Freedom of the press - PLEASE HELP

JohnnyG · 17 May 2007 at 12:36

Bump, for Alan.

RaohNS · 17 May 2007 at 12:39

Shackley said:
I hope that Alan is well and is released soon and back with his family.

But wait Shackley remember he is being held prisoner by the Palestinian Militants.. surely they can do no wrong!

JohnnyG · 17 May 2007 at 12:44

If that's the case I'll take my bump back & he can drop to page 2.

Shackley · 17 May 2007 at 14:04

RaohNS said:
But wait Shackley remember he is being held prisoner by the Palestinian Militants. surely they can do no wrong!

If you say so :rolleyes:

Zip · 17 May 2007 at 14:05

Shackley said:
If you say so

You say it all the time

zain · 17 May 2007 at 14:17

Sleepy said:
Did I say or imply that? So what, they are just as likely to follow a new trend as the next man.

Actually Palestine is dying slowly as Israel are cutting off any foriegn aid or food supplies and their food is all off. What would you do in that situation? Write a letter to the appropiate authority?

VIRII said:
We'd love to help but we are all too busy binge drinking, fighting, fornicating, being rude, hating foreigners and all the other garbage you prompted us to watch in the 7 sins of England. Why did you even bother asking this dog like race of people to help you when you think we are but scum. Revolting hypocrisy.

Hey VIRII, you failed to follow up on my post before. Close up your loose ends before starting on more issues

I hope we see him alive, it is amazing how a nation can come together for causes. I reckon we are the most caring nation on earth..

silversurfer · 17 May 2007 at 18:30

Its his birthday today apparently

RaohNS · 18 May 2007 at 13:03

Shackley said:
If you say so

i do...

isn't now about time you reel off your list of people killed by the IDF and those "billions" of Palestinians held prisoner by the "evil" IDF who are exposing them to "MULTI-MEGATON NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION"...

*cough*

Sleepy · 21 May 2007 at 20:38

"Kill the Kafr Now"

The fate of the BBC's Alan Johnston, held hostage in Gaza by the jihadist "Jaish al-Islam" group, was put to a vote today on the Palestinian forum al-Ommh.

It was the opinion of the vast majority of participants that Johnston should be killed, and the sooner the better.

In the discussion following the poll, comments ranged from "do the killing in coordination with al-Qaida in Iraq who have hostages of their own who need to die - the combined effect will be very good", to "mmmm, Roman [i.e. Crusader] blood is good!". One guy tried to argue that they needed a fatwa, and not just people's personal opinions - to no avail.

It is not known to us if the person who asked the question, or any of the respondents, is connected to the Jaish al-Islam in Gaza, though this is not unlikely.

Now 21 voters isn't that big a group but in the interests of representing Shackleys favourite people I thought it only right to show what the other side of the coin looks like.

Original here

Shackley · 1 Jun 2007 at 09:05

Sleepy said:
The fate of the BBC's Alan Johnston, held hostage in Gaza by the jihadist "Jaish al-Islam" group, was put to a vote today on the Palestinian forum al-Ommh.

It was the opinion of the vast majority of participants that Johnston should be killed, and the sooner the better.

Now 21 voters isn't that big a group but in the interests of representing Shackleys favourite people I thought it only right to show what the other side of the coin looks like.

Original here

It is also interesting to note that the link you posted is to internet-haganah.com based in Olympia, Washington, USA and which claims to be "Confronting the Global Jihad Online".

Haganah incidentally, is described on Wikipedia as having been a Jewish paramilitary organization. Still, I am sure that it was reporting on a poll from a forum on a respected web-site run by your average Palestinian refugee rather than some Israeli disinformation "coin" :rolleyes:

A video has appeared on the internet showing the first pictures of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston since his abduction in Gaza on 12 March. BBC Link

cleanbluesky · 1 Jun 2007 at 09:47

Shackley said:
Still, I am sure that it was reporting on a poll from a forum on a respected web-site run by your average Palestinian refugee rather than some Israeli disinformation "coin"

GIven that Palestinians are kidnapping journalists, does this not make you think that Isarel/Palestine is not really one-sided?

platypus · 1 Jun 2007 at 09:59

cleanbluesky said:
GIven that Palestinians are kidnapping journalists, does this not make you think that Isarel/Palestine is not really one-sided?

