It’s a year ago today since my father died.

I’ve not been looking forward to this day – the first anniversary of his death. In truth, I have been rather dreading it and it has been playing on my mind for some weeks now.

It only seems like yesterday since I went in to visit him one morning and found him lying dead in his hospital bed. Still warm to the touch but still gone - his suffering over. The image is burnt into my memory. I remember going to tell the nurse on duty that he had died, she didn’t know. She apologised to me – but for what? However he did not die alone – I believe his Maker was there with him. He had faith. I try.

12 months have passed since that day and I miss him.

I know that is a selfish thing to say this because in truth he suffered greatly towards the end of his days as cancer devoured his body and it was a relief for him to go. He told me that he wanted away and his wish was granted to him by a merciful God. He knew he was dying and lord knows there was precious little dignity for him in his final months but he did his best to cope. I used to leave his hospital bed after the nightly visit with a brave face on that did not last much longer than the length of corridor I walked.

Though he has gone, there is a vast hole left behind for me.

I miss his good humour and his ability to pass life’s many travails off with a smile. I think that sometimes I may come across to you, dear reader, as rather more serious and intense than I actually am. In reality I believe that I am a younger version of what he was in the sense that I find life is easier if you can smile at it, rather than frown. Yes I know I do rail and protest at some things - hence this blog! - but you know folks, my bark is much worse than my bite. What always amused me about my Dad was that the bigger the hole he would find himself in – maybe some shares he bought expecting colossal dividends would nose-dive for example, he would think about it for a while and then find a way to look on the bright side of things! He didn’t take life that seriously, though he took his duties as husband and father very seriously. Duty mattered to him and it does to me.

I miss his modesty. He was such a kind and generous man and whilst he liked money he also liked to give it to those who needed it more than him. Throughout his 78 years on this earth he was the type of amiable soul who got on with people, he was a friend to many and at his funeral last year I was touched by the tributes paid to him by young, middle-aged and old. He was a man of principle who did what he said he would do. His word was his bond. I try to be the same.

I miss his enquiries into my own life. He was always interested in what his grandchildren were doing and delighted in their success. He would be so impressed to know his grandson can now drive and that his grand-daughter has dyed her hair purple! He also liked to know about my commercial success and would have been proud of my first book. He took the view that politicians were a rum lot, and he was right.

I miss my great weekly debates with him on politics and religion. We knew how to rile each other, as father and son can do so well. But we never fell out over these things and I would usually take extreme positions on issues in order to get a scathing response from him. He rarely let me down. He was a man who enjoyed debate with others and I remember him telling me about his public questioning of Lord Eames, head of the Anglican Church in Ireland. You don’t think my dissenting character came out of the blue, do you?

Above all I just miss the fact that he is just not there anymore. Sometimes I wonder where he has gone. I struggle to understand it all. I look up at the night sky some evenings and see all those stars twinkling across the universe and ask myself where is the man who was such a central part of my life?

It’s been very hard for me to write this these words but writing is what I probably do best. I think it helps release some of the pain stored up inside me. Later today I will go and visit his grave in a little country churchyard and have some time for reflection.

John Joseph Vance – born 26^th February 1929 - died 30^th April 2007.

Missed by your sorrowing son .

Many of you might already know Michael Yon by his widely publicized, hugely popular photographs from the war front.

A former US Green Beret, Yon has been working as an embed journalist since December 2004. He works freelance and has been embedded with both American and British troops. He writes what he sees and  this book, Moment of Truth in Iraq,  provides one of the most complete, interesting, and even-handed accounts I personally have ever read.

As an embed, Yon witnessed mistakes committed during the early years of the war, and  recently, witnessed the precarious “second chance” being played out by General Petreaus and his troops. Yon writes of the guerrilla warfare, in progress as you read this book review.  This book documents the actions of our soldiers as they carve out a precarious victory.

Yon has a captivating writing style.  But don’t believe me; judge for yourself. Here is an excerpt from his book from a section describing his embed with British troops:

Click to read more ...

Fans of the 1979 classic bad film "The Warriors" will recall the line that sent the Warriors Gang on the run.  They were framed for the shooting of Cyrus, the gang leader who sought to unite all the gangs, and had to make their way through the pre-Guiliani New York Subway System from the Bronx to Coney Island with all the other gangs chasing after them since the real killer shouted out about one of the Warriors that "He Shot Cyrus". 

