Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
Sean Penn has accused Britain of "colonialism" in the Falklands.
"I know I came in a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy between Argentina and the UK over the Malvinas islands. ... "
Exactly what the world needs at a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy! Sean Penn! Welcome, embajador! I can only thank with brief thanksgiving whatever Gods may be that he's too busy there to show up here.
Anyway, I'm comforted to know that at least British military planners do seem to remember something about history. Thatcher was (properly) excoriated for weak signaling prior to the last Falklands crisis. Obviously no one's making that mistake now:
"[Timerman] went on to show a series of photographs of what he claimed were state-of-the-art war ships, planes and a nuclear submarine he said was Vanguard, flagship of the Vanguard fleet which carries Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent.
He also produced aerial shots of military bases and two runways in the Falkland Islands. The foreign minister also claimed that the British defence budget had been cut in every area except the South Atlantic."
Yes, well, right decision.
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Mar '11
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
I wish the Cameron government would release an official statement on this: "Sean Penn can go pound sand".
Edited on February 14, 2012 at 6:09pmAug '10
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
Maybe he's a little "frustrated" since being dumped by Scarlett Johansson.
Apr '11
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
Labor party leader Michael Foot supported the launch of the task force, but then objected to its engagement when it got there, condemned and called for an investigation into the sinking of the Belgrano (despite, as a subsequent mild scandal showed, privately believing that it was necessary), fought for greater resort to the UN and international diplomacy rather than the unilateral and direct assertion of sovereignty that Thatcher decided upon, and generally caused trouble, consistently from a pacifist, internationalist, perspective.
Part of this is because Labour was quite heavily focused on purging the communists (Militant Tendency) who were trying to take over the party. Support for fighting fascists was a pretty good shibboleth for that. Militant itself was split between those who supported the fascists as an enemy of the British bourgeois and those who opposed both sides. Officially, Militant came down in favor of a socialist federation of Argentina and Britain.
Sep '11
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
James Of England
Part of this is because Labour was quite heavily focused on purging the communists (Militant Tendency) who were trying to take over the party. Support for fighting fascists was a pretty good shibboleth for that. Militant itself was split between those who supported the fascists as an enemy of the British bourgeois and those who opposed both sides. Officially, Militant came down in favor of a socialist federation of Argentina and Britain. · 30 minutes ago
Thanks, James. Militant were Trotskyists. Michael Foot was a learned fool.
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
Charles Starnes: Berlinski: "Exactly what the world needs at a very sensitive moment in terms of diplomacy! Sean Penn! Welcome,embajador!"
Okay, I've had my coffee, but now I've got the smile on my face that I can move on with the day. Thank you, Claire!
Honestly, I darn near spit out my coffee. · 6 hours ago
Aw, thanks. I have to confess I just re-read my own words and cracked up laughing, too. It's the total surreal absurdity of these words coming out of someone's mouth, in earnest.
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
Charles Starnes
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
[...] Needless to say, if you want to learn more, there's a book I can recommend .· 6 minutes ago
For goodness sakes! Someone has to take up the torch! It's http://www.amazon.com/There-No-Alternative-Margaret-Thatcher/dp/0465002315.
I recommend it highly: It's a wonderful read. I'm currently four chapters in and I'm learning a great deal about someone - and a time - I thought I was already very familiar with. The interviews are fabulous.
Claire, I want to say directly - I love your writing style. It's authoritative and crisp in just the right way and just so pleasant to read. I'm enjoying it so much I've now added two of your fiction works to the queue: Lion Eyes and Loose Lips. Very much looking forward to them. · 5 hours ago
Edited 5 hours ago
Why, I love you, too! Happy Valentine's Day!
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
She had to hang up on Reagan when he asked her to accept a settlement. James Rentschler's Falklands Diary is wonderful on this from the American side, by the way.
Apr '11
Re: Sean Penn Shows Up to Save the Day
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
Charles Starnes
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
[...] Needless to say, if you want to learn more, there's a book I can recommend .· 6 minutes ago
For goodness sakes! Someone has to take up the torch! It's http://www.amazon.com/There-No-Alternative-Margaret-Thatcher/dp/0465002315.
Edited 5 hours ago
Why, I love you, too! Happy Valentine's Day! · 15 hours ago
Ha! I'll take it - better than a signed book! Happy post Valentine's Day in Turkey.