to cover half our face to appear in public for years. It had nothing to do with health and everything to do with being a mass social experiment to see how blindly the people would obey their laws. Anthony Fauci realizes that a second round of COVID restrictions will be much more difficult to manage as many have woken up to the fearmongering.

“I am concerned that people will not abide by [masking] recommendations,” Fauci said. “We’re not talking about mandates or forcing anybody, but when you have a situation where the volume of cases in society gets to a reasonably high level, the vulnerable, the elderly, those with underlying conditions, are going to be more susceptible, if they do get infected, of getting severe disease leading to hospitalization. We know that. That’s a fact,” Fauci told reporters at CNN.

Let us recall that Fauci was spotted at a super-spreader event, a baseball game, without a mask. All of those pushing for mandates were spotted breaking those very laws. He knows this is all a show. CNN was not even willing to comply as the reporter read Fauci a study published by the New York Times that discusses how useless masks and mask mandates have been. They even asked Fauci about the inconsistent studies regarding masks and how they should have never been mandated in the first place.

Typical Fauci babbled on about the science. He said that although masks may not protect individuals, they can still protect the public at large. Nothing he says makes sense. They are attempting to prepare us for another mass COVID outbreak. Interestingly, COVID seems to become a problem when we near elections, and some are calling it an “election virus.” Jill Biden has now come down with COVID after receiving every vaccination under the sun. They want the people to begin talking about how it must be spreading. The cat is already out of the bag, and we know the truth — masks do not work. We will not comply.”

https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/disease/fauci-worried-people-wont-obey-mask-mandates/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RSS

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:11 pm

Bibi doesn’t fcuk around.

Benjamin Netanyahu plans to deport all African migrants from Israel after Eritrean groups involved in violent clashes

The Israeli prime minister’s remarks came a day after violent protests in Tel Aviv left more than 140 people wounded.

and

Plans should be drawn up to remove all African migrants from Israel after groups of Eritreans were involved in a violent clash in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says.

He also wants the migrants involved in the demonstration to be deported immediately.

His remarks came a day after rival groups of Eritreans clashed in bloody protests that left dozens of people injured.

The groups, supporters and opponents of Eritrea’s government, faced off with construction lumber, pieces of metal and rocks, smashing shop windows and police cars.

Israeli police in riot gear shot tear gas, stun grenades and live rounds while officers on horseback tried to control the protesters.

KevinM
KevinM
September 6, 2023 4:12 pm

Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
Bruce of Newcastle
Sep 6, 2023 12:53 PM

Kevin – I can’t help it if you are indoctrinated and wrong.

Sorry mate, but I have read a lot of history

Commendable, depends on who was the author, but better than not reading any.

Forms your view of things but doesn’t make you right or wrong for that matter.

Glaring example, our Australian history, whom do you believe?
Never even mention the Japanese version of events in WWII.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 4:13 pm

I see Cassie you still haven’t looked at that first link I mentioned. Fine by me, it’s your choice to be stubbornly dogmatic or to engage in a fair and equal debate.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 4:17 pm

“I see Cassie you still haven’t looked at that first link I mentioned. Fine by me, it’s your choice to be stubbornly dogmatic or to engage in a fair and equal debate.”

LOL, so passive aggressive.

By the way, earlier you accused another poster here of being ” indoctrinated and wrong” all because that person disputed you. Is that what you call “fair and equal debate”?

I almost pity you.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:22 pm

Referendum for a peace deal to happen ?
Zero chance.
It’s for the oligarchs & donor class in DC to agree on.
Then the Ukrainians will be force fed it.
Referendum. FFS.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:24 pm

If Langton won’t support a referendum that states it is recognition only, what the hell is in this one on the table now?

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:27 pm

The way the US wrote about their folk heroes & villains is fantastic.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 4:27 pm

Glaring example, our Australian history, whom do you believe?
Never even mention the Japanese version of events in WWII.

Kevin – I haven’t read anything from the Japanese side. Tactically the Japanese were superb, for example Savo Island. Strategically at a theatre level also, like the Malaya Campaign. Went through us like a rock through paper. The 8th Div did pretty well considering but we were outclassed. Overall strategy-wise, not so good: as Yamamoto said they only had 18 months at most to run riot.

The Japanese have their story or versions, we have our own. Even digging down to after action reports you’ll get six different accounts of what really occurred. We only see out of one pair of eyes and even then what we see may not be what we think we see. On the other hand I don’t mind debating which account is the more accurate, that’s fun.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:31 pm

I was reading the other day that Indian & Chinese enrolments at US colleges have hit an all time high.
So even while the US & China have a cold war over chips, the students keep on coming.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 4:31 pm

Cassie – I can’t recall you providing any evidence of your assertions. Maybe you have from time to time but it is pretty seldom. Perhaps look in a mirror before you criticise my attempts to provide backing for assertions I make.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 4:34 pm

If Langton won’t support a referendum that states it is recognition only, what the hell is in this one on the table now?

Something else.

Always was. Always will be.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:35 pm

Because a re-invigorated and prosperous Russia could turn Europe away from the US or at least in a more independent direction, would have greater influence in the ME, and so on.

Dover, Russia’s economy at the time of the breakup was about the size of the Netherlands. It posed zero threat to US influence in the 90s.

US allowed China to prosper because it was in the interests of the US to do so, firstly, as a bulwark against Russia in the Far East, and (2) as a source of cheap manufacturing and then market for American goods, but as soon as China became a peer-revival to the US in East Asia, and then globally, things changed.

Is there any evidence this was American policy, especially in the 90s. I vividly recall reading in the WSJ how the US had basically ignored Russia, and was very critical of the Clinton Administration for doing so.

Things changed with China because Xi is a fcuking arsehole.

Johnny Rotten
September 6, 2023 4:35 pm

Facts are stubborn things.

– Ronald Reagan

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 4:35 pm

Poor little Linky Boy, who spends his life in a cellar trawling through the internet feverishly posting links (which probably slow the site). A sad sack of mediocrity. When he gets called out for his crap, he gets all mean and nasty, except the reality is that he’s just pathetic.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 4:38 pm

Cassie, have you been to the dentist? Was he kind?

Black Ball
Black Ball
September 6, 2023 4:38 pm

Herald Sun:

Daniel Andrews has snubbed John Pesutto’s challenge to a public debate in the coming weeks.

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday called on the Premier to “front up” to a live debate with him at the Melbourne Town Hall in front of up to 400 Victorians who could throw questions at the political leaders.

But asked if the Premier would take part in a debate, a government spokeswoman said: “We’re focused on listening to Victorians and doing what matters — making sure patients get the best care by investing in healthcare workers and hospitals, giving our kids the best start and saving families thousands with free kinder and putting power back in the hands of Victorians by bringing back the SEC”.

Mr Pesutto said the idea for a series of forums was sparked because of Mr Andrews’ recent personal comments about him.

On Tuesday, Mr Andrews accused the Liberal leader of voting no in the Voice Referendum to protect his job, claiming he didn’t have the internal authority to vote the way he wanted.

And last week, Mr Andrews said Mr Pesutto had also embarrassed himself by spending “every waking moment bagging Victoria”.

“They’re just focused on themselves, they’re a nasty little rabble and (Opposition Leader) John Pesutto couldn’t run a bath,” Mr Andrews said.

