Current Affairs

Don't know whether anyone saw this programme, which I think was broadcast on Sky Two here in the UK about a year ago, but I've just discovered it on YouTube.

The beginning of the programme is an insightful assessment of conspiracy theories on the underlying reasons for the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The second half, though, constructs an alternative picture of the motives for the invasion that is less conspiracy theory and more a theory of conspiracies - US hunger for oil ¹, the petrodollar^{2 3} and the American need to reassert US global economic, military and political dominance.

Make sure you watch to the end to get the full exposition of the theory of conspiracies.

I watched the trailer for the forthcoming film 'The Ground Truth' on Apple Trailers today - seems like a pretty profound and powerful movie about the reality of life in the modern armed forces.

The blurb on Apple.com's The Ground Truth trailer page says … 'The filmmaker’s subjects are patriotic young Americans - ordinary men and women who heeded the call for military service in Iraq - as they experience recruitment and training, combat, homecoming, and the struggle to reintegrate with families and communities.'

Here's the YouTube.com trailer:

Ekklesia is reporting on the letter sent from the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to US President George W Bush this week and rejected by the US administration.

Iranian president asks Bush, what would Jesus do? - The White House has publicly dismissed an extraordinary letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which challenges President George W. Bush’s attachment to Christian values by time-and-again asking how his warlike actions square up with the teachings of Jesus. [Ekklesia News]

This just announced by the BBC...

I feel rather distrubed to hear that Norman, Harmeet Singh Sooden and James Loney were freed in a military operation. I know that the three men would not have wanted anyone to have been harmed or killed in the process of freeing them. Nonetheless, I am delighted to hear that they are free and in reasonable health.

I am also deeply sad that Tom Fox will no be returning home with them. Tom was killed by his captors, and his body was found in Bagdhad on 12 March 2006. May the peace of God be with Tom's family.

Ekklesia is reporting that the British National Party (BNP), a British political party established on a racist ideology, is helping to establish a new church in Lincolnshire.

News networks are reporting this morning that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the State Department in the USA confirmed that the body of an American citizen found dead in Iraq yesterday is that of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) worker Tom Fox, one of four CPT peace activists kidnapped on 26 November 2005.

Corporal Gordon Alexander Pritchard, 31, a soldier from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards became the 100th UK soldier to die in Iraq since the conflict began in 2003 when he was killed in a blast in Umm Qasr, Basra province.

Yesterday, members of the Stop the War Coalition, including Respect MP George Galloway and former Labour MP Tony Benn, were in Parliament Square to mark the 100th death. The names of the dead were read out and wooden crosses with red poppies were placed in the turf.

Further vigils are planned nationwide this evening. The vigils will coincide with further vigils for Norman Kember, Tom Fox, Harmeet Singh Sooden and James Loney, the four Christian Peacemaker Teams workers abducted in Iraq in November 2005.

Just caught this on BBC News Online...
Widow of Martin Luther King dies

Body of BBC News Online article...
Coretta Scott King, the widow of US civil rights leader Martin Luther King, has died aged 78, US media reports say. Mrs King, who carried on her husband's work after he was assassinated in 1968, had reportedly suffered poor health.

Speaking in 2003 on the 40th anniversary of her husband's best known speech, Mrs King urged the crowds to follow the peaceful path he preached.

News of the mother-of-four's death was reported by former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young to US network NBC television.

A new fair trade clothing co-operative called Freedom Clothing was launched recently. Freedom Clothing is a not-for-profit partnership with manufacturers in Palestine that sells clothes that are ethical, wearable and affordable.

Freedom Clothing has its first public meeting planed for tomorrow, Saturday 14 January, 2006 in the centre of Birmingham, UK.

For further details, contact Joe Turner of Freedom Clothing.

The meeting, which will begin at 11.00 and end at 17.00, will give an introduction to the project, outline the model and structure of the business, discuss marketing and give an overview of long term planning.

The UK government has announced that it is to sell its majority stake in defence firm Qinetiq and float the business on the stock exchange.

The UK Defence Secretary, Dr John Reid, said an initial public offering for Qinetiq shares would take place in February.

Controversy over the sale of Qinetiq focusses on the value of the business and the revenue for the current shareholders. The flotation is expected to raise £1.1bn, but the government said it would retain a major stake in the firm. Currently, the Ministry of Defence holds a 56% share in the business, with 13% owned by managers and staff of the business. The other 31% is owned by the US private equity firm The Carlyle Group, whose European Chairman is former Prime Minister John Major, making the sale worth around £340 million to The Carlyle Group. The government said The Carlyle Group would also 'continue to retain a significant stake in the company.'

Controversy has surrounded Carlyle's involvement, partly because it holds its stake through special-purpose vehicles in Guernsey, which is outside the jurisdiction of the British tax authorities.

Controversy also arises as floatation would result in the interests of shareholders determining business decisions for the defence research and technology company.