28 April 2016 Barack Obama and the UK’s 1776 Moment A president of the USA opposing a Declaration of Independence? What a delicious irony! By Neil Tidmarsh When faced with a difficult and important decision, it’s always a good idea to consult friends, neighbours and allies for their advice and opinions. So we should thank… Continue reading Issue 51: 2016 04 28:Barack Obama and the UK’s 1776 Moment (Neil Tidmarsh)
Tag: Neil Tidmarsh
Issue 50: 2016 04 21:Pakistan’s Own Goals(Neil Tidmarsh)
21 April 2016 Pakistan’s Own Goals Security and intelligence in Karachi and Islamabad. by Neil Tidmarsh This week, the judge in a terrorism trial in Karachi called upon an explosives expert from the police to explain a technical detail to the court. Officer Abid Ali enthusiastically obliged, even bringing a hand-grenade with him as a… Continue reading Issue 50: 2016 04 21:Pakistan’s Own Goals(Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 49: 201604 14:The other EU Referendum (Neil Tidmarsh)
14 April 2016 That Other EU Referendum Perhaps it should have been about Ukraine, after all. by Neil Tidmarsh This week, voters in the Netherlands rejected the EU’s trade and security treaty with the Ukraine. The result has been presented and received largely as a protest vote against the EU rather than against Ukraine. This… Continue reading Issue 49: 201604 14:The other EU Referendum (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 48: 2016 04 07: Give the Past a Future (Neil Tidmarsh)
07 April 2016 Give the Past a Future Is it safe from the present? by Neil Tidmarsh In various parts of the world, the past is waiting apprehensively for the future, with one wary eye on the present. One wary eye? No – both eyes wide open with fear and anxiety. The monumental Roman ruins… Continue reading Issue 48: 2016 04 07: Give the Past a Future (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 47: 2016 03 31: Earning a Name for oneself (NeilTidmarsh)
31 March 2016 Earning a Name For Oneself Or not, as the case may be in Brussels and Lahore. By Neil Tidmarsh There’s been much ado about names in the news this week. In China, the civil affairs minister Li Liguo attacked the fashion for giving new housing developments foreign names. He has a point;… Continue reading Issue 47: 2016 03 31: Earning a Name for oneself (NeilTidmarsh)
Issue 46: 2016 03 23: The EU; An Awkward Fit for the UK (Neil Tidmarsh)
24 March 2016 The EU; An Awkward Fit for the UK Why Britain is facing a different choice to the rest of Europe. by Neil Tidmarsh The political unit in Europe is currently the nation state. The EU is a system which is intended to enable the nation states to cooperate with each other; but… Continue reading Issue 46: 2016 03 23: The EU; An Awkward Fit for the UK (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 46:2016 03 24:Exit from Syria, Exit From Yemen (Neil Tidmarsh)
24 March 2016 Exit From Syria, Exit From Yemen Saudi Arabia and Russia look at each other in the mirror of the Middle East’s conflicts. by Neil Tidmarsh Last week, Russia announced its military withdrawal from Syria; this week, Saudi Arabia announced its military withdrawal from Yemen. A curious coincidence, given that the conflict in… Continue reading Issue 46:2016 03 24:Exit from Syria, Exit From Yemen (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 45 ;2016 03 17: A vote for Brexit Is A Vote for Europe {Neil Tidmarsh)
17 March 2016 A Vote For Brexit Is A Vote For Europe It is possible to be pro-Europe but anti-EU. by Neil Tidmarsh Nobody in late fifteenth century and early sixteenth century Europe wanted to break away from Rome and the Papacy. The renaissance humanist scholars who criticised the church as corrupt, tyrannical and inefficient… Continue reading Issue 45 ;2016 03 17: A vote for Brexit Is A Vote for Europe {Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 45:2016 03 17:A Lenten Change of Heart in the Kremlin (Neil Tidmarsh)
17 March 2016 A Lenten Change of Heart in the Kremlin Does Putin read Shaw Sheet? by Neil Tidmarsh Remember the piece in Shaw Sheet four weeks ago called ‘Maskivrovka’? It concluded by saying; “Perhaps someone ought to tell the Russian leadership that … Lent is now upon us, and Lent is the season for… Continue reading Issue 45:2016 03 17:A Lenten Change of Heart in the Kremlin (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 43: 2016 03 03: India calling (Neil Tidmarsh)
03 March 2016 India Calling Mobile phones haven’t taken the spice out of India’s headlines. By Neil Tidmarsh How much did you pay for that smartphone in your pocket? A hundred quid? Two hundred quid? Six hundred? I’m sure you’ll insist that it was worth every penny. In fact it’s almost priceless now that it’s… Continue reading Issue 43: 2016 03 03: India calling (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 42: 2016 02 25: Happy Birthday, Mr President (Neil Tidmarsh)
25 February 2016 Happy Birthday, Mr President African leaders race for the record books. by Neil Tidmarsh This week, President Mugabe of Zimbabwe is 92 years old. He is the world’s oldest head of state. He has been in power for 35 years, very nearly another record (he is beaten only by José Eduardo dos… Continue reading Issue 42: 2016 02 25: Happy Birthday, Mr President (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 41:2016 02 18: War and Peace (Neil Tallstory)
18 February 2016 War and Peace by Neil Tallstory Thought Andrew Davies’ BBC TV adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic was too modern, with its incest and male nudity? Huh. Try this for size… Chapter LLLCCCCXXXXXIV Natasha rushed round to Andrey’s apartment as soon as she heard that he was back in Moscow from the war. … Continue reading Issue 41:2016 02 18: War and Peace (Neil Tallstory)
Issue 41:2016 02 18:Maskirovka (Neil Tidmarsh)
18 February 2016 Maskirovka In Russia, the season for masks isn’t over yet. by Neil Tidmarsh The Russian leadership has made some fairly confusing statements recently, but the most confusing of all must be prime minister Dmitri Medvedev’s comments this week on Saudi Arabia’s pledge to send war planes and ground troops to help in… Continue reading Issue 41:2016 02 18:Maskirovka (Neil Tidmarsh)