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday said the Premier’s recent focus on him was “really strange”.

“He’s had a lot to say about me over the last week … Maybe we’d be better off if he spent less time focusing on personal observations about me, and perhaps joining me in talking about some of the issues that matter to the Victorian people,” he said.

“Let’s actually open this up to the people. Let’s do something that engages the people a bit more, and if he wants to use a platform like that to make personal observations, he can knock himself out.

“People can turn up, they can ask questions and they can hear from both of us.

“I think that’s a better way for the Premier to engage with me. I have no desire or interest in personal reflections on the Premier.”

Mr Pesutto said the forum could give Victorians a chance to discuss matters like the Commonwealth Games, the housing crisis and planning laws.

He flagged that future debates, including in regional Victoria, could follow.

Has Pesutto finally grown a set? This debate I would like to see.
And Andrews saying Pessuto couldn’t run a bath. Will Premier Phuckface is running one thing, this once fine state into the ground.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:38 pm

Had a good tech experience today.
Working from home & my shitty printer ink alert went off.
Then a prompt on my computer said “would you like to buy more cartridges”.
Click click, PayPal, click & the cartridges will be delivered tomorrow.
If only more things could be that easy.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 4:40 pm

“Cassie, have you been to the dentist? Was he kind?”

Yes he was kind, except the prognosis isn’t. Root canal and thousands of dollars.

Back tomorrow for the first treatment. I’m dosed up with painkillers, which isn’t helping my mood.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:40 pm

Russia has energy & a few minerals.
Even though their economy is small & going no where, those few things make it a strategic pile of dirt.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 4:41 pm

My doctor wouldn’t prescribe any more painkillers after the last script. I’m cold turkey-ing on Panadol and Nurofen. What a meanie.

And guess what…he was right! I’m ashamed that I’ve become such a wuss.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:42 pm

Root canal and thousands of dollars.

About 20 years ago I had my first & only root canal.
It was botched.
On the second visit they extracted the tooth.
What a shit show.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 4:43 pm

You know, the pain over the last day and a bit has reduced me to tears. I swear, there’s nothing worse than tooth pain.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 4:43 pm

Erk…I had that two years ago. Grim. It worked though.

Don’t tell Roger *sotto voce*. He has had unpleasant experiences.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 4:44 pm

Don’t tell feelthebern either.

JMH
JMH
September 6, 2023 4:44 pm

“They’re just focused on themselves, they’re a nasty little rabble and (Opposition Leader) John Pesutto couldn’t run a bath,” Mr Andrews said.

The Hunchback is correct. For once. Why debate a man who obtains his “facts” from Wikipedia?

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 6, 2023 4:44 pm

If Langton won’t support a referendum that states it is recognition only, what the hell is in this one on the table now

Constitutional recognition, a non-ATSICable body and the High Court dealt in to determine what it all means and requires. A modest proposal in the Swiftian sense.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:45 pm

Bruce of Newcastle
Sep 6, 2023 4:31 PM

Cassie – I can’t recall you providing any evidence of your assertions. Maybe you have from time to time but it is pretty seldom. Perhaps look in a mirror before you criticise my attempts to provide backing for assertions I make.

How about the most recent biggest load of cods I’ve seen here for a while. The inference: A US firm hired your brother in the field of metallurgy because it has zero graduates in the metallurgy field. Zero possibility entertained there has been a sudden demand surge because of say, oh battery technology R&D going gang busters there.

Four of the top five material science universities in the world are in the US.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 4:47 pm

Cassie, the only pain I felt worse than that root canal was when I was playing basketball at school and copped a finger in the eye.
Recovering from a decent eye injury was part insanely painful & part mental having to wait a month to see if the old peeper was fine (which it was).

Barking Toad
Barking Toad
September 6, 2023 4:50 pm

I’m dosed up with painkillers, which isn’t helping my mood.

Ah, that explains bashing BoN 🙂

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:53 pm

We have cables from this period admitting that the US was already planning to renege on their commitments before the ink had even dried.

What is the evidence for these ‘cables”? Were these cables official US policy or the opinion of someone in the Administration or the state department. How were these cables woven into US policy. Be specific and show the evidence. You realize that many opinions are sort in forming policy, right?

What’s delusional is refusing to admit this is even the case.

Not, it’s not.

Russia has been grievance central since the Klep took over.

Rabz
September 6, 2023 4:55 pm

Prosciutto couldn’t run a bath,” Andrews said

This from a grotesque deformed jug eared fascist imbecile who couldn’t (allegedly) negotiate two small wooden steps without ending up in intensive care for weeks.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 4:57 pm

“Ah, that explains bashing BoN ?”

Me, bashing someone? Nah, and what about his bashing of me and others here who “dispute him”.

BoN has a glass jaw, whereas I just have a sore jaw, thanks to the tooth that requires root canal.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 4:57 pm

Ah, that explains bashing BoN 🙂

Happy to serve in that capacity! Toothaches and root canals suck. Cassie may not think so but I wish her the best.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 4:58 pm

Yes, there is copious primary evidence to this effect. Re the latter, the US ignored Russia in the sense in that it didn’t care what it thought about what it was doing in East Europe, the Middle East, etc.

You mentioned something about cables. How did these cables, which if they even exist sound like an opinion, weave into US foreign policy and its treatment of Russia?

It’s always the fault of this or that personality on the international stage, never because competing state interests are at loggerheads.

Well yes, in the case of China, it is this prick’s fault we are where we are. You’re even doubting this now?

Johnny Rotten
September 6, 2023 5:06 pm

There was no ‘ossification’ of NATO. It was used several times by the US in the ’90s/’00s/ and ’10s to project US power into Europe, Middle East and North Africa. If NATO remained where it was in the early 90s, even the late 90s, this situation wouldn’t be where it is right now.

Exactly. Russia does not want the UKR as a member of NATO on its doorstep. Not going to happen. It is NATO that mover eastwards and not Russia that has marched westwards.

Lee
Lee
September 6, 2023 5:11 pm

And Andrews saying Pessuto couldn’t run a bath.

This from a thoroughly incompetent POS who has managed to rack up a debt all on his lonesome of well over a hundred billion.

That includes paying a billion and a half for reneging on a new city road link contract (because his union mates were left out of the deal), and for reneging on the Commonwealth Games (which had he used as carrot to buy votes before at the last election).

Not to mention 800 people dying because he hired a bungling “security” firm for hotel quarantine.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 5:14 pm

feelthebern
Sep 6, 2023 4:24 PM

If Langton won’t support a referendum that states it is recognition only, what the hell is in this one on the table now?

The proposed s 129 is a blank cheque for the government to play God with OPM.

That’s all it is. There’s no requirement for indigeneity, for starters. The details are up to Parliament.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 5:18 pm

dover0beach
Sep 6, 2023 5:01 PM

What is the evidence for these ‘cables”?

Start here.

I skimmed it. There’s no evidence of your claim, which was this:

We have cables from this period admitting that the US was already planning to renege on their commitments before the ink had even dried.

There was an opinion expressed within the US foreign policy establishment, but none for your claim that the US lied.

Lee
Lee
September 6, 2023 5:19 pm

This from a grotesque deformed jug eared fascist imbecile who couldn’t (allegedly) negotiate two small wooden steps without ending up in intensive care for weeks.

