Republicans responded with their own event on Capitol Hill where like-minded economists such as Douglas Holtz Eakin, former adviser to Senator John McCain who lost the 2008 election to President Obama, questioned his approach to recovery.

VOA: standard.2009.12.05

John Douglas, a former RIR lieutenant colonel, said a lot of people would be working very hard to secure the hostages' release.

BBC: In Amenas road sign

The roll call so far includes Demi Moore, Madonna, Gene Wilder, Sir Elton John and Michael Douglas.

BBC: Cleese has made a string of recent film cameos

However, Tory Eurosceptics don't see it that way - see, for example, John Redwood or Douglas Carswell's blogs.

BBC: Eurozone: Osborne v new coalition?