A little-understood feature of modern conflict is the impact of the so-called ‘rules of engagement’. Basically, these rules lay down when it is and is not lawful to shoot at the enemy or otherwise act in self-defence. A version of them should be carried by each soldier on a handy […]
We all agree that government spending in many Western countries is too high – stupidly high. We are cranking up debts to pay for current consumption at a rate which suggests to the markets that we have lost our minds. The markets look to charge us higher interest rates, as […]
Brian Micklethwait asks a pertinent and subversive question. If we know which Euro currency notes are issued by which country, why not start insisting to be paid only in notes issued by countries which are unlikely to default? … supposing lots of people do know this, or get to know […]
Will the EU exist in its current form in a million years’ time? No! In 100,000 years’ time? No! In 1000 years’ time? No, but there may be traces of its current form. In 100 years’ time? Maybe, but much changed. In a mere 10 years’ time? Probably, but perhaps […]
Could nimble French banks be getting bailed out in effect at Germany’s expense, by playing the way the French-led European Central Bank helps Greece? That would be perfide indeed, and at a very high level of betrayal. Surely not.
When I was growing up, Israel was a favourite in some progressive quarters – an open-minded and successful society in a national-socialist Middle East, with trendily progressive kibbutzim where gap year students could go and hang out in the sunshine. Israel had been created in 1948 with the best possible level of international credibility […]
Ben Rogers writes a lengthy piece over at Conservative Home urging an energetic approach by the new UK government on international human rights: The Commission has also recommended the appointment of an Ambassador-at-Large for International Human Rights, who would work with the Minister of State to co-ordinate the efforts of […]
A neat little piece here, getting to the heart of Reality – and where Reality meets Politicians. Not a place politicians much like, as it shows too much about them: “Plug the damn hole,” Obama told them. That’s the politician’s answer to every intractable problem: give orders, issue threats, and […]
What did David Laws do wrong? As I understand it, he claimed back from the taxpayer (that’s you and me) a load of money for renting a room from his ‘partner’ without disclosing that he had a close relationship with said partner. The homosexual aspect has nothing to do with […]
Craig Murray rumbles in Tashkent: There is much consternation at the apparent decline of Gulnara Karimova’s multi-billion dollar company, Zeromax – which owns Uzbekistan’s most valuable economic assets … Gulnara is of course the daughter and favoured successor of dictator "President" Islam Karimov. And we all recall what an appalling piece of […]
