tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183910172011-07-29T05:27:15.349+01:00By his screams man asserts his right to live, sends a message to the outside world demanding help and calling for resistance. If nothing else is left, one must scream. Silence is the real crime against humanity". Nadezhda Mandelstam 1899 – 1980 Hope. Against Hope.Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1154422000806536382006-08-01T07:27:00.000+01:002006-08-01T11:28:35.133+01:00

The protest at Prestwick airport drew 150 protesters. Considering it was called at short notice for a Sunday when transport is a problem for many, I consider that a success.Photographs can be accessed on Scotlands Indymedia site which also contains photos of other protests against the Lebanese bombings.Most of the casualties have benn as they always are in war children. Visit the excellent The

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1154122106408276432006-07-28T22:25:00.000+01:002006-07-28T22:28:26.446+01:00

There will be a protest at Prestwick Airport this Sunday. 30th July at 12.30NO BOMBS FROM PRESTWICK.

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1154063669613042952006-07-28T05:40:00.000+01:002006-07-28T09:11:14.236+01:00

Once again Prestwick airport has hit the headlines. Not only has this airport been used as a staging post for torture flights but we now discover that US planes which are transporting weapons of death and terror, are stopping off there for servicing, before reaching their final destination, Israel.Strictly speaking the final destination is Lebanon. The bombs, known as bunker busters, were used to

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1152701846752622242006-07-12T09:45:00.000+01:002006-07-13T09:42:54.583+01:00

'We' is a superb documentary. Arundhati Roy who won the Brooker Prize in 1997 for her novel 'The God of Small Things' presents us with her way of seeing.Her opening lines in the documentary, which she also uses in the novel, include a quote from John Bergers book Ways of Seeing. 'Never again will a single story be told as though it's the only one.'My way of seeing her way of seeing is that she

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1152525137321925372006-07-10T10:31:00.000+01:002006-07-10T11:07:43.820+01:00

This will be a short post. Time is of the essence.Craig Murray is under continuous attack from the British Government. He has now been told to remove documents from his website that the British government find particulary incriminating.If you feel you can support Craig, spread the word. Bloggers can publish or just link. You must decide which is the most appropriate way for you to keep the

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1151494967309893942006-06-28T11:27:00.000+01:002006-06-29T09:22:55.370+01:00

A powerful image has impacted on my mind this week. Readers of Scotlands Sunday Herald will know the art work of Harry Horse. He is always hard hitting and nightmarish. This weeks image is unforgetable. Look around the Harry Horse archive. It's worth the effort.Last weekend there were demonstrations in Scotland and England against the torture flights. The BBC reported, initially, that they were

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1149832490881361652006-06-09T06:31:00.000+01:002006-06-09T06:54:50.896+01:00

Senator Marty has had a big challenge trying to fit together, information his team have gathered concerning Extra ordinary Renditions.He doesn't have all the answers, the covert actions of the agencies involved make a complete revelation difficult, maybe impossible, but he recommends that the investigation should be continued, and he has requested the resources that would allow this to happen.The

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1149666057806941522006-06-07T08:18:00.000+01:002006-06-07T08:40:57.820+01:00

Dick Marti presents his findings today to the Council of Europe.His findings are based on the flight logs of CIA planes which criss crossed Europe.He has no doubts at all that 14 European countries are complicit in the practise of Extraordinary Rendition. Including the British state.Newsnight ran an item based on the report which they had access to.You can see it again for up to 24 hours. Just

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1149526280483030962006-06-05T16:06:00.000+01:002006-06-05T17:51:20.593+01:00

Obscenity heaps upon obscenity.Haditha.Women, children, old, infirm, at prayer.Then the denials, lies and cover ups.Read Neil MCKay in the Herald.It's what we have come to expect in this dirty, bloody, murderous, illegal war.Read Cindy Sheehan on the Information Clearing House site.In the UK meantime Military families Against the War are petitioning Tony Blair to get their sons, daughters and

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1148631373988424652006-05-26T09:02:00.000+01:002006-05-26T09:31:35.503+01:00

See here.Here too.The BBC provide a brief overview of the above report.If you want to read the full report you will find it here.Here's a wee update on Private Military and Security Companies operating in Iraq.I know I'm late with this but have a look at this Steve Bell piece marking the 3rd anniversary of the illegal war in Iraq.

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1148596621540353932006-05-25T23:31:00.000+01:002006-05-25T23:37:01.563+01:00

Just a short post to explain my abscence. I injured my back and was unable to write.It will take me some time to catch up on reporting what has been happening. In the meantime, I recommend visiting Craig Murrays site.I will try very hard to be back on track by this time next week.

