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Mixed feelings. There is a strong moral case to get involved when you hear reports of pro-Assad forces firing indiscriminately into civilians/protesters. As for means, we haven't had the financial means to wage any of these wars from the get-go, but we've been able to borrow the money to do it. I can't really speak to the military side of things, but most stories you hear about the MoD make reference to the black hole in the budget. You might also read something into the deals we've done with France to pool military resources.

Few theories off the cuff. Closer ties with Russia and China than the likes of Libya. Not a great deal of oil to exploit afterwards (0.5% of world supply, according to Wiki). Also, the men and materiel may be earmarked for other stuff, like a possible invasion elsewhere in the region.

It's really the formula that's important. Not really that precious about casting, but thought Worrall-Thompson would be most likely to say yes and would be cheap.

Well, the immediate reaction to the poster was not good. "What?" She wasn't even that interested when she found out her dad would be directing. However, it's not all bad news. First, she knows who George Sampson is, so your marketing is spot on. She is also surprisingly okay with George being killed because he gave away a planet full of oil. Unfortunately, she is watching Glee atm, so she was reluctant to provide any further insight.

For now, a quick fecking awesome! I will show it to my 12 year old daughter in the interests of market research. I'll get back to you.

I've heard that there are quite a few boys from London coming down to try and take over some of Southampton's less reputable trade. I know of a couple of incidents that would back this up.

As you may know, I spent quite a bit of time travelling and working in Northern Ireland. It's not a patch on what you've just described here, but the difference in attitude with regard to religion is quite remarkable amongst both Catholics and Protestants. It's not just the levels of church attendance, which are much higher - but there are frequently protests when a store announces Sunday opening hours. Also, I remember one of the local businesses selling out to Spar on the condition that the new owners would never sell alcohol. To this day, I'm not actually sure what's weirder when you travel through a Protestant village - the outward display of unionism (painted flagstones, etc) or the innumerable religious placards arrayed along the sides of the roads ( Bible verses, etc ). Anyway, my point is that you don't have to go too far to see a religious society - a quick trip over the Irish Sea shows just how secular we've become.

Prince Charles famously stated that he'd like to be the Defender of all Faiths. I can't help thinking that the answer lies here.

Sergei, I have noticed your participation in religious threads before, sir. A couple of things jump out. First, it appears that you are very quick to play the wounded Christian, a common conceit amongst believers today, so much so that its often this sense of being marginalised that starts the debate in the first place. Second, I don't see a lot of give and take in the debate. I can understand why you might take umbrage to the connection of Christian institutions with the villains of history, but frankly, that's not your fight to fight. If what you say is true, and that the Catholic Church was fighting for its existence, then they put their institution above the message, and in my view, deserve the criticism they get for it. Fair enough, defend them where they need defending, but defending everything and/or attributing comments to "spiteful atheists" isn't a great way to win support for your arguments.

Defrauding the NHS is wrong, obviously. However, it could be argued that selling weed in Wigan is a vital public service, quite strongly if you've ever been there.

There is no better way to read this sh*t while having a sh*t than Tapatalk.

If Jesus existed, I had him pegged as a kind of Mahatma Gandhi figure in a society that was unable to comprehend the likes of Mahatma Gandhi. However, Paul Daniels also works ( Mary McGeedalene?)

Well, you haven't offended me (surprised?) Good, on-topic post from the heart.

And yet your real-life popularity is seemingly making no demands on your time.

Worry not, Andy. I'm thinking of starting a new thread : "How to win friends and influence people". Can't happen without Turkish's input, naturally

I was actually referring to a real life friend. Probably faulty deductive reasoning on my part, but if you're spending vast amounts of time shouting people down on issues that you have no clear conviction on, then I think it's reasonable to assume that no-one is inviting you around their house for tea and buns.

And if you learn to treat people with a bit of respect, you might actually get a friend.

Glad to see the old humour training is finding a receptive audience. My old Uni has asked me if I want to go back and do a PhD. Apparently, at the end of it, I'll be so funny that I'll know how to post the same YouTube video after each and every one of your posts.

Actually, it was bedtime reading last night. But, by "Burning Anxiety", I take it that you're referring to the 1937 statement from the Pope Pius XI ( the same person who validated the regime in 1933 ). Yes, I've read it. Reading between the lines, I'd take it as an "oh sh*t, what have we let ourselves in for" more than anything else. Since we're on the subject, have you read the part of the Concordat where the Vatican details its plans for its clergy in the event of full mobilisation? There is a damn good argument that the Vatican knew that the Nazis were heading to war, and blessed them anyway. It was only when they realised that Hitler's influence surpassed their own that they were bothered.

Already done that. What am I missing here?

You're making the link between morality and religion, specifically Christianity. Religion and specifically, the largest Christian church in the world, stood by and watched while one of the world's most immoral acts took place.

TESCO have certainly changed their tune, according to this Daily Mirror article.

Not really, but don't beat yourself up over it. No-one was hopeful.

A little from column A, and a little from column B. I related the SaintsWeb anguish to the "scouse massive" in my car on the school run this morning, citing my opinion that it was probably repeat-dialling that secured the vote. However, my 12 year old promptly told me "you can only vote once". I asked how they stopped people from voting more than once, and she said that you had to give your email in. So, my new theory is that there are a feckton of new gmail and hotmail addresses that have been created to get them this accolade. This was met with the following response from the 16 year old ( not a One Direction fan, btw ). "Could you be arsed?"

I think you're missing the point, Sergei, which is that Hitler used religion to get people on his side, and managed to get tacit approval to do whatever he liked from the world's largest Christian church. He'd angled for this for some time, after Mussolini had secured a similar arrangement when the Fascist regime swept to power.