Thank you, Wootton Bassett.

Wootton Bassett has touched our hearts, collectively, over the past four years.  This small Wiltshire town took it upon themselves to pay tribute to the fallen; those young men and women, who never returned and died serving their country. If it was not for the 345 service personnel, who passed through the town, I never would have heard of this tranquil place. I’m sorry to admit to this fact.

I’m sure, I feel, the residents would prefer we knew of their town for other reasons; such as the local shops and welcoming vibe of the town. I wish this macabre spectacle-form of public mourning-didn’t have to take place – this war should have ended years ago.

But, in all honesty, thank you for what you did.

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Question: Where is the liberal foreign policy?

There is a great silence in Westminster. A lack of ambition, a sense of reality and, dare I say, cowardice. After strong support of Libyan intervention the party, apart from Sir Ming Campbell, fell desperately silent on Libya and the Arab Spring in general.  Vietnam Syndrome has left a vacuum within the party; an unwillingness to contribute to foreign affairs due to the “anti-war” tag associated to us. Opposition to Iraq should not define our attitudes to foreign affairs or military expeditions in general.

Liberals are becoming a hybrid mixture of the old American “do nothing, know nothing” isolationist movement of the 1930s.  Ministers’ would rather give free range to their Conservative colleagues to discuss Afghanistan and Libya; which comes across as extremely disinterested. I’m strongly against our politicians selecting ‘popular’  topics to discuss with the press – it’s insulting to the general public.

Cabinet has collective responsibility and all have a duty to defend/promote the government agenda. Including its foreign policy. Which Cameron, to his best, is building a very coherent and articulate liberal approach to most foreign developments. How ironic, though, Liberal Democrats are unwilling to be associated to it.

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The fragility of Libya will expose a security crisis for Africa and Europe.

The ‘mad dog’, grand antagonist of the West and founder of hyperbolic propaganda, is no more. Gaddafi and his tyrannical rule have evaporated over night with the victorious revolutionaries liberating their capital city. An Orwellian state cease to exists; but the war is not over, yet. Whilst NATO special forces and intelligence services search for Gaddafi, the rebels must learn to co-operate with each other; liberals and Islamists is not the perfect constitution for a long term successful government. Potentially, this has all the ingredients for another Iraq-esque sectarian divide and breeding ground for violence.

Libya is divided into three traditional regions; Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica. There is a significant danger of the country being torn apart along these lines. With the National Transitional Council relocating from Benghazi, there are many in Tripoli who will object to political dominance from Eastern Libya. Western aspirations and desires for the NTC to become the tutelage for this new democracy is very ambitious and premature. Subsequently, a blood soaked future might be a genuine reality. Yugoslavia and Iraq are warnings from history of potential occurrences when removing authoritarian regimes; power vacuums succumb to turmoil and chaos, with different factions manoeuvring for institutions of control. Whether we object to it or not, the United Nations might have to deploy a peacekeeping mission. There is no guarantee of former Gaddafi loyalists avoiding subversive actions or groups. Remember, Gaddafi came to power by a military coup and NATO will need to prevent another figure arising from the rubble. Currently, no evidence points to the NTC becoming a significant stabilising force for the country – majority of ordinary Libyans are armed. Theoretically, this could be much, much worse than the fall of Baghdad.

And there is one major obstacle for NATO; possible revenge attacks. Frequently over the past few days, reports of British, French and Arab Special Forces have been leading the rebel command structure and the conquest of Tripoli. Firstly, to provide leadership and correct military precision of the operation, but also to ensure revenge attacks and random executions do not take place. I’m not surprised to learn the hunt for Gaddafi and key regime figures is left to the responsibility of the SAS; many Western leaders are fearful what the revolutionaries would do, if they locate the whereabouts of the fallen dictator. That is why I was sceptical of reports of possible capture of Gaddafi’s sons’. Covertly, this is not a realistic revolution, but an NATO inspired overthrow of a tyrant. Libya is effectively Iraq without the jingoistic rhetoric or deployment of Western armies.

Benghazi is almost operating in a parallel universe when compared to Tripoli. The civil war divided the nation in two, and thus creating two rival capitals; dangerously, many governments recognised the legitimacy of the rival NTC administration at the start of the conflict. South Africa, and other African nations, did not. African Union’s timid and some what inept response creates more problems for NATO. What if the African Union refuses to recognise the authority of the new Libyan government? Nobody has considered the outcome. It would be near impossible to coerce the AU leadership into accepting the new Libyan arrangements. Plus, the Libyan economy would suffer as a result. Especially if Libya is suspended or expelled from the African Union.

