Britain Loses It's Triple A Rating

Calls For Osborne To Quit As Britain Loses Cherished AAA Credit Rating And Is Downgraded For The First Time In 35 Years To Same Level As France Over Fears Of Triple-Dip Recession -- Daily Mail

* It is the first time since 1978 that the Britain has seen its rating dropped from AAA
* Britain had been placed on 'negative watch' by all three of the big rating agencies
* But Chancellor Osborne remains bullish and says it only reinforces Britain's need to improve
* The UK is now at the same rating level as France
* Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls describes the move as a 'humiliating blow' to Osborne

There are growing calls for Chancellor George Osborne to quit after the UK lost its cherished AAA credit rating despite the Coalition's efforts to cut the deficit.

Moody's, one of the three main credit ratings agencies, announced that it was cutting Britain's rating to Aa1, one notch below the top grade, dealing the government a massive economic blow.

It is the first time since 1978 that the UK has seen it's rating dropped from the AAA level.

The UK has long trumpeted its AAA rating as evidence that the country is economically stronger than the beleaguered eurozone.

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More News On Britain Losing It's Triple A Rating

Moody's strips Britain of triple-A rating in major blow to Osborne -- Reuters
Ratings agency Moody's downgrades UK from AAA to AA1 -- Deutsche Welle
UK loses top AAA credit rating for first time since 1978 -- BBC
Moody's downgrades UK rating from AAA to AA1 -- Business Today
George Osborne under pressure as Britain loses AAA rating for first time -- The Guardian
U.K. Loses Top Aaa Rating From Moody’s as Growth Weakens -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Why Britain lost its AAA rating -- Fraser Nelson, Spectator

My Comment: Tax and spend. Tax and spend. Tax and spend. What do you think is going to happen.

Britain Is Now Providing Sanctuary For Confessed War Criminals

Phillip Machemedze with a girlfriend at Hush Hush nightclub, quaffing bubbly at taxpayers' expense

He Enjoyed Being Mugabe's Torturer... But Judge Says It's His Human Right To Stay Here At Taxpayer's Expense -- The Daily Mail

At a party in the Hush Hush club, a chic Bristol nightspot, one guest clearly saw himself as the main attraction. Wearing a bright orange hat and winkle-pickers, the man quaffed flutes of Veuve Clicquot champagne and strutted around like a pop star or a Premier League footballer.

Yet Phillip Machemedze, he of the garish ensemble, is neither. No, this married playboy — regularly seen in local clubs with different girlfriends — is a cold-blooded killer and rapist, a man so violent he has admitted hacking the limbs off enemies so that they died slowly in agony.

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My Comment: This ruling is a symptom of a sick society .... almost as sick as Zimbabwe. Britain should expect more of these monsters as word of their lenient immigration rules and restrictions become known.

Anarchy On The Streets Of London

Police Struggle To Control Hard-Core Anarchist Rioters After 500,000-Strong London March Against Government Cuts Ends In Violence -- The Daily Mail

* Hooded anarchists attack London landmarks linked to luxury and wealth

Extremists brought violent chaos to Central London yesterday after hijacking the much-heralded trade union protest against public spending cuts.

Trouble continued to flare late into the night as hundreds of people attempted to hijack yesterday's massive anti government cuts demonstration.

Riot police fought activists in Trafalgar Square as violent protesters threatened to overshadow the TUC rally in Hyde Park which had earlier passed off peacefully.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said between 200 and 300 people had gathered at the landmark location late yesterday evening.

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More News On Today's Demonstration (And Riots) On The Streets Of London

Up to 500,000 protestors attend anti-cuts demo -- The Independent
Protesters run riot as violence erupts on London's streets -- Sydney Morning Herald
Anti-cuts march draws hundreds of thousands as police battle rioters -- The Guardian
Anti-cuts march: Anger amid the carnival -- BBC
London cuts march: Police clash with splinter groups -- BBC
Night-time protest clashes in Trafalgar Square -- BBC
More than 200 people detained in London budget protest -- RIA Novosti

My Comment: Hundreds of thousands protesting that their benefits/services should not be cut .... without realizing that the government has no money to pay for all of this. Are they dreaming/delusional .... definitely. Will it get worse .... that's a 100% guarantee.

The best commentary on today's demonstrations comes from Daniel Hannan at the Telegraph .... that link is here.

