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August 2018

Wall Street Journal visits "Muslim England - what I saw shocked me"

Who says diversity and multiculturalism are strengths?

Prove it.

Here's the Wall Street Journal

Other tourists might remember London for Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and Big Ben. I’ll remember it for its failed multiculturalism. Or perhaps this is what successful multiculturalism looks like.

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Other tourists may remember London for its spectacular sights and history, but I remember it for Islam. When I was visiting the U.K. as a teenager in 2006, I got lost in an East London market. There I saw a group of women wearing head-to-toe black cloaks. I froze, confused and intimidated by the faceless figures. It was my first encounter with the niqab, which covers everything but a woman’s eyes.

This summer, I found myself heading back to the U.K. as it was plunging into a debate over Islamic dress. Boris Johnson, the country’s former foreign secretary and London’s ex-mayor, wrote a column opposing attempts to ban face-covering veils. Nonetheless, he added, “it is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes.” The responses could hardly have been more heated.

I wanted to cut past the polemics and experience London’s Muslim communities for myself. My first visit was to Tower Hamlets, an East London borough that is about 38% Muslim, among the highest in the U.K. As I walked down Whitechapel Road, the adhan, or call to prayer, echoed through the neighborhood. Muslims walked in one direction for jumu’ah, Friday prayer, while non-Muslims went the opposite way. Each group kept its distance and avoided eye contact with the other. A sign was posted on a pole: “Alcohol restricted zone.”

Women and girls were dressed in hijabs, niqabs and abayas (robes). Some of the males wore skullcaps and thawbs, Arabic tunics, with their trousers tailored just above the ankles as per Muhammad’s example. The scene could have been lifted out of Riyadh, a testament to the Arabization of Britain’s South Asian Muslims. At the barbershop, women waited outside under the hot sun while their sons and husbands were groomed.

Inside the East London Mosque, visitors were expected to dress “modestly.” Headscarves were provided at reception for any woman who showed up without one. A kind man on staff showed me around the men’s quarters. He gave me a bag filled with booklets about Islam. In one, Muslims are encouraged to “re-establish the Shari’ah,” or Islamic law. Those who ignore this mandate are “of little worth to any society.”

That night, I visited the Houses of Parliament. Rifle-carrying police officers greeted me when I stepped out of the Tube. The extra security was mobilized in response to last year’s car and stabbing attack in Westminster by Khalid Masood, who killed five people. Outside the station, there are roadblocks along Westminster Bridge and a new security fence in front of the palace yard. I asked an officer about Masood’s attack. “I’d rather not talk about it,” he replied. “I was there that day.”

Forty-eight hours later, I woke up to the news that a car had rammed a Westminster security barrier. Police arrested Salih Khater, a 29-year-old Sudanese refugee who had been given asylum and British citizenship. Three people were injured in the attack. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, expressed support for banning vehicles from parts of Parliament Square.

Next I visited Leyton, another district in East London where some Muslim social norms prevail. An Arab cafe near the Tube station was filled with men; no women were inside. An Islamic bookstore sold hijab-wearing dolls for children. The dolls had blank, featureless faces, since human depictions are prohibited in conservative Islam.

I stopped outside the Masjid al-Tawhid, a South Asian Salafi mosque and madrassa (school), just before afternoon prayer time. A group of girls in robes and veils walked around back, toward the dumpsters, where the women’s entrance is located. I later saw the Islamic Shari’a Council of Leyton. This community has religious, educational, business and legal institutions to maintain a separate identity.

All this gave me pause. But I was unprepared for what I would see next in Luton, a small town 30 miles north of London and the birthplace of the English Defense League, which has held unruly anti-Muslim demonstrations. At the Central Mosque, I met a friendly group of Punjabi-speaking young men. “You’ve come to see Luton?” one struggled to ask me in English. The young men asked me to follow them through the town center.

Within minutes, we walked by three other mosques, which were vibrant and filled with young men coming and going. We passed a church, which was closed and decrepit, with a window that had been vandalized with eggs. We squeezed by hundreds of residents busy preparing for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Girls in hijabs gathered around tables to paint henna designs on their hands. All the businesses had a religious flair: The eateries were halal, the fitness center was sex-segregated, and the boutiques displayed “modest” outfits on mannequins. Pakistani flags flew high and proud. I never saw a Union Jack.

The men finally led me to a discreet building that housed a small Islamic center. They spoke privately to its imam. I was led upstairs to see him. The imam asked me if I was prepared to convert. Apparently there had been some miscommunication with the young men. I told the imam I wasn’t ready for that, but I would appreciate any literature I could take home. He led me to a bookshelf and said I could have whatever I wanted. I grabbed the first booklet that was in English. It was by Zakir Naik, a fundamentalist preacher from India. “The Qur’an says that Hijab has been prescribed for the women,” the booklet explained in one section, “so that they are recognised as modest women and this will also prevent them from being molested.”

