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The threat today is not that of the 1930s. It’s not big powers going to war with each other. The ravages which fundamentalist political ideology inflicted on the 20th century are memories. The Cold war is over. Europe is at peace, if not always diplomatically.
In April 1991, after the Gulf war, Iraq was given 15 days to provide a full and final declaration of all its WMD.
I cannot think of any circumstances in which a government can go to war without the support of parliament.
Mine is the first generation able to contemplate the possibility that we may live our entire lives without going to war or sending our children to war.
Every so often, I feel I should graduate to classical music, properly. But the truth is, I’m more likely to listen to rock music.
But in terms of how people live together, how we minimize the prospects of conflict and maximize the prospects of peace, the place of religion in our society today is essential.
My faith foundation works to bring about a greater respect and understanding between different faiths. We basically work with six popular religions in the world which are the three Abrahamic religions, Hinduism and Buddhism and Sikhism.
I mean, I went to a church school when I was younger and imbibed a certain amount of religion then but it was really in university that I got interested in religion and politics at the same time. I don’t think as if it were one moment of conversion but my spiritual journey really began then.
In no relationship at the top of any walk of life is it always easy, least of all in politics which matters so much and which is conducted in such a piercing spotlight.
I say to the Taliban: surrender the terrorists or surrender power. It’s your choice.