kiltboy

Read this on the BBC. Seems a shipping clerk mailed himself home because he was homesick. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3095592.stm David

If your paper dealt with Michael Collins and the Easter uprising than that is a very different scenario to the current problems in N.Ireland which is where I was coming from. I do not deny that the political climate has changed and devolution has shown that. The initial Scottish devolution vote ( 1970 something) was controvertial but the later 1997 one passed. I'm still not clear on If this is a reference to the Easter uprising or the current troubles? Either way I do not believe that terrorism is the way to effect political change in a democracy. David

I agree with you Kev and I know there are plenty of examples out there. The school in my post was the same one you mentioned. The two guys having a beer were killed by a loyalist group. The preferred loyalist tactic is to do a driveby of anyone in a catholic area. I mentyioned Drumcree as I hate the marching season and the parades commission. It's sensless bigotry that goes back generations and we could talk about it forever and a day and not fix shit because the people that need to change are in N. Ireland and they're the ones doing it. David

The British do not occupy N. Ireland that is complete crap and I thought you should know. The majority have voted to stay part of the UK (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and so N. Ireland is part of the UK. That is what we call a democracy. With the exception of the 2 kids killed Christmas shopping the other examples I gave all occurred in the 6 counties that constitute N. Ireland. There are plenty more but I was getting mad so I thought I'd stop there. The terrorists are not killing Brits they are killing Irishmen. They are killing people born next door to them that they grew up with. They (and I gave examples from both loyalist and republican terrorist groups) are carrying out these attrocities on the Isle or Ireland. They are doing it to people that are born on the Isle of Ireland. There is a political process in place for change and it has happened successfully in Scotland and Wales. For a minority to resort to terrorism instead of politics is the reason that the violence is continuing. Now you may have written that in your paper but given your previous postings, I strongly doubt it so I'll stand by my previous judgement. David

Not sure. There was some schwag but the idea of teh girl draped over the Glock 19 was kind of strange. David

Crap! Utter and complete crap! So much bollocks as to be beyond belief. Are you trying to tell me that The Parades at Drumcree are caused by the British Government? The throwing of pipe bombs at 5 year old kids on their first day of school is because of the British Government? Punishment beatings are the British Government? Extortion is because of the Britsih Government? Having your Femural artery slashed in an evelvator and left to bleed to death is because of the British Governement? Being taken from your family and shot in the back of the head because you comforted a soldier is the fault of the British Government? Shooting two friends having a beer is reuniting your country? Detonating a bomb during the minute's silence to commemorate those that fell during World Wars 1 and 2 is reuniting your country? Killing two kids Christmas shopping is reuniting your country? You may have written a 15 page paper on it but I'll be surprised if it's good enough to wipe my arse with. David

Just thought this was semi-interesting as they've opened up the UK arms show to the press. I liked the journo's style. David http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3094648.stm

Did you ever get an answer to the good terrorist/ bad terrorist question? David

It's lunchtime so I'm going to get involved in this for a while. There are plenty of examples in WW2 where high casualies were expected. The difference is that in many cases the people undertaking the missions always assumed that it was their friend that wasn't coming back. There are also many examples of personal sacrifice that should not, in my opinion, be belittled. Most were spur of the moment but many were suicidal in nature. As for the terrorism thing. Politicians aren't necessarily the target. It's easier to intimidate the population by subjecting them to acts of terrorism and intimidation and cause political change that way than it is to target politicians individualy. Also targetting lawyers, police and breaking the rule of goverment that way is also easier. As for suicide bombings they assist in planning of the actual event as no escape route needs to be worked out. The events of 9/11 could not have happened had the terrorists wanted to live afterwards. That can lead to more extreme acts of terrorism but a nail bomb is a nail bomb be it strapped to a bus passenger or left in Hyde Park. David

Sorry but the comment you make here is absolute bollocks. Terrorism is the use of fear towards a political end. Suicide missions do not differentiate between terrorism and fighting for a cause. Plenty of people died in uniform during World War 2 that did not make them terrorists. David

My short term contract at work was extended as they like the job I'm doing so it may lead to something more permanent. David

Still not current due to other events going on in my life. I'll be trying again this Saturday. David

