DZJ

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Everything posted by DZJ

  1. DZJ
    Given that it's not clear what was actually said, any comments about his remarks seem premature. If someone could find his speech quoted in full and verbatim, it would be an easier question.
  2. DZJ
    So?
  3. DZJ
    Feel free to invent some context that could explain the advocacy of murder of citizens and legislators for their views. Really...it's always good to practice this sort of fictional writing should you get hired by one of the parties. So, when you read a handful of words and phrases all quoted separately, do you just assume that they all click together the way an obviously partisan journalist tells you they do? Or do you apply some critical thinking? Try and notice also that I wasn't defending his remarks. Oh, and thanks for the career advice, but the odds of my being employed by either of your major parties are reassuringly low.
  4. DZJ
    Interesting that there appears to be absolutely no context given for the remarks. However strange and disturbing his comments may have been, there will have been a reason for them. One suspects he's being deliberately misquoted.
  5. DZJ
    Gurkha infantry are among the finest troops in the world, with a fearsome reputation and a ferocity in battle matched only by their decency in civilian life. The British establishment's treatment of Gurkha troops is indeed an appalling outrage which disgusts me. However, I would imagine that this decision is probably part of a broader policy of maintaining some degree of parity between the conditions of service between British and Indian Gurkha regiments, so as not to prejudice recruiting. Probably also the same reason that Gurkha pay is considerably lower than non-Gurkha pay in the British Army - to maintain parity with Indian regiments (while the pay is high compared to Nepalese standards).
  6. DZJ
    Given that repulsive people have been doing repulsive things to innocent people (and each other) since Stone Age man, what changes when you declare a 'war' on 'terror'?
  7. DZJ

    Noah's Ark

    DZJ replied to akarunway's topic in Speakers Corner

    But if mainline stations are wild, wouldn't you have to invoke Jakee's Jeopardy? And is shunting permitted?
  8. DZJ
    So battledrills that include going in to action Crying 'God for Harry, England and St George!' will have to be dropped, will they?
  9. DZJ
    Well, obviously. I just thought that bit went without saying.
  10. DZJ
    I certainly agree, and I'd also be prepared to spend more time on maintenance for a more accurate weapon. [I'd also be prepared to wager that you're a better shot than your average Iraqi soldier]. However, we're talking about Iraqi troops who don't have a terribly good track record on these things, and given that for the most part I'd imagine engagement ranges in urban environments are going to be on the lower end of the spectrum, I wouldn't consider the extra accuracy to be an urgent requirement. That's not even mentioning the time-consuming necessity of retraining all those Iraqi troops on a new system. I'd say get them fully battle-ready first, then worry about the finer points of their weaponry.
  11. DZJ
    So the Iraqis already have an extraordinarily reliable rifle available in quantity, but instead they're going to reequip with a less reliable weapon because it's cooler? Take the point about commonality of ammunition, but seems like an exercise in style (and marketing) over substance to me.
  12. DZJ
    I agree, ol Gordy has a bit of a legitimacy problem (not to mention a lack-of-personality problem, but nevermind that) at the moment. I imagine he'll want to get into office, do something shallow but spectacular to flummox the Tories and then call an election, while combating any criticism with 'but, but...teh economy is teh win!!!111!!! (though he might not say it that way!)
  13. DZJ
    Well, strictly speaking we've never had an elected PM.
  14. DZJ
    One of the most beautiful and refined cultures I'm likely ever to witness. What's weird is that there is very little "common-type" crimes. This strange stuff is not all new though. Parts of Japanese culture are beautiful and refined. Other parts, like their xenophobia, are rather less so. The Japanese are hardly xenophobic. In fact, they absolutely adore and have a deep interest in western culture, managing to enjoy it while integrating it into their own culture, while not diluting their heritage. While not diluting their heritage? I find that rather hard to reconcile with my own experiences of Tokyo and Japanese youth. And a fetish for western culture doesn't counterbalance their xenophobia for their Asian neighbours.
  15. DZJ
    Well, the US were in a de facto state of war at sea with Germany long before Pearl Harbour, but that's a whole other subject...
  16. DZJ
    One of the most beautiful and refined cultures I'm likely ever to witness. What's weird is that there is very little "common-type" crimes. This strange stuff is not all new though. Parts of Japanese culture are beautiful and refined. Other parts, like their xenophobia, are rather less so.
  17. DZJ
    Dynamite. Or engine exhaust.
  18. DZJ
    If you think that, why be a 'historian'? Just for your curiosity's sake? I study history because it fascinates me in its own right, and because a proper understanding of the present requires a decent understanding of the past. To try and project that forwards, however, is usually folly.
  19. DZJ
    To be perfectly honest, I don't know either way. My reply was more driven by thoughts of how silly policymaking-by-proverb is.
  20. DZJ
    Or the predator follows the prey...
  21. DZJ
    Genuine legal question - doesn't murder require malicious intent or forethought? Or am I completely wrong?
  22. DZJ
    Goodbye Blair -
  23. DZJ
    Afraid I don't follow your meaning.
  24. DZJ
    No vegan I've ever met would consider human breastmilk an 'animal product', as if it were a rump steak or a veal chop.
  25. DZJ
    The problem with lessons from history (and I say this as a historian) is that they tend to be clear only long after they are needed. Studying the past to predict the future is a complete red herring in my opinion, and I usually cringe when politicians make cheap historical analogies (Saddam = Hitler comes to mind here).