kiltboy

Looks like the Liverpool fans were part of the assault on Baghdad airport. David

Let's see . Terrorists are people that use fear as a weapon. They kill indescriminately they bomb maim, shoot, torture, conduct punishment beatings and a whole host of other assaults on basic human rights. Protestors voice an opinion through peaceful means. No comparicon protestors are not terrorists. David

I think we have a healthy mix the only problem is the perceived risk with skydiving. She's a nervous flier as well so she thinks the sport is a lot more dangerous than it is. I think she maybe has an exagerated view of the risks and no real understanding/appreciation for the steps taken to minimise the risk. David

Fair enough. Everyone needs a day off occassionally. David

Having "watch porn" as top of the list is a pretty good indicator of what he's been doing. he's having sex just not with someone else. David

The SO doesn't jump and while it can cause a little friction at times it's good to have something that I do away from her that is purely for me. I call it me time. David

Excellent call by the commander at the scene. David

I doubt that the US are going into downtown Baghdad tonight so all the talk of trying to get a level playing field is misguided in my opinion. However as the propoganda minister has said there are no coalition forces within 100 miles of Baghdad and they expell the arabic media of Al-Jazeer speaks volumes of a dictatorship trying to keep the truth from the masses by depriving the masses of any means to recieve news i.e. turn off all the electricity. As if they have no power they can't use TV, hopefully not radio, nor the pesky internet as heaven forbid they find out how fucked the regime is they may rise up en mass and slot SH and friends. My 2 cents. David

Very true. Thanks for the strategy page that makes some very interesting reading. David

Can't take the credit for this one but it should bring a smile to those in the know. David I think we need to hit the ground running, keep our eye on the ball, and make sure that we are singing off the same song sheet. At the end of the day it is not a level playing field and the goal posts may move; if they do, someone else may have to pick it up and run with it. We therefore must have a golf bag of options hot-to-trot from the word 'go'. It is your train set but we cannot afford to leave it on the back burner; we've got a lot of irons in the fire, right now. We will need to un-stick a few potential poo traps but it all depends on the flash-to-bang time and fudge factor allowed. Things may end up slipping to the left and, if they do, we will need to run a tight ship. I don't want to re-invent the wheel but we must get right into the weeds on this one. If push comes to shove, we may have to up stumps and then we'll be in a whole new ball game. I suggest we test the water with a few warmers in the bank. If we can produce the goods then we are cooking with gas. If not, then we are in a world of hurt. I don't want to die in a ditch over it but we could easily end up in a flat spin if people start getting twitchy. To that end, I want to get round the bazaars and make sure the movers and the shakers are on-side from day one. If you can hit me with your shopping list I can take it to the head honchos and start the ball rolling. There is light at the end of the tunnel and I think we have backed a winner here. If it gets blown out the water, however, I will be throwing a track. So get your feet into my in-tray and give me chapter and verse as to how you see things panning out. As long as our ducks are in a row I think the ball will stay in play and we can come up smelling of roses. Before you bomb burst and throw smoke, it is imperative we nail our colours very firmly on the mast and look at the big picture. We've got to march to the beat of the drum. We are on a sticky wicket. we'll need to play with a straight bat and watch out for fast balls. I've been on permanent send for long enough and I've had my ten pence worth. I don't want to rock the boat or teach anyone to suck eggs. We must keep this firmly in our sight picture or it will fall between the cracks. If the cap fits, wear it, but it may seem like pushing fog up a hill with a sharp stick.

