International

George Galloway on Hearts and Minds

Mick Fealty on November 4, 2005, 8:50 pm

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Hearts and Minds nabbed George Galloway when he was over for the Belfast Festival. He’s in typically combative mood under questioning (video file) from Noel Thompson on the source of money allegedly received by his former wife and allegedly originating from the UN’s oil for food programme. It’s a strictly non trivial issue. Allegations by the Daily Telegraph that he had received such payments directly resulted in a successful libel suit taken by the one time Labour rebel MP. He …

I’m not the only one

Pete Baker on October 31, 2005, 8:15 pm

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According to this Belfast Telegraph report, George Galloway is maximising his time, and fees, while in Northern Ireland this week by doubling up his speech-making. As well as the Belfast Festival event on the 3rd, he is due in Derry on the 4th, a delayed Gasyard Feile booking – originally scheduled for 4th August[PDF file]. Now, I’m no fan of the Bethnal Green and Bow MP and I won’t be contributing to his attendance fees.. but if you do decide …

President Bush’s SCOTUS nominee withdraws

Pete Baker on October 27, 2005, 7:43 pm

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Mick previously noted the increasing difficulties facing President Bush’s nominee to the US Supreme Court, White House counsel, Harriet Miers. Today Harriet Miers announced she has withdrawn her nomination, sparing the President, potentially, further damaging displays of public opposition to the nomination from Senators of both parties. More here and at the SCOTUSblog. Or, as Ken puts it – “Yay. Our three minute national nightmare is over.” Pete Baker

State Department petitioned to lift fundraising ban

Mick Fealty on October 27, 2005, 2:08 pm

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Following Peter Hain’s decision to restore Sinn Fein’s allowances, seven members of the US House of Representatives have petitioned the State Department to lift the ban on Sinn Fein’s fundraising in the US. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Carroll: kidnap in his own words

Mick Fealty on October 25, 2005, 6:04 pm

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Rory Carroll tells his own story of his kidnap in Sadyr City, Iraq in his current paper, the Guardian. It seems that prompt action and directly lobbying may have taken him out of the ‘hostage system’ before he was in too deep to be gotten out. Nice, calm and collected writing. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and …

Rosa Parks 1913-2005

Pete Baker on October 25, 2005, 5:31 pm

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Rosa Parks, whose brave and dignified act of civil disobedience in 1955 inspired the modern civil rights movement, has died at the age of 92. At It Comes in Pints, Emily links to CNN’s obituary, and this one, and adds some thoughts of her own, as does Jo over at JoBlog. The Guardian, meanwhile, notes this quote, by Rosa Parks – “It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the …

Guardian journalist to tell his story

Pete Baker on October 22, 2005, 12:51 am

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The Guardian’s Newsblog is trailing Rory Carroll’s own account of his abduction and subsequent release, with, for now, an extract and a brief audio report[mp3 file].. and it’s worth pointing to the brutal contrast with Saadoun Sughaiyer al-Janabi, defence lawyer for one of Saddam Hussein’s co-defendents, abducted and murdered yesterday, and Muhammad Haroon, 37, the editor of al-Hakeka newspaper, who was killed by unknown gunmen on Monday. Update From the Newsblog. Read Rory Carroll’s full account here, also available seven …

Green Party et al seek bandwagon

Pete Baker on October 21, 2005, 5:45 pm

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The Irish Times has a short report noting that Irish government Minister of State in the Dept of Foreign Affairs Noel Treacy told the Dáil that Irish Workers’ Party President Sean Garland, currently on bail in Northern Ireland pending extradition proceedings to the US on counterfeit charges, had contacted Irish officials in the intergovernmental secretariat in Belfast since his arrest.As reported by Michael O’Regan in the Irish Times – Mr Treacy was replying, on the adjournment, to Dublin South East …

Guardian journalist released unharmed in Iraq

Pete Baker on October 21, 2005, 1:56 am

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The Guardian are reporting that the Irish journalist Rory Carroll, kidnapped yesterday morning, has been released unharmed tonight into the care of Iraqi government representatives. Pete Baker