The story I read is that hospital staff said his injuries were commensurate with a severe bashing.

Then was the obvious photoshopped image of him in hospital.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 5:20 pm

Wouldn’t it depend on how high up the chatter came from?

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 5:21 pm

two small wooden steps

—>

“a hitherto lover’s grandfather’s old County branded cricket bat from 1974”

Gabor
Gabor
September 6, 2023 5:22 pm

Root canal??

Tell me about it, the incompetent basket of a dentist drilled sideways through the tooth, 6 months later it had to come out.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 6, 2023 5:22 pm

Just told Hairy about your tooth issues and thousands of bucks needed, He sends commiserations, as he’d had one done himself fairly recently, very successfully too.

You should take heart that at least it wasn’t for a cat with toothache, he says, still smarting from $2500 worth of cat dentistry last week.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
September 6, 2023 5:23 pm

Cassie
Was you dentist…. Safe

https://youtu.be/kzw1_2b-I7A?si=Q1K5xpmOKUUusF-m

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 6, 2023 5:23 pm

That’s for Cassie, in case anyone is in doubt.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 5:29 pm

Dover

US policy went through contortions and spasms after 911. The world changed after the attack. Yet you offer zero acknowledgement of this very major event. Shit changes especially when buildings in your major major city are taken down by a bunch of goat herding riff raff.

——————
STFU Wodney. As the person who believes Marty had a sentient AI running from 1985, then through the time he he spent in Leavenworth for major fraud to the present, you have no right to interfere in any discussion. You moron, go away. Shoo.

JMH
JMH
September 6, 2023 5:34 pm

Re. Andrews and a bashing:

The story I read is that hospital staff said his injuries were commensurate with a severe bashing.

From somebody with Union connections, that’s what I was told. Not a fall – a well deserved flogging.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
September 6, 2023 5:36 pm

Dentistry. P J O’Rourke’s response to anyone who hankered after a return to ‘good old days’. It may be awful but at least it is fairly painless these days.

Even for the twice yearly clean and scale I go in and immediately say please use some local anaesthetic around any tooth you intend to touch with a metal implement. That always means all of them, so they know now to swab around enough anaesthetic to make me feel like I have a mouthful of horse teeth before they start. Huge unknowable things in my jaw. And ‘twilight sleep’ for root canal stuff.

Johnny Rotten
September 6, 2023 5:38 pm

JC
Sep 6, 2023 5:29 PM

Fark off yer’self you Sicktorian short arse pompous windbag. Your abuse is so obtuse.

I have every right to comment on this blog you T.W.A.T especially when it annoys you.

More Armstrong on the way soon just for you and your cronies. Get used to it or just piss off to the US and stay there.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 5:38 pm

What has the airline have to do with this? A kid was found in a bin at the airport and the local cops investigated the matter, so why is the airline being sued when it’s out of their hands.

Five women seeking compensation from Qatar Airways are about to return to court for the 21st time

Australia’s best business newsletter. Get the edge with AM and PM briefings, plus breaking news alerts in your inbox.

Five women pursuing Qatar Airways for compensation over a shocking incident at Hamad International Airport in late 2020, will return to court for the 21st time on Friday in their bid for justice.

The five were among 26 Australian women removed from a Qatar Airways flight in Doha on October 2, 2020, and forced to undergo internal examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned in an airport rubbish bin.

Marque Lawyers’ Damian Sturzaker, who is representing the women, said they were yet to receive so much as an apology for their treatment after numerous letters to Qatar state, and the airline.
Read Next

Most letters went unanswered, while a few received “cursory, dismissive responses,” he said.

Qatar Airways had now filed a “strike out application” in an effort to try to make the case go away, while the state of Qatar was claiming foreign state immunity in the matter.

Friday’s hearing was an attempt to obtain the records of the airport-based medical centre, which supplied the nurses who carried out the forced examinations.
READ MORE: PM’s admission raises more questions over Qatar decision | ‘Doesn’t add up’: Albanese flying blind in Qatar storm

Mr Sturzaker said it would be their 21st time in court since proceedings began close to a year ago.

“It’s complex and expensive litigation the women are undertaking to try to obtain compensation and a formal apology from Qatar,” he said.

“There are also proceedings relating to legitimate human rights concerns, before the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)”.

It was a letter to the woman from federal Transport Minister Catherine King that revealed the government had decided to deny Qatar Airways’ additional bilateral air rights.

Responding to their concerns about the airline’s behaviour and request for more flights, Ms King said the women’s experience “remained in her thoughts as well as those of her colleagues”.

The minister has since denied the women’s treatment helped determine the decision to refuse Qatar Airways more flights into Australia.
Qatar Airways’ conduct in a case brought by five Australian women has been highlighted as debate continues over bilateral air rights. Picture: AFP
Qatar Airways’ conduct in a case brought by five Australian women has been highlighted as debate continues over bilateral air rights. Picture: AFP

Although there was widespread outrage about the decision from tourism and travel operators, exporters and airports, Mr Sturzaker said his clients believed Qatar Airways should not be allowed to operate at all.

“They legitimately have very real concerns about Qatar Airways as an international carrier and those concerns have only been amplified by the conduct of the litigation,” Mr Sturzaker said.

It was not only the five women pursuing the matter in court who should be compensated, he said.

“There were 26 Australian women on our flight, and dozens of other flights were also caught up in this atrocity,” he said.

“Qatar should be reaching out and apologising and compensating all the women, not just the ones who’ve been brave enough to take on a state entity.

“It’s outrageous behaviour.”

Qatar Airways has previously indicated the treatment of the women was part of a criminal investigation by police that it had no control over.

“As with all other airlines and passengers who were affected by this matter, Qatar Airways was required to comply and had no ability to refuse directions issued at the time by the Qatari authorities,” a spokesman said.

The strikeout application will be heard in November on the grounds that the case did not properly fall under the Montreal Convention, which governs aviation incidents.

Marque Lawyers has taken on the case on a pro bono basis.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 5:42 pm

The five were among 26 Australian women removed from a Qatar Airways flight in Doha on October 2, 2020, and forced to undergo internal examinations after a newborn baby was found abandoned in an airport rubbish bin.

Well shit, what else were the authorities meant to do?

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 5:43 pm

Fark off yer’self you Sicktorian short arse pompous windbag. Your abuse is so obtuse.

I have every right to comment on this blog you T.W.A.T especially when it annoys you.

More Armstrong on the way soon just for you and your cronies. Get used to it or just piss off to the US and stay there.

Arrogance yeah? This coming from the gullible moron posting diatribe from a fraudster claiming he’d invented sentient AI in the mid 80s. Both of you should be sharing a room in a loon asylum. Remain silent.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 5:43 pm

– “What is it that a man may call the greatest things in life?”
– “Hot water, good dentishtry and shoft lavatory paper.”

–Cohen the Barbarian (quote)

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 5:44 pm

Well shit, what else were the authorities meant to do?

I know, right, but it’s the airline’s fault.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 5:44 pm

What has the airline have to do with this? A kid was found in a bin at the airport and the local cops investigated the matter, so why is the airline being sued when it’s out of their hands.

MAN, I would LOVE to have the chat logs between these people and anyone in Cabinet.

