What is is with George Galloway?

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I dont claim to know anything about the man, but to me he's always come across as genuine, at least compared to others, and it seems like he's trying to bridge a gap between the arab and western worlds which can't be a bad thing

petlover, Saturday, 16 July 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

Explain to me how war in Iraq or Israel has anything to do with Leeds-born Muslims with Pakistani parents killing Londoners.

welcome to the jungle!

n_RQ, Saturday, 16 July 2005 22:43 (twenty years ago)

Explain to me how war in Iraq or Israel has anything to do with Leeds-born Muslims with Pakistani parents killing Londoners.

Whether you personally like the link or not—and it's a disturbing one for the politically apathetic, because it implicates us all in decisions our government has made over the years, and makes us all footsoldiers in distant wars—it is something that comes up time and again in reports of the formative thinking in the minds of the people who commit these extreme acts.

The New York Times yesterday published an article entitled Anger Burns On Fringe of Britain's Muslims. It begins:

"At Beeston's Cross Flats Park, in the center of this now embattled town, Sanjay Dutt and his friends grappled Friday with why their friend Kakey, better known to the world as Shehzad Tanweer, had decided to become a suicide bomber.

"He was sick of it all, all the injustice and the way the world is going about it," Mr. Dutt, 22, said. "Why, for example, don't they ever take a moment of silence for all the Iraqi kids who die?"

"It's a double standard, that's why," answered a friend, who called himself Shahroukh, also 22, wearing a baseball cap and basketball jersey, sitting nearby. "I don't approve of what he did, but I understand it. You get driven to something like this, it doesn't just happen."

Later:

That anger stems not merely from unhappiness with the situation of Muslims in Britain, but also solidarity with what they see as the aggressive and unjust treatment of Muslims abroad, and not least from Britain's part in the war in Iraq."

Momus (Momus), Sunday, 17 July 2005 11:50 (twenty years ago)

btw leeds isnt really embattled. well, it was a struggle to scramble out of the trenches as i crawled though the barbed wire on headrow today, but y'know, its ok

ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 17 July 2005 12:13 (twenty years ago)

also, can i ask a potentially stupid question? there are frequent references to iraqis dying on a daily basis, i am wondering to what this can be attributed. who is killing iraqis? from news reports, it seems that most conflict stems from suicide bombers. how does this change the view that iraqis are dying as a result fo occupation? sure it is a distant resultm, insofar as without the destablisation of the former regime, such conflict wouldnt have arisen, but it almost seems like when people make references to the civilian death toll in iraq, they are more referring to the period of ihnvasion itself.

ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 17 July 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

so?

richardk (Richard K), Sunday, 17 July 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

so, who is killing who? is resentment at the US specifically over continuing fatalities in iraq still valid? the bombers are called "insurgents" but they are launching attacks on civilians rather than the occupying forces? ok so its an attempt to hinder any attempts to stabilise the country in the way the US wants it to be, but with this most recent fuel tanker bombing, with 90 people dead in one go, isnt there new lines of conflict being drawn up in iraq? who is killing who? Al-Zarqawi, maybe, why are they/al-quaeda killing iraqis?

ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 17 July 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

Al'Qaeda hates the Shia as much as it hates western liberal democracy, both are apostasies in their eyes. Shia and secular minded sunnis are a easy soft targets now western forces are retreating into their bases.

Ed (dali), Sunday, 17 July 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

Also today is the anniversary of the ba'athists seizing power, (GG's stalinist mates), hence the huge causalities today. A pragmatic alliance if ever there was one.

Ed (dali), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

ok so what about my second question in the last post? ie, at the risk of gross reductionism, shouldnt grievances within the muslim community eg in UK now be directed at.....Al-Qaeda? which doesnt seem to be happening at the moment

ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

Like nailing jelly to a wall, there is also the argument that the invasion itself and the handling of Iraq post-invasion, (Abu-ghraib, Fallujah, delay in setting up government and security forces, getting economy back on track etc.) fostered the conditions in which the insurgency could flourish.

Also an Al'Q supporting Sunni kid in the UK is not going to cry for Shia dead in Iraq, but will for the dead of Fallujah.

Ed (dali), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:23 (twenty years ago)

newspaper headlines across the arab world denounced the wednesday bomb, where the many shia children were killed, abu aardvark reports

mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

The latest bombings, both wednesday and sunday could well be a watershed on the 'arab street'. Sectarian violence has never been a big part of the muslim experience. There are many parts of the muslim world where Sunni, Shia, Ismaili and Sufi live together side by side along with other more esoteric sects. I don't feel the idea of internecine struggle goes down well with the average muslim.

