How James Blunt saved the world

Not only is James Blunt the greatest singer the world has ever seen (Jesus, I said that? even sarcastically that sticks in the craw!)) but it seems that his prompt actions prevented the outbreak of World Warr III

Accoring to the Graun Blunt claimed in a radio interview that in 1999 he was serving in Kosovo (He had been an army officer before his music career), He had been at the head of a column that had been ordered to seize Prisina airfield,

US general Wesley Clark had issued a command to "reach the airfield and take a hold of it", the Russians had arrived there first. "We had 200 Russians lined up pointing their weapons at us aggressively," Blunt recalled. "The direct command [that] came in from general Wesley Clark was to overpower them.

Blunt said he wasn't willing to risk major conflict with Russia. "There are things that you do along the way that you know are right, and those that you absolutely feel are wrong," he said. "That sense of moral judgment is drilled into us as soldiers in the British army." The singer-songwriter claims he would have declined the order even at the risk of a court martial.

It didn't come to that. British general Sir Mike Jackson sent an admonishing message. "[His] exact words at the time were, 'I'm not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting world war three'. [He] told us why don't we sugar off down the road [and], you know, encircle the airfield instead." Asked if he thought the original order could indeed have set off a third world war, Blunt replied: "Absolutely."

So there you have it. Blunt was instrumental in averting WWIII. In addition he is the first singer songwriter to have broken the light speed barrier, brought peace to the Middle East and will surely sit at God's right hand come Judgement Day...

Personally I think his output is the musical equivalent of water boarding....

Angst in my pants

From 2008 when they performed 21 concerts. Each one featured one of their albums then a selection of favourites.

Long may they carry on!

And another Peter

Cuts you up by Peter Murphy

Moribund the Burgermeister

From Peter Gabriel's first solo album

De Valera and that message of condolence upon the death of Hitler again

Arsehole

It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with any aspect of Irish history. It was fortunate that I happened upon this article in the Irish Independent yesterday – quite fortunate as I haven’t looked at the paper for some weeks.

Eamon De Valera was the second worst leader to grace the Republic of Ireland (or its predecessors) beaten only by the grossly corrupt criminal Charles Haughey to the top slot. That said the gruesome twosome of Ahern and BIFFO (the current Taoiseach Brian Cowan – the Big Ignorant Fucker From Offaly) are close behind due to their gross economic mismanagement which has turned the Celtic Tiger into that infamous dead cat that bounces during an economic slide.

Among his many acts of utter stupidity was his visit to Eduard Hempel, the German Ambassador to Ireland in 1945 to sign a book of condolence for Adolf Hitler. This act caused international anger and contributed to Ireland’s status as a semi outcast nation for at least a decade.

New research has shown Mr de Valera fully expected the furore he created when he called on the German ambassador Eduard Hempel, to "express condolences" after Hitler's death was announced on May 2.

He never publicly explained the rationale behind his visit but previously secret papers in a new Royal Irish Academy book -- 'Documents on Irish Foreign Policy 1941-1945' -- show his thoughts following the incident.

"I had expected this," Mr de Valera wrote. "I acted correctly and I feel certain wisely."

Mr de Valera said he could have feigned a "diplomatic illness" but he would "scorn that sort of thing".

"So long as we retained our diplomatic relations with Germany, to have failed to call upon the German representative would have been an act of unpardonable discourtesy to the German nation and to Dr Hempel," he said in a letter.

He said he was "certainly" not going to add to Dr Hempel's humiliation "in the hour of defeat".
"I had another reason," his letter says. "It would establish a bad precedent. It is of considerable importance that the formal acts of courtesy should not have attached to them any further special significance, such as connoting approval or disapproval of the state in question or of its head."


I have always considered De Valera’s act to be the act of a small, ridiculous man with a pathological adherence to protocol and the political nous of a flatworm.

This letter shows that m extremely low opinion of the man is fully justified. Regardless of his feelings towards Hempel – there is nothing to indicate that he was much more than a reluctant Nazi (for what that is worth) – It was an act if extreme stupidity. He knew full well that the act would be badly received and would poison relations, particularly with the USA with whom relations were already pretty poor.

Germany was dead and buried by the time Hitler killed himself. The allies were on the verge of victory in Europe and yet he felt that the niceties of diplomatic protocol were far more important than acknowledging the blatant political reality.

How can I best describe De Valera? The man was an utter fuckwit who would have been better off as a school teacher or a junior clerk. Ireland may well have been a better place if he h

What charming people

Some of the more cretinous comments on the Daily Mail report on Aung San Suu Kyi's release

It goes to show the generosity and understanding of the Junta. Well done to them!

- Richard, Colchester, 13/11/2010 14:33

I agree with Sophie. There is less to this woman than meets the eye. She left her husband - and more importantly her children - to become a "saint" in Burma. Much like Princess Diana revered for her looks rather than achievements. Another example of style over substance. Would we have been interested in her if she were fat and ugly rather than the seemingly delicate little oriental flower with blossoms in her hair that we see in the newspapers. A very hard nut indeed, I think.

- Ruth, Guildford, 13/11/2010 17:23

More like the Face of NIVEA! She has spent the past 20 years holed up in her luxury mansion with 2 maids to cook and clean for her, playing the piano and reading autobiographies. Hardly courageous, sounds more like a holiday to me. Anybody in a privileged position can sit and whinge against the government but where is the democracy in Burma? If anything, she is putting the people's lives in more danger. As far as work is concerned what job has she actually done? I reserve my admiration for true heroines like Mother Theresa of Calcutta, wrinkled because of their hard physical work which got results.

- Sophie, London, 13/11/2010 16:32

Errr...she will come to the UK and make her home here and watch the X Factor?!? And claim benefits and complain about the weather!

- Ned, Yorkshire, 13/11/2010 15:45

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1329375/Burmas-pro-democracy-leader-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-free-15-year-house-arrest.html#ixzz15CTRhTMU

The Lady is freed at last

At last Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from house arrest by the Burmese Junta. In and of itself this is a great day. For what it's worth I am delighted but I can'tt help wonder what next or how long before the vermin junta and their parliamentary puppets contrive to return her to captivity. Let's see what happens next.

Nevertheless it is my deepest wish that she sees the junta and their puppets consigned to the gutter

The theme for the week's Photo Hunt is itchy. Okay s this nettle is initially sting-y, it soon itches like hell

The Lady released

Press reports indicate that Aung San Suu Kyi is about to be released from captivity. Let's see if this is true

Ted at rest

And the very first photo taken with my brand new camera body, a Nikon D700