Other tourists might remember London for Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and Big Ben. I’ll remember it for its failed multiculturalism. Or perhaps this is what successful multiculturalism looks like.


Rod Culleton convicted in Perth Court on charges laid by Dave McAlpine

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Retired DETSGT Dave McAlpine claimed another crooked politician's scalp today

Former One Nation Senator Rod Culleton was today convicted in the Perth Magistrates' Court on a charge of stealing.  The man who laid the charges and was responsible for the case against Culleton is our own Dave McAlpine.

As a serving policeman Dave investigated a complaint against Culleton - as a result he became responsible for:

  • correctly charging Culleton
  • preparing the Brief of Evidence against the offender
  • finding and taking statements from witnesses
  • securing exhibits and presenting them to the court in an admissible form

Despite his retirement Dave remained involved as the case made its way through the courts.  He was called back to Perth to appear in court in person.

Dave spent 5 years in the WA Police Public Sector Corruption Unit.

It's the man, not the badge that counts.

He knows a crooked politician when he sees one.

Fraudsters and people who tell lies in court have very very good reason to fear Dave McAlpine.

Dave knows every trick in the book crooks use to try to avoid conviction.

Right now Dave's on an airplane - there's more to come when we get the chance to speak.  I'll interview Dave when he lands and he can explain what the case was all about.

But for now, Dave managed to fire off this message before he boarded:

Mate rod culleton convicted, flamin' beautiful, now watch the fireworks start again....

Isn't it great to see that sort of enthusiasm from a corruption-buster allegedly enjoying his retirement!

One down.........

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$$$MILLIONS in defence contracts out now on www.PyneOnline.com.au tender showroom

www.pyneonline.com.au

Tired of navigating the defence bureaucracy?

Want the inside running on multi-million-dollar contracts?

Don't have the time for official channels?

Do we have a deal for you!

Bypass probity, governance and security concerns and deal directly with Chris!

Check out the all new W-W-W DOT PYNEONLINE DOT COM

That's right!  

You'll deal directly with the Minister on his private and personal webspace!

There are millions and millions of dollars in contracts being promoted at WWW DOT PYNEONLINE DOT COM right now!

And the Minister's already done all the hard work for you!

You don't know what contracts are coming up - but the Minister does!

And where do you think the Minister puts all the helpful details?

WWW DOT PYNEONLINE DOT COM of course!

Why, you'd almost swear WWW DOT PYNEONLINE DOT COM was a ready-made platform just aching to be put to work for private sector profit!

Here's a taste of just a few of the commercial opportunities in Chris's online showroom now!

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YOUR SEARCH RETURNED 58 MEDIA CENTRE RESULTS:
 
Defence is seeking input from Australian industry on the proposed tender timeline for LAND 400 Phase 3. The acquisition of mounted close combat vehicle capabilit...
View details
The multi-billion dollar project to replace Army’s M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers has taken another step forward with the formal release of the Request for...
View details
The $35 billion Future Frigate project reached a significant milestone today with the release of the ...
View details
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, welcomed the industry briefing on the Naval Shipbuilding College Request for Proposal, held in Canberra today...
View details
The new Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, has today announced the completion of the review of opportunities to improve Australian...
View details
The multi-billion dollar Offshore Patrol Vessel project has reached a significant milestone with the release of the Request for Tender to the three shortlisted designers.
 
ENDS
 
But get in quick while the getting's good!
 
ENDS - now with the sarcasm turned off.
 
This is a link to the Australian Government's Statement of Ministerial Standards.
 
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FOREWORD

Ministers and Assistant Ministers are entrusted with the conduct of public business and must act in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards of integrity and propriety.

They are required to act in accordance with the law, their oath of office and their obligations to the Parliament.

In addition to those requirements, it is vital that Ministers and Assistant Ministers conduct themselves in a manner that will ensure public confidence in them and in the government.

Forget the private websites lads.

The government has plenty of websites and people to manage them.

Taxpayers were taken for a ride by Turnbull who saw his "public service" through the lens of www.malcolmturnbull.com.au.

Even the hint of taxpayer funded stuff being promoted in private forums is tawdry and cheap.

Ministers wouldn't get away with running a consultancy on the side - with that consultancy out there 'helping' guide tenderers to the juiciest contracts.

A minister's personal website isn't that much different.

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's please chaps.

Keep the personal websites for photos of the wife and kids.


Turnbull referred to cyber-security officials over "I'm the PM" website

Earlier today I emailed the Serjeant at Arms in the House of Representatives about Turnbull's website which continues to claim he continues to be PM.

http://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2018/08/my-email-to-the-commonwealth-on-turnbulls-pretend-prime-minister-website.html

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What a brilliant speedy and professional response.