Ed (dali), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

AQ's grand strategy is (i would assume) the igniting of civil war in EVERY muslim country — the release of pressure-cooker tensions (religious, cultural and class tensions) in half a dozen corrupt non-democracies, added to a general regional culture where a relative's death unavenged is lasting dishonour to the family, to create the kind of widespread social hell they will thrive in

mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:39 (twenty years ago)

I don't mean that is any kind of callous way about the muslim mindset; but in the same way that 55 deaths in London resonate more than any number of deaths in Iraq, the casualties in Iraq over the last week are going to have more resonance across the muslim world than those in London.

Ed (dali), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:40 (twenty years ago)

ed, you just articulated what i waas trying to fumble around for. namely, doesnt it feel like that at some point its going to move from US vs the muslim world as personified by the iraqi people, to straight out Sunni vs Shia conflict? i asked a question on the other thread about what would happen following western pull out of iraq. if this is what is wanted by many muslims, then what is the muslim perspective of what will follow? is there a more optomistic lookout on their part?

ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 17 July 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

"straight out" conflict: sunni baathist vs sunni non-baathist vs shia vs kurd vs AQ salafists vs ______ vs ______ vs ....

if the full-on civil war comes (which dear god i hope it does not), it will make the lebanese civil war look as simple and bloodless as a chess match

mark s (mark s), Sunday, 17 July 2005 21:02 (twenty years ago)

ok i think i have too many questions not related to this thread, and i know too little. ill sit back and observe

ambrose (ambrose), Sunday, 17 July 2005 21:37 (twenty years ago)

Tube bombs 'linked to Iraq conflict' (Guardian)

"Britain's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to the terrorist attacks in London, a respected independent thinktank on foreign affairs, the Chatham House organisation, says today."

Momus (Momus), Monday, 18 July 2005 02:19 (twenty years ago)

doesnt it feel like that at some point its going to move from US vs the muslim world as personified by the iraqi people, to straight out Sunni vs Shia conflict?

The US is the world's prime hegemon, a military-political-ideological prime mover. For this reason, whoever is killing whoever else, it won't be too much of a leap to pin the blame on the US if the US is involved in any way, or has an interest in the outcome of a dispute. The Guardian article says "Britain's ability to carry out counter-terrorism measures has also been hampered because the US is always in the driving seat in deciding policy." Whoever is involved, and isn't the US, is necessarily out of control.

Momus (Momus), Monday, 18 July 2005 02:24 (twenty years ago)

"Britain's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to the terrorist attacks in London, a respected independent thinktank on foreign affairs, the Chatham House organisation, says today."

And the battle of the Boyne has contributed to IRA attacks. Yes the Iraq war has a bearing on what these people did but it is not the route cause, it is not what started them on the road to terrorism and it's naive to think otherwise.

Ed (dali), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:40 (twenty years ago)

"The US is the world's prime hegemon, a military-political-ideological prime mover. For this reason, whoever is killing whoever else, it won't be too much of a leap to pin the blame on the US if the US is involved in any way, or has an interest in the outcome of a dispute." Sadly this is true: too many on the left greatly overrate US power at this time, allow themselves slackly to gaze in horrified awe at just one agent of power in the world; are culturally incapable of granting that anyone but America can cause things to happen. It's a Washington-centric parochialism that puts them far closer to their arch-foes than you'd expect them to be comfortable with.

mark s (mark s), Monday, 18 July 2005 07:50 (twenty years ago)

mark s exactly right. if the us really *was* a global hegemon, as wolfowitz *and* galloway agree, then this bloody civil war in iraq wouldn't be happening. as it goes 'hegemony' doesn't imply the level of sheer directive control over events momus is talking about. who wants this war? not the global hegemon.

N_RQ, Monday, 18 July 2005 08:13 (twenty years ago)

Of course, to say that "whoever is involved, and isn't the US, is necessarily out of control" doesn't necessarily contradict the statement that "whoever is involved, and is the US, might also be out of control".

Momus (Momus), Monday, 18 July 2005 10:16 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...
Big Mouth Strikes Again

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Thursday, 4 August 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

"It can be said, truly said, that the Iraqi resistance is not just defending Iraq. They are defending all the Arabs and they are defending all the people of the world against American hegemony."

capital stuff, george. the iraqis are doing for "all the people of the world" now.


N_RQ, Thursday, 4 August 2005 12:00 (twenty years ago)

Traipsing round Arab dictatorships spouting a lot of knuckle-headed rabble-rousing rhetoric - same as it ever was for Gorgeous George!

Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Thursday, 4 August 2005 12:39 (twenty years ago)

I was in the same restaurant as GG last night. Should I have said something? Michael Foot was there too but I couldn't summon the courage to complement him, 70 years after the fact, on his poem in praise of Everton FC.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 4 August 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Michael Foot wrote a poem in praise of Everton? But what about Plymouth Argyle??

Forest Pines (ForestPines), Thursday, 4 August 2005 17:44 (twenty years ago)

Oh, he loves the Argyle but he worked for a shipping company in Liverpool before WW2. From the Daily Post, March 1935:

When at Thy call my weary feet I turn
The gates of paradise are opened wide
At Goodison I know a man can learn
Rapture more rich than Anfield can provide.

