At the end of last week, an article in the Indy appeared about how there is a pool of Brits stuck in Syria, those jihadists who went to fight for IS or some other militant fundamentalist grouping, who are now desperate to come home. The only thing that stops them is the fear of being […]
Why does the West struggle with the idea of multiple threats?
Another US journalist, Steven Sotloff, has been killed in the Middle East. His murderer appears to be another Brit, possibly “Jihadi John” again. By attacking members of the press, ISIS, ISIL, IS, whatever they are calling themselves today, know what they are doing. They are demonstrating that the sword is mightier than the pen and […]
Was the 2005 Lib Dem “Wolf” Party Political Broadcast actually remarkably prescient?
During the 2005 general election campaign, the Liberal Democrats put out a broadcast about the Iraq War. No great surprise considering this was the party’s leading populist issue of the time, but it took a rather odd slant on events. It tried to reframe Blair taking the country into the Iraq War as the Boy […]
Baroness Warsi and a matter of principle
Yesterday, Baroness Warsi resigned from government. She tweeted that this was due to the current government policy and engagement with the war in Gaza. “With deep regret I have this morning written to the Prime Minister & tendered my resignation. I can no longer support Govt policy on #Gaza,” she said. As you would expect, […]
We need to talk about Syria: the American suicide bomber
The first suicide bombing in Syria to definitely involve an American perpetrator has now taken place – at least if a video released by Al-Qaeda is to be believed. Moner Mohammad Abu Salha, from Florida, pledges to blow himself in said piece. It has been confirmed that Mr Abu Salha has died in Syria, but […]
The execution of Joseph Wood and the death penalty debate in America
Yesterday, a man named Joseph Wood was killed by the state of Arizona for the crime of double murder. This in and of itself is not newsworthy; it is the fact that the execution appears to have gone slightly wrong, causing Mr Wood unintentional suffering that is of note. The death row inmate apparently choked […]
The War in Gaza comes to London: what a mess
I don’t mean the title literally, so relax. It’s just that it is interesting to see how a situation like the one in Gaza manifests itself in a cosmopolitan city like London. On Saturday, there was a pro-Palestine rally held in the West End. The way the event has been covered in the UK media […]
The Rise of the Putinistas
I write about Russia, and by extension, Vladimir Putin, a reasonable amount. As a result, through various social media outlets, I am exposed to a wide range of views on the Russian president. I get some pro-Putin stuff from people inside of Russia, which doesn’t interest me all that much. Most of it is really […]
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, the Russian Problem, and thinking the previously unthinkable
I recall that shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, a rumour went round that Sylvester Stallone was thinking about creating a “Rambo IV”, which would involve the muscled warrior going back into Afghanistan, this time to fight against the very same people he fought side by side with in “Rambo III”. Wisely, Stallone […]
Syria: the unholy alliance between al-Assad and ISIS
Faisal Mekdad, Syria’s vice foreign minister, has popped up in the western media this week. Talking about how his government, the one commanded by Bashar al-Assad, is the only group capable of stopping ISIS from wreaking havoc. He urged western powers to help the Syrian government defeat the Sunni extremist group – but of course […]