The government was quick to demand an apology for this undiplomatic language aimed at the people of Kenya. Many pundits, even those normally critical of the Narc government, felt that Sir Matope had gone too far. His insults may have been directed at corrupt officials but many wondered whether he had a wider agenda.

For a diplomat to represent the interests of their country effectively the best persuasive skills are called for. One must be a leader who takes people with him. One must demonstrate the ability to choose  words with care however strong one's emotions may be. Kofi Annan could teach some of these cowboys a thing or two about how to attack the US president with stings words coated in honey. The worst thing that can happen is for a diplomat's careless words to come back to haunt him. This would certainly have happened today if Sir Clay was still in Kenya.

Here are three bits of information that have arrived at my desk just this morning. Should British ambassadors and High Commissioners everywhere learn to choose their words with care. After all corruption is an English word.

1 Tony Blair made history when he became the first sitting prime minister to be questioned by police who are investigating claims of a cash-for peerages corruption scandal. This most humiliating of situations is a big blow to the lame duck premier who was swept into power in 1997 promising to "clean up British politics following years of Tory sleaze."

2 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been investigating claims of massive bribery and corruption in dealings between British aerospace defence manufacturers  ( BAE Systems) and the Saudi Arabian government. The Saudis had expressed their irritation with this investigation and it appears that they threatened to shop elsewhere for their tools of repression. The UK merchants of death ran crying to the government and now the Attorney -General abandoned the case on the grounds of "national security".

Any union people in the house? Its just as well because I was going to add that the Unions representing BAE workers welcomed the news that justice had been sacrificed so that they could continue working hard to supply lethal products.

3 When Tony Blair faced the country looking them straight and said that he knew they would surely find Saddam's WMDs he knew that there were none to be found. He lied and here is the evidence

I have waited a long time to see Sir clay fall off his horse but this changes nothing. People are certainly aware that their leaders are corrupt. Tony Blair's halo first slipped when they exempted  Bernie Ecclestone's Formula 1 from a cigarette advert ban back in 1997. There was overwhelming opposition to the Iraq war and many did not believe in the myth of the WMDs or the dodgy dossier.

I have not found a suitable accompaniment to Sir Matope's vomit analogy. I am working on a rough sketch here:

Don't think just because they wear Dolce & Gabbana and eat Caviar,
or because they sleep at the Ritz waking up to champagne breakfasts 
or even just because they rub shoulders with Princes and Sheikhs

that the stuff that they give off from their backsides smells any different