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VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER

The supersized German überhauler reviewed. Also, in today’s Telegraph, Tony Blair:

I was stopped by someone the other week who said it was not surprising there was so much terrorism in the world when we invaded their countries (meaning Afghanistan and Iraq). No wonder Muslims felt angry.

I said to him: tell me exactly what they feel angry about. We remove two utterly brutal and dictatorial regimes; we replace them with a UN-supervised democratic process.

And the only reason it is difficult still is because other Muslims are using terrorism to try to destroy the fledgling democracy and, in doing so, are killing fellow Muslims.

Why aren’t they angry about the people doing the killing? The odd thing about the conversation is I could tell it was the first time he’d heard this argument.

Posted by Tim B. on 05/28/2007 at 05:18 PM
  1. I’ve driven a lot of vehicles, but the Crafter is the first to come equipped with an echo. Lennon might be put in mind of the Cavern Club, or (so staggeringly huge is this cargo space) his wife Yoko’s musical inability.

    First class review of a mobile dance club.

    Posted by JAFA on 2007 05 28 at 05:27 PM • permalink

  2. Go Blairs!

    Posted by Dminor on 2007 05 28 at 05:57 PM • permalink

  3. ...it was not surprising there was so much terrorism in the world when we invaded their countries (meaning Afghanistan and Iraq). No wonder Muslims felt angry.

    You all think maybe he’s one of those guys that forgot the whole reason Afghanistan got invaded?

    Posted by dorkafork on 2007 05 28 at 05:58 PM • permalink

  4. It gets worse, Tim. It seems a majority of Australians and Americans generally have decided to ignore reality and accept these Moslems as wise commentators.

    Don’t bother to think, just be agin the West’s current governments for spoiling their news headlines.

    For our Americans’ info, John Howard is now losing by 20% in the polls, despite being responsible for economic the best news in 30 years.

    Our mainstream media also seem to be working diligently for the enemies of the West.

    Posted by Barrie on 2007 05 28 at 06:09 PM • permalink

  5. I wonder what the Muslims were mad about when they took Spain in 722, sacked Rome in 846 and beseiged Vienna in 1529 and 1683 ?

    Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2007 05 28 at 06:13 PM • permalink

  6. The Blairs are right, again, and Tim’s column is a hoot. D’ya think they’ll give you anything else to test drive after this review?

    #5 Harry, Harry, Harry… Rome, Spain, Vienna - it was all Bush’s fault.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 28 at 06:22 PM • permalink

  7. Goodness, Tim!  Is that what you were driving in Austria?  What happened to the three-wheeler?

    Tony Blair’s conversational friend is an example to what happened when only one meme is continually perpetuated by media and entertainment elites—that the West is to blame for everything, and Muslims are merely reacting to injustice.  It is, and always was, a crock.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 05 28 at 06:22 PM • permalink

  8. These Blairs are like Patersons Curse, ‘cept not near as pretty.

    What - no humiliating photos this time? That’s the whole reason I come to this site.

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 05 28 at 06:24 PM • permalink

  9. #5 Harry, they were probably mad about the same things they are mad about now.
    What we should be trying to find out is why it took the Spaniards 500 years to finally kicked them out in 1212.

    There must be some lessons there on what not to do.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 05 28 at 06:25 PM • permalink

  10. Psshh. The VW Crafter looks like a mobile blood bank. Strictly squaresville, daddy-o. Get your boots laced Jackson, get hep to the jive! You don’t want to choke up in front of Machado’s behind the wheel of an armored Good Humor van; you want to glide up to the door in one of these.

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 06:27 PM • permalink

  11. ... I could tell it was the first time he’d heard this argument.

    Probably because most of the Western media have for many years now come down on the side of the insurgents. 

    Or, perhaps I should say, come down on the side of the anti-BushHitlerJohnHoWARd brigade.
    I remember Paul McGeough writing dispatches on Iraq, but from outside the country and later from Afghanistan. No one at all questioned some of the news he was passing on. Like the one that forced him to leave Iraq in the first place: the Iraqi PM shooting six suspected insurgents in cold blood at a Baghdad police station. Always struck me as odd, that story.  Allawi was a shrewd customer and I just can’t seeing him shooting anyone where there’d be witnesses who’d pass on the story.