UK Prime Minister: Multiculturalism Gives Rise To Islamic Extremism

State Multiculturalism Has Failed, Says David Cameron -- BBC

David Cameron has criticised "state multiculturalism" in his first speech as prime minister on radicalisation and the causes of terrorism.

At a security conference in Munich, he argued the UK needed a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to all kinds of extremism.

He also signalled a tougher stance on groups promoting Islamist extremism.

The speech angered some Muslim groups, while others queried its timing amid an English Defence League rally in the UK.

As Mr Cameron outlined his vision, he suggested there would be greater scrutiny of some Muslim groups which get public money but do little to tackle extremism.

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More News On The Failure Of Multiculturalism In Britain

Multiculturalism has failed, says Cameron -- AFP
David Cameron blames multiculturalism for Islamic extremism -- The Telegraph
Multiculturalism has failed: PM -- Press Association
Cameron Criticizes ‘Multiculturalism’ in Britain -- New York Times
David Cameron stands by his attack on Islamism -- The Telegraph
Cameron promises to isolate hostile Muslim groups -- Financial Times
David Cameron's attack on multiculturalism divides the coalition -- The Guardian
Labour accuses Cameron of lining up with extremists on multiculturalism -- The Independent
Multiculturalism: Mr Cameron's crude caricature solves no problems -- Guardian editorial
David Cameron versus the Islamists: the Prime Minister throws down the gauntlet to a deadly enemy -- Niles Gardiner, The Telegraph

My Comment: One thing that I have always admired about the US and Canada is that both countries strongly promote the idea of having a melting pot of immigrants. Unfortunately .... immigrants from predominantly Muslim nations do not share this point view, and as a result .... at least in my part of the world (i.e. Montreal) .... ghettos have formed in which Muslims predominate. As a result, concerns about Islamic extremism now exist in Canada, which have been further amplified by recent arrests of Muslims who have been planning massive terror attacks. While I do not know from personal experience if this is the same in England, I do know that from what I have read and from my own experiences of traveling abroad .... I am sure that this is also happening there. Hence .... Prime Minister Cameron's concerns about Islamic extremism and how such philosophies are being developed and promoted in England.

I know that supporters of multiculturalism will not agree with my assessment .... unfortunately .... from what I see with my own eyes .... I wish I was wrong .... but I know that I am not. As to PM Cameron's further contention that some of these Muslim ghettos may promote Islamic terrorism and jihad .... sighhhh .... when you read stories like this one, you know that you have a problem.

Update: Prime Minister Cameron is not the only leader who realizes that immigrants from Islamic countries do not integrate well in their new country. This leader has realized that there is a problem, as well as this one.

Britain Assesses Future National Security Threats

Britain Assesses Future National Security Threats -- The Daily Mail

* Cyber-attacks in top tier of threats to Britain
* Conventional war only in third tier of dangers
* Cameron: 'We need radical transformation'
* Shift will be used to justify huge defence cuts

Terrorism and cyber-attacks rather than military conflict are the most serious threats facing the UK, the Government said today.

The coalition is to justify cuts of billions in the defence budget, being unveiled tomorrow, by the claim that war is no longer the greatest danger.

Because these 21st Century enemies cannot be fought by conventional military methods, it means thousands of troops can be axed, the Government will argue.

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More News On Britain's Future Security Threats

UK cyber security plans 'essential for strong defence' -- BBC
Cyber terror attack is top threat to Britain: How defence chiefs will justify billions in cuts -- The Daily Mail
U.K. Says Terrorism is Bigger Threat Than Nuclear Proliferation -- Global Security Newswire
Terror, cyber warfare 'biggest threats' in Britain -- AFP
National security strategy's real test will come when the next shock arrives -- The Telegraph
Factbox: Britain's National Security Strategy - key details -- Reuters

£300,000 For Civil Servant After Falling Off Chair, £161,000 To A UK Marine After Losing Two Limbs In Afghanistan

Two years ago, L/Cpl Martyn Compton, far right, who suffered third-degree burns to 70 per cent of his body during a roadside bomb attack in Helmand province in August 2006, was awarded £163,000 Photo: David Rose

Civil Servant Sues For £300,000 After Falling Off Chair -- The Telegraph

A civill servant is suing his government department for £300,000 after he fell off a chair.

Gian-Paul De Vito-Tracey, 39, is seeking is almost twice as much as a soldier was given after suffering severe burns in a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan.

