Media gossip surrounding US superstar John Travolta has been rife in recent weeks. Rumours of the sexual abuse of male masseurs Travolta's life would appear to be in turmoil. Since then there have been reports of trans gender dressing and more.

For many years there has been gossip about John's sexuality. The fact that he is married to Kelly Preston counted for nothing. A man who was and still is hugely attractive to women he may seem an unlikely subject for such rumours. However this is just the sort of man often targeted but also often who has not "come out of the closet"

Married since 1991 the couple experienced the death of a son in 2009. Their eldest son Brett died aged just 16. This obviously had a terrible effect on both John and wife Kelly. The current gossip could be just that. However with so much of the proverbial hitting the fan all at once that seems unlikely. In many ways it would be best if Travolta just came clean and owned up, assuming the gossip is fact. That would be one sure fire way to stop the media circus.

Of coure the problem for Travolta is if he is an innocent in all of this. If he is how can he win? Damned either way Travolta looks set for a problematic time. His sexuality is nobodies business other than his and his wives. If he has broken the law, that is by abuse, then he should face the consequences. This blogger though will always have a soft spot for Travolta, remembering him as the charmer opposite Olivia Newton John in Grease.

According to the National Inquirer's latest report on the Travoltas the couple have now separated but that is ofcourse ou

Western governments are running scared of their people. Instead of accepting that the unrest  and civil disobedience by some of each countries population is down to the leaders incompetence they are tightening up on freedoms. Whilst they should be addressing their own failures and attempting to put them right Governments prefer to restrict the movement and protest capabilities of the people. In all cases it seems they use the threat of Terrorist activity to undermine and reduce civil liberties.

In Canada Bill 78 is one such establishment technique to basically "shut the people up"

Last Night May 23, 2012, police in Montreal "kettled" protesting students.This tactic has been used by UK police against protesting students too. We have no doubt that should a country such as Iran or Syria employ such tactics Western administrations would cry "foul". Of course that is because as well as corruption, hypocrisy is currently the name of the game.

Protesting students in Quebec City and Sherbrooke.experienced mass arrests. 176 people were arrested in Quebec City under the provisions of Quebec's controversial new protest law, known as Bill 78. Not heard of this Bill? Snap.

According to Pen Canada on May 23, 2012: PEN Canada is carefully monitoring student unrest in Québec and response to that unrest by different levels of government. PEN's particular concern is any threat to freedom of expression. 

PEN Canada condemns violence and other forms of intimidation, by students or police, as antithetical to freedom of expression. 

PEN Canada considers Bill 78 to be overreaching, containing provisions that go beyond what is necessary to ensure that assemblies and demonstrations by students and others are peaceful. As such, PEN believes the Bill indirectly limits freedom of expression and asks the Government of Québec to reconsider this legislation. No doubt this request  to the government will fall on deaf ears. As all of these governments attempt to carry on fooling the people into believing that they are doing their best we are all coming to the same conclusion and that is that they are not. Far from it. Most are busily feathering their own nests and looking after their own.

The fact that they cannot stand criticism speaks volumes. If they were worth their salt they would not have to resort to restricting the freedoms of the country's citizens.

Whilst the government may have offered to reopen talks with students they maintain that tuition fee increases and a clamp down on protests is not open to debate. This is like a red rag to a bull and will guarantee further protests. A peaceful protest yesterday was turned into chaos. Protesters lay the blame at the door of the police whilst the police blame the protesters. Kettling although widely used in Europe has been condmned in the past. According to CBC Canada  "A recent report by Ontario's police watchdog blasted Toronto police for their use of kettling during the G20 summit two years ago, saying they violated civil rights, detained people illegally and used excessive force." 

The trial of Anders Breivik is continuing in Norway. The mass murderer who was responsible for so many death, 77 in total, has has heard testimony from survivors of the massacre at his hands on the Island of Utoyea and in the Norwegian capital Oslo, which took place July 2011.

The trial has been grim for relatives of the victims and of course for the survivors. Throughout it all Breivik has appeared almost in a world of his own. A demented World perhaps?

It has yet to be decided if Breivik was sane or insane when he carried out the atrocious acts of violence in 2011. At one stage in the proceedings Breivik claimed that the only course of action for the court was to find him not guilty. This was in spite of admitting guilt but because Anders felt he had, in some misguided way, acted correctly. He believes that he acted in "self defense".

