Should everyone in the UK be on the DNA database?
05-Sep-2007 16:16
When my stepson was arrested for shoplifting, I went to pick him up from the nick. I was asked to wait for him in a small office, where I sat next to an unlocked fridge clearly identified as containing DNA samples.

Now I'm no master criminal, but if I was, I could have cloned half the criminals on Tyneside by emptying the fridge during my long wait for the lad to be released. And now they want me to add my DNA to the database? I'd sooner die on the barricades thanks.

Can UK and Iran resolve their difference?
Added: Saturday, 24 March, 2007, 14:31 GMT
I can't believe we're having this discussion. First it was 15 'sailors' in Iraqi waters, then it turns out it was 15 'sailors and marines' in Iranian waters. This is just the usual harrassment and provocation which our illegal warriors are doing, to spark something off so we can justify invading Iran. We need a new political party that is opposed to Bush's War Of Terror For Oil. We have been at war for four years, thats why we are paying these so-called environmental taxes. Wake up England

Should Trident be replaced?
Added: Tuesday, 13 March, 2007, 17:32 GMT
No we don't need Trident. We won't own it, we couldn't fire it even if we wanted to, and we should hope no one ever fires one. The only nation that is a threat to us is the USA and they've owned us lock stock and barrel since WW2. Save the money to replace the social services we have lost to pay for the War For oil.

Is the time right for troops to come home?

Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 22:37 GMT
On the day that Tony Blair announces that troops will be returning from Iraq, we hear that the Ginger Prince will be soon going out there. I assume that he will then be one of the troops returning, covered in medals and glory. If he actually sees combat I will eat my hat. I remember the Malvinas Crisis, when the Argentine forces (according to the tabloids) were sneering about Andrew Windsor, "Bring out your Prince and we will kill him". Laugh, I thought my pants would never dry.

Should ministers' children be privately educated?
Added: Monday, 8 January, 2007, 17:32 GMT
I am constantly dismayed by the contrast between New Labour and Socialism. Ruth Kelly is no socialist, obviously. I cannot be alone in feeling that this New Labour seems more like the old Tories. Blair and his cronies have ripped the remaining guts out of the old dead welfare state that Thatcher began dismantling.

As George Orwell put it,
"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

What will you wear on Remembrance Day?
Added: Saturday, 11 November, 2006, 09:28 GMT
Here we go! I can just see it now.

"Winston Smith" screamed the voice from the hidden speaker. "You haven't put on your poppy today!"

Winston sighed and pulled out a scrap of red paper and green plastic. He longed for the old days when glorification of war was voluntary.

Is it just me or are we enjoying less freedom every day?

Rumsfeld resignation: Your views
Added: Wednesday, 8 November, 2006, 20:12 GMT
Donald Rumsfeld has made his money from this situation, now he leaves town three steps ahead of an angry mob. The sad thing is he will get away with it too. He ought to be publicly whipped to the gallows along with his fellow gangsters, instead of walking away with his ill-gotten gains.

US mid-terms: What next for Bush?
Added: Wednesday, 8 November, 2006, 15:45 GMT
"we are discussing the result of a fair and democratic election. When did the people of Iraq enjoy such a thing under the Saddam regime? Indeed, when will the people of Iran and North Korea enjoy democracy." David Keggin, Douglas

Do you really think the people of Iraq are enjoying their experience of 'democracy'? Are you suggesting that exporting 'democracy' to Iran and Korea can be justified? Do you think our 'democracy' is fit to export anywhere?

Is torture ever acceptable?
Added: Saturday, 21 October, 2006, 09:32 GMT
"Everyone seems to accept as proven truth that information acquired by torture is dubious. I submit that that is an unprovable statement and probably started by people who will never see an appropriate use for torture."Howard, Eldersburg MD

An appropriate use for torture????? Congratulations Howard of Eldersburg - you are this weeks American Psycho!

Are you worried about identity theft?
Added: Monday, 16 October, 2006, 19:31 GMT
Yes I am very concerned about Identity Theft, particularly the antics of the gang of tory spin monkeys who have stolen the identity of the Labour Party. What can a socialist do now that greed-heads rule both major opposition parties now?

Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?
Added: Sunday, 15 October, 2006, 10:14 GMT
We have never had an independent nuclear deterrant. America holds the keys to ours but cunningly gets us to pay for it. If we put our money earmarked for nukes into our conventional forces we could have the best equipped defence force in the world. When you consider that the ruling classes will all head for their bunkers if a nuclear war starts, the nukes could be used then to eradicate the poor. Just look at what little the americans have done to reinstate the (poor) victims of Katrina.

