Thursday thoughts..

Came in to read about the debate in the U.S about the possible troop withdrawal in Iraq and it follows this week's pull out by British troops in one of the four provinces they controlled in southern Iraq . There's clearly a debate going on about the timing of all of this, so we want your views. Some say even making plans is daft with the situation there so volatile, others say it's the only way to calm things down. Might be nice to hear voices from Iraq talking to people in the UK and the U.S..

I was struck by the story of Andrew Hawkins too. He is a 37-year-old youth worker from Cornwall but he is a descendant of Sir John Hawkins, one of the "pioneers" of the slave trade. Andrew has apologised to people in the Gambia for the role of his ancestor in the slave trade. Without in any way doubting Mr Hawkins' sincerity, I do wonder if apologies for what some may see as distant crimes really makes any difference. Or is the symbolism important? We'll see if Mr Hawkins may be able to talk to us, to take questions from you.

And as another thought, Catalonia may be about to end bullfighting About time? or, as some people there think, a sad break with a proud tradition?