Above all, it is not decency or goodness of gentleness that impresses the Middle East, but strength.

If we confound and break up the proposed unfolding the world impresses upon us, we can give ourselves the space to consider what we want to be as a species.

My daughter is 15. None of her friends know who the hell Chris Rea is, but they know that song - as soon as it comes on, they start singing it. I've played with everyone from Status Quo to Talk Talk, but nothing impresses them as much as the fact that I play on 'Driving Home for Christmas.'

Above all it is not decency or goodness of gentleness that impresses the Middle East but strength.