European Union betrays Zimbabwe.

One by one the unprincipled leaders of Europe have betrayed the people of Zimbabwe, now the EU has formally invited Mugabe to the EU - African Union summit.  This decision is a disgraceful  and dreadful betrayal of the Zimbabwean people. All the human rights abuses mean nothing to the EU leaders. Previous decisions against the regime were clearly meaningless window dressing. It means also the the EU leaders have still not understood the issue, their idiotic belief that the EU needs to talk to Mugabe not to isolate him, despite past experience; that dialogue with this fascist dictator is a total waste of time.  Meanwhile in the real world, British Airways has now ceased flights to Harare, Ethiopian Airlines will cease flights to Harare on November 15th, so far  18 airlines have ceased flights to Zimbabwe due to costs and difficulties in fuel supply. 

EU-Africa Summit - Lisbon…

In December, will take place in Lisbon, Portugal an EU-Africa Summit, invitations have gone out to African leaders with the blessing of the Portugese presidency of the EU, fair enough, one wold think but the invitations include the corrupt and despotic Robert Mugabe - the Portugese think, apparently supported by the German Chancellor Merkel, that dialogue with despots like Mugabe is important.

Great Britain and other EU member states have protested and are pressing for Mugabe to be excluded. So Mugabe’s charm offensive still works, how many idiotic leaders have believed in this fantasy of dialogue with Mugabe? Will they never learn that giving favours for dictators like Mugabe never works: for Mugabe’s wife, Grace, this will be an opportunity for shopping in Lisbon whilst the people of Zimbabwe continue to suffer, for Mugabe it will be an opportunity to wine and dine at our expense with European leaders; he will bore people to death preaching about the troubles he has had and how all of his country’s problems are the fault of Great Britain and blah, bla, blah.

The EU has policies in place to deal with Mugabe and yet still our allies, ye our most oldest ally prefers to ignore EU polices. It appears the Portugese gave in to threats from other African leaders to invite Mugabe or else; someone please remind us why on earth can’t we make a stand agaist such threats? The EU sometimes needs to make a stand on its principles and not give in to the arrogance of some African leaders.

Keep the samovar boiling…

It appears that even if the samovar is boiling in the Russian president’s office he may not be in the mood for English tea; poor man seems to be over protective with a former KGB officer who no doubt was doing as his master told him when he alledgelly murdered a well known exile by rather clumsy, complicated methods. At least in the old days the KGB had more effective ways when agents overseas may have  eliminated turbulent writers and opponents.

Hopefully, common sense and reason will visit the mind of the Russian president and that he will reverse his current position, though of course, this is most unlikely.

Antisemitism in the UK today…

Antisemitism in the UK today is worse than ever before. The current anti-Israeli boycott campaigns often led by people supposedly on the left is stirring antisemitism. Richard Littlejohn needs to be congratulated on his recent TV documentary on Channel 4 centering on the new burst of hatred from the traditional fascist right, the islamo-fascists and now disgracefully some on the left of British politics.

There must come a time when good people must distance themselves from anti-Israeli boycotts. The T&G and UCU are doing a grave diservice to their members in embarking on or even considering anti-Israeli boycotts.

European Union - Treaty

There is no other subject that can cause bitter division than that of the European Union. This is also true of the result of the recent EU talks on that famous Treaty.

The previous UK premier felt our so-called “red lines” were not crossed, Tory leaders feel we have given away too much, that there will be an EU diplomatic bureaucracy, that we are surrendering powers. The Irish premier has called for a referendum, he believes 90% of the previous constitution remains but he has to call for a referendum largely because he is obliged to because of the Irish constitution.

I’ve noticed how some Labour MPs and MEPs are somewhat starry eyed when it comes to EU matters. So starry eyed they feel whatever the EU commisioners and leaders decide it’s ok! To these Labour politicians the EU is the best thing since sliced bread they are ready to accept a permanent EU president, foreign minister, embassies, ambassadors etc.

It’s true that the media moguls and most of their scribes treat the EU with cynicism but without doubt a good many UK citizens also treat the EU with cynicism, we only have to look at the low polls in the UK election results for the EU parliament. It is highly likely any referendum called on the EU Treaty would be defeated. But, it would open an opportunity for debate, are we afraid of debate?

If those who want the European project to succeed, whatever that is, they should not be afraid to take the issue to the electorate; fear of the electorate will not solve the problem; open debate and involvement is healthy. Yes, we may lose any proposed referendum but far better to engage than runaway, because, it is in the act of running away from great political decisions that cynicism grows and becomes even harder to overcome.