20-02-2010, 04:27 PM
There's an interesting take on the 'UK was forewarned by Israel' and the provenance of the passports used over at 'Pulse Media'
Robert Fisk in the Independant has done some sterling reporting on this too and there is a must-watch al-Jazeera video interview with him on the same Pulse media page.
The suggestion is that the UK WERE forewarned, but only hours before the event and NOT about the passports, as a way of crippling any otherwise genuine hard-line response. After all, if the UK were to admit it was forewarned it would look pretty stupid. So, having now stated that it wasn't forewarned, it risks the Israelis revealing that it was if there is serious follow-through on making life difficult for them. Clever eh? - or maybe just a bit too bloody clever.
The UK can go through the motions so long as all of that is clearly understood - and Robert Fisk judges that is what will happen - Israel - yet again will be given a free pass.
OTOH, there do seem to be masses of loose ends. Real European passports used with impunity! ??? Where does that leave protection of EU citizens?. And if the passports were taken from unsuspecting immigrants to Israel, what does that do for the confidence of prospective immigrants?
Also, the Dubai police do appear genuinely pissed off. It will be interesting to watch how that squares with the dependence of its government for its very existence on US military guarantees.
One thing I do take from it is Israel's increasing desperation. There don't seem to be too many people marvelling at how brave and clever their murderous Mossad operatives are anymore either.
Robert Fisk in the Independant has done some sterling reporting on this too and there is a must-watch al-Jazeera video interview with him on the same Pulse media page.
The suggestion is that the UK WERE forewarned, but only hours before the event and NOT about the passports, as a way of crippling any otherwise genuine hard-line response. After all, if the UK were to admit it was forewarned it would look pretty stupid. So, having now stated that it wasn't forewarned, it risks the Israelis revealing that it was if there is serious follow-through on making life difficult for them. Clever eh? - or maybe just a bit too bloody clever.
The UK can go through the motions so long as all of that is clearly understood - and Robert Fisk judges that is what will happen - Israel - yet again will be given a free pass.
OTOH, there do seem to be masses of loose ends. Real European passports used with impunity! ??? Where does that leave protection of EU citizens?. And if the passports were taken from unsuspecting immigrants to Israel, what does that do for the confidence of prospective immigrants?
Also, the Dubai police do appear genuinely pissed off. It will be interesting to watch how that squares with the dependence of its government for its very existence on US military guarantees.
One thing I do take from it is Israel's increasing desperation. There don't seem to be too many people marvelling at how brave and clever their murderous Mossad operatives are anymore either.
Peter Presland
".....there is something far worse than Nazism, and that is the hubris of the Anglo-American fraternities, whose routine is to incite indigenous monsters to war, and steer the pandemonium to further their imperial aims"
Guido Preparata. Preface to 'Conjuring Hitler'[size=12][size=12]
"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"
Claud Cockburn
[/SIZE][/SIZE]
".....there is something far worse than Nazism, and that is the hubris of the Anglo-American fraternities, whose routine is to incite indigenous monsters to war, and steer the pandemonium to further their imperial aims"
Guido Preparata. Preface to 'Conjuring Hitler'[size=12][size=12]
"Never believe anything until it has been officially denied"
Claud Cockburn
[/SIZE][/SIZE]