Nick Clegg will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning. Give Nigel Farage a grenade to play with and you can be assured that after a few drinks to get into character, he will manage to blow himself up.
But in doing so, Farage also injures the anti-EU side because of UKIP’s prominent position in the effort to get the UK out of the EU.
Alistair Campbell gave Farage a grenade to play with by interviewing him for GQ magazine. He then pulled out the pin by asking Farage which world leader he most admired. Farage’s response, however vigorously it is defended by his cult following and however many howls of rage they emanate saying their man is being misrepresented, was the equivalent of releasing the lever to allow detonation. He has given the Europhiles and his political opponents an entire magazine of ammunition.
Farage could have dodged the obvious trap by saying that if he was being asked who is the most effective world leader in terms of pursuing their agenda then he would say Vladimir Putin. Then it’s a non story.
But no. He did not refute the idea of him admiring Putin, a politicised thug who has waged war in Chechnya and Georgia and whose government is widely considered responsible for a wave of assassinations of political rivals and journalists, and abuses the legal system to throw into remote prisons those who might be a threat to his position.
In fact, as reported by the Telegraph, he even went so far as to say that he thought Putin’s handling of Syria – where Russian weapons and ‘advisers’ have propped up Bashar Assad – was ‘brilliant’.
In so doing, Farage has completely shattered the wholly appropriate case against the EU for its expansionist actions in eastern Europe – which stirred up violence in Ukraine, followed by a coup and a fragmentation of the civil society on ethnic lines, prompting UDI by Crimea and its vote to join the Russian Federation – all for the sake of Brussels extending its power.
Nigel Farage is a disaster. He is a liability for the anti-EU side. He is incompetent. He revels in his ignorance of EU governance. He has a reliance on alcohol and women to function. He lacks depth. And as shown by this latest gaffe, he has absolutely no sense of judgement – an essential quality for any leader of any entity.
Nick Clegg is going to spit roast Farage with this. No matter what Farage and his cult argue, many people are going to turn against Farage and the anti-EU side as a result, and the EU’s provocation of Russia across eastern Europe will be swept off the agenda to be replaced with a narrative that Farage is an ultra nationalist who admires warmongering heads of thugocracies.
UPDATE: Richard is all over this issue too at EU Referendum
Autonomous Mind 
Who cares what these self-appointed “leaders” say? Keep your eye on the ball.
We the people are united in demanding national sovereignty and independent self-government.
No individual or institution can deny the righteousness of our cause.
“Russia war mongers”have been away for last 13 years “lol”.
The person not keeping their eye on the ball is Farage.
The people are NOT united in demanding independence. The polls are in favour of staying in the EU. The last thing we need is that self publicising moron spouting crap in the media like this, distracting people from the real issue and turning them off the anti-EU side. UKIP will take a hit for this and Farage’s comment will be dragged up time and again, hurting the rest of the anti-EU brigade.
He has to go.
AM, so who do we turn to in place of UKIP? any of the present traitors?
As for his being honest about who he admires at least he was honest, The Western leaders turned a blind eye to the fact that it was not Russia that deposed a democractically elected government in the Ukraine the EU and neo con American senators were in there urgeing the rebellion on, the guy only had six months of his term left to serve , Putin played a blinder, making the western leaders look stupid , for those of those of us who looked past the media hype of evil Russia and saw who was behind the democratic elected deposed , but then where does democracy play a part in Europe , give me an alternative to UKIP to boot our lot a kick I will listen.
Maureen, if that is the kind of man Farage genuinely admires, then God help us.
It is becoming ever clear that UKIP under Farage is part of the problem for the anti-EU side, not the solution. As for alternatives, it is increasingly clear that one is needed.
If Farage really admires that murderous technocrat, then we can do without his “honesty”. In fact, we can do without Farage altogether. This really is stupidity of the highest order, compounded by a worrying lack of judgement.
I am sure you are right about Farage being a liability. However, I also think it is reasonable for those of us who do not support his party to draw a line in the sand. When TPTB seek to paint the issue at its most simple propaganda level – UKIP versus LIBLABCON, Clegg versus Farage, etc. – there is no reason people should passively swallow their nonsense.
