Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho

The persecution of Christian and Jewish communities in the Islamic world reached a new level of hatred with the murder of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho.

Archbishop Rahho was a Chaldean Christian; kidnapped after delivering mass in Mosul on 29th February 2008.

Silence, on this subject, is deafening from the British and American media outlets. One wonders why the media shies away from such acts of barbarity, when we are quick to hear about four "innocent civilians" killed by British forces when being ambushed by the Taliban in Helmand Province yesterday.

Cameron 'Steps Up to the Plate' - At Last!

At last, Tory leader David Cameron stood up for Conservative principles and destroyed Darling's Labour budget in 15 minutes of well directed salvos.

Lady Thatcher must have laughed when Cameron, who has done so much to distance himself from her policies, explained to the Labour MPs that expenditure should not be in excess of income. The fact that government borrowing is nearing £200 billion should ram this home to every sane minded person. Of course, this approach, espoused by Senator McCain, was ridiculed by many Republicans. He, of course, was right; as was lady Thatcher in the 70s and 80s, and as was Senator McCain.

Secretary of State for Children, Ed Balls, thinks of himself as a bit of an economist and a key Gordon Brown advisor. He shouted out in the middle of Cameron's response to the Budget that who cares if Britain is in debt and increasingly so. With an approach to economics like this, it demonstrates that Labour policy has not directed the UK economy, but has only spent the profits and the overdraft over the last 10+ years.

So, as the world economy hits bumpy seas, the US is able to reduce interest rates and levels of taxation, European and Oceanic countries are able to invest previous FY surpluses, etc. we have nothing in reserve. The cupboard is well and truly bare!

So, as I think of a glass of wine to soothe the bad mood, I realise that Labour have put an extra 14p of duty on a bottle of wine. Okay, a glass of whisky might be appealing. Then I think of the 55p of additional duty. Oh well, a litre bottle of cider, the favourite tipple of binge drinkers, under-age drinkers and alcoholics is only going up by 1p. Anybody for a glass of scrumpy?

I Will "Change the Ethics of Albany"!

Princeton and Harvard University 'old boy' Eliot Spitzer has once again shown how politicians exercise hypocrisy and hubris.

However, the extreme arrogance, as shown by Spitzer, demonstrates that it is always the most self-righteous that exercise the worst judgement.

So, if he has changed the ethics of Albany, then it was not for the better. Certainly, the $4,300 spent in his Mayflower romp now seems a particularly poor investment when having promised to wipeout crime and corruption in New York and exercising vindictiveness against Joe Bruno in 'Troopergate'.

Spitzer has well and truly been hoisted upon his own petard!

US and UK Again Blunder in Serbia

One of the many errors that former President Clinton made was to allow the Germas to 'bounce' NATO into recognising Slovenian and Croatian independence. Unfortunately, President Bush has failed to learn the lesson, and has repeated the stupidity, as stupidity is what it is.

Clinton failed to recognise the hundreds of years of mutual hatred in the Balkans, between Serb, Slav, and Muslim. More recently, whilst the Slav and Muslim peoples allied themselves with Hitler, atrocities were committed against the Serb.

Tito managed to keep both the Russians out of the newly formed Yugoslavia, and the Yugoslavs from the throats of one another. On his death, the far right nationalists strived for independence, as did the swathes of incoming migrants from Albania. Serb atrocities provided Clinton the opportunity to 'bloody' Russia's nose, and demonstrate their impotence. Fine; other than the break-up led to resentment amongst the Balkan countries, a rise in Russian nationalism, and a training ground for militant Islam.

So, now we see the birthplace of Serbia becoming the Islamic State of Kosovo. Should Russia choose to intervene, the West will be unable to respond. Much of the world policing is now down to the States, the UK, and Canada. With Australia becoming an unwilling ally, the UK and Canada are swiftly following. Countries such as Greece and Spain (quite correctly) are livid about the unstabling affects on their own seperatist leaning regions. The potential for a renewed war on our borders is clearly evident, with no realistic response immediately evident.

Either way, this will be a victory for Russian nationalism or militant Islam. Possibly both! It always amazes me, as oft I write, how world leaders try to make history without knowing the past.

