RE: Previous Worldcups

The ball DID cross the line bhoy!

=> England won the world cup.

RE: Political leaders

You’re right about travel. It certainly broadened my mind, and I hope it will become broader still!

But I think there is a big difference between Gib and say, Chechnya. Gib is ALREADY separate from Spain and there is no reason (other than Spanish feelings) to re-unite. And if you beleive in an EU-super state (which I don’t) then re-unification would be ultimately pointless anyway.

Also, I think a lot of the Spanish response is just petty protectionism. Things like closing airspace to Gibraltar-bound aircraft, and being very awkward about letting people drive in to Gib.

These things only cause further resentment from Gibraltar and they widen the divide.

RE: Political leaders

There is no solution, Keltic.

These things need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Even then, mistakes happen and cotroversies happen. How about Chechnya, or South Ossetia?

Perhaps countries have to try harder at being inclusive. Certainly, if a region is treated badly then its arguments for independence carry extra weight. The UK govermment does not treat Gib very well, because it finds it embarassing.

RE: Another PLO victory

Arafat might be more inclined to help if Israel didn’t place him under house arrest and make him politically impotent!

RE: There is no such thing as war on terrorism

Oh, please.

It is illegal to deny the holocaust but it is perfectly legal to deny the tens of millions of deaths ordered by Stalin.

Utter hypocrisy. It is the fault of Belgian and UK politicians certainly, but I would expect even a hardline Jew to admit that Stalin was as bad as Hitler.

On a different note, the issue of saying that bin Laden cannot be negotiated with just because he uses terror to achieve his aims.

Well, I said a similar thing about Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness a few years ago. And I was wrong; we talked and by and large, the violence from the IRA was significantly reduced.

The point was made that Islamic and “European” terrorism is totally different and the tactics are also totally different.

I don’t see how.

In any terror organisation, you will find a small caucasus of hardliners headed by Mr. Big.

Between them, they whip up hatred and desire to act, amongst populations.

The ONLY way to beat this is by removing the root cause of animosity felt towards you. Chopping the head off gets you a temporary reprieve at best.

RE: Argentina

Thanks for the let-off, chaps!

RE: Is anyone interested in Poetry?

Dulce est decorum pro patria mori

It is sweet and honourable to die for your country

…or something like that!!

I’m not a great poetry lover, but sometimes I get captivated by it. Tyger, Tyger sticks in my mind.

RE: BA’s Preffered Merger Partner-Iberia

BA are trying to be commercial, that’s all.

And they are being stopped because of protectionism.

If other airlines don’t want to be bought, then they should hurry up and make a profit and get some financial muscle of their own!