National independence is a bipartisan civil rights issue.
I am simply re-iterating what pro-independence campaigners have been pointing out for years. Farage is only one individual. Agenda-driven MSM partisans, who are happy to parrot Establishment propaganda, do not need further assistance in “discrediting” pro-independence sentiment.
An “interview” with Alastair Campbell FFS! I will regard anything that issues from that fundament with an ocean full of salt.
“EU’s provocation of Russia across eastern Europe will be swept off the agenda to be replaced with a narrative that Farage is an ultra nationalist who admires warmongering heads of thugocracies.”
The charge that people who oppose EU imperialism support Russian opportunism is fairly easy to diffuse. Clegg (and the rest) can be just as easily portrayed as extreme “European” nationalists who support a treaty organisation that was imposed upon the peoples of Europe, without their democratic consent, so that deluded Old World politicians can grandstand alongside the other Great Powers.
Anyone with a basic grasp of storytelling can play this “narrative” game. The fact that TBTB control that “narrative” means that no matter how “reasonably” Farage (or any other “leader” in his position) makes the case for national sovereignty and individual liberty they will be attacked, regardless.
If we are to be a self-governing nation, people will have to get wise to this kind of media manipulation and start to learn how to make their own arguments.
AM has not answered my comment Richard so will you ? Who is there to give the present incumbants of the HOC in May if not UKIP I am sick of writing none worthy across my ballot paper .
You call Putin muderous OK no argument there but my understanding of technocrat the two people placed in Greece and Italy when their PM’s did not obey the EU unelected commisionsares surely they are technocrats, ?
I repeat who in May who else is there ?
AM you have not answered me, so have directed questions to Richard
So you’re sick of writing ‘none worthy’ on your ballot paper. So are many others, Maureen.
I still do not believe a solution will come from within a political party, but perhaps there is some mileage to be had for a campaign if there was a political party helping to push things along in the way UKIP should be doing, but is failing to do because Farage is such a waste of space.
There is not an alternative at this time. Pinching our noses and voting for UKIP as the least worst option – particularly when its supporters are being tainted by association with some of the nutters in that party, and now its leader is one step from being painted by the media as having Putin posters up in his office – does not appeal.
Perhaps serious thought needs to be given to a replacement for UKIP in the party political space. A party that would be noted for decency, logic, sense, evidence based policies and providing voters with that alternative. I will come back to this soon.
Thank you AM I said I would listen and I have ,If and when the party of decency and logic arises from the cesspit that rules us now , UKIP will get my protest vote
Thanks again for the promptness of your answers.
Maureen – I don’t see a solution in the ballot box. That is why we worked out The Harrogate Agenda. Serious political change always starts outside the parliamentary system, and usually outside London.
As to UKIP, I see it increasingly as a bed-blocker. If it collapsed, something would very quickly emerge to take its place. That something could hardly be worse than what we have at present.
I think you have been misled by the British media far too long. I think you should get a hold of yourself and INFORM yourself because you really are living in a fantasy world. Start by reading this article by James Delingpole, and possibly the linked pages too. That should get you started. If you’re still not sure by the time you’ve read that, join Clegg and his ‘liberal’ minded warmongers.
And here is Delingpole’s article: http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/03/28/Nigel-Farage-is-right-It-Was-The-EU-Not-Russia-Which-Provoked-The-Ukraine-Crisis
Kev, I think you need to learn to read.
This blog and EU Referendum were AHEAD of UKIP in explaining how the EU was responsible for causing the problems in Ukraine. You don’t need to preach to us. We were ahead of you guys.
The issue at hand is how Nigel Farage has just undermined the position he took on the EU’s behaviour by allowing himself to be portrayed as someone who admires Putin. As such he has undermined the rest of us who held that position before he even understood it or had someone print it off for him to read.
Thank you Kev, interesting read from the start of this debacle I wondered why the Ukraine , I suspected it had more to do with Crimea , and the home of the Russian fleet , danger signals happened for me when I watched the goose stepping forces parading the flag at the 25th anniversary with the Lufwaffte Band playing in the flag with their anthem , then I read about the Euroforce and the europol, , then the Ukraine and the Russian fleet and one sentence has been at the back of my mind “not a bullet has been fired” absolute genius no wonder Merkal wants us onside,
I have no doubt this will be sneered at as paranoia , I sincerly hope it is .
