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.

JB, Seems wound up enough!

8-)


-=-=-===

Russia was warned earlier by Turkey.

It may be a deliberate action on the part of Turkey's Government to put a division between "West" and Russia rather than a "mistake".

Wonder what Russia is considering as a response!

Well they did destroy Erdogans sons oil tankers supplying ISIS with oil so I suppose .

VIC , they don't have jobs ,you are paying for them .

Manuel,

I had noticed with surprise.

I thought there is still time for you to reform.

I have to admit I read the Guardian or some of it on line.

Must admit I feel a bit of embarrassment doing so and considering a donation.

-0-0-0-

Interesting comment on the pilots of the down Russian plane may be held as hostages.

How will that play at home for Putin.

UMMH.

-=-=-=-==

JB,

You and the tinker seem to be printing "hate" on this thread and are tolerated.

Manuel,

Looking at The Syrian problem from a "safe" distance it strikes me as a bloody confusion.

One thing I was taught when younger was when everything seemed confused about me was to sit back and think.

Sometimes a pattern could be seen in the confusion making the problems easier to resolve.

That seems to be going on at the moment.

Fools rush in where other fear to tread.

fred - the humanitarian aspect of transit camps within europe is fine ..... unfortunately, the idea is badly flawed thanks to the murderous intent of the few

on the other hand, the concept of transit camps in/around syria itself is surely a far better concept, for at least those seeking asylum (all of them!) can be screened with at least some degree of thoroughness and accuracy

=============

who are the current suspects for shooting down this russian military jet - and in turkish air space?
at time of writing, nothing has been confirmed

turkey avoid do not go their for hols its not safe you risk being killed

the turkish border with syria has long been a danger zone, so nothing new there at all
however, there is no good reason to shun anywhere west of say antalya ...... no more risk there than going to somewhere like dubai

I've no doubt Fred is giving his usual love a terrorist and free speech crap after reading the posts on the channel 4 programme this morning .

surprisingly not .... he's actually being quite sensible for once, even if i don't necessarily agree with his viewpoint - and yes, there are of course the usual stupid anti-tory snipes, but those i just glide past

turkey is not safe any one with a brain would not go its now a war zone
remember Tunisia well turkey is in more danger to tourists
and with todays action says they support Islamic terrorists

probably a lot safer than your local kebab van!

would never buy the shit

my self and many friends have boycotted Thomas cook merkel as killed them

the usa telling uk to avoid muslim countries

Britain is not safe !!!

This is the combination we need right now ......

From the BBC

The Turkish military have reportedly shot down a Russian military aircraft on the border with Syria.

Russia's defence ministry said an Su-24 had crashed on Syrian territory after being hit by fire from the ground, and that its pilots had managed to eject.
But Turkish military officials said Turkish F-16s had shot down the plane after repeatedly warning its pilots they were violating Turkish airspace.
Video footage showed the plane crashing into mountains in Latakia province.

Russia launched an air campaign to bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in late September.
Pilot 'captured'
The Russian defence ministry confirmed on Tuesday morning that a Russian Su-24 had "crashed on Syrian territory, having been hit from the ground" while it was flying at an altitude of 6,000m (19,685ft).
"Efforts are being made to ascertain what happened to the pilots. According to preliminary reports, the pilots have managed to self-eject," the ministry was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

A feared incident
This is exactly the kind of incident that many have feared since Russia launched its air operations in Syria. The dangers of operating near to the Turkish border have been all too apparent. Turkish planes have already shot down at least one Syrian air force jet and possibly a helicopter as well.
Russia insists that its warplane did not violate Turkish air space. So, was the Russian pilot's navigation wrong? Questions will also be asked about the readiness of the Turks to open fire.

It suggests that the much discussed arrangements to avoid incidents between warplanes over Syria are inadequate. The Turkish authorities will no doubt claim that such arrangements do not cover the approaches to their own airspace where tried and tested procedures should apply.
There are conflicting reports as to whether it was ground fire or Turkish jets that brought down the Russian plane. Air operations in the crowded skies over Syria just got a good deal more complicated. The only mitigating factor is that initial reports suggest that two parachutes were seen so the Russian crew at least got out of their stricken aircraft. Expect diplomatic fireworks.

The ministry stressed that "throughout its flight, the aircraft remained exclusively above Syrian territory", adding: "Objective monitoring data shows it."
However, Turkish military officials said its F-16s had fired on an unidentified aircraft after warning it 10 times in the space of five minutes about violating Turkish airspace.The Turkish military have reportedly shot down a Russian military aircraft on the border with Syria.

Russia's defence ministry said an Su-24 had crashed on Syrian territory after being hit by fire from the ground, and that its pilots had managed to eject.
But Turkish military officials said Turkish F-16s had shot down the plane after repeatedly warning its pilots they were violating Turkish airspace.
Video footage showed the plane crashing into mountains in Latakia province.
Follow the latest updates here
Russia launched an air campaign to bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in late September.

This is exactly the kind of incident that many have feared since Russia launched its air operations in Syria. The dangers of operating near to the Turkish border have been all too apparent. Turkish planes have already shot down at least one Syrian air force jet and possibly a helicopter as well.
Russia insists that its warplane did not violate Turkish air space. So, was the Russian pilot's navigation wrong? Questions will also be asked about the readiness of the Turks to open fire.
It suggests that the much discussed arrangements to avoid incidents between warplanes over Syria are inadequate. The Turkish authorities will no doubt claim that such arrangements do not cover the approaches to their own airspace where tried and tested procedures should apply.
There are conflicting reports as to whether it was ground fire or Turkish jets that brought down the Russian plane. Air operations in the crowded skies over Syria just got a good deal more complicated. The only mitigating factor is that initial reports suggest that two parachutes were seen so the Russian crew at least got out of their stricken aircraft. Expect diplomatic fireworks.
The ministry stressed that "throughout its flight, the aircraft remained exclusively above Syrian territory", adding: "Objective monitoring data shows it."
However, Turkish military officials said its F-16s had fired on an unidentified aircraft after warning it 10 times in the space of five minutes about violating Turkish airspace..... more

stan I am going to texas next may for 4 weeks really looking forward to that
been before but only for a few days great place to go to laid back and friendly folk

you're more than welcome to it
i think it's the pits and am delighted that my co-director has taken over the chore of visiting our office there

mind you, you should certainly feel at home as they're gun-happy

btw, by may, the weather is likely to have turned very hot and humid as well