Simon Jenkins's Blog, page 78

If we overreact to this attack on Paris then terrorism will ‘just never end’ | Simon Jenkins

When politicians such as Donald Trump rush to publicise terrorist incidents they turn violent crimes into global events and bestow celebrity on fanatics

“It just never ends,” says Donald Trump, referring to the shooting in Paris last night. He is right, but not as he means it. What never ends is the readiness of politicians to rush to publicise and thus enhance and promote terrorist incidents. Once again Islamic State’s useful idiots are turning a violent crime on a Paris street into a global...

The last thing Britain needs from Theresa May’s manifesto is policies | Simon Jenkins

Detailed promises cut and pasted are a hostage to fortune. The prime minister should give voters her priorities, but no more

Those of us who found ourselves climbing the same Welsh mountain as Theresa May last weekend recalled its ancient legend. Anyone who spends too long on Cadair Idris can be rendered mad or a poet. I am not aware of May’s poetry.

Related: Chickening out of TV debates is shameful. Why is May avoiding us? | Caroline Lucas

Related: With the rightwing papers leading the elect...

May has called a snap general election. Our writers respond | Zoe Williams and others

The prime minister goes to the country on 8 June hoping to strengthen the Conservative majority. What happens next? Continue reading...

The bombing of Afghanistan shows the US is led by a one-man wild card | Simon Jenkins

First Syria, now Afghanistan – obscene and pointless bombings. But Donald Trump has tasted the sweet cup of war and no one seems able to control him

Bombs are the fool’s gold of war. Imprecise, expensive and cruel, their strategic utility diminishes the farther they fall from a politician’s desk. The US, with Britain in tepid accord, has been bombing unstable Muslim states for 16 years and has delivered nothing but death and anarchy. But the bombs have warmed the souls of successive presidents...

Our target-driven corporate culture is failing customers | Simon Jenkins

Bound by rules to keep costs low, big companies can only deliver cheap, impersonal and poor services

It would take a heart of stone not to feel for United Airlines. The company had built a reputation for cost control. Its boss, Oscar Muñoz, . Fed up with bribing overbooked passengers who would not budge, even for $800, and needing seats for its own staff, it employed “an algorithm” to select passengers for compulsory “re-accommodation”. When one o...

His emotions have been stirred – but Trump’s bombs won’t help Syria | Simon Jenkins

From Reagan in 1982 to Bush in 2001, there is an ignominious history of US presidents meddling in Middle Eastern affairs. It never works

US airstrikes in Syria: what we know so far

There is nothing in the world more dangerous than an American president watching television. Donald Trump last night followed Ronald Reagan in 1982 and George Bush in 2001 as an isolationist turned interventionist in the Middle East. His past pragmatism towards Syria’s Assad regime and its Russian backers underwent a...

‘Due impartiality’ is all well and good. But are the BBC really impartial? | Simon Jenkins

Though the corporation had a good Brexit, it must still address the narrow monoculture that skews key decisions

As political editor of the BBC, Nick Robinson was noted for his well-crafted missives from the Westminster bubble. Each tale of woe among the tribes was signed off with an elegant, “or it could just prove their finest hour”. Nothing would be the same again, “or perhaps only time will tell”. According to taste, this balance was a final dab of colour on a Turner landscape, or it killed...

Trump, Russia and Flynn: ex-adviser clearly has a gripping tale to tell | Simon Jenkins

The former national security adviser is seeking immunity from prosecution in return for coming clean about the president’s links with Putin

From Russia to Donald with love is a story that just keeps giving. The latest explosive revelation is that sacked security chief Michael Flynn is seeking immunity from prosecution to come clean on Trump’s links with Moscow. It has Democrats on the congressional committee salivating with glee. It was Flynn who said of a similar deal with Hillary Clinton’s a...

Britain’s treaty with Europe is dead. Time to strike a new one | Simon Jenkins

The dangers to our continent eclipse even Brexit. We’re leaving the EU but will need a new forum for cooperation – perhaps the Treaty of London

Notice of Britain’s intended departure from the European Union this week was symbolic. The letter went to Brussels by snail mail. Whatever Brexiters might say, Britons are leaving hesitant, nervous and divided. As before in history, they are turning their backs on another grandiose attempt to meld Europe into a single political space. In the past, they...

Media hype about the Westminster attack will only encourage others | Simon Jenkins

Wednesday’s assault was a crime. The last thing we needed was our politicians and media hysterically exaggerating it

On Wednesday afternoon a car went on to the pavement on Westminster bridge and killed three passersby. A man leapt out and stabbed a policeman. He was shot. No one knew who he was, only that he was dark-skinned and bearded. The police later released the names of in this dreadful incident. The possibly intended victims – members of parliament – were not...