Strip him of his Maltese gongs
There he goes, wearing the gong we gave him.
It’s now or never: Malta must strip Gaddafi of the Gieh ir-Repubblika (1975) and National Order of Merit (2004). If it is not done immediately, the Tyrant of Tripoli will go down or to the Hague still decorated by our country, and twice over.
Given that the Maltese government has admitted at last that Gaddafi’s reign is over (the prime minister’s press conference this evening) there is no more reason to wait, not that there was reason to wait before but there were more pressing matters to contend with in the confusion.
Now the president of the republic should be directed to do the necessary.
And might we take care, from here on in, to make it a matter of principle not to decorate those who oppress and murder others, no matter how many businesses they allow us to open in their country.
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Meanwhile the LSE are looking into Saif’s PhD.
Perhaps if they look hard enough, they’ll also find a valid reason for accepting him in the first place.
Is it possible to strip someone of their degree if cheating was not proved?
I don’t think so, but am not sure.
I think you only have to listen to him speak to know that he isn’t capable of researching and writing a doctoral thesis that would be accepted by the London School of Economics, one of the world’s most prestigious universities. As the LSE itself says, it’s hard to get in but it’s even harder to get out (with your degree).
It is already on record that the consulting firm Monitor Group carried out all his research. It doesn’t take much to work out that they probably wrote the thesis too, and trained their client on how to defend it.
September 16, 2009
Gaddafi son’s academic thesis boosted by corporate consultants
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6835814.ece
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi used Monitor Group to carry out a survey and interviews with the leaders of non-governmental organisations to provide the empirical data for his thesis at the London School of Economics.
“BREAKING: Soldier kills security battalion commander!
Posted on February 27, 2011 by admin
Almanara Media has just published the following news item which we have translated for you:
News has reached us via email that a security battalion commander in az Zawiya was killed by a soldier in the battalion. Soldiers refused orders to shoot and the commander was determined on the implementation of the orders of Khoweildy. One of the solders stepped forwards and rendered him dead with a bullet to the head. The soldier then said: It’s better that you die rather than the victims be tens of youth.” http://www.libyafeb17.com
The National Order of Merit should be immediately stripped off the tyrant in the picture and awarded to this brave Libyan soldier.
Failing to strip Gaddafi of his Gieh ir-Repubblika is an insult to other holders, including Major Ripard, who lost a leg last December.
“Al Kufra rejects regime plane loaded with bribe money and weapons
Posted on February 27, 2011 by admin
Translation:
And we state regarding what Saif Al Islam said, and he is the sword of Satan and not the sword of Islam. He spoke yesterday to Al Arabiya news channel and said that the city of Kufrah is under their control when in fact it is free from their fascist regime.
Yesterday, the regime sent a plane carrying weapons, 18 million Libyan Dinars and 2000 Kalashnikov rifles. We have full control of the airport, we the revolutionaries of 17th February. The airplane landed and under our security, we found 2000 rifles and 18 million dinars. The money was spread amongst the banks so they can give people their salaries, while the 2000 rifles were distributed amongst the revolutionary youth and God Willing it will be pointed back towards their chests, by the will of God.” http://www.libyafeb17.com
The Order of Merit decoration (2004) – wasn’t this bestowed on Gaddafi right after the then President De Marco had received a similar honour from Gaddafi himself?
Shouldn’t we send this honour back as a matter of course? Or was this a personal decoration and not received on behalf of the state?
Do I have a right to have a present I gave you returned to me?
[Daphne – Honours, decorations and knighthoods are not presents. The recipient can be stripped of them, just as – in the most famous case of our times – Robert Mugabe was stripped of his honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I. I don’t imagine somebody like you, who believes that decorations are a ‘present’, would know the difference between a knighthood and an honorary knighthood, but you can ask your friend Google, who might help out. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7473243.stm http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1172900/Sir-Fred-Goodwin-set-stripped-knighthood-RBS-collapse.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/sir-allen-stanford/6489156/Allen-Stanford-stripped-of-knighthood-in-Antigua.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dolly-scientist-should-be-stripped-of-his-knighthood-colleagues-tell-queen-776746.html ]
The awards were given as a recognition of service given to Malta. If our governments, in their infinite wisdom, sought it fit to recognize this, we should not attempt to rewrite history.
