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Archive for July, 2009

With the sad repatriation of 8 British soldiers today, there is obviously lots of media attention and politicians of all parties spouting this or that. Whilst the lack of helicopters is a major issue, of itself it is not the solution.

It should be borne in mind that the casualties suffered by a Rifles foot patrol that virtually eliminated a whole section could not have been prevented by any equipment. As part of holding the ground and reassuring the civilian population requires foot patrols which means however altered on a daily basis, a pattern will be created that the Taliban can take advantage of knowing where the troops will be and how they will react to a threat.

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There was a Leader in today’s independent “Our troops in Afghanistan need the right tools for the job” – http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-our-troops-in-afghanistan-need-the-right-tools-for-the-job-1740129.html

I have no wish to be an armchair general but it set me thinking and in doing so, to question what seems to have become the orthodox thinking of the media which is I feel obscuring the real issues. There are many questions hanging over operations in Afghanistan not least of which being, “Do we have the staying power ?” As the largest contributors of combat forces, this is the issue that both the British and American public need to face and be faced with.

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The ‘story’ published by the Guardian today about thousands of people having had their mobiles bugged right from the off, was more than slightly suspicious news story. A left wing paper which wants to damage the Conservatives at any cost combined with statements by Hune of the Libdems, Brown and Mandlebum is all really too obvious for words.

The ‘outrage’ expressed by all seems rather artificial to say the least and I found it hilarious when Yates of the Yard made it perfectly clear that as no new evidence had come to light, the case would not be further investigated and as an aside, that there was no evidence that John Prescott’s phone had been bugged anyway. Obviously, if it could be proved, the News of the World would be in-line for a whole series of law suits – tough luck !

There was an amusing Editorial in the Independent today concerning the “Democratic Deficit” of the EU. The key problem for the UK is that the “Continental System” based upon Napoleonic principles whereas the UK and indeed the Anglo-Sphere are based upon the “Adversarial System”.

To write “And that deficit adds fuel to the arguments of its muddle-headed critics.” is to insult people with genuine reservations. Further it is frankly arrogant in assuming that the orthodoxy so beloved of the chattering classes that the EU is a wonderful and “inherently good thing” without exception, is pots.

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Last weekend was the Gay Pride March in London and as a result, there have been a fair number of articles in the media about ‘gay issues’, Cameron apologising about past Tory attitudes towards gay issues, silly gay Labour politicians trying to smear the Tories as anti-gay and so on. On Sunday Peter Tatchell wrote an article in the Independent challenging David Cameron if he became PM to deliver on a number of “outstanding issues”.

During the late 1980′s whilst retraining, I supported myself by working evenings as a doorman at a London Gay West End pub. Despite my being straight it was not a problem for me nor, once the customers understood the way I worked, for them either. At the time and quite unfairly I thought having some gay friends so that I was ‘aware’ of it, the age of “consent” for gay men was still 21 although the age of majority had been reduced to 18 sometime earlier.

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Brown is undoubtedly a total disaster as Prime Minister following a pretty rubbish 10 years as Chancellor where he did one thing good albeit just to spite Blair, which was to keep us out of the Euro. But we in the UK really do need an Autumn election and whether that comes about by disaster hitting Brown personally or the Labour Party itself, no longer matters, the Country needs to move on.

I’ll be glad to see the back of him and his gang, time for a change and a fresh start without all the political blather from the Government which is to post rationalise past mistakes. Watching Brown announce “New Initiatives” is painful for most of us because we all know their time is up, 12 years is enough of a “turn at the wheel” whatever party you support.

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It really didn’t take too long did it ? Bercow’s election promise that he would “rebuke ministers” if they made announcements outside the House was crap or a downright lie. It is quite funny just how quickly Bercow has failed in the Speaker’s job and settled into Labour business as usual.

Lord Adonis announced a rail nationalisation of the East Coast route on the Today programme, 12 hours before the House was to hear an official announcement. Then there was Ed Balls on federating schools and Alan Johnson’s ID cards back-off – both announced first in the media and not before the House.

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I am a great Andy Murray fan. Not because he might have a chance of winning Wimbledon this year, that frankly is not that important, at 22 years of age, another year will do. The reason that I love Andy Murray is quite simply that I don’t have to watch him, eyes half-closed from behind the sofa as I do any “England Team” in whatever sport.

Andy does not have to win Wimbledon this year or any other because I know with a ‘certainty’ that he will win a number of Grand Slams during his career and as a consequence, I can happily watch every game he plays and, accept the result. By the same token it is irrelevancy whether he is seen as Scottish or British, he is quite simply a great Tennis player and it is a pleasure to watch him. Yes he is a ‘Brit’ and you want him to win but more than that, he is a young man with talent who has taken control of his life and drives forward to where he wants to be.

All I can say is Go Andy Go and for as long as it lasts, enjoy. For what it is may be worth, my best wishes go with you…