Salvatore, Iron Publican
September 6, 2023 5:46 pm

Marque Lawyers has taken on the case on a pro bono basis.

Marque Lawyers is 80% younger females (not all with a ponytail)

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 6, 2023 5:47 pm

Knuckle Dragger
Sep 6, 2023 3:37 PM
Called MacArthur. Shit job, but someone had to do it.

Blamey. A shit bloke who did it shitfully.

This was discussed at length some time back. Cherrypicking does not a historian make.

When forced to choose between the interests of Australia or the Australian Army, and his personal interests, Blamey invariable chose his personal interests.

Lee
Lee
September 6, 2023 5:48 pm

From somebody with Union connections, that’s what I was told. Not a fall – a well deserved flogging.

I don’t doubt it.

The thing is, Andrews never pressed charges (assuming he knew his attackers), or even filed a police report.

That suggests he is scared shitless.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 6, 2023 5:59 pm

feelthebern
Sep 6, 2023 4:24 PM
If Langton won’t support a referendum that states it is recognition only, what the hell is in this one on the table now?

Recognition plus InVoice plus Treaty plus Makarrata (vengeance) plus “Truth” plus Reparations ad infinitum.

Completely innocuous, really.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 6, 2023 6:02 pm

Bruce of N

On the general subject of nuclear weapons security, the kind of people the west uses to design the security systems tend to be paranoids with a persecution complex. Given their national psyche, their Russian equivalents probably regard them as incurable optimists.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
September 6, 2023 6:05 pm

why is the airline being sued when it’s out of their hands.
Marque Lawyers, card-carrying ALP shills.
Qatar v Qantas, the enemy of my friend etc

Peter Greagg
Peter Greagg
September 6, 2023 6:05 pm

Just some random thoughts re the InVoice.

I am amused that Langton’s Scottish father and Dodson’s Irish father have been put down the memory hole.

Also, the press mis-quoting Gary Johns. What he actually said was to the effect, I wouldn’t ever discriminate on the basis of race, but if you have to, then Fairness says you must make sure the assistance only goes to those who qualify. IE a blood test.
Johns prefers to use need to determine who gets government assistance – rightly so in my view.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 6:13 pm

Given their national psyche, their Russian equivalents probably regard them as incurable optimists.

😀 If you ever hear an earth shattering kaboom from Belarus you’ll know why.

I wonder if the US ever got their nukes back from Incirlik?

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 6, 2023 6:19 pm

Bruce of N

I had a number of arguments with IIRC, Memory Vault, about those.

The probability of the Turks being able to bypass the dual key system is minute, and if the USAF chose not to maintain them properly (if they could not be removed), their reliability would be very suspect.

Mark from Melbourne
Mark from Melbourne
September 6, 2023 6:20 pm

Mr Pesutto on Wednesday said the Premier’s recent focus on him was “really strange”.

Says it all really.

The “Leader” of the “Opposition” finds it strange that the Leader of the Government is focussing on him?

John, the first, last and only job of the Leader of the Opposition is to hold the premier to account. If an Opposition Leader is doing his job exceptionally well, the Premier will be forced to focus on him often. If passably well, sometimes.

You find it “really strange” that he does so at all?

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 6, 2023 6:24 pm

I am amused that Langton’s Scottish father and Dodson’s Irish father have been put down the memory hole.

In company with Burney’s Scots mother.

Mark from Melbourne
Mark from Melbourne
September 6, 2023 6:26 pm

I laugh at all your dentistry woes (well, not really!)

Simple solution… which I had 18 or so months ago… rip ’em all out and have a new lot installed. No more pain!! My annual trip to the dentist is to unscrew the teeth, give them a clean, and screw them back in. Takes 45 minutes.

Mind you, you could buy a decent new car instead…

Cassie, having had mucho tooth pain as my teeth basically surrendered before I had the yellow-livered lot removed entirely, you have my sympathies.

Rockdoctor
Rockdoctor
September 6, 2023 6:26 pm

From somebody with Union connections, that’s what I was told. Not a fall – a well deserved flogging.

Relative is in trades in Victoria, has worked on CMFEU sites. Heard similar.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 6:30 pm

Mark from Melbourne…part human, part cyborg.

Why, oh why can’t I get “Jaws” out of my mind? 😀

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 6, 2023 6:31 pm

In company with Burney’s Scots mother.

And Dodson’s Malaysian/Japanese/Aboriginal mother.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 6:32 pm

I say that as someone with Terminator knees.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 6, 2023 6:34 pm

Voice Co-Design Report author Professor Marcia Langton has made it clear she will not work with a future Coalition…

There’s your problem right there.
The job-for-life of da voice is to stymie any future Coalition agenda, and tick off the five year plans of Luigi’s, past, present and emerging.

Tom
Tom
September 6, 2023 6:42 pm

Criminologist and demographic researcher Bob Birrell, on Rita Panahi’s show on Sky tonight, points out the reason the voice is losing in the opinion polls is that it is supported only by the young and the radical university-educated minority who, for example, don’t believe in national borders and that the Third World’s poor should be allowed to settle in Australia and remake its politics.

The Voice is their voice and represents the radicalisation of Australian politics. The Australian middle class – facing a cost-of-living crisis – wants the problems facing families addressed, whereas Elbow’s trade union government is increasingly hijacked by reckless green radicals.

Indolent
Indolent
September 6, 2023 6:43 pm
Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 6:43 pm

The probability of the Turks being able to bypass the dual key system is minute

BJ – It’s the same argument. What is there to stop a B61 being dismantled? If there’s a detonation fallback then the result would be a political crisis not seen since WW2. So I doubt they’d be set for a detonation as a tamper-proof mechanism. And anything less than that means the good stuff is available with fairly basic mechanical and electrical aptitude.

Once you have the beast in bits you rebuild it with your own trigger mechanism. It might not be as good as the original weapon system but it would work in many applications. Especially in things like a container or a truck.

Indolent
Indolent
September 6, 2023 6:45 pm

Dr. John Campbell

Are drug regulators for hire?

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 6:45 pm

I said ‘start here’, not end there. Read this paper.

Dover, you gave me the first link. I read most of it. I searched for cable and came up with four hits. None of those suggested what you implied.

Your second link appears quite copious with numerous links to papers. Where exactly is the evidence the US lied from the very beginning? I have a bit of trading stuff going on and no time for lengthy reading.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 6, 2023 6:45 pm
calli
calli
September 6, 2023 6:46 pm

whereas Elbow’s trade union government is increasingly hijacked by reckless green radicals.

This isn’t accidental. Elbow, the old Trot, is right in the middle of it.

Endless revolution.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 6:48 pm

“thefrollickingmole
Sep 6, 2023 5:23 PM”

That scene still gives me the heebie-jeebies. Olivier was simply sensational. I remember reading a story about how Olivier and Hoffman prepared for the roles and that scene. It reflected the difference between Olivier and Hoffman’s acting styles, between a young American “method” actor, and an old established British actor. Olivier was an old-fashioned actor who learnt his lines and “acted”, whereas Hoffman learnt his trade at the actor’s studio, using method acting where you were supposed to “live” the character in order to act the character. Ridiculous! The story is that whilst working on Marathon Man, Hoffman stayed awake for three days so that he could play a sleep-deprived character. On hearing this, Olivier’s response to Hoffman was…..

