U.N. Human Rights Council?

Never mind, Russia, China, Cuba, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia on the UN Human Rights Council, take a look at the Swiss representative - Jean Ziegler:

The [Wiesenthal centre] suggested that "Switzerland propose a more appropriate Swiss citizen than the founder of the 'Muammar Khadafi Foundation for Human Rights,' established by Ziegler in 1989, four months after the Libyan sponsored terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The 2002 Khadafi Human Rights laureates were Ziegler and convicted French Holocaust denier, Roger Garaudy."

Samuels continued, "While charging the United States and Israel for starvation genocide in Cuba and the Palestine Authority respectively, he has ignored the famines of Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic and other stricken nations…"

"…According to UN Watch, he has served Mengistu, the perpetrator of mass murder by starvation in Ethiopia, in assisting in writing that country's one party constitution."

Richard Carleton kicks the proverbial bucket

Tim Blair's commentors on the late lefty journalist Richard Carleton: I must say I loathed Richard Carleton. My condolences to Carleton's family.

Sorry - very, very difficult to show proper respect, given Carleton’s lifetime career of journalistic disrespect to the living and the dead.

Given his history and ‘form’, I’m sure Carleton would appreciate the comments made, for instance in the previous thread and here, as soon as murph & geoff show up.

BUT the mine management obviously conducted an unsafe press conference - surely they should have checked everyone for potentially fatal heart problems before they allowed questions? They will be held accountable.

Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 05 07 at 01:37 AM • permalink

Texas Bob, this might give you an insight into what he was like.

Posted by Melanie on 2006 05 07 at 02:14 AM • permalink

Who says that nothing good comes out of mine disasters?

Posted by Mike Jericho on 2006 05 07 at 01:37 AM • permalink

Ok Mike, sure Carleton was hardly the finest example of journalistic integrity when it came to other’s privacy, and I don’t really expect to follow the unwritten code of showing only respect for the dead, but somehow I doubt that’s the most appropriate response…

Posted by Leigh on 2006 05 07 at 01:41 AM • permalink

Appropriate that the very last “journalistic” question he asked was an attempt to pin blame for the disaster on the mine owners & was met with the reply “we will consider the reasons why once the trapped miners are safe”. He died as he lived, as a scum sucking bottom dweller, reviled by everyone he met.

Posted by Tom H on 2006 05 07 at 01:51 AM • permalink

I have no opinion of the bloke but today his young son is surely shattered. My thoughts go out to Carelton’s family.

Posted by JAFA on 2006 05 07 at 01:52 AM • permalink

I find it ironic that as in his dying moments he was being shielded from the media, his fellow reporters and camera crews. WTF, that guy had no respect for anyone’s privacy. He was totally blinkered and biased in his interviews- all he wanted to do was to project his opinion and his idea of what the truth was. He was never after the facts, never after the truth- even if it was staring him in the face.

Posted by Wylie Wilde on 2006 05 07 at 02:28 AM • permalink

I remember Carleton telling a Muslim cleric that we have free speech in Australia and he (Carleton) could call Mohammed’s daughter a whore if he wanted to. He then did so about three times - the interviewee’s head nearly exploded. Pre 9/11 it was. He also proved what an un-polished little twerp Bob Hawke was when he asked the then union boss what it was like “having blood” on his hands after the Hayden hatchet job.

Isn’t this hate-fest getting a bit overwrought?

Posted by C.L. on 2006 05 07 at 02:53 AM • permalink

Richard Carleton was a rude, self-important man in life, so it’s no surprise that his last moments on earth were rude and self-important.

Channel 10 (a rival station) has just broadcast the news they describe him as ::chortle:: a ‘highly-respected journalist who show no fear or favour’.

For those here calling for restraint on demonstrations of antipathy, I put it to you: this man may not have been a terrorist or a war criminal but he was personally responsible for needless misery of countless people because of his irresponsible reporting and grotesque ego.

The only kindness I can offer is a prayer for his family.

-- Nora

Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2006 05 07 at 03:21 AM • permalink

As objectional as his style of reporting was, his sudden death was tragic and I extend my condolences to his family.