Honours were also bestowed on Mr Li Xiannian and Mr Kim Il-Sung. Should these be withdrawn as well?
[Daphne – Yes, most certainly. And the word you’re looking for is stripped, not withdrawn. A person is stripped of his honours. He does not have his honours withdrawn from him. If you adopted the same nitpicking approach to language as you do to me, your writing would be better and certainly more idiomatic. Now to help you with that business of honours:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/8209497/Hitler-stripped-of-honorary-citizenship-of-German-town-65-years-after-death.html
http://madrid.wantedineurope.com/news/news.php?id_n=6076
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4601562.stm
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-844652-banned-cricketers-stripped-of-honours.do
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355618/Head-stripped-Dame-title-giving-job-sister-says-Im-victim-bitter-campaign-vilification.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jan/02/monarchy.audreygillan ]
The most celebrated case that I recall is the stripping of Anthony Blunt’s knighthood.
…..and The Beatles.
No, John. The Beatles were awarded the MBE in 1965, and they were NOT stripped of it. It was John Lennon who, some four years later, and of his own accord, returned his medal as a gesture of protest. Paul was subsequently knighted.
John Lennon returned his honour, he was never stripped of it.
Daphne,
This is what someone posted on the Skynews.com website today:
Thank God Malta elected to be a member of the EU. If can afford to holiday abroad then go there and support them. I’ve been. They are people of integrity and as many will know, have accommodated both our Navy and RAF for quite some time. Our government must realize quickly that we have to stop the disintegration of our armed forces – they are very professional and you never know when you might need them… and at very short notice.
If your readers want to see it they can go to:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Libya-150-More-Workers-Rescued-From-Libyan-Desert-By-British-Special-Forces/Article/201102415941694?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15941694_Libya%3A_150_More_Workers_Rescued_From_Libyan_Desert_By_British_Special_Forces
Cheers
David Meilak
New York Times report 27 February 2130 EST
In Benghazi, the eastern city where the revolt began, rebels said that Libyan soldiers had joined the rebels in securing vital oil industry facilities around that part of the country. And some oil industry workers fleeing across the Tunisian border in recent days said they had seen Libyan soldiers fire their weapons to drive off foreign mercenaries or other security forces who had approached oil facilities.
Hassan Bulifa, who sits on the management committee of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company, the country’s largest oil producer, said the rebels control at least 80 percent of the country’s oil assets, and that his company, based in Benghazi, was cooperating with the rebels.
The company resumed oil shipments on Sunday, loading two tankers at a port in Tobruk, Mr. Bulifa said. The two ships — one bound for Austria and the other for China — can carry 1.7 million barrels of oil, and will represent the company’s first shipments since Feb. 10.
Although the revenue from those sales go the company’s umbrella organization, Libya’s National Oil Company, Mr. Bulifa said Arabian Gulf Oil Company had ceased any coordination with the national company, though it was honoring oil contracts. And he insisted the proceeds would ultimately flow to the rebels, not Colonel Qaddafi. “Qaddafi and his gangers will not have a hand on them. We are not worried about the revenues,” he said.
It would seem that during the present emergency our government was doing the right thing all along but was too timid to let it be known.
Let us be bold and strip this tyrant of all honours we had misguidedly conferred on him – NOW and not after we have been overtaken by events.
Our future lies with Libya’s next government. Let us pray that it will be an improvement on Gaddafi.
We should never have acquiesced to do what was morally wrong in the hope that some financial benefit would come out of it, but we were not the only ones labouring under that illusion.
I think we should also consider whether, in the not too distant future, we should formally apologise to the Libyan people for our support and approval of the Gaddafi regime.
“Everybody else was doing it” is no justification and we should stop making excuses and simply admit we were wrong.