“My dear boy, why don’t you just try acting?”

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
September 6, 2023 6:48 pm

I notice Noel Pearson has culturally appropriated a pork pie hat.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
September 6, 2023 6:49 pm

Rita Panahi giving the dyed hair fossil Sheridan an exorcism.
I keep thinking Sheridan would hate Teddy Roosevelt if he was in power today. He was a showman on many levels but regarded as a great president. Sheridan is a pucker arsed squib who can’t stand the machismo of a real man .

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 6:57 pm

“My dear boy, why don’t you just try acting?”

Chuckle. I’ve heard this one before.

All the difference between appearing before the cameras for a few takes and treading the boards night after night.

Indolent
Indolent
September 6, 2023 6:58 pm

The Malcolm Roberts Show

In the wake of Channel 7’s shocking Spotlight investigation last Sunday into the transgender epidemic, join me as I talk to a mother who has successfully fought the BigPharma gender cult to protect her two daughters.

“There’s a conveyor belt of trans radical activists in who have infiltrated the state (QLD) of departments of health, schooling, education and social services.”

I doubt it only happens in Queensland.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 6:58 pm

Would that be a Porky Pie hat, Tinta? 😀

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 6:58 pm

” Sheridan is a pucker arsed squib”

Generous.

bons
bons
September 6, 2023 6:58 pm

Yes, and unlike Credlin, Rita did not accept his bullying.
Best TV journo in Oz.

Rabz
September 6, 2023 7:01 pm

That Rita/Sheridini contretemps is one for the ages, “So tell us about the Martians, Greg”.

Bloody hilarious.

miltonf
miltonf
September 6, 2023 7:03 pm

Good on her.

John H.
John H.
September 6, 2023 7:04 pm

lotocoti
Sep 6, 2023 2:38 PM
The Moskva, a first class naval vessel was taken out by some very mediocre missiles

FFS
Moskva was a first class naval vessel back when I were young.
With forty years of paint, a careless smoker could’ve sent her to the bottom.

Many naval ships are operational for decades. It was the most powerful ship in the Black Sea and for Russia is a first class naval vessel; which isn’t saying much giving the Kuznetsov will probably never sail again, it has submarines rusting away in port, and China can build more ships in a year than Russia in a decade. Your comment supports my contention that the Russian military is woefully under resourced. A careless smoker could send it to the bottom because the firefighting equipment has probably been pilfered.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 7:05 pm

The Persian Princess takes no prisoners.

I have an inkling she reads the Cat.

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
September 6, 2023 7:08 pm

Earlier in week Peter Gleeson on 4BC mentioned something not seen mentioned anywhere else.

Said at end of Brisbane Festival Riverfire show there was a drone display. Final thing showed was words Always was, Always Will be Meenjin.

Anybody watch it or have video of it. Comes after Premier months ago had denied any move to change the name of Brisbane.

Rabz
September 6, 2023 7:08 pm

Wow – Langton really is one stupid angry unpleasant and strident ol’ bat.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 7:10 pm

I also think Rita is probably mightily sick of the Dribbler’s incoherent rambling anti-Trump diatribes in the Oz.

calli
calli
September 6, 2023 7:12 pm

She commented from time to time on Sinc Cat. Straight after I said she had naughty eyes and a wicked laugh, much to my horror!

I stand by my assertion. 😀

H B Bear
H B Bear
September 6, 2023 7:14 pm

Wow – Langton really is one stupid angry unpleasant and strident ol’ bat

Plenty more where that came from. Sixty million years of grievance, apparently.

miltonf
miltonf
September 6, 2023 7:14 pm

Wow – Langton really is one stupid angry unpleasant and strident ol’ bat.

wouldn’t want to ask her for an extension

miltonf
miltonf
September 6, 2023 7:16 pm

But a guy who walked into the Capitol Building? Major firms want nothing to do with those scumbags.

More evidence that the USA is a one party Stalinist dictatorship

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
September 6, 2023 7:16 pm

Would that be a Porky Pie hat, Tinta?

Yes calli with the emphasis on PORKY

bons
bons
September 6, 2023 7:19 pm

Watching Dutton on Bolt talking about Qatar and Voice. Everything that he says was thoughtful, balanced, very well researched, allowing for dissenting opinion. Zero mongrel.
Repeat after me Mr Dutton:
F*uk you labor and ABC, I am coming for you!
Was he a real ‘catch crims’ copper or a bureaucrat?

Tom
Tom
September 6, 2023 7:20 pm

The Persian Princess takes no prisoners.
I have an inkling she reads the Cat.

Panahi gave Greg Sheridan the disrespect he so richly deserves as a small-L liberal clown who pretends to be a conservative.

Panahi spat him out like a fish bone.

Mark from Melbourne
Mark from Melbourne
September 6, 2023 7:21 pm

Mark from Melbourne…part human, part cyborg.

Why, oh why can’t I get “Jaws” out of my mind? ?

Calli (she of the fake knee… something I am being forced to reluctantly consider!), are you related to SWMBO? Or are all birthing people just drawn, somehow, to James Bond references?

(I didn’t mention the ear trumpets… well, perhaps once, but I’m sure she missed it)

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 6, 2023 7:30 pm

Wow – Langton really is one stupid angry unpleasant and strident ol’ bat.

Langton see’s herself on the payroll of any “Voice” to Parliament.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 7:33 pm

Something that’s been missed or at least not commented enough over the last decade is the boom in Russian & Chinese cinema.
All ultra patriotic, the US/west are evil or decadent.
Some of them make Michael Bay/DoD productions look pedestrian.

Top Ender
Top Ender
September 6, 2023 7:34 pm

And it seems in Melbourne there are a few anti-woke lawyers:

The Women Barristers Association has lashed out at a mock notice posted in the lift of a prestigious law chambers, claiming the flyer was intended to ridicule female lawyers and saying the fight for women’s rights has “not ended”.

The notice, pinned to a lift in Melbourne’s Owen Dixon Chambers, advertised the fake “Men in Law Awards” which included categories for “most woke counsel” and “best virtue-signalling counsel”.

Other categories included:
least offensive counsel;
best beard worn by counsel under 5 years call;
best beard worn by counsel over 15 years call;
counsel with the best virtue signalling ‘signature’ statement (he, him, it, they dilligaf, acknowledgment of prior claims to land, etc.)

“The Men in Law Awards, in conjunction with various stakeholders and a panel of leading pseudo professionals, have developed a robust awards methodology to form the backbone for assessing, analysing and benchmarking Victoria’s leading legal professionals,” the notice read.

“Sadly this expertise will not be called upon in judging such nominations.”

The notice concluded by saying “Men: Bring a plate. Women: BYO”.

Not everyone saw humour in the notice, with the WBA swiftly issuing a statement condemning the “discriminatory” flyer, and saying it was an attack on the Women in Law Awards.

Oz

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
September 6, 2023 7:37 pm

The only thing I know about the Hunchback’s bashing is it wasn’t hard enough.

Rockdoctor
Rockdoctor
September 6, 2023 7:42 pm

Not to mention 800 people dying because he hired a bungling “security” firm for hotel quarantine.

