Cracking speech by Galloway in Commons.

[derf]

There is a debate in the commons about the setting up of the inquiry into the war in Iraq. Galloway has just torn into the lot of them!
He said that Blair is a criminal who should be sent to jail if the truth comes out in the inquiry.
He slagged off the political classes and the fact that there will be no military, MPs, laywers, forensic experts, etc on the inquiry panel!! FFS!

"It will consist of a load of Sir Humphries" he declared.
Well worth a read on Hansard tomorrow or YOu tube when on there.


He may not be everyones cup of tea but a greater orator in the UK I can not name!

Fuck me, I agree with Galloway about something.
Damm - I must be turning commie.

 

[dylans]

He was the only well-known politician to call the war on Iraq exactly what it was, and its perpetrators exactly what they were. He has my undying respect for that alone.

Mine too

 

[Frankie Jack]

Regardless of the FEW times he may have something to say... He's a twat.... A few choice sentances among a shed load of shit does not make him a speaker... Generally he's a tit... he takes his face off a hatstand depending on his audience..

 

[shagnasty]

My mp's been in for twelve years and i doubt he made a decent speech yet.I will take the time to listen or read the speech jigga

 

[phildwyer]

Worth quoting a section of it I think:

"People have queued up to say they have nothing against the membership of the inquiry. Well, I do. The more the Foreign Secretary adumbrated their distinguished characteristics, the more I saw a parade of establishment flunkeys—Sir Humphrey This and Sir Humphrey That. Those who are not just grey blurs are in fact partisans. Freedman is one of the authors of the intellectual case for the war. He and his neo-con friends were the people who made the then Prime Minister’s bullets for the war. Gilbert hailed Bush and Blair—imagine, they are already two of the most discredited political figures in the world, and history has not even started on them yet—as akin to Roosevelt and Churchill. Yet both Freedman and Gilbert are among the very small group of people who will conduct the inquiry."

 

[Badger Kitten]

It was a bloody good speech and Bob Marshall Andrews, MP and QC should indeed be on the panel.

 

[Pickman's model]

He was the only well-known politician to call the war on Iraq exactly what it was, and its perpetrators exactly what they were. He has my undying respect for that alone.

lucky gallahway

 

[Pickman's model]

having been thrown out of the party

he's been chucked out of the ruc?

 

[two sheds]

Yep, fine speech. I particularly liked:

We have no chance for that catharsis, because either Tweedledee or Tweedledum will rule the country when the general election comes.

and

Tony Blair is right that he answers questions on Iraq all the time. It is the truthfulness of the answers that is the problem, not the fact that he has the brass neck to answer. His problem is the punishment that he would have to face in this life if he answered questions untruthfully under oath. This is not worth the paper it is not written on unless there are legally enforceable powers to subpoena, to bring witnesses and documents, and to force people giving evidence to do so under oath.

Not worth the paper it is not written on

I don't really follow Galloway and don't really understand the hatred people feel for him. The left may well see him as being a splitter, but i don't see he's 'cosied himself up against' any more objectionable people than anyone else has.

 

[phildwyer]

I don't really follow Galloway and don't really understand the hatred people feel for him.

Well the press has taken great efforts to make him into a "hate figure," just as they did to Scargill, Benn and Livingstone in the '80's. That's a good sign that the establishment is scared of him.

 

[two sheds]

Well the press has taken great efforts to make him into a "hate figure," just as they did to Scargill, Benn and Livingstone in the '80's. That's a good sign that the establishment is scared of him.

Yep, I had wondered how much that had to do with it.

It's always relatively easy to point out what's wrong in society, though, it's what someone wants to put in it's place that starts getting me nervous. But that's true of just about anyone, not just Galloway (and not that I know what he wants to put in its place).

