Thursday, 10 April, 2008
- 10 Apr 08, 05:09 PM
Arms and the Man
An extraordinary and damning judgement from the High Court today into the Serious Fraud Office's decision to abandon its investigation into BAE arms deals with Saudi Arabia. The judgement said, in part: "No one whether in this country or outside is entitled to interfere with the course of our justice." So why didn't the SFO - and the Blair government - just tell the Saudis to get lost?
You can watch Peter Marshall's reports into BAE .
Brown
Nine months into Gordon Brown's premiership - what more do we know about his vision for reforming the public services? And does it actually differ all that much from that of his predecessor? David Grossman has been investigating - and we'll be reconvening our political panel to reflect on the week in politics.
Italy
For those of us who love the country, Italy is an enigma. Simultaneously the most cultured, civilised and wonderful country in Western Europe - and a kind of hopeless Third World style mess of corruption and political incompetence. Are Italians once again searching for a Strong Man to run their country? Is Silvio Berlusconi on his way back to power?
You can watch the Newsnight report on corruption in Italian politics here.
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Gavin, no need to feel lonely β€” I'll be watching!
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Saudi arms deal, it's good to have moral scruples and to play the self righteous indignation at probably some backhanders, which is a common way of doing business in some Arab States.
So I am sure that all those will stand in the middle of Preston or any BAE Euro Fighter production area, (Warton) and wring their hands when 1000's are put on the dole if the order is cancelled. I am sure they will explain to their families how good was this moral stand and will be sure they may find alternative employment.
They will then return to their comfortable homes and life styles with a job well done.
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This judgement coupled with the overturning of the expulsion of suspected terrorists are not judgements in favour of the people of this country - on the contrary they are counter to our interests and smack of the judiciary "taking on" the executive. Justice is meant to be blind, not perverse, naieve and stupid.
It is high time that this band of non elected, unaccountable, unmonitored, unchecked and extremely powerful individuals had their wings clipped. Who judges the judges?? Let them stand before the people and explain their high moral principles in the context of real life, not in some vacuous, sanctified hyper-reality.
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BROWN - IT'S IN THE NAME
Come on Newsnight, you love a bit of fun. Get a signature analyst on to tease out Gordon's signature. All will be revealed. He is barely out of his chrisalis and has bitten his wings down to stumps. It will never fly.
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NEW LABOUR: A BUNCH OF TROTS
The piece on Brown made it abundantly clear that New Left/Labour is clearly Trotskite (devolution of power my ****).
What's the difference between passing 'choice' all the way down the line and busting up the nasty Commanding Heights Stalinist Whitehall/GOSPLAN/GOSBANK? It's not just China that is in the Neocons' sights.
The only people this promotion of 'choice' and the erosion of the state (and duties in favour of rights) favour are the anarcho-capitalist internationalists who make money out of these 'rights-rich', but ever more brain-dead 'liberated' people.
As far as the predators are concerned, the more immigrants and the higher the birth-rate amongst the underclass the better - it makes it easier to sell toot. See 'The Apprentice' for just how bad this has become.
I'm told this is 'women's TV' too....
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sir,
I agree with you that Italy is searching for a leader who can take this country out of incompetence and corruption.But i do not think that Silvio Berlusconi may not prove this figure.Any how one can expect of him anything in future.
Mushtaq Khan Mooliani Layyah Pakistan
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