And no sign of that so far. It's not hard to imagine how today's fascist rally blocking a port would have been treated if the cause was climate disaster or Palestine. It’s very frustrating.
As someone pointed out on bsky, Just Stop Oil protesters got five years in jail for merely *planning* to do this to the M25.
Kent police described it as a 'spontaneous protest'. Presumably they all "spontaneously" took the train down to Dover wearing black and carrying balaclavas.
BBC coverage was predictably terrible describing it as a protest (no quotes), and using passive cop tense ("This photo appears to show .." etc).
But the very fact these private armies have developed while ministers and the police have been criminalising peaceful protesters under terrorism laws indicates warped political and operational priorities. Anti-terrorism is topsy-turvy because ministers and the police prefer easy targets under sweeping laws which seem even to confuse judges.
Terrorism law is the special body of law which gives the state extra powers beyond the general law of the land. It should be used sparingly and with deliberation. Indeed, such laws used only to be enacted on a temporary basis, even against the IRA. But now terrorism law is used casually and, as we can now see, inefficiently. And so we have the sights of mass arrests for holding up signs, and also of no arrests for those in political uniforms causing havoc.
I think if you are going to take a classical liberal (Mill etc) view of things then this is a conclusion that is more or less forced on you.
Yes, pathetic isn’t it. Mass civil disobedience is, in the clear knowledge that you’re going to be kettled, kicked and arrested is probably the only option, because the government and parliament are not giving a lead.
And it needs pointing out how long this has been a problem for Labour, particularly given the 9/11 anniversary and how soon afterwards the UK under Blair turned towards sweeping anti-terror laws.
I am a bit confused as to ... why Palantir would want Watson working for them?
Well, they do contracts for governments, and he himself worked at a high level in government, so...
persuant...
...given what I take to be the SoF britpol community's generally negative view of this Watson guy, is there any reason to think an outfit like Palantir would NOT want him as an employee?
Is it maybe a question of practical suitability, like he doesn't have the relevant skill set?
The original application for him to have a peerage was turned down, probably owing to his role in Operation Midland. He didn’t complete either his training as a librarian or his undergraduate degree.
Comments
If he does believe that he also believes there are exceptions.
He said he wanted to 'reverse Thatcher's legacy', but so far all the noises from Healey indicate business as usual.
Also he's going to have to do a lot better than Starmer in reacting to masked fascists on the streets.
Dressed in black with a balaclava definitely has a political terrorist look.
Got to love a bloke in a hijab.
And I recall the Right banging on about how trucks should just run them over and the police wash them away with water cannon.
Kent police described it as a 'spontaneous protest'. Presumably they all "spontaneously" took the train down to Dover wearing black and carrying balaclavas.
BBC coverage was predictably terrible describing it as a protest (no quotes), and using passive cop tense ("This photo appears to show .." etc).
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/the-weekly-constitutional/74703/holding-a-placard-is-terrorism-disruption-in-balaclava-is-not
As he says:
I think if you are going to take a classical liberal (Mill etc) view of things then this is a conclusion that is more or less forced on you.
Turns the special relationship into a pathetically bad joke.
This is my shocked face at this news:
Piece of shit found in toilet: film at 11.
Not out of choice.
Well, they do contracts for governments, and he himself worked at a high level in government, so...
persuant...
...given what I take to be the SoF britpol community's generally negative view of this Watson guy, is there any reason to think an outfit like Palantir would NOT want him as an employee?
Is it maybe a question of practical suitability, like he doesn't have the relevant skill set?