We may celebrate the fall of Gaddafi, which I wholeheartedly do, but the consequences need to be investigated. A possible future is already bleeding into the present and becoming a reality. A power vacuum now exists in the Libyan capital, with no end in sight. A nation created out of violence tends to subsequently exist in that very state; for the sake of Libya and the region, let’s hope I am wrong.

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Regardless who they are, banning marches are wrong

Throughout the 1930s, we managed to laugh and ridicule the likes of Oswald Mosley and William Joyce (aka Lord Haw-Haw) without resorting to authoritarian public banning orders. Subsequently, though, William Joyce did go on to commit high treason and Mosley was interned during the Second World War.

But fast forward to the present, 2011, and the English Defence League. In the name of democracy, we are banning a group from publicly airing their views. Whether you are support them or not-which I don’t-freedom of speech is a pivotal instrument for any democracy. Even if alternative and opposing views are repugnant. Banning solves nothing; in fact, denying the oxygen of publicity only strengthens the movement. What happened to old fashion debates? Surely a more productive and rewarding method to dealing with your opponent.

There is no intellectual argument being put forward by the English Defence League and I highly doubt we will be pontificating over their philosophy in thirty years time; nor do I feel these individuals will ever get near the corridors of power. This is not the first protest group, or the last, who will shout inflammatory comments at a demonstration; after all, we’ve allowed Islamic extremists to burn the UK flag in public and call for genocide – which wasn’t banned? Selecting, and defining, what is a legitimate view is a dangerous path to walk down.

As much as I find the EDL and others odious, I still object to having them banned. You cannot impose state morality or opinions on the public; it violates the principles of a democracy.

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Is Nick off to Brussels? Might be some truth in it

An interesting revelation in the Telegraph today; not sure if its mischief making, but the premise seems quite truthful:

With Nick Clegg’s personal poll ratings still flat-lining, David Cameron is rumoured to be preparing a dignified exit for his deputy.

Clegg’s spokesman does not immediately deny the story, but, after taking soundings, he gets back to me to say the suggestion that discussions have taken place on the subject amounts to “wild and untrue speculation”.

I’m quite certain Clegg will not face the electorate in 2015; it is very important for the Liberal Democrats to enter the election on a clean platform and a different prospect for the future. The coalition would be over and, thus, a new change would be required. A new leader would be a break from the previous five years.

Nick Clegg, or anyone, would be a much better and more significant improvement than the current Baroness Ashton – who is utterly, utterly useless. Personally, though, I’d rather see Nick Clegg gain a role with the United Nations and not the European Union. But Cameron might be more keen for Clegg to be sent to Brussels because, if he doesn’t, a Tory would have to be posted to Europe. Which would be deeply unpopular for the party, especially if it’s Ken Clarke.

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CNN struggle to locate Tripoli….

Credit to @LukeBozier

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Guardian/ICM poll results – good news!

Guardian/ICM Poll- CON 37, LAB 36, LIB DEM 17

• Some 70% of respondents believed that those convicted of riot-related offences should receive a tougher sentence than they might ordinarily expect.

A recent ComRes poll has the Tories on 38% and the Lib Dems on 11%. The question is the Liberal Democrat support; the higher it is, the lower Labour generally poll. Tories are consistently between 38 – 40% – ‘shy Liberal Democrats’ might be the reason behind our random polling.

Overall, it is a very good poll for us, especially since we’ve been doing extremely well in local by-elections recently. And this ICM poll seems to be the most accurate in reflecting the current voting intention in the country.

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The fall of Tripoli and liberation of Libya

August 21st 2011 – The day Tripoli was liberated from a tyrant.  80% of the capital is in control of the revolutionaries, and Gaddafi forces remain strong but are falling; but NATO will continue airstrikes, though. Prime Minister Cameron has called for an unconditional surrender of all those loyal to Gaddafi.

The International Criminal Court said it had confirmation that Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, had been arrested. War crimes and crimes against humanity proceedings will start to be organised by the international community. The regime will now face justice.

“This was not our revolution, but we can be proud that we have played our part.” And our Prime Minister, David Cameron, was the first to call for a no-fly zone and intervention; we, regardless of political alliance, should congratulate the Prime Minister.

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Libyan female TV presenter brandishing a gun on air

Translation of video: With this weapon, I either kill or die today, you will not take al-Libiyah channel. You won’t take Jamahiriyah channel, Shababiyah channel, Tripoli or all of Libya, and even those without a weapon are willing to be a shield in order to protect their colleagues at this channel. We are willing to become martyrs.”

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Presidential candidate warns against the growing threat of the Soviet Union

“What people recognize is that there’s a fear that the United States is in an unstoppable decline. They see the rise of China, the rise of India, the rise of the Soviet Union and our loss militarily going forward,” Bachmann said on Jay Sekulow’s radio show.

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