On the riots in the UK

Daniel Hind in his article 'Nothing 'mindless' about the rioters':

The global economic crisis is at least as political as the riots we've seen in the last few days. It has lasted far longer and done far more damage. We need not draw a straight line from the decision to bail out the banks to what's going on now in London. But we must not lose sight of what both events tell us about our current condition. Those who want to see law and order restored must turn their attention to a menace that no amount of riot police will disperse; a social and political order that rewards vandalism and the looting of public property, so long as the perpetrators are sufficiently rich and powerful.

For the full article go here

Israeli inquiry into attack on Free Gaza Flotilla - all was legal - of course...

Remember when the Free Gaza Flotilla was attacked by Israel's navy in international waters in May last year? Remember that 9 activists were shot dead by Israeli soldiers? One of them 4 times in the head. Israel has conducted its own inquiry into the events and has found that the navy's actions and its sea blockade of Gaza were legal under international law. Of course! Is there any doubt that an Israeli inquiry into such an attack would be anything but a complete whitewash????

BBC on Tunisia - editorial fondness?

Isn't it funny how in a photo series on the BBC's news website about the latest protests in Tunisia from 18 January all the women in the pictures are wearing headscarves?
Well, there are only three women being shown in total so I am not sure what the BBC was getting at? Or maybe only the three shown served the purpose? Maybe the editors and/or the photographer couldn't stomach that they couldn't help raise yet another ayatollah?