Endorsement for ...

Well, tonight we see the Floriday Primary count that goes a long way to deciding the Republican nominee.

With the Liberal media and Conservative idealogues, in an unholy alliance, having spun Guiliani out of contention (so much for gratitude when it comes to his achievements in what was a crime ridden and terrorist targetted city); it now seems to have come down to three realistic contenders.

Firstly, a mention must go to Ron Paul. A man who, I seriously doubt, could identify Canada or Mexico on the map. The fact that the majority of his very few supporters could be identified as the 'missing links' and his holding of extreme libertarian views made his candidature rather ridiculous. His continued participation is as irrelevant as that of Edwards in the Democrat race.

Governor Huckabee seems a nice enough bloke, although his general appeal to those other than Evangelicals has yet to materialise. With a shortfall in funding, his bid now seems doomed. Although he is clearly short of relevant experience, he could appeal as a Vice President.

Governor Romney is attempting to buy the Republican endorsement, and comes across as an unsympathetic and bad-mannered character. Short of class, he would also struggle on the world stage although, no doubt, helping his corporate cronies 'feather their nest'. It would be inconceivable that he could beat either Clinton or Obama in a fight for the White House.

Senator McCain is a class act who has demonstrated his ability to put the interests of his country before party loyalty. Along with Senator Lieberman (D), he is one of the few politicians with principle and who has not added ear-marks onto bills passed into legislation. His war record speaks for itself, as does his humanity. When it comes to immigration; possibly too humane, although he realises that securing the US/Mexican border is now a priority. He is, undoubtedly, the only Presidential candidate, on either side, that will receive any form of respect from countries around the world. However, his age is of concern and could see him looking old and tired when up against a youthful and energetic Obama. Despite this, TAXING TIMES is pleased to endorse Senator John McCain for US President!

Obama Jumps Ino Bed With The Devil

Having been disappointed with the lack of policies espoused by Obama, it was with shock to see that he received the endorsement of Senator Edward Kennedy yesterday.

Why Obama would want Kennedy's endorsement is beyond me. However, it is to the credit of the American people that Kennedy has remained on the periphery of US politics. This despite his family name.

Notwithstanding Kennedy's support of the IRA during the 70s and 80s; to paraphrase the now immortal words of Rosie O'Donnel - "Senator Edward Kennedy and Chappaquiddick. Google it!"

MoD data loss ... that follows the DVLC data loss ... that follows the HMRC data loss ...

A Government that is desperate to introduce ID cards has once again demonstrated it's inability to protect UK identities. This is despite the patronising advertisments advising UK citizens on their reponsibilities in destroying personal documentation, etc.

The latest case involved a laptop computer being stolen from a Royal Navy officer in Birmingham last week. Despite the loss being taking place on 9th January, the MoD only disclosed that the laptop had been lost late last night. The result: the loss of details on 600,000 persons wanting to join the British Armed Services. The security implications are obvious, let alone the financial problems as 600,000 bank accounts could end up in criminal hands.

To assuage public concerns, the Government today informed us that it was treating the loss of this sensitive data with the "utmost seriousness". Well, that makes it okay then!

The real lesson is that our details are not, and have never been, safe in the hands of beaurocrats who could never hold down a job in the 'real world'.

Obama Barack: An Exercise in Vacuousness?

US Democrats and left-leaning Independents have demonstrated that, in their opinion, the singer is more important than the song. In this country, Blair had managed to win an election and retain power for an eternity with nothing little more than platitutudes and pandering to the left when necessary. Tory, David Cameron has been adopting the same approach, with similar appeals to the suburban chattering classes.

Now, presidential candidate Barack is attempting to follow this same road to power. There are two lines of attack. Firstly, convince the electorate they desperately need political change. Secondly, eloquently preach the message of change whilst striving to mention policy. This is done in challenging environments like The Oprah Winfrey Show or dancing the day away with doggie-lover Ellen De Generas, whilst avoiding the political pundits on Fox, CNN ...

Unfortunately, a record numbers of punters in Iowa and, probably, New Hampshire have fallen for this lame approach. Meanwhile, they forget his intention to attack Pakistan and his professed willingness to negotiate with the World's greatest dictators and despots. Confused? I am!!! How could someone trust their country to someone who is so totally out of his depth when it comes to issues on the world stage?

