RE: Tony Blair: The little hawk

Hi Keltic.

It is at best an ill-considered comment that I think will do him great harm. On BBC News this morning an email was sent in purportedly by a British soldier serving in Germany who gave his name only as Eric, for understandable reasons, who wanted to know just whose blood Tony Blair was offering? This is a sentiment which I feel will be widespread among the British population.

I don’t think Blair is ‘hanging on to Bush’s coattails’ as it were, I think he genuinely believes it is the right thing to do, and if anything, that is even more worrying. I think we’re potentially in for a rough time over the next week or two with every crackpot terrorist organisation using the pretext of the 9/11 anniversary to create mayhem and publicity for their own particular cause.

The world becomes ever more dangerous and I dread to think of the outcome if the Arab Nations do support Iraq in the event of an American or Anglo-American attack. I just find it beyond belief that a country with the military and economic power of America, the resources, the logistics and the technology cannot engineer a regime change without endangering hundreds of thousands of lives.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Trying to track down a WW2 pilot

Hi, Moggy.

I’ve been looking around to see if I can find your proverbial needle in a haystack and I came across this character. I know the whole story doesn’t fit but the name does seem to indicate he is a likely candidate. I found him in Kenneth Wynn’s ‘Men of the Battle of Britain’ and the entry is printed below.

“George Godfrey Stone Laws

745649 Sgt. Pilot. British. 151 and 501 Sqdns.

Laws, of Gwersylt, joined the RAFVR about April 1939 as an Airman u/t pilot. Called up on Sept. 1st he completed his training and joined 151 Sqdn at Digby from 5 OTU on Sept. 28th 1940. He moved to 501 Sqdn at Kenley on Oct. 20th.

On March 28th, 1941 Laws was killed in Hurricane V6841. The aircraft stalled, making a landing approach and spun into the ground at Stoke Gifford.

He was 21 and is buried in St. Meugan’s Churchyard, Llanrhydd, Llanbedr.”

I have also checked ‘Fighter Command Losses’ by Norman Franks and there is no record of the operational loss involving Sgt. Laws which more or less confirms his death was due to a flying accident. The last operational loss for 501 was in fact V6919 on the 2nd of December 1940 when flown by P/O Dafforn. There were no further operational losses until after the Squadron converted to Spitfires in May 1941. 151’s last operational loss was as far back as Sept. 30th 1940.

I hope this information helps although I do fear it may ‘muddy the waters’ as much as it clears them!

Regards,

kev35

RE: What is The Fascination of Beckham as a Footballer?????

It doesn’t matter whether these players are French, English or whatever nationality they may happen to be. What I find beyond belief is the simple fact that because they are footballers with more than a little skill at the game, we have to accept their eccentrities and foibles, just small things like deliberately trying to end another players career, brawling in the streets, using one’s martial arts skills to attack someone in the crowd.

It seems to me that many footballers today have far too much of three commodities…..time, money and over-inflated egos.

Regards,

kev35

RE: Do you collect anything other than aircraft models?

Hi Ashley.

Do you mean you really are a woman?

Of course, I know you are and mean no disrespect to you or any other female members of the forum. I take the word ‘guys’ as a generic term for a group of people, many of whom I would like to consider as friends. To me the word is not really gender specific. As it appears that I have unintentionally caused offence I will refrain from using the expression.

Sorry to all.

Regards,

kev35

This is me going away now feeling suitably chastised.

PS What’s wrong with chopped liver?

RE: Cocky, arrogant, etc.

Hi, PII.

“And excuse me if I want to kill those who’ve done my country harm.”

An understandable attitude to have. And if you do hold this attitude surely you can appreciate other people holding that same attitude towards the United States for the same reason? Don’t get me wrong, this was a despicable act and the perpetrators should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I just think it’s important to remember there are two sides to every story. Nothing is ever black and white anymore, just a million shades of grey.

Regards,

kev35

RE: What is The Fascination of Beckham as a Footballer?????

Hi, Snowman, good to hear from you again too.

I suppose I have a certain bias against Diego Maradona. I think all of his skill, talent and ability is negated by the fact he was an overt cheat. The so-called ‘Hand of God’ incident just shows what a dishonest and egocentric character he has. The ball went into the net because Maradona put it there with his hand, it had absolutely nothing at all to do with God.

I believe Best destroyed his career through alcohol abuse. Snowman mentions he is a FORMER alcoholic. I would ask how many times he has been a former alcoholic and then returned to alcohol again? It seems ironic to me that a man who has abused his body as much as he has is rewarded with a successful liver transplant while many others die on the waiting list.

As for Beckham, a large part of his game is his sheer effort and energy and the fact that he doesn’t give up. He and his family live their lives in the glare of publicity but so far seem untouched by the scandal which has hit other sports stars – Cantona, Keane, Bowyer, Woodgate, Wise, Hansie Cronje, Maradona.

Regards,

kev35

RE: What Invention Could You Not Live Without?

For me it has to be medicine. As a diabetic, if someone hadn’t discovered how to synthesize insulin and invented an effective delivery system I would certainly be dead by now.

Regards,

kev35

RE: If I would get a nickle for each time I have to correct Phantom, I would be a billionaire by now

“That’s one of the defining issues. The attack on the Pentagon was understandable, as would a White House attack have been. But the WTC was way below the belt.”

I don’t think either the terrorists or the United States could be accused of fighting by the ‘Marquess of Queensbury’s rules.’

I had just taken the dog for a walk and on the way home I called into a local shop. They have a closed circuit tv system with the monitor on the wall but the shopkeeper was always watching videos. I saw the tower ablaze and asked which film he was watching. He told me it was the BBC news and he thought it was New York. I rushed home and spent the next few hours watching events unfold.

Yes, I was shocked, not that America had been attacked, but by the sheer scale of the events. I think it was inevitable that someday the US would be the victim of a major terrorist outrage. The thought that I couldn’t get out of my head, and later the image, was that of the firemen and emergency personnel rushing into the building and up the stairs. With thousands of people streaming out they went in… That is some kind of courage! Those few hours showed to the world the raw courage and resilience of the American people. Mayor Giuliani leading the nation (surely he will one day be President?), the bravery of those on flight 93,the courage of the emergency personnel, the courage and kindnesses shown by people helping each other out of the tower, of those who elected to stay with their friends who couldn’t get out rather than leave them alone, the actions of those who opened their homes and businesses to help the injured, the homeless or the rescue workers.

The next day I had to drive to North Yorkshire and back and listened to the radio coverage all day long. It truly is one of those events that will stick in your memory forever, whether you want it to or not.

Regards,

kev35