tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56626632012-01-06T11:03:38.483Za blog on british politics, defence & national security, British-German relations, European integration, transatlantic affairs, Church of England issues and architecturetimmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comBlogger4981100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-37715596603896189262010-04-24T22:27:00.001+01:002010-04-24T22:27:32.041+01:00

REMEMBER....

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-34207954929299788982008-08-01T11:30:00.002+01:002011-01-15T09:12:31.651Z

YOU READ IT HERE FIRSTOr maybe not? Here's historian Arthur Herman in the current issue of Commentary (NOT my favourite mag. . . ): What these and other such statements remind us is that, by the time George Bush entered the White House in January 2001, the United States was already at war with Iraq, and in fact had been at war for a decade, ever since the first Gulf war in the early 1990’s. (This

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-13374589740674911502008-04-24T12:11:00.002+01:002008-04-24T12:18:00.127+01:00

"WHITES ONLY"?At Harry’s Place there’s a story about a council which introduced male "Muslim only" swimming sessions or not as the case seems to be. But in the course of trying to ascertain from the staff whether that was indeed the official policy or not, HP’s writerasked him whether Clissold Leisure Centre would institute Whites Only swimming for racists. His answer was that they would, if

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-32618785181397884202007-12-01T17:41:00.000Z2007-12-01T17:43:13.742Z

YOU'RE AWAY FOR 2 MONTHSAnd all sorts of stuff changes.David Cameron? Back in late September I argued with someone that theoretically the Tories would be making a comeback soon, but that beyond the theory Cameron was just not cutting it. Now he's kicking polling ass.Mean while the mighty Gordon Brown has descended into a farce and we've gone from weekly crises to daily ones. At the current rate,

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-19468847617220387932007-09-11T14:54:00.000+01:002007-09-11T14:55:53.328+01:00

YOU READ IT HERE FIRSTGeneral Petraeus yesterday:There will be no single moment at which we can claim victory; any turning pointwill likely only be recognised in retrospect Though you could have read that thought on my blog three years ago:So when will it be over? It will be over on the last day coalition forces in Iraq carry out the last combat operations to maintain internal order. Of course we

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-36701459102513525092007-08-30T14:47:00.000+01:002007-08-30T14:48:41.263+01:00

TWO POSTINGSin a month. That's gotta be some kind of anti-record for the site. So quick time to put this one in. In fairness to myself I have been well busy, as one says. Anyways....You scored as Classical Liberal, You are a classical liberal. You are sceptical about much of the historicity of the Bible, and the most important thing Jesus has done is to set us a good moral example that we are to

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-51008547256261253382007-08-01T15:22:00.000+01:002007-08-01T15:27:15.156+01:00

ON GOOGLE NEWSOn a confusing issue about privacy, property rights and stuff, this is what we read on the aggregator page: Medical Correspondent Children born from donated sperm or eggs should have this recorded on their birth certificates, MPs and peers said yesterdayWhy are the children of medical correspondents being singled out in this way....

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-41890944911651759162007-07-15T11:11:00.000+01:002007-07-15T11:12:50.772+01:00

BLAIR IN A NUTSHELL, PART 2Since the first in this series he's actually left Downing Street, seemingly into complete nothingness; no press conferences, no grand standing alternative careers (yet) and no more "Blair - the legacy bla bla bla" stories. So, here's my second look-back. One thing Blair loved was changing names, for various nefarious purposes no doubt and not just because he was

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-17625377514067882102007-07-13T13:16:00.000+01:002007-07-13T13:19:06.366+01:00

RACIALLY AHEMSo, further to this story about banning racist TinTin books, Tim Worstall has a good example of food that would probably not be marketed like this in the UK . . . .Which brings me neatly to my own humble contribution: In Germany you can buy an ice cream from supermarkets called Nogger (yes, I had to read it twice too). Chocolate ice cream, as if it needed saying. Looking for some

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-75784447538358786552007-07-12T15:05:00.001+01:002011-01-15T09:13:10.234Z

MORE BASRA TERRORI'm sure I'm not the only rubbing his eyes over this story, Giant man-eating badgers stalk Basra: now a plague of giant man-eating badgers are stalking the streets of Basra atnight according to residents.The city, already prey to a nasty turf warbetween rival militia factions, has now been gripped by a scary rumour that thegiant animals are attacking humansOf course,

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-14703088648932639072007-06-30T15:33:00.000+01:002007-06-30T15:34:28.814+01:00

INTERNET MEME OF THE MONTHI’m told is LOLcats. Dear me. Here’s the first that comes up, including other animals too.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-64423632033694235232007-06-29T21:40:00.000+01:002007-06-29T21:43:48.285+01:00

