Specifically to; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2019/05/eurovision-2019-asie-app-pt2.html
There I discussed Finland's entry. It provided something of a talking point about the changing role of women within the TV industry. By referencing the US TV Show; "Blindspot."
The premise of the show is that a woman is discovered suffering from
amnesia. She then joins forces with the FBI team investigating her case
to solve other crimes.
In many ways Blindspot is very different from other US police
procedurals. Such as; "NCIS: Los Angeles." Featuring 2018 Song Contest
host Daniela Ruah.
However it is very much centred around good guys with guns chasing bad
guys with guns. In a series of gun fights, explosions, fight scenes and
other action sequences.
Most TV shows, particularly in that genre, tend to be made from a slightly male perspective. What is interesting about Blindspot is that it seems to be made from a slightly female perspective.
For example the premise is that the woman with amnesia is actually found fully nude. Covered head-to-toe
with elaborate, full body tattoos. These tattoos are clues to the crimes
the woman and the FBI team go on to solve.
So there are numerous scenes where the team are gathered in their command centre. Looking at pictures of these tattoo clues on a big screen surrounding with dozens of FBI staff sitting at their computers.
It often conveys what a strange and embarrassing experience this is for the lead character. Having all her work mates gathered together to stare, in detail at her naked body.
This seems to be a deliberate attempt to discuss the impact that nude and sex scenes have on, particularly, actresses.
Although these scenes may appear on screen as just two people in the privacy of their bedroom they're often shot on sets with 15 to 20 people standing around. They're then sent off through the editing process which can involve another 100 or so people.
I can imagine it being quite strange and embarrassing to go into work the next day and being faced with 100 or so people who've seen you fully nude and pretending to have sex.
I remember saying that the slight female perspective of Blindspot didn't spoil my, as a man's enjoyment of the show. In fact I think it slightly improved it. With the female characters seeming more rounded and believable as a result.
In any discussion about shows in this genre being made for women or from a female perspective there is another important, if not widely known example. A Canadian TV Show called; "Rookie Blue."
When this was shown in the UK it was billed as a typical police procedural. Albeit one that was focused on uniformed officers rather than detectives.
In reality though it's a show about the increasingly complex personal life of Andy McNally. Who occasionally goes into work at the Toronto Police department.
In much the same way the US show; "Greys Anatomy" may be set in a hospital. But it's not really a medical drama.
Both Rookie Blue and Greys Anatomy have such a strong female perspective I, as a man, couldn't enjoy them. That's not me questioning their validity. It's just they weren't aimed at me, I didn't enjoy them. So I didn't watch them.
I didn't mention Rookie Blue at the time because I didn't think anyone in the Song Contest community would have heard of a Canadian show which ended in 2015. Meaning that if I mentioned it I'd have to start by explaining it.
I've since learnt though that the actress who played Andy McNally in Rookie Blue, Missy Peregrym, has got one of the leads in the US TV show; "FBI." Which is very much a police procedural centred around the FBI.
It's produced by that giant of US network TV, Dick Wolf. The man behind "Law & Order" in all its various guises.
The show FBI makes lots of frequent, quite jokey references to Missy Peregrym's past in Rookie Blue.
For example her character comes from Indiana. Explaining why her American accent isn't quite the same as all the other American accents.
The show also features a suspiciously high number of suspects who are attempting to enter the US from Canada. Or attempting to escape the US into Canada. Giving other cast members opportunity to shoot knowing looks at Missy Peregrym's character Maggie.
One episode centres around one of the senior agents revealing that he's in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. This prompts the Maggie character to ask him lots and lots of questions about Alcoholics Anonymous.
That's a deliberate reference to the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Held in Vancouver, Canada.
It included a sequence of famous people you thought were American but are actually Canadian. William Shatner for example.
They would come out and declare; "Hello. My name is .... And I'm a Canadian."
This closely resembled the famous introduction from Alcoholics Anonymous. So closely that you expected them to then start listing all the ways in which being Canadian had ruined their lives.
As was the intended joke.
It's rare Olympic hosts use the opportunity to mock themselves.
Even the wardrobe department get in on the act.
Missy Peregrym is somewhat large breasted. This isn't something you really notice in Rookie Blue. Where much of her costume is body armour. In FBI though they really seem to be making a point of it.
The Maggie character frequently wears a pantsuit. The jackets of which seem rather tight around her chest but loose around her waist. This is something that often happens when the actress is pregnant but the character isn't.
So you do find your eyes being drawn to both her chest and waist. To see whether either have grown between episodes or even scenes.
In short you're being tricked into focusing on McNally's Anatomy.
I have to say that if that is Dick Wolf's contribution to the discussion over the changing role of women within the TV industry it seems pretty lazy. Simply referencing a TV show some other people did years ago.
Although in his defence I get the impression that Mariska Hargitay has been running "Law & Order: SVU" since about 2014.
20:20 on 20/11/19 (UK date).
Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Taking Without Owner's Consent.
Back in June 2019 I was blocked by Twitter.
Officially this is because I urged @SkyNews, as an automated, inanimate account, to commit suicide. As part of a discussion about the ethics of extending Assisted Suicide to people with the type of severe mental health problems that render them suicidal.
Obviously I appealed that curious decision. I've been periodically checking in with Twitter to see if sanity has returned to their operations.
Lately I've been a bit remiss in doing this. Not checking in for more than a month. I've just checked in and there is no progress to report.
I probably should contact them directly. To remind them that they have still not corrected, let alone apologised for their clear error.
Although after five months of obstinace or their part things have now escalated far beyond a mere apology.
On the subject of things that have escalated far beyond anyone's plan: The Hong Kong Protests.
Starting in June 2019 these protests have been directed by the British Foreign service. For a number of reasons.
The primary one being that the US has been engaged in a trade war with China. As the World's two largest economies this is a massive deal for everyone. Particularly members of the British Commonwealth Realm such as Australia and New Zealand.
For example being rather enamoured with China's Authoritarian Capitalism former US President Obama attempted to unite the American and Chinese economies. Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Current US President Trump dropped these plans. Other Pacific nations such as Japan and Australia went ahead with it anyone. On worryingly Chinese terms. However without US economic might TPP never really got off the ground.
So China tried to launch an alternative to TPP. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Using the economic might of India to replace that of America.
Although nations such as Australia and New Zealand did join RCEP the UK Commonwealth nation recently refused. Raising the possibility that RCEP will go the same way as TPP.
I'm sure you could see then why it would be useful for Britain to have a back channel with China. While China is engaged in a trade war with Britain's longstanding ally America.
The Hong Kong protests have also provided Britain with a way to provide a biting social commentary on its own, domestic politics. Which have been torn apart by Parliament's attempts to block Britain's exit from the EU. Brexit.
For example in an effort to force a delay to Brexit the British Parliament rushed through the so-called Cooper-Letwin Amendment. On a single day in April 2019. In another attempt to force a delay the British Parliament rushed through the so-called Benn Bill. In just two days in October 2019.
The Hong Kong Protests ignited in response to the second reading of an extradition bill. Several months after the first reading of the bill.
The point being that not even Communist China would show the same level of contempt for democracy as British MP's who voted for either the Cooper-Letwin or Benn Bills.
The Hong Kong protesters have almost a clearly identified uniform. Made up of a yellow construction worker's helmet alongside dust googles and a dust mask. Often accompanied by a black hoodie, construction worker's cargo pants and work boots.
I don't think anyone can claim a monopoly on wearing those items of clothing together. As a protest uniform though it is a look I myself perfected.
Back in 2003 the US, Britain and Georgia invaded Iraq. Looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction.
One of the largest UK protests against this was themed; "Weapons of Mass Construction."
So I attended. Wearing a costume made up of a yellow construction worker's helmet alongside dust googles and a dust mask. Accompanied by a black hoodie, construction worker's cargo pants and work boots.
This costume so encapsulated the theme of the protest the police's Forward Intelligence Teams assumed I must be one of the organisers. So spent the day following me around. Taking lots and lots of video and still photographs.
I've still got some of the bits and pieces of that costume. Or things that could stand in for the originals. Rather like that pile of police riot helmets Banksy recently tried inflicting on the world.
So in response to the Hong Kong Protests you would almost expect me to post a picture of parts of the costume. As something from my signature collection.
Banned from Twitter that would have to be posted on Instagram. Wouldn't it.
Funnily enough I've recently been receiving a lot of targeted online ads suggesting I become a social worker. For a company called Frontline.
When clearly the mongs have a much more urgent need for a driving instructor.
17:30 on 20/11/19 (UK date).
Officially this is because I urged @SkyNews, as an automated, inanimate account, to commit suicide. As part of a discussion about the ethics of extending Assisted Suicide to people with the type of severe mental health problems that render them suicidal.
Obviously I appealed that curious decision. I've been periodically checking in with Twitter to see if sanity has returned to their operations.
Lately I've been a bit remiss in doing this. Not checking in for more than a month. I've just checked in and there is no progress to report.
I probably should contact them directly. To remind them that they have still not corrected, let alone apologised for their clear error.
Although after five months of obstinace or their part things have now escalated far beyond a mere apology.
On the subject of things that have escalated far beyond anyone's plan: The Hong Kong Protests.
Starting in June 2019 these protests have been directed by the British Foreign service. For a number of reasons.
The primary one being that the US has been engaged in a trade war with China. As the World's two largest economies this is a massive deal for everyone. Particularly members of the British Commonwealth Realm such as Australia and New Zealand.
For example being rather enamoured with China's Authoritarian Capitalism former US President Obama attempted to unite the American and Chinese economies. Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Current US President Trump dropped these plans. Other Pacific nations such as Japan and Australia went ahead with it anyone. On worryingly Chinese terms. However without US economic might TPP never really got off the ground.
So China tried to launch an alternative to TPP. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Using the economic might of India to replace that of America.
Although nations such as Australia and New Zealand did join RCEP the UK Commonwealth nation recently refused. Raising the possibility that RCEP will go the same way as TPP.
I'm sure you could see then why it would be useful for Britain to have a back channel with China. While China is engaged in a trade war with Britain's longstanding ally America.
The Hong Kong protests have also provided Britain with a way to provide a biting social commentary on its own, domestic politics. Which have been torn apart by Parliament's attempts to block Britain's exit from the EU. Brexit.