Should the US ban online gaming?
Added: Monday, 2 October, 2006, 10:43 GMT
Amerika is banning Internet gambling so companies in the UK cannot profit from US citizens, while promoting american-owned Supercasinos in Britain. Gambling is likely to be a huge problem in the UK. We need to start boycotting US goods to stop them from treating the whole world as their 'turf'.

Have you suffered from mental health problems?
Added: Monday, 2 October, 2006, 10:28 GMT
"If you are truly medically depressed, believe you me, the last thing on earth you would give a damn about right now is taking an intellectual view of the news and posting comtemplated comments on a website." Lorayne Woodend, United Kingdom

Your medication must have been great, if it turned you into a qualified doctor, capable of dismissing other people's illness as fake or less serious than yours.

Has Iraq war fuelled terrorism?
Added: Wednesday, 27 September, 2006, 19:53 GMT
"God-fearing Muslims, ones with a world view, don't become terrorists because of images on TV or disagreements with foreign policy." Casper

They may be 'images on TV' to you, but to the person whose child, parent, wife or husband has been killed by US munitions, they are something more, and a good reason to fight back with every weapon available, just like the Viet Cong did. It's not 'foreign policy' to them - it's invasion. I march for peace, and pray for peace but believe me, if US troops killed my little child I would be coming back at those troops. Don't blame religion, thats a cop out. Its about the OIL, STUPID!

Leaked Afghan e-mail: Your response
Added: Saturday, 23 September, 2006, 23:16 GMT
People keep asking what UK forces are doing in Afghanistan. Its time for a straight answer from the government. If those troops are sitting in holes and not moving it seems they are guarding something. An oil pipeline seems to be a likely site to guard.

It's naive to think that we are there to rebuild villages, roads or briges whilst sat in holes. From the huge increase in opium production, we aren't there to burn crops either. Lets have a statement from John Reid about this at once.

How should the world react to Musharraf claims?
Added: Saturday, 23 September, 2006, 19:16 GMT
"Who really cares it's just jibe. Anyhow, how can you threaten such nonsence, when that country already exists in the stone age." Sally, Leeds

Is that how you see other countries? If Pakistan is 'Stone Age' why did America sell them nuclear weapons? Do you see all Muslims the same way? No wonder there is racial and religious tension. I am british and white, but I can see the wrongness in American and British 'Foreign Policy' or World Domination Blitzkreig as it should be called.

Leaked Afghan e-mail: Your response
Added: Friday, 22 September, 2006, 22:05 GMT
"They should have the best protection that modern technology can provide! What is wrong here? Please protect our boys and girls in service!" Jeanne Gershon, Somewhere In, France

"Leakers should be prosecuted for treason, giving aid and comfort to the enemy and so on." Stan Expat

If you don't want to live here, don't tell us what to do. It's not your taxes being squandered on this military adventure.

Were the Pope's remarks 'anti-Islamic'?
Added: Saturday, 16 September, 2006, 06:50 GMT
Maybe if the leaders of the Muslim community had donated as much Gold to the Vatican as the Nazi Party did during the forties, then the Pope may have been nicer about Islam. How could we expect the Pope to show any tolerance for something that he cannot profit from. It would break all the traditions of the Catholic Church. It was only when the gold started drying up that the Vatican belatedly bestowed human rights upon the inhabitants of the 'New World'.

Should more troops be sent to Afghanistan?
Added: Thursday, 14 September, 2006, 19:44 GMT
"I am in the military and I have requested to go to Afghanistan twice and both times turned down. I was very surprised, they need bodies." jason, virginia beach, va

No, Jason, they don't need any more bodies, the Taliban will convert as many as they need from the forces sent out there to secure the pipelines. In Catch 22, anyone claiming madness to avoid combat is ruled to be sane. Conversely anyone begging to be martyred in Afghanistan should be judged as mentally unfit for combat.

Should more troops be sent to Afghanistan?
Added: Sunday, 10 September, 2006, 08:34 GMT
"For years, Afghanistan knew it was harboring a terrorist organization that declared war on the US (Al Qaeda), yet it did nothing – it even helped defend it." Jay Wade, Houston, United States

For years the US and Uk trained that terrorist organisation, armed it, paid it and then set it loose on the world. I believe the chickens have come home to roost now. I say impose sanctions on the US until they stop causing wars to profit their big corporations.