8 Nil to the Predator

[aposhark]

I certainly hope so.

So, you enjoy seeing our soldiers coming home in boxes?

I don't

[aposhark]

They're averaging a couple a week at present, the more the merrier.

In 2008 I had breakfast with some RAF chaps in Las Vegas who were operating the Predator - they seemed to get a lot of job satisfaction

I lived in the States for many years and one friend in Maryland made these drones.
He hoped they would not be used all the time as there would be more of his comrades killed in retaliation

Such a sad depressing story every week in the US and UK
Brize Norton has never been busier, and no real reason for us to be in Afghanistan.
Even the soldiers don't know why they're there

[KeithD]

Even the soldiers don't know why they're there

All the soldiers and airmen I know are very aware of the reasons they are there. They don't think about dying, they just do the job they are there for.

As for the drones, I've been passed Creech AFB near Las Vegas a few times, and that is where the Afghan drones are controlled from. Must feel great blowing up a few Taliban, finishing work, and then going off to a casino not giving a

[grahamw48]

So, you enjoy seeing our soldiers coming home in boxes?

I don't

DON'T credit me with YOUR assumptions.

I can express my own views, thanks.

[aposhark]

DON'T credit me with YOUR assumptions.

I can express my own views, thanks.

I did not mean to put words into your mouth, I thought you would have noticed it was only rhetoric

[David House]

Some of the comments in this thread seem pretty offensive to me. I have no doubt that taking action against extremists is a necessary action but should we really glory in it? For me is is a sad reality and not something I take any pleasure in. The fact that these people are taught to believe as they do is very unfortunate but I don't feel that that makes them evil people, just misinformed ones. Please also don't forget that there is bound to be "colateral damage" so women and children will also lose their lives. Taking pleasure in such acts only feeds the hatred and makes things worse. Much better to show some compassion.

[Steve.r]

Much better to show some compassion.

How do you show compassion to a veiled extremeist with a suicide waistcoat on?? It does not help one tiny bit. The whole point of using such tools as the Predator is to weed out the preechers who brainwash the few gullable ones who will waste their own lives in the name of their faith. If the preechers felt so dedicated to their faith, wouldn't they also want to wear a suicide waistcoat also and do the sickening deed? Compassion is not a word these extremeists understand.

[Dedworth]

Much better to show some compassion.

Good job despite Neville Chamberlains best efforts we finally didn't show this attitude to Hitler.

If you give these zealots an inch they will take a mile, they need to be rooted out and destroyed whether they are in N W Pakistan or Dewsbury.

[aposhark]

How do you show compassion to a veiled extremeist with a suicide waistcoat on?? It does not help one tiny bit. The whole point of using such tools as the Predator is to weed out the preechers who brainwash the few gullable ones who will waste their own lives in the name of their faith. If the preechers felt so dedicated to their faith, wouldn't they also want to wear a suicide waistcoat also and do the sickening deed? Compassion is not a word these extremeists understand.

Was invading Iraq and Afghanistan compassionate?

If the UK was invaded, would you lie down or retaliate?
Would you fight back in any way you could.
If someone used force like intercontinental ballistic missiles that you couldn't even see, would you just take it?

[Englishman2010]

Was invading Iraq and Afghanistan compassionate?

If the UK was invaded, would you lie down or retaliate?
Would you fight back in any way you could.
If someone used force like intercontinental ballistic missiles that you couldn't even see, would you just take it?

If the UK was attacked of course we would retaliate. However the difference is that these preachers of hate are not Iraqi or Afghan, in fact the majority claim to be British when it suits them. It's fair enough to defend your own country, but not one you weren't born in and have never been to.

[David House]

I did not suggest that we show compassion in all circumstances, only that to glory in the attacks is ultimately self defeating as it stokes the hatred. What I suggested was to show SOME compassion for the unfortunate innocents who, through no fault of their own, get killed or maimed.
I fully recognise that there is a need to take action and that a policy of appeasement with such a movement will not work. What I argue against is the responses to such action. The armed forces themselves understand very well that they need to capture hearts and minds alongside taking forcefull action and we have a duty not to make things worse for them. Imagine some of the words written here being copied and posted onto a Muslim forum. Would they help or hinder the efforts of our forces?