And the criticisms that this is only his second good speech. Even if its true, which I doubt, it's two more that virtually all other MPs so hardly a real criticism.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yep, fine speech. I particularly liked:

and

Not worth the paper it is not written on

I don't really follow Galloway and don't really understand the hatred people feel for him. The left may well see him as being a splitter, but i don't see he's 'cosied himself up against' any more objectionable people than anyone else has.

i see you set high standards for the people you admire.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yep, I had wondered how much that had to do with it.

It's always relatively easy to point out what's wrong in society, though, it's what someone wants to put in it's place that starts getting me nervous. But that's true of just about anyone, not just Galloway (and not that I know what he wants to put in its place).

And the criticisms that this is only his second good speech. Even if its true, which I doubt, it's two more that virtually all other MPs so hardly a real criticism.

obviously gallahway's spoken several times in the house in the years in which he's been an mp. however, in all that time he has only made two memorable speeches - one in congress some years ago and one in parliament yesterday. otherwise, his oratorical reputation depends solely on saluting saddam hussein's indefatigability.

 

[two sheds]

i see you set high standards for the people you admire.

Errrm and how would that relate to my saying above "I don't really follow Galloway"?

Would be interested in his saddam speech, though, do you have a link? As I remember he claimed he was talking about the Iraqi people.

 

[Pickman's model]

Errrm and how would that relate to my saying above "I don't really follow Galloway"?

Would be interested in his saddam speech, though, do you have a link? As I remember he claimed he was talking about the Iraqi people.

you say it's a fine speech and you don't understand the animus against him - which suggests to me that there's a hint of admiration for the nefandous member for bethnal green and bow there. you don't need to collect fucking newspaper cuttings about someone admire them. but i rather liked the way that you say just because gallahaway made himself amenable to a particularly vile dictator he's not 'cosied himself up' more than anyone else has.

 

[Pickman's model]

 

[Jonti]

Well, I suppose one does admire that indefatigablity, if one can find anything to admire in Saddam Hussein.

He certainly went to his death well, didn't he? (also on YouTube).

 

[Bakunin]

Well, I suppose one does admire that indefatigablity, if one can find anything to admire in Saddam Hussein.

He certainly went to his death well, didn't he? (also on YouTube).

Better than Chemical Ali, IIRC.

'OOPS! The drop was too long, can someone please go and pick up his head?'

 

[two sheds]

you say it's a fine speech and you don't understand the animus against him - which suggests to me that there's a hint of admiration for the nefandous member for bethnal green and bow there. you don't need to collect fucking newspaper cuttings about someone admire them. but i rather liked the way that you say just because gallahaway made himself amenable to a particularly vile dictator he's not 'cosied himself up' more than anyone else has.

Well, I have to admit I admire anyone who spoke up against the war at the time. But nope, other than that no admiration there. I can't think of a politician i'd actually say i'd admire.

What i'd say was interesting is that anyone (me in this case) saying that he made a fine speech and doesn't understand the animus against him is seen by you as 'admiring' him, as a sort of ulterior motive. Reminds me of people who've left cults . You remember that we actually supported Hussein and sold him weapons, that's where I'd feel that true venom was called for.

Ta for the link I'll take a look at it later - I don't have sound on this puter.

 

[two sheds]

Just watched the clip and yep, sycophantic is the word that comes to mind. Hard to reconcile with his other statements, and his claim that he was talking about the Iraqi people rather than Hussein. Do you know the date of that, and is there an uncut version - and specifically what he said immediately before the clip?

Even at face value, though, visiting a Head of State, you often see similar statements from MPs when they visit China or some other repressive regime that we happen to be selling weapons to.

 

[gentlegreen]

I don't think he went to college.

I think he's maybe trying a bit too hard to empty Roget's to compensate - maybe as an alternative to the Napoleon thing ...

Though it makes a change from the Estuary-lite blokey dropped-consanants of the post-Bliar crowd and Cameroon's softened Eton / Oxbridge ...