Posted by Kidon on 2006 05 07 at 04:00 AM • permalink

Blogging Break

I'm getting married this weekend, so blogging will resume next week. I'll leave with this piece of wisdom:

Four things make a man age prematurely: fear, anger, children and a bad-tempered wife.

----- MIDRASH: TANHUMA

Quote of the Day

If there had only been government research establishments in the Stone Age, by now we would have had absolutely superb flint tools. But no one would have invented steel.

--------------------A. C. Clarke

Trivia of the day

Who coined the phrase "its all Greek to me"?
.
.
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"ALL GREEK TO ME - Goes back to Shakespeare. The line was first spoken by Casca, one of the conspirators against Caesar in the first act of 'Julius Caesar.' He was speaking of the comments made by Cicero after Caesar three times refused the crown of emperor. Cicero actually did speak in Greek, using that language as a device to make sure that casual passers-by did not understand his remarks. Today the expression 'It's all Greek to me' simply means that what has been said is beyond the speaker's understanding." From "Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins" by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988).

As an aside the following phrases were coined by Shakespeare's character Polonius in Hamlet.

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be".

"Give every man thine ear but few thy voice".

"Brevity is the soul of wit".

The Australian Fisks Fisk

An editorial in today's Australian (scroll down) gives Robert Fisk a good Fisking.

Fisk assessment - Journo's performance reveals deeper moral bankruptcy

VERY few people live to see their names turned into verbs, but it happened to Robert Fisk. In Pakistan after the September 11 attacks, the British journalist was beaten up by a group of Afghani kids, prompting him to write a much-mocked column detailing his sympathy for his assailants. This almost self-parodic piece of left-wing self-hatred was instantly dissected across the internet – and the term "fisking" quickly became synonymous with the point-by-point refutation of facile over-the-top arguments. But as undistinguished as that episode was, it pales in comparison to Fisk's florid and rambling appearance on ABC's Lateline on Wednesday night.

Speaking from Beirut, the infamous war correspondent who has made his fortune documenting the misery of others revealed once and for all the moral bankruptcy of the post-modern Left.

Earlier Post here.

Update: Robert Fisk writes a cover article for the independent that would make Julius Streicher proud (via Little Green Footballs).


More at Harry’s Place.

Update: David Tate has more on this.

Help! I'm being censored by Fisk!

The suggestion that Jews control the world by proxy - particularly by manipulating the media and by secretly directing the policies of other countries - is a widespread, and racist conspiracy theory with a long history. It is a view which is very much alive, on the far right and the far left, and - indeed - the far green.

To take a recent example Abdurrahman Jafar, the Respect Mayoral candidate, claimed yesterday in the Muslim Weekly, that Tony Blair had lied about "how Israel has been formulating and directing UK and US foreign policy".

Italy commemorates liberation from facism

Little Green Footballs has more on the demonstrations here and here.

Fisk Fisks Fisk

"Journalist" Robert Fisk cops a royal smackdown from Tony Jones (via J. F. Beck).

K. Bowman, a commentor at Tim Blair's site sums up:

Look, Look, Look, Look. Fisk’s points are all very simple. Zarqawi is just a figurehead whom we just are encouraged to loathe, who, at the end of the day, is not a person whom we need to worry about. Although he is a problem for all of us (Fisk, too). The West bestializes Zarqawi, although he is genuinely a bad guy (no doubt about it). It is wrong for us to paint the Middle East as a fight between good and evil, although Bin Laden and Zarqawi are monstrous. We created Zarqawi, although he created himself, and we helped, although he used to exist as a fantasy figure created by American propaganda. The media perpetuates these myths every time it blames Zarqawi, although he is to blame, and it would be absolutely wrong for reporters to ignore the things he is to blame for. Zarqawi’s existence supports American propaganda, but his continued existence is also a severe blow to American credibility.

Sydney Man in Jihad Plan

Lodhi denies terror charges

ARCHITECT Faheem Khalid Lodhi worked at three Sydney defence sites he was allegedly planning to bomb in a "violent jihad", a court has been told.

