Watson says he incorporated his own personal experience in writing the book.[22] He also expresses disdain for truthfulness in the pursuit of environmental protection goals:

“The nature of the mass media today is such that the truth is irrelevant. What is true and what is right to the general public is what is defined as true and right by the mass media. Ronald Reagan understood that the facts are not relevant. The media reported what he said as fact. Follow-up investigation was “old news.” A headline comment on Monday’s newspaper far outweighs the revelation of inaccuracy revealed in a small box inside the paper on Tuesday or Wednesday.” [23]
Watson was explicit on this score: “If you do not know an answer, a fact, or a statistic, then simply follow the example of an American President and do as Ronald Reagan did—make it up on the spot and deliver the information confidently and without hesitation.”[24] This has been noted and reported by the news media.[25] In a subsequent book, Ocean Warrior, Watson reiterated this view, saying: “Survival in a media culture meant developing the skills to understand and manipulate media to achieve strategic objectives.” [26]

I wonder if this idiot ever stopped to think that admitting that he lies pretty much renders his strategy of lying useless?

I’d say Watson was hit square in the head with a dum-dum bullet.

Dead right. That bullet has been fired thru some kind of shock absorbent material before it came to rest. I suspect it was fired into the badge and vest at a time when they were covered by some other substance and Watson wasn’t wearing them.

Your grasp of how vests stop bullets seems to have come from a commando comic.

If we need someone to tell us how we feel about whales we’ll let you know. To the best of my knowledge no one posting here has recieved any money from Japan. My cheque certainly hasn’t arrived.

As many of us have pointed out this pirates (a legal definition) activites are harming the anti-whaling cause. This rather indicates we have more of a concern for the effectivness of getting the japs out of the South Pacific rather than some kind of global capitalist cabal who dine on raw whale meat and freshly clubbed seal pup every Saturday evening chuckling over how much lot we get from the exercise.

The random flinging around of labels does nothing to strengthen your position. Watson seeks out and attacks – physically – other vessels on the high seas with the stated intention of damaging and disabling them. Now a quick flip through the Geneva convention and its associated treatys and/or rules of warfare etc etc (see the passage of merchant ships amendment 1928) we seem to find that sort of thing is regarded in a time of war as being a “war crime” while at other times to be “an act of war” or “piracy”. The penalty for which is… lets see… summary execution to be ordered by the captain of the vessel that captures them. A little archaic but that piano wire noose is looking a little closer. Of course these days we’re alledged to be civilised so we hual the buggers of for a trail and release after various rights groups bitch about them being oppressed because they’re asian (see “piracy in the south china sea up by 10% over 2006″).

What doesn’t seem to covered is whaling ships going about “harpooning whales”. The name of the type of vessel seems to indicate a degree of confidence that its at least semi-legal. Indeed the documents do rather indicate that it is perfectly legal regardless of how aborent the locals (and probably the whales) find it. The fact that the japanese have lied their asses off about their intentions (haven’t seen much by way of results of their “scientific research other than sushi) is also not actually covered in any detail in said treaties and associated documantation.

Watson is not effective, he hasn’t saved one single whale meanwhile he has provided the japanese media machine a bucket full of PR disasters for them to use as pro-whaling propaganda. I do not advocate the paino wire hanging of Watson but if he was hit by a bus (a honking big ocean going one) I would see it as a step forward.

If there are anti-whaling/protest ships in the area and there happens to be a grey funnel line rep in the area then the japanese are entitled to its protection with Watson doing what he is. However if they paly it clean and the japanese so much as turn a hose on them then they get to find out if the Australian Navy issues idle threats. Last time they went head to head I seem to recall that the japs came second. Tokyo bay, USS Missouri. It was in all the papers.

I am gratified that you are by your own definition that you are not a kiwi, it gives me hope for real kiwis. The ones who can think beyond their own myopic short term wants.

“Perhaps Matty doesn’t think it’s worth responding ”

Perhaps the sun will be rising in the west.

Address the poe faced literalism of the socialist NZ State as represented by Matty, ‘ol mate.

“Use of language”…..?……
Sorry, it sounds so errr ,”undergraduate”.

Perhaps Matty doesn’t think it’s worth responding when it would just be repeating his initial point… or perhaps he’s out.

But not having heard of Occam’s Razor, Alces presumes Matty’s having a panic attack. Not that the presumption is anything to do with logic but everything to do with convenience.

There’s some interesting topics raised on this blog, and some very good comment – but most of it is diluted by people on particular bandwagons and streaming invective across the web.

I’m guessing socialist wanker who clicked a link, posted….

Then you panicked.

You will of course invite Watson into your home when he is finaly charged.
You will help rehabilitate him.
OMG No way, it must be a Govt problem.
Back into the woodwork, where you came from CYAH

Otherwise you get to be a Matty.

Careful there pardner, the wind will change then you get to keep the pouting fish face.

Matty doesn’t understand hyperbole or any other vaguely Gonzo techniques used to express derision at socially acceptable arseholes like Sea Shepherd.

This Matty idiot thinks that Advocatus is out buying piano wire or “inciting’ others to do so.

You’re attracting the usual level of ‘maturity’ and bloodlust in your comments, DPF. Looking back over what’s being said, it reads like a lynch-party.

“strung up by piano wire”
“Watson will one day face the power of the harpoon”
“anybody shooting this guy would be bound to hit his big ugly-looking head”

Beautiful folks, really sensible diatribe. Ugh.

This guy and his lefty mates are just damaging the cause.