Monday, December 18, 2006
  18/12 – THE HYPOCRICY OF BLAIR
I was watching the news yesterday night, and saw Blair’s annual trip to the Middle East for a photo opportunity with the British forces out there. And one of his comments really bemused me:

“Every time you go out and take on insurgents, you are striking a blow for out values that means a lot to people back home.”
- The text might not be completely accurate because I had to transcribe it quickly.

But the phrase you are striking a blow for our values, just seems odd being proclaimed by a Prime Minister that has become so fanatical about the ‘War on Terrorism’ that, he regularly throws our values and liberties, like chaff into the wind in increasingly illogical attempts to preserve our values.

How can he then stand on a podium, and congratulate our soldiers, for fighting for our values: when he isn’t even attempting to act as a bulwark for our values domestically.
  11:32 PM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, December 14, 2006
  Thursday 14th December 2006
There are very few days where you can reasonably state that there has been a sea-change in the very fabric of a country. In every aspect of the country, its politics, its legal system, and its self-respect has been diminished by the actions of this Labour government today.

Firstly: for the first time in history, a serving prime minister has been questioned over the cash-for-honours investigation, strangely enough – because he is the only person who is able to recommend people for peerages – he was not questioned under caution, which indicates that he will not be prosecuted. From that you could surmise that there will be no charges brought against anyone because, if the man who recommends peerages to HM Queen Elizabeth cannot be proved to be involved then who can you prosecute?

The media speculate that Lord Levy is the most plausible possibility to be the defendant if this case is pursued to the expected conclusion, however, I cannot foresee how a case can be built if the defendant was not in the position to actually authorise the peerages. Maybe it would help if I actually studied law.

Secondly: The cabinet have decided to prevent the serious fraud squad from pursuing an investigation into BAE systems ‘bribes’ to Saudi Arabian officials – an investigation that has been ongoing for two years – because of national interest issues. That-is-to-say that economic interest now outweighs the rule of law, so if this is a precedent any illicit or criminal act is now is now irrelevant as long as it provides jobs! That’s what it looks like.

I did hear some of Lord Fawkner’s speech on the news, and he legitimised this action not on economic reasoning but on diplomatic national interests. In my opinion it is in the interest of this country to maintain the rule of law, and the pursuit of justice, rather than ensuring that the next arms order is not jeopardised. Another reason for this apparent allergy of justice, is because the government fear a threat to national security so again we pervert what we are defending in order to be victorious – if we continue to pursue this avenue the terrorists will have won without raising another arm in anger.

Thursday, 14th December, 2006, is a pivotal moment, the day we realised that British politics we no less corrupt than other countries, gone are the days where we sought display our political system as a model of best practice to the world. A day typified when the government said that law is only enforceable if it is economically prudent to do so.

Thursday, 14th December, 2006, is a black day in British history.
  11:53 PM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
  12/12 – GOODBYE KOFI ANNAN
A great leader of the United Nations, stifled by the US (primarily) and others, in many aspects: the reform of the organisation itself; and, the capacity of the organisation, funding and global role to name but a few. He wasn’t perfect, as demonstrated by the oil-for-food programme. But nevertheless a good insightful leader, who wanted to put the protection of the human at the forefront of the United Nations work, but sadly as we can see with Sudan he wasn’t successful because of the non-committal attitudes of various key members of the Security Council.

His parting words to the United Nations were as truthful as ever:
“No nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over all others.”

I encourage you all to read his final speech which can be found here.
  12:05 AM 0 comments links to this post