the index

Geert Wilders

It has been announced that Geert Wilders is now be able to come to the UK. Following Jacqui Smith's apology to the HoC yesterday for being the worst Home Secretary since records began, will we see her back to say more on Wilders? The ban on Wilders made no sense at all and carried the hallmark of Smith's stupidity writ large, she claimed that Wilders would:

''threaten community harmony and therefore public safety''.

This was nothing more than a cave-in to Nulabour Peer Lord Ahmed who suggested he could surround the HoC with 10,000 muslims should Wilders attend a private function there that would have shown his film 'Fitna'.

See also the Guardian's take on this HERE.

Cheers Vaclav

Our hero, Vaclav Klaus, the president of the Czech Republic, and his wife Livia have been on a short tour of the Balkans, including attending the launch of the Albanian edition of his book, Blue Planet in Green Shackles, which has the temerity to contradict man-made global warming. Here is a man of intelligence, courage and humour who is standing up for democracy despite the hate and abuse which comes his way from our 'political class' in the EU.

In faraway Brussels furious diplomats were calling for his impeachment and even his country’s expulsion from the European Union because of his obstinate refusal to sign the Lisbon treaty. Klaus, now the only European leader holding out against ratifying the document, made it clear he did not give a damn. See here.

Meanwhile, one of the main players in the EU, whose rotating presidency was praised to the skies both by himself and the Brussels' apparatchiks, has been throwing his weight about. President Sarkozy by using nepotism, a political show trial and bowing to pressure by his wife has generally been doing his best to create a banana republic in France. Perhaps he's trying to outdo Berlusconi?

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Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth says he expects that our troops will be "off the front line" within a year or so. General Sir David Richards, the incoming head of the British Army believes that we could still be 'stabilising' Afghanistan in 40 years' time. Foreign Secretary Milliband says that there are circumstances in which terrorism is ‘justifiable’. And these men are leading the war effort!

The Shia Personal Status Law, recently passed by President Karzai, allows a man to deny his wife food if she denies him conjugal sex, grants guardianship of children to fathers and grandfathers, lets rapists pay to avoid being prosecuted, and requires women to get permission from their husbands to work.

UK Supreme Court

The unnecessary UK Supreme Court cost £56 million to refurbish its premises and will cost £14 million a year to run. One of its first decisions has been the shameful refusal to hear an appeal by Gary McKinnon against his extradition to the USA. As Barack Obama has just been awarded the Nobel Peace prize for just being a popular President, perhaps he could use his influence to show a little humanity and drop the extradition request?

Hawktalk blogs as to why the UK government wants him extradited, namely because he wouldn't be convicted here and hence they didn't bother to ask the US for detailed evidence as it would simply make extradition more difficult. Another example of politics overriding the law.

At least they have happy cows!

Whilst our Chancellor and shadow Chancellor talk firmly about cuts, pay freezes and the curtailment of bankers' pay, there seems to be little discussion about the state of the banking industry and the financial sector. We keep being told that it's the beginning of the end, things are picking up and the economy is beginning to expand. We are told that we must stay in the EU where it's safe and cosy and all members will be protected.

There is no mention of the problems that remain. No-one talks of separating the commercial and investment banks or revealing the billions of pounds of toxic 'sub-prime' waste which remain on the books of our banks, that is apart from Liam Halligan who has been banging on about this for a couple of years.

In the meantime Sweden is busy organising yet more meetings, workshops, conferences, frameworks, summits and so on and on and on...... as it holds the rotating Presidency of the EU. We hope they are taking notice of the imminent collapse of some of their banking system and the political and economic collapse in Latvia and the Baltic states in general.