Tit-for-tat-for-tit-for-tat

Once the Cold War was declared over - about 50 times over a period of ten years! - the old game of tit-for-tat should have been scrapped for ever. It was always pointless anyway. After the initial impact and stern statements from respective governments involved, things sort of got back to normal and eventually the number of spies/diplomats/chauffeurs/cleaning ladies increased again without too much fuss. Now that we are in the 21st century version of a Cold War, tit-for-tat has returned in full glory. Again, it's all pointless, almost childish. Countries playing boo to each other. But will it come round full circle with everyone ending up friends again? No, I think not. While Putin or anyone like him rules Russia, we're never going to be friends again. Ever. Biological warfare in any form if state-directed requires a lasting punishment until guilt is acknowledged or the accused perpetrators are handed over. Putin is never going to admit to anything, and Sergey Lavrov, the lugubrious foreign minister, just says what his master tells him to say. That means the tit-for-tats are going to go on and on until there's no one left to expel. Hey, that sounds a good idea! No Russian plutocrats buying up every pile of bricks in London. No spies trying to blackmail UK defence company executives into giving away secrets. That would be great news for MI5. They could then concentrate on watching suspected terrorists and no longer have to drive around the country following Russian spies disguised as English gentlemen. Less fun for the MI5 watchers but the more surveillance teams can focus on Isis fans the better for us all. Bye bye Ruskies, no more Fortnum and Mason Christmas hampers, no more drinkies at Brown's Hotel or White's, no more lunches at the Gay Hussar, no more skulduggery in Hyde Park, back to Moscow the lot of you. Some hope!