    Posted by ann j on 2007 05 28 at 06:31 PM • permalink

  12. Of course, McGeough went on to accept Australia’s top journalism award. I don’t recall McGoo ever recanting on the Allawi allegations, which I guess means it must be true.

    Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 05 28 at 06:49 PM • permalink

  13. This is O/T but perhaps we need a thread?

    Hope many saw “cry me a river” on ABC Australian Story last night. On abc.net.au/australianstory this morning.

    Noel Pearson filleted the green left and their penchant for locking up country and leaving blacks welfare dependent.

    “What is a conservation economy?”

    Have a look. Great stuff from a bloke who has been talking pragmatic sense for a decade.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 05 28 at 06:51 PM • permalink

  14. ...[T]ell me exactly what they feel angry about. We remove two utterly brutal and dictatorial regimes; we replace them with a UN-supervised democratic process.

    Gotta be that UN supervision.  (After all, would YOU want to risk living under a “democratic process” supervised by those crooks?  They’re not just corrupt, they’re incompetent.  The Chicago machine would do better.  (But not the New Orleans one.))

    Obviously the Iraquis are angry because we didn’t give them a straight-out military occupation/government like we did in Japan.  They think they’re getting short changed!  (Writ sarcastik, but only somewhat.)

    Posted by Old Grouch on 2007 05 28 at 06:58 PM • permalink

  15. Pickles, I think it’s repeated on Saturday, too.

    Australian Story, Cry Me A River <transcript should be here.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 28 at 06:58 PM • permalink

  16. eventually.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 28 at 07:01 PM • permalink

  17. Im almost looking foreward to Blairs retirement. I hope it means he will be able to actively attack his critics without fear of splintering his party.
    He can be as sarcastic, savage and surly as he likes and with a legalistic mind like his, pull the wings of some of the lies flying around.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 05 28 at 07:04 PM • permalink

  18. #15 kae
    Transcript not there yet. Had a look at the message board, same old rubbish you know, chanting the mantra: aborigines walking hand in hand into the new millenium with environmentalists with a common goal, mining and capitalism bad, ecotourism, hunting and fishing in traditional manner good and holy blah, blah.

    He told them last night that was shit, but the message just bounced off them.

    Couldn’t help myself. Fired knee high grapeshot.

    Pearson wound into them in the Oz on Saturday and certainly put knuckles on eyebrows last night.

    I think Pearson is up for a big blue on this and look forward to seeing more of it, especially him versus the wilderness society and Beattie if he wants a piece of it.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 05 28 at 07:23 PM • permalink

  19. Pickles, not sure when they put up the transcripts, but probably later today. I’ll keep an eye out, ‘cos after telling everyone here in a previous thread that it looked interesting, I MISSED IT!

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 28 at 07:26 PM • permalink

  20. O/T
    Bryla and his cohorts face the music today.
    Anyone from here going to join the protest vigil?

    Posted by Gibbo on 2007 05 28 at 07:26 PM • permalink

  21. The ABC message board is a pain to read.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 28 at 07:27 PM • permalink

  22. #21

    And the crap that gets written on it is painful as well. Including mine of course.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 05 28 at 07:30 PM • permalink

  23. #10 Paco: Your pic caught my attention because my first car was a 1940 Buick straight 8.
    The disc wheel on the car behind the Packard reminded me that when I was a sprog, the family car was one of these in two tone blue.
    We kids rode in the dicky seat with the fumes and dust but it didn’t seem to do us any harm.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 05 28 at 07:34 PM • permalink

  24. #13 #15 Pickles and Kae, I watched and recorded it as well and also marvelled that the ABC would air it seemingly unedited, or without someone offering an opposing view at the end.  The usual producer must be on holidays ...

    As someone said recently, Noel Pearson walks the walk.  Unlike many others that could be named.

    Posted by ann j on 2007 05 28 at 07:38 PM • permalink

  25. Looks like some folks in Australia are getting set to give Muslim dissident a warm welcome.

    #23 Skeeter: A 1940 Buick straight 8? Pardon me while I drool! When I watch old movies, I can always spot a Buick because of the 600 pounds of grill chrome; a beautiful automobile.

