Quote: ajp29 @ January 8, 2008, 11:34 AMIts also the time before the Iron Man/Lady ruined everything
He says, relishing 24/7 power supply, rubbish being collected, the dead being buried and/or cremated, cleaner power generation, good healthcare, a (relatively) thriving economy...
Quote: Aaron @ January 8, 2008, 11:41 AMHe says, relishing 24/7 power supply, rubbish being collected, the dead being buried and/or cremated, cleaner power generation, good healthcare, a (relatively) thriving economy...
Sorry I forgot that the 80s were the Glory Tory years. I have to admit that the only explaination for all the beneifits of the 80s is superb economic management and strong governence. Oh wait there is another explanation, North Sea Oil.
Quote: ajp29 @ January 8, 2008, 11:26 AMTwo wards. Hospital. Shane.
Oohh, I get it now.
I'm not sure who Shane Ward is, but I know the name. Very clever. (Almost unique for a socialist.)
It's true and tragic, After my apprenticship I did 2years national service, The difference between the Movies and reality is immense.
In the jungle of Borneo, I was neither shot at, nor did I fire a shot with intent, But the fear of living in a place that bears not the slightest resemlance to the jungle of Tarzan, knowing that 'out there' were people who are capable of sneaking up in the dead of night, slicing off your genitals, stuffing them into your mouth, and melting back into the darkness. This happened many times. The young men in Iraq and Afganistan could not have forseen the horrors of the actual.Their psychological injuries will be with them forever.I do not castigate you for what you say, you are young, like the men in Afganistan. I agree that they should be told of the terrible dangers. But they will not, nobody would join, Our egomaniac leaders wouldn't be able to attack anyone, and cement their names in history, which is the only reason why wars started.
Quote: chipolata @ January 8, 2008, 10:18 AMI appreciate that British soldiers aren't the sharpest tools in the box, but I was amused by yesterdays survey which revealed a lot leave once they find out that serving might actually involve combat. They should stick with it, because it could also involve bullying and suicide at Deepcut, raping and murdering Danish tour guides in Cyprus, or getting shot by Americans in friendly fire incidents.
Firstly Mr. Many many of our soldiers are 16 years old. I dont care how mature a 16 year old you are, you are never mature enough for war. The government are NOT allowed to send an under 18 to war yet some have slipped through the net. Do you think those 17 year olds should be happy about that?
Secondly these guys are lied to consistently. There pay is f**ked up every single month, they ARE often told they wont see war. Secondly to state they are'nt the sharpest tools in the box is a disgrace. They do have to pass a series of tests in order to enter the forces. A test no different infact harder than for our police force.
Now to use the Danish incident as a quote for our entire forces is abhorent. How about you think of all the Afghani women our soldiers have saved from rape & death by the Taliban. Children too. How about you read up on what our soldiers had to deal with in Bosnia where they were supposedly on a peace mission.These guys are told only what they need to be told.
May I suggest before you whine too much, you sign up & experience it for yourself. Or maybe we should get our hands on those so called 'Thick Soldiers' & convince them not to join. Then the government can bring in National Service & come & get your arse. Or that of your younger brother, nephew or son. Then lets see what you have to say about it.
Good & bad is in every proffesion. Look at Dr F**king Shipman. Do you call all Doctors murderers?
Quote: chipolata @ January 8, 2008, 10:18 AMI appreciate that British soldiers aren't the sharpest tools in the box,
Are little pussies like this allowed to insult the entire army?
And breathe. Come on, getting far too personal here.
It is very insulting though Aaron. Chip is calling my son & other mothers babies who are prepared to die for their country a Thicko.
Still I will stop now.
I know, I know. But calm. Caaaaalm. 
Quote: Charley @ January 8, 2008, 3:09 PMMay I suggest before you whine too much, you sign up & experience it for yourself. Or maybe we should get our hands on those so called 'Thick Soldiers' & convince them not to join. Then the government can bring in National Service & come & get your arse. Or that of your younger brother, nephew or son. Then lets see what you have to say about it.
Sorry to habve upset you Charlie, but my comments are coloured by personal experiences. I went to Essex University and as you know that is a barrack town with a large contigent of soldiers. During my first year I had a black girlfriend, and as I was leaving a pub in the centre of town we were verbally abused by squaddies. My girlfriend was called nigger and wog and monkey and just about every other piece of racist abuse you can think of. Alas, this incident was just one of many in and around Colchester, in which our "brave boys" saw fit to abuse anybody who looked different.
I also have Cypriot friends, and they tell me that drunken soldiers regularly cause trouble on the island, getting drunk and starting fights and abusing the locals... So yes, i'm sure there are some intelligent soldiers, your child may be one, but from my experience they're not a particularly edifying bunch.
Just to add to that, an old friend of mine lives in Aldershot, and hates all of the squaddies for similar behaviour.
But then, TBH, it's not that much different from what you get on the average council estate. It just feels worse because we have a preconception that the military is disciplined and respectable.
I live near an army training camp - the Squaddies I see are all quite well behaved - I guess because they're not in their normal towns. What shocked me is how really, really young they look!
Either I'm getting proper old now, or they're recruiting from secondary schools.
Have a few friends in the military and my brother served in Bosnia and (based purely on what I've seen) they aren't "smart" as most people would consider because in all honesty you don't have to be a straight C student frankly you can get in with less they advertise with "No qualifications?" ect.
But, I have respect for anyone who would want to fight for their country and for a lot of them (my brother included) it changed him for the better.
I'm proud to say I helped a mother get in touch with her son in Afghanistan today... Email problem 
Soldiers don't have to be the smartest guys in the world, although some ranks I've met are very bright people.
'Our boys' should only be allowed to drink on camp and should be permanently barred from all civvy pubs unless they are on annual leave. Pissed soldiers and civvies just don't mix!
Job done.
It's easy to solve these little problems!
