Xenophobic? Moi? You might think so. I couldn't possibly comment.

Spy story in the news today.

The wife and friends of murdered former spy Alexander Litvinenko are launching a justice foundation in his name. His widow Marina, close friend Alex Goldfarb and Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky hope the foundation will assist investigations into his death. The 43-year-old Russian, a former KGB officer, died last November in London. His body contained high levels of radioactive substance polonium-210. The Litvinenko Justice Foundation will be formally launched in London later. All of which links to ...................................

On this day in history (1922) Stalin succeeded Lenin.

(Not many people know this.)

The son of a shoemaker, Stalin studied (1894–99) for the priesthood in the theological seminary at Tiflis, but he was expelled. While still a divinity student, he became a convert to Marxism and joined the Social Democratic party in the Caucasus. He became a disciple of Lenin after the split (1903) of the party into the two factions - Bolshevism and Menshevism.

Whilst we are on the subject of foreigners............

We (the British) are constantly reviewing terrorist threats and have raised our security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Some specific terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British Government issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the English and French that are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are excited to see their new submarines on station. These beautifully designed vessels come equipped with glass bottoms (so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy - Armada).