IMO, there's also another factor at work: The Litvinenko Affair is very much a feel-good horror story for the UK, particularly welcome with the Iraq debacle looming in the background, i.e.: However retrograde Britain may be wandering the globe co-producing insane imperialistic wars, at least the UK doesn't stoop to putting radioactive isotopes in people's food!
In fact the UK seems all aglow with xenophobia at this special time of the year. Tony's Blair's Dec. 8 "Our Nation's Future" Runnymede Trust lecture on multiculturalism and integration was enveloped in the PM's characteristic unctuousness, but the blunt basic message wasn't lost on anyone. Quoth Blair: "... when it comes to our essential values -- belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage - then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common; it is what gives us the right to call ourselves British. At that point no distinctive culture or religion supercedes our duty to be part of an integrated United Kingdom." Translation: Immigrants, shape up or ship out. Merry Christmas from Her Majesty's Government!
Carl
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