A strike, sooner rather than later, is perhaps more on the cards after the re-election of Bush, most likely by Israel with overflight/refuelling enabled by the US. Hell, the US might even join in, leaving only Syria and North Korea on the “Axis of Evil” to be dealt with (in no particular order.)

The expected assault on Fallujah/Ramadi is likely to “take out” some of the insurgent strongholds with heavy civilian casualties. The folks in the Mid-West will just think that is one less potential terrorist to threaten the US-even though there is no connection between the Twin Towers outrage and the invasion of Iraq.

Colin Powell will go and his likely replacements as Secretary of State are (take your pick): Condoleezza (sic) Rice -surely proof that a being a child prodigy/having a high IQ doesn’t make you smart-Bush IMHO though is, unfairly (and in his own words) “misunderestimated”! /John Danforth (UN ambassador) / and neo-con Paul Wolfowitz.

Rumsfeld, despite his c@ck-ups, is likely to stay for a while, while **** Cheney’s ill health will surely lead to his leaving half way through, with Rudy Giuliani a front runner for VP (to contest Hilary Clinton in 2008!-the only Democrat happy Kerry lost!).

I wasn’t aware that Colin Powell only found out about the decision to invade Iraq after Bush told several cabinet members and even the Saudi Ambassador! Clearly a leftist-pinko not to be entrusted with state secrets!

Hi Crazymainer

Ok let’s agree to disagree on a few things because ultimately I hope we are all on the same side. 🙂

Hi O.P.

Whats not mentioned alot is that this is part of the Chagos Islands. People lived on the other islands also. They were also moved for being a security risk. Whats happened to the Chagos Islanders is bad. There should be reparations, and they should be allowed to move back to the other islands.

I know I hold an unpopular view, but, Diego Garcia has been, and will continue to be, important to all of our militaries, and our countries.

We should do all we can to try and right a wrong. But Diego Garcia, the island, should remain in the hands of the military.

You are right: there are a number of Islands, not just Diego Garcia. Some of your points were on a documentary “Stealing a Nation” shown on ITV last night presented by John Pliger.

What I did not know was the British High Court had declared in 2000 the expulsion of the Chagossians was illegal and they should be allowed to go back to their homes! The Chagossians were shown celebrating (perhaps prematurely) outside the High Court in the Strand with their lawyer Richard Gifford.The UK Government then used a little known device in June 2004 to by pass the Law Courts and Parliament, called an Order-in-Council, a Decree signed by the Queen, for which no reason need be given or can be scrutinised.

Documentary evidence obtained from UK and US Government sources showed the duplicity of especially the UK Government-mainly the lie that there were no inhabitants just temporary ones, even though some who had been there for generations-the Chagos Islands had been settled since the late 18th century. A lot of ministers, mainly Labour, had selective amnesia! Healey’s response was really funny because he said he had no recollection of anything to do with the Chagos Archipelago when he had signed documents agreeing to expelling the Islanders!

Baroness Amos for the Government was shown in the House of Lords saying an boat had been chartered to take the Chagossians to visit the Graves of their ancestors- but the boat never left-the real reason was they don’t want anyone near the military base.The President of Mauritius at the time, where the Islanders were sent, was interviewed and he also confirmed the role of the UK and US Governments in not allowing them back.The UK Government also made up 3 feasibilty studies showing no one could survive on the Island-but they did not bother to speak to any of the Chagossians. We saw film of the Military base – it seemed idyllic and those posted there loved it. Film was also shown of the settlements before the base was built.

When Pilger interviewed James Schlesinger, former US Defence Secretary, he asked Pilger directly why are you doing this 36 years after the event-and actually said that 2,000 people were not that many compared to 80,000 killed in Dresden by the RAF or Churchill ordering the shelling of the Vichy Fleet. He implied Pilger’s motive was publicity or personal ego-Pliger answered it was to simply achieve justice for these people at last even after 36 years and he asked simply whether it was reasonable to ask these questions of those responsible even though it was many years ago.

Vaiar

Sure things aren’t going to change – that’s because a politician will always find a ready reason to justify his aims – be they laudable or not!

The times where it is absolutely clear cut what to do to save the lives of many compared to the few are comparatively rare, compared to those times when you have a choice of actions. You can justify anything if you don’t care about hurting or killing people, unlike those with some scruples, reluctance or hesitation. Stalin justified the death of millions of Kulaks, peasant farmers, in the collectivisation in the 1930s, as did Mao in his Great Leap Forward in 1958, all for the “greater good”!

So who is to say what is the “greater good”? Is your idea of what is right correct or is mine? I don’t know – it’s usually a politician who tells you what he thinks is right – but that does not make it right! They usually will say anything to justify their action even if it means the lives of either their own men or their opponent’s.

What is the greater good depends on your frame of reference and what moral code, if any, you live by. Is my idea of what is right any better than yours-not necessarily!

There is a great site on all of these designs, http://www.luft46.com if i’m not mistaken.

This is an amazing site – thanks!

Best Regards
Tony

The Amerika Bomber was a project, not a specific plane. Germany wanted a plane that could deliver a nuclear bomb to the East Cost of the US, and several companies submitted proosals, including this flying wing design from Horten.

–Gavin.

I believe an actual Horton flying wing captured in 1945 is in the Smithsonian Museum (I don’t know if it is now in storage or on display). This aircraft was scrutinised in some detail when the B-2 was undergoing development.

The aircraft in the museum is not the Amerika Bomber, but a smaller scale working aircraft using I believe the same engines as the Me262. The principles of the flying wing were proven initially using gilders!

Best Regards
Tony

Originally posted by Bahnhaus

For someone who calls himself Arthur its a pity you dont posses the kind of character normally assosiated with him. My name is Bahnhaus not Barnhouse/Barfhouse/Outhouse or Doghouse, its simply Bahnhaus, If you are having trouble reading English please click here . [/B]

Well done Arthur!

😀 😀 😀

Best Regards

Tony

PLA

Please why don’t you post topics like this in the general discussion forum where it belongs.

This is the military aviation forum.

🙂

Best regards

Tony

Originally posted by duxfordhawk
I found the show very intresting,I have never been a fan of him but do admire him as a songwriter…….

The other thing that i did like from the show was it did not hide what he was like as a man and his rebel streak and his drug problems this all made him the song writer he was in my view.

I agree the programme was good even for a non-fan.

The thing about Johnny Cash is that coming from such a deprived childhood, that melancholy never really left him, and was reflected in his songs.

He was admirable because he open about what affected him and had the talent to write about it – and he never hid his problems with drugs.

And he was one of the first to invite black performers on his show, Johnny Cash Live- at a time when this was rare in America.

Best regards
Tony