For example in an effort to force a delay to Brexit the British Parliament rushed through the so-called Cooper-Letwin Amendment. On a single day in April 2019. In another attempt to force a delay the British Parliament rushed through the so-called Benn Bill. In just two days in October 2019.
The Hong Kong Protests ignited in response to the second reading of an extradition bill. Several months after the first reading of the bill.
The point being that not even Communist China would show the same level of contempt for democracy as British MP's who voted for either the Cooper-Letwin or Benn Bills.
The Hong Kong protesters have almost a clearly identified uniform. Made up of a yellow construction worker's helmet alongside dust googles and a dust mask. Often accompanied by a black hoodie, construction worker's cargo pants and work boots.
I don't think anyone can claim a monopoly on wearing those items of clothing together. As a protest uniform though it is a look I myself perfected.
Back in 2003 the US, Britain and Georgia invaded Iraq. Looking for Weapons of Mass Destruction.
One of the largest UK protests against this was themed; "Weapons of Mass Construction."
So I attended. Wearing a costume made up of a yellow construction worker's helmet alongside dust googles and a dust mask. Accompanied by a black hoodie, construction worker's cargo pants and work boots.
This costume so encapsulated the theme of the protest the police's Forward Intelligence Teams assumed I must be one of the organisers. So spent the day following me around. Taking lots and lots of video and still photographs.
I've still got some of the bits and pieces of that costume. Or things that could stand in for the originals. Rather like that pile of police riot helmets Banksy recently tried inflicting on the world.
So in response to the Hong Kong Protests you would almost expect me to post a picture of parts of the costume. As something from my signature collection.
Banned from Twitter that would have to be posted on Instagram. Wouldn't it.
Funnily enough I've recently been receiving a lot of targeted online ads suggesting I become a social worker. For a company called Frontline.
When clearly the mongs have a much more urgent need for a driving instructor.
17:30 on 20/11/19 (UK date).
Monday, 18 November 2019
Long May Purdah Continue.
Britain is holding a General Election on December 12th (12/12/19).
Once a General Election campaign has begun the British state enters a legal period known as; "Purdah." A Persian and Urdu word meaning; "Veil" or; "Seclusion."
Essentially it means that no public body can engage in any activity that might influence the outcome of the election.
Candidates and Parties can promise all the things they're going to do if elected. However the state itself can do almost nothing at all.
I took advantage of this Purdah period to visit my mothers. Who live in Salisbury, UK.
One of my mothers wanted to visited me in the week leading up to the October 31st (31/10/19) Brexit deadline. A request which recieved a firm no.
Honestly about 90% of the time I spend visiting my mothers is dominated by animals of various shapes and sizes. Despite this those trips seem to attract a lot of international interest. Forcing me to account for them.
This most recent visit began on Tuesday (12/11/19). My mother's had to wait in for an engineer to service their boiler so I didn't arrive until late afternoon. One mother met me at the station while the other was doing something in town.
We met up at a coffee shop in town and obviously had coffee. Before returning to their home. From there is was just a matter of unpacking, having dinner and going to bed.
We did watch the first episode of the BBC/HBO adaptation of; "His Dark Materials." And struggled to imagine a world where you have a small animal following you around at all times. As if even a moment of separation would cause the animal immense pain.
On Wednesday (13/11/19) I went out to by new shoes. I prefer what are known as trail shoes. These are sort of midway between training shoes and hiking boots.
They're the sort of thing that can be quite difficult to find in London. But with its focus on outdoor pursuits Salisbury has like a dozen shops dedicated to exactly that sort of thing. All within walking distance of each other.
After visiting those dozen or so shops I ended up buying a pair exactly the same as the ones I was wearing at the time. Merrell Intercepts in black. Although these ones are about 75mm taller. On account of the tread still being intact.
I also picked up a pair of Karrimor hiking boots at a ridiculous discount. These are something I've always sort of needed when I'm down there. On account of all the walking my mothers and their dog do.
I've just not been able to justify spending upwards of 120 quid on something I'll only use three or four times a year. At 75% off suddenly I could justify it.
After another stop at the coffee shop all three of us returned home. Then one of my mothers and I took the dog for a long walk around Old Serum. Where the boots instantly proved themselves to be a good investment.
Late in the evening all three of us went out for dinner at an Indian restaurant close to the station.
This was the first time I'd visited a restaurant in Salisbury since December 2017. On that occasion one of my mothers and I went to a restaurant called Zizzis. Central to the infamous Skripal, Novichok poisoning.
As I think the entire World discovered in March 2018 Zizzis is located on the edge of the town centre. Right by that little bridge which leads to the main car park.
We were in town at around lunchtime and trying to decide where to eat in the evening. So we stuck our heads in the door of Zizzis and asked if we would need to book a table for around seven. The manager told us there was no need and actually refused to take the booking because we could just turn up.
When we just turned up at around seven the same manager told us there was no room and we should have booked.
I was perfectly happy to go to Pizza Express across the town square which is pretty much the same thing. My mother though dug in and amid much attitude eventually we did get a table. The wobbly one by the toilets.
So I have always been tempted to dispel the rumour that I ordered a Chemical Weapons attack as punishment for poor restaurant service. Even if that can sometimes be a useful rumour to leave hanging in the air.
Not that poor service was even remotely an issue in that Indian restaurant. Late evening on a wet Wednesday in November you've pretty much got yourself a private restaurant. As we left the only other customer was a woman who was dining alone.
I pretty much spent Thursday (14/11/19) morning playing with the dog in the garden. Well, the dog played in the garden. I sat there putting waterproofing wax on my new boots. The mere fact I was present though gave the dog permission to hurtle around like a maniac.
In retirement my lawyer mother has started to volunteer at a residential course for international students studying English as a second language. This is being hosted at the local college/polytechnic which is in the process of promoting itself to a University.
It was perhaps appropriate then all three of us decided to meet for lunch at a bar/cafe on the former site of Salisbury's Literary and Scientific Institute. In keeping with the buildings past this is decorated with lots of wall art showing early scientific discoveries and portraits of former fellows of the institute.
A lot of this wall art is adorned with Star of Davids symbols. Prompting lots of small talk over whether it's Jewish or Masonic in origin. Closer inspection revealed one with Illuminati iconography.
That is to say the actual 18th Century Illuminati. Dedicated to spreading enlightenment in the fields of science, art and literature. Not the Internet conspiracy theory.
The lunch was actually revealing of what Salisbury is actually like.
Talking to the assistant manager who served us it turned out he was a Sandhurst graduate and former British Army officer. He was working there to gain experience there before opening his own restaurant in Weymouth with his girlfriend and small child.
Unlike London Salisbury is one of those places where people will just tell you their life story, pretty much unprompted. It's also the sort of place where you can't swing your arms without hitting someone who is either serving military or ex-military.
My mothers actually live close to a local primary school. There is something adorable about watching big men in combat fatigues picking up tiny children dressed as fairies.
Unfortunately my mother's session at the college had been interrupted by the fire alarm repeatedly going off for no real reason. Constantly forcing them out of the warm and into the cold. I'd spent the morning sitting outside with the dog.
So none of us were particularly conversational with this assistant manager. The honest answer to when he asked what were our plans for the rest of the day would have been to go home and lie down. The cold had given us all splitting headaches.
Late in the afternoon my sister came over from Surrey. So one of my mothers and I met her for coffee by the station before she came back to the house.
The only real thing of note about that is she has a friend who owns a horse. That horse has suffered an abscess on their hoof. While the bandages were being changed the horse stamped on its owners foot, breaking it.
So my sister has been rushing around caring for both the horse and its owner. Apparently they did insist on a cast the same colour as the veterinary wrap. So horse and owner match in their injured feet.
After dinner I watched the football on my own. Then when to bed.
Friday (15/11/19) morning was really spent packing and messing about with the dog. Before catching a train at lunchtime to return home by mid-afternoon.
When I travel like this there is a bit of a security issue. Although I don't think it's something specific to me.
If you put on social media where you live. Then put on social media when you'll be away from home. There's a fair chance your house is going to get robbed. Particularly for celebrities Instagram does seem to be a to-do list for burglars.
The last time I travelled to visit my mothers was in early August. The main purpose was to visit the Hampshire Agricultural and Country Show.
On that occasion my plans were telegraphed by the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, US. On July 27th (27/7/19). In terms of their physical layout and general atmosphere the Garlic Festival and Hamsphire show seem very similar.
Immediately upon my return there was the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas on August 3rd (3/8/19). That was followed a day later by another mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio on August 4th (4/8/19). The month was rounded off with the mass shooting in Odessa, Texas on August 31st (31/8/19).
So it should probably come as little surprise that this trip was interrupted by another mass shooting. This time at the Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, US. On November 14th 2019 (14/11/19).
For security reasons I try not to have a pattern for these little trips. However it tends to be the case that I only stay for two nights. On this occasion I stayed for three nights.
"Saugus" is a Native American (Algonquin) word meaning; "Great" or; "Extended." Probably the most famous Saugus is a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. An area of New England I seem particularly linked to. Not least because of a dog with a very Irish first and last name.
It's the same link which allows me to know the Saint Clare of Assisi, from which Santa Clarita takes its name, is famous for the Order of Poor Ladies. Like Franciscan Monks they're famous for their poverty. Often walking about barefoot or in worn out shoes.
The BBC is currently airing the German-Italian miniseries; "The Name of the Rose." Which deals extensively with disputes between the Franciscans and the wider Catholic Church during the 14th Century. Although it doesn't feature anywhere near enough books for one of my mothers.
The November 14th (14/11/19) shooting put pressure on me to react while flagging up that I was an extended trip away. Giving any potential threats another night of opportunity. Although it's unlikely that any of the threats I'm concerned about would be able to translate from Algonquin.
This hostility seems to stem from Saugus High School's role in the; "March For Our Lives" protests. Which followed the the February 14th 2018 (14/2/18) mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, US.
That shooting and the protests that followed served to distract Americans from the 2018 Winter Olympics being held in that other Parkland, the Republic of Korea (RoK).
The main theme of those Olympics was the topic of fake news.
The Olympic Cauldron itself was designed to resemble the Tripod Aliens from H.G Wells' "War of the Worlds." The 1938 radio production of War of the Worlds was considered the greatest media hoax perpetrated against the American people.
Or at least it was. Until the 2016 Presidential campaign.
