02:59 p.m., Friday, January 25, 2002
Unmarried couples are going to be allowed to adopt. Technically, this could include gay couples. How fantastic.

Have a great weekend - back Monday.
[by Beth] comments?

05:18 p.m., Thursday, January 24, 2002
The UK's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, thinks that the British Al Qaida suspects should be tried in the UK.

I don't really know what I think - other than if they could face the death penalty in the US, they should definitely be tried over here. Otherwise, I'm not sure. What do you think?
[by Beth] comments?

05:10 p.m., Thursday, January 24, 2002
The scary thing about this story is that the al Qaida and Taleban suspects are treated quite well compared to some US prison inmates. However, it seems that the US have bowed to international pressure and will now review how they are holding the prisoners.
[by Beth] comments?

05:04 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2002
I love this article for saying what I want to say, but so much more eloquently. I suppose that's why they get paid and I don't.

'This is not simply a matter of high-minded liberal principle for its own sake. Martin Luther King, whose life the US celebrates today, understood the propaganda power of holding the high moral ground. The present US administration shows a lamentable failure to understand that a campaign to defend civilised values must be fought scrupulously in accordance with those values.

'The second is the attempt by the US to try members of the Taliban, Afghanistan's former rulers, whose crime was one of harbouring terrorists rather than any direct responsibility for the murder of US citizens. This is a matter for the United Nations rather than for any single state.'

I think the second point is the more important. It's a little too like trying members of the British Government for tolerating the IRA and the other terrorist groups in Northern Ireland.

And this article speaks of the irony of the treatment of the prisoners when today is celebrated as Martin Luther King day in the US.

'This is why it makes sense to ask what on Earth is the point of remembering Martin Luther King in the US today? We have just been treated to the first pictures of tortured Taliban and al-Qa'ida prisoners in the well-organised hell hole that the Americans have made in Cuba. So Mr King, sir, do you smile as you look down on your country or do you weep that Colin Powell, a black man, having reached unimaginable power, is failing to promote any of your ideas while remembering to evoke your name, I am sure, whenever he makes comforting after dinner speeches about what inspired him when he was young?'
[by Beth] comments?

05:00 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2002
This should be an interesting article about the government cracking down on illegal immigrants, and this about trade in Eastern European women in Soho, but the links seem to be broken. I'm linking it now to remind me to look at it tomorrow.
[by Beth] comments?

04:57 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2002
The UK government has wanted to restrict trial by jury for certain offences for a while now. The plans have been defeated three times in parliament, and now they are finally being abandoned.

What do you think? Do you think the right to trial by jury is an essential human right? What should be done about abuses?
[by Beth] comments?

04:29 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2002
Four Sinn Fein MPs will gain access to offices in the House of Commons today. They won't be allowed to sit or speak in the Chamber as they refuse to swear allegiance to the Queen, but they will be allowed to use Commons facilities and claim salaries and expenses totalling £107,000.

What do you think about this? Do you think that a political group associated with a terrorist group (although I think they've always claimed they are independent) should be allowed to do this? Is it the same as the Taleban's link with al Qaida, or should this be treated differently?

Personally, I'm torn. I don't like the alleged ties to the IRA, even now they've called a ceasefire. But I also don't think it helps to treat them like terrorists forever. We can't really win here, folks.
[by Beth] comments?

04:23 p.m., Monday, January 21, 2002
Sorry about last week. I've been busy.

It has been confirmed that three UK nationals are amongst the al Qaida suspects being held in Cuba. They say that they are being treated as well as can be expected.

After hearing that the US suspect is being treated as a PoW, with all associated priviledges, I can't help but wonder whether the UK suspects are being treated better than the rest.

Related: you may have heard about the arrests of various al Qaida suspects being arrested in Leicester over the weekend. The IHT has an interesting article about how the diversity and tolerance of this city may have made it easier to hide al Qaida members there. It makes me sick when people's good points are used against them.

What do you think about the treatment of suspected al Qaida terrorists?
[by Beth] comments?