MP George Galloway says:

[IChing]

"We argued, as did the security services in this country, that the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq would increase the threat of terrorist attack in Britain. Tragically Londoners have now paid the price of the Government ignoring such warnings."

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/

[Windy]

1. As I said in another post...once the dust clears, blair is gone! n/t

[AuntiBush]

2. Thank you Galloway. We Need the Truth Spoken Loudly Now

[candy]

3. He's probably secretly glad that it happened. Sort of an---

"I told you so"

[dave29]

8. no, he is probably sad, and profoundly angry, as are we

that he was not heard.

[Coexist]

9. No decent person is ever "secretly glad" a terrorist attack happens

that said, George and Co. were positively gleeful about the political hay they could make after 9/11, now weren't they.

[rinsd]

16. Yes they were...

...but Galloway seems to be awfully full of himself repeating the word "we" referring to his party of one.

Compare that with this

Press Statement by Fausto Bertinotti, Chair of the European Left Party

"What occurred in London is the atrocity of a barbarism. The peaceful people should mobilise"

Once again violence is upsetting the world. Any place, any city, any country may become and becomes a stage for devastation and death.

Women and men of any ethnic group, any age, any social condition are seeing their own innocent life destroyed. This is the atrocity of a barbarism. Today terrorism is upsetting London and the world. The spiral of war and terrorism is its terrifying background: they are both enemies of humanity.

Last Saturday in Edinburgh a big white-clad march has addressed a peaceful and nonviolent language against poverty and war. Now the anti-war movement should become a key player of a worldwide mobilisation against terrorism and war. Only people can stop this horrible violence.

One call for humanity to rsie up for peace the other a thinly veiled I told ya so.

[IChing]

18. He is also a member of this group you quote

http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=819

[rinsd]

19. That's great...

...it still doesn't change what his words were or his instinct to say " told ya so"

One leads, the other gloats.

[Coexist]

20. He didn't gloat

He told it like it is. Maybe if we had listened to him and Scott Ritter and the others, loads of people would still be alive.

[rinsd]

21. "Telling it like it is"....

..is usually right wing code for dropping bigoted bullshit.

The other gentleman told it like is as well as a call for peace. Galloway is more interested in talking about himself.

"We have worked without rest to remove the causes of such violence from our world."

Reminds me Bush's "hard work" BS.

"We argued, as did the security services in this country, that the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq would increase the threat of terrorist attack in Britain. Tragically Londoners have now paid the price of the government ignoring such warnings."

If that isn't an I told ya so, I'm not sure what is.

[sendero]

27. You want to talk platitudes..

.... and Galloway reality. I'll take reality any day, and in the long term, reality always wins over platitudes.

People spoke against the war en masse before it happened. Look at how much good it did them. Galloway is merely pointing out the obvious, while your platitudinous statement is more happy kumbaya bullshit that HAS ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING AND NEVER WILL.

[rinsd]

28. You're right....

..nothing wins an arguments like I told ya so.

Nothing like scoring a zinger as opposed to acting like a statesman worthy of the world stage.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rinsd]

31. Oh the irony....

...Galloway was booted from his party and now holds sway over his district but that's about it.

[Benbow]

13. Don't be stupid - if you were here in London, you would be

unable to say that. No one who is not psychotic could possibly be glad about the loss of life, the horrific injuries, the grief of those who have lost loved ones, the traumatised people who were just going about their normal routines.

[Coexist]

4. Louder, Gorgeous, LOUDER!!!

(on edit) Nominated so more people see that there is a voice of sanity in this mess.

[Nite Owl]

5. I wish his voice

was an American. We need someone like him here.

[paparush]

6. Now THAT is a pol

with GUTS! and BALLS! and REASON! and SPINE!

Hey..US pols....take a look at a real leader.

[NoFederales]

7. This is indeed the message that needs repeated over and over and

over. . . . Don't be silent, our "war of choice" has not made us safer, and the bastards that are guilty must keep hearing our dissent.

NoFederales

[IChing]

10. The support of the war makes war

Defense is another thing, especially in martial arts.


Martin Luther King:

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

[julianer]

11. I went to see Galloway speak last

night at a Respect rally in Bristol.

He's going to keep the pressure on alright!

[TankLV]

12. Thank you Hon. Mr. Galloway.

We must not let this one be swept under the rug like the last one.

Wonder when some nice shiny new passports will turn up?

[Coexist]

14. kick!

[IChing]

15. Additional statement by George

http://www.respectcoalition.org/?ite=819
Statement on the London bombings by George Galloway on behalf of Respect
07/07/2005

We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives today and our heartfelt sympathy to all those who have been injured by the bombs in London.

