The destruction of Timbuktu

I had a wonderful lunch at Tate Modern today overlooking perhaps one of the best sky lines in the world (except Hong Kong before we gave it back) and pondered the new half built additions; The Walkie Talkie and the Cheesegrater and wondered what would happen if we were invaded by fundamentalists who came to destroy signs of western decadence.

St Paul's would be the fist to go, followed by the city's skyscrapers and then the consumerist nirvana that is the west end. Then our historical buildings, museums and records would be destroyed.

This is essentially what has happened in Timbuktu. Which has put the French into a foul mood and forced retaliation.

We have stood back at this destruction with mild irritation and confusion and have ignored our history where we have done exactly the same, but that was 100's of years ago and we have moved on since then

Timbuktu was a dusty back water town when I was stationed there and the food was appalling, but its historic buildings were beautiful.

Alas no more.

Tomorrow I am meeting an old Hedgie for lunch in the city. He wishes to be referred to as an Estate Agent now so that people will hate him less.He is a delightful chap and knows his way round a wine list too