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENTSo, via a blog I don't link to as I want to remain family-friendly, I stumble on this from National Review. The piece is written by one Denis Boyles, who has a book entitled: Vile France: Fear, Duplicity, Cowardice and Cheese.(Ok, maybe only I think that's funny, but it does sound like an episode of 'Allo 'Allo)But from there we come to this piece in the Guardian by Roy

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-57018730835124499022007-06-28T21:02:00.000+01:002007-06-28T21:03:39.471+01:00

PRIORITIES, PLEASEHave I missed it, or does the current edition of the Spectator not carry one single full article on last weekend’s EU action? I mean, this is The Story. Instead we get some more stuff on Gordon Brown (as if we hadn’t had enough), which all things considered, for now is just trivial flim-flam. Given the debate about what resulted from the EU meeting (possibly the legal creation

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-61333128755346293722007-06-14T12:59:00.000+01:002007-06-14T13:04:51.619+01:00

FALKLANDS VICTORY AT 25Well done!Also, read this address by Thatcher and this article from one of the more prominent veterans. And don't forget to visit here:

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-89194678994532973632007-06-06T13:32:00.000+01:002007-06-06T13:36:02.926+01:00

ON THIS DAY IN I'm not sure, but I seem to remember the troops are Canadian, a country whose contribution to the battle for liberty was (and is!) often overlooked.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-72716376733584913272007-05-18T15:17:00.000+01:002007-05-18T15:18:25.952+01:00

BLAIR IN A NUTSHELL, PART 1If you want to read 60-page supplements in every newpaper and magazine up and down the land feel free to do so. I’ll be doing the Blair Years review in short chunks instead. Here’s a good little starter which is, all things considered, typical Blair.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-26651361911012239352007-05-13T15:38:00.000+01:002007-05-13T15:42:10.337+01:00

RE: RECENT POSTSIt can be painful to watch people who don't know how to look the height of fashion. It looks like the folks at the Center for Security Policy have not quite learnt this lesson yet, for they inform us that: LOST has long been the crown-jewel of a community known as the transnational progressives ("transies") found in various quarters of this and foreign governments, international

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-20636538566667742852007-05-11T16:17:00.000+01:002007-05-11T16:21:53.887+01:00

THANK YOU FALKLAND VETSI know I'm posting this fairly randomly as today is no specific anniversary of the Falklands War that was on 25 years ago - just to point you to the British Legion's Falklands site.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-8000209805204363422007-05-07T18:13:00.000+01:002007-05-07T22:31:15.789+01:00

MEANWHILE . . . .I know I'm not updating this blog quite as regularly as I would like to, but unfortuntaly I have a life beyond bloggin. Ok, that's possibly not quite right, as I reckon I have enough time to do my blogging - after all in the real world I have to stay up-to-date with current affairs, so spending an extra 10mins or so jotting down my thoughts isn't exactly going to make me sweat. I

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-42407855410431993262007-04-20T12:39:00.000+01:002007-04-20T12:41:15.285+01:00

NEOLOGISMSPolitics moves fast these days, and so do the terms used to discuss it. For the fastness see my last posting: they were released the next day, so how up-to-date was that? Anyways . . . . Here's two newies I draw your attention to:Labrador Conservatism? Read the post it's got a few good points in it. I do wonder though whether it might be too optimistic about Cameron?Transnationalism, is

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-28428379664565187362007-04-04T06:33:00.001+01:002011-01-15T09:15:06.867Z

IRAN HOSTAGES: SITREP AND OPTIONSSo today the headlines seem a little more positive, but I’m not holding my breath we’ll see our kidnapped forces released anytime soon.Apologies for a lack of posting, the past week has been unexpectedly busy, but so this is going to be a lengthy one.First point is the question about the kidnapping. Now had those boats been in Iranian waters Iran’s conduct would

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-36337227677004790942007-03-26T11:42:00.001+01:002011-01-15T09:15:35.957Z

QUOTE OF THE DAYFurther to the fourth anniversary of the invasion into Iraq this from an Iraqi is quite good: The war launched four year ago gave me my country back, and armed me with hope. Maybe my hopes have been scaled back slightly and recalibrated, but they were never repudiated nor will they be. On this anniversary, I choose to remind myself that flawed freedom is far better than slavery in

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-14449664682806086042007-03-25T16:41:00.000+01:002007-03-25T16:42:46.193+01:00

BIBLICAL ELFIN SAFETYTitle inspired by the ASI Team, but I just wanted to show that health and safety mandating has a long, even ancient pedigree. Here’s the Good Book:When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if any one fall from it. (Deut. 22.8)

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1252683211138959302007-03-24T17:11:00.000Z2007-03-24T17:12:22.990Z

