Re: The Hearts and Minds Campaign hits the uk ...
I personally think Mr Brown has done a very good in what has been a tough initiation into the PM job. He's stood up and in no way bitched about the other parties in the party conference and spoke pretty well. He's a very astute har working bloke. He has blown certain cobwebs away already in a global way by starting to remove troops from Iraq before the US had made up their minds on what they are doing. This removes a little of the lap dog mentality that has been so symbolic of our government in the last few yrs.
Also I may be wrong here but wasn't Alan Johnson contending for Dep leader, rather than going for the top dog spot.
I don't think Alan Johnson will ever be a prime leader candidate while Gordon Brown is about, I think he'll continue being a very strong part of the cabinet and as the NHS seems to be the PMs favourite turf at the mo, I think Johnson will be given every chance to shine and maybe in a few yrs time he'll step up and become a strong candidate.
I think he is touching a lot nerves in that address, using in a lot of cases American examples of idiocy to view the extremist situation in the UK.
I'm also going to try and blag my way into some of the seminars as part of that thing in soton uni in november.
I do agree quite passionately with his final passage
First, having the will and the resolution to promote that order and that society as non-negotiable normative ends. So enough with the apologetics for them and the self-hatred for us.
Second, understand that when we wage the battle of ideas and defend our way of life we must live up to the highest ideals of our democratic inheritance. We must honour the memory of those who fought and died for it. And are dying for it. So enough with rendition, ghost sites and torture.
Let’s pass our democracy on to our children, but let’s make sure its one they feel such pride in that they will defend it in turn.
I'm not sure really how to dissect the whole article and hopefully someone else will bring up some individual bits for discussion.
