Issue 111:2017 06 29:A Kink In China’s New Silk Road(Neil Tidmarsh)

29 June 2017 A Kink In China’s New Silk Road ‘One Belt, One Road’ bypasses India. By Neil Tidmarsh Consider these three apparently unconnected stories in the news this week: Two Chinese teachers were recently kidnapped in Pakistan by Isis.  The security services tracked them to a network of tunnels near the border with Afghanistan,… Continue reading Issue 111:2017 06 29:A Kink In China’s New Silk Road(Neil Tidmarsh)

Issue 110: 2017 06 22: Meanwhile, In The White House… (J R Thomas)

22 June 2017 Meanwhile, In The White House… The administration looks at Syria and Wall Street. by J.R.Thomas Events in the UK have rather distracted from what is happening across the Atlantic.  We can confirm that Mr Trump is still President, though you might have thought from some reports that he was about to be… Continue reading Issue 110: 2017 06 22: Meanwhile, In The White House… (J R Thomas)

Issue 98: 2017 03 30: Full Circle (Robert Kilconner)

30 March 2017 Full Circle Should the EU go for a fighting retreat? By Robert Kilconner Just occasionally absentmindedness can be a good thing, particularly if the result is that you forget to go to the bookshop.  “No thriller this week” you think glumly.  None of those Booker shortlisters will be gracing your bedside table. … Continue reading Issue 98: 2017 03 30: Full Circle (Robert Kilconner)

Issue 90: 2017 02 02: Leading Trumps (John Watson)

02 February 2017 Leading Trumps Britain’s interests from a post imperial standpoint. By John Watson It really is very difficult to understand what is going on.  The debate here over whether or not Parliamentary authority was needed before the Prime Minister could issue a notice under article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon was bad… Continue reading Issue 90: 2017 02 02: Leading Trumps (John Watson)

Issue76:2016 10 20:A tale of two cities (Neil Tidmarsh)

20 October 2016 A Tale Of Two Cities The battle for Aleppo and the battle for Mosul; significant differences. By Neil Tidmarsh In Syria, the Russian-backed regime is fighting to drive rebels from the city of Aleppo.  In Iraq, the US-backed regime is fighting to drive Isis from the city of Mosul. Compare and contrast…… Continue reading Issue76:2016 10 20:A tale of two cities (Neil Tidmarsh)

Issue 55: 2016 05 26: Once there was a King… (Neil Tidmarsh)

26 May 2016 “Once There Was A King…”  Scheherazade lives. by Neil Tidmarsh “Once there was a King…” So begins the traditional storyteller, wearing a fez and brandishing an ancient sword, in any café in any town in the Middle East since the beginning of time.  (It’s a custom that survives even in today’s war-torn Damascus,… Continue reading Issue 55: 2016 05 26: Once there was a King… (Neil Tidmarsh)

Issue 51: Another Volley From Remain (John Watson)

28 April 2016 Another Volley From “Remain” By John Watson Another week, another salvo from the guns of the Remain camp.  President Obama makes his contribution to the discussion but without, of course, telling the British how to vote. He is here as a guest for the Queen’s birthday celebrations and he is far too… Continue reading Issue 51: Another Volley From Remain (John Watson)

Issue 44: 2016 03 10: Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday (Lynda Goetz)

10 March 2016 Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday, “Bah Humbug!” Why the modern celebration is a fabrication and a guilt trip. by Lynda Goetz “Mother’s Day is really just a test of your other half’s gift-giving skills,” pronounced Bryony Gordon in The Sunday Telegraph’s Stella Magazine. What?! (I think I might just be allowed to… Continue reading Issue 44: 2016 03 10: Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday (Lynda Goetz)

Issue 11: 2015 07 16: All the President’s People

16 July 2015 All the President’s People by J R Thomas Imagine a horse race with only one runner, preening and prancing in front of the crowd. Then imagine another horse race with so many runners there aren’t enough starting stalls, and every neighbourhood donkey, pony and carthorse in the county is jostling around the… Continue reading Issue 11: 2015 07 16: All the President’s People

Issue 4:2015 05 28: Arabs call for the seventh cavalry

28 May 2015 Arabs call for the Seventh Cavalry by Neil Tidmarsh Understanding US frustration in the Middle East No wonder Ashton Carter, the US secretary of defence, lost his patience last week following the catastrophic collapse of the Iraqi army at Ramadi, Anbar province. Once again the USA found itself in the bizarre position… Continue reading Issue 4:2015 05 28: Arabs call for the seventh cavalry

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