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The city of Gaza was where I first met my wife – politicalbetting.com
The city of Gaza was where I first met my wife – politicalbetting.com
With Israel and Gaza totally dominating the news agenda it prompts my own personal memories of the area particularly because it was in Gaza City that I first met my wife, Jacky.
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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/oct/07/poll-predicts-landslide-labour-election-victory-with-12-cabinet-ministers-losing-their-seats
"Labour would win 420 seats – equating to a landslide 190-seat majority. The Tories would take just 149 seats and the Lib Dems 23.
"Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden, defence secretary Grant Shapps and leadership contender Penny Mordaunt are among those facing for defeat."
The pressure on Netanyahu from his hard right, to do something TERMINAL, will be intense. Can Israel allow Gaza to survive if iGazan militants can simply wander over the frontier and slaughter Israelis in their beds, or kidnap women and children to be tortured in Gaza?
No, it can't. And, in fact, I am not sure any country could tolerate this. Plus, Netanyahu has been deeply humiiated by this dreadful intel failure. No way this is a false flag, it's a disaster for the Israeli military
We must brace for something pretty apocalyptic in response
Actually, it is one thing they get enthusiastic about - can't understand why we haven't been doing it for decades.
And a fantastic example of synchronicity.
Show it, but give a serious warning beforehand, allowing people to look away/switch off
Also, if you don't see the videos, you will not understand why the Israeli response is so ferocious (and it will be ferocious). The video of the Hamas militants parading the half naked, mutilated body of the female Israeli soldier, as they shout and cheer "Allahu Akhbar" is particularly intense
Who shouts "God is great" over the sexually desecrated body of a tortured woman? That is a level of depravity it is hard to comprehend
@symeonbrown
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2h
This week the PM cancelled the HS2 from London to Manchester that would reduce overcrowding. Today I’m on a train for Manchester with the driver refusing to depart as “it’s unsafe” due to overcapacity. “The trains going nowhere until passengers leave” he says.
https://twitter.com/symeonbrown/status/1710587426681315407
@OzKaterji
Trying to link Hamas to Russia is a pretty desperate manoeuvre, especially considering how warm relations are between Netanyahu and Putin. Don’t take those takes seriously.
It may be true. But if it is true, what's the middlegame for Hamas, after Israel goes predictably mad?
Hopefully one day Israel can have the peace and security it so richly deserved and that it's neighbours and other antisemitic bastards have denied it for far too long.
Why should we as a race not seek to eat more meat than humans have mostly eaten through history? That's part of economic development and productivity to be able to access healthier, balanced diets including some meat, some vegetables etc on a daily basis.
Meat shouldn't just be a preserve for the wealthy, it should be a staple and affordable option for everyone whenever they want it too.
Climate science needs to make this possible while keeping the environment healthy too. Not impoverish people or worsen their diets.
In 2023 we can see everything happening from anywhere in the world shortly after and sometimes even as it is occurring.
I missed out on Kashmir in 1990 when the troubles blew up, and wished that I had got there a year earlier.
What Hamas are up to is barbaric, but the history of mutual atrocity in Israel and Palestine has shown that no atrocity is too brutal. No doubt the Israeli revenge will be taken on women and civilians too.
https://x.com/MeghUpdates/status/1710625666809651222?s=20
Hmm. Maybe thats a big NO in terms of asylum?
Islamic Jihad group claims capture of Israeli soldiers
Graeme Baker
Live reporter
Islamic Jihad, which operates in Gaza, claims its fighters have also captured "many" Israeli soldiers. In a post on Telegram, a spokesman calling himself Abu Hamza states:
"We confirm in the al-Quds Brigades that now, thanks to God, we possess many Zionist soldiers who are prisoners in our hands”
Eating vegetables with a side of vegetables or chips with a side of vegetables isn't balanced. Eating meat with a side of vegetables is more balanced.
Don’t need to worry on the way back as I’m driving back
Now I’ve come on here I know exactly why they’re talking about it but they didn’t once explain what was actually happening.
The nature of pretty much any organisation is that the level of demand for its output varies.
At times demand might exceed capacity but that doesn't make it worthwhile to increase that capacity permanently at an excessive economic and environmental cost.
Especially when there is an opportunity cost of not spending the required money elsewhere on more important things.
Hamas fit squarely in an Iranian/Russian/Hamas axis of evil.
Which unlike Dubyas use of the term the three are all allies that are sending weapons to each other, not arch-enemies like Iran, Iraq.
Biden is perceived as elderly and frail and a touch weak on Iran, so it could play against him. But Trump is seen as a mad dog, so the desire for stability might play against HIM
Hard to call
It’s time to end the myth that there could have been a different, better referendum
Stop pretending there could have been a different, more successful referendum campaign. The racists and opportunists were always lying in wait.
BERNARD KEANE
OCT 06, 2023"
https://www.crikey.com.au/2023/10/06/indigenous-voice-parliament-referendum-myth-albanese-dutton/
Which can also be a road going to alternative routes so taking traffic away from the overcrowded destinations.
