I think I was wrong when I said on Saturday ...

 ... we, the UK, are not engaged in any war at present apart from our provocative/aggressive Royal Navy sailing in the South China Sea and through the sea between China and Taiwan.  Hence:

IS THIS IN ORDER?

Is this latest killing by a Muslim extremist/jihadist/Islamist to do with revenge for our decades of W military interventions, the occupying of holy Muslim soil and, for funding and fueling and supporting Saudi Arabia's war (our friend and ally) killing Yemenis in our latest war?

Another throwback and blowback to Western presence of "hundreds of thousands of US soldiers" in Saudi Arabia in 1991 after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait?  (Jeremy Bowen on 'From Our Own Correspondent', Radio 4, 30th September 2021.  Worth listening to on BBC Sounds)

We are all at small risk from a tiny minority of Muslims who are incensed by UK military and foreign policy to fuel wars, like the one against Yemen in recent years.  It is essential, we are told, to ensure economic growth, to keep our war factories churning out weapons and ammunition and, to keep many in employment.

Admittedly, MPs must be more at risk from attack with their votes and speeches in favour of the arms trade, WMD renewal/expansion and funding and support for Middle East wars by our friends.

Migration Works

Dear Tamsin  (Tamsin Koumis Migration Work CIC)

www.migrationwork.org

I am very happy to join you on Thursday at 5 pm, if you are still inviting me.

I was a declared candidate for the Metro Mayor election until the 8 April when I decided not to become confirmed as an Independent candidate on that date.  I was not prepared to give the government (HMG) £5,000 for the deposit when I knew that I would get so few votes I would lose the money.  I do not want to fund HMG:

1. over its 40% increase in nuclear warheads;
2. on over £200 billion going for Trident replacement;
3. £7 billion for two new aircraft carriers;
4. over £100 billion for HS2;
5. for supporting and subsidising sales of armaments to fuel the war in Yemen and its military support to Saudi Arabia;
6. for £15 billion going to replace buses on roads with "buses on rails" on roads Metro trams in the West Midlands;
7. the destruction of the 120 Kms Worcester to Derby via the Black Country railway with "buses on rails" on roads Metro trams, a Very Light Rail test track and, extended cycle-walkway.

In addition, I strongly disapprove of HMG's policy of electing rather than selecting, by an open and fair shortlist and interview process, for our Metro Mayor when he has very limited powers and is more of a representative and ambassador for the policies and actions of the W Mids Combined Authority.

I strongly support the importance of registering to vote.  However, I will be voting and recording an abstention on the ballot paper to indicate my protest at an unnecessary election for a public relations Mayor who is virtually powerless and must work with the seven council leaders and not rule over them.

PURPOSE OF 28 NOV PUBLIC MEETING

I'm really copying the mostly well attended 'Ask Andy' meetings that Mayor Andy Street holds around the West Midlands.  I'm trying to whip up more interest in politics and what our politicians and their professional officers and experts are doing in the region.  In particular, I would like church goers, atheists and agnostics to think about the morality of what is being done in our name - whether it is £1.38 billion to 2026 of WM Metro trams to replace buses and trains, the over £2 billion for the 87 Kms Western Orbital Motorway, the £55.7 billion for HS2, the £3 billion of arm sales to Saudi Arabia in the first 18 months of the Yemen civil war (CAAT).  £7 billion for two sitting duck aircraft carriers that now need more billions for a flotilla of warships to protect them when out at sea and, £100 billion to replace Trident WMD.  YET,  a struggling, a poorly endowed in some areas NHS with some shortages, growing homelessness but large homes being built for the well heeled.  AND, the more we spend the less we have and the more damage we do to our life support systems.

Our three speakers are well worth hearing.  Mark Dowd, in particular, is a most articulate, engaging, well thought of public speaker who is always goes down like a bomb with audiences (non violent bomb, of course).  He is on our side - the side of the poor, the disadvantaged and vulnerable and, on the side of the climate.  He will be the grand finale to the meeting.  I, personally would welcome good natured, humorous heckling and other contributions from the floor.

Same Difference - just change the name of the country!

The international community - US/UK/France - perfidious, duplicitous foreign policy in a nutshell

The West supports and arms 'moderate' rebels overthrowing the Syrian government but, supports Saudi Arabia stopping rebels overthrowing the Yemen government.

Russia supports the Syrian government stopping the rebels overthrowing it.

Russia, unlike US/UK/France, is not officially involved in the Yemen war on either side, apart from, no doubt, also continuing their normal arms sales - like us reprobates.

If we Westerners tried to overthrow our legitimate, UN recognised government, we would also get in the neck, like the Syrians have found - to their cost.

Russia did not agitate, promote or, in anyway encourage the Arab Spring.
Guess who did?

It appears that it is the 'Christian' democratic Western European nations, with their monarchs and empires, that have done the most subjugating down the centuries.  Certainly not the East or Middle East.