Today May 24, 2012 Breivik has changed his stance a little. He has finally admitted that witness statements made to the Court have affected him. He has gone on to say that if the court decides that he was sane at the time of the atrocities he will not contest their decision. This should mean that this case can at least be brought to a conclusion sooner rather than later.

Appeals add to the stress of the witnesses and victims plus of course are very expensive for the State. Norway has no death penalty which means Brevik is facing either a term in a psychiatric unit if declared legally insane or a prison if found to be sane. A jail term may not initially be as long as it would be in the US or UK but it is doubtful that he would ever be released from prison.

Shakeel Afridi, a Pakistani doctor has been jailed for the part he played in the capture and ultimate killing of Osama Bin Laden. Whilst some in the West may praise the help this man gave to the US Intelligence services, Pakistan holds a different view.


May 23, 2012, Dr Afridi was jailed for 33 years for treason and also fined $3,500 for spying for the United States. US officials will no doubt consider his sacrifice worth it, for finally enabling them to apprehend Bin Laden. It is doubtful that Afridi and his family will see things in quite the same way.

Usually witness protection schemes look after the interests of people who help the authorities in such a way. As Afridi was a foreign national it could have been a different matter altogether.

Dr Afridi was tried under tribal law which did not allow him to offer his own defence. The trial has been ongoing for two months. This would seem to indicate that in many ways Afridi was given a fair trial but the outcome may have been a forgone conclusion.

According to CNN, "Afridi helped the CIA use a vaccination campaign in an attempt to collect DNA samples from residents of bin Laden's compound in the city of Abbottabad to verify the al Qaeda leader's presence there."

Opinion: This case raises mixed feelings. Bin Laden captured was the aim and achieved. He however died an innocent man, having never been tried for his crimes. You can say what you will but without a trial guilt has not been proven. It harps back to "hang 'em high days" before the rule of law.

Then you have to consider the way that the US entered Pakistan and if the boot was on the other foot. Whilst this blogger may seem preoccupied with talk of setting bad precedents it must be acknowledged. Breaking all the rules when it suits sooner or later tends to backfire on you.

What of Doctor confidentiality which we treasure so much in the West?

Pakistan has a justice system and many now believe that should a legal challenge be raised against the tribal court's ruling it will be overturned. The case appears to be far from over yet as a separate Federal case is ongoing.

If the sentence stands it is hard to believe that other foreign nationals will ever help the US again. After all it sends a stark message to those tempted.

Instigating treason, as you feel the ends justify the means, smacks of downright hypocrisy. US soldier Bradley Manning is still facing an uncertain future after charges of US treason were levied against him. His crime? He dared to let the World see what was really going on in US conflicts. For that we should be eternally grateful.

In the case of Afridi the US encouraged him to enable a foreign mission on his own territory. Does it compare at all? We think not.

Bradley Manning here

"Slapped wrists" for PM Cameron

UK Parliamentary business at times is reminiscent of kindergarten. Tit for tat remarks, honourable members flouncing out, tipsy politicians having enjoyed the benefits of the Commons bar then acting in a thugish manner and more. It can be entertaining to watch but often it is embarrassing. Once it was decided that cameras would be placed in the Commons it was generally though standards would improve. If they have then heaven only knows what they were like before.

Keeping order over the honourable ministers is the Speaker of the House of Commons, who school playground and that kiddies rhyme "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"

In reality words can be very hurtful. They can also show a lack of respect and damage any working relationship.

Of course at times all politicians take a little poetic licence. They do have to carefully make sure however that they don't overstep the mark. When Cameron called Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls an "idiot" it was deemed a step too far.

It has been noticeable that when the PM is under pressure or perhaps looks in danger of losing a political argument he becomes irritated. He then name calls, chides, talks down to and snaps. These may be common traits but they are not part of Political Standards in the UK. 

The PM said idiot, referring to Ed balls and he has since had to apologise. Cameron was giving the Government a virtual pat on the back as he said they had in enterprise zones found, "innovative ways of using our hard-won credibility, which we wouldn't have if we had listened to the muttering idiot opposite me".  This is not first attack pon Ed Balls. As an old Etonian Cameron should know that this is just "not cricket".

Labour responded calling the PM Flashman as an attack on his privileged background. Asked to withdraw the word "idiot" a smiling or should that be smarmy Cameron responded by saying. "I will replace it with 'the man who left us this enormous deficit and this financial crisis'." 

