Not To Be Missed
Posted February 12th, 2007 by Davide Simonetti
in
From the Downing Street website:
Margaret Beckett will be online on February 21 to answer your questions in the latest of our Policy Review webchats. The Foreign Secretary will discuss the theme of "Britain and the World" and the global challenges that face us all in the 21st century.
So we get a chance to ask to ask our Foreign Secretary a question. Judging by previous performances it should be entertaining. Anyone got any suggestions?
How do you live with
How do you live with yourself,Margaret?
The previous comment
The previous comment probably can't be bettered.
Other possible questions:
Seriously, I'd like to ask about policy but what you be the point?
Perhaps this:
Garry, Your last question is
Garry,
Your last question is fairly similar to what I actually posted on the site (in the hope that I might actually get an answer). This is what I asked:
If diplomacy fails with Iran and America and/or Israel launch an attack, will Britain play a part in that attack?
Thank you
In retrospect I should have added "in any way" in order to try and reduce the expected obfuscation, but never mind. It's a clear enough question. I wonder if she'll answer it.
How about "Have you read the
How about "Have you read the Iraq Study Group Report yet?"...
If the UK Government has to
If the UK Government has to choose between respect for international law on the one hand and the "special relationship" with the USA on the other hand, which one will it choose?
OK, I followed the link to
OK, I followed the link to the Downing Street website and started the process of submitting a question.
Unsurprisingly, I learn that all questions will be "moderated". I love that phrase. It conveys such a wonderful sense of fairness, a warm cuddly feeling, and not, heaven forbid, any deep sense of suspicion and distrust...
Just in case this first line defense proves inadequate only "selected" questions will actually be submitted to the blessed Margaret (now where did I hear THAT salutation before?)...
At which point a severe case of Foreign Secretary's questioner's cramp came into play...
Ian
How about this - Why is
How about this -
Why is Brazil's ability to refine nuclear fuel not considered a threat, yet the possibility of Iran doing the same is?
(Like the new look - nice new environment for polemics to come!)
Dear Mrs Beckett  Hilary
Dear Mrs Beckett
Hilary Benn said (in a 5 minute interview in the Independent) that the UK joined in the invasion of Iraq so as to overthrow Saddam and to instal democracy. Can you confirm that you have rapped Benn very hard over the knuckles because
- his answer betrays a deep ignorance of international law
- the UK invaded Iraq because Iraq had refused to disarm ?
Can you confirm that you will in future take a very firm line with Ministers who express support for forms of military action that are outside international law?
Davide - where have you been
Davide - where have you been these last few years? The answer will be that the government does not answer purely hypothetical questions.
Dear Mrs Beckett  Have you
Dear Mrs Beckett
Have you "slapped down" Hilary Benn for saying (in the Independent) that the UK invaded Iraq to overthrow Saddam and instal democracy, a statement that is erroneous in fact and betrays a deep ignorance of international law?
Marti Ahtisaari produced a
Marti Ahtisaari produced a report which effectively both paves the way for an "Independent" Kosovo, as a sub state of Albania and allows NATO and it's allies to fu** off and forget after having agreed on the design of a flag, Road Traffic Laws, pub opening hours and the payments of large sums of money to a failed and useless European politician to ease out his retirement in the find imagining that he is in charge.
After (evidently a very careful examinationn of the report) Margaret Beckett talked diplomatic bollocks as usual, she commended Ahtisaari and said his draft formed a basis for a "fair and sustainable settlement ... which will enhance regional stability and the region's Euro-Atlantic prospects."
My 1st Question to the Blessed Margaret is : WTF are "Euro-Atlantic prospects" ? - please define the "region" to which you feel they apply, geographically, politically, and ethnically.
My 2nd Question (are we allowed 2 ?) : "Where are you going on holiday ? ", to which I have a prepared supplementary, " Do you intend to return?". A good answer would be "No". Failing that a further supplementary has been prepared ; "Why?"
Someone who wants to be really nasty might of course suggest she goes on a caravanning / touring holiday using Pristina as a base. Flying the flag to distinguish her diplomatic status of course - she would be perfectly safe, INFOR or what are they THERFOR will watch over her.
Marti Ahtisaari produced a
Marti Ahtisaari produced a report which effectively both paves the way for an "Independent" Kosovo, as a sub state of Albania and allows NATO and it's allies to fu** off and forget after having agreed on the design of a flag, Road Traffic Laws, pub opening hours and the payments of large sums of money to a failed and useless European politician to ease out his retirement in the fond imagining that he is in charge.
After (evidently a very careful examinationn of the report) Margaret Beckett talked diplomatic bollocks as usual, she commended Ahtisaari and said his draft formed a basis for a "fair and sustainable settlement ... which will enhance regional stability and the region's Euro-Atlantic prospects."
My 1st Question to the Blessed Margaret is : WTF are "Euro-Atlantic prospects" ? - please define the "region" to which you feel they apply, geographically, politically, and ethnically.
My 2nd Question (are we allowed 2 ?) : "Where are you going on holiday ? ", to which I have a prepared supplementary, " Do you intend to return?". A good answer would be "No". Failing that a further supplementary has been prepared ; "Why?"
Someone who wants to be really nasty might of course suggest she goes on a caravanning / touring holiday using Pristina as a base. Flying the flag to distinguish her diplomatic status of course - she would be perfectly safe, INFOR or what are they THERFOR will watch over her.
Dear Margaret, Do you really
Dear Margaret,
Do you really want to enjoy the same fate as Mussolini? Because if you push us any further, that's whats going to happen.
Dear Foriegn
Dear Foriegn Secretary,
Can your caravan be deployed to strike into rural areas withn 45 minutes?
I would start with something
I would start with something simple, like "Can you tell me the time , please?"
> I would start with
> I would start with ....
And the answer would go something like, "Well, um, perhaps, well maybe I could, but; er, you see New labour, um, ..........."
A better question and one
A better question and one more likely to get an honest answer, albeit equally useless, might be "could you help BlairWatch to sort out the problems with their Blog site?"