When looking at the Democrat candidates, Hillary Clinton appears to be the only one who has any idea about what constitutes a realistic policy. Trustworthy? Probably not. But she is a politician, and is undoubtedly a pragmatist determined to be the first woman President of the US. The US Armed Services would no doubt be victims to her political expediency, but the world would be a safer place without Barack's finger on the button.

A Happy New Year?

Although things appear to be going well, on a personal front, things are not quite so rosy with the outside world.

Islamic extremism remains the greatest threat to world wide peace. The horrendous assassination of Benazir Bhutto just the latest example in a long list of atrocities against those who strive for peace and reconciliation.

It seems apparent, to myself, that a recession is just around the corner. Greenspan is doing his best to destabilise the fragile US economy, Brown has all but bankrupted the UK, and mainland Europe continues to remain inefficient and corrupt.

Added to this is the British government's failure to maintain safety on the streets for the UK populace. Even the police want the right to strike as the Home Secretary renages on pay agreements. Our armed forces have been run ragged and overstretched. The English Channel no longer provides protecion against illegal immigration. The list goes on ...

So, this is a worrying time for us all. Having said that, a Happy New Year to one and all, and let's pray that my assessment is well wide of the mark.

Operational Overstretch for UK and US Air Forces?

It is perhaps reassuring to know that US politicians are managing to fail in a remarkably similar way to inept Labour politicians in the UK. Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends.

Age and operation overstretch has been blamed for the loss of the RAF Nimrod in Afghanistan on 2nd September 2006. The loss of 14 aircrew lives was the single loss of life for UK forces since the Falklands War.

Meanwhile, the US has been forced to ground it's fleet of approximately 700 F15s. The aircraft dates back to the mid-70s and is no longer in production. It is currently seeing service around the world including Iraq, Afghanistan and the UK. Perhaps, more importantly, it is also seeing service in outlying parts of the US; notably Alaska and Hawaii. Having already written about Russian incursions into US airspace, it was today reported by Fox News that Alaskan airspace will be defended by the Canadians until replacements can be found.

Whilst it can be assumed that F15 duties may be covered by other units, it is also known that the US Navy has now grounded a quarter of their 161 P-3Cs due to structural defects. Reuters reported that "that these aircraft are beyond known structural limits on the lower section of the P-3 wing". This is more problematic as these are submarine hunting aircraft, and replacements will be harder to come by.

What these events clearly demonstrate is that the two governments are sending airmen into the skies, in ageing aircraft that are well past their sell-by date. Not that the Nimrod or P-3 is obsolete. Rather, too much strain is put on the individual airframes, and without their replacements being funded for. These errors cost lives, and at a time when our politicians ask so much of the armed services.

Terrorism Shown To Pay

Once again, I return to the explosive topic of terrorism. Or rather, how terrorism does indeed pay. The source of the picture is Sky News who covered former conicted terrorist Mandela at the unveiling of a statue in Parliament Square. The irony that a terrorist should be honoured in a place so close to the Mother of all Parliaments is certainly not lost on me.

So at the same time as the Labour Party dominated Select Committee on Foriegn Affairs is recommending dialogue with the likes of Hamas, Brown shows his contempt for democracy by allowing a man convicted of blowing up a train of civilians to strut his stuff in Westminster.

And this doesn't even address what he, and the ANC, have inflicted on South Africa or allowed in Zimbabwe. Talking to terrorists does not lead to peace, security and democracy!

FAC Urge Dialogue with Islamic Terrorists

The Commons foreign affairs committee (CFAC) said the decision not to enter talks with Hamas "has been counterproductive" and that "active support for the establishment of a national unity government in Palestine should be a key UK objective."

This of course appears to forget that the Palestinian President is fiercely opposed to these Islamic extremists, and has seen his followers purged in fierce West Bank fighting. Once Fatah has been destroyed, it is not diifficult to see where Hamas will once again turn their attentions to.

