Tomás Ó Flatharta

Looking at Things from the Left

Posts Tagged ‘poetry

Yankee Spies in Greenland – “We do not spy on friends” says Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen

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Diplomatic and Political skirmishes between the USA and western European governments – Ireland, Denmark, France to name but a few – are spreading.

Here is a case study.

Copenhagen is not amused by Yankee covert operations in Greenland :

Denmark summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen on Wednesday after Danish media reported that Americans with ties to President Donald Trump had carried out covert influence operations in Greenland.

Danish broadcaster DR reported that at least three U.S. citizens linked to the U.S. government were involved in activities that, reportedly, authorities fear could be used covertly to support Trump’s desire to make Greenland part of the United States.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the U.S. chargé d’affaires — currently its most senior diplomat in Denmark — had been summoned in response. He called any interference in Danish affairs “unacceptable,” and emphasized that Copenhagen “will of course not accept covert operations on our territory,” in a statement emailed by his ministry, according to the AP.


The news is spreading :


Yankee Spies in Greenland – “We do not spy on friends” declares Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen

When powerful governments publicly argue like this – in this case the former (?) friends Denmark and the USA – is it useful to declare “a plague on both your houses”?

The answer is No. Concrete analysis is needed, and concrete answers must be promoted.
The war of words escalated after a provocative visit by Donald Trump’s vice president JD Vance to Greenland in April 2025.

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Glastonbury to be banned after Kneecap insulted Keir Starmer on stage

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Many thanks to Simon Pearson for alerting us to this wonderful news.

Link :

https://bsky.app/profile/anticapitalistmusings.com

We are betting that most readers know all about the Belfast rap band Kneecap – but have never heard of Bob Vylan.

You have heard of Bob now ;

It was someone called Bob Vylan who caused horror and disgust when he displayed the words: “Free Palestine. United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a conflict.”

Bob knows how to rub salt on Keir Starmer’s wounds :

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Bob Vylan started chanting: “Death, death, to the IDF!”

How was this allowed to happen?

Source :

Laura and Normal Island News

Jun 28, 2025

It’s fair to say this year’s Glastonbury has been an enormous headache for supporters of genocide, particularly the prime minister.

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Keir Starmer’s crazy comment about pro Palestine Kneecap playing at Glastonbury – ex taoiseach Leo Varadkar raps British PM’s loony statement

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Irish Rap performers Kneecap are booked to play at a huge music festival in Glastonbury, but British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thinks that’s not “appropriate”. Starmer’s crazy comment is so off-the-wall that ex Irish taoiseach (prime minister) the ultra-conservative Leo Varadkar (Fine Gael), thought it was a gag.

Irish Times news report :

“Kneecap’s official Instagram page shared a screenshot of the article containing Mr Starmer’s comments, stating that “arming a fu*king genocide” was what’s “not appropriate”.

In a comment underneath the post, Mr Varadkar said he had thought the comment from Mr Starmer was a “gag”.

“[I] no longer hold office nor have any mandate so my views don’t count for so much anymore. I get that. But I really thought this was some sort of gag. It’s the role of artists to be avant garde, inappropriate, challenging, disruptive – from James Joyce to Sex Pistols and Playboy,” he said.”

See also at this link :


Starmer claims Kneecap Glastonbury set “not appropriate”

The Issue is Genocide in Palestine

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