 

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Outstanding work Serjeant!

Thank you for your service.


Was Van Halen secretly promoting violence against women? #rollwiththepunches

Yesterday a female Turnbull supporter said she'd not contest the next election.

Her statement said she'd been bullied and intimidated.

Craig Kelly MP had some sage advice for her and other political aspirants, "You've got to roll with the punches".

As Mr Kelly points out on his Facebook page:

The Cambridge Dictionary defines "Roll With the Punches" as being "able to deal with a series of difficult situations”

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Does anyone believe Craig Kelly meant Ms Banks should accept being punched?

But by the end of yesterday, Craig Kelly had become the issue.

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We've lost the ability to analyse the complex and replaced it with time spent on shit like this.


Banning former-man Manning

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Bradley (aka Chelsea) Manning is discovering that the real world is not as easy a touch as Obama-world.

Manning is a former US Army private who went completely Jack on his mates.

In 2010 Manning was a very junior soldier stationed in Iraq.  His REM job gave him access to highly classified US defence data. 

Manning smuggled out classified files indiscriminately downloaded on a CD labelled ‘Lady Gaga’ and passed them on to God knows who  - Wikileaks is known to have received the material. The files included the identities of locals working with US forces - an action that placed their lives in danger.

Manning was arrested for treason after bragging about what he'd done in an online chatroom.

A US court-martial sentenced Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison for leaking government secrets after he was convicted of six Espionage Act violations.

Obama released him from jail, but did not quash his convictions.

To me, he's a traitor and a crook - but to the ABC she's a whistleblower (as opposed to the ABC stance on, say Ralph Blewitt).

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I doubt the event will go ahead.  35 years is a very severe punishment, reflecting the severity of Manning's offending.  There's no way he'd be allowed into Australia because, among other things of the precedent it would set.

Here's part of the letter to him/her/they from our immigration authorities.

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Canada (of all places) sees it much the same way.

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Manning wasn't discriminating or limited in what he downloaded and took from US defence data systems.  He didn't, for example, witness atrocities, report them, then as a last resort release evidence to back up his claims.

Manning was reckless and dangerous.  He's no hero, just a self-important maladjusted freak and traitor.

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But to some, one single dimension of his life eclipses his criminality.

Our ABC is in thrall to him apparently because it's trendy.

It's their top story today.

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I hope the Morrison administration sticks to its guns.

Manning is of poor character - an undesirable and not welcome.

Except, of course, at the ABC.

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My email to the Commonwealth on Turnbull's pretend prime minister website

Turnbull's arrogance is an affront to decent Australians.

His private website www.malcolmturnbull.com.au still carries the Prime Ministerial livery just on one week after he lost the job.

Coppers can't say they're still coppers once they're out of the job.  Why should Turnbull get away with it?

So rather than bitch, I did something!

Here's my email to the House of Representatives Serjeant at Arms, CC'd to the Clerk.

Dear Serjeant at Arms,
 
I refer to a website purporting to be the website of the Prime Minister of Australia.
 
I've attached screen-grabs captured today, 30 August 2018.
 
Here are details which might be helpful in contacting the person responsible for the continuing impersonation and/or passing off.
 
Registry Domain ID: D407400000002510498-AU
Registrant Contact Name: Malcolm Bligh Turnbull
Registrant: APOLLO SECURITY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Registrant ID: ABN 49078670890
Eligibility Type: Company
 
While he was Prime Minister Mr Turnbull routinely included his personal URL in official Australian Government statements and directed readers to his private webpage for media releases and the like. Thus its continued presence with its false and misleading claims about the currency of Turnbull's leadership is likely to be embarrassing to Australia.
 
The website publishes a statement in which copyright over the content of the site is asserted to be owned by Malcolm Turnbull.  It also states the publications thereon are authorised by Malcolm Turnbull.
 
I'm unfamiliar with parliamentary and governmental protocols - your responsibilities appeared to me to encompass this matter.  If you agree perhaps you might let me know what action you propose to take.  If not could you suggest another parliamentary, ministerial or law enforcement officer who could better act on my report.
 
Yours sincerely,
Michael Smith
 
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 PS
 
Remember Turnbull going on about Labor's Mediscare campaign on the night of his near-death election?
 
This was the result.
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Labor's Stephen Jones MP said of the bill:
 
It creates a new offence of impersonating a Commonwealth office
We'll support the bill, but we argue quite strenuously that it is not necessary. There are already sufficient powers and offences within the Commonwealth Criminal Code.
there is not a scintilla of public interest in the bill before the House.
 
It is all about the private political interests of the Prime Minister and the woeful performance of his party in the 2016 election. 
 
ENDS
 
How true!  And prophetic.  The people that let Turnbull do what he did to us all need a good flogging.