Tag Archives: uk

International

Riots in Northern Ireland, pro English parade sparks response from those wanting independence

August 14, in Northern Ireland a pro-English Protestant parade sparked a violent response from those who still seek independence (Irish Catholics).

Northern Ireland is controlled by the United Kingdom.  Recently a report revealed that indeed the U.K. government (and thereby the Royal Family) actively supported pro-English terrorists with weapons and money in Northern Ireland, during the time of “The Troubles”.

Sunday’s Londonderry riots quickly moved to targeting police vehicles and other government vehicles.  One person described it as “sustained rioting”.

This year is starting to look like peace has ended in Northern Ireland.  This isn’t the first time a pro-English parade sparked violence, riots also broke out during the pro-English parade in Belfast.

 

International, U.S.

U.S. Media hints that former U.S. cop, now chairman of private security company, might take over British Scotland Yard

The American Broadcasting Company interviewed Bill Bratton, the man just hired by the U.K. Prime Minister to help with civil disturbance issues.

In the interview ABC pressured Bratton with a question about being offered to take over Scotland Yard.

Bratton explained that the U.K. Parliament requires the person hired for that position to be a U.K. citizen.  ABC countered with a “What if a way is cleared to allow you to become head of Scotland Yard?”, Bratton responded with “I never close any door before it’s opened.”

The U.K. is downsizing its police force, and Bill Bratton just happens to run a private security company called Kroll Associates.


 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

British Bobbies pissed that U.K. Prime Minister is consulting with a U.S. Cop, all part of the plan to downsize and privatize British police force

Prime Minister David Cameron hired former Los Angeles cop, Bill Bratton, to advise him on how to handle the growing discontent of the people of the Britain.

London police are pissed off at the idea that they are not considered good enough for Cameron to consult with: “The Association of Chief Police Officers and the Federation understand U.K. legislation and are in a much better place to advise the PM than an American. Why won’t the Prime Minister consult us?”-The Met (Scotland Yard) Inspectors Branch Board statement

Part of the British government spending cuts hit the cops, not just the lower class.  Thousands of bobbies are to be laid off.  Many in Britain are wondering, as things get worse, who will be there for riot control and other civil disturbances?

The clue is in Bill Bratton. He runs a private security company, called Kroll Associates.  Could part of the “consulting” with the Prime Minister involve how to privatize law enforcement in the United Kingdom?  I wonder how the British bobbies will feel when they get laid off and join the ranks of all those unemployed young people they beat and shot (kinda like when a cop goes to prison)?

 

International

United Police Kingdom: Right Wing Controlled Media lied about official inquiry, Independent Police Complaints Commission forced to restate that Police did the only shooting, video of police beating 16 year old girl

Because of incorrect reporting, by the mainstream right wing controlled media, of the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s initial conclusions about the shooting, that led to the English riots, the commission has restated that the police were the only ones who fired their weapons.

There was no exchange of gunfire, as the right wing media continues to report: “Any reference to an exchange of shots was not correct and did not feature in any of our formal statements, although an officer was taken to hospital after the incident.”-latest IPCC statement

The commission also stated that any shots that hit police, came from police.  They pointed out that the police radio that was hit, was hit by a jacketed police issue bullet.

The right wing media has also been reporting that police claim the shooting victim had a pistol that was illegally converted to fire live ammo.  As I reported earlier, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said there is no evidence the victim shot at police, and that he was not armed!

The commission stated in its latest press conference, that the pistol police claim to have belonged to the shooting victim, was no where near the scene of the shooting.

The riots started after a a crowd of about 200 people gathered to protest he shooting.  A 16 year old girl approached the line of police officers and was beaten by them (right wing reports say she attacked police).  That’s when the peaceful protesters went violent.

There’s video on YouTube, it’s a little dark, but you can hear someone yelling at the British Bobbies that they’re beating a “F**cking girl!”.  Of interest is that YouTube has been blocking some earlier posts of the video, as “potentially offensive” even though it’s hard to see what’s happening in the video.

International

Iran, Libya & Zimbabwe slam United Kingdom, demand human rights investigation, says Cameron is no longer a legitimate ruler

“Cameron and his government have lost all legitimacy. These demonstrations show that the British people reject this government which is trying to impose itself through force.”-Khaled Kaaim, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister

In a tit-for-tat statement Libyan officials are calling for British Prime Minister to step down, because the anti-government protests, which have recently turned into all out riots after a police shooting (and the little mentioned police beating of a 16 year old girl), prove that the current British government is oppressive.  Libya is even demanding that the United Nations take action against the U.K.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe said, in a round about way, that Britain needs to shut up and get off his back, when it comes to human rights violations: “Britain I understand is on fire, London especially and we hope they can extinguish their fire, pay attention to their internal problem and to that fire which is now blazing all over and leave us alone.”