Something that had a stench of protected people in high places IMO and never fully investigated by journalists who had a sniff of deeper things early on.

The Company had delisted subsidiaries with recommendations of charges from the Feds or NSW plod from my memories. The links also from what I could see at that time, now disappeared off the net had one of the directors on one of the state’s security licencing boards.

Both Credlin and Murray were doing one of those “big things” talks lead ups to breaking open potential corruption that went dead very quickly. Was widely discussed on the Cat at the time and I still can’t help feeling both sides of the isle had their hands in the cookie jar here.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 7:42 pm

I’m watching this big budget Chinese movie in Netflix called Hidden Strike.
Jackie Chan & John Cena star in a movie where China (& John Cena) save the middle east from western interests.

It’s quite terrible.

Indolent
Indolent
September 6, 2023 7:44 pm

Phyllis Schlafly Month #1 The Anti Feminist

Sound familiar? It’s the same playbook for every group. Divide and conquer.

“The feminist movement is not about success for women. It is about treating women as victims and about telling women that you can’t succeed because society is unfair to you, and I think that’s a very unfortunate idea to put in the minds of young women because I believe women can do whatever they want.”

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 7:45 pm

If you have Netflix, the Shane Gillis special has just dropped.
Pretty funny, but not exactly new if you follow his youtube or patreon.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 7:52 pm

JC, the first link established that US made a commitment to not expand NATO eastward when negotiating German reunification between ’89-’91, etc., and the next link establishes that the same administration was already considering eastward expansion of NATO as a means of heading off any independent European foreign policy emerging and that a consensus was achieved by ’92. It’s right there in the first page and then the second section.

Okay, I read nearly all of the second link. It’s most obviously true that NATO has become much bigger, but I’ve yet to read anything about how the US was acting deviously with cables, verifying your claim that this occurred even during the negotiations with the Sovs. Your second link talks about the US concern that Europe would go its own way, and this was seen as problematic for the Americans. I can also suggest the other concern the US has about Europe: the two world wars in which it was forced to intervene. This latter point was raised numerous times in the 90s.

Indolent
Indolent
September 6, 2023 7:53 pm
Real Deal
Real Deal
September 6, 2023 7:55 pm

You know, the pain over the last day and a bit has reduced me to tears. I swear, there’s nothing worse than tooth pain.

Cassie, I’ve had two separate root canals this year on two separate teeth. Front tooth expensive but straightforward. Back molar complicated, painful and still not finished.

You expect when you pay lots of money for something it will be a pleasurable experience. With root canal you pay thousands two have someone pound your teeth and jaw for an hour at a time. I can think of lots of other ways to blow a few thousand bucks.

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
September 6, 2023 7:55 pm

the US/west are evil or decadent.

They are right. At least about our leaders, and a fair fraction of the general population.

Salvatore, Iron Publican
September 6, 2023 7:57 pm

Not everyone saw humour in the notice, with the WBA swiftly issuing a statement condemning the “discriminatory” flyer, and saying it was an attack on the Women in Law Awards.

Yeah. Aforementioned Marque Lawyers – 80% female/ladies, most all of them look <35yo.
It'd be an absolute hell workplace for anybody who had a sense of humour.
(or perhaps one big long endorphin fuelled trolling session – at least right up until the HR tribunal hearing & the summary termination)

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
September 6, 2023 7:58 pm

Good rant. If you don’t like the channel, f*ck off!*

* Most are bots.

Rumble is now getting flooded by them, too. Pricks to those hitting the enter button.

—-

Reverend Simon Sideways:

just a little rant

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 8:05 pm

Just watched Rita’s smackdown of Dribbler Sheridan, the man who brings up Martians in debate.

He really is a disgrace.

feelthebern
feelthebern
September 6, 2023 8:12 pm

Name something original that Sheridan has brought to the debate in the last decade.
I don’t watch him, but I do skim his columns in the Oz.

Indolent
Indolent
September 6, 2023 8:12 pm
Old Lefty
Old Lefty
September 6, 2023 8:23 pm

The identity and ethnicity of the vandals will, I assume, remain a mystery:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-06/barkly-bushfire-volunteers-vehicles-stolen-damaged/102822148

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 6, 2023 8:32 pm

REAL Reason Birmingham DECLARED Bankruptcy

Stories today which just might be connected in some inscrutable way. 😀

Labour Party-Run Birmingham Council Declares Effective Bankruptcy (6 Sep)

In the latest example of a Labour Party-run area running out of money, Birmingham City Council issued a spending freeze Section 114 notice, meaning that the local government of England’s second-largest city will only be able to dole out funds to maintain core services

Birmingham Mosque Has £2 Million Govt Grant Suspended over Shocking Islamist Sermons (5 Sep)

A £2 million government grant to a controversial Mosque has been suspended amid outcry over extremist Islamist statements made by its imams including apparently advocating for stoning women to death for adultery and waging jihad against unbelievers.

I admit personal prejudice since it was in Birmingham that I had the worst takeaway hamburger I’ve ever encountered. Food in Britain is a great reason for emigrating to the colonies. It seems an enduring talent.

mizaris
mizaris
September 6, 2023 8:43 pm

You expect when you pay lots of money for something it will be a pleasurable experience. With root canal you pay thousands two have someone pound your teeth and jaw for an hour at a time. I can think of lots of other ways to blow a few thousand bucks.

If your root canals are so excruciating, you’re seeing the wrong dentist. Ex dental nurse.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 6, 2023 8:44 pm

The identity and ethnicity of the vandals will, I assume, remain a mystery:

Aspiring rappers?

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
September 6, 2023 8:51 pm

Good on her!

Senator Claire Chandler:

Former Labor Prime Minister, Julia Gillard was recently asked, ‘What is a woman?’

Ms Gillard’s response was that the question was a ‘gotcha parlour game’.

But it is no game. The reason people ask leaders this question is that women’s single-sex spaces and sports depend on it.

Tuesday, 5 September 2023

What is a woman?

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
September 6, 2023 8:55 pm

Panahi v Sheridan. That was a hoot. Sheridan threw his toys out and had a near meltdown. Panahi made some soothing noises for him and wrapped it up. I was only half listening but S was banging on about 2020 Biden winning fairly. Panahi responded with oh please. As in give me a break. …and off they went. Great to watch.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
September 6, 2023 8:56 pm

That bitch@ 0:29 looks like a ghoul out of a horror movie.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 6, 2023 8:58 pm

Bruce of Newcastle
Sep 6, 2023 6:43 PM
The probability of the Turks being able to bypass the dual key system is minute

BJ – It’s the same argument. What is there to stop a B61 being dismantled? If there’s a detonation fallback then the result would be a political crisis not seen since WW2.

Recall. Paranoids with persecution complexes. Think of all the complex things you could do to protect sensitive processes, then raise those to the hundredth power.

PS, if a foreign nation steals and fiddles with a nuke, which detonates, then the political crisis is theirs, though there would be kickback at the nation that allowed one to be stolen.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 8:58 pm

Dover, you mentioned cables going to and from the US foreign policy establishment suggesting the US was acting deviously with the Soviets. It doesn’t appear to be the case.

What your links suggest is that there was a great deal of debate within the various administrations from the breakup up to the very early 00s. You may call it a change of heart, but it doesn’t appear that there were cables directly suggesting the US were lying to the Russians.

