No, It’s all about Galloway election campaign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyP15bDaXj0

Anyone know the answer?

Gary: That’s what happens when you do deals with thugs. You are bound to get fucked at some point. But don’t worry, they’ll be allowed in the end…

So on the one hand he calls for the overthrow of Mubarak at demos in London but when it comes to getting the convoy through to Gaza he is willing to sup with the devil. It’s a bit like going to confession for Catholics – it’s not OK to sin but if you go to confessional and make your peace with god (or at least the priest) then everything will be alright.

The convoy was always going to face the problem of having to deal with corrupt states and whether to submit to their wishes, formally or informally, for the convoy not to ‘get involved in local politics’.

But as Ian says above, the convoy leaders could have thrown down the gauntlet and dared those regimes that wished to use the convoy for their own purposes of strengthening internal control, to block it from getting to Gaza.

Having said that we surely need to be careful to remember who the main enemy is. Galloway is on our side, Mubarak obviously is not. The central question is whether he has joined the other side by negotiating with the regime. I don’t think he has – but he has allowed himself and the convoy to be used. And now we hear the governor of Sinai says most of the convoy will have to enter Gaza through Israel, which suggests the supping with the devil wasn’t worth it.

The people quick to attack Galloway in the UK are the same crowd that attack the anti-war movement in general. We should consider why it was that the Guardian newspaper here in the UK chose to run with the story – they wanted to undermine Galloway and his solidarity initiative, but have not written about the convoy before then. The UK media continues with its media blackout of the convoy.

I was once in the same organization as Galloway (Respect) but the other organization I am a member of – the Socialist Workers Party -split from it for various reasons. Nevertheless it does not mean we have to adopt a sectarian and hostile attitude to everything he does.

Sure, like lots of politicians, he has a big ego and perhaps even gets a buzz from ‘negotiating’ with ambassadors and presidents etc but our criticisms should be fraternal.

For Egyptian activists and comrades with direct experience of Mubarak’s repression the sight of him in meetings with NDP apparatiks must be nauseating and explains the reluctance of opposition organizations to get involved, but Galloway’s love-in with Mubarak is likely only to last as long as it takes to cross the border. I bloody well hope so anyway.

To be honest my enthusiasm for the convoy has been dented, but I still salute the integrity and commitment of the volunteers and activists involved.

This latest from Yvonne Ridley on the Viva Palestina blog…

“Saviours of Gaza”!

What the fuck?

Who are these arrogant people who declare themselves “saviours”.