The weird thing with HS2 is it wasn't trying to do that. It was only going to destinations already on the pre existing route, not creating alternative routes to alternative destinations.
A road between X and Y doesn't just benefit X and Y but allows the building of housing, business parks, industrial estates and leisure facilities all along its route.
There will be plenty of sympathy for Israeli civilians though.
Why is this the optimal moment for Hamas? What's the aim? Whats the middlegame and endgame? When Israel strikes back with Biblical force, how do they gain? i guess they hope Israel goes so far sympathy shifts to Palestine, but that has happened before, with zero impact on the ground
Also this really is not the optimum moment of weakness for Netanyahu. He's a pretty despicable character but he's quite good at realpolitik. He has maintained relations with Putin and normalised relations with the UAE and Saudi. Arguably Israel is stronger than it has been for many years
Indeed, THAT might be the reason Hamas has done this. A last desperate gamble as Israel secures its future? An act of urgent need - not cool cunning
Really the sort of comment you might want to reflect on.
Bit harsh
Which is why the NIMBY scum combine with the fake environmentalists to object. Because developing land and allowing much needed housing, investment in businesses and industry etc doesn't suit their agenda.
Killing a few thousand in retaliation is merely the usual dreary retaliation.
"Israel will likely aim to destroy Hamas completely following today's massacres & mass kidnappings of Israelis. Palestinian affairs expert
@issacharoff
makes the point: Assault on Israel succeeded far beyond what Hamas hoped, and this will now backfire."
https://x.com/IsraelRadar_com/status/1710600248706396396?s=20
Probably some embarrassed bluster in there. The Israeli intel and military have been surprised and humiliated, this is a pretty calamitous failure
However the diagnosis might be right - Israel will now seek to eliminate Hamas once and forever, whatever it takes
Simply responding with "Er, ok" to that showed uncharacteristic restraint from Leon. 👍
Highly impressive social media from Hamas. Slick, clever, scary (there is no gore but there is the sound of gunfire at the end)
"Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades has released a video showing its fighters paragliding from Gaza over Israeli settlements.
#Hamas #TelAviv #AlAqsaFlood #Jerusalem #GazaUnderAttack #Gaza #حماس #طوفان_القدس #طوفان_الأقصى #اسرائیل #فلسطين"
https://x.com/Ali707khan/status/1710631741344625109?s=20
it reminds me of ISIS at their "best" (can't think of a better word)
How does Israel permanently end a threat like this? The Palestinian/Israeli struggle is entering an entirely new stage
Er, OK
DavidL:
Your statement which clearly about the depravity of Modern Art needs some desconstruction.
Modern art is a vast and diverse realm that has elicited a wide range of reactions from the public, including admiration, confusion, and, in some cases, disdain. While many appreciate the innovation and creativity displayed in modern art, some critics argue that it has descended into depravity, straying too far from traditional artistic values. This essay will explore the concept of the "depravity" of modern art and provide a balanced perspective on this contentious issue.
Modern art encompasses a vast array of artistic movements and styles that emerged in the late 19th and 20th centuries. From Impressionism and Cubism to Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, modern art has continuously evolved, challenging conventional notions of representation and aesthetics. This evolution has, at times, led to radical departures from traditional art forms, causing discomfort among some observers.
The term "depravity" is inherently subjective and value-laden. What one person perceives as depraved, another might consider groundbreaking and thought-provoking. Art, by its nature, encourages diversity of interpretation, and what one sees as a descent into depravity, another sees as a celebration of human expression and freedom.
One of the hallmarks of modern art is its tendency to push boundaries and confront societal norms. Artists often use their work to comment on political, social, and cultural issues, addressing controversial topics head-on. In doing so, they challenge the status quo, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths. While this can be unsettling, it also provides an opportunity for critical reflection and growth.
Some modern artists have sought to shock their audiences as a deliberate artistic strategy. Shock value can serve as a tool for drawing attention to pressing issues and sparking discourse. Artists like Salvador Dalí and Damien Hirst have used shock tactics to provoke thought and engage viewers in meaningful conversations about the human condition, mortality, and the absurdity of life.
Modern art has also played a significant role in expanding the inclusivity of the art world. It has allowed for the representation of diverse voices and experiences, often marginalized in traditional art circles. This inclusivity has led to a richer and more inclusive art landscape, providing opportunities for underrepresented artists to share their stories.
Conclusion:
Instead of dismissing modern art as depraved, we should engage with it critically, appreciating its capacity to challenge preconceptions and offer fresh perspectives. It is through this engagement and dialogue that we can gain a deeper understanding of the ever-evolving world of art and its role in our society. In the end, the "depravity" of modern art may well be its greatest strength, pushing us to question, learn, and grow.
Cricket needs to be a fair contest of bowler and against batsman.
Rail capacity is not the big issue. Train capacity is.