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 07:39 PM • permalink

  26. By the way, why would an institution called “University of Technology Sydney”  have an “Islamic law lecturer”?

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 07:45 PM • permalink

  27. #25 Yeah Paco. The Buick was very second-hand when I owned it in the 1950s but still shiny.
    It came fitted with interior blinds that saved the waiting time while the glass steamed up. An ideal vehicle for a horny teenager.
    Dad was a one-car man and kept the Ajax going as his working car well into the 60s.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 05 28 at 07:52 PM • permalink

  28. I saw Noel last night.  He was very good. Same with his brother.

    What he should do is invite the entire board of the Wilderness Society to come visit Cape York.  Take them out into the middle of nowhere - show them some spectacular bit of “wild river” that can be a showpiece bit of the “conservation economy”.

    Then strip them naked and leave them there.

    Posted by mr creosote on 2007 05 28 at 07:54 PM • permalink

  29. #28 Mr Creosote.

    How did I know the punchline of your plan?

    Then strip them naked and leave them there.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 28 at 08:02 PM • permalink

  30. Apologies Tim, for the shamelessly O/T nature of this post but..

    TB readers

    I need your votes!  Currently lying third in the Best Australian Libertarian Solo Blogger, this is your chance to vote for the only blog (apart from Yobbo of course) that does not support mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, Ron Paul-esque, fascist-appeasing libertarianism.

    And i regularly feature hot babes

    Vote here!

    Posted by pommygranate on 2007 05 28 at 08:03 PM • permalink

  31. I completely agree with Margos Maid. It makes it extremely difficult for those of us that cannot read, to get the picture. Therefore, excluding them should be a misdemeanor.

    By the way, bravo Mr. Blair’es. Is that the correct way to include both of them?

    Oh and Aussiemagpie, just got a hat tip at LGF. Congratulations, my dear.
    Link

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 05 28 at 08:09 PM • permalink

  32. pommygranate

    I voted twice for some reason. OH and for you, of course.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 05 28 at 08:16 PM • permalink

  33. No wonder Blair is retiring.

    He’s always been far too bright to hang around with the idiot left forever. I’m amazed he stuck it out so long actually.

    Posted by Bonmot on 2007 05 28 at 08:22 PM • permalink

  34. Pickles and Kae, I watched with wonder as Noel and his brother Gerhardt landed a few nice blows on the envirotards.

    As for Alex Marr from the Wilderness Society? Smarmy, self-serving git. Each time he came on and opened his mouth I wanted to shout or throw something. (Didn’t because it was after bedtime for young RWDB’s in training).

    And because this is the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time: Magilla to her dad: “Why don’t you like John Howard? He’s a good man.”

    Unfortunately I didn’t hear the other side of the conversation, which is probably just as well. My sides hurt from choking back the laughter.

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 05 28 at 08:25 PM • permalink

  35. #34 nilknarf

    And as usual, you don’t need to scratch far below the surface of evil legislation to find some slimy political deal that benefits a pressure group and a political party to increase and maintain their power at the expense of the people whom they promise to have only the best motives for.

    And Mr Creosote, no leaving them naked in the scrub, I say in the crab pots with their miserable guts. Would be the only time in their lives they’d provided anyone with a feed.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 05 28 at 08:37 PM • permalink

  36. #20- Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it, I’m washing my hair or cutting my nails or something. Why are these spastics being permitted to hold up peak hour traffic to support confessed trespassers and would-be saboteurs? True justice would see Bryla banged up in Yatala with a horny Hicksie- don’t know what you’d do with the lovely Donna Mulhearn though- perhaps a community service order, scaring feral pigs out of national parks perhaps?

    BTW- I know a couple of rascals who play in a band called Community Cervix- who’s that for a name?

    Also can’t work out why the euros (and the poms for that matter) make colossal vans and dinky little cars- even the ubiquitous Transit is growing faster than a malignant tumor, with a new model coming out with a 6 metre wheelbase.

    Posted by Habib on 2007 05 28 at 08:37 PM • permalink

  37. The crafter sure sounds big ... but look at the Bugzilla looming behind!

    Posted by Evil Pundit on 2007 05 28 at 08:42 PM • permalink

  38. #32 El Cid - cheque in post.

    You didnt vote for this reason then?

    Posted by pommygranate on 2007 05 28 at 08:48 PM • permalink

  39. 38 pommygranate

    Absolutely not! Beside the fact that I don’t like strawberries.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 05 28 at 08:55 PM • permalink

  40. Why aren’t they angry about the people doing the killing? The odd thing about the conversation is I could tell it was the first time he’d heard this argument.

