Will this increase or decrease the likelihood of terrorist actions in America, Europe and the rest of the world?

If you were a member of a family murdered in this conflict, would you be seeking revenge?

Should Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert, be tried for war crimes if or when this conflict comes to an end?

What will the price of oil be in 4 weeks time?

At the moment, what interests me, is the humbug, hypocrisy and outrage of Cameron and crew,about the "humanitarian" atrocities of the Gad Fly in Libya.

At the same time the poser can applaud himself for promoting a trade "delegation", containing those prepared to sell Weapons to the Egyptian military.

I can't recall his, or his accomplices responses to the Gaza massacres, a short while ago, or the mass killings in Iraq by Britain and Iraq sometime ago, or the continuing murder going on in that country.

I hope sleeping at night is a problem to him.

Ummh, it stinks.


(Just a personal opinion.)

where did you last find altruistic government? ..... liberia perhaps? ..... much as you might wish it, the real world does not come pristine and plastic wrapped like a piece of supermarket lamb

but it makes him feel superior - the haunt of all small minded pig headed know-nothings

Palestine - British Archives - 1931
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtr612AAXE4

Egypt has a new foreign minister; Dr. Nabil al-Arabi. He is a former Egyptian ambassador to the UN and a former judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He wrote an article in the Egyptian Al-Shurooq newspaper on February 19 criticizing foreign policies under the former minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, strongly attacking his involvement in the Gaza siege.

Egypt's foreign policy should not be characterized by serious violations of fundamental principles in international law, such as the position Egypt has adopted in the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, Arabi said."

He has said that he believes the Camp David Accords (the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel) have been damaging to the Palestinian cause. He has also been quoted as saying, "Israel is occupying Palestinian territory, and the occupation itself is against international law".

Cynic,

I think being consistently altruistic for one person is impossible, for a government to be so, when it represents a country, even more difficult.

I think Robin Cooke, at least had a respect for the concept and tried to implement a more "moral" international stance, but obviously he also failed many times when attempting to do so.

Considering the actions of governments a their representatives in the past, we are probably a little "cleaner" and less corrupt now than in previous periods.


Due to media a improved communication we the public are more aware when and where it occurs.

Not many who know me "well", would think I have tip toed through the tulips" or that I have led a "pure" life, but I still think that when there is knowing and deliberate public corruption, or abuse by a person holding a public position, that the instigators and protagonists of the actions should publicised and prosecuted.

They should not be able to use pragmatism as an excuse.

But, I would not like the responsibilities of government.

nor I!! ..... that said, pragmatism is the only sensible and realistic way to govern .... you don't have to look far among these threads to see what happens when the zealots are let loose

I'm shocked. Fred has said something I agree with (apart from the somewhat dubious morality of Robin Cooke).

Another international flotilla called Freedom Flotilla II is set to sail towards the Gaza Strip in May 2011. The flotilla organizers said 15 ships are expected to participate, carrying humanitarian aid and close to a thousand passengers including activists, journalists and politicians. This will be twice the number of ships and volunteers as Freedom Flotilla I.

The Freedom Flotilla coalition has called on governments partcipating in this flotilla to take concrete steps to ensure the safety of its citizens from possible Israeli attacks.

Benjie de Levy, the spokesman for the Dutch ship taking part in the convoy, said in statements to the press that any military attempt to hamper the freedom flotilla's access to the Gaza Strip is considered a violation of international law, and that governments should deal with those acts on that basis.

Preparations are in full swing in all regions set to participate in the siege-busting flotilla, including Europe, North America, North Africa, Asia, South America and Australia, in order to meet the deadline.

Parrot, you must be all cock-a-too.
The Israelis will stop and search the ships and any material which could be used in Hamas's war effort will be stopped.
Terrible the way Britain blockaded your hero, that nice Herr Hitler.
Totally wrong of us.......

Not quite the same. The Gaza blockade is illegal. Nothing found to aid Hamas in last flotilla and this one is going to be supervised as it is loaded and searched before it sets sail.

haystack-it will be stopped if it happens-have these so called dogooders not learnt anything from the first debacle.

Just trouble makers looking for cheap publicity.

Focus now on Libya and a madman intent on killing his own people-seems to run like this in the Islamic world.

Not trouble makers. Just people trying to keep the illegal activity of Israel in the news. At some stage the civil unrest is coming to the West Bank and then to Israel.

Haaretz newspaper said that the Israel army is trying to come up with a plan combat any outbreak of widespread protests in the West Bank. The newspaper quoted senior Israeli officers who served in the West Bank as saying that they have a feeling that there is no way to deal effectively with any non-violent popular uprising by the Palestinians. It added that the Israeli army, in the event of a popular uprising, will not be able to count on the Palestinian Authority forces.

Hays,

You appear well informed on the ME.

What is your guess on the outcome in Libya over the next few years?

I think it will turn out fine and it will be democratic. They have a huge opportunity to develop the country with the oil revenues. The only problem is the tribal nature of some parts of it. I hope the West doesn't meddle to much in its affairs post Gaddafi. How Libya will get from here to there is anyone's guess. My feeling is that there will be a huge humanitarian event that will trigger external involvement, unless their neighbours such as Egypt support the rebels.

Will Gaddafi launch a major offensive under cover of the tsunami as there is little reporting of the troubles in Libya?

Head of Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Shaul Mofaz, said on Thursday that he expected a military showdown with the Palestinians if the political process remains stagnant.

Israeli radio quoted Mofaz, who is also a former War Minister, as saying that if the political process with the Palestinians is not resumed, then the next confrontation is just a matter of time.

Mofaz, who was talking to Israeli secondary school students in Ramat Gan, also said that he did not think that Netanyahu had prepared a political plan.

These comments come at a time when many Israeli media outlets and Likud party officials are saying the Netanyahu has lately been preparing a new political plan to revive the negotiations with the Palestinians.

Will Gaddafi launch a major offensive under cover of the tsunami

Have they got a tsunami in Libya ? wouldn't it wash his army away

Expect a large fall of stock's, and indices on Monday due to the Japenese situation.

The stock market here and in the US was unaffected on Friday, though the yen headed south