BNP DOESN’T WANT YOUR CRITICSIMOn youtube: A reader of mine has emailed me the link to this BNP video. He posted a critical message which vanished within hours. Taking it for a technical glitch he tried reposting it, only for it to be gone within minutes. Seems they weren’t too happy about some real criticism. Anyway I’ve tried it too and mine isn’t showing up anymore. If you have a YouTube

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-66045393659693418962007-03-23T15:06:00.001Z2012-01-06T11:00:52.175Z

LATEST IRANIAN KIDNAPPINGThe BBC report about Iran seizing 15 of our sailors is not too specific about the background, but I wouldn’t be suprised if this was a reprise of Iran’s previous kidnap of British servicemen. They got away with it last time so I guess they thought they could get away with it again. After British personnel are now officially accepting that Iranian undercover forces are

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-39219914764435456592007-03-20T13:32:00.000Z2007-03-20T13:33:29.637Z

OIF/TELIC FOUR YEARS ONDon’t want to write much about Iraq at the moment. Here’s a good piece by Christopher Hitchens. Somtime I’ll have a bit of a review of what I got wrong on Iraq. I wasn’t publishing back in March 2003, but you can have a look at my March 2004 review and consider it in the light of the following three years.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-48790511074479326722007-03-20T13:27:00.000Z2007-03-20T13:28:36.911Z

AND NOWMore squirrel action.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-14556597846021717162007-03-18T12:31:00.000Z2007-03-18T12:32:24.581Z

MELANIE PHILLIPSSeems the Mail's not paying well enough, our Mel has got herself some supplementary income.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-3985102250619590682007-03-16T22:28:00.000Z2007-03-16T22:32:11.372Z

WHAT WE REALLY NEEDConHom has a story about another Eurosceptic pressure group, this one to be called Global Vision (yawn). Plenty of criticism has been made in that posting, asking whether we don’t already have enough such outfits, which we certainly do a plenty. Problem is they keep missing the bigger picture, namely what our EU membership is really about.Why are we in the EU? It’s not to

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-89045977633303697762007-03-13T09:35:00.000Z2007-03-13T09:52:31.097Z

SPINELESS TORIES?Some think the Tories are only doing all this green stuff to get good pr, others fear they're serious. Well, the truth is sort of both. As Conservatives put it privately the just-announced air travel taxes are politics, not policy, and aim at marking their opposition against the government, and with the hope it will increase tension between Brown and Milliband.But it goes further

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-6000164308544613682007-03-06T12:04:00.000Z2007-03-06T12:05:12.693Z

NATO LEADERSHIPFrom today NATO’s big spring offensive against the Taliban is under way. Let’s hope it’ll be successful. Well, with a commander like this, should our hopes be up or down? Maj. Gen. Ton van Loon, commander of NATO forces in regional command south,announces that British forces, supported by Canadian and coalition troops, havelaunched an offensive to drive the Taliban out of northern

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-13794220307014960372007-03-01T11:38:00.000Z2007-03-01T14:42:54.137Z

BIT OF FUNIf you want a few smiles today why not drop by the Spine. I particularly liked these entries on the only useful diplomat ever to have served at the UN and this apt comment on the last year’s Toynbee-Churchill debate in the Tory party, and as for this I wonder how long that’ll remain satire?Another fun site has been this. There’s a Biblical abuse generator and I thought this on the

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-31946460447083951332007-02-28T14:26:00.000Z2007-02-28T14:28:56.222Z

WHAT’S IN A TITLE?IF the whole situation weren’t so awful this would be comical:Sudan's humanitarian affairs minister, accused of war crimes in Darfur by the International Criminal Court (ICC)Thank God there is such a position in the Sudanese government . . . Whether the ICC could prove much of a solution I don’t know (see here, here or here; make your own mind up).

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-45322539379241765812007-02-27T16:47:00.000Z2007-02-27T16:51:41.581Z

EUROSAUSAGES I bet this has already been going round the blogs but I still think it's excellent: "Our mistake was to spell everything out," says a senior German official."For 50 years, the people of Europe were happy to eat sausages. Then we came along and asked them whether they wanted to eat tubes stuffed with chopped-up sow's udders."He’s got a point, though I’m off now to have some sausage

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-22543088661931345902007-02-23T16:17:00.000Z2007-02-23T16:18:39.638Z

WORTH THE WHOLE LICENCE FEENobody should ever claim the BBC doesn't bring you the most important news right here and right now: Cat rescued from drowning in rain

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-14134180741950872542007-02-22T16:23:00.000Z2007-02-22T16:24:55.200Z

