Category: Politics

Historical legitimacy

Not content with upstaging Kerry’s French kiss (‘our oldest ally’) – Obama gave us Brits a hug (‘our closest ally’) – the Prez entered even deeper archival waters with a reference to the USA as ‘the oldest constitutional democracy’.

Well! Where to start? If he had said ‘written’ it would be easier to swallow – since our well-informed schoolboy is aware that the UK’s constitution ain’t – at least not in one convenient volume; and nor was the constitution of any of the other oft-quoted candidates for the honour – like Ancient Greece, Iceland or the Isle of Man. We of course prefer the term ‘parliamentary’ to make our claim to being first, ignoring inter alia the three just mentioned.

But why, you may ask, did Obama make the claim at all? Backside is of the opinion that the White House speech-writers cannot resist any opportunity to reasssure the citizenry that Uncle Sam might make warm noises about his friends abroad but they’d better not forget who really brought power to the people first. In the beginning was Uncle Sam. The word was with Uncle Sam and the word was Uncle Sam. Amen.

All’s fair in love and war

As every schoolboy knows (Hugh Blair, no relation), Britain has had a special relationship with Uncle Sam. Until today – when John Kerry referred to France as the USA’s ‘oldest ally’. (Pause for thought.)

Just a minute. “President Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO’s integrated military command in 1966, saying it undermined France’s sovereignty.” (Wiki) And Nicollula changed that – presumably for good, solid, French reasons.

So we got jilted for refusing to obey Obama. No doubt there’ll be more reprisals against us for our presumption.

The power of the people

Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during a debate on Syria in the House of Commons, central London.Just occasionally the Great British Public’s voice is heard above the political and diplomatic babble. We don’t want to fire another shot from the hip at another Arab despot whose behaviour we can’t stomach. We don’t accept the ‘findings of the security community’ as justification for intervening in somebody else’s war. We don’t do gun-boats any more or buy into the ‘judgement calls’ of an over-zealous Cabinet. We think the grand ole US of A can please its bloody self, kill some putative terrorists and regret its actions later – or not. We are separated by more than a common language from their culture, their obsession with Israel and their lack of perspective on most important issues.

PS I am reminded by WordPress that this is my 400th post popped through the Chariot letterbox. Sorry.

I knew it!

As Backside anticipated (he’s good at that), the Diana saga is not yet over, despite the predominance of fat ladies (and gentlemen) singing far too soon.

Would you be surprised if an SAS unit had been ordered to sort out the little problem of Diana consorting with the son of a rich, Arab persona non grata? Are you surprised to learn that Big Ears has his own ‘placements’ among the staff of several Ministries?

Yes, of course, but the facts might yet shake your convictions.

15 minutes with Backside, 5

“In Greece tax inspectors have found that one in two businesses are cheating them. The rate is 56% on tourist islands like Mykonos and Crete, ” quoth Gavin of the Beeb, as if we should be shocked or otherwise impressed by the new-found diligence of the taxman.

Now bear in mind that I’m just a cynical old businessman who visited the Med and Middle East for 25 years from around the time the UK joined the EU (or somesuch). So I could be considered unduly aware of these things, eh? But to my certain knowledge business in those parts has long been conducted in ways least likely to benefit the Revenue or conform to local regulations.

My pic shows Mykonos mills used for public servants to tilt at.

Continue reading “15 minutes with Backside, 5”

15 minutes with Backside, 4

Allegedly sixty people in London took exception to this bus and asked the Advertising Standards Authority to can it.

Now apart from the fact that the campaign would be more effective if conducted in several foreign languages, it strikes me as a highly relevant approach to a growing problem.

No more Mr Nice Guy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23632096

15 minutes with Backside, 3

First edition of the Treaty of Utrecht

My most jingoistic hackles rise whenever I see that the pesky Spanish are trying to negate the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) by which, with the agreement of everybody who was anybody at the time, Gibraltar was granted to GB in perpetuity, together with Minorca, Newfoundland and St Kitts thrown in for good measure. Not long after there was a bit of a scrap over Minorca and GB gave it up. Fair enough. Newfoundland of course was discovered by Vikings yonks before and should be returned to them but nobody can be bothered to argue about it.

What I don’t get is why Spain doesn’t tell the French they want to negate the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) under whose terms bits of Catalonia west of Perpignan were parcelled out. Surely it’s all Spanish land really – using the same arguments employed to claim Gibraltar?

What say you, cherished reader? Am I missing something here?

15 minutes with Backside, 2

British politics has had its pantomime villains down the years but nobody, I submit, as deliciously villainous as Burlesquoni, the Abanazar of the year-round theatre that is Italian life! I mean, we’ve all booed at Prezza and whistled at Archer but their misdemeanours pale in comparison to Baron Bunga-bunga.

Even now – when he’ll have to do community service – he might still qualify for public office! Imagine the scene: a PM giving singing and dancing lessons for free to disadvantaged immigrants from North Africa.

Grazie, Silvio!

Latest from Iran

There were cause for double celebrations in the Islamic republic of Iran last month. The Iranian Presidential election was won by the moderate Hassan Rouhani. Campaigning on limited government and equal rights for women it was a shock result. The wider world awaits in expectation that Rouhani delivers on another promise that he can settle longstanding questions about Iran’s nuclear program. Let’s hope there will be a new era of peace. Continue reading “Latest from Iran”