David Blair's Blog, page 106

Syrian diplomats expelled in coordinated Western action

Syria suffered a storm of diplomatic protest on Tuesday when more than a dozen nations, including Britain and America, expelled the country's ambassadors or formally rebuked its envoys following the Houla massacre.

Syria: no end in sight

Despite the Houla atrocity, President Assad’s position remains firm and regime change a vain hope.

Deception: Spies, Lies and How Russia Dupes the West by Edward Lucas: review

David Blair thinks that Russia isn't on a mission to destroy the west, despite Edward Lucas' thesis in Deception.

How England Made the English: from Hedgerows to Heathrow by Harry Mount: review

Peter Parker on Harry Mount's engaging and lively How England Made the English.

Does Israel have the military might to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions?

Benjamin Netanyahu could yet attack Iran, but his threat of war may be a bluff

National Security Council considers plan for Israel strike on Iran

Ministers have considered contingency plans for how Britain would respond to a crisis in the Gulf triggered by any Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Progress of sorts on Iran's nuclear programme

They came, they talked and they laid out starkly differing positions.

Ignore the mood music: Iran's nuclear problem is not going away

Oddly enough, both sides in the bitter dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions have become quite good at soothing rhetoric. Saeed Jalili, the Islamic Republic’s chief negotiator, says that “pressure and the language of threat is useless in dealing with the Iranian nation, but talks and cooperation can be a positive...

Greece crisis: Alexis Tsipras on European tour

A former Communist who could triumph in Greece's knife-edge election and become prime minister at the age of 37 is touring European capitals with his rallying cry against austerity.

Pro-bailout parties could win majority in Greek elections

The parties which support Greece’s bailout package are set to win an overall majority in elections due next month, according to two opinion polls published today.