Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging thinktanker, aspiring novelist, "tribal elder", 2019 parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, "Speedboat", "The Cockroach", eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
The Right Direction
When are we going to teach our Armed Forces where Iran is? Then they might not wash up there quite so often.
Radio 4 says that they are in the army. So that's two forces that shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the Persian Gulf. Another two years til the RAF are washed ashore in Iran too? It's not looking good for those who want a war against Iran. Fought by these guys? Mrs Ahmadiejad should be measuring up Buck House and Number 10 for curtains.
First the navy, now the army, it's too good a story to check or to stop repeating. Preventing the chaos and carnage of a war with Iran requires that this be passed on absolutely everywhere. The forces will thank us in the long run, for keeping them out of the unmitigated disaster of a war with Iran.
Someone with a false name (and I accept I'm in no position to criticise) claims that Radio Four said they were in the army. She gave no more information about this - was it a claim by a Radio Four presenter, or by an interviewee (if the latter, it doesn't count as a claim on the part of Radio Four)? What programme was it in, at what time? For now, I remain sceptical.
I must say, I like "it's too good a story to check or to stop repeating". The same is true of the story that Boris Johnson had a fling with Samantha Cameron 20 years ago and that this is the main cause of tensions between him and David Cameron. That's why I never check it or stop repeating it.
I heard the newsreaders say this several time this morning, too. But I expect that they have stopped now. No matter, the job is done.
And the point is sound, even if they were wrong on this fact. We couldn't win a war against Iran. So, anything that contributes to keeping us out of one, I suppose...
Newsreaders may have referred to them as "sailors". This is a word for naval personnel, and also for "people who sail". In the case of this story, it's an appropriate word because they were in a sailing boat. It should not be taken to imply that they are members of the Royal Navy. They are civilians and nobody except you, including the Iranians, is questioning this fact.
Uncle David, as I think we should all call him, has already settled down in some book-lined room with the first G&T of the evening while something definitely not on the menu at J.D. Weatherspoon is cooking away.
He is chuckling at the rest of us, armchair warriors with our Five Live/Talksport accents and views. From his own armchair he is emailing, Tweeting and Facebook messaging this paleocon peacenik meme to everyone on the right who opposed every war since 1997, the people who kept Britain out of Yugoslavia and Rwanda before that.
The pinstriped suits. The air of effortless superiority. He even has a Scottish surname but certainly not a Scottish accent. He is a very British institution. Our dear Uncle David.
So often? The last lot were detained in 2007.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
ReplyDeleteYou've been sitting on this comment for a while then. Still, topicality is overrated.
ReplyDeleteLearning to read a map isn't.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Are you putting me on, are am I putting you on? It's so difficult to tell.
ReplyDeleteI think we send them there on purpose to provoke this sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteBut never see it through?
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it...
Except the most recent batch aren't in fact military. One of them's a DJ, for crying out loud.
ReplyDeleteNot mutually exclusive.
ReplyDeleteNot mutually exclusive, no. Nevertheless, the most recent batch aren't military.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, these guys are civilians whose boat broke. This is kind of a major feature of the story.
ReplyDeleteRadio 4 says that they are in the army. So that's two forces that shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the Persian Gulf. Another two years til the RAF are washed ashore in Iran too? It's not looking good for those who want a war against Iran. Fought by these guys? Mrs Ahmadiejad should be measuring up Buck House and Number 10 for curtains.
ReplyDeleteNo jokes from the junior service this time, then?
ReplyDeleteSee how long that story lasts.
ReplyDeleteAuntie?
Are you claiming that these sailors are British military personnel? If so, what's your evidence for this?
ReplyDeleteRadio Four, no less. But, as I said, it's probably been removed by now. For much the reason that Auntie gave at 16:42, I fear.
ReplyDeleteStill, the lesson will have been learned - we couldn't begin to fight, never mind win, a war against Iran. Which is the main thing.
First the navy, now the army, it's too good a story to check or to stop repeating. Preventing the chaos and carnage of a war with Iran requires that this be passed on absolutely everywhere. The forces will thank us in the long run, for keeping them out of the unmitigated disaster of a war with Iran.
ReplyDeleteSomeone with a false name (and I accept I'm in no position to criticise) claims that Radio Four said they were in the army. She gave no more information about this - was it a claim by a Radio Four presenter, or by an interviewee (if the latter, it doesn't count as a claim on the part of Radio Four)? What programme was it in, at what time? For now, I remain sceptical.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
ReplyDeleteI must say, I like "it's too good a story to check or to stop repeating". The same is true of the story that Boris Johnson had a fling with Samantha Cameron 20 years ago and that this is the main cause of tensions between him and David Cameron. That's why I never check it or stop repeating it.
ReplyDeleteOn-topic, please.
ReplyDeleteI heard the newsreaders say this several time this morning, too. But I expect that they have stopped now. No matter, the job is done.
And the point is sound, even if they were wrong on this fact. We couldn't win a war against Iran. So, anything that contributes to keeping us out of one, I suppose...
Newsreaders may have referred to them as "sailors". This is a word for naval personnel, and also for "people who sail". In the case of this story, it's an appropriate word because they were in a sailing boat. It should not be taken to imply that they are members of the Royal Navy. They are civilians and nobody except you, including the Iranians, is questioning this fact.
ReplyDeleteOh, but they are now...
ReplyDeleteYou are not going to get your war against Iran. But then, you never were.
Just to clear that one up quickly, I really don't want a war against Iran.
ReplyDeleteUncle David, as I think we should all call him, has already settled down in some book-lined room with the first G&T of the evening while something definitely not on the menu at J.D. Weatherspoon is cooking away.
ReplyDeleteHe is chuckling at the rest of us, armchair warriors with our Five Live/Talksport accents and views. From his own armchair he is emailing, Tweeting and Facebook messaging this paleocon peacenik meme to everyone on the right who opposed every war since 1997, the people who kept Britain out of Yugoslavia and Rwanda before that.
The pinstriped suits. The air of effortless superiority. He even has a Scottish surname but certainly not a Scottish accent. He is a very British institution. Our dear Uncle David.