The question I want to ask though is what the hell the CFAC thinks it is doing recommending ties with a terrorist organisation, and what message it is sending the world? With Brown looking for an early exit from Iraq, and failing spectacularly to halt further British losses in Afghanistan, it looks like the CFAC is attempting to develop a policy of pacifism when faced with Islamic fascism around the world. And, how long will it be before Pelosi persuades the US Congress to follow suit?

Smiling Terrorism

A friend of mine recently sent me an e-letter from two parents who were distraught with a US programme whose advertising appeared to glamorise terrorism.¬

After several days of sitting on this, and pondering whether I should post this, I decided I would. Having reported on the end of Operation Banner several days ago, this was a reminder that terrorism is alive and well and some still wish to put a positive spin on the most evil of acts.

Dear friends Today's New York Times carries a review of a film called "Hot House " that goes inside Israeli prisons and examines the lives of Palestinian prisoners. We're not recommending the film or the review. But we do want to share our feelings with you about the beaming female face that adorns the article. You can see it here.

The film is produced by HBO. So it's presumably HBO's publicity department that was responsible for creating and distributing a glamour-style photograph of a smiling, contented-looking young woman in her twenties to promote the movie. That female is our child's murderer. She was sentenced to sixteen life sentences or 320 years which she is serving in an Israeli jail.

Fifteen people were killed and more than a hundred maimed and injured by the actions of this attractive person and her associates. The background is here.Neither the New York Times nor HBO are likely to give even a moment's attention to the victims of the barbarians who destroyed the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem and the lives of so many victims.

So we would be grateful if you would pass along this link to some pictures of our daughter whose name was Malki. She was unable to reach her twenties - Hamas saw to that. Though she was only fifteen years old when her life was stolen from her and from us, we think Malki was a beautiful young woman, living a beautiful life. We ask your help so that other people - far fewer than the number who will see the New York Times, of course - can know about her.

Please ask your friends to look at the pictures - some of the very few we have - of our murdered daughter. They are at http://www.kerenmalki.org/photo.htm

And remind them of what the woman in the Israeli prison - the woman smiling so happily in the New York Times - said last year. "I'm not sorry for what I did. We'll become free from the occupation and then I will be free from prison."With so many voices demanding that Israel release its terrorist prisoners, small wonder she's smiling.

With greetings from Jerusalem,Frimet and Arnold Roth
On behalf of Keren Malki

'Operation Banner' Comes To An End

After 38 years, Operation Banner will come to end at midnight. Operation Banner was ostensibly an operation to support the RUC in preventing Protestant violence against the Catholic minority in Ulster.

However, militants within the Roman Catholic community used the opportunity to direct Republican sentiment against the government; costing 763 British servicemen their lives. Numerous citizens, many of them completely innocent, were killed on both sides of the Irish Channel.

Whilst the current terrorist activities of the IRA are now minimal, it should be remembered that the IRA (and Loyalist Paramilitaries) have now become the gangland enforcers in their communities. The economics of vice have replaced the politics of hate. As such, the government has failed to protect the interests of the Northern Ireland population by allowing these same muderers to continue in the coercion of their respective communities.

The Continuing Failure of NATO in Afghanistan

Former Scots Guard, Captain Leo Docherty (Rtd.), is quite correct when saying that our presence in Afghanistan is a "huge political failure".

His comments are timely as they correspond with the thoughts of the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee (PDSC) who claimed that it was "deeply concerned" about what was happening in Afghanistan. In addition, the PDSC urged NATO to send more troops to the country; and that they should come from Germany and France in particular.

It is clear that Britain, the US, and Canada is currently bearing the majority of military and financial cost in this theatre of operations. Whilst Britain has approximately 7,000 British military personnel in southern Afghanistan, it is surely impossible to take and hold all Taliban strongholds in such a vast area.

The original plan for Helmand Province was for security and reconstruction to take place in conjunction with one another. However, the level of activity between British soldiers and the Taliban has ensured that reconstruction is not afforded the attention that is required. Hence, The Afghans return to their poppy growing.

So, once again the history of Afghanistan is ignored. The 1st Afghan War, the 2nd Afghan War, the Russian occupation ...

25th Anniversary of Falklands Victory

Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the victory over the occupying Argentinian force on the Falkland Islands.

