A secret paper written by Defence Secretary John Reid for Tony Blair reveals that many of the 8,500 British troops in Iraq are set to be brought home within three months, with most of the rest returning six months later.Interesting.
The leaked document, marked Secret: UK Eyes Only, appears to fly in the face of Mr Blair and President Bush's pledges that Allied forces will not quit until Iraq's own forces are strong enough to take control of security...
The Ministry of Defence last night confirmed the leaked document was genuine. Mr Reid said: "This is but one of a number of papers produced over recent months covering various scenarios. We have made it plain we will stay in Iraq for as long as is needed. No decisions on the future of UK forces have been taken.
US political military thinking is still evolving. But there is a strong US military desire for significant force reductions to bring relief to overall US commitment levels.Mr Reid also gives us an insight into the important factors weighing on his own mind.
Looking further ahead, we have a clear UK military aspiration to hand over to Iraqi control...Money money money, must be funny...
This in turn should lead to a reduction in the total level of UK commitment in Iraq...
This should lead to an estimated halving in the costs which fall to the reserve, around £1 billion per annum currently.
Ezekiel 25:17.The pastor has been forced to resign his position at the Peterhead Pentecostal Christian Zion Tabernacle Church.
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.
"The people have roared but the G8 has whispered," said Kumi Naidoo, chair of the Global Call to Action against Poverty.Some progess has been made but not nearly enough. The next key prospect for progress is in December at the World Trade Organisation.
Mr Blair said trade discussions in Hong Kong later this year should yield an end date to agricultural subsidies.These agricultural subsidies are a huge barrier to development in many poor countries. As I see it, the left and the right are agreed that they should be scrapped. Public pressure must continue if real progress is to be made.
"We are dealing with terrorism, pure and simple."It's just so bad I'm struggling to compose my thoughts. Ffs, this is a Cabinet minister saying this. Please tell me this isn't government policy.
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the bombings had "the hallmarks of an al-Qaeda-related attack".Reading around a few blogs, it looks like Londoners have reacted in true British fashion with a "fuck you Mr Terrorist", and have tried to keep things as normal as possible. Lots of people seem to have gone down the pub. In fact, perfect spots a meme. I'm not from London but it seems appropriate:
The goal was to gradually build up the South Vietnamese Army so that it could fight the war on its own. This policy became the cornerstone of the so-called "Nixon Doctrine". As applied to Vietnam, the doctrine was called "Vietnamization". The stated goal of Vietnamization was to enable the South Vietnamese army to increasingly hold its own against the NLF and the North Vietnamese Army. The unstated goal of Vietnamization was that the primary burden of combat would be returned to ARVN troops and thereby lessen domestic opposition to the war in the U.S.That sounds strangely familiar.
Before attending the banquet, President Bush received treatment for minor injuries sustained when he collided with a police officer during a bike ride around the Gleneagles estate.You know, falling off your bike is a bit like learning to ride a bike. Once you know how, you never forget. Perhaps an alternative form of two wheeled transport is in order.
...but it is, I think, of great importance to all of us to see the maximization of people voting on these issues is increased...Crystal.
The stage that was supposed to play out the celebratory party is being dsismantled. It was a surreal moment of shock when the result came through and while most people have left there has been a gaggle of people locked in an argument ever since. Was it all politics, were there other issues and they're trying to explain conspiracy theories to each other. When Trafalgar Square was shown on the big screen everyone started booing and it's hard to broadcast as people left outside the Hotel de Ville are very upset.This, just before he was drowned out by a booing French mob. Not long after, cut to crowd in Trafalgar Square chanting "Are you watching, Jacques Chiraq?"
The Northern Lighthouse Board said in 2003 that the foghorn should be removed, partly because it had become a place for "insalubrious groups".Most amusing. Well done those elected representatives.
That argument was ridiculed by Aberdeen City Council, which claimed that such logic would lead to the demolition of all city shopping centres.
