Don't be piggy-in-the-Middle (East)

Featuring in the news prominently over recent months has been the influence and progress of the IS (Islamic State): a militant Islamist movement which intends to unite Sunni Muslim countries under a single government. So far, it has extended its control over parts of Iraq- as well as Syria.

From beheading an American journalist, to punishing Iraq's Christian minority, IS does indeed seem to be a menacing force in the Middle East today. However, in this part of the world it is difficult to know who are the forces for right and wrong- with the conflict with IS highlighting this. Not so long ago, the Assad government of Syria and the Ayatollah's regime in Iran were considered some of the Western World's greatest opponents; now, they are implied to be the lesser evil in the face of IS, and potential partners in the fight against IS.

Taking sides in a conflict where both sides are guilty of crimes against humanity does not seem a wise (or moral) move by governments in Europe and the USA. It is difficult to know who really offers the greatest opportunities for the Middle East and, although humanitarian intervention (with UN support) is justifiable in certain circumstances, prolonged and direct involvement seems inadvisable as it is certainly not for the direct benefit of the peoples of the Western World- and may also lead to the empowerment of a new regime which is just as bad, if not worse, than the one it replaces. In addition, hostile rhetoric from Western leaders concerning IS seems to just antagonise them and make them more likely to threaten the West, not alleviate it. Therefore, aside from humanitarian assistance, it would seem best to avoid intervention in such a messy conflict.

Raise your glass to the new method of tackling alcohol-fuelled crime

For a trial period, London Metropolitan Police are monitoring the success of a new approach to alcohol-related crimes. If successful, the strategy will be enforced long-term, nationwide. Many of those arrested for these crimes in London will now be fitted with a tag around their ankle if they are released from custody- a tag which, if it detects alcohol in the wearers' blood and sweat, will warn the police. This strikes me as a very effective use of modern technology, though I hope that its potential will be deployed usefully with punishments that correspond with breach of the alcohol bans that these tags are intended to monitor for a period of a few months. Hopefully this will act as an efficient deterrent on alcohol-related crime, and result in more serious punishments for recidivists. If successful, I wonder if this would be a practical approach to drug-related crime as well...