Brian Haw really is turning into a bit of a nuisance: being loud in Parliament Square and inconveniently reminding the politicians of awkward Iraq questions; and worst still erecting a scruffy tent that looks really really untidy in a modern city keen to separate tourists from their dollars.
Westminster Council recently made a valiant attempt to protect British democracy by silencing Brian Haw’s megaphone which was, supposedly, waking up several MP’s from their afternoon snooze. Rather disappointingly the High Court overturned their refusal to grant him a licence.
Geeklawyer presumes and hopes that the state will not be discouraged into ceasing its noble crusade against such malcontents sowing their wicked discontent.
Thank god we do not live in a state where the military, on hearing of the whereabouts of a freedom fighter, launch two 500 lb bombs and happily announce that there were seven fatalities.
Must really cheer the hearts and minds of those westerners whose loved ones have gone to Iraq to try to establish the mechanisms of a democratic and decent society with a trustworthy legal and policing system.
Perhaps if we ask the USAF nicely they could target Brian, though quite where the ordnance would land (in light of thier historic accuarcy) 100 yards south would be close enough.
I was moved by the response of Ken Bigleys brother, when told of the bombing of Al-Zarqawi. He would have prefered that Al-Zarqawi be brought to trial, and then at least he might have had a chance to find the remains of his brother.
This bombing has been done in our name, as part of the coalition.
He also said “I’m a christian” and “I’d have liked half an hour in a toilet with his killer” (I assume he meant for the purposes of violence rather than cottaging). Entirely understandable and a typical christian reaction but not exactly turning the other cheek.
For my part I was very pleased to hear Al-Zarqawi getting whacked since he was an ghastly psychopath: you can enage in freedom/geurilla/terrorist fighting without the excesses he indulged in. Hopefully they will now get Bush and/or Blair.
Unfortunately insurgencies, whatever their merits, will tend to attract lunatic violent psychopaths looking for justification to engage in atrocities for their own pleasure. I believe there were also a few running around in Northern Ireland at the time of the Troubles. These characters also tend to be charismatic and persuasive quickly recruitng and perverting the weak.
Not many tears will be shed at Al-Zarqawi’s passing. Simply “terminating” these characters though is not a viable long term solution. There will be those who now see Al-Zarqawi as a martyr.