Wings Over Scotland

Stark and depressing in equal measure.

Democracy?

Nice one Chris. There is no democracy in a Monarchy, and while we wait for the NHS to be parcelled up and sold I wonder if the Gun Shops in the USA see a need to be expanding into Britain, Just needs some greased palms a tweak of the gun laws and they are in business, and was it Trump who declared that schoolchildren should be armed to deter would be gunmen. Surely this time round Project fear is in our hands. What a gift.

Of course there’s hard won freedom & democracy, just not for the old, the poor, the sick and disabled or the viewers in Scotland.

Brilliant Chris. Trump could be replaced by May ,Clinton,Blair,Brown,Bush,Thatcher etc etc there. May shed a tear when giving her resignation speech, but no tears for these young men who died in their 1000s or the old men the survivors have become.
I didn’t here one revealing in victory or jingoism, these men delivered the 1st steps for the formation of the EU,very sad

@Morgatron says:
8 June, 2019 at 8:19 am

Brilliant Chris. Trump could be replaced by May ,Clinton,Blair,Brown,Bush,Thatcher etc etc there.

Well said. I notice a lot of anti-Trump folk (not so much on here) seem to ignore the fact that he’s only one in a line of ever worsening politicians. I get the impression some even think (war mongerer) Hilary would have been better.

A generation that was cannon fodder in wars resulting from big power imperialist nationalisms and job done, conveniently forgotten, until as currently ‘useful’ for state propaganda.
Those nationalisms still evident in the sabre rattling posturing of certain world ‘powers’ and in the militarized, weaponized commemorations.
About 2000 African American troops were involved in this fight for freedom. At the time they were 2nd class citizens in the ‘race’ discriminating US army.

The best any nation has yet achieved is the illusion of democracy. If the powerful do not have control of the monarch or president then they replace them. They always have control of the media.

We should keep trying for true democracy in which the people are truly in command. One thing is certain it will not be delivered as part of the U.K. Cesspit of corruption.

Athanasius @ 07:49

You list only Democratic Party presidents. A hidden agenda there?

I find that very moving Chris.

My late father was one of the young men, ( 19 years old) who fought on the beaches at D-Day. He, like many others I suppose, never ever spoke of the events that they witnessed. But all of his life, he used to suffer at times from tremendous nightmares. It left these young men deeply scarred mentally, but they were of the breed, that just had to give themselves a shake and get on with it.

I wondered what he would make of it all now if he could see it. He was once a staunch trade unionist and Labour supporter. I said at the time of the referendum in 2014 that he would be horrified at what Labour had become, and I don’t think he or Mum would have been voting for them anymore.

Sometimes, in a way, I’m pleased that he is not here to see all that is going on now. He had to fight to give us our freedom, and what the hell have these politicians done with it.

A Scottish version of that cartoon would have a Normandy veteran with a Yes badge next to his medals asking the same question. With the indyref refusing candidates in the Tory leadership race standing and smirking.

Is that a Royal Navy badge on the beret,

my dad was in the RN,served on the Indefatigable (Carrier) and Obedient (Destroyer),

born in Granton (Edi) and always loved the sea,

and very much a Scottish patriot,

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

anyhoo,

`1984` was first published 70 years ago today,Secker & Warburg June 8 1949,

mostly written on the Isle of Jura.

@galamcennalath says: 8 June, 2019 at 8:54 am:

” … I am sceptical and full of doubts and reservations about every war and it’s justifications.”

With good cause, galamcennalath.

It isn’t the guys & gals on the parade square who start wars, it is guys, and gals, in people funded palaces and parliamentary, taxpayer funded offices who do that. The guys & gals in married quarters and barrack rooms don’t start wars they just fight in them, get crippled in them and die in them.

I love how a couple of wavy blue lines gives us a Normandy shoreline.

The democracy thing is interesting since the American version is clearly broken since Trump got 2million fewer votes than Clinton but the FPTP, winner takes all nature of the electoral college means the loser won.

