The experiment which has generated the latest "scare" involves injecting the brain material of sheep diagnosed with scrapie into mice. And the FSA is warning us that we do not as yet know the outcome of this experiment, which is why it issued its carefully crafted statement about results being "compatible" with BSE.This might be seen as an exercise in openness, which is what the agency is keen to promote. Or it might be seen as a case of making sure that the agency is not accused at a later date of standing idly by knowing that an experiment might be about to show that sheep were infected with BSE while the meat industry was starting a campaign to promote the sale of "light" lamb, whatever that is.Either way, it still leaves us all in that difficult position of deciding whether we should eat lamb that might, or might not, be infected with BSE. I have been reporting on these matters for several years now, but yesterday's news leaves me in the position of having to assess the probability that it will turn out that British sheep are currently infected with BSE.I have occasionally eaten lamb and will do so again, not because I think it is totally safe but, considering all the risks in life we face, this is one I can live with.

Whatever the risk today, it was much, much bigger in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and it's too late to worry about that now.steve.connor independent.co.uk. In the long and bitter conflict on the island of Ireland one lesson has shone eternal: violence pays. Go back as far as you want in the old quarrel and you will find some group or government getting its way by force of arms. The original plantations were won by fire and sword and the rebellions against them were crushed by the same combination.

The ousting of imperial Britain from the south of Ireland was achieved by a combination of violence and politics .. a lot of violence. In the long and bitter conflict on the island of Ireland one lesson has shone eternal: violence pays. Go back as far as you want in the old quarrel and you will find some group or government getting its way by force of arms. The original plantations were won by fire and sword and the rebellions against them were crushed by the same combination.