Matthew Carr's Blog, page 45
June 21, 2015
A march against austerity does you good
There is a certain breed of cynic on the left who will tell you there’s no point in demonstrations, that marches, protests etc are managed spectacles through which an authoritarian political system projects an illusion of democratic participation and offers … Continue reading →
June 18, 2015
Al Qaeda: Our New Enemy in the War on Terror
There was a time, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, when the world suddenly seemed simple and easy to understand, when the falling towers blew away any remaining clouds of ambiguity, nuance or complexity. In those grim but bracing days, … Continue reading →
June 17, 2015
Islamic State’s ‘radicalized’ British volunteers: a useful threat?
I feel sorry for the Bradford husbands and other British Muslim families whose children and relatives have absconded to join Islamic State’s savage utopia, but I don’t feel any sympathy at all for the ‘radicalized’ volunteers themselves who have gone … Continue reading →
June 15, 2015
Chilcotmania!
Many years ago I remember going to my local record shop almost every week to find out if they had received Television’s first album yet. I started going months before it actually came out after reading Nick Kent’s great review … Continue reading →
June 5, 2015
Look out Europe: the Russian bear is coming
There is a psychological theory called projection which I have often thought can be applied to international relations. Essentially, projection describes a tendency in interpersonal relationships by which individuals project onto others certain characteristics that they fear or hate in … Continue reading →
June 3, 2015
Two Days, One Night
I’ve just seen the Dardenne brothers’ brilliant Two Days, One Night (2014) It’s a film I’ve been looking forward to seeing for a long time, and it didn’t disappoint. The premise is deceptively simple: Sandra Byas, played by Marion Cotillard, … Continue reading →
June 2, 2015
Come on let’s kick the poor (like we did last summer)
The Bible tells us that the poor will always be with us, and as long as they are around there will always be politicians willing to punish them for their poverty. It might be the Wisconsin State Assembly, which has … Continue reading →
May 31, 2015
Spain goes Left: Britain turns Right
I’ve just come back from a week’s walking in the Axarquia mountains in Andalucia. My trip didn’t allow much time for blogging, or for any commentary on the remarkable results of last weekend’s Spanish municipal and regional elections, but it … Continue reading →
May 22, 2015
The ISIS Caliphate: Salafism as a strategic asset?
I have yet to see any reference in the mainstream media to Monday’s publication by the conservative foundation Judicial Watch of previously classified US intelligence documents obtained as the result of a freedom of information lawsuit This inattention is … Continue reading →
May 21, 2015
Letter from Palmyra
Hey brother, Greetings from Palmyra! I’m telling you bro, this has been a good week for the Caliphate, because we are LIVING THE DREAM! First we took Ramadi and you should have seen the Iraqi army run away from us! … Continue reading →