Curiously this was not the first time Native American languages had been in the news that week. On November 13th (13/11/19) NASA renamed a dwarf planet in the Keppler Belt; "Arrokoth." It's previous name; "Ultima Thule" was too closely linked to Nazis.
Incidentally the BBC has started airing a new adaptation of War of the Worlds. It's been criticised for its efforts to be more "Woke" and "Progressive."
H.G Wells famously despised women.
He also believed the disabled and the inferior races should be exterminated. Through a eugenics program of euthanasia and abortion.
His ultimate dream was that all national borders be abolished and the World be run by a single Socialist regime.
I'm not sure how you can make the master of Fake News more Woke and Progressive.
18:00 on 18/11/19 (UK date).
Once a General Election campaign has begun the British state enters a legal period known as; "Purdah." A Persian and Urdu word meaning; "Veil" or; "Seclusion."
Essentially it means that no public body can engage in any activity that might influence the outcome of the election.
Candidates and Parties can promise all the things they're going to do if elected. However the state itself can do almost nothing at all.
I took advantage of this Purdah period to visit my mothers. Who live in Salisbury, UK.
One of my mothers wanted to visited me in the week leading up to the October 31st (31/10/19) Brexit deadline. A request which recieved a firm no.
Honestly about 90% of the time I spend visiting my mothers is dominated by animals of various shapes and sizes. Despite this those trips seem to attract a lot of international interest. Forcing me to account for them.
This most recent visit began on Tuesday (12/11/19). My mother's had to wait in for an engineer to service their boiler so I didn't arrive until late afternoon. One mother met me at the station while the other was doing something in town.
We met up at a coffee shop in town and obviously had coffee. Before returning to their home. From there is was just a matter of unpacking, having dinner and going to bed.
We did watch the first episode of the BBC/HBO adaptation of; "His Dark Materials." And struggled to imagine a world where you have a small animal following you around at all times. As if even a moment of separation would cause the animal immense pain.
On Wednesday (13/11/19) I went out to by new shoes. I prefer what are known as trail shoes. These are sort of midway between training shoes and hiking boots.
They're the sort of thing that can be quite difficult to find in London. But with its focus on outdoor pursuits Salisbury has like a dozen shops dedicated to exactly that sort of thing. All within walking distance of each other.
After visiting those dozen or so shops I ended up buying a pair exactly the same as the ones I was wearing at the time. Merrell Intercepts in black. Although these ones are about 75mm taller. On account of the tread still being intact.
I also picked up a pair of Karrimor hiking boots at a ridiculous discount. These are something I've always sort of needed when I'm down there. On account of all the walking my mothers and their dog do.
I've just not been able to justify spending upwards of 120 quid on something I'll only use three or four times a year. At 75% off suddenly I could justify it.
After another stop at the coffee shop all three of us returned home. Then one of my mothers and I took the dog for a long walk around Old Serum. Where the boots instantly proved themselves to be a good investment.
Late in the evening all three of us went out for dinner at an Indian restaurant close to the station.
This was the first time I'd visited a restaurant in Salisbury since December 2017. On that occasion one of my mothers and I went to a restaurant called Zizzis. Central to the infamous Skripal, Novichok poisoning.
As I think the entire World discovered in March 2018 Zizzis is located on the edge of the town centre. Right by that little bridge which leads to the main car park.
We were in town at around lunchtime and trying to decide where to eat in the evening. So we stuck our heads in the door of Zizzis and asked if we would need to book a table for around seven. The manager told us there was no need and actually refused to take the booking because we could just turn up.
When we just turned up at around seven the same manager told us there was no room and we should have booked.
I was perfectly happy to go to Pizza Express across the town square which is pretty much the same thing. My mother though dug in and amid much attitude eventually we did get a table. The wobbly one by the toilets.
So I have always been tempted to dispel the rumour that I ordered a Chemical Weapons attack as punishment for poor restaurant service. Even if that can sometimes be a useful rumour to leave hanging in the air.
Not that poor service was even remotely an issue in that Indian restaurant. Late evening on a wet Wednesday in November you've pretty much got yourself a private restaurant. As we left the only other customer was a woman who was dining alone.
I pretty much spent Thursday (14/11/19) morning playing with the dog in the garden. Well, the dog played in the garden. I sat there putting waterproofing wax on my new boots. The mere fact I was present though gave the dog permission to hurtle around like a maniac.
In retirement my lawyer mother has started to volunteer at a residential course for international students studying English as a second language. This is being hosted at the local college/polytechnic which is in the process of promoting itself to a University.
It was perhaps appropriate then all three of us decided to meet for lunch at a bar/cafe on the former site of Salisbury's Literary and Scientific Institute. In keeping with the buildings past this is decorated with lots of wall art showing early scientific discoveries and portraits of former fellows of the institute.
A lot of this wall art is adorned with Star of Davids symbols. Prompting lots of small talk over whether it's Jewish or Masonic in origin. Closer inspection revealed one with Illuminati iconography.
That is to say the actual 18th Century Illuminati. Dedicated to spreading enlightenment in the fields of science, art and literature. Not the Internet conspiracy theory.
The lunch was actually revealing of what Salisbury is actually like.
Talking to the assistant manager who served us it turned out he was a Sandhurst graduate and former British Army officer. He was working there to gain experience there before opening his own restaurant in Weymouth with his girlfriend and small child.
Unlike London Salisbury is one of those places where people will just tell you their life story, pretty much unprompted. It's also the sort of place where you can't swing your arms without hitting someone who is either serving military or ex-military.
My mothers actually live close to a local primary school. There is something adorable about watching big men in combat fatigues picking up tiny children dressed as fairies.
Unfortunately my mother's session at the college had been interrupted by the fire alarm repeatedly going off for no real reason. Constantly forcing them out of the warm and into the cold. I'd spent the morning sitting outside with the dog.
So none of us were particularly conversational with this assistant manager. The honest answer to when he asked what were our plans for the rest of the day would have been to go home and lie down. The cold had given us all splitting headaches.
Late in the afternoon my sister came over from Surrey. So one of my mothers and I met her for coffee by the station before she came back to the house.
The only real thing of note about that is she has a friend who owns a horse. That horse has suffered an abscess on their hoof. While the bandages were being changed the horse stamped on its owners foot, breaking it.
So my sister has been rushing around caring for both the horse and its owner. Apparently they did insist on a cast the same colour as the veterinary wrap. So horse and owner match in their injured feet.
After dinner I watched the football on my own. Then when to bed.
Friday (15/11/19) morning was really spent packing and messing about with the dog. Before catching a train at lunchtime to return home by mid-afternoon.
When I travel like this there is a bit of a security issue. Although I don't think it's something specific to me.
If you put on social media where you live. Then put on social media when you'll be away from home. There's a fair chance your house is going to get robbed. Particularly for celebrities Instagram does seem to be a to-do list for burglars.
The last time I travelled to visit my mothers was in early August. The main purpose was to visit the Hampshire Agricultural and Country Show.
On that occasion my plans were telegraphed by the shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California, US. On July 27th (27/7/19). In terms of their physical layout and general atmosphere the Garlic Festival and Hamsphire show seem very similar.
Immediately upon my return there was the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas on August 3rd (3/8/19). That was followed a day later by another mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio on August 4th (4/8/19). The month was rounded off with the mass shooting in Odessa, Texas on August 31st (31/8/19).
So it should probably come as little surprise that this trip was interrupted by another mass shooting. This time at the Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, US. On November 14th 2019 (14/11/19).
For security reasons I try not to have a pattern for these little trips. However it tends to be the case that I only stay for two nights. On this occasion I stayed for three nights.
"Saugus" is a Native American (Algonquin) word meaning; "Great" or; "Extended." Probably the most famous Saugus is a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. An area of New England I seem particularly linked to. Not least because of a dog with a very Irish first and last name.
It's the same link which allows me to know the Saint Clare of Assisi, from which Santa Clarita takes its name, is famous for the Order of Poor Ladies. Like Franciscan Monks they're famous for their poverty. Often walking about barefoot or in worn out shoes.
The BBC is currently airing the German-Italian miniseries; "The Name of the Rose." Which deals extensively with disputes between the Franciscans and the wider Catholic Church during the 14th Century. Although it doesn't feature anywhere near enough books for one of my mothers.
The November 14th (14/11/19) shooting put pressure on me to react while flagging up that I was an extended trip away. Giving any potential threats another night of opportunity. Although it's unlikely that any of the threats I'm concerned about would be able to translate from Algonquin.
This hostility seems to stem from Saugus High School's role in the; "March For Our Lives" protests. Which followed the the February 14th 2018 (14/2/18) mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, US.
That shooting and the protests that followed served to distract Americans from the 2018 Winter Olympics being held in that other Parkland, the Republic of Korea (RoK).
The main theme of those Olympics was the topic of fake news.
The Olympic Cauldron itself was designed to resemble the Tripod Aliens from H.G Wells' "War of the Worlds." The 1938 radio production of War of the Worlds was considered the greatest media hoax perpetrated against the American people.
Or at least it was. Until the 2016 Presidential campaign.
Curiously this was not the first time Native American languages had been in the news that week. On November 13th (13/11/19) NASA renamed a dwarf planet in the Keppler Belt; "Arrokoth." It's previous name; "Ultima Thule" was too closely linked to Nazis.
Incidentally the BBC has started airing a new adaptation of War of the Worlds. It's been criticised for its efforts to be more "Woke" and "Progressive."
H.G Wells famously despised women.
He also believed the disabled and the inferior races should be exterminated. Through a eugenics program of euthanasia and abortion.
His ultimate dream was that all national borders be abolished and the World be run by a single Socialist regime.
I'm not sure how you can make the master of Fake News more Woke and Progressive.
18:00 on 18/11/19 (UK date).
Sunday, 10 November 2019
War's Still Not Ended.
Today in Britain marks Remembrance Sunday.
A tradition which began at the end of the First World War. Supposedly The War to End All Wars this came to an end at the 11th hour of the 11 day of the 11th month. November 11th 1918 (11/11/18).
Declaring themselves the winner of this Great War the Britain and its Empire held a victory parade through central London. On July 19th 1919 (19/7/19).
Part of that parade's route featured a Cenotaph or "Empty Tomb." A wood and plaster sculpture to honour the unknown dead. Those of the some 10 million combatants killed who died without ever being identified.
By design the Cenotaph is free from all religious symbols. To reflect that it is not just the final resting place of European Christians. But also of countless Jews, Muslims, Hindus and members of all other religions and none.