Ask her if she knows of Smith College in Northampton, MA. David

I believe Iran and Iraq both used chemical weapons during the Iran Iraq war. I also thought that the suits were found near the Iran border so it makes sense to have protective suits near the border of a country that has exchanged chemical munitions with you in the past. David

Sounds like someone that will do well in college. David

I fly to Glasgow with Icelandair via Rekyavik as all Icelandair flights go to Rekyavik where you change planes for the final destination. One time I found that the fare to Rekyavik was more expensive than the flight to Glasgow and I've no idea why as I had to go to Rekyavik anyway. David

Yes they did. Similarly the British leadership at the time were also out of touch with the population of the colonies. David

Well if they can trace who they bought it from and what it was used for that could be a start. From there if you measure the amount of the isotope in question it should be plausible for an expert in the field to say if their story holds up or not. David

That's it for now............. Prime minister's questions is on Thursday and Tony is in front of the Hutton inquiry the same day. If thing so badly for TB could we have Alastair Campbell leaking that there are weapons that could be used with say 45 minutes notice? On the serious side it's as you say a report of a leaked report that the IAEA found traces of weapons grade Uranium. Iran says it was left over from the previous owner as they bought the kit second hand. That ebay will bite you in the ass if you're not careful. David

I'm not voting as I get left and right confused (politically that is, I can tell my shoes apart thank you very much) Some of the shows are biased e.g. Ann Coulter had an easy ride on Scarborough country and got ripped apart on Hardball but I think both are on the same channel. As for the main news stations reporting current events in the bulletin format I can't watch them as there is little depth to the coverage. I'd rather go to the web and surf. I did watch CNN last night as they were ionterviewing a bunch of journalists that were present for the prison revolt in Afghanistan where they caught John Walker. That was an interesting story. David

Very true which is why I'd like someone to start asking questions so that knowledge can dispell the fear. Given Kallends background he would seem a good candidate to do just that. I've seen how things are being done in Washington Quade but as I can't vote here it's not my place to change it. David

Random thought for today but have you challenged them to see if this can happen? Isn't there a Special Forces School or CIA farm that teaches counter revolutionary warfare? I would hope that there would be people looking at possible scenarios and checking them for feasibility. If this is warrants legislation shouldn't there be something to back it up other than paranoia? David

Unfortunately/fortunately, depending on your viewpoint, I think the opinion of the Japanes government and electorate are what matters. Does Japan get Fox? If so the current administration should be set. David

I'm not sure where you're going with the post but I'd like to discuss one or two points. I'm not so sure that the extention to France and Germany was an olive branch but a way to rotate more US troops back to the states and replace them with a multinational force. It's almost trying to get international backing when the peace has ran into problems. Not a bad idea but why should those countries share the burden of a conflict that they opposed. Why should they allow their troops to die when their opinions were dismissed as "Old Europe"? Japan cannot send troops as their constitution forbids them from serving in a war zone. I'm not sure what the Belgian Army union will say with a deployment to Iraq as they have to be in hard barracks and refuse to live in tents. I haven't heard much of the crack Uzbekistan light infantry's involvement in what is currently going on though I have heard of the US, Brits, Australians, Danes, and Poles. I would tone down the 30 countries claim and look at the numbers closer and see what contribution those countries actually make. There are countries in NATO that have a hard time working with the US as their training and equipment isn't up to the same level so I doubt the Uzbeki's are cracking on with the big boys. I can't see there being another resolution myself as I think the US will have to stabilise Iraq before many more countries would want to get involved in cleaning it up. They don't seem to have any influence in Washington so why should they bother? The Isreali peace process is another matter that is way more complicated than Iraq so I'll reserve comment. David

I will agree with you that there is some biased reporting out there based on the journalist's own thoughts agenda. I do however, believe that you do not need to support all aspects of a party (left/right/up/down), that you can happily take a politician to task when you believe that they are wrong and support the same politician when you believe they are correct. Martin Bell (former journalist and MP) wrote a piece about it that also highlights some of the bias in the UK press. I thought it was a fair piece and a pretty balanced point of view. http://www.sundayherald.com/36117 David