peterms

I agree, it would be insane for an ambassador to be inciting protests on the street. But let's be clear that diplomatic staff, most notably the US, do incite street protests, train and fund protestors, and have been doing so in many countries over many decades. Knowing that the US is ramping up its campaign against Iran, and making use of publicising and promoting street protests as part of that, and knowing that the UK is understandably seen as the poodle of the US, it takes a certain degree of foolishness for an ambassador to be seen to take any part in something that is likely to be used as anti-government propaganda. Also a breach of the rules. The Vienna Convention covers such things, I believe. If the ambassador were to say that he had no idea that such an event would be used as anti-government propaganda, frankly I would question his fitness for the role, or else his truthfulness. He was briefly held, then released when his identity was confirmed. The way you frame that sentence, it reads like you think he was arrested in full knowledge of who he was, to create a diplomatic incident as a diversion. I'm not sure if that's what you actually mean, or if I'm misreading you.

Yes, but the question of fact remains.

Is it the case that the ambassador's actions in joining or encouraging the protests were in contravention of the Vienna Convention?

Made Bhel Puri. Although I made three different chutnies to season it (chili, coriander and mint, date and tamarind), madam added mango chutney from a jar because none of mine were sweet enough for her. I am crushed.

It's a song about the latter part of the 19th century. Leave out the apostrophe.

No, never been. But any Belgian place doing mussels is worth a try. Belgium is great at mussels and chips, beer, and chocolate in particular. Lots more too, I'm sure.

Pretty unlikely, I'd have thought. After Trump's threats of more war crimes, as well as the US murder of the general, they were obviously on the highest alert and expecting attacks.

An abusive relationship.

No, don't give up. This stuff should fire you up to resist, in whatever way is practical for you. Apathy, disengagement, is what they want. It's how they win. Don't be doing with it.

Love that first sentence. America is a force for good in the Middle East. Trying to choke back the vomit.

Never speak to me again of George Osborne's organ. Or I will force-feed you salad.

Obviously, the answer is "none". I don't get what is wrong with him doing this. He's not an obvious front runner, but far more credible than the laughable Owen (goal) Smith and several of the other nonentities who ran in 2015, whose names escape me already, thank god. It's a proper, sensible, respectable and accepted course of action to sound out potential supporters before committing. The answers you get will vary from yes please, to not now, to don't split the vote, to I don't think you're cut out for it, and other things. I can see from your posting history that you really, really don't like him, but you should recognise as a simple fact that he is a possible contender, even if you don't welcome that.

Yes, and of course the reason why they were on highest alert is...but the US and its chimp commander are blameless in this, I expect we will be told. The people who need reaming are those who have created a state of war for no reason.

Well, very obviously in error. What possible purpose could it serve to do it deliberately?

My view is that playing daft games with imbeciles only encourages them. If we want a better media, we need to train them in better behaviour, by refusing to descend to their preferred level of imbecility. Like housetraining a dog. Starmer (not my preferred candidate) does so. Well done him.

Mussels and chips. Slight variation on moules mariniėre. Peel and cut the potatoes (Maris Piper, whites or other floury ones) soak in a couple of changes of cold water in a bowl, stirring with your hand to release as much starch as possible. Leave soaking in fresh cold water. Buy live mussels. Prepare the mussels (veggies, look away now). Rip off the beards with your thumbnail or a knife, rinse the mussels under cold water, set aside. If any are broken, discard them. If any are open and don't close when you handle them, set aside separately for a few minutes - they may just be dopey if you kept them in the fridge. On returning to them, if they still don't close when you handle them, discard them - they may be dead, and you won't know how long ago they died. Finely chop a shallot (this is for 2 people, scale up accordingly), thinly slice two or three cloves of garlic, chop a birds eye chili with seeds and membrane removed, soften all of them gently in butter in a big pan with a close-fitting lid. When soft, take off the heat and let cool. Add a little salt (the mussel juice released when the shells open will be salty, so don't overdo it), and pepper. When the pan is cool, place the mussels in it, and add a glass of white wine. Warm some bowls in a cool oven. Big bowl each for the mussels, smaller one each for the chips. Precook the chips, deep fry at 130 until soft, testing with a knife. They are done when the knife meets no resistance. Remove from oil and set aside. Turn the oil up to 190. Cook the mussels. Have some chopped parsley and cream ready. Put the lid on the pan, place on burner on maximum heat, do not remove the lid to check how they are doing. Should take about 5 mins, but watch for steam coming from under the lid, which tells you you've reached the right heat. The shells will be forced open by the steam pressure, and the mussels will be cooked. While they are cooking, finish the chips by lowering into the hot oil at 190, shake so they don't stick together. When done, about 2 mins but go by colour, drain and put in a bowl lined with kitchen paper, drizzle with sea salt, shaking them to distribute the salt. While the chips are draining, serve the mussels into the warmed dishes with a slotted spoon, the bigger the better, you want to move quickly now. Put the pan with the juices back on maximum heat, add a bit of cream, maybe a couple of tablespoons, and the chopped parsley. Stir well. Once the cream has been absorbed, pour it over the mussels. I serve it with mayo and harissa for the chips, and a big bowl for the discarded shells. Also spoons to get the sauce, though tonight madam was drinking it from the bowl, dirty cow.

Peter Oborne has left, and he was worth reading. Next to go will be Hitchens, I expect. Spiralling down to ever lower circles of hell.

Welcome home, John. It's where you always belonged.

Better bomb Kansas, just to be on the safe side.

Yes, there are others, but the US is very conscious that its position as the dominant reserve currency allows it to wield massive influence, and it wants to protect that position. Which is exactly why other countries should do more to develop alternatives if they wish not to be at the mercy of the whims of the US.

I'm sure that's right. It was clearly impossible for Iran to make no response, and that will be obvious to the US, perhaps even to Trump, so there has to be a way to make a response without things getting further out of hand. There will have been discussions. What would be the best way forward for Iran, rather than blowing things up and killing people as the US would do, would be to work with other countries to develop long-term approaches to things like moving away from the dollar as reserve currency, making oil sales other than in dollars, having alternative international payments clearing systems and so on. That is quite risky, and creates the possibility of the US trying to engineer a pretext for military action to maintain its hegemony, and so would need to happen in conjunction with eg Russia and China as well as others, but it offers the future possibility of more autonomy and less subjection to US imperialism. Any sensible UK government should also support something other than the dollar as reserve currency, as Keynes tried to explain all those years ago.

That ship may have sailed. It's hard to think that anyone but the most gullible will trust the US to keep its word. Against that, here's an argument made with integrity, from the right of the political spectrum.