So McCain goes for Palin (no, not Michael). It's clear that he was looking for someone young - and few are older than him - and to try to get the unhappy Hillary supporters. I don't think it will work.  There are some problems with this pick as it damages the charges McCain has thrown at Obama: 1. Won't appeal to Clinton supporters. Palin is anti-abortion, pro-oil, pro-guns. 2. Lack of experience. Palin has none. She has been Governor of Alaska, a state with a smaller population that Obama's state senate district in Illinois. Two years ago she was Mayor of a town with 8,400 inhabitants. 3. Lightweight celebrity. This VP is only known by an article entitled "America's Hottest Governor". A Former beauty queen. She is also one heartbeat away from the Presidency. A heartbeat belonging to a 72 year old guy.

A friend in Georgia has sent us the following update on the situation there. Russian army left Gori and some cities in Georgia , but still a little part of Russian army  remains at the sea port Poti. They have also set up a check points in different parts of western part of Georgia. According to the officials we had around 120000 of refugees due to this conflict , some of them started returning to Gori and other places , if their homes are not burned or destroyed. Many thousands of refugees sill remain in Tbilisi , Rustavi. Most of them live in the schools and other state buildings. From the wars in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 1990- th we still have 247 000 of refugees. Most of them also live in the former state buildings. The Russian government wants to confess the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. I think they will confirm it tomorrow or on these days. The Russian parliament already voted for that.

There are so many concerns about the 2012 games, the finances, the redevelopent and that it might end up like the Millenium Dome. Visit London have produced a promotional video, with a cameo including Myra Hindley.

Hackers working for the Russian Mafia have obtained cerdit cars details, home addresses etc of 8 million people who have stayed, or have booked in Best Western hotels.

The Home Office continue to show themselves as 'not fit for purpose' by losing yet more highly confidential information: personal details and intelligence on 33,000 serious offenders, dossiers on 10,000 “priority criminals” and the names and dates of birth of all 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales. There is also information on an unspecified number of people enlisted on drug intervention programmes. Who is responsible for this? Who would be so daft as to decrypt this information and put it on a memory stick, then lose it? PA Consulting. Who were appointed by Blunkett to prepare the ID Card scheme. PA Consulting. Who boast on their website about being a finalist in the Change Management Awards for their work on the project where this data was lost.  

The Guardian has a report on a classified MI5 internal research document. The findings show a good understanding of the nature of the problem and seem to back up research from Louise Richardson, whose book What Terrorists Want is essential reading.

“In the next few days we will know if Russia wants to be part of the international community or if they don't give a damn what the worlds thinks of them”, is the stark warning given by Nick Gabrichidze, the 42 year old Georgian artist and writer who is coordinator of SOS Georgia. This new NGO was set up by members of the Georgian community in Belgium to focus efforts to raise humanitarian aid and to promote Georgian independence by advocacy and campaigning. They are looking for donations and professional volunteers to help those in the improvised refugee camps. Being based in Brussels they are close to the European institutions but Mr Gabrichidze has found them unimpressive so far. “They're all on holiday! We've had some discussions with the European Commission but we're waiting for people to come back from their vacation. All throughout this crisis the European Parliament has been on vacation.” “Although the French have made some initiatives, I haven't noticed any response from the European Union as a body. The European Parliament hasn't made any decisions yet, the Commission, in their first meeting ,tried to postpone a decision until September. I can tell you the position of individual countries but the position of the European Union is unknown at this time. We're having better luck with NATO”. Mr Gabrichidze is also dismissive of a peacekeeping role for the EU. “They have no experience. They tried and failed completely in Yugoslavia.” NATO is seen as a better bet because of their experience and ability to respond to rapidly changing events, while the EU could play a role in reconstruction and humanitarian aid. Responding to the Georgia crisis is complex because the Russian's are being very secretive and the infrastructure has been heavily damaged, so simply finding out the current situation on the ground is difficult. “I don't know what's going to happen this evening. Will the Russians withdraw? Will they attack? Nobody knows”. With the tanks only 20 miles from Tbilisi, no sign of Russian retreat, what will happen if the situation continues, or worsens? “SOS Georgia was mainly set up for humanitarian aid, but if things get worse some people may decide to go and fight on the ground. This would be their own decision and nothing to do with the organisation.” There are problems and differences between Georgia and the South Ossetians and Abkhazians, Mr Gabrichidze admits, but says there is no hatred between the peoples. He recently attended a meeting with South Ossetians and found they had a lot of common ground. Significantly, some Russians there tried to throw him out. He says that this is a conflict, not with his fellow countrymen but with Russia, pointing out it was Russian soldiers, who invaded, Russian aircraft that bombed. When asked about a solution to the crisis Mr Gabrichidze explained that he thought the agreement brokered by France is not a solution but the first step in resolving the conflict. The withdrawl of forces is more difficult for Georgia because of damage to roads and it would be hard to get supplies to refugee camps and there is still looting going on. For the agreement to work,“It's entirely in Russian hands.” “If the Russian don't react as they did after the Cold War, meaning co-operating with the world, then we're in another era, one where Russia does whatever it wants.” For Mr Gabrichidze, the immediate concern is for Russia to honour the signed agreement. “Russia must withdraw. Not completely, but to show goodwill, they must return to where they were before the conflict.” With Russia threatening Ukraine and Poland and the USA and NATO stretched in Afghanistan and Iraq, Mr Gabrichidze compares their actions to the actions of Germany in the 1930's of annexing or neutralising one state at a time with no serious military opposition. He also predicts that Russia will soon start a propaganda campaign, depicting pro-Georgians as fascists, islamic terrorists and so on. The hardliners may be directing the military, but there are tensions within the Russian government as some wish to keep and build on commercial and business relations with the world and see military actions as harmful to Russia's long term interests. The coming days will show the world the nature of the Russian bear. Will it be aggressive or friendly? The Georgians will be the first to find out, but what happens in this small republic will affect all of us. More information: www.sos-georgia.netEmail: sos.sos.georgia@gmail.com

