Wednesday, October 5, 2016

John Helmer — For Whom The Bell (Baron Timothy Bell) Tolls – The British Gunslinger Who Thought Up War With Russia To Save Himself From Court-Martial And Pay His Mortgage

The pensions for retired military madmen are modest, so the generals run short of cash. The source of money which financed General Sir Richard Shirreff (lead image, left) to produce a book claiming Russia is about to launch a war against Europe, sink a British aircraft carrier, shoot down several US Air Force F-16s and kill 300 American troops at a Latvian airbase, is not disclosed by him, nor by his publisher and publicity agent, Hodder & Stoughton.…

“I know he has got a book to sell, and I’ve no doubt that he has got a large mortgage to pay,” said Philip Hammond, the British Defence Secretary who saw Shirreff into early retirement. “He was a senior Nato commander and this is quite irresponsible language…I don’t think there’s anybody serious around who thinks the kind of scenario he is postulating is remotely likely.”

Since the disclosure last week that the Pentagon paid $540 million to the London public relations firm Bell Pottinger to produce fake press materials and propaganda to justify the US military occupation of Iraq, the involvement of the firm controlled by Lord Timothy Bell in propaganda operations against Russian targets is suspected as much in London as in Moscow. Karen Geary, Shirreff’s publicist in London, said that reports suggesting Shirreff was paid to compose propaganda “are completely wrong”…'
Who or what paid Shirreff to do all this? ….
As always, follow the money. Helmer suggests that Shirreff was likely paid for h is work. On the other hand, I know of more than a few authors who write for money, especially when they can trade off celebrity or status. It's actually rather common, and the authors don't regard it as grubbing but rather as their "due." Similarly, generals and politicians regularly trade off their previous experience for remuneration in the private sector where they are in a position to influence former colleagues. This is not considered normal operating procedure in capitalism and void of corruption because it is legal.

Dances with Bears
For Whom The Bell (Baron Timothy Bell) Tolls – The British Gunslinger Who Thought Up War With Russia To Save Himself From Court-Martial And Pay His Mortgage
John Helmer

3 comments:

Postkey said...

"The broadcast news bulletins are all leading with the claim of some old General that Britain could not resist an attack by Russia. One remarkable thing about this claim, is that all those excitably supporting it are precisely the same people who claim that the countless billions spent on Trident make an attack on the UK impossible. Plainly they have never believed their own propaganda about Trident."

Tom Hickey said...

"The broadcast news bulletins are all leading with the claim of some old General that Britain could not resist an attack by Russia. One remarkable thing about this claim, is that all those excitably supporting it are precisely the same people who claim that the countless billions spent on Trident make an attack on the UK impossible. Plainly they have never believed their own propaganda about Trident."

Yeah, I had seen that. It's called speaking out of both sides of your mouth.

Matt Franko said...

Its like the Monetarists saying that the "bond vigilantes" control the interest rates then at the same time complaining that the Fed is keeping rates too low...