Why is al Qaeda releasing a second bin Laden video?

There’s another bin Laden video coming out soon. This time, bin Laden will introduce the testimony of one of the 9/11 suicide bombers. The appearance of a second video is… Continue reading

Addressing the reality of Iraq

The next few days will be a big test of whether the political class on both sides of the Atlantic can think about the reality of Iraq. Too often, the… Continue reading

How things look from the other side of the pond

I have to admit: last week was a bad one to take off. Plenty happened in Britain, which I’m digesting now (what was Mercer playing at?). But for what it’s… Continue reading

Gordon goes where Dave can’t

“British jobs for British workers”: Gordon Brown has road-tested this muscular phrase many times before, not least when he accepted the Labour leadership in Manchester in front of a Union… Continue reading

Give the surge time

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker’s testimony to Congress will be crucial in shaping future US strategy in Iraq. As a new poll reveals, Petraeus will be delivering his report against… Continue reading

‘We need a surge in the South’

"I wish they would recalibrate. The south is a growing problem. It’s the next big problem to be faced. The British force in the south could do a great deal… Continue reading

The McCann saga

In the acres of news print devoted to the McCanns this morning, Andrew Pierce’s Telegraph column (a must-read on Saturdays) offers the best analysis. Andrew points out the sheer scale… Continue reading

Is Osama bin Laden not in Pakistan or Afghanistan after all?

This new bin Laden video might provide vital clues at to where the al Qaeda leader is hiding. One thing that is notable about it is that his beard is… Continue reading

bin Laden’s message

The claim that Osama bin Laden will issue a new broadcast message on the sixth anniversary of September 11 on Tuesday illustrates the fundamental difference between the two sides in… Continue reading

The BBC’s climate change u-turn

The BBC’s decision to cancel its plans for a day-long special on climate change is fascinating. Earlier this year, I took part in a seminar at Television Centre led off… Continue reading

Balls doesn’t get the the broken society agenda

One of the most infuriating things that Ed Balls does is try and claim that every mention of youth crime today is an attempt to demonise an entire generation of… Continue reading

RIP Luciano Pavarotti

Tories and education

The Tories seem very close to adopting the idea that children shouldn’t be allowed to pass into secondary school until they have passed certain tests as party policy. In the… Continue reading

Bill Clinton can still turn a phrase

No one in modern politics is better at coming up with a pithy sound bite that sounds like a piece of home-spun wisdom than Bill Clinton. Just take this line… Continue reading

Terror arrests in Germany

News is coming through that a huge terrorist attack on US interests in Germany has been foiled. Generally, the best place to follow these things is on The Blotter, a… Continue reading

Bush’s attempts to coach the Iraqi PM

This account of how George W. Bush has tried to mentor Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, is fascinating. Bush sees his role as giving Maliki the confidence to lead.… Continue reading