    An unmitigated triumph for the BBC, I’d say… then Blair (Tony) goes and ruins it.

    Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 05 28 at 09:04 PM • permalink

  41. #36 Habib, I think I met a girl by the name of Community Cervix once.

    Posted by Gibbo on 2007 05 28 at 09:06 PM • permalink

  42. The world’s most courageous brave lady Ayaan Hirsi Ali is in Sydney.

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21811256-16947,00.html

    “She has two public functions at the Sydney Writers Festival: a discussion on Saturday and the festival’s closing address on Sunday. Both are sell-outs.”

    I wonder anyone here knows whether there is still a chance to listen to her somehow. I loved her books.

    Posted by Sydkev on 2007 05 28 at 09:19 PM • permalink

  43. #34 - Nilknarf, I too found Alex Marr to be a slimy little toad.  I bet he would be horrified to find that up in the Cape, there are - gasp, horror - people with “aspirations”. 

    By gum, these blackfellas have been “seduced” into wanting electricity, air conditioning, fridges, washing machines, meaningful employment, lawyers, accountants, traffic wardens, lifewavers, French wine, brie,bistros, foccacia, University education, canapes, champagne, coffee machines, digital video recorders, bread makers, modern medicine, hot water, proper sewerage and drainage, nice green lawns, Evian, backyards out of “House and Garden”, lovely curtains, Weber BBQ’s, computers with ADSL, computer games, the interweb thingy, cable TV, Nike shoes, cars, boats, rifles, air travel, steak knives, MP3 players, mobile phones, digital cameras, stoves, comfy sofas and other furniture from Harvey Norman and all the other paraphenalia of the “good life”.

    I guess that’s why the Wilderness Society hate them so much.  Can’t have uppity blackfellas wanting to live like the white man.

    Posted by mr creosote on 2007 05 28 at 09:32 PM • permalink

  44. #43- Can fix that- reverse the 1967 referendum. I’m sure the WS and their fellow travellers would like to see all of us removed from the census.

    Posted by Habib on 2007 05 28 at 09:35 PM • permalink

  45. I actually find that it’s necessary to make and re-make the argument even to conservatives and nitwit Ron Paul libertarians these days - many, if not most, of whom have joined the left in becoming catastrophising morons.

    Posted by C.L. on 2007 05 28 at 09:38 PM • permalink

  46. #42 Sydkev

    Thanks for the heads up.  She’s a remarkable lady.

    Posted by pommygranate on 2007 05 28 at 09:39 PM • permalink

  47. Gibbo

    Shed be a relation to the Arnotts girl I once knew. A box chock full of assorted creams.

    Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 05 28 at 09:45 PM • permalink

  48. Meanwhile, Chavez continues to work on his Fidel Castro impersonation.

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 09:46 PM • permalink

  49. Lord Haw Haw was hung. Maybe the Haw Haws of today could be sent to AQ heaven?

    Posted by stackja1945 on 2007 05 28 at 09:47 PM • permalink

  50. Flag Desecration on Memorial Day

    Vandals burn dozens of U.S. flags decorating veterans’ graves, replace with swastikas on Orcas Island, Wash.

    There really is a reason, for shooting first and asking questions later.

    Fox News

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 05 28 at 09:52 PM • permalink

  51. Addendum to #50

    Calling these foul beings maggots, would only defame maggots.

    Posted by El Cid on 2007 05 28 at 09:56 PM • permalink

  52. #50: I don’t mean to slander a whole state, and there are scumbags pretty widely distributed throughout the population, but just what is it about the state of Washington? They seem to have an abundance of kooks out there.

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 09:59 PM • permalink

  53. This one’s for Skeeter.

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 10:03 PM • permalink

  54. #45: And since C.L. mentioned Ron Paul . . .

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 10:16 PM • permalink

  55. Alex Marr from the Wilderness Society. Is Alex related to his gayness David?

    Posted by stackja1945 on 2007 05 28 at 10:28 PM • permalink

  56. ... I could tell it was the first time he’d heard this argument.

    Consider the propaganda war well and truly lost.

