Cllr. Gavin Ayling

Sam Harris is another in the growing number among us humans who believes that religion per se is dangerous. Listen to what he has to say:

If you agree, or even if you just know there’s no reason to believe in God, consider signing up (for free) as a Bright and spreading the 21st Century’s Enlightenment.

Without the usual, “Why can’t we all just live in peace” naivete:

As J0nz pointed out, Hezbollah and Israel are thought of very differently by Britons than by the BBC… Have Your Say.

The impractical but vocal old-European nations were among the first to shout foul about Israel’s recent attempts to defend itself but it is Italy, not France or Germany, that is providing the majority of troops to the Lebanon.

France, according to the last figures I saw, are contributing 200 troops, Bangladesh (commendably) 1,000 and Italy 3,000. For obvious reasons Britain and the US are unable to commit troops.

But surely, as the second most powerful miltary power in Europe, France should be contributing at least as many troops as the coalition-of-the-willing-Italy. Israel, I am sure, would have happily allowed Hezbollah to be disarmed by third parties with no direct benefit. Israel, by implication then, would have been happy for the UN to stop terrorists attacking it and kidnapping its soldiers.

But the UN, despite all the obvious need, is again shown to be toothless. Were I a terrorist in the Middle East watching on at this, I would be more concerned about the serious efforts of Israel, Britain, Italy and the US than I would be of the rest of the world combined. The UN, if it did its job, could stop Britain, Israel and the US from appearing to be bullies in a world full of real bullies (Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda).

So, France, put your money where your mouth is and help Israel and the Lebanon avoid further anti-state terrorist activity.

So public opinion in the Middle East is aggressive and negative towards the West, Judaism and Christianity… Shocker: Thanks to ATW and the Granuaid.

How this fits with my post, An Opportunity, I don’t know… Although a look at Pakistan’s responses muddies clarity no end!

The BBC have some amazing journalists. For example: when a bomb lands on a building in Lebanon or Gaza they are able, within hours, to tell a listening and watching world that the inhabitants were civilians.

So, why do I say that these are “amazing insights”?

Hezbollah adherents do not wear a badge that can be seen when the corpse is carried from the rubble. The terrorists that Israel are attacking are not an organised army with a uniform or identifying marks of any sort. So to say, as they are, that the victims are civilians requires intelligence better than that which the obscenely rich IDF (Israeli Defence Force) can call upon.

Frankly, if we are involved in a war again in the future, I think we should use BBC correspondents rather than spooks as their information is so certain and so precise.

Or, just maybe, the BBC is swallowing Green Helmet Guy’s lies hook, line and sinker… maybe.

I’ve not watched this yet, but I will when I’m home: Report from Haifa.

Thanks to Ifyouwillit