No no, if anything, the Palestinians kidnapped him first to make sure he wasn't kidnapped by some Israeli terrorists, who would have course treat him in a much worse fashion.

He's probably supping tea whilst musing over world politics with several highly educated university professors as we speak.

Shackley · 1 Jun 2007 at 10:19

cleanbluesky said:
GIven that Palestinians are kidnapping journalists, does this not make you think that Isarel/Palestine is not really one-sided?

What

Shackley · 2 Jun 2007 at 07:56

A senior Palestinian figure has said all factions are united in condemning the abduction of the BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston.
. . .
Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a visit to South Africa, said the British government was doing everything it possibly could to secure his release.
. . .
[Alan Johnston] called for an end to Western sanctions that have been imposed on the Palestinian government. "Everyday there are Palestinians arrested, imprisoned for no reason. People are killed on a daily basis. The economic suffering is terrible, especially here in Gaza."
. . .
In an interview with BBC's Newsnight programme, Mr Erekat said he believed the video was a "proof of life", but also that the BBC journalist was speaking under duress. "To have him say what he said today in a tape which was circulated the world over, I believe this harms the Palestinian cause," he said. Mr Erekat said the Palestinian Authority did not know anything about the Army of Islam, or its alleged leaders, the Dugmush clan. "These people are nothing more than gangsters," he added. "I don't think they are linked to anyone."
. . .
"Fatah, Hamas, all the factions, the president, the prime minister, in this particular case, they see eye to eye," Mr Erekat said. "We are all unified as far as condemning this despicable and shameful act." BBC Link

It certainly seems that most Palestinians would like to see Alan Johnston freed. What exactly is Bliar doing about it I wonder?

dirtydog · 2 Jun 2007 at 08:17

Shackley said:
It certainly seems that most Palestinians would like to see Alan Johnston freed. What exactly is Bliar doing about it I wonder?

What can he do and what would you like him to do.

silversurfer · 2 Jun 2007 at 08:51

he could change places

dirtydog · 2 Jun 2007 at 09:08

Quite. But as for a serious answer, I'm not sure that there is anything he can do other than call for his release which he has already done.

Shackley · 2 Jun 2007 at 09:27

dirtydog said:
Quite. But as for a serious answer, I'm not sure that there is anything he can do other than call for his release which he has already done.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a visit to South Africa, said the British government was doing everything it possibly could to secure his release.

Perhaps, in view of your question and comment, what Bliar should have said was

The British government which as a result of its consistent hostility to them has lost all credibility with the Palestinian people is powerless to do anything at all to secure the release of Alan Johnston.

. . . but he didn't, did he?

What Bliar should be doing is supporting democracy, strong government and the rule of law and order in Palestine and calling for the resumption of economic aid to the Palestinian people . . . but he isn't, is he?

dirtydog · 2 Jun 2007 at 10:00

But given that British policy was already established and in effect before the kidnapping, what could Blair do subsequently, or now. Would you have him change policy as a direct result to reward the kidnappers?

I am playing Devil's advocate because you know I am no fan of Blair.

Shackley · 2 Jun 2007 at 11:58

dirtydog said:
But given that British policy was already established and in effect before the kidnapping, what could Blair do subsequently, or now. Would you have him change policy as a direct result to reward the kidnappers?

I am playing Devil's advocate because you know I am no fan of Blair.

I would suggest that Bliar's rejection of the democratically elected Hamas, his support of US efforts to punish the Palestinian people for electing what was at the time a relatively effective and corruption free Hamas and his consistent unwavering support of the Israelis has contributed to a further collapse of law and order and an environment that has made life less safe for everyone, Alan Johnston included.

Since most Palestinians seem opposed to the people who kidnapped Alan Johnston who they describe as being "nothing more than gangsters," and not linked to anyone in Palestine, I hardly think that any change in policy would be seen as rewarding the kidnappers, perhaps exactly the opposite?

Are you (as a Devil's advocate) suggesting that having chosen an immoral, unjust and undemocratic stance, the British Government should stick to it simply so as not to suggest that they listen to people who quite rightly do not agree with them?