[keithAngel]

Well said David

Such ignorant and illinformed retoric should I guess be also given compassion it is a sad comentary on the sucsess of the fear mongering and deliberate devide and conquer mentality of our Political Masters regardless of their party,s so called hue.

We move ever closer to loosing the freedoms so hard won by our forebears and into the mire of totalitarian control

[grahamw48]

Did you read that in a book ?

I for one will continue to exercise my right to free speech, and will not be silenced by 'compassionate' people who appear to live in some sort of imaginary world of candy and cuddles.

Nobody is stopping the do-gooders from taking themselves off to Afghanistan or wherever, and bestowing their milk of human kindness upon those in need.

I'm sure the Taliban will be delighted to meet them.

The presence of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is entirely for political reasons, and is doomed to failure as a military exercise of course.

Since we don't have conscription, our boys and girls out there are in theory free to choose not to take part.

However, as my govt. have decided that certain muslim terrorists are our enemies, and that these enemies may decide to blow me up at any time anywhere in the world, I do feel that they (muslims) are worthy of a little extra attention. Sorry if some of their noses get put out of joint, but that's life.

The Japanese seemed to survive ok after being locked up in internment camps in America. We haven't reached that stage yet.

[KeithD]

Everyone is entitled to Free Speech.... well at least until I hit the BAN button

[les_taxi]

Correct me if I am wrong but did not Iraq invade kuwait

Seems so long ago people seem to have forgotton

[David House]

At no time have I suggested that freedom of speech be curtailed! It is our most precious right and needs to be defended above all. That though is not to say that it should be excercised without forethought and restraint especially when speaking your mind might produce a negative result. Rights must be balanced with responsibilies and it is surely incumbent on us as a developed, modern society to demonstrate to the ignorant that we have a better way of behaving. I don't seek to deny anyone their right to express an opinion, just as I am expressing mine which is to counsel restraint in your choice of language. By the way, these thoughts are entirely my own and owe nothing to any books I might have read.

[grahamw48]

Ref. books....I was referring to keithAngel's response.

Yes, it is wonderful to contemplate our modern developed society, and to pity the ignorant.

Let us also pause to consider how we arrived at this elevated state, AND with the freedoms that we currently enjoy.

[keithAngel]

Ref. books....I was referring to keithAngel's response.

Yes, it is wonderful to contemplate our modern developed society, and to pity the ignorant.

Let us also pause to consider how we arrived at this elevated state, AND with the freedoms that we currently enjoy.

Nothing very "modern" or "developed"or "compassionate" in your posts on a thread celebrating tekno death of unknown persons Graham I will give you a rep since no one else will

[grahamw48]

I don't think you comprehend sarcasm.

I don't need or seek 'rep', but I thank you for the thought.

[keithAngel]

I dont understand sarcasm

[Dedworth]

I missed this one - 20 gave up extremism on Tuesday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11763113

Twenty suspected militants have died in a US drone strike in north-western Pakistan, Pakistani officials say.

They say two missiles struck a vehicle in the Bangi Dara area of North Waziristan, killing four foreign militants early on Tuesday.

Eleven militants are said to have died when a drone fired four missiles at a home nearby. It is not clear where the other five died.

[Dedworth]

3 - 0.................. Sunday 28 Nov



US drone attack kills three militants in Pakistan

by Staff Writers
Miranshah, Pakistan (AFP) Nov 28, 2010

A US drone attack targeting a vehicle travelling in Pakistan's lawless northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border killed three militants on Sunday, local security officials said.

The unmanned aircraft targeted the vehicle in Hasan Khel village, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district, and a known hub of Islamic militants.

"US drone fired two missiles, the vehicle is still on fire, we have reports that three militants were killed in this attack," a local security official in Miranshah told AFP.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US...cials_999.html

[joebloggs]

why dont they use drones to sink the Somalia pirates

[Dedworth]

why dont they use drones to sink the Somalia pirates

I think that ought be done by what's left of the Royal Navy and other countries warships

[joebloggs]

even better and i'm sure many people would like this idea, send a load of drones of the sea near somalia and put the feed from the on board cameras on the web some people around the world can watch it, if they spot something, they click on an icon and alert the navy, who can do more checks b4 getting the drone to sink it

just like http://interneteyes.co.uk/index.html
you be doing every citizens duty and getting paid for it