What a bunch of crap, honestly. France pushed for the Libyan war for the very same reason that I pushed for Maltese involvement (alas, unsuccessfully), viz. 1) The geostrategic landscape is better off without Gaddafi, 2) this war is militarily winnable, 3) Europe has to be seen to be doing something about the Arab Spring.

For France, there was an added reason. 4) It needed a showcase for its defence industry.

In Malta’s case it would have been 4) Its soldiers want to do some real soldiering.

All four reasons are equally noble. Politics is the art of the possible, or whatever de Marco wrote, not the art of running a charity.

Help? What help did we give, by staying neutral and hedging our bets, ready to jump on the bandwagon of the victor, whichever that may have been?

Thought that was one of the reasons, if not the main reason, why Mr. Sarkozy imposed his services. Can you imagine another busted country in Europe?

That’s a fine question. Will Mr Mintoff still pay……..

Iddahhakni Chris, mhux kemm jibaghtilhom invoice – ‘Fees for ousting dictator’ – u jigu square. Jekk ghandhom VAT number anki ikunu jistghu jiehdu il VAT lura.

[Daphne – He could always send them a bill for services rendered and set it off, using Luciano Busuttil’s way of reasoning.]

Weren’t we supposed to be too poor to eat steaks? Kobe beef, mind you, the the most expensive on the market. Talk about ‘champaign’ socialists.

A national “Iss hej mhux fier”, if ever I saw one. First we sit the war out, coming up with every excuse in the book, keeping
the green flag flying until the very last minute, then we raise our dainty little hands (unsullied by war) when France gets the share she deserves.

And we thought independence would be a breeze…