Courting Libya
Watching this smiling pair reminded me of the famous Victor Hugo letter about the 1860 China military expedition and the sacking of the Summer Palace.
Hugo said: “One day two bandits entered the Summer Palace. One plundered, and the other burned. One of the two victors filled his pockets; when the other saw this he filled his coffers and back they came to Europe laughing all the way. Before history, one of the two bandits will be called France; the other will be called England. Meanwhile, there is a theft and two thieves.”
Plus ça change.
Tom Minogue
Victoria Terrace
Dunfermline, Fife