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July 13, 2007
Oxford Union Debate
I have just accepted an invitation to speak at the Oxford Union next term, to oppose the motion
This House believes that in the war on terror the best defence is a good offence.
I thought you might enjoy my reply:
Corey,Thank you for your invitation to speak at the Oxford Union, which I am happy to accept. The debate does sound most enjoyable.
I am slightly concerned that we may have linguistic difficulties. For example Luke Tryl's kind letter of invitation includes the phrase "Last term alone we were lucky enough to host the likes of President Musharraf, Michael Douglas and Cherie Blair". Plainly we have different definitions of lucky.
Look forward to seeing you.
Craig
I could do worse than arm myself for the debate with some quotations from this tremendous compendium, into which I somehow snuck.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=55710729&blogID=287336913
Now I have had a secret hope to get "Selling our souls for dross" (my official Ambassadorial complaint to London about receiving intelligence from torture) into the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. But this one seems to have caught on better.
Posted by craig on July 13, 2007 11:39 PM in the category Other
Comments
Linguistic difficulties indeed. Do we think Corey means "a good offence" in the sense of "authorising the bombing of innocent civilians is a criminal offence"....????
Posted by: Strategist ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 14, 2007 1:29 AM
Sounds brilliant. Living near Oxford, I'll have to make it a point to attend. Let us know the date!
Posted by: Mike at July 14, 2007 8:20 AM
Perhaps they could invite Cherie Blair and Musharraf back to propose the motion? Michael Douglas, on the other hand, is a UN "Messenger of Peace" and avowed Democrat, so could join you in opposing the motion (while you might offer to look after Catherine Zeta Jones during his speech). As a complete aside, I was once dining at a rather nice restaurant in Grand Central Station, New York, and Michael Douglas was at the next table. I don't think he recognised me.
Posted by: Foddy at July 14, 2007 8:23 AM
Kirk is politically OK too, even when he wasn't being Spartacus. Stood up acgainst the Hollywood Blacklist.
Posted by: Craig at July 14, 2007 1:01 PM
Not to mention opposing a military coup by Burt Lancaster in _Seven Days in May_.
Posted by: Mike at July 14, 2007 4:30 PM
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