George F'in Galloway
Discussion
[quote=BBC News]
Galloway praises Iraq 'martyrs'
George Galloway
Mr Galloway was a vocal opponent of the Iraq war
MP George Galloway is being accused of putting UK troops at risk after calling insurgents in Iraq "martyrs".
During a tour of the Middle East, Mr Galloway spoke of "poor Iraqis" using the most basic weapons to write the names of their towns "in the stars".
The Respect MP accused the UK and America of "raping" Baghdad and said the US was losing the war.
Labour MP Eric Joyce said the comments endangered UK troops "in a small way" but Mr Galloway held little influence.
These poor Iraqis ... with the lightest and most basic of weapons - are writing the names of their cities and towns in the stars
George Galloway
Respect MP
Mr Galloway's Respect party stresses that it and the Bethnal Green and Bow MP condemn suicide bombings, whether in London or the Middle East.
Any loss of civilian life is profoundly wrong, says the party, but it blames the US-UK coalition for turning Iraq into a war zone by their invasion.
Mr Galloway claimed the insurgents were ordinary Iraqis defending their country against "foreign invaders".
"It can be said, truly said, that the Iraqi resistance is not just defending Iraq. They are defending all the Arabs and they are defending all the people of the world against American hegemony."
'Martyrs'
In one speech, the MP said: "These poor Iraqis - ragged people, with their sandals, with their Kalashnikovs, with the lightest and most basic of weapons - are writing the names of their cities and towns in the stars, with 145 military operations every day, which has made the country ungovernable.
"We don't know who they are, we don't know their names, we never saw their faces, they don't put up photographs of their martyrs, we don't know the names of their leaders."
Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party over his outspoken remarks about the Iraq war.
He told Syrian Television: "Two of your beautiful daughters are in the hands of foreigners - Jerusalem and Baghdad.
"The foreigners are doing to your daughters as they will.
"The daughters are crying for help and the Arab world is silent. And some of them are collaborating with the rape of these two beautiful Arab daughters."
Troop dangers?
Mr Galloway said Tony Blair's idea of a "war on terrorism" was absurd as terrorism was a tactic, not a strategy.
"It's not the Muslims who are sick. It's Bush and Blair and Berlusconi who are sick. It's not the Muslims who need to be cured. It's the imperialist countries that need to be cured."
Falkirk MP Mr Joyce said Mr Galloway was trying to maximise his infamy in the UK with his latest comments, which would not impress people in the Middle East.
"It clearly puts British troops at greater risk in a small way and that is a pity," he said.
Mr Joyce said the words would at least be seen as encouraging resistance in Iraq and would upset troops' families in the UK.
But he said Mr Galloway was now a "marginal" figure who had limited influence.
'Occupation'
John Rees, national secretary of Respect, told BBC News the Iraqi resistance would not be encouraged to attack UK troops by what British politicians had said.
"Respect and George Galloway have made it plain on a number of occasions that we believe that the people who are putting British troops at risk are the people who have sent them to occupy someone else's country," he said.
Mr Rees said troops' families were often the most vociferous opponents of the Iraq war.
Labour MP Bruce George, former chairman of the Commons defence committee, said UK and US troops would leave Iraq if there was an end to the insurgency waged by remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime and religious fanatics.
The UK wanted to see Iraq's democratically elected government succeed, he said.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw this week said the UK was part of the security problem in Iraq and things are "not good" in the country.
He said an agreement on the new Iraqi constitution would be a step to reducing UK troops in Iraq. [/quote]
Right, I know we live in a democracy and are notionally allowed free speech, but surely when an elected member of parliament is inciting people to kill our troops it's gone too far?
Galloway praises Iraq 'martyrs'
George Galloway
Mr Galloway was a vocal opponent of the Iraq war
MP George Galloway is being accused of putting UK troops at risk after calling insurgents in Iraq "martyrs".
During a tour of the Middle East, Mr Galloway spoke of "poor Iraqis" using the most basic weapons to write the names of their towns "in the stars".
