Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
I think Sunak has some good ideas and some pretty terrible ones. He's much like any other UK prime minister in that regard. I think he's well enough intentioned but some ideas work better on paper than they do in practice. The unworkable Rwanda scheme is definitely the worst of his ideas. As a policy it's a hugely expensive mess and a legal minefield too and it won't result in one person being deported. The problem really has to be dealt with at the source - in France where the gangs are exploiting asylum seekers and refugees. The National Service idea is about 50 years too late and even the military say conscription should only be an option in a time of real pressing national emergency. One volunteer is worth ten pressed men, as they say.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
My impression from Norway these days is that (especially) the army is so small and needs such a small part of each year's potential conscripts that the boys and girls getting called in are more or less volunteers anyway. Other than major wars the UK hasn't really needed a large army and relied more on the navy and air force, so the same would apply to them. Conscripts are also an excellent pool to recruit professional soldiers.
My Military service was a long time ago: much of it Territorial Army (UK), much of it largely because I needed a job and they said 'yes'. No war stories; my late Uncle Mike was with the original Parachute Regiment that went into Holland to fight an SS-Regiment, so you'll see anything I've seen and done pales by comparison. Still, I've got some scars, parachuting injuries, the odd whack to the nut with blunt objects and a slice from a blade once - walking is a b*stard and I have appalling short-term memory, hearing you'd associate with an old duffer with one of those Victorian ear trumpets... but at the risk of sounding like a 'Walt' I did some courses, learned to drive RAPIDLY and discovered a lifelong passion for Communications, even got a Ham Radio licence off the back of it. Glad to be here; but then again I'm the luckiest man alive. I've spoken - many times, to the Old Boys with chestfuls of tin, trust me, I'm delighted not to have had to earn any of them after hearing some of their stories. THEY served their country, I can make no such claim.
The weather is really strange. These photos are are of the Norwegian rangers on the border of Russia, where the red circle on the map is. You know, north of Sweden and most of Finland:
Here they are, standing guard just meters from the Russian border.
And here they are again, trying too cool off in a lake:
The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman sailing past Oscarsborg coastal fortress on it's way to Oslo harbour. The ship is now in Oslo.
In 1940 Oscarsborg managed to skink the German navy cruiser Blücher. The sinking of Blücher made it possible to evacuate the royal family, the cabinet, the parliament and the gold reserve.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who's still in the army, looks effortlessly cool in this photo. To be fair she isn't a paratrooper, she only tried the jump tower. Still, a great photo!
She also got to fly the F16 (in the passenger seat):
Comments
I think it's only fair that politicians should reflect the people who they represent. 😁
😂
I think Sunak has some good ideas and some pretty terrible ones. He's much like any other UK prime minister in that regard. I think he's well enough intentioned but some ideas work better on paper than they do in practice. The unworkable Rwanda scheme is definitely the worst of his ideas. As a policy it's a hugely expensive mess and a legal minefield too and it won't result in one person being deported. The problem really has to be dealt with at the source - in France where the gangs are exploiting asylum seekers and refugees. The National Service idea is about 50 years too late and even the military say conscription should only be an option in a time of real pressing national emergency. One volunteer is worth ten pressed men, as they say.
Yes, this is true. For example in WWII an Italian volunteer would easily be worth more than ten Finnish conscripts. 😁
Still an Italian though. 😉
My impression from Norway these days is that (especially) the army is so small and needs such a small part of each year's potential conscripts that the boys and girls getting called in are more or less volunteers anyway. Other than major wars the UK hasn't really needed a large army and relied more on the navy and air force, so the same would apply to them. Conscripts are also an excellent pool to recruit professional soldiers.
My Military service was a long time ago: much of it Territorial Army (UK), much of it largely because I needed a job and they said 'yes'. No war stories; my late Uncle Mike was with the original Parachute Regiment that went into Holland to fight an SS-Regiment, so you'll see anything I've seen and done pales by comparison. Still, I've got some scars, parachuting injuries, the odd whack to the nut with blunt objects and a slice from a blade once - walking is a b*stard and I have appalling short-term memory, hearing you'd associate with an old duffer with one of those Victorian ear trumpets... but at the risk of sounding like a 'Walt' I did some courses, learned to drive RAPIDLY and discovered a lifelong passion for Communications, even got a Ham Radio licence off the back of it. Glad to be here; but then again I'm the luckiest man alive. I've spoken - many times, to the Old Boys with chestfuls of tin, trust me, I'm delighted not to have had to earn any of them after hearing some of their stories. THEY served their country, I can make no such claim.
The weather is really strange. These photos are are of the Norwegian rangers on the border of Russia, where the red circle on the map is. You know, north of Sweden and most of Finland:
Here they are, standing guard just meters from the Russian border.
And here they are again, trying too cool off in a lake:
My favourite ‘recruitment’ ad:
Meanwhile, my military service was a lot of this:
https://youtu.be/1qW8-u_ZKBQ?si=WUyOAfU33P79O63l
Hush! Don't tell them it's not like Top Gun 24/7 ..🫡🤫😂
This year the Swedish armed forces are getting issued with the new NCU uniform. The picture shows a member of the Gotland regiment:
The aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman sailing past Oscarsborg coastal fortress on it's way to Oslo harbour. The ship is now in Oslo.
In 1940 Oscarsborg managed to skink the German navy cruiser Blücher. The sinking of Blücher made it possible to evacuate the royal family, the cabinet, the parliament and the gold reserve.
Dynamic Front 2024 Rovajärvi Finland.
-Mr Arlington Beech
In Rovaniemi? Any noise complaints from Santa Clause yet?
Whaddya know!!!
-Mr Arlington Beech
Nope! Santa loves artillery.
-Mr Arlington Beech
More from Rovaniemi.
-Mr Arlington Beech
I didn't know this! It's incredible what you learn in AJB. 😀
It must be great for the British army to train with an army with a a much bigger artillery branch. 🙂
Last one, I promise...
-Mr Arlington Beech
It's swabbies turn....
https://youtu.be/v24z-3sQ3a0?si=UWmN7engmwFQRcNI
-Mr Arlington Beech
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who's still in the army, looks effortlessly cool in this photo. To be fair she isn't a paratrooper, she only tried the jump tower. Still, a great photo!
She also got to fly the F16 (in the passenger seat):