Outlining the crown case today, Mr Maidment told the court Lodhi's cause was "violent jihad", which could be described as "holy fighting conducted by Muslims against non-Muslims".

"The intention of the accused in his preparation for the bombing attack could only have been to influence by intimidation either governments, or members of the public, or both," Mr Maidment said.

Irony Alert

Well, you've probably already heard about the latest terrorist attack protests in Egypt. The linked article is so full of irony its just asking to be fisked:

The country's biggest opposition party, the Muslim Brotherhood, condemned the attacks and "whoever might be behind them."

Terrorists condemning terrorists?

...Arabs across the region, many of whom questioned why Muslims have now become a prime target for terrorists....

Ummmm..... whats that story about the guy who breeds wolves in his backyard to attack the neighbours and ends up getting bitten himself?

Jordan's King Abdullah II said it was necessary to bolster "unified international efforts to combat this dangerous disease [terrorism], which is completely alien to our Islamic values and traditions."

Completely Alien huh?

Blogroundup

*Osama Bin Laden has reportedly released an audiotape... blah blah blah.... death to the west etc... Evil Pundit of Doom has some interesting analysis on the issue. Little Green Footballs points to some disturbing opinions on OBL's latest message from radical UK Islamic forum ummah.com.

*J. F. Beck posts a picture of the front cover of the Mexican version of the Protocols.

*Powerline blog gives an interesting analysis of Olmert's wishful thinking:

In another example of the power of wishful thinking, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert concludes from editorials in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the British Guardian "condemning" Hamas that the world recognizes the absence of a peace partner for Israel and thus that Israel has no choice but to draw its own borders on the West Bank. But talk is cheap at the New York Times, Washington Post, and Guardian, and liberals in the West have a habit of condemning Palestinian terrorists one week and demanding that Isrealis "take risks for peace" the next.

*The House of Wheels: Geuss who votes democrat? No suprises.

*Rational Minded promts readers to suggest a collective noun for moonbats. Noted suggestions include asylum, discombobulation, whinge and froth.

*Superblogger Tim Blair reports on the rhyming efforts of the Islamic thinkers society.

Zionists, Zionists you will pay! The Wrath of Allah is on its way!
Israeli Zionists you shall pay! The Wrath of Allah is on its way!
The mushroom cloud is on its way! The real Holocaust is on its way!

Tim Blair adds: Way to rhyme “way” with “way”, thinkers.

*Roger L. Simon on Mullah Murder:

The Student Movement Coordinating Committee for Democracy in Iran is reporting a mass execution at the notorious Evin prison: Reports are stating [sic] about a mass execution that took place, today, at the infamous Evin jail located in North Tehran. 9 un-identified victims were hanged in the facility in which tens of political activists are being held including several student activists.

*Happy fifth Blogiversary to Meryl Yourish.

Moonbat of the day

Today's moonbat of the day award goes to P. Gilet of Albany, Western Australia for this rant appearing in today's Australian letters page.

THE media hype about the Anzacs is a cynical exercise. All our wars, from the Boer to Iraq, have been fought to secure the investments and empires of others, not defend our own shores. Japan indeed wanted to invade but only because we fought them in Asia to defend those said investments. Had we not, many young Japanese and Australian men would have lived. There is nothing glorious about collective suicide nor craven submission to our domestic masters.
P. Gilet
Albany, WA

G-d Bless the ANZACs.

Who's on first?

George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?

Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.

George: Great. Lay it on me.

Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.

George: That's what I want to know.

Condi: That's what I'm telling you.

George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes.

George: I mean the fellow's name.

Condi: Hu.

George: The guy in China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The new leader of China.

Condi: Hu.

George: The Chinaman!

Condi: Hu is leading China.

George: Now whaddya' asking me for?

Condi: I'm telling you Hu is leading China.

George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?

Condi: That's the man's name.

George: That's who's name?

Condi: Yes.

George: Will you or will you not tell me the name of the new leader of China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he was dead.

Condi: That's correct.

George: Then who is in China?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir is in China?

Condi: No, sir.

George: Then who is?

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.

George: Look, Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.

