Monthly Archives: August 2014

Is Paddy Ashdown right? Is it time for an end to Sykes-Picot?

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Paddy Ashdown had an unusually courageous article in the Guardian on Thursday calling for the West to accept that the 1920s-era boundaries of Middle Eastern countries should be redrawn. Courageous doesn’t mean sensible. How does his argument stack up? “This … Continue reading →

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Nobody loves themselves a conspiracy theory anywhere in the world like they love themselves one in the Middle East

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

The latest conspiracy theory doing the rounds in the Middle East: ISIS is a front established by the USA to legitimise a reinvasion of Iraq, and ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is actually a Jewish actor called Shimon Eliot. (Of … Continue reading →

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BBC News Report – Good Friday Agreement Referendum Results

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

BBC News report from referendum results day 1998. A very youthful me briefly appears in in the background 34 seconds in. Paisley being a bad tempered bad loser in denial is particularly choice. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORZDh30BYLw&w=560&h=315]

Posted in Northern Ireland, UK | Comments Off on BBC News Report – Good Friday Agreement Referendum Results

Feast of the Transfiguration: Thousands Face Death on the Mountain

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

#Yezidi refugees from #Shingal. Children, women and old people without water, food and safety! #TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/RhqhbmmWLg — êzîdîPress (@EzidiPress) August 3, 2014 Mountains are somewhere apart from the mainstream of the world. They are often gorgeous, above the general fray … Continue reading →

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Interesting posts: autism, WW1, threats to liberal democracy, Iran

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Gerry Lynch

Some great writing around at the moment, too much to keep up with sometimes. Here’s some of the best. The Kids Who Beat Autism – New York Times I always worry about articles like this giving false hope to people. … Continue reading →

Posted in What I'm Reading Online | Comments Off on Interesting posts: autism, WW1, threats to liberal democracy, Iran