WARNING: extremely graphic video below…you have been warned.

I’ve thought long and hard about whether or not to post the following video clip. In a sense it could be considered to be a snuff film. That is what makes me uncomfortable — to say the least — about posting it here.

However, I’ve come to the conclusion that it isn’t ‘entertainment value’ that those who view it here will gain (so not a snuff movie). Nor is it a form of ‘political oneupmanship’ aimed against domestic opponents that compels the dissemination of such filth. What the following does do is eliminate any idea of fascists, being in any way shape or form, as being ‘freedom fighters’, (or rather it should). The clip shows pure fascism at work, stripped of all it’s pretenses.

Update: Thanks to Sphinx in comments for further information and clarification:

“The logo of the video reads “the Islamic State of Iraq” in Arabic.

From reading the title and the logo, it seems it’s al-Qaeda terrorists or their allies killing people. Most of those killed by these terrorists are innocent civilians whom they kill, either because according to their sect, or according to their connection to any government institution which they consider illegitimate.”

In addition see here

“I posted this video to say that al-Qaeda is strongly active and keep reminding people that Iraqis are suffering and that it’s worse than what they see on TV.”

……

George Bush has been heavily criticized for his Axis of Evil speech in 2002:

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger.

He named Iran, North Korea and Baathist Iraq directly. Despite the continuing terrorist activity in Iraq ,and the perilous state of any hopes for democracy, there is no longer a potential military threat in terms of future development of nuclear, chemical or biological weaponry that could threaten its neighbours, or Western states. The real weapon of mass destruction, Saddam Hussain and his Baath party, is no more.

Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons, and seems set to obtain them if left unopposed. A not unsurprising outcome given the head of the IAEA thinks his job is to “keep the peace” between Iran and the US, rather focusing on his job to police nuclear proliferation effectively. Still, even he has limits.

Meanwhile the North Koreans appear to be shipping nuclear material to Baathist Syria and Iranian technicians were killed in an accident involving an airburst chemical warhead (including VX and Sarin nerve agents and mustard blister agent)) that they were attempting to place on a Scud Missile in Syria.

Some will automatically dismiss all of these reports as propaganda, after all didn’t Bush and Blair lie about WMD in Iraq? Others will argue that Bush’s Axis of Evil speech created the very problems we are seeing. Neither of these are tenable positions. That WMD was not found in Iraq, does not mean that WMD are not a problem elsewhere. Bush’s rhetoric may make relationships strained, but to suggest that North Korea, Iran and Syria would be playing a more constructive role in the world, but for George Bush strains any rational mind.

There’s an axis of something, what are we going to do about it?

Go and read Nick Cohen on the how libel laws are protecting those who promote hatred:

One prominent figure, who is occasionally allowed on to the airwaves to balance the Muslim Council of Britain, told me he never used the words ‘Saudi Arabia’ or ‘Wahhabism’.

When he wanted to discuss either, he referred fuzzily to ‘foreign funding for extremist doctrines’. He knows that if he speaks out, he will be banned from Saudi Arabia. Blacklisting is a formidable sanction for him and others as he has a religious duty to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.

He is also frightened of being sued - as is everyone else. Britain’s repressive libel laws are becoming a threat to security and racial harmony. ‘Saudi money is now a major source of income for London libel firms,’ one lawyer told me. ‘School fees and second homes depend on it.’

Is the above a genuine photograph of England’s Foreign Secretary, or simply one of Steve Bell’s more manic cartoon representations? Rory Bremner will no doubt be studying this picture intensely over the lead-up to the next general election.

We truly live in the age of the Nutters.