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1140626995925492442006-02-22T15:26:00.000Z2006-03-04T08:37:16.510Z

One of the most disturbing articles that I have read recently is from the Army War Academy Quarterly. The article written by Ralph Peters in 1997 draws a future vision of the USA. Given that it was written 9 years ago and considering all that has been done by the US in the intervening years, I can't help but draw the conclusion that his vision for the US is being enacted. At the time of writing

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1139743588874261242006-02-12T09:30:00.000Z2006-02-14T15:20:46.826Z

It is normal for project designers, when embarking on a grand scheme, to predict public opposition, and millions are spent in marketing the advantages of the project.Meetings are conducted behind closed doors. After all, the success of the project depends, in part, on hiding the true costs from the public. Be those costs, economic, social or environmental. As with any grand project, modifications

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1139415543333711542006-02-08T16:13:00.000Z2006-02-09T08:58:07.146Z

According to the Mirror newspaper another CIA plane dropped into the UK on Saturday. It was the RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk base.Of course there is no way of knowing the purpose of the landing. It's hard to believe that the torture flights would still be using UK airports but there again the US and the UK have been pretty brazen about the use of torture as a legitimate means of gathering

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1138980703671826422006-02-03T14:26:00.000Z2006-02-08T10:42:26.300Z

The leak this time is about a discussion between Bush and Blair regarding starting the war in Iraq. It reads to me like they would have been happy to provoke Saddam Hussein. Information Clearing House covers ths leak.The Guardian also has an article on the White House leak as well as an article about soldiers who are suing the MOD for the way their lives have been blighted by the injuries they

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1138871810619977422006-02-02T07:35:00.000Z2006-02-02T23:27:44.446Z

Within 24 hours, a second Scots soldier met his death in Iraq. This brings the number of UK troop deaths up to 100.More families suffering heartbreak. More children who will grow up without their Daddy. No more unwrapping Christmas presents with a loved parent. No more Birthdays with Dad. No more playing or fooling about having fun. No more goodnight kisses and cuddles. No more letters or phone

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1138701792344998792006-01-31T09:02:00.000Z2006-02-01T13:34:48.780Z

On Sunday 5th February protesters will gather at Scottish airports to hold vigils. Scots are continuing to express their abhorance towards the CIA torture flights.There is a growing dissatisfaction at the way the Blair government is dealing with the process of extraordinary rendition.See Edinburgh Stop the War coalition for more details.You will also find details about the Stop the War National

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1138477190415978692006-01-28T19:24:00.000Z2006-01-29T00:22:37.463Z

Craig Murray was in Strasbourg at the Council of Europe inquiry into Extraordinary Rendtion. On his way home from one 'democratic' country to another his lap top disappeared along with his notes, documents and personal belongings.Read his account on his site.Craig is open minded enough to admit that perhaps he may be a bit paranoid. And , well, yes, he could be, in ths instance, but given his

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1138188411067370062006-01-25T10:06:00.000Z2006-02-08T10:36:46.520Z

Trying to understand how it has been possible for the US Government to allow the torture flights through our skies is not difficult, when put in the context of US economic, political and foreign policy.You need only read Rebuilding America's Defences. Strategy, Forces and Resources.On the homepage of the Information Clearing House you can read key articles amongst which is one entitled Project

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1138049387276936002006-01-23T19:08:00.000Z2006-01-24T08:39:46.090Z

The Bush Commission has heard the evidence. Will Bush listen? I fear not. Here in the UK Blair does not listen.Why then would Bush, who reckons he is on a mission from God! Read more on the Craig Murray site.Six people, four from Egypt, one from Pakistan and one from London have returned to the US to give their accounts of the treatment they 'enjoyed', whilst guests at the New York detention

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137839505712612862006-01-21T09:45:00.000Z2006-01-21T11:15:43.073Z

The newspapers eg, ,The Herald, Independent, and Scotsman are giving the New Statesman's scoop big licks.The leaked document does make it quite clear that deliberate policy of ignorance to detail has been used to cover government complicity in the torture flights.They want to hide behind the fact that the US has tried to redefine what is torture. But another thing which is clear is that advice

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137675551586224212006-01-19T11:58:00.000Z2006-01-20T09:51:58.786Z

Are we surprised that there are more leaks?Personally, I will be surprised if there are no more leaks.As I'm writing I'm listening to the questions that are being raised with Geoff Hoon during the Business Session today in Westminster. The Today programme on BBC also had a lot of coverage on the latest leak.I've lost count of how many MP's are raising the latest leak with Mr. Hoon.Needless to say