Turns out it might be China.

David 'Call Me Dave' Cameron is promising to be as radical as the Blessed Margaret: "I'm going to be as radical a social reformer as Mrs Thatcher was an economic reformer, and radical social reform is what this country needs right now."Margaret Thatcher in her time realised that the big challenge was reviving Britain's economy, and we should recognise that the challenge for the modern Conservatives is reviving our society,It's dealing with the issues of family breakdown, welfare dependency, failing schools, crime, and the problems that we see in too many of our communities." Well there's an old saying; If you broke it, you fix it. The social problems Britain faces were largely caused by Thatcher and her turning large parts of Britain's towns and cities into economic wastelands. She gave us long term unemployment, the elimination of major industries, the demonisation of single parents and the poor. Cameron's invocation of Thatcher shows that he just doesn't get it.

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was lauded as the best ever. This is the traditional accolade, but what does it mean? The international 'spirit' of the Olympics often turns out to be highly nationalist, something the Chinese excel in. It was an enjoyable enough spectacle, especially for one essentially about a lot of people walking in a circle, followed by a strangely Mao free display, people running about and the final ejaculation of fireworks, this time aided by CGI. One can only feel sorry for the organisers of 2012 who witnessed this and may well be having many sleepless nights. But what does the opening ceremony mean? Is it important or just a nationalistic 'look at me' moment? Well, who remembers the opening ceremony? I can't recall anything much about Athens, Atlanta or any others. As the Olympics become ever more bloated they become increasingly forgettable. Sadly they're a political event, as these games were given to China to assist trade and political ties. China wanted them as a symbol of their status as a near- superpower. The IOC and the western powers are helpless in the face of China's assertiveness. That is why the atheletes are performing in unsuitable air and it's no mere metaphor that these are the most polluted Olympics ever. A further demonstration of the West's impotence was provided by the Russian army when they invaded Georgia, a key ally of the US and would be EU member. The US initially blamed both sides and has come round to the belief that the Russians are being a bit naughty, but the 'condemnations' are tepid and mealy mouthed. The UN Security Council is spending a few days preparing a draft resolution. A prime example of leaping to inaction. In the meantime the war continues. What, precisely, is the point of the UNSC? Because of the misjudged strategy in the War on Terror and economic pidgeons coming home to roost, the West is now impotent. This is the real legacy of Blair and Bush.

Africa Confidential is running a story on BAE bunging 25 million quid to an ally of Mugabe. Britain’s BAE Systems, the world’s fourth biggest arms company, has paid over £25 million (US$49.5 mn.) to a company whose majority Zimbabwean shareholder is a long-time business ally of President Robert Mugabe’s regime. The multiple investigations into BAE’s role in the affair, which appear to be nearing conclusion, are likely to have serious political repercussions in Britain and South Africa.  