A full train may mean just put on another train. If you can't put on another train then a new track might be needed.
As I said to you the other day though, widening pre existing routes like widening pre existing motorways is the absolutely worse form of investment. Same for HS2 it shows the same failed Treasury mentality of only investing where there is already infrastructure.
Development happens by providing infrastructure where it is missing. Linking places that are currently unlinked.
If there's to be investment in either roads or rails (and there should be both) it should primarily be about building connections where they're lacking, not widening or expanding capacity where it already exists but is full at rush hour only.
A new route can be used all day every day. Extra capacity is only used at rush hour.
It mattered not at all when the military reality changed.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:EUS/to/gb-nr:MAN/2023-10-07/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=pax-calls&order=wtt
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12602423/BORIS-JOHNSON-Child-free-smoke-like-chimney-end-days-Child-B-born-day-later-criminal-does-hell-supposed-work.html
However this is a notable development
1. The sophistication of the video, the production values, the slickness - this matters. ISIS boomed BECAUSE they were good at this stuff, and recruited people from all over. Like Shamima Begum
2. It shows a level of cleverness in the attack. Paragliders with vehicles, cruising over the wall, landing in ISraeli settlements and massacring everyone? That will scare Israelis everywhere, and that will have military and political consequences, probably not good ones for Gazans
The same is true of many Arab nations; they once had substantial Jewish populations, but do no longer. Now it is true that none of these nations particularly want the Palestinians, but they should take them in, anyway.
This solution follows the "aggressor pays" rule, which is a good one, in general.
What's your point?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/66854285
https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/highest-innings-totals-211599
It was the Israeli advance in 1967 which changed the situation.
So it has effectively become an Israeli only problem - harder for them to deal with in some ways but it doesn't result in war with Egypt or Jordan.
They then tried to murder Israel again, in 1967. Again thank goodness they failed.
Arafat had the opportunity for peace. He turned it down.
Hamas, Iran etc still demand Israel's destruction.
The only way peace may ultimately be attained is if those who refuse to recognise Israel's right to exist are relocated to Egypt or Jordan (who after all are the nations responsible for Palestine not existing) or Iran.
It's unpleasant but increasingly the only viable path to peace. And that's not Israel's fault, they're the victims here.
For now, I am sure Israelis will be right behind Netanyahu, cheering on Operation Take Em Out, but when the dust settles he will pay a political price, likewise the spies and soldiers who should have seen this coming. 5000 rockets? Militants flying paragliders, and riding boats onto Israeli beaches?
Gaza is probably the most surveilled place on earth, and they missed it all
See also the Germans expelled from eastern Europe post WW2
Egypt and Transjordan already wiped Palestine off the map in 1947.
They tried twice to wipe Israel off the map and failed both times and the disputed territory isn't Palestinian land it's ex Egyptian and Jordanian land and they've renounced their claims to it.
If they take responsibility for their actions and take the people who can't peacefully live in Israel's land, that's taking responsibility for their own history and may allow peace.
1) Its a shame about the Israeli settlers
2) but facts on the ground
3) Plus Hamas has some ugly historic links to Arab National Socialism
4) So the Palestinians should accept whatever the Israeli government offers them now
5) No aid should be sent to the Palestinians.
6) All of the above is Because! Peace!
What they’ll do is increase air and drone strikes with (even) less concern for collateral civilian damage.
A not entirely rhetorical question, has a terrorist/freedom fighting (delete to taste) group ever been entirely eliminated solely by force of arms?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12604807/Tory-MP-wants-disagreed-Government-Covid-response.html
Had they wanted to they could have cleared the land in 1967 and expelled the aggressors back into their remaining territory as happened to Germany post WWII.
It's only because they didn't do that, that this conflict has raged for so long.
And for that restraint, antisemitic racists treat them as the worst nation on earth while Russia, China and others actively engage in ethnic cleansing.
As for your second question, it's a good one. Didn't the Brits do a decent-ish job in Malaysia? TBH I can't be sure, and no doubt there was some politics involved
Shining Path in Peru were pretty much wiped out by hard army attacks, not much negotiation there
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shining_Path#:~:text=Government forces destroyed villages and,fight against the Shining Path.
Vladimiro Lenin Ilich Montesinos Torres has been bored to death as a kid by his ultra communist parents forcing him to read the The Little Red Book. So when he rose to head the Peruvian counter terrorism effort, he applied it in reverse…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Civil_War
Perhaps some of the wars in 1950s and 1960s Malaysia and Kenya ?
"As of half an hour ago. “The IDF has not yet gained control in any of the locations that involve terrorist infiltration in southern Israel. Residents are still in shelters and report that no Israeli security forces nor available medical staff are on site.”"
https://x.com/shashj/status/1710612659198947644?s=20
"Horrific. ‘"We are being slaughtered. There is no army. It has been 6 hours. People are begging for their lives," one Israeli in a southern kibbutz said.’"