Re 41

Your personal barbs apart, I think that my understanding of matters military, inferior as it is, is substantially better than yours.

John Green

Well to be honest, the fact that you would leave important targets undefended from the air appears to contradict that statement. The fact that you thought that having air defence fighters investigate hijack transponder codes was a stunt would also weaken that argument somewhat.

During a war, around a military base or an important target it seems to be fairly normal to post guards or sentries to ensure that it was defended in the event of an attack. That would be correct, yes?
Similarly around targets it seemed normal to position anti-aircraft guns or other defensive aids in order to either deter an attack or defend against it. I don’t think this concept is unusual and to me, a non-military person, it seems like a good idea.
Oddly enough military chiefs, those actually in charge, also think it’s a good idea.
If, by the end of August, the Olympics have passed off without incident then it will have been worthwhile.

Re 26

Yes, I do very much ‘want to engage in discussion’ but, only on equal terms. Sadly, I don’t appear to have that luxury.

Re29

Admittedly, I haven’t been to Heathrow or any other major airport for some years. When I was last there, the Police looking very smart (shows how long ago it was) were carrying what looked like a short barrelled, short handled Lanchester/Sten/Schmeisser type machine carbine albeit of much later vintage and incidentally of a type that I have myself carried on patrol. I had no doubt then and no doubt now that this weapon appeared capable of automatic fire which would put it in the category I’ve described.

Anyway, it doesn’t really matter – we now know that whatever they were they weren’t designed to be used.

John Green

You know exactly what I mean and your continual arrogance and refusal to even acknowledge the points I made mean only one thing to me. You have well and truly lost the argument. If, as an apparent ex-forces person, you do not understand the meaning of defence or deterrence then I’m afraid there is not much that I, or anyone else can say to you. I can only assume that your idea of having armed forces is to have stationed in barracks until they all retire. That would certainly save us all a lot of money, it might not make the public very safe but that doesn’t appear to be behind your idea of having armed forces anyway.

I thought that one of the things that the military did was to deploy soldiers ships, aircraft, guns etc. in places where a potential enemy might attack. I think it is called “defence”.
The military also have the capability to show an potential enemy that they have all these tanks, soldiers, aircraft, ships, etc. that they could use against them. I believe this is called “deterrence”

The whole point of “deterrence” is that it “deters” an enemy from attacking in the first place. Rather like our deployment of nuclear weapons. Designed to work but not really designed to be used. If they were ever used then their purpose had failed.

I hope that this also the case with these missiles.

Mr. Green if you want to engage in discussion then you adhere to some simple rules on politeness and respect for other’s views. It is notable on this forum that your posts gernerally end up being abusive when you are losing the argument. If you really have a problem with losing arguments I would politely suggest that you don’t start any.

Looks like the concept of “deterrence” has passed you by.

Thank God you weren’t in the military…..

It doesn’t really matter what the government or MOD decide to do; there will be section of society who won’t be happy.

They have a choice. They can station reasonable precautions so that in the unlikely event of something happening they are well-placed. Or they can leave the missiles at their base where they are no use to anyone.

Like almost all of the military, it isn’t designed to be used, it is there as a deterrent. We have this kit so why not deploy it where it might be useful.

If it is by way of public donations, does anyone know how much has been given and/or pledged to date?

This from the TPM website.

Just for the record and the sake of clarity – as previously stated we are NOT asking for donations at this time.

As has been discussed elsewhere on this site, we are in the process of setting up an on-line donations facility via a third party. We will publicise the launch of that facility when it becomes available.

Thanks

Insomnia (2002)

Al Pacino plays a detective with a past called in to deal with a murder in Alaska. A bit slow but a decent enough way to spend an hour or two.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)

Richard Thomas and Ernest Borgnine in a TV movie adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1929 novel. Well done and high production values for a TV movie. Great film.

This was a news item from over a year ago. I thought the Canadian authorities were investigating this. I don’t know if any charges have been brought yet.
The charges were over the manner of the cull rather than the cull itself.