Yes, that's quite a likely alternative, and would make Miliband look a bit of a berk, playing silly games for short-term partisan advantage (which he was).
This could happen as soon as tomorrow, of course.
I suspect Dave, nice chap that he is and knowing Ed was in a bind with a Labour party crippled with Iraq guilt, will be kind to Ed and allow him his little self-indulgence. So that aspect will soon be forgotten. But what of the anti-war crowd and the Lib-Dem defectors? Their sense of betrayal when Ed signs up after all will be seismic.
Iraq attacks kill at least 80 as government goes on ‘high alert’ over possible Syria strike
BAGHDAD — Car bomb blasts and other explosions tore through mainly Shiite districts around Baghdad during morning rush hour Wednesday in a day of violence that killed at least 80, intensifying worries about Iraq’s ability to tame the spiraling mayhem gripping the country.
It was the latest set of large-scale sectarian attacks to hit Iraq, even as the government went on “high alert” in case a possible Western strike in neighboring Syria increases Iraq’s turmoil.
A relentless wave of killing has left thousands dead since April in the country’s worst spate of bloodshed since 2008. The surge in violence raises fears that Iraq is hurtling back toward the widespread sectarian killing that peaked in 2006 and 2007, when the country was teetering on the edge of civil war.
Most of Wednesday’s attacks happened in within minutes of each other as people headed to work or were out shopping early in the day. Insurgents unleashed explosives-laden cars, suicide bombers and other bombs that targeted parking lots, outdoor markets and restaurants in predominantly Shiite areas in and around Baghdad, officials said. A military convoy was hit south of the capital.
65 per cent believed that military action should be taken only when it was authorised by the UN, compared with 16 per cent who disagree with that statement.
Isn't it curious that one thing we have barely heard mentioned is the reaction of Arab or wider Muslim world to any US attack
Strange. Usually one of the top things on the agenda for commentators. I that because so many of these countries are onboard or they be safely ignored?
That's the key in and they key out. The Arab League needs to be a major player here, and the west are obsessed with the Cold War countries
UN inspectors and US intelligence get Tory backbenchers,Labour and Lib Dems back on board
Yes, that's quite a likely alternative, and would make Miliband look a bit of a berk, playing silly games for short-term partisan advantage (which he was).
This could happen as soon as tomorrow, of course.
Richard
Can you remember all that nonsense about Hague messing up the evacuation of Brits from Libya before the airstrikes began.
The delays in ships docking and an abortive intelligence mission near Benghazi?
And all the predictions that Hague would have to resign?
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose as Hollande might be saying tonight in his Versailles palace.
Ah, that's what I'm thinking of.
Labour's silly game playing over the evacuations from Libya and William Hague's performance.
It was all so trivial that I'd completely forgotten what it was all about, LOL.
Isn't it curious that one thing we have barely heard mentioned is the reaction of Arab or wider Muslim world to any US attack
Strange. Usually one of the top things on the agenda for commentators. I that because so many of these countries are onboard or they be safely ignored?
That's the key in and they key out. The Arab League needs to be a major player here, and the west are obsessed with the Cold War countries
The Arab League is already on board.
It is Russia and China who are the blocks in the UNSC.
@Stark_Dawning - I don't think Cameron will forgive young Ed. It's a bit of character flaw of his, expecting his opponents to act responsibly and getting angry when they don't.
"...I don't think this is really about chemical weapons, and I'll tell you why. First, in common with several other politicians, I've been lobbied by FCO types in support of an intervention in Syria since long before the gas attack. Their justification has changed, but their goal hasn't.
If this were truly about the gas, our object would be to seize Assad and put him on trial. Missile strikes are about degrading infrastructure and tipping the balance in the civil war. "
The Government could not contain its fury. “No 10 and the Foreign Office think Miliband is a f****** c*** and a copper-bottomed s***. The French hate him now and he’s got no chance of building an alliance with the US Democratic Party,” said one Government source.
Colourful language and overquick judgements, but the truth remains that Miliband has today undermined his credibility as a potential Prime Minister in the eyes of the country's major allies.