Condi: Kofi?

George: No, thanks.

Condi: You want Kofi?

George: No.

Condi: You don't want Kofi.

George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi?

George: Milk! Will you please make the call?

Condi: And call who?

George: Who is the guy at the U.N?

Condi: Hu is the guy in China.

George: Will you stay out of China?!

Condi: Yes, sir.

George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.

Condi: Kofi.

George: All right! With cream and two sugars. Now get on the phone.

Quote of the day.

As already pointed out - before attacking Americans on their home soil, the Iranians would do well to ask around about how that usually works out…

---------Margo's Maid

Blog Roundup

*Little Green Footballs informs: Iran has been elected to be the vice chair of the UN’s disarmament commission.

*Rational Minded has some good ideas on a strategy for dealing with Iran:

Iran's nuclear program could be destroyed convincingly with a Shock and Awe strategy of air strikes and cruise missiles guided by solid reconnaissance, likely without a single American casualty.

*Evil Pundit of Doom finds that Iranian superweapons, such as their Seagoing Magic Carpet, are just recycled versions of Soviet technology that's at least twenty years old.

*Meryl Yourish on Iran's proxy war with Israel. Lots of good stuff from Meryl Yourish.

*A Saudi Cleric asks "why can't we say anything good about Hitler?"

*Tim Blair reports on what will likely be the planet’s biggest Blair’s Law festival ever.

UPDATE: House of Wheels describes his blog roundup as "links to a bunch of things I can't be bothered writing extended posts on". Good Stuff!

Easter Break

I'm off to Queensland for the Easter/Passover break. Blogging should resume in just over a week.

Remembering a Great Australian: Sir Roden Cutler

This man was a true Aussie hero.

Sir Arthur Roden Cutler VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE (1916–2002)

A Victoria Cross winner and the longest-serving Governor of New South Wales. Cutler won the Victoria Cross in the 1941 Syrian campaign and was severely wounded, requiring the amputation of a leg.

Roden Cutler began his military service in the Sydney University Regiment while a student. Commissioned in November 1939, six months later he joined the second AIF. He was posted to the artillery’s 2/5th Field Regiment, which trained in Egypt and Palestine before going into action in Syria against the Vichy French forces in mid-1941.

Seemingly fearless, Cutler was a forward observer who, from 19 June, consistently placed himself in danger in order to direct artillery fire against the enemy. He was often directly involved in the fighting and when necessary he took command of the local situation; he also helped in evacuating the wounded. Once he was cut off and had to wait for darkness to escape. Finally, on 6 July, he went out under heavy machine-gun fire to lay a telephone line and was severely wounded.

Badly hit, Cutler lay out isolated and exposed for 26 hours before he could be rescued. His leg became septic and later had to be amputated.For his sustained valour leading up to his wounding he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Invalided home, he received a hero’s welcome in Sydney. With his fighting spirit unquenched, he then embarked on a fresh career of public service.

Wikipedia reference for Sir Roden Cutler.

Advantages of Reading the Arab Press

A story is told of a Jewish man who was riding on a bus reading an Arab newspaper.

A friend of his, who happened to be riding on the same bus, noticed this strange phenomenon. Very upset, he approached him: "Moshe have you lost your mind? Why are you reading an Arab newspaper?"

Moshe replied, "I used to read Jewish newspapers, but what did I find? Jews being persecuted; Israel being attacked; Jews living in poverty; Jews living in fear. I became so miserable I decided to switch to the Arab newspaper."

"So, now what do I find? Jews own all the banks; Jews control the media; Jews are all rich and powerful, Jews rule the world. The news is so much better, I don't feel miserable any more."

From the Onion

Hamas calls for 'Giant Summit' with all Israelis

Haniyeh characterized the one-day summit as "the final solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute," and invited every Jewish citizen of the world to attend. Haniyeh said he expects more than 5 million participants from Israel alone.

Hamas has already gone to significant lengths to ensure that Israeli Jews will be able to attend the summit, including transportation via specially chartered freight trains.

This is Hillarious: Video Blogging

What do you call a Video Blogger?

A Vlogger