Barclays , along with any similar miscreants, should be hung, drawn and quartered. That is the view of many. Diamond , whether he likes it or not, must as CEO carry the can for the culture and behaviour of his entire organisation. The same responsibily should extend downwards through all layers of management and the culpable should be barred from the industry for a long time, if not for life. No "ifs". No "buts" and no compensation for loss of job and career. Unfortunately it is unlikely that the laws to enforce that exist.
Syria,- A bloody mess nearly as big as Barclays. The west would like to back the good guys but can't spot who they are other than the poor suffering genuinely innocent civilians caught in multiple crossfires and nobody is representing them. Assad is definately a bad guy but who are the really good, or even moderately good ones? With Iran,-or I-Ran if you are an American,- furiously stirring all kinds of pots and mischief and the west at least complicit in supplying the next 20 years worth of weapons to all who claim to be anti-Assad, it's going to get bloodier still. Stepping in to part several factions and layers of combatants risks temporarily uniting them, Afganistan style, to see off the foreigners before returning to their internecine domestic butchery. Deciding what to do for the least worst is an incredibly tough call . That's why there is a lot of talk but no decisions.
The week's award for heroism has to go to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Philip, not so much for usefully shaking the hand of former adversaries but more potentially lethally travelling through the streets of Belfast in a completely open car. They did the same two days after 7/7 when they drove at walking pace down the Mall standing in an open Landrover. That is personal bravery and heroism on a magnificent scale. Imagine most Presidents considering taking that sort of risk.
On the other regal hand, the issue new instructions on royal etiquette requiring the future Queen Kate , whenever not accompanied by her husband , to curtsy to the Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice was poorly judged whatever the likely urgings of Princes Charles and Andrew, great believers in Louis XIV type notions of the superiority of "the blood royal" over all others. This sort of thing risks making Battenbergs look like fruit cakes.
Boris Bike attendants: These are the latest in the long line of Crow and McClusky's lads and lasses to get an Olympic bonus in addition to any overtime they would get anyway. The bus companies should hold out but probably won't. What are the staff normally paid for? To drive empty buses? Is anything on top of that hardship and extra work? TfL and many rail companies caved in to Olympian demands with little fight and unfortunately paved the way to the Boris Bikers getting their bung. Will they or their bikes be anywhere near the Olympics? No. And that should have been the answer.
Europe: It's always dangerous for UK's sovereign rights when tough talking but knees wobbling Dave gets anywhere near a gathering of EU leaders. Especially any time when the IMF's fragrant and convincing ("just another billion or two Dave, people will think so much more of you") Christine is about,- or even in her office. En route to this week's session he fairly pointlessly bunged another £1 point something billion into the Eurofan's "Penny for the Rumphy collection" or highly unspecific growth fund. Do we hear gurgle, gurgle down the drain again? Where and when will Dave's largesse stop? When will he learn to utter, and mean, the word "No". Time for a Negotiating Skills level 1 course. Unfortunately few of our current political leaders (OK, I'm being flattering using that word here but it is the end of the week) have ever worked outside politics, managed anything, planned anything, financed anything or indeed led any thing or people. "Problem lah" as the Singaporeans and Malaysians would say.
Clegg: Looks as miserable as sin all the time. That's despite, thanks to the temporary need for a coalition, having reached a reached a rank hitherto beyond his wildest dreams. Maybe someone should do him a favour.
Ed Miliband: Had a good day out on Thursday with his best mates (until someone else will serve them better) , sponsors and leadership vote providers, the brothers of Unite at their annual whinge-in. He is less comfortable around real brothers. He urged the assembled downtrodden not to strike during the Olympics but to "get both parties around a table" . Getting round a table is Unionspeak for "the employers must give in to all our demands". Ed knows this of course but will never let on because it were the bruvers who defied the other democratic constituents in the Labour leadership contest and handed him the job. They also provide the readies to keep him and the whole Labour apparatus in business. He should remember they don't do it out of charity or love for him or anyone else. Beware lean and hungry looks Ed.
