Police reject rumours surrounding MI6 man found dead in flat - Crime, UK - The Independent
This gets murkier. Are the press just making stuff up? Are the intelligence services just muddying the waters because they feel like? Or are they worried that the Americans are beginning to think they are amateurs again? Or is the Met private enterprise brigade having fun? answers on a postcard please to Theresa May
Monday 30 August 2010
Monday 23 August 2010
Mevedev's wishful thinking
Asia Times Online :: Central Asian News and current affairs, Russia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan
A former Indian diplomats view of interactions between Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Similar to the previous post, discussing the reassertion of regional powers. Thew two posts together remind me of the halcyon days of Victor Zorza and Alexander Werth, when British newspapers discussed and analysed what was going on in the world instead of parotting the Murdoch agenda.
Is there a seachange taking place? A remergence of traditional balance of power principles? Answers on a postcard please to William Hague, c/o the Foreign Office and the Carlton Club...
A former Indian diplomats view of interactions between Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Similar to the previous post, discussing the reassertion of regional powers. Thew two posts together remind me of the halcyon days of Victor Zorza and Alexander Werth, when British newspapers discussed and analysed what was going on in the world instead of parotting the Murdoch agenda.
Is there a seachange taking place? A remergence of traditional balance of power principles? Answers on a postcard please to William Hague, c/o the Foreign Office and the Carlton Club...
A Syrian Taif for Iraq?
Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs
Cautious prediction of a conference of all parties similar to that which settled the conflict in the Lebanon. Syrian fantasy or shrewd prediction? Turkey and Iran have already shown their hands in Iraq. From the West's point of view, the more players the better to prevent Iraq becoming an Iranian client state subsequent to the UK and US cutting and running. We will know next month.
Cautious prediction of a conference of all parties similar to that which settled the conflict in the Lebanon. Syrian fantasy or shrewd prediction? Turkey and Iran have already shown their hands in Iraq. From the West's point of view, the more players the better to prevent Iraq becoming an Iranian client state subsequent to the UK and US cutting and running. We will know next month.
Friday 20 August 2010
This Week in National Insecurity
This Week in National Insecurity | Mother Jones
Houston...we have a crotch gap! The UK is finally ahead in a matter vital to the National Interest
Houston...we have a crotch gap! The UK is finally ahead in a matter vital to the National Interest
Court of Protection - Free will, Autonomy and Totalitarian Instincts.
Court of Protection - Free will, Autonomy and Totalitarian Instincts.
Personal security? Forget it. We can declare you stupid or a danger to yourself and put you wherever we want to...Pensions crisis? No. Reform programmes and we confiscate your pension fund to pay for it...Hee hee hee!
Personal security? Forget it. We can declare you stupid or a danger to yourself and put you wherever we want to...Pensions crisis? No. Reform programmes and we confiscate your pension fund to pay for it...Hee hee hee!
Sunday 15 August 2010
Anti-terrorist hotline ad banned -
Anti-terrorist hotline ad banned - Telegraph
How long before The Met encourages kids to report their parents? Don't laugh...it happened in Stalin's Russia. Once you start a culture of denunciation, no-one is safe. Everyone has a score to settle with neighbours, teachers, rivals in relationships. Just say NOOOOOOO!!!!!
How long before The Met encourages kids to report their parents? Don't laugh...it happened in Stalin's Russia. Once you start a culture of denunciation, no-one is safe. Everyone has a score to settle with neighbours, teachers, rivals in relationships. Just say NOOOOOOO!!!!!
This Week in National Insecurity
This Week in National Insecurity | Mother Jones
I didnt realise Mother Jones did a column entitled " The Week in National Insecurity"...Now youre back from your week of Drunken Irish Gypsy Dancing, Bandit, maybe we should try to do one of these each week???
I didnt realise Mother Jones did a column entitled " The Week in National Insecurity"...Now youre back from your week of Drunken Irish Gypsy Dancing, Bandit, maybe we should try to do one of these each week???
Iran-Saudi Rivalry deepens
Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs
A themes a theme for a' that! I do recommend the Asia Times. This article pulled from foreign Policy in Focus.
I suppose we atill arent allowed to suggest that taking Iraq out of the regional power balance was an act of idiocy by the Blair-Bush axis...or that delivering Iraq to Iran raised idiocy to the rank of self-harm? I have a new Staff College entrance essay title: Can the UK prevent the US continuing to shoot itself in the foot??
A themes a theme for a' that! I do recommend the Asia Times. This article pulled from foreign Policy in Focus.
I suppose we atill arent allowed to suggest that taking Iraq out of the regional power balance was an act of idiocy by the Blair-Bush axis...or that delivering Iraq to Iran raised idiocy to the rank of self-harm? I have a new Staff College entrance essay title: Can the UK prevent the US continuing to shoot itself in the foot??
