Comment on today's news.
Corbyn and the Armed Services
Jeremy Corbyn is upset that the Chief of Military Staff has entered into 'politics' by saying that the Uk bombing Daesh in Iraq but not tracking back and bombing them in Syria is foolish and lacking in sense. Also that having a Prime Minister who has very publicly stated he won't push the UK's nuclear button under any circumstances, is dangerous (as well, in my view as just plain silly).
Corbyn's right that the military shouldn't be involved in politics we can see the negative side of that in the flawed elections in Burma. However, who better to provide a reasonably impartial viewpoint on the situation in Syria and Iraq, than a non-politician. We all know how politicians trim their sails and are more interested in soundbites than hard facts. I have a little more faith in the people that take the decisions to send our service personnel into harms way than in flip-flopping politicians.
It would, of course, been better if the comments had been made by other politicians. Not just Conservatives but also those in the Labour Party who still believe that the UK has the moral right to defend itself.
Burma elections
Not really sure how to consider these. On the one hand, the Burmese people have an opportunity to exercise their democratic right but just how democratic is that right? Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, cannot be elected as President (this election will come, early next year) because she has foreign born sons! The military has a constitutionally-guaranteed 25% of the seats in parliament. To amend the constitution, a constitution that was written by the military, requires a 75% or more majority! Hundreds of thousands of the minority Rohingya muslims have been denied the right to vote. So, a step in the right direction but still quite a way to go.
Osborne agrees 30% spending cuts with four government departments.
Before you jump-up and shout 'about time', consider that these cuts are over the next four years.
The departments are, transport, local government, environment and Osborne's own treasury. So not the big spenders like health and welfare or the already over-cut defence department.
Apparently, these cuts will be in the order of 8% a year for each of the next four years. I have written here before that departmental budgets need to be subjected to cuts of 15% a year and the complete closure of the environment department. My opinion hasn't changed but given the worsening global economic situation, I am not sure that 15% cuts would be enough!
When you hear the Conservatives crowing about deficit cutting and Labour and the SNP's howling about austerity, bear in mind that all that is potentially happening, is that the UK is trying to start to live within its means. The massive debt mountain £1.5 trillion still sits above the UK economy and acts as a huge burden on future generations. I would advise large pinches of salt to be taken but am not sure what is the latest health scare news position.
Remembrance Sunday One
Caught-up with some of this on TV news. It wasn't widely commemorated, as far as I could ascertain, in Erbil, Kurdistan.
We should be heartened that so many young people seem to have managed to throw off the PC teaching of the education system and recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by so many of our fellow-countrymen and our allies.
While the young continue to show respect to these heroes, we have hope!
Remembrance Sunday Two
That man Corbyn again!
Would it really have hurt him so much, to bow his head, when laying his poppy wreath? A barely perceptible nod in the direction of the Cenotaph, simply isn't good enough. Yet another sign of his dislike of Britain and the British.
I know I shouldn't be surprised by the actions of an active supporter of the murderous IRA but surely there is at least one grown-up remaining, at the Labour Party?
Refugees
Have you noticed that this issue is sliding down the news programmes? With the onset of bad weather in the region (Erbil is currently experiencing quite severe winds and rains), we might see a halting or at least a serious curtailment, of the numbers of people crossing the Mediterranean.
Maybe these people will now look to what is on their own doorsteps? Given that Summer suns will be replaced by Winter cold, rain and snow maybe these 'refugees' will head towards Saudi Arabia and seek asylum or at least refuge in the massive tent city that is sitting at Mecca.
We can but hope.
Clearly, the appetite in Europe, where it was previously positive, has fast turned against the swarm of people that are invading. Who knows, given Angela Merkel's support for a completely open door policy, is now being rapidly rowed back from, Merkel's own position is said to be in jeopardy. Merkel losing her job? We can but hope.
Corbyn and the Armed Services
Jeremy Corbyn is upset that the Chief of Military Staff has entered into 'politics' by saying that the Uk bombing Daesh in Iraq but not tracking back and bombing them in Syria is foolish and lacking in sense. Also that having a Prime Minister who has very publicly stated he won't push the UK's nuclear button under any circumstances, is dangerous (as well, in my view as just plain silly).
Corbyn's right that the military shouldn't be involved in politics we can see the negative side of that in the flawed elections in Burma. However, who better to provide a reasonably impartial viewpoint on the situation in Syria and Iraq, than a non-politician. We all know how politicians trim their sails and are more interested in soundbites than hard facts. I have a little more faith in the people that take the decisions to send our service personnel into harms way than in flip-flopping politicians.
It would, of course, been better if the comments had been made by other politicians. Not just Conservatives but also those in the Labour Party who still believe that the UK has the moral right to defend itself.
Burma elections
Not really sure how to consider these. On the one hand, the Burmese people have an opportunity to exercise their democratic right but just how democratic is that right? Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi, cannot be elected as President (this election will come, early next year) because she has foreign born sons! The military has a constitutionally-guaranteed 25% of the seats in parliament. To amend the constitution, a constitution that was written by the military, requires a 75% or more majority! Hundreds of thousands of the minority Rohingya muslims have been denied the right to vote. So, a step in the right direction but still quite a way to go.
Osborne agrees 30% spending cuts with four government departments.
Before you jump-up and shout 'about time', consider that these cuts are over the next four years.
The departments are, transport, local government, environment and Osborne's own treasury. So not the big spenders like health and welfare or the already over-cut defence department.
Apparently, these cuts will be in the order of 8% a year for each of the next four years. I have written here before that departmental budgets need to be subjected to cuts of 15% a year and the complete closure of the environment department. My opinion hasn't changed but given the worsening global economic situation, I am not sure that 15% cuts would be enough!
When you hear the Conservatives crowing about deficit cutting and Labour and the SNP's howling about austerity, bear in mind that all that is potentially happening, is that the UK is trying to start to live within its means. The massive debt mountain £1.5 trillion still sits above the UK economy and acts as a huge burden on future generations. I would advise large pinches of salt to be taken but am not sure what is the latest health scare news position.
Remembrance Sunday One
Caught-up with some of this on TV news. It wasn't widely commemorated, as far as I could ascertain, in Erbil, Kurdistan.
We should be heartened that so many young people seem to have managed to throw off the PC teaching of the education system and recognise the contribution and sacrifice made by so many of our fellow-countrymen and our allies.
While the young continue to show respect to these heroes, we have hope!
Remembrance Sunday Two
That man Corbyn again!
Would it really have hurt him so much, to bow his head, when laying his poppy wreath? A barely perceptible nod in the direction of the Cenotaph, simply isn't good enough. Yet another sign of his dislike of Britain and the British.
I know I shouldn't be surprised by the actions of an active supporter of the murderous IRA but surely there is at least one grown-up remaining, at the Labour Party?
Refugees
Have you noticed that this issue is sliding down the news programmes? With the onset of bad weather in the region (Erbil is currently experiencing quite severe winds and rains), we might see a halting or at least a serious curtailment, of the numbers of people crossing the Mediterranean.
Maybe these people will now look to what is on their own doorsteps? Given that Summer suns will be replaced by Winter cold, rain and snow maybe these 'refugees' will head towards Saudi Arabia and seek asylum or at least refuge in the massive tent city that is sitting at Mecca.
We can but hope.
Clearly, the appetite in Europe, where it was previously positive, has fast turned against the swarm of people that are invading. Who knows, given Angela Merkel's support for a completely open door policy, is now being rapidly rowed back from, Merkel's own position is said to be in jeopardy. Merkel losing her job? We can but hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment