Jo Johnson, MP For Orpington, Confronts David Cameron On The Tappin Extradition: Cameron Attempts To Slither Away

From 22 February PMQ's:

Jo Johnson: On Friday, United States marshals will escort my 65-year-old constituent Chris Tappin from Heathrow to a jail in Texas, where he will face pressure to plea bargain in order to avoid lengthy incarceration pending a financially ruinous trial for a crime that he insists he did not commit. What steps is the Prime Minister considering to reform the US-UK extradition treaty, which has been so unfair to the likes of Gary McKinnon and, now, my constituent Mr Tappin?

The Prime Minister: I quite understand why my hon. Friend has raised the case of his constituent. Obviously Chris Tappin has been through a number of processes, including those of the magistrates court and the High Court, and the Home Secretary has thoroughly considered his case.

My hon. Friend has also raised the more general issue of Sir Scott Baker's report on the extradition arrangements, which he has completed and which we are now considering. He did not call for fundamental reform, but my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will examine his findings carefully, and will also take into account the views of Parliament that have been expressed in recent debates. Of course, balancing the arguments is vital, but I think it important for us to remember at the same time why we enter into these extradition treaties: to show respect for each other's judicial processes, and to make sure that people who are accused of crimes can be tried for those crimes—and Britain can benefit from that as well. A proper, sober, thoughtful review needs to take place, and this case shows why.

In other words, Mr. Johnson, we plan to do precisely zilch, and you are an ungrateful yob for even raising the question. 

Christopher Tappin Case: Solitary Confinement At His Request, Bail Application, And Two Fascinating Facts

Tappin is in jail in El Paso, in solitary at his own request. He has a bail hearing set for Friday. If denied bail, it will be tough to mount a defense...which is why bail will be opposed with vigor. The last thing the prosecutor in El Paso wants is much probing into the real facts of the case.

Like this one:    The weapons system, owned by the Iranians,  he is alleged to have conspired to supply parts to was actually given to the Iranians in the 1980's by (drumroll please!!) the US Gubbermint.

Sweet.

Or this one:  The batteries for the weapons system, owned by the Iranians, given to the Iranians by the US Gubbermint, were offered to Mr. Tappin by (drumroll and brass-band fanfare!!) a fake firm set up by the US Gubbermint, a firm set up to deliberately entrap potential evil-doers.

Oooohhhh, that's even sweeter!

Certainly, the federal prosecutor in El Paso will be performing the full-court-press to extract a guilty plea, of any sort, from Mr.Tappin. Otherwise, his office will be required to cough up allllll evidence they say they have against him, and in the end it may all hinge on the word of one over-ambitious federal agent running the sting who has every reason in the world to lie to the jury about his activities.

Now, OS has no opinion concerning the guilt or innocence of Mr. Tappin. But it doesn't take a genius to conclude that this republic and its freedoms under the rule of law are under much more threat from a government that gives weapons systems to mullahs and spends its energies setting up sham corporations to create defendants, than from the mullahs and their aging weapons systems.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. OS predicts that as more light is allowed into this dark and slimy corner of US law enforcement, and David Cameron's complicity and cowardice, the case will fall apart. With any luck, some law enforcement, legal and political careers will go down in flames with it.

If you're reading from the UK--keep turning up the heat. Mrs. Tappin testified before Parliament yesterday, and received wide coverage. It's a good start.

If reading from the US--keep following the story. Just like the MF Global scandal, this case has huge implications for us all. If the 'Justice Department' gets away with this one, none of us are safe in our homes and business will become increasingly perilous to conduct.

By the way, none of this, none of it, has served to restrain Iranian behavior in the least way. So don't for  a moment think this case is about 'The War On Terror'. The terrorists are doing just fine, thank you.

The real war, increasingly, is on us.

The Crackdown On Dissent In Venezuela Ramps Up Again: Alejandro Peña Esclusa Arrested Again

Things are not going well in Chavez's workers' paradise. The economy, frankly, sucks. Chavez is back in Cuba for more cancer surgery--that can't be good. There's a presidential election scheduled for October, and it appears folks can't wait to vote for someone else besides Chavez.

So, what's a harried dictator to do, poor chap? He can't escape to Libya, since his homeboy Mohamar came to such an unhappy end. Even worse, the pictures of how it all ended circulated widely--the folks at home could get uppity ideas about following suit, don't-cha-know. That hiding-out-in-a-drainage-culvert incident, just before the summary execution (with a bit of pre-execution torture thrown in for good measure) just doesn't sound like a good option.

Hmmm....what to do...what to do?

Of course! Ramp up a publicity campaign against 'enemies of the Revolution'! Damn, it's worked before, it's bound to work this time. After all, Fidel and his homeboys are eager to help, and we can round up people all over Latin America who think that life under Communism sucks, and are impertinent enough to talk about it in public!

Stage an 'extradition' to Cuba, with a 'stopover' in Venezuela, long enough to compose a 'confession' about local villains, and away we go!!!!

So, a North American reader asks, 'Why should we care? It's Latin America just being Latin America!'

Good question! The answers lie in the proximity and pattern of behavior.

Notice the silence in the media about this mess, taking place on the northern side of South America, where all sorts of bad actors like the Iranians and Hezboallah types are turning up? Notice the silence from the White House and the Secretary of State? A hostile state within reach of the eastern side of the Panama Canal could really create chaos.

Remember how The Left screamed non-stop about the ouster of Allende and the rule of Pinochet in Chile? For all its faults, Chile's stable and not broke. Why the lack of outrage from The Left, with Obama at the helm over Venezuela? Perhaps because they sympathize with him?

