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?

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

That was because the Japan stock exchange was closed, and before the extent of the situation.

Over 1300 now dead, with over 10,000 missing persons, talk of Japan going into recession
and the total cost being $100 billion plus the threat of a meltdown.

If you think this will not effect stock's, and indices around the world on Monday then I am afraid you are in the minority. Let's see Monday.

Tragedy in Japan could play into the shorters hands all round on Monday i'm afraid.

All markets will open down on Monday.

BM

Did you short on Friday.

Non-interference in Libya partially due to the debacle in Iraq and also not wishing to "upset" the Arab states by "re-colinisation" and the possibility of increasingly rapid oil price rises.

Also, the "West" are already overstretched militarily and economically.

Another problem. is that the "opposition" have no obvious leadership or direction. There does seem to be a concentration of leadership developing.b

But sending the uncoordinated youth into battle is madness, unless you believe there is a value to martyrdom.

Sad.

Just wonder, whether Tunisia may intervene. Egypt is unlikely to, as only one of its "leadership or governing body's" heads have been cut off.

Ummh.

London markets poised for sell-off after earthquake in Japan
Markets are braced for a sell-off on Monday in the wake of the human and economic devastation wreaked by Japan's worst ever earthquake.

11:24PM GMT 13 Mar 2011

Analysts said as much as 30bn could be wiped off share prices in London as the stock market slumps 2pc.
Nikkei futures were down 5pc as the Japanese authorities stressed that markets would remain open. A ban on naked short-selling is being enacted to stabilise stocks and prevent speculators profiting from the tragedy.

David Buik, at broker BGC Partners, said: "With factories shut, this necessary remedial action will adversely affect Japan's economy dramatically."
He forecast a global stock markets sell-off of 2pc, a figure echoed by Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the Centre for Economic and Business Research.

Paul Donovan, a senior global economist at UBS, said investors haven't seen this level of political risk in markets for 20 years and won't be sure how to deal with it.

Bernard - hope you didn't marry money with mouth as you might have found yourself badly singed

Fred - i think for once you and i are almost singing from the same hymn sheet ..... what do you see happening next with libya and the arab world etc? .... i rather fear the "rebels" will be sacrificed with a token air exclusion zone imposed for show ..... medium/longer term i am sure there will be severe economic sanctions imposed on libya, but given the ease with which these are usually circumvented, i have my doubts as to their true efficacy - guess it looks good to the gullible though

Looks all red to me C was I wrong.

Cynic,

How do you feel about coming of age.

8-~)


BM.

I thought the market would open a lot lower, but surprised that some of my holdings are blue.

Almost considered being contrary, as usual, but will hold and watch for time being.

and a lot of mine are blue too .... only minutely down since friday close

Fred - so long as you stay off the palestinian rant it's ok - apart from anything else, that only encourages haystack and the other loonies ..... but do you agree with what i wrote about libya?