Also British ‘we fought for democracy’ under FPTP doesn’t work since the breakdown of binary party politics.

FFS, it was democracy which elected Trump and Brexit – by free people.

Those who want it otherwise are condoning dictatorship.

If it was kim jong un or Xi, then fine.

Anti American claptrap

Of course it was worth it.

Shereen c/o BBC got an Empire medal and a couple of ex Labour “socialist” MP’s are now Knights of the Realm.

It’s my belief that the war effort against Germany by the western powers only intensified from 1942-3 due to Hitler’s failure to destroy the USSR.
Had he succeeded, I now believe they would have been falling over themselves to come to an ‘accommodation’ with the Nazis, given the shared values of the wealthy elites like Henry Ford, Standard Oil, JP Morgan and the likes.
In a way, Trump has actually done the world a service by removing the mask from Uncle Sam and showing the world what has actually been there since at least the 1940s.
Good Guys my arse; sometimes I ponder whether the world might be a better place if Zhukov and Koniev had reached the Rhine first…

Galamcenalath,

Not hidden. I’m Irish, and by default I’ve always gravitated towards the Democrats, assuming them to be the good guys. But they’re not. Having studied their history and their present, I perceive them now for what they truly are: an organized criminal conspiracy. They’re the Cosa Nostra. They’re vermin. The Republicans are stuff shirts and occasional crooks (Nixon), but as an entity, as a group, they have never even approached the kind of wickedness which is both native and endemic to the Democrats. I truly despise them.

the mayday holiday to be moved in 2020 for ve day.

and again the old timers will be used in their propaganda fest.

anybody thinking fascism was defeated is deluding themselves. Nazis, yes, but fascism will never die, it’s in our nature as a species.

Secret is to recognise it in all of us and keep it down in the black pit it deserves.

Particularly those who wear a uniform to work. Dont believe me? If you had showed me a picture of todays police officer back in the 80’s I would suggest he was an SAS Trooper, not a cop.

keeping us safe though, eh…..

@Clootie says:8 June, 2019 at 8:55 am:

” … We should keep trying for true democracy in which the people are truly in command. One thing is certain it will not be delivered as part of the U.K. Cesspit of corruption.”

There is a little point that no one has mentioned yet. The vast majority of those who fought and died were not fighting for any other reason than they had no choice in the matter.

The people getting shot at, bombed and set on fire and otherwise being in the enemy line of fire were conscripted my their government. They didn’t choose to fight against facism or anything else for that matter.

Here’s a thought for you – why was it that officers carried revolvers? Revolvers did not have the range to engage with the enemy under most conditions?

But revolvers were very handy to get the allied troops to go and shoot at the enemy if they showed reluctance to do so.

@Scot Finlayson says: 8 June, 2019 at 9:27 am:

” … Is that a Royal Navy badge on the beret

Yes Scot it is.

” … my dad was in the RN,served on the Indefatigable (Carrier) and Obedient (Destroyer),”

Incidentally both my uncles on my mother’s side served on the -Indefatigable.

Both uncles were born in the Hutcheson area of Edinburgh.

It was very clear the veterans were there only to honour their friends and comrades who perished. There was no talk of glory or triumphalism from them.

That only came from politicians and media who had never experienced this type of war.

They fought for a safer world only to have that goal snatched away for political need. As long as countries are led by those who have designs on land and resources of other lands, war will always feature. The memory is betrayed time and time again but covered up as being unavoidable. It is totally avoidable as we know.

Hats off and respect to the men who fought for something noble in beating a murderous regime who slaughtered millions for ideology. They deserve that much.

.

OFF TOPIC

So much for staunch Unionism. Brian Donohoe, prominent Rangers supporter, gets a knighthood in the Birthday Honours List.

John Reid, prominent Celtic supporter and past club chairman, a man who is is said: “knows the words to every Irish rebel song ever written,” got a seat in the House of Lords.

Just sayin’ like.

