Alex Massie

Alex Massie

Thursday

Alex Massie

Lance Armstrong and the Giro d’Italia

Among the plethora of things I hold against Lance Armstrong is the way that his story - no matter how inspiring and heroic and extraordinary it has been - has accentuated the English-language press's belief that there's only one bike race of any importance each year. Apparently it's the Tour de France first, the rest nowhere. This is irritating. True, matters have improved in recent years and this year's Giro d'Italia is receiving more coverage (thanks Eurosport!) than it has sometimes done in the past. Granted, this has something to do with Armstrong's return from retirement (which is less astonishishing and, perhaps, less difficult than some might have you believe: after all, plenty of cyclists find themselves taking a two year break in their career...

Alex Massie

Talking to the Taliban

Meanwhile in Afghanistan, Dexter Filkins reports in the NYT that talks have been taking place between the Taliban, the Afghan government and warlords such as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Sirajuddin Haqqani as to how some kind of "peace" agreement could be reached in Afghanistan. As Mr Filkins drily notes, most, in fact all, of the terms for negotiation "seem incompatible" with American policy. Still, in some senses, this may be the key part: “America cannot win this war, and the Taliban cannot win this war,” Mullah Abdul Salaam Zaeef, a former Taliban ambassador and one of the intermediaries, said in an interview. “I have delivered this message to the Taliban.” Maybe the US and its allies can win the war - more time! More resource!

Alex Massie

Chipmunk Hunting

Amidst the public riot over parliamentarians' expenses, the story of Hazel Blears remains oddly fascinating. And story is the operative word, given that she appears to be the sole cabinet minister singled out for opprobrium despite the fact that several of her colleagues have enjoyed equally shady and profitable dealings with the Fees Office. Since she's had the gall to criticise the Prime Minister you can see why Downing Street is Chipmunk Hunting, making it clear that her actions were "unacceptable" and all the rest of it. But if Blears is guilty - or guilty enough to be forced out of the cabinet - then surely Alastair Darling and Geoff Hoon shoul also be for the chop?

Wednesday

Alex Massie

The GOP’s in a Hole; Only a Terrorist Attack Can Save It…

In the course of defending Dick Cheney's assault on the Obama administration, Bill Kristol has this to say: But of course an intelligent and knowledgeable advocate--even if he's personally not so popular--can do a lot to get an issue front and center. And the debate of that issue can do political damage to the existing administration and its congressional allies. The real question any Republican strategist should ask himself is this: What will Republican chances be in 2012 if voters don't remember the Bush administration--however problematic in other areas--as successful in defending the country after 9/11? To give this issue away would be to accept a post-Herbert-Hoover-like-fate for today's GOP.

Alex Massie

Fixing parliament: We Want 18th Century Men With 21st Century Ethics

Danny Finkelstein's column in the Times today is very interesting if, perhaps, also a little too neat. On the other hand, I kinda hope he's right. Large centralised political parties were created because of the existence of the mass media. To make any political impact, an idea or an individual had to find a spot in the limited shelf space provided by the big media giants. This prompted individuals to organise themselves into tight, uniform groupings with a professional staff shaping their message for media outlets. As the mass media became stronger, so did whipping. From this relationship between the media and politicians arose our current form of closed politics. And not all of its features are undesirable, by any means.

Alex Massie

Parliament Should be a Gentleman’s Club.

Apparently the Prime Minister believes that parliament “cannot operate like some gentleman’s club where the members make up the rules and operate them among themselves”. But if so then that's only because there ain't sufficient gentlemen (and ladies) at Westminster. Parliament should be capable of operating like any decent, self-respecting gentlemen's club. That it isn't is why we're in this situation in the first place. And now, in the crazy rush to react to public anger, the Commons seems certain to push thrugh reforms that make little sense and, most probably, won't address some of the major issues anyway. Certainly, the idea of some external "regulator" is a terrible one. The Prime Minister has surely heard of "regulatory capture"?

Alex Massie

Harry Reid: Pretend Stupid or Truly Stupid?