There’s this:

It ?nds that no one factor explains the United States’ enlargement consensus. Instead, pervasive US support for enlargement re?ects the con?uence of several international and domestic trends that, collectively, transformed NATO expansion into a lodestone of US foreign relations. Regardless, the development carries a range of consequences for US national security; although enlargement a?orded the United States signi?cant oversight of European security and political developments, it came at the cost of increased tensions and diminished ?exibility with Russia, allied cheap-riding, and US overextension.

The overriding concern for the US was that if Europe was left to its own, there would be a third reason for the US having to go in and fight a third war over there because those morons would be at it again.

You could say the US wasn’t steadfast in its Russian undertakings, but there were no cables to show US intentions were dishonest.

Cassie of Sydney
September 6, 2023 9:03 pm

Blot had on tonight Senator Jacinta Price’s father. Like his daughter and his wife, Dave Price is impressive, very impressive. Jacinta had a good upbringing.

Boambee John
Boambee John
September 6, 2023 9:04 pm

Rabz
Sep 6, 2023 7:08 PM
Wow – Langton really is one stupid angry unpleasant and strident ol’ bat.

Those are her good points.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 9:05 pm

There’s this:

Immediately after the Cold War, the George H.W. Bush administration spent 2 years quietly exploring the possibility of NATO enlarge-ment internally, yet avoided openly raising the issue for fear of Soviet (and later Russian) opposition, backlash from the United States’ Western European allies, and uncertainties surrounding US public support for the move.

There’s nothing here to suggest they were openly lying even if they were thinking about enlargement. There’s a lot of discourse that occurs within administrations over very important events.

There’s also another thing that I vividly recall about the era. At the time of German unification older Bush received a great deal of criticism from West Germany because the Administration appeared to be very lukewarm to the idea of unification. There was a great deal of criticism leveled against Bush over this issue in the US press. My recollection is very clear on this. It doesn’t show the US acting deviously. They basically didn’t know how to handle the events at the time.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 9:13 pm

Also, The US did assist Russia and opened the way for them to behave like a nromal country.

Thirteen months later, on December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dissolved. President Bush and his chief foreign policy advisers were more pro-active toward Russia and the former Soviet republics after the collapse of the Communist monolith than while it was teetering. In a series of summits during the next year with the new Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Bush pledged $4.5-billion to support economic reform in Russia, as well as additional credit guarantees and technical assistance.

The two former Cold War adversaries lifted restrictions on the numbers and movement of diplomatic, consular, and official personnel. They also agreed to continue the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty negotiations (START), begun before the collapse of the Soviet Union, which set a goal of reducing their strategic nuclear arsenals from approximately 12,000 warheads to 3,000-3,500 warheads by 2003. In January 1993, three weeks before leaving office, Bush traveled to Moscow to sign the START II Treaty that codified those nuclear reductions.

It was the klepto who began 20 odd years of grievance mongering culminating in the invasion of Ukraine.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
September 6, 2023 9:13 pm
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
September 6, 2023 9:23 pm

From The Oz, January 26th 2023. What fvcking difference will the “Voice” make here?

‘Hard, hard’ reality of life for camp kids in Alice Springs

exclusive
By paige taylor
Indigenous Affairs Correspondent, WA Bureau Chief
@paigeataylor
1:13PM January 26, 2023
207 Comments

In her life after politics, Bess Nungarrayi Price works with camp kids who have become central to the national debate over chaos in Alice Springs.

She is candid about their lives. The Walpiri grandmother says the camps where children live on the outskirts of town have become “dumps” despite 40 years of government funding. She believes that what many of the children contend with at home would astound most Australians.

“These students, they come from a hard, hard lifestyle situation. Some of them barely have a good night’s sleep and (there is) everything else that happens within those town camps,” she said.
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She says alcohol – and the business of obtaining it – consumes the camps’ big drinkers. They will obtain it by legal or illegal means.

“People drink every day and they’re drunk by six o’clock in the morning,” she said.

“There’s fights, there’s fist fights that break out. There’s ­people who are drinking every day who are so noisy, belligerent.

“There’s all this sly grog being sold.”

Ms Price, a former minister in the Northern Territory government and now assistant principal at the independent Yipirinya School in Alice Springs, does not believe an Indigenous voice can fix any of this.

She wants the Aboriginal people of Alice Springs to take their rightful place and begin to sort out lawlessness that she says has been three or four years in the making.

“What I would really like to see is the traditional owners – the traditional owners who’s first language is Arrernte – speak up and take control of this town of Alice Springs,” she said.

“I want to see them stand up and take control. In Aboriginal culture, they have the authority.”

Ms Price spoke to The Australian as she prepared to receive an Australia Day honour for her service to the NT parliament and Indigenous people.

She was a schoolteacher in her home community of Yuendumu – 300km northwest of Alice Springs – when she met her husband, Dave, a non-Indigenous man, in 1979. The couple moved to Alice Springs in 1983.

Ms Price was the inaugural chair of the Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council for the NT government before she was elected to the NT’s legislative assembly in 2012. She was a minister in the NT government in 2014 when her sister Rosalie was murdered in Katherine. Breaking with Walpiri tradition, she asked media to use Rosa­lie’s name so she would be remembered as a person not a statistic.

She was a vocal advocate for community safety initiatives as a politician and since. “It was always my belief that I was elected by the constituents in my electorate and I was there as their member to fight for them to be able to deliver what was needed out in the communities,” she said.

Asked about the crisis engulfing Alice Springs, Ms Price described wretched and itinerant alcoholics in and around the town who devote their time to circumventing the NT’s bottleshop rules. Until last July, this included a requirement that anyone purchasing takeaway alcohol must have proof of an address. Drinkers would “go looking for someone who has an address, so they can hound that family member to buy them alcohol”.

Now the only requirement is photo identification to prove the purchaser is not on the NT government’s banned drinkers list, so banned drinkers look for an unbanned relative or friend who can buy for them.

“They think ‘OK, it’s going be two o’clock (the opening time for bottleshops before temporary restrictions announced on Tuesday delayed opening times until 3pm) so we need to get enough money, find someone with a car … and it’s just like open slather.

“They’re in there with their 30 packs, Jim Beam, Bundaberg rum, and it’s sad.”

Crossie
Crossie
September 6, 2023 9:43 pm

Cassie of Sydney
Sep 6, 2023 9:03 PM
Blot had on tonight Senator Jacinta Price’s father. Like his daughter and his wife, Dave Price is impressive, very impressive. Jacinta had a good upbringing.

An impressive family certainly but they put the effort and time into bringing up their daughter, the effort that is missing from most of the parents in remote communities. But it’s our fault for the dysfunction in those communities.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
Nelson_Kidd-Players
September 6, 2023 9:52 pm

calli
Sep 6, 2023 7:12 PM

She commented from time to time on Sinc Cat. Straight after I said she had naughty eyes and a wicked laugh, much to my horror!

Wait, Rita’s a bone fide Çat alumnus? How did I miss that?

Also, so it wasn’t just sparring with Munty on a footy show on community radio…

Nelson_Kidd-Players
Nelson_Kidd-Players
September 6, 2023 9:58 pm

40,000 aboriginal land claims across NSW according to this interview with Ben Fordham this morning. Sounds like every bit of crown land in NSW has had a claim made and the backlog is only now coming to light. The page has a 54-second video clip with the money quote and the full audio interview of 12:38.

