Sunday, November 29, 2015

UK PM David Cameron Rellying on Opposition For Syria Strike Vote





www.youtube.com/murdikar007 UK PM David Cameron Rellying on Opposition For Syria Strike Vote

David Cameron to risk Commons vote over Syria airstrikes

Prime minister gambles on opposition support as Labour split deepens and Jeremy Corbyn comes under pressure to lift party whip



David Cameron is preparing to take the biggest gamble of his premiership by staging a parliamentary vote on British military action against  in Syria this week – despite deep uncertainty over how many Labour MPs will back him and fears among Syrian citizens about loss of civilian lives.



As anti-war protesters gathered outside Downing Street and at other rallies across the country, the prime minister made clear it was his firm intention to press ahead with the vote, likely to be on Wednesday, even though Labour sources say they have no clear idea how much backing he will get.



Fears about the dangers of a bombing campaign were also expressed by recent exiles from the Syrian city of Raqqa, which is held by Refugees interviewed by the Observer said is keeping civilians as “human shields” and warned about loss of innocent life if a bombing campaign goes wrong.



Speaking at the Commonwealth heads of government conference in Malta, Cameron appealed directly to the many undecided MPs on Labour benches, and a handful of Conservative doubters, for support. The SNP and Lib Dems both say they are not convinced.



“I hope that, when the choice comes, people will indicate that this is the right thing for Britain to do. It is, and we should do it,” Cameron said.



But with a working majority of just 16 in the Commons, senior Labour sources said Cameron could not be assured of a comfortable win, as most MPs on their side remained undecided. With Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn opposed to military action, the mood was uncertain.



One senior Labour figure said: “We honestly cannot say what the numbers are. I think Cameron will get it through, maybe narrowly, but a very large number on our side have not made up their minds. It depends whether something happens that could swing it – and that could be either way.”



In a sign of an imminent Commons vote it is understood that No 10 has drawn up a draft motion to extend the UK airstrikes to Syria. The motion, which is still being worked on, is believed to refer to the need to use military action to degrade and reduce its threat, while at the same time pursuing a clear political process to bring stability to the region. It will also mention the need for immediate humanitarian support and longer-term stabilisation.



In a clear bid to win round wavering Labour MPs, it is expected to stress the importance of the UN security council resolution 2249, passed nine days ago, which calls on states to take “all necessary measures” to prevent terrorist acts by and to “eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria”. It is also expected to rule out UK ground combat troops being deployed and will say UK capabilities mean that the risk of civilian casualties will be minimised.



Tory whips – who have been in contact with their Labour counterparts – now believe they could expect the support of some 80 Labour MPs. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond and defence secretary Michael Fallon spent much of Saturday trying to win round Labour waverers.



Corbyn is under pressure to allow a free vote. A decision is expected at the shadow cabinet meeting on Monday.



Cameron added: “I’m not responsible for what is happening in the Labour party. All I would say is, whatever party it is, look at the arguments, listen to the arguments put forward before thinking about voting on this issue because I think there is a compelling case that taking military action alongside our allies can help to address the threat from  I think the right approach is to have a strategy that includes all the necessary elements.”



Cameron went on to criticise former London mayor and Corbyn ally Ken Livingstone, now the co-convener of Labour’s defence review, for disparaging remarks he made about British troops. Arguing that bombing could not work without boots on the ground, the former London mayor said on LBC radio: “We cannot put British troops on the ground because they are too discredited after Iraq and Afghanistan. But we should look to countries like China. China would jump at the opportunity to get involved because it would bring them on to the global stage. They have got millions of troops.”



Livingstone also suggested that Labour’s ruling NEC – on which he sits – should have a role in deciding the parliamentary party’s position on support for airstrikes, a move that would enrage MPs and Corbyn’s shadow cabinet. “That would be a case for Labour’s National Executive, which is the body that oversees the party, not the PLP,” Livingstone said.


Donald Trump Denies Mocking Disables Reporter Serge Kovaleski





www.youtube.com/murdikar007 Donald Trump Denies Mocking Disables Reporter Serge Kovaleski New York Times



Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump denies mocking a reporter with a disability



Donald Trump has denied that he mocked a reporter with a disability in a South Carolina speech, despite appearing to imitate mannerisms of the "poor guy" and make fun of him.

A statement posted on his Twitter account said Trump doesn't know the reporter personally or what he looks like and was only mocking his journalism. The New York Times reporter, Serge Kovaleski, "should stop using his disability to grandstand," the statement quoted Trump as saying.

Kovaleski has a congenital condition that affects joint movement. In a speech Tuesday in South Carolina, Trump said, "Poor guy, you oughta see this guy," and gestured in a jerky fashion as if imitating Kovaleski's movements.

Trump was challenging recollections by Kovaleski and many others about the 9/11 aftermath. Trump has made unsubstantiated claims that thousands of Muslims in New Jersey were seen celebrating the attacks.

In 2001, Kovaleski, then with The Washington Post, and another Post journalist wrote a week after the 9/11 attacks about authorities in New Jersey detaining and questioning "a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks."

The story did not suggest "thousands" were celebrating, as Trump claimed, and a story then by The Star-Ledger in Newark, New Jersey, said the reports of such celebrations by Muslims proved unfounded.

Even so, Trump has pointed to the Post story as backing up his claim and took issue with Kovaleski's recent statement that he did not remember anyone alleging that large numbers of Muslims were celebrating.

"Written by a nice reporter," Trump said in the speech. "Now the poor guy, you oughta see this guy - uh, I don't know what I said, uh, I don't remember. He's going like, I don't remember." His voice took a mocking tone, too.

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