where?

Oh S H I T !

“Already 2 gas alerts in N.Kuwait and Kuwait City.”

I don’t remember by heart what I was taught when doing NBC training years ago, but you masked up if, amongst other things:

“you come under bombardment of any kind” There you go. And an alert is not an attack.

“Seems to me like the inspections did not work.”

No, they weren’t apparently given enough time. Anyways, would YOU have dismantled your arsenal? I wouldn’t. You come in my house to attack me, and you will go out via ambulance. US have been rumbling about kicking Iraq in the arse since September 11th. That would give me enough reason personally to rearm.

“if this is what it takes to get rid of Saddam then so be it”

Is that REALLY why its being done? Seems like the whole thing has been spin and propaganda to me. But hey, I don’t have all the information.

“There’s your democracy in action and you’ve no right to decry it just because it doesnt give you the outcome that sits with your world view”

Very true. But that doesn’t mean we can’t think that Blairs a ******, does it?

“Good luck and good hunting to those on patrol.”

Irrespective of our feelings on the right/wrongs of this action, thats gotta be the main hope for our troops. I have friends there now. I’m sure many of you do too.

“What would you recommend doing about Sadam?”

Personally? Nothing. You can’t unilaterally attack and invade a country to change their leader for them because you (or daddy) thinks he’s an asshole. Hell, America would have been invaded constantly over the last 60 years. Assad was an arsehole. Mugabe’s an arsehole. Don’t give me the ‘Saddam is bad and should be relieved of his position because of his nastiness’ – that isn’t anything to do with the matter, and you know it. Nor is anyone going to sort out the other ‘bogeymen’ – and we should be asking why. Perhaps if the up[standing governments with nothing to be ashamed of wouuld stop meddling in other peoples internal affairs, we wouldn’t have these kid of messes. Who got him into power and gave him gas in the first place? Hypocracy.

“The upcoming days we will be bombarded by false, flawed, biased and propagandistic news reports from both sides.”

Ain’t that the truth.

Apparently new methods of avoiding friendly fire have been developed you know. Presumably that includes disarming the USAF. Anyone wanna gamble on who kills more British troops this time around? (Oooh, sarcy *******….)

Me? I don’t hate war. Got nothing against it – its a very viable means of enforcing your will, and is ‘an extension of foreign policy’. I’m just against this one. Now we’re in it, there’s no turning back, and my support is 100% behind the British Army, Navy, and Air Force at the sharp end. My country is at war, and my country is where my loyalty lies. (note to Blair – Country, British forces. NOT politicians. I couldn’t care less if you die.)

Well, right or wrong it’s started. Fingers crossed for a speedy victory with limited casualties on both sides, a swift return to peace in the region without further escalation (ie a massive military siding with Iraq by its neighbours) and the Iraqi peoples actually getting a better deal in life (supposedly the aim). Maybe some good will actually come of it – who knows?

(I wonder if Bush is going to give us the funding to pay for all the Iraqi’s who’ll start flooding into the UK over the next few years…..)

And GarryB, that was well said. Unlike Vortex’s pathetic remark – but he’s obviously far too mature for those of us who thought there still may be democracy in the ‘free world’.

Excellent mate. Really good shots – and once again, different to the normal-in-every-book shots. Thanks.

He did.

A better camera does not neccesarily make a better photographer. A better camera makes a better picture. A photographer with a better camera makes a better picture. Therefore, maybe it does make a person a better photographer – based on end results.

And photographic skill – is that important? Not now. The only thing of importance is an eye for a picture – and the sense to see how to improve it before tripping the shutter.

Me? I haven’t ‘gone digital’ yet. I have unlimited use of the work D30, and I am starting to use it occasionally now. I shoot mostly 35mm. I have medium format too – and 6×9 Velvia trannies look bloody gorgeous. The 10D is probably coming my way soon to increase workflow – no more scanning in, removing dust, swearing about grain aliasing…..

In short, to answer your question:

Yes. Good.