|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
|
OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
Going back to finish the story behind the weaponise thread, the guys with the ricin apparently went to Manchester and, as a result of ‘intelligence’, the police went to arrest what they were told was one guy. Turned out there were three one of whom broke free, got hold of a carving knife, killed one policeman and injured three others before being subdued. Seems the one who died was a detective and they do not usually wear body armour. I guess had there been just the one he wouldn’t have got into the action.
This word 'intelligence' seems misapplied sometimes.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
In this story "intelligence" was a buzzword for "information". I can well imagine that the
average Brit must bitterly regret the influx of so many bad eggs into UK.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
I heard about that on the news, dxb--sad. But what I'd like to know is how the spy community came to use the word intelligence, meaning, at least some of the time, secret information. I suppose I can see it if you see one meaning of 'intelligence' as 'knowledge of facts', but. It still strikes me as odd, given the much wider use of the term in a different way.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
In Jane Austen's novels, intelligence has its present-day meaning of mental ability, but it also meant news. For example:
"Are you well, my Emma?" was Mrs. Weston's parting question.
"Oh! perfectly. I am always well, you know. Be sure to give me intelligence of the letter as soon as possible."
Emma
Bingley
Bingley
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679 |
I can well imagine that the average Brit must bitterly regret the influx of so many bad eggs into UK.
I am sure that in Britain (as in many other countries besides) there were plenty of bad eggs there to start with. Terrorism is a personal philosophy - not a national one. These terrorists were Algerian but they number a few of the total population. In the bloody civil war in Algeria which still rages after more than a decade and which receives little or no mention in the press ordinary civilians are still massacred at the hands of their 'countrymen' not in the name of terrorism but to control power. Their tactics are terror so this bungs them in with the rest of the world's terrorists. The answer to this perpetual strife is not simple and is definitely not 'bomb the hell out of the country'. This will affect the ordinary person more than it does the terrorist. And this rationale applies to all countries - including Iraq. No, most of all Iraq.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872 |
The answer to this perpetual strife is not simple and is definitely not 'bomb the hell out of the country'. This will affect the ordinary person more than it does the terrorist. And this rationale applies to all countries - including Iraq. No, most of all Iraq.
Gosh Rubrick it's not like we're firebombing Dresden. We (The US and Great Britain) have no desire to colonize. If you lived in Iraq without hope under a madman who rules by a reign of abject terror would you not like the steel boot of tyranny removed from your country's head?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833 |
would you not like the steel boot of tyranny removed from your country's head?
[leaping-in-e] Um...no. Not at any cost, anyway.
Besides which, I tend to believe it ain't up to the rest of the world to leap into other countries and tell them how to run things. Everyone sees things differently. If Iraqis are happy with the way things are in Iraq, who are the States and the UK to tell Iraq they're wrong?
Besides....Reigns of terror don't last. The people get fed up with them and deal with them in a nation-specific appropriate manner. Outside influences are unable to do this because they just don't understand the culture of the places they are determined to "fix."
Or something like that.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872 |
If Iraqis are happy with the way things are in Iraq, who are the States and the UK to tell Iraq they're wrong?
Think. The Iraquis have no way to choose happy. God bless you in your innocence.
Milo.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679 |
Gosh Rubrick it's not like we're firebombing Dresden. We (The US and Great Britain) have no desire to colonize. If you lived in Iraq without hope under a madman who rules by a reign of abject terror would you not like the steel boot of tyranny removed from your country's head?
Milum,
1. It may be worse than firebombing Dresden. We have yet to see and undoubtedly be proved right.
2. I never mentioned colonisation. But puppet government seems more apt.
3. I don't live in Iraq and neither do you so why are you asking me? It is an empty question not even worthy of debate because we have no idea what it is like living in such conditions. Why don't you ask the Iraqis what they think? If they are happy with their lot then what's the problem? If they are not then let them sort it out for themselves.
Speaking of madmen ruling with abject terror let me tell you a story about a young lad from Texas who became the most powerful leader of the world without being elected by a mandate from the masses and who used a single event to trigger a draconian crackdown on naturalised citizens in his own country and to attack countries he just didn't like and which had nothing to do with this event.
Hmmmm..... Kettle. Pot. Black. Kettle. Pot. Black.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
Is it just me, or is this thread treading dangerous ground? I don't think we can solve the problems of the world here, so maybe we should just let this thread sink. Words, anyone?
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,381
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
1 members (A C Bowden),
346
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
