Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

thanks stan .... that made me chuckle greatly :-)

Thought it might -):

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-fortifies-raqqa-as-it-braces-for-an-international-assault-on-its-syrian-stronghold-a6744916.html

Isis fortifies Raqqa as it braces for an international assault on its Syrian stronghold
The group has reportedly shut off the internet, ramped up conscription efforts and is building a network of tunnels and bunkers as its digs in for a potential siege

The Isis militant group is reportedly fortifying its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa ahead of an expected backlash from the international community in the wake of the Paris attacks.

France has redoubled its air strikes on Raqqa following the atrocity in the French capital and, with Britain preparing to set out a “comprehensive plan” to combat Isis this week, efforts to strike the group at its heart are growing.

On the ground, loosely allied Kurdish and other rebel forces – backed by the US-led anti-Isis coalition, have gathered just 20 miles to the north.
In recent weeks they have proven their capabilities on the battlefield, with the Sinjar offensive shutting off a key supply route between Raqqa and Isis’s Iraqi command centre in Mosul.

The response from Isis has been to dig in. Defensive bunkers and tunnels are being built around Raqqa, a city of around 350,000.

Some reports say that ISIS leadership have already scarped from Raqqa, leaving a "civilian" population behind.

I would have thought that would be more probable than staying in an area where they are outgunned.

Jeremy Corbyn not enjoying a lot of support during the Prime Minister's Security & Defence Statement today.

if fred knows, there's a reasonable chance that the intelligence guys know too
also, one has to ask how many of the remaining raqqa "residents" are other than IS fighters or sympathisers

fred will remember stalingrad

I don't remember Stalingrad, mainly cos I wasn't around.

What happened re: residents?

They survived in the main. They ended up eating horses, dogs, rats etc due to the siege.

Eating horses eh? just like today then in some places.

Stalingrad 1942-43

"A massive German strategic bombing on 23 August caused a firestorm, killing thousands and turning Stalingrad into a vast landscape of rubble and burnt ruins. Ninety percent of the living space in the Voroshilovskiy area was destroyed. Between 23 and 26 August, Soviet reports indicate 955 people were killed and another 1,181 wounded as a result of the bombing.[3]:p.73 Casualties of 40,000 were greatly exaggerated,[6]:p.188–189 and after 25 August, the Soviets did not record any civilian and military casualties as a result of air raids.[Note 4]"

What % of the 350,000 (mainly civilians) is an acceptable proportion to kill in order to say the UK took part?

I don't suppose killing a few foreigners counts.


I would suggest some may listen to John Simpson report on BBC 1 news tonight and reconsidered.

Suggest that J. Corbyn's views are more in the real world than Cameron.

Listen to the lying which is going on about preparedness for WAR and the AFTERMATHS and costs.

Whose feet are going to be on the ground?

Can we see what Cameron and lackeys are proposing, the plans and costs and guess work to actual results.

Also, with so many are leaving the forces and all the spitfires mothballed what weapons are being prepared.

I am not saying that we should not be involved militarily in Syria or assisting with others in Syria, but let us see what Cameron with his strutting is leading the sheep into.

He is a bloody menace.
-=-====

Some good news re the NHS (I think) posted up by BigT20 across the road:



NHS to get a £3.8Bn cash increase next financial year (start 6th April 2016):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34905801


And they have already had:
... '£1.8bn extra ministers gave the NHS this year'


and they may save £1Bn over three years by having a cap on agency costs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34877794

--> I believe central government may have finally relaxed the stupid rules on blocking
the appointment of qualified nurse from non EU countries.

action in syria etc
i haven't read it yet, but it's almost certainly worth reading
despite its perceived bias, the guardian often has very good, interesting and balanced articles

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/23/five-tests-military-action-syria-david-cameron-islamic-state?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H&utm_term=139177&subid=8674302&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/23/five-tests-military-action-syria-david-cameron-islamic-state?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H&utm_term=139177&subid=8674302&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

Good God,

Please make Manuel take care.

He is reading


The Guardian.

And getting converted to sense!


8-)

I agree with Alf..I said.. -):

I'm going to print his post off Fred before he changes it through embarrassment.

Unidentified warplane shot down in Syria , by Turkey . someones going to cop it now .

did you watch panorama last night why have they not been arrested and deported
our gov are failing to rid our streets of the scum

Yes i did and what the f..k are we doing ? why is this going on !!!!!!!!!

jimmy and getting grants to do their evil work .
its down to having muslims as mps

Do you mean c4 ISIS WIVES .