QUOTE OF THE DAYWhy state intervention is no perfect cure for market failures, by Jane Galt: 1) People are often stupid2) Bureaucrats are the same stupid people, with bad incentives.You may also like this cartoon version of the Road to Serfdom. Via Andrew Sullivan

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-44765714382167084142007-02-20T21:54:00.000Z2007-02-20T22:05:41.005Z

OLIVER "AFFLUENZA" JAMES: HAS HE HEARD OF DURKHEIM?This may strike readers as a polemical question, but it is kind of genuine. I am not going to bother disentangling James's various points about the link between either "selfish capitalism" and inequality and mental illness or however he wants to put it exactly (see here for more). What I haven’t seen in the debate that’s been on the blogs and in

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-71680545701215289852007-02-17T15:51:00.000Z2007-02-17T15:52:54.356Z

THICKIPEDIA . . . . . . well, more insult-opedia maybe. This entry on Modernism starts with the following sentence: The first writer is mark twain. tim skronski is a gay person thats retartedOne of the more significant aspects of Modernism for sure.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1171390138960328752007-02-13T18:06:00.000Z2007-02-13T18:09:50.710Z

"COMMUNITY" ALERTI don't know about my readers, but in 99% of all cases I can't stand the use of the word "community" in the political context. There's something gooey and unspecific about it that ticks me off. In any case it's normally a PC-word to say group of people. For my most recent encounter check this out, from the DfES' December 2006 Consultation Report: Languages Review, p.13: 2.29 In

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1170739568416029802007-02-06T05:21:00.000Z2007-02-06T05:26:52.216Z

TORIES DEFENDING LIBERTY AND ORDERI am very heartened by the news that the Conservatives are standing by our commitment to oppose id cards and longer detention without trial. The Government’s trying to sound off against this naturally: Mr Reid said: "David Davis has shown today that he and David Cameron talk toughwhile acting soft."Almost beyond satire coming from a member of this current Gov.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1170596934621080902007-02-04T13:44:00.000Z2007-02-04T14:03:17.473Z

DISCOVERING YOUTUBEI know there are serious things happening in the world that I should be adding my wisdom to, but I've just "discovered" YouTube . . . yeah, I know I'm a little behind the curve. Yes, I know, I'm not a particularly productive blogger at the moment and most readers will find this entry superfluous, but I'm somewhat busy. So just enjoy.It's a practically unlimited reservoir of

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1170424488516513732007-02-02T13:53:00.000Z2007-02-02T13:55:42.890Z

DOES BRITAIN IMPRISON TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE?Given the spate of recent stories about overflowing prisons, I have been hearing again and again this notion that Britain imprisons more than anyone else in Europe. Now in terms of prisoners per head of population that’s true. But is that really what matters? No, what matters is the proportion of prisoners to crimes and on that count Britain is third

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1170188536385745632007-01-30T20:19:00.000Z2007-01-30T20:23:37.543Z

TIMMYHAWK PERSONALITY REVEALEDLazy, uninspired, so a quiz again:You Are MidnightYou are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits.Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle.Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1169644960436663472007-01-24T13:19:00.000Z2007-01-26T17:07:23.110Z

STAND UP FOR SECURITY, STAND UP FOR ISRAELAny readers of mine who happen to be in Berlin this Sunday might one to consider this:

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1169644755157322982007-01-24T13:17:00.000Z2007-01-24T13:27:14.330Z

BUT, WHY . . . . ?So there I was looking for some brief info on David Miliband and I looked at his father’s entry and this caught my eye: . . . Adolphe Miliband, he was born in Brussels of Polish-Jewish emigré parents . . . was forced to relocate from Belgium in 1940 as Hitler's army moved westwards through the country and he managed to catch a boat for London at Ostend. Once in England he

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1169299143754369642007-01-20T13:16:00.000Z2007-01-20T13:20:33.686Z

THE FUTURE OF THE BBCThe Beeb has just secured itself some big happy funding increases, and inevitably there’s been some debate about the future of the corporation.Needless to say the increase is funding is completely unjustified, but it’s worth reiterating why this is so.I support the BBC existing as a public broadcaster in order to have news reporting and investigation that will be free of

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1169214841861373912007-01-19T13:52:00.000Z2007-01-19T13:56:24.113Z

MY POLITICAL PROFILENot really surprising I gues . . . .Your Political Profile:Overall: 70% Conservative, 30% LiberalSocial Issues: 75% Conservative, 25% LiberalPersonal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% LiberalFiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% LiberalEthics: 25% Conservative, 75% LiberalDefense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% LiberalHow Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1169122904590155342007-01-18T12:19:00.000Z2007-01-18T12:23:31.156Z

OUR UNION - REALLY IN DANGER?I can’t quite rid myself of the feeling that I am the only one who feels 300 years of British unity is something good and worth being happy about. There’s been so much bad blood been flowing about the future of the nation these past weeks and monthy, with a level of ill will towards each other I wouldn’t have thought possible. So I am heartened to see that not

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1168951612595158042007-01-16T12:44:00.000Z2007-01-16T12:52:22.446Z

THREE HUNDRED YEARS God save the Queen!