Breeks – no, sorry, this is anti american and simply because it is popular at the moment. Why not use a CCTV camera? or a kitted out cop in black? it would make it more real.

All other points agreed though.

This focus on Trump worries me as the US builds the case for war on Iran – suggest refer to Wesley Clark on youtube around 2001 or 2002 for better context.

War with Iran means war with Russia. China will follow…..and everyone is watching Trump…….jeez

Iain Mhor re Obama

I think you are being too kind to him!

Clinton would not have US in Iran by now.

Why? She is too smart. Iran Russia are pals. US is increasingly worried by China.US power is immense but it is diminishing slowly but surely as others are increasing. Clinton knows this.

this brian donohoe

AN ex-Scottish Labour MP who lost his seat in last week’s election rout says he’s relieved he can now tell his former constituents to “f*** off.”

Brian Donohoe made the comments in an an interview after losing his Central Ayrshire seat to Philippa Whitford of the SNP by a majority of more than 13,000.

The 66-year-old said he was “disappointed” at the results after a 23-year stint in the Commons.

He told the Irvine Times today: “I’m of an age where I can now turn round with the greatest delight and tell people to ‘f*** off’ which I haven’t been able to do for a hell of a long time in both my trade union life and also in this one.

“You have to take all sorts coming through the door and be kind, considerate and generous with your time and sometimes you wonder why.

“But at the end of it you’re there and I’ve always made the pledge as an MP that I wasn’t just there to represent the people who voted for me, I was there to help.”

Mr Donohoe said he had a “fantastic team” during his time in the Commons and was sorry it is being broken up.”

He added: “The people will have to live with what they’ve done.

@ Shrodingers Cat.

Was he not the idiot who told us their were Russian subs in the Clyde during indyref 1.

@Robert Peffers,

When at sea on the `Indi`my dad was helping transfer diesel fuel/fuel oil from a support ship,

all the crews from both ships were out watching,

my dad had to go up to the main deck to update proceedings to one of the officers,

he snapped to attention,

but a little bit of deisel on his boots and a wet deck and he was up in the air and landed flat out in front of the officer,

almost 2000 sailors burst out laughing all at once,

apart from the officer,who wizny happy.

Golfnut, off course there have been Russian Subs in the Clyde, nato hunter killer nukes also enter Russian Territorial waters, its all part of the game.
Do not ask me how I know but I do.

@Scot Finlayson says: 8 June, 2019 at 12:26 pm:

” … almost 2000 sailors burst out laughing all at once,
apart from the officer,who wizny happy.”

Great story, Scot, there was always great humour on warships.

The unfortunate thing about wartime RN ships was that they stepped up the crew numbers by at least double and more often treble in number. This meant not only packed mess decks but also hammock bars along every companionway. There was also the fact that ships were locked down with every porthole and door fastened down tightly.

This was the perfect conditions for spreading the Tuberculosis that was rife in the wartime years and for quite some time afterwards.

Many crew members were demobbed and then found to have TB and their families were then subsequently also infected.

The wartime death toll did not stop with the end of WWII.

Muscleguy says:
at 9:53 am

British ‘we fought for democracy’ under FPTP doesn’t work since the breakdown of binary party politics.

In terms of delivering democracy, I would suggest it has never worked since WW2.

Some of the ‘winners’ ….

1945 Attlee 47.7%
1955 Eden 49.7%
1964 Wilson 44.1%
1970 Heath 46.4%
1979 Thatcher 43.9%
1997 Blair 43.2%
2015 Cameron 36.9%

… no PM / party has won 50% since WW2. And yet think of what some of these did, good and bad. But they still didn’t have the democratic backing of a majority of voters.

If the UK had adopted a PR voting system, like the rest of the democratic world, it would have taken a totally different course. Whatever it might have been, at least it would have had voter backing.

20 years ago eh Gove? Round about this time mibees? – link to weegingerdug.wordpress.com

That contemptible wee piece of shit Gove has the brass neck to smear Scots as drunks on the embankment with their hands outstretched for money, then go for a snort of coke when he came off stage. What a loathsome hypocritical wee fuck.