That old chestnut. Labour had to pick the pieces up after years of mismanagement by the Tories especially those under Maggie Thatcher and so it seems that each government blames its predecessors. Perhaps in truth none of them are up for the job?

In a day for apologies Cameron said sorry to veteran Labour minister Dennis Skinner for past treatment. He could not prevent his sarcasm though saying, "he actually believed Mr Skinner was a "tremendous ornament" to Parliament."

Well Dodgy Dave you know what they say about sarcasm? It is the lowest form of wit and so presumably is not statesman like?

Tweets, condemnations and more have accompanied today's shenanigans but in reality all the British people want is these overpaid louts in Parliament do what they are paid to do. To act as responsible adults. To debate, decide and legislate. Vaudeville died many years ago but either that or the great British Farce appears alive and well preforming daily in the Houses of Parliament.

Whilst the West continues to court China and appears to view that vast country as the next big thing, China is up to its old tricks. In the past suspect goods and food from China have swamped the market. They do not have the strict regulations that many Western countries have plus the Chinese seem good at making fakes and copies. The problem is that the quality is never the same. The ones in China who supply such goods damage trade but of course some of the damaging effects raise more serious concerns.

The latest fakes from China are electronic parts supplied to US Military aircraft.

The US Senate has released the findings of an investigation into alleged fake parts in Military aircraft. The investigation comprised an undercover operation. A fictitious company bought the fake parts from an Internet source. All the parts bought turned out to be fakes.

The investigation was partly undertaken to assess value for money from companies providing Military parts. The subsequent report reveals that "1,800 cases of bogus parts - including some in special operations helicopters and the US Air Force's largest cargo plane" was uncovered. However the actual number of counterfeit parts is more than one million.

The fakes compromise safety, standards and cost effectiveness of purchasing in the UK military.  "This flood of counterfeit parts, overwhelmingly from China, threatens national security, the safety of our troops and American jobs," committee armed services publication chairman Senator Carl Levin said. "It underscores China's failure to police the blatant market in counterfeit parts - a failure China should rectify."

Before Western leaders happily court traders and manufacturers in China perhaps they should look a little closer. The cheapest option is not always the best. In addition the damage it does to homeland jobs and security makes it expensive in the long term.

In spite of sounding like a cracked record, you will have to be getting on in years to understand that one, this blogger feels a need to comment on the waste of public money by the G8 and NATO summits which have just drawn to a close. What a farce!

In this day and age high powered technology should enable virtual meetings without the need for Western leaders to be constantly off on jaunts around the globe. They may fear their secret Tete a Tetes being overheard but come on. I ask you?

Inflated salaries paid to politicians who have inflated egos to match, a heavy police and security presence to control the protesters, flights here, there and everywhere, lunches, dinners, hotels and so much more. All to decide on what to cut next. What to do about a conflict which was a no brainer from day one, that is Afghanistan. Is there any wonder that to all extents and purposes the West is skint? Our cash flow has dried up, except for that elusive 1%. Except for those making the rules.

When you look at the images of violence and protests it has the look of science fiction become fact. An Orwellian police state hiding behind protecting the people. The waste of money is appalling.  Are our leaders so out of touch with we ordinary folk that they cannot see this? As they all preened in front of a magnificent building the word obscene sprung to mind. 

The weekend's violence has both parties blaming the other. The protesters claim it began as peaceful protests and the police waded in and vice versa. Images at the Chicago Tribune paint a nasty pictiure of what at times appears to have been a brawl.

The protesters included the young and the old from all walks of life. Just what the establishment do not like. After all they like to be able to blame a few extremists rather than accept some of the protesters are mainstream voters.

The death of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi yesterday closes a chapter in terrorist attacks but for many it leaves unanswered questions. UK PM Cameron commenting on the news said our thoughts should be with the 270 fatalities of the Lockerbie plane bomb. PanAm flight 103 was on its way from London to New York in December1988 when a bomb exploded. It killed all  243 passengers and 16 crew members plus 11 members of the public when the debris fell to earth in the Scottish village of Lockerbie.