Which part did I miss? Is it where you describe Putin as a warmongering thug?
Or is it that part where you say Farage should say nothing at all about wars, and that if he does he should tow the line, like “autonomous” mind does.
Obama has assassinated more people than Putin.
The Tories/LibDem/Labour Party have murdered more UK citizens than all of Al Quada combined because of green energy costs. And all for nothing.
Kev, if you’re just going to make things up there’s no point talking to you.
The links off from Delingpole include those to EU Referendum. EU Ref and this blog were explaining the EU dimension to Ukraine even before William Dartmouth put a piece up on the UKIP website.
So, where exactly am I being misinformed? What have I said that isn’t accurate? Did Putin not continue waging war on Chechnya? Did Putin not make an excuse to launch a military attack on Georgia?
Sunshine, while what you say is true, it does not undermine any of my assertions. Either Putin has waged war and engaged in political assassinations or he hasn’t. The scale is irrelevant.
Farage is an idiot for giving the media a chance to claim he admires Putin. Describing his actions in Syria as ‘Brilliant’ defies logic and reason.
But that is the point, isn’t it? Putin has NOT waged war. You’ve been had by the Western media – especially the British orchestration that stands for the media. If you are going to read war propaganda, at least listen to what the others are saying. The Lord Haw-Haw days are over. Time to smarten up lads.
“Making things up”? If you don’t like my paraphrasing what you implied, tell us what you implied. Was it not that Farage should say nothing about wars or else toe the line? Isn’t that what you are implying?
Congratulations Kev. You win the Muppet of the Month award.
I didn’t imply anything Kev. I very clearly stated that Farage should not be declaring – or giving the impression of declaring – admiration for a man like Vladimir Putin. It undermines the case being made against the EU’s expansion eastwards.
Putin is a warmonger. Ask Georgia and Chechnya. Unless you believe conducting wars isn’t warmongering?
You clearly didn’t read my piece properly and clearly haven’t read earlier pieces on this blog about the EU dimension in Ukraine. So perhaps it would help if you asked for clarification if you’re not sure, instead of jumping in with unfounded comments.
Please do not let this sink into PMQ s yaboojng and sarcasm should be left to those idiots
That award should go to whoever fails to answer a very, very simple question: Are you implying that Farage should not mention the war unless he toes the line?
A simple yes or no would relieve you of the Muppet award.
Not defending Nigel, but a fair few politico’s have done some unsavory things over the years.
Jack Straw
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3695678.stm
Barak Obama & Gordon Brown
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1198756/Brown-shakes-hands-Gaddafi-hold-historic-meeting-G8-summit.html
Tony Blair
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/books/2013/01/engagement-in-libya-was-and-remains-the-right-answer/
The Queen (scroll down a bit)
http://www.4thmedia.org/2013/06/27/afghanistan-iraq-libya-and-now-syria-cheer-leading-another-blood-bath-in-the-name-of-peace/
And I could of course go on.
Its not a pretty game, and these are not very nice people. But if you are going to swim with sharks, you should be prepared for the consequences.
Kev, you’re joking, right?
You make up an argument from thin air then criticise me for it, now you want me to deny implying it? Stop wasting my time you bloody idiot.
Of course Farage should have voted for a Nobel Peace Prize winner – Obama for example….. then again we’re honour-bound to believe the results of in-out polls organised by one of the biggest polling companies whose boss is married to an EU representative? Are we really to believe these polls are NOT rigged in some way? Personally I wouldn’t put anything past TPTB. It won’t be obvious, it will be subtle – but it probably happens.
Of course the MSM aren’t going hell-for -leather to get Farage to trip up on any subject whatsoever, are they? All of Farages so-called failings are manifest in any of the current crop of politicos yet the personal attacks come from all sides (pro and anti UKIP) aimed at the ONLY person/party that offers the population a different choice. Instead of highlighting Farages failures we should be concentrating on how much WORSE the others are. For worse they certainly are.
