Actually Phrozenflame, the British governemnt had already held a series of round table conferences (1930-32) on Indian independence, and whilst the idea was resisted by certain voluable elements within the establishment (Churchill being notable) many politicians had already accepted it as inevitable. Whilst some sought to restrict Indian independence to Dominion status.

As Gandhi observed a couple of hundred thousand British soldiers could not control hundreds of millions of Indians if the Indians did not cooperate, once this simple logic was recognised by both sides it was only a matter of time before Indian/Pakistani inependence followed.

Steve.

On the subject of appeasement; it is always worth remembering that it was history’s ‘arch appeaser’ Neville Chamberlin who declared war on Hitler in 1939.

When he returned from Munich in 1938 he knew war was comming, why else do you think his government immeadiatley increased military spending? and started looking a procuring weapons from the USA? He knew also that if they fought a war in 1938 we would probably loose (they did not know Hitler probably would have backed down) and when he and Halifax dithered about declaring war in ’39 it appears to have been for two reasons ensuring that France would come on board (which they almost certainly wouldn’t have done in 1938) and deciding whether or not delaying the out break of war would give more time for re-armament.

Indeed Churchill served loyally in his cabinet through out the lead up to war and once remarked in the 1950s ‘to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war’

Steve

The biggest problem is that we can’t preserve everything, and the bigger the item/site the harder it is to preserve, at the end of the day its all a matter of pennies, pounds and finance.

I would therefore argue that rather than always preserving the physical site in aspic, the aim should be to preserve the memory of the people and events that happened here. The obvious solution is a memorial, but after time most people normally are oblivious to them, in the same way that they walk past lamposts without seeing them.

Looking at the website here are some suggestions of how some of the sites buildings could be recycled in a relevant way; The officers mess could become a community centre, perhaps with an extensive exhibition on the RAF Driffield’s history in the foyer, with a covenant to protect these displays in perpetuity. The centres name could be something relevant to the sites history “The Wellington Centre” or “The Airmans Suite” might be suggestions. The old NAAFI might become the communities shop, a fire station be converted to a Scout/Guide centre. All we have to do is use our imaginations.

The other thing that people might like to reflect upon, is that emphasising the sites heritage will strengthen any future community on the site, through a shared sense of history. Thus the men and women of RAF Driffield will be remembered.

Steve

Phantom II; The US will eventually leave Iraq as they did Vietnam, and yes there will be terrible fighting, many will die and scores will be settled.

The problem is you see no country can take on democracy until it is ready for it. Iraq isn’t, the ethnic divides are just too deep. Yes if you sensibly partitioned the country you could minimise the loss of life, but that is politically unacceptable. Very sad but true.

Whilst on the subject of democracy, read Thucydides’ history of the Peloponesian war, then you’ll understand that Democracy has its flaws too.

Steve

Phantom II as you sound as if you have a brain (I don’t believe you would be discussing things on here if you didi’t) here is some food for thought for you;

Firstly whilst I accept that all education is limited (if only by the capacity of the human mind); we should always aim for ours to be as broad, comprehensive and interconnected as possible; that means we should at least attempt to study those subjects that either don’t excite us or with which we struggle. Don’t you think that concentrating on business flies in the face of this ideal? Ask yourself what do you know about Islam? have you ever met a Muslim or been to a Muslim country? are these holes in your education?

Trust me if you go to Iraq with the military you won’t see the real Iraq your uniform will confine you to military compounds and fence you off from the locals. So can I suggest that before you comit your life to the military you go travel the world alone, go to Morrocco for a month travel around you’ll be made welcome, the fact you are American won’t matter one iota. Then if you do get sent to Iraq at least you will at least have a basic understanding of Islamic society.

Steve

To paraphrase John Doone;

“No plane is an Island, but a part of a continent”

I think that sums it up – Steve.

Flex297, makes a very good point; in the UK even the political right are gradually turning certainly against the Bush government (witness Cameron’s speech this week), and in many cases against America in general. Right wing politics has deep roots in nationalism. Contemplate for a second the fact that individual by individual the USA’s closest ally is slowly but surely turning against them. This in the long run is probably the most serious of all US foriegn policy failures.

Phantom II; Anyone who has never experienced armed conflict is extremely lucky so Kev35 is indeed fortunate not to have had to serve his country. On the subject of defending our citizens I have little doubt that if we really were threatened (as oppossed to the imaginary threat of Iraqi WMDs) we would have no difficulty recruiting an army, in the same way as crowds beseiged the recruiting offices in 1914, and remeber one voulanteer is wort ten pressed men. Finally the age old lie is of course ‘Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’ read the poem by Wilfred Owen!

Steve.