Fast Foward to our latest Lolita controversy, the Vanity Fair photo shoot spread of 15 year old Miley Cyrus, a Disney star and alleged wholesome girl next door.  Miley is the star of a kids show and the daughter of the vividly untalented Billy Ray Cyrus, whose Mullet Music hit "Achy Breaky Heart"  brought more scorn on American culture than a convention of French Film Critics.

The photo spread is sexually suggestive, no nudity, but does have a naked yet wrapped in a blanket Miley staring in a sexual pout at the camera.  There is also a more clothed yet equally disturbing shot of Miley and her father in a pose that seems frankly more boyfriend girlfriend than father daughter (unless of course one subscribes to West Virginia Magazine).   I suppose the resulting avalanche of publicity is what the magazine, the photographer and the parents wanted.  Billy Ray is distancing himself from the Miley in a blanket shot like Claude Rains distanced himself from gambling at Rick's in Casablanca (I am shocked, shocked). 

I suppose sexually suggestive girls is nothing new.  The Spears family in their trailer park and the Hiltons in their mansions seem quite comfortable in their daughters degradation.   And let us face it, there is an audience for this or these antics wouldn't be topping news of such minor events as two wars.   Will we as a society get a handle on our excesses?  And how will we go about doing so?  Or is the counter-culture going to become the culture?           

Orville and Wilber Wright were famous for their invention of the first successful airplane.  An iconic American moment was when they helped it to soar over Kitty Hawk.

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright has launched his own invention (himself) this week, and instead of helping something to soar he is helping to bring down Obama's campaign.  In a series of interviews, press conferences and personal appearances, he is proving that the Youtube clips of his sermons were only the tip of a rather vain and strange iceberg.   At this point, one suspects Obama may actually wish he was a Muslim, as his political and spiritual alignment with this rambling reverand will clearly cause him great harm in the nomination process and the general election should he manage to prevail over a still standing Hillary Clinton. 

Obama seems to be incapable of controlling events, which is the double-edged sword of his candidacy.  He rode a wave of racial good intentions to the top despite a slim resume.  But he's caught in the stream of events, and the current of events is now pushing him past his ultimate destination, victory, much like Huck Finn on his raft on the Mississippi River when he was unable to make the landing at Cairo, Illinois* and was forced downstream.  Huck Finn's adventure had a happy ending, will Obama's?

Here is what Obama has to do - he has to disavow brother Wright with the vengence of an Old Testament Prophet (like the Prophet Jeremiah for example).  Obama's crafty "I could no more disavow him than my own people" speech was glorified almost universally in the media but debunked here on ATW (See "Grandma Got Run Over By A Media Dear" by one of our brillant writers) .   He needs to burn the mutha out with a Carthage like slapdown on the Rev.'s behavior and gross comments.  Otherwise, voters will be left with the conclusion that if Obama can't put a egomaniac preacher in his place, he's hardly going to be able to deal with an egomaniac nuke building North Korean and a host of other international and domestic issues.

* Thanks Alan.        

There is a debate in the Republic of Ireland at the moment as to whether the Irish Police Force (The Gardai) should routinely carry guns.

Debate has raged within the force about arming all officers since the shooting last September of Paul Sherlock, an unarmed traffic garda, during the morning rush hour in Dublin’s North Strand. The 34-year-old was shot in the stomach from close range with a shotgun by one of the occupants of a stolen car he was pursuing at the time. John Healy, GRA deputy general secretary, believes the attack of an unarmed officer marked a watershed for policing in the state. “It is with great regret that we now have to consider the routine arming of uniformed gardai, but that is the reality of modern Ireland,” he said.

I agree with him - it is important that police officers can defend themselves against armed thugs and unfortunately there are plenty of them in the Republic. It is a sign of the lawless times that this change id needed but we must not risk the lives of those who seek to enforce the law by denying them the necessary protection - in this case, guns.

Not only does Iran not have any homosexuals, it also seeks to have no Barbie dolls.

Why? Well, because "The irregular importation of such toys, which unfortunately arrive through unofficial sources and smuggling, is destructive culturally and a social danger," says Iranian top prosecutor Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi in a letter to Parviz Davoudi, Iran’s vice-president. "The appearance of personalities such as Barbie, Batman, Spiderman and Harry Potter and ... computer games and movies are all a danger warning to the officials in the cultural arena."

This in a country which hangs gay people, which exalts in oppressing women, which exports terrorism and which has a Holocaust-denying Leader. Mmm - I'd say Barbie is pretty low down the list of things that they need to sort out, wouldn't you?  

I suggest that Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader, and my old schoolpal, Danny Kennedy, needs to lighten up.

