January 23, 2006

• Irving loves to cast himself as an innocent maverick single-handedly taking on powerful governments, the mighty press and influential lobby organisations. There are few others as adept as Irving at harvesting lies from seeds of truth. 'If you can send 20,000 young men to their deaths each day, then you are a great commander.' His desire to cause outrage seems rooted in the sort of reckless arrogance you find in some public school boys who think the world belongs to them. he also thrives on the tolerance of the liberal majority in Britain, who tolerate the most tasteless of statements in the name of free speech. All these characteristics would be dangerous in a world leader. Wouldn't they? Oh, nevermind...
• Reverse Godwin in the first comment!
• Yes, there are times not to go with one's gut. I'm afraid this was one of them, but unfortunately I can't undo it.
• I agree with Irving's erstwhile court opponent Professor Lipstadt about letting Irving go. How typical of the man that he wants to be a martyr for free speech having once sued Prof. Lipstadt under our notoriously bullshit libel laws for saying things he didn't like.