The great thing about Washington is its variety. Sometimes it's the Republicans who infuriate you and sometimes it's the Democrats whose bone-headed nitwittery is singularly depressing. Today it's Harry Reid's turn to annoy: "QUESTION: If the United States -- if the United States thinks that these people should be held, why shouldn’t they be held in the United States? Why shouldn’t the U.S. take those risks, the attendant risk of holding them, since it’s the one that says they should be held? REID: I think there’s a general feeling, as I’ve already said, that the American people, and certainly the Senate, overwhelmingly doesn’t want terrorists to be released in the United States. And I think we’re going to stick with that.

Tuesday

Alex Massie

The Absurdity of Energy Independence

Of all the fatuous "debates" in Washington few can be as absurd or wearisome as the mantra, repeated by politicians of all parties, that it is time for the United States to wean itself off foreign oil and declare "energy independence". Writing about the discovery of oil in Ghana, Foreign Policy's Elizabeth Dickinson makes some fair points but, alas, also trots out a familiar refrain: "Wouldn't it be nice to buy oil from a country with a relatively clean record in human rights, governance, and economic management?" You'd never think that last year just 18% of US oil imports came from the Persian Gulf would you? Or that a mere 46% of US imports came from OPEC states?

Alex Massie

Burmese Groundhog Day

For any number of obvious reasons Burma doesn't receive as much attention as Cuba. One of those reasons, mind you, is that there aren't too many simpletons forever making excuses for the Burmese junta. Nor, mind you, is there a Cuban counterpart to Aung San Suu Kyi whose struggle for democratic reform in Burma is justly honoured and praised. But it's nearly 20 years since the Generals took control, so isn't it time to consider a change of approach? In other words, sanctions and isolation haven't worked and all the while the plight of the Burmese people worsens. Kerry Howley, an old Burma han herself and now banned from the country argues: For most activists in the United States and Europe, the regime's persistence justifies precisely the policy changes Suu Kyi has sought for decades.

Alex Massie

Ken Loach’s Bullying Ghastliness

This is normally Melanie's territory and it is disgraceful. The chain of events seems to be this: 1. The Edinburgh International Film Festival invites Israeli film-maker Tali Shalom-Ezer to show his her* short film Surrogate in Edinburgh. 2. The Israeli Embassy in London contributes £300 to help pay for Shalom-Ezer to come to the Scottlnd. 3. The so-called Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign objects to this and threatens to picket the festival. 4. EIFF says, "do your worst". 5. SPSC do just that, recruiting Ken Loach who calls for a boycott of the festival. 6. EIFF caves and returns the donation to the Israelis. The sum involved is, of course, trivial. What is objectionable is the behaviour of EIFF who've succumbed to Loach's bullying.

Alex Massie

Lessons for 2012 from 1992

John Huntsman's decision to accept Obama's invitation to serve as the US Ambassador to Beijing is, as James suggested, interesting given the recent rise in Huntsman stock. The advantages for Obama are several: firstly, and most obviously (if also most grubbily) he removes a potential 2012 opponent from the fray. Secondly, picking someone like Huntsman who not only has diplomatic experience (as ambassador to Singapore and, more importantly, as Deputy US Trade Representative) but also speaks Mandarin tells the Chinese that Obama appreciates their importance and is determined to take their relationship seriously. How could he not, you might ask, and there'd be something in that.

Alex Massie

Reviving Scottish Conservatism: A Lost Decade?

A reader asks, not without reason, what I think of the Scottish Tories attempts at a makeover since their wipeout in 1997 and whether, given that I'm generally, broadly speaking, in favour of the reformers when it comes to Project Cameron or Project GOP, I'm also happy with the Scottish Tories softer than softly-softly approach to decontaminating their "brand". So, not too much to chew on there. The first thing to be wary of is our old friend the Pundit's Fallacy. That is, the erroneous belief that a given political party's electoral prospects would be transformed if only they were sensible enough to tailor their policies to fit my own particular prejudices.

Alex Massie

Back to the Twentieth Century

Apologies for light posting: a power cut this morning cut one off from the outside world, returning us to the dark days of the twentieth century. It was most disconcerting. Doubly so in fact, for it was disconcerting how disconcerted one was at being denied access to the interwebs for just a few hours. Involuntarily denied of course. It's a different matter when one chooses to be free from modern communications for a few days: that's precious solitude that is all the sweeter for being so fleeting and unusual. Still, at least it solves the question of what luxury one would demand in the event of being marooned upon a desert island: a laptop with a working broadband connection. Which is, you may think, rather sad.

