Brown, Darling, and the Terrorists

And just like that, the world we live in has changed. One week we are one happy rich western world, the next we are bankrupt countries arguing about who owes whom?

Now, before you stop reading because you don't want to hear anymore about the state of the economy, let me assure you, this is about something far bigger than that.

Bigger than the economy? Yes, much, much bigger! It is about our freedom, our democracy and our way of life that are under threat from our own government...

But in order to explain this, I need to go into the latest economic developments first, so bear with me for a second.

About two weeks ago, the 12th bank in England, Kaupthing, asked the British government to take part in the bail out plan that they had drawn up. Kaupthing asked for a loan of £4bn on a budget of 5,000,000,000 pounds. So the 12th bank in the UK asked for LESS than 1% of this bail out fund, but were denied access by Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling.

A week later the poop hit the Icelandic fan. Its third bank, Glitnir was nationalized by the national bank of Iceland and a few days later Landsbanki, with its British arm Icesave went the same route. The Icelandic economy was going down the drain in less than 48 hours. But this national bankruptcy also hit the English shores. As it turned out British citizens, local authorities, and charities had some £8bn in accounts with Icesave, lured by the high interest rates the Icelanders were offering.

Now comes the confusing part of the story. In statements, made in Icelandic to the Icelandic press and people, Prime Minister Haarde stated that his country guaranteed all deposits made to this bank. Unfortunately, in the English part of his press conference has was less straight forward, and from what I have read in the British press, he was less forthcoming in conversations with Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling. In the Icelandic government there is to this day great confusion why the English government was not assured by their commitments. I think the answer to this might simply be a cultural one. Yes, Icelanders speak 'good English', they know all the words, but in order to negotiate on this level you can not simply translate the words.

Meanwhile, Iceland's biggest bank, Kaupthing, who also operate in the UK, kept putting out statements saying that they were healthy, with plenty of cash and working with the Icelandic government to find a solution to the nation's troubles.

And then we woke up one morning to read in the newspapers the the British government had used anti-terrorist laws to seize all of Kaupthing's British assets and sold them ING from Holland. They sold an £8bn company with a 60% discount to the first buyer they could find, leaving Kaupthing bankrupt and pushing Iceland into the abyss.

That they are bankrupt is sad, but not the most important thing in this development!

The English government used ANTI-TERRORIST-LAWS against a PRIVATE company!

This Anti-Terrorist law in (not so few words) states that the PM and his cabinet can do anything to anyone if they feel that there is a threat to the British society, its health or its interests without the immediate consent of the houses of parliament.

It is a law that actually predates 9/11, but had so far NEVER BEEN USED.

Let me put this in one big phrase for you. The British Government seized all assets of a privately owned company, because its owners hold the same passport as the owners of a different company, who may or may not be about to forfeit their duties in England.

That's right, because they held the same passport and were also a bank their possessions are up for grabs! No judge, no jury, no trial, all it took was the word of our leader...

Like I said, I do not care about the economy and although I have a personal relationship with Iceland, I have no sympathy for the upper classes there. Should they become beggars through all of this it might even put a smile to my face.

Now that I am back in old Blighty, my problem is with Gordon and his cronies and their interpretation of laws. And with my fellow countrymen who rewarded these dictators with a 10% boost in the polls! Now that Gordy has opened up this "can of worms" with some success, what else can we expect from a man with still his back against the wall?

Next time two Muslim doctors decide to drive their burning Range Rover into a public building, Gordon might order the arrest of all doctors who own a similar Rover.

Next time a black teenager from London stabs another black teenager from London the constabulary could round up all London teenagers and just lock them up.

Next time a chav kicks a father to death after a night out on the town, we should send in the builders. Build a wall around the nearest council estates without an exit and be done with it.

And that's not all. Now that we have set an international precedent with using these type of laws, the next time you fly to Thailand, the Thai government might incarcerate you. You are a tourist. You hold a British passport. Just like Gary Glitter did! And all the Thai people would be doing, is trying to protect their people.

Of course these are simplifications! Of course they are! But at the same time they are not. Once politicians find out the effects of these populist decisions on the electorate there will be no end to the abuse of these laws....

Like i said, i do not care about the economy, i do not care that much about Iceland and i did not lose any money this week, but i do care about liberty and democracy and those two got raped this week by the British government...

And after all this our Fearless Leader had the gall to call for a joint international approach to the credit-crunch. Joined, but please, no terrorists allowed.

Oh and one final, final thing before you start commenting. Please do not talk about "British interests" or "our money", because you'd be proving my point. It would be "your" money and "your" interests and not mine at all even if my council tax went up. Thus proving that this law was used unfairly, because "our" country,  "our" safety or "our" well-being was never in danger, but only that of a few investors and savers, however sorry i am for them!