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137575744449747072006-01-18T07:13:00.000Z2006-01-18T15:43:54.316Z

Colin Powell attended a fudraising night at the Glasgow Hilton the other night the Glasgow Herald reports that 200 protesters gathered to protest about the War in Iraq, torture flights and Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.The Scottish Socialist Party was there as well as Edinburgh's Stop the War Group Powell was also interviewed by Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, and he admitted again

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137419531019265052006-01-16T13:32:00.000Z2006-01-16T13:52:12.146Z

The ACLU have published documents they requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Many of them have been heavily censored. But amongst them I found this one which refers to transfers of detainees to Great Britain, Denmark, Spain and Russia, as well as Pakistan and Afghanistan.Other documents refer to Saudi Arabia, to tortures and to the FBI's attitude towards the Military's interrogation

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137195632130652132006-01-13T23:15:00.000Z2006-01-15T10:20:50.996Z

The Egyptian fax story is covered in the Swiss Paper Sonntags Blick.The English translation can be found on Watching America.This article quotes from the Fax. "The embassy has via its own sources ascertained that 23 Iraqi and Afghani nationals have indeed been interrogated at the Mihail Kogalniceanu base near Constanţa, Romania, just by the Black Sea. There are similar interrogation facilities

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137149005207864902006-01-13T09:42:00.000Z2006-01-13T11:34:22.296Z

Is it Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, former Commander of the ghastly Guantanamo Bay torture camp?Nope.The General reckons he has said enough! Good old Constitution. It works for some then.New York Times has story.Maybe Nicholas John Andrew Langman will have something to say. He's back here in the UK.Indymedia has the lowdown on him.I put Nicks name into a search engine and got a bit of a surprise.His

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1137085403752572612006-01-12T16:49:00.000Z2006-01-12T19:37:21.610Z

Dick Barbour-Might answers questions about the practice of extraordinary rendition in the Scottish Socialist Party newspaper the Voice. He covers a lot of ground from today’s torture flights and failed vote in the Scottish Parliament back through the 70’s to Pinochet’s Chile and even further to 1930’s Germany. Dick refers to the US government’s redefinition of torture. Now the BBC

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136992972958751902006-01-11T15:01:00.000Z2006-01-12T09:35:43.076Z

The Gulfstream V known as the Guantanamo Bay Express is up for sale.Read about it on the Frequency Monitoring Centre website. They advise plane spotters to change their radio frequencies if they are searching for CIA planes.It's selling below market price.Don't suppose there has been any forensic investigation on the plane?Interesting site though.This page at Amnesty has the evidence they

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136878311413187672006-01-10T07:03:00.000Z2006-01-11T23:21:34.810Z

So the Swiss knew according to reports in Swissinfo and the US Financial Times. Read more on the IFC siteAlthough ICH carries a lot of articles on the Abramoff scandal there is an article about the forced feeding of the Guantanamo detainees. They also refer to the upcoming trial of an 18 year old, detaineeTry to read the report about the Iraqi war widows.The imposition of American style

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136715483609351972006-01-08T09:51:00.000Z2006-01-08T17:34:48.943Z

Regular visitors to Dens Den will have noticed that I have praised the Sunday Herald for their coverage of the torture flights. Sad to say, this week I am more than a little disappointed with the abscence of cover of what for me was the biggest story of the year so far. Ok, I know the year is only eight days old but nevertheless, it is surprising that there is no mention of the Craig Murray

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136626782045336792006-01-07T09:37:00.000Z2006-01-07T17:07:11.783Z

Amnesty have today published details concerning the torture flights.The American Civil Liberties Union are charging Secretary for Defense Donald Rumsfeld with legal responsibilty for the torture and abuse of detainees in US military custody in Afghanistan and Iraq.I mentioned My Lai in a previous post. Well I have only just learned of the death of one of the men who stopped the slaughter of

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136482426794508992006-01-05T16:43:00.000Z2006-01-06T18:58:30.940Z

Thursday 5th January Good site at CagePrisonersCheck out this article. It claims that the EU, agreed with the US to the use of European airports for the removal of people unwanted for whatever reason."Minutes of confidential talks held in Athens on January 22, 2003, prove that EU officials agreed to allow access to their airports for the United States, and also indicate that the EU was well

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136207522804228032006-01-02T12:38:00.000Z2006-01-05T15:05:32.543Z

Monday 2nd January The Sunday Herald again had two good articles yesterday. In the first, ‘Torture Flights: Secrecy v Public Interest,’ Ian Mackay writes about the Scottish Executives refusal to disclose legal advice and other, ‘unspecified information’, relating to the CIA torture flights and the use of Scottish airports in facilitating them. The Herald requested this information under

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1136115189156591842006-01-01T11:24:00.000Z2006-01-01T11:33:09.170Z

Sunday 1st January 2006I would like to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful New Year.

