More than 110 cruise missiles fired at Lybia

GDB2222

StevieJ wrote: »

He got put in his place by Quasar on this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3122216

Interesting. The earth's magnetic field switches direction, North to South and back again, quite frequently (in geological terms).

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

It's unlikely that is ever going to change, I agree.

I guess I wonder whether technology will be a game changer in terms of future conflicts.

The US have always been sensitive to seeing their servicemen and women shipped home in body bags since Vietnam (rightly so).

If you suddenly find yourself with the ability to wage conflict in remote parts of the world with remote automated capacity like drones, does it change the temptation to become the world's policeman on a more regular basis?

There would still be costs in going to war, presumably at least. I guess technology gets cheaper all the time so perhaps one day you'll be able to get a functional drone with a reasonable range for a few thousand or even a few hundred dollars.

Technology will be a game changer or at least it always has been. In these days of gunpowder and more powerful explosive devices, I wonder how many would feel that their local council should build a castle for their safety from invaders!

Perhaps there will come a point where the right to bear arms in the US Constitution becomes a worthwhile defence against an overbearing state once again. That really would change things. Try putting people in prison for using the wrong recycling bin then!

missile

I do wish the media would stop referring to them as "the opposition." They are Islamic Fundamentalists why on earth are we helping them?

In the late 1980s, Qadhafi began to pursue an anti-Islamic fundamentalist policy domestically, viewing fundamentalism as a potential rallying point for opponents of the regime

worldtraveller

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Time to buy shares in MisslesRus

Well, probably most people with a pension will have some investment in the likes of 'MisslesRus', eg. the likes of BAE Systems.



They've been doing quite nicely today!

mbga9pgf

So, have all the flip flop wearing guardianistas coming round to the idea of helping people who have been treated disgracefully, or can they actually come round to the idea that if you can help you should?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cb0_1299819531

Or do you think its ok for a state to be able to liquidate its people as it sees fit?

ninky_2

shortchanged wrote: »

I think the Tomahawks were dated Best Before March 2011.

So they only had until the end of the month to use them or they would have gone to landfill.

a rear admiral being interviewed yesterday suggested that there was a strong element of this being a political justification for keeping keeping them in our arsenal in the face of budget cuts. (although i guess now it is a case of replacing them since i don't suppose gaddafi will be sending them back in good as new condition).

N1AK

missile wrote: »

which will cost us millions that we can ill afford.

I would rather we spend the money helping the Japanese.

If we can't afford it then why are you suggesting we spend it elsewhere? At best it means you don't believe what your saying, at worst it means you've decided that the Japanese are more deserving of help than Libyians. Take into account that the Japanese can afford to fix their problems without international aid, and you clearly think the Libyians are much less deserving. Maybe you've got a decent reason for that; though I suspect the reason isn't half as decent as I'd like.

ninky_2

mbga9pgf wrote: »

So, have all the flip flop wearing guardianistas coming round to the idea of helping people who have been treated disgracefully, or can they actually come round to the idea that if you can help you should?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cb0_1299819531

Or do you think its ok for a state to be able to liquidate its people as it sees fit?

i'm no gaddafi lover but it's hardly liquitating the people. some libyans actually support gaddafi. there is no evidence that the 'rebels' are any better - just different (and various) vested interests.

if protestors in the uk were armed and behaving in the same way as the rebel factions in libya do you not think military forces would be mobilised against them? would that then give foreign governments the right to intervene?

it's clear our actions are not to create a ceasefire but rather to help an increase of fire towards gaddafi supporters.

ninky_2

missile wrote: »

I do wish the media would stop referring to them as "the opposition." They are Islamic Fundamentalists why on earth are we helping them?

we're not really. we're using them to weaken gaddaffi because we're then hoping to step in and get the spoils. unfortunately it's likely to backfire big time because the interests in this region are beyond our scope to control. just as we are now fighting the taliban who were supported in afghanistan to fight the russians we're likely to have to fight this 'opposition' ourselves in the future.

it just goes on and on and round and round.

btw i use the term 'we' loosely since i neither voted for this government nor the war they are now mongering.

ash28

mbga9pgf wrote: »

So, have all the flip flop wearing guardianistas coming round to the idea of helping people who have been treated disgracefully, or can they actually come round to the idea that if you can help you should?

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=cb0_1299819531

Or do you think its ok for a state to be able to liquidate its people as it sees fit?

There are other countries in the region that are killing their unarmed citizens (the Libyan rebels appear to be well armed) and we sit by while our client allies, like Saudi Arabia go in and help to suppress unarmed protesters.

Look at Yemen - there are tanks on the streets - is it time to intervene there?