I took part in the anti-war demonstration today. It was very successful. Over 300 people took part. One chap in his mid 50s said it was the most successful demonstration he'd seen in all his time here, and he'd been at protests from Vietnam onward. It's encouraging to see so many people come out and make a stand against war in Iraq.

I've treading a fine line when it comes to war against Iraq. While I am dead set against war, I do believe the threat of war is all that's keeping Saddam on good behaviour. If Churchill and Roosevelt had been able to unequivocally tell Hitler that they would attack if he took even an inch of the Rhineland, then Hitler wouldn't have moved, and without his reoccupation of the Rhineland, he would have fallen out of power and his regime collapsed. It is, in a way, because of appeasement that World War II occurred. Bullies often only understand one thing, and that's power, which grows out of the barrel of a gun (as Chairman Mao was often fond of saying).

I believe the future of Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries that are oppressed under the thumb of authoritarianism lies in the enrichment and education of the people. Once that has been achieved, people will naturally want a bigger say in their own affairs. People who know only poverty and suffering are too focused on eking out a poor living to participate in a change of government, and are only able to wish for it.

When the Master was going to Wei, Ran Qui drove him. The Master said, "What a dense population!" Ran Qiu said, "When the people have multiplied, what should be done for them?" The Master said, "Enrich them." Ran Qiu said, "When one has enriched them, what next should be done for them?" The Master said, "Educate them." (Analects 13.9)

So as long as the threat of war guarantees Saddam's good behaviour, I'm all for it. But I hope we never come to war. Thousands have already died in Iraq; must more blood be shed?