Sky TV today has a special report on those of Britain's Most Wanted Criminals who live on Spain's east coast. The aim is apparently to enlist the help of the British community there in catching them. It will be interesting to see what results are achieved.

Another interesting development to watch will be the Spanish government's response to the reported desire of the ETA Basque terrorist group to re-start a dialogue. Especially as the last one ended with a bomb at Madrid airport and a lot of flack for the administration. If it does happen, it's hardly likely to be public. So we'll never know until it's over, one way or another.

Reverting to the subject of anti-Americanism . . . The way, over the years, I have defended the USA against its numerous detractors is to stress that the country is so large and diverse that it's possible to find there both the very best and the very worst of humanity. The challenge is to avoid concentrating on the latter. Which is usually done out of ignorance and a susceptibility to stereotypical thinking. Not to mentin political self-interest. I was reminded of this today when reading a columnist who rehearsed all the positives about Obama's election and the global response to it but then added:- This does not get rid of the deep opposition that now exists to the US taking a leading role in the world, and the suspicion of its motives. It does not get rid of the filter of prejudice that takes for granted the best that the US achieves, and exaggerates the worst. If Obama manages to overcome all this, he will truly be a great president. But he's certainly up against it. Especially as, according to the same writer, Expectations of Mr Obama around the world have moved from the vocabulary of politics into magic.

If you'd like an insight into one of the challenges facing President Obama, read this Prospect article on what's happening under Putin in Russia. Let's hope the rather inexperienced new incumbent has better advisers than those of the outgoing George W Bush. Especially as the Russian response to his election was to put rockets on the Polish border. Welcome to the real world, Mr President.

Galicia

A couple of interesting local headlines on that election:-
- What would Obama reform if he were Galician?
- 'Now for a gypsy as Spanish president', says a member of one of Galicia's minorities.

If you have a local government, 11 or 12 local newspapers and a local TV channel, it's pretty inevitable that each of the three local party presidents is going to air his views on a US election. And that each of them is going to offer the cooperation of both his party and of Galicia as a whole to the victor. Who must be touched by it all. And possibly relieved that he isn't going to be opposed here. By anyone, apparently.

Which reminds me . . . Recession notwithstanding, the government of the region/nation of Cataluña is going to be spending 2.2m euros on its overseas 'embassies' next year. An increase of 63% on this year. When it comes to the trappings of a state, where Cataluña goes . . .

We went to see a foreign film at the Caixa Galicia cultural centre in Ponters this week. On entering the room where the three screens were set up, we were each given a ticket for this - free - event. I've long given up being surprised at the Spanish affection for pointless paper but I did wonder whether it occurred to anyone Spanish attending just how unnecessary this was. I suspect not as they're so inured to being asked for 'just one more document' by people whose jobs depend on the production and collection of paper. Essentially, it's a vast job creation/retention scheme, I guess.

Anyway, I'm off now to finalise a talk entitled One Man and his Blog that I'm giving in the infamous town of Vilagarcía tonight. If I don't return, it will be because some angry Galician Nationalist has hit me on a zebra crossing. Where I will be an easy target because of its elevation.