Osama Anniversary - Poll and debate

[Uncle Spielberg]

One year since Osama came face to face with the barrel of a US Navy Seals rifle.

The simple question today is this

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Ten years ago, Bush and Blair were ratcheting up their "War on Terror" and their real warmongering was in full flow. The world was a very unsafe place.

Today, there are signs that the so-called "world leaders" recognise the futility of military action as a means to achieve peace. I guess this might mean that the world is just a little safer. But it's very fragile, and I fear we have yet to see the full fall-out from the collapse of the world economy.

 

[Kumquat]

Jason Burke has chronicled the rise and decline of al qaida. Good summary here by him yesterday of the current threat across the world which he sees as having declined quite significantly and having also become much more fragmented.

Al-Qaida threat declines in global scope | World news | The Guardian

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I agreed with the invasion of Afghanistan, I thought the USA had little choice in the circumstances but Iraq was a big mistake in hindsight. Argueably more damage is being done from the remote areas of Pakistan imo and continues to be the case. Pakistan did not know the whereabouts of Bin Laden being in their borders ? Bollocks. The trouble is it only takes 1 nutter to do untold damage and I don't think that threat will ever go away.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

The Iran "nuclear" issue will probably mean another war, with the possibility of Israel becoming involved.

 

[vegster]

When heavily armed men break in to your house and shoot you dead for hiding behind your wife I tend to think the world is not a safe place.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I agreed with the invasion of Afghanistan, I thought the USA had little choice in the circumstances but Iraq was a big mistake in hindsight.

Not hindsight for many, many people.

 

[Stat Brother]

Not hindsight for many, many people.

Certainly no hind sight in Stat Towers.
It was plan wrong, partly due to being based on Iraq being unable to prove a negative.

If The US had stormed Saudi, at least they would have had justification.

Re Afghan, just pick up a history book.

 

[Tubby Mondays]

Ten years ago I can see how both wars were supported in the first instance. After the first war with Iraq many people were of the opinion that it didnt go far enough and that Saddam shouldve been toppled. That war looked great on the telly and no one seemed to get hurt. Lump in the problems with UN inspectors that seemed to go on for years (obviously all brinksmanship on Saddams part) and its not hard to see how support was won - even with out 'sexed up' dossiers.

Similar with Afghanistan; in that the images of the twin towers went around the world, horrified people and America and its allies were somehow able to link that to Afghanistan. Again; not hard to see that support could be drummed up for having a row over there as well.

Support starts to wain when people get half blown up and sent home with limbs missing, or wholly blown up and dont come home at all, by people not fighting cleanly (its just not cricket) and/or not rolling over and letting themselves be walked over.

As for now; I think the world is a less safer place, partly as neither the Iraq or Afghanistan have been satisfactorily settled (the Taliban are just as strong in Afghanistan as they ever were and it is only a matter of time before some sort of Dictator takes over in Iraq), Israel will kick off properly one day rather than these handbag rucks they have every so often, Iran will also have to have a show of strength too to show that theyre not all mouth and ditto the new drongo in charge of North Korea.

 

[daveinprague]

It always makes me laugh when people complain about 'cowardly' Taliban tactics with IED's...

 

[User removed 4]

It always makes me laugh when people complain about 'cowardly' Taliban tactics with IED's...

Then laugh f***ing privately then, its not a week since a local boy from worthing was killed out there.

 

[beorhthelm]

its still the same. the risks, dangers and antoganists change.

 

[daveinprague]

Das Reich.....thats what happens to some soldiers when occupying other countries...Whether he is local or not..Would be a strange world if Soldiers fought and didnt get hurt or killed.
When did the world suddenly notice that soldiers get killed in conflicts?
Other than noticing his death on the news, I doubt if the fact has occupied your mind too much, and seriously doubt you are in any sort of genuine mourning.

The reason I find it laughable, is due to the fact, people have no problems with American and British Tomahawk Missiles, fired from submarines well away from the fighting, and pilotless drones firing hellfire missles at buildings regardless of who is in them, It seems to have less courage involved than planting IED's against what you perceive as an occupying force..

 

[Lady Whistledown]

When heavily armed men break in to your house and shoot you dead for hiding behind your wife I tend to think the world is not a safe place.

Happens to you a lot, does it?

 

[Falkor]

Oh man this is going to be a binfest.


That said Obama speech last night, that al qaeda are almost defeated, i personally believe they never will be defeated i think terrorism is impossible to defeat, you kill one leader another will just take his place and so on and son, and sadly killing someone like Osama only imo makes things worst as his now seen as a Marta.

The world has changed it will never be the same again.

 

[User removed 4]

Das Reich.....thats what happens to some soldiers when occupying other countries...Whether he is local or not..Would be a strange world if Soldiers fought and didnt get hurt or killed.


The reason I find it laughable, is due to the fact, people have no problems with American and British Tomahawk Missiles, fired from submarines well away from the fighting, and pilotless drones firing hellfire missles at buildings regardless of who is in them, It seems to have less courage involved than planting IED's against what you perceive as an occupying force..

das reich ??
We had been on cordial terms , but as far as i'm concerned , you're a disrespectful tosser , sorry , make that a treacherous disrespectful tosser, whatever you feel about the legitimacy of the war, most people class british service personnel as " one of your own" , you obviously dont because you couldnt stop your hateful " thats what happens to some soldiers when occupying other countries...Whether he is local or not.. " diatribe, ................wanker.

 

[daveinprague]

I beg your pardon Bushy...

Ill write a letter to the government and insist that none of our soldiers are put in danger in future, less they be injured and killed.
ITs not a matter of the legitimacy of the war...SOLDIERS GET KILLED IN CONFLICTS........What that has to do with this thread, ive no idea
but i was certain you would chip ikn with your 'mourning'....

 

[User removed 4]

I beg your pardon Bushy...

Ill write a letter to the government and insist that none of our soldiers are put in danger in future, less they be injured and killed.
ITs not a matter of the legitimacy of the war...SOLDIERS GET KILLED IN CONFLICTS........What that has to do with this thread, ive no ideabut i was certain you would chip ikn with your 'mourning'....

you mentioned the taliban, not me , pretty natural tangent to follow ,anyway i'll mourn as much as i want, he was from my old battalion, you wouldnt understand how i feel, you just havent got it in you.

 

[daveinprague]

The thread has been generally about Al Qaeda and the taliban and their tactics..... nothing to do with 'local boys' being soldiers getting killed... I lost friends in the Falklands.... youre not unique Bushey...people in the military get hurt, people in the military get killed...lets stop all debate on military matters until this unjustice is stopped.....no more talk of war until British soldiers stop being killed in them.
He was from your battalion...wow... when were you in that battalion exactly?

.

 

[vegster]

Happens to you a lot, does it?

Bit of a general-ism referring to the incident which led to the OP.
Remember, in the Good 'Ol USA it seems even venturing on to private property would warrant the interloper being ventilated by the gallant homeowner.
Here we had a case of an old man with kidney problems shot dead in his own house because a heavily armed and well trained navy SEAL felt in peril for his life because it looked like said old man was going to throw a wife at him !

Mind you, your mob would either leave your guns on the roof of the patrol car and drive off, break in to the wrong house and shoot the pet dog or blow their own toes off.