It’s the little details missed by our geniuses in Castille which give you the big picture: Gaddafi’s personal pilot, a Norwegian, has left Libya. Likewise for Gaddafi’s Ukrainian nurse.
And this morning there’s more unrest in Oman. Roll on the Revolution!
Veru ma ghandix x taqsam mas suggett imma biex taraw l-efficienza ta’ Malta Today, gabu ritratt tal-ambaxxatur Malti niezel mil-katamarran u qalu li hu George Salina/ Is-Sur Saliba veru kien ambaxxatur il-Libya imma hafna snin ilu.
More Facebook
David Friggieri
Graffiti should seriously consider gate-crashing a couple of talk shows
7 hours ago · Like ·
Franco Farrugia likes this.
Franco Farrugia No. Wrong! Graffiti should first be slightly more mature, more organised, and know exactly what they want. I am the first to defend them against those who are against them. But they have to clean uup their act and not be given bad advice, David.
18 minutes ago · Like
Franco Farrugia Did you read Bocca’s article of insults, hurled at Graffiti? He is your colleague at Uni. Why don’t you speak to him about it, face to face?
14 minutes ago · Like
Franco Farrugia Imissu jisthi, juza termini bhal dawk! Bic-carlatana habiba tieghu!
13 minutes ago · Like
Franco Farrugia Fejn iridu, umbaghad, jaghmluha tal-puri iktar minn Kristu!
13 minutes ago · Like
[Daphne – It’s interesting, isn’t it, how not one of these ‘men’ then has the guts to speak to me when they see me. They find it easier to bitch ‘behind my back on Facebook’. Qishom qabda nisa: not that I wish to denigrate women, so I should say, really ‘qishom certu tip ta’ nisa’.]
Mela David Friggieri ma kienx sar parti mill-establishment?
[Daphne – Issa mid-dehra kellu krizi kbira. L-aqwa li ma jispiccax jaghmel id-dreadlocks u jilbes ta’ treehugger ghax imbaghad inkunu l-vera tlaqna.]
Darba qrajt frazi fil-magazine tal-KSU ta’ xi 1996, li baqghet ittimbrata f’mohhi: il-profil tipiku tal-istudent Malti huwa li jirrikoncilja lifestyle ta’ nerd ma’ image ta’ cool.
Tapplika wkoll ghall-intelletwali Maltin.
[Daphne – Madonna, I was just thinking the same thing myself: that all my stalkers have just that same profile. They are classic nerds who work like hell to cultivate a ‘cool’ image and part of these cool image is dissing Daphne, which only makes them look even more nerdy. Malta Today is a brilliant illustration of nerds working their asses off to be thought cool. And I won’t even get started on people like Jacques Rene Zammit and David Friggieri (nerd alert). In fact, I suspect that one of the reasons they resent me so much is that it is the classic nerd/non-nerd standoff. Hence all the usual “Ajma min tahseb li hi” approach to deconstructing my blog-posts. Il-vera jahasra.]
Lega Nerd
Ibrahim Sharquieh, deputy director of the Brookings Doha Centre, said Gaddafi does not appear to have lost all of his control in the capital.
We know that he is in the Bab al-Aziziya area and Bab al-Aziziya seems to be very secure. He has his militia around him and they are doing a good job protecting him,” Sharquieh told Al Jazeera.
“He has even made some attacks outside the Bab al-Aziziya area.
“We can comfortably say that he is still in control in Tripoli. Although there is still some resistance in some areas I don’t think we can talk about the city falling today or tomorrow.”
It is good to know that Dr Gonzi refuses to return the Libyan Mirage aircraft following a request to do so by the Libyan regime in Tripoli.
Effectively, this shows the world that Malta no longer recognises the Gaddafi regime and would not heed to its representatons. However, no recogntion has been given to the Libyan National Council in Benghazi.
Why is Malta still on the fence?
Such recogntion should not be given freely but only after ensuring that Malta’s rights on its continental shelf are respected, namely its right to the oil and gas prone Medina Bank and Medina Mountains along with the northern margin of the oil-rich Sirte Basin.
