Wonderful thread. Well done, all!

Mick - your first post summed up my own concerns over the "war on terror". The great irony is that in this land where 'free speech' is praised as being all important, somebody like Earle comes along and sets it on its ear. Well Done, Steve!

BTW - a BIT of thread creep - the quote from O. H. Perry was from his dispatch telling of the victory at the Battle of Lake Erie (10 September, 1813 ... or was it '14.. ah well). He started with the "We have met... and they are ours" and proceeded to list the vessels captured... and then said "Please send some soldiers to help guard the prisoners as they are more numerous than ourselves."

Cheers -

Pete