And what has he gained? A couple of days tactical advantage in annoying the government and pleased the liberal media?
This is just tittle-tattle in the papers.
Mr Obama seems pretty lukewarm about a Syrian adventure, so he might well welcome an excuse to do nothing.
Mr Cameron and the fanatics in the FCO are the ones who are miffed.
Obama is being deliberately lukewarm.
He and Kerry and playing the old hard man, soft man game.
Obama is open to offers from Putin. His mind is not yet made up. Putin has his number.
"...I don't think this is really about chemical weapons, and I'll tell you why. First, in common with several other politicians, I've been lobbied by FCO types in support of an intervention in Syria since long before the gas attack. Their justification has changed, but their goal hasn't.
If this were truly about the gas, our object would be to seize Assad and put him on trial. Missile strikes are about degrading infrastructure and tipping the balance in the civil war. "
Barack is starting to look like George Bush. I'd be interested in a poll which considered who the British had more respect for Obama or Putin. My guess is it would be close
Isn't it curious that one thing we have barely heard mentioned is the reaction of Arab or wider Muslim world to any US attack
Strange. Usually one of the top things on the agenda for commentators. I that because so many of these countries are onboard or they be safely ignored?
Most of them are in a state of civil war or busy massacring the winners of recent elections so can be safely ignored.
Isn't it curious that one thing we have barely heard mentioned is the reaction of Arab or wider Muslim world to any US attack
Strange. Usually one of the top things on the agenda for commentators. I that because so many of these countries are onboard or they be safely ignored?
That's the key in and they key out. The Arab League needs to be a major player here, and the west are obsessed with the Cold War countries
The Arab League is already on board.
It is Russia and China who are the blocks in the UNSC.
Apparently the Organisation of Islamic Co-Operation blame the Assad regime and want decisive action according to a good old fashioned communique.
All these other countries, however, wants the World Police to sort it out and given the Head of World Police spent the last two years trying to stop others getting involved, then he can go first.
Barack is starting to look like George Bush. I'd be interested in a poll which considered who the British had more respect for Obama or Putin. My guess is it would be close
Portraying DC as weak makes no sense; portraying him as too gungho does at least sit OK.
He`s weak in Parliament because his own backbenchers won`t support him.But attacking Assad with a few missiles doesn`t take much courage as it will be multilateral and not much chance of taking hits as our troops will not be involved.
Barack is starting to look like George Bush. I'd be interested in a poll which considered who the British had more respect for Obama or Putin. My guess is it would be close
Now I'm no fan of Barry, but even I'd rate him ahead of Putin, LOL!
Nearly half of voters (46 per cent) who took part in the poll have faith that, whatever course of action Mr Cameron decides to take, “he is genuinely concerned to do what is right and in Britain’s interests”.
Some 69 per cent of Tory voters trust the Prime Minister, compared with 37 per cent of Labour voters, 55 per cent of Lib Dem voters and 36 per cent of UKIP voters.
Voters do not say the same about President Obama, with 48 per cent agreeing that “we can’t trust [America’s] motives on issues such as Syria”.
@SeanT - Actually they know it very well. That's why good men and women are leaving politics.
Meanwhile someone has to govern, and to govern is to choose.
Others can just rant incoherently.
I am - almost seriously - leaning towards the Chinese method of governance. Let wise, educated men and women, possibly from Cornwall, decide everything for the next 20 years, without fear of election or dismissal. F8ck the people, they can't think beyond the next tweet/meal/salary/internet wank.
Consider: which country has been best governed in the last three decades, rawly autocratic yet capitalist China or semi-socialist democratic India? It's China, isn't it?
The Government could not contain its fury. “No 10 and the Foreign Office think Miliband is a f****** c*** and a copper-bottomed s***. The French hate him now and he’s got no chance of building an alliance with the US Democratic Party,” said one Government source.
Colourful language and overquick judgements, but the truth remains that Miliband has today undermined his credibility as a potential Prime Minister in the eyes of the country's major allies.