Such negotiations should start now while Malta is in a position of strength. Other countries are already negotiating with Benghazi.
Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past and take it as for granted that the new Libyan government will respect our soveregnity. We expect Dr Gonzi to be tough on this and not leave the issue in the hands of weakling foreign minister Dr Borg.
Latest reports indicate that the composition of the Libyan National Council in Benghazi is incomplete and that a few positions have yet to be filled.
It does not make much sense in recognizing a ‘part’ council.
It seems that the Maltese government has the correct information and will act accordingly.
An other one from Mintoff`s era.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/former-minister-critical-of-gonzi-remarks-on-inevitability-of-gaddafi-fall
From timesofmalta.com:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/former-minister-critical-of-gonzi-remarks-on-inevitability-of-gaddafi-fall
Words of wisdom from another brontosaurus, ex-MLP minister Reno Calleja aka il-colonna.
“Sunday, 27th February 2011 – 19:26CET
Update 4: RAF Hercules shot at in second Libya rescue mission
The first Hercules arrives after Sunday’s rescue mission. Footage: Paul Spiteri Lucas.
Updated 7.55 a.m. on Monday
One of three RAF Hercules aircraft which performed a second rescue mission to Libya from Malta yesterday (Sunday) was shot at and suffered some damage, but no one was injured, the British Ministry of Defence has said.
The three aircraft returned safely to Malta in the evening bringing 150 oil workers. It was the second, daring, rescue mission carried out by the Royal Air Force and UK special forces deep in the Libyan desert.
One plane suffered minor damage after coming under small-arms fire, the Ministry of Defence revealed.
British Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the armed forces’ bravery in carrying out an operation “that was not without its difficulties”.
The BBC reported how some of those rescued described the moment a Hercules was shot at above a strip south west of Benghazi, forcing it to abandon a landing.
One British oil worker said: “The aircraft took two hits on the right hand side of the fuselage, you just heard “bang bang” as the rounds actually struck.”
After failing to land at two blocked off fields, the Hercules was trying again at a third when the firing started, forcing them to abort.
The Ministry of Defence said: “We can confirm that during the operation… one of our C130 aircraft appears to have suffered minor damage consistent with small arms fire.
“There were no injuries to passengers or crew and the aircraft returned safely to Malta.”
The Hercules picked up workers of many nationalities. Another 200 workers were picked up by the Royal Navy frigate Cumberland, which is due to return to Malta on Monday afternoon.
On Saturday, two Hercules aircraft picked up 150 expatriate workers, including a Maltese – Anthony Formosa – when they hopped between three remote desert landing strips south of Benghazi.
Mr Formosa told PBS how some of the cars used by his oil rig camp were stolen. Mr Formosa and his 40 colleagues sought shelter in a nearby village for five tension-filled days. Yesterday morning they travelled to a nearby airstrip which was under the control of anti-government protesters and he was immediately allowed on board the Hercules by the British servicemen which flew to Malta at low level to evade radar.
He said there were scenes of jubilation on board when the plane finally made it back
It is not known where the Hercules in today’s mission landed.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague confirmed earlier today that there was no Libyan authorisation for yesterday’s mission.
Media reports said that British special forces as well as tribesmen and oil workers were involved in securing the landing strips.
GERMAN RESCUE MISSION
The German military also reported that its planes landed on a private runway belonging to the Wintershall AG company, evacuating 22 Germans and 112 others and flying them to the Greek island of Crete.” http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110227/local/raf-flies-in-more-workers-in-second-libya-military-operation
@ Reno Calleja: Errr…….I had your post on timesofmalta.com yesterday.
It seems that Reno Calleja has now been dumped by the PL/MLP.
“Monday, 28th February 2011 – 09:23CET
PL disassociates itself from former minister’s remarks, Calleja issues clarification
Col Gaddafi.
The Labour Party has disassociated itself from comments given to this website this morning by former minister Reno Calleja.
A spokesman said the party disassociates itself from Mr Calleja’s comments, which, it trusted, were made in good faith.