He has criticised the Celtic FC goalkeeper - who revealed a 'God bless the Pope' T-shirt after a 3-2 win over Rangers at Parkhead! Danny spoke out after Poland international Artur Boruc, nicknamed the 'Holy Goalie' by Hoops fans, stripped off his jersey to show the T-shirt with the slogan!  I think it was a laugh and not to be taken seriously. Yes it probably does highlight the religious division between these two football teams but who is surprsied by that? I'm hoping that whenever Rangers beat Celtic next their goalkeeper will unveil a "God save the Queen" t-shirt and that Celtic fans will respond with equal good grace! 

The growth of feral youth in Britain, accompanied by the decline of the rule of law, is manifest in the news that an ex-policewoman, Julie Pickford was kicked unconscious by 30-strong drunken teenage gang for asking them not to throw popcorn on a tram.  Without warning, one girl stood up and punched her in the face and then a mob of up to 30 teenagers joined in, punching her and stamping on her. With blood streaming from her injuries and £50 stolen from her handbag, she was thrown off the tram at the next stop in Sale, Greater Manchester. There is a generation of young people growing up that show no respect for other people and who will do what they want to whoever they want, confident that they will most likely not be caught and even if they are caught, they will get the  most risible punishment.  

The UN is holding a summit in Berne in Switzerland to discuss the global food crisis.

No doubt over a sumptious meal or two, the great and the good will salve their consciences by ensuring that international financial aid is increased. The UK has already promised to raise the amount of British taxpayer funds it hands over, and I'm sure others will follow. This is a wonderful substitute for actually DEALING with the causes of this food crisis.

I quote...

"The UN expert on the right to food has called for the production of biofuels to be suspended, claiming they push food prices up. The head of the UN's environment programme, meanwhile, believes biofuels are key to providing alternative energy for the future."

What could be clearer? In the meantime, let them eat cake. 

Readers may be familiar with the name of Alan Craig, the Christian Peoples Alliance councillor in Newham, who has been leading the opposition to the creation of the East London mega mosque. He is also standing for the Christian Choice in Thursday's London mayoral election. Last Wednesday, the Christian Choice released their election broadcast for the mayoral and London Assembly elections. The broadcast, which can be seen here, contains a brief mention of the mega mosque, and refers to Alan Craig's opposition to it.

However, Mr Craig today launched legal action against the BBC and ITV, claiming that they had forced him to edit the broadcast to remove criticisms of Tablighi Jamaat, the Islamic organisation behind the building of the mega mosque. In the first version of his broadcast, Mr Craig described the group as "separatist". This term proved unacceptable to the broadcasters, who ordered him to substitute the word "controversial", which he did, under protest. Subsequently, however, ITV decided that even this mild description was intolerable, and insisted that the appellation be applied only to the mega mosque, and not to the group building it. Ironically, Mr Craig was even prevented from using the hackneyed phrase "moderate Muslims", in reference to those Muslims who have opposed the mega mosque, because it was felt that this could imply that Tablighi Jamaat was not "moderate". The fact that all the evidence suggests that the group is both separatist and extremist, and that it is, in consequence, undeniably controversial, did not deter the BBC and ITV from censoring anything that could remotely resemble a criticism of the organisation.

But even if one does not agree with Mr Craig's views on Tablighi Jamaat, it is still unreasonable to censor his broadcast. As Andrea Minichiello Williams, director of the Christian Legal Centre, put it "providing that the content of an election broadcast is within the law, the BBC and ITV should enable the electorate to hear the unedited views of candidates and allow them to make up their own minds as to whether they agree or not". In censoring the Christian Choice election broadcast, the BBC and ITV have restricted the ability of a candidate to put his views to the public, have prevented the public from developing the fullest possible knowledge of a candidate, and have thus sought to undermine democracy.

Hat-tip: English Rose

Proving that we live in a vast interconnected planet, (apart from uberliberals who as we all know come from outer space!) news comes that the European economy will continue to slow down this year and next. The European Commission has said. In its latest six-monthly forecasts, that economic growth in the 27-nation European Union would slow to 1.8%  in 2009 from 2% this year. Growth in the 15-nation eurozone would fall to 1.5% from 1.7%. The Commission forecast an EU inflation rate of 3.6% this year, falling to 2.4% in 2009. Eurozone inflation was forecast at 3.2% this year – the highest since the euro’s launch in 1999 – and 2.2% in 2009. As you can see, it has already exceeded Commission expectations and food and energy prices are on the up.

