On now on RTÉ2. Timely considering (RealPlayer file) the Howard visit earlier this week.

Toirtap gambols through Iranian nuclear ambitions past.

AMERICAblog thinks so.

As Back Seat Drivers notes (and Suzy over at Maman Poulet witnessed in person) this morning saw an attempt by what seem to be Catholic activists to break up a conference on domestic partnerships. An unwelcome indication that Youth Defence and their ilk haven't gone away, you know.

We'd love to see a comment on the matter from über-Catholic and tireless defender of law'n'order, Mr. Richard Waghorne, but we're not going to hold our breath.

Lindsay Beyerstein over at Majikthise:

"Anyone who wants to identify similarities between the current administration and true Fascism will have to specify exactly what's fascist about Bush and the Republicans. This is not a trivial task. However, I believe there's a very strong case to be made.

I'm NOT saying that we have a fascist government in America today. The United States is a democracy, we still have a free press, and the armed forces haven't acquiesced to the one-man rule of George W. Bush. I'm not claiming that it's inevitable, or even especially likely, that America will eventually become a full-blown fascist state. I'm certainly not saying that anyone in power today is consciously striving to create a full-fledged fascist dictatorship on the model of Mussolini's Italy or Franco's Spain. What I am saying is that the Bush administration has embraced many of the key mutually-reinforcing ideological tenets of Fascism: militarism, imperialism, corporate statism, state-sponsored religion, male dominance, irrationalism, and mass propaganda."

Read her full article here.

According to Wikipedia, the Socialist Workers' Party (SWP)

"[...] used to call for a vote for Sinn Fein in the North up until its party conference of 1995, when it was argued that the Adams/McGuinness leadership of Sinn Féin were moving to an accommodation with imperialism. It opposed the subsequent Good Friday Agreement, arguing that rather than ending conflict in the North, the GFA was 'institutionalisng sectarianism', creating two competing communities and political leaderships, both nationalist and unionist, which did little for working class people.

Following riots in Dublin on 25 February 2006 by republicans protesting at a planned 'Love Ulster' parade, the SWP issued a press release in which it expressed its full support for the actions of the rioters. According to the press release, given the wider context of (apparent) working-class alienation at the hands of the capitalist political establishment, the riots were completely justified: "socialists do not join in the condemnation of young working class people who riot against the police- especially given this wider context." Also, the SWP claimed that the 'Love Ulster' march was purposely planned by Michael McDowell, the Minister for Justice, as a provocation to republicans to riot, and thus further blacken the republican movement, of whom the Minister is a most vocal critic."

While it's arguable as to how McDowell could be so naive as to believe that the 'Love Ulster' loyalists could parade without trouble through the streets of Dublin, the responsibility for the rioters' violence lies entirely with the rioters (Garda heavy-handedness aside). Maybe some of the SWP folk out there could comment.

Badman Anthem.

Via Raw Story. Just what is it about US Republicans in the Age of Bush? He's the unluckiest honest man in the world, to be surrounded by so many crooks...

Either way, some small revenge for both Enron employees/shareholders and the good people of California.

The permanently turning-the-corner Iraq War, as seen by the British Ministry of Defence:

"PRINCE Harry may be barred from serving with his men when his regiment is deployed to Iraq next year because of concerns for his safety.

Clarence House and the Ministry of Defence said yesterday there was official concern that the posting could pose an unacceptable risk to the Prince and those under his command. The same worries will arise when Prince William finishes at Sandhurst later this year."

Michael Dell - perennial Steve Jobs wannabe.

Fire Scoble too...?
(Warning: most definitely not-safe-for-work!)

Gratifying several diverse Free Stater reader demographics all at once, we present Serial No. 3817131.

Alas, the Curse of Haloscan appears to have done in Mr. Waghorne's blogging comments once more. In a public-minded spirit (and in a fit of nostalgia), Free Stater will help to tide His Nibs' many fans over by re-establishing access to the last number of SN comments threads.

Bertie On Haughey
Duly Noted
Saving Questions And Answers
Are You An Irish Conservative?
Irish Conservatives
End Of The Road?
Tomato/Tomato
Ruth Kelly's Faith
Oppose The Boycott
The Worst Man In The World
A View From Ramallah
Is Discontent Bipartisan?
May's Magill Magazine
On Errors
Professor Francis Ruane to the ESRI
Where's The Outrage?

Tonight (Wednesday) sees RTÉ Radio 1 broadcast a documentary made last year about a recruit platoon in the Permanent Defence Forces. It's called "Recruits" and it goes out on Documentary on One at 7pm. (Alternatively, there'll be a podcast available).

RTÉ and the Irish media in general have always had excellent coverage of the Defence Forces, and we look forward to listening to this tonight.