Iran has already offered to send peacekeeping troops to the U.K., and human rights investigators as well.  One Iranian cleric said Britain is simply reaping what it’s sowed over the centuries: “The colonialists schemed and spent money to create chaos in countries and today the result of their plotting is the events they have been stricken with.”-Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi

A senior Iranian politician warned the United Nations that if it didn’t take action against Britain, as it has against Libya and Syria, then it would loose all legitimacy: “If the Security Council does not put David Cameron’s trial as a war criminal on its agenda and does not meet this demand of the British nation, [other] nations’ view of this council will definitely change more than ever before.”-Mohammad-Karim Abedi, Deputy Chairman of Iran’s Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Committee

Business/Economics, International

Britain Burning: Iran ready to send troops, calls U.K. leaders autocratic oppressors

“The Ashura brigades of Basij forces are ready to be deployed to London as peacekeeping forces.”- Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Naqdi

Since the beginning of the riots in England, Iran has been critical of the U.K. government’s handling of the crisis.

Iranian officials pointed out that London police have Big Brother style surveillance cameras all over the city.  At last count, there are 4.6 million security cameras, and only one million people living in London.  So why is it so difficult for them to track down the “thugs”?  Why, with all those security cameras on just about every street, didn’t police react sooner?

Iranian officials also point out that most of the “thugs” are the deprived lower classes of Britain.

Iranian military commanders say that if the United Nations decides to send peacekeepers to the U.K., Iranian troops are ready to go now.

 

Business/Economics, International

United Police Kingdom, England Burning: British Bobbies shot first, official inquiry says no evidence that father of four ever shot at police

The shot that started the riots, that have been going on since this past weekend, was fired by cops, and cops only!

The Independent Police Complaints Commission says there is no evidence that a father of four, who was shot in a taxi and killed by police, was armed or even shot at police.

The police who shot him claimed, as usual, that he shot at them first, and that a gunfight ensued, in which he was killed.  As usual the police claim self defense.

Also, at least a day ago the police claim they had recovered a “non-police” issue gun belonging to the “gang leader”.  The Independent Police Complaints Commission says that’s a bold faced lie!  The Commission found no such gun!

The Commission says the father of four was killed by one shot to the chest.  A Scotland Yard (London Met) bobbie fired two shots in total.  That sure doesn’t sound like a gun battle.  Unfortunately the investigation is being given six months to make a final report.

Maybe the poor people of Merry Old Police State England are justified?  The bobbies thought they were taking out a modern day Robin Hood, now there are thousands of Robin Hoods swarming the streets!

International

England Burning: Riots spread to 3 cities, police using armored cars, Cameron ends luxury vacation early, poor people redistributing the wealth

“There’s been tension for a long time. The kids aren’t happy. They hate the police. It’s like a war zone and the police weren’t doing anything. There were too many people and not enough police.”-Matthew Yeoland, 43-year-old teacher in Peckham.

Violence has spread to three cities now; London, Birmingham and Liverpool.  Police are using armored vehicles in the worst hit districts of London.

Prime Minister David Cameron cut short his summer vacation in Italy, after first saying he would continue with his vacation.

There are so many fires being fought in London, that Thames Water is warning its customers their water pressure will drop.

Most British media, and most British officials say there is no correlation with the riots in the various districts and cities, and no justification.

Many rioters are poor people who’ve been struggling for years to find employment.  They’re also the people who’re being hit the hardest but the government spending cuts.  Remember, the leaders of the United Kingdom force drastic cuts on social programs, then go on luxury vacations!

In answer to officials calling the rioters “thugs” one man said it was pay back time: “This is the uprising of the working class. We’re redistributing the wealth.”-Bryn Phillips

Young people in the U.K. are especially upset over huge increases in college tuition, cuts in social programs and the total lack of jobs for youth.  The unemployment rate is the highest for young adults in the U.K.

Police are so desperate they’re even asking parents to control their children, to keep them from rioting.

The original violence started in Tottenham, after a man was shot to death by police. The family of the man say he was unarmed, and sitting in the back of a taxi when he was shot.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

U.S. Debt: The Big Three countries U.S. taxpayers are beholded to, U.S. government bonds drop in rank

Most people know that China is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt.  Japan is the second biggest, and the United Kingdom (Britain) is the third.

According to the most recent information, China holds a little more than $1 trillion in U.S. government debt (bonds), Japan holds $912 billion and the U.K. holds $346 billion.  Those bonds are held not only by foreign governments, but by private banks and corporations.

Standard & Poor’s downgrade means that U.S. government bonds are now ranked 2nd place.  Germany, United Kingdom and France still hold their triple A 1st place ranks.  Interestingly the Federal Reserve Bank (not a government agency) says the drop in ranking will not change how they handle U.S. bonds.

The problem is that foreign banks will surely change how they handle U.S. bonds.

The majority of U.S. government debt is still held within the United States, by banks, corporations, individuals and taxpayers via the U.S. Treasury.