Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 7th January, 2018

7th January, 2019.

Yes … about tomorrow … 

I’ve got a job interview lined up on Wednesday.

Happily?

The Job Centre is happy to fund both my train trip … and a haircut.

That is extremely welcome.

OK, I’m an ugly ol’ wossname … 

So, presentationally?

A trim could be welcome.

If for no other reason than to same money on conditioner!

~≈¥≈~

Either way … ?

How are you with earworms … ?

I have have still got Trans-X’s Living on Video banging around my head.

To be brutally honest … ?

The dratted thing’s a pain!

~≈¥≈~

Not In My Name, Thank You.

Can I tell you something, here … ?

Can I … ?

I have to admit, I, personally, never approve of Britain being part of the coalition that took part in the invasion of Iraq in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the USA.

I felt the Afghanistan invasion was dubious: but had a certain amount of justification.

But the Iraq invasion … ?

No.   I felt that was a US war.   One that Britain had little excuse to be part of, and that we joined on very shaky grounds.

If I’ve understood things correctly, we had very shaky evidence to invade Iraq: the Dodgy Dossier was possibly only the start of it.

And — again, if I’ve understood things correctly — the UN mandates the coalition went into Iraq on the back of, were based on, again, very shaky ground.

Shaky: and having little in the way of international agreement.

So to see, today, that the UK’s House of Commons has been recalled, to discuss the chemical weapons attack in Syria, last Wednesday, is … 

Well … 

It’s something I’m concerned about, let’s put it that way.

PM: Speaker agrees request to recall Parliament on Thurs. Will be a clear Gov motion & vote on response to chemical weapons attacks. #Syria
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) August 27, 2013

~≈î≈~

Now I realise I’m only one person.

But I’m one amongst many who felt that the Iraq War was not a good thing.

I felt we went in on shaky evidence, and an incomplete UN Mandate.

So, on seeing that Parliament is being recalled, I have to wonder about a lot of things.

Firstly … ?

Granted that a UN weapons inspection team has gone into Syria to check on what happened in the area of Damascus where the attack happened.

My hope, here, is that the team finds evidence — good evidence — of what chemical weapons were used.   And, more to the point, by whom.

Once that’s put beyond doubt … ?

Once that’s so far beyond doubt that the leaders of Russia and China agree who was behind it, AND agree UN action against the perpetrators is needed.

Once that’s done … ?

Once that’s done, then I’ll be happy.

Possibly,

BBC News - Nick Clegg: Lords reform plans to be abandoned

BBC News - Nick Clegg: Lords reform plans to be abandoned

You know, I really don’t get political: I really don’t.

Which is possibly the BIGGEST amount I’ve ever written on here … !

I’m human.

And, as a famed philosopher once said, man is a political animal.

Well, he would’ve said ‘humanity is’, but you know what I mean.

At ANY rate … !

I don’t often get political.

But I’m also aware I’ve posted up the occasional piece that’s politically inclined.

Especially at the time of the last general election: when, to my personal disgust, the Liberal-Democrats — the party I’ve voted for all of my adult life — formed a coalition with the seriously right-wing Conservative Party.

As the junior party, I should add.

I wasn’t happy: and was left with the impression that not many other Lib Dem voters were, either.

So recent news — that the coalition partnership wasn’t a happy ship, in regards to House of Lords reform — had been something I was following.

Basically, the Liberal Democrats were hoping to make the Upper house of Parliament into a largely elected — rather than appointive — one.

Something that the Conservatives have blocked.

Now, I’m STILL none too convinced is Lords reform is something that should be done.

But on the other hand, the Lib Dems raise a good point in saying that it should be.

As a result, Nick Clegg has announced, tonight, that he and his party will seek to delay Conservative plans to redraw the constituency map of the UK — a key Tory policy — until AFTER the next general election, in 2015.

Personally … ?

I’m thinking the Liberal Democrats should learn their lesson: that ANY kind of coalition with the tories is a futile one: and that the time has come to pull out of it.

Here’s hoping.