My Interaction With the World

I've been following events regarding the alleged foiling of what would have been a horrific terrorist attack in the UK and must say it gives me some degree of assurance that UK intelligence operates as it does. Simply put they have to take the chance of their intelligence being wrong [like Forest Gate] because the consequences of them not acting and it being right is too heavy a price to pay.

Of course the bleeding heart liberals of our country will bemoan the abuse of civil rights etc and put it all down to governmental conspiracies, or even worse try to justify the actions by saying it's got to be expected because of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon etc but their voice is muted by the facts which they choose to ignore so they can play the martyrs of truth.

Whatever turns out to be the case with the recent alleged threat this country was right to respond as it did in order to ensure our safety and protection as we go about our daily lives.

The other day I sat and watched George Galloway's interview with Sky on the Middle East situation. Following it I was compelled to email the station with the following:

I am disgusted by George Galloway's aggressive, unjustified defence of Hezbollah and attack on Israel. He comes out with the normal diatribe about bias reporting and narrow thinking with of course the obligatory conspiracy theory about how it's the USA and the UK who brought this about politically. At some point he should take some time out of his busy life to sit down and actually read the facts of the situation, both historically and in the present conflict. If he did so he might actually be able to give a considered, informed view of the subject rather than his rant and personal attack on the interviewer. In the coming weeks the Big Brother housemates will put an evictee back into the house. If only it were George Galloway.

At last Israel wakes up to the need to be as strong in the propoganda war as in their military war! The temporary cessation of air strikes, except where necessary, to allow the Lebanese people to evacuate the area is a stroke of propoganda genius. Let's see how many of the Lebanese people take up the opportunity and how many of them remain to allow themselves to be used by Hezbollah in their own propoganda war. When the cessation has lapsed how can they say that they could not get out? How can it then be said that Israel is not taking consideration of the Lebanese civilians in their fight against Hezbollah? And all the while Israel can continue its ground offensive to further degrade/destroy the terrorists of Hezbollah. Whether by design or accident this move by Israel can only shift world opinion back in its direction, especially in light of this mornings further rocket attacks into Israel. If the Hezbollah continue to fire those rockets then it will be a further blow to their propoganda.

The Rules:
1. You can only say Yes or No!
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages you and asks!

Taken a picture naked? : yes
Made out with a member of the same sex? : no
Danced in front of your mirror? : yes
Told a lie? : yes
Gotten in a car with people you just met?: yes
Been in a fist fight? : yes
Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? : yes
Been arrested? : no
Left your house without telling your parents? : no
Ditched school to do something more fun? : yes
Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex? : no
Seen someone die? : yes
Kissed a picture? : yes
Slept in until 3? : yes
Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? : yes
Played dress up? : yes
Fallen asleep at work/school? : no
Felt an earthquake? : no
Touched a snake? : no
Ran a red light? : no
Had detention? : yes
Been in a car accident? : no
Pole danced? : no
Been lost? : yes
Sang karaoke? : yes
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? : yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose??: yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue?? : no
Kissed in the rain? : yes
Sang in the shower? : yes
Got your tongue stuck to a pole? : no
Ever gone to school partially naked? : no
Sat on a roof top? : yes
Played chicken? : yes
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? : no
Been told you're hot by a complete stranger? : no
Broken a bone? : yes
Mooned/flashed someone? : no
Forgotten someone's name? : yes
Slept naked? : yes
Blacked out from drinking? : yes
Played a prank on someone? : yes
Felt like killing someone? : yes
Made a parent cry? : yes
Cried over someone? : yes
Had sex more than 5 times in one day? : no
Had/Have a dog? : yes
Been in a band? : yes
Drank 25 sodas in a day? : no
Shot a gun? : no

The writing is on the wall. As usual the pathetic whimperings of Kofi Annan and his ilk begin to take effect. As usual Tony Blair begins to backtrack in fear of his political future [short as it will be]. As usual the media refuse to see the bigger picture and react with emotion rather than reason.