The International Olympic Committee is one of the worlds most dubious organisations, being noted for bribery, corruption and so on. Their standards haven't changed. It turns out that they did a secret deal with the Chinese to have 'certain sites' blocked - not just from Chinese citizens, but from the International media.

Will they sack Gordon? This is like history repeating itself. A long whispering campaign, hint filled speeches and interviews, protestations of loyalty. Perhaps Gordon should have contemplated the Good Book: He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. Matthew 26:52 The boy Miliband is talking about change in typical New Labour soundbites.Interesting to see what Alan Johnson has to say about it.

Not a good day for him and it's going to get worse. Losing part of Glasgow that has been rock solid Labour since the day the party was born is one thing on many MP's minds, but they have one huge problem. If they're going to replace him, it really must be done this Autumn and the potential future leaders are hardly inspiring. Just how bad things are will become clear later when Obama lands in the UK after such a successful speech in Berlin. Next to him Gordon looks very dowdy indeed, very uninspiring.

Rachel North has posted a detailed update on the campaign for an inquiry into the July 7 bombings, together with a damning account of what has been discovered do far, and asks three vital questions: Could the bombers have been stopped? Have lessons been learned? Are we any safer now than we were on 7th July 2005? Her post is essential reading for all of us.

The Independent has an interesting article on the background to the diplomatic feelers between the US and Iran. Even Condi, although never in the inner circle of the neo-Cons, seems to have shifted her position significantly and this is aiding the process of establishing diplomatic relations. Now there could be serveral reasons behind this; perhaps she is a sinner that truly repenteth, perhaps she no longer feels the need for blind loyalty to a dead duck President, perhaps she wants to be Vice-President to the aging and barking McCain.

For a long while the Doves and Hawks in and around Washington have been banging on about Iran, about using war - playing double or quits on a grand scale, or diplomacy, jaw-jaw being better than war, war in Churchill's famous phrase. Although those around Cheney do still want war it is becoming increasingly unlikely. A limited strike is also being planned, but it may well not be used. Indeed the odds of action have lenghened considerably, especially as the military objected. For good reasons; Iraq will explode, it will be the greatest recruiting tool for exremists, we don't know what to bomb and, importantly, the Iranians will fight back. It is a good sign that the US is thinking of starting a diplomatic presence in Iran. The history between the two countries has been full of mistrust on both sides, justifiably so but the steps to a stable future are in the beginning small and this may be the start of something. There may also be some good news for Gordon Brown after recent events. It seems that the UK military budget can be cut drastically, simply by buying a copy of Photoshop. Or even better, Mr Brown there's the freeware Gimp.

Our friend Rachel North is one of Britain's most thoughtful and insightful commentators on terrorism and civil liberties and she's written another excellent article on the subject, this time a speech she delivered during David Davis' successful election campaign. I expect terrorists to attack our way of life and to try to use fear to divide us and change our behaviour. I do not expect our government to do the same, nor us to collude in giving up our ancient liberties and thus to do the terrorists' work for them. They say if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything, and I am glad to stand shoulder to shoulder with people from all across the political spectrum, knowing that freedom is something worth standing for, worth fighting for, worth dying for.  

Once again the Chinese influence in Africa turns out to be utterly malign. Their vetoing of sanctions with the support of the rather pathetic sounding Russians has made the UN toothless and helped support of cheap Chinese weapons to Mugabe's goons continue. The Russians tried to sound high and principled, claiming non-interference in other states Affairs, the old Organisation of African Unity excuse. “Internationally, to use or threaten to use sanctions lightly is not conducive to solving a problem,” Wang Guangya, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN, said. Whoop-de-doop. Perhaps we should have let Colin Powell make the case instead. In the meantime, democrats are being beaten, tortured, raped and murdered - not just in Zimbabwe but in many places in Africa, such as Darfur - remember we once pretended to care about the people there. As this happens over and over, the Chinese smile as their plans to pillage and control Africa continue apace and the world does precisely nothing. The world's leading political and economic bodies doesn't care what happens to a bunch of poor black people. Their only hope is the African version of Neville Chamberlain, Tambo 'what AIDS?' Mbeki, whose nation also voted down the resolution. How the Security Council voted:FORBelgium, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Italy, Panama, UK, United StatesAGAINSTChina (veto), Russia (veto), Libya, South Africa, VietnamABSTAINEDIndonesia

Is Gordon Off His Own Message? July 7th: PM Urges People Not To Waste Food July 8th: World Leaders Tuck into 18 Course Meal as They Discuss Global Food Shortage Or is it just the same old New Labour 'do as I say, not as I do'?