“The leader of the opposition is being continuously consulted by the PM and has been assured that Malta’s role is purely of a humanitarian nature,” the PL said.” http://www.timesofmalta.com
The leader of the PL being continuously consulted by the PM?
wtf?
[Daphne – He used the wrong word. He is not consulted. He is kept informed. His deliberate use of the word ‘consulted’ is designed to make him look important. Instead it makes him look even more inept. He would have won more respect if he had told us that the prime minister is keeping him informed. By saying that the prime minister is consulting him, he looks even more of a total female genital organ.]
Former minister critical of Gonzi remarks on inevitability of Gaddafi fall
(The Times, online)
Reno Calleja is ever hopeful that Gaddafi may yet be given the Nobel peace prize.
Hemm post vakanti Has-Serh?
Has-Serh is not a dump site.
I meant no offence. It is just that the likes of Reno Calleja should stop telling what we should do and retire somewhere in peace.
God help us all if these people are in government in 2013.
Reno Calleja is oblivious of persistent reports that mercenaries were brought in by the Libyan authorities and that these shot at unarmed protestors.
It is probable that war crimes have been committed, so much so that the UN passed a resolution calling for the International War Crimes Tribunal to take up the matter. This is no longer about the relations between sovereign states. This is about putting an end to the bloodshed and bringing people to justice.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/former-minister-critical-of-gonzi-remarks-on-inevitability-of-gaddafi-fall
Like all other issues, one can’t know which is the voice of PL’s officialdom.
Is this Reno’s personal view?
Is what we’re reading in L-Orizzont official PL policy?
Can we have clearcut statements from Joseph Muscat?
Here’s Joseph Muscat’s clear cut statement. Perhaps he can’t say more because his fence post has now come out through his mouth.
Apparently he and the rest of his tribe are busy with the crisis situation, so they can’t say more.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/labour-party-leader-backs-island-s-humanitarian-role
“The opposition was careful in what it said about the uprising in Libya given the delicate situation where people’s lives and well-being could be at stake, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday.
The national interest had to be considered, not only now but also for the future when the situation calmed down and Maltese workers would return to Libya, Dr Muscat said on the party’s station, One Radio.”
“Monday, 28th February 2011 – 09:23CET
Former minister critical of Gonzi remarks on inevitability of Gaddafi fall
Col Gaddafi.
Reno Calleja, who served as Tourism Minister in the Mintoff government, has criticised a declaration made yesterday by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi that the end of the Gaddafi government is inevitable.
It a comment to timesofmalta.com, Mr Calleja said he strongly disagreed with such sweeping statements.
If he survives (and he is known to be a survivor) he will never forget what the Prime Minister of Malta, a close and friendly country, had to say about him when he was drowning. The Prime Minister should have called for dialogue and mediation and not follow blindly what others, whose only interest is to get their hands on Libya’s oil reserves, are saying,” Mr Calleja said.
“I am also worried that we have British military planes in Malta with SAS troops on it, under the guise that they are on a humanitarian mission . We are a neutral and non-aligned state. A status that was instrumental in preventing any terrorist attack in Malta. Nato may get involved and attack Tripoli if the rebels decide to close in on Tripoli. SAS and other special forces are already in Libya. A bloodbath seems to be inevitable because thousands of hard core Ghadaafi loyalists are not going to give up easily. Malta must not get involved,” Mr Calleja insisted.
When contacted, he stood by his comment and said that Malta, as a neutral and non-aligned country, must not appear to be taking sides. Rather he stressed, it should offer its services as a mediator.
After all, he pointed out, other former terrorists, such as Yasser Arafat, had ended up winning the Nobel peace prize.
Malta, he said, should keep a balance and focus on humanitarian aid.” http://www.timesofmalta.com
Kelma wahda: Zutt!
The Column spoke:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/former-minister-critical-of-gonzi-remarks-on-inevitability-of-gaddafi-fall
I propose he goes with the Zero to start the mediation. Maybe the RAF will oblige and parachute the two of them bang in the middle of the green square
UNBELIEVABLE!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110228/local/former-minister-critical-of-gonzi-remarks-on-inevitability-of-gaddafi-fall
Darkness itself has just left Reno in more darkness.
