essexalan

We do have a Constitution dating right back to and probably before Magna Carta, added too considerably over the centuries it forms the basis of the US constitution and that of many other countries. Most of the arguments going on before the Supreme court now refer to this Constitution. What we don't have, unlike the US, is a clearly written Constitution that anybody can read and understand hence the nice little earner barristers are on. Of course the government and judiciary can play pretty fast and loose with all this when it suits them.

Just about all the Islamic sects refer to the Hadith which is not really a book but a collection of writings from what I can make out. But those were not around when Islam started their expansionism and the boss man himself was not adverse to a bit of killing. I suppose you would have to learn Arabic and read the Quran in it's purest form to find out what it is really all about.

Less than 1% of India's Muslim population signed up and not so far from the Pakistan border, interesting. If 90% of clerics in the West did the same then you could consider it significant, they can leave the fatwa bit out. "It is written in the Quran that killing one innocent person is equivalent to killing all humanity". Islam was spread by the sword so somebody is reading the wrong book.

Area bombing alone never won any war, it wasn't until in WWII they turned to destroying the German oil supplies that any real major effect occurred. German tank and aircraft production 1944-1945 was higher than at any other time but they had little fuel to use. Strategic bombing of N Vietnam did bring them back to the conference table it was hurting them. Use of atomic weapons on Japan ended that war but Japan was finished anyway. Wars are won with boots on the ground and the occupation of territory, dropping bombs reduces the enemies ability to wage war Pro-action should include non-denominational schools and places of worship, removal of human rights from anybody identified with or carrying out acts of terrorism including their families and relatives. Terrorists to be interrogated most vigorously and incarcerated indefinitely, Gitmo did work. Families and relatives to be repatriated from whence they came immediately with no right of appeal. All of the refugees that have entered Europe should be considered a security threat and treated as such. The problem is already in our countries and should be treated like a virus. Monitoring of all social media to be strengthened, crossing points on all European outside borders to be considered a security risk. The entire areas of Syria, Iraq et al to be sealed off, nobody gets in and nobody gets out, better include Turkey as well now.

I think the queues heading to France are taking considerably longer than 2 hours perhaps a closure of the Chunnel Northbound for security reasons might up the ante, only for short periods of course......

Once Article 50 is invoked negotiations can begin regarding the withdrawal agreement, there is no deal until this agreement is agreed by both parties. Of course this can continue long after we are no longer bound by any treaties but the agreement must be made. Considering the inertia of the EU and the length of time it takes them to carry out trade deals then who knows how long this will take. Of course as soon as we are no longer bound by the treaties then we can start signing our own trade deals with whoever we like as long as the country concerned is not part of the EU. I don't think this withdrawal agreement can be in the nature of a take it or leave it, final offer sort of thing. Will have to wait and see but I don't see Article 50 being invoked.

Indeed France has every right to increase it's security on all it's borders as long as it is just that, all it's borders. If this is just between UK/France then it makes no sense unless their security forces know something ours do not. Perhaps we should help them by duplicating their arrangements in the UK and making sure no undesirables are escaping from France or potential terrorists are travelling to the UK under the umbrella of the so called "Freedom of Movement. Interesting that they are doing this on potentially the busiest time of the year.

"2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the European Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union. That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament." How I understand is that this withdrawal agreement must be negotiated once Article 50 is triggered and there is no time limit but it must be made. "3. The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period." So if this withdrawal agreement is concluded prior to the two year deadline then the treaties no longer apply and we are out, otherwise the two year deadline is applicable unless an extension is agreed upon. Of course this all depends upon Article 50 being triggered ;0)

Do you mean two years is not long enough or what? That period is plenty long enough if we are dealing with an EU that refuses to budge on anything. If this is the case then two weeks is too long the worse that they can do if we break one of their laws is suspend us from the EU which could causes a lot of problems on both sides. They are not our best friends and never have been.

The only different timetable will be if the EU agree to extend the period for some reason... Never been done before, never happened before so expect Article 50 to be full of legal holes.

Don't eat late, take a cold shower before going to bed, don't dry yourself too well have a fan blowing on you. Repeat as necessary. I can't leave my windows wide open because I will be eaten alive by mossies

Then I find it very hard to do anything but totally agree with you :0)

I think if you read what I originally posted you would see that we are essentially saying the same thing " if you mean freedom from oppression then that has been steadily eroded over a thousand years" as in our liberty has been eroded over the years not the oppression.

Probably the period from the Roman invasion to date which would necessarily include the feudal system. No real idea what went on in the essentially tribal system preceding the Roman invasion which possibly signaled the end of the so called Iron Age. Some leaders were possibly selected on merit others hereditary do tell me. So millennia would have been more correct that "a thousand".

I think you will find that it was an inverted version of that saying attributed to Goebbels or could have been Orwell, what you have quoted came some time before, but I could be wrong. Anyway you really did have something to fear in Nazi Germany conviction without trial being one of them, we just have to worry about being convicted at a dodgy trial. Liberty has many meanings but if you mean freedom from oppression then that has been steadily eroded over a thousand years. If you think being in the EU is going to give you more liberty then I suggest you read up on some of the more restrictive laws. Perhaps the recent referendum was a true example of both liberty and democracy, just look what happened there!

That would depend on whether we actually leave the EU. Certainly I would agree that a far more coordinated contribution by all the EU members to NATO would make much more sense.

2 actually fleshes out the idea of an EU army and states members for and those against such an institution. The UK of course would have vetoed such a move but of course may be unable to do so if Brexit occurs. So discussion of such a thing must have been held at government level in the various member states. The fact that Germany supports such an idea is worrying particularly with von der Leyen as Defense Minister. Controlling the EU purse strings does have a lot of advantages. So really short term in aint gonna happen but watch that space.

http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/juncker-nato-is-not-enough-eu-needs-an-army/ https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/uk-central-europe-frown-at-juncker-s-european-army/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-plans-that-could-pave-way-for-an-eu-army-are-being-held-back-a7052501.html Lots more post referendum but it's bed time.

Yep stop but no need to search all 60 odd million of us. That is where ID cards really fall down so perhaps we should be microchipped like my dogs? If we have the tech to detect a forged 20 quid note then surely the same goes for an ID card. I am sure we have databases in the UK that have never been hacked you will never hear of them.

I don't :0)

Was going to be a member when it met the 35 conditions. Hmmmm will Scotland meet these conditions? Probably Turkey has been negotiating for ages to join the EU Still plans for an EU army as I posted elsewhere, just Google it. Perhaps Boris has already upset somebody big time, written another poem perhaps, this time nothing to do with UKIP!

Would and still could be coming to a channel crossing near you.

I thought you remainers would have loved having ID cards seeing as most of the EU carry them https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_identity_cards_in_the_European_Economic_Area No it wont stop crime but as far as the UK is concerned it may well identify those that are in the country illegally in itself a possible security risk.

Considering the events in Nice that could so easily happen here you still object? Not saying IDs will prevent such an occurrence but we need every means at our disposal. in this fight. Anyway that smartphone you probably lug around provides regular updates to anybody that may be interested.

Understood...Sorry!