David Cameron: Multiculturalism has failed

BBC: David Cameron has criticised "state multiculturalism" in his first speech as prime minister on radicalisation and the causes of terrorism.

At a security conference in Munich, he argued the UK needed a stronger national identity to prevent people turning to all kinds of extremism.

He also signalled a tougher stance on groups promoting Islamist extremism.

The speech angered some Muslim groups, while others queried its timing amid an English Defence League rally in the UK.

As Mr Cameron outlined his vision, he suggested there would be greater scrutiny of some Muslim groups which get public money but do little to tackle extremism.

Ministers should refuse to share platforms or engage with such groups, which should be denied access to public funds and barred from spreading their message in universities and prisons, he argued.

"Frankly, we need a lot less of the passive tolerance of recent years and much more active, muscular liberalism," the prime minister said. [MORE]

I did not think Cameron had it in him to tackle such a topic.  As bad as political correctness is in the United States, it is ten times worse in Europe.  Speaking out in Europe against such a prime PC doctrine like multiculturalism with its one way rules of tolerance, is not for the faint of heart.

Cameron's idea of using one set of PC doctrines to combat another (rules of tolerance vs. multiculturalism) is an interesting concept.  It will be interesting to see just how this will all work out. 

Via: Memeorandum

Via: BBC

Video h/t: UK Telegraph

Backstabbin' the Brits: US agrees to tell Russia UK nuke secrets

If returning Winston Churchill's bust and giving tacky gifts to Gordon Brown and the Queen weren't enough, the Obama administration has given the UK the ultimate swift kick in the pants.  Recent Wikileaks cables shows that the Obama administration gave Russia the serial numbers of the Trident missiles it transfered to the UK as part of the START agreement.  The serial numbers can be used to help determine the size of the UK's arsenal. 

UK Telegraph: A series of classified messages sent to Washington by US negotiators show how information on Britain’s nuclear capability was crucial to securing Russia’s support for the “New START” deal.

Although the treaty was not supposed to have any impact on Britain, the leaked cables show that Russia used the talks to demand more information about the UK’s Trident missiles, which are manufactured and maintained in the US.

Washington lobbied London in 2009 for permission to supply Moscow with detailed data about the performance of UK missiles. The UK refused, but the US agreed to hand over the serial numbers of Trident missiles it transfers to Britain.

Professor Malcolm Chalmers said: “This appears to be significant because while the UK has announced how many missiles it possesses, there has been no way for the Russians to verify this. Over time, the unique identifiers will provide them with another data point to gauge the size of the British arsenal.”

Duncan Lennox, editor of Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, said: “They want to find out whether Britain has more missiles than we say we have, and having the unique identifiers might help them.”

While the US and Russia have long permitted inspections of each other’s nuclear weapons, Britain has sought to maintain some secrecy to compensate for the relatively small size of its arsenal.

Damn, talk about throwing someone under the bus.  The thing I don't get is why Obama is willing to give up so much for the SALT treaty.  [MORE]

Just think of all those people in the UK who wanted Obama to be president.  They felt that Obama could improve America's image around the world.  How's that working out for everybody? Something tells me those Bush "Miss Me Yet" billboards will soon be popping up in the UK. 

Via: Memeorandum

Via: UK Telegraph

David Cameron is UK’s new prime minister

BBC: Conservative leader David Cameron has become the UK's new prime minister after the resignation of Gordon Brown.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will be his deputy after they agreed to the UK's first coalition government in 70 years.

Mr Cameron, who at 43 is the youngest PM in nearly 200 years, vowed to set aside party differences and govern "in the national interest".

Mr Clegg said he acknowledged some Lib Dem voters would have doubts about the deal but urged them to "keep faith".

Mr Cameron's party won the most seats in the general election last week, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament. 

I admit to not being well versed in UK politics (UK readers feel free to chime in). From what I understand thus far, it would appear that Cameron’s chances of success are rather slim. 

He has to form a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats at a time when the UK will need some serious course corrections. This seems almost as difficult as the Daily Kos and Hot Air trying to rewrite ObamaCare. Added to the difficulties is that Cameron will have to makes some serious cuts in order to clean up Gordon Brown’s spending spree. Those cuts would be difficult by himself, but with the Lib Dems tied to his back, I just don’t see it.

What I will be watching for in the future will be how Obama interacts with Cameron. Obama gave Gordon Brown the cold shoulder on several occasions. I always found that odd, because policy wise, Gordon Brown is basically an older white version of Obama.

On the brighter side of things, the election of Cameron seems to signal that Europe maybe finally waking up from its social welfare stupor by electing yet another conservative. There maybe hope for Europe after all.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: BBC