Yes, the death of the people in Qana is tragic, [on the assumption it wasn't in part staged by Iran/Syria and Hizbollah to get the desired effect, and even with that excepting the children], but to not follow through on degrading/destroying Hezbollah, as per the UN resolution would be foolishness indeed. To succumb to a ceasefire that does not guarantee a sustainable resolution to the situation, that does not allow the fanatics of Iran and Syria to re-arm the Hizbollah, that does not restore Lebanon to its rightful democratic status and allow it to deploy its own military for its security is to basically say to those that have died in these events that it was for nothing.

We seen the same in Iraq where they failed to deal with Saddam Hussein in the first Gulf War when they had him on his knees and now it seems that it is going to be the same with Israel/Lebanon.

State terrorism [aka Iran/Syria] should never be surrendered to, NO MATTER what the cost in terms of human life. I fully applaud the strong position of Israel in this matter and hope that in the face of the snivelling cowards that should be remaining firm that their resolve will hold firm until they can retreat in the knowledge that its country is safe from Hezbollah and its borders secure.

When it comes to Scottish football I am a Rangers fan, albeit very much from the comfort of my own home so you'd think Martin O'Neill wouldn't be my favourite guy after the success he took arch-rivals Celtic too but I do think he's an excellent football manager.

This being so, you can imagine my delight this morning when I read in the reputable News of the World [lol] that he is being lined up for a 1.3 billion three year deal to front Setanta sports as their football pundit. I did enjoy his punditry during the World Cup and think it'd be great for football if this story was true.

All I need to do now, if the story is true, is sign up for Setanta sports!

I've been following the news fairly closely this morning on events in Israel/Lebanon and specifically the attack on Qana that has claimed the lives so far of up to 50 civilians, including 21 children.

In doing so I've been pondering some possible motives on both sides and thought I'd share them for comment, criticism and/or correction:

1. Given that Israel wants to degrade, if not totally destroy Hezbollah and that the diplomatic moves were fairly close to getting to the ceasefire stage is it possible that the attack on Qana was a deliberate tactic by Israel to destroy that diplomacy for ceasefire in order to give them more time to try to acheive their objective?

2. Given that Iran/Syria/Hezbollah know that their best chance now of a ceasefire is to prevent the degrading/destruction of Hezbollah is world opinion on the civilian casualties in Lebanon is it possible that they are deliberately setting up situations like Qana in order to have Israel strike there and inflict the casualties that they hope will sway world opinion? Even more disturbing, how involved are the adult casualties with Hezbollah in setting up those situations?

I look at both of these and find them horrific, yet by no means a stretch of the imagination [for me at least].

My conclusion on it is that Israel should be smarter. They should not continue to play into the hands of Iran/Syria/Hezbollah but find a way to expose the cowardly tactics of Iran/Syria/Hezbollah and their total disregard for human life.

I have followed with interest the court case involving Tommy Sheridan against the News of the World and for all intents and purposes I cannot help but think that in pursuing the action he has committed political suicide. Colleague after colleague has spoken against his case and each time he gets further into conspirational theories that, like most of them do, stagger the mind.

Now that isn't to say I necessarily think he is guilty but it is a simple fact that you cannot stand against so many witnesses and win your case *unless* you have more than simply your word against their word.

And what will it cost Tommy if he does lose? His political career might be the least of his worries as his wife accompanies him each day to court and hears the case against him. At the end of it all, will he look back with regret at his decision to sue the paper, if indeed he had any choice but to if domestic pressure was of the effect, 'win this or we're finished?'.

It's a sensitive subject for me... when do you let your principles go for the sake of damage limitation by those who would bring about your downfall? Or do you fight and fight and fight regardless of personal cost to yourself and those around you?

Whatever the result of the case I think that Tommy Sheridan is a loss to British politics and most assuredly to the SSP that I now think will disappear into a void for a time before trying to reinvent itself.

Such a shame.

Well, in it came with the post today... my first rejection letter for a new job. Just a standard letter with the usual 'unfortunately on this occassion' phrase but nevertheless a good indication that finding a new job at age 39 with little qualifications is not going to be an easy task.

My mind turns again to the most probable solution... self-employment but it is such a big step into unknown territory. Whatever the case I have to get something going soon before the shortfall in income really begins to kick in and do damage.

Anyone got any jobs to offer?