In December 1919 this monument to the unknown dead was taken down and placed in a museum. As the leaders who had ordered the war tried to return to business as usual and forget.
A British public which had seen an entire generation of young men lost were not prepared to let them off so easily. They insisted that the Cenotaph be rebuilt in its original location. From 120 tonnes of stone.
They also demanded that every year Britain's leaders return to that spot. To stand in silence and think. About what they had done. Of all the people they had sent out knowing that many of them would never return.
Over the course of the five year war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) I have come to feel an affinity for those forced to gather at the Cenotaph. Something which is particularly true of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) and their small International Brigade.
From the comfort and safety of my home I have cheered countless times as the SDF have been sent off to battle ISIL. Knowing full well that many of those being sent out would never return.
My only consolation is the surety that they too knew that they would not return. That they were being sent out to die.
Yet they went out anyway.
America and its leaders have declared that the war has been won. Twitter has ruled that I can play no further part in it.
Yet, despite these efforts to forget and return to business as usual, the list of those who will never return continues to grow.
In this past year these are the members of the SDF's International Brigade who will not return.
Lorenzo Orsetti; Aged 33, from Italy. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of the Hajin Pocket. March 18th 2019 (18/3/19).
Konstantin Gedig; Aged 24, from Germany. Killed by Turkish fire while resisting the invasion of Gire Spi/Tel Abyad. October 16th 2019 (16/10/19).
Zau Seng; Age Unknown, from Myanmar/Burma. Killed by Turkish fire on the town of Tel Tamr. November 3rd 2019 (3/11/19).
A Member of the Free Burma Rangers medical corp.
In this past year these are the members of Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOR) that did not return.
Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Farmer; US Army. Aged 37, from Florida. Killed in an ISIL suicide attack in Manbij. January 16th 2019 (16/1/19).
Snr Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent; US Navy. Aged 35, from New York State. Killed in an ISIL suicide attack in Manbij. January 16th 2019 (16/1/19).
Private First Class Michael Thomason; US Army. Aged 28, from Michigan. Killed by suspected Turkish fire in Kobane. April 28th 2019 (28/4/19).
Among with many other Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians and Russians.
10:15 on 10/11/19 (UK date).
A tradition which began at the end of the First World War. Supposedly The War to End All Wars this came to an end at the 11th hour of the 11 day of the 11th month. November 11th 1918 (11/11/18).
Declaring themselves the winner of this Great War the Britain and its Empire held a victory parade through central London. On July 19th 1919 (19/7/19).
Part of that parade's route featured a Cenotaph or "Empty Tomb." A wood and plaster sculpture to honour the unknown dead. Those of the some 10 million combatants killed who died without ever being identified.
By design the Cenotaph is free from all religious symbols. To reflect that it is not just the final resting place of European Christians. But also of countless Jews, Muslims, Hindus and members of all other religions and none.
In December 1919 this monument to the unknown dead was taken down and placed in a museum. As the leaders who had ordered the war tried to return to business as usual and forget.
A British public which had seen an entire generation of young men lost were not prepared to let them off so easily. They insisted that the Cenotaph be rebuilt in its original location. From 120 tonnes of stone.
They also demanded that every year Britain's leaders return to that spot. To stand in silence and think. About what they had done. Of all the people they had sent out knowing that many of them would never return.
Over the course of the five year war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) I have come to feel an affinity for those forced to gather at the Cenotaph. Something which is particularly true of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) and their small International Brigade.
From the comfort and safety of my home I have cheered countless times as the SDF have been sent off to battle ISIL. Knowing full well that many of those being sent out would never return.
My only consolation is the surety that they too knew that they would not return. That they were being sent out to die.
Yet they went out anyway.
America and its leaders have declared that the war has been won. Twitter has ruled that I can play no further part in it.
Yet, despite these efforts to forget and return to business as usual, the list of those who will never return continues to grow.
In this past year these are the members of the SDF's International Brigade who will not return.
Lorenzo Orsetti; Aged 33, from Italy. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of the Hajin Pocket. March 18th 2019 (18/3/19).
Konstantin Gedig; Aged 24, from Germany. Killed by Turkish fire while resisting the invasion of Gire Spi/Tel Abyad. October 16th 2019 (16/10/19).
Zau Seng; Age Unknown, from Myanmar/Burma. Killed by Turkish fire on the town of Tel Tamr. November 3rd 2019 (3/11/19).
A Member of the Free Burma Rangers medical corp.
In this past year these are the members of Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOR) that did not return.
Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Farmer; US Army. Aged 37, from Florida. Killed in an ISIL suicide attack in Manbij. January 16th 2019 (16/1/19).
Snr Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent; US Navy. Aged 35, from New York State. Killed in an ISIL suicide attack in Manbij. January 16th 2019 (16/1/19).
Private First Class Michael Thomason; US Army. Aged 28, from Michigan. Killed by suspected Turkish fire in Kobane. April 28th 2019 (28/4/19).
Among with many other Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians and Russians.
10:15 on 10/11/19 (UK date).
Monday, 28 October 2019
Operation Featherweight: Month 64, Week 5, Day 1.
In the spring of 2019 the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were on the verge of total defeat. In both Syria and Iraq.
This apparently was too much of a trauma for Twitter to bear.
So they blocked by account. Cutting me off from my contacts in the region. Not that I'm even happy to confirm that I have contacts. It does, after all, appear to be quite a risky part of the World.
In recent weeks though the conflict in Syria has once again started to be reported on in the western media. Forcing them to break with a longstanding policy that if they have to report the truth they'd rather not report on it at all.
As a result I can confirm that the conflict in Syria continues to be divided into five main areas of operations. Reading from left-to-right;
Shangri-La, Garvaghy Road, Afrin Canton, the Sudetenland and Central Syria.
Shangri-La: This is located in the north-east of Syria. Essentially it is everything to the north-east of the Euphrates River.
Shangri-La is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) coalition.
The largest element of the SDF coalition is the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Who are predominately Muslim. They operate alongside Assyrian/Syriac Christian, Turkmen and Arab Muslim forces.
The Arab element makes up around 50% of the SDF. It is comprised of both elements of the long defunct Free Syrian Army (FSA) and local tribes indigenous to north-eastern Syria.
The SDF also contains a small International Brigade made up of foreign volunteers.
Over the past five years the SDF has been begrudgingly supported by the US-led coalition. Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR).
I remember having to drag former US President Barack Obama kicking and screaming into the Battle of Kobane in the winter of 2014. A posture Obama maintained whenever it came to fighting ISIL.
Garvaghy Road: This sits directly to the west of Shangri-La where the Euphrates River enters Syria from Turkey a Jarablus. It's stretches roughly 100km (60 miles) from the Euphrates to the towns of Kilis/Azaz.
It was invaded by Turkey in August 2016 and remains under the illegal occupation of the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Those regular Turkish forces command an irregular force known that the United Turkmen Army (UTA). Sometimes referred to as the Syrian Turkmen Brigades (STB).
The UTA are formed out of the paramilitary wing of the proudly fascist Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who are known as the Grey Wolves. They take their brigade names from famous Ottoman Emperors such as Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
Amid fighting in other areas of Syria the UTA has expanded to include extreme Islamist factions of the long fragmented FSA. Most notably The Islamic Movement of the Freemen of the Levant/Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (Ahrar al-Sham) and The Army of Islam/Jaish al-Islam (JAI).
The Army of Islam are famous for being far more extreme than ISIL. In fact they have executed members of ISIL for being too moderate in their pursuit of genocide.
Afrin Canton: Centred around the city of Afrin this roughly 2,400kmsq (1,400 milesq) area directly borders Garvaghy Road to the west.
Historically an ethnically Kurdish area of Syria Afrin Canton has been under the control of first the YPG and then the SDF since the conflict began in 2011.
However in January 2018 Afrin Canton was invaded by Turkey and remains under the illegal occupation of the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
As within Garvaghy Road those regular Turkish forces command an irregular UTA force. Including Ahrar al-Sham and the Army of Islam.
The Sudetenland: This area sits directly south of Afrin Canton. It crosses parts of both Idlib Province and Hama Province. It is centred around the city of Idlib.
It's name refers to Nazi Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland in 1938. Under the guise of a humanitarian intervention.
Prior to January 2019 control of the Sudetenland was shared between the UTA and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham/Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant (HTS).
HTS simply being the latest name used by Al Qaeda/The Base (AQ) in Syria. Alongside new recruits, both Syrian and foreign, the group also contains original, core Al Qaeda fighters. Including the Turkistan Islamist Party (TiP).
In January 2019 the UTA and HTS reached a Turkish brokered agreement. Which saw the UTA withdraw to Afrin Canton and HTS take complete control over the Sudetenland.
Since October 2017 Al Qaeda have been protected in the Sudetenland by the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
This has been achieved by the TSK establishing a network of small military bases known as; "Control Points" or "Observation Posts." Over time that network of Turkish Control Points has expanded to 18.
Central Syria: The southern border of the Sudetenland marks the start of a vast area under the control of the Syrian government.
It really includes all parts of the country which are not otherwise designated. I would refer to it simply as; "Syria" only that would cause more confusion by implying the other areas are not part of Syria.
The liberation of Central Syria was the result of a nearly year long anti-ISIL operation by the Syrians. In both the north and the south of the country this saw them advance from west to east.
In the north of the country the Syrians set out from Aleppo City in May 2017. By late July 2017 this northern axis had arrived at and liberated the town of Dalhah which sits on the southern bank of the Euphrates.
To the south of the country the Syrians set out from the Syrian capital Damascus. Also in May 2017. By early June 2017 this southern axis had reached the border between Syria and Iraq at the town of al-Tanf.
From al-Tanf the Syrians then advanced on the city of Palmyra which sits almost exactly in the centre of Syria. Palmyra had been liberated from ISIL by the Syrians in March 2017.
In August 2017 Syrian forces from both Palmyra and Dalhah converged on the town of as-Suknah. From there they began the operation to liberate the southern banks of the Euphrates.
In December 2017 the Syrians liberated Al Boukamal/Abu Kamal which sits on the Euphrates as it enters Iraq from Syia. This allowed them to declare the southern bank of the Euphrates fully liberated from ISIL.
There remained though two areas still outside of Syrian control.
Firstly the East Ghouta suburb of the capital Damascus, the Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian Refugees and the East Qalamoun Mountain area. Including the al-Safa Volcanic Plateau.