Much better source than the Sun

Not sure if either of those two put their designs to the test. Certainly they had drawings. David

Have a serious look at the line where you say you don't want to take a life. If you join either of the two units you are referring to that is your job description. You are a soldier first and always. Also you may want to look a bit towards the future and what you'll do when you leave. There are plenty of other opportunities to be airborne or commando. Both 16 Air Assault and 3 Commando brigade have support arms that serve with the fighting troops (Signals, Engineers, medics) and have to qualify just the same as the infantry. Even the Padre has to pass the Commando test or P company. David

That's my concern. If people are designed for certain characteristics using a small known band of data then eventually the diversity decreases and you end up with a shallower (possibly stagnant) pool. Not knowing a whole heck of a lot about biochemistry/biology I'll shut up now. David

The body part cloning is an interesting thought. I'd hate to see cloning DNA to design people as I think that would screw up the genepool. I'm thinking of one catastrophic disease that could shatter the human population as there was no longer the genetic diversity in the population that would enable it to survive. David

I think the brits came up with it then traded it with the americans for nuclear technology. David

I've heard more than a few Brits were pissed at Tony saying that. They'd rather the families believed they died as soldiers in combat. They could've been stripped afterwards. I honestly think the press need to show some responsibility in what they say. The embeded guys are doing a good job but the muppets in the studio really need to confirm stuff before they let it out. Remember the 1000 vehicle convoy that never existed or the 150 vehicle one from Basrah that headed towrds the UK guys? 14 vehicles were taken out from that one. I think it's a trend because the information comes in so quickly and the rush to be first tends to overcome any hint of responsibility. As aother example remember how the stations called the presidential election when the polls closed on the east coast but there was still active voting going on in the rest of the country? David

I hear where you're coming from. There's not a whole lot I can do about it so I guess I'll just have to see how it turns out. I think the most difficult part of the reconstruction will be avoiding criticism about exploiting the Iraqi assets. Regardless of how it's done someone, somewhere will make political advantage of it. David

Yeah I read that idea and I think it's a good one. I also read that the UN is trying to restart the oil for food program but don't know who to give the money to as SH's regime isn't going to be in place in the near future. Maybe I was more ticked off that there is a coalition of countries contributing to the conflict yet the role of those countries post-conflict isn't clear. I'm getting the impression it's "thank you for helping, sorry some of your guys died. Now quietly go away while we sort out the rebuilding". If the rebuilding is being funded by the Iraqi assets I just think an impartial trustee type organisation would be better. Ask the Swedes, Swiss or Irish Republic to administer it if need be. This is not a slap at the US or the troops involved so please don't take it as such. David

I take it your friends have the student Barclaycard? Ahhh memories. David

I didn't say France equalled the UN I just think it could be a good idea to run the reconstruction through the UN. It was more thinking out loud. I'm not a huge fan of companies profiteering from the conflict so I thought the UN could at least try and do it impartially. As I said I think it could also be a good way of bringing the new Iraq into the international community and show other countries in the region and in the UN that their involvement in rebuilding the new Iraq is required. If the French submit a plan that isn't acceptable there is always the power of veto. David

Well here's an interesting question, thecontract for running the port of Um Qasr has been awarded to a US company but that non-US companies can bid for subcontract work in the rebuilding. http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/text2003/0326iraq-aid.htm As the port was secured by the coalition forces why is a US agency running it? Yes the US bore the brunt of the fighting as a whole but not in Um Qasr. As the UN is pretty good at the humanitarian stuff why aren't they running the rebuilding? I think Tony is trying to get this discussion going in the UN and it may go a long way to giving the UN a role in the conflict. Also with what I've read and seen in the press it could go a long way to cinvincing the Iraqi people that the US isn't hanging around to exploit the country. Just a thought. David

Based on that logic....... When Elizabeth I died and James Stuart took the throne.... Makes you Scottish David

Not meaning to jump on you but for a bit of clarification. They're using the SA80-A2 now, Heckler Koch modified version of the original. Don't know who told you about the SUSAT sight moving with someone walking but that's a pile of pants. It's fine providing you look after it. I never got to use the modified version so my experience is based on the older one. There are some issues with that weapon but they have apparently been fixed with the mods. Not saying anymore on the subject as I heard plenty of bitching about it when I was in and the argument over M16A2, AK47 is an old one. 5.56 vs 7.62 in modern warfare and combat ranges etc. David

Don't know that he can be charged as a traitor as more than one person has claimed political convictions etc. Not to say that they can't take him round the back of the Challenger for a damn good kicking. David