What I heard at the press conference the Prime Minister gave on Friday left me amazed, as it did, or so it seemed, the journalists present. I saw Dr Lawrence Gonzi as being either tired or in another world. But I believe he was not in another world, but tired, worried about what happened in that week; perhaps the Libyan crisis was the last straw, at least for now. But when one is in that mood, it is better not to go public, if that is possible. So in my opinion it would have been better for him not to hold that press conference than go in front of the cameras saying those words.

I also read Daphne’s usual article on Sunday, and I agreed completely with her, except for when she questioned Malta’s courage. Daphne and others of her age and younger, cannot tarnish the Maltese people’s record of both the civilians and servicemen’s superb courage during the second world war, and who were led by courageous leaders. I hope that that courage has not evaporated today, like most of the other things.

I was proud of the government’s performance during the evacuation of Maltese and foreign personnel from Libya, but to say to other nations to fight on yourself, I am going to sit on the fence, perhaps to watch how things go then, when it is all over, I will come to Brussels for my share; if it goes the other way I will go south. Very sorry but you know that I am neutral, and my priority is the safety of Malta. To me this is worse than being a coward.

Let’s tell it how it is; no nation in the world expects us to provide one single jet, one single small warship, one single armoured battalion because we do not have any, and we will never have. Minister Dr J. Borg, had asked foreign journalist why they were pointing to Malta, and not to Germany, and to me it is a mystery, although it is helping in Afghanistan.

We have got to admit that nobody needs Malta like it was needed before and after the war. It is the age of nuclear submarines that can stay submerged for weeks, nuclear aircraft carriers that can stay without refuelling for months, aircraft that can fly for thousands of miles without refuelling and even if they need to they can refuel in the air. Do they need anything else?

Sometimes I wonder to whom our Prime Minister and foreign minister will turn to for help if we are in danger of being attacked, and here I am saying who ever they will be. Europe? He would have to be a man with a bold lack of shame; in Maltese it is better expressed (ragel minghajr zejt f’wiccu).

Nobody need be surprised with what was said at the press conference. Have we forgotten how much nonsense was spouted when the government joined the European partnership because it promised peace? Could be that’s why Dr Gonzi was not the Dr Gonzi I know.

Joseph Muscat

MOSTA