Ankara feels the squeeze
Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs
Another in a linked series for today. Interesting article: almost a brief for an essay on "Can or should Turkey build a bridge between Iran and the EU?"...Staff College entrance exam 2010
Energy pipelines, Security Council votes, Islamism and secularism, the competition for influence in the "stans"...can Turkey follow its own national interest without offending the US of A?...The question could probably be asked of every EU member state, except Poland and the Baltic Republics...Discuss
Another in a linked series for today. Interesting article: almost a brief for an essay on "Can or should Turkey build a bridge between Iran and the EU?"...Staff College entrance exam 2010
Energy pipelines, Security Council votes, Islamism and secularism, the competition for influence in the "stans"...can Turkey follow its own national interest without offending the US of A?...The question could probably be asked of every EU member state, except Poland and the Baltic Republics...Discuss
The future of Iran is waiting for our support
The future of Iran is waiting for our support - Telegraph
It gives me great pleasure to be able to quote Christopher Booker after years of swivel-eyed lunacy on the European Union. Bring back the concept of "freedom fighter" and get rid of this blanket idiocy of "all terrorism must be opposed". Even Thomas Aquinas recognised the right to rebel, let alone Aristotle. we're back in some bizarre version of the 19th Century Congress system...."History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy [Cold War versus anti-imperialism], the second as farce [Airstrip One]." That should get the Bandit going!
It gives me great pleasure to be able to quote Christopher Booker after years of swivel-eyed lunacy on the European Union. Bring back the concept of "freedom fighter" and get rid of this blanket idiocy of "all terrorism must be opposed". Even Thomas Aquinas recognised the right to rebel, let alone Aristotle. we're back in some bizarre version of the 19th Century Congress system...."History repeats itself, the first time as tragedy [Cold War versus anti-imperialism], the second as farce [Airstrip One]." That should get the Bandit going!
Iran Aims to Revive Silk Road, Escape Isolation
Iran Aims to Revive Silk Road, Escape Isolation - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty � 2010
Continuing the thread, More analysis of what Iran is up to in Central Asia and its goal of becoming a conduit between Europe and China. Get'em trading. Tends to make 'em less militaristic, eh?
Continuing the thread, More analysis of what Iran is up to in Central Asia and its goal of becoming a conduit between Europe and China. Get'em trading. Tends to make 'em less militaristic, eh?
Asia Times Onliine: Pipelines
Asia Times Online :: Central Asian News and current affairs, Russia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan
This is a cracker of a story from earlier in the year. Turkmenistan gas going to Iran, Russia and China. Nice map. Excellent article.
This is a cracker of a story from earlier in the year. Turkmenistan gas going to Iran, Russia and China. Nice map. Excellent article.
MoD's forced cuts could prove a blessing -
MoD's forced cuts could prove a blessing - Telegraph
Dear old Torygraph. It would support the Conservatives even if they converted to Islam. But how goes partnership with the French, the Germans, the Dutch?
Dear old Torygraph. It would support the Conservatives even if they converted to Islam. But how goes partnership with the French, the Germans, the Dutch?
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Tony Blair's 'naivete' risked Northern Ireland peace deal
Tony Blair's 'naivete' risked Northern Ireland peace deal | Politics | The Guardian
the articles is on a new book by Mary Alice Clancy who appears to be a colleague of mine. the book appears to be the book of her PhD, so I'd better get out there and read it.
Was my little Tony really this naive?
the articles is on a new book by Mary Alice Clancy who appears to be a colleague of mine. the book appears to be the book of her PhD, so I'd better get out there and read it.
Was my little Tony really this naive?
Monday 9 August 2010
IT? Hang on checking my dictionary…
IT? Hang on checking my dictionary… | Shijuro_is_not_georgedixon's Blog
This is an extremely accurate description of the state of Information Technology accessible to the police officer out there doing the job. Yet we are constantly told that our privacy is being undermined as citizens. Who has access to all the data that is being collected and under what conditions?
This is an extremely accurate description of the state of Information Technology accessible to the police officer out there doing the job. Yet we are constantly told that our privacy is being undermined as citizens. Who has access to all the data that is being collected and under what conditions?
Saturday 7 August 2010
RAF to shrink to World War One levels
RAF to shrink to World War One levels - Telegraph
Is this another "first cut" that will eventually be much reduced to where they really want to be? I love the accusation that Labour overspent...simultaneous with the accusation that they underspent and harmed our security..."These are not Tory cuts!"
What do the really mean for UK security??...That we will have to get more involved with France and a European Defence Force, I suppose...Janes "do we have to?" Ships
Is this another "first cut" that will eventually be much reduced to where they really want to be? I love the accusation that Labour overspent...simultaneous with the accusation that they underspent and harmed our security..."These are not Tory cuts!"
What do the really mean for UK security??...That we will have to get more involved with France and a European Defence Force, I suppose...Janes "do we have to?" Ships
Thursday 5 August 2010
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