I believe that the EU - just like the US and UK - is facing some severe economic turbulence and wonder how the ECB can cope since the individual nation economic needs are so disparate.  

Amusing to read that Jack Straw, The Justice Secretary, has become the first senior Labour Minister to say "sorry" for the shambles that Gordon Brown created in his last budget when he axed the 10% tax rate. According to Straw.."Sometimes even with the best brains available to government there are inadvertent consequences of changes..."  I love the comment posted by A Times reader..

"So the best brains in the country couldn't forsee that doubling the tax rate on the lowest earners in the country would have a detrimentsl effect. Well I never. They should have gone for advice at the local pub because the average man in the street/pub could have told them that."

Exactly so! They MUST have seen all of this coming and still done it proving they are unfit to govern OR else they are the most incompetent bunch imaginable in which  case they are unfit to govern.

It's amazing to read that Belfast leisure centres have run up a massive loss of £41m in the last five years despite more than £50m of ratepayers' cash being used to operate them!

Northern Ireland's biggest council has pumped more than £53m of public money into keeping the 11 facilities across the city open between 2002 and 2007, according to figures obtained by the Belfast Telegraph. However, not one of the centres has made a profit or come close to breaking even during that period.

It's all very well for politicians to now "hit out" against the operational costs of this enterprise, but they have KNOWN these costs for the past five years and cannot distance themselves. This is a folly THEY have presided over. It demonstrates to me once again that IF you want something done well, remove the dead hand of government. This is an outrageous abuse of rate-payers money and ALL the politicians involved deserve brickbats!

Here's the deal. I do not subscribe to Irish republicanism .

Why? Well, because I am a unionist who happens to put my sense of Britishness first and foremost.

However, I know that there will be people who read this who feel the same about unionism! And fair enough. Life is all about holding different views and so long as they are expressed civilly I have no problem with it. However a belligerent approach does not achieve anything and I do not want ATW to be a playground for the childish hurling of names. I know most of you agree with me on this which is  good. I also know that there are quite a few registered ATW readers who hold republican views and they are very welcome here. Their polite and intelligent responses to issues I may raise on the topic are always interesting and challenging. Some of them are amongst the site's most generous supporters.

However I happened to visit a site called Slugger O Toole the other day and tried to engage with its predominantly nationalist/republican commentariat. It was pointless since their idea of debate is to engage in name-calling, spurious accusations, and whataboutery. It's a shame that Slugger has gone this way since Mick Fealty is a nice guy who I have much respect for. The one comment that particularly irritated me was when Typhoo, formerly of this Parish, claimed that she had been banned from ATW because she was a republican. Total tripe. She chose to leave this site and is in no position to whinge about it after the event. I feel that she impugns those other Irish republican commentators, such as Chris Gaskin, for instance, who are welcome here because they know how to be civilised and engage without rancour.

And so it is that I make the point that ATW is welcoming to all who seek to debate - but within the terms of engagement- published on this blog. There are the lunatic fringe over on Slugger such as "Jo" and "Percy" who have long been banned from this site - and when I read the venom they produce I am glad we are rid of them.

Having a plurality of comment is good but keeping it polite is equally important. I know that from time to time tempers can raise here too - as can mine -  but in the main people are treated with respect regardless of their opinion. That's how it will continue and I thank you all for it! 

UPDATE: Unfortunately I have been inundated by emails today from the poster known as Typhoo, some of them threatening me and making the most outrageous and libellious allegations against me. I may not be able to blog as much in the next day or so until I sort this out. Thanks for your understanding. This is one the perils of writing on the net - cranks can cause a lot of problems.

Enlightened ATW readers will know just how morally bankrupt the United Nations really is -  after all I have spent years here attacking what I see as the moral malaise at the centre of what those on the hard left refer to as "The World's highest moral authority."

Now even the BBC reveals that the UN has covered up claims that its troops in Democratic Republic of Congo gave arms to militias and smuggled gold and ivory. The allegations, based on confidential UN sources, involve Pakistani and Indian troops working as peacekeepers. These are not the only allegations to have been brought against peacekeepers in DR Congo. In December 2006, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Moroccan troops had been involved in widespread sexual abuse. "There have been crimes such as rape, paedophilia and human trafficking," he said, shortly before leaving office. The UN presides over all this corruption and evil and does nothing about it - then again how could it since it is so busy lecturing the United States about how it should behave in Iraq and Afghanistan, and damning Israel for having the temerity to defend itself from Palestinian Jihadists. The UN is a cesspit of  corruption and the US and UK should get out of it.