Mr De Vito-Tracey, who held a senior position at the Department for Work and Pensions, will claim he was left 80 per cent disabled for life after hitting his head on a wall, according to a newspaper report. He fell from the newly issued swivel chair in 2008.

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My Comment: And I thought that the U.S. had a problem with lawyers and the legal system.

Britain Questions Its Aid Programs For Corrupt Regimes

Britain Could Cut Aid Payments To Corrupt Regimes -- The Telegraph

Britain is prepared to review and cut off aid payments to poor countries with mining wealth that is being diverted by corrupt leaderships, according to the Development Secretary.

Andrew Mitchell, whose £7.3 billion budget has been ring-fenced by the Coalition government, said good government in recipient countries with mineral wealth was vital to the integrity of the aid budget.

“Achieving transparency in the exploitation of mineral resources is one of the most fundamental aspects of development,” he said.

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My Comment: I have to see it to believe it .... but I suspect that nothing is going to change, and corrupt regimes .... of which Pakistan is one of them .... will continue to enjoy the Western taxpayer's generosity.

How Britain Got Into The Mess Of Afghanistan

Whitehall, London

The Whitehall Mandarins Who Set Up The Bloodiest Mission Since Korea -- Times Online

It was January 26, 2006, when Britain’s Defence Secretary announced the decision to send 3,300 troops to southern Afghanistan on a stabilisation mission. Two months later, John Reid uttered the fateful hope that the task force would return home after three years “without a shot being fired”.

Until now, the subsequent woes in Helmand, where almost 300 British servicemen and women have been killed and hundreds more injured, have largely been blamed on underfunding by the previous Government. Alleged misjudgments by Brigadier Ed Butler, the first commander on the ground, are also cited as a reason why what was billed as a development operation — admittedly backed by attack helicopters and manned by paratroopers — rapidly unravelled into the bloodiest fighting mission since the Korean War.

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My Comment: This Times article lists the people responsible for getting Britain into Afghanistan and into a fight that it was unprepared for. But what is shocking is that many of these individuals have since been promoted within government, and are now holding responsible and important positions.

Where is the accountability? The responsibility for ones actions?

It seems that in England .... bad decisions that cost lives is no hindrance to your career or future in holding a high ranking position in the government.

I Guess The British Government Does Not Trust It's Own Citizens

RQ-4 Global Hawk (Photo from Wikimedia)

Superspy In The Sky Could Soon Be Patrolling Over British Cities To Search For Hidden Terror Cells -- The Daily Mail

A Top-secret US unmanned drone used to locate Al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in Pakistan and Afghanistan could soon be patrolling over British cities to search for hidden terror cells.

The controversial move would allow MI5 and GCHQ, the Government's eavesdropping centre, to step up surveillance operations over the UK. Until now, the £23million Global Hawk aircraft has not been available for foreign sale.

However, US policy has been quietly changed and Britain is now negotiating to buy the drones. America is keen to supply them for British patrols after a string of terror plots threatening the US and its citizens.

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My Comment: From my view point .... they are going wayyyy over board on this one.

Helicopters are probably cheaper, and will be less noticeable than having a Global Hawk flying over your head. But hey .... everyone in the world is now into UAVs.

What Is Britain's "DARPA" Doing?

Rich Walker of Shadow Robot Company with a robotic hand that could be used by army bomb disposal personnel. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

MoD's Vanguard: A Mix Of Robot Bomb Defusers And Kneepad Goo -- The Guardian

Innovative technology at the Centre for Defence Enterprise

A robotic hand that could defuse bombs remotely, a camera with the ability to detect minute changes in the landscape and a mysterious orange goo that absorbs the impact of bomb blasts are among new battlefield technologies unveiled by the Ministry of Defence.

The innovations, designed to make life safer for frontline troops, are being funded by grants from the MoD's Centre for Defence Enterprise, which encourages private companies to bring their products straight to the government for development.

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My Comment: They may not have Darpa's budget, but I am sure there is interesting stuff being done there.

Britain's Lax Immigration Controls May One Day Come Back To Haunt Them

Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali warns there are now 'no-go areas' in Britain for non-Muslims because of Islamic extremists. Photo from The Daily Mail

Hidden Threat From al-Qaeda Sleeper Cells -- The Telegraph

Al-Qaeda terrorists are exploiting loose visa and immigration rules to enter Britain, the security services fear.

Counter-terrorism police and Whitehall officials believe dozens of extremists could have arrived here by posing as students or legitimate visitors.

