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Newsweek Caledonia: reporting from the People's Republic of Scotland

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Derek Bateman Derek Bateman | 14:39 UK time, Friday, 23 September 2011

The SNP dream was always to take Scotland's seat at the UN between Saudi Arabia and Senegal... now there's an oil-producing troika for you. It certainly seems unlikely that an independent Scotland, should there be one, would be blocked from membership - unless England objects! So why is there such a panicked reaction to Palestinian claims for their state to be recognised? Well, it seems it is too dangerous and there is no shortcut to independence, according to President Obama. You can say that again, Alex Salmond might say.

No, the only route for the Palestinians is in bilateral talks with Israel, meaning that Tel Aviv has a veto over Palestine. Not the UN... but Israel. In fact there is no question that Israel controls virtually every aspect of life around the West Bank and Gaza as a businessman was writing in the Times this week. He is a Palestinian American who started businesses in the West Bank in anticipation of peace and a new state. He describes how Israeli restrictions limited the growth of the business. They control the borders, the supply of all goods and services and even the airport. After decades of this treatment and failed talks after failed talks, you can see why the Palestinian leadership is seizing the initiative now as the Arab Spring brings a new wave of optimism. But why is this dangerous? We'll discuss.

The Nats got a fair old ear-bashing at the Lib Dem conference. Not surprising really since the Nats gave them a vote-bashing in May. How is all this London-based propaganda going down? Is it making the Scots think twice or encouraging them to circle the wagons? And, as part of our regular referendum watch, we look at and John Swinney's budget.

We look at the offshore market in PFI contracts. Eh? Well some of these deals struck by Labour are so lucrative that there is a trade in them and private equity firms buy and sell them and take them offshore where they pay no tax. Some contracts for hospitals have changed hands up to 10 times. Shurely some Mishtake? No. It's all true according to our expert.

We're in Italy where the reputation of the economy is nearly as bad as that of the Prime Minister... only joking. Nothing can be that bad. Mr Berlusconi has more lurid claims against him. No woman in Italy is safe!

And we give a media trial to trial by media. What's to be done about reporters who blacken your name without the facts.

You know, if a new Scotland was called Caledonia it would sit between Burundi and Cambodia. It would be between Paraguay and Peru if it was the Peoples Republic of Scotland. If - and this is my favourite - it was called Salmondia, it would sit between St Vincent and the Grenadines and Samoa. But if it was Alba, it would be second on the list after Afghanistan and just ahead of Albania. Yes, I can hear Jim Murphy say, in more ways than one.....

Join me tomorrow at 8.

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