 

[Zachor]

And perhaps GG is right about that, but (for me at least) his point is spoiled by the difficult-to-erase memory of his sucking up to the gruesome Saddam Hussain.

Good point. Whatever the shortcomings of Blair at least he didn't suck up to dictators and murderers like Galloway. Sometimes in poltiics you have to deal with distasteful people but you do it whilst holding your nose. Galloway unlike Blair actively seeks out and courts disgusting dictators not because he has to but because he wants to.

Personally I'm surprised that Galloway managed to tear himself away from his paymasters in Tehran to turn up at the commons. Maybe the Commons pays better expenses than acting as a mouthpiece for Ahmedinejad.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

Good point. Whatever the shortcomings of Blair at least he didn't suck up to dictators and murderers like Galloway.

Bush. Hawk jets to Indonesia. Just off the top of the head.

 

[Zachor]

He also led an aid convoy to Gaza that everyone thought would never get through. He Stood with the Palestinians against Israel. Good on him.

Aha you mean the convoy of fools. This 'aid' convoy delivered cash to the Hamas Terrorists and a mass of publicity to Galloway but very little else.

Also although most of the convoy was made up of misguided fraggles who were led by the mindless oratory of Galloway and crew at least two were nicked before leaving for terrorist offences.

I stand with both the Palestinians and Israel btw. The situation there is a tragedy for both sides not one side alone.

 

[dylans]

Aha you mean the convoy of fools. This 'aid' convoy delivered cash to the Hamas Terrorists and a mass of publicity to Galloway but very little else.

Also although most of the convoy was made up of misguided fraggles who were led by the mindless oratory of Galloway and crew at least two were nicked before leaving for terrorist offences.

I stand with both the Palestinians and Israel btw. The situation there is a tragedy for both sides not one side alone.

Both sides? Did you watch the news? Did you see the use of white phosphorous against UN buildings? Against children in school? Did you see the war crimes committed with impunity by Israel?

 

[Zachor]

Bush. Hawk jets to Indonesia. Just off the top of the head.

Bush was at least elected unlike Saddam. Also we've been selling Hawks worldwide for years and not just to Indonesia. The Indonesian Hawk sales were a relic of previous government actions (like the Al Yamamah deal with Saudi) and the Export Control Act has toughened up the regimes for the export of defence equipment considerably from when the Hawks were first sold to Indonesia (up until 03 we were still using the emergency 1939 export act)

 

[Zachor]

Both sides? Did you watch the news? Did you see the use of white phosphorous against UN buildings? Against children in school? Did you see the war crimes committed with impunity by Israel?

the white phosphorus was used as intended to illuminate battlefields. If you want to talk about war crimes what about the war crimes committed against Israelis by terrorist groups purporting to represent the Pals? The bus bombings the missile attacks on civilians the random murders of civilians. They have a far more legitimate claim to be called war crimes.

Although I am saddened by the existence of the Security Fence and believe that it is restricting movement by Pals unecessarily in some cases it cannot be denied that it has reduced the amount of suicide bombing attacks on Israeli civilians.

 

[Pickman's model]

the white phosphorus was used as intended to illuminate battlefields. If you want to talk about war crimes what about the war crimes committed against Israelis by terrorist groups purporting to represent the Pals? The bus bombings the missile attacks on civilians the random murders of civilians. They have a far more legitimate claim to be called war crimes.

Although I am saddened by the existence of the Security Fence and believe that it is restricting movement by Pals unecessarily in some cases it cannot be denied that it has reduced the amount of suicide bombing attacks on Israeli civilians.

i'd remind you of the auld adage that it is better to keep your mouth shut & be thought a fool than open it and prove you are. too late for this time: but there need not be a next occasion where you show the pisspoor quality of your intelligence.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

Suddenly I feel much more positively inclined towards Galloway. I wonder why that is.

 

[Pickman's model]

Suddenly I feel much more positively inclined towards Galloway. I wonder why that is.

have you been drinking?