They are concerned both by the relatively lax checks that are made on the visitors before they arrive and by the ease with which they can outstay their visas without anyone noticing.

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My Comment: As much as I complain about our lax immigration and border enforcement, we pale when compared to other countries .... Britain included.

Britain's Place In The World

British Strategy, Britain’s Place in the World: Some Idle Musings -- Kings Of War

Lately on KOW we have been talking about strategy, in particular British strategy. For myself, and I suspect many others, these discussions while interesting have also been somewhat frustrating. I can’t help but think that the questions being asked are not the correct ones—or more accurately they are not the fundamental ones. It is as though we are debating whether to build a castle with round towers or square towers before having agreed where to plant the foundations. It brings to mind the logic of the King of Swamp Castle from Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

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My Comment: The comment section for this post at KOW is also worth the read.

A Former Muslim Extremist Expresses His Concerns On What Is Happening In Britain

Photo: Extremism: Abdulla Ahmed Ali was found guilty of conspiring to murder thousands

I, A Former Islamic Extremist, Feel We Have Given In To The Fanatics -- The Daily Mail

Like many young British Muslims, I was 'radicalised' at college. Just as the three British-born men who were found guilty this week of plotting to blow flights out of the sky were recruited at school, I encountered extreme Muslims at the age of 16 and was slowly converted to their ranks.

At my East London college, the Islamic society was run by the extremist group Hizb ut Tahrir, which believes in setting up an Islamic state, destroying Israel, and denounces Western values.

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My Comment: An insight into the mind of someone who was once a dangerous extremist. Pundits and analysts have always been trying to get into the heads of Islamic radicals .... this Daily Mail article does an excellent job of doing it.

The Most Violent Country In Europe: Britain Is Also Worse Than South Africa And U.S.

From the Daily Mail:

Britain's violent crime record is worse than any other country in the European union, it is revealed today.

Official crime figures show the UK also has a worse rate for all types of violence than the U.S. and even South Africa - widely considered one of the world's most dangerous countries.

The figures comes on the day new Home Secretary Alan Johnson makes his first major speech on crime, promising to be tough on loutish behaviour.

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My Comment: 20 years ago (in my younger days), I shared an apartment with two girls from England. (I know what everyone is thinking, but I had a girlfriend at the time, and no hanky panky happened).

When they talked about England, crime and violence were topics that they were familiar with. One of these girls had to flee from England because of an abusive boyfriend, the other was because of economics but also she wanted to get away from what she saw as was a trend of growing unemployment and growing crime.

They were astounded on how safe and secure they felt living in Montreal.

I am sure that with 20 years of more unemployment, social frustration, and a political/economic malaise that shows no sign of changing .... byproducts such as violence become more prevalent.

Throw in alcohol .... and you got the right mix for even more violence.

As for Montreal, violent crime has actually decreased in the past 20 years, but violence in cities like Toronto and Vancouver have made the entire crime states for Canada higher and troubling for those who live there.

UK Courts Are Failing In The Fight Against Terrorism

Terror: a wreckage of the London bombings

More Than Half Of Terror Convicts Will Be Freed In Four Years -- The London Evening Standard

More than half of recent terrorist convicts sent to prison will be free within five years despite continuing ministerial warnings about the risk of a new attack in Britain, official figures revealed today.

The Home Office statistics - which also show that nearly two thirds of all terrorist inmates are UK citizens - state that 56 offenders were jailed for terror related crimes in the 12 month period ending in March last year.

Ten were given life sentences and a further 14 were jailed for more than 10 years or given an “indeterminate” term under which they will only be released when it is judged safe to do so.

The other 32 were all handed sentences of less than 10 years, however, which means that because of rules allowing offenders to be released automatically after half their sentence, they will be freed within a maximum of five years.

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Just One In Eight Terror Arrests Ends With Guilty Verdict, Admits Home Office -- The Independent

Civil rights campaigners fear 'terror powers' are used indiscriminately

Seven out of eight people arrested under Britain's terror laws since the al-Qa'ida attacks on America in 2001 were not convicted of a terrorism offence, figures released yesterday show.

More than three-quarters of those imprisoned were given sentences of less than 10 years and a half will be released in less than five years.

Between 11 September 2001 and 31 March 2008, there were 1,471 arrests under terrorism offences in Britain. Of these, 521 resulted in a charge of some form, with 222 people charged with terror offences, and 118 people charged with terror-related offences, such as conspiracy to murder.