PL has just disassociated itself from one if its prime speakers.
Unbelievable? Not at all. He was in Mintoff’s government, remember?
As if we haven’t heard enough crap from the Labour old guard now we have Reno Calleja criticising the government for not being a spineless coward.
The only heroic move is Dr Gonzi’s ‘sequestraton’ of the Libyan Mirage jets. Lets see if he grabs the opportunity to reassert Malta’s sovereignity on its disputed continental shelf.
Sadly, we will probably find out that the PN also has its share of spineless cowards when the moment of truth comes, just like the PL.
Absolutely. Even before he does that, he should freeze Libyan assets in Malta. The UK and other countries have done so, despite the fact that Gaddafi is still the official head of state of Libya. It has only happened twice so far: with Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic.
But balls were never Malta’s forte.
The PL was never strong on moral strength. It always banked on its enormous reserves to settle scores, perceived or otherwise with fisticuffs, metal bars, drive-by shootings, and verbal diarrhea.
I propose an online petition to strip Gaddafi both honours.
I’ll set up a website then. We need to stir up a shitstorm in the media and strike at the jugular, with a direct appeal to the President of the Republic.
You’ll have to identify yourself. Only nut cases support someone wearing a mask.
If I’m not mistaken, the President cannot do this himself. A committee has to be setup.
Count me in. We can also ask for the renaming of Gaddafi Gardens in Paola.
Reno Calleja’s fan club weighs in on timesofmalta.com
Victor Vella
I agree with you Reno. It could have been better for the Gonzi regime to make use of diplomacy to try to find solutions to the crisis. It could have been better for Mr Clegg the UK assistant to t he PM instead to remain silent. When England decided to go to the war against Iraq, unilaterally and ignoring the United Nations and EU pleas, Blair waged his war with the Americans and today the same Tony Blair is urging Gaddafi to revise his position and be more sensible. Blair is learning from his past mistakes. Another war in Libya will be a protracted war and it could be another Iraq. The English have invested interest in Libya. BP, the giantoilcompany pays more than 6B£ in taxes to the British government. Now, we can see the demise of the NHS in the UK. From a weary government like the GonziPN regime one could not expect better. The Regime has created so much jobs that those Maltese who will lose their jobs the government will find them one immediately- but not with Air Malta or Enemalta or SeaMalta or at th MDD. Who knows?
This idiot seems to have forgotten that regimes are not elected democratically but impose themslves with the use of force on their countries.
Another ex-pillar of another Labour Party digs another hole:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1361294/Libya-Peter-Mandelson-defends-Gaddafi-saying-Tony-Blair-right-make-friends.html
Reno Calleja’s friends speak up.
0949: Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim also says the West and Islamist militants have a shared goal of chaos in Libya – the militants, so al-Qaeda can form a “crescent of terror” across North Africa, and the West because it wants Libya’s oil.
Very good article from Time about Gaddafi
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2055732,00.html
The gnats have landed on timesofmalta.com.
Jo Cassar
Mr Calleja’s voice is the voice of practical realpolitik. When all this is over, and everybody has gone home, Malta will still be in exactly the same position – a gnat next to an elephant. We simply cannot have that elephant look on us as an enemy – cos nobody will be in a hurry to come to our aid.
Reno Calleja also approved of the Chinese government’s action in Tiananmen Square. Some credentials !
What an inferiority complex….
Show me your friends and I’ll tell you your character.
Ours must be the only country this side of the Sirte to have named a public garden in honour of Gaddafi. We should rename it Gnien Vassalli to celebrate 40 years of cringing vassalage to him.
http://www.freewebs.com/postijiet/gonnafrahalgdid.htm
No. It was built with Libyan money and it should be called something on the lines of Libyan Heroes.
Latest video showing the spawn of the sociopath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1psGPM7Upk
(translation provided on youtube)