Don't groan but if you replace "Thatcher" with Piper and "Pinochet" with Castro - what's the difference?

Also, on this anniversary of WWII, we cosied up to Stalin - in the national interest.

Bob, I've just read this too and what really stands out in Dale's desperation to stand on the side of morality, or whatever, is his analogy with the prisoner release under the Good Friday agreement.

In so doing he really does seem to be 'cheapening' the whole NI peace process for the sake of scoring a quick point here, notwithstanding this post (http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/03/well-done-to-everyone-in-northern.html) from a couple of years ago in which he sought to ensure that John Major received the requisite amount of praise. Nobody suggest that the prisoner release scheme was easy, but for the most part the people of NI have accepted it as part of the price that had to be paid for peace, just as similar reconciliation schemes have been accepted in South Africa, Rwanda and even (though v differently) in post-war Germany.

It's only a throwaway clause in a throwaway blogpost, but I think his willingness to invoke, against Labour, the biggest single achievement of the Blair years (and indeed, you might argue, of the Major years), now that he feels he can do so with impunity, reveals a fair bit about him.

I may do my own post about this tomorrow, unless you beat me to it.

Paul, I'm sure as the man with the number two best councillors' blog in the world you would do a much, much better job than I could even hope for.

Duffy, one thing I can say for you is, if you've got a drum, you're going to bang it, irrespective of the requirement for a tune. But anyway, I tried your formula but it just doesn't work. I found it meant that that apparently Iain Dale had an an undying devotion to me (which seems strange) and that I had had tea and biscuits with Fidel Castro (which seems even stranger). You really should try to get some rest.

As for the 'national interest' bit I think that point is best made to Mr Dale, he appears to be the one affronted by the notion.

Chile was a very good friend of the UK when Argentina invaded the Falklands Islands. We owed them a lot. I suspect that came into play when Jack Straw allowed General Pinochet to evade trial. He may have condoned the murder of many of his own citizens but he saved the lives of many British ones. Which is more than can be said of Colonel Gaddafi who now appears to be Gordon Brown's new best friend.

"condoned the murder of many of his own citizens"

An interesting understatement.

You didn't say when you were on holiday in Cuba that Fidel Castro invited you to tea and biscuits!

BobGom... I suspect he condoned their torture before he had them condoned to death.

What I can't understand using ifabloke's argument is why the US are so upset. If allowing your country to be used as a temporary base means you can ignore human rights altogether, we should be OK. We give them free range with their missile bases all over southern bloody England, not to mention places like Diego Garcia. Surely that's enough Special Relationship to allow us to release our own prisoners without asking them?

Bloody hell, Bob, Duff has just libelled you. Its worth calling that lawyer, he has a nice house in a Devon village perfect for the summer.
It has central heating, garage, close to all local amenities and it has a torture chamber.

Bob

Dave at Though Cowards Flinch has now done that piece on Dale's hypocrisy re: Good Friday prisoner release comparison

Duffy:
and your lot cosied up to Hitler...in their own interests!