Things Noticeable this week

[gedly]

My issue with terrorism is this... there is an inconvenient truth that is conveniently forgotten. The US and the other major powers have used terrorists to get what they want, as the Iran-Contra and Stalker affairs demonstrate very well.

[Greenman]

Originally Posted by old alal

It continues to happen GM, although only one incident in the UK since. Credit to our security Services, including the Police in general, and The Met in particular. I wonder if those Londoners who simply don't trust, or detest The Met as a whole actually realise the work done to keep them safe.

Indeed as I understand it, according to what Asst Dep Commissioner Mark Powley said, at least 40-50 threats have been stopped this year alone, which is far. far too many, but at least the Met are on the ball. I agree, it is about time these people think just what the Police do for the city and stop calling them names and saying they are the enemy of the people, when it is the terrorists that are the real enemy. I have good reason to remember today. My sister used to go by tube into Green Park near to where she worked and that morning we were waiting to hear from her - thankfully within an hour of the incident we heard from her and that she was okay. I hope that London stays safe for another 10 years and beyond.

[Wendigo]

Originally Posted by gedly

My issue with terrorism is this... there is an inconvenient truth that is conveniently forgotten. The US and the other major powers have used terrorists to get what they want, as the Iran-Contra and Stalker affairs demonstrate very well.

Yup, if you lie down with bastards you will get your fingers burned. I've no doubt that realpolitik means we have to deal with some unsavory specimens and the French Government have even dabbled in it itself when a couple of their brainless and not so special farces morons blew up the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand killing a photographer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkin...ainbow_Warrior

The French ensured their brave little soldiers got off very lightly.

[Greenman]

Errata: It should have read Assistant Commissioner not Deputy
The bombs were in Aldgate, Edgware Road, Tavistock Road and King's Cross.
40-50 threats thwarted since 7/7 NOT this year.
Sorry for any confusion that might have arisen.

[Dr Pepper]

Originally Posted by Wendigo

Yup, if you lie down with bastards you will get your fingers burned. I've no doubt that realpolitik means we have to deal with some unsavory specimens and the French Government have even dabbled in it itself when a couple of their brainless and not so special farces morons blew up the Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand killing a photographer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkin...ainbow_Warrior

The French ensured their brave little soldiers got off very lightly.

But those responsible got away with it-all we picked up-despite a massive police operation-was two of the support and recce crew-Alain Marfart and Dominique Prieur -the key players were long gone-as was the yacht 'Ouvea' which was the DGSE support vessel involved and scarpered very promptly-never to be seen again-no doubt scuttled somewhere between NZ and French Polynesia. Other than demonstrating the ineptness of the operation, the affair was a sharp lesson in real politik to NZ-especially to PM David Lange who grandstanded the whole aftermath. You don't dictate terms to a touchy major power like France when you're a minor world player like NZ-even when France was caught red handed with its fingers in the till.....

The two French agents were convicted on manslaughter charges, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment then transferred to French jurisdiction after serving barely 6 months in NZ custody. France threatened a complete trade ban on NZ access to the EU, and NZ capitulated-agreeing to the agents being detained on Hao Atoll in French Polynesia-from where they were released after barely two years....

[rotobott]

Originally Posted by Dr Pepper

But those responsible got away with it-all we picked up-despite a massive police operation-was two of the support and recce crew-Alain Marfart and Dominique Prieur -the key players were long gone-as was the yacht 'Ouvea' which was the DGSE support vessel involved and scarpered very promptly-never to be seen again-no doubt scuttled somewhere between NZ and French Polynesia. Other than demonstrating the ineptness of the operation, the affair was a sharp lesson in real politik to NZ-especially to PM David Lange who grandstanded the whole aftermath. You don't dictate terms to a touchy major power like France when you're a minor world player like NZ-even when France was caught red handed with its fingers in the till.....

The two French agents were convicted on manslaughter charges, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment then transferred to French jurisdiction after serving barely 6 months in NZ custody. France threatened a complete trade ban on NZ access to the EU, and NZ capitulated-agreeing to the agents being detained on Hao Atoll in French Polynesia-from where they were released after barely two years....

I was living in NZ at the time, it was a real shock, but what can you do, go over to France and blow yourself up, but seriously it did give a sense of how powerless a small country is against a major power, and the feelings of inadequacy it gives you.

[mizlaplan]

Originally Posted by rotobott

I was living in NZ at the time, it was a real shock, but what can you do, go over to France and blow yourself up, but seriously it did give a sense of how powerless a small country is against a major power, and the feelings of inadequacy it gives you.

A very good point
I'd imagine that many suicide bombers start out with feelings like you've described.
Post a few comments, come to the attention of radical bastards, be manipulated into thinking doing literally anything to strike back against the infidel is excusable.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by rotobott

I was living in NZ at the time, it was a real shock, but what can you do, go over to France and blow yourself up, but seriously it did give a sense of how powerless a small country is against a major power, and the feelings of inadequacy it gives you.

Perhaps the best choice for NZ, in hindsight, would have been to make these two French assassins simply vanish, never to be seen or heard of again.

[rotobott]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Perhaps the best choice for NZ, in hindsight, would have been to make these two French assassins simply vanish, never to be seen or heard of again.

No, they were never the main players, NZ just wanted the International community to play fair. France comitted a terrorist attack in a friendly country, a couple of minor players got prosecuted and slowly but surely they got away with it, prison, exile, and return home due to pregnancy or ill health as I remember.

[Dr Pepper]

I had a slight personal involvement post the unfortunate Rainbow Warrior affair-at one stage in my army career I was Commandant of SCE -the NZDF 'Services Corrective Establishment'-an official euphemism for 'the glasshouse' in UK parlance and 'the stockade' in US. The exact details need not concern us here-but there was a strong expectation at the time of the arrest of Prieur and Marfart that the French would try and spring the pair from NZ custody using a raid by special forces. To circumvent any such occurrence the pair were held in secure military custody at Ardmore SCE-situated very close to the NZSAS regimental HQ. Ardmore had never had to hold a female detainee before and this caused a degree of angst to ensure that everything about her incarceration was absolutely correct and above board.

Subsequently, SCE was relocated to the South Island, and a new modern facility constructed. The female section was officially titled the 'Dominique Prieur Wing' [there's a brass plaque at the entrance to the wing!] I used to permit myself a wry grin every time I passed the portal on my daily inspections as commandant, as I doubt she'd be pleased-or amused-at being commemorated in such a fashion.....