... If the torrent of water was not bad enough, the surge of ignorant speculation as to its causes has added to the misery of the season. Numerous commentators and supposed "experts" have asserted that the flooding is proof of global warming. Much the same was contended by similar characters about the mild February (remember that?) enjoyed this year. That this flies totally in the face of the mainstream thesis about climate change that Britain will endure wetter winters and drier summers is plainly immaterial. If the weather moves away from the "norm" in any direction, then it must be global warming.

One camp that has not joined in this ludicrous orgy of false prophecy is the category that should know the most about the weather, the professional meteorologist. Our weather correspondent, Paul Simons, has pointed out that summer floods do occur in Britain rather often. There were, he outlines, dreadful runs of weather in the 1840s, 1910s and 1950s before the advent of low-cost airlines and quantifiable carbon emissions. ...

There is no doubt that the climate is changing and that the planet deserves the benefit of the doubt, but the members of our contemporary apocalyptic cult do not. This year will be warmer than 1860 was (but probably not as hot as 1560). How much of this is part of a natural cycle and how much due to man-made activities is not an exact science. ...

@EDITRULE:

Steps towards North Korea's denuclearization could not be finalized at the latest six-party talks on the country's nuclear issue, and the participants have put off dealing with tough issues.

At the latest meeting, there were no discussions of specific steps on the next phase following Pyongyang's freeze of its nuclear facilities. No deadline was set for that stage, though setting one was to have been (the) meeting's main task.

North Korea has given up nothing that it has acquired from its nuclear programs. Even if complete declaration of nuclear programs and disablement of nuclear facilities is realized, what lies ahead is negotiations on North Korea's nuclear weapons and the abandonment of its nuclear materials, including plutonium.

The United States seems to be rushing to implement the February agreement. But as long as no clear road map toward North Korea's complete abandonment of nuclear programs has been produced, Washington should not opt for easy compromises with Pyongyang.

In this regard, Japan must consult with the United States closely. Tokyo must carefully assess Pyongyang's intentions at the working group on bilateral issues in August.

@EDITRULE:

Is Kosovo going to be another example on how a split EU lets the U.S. set the daily agenda? Ahead of EU's foreign minister meeting yesterday (Monday), British minister David Miliband spoke about a united Europe. If he was serious, Britain needs to change direction. Last week, Kosovo's prime minister stated the province will declare independence on Nov. 28 this is after the UN security council failed to solve the question. ... To declare independence without UN approval can lead to violent conflicts in Kosovo and in other parts of the western Balkans. The situation in Macedonia is still unstable and in Bosnia, the Serbs are taking yet another step towards autonomy. Yet again, houses can burn in former Yugoslavia...

The U.S. carries a large part of the responsibility. The Bush administration has promised Kosovo independence without permitting room for dialogue with Serbia or Russia... The British have been loyal to the Bush administration, like many times before. The London government put the rest of the EU aside... Now the EU must prove the existence of a common foreign policy worth its name... Is the EU ready to take over the administration of the province during a transition period, even without the approval from the security council? ... The turnabouts about Kosovo is yet another argument the EU should have a common voice in the UN security council. In the short term it is about something more simple: that Britain allows its unity with the EU go before its loyalty ties across the Atlantic.