No one can condone acts of violence aimed at working people going about their daily lives. They have not been a party to, nor are they responsible for, the decisions of their government. They are entirely innocent and we condemn those who have killed or injured them.

The loss of innocent lives, whether in this country or Iraq, is precisely the result of a world that has become a less safe and peaceful place in recent years.

We have worked without rest to remove the causes of such violence from our world. We argued, as did the security services in this country, that the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq would increase the threat of terrorist attack in Britain. Tragically Londoners have now paid the price of the government ignoring such warnings.

We urge the government to remove people in this country from harms way, as the Spanish government acted to remove its people from harm, by ending the occupation of Iraq and by turning its full attention to the development of a real solution to the wider conflicts in the Middle East.

Only then will the innocents here and abroad be able to enjoy a life free of the threat of needless violence.

George Galloway, Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow

[Coexist]

17. I'm at work - can anyone media blast this before the spin gets

out of control?

[cascadiance]

22. "If you're with us, they're against YOU!"

[IChing]

23. Remove them from Harm's Way

You cannot fight darkness with darkness, this conflict grew out of misguided policies, actions and practices by both governments. If you want a resolution to conflict

There are many ways to resolve conflicts – surrendering, running away, overpowering your opponent with violence, filing a lawsuit, etc. The movement toward Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), sometimes referred to simply as conflict resolution, grew out of the belief that there are better options than using violence or going to court. Today, the terms ADR and conflict resolution are used somewhat interchangeably and refer to a wide range of processes that encourage nonviolent dispute resolution outside of the traditional court system. The field of conflict resolution also includes efforts in schools and communities to reduce violence and bullying and help young people develop communication and problem-solving skills. Common forms of conflict resolution include:

Negotiation is a discussion among two or more people with the goal of reaching an agreement.

Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which a neutral third-party facilitator helps people discuss difficult issues and negotiate an agreement. Basic steps in the process include gathering information, framing the issues, developing options, negotiating, and formalizing agreements. Parties in mediation create their own solutions and the mediator does not have any decision-making power over the outcome.

Arbitration is a process in which a third-party neutral, after reviewing evidence and listening to arguments from both sides, issues a decision to settle the case. Arbitration is often used in commercial and labor/management disputes.

Mediation-Arbitration is a hybrid that combines both of the above processes. Prior to the session, the disputing parties agree to try mediation first, but give the neutral third party the authority to make a decision if mediation is not successful.

Early Neutral Evaluation involves using a court-appointed attorney to review a case before it goes to trial. The attorney reviews the merits of the case and encourages the parties to attempt resolution. If there is no resolution, the attorney informs the disputants about how to proceed with litigation and gives an opinion on the likely outcome if the case goes to trial.

Community Conferencing is a structured conversation involving all members of a community (offenders, victims, family, friends, etc.) who have been affected by a dispute or a crime. Using a script, the facilitator invites people to express how they were affected and how they wish to address and repair the harm that resulted.

Collaborative Law refers to a process for solving disputes in which the attorneys commit to reaching a settlement without using litigation.

Negotiated Rulemaking is a collaborative process in which government agencies seek input from a variety of stakeholders before issuing a new rule.

Peer Mediationrefers to a process in which young people act as mediators to help resolve disputes among their peers. The student mediators are trained and supervised by a teacher or other adult.

These means can be used in international areas as well, I've used them in schools
but only when a dialogue is started can a resolution happen or a real solution to the wider conflicts of the middle east.


''We urge the government to remove people in this country from harms way, as the Spanish government acted to remove its people from harm, by ending the occupation of Iraq and by turning its full attention to the development of a real solution to the wider conflicts in the Middle East.

Only then will the innocents here and abroad be able to enjoy a life free of the threat of needless violence.''

[centristo]

24. i don't care for him including Afghanistan

in the above statement. The strategic error was in Iraq, not Afghanistan.

[eleny]

29. Tell that to the terrorists

[centristo]

32. what do you mean?

yeah, its a little too late to do anything about it now, but the US had every right in the world to invade Afghanistan. If the terrorists didn't like that, tough shit for them. Iraq is a different story though.

Do you think we were wrong when we invaded Afghanistan?

[theboss]

25. God, what an asshole

He can go to hell.

[osaMABUSh]

26. It's important to remember the lies

http://www.bushflash.com/right.html

[mzmolly]

33. If only Bush had embraced the international support we had after 911

we would REALLY be winning the war on terror.