In Coulter's skill and Geldard's subtle speed
I see displayed in all its matchless bounty
The power of which the heavens decreed
The fall of Sunderland and Derby County.

The hands of Sagar, Dixie's priceless head
Made smooth the path to Wembley till that day
When Bolton came. Now hopes are fled
And all is sunk in bottomless dismay.

And so I watch with heart and temper* cool
God's lesser breed of men at Liverpool.

(Or temple, as some have it.)

Now on with regular programming.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 4 August 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Anyone hear him on Today? He was on top form. Accused the BBC of working for the Government because it challenged his views. Wound himself up into hectoring righteous indignation mode and came across as an idiot. Then the programme cocked up by putting on Liam Fox and letting him say the same thing over and over again – Galloway is sad and twisted, to try to explain al qaida is too close to excusing it etc – then when the line went down they called him back up again and let him say it all again.

beanz (beanz), Friday, 5 August 2005 08:31 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

Er....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/jul/08/george-galloway-dusty-springfield

rhythm fixated member (chap), Thursday, 8 July 2010 19:26 (fifteen years ago)

two years pass...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19323783

Galloway - Assange is only guilty of "bad sexual etiquette".

Matt DC, Monday, 20 August 2012 16:30 (thirteen years ago)

Types of bad sexual etiquette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bad sexual etiquette can be categorized in different ways: for example, by reference to the situation in which it occurs, by the identity or characteristics of the victim, and/or by the identity or characteristics of the perpetrator. These categories are referred to as types of bad sexual etiquette.

Contents

1 Groth typology
2 Date bad sexual etiquette
3 Gang bad sexual etiquette
4 Spousal bad sexual etiquette
5 bad sexual etiquette of children
6 Statutory bad sexual etiquette
7 Prison bad sexual etiquette
8 War bad sexual etiquette
9 bad sexual etiquette by deception
10 Corrective bad sexual etiquette
11 See also
12 References

A.R.R.Y. Kane (nakhchivan), Monday, 20 August 2012 16:38 (thirteen years ago)

six months pass...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/21/george-galloway-debate-israeli-oxford

Vote in the ILM 70s poll please! (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 February 2013 15:55 (thirteen years ago)

anti-semitic Stalinist does something anti-semitic, film at 11

tochter tochter, please (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:27 (thirteen years ago)

that makes it ok then

Vote in the ILM 70s poll please! (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:28 (thirteen years ago)

glad thats settled

Vote in the ILM 70s poll please! (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:28 (thirteen years ago)

nah, i'm just saying Galloway is a reprehensible human being, what else is there to add?

tochter tochter, please (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:32 (thirteen years ago)

doesnt stop us all moaning about the daily mail

Vote in the ILM 70s poll please! (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:34 (thirteen years ago)

I suppose the american ilxors wont see it in here but maybe its best theyre unaware of george

Vote in the ILM 70s poll please! (Algerian Goalkeeper), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:36 (thirteen years ago)

George Galloway ‏@georgegalloway
@thomasmessenger an Israeli citizen could not by definition be my constituent.

o_0

lex pretend, Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:37 (thirteen years ago)

i think he means he doesn't understand how electoral law works there, as well as being an anti-semite obviously

tochter tochter, please (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 21 February 2013 16:38 (thirteen years ago)

Was brian cox playing him for laughs on bbc4 last night

lance armstrong will have been delighted (darraghmac), Thursday, 21 February 2013 17:14 (thirteen years ago)

ten years pass...

https://i.ibb.co/Wz4y0Xs/Screenshot-2023-04-12-at-09-47-33.png

George has uncovered a possible US regime change operation against Netanyahu

anvil, Wednesday, 12 April 2023 07:54 (three years ago)

He should be all 'Simpsons characters betting on a monkey fight' about this, yeah?

Toploader on the road, unite and take over (Bananaman Begins), Wednesday, 12 April 2023 08:44 (three years ago)

George Galloway voted Tory in the last Scottish parliament elections and he should never be allowed to forget it.

Toshirō Nofune (The Seventh ILXorai), Wednesday, 12 April 2023 09:56 (three years ago)

two months pass...

The #Russian people are one, indivisible and unbeatable. The sooner western leaders accept that the better it will be for all of us. @MoatsTV https://t.co/r5jNgcGrKv

— George Galloway (@georgegalloway) June 26, 2023

George has discovered that the Russian people are one, indivisible and unbeatable., via his source Kim Dotcom

anvil, Tuesday, 27 June 2023 17:34 (two years ago)

good to see the big man back saluting strength, courage and indefatigability once more

rick semper moranis (bizarro gazzara), Tuesday, 27 June 2023 19:03 (two years ago)

seven months pass...

2/1 to win in Rochdale

anvil, Sunday, 11 February 2024 18:15 (two years ago)


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