The Respect MP accused the UK and America of "raping" Baghdad and said the US was losing the war.
Labour MP Eric Joyce said the comments endangered UK troops "in a small way" but Mr Galloway held little influence.
These poor Iraqis ... with the lightest and most basic of weapons - are writing the names of their cities and towns in the stars
George Galloway
Respect MP
Mr Galloway's Respect party stresses that it and the Bethnal Green and Bow MP condemn suicide bombings, whether in London or the Middle East.
Any loss of civilian life is profoundly wrong, says the party, but it blames the US-UK coalition for turning Iraq into a war zone by their invasion.
Mr Galloway claimed the insurgents were ordinary Iraqis defending their country against "foreign invaders".
"It can be said, truly said, that the Iraqi resistance is not just defending Iraq. They are defending all the Arabs and they are defending all the people of the world against American hegemony."
'Martyrs'
In one speech, the MP said: "These poor Iraqis - ragged people, with their sandals, with their Kalashnikovs, with the lightest and most basic of weapons - are writing the names of their cities and towns in the stars, with 145 military operations every day, which has made the country ungovernable.
"We don't know who they are, we don't know their names, we never saw their faces, they don't put up photographs of their martyrs, we don't know the names of their leaders."
Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party over his outspoken remarks about the Iraq war.
He told Syrian Television: "Two of your beautiful daughters are in the hands of foreigners - Jerusalem and Baghdad.
"The foreigners are doing to your daughters as they will.
"The daughters are crying for help and the Arab world is silent. And some of them are collaborating with the rape of these two beautiful Arab daughters."
Troop dangers?
Mr Galloway said Tony Blair's idea of a "war on terrorism" was absurd as terrorism was a tactic, not a strategy.
"It's not the Muslims who are sick. It's Bush and Blair and Berlusconi who are sick. It's not the Muslims who need to be cured. It's the imperialist countries that need to be cured."
Falkirk MP Mr Joyce said Mr Galloway was trying to maximise his infamy in the UK with his latest comments, which would not impress people in the Middle East.
"It clearly puts British troops at greater risk in a small way and that is a pity," he said.
Mr Joyce said the words would at least be seen as encouraging resistance in Iraq and would upset troops' families in the UK.
But he said Mr Galloway was now a "marginal" figure who had limited influence.
'Occupation'
John Rees, national secretary of Respect, told BBC News the Iraqi resistance would not be encouraged to attack UK troops by what British politicians had said.
"Respect and George Galloway have made it plain on a number of occasions that we believe that the people who are putting British troops at risk are the people who have sent them to occupy someone else's country," he said.
Mr Rees said troops' families were often the most vociferous opponents of the Iraq war.
Labour MP Bruce George, former chairman of the Commons defence committee, said UK and US troops would leave Iraq if there was an end to the insurgency waged by remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime and religious fanatics.
The UK wanted to see Iraq's democratically elected government succeed, he said.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw this week said the UK was part of the security problem in Iraq and things are "not good" in the country.
He said an agreement on the new Iraqi constitution would be a step to reducing UK troops in Iraq. [/quote]
Right, I know we live in a democracy and are notionally allowed free speech, but surely when an elected member of parliament is inciting people to kill our troops it's gone too far?
After seeing his speeches in that US legal wrangle a few months ago I was impressed with the way he chose his words and the way he kept his stern attitude towards those against him. It's a shame he's not condemning the attacks because IMO this guy isn't one you want on the opposite side.
dick dastardly said:
After seeing his speeches in that US legal wrangle a few months ago I was impressed with the way he chose his words and the way he kept his stern attitude towards those against him. It's a shame he's not condemning the attacks because IMO this guy isn't one you want on the opposite side.
He was impressive in those Congressional hearings but I don't think that what he has now said are compatible with the role of an MP TBH. I feel most sorry for the people of Bethnal Green who were taken in by his pathetic "Respect" party and voted him in, getting an MP who neither knows nor cares about his new constituancy and is only interested in the next act of the George Galloway Show.