The wee prick’s like a turd that won’t flush away.

Wasn’t Donohoe’s farewell to the voters a simple ”
Fuck off”?

Another really thought provoking cartoon.
Much respect to all those then who knew it was worth it.

—————————————————–
PS:

Shortbread website:
Labour to decide Brexit referendum policy

Oh wait! Once inside it’s… err..uhm!
Scottish Labour to decide second Brexit referendum policy. 🙂

Jings ‘twig office’ Dick, it’s Jeremy that will decide 🙁

The full-English Brexit is a right-wing coupe that undermines the potential for effective international jurisprudence and stuff. Follow the (dark) money.

Brexit: No Happy Endings

I can think of no ‘happy ending’ scenario to this unfolding saga: like malaria, it is a malaise that has nested since British accession back in 1973, and erupts from time to time, though the current eruption is potentially of fatal proportions.

One cannot overstate the damage that a full-fledged exit of Britain will inflict on the EU. The importance goes well beyond the specificities of the functioning of the Union. It will survive and continue to function, even perhaps in some respects with less engine-room screeching. But as a global presence in the world, shaping and reshaping the impact will be huge, and to the detriment of the UK, the Union and the world. And internally, though not much might change on the surface, it will at the deepest spiritual level of European integration – and make no mistake, at its core the European construct has always been more than a functional, utilitarian enterprise – the damage will be equally shattering.

There are many in Britain who are sceptical about the benefits of British membership. But if Brexit results from a referendum vote, it is quite likely that it will be an English exit majority, with the opposite outcome in Scotland – almost inevitably leading to a Scottish exit from the UK, a catastrophic result by all accounts for the UK….

link to academic.oup.com

In light of the military grade psychological advertising campaign that almost certainly swung the EU referendum, here’s one in support of democracy in the 21st century. Sure, the EU has problems but that has little to do with Scotland’s self-determination. It is clear that Scotland is not afforded equal legal status within Yoonyawn, and will never prosper while under the ‘legal’ domination of Westminster. Time Scots were reunited with their popular sovereignty. This is essential to protect democracy in Scotland and the human rights of those living in Scotland.

Upholding Democracy Amid the Challenges of New Technology: What Role for the Law of Global Governance?

Abstract

The law on global governance that emerged after World War II was grounded in irrefutable trust in international organizations and an assumption that their subjection to legal discipline and judicial review would be unnecessary and, in fact, detrimental to their success. The law that evolved systematically insulated international organizations from internal and external scrutiny and absolved them of any inherent legal obligations – and, to a degree, continues to do so.

Indeed, it was only well after the end of the Cold War that mistrust in global governance began to trickle through into the legal discourse and the realization gradually took hold that the operation of international organizations needed to be subject to the disciplining power of the law. Since the mid-1990s, scholars have sought to identify the conditions under which trust in global bodies can be regained, mainly by borrowing and adapting domestic public law precepts that emphasize accountability through communications with those affected.

Today, although a ‘culture of accountability’ may have taken root, its legal tools are still shaping up and are often contested. More importantly, these communicative tools are ill-equipped to address the new modalities of governance that are based on decision making by machines using raw data (rather than two-way exchange with stakeholders) as their input. The new information and communication technologies challenge the foundational premise of the accountability school – that ‘the more communication, the better’ – as voters turned users obtain their information from increasingly fragmented and privatized marketplaces of ideas that are manipulated for economic and political gain.

In this article, I describe and analyse how the law has evolved to acknowledge the need for accountability, how it has designed norms for this purpose and continues in this endeavour, yet also how the challenges it faces today are leaving its most fundamental assumptions open to question. I argue that, given the growing influence of public and private global governance bodies on our daily lives and the shape of our political communities, the task of the law of global governance is no longer limited to ensuring the accountability of global bodies but also serves to protect human dignity and the very viability of the democratic state.

link to academic.oup.com

@galamcennalath says: 8 June, 2019 at 1:29 pm:

… He died of leukaemia leaving my aunt with two young children.
My mother was a nurse in the late 40s into 50s. She said that leukaemia was quite common among young men returning from the war.”