The majority of those killed on the plane were Americans. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was alleged to be responsible for this act of terrorism and sentenced to a life sentence in a Scottish jail.  Megrahi was released from jail in 2009 on compassionate grounds. He was suffering prostate cancer and his death was supposedly imminent. The loved ones of the victims of the bomb wanted him to "rot in hell" and mainly felt he should die in jail.

This early release caused a furore then and still does. His death May 2012 makes many believe that he was not released as death was imminent but rather for political ends. These are thought to be trade with Libya and or political relationships. At least one doctor in the UK has, since Megrahi's death, said that his extended length of life was in part due to the treatment he received once back home, which he would not have received in the UK.
A UK relative of one Lockerbie bomb victim has questioned the guilt of Megrahi. In America it is widely felt that he was guilty but that he did not act alone. People over there would like to see others brought to justice.The death of Megrahi has understandably reopened old wounds and brought many people to the fore. One speaking on UK TV Sunday May 20, 2012, raised a subject that the Americans would rather forget. This is the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655.
Flight 655 was a civilian flight. It was shot down by US Forces in July 1988. It was the end of the Iran Iraq war and the plane was flying over the Strait of Hormuz. It was in Iranian air space and not infringing any territorial claims. All of the civilians on board this plane were killed. 290 in total were on-board, including 66 children and 16 crew.  

Responsible for this plane destruction and the 290 deaths was United States Navy guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG-49) and its command. Those killed were from various countries including Iran, United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Yugoslavia and  Italy.

For some this terrible tragedy is in part responsible for the Locerbie tragedy. Look online and you will find plenty of information regarding this plane's demise and the compensation that eventually the US paid out, obviously accepting liability.

What the man interviewed on UK TV was talking about though was how the US has never apologised for its actions. How the US cannot see that their actions in July 1988 could have led to the Lockerbie tragedy in December 1988. Tit for tat reprisals are nothing new. In some ways the recent war in Iraq and ongoing war in Afghanistan were just that, in response to 9/11.

So many times writing articles regarding such issues involving the US this blogger brings to mind "As you sow so shall you reap" With so much of the US supposedly God fearing individuals it puzzles how they can not see this too. 

RIP, All

After the G8 summit at Camp David USA ended yesterday, May 19, 2012, the world leaders made their way to Chicago to discuss NATO related matters. Ahead of the NATO meeting protesters were out in force. There has since been reports of running battles with police and arrests. As usual the mainstream media has attempted to minimise coverage of the protests.

The protests and those taking part are however almost an integral part of G8 and NATO summits. As such they should be covered. World leaders may not like protesters raising objections to the power they wield but they have a right to be seen and heard. After all the US years ago berated countries such as the Soviet Union for repressing freedom of speech.

Perhaps this is why Russia Today is always quick to cover these news events. 2,500 people attended a rally in Chicago Friday May 19, 2012, and problems have been ongoing since. There are reports of police officers using batons to control events. Today around 1,000 protesters are expected to swell the ranks of those opposing NATO. Of those already arrested three are said to be terror related.

Many of the activists have links to OWS, the occupy wall street movement. They are objecting to a NATO meeting which is focusing on Afghanistan, when the USA has more than enough of its own worries. High unemployment has hit the US hard. Most protesters want the US troops withdrawn from Afghanistan sooner rather than later.

Both sides tell their story slanted to their own ends. However the footage shows that US authorities are trying to curb freedoms in the US. Ironic as they continue to preach the reverse for other countries such as those in the Middle East.

Updates to follow

Ratko Mladic was wanted for War crimes following the conflict in Serbia. He managed to elude those searching for him for years but was finally caught and taken to the Hague in Holland to face justice. Now it appears that the world will have to wait that bit longer to see justice meted out.

Yesterday Friday May 18, 2012, the trial of Mladic was halted temporarily. Crucial evidence was not passed over from the prosecution to the defence. It looks as if this will lead to a delay in court proceedings of possibly six months.

Knowing the importance of getting this trial right from the start it seems unbelievable that such a clerical error was made. It is not a small amount of evidence which could have been easily mislaid or forgotten but 7,000 pages of written evidence. Mladic was the Serbian Commander during the 1992 - 1995 conflict. He is facing 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during this period of time but denies them all.

Whilst in some ways you could argue that the time scale of this trial is immaterial as long as justice is ultimately served the victims have waited long enough already. The legal teams and judges at the Hague are now looking at the evidence and attempting to decide what will be an appropriate and necessary delay in the court proceedings.