Secondly the Yarmouk River Basin area. The area in the basin of the Yarmouk River in the very south-west of Syria. It includes Daraa Province, Quneitra Province and As-Suwayda Province.
In late February 2018 the Syrians launched an operation to liberate the East Ghouta suburb, the Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian Refugees and the East Qalamoun Mountains. This succeeded in its objective with ISIL's surrender at the Safa Plateau in November 2018.
In June 2018 the Syrians launched an operation to liberate the Yarmouk River Basin area. This was completed in August 2018. Following the surrender of ISIL's Jaish al-Khalid Ibn al-Walid/Army of Khalid Ibn al-Walid.
Within the Central Syria area though there continues to be one small area outside of Syrian control.
A US base close to the town of al-Tanf. This used to be designated; "Bobby Sands" but due to Brexit concerns has been re-designated; "Dollywood."
Dollywood: This base was established by CJTFOIR to train a coalition of forces known as the Southern Front.
Initially to assist ISIL in overthrowing the Syrian government. Then as potential corridor to link the SDF in Shangri-La with anti-ISIL forces in the Central Syria area.
The Syrians liberation of al-Tanf in June 2017 however rendered the Dollywood base strategically void. Causing CJTFOIR forces to withdraw.
US troops though continues to operate the Dollywood base. Where they house an Islamist fragment of the now defunct Southern Front, the Islamist Revolutionary Commando Army/Maghawir al-Thawra (MaT).
The US' reasoning behind clinging onto the Dollywood base is that it sits on a border crossing between Iraq and Syria. With the M2 Highway linking the Iraqi capital Baghdad to the Syrian capital Damascus.
The US think that continuing to control al-Tanf border crossing will prevent Iran from supplying Lebanese Hezbollah with weapons. Via road across Iraq and Syria.
That is of course is an absolute strategic idiocy.
Shutting down a single road junction does not cripple an entire nation's road network. Otherwise every country would grind to a halt every time there's a car crash. Plus the al-Tanf border crossing can be completely controlled from the Iraqi side of the border.
The refusal to withdraw US troops from Dollywood is now actually one of the few things keeping ISIL alive in Syria.
In order to protect the Dollywood base the US has imposed a roughly 11,500kmsq (6,900 milesq) exclusion zone around it.
This US imposed exclusion zone includes the Ruqban Camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP's). Control of which is shared between ISIL and Maghawir al-Thawra (MaT). The Islamist group trained and supported by the US.
ISIL are able to use the civilian population of the Ruqban Camp as both human shields and as a revenue producing tax base. ISIL are also able to use the area as a base to conduct operations against the Syrians across the Syrian desert/Badiya al-Sham.
Syrian forces are not able to enter the US imposed exclusion zone around Dollywood to combat ISIL. The US force at Dollywood is too small to combat ISIL. Not that they seem to possess any desire to do so.
It is telling that when ISIL surrendered both in the Yarmouk River basin and at the Safa Plateau they asked to be transferred to Dollywood. Where they could rely on US protection.
Amid all the recent hokey-poky around bringing US troops back from Syria the US refuses to even entertain the idea of closing the Dollywood base.
The most recent developments in Syria have occurred in the Shangri-La area.
On October 6th 2019 (6/10/19) US President Donald Trump abandoned the SDF.
He gave Turkish President/Prime Minister/Emperor Recep Tayyip Erdogan permission to illegally invade and occupy a 35km (20 mile) deep, 420km (250 mile) wide area in the north of Shangri-La.
This roughly 15,160kmsq (9,100milesq) zone has been designated; Danzig.
Which, after all, is what tends to get invaded once the Sudetenland has been annexed.
It would be nice to pretend that there was some grand strategic thought behind US President Trump's decision. The sad fact of the matter though is that he simply threw a childish tantrum.
Frustrated by what are very minor domestic political challenges Trump decided that work was beneath.
Particularly the tiny bit of work he would personally have to do.
Telling Erdogan that he has to adhere to the Charter of the United Nations. The barest minimum international legal commitment for Turkey to be considered a nation state.
Erdogan's illegal invasion and occupation began on October 9th 2019 (9/10/19).
Just as had happened in the Garvaghy Road and Afrin Canton areas it was led by the regular Turkish Military (TSK). With the support of the irregular United Turkmen Army. Including the extremely vicious, Islamist Jaish al-Islam/Army of Islam.
By October 17th 2019 (17/10/19) Erdogan's forces had reached the M4 Highway. Which stretches across the north of the Shangri-La area.
They had done this on two axis;
The first saw them enter Shangri-La in line with the town of Gire Spi/Tel Abyad. This sits around 75km (45 miles) east of where the Euphrates enters Syria from Turkey.
The second saw them enter Shangri-La in line with the town of Serekanyie/Ras al-Ayn. This sits around 105km (60 miles) east of Gire Spi/Tel Abyad. Around 180km (110 miles) east of where the Euphrates enters Syria from Turkey.
Both Gire Spi/Tel Abyad and Serekanyie/Ras al-Ayn and their surrounding villages were captured by Erdogan's forces as part of the invasion.
Erdogan then declared a 120 hour pause in operations. The purpose being for the SDF to withdraw from the Danzig zone.
This 120 hour pause was nothing more than an effort by US President Trump to further protect Erdogan. From comprehensive sanctions that are/were being introduced by the US Congress.
With US President Trump being completely unwilling to prevent the invasion of Danzig it fell to Russia, Iran and Syria to fill the vacuum. As has so often being the case in supposedly global fight against ISIL.
Russia and Turkey met, in Russia, to discuss the issue on October 22nd 2019 (22/10/19)
Sadly with the US still failing to impose meaningful sanctions on Turkey Russia was limited in what it could do.
Following a further 150 hour pause, to allow the SDF to withdraw, Russia agreed to allow Erdogan to fully establish his 15,160kmsq (9,100milesq) Danzig zone. Under the control of the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the irregular United Turkmen Army (UTA).
The only concession being that Russia would also conduct patrols within the Danzig zone. Which historians will probably agree sounds appropriate.
Erdogan's stated aim in creating this Danzig zone is to cleanse it of its indigenous Kurdish population. Replacing them with Turks and Arabs.
A repetition of the Arabization policies of successive Syrian governments and of Turkey's actions in both the Garvaghy Road and Afrin Canton areas.
This is a clear example of Ethnic Cleansing. A high Crime Against Humanity under Article 7(1)(d) of the Rome Statute of 1998.
Aside from its horrifying humanitarian implications the strategic failure of allowing Erdogan to establish this Danzig zone should be obvious to all.
Particularly now what Erdogan means by; "Safe Zone" has been called into sharp focus by this weekend's Operation Mueller.
Operation Mueller: This is the US Special Operations Force (SOF) raid to capture, kill or definitely kill Ibrahim Ali al-Badri.
More commonly known by his pseudonym Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Who took over from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi (Hamid al-Zawi). The founder of ISIL.
Officially the mission was named in honour of Kayla Mueller. An American woman who was taken hostage and ultimately executed by ISIL.
The raid took place over the night of October 26th 2019 (26/10/19). Into the morning of October 27th 2019 (27/10/19). It was carried out against an ISIL compound close to the Syrian village of Bashira.
Sitting in the foothills of Mount Bashira the village is located in the Sudetenland area of Syria.
It stands around 6km (4 miles) south of Syria's border with Turkey.
It also stands around 10km (6 miles) south-west of the Atmeh-Salwa Access Area. Which marks the dividing line between the Sudetenland area and the Afrin Canton areas.
This Atmeh-Salwa Access Area is the first place that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) established their network of Control Points. Starting in October 2017. It remains the most densely populated area of these Turkish bases.
Due to the 2012 US raid to kill Osama bin Laden I think we all have a vague idea of what a SOF raid involves. Roughly two dozen operators flying in by helicopter onto a target under cover of darkness.
This has certainly become a very familiar phenomenon in the Shangri-La area. A couple of mysterious helicopters fly in. There's a short but intense exchange of gunfire. Then the helicopters mysteriously disappear again.
What movies like; "Zero Dark Thirty" often forget to mention though is that these two dozen operators are backed by a Quick Reaction Force (QRF). A sort of 911 the SOF's can call upon if things start to go wrong.
The composition of a QRF is very much mission specific. An Iraqi QRF was actually deployed in the Battle of Mosul. It fought a weeks long mechanised campaign in the western half of the city.
Generally though a QRF is made up of around 100 Commando troops. Deployed from large rotary wing aircraft. Like a Chinook or Osprey. They are backed by multiple helicopter gunships. Such as the Apache.
They can also be backed by fixed wing gunships. Something like Spectre, Spooky or Ghostrider gunship. An AC-130 Hercules equipped with a 20mm rotary cannon (minigun), a 40mm cannon and a 105mm howitzer. Basically a flying artillery battalion.
A US QRF can also call on traditional air support. Fighter jets capable of dropping Paveway bombs and Hellfire missiles.
Operation Mueller saw a battalion of Commando forces deployed in eight large rotary wing aircraft. Backed by Apache and AC-130 gunships. It ended with the ISIL compound being bombed into dust.
So initially it looked as though the SOF raid had failed. Causing the QRF to be deployed.
It turns out though that while it was led by SOF's Operation Mueller was actually planned as a commando raid. Simply the military planners had decided to go in that hard as their starting point. Which does make you wonder what the QRF option was.
The reason for this decision was that the raid was being carried out against a large, heavily fortified ISIL compound. Complete with multiple rings of defences and a complex, underground bunker system.
Once al-Badri/al-Baghdadi had been killed and its forces successfully withdrawn the US then bombed the large, heavily fortified ISIL compound. To destroy it and prevent it from being used by ISIL or any other armed group.
The large, heavily fortified ISIL compound which stood around 6km (4 miles) from the Turkish border and around 10km (6 miles) from a Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) base.
In one of Erdogan's "Safe Zones."
19:50 on 28/10/19 (UK date).
This apparently was too much of a trauma for Twitter to bear.
So they blocked by account. Cutting me off from my contacts in the region. Not that I'm even happy to confirm that I have contacts. It does, after all, appear to be quite a risky part of the World.
In recent weeks though the conflict in Syria has once again started to be reported on in the western media. Forcing them to break with a longstanding policy that if they have to report the truth they'd rather not report on it at all.