Ed Balls: What can we say? Presumably another day peddling "borrow and spend".
May the world sleep in peace this weekend,-or maybe not. The lions will be on the prowl everywhere.
Syria,- A bloody mess nearly as big as Barclays. The west would like to back the good guys but can't spot who they are other than the poor suffering genuinely innocent civilians caught in multiple crossfires and nobody is representing them. Assad is definately a bad guy but who are the really good, or even moderately good ones? With Iran,-or I-Ran if you are an American,- furiously stirring all kinds of pots and mischief and the west at least complicit in supplying the next 20 years worth of weapons to all who claim to be anti-Assad, it's going to get bloodier still. Stepping in to part several factions and layers of combatants risks temporarily uniting them, Afganistan style, to see off the foreigners before returning to their internecine domestic butchery. Deciding what to do for the least worst is an incredibly tough call . That's why there is a lot of talk but no decisions.
The week's award for heroism has to go to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2 and Prince Philip, not so much for usefully shaking the hand of former adversaries but more potentially lethally travelling through the streets of Belfast in a completely open car. They did the same two days after 7/7 when they drove at walking pace down the Mall standing in an open Landrover. That is personal bravery and heroism on a magnificent scale. Imagine most Presidents considering taking that sort of risk.
On the other regal hand, the issue new instructions on royal etiquette requiring the future Queen Kate , whenever not accompanied by her husband , to curtsy to the Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice was poorly judged whatever the likely urgings of Princes Charles and Andrew, great believers in Louis XIV type notions of the superiority of "the blood royal" over all others. This sort of thing risks making Battenbergs look like fruit cakes.
Boris Bike attendants: These are the latest in the long line of Crow and McClusky's lads and lasses to get an Olympic bonus in addition to any overtime they would get anyway. The bus companies should hold out but probably won't. What are the staff normally paid for? To drive empty buses? Is anything on top of that hardship and extra work? TfL and many rail companies caved in to Olympian demands with little fight and unfortunately paved the way to the Boris Bikers getting their bung. Will they or their bikes be anywhere near the Olympics? No. And that should have been the answer.
Europe: It's always dangerous for UK's sovereign rights when tough talking but knees wobbling Dave gets anywhere near a gathering of EU leaders. Especially any time when the IMF's fragrant and convincing ("just another billion or two Dave, people will think so much more of you") Christine is about,- or even in her office. En route to this week's session he fairly pointlessly bunged another £1 point something billion into the Eurofan's "Penny for the Rumphy collection" or highly unspecific growth fund. Do we hear gurgle, gurgle down the drain again? Where and when will Dave's largesse stop? When will he learn to utter, and mean, the word "No". Time for a Negotiating Skills level 1 course. Unfortunately few of our current political leaders (OK, I'm being flattering using that word here but it is the end of the week) have ever worked outside politics, managed anything, planned anything, financed anything or indeed led any thing or people. "Problem lah" as the Singaporeans and Malaysians would say.
Clegg: Looks as miserable as sin all the time. That's despite, thanks to the temporary need for a coalition, having reached a reached a rank hitherto beyond his wildest dreams. Maybe someone should do him a favour.
Ed Miliband: Had a good day out on Thursday with his best mates (until someone else will serve them better) , sponsors and leadership vote providers, the brothers of Unite at their annual whinge-in. He is less comfortable around real brothers. He urged the assembled downtrodden not to strike during the Olympics but to "get both parties around a table" . Getting round a table is Unionspeak for "the employers must give in to all our demands". Ed knows this of course but will never let on because it were the bruvers who defied the other democratic constituents in the Labour leadership contest and handed him the job. They also provide the readies to keep him and the whole Labour apparatus in business. He should remember they don't do it out of charity or love for him or anyone else. Beware lean and hungry looks Ed.
Ed Balls: What can we say? Presumably another day peddling "borrow and spend".
May the world sleep in peace this weekend,-or maybe not. The lions will be on the prowl everywhere.
