"The Accused" last night

[EternalOptimist]

GPWM!

did you get back to the hotel ok ?

[BdP]

did you get back to the hotel ok ?

What are you wittering on about?

[amcdonald]

I watched The Accused and it is not like that out there, I was out there and I was a bitch and the worst they did was pee on my boots.

Was that before or after playing freckles ?

[markmm]

Was that before or after playing freckles ?

After.

[BdP]

why?

OK, a sensible reply to a polite request.


Part of my original post was a bit of a troll. I actually served for a while in the Royal Artillery. But various infirmaries meant I had to leave, and seek my fortune tape-swapping.

Anyhow, I digress. With regard to the drama, I think it stands as a superb piece of TV. I'm not too fussed at the authenticity of it; and I can take at face value the army's assertion that the portrayal of bullying is inaccurate, and perhaps damaging to their image. The program was superbly written, and MacKenzie Crook's acting was stunning.

With regard to my views on the army, I can appreciate that they are on active service, in a nasty part of the world. However, I think the Iraq war was a terrible mistake, and Afghanistan is an irrelevance. No one has militarily ever contained the area, and in the case of the Pashtun tribal group, Afghanistan has a large segment of the fighting population that is culturally psychopathic.

Essentially, Afghanistan is not worth it. We will be there for years, for no real reason. If we wanted to do real good, then buying up all the poppy harvest for opiate production would be the most sensible 'politically astute' way of curbing heroin supply (a better way would be legalisation).

To be honest, I am totally ambivalent about our armed services. I can live with the 'covenant' that we are supposed to have. But to be brutally honest, I don't particularly feel angry, or sad at losses over there. I did feel more sympathy when we were embroiled in Northern Ireland, but with Iraq and Afghanistan I am not really all that bothered.

I certainly do not think that our troops are protecting us against terrorism in the UK. And I have no real sympathy for all the mawkish, sentimental gush over "Help For Heroes", "The Soldiers"; and the ghoulish displays at Shepperton Mallet.

As we have been embroiled in the two wars for a decade or so, there is no longer the excuse that people signed up because they wanted to learn a trade and do some politically correct UN 'peacekeeping'. Those joining the armed services, whilst not deserving what they get, certainly know what they are signing up to.

HTH!

[Mich the Tester]

I certainly do not think that our troops are protecting us against terrorism in the UK. And I have no real sympathy for all the mawkish, sentimental gush over "Help For Heroes"

Nothing mawkish, gushy or sentimental about raising money to help out when you've seen a good mate come back from Uruzgan with no face.

[BdP]

Nothing mawkish, gushy or sentimental about raising money to help out when you've seen a good mate come back from Uruzgan with no face.

What part of "I'm not bothered" don't you understand?

[Mich the Tester]

What part of "I'm not bothered" don't you understand?

I understand. It's your choice. But don't go calling other people mawkish or gushy when they actually do care about what happens to servicepeople. Maybe my mate made a mistake in joining the Dutch army; he thought it would give him a good job and a future. He's still a human being, a mate, and deserves better than 'mawkish and sentimental gush'. Thankfully, he has friends who do give a tulip.

[shaunbhoy]

OK, a sensible reply to a polite request.


Part of my original post was a bit of a troll. I actually served for a while in the Royal Artillery. But various infirmaries meant I had to leave, and seek my fortune tape-swapping.

Anyhow, I digress. With regard to the drama, I think it stands as a superb piece of TV. I'm not too fussed at the authenticity of it; and I can take at face value the army's assertion that the portrayal of bullying is inaccurate, and perhaps damaging to their image. The program was superbly written, and MacKenzie Crook's acting was stunning.

With regard to my views on the army, I can appreciate that they are on active service, in a nasty part of the world. However, I think the Iraq war was a terrible mistake, and Afghanistan is an irrelevance. No one has militarily ever contained the area, and in the case of the Pashtun tribal group, Afghanistan has a large segment of the fighting population that is culturally psychopathic.

Essentially, Afghanistan is not worth it. We will be there for years, for no real reason. If we wanted to do real good, then buying up all the poppy harvest for opiate production would be the most sensible 'politically astute' way of curbing heroin supply (a better way would be legalisation).

To be honest, I am totally ambivalent about our armed services. I can live with the 'covenant' that we are supposed to have. But to be brutally honest, I don't particularly feel angry, or sad at losses over there. I did feel more sympathy when we were embroiled in Northern Ireland, but with Iraq and Afghanistan I am not really all that bothered.

I certainly do not think that our troops are protecting us against terrorism in the UK. And I have no real sympathy for all the mawkish, sentimental gush over "Help For Heroes", "The Soldiers"; and the ghoulish displays at Shepperton Mallet.

As we have been embroiled in the two wars for a decade or so, there is no longer the excuse that people signed up because they wanted to learn a trade and do some politically correct UN 'peacekeeping'. Those joining the armed services, whilst not deserving what they get, certainly know what they are signing up to.

HTH!

Oh how very magnanimous of you. Now that you have placed your cards on the table it puts a whole different light on your assertion that they are "baby killers".
Always nice to get the views from the bottom rung of the evolutionary ladder.
Thanks for your valued input.

[BdP]

Oh how very magnanimous of you. Now that you have placed your cards on the table it puts a whole different light on your assertion that they are "baby killers".
Always nice to get the views from the bottom rung of the evolutionary ladder.
Thanks for your valued input.

No problem. I'm just so glad I have found a wonderful bunch of people who can debate serious issues rationally; without the need for personal abuse or petty, vindictive, South Devon inbreeding insults. Erm .....