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1166693615037061982006-12-21T09:29:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:33:35.056Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I will be back in the new year, by which time I should be seriously re-energised; I really need a holiday.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1166691457737033202006-12-21T08:55:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:34:41.893Z

QUOTE OF THE DAYDumbJon is spot on here: When the BBC is being criticised by the Right, it's coming from mainstream rightists, when the criticism is coming from the Left, it's from people who think the CIA killed John Lennon to stop him revealing the truth about how the Jews were plotting to destroy the rainforest.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1166350853779044802006-12-17T10:19:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:35:01.010Z

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165868038286993282006-12-11T20:12:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:35:23.636Z

QUOTE OF THE DAYIndira Ghandhi:One must beware of ministers who can do nothing without money, and those who want to do everything with money.All too true, something worth bearing in mind in Britain today when we debate tax levels and public services.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165750286876098102006-12-10T11:28:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:35:54.440Z

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165591810226141842006-12-08T15:28:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:36:15.673Z

THIS MADE ME LAUGHAs I have professionally had to deal with this myself, I liked this clarification about David B. Smith: He is not related to the Economics Editor of the Sunday Times, David H. Smith, with whom he is occasionally confused.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165418937404626922006-12-06T15:27:00.001Z2011-01-15T09:23:10.180Z

TRIDENT RENEWAL: HOW TO USE OUR NUKESAs explained below we cannot reverse nuclear arms already aquired in the countries that have them. So, a realistic policy should firstly work at reducing their numbers, an area in which Britain is leading by example. The next realistic step is to stop further proliferation. The risk of this exists in two broad regions: the Pacific and the broader Mediterranean

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165417888727070062006-12-06T15:07:00.001Z2011-01-15T09:23:40.481Z

TRIDENT RENEWAL: TOWARDS NUCLEAR DISARMAMENTNeedless to say, it would be nice to be done entirely with such expensive and dangerous weapons, but Britain alone cannot not achieve anything with unilateral moves, except disadvantage the UK’s strategic position.However, nuclear disarmament can only work if all potential competitors agree to do likewise, and in a simultaneous and verifiable fashion.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165415923138324962006-12-06T14:37:00.001Z2011-01-15T09:24:05.583Z

TRIDENT RENEWAL: WHY WE NEED ITI want to keep this post as short as possible. Basically it is the right decision to renew Britain's nuclear weapons because we live in a strategic neighbourhood with other nuclear powers, and many potential ones. The motives of these are not always going to be benign, so we need to be sure the balance of power doesn'zt shift too much to our disadvantage.The

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1165146241440776542006-12-03T11:43:00.000Z2006-12-21T09:37:45.240Z

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1156866729394360242006-08-29T16:51:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:52:09.396+01:00

COMPLETE BREAK UNTIL NOVEMBERAs has been apparent I have had only very little time to update my blog. This is mainly due to job-related time constraints and very sporadic internet access. This is not going to change for some time unfortunately. In fact it’s possible I might shut down for good. Either way I will know by early November when I’ll be back, either in full swing or to say goodbye to

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1156865300073618682006-08-29T16:27:00.003+01:002011-09-29T20:51:30.636+01:00

LEGAL ISSUES ON INVADING IRAQI will flesh this out properly one day but given some discussions I have been party to recently I though I might as well make my key points again:There are differing views by legal experts. I have no legal training so I am not qualified to examine all relevant documents in the correct manner.It is true that the accusation is often raised that those who support the

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1156865978971972162006-08-29T16:27:00.002+01:002008-11-03T16:00:20.126Z

DISPIRITING TIMESI know I have these sorts of moans every once in a while. Recently I have been having one of those phases again, where everything just seems to be going wrong for no good reason and people who should know better don’t.Look at the Lebanon war’s aftermath. The outcome of Tzahal’s very lacklustre performance has left the Hizb’allah in place, albeit weakened. But what is happening

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1155462763641887902006-08-13T10:45:00.000+01:002006-12-06T14:44:14.673Z

NEW TORY LOGO?There is news now that "Dave" wants to change our logo. This incidentally reminded me of a little detail. Back in May I wrote a column* suggesting that Cameron was fighting the party's path back to power by the book. I observed then that this was not a metaphorical book, but was quite specifically Nicholas Boys Smith's True Blue. How Fair Conservatism can win the next election. So,