And what has he gained? A couple of days tactical advantage in annoying the government and pleased the liberal media?
This is just tittle-tattle in the papers.
Mr Obama seems pretty lukewarm about a Syrian adventure, so he might well welcome an excuse to do nothing.
Mr Cameron and the fanatics in the FCO are the ones who are miffed.
Yes; two small men Obama and Cammo went running, mouths frothing, up to the start line and then then hesitated and decided to dither as is there wont. They will now be the laughing stocks of the Middle East and the Arab world in general. These countries now know that they cannot trust the USA as an ally.
Better for these two men not to have started the process by promising so much and delivering zilch.
I woke up this morning to Saint Martin Luther King day and finish with more of the same on Newsnight. Obama even claims that MLK was in support of gay rights.
The truth is as usual, different. "Recently, Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the late and great Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has taken the lead role as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was founded by her father in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for failing to give up her seat on a bus for a white man. But, when it comes to Civil Rights, according to Bernice, they don’t apply for LGBT Americans. King doesn’t support marriage equality and doesn’t believe her father would have either, stating: “I know deep down in my sanctified soul that he did not take a bullet for same-sex unions.”
But instead of the reality we have a man lauded for something he did not believe in. Amen.
One of the most "liked" comments after a recent Telegraph post of mine said: "it's come to this, that I trust what the Russian government says more than I trust what Washington says"
Clearly there was some exaggeration for effect but, as I said in an earlier comment, the West is now closer to losing the moral high ground than at any time since 1945.
The Russians (and Chinese) are too clever to allow their power structures to be infiltrated by agents of a foreign power...
@SeanT - Actually they know it very well. That's why good men and women are leaving politics.
Meanwhile someone has to govern, and to govern is to choose.
Others can just rant incoherently.
I am - almost seriously - leaning towards the Chinese method of governance. Let wise, educated men and women, possibly from Cornwall, decide everything for the next 20 years, without fear of election or dismissal. F8ck the people, they can't think beyond the next tweet/meal/salary/internet wank.
Consider: which country has been best governed in the last three decades, rawly autocratic yet capitalist China or semi-socialist democratic India? It's China, isn't it?
@SeanT - Actually they know it very well. That's why good men and women are leaving politics.
Meanwhile someone has to govern, and to govern is to choose.
Others can just rant incoherently.
I am - almost seriously - leaning towards the Chinese method of governance. Let wise, educated men and women, possibly from Cornwall, decide everything for the next 20 years, without fear of election or dismissal. F8ck the people, they can't think beyond the next tweet/meal/salary/internet wank.
Consider: which country has been best governed in the last three decades, rawly autocratic yet capitalist China or semi-socialist democratic India? It's China, isn't it?
If Cameron is defeated in the vote on military action against Syria in the HoC next week which appears distinctly possible, how likely is he to resign?
If Cameron is defeated in the vote on military action against Syria in the HoC next week which appears distinctly possible, how likely is he to resign?
I just thought I'd ask since those nice people at Ladbrokes are offering odds of 16/1 against Cameron leaving office before the end of 2013 ..... Hmm.
I woke up this morning to Saint Martin Luther King day and finish with more of the same on Newsnight. Obama even claims that MLK was in support of gay rights.
The truth is as usual, different. "Recently, Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the late and great Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has taken the lead role as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was founded by her father in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for failing to give up her seat on a bus for a white man. But, when it comes to Civil Rights, according to Bernice, they don’t apply for LGBT Americans. King doesn’t support marriage equality and doesn’t believe her father would have either, stating: “I know deep down in my sanctified soul that he did not take a bullet for same-sex unions.”
But instead of the reality we have a man lauded for something he did not believe in. Amen.
As far as I can see he made no claim about MLK Jr's position on gay rights in his speech today:
If Cameron is defeated in the vote on military action against Syria in the HoC next week which appears distinctly possible, how likely is he to resign?
Zero per cent. He'd take it on the chin and carry on.
If Cameron is defeated in the vote on military action against Syria in the HoC next week which appears distinctly possible, how likely is he to resign?
