Lest we lose sight of the reality of war

From the pen of Marie Colvin, war correspondent who was killed to day in Syria:
"Despite all the videos you see from the Ministry of Defence or the Pentagon, and all the sanitised language describing smart bombs and pinpoint strikes, the scene on the ground has remained remarkably the same for hundreds of years. Craters. Burned houses. Mutilated bodies. Women weeping for children and husbands. Men for their wives, mothers for their children".

The award-winning French photographer Remi Ochlik died with her as well. There is some evidence to suggest that they were deliberately targetted by the Syrian authorities. It's a great pity that Syria does not provide more of our oil: perhaps then the oft lauded policy of 'humanitarian intervention' would be more in evidence.

Fred Goodwin RIP

I'd forgotten that I'd written this particular blog and it has been lurking in draft form for a while. I started it soon after my posting of 28th January (Sir Fred and Corporal Jones). It's a little after the event but I'll post it anyway, if only to record my views at the time. That and the fact that I like the cartoon!


Well, it has happened. Fred Goodwin has had his knighthood removed. The Queen cancelled and annulled the title following Whitehall advice. In the past, only convicted criminals or people struck off of professional bodies have had knighthoods taken away. But the government said Mr Goodwin was an "exceptional case". There is no doubt that Fred is today a scapegoat, a pariah and the victim of a rather unedifying political witch hunt. But not a single recrimination against those who 'lauded' Fred with his titles and elevation into near sainthood as he did his bit to ruin reputations and financial institutions galore. But what of the weak and ineffectual jobsworths who lapped at his Lordship's feet as he proved that British politics and politicians are “not fit for purpose”!?
Perhaps if Fred had turned over his overloaded pensions to the poor and needy, the baying hounds probably would have left him to his opulent obscurity. But he didn't: his arrogance meant that he thought he could tough it out. In this he showed as much judgement as he did in most of his RBS dealings.
As the political parasites and their mouthpieces slap each other on their backs with relief, not a one will admit to the responsibility of escalating this demonstrably incompetent man to an office he was totally unfit to hold.
Another Labour masterplan not thought through with the common man having the job picking up the pieces. The system that bestowed Fred's honour in the first place is rotten and needs changing. But is there the political will to do this? I suspect not because if the 'Shred Fred' model is adopted with a modicum of objectivity, the poor Queen's right arm will be dropping off as she wields her sword...again and again and again.