    Posted by daddy dave on 2007 05 28 at 10:29 PM • permalink

  57. And in re: Chavez (#48), here’s a good example of how far the nutroot-rot has gone.

    Posted by paco on 2007 05 28 at 10:43 PM • permalink

  58. # 18, Pickles;

    ...aborigines walking hand in hand winto the new millenium with environmentalists with a common goal, mining and capitalism bad, ecotourism, hunting and fishing in traditional manner good and holy blah, blah.

    I’d like to know who will be able to afford to be an ecotourist once they’ve abolished capitalism.  At least they say that hunting and fishing is okay.  People will be able feed themselves—sometimes.

    #43 mr. creosote;

    Can’t have uppity blackfellas wanting to live like the white man.

    Hell, they don’t want uppity white men to live like the white man.

    #52 paco;

    ...just what is it about the state of Washington?  They seem to have an abundance of kooks out there.

    There’s long been a migration from California to Washington.

    Posted by saltydog on 2007 05 29 at 12:08 AM • permalink

  59. Cry Me a River transcript available now.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 29 at 01:13 AM • permalink

  60. “I said to him: tell me exactly what they feel angry about.”

    Wait ‘til we western Christian types get motivated to kick them off the Christian lands they stole (Turkey, Egypt, etc.).

    That’s gonna really piss the Islamo-imperialists off.

    Posted by Dave Surls on 2007 05 29 at 01:16 AM • permalink

  61. #58

    Not only California to Washington.  There is a big migration into Arizona as well.  Arizona now has four “progressives” in the U.S. House.

    What is this Little Green Footballs that everyone speaks of?  Sould I pay more attention to Arena Football from now on?

    Posted by yojimbo on 2007 05 29 at 01:38 AM • permalink

  62. Numberwatch has quite the rant on the Blair legacy.

    http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/2007 May.htm

    Posted by phil_b on 2007 05 29 at 01:52 AM • permalink

  63. Let’s try that
    link link again.

    Posted by phil_b on 2007 05 29 at 01:57 AM • permalink

  64. #53 Thanks Paco, they still look good. You even found the right colour.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2007 05 29 at 02:44 AM • permalink

  65. #59

    thanks kaezee, it’s a good read. What piss weak platitudes from Beattie, Bligh and the green pond scum.

    Pearson is up for a blue.
    it’s a fight we are going to have to have you know

    Look out, it’s on. I’m filling up a wheatbag with half housebricks and am keen to chuck em. This parasitic relationship between the green left and aborigines has needed severing for 25 years and NP and the Hopevale mob are just the ones to do it.

    Can’t wait.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 05 29 at 03:10 AM • permalink

  66. Well, if we have to go back to hunting and gathering, I don’t mind the hunting part. 

    Just not with spears.

    Something semi-auto in 7.62mm comes to mind… so does going Green meaning repealing some of our gun laws?

    Or do the Greenbots just want us to “gather”, and forego the “hunting” bit?

    Posted by mr creosote on 2007 05 29 at 03:30 AM • permalink

  67. Pleased to help, Mr/Ms Pickles.

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 29 at 03:49 AM • permalink

  68. Ah, Mr Pickles, I think I found your comment on the ABC chat-mess-board

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 29 at 03:50 AM • permalink

  69. or is that messy-chat-board?

    Posted by kae on 2007 05 29 at 03:52 AM • permalink

  70. I see that we had an attempted troll visit (#3).  Well left (Tim) Blairites.  This same troll was handed his hat by none other than the great Robert Spencer here.

    Entertaining reading it is.

    Posted by Brett_McS on 2007 05 29 at 05:40 AM • permalink

  71. #17

    Im almost looking foreward to Blairs retirement. I hope it means he will be able to actively attack his critics without fear of splintering his party.
    He can be as sarcastic, savage and surly as he likes and with a legalistic mind like his, pull the wings of some of the lies flying around.

    As long as he limits it to that, great, but I believe a retired PM should stay out of politics. Go fuck a French clock, Keating.

    Posted by flying pigs over mecca on 2007 05 29 at 06:28 AM • permalink

  72. #56, daddy dave:

    Never quit, never surrender. Just dig in deeper and fight meaner.

    Posted by Grimmy on 2007 05 29 at 09:00 AM • permalink

  73. #72 Grimmy

    That’s the spirit, pure, simple and straight.

    Posted by Pickles on 2007 05 30 at 02:17 AM • permalink

  74. Page 1 of 1 pages

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