and throw away the key

You do have to wonder about David Irving’s basic grasp on reality.

He knew that he was wanted in Austria for making a speech there years ago denying the holocaust, and could face gaol. So what did he do – he went to Austria. What part of “being on the run” doesn’t he understand?

So now, he is appealing against the severity of his sentence, and at the same time the prosecutors are appealing that his sentence was too short. Remember that the sentencing judge cut him some slack because he had recanted his earlier lunacy in court. “I said that the [the holocaust was a hoax] based on my knowledge at the time, but by 1991 when I came across the Eichmann papers, I wasn't saying that anymore and I wouldn't say that now. The Nazis did murder millions of Jews." Irving admitted from the dock.

So while he is waiting for the judges to decide whether not to increase his sentence, he gives an interview with the BBC where he says he now only believes: “there had been isolated cases of Jewish people being gassed during World War II.” And here is his brilliant piece of deductive reasoning: "Given the ruthless efficiency of the Germans, if there was an extermination programme to kill all the Jews, how come so many survived?"

Of course, the utter rubbish spouted by the holocaust deniers has been completely refuted, including this latest preposterous claim by Irving. Personally I think that making holocaust denial a crime is a political mistake, but on a personal level I would not be too upset if Irving’s sentence were increased to the maximum 10 years.