- Prime minister sends British troops to the middle east to overthrow an evil mass-murdering tyrant, with the support of parliament, because oil.
- Prime minister sends British troops to the middle east to support an evil mass-murdering tyrant, without the knowledge of parliament, because oil.
British involvement in overseas wars
British involvement in overseas wars
Compare and contrast:
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
My avatar was a scientific result that was later found to be 'mistaken' - I rarely claim to be 100% correct
ETA 5/8/20: I've been advised that the result was correct, it was the initial interpretation that needed to be withdrawn
Meta? I'd say so!
ETA 5/8/20: I've been advised that the result was correct, it was the initial interpretation that needed to be withdrawn
Meta? I'd say so!
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
I like oil. I think we should defend our oil supplies.
This is the cold war part of the Saudi wars - protecting against Iran-backed attacks. It's misleading to compare to hot war action.
This is the cold war part of the Saudi wars - protecting against Iran-backed attacks. It's misleading to compare to hot war action.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
They shouldn't have been there at all, but certainly not without parliamentary oversight.
Maybe "mercenary for hire" is a key pillar of Britain's post-brexit economic policy, along with selling weapons and trading fossil fuels.
(Yes, I know they seem to have lost a lot of money on this exercise, but I never said they were especially competent)
Maybe "mercenary for hire" is a key pillar of Britain's post-brexit economic policy, along with selling weapons and trading fossil fuels.
(Yes, I know they seem to have lost a lot of money on this exercise, but I never said they were especially competent)
We have the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment.
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
I always assume Britain has some sort of involvement in every conflict. If we could afford it we’d have boots on tge the ground. We’re a country hugely influenced by the military.
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Maybe. Though I do wonder how keen the average soldier is on the "dying in a hot sandy place far from home" bit which the recruitment ads refrain from mentioning.
And remember that if you botch the exit, the carnival of reaction may be coming to a town near you.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Billy Connolly:
I'm lyin' in bed, I'm in room twenty-six
Thinkin' on things that I've done
Like drinkin' wi' squaddies and bullin' my boots
I'm countin' the medals I've won
These hospital wards they're all drab lookin' joints
But the ceiling's as much as I see
It could do with a wee touch of paper or paint
But then again, maybe that's me
When I put my name down on the line
All that talk of computers and sunshine and skis
Oh, I'm askin' you, sergeant, where's mine
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
That's certainly one difference from the Iraq war: a brief mention on Radio 4 and a story in the Portsmouth News, and no-one knows anything more about it.
I'm just surprised we need to send them troops as well. They can't have used up all the stuff we've sold them in Yemen, surely?
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
We are, but a country that historically provides materiel to other countries to fight on the ground.
Have you considered stupidity as an explanation
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Troops are what the Saudis lack. Male Saudi citizens don’t want to be soldiers. It’s much more fun collecting sports cars. So the Saudis rely upon mercenaries. However they don’t want to rely upon mercenaries too much, as they might decide to take over. So the perfect solution is British squaddies. They’ll protect the oil fields but are very unlikely to mutiny.Sciolus wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:16 pmThat's certainly one difference from the Iraq war: a brief mention on Radio 4 and a story in the Portsmouth News, and no-one knows anything more about it.
I'm just surprised we need to send them troops as well. They can't have used up all the stuff we've sold them in Yemen, surely?
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Britain has, apparently, sold to the Saudis at least £16 billion worth of arms and associated services over the last five years. Sending troops to protect the Saudi oil is a nice loss leader and helps to ensure that the client won’t experience problems paying up.Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 2:24 pmThey shouldn't have been there at all, but certainly not without parliamentary oversight.
Maybe "mercenary for hire" is a key pillar of Britain's post-brexit economic policy, along with selling weapons and trading fossil fuels.
(Yes, I know they seem to have lost a lot of money on this exercise, but I never said they were especially competent)
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
gosh I feel gross just reading that
Only a couple of years left till I can cut up my passport, and tbh it's getting increasingly tempting.
Only a couple of years left till I can cut up my passport, and tbh it's getting increasingly tempting.
We have the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Yes, it’s all utterly corrupt. Here’s a link to where the £16 billion figure came from. https://caat.org.uk/homepage/stop-armin ... di-arabia/Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 10:54 pmgosh I feel gross just reading that
Only a couple of years left till I can cut up my passport, and tbh it's getting increasingly tempting.
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
My next door neighbours are Yemeni asylum seekers who fled the war. That £16bn has helped drive a humanitarian crisis and led to increased immigration, which seems like something this Govt would seek to avoid...
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
The answer isn't to confront the arms industry. It's to end the oil industry.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
I doubt that will end conflict, but it will remove some causes. More wars are coming because of global warming, disruption to water supplies will be massive when the ice caps melt off the Himalayas etc.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Nearly happened last year in Bolivia.Blackcountryboy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:05 amI wonder when we will have our first Lithium war.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
There will probably be lots of inter-communal conflict over declining or moving water resources. But there isn't much evidence that there will be full on wars over water.
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
No, but a lot of people may be forced to move.Woodchopper wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:54 pmThere will probably be lots of inter-communal conflict over declining or moving water resources. But there isn't much evidence that there will be full on wars over water.
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Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Certainly, but that will probably happen over a long time. What we are seeing in Nigeria and the Sahel is that migrations south by cattle herders are leading to conflict with farmers who are used to using the land and water resources for growing crops. There's a lot of conflict at the village level, but so far not something we'd call a war.Grumble wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:07 pmNo, but a lot of people may be forced to move.Woodchopper wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:54 pmThere will probably be lots of inter-communal conflict over declining or moving water resources. But there isn't much evidence that there will be full on wars over water.
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
If city populations are forced to move rather than farmers then there will be an intensification of problemsWoodchopper wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:10 pmCertainly, but that will probably happen over a long time. What we are seeing in Nigeria and the Sahel is that migrations south by cattle herders are leading to conflict with farmers who are used to using the land and water resources for growing crops. There's a lot of conflict at the village level, but so far not something we'd call a war.Grumble wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:07 pmNo, but a lot of people may be forced to move.Woodchopper wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:54 pm
There will probably be lots of inter-communal conflict over declining or moving water resources. But there isn't much evidence that there will be full on wars over water.
where once I used to scintillate
now I sin till ten past three
now I sin till ten past three
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
Wars over water would be more chaotic than wars over oil, because water moves and can be replenished with a rainstorm or two.
Re: British involvement in overseas wars
There's no global strategic interests in water wars. Why would anyone give a sh.t if Sudan invades Ethiopia to control a river?
We established entire countries to control our oil. We die if they stop delivering. We can't abandon our puppet rulers in Saudi etc to their deserved fate until we've ended our addiction.
We established entire countries to control our oil. We die if they stop delivering. We can't abandon our puppet rulers in Saudi etc to their deserved fate until we've ended our addiction.
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