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1153931542856900432006-07-26T17:31:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:40:34.506+01:00

ANTI-SEMITIC TORY NUTStephen Pollard has a good reminder why it took me so many years to join the Conservative Party. What else can one possibly say about it? I would add that he once also so fit to conjure up images of Nazis-likeness againt the European Central Bank. In fact it might have been more appropriate for him then to say that Israel’s actions are akin to introducing the euro without a

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1153588238193859172006-07-22T18:08:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:40:52.566+01:00

QUOTE OF THE DAYBumped into this randomly but it made me smile nonetheless:And socialism, like history, repeats itself: the first time as genocide, the second time as therapy.John O'Sullivan

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1148924915056662702006-05-29T18:46:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:41:10.893+01:00

I WILL BE BACK SOONIn the meantime I've noticed I should pack my bags and move:Which country should you REALLY be living in? United States of America You're an American through and through. You like the idea of liberty and freedom, and enjoy watching the odd ball game with your trusty weener bun and your bud light. Sweet, dude. Click Here to Take This QuizBrought to you by YouThink.com quizzes

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1147089788387345032006-05-08T12:58:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:41:30.093+01:00

AND THEN IT WAS FREE . . .

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1146832075403195062006-05-05T13:18:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:41:45.863+01:00

LOCAL ELECTIONS: SOME GOOD MAY FOLLOW . . .I was glad to see that my team romped home with a win of about 250 seats, so dragging myself down to the church hall half an hour before closing time was worth after all.To some extent these results have fuelled the Cabinet reshuffle that was being geared up before. I heaved a sigh of relief on hearing that Jack Straw was leaving Foreign; he was pretty

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1145907044419460532006-04-24T20:29:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:42:22.906+01:00

ON THIS DAY INIn the UK

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1145635279706800322006-04-21T16:59:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:42:54.616+01:00

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE . . .OUCH!The military utilities aside, have a look at the logo of the Army’s new special forces support group. Who on earth designed THAT?! And which organisation's emblem does it remind you of? Ouch, ouch, ouch. The amount of puns about this could be endless, you know, instead of ‘sas lite’, perhaps ‘ss lit’ et al. You know when Richard North warns of the ”Europeanisation”

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1145277809165651352006-04-17T13:42:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:43:18.586+01:00

IRANIAN NUKES: THE TIMETABLE TIGHTENSA little late behind on this but it must be noted that Iran has taken another step towards nukes by successfull enrichment. What this underlines is that the timetable for coming up with a solution to the conflict is tightening. It also unbderlines that a soft diplomatic way of stopping the process is not really on the cards. Iran has constantly kept

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1144684514022893502006-04-10T16:53:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:43:37.610+01:00

QUOTE OF THE DAYSomewhat boring but essential point nonetheless:Fighting terrorism is like being a goalkeeper. You can make a hundred brilliantsaves but the only shot that people remember is the one that gets past Paul Wilkinson

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1143625653571079772006-03-29T10:43:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:43:58.896+01:00

THE BIBLE ON CROSSDRESSINGReasonable people may doubt that the Bible really needed to address the vexed moral question of whether or not it’s ok to wear clothing generally associated with the opposite sex. But whilst having a little evening browse through the Good Book I found this: "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1143475300546115442006-03-27T17:00:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:44:23.233+01:00

SUPPORTING ISRAELVia Mick Hartley here’s an interesting piece on support for Israel. But I don’t really want to be too serious today, so it’s good to see that on a related note Henryk Broder also has something on the topic: A man arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport with 2 large bags.The customs agent opens the first bag and finds it full with money in different currencies. The agent asks

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1143449624672242252006-03-27T09:52:00.000+01:002006-08-29T16:44:41.040+01:00

EUROVISION: BRITAIN’S COMING VICTORY?I only briefly caught bits of the the selection show some time and was already happy that the vote elected the best song to represent us as this year’s Eurovision, Daz Sampson’s ‘Teenage Life’ (Cheese and Cringe alert on, obviously). I’ve started listening through the other countries’ entrants, and from what I’ve heard so far Daz’s track is in a different

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1143030467620531162006-03-22T12:26:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:45:01.036+01:00

QUOTE OF THE DAYHere’s someone who shares one of my pet hates:the most interesting thing about the show would be seeing Tom Cruise animated, a state he certainly hasn’t been in for any of his previous screen appearancesMichael Gove

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1143027103065412572006-03-22T11:30:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:45:23.070+01:00

QUOTE OF THE DAYIn accordance with my usual moaning here’s a great quote: domestic policy decides how we live, foreign policy decides whether we liveKonrad Adenauer

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1140908678372061462006-02-25T22:59:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:45:39.596+01:00

