markjmd

iTrader: (11)

In actual fact, his election to lab-leader might have the exact opposite effect. There's talk that some or many on the moderate end of the party might use any upcoming vote on intervention in Syria as an early opportunity to give him a slap in the face, and back the Tories on it.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Sad fact is, Syria much like Iraq was a very stable and one of the better Muslim states, my best mate was a tour guide there for 5yrs (Explore Tours, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon Tour) he said the Syrians were very nice people and the country and hospitality was fantastic, he even hooked himself up with a few of the local girls, the place and people were really very liberal.

Right up until we got involved and de-stabilised the place, sounds familiar.

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

Eh? Get involved when, and how?

JTaylor

As above. In what way were we directly involved in Syria? If you mean we destabised Iraq and thus empowered IS you may have a point, but you don't appear to be saying that.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

We, as in the west, CIA, MI5,6,7,8 SAS corporations, arms manufactures or whatever, do you guys seriously think we had / have nothing to do with what's going on there????????

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

Syria didn't and doesn't live in an bubble completely cut off from the rest of the world, so yes, there may be western companies selling arms or non-armament goods to one or other or multiple sides in the conflict (although the Russians and various Middle-Eastern states are surely supplying far, far more), and yes, it's a near certainty that western security services have an interest in at least knowing what's really happening on the ground there (but again, they would be far from alone in this). That's still a very long way from saying that the west had a hand in starting the trouble that kicked off over there five years ago, or did anything significant to make matters worse in the time since.

neil-h

There we go. From memory it was a similar involvement to the action that took place in/over Libya.

jonc

From what I remember the Syrian Civil war initially started with protests against the the Syrian government on the back of the Arab Spring uprising which then escalated into full blown anti government mass demonstations. The West didn't destablise Syria. The West intervened when the Syrian government started killing their civilians en masse. Also I think the Syrian military use Russian manufactured weaponry, not Western, though I disagree with the arming rebels with western military. The situation in Syria is very complex with many unpredictable outcomes.

Petem95

Maybe we're on the same page after all! I agree that genuine refugees should be helped, but this represents only a small proportion of the vast and ever increasing numbers now entering and making their way to Europe.

It's frightening to look forward into the future at the almost exponential population growth across vast areas of the globe (Africa currently has a population of 1.1billion - but is forecast to reach 11.2billion by 2100) which are both very poor and with very unstable geopolitical situations. Unless their situations improve we'll have even more vast numbers wanting to get to Europe, but do Western countries really have the ability to help everyone in the globe? Of course they don't, so it's very difficult knowing how to resolve this.

All we are doing at the moment is making Europe weaker by adding more people who are dependant on government, and increasing instability by letting in groups that don't integrate. I don't have kids, but I feel sorry for those whose futures are going to be bleak as a result of crazy liberal policy/cultural genocide.

dpb

You seem terribly worried about africans invading , in particular , I don't see that big a proportion ont telly?? Where are you getting those figures from as well?

That's a crazy figure .To sustain that many their economy would have to go into warp force......

Unless, yes africa is indeed going to explode in the next 90 years


,( and this place a backwater )

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

And you seem dreadfully defensive of them, it's almost like you paid for and imported one

Petem95

It's just not sustainable, there'll likely be widespread famine, political unrest, lack of basic resources, conflict - much like today, just on a much larger scale. What will Europe be like in 2100, that's the real question.. if we continue on the current trajectory we'll simply be absorbed into that mess.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Not picking on you in particular.

But seriously and really, seriously, do you and others honestly think that noting went on in the back ground BEFORE all this kicked off, maybe like promises of help with training and weapons.

Oh wait a moment, what was that in neil's post.

dpb

Africa has gargantuan resources you know ? or maybe you don't, even after we've had them over and the Chinese as well. Honestly the place will explode in the next 50 years

Petem95

Yes but you don't dig up uranium and diamonds when you're starving and dying of thirst do you?

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Diamond value is artificial, they're not rare, and appear in many places around the world, ex USSR being one of the areas that have vast quantities, de beers control the market. Africa won't be allowed to flood the market and reduce the value, well they haven't been allowed to for the last 150yrs so why would that change in the next 50.

There's also loads of oil in many other places, but the powers that be are just letting the Arabs use all theirs up before they start using their own reserves.

Check out the Florida keys as an example, few years back they had the largest know oil reserves in the world.

madscoob

iTrader: (3)

KNOWN oil reserves

jods

What?

Maybe I missed your follow up comments as I'm struggling to see easily on a poxy iPhone 6.

Did you really mean to say that the colour of your skin makes it impossible for you to hold stylised views of people that are born in different countries?

Is your skin somehow your organ of thinking?

Bit odd if you ask me.
I'm getting on a bit now. Will hit the half century next June. I can tell you that racism is nothing to do with skin colour, it is just down to intolerance of the new and unknown.

Anyone can be intolerant. Not just Whitey Honkies or bone nosed spear chuckers

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

What the WP article doesn't tell you is the vast chasm of difference in the scale of that assistance (relative to what was given in Lybia), and just as importantly the length of time that unfolded before it started to be given.

dpb

It certainly happens.

Anyway diamonds - Small beer,relatively , even if they do have more than anywhere else

An0n0m0us

that brightened up my Monday morning

Ian

iTrader: (10)

http://news360.com/article/311820821

dpb

Not come across that app. before


Seems like an aggregate of opinion

dpb

For balance need bit of UK media, bit of aljeezera, bit of cnn

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Yes your correct in that and I would confess to being intolerant of certain things myself, other peoples presumptions being one of them.

JackClark

Umm, since when have the Italian Police worked in Germany?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Do your research properly, please:

Italian Police, "Polizia" wear blue.
German Police, "Polizei" wear dark green.

Have another look now?

Petem95

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-10495082.html

Interesting that Saudi Arabia are unwilling to accept refugees from Syria, but are happy to fund a massive mosque building program in Germany for the wave of muslim immigration into the country.

So we currently have 'multiculturalism', but what happens when a rapidly expanding group with very high birth rates becomes the dominant culture through sheer weight of numbers? Doesn't take too much imagination to realise how things would shape out.

This is why multiculturalism doesn't work as it allows intolerant cultures to take root, and as soon as they become the dominant culture everyone else has to abide to their requirements. I guess prior to this happening in Europe we will seeing ever increasing emigration rates of non-muslims probably to countries like Australia, US and maybe even Russia and parts of Asia.

Edit - just read 'IFTIKHAR AHMED's' comment under the article in the above link!

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

I'm not sure interesting is the word I'd use, downright bizarre is more like it

dpb

So 20k muslims , assuming theyre all muslims ,will rapidly displace the present population both in numbers and culture ?

theyd have to be going at it day and night!