Monday

Alex Massie

Michael Martin Seals His Fate – And Not In A Good Way

James is correct: that was a shambolic performance from the Speaker, hiding behind the skirt of parliamentary procedure to deny a debate that any parliamentarian in possession of even an average supply of common sense should have appreciated was in parliament's best interests at a time of supreme public concern and, of course, scorn. So it was, therefore, no surprise that Michael Martin should fumble the moment. Fairness demands that one acknowledge that the poor man looked shattered. Actually, it was worse than that: he appeared a bewildered pensioner, utterly confused and someone who seemed to have been deserted by his faculties. If he - and his position - wasn't lost already, it surely must be now.

Alex Massie

Choosing Between the Lesser of Two Evils?

Good grief. If I lived in, say, Luton South perhaps the only thing that could persuade me to vote for Margaret Moran would be the appalling thought of replacing her with, of all people, Esther Rantzen. What next, Janet Street-Porter for parliament?

Sunday

Alex Massie

Billionaire Actually Sweetie Shop Owner…

I'm sure that there's a Deep and Significant Meaning to this that helps explain something about the Irish economic landscape these past dozen years. It's like an episode from An Irish Onion or something.: A “BILLIONAIRE” businessman linked with a string of high-profile potential investments has been identified as a sweet-shop owner based in rural Co Kilkenny. Stuart Pearson (25), a native of Co Wicklow, lives in a rented house in the village of Goresbridge and operates the shop at a rented premises in the nearby town of Graiguenamanagh.

Alex Massie

Waylon Jennings & Sunday Morning Country

A slight disruption to the schedule this week postponed Saturday Morning Country by 24 hours. But not to worry, here's the great Waylon Jennings in barnstorming form to make up for it all and get your sabbath off to a braw and brawlin' start. So this was recorded at  the "Lost Outlaw" concert from back in 1978 and this is Waylon singing about how I've Always Been Crazy. Ain't that the truth? But you wouldn't want it any other way, would you? Previously: Dolly, Emmylou and Townes.

Friday

Alex Massie

Cameron in the Fair City

David Cameron's speech to the Scottish Tory conferene was, I thought, workmanlike rather than inspired.The troops enjoyed it even if they were not necessarily enraptured by it. Interestingly he spent more time attacking the SNP than Labour, portraying the Conservatives as the only party that can truly efend the Union. Of course Labour will argue that a vote for the Tories will encourage the SNP given the nationalists' palpable desire for a Tory government in Westminster. It is not impossible that both parties are right. Still, Cameron's speech also betraed the fact that, ten years on from devoution, the Tories remain, perhaps unavoidably, in a defensive crouch in Scotland.

Alex Massie

Easy Populism

In her speech yesterday Annabel Goldie decried the cheap and easy populism that she, rightly, described as the SNP's approach to government. Fair enough. A shame, therefore, that she resorted to just that kind of easy, headline grabbing, rhetoric herself. Her announcement that the Tories a) respect the right of judges to decide matters for themselves and b) propose madatory two year prison terms for anyone guilty of simply carrying a knife was both contradictory and disappointing. Also sadly predictable. But it's a measure of the hole the Scottish Tories still find themselves in that this easy populism was the "major" part of her speech. Just as revealing was her plea for voters to judge the Tories on their merits now, not on the perceived wickedness of their past.

Thursday

Alex Massie

Tory Defence Policy

What is Britain's role in the world? And what resources will be devoted to sustaining it? These questions, germane for more than 40 years anyway, have an extra urgency in this New Age of Austerity. Liam Fox is addressing the Scottish Tory conference as I write this. Fox reiterates the urgent need for a post-election Defence Review but says "There is one area however where the basic argument has not changed. There will be a replacement to the submarine-based nuclear deterrent under a future Conservative government." Dr Fox acknowledges that it's impossible to make fim predictions for defence spending, but given that he complains that "despite the two wars [Britain is fighting] this year's defence spending, at 2.