Afghanistan: ‘Fire in the Sky’…

Calman Commission: ‘Analysis and Comment’…

ANALYSIS
THE CALMAN COMMISSION says its key consideration is “how to improve the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament, while preserving the economic Union and the social Union which define Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK”. So, do its core recommendations on tax – devolving responsibility for raising a significant slice of income tax [...]

Iran Elections 2009: ‘Turbulent aftermath’…

 
COMMENTARY
IN the days and weeks leading up to the general election in Iran, the colour of hope had been green. The country was awash, with many Iranians swathed in the bright greens of the opposition leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi, openly expressing their desire for political change; some young women even took off their hijabs.
Initially, it [...]

Public Notice/Environment: ‘Live Web Chat, UK Government’…

LIVE GOVERNMENT DEBATE: ENVIRONMENT
Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs will be holding a live web chat on Monday, 22 June 2009, at 09:45 BST, on the issue of ‘climate change adaptation’ and how measures might be introduced in combating the threat of rising sea levels.
Join the debate by registering, [...]

(Series:) ‘Scots from the Past’ – James Wilson

JAMES WILSON (1742-98)

ONE OF THE SIGNATORIES of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, and the architect of the US Supreme Court, James Wilson preferred to remain out of the limelight. A stickler for legal principle, he nearly did not put his name to the Declaration of Independence because of his scruples that [...]

Iraq War Public Inquiry: ‘British Government & Sir John Chilcot’…

GUARDIAN ARTICLE
RESPONDING to Richard Norton-Taylor, after an article written by Mr. Norton-Taylor entitled “Another Whitehall Whitewash” appeared on the website of the Guardian newspaper, dated 15 June 2009.
Richard Norton-Taylor writes:
… The reason why the government wants it to be held behind closed doors – a weapon allowing Whitehall to control proceedings – is to enable [...]

Afghanistan: ‘Downtime’…

 
Related:
New York Times, 15 June 2009:
“U.S. General Takes Helm in Afghanistan“, General Stanley A. McChrystal
“KABUL, Afghanistan — On the heels of the most violent week in Afghanistan since 2001, General Stanley A. McChrystal assumed command of NATO and American forces in Afghanistan at a ceremony in Kabul.
In replacing General David D. McKiernan, Gen. McChrystal will [...]

Sunday Teaching & Lessons: ‘The Transfiguration’…

NOTE
WELCOME to readers and observers to this site who may be visiting for the first time.
Written submission on the Transfiguration will be made over the next 6-weeks, this particular journal being updated and frontloaded as work is produced on each consecutive Sunday. Work on this area will continue, therefore, and not be fully complete until [...]

United Nations: ‘Resolution passed imposing tougher sanctions against North Korea’…

NORTH KOREA
THE United Nations Security Council, today, approved tough new sanctions against North Korea over its recent nuclear tests.
The resolution issued imposes new restrictions on the country’s weapons experts and financial dealings, and allows inspections, seizure and detection of suspect cargo in ports and on the high seas. It does not, though, authorise the use [...]

Biotechnology: ‘Third-wave generation’…

INDUSTRIAL BIOTECH
FOR SOME TIME now the public has perceived biotechnology to mean the dangerous meddling of genetics in food crops. But biotechnology is of course about much more than transgenic food (i.e. that, which describes a plant that contains genes from a different species, transferred using the techniques of genetic modification): it also encompasses, for [...]

Sunday Teaching & Lesson: ‘A song and dance about nothing’…

ISAIAH 24
Everyone will meet the same fate – the priests and the people, slaves and masters, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, rich and poor. The earth will lie shattered and ruined. The Lord has spoken and it will be done.
The earth dries up and withers; the whole world grows weak; both earth and sky [...]

President Obama: ‘D-Day anniversary speech’…

PRESIDENT OBAMA

RECALLING the “unimaginable hell” of the D-Day suffering, President Obama paid tribute to the Allied landings that broke Nazi Germany’s grip on France and which turned the tide of history.
In an impassioned speech, Mr. Obama said:
… The sheer improbability of this victory is part of what makes D-Day so memorable.
Speaking under a sunny sky [...]

D-Day Anniversary: ‘Guardian editorial & response’…

D-DAY: 65TH ANNIVERSARY
RESPONDING to the Editor of the Guardian newspaper after its editorial entitled, “D-day anniversary: Britain’s good war”, appeared on its website, dated 6 June 2009.
The Editor writes:
… The allied invasion of occupied France which began on the Normandy beaches in the grey light of dawn 65 years ago today was not the turning [...]

Essay: ‘History of the D-Day landings’…

65th ANNIVERSARY
A CONTROVERSIAL PLAN

THE ALLIED LANDINGS in Normandy on 6 June 1944 were among the most desperate undertakings in the history of war. Amphibious operations against an enemy in a strong defensive position will almost always lead to heavy casualties. Simply looking at the history and trait of military operations, in whatever theatre of [...]

President Obama: ‘Cairo speech: addressing the Muslim world’…

RESPONSE: GUARDIAN ARTICLE & EDITORIAL
RESPONDING to Jonathan Freedland after an article entitled, “Barack Obama in Cairo: the speech no other president could make”, appeared on the website of the Guardian newspaper, dated 4 June 2009.
Mr. Freedland writes:
… The president did not unveil a new policy programme or Middle East peace plan. Instead, it will be [...]

Kosovo: ‘Departure of ethnic minorities’…

GUARDIAN ARTICLE
RESPONDING to Ian Bancroft after an article written by Mr. Bancroft entitled, “The flight of Kosovo’s minorities”, appeared on the website of the Guardian newspaper dated 3 June 2009.
Mr. Bancroft writes:
… The EU insists that Kosovo is a tolerant and multi-ethnic society. So why are its minorities leaving?
 
KOSOVO
IT was in February of last [...]

Israel: ‘United States, Iran and international negotiation’…

GUARDIAN ARTICLE
RESPONDING to Jeremy Sharon after an article written by Mr. Sharon entitled, “What should Israel do about Iran?” appeared on the website of the Guardian newspaper, dated 3 June 2009.
Mr. Sharon writes:
… If the international community fails to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Israel may take matters into its own hands.
 
COMPROMISE NOT SEDITION
WE [...]