As a result I can confirm that the conflict in Syria continues to be divided into five main areas of operations. Reading from left-to-right;
Shangri-La, Garvaghy Road, Afrin Canton, the Sudetenland and Central Syria.
Shangri-La: This is located in the north-east of Syria. Essentially it is everything to the north-east of the Euphrates River.
Shangri-La is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) coalition.
The largest element of the SDF coalition is the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Who are predominately Muslim. They operate alongside Assyrian/Syriac Christian, Turkmen and Arab Muslim forces.
The Arab element makes up around 50% of the SDF. It is comprised of both elements of the long defunct Free Syrian Army (FSA) and local tribes indigenous to north-eastern Syria.
The SDF also contains a small International Brigade made up of foreign volunteers.
Over the past five years the SDF has been begrudgingly supported by the US-led coalition. Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOIR).
I remember having to drag former US President Barack Obama kicking and screaming into the Battle of Kobane in the winter of 2014. A posture Obama maintained whenever it came to fighting ISIL.
Garvaghy Road: This sits directly to the west of Shangri-La where the Euphrates River enters Syria from Turkey a Jarablus. It's stretches roughly 100km (60 miles) from the Euphrates to the towns of Kilis/Azaz.
It was invaded by Turkey in August 2016 and remains under the illegal occupation of the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Those regular Turkish forces command an irregular force known that the United Turkmen Army (UTA). Sometimes referred to as the Syrian Turkmen Brigades (STB).
The UTA are formed out of the paramilitary wing of the proudly fascist Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who are known as the Grey Wolves. They take their brigade names from famous Ottoman Emperors such as Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
Amid fighting in other areas of Syria the UTA has expanded to include extreme Islamist factions of the long fragmented FSA. Most notably The Islamic Movement of the Freemen of the Levant/Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (Ahrar al-Sham) and The Army of Islam/Jaish al-Islam (JAI).
The Army of Islam are famous for being far more extreme than ISIL. In fact they have executed members of ISIL for being too moderate in their pursuit of genocide.
Afrin Canton: Centred around the city of Afrin this roughly 2,400kmsq (1,400 milesq) area directly borders Garvaghy Road to the west.
Historically an ethnically Kurdish area of Syria Afrin Canton has been under the control of first the YPG and then the SDF since the conflict began in 2011.
However in January 2018 Afrin Canton was invaded by Turkey and remains under the illegal occupation of the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
As within Garvaghy Road those regular Turkish forces command an irregular UTA force. Including Ahrar al-Sham and the Army of Islam.
The Sudetenland: This area sits directly south of Afrin Canton. It crosses parts of both Idlib Province and Hama Province. It is centred around the city of Idlib.
It's name refers to Nazi Germany's annexation of Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland in 1938. Under the guise of a humanitarian intervention.
Prior to January 2019 control of the Sudetenland was shared between the UTA and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham/Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant (HTS).
HTS simply being the latest name used by Al Qaeda/The Base (AQ) in Syria. Alongside new recruits, both Syrian and foreign, the group also contains original, core Al Qaeda fighters. Including the Turkistan Islamist Party (TiP).
In January 2019 the UTA and HTS reached a Turkish brokered agreement. Which saw the UTA withdraw to Afrin Canton and HTS take complete control over the Sudetenland.
Since October 2017 Al Qaeda have been protected in the Sudetenland by the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
This has been achieved by the TSK establishing a network of small military bases known as; "Control Points" or "Observation Posts." Over time that network of Turkish Control Points has expanded to 18.
Central Syria: The southern border of the Sudetenland marks the start of a vast area under the control of the Syrian government.
It really includes all parts of the country which are not otherwise designated. I would refer to it simply as; "Syria" only that would cause more confusion by implying the other areas are not part of Syria.
The liberation of Central Syria was the result of a nearly year long anti-ISIL operation by the Syrians. In both the north and the south of the country this saw them advance from west to east.
In the north of the country the Syrians set out from Aleppo City in May 2017. By late July 2017 this northern axis had arrived at and liberated the town of Dalhah which sits on the southern bank of the Euphrates.
To the south of the country the Syrians set out from the Syrian capital Damascus. Also in May 2017. By early June 2017 this southern axis had reached the border between Syria and Iraq at the town of al-Tanf.
From al-Tanf the Syrians then advanced on the city of Palmyra which sits almost exactly in the centre of Syria. Palmyra had been liberated from ISIL by the Syrians in March 2017.
In August 2017 Syrian forces from both Palmyra and Dalhah converged on the town of as-Suknah. From there they began the operation to liberate the southern banks of the Euphrates.
In December 2017 the Syrians liberated Al Boukamal/Abu Kamal which sits on the Euphrates as it enters Iraq from Syia. This allowed them to declare the southern bank of the Euphrates fully liberated from ISIL.
There remained though two areas still outside of Syrian control.
Firstly the East Ghouta suburb of the capital Damascus, the Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian Refugees and the East Qalamoun Mountain area. Including the al-Safa Volcanic Plateau.
Secondly the Yarmouk River Basin area. The area in the basin of the Yarmouk River in the very south-west of Syria. It includes Daraa Province, Quneitra Province and As-Suwayda Province.
In late February 2018 the Syrians launched an operation to liberate the East Ghouta suburb, the Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian Refugees and the East Qalamoun Mountains. This succeeded in its objective with ISIL's surrender at the Safa Plateau in November 2018.
In June 2018 the Syrians launched an operation to liberate the Yarmouk River Basin area. This was completed in August 2018. Following the surrender of ISIL's Jaish al-Khalid Ibn al-Walid/Army of Khalid Ibn al-Walid.
Within the Central Syria area though there continues to be one small area outside of Syrian control.
A US base close to the town of al-Tanf. This used to be designated; "Bobby Sands" but due to Brexit concerns has been re-designated; "Dollywood."
Dollywood: This base was established by CJTFOIR to train a coalition of forces known as the Southern Front.
Initially to assist ISIL in overthrowing the Syrian government. Then as potential corridor to link the SDF in Shangri-La with anti-ISIL forces in the Central Syria area.
The Syrians liberation of al-Tanf in June 2017 however rendered the Dollywood base strategically void. Causing CJTFOIR forces to withdraw.
US troops though continues to operate the Dollywood base. Where they house an Islamist fragment of the now defunct Southern Front, the Islamist Revolutionary Commando Army/Maghawir al-Thawra (MaT).
The US' reasoning behind clinging onto the Dollywood base is that it sits on a border crossing between Iraq and Syria. With the M2 Highway linking the Iraqi capital Baghdad to the Syrian capital Damascus.
The US think that continuing to control al-Tanf border crossing will prevent Iran from supplying Lebanese Hezbollah with weapons. Via road across Iraq and Syria.
That is of course is an absolute strategic idiocy.
Shutting down a single road junction does not cripple an entire nation's road network. Otherwise every country would grind to a halt every time there's a car crash. Plus the al-Tanf border crossing can be completely controlled from the Iraqi side of the border.
The refusal to withdraw US troops from Dollywood is now actually one of the few things keeping ISIL alive in Syria.
In order to protect the Dollywood base the US has imposed a roughly 11,500kmsq (6,900 milesq) exclusion zone around it.
This US imposed exclusion zone includes the Ruqban Camp for Internally Displaced People (IDP's). Control of which is shared between ISIL and Maghawir al-Thawra (MaT). The Islamist group trained and supported by the US.
ISIL are able to use the civilian population of the Ruqban Camp as both human shields and as a revenue producing tax base. ISIL are also able to use the area as a base to conduct operations against the Syrians across the Syrian desert/Badiya al-Sham.
Syrian forces are not able to enter the US imposed exclusion zone around Dollywood to combat ISIL. The US force at Dollywood is too small to combat ISIL. Not that they seem to possess any desire to do so.
It is telling that when ISIL surrendered both in the Yarmouk River basin and at the Safa Plateau they asked to be transferred to Dollywood. Where they could rely on US protection.
Amid all the recent hokey-poky around bringing US troops back from Syria the US refuses to even entertain the idea of closing the Dollywood base.
The most recent developments in Syria have occurred in the Shangri-La area.
On October 6th 2019 (6/10/19) US President Donald Trump abandoned the SDF.
He gave Turkish President/Prime Minister/Emperor Recep Tayyip Erdogan permission to illegally invade and occupy a 35km (20 mile) deep, 420km (250 mile) wide area in the north of Shangri-La.
This roughly 15,160kmsq (9,100milesq) zone has been designated; Danzig.
Which, after all, is what tends to get invaded once the Sudetenland has been annexed.
It would be nice to pretend that there was some grand strategic thought behind US President Trump's decision. The sad fact of the matter though is that he simply threw a childish tantrum.
Frustrated by what are very minor domestic political challenges Trump decided that work was beneath.
Particularly the tiny bit of work he would personally have to do.
Telling Erdogan that he has to adhere to the Charter of the United Nations. The barest minimum international legal commitment for Turkey to be considered a nation state.
Erdogan's illegal invasion and occupation began on October 9th 2019 (9/10/19).
Just as had happened in the Garvaghy Road and Afrin Canton areas it was led by the regular Turkish Military (TSK). With the support of the irregular United Turkmen Army. Including the extremely vicious, Islamist Jaish al-Islam/Army of Islam.
By October 17th 2019 (17/10/19) Erdogan's forces had reached the M4 Highway. Which stretches across the north of the Shangri-La area.
They had done this on two axis;
The first saw them enter Shangri-La in line with the town of Gire Spi/Tel Abyad. This sits around 75km (45 miles) east of where the Euphrates enters Syria from Turkey.
The second saw them enter Shangri-La in line with the town of Serekanyie/Ras al-Ayn. This sits around 105km (60 miles) east of Gire Spi/Tel Abyad. Around 180km (110 miles) east of where the Euphrates enters Syria from Turkey.
Both Gire Spi/Tel Abyad and Serekanyie/Ras al-Ayn and their surrounding villages were captured by Erdogan's forces as part of the invasion.
Erdogan then declared a 120 hour pause in operations. The purpose being for the SDF to withdraw from the Danzig zone.
This 120 hour pause was nothing more than an effort by US President Trump to further protect Erdogan. From comprehensive sanctions that are/were being introduced by the US Congress.
With US President Trump being completely unwilling to prevent the invasion of Danzig it fell to Russia, Iran and Syria to fill the vacuum. As has so often being the case in supposedly global fight against ISIL.