I’ve mentioned on Wings before that I spent many years in my time as an Industrial Civil Servant working for the MOD. I worked in the RADIAC LAB so working to save lives and prevent injury and such like.

Now the main part of the job was on such things as Geiger Counters and other radiation detection equipment but we also got stuck with some germ and chemical warfare detecting equipment.

Anyway working on this stuff meant we had to learn how these type of weapons affected humans and that meant attending courses at the Institute of Naval Medicine and other top secret government establishments including Porton Down.

Sometimes we were shown old wartime films of things done with these new style weapons including atom/nuclear bombs and shells. To my horror I discovered that United Kingdom Service personnel had been used in many of these experiments. Particularly horrific was a film showing how nerve gas and nerve chemicals affected humans.

To see service persons affected by such weapons was not pleasant and neither was one film in particular that showed UK servicemen placed at various distances from the Bikini Atoll nuclear test.

There can be absolutely no doubt that these men were exposed to dangerous flash effects and fallout. Not only that but I saw none of them even wearing dark glasses to protect a little from the flash. I have no doubt some must have suffered ill effects in later life, including leukaemia.

The full-English Brexit needs to be understood as a fundamental attack on human rights and the rule-of-law. This is not a healthy direction of travel. Some ‘spam’ for those prepared to give the Tories the benefit of doubt.

Redesigning the European Court of Human Rights: Embeddedness as a Deep Structural Principle of the European Human Rights Regime

Abstract

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is the crown jewel of the world’s most advanced international system for protecting civil and political liberties. In recent years, however, the ECtHR has become a victim of its own success. The Court now faces a docket crisis of massive proportions, the consequence of the growing number of states subject to its jurisdiction, its favourable public reputation, its expansive interpretations of individual liberties, a distrust of domestic judiciaries in some countries, and entrenched human rights problems in others.

In response to this growing backlog of individual complaints, the Council of Europe has, over the last five years, considered numerous proposals to restructure the European human rights regime and redesign the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This article argues that these proposals should be understood not as ministerial changes in supranational judicial procedure, nor as resolving a debate over whether the ECtHR should strive for individual or constitutional justice, but rather as raising more fundamental questions concerning the Court’s future identity.

In particular, the article argues for recognition of ‘embeddedness’ in national legal systems as a deep structural principle of the ECHR, a principle that functions as a necessary counterpoint to the subsidiary doctrine that has animated the Convention since its founding. Embeddedness does not substitute ECtHR rulings for the decisions of national parliaments or domestic courts. Rather, it requires the Council of Europe and the Court to bolster the mechanisms for governments to remedy human rights violations at home, obviating the need for individuals to seek supranational relief and restoring countries to a position in which the ECtHR’s deference to national decision-makers is appropriate.

link to academic.oup.com

Sometimes cultural traditions can be harmful (see British nationalism and the full-English Brexit).

Human Rights and the Magic of Jus Cogens

Abstract

There is an almost intrinsic relationship between jus cogens and human rights. Peremptory human rights norms, as projections of the individual and collective conscience, materialize as powerful collective beliefs. As such, they inherently possess an extraordinary force of social attraction that has an almost magical character. This article investigates the legal effects of peremptory human rights norms at both the systemic and contextual levels. If these norms have been successful in providing the societal body with a set of identity values, they have dramatically failed to operate as an ordering factor of social practices. To wonder why this is so and to see what can be done (and by whom) to enhance their impact on the contextual level is the main goal of this article.

link to academic.oup.com

#CupsTeaspoonsAncestors

Clootie says:
8 June, 2019 at 8:55 am

The best any nation has yet achieved is the illusion of democracy. If the powerful do not have control of the monarch or president then they replace them. They always have control of the media. …etc

Well summed up Clootie.