Zero per cent. He'd take it on the chin and carry on.
One of the most "liked" comments after a recent Telegraph post of mine said: "it's come to this, that I trust what the Russian government says more than I trust what Washington says"
Clearly there was some exaggeration for effect but, as I said in an earlier comment, the West is now closer to losing the moral high ground than at any time since 1945.
The Russians (and Chinese) are too clever to allow their power structures to be infiltrated by agents of a foreign power...
Whatever could Rod be going on about now I wonder?
One of the most "liked" comments after a recent Telegraph post of mine said: "it's come to this, that I trust what the Russian government says more than I trust what Washington says"
Clearly there was some exaggeration for effect but, as I said in an earlier comment, the West is now closer to losing the moral high ground than at any time since 1945.
The Russians (and Chinese) are too clever to allow their power structures to be infiltrated by agents of a foreign power...
Whatever could Rod be going on about now I wonder?
TSE It is the UK that is pushing this, the UK which wrote the resolution, Obama is vague and waffly and was far more interested in Martin Luther King day today
Right seeing as no apps bloody work on my smartphone I've taken the plunge and taken Google up on their excellent offer for a 16 GB Nexus 4 for 200 smackers. May it load pb.com faster than ever.
One of the most "liked" comments after a recent Telegraph post of mine said: "it's come to this, that I trust what the Russian government says more than I trust what Washington says"
Clearly there was some exaggeration for effect but, as I said in an earlier comment, the West is now closer to losing the moral high ground than at any time since 1945.
The Russians (and Chinese) are too clever to allow their power structures to be infiltrated by agents of a foreign power...
Whatever could Rod be going on about now I wonder?
I thought the Jews controlled China and Russia too. How did they slip through the net?
Oliver Letwin's Chinese and Russian cousins were caught at the border.
TSE It is the UK that is pushing this, the UK which wrote the resolution, Obama is vague and waffly and was far more interested in Martin Luther King day today
Yes, Obama, unlike his imbecilic predecessor, has a faint grasp of the US national interest, and far fewer fanatical zionists in his administration.
TSE It is the UK that is pushing this, the UK which wrote the resolution, Obama is vague and waffly and was far more interested in Martin Luther King day today
Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, not MLK day.
Careful, it's just yougov (though they do more polls than the others) I would have joined you if it was any VI poll listed but I balked at limiting it to yougov (I did no maths whatsoever to assess why I thought one was value and the other wasnt, just a gut feeling!).
Careful, it's just yougov (though they do more polls than the others) I would have joined you if it was any VI poll listed but I balked at limiting it to yougov (I did no maths whatsoever to assess why I thought one was value and the other wasnt, just a gut feeling!).
A loss won't bankrupt me.
A win won't even buy a good dinner.
Paddy is very reluctant to take money from me on political bets. Loves the horses though.
It's a common problem. Sometimes I find tim is kind enough to step in to make up the difference between a poor dinner and a cocktail party. PtP of all people reported being able to get better stakes on political bets with Paddy when we discussed it a while back. The limits are especially frustrating as they tend to get Irish political markets wrong more often than UK ones.
Abbott at it again, in Oz 'Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has encouraged a group of high school netballers to "make body contact", telling them a little of it never hurt anyone' Snap polls today had Rudd clear winner of the final debate, will be interesting to see if it has had any impact, night http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/election-live-august-29/4920440
@SeanT - Actually they know it very well. That's why good men and women are leaving politics.
Meanwhile someone has to govern, and to govern is to choose.
Others can just rant incoherently.
I am - almost seriously - leaning towards the Chinese method of governance. Let wise, educated men and women, possibly from Cornwall, decide everything for the next 20 years, without fear of election or dismissal. F8ck the people, they can't think beyond the next tweet/meal/salary/internet wank.
Consider: which country has been best governed in the last three decades, rawly autocratic yet capitalist China or semi-socialist democratic India? It's China, isn't it?
Cf Singapore.
Apart from the EU, right? The technocrats decide on tax rates and social policy, but trans-continental institutional governmental structures will be best decided directly by the people in between internet wanks.