Until the second coming (THA) we cannot, just cannot, accept the route that we are being forced down by a traitorous Government, for the changes that will be made may well be irreversible by that time and certainly minds will be manipulated to a greater extent than even THA could counteract.
It’s debatable whether support for UKIP will make or break the possibility of an EU withdrawl and the debate is still wide open as far as I’m concerned. Even if it fails it will, hopefully, keep the ire and disgruntlement against the EU alive olong enough for people to still remember it if/when THA makes it to the forefront.
No, Farage is not the be all and end all but UKIP IS the ONLY alternative right – at – this – time. Or educate me to the one I’ve overlooked.
“The scale is irrelevant”
The scale is relevant since all major powers kill people. All wage war. I’m from Canada. Our air force helped bomb Serbia into submission in 1999. Serbia was no threat to Canada. And Serbia was no threat to most of the countries that participated in the bombing.
I admire Putin the way I reluctantly admire good players in sports on teams that are kicking the ass of the team I root for.
Europe is committing economic suicide. Most likely because its government has been infiltrated by Putin’s spies.
In some ways I am happy to watch Europe work so hard to export its industry to the USA because the USA is Canada’s largest trading partner. In other ways I am sad that the UK has been infiltrated by green zealots who deeply hate your country and probably have been paid off by China or Russia.
If only the USA and UK were led by people who want their country to win.
At least Canada has Harper who I think actually stands for something (not that the lefties/greens don’t hate him with a passion).
Sunshinehours:
Ditto from Canada. And ditto your entire message. I could add to it, of course, but so could you. Instead, you hit the important points then prudently signed off. I defer to your judgement.
As if you have a clue what actually happened in Chechnya or Georgia! I am telling you, you’ve been had by your own media – in a way you’ll never come to understand, notwithstanding your being of an ‘autonomous’ mind and all that.
And that Sunshine although I miss my daughter I am happy she has moved to Canada , how I wish we could reincarnate Cromwell and Churchill and have done with the brown nosers that care only for themselves and their idea of power, they have destroyed this country in their ideas of what is right or wrong, ,only what is right for them.
Sunshine, I will never have admiration for someone who considers human life and liberty to be cheap.
Scale is irrelevant. Killing people and abusing human rights is equally as wrong if it is one person who suffers, or one million. If you can’t grasp that concept and understand the principle then that’s your problem.
Perhaps you would like Canadian courts to waive trials for people who kill less than three people because they are more acceptable than someone who kills four?
Kev, seeing as you can’t even understand what is on the page in front of you, I don’t think you are in any position to dish out a lecture to me on geopolitics or foreign relations.
You have a fetish for claiming I’ve been ‘had’ by the media. I’ll indulge you, explain how, exactly. Instead of throwing cliches around try to explain how I’ve supposedly been had. Point to the evidence of this in my posting. While you’re at it, point out where I’ve supposedly implied what you claim I have about Farage.
This should be interesting…
Your comments about Putin’s ‘war’ reflect a mind-set of someone who’s been thoroughly had by the Western media. You will not lecture me about geo-politics, “Autonomous” Mind. Unlike you, I read everything – all sides of the propaganda effort, and I also read what real investigative journalists are saying, unlike the corporate trash you’ve evidently been bred on.
You need a whole re-wiring of your paradigm, AM
What comments? Copy and paste them here. Let’s stop your generalisations and get to specifics.
Here’s just one comment, AM: “Putin is a warmonger. Ask Georgia and Chechnya. Unless you believe conducting wars isn’t warmongering?”
That shows you haven’t a clue of what went on in Georgia and Chechnya. The reason being: you’ve been swallowing the corporate media lies, hook, line, sinker, rod, boat and angler.
So Russia did not go to war with Georgia and did not wage war in Chechnya?
Is that what you’re saying? There was no war?
Do tell everyone what really happened. I can’t wait to read this…
Oh god. You really need a paradigm shift. You wouldn’t even know the difference between false-flag provocation and pickled teddy bears.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… infowars comes to AM!!
