Clearly there is unlikely to be a military solution to the Libya crisis which does not cost many civilian lives. This is what UNSCR 1973 is designed to prevent. NATO, now in command, takes account of the letter and the spirit of the resolution, has ruled out arming the rebels, says that the arms embargo […]
At the moment all the political argument is about the cuts and their effect. Arguments break out about this service or that. More police or less and so on. Yet the very large numbers marching through London at the weekend demonstrated real unease. We ar now in the second phase of the cuts programme. The first […]
This blog has always had misgivings about this and now repeats an important principle of statecraft. Never intervene in a civil war. The reasons for this are many. Wars begun never end as expected. If a people take to violence upon each other whatever the apparent suffering, it may well get worse if others join […]
The introduction of the cheaper and more restricted (the spin word is targeted) edition of EMA has once again opened up an alarming fissure in the ideal of free education for all and the ability to provide it. Michael Gove had waiting in his in tray two priorities when he took office. The first was to introduce […]
There are now three political hotspots involving the U.K government. The Cuts, Education and Libya. Each makes headlines and provides endless commentary from those for and those against. This blog believes that the arguments are now drifting from the core principles driving them, creating flaws in both the policies themselves and the arguments against them. The next […]
It is not surprising that people, fearful for their jobs and incomes, join a protest march in large numbers. What is surprising is that they are led by those who claim there is another way, but do not say with clarity what that way is. This is because they dare not say the truth. Slowing […]
It is is beginning to look as if, whatever UNSCR 1973 says, Britain, France and the U.S. are interpreting it more proactively than some of its supporters expected. It is now clear that precision firepower is being directed at pro Gaddafi forces, so as to alow the rebels to advance. Moreover, after initial hesitation, this is […]
The wrangling appears to have ended in a fudge, which General Sir Mike Jackson has aptly described as less than ideal. Nato is to command the no fly zone, but Britain, France and the U.S. have to go it alone with the attacks on military infrastructure and formations threatening civilians. In other words the three allies are left with […]
On the face of it the military operation sponsored by Britain and France, with America as reluctant partner and the Arab league a somewhat fair-weather supporter, is going well. The technology is working well, the weapons appear far more accurate than in the Iraq war and civilian casualties appear minimal, in spite of the claims […]
David Mellor was right to say that governments cannot deliver growth; growth comes from the ambition and the enterprise of the people. This is very true, but not quite complete. Governments can certainly introduce policies which inhibit and restrict growth. Conversely they can create conditions where growth is more likely. There is a third way, […]