bridge too far

Hmmm I've been off sick since last Wednesday and tomorrow is supposed to be my first day back. Not sure I'm going to make it here in sunny Oxfordshire!

Did he know?

Thinking of John Arlott's voice, and wonderful Hampshire accent, takes me back to a time of hot summer days, the smell of mown grass, and watching my dad play in a cricket match. I, too, love Stuart Hall's summaries - his use of English is outstanding.

I don't know if it's still the case, but last time I was there the roundabouts operated differently to how they do here. Cars already on the roundabout had to give way to cars entering the roundabout. Is that still the case Colinjb?

It's a long time since I've been there but the Blue Grotto is well worth a trip as is Mdina (not Rabat - my mistake). A trip to Gozo is a must too. There used to be Popeye's village - the film set from errr the film but it was pretty delapidated then so it might not still be there. If you like horse-riding, there's a good stables underneath a flyover somewhere (might be Valletta). The guy who runs (ran) it trained Prince Charles for Polo apparently. And do visit Valletta itself and the battlements. Mellieha Bay is lovely - we rode horses along the beach. Hmmm you've got me wanting to go back

I know full well that's not what he's advocating. I'm just pointing out that one small step along that route is a dangerous thing. Just following it to an inevitable conclusion.

Some of them do - in the Lords. And I think the Tories are proposing to employ a recently retired senior officer as their military advisor. I just think that having a military acting independently of government is a dangerous path to tread. Think of all the juntas there have been in history.

I seriously hope that you're not, for one moment, suggesting the military should act outwith government? That would set a really dangerous precendent.

Going back to Nasser - I'm watching the cricket right now and I have to say he's a very good looking, sexy bloke

What a shame we didn't 'deal' with this regime when we were its allies

So, Steve - reading between the lines of your post above and your earlier one - are you suggesting that Gaydamak sr. is going to buy the club so that Gaydamak jr. gets his money back and is doing this via a third party whose identity is buried in the British Virgin Islands? Or am I being thick here

Did the Taliban only become "pure evil and (was) one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet" once we stopped supporting them? Or were they always like that, even when we were on their side?

I think, in the dim and distant past, we (I mean, of course, the US and us) supported them against the Soviet Union?

I'm going to get crucified for this if you'll pardon the expression. What is the difference between a group wanting to 'Islamify' the UK and Christian missionaries in third world countries. Reasoned arguments only, please

That theory's just been blown out of the water

Mr TF has just pointed out that, apparently, the last time MU were knocked out in the early rounds, the Arse were knocked out too!

But you've been saying all along that 'these people come over here and take everything they can get' (I imagine you mean housing, unemployment benefit, NHS as well as the right to free speech) and then you say they don't care or want human rights. You can't have it both ways. However, that wasn't the point I was making. Young Muslims become radicalised because they are told and believe that they are discriminated against. And they would see that banning them from marching was discrimination. That is the point I was making

But to do the reverse is also risky. You may get 'some kid' who happens to be of the muslim faith see the banning of the protest on the BBC and think 'Yeah, those in power ARE denying me a basic human right'. He could then become the next mastermind behind a terrorist atrocity.

Now WHU beating the Arse! At this rate, all the big boys will be gone leaving the way clear for us!

But TDD that could be such a dangerous thing to do! As I said yesterday, if, for whatever reason, an extreme government whether of the left or right got into power they could proscribe all sorts of groups. They could ban trade unions, scottish dancing societies, bridge clubs........ even men with beards - you get my drift. We have to allow idiots enough rope to metaphorically hang themselves with.

Exactly - just like we should afford the BNP freedom of speech. They've shown themselves to be the idiots many of us thought they were.

I'm not in CH - I wish I was! It was a mark of respect to our owners

Gp by train next time. Much better way to get there IMO.

^ My point is that there will be a tendency by some to class all muslims as extremists based on the actions of a few. Simple as that. Extremism is dangerous, as is generalisation (not that I'm accusing you of generalisation BTW)

^ It's not 'muslims' - it's an extreme faction who happen to be muslim. In the same way as the EDL are an extreme faction who happen to white (probably not religious though). Extremism of any sort is dangerous.