Imagine you work for the intelligence service...

I have always had romantic notions of being a latter day Mata Hary.

Roshan, you sweetly asked me for my input. You raised a subject neither of much interest to me nor one I am well versed in.

There are many angles to the hook you have thrown. First of all, let's forget the well worn word 'innocent'. We might be as unblemished as a new born baby or as guilty as sin, nobody should be killed by another human; nor should we - knowingly - extradite someone to the danger of torture.

Considering that, until not that long ago, people were executed for lesser crimes, it is the British judiciary which needs to look into its own heart. England is known to be the land of no written constitution, yet of "fair play", of giving "the benefit of the doubt". However, and one really can only but smile at the irony of it, ASBOS are dished out like pills at the apothecary yet the likes of Qatada roam (though I do understand there are some restrictions to his movements - maybe a type of terrorist's Asbo).

Leaving the fat Qatada aside for a moment, the threat of terrorism is exaggerated. It makes for good copy, for a little bit of mass hysteria, long queues at the airport, mainly serving to divert attention away from political and social issues which if worked on with the same zeal would have a far greater impact on improving our lives.

Al-Qaeda catches our imagination, like being spooked when walking through a forest at the dead of night. But it is a pussycat compared to, by way of example, what the IRA did to this country.

And before you ask, no, I don't use the London underground any longer (just in case).

U - PS I am probably dead already.

Ursula - honestly, if I had it might way I'd bring back the hulks! Dungeons - yes. Throw away the keys? Yes, please - infinitely better than giving them a colour television, DVDs, snooker tables, gyms, educational programmes, one-to-one tutition, whatever vocational/academic programme that takes their fancy, warm accommodation (or it'll be a breach of their human rights!), three decent meals a day (with choices!), Christmas dinners, books, computers - the lot.... whilst a single parent - or people on a humble salary - are trying to make ends meet on beans on toasts and packets of chips. And if they do manage to lift themselves from the vicious circle of poverty and want to gain a qualification - they bloody well have to pay for it!

That's the madness that we have to live with!

Who the bloomin' heck was it who said that crime doesn't pay! Utter tosh!

As for Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza, I find it shocking that our British soldiers are out their fighting al-qaeda in the name of their Queen and country - risking their lives (and,as far as I'm concerned, far too many have died) - whilst those very terrorists their fighting are not only living under our noses, but are using dim-wit, left wing, do-gooders and their pandering to idiotic policies and libertarian world view. These are the very people many on the right are up against - people blind to their own stupidity and folly and who are putting dangerous criminals above law-abiding British citizens.

Arrg!

Anyway... enough of that. I'm going to write a light-hearted post tomorrow morning - something to cheer myself up with.

For the time being, a nice strong glass of scotch beckons, me thinks!

Ursula this is overkill. Get a life / a man / a dog / a job / a friend.

Heavens! Read this morning that more convicted terrorists - at least three - are going to be let loose from Long Lartin, thanks to the infinite wisdom of our Court of Appeal judges and their ruling in April. These terrorists have also been granted anonymity, just so that they can mingle amongst us and replan to destroy us!

Do you ever get the feeling our judiciary exists in demented world?

What madness!

Either these judges should be locked up or there's something going on behind the scenes that we're not party to. Could our government - along with MI5 - be doing a deal with al-Qaeda? Britain - negotiating with terrorists? Surely not.

My dear Roshan, you are heading into the fairy tale land of 007; not only shaken but stirred.

Without wishing to get poetical: Think of the world as a stage; an illusion. Ever been behind the scenes before the curtain rises and after it's fallen? Exactly.

As opposites (occasionally) attract I have more lawyer and solicitor acquaintances than I care for. They are dry and to the letter, little humour, even less consideration for the human condition and its quirky aberrations.

As to Britain negotiating with terrorists - what other choice is there? One columnist - I'll try and send you the link - argued yesterday that Britain has won the battle already.

U