The famous ‘who dares wins’ regiment finally faces serious scrutiny over its Afghan night raids, even as those involved in a cover up are promoted to highest office.
— Read on www.declassifieduk.org/wall-of-secrecy-around-sas-murders-begins-to-crumble/
Category: Uncategorized
Task:
Briefly prepare notes about the good and bad points of the UK’s and India’s foreign ministers.
Comment:
To do justice to this question a lot more time would need to be spent answering the question than I have opportunity to do.
A. Foreign Ministers :
The Britannica defines a Foreign Minister as: “…The country’s leader, or a minister who presides over the foreign ministry, directs policy execution, supervises the ministry’s officials, and instructs the country’s diplomats abroad…”
What good and bad points about Foreign Ministers are will depend upon one’s personal views as to what good and points are. Therefore the answer to the question will be political.
David Cameron and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met in November 2023.
B. David Cameron, UK’s Foreign Minister
1. He is unaccountable. He isn’t a MP and does not attend parliament to be questioned. He has been appointed to the House of Lords – he hasn’t been elected by the people. His department refuse to answer questions that they don’t like – for example, refusals to provide information about the relationship between the U.K. military and Israel’s military.
2. He’s a war monger who ignores international law. As the UN Security Council expressed concern at breaches of international law as part of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and called for investigations about the mass graves in Gaza, David Cameron has done nothing to facilitate these calls to be met. Instead, he continues to pursue a policy of selling arms to Israel. Thereby he is contributing to the genocide in Palestine.
3. He doesn’t always listen to an opponent’s point of view. At the G20 summit in 2012 in Los Cabos, Mexico. He refused to accept a letter from Fernández de Kirchner (then the president of Argentina) regarding the sovereignty of the Falklands Islands.
4. David Cameron has a history of being involved in financial scandal.
5. A good point is that David Cameron has stated that he believes in “spreading freedom and democracy, and supporting humanitarian intervention” in relation to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. He has spoken of the west acting in alliances with genuine moral authority. However, one may suggest that this is mere talk rather than action. There is little evidence of the west acting in alliances with genuine moral authority since Cameron made this speech.
C. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s Foreign Minister.
1. Communication from Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his department is good. The Ministry of External Affairs produce regular press releases and videos see: https://www.mea.gov.in/ . Also, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is on X (formerly Twitter) and has 2.3 million followers. He gives interviews to publications and therefore, at least to an extent, is accountable.
2. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has had a policy of protecting India’s border with China. This can be perceived as being good in terms of protecting India’s sovereignty. In the other hand, it may increase the risk of tension and war with China.
3. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has explained his policies in : https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2021/03/non-allied-forever-indias-grand-strategy-according-to-subrahmanyam-jaishankar?lang=en . Arguably this makes it clear what his policies are.
4. . Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wants to resolve the Ukraine/Russia war and the genocide in Palestine in peaceful ways.
5. Subrahmanyman Jaishankar is considered to be dignified, a positive influence and has influential traits.
6. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has identified the major issues that face India: East vs. West and India’s political vs. non-political interests. India is part of the BRICS and Subrahmanyam Jaishankaris managing the relationship with the west well.
7. A negative point is that Subrahmanyan Jaishankar supports a “2 state solution” for Israel and Palestine. This would result in many Palestinians being dissatisfied – a preferable option would be to have a single state which doesn’t practice apartheid and all people are equal in law.
Conclusion:
David Cameron is a man with a history of abusing his position and exercising poor judgment in a financial scandal. He now holds position of Foreign Minister in the U.K. government. He’s not been elected and is unaccountable as he refuses to attend the House of Commons to be questioned. Only very rarely does he give interviews and his department refuse to answer questions if it appears likely that the answer would result in criticism of the government. Cameron and his government are considered by many to be war mongers. Overall, it’s a sad state of affairs.
On the other hand, Subrahmanyan Jaishankar seems to be well respected. He understands the historical perspective and the current situation in relation to the main issues that India, in terms of foreign policy, are facing. There is evidence of him having a desire to resolve issues peacefully. He has a difficult job of helping manage India’s relationship between the east and west.
Sources:
A.
B.
Point 1
Categories
Anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis
Categories
Court fee increases
Guideline Hourly Rates from 2024
— Read on www.carterburnett.co.uk/news/what-is-the-increase-to-guideline-hourly-rates-from-2024/
Categories
Coronavirus: vaccine damage
Dana Abuqamar, a law student who heads the Friends of Palestine Society at the University of Manchester, said the UK government revoked her visa on “national security” grounds
— Read on www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-home-office-revokes-visa-palestinian-student-after-protest-speech
Categories
Labour Friends of Israel
West Bank: Israeli Forces’ Unlawful Killings of Palestinians
— Read on www.hrw.org/news/2024/05/08/west-bank-israeli-forces-unlawful-killings-palestinians
Academic research on consequences for young black men and children prompts fresh call for use of rap music as evidence to be curbed.
— Read on www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/campaigners-urge-cps-to-remove-drill-music-from-guidance-on-gang-related-offences/5119597.article
Categories
Bird flu – human sufferer
x.com/pal_action/status/1784969711718944848
Footnote: the above was prepared contemporaneously and given the vote today, 2 July, I must make it clear that nothing here should be interpreted as showing support for Palestine Action in any way.
Two people reportedly sprayed an odious chemical at protesters, leaving students with burning eyes, nausea, and chest pain.
— Read on theintercept.com/2024/01/22/columbia-university-palestine-protest-skunk/
Categories
Bird flu in cattle
Yale School of Public Health outlining COVID-19 is not mild
— Read on www.notmild.org/yale
Increased frequency and mortality in persons with neurological disorders during COVID-
— Read on academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/brain/awae117/7654052
https://x.com/palyouthmvmt/status/1781081885197709394?s=46&t=XgBsxv5LyxWhmBuQ2wK5bA
https://x.com/sahouraxo/status/1781539352205533223?s=46&t=XgBsxv5LyxWhmBuQ2wK5bA
https://x.com/drjillstein/status/1781362740654748037?s=46&t=XgBsxv5LyxWhmBuQ2wK5bA
x.com/sahouraxo/status/1781394285985665454
https://x.com/jvplive/status/1781742972037632440?s=46&t=XgBsxv5LyxWhmBuQ2wK5bA
Tweet on 21 April 2024:
Monday 22 April 2024:
https://x.com/sdonziger/status/1782479395468476557?s=46&t=XgBsxv5LyxWhmBuQ2wK5bA
Wednesday 24 April 2024:
A massive crowd has answered the call of Columbia students asking for solidarity in light of the admin’s threat of National Guard presence on campus!
https://x.com/pslnational/status/1782976328033001694?s=46&t=XgBsxv5LyxWhmBuQ2wK5bA
Mystery flu ‘similar to Covid’ leaves dozens critically ill with doctors on high alert
— Read on www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/mystery-flu-similar-covid-leaves-32619076
Pete's Library 