Scrutable

If (or when) Ukraine forms an International Brigade of volunteers, who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

I know a bloke called Eric Blair, policeman and freelance writer, he's heading out there to fight.

Just seen a guy on a Sky News clip. Speaks into the intercom at the (I think) Ukrainian embassy and says:

“Err we’ve come to join the Ukrainian army or whatever they’re called” Turns around and speaks to mate “What they called?” Turns back “the Foreign Legion”.

When asked by the journalist why he was applying he said “why not “

This won’t end well

lpm wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:19 pm who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

Not. 'Cos I'm over 70 and walk with a stick. Can't imagine I'd be much use in anyone's army.

I would prefer not to.

btw, apparently women make better snipers than men

I would do but I'm baking bread

lpm wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:19 pm If (or when) Ukraine forms an International Brigade of volunteers, who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

I know a bloke called Eric Blair, policeman and freelance writer, he's heading out there to fight.

Is he related to Tony Blair?

noggins wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:04 pm I would prefer not to.

btw, apparently women make better snipers than men

Ukraine seem to be winning in the court of opinion by effective use of their female contingent in propaganda https://twitter.com/backwoodsbob1/statu ... 21248?s=21

I couldn’t hit the inside of a barn with a machine gun so I doubt if I would be much use

El Pollo Diablo wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:12 pm I would do but I'm baking bread

Ukraine produces a tenth of the world’s wheat so if you don’t volunteer to shoot some Russians now it could impinge on your ability to make crusty bloomers

Lew Dolby wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:02 pm

lpm wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:19 pm who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

Not. 'Cos I'm over 70 and walk with a stick. Can't imagine I'd be much use in anyone's army.

In twenty years there might be a sitcom about how folks like us answered the call, went to central Europe and had hilarious misadventures, but right now it's not funny.

lpm wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:19 pm If (or when) Ukraine forms an International Brigade of volunteers, who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

I know a bloke called Eric Blair, policeman and freelance writer, he's heading out there to fight.

Hope he comes back in one piece, perhaps he'll write up his own accounts akin to "Homage to Catalonia".

I would sign up but I've already joined the Womens Auxiliary Balloon Corps.

Herainestold wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:14 pm

lpm wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:19 pm If (or when) Ukraine forms an International Brigade of volunteers, who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

I know a bloke called Eric Blair, policeman and freelance writer, he's heading out there to fight.

Is he related to Tony Blair?

Whooosh

JQH wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:56 pm

Herainestold wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 3:14 pm

lpm wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:19 pm If (or when) Ukraine forms an International Brigade of volunteers, who here is signing up?

If not, why not?

I know a bloke called Eric Blair, policeman and freelance writer, he's heading out there to fight.

Is he related to Tony Blair?

Whooosh

and splatted against the James Webb Space Telescope it was so far above their head.

I've some military training (Army Reserves), but my knees are f.cked, plus I have family. This is something a 25 year old me might just have been stupid/idealistic* enough to have signed up for.

* take you pick.

What does Ukraine stand for, though? Other than not being invaded?

People join causes they're attracted to as much as they want to repel things they're against. It's easy to see the appeal of Islam or socialism, but other than President Zendaya being a badass what part of Ukrainian ideology would folk be signing up to?

Bird on a Fire wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:07 am What does Ukraine stand for, though? Other than not being invaded?

People join causes they're attracted to as much as they want to repel things they're against. It's easy to see the appeal of Islam or socialism, but other than President Zendaya being a badass what part of Ukrainian ideology would folk be signing up to?

Defending people from invaders. Obviously I'm not going - my fully tracked wheelchair's still just a few concept drawings at this point. In all seriousness, though, fit combat veterans/military trained people only.

I do wonder though - again not for myself, what with the nearly housebound thing - if there's ways people can volunteer to help refugees. It's not that all of that work is low skilled, some of requires lots of training and experience, but some of it is things like "give each person one bowl of soup" or "carry this stuff over there". Military work is very often like that too, of course, but you can't send people to do it without training them basic things like how to react when under fire, how to recognise friendlies and not shoot them, and so on.

