Financing Terror: Islamic State and the Price of Empire

By Simon Bartram Terrorists strike fear into the hearts of their fellow citizens by bombing and brutalising their homeland, but it is the contents of their wallet that should give us more cause for concern. Whether it’s a company like BHS or a state fighting for survival like the Soviet Union, success or failure depends on having a winning financial strategy. So how does ISIS fare? Firstly, ISIS has been able to accrue a vast amount of wealth. In 2014,...

Jam on Burnt Toast: The Autumn Statement is a Classic Cover Up

In the wake of Brexit and a sweeping victory for the Republicans in America the Conservatives appear to be about to release one of the most centre-left Autumn Statements in recent history. Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce a ban on letting agent fees, which can cost renters hundreds of pounds a year in England and Wales, and implement change to the Universal Credit taper rate - the pace at which benefits are withdrawn after a claimant finds work...

Peddle Shit, Get Slammed: Political Campaigning in the 21st Century

When the Barack Obama Hope poster was released by artist Shepard Fairey in 2008 the president elect became part of a select club of politicians who portrayed a message of such poignancy that he immediately became a national icon. Jim Fitzpatrick's Che Guevara poster preceded it and is perhaps the only political artwork that is equal to it in reach and scope, namely because they projected very similar, simple messages of change and hope. As bad and as barmy as...

The Era Of Compromise With Xenophobic Agendas Has To End

By Tom Colclough Trump's victory is a disaster for too many people to list. The stories coming out of America already, of Muslim girls attacked in the streets, swastikas emblazoned in cities up and down the country and the sight of a Venezuelan cleaner breaking down in tears at work remind many of a Britain post-Brexit where race-hate began to ooze out of the cracks in its walls. Forever a reminder that these grand elections have direct consequences on people's lives, they...

The Democrats And Labour Are Facing The Same Problem

It has often been argued that people in the world of politics live in their own bubble, guided by partisan ideology that is regularly disconnected from reality. Nothing is more indicative of that than the inability of Democrats to see that pushing through, or as many have accused them, engineering the nomination of a critically flawed and divisive candidate such as Hillary Clinton could spectacularly backfire on them. Bernie Sanders’ surge in politics was one of the more inspiring stories...

Donald Trump was right: THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED. In his favour.

ETHNIC VOTES STOLEN IN CRUCIAL STATES HELP FIX US ELECTION FOR TRUMP, REVEALS GREG PALAST By Ben Gelblum Throughout the US election campaign one of The Donald’s main refrains was “this election is rigged.” Turns out this particular Trump election rallying cry wasn’t a lie… Well, not entirely. Veteran election investigator Greg Palast has uncovered the sickening truth. I spoke to Palast about evidence of widespread systemic election rigging, robbing black, hispanic and asian American voters of their right to vote...

In Trump’s World, Liberals Need A Bastard Of Their Own

What did Trump do right? That's the only question that matters for progressives and liberals now. Donald Trump doesn't care what any of his opponents think. He doesn't use sanitised politispeak to discuss simple issues that affect real people. If he thinks someone is an idiot or an idea is stupid, he says it. He doesn't pretend to have respect for people and organisations that actively work against his agenda. Whatever his ideas, however prejudiced and outrageous his policies, millions...

Trump: Picking Out The Positives

Remember that scene in The Office when David Brent gets promoted at the expense of the rest of his team? I imagine the faces of utter bewilderment that he was met with are quite similar to the gawps we all shot at our television screens yesterday morning waking to the news that Donald fucking Trump is the new President. "I know, gutting", the Brentmeister General said, "but on a more positive note, the good news is...." There is no good...

Can we move forward without the hate, violence & ignorance from Presidential & Brexit campaigns?

I feel the need to write something. To rant a stream of confused consciousness about the why's and wherefores of how I personally believe Donald Trump has achieved the position of the most powerful man in the supposed free world. Except it has all been said today by far more intellectual and informed individuals than me. I still feel the need though to add my tuppence halfpenny, if only to cleanse my mind and stop me darkly mulling over and...

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