Homeland Security

I've used the term as I'm writing about making all our lives secure.

The Royal Statistical Society, which I doubt is an organisation given to hyperbole, has stated that of a thousand people who smoke at 20 and continue to do so, then one will be murdered, six will die in accidents and 250 will die before they are 65 because of smoking related illnesses.

So perhaps instead of frightening us to death and generally being heavy handed with everybody, the Government should spend time and effort first where they will get the best value for our money.

We should start with proper anti-smoking education, then how about fire safety, road safety and all the other common sense things we never do.

Interestingly, if we became a safer society that was more attuned to danger, then wouldn't we be more likely to spot those up to no good. Possibly not, but by education we can safe thousands of premature deaths.

The Government's policy is also doing a very good job in alienating large parts of society, so that if they knew of a bomb-maker in their midst, they'd probably turn the other way. How many times do you read of a terrorist being arrested, with Fuhrer Blunkett shooting his mouth off and then nothing more? There is often no real evidence and the so-called terrorist is released. Oh dear!

Now another small point.

Over the years there have been loads of authenticated stories of IRA moles, who told everything to the papers and the intelligence services. It's always been the way that spies will sell their secrets for any number of reasons.

But where are the Muslim moles, who have seen the inside and been trained by Al Queda? Are there any? Or is it a myth that Al Queda has trained many at all?

After all, if you told a good tale, the papers would pay a fortune.

I do hope they have talked to the intelligence services.