In 1850, Lord Palmerston, then Foreign Secretary, sent the British fleet to blockade Piraeus, the port of Athens. What was it that inspired this seemingly drastic course of action? A British citizen residing in Greece, Don Pacifico, was refused compensation by the Greek government after his home was attacked and vandalised by a violent mob. This might seem like a wholly disproportionate response to the rescue of a single citizen, but what lay at the very core of Palermston's judgment was an inspiring mindset. This is perfectly encapsulated in Palmerston's famed speech at the House of Lords in justification of his decision; "as the Roman, in days of old, held himself free from indignity, when he could say Civis Romanus sum; so also a British subject, in whatever land he may be, shall feel confident that the watchful eye and the strong arm of England, will protect him against injustice and wrong!"

A recent opinion poll conducted by the BBC produced some interesting results regarding the views of the British Muslim population on the UK and US military presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps the most startling figure was that 76% of the survey thought that the US and British governments were wrong for intervening in Afghanistan. Theorists may speculate as to whether this is down to the growing prevalence of anti-internationalist sentiment or perhaps simply an attack on British and US arrogance in their ability to act as the panacea for the world's ills. Alternatively it may even reflect tacit support for the Taliban cause.

I now have a regular blog on the new website of political and cultural magazine, Standpoint, where I will be discussing issues surrounding Islamism both at home and abroad. 

I invite all followers of the CSC blog and website to click here for my latest post on the death of British hostages in Iraq at the hands of an Iranian proxy organisation.