Hawks and Doves

Oz Katerji 

No man has more civilian blood on his hands in the Middle East than Qassem Soleimani.

His assassination is an era-defining moment for the region, and will have massive and unforeseen repercussions.

Tonight the only people I keep in my thoughts are the families of his victims.

— Oz Katerji (@OzKaterji) January 3, 2020

Melanie Phillips  (extracts)

"Soleimani has been described by some outlets as a terrorist leader. This is vastly to underestimate his importance. The al Quds force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is part of Iran’s hugely powerful proxy army, and Soleimani was the regime’s key military strategist and military commander. 

He launched countless military operations against US, Israel and others. He was responsible for hundreds of American deaths in Iraq. He was the invaluable architect of Iran’s territorial drive for regional incursion and hegemony.

President Trump, who ordered the strike against Soleimani, has already weakened the regime through reimposing sanctions. That in itself has helped inspire the immensely brave Iranian protesters who, despite suffering in their thousands murder, jailing and torture, have continued with their demonstrations aimed at bringing down the regime that has so oppressed them and ruined their country.

Even a mortally wounded serpent, however, can still cause death and destruction through the thrashing of its tail. America and Israel are now braced for Iran to retaliate. Since the middle of last year it has been escalating its aggression in the region, firing rockets at US bases, attacking oil tankers in regional waters and crippling Saudi Arabia’s most critical oil installation through a multiple missile strike

President Jimmy Carter was paralysed by the 444-day Iran hostage crisis. President Clinton vacillated between sanctions against Iran and appeasement. 

Most infamously, President Obama did a deal with the regime which would have allowed it to develop nuclear weapons after at best a ten-year delay, and which opened the way for millions of dollars to be funnelled into Iran to finance its continuing terrorist attacks, regional aggression and genocidal agenda against Israel. 

Faced with attacks on American assets, Carter ran away, Clinton prevaricated, Obama actually helped fund them – but Trump ruthlessly and decisively killed the attacker. America is now back as a force to be reckoned with.

@NikkiHaley

Qassem Soleimani was an arch-terrorist with American blood on his hands.  His demise should be applauded by all who seek peace and justice.  Proud of President Trump for doing the strong and right thing. @realDonaldTrump 🇺🇸

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@Keir_Starmer

This is an extremely serious situation. There’s a clear danger of further violence and escalation in the Middle East. We need to engage, not isolate Iran. All sides need to de-escalate tensions and prevent further conflict.

@lisanandy

This is a very dangerous moment. 17 years after the catastrophic decision to go to war in Iraq violence still rages every day. World leaders must stand up to Trump. The last thing we need is another all-out war.

Qasem Soleimani: 'This will escalate an already volatile situation’

The US assassination of Qasem Soleimani is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict with global significance. The UK government should urge restraint on the part of both Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the US.

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) January 3, 202

Update: I swear I hadn't looked at Lucy Lips's post on Harry's Place when I chose these tweets and  quotes.  I haven't been plagiarising, honest.

Medley of non-events

Complaining about things the BBC doesn’t mention may seem like a hiding to nothing; to prove a negative is to embark on a mystery tour; destination bottomless pit. 

Since the BBC is supposed to be a primary source of information, for many viewers and listeners at any rate, constantly omitting a particular type of story begins to look deliberately misleading.

Recent news that antisemitism is on the increase has been reported on the BBC - but usually twinned with “Islamophobia”.  The definition is left "vague".  Swastikas painted on buildings or vandalised Jewish cemeteries qualify as antisemitic, but what about the anti-Israel tsunami currently engulfing British universities? 

Tap “Israeli Apartheid Week," or assorted variations into the BBC’s search engine and all you get is a piece about Jewish students denying the problem.  Maybe simply a flaw in the BBC’s search engine?

Israel Apartheid Week has become so embedded in university culture (an annual event, now) that perhaps it’s not considered newsworthy. However, the fact that a handful of universities have cancelled some of the events should be on the BBC’s radar, surely. 

Michael Gove recognises antisemitism when he sees it. The government has also raised the issue. 

You’d think the BBC might have noticed it, wouldn't you?

A glaring error an alleged “Prevent” crib sheet, posted on this Harry’s Place thread stood out like a sore thumb. 

 Number 5 on a bullet-pointed list of supposed warning-signs of extremism’  states: “Opposition to Israeli settlements in Gaza.” 

Anyone paying attention will be aware that all Israeli settlements in Gaza were dismantled in 2005. If that is really the standard of prevent’s research, I despair.

Exeter University has cancelled a checkpoint stunt, which surprised me, as Exeter is known for its Saudi-funded Islamic studies department, and it’s where Illan Pappé and Ghada Karmi, both virulent anti-Zionist campaigners, are based.

 King’s College London and University of Central Lancs have also cancelled events. 

Someone tell the BBC.

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Rod Liddle has written a few words on Nikki Haley’s speech at the UN.  

To many of us she was stating the bleeding obvious. The UN is biased. The below the line comments have been colonised by antisemitic trolls.

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The other day the BBC aired the edition of the Hairy Bikers foodie trip to Israel. It was nice to see a non-political and upbeat story about Israel on prime time BBC. It kept away from politics, save for one indirectly political item about a Palestinian/Israeli youth project, sport bringing people together kind of thing. Wouldn’t you know it - certain people objected. And someone tweeted “Shame on you” 

Unbebloodylievable.

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I thought Ken Livingston was suspended from the  Labour Party? Shouldn’t someone tell the BBC? Or has he been quietly reinstated? Why are they still using him as spokesperson for the current Labour party leadership question?

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Rory Bremner has been dusted off. He’s been doing the rounds with a Trump impersonation (who hasn’t?) and a rather feeble Farage. 

I wonder if he’s got a Corbyn one? Those little sniffs and intakes of breath, the repetition and the scratchy, irritable tone should be a doddle for a mimic. I don’t think John McDonnell would be a problem either - smooth, patronising and slightly nasal. How hard can it be? I presume mocking socialists is a step too far.

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