You couldn't make it up dept. no.66: sure, they love him in Peshawar

[fpb]

The context is scary. The situation is potentially deadly, and will inevitably grow worse. But what seems to have led up to it is simply too hysterical for words:
From The Guardian:

The committee that recommended Salman Rushdie for a knighthood did not discuss any possible political ramifications and never imagined that the award would provoke the furious response that it has done in parts of the Muslim world, the Guardian has learnt.

It also emerged yesterday that the writers' organisation that led the lobbying for the author of Midnight's Children and The Satanic Verses to be knighted had originally hoped that the honour would lead to better relations between Britain and Asia...

One of my first pieces when I started this blog four years ago was about the ludicrous incompetence of the British ruling class. It was not welcomed then - http://fpb.livejournal.com/4790.html. I rest my case now.

Comments

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

but, in the eye of British and European public opinion, the reputation of "Ronnie Ray-gun" as irresponsible isolationist, bully, and coward, was as good as established.

Western European public opinion. The liberation of Grenada greatly enhanced Reagan's reputation in Eastern Europe, where "liberation" was exactly what the people were hoping for.