With the greatest of [Ali G mode on] Respect [/Ali G mode off] to Galloway, but I think he needs to get his facts right before he claims that Jerusalem is one of Islam's "daughters". It was a Christian & Jewish place of extreme religious importance long before good old Mohammed came along.
Eddyted four spalin mustooks
>> Edited by diddyman on Thursday 4th August 14:30
Eddyted four spalin mustooks
>> Edited by diddyman on Thursday 4th August 14:30
wolves_wanderer said:
After seeing his speeches in that US legal wrangle a few months ago I was impressed with the way he chose his words and the way he kept his stern attitude towards those against him. It's a shame he's not condemning the attacks because IMO this guy isn't one you want on the opposite side.
He was impressive in those Congressional hearings but I don't think that what he has now said are compatible with the role of an MP TBH. I feel most sorry for the people of Bethnal Green who were taken in by his pathetic "Respect" party and voted him in, getting an MP who neither knows nor cares about his new constituancy and is only interested in the next act of the George Galloway Show.
Without getting into the rights or wrongs about GG, the fact is that he was democratically elected by his constituents and represents them until they decide otherwise or until he is remvoed from office.
diddyman said:
With the greatest of [Ali G mode on] Respect [/Ali G mode off] to Galloway, but I think he needs to get his facts right before he claims that Jerusalem is one of Islam's "daughters". It was a Christian & Jewish place of extreme religious importance long before good old Mohammed came along.
Eddyted four spalin mustooks
>> Edited by diddyman on Thursday 4th August 14:30
He said that its an arab daughter not islamic, there is a difference. Still a bloody stupid thing to say.
t and uses his skills to peddle divisive, inflamatory rubbish.So, Iraqis killed by western forces during the war and to date, including soldiers, civilians, collateral damage etc 23,000.
Iraqis killed by other Iraqis and various insurgent groups and general Islamic nutters etc during the same period 117,000.
Same old story, they are far better at killing their own than the west, how does Mr G and the nutters square that with Allah.
Iraqis killed by other Iraqis and various insurgent groups and general Islamic nutters etc during the same period 117,000.
Same old story, they are far better at killing their own than the west, how does Mr G and the nutters square that with Allah.
volvos70t5 said:I agree - and it's a good point that has to be made.
Without getting into the rights or wrongs about GG, the fact is that he was democratically elected by his constituents and represents them until they decide otherwise or until he is remvoed from office.
However, that is a very damning indictment on those who elected him - from this, can we assume that they are as anti-UK as Galloway clearly is?
I happen to think that yes, they are that dismissive of their country of residence, certainly from what I have seen of them. The demographic that elected GG have the leader they want, who will put their point of view loudly and clearly. And a disgraceful, disgusting point of view it is. And I speak as one (of the very few PH'ers) who lives in Bethnal Green and Bow, and one who sincerely regrets that I didn't vote Nu Labia last time. Abhorrant as bLiars party is, at least their candidate cared for the residents of the area.
The likes of GG will probably never be demographically removed from office. While the population of this country is changing as it is, we can very soon expect to see a whole load more MP's elected by this demographic, and I gravely fear for the result.
Oli.
Galloway went up in my estimation after watching his sworn testimony at the Senate where he tore them apart. They really had no answer to him for what he spoke was the truth.
This martyr statement however does him no favours.
Senate testimony....
How prophetic.
This martyr statement however does him no favours.
Senate testimony....
George Galloway said:
I told the world that Iraq, contrary to your claims did not have weapons of mass destruction. I told the world, contrary to your claims, that Iraq had no connection to al-Qaeda. I told the world, contrary to your claims, that Iraq had no connection to the atrocity on 9/11 2001. I told the world, contrary to your claims, that the Iraqi people would resist a British and American invasion of their country and that the fall of Baghdad would not be the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning.
"Senator, in everything I said about Iraq, I turned out to be right and you turned out to be wrong and 100,000 people paid with their lives; 1600 of them American soldiers sent to their deaths on a pack of lies; 15,000 of them wounded, many of them disabled forever on a pack of lies. "
How prophetic.
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