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My Comment: The UK has positioned itself to be a target for a major terrorism incident in the near future. According to former PM Tony Blair, the UK has been successful in intercepting numerous threats .... but (from my point of view) by being incapable of keeping these individuals in prison, it is only a question of time before another major attack is launched and is successful.

British Tax Payer Pays £600,000 In Legal Fees For al-Qaeda Suspects

Khalid al-Fawwaz is wanted in connection with the bomb attacks on two US embassies in East Africa in August 1998 Photo: CNN

From The Telegraph:

The British tax payer has met legal aid fees of nearly £600,000 for three al-Qaeda suspects who have fought a ten-year battle to avoid extradition to the US.

Lawyers for Khalid al-Fawwaz, a Saudi citizen who alleged acted as Osama bin Laden's public relations representative in London, received £250,000 in legal fees from the Legal Services Commission according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Al-Fawwaz, is wanted in connection with the bomb attacks on two US embassies in East Africa in August 1998.

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My Comment: The Brits are nuts .... nuff said.

Another Example Of What Is Wrong With Britain's Asylum Policies

Binyam Mohamed has been given temporary admission to Britain which allows him to claim his accommodation costs and £35 a week in vouchers, but if his refugee status is renewed he will be entitled to full benefits Photo: PA

Binyam Mohamed In Line For Taxpayer-Funded Benefits -- The Telegraph

Binyam Mohamed, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee, could claim tens of thousands of pounds in taxpayer-funded benefits.

He could also claim thousands more in legal aid after his lawyers said they may sue the British government for compensation over claims that MI5 colluded in his torture.

Mr Mohamed, 30, has been given temporary admission to Britain which allows him to claim his accommodation costs and £35 a week in vouchers, but if his refugee status is renewed he will be entitled to full benefits.

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My Comment: Another perfect example of what is wrong with Britain's asylum policies. You know that in the end, he will be collecting millions from any court judgment.

Britain's Summer Of Discontent

Protesters clash with police in London in January over Israel's action in Gaza. Such scenes could become more common sights in the UK. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Britain Faces Summer Of Rage - Police -- The Guardian

Middle-class anger at economic crisis could erupt into violence on streets.

Police are preparing for a "summer of rage" as victims of the economic downturn take to the streets to demonstrate against financial institutions, the Guardian has learned.

Britain's most senior police officer with responsibility for public order raised the spectre of a return of the riots of the 1980s, with people who have lost their jobs, homes or savings becoming "footsoldiers" in a wave of potentially violent mass protests.

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My Comment: The failed economic and social policies of a government committed to centralization and regulation are now coming home to roost. Will the government change? Will the Conservative Party be different? .... The answer is no.

What we are witnessing in Britain .... and what we will soon be witnessing in the rest of Europe .... is a political and economic elite that has failed us.

This summer is not going to be Britain's summer of rage .... it is going to be Europe's.

What Is An Extemist In Today's Britain

Photo from The Daily Mail

Anti-Terror Code 'Would Alienate Most Muslims' -- The Guardian

• Draft strategy brands thousands as extremists
• Ministers ponder plan to be unveiled next month

The government is considering plans that would lead to thousands more British Muslims being branded as extremists, the Guardian has learned. The proposals are in a counterterrorism strategy which ministers and security officials are drawing up that is due to be unveiled next month.

Some say the plans would see views held by most Muslims in Britain being classed by the government as extreme.

According to a draft of the strategy, Contest 2 as it is known in Whitehall, people would be considered as extremists if:

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My Comment: At least some in the British Government are now accepting the fact that "Political Correctness" has caused more harm than good by not defining people who preach hate and intolerance in one's society.

A Fifth Column In Britain?

British Muslims are providing the Taliban with electronic devices to make roadside bombs Photo: PA

British Muslims 'Providing Taliban With Electronic Devices For Roadside Bombs' -- The Telegraph

British Muslims are providing the Taliban with electronic devices to make roadside bombs for use in attacks against British forces serving in southern Afghanistan, The Telegraph can disclose.

The devices, which enable Taliban fighters to detonate roadside bombs by remote control, are either sent to sympathizers in the region, or carried by volunteers who fly to Pakistan and then make their way across the border.

Details of how British electronic components have been found in roadside bombs were given to David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, when he visited British troops at their military compound at Lashkagar, in Helmand province, earlier this week.

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My Comment:I would like to know if equipment from other NATO countries are getting into the hands of the Taliban.