Society

Wednesday

Alex Massie Alex Massie

Stray Thoughts on the Execution of Osama bin Laden

Just as it’s difficult for death penalty opponents to be too upset by the verdicts of the Nuremberg tribunal, so it is hard to be upset by the assassination (let us not be coy) of Osama bin Laden. Nevertheless, it seems increasingly probable that al-Qaeda’s titular leader was executed “after” a firefight not, rather tellingly, “during” a firefight. Capturing him was never an option. It’s easy to understand why this “clean” end was preferable to capturing bin Laden with all the awkward questions about interrogation and trials and due process and torture and everything else that would have followed. Too much trouble. For everyone. That too is part of George

Tuesday

Peter Hoskin

Meanwhile, in Libya…

The death of Osama Bin Laden may be a very arresting punctuation mark in the conflict against tyranny — but the conflict continues nevertheless, not least in Libya. The latest news from the country is that the rebels are maintaining their fragile hold on the port town of Misrata, although Western agencies are still struggling to send in aid and relief supplies. “We have seven ICU beds and eleven cases,” is how one hospital worker puts it to Channel 4’s Alex Thomson. “What is Nato doing? What is the world doing? If any more people come here they will die.” In political terms, there has been one significant development today:

Peter Hoskin

CIA director blasts Pakistan’s intelligence service

“It was decided that any effort to work with the Pakistanis could jeopardise the mission. They might alert the targets.” There have been few blunter, nor more high-profile, condemnations of Pakistan’s intelligence operation than that made by Leon Panetta, the CIA chief, in interview with Time magazine today. And there are plenty of other noteworthy nuggets in the article as well: among them, Panetta’s claim that the US has seized an “impressive amount” of raw intel from Bin Laden’s compound. And how about this: “Intelligence reporting suggests that one of bin Laden’s wives who survived the attack has said the family had been living at the compound since 2005, a

James Forsyth James Forsyth

What Osborne said to Huhne

“This is the Cabinet, not some sub-Jeremy Paxman interview.” I hear that Osborne went on to stress that Cabinet should be discussing the Cabinet agenda, not party political issues.

The Spectator

Just in case you missed them… | 3 May 2011

….Coffee House carried extensive coverage of the Royal Wedding and the death of Osama bin Laden. In addition to those stories, here are some of the other posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the Bank Holiday weekend. Fraser Nelson believes that a degree of separation will strengthen the coalition. James Forsyth argues that the Gaddafi family are legitimate targets for NATO, and says that the recriminations over the defeat of AV will change the debate over Lords reform. Peter Hoskin catches Chris Huhne courting the left, and ponders James Purnell’s latest intervention in the welfare debate. Jonathan Jones has a brief guide to the Canadian elections. Hamish Macdonell says that Labour

Monday

Hamish Macdonell

Labour are still off course in Scotland

Of all the election results due in on Thursday night, those for the Scottish Parliament may be the most significant. Labour’s Scottish base, which has been the party’s bedrock for almost 50 years, seems to be dissolving. Two more opinion polls yesterday gave details. One, in the Mail on Sunday in Scotland, gave the SNP a ten point lead on the constituency vote and a six point lead on the list vote: this would give the Nationalists 62 seats to Labour’s 51. With the Greens on course to pick up three seats according to the Progressive Opinion poll, Alex Salmond would have enough votes to hit the magic 65 he

The Spectator

CoffeeHousers’ Wall, 2 May – 8 May

Welcome to the latest CoffeeHousers’ Wall. For those who haven’t come across the Wall before, it’s a post we put up each Monday, on which – providing your writing isn’t libellous, crammed with swearing, or offensive to common decency – you’ll be able to say whatever you like in the comments section. There is no topic, so there’s no need to stay ‘on topic’ – which means you’ll be able to debate with each other more freely and extensively. There’s also no constraint on the length of what you write – so, in effect, you can become Coffee House bloggers. Anything’s fair game – from political stories in your local

Sunday

Harry Burton

Working with Pinter

Last week the Oxford Literary Festival screened BBC Arena’s recording of the National Theatre Tribute to Harold Pinter. Towards the end of the film Colin Firth gives Aston’s speech from The Caretaker. Hunkered down in a centre-stage armchair, Aston recalls being forcibly electrocuted by doctors in a mental institution. His speech is clear but halting, partly from the effort of joining his broken thoughts together, partly from remembering terrible events. The lines are virtually uninflected. No self-pity. No sudden movements. No discernible ‘acting’. The power of the speech lies in its economy. The tension between what is and is not said vibrates with a seismic emotional power that never breaks

Peter Hoskin

Obama contra Trump

You thought Barack Obama had finished with Donald Trump by releasing a copy of his long-form birth certificate? Not nearly. At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last night — video above — the US Pres took every opportunity he could to bait his bouffant-haired baiter. From the tongue-in-cheek music video that kicks of proceedings — “I am a real American,” it declares against clips from the Transformers and Karate Kid — to the even more tongue-in-cheek attack on Trump’s credentials that follows; this was humour wielded as a weapon. And, yes, Trump was in the audience to witness it all.    Obama also runs through some of the likely Republican