Loads of opportunities to defend people from invaders though. It's a good way to get drone striked. Listen to the wrong groomers and you end up stateless.

I don't know that Ukraine has the USP that Catalonia did. It's far away and the politics is confusing.

Bird on a Fire wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:24 am Loads of opportunities to defend people from invaders though. It's a good way to get drone striked. Listen to the wrong groomers and you end up stateless.

I don't know that Ukraine has the USP that Catalonia did. It's far away and the politics is confusing.

Well whatever you might think of that, there's people going. I've been looking at the feed of someone who's already there as a medic, and who is organising funding to get volunteers there, ex-military/medic only, giving details of what to pack, even what calibre of gun to bring based on ammunition availability. Some ex-IDF people going too, I think, they've got training, they like Zelensky, they detest Putin and the whole situation reminds them of 48/67/73.

Is it legal for Britons to go and join a non UK army?

Herainestold wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:55 am Is it legal for Britons to go and join a non UK army?

It doesn't seem to be illegal... French Foreign Legion. Our armed forces also accept some non-UK nationals.

Herainestold wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:55 am Is it legal for Britons to go and join a non UK army?

They didn't use the foreign enlistment act against the scum that went to join ISIS, so it's pretty safe to assume it won't be used against people fighting against fascists invading a country we are arming.

Also, you have unanswered questions about China's mass detention and abuse of Uyghurs, coward.

Herainestold wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:55 am Is it legal for Britons to go and join a non UK army?

Yes, it is legal and quite common. For example young men with dual nationality may be required to do military service (in the non-UK country).

Would be another matter if someone were to join an army fighting against the UK or an ally.

Herainestold wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 5:55 am Is it legal for Britons to go and join a non UK army?

Wasn't Truss actively supporting the idea? - although she probably doesn't know what the laws actually are.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60544838

I recall a story from the 90s of an idealistic, if none too-bright, 18-year old Brit who decided to volunteer for the Bosnians on the basis the Serbs were "basically Communists".

However his geography wasn't any better than his grasp of Balkan ethnonationalism so he turned up at Belgrade Airport and proudly told the bemused Serbian border guards that he was there to sign-up for the Bosnian Army.

Not sure what else to do with him, the Serbs directed him towards Bosnia and after a bewildering series of intermediate stops he eventually arrived in Bosnia.

I think the Bosnians took one look at him before kindly sticking him on the first plane back to his mum, hopefully a little wiser for his adventure.

EACLucifer wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:45 am

Bird on a Fire wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 1:24 am Loads of opportunities to defend people from invaders though. It's a good way to get drone striked. Listen to the wrong groomers and you end up stateless.

I don't know that Ukraine has the USP that Catalonia did. It's far away and the politics is confusing.

Well whatever you might think of that, there's people going. I've been looking at the feed of someone who's already there as a medic, and who is organising funding to get volunteers there, ex-military/medic only, giving details of what to pack, even what calibre of gun to bring based on ammunition availability. Some ex-IDF people going too, I think, they've got training, they like Zelensky, they detest Putin and the whole situation reminds them of 48/67/73.

Really? Wow - what an impressive lack of self-awareness.

Bird on a Fire wrote: Tue Mar 01, 2022 9:24 am Really? Wow - what an impressive lack of self-awareness.

Why? 2/3 wars were defensive and 1/3 arguably legitimate pre-emptive action

You may have a point of if Ukraine wins, and uses victory to expand.

Just the whole "this reminds me of something fifty years ago" rather than "this reminds me of something right now" thing. (I'd be surprised if many if them are old enough to remember 1973.) Tanks rolling into towns full of civilians near Israel has happened a lot more recently than 1973 lol.

It's amazing how much "not being Muslim" affects people's perception of violence.