For as long as soldiers have been present in foreign lands, there have always been cases of local girls falling for them. That's life. But in Iraq, that's death.

"An Iraqi girl has been murdered by her father in an "honour killing" after she fell in love with a British soldier in Basra. Seventeen-year-old Rand Abdel-Qader told her best friend how she had fallen for Paul, a 22-year-old she met at a charity where she worked as a volunteer. When her father learned she had been seen speaking to a foreigner he rushed home and butchered her, strangling and stabbing her while screaming that he was "cleansing his honour". 

What an animal. What honour lies in killing your OWN daughter? This shows the primitive and barbaric mindset which prevails within Islam and it brings shame on all those who turn a blind eye to it.

But the thing that gets me is that whilst there is no suggestion the two had any physical relationship, "the case raises questions about the training given to British forces in understanding cultural values in a city where 47 women died in "honour killings" last year."

Sorry, but it does nothing of the sort. It raises questions about the lack of cultural values in a city where a father butchers his own daughter! This is not about the British army having "sensitivity" training to cope with the savage mindset of Islam, it is about Islam recognising there is no honour in "honour" killings and I would like to see more "moderate" Muslim leaders spell this out in no uncertain terms. Why the silence? This poor young girl lies dead at the hand of her own father and her only " crime" was to fall in love.  Sickening.

What drives innovation and prosperity?  Is the cure for poverty found in taxation on the “rich” and expanded social programs? If not, why not?  And why is high unemployment so entrenched in France?

For the sake of mankind….for the Common Good …for the children….I urge you to go out and spend your own money on yourself and your family.  Why?  Because spending your own money for your own benefit results in the  highest quality goods possible at the lowest prices possible.  Because you care. And because  you shop. 

Government expenditures of  your money for the benefit of someone else removes all incentive to either keep the cost of the goods and services down, or to maintain high quality goods or services.  This results in shortages, poor quality, corruption, high costs.

Here's  how it works based on a grid from Jay Tea's description at  Wizbang:

When you negotiate with Terrorists and give them validity, this is what you get. Terrorists believe kidnappings and violence are legitimate tactics in politics. Iran will continue to sponsor and support this behavior, especially with useful idiots like Jimmy Carter in the world. Unless people, groups, and countries are punished with extreme measures as a response to this behavior it will only become more prevalent. Iran has been at war with the west since 1979. We either act like it or millions will die.

The Times

Five British hostages who were kidnapped in Iraq almost a year ago are being held inside Iran by Revolutionary Guards, according to two separate sources in the Middle East and London. The hostages were handed over to the Revolutionary Guards by their Iraqi kidnappers last November, the sources believe.

One of the sources said they were being held in the western Iranian city of Hamadan. If confirmed, the involvement of Revolutionary Guards would be seen as evidence that senior figures in the Iranian government had backed the decision to hold them in the country. However, British officials said that while there had been rumours that the five were in Iran, they had seen no evidence to support the idea.

The hostages are said to be in good physical shape but spending much of their time in solitary confinement. According to one of the sources, they are under the control of Mohammad Safaei, 41, a senior Revolutionary Guard colonel who was previously in charge of special operations in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The hostages were kidnapped in Baghdad last May in an attempt to force the Americans to release Qais al-Khazaali, an Iraqi militia leader said to be close to the Revolutionary Guards.

Khazaali was apparently being groomed by Iran to take control of a breakaway faction of the Mahdi Army, a Shi’ite militia, that would be compliant with Tehran. A former chief spokesman for the Mahdi Army, Khazaali was arrested by US troops after masterminding a raid inside a base in which five US soldiers were killed. The Americans have refused to release al-Khazaali in exchange for the British hostages. One of the sources, who has close links to the Revolutionary Guard, said the captors were looking for a face-saving way of freeing them.

They have suggested the hostages write to church leaders in the UK asking for assistance in gaining their release, the source said. The five were abducted from the Iraqi finance ministry, where one of them, Peter Moore, a computer specialist, was teaching data-processing. The other four were his bodyguards. The suggestion that the hostages are in Hamadan follows contradictory claims earlier this month that they were in Tehran. This is the first time it has been claimed they are in the hands of Revolutionary Guards. One of the sources has previously proved to be a reliable source of information about them.

The BBC leads with a story entitled that Polar bears are "at risk" in Canada. It alleges that these  bears are at risk from climate change but not threatened with extinction, a panel of experts has advised the Canadian government. Mmm.. but then again, maybe they are "at risk" because their population is INCREASING!! Funny how the BBC does not present that side of the argument, isn't it?