Nelson_Kidd-Players
Nelson_Kidd-Players
September 6, 2023 10:04 pm
P
P
September 6, 2023 10:08 pm

An impressive family certainly but they put the effort and time into bringing up their daughter

Jacinta Price’s father reveals extent of abuse levelled against his daughter by Voice supporters

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 10:08 pm

Dover, you mentioned cables going to and from the US foreign policy establishment suggesting the US was acting deviously with the Soviets. It doesn’t appear to be the case.

No, here is what I said:

We have cables from this period admitting that the US was already planning to renege on their commitments before the ink had even dried.

Yes, which describes what you said. If it’s misleading explain how.

A charitable reading of that is simply that while they were saying that NATO would not expand eastwards in negotiations re German unification, etc. in these cables, they were also as a matter of policy non-commital amongst themselves during this same period, ’90-’91, and that a consensus emerged for enlargement by ’92.

Events were moving at lightening speed. US policy wasn’t moving as fast as the events were changing the status quo.

It wasn’t just that US was concerned with the Europeans screwing things up again. There was also the possibility Russia would have a change of heart and meddle in these countries again. You appear to be skimming over the Soviet intervention in Hungary and Czechoslovakia. There’s a lot of things to consider.

None of this depends on them ‘openly lying’ whatever that could mean here. What it depends on is that they never really meant to keep their commitments once they achieved German reunification, etc. That is what is demonstrated by those two links.

I don’t see how you can say this when foreign policy was being dictated by a world that was changing before our very eyes. A change of heart isn’t lying.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 10:10 pm

https://thecountersignal.com/national-australia-bank-adds-mean-speech-to-debanking-criteria/

Effectively, NAB may debank customers any time they hurt another person’s feelings.

This includes if customers are guilty of “making profane, derogatory, discriminatory or harassing comments to any person,” or inflicting “psychological harm.”

Might be time to get out of NAB and heavily into crypto.

DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
September 6, 2023 10:35 pm

Jacinta Price’s father reveals extent of abuse levelled against his daughter by Voice supporters

Dave Price was a breath of fresh air. Sensible, grounded and impressive. What he had to say about ‘reconcilliation’ was spot on. You can’t get more reconciled than marrying.

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 10:38 pm

Please explain why Russia invading Ukraine is justified because of NATO expansion when Zelensky has repeatedly said they will not join NATO – but because of a promise made years before Putin became President that saw other European countries join?

Dot
Dot
September 6, 2023 10:43 pm

It’s almost here, fellas.

There will be some spelling changes in the merger.

https://waylandindustries.com/

https://yutani.co.jp/en/

Alamak!
September 6, 2023 10:57 pm

Russia invading Ukraine is like USA in Vietnam … Bad policy, whatever the desired outcome, and terrible tactics.

Both USA And China happy to see the Russian military wasted and its weakness revealed in a useless conflict over nothing strategic.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 6, 2023 10:57 pm

TE at 7:34

Not everyone saw humour in the notice, with the WBA swiftly issuing a statement condemning the “discriminatory” flyer, and saying it was an attack on the Women in Law Awards.

Mmmyes.
Don’t prick that balloon (so to speak).
I think most large corporates have a “Women of XYZ Co” group.
The one at the last ASX200 company I was at operated a bit like a New York mafia family … a couple of ageing Karens at the top doling out favours to the capos and soldiers who paid their dues.
The really capable women there were too busy doing their jobs to be bothered.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 11:06 pm

Dover
The Soviet Union lost the Cold War. The victor then decides how things will stack up in the future. If the US subsequently decided expansion was the way to go, so be it.

It’s amusing how sometimes people talk about the US losing this war or that one back then when it won the only war that mattered. The Soviet Union became extinct.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 11:16 pm

One more thing, it’s a testament to US leadership and the benign nature of the West that former Warsaw pact nations weren’t just running away from the Russians, they were bolting at light speed into the arms of US dominated NATO. No one demanded these fcukers join. They’re frightened stiff of the marauding orcs.

Johnny Rotten
September 6, 2023 11:21 pm

Zelensky has repeatedly said they will not join NATO –

Errrrrrr. The UKR Clown Z was trying to get NATO membership this year only to be told – Not yet. He then had a ‘hissy fit’.

“VILNIUS, July 11 (Reuters) – NATO leaders said on Tuesday that Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance at some point in the future but they stopped short of offering Kyiv an immediate invitation, angering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/nato-summit-seeks-agreement-ukraine-bid-after-turkey-deal-sweden-2023-07-10/

You must have missed the news.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 6, 2023 11:28 pm

A great leap forward in technology for the Panzers!
I have discovered Google translate using the phone camera to read text and translate.
Went into a restaurant in Kyoto, pointed my phone at a hand written Japanese menu and up comes the English translation.
The thing is, it kept trying to translate into Spanish, which I had to over-ride.
I finally figured out that a good number of the dishes used terms common to Spanish cuisine, so the app joined the dots.
But we got exactly what the translation said.
Impressed that it could interpret hand-written notes.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 11:29 pm

Wodney

“He” didn’t miss the news. You missed the point that Ukriane has asked for entry after it was attacked by Russia. After is not before. Go ask Marty’s sentient AI to help you. You were told to remain silent. Let it be so.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
September 6, 2023 11:38 pm

It’s amusing how sometimes people talk about the US losing this war or that one back then when it won the only war that mattered. The Soviet Union became extinct.

The beauty of it was multi-faceted.
Firstly, and most importantly, possibly the only shots fired were in the libraries of Soviet generals in Moscow.
Secondly, it was precipitated by Reagan, Pope John Paul II and, to a lesser extent, Thatcher. The left thought John Paul II was a harmless dreamer, hated Maggie Thatcher with a passion, and thought Ronnie Reagan was a buffoon.
Thirdly, the popular Western left view during the ’80’s was that the USSR was impregnable, and any attempts to undermine it were futile.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 11:43 pm

Satan’s representative on earth isn’t attending G20.

Xi must have a few domestic problems to contend with.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
September 6, 2023 11:48 pm

Orange Man speaking now in New Hampshire, live on WION and other channels.

He’s recapping all the dirt about the FISA warrants Russia Collusion Hoax, Laptop From Hell, the Election Rigging, and the subsequent witch hunts and legal attempts to prevent him speaking about all of the above.
You’ve heard it all before.

He says all the election evidence will be aired again during the upcoming trial about Jan 6.

JC
JC
September 6, 2023 11:48 pm
Salvatore, Iron Publican
September 7, 2023 12:01 am

Lose 7-nil again has posted on her social media a photo of the “Men in Law Awards” fake flyer.

The indignation, the seething, the downright total & complete lack of any funny bone is something to behold.
The comments go on & on & on, all in the same vein. They don’t realise how funny their humourlessness is.

She must have been one helluva dob artist at school.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
September 7, 2023 12:05 am

Trump has just promised to prevent World War III.

Perhaps he can promise to stop dragon attacks too.
High chance of success for the same reason.

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  1. Yes, thank you for confirming that in the UN scenario the ratio of global industrial production is 4:1 in China’s…

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