Comments
"Tone isn't impressed with Miliband either"
The non endorsement of 'Tone' is surely the icing on the cake (if you'll excuse the footballism)
65 per cent believed that military action should be taken only when it was authorised by the UN, compared with 16 per cent who disagree with that statement.
Meanwhile someone has to govern, and to govern is to choose.
Others can just rant incoherently.
Labour's silly game playing over the evacuations from Libya and William Hague's performance.
It was all so trivial that I'd completely forgotten what it was all about, LOL.
It is Russia and China who are the blocks in the UNSC.
"...I don't think this is really about chemical weapons, and I'll tell you why. First, in common with several other politicians, I've been lobbied by FCO types in support of an intervention in Syria since long before the gas attack. Their justification has changed, but their goal hasn't.
If this were truly about the gas, our object would be to seize Assad and put him on trial. Missile strikes are about degrading infrastructure and tipping the balance in the civil war. "
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100233008/parliament-is-right-to-be-sceptical-this-isnt-really-about-chemical-weapons/
He and Kerry and playing the old hard man, soft man game.
Obama is open to offers from Putin. His mind is not yet made up. Putin has his number.
"But what about Barack's displeasure?"
Barack is starting to look like George Bush. I'd be interested in a poll which considered who the British had more respect for Obama or Putin. My guess is it would be close
All these other countries, however, wants the World Police to sort it out and given the Head of World Police spent the last two years trying to stop others getting involved, then he can go first.
Some 69 per cent of Tory voters trust the Prime Minister, compared with 37 per cent of Labour voters, 55 per cent of Lib Dem voters and 36 per cent of UKIP voters.
Voters do not say the same about President Obama, with 48 per cent agreeing that “we can’t trust [America’s] motives on issues such as Syria”.
Better for these two men not to have started the process by promising so much and delivering zilch.
Note his 'invitation to Russia' to help work towards a negotiated solution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxyBKKYPT4c
The truth is as usual, different. "Recently, Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the late and great Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has taken the lead role as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), which was founded by her father in 1955 after Rosa Parks was arrested for failing to give up her seat on a bus for a white man.
But, when it comes to Civil Rights, according to Bernice, they don’t apply for LGBT Americans. King doesn’t support marriage equality and doesn’t believe her father would have either, stating:
“I know deep down in my sanctified soul that he did not take a bullet for same-sex unions.”
But instead of the reality we have a man lauded for something he did not believe in. Amen.
"It is Russia and China who are the blocks in the UNSC"
So nearly half the world?
There is the story of the President of Lebanon visiting China. The Chinese president asked what the population of Lebanon was?
"Three million" he said
"Three Million! Why didn't you bring them with you"
Leave it to the folk in the region to sort it out, or not. Either way the West must stop behaving as the world's policeman.
What will Labour activists be left with when even they realise it is not working?
[Any answer yet on the UN Inspectors' report?]
Have Ed Miliband & Clegg essentially said military action in Syria is OK, but only if Russia thinks it is though ?!
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/28/barack-obama-speech-full-transcript
What did the President of Lebanon reply?
Weak, Weak, Weak (+3)
Much to their chagrin...
http://www.jpost.com/International/Atlanta-Jewish-newspaper-calls-for-Obama-assassination
Careful, it's just yougov (though they do more polls than the others) I would have joined you if it was any VI poll listed but I balked at limiting it to yougov (I did no maths whatsoever to assess why I thought one was value and the other wasnt, just a gut feeling!).
He's waiting for more input from Diane Abbott, when he can get her away from the media.
A win won't even buy a good dinner.
Paddy is very reluctant to take money from me on political bets. Loves the horses though.
I haven't seen her post recently.
It's a common problem. Sometimes I find tim is kind enough to step in to make up the difference between a poor dinner and a cocktail party. PtP of all people reported being able to get better stakes on political bets with Paddy when we discussed it a while back. The limits are especially frustrating as they tend to get Irish political markets wrong more often than UK ones.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-29/election-live-august-29/4920440