Russia and Turkey met, in Russia, to discuss the issue on October 22nd 2019 (22/10/19)
Sadly with the US still failing to impose meaningful sanctions on Turkey Russia was limited in what it could do.
Following a further 150 hour pause, to allow the SDF to withdraw, Russia agreed to allow Erdogan to fully establish his 15,160kmsq (9,100milesq) Danzig zone. Under the control of the regular Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the irregular United Turkmen Army (UTA).
The only concession being that Russia would also conduct patrols within the Danzig zone. Which historians will probably agree sounds appropriate.
Erdogan's stated aim in creating this Danzig zone is to cleanse it of its indigenous Kurdish population. Replacing them with Turks and Arabs.
A repetition of the Arabization policies of successive Syrian governments and of Turkey's actions in both the Garvaghy Road and Afrin Canton areas.
This is a clear example of Ethnic Cleansing. A high Crime Against Humanity under Article 7(1)(d) of the Rome Statute of 1998.
Aside from its horrifying humanitarian implications the strategic failure of allowing Erdogan to establish this Danzig zone should be obvious to all.
Particularly now what Erdogan means by; "Safe Zone" has been called into sharp focus by this weekend's Operation Mueller.
Operation Mueller: This is the US Special Operations Force (SOF) raid to capture, kill or definitely kill Ibrahim Ali al-Badri.
More commonly known by his pseudonym Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Who took over from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi (Hamid al-Zawi). The founder of ISIL.
Officially the mission was named in honour of Kayla Mueller. An American woman who was taken hostage and ultimately executed by ISIL.
The raid took place over the night of October 26th 2019 (26/10/19). Into the morning of October 27th 2019 (27/10/19). It was carried out against an ISIL compound close to the Syrian village of Bashira.
Sitting in the foothills of Mount Bashira the village is located in the Sudetenland area of Syria.
It stands around 6km (4 miles) south of Syria's border with Turkey.
It also stands around 10km (6 miles) south-west of the Atmeh-Salwa Access Area. Which marks the dividing line between the Sudetenland area and the Afrin Canton areas.
This Atmeh-Salwa Access Area is the first place that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) established their network of Control Points. Starting in October 2017. It remains the most densely populated area of these Turkish bases.
Due to the 2012 US raid to kill Osama bin Laden I think we all have a vague idea of what a SOF raid involves. Roughly two dozen operators flying in by helicopter onto a target under cover of darkness.
This has certainly become a very familiar phenomenon in the Shangri-La area. A couple of mysterious helicopters fly in. There's a short but intense exchange of gunfire. Then the helicopters mysteriously disappear again.
What movies like; "Zero Dark Thirty" often forget to mention though is that these two dozen operators are backed by a Quick Reaction Force (QRF). A sort of 911 the SOF's can call upon if things start to go wrong.
The composition of a QRF is very much mission specific. An Iraqi QRF was actually deployed in the Battle of Mosul. It fought a weeks long mechanised campaign in the western half of the city.
Generally though a QRF is made up of around 100 Commando troops. Deployed from large rotary wing aircraft. Like a Chinook or Osprey. They are backed by multiple helicopter gunships. Such as the Apache.
They can also be backed by fixed wing gunships. Something like Spectre, Spooky or Ghostrider gunship. An AC-130 Hercules equipped with a 20mm rotary cannon (minigun), a 40mm cannon and a 105mm howitzer. Basically a flying artillery battalion.
A US QRF can also call on traditional air support. Fighter jets capable of dropping Paveway bombs and Hellfire missiles.
Operation Mueller saw a battalion of Commando forces deployed in eight large rotary wing aircraft. Backed by Apache and AC-130 gunships. It ended with the ISIL compound being bombed into dust.
So initially it looked as though the SOF raid had failed. Causing the QRF to be deployed.
It turns out though that while it was led by SOF's Operation Mueller was actually planned as a commando raid. Simply the military planners had decided to go in that hard as their starting point. Which does make you wonder what the QRF option was.
The reason for this decision was that the raid was being carried out against a large, heavily fortified ISIL compound. Complete with multiple rings of defences and a complex, underground bunker system.
Once al-Badri/al-Baghdadi had been killed and its forces successfully withdrawn the US then bombed the large, heavily fortified ISIL compound. To destroy it and prevent it from being used by ISIL or any other armed group.
The large, heavily fortified ISIL compound which stood around 6km (4 miles) from the Turkish border and around 10km (6 miles) from a Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) base.
In one of Erdogan's "Safe Zones."
19:50 on 28/10/19 (UK date).
Wednesday, 23 October 2019
The Letter Boris Should Now Sign.
In June 2016 the British people voted to Leave the European Union (EU). In the largest democratic exercise to ever take place in the UK.
In the three years since then a group of roughly 300 British MP's have tried to thwart this Brexit. Desperate to keep Britain within the EU. At any cost.
Their latest wheeze has been The European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Bill.
Authored by Labour's Hilary Benn this is sometimes known as the Benn Bill, the Benn Act or the Act of Surrender.
Regardless of what it is called it reveals the reason why those 300 MP's are desperate to keep Britain within the EU.
Since Britain joined what became the EU in British MP's or lawmakers have had very little role in making British laws.
Instead new laws are recommended by the EU Parliament. Introduced by the EU Commission. Then passed by the EU Council. Finally they are automatically turned into British laws through the mechanism of the European Communities Act of 1972.
So it hasn't mattered if British MP's are complete failures at representing the interests of the British people. The EU will always been on hand to bail them out and let them keep picking up the pay cheques.
Over the course of the last, nearly 50 years, this absence of responsibility has created a current crop of British MP's who are simply lacking the talent and skills needed to draft and pass even basic legislation.
The Benn Bill is a prime example of this complete lack of ability.
The intention of the Benn Bill was to maintain the status quo. To keep Britain's relationship with the EU the same. Regardless of what voters may think.
Instead though it dramatically alters Britain's relationship with the EU. Significantly removing power from the British Monarch, Parliament and voters and placing it in the hands of the EU.
For example it surrenders Britain's power to select the EU Commissioners who introduce new laws.
It surrenders Britain's power to veto the passing of those new laws by the EU Council.
It surrenders Britain's power to prevent those new EU laws becoming British laws by revoking the 1972 European Communities Act.
Something which is now tied to Britain leaving the EU. If Brexit is delayed then the European Communities Act remains in force for the duration of any extension.
The Benn Bill also, obviously, surrenders Britain's power to Leave the EU.
By surrendering Britain's power to Leave the EU the Benn Bill also surrenders Britain's ability to veto the next EU budget. Let alone Britain's right not to contribute to that EU budget.
Negotiations over the next EU budget cycle begin, really, on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). Once committed to that new budget cycle will last until 2028.
Despite surrendering all of these British powers to the EU the Benn Bill still manages to fail in its primary objective. To extend Britain's membership of the EU until, at least, January 31st 2020 (31/1/20).
Although it requires Britain to seek an extension it also requires Britain to attach conditions to that extension. In order to protect Britain's interests. It is impossible for the EU to meet those conditions.
Take for example the issue of EU Commissioners. Particularly the President of the EU Commission.
In May 2019 elections were held for the EU Parliament. One of the new EU Parliament's first tasks would be to confirm the EU Commissioners appointed by the existing EU Council.
The EU attempted to add the illusion of democracy to this process. By nominating to candidates for the President of the EU Commission. So the pro-EU left nominated Frans Timmermans while the pro-EU right nominated Jan Zahradil.
These two candidates then fought something of a faux election campaign, complete with televised debates, alongside the EU Parliament election campaign. Despite the fact they no-one would get to vote them into a job they are appointed to.
However in March 2019 current EU Council President Donald Tusk decided to force Britain to stay in the EU for another six months. A move that forced Britain to participate in the elections for the EU Parliament.
In doing this Donald Tusk thought he was striking a victorious blow for supporters of the EU everywhere.
What Tusk actually did was trigger a massive backlash against his and the EU's utter contempt for democracy.
The result was a surge in support for anti-EU parties at the election for the EU Parliament. This caused the pro-EU left and pro-EU right to lose the majority they have always held in the EU Parliament.
With no majority neither the pro-EU left nor the pro-EU right were able force through their candidate for President of the EU Commission.
Instead the job ended up going to Germany's Ursula von der Leyen. Who had not only not participated in the faux election campaign but was only suggested as a candidate moments before being appointed.
The purpose of extending Britain's membership of the EU until October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) was that it would be unaffected by Ursula von der Leyen and the other EU Commissioners. Who would start work on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). As such Britain did not participate in their selection.
If Britain is going to still be an EU member of November 1st 2019 (1/11/19) then it will have to have its say on the EU Commissioners who will govern it. Meaning that the entire process will have to be reopened.
So the letter current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs to send to the EU to comply with the Benn Bill is as follows;
Dear Donald.
Enclosed is a copy of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Act. This requires me to write to you requesting an extension to the Article 50 process until January 31st 2020 (31/1/20).
Therefore I am requesting an extension to the Article 50 process until that date. However January 31st 2020 (31/1/20) is the only date that an extension is being sought for. No alternative dates are being sought or will be considered.
I'm sure that I do not need to remind you that the EU Council is legally forbidden from offering or imposing an extension to the Article 50 process which has not been sought.
Alongside my obligations under the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Act I also have a wider obligation to protect the rights and freedoms of the British people.
In order to meet those obligations the extension of the Article 50 process is sought only on the basis of the EU Council agreeing to fully meet the following conditions.
1. The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) will bind Britain to the decisions EU Commissioners who take up office on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). Therefore the process of appointing those EU Commissioners must be re-opened. In order to allow Britain to exercise its full rights to participate. Include the right to exercise its veto.
2. Throughout the Article 50 process Britain has waived its right to participate in the EU Council for matters which do not directly relate to that process. This was done on an understanding that Britain would leave the EU on March 29th 2019 (29/3/19). Therefore would not be bound by new laws and rules passed by the EU Council.
The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) means that Britain is now to be bound by new laws and rules passed by the EU Council.
Therefore Britain's rights to participate in the EU Council, including its veto, must be fully and retroactively restored.
3. The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) leaves Britain as a full EU member as the EU begins negotiations over its new budget cycle.
Britain must enjoy its full rights, including its veto, to participate in this process. Furthermore Britain will have to be granted the further unique right not to contribute any money at all to the new EU budget cycle.