Adams in South Africa…

Mick Fealty on October 20, 2005, 6:43 pm

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A very colourful account of Gerry Adams on tour in South Africa, which begins with the immortal words: Barefoot and still as the smoke which rose around him, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams marked the start of his visit to South African by meeting the ancestors. Thanks to reader Peter for the heads up! . Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is …

Irish journalist kidnapped in Iraq

Mick Fealty on October 19, 2005, 8:57 pm

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Rory Carroll, a former Irish News journalist who now writes for the Guardian and is a native of Blackrock, Co Dublin was kidnapped in Iraq this morning. He was the African correspondent until earlier this year when he began posting from Iraq. He filed yesterday in anticipation of today’s trial of Sadam. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest …

Secret service goes online…

Belfast Gonzo on October 14, 2005, 4:21 am

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NOT only has the UK got a new James B(l)ond in the form of actor Daniel Craig, but his bosses have decided to ‘go public’ – MI6 has just launched a new website, obviously designed to be an online recruitment agent in the war against terror. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Worker’s Party president formally indicted by US

Pete Baker on October 13, 2005, 7:02 pm

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Several papers pick up on the developments since his arrest in Belfast on Friday – the Press Association report that Worker’s Party president Sean Garland, along with 6 other men, has been formally indicted by a US federal grand jury on charges he conspired with North Korea to circulate millions of dollars in counterfeit U.S. currency, and as reported in the Washington Post, Kenneth Wainstein, the U.S. Attorney in Washington has stated that prosecutors will be seeking extradition.The Washington Post …

History of the Nobel Peace Prize..

Mick Fealty on October 11, 2005, 6:54 pm

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Martin Walker with a review of some past winners of the Peace Prize. In the last 30 odd years there’ve been five familiar names amongst the winners. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Irish Workers Party president facing extradition to US

Pete Baker on October 8, 2005, 6:44 pm

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Back in 1996 the US General Accounting Office discussed efforts to combat international counterfeiting of US currency, in particular the high quality counterfeit known as the superdollar. Last year the BBC’s Panorama programme alleged that Sean Garland President of the Irish Worker’s Party [formerly the Official IRA] was involved in its distribution in an investigation which highlighted North Korea’s, and the former Soviet Union’s, involvement in the operation. On Friday, at the party’s ard fheis in Belfast, he was arrested, …

Pope given a BMW X5…

Mick Fealty on October 6, 2005, 9:42 pm

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You may not believe it, but BMW have given Pope Benedict a brand new SUV! Adds: Best joke arising gets a free ticket to the next Leviathan in absolutely! It’s on next Tuesday week – 18th October – with David McWilliams hosting a panel of TDs including John Gormley, Barry Andrews, Arthur Morgan, Kathleen Lynch and others on who should form the next Government (of the “26 counties” that is!). And: That’s in Dublin BTW. Anyone else want to put …

David Vance goes west!

Mick Fealty on October 6, 2005, 1:34 am

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David Vance is wowing them over in the States. He now has a spot on Tech Central, on what he calls the Blair doctrine on terrorism. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Is Bush losing the Conservatives..?

Mick Fealty on October 6, 2005, 1:26 am

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Fascinating article on the state of George Bush’s relationship with one of his key constituencies – the hard core conservatives. Caroline Daniel reckons he rode out the storm that carried in the wake of Katrina, but his appointment of a ‘liberal’ (ie insufficiently conservative) to the Supreme Court will test his mettle as a political operator. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …

Far right ‘imagination’…

Belfast Gonzo on October 5, 2005, 9:50 am

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A FAR-right group linked to Combat 18 seems to have taken the inspiration for its name from the alphabet soup of loyalist paramilitarism.Note to CAIN: You need to update this page. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Vox pop Onion-style

Pete Baker on October 4, 2005, 7:39 pm

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Spotted by the, allegedly, semi-retired Richard Delevan. The announcement of the IRA’s final act of decomissioning, perhaps tellingly, merited only a brief mention by the satirical Onion – “I knew that Guns For Guinness trade-in program would work where so many other attempts had failed.” Pete Baker