Says SPQR, as he critiques from the sidelines.

@ Poirot,

<<Says SPQR, as he critiques from the sidelines>>

I would not term my post a “critique” since one of that words meaning is "to pass judgment”.

And some --those prone to nick-pick & conflate--might get the wrong impression.

I think that my comment might better be characterized as a/an (objective) summary of the state of play—or non-play, since James has walked off the field with his bat!

Earlier in this thread I said that Killarney had never used the "Recommend this comment for deletion button" on the basis of a search of my emails. I should have used her real name, not the nickname for the search.

Killarney has pointed this out in a private email to me. You will find I asked for this evidence much earlier in this thread but it wasn't forthcoming from her.

Killarney did complain twice. Once on the 24th July and once on the 25th. The posts she complained about were http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/show-post-article.asp?comment=240071 and http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/show-post-article.asp?comment=240223.

I responded on the basis that misogyny is not against forum rules, and that neither breached rules. I do not think either is in the class of the ridicule that we continuously get of Julie Bishop (although I wouldn't classify most of that as being misogynist either). I also note that David G, the author of one of the "misogynistic" comments, is cited approvingly in this thread by Killarney on the subject of Julie Bishop.

What I would like to see is people discussing what Bishop says, not denigrating the writer, her motives, or her purported lack of subject knowledge. And that goes for all other writers, whether male or female.

While misogyny is not against the rules, cyber bullying is, and if we get a pack developing, whether misogynist or not, as we have had here, then I will take action.

Thanks, Graham.

I too wish to clarify that I have just found Graham's email responses in my spam email - which is why I believed my complaints had been ignored. I then contacted Graham earlier today to show him the email trail. We have since exchanged correspondence and agreed that there has been a technical breakdown of communication at both ends.

As the complaints icon does not link directly to personal email, I had no visual record that I made the original complaints, so I could not respond to Graham's request for evidence.

Apologies to all here for taking the thread off topic. It arose from an initial throwaway comment and escalated from there.

I love a happy ending : )

Well what an interesting read?
And so much mature comment?
If Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons technology, then why can't we see it?
Why is there so much secrecy and seriously hardened underground technical facilities?
If it is just peaceful power, then why isn't it out in the open and thorium, which is vastly more plentiful than uranium; and, more importantly, has no weapons spin-off!?
Clearly sanctions don't work and have never ever worked, unless the goal was to kill innocent women and children?
Nor has endless rhetoric or appeasement!
Israel needs to settle the Palestine problem, with now very urgent alacrity, accept and implement all of the requirements of the two state solution it has already agreed to!
Stop with the settlements, and negotiate a final border, to allow the already agreed to, two state solution to proceed apace!
My read is, that Iran isn't actually building nuclear armed weapons; but rather, the technology and the materials, which it could be stockpiling?
Meaning, it could in just a matter of hours, respond and assemble a couple of dozen retaliatory nuclear weapons/IBM's?
However, it needs Its near neighbour Syria to remain in Assard's hands, if it wishes to continue to beat the sanctions blockade with impunity?
Britain is also being a bit two-faced, I believe, talking the sanctions talk loudly and belligerently, but acting wike a wittle wamb, when it comes to implementing them?
As for the extra Public servants being sent to Iran; Julie, their real mission may well be intell gathering; and or, recruiting from a very large cohort of disaffected Iranians, tired of the, enough already, internal blood-letting.
As always, we should hope for the best possible Middle East outcome, but prepare for the worst!
Rhrosty.