My chronicle

If eventually a military force is sent to the Middle East as a result of a United Nation's resolution, will it be stationed on both sides of the Lebanese-Israel border?

It seems most unlikely, as the Israelis never wish there to be reciprocity in such matters.

No doubt the concept of their paying for the damage which they have caused to the infrastructure of Lebanon is equally unlikely.

If I am wrong about these matters, it will indicate that a new Israel has emerged. I am not holding my breath.

"Every neighbourhood has one, a loudmouth bully who shouldn't be provoked. He's insulted? He'll pull out a knife. Spat in the face? He'll draw a gun. Hit? He'll pull out a machine gun. Not that the bully's not right - someone did harm him. But the reaction, what a reaction! The real appreciation is for the strong who don't immediately use their strength. Regrettably, the Israel Defense Forces once again looks like the neighbourhood bully. A soldier was abducted in Gaza? All of Gaza will pay. Eight soldiers are killed and two abducted to Lebanon? All of Lebanon will pay. One and only one language is spoken by Israel, the language of force."

This quote from Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz says it all.

Question: Prime Minister Olmert, how is "proportionality" translated into Hebrew?

Answer:There is no Hebrew equivalent.

Comment: You confirm what most of the world thinks!

Today Mark Thompson, the Director General of the BBC, defended the £18 million pound salary of Jonathan Ross.

A man who defends a salary of this magnitude is not fit to look after the BBC's petty cash.

Let's think a little about all these much needed programmes which will never see the light of day because of Ross's obscene salary.

According to Thompson BBC "stars" are "good value", although their salaries seem very large compared with what ordinary people earn.

So once again we have confirmation that the BBC is a world away from public service broadcasting: cowardly, philistine and spendthrift.