Brits excel ... again!

[Clanad]

One more time... you Brits show grit and guts reminiscent of Churchill, while our feckless President and Secretary of State walk a tight rope between appeasement and no action.
Background: "In a bold and daring move that suggested Churchillian backbone, the British military on Saturday flew military aircraft into Libya to rescue oil workers and others stranded in desert locations amid the escalating violence of Moammar Gaddafi's reign of terror.
The secret mission reportedly plucked 150 or more British citizens and other nationals from the chaos and flew them to safety in Malta Saturday, U.K. Defense Secretary Liam Fox confirmed to Associated Press."

So... in the face of leadership and stiff-lipped British expertise, what's our own U.S. government doing? Well, firstly, we have the Navy's Sixth Fleet deployed in the Mediterranean with ships and aircraft available to rescue trapped Americans in Libya. (The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli had no U.S. Marine security guard, only hired Libyan Nationals). But even after revelation (which everyone already knew) that Gaddaffai (how many ways are there to spell his name?) was personally responsible for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, our demi-leader couldn't even bring himself to mention Qaddafai's name and condemn his actions for three full days...

And... we rent an unseaworthy boat (not even a ship) to bring U.S. citizens to Malta after a three day delay for "weather". I don't think the U.S. Navy would have given a second thought to the weather
Oh, well... it is what it is... It was left to the British to give us a lesson in bold action.

[Ankou]

we were well behind france, germany and turkey in our "speed" to get people out clanad. our first 'rescue jet' got stuck on the runway in blighty due to mechanical failure. of course, it didn't help that our pm was swanning around the gulf at the time.

[tiggerblue10]

R1, I think that was a bit unfair to call someone an idiot for voicing their views.

[R1Geezer]

everyone is allowed an opinion, mine is above.

[Ankou]

r1, it was our own civilians in libya who were keen to "to sl&g our efforts".

clanad may not be aware at the crticism dished out over here towards our own 'slow' response. but i am sure being a pilot he understands that planes do sometimes break down.

[Ankou]

and... i don't care really that you called me an idiot. it just makes you look very small with a squeaky voice.

[anotheoldgit]

Yes I join Geezer in thanking Clanad for his admiration of the true British grit.

It is a pity that we have some of our own country men & women always ready and willing to *** off anything British they set the minds on, and the ironic point is that they always have others ready and willing to speak out in their defence.

Good job, none of them where around during WW2, or they would have found themselves in the Tower, with all the other traitors.

[anotheoldgit]

/// (The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli had no U.S. Marine security guard, only hired Libyan
Nationals).///

That is incredible Clanad,

"From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli", what is all that about?

[tamborine]

Indians, Pakistanis & w.africans running for their lives as no rescues for them

http://search.twitter...ya&result_type=recent

[Oneeyedvic]

Luckily R1 and AOG have never criticised the government on this forum - they are true patriots.....

....oh hang on

[anotheoldgit]

Oneeyedvic

Thankfully the 'Right' have the freedom to criticise their Government when they are considered to be wrong, but also praise them when they are seen to be doing good.

Unlike the 'Left' where good or bad the Party line must bee obeyed at all times, that's not patriotism it's dictatorship.

[Oneeyedvic]

AOG -

Ankou points out that this government weren't the quickest or best at getting people out (as stated by the people in Libya at the time). For that R1 seems to think he is unpatriotic and you state that you agree with him (generally) about people 'knocking' this country.

As I mention, you (and R1 to a slightly lesser degree) slate this (and previous) governments more than anyone on this site - always criticising and very rarely praising.

Pot, Kettle, Black.


p.s. You really need to understand the difference between left wing and liberalism

Also, do you understand what 'The party ship' system is? If you do, then by your own definition we live in a dictatorship.

[Zeuhl]

Are some of these posts written in the Poster's first language whatever that is; Urdu, Arabic, Double Dutch and then processed through one of those translation websites?

It seems to be a loosely connected selection of cliches and generalisations.

<<Thankfully the 'Right' have the freedom to criticise their Government when they are considered to be wrong, but also praise them when they are seen to be doing good.

Unlike the 'Left' where good or bad the Party line must bee obeyed at all times, that's not patriotism it's dictatorship. >>

What exactly does that mean?

Send your suggestions to 'Meaningless Gobbledegook Dept, Colonel Blimp Towers, Grubb Street, EC4
.

[Quizmonster]

I really must re-post the comment I made the other day about the cartoon in the Independent. It showed a split picture with Hague in one half and Cameron in the other, speaking to each other by phone. Hague says, "Should we send in a battleship to get our people out?" Cameron replies, "No, frigate." Hague goes on, "Oh well then, we won't bother."
(Just for you, C...Hague is our Foreign Secretary and Cameron our Prime Minister. In the phrase, frig it, the word is an alternative for the other f-word.)

[Clanad]

Q... another example of the superior British appreciation for irony... and play on words. Believe it or not, I understood it the first time... I imagine because of the education I've received on this site especially through your own tutoring...
Thanks!
...and for AOG... what we have (or more exactly "who" we have) to thank for the lack of security in Tripoli is our esteemed Secretary of State... Madam Hillary... (only person I've ever actually witnessed speaking from both sides of her mouth at once).
In her defense one has to assume that her lack of leadership and action towards this tyrant Qadaffai, reflects that of our man-child President.
If we survive as a nation that we can still recognize for 2 more years, perhaps we can reverse some of the carnage...

[KARL]

Rather than criticise the US Government, I am inclined to praise them. For once they are holding any would-be gung-ho cowboys in check thus preventing yet another loud groan emanating from the international community over the influence on government policy wielded by the trigger happy "Nuke 'em" brigade. That crowd simply do not understand what damage the foreign adventures undertaken in the past decade or so have had to the detriment of world opinion of their country. Yes, they would insist that they are carrying out God's good work, and over those who do not share that opinion they are unpretrurbed because in their mind it follows that such folk hate Americans and therefore also deserve to be obliterated. The current measured but neverheless clearly understood opinion/sentiment (by those who care to see it for what it is) does the US credit because it redresses some of the cynicism held toward the US right across North Africa and the Middle East. Until very recently, those very few Americans working in Libya were under threat of being rigorously prosecuted in terms not far from treason - hence they sneaked in and out through Libyan passport control and received separate bits of paper with their entry, visa, etc. stamps. Their passports were left clean and their income was paid through offshore accounts (both employer and employee) which were heavily camouflaged. The Us authorities once in a while caught out someone who had been careless about covering their tracks and these poor sods were never heard of again. Long live democracy, long live freedom, God bless America (or as others shout: Allahu Akbar) - and thank goodness for honesty and consistency in politics and government.......or what ?

[Clanad]

Karl... I see your post is time stamped 1808... what do you imbibe that early that makes you entirely incoherent?