Saturday

Nick Cohen Nick Cohen

The Patriotic Case for Republicanism

I have a piece in Time on why British republicans are the true patriots. Here’s a taster: “If you doubt the patriotism of  British republicanism, consider trying to explain to an American why the U.S. should import the British constitution. ‘You must make someone President for life,’ you begin. ‘It might as well be Barack Obama, as he’s in power now, and all dynasties start with someone’s seizing the throne. His heirs will succeed him, however haughty, deluded, infirm or otherwise unsuited for high office they may be. They will be the official heads of state, and the armed forces will swear loyalty to them rather than to the American

Friday

Clarissa Tan

The Royal Wedding around the world

So we’ve seen the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. How was the Royal Wedding celebrated – by expats and locals alike – around the world? In Afghanistan, British troops celebrated with bunting on the front line. In Australia, foods associated with the ‘Mother Country’ flew off supermarket shelves, with the biggest sellers being Maynards wine gums and Colman’s classic mint sauce. Even Aussie republicans appear to have been inspired to hold parties and wear tiaras. In China, a couple recently had a knock-off Royal Wedding, complete with horse-drawn carriage and archway of swords. And cashing in perhaps on the wedding fervour, McDonald’s in Hong Kong started offering wedding party packages. India

Peter Hoskin

From the archives: the marriage of Charles and Diana

It is just under thirty years since Prince William’s parents, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, were themselves married in St Paul’s Cathedral. Below are two Spectator articles relating to that wedding. The first is the Spectator editorial from the time, the second an essay by Auberon Waugh on the lessons to be drawn from the occasion. Now that Kate Middleton has become Princess Catherine, you may also want to click here for an article entitled “What Kate should know,” by Diana’s former private secretary, Patrick Jephson, for The Spectator in 1996. Anyway, back to 1981… The symbol of unity, The Spectator, 1 August 1981 The marriage of the

David Blackburn

The Royal Wedding: across the web

Here is a selection of articles on the Royal Wedding from around the web. For those, like me, who wouldn’t know an Empire Line if it slapped them in the face, Vogue’s fashion live blog has all the details and photographs of what broadcasters have called a “festival of British fashion.” Sam Cam was wearing a dress from Burberry, Princess Beatrice was bedecked in Vivienne Westwood and, the main event, Kate Middleton’s dress was made by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. The Telegraph’s outgoing Fashion Editor, Hillary Alexander has more details here. It’s been quite a sales demonstration for Britain’s leading designers. Export led recovery here we come! As Vanity

Peter Hoskin

From the archives: the Queen’s wedding

Perhaps it’s the pageantry of the occasion, but it does feel like one of those days for looking back as well as forward. In which case, we’ll have a double dose of Royal Wedding-related archive posts today, of which this is the first. And what a doozy it is, too: The Spectator’s editorial on the wedding of the Queen to Prince Philip in 1947. So many of its observations and exultations might equally apply today. “The spirit of egalitarianism is in the air,” it notes, “To that even royalty may have in some degree to adapt itself.” The adaptation, you feel, is still being written by those gathered in Westminster

Thursday

Freddy Gray Freddy Gray

Another cause for celebration

The British like nothing more than the idea that the world is obsessed with our Royal wedding. It is not entirely a delusion: Americans and Europeans, especially in the media, do seem quite captivated by William and Kate. It is what 24-hour news people call a ‘global talking point’. In reality, though, most foreigners couldn’t care less about the big day tomorrow. Some of them have their own things to celebrate. The Poles, for instance, are getting very excited about the beatification of John Paul II this weekend. On Sunday, in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI will elevate Karol Wojtyla, the most famous Pole ever to have lived, to the altars

Alex Massie Alex Massie

Al-Qaeda Meets John Landis

According to the US military, sporting a Casio F-91W wristwatch* is a telling sign that you may be up to no good. Indeed, you may well be a member of al-Qaeda or one of its affiliates. Other things that raise suspicions: satellite phones, bundles of cash, military transceivers and, um, “secret notes”. Naturally, this recalls one of the great moments in cinematic history: Now they know we’re on to this trick, of course, al-Qaeda will need to find a new supplier. *Surely a word that no longer requires the “wrist” bit? [Thanks to MH]

David Blackburn

The government has a problem with lawyers

The government’s strained relationship with the Civil Service is a recurring story at the moment. Much of the disquiet seems to be the normal tit for tat exchanges immortalised in Yes Minister. In the main, ministers and their advisors express high regard for their officials. But there are some resilient bones of contention between the government and its lawyers. Again, this is not unusual. When Gordon Brown was Chancellor, parliamentary counsel were exasperated by his inability to take decisions. Brown’s budgetary machinations were finalised in a predictably mad rush, which incensed those who had to amend the bill hours before it was put to parliament. However, the growing volume of