What might happen here, if things begin to go sour this late summer and fall, as they did in 2008?

What if we're next?


And, just for reference, you can read Peña's words from his previous imprisonment here.

Judge for yourself.

Maurice Andre 1933-2012

Even if you never heard his name, if you heard a trumpet play since about 1965, you heard the huge influence of French trumpeter Maurice Andre.

Born into a miner's family in the French Pyrenees, he took up trumpet at age 12,  after having been taught solfege (the sophisticated French ear-training system based upon do-re-mi) for two years.

The link above details his career, contains recorded samples, and excerpts of interviews.

Andre showed us with his life what might be possible for those who follow their calling, however improbable. Who raises a child with the idea that he (or she) will travel the world playing a tiny piccolo trumpet to bring joy to millions? Moms and Dads, your kid's rather improbable dream may well be worth nurturing. Read about his life, and keep him in mind as you parent.

He was a dedicated teacher and mentor. His recordings defined the sound and technique of the trumpet for his generation and well beyond.

He didn't win one election, stage one coup, crash a bank or brokerage, start or end a war. He played the trumpet, taught the trumpet, and moved the world in the right direction.

What would happen if we produced more people like Maurice Andre and fewer people like, say, Vladimir Putin, or Assad, or EuroCrats, or banksters like Corzine? What if? 

R.I.P. Maurice Andre. May your tribe increase.

The Christopher Tappin Affair Is Going To Blow Up In The Face Of Eric Holder

Wait for it...not on the radar here in the States yet, but allllllll over the British papers.

OS doesn't know enough about the particulars of the case to offer any insight, but the way this extradition has been handled smells to high heaven.

The United States needs all the friends it can get and keep. This will poison the well against us even more.

Peter Hitchens has a truckload to say on the matter, and he says it better than OS.

To our British cousins, a plea and reminder: Holder and Obama don't speak for us, don't reflect our values. Yes, they are in power, and so many of us are doing every peaceable and legal thing we can do to end their regime this November. Please don't let them poison the well.

Demand that your government stand up to these bullies. Demand that your government demand humane treatment of Mr. Tappin. Demand that your government demand full Constitutional protections for Mr. Tappin, beginning with reasonable bail and the presumption of innocence. Any jihadist whack-job caught on our soil is afforded these things, including a lawyer at taxpayer expense.

Our Supreme Court has made clear that, since he is on American soil, he is entitled to all Constitutional protections, including the right of discovery--to see all evidence the US claims to have against him.

He has the right to jury trial in a venue that will offer a fair jury. El Paso, Texas is not that venue.

He has the right to bring his own witnesses to testify, even if it is done on the taxpayer's tab.

He has the right to a public trial, in civilian court, with competent counsel, even if it's on the taxpayer's tab.

He has the right to not fear for his life while being held for arraignment or trial.

He has all these rights and more, given to him by our Constitution, modeled upon the great tradition of the English Common Law.

Raise unshirted hell with David Cameron and his toadies. If he won't listen, toss his scurvy behonkus out of office.

And, please--stop electing spoiled boys from Eton. They don't believe they have to play by the same rules as everyone else.

If you do these things, you stand up for yourselves, and your country, and us, and our country.

Daniel Eisenbud On Why Israel Survives As The World Around Burns

OS has always marveled at the Israelis. He's never been there, but has encountered a few along the way, survivors or children of survivors of the worst the twentieth century could conjure up against them, and yet here they are. They create artists like Perlman, orchestras like Israel Philharmonic, they develop the technology that make cell phones possible, they make the desert bloom, they have a free press, and democratic elections, and it all looks chaotic.  Yet compared to Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Libya--need we continue?

On the way to somewhere else entirely, OS ran across this essay by Daniel Eisenbud at the Jerusalem Post.  It's an unusual piece, actually, detailing the difference between those Israelis who will not give in to the hatred that assails them, and those who do. And, in thinking about it, OS has met a few of both Eisenbud describes.

The most invaluable lesson I learned about survival from Israelis is that the healthiest way to deal with the vitriol directed at this nation is to not succumb to it, but rather, to transcend it. 

While Israelis – the vast majority of whom have served in the military – are acutely aware of the murderous hatred that tries to permeate our borders day after day, second after second, they also know from experience that giving in to the hate is a fool’s errand.

Indeed, I have found that the common denominator among Sabras is their majestic ability to rise above the odium that surrounds them and attempts to consume them.

It’s beautiful, and humbling, to behold.

 

To which OS can only add, 'Amen, brother.' But Eisenbud continues..

 

CONVERSELY, THE most jarring hatred I have encountered since moving to this country a year and half ago – apart, of course, from that of terrorists – may also surprise you.

It comes from the nefarious breed of Jewish immigrant who comes already filled with rage, and the mistaken belief that Israel is somehow an acceptable venue for their hate because of the copious amounts surrounding it.

 

To which OS must regretfully add--yes, you do have that correct as well. OS knows a family like that, preparing to move to Israel. The mother of the family quite seriously believes, for instance, that it would be a good thing for every Iranian to be wiped from the face of the earth. 

 

Seriously. Not making this up. It would not surprise the reader to hear that this family is seriously non-functional, would it? Rather like the Arab societies that surround Israel, consumed by their own rage at Israel, history, one another, themselves. Eisenbud is urging them to stay home, because Israel already has enough problems without them.

 

OS will stop now, because Eisenbud knows how to write, and you should read what he has to say. 

 

In these perilous days, he offers wisdom.