You're either with us or against us!

It seems that the American "global village idiot" has lately become a trend-setter for even the most progressive elements of the world. To demonstrate, one must hearken back to the heady days before the Iraq war, to the mythical time when Saddam Hussein peacefully governed Iraq with a general consensus. One must recall the speech of one George W. Bush, who famously said that, in the "War on Terror," one can be either "with us or against us." This policy statement met with much criticism from the moral voice of society, who agreed that it would "offend allies." Despite the obvious criticism that an "ally" is an entity that has "allied" itself with another entity (and is thus "with" its ally), this opinion transformed into a general consensus amongst the Fourth Estate (i.e. "Media" as they presently style themselves). It also became a justification for the actions of France, Germany, Russia, China, and company in the subsequent years. If only "dubya" had been more nurturing to Vlad Putin (who is truly a sensitive soul), things would have undoubtedly turned out differently.
However, yesterday's anathema is to-morrow's certainty! The eminent Dr. Richard North at EU Referendum has kindly pointed out an interesting article in The Observer. Its author, noted European Union enthusiast Will Hutton, describes at length many of the problems facing the Union at this time. His final analysis follows.

"In the end it is simple. You either think that, despite its failings, the EU is a force for good - or you don't. And if you are on its side, you have fight for it. Beset by critics and internal division, without a sense of purpose and momentum the EU will rot and implode. Nobody should underestimate the risk - and how it would leave us all the poorer."
Again leaving aside the obvious and snarky comment that leaving the EU and its veritable cornucopia of regulation (and, by leaving the Euro-zone, gaining the ability to set interest rates again) would instantly improve the economy, this is pretty much the same thing "dubya" said. Political necessity is the peer-pressure of the international scene. It often forces nations into the equivalent of strutting about the international stage in polyester bell-bottoms. Perhaps it's time we heeded the wise men of history, who counsel that conscience must replace necessity. It certainly will spare the family of nations many embarrassing memories.

Also, it has come to my notice that the Air Force of the Republic is testing transparent armour that uses aluminum oxynitride. If my memory serves me correctly, its inventor should be an ingenious Scottish engineer. It certainly seems that the British Army could make use of it over in Iraq.