Well, that was predictable, surprised a bit that it hadn't happened some time ago. There was nothing "hateful" in Scott Ritter's content, it was consistently the most moral, penetrating and despite his language, the most sophisticate and knowledgeable commentary available to us. And brave too. An avowed American patriot, he was able to escape the imprisonment of thought and action that patriotism usually implies, as he did in Iraq, and tell us what reality looks like. Well, there'll be other places he can broadcast and I"ll search them out.

I wonder that the Duran and others will say about this, as Scott's not exactly showered them with praise......I truly respect a man or woman who will not shy from criticising even nominal friends for his or her principles, because basically if you do this, you are allowing others to make you a hypocrite. In fact, that's a very good reply to others you disagree with "why should I modify my opinion on your account? You are demanding of me that I become a hypocrite, and I refuse to be one - only time or reality will prove who is right or who is wrong....."

The problem for us Brits is the depth of penetration of US interests in our government, military and intelligence services, and the power of US money in our press and business. I'm just reading about the US Colonel Oats appears in Harrogate Court charged with careless driving causing serious injury to two 15 year old boys. He worked as "Head of Space Policy" at RAF Menwith Hill, where over 600 US citizens as intelligence officers, military and civilians work and are housed. Shades of Harry Dunn and the diplomat's wife. The UK, a vassal US state, perhaps even more so since leaving the EU?