Oh brilliant. So was it Blackwater pretending to be Russians who invaded? Or was it MiG flying Freemasons?
Do you know anything about the South Ossetian and Abhazian ethinci Russian populations? Do you know anything about Stalin’s annexation of these regions to Georgia? Did you actually come to know what madman Shakashvili (the CIA/Mossadi stooge) did? The initial bombings, for instance?
You know nothing apart from what the corporate media chose to tell you. And you have the audacity to lecture Nigel on what he should or should not say! Indeed, you believe he’s “a disaster for the anti-EU side”.
I would say this blog is a disaster from start to finish.
If UKIP weren’t such a shower one could almost believe that the disruptive comments on this blog and EURef were an organised effort.
Farage is a liability, UKIP are badly underperforming as a direct result, AM and Richard North point out these glaring truths as they want things to improve, hostile commenters attack them for doing so and generally troll like it was going out of fashion.
One of these things, as they say, is not like the others.
And none of that changes the fact Russia went to war, Kevin.
I think the disaster is UKIP associating with you and your wife in Brussels. Is she as confused as you?
Here’s an article that may help you discern the facts, AM: http://www.ukipdaily.com/eu-russia-syria-farages-criticism-eu-foreign-policy/
Kev, there is nothing in that piece that hasn’t been covered here or on EU Referendum at some point, or linked to.
Nothing in that piece supports the crap you have written above. I really don’t know what point you think you’re making. UKIP is behind the curve on this and has been from the start. I understand the motives you have for talking up UKIP given your wife’s work for the political group, but when you come on here thinking you are telling us something new when we have already been there and done that – and claiming we’ve been had by the media when we do more than most to expose media spin and bias – you just look stupid.
Now, off you go back to Infowars…
Yes, AM, and Putin is out to get you. Nigel should have toed the line. He should have said, ‘darned Putin, he’s a warmonger, the press told us so.’ Other than that, the world is fine, the rest is CT – too smug to bother.
Another comment, another idiotic strawman. Don’t put words in my mouth Kev, you haven’t got the smarts for it.
How many other conspiracy nuts share your view Russia didn’t have a war with Georgia and didn’t conduct a war in Chechnya? Was it the Bilderbergers driving those tanks? Muppet.
Kev, you’re just boring me now. You keep repeating the same thing over and again like a brain dead drongo and have failed to provide any evidence to back up a single accusation. This all stems from you not reading the blog properly, making up strawmen to knock down, then behaving like a broken record.
I’m not sure if UKIP in Brussels should be pitied for being connected with you, or deserves you as a punishment. Either way, you’ve nothing worth listening to, so go away.
Note to Sevad and Kevin – don’t bother posting here again.
There is something particularly spiteful about fruitcakes, nutters and cultists who try to be Farage’s Praetorian Guard, yet whose claims are shown to be flawed or plain wrong. You turn to inceasingly abusive comments in the absence of cohesive argument and that’s all you’ve got, so take it elsewhere.
“Nick Clegg is going to spit roast Farage with this. ”
But he didn’t, did he?
No, Andrew, he didn’t. I was very surprised that even with Dimbleby teeing him up (as expected) and having prepared his lines, Clegg absolutely bombed and the lines were shockingly cringeworthy. I suppose I’m used to working with people that are, you know, capable.
A more effective opponent could have utterly skewered Farage with it, so Farage can count himself lucky Clegg is so pisspoor.
I felt Clegg had been fed by the spin doctors and just seemed to waffle on whether it bore any relevance to the debate or not , the Putin and Syria jibe did not work but he just persisted and made himself look a fool.it just did not add to the reason for staying in.one bit,almost if we got angry at that we would agree with him he did not give me one reason to doubt my desire to be out.
Maybe a more effective opponent would have skewered Farage but perhaps Nigel might have risen to the challenge. After all, you can only beat the opponent in front of you and Farage managed that – twice. I agree with Maureen that Clegg had been spin-doctored to death. When will politicians learn that the best persona to present to the public is their natural one.
I thought Dimbleby wasn’t too bad. I can no longer watch Question Time because the anti-Tory, anti-UKIP bias drives me mad and much of it begins with Dimbleby.