TIMMYHAWK WORDCLOUDI've tried to adapt it by ignoring obvious blogtitles so this should be sorta accurate:Make your own at Snapshirts.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1140815152477998222006-02-24T21:05:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:45:58.756+01:00

I ACTUALLY PREFER DARK AND BITTER MYSELF . . . You are Milk ChocolateA total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds.You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life.Also nostelgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment... even those from long ago.What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1140775677989639192006-02-24T10:06:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:46:17.626+01:00

BRITAIN GETS SERIOUS?I do whine quite often about how the British public is so parochial that it doesn’t care about the serious business of foreign affairs, but here is some encouragement from recent polling: Defence/foreign affairs/terrorism is regarded as the key issue facing the country (34% of the public spontaneously say this) ahead of the NHS (33%), race relations/immigration (30%) and

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1140189410978258522006-02-17T15:13:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:46:35.443+01:00

WHAT A DOUR WEEKI should be blogging properly on all of this, but it’s not so much anger but despair that marks my reaction to what’s been going on in the past days. Where to start?ID cards. Has anybody anywhere seen anything resembling a convincing argument that we actually need these breathing licenses? Sure their cheerleaders have argued well, if not convincingly, that they won’t turn this

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1138969863073613532006-02-03T12:29:00.000Z2006-08-29T16:46:49.960+01:00

NO BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQI saw parts of Question Time last night, which was not quite the freak show that it normally is, so at least that was a relief. One of the questions about withdrawing British troops from Iraq got me thinking that we don’t really have a proper debate about the issue in this country. It’s not that it doesn’t get debated, it’s just that the conclusion is virtually

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1138822072099993482006-02-01T19:25:00.000Z2006-04-24T20:33:32.876+01:00

IS BUSH GETTING IT?A theme I have turned to sometimes seems to getting through to Bush: "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world," Bush said. "The best way to break this addiction is through technology."Well, he’s got the wording right, but then he usually does – it’s the implementation that normally leave to be desired . . .

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1138222919317261362006-01-25T20:57:00.000Z2006-04-17T13:45:54.990+01:00

DEALING WITH IRAN: WHY WE NEED AN ISRAELI SECURITY GUARANTEEIs it time for an "Osiran" strike? Is the solution to the current crisis about Iran's nuclear weapons programme a repeat of Israel's famed attack on Saddam's Osirak facility, or O'Chirac if you prefer that spelling?I can see that many people are hoping this is going to happen. In a way it's a dream scenario: Israel does the actual

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1137531208667451532006-01-17T20:50:00.000Z2006-04-17T13:46:18.876+01:00

“BOMB AL JAZEERAH!”- WHY?So we see the return of the story about how Bush allegedly wanted to bomb the headquarters of the Al Jazeerah tv channel in Quatar. I don’t know whether or not this is accurate but there is something else I have been wondering about: why would he even consider it? I am just assuming from hearsay that al-J’s reporting of Western military effort is biased against the

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1137453670778538082006-01-16T23:20:00.000Z2006-03-29T10:48:36.926+01:00

NOTHING TOO SERIOUS, BUT PLENTY OF BAD LANGUAGEI am far too tired for anything sensible, so I bring you this little gem, which provides hours, well more like minutes to be honest, of entertainment. The fun wears off after about five or six runs, but otherwise it’s well worth a visit.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1137327780128122742006-01-15T12:17:00.000Z2007-03-23T15:12:38.354Z

WAR WITH IRAN?I thought it would be useful to have all relevant postings and links on the conflict with Iran accessible in one place, so here is. Obviously you can disregard the dateline on this as I will be updating this posting regularly. March 23, 2007 LATEST IRANIAN KIDNAPPINGApril 17, 2006 IRANIAN NUKES: THE TIMETABLE TIGHTENSJanuary 25, 2006 DEALING WITH IRAN: WHY WE NEED AN ISRAELI

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1137237677496680122006-01-14T11:19:00.000Z2006-03-27T11:19:00.116+01:00

THE DECLINE OF TRADITION, TODAY: CRISPSIn an article in the current Economist on changes in Britain's dietary behaviour, particularly the decline in traditional crisp consumption, this made me laugh: Sales of premium products such as Kettle Chips and Walkers Sensations increased between 2002 and 2004, and low-fat crisps sold better too.True to form, Golden Wonder's response was flatfooted. It

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1137148668864544532006-01-13T10:36:00.000Z2006-03-22T12:28:35.806Z

ARE WE READY FOR WAR WITH IRAN?It seems like the situation is beginning to hot up for real this time. The EU-3 have made it clear that referral to the UN Security Council is now seriously on the table. Whilst in itself that may not be daunting challenge to the current Iranian regime, it does however signal a change in EU attitudes. Additionally, taking the issue to the UN marks the end of the