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1135972417132354702005-12-30T19:08:00.000Z2005-12-31T11:09:22.893Z

Friday 30th December.See Craig Murray's site. His new book is about to be published and it would seem that there are some people who do not want all of Craig's account of this time as UK ambassador to Uzbekistan to appear in print.To quote from Craig's site, 'The Foreign Office has demanded that Craig Murray remove all references to two especially damning British government documents, indicating

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1135625087405551122005-12-26T19:08:00.000Z2005-12-26T19:24:47.656Z

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas. I took the day off yesterday but I was aware that there are families who cannot be together at this time of year much as they want to be. I am thankful that my family could be together.Ireland. On Friday the Irish Human Rights Commission called on the Irish Government to seek permission from the US to inspect CIA aircraft. They say that assurances

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1135420800824390062005-12-24T09:24:00.000Z2005-12-24T10:51:56.720Z

Saturday 24th December The atmosphere was electric in Holyrood during the debate. I watched most of it on the telly and was impressed with the passion displayed by all the speakers no matter how they eventually voted. All were agreed that the US definition of torture is not consistent with the definition accepted by us here in Europe and on the wider global stage.The SSP and the Greens and the

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1135214950033118812005-12-21T23:51:00.000Z2005-12-23T08:27:11.110Z

Two reports I found whilst browsing, about the protests at Prestwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.The first from the Scottish Socialist Party website.The second from Cage Prisoners web site.The SSP need no introduction to Scots. They have campaigned fearlessly for an end to the council tax but more recently for their campaign to stop asylum seekers being whisked off in the wee small hours of

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1134724905006509302005-12-16T09:11:00.000Z2005-12-21T17:23:01.400Z

Friday 9.30amThere is a must see Channel 4 video, 'Kidnap and Torture American Style' on The Information Clearing House.18.00pm.Visit the Despatches Channel 4 website for more information.I have only just watched all of this film. I am finding it hard to find words.I want to cry, I am angry, I am feeling kinda numb.Assurances. What do they mean? A great big nothing. They mean nothing to me. No,

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1134645840503006662005-12-15T11:10:00.000Z2005-12-15T20:40:32.826Z

Thursday 15th December.11.30 amI have had requests from several people to form an umbrella group concerning Extraordinary Renditions.Today such a group has been formed.Campaign Against Renditions and Torture or CART for short.The first group is Ayrshire based and I hope that other parts of Scotland will set up local groups.More information concerning CART will be posted here on Dens Den.Update on

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1134546379052965932005-12-14T07:03:00.000Z2005-12-14T15:26:19.436Z

Wednesday 14thAt Last. Some people are beginning to get, what I believe, closer to discovering how it is that that Jack Straw can say that no documents have been found that would show that the US and the UK governments have agreed that Scottish and other UK airports have been used to facilitate torture flights.It's like trying to put a jigsaw together. We have the picture, we have the pieces, but

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1134173479436455402005-12-10T00:03:00.000Z2005-12-12T12:25:08.816Z

Saturday 0.17Action PlannedAn action at Prestwick Airport is expected to take place on December 18th.For details see Indymedia.Excellent article in the Nation. It was written as a response to G.W. Bush's statement made in Panama City. The 'We do not do torture', speech.An hour and halfs drive from where Bush made his statement was the 'School of the Americas.' It has now moved to Fort Benning

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1133864303592505182005-12-06T09:53:00.000Z2005-12-09T23:33:40.750Z

The torture flights are now being reported daily in our media. More European countries are expressing their concern about the use of their airspace and airports in facilitating torture flights.Protest groups have formed and actions against the flights are taking place. I believe that there will be more protests, some of which will take place in Scotland.I will try to keep informed of any protests

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18391017.post-1130496243308355432005-11-20T11:15:00.000Z2005-12-06T09:48:25.230Z

Sunday, November 20, 2005 Torture Flights I started this blog as a response to the articles I read in Scotland’s Sunday Herald, October16th & 23rd, concerning Extra ordinary Renditions. But lets start with calling a spade a spade Extra ordinary rendition = Torture Flights. I decided to write to as many of our elected representatives as I could to convey to them the objectionable nature

Denisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10441973109550041026noreply@blogger.com112