The Coffee House | Politics and News Discussion Forum

G20: the way ahead ignores unresolved issues

David Blackburn — , 07 Nov 2009 11:46:44 GMT

Home of golf and full of five star hotels, St. Andrews is a lovely spot for a weekend shindig, so it’s no surprise that the G20 have convened there for their latest navel-gaze.

This meeting was supposed to be the preserve of finance ministers, but you can’t keep a statesman down. Gordon Brown delivered an impromptu lecture on 'the way ahead' to ministers who have, by some fluke obviously, stewarded a return to growth in their respective countries. Brown is adamant that curbing stimulus packages and inaugurating exit strategies be]]>

Obama's three Afghan mistakes

James Forsyth — , 07 Nov 2009 10:45:04 GMT

The Obama administration did not inherit a good situation in Afghanistan. But decisions it has taken have made the situation there worse. First, during the transition it flirted with the idea of withdrawing US support from Hamid Karzai but did not follow through. The result of this was that Karzai—worried about losing American support—came to rely ever more heavily on the support of the worst elements in his circle making him an even worse partner than before.

Second it downplayed the importance of democracy promotion. Some might claim that this was sensible pragmatism. But]]>

Hain’s hollow rhetoric

David Blackburn — , 06 Nov 2009 19:03:59 GMT

This week’s interviewee on the BBC’s Straight Talk with Andrew Neil is Peter Hain. One of the topics for discussion is Labour’s disengagement with its core vote and the rise of the BNP. Hain admits that this can be ascribed to Labour’s failings and Westminster’s disengagement with voters.

Certainly, Labour’s failure on housing and migration has been a major factor in Griffin’s rise. But there is nothing to suggest that Labour has the political strength to re-engage. Even after the recent furore, there have been no new initiatives on housing or migration, just pitiful]]>

In Afghanistan, more of the same won’t do

Daniel Korski — , 06 Nov 2009 18:54:24 GMT

Gordon Brown says Britain must not walk away from NATO’s Afghan mission. Yet 73 percent of Britons told YouGov that they want British troops withdrawn. Even more probably think they will fail even if they are allowed to stay on.

Yet what to do if you believe, like I do, that the allies cannot simply withdraw without creating a catalytic effect on worldwide Islamist extremism and a regional vortex of violence, which will end in sectarian strife, refugee flows, President Karzai’s toppling, Pakistan’s further destabilisation and irreparable damage to NATO?

One last heave, won’t]]>

The week that was

, 06 Nov 2009 18:24:04 GMT

Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week.

Fraser Nelson knows that Brussels fears only one thing.

James Forsyth says that Cameron hasn’t broken a pledge on Europe, and expects the return of the Tory Euro-wars if Cameron cannot deliver his European reforms.

David Blackburn argues that public contempt for political elites extends beyond the expenses scandal, and ponders the lessons of the Nutt affair.

Lloyd Evans asks how much longer must we wait.

Martin Bright hears a cheer go up in the Foreign Office.

Susan Hill]]>

Motives for murder

David Blackburn — , 06 Nov 2009 17:42:10 GMT

Now that the facts are becoming clearer, it seems that Major Nidal Malik Hasan’s horrific act was religiously motivated. His apparent screams of ‘Allahu Akbar’ confirm that. In addition, it has emerged that Hasan was investigated for apparently equating suicide bombers with soldiers. Allegedly, he wrote:

‘There was a grenade thrown amongs a group of American soldiers. One of the soldiers, feeling that it was to late for everyone to flee jumped on the grave with the intention of saving his comrades. Indeed he saved them. He inentionally took his life

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Why the Euro-sceptics are quietly confident

James Forsyth — , 06 Nov 2009 15:36:33 GMT

On Wednesday afternoon few of us would have thought that the row over the Tories’ Europe policy would appear to have died down by Friday afternoon. There have been a couple of resignations from the Tory front bench in the European Parliament, a few MPs have mouthed off and a French foreign minister has launched a spectacular—and stupidly phrased attack on it. But it is all quiet out there now.

The main reason for this is that the Euro-sceptics are quietly confident. The overwhelming mood among those I have spoken to]]>

A careful believer

Theo Hobson — , 06 Nov 2009 14:45:47 GMT

Is David Cameron religious? In the course of his interview with the Evening Standard he provides a clear glimpse of his attitude to religion. He sees it as something that should be advocated with the utmost care, if votes are not to be squandered.

He is asked if faith in God is important to him. "If you are asking, do I drop to my knees and pray for guidance, no. But do I have faith and is it important, yes. My own faith is there, it's not always the rock that perhaps]]>

Quantatitive Easing is an affront to democracy

David Blackburn — , 06 Nov 2009 13:09:09 GMT

Readers of the Spectator will know George Trefgarne’s work, and today he delivered an important report on the dangers of Quantitative Easing. I urge Coffee Housers to read the speech. It provides an interesting and relevant insight into historical precedents for the policy and how to manage it, and gives a balanced analysis of the current policy’s pros and cons.

Trefgarne concurs with Mark Bathgate’s critique. There is little evidence that QE has stimulated money supply, as banks are using the cash to re-balance their lop-sided books. QE is funding the government’s]]>