The force sent 8,000 miles from Britain suffered 255 dead, and the native Falkland Island population a further 3.

The war succeeded, in addition to the reclaiming of the British territory, to provide the final nail in the coffin of the Argentinian military junta.

It is a tragedy that subsequent administrations have ensured that we would not be able to repeat this course of action, when required to defend British subjects in the future.

Chagos Islanders Return

The Appeal Court has upheld the decision of the High Court that those families forcibly removed from all but one of the Chagos Islands, by the British Government in the 1960s and 1970s, should be allowed to return.

The Chagos Islands are situated in the Indian Ocean, with the population being removed to site the Diego Garcia US airbase. The Government had claimed that the removal of the islanders had been for "peace, order and good government".

The Appeal Court dismissed the government action, ruling that it was using a method both unlawful and an abuse of power. Lord Justice Waller attacked Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, personally by stating that she "was acting without any constraint". Lord Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Cresswell ruled that the islander's interest had been ignored and that government actions had been "irrational and unlawful".

Russians Launch Attacks Against Estonia

It has probably passed most of us by that Russia and Estonia have been locked in their worst dispute since the former Soviet Union's occupation of the Baltic State. The dispute has been over the removal of a Soviet war memorial in Tallinn, which a senior Kremlin official yesterday described as "barbaric".

Since the dispute began last month, Estonia has been subject to a series of prolonged attacks on national websites. Merit Kopli, editor of Postimees has been quoted as saying that "the cyber-attacks are from Russia. There is no question. It's political." Of course, Russia has tried to ridicule the assertion with Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov, in Brussels, saying that any such claims were a "serious allegation that has to be substantiated". This, of course, falls well short of a denial.

Concerns are now being expressed by Nato, who have recently sent internet experts to Estonia to investigate the attacks. Russian actions are seen as an "operational security issue" that goes "to the heart of the alliance's modus operandi."

The Blair Witch Project Over After 10 Years of New Labour 'Spin'

So, Tony Blair finally calls it a day after 10 years as Prime Minister. A Nation heaves a heavy sigh of relief, after reducing New Labour to just 27% of the the national vote in the local elections. The Conservatives, despite continuing weakness in Scotland and, to a lesser extent, in Wales managed 41%.

The ironic thing about Blair's resignation was that it was induced by his own party. Blair continues to be far more popular than the Labour Party, and certainly more appealing than PM elect; Gordon Brown.

In a country that leans to the centre-right, it was Blair's achievement to win three elections. This, despite the rabid left-wing that he had managed to marginalise. Having lost four consecutive elections to the Conservatives, Blair was tolerated by the left; in order to gain power. The Labour Party has never had such success, and it seems inconceivable that Gordon Brown can carry that legacy on.

So, the labour Party will, no doubt, lurch to the left and Cameron, as Conservative leader, will continue to emulate Blair by saying nothing of substance and managing to annoy less voters than the opposition.

That will be, perhaps, Blair's true legacy. The politics of conviction will gradually disappear, as voters become even more intolerant of views that they do not themselves hold. Pretty much what has been seen in France with the election of Sarkozy, where an unholy alliance of the militant left and disaffected Islamic youth have continued to riot since last Sunday. The tragedy is that Nations develop when their leaders have a vision for the future, rather than having an eye on the latest opinion poll or focus group.

Does South Park Display American Bad Taste?

In this country, it is not an uncommon perception that the Americans can be somewhat brash and tasteless. The fact that so much American 'popular entertainment' finds it's way over here, and is consumed by a voracious British public, no doubt says much more about us.

The childish South Park is a case in point. Without wanting to advertise this pathetic bit of nonsense, the plot has the British attempting to regain control of the States. Why we should want to do this is beyond me! Surely twice was enough!!! When this diabolical plot fails, the Queen apparently commits suicide by putting a pistol in her mouth and pulling the trigger.

So, what is US Comedy Central Network trying to achieve. At a time of danger for our two countries, the cynical might see this as an attempt to create some rift between the two countries. However, if the offensive utterings from Rosie O'Donnell are beyond contempt, this most certainly is too. No doubt, it will largely be ignored - as it should - after a couple of days of outrage.