Zafar

and where did that religous fervour stem from ? Foreign policy stupid. Z

If China is going to increase in power (along with India and Brazil), then who will be loosing 'power' ? Z

I remember seeing a documentary which was saying that Dark Matter makes up a small fraction of the missing matter and that there was something 'else'. Z

Well when what they are asking for is in line with whats been sanctioned by International Law, why not ????? Yes the Islamic agenda is getting hijacked by the radicals because the non-radicals are getting stonewalled by moronic idiots who only want to see the whole thing as 'they hate our freedoms' ! Z

LOL! Z

v true. If Blair felt so 'passionately' about it, he would be encouraging his own children to sign up and defend our 'freedoms'. Z

The 'stupid' epithet is taken from the usual line of 'its the economy stupid'. I never said the acts were justified, nor indeed whether they would work! Its fine and dandy to say that we can vote on foreign policy, but the reality is that during elections 'foreign policy' is NEVER mentioned. On that theme, can you tell me what our 'National Interests' actually are ? They certainly weren't listed on any pledge cards during recent elections. I certainly cant remember any election on my lifetime where foreign policy was even mentioned. Indeed, in 1997 after Labours election victory, Robin Cooks ethical foreign policy lasted for about 10 seconds. There are many groups including the Muslim public affairs committee which advocate precisely what you've suggested, however, in todays world people expect everything now (not tomorrow). I guess this attitude tied up with people preaching reprisals on the West are what drive these predominantly young people to carry out these kinds of acts. Make no mistake, I'm not condoning these acts, no more so than say condoning riots which have happened over the last 20 years. Whilst the acts themselves are worthy of condemnation, nonetheless, the underlying causes which drive these acts need to be addressed. I agree that all Brits need to work out a way of best tackling the problems, however by simply reiterating the ignorant mantra of 'oh they hate our freedoms' or 'oh they are mad' etc is tantamount to burying ones head in the sand. Back in the early 90's, people had to riot in order for the wrongs of the poll tax to be taken seriously, whilst rioting and blowing people up are not the same, both show that there is an underlying cause to the acts (aside from the usual assertions of criminal and 'they hate us') Z

I remember an episode of Blakes 7 where the champions of two sides fought it out to determine the winner of the 'war'. Z

So its the faults of the parents now ? LOL, once you've worked your way through everyone else, will you eventually get to the Prime Minister and even perhaps foreign policy ? Z

I thought it was the intelligence that the police were supplied with that led to the wild goose chase. Why are you blaming the victims ???? When people protest by burning cars (as wrong as that may be), it doesn't mean that there isn't a reason to their actions. As for the total war comment, I'll simply put that down to hypersensitivity. The point about the cricket comment is to show that these people aren't the mental nutcases that you would like to protray them out to be. As much as you would like to demonise them as being baby eating monsters, until you address the root causes, which ARE linked to foreign policy this will continue. Funny how you dont want to go down that road, but perhaps by doing so it would acknowledge that there is an underlying reason. Z

Its got nothing to do with 'hatred'. Thats simply a reiteration of the mantra that the neo-cons have been espousing. Its foreign policy stupid. Z

I still dont have a clue what you're on about. Z

Foreign policy is a huge sacred cow, over which the voters have very little say. Its apparantly so complex and murky that we have to rely on people in smoky rooms to decide over. Odd when you consider that we're constantly being told about the ever shrinking global world we live in, and yet at the same time we find ourselves unable to even question foreign policy without hearing the same old tried and tested cliches of 'Freedom Loving/Hating', 'Democratic Allies' ,'International Community' and not forgetting 'your with us or against us'. How many people know what our foreign policy or national interests are ? Terrorism in this country would stop overnight if Britain was to adopt an 'ethical' foreign policy (sounds of deja vous). Z

You lucky so and so ! Z

Whilst most people thought that this conflict was a distraction from the Iran nuclear issue, it appears that to the contrary this is directly linked. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH10Ak05.html Z