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1137063310040420912006-01-12T10:53:00.000Z2006-03-22T11:32:40.126Z

IF "JARHEAD" IS A SERIOUS FILM . . .. . . then why is it being advertised with a web banner that screams: Win a Tank Driving Experience! That strikes me more as the kind of thing you would do promote some jingoist action flick, rather than a "meditation about war".Bad PR? Or perhaps this is just super-clever post-modern advertising. One of the most noted passages in Anthony Swofford's book that

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1136974264438334762006-01-11T10:09:00.000Z2006-02-25T23:07:04.496Z

QUOTE OF THE DAYVia EU Referendum, On the unbelieveable desire to resurrect the failed EU constitutional treaty, here’s Denis MacShane: The Totentanz is fine for gothic horror stories but climbing into the coffin of the corpse of the constitution is taking necroeurophilia too far

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1136918323390701232006-01-10T18:37:00.000Z2006-02-24T21:08:39.233Z

BRITAIN’S SELF-DESTRUCTION CONTINUESThat Sir Michael Rose, eh? I wonder if anybody is surprised by today’s news that he’s joined in the chorus of “impeach Blair!”. I’m certainly not. According to Sir Mikey, Blair “mislead” Parliament and the public over invading Iraq. There are arguments I can’t be bothered to enter into anymore, and this is certainly one of them. But there is something else

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1136814406512456572006-01-09T13:45:00.000Z2006-02-24T10:09:36.106Z

A BAD BEGINNING TO THE NEW YEARWhereas most of the UK press seems to be obsessed and “surprised” by the fact that Charles Kennedy may have enjoyed a drink or two more than his thirst required, in other parts of the world actually important things are happening: Iran ready to remove U.N. seals at nuclear sites. Perhaps this should warrant more attention? Just a thought.

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1135286805877839812005-12-22T21:23:00.000Z2005-12-22T21:28:12.746Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAHAs you may have noticed I am far to busy in my real life to do any regular posting at the moment so I figured I might as well take a proper break until real-world issues have been decisively dealt with. That means I will not be back until Monday, January 9.I am as always bemused by the arguments being traded over Christmas. There are some Christians who complain

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1135159912024411952005-12-21T10:10:00.000Z2005-12-22T21:28:35.460Z

SLOPPY EDITING, TODAY THE TIMESIn a report on the EU budget argument over the rebate: Some Blairite MPs had suggested that Mr Brown, in tabling a Commons written answer setting out the full costs of Britain giving up part of the rebate, was deliberately highlighting the additional cost in later years. The seven-year deal is “back loaded” so that Britain is giving up £2 million at the end of the

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1134398718039238572005-12-12T14:44:00.000Z2005-12-22T21:32:48.956Z

SLOPPY EDITING, TODAY: THE EMBASSY, BERLINI know this could happen to anyone, but it’s still funny:If you don not speak English or German you must brin an independent interpreter with you.And presumeable if you can’t write it, please apply for a job . . .

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1134064225603192522005-12-08T17:48:00.000Z2005-12-22T21:33:13.883Z

IRAQ AS KOREAVia Clive Davis here’s great column by Anne Applebaum comparing Iraq not to Vietnam but to Korea. I think Applebaum is quite on the money here though I still find it too defeatist. But I think it’s worth comparing how the issue has shifted since I made the Iraq-Korea analogy more than two years ago. At the time I thought Korea was not the way to go and we needed to push for genuine

timmyhawkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12489574134439276510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5662663.post-1133976340243427932005-12-07T17:23:00.000Z2005-12-22T21:33:30.603Z

TIM MONTGOMERIE ON COOL NEW SPECCIE SITEI quite like the redesigned Spectator website. There’s a links section, never a bad thing, and there’s a news aggregator bit which collects the most substantive news items around. Whilst I have been sceptical about “oficial” blogs in the past, the Speccie’s blog is quite readable. There’s a good entry there by Tim Montgomerie who normally edits

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THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER: DAVID CAMERON?Well, so the sunshine kid got it. Good for him. Whether or not this will be good for party and country we will have to wait and see. Far too early to say anything definite I feel. But I do wonder whether he will give up his day job though? Well it does use all the buzzwords: “. . . progressive and forward looking . . . continuously evolving . . . ask

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FAIR PORTRAYAL OF MUSLIMS IN BRITISH MEDIAWell I suppose it had to happen some day. David t at Harry’s Place has the story. Whilst it may be the remaining liberal do-gooder instinct in me that are the main course for my occasional concern over the vilification of Muslims, I think right-wing hawks should bear in mind that this matters a lot. Think about some of the arguments raised against the

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