4. Extending the Article 50 process places significant financial burdens on Britain. Including and beyond its current contributions to the existing EU budget cycle. I myself have estimated these costs to be GB£1bn per week.
Therefore Britain must immediately end all of its financial contributions to the EU.
Furthermore the EU must compensate Britain for the continued cost of extending the Article 50 process. At a figure of GB£1bn per week. Backdated to March 29th 2019 (29/3/19).
I am copying this letter to Presidents Juncker and Sassoli.
Yours sincerely,
Boris Johnson.
16:10 on 23/10/19 (UK date).
In the three years since then a group of roughly 300 British MP's have tried to thwart this Brexit. Desperate to keep Britain within the EU. At any cost.
Their latest wheeze has been The European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Bill.
Authored by Labour's Hilary Benn this is sometimes known as the Benn Bill, the Benn Act or the Act of Surrender.
Regardless of what it is called it reveals the reason why those 300 MP's are desperate to keep Britain within the EU.
Since Britain joined what became the EU in British MP's or lawmakers have had very little role in making British laws.
Instead new laws are recommended by the EU Parliament. Introduced by the EU Commission. Then passed by the EU Council. Finally they are automatically turned into British laws through the mechanism of the European Communities Act of 1972.
So it hasn't mattered if British MP's are complete failures at representing the interests of the British people. The EU will always been on hand to bail them out and let them keep picking up the pay cheques.
Over the course of the last, nearly 50 years, this absence of responsibility has created a current crop of British MP's who are simply lacking the talent and skills needed to draft and pass even basic legislation.
The Benn Bill is a prime example of this complete lack of ability.
The intention of the Benn Bill was to maintain the status quo. To keep Britain's relationship with the EU the same. Regardless of what voters may think.
Instead though it dramatically alters Britain's relationship with the EU. Significantly removing power from the British Monarch, Parliament and voters and placing it in the hands of the EU.
For example it surrenders Britain's power to select the EU Commissioners who introduce new laws.
It surrenders Britain's power to veto the passing of those new laws by the EU Council.
It surrenders Britain's power to prevent those new EU laws becoming British laws by revoking the 1972 European Communities Act.
Something which is now tied to Britain leaving the EU. If Brexit is delayed then the European Communities Act remains in force for the duration of any extension.
The Benn Bill also, obviously, surrenders Britain's power to Leave the EU.
By surrendering Britain's power to Leave the EU the Benn Bill also surrenders Britain's ability to veto the next EU budget. Let alone Britain's right not to contribute to that EU budget.
Negotiations over the next EU budget cycle begin, really, on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). Once committed to that new budget cycle will last until 2028.
Despite surrendering all of these British powers to the EU the Benn Bill still manages to fail in its primary objective. To extend Britain's membership of the EU until, at least, January 31st 2020 (31/1/20).
Although it requires Britain to seek an extension it also requires Britain to attach conditions to that extension. In order to protect Britain's interests. It is impossible for the EU to meet those conditions.
Take for example the issue of EU Commissioners. Particularly the President of the EU Commission.
In May 2019 elections were held for the EU Parliament. One of the new EU Parliament's first tasks would be to confirm the EU Commissioners appointed by the existing EU Council.
The EU attempted to add the illusion of democracy to this process. By nominating to candidates for the President of the EU Commission. So the pro-EU left nominated Frans Timmermans while the pro-EU right nominated Jan Zahradil.
These two candidates then fought something of a faux election campaign, complete with televised debates, alongside the EU Parliament election campaign. Despite the fact they no-one would get to vote them into a job they are appointed to.
However in March 2019 current EU Council President Donald Tusk decided to force Britain to stay in the EU for another six months. A move that forced Britain to participate in the elections for the EU Parliament.
In doing this Donald Tusk thought he was striking a victorious blow for supporters of the EU everywhere.
What Tusk actually did was trigger a massive backlash against his and the EU's utter contempt for democracy.
The result was a surge in support for anti-EU parties at the election for the EU Parliament. This caused the pro-EU left and pro-EU right to lose the majority they have always held in the EU Parliament.
With no majority neither the pro-EU left nor the pro-EU right were able force through their candidate for President of the EU Commission.
Instead the job ended up going to Germany's Ursula von der Leyen. Who had not only not participated in the faux election campaign but was only suggested as a candidate moments before being appointed.
The purpose of extending Britain's membership of the EU until October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) was that it would be unaffected by Ursula von der Leyen and the other EU Commissioners. Who would start work on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). As such Britain did not participate in their selection.
If Britain is going to still be an EU member of November 1st 2019 (1/11/19) then it will have to have its say on the EU Commissioners who will govern it. Meaning that the entire process will have to be reopened.
So the letter current British Prime Minister Boris Johnson needs to send to the EU to comply with the Benn Bill is as follows;
Dear Donald.
Enclosed is a copy of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Act. This requires me to write to you requesting an extension to the Article 50 process until January 31st 2020 (31/1/20).
Therefore I am requesting an extension to the Article 50 process until that date. However January 31st 2020 (31/1/20) is the only date that an extension is being sought for. No alternative dates are being sought or will be considered.
I'm sure that I do not need to remind you that the EU Council is legally forbidden from offering or imposing an extension to the Article 50 process which has not been sought.
Alongside my obligations under the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 6) Act I also have a wider obligation to protect the rights and freedoms of the British people.
In order to meet those obligations the extension of the Article 50 process is sought only on the basis of the EU Council agreeing to fully meet the following conditions.
1. The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) will bind Britain to the decisions EU Commissioners who take up office on November 1st 2019 (1/11/19). Therefore the process of appointing those EU Commissioners must be re-opened. In order to allow Britain to exercise its full rights to participate. Include the right to exercise its veto.
2. Throughout the Article 50 process Britain has waived its right to participate in the EU Council for matters which do not directly relate to that process. This was done on an understanding that Britain would leave the EU on March 29th 2019 (29/3/19). Therefore would not be bound by new laws and rules passed by the EU Council.
The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) means that Britain is now to be bound by new laws and rules passed by the EU Council.
Therefore Britain's rights to participate in the EU Council, including its veto, must be fully and retroactively restored.
3. The extension beyond October 31st 2019 (31/10/19) leaves Britain as a full EU member as the EU begins negotiations over its new budget cycle.
Britain must enjoy its full rights, including its veto, to participate in this process. Furthermore Britain will have to be granted the further unique right not to contribute any money at all to the new EU budget cycle.
4. Extending the Article 50 process places significant financial burdens on Britain. Including and beyond its current contributions to the existing EU budget cycle. I myself have estimated these costs to be GB£1bn per week.
Therefore Britain must immediately end all of its financial contributions to the EU.
Furthermore the EU must compensate Britain for the continued cost of extending the Article 50 process. At a figure of GB£1bn per week. Backdated to March 29th 2019 (29/3/19).
I am copying this letter to Presidents Juncker and Sassoli.
Yours sincerely,
Boris Johnson.
16:10 on 23/10/19 (UK date).
Monday, 14 October 2019
Trump Threw a Tantrum.
That is the sole and only reason the US now finds itself in full retreat from ISIL.
America has never had thousands of troops in Syria.
Tens of American troops were never being killed in Syria.
Hundreds of American troops were never being maimed in Syria.
America has never been spending billions, let alone trillions of dollars in Syria.
The was only one, small cost left for America to totally defeat ISIL.
Trump personally, through phone calls etc, had to exert diplomatic pressure on Erdogan to accept that ISIL had been defeated.
Trump decided that tiny bit of effort was beneath him and threw a tantrum.
As a result NATO now has no option other than to go to war with its former member Turkey.
That war can happen when Erdogan reaches Damascus.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Ramallah.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Jerusalem.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Cairo.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Benghazi.
But it is inevitable that it will have to happen.
It's better it happens now when then threat is still relatively small.
Because Trump's tantrum has been the very definition of a false economy.
18:40 on 14/10/19 (UK Date).
Edited at around 22:10 on 17/10/19 (UK date) to add;
Trump's October 6th (6/10/19) tantrum gave Turkey's Erdogan permission to invade & occupy roughly 15,160kmsq (9,100milesq) of Syria.
Long under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) this area has been operationally designated; "Shangri-La."
After 8 days of fighting Erdogan's forces now occupy roughly 15,160kmsq (9,100milessq) of Shangri-La.
Today Trump is seriously trying convince us that he has forced Erdogan to accept a ceasefire.
I'm sure though Erdogan's forces will stop there.
After all that's what we said when Erdogan's forces invaded & occupied the Garvaghy Road area of Syria.
That's what we said when Erdogan's forces invaded &occupied the Afrin Canton area of Syria.
That's what we said when Erdogan's forces invaded & occupied the Sudetenland area of Syria.
America has never had thousands of troops in Syria.
Tens of American troops were never being killed in Syria.
Hundreds of American troops were never being maimed in Syria.
America has never been spending billions, let alone trillions of dollars in Syria.
The was only one, small cost left for America to totally defeat ISIL.
Trump personally, through phone calls etc, had to exert diplomatic pressure on Erdogan to accept that ISIL had been defeated.
Trump decided that tiny bit of effort was beneath him and threw a tantrum.
As a result NATO now has no option other than to go to war with its former member Turkey.
That war can happen when Erdogan reaches Damascus.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Ramallah.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Jerusalem.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Cairo.
It can happen when Erdogan reaches Benghazi.
But it is inevitable that it will have to happen.
It's better it happens now when then threat is still relatively small.
Because Trump's tantrum has been the very definition of a false economy.
18:40 on 14/10/19 (UK Date).
Edited at around 22:10 on 17/10/19 (UK date) to add;
Trump's October 6th (6/10/19) tantrum gave Turkey's Erdogan permission to invade & occupy roughly 15,160kmsq (9,100milesq) of Syria.
Long under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) this area has been operationally designated; "Shangri-La."
After 8 days of fighting Erdogan's forces now occupy roughly 15,160kmsq (9,100milessq) of Shangri-La.
Today Trump is seriously trying convince us that he has forced Erdogan to accept a ceasefire.
I'm sure though Erdogan's forces will stop there.
After all that's what we said when Erdogan's forces invaded & occupied the Garvaghy Road area of Syria.
That's what we said when Erdogan's forces invaded &occupied the Afrin Canton area of Syria.
That's what we said when Erdogan's forces invaded & occupied the Sudetenland area of Syria.
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