Harry Smart

The No World Order Meir Kahane, Netanyahu, Trump, and the war beyond Iran.

Sarah Kendzior in her usual excellent form.
@sarahkendzior.bsky.social
sarahkendzior.substack.com/p/the-no-wor...

That may be the most terrifying thing I've read this year.

Absolutely. You can't really understand either the Ukraine War or the current Iran war without taking account of religious ideologies that are centuries / millennia old, but still deeply embedded in cultures.

contemporaray commentariat ignoring impact of centuries-deeply embedded theology, as ever. Tim Snyder seems to be one of the few people on the ball about this.

'Greater Israel' = 'Russian World'

Zionism = Caesaropapism

spare a thought for Iraq: strikes from US / Israeli (blue) and Iranian (red) missiles.

there are Iranian strikes very close to the Turkish border. Some strange details being well hidden by the scale and breadth of the war's expansion.

(map ed from Guardian, w. Iraq highlighted)

If VAR gets a hat-trick of goals ruled out, do they get the match ball? #LUFC

Or just a void of negativity where the match ball should be.

Schau mal

gloriously joyful

Couple from the #garden today
#Cherry Prunus 'Beni Chidori' and #Galanthus 'Spindlestone Surprise'.

Beni Chidori, the rootstock is fearsomely vigorous. Have air-layered it and a couple potted up last year are looking ok.

Spindlestone just thrives wherever we put it.
#photography #naturephotography

I endorse this message.

To anyone who thinks Trump can bring peace and equality to Iran – I’ve got a bridge to sell you. Going cheap | Marina Hyde If POTUS can really bomb peace, stability and women’s rights into the Middle East, I’ll take my hat off to him. Judging by his role in Gaza, I won’t hold my breath, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

The most bollocks-free piece you'll read all week on US warmaking.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

bsky.app/profile/munr...

Feel strongly that referees should be empowered to kick the goalkeeper in the bollocks whenever this stunt is pulled. May be the only way to put a stop to it.

The explanations and investigations are fascinating, and she communicates brilliantly, but the thing that's struck me about this series is what a good listener she is.

And not afraid to show some emotion.

Couple of snowdrops from the #garden yesterday
A virescent #Galanthus from a pot grown from seed from Anne Wright. Second year flowering and the poculiform seems to be a settled feature.
G. Rosemary Burnham. Single bulb planted just a couple of years ago.
#photography #naturephotography

Not sure about #SilentWitness tonight. These philosophical voice-overs are a bit Call the Midwife.
YMMV.

Douglas Bader: The double-amputee flying ace of the Battle of Britain The RAF's legendary fighter pilot who shot down 23 aircraft and almost escaped from Stalag Luft

Has to be our Douglas. Excellent genes, though it was tricky getting them on and off. One leg at a time is the trick.
www.history.co.uk/articles/dou...

As I understand it, the UK is firing missiles at targets in Iran, and Iran is firing missiles at UK air bases.

We're shooting at them and they're shooting back. But we're not at war. We're not even being dragged into a war.

Honest. Says Yvette Cooper.

all it needs is 'Honestly' after that last full stop.

"I consider the survival of National Socialism within democracy to be potentially more menacing than the survival of fascist tendencies against democracy.” - Adorno, 1960. Jacques Elllul said similar. It wasn't, then, an uncommon view.

We're watching the fulfilment.

Do read this 👇

That's about political accountability, though. Even suppose SCOTUS or Congress were to rise up and, Hallelujah, an Executive is forced to respect the law ..

My worry is the cultural shift within the military as a whole; it could take generations to reverse. And whence any will to reverse it?

it worries me (as a non-US person) that the American military has, apparently without question, committed to an unconstitutional war that breaks international rules.

It seems the whole US military has agreed to set aside the question of the legality of the orders its carrying out.

whenever anyone says 'best possible outcome' you have to ask, best for who?

Faiza Shaheen was repeatedly talked over and shouted down on #Newsnight tonight. She behaved with exemplary patience in the face of poor behaviour by other panellists. Moderation should have been better.

it's worrying that Starmer's so strongly influenced by MAGA culture warriors

surely peak marriage is when only one of you is doing the shopping.

finally, after a couple of hours of coverage from G & D, something to make me laugh

with @gingerox.bsky.social a couple of months ago
#nude #fineartnude #photography

We took in a Ukrainian woman in March 2022. Head in hands, she keeled over on our sofa; on TV a tank was crushing a car in the street where she used to live. 'I can't bear to watch the news. I can't bear not to watch'.

Since which time I can't bear, can't bear not to ..

But Melania? The UN?